June 2016 Birchbox Review

Included products in this month’s Birchbox:

1. Benefit Cosmetics Gimme Brow Volumizing Fiber Gel in 3 Medium (Full size, $24)
2. Coola Mineral Face SPF 30 Unscented Matte Tint (Full-size, $36)
3. Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray  (Full-size, $44)
4. Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant (Full-size, $28)
5. The Beauty Crop PBJ Smoothie Stick in Raisin the Roof (Full size, $14.95)

First Impressions:

Let’s begin with the box – it is GORGEOUS!  Simple prism-like boxes in a gradient of colors, it’s by far my favorite Birchbox box to-date.  As for the products:

1. Benefit Cosmetics Gimme Brow Volumizing Fiber Gel in 3 Medium: Talk about a no-brainer.  When it came to choosing what Birchbox I wanted for the month of June, I automatically chose the one with the new Benefit Cosmetics Gimme Brow Gel sample.  Before this point, I had never used another tinted brow gel other than the Anastasia Beverly Hills Tinted Brow Gel ($22).  Well that is about to change because the Benefit Gimme Brow Volumizing Fiber Gel (in #3 medium) works just as well and helps create a stunning full brow without much work.
2. Coola Mineral Face SPF 30 Unscented Matte Tint: If you are in the market for a moisturizer that has a matte finish, then look no further because the Coola Mineral Face SPF 30 fits the bill. From the onset, I was highly intrigued with the concept of a matte moisturizer because I have always wanted a product that would not leave my face looking and feeling greasy.  And true to its word, the Coola Mineral Face moisturizes while simultaneously offering sun protection with a flawless matte finish.  If there is any downside to this product, it would probably be the price.  At $36 (1.7 oz.), it is certainly at the higher end of what I would pay for a moisturizer.
3. Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray: What else can I say other than you cannot go wrong with any Oribe product, especially with the Oribe Texturizing Spray.  This spray is perfect to use if you are looking for beachy curls or sexy volumized hair.  Again, the only negative I can find is perhaps the price as it comes in at $44 for a full size can!  If the Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray is out of your price range, don’t fret.  The Big Sexy Hair Spray & Play Volumizing Hairspray (currently only $10.99 at Ulta.com) can do the job just as well.
4. Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant: This was my first time trying out a leave-on exfoliant and my experience went really well.  The application of Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant is no different than with a toner, simply use a soaked cotton ball of product and apply all over the face.  While the product itself looks like water and goes on as if it was water, it does leave behind a thin glossy film which in turn makes any complexion absolutely radiant.
5. The Beauty Crop PBJ Smoothie Stick in Raisin the Roof: The PBJ Smoothie Stick is such a lovely addition to my ever-growing chubby lip crayon collection.  The sample sent not only looks like a full-size product, but boasts amazing ingredients such as sweet almond oil.  I would also consider the color, a lilac pink hue, to be understated, but really pretty for everyday use.  My only suggestion, considering the shade color, is to exfoliate really well before application because any excess skin will be apparent upon application of this lip crayon.

Final Verdict: Splurge

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!