Beauty Bar Sample Society Review: August 2012


I just received my second Sample Society sample box, and again I’m extremely happy with what I got. Just like last month, they covered all bases to please everyone: a full-size nail polish for the nail fanatics, a mascara for the make-up enthusiasts, a toner and a moisturizer for the skincare lovers and of course a very nice hair treatment!

About Beauty Bar Sample Society:
Each month Sample Society will send its members 5 deluxe-sized samples from beauty brands like Murad, Sisley and Borghese along with a $15 gift code to redeem on a $50 purchase – when any product from the brands you’ve sampled is included in your order. As a bonus they will also send the member a one-year subscription to Allure magazine (a $12 value). This subscription costs $15/month and the value of your box will always be way above. Click here to join Sample Society.


1. Deborah Lippmann Nail Lacquer in Private Dancer (0.5oz)
One word: Legendary! These polishes have amazing non-streaky long-lasting  formulas infused with biotin to strengthen your nails. They are fairly pricey to buy on their own, so I was surprised and excited that we’re getting one in our boxes this month! The application was incredibly smooth and I loved the shape of the brush, it grabbed just the right amount of polish so I was able to cover my entire nail in just 2 streaks, so i can totally justify the price tag. If I ever find those on sale I will absolutely stock up!

I loved the color too, it will be perfect for fall/winter season and I intend on using every drop of it. Here is what it looks like on my nails 🙂



2. Jane Iredale Longest Lash Mascara in Black Ice (0.1oz)
Hmm interesting, a mascara in a tube. I assume the purpose of that is so that you can easily manage how much mascara you want on your brush depending on the effect you want to achieve. I went for natural looking, fluffy lashes and I think I got the result I wanted.

Here is what it looks like on my mid-length lashes.

3. Phyto Phytonectar Oil (0.33oz)
After using that disastrous Sebastian shampoo & conditioner duo from July Glossybox my hair became dry, brittle and frizzy. This oil treatment slightly improved the situation, and now I’m not as worried that the damage is irreversible. I used the whole sample vial at once because I have pretty long hair, I kind of wish I had more of it. When I washed it off it turned into this milky creamy substance which I thought was pretty cool 🙂


4. Arcona Cranberry Toner (1oz)
This toner is actually a nice 3-in-1 product that acts as a cleanser, toner and moisturizer. It smelled like a delicious dessert, and made my skin feel very soft, clean and moisturized.



5. Elemental Herbology Facial Detox Purifying Facial Mask (0.5oz)
When I first opened this mask the first thing I noticed was the smell – it smells like herbs, and the scent is pretty strong. I put it on my face, waited 10 minutes, washed it off and my pores actually tightened, maybe even a little too much because I put it all over my face as opposed to just using it in the t-zone [which is what I’ll do from now on]. My face feels very fresh now, and the pores are definitely much smaller.

Here’s what it looks like.

6. Malin + Goetz Vitamin E Face Moisturizer (0.04oz)
This was a little extra that Sample Society threw in our boxes this month. I really liked this moisturizer, it absorbed incredibly fast and I feel like it can be used by people with any skin type, from dry to oily. It is also unscented, which is great for anyone sensitive to fragrances.

Product Retail Value
Deborah Lippmann Nail Lacquer in Private Dancer (0.5oz) $18.00
Jane Iredale Longest Lash Mascara in Black Ice (0.1oz) $7.85
Phyto Phytonectar Oil (0.33oz) $3.96
Arcona Cranberry Toner (1oz) $8.60
Elemental Herbology Facial Detox Purifying Facial Mask (0.5oz) $9.20
Malin + Goetz Vitamin E Face Moisturizer (0.04oz) $0.45
Box Retail Value $48.06
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