Another month, another Birchbox Canada in my mailbox! After the box snafu of last month, I'm happy to say I received the gorgeous Cupcakes & Cashmere box this month and can't wait to store some jewellery or accessories in this super cute box. ...But what about the products INSIDE?

What Is Birchbox Canada?

Birchbox is a mid-priced monthly box ($10CDN for the box + $5CDN shipping= $15 a month), that offers a unique rewards system. If you write product reviews on the Birchbox site for your products each month, or refer friends to the subscription, you can earn points to use in the Birchbox beauty shop which carries a variety of products from brands found in the boxes. It's a neat way to give back to your subscribers and I look forward to taking advantage of it.

Another fun 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. Me? I've spoiled it for myself every month except once, so I always know what I'm getting a few days ahead.

In my May 2015 Birchbox Canada Subscription Box, I received:

W3LL People - The Expressionist Bio Extreme Mascara
While not as intense as my Benefit They're Real, I really liked this mascara. It lifts and separates the lashes, adding a bit of ooomph but this all-natural mascara is MUCH EASIER to remove than my Benefit They're Real. The formula is really smooth and clump-free, and the wand is very easy to wield to get even the smallest lashes. The only downside is that it is not waterproof though, so it will leave a bit of residue on your lower lid if you don't use powder.

Mirenesse, Mattfinity Lip Rouge in Sydney
Wait Danielle, didn't you already receive this product two months ago? Yes. Yes I did, the EXACT SAME PRODUCT LINE in a VERY SLIGHTLY different colour. In my March 2015 Birchbox Canada box I received the product in New York and raved about how much I liked it. It's a bit of a cross between a gloss an a stain and paints a rather dramatic-face. But to get a VERy similar colour two months later? Same product line? Ugh, it's frustrating. I complained, a bit annoyed, and Birchbox gave me a $5 credit, but I'm still annoyed that I can't even write a review for the product because I've DONE IT BEFORE. Bah.

Not Soap, Radio - Joy Inducing Body Wash
Second month in a row that I've receive a lemon-scented body wash, I mean, it IS my favourite scent but there's only so much that one blogger needs, right? This paraben-free body wash smells of a more dessert-y lemon than last month's more citral scent, and it lathers fine, but it's nothing to write home about. Just your average body wash.

Number 4 Non-Aerosol Hairspray
I've been turning away from aerosol hairsprays for the last few years so this was a welcome addition to my hair arsenal. It's lightweight so not great for strong-looks, but good if you just want to keep some stray hairs aside.

100% Pure Creamy Nail Polish
I'm used to getting sub-par nail polishes in beauty box subscriptions but this one really takes the cake. Bahhhhhh, this stuff is garbage. It's a weird taupe-beige colour that STINKS TO HIGH HEAVEN. The company calls themself '10 free'

100% Pure Nail Polishes are "10-free" - free of formaldehyde, toluene, DBP, camphor, formaldehyde resin, xylene, parabens, fragrances, phthalates, and animal ingredients.

Then why does it SMELL SO BAD? I have no answers. Also, it took over 3 coats to build any opacity and my nailbed is still suuuuuper clear underneath it. Disappointing.

Verdict?

I'm sitting at 50/50 with this month's box. Other than the nail polish, the products are pretty good, I'm just not really blown away by any of them. In fact? I'm kinda bored. I'm waffling on my subscription right now. I know a lot of people like the skincare options available here, but I was looking for more makeup in this subscription and I'm not really getting it. Ipsy has more makeup but I'm not a fan of their charging in USD so I'm in a pickle. Any thoughts?

If you're interested in testing out Birchbox Canada yourself, feel free to use my referral here and test it for yourself.