Bomibag is a monthly Asian beauty subscription containing mostly sample sizes, enabling you to try new products before spending money on the full size. You will receive a combination of Japanese and Korean samples. Cancel or skip months at any time by logging into your account.
There are two subscription options: BomiBox and BomiBag.
This is a review of the BomiBag which is $19.99 a month.
My Subscription Addiction pays for this subscription. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes).
About Bomibag
The Subscription Box: Bomibag
The Cost: $19.99 + free US shipping
The Products: Sheet masks, deluxe samples, and/or trial sizes of Japanese and Korean beauty products
Ships to: the US and Worldwide
Bomibag November 2018 Review
There was no information card included in the package. However, subscribers received an email with links to information about the products, which you can see here.
Pyunkang Yul Acne Sample Pouch – Estimated Value $2.87 ($4 AUD)
This contains a facial cleanser, a toner, a cream, and a spot cream. I could only find this on overseas websites so I’ve linked to an Australian one and done the currency conversion for you so I could get a value. There was enough of each item to try once (well, I ended up losing half the toner due to fumbling while trying to open a foil packet containing thin liquid!) and enough of the spot cream to try for a long time (at least for me). None of the products irritated my skin and I do feel the cleanser worked (just tried it in the morning, not to remove makeup) and the cream was moisturizing. But to really see how this would work on acne, I think you’d need to use each product for a longer period of time.
Heimish All Clean Balm (5 mL) – Estimated Value $0.79 (buy 120 mL for $19)
This is a cleansing balm meant to be the first step in a double cleanse routine. Ever since I learned about double cleansing, I have used this method to remove makeup as I tend to wear rather heavy makeup with primer and finishing powder because I really hate having a lot of shine at the end of the day. Anyway, this is a solid balm that you apply to dry skin, then rinse and use a second cleanser (usually foaming) afterward. This worked quite well, though I am a little reluctant to buy solid cleansing balms (as opposed to oils) as one I used to use clogged the drain of my bathroom sink over time. There was enough for two uses.
Hyggee All-in-One Tightening and Firming Mask – Retail Value $5 (found here for $2.50)
This is quite a mask. It has the most fabric of any mask I’ve ever used and covers every square inch of the face (except the eyes and so forth). There are even two separate sets of loops to go around your ears, which is something I’ve never seen before. If you have ever worried about a mask sliding off while you’re wearing it, that is definitely not a problem here. This has quite a few plant extracts I’m not familiar with but some of those I recognize include bergamot and tea leaves (sources of antioxidants), matricaria extract (soothing), plus moisturizing ingredients like hydrolyzed collagen (holds on to moisture near the surface of the skin) and sunflower oil, plus niacinamide for brightening/reducing redness. This had a ton of serum and my face took awhile to dry after I removed it. Glad I didn’t use it in the morning before work, but it was a nice luxury on a weekend.
Rovectin Skin Essentials Barrier Repair Cream Concentrate (10 mL) – Estimated Value $6.22 (buy 45 mL for $28)
This is advertised as being for extremely stressed skin conditions. My face and neck (intended areas of application) are not particularly stressed or dry, so I tried this out on the backs of my knuckles, which are cracked and bleeding from cold weather and lots of hand washing (a necessity when you have sick pets!). It did not irritate dry, cracked skin at all, and actually softened the skin enough to make my hands feel a little better. This is a bit spendy to use as *just* a hand cream, but I like the effect it had on my knuckles so I may keep using it there.
Benton Snail Bee High Content Steam Cream (12g) – Estimated Value $4.80 (buy 50g for $20)
A “steam cream” is blended using high temperatures and steam and product information says this increases the efficacy of the formula, but I have to admit I am not sure why that would be the case. This is one I’d suggest doing a patch test with before using as it has willow bark (source of salicylic acid) as well as bee venom. It seems like a good moisturizer so far (I’ve been using it in the evenings as a last step in my skincare routine). It does have a ton of moisturizing ingredients like snail secretion filtrate, jojoba oil, sunflower seed oil, safflower oil, argan oil, sodium hyaluronate, and a few fatty acids. This is probably a good time to mention that you really shouldn’t expect Asian beauty subscriptions to include vegan products. Yes, it happens sometimes, but you’ll get your fair share of snail-, bee-, and collagen-based products as well.
Nature Republic California Aloe Daily Sun Block, SPF 50 (57 mL) – Retail Value $23.90
This is an odd inclusion for a winter box – whenever I go outside, which is absolutely rarely in the cold, I am bundled up in many layers and get almost no sun exposure. I will be saving this for a few months until it warms up, though I am not complaining about getting a full-size product in this box, especially since it is something I will use eventually. This has a mixture of chemical and mineral sunscreen ingredients and is interesting in that it also has some antioxidants (protect against free radical damage) and aloe (soothing after burns but also moisturizing). Because of the chemical sunscreens (homosalate, etc.) I will be using this only on my arms instead of my face as I have occasionally had sensitivity reactions to such compounds in the past.
Verdict: I calculated a total value of $43.58 for Bomibag. That is more than twice the month-to-month value of Bomibag (and also well over twice the value received last month). Considering it is difficult to find the same K-beauty item on two different websites for the same price, and that some prices displayed online don’t include shipping, and some change by the day with the exchange rate, I feel like the value is certainly there. Although the sunblock was an odd inclusion in a November b0x, it will still be useful to me. The mask was fun to try out and I generally had good results and no irritation for any of this month’s products (plus they were all new to me, as were many of the brands).
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you subscribe today? No, your first shipment would probably be December’s.
Coupon - Use code BOMIPOP to save $2 off your first box!
Value Breakdown: At $19.99 for this box, here’s what you are paying approximately per item:
- Acne sample kit $1.32
- Cleansing balm $0.36
- Mask $2.29
- Rovectin cream $2.85
- Seam cream $2.20
- Sun block $10.96
Check out all of our BomiBag and BomiBox reviews and the Beauty Subscription Box Directory for more great K-beauty subscriptions!
Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!
What did you think of the November 2018 Bomibag? Do you get any K-Beauty or Asian Beauty subscriptions?
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.