Review
Sephora Favorites: Fresh Picks Perfume Sampler Review
July 23, 2021
Allure Beauty Box Review – September 2016 + $5 Coupon
Allure Beauty Box
Allure Beauty Box is a monthly beauty subscription from Allure Magazine. 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: Get a Free Mega Bundle when you sign up for a 12-month subscription! No coupon needed - just use this link.
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.
Bvlgari Omnia Perfume Mini – 5ml Value $8.25
FYI – this mini is tricky to open! Make sure to follow the illustration on the lid!
I love a perfume mini! (Because they look gorgeous on my vanity, I love them SO much more than those perfume sample vials we frequently get in subscription boxes.)
This scent is described as having notes of “Bigarade Orange, Passion Fruit, Passion Flower, Brazilian Gardenia, Cocoa Beans, Vetiver Essence.”
I’m not much a perfume wearer, but I like this scent. It’s crisp and clean!
Supergoop! Shine-On Lip Screen Broad Spectrum SPF 50 – 1.5 ml Value $7.85
This formula has a ton of shine, no stickiness, and most importantly provides SPF 50 coverage! The only downside is that this sample is super tiny – I think I’ll only get a few uses out of it.
Avene PhysioLift Eyes – 2 ml Value $5.90
This is a tiny sample, but it’s for the eye area, so the full-size version is pretty small, too (15 ml). The formula itself is lovely. It feels rich, but it still absorbs quickly and left my skin feeling moisturized and smooth.
Purlisse Prevent Blue Lotus 4-in-1 Cleansing Milk – 1 oz (Value $20)
(Good to know for swaps – inner foil seal)
If you subscribe to a few beauty boxes, you probably have received Purlisse samples by now! There are some brands that can start to feel overdone in subscription boxes to me, but this isn’t one of them because I really like the formulas.
I’ve sampled this cleanser before and it’s excellent. The creamy formula is gentle, and it doesn’t dry your skin out at all.
ORLY Breathable Treatment Color in Give Me A Break – FULL SIZE! Value $9
I wouldn’t have guessed it, but this nail polish is actually my favorite discovery in the box! It’s a new formula designed to strengthen nails and also allow you to skip top and base coats. (They had me at skipping steps!)
I would have preferred a more neutral color, but this purple shade was great for testing out the formula.
I got this coverage with only one coat! It dried pretty quickly, and the high-shine finish is still there a day later, too.
Grande Mascara – size? Value $8?
(It looks like some subscribers received the mascara and some subscribers received the primer from Grande this month. More on this below.)
This formula looked a little questionable on the mascara brush, but it went on well with no clumping issues. I’m guessing the results would be even better if I used it in combination with their primer!
I’m not sure what’s going on with Allure Beauty Box spoilers this month – their video showed both the primer, mascara and Estee Lauder serum, but they mentioned bonus items and that not everyone would receive the same bonus items. Based on MSA reader comments, it seems as though no one is getting bonus items, but some readers have had success on calling in and being told the bonus items would be mailed out to them.
I’m going to reach out to Allure about this to try to get more answers. And for future Allure Beauty Box Spoiler posts, I’ll make sure to call out that there may be variation, or not all items pictured.
Verdict: This box has a value of about $58. That’s great for a $15 beauty box, and I like the brands featured, too. I’m happy with the value, but as I mentioned above, the spoiler issue has been a disappointment for this box.
What do you think of the September Allure Beauty Box?
Allure Beauty Box is a monthly beauty subscription box from Allure magazine that takes you behind the scenes at Allure magazine. Each month includes deluxe and full sized beauty and makeup items from mostly high-end brands chosen by the editors, likely leveraging Allure's insider connections. Becomi... read more.
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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117 comments
Kim
Good news, the two items missing from my Sept box came in the mail today in an envelope, the Estee and mascara. So maybe for some of you others it will show up here soon. Over a month late, but better late than never. I am pleased they followed through.
Alice
I never got replacement products. I got a repeat of the shampoo/conditioner and another La Mer. Still would have preferred the Estée Lauder
Kay
Me, too! I received my October box and an envelope from RR Donnelly yesterday. It had the Estee Lauder eye serum and mascara. I was saving the primer just in case, and I am happy that Allure made it up.
SBR
Well, dang it! I received my box yesterday but did not get the envelope with the two missing products… i contacted them two times already. Hoping mine comes today…
Sabrina
I was told my replacements were sent out on sept 23 and then sent out again last week! Still haven’t received either of them!!! So annoyed with allure!!!
AdrianaR
Same here! I have gotten nothing. I think I am ready to cancel my subscription box with them! 🙁
Leah
No replacement products yet, no spoiler for next month. What is going on, Allure?!
Kelly
I was told on the 14th that they would be sending a replacement item and to allow 2-4 weeks for delivery. I haven’t heard anything since. A few months ago I didn’t receive the mini magazine in my box and they sent that out right away. It was even 2 day shipping which I thought was kind of crazy. It arrived via UPS.
Kelly
Out of the blue today I received my October Allure box and a separate package from RR Donnelly containing the replacement Estee Lauder serum. It had been over a month and I had completely forgotten about it.
Colleen
Just thought I’d update everyone following this thread. I was missing 2 products from August and like most people, received no Estée Lauder or Grande mascara in September. Their customer service rep said all would be mailed out to me. I honestly had little faith they would after joining in May, not receiving the foreo, or the Malley highlighter – I got the lovely elf brush. Anyway, long story short, I just called and they actually read off what I was missing and said it was shipped on 09/23. Thought others may want to check on their replacements as well since when I called in August and was promised they’d send what was missing (wet brush and the freeze eye serum) they confidently didn’t enter it in my account.
Here’s to hoping October will be without all these problems. If not, I’m moving on! Good luck ladies!
Alyce
I called on Sept 20 and was also told my items would ship on the 23rd. I called again this week and was told there is no documentation about missing items, and that those answering the phones can only “pass” on information to someone that will then fill orders…I cancelled Allure for now and will re-sub when I’m not so frustrated. The have 1,000’s of subscribers, and a few complaints does not phase them.
Sabrina
I was also told that the replacement items were shipped on the 23rd but, still haven’t received them yet :-/
Have you gotten yours?
Gail V
I haven’t received my missing products yet either:(?
SBR
On Monday, I was also told mine shipped on 23rd. On Tuesday, I got my TryIt items that I entered for, so pretty sure that is what shipped on 23rd. Today, they told me they would resend the items 2-3 weeks….
SBR
Did you get your missing items yet?
Renee
Wowww…….so not only did I not receive the mascara, but I also did not receive the Estée Lauder, AND my nail polish arrived busted, but customer service hasn’t responded to any of my messages since the 14th.
I literally only got 5 of the 8 items promised — 4 if you count how useless the lip screen is, am I right? — and that’s just not good enough to keep spending $15/month. #girlBYE
sylvia
They haven’t responded to me either…didnt receive two items. Very disappointing when.I had Ipsy they reolaced items within a week
Angelica
I cancelled because I got only 4 products too and CS basically told me too bad so sad. I’m looking for a substitute sub to take Allure’s place, maybe Boxy it’s only $6 more and has full sizes ☺
Tiffany
Email allure cs and let them know you were missing two items. I told them I didn’t receive the primer or Estée Lauder item and they promptly replied they would ship those items to me.
IronChefLo
I got my box on the 8th (I live near one of their distribution centers) and was missing the mascara & Estée Lauder, CS replied back to me promptly and said they would send me the missing items. 3 weeks later, nada. This company promises the world, you pay your money, they don’t deliver what was shown, you complain, they pacify you via CS, you’re left hanging until you forget about the initial complaint. I’ve yet to see anyone actually receive all the items in the promo picture, or the replacement products promised by CS.
SBR
It has been 2 weeks for me… I saved my chat session, and I was told 2-3 weeks. So, I will contact them again next Monday. I have only had to get one replacement item in past and it took like 10 days…. Not very hopeful…
Alyce
I know many of us have emailed and/or called about missing products. Has anyone received their replacement items in the mail?
SBR
No, but I think I found our missing eye serum! Just got an email from Allure – try it now where they give first 500 people a free sample. The eye serum is one of the items!!!! Seriously? I signed up for all 5 items but so far I have only got an email back for 2…
I am trying to stay hopeful that we get the missing two September items but now IDK…. Very doubtful
Chrystal
I emailed them today, I hope I am lucky enough to get the same response as you did. Their CS seems to be all over the place!
Britt?
I’m SO confused.. I just read this post & I had to go look.. I didn’t get any mascara, primer or nail polish. I did however get the Estee Lauder serum. (maybe if you get that, it counts 3x?) As well as the Purlisse (which by the way I didn’t notice was a cleanser) do you think I’ve been wearing it to bed? OMG. Maybe..? but I’ve gotten so many Purlisse samples over the past 3-4 mo+, I don’t know what’s what anymore. I got the lip gloss/spf, Avene Eye Cream & Perfume in a different scent/color. That’s 5. Does this constitute as a “missing item”? I just don’t know anymore & I don’t know if it’s worth going through the hassle for a sample I can pick up at Sephora or Nordstrom, etc.. I think I’m just over it all & living on Barney’s (The Dinosaur) saying, “You get what you get & you don’t throw a fit”. No. Energy. Left. Subscription. Boxes.?
sylvia
Emailed allure 5 days ago….no reply as of yet…about missing items…..figured as much
Kelly
I sent Allure an email stating that as a long time customer I was disappointed that I did not receive the Estee Lauder product or bonus items that were mentioned in the spoiler. I got an email back that there weren’t bonus items in the September box and that they would send a replacement item. This is the first month in over a year that I have really truly been disappointed with an Allure box. I will wait to see the spoilers for next month before I decide if I’m going to cancel or not.
Adriana
I also sent an email, they said the same to me but did not say they were sending a replacement product :(- just that there were no bonus items.
“Dear Subscriber:
Thank you for contacting Allure Beauty Box.
We don’t have a bonus item in the September Beauty Box.
We are sorry for the inconvenience this has caused. “
kathy
hi
I want to do the same but not finding an e-mail address. if you have a moment, pls post it
thanks
Kelly
Becca
I just got an email from Allure and the title was What’s inside the september box. It shows a huge picture of the box with all 8 items inside including mascara and primer and estee lauder. REALLY. I mean obviously all those items were supposed to be in the box. I emailed them and said I didn’t receive the extras and the response was Replacement items will be shipped out. Allow 2-4 weeks for delivery. Sorry for the inconvenience. I think I will wait and see what next months box will be before I cancel. They need to send a great box to make up for their incompetence.
shari
I never get their replacements they are awful I cancelled after months of issues with shipping and damaged boxes
Jill
That’s what I said LAST month. Needless to say, I cancelled my subscription! I hope they make it up to everyone. Birchbox looks really good…and its only $10/mo. Testtube looks really awesome, its double the price of Allure, but its only every 2 months. Check those out! Personally, I’ve stopped all beauty boxes (except Walmart free box). I have sooooo many deluxe samples to use! I just got a free Glow Box from Estee Lauder (w/ $40 purchase) and I am awe-struck!!!!! Its divine. Good luck to you!
Sarah
I emailed customer service about the missing items. I basically got back a “are you sure?” response. Of course I am sure or wouldn’t waste my time emailing customer service. It is a small box, not the wardrobe to Narnia. So we will see what happens after my response back to customer service saying that “yes” the items were missing. Hard being polite when customer service is so sarcastic.
Jodi
?
Renee
Hahaha!!! You just won this entire thread.
Patrice
yes, she did. and thanks for all of this. I was thinking about getting allure, but I don’t need the hassles.
Becca
I got septembers box today but it was missing the extras. The supergoop is so tiny and it is less than a quarter full. I liked the bvlgari omnia coral and the purlisse is a good size. I received the grande mascara and the purple nail polish. I got mascara in all of my sub boxes this month and really wish i had the primer. I don’t even know if it’s worth it to contact CS. I doubt they will send me the extras.
Sarah V
I contacted them yesterday and she said they are sending me out the extras! I got just the primer and not mascara. Plus I was annoyed the Estée Lauder eye serum wasn’t in there, she said there are different versions of the box and my version didn’t have that one but she said she’ll send it out to me anyway along with the bonus items. So it pays to call about it, hopefully this stuff actually does come!
mandi
I was stalking the Allure Beauty Box hashtag on instagram and NOBODY got the Estee Lauder! Everyone had the Avene. It’s weird because when I emailed them they said they would send the EL and the mascara, but I wonder if it’s true. I wonder if anyone actually got it?
Donna
This was my first Allure box! I bought it mainly for the Supergoop lip sunscreen, as I’ve never tried lip sunscreen, and it’s super important. The photo here doesn’t have any reference to size, but it’s so tiny, it’s the length of my pinky – and I have small hands. Not only that, when you squeeze it, there’s no product until you’re down to 1/4 inch of the lid. Extremely disappointing, and really almost misleading.
Same as others have said: mascara without the primer, no EL, no extras, and something else missing, besides the extras. Very glad LIz is taking action: we have a right to expect that Spoilers mean the truth, not just maybe!
I got my first box for $10 with the coupon, but would never pay $15 for this, so will be cancelled shortly.
I did call, and she said mine was the first complaint they got. 🙂 No real response, said someone would call me back.
Ironcheflo
That’s hilarious they said you had the first complaint they heard of! Since I live like 10 miles from one of their distribution centers, I got my box the 8th-ish. My box was missing the mascara and Estée Lauder. Emailed them that day and got the “We’ll send you the missing items right away.” response.
You were absolutely not the first complaint, that’s pure b.s.
I like my Allure box very much, I’m super disappointed in them personally for the first time. Not since the Foreo debacle have they p’d off so many subscribers! No Bueno!
Michelle
Didn’t need Ipsy, Allure AND Sephora play, so I canceled Allure last month and got Julep instead. So happy I did.
Donna
This was my first Allure box! I bought it mainly for the Supergoop lip sunscreen, as I’ve never tried lip sunscreen, and it’s super important. The photo here doesn’t have any reference to size, but it’s so tiny, it’s the length of my pinky – and I have small hands. Not only that, when you squeeze it, there’s no product until you’re down to 1/4 inch of the lid. Extremely disappointing, and really almost misleading.
Same as others have said: mascara without the primer, no EL, no extras, and something else missing, besides the extras. Very glad LIz is taking action: we have a right to expect that Spoilers mean the truth, not just maybe!
I got my first box for $10 with the coupon, but would never pay $15 for this, so will be cancelled shortly.
PS. When you sign up, they offer you the magazine, 6 mos for $5. Now, I used to make a living from selling cartoons to newspapers and magazines, but haven’t subscribed to a magazine in a few years. Still, when I thought of new hairstyles I could cut out, , all the extra fun of getting a magazine in the mail, etc, I took the offer! So there went my $5 off! No regrets on that.
Who knew I would look forward to that more than a box that doesn’t deliver the goods…
Kay
I got 6 items with primer, Avene eye cream and coral color nail polish. It seems Allure sends out nail polish every 2-3 boxes. I don’t wear nail polish often, so I am glad I received a gift-able color. I wonder if anyone received other 7 colors mentioned on the info card, but not pictured…
I called customer service asking for the “missing” 2 items from the spoiler and was told that my order will be in. Let’s see. I think Allure’s business model for their beauty boxes are not acceptable… if they cannot handle new subscribers, don’t open it for them until they can handle existing subscribers (don’t charge us and have us wait until whenever). Deliver what they promise to be in their box. Make their website more user friendly. Improve customer service to be consistent on their responses in all areas of telephone, email and chat… I can go on, lol. But I am glad to know a lot of people are contacting customer service.
Liz – thank you for reaching out to Allure. I hope you also mentioned that you received a repeat of the same perfume. I understand we receive exact same products across different subs, but receiving it from the same sub within a year is… didn’t they think we wouldn’t notice??
akbidwell
Ugh that website is so terrible.
Vanessa
Anyone looking for more Purlisse at a great deal, I have gathered a big bundle from all my subs and I’m putting it in the swaps for sale section under my eBay store vinc.emer
Betty
Glad I skipped this month. This box isn’t worth $15. Never use up large bottle of polish, prefer smaller bottles and the rest, samples you could pick up at a beauty counter for free. One of Allures worst boxes IMO.
Elizabeth
Completely agreed
Stephanie M.
Same here. Not regretting cancelling whatsoever.
Riddhi
I wasn’t too disappointed with this box. The Supergoop Lip Screen sample was soooo tiny I barely got 2 uses out of it. But I have to say I did like how it wasn’t sticky at all like almost every other lip gloss
Riddhi
Ahh I forgot to mention the mascara. LOVE IT. It’s not thick/doesn’t clump. The formula feels thick when you take the wand out of the tube but it applies thin enough to look natural. It’s more of a lengthening mascara than a volumizing one
Lisa
This is one of the rare times that I actually like the nail polish I got. The light coral color.
The Supergoop…..the packaging probably cost more than the (lack of) product which is the whole point of trying it! My take away opinion on the Supergoop is what a cute little tiny tube! The stuff inside? Not enough for form an opinion, so that sample was a waste.
Sarah V
So to be honest I defend the allure beauty box a lot because you can’t please everyone all the time and people love to complain. However, this box really annoyed me. It’s incredibly stupid of them to reveal all the spoilers for the box and then send out a different box missing several of the products originally mentioned. The Estée Lauder eye serum I was most excited about and didn’t get. There were no “bonus” items and what was there was a huge letdown. The nail polish I liked the best but got a bright purple which isn’t even a fall color. They would be smarter to send neutral shades as those please more people but if they are to send a darker color at least have it coincide with the season of when the box is coming out. This was a huge miss for allure. Revealing spoilers in their own video and then just randomly removing the best items from each box is unacceptable.
Kat
Also…I swear Allure already sent this perfume….because I loved it and started buying it.
Melissa
Neutral nail colors? Nope, nope, nope! And purple can definitely be a fall color. Gemstone colors usually go hand in hand with fall.
But I agree with you about the spoilers.
Sarah V
Well the polish I got was definitely not a gem stone color purple. It’s a bright bright purple, not AT ALL a fall shade. Which is whatever, I don’t expect to love everything in the box. I would’ve preferred a neutral shade or like you said, gemstone colors that fit with the fall season would have been perfect. But a bright bright purple is not that I’m afraid.
Barbie
I’m agreeing with you. Full disclosure – Generally speaking I absolutely LOVE their box. I’m rarely disappointed by the contents each month – Yes, some boxes are better than others, but overall, I’m never let down.
With that said, their customer service/marketing leaves a LOT to be desired. Whenever I’ve emailed them, I’m met with short, seemingly borderline rude responses, with little or no acknowledgment to the original concern. And I think it’s a bad practice to either not mention that there will be box variations, or to mention it in a reveal video so quickly that the info is very easily missed. Sending out thank you boxes randomly to subscribers who have only been subbed for a month, while others subbed for a year or more get nothing and taking memberships (& charging) for subscriptions when they’re aren’t enough boxes to go around. And did anyone receive the bonus item mentioned this month?
In this day of highly prevalent social media where we can all find out if someone got more for their $15 than we did, it seems that Allure will continue to shoot themselves in the foot and driving away loyal customers without overhauling their CS & marketing ploys.
Alyce
Does anyone know if Allure monitors the MSA threads? I’ve seen in the past that GlossyBox does.
Sarah V
It’s true I usually love allure and have defended them on here in the past, I don’t expect to love every item each month but not getting the items that were revealed to be in the box is totally unacceptable. I actually called a bit ago and said it was pretty annoying the box didn’t contain the things they said it would, especially the Estée Lauder eye serum, I’ve been a subscriber for a long long time and never complained or called before. I wasn’t expecting much based on the bad customer service I’ve read about people getting but the girl said there were different versions of the box, some with the Estée Lauder eye serum and some with the avene, same with the mascara and primer. So she said she will send me out an entire new box and will send me a totally sepesrate package with the Estée Lauder eye serum. So that’s awesome, it almost sounds too good to be true lol. If that actually happens I receive a whole other box and the Estée Lauder serum separately that would be amazing. I guess we’ll see if these things ever actually show up now lol.
Sarah
I still haven’t received a replacement item for my June bronzer that was smashed to dust. I’ve contacted them three times about it, and each time they’ve said they’ll send something. Nope. Nada. I wouldn’t hold out too much hope that they will make good on these bonus items. 🙁
Adeline
I received a L’Occitane shower oil and it leaked on everything. I even had pictures. CS said they would replace it but its been half a year now, I don’t think that they still plan on replacing it. Not to mention they said they would replace it with something else since they no longer have the shower oil but CS would not commit to the item that they would randomly replace it with.
Ashley
I love the brand but that shower oil was awful… Smelled like fried chicken when you washed with it and made my skin feel gross… Also hardly lathered at all.. Just my opinion, but it may be a good thing you didn’t get this?
Annette
I have a yearly subscription and a monthly sub to Allure, I didn’t get the bonus items in either box. I used the chat online option for customer service to inquire about the missing itemS, the mascara primer and the Estée Lauder item. The CS rep asked me how many times were in my box and I said 6. They stated that was all any one would get in their box. I stated the spoiler was misleading and got the ” sorry you feel that way” response.
Heather
I’m so glad I skipped this month. I feel like they’ve been going downhill since the Foreo Luna debacle. The last Target box made me happier than this would have!
Renee
My box — sans bonus item — arroved with the nail polish busted, and had leaked all over everything. It was the dark purple shade. I contacted CS. They said:
“Thank you for contacting Allure Beauty Box. Please verify if you want the nail polish replaced and what color would you prefer: Nourishing Nude (Neutral), Light as a Feather (Pink Creme), Nail Superfood (Birght Watermelon Creme), Beauty Essential (Red/Coral Creme), Love My Nails (True Red Creme), Just Breathe (Perriwinkle Creme), Feeling Free (Iris Purple Creme), Pick-Me-Up (Deep Plum Creme), Give Me a Break (Bright Magenta Creme), TLC (Bright Orchid Creme)”
I responded with: “Yes, I would like the polish replaced, and I would prefer the shade Love My Nails (True Red Creme).”
THEIR response? “Unfortunately, we cannot replace with a certain color, but we will send a replacement polish.”
…….um… Okay… Why ask me to choose one in the first place??? Which is what MY next question to them was. Yeah, haven’t heard anything back. It’s been awhile.
Melissa
Oh my gosh, this is just too much!
Luna
I got my box today, and I’m pretty happy with it! I got the mascara instead of the primer. I checked, and I had actually received the full sized primer in a Test Tube. Fortunately, I haven’t used it yet, so I’ll be able to pair them up. I also received the Coral perfume which I’m so happy about since I received the blue one earlier this year. I really liked the scent! I also received the reddish/pink nail color. This will my 3rd Super Goop lip balm this month since I’m getting two from Birchbox (one in the curated box, and one in the sample pick box), so at least those three will make one deluxe sized sample. I’m also using my first Avene product right now (the micellar water), which I love, so I’m really looking forward to trying out the eye cream. I’m also currently using the Purlisse eye serum & moisturizer w/SPF which I love, so I’m looking forward to trying the cleanser. The missing Estee Lauder item would have been nice to try out though.
