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Birchbox February 2014 Review

Birchbox February 2014 Review

Snow dances in my region have been far too effective. Perhaps it is time to replace them with a "Birchbox dance" in which we all wiggle around in inside-out pajamas in hopes that well get something valuable in our monthly subscription boxes.

Heres what came for me this month:


Coola Tinted Matte Mineral Sunscreen SPF30 For Face (0.17 fl oz), approximate retail value $3.60


I have had pretty mixed results with tinted Coola products, which seem to vary anywhere from "somewhat Robyn-colored" to "this is the right color match for a bottle of Fanta". Luckily, this falls into the former category. The shade is perfectly light, although it definitely leans too yellow for me! (It doesnt matter, though, since I slather on a thick coat of foundation right on top.)



This product also seems to be having a bit of an identity crisis. Is it a bb cream? A sunscreen? Something else entirely? To me, it covers like a very, very sheer tinted moisturizer. The texture, though, is a little funky. Its a little greasy with a bit of graininess to it. No big deal, but not something Id buy myself.


Ruby Wing Color Changing Nail Polish in Kitten Heels (0.25 fl oz), approximate retail value $5.00


I swear, I really do believe that this product does, actually change color. There is a viable mechanism by which color changing cosmetics work (they utilize photochromic pigments, like the sort used on transition lenses that darken into sunglasses when you go outside). In theory, this should change from a highlighter pink to a red color.

Unfortunately, I am an indoor kind of lady. I stood outside in the cold, hoping my nails would change color, for a solid three minutes before deciding, "This is ridiculous" and going back inside. IT IS WINTER. MY FINGERS BELONG TWO INCHES FROM MY SPACE HEATER, NOT OUTSIDE.

The formula otherwise seemed fine. Its just that I am too impatient to wait for any color change effect, so I havent witnessed it.

Beauty Protector Protect and Oil (estimated size 0.2 fl oz), estimated retail value $1.30


I am not sure that I have a good use for hair oil, but, nevertheless, I went ahead and coated my ludicrous locks with a layer. The good news is that it didnt make my hair look greasy! The bad news is that it didnt look like much of anything happened, at all.

Smashbox Cosmetics Full Exposure Mascara (0.14oz), approximate retail value $7.18


I like the idea that Smashbox is being sent out by Birchbox, even though I wasnt digging the samples I got in this box. This mascara is pretty much the most generic mascara I have ever used. Its definitely a length-over-volume mascara, but its not good enough at pumping up length to be actually impressive.


A quick before-and-after:

No Mascara


Smashbox Full Exposure

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