Birchbox November 2011 Review

Birchbox is a monthly subscription service that sends its customers five samples of luxury cosmetics and beauty products for 10 dollars. Women who are leery of buying new and untested products may try them first at a lower cost without the fear of spending too much money on something they'd never use beyond the first application. The service is perfect if you love trying new things or simply want to switch up your beauty routine. My November 2011 Birchbox arrived a couple of days ago and here are my thoughts on the products I received.

Thymes Eucalytus Body Lotion
I'm usually not a fan of herbal scented lotions, but this one is fantastic. The scent is very light and fresh - not overwhelming at all. It's wonderfully moisturizing and leaves your skin feeling like silk. I love that it sinks into your skin and doesn't leave a greasy feeling. The sample I received was a generous 1.5 ounces, so this will be perfect to keep in my bag. I also received a very small packet of their body lotion in the Kimono Rose scent. It smells absolutely delicious. It is perfumed, so I would refrain from using perfume while wearing this lotion. It has a sweet floral scent with just a hint of citrus. A big plus is that the scent lasts for hours. On the downside, it is quite pricey at $24 for 9.25 fluid ounces.Avène Cleanance Soap-Free Gel Cleanser  for oily, blemish prone skin
I was surprised at how well this worked for a gel cleanser. It has a very thick consistency and when mixed with a little water, it makes a good lather with a little elbow grease. My favorite thing about this cleanser is that it didn't make my face feel dry. My skin felt smooth and clean, but not like it had been completely stripped of moisture. I have used it in the morning and in the evening with equally good results. I loved that it helped control oil during the day, but it removed all traces of makeup. At $18 dollars for 200ml this is a really great bargain because you need such a small amount of product to clean your face.
Zoya nail polish in Noel (Gems and Jewels Collection)
I'm usually not a fan of nail polishes that aren't a neutral color, but this polish is gorgeous. The color reminds me of a vibrant sapphire and it's base is a deep electric blue with silver and blue shimmer. What I loved the most about this polish is how thin but pigmented it is. A lot of polishes are very thick, which take a long time to harden, leaving your nails susceptible to smears and nicks. I only needed two coats to get an opaque look, but it dried completely within a couple of minutes. Not only does it look and work great, it's vegan friendly and is free of harmful chemicals. If you love nail polish, this is a really great deal at $8 for 0.5 ounces.Mineralogie Cream Concealer
I was disappointed with this product. It has a great creamy consistency but on my oily skin, it did not last. I also found that it did not provide a lot of coverage for me. I had to wear 3 layers under my eyes just to hide my dark circles but on the plus side, it looked very naturally and not cakey. I tried using this as an eyeshadow primer, but it made my eyeshadow crease within a few hours. I would not recommend this for oily skin, but the ladies out there with drier skin might have more luck with it. Retail price is $18 dollars for a 3ml tube.Two Paperdolls Coasters
These coasters are really great. I've been using one at my desk and it has yet to take any damage from glass condensation. They also have an adorable design, which would be perfect for a themed party. I can't say I would ever purchase these, I prefer coasters made out of material that would last for years. They are also quite expensive for paper coasters. $15 for a set of 10.