Birchbox - September 2013

It's time for me to review the subscription box I love to hate: Birchbox. I feel as though I must include a disclaimer here: This month I don't hate Birchbox, because I had a wonderful and trouble-free interaction with BB Customer Service about a week ago. The CC rep was friendly, helpful, and a joy to work with. This is probably one of the reasons I haven't cancelled yet this time around. I've said it before and I'll say it again: BB has the best CC Reps out there. They seem to go the extra mile - and that's a major accomplishment in this "I'd rather be texting" world of commerce we're in these days.

 

The other thing that pleases me about Birchbox - and I'm pretty sure I haven't said it before in a review - is that they treat customer orders the same as they do the Birchbox monthly subscription. "What does that mean?" you might be asking. It means that they take great care in wrapping up the product so that the customer feels as if they received a gift. A gift from themselves, sure... but a gift nonetheless. The last time I ordered from BB, my hair product was wrapped up so nicely I felt as if I had received a very special gift, instead of just a product order.

 

That said, my Heritage box (this month's theme) was a bit underwhelming - although there was at least one product in the mix that I loved. Without further ado, take a peek into my September Birchbox:

 

RUFFIAN Nail Lacquer in Fox Hunt: Man, Ruffian must have had some fun with that name. Not sure if the color is supposed to indicate the color of blood that's poured on the ground after a particularly grisely fox hunt... or reminiscent instead of the jacket color of those on a fox hunt. I must say here: I don't paint my nails. I used to - but they chip within the day and it's just something I don't want to waste my time on (painting and repainting my nails). I do enjoy the occasional pedicure, and this color will compliment my old lady feet. Bonus: Made in the USA!

Retail price: $10.00

 

Yes To™ Blueberries Cleansing Facial Towelettes: Just in time! I go to California at least once a month to visit my dad, and I've taken to bringing these types of towelettes with me. They work great - and I'm so excited to have my first "Yes to..." product in my grubby little hands. This is the product I am most excited about receiving. I can throw it in my suitcase for my next trip - my other packet (Josie Maran Bear Naked) just about ran out! Made in Germany.

Retail price: $7.99 at Birchbox; $5.99 at Yes To's website.

 

amika Blow Up Spray: Oh no - not another hair product! This one is a fairly decent size, compared to other amika products I've received (which have all been those most despised little foil packs). I am on the fence - do I give this away or do I try it? I really wanted the Sea Salt spray that was one of this month's offerings - but it might be fun to revisit the 80's and give myself some big hair. Made in the USA!

Retail price: $24.00

 

Racinne Ultimate Youth Power Eye Serum: BB really likes to give me old lady eye products! On the bright side, by the end of the year after using each one of these eye products I've received, I'm going to look like I'm 20 again. Watch out, MILFs – this cougar is about to roar!

Retail price: $32.00

 

Yes To™ Grapefruit CC Cream: Grrrrrrr.... two little foil packs. In this case, though, there seems to be a reason behind the madness that is the foil pack. There are two samples: light and light/medium. This way, I can determine which shade is really more "me." I haven't tried it yet, but I agree with the blogger masses on this type of product: I don't see the sense in using it, unless one's skin is already pretty much perfect. All the other CC creams I've tried haven't provided any type of coverage or correction. I am happy to try this, though, and will reveal the verdict in an upcoming blog.

Retail price: $15.99

 

Nitpicks: The ubiquitous foil pack! The box also seemed late to me - but on the other hand, that's not BB's fault. For some reason my box always gets stuck in Michigan for about three to four days. It's there... I can see it on the tracking... but they're not touching it! Maybe the postal workers in Michigan take a lot of beer and cheese breaks.

 

Lasting Impression: While this box is in no way, shape, or form a "Wow" box, I am truly happy to get to try the Yes To™ Blueberries Cleansing Facial Towelettes. In fact, just seeing them in the box gave me a case of the happies. I was also happy to see a decent nail polish shade in the box - I was afraid I was going to end up with purple or green or some other hideous color that isn't flattering to an old lady like me!

Additionally, I was heartened to see so many products made in the USA! Birchbox, you stole my heart with that added bonus! Thank you!

Birchbox May 2013

Oh yay! It's time (okay, past time) to review my May Birchbox. I can sum it up in two words: Pissed Off.

Apparently BB decided only a few of their subscribers were cool enough to receive the extra special Salma Hayak box. I believe it was an extra box on top of their regular box - at least, that's what one blogger indicated. BB sent out an email to their subscribers asking if they'd be interested. Guess what? Homey did NOT get the email. And this after many assurances from BB that I was on their email list.

Oh BB - you guys never fail to give me the shaft, do you?

So, I missed out on the super cool box, and this is what I got instead:

Okay, okay, that's not all I got. But it sure set the tone for the rest of the box - take a look to see what I mean:

amika Obliphica Nourishing Mask: Oh lookie here, my favorite: a foil pack! Plus it's supposed to be great for colored hair, but the second ingredient is alcohol. I don't understand what these hair people are thinking - alcohol strips color. Ugh. Guess they don't know how to do their homework.
Retail price: $40 for 500ml

Marvis Toothpaste in Classic Strong Mint: At least they didn't give me licorice - that's a plus. Look, the link is going to take you to beautyhabit.com to check the product out - you are my beloved readers, and I could not subject you to the painfully slow loading and gosh awful Marvis website. It took approx. two minutes for the picture to load in - and they played all this hookey music - as if their toothpaste brought forth a symphony. Blerg.
Retail price: $10.50 for 75ml (seriously - $10.50 for toothpaste? Go to Grocery Outlet and get yourself some Crest.)

Suman Contrast Eye Pencil - Black: Man, not even an exciting color - just black. And small. However, I was very happy to receive at least one cosmetic item, so this did give me a case of the happies. (The pencil I received does not look like the one in the link - that one looks self-sharpening and mine needs some manual labor.)
Retail price: $11

Coola Cucumber Classic Sunscreen SPF 30: Win, win, win. This is NOT an exciting product - but it's one of the first organic facial sunscreens I've received that actually blends in easily. Holy cow - most of 'em kind of are sticky and difficult for the skin to absorb. This one is wonderful - and it smells like cucumber!
Retail price: $32.00 for 1.7 oz/50ml

Isaac Mizrahi Fabulous perfume sample: Finally, Birchbox is sending me fragrance. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I've only been ragging you about it for two years now. How much longer do I have to rag you now for some Salma Hayek love? I digress... this stuff smells good. I'm not sure if it's totally me, but I'll have fun finishing off the sample while I figure it out. The scent is soft and slightly citrusy with an undertone of baby powder.
Retail price: $69 for 1.7 fl oz & 0.34 Rollerball

Oh... and let's not forget the Acroball pen. That was my Lifestyle extra. Alright, I admit it: I actually like the pen. It's pink and white on the outside, but actually writes with a purple tone. Still... it's no Salma Hayak. (Maybe that's a good thing - she has an awful accent, and when this thing writes, it sounds like me.)

May... hit or miss? Mostly miss. Love the Fabulous perfume, but let's face it, homey could never afford it. Not unless you introduce me to your rich uncle or hunky, fat-walleted single dad. They will love me - I smell Fabulous!

Nitpicks: The fact that I didn't get the Salma Hayak email really ticked me off - and seems like a huge oversight on their part. It put a great big spotlight on the fact that I don't receive any emails from them - even though they told me they fixed the problem. Grrrrrrr! 

They also recently updated the beauty profile questions, and I didn't get notification of that, either. I found out by accident and updated my profile - they really need to get on the ball about notifying their subscribers of changes that affect the subscription.

Lasting Impression: It looks like Birchbox FINALLY is sending me fragrance samples on a regular basis - yay! Thank you.

Birchbox April 2013

I know what you're gonna say before you even open your mouth. "Homegirl, why are you reviewing Birchbox? You said you cancelled your subscription!" Yes, yes I did. Was I a liar? Nope. But when I saw that they were hootin' and hollerin' about what a great box they were going to send out in April, I had to get in. Why? Because it was a partnership with Women's Health magazine.

Way back when I was healthy, Women's Health magazine arrived in my mailbox every month. I loved it. And, homey so wants to be healthy again, so I signed up for this "great" box. For $10, how could I lose?

Um. Easily, it turns out.

Okay, this time I do lie - but not by much. I don't want to keep you in suspense any longer - here's what was inside my April "Tiny Tweaks, Big Results" box:

Caudalie Divine Oil: Seriously? Another oil? One month Birchbox says the best oil ever is Orofluido. The next, NUXE. In April the best oil ever was this Caudalie offering. Birchbox, please make up your mind. Which one is the best? Tell me. I really want to know. In the meantime, stop sending me oil. I've got enough for a thousand orgies.
Retail price: $49 for 3.4 fl. oz. (say what?)

Nexxus Youth Renewal Rejuvenating Elixir: Okay, this homegirl gets it: she's older. But do I really need a rejuvenating elixir AND a divine oil? Couldn't you mix it up a bit? Well... apparently not. And I guess since this one is for hair, it's different. Only it's not. And it's Nexxus. Not very exciting. Blerg.
Retail price: $20.00 for .94 fl. oz. (Found it at Target for $15.99 - aren't I special? No, I didn't buy it - I still have some Orofluido - "the best hair oil ever" according to Birchbox in 1992 or two months ago - I can't remember which.)

StriVectin-SD Eye Concentrate for Wrinkles: Okay, Birchbox - I get it now. You think I'm old. I think you hammered that point in very nicely with the above products - no need to get personal with this one. But since I'm tired of complaining, I'll use it - maybe then you'll stop sending me this crap.
Retail price: $65 for 1 oz. (Holy crap - am I made of money? I'm old, remember - I need my moolah for retirement!)

Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics Anti-Shine Mattifier: At last, something good - although it came in a super tiny little sample. I mean, after telling me three times I was old ya think the least they could have done was super-sized this Barbie-sized sample.
Retail price: $35 for .25 oz.

Now, here's the moment you've all been waiting for - did I get a Lifestyle extra or a Beauty extra? If you guessed Beauty Extra, you were right!

Weleda Body Lotion: Oh my - a little foil packet. Thank you, Birchbox. You know how much I love these (insert sarcastic smirk here). Weleda... eh... not exciting. Don't get me wrong, I love Weleda products. Lately, though, they're popping up in almost every subscription box out there - *yawn* 

The best part of the box was a free subscription to Women's Health magazine. I can't wait to get my first issue - it'll be like the good old days. Only this time instead of reading an issue and then jogging five miles and doing 100 situps, I'll probably eat a bon-bon and balance a beer on my belly.

Nitpicks: I was really excited about this box - teaming up with Women's Health could have meant really great things. Maybe a workout DVD. Or supplements. Or heck, even sunscreen - I mean, that's kind of healthy, eh? But a bunch of oil products and some anti-shine mattifier does not say "health" to me. 

Look, I'm not dumb - I get how the products fit into their "Little Tweaks, Big Results" theme - but it wasn't what most subscribers thought when they first heard BB had worked with WH on this box.

Lasting Impression: Women's Health - I'll get a magazine every month. Who knows? Maybe I'll even go for a walk. You never know... a renewed healthy lifestyle might be an issue away.

Birchbox March 2013

I know what you're saying - "Homey, I thought you unsubscribed to Birchbox." And I did... but then I saw that they were offering a great box for April and I wanted it - so I signed up for the April box. Or so I thought. 

You see, homegirl's timing is never very good, and so instead of signing up in enough time for April, it turns out I made the March cutoff as well. Uh... yay?

March's them is March Madness. I know. Not very original. Here's what I got this month:

Juice Beauty Stem Cellular Repair CC Cream: This is supposed to improve skin tone. Will it? I doubt it. However, I love Juice Beauty products and will continue to use it until it's empty. Who knows? I might just end up looking like a million bucks. (Hey! A girl can dream, can't she?)
Retail price: $39 for 1.7 oz.

Nick Chavez Beverly Hills Color-Saver Sulfate-Free Shampoo: Here we go again: a shampoo without the accompanying conditioner - which you know is this girl's big complaint. I won't know how well a product works if I can't use it with its partner. However, this product does not contain alcohol, so I will use it on my color-treated hair to see how it does. 
Retail price: $22 for 8 fl. oz.

Stella Cadente Miss Me Discrete? Eau de Toilette: Oh boy, was I excited to see a fragrance sample in my box - it was the first thing I opened up. Imagine my displeasure when I found the fragrance sample to be EMPTY! What? No good stuff? Birchbox punked me! 
Retail price: $49 for 30 ml

Vasanti Brighten Up! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator: This is an exfoliating cleanser, and it smells pretty darn good. It contains papaya enzymes to brighten up dull skin. While not an exciting product, I do enjoy trying to new cleansers, so this is a win in my book.
Retail price: $34 for 4.23 oz.

Beauty Extra: Emery Board by Madewell - Kind of cute - but I don't use these little papery kinds of emery boards. This is one area in which I'm faithful - I always buy Revlon Emeryl Files - I don't stray. However, I knew a French girl who swore by the kind of emery boards this Madewell board is made from - she said any other kind was harsh on nails. Maybe so... but I love my Revlon Emeryl File!
Retail price: $5.00

Nitpicks: I was actually a little angry when I discovered my fragrance sample was empty. I wrote Birchbox, and they had no samples left to send me - so they credited my account with 100 points. That was really nice - and it's one thing I've always said about Birchbox: they have great customer service. 

Lasting Impression: The customer service, of course! The items in the box were not that exciting - but the nice email I received from BB's customer service rep put a smile on my face.

Birchbox January 2013

After about six months of lackluster, foil-packet filled boxes, I canceled my Birchbox subscription (for the second time in almost two years) and subscribed to Ipsy to replace it. Even though Birchbox did not notify me that I didn’t cancel in time, guess what? I didn’t cancel in time so I was charged for the January 2013 box.

When BB charged me for the box, I just kind of shrugged and thought, “Watch, this box will be great.” Well, it wasn’t great, but it definitely was good. Good enough to make me resubscribe? Not right now – homey wasn’t lying when she said she had to cut down on her box subscriptions. And since Ipsy was pretty darn good, I’m sticking with that for a while!

Here’s what Birchbox sent me this month:

1) amika Color pHerfection Shampoo: Once again, BB failed to send the accompanying conditioner – they used to do that – what happened? Why are they being so stingy? I know I would really like to try this with its conditioner companion – but since BB was stingy, that won’t be happening. Still, this looks promising: it’s alcohol free!
Retail price: $22 for 14.37 oz.

2) Harvey Prince Skinny Chic: I’ll admit it: I was hoping I would get this. And I did! For the second time, Birchbox finally granted my wish and sent me a fragrance sample. The blend of Meyer lemon, white grapefruit and pink plumeria is supposed to help with weight loss. I don’t know if it’ll help me lose weight, but what I do know is this: I love it! Thank you, Birchbox! You finally gave me the happies!
Retail price: $21 for a roll-on, $55 for 50ml

3) My™ Multi-Purpose Mattifying Moisturizer: I’ve been using this every morning since it arrived, and I like it. Does it do what it says it does? I’m not convinced. I think my face is still kind of shiny at the end of the day. But… it goes on easy, and it doesn’t have a funky smell, so all in all I consider this a win. But, I certainly wouldn’t pay $68 dollars to get myself a full-size – that’s crazy talk!
Retail price: $68 for 2 fl. Oz.

4) theBalm cosmetics Hot Mama: I saw rave reviews for this, and so of course I wanted it. And guess what? I got it! The description states it’s a “universally flattering pigment.” I might have to disagree – it’s a little too peachy for me. But, I wanted it and I got it, so who am I to complain?
Retail price: $20

Then there was my Beauty Extra – let me tell you, I’d much rather receive a beauty extra than a Lifestyle extra. Most of my Lifestyle extras have sucked the big red one. (But I did love my Kind bar way back when – and of course the one and only time I received chocolate I liked that as well!) My beauty extra was a small foil packet (insert scream here) of Deborah Lippmann’s the Stripper to go. I’m not sure how to judge how this works, since it seems like it’s only one glove for two hands. I’m not convinced it’ll work – but hey, it’s an “extra.”
Retail price: $12 for a set of six.

Nitpicks: The fact that the amika Color pHerfection Shampoo did not come with the accompanying conditioner. I don’t know how we are expected to really judge the product if we’re using it with a conditioner that might not chemically enhance the shampoo.

Lasting Impression: I received two products I did want to try – so that does give me the happies! 

Will I resubscribe to Birchbox? Ummm... never say never. But after almost two years of boxes, I can count the amount of boxes I liked on one hand... or rather, four fingers. 

I know they give out good stuff... I read the reviews! But somehow I never get the "good" boxes, and almost always get the foil-packet filled ones. So... I think I'll hold off for a while. 

Birchbox December 2012

Remember when I said December's boxes fell into the categories of The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly? Birchbox managed to get themselves into The Ugly category - surprise, surprise.

Now, I sometimes wonder if BB reads my reviews and retaliate by sending me crap. Or maybe they think they're Santa, and instead of rewarding me with a stocking full of goodies, they give me lumps of leftovers instead. I dunno - all I know is they had at least 29 different December box combinations and I got one of the suckiest ones.

Here's what was in my underwhelming box:

1) Frownies: All I can say is that I'll definitely need to use this product after reviewing this box. I have a frown the size of Texas right now. Supposedly one can use these 2-4 times - and that's quite a window, considering the size of the product. That's kind of like saying you can use a diaper 1-3 times... okay, maybe not.
Retail price: $29.95

2) Juicy Couture fragrance sample. I didn't hate it. I didn't love it, but I was so happy to FINALLY get a fragrance sample from Birchbox that wasn't a man's that I did a little dance.
Retail price: $19 for .24 oz in a roller ball bottle

3) Number 4 Clarifying Shampoo: Okay, this product was what really made me say "Eff you, Birchbox!" Never in my year and a half of subscribing to sample boxes have I not received a shampoo and a conditioner together. Every company I know of wants the consumer to try both of them together, so they can see how they work in unison. How in the heck am I going to know if this product really does what it says when I can't use it with the conditioner?
Retail price: $32

4) Per-fekt Beauty Lash Protection Gel: It's a primer. It's a conditioner. It's a mascara. What it isn't is a generous sample. Strange, since most mascara samples from Birchbox have been full size or at least generous sized.
Retail price: $28.50

Also in the box was a Lifestyle extra of - take a guess - TEA SAMPLES. Yes, some fucking tea samples. Again. I'm so sick of tea samples that I think I'm going to scream. Can you hear me? I'm doing it now.

Nitpicks: Oh ye gads... everything except for the fragrance. Sure, I didn't love it, but finally Birchbox gave me a fragrance! It's like they said "Okay, give the whiner the fragrance, and then give her some tea samples, too. Happy Holidays, Sucker!

Lasting impression: Well... basically my lasting impression was one that they don't care about me as a subscriber. I've done a fairly good job of letting them know what I'd like to see in my boxes, and yet they pretty much ignore what I want.

I honestly don't understand why they have their subscribers fill out a beauty profile if they do not pay attention to what their subscribers want and don't want. There are a ton of people out there who - unbelievably - do not want fragrance samples. Then give 'em to me! I told you I want them!

I will say this: They have the best rewards program ever. I was able to use my bonus points to get almost half off of my beloved Kerastase hair masque - and then I said "Good-bye."

I'll probably be back - I get suckered in by all the people who post these great reviews, showing off their wonderful BB products. Then I think, "Hey, I want those, too!" and sign up - only to receive a box of fucking tea samples and Frownies. Yay me.

Birchbox October 2012

Ahh... Birchbox! You vex me so! You send out so many great samples to so many of your subscribers, and yet consistently send me crap. Why oh why? Whatever did I do to hurt you?

So yes, once again Birchbox was one big huge disappointment for me. They continue to send me little foil tear-away packets, and yet send wonderful deluxe samples to the rest of the masses. I think I must have pissed them off at some point in time - or they simply do not like me. Not sure what the case is... but here is my October 2012 box. Tell me... do you think it sucked, too, or am I imagining things?

In the box:

1) DDF® Wrinkle Resist Plus Pore Minimizer Moisturizing Serum (.23 oz) - Sometimes I get tired of receiving wrinkle creams - but this one is really nice. Does it work? I have no idea - the sample isn't big enough to really tell. However, I like the way this one goes on: it's smooth and absorbs quickly into the skin. For the price, homey won't be buying a full size product - unless she finds a sugar daddy to marry.
Retail price: $85 for 1.7 fl. oz.

2) OROFLUIDO Elixir (0.17 oz.) - People all over seem to rave about this product - and don't get me wrong, it's a good product. However - and this isn't Birchbox's fault - I have received more hair oils and elixirs in the last few months than I'll ever be able to use. So, in all honesty that why this product did not tickle or delight me when I saw it. And I shouldn't blame that on Birchbox. But I did.
Retail price: $29.99 for 3.4 fl. oz.

3) Chantecaille Faux Cils Mascara (0.14 oz) - When I first took the wand out of container, I backed up. It's huge - Ron Jeremy huge. You wouldn't want a penis near your eye, would you? Okay. Maybe you would, you kinkster you. I was actually afraid to use the wand, but I did... very carefully. And wow, did my eyes pop afterward! I wear glasses, so it's important to me to use eyeliner and mascara so my eyes don't get lost. This is a wonderful product. Scary wonderful. And uber expensive, too.
Retail price: $42 for .32 fl. oz.

4) Embryolisse Anti-Aging Firming Cream (two small foil packets) - This product is totally NOT worth the price. I used the first packet up already - it smells funky. I am always a tad hesitant to use products like this when they smell odd. I know they contain oils that could be rancid, and the smell is a bit like an oil gone rancid. But, it looked good so I used it. (The color and texture didn't give the product away as old.) Considering how expensive it is, though, I surely wouldn't purchase this product based on two very small samples which are good for about two uses each.
Retail price: $80 for 50 ml

5) Luna Bar in Lemon Zest: FALSE ADVERTISING ALERT - Everything on my Birchbox account shows I should have received the peanut butter bar - which I am sure I would have loved. But I received the Lemon Zest bar. Ugh. You know? Maybe that's why I'm pissed off at Birchbox this month. I really wanted that peanut butter Luna bar!
Retail price: $18.75 for 15 bars

Nitpicks: The amount of tear-away foil packs I receive is really starting to get this sistah down - one box I received was NOTHING BUT foil packs. Plus, almost everything in this box is a luxury item, meaning "very expensive to purchase." Most people who subscribe to Birchbox don't have tons of disposable income, so I would hope that the boxes would be a mix of upscale products and actual affordable products. This box was not - although a little of the OROFLUIDO Elixir goes a long way, so I can see how that product is good value for the money.

Lasting impression: Okay, I admit it - I am very happy with the Chantecaille Faux Cils Mascara. Almost too happy, because there is no way I can justify buying this product when my other favorite, Maybelline Great Lash, is so inexpensive.

Different for October: Birchbox partnered with goop, and that's the box that I received. I didn't opt in - and that was not at all Birchbox's fault. When I canceled my subscription with them way back when, I opted out of emails. That meant that I didn't receive the email asking subscribers to choose their October box (goop or Transformations).

One hears goop and thinks immediately about Gwenyth Paltrow. And when one thinks of her, flawless make-up comes to mind. So I think many people who opted for the goop box were expecting make-up/cosmetics - and with the exception of a very small lip gloss sample and the mascara - no one received cosmetics. Let's face it - that's what most of us want. So, yes, huge disappointment because of the expectation - again, that's not BB's fault - but of course I blame them anyway! Maybe I should just blame Gwenyth Paltrow instead.

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September 2012 Birchbox

Ah... have I mentioned that I have a hate/hate relationship with Birchbox? Okay... maybe hate is a strong word, but once again they managed to disappoint.

When I signed up, I filled out a beauty profile. You would never know it, though, based on what is sent to me. It's as if my beauty profile exists only in my mind, and not in their system. Or maybe it is there, but they just choose to ignore it. Or can't find it. Or spilled coffee on it.

Still, Birchbox has the best rewards program out there, and their customer service is pretty dang good. So for now, I stay... at least until Kara's Way gets back up and running.

Without further ado, here is the September box I received:

The products:

1) Two samples from Benefit Cosmetics: Foamingly Clean Facial Wash and Refined Finish Facial Polish. The samples are very small, and probably only good for one use. That is disappointing. But I do admit that I love Benefit, and am happy to try two "new to me" products of theirs.
Retail price: FCFW=$21 for 4.5 oz./RFFP - $22 for 4.5 oz.

2) Vinexpert Firming Serum from Caudalie (.2 fl. oz.). I'll get about a week's worth of use out of this sample; maybe more, depending on the viscosity & absorption. This serum is supposed to combat aging with the use of grape-derived antioxidants. I think the card should say "combat the signs of aging" because let's face it, it can't prevent you from getting old - although for the price, it probably should!
Retail price: $88 for 30 ml

3) Color Club Nail Polish in Status Uptade {sic} (dark grey). This would probably be one of the best products in the box - that is, if it was in a color I'd actually use. This is a prime example that shows BB doesn't pay attention to profiles. Then again, looking at the available colors, there wasn't a color that would have fit into my profile. (By the way, the label on the product says Status Uptade, but according to Birchbox, the color is Status Update - there's something wrong when a company doesn't bother to spellcheck their labeling!)
Retail price: $8 per bottle

4) Dr. Jart+ Water Fuse Beauty Balm SPF 25+ (.1 fl. oz.) - My favorite BB so far is Maybelline's Dream Fresh. I will admit I'm looking forward to trying this one, though. I've heard good things about Dr. Jart+ products - this will be my first one to try. This appears to only have one color, though, and since I'm fair, I'm sure it'll be fine for me - but what about for women who have darker skin tones?
Retail price: $32 for 1.7 fl. oz.

5) twistband Hair Tie - I received a hideous orange one, and as I also received one in my very first Birchbox, this is a repeat product for me. I do like my first twistband (thankfully in black), but I've found that though it claims not to leave a crease in the hair, it does - at least, on me.
Retail price: $18 for a 12-pack.

Two Lifestyle Extras and a Giftcard:

1) One tili bag. I know people have been receiving these for a while, and I admit I was hoping I'd get one sooner or later. It's cute, but not sure how reusable it really is - it seems just like a decorative Ziplock bag. I will say it's darling and I want to do something better with it than stick my lunch in it!
Retail price: $8.49 for 12 bags

2) Birchbox Digital Download from Tristan Prettyman. Uh... pass. I know all the hip kids like these digital downloads, so I'm sure most subscribers are happy. As for me, I couldn't care less.

3) A $25 Giftcard - good only with a purchase of $75 or more at Madewell. This is something I won't use, but you might! Code: FBB8AD8A3

Nitpicks: Nothing in this box wowed me, but when I look at each product individually, I have to admit I'm eager to try most of them. Just not the nail polish - look for it in a giveaway soon!

Lasting Impression: The box was packaged beautifully - probably one of the prettiest packages I've received from them in ages.

Interested in joining Birchbox? It's just $10 a month - and that includes shipping! Plus, this subscription box has the best rewards program around - and right now, they don't have a waiting list!

a Rafflecopter giveaway