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Original poster

Birchbox - any good?

30 replies

Tigerstripycat · 13/02/2018 22:48

A friend of mine told me about Birchbox, which apparently sends you a selection of different sample sized beauty stuff every month.

Has anyone tried it? Is it any good? I’m thinking of signing up, it seems like a good way to try out new stuff I’d otherwise never heard of.

OP posts:
LanguidLobster · 14/02/2018 13:46

I've never bought Birchbox - have a look on 'which beauty box uk' to see the contents of this month's box (or any blog which is going a review!). It looked quite nice actually.

Just make sure you get a discount code or free gift with your first box!

I like beauty boxes, they're a bit of fun

LanguidLobster · 14/02/2018 13:46

**going meant doing!

BusterGonad · 14/02/2018 16:24

I had Birchbox for 5 months, they sent me stuff I wasn't interested in (as well as stuff I liked) I actually miss it as the stuff I wasn't interested in was always refreshing to use and got me out of my beauty rut. Things like shampoos and leave in conditioners.

OutyMcOutface · 14/02/2018 16:28

Can you adjust preference for skin tone/colour preference or do they just send you whatever?

BusterGonad · 14/02/2018 16:37

You feel out a questionnaire with skin tone, hair type and do you prefer make up, skin care etc but obviously you don't always get 5 things of your preference e.g. I got hair serum when I'm not into hair but I'd also get 2 skin care and 2 make up things which I do like.

mermaidsandunicorns · 14/02/2018 16:39

I really like it! This months one had lovely stuff in it

loopylou6 · 14/02/2018 16:45

I really like it, the sample sizes are decent, and you are always guaranteed at least one full sized product

IToldYouIWasFreaky · 14/02/2018 16:47

I had it for a few months last year and quite liked it but it did get slightly repetitive. I seemed to get an eyeliner every month! I did take advantage of a "2 for £10" offer that they emailed me which made it very good value.

PutDownThatLaptop · 14/02/2018 16:48

I had it for a few months.
Some of the things I got were great and I use them all of the time.
The best thing about Birchbox however is that if you review the items in the box you get points, which can be spent on full size items from the shop. These add up amazingly quickly.

mogloveseggs · 14/02/2018 16:49

I like it. Makes me use stuff I normally wouldn’t-am not into make up really but I will try everything they send (and then pass it on to dd)

IntoTheFloodAgain · 14/02/2018 16:53

I’ve had both Birchbox and Glossybox. Glossy was much better value imo. Birchbox did send some nice stuff but the bits were quite small.

Glossybox has bigger items (not fullsize tho) and more versatile too with the type of brands. The ‘unknown’ brands that come in it seem better quality. Birchbox felt more like when you get a freebie with a magazine.

The only downside was that it doesn’t fit through the letter box.

whereiscaroline · 14/02/2018 21:13

I like it but preferred the Look Fantastic box personally. There's a more expensive (circa £35) box which is supposed to be great if you have a bit more to spend. Will see if I can find the name...

LanguidLobster · 14/02/2018 21:15

Oh that's cohorted! I've heard of it but not tried it.

I've got 3 mo to go on look fantastic

whereiscaroline · 15/02/2018 00:10

Cohorted, that's it!

Lonesurvivor · 15/02/2018 00:26

I had the Look fantastic €15 per month for an annual sub. I liked it and it got me aware of other brands but I'm taking a break. I've decided if a box looks good I'll purchase rather than getting one every month as I've too much stuff right now.

Redcherries · 15/02/2018 07:20

My teen daughter gets one every month, she has an amazing stash now and can usually produce whatever emergency or random item I decide to try so I don’t need to buy. We share lots of bits and I’m currently doing my entire skin care routine with bits she’s got including vitamin c truth serum which is perfect for my more mature skin and has been a skin life saver. We do buy full size versions of some of the stuff. It’s definitely worth the money. Also she gets various hair treatments etc which are brilliant, travel size or if you need a treatment or want to try something new. I don’t get a look in on most of the make up though so it must be good.

I’m off to look at cohorts!

Baileystruffle · 15/02/2018 08:50

I'd recommend latrst in beauty instead. Same sort of thing but you pick the items in it (from a huge list) so you don't end up with the rubbish you won't use, you can get some great stuff if you pick carefully.

Baileystruffle · 15/02/2018 08:51

Sorry, Latest in beauty

SilverHairedCat · 15/02/2018 08:53

I had it for a few months but last month was so rubbish I cancelled it. Stickers?! I'm in my 30s, not at school! The make up is very hit and miss in quality. The lady foundation I had smelled like stale old fashioned make up. Very disappointing.

SilverHairedCat · 15/02/2018 08:54

*last not lady!

RibenaMonsoon · 15/02/2018 08:56

I had it for a couple of years. Loved it although I cancelled a few months ago as I wad getting too many repeat products. I've got 3 benefits lip and cheek tint. Dispute me filling in the questionnaire after each box saying I wouldn't repurchase that product. Apart from that it's great. Gave me opportunity to try some really high end products that I'd never buy full size of.

NumbNelly · 15/02/2018 08:57

I hated BirchBox. It always felt like it was aimed towards teens.
Any foundation things they sent me were.always orange/too dark even though I made sure my profile was right and gave them feedback.
They used Hermes as well and anything fragile in the box would be broken so I would then have to contact them.
I switched to Glossybox after about 8 months because of the faff and I was a lot happier with the contents, they use RM to deliver as well and nothing came broken

Itsjanuary · 15/02/2018 09:48

I didn’t like it - it was full of samples you get free in magazines or from beauty counters - those companies will be paying to put those in the boxes so price if the box should be cheaper. There was one full sized product but you would get better value going round a beauty department buying a product you wanted and picking up some samples

Commuterface · 15/02/2018 09:53

I had Birchbox for a few months but got fed up with being sent the same thing every month (dry shampoo!). I also found they didn't take any notice of my spec when I filled out the online survey. I also agree that a lot of the things seemed quite cheap.

IToldYouIWasFreaky · 15/02/2018 17:19

Oh god yeah! I forgot about the dry shampoo! Every fricking month...