My Birchbox July 2012

by Elizabeth

I've been subscribing to Birchbox for a while now and I have to say that while it's been hit or miss at times, overall I am pretty happy with the service. (For those of you not in the know, Birchbox is a $10 a monthly sample subscription service. They charge you $10 including shipping and send you a cute box with 4-5 samples of beauty items.)

A few months ago I was contemplating canceling my subscription, but since then I've gotten enough things I've liked in my Birchbox that at this point for only $10 a month, it's worth it for me. Mostly it's just fun to get a little box of stuff I've never tried before and the price is small enough that I don't really mind if I don't love everything. 

So what did I get this month? There were 40 different boxes in July, and I got Birchbox Number 24. 

This was:

1. Gloss Moderne™ High Gloss Masque
2. Dr. Jart+ Water Fuse Beauty Balm SPF 25+
3. LÄRABAR® über
4. stila It’s Go Time Lip Glaze
5. Suki Nourishing Regimen
6. Birchbox Exclusive Earbuds

So.  What did I think?

The Gloss Moderne High Gloss Masque had confusing directions, but I ended up just washing my hair with my regular shampoo and then throwing this on as a conditioner and leaving it on for five minutes before washing it out.  I do think it made my hair shinier than normal, and I LOVED the smell, but it also may have made my hair a little bit flatter than I'd like.  I'm definitely happy to have gotten this and I'll use it up, but I am not sure it made my hair shinier enough that I'd repurchase it, especially not for $39. 

The Dr. Jart BB Cream was also something I was thrilled to get, because I've been eyeing all kinds of BB Creams lately and I'd much rather try a tiny bit before spending a bunch of money on a giant tube of the stuff.  I thought this stuff was only ok, though. I had to mix it with my regular Oil of Olay moisturizer and I still thought it made me look a little ashy and overly made up, although now that I've had it on for a few hours (with powder over it) I do like how even it made my skin tone. So far, though, I like the Miracle Skin Transformer I got a few months back better than this stuff - the Dr. Jart Cream felt more "drying and chalky" and less "glowy and dewy" than I'd like. 

I really don't want food in my Birchbox, so I wish they'd just not send things like Lara Bars. Old food that has been through the mail for weeks, packaged up with makeup, does not appeal to me. I threw it out. 

The Stila Lip Glaze made the whole Birchbox for me, because I've always wanted to try one of these but I've never been able to pull the trigger. (They seem to think they sent me a trio - they did not, it was just a regular full sized single.) To me they're expensive for lip gloss and I was worried they'd be sticky. I would have bought one of these eventually anyway for $22, so this is like getting all this other stuff for free and a lip gloss for half off! Kind of. Anyway. I like this Lip Glaze more and more. The color (Action) is not one I would have picked out but for a neutral shimmery beige or nude color, I really like it. It goes really well with darker eye makeup. It is stickier than I'd choose in my ideal lip gloss, for example your hair will stick in it, but the stickyness is not AWFUL, and it lasts waaaaay longer than other lip gloss I've had like it. I'd buy it again. And the mini trio is a good deal if you want to try them out but didn't get one from Birchbox.  

The Suki Nourishing Regimen was awful. Granted, I'm predisposed not to like this stuff because I already have face wash and lotion that I like and I don't want more, but if you have a Birchbox subscription you know you're going to get lotion samples whether you want them or not.  However, the packet that was labeled fash wash was so disgusting and greasy that I had to wash my face again with my actual face wash as soon as I was done using it.  The directions say to use toner afterwards, but I don't have toner, and I don't want to use face wash that I have to clean off my face as soon as I use it.  I threw the other packets away because I was so grossed out by the "cleansing lotion". 

My ears are too small for ear buds, so I gave these to my five year old. He was thrilled with them. I wouldn't pay $10 for them, obviously, but at least this is a useful item and not more food. I'd still rather have makeup though. 

How did everyone else feel about July's Birchbox? Did you like what you got? 

{Photo credits: birchbox.com}

Comments

[Moira]

It's so funny that we got none of the same items! I got the Dr. Jart BB cream two months and loved it - I bought the full size.

I got a purple eyeliner, which I will try, but it scares me bit. And more perfume, which I seem to get every month.

How do you know your Birch Box number? Is there a list of what is in each box?

[Jesabes]

I love the earbuds, actually. They're pretty noise-cancelling and sound way better than my apple headphones.

(And we'll have to agree to disagree on the Dr. Jarts.)

[Emiliy M]

I got different items too! I got some tea mints - which, I agree food is weird with makeup. But, I keep mints in my purse so I guess having it in a makeup box wasn't too weird...AND I LOVE THE MINTS. I also got some sunscreen that I LOVE as well as a full eyeliner (which like above - is purple and scary). I'm always losing my earbuds so it was nice to have some free backup ones when I'm packing for a flight that leaves in 6 hours and I can't find my regular pair. Or, I close them in a car door. Or leave them on the subway... Anyway, this is probably my favorite box so far.

[Jessica]

I got a few things I liked this month! The Beauty Blender sponge is probably my favorite and I also like the Stila lip gloss. But I wish I would have gotten the Blinc mascara that other people got!

A month back, I got a sample of the Dr. Jart BB but it was empty, so I really should request a sample!

[cecily]

Huh. I got the Gloss Moderne and am now intrigued by your review. I also got a Larabar, and since I've always loved what they've done, I'm going to try it anyway. Then I got a perfume sample (Eau Flirt), which gave me a headache...and a small bottle of nail polish, which I painted my toes with promptly.

You're right, it seems hit or miss.

I have the same question that Moira has above - how did you know which box number you got/is there a list somewhere?

[Carrisa]

I gave the ear buds to my sister and had my husband eat the bar. I also got a Stila foundation which I'm enjoying and some lip/cheek tint which I don't care for. I do like the Miss Charming perfume sample I got. This was my first Birchbox. I look forward to more.

[Serror]

I got ear buds, perfume (that is always to strong smelling), a hair smoothing serum, a liquid eyeliner in black, tea mints and suncreen. I wish I had gotten lip gloss! But I like the ear buds, and the eyeliner and the hair serum.