I know it is July! My ipsy subscription just arrived for this month which reminded me that I have not shared my June Birchbox unboxing yet.
Starting with the box itself. June was Say Yes (to Adventure) inspired by Meghan Markle with her Tig Picks. I love Suits so I was excited for this Birchbox, but honestly I am not amazed by any of the products (I still have two to try).
Cynthia Rowley Glow Getter Highlighter
You just can’t beat the convenience of painting on highlighter with a brush. And now we’ve found the perfect formula to go with the perfect applicator: one that goes on smooth, dries to a pearlescent finish, and has just the right amount of shimmer (hint: not too much). This velvety highlighter works for all skin tones, delivering a subtle sheen that lights up your features. It’s an ace at strobing, or just adding a little extra brightness to cheekbones, brows, and the inner corners of your eyes.
If you received this sample of Cynthia Rowley Glow Getter and have not tried it yet, shake it really well before opening the seal. I pulled off the little tab and lost a fair amount of watery shimmery liquid. I actually like the colour of this highlighter, I have a lot of pink in my cheeks so the colour suits me. I will do a swatch and review at some point but it is not very long lasting. I can’t be sure losing some of it did not impact the way it works though. Maybe with the brush that the full size comes with, I would like it, but who knows, at $32 it wasn’t outstanding enough to buy the full size.
Naobay Oxygenating Cream
We’ll use avocado wherever we can—smashed onto toast, sliced on tacos, baked into extradecadent brownies—so it was only a matter of time until we were smearing it straight on our face. This eco-conscious moisturizer is loaded with avocado and olive oils. The healthy fats nourish skin, leaving our complexion hydrated—and (almost) as smooth as our favorite snack.
Probably my favourite product of this Birchbox. Naobay’s moisturizer is light, absorbs well and works for my skin. It is $45 for a full size and I don’t think it is that much more impressive than my regular moisturizer to pay that much plus order online since it is not sold nearby. It is made with avocado and olive oil so good for your skin and one of the Tig Picks included in my box.
Beauty Protector Beauty Wash
We adore the refreshing clean and out-of-this-world floral scent of our Beauty Protector Protect & Shampoo so much, we’ve been seriously tempted to use it all over (don’t judge). So we couldn’t wait to lather up with the brand’s new body wash: The rich, foamy gel leaves our skin fresh and clean—and smells just as amazing as the rest of the line.
Like most of the others, Beauty Protector is good, just not amazing enough for me to switch or pay more. It happened to be on hand when one of the cats knocked over a bowl of pasta sauce and was covered in it, so I now have a lovely sweet smelling cat. It did not dry his fur out (running out for a pet shampoo was not an option when he was covering the place in sauce) so that is a plus. At $19 for a full size and not readily available, I will stick to my Bath & Body Works stuff.
Jeff Chastain Parlor Seal Salt Spray
Beach hair is no longer reserved for long weekends. Bottling the effects of that salty air, this spray from NYC stylist Jeff Chastain offers instant volume and a tousled texture. Sweet almond extract infuses strands with softness, fullness, and brilliance, while vitamin-rich algae extract nourishes and protects the scalp. Adding to this spray’s addictive nature is the scent of ripe peach, fresh-cut grass, and white woods.
I tend to straighten my hair, if I have it curly, I need a lot more than some Parlor sea salt spray to keep it there. I imagine that this will work well for some people but my hair needs to be beaten into submission and this isn’t enough for me. If your hair is more easily styled, you will probably like it. For the hour or so my hair stayed wavy, it did have a beachy look to it and wasn’t sticky.
Skyn Iceland Hydro Cool Firming Eye Gels
As a glacier-dotted island just this side of the Arctic Circle, Iceland has plenty of experience with cool. So it’s no surprise that this homegrown brand’s cooling eye gels—loaded with Icelandic glacial water and Arctic botanical extracts—are unbeatably refreshing. They reduce the appearance of puffiness and fine lines while working to brighten, firm, and soothe delicate undereye skin.
Another Tig Pick, but I have not tried them yet. Strange since when I opened my June Birchbox, this was the product I was most looking forward to trying. I will review it with pictures once I have tried them!
Emi-Jay Hair Tie
I also got a bonus product this month.
Whether twirling, braiding, tying, curling or combing your hair, the best styles require the very best tools. The printed hair ties are handmade, hand-dyed, and won’t snag your strands. And with a rainbow’s worth of hues and a range of patterns, these versatile ties are practical enough for everyday wear, but dressy enough for a special occasion.
My hair is thick and these don’t go around it enough times, it is either too loose or about to break but they seem like they are decent quality. I also prefer simple elastics without the extra piece of fabric sticking out.
With the exception of the hair tie, I will happily use my samples, but I don’t love them enough to rebuy. Maybe because my ipsy bag was pretty good last month, this just pales in comparison and I would like it more otherwise, but just not outstanding. I had hoped to find some products I love from my subscription boxes.