Birchbox February 2016

I wasn’t the biggest fan of the January Birchbox as it was a little lacklustre, but I’m very happy with the Birchbox February 2016 – it seems as if both Birchbox and Glossybox have pulled out all the stops for their February boxes.

This month’s theme is ‘Shine Bright Like a Diamond’, and one lucky Birchboxer will receive a £200 diamond necklace in their box this month, or you could win one by sharing a picture of your Birchbox on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook and tag @BirchboxUK and @VashiUK in the caption with the hashtag #BirchboxUK so good luck..

The first product in the box is a 1.35g size of the LOC One and Done Shadow Stick in the shade Perfect Cents worth £6.91. LOC is the in-house beauty range for Birchbox and now their products are available within the UK. This is actually a full size, but it’s pretty tiny.

It’s a creaseless, waterproof eyeshadow pencil which supposedly offers upto 11 hours wear. The shade Perfect Cents is a shimmery copper, and it’s not the most pigmented eyeshadow pencil I’ve tried, but it’s nice all the same.

Next up is a 7ml sample of the Ole Henriksen Truth Serum Collagen Booster worth £23.50. Described as having an high powered vitamin C complex which helps to smooth out lines and wrinkles and prevent further damage.

It is loaded with antioxidants to fight off environmental aggressors and moisture-binding ingredients to keep your skin nourished and protected. I’ve tried this serum before and I really like it, so I’m happy to have another miniature size in my stash.

Next up is a full size Spectrum Tapered Powder Brush worth £7.99. I’ve never tried any of the Spectrum brushes before, but I’ve seen a lot of people rave about them on social media recently.

This brush is beautiful, with a pink wooden handle and blue ombre bristles. The bristles are super soft, and I love the tapered shape for applying powder under my eyes but it could also be used for contouring too.

Then we have a sample size of the Ayres Body Butter in Patagania. I’ve never heard of this brand before, but this is a plant-based body butter brimming with shea butter, vitamin E and antioxidants to soften and hydrate alongside jasmine, lavender and ylang ylang.

The body butter has a really nice, nourishing consistency but the smell isn’t my kinda smell as it’s very strong but I’m sure a lot of people will like it, especially as the weather is so cold right now and our skin is getting drier.

The next item is a single L.Erikson Grab & Go Ponytail Holder worth 76 pence. I initially didn’t think this hair elastic was any good, but after trying it I’m so impressed.

I have really long hair, and lots of it which never fits in the typical hair bobbles so I usually buy foldover elastic from eBay and make my own, but this bobble holds my hair in place for hours without dropping at all so I’m definitely going to buy some more as it’s such a good bobble.

The last item in the Birchbox February 2016 box is a teeny 0.57g sample of theBalm Frat Boy Blush and Shadow worth £1.03. I love theBalm and I’ve been contemplating purchasing Frat Boy but I was worried it was a little too bold for my skintone, but this sample was perfect as I’ve discovered it’s perfect and really flattering. It’s such a pretty shade, and I love the subtle shimmer.

So they are all of the items inside the February Birchbox. I think there are some great products inside this month’s box, and a good selection of skincare, makeup and tools.

All products featured on Gemma Etc. are PR samples or gifted items, unless otherwise indicated. This post may contain affiliate links. If you wish to find out more, please see my Disclaimer within my navigation bar.