Allure Sample Society: November 2014

My Sample Society box came in the mail yesterday. The box is $15 + tax and ships monthly from BeautyBar.com. This subscription includes 5 delux-sized product samples, the Allue editors mini-mag (which is really just a very detailed product description card), and a code for $10 off $50 from BeautyBar.com (isn't that just a ploy to get us to spend more money?). I didn't get a shipping email this month; the box just showed up at my door (thank you UPS).

So, this is my first look at the box. The box it comes in is a sturdy red one. 

After taking off the top:

The products:

-Malin+Goetz Bergamont Body Wash

-Calvin Klein Reveal

-Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Omega + Nourishing Oil

-Lorac Cobra Mascara

-MD Solar Sciences MD Crème Mineral Beauty Balm

So my initial thought is that I have no use for any of these products except the body wash and maybe the mascara. Additionally, after reading the "mini-magazine," I'm left questioning why the Allure editiors picked these products. Their reviews indicate that they didn't super love any of the products except for the body wash from Malin+Goetz and the Calvin Kelon scent sample. They noted that they Alterna hair oil is "globby out of the dropper" and "leaves a dull residue by day 4." About the Lorac mascara, they note "we can't really pinpoint a right way to use [the brush]" and "if you like to look like you have a zillion lashes and each one is long and thick, move on." Their review of the MD Beauty Balm notes "this BB falls short in coverage."

None of these details make me want to try the products and in fact make me question why they were included in the box. To say I was underwhelmed was an understatement. I'm pretty sure that the only thing I'll be using is the body wash. The rest will be passed on via eDivv. Looks like it might be time to cancel my Sample Society box. Decisions, decisions. 

Allure Sample Society October 2014

This is my very first Sample Society Box. It's $15 a month and is advertised to come with 5 deluxe-seized beauty samples and the allure mini-magazine.

This is my October Sample Society Box:

This box includes:

-Estee Lauder Enlighten Dark Spot Correcting Night Serum

-Bond No. 9 Fragrance Sample

-L'Oreal Paris Advanced Haircare Total Repair 5 Restoring Shampoo and Conditioner

-Emi- Jay hair ties

-Bobbi Brown Smokey Eye Mascara in Black

My thoughts:

The first thing that I'm excited about is the pack of hairties. They're in darker, neutral colors that I'll actually use, and these have a bit more stretch to them than some other do. I'm thinking that will mean that they work out in my thick hair.

The shampoo samples (I actually got 2 shampoos and no conditioner) will come in handy for traveling around the holiday season and also for camping.

Things I'm not too excited about... Mascara- I'm pretty sure I got 5 mascara samples in various boxes last month. However, if I hadn't, this would be a great sample to add to my collection. While I don't think I'll use the fragrance sample, it will be nice to throw in as a little extra on an eDivv trade. Speaking of eDivv, I'm also pretty sure that's where the Estée Lauder Serum will end up. I don't really have a need for a correcting serum, thankfully, but I think others might.

For those wondering, the "mini-magazine" is basically just a very detailed description card. However, I love having all of those details when looking through my box. Sometimes I receive products in other boxes that I don't even know how to use, and that is sure to never happen with this subscription.

For my first sample society box, I'm pretty satisfied with this one. I think the value is there and it included a good variety of products.