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Birchbox Curated Box #1 Review + Coupon – May 2019

Megan K.
ByMegan K.May 21, 2019 | 18 comments

Birchbox Curated #1 May 2019 beauty box review

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 review is of the curated box.

Birchbox Curated #1 May 2019 beauty box review open

FYI - sign up to get email alerts for our Birchbox Spoilers to learn about Birchbox Sample Choice and Curated box options each month!

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Birchbox Curated #1 May 2019 beauty box review all contents

About Birchbox

The Subscription Box: Birchbox

The Cost: $15.00 a month + free shipping

LIMITED TIME DEALS: While supplies last, use this link and use coupon code SMASHBOXGIFT to get a free full-size SmashboxDouble Exposure 2.0 Palette ($49 value) from Birchbox with a 6-month subscription!

Or you can use coupon code FREEBOBBI to get a free Bobbi Brown Crushed Lip Color in Angel from Birchbox with your first box! (Birchbox is $15 a month.)

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 Curated Box Review #1

 

This month's curated collections feature products created by female-founded brands.

 

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

Birchbox Curated #1 May 2019 beauty box review sticker

We also get a super cute sticker this month!

 

Finally, included is a card promoting a free roller gift for subscribers with any $35+ purchase.

Let's dive into our items!

 

Birchbox Curated #1 May 2019 beauty box review lipstick swatch

Lipstick Queen Mornin' Sunshine Lipstick, 0.05 oz - Estimated Value $10.42 (Buy a full size 0.12 for $25.00)

I have really loved the Lipstick Queen brand for a long time because they have such interesting formulas and super cute packaging. This lipstick starts out as a butter yellow, but it changes based on your skin's chemistry into a pink or coral shade. It was a very natural pink shade on my lips and the texture is slightly glossy and super smooth! You can layer once for just a bit of color, or apply it a few times for a bolder look.

 

Marcelle Xtension Plus Skyline Mascara, 0.14 fl oz - Estimated Value $9.13 (Buy a full size 0.23 oz for $15.00)

I wasn't super impressed with this formula, but sometimes I will try a mascara out a different day and love it. My lashes are weird. The brush is really slender but very thickly bristled, and the formula is a true black. That skinny brush does help you reach eat and every lash and it does a great job of defining each one. While it did add color, I didn't notice any real difference in thickness or length.

 

Amika Velveteen Dream Smoothing Balm, 0.67 fl oz – Estimated Value $2.50 (Buy a full size 6.7 oz for $25.00)

Amika has the cutest packaging, but I never really like the scent of their products. They are just a little too sweet and fruity! Aside from that, they do work really well, and this balm was great for giving my hair a little extra smoothness and containing my flyaways. The formula is lightweight and I used it on my dry hair (which is coarse and thick). I simply rubbed it between my hands and then ran them through my hair. The scent really didn't stick around so I am going to hold onto this little tube to toss in my purse for smoothness on the go.

 

Vasanti BrighterUp! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator, 0.71 oz - Estimated Value $5.71 (Buy a full size 4.23 oz for $34.00)

I really like this scrub! It smells great and the scrubbies are so fine that they remove dead skin easily without hurting my face or feeling too abrasive. It smells great like I would honestly wear this scent as a lotion or spray! I absolutely noticed more even skin after using this and my face was also much brighter.

 

Oribe Wave and Shine Spray, 1 oz - Estimated Value $5.18 (Buy a full size 8.5 oz for $44.00)

Summer always brings out my desire for beachy hair, even if I haven't seen the ocean in a really long time! This spray reminds me a lot of the dry shampoo by the same brand because they share the same scent. This gave my hair a medium amount of extra texture and volume, though I usually like a little more drama from a spray. Does it beat our my favorite salty spray? No. But I really like it for those times when I don't want to look like a mermaid caught in a net and more of a posh beach resident.

 

COOLA Classic Moisturizer SPF 50, 0.24 fl oz  - Estimated Value $4.52 (Buy a full size 1.7 oz for $32.00)

I love COOLA sunscreen! I am firmly in the "sunscreen is super important" camp, and this is a great brand that delivers a really comfortable sunscreen. Sometimes sunscreen feels like absolute garbage on skin especially my face! I have been using this brand for a really long time because it absorbs easily and doesn't leave a gross sunscreen film. This brand has really great scents, though this sample is unscented. My favorite is white-tea! They also have a matte finish formula if you prefer.

 

EXTRA: Amika Velveteen Dream Shampoo Sample - Buy a full-size shampoo for $24.00

EXTRA: Amika Velveteen Dream Conditioner Sample- Buy a full-size conditioner for $24.00

This item was not included on the product sheet, but it is a perfect compliment to the Amika smoothing balm included. Both had a slightly different scent than the balm which I actually liked more. Sometimes different ingredients can make the same scent feel different so this might be the same? IDK! The shampoo lathered up really well and left my hair nice and clean. I used the conditioner on my ends and really liked it as well.

Verdict: This box has a value of about $37.46, not including the Amika shampoo and conditioner samples. This box could cost you between $10-$15 depending on if you are already an existing subscriber. Either way, this is a decent value, especially for such good samples! I could absolutely see myself saving these for travel instead of buying a bunch of 'meh' travel sizes before a trip. The standouts for me were the lipstick and the exfoliator, though I adore the COOLA sunscreen too! I can't say I disliked anything in this box and I thought it was really well curated! I also loved the emphasis on female-founded brands and the box design is so cute!

To Wrap Up: 

Can you still get this box if you sign up today? If you subscribe to Birchbox now, 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.

LIMITED TIME DEALS: While supplies last, use this link and use coupon code SMASHBOXGIFT to get a free full-size SmashboxDouble Exposure 2.0 Palette ($49 value) from Birchbox with a 6-month subscription!

Or you can use coupon code FREEBOBBI to get a free Bobbi Brown Crushed Lip Color in Angel from Birchbox with your first box! (Birchbox is $15 a month.)

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

Value Breakdown: At $15 for this box, here’s what you are paying approximately per item:

  • Lipstick Queen Lipstick $4.17
  • Marcelle Mascara $3.66
  • Amika Balm $1.00
  • Vasanti Exfoliator $2.29
  • Oribe Spray $2.07
  • COOLA Sunscreen $1.81
  • Amika shampoo & conditioner samples: n/a

Alternatively, each item has an average cost of $2.50.

Check out all of our Birchbox reviews and our favorite beauty boxes!

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

What do you think of this May Curated 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.

Megan K.
Megan K.
I love natural/vegan beauty products, Korean skincare, unique jewelry, and weird candies from far away places. When I am not waiting for my next exciting box you can find me painting or taking photographs of interesting people. I never leave home without pug hair somewhere on my shirt and a bold lipstick on my smile.

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18 comments

tammy

Must say the lippy was and is WONDERFUL

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Kathy

Birchbox is really dying. They increase their prices but it looks like nothing else has changed. In the beginning of the year I subbed to them for a month to try it out and 2 of the products I got then are reviewed in this box here.

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Chantel

Really? I think they are 4 times better than they were before. The samples are better sized, way better brands, and we have more options with curated boxes and choosing samples. I think this box has a wonderful value. I got a year for $7.75 a box, but even at $15, I would buy it. I really thought they stepped up their game.

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joyce

I wish there was some type of box that gave foundation samples. I am interested in exploring different foundations and nobody ever gives one in the boxes.

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tammy

ME TOOOOOOOOOOOOO

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Megan K.

I feel like this would be a great specific box Joyce! Maybe you select your skintone and they send you a bunch of different packets? That would be a dream for me since I can’t even always count on the lightest shade of any formula to be light enough!

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Lori Tinsley

Sephora play gives foundation, I have received make up forever, Sephora, too faced and Tarte foundation samples. There play is great for $10 a month.

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blondie1021

Sephora play does fairly often. In 6 months I subbed with them I got 2 or 3. Ipsy does occasionally too.

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Drminniecooper

Im on the old $8 per box rate from black friday until 2020 and will not renew at this point. The sample size after they changed their monthly boxes hasnt really changed as far as I have seen, the main difference is one more sample and more choice of curated boxes for me as a non-Ace. My rate will go up to $12 per box if I renew and I think that’s the same rate for an annual sub to allure. The main factor for me is that Birchbox seems to send the same brands and even samples over and over while I might have more chance to sample different brands from allure.

Are there any other subs at the $12 per box rate for an annual commitment?

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Chantel

If you get a good deal, you can often get Glossybox for around that price. I was able to.

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tammy

WHAT???? Jeepers please forward us details on Glossy at that price point omg …XO

Lori

Warning, I subscribed to Birchbox after I saw the price increase thinking the products would be better. I cancelled originally because I kept getting the same products.The new box came today, two hair care, a perfume, a unusable eye shadow unless your using it for Halloween and all products are sample size. Definitely not worth 15.99 over Ipsy or Allure. Cancelled immediately. You would think they would at least put a deluxe sample size for one product.

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DeeCee

I agree.
I also canceled today after receiving tiny samples. The box design looked like it was copying causebox lol

Not worth $15 at all. The only good things were the free full size MAC Lippies that I got using a promo code. But the box itself was not worth the cost. The way I see it I paid $7.50 for a MAC lip primer and $7.50 for the MAC lipstick. The box was junky with little free size samples. Why make the gifts better than the box?

And I am sorry but that sticker was so useless. Why?

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Lori Tinsley

Yes the sticker 🤔! I wish I could of at least been excited about the Bobby Brown lip stick I got with my promo but the shade is not my friend. I really thought “Did I just pay an extra 6 bucks for a sticker”

Lori Tinsley

I am not sure what Allure is annually but Boxy Charm is $19 annually and it’s always worth it just based on the fact all the items are full size. They are also starting to use your beauty profile to customize more.

SusanY

The sample sizes have shrunk. I had 5 hair care products this time & two were in foil packets. Tiny. I will stick with Ipsy.

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Lori Tinsley

Ipsy is definitely better even priced at $10 but BB raised the price to $15 and changed nothing. Allure is $15 and they usually have one full size and deluxe size in each box. Five hair care products would have me fuming. I’m sticking to Boxy Charm.