Birchbox December 2019 Subscription Box Review + Coupon – Personalized Box

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Birchbox is a beauty sample subscription box that sends 5 new items to test out each month so you can try before you buy. Birchbox is $15 a month, or sign up for longer terms and save a buck or two per month. Birchbox lets you choose a monthly sample during selection time or you can let Birchbox decide. You can also pick a pre-curated box and from now on they are supposed to have at least two different curated boxes to choose from. This is a review of a regular box with no sample choice.

NOTE: You can read all about the recent changes, including pricing structure and ACE prices.

DEAL: Use one of these offers for a luxe freebie with your subscription – just visit Birchbox and use the code!

The box itself was a gift this month! It has metallic accents on the outside.

The inside opens up and has a frame, so you can place a photo inside if you like.

It came with a poem already inserted.

There was a product info card with a thank you on one side.

The back listed my products and the price for the full-sized items, which can be purchased at Birchbox.com and in most cases elsewhere.

My items were tucked into teal tissue paper.

I filled out a profile when I joined so I could let Birchbox know which types of items I would like to receive, plus I selected my skin type, hair type, and other info so they could send products that work for me. Of course, when you choose a curated box then you get what was promised, with nothing chosen based on your profile.

I found a second card.

I found a coupon code to save on a shop purchase!

Everything in my December Birchbox!

Briogeo Be Gentle, Be Kind Shampoo ($2.24) and Briogeo Be Gentle, Be Kind Conditioner ($2.24) I am always happy to see a shampoo and its matching conditioner to really get a feel for the set. I thought this duo worked well for my fine hair too.

Both products have matcha and green apple extracts, and are free of sulfates, parabens, silicone, and phthalate. The smell is good and fleeting, which I prefer. I thought the shampoo lathered well and it is supposed to detox the scalp. The conditioner provided enough slip so I could comb out my hair without it feeling weighed down.

amika Un.Done Volume And Matte Texture Spray ($7.50) I think this was another good fit for my profile, good job Birchbox! It is a volumizing and texturizing spray that has rice starch to help absorb oil. It also has that lovely amika scent but isn’t overpowering.

Spray into hair, directing at roots, and tousle away.

Model Co. Highlighting Shimmer Whip in Mai Thai ($7.20) Mai Thai is the darkest shade of this highlighter line and I don’t feel like it fits my profile, since I have a light skin tone.

You can mix it into foundation for an all over shimmer, or apply it to cheeks, above the lip, etc for some sparkle. This is where I had a problem, because it dries instantly and you can’t move the darker base around. My nose looked unnaturally dark after I applied. It’s more like a bronzer than a highlighter on me.

Here it is swatched on my arm. Very shimmery but also dark bronze!

Malin + Goetz Brightening Enzyme Mask ($6.60) is an exfoilating mask that helps break down old skin cells so they can be washed away. I applied to clean, dry skin and rubbed it around a bit. There are some particles in the gel but they don’t really physically exfoliate at all, so I wasn’t left with red skin. I rinsed after 5 minutes and didn’t really see much of a difference but then again I didn’t have any negative reactions either.

Coola Dawn Patrol Classic Primer ($7.14) Coola is a cool brand and I was excited to try this primer and sunscreen combo. I do want to let you know that there isn’t a whole lot of product in this container, it is mostly air. I think that SPF and primer shouldn’t really be in the same product. It takes a good amount of product to provide enough coverage to fight the sun’s rays, but using a lot of primer just made my skin feel greasy. It also had a sweet fruity scent. It did all right as far as primers go though.

Overall I liked my December Birchbox! The idea is to try different products that fit my profile and for the most part these fit my profile very well. I really liked the three hair products that I received, and the mask was fun to try on a morning when I had a few extra minutes in my day. I probably would have bought something like the Coola primer so I’m glad I got to try it because I realized it wouldn’t work well for my needs. The “highlighter” was the only real miss this month, mainly because it was too dark and it didn’t blend very well. The value for my December box was around $32.92, so well above the price paid for the box. Keep in mind that your products, and therefore your box value, may be different than mine!

What did you think of the December 2019 Birchbox? What did you get in your box?

Visit Birchbox to subscribe or to find out more!

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  • Corissia
    01.01.20

    I received the exact same box, which is a first for me.

    • Deb
      01.04.20

      Corissia, we are box twins! I hope you enjoyed your box!