Birchbox January 2015 Review & $10 in Free Points

Birchbox time! To be honest, I wasn’t too excited when I logged into my account earlier this month and saw the contents of my January box. It all just looked… well, boring I guess. So how did I feel about it now that I’ve gotten the box? Read on!

Oh, if you’re new to Birchbox, it’s basically a monthly subscription box that sends you 4-5 grooming, beauty, and lifestyle samples for just $10/month. When you sign up you take a style quiz and they send you products that best fit your profile. Both well-known and up-and-coming brands are included, all in generously sized multi-use samples.

Their rewards program is easily one of the best around. You earn points for reviewing your samples, referring friends, and purchasing full sized products. Each review is worth 10 points and referrals are 50 points. Every 100 points gives you $10 to spend in their shop. The points rack up fast and there’s no limit to how many you can earn. The shop is full of great products including candles, cosmetics, home accessories, tea, chocolate, and lots more goodies. Since each box contains at least 5 samples, you’ll already be racking up 50 points after you review them. So it’s sort of like paying $5 per box instead of $10, since you get that $5 in store credit. Nice!

Let’s see what’s in the box already!

The box itself was bright and colorful this month, which was nice. I’ve heard that Birchbox has recommended that everyone save all of their boxes this year for some undisclosed reason. (Ooh, a mystery!) I save mine already anyway, so now I won’t feel so silly doing so.

Such a fun looking box, right?

The info card. All of the prices are for full sized versions of the products. All of the items in the box were sample sized.

Essentiel Elements Wake Up Rosemary Body Lotion ($3.57) – Subscribers were able to choose from 3 different lotions for January’s box. I went with this one because I LOVE the scent of rosemary. This does smell nice, but it also has an unexpected medicinal scent mixed in there too. (Menthol-ish?) The info card says mint, but I’m not getting that at all. It’s not bad, per say, just… different.

Number 4 Hair Care Non-Aerosol Hairspray ($4.48) – This hairspray includes plant-based ingredients and comes in an eco-friendly, non-aerosol bottle. I rarely (almost never) use hairspray, so I’m not too thrilled to receive this one. Between Birchbox and Ipsy, I’ve got more than enough to last me for… ever.

Sumita Color Contrast Eyeliner ($5?) – I couldn’t find this exact shade online, so I’m guessing on the value. Also, it’s probably about half the size of the the full one (maybe smaller?). At first I was bummed out by the color, but then I read that it’s supposed to be used in addition to your regular liner as a contrast color. I suppose I’ll give it a try then? Ehh…

Juliette Has a Gun Not a Perfume ($1.31) – I don’t normally wear perfume, but this one isn’t too bad. It’s made of one single note (Cetalox) and is totally allergen-free. I’m horrible at describing non-fruity scents, so I really can’t tell you much except that it’s not fruity. Or floral. If that helps. 😉

Dr. Jart+ Premium Beauty Balm ($5?) – I’ve never used (or had a reason to use) a BB cream, so I’m not too excited about this sample. I like to keep my skincare/makeup routine as simple as possible. Am I missing out?

While the box itself was fun and colorful this month, the actual samples inside were… not. I honestly wasn’t excited about anything. The lotion smells okay, but it’s not something I’d purchase again on my own. Ah well, can’t win ’em all, right? At least the value was decent… Roughly $19. Plus, after I rate the products on their site I’ll have $5 in Birchbox points to use to buy more colorful things. 😉

If you’d like to sign up for Birchbox, new customers can get 100 points when you sign up with this link and use coupon code “bbstore100“– 100 points is equal to $10.00 to spend in their shop. Since the box itself is $10/month, it’s like getting your first one for FREE!

Disclosure: I purchased this box on my own. I was not compensated in any way. All opinions are my own. Post may contain affiliate/referral links.