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. (Birchbox subscribers can currently buy this box for $10 in the Birchbox shop!)
My Subscription Addiction pays for this subscription. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes).
The Subscription Box: Birchbox
The Cost: $10 a month (get one month free and $10 to spend in the shop with an annual subscription!)
FLASH DEAL - While supplies last, use coupon code MODELCO to get a FREE ModelCo Lip Lacquer Trio with your first month of a Birchbox 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!
Each box comes with a card detailing the items included and some tips on how to use them.
Now onto the items!
MAC False Lashes Extreme Black Mascara - Size? Value $5?
I had big hopes for this mascara based on the name and the brand, but it really fell short for me. I wasn't impressed with the length or volume, and it wasn't the best at preventing lash clumps, either!
Ouai Wave Spray - 1 oz Value $5.20
If you are looking for a "sea salt spray" that doesn't actually contain salt, this is it! This texturizing spray doesn't add weight, but helps give you that beach wave look. (Word of caution - Ouai products are heavily fragranced in my opinion.)
Manna Kadar Glow Illuminator - 8 ml Value $11.60
Subscription boxes, brought to you by Manna Kadar! (JK, but seriously I think this brand has reached the saturation point in subscription boxes by now!)
In the defense of Manna Kadar, this product is new to me and I like it! It's a rose gold illuminator that blends out really well. I mixed it with my liquid foundation and it gave me a subtle, dewy finish.
Here it is swatched:
(Blended out a bit on the lower swatch.)
COOLA SPF 50 Sport Fresh Mango - 10 ml Value $2.16
This is a smaller SPF sample, but it is definitely enough to convince you that you need to buy the full-size version! This smells exactly like a mango! (They have other fantastic tropical fruit scents, too).
COOLA is definitely on the pricey side of sunscreens, but if you value the organic ingredients and the scents, it's worth it!
Clarins UV Plus - 3 ml Value $2.50
This was a disappointing sample size. The product itself felt luxe and absorbed into my skin almost immediately. The scent is fab, too. But this tiny little tube is about 80% air!
Verdict: This box has a value of about $26.50 - that's good for a $10 beauty box. In most cases, the curated box has a good value, so I recommend always picking it if that's a priority for you. While the retail value was good for me this month, some of the products were a bust. (But that's part of the great thing of Birchbox, right? I can sample something and realize it's not for me instead of buying the full-size verison only to be disappointed and out money.)
What do you think of the May Birchbox? Did you pick a curated box or a sample?
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