Billie is a shaving subscription service that caters to women and allows you to choose the frequency of deliveries and cancel at any time. The outright bash The Pink Tax which is the premium amount that brands charge for “women’s” products or services. NPR’s report on the Pink Tax referenced a study that suggested women pay 13% more than men on equivalent products. Billie seeks to eliminate this unfair practice via their product development and pricing. They also donate to women’s causes around the world (although they don’t specify which ones on their site).
This is a review of Billie's Starter Kit.
Updated 3/23/20 with newly available products!
My Subscription Addiction paid for this box. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
About this Women's Shaving Subscription
The Subscription Box: Billie
The Cost: $9.00 for the starter kit and $9.00 for each 4-pack replacement cartridge delivery. You choose the frequency.
The Products: The Starter Kit includes a razor handle, mag(net)ic holder, and 2 5-blade razor cartridges. There is also an option to add body care products of your choice.
Good to Know: Billie only has one level of razors, unlike other shaving subscriptions with multiple razor options. The razors are 5-blade and surrounded by aloe shave soap.
Ships to: US for free (including P.O. boxes)
Billie Starter Kit & Shave Cream Review
I've been seeing Billie advertised on Instagram a lot lately and even though I am currently a Dollar Shave Club subscriber, I couldn't help but wonder if I'd be happier with Billie, a brand that is targeted to women specifically, and is very vocal about being anti-pink-tax. They also point out how ridiculous it is that shaving companies never show female body hair as if it's something to hide. Yes, of course, they are in the business of women removing hair, but that doesn't mean you have to go all or nothing, and it's refreshing that they don't ignore the fact that female body hair exists.
The first thing you'll do when signing up is to choose which color you'd like out of 5 rather pleasing hues.
Next, they ask how often you shave to estimate when they think you'll need more razors auto-shipped to you. Since I chose once a week (haha, IF THAT), my replacements will come every three months. You can always change it, too.
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Everything included in the starter kit comes in the wonderfully designed package. Since I also ordered shave cream to try out, mine came in a box (shown at the top of this post).
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They include a small booklet to walk you through your new razor. It starts with what comes in your kit, then goes into how they are trying to stop women from overpaying for razors. Their shave products are vegan, non-GMO, gluten-free, and also free of paraben, sulfates, and synthetic fragrances. They also don't test on animals. There's a short how-to on replacing your blade cartridge as well as using your magnetic holder.
Billie Starter Kit - Retail Value $9.00
Here's what comes in the starter kit:
- 1 Billie handle in color of your choice (I chose "Cool Blue")
- 2 x 5-Blade Razor Cartridges
- 1 Mag(net)ic Holder
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Your first complete razor comes in a colorful box, with 1 of 2 cartridges attached to the handle you chose.
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Handle with 5-Blade Razor Cartridge
The handle is made of lightweight plastic and has a single button you'll use to eject the old razor once it's time to replace. The underside of the handle is coated in a thin rubbery material to help you keep a grip while using.
Each 5-blade razor cartridge comes encased in aloe soap that surrounds it. I remember razors coming with this feature years ago and if I recall, it was so that you could shave without having to use a cream or gel, so I tried it without any. It wasn't bad at all but ended up being a lot nicer with the additional cream I ordered. I thought I'd miss the weight of my heavy rubberized metal handle from Dollar Shave Club, but it was actually kind of nice to have a lighter one in my hand.
UPDATE: Billie used to offer an aloe shave bar, but has updated to charcoal since I got my starter kit. So the bar in the pictures above is a little more white than the current Billie bar, which is a soft gray color.
Additional Razor Cartridge
Here's how the extra cartridge comes, packed safely in a plastic case to wait until needed.
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Mag(net)ic Holder
The next item seems a little silly at first, but I learned quickly how useful it is. It's a simple plastic triangle with a sticky back that holds your razor to the wall in the shower. It even comes with "back up sticky stuff" if you need it later. This little fella has a magnet inside that keeps your razor snuggly held. I was afraid it wouldn't stick properly because I have stupid porous tiles in my bathroom, but it held like a champ.
Here it is with the razor. I ended up really liking this little holder since I normally just have my razor on the edge of the tub, sitting in water, which of course isn't great for the blades. Now it's out of the puddles!
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Billie Shave Cream, 6.5 oz. - Retail Value $8.00
I think it's important to try the shaving cream a razor brand has to offer since it's something I'm going to need and it's more convenient to have it sent with shipments of blades. This full-size bottle was not included in the starter kit and cost me $8.00 to add. At the time I added it, it also asked me if it was just a one time purchase or if I'd like to have it sent every 3 months with my new 4-pack of blade cartridges. I like that I have options. Their formula is made with aloe vera and sage, and like the booklet mentioned, is free of a lot of nasty stuff. I like the consistency of this cream and it's wonderfully slippery which allows the 5 blades to really effortlessly glide across my stubbly legs. It also smells realllly nice. I think it's... grapefruit? Yes, it is grapefruit-forward. This shave cream is great, but I do think that $8.00 is a little steep and that I could probably get something comparable at Trader Joe's for a better price.
Additional Products from Billie
Recently Billie has come out with a few other non-razor related personal care products. I'll be updating this post as soon as I get my hands on them to review first hand.
Billie Floof Dry Shampoo - Retail Value $14.00
Their dry shampoo comes in two shades: dark and light.
Billie Wonder Wipes - Retail Value $9.00
Get their facial wipes at 25 to a pack. It looks like a subscription is required that ships every month or every other month. You can cancel at anytime.
Super Salve Daily Hydrating Lip Balm - Retail Value $9.00
As a lip product addict, I'm pretty excited about this balm. It comes in five variations: three that are flavored with tint (fig, rhubarb, sorbet) and two that are sheer (classic which is unflavored, and parsley).
The Verdict: As someone who typically is too lazy to shave my legs and even keep my armpits completely smooth, I did really enjoy the shaving experience that Billie extended to me. My legs were so ridiculously soft and smooth after running this razor over them that I wanted to keep touching them throughout the day and even three days later, they're not that bad. I like that this company was co-founded by a woman (Georgina Gooley) and calls out body hair shame and pink-tax BS. Do I need a razor specifically for a woman? No. Is it kind of nice to be catered to and not completely up-charged to take care of the body hair I sometimes want to get rid of? Yes. Billie seems like a solid razor with equally solid shaving products that will just show up at my door so that it's one last thing I have to think about every few months for a reasonable price. Comparing Billie ($2.25/razor) to a similar product like the Bic Soleil Balance ($2.99/razor), I'm saving $0.74 a piece and a trip to the store.
If you’re curious to see how Billie stacks up to the women's razor, Flamingo, you should check out our Billie vs. Flamingo post!
The Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? You sure can. You can order your starter kit any time you'd like!
Value Breakdown: For $9.00 I got a reusable handle, 2 shave cartridges, and a magnetic holder that prolongs the life of my blades by keeping it dry. Each shipment after that costs $9.00 for 4 cartridges, which breaks down to $2.25 a piece.
Check out all of our Billie reviews and more shaving clubs in the Women’s Subscription Box List!
If you're trying to figure out which razor subscription is right for you, head over to this post where I compare the leading brands!
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