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1.24.2014

My January 2014 Birchbox Review


Each month now, I've been receiving my beauty subscription boxes and I have to admit lately I've just been so disappointed. I feel like when beauty boxes first were starting out they really cared about the customers and they provided good sized samples of products that we actually wanted to use. I remember watching unboxing videos on Youtube when Glossybox had just started out and the products were actually really nifty and people were pleasantly surprised and it drew us in as customers. Now, I feel like the companies are just using us for money like everyone else and they don't really try to focus on what we want but rather how they can save money and take ours at the same time. I know that this may seem a little brutally harsh but I'm just so disappointed by these subscription boxes because as a beauty enthusiast I count on companies such as Birchbox or Glossybox to help the industry rather than make us feel like sell outs. I actually have canceled my Birchbox subscription now and I know it was a month too soon because the Porefessional was featured in the January box however, it just wasn't worth it for me anymore. How do you guys feel about these beauty subscription boxes? Are you really receiving products you want to use or is everything being shoved into a drawer and forgotten? 

This was actually December's box but as some of you know the Birchbox only ships to the UK at the moment and my good friend Jack had been offering to send the box my way each month. I have to say I'm pretty disappointed with the items this month. It came with another skincare item from NAOBAY and I just don't like this company. I'm not a big fan of their products, I just don't think they appeal to me one bit and this Moisturizing Milk Cleanser just smells gross. I am so put off by products when they have an iffy stench and these always do. My question is why do Birchbox keep providing this brand pretty much every month? I don't understand it. I also received a Citrus Shower Gel from the company Korres and it's not too shabby. I don't really have any complaints and I'm not picky with my shower gels. I would just like to point out that last month Glossybox actually provided a Body Shop Shower Gel sample and although it was significantly smaller than this one, it was way better. The Body Shop is known for their bath and body products and I just had to subliminally compare these two and would opt for the Body Shop brand. My box also came with a Number 4 Non-Aerosol Hairspray and I actually will be giving this to my grandmother because I do not use hairspray. I guess it's all fine and dandy that they're providing a non-aerosol one however, it didn't really peek my interest. The only makeup product provided in my box was a Jane Iredale Cheek and Lip Stain and this thing is absolutely tiny. I mean, it's just itty bitty. The colour is a simple pale pink and it may be a wonderful product but I don't even feel like there's enough for me to test and find out if I actually like this lip and cheek stain. Lastly, and to be honest, the only product I really enjoyed in this box would be my Twistband and that's so silly because it's just a hair scrunchy type thingy-mabob. I have been wanting to try one of these out and am impressed by the fact that they hold up my hair and don't pull out as much. I've been working out a lot lately and the scrunchies I was using just pulled at my hair and it was incredibly uncomfortable so, this was a refreshing alternative. 

All in all, my box was a dud, again! I just think I might be quitting the beauty box subscription service for a while now. I think that my money could easily be spent elsewhere on products that I will actually be using. I know that a lot of bloggers are on a spending ban right now and these subscription services just aren't benefiting my savings at all. I do still have my subscription to Glossybox and that will remain active for now but I'm really not sure about any of this anymore. 

What are your opinions on beauty subscription boxes? Are you subscribed to any different boxes I should maybe try out? Did you enjoy your Birchbox this month? Let me know, down bellow!

Stefanie xx 
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13 comments:

  1. A colleague of mine gets a beauty box from You Beauty which looks great, she pays £6.95 a month (that's including the delivery) and she gets to pick two products she wants each month and then gets a few extras thrown in. The sizes she gets are always really generous and just before Christmas she got a full size Neo Stem eye cream which was worth £50.

    I'm thinking of cancelling my Birchbox subscription and going over to this one instead but I'm going to give it one more chance. If you fancied seeing the January box, I've reviewed it on my blog. I was less than thrilled!!!

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    1. I might have to look into You Beauty since they sound so affordable. Thanks for the lovely suggestion Laura and I've canceled mine personally but wish you the best with yours. It's such a shame they aren't that good anymore.

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  2. I've never tried birchbox but I really love Glossy Box their products are always amazing

    Emma from http://www.masqueradebelle.co.uk

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  3. Some of these products I have been wanting to try good to know!

    
With A City Dream


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  4. I have never tried Birchbox before but I wish I could! It's not available where I live which is such a shame!
    xx
    Celina | The Celution | Bloglovin’

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  5. im not subbed to any beauty boxes, i think its too much of a gamble and id rather buy one full size product that i like than get six 'meh' ones. i enjoy some of the products though!

    from Brigitte at // BreezeyBee Blog | BlogLovin'

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  6. I feel the same as you, the majority of products I received in beauty boxes weren't being used, so I unsubscribed x

    lamourjosie.com

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  7. I love the idea of the beauty boxes and have been sub'd to glossy for about 7 months now, slowly but surely they've gotten really bad. This months box was SHOCKINGLY bad. I hope they up their game again at some point because the whole idea is so good! x

    Jamie-Lee | Glitter Infatuation | Beauty & Lifestyle Blog!

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  8. such a nice wishlist *_* I would wear this for the valentine`s day :) your blog is very lovely and interesting. im glad if you visit my blog, too <3 keep in touch!

    xx
    beauthi.blogspot.com

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  10. Ohh this is such a shame! I was going to subscribe this month before Febs box is due but now I don't know if it wil be worth it! Eek! Lovely blog though hun will be following you :) x

    Chloe xxx

    Chloesboutiquexo.blogspot.com
    twitter/chloesboutiquex

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