So Choix Sample Subscription Box Review – August 2016

So Choix is a cosmetics sample subscription service; think Netflix for luxury brand cosmetics.  Their goal is to combine the best parts of the in-store experience with online shopping.  For $15 a month, you’ll get your choice of 5 beauty products to try.  Build your queue with any products you want to try from So Choix’s lineup of luxury brands and products.  Add, edit, and delete products from your queue as you wish.  You’ll also earn 250 points ($5 credit) every month that can be redeemed towards any product at So Choix.  Points can be rolled over and do not expire!  You can also sample items from So Choix without a subscription for $5 each (turns into $5 credit towards the full–size product).

Choix is French for choice, and this service strives to give you that.  So Choix was created on the following philosophy:

That’s why we let you choose the beauty samples you want to try! We let you try on enough sample of the product to determine whether or not that product lives up to a standard you are happy with, because we believe you need to be able to touch and try makeup and beauty products (on your face!) to love it…

We want to give you an easy, risk-free, and hassle free way of shopping for beauty…we want to help you make thoughtful decisions about your beauty look, your beauty routine, and help you discover who you are, without pressure! This is beauty on your terms.

My first look in and… more boxes!  It’s like a mystery surprise.  What’s in the box?

A look at the interior packages.  There is a small box and folded card container.  The packaging has a clean, classic look that is in line with the luxury brands carried on the site.

The folded card contains a small tool kit to use with my samples.  It includes a Mascara Spoolie, Lipgloss Wand, and Dual Ended Point Tip Swab.

Inside the small box, there was a large amount of padding.

And here are my samples!  Containers were attached to the card to prevent them from moving around during shipment.

Benefit “Benetint” Cheek Stain:  You can see in the picture above that there was a little leakage with this, but I still had plenty of product to test.  I’ve wanted to try Benetint for a while but was afraid of looking like I had clown cheeks and hating it.  I don’t know about you, but if I’m spending $30 on one piece of makeup, I want to be positive I like it.  I felt like my fingers were more stained from applying the product than my cheeks were.

Ellis Faas Glazed Lips – L303 Sheer Berry:  I picked this up because Ellis Faas was a new-to-me brand.  I love this gloss!  The color was highly pigmented and long lasting, and the formula was not at all sticky.  This can also be worn as a lip stain, and the color is buildable.  Glad to have tried this because it was good find and worth getting the full size.

Kevyn Aucoin The Volume Mascara – Rich Pitch Black:  I inherited my mom’s eyelashes – short and straight, so I’m always on the hunt for a good volumizing and lengthening mascara.  This promises to do both and is from one of my makeup icons.  The sample was disappointing, though.  The eyelash wand plays an integral part in delivering the formula’s effect, and the one provided in the tool kit isn’t the same as the one that comes with the full-sized product.  Also, the mascara sample is in a small vial, and the spoolie does not get completely coated for application.  I went back into my queue and removed all of the mascara I’d chosen because of this.

Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer with SPF 15:  This was the one sample that I was able to get both full size and sample size amounts for.  Using price per ounce, this sample comes out to $7.28.  So Choix offers the sample size for only $5 – showing that there is a cost savings benefit with this service.  The tube had enough product for 2 applications.  This primer was OK, but I don’t think I’ll spend $52 on it.

Chanel Gentle Biphase Eye Makeup Remover:  OK, honestly, I only chose this because it was Chanel.  This was wonderful at removing my mascara.  No raccoon eyes on me or mascara mask on my facial towel.  The formula has 2 distinct layers and has to be shaken before use.  It was not oily, like some removers are, and only took a few swipes to clean my eyes.  While I really liked this, I’ll stick with the sample.  I can’t justify the cost.

(from left to right) Hourglass Mineral Veil Primer, Kevyn Aucoin The Volume Mascara, Chanel Gentle Biphase Eye Makeup Remover, Benefit “Benetint” Cheek Stain, and Ellis Faas Glazed Lips

I was happy with my initial So Choix delivery.  I got to try out several items on my wish list, without dropping a load of cash or being disappointed that product was going to waste because I didn’t like it.  Seeing that So Choix carries Benefit products (which are staple in my makeup bag, and I don’t consider a luxury based on price), it would be nice to see some similarly priced brands (Urban Decay, Too Faced, Butter London, Pur Cosmetics, etc.) make it into their assortment.  I think this would also increase the demographic that uses the service.  Can’t wait to see what comes next month – maybe a nail polish or perfume.

Have you tried So Choix?  Share your thoughts below.

Visit Choix to subscribe or find out more!