I’ve wanted to do one of these for awhile, but was holding off for a new box so I could document the whole process and really explain things. Birchbox has been getting a ton of press lately, so maybe you’ve already heard of it. The premise is simple – for $10 a month you get a few samples of high end beauty products sent to your door. You take a little quiz when you first sign up to help select items that will interest you plus it comes in cute packaging that’s fun to open. I read a box review online and figured it sounded like a good time, plus I’m a total impulse buyer when it comes to beauty/makeup/nails type products, so I thought the $10/month would curb my urge to wander around Target when I’m supposed to be buying dog food and laundry detergent but instead somehow manage to spend $100 on…. what, really?
So here’s where the first caveat comes in. I read about Birchbox from another blog and that was before I realized that pretty much the second you start a blog, people start offering to send you free stuff in exchange for reviews. Free stuff is AWESOME, so go for it, if that’s your thing. I have no issues with this whole part of blogging. But… I’m now preeeeetty sure that the particular blogger gave Birchbox an overly generous review because honestly? It’s not so great. Yeahhh… In their defense, I have gotten a few pretty cool things, which I’ll definitely mention. Problem is, they’re “high end” products so I don’t see myself ever spending $24 on the full size mascara, fantastic as it may be. And, oh yes, it’s so fantastic.
So, the process – sorry these photos are so lousy. It’s already dark outside so I just took them with my iPhone in the kitchen
You get this fun box in the mail and, if you’re like me, you’re like oh what? A package? Day. Made.
Also, these are Mister’s Valentine’s Day brownies to which I helped myself while he was upstairs drumming, because that’s what true love is.
Upon opening, there’s another box! Which, honestly, may be the best part of this whole thing and I’m totally being serious. I love the process of opening these things. But I’m always a little… ehhhh… when I see what’s inside.
So then you get further in and see more fun stuff! Let’s examine what’s in this month’s box
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant – this actually helps me make a great point. Dermalogica is one of the very few brands that I’ve gotten and actually heard of before. The Birchbox site lists brands like Stila, Kiehls, Kerastase, Smashbox, Befine, Benefit, Ban.do, Ouidad, Oscar Blandi – all awesome brands that I already knew of. Among them though, I’ve gotten.. a mere handful. And I’ve been getting the boxes since last summer. So yeah. It’s not all Stila and Smashbox makeup coming to your door. Just sayin’. I literally just opened the box so I haven’t tried this stuff yet, but I certainly will. I’m pretty pumped about it, actually.
Jouer Luminizing Moisture Tint – and now this one helps me illustrate another point I wanted to make. Even if I loved this stuff, it’s tiny. Super tiny. I know, I know, I know. When you sign up, you know these are sample sizes. No one makes the claim you’re getting full size products, so I never expect it. But this is like beyond small. One use? Maybe two? I’m sort of into the concept of trying it out, but it’ll be gone before I even know if I like it.
Random semi useful but totally unnecessary things – There’s always one or two of these. In this case, it’s a nail file and blending sponge. Both helpful to have around, but I already have makeup sponges so I don’t really need one that retails for 2 for $25.95 (yeahhh). I once got a little friendship bracelet thing which was sort of cute but it broke literally mere hours later.
Junk – Ok so that’s more rude than intended, but really, it’s pretty true. There’s always 1-2 throwaway things. They’re fine. But useless. This time one of them is better than usual though. I will absolutely check out the band, because generally I’m into what type of music I assume them to be based on the photo.
Some other things I’ve gotten recently over the course of many boxes. Don’t get excited and think they all came in the same box.
A million perfumes and more “throwaway” stuff. I love Larabar, so that’s cool. But it’s also just a teeny sample that’s like 1/4 the size of a normal bar. Perfume.. I swear they always show up out of their packaging, half the time they’ve spilled and stink up the whole box. I love perfume in general but I’d rather just not get these sample tubes at all.
Some good stuff! Stila eyeliner and Zoya polish. Totally no complaints here. I haven’t tried either, but I was excited to get them, I’m excited to try them.
Some “meh” stuff – I totally plan to try Clark’s Botanicals Smoothing Marine Cream but skincare is suuch a personal thing. My skin actually fares best with almost no product. I don’t have a strict regime of washing, moisturizing and exfoliating so I’m hesitant to rock the boat with all these new products. Also, the full size is $115. One hundred and fifteen dollars. I sort of don’t even want to like it because I’d never buy the full size. The Nuxe dry oil shimmer – I just don’t… get it? Do twenty-eight year olds want to shimmer?
Calling out some specific products that I’ve tried and loved/hated –
Blinc Mascara – This stuff is great and I’ll be sad when my sample is empty. I won’t buy a full size for $24 though. The mascara forms little “tubes” on your lashes that slide right off with water. So simple to remove, yet it stays in place all day long. I love this stuff so much.
Befine Night Cream – I never used this with daily regularity, so I’m not sure of the long term benefits/repair abilities, but I’m a fan and I’ve used up my sample tube. I really wish I had more, but again, not worth $30.
Oscar Blandi Pronto Invisible Volumizing Dry Shampoo – I’m still bummed at how much this sucks. I’d been researching dry shampoo for a few weeks when this showed up in my January box and was SUPER PUMPED to try it out. Alas, it made my hair even more greasy and smelled pretty terrible. I later found online reviews which indicate pretty much the same thing. However! I’m still obsessed with figuring out dry shampoo so I stopped by my local Ulta and picked up another brand which I’ll hopefully review soon.
The Bottom Line(s)
- You get exactly what you signed up for – $10 a month and 4-5 sample size products. They won’t necessarily be brand names that you know and love and you don’t get handpicked items. It’s nothing less than advertised and definitely nothing more, so they’re being totally straightforward.
- It IS a fun little thing. I like getting the boxes and I like opening the boxes. I’m just never really into what’s in the boxes. Sigh.
- I’ve come to expect a standard range of products and this box proved my point – one pretty cool thing, one good but super super tiny thing, 1-2 useful things that I don’t really want, but will probably use, 1-2 total throwaway things that I’d rather them just leave out.
- Maybe I’m the problem! I totally accept this. I think I may just be the wrong demographic. I really care about haircare, but that’s because I switched to sulfate free/silicone free products a few years ago to rescue my naturally curly hair… which also makes me very hesitant to try a new hair product unless I know it’s sulfate/silicone free. Also, my skin thrives with almost no care and when I start washing/moisturizing/etc. I start having problems. So, maybe I’m the difficult one, and that’s totally fine. Also, I get a lot of things that I think would be better suited to me.. in college. I love me some glitter, but don’t really want body shimmer, eyeliner sticker things or press on nail strips in weird patterns.
- While I think these products may be better suited to a slightly younger crowed, the full size products are also crazy expensive. I’m really curious to know the conversion rate for box subscribers. Are people buying full-size products?
- Every time I get a box I can’t help but wonder if that first blog post was sponsored. I don’t know and I don’t really care, it just makes me wonder if other people are really fans of Birchbox or are they just getting good press. I have NO idea. This is absolutely not sponsored. I’ve been a subscriber since July or August, I think.
- IDEAS! I don’t just come with complaints, I come with solutions! Given my aversion to hair and skin products, I’d love to see a Makeup specific box. Or even nail polish & makeup. It’d be awesome if you could pick your box ahead of time from one of a few categories (Skin, Haircare, Makeup & Nail Polish, All Organic/Natural Products, Mixed bag). Everyone gets 4-5 products out of a pool of a few dozen right now, but I’d rather see them create more standard sets of boxes, then let you pick the focus.
- Overall… eh… It’s not not worth it. I purchased a year all at once so the initial investment felt huge, but now the boxes feel free. Will I renew? Probably not. Am I mad about the whole thing? Nope. It’s all just ok.
milkshed 