Birchbox Review April 2014 (Box 19)

My Birchbox arrived today! Hooray! This month's theme was "Rainy Days."  Birchbox is selling a deck of cards with suggestions for what to do on a rainy day and they sent me a sample card suggesting that I organize all the papers I have laying around. Uhm...no thank you? They changed their usual pink paper to blue paper this month though. I like that; I hope they change the color again for other months.

Onto the box contents!

Kind Healthy Grains Bar in Maple Pumpkin Seeds with Sea Salt ($.79) I haven't tried this yet, but I bet it'll be good! I like maple and I love salty/sweet combos.

Number 4 Reconstructing Masque ($5.68) I don't like that this doesn't match the shampoo sample. This masque is VERY expensive though so I can kind of see why. I am happy that I was given two packets instead of just one.

Number 4 Clarifying Shampoo ($3.76) I love that this is in a bottle versus foil packets. I like trying new shampoos and conditioners so there will be fun to test out.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel ($6.68) I already got a sample of this in an Ipsy bag last year. It works well, but my eyebrows just aren't unruly enough to warrant use of such a product

BijaBody Body Serum ($.58) This is supposed to be a moisturizing serum. I'm curious, but it has honey in it, and I don't want to try it and end up a sticky mess. I might try it an hour or two before I get in the shower tomorrow just in case. I do really like the packaging; there's a pump applicator.

Color Club ArtClub Nail Art Duo ($8.33) I'm glad I got this in white, but I'm hopeless when it comes to nail art. Oh, well, it's not like there's any way for Birchbox to know that.

And that's it for April! Not a bad box, but nothing is particularly useful or exciting to me either. If you want to sign up for Birchbox using my referral code, click here. Use the promo code sfbb100 upon checkout for $20 worth of points in the Birchbox shop. If that code isn't working anymore, try bb100 for $10 worth of extra points.

Birchbox Review March 2014 (Box #44)

This is my second Birchbox review for the month. My mom and I share a box, and she just got it today (very late in the month!) so I figured I would review it too.

Stila Lip Glaze in Red Velvet ($8) This is very dark. Maybe it will go on sheer? Neither one of us is big on lip gloss, but I've never tried the lip glaze from Stila so I'm curious about the formula. It might turn out to be a bit vampy for my coloring, but it's worth a try.

Gena Pedi Cure Foot Treatment Creme ($1.65) I'm glad we got two packets of this, so we can both give it a shot. I'm excited to try it.

Beauty Protector Protect and Detangle Spray (~$4.12) I have the full size of this, and I'm a fan. It is a good detangler and heat protector, but not any better than It's a 10, 12 Benefits, Number 4, Miracle 7, or any of the other comparable products. At least Beauty Protector doesn't include a number!

Ghirardelli Intense Dark Cherry Tango ($ .47) I'm not much for dried cherries or almonds (my mom hates dried cherries), but I'll eat this. Meh.

Dr. Hauschka Regenerating Eye Cream ($5.67) Um, what? How is this eye cream so darn expensive? I actually like small samples for moisturizer since we get so much of it. This will get put to good use.

Dr. Hauschka Regenerating Neck and Decollete Cream ($2.05) Neck cream? Really? We got the same sample size of this but obviously you need more skin to cover the neck than the under eye area. One of us will try it, but it's kind of a weird item.

Air Repair Rescue Balm (~$6) You are supposed to be able to use this for anywhere you have dry skin--dry cuticles, lips, elbows, hands, etc. Sounds pretty useful!

The total box value was about $28. Not bad, and since there were SEVEN items to review we got $7 back in Birchbox points. Everything will be used, but I could have done without the chocolate and the lip glaze. Not a bad box at all! If you want to sign up for your own Birchbox subscription (definitely a good "starter box" if you've never tried subscriptions before), click here to use my referral link!

Birchbox Review March 2014 (Box #17)

This month's theme is "spring forward" and with the lost hour this Sunday, it makes a lot of sense. Here's what I received this month.

Jergens BB Body Perfecting Skin Cream ($1.36) When I first saw this I thought "BB cream? Are you kidding me?" I really can't wear BB cream since it doesn't provide enough coverage for me. Upon closer examination, this is BB cream for the body. BIG difference! Most "finds" (Birchbox code for "drugstore product you'll love anyway) are a really generous size. This one? Not so much. I'm excited to try it out. I think it will really help make my skin look prettier in a sundress. I really would have preferred a larger sample though.

Supergoop City Sunscreen Serum ($.89) I recieved the full size of this in a PopSugar box long ago. I didn't like it then, and I don't like it now. 30 SPF? My foundation alone has 17! I'm not much into serums and moisturizers, so this is a total dud for me.

Inika Certified Organic Eyeliner in Green Lagoon ($20) I am excited to be getting a non-black liner, but this is very green. It's a light color which is tough when it comes to liner. I might try this on my lower waterline, but it's a pretty specific color. It will be fun to play around with and maybe it will be my favorite new discovery, but for now I'm a little hesitant.

Curl Keeper ($2.96) I have wavy hair that I straighten daily, mostly because I don't like how it looks so bedhead-ey. I am going to try this on a day I don't have to leave the house. Maybe it will tame my hair so that I don't have to flat iron every day? If so, that could make the whole box for me!

Juliette Has a Gun Not a Perfume ($2.40) How cool is the name of this? And the packaging? The perfume itself is AMAZING, but the full size is $90-$120 depending on what size you purchase. A little steep when I am rolling in perfume as it is. I'm so happy I got to try it, though! It is light and feminine and perfect for spring.

Not one of the best boxes ever, but not one of the worst either! I can't wait to try the BB cream, liner, and Curl Keeper, and I'm in love with the perfume, so all in all it is a pretty good one.My box this month was valued at $27.61 (not counting shipping costs for products or points back in the shop). Most boxes have an even higher value, so it's certainly worth the price! If you want to sign up for a box of your own, click here to use my referral code. 

Birchbox Review December 2013 (Box 28)

Birchbox changed their outer box this month. I like the extra festive-ness!

There's a special inner box this month too. Obviously the theme this time around is "Sparkle and Shine." Birchboxes don't usually have much to do with the theme, so this isn't exactly notable, but I like the special box! It would be great if they would print the theme on the box every month.

Birchbox included this extra in everyone's boxes this month to promote their new app. The extra is that little black square. You stick it to the back of your phone, then use the other side to wipe your screen. I tested it out and I love it!

Pura Botanica Botanic Bath Infusion in Pick Me Up ($9.33) This is one of the coolest things I have gotten from Birchbox. It's like a tea bag for your bath. Pretty cool! I got this in an orange and lavender scent. I took a bath with it already, and I really loved that the bag let the himalayan salt dissolve while keeping any big chunks of anything (it looked like there were bits of lavender and dried orange peel) neatly contained in the bag. I would never, ever pay $9 for this, though. If I'm spending that kind of money, I would be happier with a couple of bath bombs from Lush.

Emily's Milk Chocolate Covered Fortune Cookie ($1) Yum! I ate this right away, and it was absolutely delicious. I hope they have them year round because I might add them on to my next order. My fortune was "You will create many good memories this holiday season." I sure hope so!

Hair Rules Quench Conditioner ($3.50) I was excited to get this since my mom got the shampoo. I hate trying one piece of a shampoo/conditioner regimen. I definitely liked the conditioner more than the shampoo.

I loved the pillow sleeve these items came in! So pretty and fun!

Borghese Superiore State-of-the-Art Mascara ($6.50) Mascara is my go-to makeup product, so I am always excited to try new ones!

Willa Lavender Facial Towelettes ($2.33) I am not a fan of lavender scents, so it was kind of a bit much to get two in one box, but I love getting face wipes in my boxes so I am happy to get these nonetheless.

My box this month has a value of $22.66. This is one of the lower-valued boxes I have received, but I will use every single item, so I am actually really happy with it! I love Birchbox! If you want to sign up using my referral code, click here.

Birchbox Review November 2013 (Box 31)

November is finally here! This month's Birchbox theme was "more good," and this month's boxes included Birchbox's holiday catalog. Hooray, I am so glad the holidays are finally upon us!

Fatty Sundays Chocolate Covered Pretzel Sample in Toffee Crunch This was the first item I noticed. Mostly because a fine layer of pretzel dust was covering everything. For one, this pretzel sample is TINY. It literally is probably 1/8th of a real pretzel rod. Disappointing since other subscribers received full size chocolate bars or chocopods. Birchbox should really consider that sending a pretzel in flimsy packaging with an aerosol can is maybe not the best idea. Not sure how to value this sample, but if you can't tell from the photo, this was also open (the upper left hand corner was ripped). I'm not eating it, and it's so tiny anyway, that I'm not even going to value it at anything. But if I was it would probably be worth maybe twenty five cents.

Laura Mercier Lip Glace ($14.93) Laura Mercier! I have heard so much about her products! I would have loved an eyeshadow from her or something. But a lip gloss? I'm just not a fan of glosses, okay, Birchbox? I wish I didn't get glosses from them and other box companies so very often. If only I could tell them "lipstick and lip stain only." This is a pretty shade but I'm really not a gloss person so it probably won't get used.

Ayers Body Butter in Midnight Tango ($4.15) What a great item! It kept rolling away from me which is why my hand is in this shot. I am actually trading this for a Chella pencil ($18 value...not a bad trade!!) so I didn't crack the seal but it's supposed to be orange and vanilla scented. Sounds good to me, but like I said, not as good as a highlighter pencil! I am happy with this sample though.

Aloxxi Flexible Hairspray ($3) Meh. Hairspray is hairspray. I have tried drugstore brands and I have tried salon brands and they seem to be pretty much the same product no matter what. I will use this eventually but not before I finish all the other hairspray that I have lying around. Note to self: use more hairspray.

Color Club Harlem Lights Collection in Baldwin Blues ($4) I am not usually a big fan of Color Club polishes but this one had great coverage. I only had to use one coat. However, I can only use so much nail polish, so I'm not very excited by this. I have enough nail polish to last a century so I really don't need more (not that Birchbox knows this, so I can't blame them).

My box this month had a $26 value. Since most of the value is in the lip gloss, which I don't use, my pretzel sample was crushed, I have way too much nail polish, and I hardly ever use hairspray...I can't say this box thrills me. That being said, I can't have a great month with Birchbox every month, and with the points system in place these boxes end up being incredibly inexpensive and well worth the small investment. And I'm getting a Chella pencil out of it indirectly--I've wanted one of those forever! If you want to sign up for your own Birchbox using my referral link, click here.

Birchbox October 2013 Review (Box 1)

This might just be my first box with four items in it--only three if you aren't counting the Birchbox "extra," which wasn't supposed to count as a sample this month.

Full box photo...I am getting better about doing these!

Pop Beauty Aqua Lacquer in Flowering Fuchsia ($14) This would be an awesome full-size item if I wore lip gloss. Unfortunately, I don't. I need to make some lip gloss wearing friends because I have quite the collection building up!

Klorane Shampoo with Desert Date ($1.54) This is a pretty small bottle, probably hotel shampoo size. I tried this out right away and honestly it's just okay. It made my hair really tangley. I would rather use Tresemme or something which is kind of sad considering the Klorane name. If Birchbox sent me their dry shampoo, I would have been all over it!

Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish ($9) This is the one item in my box that really intrigued me. The premise is that you put the cleanser on your skin dry, then "polish" it in with a muslin cloth (included) soaked in hot water. This counted as two samples but I got to review both of them for points so I'm okay with it. I think I prefer my Clarisonic but this was fun to try.

ChapStick Hydration Lock ($2.99) Chapstick is always handy. I haven't tried this yet (I don't like to open something like this when I already have a few open), but from what I hear it's nothing special. This is the "extra" and everyone with a Birchbox subscription got one.

Total value this month? $27.53. I feel that this is a particularly poor match for me, but it's bound to happen sometimes. Plus I got $5 back to spend in the shop for doing reviews. So don't worry, I still love you, Birchbox! To sign up and use my referral code (Birchbox is an AMAZING deal, especially if you subscribe annually), click here. Birchbox is the perfect starter subscription, and I don't think I will ever unsubscribe!

Birchbox Review September 2013 (Box 50)

I tell you how much I love Birchbox every single month, and September is no exception. It's just such a great deal! This month included a Ruffian polish in every box, and it was Birchbox's third anniversary, so the theme was "heritage." Their themes are almost always kind of a stretch, and with so many box variations it's kind of impossible for the items to fit the theme, but whatever. They try.

Davines This is a Sea Salt Spray ($10.80) This is a huge sample! Unfortunately some of it leaked out into the box, but it's almost completely full still. And they weren't kidding about the salt...there is definitely salty residue where it spilled! I'm excited to try this, though I haven't had much luck with salt sprays.

Dr. Lipp Nipple Balm for Lips ($2.90) I'm gonna be honest here. This sample really kind of freaks me out. It's 100% lanolin, which means it's oil from sheep wool. There's nothing wrong with it, and it's supposed to be super moisturizing, so I will try to give this a shot. But it just seems gross to me, and I'm not sure if I will be able to get over it even though I know it's silly.

Mally Beauty Volumizing Mascara ($20) This is full size!! I am so excited to try it out. Of course with the Lash Stash kit from Sephora I won't be opening new mascaras for awhile.

Malin + Goetz Vitamin E Face Moisturizer ($.90) I got two of those little packets, but my face is wayyy too oily for me to really appreciate moisturizer, so I'm glad I didn't get a larger sample.

Ruffian Nail Lacquer in Hedge Fund ($10) This is the color I wanted! It's definitely more like a duotone than I thought; there's a lot of gold-ness that you don't see in photos. Ruffian's Fox Hunt had a lot of staying power and was easy to apply, but I've heard Hedge Fund has kind of a different formula, so I'm excited to compare.

As usual, I am in LOVE with my box. I spent $9, got $5 back in points, and the box is worth $44.60. Insane value!! If you want to sign up via my referral link (and I highly suggest that you do, not just because I get points for it, but because it's an amazing subscription service), click here!

Birchbox September 2013 Review (Box 7)

This is the box that I share with my mom--I say "share with my mom," because she's really picky about her beauty products, so whatever she doesn't want is passed on to me. I just make sure to review her stuff for points, then hopefully she can buy something she really wants. Anyway, this month was no exception, and I will end up using more of the products than she will.

The Information Card

Sugarbomb Ultra Plush Lip Gloss ($6.93) I am not normally a fan of glosses, but this is supposed to be less sticky than most, so I'm excited to try it. The color is great too and the packaging is adorable. I love Benefit products!

Mereadesso All-In-One Moisturizer ($28) This sample retails for $28! Seriously! My mom will get a kick out of trying such an expensive product ($120 full sized), but I usually wouldn't find moisturizers very exciting.

Ruffian Nail Lacquer in Fox Hunt ($10) This is one of three colors Birchbox sent out this month, and in my opinion the least attractive. Luckily I got a different color (Hedgefund, a gorgeous green) in my other box!

Yes to Blueberries Cleansing Facial Towelettes ($2.13) I am always happy to get makeup remover wipes! I never buy them, but I love to use them when I get them.

Yes to Grapefruit CC Cream ($.25?) Not super thrilled with this sample. Single use? CC cream? Meh, boring. At least we can review it for points.

The value of this box--over $47--is amazing! It's definitely not my favorite Birchbox ever, but it's a great value and most of it will get used. If you want to sign up for a Birchbox of your own ($10/month, $9/month with an annual subscription), click here to use my referral code.

Birchbox Review August 2013 (Box 41)

I already reviewed my own box, but I get a second one too. Well, kind of. Technically, it's my mom's, but she's picky about what products she uses, so a lot of the stuff she won't use goes to me. So it's "our" box. This is her first regular month, and I was shocked that she got two of the same items I got this month and one of the ones I got last month. With dozens of variations I was not expecting that!

As usual, Oliver was a little over-eager to offer his modeling services...

Miss Jessie's Super Slip Sudsy Shampoo ($.81) This is probably a great product, but a foil packet? No conditioner packet to go with it? Meh. I could get this for free from the website.

No. 4 Super Comb Prep & Protect (~$7.10) I got this back in July but I've been saving it for my trip to Vegas next month. I love hair protector products though since I flat iron my hair almost every day.

Jasmine Seven Fresh Feet Wipes ($.66) These are kind of weird, since normal wet wipes are great for cleaning feet too, and way cheaper. But these will definitely get used, I just probably wouldn't purchase them.

Dr. Jart BB+ Cream ($4.42) This is definitely a product that is well suited to my mom, so she'll totally be keeping it. I don't have clear enough skin to really appreciate BB cream, but she'll love it.

ModelCo Party Proof Matte Lipstick in Kitty ($8) I got this exact same lipstick in my Birchbox, so I gave the extra to my roommate. My mom doesn't wear lipstick, so I definitely didn't need two of the same shade.

This box was worth about $21. Not bad, but not as good as Birchbox usually is. Still, the items this month were pretty usable. If you'd like to sign up for Birchbox using my referral link, click here!

Birchbox Review August 2013 (Box 9)

This month's theme was "Finishing School"--not so different from Ipsy's "Glamour Academy," but I guess it's back to school time so it's kind of appropriate. Oddly enough, Birchbox sampled Cailyn liner and Coastal Scents eyeshadow this month, which have previously appeared in Ipsy bags. Interesting.

Ahmad Tea ($.35) Um...Birchbox, really? Tea? And tea in August nevertheless?? Super unhappy to get tea. Oh, well, this will go directly to my roommate.

Juice Beauty Green Apple Peel ($4.88) I'm really excited to try this mask. It seems like a decent size too, definitely enough for more than one use.

Dreams Nail Lacquer Calcium Base Coat ($5.25) This didn't have the size printed anywhere, but I'm guessing it's about half the regular size. I actually don't have any base coats, and probably don't go through them fast enough to justify purchasing a full size, so this is something I'm really happy to have.

JasmineSeven Fresh Feet Wipes ($.66) I'm glad this included two since I was kind of expecting just one. I will totally use them, since I wet wipe my feet regularly, but foot specific wipes is kind of silly to me.

 ModelCo Party Proof Matte Lipstick in Kitty ($8) This is a nice mauvy pink. Unfortunately I have so many lipsticks right now. I only wear it once a week or so, and it seems I collect it way faster than I use it. My mom got this exact same color this month, and she always gives me her extra lipsticks, so this will probably go to a friend. 

$19.14 value this month...not bad, since I only paid $9 for the box (and got $5 back in points), but still, not their brightest month. The tea is really the most offensive of the samples, then the duplicate lipstick is a huge bummer/waste, but neither of those are really the fault of Birchbox. It's still one of my favorite subs around! Click here to sign up via my referral link.