Birchbox January 2019 review

The first Birchbox of the year comes with the theme "shake your pom poms" in the hope of brightening up what can be quite a gloomy month.

I love the bright and colourful theme of the box and the items within it, it really did bring spark some life into the grey and cold weather outside for me.

So, let's drive right in and see what was in the January 2019 Birchbox, and what I thought of the products.

• CLE Cosmetics Essence Moonlighter Cushion (Shade: Apricot) RRP £22 - Fullsize. I don't think I've ever used cushion makeup before, but it's something I've always been eager to try so I couldn't wait to give this highlighter a go (plus I'm not familiar with the brand either). You just press the supplied puff gently into the cushion and the tap onto the skin for instant glow (you could also use your fingers). You don't have to press hard to get a decent amount of product onto the puff and it transfers beautifully onto the skin. It's easy to build up for a stronger highlight, but is also so simple to blend out for a more natural glow, which is what I prefer. It lasted most of the day and didn't have any issues working with my other makeup. I'm a big fan of this highlighter and will definitely be looking at what else CLE Cosmetics have to offer.
  

• Dr. Botanicals Cleansing Bar (Pomegranate) RRP: £5.90 Full Size. I don't really use bar products, simply because I don't want to juggling slippery soap and dropping it on the floor, but this is a nice facial cleanser and I liked using it. There's less lather than from a face wash, but that's not a bad thing. It cleanses well, but doesn't leave skin feeling stripped or tight, and it smells great. The only downside for me is that having to put it back in the box feels a bit slimey but that's the trade-off for a more eco-friendly option. I also have a body exfoliating bar from Dr. Botanicals and this one has joined it on the shelf, I really like it.
  
• Philip Kingsley Flaky/Itchy Scalp Shampoo RRP: £24. I'm pretty picky about my haircare.. more so than any other aspect of my "beauty" routine, so I'm always cautious of new products. But this lathers well, without turning into suds overload. It smells nice, rinses easily and left my hair feeling soft and clean, and my scalp felt soothed and was definitely flake free. I'm not sure this will replace any of my usual products but it's a decent substitute and I wouldn't hesistate to use it again.
  
• Afterspa Facial Micro Scrubber RRP: £7 Full Size. If you want to make sure you get all the makeup out of your pores or if you have some stubborn dry skin clinging to your forehead, then this is the tool for you. Use with your normal cleanser (either on the skin or direct to the damp scrubber) and gentley use circular motions to exfoliate the skin. Rinse clean and hang to dry. Voila, smooth skin in a flash! I found this a little rough when I first used it (I'm used to my Clarisonic) but I soon got used to it and I definitely noticed a difference after a few uses (less dry patches and blocked pores). It's got pride of place hanging from the shelf and I will definitely replace it when needed! It's a big yes from me.
  

• Doucce Maxlash Volumizer Mascara RRP £18. You can see in the top photo the difference between my eyes with and without this mascara on (just one coat on the left, none on the right). It applies easily, no smudges or clumps, and instantly brings volume and length. It's a nice mascara to use and didn't irritate my eyes at all and stayed put throughout the day. It's been my go-to mascara for the last week or so, and I'd happily repurchase and recommend.
• Birchbox Pom Pom Hair Ties. Just a bit of fun really, not something I'd use but my neice will love them!

Final Thoughts:
I'm really happy with January's Birchbox. I can use everything in it and all the products do what they claim. Some have become firm favourites and I'll definitely repurchase a couple! I'm looking forward to seeing what February has in store.

You can subscribe to Birchbox here [Referral Link]

If you already subscribe to Birchbox, drop me a comment to let me know what you thought of this month's box, or tell me if you have any other subscription boxes to recommend!

Stay safe, x

*I subscribe to Birchbox at my own cost.
All thoughts, opinions & images are my own.*