May Birchbox Review

Lockdown has been difficult for everyone in many different ways- whether it be mentally or physically- and it is always good to take a little time out for yourself. Sometimes this isn't easy, I know that, but there are things you can do to make yourself happy. 

That's why I decided to try Birchbox, not just because I enjoy a little bit of retail therapy, but because I wanted to treat myself. I like trying new products that I haven't selected myself and I quite like reviewing myself.

So, first of all- I chose May's box (not for any particular reason) and it arrived in this really cute tin, and I can't wait to find a use for it. It ended up costing me £7.95 (including delivery) as I used my Uniday's discount for 50% off my first box. However, I don't find their full price too bad for what you get.

You can choose to have the box monthly for £12.95- I chose this as you can cancel at any time and I was trialling it- a 6 months subscription for £74.75 or a years subscription for £145.40. You receive 5 products, 4 of them are testers and 1 is full sized along with a cute card to tell you what you've receives, and it also came with a voucher for 'beer52' but I'm not sure if you get something like that every month.

It did take a while to get to me, and to actually be dispatched, however when I messaged them on Instagram I did get a very quick response, so thank you to Birchbox for your customer service. I don't blame them for the delays, considering the current circumstances, I'm just glad I actually received it! 

So, lets get into what I received...

First of all, I received the Balance Me PHA Clarifying Mist. This is a tester size and contains 10ml but in the card it says that the full size (30ml) mist costs £18. It claims to "gently exfoliate to speed away blemishes, unblock pores and brighten your complexation'.  

I love the Balance Me products, having tried them in other beauty subscription boxes, and I am always excited to try another one of their products. My love for this one is no different to the others I've tested. I do feel that it has brightened my skin since I started using it (although I've only had it for a few days) and it feels refreshing, calming and cooling on my skin.

It has a slightly gingery scent (which I've noticed in more than one of their products) and I quite enjoy it. It may only be a 10ml bottle but I think it might last me for a little while- I'm using it morning and night- as a little seems to go a long way.

The fact that it states on the bottle that it helps to calm skin prone to blemishes just proves that it is the perfect product for my skin at the moment- lockdown really hasn't helped the condition of my skin.

Overall, I really like this product and Balance Me is a fantastic brand with products that really agree with my skin. It is a little pricey but if I had enough money I would definitely splash out for it as a treat!

The next product from my box is the Sand and Sky Brilliant Skin Purifying Pink Clay Mask. It is a 13g sample, so you might get 1-3 uses depending on how much you use, and it is sold for around £41.90 (for 58ml). In the card it says that this mask contains aloe vera (perfect for soothing and calming skin) and pomegranate to tighten your pores- which sounds quite nice.

You only need a small amount and a thin layer- again, a little goes a long way- and it feels cool on the skin when applied. It dried quick and it felt like it started to tighten while it was drying. I could pick out a particular scent, but I'm not sure if it was scented- but if you have sensitive skin please patch test first (it reminds you to do this on the product). 

It was easy to remove and my skin felt smooth immediately after use. It did feel like it made my skin brighter (although I'm not sure if that was just because it said it should) but I'm not sure if it actually detoxifies with just one use. 

So, overall, it was a nice product and I enjoyed giving it a go, however I'm not sure I'd repurchase. This is purely down to the cost- it was a lovely product but it is quite expensive, and I'm a student. But, if you're interested in a higher end mask, then maybe this is the one for you.

My third product is one of my favourites, the Spacemasks Rose Mask. This was the full sized product in my box and sells for about £3.50 for one or about £15 for a box of 5. You just place it over your eyes and relax as it heats up.

I first tried the Jasmine one maybe a year ago and I loved it, so I was excited to receive the rose one. I haven't used the Rose one yet, but if it is anything like the Jasmine one then it should smell amazing (not overpowering though)... and be incredibly relaxing. 

I find that they're great for headaches, especially if they're stress induced. But they also work if you're just generally feeling unwell or if you just want to pamper yourself. They are lovely for a moment to yourself, they allow to just zone out, take a break and maybe listen to a little music while you're at it- take 15 minutes out to listen to your favourite songs.

I would definitely pay for these (probably the box of 5), they'll be great for a break from stressful uni work. I haven't actually found another product like them and I think that they're definitely worth the price. 

I also received a sample of the Marcelle BB Cream Golden Glow Illuminator. This is a brand that can only be found on the Birchbox site for UK customers and it costs around £25.50 for 45ml. Out of the things it claims to do "hydrates" and "boosts radiance" catch my attention, and after one use I think I agree with them.

It had a light but buildable coverage; it took a few layers to get to medium but I used small amounts that seemed to spread further than I thought it would. The light coverage says 'perfect for summer' to me. It didn't feel greasy, it was lightweight and smooth. It didn't feel cakey and it seemed to almost sink in with a nice finish.

The BB cream was easy to blend and easy to apply. It actually felt quite nice on my skin. I didn't realised until after I'd applied it but there was a small amount of glitter in it, which is nice for glowy skin (and a holiday) but one issue with this is that I found that the glitter clung a little to a couple of problem areas; not a big worry if you don't really have any dry areas.

So, I really did like this product and I'll continue to use it as long as my sample lasts, but I'm not sure I'd repurchase. Although, this is mostly me considering the cost of it again. There are some products I'd be willing to spend more money on than others, but I'm not sure yet if this makes that cut.

My final product is the Manna Kadar Bloom Mascara in Cool Aqua (which only refers to the colour of the packaging, not the actually mascara). I'm not sure how much the full sized mascara contains (mine is 5ml) but it costs about £23. In the card is says that the mascara gives you "flake-free, fuller lashes" which I'd agree with.

It was lengthening, separating, not clumpy and buildable without becoming clumpy. I'd say that my lashes would definitely have looked fuller with another layer and maybe some eyeliner on my waterline (that always helps). If you've seen my recent Instagram photo where I tried it out, you can see what a couple of flicks gives you. It is a strong, bold black which I also find contributes to making your lashes appear fuller.

I found that it didn't flake or smudge and it dried pretty quickly. The applicator isn't plastic, something that don't usually care about but I know many people prefer an actual brush, and while it did look a little clumpy on the brush (which worried me at first) it didn't apply like that.

Overall, it is a lovely mascara and could quickly become my new favourite. I think that it was pricey, and I might think about repurchasing but I'll wait until I finish it to make that final decision. However, I think that you might possibly spot this product in a future blog post... but we'll see. 

To finish this post, I think that Birchbox is a pretty good beauty box, especially if you're interested in testing a few products you might know nothing about. You could actually find something that you'll love and want to repurchase. 

I am going to keep my subscription for now, see what I think of the June box and then decide if I'll keep getting it or not (but that will probably depend on how much is in my bank account) but would recommend it if you fancy treating yourself.

I hope you enjoyed this and that it helped anyone interested in any of these products or Birchbox in general.

Love you all xoxo