It’s December already? How did that happen?
I’m having a busier month than I’ve had in ages, which in some ways is a good problem to have (employment! side projects!), but it makes other activities difficult to get around to. One of those things is holiday shopping.
If you’re feeling the same way, and you have anyone on your gift list who’s hooked on beauty products, you might want to consider a Birchbox gift subscription (or several).
I’ve been a Birchbox subscriber for the past eight months, and I have to admit that I look forward to the arrival of my monthly box of samples and treats. (Even though, if you look at it objectively, I already have plenty of products and samples in my dresser drawers. It’s an addiction.)
But if I didn’t already have this subscription, I’d enjoy receiving one as a gift, and I can think of a few friends of mine who would, too. How it works: for a monthly fee, the subscriber receives a box of skincare, cosmetics, bath-and-body, and fragrance samples and trial-sizes, plus the occasional “lifestyle” treat (a hair accessory, a healthy snack bar). There’s an online survey to take, so that the samples are customized to the subscriber’s preferences.
The folks at Birchbox sent me this box to share with you, my readers—and it’s a nice example. This introductory box includes: Juicy Couture’s signature fragrance, Miracle Skin Transformer Hydroactive Microderm Cleanser (a high-tech scrub, in the white tube), Oscar Blandi Pronto Invisible Volumizing Dry Shampoo, The Balm Mary-Lou Manizer (highlighting powder), One Love Organics Aromatic Body Serum (lavender!), and a Chuao Chocolatier Mini ChocoPod (delicious, I can assure you).
I’m looking forward to using all these products, with the possible exception of the Juicy Couture, which isn’t really my style—I’ll be passing it along to my younger sister-in-law.
Birchbox Women’s Gift Subscriptions are priced at $30 for 3 months, $60 for 6 months, and $110 for 12 months. There’s also an “Ultimate Collection” for $200.
If you read beauty magazines and blogs, you’re very likely aware of the beauty-box trend that’s been picking up speed over the past year. Birchbox was the first, and in my book, it’s still the best. This is a fun alternative to a gift card, and your gift-ee will benefit from the subscription long after the holidays have passed.
Images: top image from the Birchbox website, box photos by Tinsel Creation.
Disclaimer: this sample “introductory box” was sent to me by Birchbox’s press relations office free of cost; however, I have paid my own subscription over the past eight months and will continue to do so.
TINSEL CREATION 
I’ve toyed with Birchbox, but it seems like a lot of times the perfume selections are just so meh it would ruin it for me. I feel like I’d always be getting something, every month, that I wouldn’t use. I don’t know! How have you found your use of the items in you box?
The only beauty box I subscribe to right now is Julep Maven, which is pretty much all nail polish.
Hello! Well, I’d have to say… fragrance isn’t their strong suit. Juicy Couture, Annick Goutal Petite Cherie, Harvey Prince (I know, who?), and Arquiste seem to be the main offerings. I really like Arquiste, but I’m not very interested in the others! Still, for skincare and haircare and makeup, it’s a fun experiment.
I’m so picky when it comes to face and body products that usually I end up not trying all the samples even from Neiman Marcus or Barney’s GWP, so there is no chance I will find use to more than a couple things from any of these “boxes”.
lol! No, in that case, you probably wouldn’t have much use for them.
I know! Believe me: I don’t do it on purpose. I do not say tomyself: “I do not like those, I won’t try.” I just keep postponing trying those samples (“maybe another time, I do not know if it works…”) – until one day I realize it’s too old to be used.