Essence Beauty Box August 2016 Subscription Box Review

The Essence BeautyBox theme for August is Fab & Fuss-Free!  This month’s products will help you achieve an effortless look.  Essence BeautyBoxes are curated by their trusted beauty experts and deliver 5 luxe samples to your door each month starting at $15 for a single box.  For recurring 6 or 12 month subscriptions, the price drops to $12.50 per box.  You’ll have the opportunity to test some of the latest and most innovative products, as well as proven favorites.  Additionally, to honor and support beauty entrepreneurship in the Black community, Essence BeautyBox also strives to feature a product from a Black-owned business in each box.

The information booklet contains a note from the Essence BeautyBox Team explaining the theme, as well as information on each item and the Essence beauty editors who chose it and why.  

Hey Gorgeous!

Who says you need a treasure trove of products to look fierce?  Remember that less is more, especially if the summer sun has exhausted your hair and skin.   A beauty routine should be rooted in healthy habits, so now’s the time to get back to basics and revamp your look.

This month’s box is the definition of effortless beauty.  Whether you use them all together or individually, each product brings you one step closer to looking “fab and fuss-free”.  Don’t forget to show us how you’re using these hand picked favorites using the #EssenceBeauty hashtag.

Until Next Time,

The ESSENCE BeautyBox Team

The August Essence BeautyBox.

Skin & Co. Roma Hand Cream – Umbrian Truffle and Citrus Amaro($4.00 each): Recharge your skin with these freshly scented, ultra-soothing hand creams.  The Shea Butter and Sweet Almond Oil will protect and renew your skin.  Umbrian Truffle imparts the warm and complex notes of fig, while Citrus Amaro has lingering notes of lavender and orange.  The natural Italian ingredients will leave your hands feeling nourished all day long!  I can always use a good hand cream.  These formulas are very rich and creamy.  They do take a little bit to absorb but leave your hands feeling super soft.  Plus, the scents are mild and not overpowering.

Nudestix Magnetic Eye Color – Night ($24.00):  I think the value of the pencil I received is a little lower; mine did not come in the tin case or with the sharpener as shown in the link.  An über long wearing eye shadow pencil that highlights, provides intense color, precise lining and primes lids for all day wear.   A soft and super gliding, easy to blend, eye color with even payoff that is waterproof and long wearing. Ideal for oily lids, these fun and sassy touch n’go makeup stix provide a quick and easy ‘nude look, but better’ for all faces in all places.  This lives up to its definition of long wearing.  I felt like once this was in place, it was a little hard to blend.  I have small eyes, and black/dark shadows tend to make them look smaller, so this will be used more as an eyeliner and not a shadow.

SweetSpots Wipes – Neroli Mandarin, Grapefruit Verbena, and Vanilla Blossom ($0.43 each):  “Instantly refresh your sweet spot and body after a workout, a night out, during your period or pre & post bikini wax.  Made by women, for women, these convenient and refreshing wipes use good for you aloe, cucumber, pineapple and cranberry extracts. Fresh, fabulous, simple — that’s the SweetSpot Labs difference.  A little pick-me-up for when you’re not feeling your freshest.”  Toss these in your bag so that you have them at the ready.

Eden BodyWorks Coconut Shea Cleansing Cowash ($3.74):   I’ve used this co-wash before, and it wasn’t my favorite. You can read my previous review by clicking here.  Maybe this time will be different.  I would have preferred the Hi-Pro-Pac Keratin Replenish Masque that some subscribers received.

Camille Rose Coconut Water Leave-in Treatment ($3.50):  Coconut water leave-in treatment has a silky texture that combines coconut water with penetrating natural oils to provide maximum moisture and shine in a lightweight, non-greasy formula.  I can’t wait to try this out.  This all-natural conditioner has a ton of great ingredients such as coconut water, shea butter, flax and grape seed oils, green tea extract, and love.  Other subscribers received Oyin Handmade Hair Dew Daily Quenching Hair Lotion.

There was also a coupon for Nubian Skin.  If you’ve never heard of Nubian Skin, they produce lingerie and hosiery in nude tones suitable for women of color.

The August Essence BeautyBox had an estimated value around $41; nearly 3 times the cost of a single box!  However, more than half the value was just the Nudestix pencil.  I loved the Skin & Co. Roma hand creams. They were definitely my favorite items in the box.

What did you get in your Essence Beauty Box  this month?  Did you get the alternate hair care products?  If so, how did they work for you?  Leave a comment below to share your thoughts.

Visit Essence Beauty Box to subscribe or find out more! Use code HELLO10 to save 10% on your subscription!