PinkSeoul is a monthly Korean beauty subscription box curated to your skin type. They focus on customized, full-sized, and curated products that are designed to guide you in your K-beauty journey of discovery. You can also shop their online store for more K-beauty goodies!
PinkSeoul offers 3 subscription types:
- The PinkSeoul Box is $39.95 every two months with a retail value of over $60.
- The PinkSeoul Plus Box is recommended for subscribers age 35+, $49.95 every two months with a retail value of over $80.
- These two boxes are shipped bi-monthly and each box contains at least 4 full-sized items plus an accessory item.
- The PinkSeoul Mask Box is $29.95 every month with 10 customized mask products and an accessory item.
This review is of the Sensitive Skin Type, PinkSeoul Plus Box, which costs $49.95 every two months.
This box was sent to us at no cost to review. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
About PinkSeoul K-Beauty Subscription Box
The Subscription Box: PinkSeoul Plus
The Cost: $49.95 bi-monthly + free US shipping
ACTIVE DEAL: Save 10% off your first box!
CODE: MSA10
The Products: At least 4 full-sized K-beauty products customized to your skin type and an accessory item.
Ships to: The US (free), Canada ($8.95), and other countries listed here ($13.95-$15.95)
Good to Know: PinkSeoul and PinkSeoul Plus boxes are delivered every two months depending on which month you signed up. For example, if you signed up in June, your next box will be in July; if you signed up in July your next box will be in August. The boxes are the same for the July/August period, just shipped out at different times.
PinkSeoul Plus Box September/October 2020 Review
Prior to purchasing a subscription, PinkSeoul will ask you several customization questions. Some products are more appropriate/recommended for a particular skin type, so be sure to figure out your skin type. This month, we also received this extra handy dandy info sheet breaking down the Korean skincare routine basics.
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Here is the info sheet detailing the products included in this box. The info sheet this month was on cardstock rather than regular paper, and I appreciated the upgrade
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PinkSeoul Bag - Retail Value $12.00
This box will always feature an accessory item, and the flower design on this reuseable bag is lovely (and matches the box design!). I live in a second-floor apartment and have developed a kombucha habit, so study bags like these really come in handy when I’m hauling in groceries but refusing to make more than one trip. Plus, it folds up pretty small and tucks into a bag, so I can keep one in my purse with minimal space should a last-minute grocery store trip occur.
SomeByMi AHA BHA PHA Miracle Toner, 1 oz - Estimated Value $3.20 (buy the 5.07 oz version for $16)
This box primarily sends full-size items, but this month we received two deluxe items from this popular line by SomeByMi. This toner features a variety of chemical exfoliants at different molecular levels, as well as tea tree, adenosine, and niacinamide. I was impressed with how gentle this was considering the potent ingredients featured inside – I guess that explains why, according to SokoGlam, one bottle of this toner is sold every three seconds.
SomeByMi AHA BHA PHA Miracle Serum, 10 ml - Estimated Value $5.40 (buy the 50 ml version for $27)
This serum features more chemical exfoliants, only it’s also formulated with 14.5% Centella Asiatica and a hefty dose of tea tree leaf water. This is designed specifically for both sensitive and acne-prone skin, which I find to be a tough feat (usually, products specifically for acne aren’t great for sensitive skin, and products specifically for sensitive skin aren’t as potent in fighting acne). I didn’t experience any irritation, and since I’m having to wear a mask frequently at work I’ll take all of the maskne-fighters I can get.
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One Thing Calendula Flower Extract, 150 ml - Retail Value $18.00
I like the concept of this product – the only ingredients in this are Calendula flower extract, Propanediol (a humectant), and 2-Hexanediol (a preservative and humectant). The minimal ingredients list means you really get the skin-soothing and antioxidant properties of the calendula, and you can use it on its own or add it to your toners or serums to cocktail your skincare and make it a bit more personalized.
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Dewytree 2 Weeks Soothing Sheet Mask Pack, 14 ct - Value $14.00
I already average about a sheet mask a day, but I definitely leave them on for longer than 60 seconds. This pack contains 14 sheet masks, all made with tea tree and madecassic acid to soothe the skin. I can leave the mask on for 15 minutes, or if I’m wearing one as a step before doing my makeup I only need to leave it on for a minute. A minute of sheet masking feels a bit wasteful, but that’s also the only way I’ll really have time to sheet mask in the morning considering my typical morning routine of snoozing as long as I possibly can.
The Plant Base AC Clear Magic Gel, 30 mL – Retail Value $23.00
Pink Seoul included this spot treatment to help out with the maskne many of us are experiencing, but this wasn’t an exciting product for me because it came in my February Bomibox. This has a heavy concentration of Centella Asiatica (78%, to be exact), a great soothing ingredient that should help with irritation from wearing a mask for a long period of time, even if no actual pimples form. This didn’t do much for my cystic acne, but it’s not designed to (that is just the type of acne I tend to get). I do like that the info sheet talks about ways to try and reduce maskne, like not wearing makeup under your mask or bringing a few and changing them out If you’re going to be wearing one for a long period of time.
Elensilia-CPP Caviar 80 Lux Repair Eye Cream, 20 g – Retail Value $25.00 (on sale for $20)
I actually received this in my June Bomibox, so I have been using this eye cream pretty consistently for the last few months. This is made with 80% caviar along with Thermus thermophilus ferment, a deep-sea bacteria that provides a hefty dose of antioxidants. The texture is lightweight and absorbs very quickly, and it layers well under sunscreen. At 25, I’m really using eye creams as a preventative measure than a corrective one, but I do really enjoy Elensilia products so I would bet this is working in some fashion (even if I am not exactly sure how).
CP-1 Ceramide Premium Silk Ampoule, 20 ml - Retail Value $4.00
I wasn’t sure how to apply this – is it a styling product since it can be applied on both damp and dry hair? Is it a conditioning treatment I can use before I wash my hair? Since I wasn’t sure, I decided to try both. I squeezed most of the tube out and applied it to dry hair, and let it chill out there for a few hours while I relaxed on a lazy Sunday. I don’t think it’s a pre-shampoo treatment (but it didn’t hurt my hair), because when I finger-combed a small amount through my damp hair my curls seemed to be happier. Oops, now we know 🙂
Ample:N Hyaluron Shot Mask - Retail Value $4.00
There aren't a lot of sheet masks I actually dislike, but I have yet to find a winner from this brand and I think I am ready to give up on trying them. The ampoule left me incredibly sticky, and while the ingredients list is decent my skin wasn't so drastically improved that it made up for the less pleasant experience of wearing it.
Missha Pure Source Pocket Pack in Tea Tree, 10 ml - Retail Value $2.50
This sleeping mask really is small enough to fit in my pocket, making it perfect for sleepovers or quick weekend trips (I’m doing none of these, but a girl can dream of better times). I don't *love* the ingredients on this one (denatured alcohol along with tea tree extract high up on the ingredients list can be a bit much), but your mileage may vary.
The Verdict: This was another good box from PinkSeoul Plus – I thought there was a wide assortment of products from different brands selected, and while I was bummed to see products I had received in a different box, I think they fit the curation of this box well. Value-wise, this box has a total value of $111.10, which is definitely on the higher end of values that I have seen from this box.
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? The September/October box is currently sold out, but you can sign up for the November/December box here.
ACTIVE DEAL: Save 10% off your first box!
CODE: MSA10
Value Breakdown: At $49.95 for this box and a total value of $111.10, here is what you are approximately paying per item:
- PinkSeoul Bag: $5.39
- Some By Mi Toner: $1.44
- Some By Mi Serum: $2.43
- One Thing: $8.09
- Dewytree: $6.29
- The Plant Base: $10.34
- Elensilia: $11.22
- CP-1: $1.80
- Ample:N: $1.80
- Missha: $1.12
Check out all of our PinkSeoul reviews and the K-Beauty Subscription Box Directory! Be sure to also take a peek at MSA readers' top Beauty Box picks!
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