September's BirchBox... AKA Meh Blah Box.

This month's  BirchBox is pretty Meh. You would think with the seasons changing it would be a great box, but I don't think that they put a whole lot of thought into it. I don't know if it is because they have way to much going on to put the effort in or they just don't care at this point and are all about the money they are raking in through their tons of subscribers. Right now to be very honest I am holding on for the points, which are a great perk. So here it is... 

 

Here are the initial unboxing photos, if you can see it there is a little magazine included this month... It's called the Fall Look Book. Personally I think they should have put more time into the products they included and less time trying to put out a magazine. I do not subscribe to BirchBox for a magazine, I subscribe to them to try out new products. And here they are, the meh products....

First up, Boscia Oil-Free Nightly Hydration cream. I tried this out for the first time this evening and it is nice, not to heavy at all. There is no scent so that is a good thing. We shall see how it does over time. The sample size is large so it will last a while to give me a true feel for it. The sample value is $12.85, this is the bulk of the value of the box.

Next is Mon Jasmine Noir by Bvlgari. OMG ick ick ick. The top notes are jasmine, but then the old lady comes out, STRONG, and it stays there... I might try this again, but it's definitely not something I would grab as a first, second, or third choice. The only thing it has going for it is that it is a spray top. The sample value is $2.49.

On a normal day I would be thrilled about a Color Club polish, I love their formula. The color here looks like neon green. In person it is about the same color as Baby Food, think pureed peas or green beans. Pretty unappealing. The bad part about it is that it has a really cute name and is part of an exclusive collection by BirchBox. It's called Tweet Me. I think I am going to use it as an accent nail color for my daughter when I do her nails tomorrow. The sample value is $3.73.

Finally in the box of Meh, is my single happy dance item. This is a twistband hair tie, I received one in my very first BirchBox and loved it, but I did not love the price for 6 ties it is $14.00. So to now have 2 is awesome!!!! I really like the design on this one too, the lacy print is very very nice! Crossing my fingers that every season brings a new twistband to me, or maybe I will use some of my points to buy a pack. The sample value is $1.83.

Last of the "beauty" related items is the WEI to Go Sleep Over Kit. This sample has ticked me off. Why you ask? Because it is unusable for me. I am light skinned with pink undertones, and they sent me a medium color with yellow undertones... When you use BirchBox you fill out a beauty profile, it asks what your skin tone is, I chose light... This is the second time I have received a totally unusable color. This sample pack is worth $6.00. I have added it to my giveaway collection, which has been growing recently. 

This is the Life Style extra that BirchBox included this month. These are Mighty Leaf Tea Company tea bags. I haven't tried any of them yet, waiting for it to cool down a bit before I fully throw myself into the joys of Fall I guess. I do like that there are 3 different caffeine levels included! The sample value of these are $1.99. 

So, there we are... Pretty Blah... The box value isn't even that impressive it is $28.89. I really hope that BirchBox really steps it up. I mean just think there is so much that you can do with October, HALLOWEEN anyone!!!!

August Birch Box! Beauty School???

After waiting what seems like forever this month I got my August Birch Box!!! This month's theme was Beauty School, I guess it's their attempt to tie in the beginning of the school year and their charity project.

As usual this is how the box looks when you open it up. One big difference this month is that there isn't just a card telling you the products. Instead there is a fold out pamphlet that gives a lot of tips, much like Sample Society.

This is the pamphlet. lots of interesting stuff to read.

 This is the charity interest I was talking about. It is called Pencils of Promise. A percentage of all sales from the Birch Box shop will go to this charity.

And now on to the actual products!

 As usual everything is packed away semi neatly with the wrapped present!

And here is a shot of all the products, as you can see one of my qtip thingys are out of the packaging. I am going to be emailing Birchbox about this.

First up are Beauty Fixation Makeup Remover swabs. My first thoughts on these without using them are, aren't these basically like the iodine swabs that use to come in first aid kits? You break them to make the solution come out then use them to take away makeup goofs, much like a cotton swab dipped in water... The biggest difference are that these cost $5.00 for 24 of them, and it costs $2.00 for around 500 cotton swabs and water is free.... As you can see I got 3 of them, one wasn't in the packaging though and was just in the box. After looking at the individually wrapped packaging, and realizing that the one on the end wasn't sealed at all leads me to believe that this one was just thrown in the box, so I only have 2 to use... Not cool Birchbox, a little quality control goes a long way... The sample value of these are $.62.

 Second in the line up is Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy La Fleur. I haven't smelled this yet because I have been cooking but no matter how it smells it has something going for it right out of the gate. A spritz top!!!!! In the world of sample fragrances these are a rare gem! The sample price is $1.40. 

 

 Miss Jessie's Original Quick Curls is up next. I have been able to sample a couple of other Miss Jessie's products lately and I will say I love them!!! My hair has been manageable with the slightest amount of effort here lately!!! I cannot wait to try this out tomorrow morning!!! The sample value is $8.00.

Last in the regular Birchbox line up is a Pixi Beauty Lid Last Shadow Pen in Bronze Brilliance. This is a full size product. As you can see on the right I swatched it for all to see. Its really pretty and goes on pretty easily, I might take this for a test spin tomorrow.

The value of these are $18.00 and they come in tons of different shades! I am actually really happy with this color because I really don't have anything like it!

Last up is what Birch Box is calling a find. Its a Schick Hydro Silk razor. If y'all remember I got one of these for free a while back too. I really love getting it! With razors and blades being so expensive a couple lying around doesn't hurt my feelings at all! The sample value on this is $5.29.

So all together a great Birch Box this month, minus the whole qtip thing... The total price for all the samples is $33.31. With the cost of the box being $10.00 I think I made off well this month! 

This month I only have one sample box left to come in, and it said it was in Orlando when I checked it early today, so I might get it tomorrow!!! It will be a debut for me even though the company has been around for a while, but, no spoilers til I get it!!! 

*I buy these with my money, all reviews are honest and my own.*

July's BirchBox! Some Fun, some bleh...

Last Friday I received my July BirchBox. I was so excited to get it when I found out that they were teaming up with Glamour Magazine because I was thinking we would be getting samples of the newest trendiest things on the market. I was incorrect, it turns out it was more like a way for Birchbox to get rid of a bunch of samples they had and throw a couple of new bones to people. Now I am not fully upset about this, there have been things in past boxes I really wanted but didn't get. So without further ado BirchBox July.

The theme as you can see is See it, Hear it, Taste it, Touch it, Smell it. I do like the box cover, very pretty.

As usual when you open the box there is a card on top telling about the box and on the other side of the card is the list of products included.

Here is a shot of under the tissue paper, as usual I love the little wrapped goodies.

First up is the See it item. I received the boscia Green Tea Blotting Linens. I must say I was happy to get these. Living in the humid humid south and having oily skin sucks. I am constantly blotting my face to get rid of the shinies. This is a pretty good sample size to. The sample price is $2.50.

Also in the See it category is my second item. Eyeko Skinny liquid eye liner in Olive. I was planning on using this today for part of my work makeup, but I got up super late and ended up with no makeup on. The tip is really cool and very unlike most liquid eyeliners, think felt tip pen instead of a brush. I am really happy to get this item as well. Best part this is a full size item!! Retail is $15.00.

If you feel like you are having dejavu for the next 2 items, no fear, you are. In the Feel is slot is Jouer Luminizing Moisture Tint. I received a sample of this in my Sample Society box this month, if you remember correctly it was in bronzed and to dark. Well, Birchbox sent me Golden, guess what, its to dark too, and much smaller than the one sent from Sample Society. This went into the pot for the giveaway collection that I am building. Ok, so the sample value that was in my Sample Society box is $3.80, this sample value is $1.56. Pretty big difference.

 In the Smell it category I recieved Oscar De La Renta's Live in Love fragrance. Again, I had already received this fragrance in my Sample Society box, and again in a much larger size. I will say I really love this fragrance so the more the merrier. This is a tiny tiny vial though, I am trying to figure out how to put this tiny amount into my bigger bottle. The sample value from Sample Society was $5.80, from Birchbox the value is $1.37. Another big difference.

 For Taste it I got a LaraBar in Cherry Cobbler. First may I say that I haven't had a whole lot of luck in the bar department taste wise. Second, I do not like cherries at all. So with all the luck in the world I am handing this off to my giveaway collection. The sample value is $1.74.

Last is the Hear it. These are BirchBox exclusive ear buds. Sadly I cannot use ear buds because my ears are shaped funny and will not keep them secure. So these will be in the giveaway as well. I put a sample value of $3.00 on these, I had to guess at it, but I figured higher than lower. 

So all in all it was half and half. Half products I will use and half I won't. The total value of the box is $25.17 the only reason it is this high is because they included a full sized eyeliner, without the eyeliner it is $10.17. Not the best box, but I have high hopes for next month!!

*I bought this box, all reviews are honest and my own.*

Birchbox Customer Service Replacment Product

Hey folks, I posted my May Birchbox a while back and in my box I got a tube of Dr. Jarts+ Beauty Balm that barely had enough in it for a full use. I emailed Birchbox after I found this out and I just received my replacement today!!!

This is the offender.

This tube which was rather large only had .06 fl oz in it. It was worth $1.12.

These are what I was sent as a replacement.

They each have .33 fl oz in them!!! Upgrade Awesome! Thanks Birchbox!!

New sample value is $12.42, that's a hella jump!!!

Remeber if you haven't already to sign up for Sircle Samples, its free referral link below!!!!! 

http://sirclesamples.com/friends/4fb3e4d82b3ae00039000050/invite

Birchbox June: The Jetsetter Box

 Birchbox time!!!!! Last month my box came super late. This month on the other hand it came pretty early! I really kind of like the surprise of arrival even if what is in my box isn't a big surprise! Darn you Makeup Talk forums! LOL! 

This month the box theme was Jet setter, an awesome theme for the summer! Like I was saying in my Target bag post I will be going on vacation the first week of July some of the products are going to be perfect for my trip, the other couple will be really fun to try out.

This is how the box looks when you open it up! I heart the little present inside!

Here is a shot of all the products I received this month! One is full sized, love it!!! A lot of people were not thrilled with their boxes, I on the other hand am most perfectly happy!

I am going to start with the lifestyle extra for the month this is a Tili Bag. They are like a pretty colored, heavy duty, vinyl feeling, quart sized baggie. What can I say, other than, well its pretty, and I hope it stands up to a little abuse... Yup, that's about it. I have decided to use it to put all my body and face products in it for my vaca... The value on this is $.70.

Next up is Hair Rules Volumizing Shampoo for all hair types! Yay more trip Shampoo!!!! All I need is a little more conditioner and I will be set to go all week without having to bring a single full sized bottle of hair product! The sample value of this is $3.75.

 This is the Balm Stainiac in Beauty Queen. This is an interesting little creature. It can be used as a lip or cheek stain, the formula is a gel base which is pretty cool. I swatched a bit of it on the back of my hand and it blends amazingly well for a mostly liquid and dries very nicely! I am going to try it tomorrow morning and report back on how it works into my makeup application. The value on this is $2.26.

Next in the run down are these La Fresh Oil Free Face Cleanser Wipes. These are so very very cool, they are 100% Biodegradable, how amazing is that! Perfect and I mean perfect for camping! These are so going into my vaca stash! The sample value for these 2 wipes are $.66.

Last but not least are these beauties!!!! These are Winks by Georgie, faux lashes in La Starlette. My lashes have always been pretty good, but as with many things there is always room for improvement. I have wanted to try falsies for quite a while, but I have never wanted to pay for them. These are considered "refill" lashes, because when you buy the full product you get a full little compact and a full bottle of lash glue. The "sample" value is $15.00.

My Birchbox this month is worth $22.37, this is $12.37 over the $10.00 I pay monthly for my box!

Birchbox May 2012

Hey there, I received my first Birchbox in the mail today!!! For those of you who don't know Birchbox is a monthly subscription service that sends out beauty, skincare, and lifestyle related samples. The samples you receive for the most part are deluxe sized or from time to time full sized. The box costs $10.00 a month and that price includes shipping. Oh, and they have a points program that you can use towards purchasing full sized products from their store. For every 100 points you earn through referrals, product reviews,or purchases you earn $10.00 credit. These credits are stack-able so if say you have 500 points you have $50.00 to use towards your Birchbox purchase, pretty cool really! If you are interested in joining please feel free to use my referral link https://www.birchbox.com?raf=x2rl5 for every referral I get I get 50 points to use toward full sized products.

 Ok now to the good stuff.

This is how the box comes packaged, the box itself is really sturdy so I will be able to reuse it! Clockwise from top left. The outer shipping box, The inner box (this month was a theme month the theme was Gossip Girl so the sleeve was all pretty looking, not a show I watch), The actual Birchbox, What the inside of the box looks like when you open it (you get a card which is right on top describing the theme, mine was Chic Sunday Brunch, the other side of the card has product descriptions and full size prices), and Finally what the inside looks like (how cute are the products wrapped like a present!!).

 

All the products out of the packaging! How fun!!! I love the postcard that came with the perfume sample! I am so going to use it!!!

Now I will go through each individual product, a couple I can already review a little bit, the one's I can't I will update as I use them.

This is the Fresh Tinted Lip Treatment in Sugar Rose . Confession, I am a lip gloss and lip balm freak normally if the packaging looks interesting I buy it. I put this on as soon as I lifted it out. I love love love it!!! It smells citrusy when you put it on, its super smooth, there isn't a ton of color but the barely there red that it is makes a pretty tint. It has lasted the 2 hours or so since I opened my box so it pretty good. Now the price... For the full size its 22.50, ouch. The sample value is 12.00, its a pretty large type sample, good thing for me, because I would be really tempted to buy the full size if it ran out to quickly, maybe if I wait long enough I can have points saved up to buy it.

 

Next up is Atelier Cologne in Vanille Insensee. This is another product I can review right now. For me this was not the greatest. I am not a vanilla person at all!! There are suppose to be notes of lime and coriander with it, but on my skin all I can detect is vanilla. This sample, though not for me is right up my Momma's alley. She likes vanilla, a lot, so off to her collection this goes. The postcard that is at the bottom of the Birchbox in the picture of all the products came with it. It is so cute! Hmmmm, who to send a postcard to...  The price on a full size bottle is $65.00 the sample value is $2.16.

 This is Dr. Jart+ Waterfuse BB Cream. I was really really looking forward to this sample. When I opened it there was hardly anything in the bottle, not even enough to be able to use it on my whole face! I am disappointed in you Dr. Jart+!!!! Why would you put out a sample in a tube this size and not fill it!!!! How dumb is that! I contacted Birchbox via email, I am waiting to see if they can do anything about it. The full size bottle is $32.00 according to the packaging there is .06 oz. in the tube so the sample value is $1.12, personally I value it at less because you can't get any out to use it. So, maybe $.50...

-Update Review. I put the little tube upside down in my train case over night to get all of the contents to the bottom, I was able to get enough to actually use it on my face!!! I really like this stuff!!!! It definitely has the hydrating feel of a moisturizer, but the foundation part of it really has good coverage. I really wish there was more of it!!! Hopefully Birchbox will find a way. 

Next up is Color Club Nail Lacquer in Disco Nap. This is the one thing I really will not be able to use myself to review. I get my nails done at a salon so unless I bring this with me to have them use on me. But, I do have a 6 year old DIVA child who will be more than happy to let me paint her nails with this color so that I can get a review. Oh the things she hassss to do for her Momma. LOL! Sorry for the yucky looking pictures, my camera was refusing to cooperate with the sparkles! All in all, I like the color, it went on pretty well, fully covered in 2 coats, and dried super fast. The fast drying is awesome when working on a 6 year old! Color Club is a good product, I actually have it on in Pucci-licious for my base coat with OPI's Mad As A Hatter Glitter over it. My nails look amazing!!! But, as I was saying, Color Club is good stuff, has great staying power! I usually get my nails done once a month and my polish is always still as nice looking as it was day one, as long as I keep up with the top coat, but I have to do that with any polish brand. The full size polish is $8.00, I personally think that Color Club is worth that price, many would say I am wrong though. The sample value of it is $4.00.

This is a Twistband Hair Tie. I have to say I am kind of excited to try this thing out. I have tried probably every hair tie known to man, even the silicone ties trying to find that one tie that looks cute and keeps my hair tight without breaking my hair. Maybe this is my miracle product, maybe not, we will see. I will try it out tomorrow and let you know. The price for a 12 pack of these is $18.00, ouch for the second time. The sample value is $1.50.

-Update Review. I like it!!! It holds my hair tight without being really tight feeling. I think these will be a keeper, although the 18.00 price tag is pretty steep.

Last is the Lifestyle Extra that Birchbox threw in this month. Note cards, from what I have read the XOXO thing has something to do with Gossip Girl, again not a show I watch so I have no clue. They are cute, I am not sure who I am going to send a note to, but who knows, maybe one of you readers out there in the internet world would like me to drop you a line. The price for a set of 12 of these is $10.00, not bad if you like Gossip Girl I guess. The sample value is $1.20.

So, all in all a pretty good first box in my opinion. It's total sample value is $21.98, a little over double what I paid, so definitely worth keeping!!!

See Ya'll Soon Interwebz Readers!

*I am not a paid spokesperson. I paid for my Birchbox myself, all reviews are honest and my own.*