Glossybox arrives

A few weeks ago I decided to do a little research on beauty sample boxes and boy was I amazed to find that this market is blowing up right now!  While there good ones out there (many not available in the US) there are a TON with bad reps and reviews.  I was extremely excited (yes, I get excited over a good beauty sample box) to find out Glossybox (one of the good ones) just launched in the US.  Prior to their launch in the US, they are also in 18 different countries, so they have a wide variety of brands to offer!

A couple specs for those of you who might be interested: 

• $20 flat rate fee
• 5 deluxe size samples, some even full size
• Ships out the last week of the month usually arriving by the first of the next month
• Pay monthly and can cancel at anytime
• Unlike other boxes, you cannot earn points to buy samples.  In fact they do not sell the products on their website. 

After opening the outer box is a hard (totally reusable) box that contains the products

Great presentation
Excuse the unflipped photo 

The goods

Out of the packaging

• Amore Pacific - Moisture Bound Refreshing Hydra-Gel:  Ladies, this came all the way from South Korea!)  A gel moisturizer that will visibly improve the complexion of your skin.  I'm excited to try this out since it is a gel since my skin has became more oily lately... and gels are lighter than lotions.  This baby is .27 oz (the white tub above) but a full size will cost you $100 for 1.7 oz. (South Korea)
• Burberry Beauty - Lip Mist Natural Sheer Lipstick Copper No. 202:  I really like this color, kind of peach/orange, and yes I know that a lot of women don't like that color, but it seems to work with my complexion.  I was impressed when I opened it that the lipstick has a stamped pattern to it!  Maybe I am a lipstick noob but I haven't seen lipstick stamped before! Full size $30 for .12oz.  (London)

• Marvis - Marvis Whitening:  I will give this whitening toothpaste a try but I will tell you after reading up on tooth whitening products I am a bit reluctant to try simply because so many of them wear down the enamel on your teeth and create sensitivity.  This tube is an actual size offered to purchase 1.23 oz for $7.50.  (Italy)
• Phyto - Phytojoba Intense Hydrating Mask for Dry Hair:  This product sounds right up my alley since I do have long hair where the ends tend to get dried out.  This is a hefty sample so I might just fall in love with it... oh dear $38 for a full size 6.7 oz.  (France)
• Zoya - Summer 2012 Beach Surf Collection:  I loved the previous Zoya nail polish I received in my Birchbox a few months ago and this one, Rory, looks promising with shimmer.  This is a full size product valued at $8 (most of the time these polished can be more at Ulta though).  (USA)
• BONUS:  they gave us a blush brush too.  It's always good to have an extra blush brush since I usually toss mine after a few months (I don't tend to splurge on brushes)

I'm impressed Glossybox!  There were a great variety of samples (T said he will even try the toothpaste) and all of them happen to "fit" me which is even more exciting.  On the contents card at the bottom it explains that if I go online and provide feedback on the May box that I can collect 20 GLOSSYDots per review which count towards a free box.  After trying out each product I plan to take full advantage of that offer.  

T gave it the stamp of approval, he said that this box was definitely worth the $20 where his BirchboxMan was not.  I'm not sure the actual dollar value of each product but I feel I definitely received more than $20 worth of products.  I haven't made a decision on which box I plan to cancel (Birchbox or Julep Maven) but it will be one and I need to make my mind up soon.