Beauty Bar Sample Society - January 2014

Sample Society is a strange sub for me. I've signed up for it several times, after seeing things that had been sent out and drooling over them, gotten a box or two each time, and then canceled because once in my hand, the boxes haven't excited me.

I decided to give them another try this month after I saw the spoiler (which was Butter LONDON nail fertilizer or cuticle oil). My box showed up a few days ago, and I was excited to see if this was the box that would finally keep me hooked!

I've always enjoyed their sleek black and silver packaging. The boxes are really great for organizing samples and small items. Inside, the info card tells me that the theme this month is "Take Care", and it's all about post-holiday TLC and pampering. Having worked the holidays and been through the snow storm from hell, I could definitely use the pampering right now! Here's what I received!

butter LONDON Handbag Holiday Cuticle Oil - This is a vitamin rich oil that promises to keep the nails and cuticles moisturized and healthy. I have to admit, I was a little disappointed to get this. Don't get me wrong, it looks like an amazing product! But, I have several cuticle oils already, and I was really hoping for the Horsepower Nail Fertilizer. My biggest hand issue is weak, thin, peeling nails and I was hoping for that to help them out. However, this will be used or gifted and it is an amazing inclusion for a subscription box! 

 Fekkai Advanced Glossing Shampoo - This is a shampoo infused with olive oil that promises to enhance shine and strengthen the hair. I have actually used a sample of this shampoo before and liked it! It did tame my frizz and flyaways and leave my hair nice and shiny. I really hate when subs send shampoos without the coordinating conditioner, though...I just don't think you really try out the full effects when you receive only one or the other. I will eventually use this, but I am going to need to find a matching conditioner first!

Nicole Richie Eau de Parfum - This is a scent featuring notes ambers, fruits, and florals. On me, I mostly smell the amber, which I do like!  It's a bit creamy and warm, and definitely sensual. It is not a scent I would buy, but I will definitely use the sample. I'm glad it is a spray top sample, as the other kind always end up spilling.

Orlane Paris Extreme Line Reducing Lip Care - This is a hydrating lip treatment that promises to fight lines and wrinkles on the lips. I feel pretty ho-hum about this. I do like and use anti-aging products, as I am nearly 30 and terrified of aging! However, I'm not really at the point yet to really appreciate an extreme line reducing lip product. I will use it, because prevention is good and all, but it's definitely not something exciting for me and definitely not something I'll buy any time soon.

StriVectin Present Perfect - This is an anti-oxidant rich cream that promises to make the skin look younger, firmer, and healthier! I do like this brand, and I will try it out. I always appreciate a good moisturizer or treatment, though I have several I like so it will have to be pretty amazing to make me want to buy it!

Like with previous months, I am pretty ambivalent about this Sample Society box. It's definitely not terrible, and there are a couple of really great products in there. However, at this time, the fun and usefulness does not justify the price for me and my current budget. So, I did decide to go ahead and cancel again. Sample Society is really great for people who are looking for samples of luxe products, it's just not what I'm looking for right now (which is new and unique things, mostly!)

Have you tried Sample Society? What did you think of it?

Sample Society, October 2013

I subscribed to Sample Society back when it first launched. I loved it, but at the time, I had too many subs and I was swimming in skincare, so I cancelled. I found myself missing the types of samples they offered, and found myself in the market for a new skincare regimen, so with my recent subscription overhaul, I signed back up! This is my first box back with them. As always, Sample Society has fast shipping and arrives toward the beginning of the month!

The theme this month is New Fall Favorites, and promises must-haves for the season. As I've said before, I love all things fall, and so this is a theme I can get behind!

Everything was well packaged, and I received a good variety of items this month!

Radical Skin Care Age Defying Exfoliating Pads - These use fruit acids to promote cell turnover and promise a brighter and more youthful complexion. I love fruit enzyme exfoliators, so I am pretty excited to try these out. This is a sample packet but it feels like it has several pads in there. 

Minus 417 Hand Moisturizer in "Ocean" - This is a hand cream featuring primrose and olive oils. It promises to soothe and protect hands while leaving them smooth and soft. I wash my hands about a billion times a day at work, so hand creams are a must-have for me! This one feels really nice so far, not at all greasy, and smells great. I always miss out on hand creams when subs send them out, so I was super excited to get this one!

Diptyque 34 Boulevard St. Germain Eau De Toilette - This is a unisex scent that uses woodsy notes to pay homage to the brand's 50th anniversary. I love receiving perfume samples. However, this is my 3rd sample I've tried from Diptyque and the third one I've absolutely hated. This scent, to me, smells like an old man fell into a vat of detergent. Not for me!

IPKN BB Cream in Light - This promises a combination of coverage and skin benefits, like most bb creams. I love this! The coverage is much better than most similar products and it feels great on the skin. It lasted all day for me. This is one of my favorite bb creams I have tried, and it ranks right up there with Missha for me! If I buy the full size, I will select the lighter shade, though - this one is just a tiny bit too dark...not enought o be obvious, but enough that I wished for a slightly lighter one!

butter LONDON Nail Lacquer in British Racing Green - This is a 3 Free nail polish in a shimmery hunter green. This is actually my first butter LONDON, and I was super excited to receive it! On the nails, it does look darker than it looks in the bottle, but it is a gorgeous fall color and the formula is fantastic.

Overall, I am really happy with this box! I got something for my skin, a makeup item, something for my hands, something for my nails, and a perfume for the swap bin. The brands are great and I am happy with my decision to come back to Sample Society.

What are your new fall favorites?

Sample Society - October

I was really excited to wake up to my October Sample Society box yesterday...especially since it seems like I just got last month's!

I really love fall and winter products, so I was excited to see what this month would bring from SS.  I have to say that after last month's awesome box, this one is a little lackluster...but it is certainly not a bad box, by any means! Here's what we got!

The shipping was super fast this month. Noticed that the box was very light, though...which generally means small sample sizes!

This is a little bonus sample. It's a lavender towelette by Herban Essentials. These are made with essential oils. They're antibacterial and antiseptic and have multiple uses. I will likely use it as a hand cleanser. Nothing exciting, but it'll be nice to have in my bag.

This is pronto wet  instant volumizing shampoo by Oscar Blandi. I've always wanted to try OB products, and this is a great size, but I am always a bit disappointed when subs send shampoo without the coordinating conditioner. That said, it smells nice (like lemon verbena) and I'll definitely try it out.

This is a teeny tiny tube of Phormula 3-9 balm by Erno Laszlo. This balm is meant to treat and smooth scars, burns, and dry skin. It is a very small tube but it is full, and a little bit goes a long way. This is a really, really pricey cream and brand, way outside of my price range, so it's great to be able to try it out!

This is the one thing in the box I will not use. I dislike self tanners and do not have any use for them, ever. I'm a very fair cool toned person who is not able to tan, nor do I have any desire to tan. That said, Jane Iredale is a great brand so it's definitely a nice high end sample...it's just a useless one for me.

And this is the most exciting product for me - Exfolikate Intensive Exfoliating Treatment by Kate Somerville. I love scrubs, and this one is awesome. It helps fight acne, blackheads, dull skin, and leaves skin soft and smooth. I've used it once and loved it, and I have enough left for another use. 

And finally, a deluxe perfume sample by Aromachology. The scent is Clean & Fresh, and it is just what it sounds like. To me, it just smells like clean laundry. Honestly, it's not a scent I would wear on my body, but it will be great as a little room spray! It's definitely very strong and a little would go a long way.

In all, this is an okay box. While it's not very exciting for me, Sample Society does continue to deliver truly high end brands monthly, and it is always a great value. 

What are you looking forward to trying out this week?

Disclaimer: I bought this product with my own money. I was not compensated for this review. All opinions are my own.

Sample Society - September

This month marked the end of my relationship with both Birchbox and Cravebox, so I was really hoping my remaining subs would send out good boxes to make up for it. Sample Society took a little longer than usual to get to me because of the holiday, but it came quickly once it shipped. But were the contents worth it?

I like that the Beauty Bar boxes now have a pull tab to make them easier to open. I used to struggle with the outer boxes! I also still appreciate the packaging, itself - the Sample Society boxes are sturdy and cute and great for storage. I like to use them to organize my makeup...they hold up better than the Birchboxes!

Here's what was inside this month. Good sized samples of good brands. I have consistently been happy with Sample Society's offerings. They tend to send out truly high end brands and products that are useful for most everyone. Of my subs, I'd say that Sample Society is, so far, the most "sophisticated".

The first item I pulled out was this EDT sample by diptyque. I love getting perfume samples, so I was excited to try this! They sent out several different scents by diptyque.  This company is really interesting to me. They design most of these scents to be unisex and they all have really poetic, interesting descriptions. I received vetyverio, which is in the "woody" family and is inspired by forest vegetation. It has notes of citrus, vetiver, spices, and woods. I personally smell more vetiver than anything and I get very little of the citrus or fruit notes on me. It's definitely a high quality fragrance, and I found it to be quite complex...but I am not a fan of the scent itself. I don't find that it suits me, I tend to prefer a sweeter, more feminine scent. That said, I was really glad to try this brand and I would very much like to try more of their fragrances.

I was really excited to get this Ahava Purifying Mud Mask. I love masks and I've heard great things about this brand. The sample is a great size, too. It's a mineral mud mask that promises to soften and purify the skin, get rid of excess oil, and clear and prevent blemishes and blackheads. I have tried it once, and I did like it. It left my skin feeling clean and fresh. I find it to be a good mask for my skin, and I will definitely consider buying the full sized product when I finish this.

This is a B Gloss by Borghese. It is what it looks like - a lip gloss.  It boasts vitamins A and E, as well as jojoba oil, avocado oil, and aloe. The size is perfect to keep in my purse! I got the color "Fiore", which is a shimmery mauve color. I like the shade a lot, and find that it complements my complexion. I posted a photo below. I am not a huge fan of the gloss itself, though - it is a bit sticky. However, once it's been on for a few minutes, the stickiness does fade, and I find the wear to be decently long for a gloss. I will definitely use it, but I don't think I'd buy the full size. 

This is Extremely Gentle Skin Cleanser by CellCeuticals, and it is also what it sounds like - a cleanser that is gentle. It's a great size (2 ounces)! It promises to hydrate as it cleans and to be suitable for sensitive skin. I've been using it at night (I exfoliate in the mornings, so I prefer something gentle at night) and I find that it is great at cleaning my skin without irritating it or leaving it tight. It's definitely a nice cleanser, but I do think there are plenty of products out there that do an equally good job for a more affordable price.  I do enjoy this brand!

And finally, a stila smudge crayon! I received the shade "umber" which is a nice brown. This is a cool product - it's a primer, shadow, and liner in one. It's nice and soft and creamy, and I did find it to be long lasting! The tip really is like a crayon - easy to make a nice even line. It's very easy to smudge to make a smoky eye. I love it and would love to try other colors as well. This is my favorite item in the box!

This is a thin layer of the Borgese B Gloss in Fiore on my bare lips (wow, that angle makes my nose look giant...) Definitely a nice, subtle color.

In all, I think this is a great box. The gloss and liner are perfect shades for fall, and the cleanser and mask are great for my skin. I do wish I'd gotten another scent of the perfume, but I'm still glad to have tried it. Sample Society remains possibly my favorite sub, and I'm glad to see them continuing to send out impressive boxes.

Have you tried any good new products this month?

Sample Society

A few days ago, I got the first Sample Society box from Beauty Bar, and I have to say I'm impressed! If you haven't heard of Sample Society, it's another monthly subscription service. This one is affiliated with Allure magazine and is run by Beauty Bar. This service offers 5 deluxe sized samples per month and costs $15. They also offer a free year of Allure magazine!  Each box also contains a coupon for $15 off a $50 order if you buy any of the brands in your box. Subscriptions are closed right now, but if this sounds good to you, you can sign up for the waiting list by going here.

The box arrives nicely packaged in a sleek black box with silver tissue paper. One nice thing about this service is that it is delivered via UPS, so shipping times are quick! The box is sturdy, and similar in size to Birchbox. I have kept the box to organize some of my beauty products.

Here's what I got this month after removing the packaging. As you can see, the sample sizes are great and I will be able to get many uses out of each one! This was great, because I hate the tiny one use sample packets. For most products, they just don't allow you to truly TRY the product.

The first sample is Fekkai Advanced Brilliant Glossing Cream.

From the site: "Having the kind of hair that makes heads turn ranks high on your list of must-haves. The kind that is actually as soft, smooth and supple as it looks. With Fekkai Advanced's Brilliant Glossing Cream and its tress-perfecting properties, you'll have hair that's the envy of everyone."

I have actually tried this before and it is excellent. You need only a tiny amount to have shiny, smooth hair. It doesn't look greasy or weigh your hair down, and tames frizzes and flyaways. It has a nice subtle scent to it. This sample is big enough to last months! The full size is 4 oz. and costs $22.

This was a product that is new to me! The Ren Glycolactic Skin Renewal Peel Mask.

From the site: "A potent bio active peel mask designed to renew the complexion, reduce the appearance of fine lines and dramatically improve skin tone. It also combats congestion, blackheads, and blemishes.
Removes dead skin cells to renew the complexion."

I tried this mask a couple of days ago, and I was really impressed with it. I have never used any sort of peel or peel mask, so I didn't know what to expect. It left my skin so satiny smooth, and the next day, it had a glow to it. It has a neutral citrusy scent and a slight tingle to it. This sample is definitely enough for several applications! The full size is 1.7 oz and costs $55.

This Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant is a sample that I was really wanting to try.

From the site: "Take your skin from blah to ahh with Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant. This truly unique rice-based enzyme powder micro-exfoliates dulling debris and instantly leaves your skin noticeably smoother and brighter. The powder formula activates upon contact with water, releasing important properties to smooth your skin and accelerate cell renewal. Daily Microfoliant is formulated with a unique skin-brightening complex of elements to help balance uneven skin pigmentation. It's a supreme tool to calm inflammation, leaving your skin extraordinarily clear and refreshed."

I tried this for the first time this morning, and it's great. It was fun to use - it comes out as a powder, and you mix it with a little water in your hand and rub it into your skin. My skin feels smooth and clean, but it was gentle. The sample is big enough for quite a few uses. The full sized product is 2.6 ounces and costs $40.

This is at the Skyn Iceland Icelandic Relief Eye Pen.

From the site: "Icelandic relief eye cream's lightweight yet powerful formula, in a portable pen, delivers immediate relief to delicate under-eye skin that's most vulnerable to the effects of stress. The look of puffiness and dark circles is minimized while fine lines appear softer. The result? Your eye area is brightened for a refreshed and wide-awake look."

I have used this several times since I received it to battle my dark circles and sleep deprivation. While I can't tell for sure if it is helping the dark circles yet, it is very cooling and soothing to tired, puffy eyes and it does seem to lessen the puffiness. This is a full sized product, and it retails for $20.

Finally we got Esprit d'Oscar Eau de Parfum by Oscar De La Renta.

From the site: Esprit d'Oscar is a modern interpretation of Oscar de la Renta’s signature scent. Inspired by the chic and sophisticated women of today, Esprit d’Oscar is the spirit of femininity re-imagined in a timeless floral-oriental fragrance that is exceptionally feminine and sparkling in spirit.

When it comes to perfumes and fragrances, I generally prefer scents that are sweet or fruity or gourmand. This is a very clean floral scent. It's not my style, but it is a high quality fragrance and smells very sophisticated. I'll be using it once in a while to change things up. I was excited to get a mini rollerball instead of the teeny tiny vials you usually get with perfume samples. The full size of this is $78.

This is Sample Society's first box, and I think they did a great job of providing a variety of great sized deluxe samples. I'm enjoying everything I got this month, I got to try four new products I'd never tried, and I'm really looking forward to what they send out in the future.