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Birchbox
Cost: $10/month
Ships To: United States. However France, Spain and the UK also have their own Birchbox subscriptions.
Coupon Code: Subscription Box: “SUBSCRIBENOW50” to get 50 extra Birchbox Shop points with your subscription. Shop: Try “welcomeoffer20” for 20% off your shop purchase. And don’t forget to add a Mystery Sample Pack to your cart with your $35+ shop purchase!

Birchbox offers 4-6 (sometimes more) 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 to get some complete steals (which I try to do).  I have been subscribing to Birchbox for over 3 years now and would say they are one of the best known subscription boxes out there.

Birchbox ships via USPS and all boxes generally ship by the 10th of the month.  I got an add-on with this month (the mask sampler) so everything shipped in a larger box.

As I mention every month, I have two Birchbox accounts so I typically opt for that month’s curated box on one account (I haven’t received that box yet this month) and opt for the standard Birchbox on the other account.   This review is on the August 2015 standard box.

I had peeked at my box online (box reveals are posted on the 10th), but I don’t think I could have named anything in it until I opened it up yesterday.

The August 2015 Birchbox theme was “Soak It Up” and included the following items:

~Air Repair Complexion Boosting Moisturizer (7mL) ($2.40): This moisturizer is packed with antioxidants and humectants.  It’s rich and creamy and it absorbs fully into your skin.  I also thought it smelled fantastic.  It was subtle, but I could smell something (I can’t pinpoint it, but it was familiar) and it was awesome.

~Balance Me Congested Skin Serum (7mL) ($15): I am so excited to finally get an acne product in my Birchbox!  My skin has been breaking out quite badly lately and nothing seems to be working.  This promises to spot treat blemishes, refine pores and balance skin without drying.  So far I am happy with it and will save up my points for the full size.

~R+Co DEATH VALLEY Dry Shampoo (75mL) ($4.60): I know not everyone loves getting so many dry shampoos in boxes, but I love it.  This sucks up the extra oil and has a nice fresh scent.  It doesn’t leave any white residue either and actually gave my hair some nice (non-crunchy) texture and volume.

~Supergoop!® Forever Young Hand Cream with Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 40 (4mL) ($0.48): This may be the smallest hand cream I have ever received.  I barely had enough to cover both hands.  I love that it has sunscreen in it, but I didn’t think it was moisturizing enough for my hands.

~LAQA & Co. Charm School Kit (0.03oz) (~$5): I like multifunctional products so the fact that this can be used on your lips or cheeks is awesome. It’s not too much color, blends nicely and I love the packaging.

All totaled I came up with a value of $27.48 for my August 2015 “Soak It Up” Birchbox.  Including the points I get for purchasing the box (10 points = $1 to spend at Birchbox) and reviewing / sharing the items in the box (60 points = $6), the value increases to $34.48.  On paper (and looking at the pictures online) I didn’t find this box to be overly impressive.  But in person, once I got to play with everything, I was super happy.  I also love these fun boxes they have been doing in 2015. The designs are just fantastic!

Have you gotten your Birchbox yet this month? What’d you think?  If you are interested in subscribing new customers can use the coupon code “SUBSCRIBENOW50” to get 50 extra points when you purchase a new Birchbox subscription!