Birchbox: beauty samples, $10/month
Promo: BBJETBLUE10 for 100 extra points when you subscribe.
I paid: $0 – Box retail value: $24, My value: $2.5
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 last box from that “free” period. For this box, I chose the “pores no more” cleanser as my sample – I’m glad I got it, as it’s the only product from the box that I liked. Had I actually paid cash for the box, rather than points, I’d be very disappointed. The retail value of this box was $25, but it was only worth $2.50 and that much, only, because the cleanser is extremely overpriced.
This is what I got:
Benefit Gimme Brow Volumizing Fiber Gel in light/medium, 1g, sample value $8
I got a similar, full size product from Beauty Fix before, but it proved too much work for me to use. I’ll be swapping this one. It’s made in the USA.
Dear Clark Voluminizing Hair Tonic, 1 oz, sample value $4.5
I got this tonic back in my March Birchbox. I tried it then and it provided my hair with some bounce, but it has such a horrible chemical scent that I could not stand to wear it. Fortunately I was able to swap it quite easily. Made in the USA.
dr. brandt pores no more cleanser, .25 oz, sample value $2.5
I have very large pores and I am skeptical this will work. However, I will give it a try after I’m done with my current facial cleanser. This one comes sealed with foil so I rather not open it before I need to. Made in the USA.
Harvey Prince Hello Eau de parfum, 1.5 ml, sample value $2
I’ve also gotten this perfume before and it’s not a favorite. It pretty much smells like a fruit candy. Made in the USA.
ModelCo Ultra Long-Lasting Lipstick in smitten (dark pink), .12 oz, mini value $7
I thought that this lipstick would apply more like a deep red, but it’s actually a very dark pink. Unfortunately pink is not a color that works for me, and it may be too dark for my girls.
The lipstick itself did not seem particularly remarkable. Despite its name, it barely lasted on my lips, it faded into an uneven light pink and stained everything I touched with my lips. I would not buy it.
