From The Lab Beauty Subscription Box Review – August 2014
From the Lab is a unique beauty subscription box – each month they send you a new beauty product that isn’t on the market yet. The idea is that beauty companies heavily markup their products, so by getting the beauty product after it’s created and tested in the lab, they can send you the products for much less than you would pay once they are branded in the upcoming months/years.
From the Lab kindly sent me this box to review.
The Subscription Box: From The Lab
The Cost: $29.95 a month
The Products: 1-2 full size products in the following categories: Skincare, Haircare or Color Cosmetics.
Ships to: US
Check out all of my From The Lab reviews and the Beauty Subscription Box Directory for more beauty boxes!
Each product comes with a fold out sheet detailing the beauty product’s benefits and ingredients, plus directions for how to apply each product. This month is the “Summer Essentials Collection 2.” (All From The Lab products are paraben free).
From the Lab Body Serum No. 580
From the Lab Transforming Hair Cleanser No. 724
From the Lab Face Scrub No 597
I’m not a huge fan of this Body Serum scent, but I don’t hate it either. (It reminds me powder fresh deodorant scent). It’s supposed to help hydrate your skin at a deeper level than a moisturizer since the smaller molecules can penetrate deeper. I tried it out and it absorbed super quickly and left my skin with a soft matte finish. I would recommend this also as a lotion alternative if you don’t like waiting for a lotion to full absorb/dry.
This hair cleanser has the consistency of oil, and is made without sulfates or other sudsing agents that can strip your hair. I haven’t tried non-sudsing shampoo before, but I’m going to give this one a try since I always need more sulfate-free hair products.
The Face Scrub is the only item I’ve ever received that doesn’t seem like it’s full size. (It’s 1.7 oz). Size issues aside, I like the formula. The exfoliating beads are relatively fine and I don’t mind the scent.
Verdict: From The Lab listed the value of this box at over $180. While I wouldn’t pay $180 for this set, I think it’s a good deal for the cost of $30 a month. What did you think of the August From The Lab box?
I’m using the hair oil as a face oil. The description says it can be used on face and body, and I’ve never tried a facial cleansing oil before, but have had tons of hair oils that I don’t need.
I really didn’t want to clean my hair with oil, so I’m loving the product as a mild facial cleansing oil. I do the oil, then follow with a mild foaming cleanser . I’ve gone to all K- Beauty except for this one product.. Having to replace US products one at the time. 🙂
There is SO MUCH product in the hair oil and the body gel that I think it’s a bit rude to criticize the size of the facial scrub. If the other two products hadn’t been extra large, OK, but they are.
Hey Liz. Just wanted to let you know that I talked to customer service and they said that the 29.95 monthly charge includes shipping. It is not an additional charge and when I looked at my statement from last month that is true. I just thought you might want to update that on your site so that people have the correct info!
Thanks – will update!
Hi Liz,
Where would I find the swap info, like the rules and regulations. Can’t seem to find a Swap FAQ and I’m just starting to swap so I’d like to read it and make sure I do everything right! Thanks 🙂
This is my third box from them and so far I love them. The face primer is my fave item to date. It’s a little watery but glides on so smooth and doesn’t feel heavy. Their customer service is great and fast to reply to emails. I’m loving this sub. I haven’t tried all my items from them yet. As I take my time and use one product at a time. But so far everything is great.
Hi Liz, with this subscription, do you ever find out what the actual brand is? And if you really love the product are you able to purchase more?
Hi Michelle,
You purchase everything online from their site. If your a member you get a discount on their products
I’m not so sure about a hair cleansing oil. I was a longtime Wen user so I’m used to cleansing conditioners. But as someone with oily hair to begin with, I’m leery of adding more oil. I can’t even safely user shine serums or glossing creams. I do like the box though and agree the face scrub is a bit small. That said, it’s the first time I’ve received more than 2 products in a monthly box so the value is there. Like everything else (that I’m not allergic to, that is), I’ll try the hair cleansing oil since that’s the point of beauty subs for me.