The October Birchbox has the theme “Feeling good” and I had high hopes as my last couple of boxes have been spot on. My star product from September (review here) is one I’m still in love with, and use every day. Who would have thought a lip balm could be so fantastic? Is Birchbox on a roll, can we make it three fab boxes in a row?
October’s box
Birchbox have teamed up with CoppaFeel in honour of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a cause very dear to my heart. The box itself is beautiful, with a gorgeous pink and violet marble effect, I couldn’t wait to see what was inside.
Anatomicals Grab Your Melons Shower Gel
The name of this shower gel made me smile and I love that anatomicals created the zesty body wash especially for CoppaFeel, to help spread breast cancer awareness. It’s a great travel size, ideal for the gym bag and retails at £1.50. Accompanying the shower gel is a sticker explaining exactly what to look out for while you wash your melons! It’s a great idea, but the melon fragrance isn’t for me, unfortunately, so it’s not a product I’m going to use.
Balance Me Pure Skin Face Wash
I’ve had other Balance Me products in previous Birchboxes and they’ve managed to irritate my skin. This face wash is packed full of essential oils including: grapefruit, petitgrain, frankincense, and spruce knot to decongest the skin. Plus it has moisturising and antioxidant rich moringa and rice bran oils, and it’s sulphate and petroleum free. The full size version retails at £16.00, which isn’t a bad price. But, as I’m not sure what it is about Balance Me products that upsets my skin so much, I’m not willing to risk it again with this sample.
Biore Deep Cleansing Charcoal Pore Strips 6 pack
I love the idea of charcoal-infused sticky tape that naturally purifies and yanks out all the yuck collected in your pores to prevent blackheads. But … I’ve tried these before and OMG they hurt so much when you have to remove them. Seriously, I’d rather have my bikini line waxed than use one of these strips ever again. At least with a wax you can stop when it gets too much and no-one is any the wiser. But you can’t go out with one of these strips stuck to your face! Another product I won’t be using, or paying £8.99 for the privilege of full price pain.
ModelCo® Mega Lash Mascara
I’ve had a ModelCo eyeliner before and it’s still going strong so I know the brand is a good one. The brush looks like it would do a great job of adding lift and volume but I’ve got so many mascaras in my make up drawer already that my heart sank when I saw yet another one. It will probably be Easter by the time I might get round to trying this product! Full size retails at £16.00, which isn’t too expensive, I guess.
amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo
What to say about this product? I’ve said it before, as have many other Birchbox subscribers, DRY SHAMPOO IS NOT A TREAT. Please stop putting dry shampoo in our boxes. In any case, I’ve only found one dry shampoo that doesn’t leave white powder in my dark(ish) brown hair and that’s a Batiste one, which I’m sticking with. Perhaps this sample that claims to clean, moisturise, strengthen, repair split ends, and enhance shine, might be suited to someone with lighter hair though. Full size retails at £20.00, which seems steep to me when compared to my trusty Batiste.
Did I like October’s box?
Sadly, no, my October Birchbox was a disappointment and I won’t be using any of the items. I’m so sad about this because I really wanted to love everything, especially as it’s all about Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I realise that not everyone will feel this way, but this is my review and I want to be honest, there’s no point in me enthusing about products I’m not happy with. I’m just hoping that November’s box redeems itself – apparently it’s going to be curated by Vogue Beauty Editors so I’m keeping my fingers crossed.
Do you subscribe to Birchbox? Did your October Birchbox leave you feeling good or not?
It’s great that they’ve teamed up with coppafeel- a fantastic charity – for this box to help raise awareness maybe to an age group which need more education. I really like the sound of the Melon body wash, maybe it’ll smell different when used in the shower? And have you tried the dry shampoo? I agree I wouldn’t really consider it a treat either as it’s kinda a necessity xx
I’m so pleased Birchbox are doing something for Breast Cancer Awareness and I’m so sad I didn’t like the contents this month. I’m actually thinking about running a giveaway for this month’s box as I won’t be using them and I don’t want them to go to waste. And yes, haha, totally agree with you, dry shampoo is a necessity! X
Oh no what a shame it wasn’t great! I must say it is an odd selection so I can see your point. As for the balance me products irritating your skin – there are a few essential oils that these natural skincare brands fill their products with that can actually be quite drying and irritating. So those ingredients may be your culprit!
That’s interesting what you say about the essential oils. I use Origins products and have done for years and with one exception (which I think was due to my skin getting older, haha!) they’ve never irritated my skin. I guess I’m just reluctant to change. I’m curious to see what other subscribers think of their boxes, I’ll be scouring the blogs and Instagram to find out!
I’ve always wanted to purchase a birchbox but was always too afraid to do so. I love how they have teamed up with breast cancer awareness this month. I might end up purchasing a box myself x
Although this month was a disappointment, it’s the first one I’ve had where I don’t want to use anything. Normally Birchbox offers a really good selection and they’re great value. I hope this month hasn’t put you off trying them! x
That’s too bad you didn’t like it ! ? hard with the subscription boxes, you can’t always find everything you love but at least you give it a try! My hopes would of been on the charcoal nose strips since I haven’t tried them yet !
This is the only subscription box I’ve tried, although I know there are lots of others. Usually they’re very good, it’s a shame about this month. Good luck if you try any nose strips, be prepared for some eye watering! x
Sounds like you got an interesting box, but I think the only product I would like is the Biore strips. I’m a sucker for peel-off face masks and things like that.
I like masks too but the Biore strips are in a different league, haha. They do work really well but they hurt so much, my nose was sore for ages afterwards, which is why I’m in no hurry to repeat the experience! x
I have seen reviews of this box. That’s a shame you were disappointed. I am always a bit wary of beauty boxes as I have never been 100% satisfied with what I got
I’ve been really pleased with Birchbox so far, this is the first box that I was disappointed with. It has made me wonder if I should try another subscription service though. I think I’ll wait and see what November brings and then decide. x
The packaging is gorgeous, and I’m so glad they’ve teamed up with CoppaFeel! I’ve wanted to try Anatomicals for absolutely forever, it’s just a shame you didn’t like the smell! Do you think you’ll try any of their other range? ☺️
The packaging was the best thing about this month’s box, haha. I would be quite keen to try some other Anatomicals products though, I gather the brand is a well-respected one, I shall have to take a look at some of the other fragrances in their range. x
Very thorough review, thanks for that. I was always wondering what this Birch box thing is about, because I’m a little behind on all this beauty stuff, so your post was quite helpful.
Thank you, I do try and give as much information as possible 🙂 There are so many beauty subscription boxes out there, I can’t keep track of them all. Birchbox is usually very good, it’s just a shame about this month. Fingers crossed for November! x
Love this month’s theme! So wonderful ?
Is this box a drawer box or back to the original design with the lid?
It’s a drawer box, and the design is just beautiful ?
Ahh! My Birchbox is currently sitting at the post office for me to collect, and I’m not sure I want to now haha! That’s so disappointing that you’ve had such bad experiences with the Balance Me products as I really like them 🙁 I agree with you that dry shampoo isn’t a treat, although I’d happily take that over the millions of multipurpose balms I get sent haha. Birchbox is so hit and miss, hopefully next month will be more to your taste!
Beth x
Oh no, I don’t want to put you off, you might get different products to me! This is the first month that I’ve not wanted to use anything in my Birchbox, I’m really hoping it’s just a one-off. If I get dry shampoo again I’ll swap you for one of your multi-purpose balms then! 🙂 X
It’s so great that they partnered with coppafeel! It’s a shame you didn’t like the box. Who is paying £20 for dry shampoo?!
I was so pleased they did something for Breast Cancer Awareness too. But dry shampoo, ugh, I mean £20 could buy something really nice!! ??? Fingers crossed for November’s box x
that shower gel is suuuuch a freakin’ great idea!!! that’s really, really put a smile on my face. the main thing with copping a feel is remembering to do it often, so creating a shower gel that reminds you to is such an incredible idea. love it! ♥
i’ve not got the birchbox before but have seen sooo many positive reviews of the last few months…it’s making me want to get back on board!
katie. xx
Oh yes, it is, I love the idea of the shower gel and sticker, I was just sad the fragrance wasn’t for me! TBH, this is the first month Birchbox haven’t done it for me, all my other boxes have been pretty good with a couple of really great ones as well! x
I love how they’ve teamed up with Coppafeel, it’s such a fantastic charity! It’s such a shame you weren’t a massive fan of this box though! Hopefully next month will be better! X
I was so sad I didn’t love everything in this box 🙁 but, yes, fingers crossed for November, the Vogue curation! X
I always here good things about birch box, Well, until a few months ago when I seen more people saying they weren’t getting products that suited them or weren’t worth it which is such a shame as it was one of the best. It’s a shame you didn’t like this month’s but hopefully novembers box does redeem itself for you!! Not going to lie, there are a few products there I would love haha but when it’s not something you like then its true, you shouldn’t be enthusiastic about it.
Jordanne || Thelifeofaglasgowgirl.co.uk
Yes, it’s odd, I’ve seen a lot of people unhappy with their Birchboxes recently but up until this month I’ve been really happy with mine. I am really hoping that November’s box is more suited to me, but rather than waste October’s I’m offering the box up as a giveaway now (see pinned Tweet) – so if there are some products you like in here then you should enter the competition, good luck if you do! X