Birchbox: beauty samples, $10/month
Promo: 5BOXGIFT to get your first box for $5+tax
I paid: $0 (see below)
Box retail value: $11 My value: $2
Canceling: painless, through website
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 10 points and exchange 100 points for $10 off products sold in their online store, including gift subscriptions to their box. When you subscribe, you can fill out a questionnaire telling Birchbox what type of products interest you, though you may still get products you don’t care for. Lately, Birchbox has allowed subscribers to choose between a curated box that has known samples and a mystery box, with a choice of selecting one sample from a limited array, while supplies last.
This was my last box of a three-month gift subscription which I gave to myself using the points I accumulated in another account, therefore I paid nothing for this particular box. That’s a good thing, as this was my worst Birchbox. The samples were ridiculously small, one was from China, and the other four are items I have little to no interest on. The box had a total product value of $11, though I’d be generous to say it was worth $2 to me.
This is what I got:
Supergoop! Daily Correct CC Cream SPF 35+ in light medium, 3 ml, $2
I got this CC cream back in April. I like that it’s a mineral sunscreen, but I hate that the sample is so tiny. Still, it’s the right color for my skin, though it left me looking a little bland. It wasn’t as hard to apply as last time, but it may be due to the fact that I have become more tolerant. Made in USA.
Avène Hydrance Optimale Hydrating Serum, 5 ml, $6
I got this serum before in the November box. It’s so tiny that I’m not sure what I actually did with it. In any case, given how much water it has and how few anti-aging ingredients, I continue to consider this just a uber-priced moisturizer. Made in France.
Silhouette by Christian Siriano Eau de Parfum, 1.2 ml, $1.5
This is a pretty generic oriental floral. I don’t like oriental florals so this was not my cup of tea, but even if I liked them, I don’t think this perfume offers anything novel.
Made in France
Harvey Prince Sea Salt Texturizing Mist, 8 ml, $1
I’ll give this to my daughter, though her hair is so dry lately that I’m not sure a sea salt spray is a good idea. Made in USA
Coastal Scents styleEYES eye shadow, .65 g, 60-cents
Made in China, need I say more?