BoxyCharm Premium is a full-size beauty and makeup subscription box. They always provide a great value compared to the cost of the box. (If you are a makeup addict - we recommend this box!)
My Subscription Addiction paid for this box. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
About BoxyCharm
The Subscription Box: BoxyCharm Premium
The Cost: $35 a month. Save with longer subscriptions.
The Products: 6-7 beauty items that include nail care, skincare, makeup, haircare, fragrance, and more.
Ships to: The contiguous U.S. for free, Hawaii, Alaska, and Canada for $5
BoxyCharm Premium October 2020 Review
Each box comes with a card detailing the items included. It looks like my assortment this month is box #1.
Now, on to the items!
1 of 3
Illuminati Cosmetics Illuminati X Isa Eyeshadow Palette - Retail Value $48.00
This is the sort of palette that really speaks to me. Celestial packaging and a full mirror? Yep. I love the assortment of colors so much and they are totally spot-on for the '90s theme of the palette. Designed with Isabel Bedoya and filled with 15 different shades, this one feels unlike the others in my vast collection. There is everything from mattes to shimmers in here, as well as a chunkier glitter (that I am terrified of). When I first swatched these I was a little unsure of the pigment power of some of the pastels. But "painting" them onto my lids was so fun and effortless. Though the lighter shades are demure, they pack a punch if you build them up. I have to say my favorite shade is EASILY the 'Purple Dream' shimmer. It is actually a sheer wash of blue and purple sparkles that is SO wearable. If you were looking into that pot and hoping for a metallic, this ain't it, but give it a chance! It is such a unique effect on the lids alone or with other colors. I also like that this palette included both a true white and black because those can be tricky to find and they make blending really creative. Other callouts are the gorgeous blue shade 'Azul', the sweet peach 'Bbygirl', and the bold metallic 'June 1st'. I really liked this one!
1 of 3 | Top to bottom: 1996, Sour, RyRy, Purple Haze, and Purple Dream
All of the swatches!
1 of 4
I tend to wear really, really subtle eyeshadow looks. So this is soft, but it's what I like. This palette felt like a mix of Lisa Frank and watercolors! As a very colorful (and yes, Lisa Frank obsessed!) kid, the '90s vibes here speak to me on a spiritual level. I created the look above with just my fingers and skipped brushes. This palette is a really fun way to wear some rainbows on your lids but in a subtle way. (Ignore my brows here. I hadn't given them any help!) I was also inspired by the rainbows that flicker around my mom's kitchen.
1 of 2
Murad Hydrating Toner, 6 fl oz - Retail Value $35.00
I know there are some Murad fans out there so this will make a lot of people happy! I like the brand and I love a face mist, so I am all in. I am not super crazy about the fragrance because it reminds me of potpourri, but the ingredients inside make up for this. A few callouts include witch hazel, hydrating betaine, cucumber and grapeseed extracts – and more. This is a heavier sort of spray for sure, but it feels nice on my skin, helps to balance my skin's pH, and is pretty darn refreshing. It is also alcohol-free!
1 of 3
Kosas Tinted Face Oil Foundation in Tone 2, 1 fl oz - Retail Value $42.00
I found the shade selection here really tricky, but I think I almost got it right! I liked Tone 2, described as "porcelain with neutral undertones". It is close enough for me to happily wear, but it is a wee bit warm. I suspect Tone 1 ("porcelain with cool undertones") might have been a better match but I was hoping maybe I wouldn't need the lightest shade for once.
I don't think this formula is going to be for everyone, especially if you already have oily skin, prefer a full coverage foundation, or just don't like facial oils – you might be disappointed. I have dry skin, love lighter coverage (in the same way as I love subtle lid looks!), and I really love oils! So this was a total win. It takes very, very little to cover your face. Start with a few drops. I went in a little too enthusiastically and ended up with quite a bit of extra wasted product. This product feels a lot like a true skincare + makeup hybrid because in addition to the light and natural coverage it also has nourishing ingredients inside like jojoba and avocado seed oils. I found it beneficial to set this product with some translucent powder but otherwise, it was a great finish and lasted hours on my face.
That is pretty darn close!
1 of 3
Go-To Exfoliating Swipeys, 50 pads - Retail Value $35.00
Whenever I try out an exfoliating pad like this I want to see some acids right up there at the top of the ingredient list. These pads did not fail because the number 2 ingredient is lactic acid, one of the most gentle exfoliating acids. What I did not appreciate inside this formula was the inclusion of ethanol, a.k.a. alcohol. You are already chemically exfoliating your skin with AHAs so why add in an ingredient that is super drying on top of that? Seeing it as the fourth ingredient made me less enthused about these. The good news is that they do work just fine and if you already have oily skin that ingredient might be less of a big deal. But if you have dry skin, be careful with these and make sure you are hydrating your skin with a good moisturizer after using them. Again, use your best judgment here. You know your skin better than I do!
1 of 4
Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Brow MVP Ultra Fine Brow Pencil & Styler in 'Light Brown', 0.07 g - Retail Value $20.00
What a cute little pencil! I don't have anything that has such a small oval brow brush like this. To be completely frank, it did a good job of shaping my brows, but also pulled some flakes out of them that made me embarrassed for myself. Note to self: moisturize brows more often! Anyways, You can use the brush before or after the included pencil, both options work well. I liked applying the brow pencil in hair-like flicks then softening them, but you do you! Pencils are never going to take the place of my preferred brow gel, but this was a darn good one.
This is a great match for my brows.
1 of 3
Laura Geller Fifty Kisses Lip Locking Liquid Color in 'Love Blush', 3 mL - Retail Value $21.00 (currently on sale for $9.99)
I don't know how I feel about this shade on my lips. Is it too chalky looking? Either way, this is the sort of liquid lipstick that dries matte and seriously shows off every single line on your lips. In my case, I feel like it made them look like craters. I liked this stuff a whole lot more with a balm on top to transform it into more of a cream. If you leave it alone it will probably last a whole lot longer, but I couldn't help myself. The upside is that the pigment here is wild and it builds up really fast! The angled doe-foot applicator is great for making sure your application is flawless.
It looked better on my arm I think.
Here it is on my lips paired with just my fave 'Purple Dream' shade from the palette.
Verdict: My BoxyCharm Premium had a value of $201 which is great for a $35 box. I really loved the rainbow pastel palette and I feel great about it. I also might have found a new fave foundation! The spray toner and the brow pencil were also great additions and I think I like the lipstick? I did not love the exfoliating pads. They aren't ideal for my skin. Other than that though this was a great box!
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? Sign up to get on the BoxyCharm Premium waitlist. An email will let you know if you are receiving the next box!
Value Breakdown: At $35.00 for this box, here is the approximate cost per item:
- Illuminati Palette $8.36
- Murad Toner $6.09
- Kosas Face Oil $7.31
- Go-To Pads $6.09
- Fenty Beauty Brow Pencil $3.48
- Laura Geller Lipstick $3.66
Alternatively, the average cost of each of the 6 items is $5.83.
Check out all of our BoxyCharm reviews and some of our favorite beauty subscription boxes!
Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!
What do you think of the October 2020 BoxyCharm Premium 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.