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 that 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.
This month’s theme presents a simplified K-beauty routine – only 5 steps! All products (that fit) are packed inside a mesh bag. Anything too big for the bag sits in the box.
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. The prices noted below are from 3b, unless noted otherwise.
Deep Pore Cleansing Soda Foam | Manyo Factory ($3.00): There has been a rash of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) infused cleansers coming out lately. This formula from Manyo Factory also contains Green Tea extract and Papaya fruit extract to gently cleanse your skin. I really like the scent of this cleanser – it is a blend of citrus and green tea. This did not irritate my skin and worked well to remove the day’s makeup. Be warned, the Green Tea lends a slight greenish/gray color to this.
Honey Cera Toner | Etude House ($3.00): The September 3b Box introduced me to the Honey Cera (click here for review). Products in this line are packed with honey extract, royal jelly extract, and ceramide which nourish dry, rough skin. This toner has a milky appearance and is a little thicker than most toners. It left my skin feeling soft and moisturized.
Anti-Aging Hydrator | Hado Labo Tokyo ($5.40 Mentholatum.com): This product was not available in the 3b shop. I received a full-sized bottle of this in another subscription earlier this year and like it. It’s in between a toner and lotion/cream. The directions for use have varied between sources, but according to the manufacturer, use this whenever a little extra hydration is needed. This can be combined with other products in your skincare routine or worn alone. As someone with combination skin (slightly oily), I prefer to use this as a moisturizer on its own. When I combine it with other products, my skin feels overly oily.
Honey Cera Emulsion | Etude House ($3.00): Another item from the Honey Cera line. Emulsions are lightweight moisturizers that boost the effectiveness of traditional moisturizers. These are great if you live in an area that is drier or has harsh winter conditions. Use this before your night cream for extra hydrated skin during the winter months.
Affinitic Snail Cream | Ladykin ($5.00): Let me just say it – how cute is this snail container (squee)!?! This cream contains 80% snail mucin filtrate which is packed with hyaluronic acid, glycoprotein enzymes, and antimicrobial properties. In a nutshell, this not only moisturizes skin, but also improves the appearance of fine lines, loss of elasticity, and uneven skin textures. The formula also has rosemary, chamomile, and tea tree extracts to soften the skin and keep it healthy.
Here’s me with a freshly washed, toned, and moisturized face. I’m ready to take on the day!
The November 3B Box has an approximate value of $20. I love that there was a unified theme this month and that each of the products worked together in a skincare routine. I’m excited to have 2 more products from Etude House’s Honey Cera line. I can use these with the ones from September to see how effective the line is as a whole.
Have you tried 3b yet? What are your favorite K-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.
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