Birchbox recently added a new beauty discovery kit to their lineup — The 5-Minute Makeup Kit!
FYI – this kit is still available for purchase!
My Subscription Addiction paid for this box. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes).
About Birchbox
The Box: The 5-Minute Makeup Kit
The Cost: $28 + $5 shipping ($80 value)
Check our Birchbox Coupon List to get the most up-to-date coupon!
And don’t forget to add your free sample pack with any $35 purchase.
The Products: Items to help you enhance your features and look polished in a snap.
The Birchbox 5-Minute Makeup Kit Review
Here is the info sheet for the products included.
Marcelle Xtension Plus Curl Mascara, 0.15 oz - Estimated Value $8.03 (Buy the full-size version for $15)
I am pretty sure I have tried this before, though the details are fuzzy. I really like this mascara though- the wand really feels like I am combing through my lashes to give lift and curl, and I didn't have any issues with clumping.
M·A·C Cosmetics Strobe Cream in Pinklite, 0.20 oz - Estimated Value $4 (Buy the full-size 1.7 oz for $34)
I have tried this before, and while I don't like it enough to go buy the full-size version, I am happy to get more samples of it. This has a very light pink sheen it gives to your skin to add a boost of radiance, and I like using it under powder foundation as a primer.
butter LONDON Glazen™ Highlighting Gel in Chandelier, 0.10 oz - Estimated Value $7.87 (Buy the full-size 0.33 oz for $26)
This highlighting gel honestly looks more intimidating in the jar than it does on my face- I was impressed with how it literally made me glow, but not in an over-the-top way. It was more of an "I just got a facial and my skin is happy" glow rather than an "I am a disco ball" glow. You can see me wearing it at the end of this review, and I would love to know what you think!
Stila Cosmetics Convertible Color in Petunia, Full-Size! Retail Value $25
Even though I literally ordered this kit, I didn't process that it had a full-size Stila product inside. When I opened this kit up, my first thought was "score!" If this is a product you're interested in, you can look at this kit as paying full-price for this and $3 for everything else. I am a pretty harsh critic of blushes, but this won me over with how easy it was to blend in for a natural flush that didn't look ruddy on my redness-prone skin. This can also be built up, too, for a more saturated blush look. This can also be used as a lip color, and it has a balmy consistency that is comfortable for that purpose too.
Here is the Stilla swatched above the butter LONDON. I did two swipes of the butter LONDON to show the difference in how it builds up.
And here are the same swatches but in different lighting.
ARROW BOOST Color Enhancing Lip Balm in Blush Hour, Full-Size! Retail Value $15
This is a lip balm that changes into a light pink when you apply it, and the color is a little different for everyone depending on your body's chemistry. This is a solid "no makeup but I want to look put together" lip balm, but I don't see myself paying full price for this. Good thing we have discovery kits like these to get the products at a discount!
R+Co MAGIC WAND Brow Gel, Full-Size! Retail Value $20
R+Co definitely gets points for such fun packaging in my book, plus I like their hair products. This is the first time I have tried a makeup product from them, and this was a solid brow gel. It did leave my brows feeling a bit stiff, but they did not budge once this clear gel was applied. I didn't have issues with flaking, and with consistent use, this is supposed to condition and nourish your brows.
Here I am wearing everything in the kit except the lip balm! I literally set a timer to see if this would take five minutes to apply, and I used the MAC strobe cream as a primer before applying powder foundation (foundation of some sort is required for me to wear blushes). Next, I used my fingers to blend the Stila into the apples of my cheeks and used what was left on my fingers to dab onto my lips. I used my fingers to apply the butter LONDON to the tip of my nose and cheekbones and finished off with two quick coats of mascara and a swipe of the brow gel. I finished about 15 seconds under the 5-minute mark, powder foundation included, and I actually really love how this turned out.
The Verdict: I thought this set was awesome! Along with the fact that it came with three full-size products, every product really worked well for a cohesive look that was quick and easy to apply. Value-wise, I calculated a total value of $79.90, which is just about even with the promised value of $80.
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? Yes, as of publication, this Birchbox kit is still available.
Check our Birchbox Coupon List to get the most up-to-date coupon!
And don’t forget to add your free sample pack with any $35 purchase.
Value Breakdown: This box cost $33 ($28 + $5 shipping) and I calculated a total value of $79.90. That means you are paying approximately the following per item:
- Marcelle: $3.31
- MAC: $1.65
- butter LONDON: $3.25
- Stila: $10.32
- R+Co: $8.26
- Arrow: $6.19
Check out all of our Birchbox reviews and our best beauty boxes of 2019!
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What do you think of the Birchbox 5-Minute Makeup Kit? What product do you reach for when you need to get ready in a hurry?
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