Allure Beauty Box is a monthly beauty subscription service that sends 5 deluxe sized product samples with a value of at least $50 and is curated by the editors of Allure Magazine, who choose and test the products themselves. It’s $15 a month and if you sign up for a year-long subscription you will pay for 10 boxes and get 2 more boxes for free. All new members will receive a $15 mystery gift that will ship separately from the regular box. Refer a friend and if they sign up, you will receive a full-sized Mally Volumizing Mascara!
DEAL: Sign up for the Allure Beauty Box and receive a free bonus gift – currently Lauren B. Beauty nail polish in Sunset Orange or Gel-Like Top Coat – PLUS save $5 off your first month’s box!
Allure is a magazine of course and so they produce a mini-magazine with all the featured items in the box.
The magazine lists each product, the MSRP of the full-sized product, and where you can find more.
The magazine also tells you how you can use the products in the box.
I received a card with a coupon code for a $20 gift towards a full-priced order at Baublebar.com.
About a year ago I received a bonus gift of fancy lip glosses from Marc Jacobs. This year I received a card saying that I had a special gift enclosed (no brand was given on the card so gifts may vary).
I received a pair of earrings from BaubleBar! They are gold-toned with two hoops.
My items were packed in the signature glossy red box and were tucked into white paper squiggles.
Everything in the box! Allure sent 8 items this month!!!
Feel Harmony Rose Petal Facial Mask ($16.17) I did as Allure suggested and placed this generous sample in my fridge before using on my face. It smells strongly of rose perfume and didn’t seem to do much for my skin, but it does list hyaluronic acid in the ingredients so it should draw moisture to my skin. I have enough product left for several more uses.
The Organic Pharmacy Antioxidant Lip Balm ($13.53) I am loving this lip balm, it smells so good, like oranges. I will be smoothing it on before bed every night and let the shea and cocoa butters do their softening job overnight. Rosehip oil is anti-inflammatory and may help reduce fine lines. I will say that for such a large tube this product felt rather empty.
OUAI Leave-In Conditioner ($4.65) It took me a while before I could even figure out how to open the lid (pull up HARD on the white dome, there is a sprayer under there). I skipped the in-shower conditioner and sprayed this into my hands 4 times. I rubbed my hands together before distributing the product through my hair. It was pretty perfumey but faded quickly and I was surprised to find that my hair didn’t fall flat after styling.
Sunday Riley Luna Retinol Sleeping Night Oil ($26.25) I’ve not tried many retinol products, I worry that they will be too harsh for my skin. This was an oil and just a couple of drops were enough for my skin. There was a note that said this product should NOT be used by pregnant women, and the rest of us should only use it at night to avoid being irritated and burned by the sun.
I was intrigued by the amazing blue color, which supposedly comes from blue tansy oil, but there are artificial dyes listed in the ingredients. My skin didn’t turn blue, it disappeared when I rubbed it in, but why must it be in there anyways? Dye has no therapeutic use for skin and can increase irritation. Overall, I didn’t like the scent or color enough to want to pay $105 for one ounce.
Olay Regenerist Whip Active Moisturizer ($7.63) wasn’t listed in the mini magazine but it was a bonus for all subscribers. Olay frequently shows up in Good Housekeeping Magazine as award winners and this product earned a 2018 Good Housekeeping Beauty Breakthrough Award.
It was light-weight and my skin absorbed it quickly. You know how the Luna oil had dye, which skin doesn’t really need? This product has fragrance, and again, it’s a no-go for me due to my sensitive skin. Most people probably aren’t bothered by dyes and fragrance, but those of us with rosacea say otherwise.
Derma-E Essentials Sun Protection Mineral Powder ($6.86) Ever since I saw the spoiler for this product months ago I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it! Thanks to that rosacea, I make sure to wear sunscreen every day (as everyone should, no matter your skin type or skin color). This product adds an extra layer of sunscreen but in powder form!
There was some info on the product when you open up the box.
You get some sun protection thanks to titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. Make sure to use your regular sunscreen first, it’s going to take a lot of product to get that much protection from a powder. Think of it as a booster to an insurance policy.
The sample comes with a sifter lid, and I made a mess. I also got it on my sink but wiped it up with tissue. As for the effect on my skin, it made me look luminous yet took away any shine. My skin looked better with this on. If you are serious about sunscreen then I would suggest getting the full-sized version of this product and sticking it in your bag or lunchbox or wherever, since sunscreen breaks down after two hours and that lotion you put on at breakfast is long gone by dinner. If you are heading out for a midday walk then touch up first with this powder or something similar.
Make Up For Ever Artist Color Pencil in Wherever Walnut ($8.94) is an eye, lip, and brow pencil and comes in a range of shades, although Allure only sent two variations (Full Red was the other shade subscribers may have received). I would say this shade is best used as a lip liner and wasn’t as brown as I was expecting it to be. I rubbed it all over my lips and went over it with a gloss (Smith & Cult The Shining Lip Lacquer in Marriage No. 2) and I was very happy with the results. Swatched below.
Doucce Ultra Precision Eyeliner in Blue ($9.99) Holy smokes, that’s a bright blue liner! I wish I had this around 30 years ago, no way I can wear it now. (Note: for testing purposes, I did wear it, and it smudged before the end of the day.)
Like the lip pencil, you can just sharpen with a standard sharpener when needed. It adds a bright pop of color to the eyes and can be used on just the inner corners or wear it all the way across.
Here are the lip (or eye or brow or cheek) and eye pencils swatched on my arm. Both of the tips broke while swatching, but that always seems to happen to me no matter the brand. I also swatched the powder but you can barely see it on the bottom there.
I always like getting the Allure Beauty Box because they send such a neat assortment of products. Sometimes I’m a bit let down because a product has added color or fragrance but I think it probably doesn’t bother most people, I just have sensitive skin. I LOVED the SPF powder, the lip balm is the bomb, and the lip liner turned out to be a surprise favorite this month. The value for all the items was around $94.02, not including the earrings or coupon for BaubleBar. I’m floored, what a huge value this month!
Have you tried Allure Beauty Box yet? What did you think of this month’s box? Let me know in the comments!
Comments
Debika, I agree, the scent was pretty strong and after using it for several nights my skin started acting up.
The Sunday Riley skin oil made the pores on my nose disappear after only 5 uses, but then i got lazy and didn’t use it for 3 nights in a row. Well, the pores are back. The oil has a strong odor that I thought smelled like tobacco. I think I’m done using it…. not that impressed, and it STINKS!