Birchbox is a monthly beauty subscription service that is available in the USA, UK, Ireland, France and Spain. The company claims to deliver "high-end beauty and lifestyles samples from top brands", like most subscription boxes services, you can choose to pay as an one-time thing or you can pay a full year and get a discount. The boxes cost USD $10.00 per month, plus free shipping to any American addresses.
From what I have been seeing online, different countries gets all different products; for example, this month I have seen some UK boxes included a Spectrum tapered powder blush (totally jealous!) and the products included in their boxes is completely different to what I have received (I am subscribed to Birchbox USA). Most of the products included in the UK boxes are full-sized, while the USA boxes includes all sample-sized. Also, not everyone that is subscribed to Birchbox USA receives the same products, but I see that we all get sample-sized items... Okay, it's getting a little complicated here, but you get the ideas.
Birchbox February 2016
Birchbox February 2016
Although all items included are sample-sized products, I was not that disappointed, nowadays I enjoy sample sizes more rather than a full-sized product that I know I won't use. I was actually more disappointed at how messy the box was, it had OCC lip tar smeared all over even though the lip product has not been used and one of the product was opened and already used, which is kind of gross.
Birchbox February 2016
Birchbox February 2016
Birchbox February 2016
♥ Birchbox February includes:
Birchbox February 2016
I love that this moisturizer has a fresh lemon drop scent but I feel like it's not suitable for all skin types as recommended. Although the moisturizer is hydrating and made my skin feels quite smooth, it feels thick and it feels like the moisturizer sits on top of my skin instead of sinking in. I have oily skin and within three hours of applying this moisturizer, I had to go and wash my face as my face was feeling oily and my eyes were stingy due to my facial oil.
Birchbox February 2016
BEAUTY PROTECTOR Protect & Detangle | Full-Sized USD $21.95 is a paraben and sulfate-free leave-in detangler mist, it helps minimize frizz, smooth and moisturizes each strand of hair. It provides protection against UV rays and heat, safeguards color and add shine. This product is 100 percent vegan and suitable for all hair types, it has a weightless, non greasy formula that leaves behind an airy floral scent.
Birchbox February 2016
NOT SOAP, RADIO Liquid Feud Body Wash | Full-Sized USD $16.00 is described as a body wash with a snarky sense of humor and seriously delicious scents. This body wash is available in four scents, I have received Liquid Feud and it is coconut milk and mango scented.
Okay, absolutely no sense of humor here, cause I don't get a thing hahhaha ~ I absolutely adore this body wash and I think it is the best item I have received in my February Birchbox. Coconut and mango and two of my favourite fruits out there, you can probably imagine me drooling all over during each shower heheh, I love that this body wash leaves my skin feeling soft and smooth, the coconut scent also lingers around for hours after shower.
Birchbox February 2016
Birchbox February 2016
I rarely use cheek tints because I always feel panicky when they dry before I can blend out the colors, I am either not skilled enough, nor quick enough to use anything liquidy on my cheek so I try to avoid it as much as I could. Arrow Revive Cooling Cheek Tint is amazing though, it has a not so liquidy texture that allows time to blend, once the color set it delivers a sheer and pretty pink flush. The color looks very natural on and it last for hours throughout the day.
Birchbox February 2016
Birchbox February 2016
OCC Lip Tar Matte Liquid Lipstick "Strumpet" | Full-Sized USD $16.00 is a vegan, cruelty-free and gulten-free liquid lipstick that is infused with peppermint oil for a silky feel. It is recommended to apply the tiniest amount to lips for a matte and opaque coverage, or layer to create a glossy finish.
I have tried applying with the tiniest amount and I have layered over and over, non of these applications dries matte, instead it leaves a glossy look as seen in my lip swatch above. I have lined my lips with a lip pencil, I tried to get a precise line using a lip brush, but the application turns out pretty messy and feathered within minutes of applying the lip tar. I have never been an OCC lip tar fan, I find their formulas are either too liquidy and streaky to apply, or too opaque and messy. In the February Birchbox I have received the colour Strumpet, it's such a gorgeous purple-ish red-ish pink, I love the colour and I love the refreshing peppermint scent.
Overall Review: Although I was not too impressed when I first opened the box, I did end up liking the items I have received. I used to make a judgement on if these beauty boxes are worth it by the product sizings I have received, if a box is filled with all full-sized products it's worth continued subscribed to, if only one or two full-sized item and the rest are sample products I would probably think twice before cancelling and if a box comes with only sample sizes products I would immediately unsubscribed lol. I slowly realised that I hardly used any of these full-sized items I have received in beauty subscription boxes, if these items are from brands I have never heard of, then it's tested, review and never heard of again.
I actually quite like the idea of a sample-sized only box, this way I don't feel guilty of wasting a full-sized product that is not suitable for me and I love that sample-sized items are all very travel friendly. I could slip the OCC lip tar and the Arrow Revive cheek tint in my purse for an easy touch up throughout the day, or I could re-use the Not Soap, Radio bottle once I finished the body wash and re-fill it with some other liquid products for easy travelling storage. Also, I love to be able to try out a new product before buying the full-sized as I tend to always make a bad decision in buying new products from new-to-me brands.
What I love about Birchbox: One of the things that I absolutely adored about Birchbox is their Birchbox Points Program. These points could be earned through reviewing the products you have received in your beauty boxes and every 100 Birchbox points equals to USD $10.00 to spend in the Birchbox shop. You can also earn points by inviting friends and/or shopping on Birchbox.
How does Birchbox work in New Zealand? I have wondered too... Before I placed my order... The answer is it doesn't work in New Zealand as Birchbox USA only ships their beauty boxes to American addresses. The only solution to getting your monthly subscription boxes is to get your box send to a USA mail forwarding address. I use YouShop and it works fabulously!
Birchbox beauty box: USD $10 per month / approximately NZD $15.00
Shipping to USA mail forwarding address: FREE!
Shipping from USA to New Zealand: usually NZD $17.00
Adding together it comes to NZD $32.00 per box / per month.
what are your thoughts on Birchbox February 2016?
Ahhh what a pretty pink!
ReplyDeleteAnd turn up the freud? That name is kinda funny but it's not punny enough for my taste lol :p
Thank you Jasmine ♥
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