For a long time, I had been wanting to try Birch Box, but they don’t ship to Canada.
So you can imagine how giddy I became when I had the opportunity to try out the Loose Button Luxe Box (October edition). It’s Canadian and has the same concept as Birch Box, but a different look! 😀
What is the Luxe Box? A monthly subscription service by Loose Button. You get a beautiful box with 4-5 deluxe-sized beauty products.
They have monthly ($12) , quarterly ($36), and yearly ($120) subscription options, and the shipping is free.
(Edit: I just signed up to receive the next available box, and it’s $12 + tax, which comes out to a total of $13.56 CAD.)
You don’t get to choose the items in your box, so it’s a surprise.
In this post, I’ll be reviewing my impression of the Loose Button Luxe Box and not the beauty products themselves because if you sign up for this service, you won’t be getting this October box and your products will be different. But do let me know if there’s an item you would like a separate review on and maybe I’ll do a future post on it.
Loose Button Luxe Box Pictures
Cute logo, right?
Box has a sleeve-style cover
I blanked out the coupon code because I didn't think it was right for me to share this when it may be a special offer especially for people who buy the Luxe Box. Sorry!
As this month's special thank you, they actually included a full-sized 14 mL (0.5 fl. oz.) China Glaze Oxidized Aqua Crackle polish! It was perfect because I didn't already have this colour. 🙂
Lise Watier Plumpissimo Le Gloss in Opalescence (1.5 mL/0.05 fl. oz.)
Kerastase Elixir Ultime (5 mL/0.16 fl. oz.)
Olay Professional Pro-X Eye Restorative Complex (size not listed, but it's like a MAC Lipglass, but a bit narrower)
Lise Watier Flash Lift Radiance Vial (1 mL/0.03 fl. oz.)
Claims: TRUSTED
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- Box contains 4-5 deluxe-sized samples of beauty products
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- Comes in a chic box
Key Notes
- Name: Loose Button Luxe Box (October edition)
- What You Get in Each Month’s Box: 4-5 deluxe-sized samples
- What I Paid: Nothing! (This was sent to me by the company.)
- Where to Sign Up for a Subscription: Loose Button website
Loose Button Luxe Box Review
Company Name
I don’t usually comment on a company’s name, but for this I had to. Hehe, ‘loose button’ reminds me of when you say that someone has a ‘loose screw’. No idea if that’s what they meant, but I like it and it made me giggle.
Box Packaging
It comes shipped in a sturdy cardboard box. Inside is the actual black Luxe Box. When I first saw it, I was really impressed because of how sleek (and indeed luxe) it looked with the black minimalist design.
The cover is a sleeve that can be slid off to open the box. On the top is the cute Loose Button logo of a button held up by a ribbon that makes it look like a whimsical ornament. The sides say “LUXE BOX”.
Personalized Cards
When I opened it, I was so excited to see a personalized, thick golden card that said “TO MARY” and “SWATCH AND LEARN”! I could already tell that personalization is a really important element for this company.
On the back of the card is a little message from Ray Cao, the Loose Button founder. It’s also personalized and starts off with “Mary”. 🙂 I like these little touches instead of just a generic, nameless card. Anyway, the message says that this month they’ve completely changed the box design. I don’t know what it looked like before, but now it’s really dark and sophisticated.
There’s also a card folded in half containing information about the October edition’s contents. Again, the beginning is personalized and starts off with “Dear Mary”. Part of me is half hoping that they’ll screw up my name somewhere along the way and put “Marv” (but they didn’t). And, believe it or not, back in my last year of high school when I went to the university fair, I filled out a form to get more information about the psychology program and they sent me a package…addressed to “Marv” instead of “Mary”. 😛
Going back to this information card: It says how as a special token of their appreciation, they’ve included a full-size nail polish instead of the usual deluxe-sized sample.
For all of the products in the box, they include the name and some information, as well as how much a full-size version costs. I think this is great in case you end up really loving the sample and want to buy a regular size of it.
I also got an exclusive “Dealuxe” discount card for this month only with a special coupon code to save money. Even that had my name on it! 🙂 I’m getting a big head and feeling so special because of the personalization. 😛
Unwrapping the Box Further
The inside of the box is also black and lined with white Loose Button logos in a tiled fashion. Almost gothic, which I love.
There’s black tissue paper and then a black sticker seal that says “MADE FOR Mary”. Aww…more personalization? This is so cool because it feels like you’re getting a gift from a dear friend who has put a lot of thought and effort into making sure it looks just right. I really appreciate it when people pay close attention to detail.
Opening that up, I found 5 beauty products taking a nap on a bed of black accordion-folded strips of paper. Yeah, no ugly packing peanuts or air-filled bags! YAY!
The Products
October’s box had 1 nail polish, 1 lip gloss, 2 skincare items, and 1 haircare product. I think this is a good mix, although just because I’m a nailphile, I would go absolutely crazy if Luxe Box had all nail polishes…hehe! 😉
I know that I’ll be using the polish, the lip gloss, and the hair serum. But the skin stuff, I’ll probably see if my mom wants them the next time I visit her.
Value
Overall, I think that the price is reasonable. You’re getting slick packaging and a personal touch, plus a few products to try. This is good if you like being introduced to new and unexpected beauty products.
Yes, it’s a little bit of a gamble, though. You may get good products but that are just not of your preference. And since you can’t pick exactly what you’d like, the worst-case scenario is that all products strike out with you.
This is suitable for those who have a bit more disposable income. But, if you’re on a strict budget and want to only buy what you need and will use, I don’t think Luxe Box is appropriate for you.
Product Brands
Each month’s box is filled with different products from different brands. On Loose Button’s website, they list some brands that they’ve included in the boxes or that have been requested. Here are a few they mentioned: Dermalogica, Lancome, Benefit, Stila, Clinique, Ahava, MoroccanOil, and Cheeky Monkey.
Subscription Rates
As I mentioned earlier, they have 3 different subscription options and free shipping:
- Monthly (1 month) – $12
- Quarterly (3 months) – $36
- Yearly (12 months) – $120
You could very well just test it out to see how you like it with just one box, but the yearly option gives you a bit of a discount.
(Edit: I just signed up to receive the next available box, and it’s $12 + tax, which comes out to a total of $13.56 CAD.)
Pros
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Cons
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Final Verdict: 9/10
I was very impressed by Loose Button’s Luxe Box. I can really tell that they put a lot of thought into the design of everything. And I was thrilled to get this chance to try it out and share my thoughts on it with all of you. A lot of times Canadians get the short end of the stick, so it’s nice to see that we have our own Birch Box alternative. 🙂
The only reason why I didn’t give them a perfect score is because of the randomness factor.
I’m going to sign up and purchase one box later…probably for the December edition so it’s like a little Christmas gift to myself. 🙂 Or maybe in the New Year to celebrate a fresh start.
Would you try Luxe Box out? Do you like beauty surprises? Or do you prefer knowing exactly what you’re getting?
I would love to have such a service around here unfortunately they always “forget” to include Belgium. I wouldn’t mind to get random products, I think this way you can discover lots of new products you’d never try out or never even heard of. That box looks really luxurious, I really like the sleek design 🙂
Hey Elyne!
Aww…sorry to hear that. But you never know. Maybe a local company will start a service like this.
I like how personal they are! Very nice. Your own sticker! lol I have heard very good things about the Olay Pro-X line. I’ve tried a face wash which was nice but not any of the moisturizers. Hope you will review!
Erin recently posted: NOTD
Hey Erin!
Yeah, other than address labels, this is my first personalized sticker! (I was such a nerd about opening the tissue paper, too. I peeled the sticker gently so it wouldn’t rip.)
Hmm…the Olay Pro-X product I got, I’ll most likely be giving to my mom, and if she does try it for a while, maybe I can just interview her and then put together a little review to share her experiences with you.
I’m a sucker for personalized things, so brownie points for this company 🙂
Pauline recently posted: Zoya Nina w/ Gold Stripes
Hey Pauline!
And Loose Button was totally ballin’ when it came to personalized things. It really makes you feel like they care about their customers. 🙂
I signed up for this based on a twitter review, just a few hours ago. Excellent timing on your review! I like getting surprises in the mail, so I am looking forward to the November box. I also figure, if there is something I don’t want, I have lots of people I can share the items with. Sharing is as good as receiving. Thanks for the review!
mellinail recently posted: My Animal Jewelry
Hey mellinail!
Yes, that is spectacular timing indeed! 🙂 Ooohh, you’ll have to tell me what’s in the November box when you get it. I’ll be so curious!
And you make a great point – sharing is as good as receiving. 😀 Sometimes, it makes you feel even better than getting it yourself.
Mary! How did I never hear of Loose Button?! I think this would be really fun to even use as a filler blogpost … I am sooo not into beauty products, but with my uhem aging, it might be good to branch out and learn /try a thing or two…
It’s funny how you really enjoyed the personalized touch, because to tell you the truth, I got really giddy for you when I saw your name on there.
I remember a LOOOONG time ago, I used to work at Tim Hortons (actually really liked the job)… but there was this Saturday lady who, despite my very-visible nametag, would always ALWAYS call me Burtha!? Marta = Burtha?! I didn’t ask why, but I cringe at the thought… lol
Marv would be cute 😉
Hey Marta!
Haha, I laughed out loud when you said “but with my uhem aging”! You’re. Not. Old! You can say that when you’re 90…but I still may say the same thing in reply.
Yeah, it’s amazing how some personalization can make such a big difference, especially since today most customers remain “nameless”. And, if we want to get a little philosophical, a lot of people we walk by each day are also like “nameless” people. So it’s nice for Loose Button to acknowledge how we are all unique people and people who are worth this extra effort.
I didn’t know you worked at Tim Hortons! You must’ve loved smelling the donuts all day…YUM! Or…did you not want to eat any because you smelled it a lot? (I know that can happen…how unfortunately.)
BURTHA! Oh my gosh! Hahahahhahaha! That’s hilarious. Do you think she maybe did that as a joke? Or was she really serious about the whole thing? If she misread your name, the closest thing I could think of would be Martha. Burtha is a bit of a stretch.
Well, thanks once again for leaving me such a sweet comment, Burtha! I mean, Marta!
I love the personalization and all the little details that they really made sure to get right (unfortunately, except the shipping tag!). 😉 But the full sized product was a one time deal only, right? And essentially, you’re paying $12 a month for a box of samples? I’m a little skeptical since I’m of the mind set that samples should always be free. But I find the concept interesting enough that I wish they had a discounted price for the Quarterly subscription (it’s no different than getting a Monthly subscription for 3 months! Best deal is to go yearly where you save $24. But that’s a huge commitment.) What are the cancellation options like? If you sign up for yearly and halfway through you change your mind, would you be able to get your money back on the remaining months? Also, how are they better than Glymm (out of curiosity, as I’ve also heard of them)? Sorry about all the questions! I’m really interested to sign up, but I like to know all my options before I shell out hard earned cash. 🙂
Carmela recently posted: Nail Art Wednesday: Special Birthday Nails Part 4, Piggy Nails
Hey Carmela!
The shipping is free. The $12 pays for the products you get. Yes, the full-sized product was a one-time-only thing, but they might do it again as a little thank you again. Their company is built on surprises, hehe, so I wouldn’t put it past them.
The samples are deluxe-sized, which are different than the small freebie samples you usually can get from counters. Also, some of the samples they contain actually cost a lot of money in their full-sized form, so the sample actually is a pretty good value. 🙂
I understand you wanting a discount on the 3-month subscription. As for the yearly option, I still think it’s a good deal if you can afford it. Sure, you save a bit, but I don’t think they’d be able to knock down the price too much. Personalizing so many things can be pretty time-consuming and therefore also expensive on their part. And, of course, the customer in the end is paying for this personalization. But it’s this attention to detail that I think many people are willing to pay for.
I’ve never tried Glymm. If you sign up, please come back and let me and my readers know. I’m also curious!
As for the cancellation question you had. All I know is that they don’t charge any cancellation fees, but I suggest going to their website and e-mailing them your question so that someone from the company can give you accurate information.
Hope that helps! 🙂
Thanks, Mary! I do want to try one of these samples. Always nice to have some mail love! 🙂 I’m just a little worried about them charging my card every month as I’ve had a bad experience with something like that before (I tried to cancel a service I signed up for several times, but my card still kept getting charged. I ended up canceling the card just to make it all stop!).
Thanks again, I will just try to get in touch with them directly. 🙂
Carmela recently posted: Nail Art Wednesday: Special Birthday Nails Part 4, Piggy Nails
Hey Carmela!
Oh no! Sorry to hear that you had such a bad experience with another company. That wasn’t very professional of them at all. What a hassle for the customer to have to cancel the card altogether!
Hey there Carmela!
My name is Yasmin and I’m the community manager at Loose Button. I’d love to answer all your questions for you so you get a better idea of our company. When you sign up with us, cancelation is free, as Mary has said, and all you’d have to do so that your subscription isn’t automatically renewed is email us in and let us know you’d like to cancel and it’s as easy as 1,2,3 🙂
When you subscribe for the yearly membership, we don’t do refunds, so you would pay upfront (all our payments are upfront) the $120+tax (depending on your province). If you decide to cancel midway through, you’d still get all the boxes you paid for but the renewal gets canceled.
If you have any other questions you would like me to answer then please let me know, or email me at yadham@loosebutton.com and I’ll be happy to answer your questions for you!
– Yasmin
Hey Yasmin!
Thanks for stopping by and clarifying this for Carmela and other readers who may have had the same questions. 🙂
You and I got the exact same box this month. I’ve already tried the polish – very pretty over black! I’m getting a Glymm box next month for the first time.
Hey Nicole!
Nice – could you come back and let me and my readers know what you think about the Glymm box in comparison to the Luxe Box? Carmela showed some interest, and I’d love to hear about your experiences, too!
Interesting combo of products. I’ven never tried these gift subscriptions before but I assume loose button is similar to Julep? It’s really sweet that they personalize your box, but I can’t see myself paying 12 dollars a month for some *surprise* samples (even if they’re deluxe). I might be more interested if I could choose my own gift set.
My mum (who’s a microbiologist) works for a biomedical company in the states that specializes in skincare. Their formulas are used in Olay, Neutrogena ..etc. That means I, as her only daughter, gets bombarded with samples everytime I see her. You could say she is sort of like my Loose Button supplier. Here’s what I mean:
http://i43.tinypic.com/akhetj.jpg
http://oi43.tinypic.com/161j6dg.jpg
(These are samples I haven’t even touched yet. Was going to show u my bathroom, but that might have been too disgusting! lol)
You gotta see her basement. There’s everything from men’s shaving cream to sensitive skin laundry detergent! LoL!! Hey, maybe I should start my own gifting business. Would you like to be my first customer?
Hey Vivian!
Haha, I don’t blame you for not wanting to get in on this when you have your own treasure trove of free samples! 😛 That’s pretty cool. Wow, your mom is STOCKED UP! Hahahaha, yes, you should start your own business. I’d sign up as long as polish is involved! 😉
Now that I saw the topbox post I think topbox is better… I also say Glymm at another blog, I can not decide which one to buy, I do prefer makeup over nail polish and cosmetics… What would you suggest?
Hey again Karinny!
I’ve never tried Glymm, so I really can’t truthfully say which is better. With Topbox, though, you may not necessarily get more makeup than nail polish. Each month is a surprise. You may get polish or you may not. That’s part of the fun!