Birchbox Review & Coupon – September 2014

ByLiz CadmanSep 14, 2014 | 40 comments

Birchbox Review & Coupon - September 2014 Fashionista

Birchbox is one of the original beauty subscription boxes, and one of my personal favorites. (I've discovered so many new brands through this subscription, and their rewards program is the best!)

Birchbox Review & Coupon - September 2014 Pattern

My Subscription Addiction pays for this subscription. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes).

Birchbox Review & Coupon - September 2014 First Look

Recently Birchbox started a pick-your-sample program. You get to pick one of the samples for your box each month. (You'll get a reminder to pick via your email). This month I decided to go with the Fashionista box.

Birchbox Review & Coupon - September 2014 Items

The Subscription Box: Birchbox

The Cost: $10 a month (get one month free and $10 to spend in the shop with an annual subscription!)

The Products: Beauty and lifestyle samples selected by the Birchbox team.

Ships to: US, France, Spain and the UK

Check out all of my Birchbox reviews and the Beauty Subscription Box Directory!

Birchbox Review & Coupon - September 2014 Info

Each box comes with a card detailing the items included and some tips on how to use them.

Birchbox Review & Coupon - September 2014 Bonus

This box also came with a reminder card to grab your free bonus box with any order of $50 or more. (If you take advantage of this offer make sure to get your free Mystery Sample Pack too!)

Birchbox Review & Coupon - September 2014 Macadamia

Macadamia Professional Flawless Cleansing Conditioner - 3 oz Value $15

dr. brandt pores no more blackhead extractor mask - .25 oz Value $11.25

Yay for giant sample sizes! This Cleansing Conditioner is suds-free and supposed to replace your shampoo and conditioner. It gets great reviews on Birchbox, so I'm excited to try it!

And I've liked the other dr. brandt products I've used, so I have high hopes for this blackhead extractor mask. (And I love that it turns color when it is time to wash it off!)

Birchbox Review & Coupon - September 2014 Cynthia

Cynthia Rowley Beauty Silver Eyeliner - .03 oz Value $12

Laura Mercier Full Blown Volume Supreme Mascara - .2 oz Value $14.25

When it comes to eye products like mascara and eyeliner I'm always happy with deluxe sizes like these because the mascara won't dry out before I'm done using it, and I don't need a full size amount of silver eyeliner!

Birchbox Review & Coupon - September 2014 Naobay

Naobay Body Radiance Lotion - 30 ml Value $3

I've sampled this lotion before and I'm happy to have more of it! It's made with organic and natural ingredients, and it has a wonderful lemongrass scent!

Verdict: I think this may be one of my best Birchboxes ever! I paid $10 for this box and received over $55 worth of products! (Plus no perfume samples or foil packets!) And I'm happy with the brands too. (And I love the new box packaging!)

What did you get from Birchbox this month?

Posted in Beauty Subscription Boxes, Subscription Box Reviews, Subscription Boxes for Women

Liz Cadman

Liz is the founder of My Subscription Addiction. She's been hooked on subscription boxes since 2011 thanks to Birchbox, and she now subscribes to over 100 boxes. Her favorites include POPSUGAR Must Have, FabFitFun, and any box that features natural beauty products!

Read More By Liz Cadman >

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40 comments

RachelJ

I love Birchbox!! They have amazing customer service. I signed up for another year! Great stuff too, alot of full size lately. Nothing but love for them!!

Aimee

I subscribed and got the 100 bonus points but how do I redeem them?

Chandi collins

I got the exact same box & love it all. Is Ipsy worth a try?

Val

I LOVE this
stuff!!!!!

Lola

YES! I subscribe to Ipsy and love it! You will too, especially if you favor makeup samples to skincare and hair care. Ipsy usually gives more makeup, many times full-sized.

Gina

I still haven’t received the option to choose my sample. I also would like to use this coupon code for point! But my profile page curiously does not show the “cancel my subscription” link? It used to be there… any guesses where it is??

Gina

I’ve been a member for over two years! I still haven’t heard anything from customer service about it but they usually are slow on that

Sneaky Burrito

I wasn’t getting any e-mails from Birchbox about anything (promotions, shipping notices, sample pick e-mails, etc.). I went in to my account and changed my e-mail preferences and I have started getting messages from them again. I am hoping this will change my sample pick problem.

PA Anna

Gina – How new is your account? October sample choices, if they are doing them, should be available sometime next week.

I wasn’t able to select for my first 2 boxes because when I signed up it was near the end of the month allowing for a welcome box to ship. Then the following box shipped a little later to allow time for samples to be used. It was my 3rd box that allowed me to choose a sample.

Karen

Is anyone having any luck with the BONUSBOX code? I just got my box yesterday & the code doesn’t work for me. Hardly seems fair. 🙁

Lezzles

I’m confused on how to chose which box you want. I only get one choice when I check out :/

Sneaky Burrito

Sample selection is only open for a short time, towards the end of the month. If you subscribe today, you’d get a random September box and then later in the month, if they do sample/box selection again for October, you’d get an e-mail reminding you to choose a sample for October. (Make sure you are set to receive e-mails from them; mine previously disappeared off into the ether but I think I got that setting fixed.)

Cindy

Can someone explain to me how to use the ‘favorites’ function within Birchbox please? I have tried everything I can think of and, clearly, their logic is not the same as my logic.

Thanks!

Emily

Cindy, if you go to the product page for the specific product you want to favorite, you’ll see a heart icon and “Add to Favorites” next to the “Add to Cart” button.

Alison

I went to redeem the BONUS BOX like an hour after you posted this, since I had a ton of stuff I needed to get. Either the code is not working or its already sold out. Not cool, Birchbox.

SkullieBowPeep

Admittedly, I am like some of the others and disappointed with my box this month. This is my 4th Birchbox and by far least favorite to date. 🙁 It was the first time I even watched the teaser videos, so I had my eye set on a few items, but I got “nothing” that I wanted. Most of my items are being listed for swap (still a plus) or being given as gifts.

Without a doubt I need to be a bit quicker on the sample picking next time around!

Anuja

I am so disappointed with my box this month. I have received everything in this box in the past. The sheet detailing my items was wrong and didn’t match a single product. Makes me wonder if they sent me the wrong box! I will be contacting Birchbox to inquire.

Sarah

Wow a box where

Leilana

Quick question: I cancelled my subscription when I saw there was a new code for 100 points with your subscription. I would like re-subscribe in time to pick a sample for October’s box, but without receiving a duplicate September box. Does anyone know if this can be done, and if so, when should I re-subscribe? TIA!

Sneaky Burrito

Just do it now.

If you have already gotten one box in a month, you won’t get another. You can literally resubscribe the second after you cancel and not get a repeat box. (I know from personal experience.)

As long as you are subscribed in advance of the PYS date, you should be fine.

Leilana

So happy I picked the Fashionista box this month! Been dying to try the Macadamia conditioning dry shampoo as I only wash my hair twice a week to preserve my color and use dry shampoos and leave in conditioners the other 5 days. Also love Dr. Brandt items and have never tried this mask yet, so that’s another win. I will definitely swap the lotion as pretty much every box I receive seems to have a hand or body lotion in it! I have blond lashes, so I can never have too many mascaras, and I don’t have a silver eyeliner yet, so this is probably the most excited I’ve been about a Birchbox yet!

Sunny

Leilana, how did you choose your box? I just got the monthly box and it was not nearly as awesome as yours,,,,is there a certain time frame to choose? Any assistance would be much appreciated. Thanks!

Leilana

Hey Sunny. Recently Birchbox started letting us pick one sample a month, last month they offered the opportunity to pick one sample for your regular box or the pick the Fashionista box, which I went with just because I had been wanting to try the Macadamia Cleansing Dry Conditioner. Was glad I did! I heard they ran out of that option pretty quick, so I guess I was lucky and got to the site quick last month. 🙂

Sneaky Burrito

I must be like one of the only people out there with colored hair who shampoos every day. I hate the feeling that cleansing conditioners leave me with and I work out and sweat almost every day and I can’t imagine not washing that out. My color doesn’t fade, either (maybe it stays because I have naturally-light hair that I dye black, so it stains?). I just have to get touch-ups because my hair grows really fast and you start to be able to see roots after awhile.

Misha

I got this box on my aces account, haven’t received yet though. On my other account I got the pixi balm, Liz earle cleanse and polish, davines oi shampoo with conditioner and hair milk foil extras, Jouer luminizing bb cream and a juicy perfume sample. Probably two of my best boxes. Especially due to the davines which gave me 3 extra reviews

Brandy

I signed back up but late so my box just shipped Friday. I received the Pixi lip balm tinted full size, the ofra universal eye brow pencil full size, a moisturiser sample $28.50 value I forget the name but not the Seseildo. Nice size though. I also received Ruffian nail polish in a nude color with a remover cloth and #4 spray detailing conditioner. Several brands I’ve been wanting to try. I would have loved to try Liz Earle but I’ll save up Birchbox points for it. I would also like to try more Dr brandt, jouer, and all the popular items I haven’t tried yet. I’m so happy to get several full sizes this month and items I’ve been wanting to try. I hope over the months I get to sample more face cleansers. The only ones I’ve yet to sample as Skin care marked is Suki 2uses) and one other brand. With this great box, I’m wishing I chose two this month but am now low on funds. I’m still waiting on my box so will let you guys know how I like everything! 🙂

May

I got the Liz earl and not that interested in it. (I felt special they sent me 2 choose s items tho and the samples are huge!) Are you on MSA sample swap? Or email me [email protected]

Maggie

My last 2 boxes have not been good. This box may have added up to $15.00.. My Ipsy has been way better.

Brandy

The pixi alone is $7 + 28.50 for the moisturizer and $13 for the brow pencil and I’m not sure the size of the nail polish and #4 spray but this box for me has to be worth $50-65. My best box to date. 🙂

Brooke

Nice box… especially the dr brandt and the macadamia! (Though I have enough mascaras, eyeliners, and body lotion samples to sink a ship…)

I’m even more jazzed about my 2 boxes (which weirdly are not here yet – usually BB ships very fast…)

Box 1:
I chose Shiseido which I am SUPER excited about! Also getting: Temptu highlighter, pixi lip balm, Davines oil (LOVE hair oil), bonus Davines shampoo/conditioner (bonus reviews!), and Yu-Be skin cream.

Box 2:
Chose Liz Earle hot cloth cleanser which I am also SUPER excited about!!! Also getting: Dr Jart mask, perlier body cream, Cynthia Rowley eyeliner, and a perfume sample.

I feel like BB knocked it out of the park this month! I’m happy with both boxes. 🙂

MARY JANE VEN

What is the best way not to receive duplicate items if you sign up for more than one subscription?

Brooke

So far I just make 2 different picks (this month shiseido and liz earle) and I get 2 completely different boxes. But I can’t guarantee that that will always happen…. there may be overlaps sometime I guess….

Christina

I was really happy with my box this month, so far for the price and getting to get money back Birchbox is my fav sub. I picked the Macadamia Oil Spray, and then got a Temptu highlighter, the Tocca hand cream, Harvey Prince Hello perfume sample (which I did like), the Avene Gel Cleanser and also got a bonus Chapstick (can never have enough of those!).

Jillian D

I FINALLY got the pixi lip balm I was dying to try. I chose the Shishiedo product without realizing that one of the first ingredients was methylparaben. So much for that. I got a perfume sample. I hate perfume samples. The Tocca hand cream, which I had previously purchased in one of their LE boxes. The Tocca creams are STRONGLY perfumed. It’s too much for my nose to handle. The liquid loofah is quite nice and smells pretty great. I also got shampoo and conditioner foil packs as extras. I’m a little irritated because I got shampoo and conditioner 5 months out of the last 7 and each and every one has NOT been safe for color treated hair even though they swear up and down that it is. This particular conditioner has different kinds of alcohol listed as ingredients 2-4. So upside, I got to give 7 reviews and earn 70 points for stuff I want, but 2/3 of this box was a big miss. FYI: I tried asking them to put a note in my file to lay off the shampoo and conditioner for awhile and they said they were unable to do that.

Leilana

I feel the same way about the shampoo samples! I have color treated hair, using vibrant colors (violet and fuschia) and absolutely cannot use shampoos other than the brand that makes my color (Pravana), if I want to keep my color for any amount of time. I can use any kind of conditioner I want, and deep conditioners are always welcome, but I am so sick of receiving shampoo samples every month that I cannot use!

Jillian D

Leilana, I feel you. I dye my hair red and red fades FAST. Especially if you don’t use the appropriate products. I only shampoo once a week. I also only use Nature’s Gate shampoo and conditioner that I get at whole foods for $8 a bottle. It’s organic and free from all the garbage that would destroy my color and dry out my hair. I would NEVER pay $22 for shampoo and conditioner unless it was so miraculous I never had to color my hair ever again.

I was a little bit frustrated with customer service. I KNOW the ladies that work there that color their hair aren’t using shampoo and conditioner with sulfates/parabens/alcohols/whatever. Why have the question about whether or not you color your hair if you’re not going to send products that are safe for that?

I don’t quit because I love the points. I can afford things I normally wouldn’t be able to because of coupon code/points combos. I did sign up for Sample Society when they revamped a few months ago and I’ve been LOVING it. The Caviar Repair is my new favorite hair product of all time. I highly recommend.

I also just subscribed to the MSA Quarterly Box and I’m SO excited because I know Liz feels the same way I do about sulfates and parabens and all the other terrible stuff that can wind up in your beauty products.

Emily

Glad I picked the davines conditioner there were only two products in your box I kinda wanted to try I also got the Juliette has a gun fragrance sample ( don’t like perfume samples) temptu highlighter, avene cleansing gel which is a really good size, and caudalie vinoperfect radience serum I was excited when the box felt heavy and most things were a really good size

Jennifer

I wanted the Fashionista birchbox, but it was sold out by the time I could pick (as a non-ace). GREAT BOX! Much better than the previous month’s special collab birchbox. I really want to try the Dr. Brant vacuum cleaner.

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Birchbox Review & Coupon – September 2014

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