Birchbox is a beauty sampling subscription service that sends 5 new items each month so you can try before you buy. Birchbox is $10 a month and you can choose a monthly sample during selection time, let Birchbox decide, or pick a pre-curated box. This is a review of a regular, non-curated box with a sample choice this month but the rest was a surprise. How well did it match the profile that I created when I signed up? Read on to find out!
NOTE: Birchbox is currently testing out additional subscription options – check that info out here.
DEAL: Birchbox is offering a full size Smashbox Cosmetics Indecent Exposure Mascara FREE with any women’s Birchbox subscription, while supplies last! Just use code STRETCH at checkout! Or a surprise lifestyle gift FREE with any women’s Birchbox subscription, while supplies last! Just use code LIFESTYLE at checkout!
This month’s theme is Magic Inside because “it’s what’s on the inside that matters the most.”
The information card gives brief details on each item as well as the price if you were to buy the full size.
You can visit Birchbox.com/MyBox to easily see the details of your box, which I recommend because sometimes they have videos on the item product pages which I find useful.
Everything in my April box! I received 5 items this month: 2 for my hair, 2 for my face, and 1 makeup item. I prefer only one item from each category, which makes it more fun to try. Sadly, there was nothing for my body here this month, and I love lotions and scrubs.
Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Tiger Grass Cream ($4.80) This was my sample choice this month. I chose it since it is supposed to sooth redness and itching and I really didn’t want the other two products (I ended up with one of them anyways). Gotu kola (AKA tiger grass), shea butter, and several herbal oils help soothe skin and reduce redness. I used this on one half of my face twice a day for several days since my skin was freaking out over something, but I didn’t see any improvement.
Michael Todd Blue Green Algae Antibacterial Toner (91¢) The aloe, kelp, and algae in this toner are supposed to help relieve redness while tea tree oil is antibacterial. It says that it is for both blemish prone skin AND all skin types. I have dry skin and prefer not to use toner, although I was happy to see that this is alcohol-free. I used it on the opposite side of my face and didn’t see any improvement in whatever was causing my reactive skin. For testing purposes, I didn’t treat my forehead at all and it looked less red than my treated cheeks.
Number 4 Jour d’automne Sugar Texturizing Spray ($4.55) This was one of the other sample choices for April and as sometimes happens, I received it even though I didn’t choose it. It is supposed to provide loose, shiny waves while nourishing hair for “perfectly undone, beach babe hair.” It smelled great, so great (and so strong) that perfume wasn’t necessary. I could smell it for hours afterwards. I wish I could say it helped give my hair body or texture but nope, hair perfume it is. My hair didn’t feel sticky, which I was kind of expecting and was glad that didn’t happen.
R+Co High Dive Moisture + Shine Crème ($2.76) I have super fine hair and so Birchbox sent me a leave-in conditioner that “moisturizes, softens, and controls frizz.” Frizz would be an improvement over my stick straight strands. I used just a dab and my hair was smooth, but also weighed down. It does smell good, though! I used to email Birchbox and ask why I keep receiving products for frizzy or coarse hair (or acne) and would get a generic “we’re sorry you can’t see the benefit of this product” answer so I’ve stopped trying. I know the Beta program they are testing is supposed to help with selection but I am paying for products that match my beauty profile in the first place. Luckily I have daughters I can pass the items I can’t use along to.
Benefit They’re Real Double the Lip in Pink Thrills ($6.67) What a cute idea! Lip liner and lipstick in one convenient product! It took a little practice to get it just the way I liked but when all else fails a lip brush can help put everything in the right place.
On the top of this specially shaped lippy is a dark-ish lip liner and the rest is made up of a coordinating long-lasting lipstick.
Here it is swatched and I was happy to see that there wasn’t a huge difference between the two colors. I liked the formula and the idea of a two-in-one, but the shade was too bright for me. I may have to get this in another color since it did stay on my lips for a while.
I love finding this beauty box in my mail each month! I enjoy the fact that it’s not overwhelming and I have found some amazing products through this sampling service. I wish this month’s products had been more to my liking and I especially wish there had been more variation in the types of products I received but they can’t all be winners. Birchbox sends out many box variations each month and the value of my box was about $19.69. I rated my products on the Birchbox website and I look forward to hopefully getting more diverse selections next month.
What do you think of the April Birchbox? What was your favorite item from your box?
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