Birchbox Men Review

Would you trust your face to box-store grooming products? I have to confess that I've been buying my shaving supplies and deodorant from the same place I've been buying my AAA batteries and windshield fluid for far too long. I've been getting the feeling lately that it's time to graduate to something a little more sophisticated.

Habit and convenience are the two big reasons why I've been shopping for grooming products at big-box stores for pretty much my entire adult life. However, I've become increasingly unsatisfied with what's out there on the shelves. It seems like the same three or four companies are behind most of the uninspiring grooming products I see on the shelves everywhere I go.

I don't need anything fancy. However, I've been getting really tired of using products that either smell funny or don't really work. I'm honestly not sure if the products I've been using since my teenage years have really been doing anything at all. 

Sometimes you just have to be man enough to admit that you've been doing things wrong. I finally decided to take the plunge after tons of people recommended Birchbox Men to me. It turns out that this is one of the main places where other guys my age are learning about popular and up-and-coming grooming products.

Can having tiny bottles of beard potion and designer deodorant sent to your door really enhance your life? It's not quite like that. I'm here to tell you that making a change like upgrading to some high-quality grooming products can be an easy way to feel more like an adult when it comes to your grooming habits.

Here's What Happened When I Tried Birchbox Men

I found the process of signing up for Birchbox Men to be really simple and straightforward. One thing I liked right off the bat is the fact that Birchbox actually gives you some options when it comes to your subscription. In fact, I was way more in control of this process than I thought I would be.

Birchbox lets you choose a month-to-month plan if you're interested in just trying the company to see if it’s a good fit. You can also go for a six-month plan if you'd like to get a feel for the company over the course of a few months. In addition, Birchbox offers a 12-month plan.

Let's talk price for a minute. Birchbox only costs $10 per month. I think that's pretty reasonable when you consider that some pretty high-end products are going to find their way into your box every month. I'll admit that I'd probably end up throwing away products totaling much more than that if I needed to guess about what I would like at a fancy grooming store in the mall.

Why would you sign up for an extended subscription if Birchbox is always $10 per month? The big benefit is that you don't have to remember to go online and sign up again every month. In addition, the grooming masters over at Birchbox actually offer discounts when you sign up for recurring subscriptions.

I don't know how often the minds over at Birchbox actually switch up their promotions. What I do know is that Birchbox was offering a $60 six-month subscription for just $54 when I was signing up. I also saw that a $100 12-month subscription was going for $96.

I decided to take the plunge and sign up for a six-month subscription because the price was really right. I also had a pretty good feeling that a box from such an esteemed company like Birchbox probably wasn't going to be a dud. This knowledge gave me the confidence to want to try out a few different boxes to see a full range of what this company can offer.

It's been a few months of receiving boxes containing bricks of soap, masculine-smelling moisturizers with sun protection and lip balms that smell like the Alps. I will say that I've received a great range of products in the months that I've been using Birchbox. Each neatly packaged box comes with a card that offers details about how to use my new products.

Birchbox's reputation means that you aren't going to have to worry that your box is going to be filled with duds. Volumes could be written on the products that are offered by the company. Let's focus on the actual experience of getting started with Birchbox Men for right now.

The Pros of Using Birchbox Men

Were you mentally tacking on shipping costs when I was listing prices? You can go ahead and add in a big goose egg where shipping costs usually go. Birchbox offers free shipping on all boxes!

Another pleasant surprise for Birchbox subscribers is that the company loves to give out free gifts. In fact, you're going to get a bonus gift when you sign up. I received a free pair of really soft socks just for entering a promo code when I checked out after signing up for my subscription.

It can be easy to think that a big company like Birchbox is just in the business of shipping out overstock products that will supposedly work for everyone. However, I was surprised by the level of personal attention that was offered to me when I began getting boxes. It all starts when you fill out your personal grooming profile.

What's the Birchbox grooming profile all about? You basically just answer a few questions about your hair type and skin type. Birchbox then uses that information to make sure you're getting products that are actually relevant for you.

The personal attention doesn't end there. Birchbox actually does one thing that I truly wish more subscription-box companies did. Birchbox gives you the chance to purchase full-sized products of the samples you liked from the month before.

Birchbox also gives you the power to choose the specific samples that you would like to try. This is pretty rare in the world of box-of-the-month clubs. Most companies that ship out subscription boxes basically put you at the mercy of whatever partnerships they're working on for any given month.

One other really cool feature I want to talk about is your box history. There's no fear if you're having trouble recalling the name of a product that you fell in love with a few boxes back. Birchbox tucks your entire box history right into your online account.

I know I already mentioned that shipping is free with Birchbox. However, I should also add that Birchbox actually provides me with a tracking code once my box has shipped. This is a really nice touch because I can know exactly when to be on the lookout for the box on my stoop.

The Cons of Using Birchbox Men

One thing to remember is that you have to make sure you're really okay with being locked into a subscription before you sign up for a six-month or 12-month subscription with Birchbox. The company does not allow you to cancel once you sign up for an extended subscription beyond the month-to-month plan.

Trying to cancel a Birchbox subscription will only stop your auto renewal for the next six-month or 12-month cycle. Here's where I should stop to let you know another pretty important detail. You should be aware of the fact that your six-month or 12-month subscription will automatically renew if you don't take any action.

There's clearly a lot to love about Birchbox. However, one thing I will say is that it is almost guaranteed that you won't use every product you get. I received a really nice moisturizing cream that I just haven't gotten around to using because it turns out I'm not really a moisturizer guy.

I've been pretty positive about Birchbox so far. I truly have enjoyed all of the products I've received. However, each box tends to be focused on liquid products. I would personally love to see a few more grooming gadgets or all-in-one tools mixed in with my boxes.

Another Look at the Pros and Cons of Birchbox Men

It's really hard to say anything bad about Birchbox Men when I received so many really good products. However, I could understand why a subscription-based way of using grooming products might not be everyone's cup of tea. I'll list what I found in terms of pros and cons for you one more time.

I feel like I should send a special message to all of the girlfriends and wives out there. Are you wondering if your boyfriend or husband would enjoy a Birchbox subscription as a gift? I can say with confidence that this is a perfect option if you're looking to get him something that he will find surprisingly amazing. It's the perfect gift he didn't even know he wanted!

What's The Verdict

There aren't many rites of passage for guys anymore. However, a small part of me felt like signing up for my first Birchbox Men subscription was a tiny rite of passage that was shifting me closer to adulthood. I definitely feel more mature and in control when it comes to my grooming habits since bringing Birchbox into my life.

I would definitely recomMend signing up for Birchbox Men for any guy who’s on the fence. The combination of free shipping and a guarantee that you’re going to get vetted, quality products should be enough to make you feel alright about the decision to sign up. The worst thing that can happen is that you’ll smell a little better.

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