Sample Society Beauty Subscription Box Review – July 2014

ByLiz CadmanJul 16, 2014 | 33 comments

sample-society-july-

Sample Society is a monthly beauty subscription from BeautyBar.com and Allure Magazine. Typically the brands they include are high end, and the sample sizes are generous. I used to recommend this box for anyone who was looking for lots of high-end skincare samples to try, with the occasional makeup or hair item, but this month they've revamped their subscription, so I'm no longer sure if that recommendation is a fair one.

sample-society-july-allure

The first change I noticed was the red box - they use this box in their international subscriptions, and I'd say it's GlossyBox quality.

sample-society-july-first-look

My first look opening the box revealed their mini-mag. In the past the mini mag included tips like "how to apply self-tanner." The tips didn't always apply to the items in your box, and personally I didn't really read the mini mag, so I like that they changed it up too:

sample-society-july-info

Now the mini-mag includes a page on each of the items included, and why Allure Magazine selected it.

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The Subscription Box: Sample Society

The Cost: $15 a month

The Products: Deluxe and full-size beauty and makeup samples. (Each month you also get a $10 off $50 to use on any order from BeautyBar.com)

Ships to: the US

Check out all of my Sample Society reviews and the Beauty Subscription Box Directory!

sample-society-july-butter

Butter London Nail Lacquer in Bobby Dazzler - FULL SIZE! Value $15

Laura Mercier Matte Radiance Baked Powder in Highlighter 01 - .06 oz Value $8.30

I'm thrilled with both of these items. I love Butter London polish, and I feel like this shade will work now and into the fall/winter. This matte illuminating powder is fantastic too. It's not overly shimmery at all - I'm always so afraid that an illuminator will give me the sparkle-face look, but the powder on this is so fine that it adds a shimmer/glow without any hint of sparkles!

sample-society-july-lip-gloss

L’Oréal Paris Extraordinaire by Colour Riche Liquid Lipcolor in Rose Melody - FULL SIZE! Value $9

This lip gloss gives a good amount of color, and a ton of shine. I like the flavor, and it's not too sticky for me, so I'm a fan!

sample-society-july-hair-mask

Maison Francis Kurkdjian Paris Aqua Universalis Eau de Toilette - 2 ml Value $5

Fekkai PrX Reparatives Intense Fortifying Masque - 1.69 oz Value $8

The card described this hair mask as smelling like vanilla pudding - and I have to agree it smells great! I'm excited to give it a try since it's a hit with Allure editors. The perfume isn't for me though.

Verdict: I paid $15 for this box and received about $45 worth of items. I love the mix of makeup, nail polish and hair products, and I'm very happy with the sample sizes as well. I'll use everything but the perfume, so this box is a great value for me. I'm interested to see what August brings under the "revamped" Sample Society. (I'm also curious to see if everyone continues to get the same box, or if they go back to customizing the boxes).

What did you think of the July box?

Posted in Beauty Subscription Boxes, sample society, Subscription Box Reviews, Subscription Boxes for Women

Liz Cadman

Liz is the founder of My Subscription Addiction. She's been hooked on subscription boxes since 2011 thanks to Birchbox, and she now subscribes to over 100 boxes. Her favorites include POPSUGAR Must Have, FabFitFun, and any box that features natural beauty products!

Read More By Liz Cadman >

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33 comments

Rebecca

I would like to grab a box, and the website offers the July kit a or b, but I cannot tell what the difference is. Anyone know?

Wendy

Does anyone have a promo code for a new customer? I am thinking about signing up for this box, but would like to get a coupon or promo for my first box – not even sure if SS does that…..thanks!

Liz Cadman

Unfortunately Sample Society doesn’t do coupons – at least they haven’t yet!

Patti

Thanks for the quick reply Liz- since you are the guru of sub boxes- can I friend you on FB and ask some q’s?

Jessica

Oh my gosh!! Soooo frustrated! I’ve been trying for HOURS to subscribe. I’m registered with Allire site, but it will not recognize me on beautybar.com and it doesn’t give me a place to register! Do they NOT WANT MY MONEY?? Ugh!! Soooo frustrated

Sneaky Burrito

I put a web address in the “website” field for this comment. When I go to it (not a referral link, just a regular link), there’s an option to “buy for you” or give as a gift Sample Society. So click my screen name and see if that’s something you haven’t tried yet. Hope it helps.

brandy

Can anyone describe Sample Society customer service. Do they have good customer service? I’ve had problems with a few items from Birchbox and there customer service is amazing. I have heard today that Blush Beauty mystery box and Beauty Box 5 is great and glOssybox is bad with customer service issues.

I am highly interested in signing up this month, actually I’m almost positive that I will sign up tomorrow.

I would just like to know how this service compares to Birchbox. Are the samples larger? The products look better but I do like Birchbox points system.

Thanks for your help! 🙂

Melissa H.

The only item that I put up for swap out of this months box was the Butter London polish, which I received in Champers and LOVE!! Somewhat disappointing, but I’ve already swapped the highlighter and lip color for something more my speed.

Camille

I’m currently getting Ipsy and Sample Society boxes, and I have to say that Sample Society blew Ipsy away in July! I love that SS revamped the mini-mag to include details about the products and why they were selected. Several of the SS products are also full-sized. I received the Butter London Champers nail polish, which is my new favorite. Very chic! The L’oreal lipcolor is full-sized as well and provides good color and feel. The hair mask has a wonderful vanilla scent, and the highlighter is a good size. I actually like the perfume too because unisex scents with a hint of musk are a win with me. Great changes for SS, and I’m looking forward to next month!!

Sneaky Burrito

After day 2 of trying to use the highlighter, I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m too pale for it. I really piled it on today and could barely see it (when I buy pressed powder or loose mineral foundation, it’s actually a pretty similar color to the highlighter, just with no shimmer). Oh well, never would have even known otherwise as it’s not really in my budget to spend that much on something just to try it out. I may still find a use for it, I’ll just have to get creative.

Robyn

They brought me back with the rebranding. I subscribed to SS last fall and cancelled within 5 minutes of receiving my first box. I was SO shocked to see the sizes this time around and very pleased with the brands / colors I got. Butter London in any box is a win for me!

Cyndi

I received my box today and it was missing the Laura Mercier Matte Radiance Baked Powder. After contacting them about it, they offered me a $5.00 credit to my account for any future shopping, not even a future box. So I disagree about their customer service. I had just resubscribed to get this box after hearing they changed, going to cancel my subscription.

CecilyK

My Laura Mercier highlighter was damaged. It was all crumbled up and had spilled over everything in the box. They also only offered me a $5 credit. It’s really irritating… And yours was missing completely! Bad customer service all around.

Cyndi

I’m sorry to hear yours was damaged and all they did was offer you a $5.00 credit. The person I was talking to kept saying that they couldn’t replace the Highlighter, very frustrating since it wasn’t replacing something I never received.

I hope with their rebranding they also work on their customer service.

Chelsea- I will contact my bank.

Chelsea

I would dispute this with your credit card company. I would even print out this email and of, course yours and show them.

I did this with another box sub(that was repeatedly short changing me) and my CC credited me the full amount.
Good luck!

Chelsea

Wow! This is a great looking box!

maria

Love everything in this box! I got Champers polish which is sort of metallic rosey goldy. Very pretty. The lip gloss is actually a coral that I can wear! The highlighter is very light but I’ll be able to wear it sparingly. I don’t love the smell of the hair conditioner but its not that bad. And I like the perfume! This was my first sample society boxa nd definitely a win for me. I wish I would have subscribed when they were sending a lot of skin care

Catherine

We got the same box!

Becky V.

This box looks great, I’ve been looking for one with more makeup/nail products, less skin care. Does anyone know, will I still get this particular box if I sign up now?

Ashley

no, you will get the August box

Laura

Your photographs of your samples are quite nice, however, when there’s no or little frame of reference for the size, it would be very very helpful if you would photograph them with a ruler lain or held at one end of the sample to the other for a size comparison. Maybe tape one down and leave it? 🙂

It’s a bit worrying that the card for the perfume sample takes up the most room in the box, or appears to from the perspective of the pic of the open box with all contents.
Thanks for reading. 🙂

Blessedmommi

I can’t wait for mine two arrive. I had tried out sample society for two months and had just cancelled when they released images of this box and their collaboration with Allure. So I had to sign back up.

My original complaint with SS were that their sample sizes were just toooo small for me. But now they seem to be bigger. Yay! I hope they keep it up 🙂

Sneaky Burrito

Yeah, the lipstick is full size, the nail polish is full size, the highlighter is fairly large, and I even expect to get a couple of uses out of the hair mask. The perfume sample is small but I kind of expect that out of perfume samples.

Goldie007

I was impressed with the box. I liked almost everything and that’s rare for me with these boxes. The “samples” were very generous in size. The only item slightly off was the powder. It was too light for my complexion. I can’t wait for the August box.

Britney

I really liked the skincare that they sent out in the past, but this box is just amazing… I have no doubt it will be my favorite this month! Good job, Sample Society!

Kelly

I will have to try this box soon. I like to mix up subs, thanks to Liz.

Katie

Ok so I just have to say their customer service is outstanding! I had an issue with my Butter nail polish. I emailed them, they responded in about 5 minutes and are sending me an entire box replacement. I’m blown away! I was actually thinking of unsubscribing because this was my first box, and aside from the nail polish the rest of it was a bit of a miss for me, but I am going to stick with them now. The products in the box were a great size, WAY better than many other subs in the same price range!

Katie

Are you interested in swapping? I meant to get this box but it slipped my mind. I would be interested in the Laura Mercier Highlighter and maybe the Loreal l/g depending on the color!

katie

Hi, yes I do have everything up for swapping. Soon I will have 2 of everything lol

Katie

Did anyone else get the color Champers for their Butter color? If so was yours half empty and so dry that it doesn’t move at all when you shake the bottle? Just wondering if I just got unlucky or if everyone had this issue

Amy

I received the one with Champers, and mine was perfect. Maybe email? (I’m actually super happy with this month’s box – was going to cancel if it was anything like last months!)

chelsea

How fortuitous, as I was just trying my samples again, when I logged on to your web site. My color variations were, lipgloss is coral, and my nail polish is champers(which almost reads rose-silver-lilac if that makes any sense). Both really pretty color’s on my pale skin, probably would even be better on darker complexions. I wasn’t looking forward to this curation but now that it’s here. I clearly will use all of it. I used the perfume this morning, I loved it at the time, but it wears down almost immediately. Only leaving a sprightly lemon scent behind, all of the other notes seemed to fade fast. Oh, well!
Looking forward to August!

Sneaky Burrito

They customized some of the colors, at least. I got the liquid lipstick in Ruby Opera (bright red, and definitely the color I would have picked if given the choice) and the nail polish in The Old Bill (kind of coppery). I quit last month after the moisturizer party but rejoined when I saw the spoilers.

The highlighter doesn’t show up on me too much, maybe I need to use more (or maybe I’m too pale — it’s pretty close to my skin tone)? I was careful at first after reading the notes in the mini-magazine.

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Sample Society Beauty Subscription Box Review – July 2014

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