Birchbox is a subscription service that delivers a box of deluxe beauty samples to your door once a month. I’ve been subscribed to Birchbox since May. I canceled my BeautyFix subscription last winter because I just wasn’t impressed by the selection anymore, but I missed the quarterly shipments of beauty treats. For $10 a box, I figured Birchbox was worth a try.
Each month, Birchbox sends four to five beauty samples in a cute little box. I say “samples,” but some of the products are actually travel sized or larger.
As with Julep Maven, you get a nice little rundown of the products you’ve received, along with pricing information for the full-sized versions. (You can order the full-size versions from Birchbox, naturally.)
Each month has a theme, and this month’s was “prep and finish,” featuring “products designed to prep and polish skin, body and hair.” My box contained:
1.69 fl. oz. tube Korres Body Butter in Guava (full size retails for $29):
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| I have this body butter on my hands right now and I can’t stop smelling them. They smell like Hawaii. |
0.141 oz. Blinc mascara (the kind that coats your lashes in little tubes). I actually used to use Blinc a few years ago but stopped because I felt like it was kind of hard on my eyelashes. I also don’t love that the tube comes packed in a totally unnecessary outside tube (that’s the purple thing):
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| We get it. It’s tubes. Where can I recycle this wasteful packaging? |
A full-size Blinc mascara is $24. I might actually give this another try, since it’s here. And it is the most waterproof mascara I’ve ever used. And the little tubes are kind of cool when you rub them off your eyes at the end of the day.
The box also contained a 0.13 fl. oz. Caudalie Vinoperfect Cell Renewal Night Cream (full size, 30 ml, is $68):
A full-size Stila eye shadow in Poppy (retail value $18):
And a sample packet of The Laundress Delicate Wash in Lady:
(Of course… because I just washed every single delicate item I own last weekend. Oh, well… something to save for later.)
Not a bad little haul for $10:
Like Julep Maven, Birchbox includes shipping in the monthly fee. You can also review the products in your box each month to earn Birchbox Points. Each review earns you 10 points; 100 points is worth $10 off your next purchase of a full-size product. You can also earn 110 bonus points by signing up for a yearlong subscription rather than paying month by month.
Overall, I’ve been thrilled with my Birchbox shipments so far. I’ve gotten to try some things I never would have sought out on my own, and I’ve gotten extras of some items I already know and love. This was my sixth shipment, and for the first time I saw some repeats. This was my second Stila eye shadow (although a different color) and my second Blinc product (August’s box contained the companion liquid liner). Since repetition was one of the reasons I left BeautyFix, I hope Birchbox maintains a variety of items. For me, the excitement of opening my Birchbox is getting to sample new products, so if I start to see repeats, a lot of the appeal will be gone.
Birchbox
Bottom line: A monthly visitor you’ll actually look forward to!
Price: $$
Tip: Review products and refer friends to earn Birchbox Points that can save you money on full-size product orders.
I'm tempted, but I have yet ordered Birchbox. I like some of the items they included in your recent box. Never tried the Blinc mascara–interesting that you wrote it's the most waterproof mascara you've ever used. Thank you for the post! x
Hands down the most waterproof — it's because instead of painting black pigment onto your lashes, it forms little tubes around them. Doesn't run, doesn't flake, nothing. I don't use waterproof mascara much anymore, but if I had a wedding to go to, I'd bust it out for sure.