Birchbox November 2013 Review

Birchbox November 2013 Women's Box

I didn't even get a shipping notice for this month and my box arrived! Normally it doesn't come until well after they post online, so it's not a surprise.  This was!  Go me! Spoiler-free for the first time in months.

Birchbox November 2013: "More Good"

First item:

Eyeko Black Magic Mascara, 4 mL (0.13 fl.oz.)

Eyeko Black Magic Mascara

This is supposed to add curl and volume and has shea butter and keratin.  The brush seems very soft and full and is curved, so I think it will help keep lashes separated and more lush than some other mascaras I've used in the past.  The full size is 0.29 fl.oz. and sells for $24, making this sample worth $10.76.  I like the other Eyeko products I've tried, so I think I'll like this- especially if the brush works as well as I hope!

Next, I was sent Ayres Body Butter in Midnight Tango.

Ayres Body Butter in Midnight Tango

This smells like orange blossom and vanilla, a combination that reminds me of Valencia.  If I close my eyes, I am back there, walking down streets lined with blossoming orange trees.  Sigh.  The texture is rich and creamy, but not whipped like many body butters.  It's like the texture of a thin cookie icing, instead of the texture of the batter.  I wouldn't call it a body butter, but it is very nice.  

I appreciate the fact that they use high quality ingredients such as shea butter, coconut oil, and apricot kerneal oil.  They could have cheaped out and used mineral oil and water, but they didn't.

I was sent a 1 oz sample and the full size (6.75 oz) sells for $28, so mine is worth $4.15.

I had a dreaded fragrance sample this month, but I guess I can't complain, since this is only the third one I've gotten in 2013 (January, July, and November).  This one is Folle de Joie and smells citrusy and woodsy, and light on the floral.  I appreciate the lack of heavy florals, this is a scent I could see myself wearing this winter.  

Folle de Joie Perfume

At $98 for 3.4 fl.oz. it is about the same price as most other perfumes.  The 0.06 fl.oz. sample is worth $1.74.

I have two products from Wei: Pomegranate buffing beads and Golden Root purifying mud mask.

Wei Buffing Beads package

The pomegranate buffing beads are dry exfoliants that you mix with your favorite face wash to turn it into a scrub.  The ingredients include pomegranate peel and probably some kind of polymer microbead to scrub and polish.  Each packet is 0.5g and BB sent two.

I like this idea, even if it seems kind of wasteful.  I can imagine that if you really really like a particular face wash and have skin problems whenever you switch, this would be a way to incorporate an exfoliant into your routine without risking a reaction to a new product.  

20 packets sell for $20, so this is nice and easy math!  My sample is worth $2.

The second Wei product is a little pot of mud mask.  The full-size, $42, is 8 pots and a brush so that you can apply a nice even layer of product on your face.  Golden root, rhodiola rosea, is a type of succulent and has been used in many cultures as a natural anti-depressant.  I doubt rubbing it on your skin will help at all, but it's a nice thought.  

Wei Golden Root Face Mask

My single pod is worth about $4, assuming the brush would sell for about $10.  That seems pretty high to me!  I remember seeing that some people get more than one application out of a single pod, which would bring it into a more reasonable price-per-use territory.

The last item this month was a chocolate-covered pretzel that was sprinkled with toasted coconut from Fatty Sundays.  The other available flavors include smooth mint and toffee crunch.  I wish there was more of this!  I got one bite and my boyfriend got one bite and it was amazing.  So good!  I'm going to have to start dipping my chocolate-coated pretzels in toasted coconut for the holidays, because this combination of salty and sweet and nutty was incredible.

Heaven in pretzel form.  Buy these.  Seriously.

I want to order EVERYTHING from their website.  Like, now.  Mmmm.  They sell five full-sized dipped pretzel rods for $6.95.  There wasn't a weight on this package, but I'll estimate it was 1/8 the size of a full pretzel, making it worth about $0.17.  Doesn't matter; was delicious.

All together, this was a weird box.  I like everything, but I don't really love anything (besides the pretzel that is long gone and the wrapper that I've licked clean and may or may not be sniffing trying to get some kind of pretzel high).  I'm not big on face masks and I have quite a few to use up before I get to this one.  The lotion and perfume smell nice, but I'm not tempted to get a full size.  Same with the buffing beads- interesting concept, but not something I'll purchase.  I get a lot of face scrubs from my sub boxes!  The mascara sample is nice, but I have soooo many to use up.  This will be my next one, though!  The brush looks amazing.

November Birchbox Goodies

All together, this month's Birchbox had a value of $22.82.  Not the highest value, but definitely worth more than I paid.

Birchbox costs $10 a month, including shipping, and will send you 4-6 deluxe and full-sized items.  BB also gives you 10 points for each item that you review.  So, with 6 items, I will get 60 review points.  Every 100 points gets you $10 to spend in the Birchbox shop.  It's a really nice system, and one of the best reward systems out there for a sub box!  If you are interested in signing up, please use my link here.  I will get BB points if you use my link.  If you use code HOLIDAY100 and buy a 3, 6, or 12-month gift subscription, you will get an extra 100 points ($10) to spend!

No special consideration or compensation was received for this post and all thoughts and opinions are my own. All items mentioned within were paid for by me.  This post contains a referral link; details are above.

Retrospective: Birchbox January 2013

See my first Retrospective for the answers to the quiz that I used.

January 2013: Month 11

100% Pure Nourishing Body Cream in Green Apple and Cabernet Grape
Photo from Birchbox

I did not like either one of the scents (they smelled just like the apple and grape Jolly Rancher candies, and I don't like them) but I really like the texture of the body cream.  I just wish the samples would have been bigger! I could do just my legs with each one, I wish they had included enough to do my arms as well.


Full size $15 for 8 oz.  Two 0.066oz samples are approximately $0.25 in value.

Aerie Shimmer
Photo from Ipsy

This came wrapped up like a candy, which was cute, but I don't really like the scent.  It is supposed to be delicate and warm, but I just feel like it makes me sneeze.

Full size $39.95 for 100 mL, value of 1.5 mL sample approximately $0.60

Embryolisse Lait-Creme Concentre
Photo from Birchbox

I like this face cream.  I'm glad that BB sent it.  I will probably forget all about it once it is gone, however, because it is nothing spectacular.  Perfectly adequate, though.


Full size $28 for 75 mL.  Sample size of 5 mL worth $1.87

Eyeko Skinny Liquid Eyeliner in Black
Photo from Birchbox

I like this better than the "Fat Stick" from the same company that I received in my June 2012 box.  This stays in place all day, like it is supposed to.  It has a really long felt tip, which is a little to bendy for my personal tastes.  It is easy to make too thick of a line in places because the applicator has so much give.  It's not bad though.

This was full-sized and retails for $16 (0.07 oz)

Ojon Rare Blend Oil Total Hair Therapy
Photo from Birchbox

This is a perfectly fine hair oil, and smells great, but it is not as good as my beloved Orofluido.  Plus, I can never get it to blend together long enough to pour out an even amount of all three colors.  That bugs me.


Full size $35 for 1.5 fl.oz.  Sample size 0.07 fl.oz. for a value of $1.63.


Total Value $20.35

I liked everything in the box, with the exception of the perfume.  The other 4 samples were all great products to try out, and getting a full-sized item is always a plus!


Birchbox costs $10/month, including shipping and sends you a box of 4-6 samples and sometimes full-sized products.  You can review the products you receive for 10 Birchbox points each.  For every $1 you spend in the BB shop, you also receive 1 BB point.  For every 100 BB points you accumulate, you get $10 to spend in their shop.  If you would like to sign up, my link is here and I will earn 50 BB points at the end of your first month.

This post contains products I purchased with my own money.  No compensation was received for this post and all opinions are my own.  This post contains a referral link, see above for details.

Retrospective: Birchbox June 2012

See my first Retrospective for the answers to the quiz that I used.

June 2012: Month 4

Comodynes Self-Tanning Intensive Towelette (2)
Photo from Birchbox

To be honest, I still haven't tried these.  I am supa-dupa pale and NEVER tan.  I use sunscreen on my face every day and in the summer I am religious about reapplying sunscreen.  I don't stop at tan, I go through to burn and then fade back to white.  Nothing but white and red for me.  So, I am afraid to try these!  I haven't had much luck with self tanners in the past and always end up streaky or orange or can't reach places like my back.  Maybe some day!

$14.99 for a pack of 8.  I was sent 2 packets, for a value of $3.75

Eyeko Fat Eye Stick in Petrol Blue
Photo from Birchbox

Another full-sized product! This is a nice, vibrant navy color.  I would use it as an eyeliner, but it is not as smudge-proof as my beloved Urban Decay 24/7 liners.  I have a 24/7 in a similar color, but it has some sparkle to it.  If I want something without sparkle and without staying power, this is what I go to.  So.. never.

Full size, $15 for 0.14oz.  I received the full size.

John Varvatos Star USA
Photo from Birchbox

This was an "extra" that was thrown in to promote Birchbox Man's new launch.  They included a sample size of this cologne to give to a "Birchbox man in your life".  I gave it to my boyfriend and it has sat unopened on his dresser ever since.  He doesn't wear cologne and probably will just end up throwing this away when he finds it under the stack of receipts it's currently hiding under.

$55/100 mL full size, sample value (assuming 1.5 mL) is $0.82

Likewise Facial Moisturizer + Sun Protectant SPF 50 for Normal to Oily Skin
Photo from Birchbox

This was more like a sunscreen than a moisturizer, and I used it as such on our trip to Europe.  It was fine and I didn't burn, so it did its job.  That's all I have to say about that.

$44 for 50 mL.  Sample size 5 mL, value $4.40

theBalm Cosmetics Stainiac in Beauty Queen
Photo from Birchbox

This is similar to Benetint, but with more of a gel-like formula.  It can be tricky to apply quickly enough that it doesn't stain in a blob where you put it on your cheek, so I use it as a lip stain.  It's a nice bright magenta.

Full size $17 for 0.3 oz.  Sample size was 0.04 oz for a value of $2.27

tili Bags Small Collection (Quart Size)
Photo from Birchbox

This was just a thicker, printed ziplock bag.  The zippy part broke on mine, so it was no use after that.  It would be cute to use these for flying, to keep all of your liquids, but it seems a little expensive for such poor quality.

Pack of 12 is $8.49.  1 bag has a value of $0.71.

Total Value $26.95


Another full-sized product and another bag way over the $10 I paid for it.  Not bad.  I got some use out of a few things, and did not out of the others, but there was nothing that I hated.



Birchbox costs $10/month, including shipping and sends you a box of 4-6 samples and sometimes full-sized products.  You can review the products you receive for 10 Birchbox points each.  For every $1 you spend in the BB shop, you also receive 1 BB point.  For every 100 BB points you accumulate, you get $10 to spend in their shop.  If you would like to sign up, my link is here and I will earn 50 BB points at the end of your first month.

This post contains products I purchased with my own money.  No compensation was received for this post and all opinions are my own.  This post contains a referral link, see above for details.