When I read about Birchbox‘s new Limited Edition Box I simply had to have it. This box is right up my alley—beginning with the name, “Why Not…Stay In”. As an introvert, I love me some “staying in” time and if I can pamper myself while not being around people, so much for the better!

Before I get into unpacking my new Limited Edition box, I want to talk about a couple other items I got from Birchbox as well. Beware: this post is long and full of #treatyoself goodies!

IMG_6666

First up is a full sized tube of IPKN Flash Cream Radiant Primer ($28), which I received a sample of in my January k-beauty Birchbox and have been using pretty regularly. Here’s how this pearly primer looks right out of the tube and then blended a bit:

FlashPrimer

I actually ordered and received the IPKN primer before I found out about the limited edition box, but I didn’t get around to blogging about it so I figured I’d include it here.  🙂 I got an almost unbelievable deal on the primer because I had accrued 200+ Birchbox points ($20 in store credit) from writing reviews of samples, plus they had emailed me a discount code which could be combined with points. So while the primer costs $28 on Birchbox.com, I only spent $2.86 on it (as a Birchbox ACE I get free shipping, too!). That’s a tenth of the list price! WIN! I love this stuff; it really does give my face a glowy appearance when I use it underneath BB cream or tinted moisturizer.

Next up is the TONYMOLY Panda’s Dream Brightening Eye Base ($12). I had been eyeing (see what I did there) this product for a little while and decided to pull the trigger on it. First of all, how freaking adorable is this packaging?

TONYMOLY Panda's Dream Brightening Eye Base

I mean…it’s just too cute.

Second of all, this stuff REALLY works. No joke, here’s a photo of me with the base underneath one eye but not the other. Can you guess which eye has the base and which doesn’t?

IMG_6692

Yep, I’m wearing the base underneath my right eye but not my left. I can clearly tell the difference because it’s my own face, and I hope you can see it too! I took the panda on vacation with me and used him every day. So. Good. Most definitely worth $12.

When I ordered the eye base and Limited Edition box, Birchbox was running a promo code for a free SOO AE sheet mask with a $35+ purchase. My order hit the target so I popped the code in at checkout for the SOO AE Han Bang Green Tea Collagen Mask (regular price is $20 for a set of five). My first choice for the free mask was the Charcoal Flower Essence Mask  but its promo code didn’t work for me. Regardless, I got a sheet mask valued at $4 for free so I can’t complain! I’ve already used a brightening SOO AE sheet mask from Club Clio, and they’re just so much fun. I’ve been really fascinated by the Korean skin care routine ever since my January Birchbox, so I am excited to try this green tea mask out soon!

Okay…NOW let’s talk about the Why Not…Stay In box?  🙂 The package design is typical for Birchbox, and by that I mean it’s adorable.

IMG_6671

Here’s the info card about the products in the box:

IMG_6672

And the nicely packaged products:

Birchbox Why Not...Stay In

The products all laid out:

Birchbox Limited Edition Why Not...Stay In

This $45 box is valued at $131 and contains a whopping nine items, or an even dozen if you count the WEI mask trio and brush as individual items. Ladies and gentlemen, this box is a STEAL and I highly recommend you pick one up for yourself…it would also make an excellent gift. Let’s go through the box o’ goodies, shall we?

The Body Shop Shea Body Scrub ($20) is a salt and organic sugar-based scrub meant to exfoliate and hydrate your skin. I just returned from a vacation in Southern California, and my skin really needs some TLC so I used it in the shower this morning. Man, does this stuff smell good—almost good enough to eat! That’s probably why the first thing the label says is “Unfit for consumption.” (Seriously.) The salt and sugar granules are large but dissolve quickly, and the scrub is thick but not oily enough to leave a slick in your tub, which is a huge plus in my book.

The Body Shop Shea Body Scrub

I was thrilled to receive the TokyoMilk French Kiss Travel Candle No. 15 ($12)! It’s made with soy wax and contains notes of mandarin, tuberose, gardenia, and vetiver. Basically, they had me at gardenia. This box arrived right before I went on vacation, but somehow I didn’t think to pack this candle in my luggage for some on-the-go candle relaxation. I’ll get plenty of use out of it right here at home, though.

TokyoMilk French Kiss Travel Candle No. 15

The amika Nourishing Mask ($12) is a sulfate and paraben-free treatment for your hair. You know how much I like to bitch and moan about hair products, but I was happy to try this one out because I just returned from vacation and haven’t used my regular hair products for more than a week, so my hair is feeling pretty icky. The mask is supposed to help rehydrate your hair and help restore split ends (which I’m the queen of). Like the brand’s other samples I’ve received from Birchbox, the fragrance is strong but not unpleasant, and the product left my hair very easy to comb out. It also left my hair feeling super soft. So far so good!

amika Nourishing Mask

Nail stuff! First we have the Kocostar Nail Therapy ($17 for 5 packs), which is a nail care product that I’ve never heard of before. The pack includes one treatment mask for each finger, and you’re supposed to apply them and leave them on for 30 minutes to an hour. Then, like a sheet mask, you massage the remaining product into your nails and fingertips. My hands and nails are SUPER dry and unhappy from my recent travels, so I’ll be trying this treatment out soon.

Kocostar Nail Therapy and Nails Inc NAILKALE polish

Also seen in the above photo is the Nails Inc NAILKALE Nail Polish in Westbourne Park Road ($14) and the Nails Inc. NAILKALE Superfood Base Coat ($15). These are both full sized bottles of nail polish from a brand that’s new to me. According to the brand, kale is supposed to help strengthen and smooth brittle nails. I applied the base coat this morning; it goes on clear and leaves a subtle shine. I am totally into the mauve-y greige hue of the Westbourne Park Road color; I haven’t had a chance to do a full on manicure with it yet, but I tested it out on my pinky this morning so you can see how two coats look on me:

Nails Inc NAILKALE Nail Polish in Westbourne Park Road

Nice, right? My only issue with these nail polishes so far is that the caps are confusing at first. You don’t just twist the silver cap off like you would with any other nail polish— you have to pull the silver cap off and then twist off the black lid underneath it. Not a dealbreaker, though.

The next product is the one I think I’m most excited about: the Wei Multitask Multi-Mask Collection ($20). This facial mask collection contains one pod each of three different masks to help me in my quest for glowing skin: Manuka Bee Venom Anti-Wrinkle Cream Mask, Brown Sugar Ready Glow Exfoliating Mask, and Golden Root Purifying Mud Mask. Plus, the pack includes a brush for applying the masks! I think I feel a facial mask addiction coming on…

Wei Multitask Multi-Mask Collection

The two remaining goodies included in the box are the Stephanie Johnson Eyemask ($29) and the Richer Poorer Striped Fuzzy Socks (~$12). The eyemask has a super cute pattern and is designed to not leave crease marks around your eyes like many eyemasks do. YAY!

Stephanie Johnson Eyemask

And you know how much I love socks. The fuzzy striped socks will be perfect for keeping my feetsies warm while lounging around the house!

I’m very happy with my purchase of the Why Not…Stay In box. This box has it all: pampering goodies for your nails, hair, skin, and senses! I was able to get this box for less than list price because I had 100 points in my Birchbox account, which translates to $10 in the online store. My order of the box and the TONYMOLY eye base came out to $57 before tax, but with the points my order was only $47 plus $5.06 tax, for a grand total of $52.06. Amazing!

Have you ordered the Why Not…Stay In box? What’s your favorite product from this limited edition box?

In case you’ve never heard of Birchbox and are wondering what the hell this is all about, please check out my previous reviews!

BB_Bottom_RAF_Banner