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Brown Sugar Box Subscription Review + Coupon – May 2020

Naomi Pandolfi
ByNaomi PandolfiJun 6, 2020 | 3 comments

Box for Brown Sugar Box May 2020

Brown Sugar Box by Izzy & Liv
4.7 overall rating
3 Ratings | 3 Reviews

Brown Sugar Box is a monthly Woman of Color lifestyle subscription, containing exclusively curated tees, accessories, and lifestyle products. Everything is designed by and made for Women of Color.

Box Open for Brown Sugar Box May 2020

Each Brown Sugar Box includes a graphic tee and 4-5 exclusive full-size products ranging from drinkware, accessories, bags, jewelry, makeup, housewares, and stationery from the Izzy & Liv brand.

My Subscription Addiction pays for this subscription. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)

Full Contents for Brown Sugar Box May 2020

About Brown Sugar Box

The Subscription Box: Brown Sugar Box

The Cost: $39.95 per month + $5.95 shipping

ACTIVE DEAL: Save 20% off your first box!
CODE: FIRSTTIME20

The Products: 1 graphic tee plus 4-5 additional full-size lifestyle products

Ships to: The US for $5.95 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. These preferences can be updated at any time in your account.

Brown Sugar Box May 2020 "Reflection & Rejuvenation Edition” Review

 

Each Brown Sugar Box includes a mini magazine that highlights the theme of the box, lists the products included, and offers interesting and inspiring articles. This month’s box is the Reflection & Rejuvenation Edition and it is all about taking time for YOU!

 

Izzy & Liv "Loving The Skin I'm In" T-Shirt - Listed Value $25

My favorite item in this month's box has to be this light blue "Loving the Skin I'm In" tee. I love the message about embracing every aspect of yourself. The sparkly pink lettering is in a fun vintage '70s style font that encompasses what I think of summertime fun and hanging with friends. The fabric is light and cool, perfect for a hot day. My one recommendation — order a size up as this light blue tee runs small and is 100% cotton.

 

Izzy & Liv "Ain't Nothing Basic But This Pouch" Purse - Listed Value $20

This adorable little pouch is perfect for traveling light this summer. I like to head out to all the summer and fall festivals and this crossbody bag is perfect for keeping my hands free. It's just the right size for your phone (yes, even an iPhone Plus), a chapstick, ID, and credit card. Subscribers could have received one of four colors: sage green, steel blue, caramel cream, or pastel pink. I'm thrilled that I received steel blue; it's one of my favorite colors and incredibly neutral, in my opinion. The strap is a little short for a crossbody bag, so if you're quite a bit taller than my 5-feet, you may have to wear it on your shoulder.

 

Izzy & Liv "Intentionality" Body Butter, 8 oz - Listed Value $15

The Izzy & Liv "Intentionality" Body Butter in Blissful Buttermilk Shea Butter has a rich blend of buttermilk, shea butter, and olive oil, with a thick, creamy texture that melts into your skin, leaving you feeling soft and smooth without that greasy feeling. I love the luxurious feel of this body butter, but it does contain "fragrance" as an ingredient, and with my sensitive skin, I tend to avoid anything with that ambiguous ingredient listed. The scent is strong but natural-smelling. If you love to slather yourself from head to toe in a creamy layer of hydration, you will definitely enjoy this product. Subscribers could have received one of five scents: brown sugar almond, blissful buttermilk, flawless avocado, lemonade, or coconut kiss.

 

dOSA Naturals Body Oil Spray, 2 oz - Listed Value $12

This body oil smells absolutely wonderful. The scent is light and refreshing with a high-end spa vibe. I am a huge fan of body oils. I find them a convenient, time-saving step in my skincare process. This product does have "fragrance" listed, but it's the last ingredient, so I gave it a try and didn't see any reaction or sensitivity. A few spritzes went a long way and the oil absorbed quickly into my skin, leaving behind a silky smooth feel. Subscribers could have received one of four scents: pink sugar, oatmeal milk and honey, white diamonds, or lotus spa.

 

Izzy & Liv "Bask in the Mask" Charcoal Mask - Listed Value $10

I love a good sheet mask. This Izzy & Liv-branded Bask in the Mask Charcoal Mask set of three is formulated with natural active ingredients that purify, cleanse, unclog pores, and rejuvenate your skin. I love charcoal as an active ingredient because of the detoxifying properties, and combining it into a convenient peel-away sheet mask is a great idea. After cleansing my face, I popped the mask on for twenty minutes and sat back to watch an episode of Friends. The gentle formula left my skin feeling squeaky clean and smooth without stripping or drying.

 

Izzy & Liv "Soaked" Natural Bar Soap, 6.4 oz - Listed Value $8

This Izzy & Liv Coconut Kiss Shea Butter Bar Soap smells absolutely divine. I myself am not a huge fan of bar soap; it skeeves me out a little, thinking of rubbing the same bar over my body over and over again. I've always been a body wash kinda gal. But I have to tell you, when I say this bar smells good, it smells so good that I almost want to give it a try. But with "fragrance" listed in the ingredients, I'll be passing it along to my mother, who I know is going to love it. The scent is a sweet creamy coconut and the bar gives off a very rich lather. If you're a bar soap kinda gal and want to smell delicious while cleansing with a creamy lather, this is definitely the product for you. Subscribers could have received one of five scents: brown sugar almond, blissful buttermilk, flawless avocado, lemonade, or coconut kiss.

The Verdict: I think this month's Brown Sugar Box was a little weaker than usual. I love the theme Reflection & Rejuvenation, but I think the box fell a little short. The mission behind this box is powerful. Supporting black-owned businesses, designers, and creators who are also women is AMAZING and something I support! But the retail value of this box came in a little low (around $90 using listed values) in comparison to some of the previous months. I do absolutely adore the "Loving the Skin I'm In" T-shirt and the "Ain't Nothing Basic But This Pouch" purse is incredibly useful and convenient to me as a person. I can always use a good body oil; I may be a little obsessed, but really, can you moisturize your skin too much? But the rest of the box, including the body butter, bar soap, and charcoal masks are all cosmetic products formulated by the Izzy & Liv brand, which I don't necessarily have a problem with. But they have so many branded items, how can they also be producing skin and body care, while also creating so many other products? I would have much preferred to receive at least one of those products from a trusted, established brand, but I have always been incredibly picky about what I put onto my body. That being said, everything formulated by the Izzy & Liv brand smells absolutely amazing, and more power to them.

To Wrap Up:

Can I get this box if I sign up today? No, but sign up today to receive next month's box.

ACTIVE DEAL: Save 20% off your first box!
CODE: FIRSTTIME20

Value Breakdown: This box cost $45.90 ($39.95 + $5.95 shipping) and has a total listed value of $90.00. Here's how that breaks down per item:

  • T-Shirt - $12.75
  • Pouch Purse - $10.20
  • Body Butter - $7.65
  • Body Oil - $6.12
  • Bar Soap - $4.08
  • Sheet Mask - $5.10

Alternatively, you're paying about $7.65 for each of the 6 items.

Check out all of our Brown Sugar Box reviews and more Women of Color subscription boxes, along with the best women’s subscription boxes of 2020!

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?

Starting at $39.95
Active Deal
Save 20% off your first box!
Use Coupon Code FIRSTTIME20
Subscribe Now

"As a Brown Sugar Box Subscriber, you’ll get a box filled with the BEST of Izzy & Liv including best sellers, new releases and limited edition (subscriber-only) products. Your box will include 5-6 products every month. You will always get at least one Izzy & Liv tee, tank or sweatshirt al... read more.

Naomi Pandolfi
Naomi Pandolfi

Naomi Pandolfi is a skincare obsessed subscription box junkie who is always on the hunt for the best curl defining cream. She is a producer and contributing writer at several online publications, including MSA, The Knockturnal, and Hey Beauti Magazine. Naomi is also the Head of Development at Starfury Productions and is dedicated to helping Black, minority, and underrepresented creators develop and sell projects.


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3 comments

Amy in KC

I love that T-shirt! As a pale, ginger-haired white lady, I was sometimes teased for not getting tan in the summer, so it really appeals to me as well! All the other products sound nice too. ♥

Regarding bar soap … I always apply the soap to a wash cloth or loofah and then use that on my body, not the actual bar of soap. We always used Dove bar soap growing up (and I still do), so this is very important for a soap-sharing family! ;D But, as Chandler says, “It’s soap! It’s self-cleansing!” (Friends reference to match your review!)

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Steph

That t-shirt is a ten! And I really like the small purse as well. Perfect items for the season and not another towel or something similar that’s been way overdone. I tend to agree about the branded items. I don’t like to receive more than one self-branded item in the box so hopefully that’s not too common.

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HH

It’s very common for this box to be 100% self-branded items, which is why I stopped subscribing.

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