Birchbox Overview and June Birchbox Breakdown

Or, Why I Love Samples So Much

I started buying birchboxes in October of 2010. Of all the sample boxes I've tried, this has been the one I have stuck with the longest and love the most.

Birchbox is a sample service that allows you to try sample sized products before you purchase full-size products you may not like. It also is a great way to try new products or companies you may not have seen before.  My favorite toothpaste, for example, I found from birchbox.

For $10 per month or $110 per year, you can try 4-5 new products in deluxe sample size or full size depending on the product. Some boxes have been duds, but others have been goldmine and totally worth the price.

But the best thing about the program is the points you get for reviews of the products you received.  If you give them product feedback for a product from your box, you will receive 10 points.  Once you have 100 points, you are given $10 credit on the online store.  I've used the birchbox store to buy Christmas presents two years in a row and they were a hit.

Some boxes have non-beauty sample bonus gifts like Larabars, Chocolate Covered Potato Chips, Hair Ties, Sticky Notes, etc. My favorite lifestyle bonus is my birchbox chapstick holder keyring that has been on my keys for years. I adore it!

Here is a sample of the products that come in each box.

June Birchbox-

It comes in the awesomely pink box in the mailbox. Some special boxes are other colors, but pink is their signature color and many of their products online are in this color.

All of the boxes look like this on the outside. I keep mine and use them for makeup storage, to use in gift wrapping, and to hold things like rubber stamps, crayons, spare craft parts, etc.

Each box comes wrapped in tissue paper (usually pink, but sometimes a different color) and a card to tell you the theme of the box and a little blurb about the products.

Here you can see the product descriptions.

My June box!

Evologie Stay Clear Cleanser .7 fl oz (22 ml) $4.48
Full size $32 (5 oz)
I've been using this cleanser for the past few weeks and I really like it so far. It helps to get those pesky bits of makeup off my face that want to stay no matter what.

Dr. Hauschka Lemon Lemongrass Vitalising Body Wash .34 fl oz (10 ml) $1.16
Full size $22.95 (6.7 fl oz)
This is one of my favorite products I've tried from Birchbox. I'm probably going to buy it when I use up the body washes I have already. It was so creamy and rich and I loved the scent.

Cynthia Rowley Beauty Creamy Lipstain- Sugar (.079 oz) $9.29
Full size $20 (.17 oz) 
This has a strange texture, but I really like the color. I've only worn it once, so I'm reserving my thoughts on this for later.

Paula’s Choice RESIST Barrier Repair Moisturizer with Retinol (.5 fl oz) $ 7.94
full size $27 (1.7)
I haven't tried this product yet, but I will soon!

Catherine Malandrino Style de Paris ? oz (this product doesn't say how much product it actually holds so I estimated .03 oz which is what many sample sizes are...so the sample is worth $.97)
Full size $110 (3.4 oz)
I also haven't tried this sample yet, but it smells nice from the package.

 

Total worth of this sample box: $23.84. All in all, I highly recommend purchasing a Birchbox subscription. My only complaint and hope for the future is that they would make a totally cruelty free box where all their products are cruelty free. Until that happens, I will keep trying these products and purchasing their available cruelty free and vegan products.