Tale of 3 Boxes - Birchbox vs. Sample Society vs. Glossybox ROUND 2

Ok, folks. It's time for round 2 of the Battle of the Boxes for September 2012. For complete reviews of my September Birchbox,  Sample Society and Glossybox, just click on the highlighted name.  Here's the breakdown:



                                     PAID                    VALUE        No. of Products Used      Overall Impression

Birchbox                        $10                        $20.71                       3/4                                 B-
Sample Society             $16.33 (w/ tax)      $37.21                       3/4                                 B+
Glossybox                     $22.86                   $64.99                       3/4                                 A


As you can see from the numbers, even though Glossybox is still the most expensive, it was definitely the best value for the money. I gave Glossybox an "A" because there were 3 full-size products included this month. Also, one of the products (the Missha M Perfect Cover BB cream) was one that I love that and have paid the full $29.99 for.  AND Glossybox sent me the right shade. Color me impressed.

Sample society fared better than Birchbox, giving me 2 makeup products in totally wearable shades. The Stila Smudge stick is a gorgeous bronze color that is perfect for the fall. And though I normally think of perfume samples as "filler" products, I have been loving the Diptyque fragrance that was included - so much so, that I've already put down the full-size bottle on my Christmas list.

Birchbox included products that I used - the twistband is always handy, though it's getting a little repetitive (this is the 3rd twistband product I have received from Birchbox). The nailpolish is something I know I'll wear this fall and I actually took the YoungBlood Mineral Primer with me on a weekend trip. Great size for travel and the product itself is decent (texture reminds me of Benefit's POREfessional).   A solid box, but with the tea sampler and digital download and coupon from Madewell, it was a little all over the place and didn't really have anything to wow me.

So Round 2 goes to Glossybox, which is rapidly becoming the box I look forward to getting the most every month.  Good job, Glossybox!

If you want to check out last month's Tale of 3 boxes post, click HERE.

September Birchbox First Look

After getting spoiled at the Birchbox NYFW event a couple of nights ago, I had to remind myself not to hold a bias against the regular Birchbox delivery. September's box arrived yesterday afternoon, so it was with just a little trepidation that I opened it.

Color Club's Status Update - a nice flat dark grey that will go well with fall fashions. Not as harsh as black, but still with a bit of an edge.

Inside my box this month:

Benefit's Foamingly Clean Facial Wash and Refined Finish Facial Polish - sample value  $0.96

Color Club Nail Polish in a custom color for Birchbox called "Status Update" - $8.00 - full size product, yay!

Nexxus Pro-Mend Split End Treatment System - sample value $0.85

Youngblood's Mineral Primer - sample value $6.97

Twistband Lace Pattern Hair Tie - Value $2.33

Extra - Sampler Sachet from Mighty Leaf Tea Company - sample value approx $1.60

Extra - Birchbox Digital Download from Tristan Prettyman and $25 coupon off $75 at Madewell

Total box value: $20.71

Now, I normally spend the next couple of weeks STALKING other beauty bloggers to see what they got in their Birchboxes - I was astounded a couple of months ago to find out that Birchbox could send out upwards of 25 different types of boxes!   Today, I was lucky enough to stumble on Tiffany of the My Makeup Boxes blog and she lists the contents of ALL of the other Birchboxes that were sent out this month. 

Find the list WITH PICTURES of all the other Birchboxes you didn't get HERE:

All told, I think this is a pretty solid box. I'm looking forward to trying out the Youngblood primer - a brand I hadn't heard of before. The Benefit products also catch my fancy and I quite like the nail polish.  There were a few products in the other boxes that I would have liked - such as any of the WEI samples, but here's crossing my fingers that they'll appear one of my future boxes. For now, I'll paint my nails grey and sip on a cup of organic tea from my spoils this month.

Birchbox's NYFW Event - The Hosts With the Mostest / "I-am-a-greedy-sample-whore" Haul

My haul from Birchbox's NYFW Event @Chelsea Market 09/10/12

What do you think heaven is for a beauty junkie? Two words: Open Bar. No, make that three words - open SAMPLE bar.

Last night I had the chance to go to my first beauty blogger event being hosted by Birchbox* for New York Fashion Week.  OMG. I had the time of my life.

Having a quickie dinner with my guy at Chelsea Market in NYC last night, we ran into two friends of ours - none other than the fabulous Carla Holtze and Kim Skelton, the dynamic duo behind the revolutionary shopping website,  Have To Have.  (I will do a whole other post on Have to Have sometime soon but for now, this is about my sample avarice and the kick-ass party.) Carla and Kim were at Chelsea Market for the Birchbox event, which was open early for beauty / fashion bloggers and industry peeps.

Well whaddya know?  Even though I'm new to the beauty blogging world, I AM a beauty blogger.  Carla and Kim encouraged me to go on in, so with all the confidence and swagger I could muster, I waltzed right on in. Yup, that's right dear readers. I crashed. And let me tell you, it was soooooooo worth it.

There were mini manicures and brow shaping by Benefit and hair consultations also available, but with only a few minutes to spend before an appointment, I made a beeline for the sample bar.

Words cannot describe the joy I felt at being handed an empty Birchbox and told to go help myself.  Many times as a kid, I wondered what it would be like to go to a candy store and be allowed to get as much stuff as I wanted.  *sniff* Last night, that dream came true.

I think I visibly drooled a little at the sight of Birchbox's spread.  They definitely know how to host a party.  Thanks, Kim, for the pictures!

The menu of samples that was available last night. You'll notice how many I had checked off the list.


Oh, Birchbox, I know we've had our ups and downs this past few months months,  but you've more than made up for it with last night's event.  You had me at, "Hello, please take some samples."

*Birchbox is a monthly beauty subscription service with over 100,000 subscribers. For $10 a month including shipping, Birchbox will send you a prettily wrapped package with 4-5 curated samples of beauty / skincare / haircare products.  

A Tale of 3 boxes....Comparison of August Birchbox, Sample Society and Glossybox

So which has the most bang for your buck?

In my over-enthusiastic start to the BBZ project, I subscribed to what seems like a gazillion beauty boxes. After a month, I'm already getting overwhelmed by the sheer number of samples and am looking to whittle down the subscriptions to only those that provide both good value and a range of products that excite me.

The 3 boxes I'm going to compare span price points – low, mid-range and high. Bring on the battle of the boxes...

I was so underwhelmed by the August Birchbox that I gave away most of it by the time I wrote this post, so this picture is taken from http://chaosandcliche.com/2012/08/12/birchbox-august-2012-unboxing/. Great blog to check out!

The Ubiquitous Birchbox - $10 / month

What's in the box:

Beauty Fixation Makeup Remover -Full size - $5.00 (24 pack) / Sample (3 swabs) - $0.63

Comodynes Hydra Tanning Face Moisturizing Summer Glow – Full size $20.99 / Sample (2 foil packs) I don't know the exact amount in each as I already gave them away, but I'll be generous and give them a $3.00 value

Comodynes Self-Tanning Towelettes – Full size - $14.99 (8 packs) / Sample (2 packs) - $3.75

DDF Brightening Cleanser – Full Size - $38.00 (250ml) / Sample $3.95 (60ml)

Juicy Couture – Viva La Juicy La Fleur – Full size - $70 (2.5 oz) / Sample (size unknown) – est. value $4.00

Bonus razor – Amazon retail value $6.45

Total Approximated Birchbox Sample Value - $21.78 (without bonus razor, value down to $15.33)

The Mid-Priced Option – Beautybar / Allure's  Sample Society Box - $15.00 / month

This is my first Sample Society box and I was impressed. Loved the black box and packaging, but they totally won me over this month with the Deborah Lippmann nail polish. WIN!

 Phytonectar Treatment Oil – Full Size 1.7 fl oz $30.00 / Sample 0.33 fl oz - $5.82

Deborah Lippman Nail Lacquer in Private Dancer – Full Size - $18.00 ($13.50 on Amazon) – FULL SIZE PRODUCT SAMPLE YAY!!!!!!

Jane Iredale Longest Lash Mascara – Full Size (0.42 oz) $33.00 / Sample (0.1 oz) - $7.85

Elemental Herbology Facial Detox Purifying Mask – Full Size (2.5 oz) $46.00 / Sample (0.5 fl oz) $9.20

Arcona Cranberry Toner – Full size (3.72 oz) $33.00 / Sample (1 oz) $8.87

Total approximate value of Sample Society Box = $64.74*

*Value calculated using the product prices listed on beautybar.com site. In fairness, most of the products could be found on Amazon at lower prices.

High End – Glossybox - $21 ($22.86 with shipping)

The price is more than double than Birchbox, but you get what you pay for....actually, in this case you get way more than you pay for. Glossybox definitely feels like an indulgence. The weight of the box makes it feel like you're getting something substantial and the quality of the packaging is second to none. I'm actually reusing the Glossybox to help store and organize my growing makeup collection.

 Biolage Exquisite Oil Replenishing Treatment – Full Size $22.00 (3.1 oz) / Sample (0.16 oz) $1.14

Ellis Faas Lips in L109– Full Size - $35.00 YAY FULL SIZE PRODUCT!

Illamsqua Nail Varnish in Alarm – Full Size $14.00 ANOTHER FULL SIZE PRODUCT? AWESOME!

Ole Henriksen Truth Serum – Full Size $48.00 (1 oz) / Sample (0.5 oz) $24.00

Touch in Sol Skin Base – Full Size $20.00 (1.13 oz) / Sample (1.06 oz) $18.76

Total Approximate Value of Box = $92.90

Ok, so I've done the math, but it's up to you to determine the value. For example, I couldn't have been less disappointed with my Birchbox this month after getting not one but 2 (!!!!) tanning-related products even though my Birchbox profile clearly states that I have tanned / olive skin. *Shakes fist at the sky*  deep breathe I promised I would save the rant for another time. 

Anyway, as I was saying...both Sample Society and Glossybox cost more than Birchbox, but I definitely feel that their value far outstripped the cost and contained products I was really excited to try.  We'll see what September brings!