Included products in this month’s Birchbox:
- Cargo Blush and Bronzer (Full size, $35)
- Dr. Brandt PoreDermabrasion (Full-size, $58)
- Marcelle Xtension Plus Curl Mascara (Full-size, $14)
- MD Solar Science Daily Anit-Aging Moisturizer SPF 30 (Full-size, $68)
- TOCCA Eau De Parfum – Bianca (Full size, $34-68)
First Impressions:
Let’s begin with the box – it is classic! The flower petal pattern in a gradient of colors is lovely and very appropriate for summertime. As for the products:
Cargo Blush and Bronzer: The first thing my eyes found immediately upon opening my July Birchbox was the shiny Cargo tin (apparently a Birchbox exclusive item). I really do enjoy Cargo products and was more than happy to try this one on for size. However, my joy was quickly squashed between the difficulty in opening the tin and realizing how small the sample was. I mean, if it had been a one-product sample, say just a blush, I would have been okay with that. However, splitting two completely different products in this miniscule packaging was simply not practical. There was no way to get a regular size brush into the pan, so I had to resort to looking for brushes that I had from previous samples. Thank you Benefit Hoola because that was the only brush I could use to maneuver around the bronzer portion of the sample. Logistics aside, the pink blush was pretty on my medium complexion and the bronzer looked decent. Overall, there really is nothing to rave about when it comes to the Cargo Blush and Bronzer Duo.
Dr. Brandt PoreDermabrasion: I love Dr. Brandt’s skincare line of products and the PoreDermabrasion did not let me down. Given the sample size of the product, I decided to use it only on my nose where my pores are noticeably larger and see, if over time, it would make a difference. According to Birchbox, The Dr. Brandt PoreDermabrasion is “a boost of salicylic acid that unclogs pores, caviar lime brightens, and lentil seed strengthens and tightens pore walls”. Well they got the description down pact because over a week I realized my pores were noticeably smaller, which in turn, helped my makeup sit better on my nose. The Dr. Brandt PoreDermabrasion is a keeper if you can afford the steep price.
Marcelle Xtension Plus Curl Mascara: I’m a sucker for a good mascara sample; I simply cannot get enough of them. So for this month’s Birchbox, I decided to select a brand I was not familiar with. Well, I’m so glad that I decided to take a chance on the Marcelle Xtension Plus Curl Mascara. First off, it has a curved wand, which is my favorite shape. Second, the brush grabs onto every single lash and helps extend it to the max. Third, it also works very well on the bottom lashes because the brush does not overload with product. There is no doubt in my mind that Marcelle Xtension Plus Curl Mascara is a great mascara comparable to high-end mascaras.
MD Solar Science Daily Anit-Aging Moisturizer SPF 30: I can’t say I was happy to see another moisturizer/sun protector in these month’s Birchbox. My personal preference is to use a foundation or a BB cream that already incorporates SPF, so I don’t have to layer on more products, especially in the summer time. Given this preference, I decided to give this product a try on a non-makeup day and was happy with the thin consistency, but did not notice positive results. Unfortunately with skincare products with SPF, you have to use it for a long period of time to really notice if it is working. So as of now, I can’t say its good or bad, and given how expensive the full size product is, I will probably never really know.
TOCCA Eau De Parfum – Bianca: “This clean, citrus scent has undertones of rose and sugar for longwearing, intriguing layers” (as per Birchbox). This is my second TOCCA perfume from Birchbox and I like the Bianca scent much more. It’s a bit heavy compared to other rose perfumes I’ve used, but it does last all day.
Final Verdict: Merge
Makeup Deconstructed Rating System:
1 Kiss = Purge: Only one of the products in the box/bag is worth keeping.
2 Kisses = Merge: Two to four products make this box/bag worth merging into your makeup collection.
3 Kisses = Splurge: All five products are amazing and worth splurging on!