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Birchbox Subscription Box Review + Coupon – May 2017

Haley Faye
ByHaley FayeMay 19, 2017 | 20 comments

Birchbox Sample Choice Subscription Box May 2017

Birchbox
3.7 overall rating
657 Ratings | 188 Reviews

Every month, Birchbox lets subscribers pick between a curated box (all samples revealed) or a single sample choice and be surprised by the rest of the items.

Birchbox Sample Choice Subscription Box May 2017

My Subscription Addiction pays for this subscription. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes).

This review is of the Sample Choice, $10 a month, box.

Birchbox Sample Choice Subscription Box May 2017

The Subscription Box: Birchbox

The Cost: $10 a month (get one month free and $10 to spend in the shop with an annual subscription!)

LIMITED TIME DEAL: While supplies last, use coupon code ITSBALM to get a FREE full-size Pixi by Petra MultiBalm in Wild Rose with your first month of a Birchbox subscription!

OR

Check out the 30% off sale for everyone, too!

The Products: Beauty and lifestyle samples selected by the Birchbox team.

Ships to: U.S., FranceSpain and the U.K. and Canada

Check out all of our Birchbox reviews and the Beauty Subscription Box Directory!

Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!

Birchbox Sample Choice Subscription Box May 2017

Each box comes with an info card. This month is all about “low effort, high impact” – perfect for summer! The flipside of the info card lists information about each item they sent in my box.

Birchbox Sample Choice Subscription Box May 2017

OUAI Wave Spray – 1 fl oz, Value $5.20

Personally, I would be happy to never see another OUAI wave spray in a box because I feel like I’ve received about 12 of them this past year and they just don’t work for my hair type! Maybe Birchbox picked it for me because I said my hair is straight in my style profile, but my hair literally has zero natural texture to it so there’s nothing for this wave spray to work with. I pass along or swap these – although, I do like how they smell and they do get good reviews on Birchbox’s site from those who have the right hair type.

Birchbox Sample Choice Subscription Box May 2017

Evo Lockdown Smoothing Treatment – 1.1 oz, Value $7.55

I always use some sort of leave-in treatment in my hair before blow-drying, and the brand Evo is new to me. I like this product, though! I think it smells nice and was effective at making my hair feel hydrated with less frizz.

Birchbox Sample Choice Subscription Box May 2017

MDSolarSciences Mineral Crème SPF 50 Broad Spectrum UVA-UVB Sunscreen - 0.25 oz, Value $4.41

I love keeping samples of sunscreen stashed in my car and purse and diaper bag in case I forget or we end up doing a sunny park day or something. This sunscreen is nice because it has a sort of silky feel to it (think kind of like some primers do) and it doesn’t feel greasy on your face and doesn’t turn your face white.

Birchbox Sample Choice Subscription Box May 2017

MAC Strobe Cream - 0.2 fl oz, Value $3.88

MAC is new to Birchbox, which is exciting because they’re definitely a huge brand. I actually haven’t been able to try much of their stuff before, though, because there’s no stores or counters near me. I like this strobe cream! It’s a liquid highlighter and a little goes a very long way. This little sample will last me a while.

Birchbox Sample Choice Subscription Box May 2017

This strobe cream will work great for my paler complexion because it’s a white/silver highlighter. Many tinted or bronzey highlighters don’t work for me.

Birchbox Sample Choice Subscription Box May 2017

The Beauty Crop Fabulous Flocking Lashes Mascara – Full Size, Value $22

Yay, a full-size item! Having not heard of this brand before, except for one liquid lipstick in a previous Birchbox, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I’m picky with mascaras, too. But I like this one. It’s not amazing but it didn’t clump and it’s made with lash-nourishing ingredients like argan and jojoba oils. It’s also waterproof, and I can attest that it does a good job of being so because I happened to cry the day I wore this. Also, it removes well with a liquid eye makeup remover – my regular makeup remover wipes didn’t cut it.

Verdict: This was a pretty good Birchbox for me, but not amazing. I am especially glad to have a sample of the MAC strobe cream and am happy to have a new waterproof mascara for the summer, but I am so tired of wave and sea salt sprays. ‘Tis the season for those to pop up in every box, though. The value of my box adds up to $43.04 which is nice for a $10 box, and better than my last couple months, too.

What do you think about Birchbox? What did you get this month?

Starting at $17.00
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Birchbox ($15 per month) was one of the very first beauty subscription boxes—we’ve been reviewing it since 2012! Each month, subscribers get a new mix of 5 beauty samples, such as makeup, skincare, haircare, and fragrance items. Birchbox lets you choose whether you’d like a box of items picked ju... read more.

Haley Faye
Haley Faye
Haley Faye first discovered the wonderful world of subscription boxes in 2012 and began writing for MSA in 2014. Over the years, she has found many subscriptions to love. Now a mom of three, her favorite boxes are ones that dress her kids, help her get organized, feed her family, send her snacks, and offer educational fun for her children.

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20 comments

judith m zaparaskas

I want to cancel my subscription with Birchbox

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Kaitlynn Marie

I’m torn! If they’re adding MAC products, I might want to resub, but the rest of this box is so underwhelming to me. *sigh*

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Tricia

I’ve been swamped at work and not paying attention to any of my beauty sub alerts- so I just let this month go. I figured how bad could it be?

Well, maybe I missed a posting but I got the following:

Beauty Protector Spray ( oh no, not another one!) heavily scented too- yuck.

Coola SPF 30 make up setting Spray

Manna Kadar Glo Illuminator

ModelCo Illusion Lip Pencil

Vita Liberata Self Tanner.

I’m ok with the fake bake because I never get real sun on my face anymore and I like Vita Liberata products- but the other stuff is meh.

For $10 it’s ok, but nothing fabulous.

Is there a review already posted by MSA on this box? Again I apologize as I just had to delete emails cause I was twitching I was so far behind and felt overwhelmed! Thanks.

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Caligirl

I got the dreaded perfume sample. I think it’s time to say goodbye.

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dae

HI, How does the get one month free works?

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Bobbie Mayfield

Fill out the questionnaire and it’s basically a buy one get one free kinda thing.

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Daena Rodriguez

Thanks1

Angie

I’m bored of these products and the box. I have found in the past four months, about three products that I really loved and still use. Bye bye Birchbox 👋🏼

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Bobbie Mayfield

Agreed…. I got 2 freaking sunscreens in my box. REALLY BB you think I needed 2!??

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Val

Hey Haley, just fyi that Strobe cream is to be used like a lotion on your face. I didn’t know that when I got the sample from Mac a while ago, and just imagine dabbing lotion as if it were a highlighter and wondering, Uh wtf? Lol.

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Haley Faye

Val, thanks so much for that! Maybe it’s because I’m so pale, but the MAC cream worked really well as a highlighter for me, too. I’m excited to try it all over, though – I definitely love some extra glow to counteract my dry skin. Thanks so much for reading!

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Haley Fayw

Ooh, thanks for the tip, Val! Maybe it’s because of how pale I am, but it did totally work as a highlighter for me, too. I’m excited to try it all over, though! Definitely love some extra glow to counteract my dry skin!

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Kim

Awful box. HORRIBLE customer service. There’s SO much better out there to try!!!

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Jen

I’m sorry that you were crying the day you sampled the mascara! And thanks for another great review.

I like to keep sunscreen in different places too, especially as I’ve lived the past 6 years in New Mexico and then San Diego. I have heard though that leaving sunscreen in the car means that the intense heat will break down the SPF. So I personally try to not do that. I’ve read that in a couple different places, including here: http://www.womansday.com/style/beauty/a4948/10-things-you-didnt-know-about-sun-protection-108679/

Lol to the Oui Wave Spray showing up yet again!

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Krista

Box twins this month! I’ve been with Birchbox for a couple of years and I cancelled after this one, though. To be fair, I was happy to see something from MAC. And the Ouai was fine, although it was bigger when it came in Play! like a YEAR ago – I’m tired of sunscreens and black mascaras. I found that Birchbox as a “discovery service” is just not helping me “discover” much of anything.

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Marie

These boxes seem so much better than Ipsy.

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Debbie

Hello, I’m a Ipsy user & you say this box is better?, I see some products are the same,,
I may have to give this box a try n compare it to Ipsy items,,
Thanks for unknowingly giving me a compairable choice to make.

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Krista

I like the brand quality much better than Ipsy personally. It depends on what you want for your $10 though. Ipsy sends out way more full sizes (this month getting one from Birchbox is a deviation from their norm, honestly – off the top of my head, the PBJ smoothie stick is one of the only other full sizes I’ve gotten from them).

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MaryJennifer

I got the same mascara. Haven’t tried it yet but although it looks full size, mine says its 0.14 oz vs 0.71 for the fill size making the value of the sample about $4. I’m thinkin the just put less product in the tube? Can anyone else confirm?

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Tamara

I think .71 oz must be a misprint. That would be twice the size of most full-size mascaras (e.g. tarte’s Lights, Camera, Lashes is .24 oz, Benefit’s They’re Real is .3 oz, Buxom is .37 oz, and MUFE’s Smoky Extravagant is .23 oz). .14 oz, on the other hand, is a pretty typical “travel size” mascara amount.

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