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.
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: New subscribers: $15 a month, Current subscribers: $10 a month until 6/1/19
FYI – Birchbox recently updated their pricing structure. If you are a current subscriber, this change in pricing won’t impact you until June 1st, and if you are an ACE, you keep the $10 a month cost as long as you maintain your ACE status. Learn more about the changes here.
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 March 2019 Review
Each box comes with a card detailing the items included and some tips on how to use them. Now, on to the items!
ThisWorks Deep Sleep Pillow Spray, .17 fl oz - Estimated Value: $1.97 (Buy a 2.5 fl oz for $29)
I've used essential oils for aromatherapy before so I chose this as my sample choice this month. It's a blend of 10o% essential oils: lavender, patchouli, and chamomile. This smells really great - kind of sweet and earthy and I love it. I'm not sure if it helps me fall asleep faster in the evenings but I love anything that adds a little touch of luxury and self-care to my going to bed routine. I do have to say that I'm a little bummed with how small this sample is at .17 fl oz. I really wish it was at least half an ounce! Fortunately, this isn't a sample that takes more than one or two uses to know if you like it, though.
[ comfort zone ] Active Pureness Hydrating Fluid, .27 fl oz - Estimated Value: $11.50 (Buy a 1.01 oz full size for $43)
This moisturizer is nice and hydrating, and it mattified well. This also made it work well as a primer. However, I'm confused about why Birchbox sent me this because I have my skin type marked as dry in my profile. I don't care to use mattifying products - I like things that help give my dry skin some luminosity.
amika Reset Pink Charcoal Scalp Cleansing Oil, 1 oz - Estimated Value: $3.73 (Buy a 6.7 fl oz for $25)
I've never tried a scalp cleansing oil so I was curious about this product. It smells great, as do all Amika products. The texture is very thick and it was a little difficult to get this all over my scalp, but it may just take some getting used to. I followed with shampoo and conditioner, and my hair felt really nice and clean. I'm not sure if this rocked my world enough to buy a full size but I'm going to give it a couple more tries.
Luxie Beauty 213 Eye Shading Rose Gold Brush - Retail Value: $12
It's pretty cool to get a brush as one of my Birchbox products because getting tools is really useful, and they're not like a sample you'll run out of and toss. This is a nice eyeshadow brush. It picked up pigment well and blended my shadow easily.
ModelCo Metallic Eyeshadow Triom, Positano - Retail Value: $18
Cool, a full-size eyeshadow trio! I have to point out that the colors in this trio look nothing like the colors they show on Birchbox's website. But it's a nice, warm-toned, metallic trio. These colors don't fall under my traditional highlight shade, medium/matte shade (for the crease), and darker shade (outer corner) preference for trio colors but they were fun to try out. The reddish shade isn't a color I wear often. As far as the quality of the eye shadow goes, I experienced some fall-out but the colors were pretty well pigmented and blended together well.
Manna Kadar Eyedylic Gel Eyeliner - Retail Value: $19 (Bonus Item)
I was disappointed in this eyeliner. It's great to get a full-size liner as a bonus item, but it broke immediately while swatching. It worked better on my lid, maybe because it got a chance to warm up a little on my lid while applying? but it was hard to work with and it's not the most opaque or intense black I've seen.
Here, I'm wearing the moisturizer under my foundation, the eyeliner, and the eye shadow trio (the lighter shade is in my inner corner, the brown shade is in my crease/outer corner, and the reddish shade is on the center of my lid.
Verdict: This was a good Birchbox, with a surprising number of full-size items including a full-size bonus item. I'll use most of the things in this month's box except the matte moisturizer, and I don't think I'll use up the eye shadow trio but I'll probably reach for it a couple more times or work with it in combination with other shadows. I also have a lot of black eyeliners that feel better quality than this Manna Kadar one so if I'm being honest I'll probably just toss it or gift it. I love the sleep spray, though. So overall, this was a high-value box, but not one that really wowed me or hit the nail on the head personally with the product selections. The estimated value total adds up to $66.20, including the bonus eyeliner - a fantastic value from a $10 sample box!
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? This box is still available!
Value Breakdown: At $10 for this box, here’s what you are paying approximately per item:
- Pillow Spray: $0.30
- Hair Cleansing Oil: $1.74
- Moisturizer: $0.56
- Shadow Brush: $1.81
- Shadow Trio: $2.72
- (bonus) Eyeliner: $2.87
Check out all of our Birchbox reviews and the best beauty subscription boxes of 2019, as voted on by our readers!
Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!
What do you think of my February Birchbox? Did you pick a curated box or a sample choice?
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