3B Box Subscription Box Review – August 2016

3B, which stands for Beauty Beyond Borders, is an Asian cosmetics subscription.  For just $12 per month, 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.

All products (that fit) arrive neatly packed in a mesh bag.

My August 3b bag!

How cute is the information card!?!  And I love that 3b is supporting our individuality with this saying – Be your own kind of beautiful. The 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.

Leaders 7 Wonders Amazonian Acai Anti-Pollution Mask ($6.00):  This is a bio-cellulose mask and has a somewhat gel consistency.  It is sandwiched between 2 protective sheets, so make sure to remove those before applying.  I really like Leaders masks and based on the ingredients, I think this will be a winner too!  It contains acai, an antioxidant, to fight free radicals.  It also has one of my favorite skin care products – witch hazel.

Goodal Waterest Lotus Water Cleansing Water Tissue ($7.99):  I am always happy to receive cleansing wipes.  These contain lotus water extract to clean and moisturize the skin.  They were gentle on my skin and had a light floral scent.  My only complaint is that they didn’t completely remove my eye makeup.

Etude House Age Defense Essential Softener ($2.76):  Softeners boost the effectiveness of moisturizers/emulsions by delivering moisture to the deeper levels of your skin.  After cleansing and toning, apply the softener to skin and follow with your moisturizer.  I have normal to oily skin and was worried that this would leave me with an oil slick on my face.  Boy, was I happily surprised by this product!   I used this with the Tony Moly emulsion and with my regular moisturizer.  My skin felt more moisturized, and my T-zone shine seemed to be better controlled than when I use moisturizer alone.  Another Etude House item on my “like” list.

Tony Moly Floria Nutra-Energy Emulsion ($1.00 approx.):  Emulsions are lighter, non-sticky face moisturizers.  These are preferred during the warmer and more humid summer months.  This formula from Tony Moly claims to have anti-wrinkle and skin firming properties.  However, I found this difficult to test – I could barely get it out of the bottle.  The bottle is extremely small and made of hard plastic.  I had to push a cotton swab into it to get enough out to use.

Hera Waterin Gel Serum ($3.00 approx.):  Hera is a line from the Korean cosmetics giant Amore Pacific.  This serum contains Pinitol, a natural ingredient harvested from the carob plant.  Pinitol is very resistant and works to maintain/improve hydration of the skin.  I preferred to use this before bed and noticed my skin felt more supple in the morning.

The August 3B Box is estimated to be around $21 – almost double the cost of a single box.  I liked that this month’s items worked together so well:  cleanse with the tissues, use the mask, follow with softener and emulsion, and finish with the gel serum.  The Leaders mask and Etude House Essential Softener were my favorite items this month.  How about you?  Have you tried 3b yet?  What are your go to Asian beauty products?  Share a comment below with your thoughts.

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.

Visit 3B Box to subscribe or find out more!