It's my first official beauty box of 2015... and it's my only subscription right now so it'll be my only one for awhile! I'm really grateful that I subscriped to Birchbox Canada last month and not Ipsy, as the Canadian dollar keeps diving, which keeps raising the price of any American subscription box. So luckily, I can enjoy Birchbox from the comfort of Canadian pricing!

Now, last month was a hit, but can they repeat it for a second month? Read on!

What is Birchbox?

Birchbox is a mid-priced monthly box ($10CDN + $5CDN to a neat $15 a month), that offers a unique rewards system. If you write product reviews on the Birchbox site for your products each month, you can redeem those points for items from their beauty shop. You also earn points for referrals and other actions on the site. It's a neat way to give back to your subscribers and I look forward to taking advantage of it. It's similar to Julep's 'Jules' but it doesn't ONLY reward purchases.

Another neat thing about Birchbox is that they allow you to see what your products are before they hit your door, so it can be a surprise or you can spoil yourself if you want. I've spoiled it for myself TWICE but maybe in February I can hold out?

In my January 2015 Birchbox I received:

Beauty Protector Protect & Treat Hair Mask
This bright and delicious smelling hair mask claims to restore strength and shine to hair that's become dull and brittle. It's an interesting shade of peachy-pink (like most else in the box this month!) and while I'm not usually a big user of masks, especially in the winter, it smells so good that I want to keep it to myself!

Embryolisse Lait-Creme Concentrate<br data-preserve-html-node="true" /> This is one of those holy grail items that I JUST, KEEP, HEARING, ABOUT. Somehow this product is a primer, moisturizer and makeup remover which just seems WILD but maybe it's true? I have just used it as a moisturizer for now, and so far so good, so I'll report back later with my verdict.

Joie, Folle de Joie de parfum
I think this is a VERY high quality scent, it smells rather special and is an interesting blend of floral notes, citrus and sandalwood, but I don't think the scent is very me. I'm not huge on the sandalwood. But this is a VERY nice perfume sample for a beauty box, I was impressed!

TOCCA Crema de Mano Cleopatra
TOCCA is one of those brands that I keep seeing on blogger's lust-lists, or in magazine editorials and in chic clothing shops around Toronto. But I don't think I ever actually used it until now. It's a rich, moisturizing lotion that showcases aromas of grapefruit and, apparently, cucumber, but it's just generally a DELIGHTFUL smell and the cutest, chicest little lotion bottle. It's got substance and style. A big winner in my books.

ModelCo Party Proof Lipstick Dusk Till Dawn
I absolutely love receiving lipsticks in beauty boxes because odds are that they are colours and brands I'd ABSOLUTELY never buy in my life. While I'm familiar with ModelCo's nail polish line, I had heard nothing about their lipsticks. Dusk Till Dawn is this deep nude shade that had others muttering because it LOOKED brown, but really it complimented pinky-lips with a dusky rose look, and was super nourishing to boot. I've received many compliments about this lipstick and it's made me rethink the bold lips I usually rock.

The Verdict?

My January 2015 Birchbox is a hit! I'm quite impressed with the quality of the sample companies that Birchbox provides, and I also really like the marketing and design of the box. I feel it's way more mature than other boxes I've received, yet it's still exciting and stylish. I can't wait for February!

Use my referral code to try out Birchbox today and try it for yourself.