I have a confession to make: I'm obsessed with beauty subscription boxes. Once a month, Christmas comes early and I dash to the mailbox to open my pretty parcel. GIven the usual heap of junk mail and bills, finding a little treat in my mailbox always puts a smile on my face.
So what's the big deal with these boxes? I'm a beauty junkie and I love these services because 1) they help me discover new favourites from brands I've been itching to try, and 2) they keep my drawer of travel-sized goodies very well stocked indeed.
In the past few years monthly beauty subscriptions have exploded, and if you've ever tried them you've probably noticed they vary in price, quality, and reliability. Some beauty box companies have closed up shop while others (including my favourite one) are booming. So how do you pick the right one? Easy: I've done the work for you.
For about two years I've been experimenting with differnet subscription boxes, and testing them out to see if they really deliver what they promise. Some were good, some were bad, and some were a total mess. Today I'm going to introduce you to the only subscription box I'm still receiving: Birchbox.
Birchbox hails from beautiful NYC, where they've been breaking all the rules in traditonal beauty retailing and growing like crazy. They pioneered a concept called click-and-mortar, where beauty fiends can shop online then pick up their order the same day at the free-standing boutique in Soho. They've also tapped into the celebrities and bloggers we all turn to for beauty tips and advice, and have developed limited edition monthly boxes with them. Which brings me to my next point: the November Birchbox!
This month Birchbox has partnered with Youtube star Tati Westbrook of Glam Life Guru to put together a phenomenal box. Even though Tati's personal style is different than my own, I've really come to appreciate her honest reviews and in-depth tutorials. The BIRCHBOX x GLAM LIFE GURU collection costs only $10, but it contains close to $50 in goodies from some pretty amazing brands. Here's a sneak peek!
1. PERFECT HAIR DAY DRY SHAMPOO BY LIVING PROOF
This is a luxury-sized sample (read: travel-sized) that normally sells for $14 on it's own, so already this $10 Birchbox has started paying for itself. Some of my favourite beauty editors like Beautezine rave about Living Proof's dry shampoo and I can hardly wait to try it.
2. ONE AND DONE SHADOW STICK BY LOC ♥︎ TATI
LOC is Birchbox's new in-house beauty brand, developed with Tati herself. LOC stands for Love of Color (yup, wonky American spelling) and it's a collection of multipurpose and easy-to-use shadow sticks and lip crayons. The shadow stick included in the November box is a shade called Daytrip, which is a versitale gold shimmer with warm undertones. It normally retails for $12.
3. HYDRO COLL FIRMING EYE GELS BY SKYN ICELAND
I adore these gel patches: pop them on during a flight or after a night on the town, and no one will be the wiser. You can even store them in the fridge if you want them to be extra refreshing! The November box includes one pair of eye gels which normally retail for $8.
4. FRAT BOY BLUSH BY THE BALM COSMETICS
The Balm is basically the Canadian answer to Benefit Cosmetics: high-quality products with cheeky names and adorable packaging. Frat Boy is a versitale peachy coral that will suit almost any skintone, and you'll receive a mini version worth about $6.
5. 24-HOUR MIRACLE CREAM BY EMBRYOLISSE FRANCE
I already have a tube of this no-nonsense moisturizer (also known as Lait-Crème Concentré and I love it. It positively disappears under make up and is so, so gentle on sensitive skin. You'll receive a deluxe sample worth about $5, and since a little goes a long way it will last you for a full week, maybe even two.
So if you add it all up, your $10 Birchbox contains at least $45 of high-end goodies: you get to try a heap of new product without breaking the bank! Read on and Sigmund will tell you how to order. Okay that's a lie, I'll tell you how to order...
SKIP THE LINE AND GET YOUR BOX
If you want to get in on the Birchbox fun, click here to subscribe by October 31 and be guaranteed one of the limited editon November boxes -- no pesky wait lists for you! The total cost is per month is $10.00 + $4.95 shipping (no taxes on these babies) and you can cancel at any time.
Once your Birchbox arrives you can review your samples to receive points you can redeem for free products in the Birchbox online shop. You'll also be able to tailor your beauty profile so to make sure you receive products you'll love each month. And last but not least: I love re-using the adorable boxes to organize my makeup, nail polish, hair accessories, and perfume samples, and have even used some as gift wrapping. Now go get yourself a box!