I received 6 items in my Birchbox in October as the shampoo came with a bonus conditioner sample. Overall, not that impressed with this box for several reasons and the mascara would be the only one I would use again. I wish you could tell Birchbox that you only want cosmetic samples as I have not liked any of the haircare received lately too.
I have received several Beauty Protector products and have not been overly impressed by any of them. Protect & Detangle was no exception. It is decent, but not amazing enough to make me buy it over my regular leave in conditioner which I can pick up at Shoppers Drug Mart and earn Optimum points too. At $26 and exclusive to Birchbox, I am guessing the sample is around 1-2 oz so a value of around $5.
ModelCo lipstick in Stiletto, despite not being a colour I would wear, really settled into lines on my lips and did not last long. It was faded after less than an hour and claims to be ultra long lasting. It was a full size sample though, which was generous for Birchbox. A set of three lipsticks from them is $23 so a value of $7.60.
I had high hopes for Davine’s Love shampoo & conditioner since it is meant for coarse & frizzy shampoo, but it left my hair feeling kind of dry and sticky at the same time. The shampoo sample gives a few uses, but the conditioner is single use. The shampoo is worth $8.25 and conditioner $1.54 compared to full size products.
Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré (24-Hour Miracle Cream) is a Holy Grail product for many, but it burned my face badly and I am clearly allergic to something in it, likely the fragrance. At 30ml tube is $16 making this $5 sample worth $2.67 but if you are sensitive, you should definitely patch test it first. I did not since it was just a moisturizer and I am not really sensitive, but 3+ weeks later, the redness, dryness and scabs from burns are just going down now.
Eyeko Black Magic Mascara is supposed to bring drama and curl to your lashes. I don’t find it curls anymore than most mascaras but it doesn’t flake and lasts all day with no smudging/running. The squishy tube format takes some getting used to as I worry about squeezing it and getting mascara everywhere compared to a hard tube. I will use the sample. but not sure if I would buy it again. Since it is rare that I will use a full tube before they expire, I am happy with sample size mascaras as full size so it is worth a little more in my mind, around $15.
Overall, a value of $40 from October’s Birchbox but only one product I would think about buying again and weeks of dealing with bad skin from the lotion reaction.