Tuesday Giveaway: Belle's Beauty Box
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 11:00AM I buy almost all of my beauty products online. I only travel to the brick and mortar Sephora or Blue Mercury location when I want to try a product before I buy or when I'm not sure about a shade. And when you order most of your products online, you get samples...lots of samples. Add these to the swag products handed out in event gift bags and the duplicates from my multiple Birchbox deliveries, and I have a huge box of unloved beauty product samples sitting on a shelf.
It's basically my own personal beauty closet.
Usually, I find the samples good homes by giving them away to friends. If someone tells me that she needs new dry shampoo, I grab one from the sample box. And if a friend is looking for a new scent, I provide them a veritable grab bag of fragrance samples. But last month, I was doing some New Year's Day cleaning, when I thought, "Maybe I should be giving these away on the blog?"
At first, I chucked the idea because I wondered "Who would want a a bucnh of sample size products?" But then, I realized that the box was like my own, deluxe Birchbox, teeming with good stuff from great companies like Klorane, Zoya, Oscar Blandi, Tarte and more.
There are full-sized body products from Lierac to treat aging skin and cellulite, full-sized nail polishes from Essie and Butter London (the ever popular greige shade, Fash Pack), hair care samples from Oscar Blandi and Sebastian, and lip glosses from Jouer, Tarte and Buxom. The box also contains my favorite fig body wash from Korres, one of my favorite mascaras (Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes), my beloved Borghese face mask and Benefit's the Porefessional treatment for those seeking perfect, matte skin.
All in all, the box holds a great selection of products in addition to the dozens of unpictured sample packets and fragrance samples.
Now, to enter this contest we're going to do something a bit different. I'm going to give you two chances to enter. For the first entry, write in the comments below the name of a beauty product sample that your tried and either loved or hated. Make sure to put why you loved it or loathed it, and don't forget to leave your email so I can contact you.
For the second entry, things get a bit more complex. Step one, go to Facebook and "like" the Birchbox page if you haven't already. Step two, go to my entry for the Zoya/Birchbox contest to design your own nail polish shade, and vote for "Belle's Blushing Penny." Step three, leave a comment on the entry page about why you like my mood board or the reason why you read Capitol Hill Style. The comment widget is kind of hiding under the Vote Now button to the right of the entry.
I will add the names of the blog commenters and the names of the Facebook commenters to a spreadsheet and use it to choose the winner, and announce that person's name on Monday. So be sure to enter in the comments below and on Facebook for two chances to win. ]
If you ladies like this giveaway, I'll do another one in a month or two when I replenish the stockpile and maybe we can make it a regular thing. I get so many samples of products that I've already tried, are already favorites or just don't have time to use, that I feel like someone should be enjoying them. Who knows, maybe you'll find a new favorite?
Lastly, I'd like to thank the last three giveaway winners for their patience. Things got a bit hectic around here, and I wasn't able to ship their prizes out until last Friday. I hope they enjoy the products that they won. I will try to be more prompt in the future.
Giveaways 
Reader Comments (178)
I was recently on vacation and tried a sample tube of Philosophy Hope in a Jar moisturizer. It made my face smell weird! I missed my regular moisturizer (steamcream) so much.
My favorite sample I received has been Clark's Botanicals Smoothing Marine cream. It's done wonders for my skin in just the time it takes to go through a sample, even if it is a deluxe sample. It's been great this winter to protect my skin, and has made it really soft. I am planning on buying the full size of this product, despite the price tag because I love it so much!
I also liked birchbox, voted, and commented for your shade. Best of luck!
My favorite sample was Clinique Eye Make-up Remover. It gets the job done every time.
Good Morning Belle and Capitol Hill Style followers!
I use my beauty samples for all they are worth and there are two which have really stuck out over the years. Mario Badescu's seaweed night cream smoothed my uneven tired skin while I slept without leaving me a bit oily. After sampling, it became a part of my nightly skin routine.
The second is tarte's iconic lip stain in charmed. I love all of the tarte products I have tried, but the stain with lip surgence remains my most raved about beauty buy. This sample led to the purchase of several different shades of the lip color which accent and inspire many of my getups.
Thank you for your always savvy and fabulous blogging. Have a wonderful day!
I am a recent transplant to the DC area, originally from Sacramento. Weeks before moving here, I tried Just B Cosmetics. Brenda Azevedo custom blends all of her cosmetics to match your skin, and I have to say I am in love. I will never be able to go back to the usually crafted blends for my mineral foundation. Also, she will mail you your make-up once she has your custom design on file, so if you ever find yourself in the area and in need of a new foundation, I would book an appointment!
I got a sample of Clinique's Moisture Surge tinted moisturizer when I was bemoaning the fact that they discontinued my favorite-ever Almost Makeup. The new version is actually fantastic - it goes on fairly sheer and I can build up coverage on any trouble spots using a foundation brush. It's perfect if you don't need/want a heavy foundation. I loved it enough to go back for the full-size product.
I am loving the African black soap Belle recommended! I've only been using it for a week, but it's great.
I recently received a sample sized Sephora-brand mascara with a purchase. LOVE IT. It's thick and creamy and works wonders with my eyelash curler.
I got Stila Kitten lipgloss in my Birchbox, and I love it! It's the perfect shade for both winter and summer and the brush applicator is great too.
Fell in love with my favorite scent (the only one I use!) through a sample - Chanel Mademoiselle
I recently got a sample sized Estee Lauder mascara. And as much as I hate to admit it, it is AWESOME! It makes my lashes look super long and does not flake!
I received a sample of Ojon's Detoxifying Shampoo and it made my hair feel soft, silky, and healthier overall.
The Jouer body butter from last month's Birchbox, the floral scent was so overpowering that it gave me an instant headache to the point I had to shower to get it off of me. I then attempted to give it away and couldn't. Oh well.
Hi Belle!
I received a sample of Benefit's Erase Paste. I never realized how a quality concealer could make a difference with my look. Lack of sleep, blemishes, allergy induced under eye circles all seem to vanish with a quick dab of this product. I don't need very much and when I use it (often on days where I could only squeeze in 5 hours of sleep) I tend to skip any foundation because it's THAT good!
I got a sample of the Perricone MD Face Finishing Moisturizer at Sephora a few years ago and it's the best moisturizer I've tried for those super dry days. Sadly, at $69 for 2 oz, the full size version is well out of my price range.
A few years ago, I complimented a co-worker on her perfume and she generously gave me a sample of it (Jo Malone Nectarine Blossom and Honey). Now it is my "signature" fragrance!
I tried the Bare Essentials face wash and actually loved it! It was gentle enough for my sensitive skin, but still gets rid of all of my make up at the end of the day.
A friend gave me some samples from Mario Badescu a couple weeks ago and I am already in love. Stress at work (and the bad eating habits that come with) had been wreaking havoc on my face since Christmas, but using the drying mask once a week and the drying cream under my makeup in the mornings has tamed my horrid flare-ups. I really can't remember a time when my face has looked this good for this long! Here's hoping the products don't fall into the Proactiv trap of working amazingly for a little bit, then making things worse.
My fave sample was Clinique Moisture Surge. It is my new fave, enough moisture without making my skin feel too greasy.
My least favorite has been Boscia Luminizing Black Mask. People raved about it on Sephora so I used my beauty bank points to get a sample. What a waste! It hurt to peel off and didn't improve my skin tone.
I got a sample of moroccan oil and it is worth all the hype. I stayed away for a while because I didn't want anything to weigh my hair down, but I love what it does and it smells divine!
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The best sample I ever got was Burberry London perfume. I got it at Christmas time with a gift I purchased and it has been my signature scent ever since!
I used to think mascara was truly one of those "pay more get more" items, but then I bought and have been LOVING cover girls' last blast fusion mascara. it's fantastic and it comes off easy!
I tried Caudalie 'Beauty Elixir' which is basically a spray that you spritz on your face to refresh your makeup--it really brings out a healthy glow and it seems almost like magic! Plus one spray does it and I only use it about once a week, so I'm still working through the sample size!
I ordered several Mario Badescu acne products and they all made me break out horribly (and never went away), and, of course, the samples did too. Just goes to show that everyone's skin is different.
I got the blinc mascara in my Birchbox a few months ago, and I really wanted to love it. It didn't end up being for me, but I really did like taking it off at night and seeing the little eyelash tubes!