Review of the October 2012 BIRCHBOX

This is my review of the October 2012 Birchbox.  This is my first Birchbox I've gotten (after being on a wait list for about a month).  This month, Birchbox partnered with GOOP, so I was excited to see what they came up with.

The "Stats" -  There were apparently 39 different versions of the Birchbox this month.  I received Box #6.  

Frequency:  Monthly (automatic renewing)

Cost:  $10.00/month (shipping is free)

Products: From their website - "Monthly deliveries of high-end beauty and lifestyle samples from top brands. It's the best way to discover new products and buy with confidence".  This month, my box had 4 regular products and 1 bonus product in it.

Here's what my October 2012 Birchbox looked like:

First impression:  "Yay!  You're finally here!"

Here's a look at all the products that were in the box:

This box included:  (Retail Values are listed for the size actually received in the box, not the full-sized product unless that's what they sent in the box).

The Products: 
1.  Beautyblender - 1 pink sponge - RV $12.98
2.  Chantecaille Brilliant Gloss - approx .1 fl oz - RV $3.30
3.  DDF Wrinkle Resist Plus Pore Minimizer - .23 fl oz - RV $11.50
4.  Marie Veronique Organics Anti-Aging Oil - approx. .1 oz - RV $8.00
5.  LUNA Lemon Zest - 1 bar - RV $1.25

TOTAL VALUE of the products I received:  $37.03 (estimated)
MY COST:  $10.00

A closer look at the Products:
1.  Beautyblender - (5 stars) - I LOVE this little pink sponge!  It's soft and when dampened just a bit, makes my liquid foundation go on smoothly.  Though it's a bit pricey, it's still something I'd buy in the future!  
2.  Chantecaille Brilliant Gloss - (5 stars) - This is a great gloss!  It's so silky and creamy.  It says it delivers a subtle plumping effect.  I didn't really notice that part, but still, the gloss is great.  The color I received is called "Charm".  It's a lovely salmon pink color that shimmers.  Looks great to wear casually or with a smokey eye.
3.  DDF Wrinkle Resist Plus Pore Minimizer - (3 stars) - I've used this once so far.  I'll be honest, I didn't notice a huge difference after one try.  I will use it for the next week or so though daily to see if it does after a few uses.  I will update this blog once I do.
4.  Marie Veronique Organics Anti-Aging Oil - (Not Sampled) - I have combination skin, so I'm not sure that I want to apply oil to my face even if it's for anti-aging.  I'll ponder and update this blog accordingly.
5.  LUNA Lemon Zest - 1 bar - (2 stars) - I appreciate that it's healthy, but there just wasn't a lot of flavor there.  I am a fan of lemon bars and all things lemon-flavored, so I would've liked some more flavor to this bar.  Not something I'll buy in the future.

The final verdict:  4 stars!!  Overall, this was a nice sample box.  I received 5 products valued at approx. $37.03 for the great price of only $10.  I LOVED the sponge and the lip gloss.  The sponge alone paid for the box.  When I found out there were so many different versions of the box, I signed up for a 2nd subscription as well.  I will post again when the 2nd box comes (and hopefully it's a different version).