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.
My Subscription Addiction pays for this subscription. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes).
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, France, Spain and the UK
Birchbox Sample Box December 2018 Review
Each box comes with a card detailing the items included and some tips on how to use them. Now, on to the items!
Beachwaver Co. Great Barrier Heat Protectant Hairspray 1.4 oz - Estimated Value $4.72 (Buy an 8.3 oz full size for $28)
I feel like hairsprays are something I don't get enough of in subscription boxes. This one smells amazing! It offers a light hold and works well to texturize and helped even my next day hair feel and look fresher. It's a little odd that it has a heat-protectant factor, since I generally use hairspray after heat styling, and I often only blow-dry. Because it has heat protecting properties, I think I'll save this hairspray for days I curl my hair, using it before curling to help with hold. Using it post-dry, pre-curling or straightening makes the most sense to me.
Whish Vanilla Lip Scrub, .25 fl oz - Estimated Value $5 (buy a 1 oz full size for $20)
I love a good lip scrub. They're essential when you like to wear lipsticks or liquid lipsticks so that they apply smoothly and don't emphasize dry patches. When I worked at Sephora, we would try to always demo a lip scrub to our clients when they were getting a makeover or wanted to try a lipstick to make them look and feel the best on their lips. This one is gritty but not harsh, and it did a nice job of buffing away dead and dry lip skin. Bonus: I like that Whish uses pretty clean ingredients and make paraben-free, sulfate-free, phthalate-free, cruelty-free, (and more) formulas.
Manna Kadar Cosmetics Miracle Balm, .1 fl oz - Estimated Value $9.50 (buy a .2 oz full size for $19)
This is a multi-tasking balm, made for dry spots on anything from lips to cuticles to knuckles, etc. I've tried a few different multi-purpose balms before, and this one works okay. It didn't blow me away, and to be honest I really don't love the ingredients list, which includes mineral oil and a red dye/pigment. Something as simple and versatile as a general multi-tasking balm can be made very easily with natural ingredients. Ultimately, even if you don't care about ingredients as much, this one worked alright but wasn't the most effective one I've tried.
100% Pure Green Tea EGCG Concentrate Cream, .33 fl oz - Estimated Value $10.61 (buy a 1.4 oz tube for $45)
Speaking of ingredients, this cream uses natural and organic ingredients! It contains nutrients from green tea, acai, and olive. This cream felt soothing on my skin and left it feeling hydrated but not greasy. I like the smell, but many of the reviews of this product on Birchbox's website mention disliking it. I think the smell is from the natural extracts and not any added fragrance.
Benefit Cosmetics Roller Lash Super-Curling & Lifting Mascara, .1 oz - Estimated Value $8.33 (buy a .3 oz. tube for $25)
I used to curl my lashes every day but noticed the damage it caused: I would cycle through phases of having short, uneven lashes and longer, healthy looking ones every few months. I stopped curling my lashes, and have just worked with primers to get any extra curl or length to my lashes. This mascara really works to help grab and curl/lengthen your lashes all on its own. I've really liked this mascara since it released a couple years ago! This was the sample I chose to get in my box this month.
Verdict: December was a good month for me from Birchbox! I really like everything, except the Manna Kadar balm, and will get a lot of use out of everything else in my box. The estimated value total adds up to $38.16 - an awesome value from a $10 sample box!
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? As of publication, your first box would be the January 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
- Hairspray: $1.24
- Lip Scrub: $1.31
- Miracle Balm:$2.49
- Green Tea Cream: $2.78
- Mascara: $2.18
Check out all of our Birchbox reviews and the Beauty Subscription Box Directory!
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What do you think of my December Birchbox? Did you pick a curated box or a sample?
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