Birchbox Review & Coupon – July 2014

ByLiz CadmanJul 12, 2014 | 89 comments

Birchbox Review & Coupon - July

Birchbox is one of the original beauty sampling subscription boxes, and I think it will always be one of my favorites. Sometimes the samples are smaller than I would like, but I’ve discovered a ton of my favorite beauty brands thanks to Birchbox, and they have one of the best reward systems. (For every item in your box you review, you get 10 points ($1) to spend in the Birchbox shop).

Birchbox Review & Coupon - July 2014 Women's Health

This month Birchbox partnered with Women's Health magazine to curate the box and include tips on powering up your day!

Birchbox Review & Coupon - July 2014 Items

The Subscription Box: Birchbox

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

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

Ships to: US, France, Spain and the UK

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

Birchbox Review & Coupon - July 2014 Card

Each box comes with a card detailing the items included and some tips on how to use them.

Birchbox Review & Coupon - July 2014 Suki

Suki Exfoliate Foaming Cleanser - 6 g Value $1.65

LAQA & Co. Sheer Lip Lube Pencil in Bees Knees - .07 oz Value $18? (I'm not sure if this is full size, but it's labeled the same ounce about as the full size listing on Birchbox).

This Suki sample is tiny - probably good enough for only 1-2 uses - but that's enough to find out that this is an awesome product. (I'm already a fan and love the fresh lemony scent).

This lip pencil is great too, the shade is subtle (I think I lucked out with the shade - I wouldn't be able to pull of the purple shades), the finish is matte, and it has a nice minty flavor. (I'm not sure if it's full sized or deluxe sized, but when it comes to lip and nail polish products, deluxe versions are pretty much the same as full size version to me since I never finish full size version!)

Birchbox Review & Coupon - July 2014 Beauty Protector

Beauty Protector Protect & Treat Mask - 1 oz total Value $6.50

Naobay Body Radiance Lotion - 1 oz Value $3

I've liked the other Beauty Protector hair products I've sampled, so I'm excited to try this mask. I was surprised to see that the mask is pink though. (I never understand why companies add artificial coloring when it's unnecessary!)

This Naobay lotion may be my favorite discovery in the box. I love that it's made with only natural and organic ingredients, and it's a light lotion with a subtle citrus scent.

Birchbox Review & Coupon - July 2014 Skyn

Skyn Iceland Hydro Cool Firming Eye Gels - 1 pair Value $3.75

I've tried quite a few eye patch gels, and haven't really noticed any different in my under-eye-skin after using them, but these have all 5-star reviews on Birchbox, so maybe I'll try one more pair!

This box also came with a free one year subscription to Women's Health! I'm all about getting everything in the mail, so I immediately filled out the card. (If you don't want the magazine, you can also request a $9.99 refund check instead).

Verdict: This was a great Birchbox for me - I'm happy with the sizes of all the samples, and the value is about $40! (I'm including the $10 value of the magazine since you can get a cash refund on it). Plus I'll review my products and get another $5 in Birchbox points, so that makes the value even better.

What did you think of Birchbox this month?

Posted in Beauty Subscription Boxes, Subscription Box Reviews, Subscription Boxes for Women

Liz Cadman

Liz is the founder of My Subscription Addiction. She's been hooked on subscription boxes since 2011 thanks to Birchbox, and she now subscribes to over 100 boxes. Her favorites include POPSUGAR Must Have, FabFitFun, and any box that features natural beauty products!

Read More By Liz Cadman >

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89 comments

Anna

How this refund works? I send it today, but I don’t have idea, how do I get those $10? Will they send check or what?

Ashley

Yep, I received my check already!

Lexie

Ashley,
How long ago did you send in your refund request? I only just received my July box a week ago so only sent in my card a few days ago. Was wondering approximately how long between that and receiving the check. Thanks!

Brandy

I cancelled Birchbox last night. My favorite box was my first box. I get shampoo and conditioner basically every month. My box could not possibly add up to ten dollars most of the time. I stayed for there point system. I’m waiting on my last box which looks better then my others though. I’m trying to stay with my favorite can’t live without boxes. I’ve have too many unusable samples floating around the house.

Brandy

My mom got her first subscription services in the 70-80s there was a few and Club Cosmteique makeup and skin care is still in business. I remember I got my own Cosmteique acct in 1995-96 and got my first box free, didn’t have to give them credit card info. I recieved a bill in the mail for the next month. They came in a box and inside was a gift bag like Victoria Secret with tissue paper. Had them for YeArs until we moved. Looked them up and there still in Business. . Wow

Lol…

Sneaky Burrito

I remember them from the 1990s. I looked at their website recently and they haven’t changed their products since I was in high school…

Brandy

Club cosmetique is makeup, skin care, and perfume generally full size.

Not Necessarily a sampling service full size beauty items but there was a few beauty subs before Birchbox. I always used to wish that I would have my own sub company back before I was even 18. Lol

Cindy

Got my first box. Was really wanting those eye masks but didn’t get them. I got the Real Chemistry peel, Cynthia Rowley black liner, Naobay body lotion, Supergoop CC cream, and Harvey Prince Imperial Gardenia perfume sample. Never thought I’d see a sample as small as that Supergoop. Didn’t care for the perfume. Hope they don’t send perfume often.

All in all, just meh for the first box.

Sara

You might want to change your preferences for the perfume. I don’t mind perfume samples, but I don’t love them and I’ve been with Birchbox for over 3 yrs and it seems this last year I was getting lots of perfume samples. I had 4 or 5 in a row for a few months, so I switched my preferences to no more than 6 a year. Just an FYI, cuz I didn’t like receiving so many perfume samples.

brandy

I was very dissatisfied with my box. I recieved the same purple laqa and co lip lube as last month. I recieved the whish shaving cream. The foil body wash. I did not like the items at all. Not worth $10 for tiny samples that do not work for me, poorly rated items too. I did not recieve the choose your sample email last month and this month I made it too late to choose. I’m giving them one more month before I cancel. I have had a missing item and damaged so what horrible luck. The point system is very good though and that’s about it.

Jill

Did you receive the exact same Laqa & Co. lip lube (same color) last month? If so, I’d contact Birchbox and complain, and maybe they’ll send you a replacement and/or points. Their customer service has generally seemed good (not counting the whole item selection debacle).

brandy

You got a great box Liz! 🙂
I would have loved the peach laqa and co lip lube and I’ve tried the suki, it’s great! All of your items look fantastic! My box was poor in comparison.

Julie

Posting this here too; in case anyone is interested. My steal of the day! I fell in love with Harvey Prince Hello through Birchbox. Regular price for the largest Harvey Prince Hello Perfume $55, Hello lotion $26, Hello shower gel $26 ~ total $107. The 3 piece package on sale at harveyprince.com for $80. 50% off using code OBSESSED is $40 plus $6.50 shipping. When all was said & doneb $46.50:delivered for all three! The code is good for half of all orders $80 or above.

PA Anna

My box arrived today because being new to the subscription the June and July box were spaced out. I received the Suki cleanser in the June box.

1. Cynthia Rowley Beauty Black Eyeliner
2. Harvey Prince Singular Scentsations Imperial Gardenia
3. Naobay Body Radiance Lotion – can’t wait to try this
4. Real Chemistry Luminous 3 Minute Peel – Supposed to be good for rosacea.
5. Supergoop Daily Correct CC Cream SPF 35+

Laura

Wow this may be the first box out of any subscription I’ve received where I plan to keep and use every item! I’m really happy with the items they chose for me, I can’t wait to try them. I am going to use the subscription although getting $9.99 cash back from my $10 investment was tempting!

kristi

My box is different…only the suki is the same. I like everything, but am surprised how tiny all the samples are. I’ve been with BB a long time and this is the smallest group of products I’ve ever received.

Emily

Just got mine today and forgotten that my battery charger was supposed to be with it until I went online and saw they had given me an extra 100 points because its been delayed

stephanie

I received an email the same day my box arrived letting me know that my Cynthia Rowley Lip Stain was not included in my July box but will come to me shortly. Today I found my lip stain in my mailbox. BB really does make good on their promises!

Sneaky Burrito

I’ll believe that when I see it. I had to e-mail them when I didn’t get the confirmed lip stain. Two days of e-mails (they responded without giving any info. each time except that I’d hear “official word” soon) and finally they told me I should have received “official word” when I never got any messages from them other than uninformative replies from their CS. I’ve had my box for well over a week at this point and no lip stain and no tracking e-mails regarding any substitution and certainly nothing else in the mail.

Sneaky Burrito

Sent another complaint e-mail and got a tracking number for the replacement product in response (reply was in less than an hour). So that’s good, at least.

Misha

Just to let everyone know. I received my BB with my Harvey prince body cream exploded. I contacted CS and let them know that and the fact that I never got to choose my product even though I clicked the email right after it was sent. They responded quickly saying they will replace my exploded item and send me a creamy lip stain by Cynthia Rowley since I wasn’t able to choose. Their CS really goes above and beyond, especially compared to the ipsy debacle last month

Amanda

When I emailed them saying I picked a lip stain but didn’t receive it all they said was it was their first try doing this and sorry I missed out! How rude that they are sending you one and not everyone who thought they selected one

Jessica

Amanda. Don’t feel bad. I went back and forth with a cs about it. She had received my first of two complaints. I had sent another when I realized for the third time I was once again getting a Supergoop (3/5 boxes is a tad extreme- I guess because I’m fair). Anyway, the second lady I don’t know of she responded before or after I hit the button to rate my support. But I finally was comped next months box (I wanted the ambrosia ruffian- but would have been happy either way). Then I ended up getting the do poetry wrong box. It had blue liner (I’m green eyed ) and it had the darkest shade of tinted moisturizer I was peeved! It was sloppy this month.

But that First Lady I spoke to said the same thing, I’m like why can’t u just send me he ruffian polish?? Didn’t make sense. Oh well I am trading for it and bout the other.

lily

Liz: Just got an email – birchbox has a : Our Exclusive Women’s Health Box – SPECIAL IN-BOX OFFER: GET A ONE-YEAR SUBSCRIPTION TO WOMEN’S HEALTH (A $9.99 VALUE) – It’s great to have a friend who urges you onward—whether it’s to speed up in spin class or to swipe on a bold lip. That’s why we’ve partnered with Women’s Health for July’s “Power Up” box, packed with products and tips to supercharge your style, optimize workouts, and more. Plus, get a full year of Women’s Health when you Subscribe—just look for more info in your July box.

Rachel

I was really happy with my July Birchbox, which was surprising to me because I was so disappointed with my June box. I got soft curl gel, citrus scented lotion, a face exfoliant, pink lip stain, and shaving gel. With the mail in refund anything is bonus, but considering I really liked the lip stain and lotion, I am really happy.

Ashley

I just got my box today, and I received: Supergoop Eye Cream, Black Cynthia Rowley Eyeliner (going up for swap), Naobay Organic Body Radiance Lotion, No. 4 Leave-In Conditioner, and Smarty Pants Vitamin Gummies! Plus, I am getting the $9.99 back instead of the magazine subscription! So happy with my box! 🙂

amy

I received the same box as you. I was impressed as this was my first box. Now I’m already excited to get next months box!!

Anne Shaw

I just received my Birchbox today and I mostly like what I got.

Vasanti Detox Facial Cleanser
Sumita Raina Contrast Eye Pencil (I am guessing in black)
Naobay Body Radiance Lotion
2 foil packet body wash
Klorane Dry Shampoo.

Not a bad box – I am pretty happy with it and love the Klorane Dry Shampoo.

Stephanie

We got the exact same box! My eyeliner is navy. The packaging made it look black till I swatched it. I like the scent of the lotion, but haven’t really tried the other items out yet.

Sara

I finally got my Birchbox today, it was a little delayed this month for some reason. I was wondering how do you get the rebate? It says to mail the card back with your original Birchbox subscription order confirmation. Am I being really dense, or are they talking about the original email when I signed up for Birchbox two years ago? It’s been a monthly recurring payment since then.

Dora

I’m confused about that, as well. I hope someone knows what it means!

Ashley

okay gals… login to your account and go to Account Settings… then scroll down to Purchase History & click on View All… this will open your Order History… click on your most recent subscription for the woman’s box… right click on the screen that opens, and click Print… that will open the print dialog box… print it, fill out the magazine card for the refund, and mail them both to the address on the bottom of the card! hope this helps 🙂

Ashley

I am going to call them and will let you all know soon!

Molly

Thank goodness I am not alone. I am not sure what is meant by the original box order confirmation. Do they want me to print off the email that says that my box this month has shipped? Or what?

Kaycee

It’s odd to me that your products have the label wearing off of them. Little sketchy…

Peg

I am really disappointed! I was excited when I saw the BB promo through this site. Then I tried to go to their website and pick a sample and realized they probably emailed people and I would get 1. I never did. I thought maybe I just missed something and now I see that some did and some didn’t. This doesn’t make me want to stick with BB. I may cancel this and try something else! And still no July BB, by the way!!

Misha

contact CS ASAP, they will send you a replacement option if you want, since you couldn’t choose! they did this for me since I wasn’t able to choose either :))

Laura

I completely forgot I never received my email letting me choose my product, thanks for the reminder. I kept waiting for that email too 🙁

Brooke

Hmmm… I did not get my box though the tracking says it was delivered 4 days ago! This has NEVER happened w/ any packages before (& I am an amazon junkie). I wonder if it was stolen?

Brooke

Scratch that – it came today! I have no idea why tracking said 4 days ago… but it came, so yay! 🙂

I got:
Cynthia Rowley lip stain in Valentine-(I wanted the paler but it was sold out before I got there, I’m still happy to get lip stain over nail polish…)
Hello Body Cream
Whish Shaving Cream
Marcella 8 in 1 serum
Gingerade shower get foil packs

So… nothing that you got Liz but I’ll use most of it.

Christine

I got the Suki exfoliator in my box last month, and a small amount does go a long way! Use about the amount of your ring finger nail and you’ll get more than 1-2 uses out of it. I thought the same thing when I received mine!

Beth

I got it last month too. I have got about 5 uses out of mine, and I still have enough for a couple more. It’s such a good product!

Lindsay

I am pretty new to all of this and I was just wondering how do I request the refund for the Mag Subscription?

Liz Cadman

On the card for the free magazine subscription at the very bottom there are details on how to get your $9.99 refund. Hope that helps!

Chelsea

Hi Liz,
It’s good to know I am not the only one confused by the birch box refund lingo. Do you know if its our box confirmation number for July( I am assuming, yes) or our yearly confirmation number?
Thank you!

Kathy

As usual, Birchbox underdid (made up word) itself again. Stinky perfume, tiniest Supergoop in unusable color, and I don’t like the feel or scent of the Naobay. The Rowley liner is okay and the peel might be also. At least I didn’t get shampoo again. The only reason I got one this month was because it was free through Ibotta. I’ll cancel as soon as I can review my items.

Amanda

Incorrect info being given out here, ladies.

IF a person wants to use Liz’s nice codes and get 100 free points and a July Birchbox, they certainly still can. I signed up for my third box yesterday and her code ( Birchbox’s code) works just fine.

Usually, the boxes for a certain month are available through the first week of the next month, BUT, the 100 extra points is most likely a limited time offer. There’s where the value is.
100 points equals $10 and $10 is the COST of the Birchbox. Shipping is free. Add in the magazine or magazine refund, and you have doubled your savings. AND have a very good chance of getting a GREAT Birchbox. 🙂

Emily

Did you have to use the WOMENSHEALTH100 on a different account? I’m already a subscriber (obviously) but I can’t gift it to myself to use it. So how in the world do I use it? Any help would be appreciated!

Misha

cancel your account and then immediately resign up on your account page with the code. that worked for me. hope that helps!

Ricki

Loved what you got!! I got mine too but I got

Whish Shaving Cream
Real Chemistry Luminous 3-Minute Peel
Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream
Coastal Scents® Revealed 2 Palette Sample (4 colors)
100% Pure Gingerade Shower Gel (Honey Cream Wash)

My Favorite Birchbox so far!!!

Kristi

I doubt that I’ll get Liz’s box because I just got the lip lube in the most hideous purple color ever last month. Your box looks a lot more promising.

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Birchbox Review & Coupon – July 2014

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