Brown Sugar Box is a monthly women of color lifestyle subscription box offering tees, accessories and lifestyle products designed by and made for Women of Color. Each Brown Sugar Box includes a graphic tank or tee and 4-5 additional full-size products ranging from drinkware, accessories, bags, jewelry, makeup, housewares, and stationery. All items are from black-owned businesses.
My Subscription Addiction pays for this subscription. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes).
About Brown Sugar Box
The Subscription Box: Brown Sugar Box
The Cost: $39.95 a month + shipping
The Products: 1 graphic tee or tank plus 4-5 additional full-size lifestyle products
Ships to: the US for $4.95 and International for $12.95
Good to Know: Boxes are shipped around the 15th of each month. When purchasing a subscription, you have the opportunity to select your t-shirt size and fit preference.
Brown Sugar Box November 2018 “Soul Food” Review
Each Brown Sugar Box includes a mini magazine that highlights the theme of the box, list the products included and offers interesting and inspiring articles.
The inspiration for this month’s “Soul Food” theme is explained alongside details of all the fabulous items included in this month’s box.
Highlighted in this article are four celebrities we’re thankful for. We’re thankful for Taraji P. Henson’s inspirational story and recent work helping to address the challenge of mental illness in our community. We're grateful for Roland Martin for representing, defending and giving a voice to black people in the media. We appreciate all the work Colin Kaepernick has done to bring attention to the issue of police brutality. And, last but not least, is my favorite Yara Shahidi! She is beautiful, talented, woke and inspirational. Love her!
The next article provides holiday travel tips like making realistic plans so you don’t overschedule yourself, checking to make sure your car is road-trip ready, bringing along all the tech accessories needed to keep your devices charged and using apps to find good deals. This is all common-sense advice but, is it me, or does this look like an ad for a travel rewards Visa? The formatting is wonky.
Looking for gifts for the amazing men and women in your life? These holiday gift guides have a few suggestions for finding the perfect gift. There’s nothing really unique or different here for the women but there are a few cool gift ideas I might steal for my hubby.
What better way to celebrate this month's "Soul Food" theme than with the staffer's favorite recipes? I'd love to try Denaya’s honey garlic salmon and Brittney’s rice and beans but it’s going to be a strong “No” to Nicole’s congealed salad!
The next page features 5 brown sugar cocktails. I have a really good spiced wine recipe that my friends love. I might try this version to add a new twist. Also, where are the vodka-based drinks? I'm not a big fan of dark liquor. On the next page, there's also a soul food crossword puzzle. I'm horrible at crosswords!
Brown Sugar Babes are invited to share pictures of themselves on social media for a chance to win a free box. Highlighted are pictures from last month’s “Shero” themed box.
This “Stay Inspired” playlist will help you stay focused and encouraged throughout the holidays and as we begin to wrap-up the year.
The back cover of the magazine has a picture of a very beautiful woman with the cutest box braids.
“Soul Food” Tee – Listed Retail Value $28
This might be my favorite Brown Sugar Box exclusive t-shirt! I chuckled at the saying “In a world full of snacks, be soul food!”. The blue and yellow colors are cute and complementary. I like the font choice for the wording. The slang phrase “looking like a snack” has been so popular lately but I encourage us to not just be eye candy, but to be soul food!
Decorative Dessert Plates, set of 2 – Listed Retail Value $10
These dessert plates are so chic and perfect for the holiday season. One plate says "Bless this bread. Bless this meat. Bless this belly, cause I'm gonna eat!" which is similar to a quote from Reverend Williams in the 1997 movie Soul Food. The other plate says “Loving you is like food to my soul.” from Boyz II Men's hit song "A Song for Mama". Love it!
Kitchen Utensil Set – Listed Retail Value $18
This six-piece wooden kitchen utensil set is adorable! Each utensil has a saying such as "stir it up" and "just beat it". So fun and creative. These utensils might just be too pretty to cook with but they'll make for a cute counter accessory.
Oven Mitts, set of 2 – Listed Retail Value $15
I received the green oven mitts which I think are a great match for the dessert plates. The pattern is a subtle floral print with a bit of shimmer. The mitts are 100% cotton, constructed well, and fit comfortably.
“Carla Hall’s Soul Food: Everyday and Celebration” by Carla Hall – Retail Value $29.99 (found here for $13.74)
The fabulous Carla Hall is a former model, TV personality and acclaimed chef. Dubbed "The Queen of Thanksgiving Side Dishes", Carla makes amazing soul food rooted in African American culinary tradition. I plan to try so many recipes in this book! Carla’s cookbook is organized in chapters for appetizers, vegetables, beans, cornmeal, breads, poultry, meat, seafood, seasoning and condiments, desserts, drinks, and even celebration menus! Her New Year's menu sounds delicious!
Verdict: I’ve been a Brown Sugar Box subscriber from the very beginning – it is one of my favorite boxes. Izzy & Liv is a brand with a mission that I love to support. I haven’t been wowed with some of the recent boxes but this box knocks it out of the park! When I lifted this heavy box off of my front porch, I just knew there would be awesomeness inside. I’m not exaggerating when I say that I like every single item in this box. The t-shirt is my favorite and Carla Hall's cookbook will be used heavily, especially this holiday season. Unlike last month's box, I have no complaints regarding the quality of the items or the stated retail value. Great Job Izzy & Liv! I'm already looking forward to next month's box.
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? No, but sign up today to receive next month's box or join the waitlist.
Value Breakdown: The listed retail value of this box is $101. At $44.90 a box, here’s what you are paying approximately per item:
- “Soul Food” Tee – $12.45
- Decorative Dessert Plates – $4.45
- Kitchen Utensil Set - $8
- Oven Mitts – $6.67
- Carla Hall’s Soul Food Cookbook – $13.33
Check out all of our Brown Sugar Box reviews and more women of color subscription boxes in the Women Subscription Box Directory!
Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!
What do you think of this month’s Brown Sugar Box?
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.