Beautybox5 offered to send me this month's Beautybox to review. I've been hearing about various subscription services for beauty products for awhile, but hadn't actually tried any, so I was pretty excited to test it out!
Here's a quick excerpt about Beautybox5, taken from their website:
"Once a month, we deliver a Beauty Box with four or five handpicked samples directly to your doorstep. Your Beauty Box will contain items like makeup, skin care products, hair care products, fragrances and a few other surprises! Learn more about your samples on our site! You can see exactly what other beauty lovers are saying about the products. Plus, you’ll find special how-tos and beauty tips right at your fingertips. We think you’re going to love your samples! If you just have to have more, you can purchase products directly from us, or from our partners. Sounds good? Well, here’s the bonus: share BB5 with five of your friends and earn a free one-month subscription! Just head to the Sharing Is Caring page!"
Here's a quick excerpt about Beautybox5, taken from their website:
"Once a month, we deliver a Beauty Box with four or five handpicked samples directly to your doorstep. Your Beauty Box will contain items like makeup, skin care products, hair care products, fragrances and a few other surprises! Learn more about your samples on our site! You can see exactly what other beauty lovers are saying about the products. Plus, you’ll find special how-tos and beauty tips right at your fingertips. We think you’re going to love your samples! If you just have to have more, you can purchase products directly from us, or from our partners. Sounds good? Well, here’s the bonus: share BB5 with five of your friends and earn a free one-month subscription! Just head to the Sharing Is Caring page!"
They have different subscription prices: $12 for one month, $30 for a quarterly subscription (savings of $6), or $100 for a yearly subscription (savings of $44).
I was a little disappointed when it arrived, because the box was smaller than I'd imagined it would be, although I do appreciate that the mailing box was cute and teal. Inside, the four samples I received were in a sheer organza bag, along with a card giving a brief description of each product, as well as the size and price of the full-sized product.
I was a little disappointed when it arrived, because the box was smaller than I'd imagined it would be, although I do appreciate that the mailing box was cute and teal. Inside, the four samples I received were in a sheer organza bag, along with a card giving a brief description of each product, as well as the size and price of the full-sized product.
I liked the assortment of products--a hair product, a body product, a face/skincare product, and a makeup/color product.
Spongeables Pedi Scrub Travel Sized Foot Buffer
Full size: $2.99
Beautybox5 value: $2.99
I like the idea of this, but my feet are too ticklish for this product. However, I used it on my legs and I did like how it felt and smelled. It smells like soap, but stronger. My fiance did like using it on his own feet and said it got them really clean. It's basically a kitchen sponge with a softer side and a scratchy side, dunked in soap. As in, you could make these at home with some melted down bar soap and an inexpensive sponge. Still, it would make a cute stocking stuffer.
Blinc Mascara
Full size: $26.00 for 0.21 oz
Beautybox5 sample value: $2.60 for 0.02 oz
This is a tubing mascara. It leaves lashes really black and shiny, which I like. However, the brush makes it a little difficult to apply without clumping. I had to wipe it down pretty well before applying the mascara to my lashes. The main draw of this product is that you can remove it with JUST WATER! As with most tubing mascaras, regular makeup remover is ineffective. You have to get your lashes wet with warm water and gently massage the tubes of mascara off. This works best in the shower. It looks a little gross in my opinion... Also, since I usually just do a makeup removing wipe all over my face to get off all products (foundation, primer, moisturizer, eyeshadow, eyeliner, and mascara) and then a foaming cleanser, using this mascara means I actually had to do an extra step, because I had to use my makeup removing wipe for everything except mascara, and then use water to remove the mascara afterwards, and then the foaming cleanser. But I do like that they didn't flake, and they didn't budge even when I cried.
Curls Gel-les'c
Full size: $25.00 for 8 oz
Beautybox 5 sample value: $6.25 for 2 oz
I was kind of underwhelmed with this product. It's meant to bring out curls without being crunchy. My hair is wavy, but I usually just blow dry or flat iron it straight. Once in awhile, I'll bring out and exaggerate the wave with some hair product. I tried doing that with this gel, and it really just seems like a basic hair gel.
Bodyography Foundation Primer in Clear
Full size: $30.00 for 1 oz
Beautybox5 sample value: $15.90 for 0.53 oz
Although the product itself is pretty good, the scent is awful. I'm really obsessive about fragrance in my makeup products. And this primer is scented quite strongly. It's your typical silicone-based primer and it works well with my current foundation and moisturizer.
Total value of all samples: $27.74
Spongeables Pedi Scrub Travel Sized Foot Buffer
Full size: $2.99
Beautybox5 value: $2.99
I like the idea of this, but my feet are too ticklish for this product. However, I used it on my legs and I did like how it felt and smelled. It smells like soap, but stronger. My fiance did like using it on his own feet and said it got them really clean. It's basically a kitchen sponge with a softer side and a scratchy side, dunked in soap. As in, you could make these at home with some melted down bar soap and an inexpensive sponge. Still, it would make a cute stocking stuffer.
Blinc Mascara
Full size: $26.00 for 0.21 oz
Beautybox5 sample value: $2.60 for 0.02 oz
This is a tubing mascara. It leaves lashes really black and shiny, which I like. However, the brush makes it a little difficult to apply without clumping. I had to wipe it down pretty well before applying the mascara to my lashes. The main draw of this product is that you can remove it with JUST WATER! As with most tubing mascaras, regular makeup remover is ineffective. You have to get your lashes wet with warm water and gently massage the tubes of mascara off. This works best in the shower. It looks a little gross in my opinion... Also, since I usually just do a makeup removing wipe all over my face to get off all products (foundation, primer, moisturizer, eyeshadow, eyeliner, and mascara) and then a foaming cleanser, using this mascara means I actually had to do an extra step, because I had to use my makeup removing wipe for everything except mascara, and then use water to remove the mascara afterwards, and then the foaming cleanser. But I do like that they didn't flake, and they didn't budge even when I cried.
Curls Gel-les'c
Full size: $25.00 for 8 oz
Beautybox 5 sample value: $6.25 for 2 oz
I was kind of underwhelmed with this product. It's meant to bring out curls without being crunchy. My hair is wavy, but I usually just blow dry or flat iron it straight. Once in awhile, I'll bring out and exaggerate the wave with some hair product. I tried doing that with this gel, and it really just seems like a basic hair gel.
Bodyography Foundation Primer in Clear
Full size: $30.00 for 1 oz
Beautybox5 sample value: $15.90 for 0.53 oz
Although the product itself is pretty good, the scent is awful. I'm really obsessive about fragrance in my makeup products. And this primer is scented quite strongly. It's your typical silicone-based primer and it works well with my current foundation and moisturizer.
Total value of all samples: $27.74
I have mixed feelings about the Beautybox5.
Pros:
Cons:
I probably would feel the same way about any subscription service for beauty samples--even though it's technically a "deal," I personally would rather just pick out all of my own products than be surprised with a menagerie of things that may or may not work for me, especially since I already try out a variety of products as a blogger. But these would definitely be a good option for some people, and the products themselves are decent, but not mindblowingly awesome. So while I won't be buying this for myself, I can see myself buying a subscription as a gift.
Pros:
- Comes out to less than $3/sample, which is not bad. The "value" is higher.
- Samples are large enough for multiple uses (like Sephora's deluxe samples).
- Could be an affordable and cool gift for the makeup lover in your life who just wants to try everything.
- You can get free BB5's by convincing your friends to join.
- Good way to try lots of brands if you haven't tried many.
- If you travel a lot, it's a good way to get lots of travel-sized items.
- If you never make it through a full sized product before moving on to a new one, this may be more cost effective for you.
Cons:
- There are only four samples per month... feels a little skimpy.
- If you are particular about your products or only want to sample products in one category (i.e. makeup but not hair care), or have allergic reactions to certain products, or any other restrictions (vegan, etc.), then you're might better off buying individual products of your own choosing.
- If you hate paying for samples/deluxe samples, these probably won't change your mind. I know I'm spoiled because I'm a beauty blogger and I get plenty of press samples, but I just don't buy sample/travel sized products. And I never seem to end up using the mini products that I already have.
I probably would feel the same way about any subscription service for beauty samples--even though it's technically a "deal," I personally would rather just pick out all of my own products than be surprised with a menagerie of things that may or may not work for me, especially since I already try out a variety of products as a blogger. But these would definitely be a good option for some people, and the products themselves are decent, but not mindblowingly awesome. So while I won't be buying this for myself, I can see myself buying a subscription as a gift.
Lipgloss+Spandex rating:
