Birchbox February 2017 Review

If you’re trying to pick out a new beauty box subscription, Birchbox is probably one of your top choices and for a good reason. The products are high-quality, and they always include a great variety of products such as shampoo, conditioner, face and hair masks, nail polish, lipstick, and so much more. Each month you’ll receive five to six items for just $10 per month.

I subscribed to Birchbox to learn a little bit more about makeup, and in just one year, I’ve come a long way while accumulating samples from great brands like NYX, Too Faced, and Benefit.

When you join, Birchbox asks you several questions related to your style, hair and skin type, and beauty regimen — they want to avoid sending you something you’ll never use. (Ex: you’ll never need a blonde dry shampoo if you’re a brunette.) Plus, you list your income, so you won’t receive a sample of a $160 perfume when the full-size product is way out of your budget range.

The Service

I’ve been subscribed to Birchbox since December 2015, and I’ve had pretty good service. The box never arrives later than the 15th and comes right to my door. One month, I did have the misfortune of receiving a busted box. The powder was smashed and liquid spilled everywhere, but after contacting the customer service department, they replaced my box, and I was a happy customer once again.

I wish I could say the same for this month. My Birchbox for February 2017 was busted once again — but the customer service was less than exemplary this time around. The dry shampoo was broken, and the lipstick had completely detached and mushed against the cap. When I contacted customer service, the woman said that she would send me a replacement dry shampoo, but they were out of the lipstick. In its place, I’d get 50 points, which is the equivalent to $5 in the shop. I guess that’s better than nothing, but nothing in the store is worth $5, and my sample was completely destroyed.

Needless to say, I’m pretty unhappy with the service this month.

The Products

February is the month of love, and your body can use a little bit of TLC. The theme for this month’s Birchbox is “Lip Love,” and I received:

• Vasanti BrightenUp! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator: $6 value ($34 full-size)
• Supergoop! Daily Correct CC Cream SPF 35: $2.04 value ($32 full-size)
• Klorane Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk – Natural Tint – For Brunette to Dark Hair: $10 value ($20 full-size)
• Dr. Lipp Miracle Balm: $3.30 value ($16.49 full-size)
• LAQA & Co. Avo Lip Butter (in Ninza): $6 value ($25 full-size)

I’m disappointed at the way that these products arrived — I won’t be able to try the lipstick unless I want to purchase the full-size product. But even with these issues, I’m still pretty happy with this box. I didn’t receive any brow products, so Birchbox is learning what I like through their reviewing system.

When I signed up, I listed my skin and hair color, which definitely shows in this box. I’ve received Supergoop! Daily Correct CC Cream before, but the color was way too dark for my complexion. This time, the product is spot-on. The dry shampoo was also the right color for my dark brunette hair.

Birchbox February 2017 Box Value: $27.34 Total

This month’s value is far below the usual amount. In fact, my January Birchbox had twice the value of the February box and included a product I ended up purchasing. After spending just $10, I can’t complain too much, but I would like to see more value with my samples in the future.

With that being said, I’m still happy I received these products.

The Verdict: Is Birchbox Worth It?

If this were my first box, I’d say no. The value of the products did surpass the $10 subscription price, but the customer service was shoddy at best. Thankfully, this isn’t my first box, and I’ve had really good experiences in the past.

After being subscribed for over a year, I’ve only received two damaged boxes, and the products were replaced. While the last customer service I received wasn’t the best, I’m marginally fine with the resolution.

Another thing I want to note is that while the value of this month’s Birchbox is on the lower end, the products are affordable. Isn’t that what’s actually important in the end? Yeah, it’s great to try a $30 mascara, but will I ever purchase the full-size product? Unlikely. I have better things to spend my money on — but I can actually afford everything in this box if I like them enough to use them on a regular basis.

For example, I absolutely adore the Tata Harper Resurfacing Mask I received in my October Birchbox. It’s easily one of the best masks I’ve ever used, but $58 seems a little steep when I’d probably have to purchase it once a month. Comparatively, I’d gladly spend $34 on Vasanti’s Brighten Up! mask each month. It’s right in my budget and can easily be added to my weekly beauty regimen.