Birchbox Subscription Box Review & Coupon - May 2015

The May Birchbox is curated by blogger Emily Schuman from Cupcakes & Cashmere. The pattern on the box is cute, and the color combination reminds me of orange creamsicles! This month is a bit special because I decided to let Birchbox (or Cupcakes & Cashmere) choose everything for me. I've been selecting samples or getting pre-curated boxes, so I was curious what items they would send if I left it open.

Read more Birchbox reviews.

The box comes with a card detailing all of the items. The prices reflect the full-size products, not the sample versions in the box.

Product: amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo (0.75 oz)
Retail Value: $3.11

The amika dry shampoo contains natural rice starch to absorb excess oil and dirt that weighs hair down. It is free of talc, and safe for color treated hair. I didn't start sampling with dry shampoo until I received them in my subscription boxes. This one works just as well as other ones I've tried.

Product: Coastal Scents Revealed 3 Eyeshadow Quad (0.08 oz)
Retail Value: $1.60

The sampler I received is called Desert Bloom. In terms of makeup, I use eyeshadows the most, so I'm glad Birchbox selected this sample for me. In addition, all of the shades are great since I use pinks and browns very frequently. I don't leave makeup on for extended periods of time (8 hours at most), and I haven't had any issues with Coastal Scents. I read some reviews that the color doesn't last as long, so I thought I'd mention my experiences.

Product: Marcelle Hydra-C 24H Energizing Hydrating Gel (0.24 oz)
Retail Value: $3.39

Although the description says hypo-allergenic, the ingredient list shows red 4, which I believe can cause allergic reactions in some people. I don't have much allergy issues, but wanted to point that out in case anyone is interested in trying this product. I'm not familiar with the Marcelle brand, and learned that it is from Canada from the label. This is a 24-hour hydrating gel to fight against dryness. It has a jelly-like texture and is not greasy to the touch. So far, it seems to keep my skin moisturized. However, I wash my face twice a day, so it gets washed off before the 24 hour mark.

Product: Juice Beauty Stem Cellular CC Cream with SPF 30 (0.17 oz)
Retail Value: $3.90

This is a 12-in-1 multi-tasking CC cream (color correcting) with SPF 30.  I am completely in love with this product. The cream applies very smoothly, evens my skintone, and leaves no residue (think pasty white sunscreen cream). It doesn't clump and is moisturizing without being super rich. I received the same cream in another subscription box, but the Desert Glow shade works much better for me.

As a side note, Juice Beauty's formulations are made without parabens, petroleum, propylene or butylene glycol, sodium lauryl sulfates, pesticides, phthalates, artificial dyes or synthetic fragrances. It's pretty hard to find a good all-in-one cream composed of natural or organic ingredients, so I'm happy Juice Beauty worked out for me!

Product: Not Soap, Radio Body Wash - Bathing with Sharks (1.2 oz)
Retail Value: $1.41

This body wash has an interesting concept. Apparently, there are various versions, and each one addresses a need or want. The one I received is "achievement through self confidence" and it's for that “competitive edge in work and/or play.” The scent I received is beach + blue sky water. It actually smells sweeter than I expected for a beach and sky fragrance. In terms of the product, it works like any other body wash.

Final Thoughts: The retail value of this box is relatively low compared to some of the past Birchboxes I've received. I paid $10 and got just over $13 worth of samples. The two products I will use are the Coastal Scents eyeshadow and the Juice Beauty CC cream. This means that only 40% of the products will be of use to me. I might be in the minority here, but I’m pretty underwhelmed by my boxes so far. I still have eight more months left in my subscription, and I’m really hoping for that wow-factor soon.