Birchbox Review – October 2014
Birchbox is one of the original beauty subscription boxes, and one of my personal favorites. (I’ve discovered so many new brands through this subscription, and their rewards program is the best!)
My Subscription Addiction pays for this subscription. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes).
The Subscription Box: Birchbox
The Cost: $10 a month (get one month free and $10 to spend in the shop with an annual subscription!)
COUPON: Use coupon code BENEFITPACK when you sign up for a monthly Birchbox subscription ($10 a month) and get two bonus Benefit samples with your first box!
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.
Jouer Matte Moisture Tint Sunscreen in Nude – 5 ml Value $3.80
Lord & Berry Pailettes Glitter Eye Pencil in Black – .4 g Value $4.50
I’m always a little bummed when I need to bust out the quarter for a photo because that means tiny samples! This nude shade of the tinted sunscreen works perfectly for my skin tone, and I always need matte-finish makeup products, so I’ll use this.
The Lord & Berry Pailettes Glitter Eye Pencil is the item I picked for this month. (My time-to-pick-your-sample email didn’t show up for a while and by the time it did this was the only item left). There wasn’t any particular sample I was dying to get this month though, so I don’t mind. And as someone who complains about getting too many black or brown eyeliners, it’s definitely a change up to get one with built in glitter! This is definitely not an everyday look eyeliner, so I think this little pencil is all I will need!
Borghese Fango Clay Cleanser – 1 oz Value $8.50
Harvey Prince Petaly Nior – Sample Value $1
This Borghese cleanser is a good size (about 1/3 the full size version) and it’s a practical item so it will be used! I’m never a fan of getting perfume in my Birchboxes, but this one isn’t that bad. (Birchbox loves sending out Harvey Prince perfumes!)
Essential Elements Shower Gel – 45 ml Value $3.50
This is one of my favorite items in the box – it has such a minty/refreshing scent!
Verdict: Lately I’ve been so used to getting full size and deluxe sized items in my Birchboxes that this box feels like a little bit of a let down. This box has a value of about $21, which is more than double the cost, and I’ll review the items on Birchbox for another 50 points ($5) so I really can’t complain. I hope the November box is amazing though!
What did you get from Birchbox this month?
Written by Liz Cadman
I got box 32-1. Bee Kind body lotion (love the scent! formula’s a bit thin, though); Clean Rain perfume (ok scent but I don’t like perfume); Dr Lipp Nipple Balm (ugh, sticky); ModelCo Powerlash mascara (haven’t tried yet); Suki exfoliate cleanser (marvelous lemony scent).
Two hits, two misses, and we’ll see about the mascara. I’m always happy to get a new mascara brand, so even if I wind up not loving it, I’m glad I got it. Perpetually on the hunt for a great formula.
I see people talking about getting emails to choose an item for the next box. I’ve never gotten one of those emails? Is it for annual subscribers only? I just upgraded from monthly to annual.
If anyone is interested in joining Birchbox please use my link type.. in Facebook type order Birchbox coupon code. My link to join and the coupon code for $10 credit is posted. Great deal!!!
Does anybody know a code for 100 points? I would like to resubscribe but don’t know where to find codes. Thanks for help!
By the way, Liz, they have sneak peek for November
Thanks Anna!
I am disappointed in Birchbox for a few reasons.
I contacted them from my facebook asking about not receiving the laggies box and the reply was that my payment came in a day late. I go to reply back and I couldn’t leave a message. I went to there page and they blocked me, I could not post a picture of my box, comment or see much. They blocked me?! I was not rude or anything. I just asked about my box.
Anyway I have two facebook accounts, one for my subscriptions to post pictures and links, reviews just for fun. I think it is fun! 🙂 Well I posted the link to order Birchbox to there facebook so that I could earn 50 points if someone joins and my friend from GA done the same thing, she helped me find my link since they were offering the mystery packs. Well they blocked us both. You are not allowed to post there link to Facebook. I guess they do not want you to earn the points. I did have 2 people sign up (100pts) before being blocked. I would understand if I was posting a ipsy link or something.
Plus not getting the laggies box and my box was seriously bad. I received two good items. The beauty protector spray and Tocca lotion but the other three were 1-2 use samples and the Suki I received in a previous box (2 uses) I like it but seriously.
Plus what about the people that cannot choose a sample and do not receive the email or too late, they get full size or the special box. The ones that cannot choose should get an equally nice item.
I am about done with Birchbox, they seem really fishy. Nice to draw people in and that is about it.
I like there point system and there exclusive items we get to try that are not available anywhere else but I do not like how they do business.
I love this web site! So clever and helpful when deciding what company to go with. I have only used Glossy Box, and was pleased with the products. The packaging was beautiful
I got box 56:
Vasanti BrightenUp! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator
Dr. Jart+ Black Label Detox BB Beauty Balm
Dr. Lipp Original Nipple Balm for Lips
amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo
Miracle Skin Transformer Miracle Revival Mud
Coastal Scents® Revealed 2 Palette Set
The lip balm is pretty greasy, but so far I’m pleased with everything else!
That’s the same box I got – I thought the lip balm was just too greasy as well, but I was really happy with everything else.
My box FINALLY arrived today after having shipped on the 7th. What the heck? I got box #55. Suki exfoliating facial cleanser (LOVE), beauty blender tinted moisturizer (Ok, no bb sponge, though), Paula’s Choice serum (nice), Tocca perfume (WORST EVER) and the Mally Melon lip gloss. I had no idea they’d be full size. I feel very fortunate that I got what I chose because it seems like a lot of people chose the Mally gloss and got hosed. The perfume is maybe the most disgusting perfume I’ve ever smelled. I freaking hate Gardenias with a passion. The smell makes me nauseous. I REALLY wish they’d have a no perfume option. It’s so particular. This was a decent size perfume sample, too. Too bad I hated it.
They gave some people great boxes I saw, before I was blocked from facebook. I honestly think the same ones that post there pictures each month to facebook get better boxes.
I saw one girl with the Beauty blender ! Plus Mally lip gloss and three equally nice large samples. Many people were given the beauty blender this month. Another had the model co lipstick and beauty blender.
Some people had boxes valued at $75 approx and others like me $15 my box was seriously that low. I know the boxes will never equal the same, some months are better then others but where is the fairness, the value is wayyy off. Really makes me sad when I saw so many people post pics with the beauty blender. =(
I am completely let down by my box although I have not yet received it – I had selected the Mally Melon Lip gloss via customer service because the initial selection was frozen on the pink kitty lipstick (which wouldn’t be bad but I had wanted the Mally and was assured I would be getting it by 2 customer service reps after asking for assistance – I did mention to them that I would be ok with the other shade and even the kitty if the Melon was not available since I know they sell out fast)- but I just received an e-mail today letting me know that it somehow didn’t make it into my box – I promptly called customer service to find out what happened and to see if they had sent the other shade or at the very least the kitty lipstick but worse from what the rep told me none of the pretty lip items did – instead it looks like I am getting Mascara and some facial things that I have zero use for as they will all make me break out. Feeling so sad right now I just want to cry all night.
I finally got my Birchbox today and was pretty excited to see what I’d get after I got to pick the Mally lipgloss, but I’m totally disappointed. The samples are sooo tiny this month and I got the Tocca perfume sample which I don’t like, I hate getting perfumes in boxes, I’m super picky about them. I got the tiny Lord and Berry glitter pencil, Ellovi butter? never heard of it and doesn’t really smell like vanilla. The only things I love were the bracelet that I paid extra for, the Mally lipgloss which I picked and excited to try Shiseido power infusing concentrate. I’m disappointed in both my Ipsy and Birchbox bags this month.
I was hoping someone would at least be doing pumpkin something for October, but so far no one has.
The code didn’t work for me. 🙁 Pretty sad, as I really like Benefit.
It seems as if most people here got box 12, but I got box 29. I didn’t choose a sample because nothing appealed to me. Would I have gotten a completely different box number with a different configuration of stuff if I’d chosen something? I got the beauty blender, which I’m swapping. I usually prefer lip products but wasn’t wowed by the options! I’ve gotten about 12 swap offers for the blender, so that’s wonderful, but I’d rather have gotten items I liked! I really like the Supergoop CC cream and would have liked getting another (though that’s hardly very exciting).
Oh, man! I was playing with box numbers and box 10 would have been my best box, but it would have meant choosing the ModelCo lipstick. Well, I know those things are there now, so hopefully I’ll get some of them in another box!
I picked my sample; my sister did not. We both received box 12.
Can someone please explain how they are able to figure out their box numbers via Birchbox? The old sample society was easy to figure out with the kit numbers. But I have never been able to figure out any kind of system with Birchbox…
When you go to the screen that shows which samples you are receiving for the current month, scroll down and you will see all your previous months listed as well. Click on the month, for example ‘August’, and the page that comes up has a web address that says the box number at the end. It’ll end with “bb12” or something similar. So it’s not something you see on your account page, it’s in the address bar for that page.
The only exception seems to be if you select to receive the curated box. This month’s curated box has a web address that ends with ‘laggies’.
I hope that helps.
My payment went through one day late so they through my sample choice right out the window for the laggies. I received the beauty protector spray, very tiny coastal scents eye shadow, really tiny suki face cleanser. tiny lip gloss, and the tocca lotion? I received two items that would have been in the laggies ed box but I have tried suki already so I am disappointed in my box as a whole.
I do not like the whole sample choice in a big way because its not fair the full size mally lip gloss was gone by the time I got the email. Things should be fair. Plus many people note not getting the email for the choice. If they offer a certain amount of full size items they should offer other members full size items if they are not able to choose anything. I saw some people on facebook post there pictures receiving two sample picks with 3 other items. I guess they had to of just thrown that in there and to top it off three people had the full size mally/lipstick with the beauty blender. I scrolled through all the fantastic boxes on birchbox facebook what people had posted and was like wow. Several nice items and nice sizes! =(
I do not think they even there boxes out fairly at all. I have always received the tiniest items (last month excluded) because it was there birthday month and I resubbed for the sample choice btw, but that has not paned out as I would have liked. Since I have been with them I have received 1 full size for there birthday month and the most of the rest have been tiny single use samples. I received a couple deluxe 7-12ml but the majority are single use. This month the items appear more delux though.
I saw all the great sample choices they had on facebook and the beauty blender so I am disappointed! =( I would have loved the dr brandt pore minimizer, the other makeup choices which were larger and definitely the beauty blender. I love facial cleansers and so wanted to try Vasanti from the laggies box which was larger then suki and ratings the same for both.
I feel like they gave me left overs since I already tried suki (tiny 2 uses) and the two tiny cosmetics and all. I am happy for the beauty protector and hand cream by tocca?).
I feel your pain. My first 2 boxes were pretty blah and I wondered what all the praise for Birchbox was about. Then I started participating in some of the special offers, and getting some very nice items as gifts with purchase. Using my BB points to get a discount and getting enough points to be in the ACES program makes it worthwhile for me. Last month was a good box with 7 samples so it only cost me $3.00 after I reviewed the products. It had a full size lippy that I was wanting to try that costs $8 so it was a win. This month I got to pick my sample early (Aces benefit) and all 5 choices were available. I’ll stick with it until it stops being fun.
I’m a little disappointed that I didn’t get the beauty blender but I got three that I’m looking forward to my choice of the mally lip gloss, clarisea exfoliating treatment, and ellovi lotion I also got the lord and berry pencil and a perfume sample both of which I won’t use all in all its not bad I’ve been wanting to try the clarisea since I saw it sampled in ipsy but didn’t receive it
Sometimes the samples I receive don’t seem to have birchbox points available for review; 2 out of 5 products this month. Is this normal?
People have commented in the past that some boxes don’t load completely right away. I read on MUT that seems to a problem with this month. You might want to give it a few more days before contacting BirchBox about it. You don’t want to miss out on your points!
I got Dr. Lipp Original Nipple Balm for Lips (God, the name is awful), TONI&GUY Classic Shine Gloss Serum (I don’t have frizzy hair!), ModelCo Power Lash Long Wear Black Mascara (I already have so much mascara, but I’m interested in trying!), Supergoop! BBCream (I don’t use this product), and CLEAN Rain Eau De Parfum (I don’t mind perfume though). Overall, not a great box, but my last Women’s and two Man boxes were great!
I received Box 12 today which arrived in a larger shipping box. Inside the box is the BirchBox along with my Cynthia Rowley bonus!!! I love the bonus and think the bag is beautiful. The eye shadow cover design is also quite nice and has a mirror on the inside. I received the brown eyeliner too.
I’d forgotten how disappointed I was in the sample choices until I opened my box. I didn’t choose anything and got the beauty blender, which at least is good for swapping! Nothing in my box was special or anything I hadn’t already gotten in 1-3 other boxes. I’m really let down; I’d cancelled Birchbox for 8 months once Ipsy started getting much better, but re-subbed after seeing a couple of great BB reviews.
I hate that disappointment after the excitement from receiving a box!
I LOVED my box this month. I got the following:
-Clarisea Charcoal Exfoliant
-Ellovi Vanilla Butter
-Lord & Berry Eye Pencil
-Macadamia Cleansing Conditioner
-ModelCo Lipstick (Kitty)
I loved the box because these samples were substantial. I loved the Modelco lipstick and have this color. I was thinking of restocking and got to choose it as my sample! I can’t wait to try the conditioner and exfoliant.
At first glance my box was a bit of a letdown – but hoping that I’ll find something I like after I try it out!
I selected the Lord & Berry eye pencil – it’s tiny but not something I’d use a bunch of times so excited to give it a good.
Ellovi Vanilla Butter – looks like the size of a lip butter but I guess it’s for all over? Smells nice so I’ll give it a whirl.
dr. brandt Pores No More Vacuum Cleaner – I don’t really have any issue with blackheads, but it’s a face mask and I do love those.
TONI&GUY Shampoo & Conditioner for Damaged Hair – but I don’t have damaged hair? I guess since I have highlights they sent it to me? This was my biggest letdown as this counted as two different samples – they are good size (1.7 oz) but I would have rather gotten these as foil packets (good for travel) and then something else.
I tried to add the candle for $18 to my order, but I logged in one hour after I recieved the email and it was already gone 🙁 Oh well, I’m been subscribing since almost the beginning – not every month is the greatest but overall I still love it!
My box was a letdown. For everyone who was chomping at the bit to get the glitter pencil( like I was). I thinks it’s a bad rip off if Urbn Decay– it goes on chalky and a smoky brown, with really big silver glitter particles. I left it on for a minute and took it off. It looked terrible on me and I was really concerned about glitter getting ino my eyes as it didn’t seem “stable”. The glitter looked patted on. Anyone else have an issue with their eye pencil? My review has not posted on Birchbox so it looks like my commentary was offensive to them. I also have Party a proof Kitty – if anyone wants to trade-let me know. I need a bolder color.
I can’t complain birch box has it’s months some of them good and fair but I didn’t had the chance to choose the sample choice got my box today and totally was surprised I received the
**Beauty blender + solid cleanser
#Harvey prince/petalyrose nor =* hate the smell
#Lord and berry eye pencil which I received before bummer
# tocca hand creme it’s okay like it
#vassanti cosmetics
a face rejuvenate
Which I would try other than that it’s okay except that stinky perfume ooh god stinky
I want this box!! I love Beauty Blender and Tocca!! I didn’t receive an email this month to pick my own sample so I have absolutely no idea what is coming to me.
Wow, I wish I would have received your box! So many of us wanted the beauty blender + solid cleanser and the black glitter eye pencil. 🙂
I didn’t go for the curated box this month as I was only excited about one of the items and I’ve had luck with the boxes they have selected for me – this month was no exception! I received the Beautyblender + mini blender cleanser (Most excited about this – I believe it’s the same one you can get with a year subscription purchase), Curlisto Deep Therapy Masque, Cynthia Rowley eyeliner in silver (kinda meh about, but it’s growing on me), Dr. Lipp Original Nipple Balm for Lips and the Harvey Prince perfume sample.
Sounds like a great box! (I love my Beauty Blender!)
Sounds like a great box!
Definitely better than mine! 🙂
I got my pick your sample email too late but didn’t mind since wasn’t that interested in the offerings this month….I was so happy to get the Tocca hand cream, generous size at 1 oz! It says it’s green tea/lemon scent but it smells more flowery perfumy to me. Also the Coastal Scents tiny ballerina palette, Beauty protector detangle (deluxe sample), tiny lumesh lip gloss and tiny Suki cleanser. I don’t really mind the tiny make up samples since they are great to stash in your pocket for the times you don’t have your purse with you.
I haven’t gotten either box yet but wanted to add something about the sample choice emails. Last month I only got the email on my main account and everything was pretty much gone. I had really wanted the Davines samples so I emailed them letting them know I had those items in my cart but had been holding off till I could sample. Sure enough customer service responded and said that they would make sure I got one. So even if it’s out its still worth trying through customer service. This month I didn’t get the selection email again on my alt so I just emailed them my choice of the lipsticks. Pretty excited about getting my boxes this month as last both were so awesome.
I felt like my birchbox this month was curated perfectly for me… I’m headed to Vegas this month and I’ll use everything in the box while I’m there. Leave in conditioner, lipstick, eye cream, pore cleaner and a fabulous eye shadow palette. I couldn’t be happier. I have a second box and picked the laggies one… can’t wait for it to arrive.
OOO what eye shadow palette?
Coastal Scents Revealed – Ballerina. Shades of nude, beige and brown. Totally perfect for fall.
nice! i own both of the revealed palettes and can’t rave about them enough!
The clay cleanser looks nice and a good size. I am hoping I get a face cleanser as I have not received one in awhile and it was half that size. I was looking forward to the laggies box for the Vasanti so I am disappointed my box has changed. My payment was processed the 2-3rd and my box still is not showing what I am receiving this month. I logged in and notice my sample choice changed and contacted bb as it changed to model co? However they said I am not getting that item or no sample choices. So right now I have no clue. I will be happy just to get a facial cleanser and makeup item.
I picked the laggies box but found out they received and processed my payment two days late to receive it and they said I am not getting it. I will be getting a totally different box instead. They are sending some people the beauty blender via there facebook page and I am hoping that I will receive it. I found a coupon code BBJETBLUE for $10 credit fora new subscription. It is active.
I am hoping to get a good birchbox but am thinking of cancelling. I signed back up because I was happy about choosing samples but my luck with that has been bad. When I get the emails most my choices are sold out. I was happy to choose this month and now my box has changed. From fb posts of pics most people have low value boxes except for those with Mally or the lipstick and beauty blender. My ipsy bags appear to be valued between $28 and $40 (I receive 2). Sample society is also not the best month. I am looking forward to my boxycharm though!
Lol I thought the same thing too that this month they seemed kind of small but last month was just a really great box. I’m still happy with my samples though.
I got Beauty Protector Leave In Conditioner spray, Dr. Brandt pores no more vacuum cleaner, Balance Me Wonder Eye cream, Revealed palette eye shadow sampler (and actually in shades similar to what I use!) and I chose the Party Proof lipstick (partly because the lip glosses were gone by the time I got the email).
All the samples are decent sizes, I think Birchbox is my favorite sub. Always happy with what they send me, and can’t beat the price combined with the review points!
I think that is the box my sister received. It’s box 12. She has horrible internet which is why I usually post on her behalf. My box shipped yesterday. Has anyone who upgraded to a year sub received the Cynthia Rowley bonus in her box? I am wonder if it will be in this month’s box or next month’s box.
I don’t use an eye pencil. Is that eye pencil long enough to comfortable hold it while applying it? I’m surprise it is that small.
PA Anna, I was wondering the same thing about that upgrade. I haven’t received my Cynthia Rowley bonus yet, but I couldn’t remember if it is supposed to come in a box or ship separately.
I don’t remember. I did check the website today to see what my box I am receiving which is the same box as my sister. She lives an hour and a half away and received hers the same day my box shipped. It’s box 12. I’m hoping that means the CR bonus is in the box 🙂
I am getting box 12 as well. Does anyone know about the Dr. Brandt Clean up Nicely kit? Is it foil packets or are they decent size samples and do you get the bag as well?
Thanks!
My sister said it is the pores no more blackhead mask extractor. She said it is a small tube.
How do you know what number box you’re getting?
Go the page that shows your box. Scroll down to the area underneath that lists what has been received in past boxes. Click on the hyperlink for October box. Once you do that the address field should change showing the box number in the address field. My reads October-2014-bb12. Now if you want to see other boxes all you have to is clear out the numbers and change it to a different number such as box 40 which reads Ocober-2014-bb40.
Wow, I just viewed all the combinations this month by changing the number at the end of the web address bar and I think BB hit it out of the park for me. I got #12 and it was perfect!
I would be very happy with this box, I don’t know what I am getting yet. I signed up back when there was a special, and I always use my points from reviewing things, so I feel that Birchbox is a great value.
I never did get my “Pick” email, I didnt get a your box has shipped e-mail either! I checked today and the darn thing is nearly here! This company seems to be plauged with glitches like this though…. I am excited to try anything except harvey prince! I have gotten 3 items from that line and all gave me an instant migraine.
Go check your e-mail settings on the Birchbox website. I didn’t ever get any shipment e-mails, I didn’t get promotional e-mails (like special offers from the shop), and I didn’t get pick your sample e-mails. I went in and (sorry, I don’t remember exactly how) opted back into e-mails and then I started getting all of those again.
Thanks for the heads up I went in and reset my email subscriptions hopefully that helped!
I wasn’t getting the emails either, so I contacted customer service and they told me at some point I had unsubscribed from emails. i asked them to sign me back up, and have been getting the emails ever since. Also, I’m with you regarding the Harvey Prince scents – they me a headache too!
I just resubscribed to Birchbox today. Does anyone know if it’s still possible to choose the curated box? And how? I’ve looked all over, can’t find the way in if there is one…
they come out with a new box at the end of the month. One is the regular box and you can choose one sample from the three advertised that month or you can go with the curated box, like the “fashionista” box they had last month (or before?) and that one is usually listed with all items included but they go fast so if you aren’t an aces member you usually can’t snag one. Aces members get their “pick a sample” email a day ahead of regular subscribers. To become an ace you just have to earn 500 points in a year (actually super easy!) Hope this helps :))
Thanks, Misha, that does help! In that case, I guess I have the tiniest eyeliner sample on earth to look forward to. 😉
Becoming an Ace IS super easy. I have been canceling and resubscribing with 100 point codes and they count those points towards Aces status.
My samples were so tiny this month!!! I was happy to get another beauty protector protector protect and detangle because I used up my first one and really liked it. I am also excited to finally try the tocca hand cream. However the lumesh lipgloss is literally little more than a single use! It’s the size of those free Mary kay lipstick samples.
Gahhhh impatiently waiting for mine! It won’t even load on the site yet!
I loved the Jouer! I got the “illuminating” one last month and I’m so impressed I may get the Beauty Blender kit with the matte one with my points I liked it so much!
I went with the curated box this month because it had two samples for things that I love!