Birchbox September 2013

[cskeiser]

Quote: Originally Posted by biancardi /img/forum/go_quote.gif
  She stated by selecting the classic & low maintenance, that would mean that I would not want "new" products like BB creams.

this is the exact part of the email she sent me that states this

"In looking over your Beaty Profile, I see you have Adventurous checked off under style. The Adventurous tab says "I'll try any technique, color or trend." If you're not up for trying bright lipsticks, or new products like BB creams, I would recommend checking off Classic and low maintenance."

So, I emailed them again today to see what is up with that.


hmm.... interesting... I have classic and low maintenance checked and received the bright red Party Proof lipstick... so much for her theory.  I would much rather have had a neutral color.

 

[outdoorbarbie92]

No clicky truck for me but I hope I get the claudale make up remover!

 

[kawaiisofoxy]

Yay!  Second clicky truck updated with a weight of 0.64!  Definitely not a dupe of my other box (0.4750)!!!  

Now I'm just crossing my fingers for 2 different polish colors!

 

[MissTrix]

Quote: Originally Posted by cskeiser /img/forum/go_quote.gif
  Quote: Originally Posted by biancardi /img/forum/go_quote.gif
  She stated by selecting the classic & low maintenance, that would mean that I would not want "new" products like BB creams.

this is the exact part of the email she sent me that states this

"In looking over your Beaty Profile, I see you have Adventurous checked off under style. The Adventurous tab says "I'll try any technique, color or trend." If you're not up for trying bright lipsticks, or new products like BB creams, I would recommend checking off Classic and low maintenance."

So, I emailed them again today to see what is up with that.


hmm.... interesting... I have classic and low maintenance checked and received the bright red Party Proof lipstick... so much for her theory.  I would much rather have had a neutral color.


To be fair, red is a classic lipstick shade. 

 

[lilsxkitten]

Slightly off topic, but lipsticks in the old days were pretty bright! This one is from the 40's: ( I collect this stuff)

 

  She stated by selecting the classic

hmm.... interesting... I have classic and low maintenance checked and received the bright red Party Proof lipstick... so much for her theory.  I would much rather have had a neutral color.

To be fair, red is a classic lipstick shade. 

 

[kawaiiwoofs]

To be fair, red is a classic lipstick shade. 

Totally. The perfect "classic" box in my imagination would definitely have red lipstick, maybe a mascara, and a neutral ish nail polish

 

[kawaiiwoofs]

I love your nails and that lipstick is so cute!

Slightly off topic, but lipsticks in the old days were pretty bright! This one is from the 40's: ( I collect this stuff)

 

[kawaiimeows]

Quote: Originally Posted by MissTrix /img/forum/go_quote.gif
 
To be fair, red is a classic lipstick shade. 

This. Red has been getting such a bad rap around here for some reason, it's probably the most classic and universally flattering shade imaginable.

 

[kawaiisofoxy]

Quote: Originally Posted by kawaiimeows /img/forum/go_quote.gif
  Quote: Originally Posted by MissTrix /img/forum/go_quote.gif
 
To be fair, red is a classic lipstick shade. 

This. Red has been getting such a bad rap around here for some reason, it's probably the most classic and universally flattering shade imaginable.


Agreed!  I'm seriously hoping they had some Stila Beso left and threw some in one of my boxes this month!  

 

[kawaiiwoofs]

Agreed!  I'm seriously hoping they had some Stila Beso left and threw some in one of my boxes this month!  :11a:

I would not complain if I got *another* Beso. Stuff looks gooooooood.

 

[biancardi]

I wish I had not sampled the beso on my lips the other month.  It is a VERY bright red and doesn't suit me at all - I would have cheerfully swapped it for something else.  I keep falling into the trap that maybe this time, bright red will look good on me - lol.    I did like the concept of the liquid lipstick and did buy a more suitable color for my skin tone.

There are many shades of red, and not all of them are universally flattering.  Some people look better in blue-reds, some in orange-reds.  Some in more muted reds.  I will say that the screaming red of beso was not a universally flattering shade.  I would have enjoyed an oxblood color instead.

one of the sad things I am finding out is that I like the concepts of some of the products that are sent to me, but the colors are oh-so-wrong.   If I really love the concept of the beauty item, I will purchase it  and pick a different color.   I suggested that they put in a color palette choice in the profile, so they get an idea of what people are looking for.

 

[NicoleRoyer]

I wish I had not sampled the beso on my lips the other month.  It is a VERY bright red and doesn't suit me at all - I would have cheerfully swapped it for something else.  I keep falling into the trap that maybe this time, bright red will look good on me - lol.    I did like the concept of the liquid lipstick and did buy a more suitable color for my skin tone. There are many shades of red, and not all of them are universally flattering.  Some people look better in blue-reds, some in orange-reds.  Some in more muted reds.  I will say that the screaming red of beso was not a universally flattering shade.  I would have enjoyed an oxblood color instead. one of the sad things I am finding out is that I like the concepts of some of the products that are sent to me, but the colors are oh-so-wrong.   If I really love the concept of the beauty item, I will purchase it  and pick a different color.   I suggested that they put in a color palette choice in the profile, so they get an idea of what people are looking for.

While it is nice to get a color in our boxes that works great for us that isn't really what birchbox cares about. Birchbox did exactly what they want to do. They sent you something to try, you tried it, and bought another one. They aren't setting out to send you the perfect shade for you, they want you to turn around and BUY the perfect shade for you.

 

[barbyechick]

Dang still no clicky truck! It takes foreevvveerrr  

 to get my box so even when I'm among the first to get a clicky box I usually am on the tail end of receiving it, and usually a day after the estimate time. I want to start guessing and stalking my box 

Instagram has a couple BCBG perfumes and different colored polishes, I wouldn't mind most of the stuff I've been seeing so yay!

 

[kawaiimeows]

Quote: Originally Posted by biancardi /img/forum/go_quote.gif
  I wish I had not sampled the beso on my lips the other month.  It is a VERY bright red and doesn't suit me at all - I would have cheerfully swapped it for something else.  I keep falling into the trap that maybe this time, bright red will look good on me - lol.    I did like the concept of the liquid lipstick and did buy a more suitable color for my skin tone.

There are many shades of red, and not all of them are universally flattering.  Some people look better in blue-reds, some in orange-reds.  Some in more muted reds.  I will say that the screaming red of beso was not a universally flattering shade.  I would have enjoyed an oxblood color instead.

one of the sad things I am finding out is that I like the concepts of some of the products that are sent to me, but the colors are oh-so-wrong.   If I really love the concept of the beauty item, I will purchase it  and pick a different color.   I suggested that they put in a color palette choice in the profile, so they get an idea of what people are looking for.

I think your perspective on birchbox is a bit misguided. They're not a personal/individualized/customized shopper. They just help you find out what you like and don't like. This is the format they've used for the last three years, and its worked for them so far. That's really what most of these monthly subs boil down to. As much as they harp on their profiles (both birchbox and ipsy) they're not going to know what colors you actually prefer and match that perfectly every time. Its mostly about being open and trying new things, and then moving on to the next item.

 

[SamhopeM]

While it is nice to get a color in our boxes that works great for us that isn't really what birchbox cares about. Birchbox did exactly what they want to do. They sent you something to try, you tried it, and bought another one. They aren't setting out to send you the perfect shade for you, they want you to turn around and BUY the perfect shade for you.

Maybe it's just me but I'm far more likely to purchase something in full size if I can try out the correct shade in a trial size. If I don't like a color in something even if it's sample size I'm more likely to give it away without ever trying it and therefore not buying the full size. I like the idea of color profiles. Maybe not getting down to totally specific colors but it would be nice to have types of colors.

 

[kawaiimeows]

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


Maybe it's just me but I'm far more likely to purchase something in full size if I can try out the correct shade in a trial size. If I don't like a color in something even if it's sample size I'm more likely to give it away without ever trying it and therefore not buying the full size. I like the idea of color profiles. Maybe not getting down to totally specific colors but it would be nice to have types of colors.

correct shade is entirely subjective though. i've seen women here say that a shade they got was totally wrong for them, horrendous, etc. when it looked great on them, they personally just did not like the color. birchbox really has no way of knowing personal color preferences or even the exact shade of your skin tone (for example, saying i'm fair skinned describes that i'm pale, but doesn't really describe that i have pink tones), which is why they usually just send out 1-3 color varieties en masse.

 

[SamhopeM]

correct shade is entirely subjective though. i've seen women here say that a shade they got was totally wrong for them, horrendous, etc. when it looked great on them, they personally just did not like the color. birchbox really has no way of knowing personal color preferences, which is why they usually just send out 1-3 color varieties en masse.

Really when I say correct shade I'm more referring to foundations. I tend to be hard to match and rarely get a sample in a shade I can actually use. But then that happens when I go to a brick and mortar store to get color matched too so I've gotten used to it. With most color cosmetics as long as it's not orange or yellow I'm fine with it.

 

[kawaiimeows]

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


Really when I say correct shade I'm more referring to foundations. I tend to be hard to match and rarely get a sample in a shade I can actually use. But then that happens when I go to a brick and mortar store to get color matched too so I've gotten used to it. With most color cosmetics as long as it's not orange or yellow I'm fine with it.

yeah, understandable. and i think that's where it comes down to, you get the product from birchbox to try it out for staying power, consistency, chemistry, general shade etc. because there's just no way to perfectly color match someone from a few questions on an internet profile vs. getting color matched in a sephora. saying i'm fair/light skinnned sums up that i'm pale, but doesn't really depict the pink undertones i have.

 

[biancardi]

Quote: Originally Posted by kawaiimeows /img/forum/go_quote.gif
 
I think your perspective on birchbox is a bit misguided. They're not a personal/individualized/customized shopper. They just help you find out what you like and don't like. This is the format they've used for the last three years, and its worked for them so far. That's really what most of these monthly subs boil down to. As much as they harp on their profiles (both birchbox and ipsy) they're not going to know what colors you actually prefer and match that perfectly every time. Its mostly about being open and trying new things, and then moving on to the next item.
no, it isn't misguided.  I belong to several subs and they seem to pay attention to reviews and likes/dislikes.  I am not saying that I have to LOVE every item in my box, I don't with most boxes, but birchbox is now, for me at least, the worst one of all of the beauty boxes I sub to. 

I totally understand about the color choices.  However, I have received several bright red colors in this year alone for lip colors, and each one, I gave a negative review on the sample due to the color.  Obviously, they aren't paying attention to the reviews.

I am sure that there are thousands of ladies out there that would have loved to get the red lip colors I got and I would have loved to have received their lip colors.    A color palette is a good thing to put in the beauty profile.    It doesn't have to be extremely specific, but at least get a feel for their paying customer's likes and dislikes.  You say they don't know - yes, the way they have set up their beauty profile, they have no clue.  That is why I had suggested it to birchbox to add that in their beauty profile.  I am not looking for a perfect match, but I would like to enjoy ONE product out of my box, which until this month, hadn't been for several months.  And the sad thing is, the 2 items that I like in this month's box are not makeup - but the yes to towelettes (which I already own and use) and the moisturizer.  

Yes, there is the swap or gifting, but many of the samples from birchbox I would be ashamed to gift - those foil packets. 

Am I being overly critical?  Yes, I suppose so.  Birchbox was my first sub box ever and for the first few months, it was spot on.  Something changed this year.  I think they over extended their line and made up too many different combinations and they aren't really following the beauty profile very closely anymore.   I now subscribe to eco-emi (who doesn't even have a beauty profile, but manages to give samples that are universally flattering), ipsy (of which I am very happy with), blush (totally in love with) and I pick my own from green grab bag.

those subs just have better items in their boxes.   I do not know what happened to birchbox, but this year has been totally disappointing (a pen, really??? yes I got a pen as a "beauty item") and tiny foil samples.  I actually loved getting the razor this year- a product that I could actually use!! lol

You seem very happy with birchbox, and that is good.    But I will say something has changed with their service this past year and for me, it was not for the better.

 

[SamhopeM]

no, it isn't misguided.  I belong to several subs and they seem to pay attention to reviews and likes/dislikes.  I am not saying that I have to LOVE every item in my box, I don't with most boxes, but birchbox is now, for me at least, the worst one of all of the beauty boxes I sub to.  I totally understand about the color choices.  However, I have received several bright red colors in this year alone for lip colors, and each one, I gave a negative review on the sample due to the color.  Obviously, they aren't paying attention to the reviews. I am sure that there are thousands of ladies out there that would have loved to get the red lip colors I got and I would have loved to have received their lip colors.    A color palette is a good thing to put in the beauty profile.    It doesn't have to be extremely specific, but at least get a feel for their paying customer's likes and dislikes.  You say they don't know - yes, the way they have set up their beauty profile, they have no clue.  That is why I had suggested it to birchbox to add that in their beauty profile.  I am not looking for a perfect match, but I would like to enjoy ONE product out of my box, which until this month, hadn't been for several months. Yes, there is the swap or gifting, but many of the samples from birchbox I would be ashamed to gift - those foil packets.  Am I being overly critical?  Yes, I suppose so.  Birchbox was my first sub box ever and for the first few months, it was spot on.  Something changed this year.  I think they over extended their line and made up too many different combinations and they aren't really following the beauty profile very closely anymore.   I now subscribe to eco-emi (who doesn't even have a beauty profile, but manages to give samples that are universally flattering), ipsy (of which I am very happy with), blush (totally in love with) and I pick my own from green grab bag. those subs just have better items in their boxes.   I do not know what happened to birchbox, but this year has been totally disappointing (a pen, really??? yes I got a pen as a "beauty item") and tiny foil samples. You seem very happy with birchbox, and that is good.    But I will say something has changed with their service this past year and for me, it was not for the better.

Although it is more expensive than other subs might I recommend Wantable? They actually do let you dislike colors.