Allure Sample Society Review: Is it better than Ipsy?

I've been debating for a while now whether I was going to continue on with my Ipsy subscription. I've had it for about two years now (crazy!!!) and I was just itching for a change. I did my research and found Allure Sample Society.

Here are the details:

• $15 a month (shipping included) 
• Five deluxe-size beauty samples—so you can use each one more than once
• Curated mix of skin, hair, and makeup products, as well as fragrance
• Allure mini-mag, packed with in-depth beauty sample product reviews written by Allure editors
• $10 BeautyBar.com gift card to redeem on any $50 Beauty Bar purchase

I've been subscribed for two months now, so here's a peek into what I got in my two boxes:

Now to the nitty-gritty....

Here's what I like so far:

• The products are more high-end than what I generally receive in my Ipsy subscription. (Meaning the products are valued at a higher cost. For example, September's allure box was valued at over $95 and I got two full sized products. Whereas my Ipsy bag for August was valued around $25)
• There's a bigger variety in the products. Ipsy typically is mostly makeup with the occasional skincare/haircare item. In the Allure box, it's always a mix of skincare/haircare and makeup and occasionally a fragrance. 
• It's packaged nicer. I always say that I wish Ipsy would get rid of the bag and add in another beauty product because most of the time I don't like the style of bag and to be frank, I have a crap ton of bags. In the Allure box, it definitely feels more fancy when you open it. I love the bright red box (which I reuse for storage!) and the crinkles and tissue add a nice touch, without being wasteful or excessive, unlike the Ipsy bags. 
• I like that they include the magazine which shows how much each item costs, how it's used, and why Allure likes it. That really helps when you get a product and you have no idea what it is! Plus, it's nice to see a price to show just how much your $15 stretched. 

Now onto the dislikes:

• Obviously, the biggest one is that it's $5 more expensive. Now, I actually don't really mind it because I feel like I am still getting more for my money. To me, the point of these subscriptions is to try things you normally wouldn't buy for yourself. With the Allure box, these are all brands that I could never afford to just buy at the store. 
• I don't really like that they include the fragrance sample as a 'sample'. These are typically free in any department store, so I don't see the point in including them. Now, if they were a bonus sample, that would be another story. I also never end up using them because I tend to be pretty picky with scents. But I will say my friends and family always end up with a billion samples! 

So there's my full review on the Allure box! I am excited to see what I will get next, and I will be sure to start documenting that on here if you'd like! Yes, I am going to show my August and September Ipsy bags (I still haven't gotten my Sept. bag but that's another story). I think I will continue with my Ipsy subscription another month and I will decide then which I will continue with. 

If you have any questions, don't be afraid to ask!

I'm not affiliated with either subscription service, and I actually pay with my own money. Although, now that you mention it, it'd always be nice to get free stuff ;) However, I do get credits if you subscribe to either service by clicking on the links to the left of my page and links in this post.