My Birchbox vs. Ipsy series compares both subscriptions every month and gives you a good idea of what kinds of products to expect in each. I pay for both of these subscriptions on my own, and I’m not getting paid to write these reviews every month. I know that one month’s worth of reviews isn’t enough to make an informed decision, which is why I continue to write these posts. My hope is that if you’re on the fence between the two, these posts will help you make the decision about which subscription beauty box is right for you.
Here’s my breakdown of Birchbox vs Ipsy May 2015 edition:
Birchbox
Products (top to bottom, left to right):
- TokyoMilk by Margo Elena bon bon shea butter lotion
- CoTZ flawless complexion SPF 50
- Benefit Cosmetics lollibalm
- Harvey Prince yogini
- Macadamia Professional nourishing moisture oil treatment
I’m going to make this as short and sweet as possible: The lotion from TokyoMilk has a great formula, but I can’t stand the smell. It has a strong shea butter smell, so if that’s your thing, then you’ll love this. I’ve received the CoTZ sunscreen from either Birchbox or Ipsy before, and it just sits in my drawer because the sample is too small to really do anything with. The Harvey Prince smells like something my mom or grandma would wear. At first I thought it was tolerable, and then it hit me. Nope, not going to work.
The product I was most excited about was Lollibalm from Benefit Cosmetics. I’ve always been really curious about it but never really wanted to spend my money on it. The color is gorgeous, and it’s so creamy! I chose the Macadamia Professional oil as my product choice for the month solely based on the fact that they said the sample was big enough to last for awhile – and wow, they were right! I’m not sure I’m a fan of the scent, but I could probably get used to it. Even though I don’t use hair oils right now, I’m always open to trying something new.
Ipsy
Products (top to bottom, left to right)
- Urban Decay 24/7 glide on lip pencil (shade: ozone) & high revolution lip gloss
- Chella eyebrow color pencil
- Klorane smoothing and relaxing patches
- Luxie Beauty tapered blending eye brush 205
- CoTZ face natural SPF 40
When I saw that I was getting an Urban Decay product in my bag this month, I was thrilled! I was even more excited when I realized it was a product I haven’t tried yet. So here’s the deal: I’ve had an OCC matte lip tar for almost 6 months and have never worn it because it always cracked and broke apart, making my lips look awful. So I decided to try out this UD lip pencil underneath, and the lip tar looked flawless. I couldn’t even believe it. Needless to say, I’m beyond impressed. I haven’t tried out the lip glosses yet, but I’m very intrigued by the shade (a mauvey pink and a bright purple).
The Chella eyebrow pencil was actually a perfect shade match for me, and even though it’s a bit difficult to apply, I really like it. It looked natural when I put it on and didn’t budget (despite my nasty, oily skin). As for the Klorane smoothing patches, I literally have no idea what they’re for. Moving on.
I’ve been wanting/needing/wishfully hoping for a tapered blending brush for months now, and I was just about ready to cave and buy one from Sigma. Then I saw I was getting one in my Ipsy bag! It’s everything I expected it to be, and it’s perfect for adding a transition color to my crease. And last but not least, another CoTZ product. Two in one month. Whyyyy?!
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