Birchbox Review: February 2013

Birchbox is celebrating all of the fancy events this month by sending us a Red Carpet themed box loaded with the latest beauty products. Each box also included a little Ghirardelli square as a bonus.

 

“February manages to pack a slew of big-ticket events into a brief 28 days—from the Super Bowl to the major awards shows. That’s why we’ve loaded your box with an assortment of products worthy of the red carpet.”

Note: I’m hosting a giveaway for a chance to win a “Try Me Kit” of your choice from Bona Clara cosmetics. Click here and scroll all the way down to enter.

About Birchbox: 
Birchbox is a subscription service that delivers a box of luxury samples to your doorstep every month. Each box is customized to match your beauty profile to ensure you get the samples you want, you will usually get 4-5 samples and sometimes even full-sized products! The samples vary from make-up and skincare, to food and beauty accessories, and each box is carefully hand-wrapped. At $10/month Birchbox is one of the cheapest monthly beauty subscriptions out there, the value of each box usually ranges from at least $15 and can be as high as $60. They also have a nice rewards program, where for each product survey you complete you get 10 points, every 100 points earns you $10 in Birchbox credits which you can redeem in their online store for full-sized products. 
If you would like to use my referral link then click here to join Birchbox. Thank you!


Skin&Co Roma Bagnodoccia Body Gel $2.80

“Especially well-suited to sensitive skin, the Cleansing Body Gel is made with super hydrating olive oil. Naturally purifying orange extracts remove toxins and restore skin to its natural balance. The Intensive Body Gel replenishes dry skin and leaves behind a light floral scent. It contains organic rosemary extract, a natural anti-inflammatory, to soothe away irritation and calm redness. Meanwhile, nettle extracts boost circulation and deliver a refreshing experience.”

I didn’t notice anything revolutionary about this gel. It was alright, and the unisex fragrance meant that my husband could try it too. Neither of us thought much of it so it was a nice product to try and to find out that we won’t be buying it.

Color Club Nail Polish Fiesta Collection in Wild Cactus $4.00

“Color Club is known for its rock-solid polish formula, and this latest collection doesn’t disappoint. The creamy formula dries to a glass-like finish in two coats and won’t peel or bubble—two of our polish pet peeves. Color Club shades are free of formaldehyde, toluene, and DBP, so you can breathe a little easier.”

Wild Cactus is described as an opaque rich emerald green polish with a glossy cream finish. Emerald green is Pantone’s color of the year and it’s really nice to see Birchbox sending out the It-colors. The formula is as awful as always but the color is really beautiful!

Dr. Lipp Original Nipple Balm for Lips $2.90

“Packed with all-natural ingredients, Dr. Lipp’s thick, rich, long lasting formula is clinically proven to repair rough, flaky lips and smooth dry skin patches. Purified Lanolin is the closest thing to your skin’s own natural oils so it provides instant effective relief and the complex combination of lipids replenishes dryness and seals in moisture. Bonus: This versatile lip balm and gloss also heals cuticles, split ends, sunburns, and even diaper rash.”

Nothing screams “Red Carpet” louder than a nipple balm! Just kidding, but seriously a nipple balm? Supposedly it’s good for heels, lips and anything in-between and I really like such versatile products. My sample tube was almost empty which made me think of Dr. Jart’s  BB cream samples that also barely contained any product. This balm is very thick and rich and smells like nothing, it moisturized my lips well but I really wish I had more of it to try on other parts of my body, particularly the knees and elbows.

twistband Headband in Black $3.16

“Skinny and stylish, each band is made of super-soft elastic that won’t leave a crease behind or induce a dreaded headband headache. They’re especially great for those growing out their bangs.”

Oh how convenient, I am growing out my bangs right now! The band sits comfortably on my head and it’s stretchy. The neutral black color is perfect for a casual outfit or bumming around the house.

Ghirardelli Milk & Caramel Squares $0.35

“Ghirardelli uses a proprietary blend of cocoa beans, an intense nib roasting process, and an extra-thorough refining process to help ensure the smooth consistency and rich flavor of the chocolate.”

Yum! The caramel squares are my favorite kind and I buy them quite often, so although this was a delightful sample it wasn’t exactly exciting or new but it was still nice to receive.

  • The best: My favorite product in the box was the twistband because it’s something I actually need right now. 
  • The worst: My least favorite product was probably the Bagnodoccia gel due to my complete indifference to it.
The verdict: Aside from the ridiculously low value of my box this month, I was very unimpressed with my samples in general and that says a lot since I’m pretty easy to please. My two most favorite items ended up being the lifestyle extras! Here’s hoping the March box is better.

Are you a Birchbox subscriber? What do you think of this month’s box?

Product Retail Value
Skin&Co Roma Bagnodoccia Body Gel $2.80
Color Club Nail Polish Fiesta Collection in Wild Cactus $4.00
Dr. Lipp Original Nipple Balm for Lips $2.90
twistband Headband in Black $3.16
Ghirardelli Milk & Caramel Squares $0.35
Box Retail Value $13.21

Disclosure: I purchased this.

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