Mini Birchbox Haul

After getting my 9 month anniversary code for my second I account I went ahead and made a small order.

Nexxus Pro-Mend Split End Treatment Daily Shampoo
Value: $9.99
Size: 13.5oz

Chuao Chocolatier Assorted ChocoPod
Value: $7.95
Size: 7 ChocoPods (0.39oz each)

Full Size: 2.8 oz.
Full Size Value: $6.00 a bar

FLO Fragrance Atomizers
Value: $17

Jurlique Rose Love Balm
Value: $6.50
















Pick Two Sample Pack Kahina Argan Oil & alessandro Cream Rich
Value: $10

alessandro Cream Rich

Sample Size: 30ml
Full Size: 100ml
Full Size Value: $30.00
Sample Value: $9.00

Kahina Giving Beauty Argan Oil

Sample Size: 5ml
Full Size: 30ml
Full Size Value: $36.00
Sample Value: $6.00

 
The total value of the entire order came to about $67 and I only paid $13.15 out of pocket for everything. I picked up a bottle of the Nexxus Shampoo since I actually liked the sample I had and it smells like cotton candy to me. I finally picked up the Chuao sampler box because I have only tried one of the flavors (review on the chocolate will be the next blog post.) I have been eying the atomizers for a while and since I have several fragrance samples that I like but they don't come with a spray top so this is perfect for them. I was looking for something small to bump up my order to get the free shipping so I picked up the Jurlique balm which I plan on putting in the guest bathroom. Since the my order was over $25 I went ahead and added a sample pack for free. Originally I was going to save the hand cream for the guest bathroom but after seeing how good it smells I may just save it for myself. The Argan oil wasn't anything I really wanted but I plan on using it as a cuticle oil.

January Birchbox #1

Number 4 Clarifying Shampoo

Sample Size: 52ml
Full Size: 250ml
Full Size Value: $32.00
Sample Value: $6.65

Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Face Cream

Sample Size: 4ml

Full Size: 50ml

Full Size Value: $42.00

Sample Value: $3.36

Harvey Prince Skinny Chic

Sample Size: Approximately 2ml

Full Size: 50ml

Full Size Value: $55.00

Sample Value: $1.81

theBalm cosmetics Hot Mama Shadow & Blush All-in-one
Sample Size: 1g Full Size: 7.08g Full Size Value: $20.00 Sample Value: $2.82

LASHEM Measurable Difference Lash Gel Sample Size: Approximately .5ml Full Size: 3.5ml Full Size Value: $69.99 Sample Value: $9.99

This box total came to $24.63 which is good but I kind of wish I had a different selection of items the only really new item for me was the Hot Mama blush. I already received the shampoo, perfume and face cream in previous boxes. I am happy to get more of the face cream since I do plan on buying the full size in the future, I do like the perfume but I haven't tried the shampoo yet. The Lashem sample is going to be good for travel because I already have the full size from my Beauty Army account. Overall this box is fairly good but I hope I don't get so many duplicate samples in the future.

January Birchbox #2

 For once I was able to get one of my Birchboxes fairly quickly, and by fairly quickly I mean with in a month of it being shipped to me. 

alessandro Nail Polish in Blue Lagoon 

Sample Size: 5ml

Full Size: 10ml

Full Size Value: $12.00

Sample Value: $6.00

 

Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Face Cream

Sample Size: 4ml

Full Size: 50ml

Full Size Value: $42.00

Sample Value: $3.36

 

Harvey Prince Skinny Chic

Sample Size: Approximately 2ml

Full Size: 50ml

Full Size Value: $55.00

Sample Value: $1.81

 

theBalm® cosmetics Put a Lid On It™

Sample Size: 0.125 fl oz

Full Size: 0.4fl oz

Full Size Value: $18.00

Sample Value: $5.62

Ojon damage reverse™ Instant Restorative Hair Serum

Sample Size: 0.07oz

Full Size: 1.7oz

Full Size Value: $25.00

Sample Value: $1.02

Just to give you the impression of how little there was in my box here is what all my samples look without the extra packaging. I could put all of these in my pocket and forget they were there (if I did that I would be sad.)

The total value of this box is $17.81, it isn't a high value box but I am happy to be trying the face cream because I haven't found one that I like enough to buy. The Harvey Prince perfume Skinny Chic is really lovely and I rate it up there with Hello which is my favorite perfume by far. I am always excited to get more nail polish and I was pleasantly surprised that I didn't have a dupe for this in my collection already. I love the balm. I have several of their products and I love them all and I can't wait to see how this compares to my Urban Decay primers. Now the last item is the Ojon hair oil, I honestly don't know what to say about getting this sample since it is so small. I might be able to use it once so I am going to save it for when I go to Paris instead of bringing one of my larger bottles with me. Other than the size disappointment I am excited to try some new products.

December Birchbox #2

Sorry it has taken so long to get some of these boxes up, it isn't me I swear! It is actually the way the shipping and USPS send things over here to Germany. So this December box was dubbed by many as the "punishment box" because the contents of the box is filled with older samples and small samples. The reason I got the "punishment box" or as I like to call it the leftover box is because for some reason the billing info on my account got messed up and I had to fix it. 

*By the time I fixed it was too late to get a "normal" box so they must have scoured the warehouse looking for poor leftover samples that they didn't have enough of for the regular boxes, so must have decided to give them all to me.*

*just a theory and none of my claims have been proved...yet

ShowStoppers® Designer Fashion Tape in Nude / Black

Sample Size:  2 nude strips and 2 black strips
Full Size: 24 strips (12 nude, 12 black)
Full Size Value: $9.99
Sample Value: $1.66

BENTA BERRY G-1 Moisturizing Face Cream

Sample Size: 6ml
Full Size: 30ml
Full Size Value: $22.00
Sample Value: $4.40

per-fékt Beauty Lash Perfection Gel

Sample Size: 0.01fl oz
Full Size: .45fl oz
Full Size Value: $28.50
Sample Value: $0.63

J.R. Watkins Peppermint Foot Repair Salve

Sample Size: .25oz
Full Size: 2.1oz
Full Size Value: $8.99
Sample Value: $1.07

 

Number 4 Clarifying Shampoo

Sample Size: 52ml
Full Size: 250ml
Full Size Value: $32.00
Sample Value: $6.65


 This box overall was really lacking value because it came to a grand total of $14.41. 4 out of the 5 product had been sample over the last year and only the shampoo was new. The ShowStoppers almost came in handy the other day when I had a top that seemed determined to fall down on, only problem was I set the little packet down and now I can't find it. Benta Berry has been around for a while and I am glad they sent 2 tubes so that I can really give it a try when I run out of my other samples. I was excited to see the tube of Lash Perfection Gel until I opened it, it literally only has enough on the little spool to maybe give one application, definitely going to give this a try one day just to get rid of it. In my opinion it isn't even worth it for a company to have a sample of their product when they are so small. The foot salve was one product that I was looking forward to since it is something I can use every night before bed when my feet need a little extra tlc. Another plus to the foot salve is that the full size is on the cheaper side and I can easily add it to my next full sized order if I really need to. Shampoo!!! Oh, how I didn't need another sample of shampoo since I am currently still working my way through the last shampoo that they sent me. So this box didn't wow me at all but the products will be used and now I know I won't be getting these repeated on this account now.

December Birchbox #1

December Birchbox #1

This was one box that I wasn't sure I was going to like but I am happy with the majority of the items.
So what all did I get?

New Year's Birchbox Haul

I finally got my 9 month anniversary code for my main Birchbox account and I had enough points saved up so I could get some of the pricier items on my wishlist.

 

First up is the One Love Organics Body Serum in Lavander and Neroli. I got a sample of the Neroli one in my November Birchbox and fell in love with it so I jumped at the chance to order the gift set with both scents.


This is a guilty pleasure item and it is the Chuao Salted Chocolate Crunch chocolate bar. I have never tried these chocolate bars before but I heard amazing things about them so I ended up ordering just one instead of all of them














The biggest makeup purchase to date for me is theBalm's NUDE'tude eyeshadow palette. I have been needing a more neutral palette for a little while now and I am please to report that the colors are amazing. I am also happy to report that the eyeshadows were in one piece and not broken.

I have been on the lookout for this particular cleanser from Philosophy for a while since I really needed a gentle cleanser to use with the last item that I ordered. I also heard amazing things about the Purity cleanser and I couldn't wait to try it out.













Now I saved the best for last, I finally ordered a Clarisonic Mia! This was the one huge purchase I had been saving up for and I am glad I got it just in time for the New Year to begin.

Birchbox Limited Edition: Home

Look How Pretty The Box Is!!!

Everything All Together

What was all in it?

November Birchbox #2

Since this November box took so long to get to me my husband told me I had to wait until Christmas to have it so here it is.

October Birchbox #1 & #2

October Birchbox

 So I know this is a really late post but in October I was in the middle of a move and was unable to get my October Birchboxes delievered to me so I had them shipped to my mother's house. I received two of the exact same box even though this was the first time it has happened.

Well it took until Christmas time to finally get them so here is what I got:

November Birchbox #1

So what did I get?

September Birchbox #2

September Birchbox #2

I was lucky enough to get both my boxes on the same day but I was disappointed that this one was similar to my other box. So what did I think about this one?

September Birchbox #1

September Birchbox #1

This was the first month that my Birchboxes came late and by the time I got them I was severely underwhelmed when I opened them up. As much as I was underwhelmed I actually got one item I wanted to try and one that I wouldn't touch. So how did this one fair?

Value of Birchboxes Recieved

I noticed that on Makeuptalk.com a lot of people are not impressed with the value of their boxes so I wanted to sum up all the boxes I have received to date.

April Birchbox (Main Account)

Value: $67.63

Highest Value Item: Revolution Organics Freedom Glow Beauty Balm 

Value: $36.00

Personal Favorite: Revolution Organics Freedom Glow Beauty Balm

May Birchbox (Gossip Girl) (Main Account)

Value: $17.27

Highest Value Item: Kiehl's Abyssine Cream +

Value: $7.10

Personal Favorite: Bvlgari Omnia Crystalline Eau de Toilette Spray

May Birchbox Welcome Box (Main Account)

Value: $11.91

Highest Value Item: Color Club Nail Polish in Disco Nap

Value: $4.00

Personal Favorite: Color Club Nail Polish in Disco Nap

June Birchbox (Main Account)

Value: $27.39

Highest Value Item: Eyeko Fat Eye Stick in Black

Value: $15.00

Personal Favorite: Likewise Facial Moisturizer + Sun Protectant SPF 50 Normal to Oily

June Birchbox Welcome Box (2nd Account)

Value: $30.19

Highest Value Item: MicrodermaMitt Denizia Olive Oil Soap

Value: $14.00 

Personal Favorite: theBalm cosmetics Stainiac

July Birchbox (Glamour) (2nd Account)

Value: $35.03

Highest Value Item: Eyeko Skinny Liquid Eyeliner

Value: $15.00 

Personal Favorite: Eyeko Skinny Liquid Eyeliner

July Birchbox (Glamour) (Main Account)

Value: $33.78

Highest Value Item: beautyblender

Value: $12.97

Personal Favorite: Stila It's Time To Go Lip Glaze in Camera

August Birchbox (Main Account)

Value: $39.01

Highest Value Item: Eye Rock Designer Liner

Value: $13.00 

Personal Favorite: Beauty Fixation Pre-Tweeze Treatment

August Birchbox (2nd Account)

Value: $40.19

Highest Value Item: Apothederm Stretch Mark Cream

Value: $11.04

Personal Favorite: Apothederm Stretch Mark Cream