Allure Beauty Box is a $23 monthly beauty subscription from Allure Magazine. Each month they send out a mix of deluxe and full-size samples from mostly high-end brands. (It was named one of the best beauty subscription boxes by MSA readers in the 2022 Subscription Box Awards.) Each year, they release a limited edition best of beauty box featuring products that won Allure's best of beauty awards.
This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we review boxes.)
First Impressions
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The box arrives beautifully packaged in the classic Allure white and red box.
What's Inside This Limited Edition Box from Allure
Biossance Squalane + Marine Algae Eye Cream, 0.5 oz - Retail Value $56
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Biossance is a brand I will always get excited about seeing in a box- most of the products from them that I have tried I have fallen in love with. Plus, they were an industry leader in getting manufacturers away from using shark liver-derived squalane oil and promoting the benefits of squalane derived from sugarcane! This eye cream features their signature squalane along with marine algae and paracress extract, and the formula works to nourish and firm the delicate skin around your eyes while also hydrating any fine lines and wrinkles. It didn't leave a film behind, either- it really felt like my skin absorbed every drop of it.
Carbon Theory Facial Cleansing Bar, 3.5 oz - Retail Value $9.99
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This facial cleansing bar is specifically formulated to be gentle enough to wash your face with in a way that most bar soaps aren't, and its ingredients list includes purifying charcoal and tea try and nourishing shea butter. I love the refreshing tea tree scent this soap has- it's the kind of product I would reach for in the morning to help me wake up or when I have a migraine (because tea tree and eucalyptus help soothe my headaches). I do feel like this is formulated for those with oilier skin types than mine, but this is also going to be perfect for my fiancé who gets a lot of breakouts on his back after doing ruck marches.
The INKEY List Retinol Serum, 1 oz - Retail Value $10.99
I love how affordable the Inkey List is while still maintaining the ability to create effective products- between the Ordinary and the Inkey List, I'm picking Inkey every time. This retinol has serum in the name but has the texture of a cream, and it's formulated with 1% stabilized retinol and 0.5% granactive retinoid along with squalane, peptides, and hyaluronic acid. The way this is formulated means that the retinol is released slowly over time, which reduces the chance of irritating your skin. I layered this under a heavier moisturizer, and I felt like it was nice for the price point. I am using retinol more for preventative measures right now so it's hard to say it's for sure working, but there's a lot of science backing the ingredient as a whole- check back with me in 2-4 years to look at my skin and we will really be able to say if my efforts were successful.
Nécessaire The Body Wash in Fragrance-Free, 250 mL - Retail Value $25
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Nécessaire is one of those really trendy Instagram brands that everyone seems to love, but their products are actually decent instead of being all hype and no substance. While I personally would have loved to see this in their eucalyptus or sandalwood scent, I can't deny that their fragrance-free body wash should be safe for everyone to use even if they're sensitive to smells. The formula is hypoallergenic and dermatologist-tested, and I like how it left my skin feeling clean but not like it was stripped of moisture. It's formulated with niacinamide, glycerin, vitamins c and e, and oils rich in omega-6 and omega-9 fatty acids, so it's no wonder my skin really liked it. Also, it's a small thing, but I really liked the twist-up lid dispenser on this.
Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque, 4.2 oz - Retail Value $40
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The retail price of this mask is the same as the cost of this entire best of beauty box- talk about a deal. I actually already own this Rare Earth Mask from Kiehl's- it's great when your skin is feeling congested and you want to get the gunk out before a bunch of pimples are fully formed. It's made with both kaolin and bentonite clay along with sustainably sourced aloe vera, so this is a mask I like to apply when I am taking a bath (the warm air means it's less likely to dry out) and follow up with a sheet mask after to make sure my skin is properly hydrated. Since I have dry skin, I use this on more targeted areas like my t-zone, and I think those with oily skin or anyone who is really just wanting a deep cleansing mask will love this.
Sigma Beauty F03 High Cheekbone Highlighter Brush - Retail Value $20
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This is a great highlighter brush- it picks up powder highlighter with ease and applies beautifully, and it places the powder with a diffused look that blends into the skin to look a little more natural. I don't need to use a lot of pressure to pick up and apply the pigment I want, and it's perfect for the tip of my nose and the high points of my cheekbones. The bristles are made of exclusive synthetic antimicrobial fibers, and the waterproof polymer handle feels solid in my hand.
Zoya Nail Polish in Tweedy, 0.5 oz - Retail Value $12
Back in the day when I ran an Etsy shop selling hand-painted fake nails, I used to own soooo many Zoya nail polishes. I loved the formulas and the pretty colors. While these days I am almost exclusively a nail gel sticker (a la Dashing Diva, discovered through Allure) girl, I still appreciate this fun bubblegum pink cream polish. This would be a really pretty shade to reach for the next time I feel like giving myself a pedicure- the vividness of the pink just makes me happy to look at it.
YSL Rouge Volupté Shine Lipstick in Rose Nu, 0.11 oz - Retail Value $39
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This is definitely the product I was the most excited about, and it did not disappoint. Rose Nu is the prettiest shade of medium pink that I think looks really flattering on me, and the formula of this lipstick is so comfortable. It's infused with oils so it's definitely going to be a different experience if you're used to matte lipsticks, and it had a pretty finish with a bit of sheen without being crazy glossy (and I mean that in a good way). This lasted for about four hours on me before I needed to reapply (which is what I expected from such a hydrating formula), and I liked that it faded well (some lipsticks will fade unevenly until there's just a ring of pigment around the edge of my mouth and it is... not the look I aim for).
Value – Was This Box Worth It?
The Cost: $40
Value Breakdown:
- Biossance: $56 → $10.52
- Carbon Theory: $9.99 → $1.88
- The Inkey List: $10.99 → $2.06
- Nécessaire: $25 → $4.69
- Kiehl's: $40 → $7.51
- Sigma Beauty: $20 → $3.75
- Zoya: $12 → $2.25
- YSL: $39 → $7.32
Key Takeaways
Look, if you're curating a box of full-size products it's going to be easier to curate a successful box, but Allure absolutely knocked it out of the park with their 2022 Best of Beauty Box. I love that they featured products from brands at a variety of different price points- and none of the products retailed for more than $56, which is not bad considering how crazy some beauty products will cost. I think it just speaks to the fact that you don't have to spend every last dollar to get effective products- it just takes a little discernment. That was supported by the fact that all of these products were nice- it didn't feel like Allure got a box of random products and decided to put them together and call them the "best of beauty," it really does feel like more intention went into selecting what went inside. And there's no denying that this box was a steal of a deal, with everything adding up to $212.98!
Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? No, this limited edition box appears to be sold out.
What do you think of the 2022 Allure Best of Beauty Box? What was your favorite product in the box?
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