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.

Sample Society First Look - September 2012

I love this time of the month when all of the sample boxes start to roll in, or as my friendly neighborhood UPS carrier calls it - "overtime."

Yesterday, I received my second-ever Sample Society box. I was blown away by my first box which had Deborah Lippmann's Private Nail Polish (a gorgeous metallic purple) in it, that I could barely wait to rip open the box to see what was in store this month.

September Sample Society Box

What's Inside:

Stila Smudge Crayon in Umber - Full Size 0.04 oz for $22.00 - Sample size ? Est Value. $4.40 (I estimate this sample is about 20% the normal amount of product, so that's how I got the est. value)

Diptyque Eau De Toilette Fragrance - Full Size 3.4 fl. oz. for $120 - Sample size 0.06 Fl. oz. valued at $2.12

Borghese B Gloss in Fiore - Full size 0.21 oz for $18.50 - Sample size 0.16 fl oz valued at $14.10 - practically a full size product!

Ahava Purifying Mud Mask - Full size 4.4 oz for $30.00 - Sample size 0.9 oz valued at $6.14

Cellceuticals Extremely Gentle Skin Cleanser - Full size 6.7 fl. oz for $35.00 - Sample size 2 fl oz. valued at $10.45

Total approx value of September SS Box = $37.21


Even though this is only my second Sample Society box, I have to give credit to the company for managing to pick shades that would have wide-spread appeal. Nothing is sadder to this tanned girl than when I get a makeup sample that was made for only the fairest of the fair.

Below are swatches of the Borghese Fiore Lipgloss and the Stila Smudge Stick in Umber.

Borghese Lipgloss in Fiore (natural light)

Stila Smudge Crayon in Umber (natural light)

Fiore is a shimmery pink nude lipgloss. While I thought it would be a tad too light, when I applied to my lips, it was a very pretty neutral shade, great to wear when trying to balance out a strong eye makeup look or for a pretty everyday look.  I've never used a Borghese gloss before, so I'm not sure if it's the formula or the sample I received, but I was surprised by how thick it was and how much I had to "push" the product around with the wand to get an even coat. It's not so thick, tacky or heavy to be off-putting, just surprising.

As for the Stila Smudge Crayon, this thing does NOT budge. It is a BEE-YOU-TI-FUL bronze-y color that I think would complement the shades of my Naked 2 palette nicely. I have fabulous plans for this as a refreshing alternative to black eyeliner.  That being said, I'm not sure how this would work as an eyeshadow.

As a product touted as a smudge stick, I would expect it to well, smudge *duh*.  Again, not sure if it's a sample that's a bit dried out, if it's the formulation or if I'm just not quick enough with a makeup brush, but it took 2 tries for me to blend out the swatch above. The first time, the color locked and it wasn't going ANYWHERE - so, yay for great staying power, but not so great for blendability.  The second time, I did manage to smoke it out, but you can even see from the picture it's a bit blotchy and like I said before, once the color locks, it ain't moving.

Overally, I'm really happy with this month's Sample Society box - even with the perfume sample, which I normally detest as a filler product, but Diptyque is a brand I've been DYING to sample as their candles smell so utterly divine and have such a cult following. I was uber curious to have a go at their perfume.   Sample Society is quickly becoming THE box I look forward to most for value, variety and for the overall happy-happy-joy-joy vibes I get from it.

Stay tuned...I'm just waiting with baited breath for my Glossybox to arrive (seriously, it's an AGONIZING wait till the end of the month) and I'll be doing "A Tale of 3 Boxes" part deux.

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!