Birchbox recently launched a Birchbox Select Beta option. For $15 a month, subscribers can pick between a curated box (all samples revealed) a single sample choice, pick categories they don't want to receive or pick a Spotlight box. (Check out the full details on the Birchbox Select Beta program.)
This review is of the Sunny Day Essentials box.
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 ($15 for the Select Beta subscription reviewed here)
FLASH DEAL - While supplies last, use coupon code DOUBLEFUN to get 5 FREE mystery beauty samples 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!
Oribe Apres Beach Wave and Shine Spray - 1 oz Value $10
This wave and shine spray isn't like your typical sea spray. For one thing, it isn't made with salt water! Instead it's more of a texturizer, and it claims to add shine, too. I didn't notice any additional shine, but texturizers can often make my hair look very flat/matte, and that didn't happen with this spray.
(And of course, it's Oribe, so it smells amazing!)
Cargo Swimmables Water Resistant Bronzer in Medium - .1 oz Value $6.45
This is a waterproof bronzer with good pigment and staying power. I usually go for a matte bronzer, but this one has just a subtle amount of shimmer that works for me. Here it is swatched:
Milk Makeup Sunshine Oil - 3.4 ml Value $8.60
This item is what really drove me to pick this box. I sampled it once before thanks to Sephora Play, and became obsessed with it.
It has a light citrusy scent and absorbs quickly. And it's a fab multi-use oil. You can use for your face body or hair. I’ve been using it as a body oil and love it.
Coola Classic Sunscreen SPF 30 Cucumber Moisturizer - 7 ml Value $4.50
Coola samples are always tiny (which is a bummer), but I'm still always happy to see them in a box because I love their formulas. They are made with organic ingredients, absorb well, and the best part? The scent! Every Coola scent smells exactly like how you'd hope it would! My favorites are the tropical cocktail scents, but this cucumber fragrance is nice and refreshing!
Arrow Endure Water Resistant Mascara - .12 oz Value $9
This formula is from Birchbox's Arrow line - paraben-free, vegan multitasking products that are perfect for your gym bag, vacation bag, etc. I've liked some of their other products I've sampled, but this mascara just wasn't for me. It didn't give me the dramatic length or volume I wanted, and it didn't have a natural look either.
Verdict: This box has a value of about $38 - that's good for a $15 beauty box. I appreciate that Birchbox offers curated collections each month, but I'd love to see them include a full-size item in each of these $15 boxes to help justify the extra $5 cost.
What do you think of the August Birchbox Select Beta spotlight box? Are you a Birchbox Select Beta member?
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