First, I'd like to say that I didn't know Steven and Chris, so this didn't get me excited about the box. That's what happens when you live in a dual culture country; sometimes, you just don't know what's going on on the other side. Two solitudes and all that.


I was still excited about the box, because it's the only one I receive at the moment. I knew some girls received it before the Easter break, but I didn't. SO I didn't check their reviews before I knew what mine had in store for me!

Marc Anthony Strictly Cursl Curl Defining Lotion: This smells good, a little like lemon cake. I'm sad it's a drugstore brand though. But it's a good size sample!

Coach Coach Love Eau de Parfum: Unlike other beauty bloggers, I do like receiving perfumes in my boxes, when it is a mini bottle! I have to say though this one doesn't smell a lot, is it really an eau de parfum? I will try this, but on first impression I would not be willing to pay full price for this.

Blue Lagoon Iceland Silica Mud Mask: It seems they always include this brand. But I love mud masks, so I'm sure I'm gonna love it!

Lancôme Génifique Youth Activating Concentrate: I like putting a serum on my skin at night time. But it's something I don't like to buy, as I find it boring!

Beauty Sponge: Similar to the Beauty Blender, I have been wanting one for a while, but prefer to spend my money on makeup. Yay!

L'Occitane en Provence 20% Shea Dry Skin Hand Cream: I love L'Occitane's hand creams! Would have been nicer to have it full size though. It's going to be perfect for work.
 

Blue Lagoon Iceland Rich Nourishing Cream: The word rich makes me think this would not suite my skin. I will keep it for night time.


Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation: I have tried the original Healthy Mix and liked it. Apparently the Healthy Mix Serum is even better so I'm glad I will get to try this. Having lived in the UK for 2 years, Bourjois is a drugstrore brand for me, even though in Canada it is sold at Sephora.

I'm not as thrilled about this box as I was about the Winter 2012 one. I'm kinda disapointed to received drugstore products, let alon sachets of them!

Have you order the Spring 2013 Luxe Box? What do you think?

Last week I mentionned that a new Deluxe Sample company will soon start. Now I have more news about them!


Here is the Boudoir Privé promise:

For a monthly membership of £10 per month, members receive a beautiful Boudoir Prive box, direct to their office or home, containing six exciting expertly selected beauty samples which will be a mix of established brands and brand new lines across six categories (skincare, body care, haircare, make-up, fragrance and lifestyle.) Every month the products members receive will change, meaning the surprise element is ongoing, and members are encouraged to offer feedback on their products in return for fabulous discounts in the Boudoir Prive website E-shop if they choose to buy a full sized version of their chosen product.

I like the fact that the samples will be divided into categories, so that we don't get a box full of a certain type of products we might not need!

With the first boxes due to be shipped in July, the excitement is building as beauty enthusiasts and consumers alike flock to sign up for the first round of boxes.

Would be interresting to see how this one compares to other similar service.

If you want to sign up for the waiting list, you can click here.

What do you think about those sampling services? Let me know!

It's me again today!

Today, many girls (maybe boys??) received their GlossyBox (UK edition). It is the second installment, but for many people, it was their first one.

Last time around, many bloggers and gurus received the box as a compliment from the company. Lots have been said about it already, and the word was that a NARS product would be included. Well, it was! And a full-sized one! Many people were really pleased about that, and many more signed up, hopeful that the hype about the GlossyBox was more than just the hype.

Personally, I missed the first box by a few days, this is due to my not impulsive character. I had to balance wether it was a good thing or not to subscribe. I did my research, looking at other GlossyBox franchise around the world. Well, Germany and Brazil.

The German ones have been running for a few months already, and in my opinion, they are spot-on: full-sized products, nice quality products, decent size, etc. You can take a look for yourself in these videos: April, May, June. And the Brazil ones are pretty lame!

I also checked the other versions int different countries: Birch Box, Loose Button, Douglas Box, etc. So I kinda know the concept: 5 deluxe samples, for a nominal fee, delivered to your door every month.

Today, many seem dissapointed that the box doesn't contain a full-sized product. Well, the keay is in the description GlossyBox gives on their website: "Every month we send you 5 exciting
luxury product miniatures packed in a beautiful box for you to test at home."

Of course, the full-sized NARS product was a great incentive to sign up. However, people semmed to forget they susbscribed to a sample service. Full-sized it isn't.

Some were disapointed by the fact that the Batiste Dry Shampoo sample is not a sample of an high-end product. Fair enough, as GlossyBox promised luxury product samples: "Each GlossyBox contains five selected luxury product miniatures." This is a let-down, and also a false representation of the product.

On top of that, GlossyBox decided to break the news today that the shipping will not be included in the fee, starting in September. If many people were thinking of unsubbing, this was the last straw that convinced them to do so. It doesn't take someone working in PR (even though I am) to undersatnd this is total PR fail.

I have not received my first GlossyBox yet. I thought I would have receive it today, but it is not here. Maybe the postie will bring it tomorrow. I haven't seen or tried the products yet, so cannot really forge my opinion. But I keep in mind that they are deluxe samples.

I would really like to hear your thought on this controversial subject now!


As well, there will be some GlossyBox competition (always a good thing for customers!) as of this summer! It is called Boudoir Privé and you can be added to the invitation list here. I am not working from there, and neither did I receive promotional material about it. So I cannot say if it's going to be any good or not. But, it doesn't do any harm to be added on the list and see later when the invites are out (you will then be able to chose wheter you want to subscribe or not)!

What do you think?