Birchbox sends samples (and sometimes full-sizes) of new and exciting beauty products from top brands for $15/month. 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. I received one of the two curated Clean Beauty options.
FYI: Starting in June 2020, in addition to the surprise sample box option, there will be two curated boxes offered in greater quantities than the previous curated options: The Clean Beauty Box and the Katia’s Picks box. Get all the details here.
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About this Beauty Box
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: The US, France, Spain, and the UK
Birchbox Review October 2020
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As always, this month's Birchbox came with an info card that lists the products on the front, with a Birchbox Tip listed on the back.
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PATTERN Leave-In Conditioner, 3 fl oz - Estimated Value $9.00 (Buy a full-size 9.8 fl oz for $25.00 here)
I've been wanting to try PATTERN since Tracee Ellis Ross launched the line a few months ago. I'm absolutely thrilled that Birchbox included this product in their October box. This leave-in conditioner is lightweight, extra hydrating, and has a delicate natural scent. I hate when leave-in conditioners have an overpowering, sickly sweet smell that permeates from my curls and follows me around the whole day. This PATTERN Leave-In Conditioner has the perfect grown woman fresh, clean scent that I enjoy. I found the formula incredibly hydrating and perfect for enhancing my curls while making my hair manageable for styling. The product is lightweight and doesn't leave a sticky or flaky residue after drying. I also love how this sample size is an actual sample size that someone with a full head of curls needs to sample something. Not to mention, the packaging... I love the bright color and the sleek, modernistic, and tribal vibe of the design.
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Skyn Iceland Hydro Cool Firming Face Gels, 1 Gel Patch - Estimated Value $4.50 (Buy a full-size 8 Gel Patches for $36.00 here)
Anyone who knows me will tell you how I feel about my 11 lines in the center of my forehead from all the heavy-duty pondering I do on a daily basis. Products like this Skyn Iceland Hydro Cool Firming Face Gel for Forehead make me almost giddy. This face gel is formulated with antioxidant-rich extracts, extensin, and peptides to help skin cells lock in moisture, plump fine lines, restore firmness, minimize wrinkles, and jumpstart collagen production. It's like an intensive cosmetic treatment in only ten minutes without a needle in sight, which is perfect for me because I truly despise needles. The gel patch has a wonderful texture and a calming, cooling effect that feels relaxing on your forehead. I popped this bad boy in the fridge for a few minutes before applying and it felt absolutely wonderful. I wish I had a few more of these.
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Luxie 243 Precision Blending Brush, Full Size! - Retail Value $14.00
This Luxie 243 Precision Blending Brush is super fluffy and soft. The handle is comfortable to hold and easy to grip, perfect for eyeshadow application. I love the rose gold ferrule and the chic pink handle and it feels like a very good quality brush. The inner girly-girl in me wants the full set of these rose gold brushes for display on my vanity. I didn't notice much fallout when using this brush with the Chella La Vie Neutral Eyeshadow Palette and it blended everything like a dream. The compact bristles are perfect for precise application to get right in the crease.
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Chella La Vie Eyeshadow Palette, 4.4 g - Estimated Value $19.80 (Buy a full-size 10 g for $45.00 here)
I am loving the color story of this Chella La Vie Eyeshadow Palette. The palette features four warm neutrals, two of which are pearl shades (Femme and Vitality) and two matte shades (Instincts and Dynamic). I absolutely love the pearl shade Vitality, a warm metallic coppery gold that gives me a "spice up your fall" type feel. I also enjoy the pearl shade Femme, as a lighter color to highlight the inner corners of my eyes. I find that it really brightens up the look. The two mattes are very nice neutral colors, but I found them a little hard to swatch and blend, but Dynamic worked beautifully to add depth to my look when used in my eyelid crease. With a water-resistant formula and versatile shades, this travel size palette can easily become an essential in the everyday beauty routine of a busy multi-tasking woman on the go or in the midst of facilitating virtual learning for a family of three.
Here are swatches from the Chella La Vie Neutral Eyeshadow Palette in order from top to bottom: Instincts, Dynamic, Femme, and Vitality.
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ModelCo Instant Brows Brow Pencil in Medium/Dark, 30 g - Full Size! Retail Value $18.00
I have been blessed with a THICC set of brows, but I still have a few sparse areas leftover from a truly horrific self-inflicted waxing in high school. This ModelCo Instant Brows Brow Pencil in Medium/Dark matched my natural brow color almost perfectly and imperceptibly filled in the bald spots scattered throughout. The formula is a unique soft wax that gives the product a creamy texture, making it perfect for long wear and a natural finish that you can build up to any desired level of color and fullness. The spoolie at the other end comes in great use for brushing out those wild, post-COVID, ungroomed brows. The applicator has a fine slanted tip that made it very easy to precisely fill in sparser areas of my brows.
Here is a swatch of the ModelCo Instant Brows Brow Pencil in Medium/Dark.
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Please excuse my ungroomed brows; my threading salon has yet to reopen, lol. Here is a natural everyday eye look I created using the Luxie Beauty 243 Precision Blender Brush, the ModelCo Instant Brows Brow Pencil, and the Cella La Vie Neutral Eyeshadow Palette.
Verdict: I think this was a great month for Birchbox! The inclusion of a new hot item like PATTERN Beauty Leave-In Conditioner from Tracee Ellis Ross sealed the deal for me, and I'm thrilled that the "sample size" is an actual size that someone with my head of hair can sample. I love the warm, fall-inspired color story of the Chella La Vie Neutral Eyeshadow Palette, specifically the pearl shade Vitality. The ModelCo Instant Brows Brow Pencil in Medium/Dark had a great, soft, buildable formula and a convenient applicator. The Skyn Iceland Hydro Cool Firming Face Gel for the Forehead is the exact thing that someone like myself, who is self-conscious about their 11 lines, would love. The Luxie Beauty 243 Precise Blender Brush in Rose Gold was the perfect way to round out this box. I think it's great that they included an eyeshadow brush along with the travel size Chella palette and the eyebrow pencil. Right there, you have everything you need for a popping, above-the-mask eye look. The total retail value of this box is $65.30! That is amazing for a $15 box! Seriously, I am crazy impressed.
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? No. 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.
Check our Birchbox Coupon List to get the most up-to-date coupon!
Value Breakdown: At $15.00 for this box, here’s what you are paying approximately per item:
- Conditioner: $2.07
- Face Gels: $1.03
- Brush: $3.22
- Eyeshadow: $4.55
- Brow Pencil: $4.13
Alternatively, each of the 5 items has an average cost of $3.00.
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What did you receive in your October Birchbox?
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