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Birchbox Sample Box Review + Coupon – November 2018

Haley Faye
ByHaley FayeNov 29, 2018 | 21 comments

Birchbox Sample Choice November 2018 shipping box

Birchbox
3.7 overall rating
657 Ratings | 188 Reviews

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 is a review of the Sample Choice box, which is $10 a month., box.

Birchbox Sample Choice November 2018 bos

My Subscription Addiction pays for this subscription. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes).

Birchbox Sample Choice November 2018 all items

About Birchbox

The Subscription Box: Birchbox

The Cost: $10 a month (get one month free and $10 to spend in the shop with an annual subscription!)

Check our Birchbox Coupon List to get the most up-to-date coupon!

The Products: Beauty and lifestyle samples selected by the Birchbox team.

Ships to: US, FranceSpain and the UK

Birchbox Sample Box November 2018 Review

Birchbox Sample Choice November 2018 theme info

Birchbox Sample Choice November 2018 item descriptions

Each box comes with a card detailing the items included and some tips on how to use them. Now, on to the items!

Birchbox Sample Choice November 2018 cicapair cream

Dr. Jart+ Cicapair™ Tiger Grass Color Correcting Treatment SPF 30, .17 fl oz - Estimated Value $5.20 (Buy a 1.7 oz full size for $52)

This is a newer product from Dr. Jart+! I tried a sample from a different subscription and loved it. It's designed to even out skin tone and get rid of redness and it does a great job. It also feels really nice as a day cream, even with my dry skin. This has been an awesome new discovery for me!

Birchbox Sample Choice November 2018 it's a 10

It's a 10® Miracle Leave-In Product, 2 fl oz - Estimated Value $9.26 (Buy a 4 oz full size for $18.52)

This leave-in treatment is a fantastic product! It's designed to help with 10 different hair benefits (repairing strands, eliminating frizz, restoring shine, providing heat protection, preventing split ends, hair looks and feels healthier, and is stronger against future damage, too, etc). It smells lovely and works very well. I always use a leave-in product of some kind and this is a good one.

Birchbox Sample Choice November 2018 mascara

Lise Watier Dramatique Intense 3D Volume Mascara, .16 fl oz - Estimated Value $6.25 (Buy a .64 oz full size for $25)

This brand is new to me. The brush is designed to help add maximum value easily, and the shape instantly reminded me of Make Up For Ever's Smoky Extravagant Mascara. I thought it did a good job adding some volume but it did take a little work to get to the intensity I like. The formula is an intense black but it just wasn't easy to apply the amount of formula I wanted, and the brush didn't really get in between my lashes to help with that. I also had a small amount of smudging by the end of a (pretty active) day, as well. I'll probably finish up this sample but I won't personally be buying a full-size.

Birchbox Sample Choice November 2018 liquid shadow

Birchbox Sample Choice November 2018 liquid shadow close

Birchbox Sample Choice November 2018 liquid shadow swatch

Love of Color Liquid Shimmer Shadow, in shade "Aurora", .03 fl oz - Full Size! Retail Value $10

This was my sample choice for the month. Love of Color is Birchbox's house line. Every time they send a LoC product in a box it's full size, which is awesome - especially because it costs the price of the box! Liquid Shadows are one of my favorite new trends of this year. This Aurora shade is new, and it's a very pretty lilac purple. I don't have a lot of pinks/purples so I'm glad to add this to my collection. The formula goes on smoothly, builds easily, blends pretty well (I recommend blending with a brush), and lasted all day with no creases.

Birchbox Sample Choice November 2018 shadow and mascara modeled

Birchbox Sample Choice November 2018 shadow and mascara modeled

Here, I'm wearing the mascara and the liquid shadow (I did add a crease color when I wore it for the day).

Bonus: Vital Proteins Beauty Collagen Stick Packs, 1 pack - Estimated Value $2.43 (Buy 14 packs for $34)

This item is marked on the card as a bonus item, but this sample makes 5 in my box... If it's truly a "bonus" then was I only meant to get 4 items this month?

That being said, I'm actually really happy to get this sample! I feel like everyone in my circle has been on the new trend of drinking collagen. I need to do a little more research, but it's supposed to help with healthy hair, skin, and nails, and I've also heard it may help with joint health? I haven't tried Vital Proteins yet, but my friend has been drinking some daily for a couple months and her normally super brittle nails have definitely strengthened. Do any of you drink collagen?

Verdict: November was a good month for me from Birchbox! I love the cream, liquid shadow, leave-in treatment, and getting to try Vital Proteins. The estimated value total adds up to $33.14 including the bonus - an awesome value from a $10 sample box!

To Wrap Up: 

Can you still get this box if you sign up today? As of today your first box could still be an October box, and items are chosen for you based on your profile and preferences. (Tip: Check the image on the sign-up page. The box design pictured is the first month you’ll receive.) You can’t pick the curated box as your first box, but you’ll be able to pick it every month moving forward.

Value Breakdown: At $10 for this box, here’s what you are paying approximately per item (excluding the "bonus" item)

  • Cicapair: $1.69
  • It's a 10: $3.02
  • Mascara: $2.04
  • Liquid Shadow: $3.26

Check out all of our Birchbox reviews and the Beauty Subscription Box Directory!

Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!

What do you think of my November Birchbox? Did you pick a curated box or a sample?

Starting at $17.00
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Birchbox ($15 per month) 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 ju... read more.

Haley Faye
Haley Faye
Haley Faye first discovered the wonderful world of subscription boxes in 2012 and began writing for MSA in 2014. Over the years, she has found many subscriptions to love. Now a mom of three, her favorite boxes are ones that dress her kids, help her get organized, feed her family, send her snacks, and offer educational fun for her children.

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21 comments

A

I was a Birchbox subscriber forever it was the first subscription box I ever subscribed to, but as a woman of color I got really tired of 2+ samples a month I could not use. How much sunscreen and dry shampoo can one person need? I tried changing the customization of my box several times. Then I cancelled my subscription and contacted customer to service to let them know why. They said that my concerns “were common and will hopefully be addressed in the future”. I would never re-subscribed based on that response. The two other subscription boxes I receive don’t seem to have that same problem!

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Ash

Women of colour defintely need sunscreen though. As a woman of color I can definitely attest to this. You may not easily be sunburned but the risk of skin cancer and age spots are always there

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Laura C

I selected the Love of Color Liquid Shimmer Shadow as my sample choice item. I received that and 5 additional items: Amika Soul food Nourishing Mask, Derma E Overnight Peel, Lise Watier Mascara, LXMI Creme du Nil and the Vital Proteins as a bonus item.

I received a really good box this month. It’s been a while since I’ve enjoyed every sample I received. There’s usually one product I can’t or won’t use.

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Haley Faye

Thanks for that info, Laura! I thought I should have gotten 5 solid items in my box plus the vital proteins as a bonus (and shouldn’t count towards the 5 samples), but there wasn’t anything on my info card that was missing! something is odd there. <3

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Pink5

I really hate the Make Up For Ever Smoky Lash wand. Rimmell came out with something very similar a year or so earlier and it’s a terrible design. It takes up so much room in the tube that it’s hard to get any mascara out. Then it’s hard to apply unless you use just the very tip.

You’d be better served clipping the wand off so you can still cap the mascara and using a disposable applicator in a style you like better.

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Cindy

I am still an ACE, still purchase things at birchbox, etc… but I stopped getting the box…last thing I want is a supplement with bovine…gross. I don’t want to contribute to that even if I don’t use it…products for consuming internally aught to be something everyone can have. I would not even give that bovine supplement away I would toss it.

~🌱~ 🌎 ~🌱~

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Marigold

I agree. I wrote to Birchbox that I was totally offended by having a dead pig in my beauty box! I want beauty products, not supplements, anyway.

I also complained bc it’s listed as a Bonus but isn’t really! Whassup, Birchbox?

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Haley Faye

Thank you so much!

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Michelle

Do you apply the liquid shadow with the brush or with the applicator and then blend with the brush?

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Haley Faye

Sorry for the confusion! I apply with the doefoot it comes with. I have blended it at like my crease just to diffuse it and make it look good by itself but I think it wipes away when I use my finger, and I just use a blending brush to blend it out nicely. Hope that helps!

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Ragan

Collagen really can help with those things, but I’d be angry to receive it in a box because it is not vegetarian.

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Nikkim

That bonus item should’ve been a 6th item imo. That box should have 5 samples, then the bonus. Birchbox just isn’t impressing me lately

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Norelle

I had six items in my box, theoretically, but my sample choice was the LOC eye shadow which was missing (but listed on the card) I got the collagen drink as a bonus, but can’t even bring myself to try it.
My box took fooorever to come this month, I had to contact customer service about the missing eye shadow, they said they’d send another one but I haven’t seen tracking info or heard anything else about it. Not a great month for me.

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Haley Faye

That’s good to know. I wondered if maybe the LOC sample choice made them only send 4 samples? I think the collagen bonus sample should have just been one of the regular ones. I’m just confused about that.

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amber

I’ve tried collagen drinks before from I think, FFF or something. But anyway, they’re really not terrible. Kinda like drinking thinned-out jello

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Liz L

Love your sweater!

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Haley Faye

Thank you! I got it from Stitch Fix years ago 🙂

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Kelly

That looks like a pretty great box! I should have chosen the LOC eye shadow!

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Maya Hananoki

Your eye makeup looked amazing

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Jill

You have beautiful skin!!

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Jessica Hapak

Dr. Jart+ Cicapair is LIFE. Instant holy grail for me

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