Birchbox January 2016 Review + Coupon Code

The Birchbox theme for January 2016 is Moodboard Your Year. Birchbox is a beauty sampling subscription box. You’ll get at least 5 items every month (I often get more) to try out and see what you love. Birchbox is $10 a month, plus you accumulate points after reviewing the items in your box! You’ll get 10 points per item reviewed, and 100 points are equal to $10 in the shop.

The information card gives brief details on each item. I feel that it’s quite odd they do not mention the theme anywhere on the card. The front of the card noted that you should visit Birchbox.com/MyBox for a shop offer – it’s free shipping on any order $35+. Use code HELLOJANUARY.

I wrote RAD on the box lid but they gave me stickers, so I picked this one. Seriously, I’m obsessed with rad right now. I’ve written it at least two or three times a week lately.  I’m clearly feeling my oats.

Everything in my January box!

Key West Aloe Gentle Aloe Facial Cleanser ($2.75) This aloe-based cleanser is gentle and soothing and great for weather-ravished winter skin. Now if it could do something for my winter flat-hair syndrome I’d be all set (still searching).

0.2 Eau de Parfum ($1.6) The dreaded perfume vial. I’m getting to the point where I think the vial is completely unacceptable for sampling (ok, I reached that point a year ago). This fragrance is designed to capture the 0.2 seconds when endorphins signal love-at-first-sight. I tried it out (the only reason I would ever open the vile vial is for the review, I really can’t stand them – and I had to use my teeth for this one) and it just smelled like perfume to me, nothing particularly special. Top notes of bergamot and spearmint, middle notes of neroli and orange blossom, and base notes of sheer musk accord, Tunisian amber, white amber, oakmoss and French vanilla.

TONYMOLY Delight Tony Tint ($2? No Size) This comes in three colors – Birchbox only carries red but you can also find it in Orange Cha Cha and Cherry Pink. In the swatch below I showed a full on drop and then blended as the tint.  The full size product is available for $6, which means that it’s easy to get more if you love it, because it’s so inexpensive.

Eyeko Fat Liquid Eyeliner ($16) I was thrilled to sample an Eyeko product that’s not their mascara (it’s the kind that comes in a lotion-like tube, which I don’t particularly care for). This reminded me exactly of Cargo’s Texas liner – great big fat pen that’s capable of nice thick lines or more delicate ones (note that this won’t feather on your eyelids like it does on the inside of one’s arm!).

Nail polish info below!

Ciaté Mini Paint Pot Nail Polish in Mineral Clarity ($8) I was surprised to find the sand finish on this one! It’s super pretty with lots of sparkle. I believe this polish was in Ciaté’s 2014 advent calendar.

My January Birchbox had a nice value, about $30. I think the cosmetics were the clear winners this month, and I was happy to get three items! One final note – my Birchbox came so early this month that I couldn’t even review my items! If it happened to you as well, don’t forget to visit Birchbox again on Monday to review the items in your box for points.  The January 2016 Birchbox featured box is the Charlotte Cho curated Korean Beauty Box!If you’re not already a subscriber, you can start your subscription (by January 23) and use code KBEAUTY16 to get it as your January box!

Visit Birchbox to subscribe or find out more!  Save $5 on your first month of Birchbox now through Saturday! Use coupon code HAPPY5 at checkout!