Birchbox February 2015 (Spoilers)

[sparklesgirlxox]

No, this isn't really true. Sure they recycle the same brands and products to death at times but yes they always add in new things too. As I've stated in a previous post, I've been with them since 2011 and, for example, this month there was 60+ variations of boxes and I was still eligible to get at least half due to adding in new stuff, having different colors/scents of some things I've already gotten, and because there are just some things that seem to be elusive to me (like the beauty blender). Last month I was also eligible for about half the boxes as well.

The boxes are suppose to ship out by the 10th. If they don't, contact BB but you need to wait until then but if you signed up after the 1st, I think they can ship out later and estimated date is usually around the 20th. I still have January's tracking number, no updates yet, and I am on a yearly sub.

Edited to add that I just looked at old boxes from several months ago to a few years ago and most of those items they haven't offered since .

 I have 2 subs for  and when they are over I will cancel birchbox..   In both boxes I have got the same dry shampoo and unknown brands . In both boxes I  have got repeats of the same items which leads me to believe they do not look at profiles or check things.  My profile says I am in my 40s yet they keep sending me acne stuff.  When I call they are wonderful and send me whole new boxes.   Two years ago I loved this box in the last year  it has gone so down hill I have not liked anything they send me.

 

[artlover613]

Hi, I signed up this past Sunday and even though the charge for the month went through on my credit card, I have yet to get a shipping notice or any box contents listed on my account. There is a link for February shipping but it hasn't been updated yet. Is it still a little early since I just started the subscription or do I need to contact them?

Also, I have Sample Society and I like what I am getting this month. I also like the prompt service since I have already received my shipping notice and the contents have been updated on the account. What I am not liking so far about Birchbox is that I am still waiting and yet others are getting their info for the month. Compared to SS, this isn't looking good to me. And I just signed up for SS this past Sunday as well. I basically started both subs the same day. I wanted to see if they had gotten any better over the years as I have had both before. And Birchbox just isn't looking so good to me right now.

Also, does Birchbox ever, EVER change up their samples? I think I am starting to notice how they do the sampling. It seems like they have a lot of different samples from a lot of different brands, and since there are multiple box variations out there, they put samples in people's boxes according to their profile, but they rarely, if ever, have anything that is completely brand new. And when that does happen, only a rare lucky few get the new sample. Everybody else is left in the dust and then their boxes continue to be these old leftover samples that were probably brand new a year or so ago and Birchbox is just going through the stash and putting them in the boxes and hence why we have all of these variations going and so forth. It seems like if you stay with them for at least a year or more, you can kind of figure out what all they have and whether or not you've gotten it YET or not. I just don't know if I like that or not because at least with SS everybody pretty much gets the same stuff and they do have or try to have different brands and products every month. Looks like I may be canceling again in the future if this does turn out to be true with Birchbox. Have any of you noticed this lately?

Following up on H__D's comments, Birchbox seems to sample about 60 samples every month. Some new, some they have previously. They guarantee that you won't receive the exact same item (color or scent can vary) and will send a replacement if you do. Of course they keep sending out some items so new subscribers will get them. How else would you discover that holy grail item you never knew about? And they give you back one dollar for every review. So, subscribe annually for $100, get back approximately $60 to spend in the store for doing monthly reviews, and another $12 to share your box by email, Facebook or Twitter -- and that box cost you about $2 per month. That's basically free. And you will frequently receive a full size item you love too. But Birchbox is really about discovering new products, and then buying them with your points and generous 20% codes, frequent free shipping, and depending on your state, no sales tax.

What's not to love?

 

[nikkiaust17]

sorry to sound a little whiny but i think when they do something like a beauty blender, we should all get one! its not fair i say!! lol congrats to those that got one tho! <3 and i know a lot would be expensive but it only seems fair

 

[Rachel S]

Using the cheat link, I'm actually really regretting not picking a sample or the curated box this month! First time in a while that I am really underwhelmed. My box has the following:

Caudalie Vinosource Moisturizing Sorbet

CLEAN Skin Eau de Parfum

PARLOR by Jeff Chastain Moisturizing Sea Salt Spray

Jules & Esther Cucumber Eye Gel

Benefit Roller Lash

I am not a big fan of Caudalie products, they never seem to impress me... Not to mention I have enough moisturizers to last me a decade. I love Benefit but already have a great mascara that I use.. Maybe this will be a good one to keep in my purse for emergencies? On the bright side, I always love trying sea salt sprays and I'm intrigued by the eye gel. Any one tried any of these products in the past that can give some insight? Trying to get myself excited for this one but failing.

 

[Rachel S]

sorry to sound a little whiny but i think when they do something like a beauty blender, we should all get one! its not fair i say!! lol congrats to those that got one tho! <3 and i know a lot would be expensive but it only seems fair

I kind of agree! Seems unfair to put a big ticket item in only a handful of boxes.. But I gave up hope of trying to get one in my box and finally just bought one on their site last week! I used points so it was free BUT STILL haha

 

[H_D]

@ I think I am done with yearly subs for sure. I get frustrated with the shampoo/conditioner I constantly get which I will never use since I have a product I love and haven't switched for years. I was sooo happy because I had gotten every kind of Davines s/c so knew I'd never have to get those again but now I see they have a new one , Minu or something like that, and I cringed, as I just know I will get that too. Same with Harvey Prince perfumes (have every one).

 

[artlover613]

sorry to sound a little whiny but i think when they do something like a beauty blender, we should all get one! its not fair i say!! lol congrats to those that got one tho! <3 and i know a lot would be expensive but it only seems fair

for months they have offered a beauty blender and cleaner free if you update your monthly sub to an annual sub. It in the Bonus Shop if you want it. Plus you'll get $11 in points to use for something else too.

 

[PeridotCricket]

Does anyone else think the trip to NJ is because Birchbox still hasn't changed the shipping code on some labels to the warehouse in TN so they're still coded to ship from the old warehouse in NJ. I've had this happen with USPS when I printed a label intending to ship it from my home address but found it in my bag and dropped it in the outgoing mail at work (different zip code) and tracking showed it started at the Post Office in the city where I work, then went to my local Post Offfice and the 2nd scan on the tracking said it shipped from there.

Edited to Add: I really do not believe that Newgistics uses the same algorithms as UPS, FedEx, and other shippers to determine the most cost-effective routes.

 

[SDSuperChargers]

I looked it up and the makeup remover was paraben free? 

Marcelle Gentle Eye Make-Up Remover For Sensitive Eyes, still has parabens /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" /> I thought it was klorane but no. Sadness /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

 

[chocolatesauce2]

I'm getting:

Box 1

1. Juice Beauty Blemish Cleaning Cleanser
2. Eyeko Skinny Liquid Eyeliner - I could've sworn I've gotten this mess before
3. BeeKind Body Lotion - is this a hotel brand?
4. Marcelle Gentle Eye Makeup Remover for Sensitive Eyes - looking forward to this
5. Juicy Couture Hollywood Royal Fragrance - I have more than enough sample fragrances.

Box 2

1. Juice Beauty Blemish Cleaning Cleanser (dupe)
2. Gilchrist and Soames Spa Therapy Body Wash
3. the Balm Cosmetics Read My Lips Lip Gloss
4. Beauty Blender Mini and Solid Cleanser - looking forward to this.
5. BeeKind Body Lotion (dupe)

So disappointed. I'm getting two of the same things this month. I have eczema all on my back so body lotions and body wash irritate the heck out of my skin. I have to use a special formulation for eczema skin. I'm not a fan of Juice Beauty either. I'm sure the lipgloss is gonna look tacky on me since they never send out lip products that look good on dark skin. Out of 10 products, the only two I'm excited about is the Beauty Blender and the Marcelle Eye Makeup Remover. Birchbox sucks so bad. They should just let us choose our own samples at this point because they are doing a sucky job of putting together boxes for their customers.

 

[PeridotCricket]

@@chocolatesauce2

I believe BeeKind is a Gilchrist & Soames brand, so, yes, it is technically a hotel brand. It smells like Pledge wood cleaner, much like the Naobay lotion Birchbox has also sent out, but I think the BeeKind smells better than the Naobay.

 

[chocolatesauce2]

@@chocolatesauce2

I believe BeeKind is a Gilchrist & Soames brand, so, yes, it is technically a hotel brand. It smells like Pledge wood cleaner, much like the Naobay lotion Birchbox has also sent out, but I think the BeeKind smells better than the Naobay.

Thanks for answering. It's crazy because I have a super list of so many products I want to try (both from Birchbox and other places), and even with 3 beauty box subscriptions, I still don't get to scratch any of those things off of my list. 

 

[Jayrob Goldsaf]

Nah not really. For example, this month there are over 60 version of boxes and many I would still be able to get, probably at least half. And both boxes with the Beauty blender I definitely could have gotten. Same with last time they offered the BB in a few boxes- those boxes contained new items for me. They can also send you the same items but in different colors and that is not considered a dupe- like Harvey prince perfumes in the different scents, nail polish, eyeliners and lip glosses in different colors, body lotions in different scents, etc.

Perhaps it is because I did a PYS and the boxes available with my choice had a lot of repeats for me.

 

[chocolatesauce2]

Is anyone else having trouble with Birchbox's website? It wouldn't let me log on for about a week. And now, even tho I'm logged in, its not allowing me to click on any links on the site.

 

[jewdiful]

I'm getting:

Box 1

1. Juice Beauty Blemish Cleaning Cleanser
2. Eyeko Skinny Liquid Eyeliner - I could've sworn I've gotten this mess before
3. BeeKind Body Lotion - is this a hotel brand?
4. Marcelle Gentle Eye Makeup Remover for Sensitive Eyes - looking forward to this
5. Juicy Couture Hollywood Royal Fragrance - I have more than enough sample fragrances.

Box 2

1. Juice Beauty Blemish Cleaning Cleanser (dupe)
2. Gilchrist and Soames Spa Therapy Body Wash
3. the Balm Cosmetics Read My Lips Lip Gloss
4. Beauty Blender Mini and Solid Cleanser - looking forward to this.
5. BeeKind Body Lotion (dupe)

So disappointed. I'm getting two of the same things this month. I have eczema all on my back so body lotions and body wash irritate the heck out of my skin. I have to use a special formulation for eczema skin. I'm not a fan of Juice Beauty either. I'm sure the lipgloss is gonna look tacky on me since they never send out lip products that look good on dark skin. Out of 10 products, the only two I'm excited about is the Beauty Blender and the Marcelle Eye Makeup Remover. Birchbox sucks so bad. They should just let us choose our own samples at this point because they are doing a sucky job of putting together boxes for their customers.

Aww, reading your post made me so sad! I'm sorry you're so disappointed. What about seeing it from the perspective of those getting only 1 really crappy box? They'd probably be so glad to be in your shoes! Yes you got some dupes, some products that aren't very exciting, but you got THE coveted sample for this month - an item that's included in very, very few box combinations. 

It could be worse - you could have gotten TWO punishment boxes. Instead you got the hands-down best sample out of the 60 possibilities, two makeup items (I personally love the formula of the Eyeko liner, just make sure to store it vertical and upside down!), and the makeup remover, which is one of the monthly sample choices. It's a great staple item, who can't use a spare eye makeup remover? And a great size for travel.

Now I did get the lipgloss in my own (picked the curated box). It IS a pretty light color so I can see why you'd be disappointed if it doesn't work with your skintone. That is a super annoying thing about BB, getting an unflattering lip color does kind of put a damper on things. So I feel you on that. I was so pissed this one month last summer when they sent me a NUDE ModelCo lipstick, along with 4 other lackluster items: bobby pins, a tiny moisturizer/primer, two Kerastase foils, and a CC cream that was way wayyyy too dark for my skin. It wasn't enough that they sent me two hair foils and two tiny tubes of face stuff, including one that I couldn't even use... but the worst lipstick color possible? It kind of made the rest of the samples look worse and made the whole box that month super disappointing. I did end up LOVING the hair pins and the Kerastase once I tried it, so looking back it wasn't as bad as I thought it was. But a couple wrong-color samples can definitely make it seem that way.

All I'm saying is, objectively you DID get lucky this month. That's the thing about Birchbox we've all noticed by now though, one person's ideal box is someone else's punishment box. Except maybe those with the Beauty blender haha, can't see anyone unhappy with getting that one /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

 

[jewdiful]

Is anyone else having trouble with Birchbox's website? It wouldn't let me log on for about a week. And now, even tho I'm logged in, its not allowing me to click on any links on the site.

It's not just you! I just tried and it's not loading anything at all. I was able to sign in just fine yesterday, I think around the time boxes start loading their site gets a little messed up. For the first year and a half I was subbed to Birchbox there were at least two days a month where I couldn't sign in at all. I'm thinking it should go back to normal at least once the box pages get updated.

 

[Noel Snow]

@@chocolatesauce2

I believe BeeKind is a Gilchrist & Soames brand, so, yes, it is technically a hotel brand. It smells like Pledge wood cleaner, much like the Naobay lotion Birchbox has also sent out, but I think the BeeKind smells better than the Naobay.

I did not know this at all. I thought it was so cute because there is a cartoon bee on it. But while I came to like Naobay, my Gilchrest and Soames went in the trash after one use. 

 

[Stephanie Amaarru]

I looked up what my items were a few days ago on the app (when it was not yet showing on the website), and it showed I was getting the beauty blender... But now a few days later it is showing that the beauty blender was replaced with something else /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" /> has anyone else had this happen to them? pretty disappointing.

 

[Audra Lenore]

Got my curated box the other day. Pretty happy with it. Best box I've ever gotten. 

Also, I've come to realize that theBalm is my favorite brand of all time, lol.

I have clicky link on my new subscription. Can't use the glitch with the link to see what I'm getting, will have to wait until tomorrow.

 

[girlnamedpete]

I looked up what my items were a few days ago on the app (when it was not yet showing on the website), and it showed I was getting the beauty blender... But now a few days later it is showing that the beauty blender was replaced with something else /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" /> has anyone else had this happen to them? pretty disappointing.

Mine is still showing the BB (I believe it's box 46).  What box is it?  Mine is the one w/ Juice Beauty cleanser, Gilchrest & Soames body wash, The Balm and Beekind conditioner.  I really hope it's just a computer glitch and you get the BB.  Fingers crossed for you.