For any beauty junkie, trying out new products is almost as thrilling as finding the perfect foundation, moisturizer or shampoo. But testing new products can be costly and leave you with a vanity full of items that just don’t work for you. Beauty subscription services are the perfect solution because they allow you to sample several makeup, skin, hair, and nail products each month or quarter for a flat rate that won’t break the bank. Here are some subscription services worth checking out.
Birchbox
Birchbox is one of the better-known beauty subscription services. Each month, Birchbox sends out a box with 4 to 5 deluxe samples of makeup, hair, skin, fragrance or body care products. The website asks you to complete a beauty profile before your first shipment, so the box may be customized to your skin type, coloring, and preferences. You can also buy full size versions of the items in your monthly box from the website’s Birchbox Shop. A monthly membership is $10 per month, while yearly membership is $110. While Birchbox sends out many different types of products, their offerings are usually skin and hair care-heavy. Some items in the January 2012 box include a sample size Borghese CuraForte Moisture Intensifier, deluxe samples of the C.O. Bigelow Lavendar & Peppermint Shampoo and Conditioner, a sample size Tay Cucumber Day Moisturizer, a sample size By Terry Baume de Rose SPF 15 and a full-size Stila Smudge Stick Waterproof Eye Liner.
New Beauty Testtube
New Beauty Magazine is known for its coverage of innovative beauty products, procedures and treatments, and its Testtube program provides subscribers with a sampling of the latest beauty products. Unlike Birchbox, the New Beauty Testtube is sent once each quarter, for a total of four boxes a year. Each tube typically includes 8 to 9 deluxe samples, and may contain a full-size item as well. Each box costs $29.95, with an additional $8.95 shipping and handling charge. New Beauty’s Testtube may include skincare, hair, body, and cosmetic items, but the offerings usually focus on cutting-edge skin care products. Each tube also includes a copy of the most recent issue of New Beauty magazine. Items in the January 2012 tube included samples of the Chella Anti-Fatigue Eye Mask, Miracle Skin Transformer SPF20, Dr. Brandt Microdermabrasion, Lumene Senstive Touch SOS Cream,Immunocologie Treatment Crème Venomax, Macadamia Natural Oil Healing Oil Treatment & Deep Repair Mask, and Glymed Plus Intense Peptide Skin Recovery Complex, as well as a full size Mirai Purifying Body Serum.
MyGlam
New to the beauty subscription scene, MyGlam offers a monthly glam bag with full size and deluxe samples of beauty products from well-known cosmetic brands. Like Birchbox, MyGlam has subscribers take a beauty quiz so the monthly bag can be customized by coloring and preferences. Each shipment contains a reusable bag and an assortment of 4 to 5 beauty products for a $10 monthly fee. MyGlam’s offerings include makeup, skincare and hair products, though they seem to focus more on makeup items than other subscription services. The January 2012 bag included items like a full size Freeman Cucumber Facial Peel-Off Mask, a full size SheerCover Concealer, a deluxe sample Wen Sweet Almond Mint Cleansing Conditioner, and a full-size eye shadow or nail polish from theBalm.
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