My Replacement Birchbox {July 2016}

So if you didn’t see my original Birchbox July 2016 Unboxing, I was a little disappointed that I got a totally different box design and was part of the small test group that Birchbox did seeing how a more standard design appealed to their customers (aka, if they could do it without another backlash to cut costs). I contacted them mostly asking about it and expected maybe a few points my way, but what actually happened was they sent me a brand new box with the July design on it… and it was filled with new products!

and I like it better than the original box of samples I was sent!

PLEASE NOTE: Birchbox recently went through a huge change in their points system that changed the value in the eyes of many subscribers. If you have not heard about these changes or have any questions about them remaining, please see my post on it here, and feel free to ask me anything you’re unsure of and I’ll do my best to answer with what I’ve found and experienced since the changes. Countries outside of the US may still have the old points system, and you should check the information for your specific country to be sure. – I will continue to link to these changes in my reviews.

About Birchbox: Birchbox is a $10/month subscription box filled with 5-7 beauty & samples every month, delivered to your door in an adorable and reusable box. You will primarily receive deluxe samples, with a few full size products every month or so. You fill out a profile and your beauty preferences, style, and demographics are matched to a pre-made box combination of products that they think best fits you – that contains items you haven’t received from them before. You can earn points to redeem in their store by referring friends (50 points = $5.00) or making purchases from their store. (1 point per $1.00 spent, 1 point = $0.10). New subscribers can earn $5.00 credit for reviewing their first 5 items.

What’s In The Box?

Dr. Jart+ Water Drop Hydrating Moisturizer
SAMPLE = 1 oz tube
This entire box was won when I saw this. This single sample is worth the cost of the box.. and this was a replacement. But I digress. I’m a huge Dr. Jart+ and dr. brandt fan. I really LOVE high quality skincare, but I just don’t have the budget for it right now, and until I nail down my favorites and want to stop trying things, I’m not going to be spending a ton. But this? You know how the Smashbox photo finish primer looks and feels? That’s about the texture of this moisturizer. It’s a glossy foggy gel rather than a cream, and I’d never used a gel moisturizer before! Though I was told it’s good for oily skin (told = the internet told me so, so it must be true) and so far it’s turned out to be very nice and kept me from feeling like my face was melting.
Rating: 5/5
Sample Value: $10.90
My Value: $5.50
Will I buy it? I want to… if I get a budget… maybe, but the price is kinda high.
Full Size Price: $36.00

Balance Me Radiance Face Mask
SAMPLE = 0.5 oz tube
<<the goofy selfie from my first Birchbox with this mask: aka: Birchbox & The Wrong Box July 2016>>
The only duplicate from my other box! And it’s something I enjoy using! I’m not sure yet if I’ll be keeping this or sending it to the bf in a little skincare care-package to help with the disastrous Florida heat. This definitely softens my skin and makes it look very even and radiant. It also takes down a bit of redness from breakouts visible by the next morning.
Rating: 3.5/5
Sample Value: $6.80
My Value: $2.50
Will I buy it? I won’t buy it for my own needs and budget, but it is a very nice mask.
Full Size Price: $34.00

Smashbox X-Rated Mascara
SAMPLE = 0.10 oz tube
OK, here’s the thing. I really, really love this mascara. BUT… It smells AWFUL. Like actually chemically awful. I got it from Ipsy and checked with them to make sure it wasn’t expired and nope, it really does smell that AWFUL. Eyes watering awful. And I still used it. My open one isn’t even a month old, and… I got a Stye (red hard-ish tender and swollen section on rim of eye, for those who don’t know) the first day I’d worn makeup in a week… and it was using that mascara. Sooo I’m hesitant. I’m not saying this caused it. It also could be that I applied too close to the bottom lash or got it actually on my lash, or the concealer, or the eyeliner. Or any of a thousand things. But I’m going to pass this extra tube on unopened… and think about whether I’m going to keep using my other one. I might. But I love my BTS Waterproof too and they’ll expire at the same time.
Rating: 4/5
Sample Value: $7.33
My Value: $5.50
Will I buy it? No, the smell is just bad. Not unusable, but bad.
Full Size Price: $22.00 (anyone know the oz for full size of this?)

LOC Ultra-Gloss Lip Pencil in Punch Line
FULL SIZE
Alright. So this is my first LOC pencil. I’ve had one other product (well, I had 2 of it from 2 different accounts) from Birchbox’s other self-launched brand Arrow and wasn’t a fan, let’s see about this. Okay.. not bad. Glossy pencil. Accurate name. Decent fruit punch color. Doesn’t smell bad. I’ll have to test it for wear time, but initial impression isn’t bad! It’ll probably be in my Friday #100DaysofMakeup update!
Rating: 4/5 initial impression
Sample Value: $12.00
My Value: $2.99
Will I buy it? TBD
Full Size Price: $12.00

Molinard Muguet (lily of the valley) Eau de Parfum
SAMPLE = 0.05 oz vial (estimated)
WOW. The 2nd best perfume I’ve ever gotten from Birchbox wasn’t even tailored to me. Freaking WOW. No musk even on the palette. This smells flirty and fruity and playful and I will ACTUALLY USE THIS. It was actually semi messed up in the box so the box smells like it but for as often as I wear perfume I don’t even care and 97%+ is still left. It’s a tad strong so I may actually water it down.
Rating: 4.75/5
Sample Value: $1.42
My Value: $0.99
Will I buy it? I don’t purchase perfumes, but I’ll use it!
Full Size Price: $60.00

Box Summary

Box Cost: $10.00/box (I received this as a free replacement)
Box Rating: 4.5
Full Size Products: 1   Deluxe Samples: 4   Foils: 0
Total Sample Value: $38.45
Total Personal Value: $17.48
+ Added Value: $0.00 in points
= Total Box Value = $17.48
Opinion: I’m VERY impressed with this replacement box. There’s nothing in here that off the bat I would get rid of if this had been my original box, and the only reasons I’m giving up my mascara is because I’m unsure if I had a reaction to it or something else, since I have my current one to test still I can give this up without fuss and work on my other samples. The mask I would keep even as a duplicate except skincare days are now something the BF and I do together and I enjoy that and I think he likes having some of the same stuff as me.

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