JoahBox is a monthly Korean subscription box for beauty lovers that sends 4-5 full-size Korean beauty products worth $60 in retail value.
This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
The Subscription Box: JoahBox
The Cost: $33 per month with discounts available for longer commitments. Free worldwide shipping.
ACTIVE DEAL: Save 10% off!
CODE: Myjoahbox
The Products: 4-5 full-size Korean beauty products
Ships to: Worldwide
Check out the Beauty Subscription Box Directory for more K-Beauty subscriptions and make sure to add JoahBox to your subscription list or wishlist!
The box arrives with an informational card detailing each beauty product.
Bonvivant Antigravity Contour Massage Stick 9 g/0.32 oz. - Value $14
Bonvivant is a Memebox in-house brand. This product aims to firm the skin and boost elasticity. It contains hyaluronic acid to help minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The stick doesn't have any fragrance and is easy to swivel up and down. Its performance is sub-par though. The stick is so friction-y that it feels like I'm trying to rub dry deodorant on my face. It pulls on my skin with each stroke across the face. It's especially difficult to use around the under eye area without roughing up my delicate skin. Instead of minimizing fine lines and wrinkles, I feel like this stick only exacerbates it. To top it off, I don't notice any differences in my appearance after use. There may be better results for someone with more mature skin, but for me, it's a big "nope."
Esthetic House CP-1 Ceramide Treatment Protein Repair Systems - Listed Value $16
This hair treatment comes in a huge syringe! It aims to strengthen damaged and fragile hair by forming a protective layer on the hair surface. Not only is the packaging fun, but it also helps me apply hair treatment easily and evenly onto my hair. It has a sweet fragrance that lingers until the treatment is washed off. I have oily hair but damaged ends, so I look for a treatment that revives my strands without being too greasy or heavy. Unfortunately, this formula weighs down my hair, making it look flatter than usual, which is the complete opposite of what I want. My hair also feels greasier faster whenever I use the treatment. It's another miss for me.
The next two items are meant to be used together:
Etude House Dear My Glass Tinting Lips Talk in PK002 - Value $8.32
This is a sheer lipstick with a glossy finish and slightly buildable coverage. I received the color PK002, which is a hot pink that's gorgeous for spring. What's special about this lipstick is that it comes without a case, which comes in a variety of designs but is sold separately.
Etude House Dear My Glass Tinting Lips Talk Case in #5 - Value $4.16
This is the corresponding case. It's made of lightweight but sturdy plastic. The one I received has an adorable watermelon design with googly eyes.
The lipstick fits perfectly into the case with a slight click. It looks super glossy when first applied but it settles into a more natural-looking finish after half an hour. Similarly, the color looks shockingly neon pink at first, but after a while, it turns into a more muted shade that looks nice on my warm-toned skin. The formula is slightly moisturizing and comfortable to wear. In fact, it feels like I'm wearing lip balm the whole time. The color does transfer and lasts several hours before I need to reapply. I feel a bit disappointed that the lipstick and case essentially amount to one item. However, I love the customizable aspect of this lip line so I purchase more shades from Etude House.
Here is a swatch of the Etude House lipstick.
Rose Mine 2015 Perfumed Hand Cream 60 ml/2 oz. - Listed Value $9
This lightweight hand cream with a soft clean scent. I like the charming floral and polka dotted packaging. The cream sinks into the skin like a dream and imparts just a subtle whiff of fragrance. My hands don't feel greasy at all afterward. I love it!
Verdict: Overall, I think JoahBox shows lots of promise. I love the hand cream, plus the Etude House lipstick is wearable, but the other two items do not work for me. The total value (calculated from sale prices) is around $51, which is much higher than the cost of the box. According to the listed values on the info card, everything adds up to more than the guaranteed $60 retail value. However, some of those values do not match the prices I found online. For example, the retail price for the Bonvivant Anti-Gravity Contour Massage Stick is $18 on Memebox, whereas JoahBox lists it as $24. Therefore, I would take those listed values with a grain of salt.
On the plus side, I love that JoahBox included seasonally appropriate and brand new items from well-known Korean brands. For example, the Etude House Dear My Glass Tinting Lips Talk lipstick is part of their newly released Spring 2017 line. It's uncommon for subscription boxes to send trendy, newly released products straight from South Korea (with free shipping, too)!
What do you think of JoahBox?
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