Birchbox Reviews 2023 — Yay Or Nay?

We dissected many Birchbox reviews to give you all the info you might need to decide if it’s the right beauty subscription for you. We’ll discuss the pricing and compare the service to others in the industry. By the end, you’ll know what to expect, as well as the pros and cons of Birchbox.

In any case, it’s an excellent service for first-time beauty box subscribers, beauty connoisseurs, or those wanting to try something new. 

All About Birchbox

With so many popular subscription services, it can be overwhelming to choose. To help you get a better idea of Birchbox, we’ll break down everything you might want to know about it. 

Overview and Highlights

The founders, Katia and Hayley, sent out the first order in 2010. According to a Birchbox review, the two women had very different approaches to beauty. Still, they agreed that finding new products and trying them out was frustrating and inconvenient for the everyday beauty lover. Plus, every beauty brand promises impressive results, but they don’t all live up to it. 

All that inspired Birchbox — a monthly subscription beauty box of samples for women. The service now offers Birchbox for men, too. It promises to help everyone find effective products without spending an arm and a leg on full-size items that would go to waste if they didn’t work. 

The service is entirely customized and based on the information you provide on signing up. So, it’s not a random selection of products but one chosen specifically for your needs. 

Birchbox aims “to help customers find products they love.” And it’s successfully done so for millions in the US, UK, France, Spain, and Belgium.

What Does Birchbox Offer?

The Birchbox subscription box is personalized based on your beauty profile. Currently, customers can pick one sample per box from the selection of options Birchbox sends near the end of the month. Your choice is valid only as long as stocks last, so jump on it as soon as you get a notification. 

You can also go for a curated box instead of your monthly box. These are unique packages put together by the Birchbox merchandising team each month. We’ve done our due diligence to find out more, but it all seems a bit hush-hush. 

In your Birchbox boxes, you might receive samples of: 

• Face wash
• Moisturizer
• Fragrance
• Shaving cream
• Hairstyling products
• Shampoo
• Exfoliator
• Lotion
• Deodorant

If you want to purchase any full-size products from the samples, they’re all available in the Birchbox online store. Plus, you can mark a sample as your favorite. Then, you can sign-up for auto-delivery for 10% off and free delivery. 

Each box comes with a card explaining the products, their size, and what the sample is worth compared to the full-size item.

Birchbox Add-ons

Each month, you can add a selection of full-size Birchbox products to your monthly box. 

Simply click “Ship with My Box” and pay for the items. Remember that your monthly subscription fee covers delivery. So even if you forget about the shampoo that made your hair super shiny, you can always use the add-on feature. 

Birchbox Pricing, Discounts & Options 

The Birchbox cost varies depending on the plan you choose:

• Monthly plan: $15/month (One-month commitment)
• 3-month plan: $15/month (billed monthly)
• 6-month plan: $14/month (billed monthly)
• 12-month plan: $13/month (billed monthly)

If you’re a first-time user, we recommend trying out the monthly plan before you commit. Billing happens on the 15th of each month for any plan. 

But is Birchbox worth it? It all depends on what you’re looking for. If you want to sample new products each month, Birchbox is a brilliant choice. Also, it’s excellent for first-time users who might not know what works for them.

Saving Opportunities 

As of August 2021, Birchbox coupons offer 50% off your first box if you sign up for a 3, 6, or 12-month plan. Just use the FUN2021 code at checkout. Also, if you sign up for the three-month option, you can get a bonus box by using the DOUBLEFUN3 code.

Birchbox has a loyalty program that customers love. You’ll earn one point for each $1 spent. It doesn’t matter whether that’s from your monthly box, a gift subscription, or a bigger purchase. You can use the points for any full-size product in the shop. Also, for every 10 points, you can spend $1.

But wait, there are more Birchbox deals. If you refer a friend and they join, you get 100 points!

Birchbox loves hearing back from its customers and doesn’t expect you to do it for free. The first five samples you review will earn you 50 points to spend on full-size products. 

Birchbox reviews say the points last six months from the day you earn them. Also, you can keep track of them in your account. But you can’t use the points for cash or your subscription fees. 

 Website Experience 

The website is super easy to navigate. The menu options are clear, and signing up is a breeze. Plus, we like how quick the site is. 

Birchbox reviews confirm the site is easy to use, even for those unfamiliar with beauty product subscriptions. You’ll find recommended products, issue-specific items, and even advice from other customers. 

Ordering Process

Here’s how to make your first order:

• Go to the Birchbox website or download the app.
• Click “Subscribe.”
• Select the subscription option that suits you best. 
• Create an account.
• Complete your beauty profile. See what questions you’ll have to answer below.
• When you finish your profile, you can see the products, make your first order, and choose payment and shipment options. 

According to a Birchbox subscription review, completing your beauty profile includes filling out a questionnaire about:

• Your skin type and concerns
• Skin tone
• Hair colour & type
• How you style your hair
• Your level of beauty knowledge
• Beauty style
• Your favorite category
• How often you want to receive fragrance samples
• Interest in occasionally receiving a free bonus sample
• What bonus items you might like
• Your birthday
• Ethnicity
• Household income
• Why you want to subscribe, and how you found out about the service

Once you create your profile, you can make your first order.

Managing Your Subscription

If you’re not satisfied with past Birchboxes or your monthly subscription, you can cancel it at any time. Billing happens on the 15th of each month, so be sure to cancel before that time. You can’t cancel the 3, 6, or 12-month subscription mid-term. Keep in mind that you can’t pause either.

You can manage your subscription directly from your account. 

You can return products within 90 days of purchase for free. But the original shipping and handling fee are non-refundable. 

Shipping & Packaging

Membership boxes ship by the 25th of each month. When your package is sent out, you’ll receive the tracking info, so you know when to expect it.

Each month, you get a beautifully designed box that you can repurpose into a jewelry box, a gift box, or anything else. Also, both the box and the tissue paper inside are recyclable. We love the guilt-free Birchbox unboxing.

Birchbox delivers in the US, UK, France, Belgium, and Spain. Plus, your subscription fee covers shipping. 

Customer Service

Birchbox reviews say you can reach the team through its email addresses — [email protected] and [email protected]. Or you can use the contact form on the official website. Alternatively, you can schedule a call with support or send a text message.

The support team was very fast with our queries, replying to the form message within 30 minutes. 

The website also has a highly informative FAQ section. Some Birchbox beauty box reviews complain about the lack of a direct phone line but complement the service on its quick response. 

My First Birchbox

Now for the best part – what I received in this month’s Birchbox!

Inside was my actual Birchbox! This box had a cute floral print. 

I was pretty impressed with the products I got. None of them are full-sized, but most of them will last me a good amount of time. I received a natural deodorant, an eyeliner, a setting spray, and two lip products. Birchbox did a great job pairing my preferences with products. As mentioned earlier in this Birchbox review, I specified that I prefer to receive a variation of products, and that’s exactly what I got. Plus, I genuinely liked four out of five products and will be using them daily.

Schmidt’s Lavender + Sage Deodorant

I know you’re supposed to save the best for last, but I couldn’t wait! My favorite product of the ones I received is a 2.65 oz. Schmidt’s natural deodorant in the Lavender + Sage scent. The full-size is 3.25 oz, so Birchbox provided a very generous sample. I was looking forward to trying this product because I already use this deodorant in the Rose scent every day and I adore it! 

It’s a 100% natural deodorant that doesn’t have any harmful chemicals but still works as well as a regular deodorant (at least for me). They use essential oils for scent rather than fragrance, and it smells amazing. They also use ingredients such as arrowroot powder and baking soda to soak up the sweat.

If you do a little research besides reading this Birchbox review, you’ll learn that the popular brands of deodorant have a ton of harmful chemicals; some have even been connected to various types of cancer. I immediately switched over to natural products that don’t have these ingredients when I learned about this. I’ve tried a few different natural deodorants, but I’d say this brand is the best out of all of them. This generous size will last quite awhile.

Full-size retail price: $8.99

Eyeko Felt Tip Eyeliner (Black)

The following product I received is found in many Birchbox reviews. It is a mini Eyeko felt tip eyeliner in black. Coincidentally, I use felt-tip eyeliner most often. I’ve used this eyeliner before and was really satisfied with how easy it is to draw lines with it. Plus, it doesn’t rub off easily, and it doesn’t dry out super-fast like a lot of felt tip eyeliners do.

The price for a full-size one is a little spendy for an eyeliner as it costs $22. So I’m guessing this mini size is at least $10 worth of product.

Full-size retail price: $22

Coola Setting Spray + SPF 30

Another product I got in this month’s Birchbox was a sample size setting spray from Coola.

This product is organic and includes SPF 30 to protect your skin throughout the day. I haven’t had a setting spray for a while so I’m looking forward to using this after I do my makeup. What’s more, I’ve never seen a setting spray that has SPF included, which is awesome because I always forget to put sun protection on my face. It will be super helpful to have a two-in-one product like this.

Full-size retail price: $36

Dr. Lipp Miracle Balm

The next product up is the Dr. Lipp Miracle Balm! It’s another 100% natural product that rehydrates skin and lips. I was surprised by how well this works! My lips felt super-soft after using it.

It doesn’t feel gross like most chapsticks either! It feels more like an oil, and it’s quickly absorbed after you put in on your lips. Also, it moisturizes skin nicely. Items like this one make the Birchbox subscription well-worth the invested money.

Full-size retail price: $16.50

Adesse Butter Lip Balm

The final product I received was a sample-size of the Adesse Butter Lip Balm. It’s a cute color, but I’ll probably be giving this away to a friend since I don’t really use tinted lip balms. However, I’ll be using all the other products that came in my box!

Full-size retail price: $24

Birchbox Reputation & Customer Satisfaction

Customers compliment Birchbox for its product range. Even though the boxes consist of sample sizes, they often include big brands worth trying out. Also, users love that they can test the products before committing to a full-size item, and most say that’s their main reason for using the service. Plus, it’s like sending yourself a present every month.

The most significant Birchbox complaints are about the subscription options. The service doesn’t allow customers to cancel any of the plans that are longer than a month. It doesn’t put much faith in the company. Consumers want the option to leave if they aren’t satisfied. 

What’s more, customers complain about the auto-renewal process. They say they didn’t receive a warning about the subscription renewing automatically after the initially agreed period. 

Birchbox ratings online range from 2.7–4.1 stars. We recommend doing your research before subscribing to manage your expectations.

Birchbox Alternatives — How Does It Compare?

When it comes to beauty subscription boxes, there’s a lot of competition. Let’s see how Birchbox measures up to the rest. 

Ipsy vs Birchbox Reviews

Birchbox offers an extensive range of skin and body care products. In contrast, Ipsy focuses predominantly on beauty products. Also, what you’ll get remains a secret. There are no previews, and customers can’t pick or customize their orders like with Birchbox. 

Ipsy customers get a mini makeup bag every month. That’s a massive point to Birchbox since you can easily recycle the packaging. 

Birchbox doesn’t usually include full-size products, whereas Ipsy will provide one or two every month. The price for an entry-level subscription is similar — Ipsy costs $13 a month, and Birchbox is $15. 

Birchbox vs Glossybox

Glossybox prices start from $21 a month. While that’s more than the $15 for Birchbox, there’s a reason for it. 

Birchbox provides sample sizes that roughly equal your monthly subscription price. Glossybox, on the other hand, offers bigger US and international brands in deluxe sample sizes. The product value is far more than its monthly fee. 

Some Glossybox items are also full-size, so that’s also a big selling point for the service. Besides, Glossybox is available in Canada, where Birchbox isn’t. 

Birchbox vs Allure

Allure editors curate the boxes, charging $23 a month. You get at least three full-size products, and the subscription box value is way more than $100. Also, you receive six or more products each month. But you can’t personalize your Allure box. 

So, the most significant difference is that Birchbox is customizable, and the contents are according to your information. Besides, the two services differ a lot in price and value.

FabFitFun reviews show that it’s also a good choice if you’re looking for another customizable option.