Sample Society Beauty Box Review – December 2013

I was not a fan of this one and the one before. I have been with them for almost a year now. I decided to cancel right after they shipped the Feb. box to me. I am glad I waited because I LOVED Feb. box. I think maybe in a few months I will give them a try again. I have loved every box… But the 2 boxes I got from them I didn’t like were back to back and so decided to try something else.

This was also my first SS and I was not happy when I opened it, my samples were TINY 🙁 I think the only thing I really liked was the Dry Shampoo but the size does not cut it. Like someone else said “I paid $15 for this?” That’s how I felt, I’m going to give them one more month and then I will cancel if I get another box like December’s.

Well, just got my SS box and this is the first time I have been disappointed in this box. You usually get deluxe sizes in products, but two to these are pretty small. Also, I don’t wear perfume, so the little sample is not my favorite. First “Must Have,” and now SS have let me down this month!

I actually loved this box, the samples were a bit small but they are all something I will use. I got the exact same things listed here and I have to say the lipstick has an AMAZING formula. I’m quite happy with this box.

I shot some sample size comparisons with my iPhone right quick because I guess I’m still more than a little ticked off at what I received.

http://shutterblog.com/sample_compare.jpg

The image on top shows the items in my December box as previously mentioned – from left to right in the top image: dermalogica Daily Microfoliant, Alterna Caviar Dry Shampoo, philosophy Hope in a Jar Night Moisturizer, IPKN New York IPKN Moist & Firm BB SPF 02 Light, and Jane Iredale Lash Conditioner

They are all shown in the size comparisons along with the following samples I had on hand: Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray (1.7 oz), Julep Nail Polish (regular size .27 fl oz), Bobbi Brown BB Cream (.5 fl oz), Lancome Cils Booster XL sample (0.07 fl oz), MAC regular size lipstick tube, and Versace Bright Crystal perfume sampler (0.03 oz)

The Sample Society products for December have a pink check-mark next to them in the size comparisons. Other than the MAC lipstick, the comparison products were all free GWP. The Jane lash sample still has me shaking my head…

This was my first Sample Society box – and I’m fairly new to boxes and kits. I’ve been with Julep for 3 boxes, Kate Somerville Complexion Perfection for the intro-sample kit and the first 3-month kit, Glossybox for 2 boxes, I just got my first Wantable (holiday) box over the weekend, and my first Ipsy bag is on the way. I basically read a lot of your reviews (and a few others) and joined what I thought would fit me best – kind of a “toss it at the wall and see what sticks”.

And I have to say, Sample Society is not going to stick.

My box included samples of Alterna Caviar Dry Shampoo, dermalogica Daily Microfoliant, Jane Iredale Lash Conditioner, Philosophy Hope in a Jar Night Moisturizer, and IPKN New YorkIPKN Moist & Firm BB SPF 02 Light.

I haven’t had enough kits from any of the companies to say, “Oh my April 2013 box was so much better and had exactly what I wanted…” I have very few examples to go by other than photos / reviews online. But I opened this one and immediately said, “Fifteen bucks for this? They have GOT to be kidding!” Especially for a holiday-season box.

I’ve had better / larger (and MORE!) samples tossed in my bag at Saks and Nordstrom (for free) than I got in this box. Very disappointing! How can someone possibly use a brand / product long enough with these tiny samples to know if they will work? As mentioned above, I know “Sample” is in the name – but the “deluxe” size of the Caviar Dry Shampoo was laughable at best. And the Jane Iredale Lash Conditioner was in a smaller tube than some of my toddler niece’s play cosmetics sets.

Your review was spot-on, and the photos are fantastic. However, I do echo the suggestion for showing the scale for some of the products. I just held the Caviar Dry Shampoo bottle up next to a regular-sized Julep polish – and they’re the same in width, the Julep is just a hair taller in height, and the neck of the shampoo is about 1/8″ lower than the neck of the polish – the long pointed lid on the Alterna gives it an optical illusion in size. Unbelievable!

Liz,
I think you’re doing a fab job of promoting these boxes. I have really enjoyed Sample Beauty for the last year, however, that being said. I have noticed a real decline in the quality and size of their samples. There is virtually no customer service in comparison to other subscription services. I have dry, dry skin it’s as clear as day on my profile. If I receive another sample for combo skin, I will cancel. I have spoken to customer service who as helpful and friendly as they are are simply not well equipped to handle feedback or to make exchanges.

I subscribe to boxes in order to try the product, before I buy. It is in their best interest to get me the proper product. I hope they are just having a bad couple of boxes–because they used to rock!

This box was horrible. I actually called and canceled yesterday after I received it. I’m all for truth in advertising (they are, after all, SAMPLE society), but you cannot assign values to these tiny bits of product if there’s not enough product in the container to really determine if something will work. The November skin brightener? Awesome. Everything from December? Awful.

I’m sorry I disagree with your assessment of this box. The pictures you’ve taken are also a bit misleading. I ink it would be helpful, in the true sample boxes, to take a picture of a quarter or a dollar bill with the items to give your readership a realistic idea of what to expect. Although I didn’t get your exact box, I got enough overlap to get an idea of what size the rest of your samples are and they truly are teeny.