Wednesday 25 April 2012

Bye Bye Glossybox

After being a Glossybox subscriber for almost nine months, I’ve decided to cancel my subscription. I made the decision last month after having a little tidy up/clear out, and finding a lot of the contents I’ve received in my boxes in various different drawers and cupboards around the house. Some had been lightly tested, but most of products I found hadn’t even been opened, particularly the sample pots and sachets I’ve received. 


After bundling everything together in a big pile, and going through the various different products I’d stashed, I realised that I’ve only actually used up a handful of the things I’ve been sent over the past nine months. Most of the make-up and nail items I’ve had, have been colours I don’t really wear. The majority of the skin care items haven’t been suitable for my skin type and the hair products I’ve received have mostly been styling products, which again, I don’t really use. In fact, the only products I have used up have been a small number of bath and body products. I loved and re-purchased the Weleda oil I received in my first Glossybox, and I also really enjoyed the Rituals Yogi shower gel I got a few months ago. 


Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining about what I’ve had. I’ve been lucky with most of my boxes, and considering I’ve received quite a few full sized goodies, I think Glossybox has been pretty good value for money. I just begrudge paying almost thirteen pounds a month for something which doesn’t actually get used. I know it’s a relatively small amount of money, but that cash adds up and could be spent on items I actually want every month. £155 a year buys six or seven full sized make items, or I could treat myself to a nice hair care or bath or body each month, which I know I’ll use. In fact, this month’s Glossybox cash has already been spent on a Burt’s Bees kit, which I’ve had my eye on for a while.


I have enjoyed getting my box in the post each month, and I still think getting a surprise selection of goodies sent to your door is a fabulous idea, but Glossybox just isn’t for me at the moment. I may come back to it in the future, but for now, I’m attempting to be more careful and picky with the things I buy and will be spending my £13 on products I really want and need.

Anyone else feeling the same way about their monthly beauty boxes?

12 comments:

  1. This is one of the main reasons why i haven't subscribed to Glossybox as most of the boxes i see aren't to my taste and it will only end up in the back of my drawers or in the bin. And like you said at the end, i would much prefer to spend my £13 on products i really want and would use! xx

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    1. As I said above, £13 is not really a lot of money, as long as the items are actually being used. I know Glossbox are attempting to personalise boxes, so I guess if that works, subscribers will be more likely to receive products suited to their skin/hair type. I'd be more likely to re-subscribe if they do this, but I don't know, I still think I'd prefer to spend the cash on a few things that I really want every year instead of a box of samples each month.

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  2. Glossybox looks great compared to what I've seen in subscription boxes here in the U.S. What I've seen of the ones in the U.S. rarely have full sized items & lots of sample packets that don't have enough product to truly determine if it will work for you. And not everyone that gets a box from the same company gets the same items each month. One subscriber received laundry detergent in her box last month. I fail to see how that is truly beauty-related. She unsubscribed from that subscription box! The first box is usually great which prompts lots of sign-ups. But it seems that it doesn't take very long for the quality & sometimes quantity of items to spiral. Many bloggers & even non-bloggers that I know have, just like you, opted to save the $ they would spend & get items they truly want. Because of what I've seen others experience, I haven't signed up for any of them.

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    1. I agree, Glossybox definitely looks better than some of the US boxes I've seen! The contents seem to vary quite a lot with these too, though, which seems a bit unfair. Some months, some subscribers have had lovely full size products and others have had a box of samples. I don't think I've seen anyone receive anything like the laundry detergent you mentioned, though! That is ridiculous, and as you say, is certainly not beauty related.

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  3. I felt the same way about Glossybox and unsubscribed from them after the xmas box. I just wasn't really using the products that were being sent and felt it was a waste of money. I do still like my Jolieboxes though as I find myself using those samples and think that the Amarya ones are great too :)

    http://wewereraisedbywolves.blogspot.co.uk/

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    1. That's exactly how I felt, Evelyn! I haven't really looked into any of the others that are available here. I've heard of Joliebox, but not the Amarya one's. I think if I decided to subscribe to another of these, I'd probably look into a few other before going back to Glossybox.

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  4. Hi Nat, good post! I can't bring myself to subscribe to a box for the same reason. There are just so many things out there, even at the drugstore level (like you mentioned burt's bees) that I would love to have! That said, there are important sample discoveries to be made. However with some 'hustling' and smart shopping those can be collected over time through gwps!

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    1. I agree, Dovey. A lot of the sample sachets are fairly easy to get hold of anyway! And with a bit of savvy shopping, there are also lots of great GWP products to be had, too!

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  5. I think it's very wise of you to end your subscription! I'm not sure I could bring myself to pay that much every month for things I wouldn't use.

    I really think they should start making it more personalised by asking your skin type, hair type, skin color, eye color etc before you order so you will receive things you can actually use!

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    1. Well, I think Glossybox are attempting to personalise boxes, Vintage. I filled in a questionnaire type thing a little while ago, but it didn't seem to make much of a difference in the last few boxes I received. I suppose if the idea works, subscribers will be more likely to get products they'll actually use. I may think about signing back up to Glossybox if they do this, but for now, I'm going to save my cash or spend it on one item that I know I'll actually use!

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  6. Hi, you have lots of things lying around unused that I would love to have. I'm on beauty box swaps but perhaps you could put some things in a box and ill buy them from you. Reimburse you for all those glossy box that were not great and you could buy something new that you really want.

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    1. Hi Jacqueline. I'm afraid most of the items in the photos have been donated to friends and family. After having the little tidy up, it seemed a bit silly to put everything back in the drawers and cupboards where they'd been hiding.

      I didn't actually know there was a Beauty box swap site! Would have definitely checked that out if I'd known!

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