A breakdown of subscription Services!

Taking instant gratification to a new level, subscription beauty services supplying cosmetics and skin care samples as well as accessories services offering shoes, purses and jewelry are popping up online and in our favourite beauty magazines. Where do you begin and which do you choose? Let me help break down the most common offerings.

Shoe freak? ShoeDazzle offers you a choice of shoes, purse or jewelry for your $39.95 monthly membership fee. Kim K heads up the team of stylists as well as being co-owner. Complete your profile and your ‘Closet’ will be available to make your selections from. Don’t like your selections? You have the option to request a new closet.

Just Fab Headed by Jennifer Hudson’s stylist, Jessica Paster charges $39.95 with a choice of one purse or one pair of shoes per month.

Sole Society sends one pair of shoes every month until you cancel your $49.95 membership. You have an initial choice of 6 pairs – if you do not choose from those 6, you can request another 6 but know doing so, you will forfeit your first 6 choices. They are also the only shoe that service that offers real leather shoes!

You’ve probably heard the buzz around Birchbox, a monthly beauty sample service, where for $9.95 the signature bright pink box is delivered to your door. The box contains 4 – 5 deluxe samples of cosmetics, skin, hair and/or body care based upon your answered profile questions. And sometimes you’ll find something else: tea, hair tie, note card, protein bar…

Recently they launched a limited edition box packed with additional goodies. Check out the Just Because Box with cosmetics, edibles and home goods. This $39.95 box makes a great gift and you can have it sent to the gift recipient’s home!

Slowly gaining bzz on the market is New Beauty’s Test Tube. Delivering quarterly for $29.95 (plus $8.95 shipping) you will receive 9 – 10 samples, an issue of New Beauty magazine $9.95 value and this quarter’s tube also contains a $20 gift card to spend on Spalook.

BeautyFix After you complete your profile questionnaire, a list that ‘panelists hand pick’ for you will develop. You choose 8 samples from that list and only that list for $49.95. They state you’ll never see any foil packettes, only deluxe size and full size items. While researching I discovered this company adds a selection of drugstore brands to the list so know in advance you will not only choose form premier brands as shown.

Canadian beauties can take advantage of Loose Button’s Luxe Box. For $12 monthly, $36 quarterly or $120 for a year you will receive 3 o 5 deluxe samples deliver to your door, shipping included. This is the Canadian version of BirchBox. Same box, same tissue idea, same style enclosure.

Last but not least is the new kid on the block, Beauty Army. This yet-to-be-released Bay Area beauty sample service is currently accepting email address for notification of release.

Nail Maven? Julep puts the Sneak Peek Box in your hands and on your nails, for $19.99 a month. “As a Julep Maven, you will have access to the hottest trends in nail color and the latest Mani Care and Pedi Care products – delivered right to your doorstep, just like the beauty editors do. And you’ll have access to these trends and products before anyone else.” Each box features never before released colours and treatments as well cult favourites, valuing over $40.00. If you’re not happy with your selection, you can request another ‘shelf pull’ so you pay for the shades you actually want to wear.

General rules you should know:
With the exceptionof BeautyFix, you are unable to select your cosmetic and skincare samples.
You are unable to return or exchange the makeup products.
Try 1 month first – you can always cancel your subscription before your next shipment.
If you want to pay for a year upfront, do the math – it can save you money in the long run. Some companies discount enough that your 12th month is ‘free’. And sometimes it will cost you more because credit card interest rates! Simply divide the yearly cost by 12 (months). That will let you know if paying upfront will give you a monthly discount.
What exactly is “free shipping”? Most subscription services build the cost of shipping the item to you, into your membership fee. Exchanges and returns are a different story. Not only will you have to pay for postage when you send your unwanted selection back, you might have to pay a ‘restocking fee’ with an average cost of $8.95.
You have a short grace period to ‘pass’ on a month, if you do not log into your account within the first 3 to 5 days and place your purchasing for the month on hold, you will be charged.
It pays to have friends! Most of these services offer monetary credits when your friends sign up through your account, after make their first purchase. This reward can be as much as a free month.
I only have personal experience with Birchbox, if interested I have been reviewing my box content since April 2011 on my blog.

Nancy-Lee

FashionCHICsta!