Facebook PixelRicky's NYC Cult Crushes Beauty Review - July 2018 | MSA
My Subscription Addiction
My Subscription Addiction
Our reviewers research, test, and recommend the best subscriptions and products independently; click to learn more about our editorial guidelines. We may receive commissions on purchases made through links on our site.

Ricky’s NYC Cult Crushes Beauty Review – July 2018

Marne Orenich
ByMarne OrenichJul 19, 2018 | 25 comments

Cult Crushes box

Cult Crushes
3.4 overall rating
30 Ratings | 6 Reviews

Cult Crushes is a monthly subscription box from Ricky's NYC that gives you the chance to test their hottest brands and products – both classic and new – and learn how to optimize them through exclusive online tutorials lead by influencers they love.

looking down into Cult Crushes

Reviewed by popular demand!

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

contents of july Cult Crushes

About Cult Crushes

The Box: Ricky’s NYC Cult Crushes

The Cost: $14.00 per month + free shipping

The Products: Each month, subscribers receive a themed selection of handpicked products in cosmetics, skincare, haircare, and fashion.

Ships to: US

Good to Know: The price went up from $11.00 to $14.00 in June of 2018.

Ricky's NYC Cult Crushes July 2018 Review

Cult Crushes card other side of Cult Crushes info card

First, you'll see an info card that lists all of this month's Cult Crushes. This month's theme is "Hot Tropics".

Smack Beauty Volumizing Lash Serum open Smack Beauty Volumizing Lash Serum

Smack Beauty Bat Those Lashes Volumizing Lash Serum, 0.24 oz. - Retail Value $19.99

The first item this month is new to me: a lash serum! Though I love mascara, I've never dived into anything else concerning my lashes. This stuff contains biotin to help those babies grow and a peptide blend that conditions and softens your lashes. I found that the skinny brush makes for really easy application along the top lash line and the formula wasn't too thick to spread or so thin that it dripped. They say to use this daily for best results, so I guess we'll see how it goes!

LA Splash Wickedly Divine Liquid Lipstick in Death Dealer top of LA Splash Wickedly Divine Liquid Lipstick in Death Dealer LA Splash Wickedly Divine Liquid Lipstick in Death Dealer with wand

LA Splash Wickedly Divine Liquid Lipstick in Death Dealer - Retail Value $18.00

"Death Dealer" isn't as scary as it sounds, but a really deep purplish red hued liquid lipstick. I received this same lipstick on my first Cult Crushes box back in October of last year but in a different (darker) color and I feel the same about it now that I did then. The formula is on the thin side and almost wears more like a stain than a matte liquid. It dries quickly and doesn't want to come off, so you'll get long wears out of it. I fancy this color to be more for Fall than Summer since I wear bright pops in the warmer months. I still love the applicator wand though! It delivers a lot of color at once.

LA Splash Vanishing Potion LA Splash Vanishing Potion with dropper

LASplash Vanishing Potion in Dose of Rose, 0.51 oz. - Retail Value $12.00

I feel like rose is having a moment right now. I've been getting rose toner, rose water, rose hydrosol, and this adorable bottle of waterproof makeup remover in "dose of rose" that has a heavenly scent. I actually don't use waterproof eye makeup because I don't want to have to work too hard to get it off, but I gave this a whirl anyhow. Since it has rose oil in it, it is a bit greasy going on (as it should be), plus it has aloe and vitamin c to help hydrate and protect your skin as you use it. It certainly worked, but I don't love using oil-based cleansers so I'll be passing this on unless I decide to keep it just because I love the bottle so much as well as the scent!

Glamazon Cream Highlighter open Glamazon Cream Highlighter compact looking down at Glamazon Cream Highlighter compact bottom of Glamazon Cream Highlighter compact

Glamazon Cream Highlighter in Amber Lights - Retail Value $23.00

The name "Glamazon" had me chuckle a little bit, but once I opened it up I was pretty impressed. If you read my makeup reviews, you'll know that I've been in highlighters lately. I struck out on the liquid highlighter hue from Cult Crushes a couple months ago but this one seems more suited for my skin tone (even though it's the darker of the 2 offered) and I don't own one that comes in a compact like this. I have a stick cream highlighter, but this one seems easier for me to use with my fingertips which is the preferred way for me to apply a lot of my makeup. I swirl my middle finger around to warm it up and then lightly dab it on my upper cheekbones, down my nose, and in my cupids bow to make those areas shine. This is my favorite item this month and there is such a large portion that it should last me a long time!

RickyCare Cleansing Wipes bottom of RickyCare Cleansing Wipes

RickyCare Cleansing Wipes - Estimated Retail Value $2.33 (Buy a 30 ct pack for $6.99)

Last but not least, they often include an item from RickyCare, the in-house brand. Here we have some travel wipes for removing makeup. They tend to send makeup wipes pretty often in my experience which usually has me perk up since I use wipes daily to remove makeup before cleansing. These, however, didn't wow me. They seemed a little on the dry side even the first time I cracked them open and they weren't as soft as the ones I'm used to. Since it's a travel pack, they'll do to toss in my Dopp kit for a trip, but I wouldn't purchase them.

makeup swatches

Here are swatches for the liquid lipstick and highlighter.

Verdict: When I look at this Cult Crushes box overall, I love the variety and the look. But once I get down to what I'll actually use and love, it widdles down to just a couple items. I'm interested to see if the last serum makes a difference over time, and I love the highlighter, but the liquid lipstick is a bit on the dry side and more suitable (for me) in the winter months and the wipes fell flat. The makeup remover is just too pretty for me to hate on, even if I won't use it. All in all, I received five products with the retail value of $75.32 for $14.00, so it's well worth it to share or swap.

To Wrap Up:

Can you still get this box if you sign up today? Yes! You have until the 25th to sign up and get this one!

Value Breakdown: At $14.00 for this box, here's what you're paying for each item:

  • Lash Serum: $3.72
  • Liquid Lipstick: $3.35
  • Makeup Remover: $2.23
  • Highlighter: $4.28
  • Cleansing Wipes: $0.43

Check out all of our Ricky's NYC Cult Crushes reviews and more beauty reviews via our Beauty Subscription Box Directory!

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

How are y'all feeling about this months Cult Crushes?

Starting at $11.00
Subscribe Now
Ricky’s Cult Crushes subscription box gives you the chance to test our hottest brands and products – both classic and new – and learn how to optimize them through exclusive online tutorials lead by influences we love.
Marne Orenich
Marne Orenich
Marne is a lipstick connoisseur, record collector, and twice over cat mom. She loves discovering new clean beauty brands and has quite the collection of beautifully packaged serums and moisturizers.

Join the Conversation

Please do not enter your email address in the Name field or in the comment content. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *. Remember to post with kindness and respect. Comments with offensive language, cruelness to others, etc will not be approved. See our full comment policy here.

25 comments

Lauren

Well was going to subscribe to this box but now im scared i am light skinned and always end up getting blush or lipstick that i cant use because i look like street walker… i get medusas makeup box now n again dark lip colors but the rest of the stuff i can use

Reply ButtonReply

Keila

So disappointed! Just received my box and I only received the wipes and serum. I wasn’t excited about the box in general but the fact that I only got 2 things I’m done, seriously going to cancel this pointless box

Reply ButtonReply

Stephanie Rudolph

I was really looking foward to the highlighter but got the blush instead 🙁

Reply ButtonReply

Dawn

me too and it was a very bright pink. I just don’t think I will use most of this box. I cancelled
🙁

Reply ButtonReply

Barbara

CANCELED…and never again!
Now I know that is pretty strong response, but trust me, it is warranted. Bah bye Ricky’s.

Reply ButtonReply

Bink

For those who are complaining- You do realize that this is a $14 box. You spend $10 for iPsy and get way less bang for your buck. I was a little disappointed when they raised their price But I think the value is there. The products are as good if not better than many drug store items that you’d pay $10 for a lipstick.

I’m very pale but the blush, if used correctly will work fine with my skin tone.
The lipstick I haven’t tried yet but I’m excited to.
As for the eyelash serum. I have sensitive eyes so I’m a little leery about trying it.

For the most part, I get this box because my 10 year old loves makeup and it gives me a way to let her experiment with different products without having to break the bank.

Reply ButtonReply

Lisa

Ipsy is way better everyday all day. I paused after getting ripped off in June still pretty upset about that $10 Birchbox dupe but at least I missed this crappy box.

Reply ButtonReply

Janet

Still a lot of saltiness about this box. I like the products here. I’ll use everything, except maybe the lash serum because they freak me about a bit if I’m 100% honest. I am hoping for the highlighter over the blush, though. $14 and I have 2-3 full size products coming? That’s not a bad deal to me, at all. Especially when birchbox is all samples for $10.

Reply ButtonReply

Lorie

Nope, not worth the hype AT ALL. And raising the price?? Really??? Way to go Cult Crush, way to disappoint your loyal subscribers. Glad I only got one box (at $11.00) and then cancelled!!! So sad that the greedy raised price and then lowered quality and wow factor.

Reply ButtonReply

Dea

No highlighter – I got a blush in a shade that a pale woman can’t wear without looking like a street walker on controlled substances. Disappointed.

Reply ButtonReply

DawnS

Has anyone tried the Rose Potion to remove the lippie everyone says they can’t get off? Perhaps that was the intended use? Just wondering….

Reply ButtonReply

Bonnie

I’m thinking the makeup remover oil is probably to get the long wear lipstain off. I also think the color looks a lot more summery once you put it on, as it goes more into a plummy pink, at least on me. And I too got the blush instead of the highlighter. But since I’m tan, and lighter blushes often don’t even show up, this one isn’t bad. It’s almost the same shade as the lipstain, that dark pinky plum.

Reply ButtonReply

DawnS

Just saw this lol, I was wondering the same thing about the remover oil! 🙂

Reply ButtonReply

Lisa

Cult Crushes replied to some comments on Facebook including mine and said we need that make up remover to remove the lip stick so yes they go together .

La

Yea. How is any of this ‘hot tropics’? Doesn’t make sense. Their stores have SO much stuff and it doesnt seem like the variety there is utilized…

Reply ButtonReply

Lane

What was with the preview for a fun, funky brow product, only to not have it show up in boxes this month? And that terrible neon pink blush, ughhhh. Other than that, I can’t complain much for $14 a month, and I am generally thrilled with this box, but this month was not fantastic like previous months have been.

Reply ButtonReply

Lonny

I was really looking forward to a colorful brow product, too! I have blue hair, so that would have been my preference, but any of them would have been better than makeup removers.

Reply ButtonReply

Paula

I’m canceling. This is all crap.

Reply ButtonReply

Lisa

This month is way better than last month but not worth unpausing for. I just don’t trust them with how they keep swapping out spoilers ( a lot of people got an unflattering blush) or not sending at all. I did not even want the brow product but what if next time it is something I got hopes up for. I already got Chi Chi instead of Pinky Rose .

Reply ButtonReply

RoguesEn3D

This is my first CC box. The wipes will be going in my travel bag, or gifted. I thought I would probably use the highlighter, but swapped it to someone who received the blush. I am excited to try the lippie (Ii received the same color – did everyone?) and I was thrilled to see I received the Dose of Rose makeup remover vs whatever the green bottled one is. I use raw organic coconut oil to remove all my makeup, so I’ll enjoy the Vanishing Potion. I have the eyelash serum listed for swap.

Overall, I am very happy with this box. $14, and that lipstick alone is $18. I would have used the highlighter, but I’m happier to swap it for the Glamazon blush. The Vanishing Potion smells divine. I love rose. I mix rose otto in with my facial oils, hand creams… just about any skincare I make.

Thanks for the review! I didn’t know there were different Vanishing Potions until I saw this. I saw a YouTube review showing a coconut potion and thought we all received the same.

Reply ButtonReply

Dianne

I had my Subcription on pause. I took it off pause. Looks like a fun box this month. Thanks

Reply ButtonReply

KimberlyB

Instead of highlighter, I got blush (same company, same packaging, same price), and in a shade too dark for me — and I was already able to swap it to someone for the highlighter! I would probably find it a lot easier to say NO to more subscription boxes if it wasn’t for swapping, so I hope companies know what a service we’re doing them 😀

I like the lippie, tho I’ve only worn it a few hours so far. I like the thinness and I ignore seasonal colors, haha!

I agree, Marne, rose is definitely having a moment! Rose gold and now rose. It’s fun to watch trends come and go.

I’m disappointed, a lot, that we didn’t get the colorful eyebrow product that was teased, which looked like Kat Von D’s eyebrow pomade. I’m also miffed about getting sooooo many makeup removers that past couple months. I would always rather have makeup than makeup remover, thanks. So I’m going to reach out to them and ask if we’ll get the colorful brows next month. If not, I’ll probably be unsubscribing and giving Allure another shot instead. Allure roped me in with the spoilers for this month and August.

Reply ButtonReply

JA

This box is a joke. Such generic, low-end products.

Reply ButtonReply

Anita

I got the Golden Goddess highlighter shade & so far I like it. The lipstick is so difficult to remove I basically exfoliated my lips getting it removed. Nice shade but more for winter & the packaging is cute. We’ve received wipes a lot, but I guess you can never have too many. Not impressed with these myself. Packaging really cute for the Rose makeup potion, but I hate the scent. The lash serum is going to be a wait & see item.
I’ve been with CC since December & since the price increase I think the value to me (not the retail value) has been disappointing. Still deciding if I want to give it one more month.

Reply ButtonReply

Jody

This box screams fall season to me.

Reply ButtonReply