Beautybox 5 Review of the July 2012 Box

I have to preface this post by stating that this is my very first experience with any of the monthly beauty box subscriptions, so my impressions are tempered by a lack of experience with other boxes by other companies. It is safe to say that these beauty boxes have been wildly popular for a while now, so when I was approached by Beautybox 5 to review their July box, I jumped at the chance.

To learn about their varied choices for membership click here. They have come up with several membership options to give you more choices.

The July box that I received included four samples to try (left to right):

1) Blinc Mascara (sample size 0.02 oz) Full size retails for $26.00 for 0.21 oz.  According to blinc:

If you're looking for a no-hassle, no-smudge mascara that you can take throughout your day with no re-application, blinc mascara is your answer. Instead of painting your lashes like conventional mascaras, blinc mascara forms tiny no-smudge, water-resistant "tubes" around your lashes. Once applied, these mascara tubes bind to your lashes and cannot run, smudge, clump, or flake, even if you cry or rub your eyes. Whether your daily activities take you from the office, to your sweaty workout or out to dinner, your lashes will look as good in the evening as they did when you first applied blinc in the morning. blinc mascara will add volume and length to give you a radiant natural look that lasts all day. Only when you are ready for removal, the tubes will effortlessly slide off your lashes into your hand without the use of a harsh makeup remover. blinc is better than water proof mascaras. All it takes is the combination of warm water and gentle pressure, from your fingertips, a washcloth or water pressure (i.e. shower) and the tubes will slide off your lashes effortlessly. Upon removal you will actually see the tiny mascara tubes in your hand! Great for sensitive eyes, mascara from blinc has been clinically tested to be non-irritating making it ideal for contact lens wearers and active people in search of a mascara whose look, hold and ease of removal is without compromise.

Believe it or not, this is the first time that I have ever tried a tube mascara, and this type of formula will definitely take some getting used to for me. The removal is a little strange in that it removes intact and looks like an eyelash. It literally creates a tube that envelops the lashes. It is definitely long-wearing and it looks good on.

2) Curls Gel-les'c (sample size 2 oz) Full size retails for $25.00 for 8 oz. According to CURLS,
this was made for fine and medium curly hair textures."It isn’t a gel, and not quite a serum it’s Curl Gel-les’c (pronounced Curl Jealousy). This botanically based, organic curl styler imparts brilliant sheen, banishes frizz, and holds those twirls in place! Great for humid climates. Transform dry frizzy locks into the enviable curls that every woman dreams of, with Curl Gel-les’c. Go ahead, your curls deserve it!"

I have naturally very curly hair- so trying a product that is geared toward those of us with kinky locks is always nice. It's also nice that this product boasts a plethora of natural ingredients instead of being silicone based. This feels and smells great, and it actually does just what it's supposed to do as well. I may actually buy the full-sized bottle when I finish up this deluxe sample.

3) Bodyography Makeup Primer (sample size 0.53 oz) Full size retails for $30.00 for 1 oz. This is a very slick primer with a lovely texture. It is silicone based- so that will be a deal-breaker for people who don't care for that ingredient in their face primers. My makeup did not budge applied over this primer, and it looked fresh all day long.

4) Spongeables Pedi-Scrub Foot Buffer (full sized product provided) Retails for $2.99. This is a really nice and effective foot scrub. This retail price isn't bad at all- so there is a very good chance that I will replace this once I use it up.

Overall Assessment: This was a pretty good introduction to the world of the monthly beauty box subscription. You get an interesting assortment of products that you might not otherwise try out- so it is definitely a good way to be introduced to new products. Of course it is always a bit of a gamble because there really is no guarantee that you will like what you were sent in any given month, or that it will work for your particular needs. That said, I think for many the thrill of not knowing what goodies will be sent is part of the fun. Provided that what you receive is worth your monthly dues, and that they send samples that are high quality items that you are likely to use- then I think that it's an interesting concept with good potential benefits. If, however, you are unlikely to use the samples that are sent to you, and they end up collecting dust in a shoe box- then I think that this type of monthly sampling program isn't going to be a good fit for you.

It is also important to note that I can only review Beautybox 5, as a whole, based solely upon these four products sent in a single month cycle. Therefore, if past or future selections prove either  underwhelming or spectacular- there is thus far no way for me to weigh in on them. I will also say that I would have been far more wowed had there been a full-size mid to high end makeup selection included- because that would go a long way to convincing me to consider subscribing. That said, I enjoyed what I received and definitely see the merit in such services.

What do you think about this type of monthly beauty subscription? Which, if any, have you tried? Have you tried Beautybox 5?
PR sample sent for consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.