Summer’s finally here (well, sort of), bringing with it longer nights, rooftop drinks – and a whole host of beauty products promising to solve your every dilemma. But how to sort through the multitude of products on offer, when you’re short on time and want the best results?
Enter Birchbox. Favoured by bloggers and beauty editors alike, the subscription service sends an edit of the very best in make-up, skincare and haircare through your letterbox. In the age of constant emails and Whatsapps, there’s still something immensely satisfying about receiving goodies through the post, and every month, members have the excitement of receiving five luxurious beauty trends from a selection of new and classic beauty brands: think Elemis, Stila, Benefit and Laura Mercier.
If you've seen the blogger haul videos and been toying with the idea of becoming a Birchbox member for a while now, there's never been a better time to join. Throughout August, new subscribers will bag a free Mirenesse Glossy Kiss crayon when they sign up with the promo code SCUBA. You can check out the offer here.
Each box can be curated according to your beauty needs and preferences – simply build an online profile to receive tailored products and expert-approved tips on how to use them. And if you needed another excuse to treat yourself, there’s the promise of Birchbox’s rewards scheme.
Fallen in love with a new beauty hero? Buy a full sized version in the online store and you’ll receive 10 percent of the cost back in rewards points. There’s also the chance to receive £5 in points for reviewing the samples you receive in your monthly box.
Whether you’re jetting off to tropical climes or braving the British summer, here are some of our top picks from this month’s Birchbox offering - a scuba 'Birchbag' in one of four vibrant neon shades - to see you through the season in style.
Philip Kingsley One More Day Dry Shampoo
Finding that your hair just isn’t lasting between washes like it usually does? You probably have a combination of summer humidity, sweaty commutes and a fluctuating in-office temperature to thank. Luckily Philip Kingsley (the man behind Audrey Hepburn’s hair secret, the Elasticizer) is on hand to ward off bad hair days with this gentle dry shampoo. You’ll find no chalky white residue here – just a formula that absorbs natural oils to leave a soft, shiny finish. Stash it in your desk drawer or your suitcase. Buy it here.
Marcelle Waterproof Eyeliner
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A favourite with US beauty buffs, this is one eyeliner that just won’t budge – making it perfect for days on the beach or by the pool – or, more prosaically, hot journeys on the tube or hours in an aircon-free office… Simply swipe the crayon across your lash line and you’re ready to go. In this month’s Birchbox, you’ll have the chance to pick between Expresso, a deep cocoa brown, or Mulberry, a striking purplish hue. Buy it here.
Balance Me Congested Skin Serum
We’ve long been fans of Balance Me’s natural skincare, and the British brand’s calming serum is a real hero product for those with oily, blemish-prone skin. Active ingredients like soothing chamomile, kanuka oil and anti-bacterial may chang are powerful enough to ward off congestion – without leaving your skin feeling dry, tight and unhappy. Double win. Buy it here.
English Laundry Notting Hill Femme Mini Eau de Parfum
Small enough to fit neatly into your carry-on bag, this feminine twist on English Laundry’s Notting Hill scent is your new go-to summer scent. Top notes of fresh bergamot, mandarin and cassis blend with jasmine, rose and cyclamen – like a walk in an English country garden. Buy it here.
Merci Handy Love & Hand Cleansing Gel
It might not be the most glamorous piece in your beauty arsenal, but the unassuming hand gel is an unsung summer hero. This colourful antibacterial from cult French brand Merci Handy! Is your new festival essential – as well as killing off any nasties, the added vitamin E and emollient beads are extra nourishing, meaning it won’t leave your hands feeling overly dry. Buy it here.
Anatomicals Coconut + Mango Body Lotion
Nothing screams summer like the heady scent of coconuts and mangos? Even if you’re simply making the most of the British sun in your local park or pub garden, slathering on Anatomicals’ Vitamin E-rich body lotion will instantly transport you to tropical climes. Team with the brand’s citrus body scrub for perfectly smooth summer skin. Pina Colada optional… Buy it here.
Fancy treating yourself to a personalised selection of new beauty discoveries to look forward to every month? As if the prospect of beautifully packaged goodies dropping through your letterbox isn’t incentive enough, Birchbox’s current August offer means that all new subscribers will receive a free full-sized Mirenesse Glossy Kiss lip crayon (worth £17.50) when they sign up. Simply apply the promo code SCUBA at the checkout.