Lip Monthly January 2015 Reveal

So after much much back and forth, I FINALLY got my January bag. Two days after my February bag (which you will see tomorrow).

The generic plastic smelling makeup bag:

And inside:

Now for a $10 bag, the value is fantastic. Even when you ignore the total bullshit value of Harvey Prince perfume. This is not a deluxe mini .Even if you could calculate such an absurdly high value for 3ml of perfume, this is a SAMPLE VIAL. No way its worth $12. Its worth nothing. Its a free sample you get when you ask a department store.

Aside from that, the value is good. A $38 value for a $10 monthly bag is great. Though it seems that they have changed from 5 items per bag to 4. Since with the exception of this stupid sample perfume, everything is full sized and 4 full sized items for $10 each month is not something to complain about.

Now, please keep in mind that Birchbox has built in to me a gut reaction of hatred and anger when I even SEE a Harvey Prince Sample. I am so fricken sick and tired of getting this crap. The brand is over fragranced, cheap feeling and I have not liked a single sample I have gotten so far. And lucky me, I get another in the upcoming Birchbox. BAH! But anyways, having said that, read the story on the card and tell me it didn't make you throw up a bit in your mouth? Id not want to try the product simply by that stupid story on its own.

That being said, the rest of the bag was quite nice! haha. I just HATE Harvey Prince. Other than that, I got MICA Lip Color Pot, Ofra liquid lipstick and Ecolips Tinted LIp Balm. The full sized lip gloss is fine, and the two full sized lip products will be coming up in reviews once I try them out.

Overall, it is not at all the best box I got, but its ok. And for $10 (I think there is a $5 shipping charge to Canada though mine get sent to my American address) its quite a decent value even for a bag that is underwhelming.

Again, the customer service and communication are TERRIBLE but the bags have always been well worth it for me. That being said, I will not be getting any more bags. February was my last one as I simply can not deal with the customer service as it is.

February 2015 Birchbox Unboxing

So this is my third birchbox and my 3rd and 4th Harvey Prince samples. That means more than 20% of my samples have come from this brand. Which would be obnoxious even if I enjoyed the brand, but seeing as I don't its simply angering. A bottle of shampoo and conditioner are two pieces of the box. Each tube is almost 75% empty and the mere 15ml volume gives each tube a value of $1,10.

The anti wrinkle scrub is not really in keeping with my beauty profile with birchbox nor is it something I am excited to try. That being said, its at least a new brand (the only product from a brand I have not previously gotten in my first two boxes) and it has a value of $3.38.

Now the lip stain from Cynthia Rowley is NOT a stain. Its at best a lacquer but more factually a pigmented gloss. If you go by the values of the box its a $10 value. They call the brand a Birchbox exclusive brand and price this at over $20. But this is a brand often found at TJ Maxx, Winners and other discount stores and when found there its $5.99-$7.99. So I will call this a $5 value and to be truthful, I think I am being over generous with that.

The Cindy-Lou Manizer is a great product to try (though again, not a new brand since I had a product in my first box) but its TINY. Like beyond tiny. It has a value of $1.74. And I actually am happy to try this product. Its the only product I am happy to try in the box.

That being said, its TINY. Did I mention TINY? Compared to a the cap from a soda pop bottle. And that makes it near impossible to comfortably get a highlighting brush in the cardboard packaging.

Overall, I really disliked this box. I know that was hard to tell from my review, but this is box number three and the only new brand I get to try is from an anti aging product. Yay me. The box costs $15 and has a value of $17.32 if you go with the insane value they give for the lipstain, and truthfully its more like a $10-$12 value. For a $15 box. So at BEST you are getting a $2 profit on your box if you LOVE every product.

If by some insane fluke this box makes you want to run out and get a bircbox, you can sign up here. I will try one more box and if it doesnt get better (though I cant see how it wont get at least a LITTLE better) I will cancel. 

January Canadian Birchbox Unboxed!

For those of you who have not yet tried or signed up for Birchbox, here is a quick breakdown. $9.95 and we pay $5 shipping making it just under $15 a month. With that being said, you get 10 points for ever product you review (quick short surveys) and that adds up to $5 a month in points to spend in their store. The Birchbox store is full of Butter London, Benefit, and many many other sephora level products. Basically for $15 each month you get to try all sorts of products (so far no foil packets!!) and you get a minimum of $60 a year to spend on full sized products. So you get rewarded for buying with what you really want!

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP IF YOU ARE INTERESTED

And here is what came this month in my box. I am looking forward to trying out the hair mask today or tomorrow! It has to sit on the hair for 20 minutes which is why I have yet to try it!

Beauty Protector Protect & Treat Hair Mask ( $7.50 value - full sized $30)

Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré (24-Hour Miracle Cream) ($2 value - full sized is $28.00)

Whish Shave Crave Shaving Cream ($3.23 value - full sized $22)

ModelCo Party Proof Lipstick (value $7)

Harvey Prince Hello Liquid Loofah ($1.11 value - full sized $26)

Total value of box - $20.83