Goodies from Glymm

Remember when you were a kid and goodie bags were handed out at every birthday party? Well, Glymm boxes are goodie bags for adults who love to try out new beauty products — and there's a party every month.

Every 30 days, a cute pink box arrives in your mailbox. Inside, tucked under tissue paper, is a note for you, and a card listing all the goodies inside, a short description of each item and the price of the regular-sized item. For $10 a month, subscribers receive four to five samples of different skin-care, makeup, fragrance and hair products. The selection gives you just a taste of the latest industry offerings from lines like Butter London, B. Kamins, Orlane and Principessa Beauty.

I was thrilled to find one of my favourite moisturizers in my Glymm box: John Masters Organics Blood Orange & Vanilla Body Milk. I also got to sample the matching body wash, Oscar de la Renta scent Esprit d'Oscar and Vasanti's Rockies Blush.

There were some products I didn't like much, but that's exactly the point. Glymm gives you the chance to dabble, to try new things and figure out what you like, without suffering a huge case of buyer's remorse.

The subscription is whimsical, personal and fun. it's the perfect gift for a "beauty queen," or for someone who likes the idea of receiving a special delivery in the mail each month isn't produce, cheese or a book.