Allure Beauty Box is a monthly beauty subscription from Allure Magazine. Each month they send out a mix of deluxe and full-size samples from mostly high-end brands. (It was named one of the best beauty subscription boxes by MSA readers in the 2020 Subscription Box Awards.)
This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
About this Box
The Subscription Box: Allure Beauty Box
The Cost: $23 a month + free shipping. Save with a yearly subscription.
The Products: Deluxe and full-size beauty and makeup samples. Ordering through Allure also means you receive a newsletter with tips, tricks & exclusive promotions like limited-edition boxes, access to members-only virtual events, promo codes, and more!
Ships to: The US and Puerto Rico for free
Allure Beauty Box November 2020 Review
1 of 5
This handy booklet has all the product info inside.
1 of 3
1 of 3
Joséphine Cosmetics Eye Dazzle in 'Leona', 6 g – Full Size! Retail Value $30.00
While the majority of the box this month is skincare focused, I am glad the Allure team included this really lovely liquid eyeshadow. This brand was new to me, and I like it a lot! It is USA made and performs well. The shade sent in this box is a super metallic bronze that reads almost chrome on the lids if you apply it in multiple thin layers. You can also blend this out with a fluffy eye brush (be fast, before it dries!) for a more sheer effect. I did find this worked better with a primer because it helped the layers stick in place.
This image doesn't do this stuff justice. It is chrome-metallic and somehow also sparkling!
1 of 3
Manna Kadar Lip Bliss Lip Mask, 10 g - Full Size! Retail Value $19.00
I will be the first to admit that I don't like the Manna Kadar brand. I never seem to really enjoy the formulas, scents, or performance. This lip mask is just ok. I would personally consider this more of just a lip balm than a mask, as it isn't terribly thick and it doesn't cling to the lips all that much. It does a good job of performing like a moisturizing balm and I will likely use this until it's gone, but I am not terribly excited by it.
1 of 2
SkinMedica Instant Eye Bright Mask, 1 pair - Estimated Value $8.00 (buy 6 pairs for $48.00)
I adore eye gels, and the older I get the more I like to pamper the delicate and sensitive skin under my peepers. These gels are the type that are on a velvety fabric background and they really stick to your skin instead of just slowly sliding down your face. Inside is a serum with loads of antioxidants that will help reinforce my skin and assist in keeping my skin youthful. These were instantly cooling, plumping, and wonderfully enjoyable.
1 of 3
Neogen Dermalogy Real Ferment Micro Essence, 20 mL - Estimated Value $5.07 (Buy a full-size 150 mL for $38.00)
I loved this stuff INSTANTLY. Something about ferments really meshes well with my skin, and this clear liquid is full of them. The main ingredient here is Bifida Ferment Lysate which is basically a probiotic with UV protection superpowers. Since the sun is the #1 cause of aging skin, this is a big deal. But this essence doesn't stop there, it literally has 20+ other really incredible ingredients that make me want to totally geek out. If I have to limit my excitement to 5 (we could seriously be here all day) they would be: hyaluronic acid (of course), niacinamide (also, of course), adenosine (a healing anti-inflammatory), proline (related to collagen production), and arginine (a building block for collagen and elastin). This stuff looks just like water but is more "slippy". I like to put a few drops in my hands then pat it into my face between cleansing and moisturizing. This is def going on my buy list.
1 of 4
NatureLab Tokyo Clarifying Scalp Scrub, 1 oz - Estimated Value $1.82 (Buy 8.8 oz for $16.00)
Phew. Let's take a break from skincare and check out some hair stuff. I really like Naturelab Tokyo. It's one of those brands that bridge performance and price for me. I have yet to try anything from them I didn't enjoy. I tend to avoid scalp scrubs because my hair is so thick that it takes A LOT of product to get a good scrub going. I did end up using the entire pot of this in one go, but it was worth it. One thing I really love about this product is that the scrubbies are made of sugar, meaning they dissolve after doing their job. I have tried some scrubs with beads that never dissolve and getting those out of my hair is a legit nightmare. This product is great for washing away any product build-up you might have and it leaves your hair shiny and smelling great! What's not to love?
1 of 2
When The Last Choice Extra-Hydrating Sheet Mask - Retail Value $7.00
I saved this mask for the evening because I knew I would want to be laying down on the couch and relaxing to enjoy it. It is made of that sort of second skin jelly material that really clings to your face. It isn't super damp, but you can feel the serum go to work pretty fast! It was a mask that also had a very cooling effect on my skin, which was nice because I used this with a little windburn action from yard work. The serum features hyaluronic acid for hydration and ginseng for antioxidants.
1 of 2
Acure Ultra Hydrating 12 Hour Facial Moisturizer, 20 mL - Estimated Value $12.66 (Buy 30 mL for $18.99)
My last item was a cool little pouch of moisturizer. Acure is another one of those brands I like because the products usually work well and they are affordable. I liked this formula enough to use it, but I don't think it would take the place of some of my other favorite moisturizers. It does have a little bit of alcohol but it is cetearyl alcohol which isn't the drying sort. It is fatty and mainly used in formulas as an emollient and to stabilize oil + water mixtures. I did notice my skin did stay really nice and hydrated for at least 10 hours. This is probably because this formula also has sunflower seed oil, aloe, shea, and vitamin E. It does have a rather strong scent from essential oils that I personally liked, but I don't know that everyone will.
Verdict: This Allure box has a total value of around $125.55 which is nice for a $23 box. This really felt like a skincare focused assortment with a few little surprises like the eye shadow and the hair scrub and I enjoyed everything in here, though I found myself less enthused about the Manna Kadar and Acure items. I found myself really liking the serum (though I wish it was alcohol-free) and I am obsessed with the essence. Honestly, that was my fave item of the whole lot and I can't wait to buy a full size. This was a well-rounded box even if it wasn't my favorite from Allure, and I do think this curation could have benefitted from one sample from a bigger or more exciting brand. I will say that the value was absolutely there and if you are skincare obsessed, you will likely enjoy this one too!
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? Yes! Scroll down this page to see what items you will get when you first sign up.
Value Breakdown: At $23 for this box, here is what you are paying approximately per item:
- Dermelect Serum $7.69
- Joséphine Cosmetics Eye Dazzle $5.50
- Manna Kadar Lip Mask $3.48
- SkinMedica Mask $1.47
- Neogen Micro Essence $0.93
- NatureLab Tokyo Scalp Scrub $0.33
- When Sheet Mask $1.28
- Acure Moisturizer $2.32
Alternatively, each of the 8 products has an average cost of $2.88.
Check out all of our Allure Beauty Box reviews and some more of our other favorite beauty subscriptions.
Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!
What do you think of the November Allure Beauty Box? What was your favorite product in the 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.