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NewBeauty TestTube Subscription Review – May/June 2019

Megan K.
ByMegan K.May 6, 2019 | 37 comments

New Beauty Test Tube April 2019 review New Beauty Test Tube April 2019 review open box

NewBeauty TestTube
3.5 overall rating
122 Ratings | 31 Reviews

NewBeauty TestTube is a bi-monthly beauty and makeup subscription box. Every other month they send you a tube full of deluxe and full-size beauty samples and you also get a digital subscription to New Beauty Magazine. It’s a little pricier than other beauty subscriptions, but in general, the value is usually great.

New Beauty Test Tube April 2019 review tube front New Beauty Test Tube April 2019 review tube side

This box was sent to us for review purposes. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes).

New Beauty Test Tube April 2019 review all contents

About This Box

The Subscription Box: NewBeauty TestTube

The Cost: $29.95 a box plus $8.95 shipping (ships every other month)

The Products: Deluxe and full-size beauty products. (This subscription also includes a subscription to New Beauty Magazine).

Ships to: US only

Our May/June 2019 Review

New Beauty Test Tube April 2019 review booklet cover New Beauty Test Tube April 2019 review booklet intro New Beauty Test Tube April 2019 review booklet New Beauty Test Tube April 2019 review booklet New Beauty Test Tube April 2019 review booklet New Beauty Test Tube April 2019 review booklet New Beauty Test Tube April 2019 review booklet back cover

NewBeauty TestTube is one of my favorite subs because they send really unique and new items, many of which I have never even heard of! This booklet is a great reference for each item we received this month. It is full of additional info, interesting facts, and editor commentary.

Now, on to the items!

lotion New Beauty Test Tube April 2019 review lotion back info New Beauty Test Tube April 2019 review lotion detail

JKosmmune Lotion, 50 ml - FULL SIZE! Retail Value $32.00

I have never tried anything from this brand so of course, I wanted to do a little research in addition to testing it out. The main selling point here is "Highly pure (99.99%) and potent beta glucan" and I am not sure what that is or why it is beneficial. A little more digging and I found out that this is the first company to use it in the US, so I feel a little less awful about not knowing what in the world it is. Upon further reading, I learned it is a mushroom extract that helps with collagen production, reduced redness, fades fine lines, and is said to help with your overall immune system. That is a lot of potential! This might be a product I need to use over time, but the immediate effects were indeed redness reduction, moisture, retention, and plumper looking skin. It has a light citrus scent and the ingredients themselves are free of parabens, ethanol, talc, mineral oil, silicone oil, benzophenone, Phenoxyethanol, and parrafin. Ingredient conscious beauty fans take note! The formula itself was a little heavy but felt great on my skin.

New Beauty Test Tube April 2019 review cuticle oil New Beauty Test Tube April 2019 review cuticle oil bottom detail info New Beauty Test Tube April 2019 review cuticle oil detail

NCLA So Rich in Rose Petals - FULL SIZE! Retail Value $18.00

I recently started getting my nails done regularly as a little treat to myself. (I also have pictures of my hands on the internet more often now and I am a little vain.) I get an acrylic overlay since my nails are small and super weak and I always thought that an oil would promote lifting. I picked my manicurist's brain at my last appointment and she told me that in terms of acrylics, cuticle oil can actually reduce lifting and keep my cuticles in check between appointments. Sign me up then! This pretty bottle is scented with roses and the dropper is perfect for getting just enough oil onto each nail. I love the scent and my cuticles are much softer.

New Beauty Test Tube April 2019 review eye cream New Beauty Test Tube April 2019 review eye cream back info New Beauty Test Tube April 2019 review eye cream detail

Nyakio Quinoa Depuffing Firming Eye Cream, 15 ml - Retail Value $39.00

When I first tried this out, I thought "WOW. Why is this stuff so cold?" Well, that is because the tip is ceramic, which is actually genius for an eye cream because that super chilly surface is great for depuffing your eyes even without product. The main ingredient in this formula is quinoa, a Peruvian super grain. While I didn't notice any super drastic results with this product, it is a solid eye cream that will give your undereye a nice moisture boost and that chilling ceramic tip will feel like heaven in the summer, especially after chilling in the fridge for a little while.

New Beauty Test Tube April 2019 review shea butter New Beauty Test Tube April 2019 review shea butter back info New Beauty Test Tube April 2019 review shea butter open

Shea Terra Virgin Shea Butter, 59 ml - Estimated Value $6.67 (Buy a full size 177 ml for $20.00, found here for $16.00)

Although pure shea has so many skin benefits, I can never really get past the smell because it smells a little "foody". I generally will mix in a few drops of essential oil to circumvent this, as my sensitive legs LOVE shea butter! This blend is really, really pure and has a very low melting point, so be sure to store it somewhere cool or risk a liquid texture. This organic butter comes to us from Uganda and can be used on your cuticles, skin, and even on the tips of your hair if you dare!

New Beauty Test Tube April 2019 review hair tonic New Beauty Test Tube April 2019 review hair tonic back info

Scalpforce UV Filter Hair Tonic, 8 fl oz - FULL SIZE! Retail Value $26.00

For someone who is adamant about sunscreen, I have to admit that I ignore my hair and scalp entirely when it comes to the dangers of UV rays. This spray could be the answer, as it is lightweight, smells great, and also detangled my damp locks. I could easily see this going into someone's beach bag for those super hot sunny days next to the sea. I never make it to the beach, but I live vicariously through you! It also gave my tresses a nice shine boost, though I did have to shampoo my hair the same night after using it because, texturally, my roots just didn't feel great at the end of the day. It crossed my mind to maybe add some salt to this and use it as both a protective and texture adding spray. Has anyone ever tried anything like that before?

New Beauty Test Tube April 2019 review mmxv New Beauty Test Tube April 2019 review mmxv open New Beauty Test Tube April 2019 review mmxv bottom info

MMXV Infinitude Universal Facial Treatment, 5 ml - Estimated Value $37.50 (Buy a full size 30 ml here for $225.00)

This was another brand that was new to me and I was happy to see such an expensive product in the 'tube, even if it wasn't full size. This seven-in-one beauty cream is hoping to replace most of your other skincare products. I am always really skeptical of "perfect for all skin types and all skin concerns!" products because I just don't know if I believe anything is consistently the best choice for every person's skin. What I will say about this cream is that the texture is magnificent. It also smells great. A combination of white truffle, olive extract, and THREE (!) types of hyaluronic acids, it absorbed into my skin with no effort and immediately left it feeling very plump, calm, and hydrated. This formula layered really well under my daily foundation and they played nice together throughout the day, with no weird slipping or patching. I personally prefer something a little heavier at night. As someone who loves skincare products and experimentation, I don't think I personally would replace all of my other beloved products for one single pot. If you want an easy route to good skin care and benefits without the trial and error of other multiple products clogging up your bathroom, this might be something for you to look into. It is absolutely high-quality enough to take the place of numerous other steps/products IF that is your goal.

New Beauty Test Tube April 2019 review peel New Beauty Test Tube April 2019 review peel back info New Beauty Test Tube April 2019 review open peel

Derma E Vitamin C Peel, 2 oz - FULL SIZE! Retail Value $23.95

The color of this peel immediately knocked my socks off. It is just really pretty! The formula itself was fast acting and very smoothing. Simply apply a thin layer of this to your face, leave on for 3-5 minutes (err on the side of less time if you have sensitive skin!) and then wash it away. The lactic and alpha hydroxy acids micro-exfoliate your skin without the need for scrubbies, sugars, or salts. I was impressed with the results, especially at such an affordable price point. As with any peels, be sure to moisturize after and use sunscreen, please!

New Beauty Test Tube April 2019 review grande lash primer New Beauty Test Tube April 2019 review grande lash primer back

Grande Cosmetics Grandeprimer - FULL SIZE! Retail Value $25.00

Finally, our last product is a lash primer. I like this brand, but I have yet to find a lash primer that works well or that doesn't make mt lashes lay splayed in all directions. This formula was actually more impressive before I applied mascara over it. You could really see that white primer coating every lash. They looked downright feathery! I was really excited until I then applied mascara over it and that affect basically disappeared. Womp, womp. The difference was so minimal that I just wore one set of lashes coated and the other just with mascara all day and you couldn't tell the difference. I think I will stick to the lip products from this company instead.

Left, with Gradeprimer and a coat of Lancome Monsieur Big Mascara. Right, mascara alone.

Verdict: NewBeauty TestTube always has such a fun and interesting mix of products and a great assortment of deluxe and full sizes. While there wasn't anything earth-shattering for me this time, I did find some products I really liked. The Derma-E Vitamin C peel was excellent, and I would easily recommend this to anyone. As a recent cuticle oil convert, I really loved this pretty bottle and it has a great scent. The eye cream was also really fun, and I think a ceramic tip is basically the smartest thing ever. I also loved the JKosmmure lotion. Less exciting for me were the shea butter and lash primer, but not everything can be a win. I loved getting to try out the super expensive MMXV cream and thought the addition of the UV spray was genius for summer. This box has a value of around $206.81, which is great for a $38.90 box and meets the $150+ promised value. This high value doesn't shock me at all because this box consistently delivers, which is why it is one of my faves.

To Wrap Up:

Can you still get this box if you sign up today? It appears at sign-up that May is still available for purchase. However, make sure to email [email protected] before you order to confirm which box will be your first shipment.

Value Breakdown: At $38.90 for this box (including shipping), here’s what you are paying approximately per item:

  • Jkosmmune Lotion $5.98
  • NCLA Cuticle Oil $3.36
  • Nyakio Eye Cream$7.29
  • Shea Terra She Butter $1.25
  • Scalpforce Hair Tonic $4.86
  • MMXV Treatment $7.01
  • Derma-E Vitamin C Peel $4.48
  • GrandePRIMER $4.67

Alternatively, each of the 9 items in this box has an average cost of $4.32.

Check out all our NewBeauty TestTube reviews, and some of our other favorite beauty boxes!

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

What do you think of the May/June NewBeauty TestTube?

Starting at $50.15
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New Beauty Test Tube is a beauty and makeup subscription service. Every quarter, they send full size skincare, haircare, and makeup products. A quarterly subscription is $59/quarter or $200.60 for the entire year.

Megan K.
Megan K.
I love natural/vegan beauty products, Korean skincare, unique jewelry, and weird candies from far away places. When I am not waiting for my next exciting box you can find me painting or taking photographs of interesting people. I never leave home without pug hair somewhere on my shirt and a bold lipstick on my smile.

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37 comments

KAT

Does anyone know what month the next TestTube will be released ?

I love TestTube but skipped May bc nothing really interested me :/ the one before that was amazing ! I love SR too so that is hard to beat . But looking forward to next TestTube spoilers .

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TestTube

Hello Kat, If you haven’t done so already you may send us an email ATTN to Alyssa to confirm what your next billing date would be. ❤

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Rebecca L

Might want to try a different mascara … might not be the primer…

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Megan K.

I think it is likely just my lashes. I tried it with a few different ones. I never have luck with primers! 🙁

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Tarrah

I ordered this tube last week and it’s on its way to me now. I am super picky about ingredients. I prefer as natural as possible. Looking back at past tubes, it looks like “natural” is rare in them, but I was pleasantly surprised with this one. However, I guess I thought I had looked at the ingredients in the MMXV cream, but apparently I just got sidetracked by the insane retail value and never actually saw them, because they are nowhere to be found. Not on their website, not on any of the secondary retailer websites that sell it. lol. I finally found them on amazon and it is FULL of silicones. 😩 I was so excited to try that one. At least it’s just a sample size. Maybe I’ll still give it a go, but not excited about that. And a little disturbed that the ingredient list was so difficult to find. Tsk tsk.

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Cady

I loved this box. That Derma E mask made my skin sooo smooth! The hair spray made my hair super soft and smells lovely. The cuticle cream is always useful.

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Marion

Vitamin C has a short shelf life (I’ve read about 3 months) & it oxidizes into a yellow orange color. It makes me wonder if Derma E made this product especially this color so that consumers can’t see how quickly it goes bad. (I don’t remember any of their other products being particularly colorful… am I wrong?)

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Paula

Putting ANY skin product in a jar is completely idiotic (I’m not sure why skincare companies still do this?! Paula’s Choice is the only company that does not) — so putting a vitamin C product in a jar is about as big a waste of money as you can get. Even putting them in clear bottles causes them to spoil faster.

I’ve tried Derma E…it all seems like cheap, greasy goo to me. There’s soooo much better out there at a similar price point…

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Chantel

I like drunk elephants air free containers. Works wonderfully and you get every last drop, it’s also sanitary

Megan K.

It def does have a short shelf life, but I would suspect the orange comes from crushed orange peels being the second ingredient. It also smells like oranges in the best way!

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elaine

I was a little disappointed in this box. Just wasn’t very exciting. I am not really super excited about that hair spray though I may try it out as I live in the sunny southwest or try it on the beach.

The only thing I really liked so far was the expensive cream and the cuticle oil. THe rest of the stuff looks decent, but just kind of boring. I hope next one is better!

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Megan K.

The full size Sunday Riley last box was really hard to follow up I think!

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Barb

By the time I saw the Sunday Riley box they were shipping the May box. I emailed them asking if I could still get it but they said no…😢. Seems like most companies will honor a similar request. I’m pretty disappointed because Sunday Riley is my favorite brand.

Elaine

That’s definitely true! But it seemed like there was wider, more exciting variety last time. That said, still worth the price for sure…

Kristin

I have been using the Shea on my feet at night and then rubbing what’s left on the top of my hands I love it!

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Nina

Ooooooh good idea. My feet get so damn dry… summer AND winter!

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Jo

The March/April was my 1st box. It didn’t have a missing item, but the hair oil arrived empty (it had spilled all over everything in transit). It took 2 emails for them to get back with me. They said they’d replace my item, but I have yet to receive it. I received my May/June box (no problems or missing items), but STILL haven’t received the replacement item. 😔

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TestTube

Wow, Jo! I am so sorry about that, If you haven’t done so already please send us an email ATTN to Alyssa so we can look into your replacement order

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Luna

I decided to use the shea butter as a night time hand cream, and last night was the first time I used it. You’re so right about it’s very low melting point! While I was trying to determine just the right amount to scoop out (as expected, I got too much on the first try), what little bit I had on my finger almost immediately started to melt, and almost rolled off my finger! I actually love that it has a super low melting point, so I think I just gotta be quicker when applying it.

The shea butter left my hands super soft, but of course left a bit of a greasy film, so I left the film on the tops of my hands but wiped by palms on my arms. What was interesting though was that I washed my hands afterward (not great planning on my part), and my hands were left feeling pretty dry & tight. I know it wasn’t my soap because I’ve used the same hand soap for over a year with no issues, so I know it was the shea butter. I was wondering… does anyone have any idea why once I washed my hands with the shea butter on them they felt almost dry afterward?

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Megan K.

I wonder if it has some saponification happening? I have never tried it! I do love putting it on my feet and then sleeping in socks though. The smoothest skin ever.

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Luna

Sapo-what?? I’m going to have to look that one up. lol 😀 But I agree about how smooth it left my skin on the parts where I didn’t wash it off. Just prior to washing my hands, I was actually admiring how glowy & smooth the backs of my hands and forearms looked. No joke, but I almost wanted to take a picture of them because they looked flawless! Lol!!

Anna

Jkosmmune has great secret sales that you get their emails for. The lotion and toner are the best products I’ve used for redness.

The lotion, peel, uv spray and MMXV treatment were my favorite finds with this box. I’ve already repurchased the lotion and a couple more items from Jkosmmune.

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Megan K.

I feel like I could be easily obsessed with the Jkosmmune brand too. Trouble trouble!

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Amelia

“This organic butter comes to us from Uganda and can be used on your cuticles, skin, and even on the tips of your hair if you dare!”

What do you mean by the latter part of this sentence? “If you dare”?! You do realise that there are people in the world that use shea butter on their hair, right?

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Lawden

I know I’m late to this thread but wow, she clearly was just giving a little warning with a joking tone, some ppl like myself have super oily roots and would never put that in the hair, you do realize that don’t you?? Maybe try getting in some yoga in your daily routine, it might help with aggression.

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Megan K.

I absolutely do realize this, but I also know there are people who don’t like hair oils or might be concerned about using a heavy oil in their hair, just like people who are nervous about putting thicker oils on their face. Thanks for reading Amelia!

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DeeCee

I enjoyed my tube, it was my first but the NCLA oil was missing from my tube! I sent the company an email and absolutely no Reply in 4 days so I am not happy with their customer service. 🤷🏻‍♀️😭💅

Does anyone know if testtube usually come with missing items?

On another note, thank you for a great detailed review 💕

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Jo

The March/April was my 1st box. It didn’t have a missing item, but the hair oil arrived empty (it had spilled all over everything in transit). It took 2 emails for them to get back with me. They said they’d replace my item, but I have yet to receive it. I received my May/June box (no problems or missing items), but STILL haven’t received the replacement item. 😔

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Paula

You need to call. Even that was a pain because they changed their 1-800 number, but I finally reached them when I was missing an item. Took them a week to ship it…ughhh

DeeCee

Oh wow, that’s really poor customer service!

Lindsay

I was missing the Shea butter. I reached out and they got back with me within 48 hours. CS was helpful and they set expectations for replacement delivery

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DeeCee

Wow I am now super bummed because I never heard back from them! 🤔

Kathryn

I’m so glad I read this review so I would know that lotion is for faces and not hands like I thought 🤦‍♀️
Also, as far as primers I felt the same way about this one, but I adore the benefit they’re real primer. It’s my every day mascara, because its pretty natural looking but it’s also great as a primer! It’s brown so you don’t have to worry about covering up white, doesn’t make lashes hard and stuck in place, and really takes my natural lashes to a better place (a little length, little volume).

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