The 3B Box April 2016 Subscription Box Review

3b, which stands for Beauty Beyond Borders, is a newer Asian cosmetics subscription.  For just $12/mo., you’ll receive a collection of 4-5 deluxe samples that are new or popular in Asia but hard to get your hands on.  Sample products range from go-to brands such as Lioele, Etude House and Skinfood to high-end premium brands like SK-II, Kanebo, and Sulwhasoo.  Between the 8th and 10th of each month, you’ll receive notification that your box has shipped. Also, find tips and more information on key ingredients through 3b’s social pages.

Inside my first 3b Box.  Similar to some other subscriptions, items are packaged in reusable bags.

Look at all the goodies the bag contained!

Everything all laid out.

The information card contains a brief description of the products and directions for use.  This is helpful if you are not fluent in the product’s native language.

Dermal Sea Cucumber Supreme Mask (WELCOME GIFT – $4.00 value):  This mask has collagen, arginine, alanine, and other ingredients that help combat aging and will brighten your skin.  It also contains refined sea snail serum to nourish, moisturize and lift.  I’ve used masks with snail serum in the past and liked how soft my skin felt afterwards.

Benton Honest Cleansing Foam ($0.64 based on price/g):  Various articles on this cleanser commented on its pH, which is ~8.  Based on this, several sources recommend this for oily skin; it may be too harsh for dry skin.  This has a soft floral scent and light foam.  I have normal to oily skin and felt this did a good job of removing my makeup at the end of the day.  I did experience a little bit of dryness, but my moisturizer took care of that.

Too Cool For School Egg Mellow Cream (???):  This is a 5-in-1 cream that can be used as a toner, serum, cream, eye cream, and mask.  It contains collagen fibers that are 98% pure.  After washing your face, apply the cream in place of your daily moisturizer.  I found this to be really rich, and each packet contains enough cream for your face and neck.  You can use this in the morning, but I preferred to use this as a night cream.  Lucky for me, or maybe not, but there was a week’s worth here.

It’s Skin Babyface Mini Love Eyeshadow – #10 Violet Perfume ($1.50):  The price for this shadow varied across sites.  This is a soft powder shadow that doesn’t leave a mess (think less shadow dust).  The finish is long-wearing, vibrant, and easy to build.  I only wish that I had gotten a shadow case too – it would have given me an excuse to buy more.

This is a quick swatch of the shadow that I did using my finger.

Botanic Farm Natural Energy Mask – rice ($2.00):  Rice is known for its rich fiber content which helps purify the skin while promoting a clear, trouble-free skin. It is also perfect for those with sensitive skin as rice also helps calm irritated skin while also minimizing redness and inflammation.  I’ve had some minor breakouts and used the mask to help calm my skin.  This mask left me feeling a little dry, but did help reduce some redness in my face.

La’dor Sleeping Clinic Ampoule ($1.17):  Another item whose price varied across sites.  If this looks familiar, it’s because it is.  I received this in another box back in February.  I couldn’t be happier to see this little tube!  It is a leave-in conditioner that is meant to be used at night.  I really like the clean scent and the softness and manageability it imparts in my hair.

The prices that I listed for each item were on the lower end of the scale; as noted, there were varying prices depending on the site visited.  So, my value for the 3b Box is around $6, which is lower than the cost of the subscription, but also does not factor in shipping costs from the different sites.  However, if you use the median prices from around the web, you come to a value which is more in line with $12.  I feel the team at 3b did a nice job of curating products, especially since I liked them all.  I can’t wait to see what they’ll send out next.

On a Side Note:  Before trying any Asian cosmetics subscription, expect that most information on the package will be in the native language.  That said, more and more brands are including directions/ingredients in English, and information can also be found in English on the majority of brands’ websites (you may have to choose a brand’s global or US site).  Secondly, a large number of products focus on brightening or whitening the skin.  As a person of color, I have not seen my skin color change.  Instead, I’ve experienced that my skin tone gets evened out after prolonged use.  However, your results may be different.  And lastly, many products contain ingredients which are animal-derived, so these may not be an option if you are vegan.  You can also check out cosDNA.com to see if the ingredients for the product are listed there.
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