Birchbox is a curated beauty and grooming subscription box that includes hair, makeup, fragrance, and skin products. Each delivery contains a combination of five sample-sized products across all beauty and fragrance categories. Customers can expect to save up to 50 percent off retail costs for small-sized product samples. Their women's beauty boxes ship by the 10th of each month.
Subscribers first fill out a beauty quiz so that the company can properly curate each month’s shipment. The customized box will feature both prestige and niche brands and all the items are sample-sized. After receiving their box and trying out the items, subscribers can then order any of the products in full size versions through the online store.
Also, for every $10 you spend in the online store, you receive $1 in loyalty points toward future purchases. The company also asks you to review each shipment so that it can further tailor subsequent boxes to your preferences.
To sign up, click on “Sign up” on the homepage of the company’s website. Depending on your subscription length, which you select on the following page, you’ll also be able to choose from a selection of free gift options.
After selecting your subscription term, you’ll need to enter your email address and other information to create an account. Then, you’ll provide your billing information before checking out.
Whatever subscription option you choose, your account will auto-renew when the term is up. However, you can cancel via your account dashboard any time.
BirchBox curates beauty products for its subscribers based on a beauty profile. Subscribers answer questions about their preferred products, grooming habits, and more. However, in addition to this personalization option, existing subscribers can also choose one of their samples.
New subscribers must wait to have the selection option, but after you join, you’ll be able to choose one of the samples you want to receive. The other four items will still be a surprise, but you are guaranteed to receive the one sample you choose. Samples span all categories, from makeup to fragrances to hair care items.
This monthly beauty box combines well-known and more obscure brands so that customers can try both famous and niche brands and try new products. Once you try out the products, you can then order full size selections from the online store.
And, there’s a points program where customers can earn funds toward online store purchases.
You can subscribe on a one-month, 3-month, 6-month, or yearly basis. Every subscription option contains the same basic items: five products spanning grooming and beauty categories.
Birchbox reviews on Trustpilot average two stars out of five, based on over 800 consumer responses. Over half of the Birchbox reviews note that the company is “excellent” while 13 percent responded that the service is “bad.” The remaining reviews spanned scores ranging from “poor” to “good.”
Consumers who reviewed the company as Excellent highlighted the quality and value of the sample products. They also noted positive customer service when dealing with receiving damaged items and obtaining replacements as necessary. Most positive reviews were from people who had long-term subscriptions with the company.
Some Birchbox reviews on Trustpilot reflect issues with items shipping on time or arriving damaged. Most negative comments noted a lack of responsive customer service attention with shipping or other subscription issues.
On Highya, most of the review feedback is negative, with eight one-star reviews and only two higher-level reviews. Most comments relate to an inability to easily cancel a subscription or issues with multiple boxes containing the same products.
Here's a fun unboxing review by GlamGirl777:
Here are a few frequently asked questions about this beauty subscription.
Subscriptions ship by the 10th of each month. When subscribers order full-size products, those shipments are sent out within 48 hours of the order.
Currently, you can only contact the subscription box company via a contact form on their website or via text message at (646) 461-4617. You can request an email or phone call response via the contact form.
You can cancel a monthly subscription any time. However, 3-, 6-, and 12-month rebillable subscriptions can only be canceled within the first month.
Subscription boxes are nonrefundable and cannot be returned. However, full-size product purchases can be returned within 90 days of purchase.
You can select one of the samples each month. The company sends a notice requesting that you choose before they ship your box. However, the rest of the products are curated based on your beauty profile and availability.
The company started with founders Katia and Hayley, both self-proclaimed makeup lovers who were frustrated with the way makeup shopping worked. They didn’t enjoy ordering items online and paying full-price for products they weren’t sure they would like.
At the same time, Katia and Hayley realized that other beauty gurus were in the same situation, so they decided to use the magic of the internet to bring sample-sized shipments of curated beauty products to women. Later, they expanded their line of subscription boxes to include men’s grooming tools and products as well.
In 2010, the company sent out its first boxes, and today it has a headquarters in New York City but serves a handful of countries all over the world. They also have operations in the United Kingdom, France, Spain, and Belgium.
See the below video for a recent box’s customization options for an idea of what products subscribers can choose from.
