December Birchbox Review

The December Birchbox arrived all “decked out” (pardon the pun)! Cute packaging gets me every time. Here’s what I got in my box:

Number 4™ Hydrating Shampoo: L’eau de Mer™ uses vitamin B5 to condition hair and silicone to bump up the gloss factor, plus the brand’s patented Liquid Complexes™. Each of the four complexes is a different blend of natural ingredients, designed to help protect, purify, strengthen, and revitalize hair. My thoughts: I can’t use “hydrating” shampoos & conditioners right now because I have extensions. Hydrating formulas apparently can cause slippage so I will save these for when I take them out! The scent is a little masculine for my taste though.

Number 4™ Hydrating Conditioner: This rich formula helps to rebuild hair inside and out: vitamin B5 and jojoba help to nourish and hydrate dry strands, while Number 4’s™ proprietary Liquid Complexes™ use potent natural ingredients like acai berry, vitamin C, and black current to moisturize, protect, and strengthen hair. My thoughts: see above.

Mirenesse iCurl Secret Weapon 24 Hour Mascara: The brand’s exclusive Secret Weapon™ tubing technology coats and separates lashes for all-day wear that won’t smudge, clump, or flake. The dramatically curved wand coats even your tiniest lashes and helps them achieve a wide-eyed curl. This mascara is safe for contact wearers and sensitive eyes, and is free of alcohol, parabens, mineral oil, and synthetic fragrance. My thoughts: LOVE the brush on this mascara. Really “grabbed” my lashes. And this “tubing technology” is really growing on me. I’ve tried other brands but this one seemed to be easier to remove which I appreciate…less rubbing on my sensitive eye area.
RUSK® Texture Spray: This talc-free spray is safe to use on color-treated hair. It’s made with hydrolyzed quinoa, silk amino acids, and keratin to prevent premature color from fading and boost moisture levels. Silica texturizes hair and leaves behind a matte finish. My thoughts: I’ve used this spray before and love the light lift/texture it adds to my hair. Perfect product to spritz on curled hair and smells good too!

W3LL PEOPLE Bio Brightener Stick: Light-reflecting microcrystals in the formula brighten the complexion and deliver a soft-focus effect, diffusing the appearance of blemishes and fine lines. The subtle glow—suitable for a wide range of skin tones—highlights your facial features. The formula has a satiny, lightweight finish, and contains a blend of organic aloe, green tea, and chamomile to nourish and soothe skin. And like all W3LL PEOPLE products, this stick is formulated without harsh synthetic chemicals, parabens, and dyes. My thoughts: This is very lightweight and not sticky like some highlighters can be. As a sample it came in a little tub but I think the full size stick would be even easier to apply. Very sheer and not too shimmery.

Royal Apothic Cuppa Cuppa Firming Tea Treatment Mask: This clay-based formula is packed with antioxidant-rich black, green, and white teas, as well as other beneficial botanical extracts including acai, pomegranate, coffee, and goji berry. It firms, reduces dark spots, helps skin retain moisture, and gently exfoliates to reveal a refreshed, luminous complexion. My thoughts: At first this REALLY tingles…almost stung a bit…but dang did it leave my skin soft! It feels like it has a very fine exfoliate in it so that is nice too. I’m not sure about the firming part yet, but my baby jowls sure could use some help!

EXTRA: Also received a $10 GAP gift card.

Still looking for last minute gift ideas? All you need is your friend/mom/aunt/sister/cousin’s email address and they can claim their subscription at Birchbox.com. Birchbox even allows new subscribers to customize their first box by choosing from “customer favorites”, “classics” or “trendy” boxes. It’s the gift that truly does keep on giving!

P.S. I am a paying subscriber of Birchbox for over three years now. But I do earn Birchbox points if people click and purchase from my links!