The Beauty Box by Bombay & Cedar is a monthly beauty subscription box from the folks at Bombay & Cedar, featuring 5-6 clean, vegan, and cruelty-free products with a value of over $100. They feature makeup, skincare, beauty tools, and more from a mix of indie and well-known brands.
FYI, COVID-19 Updates: Learn more about shipping schedules + delays here.
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 Beauty Subscription Box
The Subscription Box: The Beauty Box by Bombay & Cedar
The Cost: $31.95 per month + free U.S. shipping, or save with longer subscriptions.
The Products: 5 to 6 deluxe and full-size beauty products that are clean, vegan, and cruelty-free with a retail value of $100+.
Ships to: The U.S. for free, Canada for $5.95, and internationally for $10.95
The Beauty Box by Bombay & Cedar "Fun" April 2021 Review
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The box comes with a booklet of information that lists the products and highlights some of the brands found within.
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Cougar Beauty Mineral Makeup 8Pc Starter Kit - Retail Value $56.63 (£39.99)
This is a really lovely makeup kit that would be great if you are a mineral makeup fan or if you want to get started using it. Each mix is formulated without harmful chemicals, preservatives, and questionable fillers such as talc; bismuth, perfume or dye, and nanoparticle minerals and is made to feel lightweight while giving you complete coverage. I have never used a full mineral set like this so I wasn't sure what to expect and I read through the instructions thoroughly before starting. All in all, I wasn't in love with this set. I found it to be really clunky and messy to use, there were way too many steps for me personally, and I didn't love the coverage that it gave me. I felt cakey and the colors just weren't blending well together, leaving some spots more orange and other spots redder. The set includes two different shades of foundation to mix and one each of blusher, bronzer, concealer, and mineral veil. It also includes two brushes: a kabuki buffer brush and a concealer brush.
Let's see my step-by-step application process.
I started with the Mineral Veil which acts as a primer. They suggested using the larger brush and applying it in a circular motion.
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I then used the smaller brush to use the concealer, lightly tapping in areas I needed more coverage. This is where I started to see the product cake around my dry areas, which I didn't love.
I then used the larger brush again to apply the foundation. I used the lighter color, but you can use the darker tone on its own or combine the two together if needed. This foundation really added to the thick cake feeling that really brought out my dry patches. I also didn't love how this blended and really settled without truly blending, making me look a tad orange.
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I finished with the blush and a bit of bronzer. This is coming from someone who has never used a mineral foundation set like this before, but this really was not for me. I like a glow and dewy foundation that makes me look light and glossy, this makeup was the opposite of what I am used to using. My skin is so dry naturally that each layer just continued to sit on my skin and didn't allow for the makeup to blend well. I think this kit would be amazing for someone that loves mineral makeup or maybe has a more oil skin base, this just was not for me.
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Off Color Gel Stick On Nail Strips - Listed Value $12.00
This nail strip set is so cute! If you follow my reviews then you might remember how I am not a fan of nail strips. I just do not have the patience or the time for that matter to spend doing the steps to get these on. This kit does come with everything that you need to do your nails, which I really appreciate. To start, you want to clean your nails with the prep pad. Then, use the cuticle stick to push your cuticles back and do any under nail cleanup that you might need. You then want to select a fitting gel size to apply to your nail, and they recommend leaving a small space between your cuticle and your nail. Finally, take the nail file to remove the excess gel by filing downward at a 90-degree angle. I have a good girlfriend that swears by gel nail strips, and she has promised to give me a lesson once we are both free to get together (hopefully soon). For now, I will just admire how pretty these are! Are you a nail strip lover or do you prefer polish like me? Let me know in the comments!
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Fytt Anit-Aging Smoothie Mask, 2 fl oz. - Retail Value $9.00
I have to admit, I was not excited about this mask when I first saw it and read the bottle. After using the mask though, my view totally changed! They recommend this mask for dry to aging skin (me!). It helps to combat fine lines and wrinkles, exfoliates dehydrated skin, leaves your skin feeling smooth, firm, and radiant. The best part is that you can also use this mask on your body to help combat cellulite and keratosis pilaris ("chicken skin" bumps). This smoothie mask formula is made with beets, acai berry, blueberry, raspberry, and kiwi seed to help exfoliate and promote collagen production. To use, just rub the mask into your skin for 1-2 minutes and then let it sit on your skin for another 1-2 minutes before rinsing it off. I did have some light tingling with the mask and redness after rinsing it off, but I was left with super soft and glowing skin. I had some hormonal acne on my chin that improved instantly after using this mask. I am going to be using this once a week to keep my skin glowing!
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Kaneli Botanical Elixir Facial Oil, 1 fl oz. - Listed Value $34.00
Honestly, give me all of the facial oils! My skin is so dry that I use facial oils so much (always one in the morning and at least two at night). So I love stockpiling them to have on hand. This elixir is light while working to restore dry skin. This oil is made with grapeseed, avocado, macadamia, and jojoba oils which are all rich in Omega-6 along with noni and tamanu to heal and nourish your skin. I am loving that this is a pump bottle rather than a dropper in which most of my facial oils come in. I have found that one quick pump is all that I need because this oil goes a long way while still leaving my skin so soft and fresh. I have been using this in the morning and at night so far. It is leaving my skin so soft, fighting my dry spots, and leaving my skin with that healthy glow that I love.
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KOL Blackhead and Whitehead Extractor - Retail Value $8.97
These extractors are great to use to remove whiteheads and blackheads without risk of scarring. You can use the small loop to remove blackheads and the larger side for whiteheads. This is a handy tool to have in your skincare kit, it allows you to safely remove any buildup, and is great to use after a mask or deep exfoliation. Nothing fancy here, just a good product to have on hand if you don't already own one.
Verdict: This month's The Beauty Box by Bombay & Cedar was a mix of hits and misses for me. I was so excited to see such a large makeup kit that allowed me to try mineral makeup for the first time. While I learned a lot, I don't think that mineral makeup is for me. I found the process to be a lot and messy with results that left me feeling dry and cakey. The gel nail stickers are so cute, but I just don't love the process of applying them. As a busy Mom, I hardly have time to paint my nails, I just can't see myself using these without a little help from my friend who is a big nail sticker fan. The smoothie mask was a huge win for me! I was blown away by how well it exfoliated my skin without feeling harsh. It left me with a clean feeling, a natural glow, and removed a lot of buildups that I had on my skin. This is a great product to use once a week. The facial oil was another winner for me! I love adding to my oil collection and this is one that I am already using in the morning and at night. It is light while leaving me super hydrated and glowing. I calculated a retail value of around $120.60 for this box, a great value for $31.95 a month. While all of the products weren't a win for me personally, I still got to try some really amazing products and learn about new to me brands. I love the discovery process and this month's box really brought it in terms of curation and quality items, even if they didn't work for me personally, I could see someone else loving them or making a great gift.
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? No, order by the 10th to get the June "Glam" box.
Value Breakdown: This box costs $31.95 with free shipping and I calculated a total value of $120.60, which means you are paying approximately the following per item:
- Mineral Makeup Kit: $15.00
- Gel Stick On Nails: $3.17
- Smoothie Mask: $2.38
- Facial Oil: $9.00
- Extractor: $2.37
Check out all of our Bombay & Cedar reviews and the best women's subscription boxes of 2021!
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