For Christmas, my best friend sent me a 3 month subscription to Sample Society, a beauty subscription service from Allure Magazine and Beautybar.com. YAY! I was so excited, and here's a look at my first box.
The box itself that arrives is very similar to Birchbox in size, and really is just a different color and logo. I have too many of these boxes around, so I may end up recycling it. However, they are pretty useful for storing goodies to give away to friends! :)
Anyway, each box includes a little Allure Magazine insert. This month's short articles were about skin supplements, spring trends, and winter hair. Not bad, and I'm curious to see what the next few inserts have in store!
Sample Society costs $15 a month, and every subscription also includes a year's subscription to Allure Magazine. I love Allure Magazine, and had just forgotten to renew, so this was perfect timing! Additionally, each box comes with a promo code for $15 off of $50 on your next purchase with any of the brands included. If you often buy products you sample from these boxes, then this is for sure a great value!
Nicole Richie Eau de Parfum Sample:
(Sample, $20-69 for rollerball & sprays)
I am tough to please when it comes to perfume, and I find this scent to be a bit generic but not necessarily unpleasant. It is a feminine floral for sure, but I just don't think it is for me. Here are the notes listed by Beautybar.com: SUCCULANT BLACKBERRY, SEVILLE ORANGE, MOROCCAN ROSE, LILY OF THE VALLEY, GOLDEN AMBER, PAPYRUS, CASHMERE WOODS, AUSTRALIAN SANDALWOOD, SUGARED PATCHOULI, VANILLA ABSOLUTE.
Lollia Wish Petite Treat Shea Butter Handcreme: (Travel Size, .33 oz for $7.50) I think the packaging of Lollia handcremes are very cute, and their moisturizing qualities are decent. This handcreme is definitely not greasy, and it is light and comfortable to wear - perhaps it is the shea butter and macadamia oil! I would totally wear this in the spring and summer, but it isn't quite what I'm looking for in terms of moisture and repair for our rough Chicago winters. This particular floral scent containing Italian bergamot, rice flower, jasmine and ylang ylang, amber woods and vanilla bean is actually quite nice, but again just not for me.
Lord & Berry Silk Kajal Eye Pencil in Black: (Full Size, $15) I was probably most excited to try this eyeliner. It is a deep black, but not as deep and dark as gel liner or the amazingly impressive Armani Smooth Silk Waterproof Eye Pencil that I'm desperate to purchase. This pencil does have some undertones of charcoal gray, and it is great for those who like pencils with a harder texture. It is quite comfortable to use, but because of the texture, I found it difficult to tightline with it. On me, this pencil also experienced some minor smudging at about the 6 hour mark.
Delaney Wellness Rejuvenating Eye Cream: (Deluxe Sample, .33oz; Full Size $135 for 1.3 oz) This eye cream has a really nice light texture, and subtle fruity scent. Packed with a "proprietary extract utilizing grape seeds, skins and stems," this cream is meant to minimize fine lines and wrinkles while firming and brightening the skin. Obviously, with limited usage, I can't tell if these claims are true. All I know is, I like using it, and I like the feel of it around my eyes at night!
Strivectin Instant Retexturizing Scrub: (Deluxe Sample, 1 oz; Full Size $49 for 5 oz) At first, I wasn't particularly interested in this scrub. I don't know why, but Strivectin as a brand just doesn't appeal to me, but as I started reading more, I got excited. Formulated with jojoba beads, this exfoliator is not filled with harsh chemical exfoliants as I originally expected. (Something about the brand's marketing and packaging, I suppose!) I enjoy the fine grains of this scrub and the fact that it is nearly scent free. This scrub leaves my skin smooth and clear, and I am happy to have it! Along with the Lush Let the Good Times Roll exfoliant, this is probably the gentlest one I've tried!
Pantene AgeDefy Advanced Thickening Treatment: (Deluxe Sample, 1.7 oz; Full Size about $20 for 4.2 oz) This Pantene product was included as an extra for winter hair. Designed with experts from Olay, this product is meant to treat aging, thinning hair with a blend of vitamin B3 and caffeine. While I don't have aging hair, I do enjoy trying thickening products, so this was a fun one to try too! While I can't tell yet if there are any long term age defying effects, I do enjoy the volumizing effect and the light, pleasant scent. (For those who have used Living Proof products, it is a similar, though not as enticing, scent that is much lighter and doesn't linger.)
All in all, I do think this was a great value box. I don't know that I would purchase anything from this box, though I would consider the scrub or hair thickener if I continue to enjoy them. While I'm starting to feel like it is generally more worthwhile to save money towards products I know I want, this box definitely exposed me to some products I would've otherwise not tried myself, and I like that! I definitely look forward to seeing what comes next!
What do you think of my January Sample Society box? Do you have a favorite beauty subscription service, or are you over the whole thing? Have you tried any of these products? I'd love to know! :)