Birchbox Review #2 – August 2014
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).Â
I have two Birchbox subscriptions, and this month I’m reviewing both since one was the Everygirl box, and this one is the pick-one-of-your-samples box. (Birchbox emails subscribers every month to pick out a sample, so make sure to contact customer care if you aren’t getting the emails!)
The Subscription Box:Â 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!
Each box comes with a card detailing the items included and some tips on how to use them.
Neil George Shampoo and Conditioner – 50 ml each Value $9.50
I really like the scent of this hair care line, but the shampoo has Sodium Laureth Sulfate as an ingredient, and I try to avoid sulfates in hair products since my hair is color treated. Looks like I’ll only be using the conditioner~
Key West Aloe Mango Lotion – 1 oz Value $2
nugg Face Mask Revitalizing – 10 ml Value $3
This nugg brand is new to me and I’m so excited to try this mask. It’s free of petrochemicals, parabens, sulfates, and synthetic fragrances or colors, and I love that it is packaged in single serving sizes. (You get 5 of these little masks with a full-size purchase). I’ll probably try the variety pack next.
(This Key West lotion smells lovely, but I’ll be swapping/sharing it since I’m allergic to one of the ingredients – Red No. 40).
Laura Geller Cool Lids Silver Sands Cream Eyeshadow – .17 oz Value $12
This item was the sample I picked for this month. It’s a great size (more than half the size of the full-size version), and it pushes me a little outside of my comfort zone with the silver color. The formula is somewhat sheer so you can get a subtle look or build the color for more of an impact. I’m wearing it right now and I love it. It’s a very wearable silver shade since it is sheer, and it adds a nice shimmer with no sparkle.
Verdict: I paid $10 for this box and received about $26.50 worth of products. Even though I can’t use every product, I’m happy with the box – the nugg mask is a new brand discovery for me, and the Laura Geller Cool Lids eyeshadow is a great find!
Did you pick your sample this month? Were you happy with your box?
Written by Liz Cadman
I received a different lotion. Harvey Prince Ageless body lotion and it’s very smooth on the skin and smells amazing!! I want to buy it with BB points.
I have two subs to birchbox as well lol.
A lot of people don’t like shampoo & conditioner samples, but I love em! I hate drugstore shampoo, and this way I can use a bunch of different higher-end ones without the cost. It’s lotion samples I hate! Most of them leave an oily residue behind, and I can’t stand that. The Harvey Prince one’s they’ve been sending out though are nice!
I didn’t hate getting shampoo and conditioner (hated dry shampoo, but not regular shampoo), but I have so much hair that the sample sizes were never large enough to cover even half of it. I didn’t care for a lot of their body lotions, too many had strong fragrances that gave me skin reactions.
How do you have two subscriptions? Do you have to make two different accounts? Thanks! 🙂
Yes – two different accounts with two different email addresses.
Thanks! 😉 but is it ok to use my same name and shipping info?
Yep!
I didn’t pick my sample (clicked on the link too late) but totally lucked out on my box:
•Benefit They’re Real! Push-Up Liner ($1.80 value)
•Dr Jart+ Dis-A-Pore Beauty Balm ($3.60 value)
•Neil George Shampoo ($4.50 value)
•Neil George Conditioner ($4.50 value)
•Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate ($21 value)
Total value: $35.40! I haven’t tried the Benefit liner yet but am really looking forward to it – that’s actually the sample I would have picked as I’ve read so many good reviews. I’ve really been enjoying the other samples, especially the Shiseido (it’s a 9.75 ml sample!). This is only my second BirchBox but I’m quite happy so far.
My box was completely different from y’alls. I received : Dry Shampoo, Ageless Body Cream, Noir Eyleliner, Staniac, Detox Nutrient rich Facial Cleanser. I’m happy enough with my samples but mine always seems to be different.
I received the exact shampoo and conditioner. The Harvey Prince body lotion; smells awesome and soft and I already want that lotion!!!! It’s highly rated too. I didn’t get to choose and received the stainiac which is okay. I received the Marcelle BB cream golden glow. It’s highly rated so excited to try it. This is one of my best boxes that I’ve received from Birchbox but I have my profile tweaked to receive more face care but don’t receive a lot so far.
How the heck do you subscribe to the this box? I can’t find that option anywhere :/
Its funny because I set up a second account and changed my profile and I got one of the best boxes I’ve ever received from Birchbox! I got 2 of the monthly choice options which was nice because I wanted both. I got:
1. Model Co. Bronzer
2. The Balm Staniac
3. Vasanti Brighten Up scrub
4. Catherine Maladrino perfume
5. Whish shave cream
You could try to switch up your profile….although maybe its just the luck of the draw. I have heard others say they don’t think Birchbox pays much attention to your profile. Its hard to say. I have mostly always been happy with my boxes and I just swap whatever I don’t like or can’t use.
This month was my first one ever total disappointment compared to the other ones I’ve tried so far. But I try to remember it’s the point system that’s good. I’ll prob use the wish shave cream and not the rest. Other than the shave cream I got a black eyeliner, perfume sample(I picked no more than two a year here so well see on that doubt that’ll happen), some really small cleanser sample and a lip chubby stick that’s a color I’ll never wear.
Birchbox’s profile settings for perfume don’t give that option. The option is to recieve no more than 6 per year..
I got the exact same items as you. My very first box. I was not impressed by the size of the cleanser, but since it is my first box, I really don’t have a way to compare.
I got the same box, it was my first one and I’m pretty pleased with it. I’ve been needing a black eyeliner and have been holding out because I know they’re popular fillers in sub boxes so I was happy I got that alone. The only thing I didn’t care for was the shaving cream because I think it smells horrible. I’ll still use it because I know the scent won’t stick around but yikes, I’d hate to get this in a lotion or something.
Danyelle, I have the Laura Geller rose gold. It’s the first cream shadow I’ve ever tried and the color is fabulous.
My box was the worst this month…i didn’t get to pick any samples…i just feel like canceling now.
I got the same box as you. We even chose thr same sample.
I got the exact same box too, even though I had chosen theBalm Stainiac and had gotten a confirmation email I was getting that. I emailed them and they did say they would sent it out to me so I should be getting that soon. I was really excited we had gotten an option to choose an item so it was disappointing to not get it. I’m a little irritated as this is the 3rd box this month that has delivered boxes with either something wrong or missing.
We got the same box! You weren’t missing anything with the lotion it does smells nice but it’s very thin, cheap feeling and wasn’t very moisturizing. I was a little disappointed to be honest this is the 3rd month in a row that I’ve gotten shampoo/conditioner. The highlight for me was the Laura Geller shadow, I’m thinking about purchasing the rose gold shade.
Weird….I got the same exact box also. I didn’t love the lotion either, although it does smell nice. Wasn’t thrilled with this box, but hoping next month will be better. I did like the eyeshadow though.