Monday, June 11, 2012

Birchbox - June (Jet Set theme)

I checked my mail today to find that my Birchbox had already shown up! This is earlier than I usually get it, so points for that, BB.

Now, I will warn you in advance that I knew what was in my box beforehand and I'm just not feeling this box. This is the first time this has happened to me in my year with Birchbox, so I apologize in advance if this review comes off as "blah, whatever".  I'm not saying the products are bad, by any means!

As always, Birchbox arrived in its cute pink mailer. I think my mailman groans when he sees this box each month, because it means my other subs are soon to follow. I'm pretty sure he hates me!

I noticed that the inside of the mailer, which is usually plain, has some cute travel related images on it to go along with this month's theme, which is Jet Set. Definitely a cute touch.

As mentioned, the theme this month is Jet Set, and it is a selection of products that are either travel friendly or imported from other lands. I'm not much of a jet setter, so that doesn't matter to me much, but I think it's adorable that they made the little card look like a post card!

This is one of the extras this month - it's a sample of Star USA cologne for men by John Varvatos. It's supposed to be a kind of promo for their new Birchbox Man service. I know many ladies were put off by this, but I don't mind it, as it was an extra and not one of my main box items.

I actually think it smells really good. I don't know a man who would get use out of it, so I plan to make a little sachet or air freshener out of it. This retails for $55 for 1.7 oz, so the value of this sample is about $1.29.

This is blendercleanser, made by and for the beautyblender. I think it's kind of an odd inclusion since I do not have a beautyblender, but oh well. I know it can also be used to wash brushes and other makeup tools. I generally prefer to use a gentle soap or baby shampoo, but I'll give this a try. It's strongly scented with lavender, which I don't love. The full size retails for $17.95. They don't list the sample size, but I estimate it to be about half an ounce, so the value is roughly $1.46.

...Is it just me, or is the packaging even more blah than usual?

This is literally the worst product they could have sent me this month. These are self tanning wipes by Comodynes. I HATE ANYTHING RELATED TO TANNING. Yes, I am very pale. I resent the implication that there is something wrong with being pale. I also resent the idea that anyone thinks I should put nasty chemicals on myself in order to stain my skin to make me look like I've been baking myself in the sun. Yeah, no thanks. That said, these wipes are supposed to create a uniform tan in 3 hours, and each wipe is supposed to cover the entire face and body. These retail for $14.99 for a pack of 8, so these two wipes are worth $3.75.

This is a product I actually love! It is Staniac by theBalm, in the shade Beauty Queen. This is a lip and cheek stain. It looks scary red in the tube, but it actually goes on as a nice, soft, sheer pink. It lasts all day. I really love it and would be excited about getting it...but I already have two of the full sized product. Still a great inclusion, though, and I'll be trading it for something. The full sized product is $17.00 for .3 oz, so this little sample is worth $2.27.

This is a completely new brand and product to me. It's Super Comb Prep & Protect spray by Number 4. This is a leave in conditioner, heat protectant, and UV shield. I don't generally like leave in products, as they tend to make my hair look dirty, but I'm willing to try this one out. It has a bit of a floral scent to it. It retails for $32 for the full size, so this sample is worth $6.88.

And, the other lifestyle extra - a tili bag. Which, if you can't tell, is basically a ziplock bag with a pattern on it. I don't buy plastic bags, as I find them incredibly wasteful. I usually love the lifestyle extras, but this one is just terrible. These ugly bags retail for $8.49 for 12, so this bag is worth .70 cents.

So, yeah. This is my least favorite Birchbox to date. I'm sure the products would be great for the right person, but there's just nothing in there that excites me. That said, I'm going to try out the leave-in and the blender cleanser, and maybe they'll surprise me. The rest will be traded with other ladies, who will hopefully enjoy them more than I do. This box has a value of about $16.35, which is also the least impressive box I've gotten, value-wise. 

That said, I still enjoy Birchbox, and if you haven't joined yet, you should! Here is my referral link.

What was in your June Birchbox?


10 comments:

Amy said...

I got the same exact box!

I'm excited about the stainiac and the leave in spray, but I am just not feeling the box this month. Men's cologne, tanning wipes for someone who is also pasty (yay for fair skin!) and what is essentially a glorified zip lock baggie?

Blegh. I think once I get off the MyGlam waitlist, I'm going to cancel Birchbox. Time to take a break!

yousoldtheworld said...

You'll probably love Staniac, I just don't need a 3rd one, as a little goes a long way.

I am thinking about canceling Birchbox after I get enough points to cash out for something worthwhile. It's just been going downhill, customer service wise.  This is my first box I have hated...who knows, maybe next month will change my mind.

I don't know if I want Glossybox, though, between the price and the billing issues,  and I got terrible bags from myGlam (like, laughably bad...) so I don't know where I'll get my beauty sample fix from!

Rebecca Carr said...

Haha your review of the tanning wipes made me laugh. I got a total of 4 between both of my boxes.  I think they only sent them to people who would never consider using them.  Like "oh, you have porcelain skin? Let's make you look like an oompa loompa." It's further worse that the wipes are INTENSIVE, like they couldn't have sent the less vibrant wipes they offer in the shop. I feel like some people who tan don't understand why you wouldn't want to be tan.  The preview video implied that they would mostly be sending them to pale girls, further implying that pale girls are self-conscious and have some desire to be tan like everyone else. Maybe I'm reading too much into it though. Rant over.

And I sympathize, I think we've all strongly disliked the box that we got at some point or other. And the bag is pretty ugly. I got the same one :D

I almost wish they would send me another terrible box (like my first one) so that I could have the will power to cancel just one of my subscriptions. But it's so fun to get two...

Alas, better luck next month.

yousoldtheworld said...

LOL, I'm glad I'm not the only one. I don't mind getting things like bronzers (even though they never look right on me) - you can try them on and if you don't like them, wash them right off. Self tanner is completely different, and I do not understand why they would include them! You don't see them sending out hair dye...

And yeah, I strongly disagree with marketing or advertising that implies that there is something wrong with anyone's natural skin tone, whether it be dark or light. I don't know how many times I've been told "wow, you need some sun..." Okay, in 20 years when I see you and you look like a leather saddlebag, I'll be sure to tell you "wow, you need some moisturizer..." lol :)

Ashley said...

I haven't got mine yet but I used the feedback cheat method and I'm pretty sure I'm going to be disappointed too. I guess they can't all be winners tho right? lol  Hopefully next month will be better.

Amy said...

I tested the Stainiac on my arm, and it lasts a hella long time! Impressive if it lasts that long on lips and cheeks. I've been in the market for a good stain after I was let down by Benetint.

I think I'll be buying something with my points right after I cancel. I want to take a break, but I think I'm approaching the time where my points expire.

I don't blame you for being hesitant about Glossybox--I'll probably stay another month or two and then call it quits. $21 a month, despite how great it is, is a lot of money for a surprise box of goodies. It looks like MyGlam is definitely improving a lot (both products and customer service) and I'm guessing I may be off the waitlist in time for August, so we'll see about resubscribing. I'm ready to give them another chance. Gotta have that sample fix!

Morrisa Vollmerhausen said...

I'm glad I didn't get the blendercleanser or tanning wipes.  My box was just okay this month.  Nothing special.

yousoldtheworld said...

I don't often wear Stainiac on my lips (my lips are already quite pigmented so I normally just opt for a shimmery balm or gloss) but it lasts on my cheeks all day, no problem.

I did go ahead and sign up for one Glossybox, despite my leeriness. I just couldn't resist! But it's too expensive for me to keep in the long run unless I stop getting Little Black Bag, and that's my current addiction, lol.

yousoldtheworld said...

Yeah, I had to remind myself how awesome my boxes were last month. Still might take a Birchbox break though, I just don't get as excited about it anymore.

yousoldtheworld said...

Is it sad that I would have traded anything in my box for the bandaids? lol :)