BirchBox March 2014

Box: BirchBox

Cost: $10 monthly (includes shipping)

How it Works: BirchBox sends you several products each month based on your answers to your "Profile" which you can fill out prior to joining (or just leave blank if you want the luck of the draw!). You can change your profile at any time, but it may be a month or so before you see any changes.

Shipping Schedule: Begins shipping approximately on the 10th. You can also see spoilers for your box on the website.

Rewards System: BirchBox has a wonderful points system! You earn points for signing up (10) plus you get 10 points for each item from your box that you review. Every 10 points equals $1 you can use in the store. So every month, you are really only paying around $4-$6 per box when taking into account the points earned from reviews. Points can be used in the store for full size products of sample items from previous and current boxes.

Refunds: Contact CS if any issues occur with the bag or items. Their CS is pretty amazing, and if they can't solve your problem with a replacement, they will usually credit your account with points.

Cancellation: Very easy. Just use the cancellation option on the website or call.

My Experience

Once again I ordered two boxes! Those subscription codes that give you an automatic $10 to use in the store are just too tempting to resist! The above picture is from my main account and that is the one I used for this review. 

Keims - Cleanshine Energizing Shampoo ($1.90)

I am always up for trying out a new shampoo! I'm generally not a fan of peppermint scented things, but maybe I will love it in my hair! Quite a generous sample and the full size is only $9.50.

Air Repair - Rescue Balm ($2.00?)

This balm is for use on extremely dry skin. I don't really have that problem since I use lots of lotions to keep my skin moisturized, but my husband has dry patches on his elbows that we have yet to find a good product for. Passing this on to him and hopefully it works! The size isn't specified on the sample so I am guessing at the value.

Control Corrective - Cucumber Bead Cleanser ($.53)

&

 Oil-Free Healing Lotion ($1.42)

Again, BirchBox just knows what I love! Trying out new skin care products is part of what keeps me in this subscription. Not too sure how much I will like these particular products though. I don't generally use exfoliators with "beads" in them as I feel they are too harsh on my skin, and oil-free facial moisturizers almost always leave my skin feeling dryer than I like. 

Vasanti Cosmetics - Brighten Up! Enzymatic Face Rejuvinator ($5.67)

Another exfoliator! This one claims to mimic the effects of microdermabrasion which would be amazing! The instructions say to use a pea size amount a few times a week, so this sample should last for quite a while!

Coola - Tinted Matte SPF 30 for Face ($3.60)

Ugh. I actually got this sample in a previous box for this account. You aren't supposed to receive duplicates on the same account, but their CS made it right by awarding points to my account for the mistake. I didn't like this product the last time I got it either so to the trade pile it goes!

Total Value: $15.12

Final Thoughts

Really good box for me, even though the total value was not as high as I have had before! I am excited to try every item, except of course the Coola SPF. This was a skincare heavy box, with one hair care item thrown in and I love it! Another win for BirchBox!

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BirchBox February 2014

Box: BirchBox

Cost: $10 monthly (includes shipping)

How it Works: BirchBox sends you several products each month based on your answers to your "Profile" which you can fill out prior to joining (or just leave blank if you want the luck of the draw!). You can change your profile at any time, but it may be a month or so before you see any changes.

Shipping Schedule: Begins shipping approximately on the 10th. You can also see spoilers for your box on the website.

Rewards System: BirchBox has a wonderful points system! You earn points for signing up (10) plus you get 10 points for each item from your box that you review. Every 10 points equals $1 you can use in the store. So every month, you are really only paying around $5 per box when taking into account the points earned from reviews. Points can be used in the store for full size products of sample items from previous and current boxes.

Refunds: Contact CS if any issues occur with the bag or items. Their CS is pretty amazing, and if they can't solve your problem with a replacement, they will usually credit your account with points.

Cancellation: Very easy. Just use the cancellation option on the website or call.

My Experience:

I love Birch Box. Their samples are always interesting either because they are brands that are new to be, or products I have never tried. Their point system is amazing and makes it very easy to buy the full size items of your samples. I love BB so much that I get TWO boxes every month! This month they did a collaboration with US Weekly to choose "Red Carpet Looks". 

The first box I received on my main sub was trashed because the Beauty Protector Oil broken open and soaked everything. But because BB customer service is amazing, they sent me a totally new box to replace the ruined one! The replacement box is the top one in the picture above, and you can see the trashed one below.

Harvey Prince - Hello 

I really dislike getting perfumes in subscription boxes because I am very picky when it comes to scents. However, "Hello" surprised me with how much I liked it! I have made a few trades since receiving this sample just so I could get more vials. When I accumulate enough points, I am planning on getting the full size.

OPI Sheer Tints - Don't Violet Me Down 

When I saw OPI was in this BB I was so excited! I love all things nail polish! Unfortunately this one didn't make me very happy. The idea of this polish seems to be "tinting" other polishes worn beneath it. I wouldn't recommend wearing it along since it is so sheer. The color is basically a very lightly colored jelly, and nothing more special than that. The swatch above is over Wet N Wild White (449C). I received two of these in my boxes.

Dr Brandt - Pores No More

Another product I am excited to try! From reviews, this sounds like one of the better makeup primers out there, although there are some drugstore brand dupes of it. Looking forward to trying it!

Beauty Protector - Protect and Oil

This. Stuff. Smells. Amazing. Sweet and cake-like. I've been hearing people go crazy about this oil for months, so I'm happy to finally get a chance to try it out myself! And I received one in each of my boxes!

Harney & Sons Fine Teas - Paris and White Vanilla Grapefruit

Unlike a lot of BB'ers, I don't mind getting tea in my box. I drink it often and always like trying out new blends. Both of there were very nice, although I wasn't a big fan of the White Vanilla Grapefruit blend. Vanilla in my tea just didn't taste right. I received these in both boxes.

Skin&Co Roma - Truffle Therapy Serum Boosting Anti-Aging Serum

Truffles. On my face. I don't know that I like the sound of that. Not totally sure how this would be "anti-aging" either. The smell isn't offensive though, so I will try to work it into my routine at some point.

Joan Vass - L'eau de Cristal

Ugh, this is why I don't like getting perfumes in my boxes. This smell is just too overpowering and floral. You can almost smell the alcohol. Just... ugh.

Final Thoughts

Overall I was quite happy with this month, even though there were a few items I am going to stick in my trade pile. I would say there are only 3 product out of 8 that I didn't care for and will trade. A great month for Birch Box!

This post contain affiliate links.

BirchBox January 2014

Box: BirchBox

Cost: $10 monthly (includes shipping)

How it Works: BirchBox sends you several products each month based on your answers to your "Profile" which you can fill out prior to joining (or just leave blank if you want the luck of the draw!). You can change your profile at any time, but it may be a month or so before you see any changes.

Shipping Schedule: Begins shipping approximately on the 10th. You can also see spoilers for your box on the website.

Rewards System: BirchBox has a wonderful points system! You earn points for signing up (10) plus you get 10 points for each item from your box that you review. Every 10 points equals $1 you can use in the store. So every month, you are really only paying around $5 per box when taking into account the points earned from reviews. Points can be used in the store for full size products of sample items from previous and current boxes.

Refunds: Contact CS if any issues occur with the bag or items. Their CS is pretty amazing, and if they can't solve your problem with a replacement, they will usually credit your account with points.

Cancellation: Very easy. Just use the cancellation option on the website or call.

Cynthia Rowley Beauty Liquid Liner in Black Ink - This was my first BirchBox and there is usually a code for first-timers to get a free bonus item when they sign up. This liner was the item available when I signed up. It has a pen-tip and claims not to smudge. Haven't ever used a pen eyeliner before, so I'm looking forward to trying it out!

The theme this month was "Go Time!". They want resolutions not to be about giving things up in your life, but instead adding more things into it. They added some cute inspirational cards for you to pin up for year-round encouragement!

Fekkai Brilliant Glossing Shampoo and Conditioner ($5.00 per bottle = $10.00)

 It seems like I am always reading about how much people love Fekkai, but I wasn't too excited to try this out at first. I mean, it's shampoo and conditioner. Not something I usually go crazy about. But I really did love the smell of these products, and they are actually the only hair products that keep my hair scented throughout the day. These little bottles also lasted me about a month! When I run out of my gigantic TRESemme bottles, I plan on purchasing the full size of these Fekkai products.

INIKA Mineral Eyeshadow in Eternal Marine ($20) - This item was a dud for me. I don't care for mineral/loose eyeshadow, and the color is no good for my eyes which was blue-green. I did try to blend a bit on my lid, just to see if it would surprise me, but nope. It just washed my eyes out, as expected. Quite impressed that BirchBox included a full size of this though. Even though it is quite small, mineral eyeshadows last forever.

Nail Rock Blue Glitter Kit ($7.00) - While I do love nail art, this kit is a bit out of my style range. This blue glitter is very, very bright. The swatches look pretty, but I just don't think I will ever wear it. Very cool item of BirchBox to add though!

Lifestyle Item

Dry Deodorant Wipe by Reviver ($2.67) - When you have odors on your cloths but don't want to/have time to wash them, this little wipe is supposed to take them right out. I'm not crazy about the smell, but the one time I used it, it seemed to do a good job at removing odor from my workout clothes. It is also reusable, so I put it back in it's bag for another day!

Total Value: $39.67

Final Thought: Overall this was just an OK box for me. I LOVED the Fekkai shampoo and conditioner, but the polish and eyeshadow weren't my style. The deodorant wipe is an interesting addition, but I don't think that I will get much use out of it (or even remember to use it). I believe this was the box they sent out to a several new subscribers in January, so hopefully my boxes will be more tailored to my profile in the future!

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