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July 12, 2021
Birchbox Sample Box Review + Coupon – April 2019
Birchbox
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.
LIMITED TIME DEAL: Now through 5/1, use this link and coupon code ANNUAL10 to get an annual subscription to Birchbox for $120. This brings the cost to $10 a box! (Regularly $156/year). Full details about this deal can be found 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 April 2019 Review
Every month they include an info sheet. This month, the front side talks about the new Birchbox Model, which I assume is the price changes and sample changes they announced that you can read about here. I thought it was interesting they had a line set up for you to text about it.
The opposite side of the card details the items included and some tips on how to use them. Now, on to the items!
Marcelle City 24h Anti-Pollution Day & Night Moisturizing Emulsion, .23 fl oz – Estimated Value: $4.09 (Buy a 1.35 oz full size for $24)
This is a nice, lightweight moisturizer that’s meant to help protect your skin against pollutants as well as brighten your skin. I like that this has no fragrances, parabens, and is non-comedogenic. It’s just a little light for what my dry skin needs. This would probably work best for oily to normal complexions.
Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray, 1 oz – Estimated Value: $5.41 (Buy an 8.5 full-size for $46)
This product is one of my all-time favorite things Birchbox has introduced me to in my life. It’s a combination dry shampoo and texture spray, and it gives my fine, super-straight hair some much-needed texture and body. It’s great for extending your style past the day that you wash, but if you have fine hair like me it’s great to use with daily styling in general. It’s a bit pricey but I’ve managed to snag several samples in boxes and also the full-size lasts me forever.
No. 4 Lumiere d’hiver Clarifying Shampoo, 1 fl oz – Estimated Value: $3.76 (Buy an 8.5 oz full-size for $32)
This shampoo came at a perfect time – I have well water now, so clarifying shampoos are so helpful in preventing and reversing mineral build-up in my hair. It helped my hair feel cleaner and fresher after just one use. I think the No. 4 products all smell great, too!
No. 4 Lumiere d’hiver Reconstructing Masque, .25 fl oz – Estimated Value: $2.84 (Buy a 5.1 oz full size for $58)
This super-hydrating masque is actually my bonus item this month. I’m happy that it goes so well with the clarifying shampoo. Honestly, sometimes I just don’t notice a difference with various shampoos and hair products, but I do notice a difference with No. 4 products. They’re nice treats for my hair.
Juara Candlenut Body Creme, .34 fl oz – Estimated Value: $1.59 (Buy a 7.5 oz full-size for $35)
This lotion is new to me but I really like it! It works best when applied while skin is slightly damp, basically when you’re out of the shower. This doesn’t feel greasy at all and it smells really nice. I’m always looking for a better body lotion for post-showers so I’m happy to have gotten this to try.
Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil, .17 fl oz – Estimated Value: $15.13 (Buy a 1.18 oz full-size for $105)
There’s really not much that this retinol night oil doesn’t do: it’s designed to reduce the appearance of pores, wrinkles, and redness and visibly improve uneven texture, age spots, dryness, and dullness. I love Sunday Riley products because I always notice an improvement in my skin after a few days of consistent usage! I always choose Sunday Riley when it’s an option for sample choice from Birchbox like it was for April.
Wander Beauty Lip Retreat Oil in Spa Day, .1 oz – Estimated Value: $6.47 (buy a .34 oz. for $22)
Even though I picked the Sunday Riley oil from the 3 options for sample selection this month, I also received this Wander Beauty Lip Oil, which was another option. This is another product that is new to me but I really like. It’s a thin oil that feels really hydrating and has a good amount of pigment.
Here, I’m wearing the lip oil treatment right after application. I love the way the sheer pink color pays off. After a little while, the oil absorbs a little and the color stays, as does the hydration, but the shiny/glossy finish changes to more of a natural finish.
Verdict: This was a great Birchbox for me this month! I got some of my all-time favorite products like the Oribe and Sunday Riley, and loved some new discoveries like the Wander lip oil and the Juara lotion. The estimated value total adds up to $39.29, including the bonus hair mask. I’m happy with that!
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? This box is still available!
LIMITED TIME DEAL: Now through 5/1, use this link and coupon code ANNUAL10 to get an annual subscription to Birchbox for $120. This brings the cost to $10 a box! (Regularly $156/year). Full details about this deal can be found here.
COUPON: Use code FIRST15 to save 15% off your first Birchbox purchase and get free shipping on $50+ orders! (Not valid for subscriptions).
Value Breakdown: At $10 for this box, here’s what you are paying approximately per item:
- Marcelle Moisturizer: $1.04
- Oribe Texture Spray: $1.38
- No. 4 Shampoo: $.96
- No. 4 Mask: $.72
- Juara Lotion: $.40
- Sunday Riley Oil: $3.85
- Wander Lip Oil: $1.64
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 April Birchbox? Did you pick a curated box or a sample choice?
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 just... read more.
Haley Faye first discovered the wonderful world of subscription boxes in 2012 and began writing for MSA in 2014. Over the years, she has found many subscriptions to love. Now a mom of three, her favorite boxes are ones that dress her kids, help her get organized, feed her family, send her snacks, and offer educational fun for her children.
Haley Faye first discovered the wonderful world of subscription boxes in 2012 and began writing for MSA in 2014. Over the years, she has found many subscriptions to love. Now a mom of three, her favorite boxes are ones that dress her kids, help her get organized, feed her family, send her snacks, and offer educational fun for her children.
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5 comments
Stephanie
I signed up for a 3 month subscription to Birchbox and really wish I had saved my money. BB says that it tries to curate samples based on customer profiles and feedback, but I have had the opposite experience. After two months of feedback that the hair samples they send are not suitable for my hair I found that my third box is almost entirely hair samples… only 1 of which might be usable on my hair type (very thick and curly). Customer service was not able to offer anything to compensate when I complained. I don’t expect to love or want to use everything they send, but at least half of the samples they have sent were unable on my hair type. If you are considering BB, reconsider. Wait for Beautyfix to offer a box you like and order that. One month of BeautyFix is a much better value than 3 months of Birchbox.
Maria
I was really hoping I’d also get the lip oil even though I chose the Luna product, but I thought that was unrealistic. I’m over them anyway after I resubscribed to check out the improvements and became really frustrated by the monthly pick. I was only interested in the curated box with the nail polish. Not just because it was full size and a great brand. It was more so because I’ve tried almost every other sample Birchbox sends out (including almost every single product from all box options this month) either through them since they send LOTS of repeats, or from other subscriptions. When I logged on VERY soon after the pick window opened, bot it and the swap out boxes were gone. I expected the swap out box to be gone given the significantly higher value and selection of products. And I’d understand if I’d waited a day or even several hours to choose. But they should’ve had more stock since it was obviously going to be super popular given that Birchbox rarely sends full size products. This did nothing to show me they’re making meaningful improvements. It’s all well and good to offer more variety but it means nothing if only a few people benefit. I definitely will not continue after my 3 months are up.
Luna
I received that shampoo/hair mask combo as well, and while I haven’t had a chance to use the shampoo yet, I did use the hair mask last weekend and I really liked it too! I’m really looking forward to trying the shampoo which should be fairly soon. I also love that body cream, but since the samples are so tiny, I always use it as a hand cream since I think the samples would just be enough for my arms. lol I also picked the Luna oil, but also received the Wander lip oil. I’m so glad you swatched it, because I had no idea it was pigmented. I thought it was like a clear overnight lip treatment oil, so I stashed it away with similar lip products. I’ll have to remember to move it to its proper stockpile when I get home tonight. lol
callmeinge
I picked wander lip oil & got luna oil 🙂
I’m happy with the curation 😀
Marion
The lip oil was way too difficult to use due to the packaging. I had to squeeze & squeeze & squeeze to get anything to come out. There was 0.1 oz of sample in a tube 3 times that size.
I wish companies would stop up sizing the packaging of samples. I felt like I could not get an accurate feel for how the product works since I always had too much or too little product dispensed.
I’ve read that Birchbox offered some concessions to customers that chose the Wander lip oil sample & complained to customer service about this issue, but at the same time, BB blamed the packaging on Wander, which is suspicious to me since BB was advertising all over the place about this “exclusive” “collaboration.” I feel like they know exactly what they’re doing.
