Facebook PixelBirchbox Limited Edition 'Deskside Essentials' Review + Coupon | MSA
My Subscription Addiction
My Subscription Addiction
Our reviewers research, test, and recommend the best subscriptions and products independently; click to learn more about our editorial guidelines. We may receive commissions on purchases made through links on our site.

Birchbox Limited Edition ‘Deskside Essentials’ Review + Coupon

Marne Orenich
ByMarne OrenichAug 26, 2019 | 12 comments

Birchbox zipper pouch

Birchbox
3.7 overall rating
657 Ratings | 188 Reviews

The Birchbox Limited Edition: 'Deskside Essentials' Box is one of the latest Limited Edition beauty boxes from Birchbox! (This is available to everyone - not just Birchbox subscribers.) Since I don't always have a full face of makeup when I come into the office, this little kit is great to keep in my desk for days I need to be camera ready.

FYI - this limited edition box is still available for purchase!

Looking inside the Birchbox zipper pouch

My Subscription Addiction paid for this box. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes).

Birchbox Limited Edition Desk Essentials Review

About this Kit

The Box: Birchbox Limited Edition: 'Deskside Essentials' Box

The Cost: $40.00 ($143.00 value)

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

And don’t forget to add your free mystery sample pack!

The Products: A collection of deskside essentials to keep you looking and feeling great while in the office.

Ships to: the US, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, Guam, and Northern Mariana Islands

Birchbox Limited Edition 'Deskside Essentials' Box Review

 

First and foremost, everything comes in this quite large 10.5 x 7" pouch in a really pleasing pale pinkish lavender color with contrasting red zipper. It has a subtle white Birchbox "B" logo at the bottom left corner.

 

The info card inside lets you know that having a long day doesn't mean you should sacrifice self-care. The back has a list of all 14 items included with a short description. There is so much packed in here!

 

Smashbox Cosmetics Shadow Intensifier Brush - Retail Value $26.00

The first item is an eyeshadow brush from Smashbox. With all the brushes I've received and given away over the past couple years, this is one I don't currently have but was excited to see since I just decided I want to up my eyeshadow game. I recently discovered and immediately became obsessed with beauty YouTuber Tati Westbrook and found this video really helpful. I used this brush to do some packing of glitzy shadow onto my lid and thought it worked quite well.

 

tarte Tarteist PRO To Go Palette - Retail Value $19.00

Woo-hoo! tarte is such a fan fave and I love the idea of having a mini palette to toss in my makeup bag or stow at my desk. These colors are neutral yet pack an intense amount of pigment which I love. There's also a good mix of mattes and metallics to do a full eye look. With fall on its way to us, I'm very pleased with these earthy colors. I wore this shadow a full day earlier this week and it stayed put wonderfully.

 

Winky Lux Matcha Blotting Sheets, 100 ct - Retail Value $8.00

I used to use blotting sheets in my younger days but haven't touched them in years. I think I need to bring them back into my arsenal since I tend to sometimes overdo it with facial oils and in general, can have super oily eyelids. These matcha papers are a really pretty green with dark speckles and have a pleasant light scent to them. They really help reduce shine and soak up the extra oils in my face that can make my makeup slide late in the day.

 

Tocca Crema da Mano Hand Cream in Giulietta, 1.5 oz. - Estimated Value $10.00 (similar linked)

I was a little worried when I read that this was green apple scented, but I was surprised by the soft fragrance that didn't strike me as too sweet or fruity at all. This hand cream is quite nice and does a wonderful job absorbing into the skin quickly without feeling greasy at all. A new desk staple!

 

KIND Breakfast Probiotics Bar in Apple Cinnamon, 1 ct - Buy a pack of 4 for $3.69

YUM- I love getting healthy treats in beauty boxes. KIND is actually my preferred granola bar and this probiotic variation was hardy and delicious. I took it camping with me and ate it with my morning coffee before heading out to an hour-long hike. It was a great way to feel like I had some fuel in me without eating a full meal.

 

HUM Glow Sweet Glow Gummies, 14 ct - Buy a bottle of 60 for $25.00

HUM is no stranger to beauty subscription boxes and here we have a tasty tangerine flavored gummies packed with hyaluronic acid, as well as vitamins C + E. The bottle suggests taking two of these a day to help keep moisture locked into the skin which gives you, you guessed it, a GLOW. These taste really great and are vegan, so they can be enjoyed by those with stricter diets. This bottle has a one week supply so I'm interested to see how my skin compares after seven days of taking these. (If you're interested in my other most recent supplement journey, take a peek at my Persona review!)

 

Arrow BOOST Color Enhancing Lip Balm in Blush Hour - Retail Value $15.00

I recently got this balm in another color in my August Birchbox and am a HUGE fan. It is ultra-hydrating and delivers a subtle boost of color that is a great minimal makeup lip look. I've been reaching for these balms instead of my plain ones and think they're perfect for hot summer days.

 

Meow & Ciao Original invisibobbles in Purple, 3 ct - Listed Value $8.00

Since I have super fine hair, I thought invisibobbles would be lost on me, but I have one in right now and it's working out just fine. There is something about these that call back to my elementary school days. Perhaps its because they remind me of the phones of yesteryear when I'd wrap myself up in wall-hanging coiled cord in my Mom's kitchen while chatting away. At any rate, this little three-pack has a cute purple color and comes from an Alice in Wonderland themed collection.

 

Georgette Klinger Coconut Facial Mist, 1.7 oz. - Estimated Value $3.64 (Buy a full size 4.2 oz. for $9.00)

I am drowning in facial mists these days but that just means that this one can stay put at my desk where it's intended. This little bottle delivers a refreshing mist of coconut water along with aloe, grape, and green tea. This will be instrumental in pulling me out of that three-o'clock slump when I need a spritz!

 

Love Beauty and Planet Coconut Water and Mimosa Flower Deodorant, 2.95 oz. - Retail Value $6.99

Day two of using this deo and it's "so far so good." I probably wouldn't have gone for the coconut mimosa scent on my own, but now that I have it, it's rather nice. I've been using aluminum-free deodorant for probably a year now and will never look back. Even though I am quite sweaty which causes some stink, this one has been keeping things smelling fresh even in varying temperatures. The scent isn't overpowering at all either.

 

Simply Gum Peppermint Gum, 15 ct. - Retail Value $2.99 (found here for $2.49)

Does this gum look like rabbit food? Yes. But it's yummy and I like it. What I strangely got super geeked on is the "post chew wraps" that come tucked into the back of the box. Unlike traditional wrapped gum, these come loose in the box. BUT- they thought ahead and included little squares of paper to wrap your chewed gum in to properly dispose of. I chew a decent amount of gum and can't tell you how many times I am without a garbage can when I'm done chewing, so I'm always scrounging for a receipt or scrap of paper to wrap it in and toss in my purse until I get to a trash can. My only complaint with this gum is that it does seem to stick to the dental work in my molars. Other than that, it's minty without being overly powerful.

 

Birchbox Notebook & Pen Set

As a pen aficionado, I appreciate the inclusion of this notebook and pen set for the deskside essentials bag. The notebook is bright red with lined paper and the pen is the same pale lavender as the bag so they both match. LOVE IT! I'm a huge snob too, and I can attest that this is a pretty nice rollerball pen! Color me impressed.

Verdict: I am a huge fan of the Birchbox Limited Edition: 'Deskside Essentials' Box! Makeup, skincare, snacks, and stationery make this a really well-rounded curation and everything here will get used. There wasn't one thing in this bag that I didn't think was great so I'll call it a huge win. This bag is not cheap at $40, but has a calculated value of at least $105.45 for the 14 items.

To Wrap Up:

Can you still get this box today? Yes, as of publication, this limited edition box is still available for purchase!

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

And don’t forget to add your free mystery sample pack!

Value Breakdown: This box cost $40 which breaks down to costing roughly $7.53 per each item.

Check out all of our Birchbox reviews and our other favorite beauty box subscriptions!

Keep track of your subscriptions by adding Birchbox to your subscription list or wishlist!

Are you gonna grab the Birchbox Limited Edition: 'Deskside Essentials' Box?

Starting at $17.00
Subscribe Now

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.

Marne Orenich
Marne Orenich
Marne is a lipstick connoisseur, record collector, and twice over cat mom. She loves discovering new clean beauty brands and has quite the collection of beautifully packaged serums and moisturizers.

Join the Conversation

Please do not enter your email address in the Name field or in the comment content. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *. Remember to post with kindness and respect. Comments with offensive language, cruelness to others, etc will not be approved. See our full comment policy here.

12 comments

Kristina

Thanks for the great review Marne, I just ordered it after seeing how practical it is.

Reply ButtonReply

Marne Orenich

Awesome! I hope it proves useful to you, Kristina! I have to remember to actually bring all of these items back to the office from my house now… ha.

Reply ButtonReply

Cindy

This is a box I will consider if there is a discount in the future.

Reply ButtonReply

Jenn

Agreed! A little bit of a discount is the tipping point from maybe to yasss! Lol

Reply ButtonReply

Nancyisshopping

I’m very interested if I can get it on sale.

Reply ButtonReply

Leonore Phillips

I swear, its not a Birchbox unless it has the arrow lip balm! That seems to be their staple item these days.

Reply ButtonReply

sara

Marne, how do you get such an awesome subtle pink flush color with the Arrow lip balm? You lucky duck! : ) Every time I use a color-changing balm (this Arrow one included), my lips turn a bright shade of fuchsia-Barbie pink that is not at all flattering lol.

Reply ButtonReply

TK

Me too, Sara. This color changing gloss and almost all others give me a very unflattering neon bright pink color. I finally found one that isn’t so harsh. The Bobbie Brown lip tint is pretty great.

Reply ButtonReply

Marne Orenich

I guess I’m lucky? I put it on and this is how it turns out.
Thanks for sharing, Sara. I’m so interested to hear/see how different looks on different people!

Reply ButtonReply

JoannaNYC

Great review Marne!
But I feel this is way overpriced for the items included.

Reply ButtonReply

Kathy

Agreed! I loved the review but when the total value comes out to be $105 when they promised $143, it’s not that great

Reply ButtonReply

Marne Orenich

Thanks, Joanna! It is on the pricey side of things, for sure. I can see it not being worth it for some people if they’re not stoked on all of the items.

Reply ButtonReply