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Birchbox Curated Box #2 Review + Coupon – February 2020

Marne Orenich
ByMarne OrenichFeb 12, 2020 | 4 comments

Birchbox
3.7 overall rating
657 Ratings | 188 Reviews

Birchbox sends samples (and sometimes full-sizes) of new and exciting beauty products from top brands for $15/month. They allow subscribers to pick between a curated box (all samples revealed) or a single sample choice with the rest of the items arriving as a surprise. Birchbox is one of the original beauty subscription boxes and is a great way to discover new makeup, hair care, and skincare products without breaking the bank.

This review is of the 'Valentine's Night Out' curated box.

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

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

About this Curated Beauty Box

The Subscription Box: Birchbox

The Cost: $15.00 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: The US, France, Spain, and the UK

Birchbox 'Valentine's Night Out' Curated Box #2 Review - February 2020

 

This month's Birchbox came with a single info card that lists the products on the front, with a Birchbox Tip listed on the back: Want to prevent breakouts? You better wash that face before bed!

 

Davines OI Shampoo, 0.40 oz. - Estimated Value $1.44 (Buy a full-size 9.46 oz. for $34)

Davines OI Conditioner, 0.40 oz. - Estimated Value $1.82 (Buy a full-size 8.8 oz. for $40)

I lowkey kinda love Davines. They are a Birchbox fave but this is the first time I recall getting their OI line. These little packets lasted me 2-3 washes each and are supposed to boost shine and volume. The shampoo has a wonderful smell that reminds me of... cloves or nutmeg or something kinda spicy but the ingredients aren't bringing up anything similar. The conditioner has a much more subtle scent and replaces the moisture my hair needs. To be honest, I didn't notice a huge change after using this pair, but I'm also in dire need of a hair cut to trim my damaged ends.

 

Davines OI All-In-One Milk, 1.69 oz. - Estimated Value $12.97 (Buy a full-size 4.56 oz. for $35.00)

I'm a little surprised to see this all-in-one leave-in treatment along with the shampoo and conditioner. It makes me wonder if I should use it after the regular conditioner or in place of it. I'm not too sure, but I did both and either way I wasn't seeing any results to write home about. I will say that this milk really does make my damp hair much easier to comb and it feels quite nice. It has the same scent as the rest of the OI line which after researching may be related to the roucou oil although I cannot be sure. I find the smell enchanting, but it seems like others, not so much. I'll use it a few more times to see if I can get a better result.

 

Oribe Dry Texturing Spray, 1 oz. - Estimated Value $10.45 (Buy a travel-size 2.2 oz. for $23.00)

I don't use a ton of hair products, but boy, do I love Oribe. I'd honestly wear this texture spray as a perfume if that wasn't totally bonkers. It smells so fantastic and... fruity? Not sure I can really put my finger on it. My hair is BONE straight and it never wants to do anything fun no matter how I curl or spray things into it. This spray won't make any sad volume my hair can muster last for long, but it's a tall order. At least I smell nice in the process, eh?

 

MAC Cosmetics Lipglass in Love Child, 0.08 oz - Estimated Value $14.00 (Buy a full-size 0.1 oz. for $17.50)

MAC makeup was probably the first non-drugstore brand that I remember being obsessed with. I was lucky enough to work with someone who had the pro hookup back in the '90s so I vividly recall stocking up on Lipglass and eyeshadow even though I didn't wear all that much makeup in my late teens/early 20s. Here, Lipglass saunters back into my life in the shimmery pink mauve color, Love Child. While this has just a touch too much metallic in it for my matte-loving self, Megan was eager to snatch it up. MAC has a wonderful formula that glides on and the scent brings me back to my younger years!

 

Laura Gellar New York Baked Gelato Swirl Illuminator in Diamond Dust, sample size - Buy a full-size for $26.00 (similar linked)

Doesn't this highlighter just look gorgeous? I also want to eat it for some reason because it looks like a tasty ice cream swirl, but it's makeup so I will refrain. I was immediately drawn to the beautiful pearlesque color of "Diamond Dust" and it looks just as beautiful on my cheekbones and the tip of my nose. I find this powder to be slightly creamy in its own way and it delivers such a multidimensional pink sheen once it's on the skin. It's almost hypnotic... the swatch photos below simply don't do it justice. Since this sample size doesn't have an amount listed, I can't do a value estimate, unfortunately.

 

Eyeko Lash Alert! Mascara in Black - Estimated Value $5.38 (Buy a full-size 0.29 oz. for $26.00)

Bury me in mascara. It will be easy to do since my drawer overfloweth. I seem to remember getting this mascara from Eyeko in a past Birchbox, and I still appreciate the curved wand. It gives an ever so slight little boost and lift to my lashes while applying that makes some subtle difference. The only time this flakes off is in the wee hours when I rub my eyes before bed, and the pigment is nice and dark. I love that the tube is squeezable to knead that product around before doling it out. No complaints here!

Here are swatches on my hand of the Diamond Dust and Lipglass, respectively.

Verdict: This curated "Valentine's Night Out" Birchbox was full of some fun makeup and hair care. I'm not wild about hair care (even though I do like the brands) so I could've done with less, but since this is a curated box, you'd have to choose it after knowing what you're getting into. The estimated retail value of this box is over $46.06 (since I couldn't calculate a value for the highlighter) which is pretty amazing for a $15 box!

To Wrap Up: 

Can you still get this box if you sign up today? If you subscribe to Birchbox now, be sure to check the image on the sign-up page. The box design pictured at the bottom is the first month you'll receive. You can't pick a curated box like this one as your first box, but you'll be able to pick it every month moving forward.

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

Value Breakdown: At $15.00 for this box, you're paying $2.50 per item.

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

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

What do you think of this curated Birchbox

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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.

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.

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4 comments

Danielle

If you feel like splurging, the Oribe scent is available as a perfume: https://www.oribe.com/cote-d-azur-eau-de-parfum.html

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Alexis

My Birchbox was totally terrible. I got stuff for dry hair and dry skin ( I have normal hair and combo skin). I also got brow product in blonde when I have deep brown hair. Nothing matched my profile.

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Makeup86

My box was extremely useless, too. 4/5 fail. A foundation way too dark, brow product too light, hair product that maybe my husband can use but styling foam is not for my long hair, a liquid bronzer that provides all the streaks you could ever want, and an ok moisturizer.

I am going to be very careful to get a curated box next time.

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CHANELL PATE

I wish they would make their variations as exciting as they do their boxes

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