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 2021 Subscription Box Awards.)
This is a review of a one-time purchase Limited Edition box: Allure Limited Edition J-Beauty + K-Beauty Box.
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 Limited Edition J-Beauty + K-Beauty Box
The Cost: $40.00 for Allure Beauty Box subscribers or $60.00 for non-members + free shipping.
The Products:
Discover two of the world’s most exciting beauty traditions with the Limited-Edition J-Beauty + K-Beauty Box. Featuring 10 of our editors’ favorite J-Beauty and K-Beauty products, including five full-size items, this box is valued at more than $200.
Ships to: The U.S. and Puerto Rico for free.
The Allure Limited Edition J-Beauty + K-Beauty Box Review
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Here's the info sheet Allure sent with the box.
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Saturday Skin Rub-A-Dub Refining Peel Gel, 2.53 oz - Retail Value $28.00
I am not the biggest fan of peeling gels, but if I had to use one this one by Saturday Skin would definitely be the one I reached for. It's a really gentle exfoliant, and as you apply it to dry skin the chemical exfoliants from papaya and pineapple work to get rid of dead skin cells- and then as the formula balls up, that dead skin is rinsed away when you wash it off with water. I have sensitive skin and I had no issues with this, and I didn't need a ton so this tube should last for quite a while.
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AHC Essential Real Eye Cream for Face, 1.01 oz - Retail Value $28.99
This is an incredibly popular product in South Korea- one tube is sold every three seconds! It's an eye cream, but it's designed to be used all over your face. It features hydrating and nutrient-rich ingredients like hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, squalane, panthenol, and Centella Asiatica, and it is safe for sensitive skin. I wouldn't call this a heavy cream, but I also wouldn't call it lightweight- it is somewhere in between, and it absorbed nicely into my skin and left it soft and hydrated. I really love that Target carries this product, too- if you fall in love with it it'll be so easy to restock!
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Peach & Lily Glass Skin Refining Serum, 40 ml - Retail Value $39.00
I’ve heard a lot of really great things about this serum, so I was excited that a full-size bottle was included in this box (this entire box costs only $1 more than this serum if you’re an Allure subscriber). The key ingredients in this serum are niacinamide, peach extract, and hyaluronic acid, with some centella derivatives (madecassoside and asiaticoside) thrown in for good measure. It’s comfortable on my sensitive skin (no burning or tingling here), and the lightweight watery texture absorbed into my skin quickly. This layered really well for me, too, so if you’re a fan of a long multi-step routine this will be a great addition- but if you prefer a quick and simple routine, this serum can be a one and done before your moisturizer as well.
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Amuse Dew Tint in Flower Market, 4 g - Retail Value $20.00
When I see a lip product that calls itself a tint, I want longgg staying power- and this delivers. It goes on as a thin liquid, and after I let it dry a few minutes I then blot any residue with a paper towel. After blotting a vibrant (and gorgeous!) pink stain was left on my lips, and it lasted for hours. This was comfortable to wear compared to other lip products that give a hue this vibrant, and as a bonus, it faded really well- no ring around my lips here.
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UZ Eye-Opening Liner, 0.55 ml - Retail Value $16.00
I’ve seen some great reviews for this eyeliner online- some beauty accounts I follow have said this is great for oily lids and monolids. I have neither, but I can confirm the staying power on this water-proof eyeliner is awesome. The pen tip really let me get super close to my lash line, and I was able to easily flick the liner at the end for a small wing. If I had one complaint, it would be that I wish the color was a deeper black.
I threw on the UZ eyeliner and the Amuse tint before spending my Memorial Day picking blueberries and blackberries in the heat and humidity of south Louisiana. Both products stayed on for a really long time, and I liked how I was able to quickly put together a look without having to spend 10-15 minutes on it (the other things I am wearing is my Supergoop Glow Screen sunscreen, Jason Wu Celestial Lust Eyeshadow in Song Bird, and Wander Beauty Mile High Mascara).
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Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum, 0.27 oz - Estimated Value $11.87 (buy the 2 oz version for $89.00)
I really like the Sulwhasoo brand, so I am always happy to see them in subscription boxes and curated sets. This serum is incredibly thin. I applied it before any of my other serums, and it absorbed into my skin nicely. Just because it is thin in texture doesn’t mean it lacks in performance, though – this added a boost of moisture to my skin without being heavy, and the botanicals in the formula work to add radiance and a healthy moisture barrier. I really think this would work for a variety of skin types and in a wide variety of routines, which is probably why this serum is highly recommended by so many people.
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Amorepacific Time Response Eye Reserve Cream, 0.1 oz - Estimated Value $52.00 (!!) (buy the 0.5 oz jar for $260.00)
Like Sulwhasoo, I really like the Amorepacific brand- which isn’t a surprise, considering Amorepacfic actually owns Sulwhasoo and a bunch of other k-beauty companies. The texture of this eye cream is fantastic- it’s thick and luxurious, but it doesn’t feel so heavy that it sits on top of my skin. This absorbs right in with a few pats, and I’m really tempted to apply this all over my face just because of how nice it feels (if it works for the AHC cream, why not this one?). Then again, since a half-ounce jar costs $260(!!), maybe I shouldn’t be so liberal in applying it.
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Banila Co Clean It Zero Pore Clarifying Cleansing Balm, 0.24 oz - Estimated Value $1.56 (buy the 3.38 oz version for $22.00)
I am a big fan of this cleansing balm- it’s affordable and it does a great job of breaking down heavier makeup. I always follow up cleansing balms with a gel cleanser, but that is just to get any traces of residue- this rinses away really easily and takes most, if not all, of my makeup with it. Some cleansing balms will leave a waxy residue when I rinse it away, but that’s not a problem with this one.
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Honey Jarret Super Beau'tea Rose Sheet Mask - Retail Value $3.00
This sheet mask was a treat- the mask itself is a light pink color, and it fit my face darn near perfectly. There were a lot of good ingredients on the list too- hyaluronic acid, centella, and niacinamide pair with rose extract for a soothing, hydrating mask. My skin has been feeling a little sensitive lately, and this was exactly what my face wanted. Plus, even though it had plenty of that lovely serum to soak into my skin, there was no dripping with this mask so it was really comfortable to wear.
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NatureLab Tokyo Perfect Shine Oil Mist, 1 oz - Estimated Value $4.25 (buy the 4 oz version for $17.00)
Some hair oils can feel heavy or thick, but this oil is none of that- the spray formula is a genuine mist that coats all of my strands with just a few sprays. It definitely added shine to my hair without weighing it down, and I liked how easy it was to just spritz a few times and go on with my routine.
Verdict: I am starting to really love these curated boxes from Allure- I haven't been disappointed yet! I appreciate how this box contained multiple full-size products, along with some really luxurious minis (is anyone else obsessed with that Amorepacific eye cream?). Even if you're not an Allure subscriber I think this is worth the $60 box cost, and if you're an Allure subscriber you save $20 to make it an even better deal. I know some items in this box were previously featured in past Allure boxes (off the top of my head I think Saturday Skin, Peach & Lily, and Sulwhasoo have appeared in the monthly box), but since all of the products are listed before you purchase you're able to make an informed decision on if these products are truly something you want to try out or have backups of. Value-wise, everything adds up to $204.67, which is a few dollars more than the promised $200 value and more than five times the cost of the box.
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? Yes! Treat yourself to some J+K Beauty and then let me know your thoughts on the box in the comments below.
Value Breakdown: At $40.00 (for Allure subscribers) for this box, here is what you are paying approximately per item:
Alternatively, each of the 10 products has an average cost of $4.00
At $60.00 for this box, here is what you are paying approximately per item:
Alternatively, each of the 10 products has an average cost of $6.00
Check out all of our Allure Beauty Box reviews and some more of our other favorite beauty subscriptions.
What do you think of the Allure Limited Edition J+K Beauty Box? What luxury product have you been lusting over lately?
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