Subscription Box: Beauty Army March 2013

The Beauty Army subscription was referred to me by a friend. The biggest perk is being able to pick the six samples that will be sent to you. I found no discount codes for Beauty Army, so I purchased this box at full price ($12).

Beauty Army allows you to pick six "categories" of samples (i.e. Nails, Body, Hair, Makeup, Men, Anti-Aging, Masks, Moisturizers, etc.). I had to manipulate my category selections about ten times before I was able to get the samples I wanted. (Truth be told, it's a little aggravating.) Beauty Army emails you once a month to let you know when your new samples are available to choose. If you don't see anything that appeals to you, you have the option of skipping the month. You also have the option to cancel your subscription at any time.

Moving on to the good stuff.

This is what the box looked like when it was taken out of the postal box it came in. 

Truth be told, this box will be re-purposed. It's a hard cardboard with a flip top. 

Could come in handy for storing small samples I receive or even for organizing pictures! 

 Here's a quick glimpse of everything that came inside.

I haven't calculated the full value of the box, but it's worth more than 

I paid for it. I promise.

 This is New York Streets Dry Shampoo. This is not a "Sample size".

This is a full-size product. I've seen retail values for it for anywhere from

$15-18. This product alone is worth more than the $12 price tag attached to the box.

(Note: I used this product today, and I like it. I don't LOVE it, but it's definitely worth having on hand. I love that it doesn't make my hair "grey" like other dry shampoos. I don't love the smell.)

 The mister gets bummed when I get all of these awesome things in the mailbox,

so I chose "men" as one of my categories, and this was the only thing available.

Honestly, not a fan of the name, but the scent is pretty legit!

This is a sample of Yes to Blueberries Eye Firming Treatment. 

I saw the full-size in my local Target. I'm pretty anxious to try this one! 

I'm a sucker for anything that has the potential to prevent crow's feet. 

Judge me if you want.

 This sample of Amlactin Moisturizing Body Lotion. 

The full-size (7.9 oz) retails for around $15 at Walgreen's. 

The value of this sample is around $2.25.  

This is a Mark. Scanda-Lash Hook-up in Black. This is a full-size product. 

The value of this product on the Mark. website is around $7. 

Beauty Army also provided the small hook up, so a lipgloss

or additional mascara can be attached to the other side. 

 The last item in the box is an Enspri dual sample. 

One side is a moisture locking serum, and the other side is an anti-wrinkle moisturizer. 

The anti-wrinkle moisturizer retails for $42 for a 2 oz. bottle. 

Thus, the cost of this sample (both sides) is around $3. 

The estimated value of this box is somewhere between $25 - $30. I'm satisfied with this purchase. Do I think this will be a regular monthly purchase? Honestly, no. I'm not completely thrilled with the sample selection. I will probably continue to receive the emails, so I can be aware of new samples, and just opt out of boxes until I see something I'm really eager to try.

NOTE: This product review was not solicited by Beauty Army. I am not affiliated with Beauty Army or any other beauty subscription.  This review contains only my honest review of products I purchased.

Addicted to Subscription Boxes

Hi, I'm Traci, and I'm addicted to Subscription Boxes. As with most things, I'm sure this, too, will pass. In the meantime, I'm going to enjoy seeing my mailbox fill with little surprises and know I'm getting to try great products at a minimal cost. I've posted about this quite a few times this week on Facebook, so I decided I'd take some time to make a blog posted about it for the people who've messaged me to inquire. I've found a lot of what I've located on blog posts in my random searches online.

Birchbox
The first subscription box I signed up for was Birchbox. It's a monthly beauty box subscription for $10/month. The value of my most recent box was $33. Most boxes contain a various array of beauty products (cremes, nail polish, hair products, makeup, etc.), and usually have 4-6 samples per box. Birchbox will put you on a wait list when you register, but trust me, it's worth the wait [and I only waited about four days!]. You can cancel your subscription anytime! [Not that you'll want to!] Also, you have a one month window to review the products in your box. If you do, you receive 10 points that can be used in the Birchbox store to purchase full size products. 100 Points is the equivalent of $10, and the points are good for one year from the date you earned them! If you're interested in signing up for a Birchbox, please use my referral link. Also, you can see what was in my March 2013 box.

Julep
Julep is a monthly Nail Polish subscription. Each Julep polish sells for $14 at Sephora. With this subscription you receive 2-3 polishes per box and 1-2 extra products. The boxes run $20 per month and can be cancelled anytime. $20 a month is honestly more than I'm willing to spend. However, I found a coupon code that I'll share with you that allowed me to purchase my first box for one penny plus shipping ($4.00 total). I couldn't pass up three polishes for $4.00 (Boho Glam is my favorite starter box!) Honestly, I will probably cancel this subscription after I receive my first month, because let's be honest, I'm not dropping $20 a month on nail polish. Anywho, here's the code that will allow you to get your first box for only $4.00 (enter code JULESVIP).


Ipsy
I've read a lot of reviews for Ipsy on various blogs, and I've been referred by some friends. I registered and was placed on a wait list. So far, three days and counting. From what I understand, Ipsy sends out more makeup products rather than "general" beauty products.  It's $10/month and can be cancelled anytime. The products (usually 4-6) come in a custom Ipsy makeup bag once a month. Once I come off the waiting list and receive my first delivery, I'll let you know!

Beauty Army
This subscription was referred to me by a friend. The biggest perk is that you can pick what six samples you'd like to receive based on what type of products you'd like to try. I purchased my first box for $12. I was slightly hesitant; I didn't see much I liked or wanted to try. However, I was able to get a full size Avon mascara ($8) and a full size dry shampoo that retails on Amazon for $17. That was enough to sell me on my first box. Those two things are staples in my routine, so why not get them for a great price and get to try some other samples while I'm at it. Also, when the next set of monthly samples are out, Beauty Army will send an email to let you know. If you don't like the options, you can choose not to receive the box (which is nice!). That subscription is $12/month and can be cancelled anytime.

I've seen quite a few other options, but none held my interest like the ones I listed above. Here are some others I found that I like on an adhoc basis: Crave Box, Sample Society, Glossy Box, Pop Sugar, Beauty Box 5. 

Hey!! We can't forget the men and the pets in our lives! 

Bark Box
I signed my Lucy girl up for a Bark Box. It comes once a month at $29/month for a one month subscription (the more months you sign up for, the more affordable the box. Six months is $18 a box.) 10% of the proceeds from these boxes go to save shelter animals, which I LOVE. The boxes contain a plethora of dog toys, treats, and grooming goodies. You can cancel anytime! If you're interested in a Bark Box, please use my referral link to get $5 off! Also, I found a coupon code on Facebook (don't know how long it will last!). The code is FBBX10OFF9. 

When it comes to the MEN, the three that interested my mister the most were:

The Mystery Tackle Box 
This is exactly what it says, a tackle box. It's a monthly subscription that will provide $25+ worth of fishing lures and supplies.  The monthly subscription is $15/month and can be cancelled at anytime. The best part is you can get the first box for ONLY $5 if you use the code GET499. You're welcome.

Goodie.co
My mister loves this box! We've not received the first one yet, but we're anxiously awaiting. This box is actually affiliated with Wal-Mart. It's a $7/month subscription that can be cancelled anytime. It contains new "snacks" and different types of food. Totally cool.

Loot Crate
This subscription box is for the "Nerds and Gamers". I can't lie, some of the things in past boxes even I, the non-gamer, thought were pretty cool! This box is around $20/month and can be cancelled anytime! Check it out. If you sign up for their newsletter, they give you 10% off.

That's all I've found that I care to share in the last few weeks. Once some of our boxes come in, I'll post some reviews for you! When you become addicted to getting low cost surprises in the mail, I am not to be held responsible.