Popping My BirchBox Cherry

So I decided to join the Birchbox cult & ordered my first box - which just happened to be August's "Beauty School" box. I'm not sure what to think considering Beauty Army spoiled me by letting me pick me samples. For those of you who don't know what Birchbox or Beauty Army is: they are beauty subscription boxes that send out various beauty samples; sometimes they even throw in a full size product. Birchbox is a monthly fee of $10 & Beauty Army is $12 monthly. Not bad considering you get 5-6 products per box {B.A. is a guaranteed 6 & you get to pick them, whereas BB picks them for you}. Links to join either {or my other subscription box, Juelp - for those nail polish junkies!} are in the side bars.
    This month's box looked like this:

Please excuse the crummy cell phone picture. My regular camera is indisposed at the moment.

A cute, bright orange box awaited my anxious hands as I held a Birchbox in my hands for the first time {I know, I know - I'm a little late on the band wagon. Whoops!}
    Cut the tape & pulled out this cute little cardboard box with an embossed BB logo on it:

See? Cute. ^__^

Personally, I like Beauty Army's boxes a lot more - they're more sturdy, a sleek black, & have cute pink camo print on the inside. The BB box is a plain, cardboard with pink embossing. Meh. I mean, I can still repurpose it & use it to hold other makeup items until I get my makeup storage system. Once I opened up the little box, I am greeted by bright pink {yayy! my favorite!} tissue paper & a little card greeting & introducing me to this month's box.
    This box was all about beauty essentials - as says the little "Beauty School" card that came with it. The card contains some rather valuable information, actually, for those who are new to the makeup world. It has tips on how to reduce the look of blush should you add too much {without taking off your entire face}, how to fix smeared mascara & eyeliner, what to do should your makeup melt in the heat, & a few other helpful tips. The card also contained information on how to read a product label & a "tools of the trade" section about different beauty tools {kabukis, eyelash curler, foundation brush, etc}. In my first box I received: 

• Juicy Couture: Viva la Juicy La Fleur: This modern scent is a feminine blend of wild berries, mandarin, & waterlily {card excerpt}.
  Product Size Received: 0.5 fl oz
  Full Size:
  Cost of Full Size: $70.00 USD
  Where to Buy: Sephora or Ulta

My Thoughts: After reading the description, I thought I would be head over heels for this scent - I love anything berry/fruity scented. I'm not a very big floral fan & the floral scents take over the berry goodness. According to the sample card this scent is described as "a veil of sparkling mandarin, wild berries, dewy honeysuckle & soft jasmine. A whisper of creamy gourmand addiction envelopes the skin". I might eventually purchase this in a full size but as of right now, it's not on my "must haves" list. It would be a very nice daytime scent, though.

• Miss Jessie's Original Stretch Silkening Creme: Apply to soaking wet hair to loosen tight curls & add tons of shine {card excerpt}.
  Product Size Received: 2oz.
  Full Size: 8oz.
  Cost of Full Size: $22.00 USD {according to the BB card}
  Where to Buy: MissJessies.com & Some Targets carry limited Supplies

My Thoughts: I did some research on the Miss Jessie's website, & the 8oz is not the full size. The biggest size they have is a 16oz for $38.00 USD. According to the website, this is a styling product used to make curls more elastic & fuller. I don't really have "curly" hair {it's more of a soft wave} so I'm not sure that I can get much use out of this product. I guess I will give it a shot & review it later depending on how it works with my hair. It smells like regular ol' conditioner.. nothing special. Part of me thinks that I smell a hint of coconut but I could be crazy.

• Pixi Beauty: Lip & Line Primer: A double-sided wand feautring a waterproof liner & a creamy lipstick {card excerpt}.
  Product Received: 0.051 oz
  Full Size: 0.051 oz
  Cost of Full Size: $18.00 USD
  Where to Buy: Target, Target.com, or PixiBeauty.com

My Thoughts: First off, the BB card says it's a lipstick - it is NOT a lipstick but a lip primer. The "color" I got No.1 in Nearly Nude. This is definitely going to be in another review so my thoughts on that later.

• Yu-Be: Moisturizing Skin Cream: Best selling Japanese cream that hydrates chapped lips, rough heels, & cracked hands {card excerpt}.
  Product Received: 0.1oz
  Full Size: 1.25oz {tube} OR 2.5ox {jar}
  Cost of Full Size: $16.00 USD {$25.00 USD for the jar}
  Where to Buy: Sephora or Yu-Be.com

My Thoughts: Umm.. not sure how I feel that it's for your lips *&* your hands & feet. I decided to try a little on my "flip-flop" heels {I'm sure all you flip-flop loving gals know what I mean}. The feel is a thick yellowish cream but melts into the skin like a body butter. Just with it sitting on my heel while I type this review, the spot feels mildly softer. I'm sure regular usage & some exfoliation would see better results.

    The final product I got was a Schick Hydro Silk Razor. BB wrapped an information sheet around it that reads as follows: We scour the high-end beauty world for products you need to try. Like right now. But we also keep an eye out for affordable finds that will improve your day to day, like this new razor by Schick. The water activated serum moisturizes skin while you shave, & the innovative oval-shaped design hugs tricky areas like knees & ankles. We're adding this trial to your usual sample haul because we think you'll love it. I love Schick razors! This is a 5 blade razor & I received one with a pretty blue handle - or are they all blue? If you got a BB in August, what color razor did you get? I flipped the package over to see what the back of the package said & omgosh! COUPONS! As you will find out as you follow me through either Facebook or the blog, I am a coupon-holic & it's even more so when they're beauty or HBA coupons. I received a $4.00 of any Schick Hydro Silk Refill & 55c off any Skintimate Shave Gel. I'm not a big fan of the skintimate shave gels though - they make my skin feel tight after I get out of the shower. I much prefer my EOS shave creme.

    Welp, that was everything. Personally, I think the products were definitely worth over the $10 I paid - the Pixi Lip & Line Primer alone was $18! Overal, I'm satisified with my first box. Hope I got you interested in some new products. Let me know what you think of what was in your August BB. Have another subscription service that you think is way better than BB or Beauty Army? Link me! I'd love to try it. Also, was everyone's Pixi product the lip & line primer in Nearly Clear? If not, what color did you get?
    Until next time, my loves!