Birchbox September 2014 Unboxing

What it Is:  A beauty sample subscription service.

What it Does: Surprises you with five deluxe sized beauty samples every month. 

What it Costs: $10 per month (no contract, cancel anytime).

Where to Get It: Online at Birchbox.com

Similar To: Ipsy, Beauty Box 5, Sample Society

Quick Rating:  Just OK.

Birchbox has always been hit or miss for me, and while this box wasn't terrible, it was just kind of...boring.

The first product they sent me was Yu-Be Moisturizing Skin Cream. I already have a larger tube and a tub of this, and I actually really love it...it's a do-it-all cream you can use on your face and body. I like that this tube is tiny like a lip balm tube, so that's what I'll use it for. Into my purse it goes! To see my review of Yu-Be, Click Here.

Next is a Ruffian Nail Polish and a packet of their perfumed nail polish remover (which wasn't listed on the card so I guess it's a bonus). I've gotten Ruffian nail polishes in the past from Birchbox, probably two others within the past year. Every time, I feel like they were just giving me the old colors no one wants. This time, it's a skin-colored nude polish...not a fan, yuck!

The next product is Smashbox's new Be Legendary Lip Lacquer in Coral. I actually have seen this in Sephora recently and since it's such a new product, I was excited to try it! Although, the color they gave me was too bright for my taste. My one year old kept pointing at my bright coral lips with a confused look on his face, haha!

When I first put this on, I loved it (aside from the color). It went on so soft and smooth and deposited such rich color, I only needed one swipe. For the next several hours, my lips felt comfortable and hydrated. I passed a mirror every so often to check it and it seemed like it had stained my lips. At that point, I was so happy to have found a stain that wasn't drying and was about to go buy this in a lighter shade. But then after 4 or 5 hours I checked the mirror again and it had faded completely in the middle of my lips leaving a dark, thick ring around the outside (like 1990's liner). So that was disappointing. Here's what it looked like when it was first applied. 

Next, is Real Chemistry Luminous 3-Minute Peel.  This is an acid free peel that you apply to your face, let it sit for 30 seconds, then massage it in for 2-3 minutes while it balls up and takes your skin with it.  I tried it on my hand, and while it did leave my hand super soft and smooth, I don't see how you could massage this for 3 minutes.  It was all off in about 20 seconds and after that I was just rubbing dry skin.  I did like how glowy and smooth my skin looked though.

Finally, I received a Black Charcoal sheet mask from Dr. Jart.  This super popular Korean brand is well loved and I'm looking forward to trying this one out!  It's supposed to purify pores and reduce sebum without irritation and the charcoal draws out pore clogging substances like a magnet.

These days, I'm kind of on the fence about Birchbox.  I haven't been loving my boxes lately, so I think it might be time to switch this one with another one.  What do you think?  Have you been liking your Birchbox?  Any other subscriptions you could recommend I try over this one?