Birchbox Man July 2016 Subscription Box Review

See all Birchbox Man articles.

On my 20th anniversary with the best man I know, I decided to share an article of his. He’s stood beside me for more than half my life, and I am grateful for him.

Birchbox Man gives at least four grooming samples a month for $20. The price is double the Woman’s Box, because of the added lifestyle item, which usually retails for over $20 by itself. As long as the lifestyle item is something you’d want, you should always get your investment back. You will get an email reminding you to select your lifestyle item. Respond as soon as you can, because the more desirable lifestyle items can go out-of-stock. All grooming samples are chosen based on the answers to your online profile questions. For every review on an item received in your box, you get 10 points, which is equal to $1 in the shop. A six item box (the foils are the same sample twice), like this one, gets my husband $6 back. (Changes are coming to the points system effective 07/11/16, but everything above and below still applies to this box).

The theme for this month is Made in the Shade. It arrived in the standard boring brown box.

The first thing you notice when you open a box is a card going over the box theme.

It directs you to the website for a list of samples.

This list on your dashboard tells you what you received, how much it would cost to purchase the full size, and refers you to the product page if you want more information on it.

The sample choice was between: Cory Vines Boxer Briefs ($22), Coalatree The Nomad Packable Duffel Bag ($25.99), or ICNY Packable Backpack ($50). There was no featured box this month.

The 1oz Kiehl’s Ultimate Strength Hand Salve is worth $4.40. This is his favorite hand cream of all time and is one he repurchases often. You will not see this in my empties often, because I only review things I use on my own or share with my family. When my husband buys this, he rarely shares it with me. I liberally apply hand cream after each hand wash, so I go through it very quickly. He uses a very small amount once or twice a say. To keep hand creams for a long time, he keeps them away from me. While this is not my all-time favorite hand cream, I definitely see why he loves this. It is extremely moisturizing, does not have much of a scent, and despite the texture (which is between a cream and a balm) it does not leave a greasy feeling. Having a portable one will make it easier for him to throw this into his new, down-sized briefcase.

The 0.1oz Baxter of California Under Eye Complex is worth $3.73. I’ve purchased multiple eye creams for him, but he rarely uses them. Hopefully, he gives this a real shot instead of using it long enough to review and forgetting about it. As I tell him often, we are not getting any younger. A little eye cream goes a long way for anyone with aging skin. Added moisture is his friend.

There are no sizes listed on the Harry’s Daily Face Wash foils. I never place value on foils anyway, so the size is not important for valuation. Birchbox only sends foils as bonuses, so they never take away a deluxe sample when receiving them. They are probably around 0.17oz each for those curious. Reviewing foils gives the same 10 points as deluxe and full-sized items (at least until 07/11/16). Foils are a great way to test for an allergic reaction and aversion to the smell. For things like face wash, a foil is probably all you need to make a purchase decision. After a single use, you generally know everything you need to know, like how well it cleanses.

My husband selected the Cory Vines Boxer Briefs, which retail for $22. I applaud him for always selecting the item he wants most, even when it has the lowest value. He can always use more underwear, but one only needs so many backpacks and duffel bags. Considering he called the underwear extremely comfortable, I am guessing he picked the right item.

The 0.5oz CONTEXT SKIN Micro-Derm Regenerator is worth $4.38. He does not use exfoliant as often as he should, because he is adamant in having a quick routine. This is a cleanser and exfoliant in one. While combination products are not my favorite (because they usually do one task better than the other or neither as well as two separate products), I believe they are perfect for a minimalist, like my husband. Hopefully, he likes this, so he can exfoliate a little more often.

The 1oz The Rich + Clean Grey Matter Body Wash is worth $3.13. A charcoal cleanser for the body seems ingenious. If this does not smell like a man, I will probably try this myself to see if it helps my skin feel more cleansed than a traditional soap. I wonder if the essential oils help replenish the skin of oils a deep cleanser would likely strip.

The box has a $37.64 value. His personal value is also $37.64, because he will try everything in the box. This was a successful box, because he loves the underwear. They are worth more than he paid for the box. If you want to subscribe, remember to look at start-up offers and all available offers. When you’re ready to spend your rewards points, remember to add your free two piece sample pack when spending $35 from the Bonus Shop. See other Birchbox Subscription articles. View my main page for the guide map to the site and deeper deal exploration.

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