Allure and Beautybar.com Launch Sample Society

Watch out Birchbox, there's a new beauty sample group on the block. It's called Sample Society, and it was created by Beauty Bar and Allure magazine. For $15 a month, Sample Society members will receive 5 deluxe-size samples from premium brands, monthly beauty news from Allure editors and a $15 gift code that can be used toward the purchase of any product from the featured brands received that month. As a final bonus, members receive a one-year subscription to Allure.

If I was a beauty blogger, I'd be all over this. But as it is, I can barely get through a tube of mascara let alone five beauty samples each month. I just don't use that much product (blasphemy, I know). But that's just me. In comparison, Birchbox is $10 a month for 4-5 samples and I have heard only good things from my Twitter buddies. I do love the idea of getting a lovely package each month in the mail with exciting new samples that are big enough for you to actually test, so I'll admit it's tempting.

Are you a fan of beauty sampling programs that let you try before you buy? Or do you find you end up spending more overall?

Comments

I am a member of birchbox, glam bag and Beauty Bar. I change my products all the time so it is actually saving me money in the long run because I can use them up and move on the next month, which is what I would do with full sized, more expensive products anyway. Plus, it IS really fun to get little packages in the mail all month long. Looking forward to checking out my new beautybar.com goodies!

#1 cindy on 2012-02-01 12:32 (Reply)

I just signed up and ordered my first kit yesterday from Sample Society. I am not a member of Birchbox or other sampling subscriptions, but I decided to give it a go. I'm not a huge makeup person, but I do love sample mini's and trying different things. I look forward to my first box sometime in March!

#2 Alyssa (Homepage) on 2012-02-01 18:25 (Reply)

I am a HUGE fan of subscription sites like these! I like being able to try out new products for a fraction of the price of a full bottle or tube or whatnot. Birchbox has introduced me to a couple of products that I can't live without, and I have high hopes for Beauty Bar!

#3 Lisa (Homepage) on 2012-02-02 14:18 (Reply)

I subscribe to Birchbox, MyGlam, Beauty Army, Julep Maven, GoGoGirlfriend, and now Sample Society. All are fairly new and are great in their own ways. However, I was pretty disappointed with Birchbox's lack of quality samples this month, so I'm hoping to be wowed by this new service, since it's from two well-established brands.

#4 Molly (Homepage) on 2012-02-13 23:12 (Reply)

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