Birchbox October 2013 Review

Ok, last October review! About a month ago, Birchbox had a coupon code plus a couple promos going on that I decided to take advantage of. Birchbox was actually the first subscription I signed up for well over a year ago, but after about 11 months, I decided I didn't really like it anymore compared to some of the newer ones popping up, so I cancelled. I always wanted more makeup (although, I just looked through the records of my old boxes and it appears this was the sub that gave me my generous sample of Blue Copper 5 cream that I use daily now!). However, when a deal came up to get 15% off your subscription plus a free sample pack plus a free mini hair drier, I decided to give it another shot. I signed up for a year, which is normally $110 (basically one month free), which went down to $93.50 (almost 3 months free!) with the discount (I don't think it's active anymore but it was "glamlatina15").

So, Birchbox, just in case you don't know, is one of the lower priced subscriptions where for $10 a month (or less if you subscribe for a year), you get 4-6 sample products (though looking through my history, I have a box of 8 in there!). They're usually of the smaller variety, given that this is only a $10 sub, but there's occasionally a full sized item thrown in too. I do remember getting a few foil packets, but I mostly remember little tubes, so it's not too bad. When you sign up, you fill out a profile (basic stuff - skin type, hair color/type, what basic kinds of products you like, etc) and there are I think 50 possible box combinations each month that you can get, which is, I suppose, somewhat based on your profile. You can also review your items each month, which doesn't have any impact on your future boxes, but does give you points - 10 points per review (100 points = $10) which you can ultimately use in their pretty large shop, which sells full size products.

Anyway, my extras all arrived first, since my first box wasn't set to ship till the middle of the month last month. As expected, the mini Amika hair dryer ($36, but it was free with the promo) was adorable! It's perfect for sticking into my bag to bring with us to Emily's swim lessons. I think I'm the only one who dries her kid's hair before we leave. Even if I know she's just going to get a bath later on, it just looks so uncomfortable to have it stay wet! Besides, she's got my fine hair so it takes like 2 minutes to dry it. It's a tad loud and doesn't have a heat setting, but many of the minis don't. The one I used to bring (the one we keep in her bathroom) doesn't either. It does come with a handy carrying case and 2 attachments, though!

Amika hair dryer

Inside the case

Holding it to show size

In addition to the hair dryer promo, I also added a Mystery Sample Pack, which was free with any $35+ order. I got a pick 2 sample pack.

Mystery Sample Pack

The first item was a Rev Up Volumist spray ($10.99), which is supposed to give you bouncier fuller curls. It seems to get mixed reviews on Amazon and on the Birchbox page, but if I ever decide to start wearing my hair curly again, I'll give it a try. I haven't worn my hair curly in about 4 years though, so it may be sitting around a while. My hair's just too long now, which weighs down my curls, I think even with this. The top ends up flat and straight, while the back frizzes up. It's ugly. So I wear it straight or up.

Rev Up! Volumist spray

The second item was a Pixi Large Lash Mascara in black ($18). From the reviews, this sounds like a more natural look mascara, which isn't really my thing, but I'll give it a try. Or, I do have a mascara or 2 that I really love the visual results of, but have kind of a sticky finish, so maybe I'll just try layering this on top to get rid of the stickiness. I do have to say, for a free mystery pack (or something you can pay $10 for if you don't have $35 in your cart, a $29 value isn't bad. Next time I make a purchase (soon - my Birchbox points from the start of my original sub are expiring since they only stay in your account a year, which I somehow didn't realize till recently), I'll definitely add on another mystery pack!

Pixi Large Lash Mascara

Onto October's box! I have to be honest. I don't remember if there are themes or not, but my little note card said "Beauty Buzz", so that's either the theme this month, or every month just has a beauty buzz card.

Info card

Info card back

As my note shows, I got 4 products and a "Birchbox find", which is usually a well known product that they give everyone as an extra. My first real product is a sample size of Benefit Fake Up concealer in the color light ($3.43). I actually already have the full size one of these and love it. It's a good undereye concealer that isn't too thick because the color is surrounded by a big moisturizing bit in the tube. It applies easily, too. I do really like it, but I still have a ton left of my full size, so I didn't actually open this one fully up because I'm not sure whether I'm keeping this or adding it to the gift pile. It was really nice that my first item was a good size makeup sample though! Promising! :)

Benefit Fake Up

Mini tube! (that's just the top half sticking out)

Next up was a sample size of Evologie Stay Clear Cream ($20.46). Expensive sample! Unfortunately, I have 2 from Glossybox already. Oddly enough, the ones from Glossybox were only .17g samples, whereas this one was a .33g sample. The first Glossybox sample I got came in a box set with their Intensive Blemish serum of the same size, so that made up for the difference there, but the second time Glossybox sent it to me, it was just the single .17g sample, which is pretty small for a single sample from Glossybox and made me think they just had a few left over sets that they broke up and called it good enough to send to people. Anyway, I'm sure this is fine, but I've been lucky to always have fairly clear skin, so I haven't even tried the ones from Glossybox let alone needed another one here.

Evologie Stay Clear Cream

My next product was a full size Pop Beauty Aqua Lacquer in the color Flowering Fuchsia ($14). I knew this was too bright from the start and I gave it a try since so many lip products have surprised me lately. Alas, this time I was right. Too bright. It also had a weird applicator. I opened it expecting a typical slanted top that you squeeze the product out of and smear on your lips, but it had a wand. And not a typical doe foot wand. A weird flat plastic thing. It was hard to apply and I wasn't a fan at all. Yay for full sized makeup, though. Were I a lip girl, I'm sure I would've been happy with this.

Pop Beauty Aqua Lacquer in Flowering Fuchsia

Weird applicator

Swatch of Pop Beauty Aqua Lacquer in Flowering Fuchsia

My last product was a full size Ruffian Nail Lacquer in the color Hedge Fund ($10). This line is Ruffian's first line of polish and it was made specifically for Birchbox. I love polish, so I was happy to see it! It's even a fairly unique color for me (a medium green with a yellow sheen from goldish microglitter, I guess. Kind of the color of money, which I'm sure they were going for with the name of the polish.) and probably the one I would have chosen if given the choice! The formula seems good, too. The only thing I didn't like was the bottle top. It's super cute, but makes it hard to hold the wand to apply it. I don't think it's removable like Julep tops.

Ruffian Nail Lacquer in Hedge Fund

Swatch of Ruffian Hedge Fund (this looks a bit darker in real life)

Our Birchbox Find of the month, in its own little Birchbox baggie, was a full size ChapStick Hydration Lock (2.74 on Amazon, I'm sure you could find it in less than a 12-count pack at any drug or grocery store though). It applies like every other ChapStick and it's supposed to give 8 hours of hydration and make your lips smoother and fuller looking. I love ChapStick, so I certainly don't mind having another. I think maybe it does make lips smoother, but I'm definitely not seeing 8 hours of hydration or any added fullness. That's ok though. It still feels and smells nice (vanilla cream!) on. It also came with a coupon for $1.00 off another ChapStick Hydration Lock, which I'll probably use.

Birchbox Find baggie with ChapStick Hydration Lock and coupon

October 2013 Birchbox

Considering how I cancelled this sub back in February because I wasn't enjoying the contents anymore, I'm pretty surprised at how good I think this box is. Even if it wasn't exactly right, I did get 2 makeup products, a nail polish, and a good extra (and a zit cream I don't really care for, but we can ignore that). And it all had a value of $50.63, which is pretty great for a $10 box! So, I'm pleased with my first box back with Birchbox. Hopefully this will keep up.

If you get Birchbox, what did you get for October? I know there are quite a lot of variations (I got variation number 23). That Liz Earle set with the cleanser and muslin cloths looked so cool. I really wish I had gotten to try that out. If you don't already get Birchbox and are interested in signing up, please use my link! When I logged out, it looked like the normal month to month sign up had a 2 week wait list, which isn't really that bad, but maybe being invited would help skip that wait.


(And just a disclaimer: I was not compensated for this review in any way. All opinions are my own. I have included referral links.)