November 2013: Ipsy Bag and (vs.) Birchbox

November 14: Ipsy Bag arrived (Tracking email received November 12)
November 13: Birchbox arrived (Tracking email received November 7)

Winner: Ipsy Bag

Birchbox featured their "favorite charitable beauty brands" and a portion of the proceed goes toward No Kid Hungry.  While I appreciate the introduction to these charitable brands, I would appreciate just good products... more.  Personally including a chocolate bar, no matter how yummy, in a beauty box is a undesirable.  Left wondering if they forgot to pack something... 

Ipsy is all about "Glam It Up" and the products are great for making a strong impression.  The gem colored eyeliner (Starlooks) and champagne colored Nailtini polish and Caitlyn eyeshadow.  The bag over all is also a shiny gold that I can possibly use as a clutch.

Comparison of similar products: Nailtini polish in champaign (ipsy) and Color Club polish in Top Shelf (Birchbox).

Now the products in the box & bag...

October 2013: Ipsy Bag and (vs.) Birchbox

October 16: Ipsy Bag arrived (Tracking email received October 14)
October 11: Birchbox arrived (Tracking email received October 7)

Winner: Birchbox again but by a narrow margin.

So this month's featured "award winners" that the stylist at Birchbox can't stop talking about.  I believe that for most products except the Chapstick.  Definitely felt like a mass marketing campaign.  Ignoring that, we have a full size powder which matches my skin tone!  Plus two other products, so quantity wise there are 2 products fewer.  Quality... its Good!

Ipsy on the other hand is repetitive of old products, but with different colors/designs.  The ipsy bag itself is similar to April's bag, except with words.  I have gotten Buxom before, in a lighter color (July 2012).  But I love the brand so am not complaining about the repeat.  Since I retook the personalization test (only changed 1 answer), the products I am getting is a little more diverse.  I am excited about the Zoya nail polish and the volumizing gel.

Comparison of similar products: Nothing similar between the two products

Now the products in the box & bag...

September 2013: Ipsy Bag and (vs.) Birchbox

WINNER!!!!

September 12: Ipsy Bag arrived (Tracking email received September 8)
September 16: Birchbox arrived (Tracking email received September 7)

Winner: Birchbox

The best thing about my Ipsy bag is the bag.  It's such a beautiful blue and black.  That's about it.  I got mascara last month.  NYX eyeshadow in June.  Plus more black eyeliner than I know what to do with.  So this month's ipsy had nothing I am excited about.  Plus more and more product just feels like items I can pick up at Target.  Nothing against drugstore products but I am looking for some higher end touches.  This is quite disappointing.

For the 3 year anniversary box, the Birchbox is a reminder of its purpose (for me).  To be introduced to new products and expand my skin care and beauty collection.  This box just had many products that I have never heard of before.  Though my constant complaint about too small sample size is still true.  Look at the Egyptian Magic All Purpose Skin Cream or Grand Central Beauty S.M.A.R.T. Skin Perfecting Polisher.  But at least I am introduced to truly new products, so very exciting

Comparison of similar products: Ojon Restorative Lash Treatment and Mascara Duo vs. Elizabeth Mott It's So Big Volumizing Mascara: Duo purpose, especially lash treatment is just great!  Plus look at the size of that Ojon Duo!

Now the products in the box & bag...

August 2013: Ipsy Bag and (vs.) Birchbox

August 10: Birchbox arrived (Tracking email received August 7)
August 12: Ipsy Bag arrived (Tracking email received August 8)

Winner: Birchbox for its usefulness in my upcoming life events.  For beauty product, the Ipsy bag is a win!

This month Birchbox teamed up with Ann Taylor to bring us the "Finishing School" box.  The idea behind this box is finishing touch products.
Ipsy, like Birchbox, focused on school.  This month's bag is "Glamour Academy."  The product is filled with relatively similar beauty product.

Comparison of similar products: The Urban Decay lipstick is better but smaller and less everyday color than the ModelCo.  

Both had an eye product (eye cream - BB & mascara & eye shadow- Ipsy) and moisturizer (Juice Beauty - BB & Pacifica BB Cream - Ipsy).


Now the products in the box & bag...

July 2013: Ipsy Bag and (vs.) Birchbox

July 13: Ipsy Bag arrived (Tracking email received July 10)
July 12: Birchbox arrived (Tracking email received July 6)

Birchbox arrived before Ipsy!  That was a surprise.  Please keep in mind that both of these services have started to tailor the products to the individuals.  So it might not match what another person receives.

For once the themes of the two are widely different.  So I got a good range of products.  I feel the ipsy bag gave me what I needed more for this season, I am not unhappy with the Birchbox.  Ipsy had the Big Sexy Hair's beach texturizing spray that I've been planning to buy something similar.  However the acne treatment and dry shampoo could be useful in the future.

So the Birchbox content (because it came first)
Birchbox bobby pin: very pretty and relatively tight for ones of this thickness.  More useful for accessorizing and function.
theBalm InStain Long-Wearing Powder Staining Blush (Swiss Dot): I just do not need more blush.  Sometimes I get the exposure is good, but there is too many blush in my drawer of cosmetics. 
DDF acne control treatment: I have outgrown my acne, so this product isn't truly useful to me.  However, it seems to promise pretty fast results.  So if I should get some before my wedding it will be useful!
Klorane Dry Shampoo with oat milk: It smells like oat milk.  That's what I noticed first is its different scent.  This product was big in 2011, but I have honestly not heard mention of it again until I saw it in my Birchbox.  
Atelier Cologne: Does Birchbox forget that we can get samples for perfume and cologne for free on our own?  Just got to ask.  I am always annoyed when I get these.  

Now the ipsy bag... 

June 2013: Ipsy Bag and (vs.) Birchbox

Ipsy Bag (Wild Side)

June 12: Ipsy Glam Bag arrived (Tracking email sent on 10th)
June 13: Birchbox arrived (Tracking email sent on 9th)

Birchbox Wanderlust

The J.cat sparking cream palette makes this bag worth it!  Ipsy has upped its game!  Now the bags are tailored to your answers to the ipsyMatch.  This month, it was not at all difficult to name Ipsy Glam Bag as the winner of giving me my money's worth!

The bag and box included the following...

May 2013 Ipsy Bag and (vs.) Birchbox

May 11: Got my ipsy bag in the mail (3 days after an email with the tracking number).
May 13: Got my Birchbox in the mail (no tracking number has been sent)

May 2013 Ipsy Bag

May 2013 Birchbox

As usual, the ipsy bag came before the Birchbox and the bags are starting to vary more between customers.  So no guarantee what I received will be exactly the same as your bag.  (Actually it is varying more than it shows online.  My friend got a totally different type of lipstick/lipgloss than I)

Birchbox arrived much earlier than last month, but it was much more disappointing.  Who puts toothpaste (sample size) as a beauty product?  Though I can always use small sized toothpaste for travel, this is kind of ridiculous.  The makeup remover only includes 2 wipes, while the ipsy bag a few months ago had a packet with 5 sheets (at least).  Again, I feel like Birchbox is taking my money and not delivering on products I can actually use.

April 2013 Ipsy Glam Bag and (vs.) Birchbox

April 8: Ipsy.com Glam Bag arrived (same day as the email with the tracking number)
April 17: Birchbox arrived (tracking number received on 8th but took over a week)

I feel this month Birchbox (though later) has more interesting products than Ipsy.

Ipsy Glam Bag
The theme is "Pretty in Pink" and there are definitely a lot of pink!  I actually do not have a lot of pink products, so this set is actually useful.  Plus I appreciate (want) the pastel nail color.  The blush is a little too dark for me and I had just bought the Benefit Fine-One-One Blush, which is so useful.  The bag's value is over the $10, I paid, but I do feel the value of the bag overall is decreasing.

 vs.  

Birchbox Tiny Tweaks, Big Results
This month Birchbox teamed up with Women's Health to give us little things that "make all the difference."  I am very excited about the Mirenesse Glossy Kiss Starlet, which can serve a a lip gloss and a blush.  Again I think the color is too dark for cheeks, but love it on my lips.  Still unsure about the other products, but I have heard of StriVectin-SD and am excited to test it out.

This month's product...