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.
For February, 3b Box doesn’t really have a theme. Instead, they’ve given an offer for you to treat yourself to free shipping. They also didn’t send out the themed box, instead subscribers received their items in a bubble mailer with a 3b logo sticker.
All items come packed in a drawstring bag, and anything too big for the bag sits in the box/envelope.
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 (the card shows prices for full-sized items).
Chinese Rose Foaming Cleanser | WEI Beauty ($5.70 at WEIbeauty.com): This is a very creamy cleanser. It contains Chinese Rose to moisturize and soften skin. Vitamin C also protects and fights free radicals. I was a little leery of this since I am not a fan of rose scented items. Surprisingly, this cleanser has a muted floral scent. I think the Mandarin Orange helps to reduce the impact. According to the information card, this is good for all skin types but especially for oily/combination skin. I am happy to say that it left my face feeling very soft and hydrated. Use this with the DHC oil cleanser for a deep clean.
Squalene Restorative Mask | My Beauty Diary ($2): These masks can be found online at both Target.com and Walmart.com! My Beauty Diary has a host of mask formulas to treat a wide range of skin concerns. This formula is designed to treat dry and aging skin.
The back of the mask pack has information on the key ingredients.
Deep Cleansing Oil | DHC Care ($3.28): I usually steer clear of oil cleansers, but something made me want to try this one out. OK, I totally read an article that said oil cleansers are great for oily/combination skin because they help restore balance to skin that often gets stripped by harsh cleansers. This is a first step cleanser, meaning it is used to clean skin before a foaming or soapy cleanser. Using dry hands, apply this to a dry face to dissolve makeup and dirt. Then, rinse and follow with a traditional cleanser. This oil cleanser made short work of my makeup. It even lifted off a good amount of the waterproof mascara that my cleanser doesn’t get when used alone. Follow with the WEI Beauty foaming cleanser.
Madecera Cream | SkinRx ($3.60 at Ulta.com): Made with naturally fermented ceramide, this formula works to heal and repair damaged skin. This cream is a multi-tasker. It hydrates and reduces fine lines, uses Niacinimide to lighten dark spots, and uses madecassoside to soothe and calm irritations. I liked that it was lightweight and didn’t make my face feel greasy. This is pretty pricey, but luckily a little product goes a long way.
Jeju Volcanic Lava Nose Strips | TheFaceShop ($4): This is a 3-step system to remove blackheads and tighten pores. Step 1 melts oil, step 2 removes blackheads and dirt (traditional nose strip), and step 3 tightens pores and soothes skin. In total, it takes nearly an hour to go through all 3 steps. For me, that is a lot of time to invest so I’m saving this for a day when I have time to spare.
February’s 3b box contains nearly $19 in product. I am very happy with the two cleansers that I received, as well as with the SkinRx cream. Have you tried 3b yet? What was your favorite box item? Share a comment below with your thoughts.
As this review was being written, we learned that 3b Box had been acquired and was ending their subscriptions. For now, you can still get your Asian beauty fix and save 30% at the 3b Shop. Use code THIRTY to stock up on items and ease your sadness.
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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