Birchbox: beauty samples, $10/month
Promo: BBJETBLUE10 for 100 extra points when you subscribe.
I paid: $0 – Box retail value: $28, My value: $13
Enjoyment factor: ☺
Subscriptionista’s Humorous Review
Birchbox is a monthly subscription which sends you five beauty samples every month, generally a mixture of skin/haircare and makeup. It comes in a cute little box that you can reuse. You can review each sample and receive for 10 points, and exchange 100 points for $10 off their online store, including gift subscriptions to their box. When you subscribe, you can fill out a questionnaire telling Birchbox which type of products interest you, though you may still get products you don’t care for. Lately, Birchbox has allowed subscribers to chose between a curated box, that lists what samples are included, and a mystery box, with a choice of selecting one sample while supplies last.
Last June, I used my Birchbox points to gift myself a three-month subscription (I had to create a different account for this purpose). This was my second box from that “free” period. While I did not actually request the curated box, I got it anyway. This month’s box was curated by Nicole Richie, a reality TV star and fashion guru. While I wasn’t excited about this box, I do like one of the items, will sort of use another and will gift a third. The box wasn’t too bad, but I wouldn’t be happy if I’d paid for it. This is what I got:
Rene Furterer LISSEA Leave-in Smoothing Fluid, .5 oz, $3.5
Despite the fancy name this is another hair cream. This one claims to be good for straightened hair. It has a great smell, but I’m not particularly sure it does anything in particular. Then again, I don’t straightened my hair. It’s made in France, which is tres cool. 
dr. brandt microdermabrasion skin exfoliant, 7.5 g, $10
I got this same exfoliant in the Birchbox July box. I like it quite a bit. It’s rather gentle and leaves my face softer than a baby’s butt (which, really, is not that soft). Still, $10 a tube for this seems ridiculous. It’s made in the USA.
LAQA & Co Cheeky Lip in “humble brag” (blush pink), 1 g, $6
This is a lip and cheek stain. There is very little in this sample, but probably enough to find out if this is the product for you. I’ve gotten so many cheek and lip glosses in various shades of pinks that this one is going off to be swapped or given as a little gift, so it has some value for me. It’s made in the USA.
St. Tropez Gradual Tan In Shower Lotion, 1. 6 oz, $6
I get it. It’s August. You didn’t go anywhere on vacation. Or you did, but you have a dire fear of sun rays and didn’t want to let any hit you. So now summer is over and you are feeling lame and figure a self-tanner is the answer. I’m tempted to say that a self-tanner is never the action, but as someone whose facial skin has become all botchy due to sun damage, I can’t.
Made in the UK
OPI Venice Collection Nail Polish in My Gondola or Yours? (black), 3.75 ml, $2.5
I got this nail polish in black and it was a failure. The formula was runny and watery, and it was impossible to get an opaque, non-streaky coat. I don’t know if my nail polish was faulty or it’s a problem with the color. My sister got it in red and she loved it. She said it was quite thick, and one coat was almost enough. Made in the USA.