Birchbox November 2015 Review – Glam Life Guru Box
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. This review is of the Glam Life Guru curated box selection for November. (In general it seems the curated boxes ship a little earlier than the sample choice boxes).
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!)
The Products: Beauty and lifestyle samples selected by the Birchbox team.
Ships to: US, France, Spain and the UK and Canada
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.
Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo – 92 ml Value $10.22
This Living Proof dry shampoo spray smells so good! And this is a very generous sized sample too – perfect for travel, purses, gym bags, etc.
Avene Hydrance Optimale Hydrating Serum – 5 ml Value $6
This serums is paraben and fragrance free, and it is such a lightweight formula! I love Avene’s water mists, but I haven’t tried this product, so this is a good sample pick for me.
Jouer Essential Lip Enhancer Conditioning Lip Treatment – 4.5 ml Value $7.38
I was expecting this lip treatment to have a balm-like finish, but it actually is super glossy. If you are looking for a clear gloss with no stickiness – this is a good one.
Shiseido Ultimune Eye Power Infusing Concentrate – 5 ml Value $21
Since this is an eye product, this sample is actually a decent size. (1/3 the size of the full-size version). Hopefully I should get a week or two out of this sample. According to Birchbox:
In just four weeks, skin will look healthier, firmer, and more resilient, while wrinkles and dark circles will become less noticeable.
LOC One & Done Shadow Stick in Day Trip – FULL SIZE! Value $10
This is Birchbox’s new makeup line with shades curated by Tati Westbrook! I’ve seen a lot of press for the LOC brand, and I was excited to finally get to try it.
Here it is swatched:
The pigment is great, there is a ton of shimmer, and I love that the line is cruelty and paraben free. (I feel like Birchbox probably has the best insight on customer preferences on cosmetics, so I’m not surprised!) This eyeshadow stick feels like a deluxe size, but Birchbox specifically designed the compact size to last you through a season.
Verdict: This box has a value of about $51 – amazing for a $10 box! In most cases I think curated boxes are the way to go to guarantee a good value, and this month Tati really did a great job at picking samples of brands I like and high-value items – I’m impressed!
What do you think of the November Birchbox? Did you pick a curated box or a sample?
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Written by Liz Cadman
My box is missing an item. Anyone ever have this happen? How did they handle it? I’ve already sent out an email. Hopefully I will hear back soon. My box just showed up today, seems much later than normal.
Yes. I’ve contacted BB several times with small issues. They are always wonderful. There was a broke item in a LE box once and they sent me an entire replacement box. In other instances they’ve replaced the item and usually given me BB points too.
I’m kicking myself for not getting the curated box. I chose instead the Impress Me LOC stick because Tati said it was rose gold (it isn’t); it’s similar to 2 other shadow sticks I already have. The gold Loc swatched above would’ve been more unique in my collection, and I would’ve loved that PHD dry shampoo. The 4 samples I got in my box were very underwhelming (a tiny body scrub, yet another leave-in conditioner, you get the picture…). Oh well, live and learn! 🙂
This box is available for purchase on BB for $15.
I got this box too and I really like it. I love the dry shampoo and I’ve been pleased with the rest as well. Even the shadow stick is actually a prettier color than I anticipated, so I’m happy with the box.
I picked the sample choice and got the LOC shadow stick in Impress Me. The swatch I did on myself looks really similar to the one in this review. It also took a little effort to wash off, which speaks to its staying power as an eye shadow!
Otherwise, I got Rusk elixir mist, TempleSpa La La Lagoon aromatic bath and shower gel, Dr. Lipp miracle balm, and Amika nourishing mask. I’m a little underwhelmed by what I received, especially seeing as the miracle balm looks to me like nothing more than a glorified Aquaphor (though to be honest I haven’t looked it up or tried it yet.)
However this is one box in a series of pretty good boxes I’ve gotten from Birchbox, so I can’t complain for the price. I think I’m going to like the eye shadow stick, so for the cost of the box, I think I made out pretty well!
Sorry, let me clarify that the LOC eye shadow stick in Impress Me is a shade or two darker than the one swatched above in the curated box. It’s more of a coppery color than a rose gold but still in the same color family for sure.
I got this box, I was initially thrilled but once I looked up the serums, I’m much less impressed. They don’t seem to have any ingredients to justify their high prices. Anyway, they’re up for swap.
I do have to agree that I loved the LOC eye crayon. The color is too young for me, but I love the consistency and that it’s made in Germany.
I loved this curated box! I wasn’t familiar with Tate before this but have watched a few videos and I like her. I think I”m going to stick with the curated boxes going forward. I have yet to be disappointed with one but am frequently let down by my blind boxes.
*Tati! (thanks autocorrect)
I went with the sample choice. So i chose the red matte lipstick. And i didn’t even get it in my box! So disappointed. I got the eye shadow stick instead. If i wanted the eyeshadow stick i would’ve gone for this box. Did this happen to any one else?
I got my curated box already but I’m waiting on my second box with the red LOC lippy and will let you know if I don’t get one in mine.
Contact customer service by email and they will absolutely send you the item you chose with no cost. I had the wrong selection in my Men’s Birchbox for my fiancé once and they sent him the backpack and he obviously got to keep the expensive boxer-briefs as well. On top of that they sent me the full Stila lip set in the lip shaped bag and gave me 50 extra points! I was nothing but just polite and didn’t ask for anything except the replacement backpack for him. I always screenshot my sample choice now so I can attach a photo to the email for them to see the confirmation of item I chose. Their customer service is great you should have no problem getting the lip item!
Awesome! Thank you for the advise will definitely be contacting them.
I chose an eye pencil, my November page says I am getting the red lip. I’ll certainly switch/swap with you if I wind up getting the red lip and it isn’t a typo.
I just got my box and my LOC sample wasn’t there. I chose the lipstick in First Kiss, but instead got no LOC product at all!
Yeah i contacted them by email. They are sending me the lipstick i had chosen. Im sure they will do the same with you 🙂
I didn’t have the same luck. I contacted them, and was just told that they sometimes have trouble billing the first time around and if that happens, they won’t hold your sample. I was told “But I hope you enjoy your box anyway!” and “Regardless of the samples you receive, we hope you’ll take full advantage of our Birchbox Points Program.” It was a canned customer service response with no offer to send the sample. I’m actually pretty annoyed. I feel like I’m not getting what I paid for, and who is to say this won’t happen again? It just left a bad taste in my mouth. With the many beauty boxes out there, this makes me really consider cancelling.
Tierney, I find that really disappointing, too. I had billing issues this month but still got my chosen sample. On 11/1, which happened to be a Sunday, my card couldn’t run because it had expired, and I’d forgotten to update it. As soon as I got the e-mail telling me about it, I fixed it. I got my “sneak peek” way after everyone else, so before I got it, I contacted CS to make sure I was still getting my sample choice. The rep assured me that I would because they were still able to bill me on 11/1, but she said to contact her if for some reason I didn’t get my chosen sample so that she could make it right. My understanding was that all bets were off if they couldn’t bill you properly, which, combined with the lateness of my sneak peek, caused me concern.
I don’t know if your billing issue was resolved as quickly as mine, but if you had a longer lapse, it might have cost you your sample choice 🙁 However, I’d have hoped that they would make it right just to keep you as a satisfied customer, especially if you’ve been a long-term customer.
I never could take advantage of the options to choose samples or boxes after the first couple of months. Out of 5 months, 4 boxes arrived a month late or not at all. Finally, they just stopped responding. I cancelled when I was being billed & not getting boxes.
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I’d contact CS. They’ll likely fix it.
Did you contact BB customer care? They’re great!
I went for the curated box this month and I have to say I am happy. I was least excited about the eye shadow stick as I don’t use intense colors. Even from Liz’s swatch it looked intense… but I was able to use little amount and sheer it out. It looks beautiful against my skin tone.
I loved this box! I haven’t had occasion to try the dry shampoo yet, or the serum, but I’m pleased with the rest of the items. That LOC eyeshadow stick is fantastic. I’ve already ordered the whole eye collection!
I did too!! 🙂 I had 20 in points and a coupon so it was less than 10 bucks too! 🙂
My sister swears by that particular dry shampoo, she just got ANOTHER full size bottle at Sephora last week. She uses it a lot and has said for her hair it’s the least residue left behind and smells good and feels like hair is much cleaner/refreshed.
This was probably my favorite Birchbox month ever in more than three years of subscribing! Love the quality of the samples and love the shadow stick too.
This was the first curated box I went for, then I did sample choice for the red LOC lippy on my other account. I was just in Sephora and the eye cream is in a set for Xmas, it seemed to be a good deal for kit if anyone falls in love with their sample and wants to continue using it past a week or so.
I received the same box as you Liz. I already tried everything and I’m very impressed. I’m purchasing everything in my box. Omg the eye cream is so Devine. I’m picky on eye creams but I noticed a big difference with just one application. The hydrating serum was a Wow for me. My make-up looked dewy and flawless today. The eyeshadow is one of my favorites. The pigments and sparkle that my eyes had today drew in many admirers. I did a Smokey eye and applied the Shadow stick on the lid in the center and BAM, my eyes were on mission to show off. Lol. And the staying power was magnificent. Stayed on all day without a crease. Loved my box, Bella
You can find a super lower priced set of the shiseido set with other items on Sephora.com. It’s a great deal and I’d snap it up if you loved the cream!
I love that eyestick color, it goes great with my dark brown eyes and medium light skin tone. I used it on my lid and the marsk shadow from Glossybox on crease and I like how it looks together; perfect for the holidays. I also love BB customer service, it’s one of the best, in my experience.
Thanks for the tip, I received glossy box yesterday and I’ll try this combination. I usually don’t like mineral eye shadows so I would probably never open this but now I’ll try it 🙂
I got the rose gold shadow stick and it is AMAZING. Honestly I swatched it on my hand and it was there 6 hours later even after washing them! Very impressed. Can’t wait to try it on my eyes, just have to figure out how to wear it!
I drew a heart on the back of my hand and filled it in and left it alone all day long. Not a single smudge.
I’ve only tried the balm and the shadow stick. The balm is amazing and a nice size.I am so disappointed that the stick is too big to sharpen though.
Pixi and E.L.F sell sharpeners that are for jumbo sized makeup pens.
My Tarte chubby pencil sharpener works for the LOC eye pencil, sharpened mine this morning.
Thanks Debbie. I wondered why I didn’t get a stick in mine. Not that I’m too disappointed.
I was also disappointed not to get a shadow stick or any LOC product. I didn’t get a sample choice b/c I thought one would be in every box, but mine came without any. did I just imagine it, or were they promoting one in every box?
I really do enjoy getting my box, but was a bit disappointed in the shadow stick I received as my sample choice. I read that it didn’t fit in sharpeners so I tried to use my adjustable fit sharpener and sure enough, it wouldn’t fit. So I guess we are supposed to order a special LOC sharpener now if we want to use it in the future. Also, I noticed they are no longer promoting a shadow stick in every box as they did at the beginning of the month.
I just sharpened mine with a sharpener I bought at Sephora. One of those dual ended ones. It fit perfectly.
I will try that then. The one I have has two different sized openings and even a removable insert but again, it wouldn’t fit.
I sharpened mine this morning using a Sonia Kashuk sharpener that I bought at Target ($5-$10 I think) – its a square box type one with 2 holes for different sizes – and it worked good so you won’t need to buy a special LOC sharpener. I would think the other ones on the market made with 2 holes would work also.