Subscription Boxes

My Birchbox: September 2014

IMG_9689

Cost: $10.00 per month, free shipping or $110 per year.

The rewards: For every box you get, you earn 10 points. Every review of a product you receive in your birch box, you also earn 10 points. If you refer a friend and they use the link you send them, you get 50 points per person. In no time you will rack up 100 points which translates to $10.00 to use in the Birchbox shop. Only when you get 100 points do you get $10.00, if you have 60 points, you currently have $0.00 in rewards.

So here’s the deal: “Each month, you’ll receive a selection of samples that we’ve tried (and retried) ourselves. We source our samples from both well-known brands and emerging gems. The women’s subscription includes everything from skincare to makeup, as well as fun non-beauty extras. The men’s subscription delivers top-tier grooming products in addition to lifestyle accessories ranging from hip socks to tech accessories.”

For the second month, Birchbox allows us to pick one of our samples if we want.  You can opt out of choosing by selecting surprise me in the chooses.  Every month they will have a video showing us the samples to choose from and about a week later you get an email to let you choose.  This month I chose theBalm stainiac in beauty queen.

My Box:

IMG_9692

This month’s box was less than great, to be honest.  I was unhappy when I opened it and still am not a fan.  Last month’s was pretty good, which is what I have come to expect but this month was not up to par.  Missing from this picture is the Shiseido Ultimate Power Infusing Concentrate because I gave it away and couldn’t get my hands on it when I took this picture but I retrieved it for the photo down below.  Sorry about that.

Harvey Prince ageless Liquid Loofah Shower Gel
Sample Size: 15mL   Value: $0.95

IMG_9702

This exfoliating shower gel smells fantastic and is a bit like a chemical peel as it isn’t like a grainy scrub it’s more of an exfoliant.  This scent is very bright.  This was by far my favorite sample.

pixi Lip Butter in Honey Nectar
Full Size: 4g  Value: $8.00

 

 

IMG_9723

 

This color is not the best color for me but it’s fine for when I want more of a nude lip.  I rarely wear a nude lip but once in a while I’ll set down the red lipstick in favor of a nude balm or gloss.

Tocca Hand Cream – Bianca
Sample Size: 1 fl oz    Value: $5.00

IMG_9704

 

As you might no, I am not a fan of hand creams.  I just never use them.  I can tell this one is a nice one by the texture but the smell is not for me.  This lotion is the most moisturizing lotion and it isn’t sticky and gross when you rub it in.

R+Co Bel Air Shampoo and Conditioner
Sample Size Shampoo (combined): 14mL
Sample Size Conditioner (combined): 14mL
Value (total): $2.65

IMG_9694

 

These packets are not the best packaging but I like that I got two because you can’t really tell what a product does for you after one use.  The smell is fairly good and the results were good but not life-changing.

Atelier Cologne Vanille Intensee
Sample Size: N/A   Value: N/A

IMG_9715

 

I do not like this perfume, the scent is not my favorite.  The packaging is not good either.  When you open it, it sprays everywhere, when you close it, it sprays everywhere.

Shiseido Power Infusing Concentrate
Sample Size: 10mL  Value: $21.67

 

I chose this sample because I didn’t like any of the other choices but gave it away to a relative.  She said it worked well and I believe her!

Total Value: $38.26

  • Harvey Prince Liquid Loofah – $0.95
  • pixi Lip Butter – $8.00
  • Tocca Hand Cream – $5.00
  • Shampoo and Conditioner – $2.65
  • Atelier Cologne – N/A
  • Shisiedo Concentrate – $21.67

Overall, this box was quite a let down.  After having it for a while, I have used the lip balm maybe once or twice and I do like the shower gel but that’s about it.  I am expecting next month’s to be much better or I might end up switching to ipsy.  I did get a lot of different samples in this box, I got 7 different samples and 9 total which is so many more than usual because the shampoo and conditioner were bonuses.

What did you get in your box?  Did you like it?  Let me know in the comments!

xoxo