Are you Team Birchbox or Team Ipsy? Every month, I compare my Birchbox and Ipsy subscriptions to see which one was better for the month. Ipsy has been the winner the majority of the time, but Birchbox has definitely held its own, and there have even been a few draws. The Birchbox vs. Ipsy – May battle is a little late given that it’s already June now, but I still wanted to share!
Birchbox vs. Ipsy – May
Birchbox
Harvey Prince | Yogini
A calming fragrance with notes of sandalwood, amber, grapefruit, and star jasmine. I don’t ever get excited to see perfume samples in my box (I know I’m not the only one!). Most of the Harvey Prince ones have been pretty good, but this one is just not for me. To me, it’s a spicy, mature scent.
I have too many perfume samples and I don’t ever use them. It doesn’t matter what brand or scent it is…I don’t want it! How do you feel about getting perfume samples in your beauty subscription boxes?
$26-$55, harveyprince.com
Smashbox | Photo Finish Primer Water
A silicone-free hydrating facial mist that acts as a primer for your makeup and helps lock it in. Now this totally makes up for that perfume sample! I’ve seen it everywhere and have been wanting to try it. It feels refreshing on my skin and the sample size is pretty substantial. By the time I’m done with it, I’ll be able to tell if I want a full size.
$32, sephora.com
Marcelle | Hydra-C 24H Energizing Hydrating Gel
A light, hydrating gel moisturizer with green tea and cucumber extracts. So far I’ve only used it on the back of my hand, but it’s meant for the face. It’s definitely lightweight and non-greasy. It made my skin feel extra soft and it didn’t have a scent. It seems to be a fairly good moisturizer.
$24, marcelle.com
Macadamia Professional | Nourishing Moisture Oil Treatment
A nourishing and repairing hair oil that reduces blow dry time and provides UV protection. This is the sample I chose for the month. I like hair oils and I’ve been meaning to try this brand for a long time. The sample size is huge and will probably last for months. I chose wisely! If I like it, I’ll still have a hard time paying $40 though.
$40, macadamiahair.com
Coastal Scents | Revealed 3 Palette
Four shadows from the Coastal Scents Revealed 3 palette. I love getting eyeshadow in my boxes, but it’s better when it’s a bigger size of just one shadow. The upside of this sample quad is that the shadows are big enough to last quite a while and you can get a whole look out of them. Honestly though, I haven’t used Coastal Scents since I started blogging 4 years ago. I’ve moved on from that stage because I’ve discovered better-quality products over time. This brand is great for those who are just starting out with makeup though.
$19, coastalscents.com
Ipsy
Urban Decay | 24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencil + Revolution High-color Lipgloss
A clear primer pencil for lips that prevents feathering and holds lip color in place. This sample also came with 2 little lipglosses, so kind of a 3-in-1 sample. I love Urban Decay! Any sample that comes from them is fine with me. I wish I had some small jars to put the lipglosses in and then I could wear them several times instead of just once. The pencil will last a lot longer. I’ve used a lip primer before and it made a difference in the wear time of my lipstick, so I’m interested to see how this one will do.
$16, urbandecay.com
Chella | Eyebrow Pencil
A creamy mechanical eyebrow pencil in the color Tantalizing Taupe. I used this pencil and the one thing I noticed was that it made my eyebrows look too defined and a bit harsh. I currently use a powder on my brows that I’m able to blend out for a softer, natural brow look. I do typically like brow pencils because they’re simple and quick to use; I just can’t make this one work for me.
$18, chella.com
Peter Lamas | Detoxifying Citrus C Facial Cleanser
A facial cleanser that detoxifies, protects, energizes, softens, and strengthens skin. I like a good cleanser but I already have ones that I’m loyal to. This is a decent sample size, however skin care is tricky. I like to use it for awhile to see if it really works for me. I can’t see myself buying the full size of this.
$24, peterlamas.com
Luxie Beauty | Tapered Blending Eye Brush
An eyeshadow blending brush that’s cruelty-free featuring anti-bacterial coated bristles for minimal cleaning. Some people might not be thrilled with getting a brush in their beauty boxes. For me, I love it! Brushes, if they’re good quality and cared for, will last a long time. This one seems like it will be a good blending brush.
$12, luxiebeauty.com
CoTZ | Face Natural SPF 40
A healthy sunscreen without the chemicals. It protects skin, prevents premature aging, and blends in with a sheer matte finish. This isn’t something I’m all that happy about. Yes, sunscreen is important, but I have plenty of in my cabinet. I don’t feel a need to try others. Besides that, it’s not an exciting sample to receive at all!
$19.99, cotzskincare.com
Battle Rundown
Both subscriptions had a couple great samples, but also contained things I didn’t care for. In my Birchbox, I loved the Smashbox Primer Water and the Macadamia hair oil treatment. I didn’t care for the fragrance at all and the other two samples were okay. In my Ipsy, I liked the Urban Decay Lip Pencil and the Luxie Beauty blending brush. The sunscreen didn’t thrill me, nor did the cleanser. The eyebrow pencil was at least worth trying.
Who Wins Birchbox vs. Ipsy – May?
The Birchbox vs. Ipsy – May battle turned out to be a draw this time! I don’t think one was necessarily better than the other.
The Score
Birchbox – 1 | Ipsy – 4 | Draw – 3
Join the fun!
Both Birchbox and Ipsy are just $10/month. Subscribe to Birchbox here and subscribe to Ipsy here.
Check out my last Birchbox vs. Ipsy battle here!
QUESTION OF THE POST: What type of product do you most like to see in beauty subscription boxes? Skincare, makeup, tools, nail polish, etc?
Contact: ashley@peekandponder.com
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