Review
Allure Beauty Box Review + Coupon – July 2021
July 29, 2021
Nina Garcia Quarterly Subscription Box Review #NGQ06
Nina Garcia
This is the 5th Nina Garcia Quarterly subscription box. Typically her boxes are mainly fashion related with a few beauty items, but this box is dedicated to travel products.
This box was sent to us for review purposes. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes).
(Everything comes wrapped in Nina’s hashtag paper).
The Subscription Box: Nina Garcia for Quarterly
The Cost: $100 a box plus shipping
The Products: Items hand selected by Nina Garcia!
Ships to: Everywhere (US $8, Canada $30; rest of world +$40)
Check out all of my Quarterly reviews and the Women’s Subscription Box Directory!
Each Quarterly box comes with a letter from the curator describing the theme for that quarter, and background on every item they selected
Baggu Duck Bag in Leopard – Value $26
I love Baggu! This isn’t a bag I probably would have picked out for myself, but I like the print! It’s a thick canvas bag, and it has an inner snap pocket, plus tote handles as well:
And you can snap the sides together for a narrower opening:
I would have preferred the design if you could detach the shoulder strap, but I still like it a lot!
Chic Buds Charging Clutchette – Value $50
I love the design of this clutch. It’s a charging station for your phone, and it can function as a clutch too. Here is the polka dot lining:
And here is how much room is left when I put in my phone:
There is enough room for money/credit cards, lip balm and a hand sanitizer, so I’m happy!
While I would have preferred a less-bold/more versatile color, this clutch is definitely a perfect travel accessory.
Pinch Provisions Minimergency Kit – Value $16
Emi Jay Hair Ties – Value $11
I received one of these a few years ago thanks to POPSUGAR and it is pretty brilliant! I still can’t believe they fit 17 items in this tiny kit!
This 17-piece kit includes:
– Adhesive bandage
– Safety pin
– Earring backs
– Deodorant towelette
– Nail polish remover pad
– Stain remover pad
– Clear elastics
– Lip balm
– Emery board
– Tampon
– Hair spray
– Clear nail polish
– Dental floss
– Mending kit
– Breath freshener
– Double-sided tape
– Pain reliever
Here is a look inside the kit:
I love the fabric material on this one!
Flight001 Luggage Tag – Value $7
This luggage tag will probably be gifted or swapped – it isn’t my style. (The color will definitely work for spotting your bag, though!)
Flight001 X-Ray Passport Cover – Value $10
I like the simplicity of this passport cover (not sure if you can tell with the inner packaging, but it transparent).
Weleda Skin Food – 1 oz Value $7.60
This beauty item totally makes sense for a travel-themed box. It is a very rich hand and body cream, with a relaxing scent and no parabens or phthalates. I’m a fan!
FLIGHT001 Sleep Mask – Value $16
This sleep mask is really well designed. The back stretchy strap has a velcro closure so you can adjust it to the perfect size, and it has a light-eliminating insert that provides extra coverage across the nose bridge.
Shoebox Pro 1-Year Subscription – Value $60
This is a digital subscription for storing photos and video files. (Good news – if you want to try this out, they also offer a free version).
FYI – this box also was supposed to come with Jane Iredale Blotting Papers – Value $11 (but they were missing from my box. I haven’t reached out to Quarterly yet about the missing item).
Verdict: This box has a value of about $215 (that is including the $60 shoebox digital subscription). This is the lowest value of any of Nina’s boxes. (Still a great value for a $100 Quarterly box, though). While I like the items included, this box wasn’t exactly what I was expecting from a Nina travel box. (I was hoping for a few new-to-me brands and fabulous fashion accessories for traveling). I wish there had been one or two less silly/fun FLIGHT001 items, and one or two more chic items instead.
What do you think of the #NGQ06 box?
Nina is an award-winning author, "Project Runway" judge, and the Creative Director of [Marie Claire]. She sends her favorite fashion finds, plus other cultural gems.
Shipping is free to the US. (Canada +$30; rest of world +$40)
Liz is the founder of My Subscription Addiction. She's been hooked on subscription boxes since 2011 thanks to Birchbox, and she now subscribes to over 100 boxes. Her favorites include POPSUGAR Must Have, FabFitFun, and any box that features natural beauty products!
Liz is the founder of My Subscription Addiction. She's been hooked on subscription boxes since 2011 thanks to Birchbox, and she now subscribes to over 100 boxes. Her favorites include POPSUGAR Must Have, FabFitFun, and any box that features natural beauty products!
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30 comments
Melanie
I have been getting her boxes since the second box came out. I loved the hair care box, sent one box back, (when you could return) and the others were not memorable. (or I don’t remember what I got. Anyway, I received this box and was excited because I travel a lot and thought there were be great products. Nina wouldn’t carry one thing that was in that box. I tweeted Quarterly and asked if they would exchanged the clutch for a different color and they said to email them and they would see what they could do. I did and they said no they couldn’t. She asked if there was anything else she could do for me and I emailed back and said to cancel the box. 🙁
BoxingMex
So so glad I dodged that bullet. WTH. I had received a new CC that needed to be updated for this delivery and just never got around to it, PHEW!
Stacey
I actually really like almost all of them items in this box – but only once I started thinking of this as an original box and not trying to compare it to the precious Nina boxes. What seriously irks me to no end though, is the fact I paid $100 for this and in a few month we all know it will be on sale for $50. I already waited months to get this late (anyone know exactly what the hold up was?!?) – so what’s another month to wait for half off the price? At $50 this box would be a complete steal.
Also, Liz, I think you got my box and I got the one meant for you, because my Baggu bag is a nautical blue and white stripe and my clutch is a black/grey. I would happily trade either for the other prints on those bags. Especially the Baggu. I won’t ever use it in this color pattern, but I know I can give it away easily as a gift because most ladies seem to love that type pattern.
I didn’t get the blotter papers either. Did anybody? For the price and the super long wait, I want everything that was supposed to be in that puppy!
Olivia
I cancelled after seeing the reviews. I don’t think seeing the box would make me regret cancelling. I only regret not cancelling earlier
mythcalledlove
Especially for the price. 100 or anything over 30.00 I’m not comfy gambling because that’s pretty much what it is. And these celebrity boxes I’m sure they can do better. I think anyone that pays for that box Rachel Zoe, etc.. would be better off going to TJMAXX a spend that money on makeup, accessories, shoes,clothes, pretty much anything you get in these boxes.
karinkassab
So GLAD I canceled before this box shipped….this after the hair product box…. I so wanted to love this subscription but it’s been missing the mark for me lately. That with the NON- quarterly shipments and deadline delays are getting beyond annoying. I usually try to be positive about boxes. I just wish Nina would go back to curating fashion/style boxes. For the time being canceled Nina and picked up Rachel Zoe. 🙂
Gill
This reminds me of an old Fancy subscription box.
Diana K.
I’ve been looking at the last year of the subscription boxes that I’ve received to try to figure out which ones I want in the future (especially with Black Friday coming up quick!) And honestly, out of all of them… I’ve gotten more use out of products from Nina’s boxes first, and then PopSugar second. I paid full price for 02 and 03 and then 1/2 off on 04 and 05 (they still have 04 on sale on bestofquarterly.com… and yes, I thought the ballin’ hat was cute and will rock it even at 45- but loved many of the other products quite a bit, especially for $50). But this one, not thrilled. I think this would be better valued (and received) at a base $50 price tag. Still wishing I would have gotten her first box 🙂
Stacy
I second that, Diana! I loved the 04 box, including the Ballin’ hat which is a fun pop with a chic outfit (plus, winter isn’t messing around where I live). Also got it for $50 and felt like that was a total steal. However, this box is a flop. The only thing I’d go for is the sleep mask, maybe.
Liz Cadman
I just looked at that first box review again, and wow it was so special. I really wish this box still had that special vibe 🙁
Pru
That first box was sooooo special. The second box was awesome too. I really felt like they both had a touch of sophisticated glamour and youthful fun all wrapped up in one package.
tricia
How does she still have a box coming out, after the Ballin hat I thought for sure that would be the end. She is so fashion forward and these just are not and tank every time. I think it’s time to move on Nina.
jazz
Holy carp. That is awful. Amazed that Nina is still agreeing to put her name on this.
kim
I’m amazed at how bad this box is. Those little emergency kits can be had for less than $5
Pru
CANCELED!
This has become a bad relationship. I give quarterly $100 for a Nina Garcia curated box. They send me items Nina would most likely not use, EVER!
There is nothing special in this box at all. I expected an outlet converter, a nice scarf, a leather high end passport holder etc. I never in a million years expected a what was in this box.
Quarterly and Nina: if you are reading this, I question your taste level.
M
I cancelled after getting my box. Everything felt cheap & tacky! The clutch might have been useful except for that hideous neon yellow color! I felt like just throwing it away, I can’t imagine even gifting that to someone. And I certainly can’t imagine that NG would use or wear any of these things herself. What a total flop!
Anetka
Same here and I have been with this box from the start. Apart from the bag, cream, and the clutch, the rest of the items are tacky, ugly, and seem like they were just tossed in to full the box. If I were Nina Garcia, I would be disgraced by this box.
...
I’m glad I cancelled before this box shipped. The jokey items would have been cute fillers if there were some more substantial items to offset them. It isn’t really a bad box – the items fit the theme and the RV is ok. It’s just not what anyone was hoping for from Nina.
EC
Wow, hands down the worst of all NG Quarterly boxes IMO (and I didn’t think anything could top “Ballin'” cap or the hideous Brazil hat. Nothing special, new or unique included and the colors chosen give a clearance/leftover color choice feeling, a la the garish colors that didn’t sell and are marked down 75% at Target. It just has a bargain basement look to it overall. As a Marie Claire subscriber for over 10 years I’m consistently baffled why an editor of her stature would associate with much less admit to curating this kind of overpriced yet totally generic sub box. It makes me question her sartorial ability. I suspect she sold the use of her name and is making bank on this without having any involvement in curation.
kathleen davis
Well said. My thoughts are similar. I am certain Nina has never viewed this box of low end merchandise. I subscribed with her second box. I have added a couple of the very high end skin care items on my daily routine. I LOVE THEM and am so thankful to have found them via this box. Now, having said that… every single box after was a HUGE LETDOWN. I just decided it was targeted for a much more urban, not sure the age, and different demographic than myself. So, I canceled. Every once in a while I stop back by in hopes that the box is more to my liking. Not the case. Yes, with someone of her stature, this could be a really great box and very much worth the cost if Nina herself had a hand in the curation. I subscribe to a few other higher end sub boxes that cost even more than hers and I love the products in those boxes. I always feel special, pampered, and excited after opening the boxes. Not the case for this one. It feels careless, reckless, like no thought was put into the curation at all.
Heathery Hebert
This would be an AMAZING box — if it was $50.
Nance Rogers
I was very disappointed with this box. Some tacky inexpensive items. I will give it one more chance. Which should be in March, following her pattern.
Jennifer
I can’t believe the value is $215 because this stuff looks mostly cheap and junky. I seriously doubt Nina Garcia would be caught dead putting a tacky day-glo luggage tag on her bag or wearing that sleep mask. I would have expected more chic items from a fashion editor, but it really doesn’t seem like she curated this.
Saffy
You’ve summed up all my thoughts perfectly! I totally agree.
Bekki
While I’m not a huge fan of the yellow, I think I need that clutch! Off to see if someone will swap!
Susan
While I’m not a fan of much in the box, the only good thing about the yellow clutch is that it would stand out in any carry-on type of bag I would use, so I could easily grab it. Otherwise, a definite let-down and not worth the price.
carly
Ugggggg. These keep getting worse and worse! There isn’t even a hero item in this box…. Seriously, after her launch I thought these would be the best boxes ever but they are TERRIBLE!
Sooooo happy Rachael Zoe came to the rescue. Her boxes are on-point, every time. They feel special. Every item has some level of luxury to it.
TheTinTiara
I was disappointed. I cancelled my subscription. It was my last quarterly sub as the value and quality has declined so much. I thought the eye mask, while functional, the design was silly and I would not use it in public, I liked the clutch, but I wasn’t crazy about the neon yellow, I got the navy tote and it is nice quality, the hair ties…I am over these, love the pinch kit, and the rubber passport cover and luggage tag were not my style at all. I had kept the Nina Garcia box as my lone quarterly hold out because even if I didn’t love “everything” there was at least enough value that I would still get my money’s worth. I did not feel that way with this box. I unsubscribed. I would need full spoilers to give any quarterly boxes a go again.
sher_w
I agree as well. I felt somewhere between disappointed and disgusted. I have cancelled my sub with NG and will be cancelling all subs with Quarterly. How insulting to subscribers 🙁
Lyndsey
I completely agree. I have had multiple quarterly subs in the past and was disappointed every single time. After the delays and seeing one of the spoilers I canceled this last box before it shipped and I’m glad I did. I really wish if Nina Garcia wants to continue with the sub box life she branches out on her own or collabs with another company.
