My 5 Favorite Birchbox Discoveries of All Time!
Birchbox is the first subscription box I ever I joined (it’s my gateway box and the reason this site exists), and after 7 years of subscribing, I thought it would be fun to recap some of my all-time favorite discoveries!
Here are my 5 favorite Birchbox discoveries:
Stila Liquid Lipstick in Patina
One of my major beauty routine changes over the past few years has been lip color. I used to only wear tinted lip balms and very subtle color, but a Stila sample in a Birchbox changed everything! (Pretty much any photo of me on this site – I’m wearing this lipstick.) The color lasts all day and also wears down evenly, too. It’s perfect!
I’ve used acetone-free nail polish removers before, but they still smelled like nail polish remover. This is the only nail polish remover I’ve found that smells lovely! It’s scented with organic essential oils! (And I just discovered they have individual nail polish remover wipes, too!)
This is a classic subscription box discovery that changed my foundation application game years ago. (If you aren’t familiar, you wet this sponge, squeeze out excess water, then bounce it across your skin to apply foundation/concealer/etc. And you get a basically flawless application.) And, I recently learned to use this sponge to apply setting powder, too. It’s perfect for getting undereye areas completely covered!
This is one of those items I thought was gimmicky and never would have bought on my own, but since it was in the Millenial Time Capsule Limited Edition Birchbox, I was down to try it. And now I get it! I need all the lighting/filters/etc help I can get when it comes to pictures (especially selfies), and this gives such a flattering light! (You just clip it to your phone, tablet, etc.)
And, I just recently realized I can use this on my laptop for video conference meetings!
Living proof. Perfect hair Day (PhD) Dry Shampoo
Living proof is one of my favorite hair care brands. Amazing scents, ingredient-conscious, and the formulas are fab, too. I’ve tried a lot of dry shampoo over the years, and this is the one I always come back to. I’ve transitioned from washing my hair daily to every 3 or 4 days, and this formula has made it happen! It absorbs oil, adds a little volume, and smells SO good!
What’s one (or more) of your favorite Birchbox discoveries? We’ll be selecting a few comments for a new Reader Recommendation post, and if we use your comment, we’ll send you a gift!
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Written by Liz Cadman
My favorite birchbox discovery was Plant Get it On body wash. It smells so good and rinses away so perfectly.
Strangely, i ended up liking birchbox lol. It draws so much flak, and yes, the samples are really tiny but somehow i prefer that over having samples from last year that i haven’t used up until now (makeup in particular). I’ve used almost everything that birchbox has sent me, and the ones i haven’t got to are backlogged since i sub to other boxes, which I’m fixing to cancel.
I only like birchbox strictly as a sampling service. Yes these are free if you buy something in a store or online but i live in the country, 50 miles from the nearest mall. I also can’t afford to blindly buy $50 worth of cosmetics to get free shipping and get some free samples online. I don’t know a lot of high-ish end brands either.
After discovering some stuff from Birchbox now I’m willing to splurge on that $50 online since i know exactly what i want. That is my favorite thing about birchbox.
I don’t sub to Birchbox, only buying a handful of their discovery kits. I couldn’t think of anything that jumped out at me until I read what others posted. Amanda cited Harvey Prince and I had a lightbulb moment. A long time ago I received a sample of the Harvey Prince hello body cream. It came in their mystery sample pack. Though the sample is long gone now, I’ve kept the little tube to remind myself to buy the perfume one day. It smells so good! “Sicilian Lemon, Spanish Mandarin, and Plumeria” are some of the notes.
For me it was the Marcelle BB Cream Golden Glow that got me hooked on Birchbox. I don’t typically like foundations but I love this stuff.
I love the stila patina as well, but the biggest discovery for me was the shimmer version of the patina that I got in a recent curated Birchbox. I was literally going wow, I love this sooo much. the first time I have put it on my lips, I thought were has this lipstick been all my life. It has the beautiful color of patina with a gorgeous shimmer, so amazing. I since bought almost all the shimmers stila has to offer.
I love this!! @Liz please do your top 10 all time favorite items from all sub boxes since day one!
Birchbox introduced me to Beauty Protector leave-in conditioner and I have since become addicted! I love how my hair looks after using the spray when I blow dry, and the smell is simply intoxicating. It’s become something I can’t live without! I currently have over 20 little bottles I’ve accumulated from swapping in addition to the purchased full size.
OMG Yes!! I can’t even count how many full sized bottles of this I’ve bought. It’s the best!
I also love the Dr. Jart BB cream. It’s the only thing I’ve ever used that doesn’t make my skin look flaky by mid morning.
The S’well bottle I received from a PopSugar box has changed me into a water guzzling gal! I love how it can keep water cold for 24 hours. I live in Florida y’all so that’s really something! My S’wells have been tested and pushed to the limit! They work as advertised. I love them. I’ve gotten 2 more, one from a Birchbox box, and one from Starbucks with a beautiful Lilly Pullitzer print on it. If you don’t have one and need to drink more water I highly recommend them. I drink at least 4 times as much water as I used to. I didn’t like it lukewarm. S’well has made my complexion better! That’s pretty remarkable for a water bottle.
My game changing, best ever, favorite sample from Birchbox sample was the Real Chemistry Luminous 3-Minute Peel! This product is absolutely amazing! After trying the Dr. Brandt Microdermabrasion and Poredermabrasion, as well as the Visanti Brighten Up, I thought I’d never find a product better than those. I was wrong! This peel was more gentle, easier to rinse away and gave me the softest skin I’ve ever had since the day I was born. If you haven’t tried this and have a lot of texture on your face, you NEED to try this! It is pretty expensive for a full size, but definitely well worth the price tag!
Wish could edit! Forgive the mistakes 😝
I’d go back to Birchbox if they weren’t so hair-heavy. I don’t want hair products, and I resent that 40% of a box may be shampoo and conditioner samples. No thanks. For the same price, ipsy sends me 5 great samples and no shampoo.
Dr Jart+ Every Sun Day Sun Fluid is one of my all-time favorites. I hoarded so many of the little sample bottles. I am good about applying sunscreen every morning, but in the past, I’ve tended not to reapply because I don’t like sunscreen residue on my hands. This stuff leaves no residue on my hands, and it is completely sheer, so there’s no worry about leaving a white cast, either.
My very favorite product I’ve discovered is the beauty protector spray. It makes my hair the best it’s ever looked after blow drying, and the volume and style lasts. Also, it smells beautiful and is inexpensive compared to some other favorite brands I’ve discovered, like oribe. This is a winner for me!
I agree, June!! I’m in love with that stuff too!
Birchbox has great staple items that for many become HG. I love the Marcelle mascara I received a while back but haven’t had the chance to purchase it yet. I know there’s been others that I can’t think of atm too.
Smashbox face primer was a game changer for me; I was amazed how much less foundation I needed and how smooth it looked. I haven’t used anything else since. Also the nourishing mask from Amika – Love everything about this product and use it at least weekly on my hair.
A makeup artist taught me to apply foundation that way, but any brand sponge (non-latex) will do. This is not exclusive to Beautyblender, who are just an excuse to charge more money for items that drugstore chains manufacture for much less.
The air repair complexion boosting moisturizer! It wasn’t even in any of my regular boxes while i was subbed — it was among the freebies for subbing.
2nd is the r+co acv rinse. My scalp just felt good whenever i use it
No. 4 hair clarifying shampoo – vegan and curly girl method approved. One bottle is so concentrated that it last me a year.
Harvey Prince conditioner. I actually liked most of the Harvey Prince stuff I got
Most of the Davines products.
Davines Minu shampoo, adds good volume to my fine hair whether it’s color treated or not.
A more recent discovery is Wander Beauty glotion. I like to blend a little with my regular foundation.
OMG. I love the Wander Glotion.
My favorite was the Naobay body creme.
Joie Folle de Joie perfume
YES!! I discovered this through Birchbox and bought a full size with points. Two years later I’m STILL hoarding and using that bottle! This stuff smells divine! It was discontinued but the company brought it back after many angry customers.
My all time favorite discovery from Birchbox is the Balance Me Tinted wonder eye cream. I can apply this under my eyes and don’t need concealer! I love it! My second favorite is TOCCA “Stella” Parfum
Oh, I need to get a selfie light!
From the French Beauty Secrets Kit:
Clarins Instant Light Lip Comfort Oil
Baggu
From the Sweet Beauty Treats Box:
Lipstick Queen Medieval Tinted Lipstick Treatment
Sugarfina
I agree on the lip oil and croissant Baggu tote.
My favorite Birchbox Discovery is the Dr. Jart Cicapair Tiger Grass Cream. It has been a godsend for instantly calming any redness in my face, and it is a color corrector too! This also helps to soothe acne breakouts and I have friends with eczema who say this changed their skin for the better, too!
The first discovery for me was the Smashbox face primer(never had one before). I was in awe how it blurred my large pores on my nose and chin. It made my BB cream go on so much smoother. I also applied to my lips prior to using a lip color and that improved covering the fine lines too.
I recently discovered the Sand and Sky Brilliant Skin Pink Clay mask. I have used many different ones but none ever left a clear brightening effect after one use!
I agree about Stila Patina! It’s my fave lippie discovery in years!!! And Korres products!
I discovered quite a few game changers through Birchbox. Kiehl’s Midnight Concentrate serum absorbs so nicely, feels like it’s definitely helping prevent wrinkles and it smells like lavender so it’s perfect before bedtime. My favorite mascara of all time was sent to me in this box. I love Laura Geller Lash Boss. It separates, adds volume and length and doesn’t clump. The formula is amazing and the uniquely shaped wand makes application easy and perfect. Lastly, I had never thought to try lip stain but I adore Jane Iredale’s lip stain. It lasts so long, is incredibly moisturizing and it smells subtly like peaches which always reminds me of my baby makeup as a kid. It’s a win-win!
I am middle-aged and new to make up. My whole life changed and I needed a pick-me-up. Enter Birchbox. They had the free extra box to sign up so I figured I’d ‘play’. I’ve never been able to wear make up bc my eyes are so sensitive that they water just looking at eyeshadow. I got my free box and fell in love. It had the Fabulous Flocking Lashes by The Beauty Crop. For the first time, you could see my eyelashes! The best part was that my eyes never watered. Not once. It gave me great natural looking lashes. I’ve used this as I’ve tried eyeliners and shadows. Tons of eye watering. But this mascara can take it. I can rub the wateriness away and there is no damage. No smudging, flaking, or wearing off. This mascara gave me confidence and allows me to have fun testing out make up. I’m so grateful.
My favorite Birchbox discovery is the Davines Authentic Cleansing Nectar. It’s multipurpose, great for body and hair, and it smells absolutely divine!
Oh my gosh, I completely forgot about Davines! I discovered Davines products through Birchbox, and their Love line is to die for!
Benefit Gimmebrow changed my life. The inner half of my brows are quite thick and are brunette in color, but past the arch the hairs get curly and unruly and lighten in color. The tinted gel is exactly what I need to keep my brows in place and to fill in the ends where the hair are curly but not so thick.
Also, I love Marcelle micellar water, which I received in my first Birchbox. It was my introduction to micellar water as a product category and now I consider it a staple.
My favorite BB finds are: Liz Earle Cleansing Cream and Jelly Pong Pong Fairy Lashes, also Ellovi Real Body Butter 🙂
A bunch of things I first tried in BirchBox are now my absolute fave. Beautyblender, YBF eyebrow pencil, Dr. Jart BB cream, Zoya nail polish – I’ve lost count how many I’ve purchased since first getting them. Also Annick Goutal Petite Cherie perfume
Birchbox got me into Dr. Jart ceramidin Cream… it’s been a lifesaver in cold New York winters and helped the eczema on my face.
I think my favorite product I’ve ever gotten from Birchbox is Schmidt’s Jasmine Tea Sensitive Skin Deodorant Stick. When I saw that was one of the items that was coming my way I was so disappointed since I’ve never found a natural deodorant that worked. But it smells fantastic and works SO well. I absolutely love it!
I have 3 favorite Birchbox discoveries. The first is Harvey Prince Sea Salt Texturizing Mist. I don’t use it for waves or beach hair but instead for volume. I spray it on my wet hair and then blow dry. I would never have tried it on my own if I hadn’t received a sample from Birchbox. I tried other sea salt sprays and hated the way my hair looked and felt. I have very fine and limp hair, and this spray gives me the extra volume I need. The second is Marcelle Xtension Plus Curl Mascara. I use it every day. I have long eyelashes and it’s the only curling mascara that works for me. My third favorite would have to be Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray. Other dry shampoos make my hair feel and look chalky. I’m not the type to spend a lot of money on beauty and hair products but I’ll always make an exception for Oribe.
My favorite discovery from Birchbox is, anything from Herbivore, which I discovered in the Vogue Rose Box
Liz took my most favorite Birchbox discovery… the EXO nail polish remover 🙂 , so I’ll list my 2nd favorite (that I can think of)… Klorane’s Shampoo with Mango Butter. This shampoo has a beautiful, but not overpowering mango scent that left my hair with a fresh, slightly citrusy scent that lasted the whole day. It’s a slightly thicker, more creamier formula than a typical shampoo where a little goes a long way (I easily got almost 10 uses out of the 3oz sample). It lathers wonderfully (I like a good lather 🙂 ), and it helped to leave my dry, somewhat coarse hair feeling soft and replenished while not weighing it down. I have actually purchased kits that included this shampoo solely for the shampoo sample! haha 🙂
I agree – the Exo polish remover is THE BEST! I’m using my third bottle and seriously contemplating buying another one soon.
Those are some great items. I just tried patina this week. Mine has shimmer and I love it. I love to clamp my selfie light onto my handheld mirror. It works great for touch ups anywhere! Mine is different and doesn’t block much of the mirror.