Receiving a wide variety of travel-sized beauty products every month for an entire year was such an exciting opportunity. Keep reading to see which products were hits and which ones were misses.

September 2017

The first thing I received in my September box was a Birchbox Eyelash Curler, which always a good tool to have in my makeup bag. The Eyeko Skinny Liquid Eyeliner was by far my favorite makeup product this month; I have tried pencil, liquid, and gel liners before, but never a pen one band this one is very black, very matte, very long-lasting, and very easy to use! Like my skin, my hair is also dry, so this tiny tube of Beauty Protector Protect & Oil is wonderful for hydraying my hair while shielding it from the sun’s harmful rays. I also received a sample of the TokyoMilk Dark Novacaine Eau de Parfum — a very spicy, masculine scent which I  will not be wearing to say the least. Lastly, I had the opportunity to try the Lord & Berry Glow Strobing Pencil. Although it adds a beautiful golden glow to the high points of the face, especially the inner corners, the formula feels a little stiff and disappears when blended out.

October 2017

The Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré 24-Hour Miracle Cream is such an incredible skin care product that I used it all before I even had time to include it in my photo! This cream provides intense hydation while priming the skin before makeup; what more could you ask for? Designed for those of us with coarse ot frizzy hair, the Davines LOVE Smoothing Shampoo and Conditioner works wonders when I need a product that detangles while adding shine. If you have read my latest blog posts, then you know how much I have been loving and using my Milk Makeup Highlighter to acheive the ideal glowy sheen for Summer; it blends so easily and I love how it doesn’t look like every other cream highlighter I have tried before. The OUAI Rose Hair & Body Oil has been on my Sephora wishlist for a while and thanks to its unique combination of rose hip and shea oils, it effectivelt hydrates my hair and skin while looking cute on my vanity. I am absolutely obsessed with my Lipstick Queen Lip Liner in ‘Nude’ as the formula is perfection and the shade matches all of my favorite lipsticks.

November 2018

In addition to smelling like coconut, the JUARA Candlenut Body Creme leaves my skin feeling soft and smooth all day long. I love the way the Marcelle Hydra-C Eye Contour Gel-Cream brightens my under eye area, visibly reducing any darkness or puffiness while preventing wrinkles and prepping the skin for concealer. After testing out the Smashbox Cosmetics Always On Matte Liquid Lipstick, I can safely say that this is one of the best formulas on the market. ‘Driver’s Seat’, a warm pinky-nude, looks and feels flawless for what seems like forever. It is not easy for me to be impressed with hair products, but I am in love with the Living Proof T.B.D. Multi-Tasking Styler. It is an effortless way to add texture and definition to my natural waves and I received a very generous amount. The final product I received in November’s box was the LAQA & Co. B’Lighter Blush + Highlighter in ‘Peacher’s Daughter’, a luminous cream that is lovely for Spring and Summer. This formula feels very luxurious, so I am looking forward to learning more about this brand.

December 2018

I am so excited about these NuFACE Prep-N-Glow Cloths! Formulated with hyaluronic acid for anti-aging benefits and deep hydration, one side of the wipe cleanses the skin while the other exfoliates to leave skin fresh and glowy. Another amazing product is the Love of Color Liquid Shimmer Shadow in ‘Stardust’, which adds a lovely pop of metallic champagne to the lids in one swipe. I appreciate how pigmented these are and how they blend easily without fading away. Although the wand is the very different compared to what I usually prefer, the Marcelle Ultimate Volume Nano Mascara made every single one of my eyelashes look extremely long and separated, which I love. The Whish Botanical Primer has all the benefits of a moisturizer while also helping foundation and concealer apply more evenly, making it the most wonderful product for dry skin.The Aveda Thickening Tonic claims to expand strands for a fuller head of hair. Although I don’t understand how ir works, it does seem to add volume and texture, which is always welcome.

Which of these products would you be interested in trying, and would you ever subscribe to Birchbox?

XOXO,
Makena

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