The AIA Beauty Bundle is a newly launched subscription box focused on bringing you exclusive access to makeup, skincare, and haircare products loved by influencers. Each month the brand partners with a new beauty brand, and you can expect to receive at least five full-sized products with a total value of at least $100.
This month the beauty brand featured is Herbivore Botanicals! If you've never heard of them, they're a skincare brand that focuses on delivering safe, non-toxic, and highly effective products. When creating their products they reach for high-quality items like plant-based food-grade cold-pressed oils, steam distilled therapeutic-grade essential oils, and certified organic ingredients, while leaving out synthetic ingredients, parabens, mineral oils, and petroleum.
My Subscription Addiction purchased this box. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
First Impressions
1 of 3
Your subscription box is a shimmery, glittery box with a white stripe down the middle and the AIA beauty logo, and once you open the box up you find that the glass-packaged products were securely wrapped with a thick layer of protective foam. This box also comes with an info sheet, so you can get additional details about the products inside.
One thing to note- on the Herbivore "about us" page the brand states their products are made without chemicals, which is patently false because literally, every skin care ingredient is a chemical. I don't take that too seriously and just focus on their beautifully packaged products with solid ingredients lists, but I did want to point it out.
The Breakdown – What’s Inside The Herbivore Box From AIA Beauty
Pink Cloud Rosewater + Tremella Creamy Jelly Cleanser, 100 mL - Retail Value $24
1 of 2
Full disclosure: cleansers are one of my least favorite skincare products. I need them to do what they’re designed to do, but it’s rare that I try a cleanser and have felt stronger than “that worked.” This cleanser from Herbivore is the exception to my norm. To start I love the gorgeous packaging and the pink texture of the cleanser, however, you do need to use a bit of care since it’s a heavy glass bottle that is kept in an area that gets slippery (if you keep your cleansers in your shower like me, at least). The texture is creamy without being heavy, and it gently cleanses my skin without drying it out or leaving it feeling stripped. I would use this as a second cleanse after a cleansing oil or balm if I was wearing heavy makeup, but for low makeup days or no makeup days, this is perfect for removing sunscreen and whatever else is on my face.
Blue Tansy Invisible Pores Resurfacing Clarity Mask, 60 mL - Retail Value $48
1 of 3
Something to know about blue tansy: it has a pungent smell that Herbivore describes as “deeply herbaceous and slightly medicinal,” and I think that’s about right. The smell doesn’t bother me (and it’s naturally occurring due to the ingredients used), but I know a few people don’t enjoy it. This mask has been perfect for maskne- there are only so many clay-based masks I can do before my skin is yelling at me, but this has a gel texture and no clay whatsoever. The blue tansy is paired with exfoliating white willow bark, fruit enzymes, and aloe Vera. Combined, this mask works to fight acne and large pores while still soothing redness and irritation. I had a cluster of congestion on my jawline that formed right when this box was being delivered due to my face mask, and I was excited to try it out because if the acne was cystic, nothing is helping it out other than sulfur and a bit of time. Since these were smaller pimples caused by clogged pores, this mask was able to go right to work. I only applied it to my jawline, and I did experience a tingling sensation which surprised me. I know I have sensitive skin, but that is primarily in my cheeks and the skin on my jawline is a little hardier. The tingling sensation never crossed into burning on me, and once I was done wearing this mask for 10 minutes it rinsed away easily. I didn’t notice any increased redness post-use, and I followed up with the lapis facial oil and a moisturizer and my skin was good to go.
Bakuchiol Retinol Alternative Smoothing Serum, 30 mL- Retail Value $54
1 of 3
Bakuchiol is a retinol alternative for those who want to fight the signs of aging but maybe have sensitive skin and cannot tolerate stronger products but still want the benefit of smoothing fine lines. This hydrating serum features bakuchiol via the Ayurvedic babchi plant, and the formula also has aloe, glycerin, the superfood tremella mushroom, and blueberry stem cells. I’ve been using it just as a regular hydrating serum in my skincare routine and that has been working perfectly fine for me, but this is probably the least exciting product in the box for me. It’s still a stunning product, though- I have no idea how the serum got that gorgeous light purple color, but Herbivore doesn’t use any form of artificial colorants so it must be from one of the botanical extracts inside.
Lapis Blue Tansy Face Oil, 50 mL - Retail Value $72
I feel like I’ve come full circle with the lapis facial oil. I remember trying it for the first time like four (maybe more) years ago and loving it. Then I kind of lost interest and forgot about it for a while. When this oil popped back up in this subscription box I was intentional about using it in my evening skincare routine every night, and I really feel like it’s made a difference in keeping my redness even, my sensitive skin calm, and my skin glowing. The formula features blue tansy as its key ingredient, and blue tansy is chock-full of azulene, an ingredient that is fantastic at soothing and reducing redness and inflammation while adding some moisture and a bit of antibacterial goodness. Herbivore paired that blue tansy with oils like squalane, jojoba, kukui nut, and jasmine, which creates a formula that absorbs quickly without being heavy on the skin. This is designed for those with acne-prone, oily or combination skin because it is so lightweight, but I have been applying this to my (dry, sensitive, hormonal acne-prone) skin under a heavier moisturizer at night and it has been *chef's kiss* for my face.
Coco Rose Exfoliating Body Scrub, 8 oz - Retail Value $36
1 of 2
Out of every product in the box, this is the one I’ve known about and have wanted to try for a while but never have. It’s a body scrub made with Moroccan rose, coconut oil, Shea butter, and pink clay, and it has a medium grit to it that is effective at exfoliating your skin while the hydrating oils and butters work to keep it hydrated. Like the cleanser, this comes in a beautiful glass jar, which is perfect for displaying on a vanity but can make for a slick situation in a wet shower. I would also be really intentional about using this- herbivore doesn’t add any form of preservatives to their product, which means once you open this you’re going to want to use it up sooner rather than later before it goes bad. This is compounded by the fact that your shower creates a warm, damp environment for microbes, so you run the risk of this product going bad before you finish it if you don’t keep it tightly sealed in your bathroom. This is still a lovely product, you just can’t use it once, forget about it, and then come back months later as if no time passed at all.
Value – Was This Box Worth It?
The Cost: $35 + free US shipping
Value Breakdown:
- Pink Cloud: $24 → $3.59
- Blue Tansy: $48 → $7.18
- Bakuchiol: $54 → $8.07
- Lapis: $72 → $10.76
- Coco Rose: $36 → $5.38
The total value of this box is $234, which is more than double the promised minimum value of $100 and more than six times the cost of the box.
Key Takeaways
When I first saw an Instagram post about the Herbivore box from AIA Beauty, I genuinely thought it was too good to be true. I mean, $35 for five full-sized products from Herbivore? Thankfully, that is exactly what I received in my box, and I am over the moon about it. Along with the products being beautifully packaged, all of the products have been working well for me, and I have really enjoyed incorporating them into my skincare routine. Herbivore is a great skincare brand if you like to focus on natural skincare and using skincare as a self-care ritual because I really find myself taking my time when using these products in a way that I don't usually (a lot of the time I am more of a "slap it on and go" kind of girl). The value was fantastic, too- AIA beauty went far above and beyond their promised value of $100, and four of the five products in the box retail individually for more than what the entire box cost. I'm really excited to see what future boxes from AIA Beauty bring- since each month will feature a new brand and exclusively send products from that brand, there is definitely a little more risk in your subscription compared to subscriptions where you expect a variety of brands to be featured. For such a low price, though, I think this box will be worth the risk to many. If every box can be as fantastic as this Herbivore box was, then this subscription box is going to be a smashing success- I can't wait to see the next brands featured (FYI, October will be Colourpop!).
Other Things You Should Know
Is this box still available? No, the Herbivore box is sold out. If you sign up today, you will receive the October Colourpop box.
Does this box ship internationally? As of now, Canadian subscribers can receive this box but will need to pay a $25 shipping fee.
Can I customize my box? No, this box does not offer customizations. Every subscriber will receive the exact same box.
What do you think of the AIA Beauty x Herbivore box? Are you going to sign up for a subscription, or wait to see a few more reviews?
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.