August Birchbox Review – “Finishing School”

Disclosure: If you make a purchase through the links posted below, I may receive a small compensation. Read the full disclosure.
August 2013 Birchbox - "Finishing School"
August 2013 Birchbox – “Finishing School”

When I saw that my August Birchbox was out for delivery yesterday I was very excited.  I had peeked in my account a few days ago and saw that I was getting a “good” box, but I couldn’t recall exactly what was in it.  I just knew I was excited.

August 2013 Birchbox - "Finishing School"
The Box

Birchbox ships via UPS Mail Innovations and took about 5 days to arrive to me in MI (it ships from NY).   Clearly it’s not the fastest shipping method out there, then again, the box is only $10/month.

August 2013 Birchbox - "Finishing School"
The Box in the Box

Nothing new about the box this month, so I thought I’d explain how to earn points for doing reviews if you are a new subscriber.  All you need to do is go into your account and click “Box” at the top of the page.  And then select “Women’s Box” from the drop down menu.  Once you are there you can click on each of the individual products in your box and click “Write A Review”.  Complete the review and you’ll receive 10 points in account. 10 points = $1.  And then go back and do that for all products in your box every month!  Usually you get 5 products each month, so it brings the actual cost of the box down to $5!

August 2013 Birchbox - "Finishing School"
First Look

I always love when I get big samples form Birchbox!  Even if I end up hating them, at least I will KNOW that I hate them.  1-2 use samples often leave me wondering.

August 2013 Birchbox - "Finishing School"
The Information Card

The August 2013 Birchbox theme was “Finishing School” and was all about zeroing in on the details.  Birchbox also partnered with Ann Taylor this month for an accessories guide and every box also includes a coupon code.  I received box #1 (*) this month, which included the following:

~derma e Hyaluronic Hydrating Mist ($13.50): At first glance I thought this was a hair product, but it’s actually an anti-aging facial mist.  It can be used anytime to refresh skin or in the morning to set our already applied makeup.  Of course I sprayed it on my face right away and it was actually quite refreshing.  It absorbs nicely and smells great.

August 2013 Birchbox - "Finishing School"
derma e Hyaluronic Hydrating Mist

~EVOLVh Ultrashine Moisture Conditioner ($5.90):  I am super excited about this because I received a similar sized shampoo in a previous Birchbox and I plan to use them together!  It smells quite good and is “especially magnificent for colored hair”, which is perfect for me.

August 2013 Birchbox - "Finishing School"
EVOLVh Ultrashine Moisture Conditioner

~stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick (beso) ($6.60): I love stila and this applies like a lip gloss and not like a lipstick, which is nice.  However, the color is a little deep for me.  I mean it’s not deep for my skin tone, it’s just deep for me.

August 2013 Birchbox - "Finishing School"
stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick

~Whish Exfoliating Body Wash ($2.75): This smells delicious (this was a yummy smelling box this month) and the scrubbies in it are tiny, so it’s not rough on your skin.  But they are there.  While I do love this, I don’t know if I’d spend $22 on a body wash?

August 2013 Birchbox - "Finishing School"
Whish Exfoliating Body Wash

~Whish Hair Inhibiting Deodorant Swipes ($1): I haven’t used this yet, but it certainly is an interesting concept.  A deodorant wipe.  Not just a refreshing wipe, it actually has deodorant in it.  They are pricey so I’d never use it as an everyday thing, but this sounds like a perfect addition to your emergency kit!

August 2013 Birchbox - "Finishing School"
Whish Hair Inhibiting Deodorant Swipes

All totaled my August Birchbox had a value of $29.75.  Including the points I get for reviewing the products (which is equal to $5) and the points I got for purchasing the box (**) (which is equal to $1), the box had a real total value of $35.75.  I don’t know how I have been getting so lucky with my Birchboxes these past few months but I am loving it!

Do you subscribe to Birchbox? Did you get your box yet this month? What number box did you get?  If you don’t subscribe and are interested in learning more, click here.  I’m not sure how long the waiting list is these days, so if anyone knows please post!  And as always, don’t forget to check out the Birchbox Bonus shop before you make a full sized purchase so you can get some extra free goodies!  Right now you can grab an Ann Taylor scarf for free with an $85 purchase and of course, the You Pick Two Samples are free with any $35+ purchase – just add them to your cart!


Disclosure: This post includes affiliate links!

(*) If you want to see all the boxes this month, click here and change the 1 at the end to anything from a 2 to 61 since there were 61 (in comparison, last month there were 54 box variations) box variations this month.

(**) You only get points for purchasing the box if you buy an annual subscription (or 3-month, 6-months, etc.). You don’t get points if you are on a month to month subscription.

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Jennifer

Jennifer is the author and founder of Subscription Box Ramblings. She first discovered subscription boxes in 2012 and has been addicted since. Current favorites include CAUSEBOX, Boxycharm and Beachly!

This Post Has 40 Comments

  1. Caroline P

    wow! you got an AWESOME box this month! I was really happy with mine too 🙂

  2. Elizabeth

    I signed up in July and got off the waitlist in about 3 weeks. Ipsy took much longer. I’m still waiting for my first Ipsy box. (DHL’s unhelpful tracking says it’s on its way but no actual date of arrival.)

  3. Alison

    That stila color is really really red!

  4. Elizabeth

    I got box 23 which I loved but I am so disappointed in the Stila Lip Stain. The color is way too bright for my skin tone – I have light hair and fair skin. Everything else I loved.

  5. Alicia

    I got the Stila Lipstick stuff too! I didn’t like it at first because red lips scare but I tried it on and it actually might be my red. Love that stuff!

  6. Ally

    With regards to the waiting list, I actually used your affiliate link yesterday to sign up for a one year subscription to Birchbox. Within four hours I received an email saying I was in and could place my order. Which I did so immediately, just in time for the cut off to be mailed an August month. I’m so excited!

    I’m convinced I was accepted so quickly and didn’t have to be on the waitlist for weeks because I went through your affiliate link. Thanks so much!

  7. Jennifer

    I linked to my box on my name if you want to take a peek, Jen. This was one of the better boxes I have received from Birchbox. I can’t complain at all because I got a modelco lipstick and I LOVE it! I don’t know which version it is, I don’t have time to check right now, either.

  8. Nikki

    You and I received IDENTICAL Birchboxes! I love the Stila lipstick, but that color is far too bright for my pale, pale face. 🙁 I haven’t tried the other things yet. 🙂

  9. Kaitlin V.

    I got my second Birchbox this month (#16 – didn’t take me as long to figure it out as last month 😉 ). I received the Curl Keeper (I have naturally curly hair – anxious to try this!), the Whisk deodorant wipe and body wash, the OC8 mattifying gel and the Cailyn eyeliner (kind of scares me to try it – I’m fairly novice at fancy eyeliner!). Maybe it’s a coincidence (or maybe they actually read your info), but I think it’s really neat that you got the shampoo for colored hair and I got the Curl Keeper. Kinda makes you feel like they actually take into account your profile!

  10. Judy

    Love your box! I got Miss Jessie’s Sweetback & Rapid Recovery Treatment, Model Co. Party Proof Lipstick, Juice Beauty Moisturizer, Violet Oasis Argan Oil and the Birchbox Bobby Pins. I loved everything except the Sweetback hair treatment. It smelled strange, almost like banana laffy taffy! Not something I want my hair to smell like, but was worth the try.

  11. yousoldtheworld

    I would have loved your box! Sadly, I cancelled this month. I just wasn’t getting the fun and joy out of BB that I used to! Plus they sent me a tanning wipe again…my one beauty pet peeve! lol 🙂

  12. Katy Quick

    If you upgrade to an annual subscription to Birchbox, does it cancel your month to month or do you end up getting 2 boxes a month?

  13. Sandra B

    We received the same box! It’s the first time that has happened. It really makes me wonder how BB determines who receives what. It seems like there are a lot of people unhappy with BB lately, but overall I’ve been lucky.

  14. Haute Mommy

    Ugh…as soon as I cancel my subscription all of the blogs I read are getting these great boxes! 🙁

  15. Krista

    Kaitlin , you and i have the same box, we both have curly , thick hair, I think they must follow a bit of what we say in the things we sate in our profiles, because i got what you have… including the eyeliner.. I figured it .. and I do not ever wear eyeliner.. it is actually Much easier to use that I had thought it was going to be.. as it isa gel type liner… you will ike it.. give it a go..

    ”’Krista

  16. Shauna

    I just went through all the boxes to find mine which was apparently Box #22. Wow, there were a lot of stinkers this month! I’m just happy I didn’t get those feet wipes. They gross me out just thinking about them!

    Nice box! I really like mine also, and should have my post up this weekend. Also, just an FYI that I finally got my collage built and my giveaway posted so don’t forget to stop by.

    Cheers,
    Shauna

  17. Antonia

    Ok so I keep seeing everyone write box numbers, both for men and woman. How do you detemine the number?

  18. Natalie

    What does your profile look like? This was my first box. I was really disappointed. My had sunscreen and foot wipes. Ugh!!

  19. Hannah

    How do you see all of the possible boxes? I just subscribed and don’t have it all dialed in yet.

  20. Ally

    Truth be told, I was a bit disappointed with my first box as well. About $11 value and that includes two bottles of nail polish that are the same color. :-/

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