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Essence Beauty Box Subscription Box Review + Coupon – May 2016

Celicia Gantz
ByCelicia GantzMay 31, 2016 | 13 comments

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Essence Beauty Box
3 overall rating
12 Ratings | 0 Reviews

Essence Beauty Box is a beauty subscription service geared for Women of Color (WOC).  Each month, the Essence Magazine beauty team puts together a box to give you the opportunity to discover brand new products and Essence’s staple favorites.  

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

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The Subscription Box: Essence Beauty Box

The Cost: $15 a month (Discounts available with 12-month subscription)

COUPON: While supplies last, use coupon code SUNSHINE get a free box plus save 20% off a 6-month or 12-month subscription!

The Products:  A variety of hair care, beauty, and lifestyle products

Ships to: US only

Check out all of our Essence Beauty Box Reviews and the Women of Color Subscription Box Directory!

Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!

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If you shop in the People store, which I never knew existed until this unboxing, use code EBB10 for $10 off a purchase over $50.  The offer expires in February 2017!  Amazing.

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Each month the the EBB Team provides an insert card detailing every item we have for the month. May’s theme is  “Bae-cation”.  It says our box is packed full of essential products for a last minute getaway.

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Poo-Pourri - Before You Go Toilet Spray in Pose Geranium - Value: $9.95

I’ve seen a few commercials for this toilet spray and always wanted to try it.  Without revealing graphic details of my experience, I’m just going to say, our bathroom smells amazing before and after potty time.  I’m totally spoiled by this product and wish to have one in each bathroom.  To learn more about how this product works ( and a few cool dance moves ) click the link to their sweet-smelling promo-video here.

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Ginger Yum - Massage Candle in Ginger Mint - 2oz - Value: $5.00

Unfortunately, I wasn’t impressed with this candle/massage wax.  There wasn’t much scent before or during burning.  I also tried some on my skin, but it didn’t apply as smoothly as I thought it would.  The wax also left a bit of residue and left me wanting to wash it off than leave on overnight.

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Simple - Cleansing Facial Wipes - 7ea - Value: $1.50?

I don’t think I had ever tried these wipes before, but I like them.  I’ve been using my Honest Brand 3-N-1 Facial Towelettes from their Essentials subscription, and they are virtually the same price.  Like the Honest wipes, these did not burn my eyes out.  It’s a win!  I just wish we had received a larger quantity sample or the full sized package.

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PUR Cosmetics - Impact Plus Mascara in Black - .12oz - Value: $16.00?

Although I have other mascaras lined up, and waiting to be opened, I tried this one right away!  I didn’t like the wand at all, it’s very generic and bulky.  The formula, however is weightless and required little effort to remove at the end of the day.  The full sized version is not much bigger than this,  I wouldn’t say I’m in love with it enough to repurchase. (Maybe during a sale, I would.)

Equitance - Brightening Foaming Cleanser - .5oz - Value: $3.75

I’ve never heard of this brand, but the cleanser works well with my Clarisonic.  I’m not a huge fan of stripping my face of all it’s natural oils, but this one didn’t make my face feel terribly dry.  There’s not much scent to describe, but it smells very clean.  It says to use it twice a day to remove makeup and it should leave your skin feeling soft and purified.  Hmm, that’s about right!

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Verdict:  This May, excluding the coupon, Essence Beauty Box had an estimated retail value around $36.00.  Every month, EBB has provided quality products that also line up with the theme.  Despite a lack of enthusiasm in repurchasing several items myself, this doesn’t mean these products were not someone else’s favorite thing!  EBB is also doing a great job in providing a wide variety of brands.  This subscription service is fairly new, but it easily takes a top shelf favorite with what I’ve seen so far.

What are your thoughts on the Essence Beauty Box?  In the comments below, if you’re courageous enough, let us know if you’ve used a Poo-Pourri spray before, or right now!! ( Or just tell me to mind my business, LOL! )

Starting at $15.00
Active Deal
Save 20% off!
Use Coupon Code MSA20
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Each box includes Sample or trial sizes of five hair and beauty products. More from Essence: The ESSENCE® BeautyBox is a service to help women of color discover beauty products. We understand the challenges and frustrations in finding a variety of products for our shades and skin tones, identify... read more.
Celicia Gantz
Celicia Gantz
Celicia was introduced to both The Honest Company and CurlKit in March 2013 and has been addicted to subscription boxes ever since. Always on the hunt for the undiscovered family staple, she loves trying new skincare, natural hair care, makeup, and finding delicious snacks with hidden veggies for her kids (and Hubby too). Favorite finds: Body Oil, Stuffed Animals, Books, non-GMO Tortilla Chips and Perfume Samples.

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13 comments

Mary K

I’m such an idiot. I finally got the bonus May box promised for getting a 6 mo sub, and realized I was wrong about its contents. It was April I wanted, the one with the full-size Paula’s Choice Vit C treatment ($55). I wanted that cuz I know it works well, and figured it was like paying full price for that one cream and getting the other six months of boxes for free. Argh! Oh well, hopefully I will find something I like going forward…

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Dashy

I travel for a living and have a Poo-Pourri travel-sized spray with me right now on my trip!

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Mary K

Has anyone who got the 6 mos deal with the May box included gotten it yet? I ordered back on May 24 and no sign of it yet. I did get an email that June’s had shipped yesterday though.

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Sally

I’m a Latina but very pale but I’m hoping this box will work for me regardless. I prefer bolder colors and bleach my hair (needs moisture) so I think it will work. Cancelled Allure when I saw a Kardashian product. This will hopefully be a good replacement. Plus, with the sunshine code it ended up being $60 for 6 boxes plus a free box. A steal.

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Claudia

I really like the EBB boxes! I cancelled my Birchbox to subscribe to this one. Like all of you the Poo-Pourri has to be my favorite out the box this month. I use it at my office. The theme of the box was centered around a weekend with your “Bae” (boyfriend). Hence the candle and the Poo-Pourri because no woman wants their man to smell the after LOL! The wipes are great but everything else was kind of EH! Their past boxes have been pretty good though. Overall extremely pleased with the EBB boxes!

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TAM

I love Poo-pourri and buy it all the time. I have my bottle ready for my cruise next month…lol. Looking forward to receiving my first box next month.

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Sharron

I went on vacation earlier this month with two other ladies and the poo-pouring was a godsend. Happy to come home and receive my very own personal bottle.

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Dea

I don’t understand what “Bae-cation” means – am I missing some reference to beauty or summer? Or is this some unnecessary reference to the (adjective redacted) Beyoncé?

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D

Well, Bae means “before anything (or anyone) else” as far as I know and it seems like a play on “stay-cation” since Stay and Bae rhyme. One of the inserts also says it’s for last minute getaways.

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Dea

Thank you D! I just learned something!

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Katherine

I LOVE poopurri! Lol

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Katherine

I actually have a “to go” siMple size of it in my purse for, public bathroom emergencies… 😉

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Teresa

OMG I need this. I have #2 phobia in public restrooms which is horrible on long road trips(I prune the heck out of myself the morning prior and then dose up Imodium a few hours before leaving!). This would make my life so much easier! Must goto ebay right now, have a road trip in like 3wks and is a 12hr drive, yikes!

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