Birchbox vs. Glossybox vs. Ipsy Glam Bag ~ May 2014 Edition

Hi lovelies!  Since I shared my Glossybox with you yesterday/early this morning, it's now time to do my monthly comparison. By now, I've tested nearly all the products, so I can definitively pick a winner... but who will it be? Not sure which one (or two or three!) you want to subscribe to? Have no fear, my dear, as I bring you May's edition of Birchbox vs. Glossybox vs. Ipsy Glam Bag! {Click to see how they stack up!}

I really loved this month's Birchbox.  I'm obsessed with each product I received, and have been eyeing the full-sized bottles of the Fekkai at Target!  Want to see my initial review? Birchbox April Review.

My Glossybox got here soooo late this time.  I got it over a week into May.  But anyways, I really feel that the awesome products this month were worth the wait.  Want to see each product in better detail? Glossybox April Review.

Ipsy rocked it again this month.  Although I don't have a need for the lashes, I'm holding onto them for when I do!  The bag was worth it alone for me, with the Urban Decay eyeliner and the dr. brandt microdermabrasion.  Want to see each product again? Ipsy April Review.

Here's the breakdown:

Birchbox ~ Cost $10
Color Club Gala's Gems Collection in Heirloom Pearls ~ $3.25
Cynthia Rowley Beauty Silver Eyeliner ~ $12
Fekkai Technician Color Care Shampoo ~ $5
theBalm cosmetics How 'Bout Them Apples? Cheek & Lip Cream ~ $5.33
Kind Snacks Healthy Grains Bar in Maple Pumpkin Seeds with Sea Salt ~ $0.79
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TOTAL VALUE ~ $26.37

Glossybox ~ Cost $21
Aqua Spa Relax Body Cream ~ $2.22
Bellapierre Cosmetics Super Gloss in Vanilla Pink ~ $24.50
Caldrea Body Wash ~ $1.56
Ciate London Paint Pot in Skinny Dip ~ $15
LA Splash Cosmetics Eyeshadow Sealer/Base ~ $9
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TOTAL VALUE ~ $52.28

Ipsy Glam Bag ~ Cost $10
dr. brandt microdermabrasion skin exfoliant ~ $9.75
Cailyn Tinted Lip Balm in Apple Pink ~ $19
Such a Tease ~ So Seductive False Lashes ~ $3.99
Rainbow Honey Nail Polish in Midnight Fountain ~ $3.13
Urban Decay 24/7 Velvet Glide-On Eye Pencil in Black Velvet ~ $15
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TOTAL VALUE ~ $50.87

*All prices were calculated by creating a ratio of the cost of the full size to it's size and then applying that to the sample size to arrive at a price. For example, if something costs $10 for 1 ounce, and a 1/2 ounce sample is received, I'm valuing it at $5. Make sense?

THE VERDICT

I was pleasantly surprised this month that I really loved everything in each of the different boxes.  It certainly makes it difficult to pick a favorite!

THE WINNER

Again, I wanted to do a 3-way tie, but that's kind of a cop-out imo.  So, here goes.  Birchbox promises only samples (a lot of people get upset and dislike Birchbox for this reason, but the service it provides is samples.  Anything else is gravy).  That said, much of the time I get one-use foil packet samples, and then I get pissed because those are impossible to truly test out since you can only use the damn thing once.  Long story short, I loved everything in the box this month and was pleased with the deluxe sized products.  I think some months Birchbox absolutely nails it, and this month was one of them.  Next I've got to go with Ipsy.  Month after month, Ipsy sends out amazing products in amazing sizes.  With a value of five times its cost, color me impressed.  Finally, Glossybox really needs to get its logistics together.  It never sends the boxes at the same time each month, and some months they don't even ship until the following month.  I've seen much smaller companies ship its monthly boxes out regularly and I know when to expect them each month.  Other than that, I loved the products in the box.  But to me, Glossybox is like that restaurant that you go to and have a really killer meal, but with horrible service.  You eventually stop going there because of poor service.  So there you have it: 1. Birchbox, 2. Ipsy, 3. Glossybox

Who would you pick as the winner? Do you think I got it right?

xo

Lia