We Are Onyx Beauty Box Subscription Box Review – January 2016

We Are Onyx Beauty Box is a women’s beauty subscription box.  Products included will vary from hair, beauty, skin, and nail care suited for the needs of Women of Color (WOC).  The company’s founders desire to educate WOC by expanding their beauty knowledge and encouraging them to try new products.

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

The Subscription Box: We Are Onyx Beauty Box

The Cost: $25 a month +free shipping

The Products:  5-7 beauty products geared toward Women of Color

Ships to: US Only

Check out all our We Are Onyx box reviews and the Women’s Subscription Box Directory!

Each box comes with an insert card. Once again, the contents of the box are not included.  Until I wrote this review on the 23rd of February, I assumed that this was the February box.  I verified on Instagram that shipping started four weeks ago and I received this box the first week of February after the snowstorm.  My apologies for assuming the pink colors were for Valentine’s Day.  My bad, folks.  So, FYI, shipping is at the END of each month.  Anyway, my house had an eventful Jan-February really… Can we just start the New Year over with a countdown at the end of February? As the theme goes this month, I’m in serious need of a “Dew Over”!

Be A Bombshell – Sugar Plum Blush – (.14oz) – $16.00

This blush is very pretty and looks great on my skin but unfortunately I’m passing this blush along.  I’ve received a few products from this brand thanks to Ipsy and I’m not a fan.  This deep purple blush has been described as long wearing and pigmented.  I own very few purple blushes, I would have loved to keep it!

Ittse – Gold Coast Pressed Eyeshadow – (.06oz) – $7.99

This brand is new to me and I really like their website too! It’s super girly and I just love the graphics. So stinkin’ cute!  This eyeshadow is very pigmented and metallic though it’s described as having a pearl finish. I’m no expert, maybe it’s the same thing, I don’t know. LOL.   I have a thousand eyeshadows in this shade, but I’m not parting ties with this beauty.  I’m obsessed.  I really want to keep playing with it.  If used sparingly, I think I could get away with highlighting/ strobing.

Be A Bombshell – Onyx Eyeliner  – (.1oz) – $14.00

I’ll also part ways with this eyeliner.  I’ve actually received this same one a while ago in a different subscription.  I’m sorry, I’m just not a fan.  I did swatch everything for the sake of review purposes.  This eyeliner did not work for me in the past.  I believe that it’s better suited for normal to dry skin tones.  It’s listed as having water resistant properties, but If you’re oily like me, I’d stay clear.  It gets messy really fast.

Hikari Cosmetics – Pouty Lip Crayon – (2.5g) : $13.00

Beautiful shade, it’s showing up like a reddish coral color in my swatch below.  I’ve also received a few products from this brand before thanks to other subscription services.  I don’t have a ton of shades like these and would have loved to keep it just for that reason, but it’s no sense in wasting it. I have a ton of other lipstick brands in my collection begging to get rotated into a monthly makeup basket.

CHI – Magnified Volume Shampoo sample – (2oz) – $2.60

Described as a heat protector and hair strengthener, it’s still an easy pass.  We have a ton of shampoos that are curly-hair friendly and I read a few reviews saying that this shampoo is very drying/striping.  I’ve been putting some items aside for a donation and this shampoo comes sealed.  Perfect for gifting!

Verdict:  We Are Onyx January Beauty Box had an estimated retail value of nearly $54.00.  It’s a great value for the cost.  I’m not a big fan of two brands featured this month, but I learned about a cosmetic company with growth potentials if all of their products are as impressive.  I also feel that the box could have used one more item this month, like the matching container of CHI conditioner.  Though quality always triumphs over quality, comparing this box to past Onyx boxes, a few other lightweight makeup products could have been easily added without increasing the shipping cost.

What are your thoughts on We Are Onyx Beauty Box contents for January?