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Birchbox Takes Guesswork Out Of Beauty With Monthly Sample Subscriptions

You know the deep disappointment that hits you when you’ve just shelled out a bunch of cash for a beauty product that didn’t live up to its hype? I feel your pain, ladies, because we’ve all been experienced this kind of beauty shopper’s remorse. But if you’re tired of this recurring feeling, I think you might want to check out a cool new service called Birchbox.
 For $10 a month, Birchbox members receive a box filled with 4-5 handpicked, oversized samples from the top hair, makeup and skincare brands. But the fun doesn’t stop there, because Birchbox members can hop on the service’s website for even more goodies like video tutorials and articles about the latest and greatest beauty products.

And if you happen to come across a product you love while testing out your Birchbox, you can buy the full-sized product on birchbox.com/shop and earn reward points towards future purchases. You can also earn reward points by referring friends to the site or answering surveys.

I tested out a Birchbox and was quite impressed with the wide assortment of products included in my box of surprises! My Birchbox was filled with the following goodies: two Deborah Lippmann The Stripper To Go nail polish remover mitts, Laura Mercier Lip Glacé in Opal, Perricone MD Cold Plasma face cream, reBloom beauty sleep drink, and some Oribe shampoo and conditioner. The range of products was great and the packaging of the Birchbox is simply adorable!

Customers can sign up online and for $110 a year, Birchbox members receive 12 boxes, plus $10 off their first full-size product purchase. But if you’re the commitment-shy type, you can purchase a Birchbox for $10 a month and can cancel at any time. And with the holidays coming up, Birchbox could make a great gift for your beauty-obsessed friend.

Chrissy Callahan is a double major in journalism and media studies (self-designed) and French and Francophone studies at Brandeis University, graduating December 2010. A Medford, Mass. native, she works in Brandeis' Department of Creative Services, helping edit and maintain the Brandeis website. Before writing and interning for Her Campus, Chrissy was features editor for the student newspaper the Brandeis Hoot for three years. When she's not hard at work, you're most likely going to find Chrissy indulging her passion for shopping, wearing way too much pink, or eating cookie dough ice cream. She also enjoys traveling, and dreams of traveling to Paris frequently for her future career. After graduating, Chrissy hopes to get a job in beauty or fashion journalism.