Birchbox Samples Review: September!

super late?

oh well, select products sample reviews

so september's birchbox brought me plenty of goodies, (can't wait to show you what I got with my Madewell discount!) and every month I'll be reviewing the samples that I've used and gotten to use before I get my next box! I just think it's great that we get the samples, but no one ever says, "well this is a great product, I suggest purchasing it," or "I expected much better, that sample sucked"...etc etc. So here are my reviews on some of the samples that came in my box, as you may know from my birchbox opening, my box came really late and I didn't get a chance to use everything/there was so much stuff this month!!

Vasanti's Brighten Up! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator

I have never heard of this brand before getting this scrub in my birchbox, but I'm super curious about their products now that I've tried the Brighten Up! Face Rejuvenator (I mean even the name is exciting) It has a really light, clean, fresh scent and micro-crystals, which I really like for face scrubs because they just feel gentle and not as harsh as bigger beads or pieces, but they still give you a clean, smooth feeling. After using it four times, I didn't notice brighter skin, but as most scrubs will do, my skin was smoother and radiant.  I used it as directed on the bottle, massage onto a wet face and rinse.

21 Drops Concentration 09 Focus Rollerball

Ugh. This sample of an aromatherapy oil for concentration and focus really doesn't do it for me. I don't normally like herbal scented things anyway (besides like, food...) but this rollerball not only doesn't have the best scent, it also doesn't last at all. The packaging is small and cute, but it lasted on my skin for all of 5 minutes and it was totally gone without a trace at all. It also says you can roll this in bags and wherever for some extra focusing power or something, but it just doesn't last long enough...I don't think it's worth the time or money to be quite honest.

Color Club's Nail Polish in Status Update

To my knowledge this is a birchbox designed nail polish, and OMG, just like the birchbox Pink Jouer lip gloss, this too is an amazing color. Birchbox just knows what colors work and look good. This is a classic charcoal gray with a slight blue undertone, and it is so gorgeous for the fall. I forsee this being worn all winter, although it is just too cool a color for the fall, in my opinion, but it is nonetheless amazing. It is exactly the kind of New York gray I've been looking for: modern, sleek, chic and timeless. I totally recommend checking out all of the Color Club fashion week inspired colors on the birchbox website.


Ciao for Now, M

SEPTEMBER BIRCHBOX OPENING!

Finally...

in a turn of events the mail center at my school decided to work and I finally got all of my pending packages...

Did I not mention I'm in college? Whoops, guess I'll have to do some sort of "secret reveal" of like my life. But I am in New York and the fact that Birchbox is in New York and shipped out of New York and that it took almost 3 weeks for me to get this month's Birchbox is entirely my school's mail center's fault. ENTIRELY!!! 

Okay done with that... on to pictures, ramblings and excitement!!!

       

If you've never seen a Birchbox, it comes in a pink cardboard shipping box that says Birchbox in huge letters and when you open the box your actual Birchbox is the smaller cardboard box with the logo in pink. You lift the lid and the first thing you'll find is a little postcard describing the products inside and a little note on this month's theme and greetings from the Birchbox team.

This month's theme is based on Fall Fashion Week and so the Birchbox team put together a look book featuring this month's products :)

On to what I got this month!!

This is what my box looked like when I opened it, everything all packed away nice and neat (not for long!)

First thing is this Mighty Leaf Tea in Green Tea Tropical and Chamomile Citrus. Birchbox often includes a lifestyle item along with the beauty products for the month.

The second thing is this little vile of 21 Drops, in scent 09 Focus (I could use some!)

The packaging says that these drops can be used on your body or in bags and whenever you need a little aromatic pick me up

The third thing is this Vasanti Brighten Up! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator

I'll try and figure out what this does...

I love the little stuff that is secretly packaged with the signature Birchbox ribbons!

Oooh! Lookie what I found! A twistband hair tie (this is my third) in a lacey print! These are so great for tying up your hair while you sleep because they don't leave ponytail bumps. 

The Color Club nail polish is a mini size and I am obsessed with mini nail polish! I love that Birchbox is so good about giving amazing sized samples, I have two other mini polishes and a full sized essie polish that I got in my past Birchboxes! This color is called Status Update and it's a charcoal gray with blue tint. 

Samples of a full Nexxus line of Pro-Mend shampoo, conditioner and serum. I'll give you an update once I've used these.

AND THE BEST PART OF THE BIRCHBOX?! A $25 GIFT CARD TO MADEWELL?! 

I already know exactly what I will be purchasing :) SO EXCITED!!! 

and this is the calm after the storm!

Every month, (if the mail center gets it together) I will try to blog the opening of my Birchbox and then blog a review on the products included by the end of the month, so stay tuned for that, I've only got about a week to use all of these products in some respect...maybe I'll just make sure to review them before I get the next box...we'll see about all this scheduling stuff...

Sneak Peek: Monday's post is also a haul and it is pretty AND cute... :) someone out there will get the hint haha!

Ciao for Now, M