The Cosmic Collection’s Earth Box is a first-ever, limited-edition beauty box from InStyle Magazine’s beauty experts and Astrology Zone’s founder Susan Miller, famed astrologist to the stars, curated with products specific to your astrological sign. The box features beauty and wellness products with a total value of over $140.
This box is available now for $35 each here while supplies last.
This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we review boxes.)
First Impressions
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I love astrology. I am no expert and I don't try to be, but I still have fun with it. I'm a Virgo sun, Taurus moon, and Pisces rising which means (in a nutshell) I am very type-A and get anxious when things don't go according to plan, I really like being home and cozy, and I feel a lot of feelings. After I had graduated from law school but was waiting for my bar exam results (10 agonizing weeks), I was struggling to find a job and was, well, struggling with everything. One of the ways I coped was deep dives into the hole of the Instagram discover page, where I eventually found myself seeing quite a few astrology memes. And I liked them. So then the Instagram algorithm kept showing them to me, and I learned quite a bit about the signs through my meme-ducation. Everything happens for a reason, though- near Christmas, at the end of that year I interviewed for (yet another) prospective job, and the interviewer made a reference to me being a Virgo (I believe it was "my husband is a Virgo; I know how to work with Virgos). Immediately I felt the metaphorical lightbulb go on over my head, I reached into my bank of astrology knowledge and finally felt like maybe I had a chance to stop being a hostess at a steakhouse and actually start being a real lawyer. I got the job, and two years later I am still there. I've even met the Virgo husband, and yeah, we have a lot more in common than you would perhaps think if you only went by our birthdays.
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This box came with a product card that has a list of all the products included and a little bit about them.
This box also came with a booklet featuring the "2022 Year Ahead Horoscopes" by Susan Miller. I have never heard of her, but my boss has- in a way that made me feel like I should have heard of Susan Miller (I took this to work so everyone could read how next year may go for them). I am obviously not going to assign a value to this booklet, but I am really, really impressed with it. Each sign gets four entire pages devoted to explaining how 2022 will go according to Susan, including important dates, good times to start certain projects, when to not get botox (I don't think every sign has this, but mine certainly did), and when the retrogrades are. This thing is a wealth of fun information, and I really enjoyed reading through it. Also, I really hope mine is accurate and 2022 eases into less stressful times.
We also received some literature from the included brands. One of the papers is a card you mail back if you want to take advantage of the free year's subscription to InStyle magazine that comes with your purchase of this box, so be sure you don't lose it if that's something you're interested in.
The Products
Artis Phantom Silk Skincare Primer with Hyaluronic Acid - Retail Value $15
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I think this may have been the only box to come with a sheet mask, and the Taurus in me really felt seen. When I read more about how this mask is supposed to work, that made the Virgo in me get excited. Priming my skin for skincare is a concept that made my heart sing, so I couldn’t wait to put this on and try this out before applying my morning skincare routine. Dear reader, I honestly apologize for not recording this experience- I wasn't sure what to expect, and I really didn't understand just how cool this mask experience was going to be. This is not a wet sheet mask you apply for twenty minutes; not even close. Rather, you apply a hydrating toner to your face, apply the dry mask to your skin, and then spritz on more hydrating toner. The mask material is a very thin formula (literally the only ingredient is a dried form of hyaluronic acid) that's attached to a mesh backing, and once you spray the hydrating toner onto your face the hyaluronic acid is completely absorbed by your skin and all you are left with is the mesh backing to remove.
While I have no video to show you have this worked, I do have before and after photos. Here is the mask right after I applied it to my skin- you can see the toner on my forehead starting to dissolve some of the hyaluronic acid mask already.
Here is the mask right after I spritzed on a face mist (the one sent in the box, actually). I actually couldn't believe my eyes when I looked at the photo and the mask was completely gone within seconds, but I loved the novelty of it. This wasn't the best fitting mask- there was a lot of surface area under my eyes that this mask didn't cover, but I do feel like this made my skin feel ready for the rest of my morning routine.
Heritage Store Rosewater Facial Mist, 8 oz - Retail Value $10.69
Speaking of facial mists, this is the one I used with my Artis mask, and I really liked it. It has a noticeable rose scent that may not be loved by everyone, but I didn't mind it. This vegan and cruelty-free mist only has two ingredients- purified water and damask rose oil. Allegedly, the purified water has been "vortexed and magnetized to raise the energy to a higher vibration." I know I'm reviewing an astrology-themed box, but I'm not so sure about all of that. Regardless of if the water in this formula has a higher energy than regular water or not, though, I did find this to be refreshing and did like that the spray nozzle dispersed an even spritz that actually felt like a mist and not like a mini squirt from a water hose.
NeoStrata Ultra Brightening Cleanser, 10 mL - Estimated Value $1.80 (buy the 200 mL version for $36)
As soon as I started to apply this cleanser I was ready to wash it off. This has a very prominent smell that reminded me of alcohol or nail polish remover, and I hated it. NeoStrata is a brand I've tried before and I haven't had issues with their formulas in the past, but this cleanser is made with both rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol) and ammonium hydroxide which are ingredients I really try to avoid for my sensitive skin. This cleanser seems to have quite a few positive reviews for being an effective brightening cleanser, and I wouldn't be surprised if those ingredients are necessary for this cleanser to get those kinds of results- but it's not a good match for my skin. I will say that when I tried this, I was able to wash this off with relative ease and the smell didn't linger, so it's definitely not the worst cleanser I've tried.
Urban Skin Rx Even Tone Smooth & Glow Enzyme Mask, 1.7 oz - Retail Value $22.99
Just in case you're new around here, I love face masks. Is it because I have a Taurus moon that embraces all of the self-care? Is it because I am an overly stressed out Virgo and masks frequently have a cooling sensation that feels amazing on my skin? I have no idea, and this subscription box didn't come with the ability to ask Susan Miller some 1-on-1 questions. Anyways, the point I am trying to make is that I am very happy to see a full-size face mask in this box- especially a mask that is worth more than half the cost of the entire box by itself. When I looked at the ingredients list for this mask, I got the impression Urban Skin Rx was trying to fit as many awesome skincare ingredients inside of it as possible. This mask has peptides, chemical exfoliants (lactic and glycolic acids), vitamins C and E, azelaic acid, green tea extract, and hyaluronic acid. It has a lot going on, but it wasn't irritating to my skin. This mask has a gel texture, and I love the pump feature that is so much more sanitary than dipping my fingers into a jar. Plus, once I rinsed this away my skin was soft and I didn't see any redness left behind, which is always a win when I'm playing with exfoliating products.
Natura Brasil MARACUJÁ Hand Cream, 1.4 oz - Retail Value $12
I would think the stereotypical Virgo goes a little heavy with the hand sanitizer, which also means the stereotypical Virgo goes in heavy with hand cream, too. I am actually terrible at remembering to take care of my hands, so I am always happy to get hand creams in subscription boxes. My theory is that if I have a tube of hand cream on every surface in my apartment, maybe I'll actually remember to apply it every day. No, this theory is not available for scientific debate. This hand cream from Natura Brasil is made with maracuja oil, and my mind was blown when I looked up the product page because I never had any idea maracuja and passion fruit were the same thing. Like, I have quite a bit of product from the Tarte maracuja product line, and never did they point out their maracuja oil comes from the tasty tropical fruit. I digress. This is a lightweight hand cream that absorbed into my skin pretty quickly and didn't leave behind a greasy film, so this is a winner in my book. I love that the maracuja oil used for this hand cream is sustainably sourced, and this is also formulated without common ingredients people try to avoid like parabens, phthalates, propylene glycol, and mineral oil.
Dr. Paw Paw Rich Mocha Balm, 10 mL - Estimated Value $3.20 (buy the 25 mL version for $8)
I've tried the Dr. Paw Paw balm formula before, and I really like it. The mocha shade is new to me, and it isn't a good fit for me. That isn't going to keep me from wearing it though- the nourishing formula of papaya fruit (pawpaw), aloe vera, olive oil, and castor seed oil is too good to keep off my lips. I've been wearing this when I've been alone in my apartment and it doesn't matter what my lips look like, and my dry lips have really been soaking the balm formula up. The formula is technically supposed to be a multipurpose one, but the tint makes it a little difficult to use this as anything other than a super nourishing lip balm.
Glo Skin Beauty Suede Matte Crayon in Trademark - Retail Value $22
I have never finished a lip crayon all the way, but there is a good chance this one from Glo Skin Beauty will change that: I'm in love. I received the shade Trademark (an earthy rose), and it is the perfect pink-rose-mauve shade I can wear with ease. The formula of this lip crayon is super comfortable too- it's matte without being drying, and it gives great pigment without feeling heavy on my lips. This is one of the stars of the box for me, and I am really happy I was able to try it out.
Here is the lip crayon swatched below the lip balm.
Nailtopia Plant-Based Chip-Free Nail Lacquer in Cream de la Creme, 0.41 oz - Retail Value $5
This is one of the few products in the box that didn't spark a ton of joy in me- my nails are currently decked out in Christmas-themed nails that include Santa, Rudolph, snowflakes, and red and green candy cane stripes. This bottle of semi-opaque cream-white nail polish doesn't really fit in. I do appreciate that this is vegan, cruelty-free, 85% Bio Sourced and Plant-Based, and how Nailtopia works to formulate polishes that exclude any harsh ingredients. 10 Free? Nah, Nailtopia is all free. But a bottle of white nail polish just feels a little boring- maybe this is supposed to appeal to a Virgo's love of organization and clean lines, but I prefer a little more pizazz when it comes to my nails.
Shaklee Collagen 9, 8.2 oz - Retail Value $34.70
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I love receiving collagen powders in subscription boxes because they're useful, pricey, and not something I remember to buy for myself. Each serving of this unflavored collagen powder contains 10 grams of collagen protein, nine essential amino acids, biotin, and vitamin C. I added it to one of my favorite smoothies, and I am happy to report it blended in with no issues (no lumps, no clumps), and didn't affect the taste at all. I love when healthy things don't actually taste bad- I am so much more likely to actually consume them!
LIQUID I.V. Hydration Sticks, 3-pack - Estimated Retail Value $4.59
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I honestly thought I would try these out, not like them, and would give the remaining two packs to my boyfriend who uses supplements like these on an almost daily basis, but I am happy to report I will be keeping all of these for myself- and may even repurchase more. I have been struggling with headaches, and while I think stress is playing a big role I also think I am not staying hydrated enough and my body is yelling at me. I tried this out by mixing half of the packet with 16 ounces of cold water (the instructions said a full packet but I knew that was setting myself up for failure because I don't usually like water additives like these), and I was pleased that this blended with my water easily without any clumps left behind. The watermelon flavor definitely tasted a little artificial, but it wasn't terrible. I was able to get through my first 16 ounces pretty quickly, and then I did it again with more water and the remaining powder from the first packet. When it was all said and done, my body did noticeably feel a lot more hydrated and my headache that had kind of just been thudding away in the background was gone, too. If I can get in the habit of drinking these (and drinking more water in general) I know my body would be happier, so that is going to be something I try to do.
Verdict
I love the concept of an astrology-themed box- I would love to see InStyle make this something that is recurring. The box got off to a great start with my 2022 horoscope by Susan Miller, and I had fun discovering products like the Artis mask, Glo Skin Beauty lip crayon, and Liquid IV. I am not quite sure that this was the most earth-sign-focused box that could have been curated, though. I definitely feel like including a sheet mask and wash off mask was spot on, but other than that nothing about this really screams earth sign to me. Maybe it's because I'm not as familiar with Capricorns as I am with Virgos and Taurus's, but it just felt something was missing. By my calculations, this box also doesn't quite meet the promised value of $140, but the value of $131.97 is still almost $100 more than the cost of the entire box. If you take the theme and the promised value out of the equation, though, this truly was a solid box for the $35 price.
To Wrap Up
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? Yes, order here while supplies last.
Value – Was This Box Worth It?
The Cost: $35.00
Value Breakdown:
- Artis: $15
- Heritage Store: $10.69
- Neostrata: $1.80
- Urban Skin Rx: $22.99
- Natura Brasil: $12
- Dr. Paw Paw: $3.20
- Glo Skin Beauty: $22
- Nailtopia: $5
- Shaklee: $34.70
- Hydration Sticks $4.59
The total value of my box was $131.97, which is less than the promised value of $140 but still pretty solid for a $35 box.
What do you think of the limited edition The Cosmic Collection's Earth Box?
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