Birchbox 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 just for you (incl... read more.

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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!

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70 comments

Darcy

Could someone tell me about the surprise samples that come when you go with the sample choice option? Are they things worth getting, or a bunch of foil packets? I’ve only ever received curated boxes but February’s version isn’t doing it for me.

BonBon

Darcy, the samples you receive in the uncurated box are equivalent to the sizes of products you get in the curated. Sizes vary, sometime you get full size with either box. Like the eyeko eyeliner this month. If you read thru January’s bb threads you can read people’s posts about what they received. Or watch unboxing videos on YouTube. So far I’ve always preferred the uncurated box. I’ve always been happy with mine but I know that’s not the case for many others.

Cindy

I hate when they put fragrance in the curated box. I often pick the curated box just to avoid fragrance.

And, yes, I notice that same thing about my Aces status in my accounts.

Autumn

Well now I’m curious… How do I watch the video?

Lori

Go to Birchbox’s Facebook page.

BonBon

The arrow lip balm! I love lip balm/chapsticks…the few reviews this product has are good too. Hope I’ll be able to get this!

AmyM

This is the first time I’ve thought the curated box has been a dud. None of the sample choices are jumping out at me in the sense that I must have one over the others. They all look interesting and usable.

Kathy

Sample choice for me..hands down. That lip balm sounds really cool, and my thick, naturally curly hair has no need for blow out spray and I hate getting perfumes. Easy choice this time around!

Janice

How do you pick your sample choice? I have the app but don’t see where or when to pick it. I missed the deadline for last month’s box.

AmyB

There isn’t a way to select it on the app, once sample choice goes live you need to log in to birchbox.com from a computer and go to Your Box > Customize Next Months box

Lisa

You don’t have to use an actual computer. I use the browser on my phone to log in to the website, just like I would on a regular computer.

Lisa

You’ll get an email about sample choice. I think you can still pick from there. Or, once it’s time to add plus items or pick a sample, you’ll be able to go into your box- same place you go to see your samples, and then customize your next month’s box.

Janice

Do you know when the timing is on choosing the samples. I’m new to Birchbox and want to take full advantage. I’ll watch for the email.

Andrea

Love, love, loved the live video!!!

Allison

Is anyone else who absolutely earned 500 points many times over at birchbox last year suddenly not showing up as an ace on their account? My emails from BB still say ace but my account page says I have 400 more points to earn to get ace status! I thought earning 500 points in the calendar year put you through to the next year?

and I’m so tired of them doing everything on periscope! I love Lorelei but I couldn’t watch this video.

Anna

This happened to me too! I was an ace and got over 500 points last year and now it says I’m not and that I have 400-something to go. I know this isnt for re qualification because I no longer have free shipping on items like I did when I was an Ace. I think its pretty dumb if when you qualify as an Ace you get the rest of that year and the following year but the points you earn in the following year aren’t eligible for the re qualification. Because if they were, I’d still be an Ace…

Jay

Did your points counter bar reset, or are you seeing your status somewhere else? I know I earned the 500 points and then some. Right now, my points counter says I have earned 60 out of the 500 ACE points, but I believe this is for the requalification. Here’s what the current ACE Terms and Conditions states:

“Birchbox Ace status is conferred on those registered Birchbox members who are (i) eligible for the Birchbox Points Program, and (ii) who earn a minimum 500 Birchbox Points on Site during one calendar year (January-December). Birchbox Ace status is good for the calendar year in which you qualify and the following calendar year; annual requalification is required.”

So as far as I can tell, I am still an ACE through 2016, but they are showing me my progress towards re-qualifying. My Sephora Rouge and Ulta Platinum points did the same thing, though I am still both through the end of the year. Of course, I’m not sure if this is what’s going on with your account, so it’s probably still worth looking into.

Mimi

My points bar reset, but when I first sign in it has my name and then where it tells me how many points I have to spend it says “Ace since 05/15”. So I assume the reset is for this year.

Sophia

Yes this happened to me! I emailed them and haven’t received a response yet. Ace status didn’t reset last year. If this is a new policy then i am not very happy about it.

Tracy

I’m probably the minority here but I LOVE Feb’s curated box so I’ll nab that with my “Aces” account then pray, by the time my 2nd account gets its email, that I can nab the Whish oil. I’m a Whish Fanatic.

I love honey; However, I JUST reordered & received my Honey Bomb apoule from Shara Shara so skipping the honey item in this box is a no-brainer for me.

Caligrrl

Wow, pretty surprised by all the negative comments here about the livestream video today! I would love to see all those critics doing the same thing so others can pass judgement. We are women, supporting women, having fun, no??? I think it was real, comical and genuine. If you didn’t like it, you can just sign off.

Rena

I don’t blame Rachel and Lorelei. They seemed to have been put on the spot by the marketing team. This isn’t a good format for sample choice reveals. FB/ Periscope would have been fine for just Q&A with fans or a promo for Arrow.

Eva

Agreed. Just watched out of curiosity, but they were really hitting their stride and having fun towards the end (after power outage). Not too shabby for a first-time live FB video.

Lisa

In pretty much any business, there’s a level of professionalism that should be upheld for the sake of paying customers, women or not, in my opinion- which I’m entitled to, just as you are entitled to yours. And sign off I did, but thanks for the tip! 🙂

Jay

if it’s on the Internet, it will be judged.

Kristi

I am in love with that REN mask and was looking at trades. I’m so excited this will be one of the choices. I get two boxes so will definitely try and get one in each box.

Chelsea

Did anyone else receive extra samples in an envelope from Birch box within the last couple days? I know I didn’t order anything, but I got 5 samples today in the mail. I’m new to this so maybe I’m just confused.

Elena

Did you by any chance gift a subscription (to yourself?) with code 20GIFT back in December? Today I received a bundle of samples for that purchase also in an envelope 🙂

Chelsea

Yes I did, well I feel better knowing it was supposed to come to me, and it wasn’t an accident. I was worried I got someone else’s items

Bell

Yeah, I got that today too!
I thought it was only another free gift until I remembered it was with the subscription deal!

Lori

Well since I recently got 2 of the items that are in the curated box I’ll get either the Arrow lip balm or the REN mask.

Adeline

You guys crack me up. I’ve always hated those videos but I thought maybe I was the exception. To be real both girls are annoying to me, what a waste of time because the videos are so so long and what a waste of data.

Overall, they could have just posted a short and sweet Web page like Liz and save us all the pain of watching those dingy women act like 5 year old girls that just discovered their parents liquor cabinet… oh a a video camera

Khaleesi142

Agreed! Wish I could get a box of the sample choices instead 🙂

Amanda

Do I need to wait to February to sign up to start w this box? I may try this out but probably will just start w this curated box I think

Bets

Is anyone else swayed by the boxes themselves or am I just really, really weird? A couple of months back I went with the dark pink nox because I liked it better than the light pink one. Addicted and demented?

Rena

It’s not just you. I like the items in the curated, but the regular box is so much cuter that I think I will just get the lip balm.

Lisa

I am! I’ve paid for a second box if I liked the samples in one but loved the box for the other. I keep them and use them for storage and have wrapped Christmas gifts in them and everything. My most favorite box ever was the one last April (I think) that Rifle Paper Co. did! Addicted and demented here too. 😉

Nelliebelle1197

Go with demented. It is a fabulous word.

Betty

When can we make sample choices ?

Melissa

January 28, unless you refer a friend. In that case, you should be able to choose on the 27th.

Amanda

Hey Honey Take It Off Exfoliating Honey Peel Off Mask I received in other boxes last year, so wonder why were getting it from birchbox. I’ll get the curated box!

Cassandra

I wish the sample choices were the curated box. I want to try everyone of those items. Love REN, want to try Arrow products, oil cleansers are fun and then the Hey Honey mask. So hard to choose!

Joy

Agreed! The sample choices are all better than anything in the currated box. I think I’ll go with the Arrow balm on one account and the REN mask on the other.

Rebecca

The only thing that interests me in the curated box is the lip tar, so I wish it were one of the sample choices, but I think I’m going to do sample choice for my two subs. I’m not sure whether to pick one of each mask or get two of the same. Decisions, decisions.

Brooke

Thanks for this Liz… I can’t bear to watch the videos. But do you think you could put the 2 dates when you post these? That would be so helpful.

I think I’m in for their new lip balm.

mimi

I’ll probably go with the Hey Honey mask. The curated box just doesn’t do it for me this month.

Abby

Lip balm for me! I have an over abundance of exfoliators from sub boxes and I love to exfoliate so that’s saying something.

Mariah

I think I’m going to take my chances with choosing the Arrow lip balm & surprise samples. The curated box would be nice if I didn’t have so many lipsticks, lipglosses, perfumes and highlighters.

Mariah

*To clarify, I feel like a lip balm is a lot easier for me to wear every day or throw in my purse and during winter I’d rather use that than dark lipsticks/glosses.

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Birchbox February 2016 Sample Choice + Curated Box + Coupon!

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