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Birchbox Curated Box Review + Coupon – November 2016

Liz Cadman
ByLiz CadmanNov 14, 2016 | 10 comments

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Birchbox
3.7 overall rating
657 Ratings | 188 Reviews

Every month, Birchbox lets subscribers pick between a curated box (all samples revealed) or a single sample choice and be surprised by the rest of the items. This review is of the curated box.

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

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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, FranceSpain and the UK

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

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

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Now onto the items!

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ARDENCY INN MODSTER Smooth Ride Supercharged Eyeliner - .028 oz Value $14

This eyeliner is over half the size of the full-size version and considering I've never actually finished an eyeliner, it might as well be full-sized as far as I'm concerned!

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This eyeliner goes on like a creamy crayon, and it's super pigmented. I'm impressed with the formula - it DOES NOT BUDGE!

Just keep that in mind once when applying it!

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(Swatched in lower photo.)

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Balance Me Tinted Wonder Eye Cream - 5 ml Value $11

This eye cream is more tinted than I was expecting. It's almost more of a makeup product to me than an eye cream. Here it is swatched below the eyeliner:

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I think this would be a good product for anyone who prefers to go light on makeup but still wants some dark circle coverage!

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Benefit They’re Real! Lengthening Mascara - .1 oz Value $8

I’ve received this sample many times in subscription boxes over the years, and I’m always happy to receive more – it is a great formula!

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Good volume, length, and lash separation – no complaints here! (This is my backup mascara to my all-time favorite tarte Lights Camera Lashes.)

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Juliette Has a Gun Not a Perfume - 1.7 ml Value $3.40

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This perfume is described as a minimalist scent, and I think that's perfect for my fragrance tastes!

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Number 4 Jour d’Automne Smoothing Balm - 1 oz Value $5.90

Number 4 is a brand that is often featured in Birchboxes, and the good news is that I like it, so I'm OK with that! This smoothing balm works on either dry or damp hair, and I like that the scent isn't your typical floral hair care fragrance.

I tried it out on dry hair, and it made my hair softer and less frizzy without adding any weight!

 

Verdict: This box has a value of about $42.30 - that's great for a $10 beauty box. In most cases, the curated box has a good value, so I recommend always picking it if you want a good value compared to the cost.

What do you think of the November Birchbox? Did you pick a curated box or a sample?

Starting at $22.00
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Birchbox was one of the very first beauty subscription boxes—we’ve been reviewing it since 2012! Each month, subscribers get a new mix of 5 beauty samples, such as makeup, skincare, haircare, and fragrance items. Birchbox lets you choose whether you’d like a box of items picked just for you (incl... read more.

Liz Cadman
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!

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10 comments

Jay

I canceled my subscription with them in Oct, thankfully! Walmart has better beauty boxes, lol… In every box for the 6 months (waste of $60!) they sent me face and hair products/packets (even though I checked I do not want those things) broken blush, a broken eye shadow, melted mini lip stick, broken pencils, an empty dr.lipp product etc.. all broken, junk… the biggest sample was the milk cheek/lip product – which I didn’t care for…

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Kaitlynn Marie

I didn’t go with the curated box because I have the Benefit mascara, the modster eyeliner, I got the tinted eye cream anyway, hate getting perfume from anything other than Sephora, and I’m still growing my hair out from shaving it a few months ago so I don’t need a hair thing. I’m pretty happy with what I did get though, except the dry shampoo. hopefully they’ll take the hint after another bad review.

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April

The Not a Perfume didn’t smell bad, per say, but it reminded me of body odor. It was fresh, light, and clean smelling. It just didn’t interact well with my system, I guess. If that makes any sense. Lol

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Marie

I had wanted to try it, but didn’t want the curated box and ended up getting that for free with my sephora order. It was very “musky” to me and after reading all the reviews where it was said it went on like one note and turned into an “expensive” scent left me disappointed. Probably just my body chemistry as well.

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Mel

I want to love birchbox, but in my three months of subscribing, I’ve got a black eyeliner in every box.

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Alyce

I feel the box was smaller in size and lighter. My samples were extremely tiny. Benefit eyebrow pencil is less than half the length of my pinky finger. The “Orange Zen” blush sample could hardly fit a Q-tip into the opening. I have a sub til March, too bad as I love the brands and product choice, it’s the tiny size that is disappointing.

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Kaitlyn

Anyone else feel like the box wasn’t as quality as usual? It was beautiful but not as sturdy!

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Mel

I’ve been disappointed with BirchBox for the past several months (and I’ve been a subscriber for two plus years). The perfume given out in the November box was the same one I received several months back. And I’ve received the same product for several other items too. Also, a couple of items (ex. foundation) were not full either.
I’ve always enjoyed my boxes, because it’s great to try new products without buying the full size. But I think the quality of the boxes overall has gone down. I may not renew my subscription next March.

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Marion

I adore the Modster eyeliners. I love that they come in some really fun, unique shades other than black, too. I’ve been hoarding samples since I joined the swap site!

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Randi

There’s a new “Good as Gold” LE box!! I think it might only be available for Aces right now… not sure, I couldn’t find it online, but was able to purchase it through the email link 🙂
lots of gold in it of course!

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