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Beauty DNA Subscription Box Review + Coupon – October 2016

Haley Faye
ByHaley FayeOct 21, 2016 | 36 comments

beauty-dna-october-2016-box

Beauty DNA
4 overall rating
17 Ratings | 12 Reviews

Beauty DNA is a monthly beauty subscription service that sends you one full-size beauty item each month based on your preferences. They have three categories of items: skincare, hair, and body.

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When you sign up you take a very specific survey on your beauty preferences, and they match you with a new beauty item each month.

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

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The Subscription Box: Beauty DNA

The Cost: $25 a month with free shipping

ACTIVE DEAL: Save 20% off of your first shipment
CODE: MSA20

The Products: One new full-size product each month that matches your beauty preferences.

Ships to: U.S. only

Check out all of our Beauty DNA reviews and the Beauty Subscription Box Directory!

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

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This box comes with a card that details the item included and a why it matches your specific interests and preferences.

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I love how thoroughly they break down the details of the product they picked and also why they chose it, based off of your profile and preferences.

I’m always impressed with how thoroughly they match products, and how many details they take into consideration.

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Hydroxatone Hydrolyze Advanced Under Eye Formula - 0.5 oz, value: $52.99

(The info card says this retails for $79.95 but I don’t see it listed as that price anywhere online.)

First of all, I’ve never heard of this brand and I feel like “Hydroxatone” sounds like a diet pill. However I still gave this product a fair try – and I ended up liking it, even though I really didn’t think I would.

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My fist impression, based on the packaging, wasn’t great because the design looks very “drugstore” to me and outdated. The product also comes in a little blue jar which is trying to look fancy but is really just bulky and takes up a lot of space for a 0.5 oz product.

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When I opened it, the formula was thicker and denser than I was expecting because the info card describes it as “a light cream.” Pressing my finger to it felt a little spongey. But the product wasn’t expired, and I found that If I circled my finger once or twice it warmed a little and melted to a very silky product. When applying, it does feel a little thicker than many eye creams but it absorbs well and I personally love feeling like my under eyes are getting intense hydration.

I’ve been using this for about a week and a half, maybe two weeks by now and I have to say that I feel like I’ve noticed a decrease in the creases/bags under my eyes, particularly in photos. My eyes haven’t been puffy at all, even with some particularly sleepless nights due to my toddler teething (thanks, upper molars).

Verdict: Overall, I’m happy with my October Beauty DNA selection. I was initially turned off by the packaging and the fact that the formula didn’t seem accurately described by the info card. However, since I checked that it wasn’t expired, I felt safe giving it an honest try and I have been surprised by the effectiveness I’ve noticed. I’ll for sure finish this jar, but I wouldn’t go out and purchase this full-size myself because there are a lot of great eye creams that I know of, from brands I trust, and have formulas I love for the same price point.

What do you think about Beauty DNA? If you subscribe, what did you get this month?

Starting at $25.00
Active Deal
Save 20% off of your first shipment
Use Coupon Code MSA20
Subscribe Now
Beauty DNA is a new beauty subscription service that gives you extreme customization in discovering new beauty products each month. You fill out a very in-depth survey specifying your preferences for skincare, body products and hair products, and you will receive one new full-size product each month... read more.
Haley Faye
Haley Faye
Haley Faye first discovered the wonderful world of subscription boxes in 2012 and began writing for MSA in 2014. Over the years, she has found many subscriptions to love. Now a mom of three, her favorite boxes are ones that dress her kids, help her get organized, feed her family, send her snacks, and offer educational fun for her children.

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36 comments

Chris

I thought I was the only one having a problem. I never got a shipment last month and the next shipment date is still listed as last month. I emailed them several times and got a response saying my issue was resolved. I called yesterday and left a message, but haven’t heard back yet. In the past their customer service was good. I don’t know what is going on with them. I’m due 5 more shipments, so I hope they actually send me stuff.

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Kelly

I signed up for a two month subscription through Gilt City and then received a two month gift subscription (also through Gilt City). I received three products on time but I haven’t received anything since the end of September. Over the last month I have emailed twice and never receive a response past the initial auto-response saying they will respond to my request in 1-3 business days. Then it’s crickets. I just emailed them for the third time again. I guess I received value for the Gilt City deal but I sure wouldn’t subscribe to them at the regular price. They are so non-responsive I was starting to wonder if they are out of business.

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Chris

I have emailed them 5 times and left 2 messages. I emailed guilt city a couple days ago to tell them the problem and they emailed back that they have forwarded my issue to vendor management and I should hear back in a few days. My mom bought herself a subscription and got all 4 months.

Ragan

I am on the last month of a 4-month subscription and I did not get a November shipment when expected. I sent them an email and, coincidentally, I got a shipping notification about two weeks late (a few days after my email), though I never got a response to my email.

I feel that this time around I am getting products of much lesser value (I have subscribed maybe 3 times in the past for a few months at a stretch). Probably because of all the sales through flash sale/deal sites. I think this is probably my last go with BeautyDNA because of that.

For the record, I don’t have many “don’t send” things checked in my profile. I should be easy to match.

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Ragan

As a follow up, I did get my final product and it was RTV $82. But, I am not going to resubscribe. I got plenty of $35 RTV products, too, and honestly I would just go and buy those myself after choosing them myself instead of using a subscription service to introduce them to me.

Hannah

I’m on the last month of a 4-month deal through Gilt City and I hate to say it but I have had nothing but problems with this subscription service. I seriously recommend that anyone with skin allergies or sensitive skin avoid this service. The only good thing that I can say about them is that the customer service is excellent when you can get in contact with them. I listed that I have sensitive skin and need to avoid parabens because I am allergic to them. The first month they sent me a serum that states it is not to be used on sensitive skin. I tested it on my arm to check and had an allergic reaction. I contacted them and they sent me another item which was meh but at least I didn’t have a reaction to it. The next month I got another bottle of the same serum from the month before which I was allergic to. They sent me the Resist C15 Booster from Paula’s Choice which is the only item I received that I liked. The third month they sent me 2 items, one of which was not only expiring in the next month but also had parabens and the other was meh. I contacted them again and was informed that the profile you set up is more of a suggestion and that sometimes they have to send you items that your profile says to avoid because they have nothing else available. The rep promised me that she would make a note about my allergy to parabens. This month in my last box, they sent me another item with parabens. At this point, I don’t even want to waste my time contacting them. I just won’t renew the subscription because after $49 and having to contact them each month, I only have one good item that is worth $49. At least I broke even.

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Tiffany Wheat

I buy the gilt deals whenever they have them but I also pay full price every month that they don’t have deals and I also have two subscriptions to them. I’ve always received great products and never had any issues. The only thing I don’t like is that they will only send one specific item a year like one face wash per year 1 serum per year one shampoo per year etcetera

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Mel

Whats a guilt deal?

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Luna

They’re promos that Gilt City does occasionally where they’ll sell a prepaid subscription to Beauty DNA at a discounted price. I did the annual deal they had in the spring where it brought the boxes down to $12- or $13-something per month.

Luna

Probably goes without saying, but I meant to say that I’ve received multiples of the same “type” of products. The same types of products have always been different brands.

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Tiffany Wheat

Sesderma
Daeses Facial Mask is a mask I received

Luna

I have my profile setup to receive only skincare products, and I’ve received multiples of the same products. Just today I received my 3rd serum (and I’ve also received 2 toners), and I’ve been subscribed for 9 months. The other products have consisted of a makeup primer, cleanser, moisturizer, eye cream and hair conditioner (this was sent because one of the toner they sent was “low” value… i.e. $45). I’m really hoping to receive a face mask soon! I don’t think I’ve ever seen reviewers or commenters state they’ve received a face mask yet.

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Tiffany Wheat

Thats odd, I’ve even asked for face wash and they have told me no since it hasnt been a year since I last received one

Nicole

Do you ever change your top 5 or redo the profile because I had the 4 month gilt deal and 2 out of 3 of my products were vitamin c serums. I updated my profile though each time.

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Mel

What’s the gilt deal everyone keeps talking about?

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Kate

Every now and then you can buy a subscription on Gilt for a discount, usually either for 2 or 4 months. Haven’t seen an offer lately.

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lalloronita

I have rec’d serums from Babor and 3 Lab from them. They were both great, not expired and cost >$120 each at Nordstroms and Dermstore. I am very happy with my subscription.

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Luna

I FINALLY got a 3Lab serum this month! Yay! The card said it’s RV is $130, but Dermstore is selling it for $140.

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Laurie

I also purchased the two moth gilt deal. I was happy with the matched products received. However, they both have expiration dates within 6 mos., which leads me to believe they purchase overstocked/discontinued products from the respective companies. I received a Paula’s Choice retinol formula and an “icy blue” serum from a brand called Photo-C that I have never heard of. I have not tried that one yet. For the deal I got I can’t complain since the products were not expired, but I would not pay full price for this sub.

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Katherine

I did the GILT deal and received a Dr. Brandt cellulite cream, a 3lab neck cream, l’occitane immortelle cream, a 3lab eye cream, and a earth tu face balm. In love with ALL of them. Problem is, they’re all CRAZY expensive. Sigh.

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Mandy

I think they send Hydroxatone and Lumiere (owned by Hydroxatone) to everyone at some point in their sub no matter what the preferences.

It used to be an infomercial type product that would try anything to get to to not cancel, not disclose that you had to cancel or changing you even if you did cancel kinda thing. They were also investigated for making claims their products didn’t have the ingredients to do.

I think they have started to get back on track and might be producing a good product but I wouldn’t try it. I tried the Lumiere moisturizer they sent me and had a terrible reaction.

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Taren

Exactly. It’s over-stock and never costs that much. PLUS open jar packaging renders all active ingredients neutral (useless) within days. Subbed to Beauty DNA for a year and got the same products everyone else is getting.

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Jennifer

I received an expensive serum ($118 rv), scientific rx lifting serum. I haven’t tried it yet, and I haven’t heard of the brand. I hadn’t heard of PCA skincare either, though, and I ended up liking it. I go through serum quickly and I was pleased with my match. I really hope I can find another deal. I would pay as much as $20 a month if they keep sending good matches.

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homesweetgliese

PCA is a professional line used by estheticians. You can typically only buy their products from licensed and trained (by PCA) professionals, unless they’ve changed since I first trained with them back in 2006. Anyway, I really like a lot of their products. I wish I’d gotten some in my box when I used to sub to DNA.

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Jennifer

You can now purchase it online directly from PCA, but dermstore and lovelyskin also sell their products (or at least some of them). I received the eye cream, and I reach for it every day over several others. The price isn’t too bad if I can use a 20% Dermstore or lovelyskin coupon. I just received a Paula’s choice eye cream as a gwp, though, and I will be trying that next.

Kate

I did the 4 month deal from Gilt, and I am 3 months in. I got this same Hydroxatone eye, which I liked, an Algenist moisturizer that I love, and I just got another moisturizer from GM Collin called Sensiderm which I haven’t opened yet but it gets great reviews. I have had no problems and have been very happy with the experience. I will probably renew.

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JA

Algenist is AMAZING!

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Haley Faye

Kate, I LOVE Algenist. They’re a brand I adore since I worked at Sephora. Their complete eye renewal balm is one of my favorites and definitely one I was thinking about when comparing this eye cream to others. Thanks for reading!

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Ann

I love that brand too! The hydoxatone was a “free trial) product I’ve seen on tv where you pay for shipping then they want to send you more every month or whatever. Personally, I will never again give my cc for these free trial things again. The only way to make them stop charging your card is to go to your bank.

Christina

I got a 2 month Gilt deal, and they only shipped one item on August 13th. They never respond to my emails. Not pleased, anyone else experiencing this?

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R

I think I’m on the same boat with you. My account says my most recent shipment is on September 30, but I haven’t received anything. I’ve sent a couple of email messages, but so far there’s been no communication from them. Sad …

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Jami

I also got the deal from Gilt but got both of my shipments. The first was really nice. The second one was scary. I received a bottle of Macadamia Rejuvenating Shampoo that I could tell right away was not the right consistency and the smell was incorrect for this item/brand. Luckily I was familiar enough with this brand to recognize this. It scares me to know that there maybe unknown ingredients people are using without any idea. I hope that this was just a one-off but it is not something I would EVER try again. Good luck!

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Helen

I had a similar bad experience with them. I got the first month of the Gilt deal no problem but I had to email multiple times before they sent me the 2nd month. They basically blamed me for being overly selective in my profile. They suggested I change my profile if I wanted to get matched. Keep in mind I had to contact them. They didn’t even bother to let me know they were not sending anything or why. All while emailing back and forth I magically got matched with something highly inappropriate for my skin type and contrary to my profile. They obviously want you to match your profile to their inventory not the other way around. Customer service was a joke, what a waste of time and money.

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