Allure Sample Society: June 2015

Editor’s Note: Ummm so you might have noticed there was no blog yesterday. This blog was supposed to post yesterday but I set it to post for PM instead of AM. Whoops. Mistakes happen and this ain’t exactly brain surgery! Enjoy this (belated) blog. 

Allure Sample Society is one of my favorite boxes! I like it more than Birchbox and Ipsy because I feel like Allure Sample Society always sends more high end brands that I’ve heard of for $15/mo. It’s the box I always recommend to people when they ask me which box to get because so many people have heard of Birchbox but this one is slightly off the beaten path. The problem with that is they just switched their box sponsor(?) (I’m not sure if sponsor is the right word.) They used to be associated with BeautyBar.com but now they seem to be only associated with Allure.com. I’m interested to see if the boxes change in quality at all in the coming months. Something that didn’t change is their inclusion of the Allure “Mini-Mag” which definitely sets this box apart. Allure is my favorite magazine and I love hearing their editors’ thoughts on different products so I always pore over this baby the same way I do with the magazine. I feel like they are like us– they give the real talk about products.  

Check out how detailed this product card is! I love it so much. Ipsy never included any card at all so they could learn something from Allure. 

Check out the products they included this month! I love love love getting brushes in boxes so I was excited to get the E.L.F. Studio Small Stipple Brush in my box. However… I AM used to getting slightly higher end brands in my Allure Sample Society boxes. This will not stop me from using this brush regularly. Stipple brushes are supposed to be for liquid makeup but I tend to break the rules and use them on powders.

Oh, nail polish. I love you. And hey… someone went and named a nail polish after me! How neat is that? I was super excited to receive this Lauren B. Beauty Nail Couture polish in my box. I had never heard of the brand before but I’m interested in it. The color “Polo Lounge Punch” is so fun for summer and it’s free of nasty chemicals so that’s a win for me.

I don’t do the whole tanning bed thing anymore and I am painfully pale so I am always on the lookout for products that can make me look LESS painfully pale. I’ve heard of products like the St. Tropez Self Tan Express before but never had the chance to try it myself. There is some Real Science involved here, so LISTEN UP. According to mini-mag:

Here’s how it works: A thin solvent in the formula penetrates the epideris very quickly, giving the tanning ingredient (DHA) a piggyback ride into the skin so it can get right to work. (That’s what enables you to shower so soon after applying.) The solvent also protects the DHA from breaking down, so more of it gets absorbed, and helps it disperse as evenly as possible. What this means is that whatever depth of tan you choose,the results are consistent and exactly what you ordered.

Basically, you leave it on for 1 hour for a light tan, 2 hours for medium and 3 for the darkest. They also recommend using a mitt to apply so your hands don’t turn green.

I actually received this CoTZ Face Sunscreen in a recent Birchbox and I really liked it. I haven’t had a chance to really put it to use in real full time sun but I do really like the consistency and that it’s not like that typical heavy, gross, pore-clogging sunscreen of yore. I really like that we live in the future now. This sunscreen comes out a little dark but it blends out to be light enough for my pale skin.

I had never heard of the eSalon brand so I decided to do a little research to see how they figure out the pefect at-home hair color for you. Basically, you fill out a detailed questionnaire about your hair type and what your hair color goals are and they personalize a color for you. You can even send them a picture of yourself so they can make sure they are sending you the right color. That’s cool. I’m very satisfied with Kristina at Lundquist Designs in Fort Worth but this is a neat idea.  Anyway… since I do have colored hair, I’m always looking for good conditioners so I am eager to try the eSalon Perfect Ending Leave In Conditioner! 

The slightly weird thing that Allure included is a Completely Bare Wax Strip for Face, Bikini, Body. The mini-mag talks about postwax lavender-oil towlettes that you use post-wax but they only included about 4 wax strips in the box. And I’m not a self-waxer.

Final Grade: B

I’m cautiously optimistic of the new version of Allure Sample Society. I liked the E.L.F. brush (but questioned the price point in a more high end box), the St. Tropex self tanner, the conditioner and the nail polish. Sort of meh on the CoTZ sunscreen and the wax strips.

Click here if you are interested in signing up for Allure Sample Society!

xo,
Lauren

Purchased by me, all opinions are my own