Laurel & Reed is "a luxury-curated, cruelty-free and non-toxic beauty, wellness and lifestyle box. Every month we will delight your doorstep with a mix of 4-6 full-size products with a minimum total value of $100+. Enjoy a mix of makeup, hair care, body & skincare and wellness and lifestyle items."
This month's box is being reviewed thanks to an MSA reader request!
My Subscription Addiction paid for this box. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes).
About Laurel & Reed
The Subscription Box: Laurel & Reed
The Cost: $49.95/month + $6.95 US shipping
The Products: A mix of 4-6 full-size makeup, hair care, body & skincare, wellness, and lifestyle products with a minimum total value of $100+
Ships to: US for $6.95, Canada for $18.00, International for $34.00
Laurel & Reed August 2018 Review
The box opens to a handwritten welcome note from Natalie, hoping I enjoy the blue color-themed box!
Next is the front of the info card that doubles as a print with a water-like blue pattern.
The four items are clearly listed out with retail prices and short descriptions.
I'm excited since this is my first Laurel & Reed box, so let's get to the items!
20 East Botanicals Larimar Facial Oil, 0.25 oz. - Retail Value $15.00
I was getting so many facial oils about a year ago in beauty boxes and they've seemed to make a bit of a comeback after falling off for a while. I'm already in love with this tiny glass bottle, minimal packaging, and matching tiny glass dropper. This brand is new to me so I'm excited to give it a go. Just one single drop of this can cover a great deal of my face so this bottle, although small, will last me a while. The key ingredients are squalane, "a sugar-based non-comedogenic Ecocert oil that is sustainably sourced" that is highly moisturizing and blue chamomile which is rich in Azulene and "can soothe angry skin". I picked up on a really unique fragrance which I learned to attribute to the blue chammomile and is described as "a tea-like aroma, with hints of apple and tobacco". I kinda love it. Since this one seems especially moisturizing, I'll most likely use it at night in the colder months when my skin needs all the hydration it can get.
Cosmos Botanicals Lavender + Witch Hazel Toner, 2 oz. - Retail Value $28.00
While I have a few toners already in my queue for extended use, I can't help but want to put this one at the front of the line. Aside from having super cute packaging that features a moon on the front, this toner smells really nice with its mix of lavender and witch hazel (along with rose water). The spray also delivers a super fine mist which is hard to come by which makes it so much easier to get an even layer on my face after cleansing. The full-size 2-ounce bottle is sure to take me a long time to get through as well.
Sonäge Physiol Cellulite Contouring Creme, 6.7 oz. - Retail Value $32.00
Most of us have cellulite, and while I wish I didn't, it doesn't really bother me all that much to the point that I'll look into creams to try and reduce it. Since this item came in the box this month, I may as well try it though, right? This full-size bottle contains Arabica coffee and Japanese green tea to "help microcirculation and drain toxins and excess water to reduce the appearance of cellulite". The directions want me to dry brush or loofah my cellulite-prone areas (aka my thighs and bum) after showering before massaging the cream into my skin. I don't currently have either tool to do so and it makes me wonder how necessary it is to be effective. The cream itself is a bit more watery than it is thick and reminds me of a light baby-powder scented lotion. I'll certainly do my due diligence to see how this goes, but I won't get my hopes too high and fully accept the skin I'm in either way.
Shea Brand Jasmine Shea Butter, 3.5 oz. - Retail Value $26.00
When I saw this, I'll admit that I wasn't all that excited about receiving a tin of shea butter. But then I opened it to reveal a gorgeous jasmine scent that immediately intoxicated me. I had no idea I loved jasmine! It's a really light scent that isn't overpowering and the tin is a huge 3.5-ounce size. A little bit of this goes a long way on dry, chapped skin. I'll definitely be using this more come Winter, but until then, this is going right to my elbows after showering to help soften that skin up! It's a little greasy at first since it's such a concentrated product, but using it sparingly allows it to absorb quickly.
Verdict: Laurel & Reed sent me four products from all-natural, cruelty-free brands that I didn't know about yet, so it was fun to discover. The presentation of the box was nice and I appreciate the clarity of what I received and how I could get more. The cellulite cream was a little off-base for me, but the other three items are great and I'm excited to use them more in the future.
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? Boxes ship immediately for first-time purchases (if current box is available) with subscriptions shipping between the 15-20th of the month.
Value Breakdown: For $56.90 ($49.95 + $6.95 shipping) I received four luxury products that have a value of $101.00. Here’s what you are paying approximately per item:
- Facial Oil: $8.45
- Toner: $15.77
- Contouring Creme: $18.03
- Shea Butter: $14.65
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