August 2014 Birchbox Review – “Lighten Up”

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Birchbox
Cost: $10/month
Ships To: United States. However France, Spain and the UK also have their own Birchbox subscriptions.
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August 2014 Birchbox - "Lighten Up"
August 2014 Birchbox – “Lighten Up”

My August 2014 Birchbox FINALLY arrived yesterday!  I got my Birchbox for my second account over a week and a half ago, but this one is my “real” Birchbox!  I am not even sure if I have completed the profile on my other account yet.

If you aren’t familiar, Birchbox, which is $10/month offers 4-6 hand-picked beauty and lifestyle samples, delivered to your door each month. You can review the samples you receive on a monthly basis to earn points in their shop, which makes the “real” cost of the box even less. Points accumulate until you are ready to spend, so you can stockpile and combine with coupon codes and get some complete steals (which I try to do).

August 2014 Birchbox - "Lighten Up"
The Box

Birchbox ships via UPS Mail innovations.  My other Birchbox took only two days to arrive while this one took, umm, eleven?  It’s seriously been “Out for Delivery” for the last four days.  I think it just liked riding around with the mailman!  Oh and did you notice the labels have funny titles this month?  Mine said “Courageous” in front of my name! I love it!

August 2014 Birchbox - "Lighten Up"
The Box in the Box

For August’s Birchbox you could select from the regular Birchbox or The Everygirl Box.  I did the regular box for this account and The Everygirl Box on my other account.

August 2014 Birchbox - "Lighten Up"
First Look

I received Box #61 (*) this month and while I knew what it would contain I was still very excited for it to arrive.  I never know what sizes all the samples will be, so there is still some surprise left even if you “spoil” yourself!

August 2014 Birchbox - "Lighten Up"
The Information Card

The August 2014 Birchbox theme was “Lighten Up” and included the following items to help you beat the heat and not take yourself too seriously. The box also included a little booklet with fun ways to kick back, relax and take a load off.  Here is what was inside:

~theBalm® cosmetics Stainiac (Beauty Queen) ($2.27): This was my selection from this month’s pick your own sample option.  I love this stuff and was pumped it was one of the items.  I don’t know if I like it better than say Benetint, but I do like it a lot.

August 2014 Birchbox - "Lighten Up"
theBalm cosmetics Stainiac in Beauty Queen

~Whish Shave Crave Shaving Cream (Acai Grapefruit) ($2.93):  I swear I have gotten this in a past Birchbox, but perhaps it was the lotion I received in the past?  Or maybe I am just thinking of the Haute Look beauty bag because I think this came in there (in a different scent though since this is a Birchbox exclusive).  Anyway, I don’t use shaving cream a ton, but it smells really good!

August 2014 Birchbox - "Lighten Up"q
Whish Shave Crave Shaving Cream (Acai Grapefruit)

~Harvey Prince Ageless Body Cream ($1.83): OMG love!  I have been wanting to try this and here it is!  I love it.  The scent is incredible (I have the perfume) and isn’t super heavy like some perfumed lotions.  It’s just perfect.  I think I am going to buy the full size for my desk in the office.

August 2014 Birchbox - "Lighten Up"
Harvey Prince Ageless Body Cream

~Laura Mercier Tone Perfecting Crème ($20.17):  This pricey cream is suppose to boost your skin’s radiance instantly.  I tried it right away and I think it did make my skin nicer. At least I felt better after I put it on. I was shocked at how big this sample was!  I feel like I hit the Birchbox jackpot!

August 2014 Birchbox - "Lighten Up"
Laura Mercier Tone Perfecting Cream

~Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 20 Sunscreen ($1):  I am still working out the different between tinted moisturizer and BB cream and can’t figure out if there really is a difference?  This went on smoothly and blended into my skin nicely, however, the sample size was so tiny that I couldn’t even try it on my entire face! Although, it was a bonus item according to the card, so I can’t really complain.

August 2014 Birchbox - "Lighten Up"
Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer

~hello. Breath Spray Trio (Pint Grapefruit Mint) ($3.83):  This is totally the flavor I would have picked had I bought this at the store.  It’s cute, easy to use and works like it’s suppose to.  What else could you ask for really??

August 2014 Birchbox - "Lighten Up"
Hello Breathespray (Pink Grapefruit Mint)

All totaled I came up with a value of $32.03 for my August 2014 Birchbox.  Including the points I get for reviewing the box (60 points = $6) and the points I got for purchasing the box (10 points = $1) that brings the value of my box to $39.03, which is awesome since it was only $10!  I think I got a great Birchbox this month and couldn’t be happier!

Do you subscribe to Birchbox? Did you get your box yet this month? What number was it and what was in it?  If you don’t subscribe (it’s only $10/month) and are interested in learning more, click here. Or if you are just interested in a shop purchase, don’t forget to add a Mystery Sample Pack to your cart with your $35+ shop purchase!

Screen Shot 2014-01-11 at 10.35.35 PM

(*) If you want to see all the boxes this month, click here and change the 1 at the end to anything from a 1 to 65 since there were 65 (in comparison, last month there were 67 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 22 Comments

  1. Jenny

    WOW this is an awesome box from them. I am curious to what you use instead of shaving cream? I personally like a gel but I will use cream in a pinch and I too had a Whish cream that I think was in a blue tube maybe blueberry or something.

    1. Jennifer

      I loved it! I don’t use anything. LOL. No flat sheet on the bed. No shaving cream. It works out just fine!

      1. Jenny

        LOL you silly girl but then the days I do use a gel I don’t need to use a lotion since my legs are already silky smooth so its pretty much doing the same thing I guess. I’ve done it without on trips and stuff but I still prefer to use it.

        1. Jennifer

          It’s just one more step…

  2. Crstina

    I also got the same flavor of the breath spray, and I didn’t like it. I thought it tasted like cough medicine.

  3. Jill

    Wow, you lucked out with this one! I made the mistake (apparently) of picking the Laura Geller shadow. From what I read on MakeupTalk, there were only a few possible boxes for that choice, and none of them were particularly good. I did get the Ageless Body Cream, though I ended up swapping it (went fast!) because I think I’m allergic to the scent (like many scents–a risk I take with sub boxes!)

    Other items were a single-use Nugg Revitalizing Face Mask that includes menthol–with my sensitive skin, I wasn’t about to put menthol on my face! And a Neil George Shampoo and Conditioner that just seemed like what you’d get at a hotel and smelled rather masculine. I guess technically the value was there, but seeing what was in some of the other boxes, I feel like I didn’t get a good one this time. I feel like I’ve been getting an excessive amount of hair products from them lately, too! Pretty sure I’m stuck with the shampoo and conditioner based on how many are up for swap… Hopefully next month will be better, as I’m usually happy with BB!

    1. Jennifer

      I didn’t even think about how the sample you select could affect your box! Interesting!!

  4. Jen

    Is it just me or is the sample size Harvey Prince lotion cuter than the full size? LOL – I wonder where you can buy the little tubes of it? I guess if I am ever in New York I will have to hit their store in SoHo!

    1. Jennifer

      It totally is!

  5. PA Anna

    I received the Everyday Girl box which I’ve been enjoying.

  6. Amber

    I’m not sure what number box I got! But it was my first box and I was SUPER happy with it, I got the Noir eyeliner, the shaving cream (which I think smells horrendous, but I’ll still use it), a facial cleanser (which I don’t think I’ll get to use more than once), a nicely smelling albeit expensive perfume, and a chubby lip pencil in a color I love. It definitely blew my ispy bag away.

    1. Jennifer

      Great box!

  7. Susan

    I did the everygirl box, but I’m definitely jealous of the Harvey prince cream and Laura Mercier creme. I’ve really liked all the other Harvey Prince samples I’ve received, so I think I’d like this one too. Last month I got a Marcelle 8 in 1 serum sample, and that stuff is awesome. I can’t believe how soft & smooth my skin has been. I’m going to use my points to buy the full size.

  8. Christina

    After reading so many reviews, I wonder if my bag came from the twilight zone. That shave cream..I was excited to get it and constantly read how it smells good. Huh? Mine smelled like yeast….so foul I am going to throw it away. Such a bummer…

    And my sample was the stainiac which I was also excited for. And bizarrely, it made my lips feel numb. I had never had any odd reaction to anything in my life…but this was shocking to me. I seriously wondered if I had put topical lidocaine on my lips.

    For the two items I was most excited about, this month just crashed and burned. I also received the sample bronzer, which I did not want and cannot use. I just received a bronzer from ipsy too….I need my luck to turn around soon!

    1. Jennifer

      You should e-mail them! Maybe you got bad samples???

    1. Jennifer

      No, they let everyone pick! Do you get their e-mails??

    2. Jennifer

      Like other e-mails from them? They said if you aren’t getting the the sample e-mails that you should shoot them an e-mail to make sure you haven’t opted out somewhere along the way!

      1. Now that I think about it… I don’t think I do – I’ll shoot them an email( will check my junk folder too)! Thanks!

  9. Terri

    My lighten up August box had completely different items. None were the same. Your box was so much better. Mine had very tiny samples and was a big disappointment.

    1. Jennifer

      Was this your first box? Your samples all depend on your profile on birchbox.com.

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