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.
I think this is my favorite box design yet!
DEAL: Birchbox is offering a free Pixi by Petra Palette! with any women’s Birchbox subscription, while supplies last! Just use code MESMERIZE at checkout!
This month’s theme is Easy Does It and the samples sent this month should help us hold on to that summer feeling where everything is kicked back and relaxed before the fast frenzy of fall.
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 August box!
I was surprised to see 2 makeup products again this month! I also received an item for my hair, one for my face, and a perfume.
Number 4 Super Comb Prep & Protect ($4.80) is a spray leave-in conditioner that can detangle hair and protect from heat and UV rays. I skipped the in-shower conditioner and sprayed this on my hands and then ran them over my hair. I do that rather than spray directly since I have fine hair. I blow dried with my other products as usual. It did get the tangles out and left my hair soft but I was also unable to do much with it styling-wise. Leave-in conditioners are not for me.
Birchbox lets you pick out a sample from a few different offerings and I went with Glamglow THIRSTYMUD Hydrating Treatment ($9.74). The instructions said to use it on clean skin and that I could either rub in the excess or rinse it off after 10-20 minutes. A little goes a long way but I was turned off by a couple of things. First, it smelled like coconut perfume. I don’t mind fragrance on my body but prefer not to use it on my face. Second, I had a tingling, cooling, and then slight burning sensation, like from menthol. Maybe from the ginger? I went ahead and rinsed it off after 10 minutes.
Cartier Le Panthère Eau de Parfum Spray ($3.44) I generally don’t mind perfumes in my box but this one in particular was not for me. The card says this is supposed to have a “gardenia-musk accord highlighted by tiare flower notes.” It is strong and long lasting and meant for someone not like me. Maybe an elegant Frenchwoman in a smokey club somewhere after midnight, not a suburban hippie-esque laid back mom. It was way too strong for summer, too.
Manna Kadar Lip Locked in Sienna ($7.20) is a primer, stain, and gloss all-in-one and I really liked it! The shade is described as “chestnut rose” and it was pretty close to my natural lip color. It didn’t last too long but it felt good on my lips and is perfect for these last weeks of summer.
IPKN Moist & Firm BB SPF 45 ($6.46) I received the shade “Light/Medium” but “Light” might be a touch better for me. I think this may replace my current BB cream (so long, Supergoop!) as it provided more coverage. In fact, it provided more coverage than my current foundation, Maybelline Fit Me. My daughter even commented on it at dinner so it lasted a long time as well. IPKN is a Korean beauty brand and in Korea SPF is a big thing, as it is for me personally, and it’s in here too!
Here’s the BB cream and lip gloss swatched on my inner arm. I was impressed with both of my makeup products!
I really liked 2 of my products this month and actually plan on buying one of them soon! Those two samples alone were worth $14 so I definitely felt like I got my money’s worth, even if the other 3 were a bust. Birchbox sends out many box variations each month and the value of my box overall was about $31.64. I rated my products on the Birchbox website to see if that helps me get selections that work for me in future boxes. Plus, I really love the box itself – how cool are palm trees and those muted colors?!?
What do you think of the August Birchbox? What was your favorite item from your box?
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