Essence Beauty Box Subscription Box Review – October 2015
Essence Beauty Box is a beauty subscription service geared for Women of Color (WOC). Each month, the Essence Magazine beauty team puts together a box to give you the opportunity to discover brand new products and Essence’s staple favorites.
My Subscription Addiction paid for this box. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes).
The Subscription Box: Essence Beauty Box
The Cost: $15 a month (Discounts available with 12-month subscription)
The Products: A variety of hair care, beauty, and lifestyle products
Ships to: US only
The insert card has a list of all the products included this month with tips! There’s also a note from the Beauty and Style Director. She states the theme of the inaugural box is “Finishing Touches for Fall”.
Curls Creme Brule Whipped Curl Cream – 2oz – Value: $3.00
I’ve tried Curls brand before and I love the way their products smell. This one smells so buttery and sweet like it should go on a cake. I’ve used it twice so far and I works just fine. It’s also free of sulfates, silicones and parabens. Win! I’d love to see more from this brand.
Eden Bodyworks Coconut Shea Leave-In Conditioner – 4oz – Value: $5.50
I see this brand in my local Sally’s and I’ve never tried it out. It smells like citrus and is also free of parabens and sulfates. It was just ok from my original use. It feel very watery. I’m going to give this another go in my kiddos looser curl patterns and see how it works.
L’Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream – 10ml – Value: $3.00
I see this brand in the mall and I’m sorry to say…not my favorite. Don’t hurt me, I know some people love this brand. I’m just not one of them. I’m so accustomed to using body oils, this just doesn’t do anything for me in terms of moisturizing. On a positive note, I’m using it on the kiddos post bath and it doesn’t leave behind a strong scent. I’m actually surprised that it’s not all gone yet. A little bit goes a long way.
Calvin Klein Eternity Now Rollerball – 3ml – Value: $7.00
OoohhYeah! This is what makes this box spectacular for me. This new scent from CK is really sweet and velvety. It reminds me of a summer night’s ball. I want to get all dolled up to wear it.
Tarte The Brow Architect in Deep – Full Size – Value: $23.00
I was so excited to compare this next to my ABH Brow Wiz. It didn’t compete. I really tried to love it. I’ve been wearing it all week and the applicator and brush are just too bulky. The definer color was an added bonus, but the color is too orange for an under brow highlighter. Either way, I’m going to use the brow color. I could probably use it in unison with the Brow Wiz in areas that I don’t need as much precision. Side Note: I could have sworn this was on sale at Sephora, but could only find it for sale at Tarte.
The Brow Architect Swatches
Sorry for the blinding arm swatches, I think I was too close to my lights. I swatched it on the box to show you how orange that definer powder really is.
Verdict: The inaugural Essence Beauty Box had an estimated retail value of $41.50!! That’s an amazing bargain. I was so excited to review this box and I’m really impressed with the brands they selected and the mixture of hair and beauty items. The curation is spot on, brows frame the face, the hair cremes revive your curls, etc, etc. I’m looking forward to next month’s box. I hope to see more perfumes, beauty tools, maybe even skin care since it is winter.
What did you think of the first Essence Beauty Box?! What brands would you like to see featured in the coming months?
Written by Celicia Gantz
I ordered the leftover ones when the box ended. I was excited to get the eyebrow pencil. It is hard as a rock! So disappointed!
Yeah, I couldn’t get it to work in the original box.
I really loved the Essence box. The perfume is really nice too; the scent last for a long time ?
LOVING THIS BOX . I have ipsy and BB .. If the next 2 boxes are amazing like this ONE .. this box maybe hard to give up !!!!
When I first saw the spoilers, I was excited for everything except the CK perfume. I’m not a perfume fan, but this smells really good! I’m looking forward to wearing perfume for the first time in my life lol. This was a nice curation and I hope Essence keeps it up. I cancelled my Ipsy sub for this box and I’m happy I did.
I was really happy with my box and I can’t wait for next month’s. I’m hoping it’ll fill all the voids major boxes like Birchbox and Ipsy has when it comes to providing products for WoC.
On another note, L’Occitane is definitely a “brand” brand. By that, I mean they have some of the most mediocre products that you start to feel like you bought them because it’s L’Occitane lol. I’ve tried a lot of their stuff because my old boss loves them and the only thing I found worth the money is their almond shower gel. That product is freaking amazing!
Just throwing it out there: I’m mexican, straight-fine hair and my children are of multi-ethnic. This box is perfect/a hit with me as the hair products will tend to be winners with my children & the other contents are across the board pleasing. The color combos they may send will likely compliment me as well as I have an olive complexion & black hair. Just some food for thought. I encourage non-woc (especially those with curly hair or a beautifully blended family) to give this box a 2nd look!
I love L’OCCITANE hand cream! A little does go a long way…
You have me wondering what that CK perfume smells like….
Interesting. I almost subbed for this, but didn’t because it’s marketed to WOC. I’m a curly girl, so I knew I’d want to try at least some of the hair products. Looks like the only thing that wouldn’t have worked is the brow color! And I’m one of those who loves that hand cream 😉 Will have to keep an eye on this box. Thanks for the review!
I use products for WOC because I have curly hair and the products work great
Just because you’re white doesn’t mean you should shy away from products targeting PoC. If we did that, we would rarely get anything for ourselves lol. I digress. If you have curly hair, you should stay ready to try hair products targeting us since many of us have similar (if not, the same) hair as you. Just saying.
Point taken…but as I said, I was interested in the hair products because I already use some of the same. However, there is no point in paying hard-earned $$ for a box that is likely to include cosmetics with inappropriate coloring for me (light hair, eyes, etc.). Especially with a brand new box, you don’t know what to expect! It was a positive comment.
I was excited to be able to get this box, and I was fortunate to get it at only $10! I was actually surprised that I loved the scent of the perfume, and the bodyworks leave-in conditioner on first try seems really nice, as it’s not oily. Though I’ve had this box over a week, I haven’t gotten to everything, but I cannot wait to see what Essence brings next month.
How did you do that? is there a coupon?
How did you get it for $10?
There was a coupon code for 5.00 off that initial box. I believe the code was BEAUTY. It worked for me also but idk if it is still valid. Give it a try!
Love every single item in my box!! I too can’t wait for next months box!! ? The Calvin Klein has a wonderful scent ????
Yes, great box 🙂 Love all of the different variations in beauty boxes.
Wow, pretty great deal. I’ve been using the NYX micro brow pencil and it’s an exact dupe for the ABH.
Nice review, brow architect has grown on me, I still love my brow zing from Benefit, the hair products were just what I needed and the Calvin Klein Rollerball is incredible, love the scent. I hope we get full size products in every box.
This looks like a great box, I love L’Occitane and Calvin Klein perfumes.