Birchbox February 2014 (SPOILERS)

[meaganola]

Quote: Originally Posted by kawaiimeows /img/forum/go_quote.gif
  @meaganola well said. i'm sick of the ipsy comparisons. every month i check out the ipsy tags on instagram and its the same five products being featured each month, and most of them are just low end PLMs, which might be fine for some, but that's not why i'm here.
That's another thing I love about Birchbox:  I never know what I'll be getting.  It could be hair serum, exfoliating scrub, tea, lip gloss, dish soap (okay, they haven't sent that out, but they *did* send out laundry detergent, so dish soap is not outside the realm of possibility), hair accessories, toothpaste, eyeliner, lip balm, and about fifty other things.  And that's what I like about them.  And, yes, I *liked* getting toothpaste in my Birchbox because it was fancy *French* toothpaste I would have never bothered trying if it hadn't been sent to me.  It makes me feel like I could be on a vacation somewhere fascinating when I'm just getting ready for yet another day at the office.  I hated the double-sided tape, but I liked the *idea* of it (my skin turned out to be too tender for it).  I've been getting a lot of mascara and lip gloss/stick lately, but I think that's just the way things have been working out.  I love looking at the monthly box shop to see *all* of the things that were sent out each month.  They send out a crazy variety of things, and you never know what will show up in a future month's box!

 

[Fashion Diva]

@meaganola  well said. i'm sick of the ipsy comparisons. every month i check out the ipsy tags on instagram and its the same five products being featured each month, and most of them are just low end PLMs, which might be fine for some, but that's not why i'm here.

I'm sorry if I offended you by comparing this to ipsy. I did say that was my only comparable experience, not that they were equivalent or intended to be. I was a longtime Glossybox subscriber but that to me that isn't comparable. I didn't realize this was a taboo statement since I thought discussion was encouraged. I guess I must be getting better glam bags than what others post because I don't see the same products month after month. As far as things being low end, I guess I'm not as picky when it comes to makeup. I've sampled quite a few indie/PLM lines that I wouldn't have discovered otherwise and ended up loving. I'm a devoted Clarins user as well as La Prairie, but that doesn't make me less likely to use NYX products or anything else I might pick up at say CVS. I use samples from Ulta and Sephora to discover new products, but they're free so I have no complaints with their small sample sizes. That said, if a company advertises deluxe samples and I pay for them, I want something slightly larger than what I can get for free with any Sephora order. I'm pretty adventurous with cosmetics so I'm forever searching and sampling new products. But I need slightly larger products to tell if I want to purchase full size items (hence why I'm a fan of the free GWP!) I don't think that liking ipsy necessarily means I'm a low end product lover who cant appreciate higher end makeup. But I am a deluxe size sample lover and I didn't get much along those lines here. I did say I loved the items I got, just not the sizes.

 

[Fashion Diva]

I wouldn't know what to buy from the birchbox shop if it weren't from the samples...that's why its a discovery service. And theres a strong correlation between what they sample and what they sell in the shop. Especially since they carry a lot of unique brands.

I guess I've tried a lot of products since most are generally familiar to me in the store. So it makes sense that I don't need a sample service to make that call. But if I did, I would want truly deluxe size products to give me a better idea whether I wanted to buy the full size version.

 

[gypsiemagic]

Got my birchbox finds box... I would love a 4 new drugstore product box every month I would subscribe! My color variations were Ice queen Rosy outlook Sheer Coral Candy floss (is a dupe for a Mac lipgloss I have) Ipsy has kinda slid back into a lot of cheapo brands :/ but for me the value is just passable for me to continue, like I pretty much threw everything but the zoya polish into my giant pile of things to give to other people. But the zoya polish was worth it. If they stop including any nice brands I would cancel immediately like I have before.

 

[normajean2008]

Quote: Originally Posted by Fashion Diva /img/forum/go_quote.gif

Well, my original thought to be lost box arrived. This is my first box so ipsy is my reference point. I have to say that even though I knew what I was getting I didn't appreciate how tiny it would all be in person. I can't believe I'm saying this but it definitely wasn't worth $10. A teeny tiny polish that did nothing when I tried it (over another color or alone), one little bath powder, a cardboard hair oil, one single clothing deodorizer and the benefit cream. Only the latter looks good for more than one use (well, the deodorant cloth is reusable but I doubt more than once; glad I ordered the full size set). I've gotten larger foil samples free in the mail from Pantene. Is this just an off month? I've been with ipsy almost a year and always get one or two full size products consistently. For the same price. And aren't new subscribers supposed to get a welcome box? I sure didn't. I might stick around one more month since I actually liked my chosen products but if I get itty bitty samples again, I'll call it good.
Well, I'd like to say that you get bigger/better samples, but that isn't always the case.  What you got is a representation of the norm.  Sometimes full sizes are included, but most are deluxe samples or small samples, foils occasionally.  This sub is about trying new products, not stocking your cabinets up.  Most samples give you enough to see if you're going to like the product, and then you can save up points to buy the full size in the shop, or buy it else where if wanted.

The agave oil packet has enough to do at least 2 applications.  I got the same packet from Sephora a while back and got 4 uses out of it, but I have thin/baby fine hair.  And as long as you prop it up against something, it'll keep in the opened paper packet just fine.

I used to do Ipsy too, but it wasn't for me.  I didn't like the cheapo brands and questionable products, and I was tired of always getting red/neon pink/coral color products.

Sometimes you love your box, sometimes it is a a "meh" box, and sometimes you hate your box.  That's just the breaks with sub boxes.  However, remember that even though you pay 10$ for Birchbox monthly, you get 40-60 points back (or 10 points/item listed on your info card), which gives you store credit in the shop.  Ipsy may have better sizes, but they don't give a good rewards system.  You don't even have to have technically tried the product or even like it to get your points too, which is nice.  There is an option for "haven't tried sample yet" and if it sucks, just let them know.

Welcome boxes are for gift subscriptions.  So if you have a new regular subscription, you'll just get monthly boxes.  If it was gifted to you, then you'd get a welcome box as the first box.

 

[normajean2008]

Quote: Originally Posted by Fashion Diva /img/forum/go_quote.gif


I'm sorry if I offended you by comparing this to ipsy. I did say that was my only comparable experience, not that they were equivalent or intended to be. I was a longtime Glossybox subscriber but that to me that isn't comparable. I didn't realize this was a taboo statement since I thought discussion was encouraged. I guess I must be getting better glam bags than what others post because I don't see the same products month after month. As far as things being low end, I guess I'm not as picky when it comes to makeup. I've sampled quite a few indie/PLM lines that I wouldn't have discovered otherwise and ended up loving. I'm a devoted Clarins user as well as La Prairie, but that doesn't make me less likely to use NYX products or anything else I might pick up at say CVS. I use samples from Ulta and Sephora to discover new products, but they're free so I have no complaints with their small sample sizes. That said, if a company advertises deluxe samples and I pay for them, I want something slightly larger than what I can get for free with any Sephora order. I'm pretty adventurous with cosmetics so I'm forever searching and sampling new products. But I need slightly larger products to tell if I want to purchase full size items (hence why I'm a fan of the free GWP!) I don't think that liking ipsy necessarily means I'm a low end product lover who cant appreciate higher end makeup. But I am a deluxe size sample lover and I didn't get much along those lines here. I did say I loved the items I got, just not the sizes.
I don't think anybody was "attacking" you for a comparison of Ipsy.  It is just that SOO many people get online just to trash Birchbox like they are scum of the earth, and compare it to Ipsy, saying they are the best and blah blah blah.

People are just tired of hearing Ipsy in Birchbox pages, lol.  It happens most on Facebook.  Don't take it personally, you were just saying that's your only comparable reference to BB so far. /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

The thing is, they are comparable, but they aren't...  They are both the same price, both monthly, both subs... but Ipsy has a lot of makeup each month, the bags, and bigger sizes.  Birchbox is more beauty and lifestyle...has smaller sizes usually, but is usually more well rounded on types of products offered, mix of high end/medium/low end brands, and has a great rewards program.  So it is really more about what you're looking for in the long run.  And you get about half the cost of your monthly box price back as store credit each month at BirchBox if you remember to do your reviews (you have until the 10th of the following month to do so), so it is really only about 5$/month. /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

I personally don't think you can get a good feel for Birchbox unless you stick around for a few months.  One box isn't going to give you a good representation.  It could suck, and the rest could be awesome.  I signed up late '12, and didn't like it after 3 boxes, and quit.  I signed back up mid '13, and loved my first few boxes, then had a couple "meh" boxes, 1 hate box, and now this month was awesome again.

I like the smaller sample sizes.  They are enough usually to tell if I'm going to like a product... and if I hate it or it is just okay, I don't feel bad for having to throw out a bunch of left over product.

Also, after a couple months you don't like your boxes, you can always change your profile around to get different stuff.  You can even call customer service and tell them what kinds of things your looking for, and they'll help you pick your profile answers to get more of those things.

 

[tulippop]

Quote: Originally Posted by puppymomofthree /img/forum/go_quote.gif
  If you e-mail them, they will post it.
thanks!

 

[wadedl]

Personally this was my worst BB yet but it would take a lot for me to cancel it. I did cancel Ipsy last month because I usually only use 2 products(one time one and a couple of times 3) every month. The only thing I have considered rebuying was more Zoya polish but I have bought stuff I loved from BB quite often. I have never saved more than $20 in points because I want something I tried before I reach that. Most the time I only have $10 before buying. Right now I have too much stuff so I am almost at $30 but that the 1st time in a year and a half. If I was just starting a makeup collection I could find Ipsy more appealing I think. BTW for anyone who liked the Jouer crackers I got one at Nordsrtom Rack for $3.95 today.

 

[ikecarus]

Quote: Originally Posted by wadedl /img/forum/go_quote.gif

Personally this was my worst BB yet but it would take a lot for me to cancel it. I did cancel Ipsy last month because I usually only use 2 products(one time one and a couple of times 3) every month. The only thing I have considered rebuying was more Zoya polish but I have bought stuff I loved from BB quite often. I have never saved more than $20 in points because I want something I tried before I reach that. Most the time I only have $10 before buying. Right now I have too much stuff so I am almost at $30 but that the 1st time in a year and a half.
If I was just starting a makeup collection I could find Ipsy more appealing I think.
BTW for anyone who liked the Jouer crackers I got one at Nordsrtom Rack for $3.95 today.
Thanks for the heads up on the Jouer cracker! I'll have to go check out the Nordstrom Rack by my house tomorrow. /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

 

[angienharry]

I agree. Meganola explained it perfectly. Ipsy and Birchbox are very different. I canceled Ipsy for the same reason Meganola did and got a third Birchbox sub. It's great that there are so many beauty subs out there so you can find ones that best suit you. I find I use about 80% of what I get from BB each month. I was only using 20-40% from Ipsy although there have been months I didn't use anything. It's all a matter of personal preference.

This explains my situation as well. When I first got ipsy and BB, which was like a month or two apart, I loved ipsy. I was way more excited for my pick bubble wrapped package then my BB box. After about 6 or 7 months though, I felt like I had everything there was to have in full sized makeup options not including things I actually had and loved in my own collection. A full sized blush is great, who wouldn't agree with that. But after you get 3 of them you just dint need another. Also ipsy would send the same type of full size or deluxe size product 2 months in a row or ever other month. I don't think there's anything wrong with ipsy at all but after a while I just didn't use the stuff they were sending me. BB on the other hand sends small higher end things that I wouldn't go buy without trying at least once. Of course everyone's different and my hair is medium length and I only wash it every 2-3 days so a sample shampoo can last me a week. BB is more skin care than ipsy and makeup is hard to use up compared with skin care, hair care (and tea...lol). Tea is a hot topic around here too but I love tea. Send it to me any day. I'm another one of us using points to buy tea in the BB shop!

 

[angienharry]

I'm sorry if I offended you by comparing this to ipsy. I did say that was my only comparable experience, not that they were equivalent or intended to be. I was a longtime Glossybox subscriber but that to me that isn't comparable. I didn't realize this was a taboo statement since I thought discussion was encouraged. I guess I must be getting better glam bags than what others post because I don't see the same products month after month. As far as things being low end, I guess I'm not as picky when it comes to makeup. I've sampled quite a few indie/PLM lines that I wouldn't have discovered otherwise and ended up loving. I'm a devoted Clarins user as well as La Prairie, but that doesn't make me less likely to use NYX products or anything else I might pick up at say CVS. I use samples from Ulta and Sephora to discover new products, but they're free so I have no complaints with their small sample sizes. That said, if a company advertises deluxe samples and I pay for them, I want something slightly larger than what I can get for free with any Sephora order. I'm pretty adventurous with cosmetics so I'm forever searching and sampling new products. But I need slightly larger products to tell if I want to purchase full size items (hence why I'm a fan of the free GWP!) I don't think that liking ipsy necessarily means I'm a low end product lover who cant appreciate higher end makeup. But I am a deluxe size sample lover and I didn't get much along those lines here. I did say I loved the items I got, just not the sizes.

Sorry if you felt attacked. IMO, I would say you don't need to wait a few months to see if BB is right for you. Sometimes we get awesome boxes and sometimes not but your box is a fair representation of the norm. If it's not for you then it's not for you and what's right for you now may not be what's right for you later. When I was reading your posts I was thinking a sub that you may love is blush mystery box. It has very large sizes every month. It's more skin care and hair care. They have makeup sometimes but it's like a full size mascara or lip gloss mixed with 6 skin care, hair care items and very generous sizes. I cancelled blush after 3-4 months for the same reason I cancelled ipsy. I can't use all of those products so quickly! I re subbed this month to blush after a few months off and I was happy with that approach. I may resub to ipsy one of these days too. It just takes so long to use up makeup!! But I would say that without the point system (since that's something you said you don't intend to use) it would be very hard for you to be happy with a BB sub. Again, just my opinion. 😊

 

[quene8106]

Aww, I would have been super happy to have received three hello perfume samples - I love Hello so much that I have the full size! /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" /> Hopefully you'll get better boxes next month!

Thank you! I liked my boxes this month but bbx put me on hello overload. That's what I get for having three accounts, lol. I agree on the ipsy thing. I got tired of seeing the same damn brands over and over again along with getting a red lipstick every month again. When I told ipsy care this, they didn't even respond to my feedback. They would answer any other question but that. I would cut and paste the unanswered question over and over again and they would ignore it which is customer service in my opinion. Plus I had to talk them out of banning me on Facebook for saying I was sick of seeing pop beauty in bags, smh. I'm so over them. At least birchbox handles complaints with grace and class. They may be canned at times, but at least they do listen to your concerns.

 

[Bizgirlva]

I think we can all agree the comparison between Ipsy and Birchbox should begin and end with they both cost $10.

Those who like Birchbox will defend the reasons they like it, especially when someone posts the reasons they dislike Birchbox...in this thread.

I think Birchbox is designed to drive traffic/purchases to the Birchbox store. I don't think Birchbox has any control over the size of the sample given to them to pass to their subscribers. Sure, they can refuse to send it out, but that wouldn't really make sense since everyone knows that people are much more likely to buy something if they can at least try a sample. When I'm shopping I sample perfume or lotion (for example) at a store I get a squirt or a pump see if I like it, if I do, I buy the full size. I don't expect the store to give me a full size to take home and try and hope that one day I'll come back and buy more. Same idea with Birchbox, they give you a sample you try it, if it appeals to you, they hope you'll buy it from their online store.

If I were looking at my Feb Ipsy bag as a first time subscriber I'd be a little meh on it. I got:

-a mini lip gloss in pink (like I don't have a million pink lip glosses...and does it smell rancid??), -a full size nail polish (ok cool, but it's pink, again like lip glosses, I have a million light pink nail polishes),

-a full size blush (wow that's um really neon! It's a bit chalky and the fall out suggests the quality isn't so great, it's a good size though, I guess I'll throw it in my stash of blushes and maybe use it....in June?),

-a full size cream eye shadow & base (interesting product, bronze shade, but too shimmery for my personal taste, maybe I'd wear it on the weekends or nights out...I guess I'll get around to it).

- a deluxe sample size hair mask (ugh, my hair is so fine and thin, I do not need a mask, but how would Ipsy know my specific hair length and texture???).

All in all I have no reason to purchase any of these products ever again, yes I got 3 full size items, so why do I need to buy them. Maybe when I run out, but with the stack of blush, nail polish and eyeshadow I'm in no hurry to purchase MORE, and looks like the codes Ipsy gave me run out soon too. Oh well.

Meanwhile over at Birchbox, oh I just got to 100 points ($10) with my reviews and they send me a 20% off code for their store, and I get free samples with a $35 order and free shipping.  Hmm I have enough points to buy a full size cleanser and eyebrow pencil that I love, oh and they have a food section too, I'll get that dessert mix for that party I have coming up. So I cash in my points and discounts and my order came to $.12.  And I got a sample of a perfume and a lip balm too. So in the end I got a box of five samples, used my codes/discounts and got 3 full size items and got two more samples for $.12 more than I pay for Ipsy. 

 

[jennm149]

I think we can all agree the comparison between Ipsy and Birchbox should begin and end with they both cost $10.

All of this post, but so much this in particular. It's like comparing bananas and carrots. You can buy both in the produce section and they are both long and cylindrical, but otherwise, not at all alike.

 

[feisty1]

Quick newbie question. Can you only use one code at checkout? I purchased coffee eye cream and benefits BB, I could not put the mystery sample in my cart because it was on waitlist, and I used my 20 percent off. Do they send free samples anyway, or do you have to have the mystery sample in your cart? I wanted the free porefessional but for some reason it wouldn't allow me to include that code after I put in the 20 percent.

 

[caseybean025]

Quick newbie question. Can you only use one code at checkout? I purchased coffee eye cream and benefits BB, I could not put the mystery sample in my cart because it was on waitlist, and I used my 20 percent off. Do they send free samples anyway, or do you have to have the mystery sample in your cart? I wanted the free porefessional but for some reason it wouldn't allow me to include that code after I put in the 20 percent.

I'm 99% sure you can only use one code per order.

 

[puppymomofthree]

Quote: Originally Posted by feisty1 /img/forum/go_quote.gif

Quick newbie question. Can you only use one code at checkout? I purchased coffee eye cream and benefits BB, I could not put the mystery sample in my cart because it was on waitlist, and I used my 20 percent off. Do they send free samples anyway, or do you have to have the mystery sample in your cart? I wanted the free porefessional but for some reason it wouldn't allow me to include that code after I put in the 20 percent.
Only one code.  You might add a men's mystery sample pack--at least you would get a sample that way--and some of theirs are nice!

 

[feisty1]

Thanks Ladies! I have another order I am going to wait and place when samples come back in but I think my hubby might like to try some samples for this order!

 

[Rachel S]

Quote:Originally Posted by feisty1 /img/forum/go_quote.gif

Quick newbie question. Can you only use one code at checkout? I purchased coffee eye cream and benefits BB, I could not put the mystery sample in my cart because it was on waitlist, and I used my 20 percent off. Do they send free samples anyway, or do you have to have the mystery sample in your cart? I wanted the free porefessional but for some reason it wouldn't allow me to include that code after I put in the 20 percent.


I'm with the other girls in that I think you can only use one code per order, but some things (like the mystery sample packs) don't require a code. You do have to have the mystery pack in your cart at check out though, or else you won't get the samples /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

 

[PeridotCricket]

Quick newbie question. Can you only use one code at checkout? I purchased coffee eye cream and benefits BB, I could not put the mystery sample in my cart because it was on waitlist, and I used my 20 percent off. Do they send free samples anyway, or do you have to have the mystery sample in your cart? I wanted the free porefessional but for some reason it wouldn't allow me to include that code after I put in the 20 percent.

Only one code.  You might add a men's mystery sample pack--at least you would get a sample that way--and some of theirs are nice!

I am gonna add a Men's Mystery Pick 2 on my next order. I'm tired of lipgloss in my Pick 2's and I love the smell of men's shower stuff, so it seems like a good gamble to me.