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Laurel & Reed Natural Beauty Review + Coupon – December 2019

Marne Orenich
ByMarne OrenichJan 16, 2020 | 7 comments

Laurel & Reed
4.3 overall rating
9 Ratings | 3 Reviews

Laurel & Reed is a cruelty-free and non-toxic beauty subscription for $49.95/month + $6.95 shipping to the U.S. You'll get 4-6 full-size products each month that have a minimum total value of $100+.

This 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 this All-Natural, Cruelty-Free Beauty Subscription

The Subscription Box: Laurel & Reed

The Cost: $49.95/month + $6.95 US shipping. Discounts available for longer commitments.

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: The US for $6.95, Canada for $14.00

Laurel & Reed December 2019 Review

Laurel & Reed comes in a beautiful gift box with a black ribbon tied in a bow. For that reason, they pack it in an outer cardboard box so the presentation doesn't get ruined.

 

There's a card that simply states all of the things you can expect from the subscription and another info card that features a lovely print on one side with the items clearly listed out with retail prices and short descriptions on the other.

 

Votary London Jasmine and Calendula Facial Oil, 1.01 oz. - Retail Value $102.00

I have never come across this brand before, but I just read that it's also the featured brand for Boxwalla in February so I am clearly in the dark on this one. One look at the price tag of this one-ounce bottle makes me hope that this is a miracle worker for those who pay full price for it! The packaging is gorgeous, but I have to say that I'm not loving the top which reminds me of essential oils. I just wish this came with a dropper instead. Shaking this small bottle vigorously at my fingertips doesn't look very elegant. This calming facial oil uses jasmine (to rejuvenate) which is one of the star ingredients here along with calendula (which promotes healing and regeneration) along with rosehip, grapeseed, and apricot oil to chill out and nourish the skin. This blend feels really nice on the skin and delivers super soft skin immediately upon absorption. For some reason, jasmine is not a scent that I really connect with so while this is probably a nice smell for most, it's a bit floral for me.

 

OSEA Essential Corrective Complex, 0.34 oz. - Retail Value $32.00

I haven't seen OSEA in a box in a minute! At one time, this brand was everywhere and I tried many different products of theirs. However, I've never tried this spot treatment that comes in a rollerball. This formula is packed with tea tree, white thyme, and juniper which really brings a potent and clearing scent to it. Their website says that it can be used as an all-over treatment for blemish-prone skin, but it's a bit overpowering for me. I am happy to report that I rarely get breakouts, so I can either hold on to this and use as a spot treatment when I need to, or pass it along to one of my girlfriends that would need it more. I do think that the rollerball bottle for this is a great idea though and makes it a breeze to use.

 

Honua Skincare Moana Mask, 1.7 - Retail Value $38.00

Honua Skincare makes amazing non-toxic products made with quality ingredients from Hawaii. I've become very familiar with them over the years since they are often featured in beauty boxes. Luckily, I've never received their Moana Mask before, so I was eager to check it out. First of all, they have well-designed boxes that are recycled and include information on both the inside and out. They always feature nice glass jars with wooden lids that look natural and classy at the same time. This avocado-green mask contains the antioxidant-packed Hawaiian spirulina (a blue-green algae), laukahi which is a healing plant used for centuries in traditional Hawaiian medicine, macadamia nut oil, and aloe vera. The mask is so creamy and light and feels great on my face. I can see storing this in the fridge for some added coolness. I can see why they named this mask Moana (meaning "ocean" in Hawaiian) since I feel so fresh and hydrated after using it.

 

Mai Couture Highlighter Paper in Crystal Cove, 30 ct - Retail Value $12.00

I can't recall seeing highlighter in this format before so I am tickled by the unique idea. They're packaged in sheets like blotting papers, but each one contains a dusting of glowing goodness that can be dabbed or dragged across cheekbones to add a touch of highlighter to the face. I've successfully used these a few times now and am really loving the convenience on the go and the quality it delivers. It's a little weird at first, but it really does give the perfect amount of glimmer to my face. These are clearly great for travel and I honestly have just torn them in half since I don't need an entire sheet for both sides of my face.

The Verdict: Laurel & Reed's December box was delightful but a couple of the products didn't excite me scent-wise. I loved the mask from Honua and the highlighter sheets are fun and new to me, but the corrective complex and facial oil (although completely nice to use) didn't work with my sniffer. Megan seemed really interested in trying the Votary product so I'll probably pass it on to her knowing she'll enjoy it. For those who love jasmine- you should give it a whirl because it made my skin lovely! This box has an incredible total value of $184 which is more than three times the cost.

Looking for more clean skincare boxes? Check out our Best Niche & Specialty Beauty Boxes list!

To Wrap Up:

Can you still get this box if you sign up today? Boxes ship immediately for first-time purchases (if the current box is available, which this one is) with subscriptions shipping between the 15-20th of the month moving forward. It's best to reach out to them directly to find out which box you'll receive. You can also purchase any past boxes still available on their site for a one-time purchase of $49.95 (+ shipping).

Value Breakdown: For $56.90 ($49.95 + $6.95 shipping) here’s what you are paying approximately per item:

  • Facial Oil: $31.54
  • Corrective Complex: $9.90
  • Face Mask: $11.75
  • Highlighter Paper: $3.71

Read all of our Laurel & Reed reviews if you're still wanting more!

You can also keep track of your subscriptions by adding this box to your subscription list or wishlist!

What's your favorite product from December's Laurel & Reed?

Starting at $43.95
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Laurel & Reed is a clean beauty subscription box that features only full-size, non-toxic and cruelty-free products. Consciously curated, each month you will receive 3+ products with a minimum value of $125. From indie and small batch brands to cult favorites, each month we will delight your d... read more.

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.

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7 comments

Desertcape

Oooo this looks good!

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Marion

Ooh, me! I love jasmine scents! 👀👀

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Gintare

I loved the Votary oil. I have combo skin and live in FL, so it was so lovely it absorbed so quick. Also, word of advice: turn the bottle upside down and let the gravity do the work. You will have a perfect amount on your fingers within few seconds. I also loved Moana mask. The two misses were highlighter sheets (I rarely wear makeup) and Osea. But it really wasn’t Osea’s fault: I am sensitive to tea tree and lavender in potent forms. Overall I was happy I got this box.

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Nat

Very happy I got this box. So far, I’ve only used the oil and the mask. Oil felt very nice on my skin. I don’t mind not having a dropper. Since all my other oils have a dropper, this one kind of stands out. Didn’t like the smell of the mask.

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Anna Gabur

on the OSEA oil – I am not among the lucky ones who hardly ever break out. I break out quite a bit and this oil worked like magic! I was skeptical that a blend of oils can help, but I will never use any other spot treatment ever again. The worst and angriest acne was gone in two days. I trimmed down my skincare boxes to only three – Laurel&Reed, Boxwalla and TestTube. Very happy with these!

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Marne Orenich

Amazing to hear! Thanks for weighing in from your perspective, Anna. 🙂

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Linda

I love the Votary product, but I agree with how it is more packaged as an essential oil at the top without a dropper. However, I like the product and happy it’ll last for sometime. I’ve actually been eyeing the Boxwalla box next month and might pull the trigger on it. I imagine the oil in that box will have the same packaging issue, but could work around that as this oil in this box has worked well. Want to try that facial oil in the Boxwalla box, but especially the facial cream most. I am in the same boat with regard to breakouts on my face since they occur so rarely and never had acne. That will take time to go through. I think the highlighter sheets are an interesting and environmentally-conscious way to go about using highlighter if you do (I rarely do, but keeping my hands on mine, in case!). With regard to the mask, the scent really threw me off. The face mask product works, but I couldn’t get down with the scent of it. Scent wise, that is the only product I couldn’t handle, but thankful that all of the products have worked for me. I am looking forward to January’s box which should be coming within a few days. Thanks for the review, Marne! 🙂

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