Birchbox April 2013

[latinafeminista]

Originally Posted by DorotaD /img/forum/go_quote.gif

I also could not resist and got myself a gift sub , but I haven't received mine yet. So I anyone did the same and get theirs could you please share the contents of your box with us? TIA!

I gifted myself a subscription and got a welcome box, is that what you all mean? 

 

[kawaiisofoxy]

Originally Posted by Pretty Squared /img/forum/go_quote.gif

Hello ladies, 

long time lurker here and we finally decided to join (you'll get my frustration from below).  My sister and I have had a beauty blog for almost a year, and we thought what better way to experience new beauty samples than by subscribing to boxes.

She picked ipsy and I picked BB - I was gifted the one year BB subscription by my fiance. Except one box in February, I've HATED every single box - I swear I am unlucky by getting the least weight box with the food and lotion samples (no makeup, no skincare, no polishes).  I've changed my profile (worthless), I've contacted birchbox, and nothing - I've got lotion samples, a hair serum, and some other random things for April (my intro box was tilli bags, a hair tie, a perfume...ugh).

Any recommendation on what to do at this point - the March box was the worst for me but the April box was even more of a let down.  I'm also not sure where the swapping forum is - I've got 5 months of untouched samples.  Can I cancel a year subscription or ask Birchbox to change something? Not sure if this is in the correct forum but for April I got the hair serum, weleda lotions, Youngblood primer size of a penny, and Strivectin eye cream that stings my eyes. 

Whatever reason you're joining, we're happy to have you here here discussing!  I was not thrilled with my first box either, but I found a few tweaks on the profiles that worked (lower age, higher income, adventurous beauty style) and now I tend to get at least one makeup item in each box.  Birchbox is definitely more beauty-routine centered than makeup centered.  

My advice would be to hit up the trade threads... a lot of your untouched samples may be very valuable to someone else, and they may have some great makeup and polish for you to try!  Check out the Buy/Sell/Trade Thread rules in the following link, and make sure you familiarize yourself with the rules & guidelines before starting a trade: https://www.makeuptalk.com/f/22537/buy-sell-trade

Good luck!  I hope your May Birchbox is a great fit for you!

 

[beautymadn3ss]

Originally Posted by usofjessamerica /img/forum/go_quote.gif

My sister cancelled her BB to get Ipsy instead. She did go into it expecting A LOT and had serious box envy based on my previous boxes. She likes Ipsy better because of all the make up stuff she gets - but she is very much a quantity over quality kind of girl. I would much rather take a quarter sized Youngblood sample over NYX pigment. I would have loved the box you got! I think being open about what I get, thinking about swaps, and remembering the awesome point system is what keeps me happy with birchbox -- even when I get major box envy too.

Box envy is the root of all " I hate my sub box" problems XD

 

[Pretty Squared]

That's right I've had other stuff in the April one but clearly forgettable if I can't even remember what they were - the Feb box with the ghirandeli, balm, embryolise, nail polish remover was just balanced and it felt as if I had a chance to try different items.  I'll chalk it up to my tastes then because I always want something in other people's boxes and not just makeup (and never truly like something in my box, sigh).  I'm looking through the swap, trade lists now because with a few exceptions, I have everything not used - thanks for the responses, maybe my expectations were different but hoping that with a new profile change, again, the boxes will have something I can use. 

 

[gemstone]

That's right I've had other stuff in the April one but clearly forgettable if I can't even remember what they were - the Feb box with the ghirandeli, balm, embryolise, nail polish remover was just balanced and it felt as if I had a chance to try different items.  I'll chalk it up to my tastes then because I always want something in other people's boxes and not just makeup (and never truly like something in my box, sigh).  I'm looking through the swap, trade lists now because with a few exceptions, I have everything not used - thanks for the responses, maybe my expectations were different but hoping that with a new profile change, again, the boxes will have something I can use. 

How do you know you ate everything if tournament tried most of it? Birchbox is a discovery service.

 

[kawaiimeows]

Originally Posted by Pretty Squared /img/forum/go_quote.gif

That's right I've had other stuff in the April one but clearly forgettable if I can't even remember what they were - the Feb box with the ghirandeli, balm, embryolise, nail polish remover was just balanced and it felt as if I had a chance to try different items.  I'll chalk it up to my tastes then because I always want something in other people's boxes and not just makeup (and never truly like something in my box, sigh).  I'm looking through the swap, trade lists now because with a few exceptions, I have everything not used - thanks for the responses, maybe my expectations were different but hoping that with a new profile change, again, the boxes will have something I can use. 

It's always easy to want something in other people's boxes. I've been there A LOT.... especially when i was in my 7-8th months of being subscribed and my boxes hit a slump in quality. But honestly, those boxes I was least excited about item wise I ended up liking if I actually TRIED all of my items. That's why for me I choose to look at it as just trying 5 new items each month, and then I can take my points and get some nice stuff I really want. If you go in to each month thinking "I didn't want any of this,... I wanted THAT big ticket item" you're not going to enjoy it at all, this is also me speaking from my experience because I've done this exact thing to myself.

In summary, if you're not even trying any of your items (which you say you aren't) then how do you even know if you like it.

 

[Moonittude]

Originally Posted by usofjessamerica /img/forum/go_quote.gif

My sister cancelled her BB to get Ipsy instead. She did go into it expecting A LOT and had serious box envy based on my previous boxes. She likes Ipsy better because of all the make up stuff she gets - but she is very much a quantity over quality kind of girl. I would much rather take a quarter sized Youngblood sample over NYX pigment. I would have loved the box you got! I think being open about what I get, thinking about swaps, and remembering the awesome point system is what keeps me happy with birchbox -- even when I get major box envy too.

Amen to quality over quantity. The unhappy poster above got the same box as me this month, except mine also had the Caudalie Divine Oil. I am mind boggled with people who can say their box this month wasn't worth ten dollars, when the rebate they can mail in, will give them ten dollars. I don't mean the poster above who has a whole year subscription and has been unhappy for months, I mean the people on the BB facebook page who only just started their subscription this month. It's like they can't do math.

I am really happy with the Strivectin eye cream so far. I started researching the brand, and saw some really remarkable before and after photos in the Sephora reviews. I already use Algenist serum and moisturizer, so if Strivectin really wows me, I might get the eye cream. I feel a little weird mis-matching brands like that.

 

[Scooby Dynamite]

Originally Posted by gemstone /img/forum/go_quote.gif

How do you know you ate everything if tournament tried most of it? Birchbox is a discovery service.

HEHE...I love this auto - correct oopsie lol 

 

[gemstone]

HEHE...I love this auto - correct oopsie lol 

LOL my kindle does such weird ones if it is kind of close I don't bother to correct it

 

[Pretty Squared]

yeah, I have the box envy haha - for example I wanted the spf eye cream but got the strivectin which hurts my eyes - so it's not the item per se, but the fact that it's a complete miss.  I'll keep thinking positive and try some of the box items.  My mistake is finding only one or two item I kinda like and considering if they're worth 10$ without taking in consideration the other items in the box.  I do watch the spoilers and and the BB youtube videos and love many of the items...I just never get them. 

 

[bonita22]

I get box envy almost every month, even when I love my box lol. This month I really wanted the ruby wing nail polish and I didn't get it. I signed myself up for a second box hoping I would get the nail polish in it. I could have just bought the nail polish but I really needed an excuse to get a second box.

 

[BisousDarling]

Got my box and while it's not my favorite box that I've ever gotten, I'll definitely use everything that I got/I already ate the edible part.... I couldn't WAIT! Also, I'm a product photographer if any of you are wondering why that picture looks so similar to a Birchbox company photo.

 

[SarahAlly01]

So I finally received an email back from Birchbox about the dreaded Box 13 and apparently they are sending me a new sample of the eye cream and adding 50 points to my account for the missing wipes. I'm excited for the 50 points!

 

[beautymadn3ss]

Originally Posted by BisousDarling /img/forum/go_quote.gif

Got my box and while it's not my favorite box that I've ever gotten, I'll definitely use everything that I got/I already ate the edible part.... I couldn't WAIT! Also, I'm a product photographer if any of you are wondering why that picture looks so similar to a Birchbox company photo.

wow that pic looks amazing /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

 

[Beeyutifull]

Got my BB order in today wit the home box. I also ordered a pick 2 and the Yes to lip butters set of 4 howeve I only got a set of 2! Humph! I emailed their CS so let's see what they say. I really wanted all those yummy lip butters. I already like the melon yum.

 

[wildsp187]

Please please tell me you watch Portlandia.. this reminded me of the sketch from that show where they kept moving their barbeque all over the park because the sun kept moving.. LOVE FRED!!

Originally Posted by meaganola /img/forum/go_quote.gif


I have solar-changing glitter polish somewhere that I need to unearth and try with this stuff, but April is a weird month sun-wise here, so I'm holding off on this for another few weeks because it would just be wasted right now.

 

[tacehtpuekam]

Originally Posted by wildsp187 /img/forum/go_quote.gif

Please please tell me you watch Portlandia.. this reminded me of the sketch from that show where they kept moving their barbeque all over the park because the sun kept moving.. LOVE FRED!!

Ahahahaha YES!!!

 

[tasertag]

Got my box and while it's not my favorite box that I've ever gotten, I'll definitely use everything that I got/I already ate the edible part.... I couldn't WAIT! Also, I'm a product photographer if any of you are wondering why that picture looks so similar to a Birchbox company photo.

Spoiler: Warning: Spoiler!

Spoiler: Warning: Spoiler!

I love how you ate the macaroons and still put it in the photo.

 

[Kaylay]

I always LOL that often the ones complaining are the people who get the BeST boxes!

 

[princess2010]

How does the Caudalie Oil compare to Orofluido? Anyone tried both? I love Orofluido and it's cheaper than the Caudalie but I wouldn't mind trying it out. Oh and I use it on my hair.