Retrospective: Birchbox November 2012

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

November 2012: Month 9

Chuau Chocolatier Honeycomb Chocopod
Photo from Birchbox

My extra was a Chuao Chocolatier ChocoPod, dark chocolate with honeycomb. That lasted all of two seconds after I opened my box, and was absolutely delicious! There were little crunch bits of caramelized honeycomb in it. Yum!

7 Pods retail for $7.95, value of a single pod $1.14

Curly Hair Solutions Curl Keeper
Photo from Birchbox

I received a sample of Curly Hair Solution's Curl Keeper for the first time in November. This actually is not bad and works pretty well.  It does tend to make my hair a little crunchy, but nothing that I can't handle.  It's not that bad of a deal, too.

Sample was 30 mL ($3 value), full size is 100 mL for $10. 

Jouer Signature Fragrance Rollerball
Photo from Birchbox

I also received a little roller ball vial of Jouer Fragrance Cornucopia oil. The note that I picked up right away was the honeysuckle, it brought me back to my childhood walking to and from the ocean on a road lined with honeysuckle bushes! This is a very wearable scent for me, I keep it in my purse for those perfume emergencies.

The sample size is 1.18 mL, it is $42 for the 7.09 mL full size, which includes a tiny 2mL lip gloss. Assuming the lip gloss is a bonus gift, that would make this sample value $6.99. 

ModelCo FIBRE LASHXTEND Mascara
Photo from Birchbox

I love that there is a mirror on the tube! This is one of the nicer fiber mascaras I have used. It definitely makes my lashes longer, and slightly fuller-looking. 

This is full-sized, retail is $24.

Stila All Over Shimmer Liquid Luminizer in Bronze Shimmer
Photo from Birchbox

This adds a nice subtle shimmer wherever you apply it. Honestly, I tested it out after I got it and haven't used it since.  Maybe I'll put it in my makeup bag to remind me.

The sample size is 1.5 mL, full size is $20 for 14.1mL, making this a $2.13 aliquot.


Total Value $37.25

Overall, I was really happy with this box.  That chocolate was DELICIOUS and I used the mascara until it was dried up and no longer useable.

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.

Birchbox Review August 2013

Birchbox August 2013
Theme: Finishing school in collaboration with Ann Taylor

First look is pretty good! I know a lot of boxes got a ModelCo lipstick in them, but I got one last month. I wish I had gotten a better color of the lipstick, like they were sending out this month, but I don't think BB was about to double up on my samples for the second month in a row.

It's a 10 Miracle Leave-in Product

This is what I'm the most excited about in my box this month! I've seen this in stores and have been tempted, but the price tag always deters me.  This sample is a full 2 fl. oz. and will give me a great idea as to if I like the product or not.  I used some just now and it smells pretty good, but it will have to pass the test on straightened hair for me to decide if I officially like it or not.

Full size $17.99 for 4 fl. oz. online at Target.com.  Sample size is 2 fl. oz. (half the full size!) and worth about $8.99

Whish Coconut Milk Exfoliating Body Wash

I haven't tried this in the shower yet, but it smells vaguely like coconuts and has a runny texture with some sugar crystals in it to exfoliate.  We shall see.  I already have an exfoliating body wash in my shower, but this is a good travel size.

Full size $22 for 180 mL, making the 22 mL sample worth $2.69

Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Beso

This is RED.  So red.  I had about 5 seconds after I applied it to fix any mistakes and evenly distribute it until it dried.  It smells like vanilla.  So far, I'm impressed.  It hasn't come off on my wine glass and it passed the kiss test.  It is quite red though! I don't normally wear bold lip colors, but I know that this one will stay put should I ever need to bring the drama.  I have some brighter red lipsticks, but this is a little darker than anything I have currently.

Full size $22 for 0.1 fl. oz.  Sample size 0.03 fl. oz., worth $6.60.

This is me applying it without a mirror... not bad.

Whish Deodorant Swipe with Hair Inhibitor

Uhh...ok... thanks, Birchbox.  A deodorant wipe is pretty handy, I guess.  I do have to keep deodorant at work because I tend to leave the house without putting any on.  Hair inhibitor? What are they using as a hair inhibitor? What? I'm not sure that one swipe will make a difference....

Full size $16 for 30 wipes.  Value of 1 wipe is $0.53

(MALIN + GOETZ) Vitamin E Face Moisturizer

I've gotten this before in something or another.  Maybe as a Sephora sample? It's ok.  I like that they sent two packets, but I hate that they sent foil packets at all!

Full size $45 for 4 fl. oz.  Two samples total 0.08 fl. oz. for a grand total of $0.90.


Total Value $19.71.

Not bad.  I'm really glad I got the leave in and the lipstick.  Those are good enough to make me ignore the foil packets.  I'll also get $5 in BB points for reviewing the 5 products, and they included a coupon for 20% off one item or 30% off two or more items from Ann Taylor.  Nice.  I'll get some back-to-school stuff so I look good under my lab coat while I'm teaching.  Yeah.  That sounded as dumb here as it did in my head. I'll still get something though ;)



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 May 2012

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

May 2012- Month 3May is my birthday month!  I was hoping for something extra-special that month.

BVLGARI Omnia Crystalline Eau de Toilette
Photo from Birchbox

This was a pleasant surprise for me. It is very woody, with a little fruit at the top, which gives it a very "green" scent.  It isn't something I would buy a full size of, or something that I would want to wear every day, but it is nice every once in a while.  I think it would be perfect to wear to an outdoor wedding.  Not a bad perfume sample, if they had to send me one.

Full size $64.00/40 mL.  Sample 1.5 mL, $2.40.

Dr. Jart Water Fuse Beauty Balm SPF 25
Photo from Birchbox

This BB cream was one of my Birchbox Top 5  products, and I still use it (or one of the other BB creams from Dr. Jart) every day.  It's awesome.

Full size (I'm on my second one!) $32.00/50 mL.  Sample size 3 mL (I think), $1.92.

Ojon Volume Advance Volumizing Conditioner
Photo from Birchbox

Oh yeah, I remember this now! It was pretty adequate for a conditioner.  Did it add volume? I don't really think so.  I don't really remember, though, to be fair.  All in all, forgettable.

Full size $23.00/250 mL.  Sample size 30 mL, value $2.76

Stila Sparkle Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner in Flash
Photo from Birchbox

Happy birthday to me!  I was super excited to receive this product.  It's a sparkly olive liquid liner, and it is easy to apply with their felt applicator.  It stays put all night... glitter, too.  I like it, I just don't wear it a lot.  Sparkly eye liner is a little impractical when your work uniform is a lab coat and safety glasses!

Full size $22 for 1.7 mL.  This was a full-sized product that they sent! Woo! (My first one through Birchbox)

Twistband Hair Tie (Emerald-colored)
Photo from Birchbox

This was my first Twistband! I like them a lot, but I make my own now.  Fold-over elastic is very cheap on etsy and you can make a ton for the fraction of the cost.  I made about 100 for Christmas gifts for my friends.

12 pack is $18 on Birchbox.  Value of a single hair tie is $1.50.  

Birchbox Notecard (1, purple)
Photo from Birchbox

The "extra" this month was a random notecard with xoxo on the front of it.  I attached it to my mothers' day gift that year.  Another weird thing to include.  It was not terrible quality, but not the best, either.

Full set of 12, $10.  Value of single card, $0.83.

Total value: $31.41.  Add that to the $6 from the 60 points for reviews and this was a great box!

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.