Like Birchbox? Then you'll love TestTube!

If you follow the beauty community on YouTube, you will know that Birchboxes are one of the hottest things right now.  But it's not the only game in town.  


I can see the value of receiving samples of products - many of which I have never even heard of - to try out before taking the plunge and spending a great deal of money on full size products that I may only use once.


So, I took the plunge and signed up for several other sample programs.  


Enter, New Beauty Magazine's TestTube!  

New Beauty TestTube

TestTube is more expensive than Birchbox, but only because you do have to pay $8.95 for shipping per TestTube.  Each TestTube costs $29.95.  So you are paying $38.90 per TestTube, and you will receive one every three months.   Whereas you would pay $30 (including shipping) for three Birchboxes.  The number of samples would be about the same, or a little less for Birchbox.  But Birchbox does not include gift cards or a great magazine!

New Beauty Magazine and the TestTube

In this TestTube I received 15 large samples (actually, the mascara was a full size item), plus a magazine, plus a $20 Gift Card.  It's honestly an unbeatable value.

Inside the TestTube

TestTube contains about the same number of samples (or even more) than Birchbox, and it includes a $20 Gift Card to use at Spalook.com, and a New Beauty magazine which retails for $9.99. 

In the TestTube there was 15 deluxe samples!

A brochure was included with the TestTube that contains information on each sample, how to use it, the ingredients (VERY  IMPORTANT!), and an About The Company segment.

This month I received:

Tantasia - Jane Iredale

Age-Defying Marine Collagen Cream - Pevonia Botanica

Volumizing Mascara - Mally

Sensitive Touch Cleansing Wipes - Lumene

Photo Finish Foundation Primer - Smashbox

Youth Accelerator - Beauty Society

Rehydrating Neroli Cleansing Milk - Kerstin Florian

Quick Refiner - Bioelements

Nano-Peptide, Natural Eyelash Conditioner - Lashfood

Hydroshield Ultra Moisturizing Face Serum - Dr. Denese

Toning Cleanser & Dermud Body Cream - Ahava

Root Awakening - John Frieda Collection

Soft Ergonomic Toothbrush - Supersmile

Gummy Vitamins for Adults - Slice of Life

New Beauty Magazine

$20 Spalook.com Gift Card

The $20 Spalook Gift Card makes TestTube an incredible value!

I enjoy Birchbox, but I absolutely LOVE TestTube!  If you are really serious about beauty products, the fact that TestTube includes large samples, some full size products, a $20 gift card, and an informative magazine, makes it the best beauty sample program out there - and absolutely the best value for money.

Sign up for New Beauty Magazine's TestTube here: 

New Beauty TestTube

- The Sassi Wench

My First Birch Box! January, 2011

I was very excited to find out about Birch Box on YouTube.  If you watch my video above, I explain that I was aware of a similar type of subscription many years ago when I still lived in South Africa.  I think my aunt Lola used get a box of makeup and makeup tools each month for a reasonable monthly subscription fee.  So when I heard about the Birch Box I knew that I would like it!  

I signed up for it at the beginning of December, and I received my first Birch Box two days ago, about five weeks after I first joined.

I signed up for the monthly $10 subscription.  You can cancel it at any time, and you earn points to put towards the purchase of full size products that you enjoyed from your sample selection. 

I was very excited to find this little pink box in the mail, and when I opened it up, this is what I found:

The January 2011 Birch Box.

For January 2011, the Birch Box is filled with skin care samples, and some Chai (tea)!

This Birch Box contains Chai Tea, Ahava Hand Cream and Hair Serum.

This Birch Box also contains a skin peel and a face mask.

The Birch Box website has videos and makeup tips, and you can expect to find deluxe samples from brands like Laura Mercier, Benefit, Stila, Nars and Too Faced, amongst others.

Birch Box products pricing.

If you like Birchbox, sign up for the monthly $10 subscription.  You can cancel it at any time, and you earn points to put towards the purchase of full size products that you enjoyed from your sample selection.

Click here for a link to their website: Birchbox

Click here for a link to my January 2011 Birchbox: January 2011 Birchbox

Click here for a link to my February 2011 Birchbox: February 2011 Birchbox

Click here for a link to my March 2011 Birchbox: March 2011 Birchbox

Click here for a link to my April 2011 Birchbox: April 2011 Birchbox

Click here for a link to TestTube: TestTube

Click here for a link to Beauty Fix: Beauty Fix

Click here for a link to my YouTube Channel: The Sassi Wench

Until next time, 

The Sassi Wench!