March 2012 Sample Box Showdown!

Hello, Beautiful!

This is the March 2012 Sample Box Showdown! In this post I'll show you every box/kit/bag that I received this month from beauty subscription sampling programs. I'll show you what I received in each one, the value, and what I think is best and worst of the month. Enjoy!

March 2012 Sample Box Showdown!


Here are the sample boxes I received this month:
 
 
 




Larger pics of each box:

















Value Breakdown:
You can click on each box name to view that blog post.

• Birchbox #1 (Teen Vogue Box): $38.28 ($10 a month; I received 5 items)
• Birchbox #2: $35.15 ($10 a month; I received 6 items)
• Beauty Army: $77.07 ($12 a month; I received 6 items)
• MyGlam: $31.19 ($10 a month; I received 7 items)
• Beauty Bar's Sample Society: $58.71 ($15 a month; I received 5 items)
• The Look Bag: $33.74 ($10 a month; I received 7 items) 
• My Platinum Box For Him: $15.26  ($10 a month; I received 9 items)  

How I'd rate each one:

BIRCHBOX #1 (TEEN VOGUE BOX):

• I was really excited to get a Teen Vogue box this month in place of my regular Birchbox shipment. Even though I'm in my late 20's, I still was really excited at the prospect of bright, bolder choices. That's exactly what I received in my Teen Vogue box and I loved it!
• Best Product: Tarte LipSurgence in Amused - this was a full sized item with a $24 value; the color was fantastic and has been on my wish list!
• Worst Product: Annick Goutal Petite Cherie perfume sample - I'm just not a perfume sample kind of gal, so this was a let down in the box but the scent was surprisingly not bad.
• Net Value: Products worth $38.28, minus the monthly fee ($10) = $28.28

BIRCHBOX #2:

• This box was okay, nothing super amazing to write about but still nice products to try.
• Best Product: Color Club polish -- but then again, I'm a polish addict so of course this was my favorite from this box!
• Worst Product: The tea packets - I don't drink tea and I'm really tired of Birchbox including an edible item in my boxes; I want makeup not food & drink - even if this time around the tea is supposed to do good things for your skin. 
• Net Value: Products worth $35.15, minus the monthly fee ($10) = $25.15

BEAUTY ARMY:

• I was incredibly frustrated with the lack of makeup choices once again. I changed my beauty profile over and over and over - making my age and choices different each time, but still not a single makeup item. The closest I could get was the Sun FX Body Shimmer and the Cover FX Eye Prep, so I took them.
• Best Product: Barbor Argan Cream -- even though I haven't really used this a whole lot, it's so far my favorite of the entire kit.
• Worst Product: Weleda Iris Hydrating Facial Lotion -- just not something I'm really into, but there wasn't anything else to choose from.
• Net Value: Products worth $77.07, minus the monthly fee ($12) = $65.07

MYGLAM:

• Really disappointed with this shipment - the brush case, the brush itself, and the bag all smelled really strongly, and everything else was just blah. For some reason everyone got the Pur-Lisse Pur-Lip Comfort Daily Lip Nourisher in full sized, while mine was almost full sized. Not sure what happened there.
• Best Product: Pur-Lisse Pur-Lip Comfort Daily Lip Nourisher -- only because everything else this month really wasn't exciting; and I already have this product (in full size).
• Worst Product: The brush case, brush and bag -- the smell was strong of that cheap smell, you know it when you smell it, and it's bad.
• Net Value: Products worth $31.19, minus the monthly fee ($10) = $21.19

BEAUTY BAR'S SAMPLE SOCIETY:

• This was their first shipment and I'm impressed so far, but disappointed there wasn't a single makeup item. Makes me wonder what future shipments will be like.
• Best Product: REN Glycolactic Skin Renewal Peel Mask -- I have a major obsession with face masks and peels, and this one smelled great (like orange juice) and works.
• Worst Product: Oscar De La Renta Esprit d'Oscar Deluxe Mini-Rollerball -- I can appreciate the fact they included a rollerball style mini instead of the usual sample vial, but I still don't like perfume samples and the fragrance wasn't something I'd be into.
• Net Value: Products worth $58.71, minus the monthly fee ($15) = $43.71

THE LOOK BAG:

• So far, I'm not impressed with this service. I never received my February bag and my March bag wasn't that impressive. Still on the fence with this one.
• Best Product: Shea Terra Organics Rose Hip Black Soap -- I have two of these size samples now, and I do like this cleanser, so that's why I picked this as the best product out of this months bag.
• Worst Product: Franche Lip Luscious gloss -- I have to say that I really loved the way this gloss looked in the mini tube and even when swatched on my hand, but all that pretty-ness went completely away when applied to my lips. It just looked like a clear shiny gloss. Maybe if I apply it over a darker color lipstick it will come to life, but it was just a big disappointment.
• Net Value: Products worth $33.74, minus the monthly fee ($10) = $23.74

MY PLATINUM BOX:

• This box was for my husband, so it's hard to compare it to the rest of the shipments, but I'll still include it in this review. I wasn't too impressed with this month's shipment; it was a lot of repeats and not a lot of variety as far as different brands.
• Best Product: Anthony Logistics Algae Facial Cleanser -- I received 3 packets of this, and my husband likes this cleanser so that's why it's the best out of the box.
• Worst Product: Kyoku for Men Body Wash samples -- just not something my husband was into.
• Net Value: Products worth $15.26, minus the monthly fee ($10) = $5.26

And the winners & losers are...

• Best Value: Beauty Army
• My Favorite Pick: Birchbox Teen Vogue Box
• Worst Value: My Platinum Box For Him
• My Lease Favorite Pick: MyGlam 

 let me know what you think...

What shipment was your favorite this month? Which was your least favorite? Did you sign up for any new subscription services or did you cancel any this month? Discuss in the comments below.

February 2012 Sample Box Showdown!

Hello, Beautiful!

This is the February 2012 Sample Box Showdown! In this post I'll show you every box/kit/bag that I received this month from beauty subscription sampling programs. I'll show you what I got in each one, the value, and what I think is best and worst of the month. Enjoy!

Oh, and there are two shipment I didn't show you this month. The first was Beautyfix, which I received a few weeks ago and have been too busy to photograph. It was an amazing value and lots of great products! I'll post the next shipment (they only come four times a year). Then there is The Look Bag. I signed up at the end of January and never received a bag this month. I tried calling them a week ago, and they said I should already have it and to give it a day or two. I gave it a week, called them again, and this time had to leave a message. I gave them both my phone number and email address, letting them know I didn't get a shipment but was charged for one. They haven't gotten back to me yet, so hopefully they're just trying to resolve the issue before they get in touch. But it's making me nervous.

February 2012 Sample Box Showdown!


Here are the sample boxes I received this month:
 

 




Larger pics of each box:












Value Breakdown:
You can click on each box name to view that blog post.

• Birchbox #1: $18.58 ($10 a month; I received 6 items)
• Birchbox #2: $19.16 ($10 a month; I received 6 items)
• Beauty Army: $72.50 ($12 a month; I received 6 items)
• MyGlam: $17.81 ($10 a month; I received 6 items)
• Green Grab Bag: $58.34 ($15 a month; I received 7 items)

How I'd rate each one:

BIRCHBOX #1:

• This was my Birchbox shipment and I wasn't all that impressed with it. I was happy to receive the Eye Rock, although I still haven't used them. They're thicker than I had thought and I just didn't have time to play around with them yet.
• Best Product: Kiehl's Dark Spot Corrector -- I have dark spots, and like the Kiehl's brand, so I was happy to get this product.
• Worst Product: Supersmile Powdered Mouthrinse -- As much as I love Supersmile toothpaste, I just can't get into the powdered mouthrinse.
• Net Value: Products worth $18.58, minus the monthly fee ($10) = $8.58

BIRCHBOX #2:

• This was the shipment I get my husband (we share shipments, mostly so I can try more products). I liked his box better than mine, but they were pretty equal on value.
• Best Product: Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant - Looking forward to using a powder exfoliant!
• Worst Product: heart shaped nail file -- I mean, it's cute and all, but poor quality
• Net Value: Products worth $19.16, minus the monthly fee ($10) = $9.16

BEAUTY ARMY:

• I'm really liking Beauty Army! I like selecting my samples and knowing what I'm going to get for my money. Beauty Army hands down wins this month for best value!
• Best Product: Pssssst Dry Shampoo -- this went on clear and really worked!
• Worst Product: n/a
• Net Value: Products worth $72.50, minus the monthly fee ($12) = $60.50

MYGLAM BAG:

• I was excited to receive a bag this month, especially after not getting one last month, but I wasn't overly impressed. I like it, don't get me wrong, but it's not something I'm jumping out of my seat for. I will say that the actual bag was super, super cute! I'm curious to see what my March bag will have.
• Best Product: NYX Roll-On Glitter -- I love glitter and shimmer, so this was perfect!
• Worst Product: X Out Shine Control -- Even though I have shine, I'm nervous to use this since it's from the makers of Proactive. I worry it will cause a skin reaction, like Proactive did on me. I'll have to try it at some point.
• Net Value: Products worth $17.81, minus the monthly fee ($10) = $7.81

GREEN GRAB BAG:

• This grab bag really impressed me with how much more it felt like I was receiving, when really I only had one more item than all the other shipments this month. I liked that they give a coupon for each product in case you want to go and buy it. The value was nice too, although I've heard the one product in there (the Vapour blush) was something for new subscribers, which would take $28 off the value if this was not a new subscriber bag. I'd have to try this service out more to really get a feel for how much value you get for the price, as it is the most expensive option.
• Best Product: Vapour Aura Multi-Use Blush -- I don't use blush all that often, especially cream blush, but the value of this product was great and I think the color is really beautiful too.
• Worst Product: Soapylane Relaxing Herbal Bath Tea -- I don't take many baths, and I'm not a tea person, so this product just didn't interest me at all.
• Net Value: Products worth $58.34, minus the monthly fee ($15) = $43.34.. then if you minus out the full sized Vapour Blush ($28) = $15.34

And the winner is...

BEAUTY ARMY!

I was most impressed and most happy with my Beauty Army kit, plus, it has the best value out of them all! 

Now let me know what you think...

What shipment was your favorite this month? Which was your least favorite? Did you sign up for any new subscriptions or did you cancel any subscriptions this month? Discuss in the comments below.