The Top 7 Natural Beauty Sample Subscription Services

Beauty sample subscription services have absolutely exploded over the past few years, with many opening this year alone (and it’s barely into the half way point of 2012!) What are they, exactly? Well, it’s basically a service where you obtain some samples of various beauty (or other) products from a variety of companies and brands every month for a nominal fee. From the samples, you can choose to get the full-sized version from the company you subscribed to, usually for a discount. Magazines like Allure have also hopped on the bandwagon, teaming up with sites like BeautyBar to bring you the same options. (You can find their service here.)

As a big fan of samples and trial sizes, I love services like this. However, it’s been hard to find ones who focus on natural, organic or greener beauty products- until now! Here’s a list of the top 7 to check out today. They all feature or focus solely on providing the best natural beauty products for you to sample, and all are very reliable and affordable. Be sure to check each page as some may be under a waitlist.

Eco-Emi

• Cost: $15.00/mo
• You get: Average of 7-12 samples
• Available for: Worldwide
• Offers: Cosmetics, skin care, body care, hair care, food, household
• Notes: One of the most popular subscription services, hence a usually long waitlist (current one will be open on June 1, 2012)

White Apricot’s Green Grab Bag

• Cost: $15.00/mo
• You get: Minimum of 6 samples
• Available for: United States only
• Offers: Cosmetics, skin care, body care, hair care, nails
• Notes: Offers samples from both indie and more mainstream companies, so you get a wide variety and may discover a new fave!

CurlKit

• Cost: $20.00/mo
• You get: 5-7 samples
• Available for: Limited worldwide, but check to ensure your country is available
• Offers: Natural hair care samples for curly hair
• Notes: Their specialty is offering green samples for curly hair, so if that’s all you want, here’s your service!

Beauty Army

• Cost: $12.00/mo
• You get: 6 samples
• Available for: United States only
• Offers: Cosmetics, skin care, hair care, bath and body care, nails, fragrances, men’s
• Notes: The only service where you get to choose your samples! They feature tons of natural brands like BeFine, Indie Lee, suki skincare and Weleda. More in the future!

Goodebox

• Cost: $16.00/mo
• You get: 6-7 samples (occasionally more)
• Available for: United States only
• Offers:  Cosmetics, skin care, hair care, bath and body care, nails
• Notes: One of the newer services to hit the natural beauty subscription scene, it’s got fantastic promise. Features a ton of popular brands and generous sizes.

Amarya Beauty Box 

• Cost: £10/mo
• You get:  Sample or trial sizes worth at least £20
• Available for: UK only
• Offers: Cosmetics, skin care, hair care, bath and body care, nails, fragrance, men’s, baby, candles, accessories
• Notes: UK only. May get a full sized product worth £20.

There are several natural beauty subscription services that are not out yet but are coming soon. Keep an eye out for:

The Natural Beauty Box

Coming soon by the founders of The Natural Beauty Store comes what I suspect will be one of the best natural beauty subscription sample services ever!  They will start shipping boxes in July, though you can sign up now. Featuring 100% natural products from brands like Delizioso Skincare, Ariona and Petal Organics, you’ll receive 6-8 deluxe sample sizes (no foil samples) of all natural and organic beauty products for a mere $20.00 a month. I can’t WAIT for this one! When they open, they’ll be moved up to the list above. They ship to the US, Canada, UK, Scotland and Ireland.

Kara’s Way

A brand new natural beauty subscription service, they’ve just started accepting signups last month, so nothing’s been shipped yet. I assume May’s will be going out soon. 5-10 samples, free shipping and $15.00/mo.  They only ship to the United States.

No More Dirty Looks Subscription Service

They’re currently on a waitlist – expect to see them reopen in about 4 months (around or after August 2012). They’ve teamed up with Quarterly Co. to offer you a natural beauty sample service that ships every 3 months for $25.00. So far, it seems they do ship worldwide, but to be sure, subscribe to their newsletter or go to their website for more details.

5 Reasons Why Those Natural Beauty Products Just Aren’t Working for You

So, you went nuts and bought a ton of natural and organic beauty products. You used them religiously for days, maybe weeks, determined to see results.

And.. nothing.

Or so you think. See, like conventional beauty products, their eco-friendly counterparts also require you possess realistic expectations, even if you did pay 2.00 more an ounce than its conventional counterpart. But don’t freak out – yet!

Here’s why it seems like those natural beauty products aren’t working.

1) You’re expecting a miracle in an unreasonable amount of time

You can’t completely dissolve dark circles under your eyes or shrink a zit in an hour – so why are people still expecting such unrealistic results from their natural beauty product? Even super strength, dermatologist approved, $300.00 an ounce face creams can’t deliver those kinds of miracles. You have to give it some time – ideally, the amount of time the company suggests. Eye creams may take up to 4 weeks of consistent use. You’ll likely see a difference with a new facial wash or moisturizer in a week or three. Depending on your skin type and climate, you can see results from body creams in a few days.  Some hair care products can deliver what looks like instant results, but it depends on your hair type.

2) The concentration is too low for your skin/hair type

I’ve noticed in the past that 1-2% salicylic acid didn’t do a damn thing for my skin. So, I’ve had to up the ante – and have gotten much better results. Sure, doctors recommend using lower concentrations, but sometimes you do have to play it by ear. If a single drop of something isn’t doing anything, try two drops. Don’t go too far though, and with some experimentation, you may see better results. Or, try a more concentrated version of what you’re using. For instance, instead of a light moisturizer, try the brand’s cream or serum instead.

3)  You’re using the wrong formulation (oily skin using something really meant for dry, etc)

I’ve made this mistake before. I have normal to combination skin, but in my vain attempt to prevent any and all acne, I went for products formulated for oily, acne-prone skin. The result? My face was stripped and felt drier than the Sahara. I also have dry hair and have tried to use clarifying shampoos, thinking my hair had too many product residue in it. Naturally, my strands felt like straw after rinsing. Yikes.

Always use products made for your skin and hair type.

4) It’s not actually all that ‘natural’ after all

Did you read the ingredients? No? Take another look. You may spot something you’re allergic to, but it’s listed in a different name. Or, there may be chemicals that are reacting furiously on your sensitive skin – even if their label says it’s FOR that skin type. If you spot a questionable ingredient, do a tad of research on it first. Can’t find any info? Pass on it. There’s always something else out there for you – trust me. Or, you can always go ‘back to basics’ – try pure argan, jojoba, coconut or grapeseed oil for moisturizing, instead of some concoction with a mix of ingredients you may not recognize.

5) The product’s expired or its ingredients aren’t potent anymore

Shelf lives for natural beauty products tend to be on the shorter end of the spectrum, and it can get tricky when you’re buying them online. If it was sitting on their warehouse shelves for months before your purchase, you may be dipping your fingers into something that was supposed to expire last week.

Keep an eye out for products that have been officially discontinued by the brand, or products that are in stock at a retailer but not at the actual company’s website. In many cases, you can just ask the actual company if they’re still developing a particular scent or line of products – and if they say no, pass on the deal you found at that random retailer. You can also try asking the retailer how long they had the product on the shelf.

Other tell-tale signs of something expired are rancid smells, weird consistency for the product, or separating ingredients (and that’s not the intended behavior).

Original Moxie Intense Quench Hair Care – Review

As mentioned in my last review, I’m still looking for some nice natural hair care products to replace my conventional ones. My hair’s dry and while I can manage it, I’d like to start finally transitioning. Mia Bell, a consultant and founding member of alex + von, approached me with a solution – Original Moxie’s Intense Quench products! Namely, the Twist Mist Lightweight Shine, Emollience Penetrating Moisture, and the Intense Quench Deep Conditioner.

Original Moxie’s a newer company but are already making huge waves in the natural hair care industry. They are salon quality, but with affordable prices – and they actually work. Original Moxie has lines for everyone – dry hair, limp hair, oily – there’s sure to be something for you. They’ve definitely got something for my picky hair type!

So, I got to try all three items and frankly, I’m impressed! They all passed the test and I’m actually going to go full sized for once! Here’s my review:

Emollience Penetrating Moisture

This is a pre-conditioning treatment, meant to soften your hair before you style. You can even leave it on overnight, but I left it in for about 5 minutes, then rinsed it out and shampooed as usual. The treatment is tick and kind of waxy but very moisturizing – it uses cupacu butter, shea butter and castor oil, all very effective, natural emollients. It smells very spicy, sort of like cinnamon, but very pleasant – wakes you up, too! My hair loved it, and during the treatment it noticeably softened. It rinsed well with warm water, and my hair stayed softer. When it dried, it didn’t look as frizzy as before. So far, this product looks great!

Intense Quench Deep Conditioner

I only had enough product to apply to my ends,  so that’s exactly where I tried this on. Confidentially, my ends are also the driest and usually look frayed and gross after a shower. After the shampoo, I applied my usual conditioner to the rest of my hair, but saved the ends for this deep conditioner. As I applied it, I could already tell it was making a significant difference – the ends softened and my hair literally drank it up. The scent was really nice, too – light and not overpowering – sort of floral but with a spicy kick. It was lightweight but very creamy and didn’t slide off my hair. I left it in for 5 minutes, then rinsed. One thing I also noticed was that most thick conditioners leave a slightly oily residue on my hands when I try to rinse it off. This one didn’t!

After my flat ironing session, my ends remained smooth and looked less drier than before. I’m willing to bet the Emollience Penetrating Treatment helped too, but I’m super pleased at the results. I’m going to get a full version of this one soon!

Twist Mist Lightweight Shine

This leave-in shine spray is also supposed to lightly moisturize and is suitable for dry, chemically treated hair. After flat ironing it, I sprayed this all over and was amazed at the amount of sheen I got! The shine was incredible, and looked like those expensive silicones you get at the salon. However, this has better ingredients and work much better than those since it also smells great!  It has a unique, fresh, herbal scent. I normally find most herbal scents to be either nauseating or just not suitable to my taste, but this was the opposite. it doesn’t spray like a fine mist – more like a thicker, wetter spritz, but it doesn’t oversaturate Just spray about 6 inches away from your hair, and comb through. I’m addicted to the shine and will be using this daily. :)

If you’d like to grab these products for yourself, check them out at Pure Natural Brands, Mia’s shop at alex + von! You can also check out her blog at Naturally Pure Beauty.

Original Moxie gets 4.5 stars!

Ingredients (Emollience Penetrating Moisture): Ricinus communis (Castor) Oil, Virgin Butyrospermum Parkii* (Shea) Nut Butter, Caprylic-Capric TG (Fractionated Coconut Oil and/or Palm Kernel Oil), Theobroma grandiflorum (Cupuaçu) Butter, Polianthes tuberose (Tuberose) Wax, Behentrimonium Methosulfate (and) Cetearyl Alcohol, Cera Flava (Beeswax), Simmondsia chinensis (Jojoba) Oil, Essential Oils of Vanilla planifolia (Vanilla), Citrus sinensis (Sweet Orange), Citrus reticulata blanco var. tangerina (Tangerine), Mentha spicata (Spearmint), Jasminum grandiflorum (Jasmine), Cananga odorata (Ylang Ylang), Cinnamomum cassia (Cassia) Bark, Salvia sclarea (Clary Sage), Santalum album (Sandalwood), Elettaria Cardamomum (Cardamom).

Ingredients (Intense Quench Deep Conditioner):  Aqua (Water), Aqueous Extracts of Hibiscus sabdariffa* (Hibiscus Flower) & Fragaria Vesca (Strawberry) Fruit, Vegetable Glycerin***, Behentrimonium Methosulfate (and) Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein***, Aqueous Extracts of Zingiber officinalis (Ginger) Root, Hypericum perforatum* (St. John’s Wort), Yucca glauca**(Yucca) Root, Equisetum arvense*(Horsetail), Chondrus crispus**(Irish Moss), Emblica officinalis (Indian Gooseberry) & Azadirachta indica* (Neem), Sodium Lactate, Glycine Soja (Soy) Wax, Caprylic-Capric TG (Fractionated Coconut Oil and/or Palm Kernel Oil), Virgin Triticum Vulgare (Wheat Germ) Oil, Dimethicone, Sorbitol***, Cyclopentasiloxane, Phenoxyethanol (and) Caprylyl Glycol (and) Sorbic Acid, Polyquaternium-10, Theobroma grandiflorum (Cupuaçu) Butter, Virgin Olea Europaea* (Olive) Oil Infused With Ascophyllum nodosum* (Kelp), Azadirachta indica* (Neem), Emblica officinalis (Indian Gooseberry), Equisetum arvense* (Horsetail), Symphytum officinale* (Comfrey) Root, Urtica dioica* (Nettle), & Yucca glauca**(Yucca) Root, Acacia Gum, Tocopherol*** (Vitamin E), Honey (and) Maltodextrin***, Hydrolyzed Silk***, Panthenol, Citric Acid***, Menthol***, Polyaminopropyl Biguanide, Essential Oils of Mentha spicata (Spearmint), Lavandula officinalis (Lavender), Cymbopogon martinii var. motia (Palmarosa), Coriandrum sativum L. (Coriander), Litsea cubeba, Bergaptene-Free Citrus bergamia (Bergamot), & Citrus aurantifolia (Lime).

Ingredients (Twist Mist Lightweight Shine): Caprylic-Capric TG (Fractionated Coconut Oil and/or Palm Kernel Oil), Squalane Oil- Olea Europaea (Olive), Ricinus communis (Castor) Oil Triglyceride, Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Oil, Simmondsia chinensis (Jojoba) Oil, Essential Oils of Vanilla planifolia (Vanilla), Citrus reticulata blanco var. tangerina (Tangerine), Lavandula officinalis (Lavender), Bergaptene-Free Citrus bergamia (Bergamot), Salvia sclarea (Clary Sage), & Citrus racemosa (Pink Grapefruit).

*Certified Organic; ** Wildharvested; *** Natural Source

Average Price: $18.00 – $30.00 for full sizes

Additional Notes:  Works exceptionally well on thick, dry, frizzy, chemically treated hair.

Buy at: Pure Natural Brands

Rating:

I was provided free samples to do this review. I did not get paid or compensated – all reviews are 100% honest.