What companies do you subscribe to?

[ajkballard]

I'm trying to decide which of these three boxes to subscribe to next. Lip Factory, BoxyCharm or starlooks StarBox? Any input is welcome!

 

[biancardi]

Quote: Originally Posted by ajkballard /img/forum/go_quote.gif

I'm trying to decide which of these three boxes to subscribe to next. Lip Factory, BoxyCharm or starlooks StarBox? Any input is welcome!
I vote for starlooks, only because that is the one I sub to /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

however, you might want to skip the march box, unless you want red lipstick and black eyeliner....which is what it looks like we might be getting...

 

[biancardi]

ETA:  Dollar Shave Club.  I just signed up this evening.  I decided that since I am running low on razor blades but grimace at their cost in stores, I might as well give DSC a try.
I sub to them, as I got tired of paying tons of $$ on razor blades.  My gawd, what the heck happened?  Did all of those aloe strips jack up the price on blades?   For 6/month, I get 4 refills.  Which is a lot less than what I used to pay.

 

[biancardi]

I am trying to debate what I should keep

Monthly

• Ipsy - 10.00 a month - It is quite the deal.  Yes, they do send me products that I really loathe and their ipsymatch is complete joke and 3/4.   that said, the products that I do like, I really do like and will use.  Plus with the items I don't like, I swap or give to my nieces...win-win.  Not sure how long I will keep this one, but for now it is safe
• Julep - thank goodness I can skip months.  I have too much nailpolish.  I should just get rid of this sub, but since I can skip, I just have to remember to do that.  On occasion, I will get a box that I really want
• Brazen Friends with Benefits - I do love supporting a Michigan company (my old home state) and I do love mineral eyeshadows.  It is 10.00 a month but if I drop it and then decide to sub again, it will be 15.00/month.  Feb's box was just awful for me - all pastels - I just gave it away to someone here.  I will see how it goes over the next few months - if this light eyeshadow trend continues, I will drop it. 
• Saffron Rouge Inner Circle - just started this and I love it.  No plans to drop it anytime soon
• eco-emi - I have been on this sub since last summer and I still love this one.  I feel like I am getting a gift every month, because it is packaged so cute.  And for some weird reason, I don't look to get a lot of value out of this box - if the value is 17.00, I don't get upset.  The last couple months were not my favorite months, but I still really enjoy this one.
• Starlooks - I will stick with this one for a while.  I may get a dud box now and then, but their loyalty program is too good to pass up. 
• DSC - razors.  not much to say, as it does save me money
• graze - went to monthly instead of twice a month.  Might drop.  Might not. 

Nothing including Julep, that comes out to about 90.00 (rounded up...oh my)

Quarterly

• Thierry Mugler Addict - I signed  up for a year, still have 3 boxes to go.  Waiting on my second one.  Will not renew, as there is only so many of their scents I can own!! 
• Fortune Cookie Soap - no plans on dropping it soon - however, if Lush ever does a sub box, this one might be endangered
• Yuzen - I've gotten 2 boxes so far, and I do like it a lot.   No plans to drop anytime soon.

Quarterly charges - 65.50 (rounded up)

Not even an issue - so dropping this.  March is my last month

• Ophelia's Apothecary -  I sub'd just as the  bags went downhill.  Just too many problems.  I will continue to purchase her flash sales as those are great deals, but too much stress over that damn monthly bag!  And it is nothing like the bags that were reviewed last year (spring, summer and september)

Ones I have tried and dropped

• Wantable - pfftttt....so disappointed with them.
• birchbox - my first sub box.   Tried, oh so tried to love it.  Totally waste of money for me.  Did get a couple of products from it that I use daily, but really, this was not the sub for me

Ones I have tried, dropped and might resub one box at a time

• blush - I dropped it last December and so far, none of the boxes have wow'd me since then.  October 2013 was the best of the best and I haven't seen anything since then that comes close.  If they have a box that speaks to me, I will order it.  But then cancel afterwards.   This might be one of those sign up, cancel, sign up, cancel - like glossybox
• glossybox - speaking of - I sign up for those I want and then cancel. 

 

[Kimb3rly]

For the Dollar Shave Club people:  Did you know they get their razors and refills from Dorco?  I was going to sign my husband up, but after some research I managed to track down their supplier.  I was super shocked at the savings that came with buying direct.  

  I think I ended up buying a little over a year's worth of refills and a razor starter pack (the same one DSC offers) for around $40 with a $10 off promo code.  They have the same for the ladies as well.  Just wanted to share as it's definitely worth looking in to.

Also, I just reread what I typed and I sound like an affiliate.  lol  I swear I'm not!!!

 

[biancardi]

Quote: Originally Posted by Kimb3rly /img/forum/go_quote.gif
  For the Dollar Shave Club people:  Did you know they get their razors and refills from Dorco?  I was going to sign my husband up, but after some research I managed to track down their supplier.  I was super shocked at the savings that came with buying direct.  

  I think I ended up buying a little over a year's worth of refills and a razor starter pack (the same one DSC offers) for around $40 with a $10 off promo code.  They have the same for the ladies as well.  Just wanted to share as it's definitely worth looking in to.

Also, I just reread what I typed and I sound like an affiliate.  lol  I swear I'm not!!!
yes, I knew that.   For whatever reason, I just don't like stockpiling like that - just like I cannot buy the 6 month supply of toilet paper at costco, even though it would save me money.  I have space issues in my apartment, so I just shy away from stockpiling.

 

[Kimb3rly]

Quote: Originally Posted by biancardi /img/forum/go_quote.gif
  yes, I knew that.  I just can't keep a years worth of razors hanging around in my apartment!  seriously, space is an issue.  I knew about it before I signed up, and just felt with the space issues, it was worth spending more on it.
I can definitely see where a year's worth would be difficult to stash.  I recall apartment living and my tiny bathroom.

 

[biancardi]

Quote: Originally Posted by Kimb3rly /img/forum/go_quote.gif
  I can definitely see where a year's worth would be difficult to stash.  I recall apartment living and my tiny bathroom.
yes,  I mean, like I stated, I would love to have a 6 month supply of toilet paper, but I just cannot.  And I do organize my bathroom and storage space, but it is small....

 

[nectarbean]

More for my own records: Psmh (last box march) Fffvip Glossybox (21/month) Birchbox (cancel for april) Starbox (last box march) Dollar shave (skipped last month) Naturebox (skipped 2 months) Fabletics (skipped march) I might reopen ipsy. I liked it more than bb but am swimming in makeup bags. My monthly damage isn't as bad as I thought lol.

 

[meaganola]

Quote: Originally Posted by biancardi /img/forum/go_quote.gif
  yes, I knew that.   For whatever reason, I just don't like stockpiling like that - just like I cannot buy the 6 month supply of toilet paper at costco, even though it would save me money.  I have space issues in my apartment, so I just shy away from stockpiling.
I'm *almost* the same way.  There are two things I do like to buy in bulk at Costco:  Toilet paper and toothbrushes.  I'm trying to pare everything else -- razor blades, shower gel, shampoo, toothpaste, conditioner -- down to just whatever I'm using at the moment, although I have a long way to go when it comes to shower gel due to some unfortunate decisions in the past.  That's one of the reasons I'm drawn to subscriptions like DSC:  Once a month, they send me a month's supply of that item.  My dream would be a service where you say how many people are in your household and pick out your products (because in this dream world, there's a variety of scents/flavors and formulations, not just one of each product), and then once a month, they send out a care package containing just enough dishwasher detergent/tampons/toothpaste/etc. to get you through the month.  And every two months, they send a toothbrush (yes, I know dentists say three, but I prefer two.  For a while, I was changing toothbrushes *every* month).  And everything would be factory-sealed, so it wouldn't be someone just repacking a huge box/bottle of whatever. 

(Part of my reason isn't space, though.  It's hoarding tendencies.  I'm trying to learn how to let go of *stuff* as well as to not buy a ton of something just because it's on sale or a good deal!)

 

[biancardi]

Quote: Originally Posted by meaganola /img/forum/go_quote.gif
  I'm *almost* the same way.  There are two things I do like to buy in bulk at Costco:  Toilet paper and toothbrushes.  I'm trying to pare everything else -- razor blades, shower gel, shampoo, toothpaste, conditioner -- down to just whatever I'm using at the moment, although I have a long way to go when it comes to shower gel due to some unfortunate decisions in the past.  That's one of the reasons I'm drawn to subscriptions like DSC:  Once a month, they send me a month's supply of that item.  My dream would be a service where you say how many people are in your household and pick out your products (because in this dream world, there's a variety of scents/flavors and formulations, not just one of each product), and then once a month, they send out a care package containing just enough dishwasher detergent/tampons/toothpaste/etc. to get you through the month.  And every two months, they send a toothbrush (yes, I know dentists say three, but I prefer two.  For a while, I was changing toothbrushes *every* month).  And everything would be factory-sealed, so it wouldn't be someone just repacking a huge box/bottle of whatever. 

(Part of my reason isn't space, though.  It's hoarding tendencies.  I'm trying to learn how to let go of *stuff* as well as to not buy a ton of something just because it's on sale or a good deal!)
believe me, the way I go thru TP around my home, I wish I could have the room for those costco bundles!  lol.  TMI, sorry.  I have the same problem with hoarding and getting these beauty subs has helped me a bit - I no longer hoard my SAMPLES.  I don't know if other people are like this but I used to get those cute samples and say - oh how sweet - a mini and I would "save it".  For what, I don't know.  They are too small to take on a vacation - I take full size stuff or buy full size stuff at my destination - and they were just taking up space.  I am on a mission to use up my samples!!

 

[meaganola]

Quote: Originally Posted by biancardi /img/forum/go_quote.gif
  believe me, the way I go thru TP around my home, I wish I could have the room for those costco bundles!  lol.  TMI, sorry.  I have the same problem with hoarding and getting these beauty subs has helped me a bit - I no longer hoard my SAMPLES.  I don't know if other people are like this but I used to get those cute samples and say - oh how sweet - a mini and I would "save it".  For what, I don't know.  They are too small to take on a vacation - I take full size stuff or buy full size stuff at my destination - and they were just taking up space.  I am on a mission to use up my samples!!
Um, you just nailed the reason we started up the Monday Club over in the No-Buy subforum.  It morphed into picking the products/colors you're going to use for the week, but it started with the idea that we would pick one sample from the saving-it-for-afkjanbdlfbaeliru stash and use it for the whole week since afkjanbdlfbaeliru is clearly never going to happen.  Or if it does happen, we will forget about the sample/change our mind and use something else.

 

[biancardi]

Quote: Originally Posted by meaganola /img/forum/go_quote.gif
  Um, you just nailed the reason we started up the Monday Club over in the No-Buy subforum.  It morphed into picking the products/colors you're going to use for the week, but it started with the idea that we would pick one sample from the saving-it-for-afkjanbdlfbaeliru stash and use it for the whole week since afkjanbdlfbaeliru is clearly never going to happen.  Or if it does happen, we will forget about the sample/change our mind and use something else.
that is great - I will have to sub to that thread!!   Yeah, like I am going to take a sample of something that I have never used before ON MY VACATION and use it.  Right and then watch my face breaks out in hives or something!  I would rather break out in hives at home - I mean, I don't care if people at work see me like that! haha

 

[nectarbean]

I think I need the monday club as well. I have boxes and totes full of stuff for "some day" but that day never comes! I'm trying to bring sample sized lotions to the different hospitals I rotate through but I barely wear makeup at work (long shifts + call = who cares about eyeliner lol) so getting through makeup samples is gonna be hard.

 

[JC327]

Quote: Originally Posted by ajkballard /img/forum/go_quote.gif

I'm trying to decide which of these three boxes to subscribe to next. Lip Factory, BoxyCharm or starlooks StarBox? Any input is welcome!
I don't know about the other two but I love starlooks. I have been a subscriber for over a year and I also love the fact you get  a free birthday box.

 

[phanne]

Considering Glossy Box or Sample Society... I can not get more than one with all the ones I currently have year subscriptions for. Which would you recommend and why? Thanks.

 

[jennm149]

Current:

• Two Birchbox annual subs and a third month-to-month that I will likely cancel after March and pick up when they have an enticing offer --  Overall, Birchbox is probably my favorite sub. I get a nice mix of products and I like the variety of brands that are included.  Although there is an occasional (and for me it's really been occasional) foil, they are usually either LARGE foils or you get more than 1.  I don't mind the lifestyle products and I generally get at least 1 makeup item a month, which is about right for me.  Plus there are the points that you can use to buy full-size merchandise.  I find it's a good value for the money.
• GlossyBox -- the shipping is horrendous, but now that I've come to accept that it ships late, I'm really loving the products.  Tends to be skin care focused, but usually 1 hair or body and 1 makeup/nail polish each month.  Really awesome brands.  I went for the annual sub when they had a deal on Living Social, after having been month-to-month for 2 months.  Will likely go back to month-to-month at the end of the subscription.
• Glitter Guilty -- indie nail polish with fun colors and lots of sparkle
• Black Sheep Lacquer -- just started my subscription with March.  Another indie polish sub that seems like it will be a bit "edgier" than Glitter Guilty.
• Yuzen -- I love pretty much everything about Yuzen.  The quarterly boxes are really well-curated (generally no make-up, though), are packaged beautifully and the owners are terrifc about communicating.  If you read physical books, there's a piece of origami paper in each box that makes a beautiful book mark.
• Julep -- I'm "grandmothered" in to be able to skip, which I find I do every second or third month.  You do have some choice among the different boxes, but there are months when none of the color combinations is perfect or when I don't care for the product that's in the box.  Given that there are definitely months when I'm not crazy about any of the boxes, I would probably consider dropping my sub if the skip option is taken away.
• SquareHue -- I know a lot of people have been disappointed in the repeats of similar colors in the last few months, but I am still liking this sub.

Cancelled:

• Ipsy -- didn't like the quality of the products.  Usually had 1 or 2 full-size items, but they were seldom products I'd use.  If you want mostly make-up, are OK with unknown/lesser known brands, Ipsy might be a good match for you.  Also, the month make-up bags were usually cute and handy to have.
• Sample Society -- I liked the quality of the products, but I found that they sampled a relatively small number of companies repeatedly (Alterna and Murad, for 2).  Also, there seem to be a lot of hair products and since I have very finicky taste in hair items, I decided it wasn't for me.
• Fortune Cookie Soap -- the quarterly boxes have a lot of cute products, but it just wasn't for me.
• Lip Factory -- another make-up focused box.  In fact, I'm not sure I ever got anything from LF that wasn't makeup.  But as with Ipsy, they were often not products I'd use (lashes or colors that aren't my thing).  Another good value if you are looking for mostly full-sized make-up.
• Wantable -- thought I'd found the Holy Grail of subscriptions, as the first 3 or 4 boxes I got were terrific, if more expensive than the typical sub.  The ability to customize the box by indicating that there were certain products you didn't want was awesome.  But then it started to run into the same issue as Sample Society, with most products coming from a small number of brands that I wasn't crazy about.  For the price, I didn't want to live with brands I wasn't crazy about.  After skipping a couple of months, I eventually cancelled my sub.
• Blush Beauty Box -- this is a more expensive box that contains a mix of full-size and sample size products.  It was mostly skincare, with at least one hair care and make-up item (which might have been a nail polish) each month.  At the time I subscribed, the value ranged from around $100 - $150 per month, but much of the value was often in one item with an expensive SRP but that was widely available at a lower price or was a very specialized item (e.g., eyelash serum).  To me, the products I got just weren't worth the price, so I cancelled after about 3 or 4 months.

I typically try a sub for 3 months to see whether I like it and want to continue.  Those that didn't make the cut were dropped at that point.  A lot of the subs that I still have weren't great in the first month, but got better.  I haven't tried any food subs, although I would love one from Harney tea or Chuao.

 

[jennm149]

Quote: Originally Posted by phanne /img/forum/go_quote.gif
  Considering Glossy Box or Sample Society... I can not get more than one with all the ones I currently have year subscriptions for. Which would you recommend and why? Thanks.

Both of these are nice subs, especially for the first few months.  They have good products and send nice sizes.  With Sample Society, you get a $15 off coupon that can be used for a couple of months on any $50 order from the brands that were in the box.  GB doesn't usually offer any sort of deal like that.

The biggest "con" with GB is customer service/shipping.  They claim to ship in the third week of the month, but the last few months have been later than that.  Some people didn't get January boxes until mid-February, and the February boxes weren't shipped until around the 24th and people were still receiving them last week.  Their customer service can be less than helpful, especially in dealing with problems.  And because the boxes often sell out, if there's a problem in delivery or if an item is damaged en route, you may get a refund rather than a replacement.

The biggest issue I had with Sample Society, and what eventually drove me to drop my subscription, was the repeat of brands and focus on hair products.  However, for about 6 months, it was terrific and their customer service is great.

 

[phanne]

Quote: Originally Posted by jennm149 /img/forum/go_quote.gif
  Both of these are nice subs, especially for the first few months.  They have good products and send nice sizes.  With Sample Society, you get a $15 off coupon that can be used for a couple of months on any $50 order from the brands that were in the box.  GB doesn't usually offer any sort of deal like that.

The biggest "con" with GB is customer service/shipping.  They claim to ship in the third week of the month, but the last few months have been later than that.  Some people didn't get January boxes until mid-February, and the February boxes weren't shipped until around the 24th and people were still receiving them last week.  Their customer service can be less than helpful, especially in dealing with problems.  And because the boxes often sell out, if there's a problem in delivery or if an item is damaged en route, you may get a refund rather than a replacement.

The biggest issue I had with Sample Society, and what eventually drove me to drop my subscription, was the repeat of brands and focus on hair products.  However, for about 6 months, it was terrific and their customer service is great.
Thanks for the well thought out reply! Maybe I'll sub to SS, for a few months then switch to GB. GB offers a 1 year sub discount and SS does not, so it would make sense to try SS for a few months then switch, but the spoilers for GB make me want to start with that... decisions, decisions...
To be honest, I should not sub to either, but I don't care how! I want it NOW! (and yes, I am sticking out my blue tongue and pouting).

 

[trustlust]

Is anyone subscribed to Fortune Cookie Soap Box? I've never tried their products, but 20$ every 3 months for 8 or so sample products doesnt sound too horribly bad. If you subscribe, what are your thoughts? Are they good sized samples? Is this a good value subscription?