January Boxes: Glymm vs. Loose Button

February 22, 2012

My apologies for this super late review! Due to midterms, and the delay in shipment of January boxes, I finally have put together this post for you.

After receiving my first Glymm box back in December, I was interested in checking out other companies within Canada that offer the same type of cosmetic and skincare sampling services. Aside from Glymm (First box review here), Loose Button offers their Luxe Box program to Canadians, offering 4-5 deluxe samples each month for the price of $12, compared to the $10 subscription fee to Glymm. For the month of January, Loose Button was kind enough to send me the box for review.

What should be noted, however, is that Loose Button did have a set back in the shipping of boxes for the month of January, due to a delay in shipment from one of their partner brands. As a result, their shipment was delayed, so they sent an extra goodie box this month as an apology, in addition to upgrading to expedited shipping free of charge.

Now, let's get on with the review!

PACKAGING




As per usual, the Glymm box arrived in its sturdy pink box with a removable lid. The items on the interior were wrapped nicely with a ribbon, and cards describing the contents of the box. All the items inside arrived safely, sitting snug atop of shopping confetti.





The package sent out by Loose Button was a pleasant surprise to open! The box was personalized with my name printed on a card, and all items were wrapped with tissue, secured with a personalized sticker. The box also came with cards describing the products and where to purchase them. The opening of the box was lackluster for me when compared with the elegant ribbon packaging of the Glymm box, but the personalization was definitely a nice touch! All the items also arrived safely, sitting atop packaging confetti. What's different about the box though, is that it is a pull out style versus the removable top of the Glymm box. After you use up the samples inside, both boxes are great to her around the house to store things!



PRODUCTS




For this month, the products in the Glymm box were: Kaia Bamboo Facial Cleansing Cloths, Anastasia Brow Gel, a Cargo Eye Pencil, Burt's Bees lotion, and Vasanti BrightenUp! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator. Of the products, one was full size (Eye Pencil), which has a normal value of $16, making this month's box worth the $10 subscription price.



In the Luxe Box, I was sent: a sample of Seattle's Best Coffee, Moroccan Oil, Benefit Moisture Prep, Donna Karan Cashmere Mist Body Cleansing Lotion, and Purminerals Powder. For $12, I would say the samples this month were quite worthwhile, as I can see myself using them often. There's nothing that bothers me more, than receiving tons of perfume samples that I know I will never use!

In the extra box was a sample of the new Schick Hydro Silk Razor & Fekkai Advanced shampoo & conditioner. Yes, definitely worth the $12.

SHIPPING


For as long as I've been subscribed to the Glymm box service, each box has been sent out via Canada Post expedited shipping. I usually receive my box within 2-3 days from Quebec, which is within the delivery standards. I am currently unsure of the shipping method utilized by Loose Button, but I'm assuming it is not expedited, as they automatically upgraded shipping for all boxes this month since they were behind schedule. Either way, shipping for each service is "free" and included within the quoted subscription price.

PRODUCT AVAILABILITY


For Glymm, each month they try their best to send out the same products to each and every customer, so as to maintain constancy in all their boxes. Loose Button, on the other hand, tends to send out different products to each individual, catering to their beauty profile created when signing up for their services. Thus far, I have not received any repeat products, but I have read that some Loose Button subscribers have received the same samples more than once. Personally, I would want to receive different products each month, so as to have the chance to try out a variety of brands. But when you think about it, each company can only collaborate with so many brands, and convince those brands to bring about different products for their customers to sample. It may be quite difficult to secure different products every month, and not have something repeated once within a year.

All the products sent out in Glymm boxes are available for purchase on their website - an easy one stop shop for all your needs. In comparison, Loose Button does not currently have an online store, but each box sent out contains the information about where to get the full size versions of the samples if you so desire!

PRICING & REWARDS


As stated above, Glymm boxes are $10/month, while Luxe Boxes are $12/month. Both are very affordable options, and each subscription is renewed automatically until you request to cancel. Members of each service can also be rewarded! Glymm features a points system, in which points collected can be used towards the purchase of products. Points can be earned through product purchases, referrals, product reviews and subscriptions. The program at Loose Button is a little different, where the referral of three friends gets you a free box.

CUSTOMER SERVICE


From experience, I can say that that customer experience at both companies is excellent. Their representatives work hard to reply to each email, and answer any concerns that customers may have. Each company can be found via email, or through Facebook and Twitter, giving customers access to representatives through a variety of methods.

OVERALL


All in all, I would have to say that both companies are excellent choices for sampling different products in the makeup and skincare field. However, in order to choose and stick with one subscription service, you should definitely take into account the aspect of personalization. For me, I find that the $2 price difference can be accounted for in the way that Loose Button caters to their clients. It takes a significant amount of manpower to personalize each box (lots of printing and organization of the cards & stickers!), and put together products that target the needs expressed in the beauty profile.

If you like to purchase items and be rewarded for doing so (like me, being a hoarder of points!), I would recommend Glymm. They try to provide a wide range of products to test out each month, for anyone looking to just try something different. Loose Button, on the other hand, would be a better option for anyone looking for products to target a specific concern. But of course, it would be good to check out their featured brands ahead of time, to see if they even interest you at all.

TO JOIN


Both services are easy to join! Here's my personal invite link to Glymm. For Loose Button, they currently are sold out of subscriptions, so you can sign up for the waitlist here.

Are any of you subscribed to these services right now? Let me know!

*this post contains a sample provided by PR for consideration of a review

PS - if you haven't done so yet, enter my appreciation giveaway!

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16 comments

  1. I haven't subscribed, but girl your tempting me to sign up! lol I can't decide which January box I prefer...but I'm leaning more towards the Luxe Box, I'd pretty much use everything in there as well!

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    Replies
    1. Haha, I have a huge stash of samples right now. Deep down inside, I know I should unsubscribe.. but I don't want to miss out! I have more reviews with other companies coming, so you have time to decide! :D

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  2. TopBox is another Canadian subscription beauty box that looks good too. I personally don't subscribe to any because I'm already drowning in products but my friend used to subscribe to Loose Button and it was fun to see what she got every month.

    xo, alison*elle

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    Replies
    1. Yes! I did take a look into TopBox last night actually. They're currently sold out of subscriptions.. but I am going to look into it eventually. GlossyBox also just started up in Canada. Too many to keep track of! I, like you, am drowning in products too.. but something in me isn't allowing me to cancel the sub from Glymm.. ahh, I have problems :(

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  3. i'm so jelly! they don't have this in germany grrr and i was all set to sign up with birchbox before i left the states but they won't ship internationally GRR!!

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    Replies
    1. I know there's something called GlossyBox in the UK. You should see if they can ship to you! They have an awesome box too! :)

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  4. Oh your luxe box was so much better than mine (especially since mine did come with a bunch of perfume samples)!

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  5. those are some good samples! theres so many sample boxes now it's hard to keep track! lol.

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  6. I have heard so much about these boxes but have never attempt to try them. I never really was much of a beauty product type of girl. Now if they had some clothing sample boxes I might be interested =) Great review nonetheless my dear!

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    Replies
    1. I think a lot of us would love clothing sample boxes! I feel like the subscription would be pretty expensive though, considering StyleMint charges $30/month for just one shirt. We can only dream, haha.

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  7. hi dear! thank you so much for your sweet comment, i really like your blog, love personal style blogs, i am a follower now, would be glad if you could follow me back :)
    have a great day
    **********
    HF

    http://www.the-hf-blog.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  8. hey andrea! those were some great products you received and i really like the personalization. that was a nice touch. it was also nice they sent an extra box of items. great review girl! :)
    http://www.averysweetblog.com/

    ReplyDelete
  9. I've tried tried anything like this before but keep seeing different people post about them, it seems exciting. Maybe I'll try it at some point.
    Check out my blog....

    xoxo
    annpaige
    http://annpaigefashion.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  10. One of the most beautiful and honestly written reviews i've read lately, i've heard of simila products by other bloggers, mainly canadians and americans, i am not sure if we europeans have a similar brand, but i guess we have one and i need to check it out.
    love both boxes and the way you described the pros and cons of each one, however i was mesmerized by the products of Luxe Box's which seemed a tad more versatile and well fascinating than the products sent to you by the Glumm box. I also like that in Luxe Box they personalize the products sent to you by your preferences, i wouldn't want to end up with a box of things i don't need and want.
    thanks for this review.
    it was lovely to read.
    marianne
    http://lureofthedarkside.blogspot.com/
    i am more of a fashion blogger but if you don't mind checking out my blog, that would be so awesome. I am not telling you to follow me if u don't want just check it out.
    xx

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  11. Thanks so much for the great article! I have been eyeing both subscriptions and was curious to know what kinds of samples actually arrive in both of them. I still don't know if I will sign up - I love beauty samples (oh Sephora!) but I don't wear makeup often so I don't know if it's worth it to me.
    On a side note, Glymm does these boxes for men now - kind of a neat way for them to try out stuff. Though I'm sure they could care less about the cute factor :)

    -- Jenn

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    Replies
    1. You're welcome! Glad it helped :) It's hard to say whether or not the boxes will be worthwhile for you, as some months there are more haircare or body care samples rather than makeup. If you're on the lookout for new products though, these boxes are great for trying things out! & yes - I wonder how successful the Glymm Men boxes are going to be!

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