Birchbox UK & Ireland

What is Birchbox?

"When Birchbox founders Katia and Hayley first met, they had wildly different approaches to beauty. Hayley was a self-proclaimed novice, while Katia was a connoisseur. But they agreed on one thing: Shopping for products was frustrating, inefficient, and confusing. How were customers supposed to navigate the vast range of options? And in the growing online market, how could they try products without buying them all (and going bankrupt in the process)?

That’s when Birchbox was born: the brainchild of two friends with a love of the internet and an itch to create a better way to shop for beauty products.

Katia and Hayley envisioned a way for customers—just like themselves—to easily and efficiently try, learn about, and purchase beauty products online. They combined monthly deliveries of personalized samples with original editorial and an exciting ecommerce shop. It was easy, efficient, and fun—a monthly delivery of surprise and delight.

We shipped our first Birchboxes in September 2010, and soon realized that men needed a better way to shop too. Birchbox Man launched in April 2012 to bring guys tailored shipments of grooming and lifestyle products. Millions of boxes and product matches later, our mission remains the same: to help customers find products they love. We keep that top of mind every single day."

I started to subscribe to Birchbox in July of this year. Initial sign-up was easy, I filled out a questionnaire about my preferences & skin types. Then all I had to do was wait for my first box to arrive! So I waited & waited & waited... I placed my order on 27/07/16 and it took over three weeks to arrive, I actually received my August box before my July box! So beware: Bircnbox shipping is SLOW!

                                            

Birchbox costs me approximately €16 per month & for that I received 5 samples, one is usually full size, one single use & the rest deluxe size.

                     

Each box has a different theme, July was a Millie Mackintosh inspired collection, which included one of her lip pencils

                 

August theme was "Festival"

 

The products I have received so far are all items I would use (I think the detailed questionnaire when you sign up helps with this) my only complaint about what I have received a volumizing hair product two months in a row, which while useful it would have been nice to have a bit of diversity.

     

Every time you leave a review or feedback you receive points which can go towards products from Birchboxes online store. The store has a multitude of items and every month features full sizes of that months box samples (these sell out quickly though) 

I haven't decided if I am going to continue long term with Birchbox yet, I think I need to get a few more boxes to judge the consistency of the boxes & compare to the likes of Glossy Box.