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3B Box Subscription Box Review – June 2016

Nancy Su
ByNancy SuJun 28, 2016 | 16 comments

3B-Box-June-2016-Box

The 3B Box
4.2 overall rating
23 Ratings | 1 Reviews

3B Box is a monthly subscription box that helps you discover popular Asian beauty products.

My Subscription Addiction paid for this box. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)

3B-Box-June-2016-First-Look

3B-Box-June-2016-Contents

The Subscription Box: 3B Box

The Cost: $12 per month + free shipping

The Products: 4-5 sample- and full-size Asian beauty products

Ships to: USA only

Check out all our 3B Box reviews and the Beauty Subscription Box Directory!

Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!

3B-Box-June-2016-Info

Each baggie comes with an info card detailing the month's selection.

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PurpleTale 5 Steps to Lovely Skin - $7.99

Wow! There is a whole 5-step skincare routine sealed in here. PurpleTale is a new brand to me too. Overall I love this line's fragrance and non-stickiness.

1. Cleanser: This cleanser smells pleasantly like generic hand soap and made my face squeaky clean. I might even say too squeaky clean-- I could feel a large friction between my hands and face when trying to wash it off.

2. Ampoule: I applied this gel-like ampoule dreading the stickiness that usually comes with viscous ampoules. To my surprise it dried to a matte finish and was not sticky at all! It didn't smell like much and felt hydrating.

3. Sheet Mask: This is either a hydrogel or bio cellulose sheet mask! The mask is a two-piece cling wrap-like gel that adheres to the skin like-- you guessed it-- cling wrap. It smells really nice and the essence, although thick, doesn't leave my face sticky afterwards.

4. Face Cream: This is a normal-looking white face cream with that same delicious fragrance. It left my face a little tacky but highly moisturized.

5. Neck Cream: The delicious fragrance strikes again! I can't get enough. This neck cream looks the same as the face cream. It absorbs nicely and doesn't leave my neck sticky.

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Milky Dress Premium Brightener samples - $2?

You know how I say that Korean "whitening" products typically mean brightening? Well this time it's the complete opposite. This brightener is actually a whitening cream. Its main purpose is to lighten skin tone. While this may be a bestseller in South Korea, I doubt whitening products are fashionable in the States. 3B Box may not have done enough research on the US demographic here (but this is only my opinion).

Anyway, this cream is actually pretty nice. It has a pleasant smell, absorbs quickly, and leaves no sticky residue. In the photo below, my left hand has no product on it and my right hand has a thin layer of Brightener applied. The lightening effect looks very pronounced in this photo but the contrast is much more subtle in real life. Also, when applied to my face, the cream seems to brighten my skin from within, without that white cast effect. That's nice. At the end of the day, though, I don't need face whitening products so this will only be used on my hands.

It's Skin Todak Todak Pack Nutrition - $3.50

I received this in a Mishibox before. It's a wash-off mask that contains manuka honey and coconut extract to smooth, calm, and moisturize skin. You can get several uses out of the little tub. I really like the honey consistency and smell-- it looks and smells like something you should be smearing on toast. It took some effort to wash the mask off my face but left my face feeling smooth and plump afterwards.

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My left hand is bare and my right hand has the Milky Dress Premium Brightener.

Mirai Clinical Body Spritzer - $14

Mirai Clinical is a Japanese brand; I've never heard of it before! This full-size body spritzer has Japanese persimmon extract to keep the body smelling fresh. It was also apparently presented to Oscar nominees earlier this year. The Mirai Clinical website describes this as a deodorant spray so I sprayed this under my arms. The scent is kind of overwhelming but I think it indeed eliminates some body odor. That, or the spray is so overpowering I can't smell anything else anymore.

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Skinfood Black Sugar Serum Light - $7.75

This is a watery serum that contains black sugar and traditional Korean wine. It doesn't smell like much, just a little bit sweet. Since it's watery the serum absorbs very quickly and leaves my skin smooth, soft, and a little extra hydrated. Even though I don't see any changes to my skin I still like it a lot.

Verdict: This month was great! I think 3B Box has really improved their curation from a couple months ago. Even though I think the Milky Dress cream is a little strange for the US demographic, I enjoyed trying all the products. My favorites are the PurpleTale Lovely Skin mask set and the Skinfood serum. Total value is an estimated $35.24, which is super for a $12 box. I hope 3B Box keeps going in this direction!

What do you think of 3B Box?

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Each box contains a collection of deluxe samples that are new or popular in Asia but hard to get your hands on. The products will change each month, and you’ll get to try new skincare, haircare, nailcare, and cosmetic products. Sample products range from go-to brands such as Lioele, Etude House and ... read more.
Nancy Su
Nancy Su
Nancy began her subscription box adventure in 2014 and never looked back. She loves Asian beauty and is constantly in search of skincare holy grails. She hoards lipsticks. Her favorites are beauty, lifestyle, and jewelry subscriptions.

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16 comments

Liv

I am sorry that one of the commenters was offended by the skin whitener. I hope that 3B Box sends her a substitute. On the other hand, I am really enjoying the Milky White Brightener. Since it is essentially a k-beauty/Asian beauty box, I don’t think the product represents a grander scheme to marginalize women of color. As an Asian-American female, I also often feel marginalized in the U.S., and am glad that this box exists and caters to my preferences.

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vanelion

They use to send full sized items >.< I like the curation and the fresh brands I have yet to discover, however, they need to stop sending 5-7 sample packets in the subscription! Seriously! It has been 3 straight months…

In April we got : 7 Too Cool For School Egg Mellow Cream samples. In May we got: 5 of the Sulwhasoo Essential Firming Cream. Now June we get: 7 Milky Dress Premium Brightener! what is their deal? I would like at least like to get 1 bigger item than several samples of the item.

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Hi

Just wanted to clarify that brightening and whitening products are meant to lighten up and fade away dark spots, scars, hypermentation, etc… not to turn you white.

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Barbie

I’m confused.

On the website linked to this review, it appears to lighten the overall appearance of the skin of the model featured, and on the card in this month’s 3B mailing, it states that this cream is “…a quick and nature fix for lightening skin tone…”. I’ve seen reports that skin lightening products can have negative consequences on your skin in the long term. On the other hand, I’ve used creams specifically made to target and lighten scars and discolorations for years without any problems.

I love 3B over all, but I’m giving this product a miss. I’m not sure how I feel about 3B adding it into a US beauty box. I guess there are subscribers who this product will appeal to, but I’m sure based on the description on their card that this product’s not for me.

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Nancy Su

Hello~ both of you are correct, sorry if I wasn’t too clear in the review:

Typically in K-beauty “brightening/whitening” is another way of saying they lighten dark spots or fade hyperpigmentation. However, with the Milky Dress Premium Brightener, the cream intentionally lightens skin tone.

Lina

The Milky White cream is rather offensive. WOC are often marginalized by beauty boxes as colors sent out are not particularly flattering, but an actual cream that lightens skin crosses the line. Let’s be clear: everyone has received a color that doesn’t work for them in beauty boxes…it’s part of the gamble. However, It’s much different for WOC who are systematically left out. I’m emailing them to request an alternative product, and may cancel over this.

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Nancy Su

To clarify, whitening cream (and in the bigger picture, skin lightening) is popular amongst Asian cultures and “paler skin” has been culturally desirable for a very long time. It isn’t meant to offend women of color; it seems they included this because it’s a popular product in S Korea. However, an argument can be made against 3B Box choosing the cream for a US demographic– that is something they can receive feedback on and change 🙂

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Dayan

Totally agree with Nancy Su. I think it’s definitely a cultural thing. Ppl in Asia mostly consider ladies with “whiter, lighter” skin tone (esp face) as beauty, at least last time I checked it’s still a standard. Brands like estee lauder even has a special line for “whitening” over there. Since 3B is a sub specialized in Asian popular products, I guess it’s just unavoidable to see many of this kind of items. It’s like tanning/bronzing is a major focus here (esp in summer) but definitely not in Asia lol

carey

I’m sure they arent deliberately discounting WOC, but in reality I am white and the skin brightening stuff doesnt appeal to me either! lol I can see your point though, 99% of sub boxes ignore a huge demographic like yourself and it seems odd to me that no one has embraced the “niche” for WOC other than the what, 2 beauty boxes tailored that way? Just seems like a huge market they could grab if they looked at things just a little differently.

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Luna

I can think of four beauty boxes that specifically target WOC (Essence, We Are Onyx, Cocotique, and Godes Beauty…. I think Product Junkie may also be one of them… they used to be under Hype Hair). And, there are at least five hair boxes targeting WOC (Curl Kit, Curl Box, My Curls Understood, The Hair Show Box, and one more that I can’t remember). There could be more, as these are just the ones I can think of right now.

Lina

I’m Latina, so I am fortunate to have many foundation options, as I’m about a 30/35 give or take, and can wear N6 in L’Oreal. Many WOC are not so fortunate. I’m happy to give my money to brands that actually have foundation ranges like MAC, Bobbi Brown, L’Oreal, etc. The skin whitening stuff is just such a poor idea.

Kathy

Is this box still available for purchase??

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Nancy Su

I believe signing up now would get you next month’s box!

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Jamie Whitney

I was thinking of trying the milky dress cream as an under eye brightener and see if that works for me.

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