Try Before You Buy - Part 2

My "New Beauty" Test Tube has arrived! In a recent post (from the series Lessons of a Reformed Shopaholic - where we share many a lesson learned from our painful yet enlightening year sans shopping) I wrote about the importance of trying a product before buying it. Unfortunately this cannot apply to clothes and accessories but when it comes to beauty products there are a few companies whose sample kit approach are, in my opinion, pure genius.

This kit was $29.95 (plus S&H) from www.newbeauty.com and it came stocked full of beauty samples. They ship four times a year but you can cancel anytime. With the kit came a copy of New Beauty magazine (a great read, it is almost like a book and they focus on health and beauty from the inside and out) and a $20 gift card to www.spalook.com. The samples are not for one time use either, everything is big enough for multiple applications so you actually get a feel for the product before you decide if you want to buy it. I received everything from mascara to makeup wipes, a new toothbrush (loving it), and various hair and skin care products.

Pros of the Test Tube:

-sample sizes are very generous so you can actually see if a product is working, how much is needed per use (very important for a budget shopper), and the texture and scent of it on your skin

-it introduces you to a wide range of products that you may not have heard of

-the selection is very high quality (most products are found at Sephora, department stores and spas)

-also contains natural and organic products

-a wonderful surprise every 3 months, you never know what you are getting

-the $20 gift card can go towards the purchase of one of the products that you love

Cons:

-a higher end selection means higher priced products, so if you fall in love with a sample you may be compelled to blow your budget on buying the real thing (but not always, the Kerstin Florian Rehydrating cleansing milk that I am LOVING is $24, but you only need to use a little bit and it smells like heaven, and the John Frieda smoothing lotion only retails for $6)

-you don't have any control over what type of products you receive so there might be things that don't suit your body/skin type (i.e. an anti-frizz product if you have bone-straight hair)

-the cost, you could be putting that money towards buying your regular beauty products (which, by the way, if you are entirely satisfied with your skincare regime than this program isn't for you!)

So I am sure you can all guess where I stand with the New Beauty Test Tube; I give it two very big thumbs up! I have pulled a few products from my kit to try at first and as they run out I will use the other ones. It really is the gift that keeps on giving!

Joyce from Endless Nights also suggested a similar beauty sampling company called Birchbox. They ship 4-5 samples each month for $10/month. Cost-wise it is the same as the Test Tube and you would receive roughly the same amount of samples in a 3 month period, Birchbox just ships more often. They also appear to use high end products. Whatever you decide, keep this in mind; my smile has never been brighter than with my new Supersmile ergonomic toothbrush!

Love, A

P.S. This review is strictly editorial, I bought this kit myself, we are not sponsored by the above companies.