Allure Beauty Box Review – April 2016 + $5 Coupon
Allure Beauty Box is a monthly beauty subscription from Allure Magazine. (Previously known as Sample Society). Each month they send out a mix of deluxe and full-size samples from mostly high-end brands!
My Subscription Addiction pays for this subscription. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes).
The Subscription Box: Allure Beauty Box
The Cost: $15 a month
COUPON: Use this link to save $5 off your first box!
The Products: Deluxe and full-size beauty and makeup samples.
Ships to: the US
Check out all of my Allure Beauty Box reviews and the Beauty Subscription Box Directory!
Swap for any item in this box from the Allure Beauty Box Swap page!
Each box includes an info booklet that details each item and why Allure editors decided to include it in the box.
DDF Wrinkle Resist Plus Pore Minimizer – .5 oz Value $25
This is a great sized sample! This Pore Minimizer is a serum that can function as a primer as well. I just tried it and found that it made my skin really smooth and perfect for foundation application. I didn’t think it didn’t anything for my pores, though. Then I looked back in the mirror a minute later and thought, “Wait, do my pores look smaller?”
So, it could be the placebo effect, but right now I’m pretty pleased with this product!
Mally Evercolor Shaping Lip Pencil in Neutral Red – FULL SIZE! Value $9
(colors will vary)
This liner gives you a very precise line, and it is highly pigmented. Here it is swatched:
The color is a little too bold for me, but the price and formula are great – so I may buy a different shade.
L’Occitane Cleansing And Softening Shower Oil With Almond Oil – 2.5 oz Value $9.50
This shower oil smells so good! When you lather it, it turns into a milky foam, and you can use it as a shaving cream, too!
Fekkai Glossing Creme Styling Creme – 2 oz Value $8
I love this styling product! A little goes a long way, so this tube should last for a while. It smells so good, and doesn’t weigh my hair down at all!
L’Oreal Paris Voluminous Original – Value $5
Lately, Allure Beauty Box has been including a full-size drugstore beauty item in addition to the samples every month. I’m all about bonus full-size items, so I hope they keep it up!
And L’Oreal is my favorite drugstore brand for mascara, so this is a win.
This mascara is great – volume, length, no clumps, and easy to layer. Amazing for $5!
Bvlgari Goldea perfume – 5 ml Value $11.20
Another thing I appreciate about Allure Beauty Box – lately when they send perfume, it isn’t a little sample vial – it’s an adorable mini!
Here is a closer look at the bottle:
This scent isn’t for me, so I may end up swapping/gifting it so someone else can fully appreciate this cute bottle!
Verdict: This box has a value of about $68! I think that’s great for a $15 beauty box, and Allure has been doing an amazing job with brands and sample sizes lately! My favorite discovery is the DDF, and the styling creme, shower oil, and mascara have already been added to my daily beauty routine!
What do you think of the April Allure Beauty Box? What is your favorite item this month?
If you haven’t signed up yet, use this link to save $5 off your first box!
Written by Liz Cadman
I didn’t get the lip liner pencil?. I got a little Mally sheer lip gloss. It isn’t labeled so I don’t even know what color it is. Kind of bummed, I really wanted to try the pencil. I just got today, the 21st. But after reading they were short on boxes, guess I should be glad I got one at all. Maybe they are still having growing pains after switching from the company that used to pack and send for them?
Anna, I have the Mally lip liner pencil in warm red. Took the cap off to look at the color, but that’s it. Would be happy to send it to you or maybe swap something?
my comment is not showing up. It will probably show up 3 times once this resets… sorry. 🙂
I got my box today ( 4/16 ). The shower oil leaked all over everything and my lip pencil was pushed all the way up into the cap- like it was twisted up to push all the contents out of the handle. The outer box was taped and very thin. The inner red box seems the same but everything smells of the shower oil and the mini mag is all greasy. There was no crinkle paper inside to absorb or cushion anything- just 1 thin piece of tissue paper- all covered in shower oil. The Loreal mascara cardboard is so soaked in oil that the mascara was rolling around loose in the box. The perfume sample was inside an unsealed plastic bag so the Bvlgari box did not get soaked in oil but it smells like the oil – and the Fekkai glossing tube and the DDF container are coated in oil too. This is the second leaky item box I have received- the Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse leaked all over everything last month… Allure sent me a replacement Mini Mag- because it was sealed shut with the rinse- and another sample of the apple cider vinegar rinse. I am kind of disappointed that the packing care seems to have faltered recently. Kinda wish they would put everything that is potentially leaky into little ziplocs or something so that if they leak, at least they don’t get all over everything!
I have been a subscriber to this box for a year. I have not received this month’s box yet and I called. Guess what?!? They were SHORT 700 BOXES THIS MONTH. For whatever reason, I am one of the unlucky ones that did not receive this box. I am so upset! They let me choose between December, January and February. Supposedly they sent post cards to the unlucky 700, but I never received one. If you have not received your April box be sure and call customer service asap before they run out of the Feb Box, which was a lot better than the other two.
This is so LAME! Allure was my favorite until THIS happened.
That’s so awful. And wouldn’t an email be better than a postcard?? This makes me nervous about future boxes. Hope the feb box makes up for it. I really enjoyed February’s.
Yeah. I’m pretty mad. Why the heck didn’t they order the number of boxes they needed? And if it was due to a huge increase in new subs, why would they choose to screw over a long time loyal customer? The agent I spoke with had no answers for any of my questions. Grrr.
I stopped my subscription 2 months ago due to terrible customer service. I understand that mistakes can happen and I am a forgiving person, but I will not put my money into a company with bad customer service!
Also, there is no excuse for miscalculating by 700 boxes! That’s insane. So glad I already canceled!
Mine just shipped today! I called last week to inquire and was told a shipping label had been made, but my box had not left the warehouse yet. No mention of a different box or them being short. I’ll be pretty upset if I get a different box other than April. I did not receive a postcard.
Do you have a contact number? I’ve been charged, but haven’t received mine yet. 🙁
I am a longtime subscriber too and just got my box yesterday. Obviously they oversold as I got a small lip gloss instead of the liner. Sorry but I feel they should have waited to ship to new subscribers until their loyal customers were taken care of.
So I just called customer service as I STILL haven’t gotten my first box either this month . And the rep told me they had ran out of the April boxes and is sending me a bonus box! ??? What’s a bonus box? ? Does anyone know? Not happy !! ?
I am glad you are being sent a different box. I ordered my box on 04/21/16 and have called numerous times to check on order. Only today was I told they are sold out of April and May box. I was not offered another type of box. I asked if I would have a June Box and they could not garuntee it . I was even told if they did not have anymore boxes to send out for me in June I may still be billed! So I had no choice but to cancel my subscription! This is so ridicolous! I am mad that I could not even try a box!
Your lucky you even got to pick a box, I didn’t get one either or a postcard, I just spoke to an allure supervisor and they said nobody got an April 2016 box and were not charged, (which now I know they lied to me, I have an email with the tracking # but can’t find it! along with an email asking me to review the perfume lol, but she said none were sent and nobody was charged, curious, did you?) they were transitioning to a new company, I think she said beauty bar was the company we were getting them from & now its allure or the other way around, to handle, mail, take phone calls. I was really disappointed because that box had 2 perfumes in it plus I got an email asking me to review the perfumes. I asked her why did I get it if nobody did, she says it’s an automated email. I did check & my credit card was not billed, so check yours. They now charge tax. I pay $15.90 a month now
This was my first subscription box that I have purchased. It was a surprise for my daughter to start exploring what products that she may enjoy. She was happy with the items in the box except for the shower oil which had leaked and coated all the other items in the box. Besides the damaged item I was pleased with the box overall because my daughter was happy with it.
Did you contact allure about the damage? If something like this happens in the future, be sure and take pics and send them to customer service. Some companies send you an entirely new box, and some just send a new unit of the messed up product.
This was my first Allure box and I love it! The only item I am not in love with is the lip liner and that i just because I never got in the habit of using much lip color. I am super excited to try everything else!!
My box always is half way here when I get the email that my box has shipped. It comes every month like clock work and I truely love that. All the sames are full or deluxe size which is another thing I love too. Always lots of goodies I have never tried. Lip liner is not my color but I know a few that do. Happy Happy Happy.I sadly probably will be canceling only because I just have boxes and boxes of full and deluxe beauty products that I can’t use fast enough. I could start my own beauty box subscription company with all the goodies I have.
I cancelled this box recently to try cut back, but then quickly added it when I saw ‘Bvlgari’ (so it was short lived lol). I love or will love everything in this box! The shower oil is amazing, absolutely luxe feeling to me. I might have to actually purchase it!
Did everyone receive a Pur~Lisse Lip Moisturizer and Erno Laszlo Eye Refiner in your boxes? Was this a promo I received for signing up? Curious…
I did not receive either.
Enjoy your extras!! 🙂
It was because they had originally advertised this months box at 95 dollars, and then dropped the value to 75. So anyone who signed up in that time period before the change, received those 2 items you mentioned. I received them as well, even came in a pretty sheer white bag thing. Very impressed.
i really love this box already. it and birchbox have me ready to say goodbye to ipsy! i am kind of bummed though – the shower oil spilled inside my box and everything’s sticky 🙁 i wasn’t planning on swapping it but it was still an unfortunate surprise when opening everything!
I dropped ipsy for allure, ipsy doesn’t even come close in my opinion. I found I was just rarely using anything in my ipsy bags, you know it’s time to cancel when your the most excited about the “free” bag. I’m super happy with allure! I’ve also kept BB, gotta love that point system.
Just got my box and I am a happy happy customer, can not wait for mays box!!!! I’m dying for spoilers already. Despite some of the issues I’ve experienced, I am just overjoyed, thank you allure, stand up job.
Yes! TO THE DDF!! I used to use this religiously–somehow it fell out of my daily routine! Back in it goes.
The shower oil–using it to wash my hands (I have been puttering in our yard and my cuticles are a mess) I love this stuff!!
Disappointed with the scotch tape/no crinkle cut. The Perfume came damaged!! Agh! And it smells so good!
I am also wondering if this box is sold out?
I hope it’s still available I just signed up about an hour ago but it doesn’t say if it’s the April or May? I’m hoping its April.
Hi is this box still available or sold out? I just signed up using Liz’s Link but I’m not sure if I will get this box or next months box? Thanks in Advance.
April’s box sold out a week or more ago, but I’m Sur emacs box is going to be amazing!!
Ok thanks Jessica! I had a feeling it was I’m glad I just swapped for 2 items I really want lol. I have a question I’m thinking of cancelling my Glossybox. Is this box better? I’ve looked at previous reviews it looks Amazing! I’m looking forward to Mays box! ? I’m just getting so many boxes now that I’m thinking I could save 21.00 a month ? What do you recommend? Thanks Hun ?
I personally love the curation of this box, and the value and quality of the items is always fantastic. Plus once in a blue moon they seem to give perks.
I got my box today and am just over the moon about about 3 of the items in the box how amazing is that. I couldn’t wait to try the shower oil, I just did it’s so wonderful. Then there are 3 more items in the box, a nice staple mascara a lip pencil that I have to try for color and the perfume I don’t use but is so cute and trades well. Wow, so happy with this the box this month is almost seems like it was made for me.
I got the very same box except that I got 8 items!
How wonderful! What were your extra items?
This box is fantastic. Allure has always been my favorite beauty box, even back in the Sample Society days, and lately they are really killing it.
I got 8 items too! It was my first box! My extras were Purlisse daily lip nourisher (im so excited about this!) and a sample of Erno Laszlo eye refiner. I think maybe I got the extra items because the original information on the box was that it was 7 items worth 95 dollars?
I think so too. I signed up for the original 7 items and also got the lip and eye cream products. And my box was very sturdy with the paper inside. I heard some were flimsy with no paper. Maybe they just sold more than they anticipated and wanted to impress the new subscribers.
Received my first box yesterday. I am thrilled with it. I can’t wait to try every item.
Good job, Allure…..got my box a couple of days ago, and especially love the DDF facial product. I received the Mally Lip Pencil in ‘Cool Red’, and thought I would prefer a pink, but this one I think will actually work on me! I’ve been getting this beauty box for six months now, and love all of them.
Has been fun reading comments from first timers who are thrilled with their boxes and excited about trying new products. Even though I’ve subscribed to several boxes for a while, this subscription is one I can heartily recommend to people who want to dip their toes in the beauty box waters without spending premium prices. This box is the usual smart, interesting and eclectic curation I’ve come to expect from Allure. Wish they were all this fresh and pleasantly surprising?!
This was my first Allure box and it is amazing! I am so impressed. I can use everything but the lip liner and I have a 14 yr old niece that will love it! I love ipsy but birchbox is gone. Allure has taken it’s place.
I received my first box today and I am definitely impressed! I received 8 items, maybe because it is my first box? I’m most excited about the shower gel, it smells amazing and I really like this brand. This one is a keeper for me!
My first box and I love it. In December I received my first ipsy and thought okay, it’s decent and it seemed resonable for a $10 bag. I have felt the same way since. Nice enough for $10 but I now have a pile of freebies for friends and donations. I quit opening some products since I knew I would never use it. I’ve liked a few of the bags themselves though. So I tried birchbox and I got a number of nice facial creams. But so tiny. So now allure. I’m loving my first box and will use everything except the black mascara. I have friends who will love it and all the other black products I always get from ipsy or in my donation box. But I will use, or already have used every product in my allure box. While the perfume isn’t one I will use, the bottle is way too cute to give away. I’m impressed with the size of everything. I love my allure box. I had planned on cancelling birchbox and now probably ipsy cuz of this box. All those ‘oh, it’s just $10’ starts to add up! And 3 of the 5 ipsy bags themselves are in my donate to a woman’s shelter box among other unopened products. They are not my style but they are for others. I just don’t want to keep getting bags just to donate. So I’m now I’m an all about allure convert! And I will keep my Walmart box.
The shower gel and brilliant hair gloss are wonderful. Really nice light scent. I love them both. I already love the lip nourisher. Great box, best box ever. I can’t wait to see what I get next. I’m down to where I’m only going to sub to one box. $15 and under. So, allure it is.
I really like this box! Oddly enough though, the cardboard cover was pretty flimsy this time (their usually thick stock) and my box was closed with scotch tape (say what?!). I thought maybe someone had tampered with it because it didn’t come stuffed with the usual crinkle cut white shredded paper but it doesn’t look like yours was either, Liz. Maybe it just opened in transit – i checked all the contents & nothing looks tampered with & the items with safety seals still had them intact so…..yeah, I’m still using everything! >_<
Yes – mine was missing the crinkle paper and also had scotch tape. Weird! I’m guessing they ran short on some packing supplies?
Or are they trying to cut costs?
I don’t have many subs, so my last month’s outer box was still in the house waiting for recycling–this one is quite a bit thinner. Everything was in good condition, and I really love the perfume! I’ll use these things!! Great box, Allure! Thanks, Liz!
Yep, this whole month was weird for me too. My box was taped shut as well, but even weirder, the Mally lip pencil was a totally different product from what was listed in the mini mag. I mentioned this on a previous allure thread but mine is called the Mally “perfect prep” pencil in “light/medium” – it’s based on your skin tone instead of being a pink or red color. And the cap on it is clearly not the original packaging – it’s a mismatched gray plastic cap. And it also seems to be out of production as I can’t find it for sale anywhere (just an out of stock, stale listing in QVC). So strange.
I’m still thrilled with the box and I’m actually eager to try the pencil. I just hope I don’t love it as I will probably never be able to buy it anywhere!
I got this exact same lip pencil. Yes, odd. But hey, we got a free sharpener in the lid out of it, right? Glad to hear I wasn’t the only odd bird. HAHA
Mine had scotch tape on it too and was missing the crinkled paper. I assumed that it was opened during shipping and that my mini mag fell out. Now it sounds like it was just sent that way. Seems very sloppy compared to their usual packaging. Oh well, I love their boxes. They are easily my favorite subscription box.
Mine had scotch tape as well.
Got this yesterday and am thrilled – I will use every item! Great great job, Allure. I too got the lip pencil with the attached sharpener in a color that pretty much matches my lips – win/win! The only bummer was that some of the L’Occitane shower gel had leaked out and ruined the sturdy red box as well as subtracting about 1/5 of the shower gel. But I just cleaned off all items in the box, started experimenting with them, and remained very satisfied for my $15 expenditure.
Yes mine leaked a little too – no biggy here either. I got the odd lip pencil with sharpener as well. 😉
Mine leaked too. I was disappointed because it was my first box, and now there’s a smelly stain on the box. Oh well. The products were great – I am gifting the Mally liner (hot pink???) and the perfume (smells “old lady” to me). Everything else will be used up with pleasure!
My first box, and not only the did the shower gel leak out all over everything, my perfume sample was broken too. Not the glass part of the bottle, but the decorative “wings” on the side of the bottle were snapped off. My box really must have taken a beating. Not the best first impression, and now I feel like I can’t swap the perfume, since the bottle is broken. 🙁
I would contact their customer service. I imagine they would replace the two items or at least refund part of your cost. My box got lost in the mail a few months ago and they sent me another one.
Allure has been consistently my favorite box since around December. The value is always there, and I absolutely love that they send me stuff like the DDF which I have never received before. I sub to a ridiculously high number of beauty boxes, so discovering new products these days is pretty rare. I LOVE Allure’s curation, and I would recommend this box to anyone!
Argh I hate cheating and seeing what’s in the boxes! But here I am haha. But I am so excited to get this box! I hope mine arrives soon :3
I’m hoping that the Spring Allure Beauty Thrills box comes out soon…
I’m so sad that they didn’t include a mini mag in my box. I chatted with their Customer Service online and they are supposed to be sending one to me. I’m going to wait to try my products until I can read about them. I really want to love the perfume but think I’m going to end up trading it. I just took the topper off and it’s not bad but it has a note of something that makes me think I’m not likely to wear it. I loved the Omni Paraiba that they sent out last time so I’m really tempted to keep this one too but knowing me I will never use it.
the shower oil is my favorite item from the box! Im really pleased with the size of everything too. I really wasn’t sure how to use the ddf. I thought it was a moisturizer. Lol. It didn’t really say in the little description. So I’m guessing it goes on after moisturizer. Looking forward to more great boxes from allure!
I realize this comment is old but serums go on before a moisturizer, just wait a minute or so before adding the moisturizer.
I am loving the Mally lip pencil and wanted to get a few more, but I can’t find any place to buy them alone. It seems like they only come in sets with a gloss or lip crayon. Am I missing something or are these not available yet?
I could only find them in sets as well.
I got the exact same box and LOVE the little perfumes they’ve been sending. MORE please. I also tried out the mascara yesterday and really liked it. That styling cream will go to my little girl with curly hair and I can’t wait to try out the shower oil! This box is a huge win for me. So many great products that are new to me and such a great variety of products each month. LOVE.
This is my first month getting this box and I’m so excited! I received all of the products above plus 2 extra items!! They were Purlisse Mango & Shea Butter Lip Nourisher and Erno Laszlo Eye Refiner.
My box is the same as yours. This is my first box and I love it.. I used the DDF and really liked it. The pur-lisse lip is amazing. I kind of liked the perfume but my son said whats that scent it smells awful. Oh well I am glad I subscribed.
Loved the box – this was my first month. I was thinking I’d just subscribe for this month because I was interested in the spoiler brands, but I like it so much that I think I’ll stick with it!
This box was wonderful. I also got the Purlisse lip treatment in mine. I’m loving everything about this box.
This is my second month back and I am happy. This is more of what I expected from Allure so maybe they have finally hit their stride.
I do really like the fragrance but I am a fan of Orientals and the floral part of it doesn’t bother me much. (I am usually a fan of Bvlgari fragrances anyway.)
My lip liner was a pretty tame pink but I have a lot of lipsticks it’ll match so it will get used.
I loved the DDF!!!
I have mature skin with wrinkles and large pores. I adore the DDF product!
I’m loving my Allure boxes! They have definitely stepped up their game, since the change over.
I’ve noticed that this box has products that I will actually buy, and that hasn’t been happening so much with my other boxes.
wow, great box. Seems it has been excellent lately…of course after I quit getting it! That is okay though.
Another awesome box. It’s funny, I’ve seen a lot of reviews of this box and I got a different version of the mally lip liner than anyone else.. Mine is a very pretty color but it’s weird. It looks like they lost the lid and replaced it with a grey plastic lid with a sharpener built in. Did anyone else get that version? It’s very funny looking but hey I got an extra sharpener right? Haha
I got the one with sharpener too. It’s huge, will last forever ;-D
Yep, i got the sharpener version too in Light/Medium.
Yep…I got the same one too. Based on these comments it seems like a bunch of these odd, gray capped lip pencils were sent out. Funny thing is I think I prefer this neutral color to a pink or red anyway, so I’m actually happy to be an odd ball!