Every month, Birchbox lets subscribers pick between a curated box (where you can see all of the samples you're getting) or a single sample choice box (where you get to choose one sample, but the rest of the items are a surprise).
This is a review of the Sample Choice box.
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About Birchbox
The Subscription Box: Birchbox
The Cost: $15 a month + free shipping. Save with longer subscriptions.
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 Choice Box August 2019 Review
This card details the items in the box and provides some tips on how to use them. Now, on to the items!
Pūrlisse Watermelon Energizing Sheet Mask - Retail Value $3 (Buy a full-size 6-pack box for $18)
I love Pūrlisse, but I generally don't love sheet masks or watermelon scented things so I wasn't expecting much from this mask. But I actually enjoyed it quite a bit. Pūrlisse hit the watermelon scent without having it be too sweet or artificial smelling. I also thought this mask felt really hydrating and soothing, especially with the combination of watermelon, aloe vera, and cucumber.
ModelCo Lip Plumper Hydra Lip Therapy, 0.17 fl oz - Estimated Value $12.50 (Buy a full-size 0.34 fl oz for $25)
I have to say that I don't feel I am the target audience for lip plumping products, so that may affect my opinion, but I didn't love this. It's an okay gloss. Very shiny, kind of sticky, moisturizing, but I didn't notice any plumping and I rarely use just a clear gloss.
amika Bushwick Beach No-Salt Wave Spray, 1 fl oz - Estimated Value $5 (Buy a full-size 5 fl oz for $25)
All of amika's products smell so great. Unfortunately, again, I'm not the target audience for this kind of product. Salt sprays or wave sprays just don't work on my hair because my hair has no natural texture to speak of. It's fine and stick straight. No beachy-waves happening for me unless I force it with a straightener or curling iron. All I can say, though, is that it smells really good and it added texture and grip to my hair for sure. I'll have to pass this along to a friend that can actually use it.
Living proof. Perfect hair Day 5-in-1 Styling Treatment, 1 fl oz -Estimated Value $7 (Buy a full-size 4 fl oz for $28)
I like this brand! This 5-in-1 styling treatment is meant to help with volume, frizz, shine, strength, manageability - a little bit of it all. I always use some kind of styling and/or leave-in treatment before blow-drying, so I don't think I noticed as much of a difference using this as I would if I were used to using nothing, but I did think it worked well. I noticed some nice extra body and styling cooperation, which is always appreciated.
Comfort Zone Essential Face Wash Gentle Foaming Cleanser, 0.5 fl oz - Estimated Value $3.20 (Buy a full-size 5 oz for $32)
This cleanser is nice! It's new to me. It's designed to remove makeup and cleanse well in one step but I'm a staunch believer in the double-cleanse (remove makeup, and then use a cleanser). I will say this got any remaining makeup and left my skin feeling really clean and fresh. It felt gentle and effective!
LOC One & Done Shadow Stick in Empress Me, 0.05 oz - Full Size! Retail Value $10
LOC stands for "Love of Color" and it's Birchbox's house brand, designed by them. This shadow stick has really good color pay off and staying power! I will say that if you just draw it on and leave it like that, then it can feel thick or sticky. I like this pencil best when I draw some on, blend it with my fingers, and even set it with either the same setting powder I use on my face or a normal powder shadow. I just wish these were retractable instead of needing a sharpener. Oh, and it's full size and most of the cost of the box by itself! It's always nice when that happens.
Verdict: This was an alright Birchbox for me. Honestly, there were a couple products that just aren't a good fit for me, but I also discovered some new nice products like the mask and the cleanser. I estimated that this box has a value of $40.70, which is a pretty good value out of a $15 box.
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? Sample choice boxes are curated based on your beauty profile, so what you get will likely differ from what I received this month (but should be even more personalized to you).
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:
- Mask: $1.10
- Lip Plumper: $4.60
- Beach spray: $1.84
- Styling treatment: $2.58
- Cleanser: $1.18
- Eye pencil: $3.69
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 August Birchbox? Did you pick a curated box or a sample choice box?
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