Allure Sample Society Review, August 2014 + 20% Discount Code on Family Brands

If you're into fashion and cosmetics, you are probably familiar with Allure magazine. But did you know they also put out a monthly sample subscription box called Sample Society?  I first tried this subscription a couple of years ago but canceled after a few months.  There was nothing wrong with the box but I just thought that other companies were doing a better job.  Sample Society's packaging was lackluster and the samples just weren't that interesting.  Recently, I started seeing rave reviews of the "new" Sample Society box pop up on several beauty blogs that I follow.  I decided to give them a second chance and have just received my first box in the re-vamped version.

First I have to say that Allure has nailed the packaging....it's a beautiful bright red box with the Allure logo and Sample Society in white letters on the lid....way more compelling than their old boxes.

Inside are five generously sized samples in a nest of white crinkle shreds.  This collection includes a nicely curated assortment of high end products for hair, face, eyes, nails and lips.

Here they are out of the box along with a color booklet that gives a full description of each product, ingredients, why they chose it for the box and the retail price for the full size version.

The first item is a 2.5 oz. Surfcomber Tousled Texture Mousse by Oribe.  This is a texturizing mousse that thickens hair and adds piecey texture without sacrificing shine or softness.  It has a nice citrus and jasmine scent and gives different results depending on whether it's applied to wet or dry hair.  Full size retail value is $37.

Next is a very popular item right now, a liquid lipstick from Too Face's Melted line. This one is in a lovely shade called "Melted Peony".  Surprisingly, this is not a gloss.  It goes on totally matte and lasts for hours, similar to a stain.  Full size retail is $21.

The next item looks like a boring perfume sample but it is actually a sample of Kate Somerville's Dilo Oil Restorative Treatment.  This is a fast-absorbing face oil that helps firm the skin and increase moisture levels. This oil is not at all greasy or shiny and it has a very light herbal scent. At $65 for the full size, this is the kind of product we all want to sample before buying!

I've never seen a mascara packaged like this "Longest Lash Thickening and Lengthening Mascara" by Jane Iredale. The sample is in a soft tube with an unexpectedly large brush. This one is in the shade "Black Ice" and the full size retails for $33.

The last item is a cute little sample size bottle of Ciate Paint Pots nail polish in the shade "Cha Cha Cha" which is a trendy neon orange.  (My camera really washed out the color; it's actually a very bright and intense orange.)  This is an aggressive shade for me but I'm willing to experiment when it comes to nails, so I'll give it a try. Full size retail price is $15.

The Sample Society box costs $15 a month and includes a code each month that is good for $10 off a $50 purchase on the Beauty Bar website.  Use code CBLA1620 during checkout to get 20% off your first order at any of the "Beauty Bar family of brands" sites shown below that you have not yet shopped.  (Because of the $10 discount you get with each Sample Society box, this code will not work on BeautyBar.com.)  There is a $20 maximum discount on each of these sites, so you could potentially save $180.

Diapers.com (baby products and brands)
Soap.com (40,000 products from beauty basics to household products to grocery favorites)
Wag.com (complete assortment of pet care products)
Yoyo.com (30,000+ toys from big name brands to classic favorites and specialty items)
Casa.com (Cooking tools, storage solutions, designer pillows, light bulbs, faucets, luxury linens, etc.)
Vinemarket.com (Natural groceries)
Afterschool.com (Products for kids' sports and activities)
Bookworm.com (Books)
Look.com (Clothes for babies and kids)

I was pretty impressed with my first re-engineered Sample Society box.  Rumor has it that the September box will include a full size Restoresea Eye Cream worth $82....reason enough to sign up soon!

Thank you for reading,

Cheryl

use code: CBLA1620

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Excludes existing customers of BeautyBar.com, YoYo.com, VineMarket.com or other Quidsi sites. Restrictions apply.