Birchbox: The Lip Sync Kit Review

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Hello, friends! I've got a fun little unboxing and review for you today. You might remember me talking about this Lip Sync Kit two weeks ago in my Mail Time post. I purchased this kit from Birchbox, and it basically comes with everything you need for a capsule lip product wardrobe. I'm always up for new lipstick (I mean, have you looked through my lipstick collection lately?) so I thought it looked like fun. I can't wait to tell you guys my thoughts!

Birchbox? What's that?

Birchbox is a monthly beauty and lifestyle subscription service. It sends 4-5 deluxe samples that are curated to your beauty profile. It is $10 a month, and has a wonderful rewards program, in which you can earn points for reviewing products and making purchases in the Birchbox Shop. You can then redeem those points for full-sized products! It's probably the best rewards program out there, in my opinion, which was one of the big draws in me signing up. They're always adding new products to the shop. Last month they sampled products from Amika, Juice Beauty, Shiseido, as well as pages of others! Some products are even exclusive to Birchbox, like Cynthia Rowley's new makeup line and the cult-favorite Beauty Protector brand. If you're interested in subscribing to Birchbox, I would love it if you used my referral link! Thank you!

If you're not familiar, Birchbox puts out quite a few exclusive kits by brands they stock in the shop, They have brand-specific ones (ex. Benefit Cosmetics cult favorites) or product-specific ones (all lip products, like this one!). They're a great way to try out some new products, and are usually a great value. This particular one (found here) was $30 and included a mix of full-size and deluxe sample-size lip products. I was pumped.

The point behind this kit, as said earlier, is to provide a lip product for every situation you may need. Whether you're looking for a casual tinted lip balm or a va-va-voom red lipstick, this kit has got your back. It gives you a little bit of everything, and you guys know how much I like variety. It's like a lip product buffet up in here!

This kit comes with a handy dandy info card, which is a little more detailed than their usual subscription box card. Each product also has a little superlative listed under its name (ex. "Most Likely to Amp Up Intensity") which is super cute. It also lists what each product is and how to use it. I wish everything in life came with an info card.

But enough about that. Let's get to the good stuff!

IPKN Twinkle Lips in Glow Pink 
"Most Likely to Make Your Natural Lips Pop"
(Full-size [4.5g]: $18) 

If you're new to my blog, you should know that I am a SUCKER for lip balm, especially the tinted kind. This one is from a Korean beauty brand called IPKN (their awesome primer made it into my March Favorites). Not only is it a tinted lip balm, but it's a tinted lip balm that reacts to the natural chemistry of your lips to deliver a hint of color specific to you. Science! I love it, even if it might be a gimmick. 

The arm swatch at the end of this post won't look like much of anything, but this gaves a subtle pink tint to my lips. It's not as moisturizing as I would like (if you're looking for something to repair dry lips, this is not the answer) but it's a comfortable lip product to wear for everyday. It beats wearing a matte lippie, that's for sure. The packaging is also super cute. 

Would I repurchase? Well, it's kind of expensive for what it is, even if the color changing aspect is super cool. I'll just enjoy this while I have it. 

LAURA GELLER Lip Strip Smoothing Sugar Scrub
"Most Likely to Create a Super Smooth Finish"
(Sample-size value [.23oz]: $7.50) 
(Cost of full-size [.49oz]: $16)

It was such a great idea to include a lip scrub in this kit! They really thought of everything in this little "all you need" lip kit. I'm a huge fan of the Laura Geller brand (I raved about their blush in my Birchbox this month). It's a good idea to exfoliate your lips, whether it be with a toothbrush, a washcloth, or a sugar scrub like this. 

I like that this lip scrub isn't too harsh. I don't exfoliate my lips everyday. Maybe once every few days, if I notice my lips are peeling, or if I'm going to be wearing a matte lipstick that will show everything. I like to rub my lips together and then wipe this off with a washcloth and my lips feel nice and smooth afterwards. My lips look a little red after using this, not due to the exfoliation, but most likely because of the peppermint oil it's formulated with. It gives it a fresh and minty taste, but it's technically an irritating ingredient, so that's also why I don't use it every day. A lot of lip plumpers are made with peppermint oil too, just because it enlarges the lips slightly (due to the irritation). 

Due to the price and the peppermint oil, you might just want to DIY it and mix a little sugar and honey. That being said, this does have the convenience factor of being packaged in a squeezy tube, so the choice is up to you. But this product does what it's supposed to do, so if you like a product that makes you feel minty fresh then by all means go for it! 

STILA Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Beso
"Most Likely to Last From A.M. to P.M. (to A.M. Again)"
(Sample-size value [.05oz]: $12) 
(Cost of full-size [.1oz]: $24)

Alright we're goin' from 0 to 100 real quick. This liquid lipstick is in it to win it. I received a bright pink shade in my July Birchbox so I already knew what I was getting into what I saw this. If you've ever had a problem with a lip product not lasting through the night, you need to try these. You actually need to remove these with makeup remover. Don't be stupid like me and try to wipe it off with a wet napkin because it will go everywhere. 

These matte liquid lipsticks haven been popular since before it became trendy, so that's how you know they're good. This is a true red shade that doesn't lean too warm or cool, making it a balanced color to have. It's incredibly opaque--one swipe is all you need--but I know I can't just apply it willy-nilly. I can start off with the wand applicator to get it on the center of my lips, but I know I need a lip brush to do the edges. Otherwise, it will go everywhere (this stuff is dangerous). But I would definitely exfoliate (maybe by using the lip scrub above!) before applying this, since otherwise it'll show every little line and crack on your lips. Matte lip products tend to do that. 

Beso is the kind of shade that makes you feel like a bad b*tch when you wear it. I know I feel more confident and powerful when I'm rocking a red lip. What about you? 

MODELCO Lip Enhancer Illusion Lip Liner
"Most Likely to Keep Color Inside the Lines"
(Sample-size value [.7g]: $9.33) 
(Cost of full-size [1.5g]: $20)

This lip liner is designed to be the perfect neutral shade that will work under any lipstick. I already got one of these in my February Birchbox. but if it's really that perfect of a shade, it doesn't hurt to have a backup. 

It's a soft wax pencil that's not too creamy, but not too hard or dry. It's a warm-ish brown shade that I can see working under most lipsticks, though I don't wear lip liner too often. Lip liners are great for keeping lipstick in place, making it longer lasting and preventing feathering outside the lip line (which can happen more often on dry lips, so moisturize with a lip balm first!). I'm not too picky with lip liners, so I'm more than pleased with this one. No complaints! 

OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE COSMETICS Lip Tar in Strumpet
"Most Likely to Amp Up Intensity"
(Sample-size value [.08oz]: $9.14) 
(Cost of full-size [.14oz]: $16)

Here's another matte liquid lipstick, only this one comes in a squeeze tube. Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics (weird name, though they often just go by OCC) is known for these Lip Tars. This shade is listed as a "seedless grape red," which I suppose makes sense since it's sort of a purple-red. You're definitely going to want a lip brush with this one. You only need the tiniest bit, so this tube will last you an eternity, but precision is key. I like to go in with a little concealer and clean up the edges after applying this, just because I tend to get a little messy. 

My application here isn't perfect. It'll definitely takes some practice to get it right, but I love this color! It's different than your typical red, so I wanted you guys to see a lip swatch of this one.

POP BEAUTY Matte Velvet Lipstix in Satin Rose

"Most Likely to Nourish and Protect"

(Full-size [.12oz]: $16)

Pop Beauty has always been a brand that I liked, but didn't love. Most of the products I've tried have been good, not great. I wasn't surprised when I felt the same way about this lipstick. I really like the color, which seems like something that would be great for every day, but I wasn't crazy about the formula. It had a drier texture than I like, and it dragged a little going on the lips. I know it's supposet to have a matte finish, but the application was patchier than I'd like. Here's a picture so you can see what I mean. 

See what I mean? This one looks a little "gritty" on the lips to me, and it doesn't get any better as it wears. The texture is just a little too "visible" if that makes sense. Which is a shame, because I really do like the color. It doesn't look terrible, and it wasn't uncomfortable to wear, but I have products in my stash that I like better. 

The Stats:

• IPKN Tinted Lip Balm: $18
• Laura Geller Lip Scrub: $7.50
• Stila Liquid Lipstick: $12
• ModelCo Lip Liner: $9.33
• OCC Lip Tar: $9.14
• Pop Beauty Lipstick: $16
• TOTAL: $71.97 (that's over double what I paid!)

The Best: 
So far, I'm getting the most use out of the tinted lip balm and the lip scrub, but that's no surprise. 

The Worst: 
Nothing in here is bad, really. I'm not crazy about the Pop Beauty formula, but if I never got this kit I never would have known that, so I'm glad I got to try everything in here. 

The Verdict: 
For $30, I feel like I got a great deal. There's a lip product for every occasion in here, and they're not really "season-specific" like a coral so I feel like I could wear any of these year-round. Overall, I'm glad I got this kit, and I recommend it to anyone who's looking to expand their lip product collection. 

If you're interested in purchasing this box, you can click here to buy it from the Birchbox Shop for $30.

Did you get the Lip Sync Kit? Would you? Tell me what you think!

Want to see more Birchbox reviews? Click here!  

Like what you see? Click here to sign up for Birchbox!

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Disclaimer: This box was purchased by me. Not sponsored. Some affiliate links included.