You might check with the local women's shelter. The one here accepts donations of unused toiletries and makeup for women going on job interviews.
I myself sub to Sample Society for the samples...hopefully deluxe sample sizes of higher end brands where I wouldn't pay for the full size product unless I knew I really loved it. But, I would much rather get a well-curated assortment of deluxe samples than a few full-size items, even if the value of the full size items is greater.
I have subbed to SS in the past, but haven't gotten it in a long, long time. In fact, the last time I did get it, I wrote to cancel and mentioned I had joined because of spoilers for a certain item (Vincent Longo eyeshadow trio) but I got a boring Longo black eyeliner instead. I didn't ask for anything, but they refunded my $15! Their customer service is top notch! So, I've always kept my eye on them just waiting until I had a reason to come back. I came back this month specifically to get the Too Faced Peony lipstick. Why? I really, really want to try it, but I don't want to buy full size without trying it first. I was going to get it from Sephora, but it literally went out of stock as I was in the process of shopping online, so I didn't make the purchase. Instead, I waited until today when I got more points.
I totally understand both sides of the coin--wanting full size products and wanting samples. For me, I prefer full size (or at least larger sizes) when we are talking about skin care. I don't mind samples when we are talking about makeup. Why? For one thing, skin care products take extended usage to find out if they work with your body chemistry or not. With makeup, it is pretty much a matter of tossing it on and seeing how it looks. Also, I like variety in my makeup. Because of that, even if I knew I would love the full size TF Melted lipstick, I might not use it up. A nice deluxe sample (which in this case even has the same tip/applicator as the full size) will probably do me just fine. If I love it beyond belief and use it up, then I will buy full size, but that rarely happens with me.
I am hoping SS is going to deluxe sizes (at least) but with a heavy emphasis on makeup. I prefer makeup in my sample boxes because it does give me variety for little cost (which saves me money) and also because I have a good amount of skin care, which I am picky about. Chemicals tend to irritate my skin. I bought some Michael Todd when it was on sale *and* I had a % off code to make it extra cheap. Only recently did I need to repurchase a few cleansers and a toner from him. I got it at a discount too--Zulilly or Hautelook or something. I have also purchased some Ahava, Jurlique, and 100% pure products through Birchbox or beauty.com. I'm not saying I always got to try what I wanted. Generally, if I can use the skin care samples Birchbox sends (meaning, safe for my sensitive skin, natural, etc.), I will use the products but I don't tend to buy them. Instead, I do my reviews and save up points for brands I know will work for me like the Jurlique and 100%. I think it gives me the best of both worlds--expensive samples to try which often last a week or so and then money back to buy what I'd buy anyway.
I am wondering if those who prefer skin care want full sizes moreso than those who prefer makeup in sample boxes. I guess that would make sense to me. But I really am excited to get to try a good amount of the TF Melted, in a usable color, without having to shell out the $20 something bucks for the full size version. Then, though I don't know what else we'll get besides a hair product I won't get much use out of, I know I at least have the chance to get a few other products I might use or at least enjoy trying out. Anyway, that's how I look at it. If they had been able to include a full size TF, then great. Of course it would've been even better than the deluxe. But I'm betting the deluxe has plenty in it to make it worth $8-10 or so, and I didn't pay much more than that for the box. Add in the other products, and I have no doubt I'll easily make up my $5-7 dollars more. I wouldn't get the boxes if it didn't have a higher value than what I have to pay in. That wouldn't make sense. If I got less than what I spent or even if I only got $15 worth of products, it would make more sense to use that money to pick out exactly what I want. That's a no brainer. But even deluxe sizes can give you good value depending on what they are. There is a very small amount of risk involved.
Now look at the boxes that offer full size products. You generally get either less impressive brands, fewer products to try (which means more risk if you don't like any single item because you now need to like the others to make it worth purchasing the box in the first place), and they tend to cost more. I'm a low risk type of person. These sub boxes that cost $30, $40, even $50 are just too much of a gamble to me based on how much it costs to begin with. But a $10-15 sub, maybe even one at $20 where I know I'm going to get more value than what I paid in, well, it is easier to sub to those for me--whether it is Ipsy that does give full sizes for cheap (but not great brands) or Birchbox which gives smaller sizes for cheap (but better brands). I can honestly see value in both. Now for SS (which I haven't forgotten we are talking about here, I swear
/emoticons/
[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" /> ), well, I am going to have higher expectations for them than either BB or Ipsy because they cost 1.5 times more. I don't think I ever would've subbed without specifically wanting the Too Faced product. Will I stay subbed past this month then? Maybe not. I will always rely on the spoilers to tell me when it might be time to unsub. If they keep offering a deluxe sized makeup item I want to own but I don't want/don't need/can't afford the full size, I'll stay subbed. If not, I'll walk away. It almost seems like SS is trying to offer a balance between value (larger sizes) and quality (pretty high for costing only $15). I like that. The effort to balance the two extremes impresses me. I just hope they can keep it up.
Sorry. I guess I got a bit carried away. :blush:
