Sample Boxes - Update

In about July/August last year there was a lot of hype in the Beauty world about Sample Boxes. This concept launched in the US with Birch Box which was a huge success.

The first box to launch here was Lust Have It.

Beauty Box launched next, which turned into Glossy Box. That was all a bit confusing, but as it turned out Beauty Box was Glossy Box all along.

And the last box that lunched (that I signed up for anyway) was BellaBox.

I recently decided to cancel all my subscriptions. This was due to a number of factors.

I wasn't planning on keeping them all when I started. I was going to test run then and make a decision on which one I was going to keep. I didn't think I would end all subscriptions though.

I also found that it was a bit of a hit and miss with some of the boxes. Some months they were pretty good and other months they weren't so crash hot. I think the boxes overseas are so great in the fact that they get full sized NARS, Stila and brands like that. So although we did get some full sized product it wasn't brands like those (which was one of the main reasons why I signed up).

Looking around my bathroom now I just have so many small sample sized products, half of which I'm never going to use, so I thought it was best to cancel my subscriptions and make do with what I have at the moment.

If I was going to go back to one it would either be Lust Have It or BellaBox because I liked their products the best and also felt that they were the best to deal with.

Nat xoxo

Sample Boxes

Everyone loves trying beauty products, especially when they don’t have to pay for them. The brands like doing sampling because it gets their products in the consumers’ hands and made consumers more likely to buy their products (if they like them that is).

So it was only a matter of time before a more productive way of doing this was invented; and it came if the form of a company called Birchbox. The Birchbox is an American company that was started by 2 Harvard Business School students, Hayley Barna and Katia Beauchamp.  What the Birchbox does it delivers the best products and insider secrets to its members. So you pay a fee of $10 (US) a month and in return you receive full access to the Birchbox site (including their store) and you also receive 4-5 luxury samples delivered right to your door in a cute little box!

How amazing does the box look?!

This is another one of Birchbox's product boxes 

So needless to say that once this started to take off, the rest of the world would follow suit.

The UK has launched their own version called Glossy Box, which no ships to a number of other countries.

I really love Glossy Box's packaging! It's so pretty

Glossy Box have awesome product samples as well

And Australia in the process of launching their own version, or versions I should say. In a matter of week, 4 different sites have launched that are pretty much going to be doing the same thing as Birchbox. Now at first I thought maybe it was all the same company, but no they all appear to be different. Personally I’m not sure how that will work since they will be competing for the same brands/companies.

But it also means they there are options for which box you can sign up for. Hopefully it also makes them be a little more competitive (i.e. we might end up benefitting and getting better products or more luxury samples).  So I thought I might give a little snapshot on each company!

Lust have it!

‘Lust have it!’ will cost $14.95 a month and so far the brands that are on board are Naked Tan, Dermalogica, Lancôme, Pure Fiji, Mirenesse and Burt’s Bees; so pretty good brands! Also ‘Lust have it!’ have an advantage as the other companies are in beta stages and won’t be sending off their 1st box for a few months; whereas ‘Lust have it!’ will be starting their sign ups soon (i.e. in a few weeks). 

RedMeow

RedMeow will cost $10 a month and so far the brands that are on board are Aesop, Jurlique, Napoleon, Model Co, Bloom, Mirenesse, Becca, La Clinica, Face of Australia, Australis, Kora, Om She, Lumiere, Eles and Nars, so some pretty big brands. So far RedMeow are taking e-mail addresses for a waiting list. Apparently they will contact you when there is a place available.

The Beauty Box

The Beauty Box will be $14.95 a month and so far they haven’t released any brands yet. They are also taking details and will contact you when there is a place available.

The Haute Box

The Haute Box is also $15 a month and they also haven’t released any brands yet. They will be releasing the date for their 1st box in a few days.

I really don’t know what to expect with any of these companies, especially since they don’t appear to be linked to any of the companies from overseas. I plan on signed up for them all for the 1st few months (trust me to get one of everything :p), and then once I see what they are like then I can decide which ones I want to keep going with.

Hopefully they are as good as Birchbox and Glossy Box!

Nat xoxo