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Birchbox May 2019 Sample Selection Time!

MSA
ByMSAApr 30, 2019 | 48 comments

Birchbox
3.7 overall rating
657 Ratings | 188 Reviews

If you are a Birchbox Ace, you now can select your sample choice for the May 2019 Birchbox! (All other subscribers will have access to select their sample tomorrow).

UPDATE: Use coupon code ANNUAL10 to get an annual subscription for the old Birchbox pricing - only $10 a box!

Here are the sample choice options for May:

  • Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream
  • Beauty Protector Protect & Detangle
  • jane iredale Just Kissed Lip and Cheek Stain in Forever Pink

Here is May 2019 Curated Box #1:

  • Oribe Apres Beach Wave & Shine Spray
  • Lipstick Queen Mornin’ Sunshine Lipstick
  • COOLA Classic Face Sunscreen
  • Vasanti BrightenUp! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator
  • Amika Velveteen Dream Smoothing Balm
  • Marcelle Xtension Plus Skyline Mascara

And here is May 2019 Curated Box #2:

UPDATE: This box has sold out.

  • Smith & Cult Nailed Lacquer
  • Real Chemistry Environmental Rescue Daily Serum
  • beautyblender Makeup Sponge
  • Benefit Cosmetics High Beam Liquid Face Highlighter
  • GrandeLIPS Plumping Liquid Lipstick
  • Moroccanoil Treatment Light

This month you also have the option to swap the curated boxes and sample choice for a kit:

UPDATE: This box has sold out.

Skincare Made Easy Kit includes:

  • HUM Nutrition Glow Sweet Glow Gummies
  • BiodermaSensibio H2O Make-Up Removing Micelle Solution
  • Avène Cleanance Cleansing Gel
  • Sand & Sky Australian Pink Clay
  • COOLA Classic Sunscreen
  • Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Cream
  • Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Eye
  • Sunday Riley Good Genes Lactic Acid Treatment
  • Acure Radically Rejuvenating™ Sheet Mask

If you aren't familiar with Birchbox sample choice, each month subscribers get to pick one of the samples in their box, pick a completely revealed curated box for that month, or swap it for a kit. (Alternatively, you can pick nothing and get a complete surprise.)

What do you think of the spoilers for the May 2019 Birchbox? Are you going to pick a sample, one of the curated boxes, or swap it for a kit?

Birchbox is $15 a month. Check out our reviews of Birchbox to learn more about this monthly beauty subscription box!

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.

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48 comments

Danielle

I chose box two. Just checked my samples and I’m getting something entirely different. I can’t imagine what they will have to do, at this point, to win me back. How disappointing.

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Aloholora

I’m getting curated box #—-I just checked my samples on birchbox and I’m getting Amika Velveteen shampoo and conditioner too. Are we all getting lil extras from now on? I didn’t last month.

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Celia

Sooo disappointed with BB. The one box i really wanted sold out, WTH!!!

Giving it one last chance, because for the increase price, i dont think its worth it anymore.

Anybody willing to sell Curated box #2?

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Alyce

I have been an Ace for two years. I have yet to receive a notice for May’s box choice. I logged in about two hours after designated start time and two boxes were already closed. Crossing my fingers that BB comes through with 6 amazing samples!

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Dee

i am not an ace, went to login and only box #1 was available. i wasnt impressed by my first box last month, thought id give it one more shot and i am not picking any samples because the samples to pick from are not even good. i am going to see what i get sent this month and then if there are no good name brand products like they promised bc they were upping the price, im out of here!

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Carly

I re-subbed after 3 years just to get box#2 seeing the better samples and didn’t even get the chance to pick with only box 1 left. I’m in unsubscribing 😩

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Tammy Ikonen

My “Selection” was limited to ONLY #1…UGH

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Joan

I guess I misunderstood when the selection process would open to the rest of us non aces. Didn’t expect to find the skincare kit still available, but was disappointed to see only one curated box available on day one of the product selection. I chose Box 1 because I have not been happy when they’ve chosen my samples. I like their limited edition and discovery kits, discounted sales and freebies. However, I’m waiting to see just how Birchbox is going to get better and better and worth the higher price.

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Allison

Lol people still subscribe to this?!

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Poppy

Im not an Ace, got box #2. Here’s my time line experience.

Saw MSA post & signed onto BB. Could not choose anything from 920am-1230pm EST (altho banner counter to choose customizaton was at “zero”). Gave up & went to lunch…

Confused, I wished MSA had stated/specified who had access when the post went up on MSA. With no access, I assumed only “ACES”???

Doubtfully checked BB again at 130PM EST & I was able to pick! Skincare box was sold out, but picked box #2.

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Paula

When I was finally able to make my selection for a curated box, BOTH of my choices were out of stock. So I had no choice. IN THE FIRST HOUR OF SELECTION TIME. It’s the first time I’ve actually been seriously angry. They suckered me back into getting mascara and shampoo again, and this time it’s for $5 more a month. @$&!*!!!

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Christa H

I was able to log in and pick box#2 early. I know it had said 4p EST, but I logged in early and just kept refreshing the page..

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Paula

Box #2 is also now Out of stock. No choices anymore…oh yes, sorry choice #1: crap; choice #2 crap. They got me good this time….#$#@#!!

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Marion

I don’t love any of the curated boxes, & while I’d be okay with any (or all) of the individual sample choices, none of them are super exciting, so I’ve decided to opt for total mystery & let them pick everything for me.

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Annie S.

Sorry that my message posted twice (I wasn’t sure that I hit submit the first time).

I am not an ACE any more but I’ve always had the option to choose a sample on the morning of the day of sample choice, sometimes before the official email was sent. I haven’t watched the official video because of that so I missed it if it said that sample choice was due to start at 4pm EST (which makes no sense). I was finally able to choose before 1 pm EST.

Unless they were hit with a sudden influx of subscribers, the trouble with getting to choose makes no sense at all. Did all the ACES choose the skincare set? I was torn between that and box #2. Either one would have been fine because nothing really grabbed my attention this month.

I’m going to monitor the situation for the next few months but if it doesn’t get any better, I will put the $15 to use somewhere else.

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Paula

The skincare box was out in minutes. Box #2 in about an hour. We’re essentially paying $5 more a month for disappointment and frustration …

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Poppy

I finally got option to choose. Skin set was sold out. I picked box #2 (what I initially wanted but was wavering towards the skin set).

I think I would’ve felt unhappy if only box #1 was left, altho they were all good boxes. Just the feeling of a leftover box and no choice 😛

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Samantha

I’m not an ace so I didn’t bother to check until now (10am PST) and was able to make a selection. I really wanted the skin care kit but sold out so opted for curated box #2.

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Emily

I have been trying to make my selection for the past hour and wasn’t able to on the app. Logged in on my computer and I’m finally able to make a selection, but the skincare made easy kit is sold out. 🙁 Oh well, Curated box 2 is still a great option.

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Melissa

I’ve been having lots of trouble with getting my app to do anything. Maybe just use the website?

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Courtney

I have been trying all day & gave ip around 2:30pm-ish and now box 2 is sold out…ugh soo mad! I dont want box 1 either… Ugh I may just cancel or give it another month then cancel.

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Paula

I did the same thing! Soooooo mad!!!! I emailed a complaint!!!! There’s no excuse for a non limited edition choice to sell out so quickly! It’s not a choice otherwise!!!

Annie S.

I am grumpy- sent a complaining email to Birchbox and got this in reply:

Apr 26, 11:32 AM EDT

Thanks for reaching out to me!

May Sample Choice will be opening today, April 26th at 4 PM EST!

Thank you so much for your feedback as well, I have passed your thoughts along to our team, which will be helpful in future conversations as we continue to grow.

If you have any other questions or concerns from here, please don’t hesitate to reply to this email and I’d be happy to help!

Best,

So how come some people were able to log in ‘early’? Is everything really sold out and the rest of us be left with samples that we don’t want?

This was one of my first subscriptions and I am trying to remain loyal but I might be looking to unsubscribe and try something else.

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TNTriathlete

I’m skeptical that Birchbox is actually “growing” at the moment. The $10 per month sale reeks of desperation to me. I think they lost a flood of subscribers when they raised prices and the sale is an attempt to lure them back.

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Emma

I am pretty sure sample choice doesn’t open until 4pm eastern– at least I think that’s what the preview video said. i assume people who have been able to choose today are actually aces for whom choice was already open.

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Annie S.

How come I can’t choose anything? I’m usually able to choose my sample before the email comes but there’s no email and no way to choose a sample.

I’m getting disgusted with Birchbox. Last month I got four hair samples out of six samples and now I can’t get in to choose.

Maybe it’s time to say good bye.

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Aloholora

Hm. I’m not an ace, but I was able to choose at about 10:30am (Central time). Im perplexed by all of the inconsistencies.

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luvsMath

After refreshing for about an hour, I was able to pick mine approx. 10 minutes ago via mobile. The Skincare set was sold out. I picked curated box #2 which is what I was hoping to get.

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Emily

Try logging in on the web instead of through the app, I wasn’t able to customize on the app and when I logged in on my computer I didn’t have any trouble.

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Kelly

I’m on a real computer. I didn’t resub until an hour ago. That’s probably my issue. The order wasn’t processed. I told the rep that non-Aces were able to choose and she said she wasn’t aware of this happening. I’m sad about missing out but they’ve made it too difficult and expensive for me.

Annie S.

I am grumpy- sent a complaining email to Birchbox and got this in reply:

Apr 26, 11:32 AM EDT

Thanks for reaching out to me!

May Sample Choice will be opening today, April 26th at 4 PM EST!

Thank you so much for your feedback as well, I have passed your thoughts along to our team, which will be helpful in future conversations as we continue to grow.

If you have any other questions or concerns from here, please don’t hesitate to reply to this email and I’d be happy to help!

Best,

So how come some people were able to log in ‘early’? Is everything really sold out and the rest of us be left with samples that we don’t want?

This was one of my first subscriptions and I am trying to remain loyal but I might be looking to unsubscribe and try something else.

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Poppy

Same. Says 0day 0time to pick customization.

Won’t let me choose. In yellow banner it says preview n we will let u know when u can choose…?

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Jeanine

Are you an ace?

Kelly

I tried to resub to pick a curated box and couldn’t even find the page. On chat I was told non-aces don’t get to pick until 4 pm. I guess all the posts below were from Aces. It’s no longer worth it for me if it costs $15 and everything good is gone by the time I choose. Goodbye Birchbox. Off to buy what I wanted elsewhere.

Nicole

Same – I also can’t get in to select but have 0 hours on my selection timer.

Kc

I feel like they’ve had the same samples for the past few years. 2/3 of these were available when I subbed a few years ago. Time to refresh Birchbox!

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Lori

I signed in shortly after getting an email from Birchbox and the Skincare Made Easy kit was already gone. Bummer. I got curated box #2.

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Julia

Bummer indeed. Guess I’ll pick the Jane Iredale sample, once I’m able to customize.

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Mimi

On one hand im kicking myself for unsubbing and losing the lower rate for current subscribers, but on the other; i remember they sent me FOUR hair items (out of six) and the lip oil was just a couple of uses and I’m angry all over again and glad to be unsubbed.

That said, lovely choices this month though. :p go curated, don’t take the risk of letting them “surprise” you. You’ll be surprised alright.

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Jeanine

So when I first subscribed to Birchbox (2010), they always sold out of samples quick!! This is like the old days!! (Except you don’t get half your money back lol)

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Christina

Mimi- girl yes!
I’ll never pick a “sample” and have them curate the rest. My April box had 4 repeats(eyeko eyeliner, number 4 shampoo and conditioner, brighten up etc.; and on top of that it had foil packets as samples. 🙄 like seriously?
I got the wonder lip oil and it was EMPTY; not even one sample; just air. It wasn’t sealed either so I don’t know if it was a used tube or just defective or what but I learned my lesson. Only do curated moving forward and I’ll probably cancel once my sub is over. The competition with so many other boxes really makes such a difference in value/product selection/size.

However this month having the skincare kit made up for the disappointment of last months box so if kits are offered more often I may stick around after my annual!
I will say BB has great customer service (for the most part); shop orders are always on time- and the free gifts with purchase or extra 20% limited edition boxes etc are really nice. I give lots of gifts from bb Bc they are so presentable and full size, etc.

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B.

The box selections this month are giving me hope that birchbox wants to compete with the better boxes. Full-sized items should be the normal now that they are at the same price point as Allure. I hope they keep this up!

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Paula

Agreed, but if the “good” curtated box selections are all gone before you can select yours, that means they can still send you all their leftover junk from 2 years ago. Since the skincare box was gone even before it was released, ifI can’t select curated box 2, I’m done!

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Paula

As I predicted, box #2 was sold out before the majority of us had a chance to select. I have confirmed their new scam now…