April is just about over and that’s exciting because we’ll be one step closer to Summer. I love Spring, but nothing tops Summer for me. There’s so much fun to be had! Before we move on to May though, I have a beauty subscription battle for you: Birchbox vs. Ipsy – April edition! Which was better? Let’s find out….
Birchbox vs. Ipsy – April
Birchbox
Beauty Protector | Protect & Oil
A lightweight hair oil that protects against UV rays and heat damage. It has a warm candyish scent that kind of reminds me of cotton candy. I like hair oils like this as long as they don’t make my hair look greasy. I’ve used this oil once so far and it didn’t leave a layer of greasy oil on my hair.
$29.95, birchbox.com
Number 4 | Volumizing Shampoo
Sulfate-free volumizing shampoo. I haven’t used it yet, but it has a pretty scent that I love. It has a perfume-y fragrance with an ounce of fruitiness. The sample size is huge compared to a foil packet and that’s a major win! I can actually use this shampoo a few times.
$34, number4hair.com
POP Beauty | POP Portfolio Eyeshadow Palette – Peach Parfait Trio
Three eyeshadow shades from the POP Portfolio Eyeshadow Palette. I picked this sample to be in my box this month. The shades are beautiful and I love samples like this! I have a lot of palettes that include colors like these, so I might hold onto this trio for an upcoming giveaway. Props to Birchbox for such an awesome sample though!
Full palette $26, popbeauty.com
Real Chemistry | Luminous 3-minute Peel
A gentle acid-free peel that sweeps dead skin cells away while smoothing skin. It works in just 3 minutes. This was cool to try, but I didn’t notice any difference after using it. Of course, it does take awhile to properly test skin care (weeks at least), but I’m not willing to shell out almost $50 to see how well this works over time.
$48, myrealchemistry.com
Whish | Shave Crave Shaving Cream – Blueberry
A lotionlike moisturizing shaving cream that does not foam up. I got a Whish shaving cream in a Birchbox before and didn’t care for it. I used this one to give it a fair test, but I still didn’t like it nor would I buy it. I didn’t like the scent and I think the foaming creams from the drugstore work much better for me.
$20, whishbody.com
Ipsy
JulieG Nail Polish | Damsel
Pretty pink polish! I have a few JulieG polishes and I want more. This is a perfect sample for me. I love pink nail polish and I like that JulieG’s polishes are so affordable. She offers a good assortment of colors too.
$3.99, jessesgirlcosmetics.com
Pandora’s Makeup Box | Pink Carnation Blush
A long-lasting peachy blush that’s suitable for all skin tones. Another awesome sample! This blush is a great size and I’m liking the color! I haven’t actually worn it on my cheeks yet, but I know it’ll look good.
theBalm Cosmetics | Nude Dude Eyeshadow Single
This shadow sample comes from the Nude Dude Eyeshadow Palette. I think Birchbox’s POP Beauty shadow trio beats this, but there are definitely no complaints here! TheBalm is a great brand and this is a nice shadow. It’s a shimmery bronze color. Also, can we just appreciate the cute packaging for a minute?
Full palette $36, thebalm.com
Mica Beauty | Eye Primer
An eye primer that will keep your shadow in place, even out your skin tone, and intensify mineral eye shadows without creasing, smearing, or fading. Ipsy reached out to everyone who got this sample in their bag, letting us know that there were some reports of discoloration in the product that looked like it might be mold. It’s not mold, just bubbling that happened during the cooling process. Nevertheless, Ipsy offered to resolve any issues or discomfort anyone has with the product. They sent this email before I even got my bag, which is really awesome customer service in my opinion!
But wait, is this primer actually $45??! That’s insane. I will never spend that much on an eye primer!
$44.95, micabeauty.com
Mullein & Sparrow | Mini Lip & Cheek Tint
An all-natural sheer tinted balm that can be applied to the lips or cheeks for a slight rosy flush. In the pan, this balm looks really dark, but not much color comes out when you dip your finger in it. I don’t care for it. It feels like oil on my lips and taste like dirt. Obviously, I won’t be purchasing this product.
Battle Breakdown
Both subscriptions included some great things this month. In my Birchbox, I loved the POP Beauty eyeshadow trio and the hair oil. The samples were all great sizes in my box too. There were no foil packets or perfume samples. I think Birchbox has come a long way and is always trying to improve. They’re still giving choices every month for various samples or guest editor boxes. In my Ipsy, I loved the nail polish, eyeshadow, and blush. Plus, they showed that they care about their customers with their warning email about the eye primer. I like that.
Who Wins Birchbox vs. Ipsy – April?
Both were good, so I’m giving it a draw!
The Score
Birchbox – 1 | Ipsy – 4 | Draw – 2
Want to subscribe?
Join Birchbox here and join Ipsy here!
Check out last month’s battle here.
QUESTION OF THE POST: Do you subscribe to any monthly boxes? Which ones?
Contact: ashley@peekandponder.com
- How to Start a Garden from Seed: 10 Easy Tips for Beginners - May 28, 2025
- 20 Spring Activities for Adults - March 20, 2025
- Home Coffee Bar Essentials - March 9, 2025
Leave a Reply