We here at MSA love singing the praises of standout items we've received in recent subscription boxes. You may be familiar with these monthly favorites posts highlighting discoveries across a variety of categories, like books, beauty, pet subscriptions, and more. But now we're taking it a step further. Thanks to suggestions from you, our community (special shoutout to Carol!), we're rounding up our favorite subscription box finds that have stood the test of time. In this monthly series, you'll find the MSA team picking a product or two from subscription boxes past that has gone above and beyond those positive first impressions and continue to impress us. Don't forget to let us know in the comments if you've tried any of these items yourself!
Want to know what we loved most from the past month's subscription boxes? Head to our November 2021 favorites post!
Our Forever Favorites
Nicole's Forever Picks
The Item: Avens Sweater by Rachel Roy (no longer available)
The Cost: $89
From: Dia & Co, February 2020
How it’s impressed me: Back in November of 2019, I got the skirt that matches this sweater. I was so in love with the quality and style that I had to get the matching sweater. I love both pieces together, but also enjoy styling them separately for a variety of outfits. I plan on wearing it a lot this holiday season because it is stylish, easy to wear, and oh so cozy!
Read our full February 2020 Dia & Co review.
The Item: Jenna Smocked Dress by Meri Skye
The Cost: $45
From: Dia & Co, June 2021
How it's impressed me: If you read my reviews, you know I love a versatile piece! This dress has been a favorite of mine since day one for that reason. I wore it a great deal during the summer by itself or layered with a t-shirt or mesh top underneath, much like I showed in the original review. It is such an easy thing to throw on! I love it especially styled with a striped t-shirt and sneakers for flea markets and farmers' markets in warm weather months. Plus those pockets are great to store a mask or two. In the cooler months, I have been opting to style it with bright-colored tights, boots, a short-sleeved turtle neck, and either my leopard print faux fur coat or biker jacket. Depends on my mood or the weather. This piece just has become such a great staple item in my wardrobe all year!
Read our full June 2021 Dia & Co review & more reviews by Nicole!
Abby's Forever Pick
The Item: Herbivore Emerald Hemp Seed Deep Moisture Glow Oil
The Cost: $48.00
From: Ipsy Glam Bag X, August 2021
How it’s impressed me: Megan described this oil perfectly. It has seriously improved the redness in my complexion, and my skin has been a glowy dream throughout fall. I've been using this day and night with my moisturizer since September, and I am not even halfway through this gorgeous bottle.
Read our full August 2021 Ipsy Glam Bag X review (by Megan) & more reviews by Abby!
Julie's Forever Picks
The Item: Eco-Vessel Wanderware Reusable Stainless Steel Utensil Set
The Cost: $24.95
From: Cairn, July 2021
How it’s impressed me: This little utensil set, which I received in the July Cairn box, has proved to be a workhorse. While I’m rarely without utensils at home or in the office, I keep this little kit in my car to use on hikes, road trips, surf days, or really anytime I’m out and about, snacking, and in need of something to eat with. Which is… frequent. That is to say, if I’m out and about, I’m probably snacking, and this saves me from needing to use single-use plastic cutlery or packing loose utensils from home for a hike or beach day (and inevitably leaving it in the car). The stainless construction is sturdy, and keeping it handy is easy thanks to the pouches’ small footprint, which fits perfectly in my glove box. This was a welcome addition to my gear library and I have a feeling I’ll be reaching for it year-round. And yes, even though I keep it in my car, I do clean it between uses…I’m not a monster.
Read our full July 2021 Cairn review.
The Item: Malaya Organics Rejuvenating Face Serum
The Cost: $95
From: Laurel & Reed, January 2021
How it’s impressed me: This little bottle was the second item I loved, and continue to use, from the January 2021 Laurel & Reed box. I’ve been hoarding this oil – it’s pricey – and smooth it on when my skin could use a little extra attention. I’m a huge fan of oils for my skin, especially after a mask, scrub, or too much sun or wind, and this oil (let’s call it what it is, if it’s an oil, it’s not a serum – I wouldn’t layer this beneath moisturizer) is incredibly nourishing. It features gardenia, Siberian cedar nut oil, which has been shown to reduce breakouts, and argan and rosehip oils, and really seems to deliver on its promise of balancing and nourishing stressed skin.
Read our full January 2021 Laurel & Reed review (by Megan).
The Item: Honua Skincare Aloha Youth Serum
The Cost: $58
From: Laurel & Reed, March 2021
How it’s impressed me: The January 2021 Laurel & Reed box brought two skincare winners to my door. While I don’t review this box for MSA, I enjoy it on my own – they never fail to deliver amazing clean beauty brands at a great value. This serum features bakuchiol, a retinol alternative, along with Noni, for healing, and 'Ōlena, for calming. It layers beautifully and has a pleasing funk to it – the scent is unique and natural. It’s a creamy serum and really feels as though it’s delivering deep hydration. I’ve been using it since January, and my skin loves it, both for quenching dry winter skin and calming salt- and sun-soaked skin in the summer. It’s a year-round winner.
Read our full March 2021 Laurel & Reed review (by Megan) & more reviews by Julie!
Lindsey's Forever Picks
The Item: Tovala Oven
The Cost: Currently $99 (regular price $299) when you sign up for a Tovala meal subscription. Meals are $11.99 each.
From: Tovala
How it’s impressed me: I got my Tovala oven almost exactly a year ago, and to say I was skeptical would be an understatement. A fancy-schmancy oven with an associated meal kit subscription? Is this some kind of gimmick? Oh, how wrong I was. Tovala impressed me right away, and a year later, I’m still in love with it. I use my Tovala every single day for everything from toast to roasting veggies, and I’m even still signed up for the meal subscription. Since I work from home, I find the meals are perfectly portioned for lunch, and the scan-and-go feature couldn’t be easier to use.
Read our full Tovala review.
The Item: Tony Gemignani Hot Pepper Olive Oil, 8.1 oz
The Cost: $10.75
From: CrateChef, April 2021
ACTIVE DEAL: Save 10% off your first order!
CODE: ADDICTION10
How it’s impressed me: As a food reviewer, I get a lot of condiments and things that sometimes get lost in my pantry. When I received this hot pepper oil, I loved it, but it got tucked into the back of a cabinet and I kinda forgot about it… until about a month ago. My husband rediscovered this oil while cooking, and he’s now head-over-heels for the spicy flavor. Lately, every time he cooks dinner he finds a way to incorporate it. Drizzled over Brussels sprouts before roasting? Check. As a finishing oil for Thai coconut soup? Check. Mixed into homemade marinara for a punch of heat? Check. It’s good stuff!
Read our full April 2021 review & more reviews by Lindsey!
Megan's Forever Pick
The Item: Dirty Lamb Apricot Cleansing Oil
The Cost: $42
From: SEE NEW Skincare, October 2021
How it’s impressed me: I am halfway through this bottle and I still absolutely adore it. The scent (ylang-ylang!), the velvety feel, and how calm and moisturized my face is after I use it! It is all marvelous. This will be a purchase for me when I run out.
Read our full October 2021 SEE NEW review & more reviews by Megan!
Naomi's Forever Pick
The Item: PATTERN Leave-In Conditioner
The Cost: $9.00
From: Birchbox, January 2021
How it’s impressed me: This leave-in conditioner not only demolished my frizz but was incredibly lightweight, not weighing down my curls at all. To top it all off, it left my hair feeling hydrated and bouncy. My unruly curls were silky soft and more manageable. I have repurchased this product several times since I first tried it out in the February Birchbox. It has also been a gateway product to my obsession with the PATTERN Beauty Curl Gel. These two products go fabulously together and have become my go-to for bounce, healthy, and defined curls.
Read our full January 2021 Birchbox review & more reviews by Naomi!
Becca's Forever Picks
The Item: Too Faced Better than Sex Mascara
The Cost: $13 for a 0.13 oz
From: Sephora Favorites Lash-Stash To Go Mascara Set
How it’s impressed me: While I don’t review a ton of beauty boxes for MSA, I am makeup obsessed. We recently traveled to Montana down 80 miles of gravel to a remote camping location and I admittedly had a full face of makeup on each day. Black mascara and eyeliner are essentials in my book, and I love Too Faced Better than Sex mascara. I have had over 20 different brands of mascara in my makeup caddie at one time, and I find that this brand just works the best. I’ve probably gone through at least 10 full-sized tubes of this stuff and have no regrets. The length, volume, and definition it gives my lashes are exactly what I’m looking for, and the fact that I can get away with not using the waterproof version, and successfully play five matches of volleyball in it without it running down my face equals a win for me!
Read our November Sephora Favorites review (by Jessica).
The Item: Sleeping Queens Game
The Cost: $9.10 (currently on sale for $6)
From: Together Unplugged, February 2020
ACTIVE DEAL: Save $5 off your first box!
CODE: MSA5OFF
How it’s impressed me: One of my favorite subscriptions ever is Together Unplugged. I reviewed this for quite a while and always had good things to say. My kids love playing games and this continues to be one of their favorites. Portable, easy, and quick this game is perfect for a little pre-bed family time as it is great for all ages.
Read our full February 2021 Together Unplugged review & more reviews by Becca!
Jessica's Forever Pick
The Item: MZ Skin Soothe & Smooth Collagen Activating Eye Complex
The Cost: $143
From: Skinstore Expert’s Choice LE Box, August 2021
How it’s impressed me: Most of my skincare-loving life has been spent not really loving eye creams, but when I received this super pricey jar of eye cream in my box, I knew I couldn’t let it go to waste. Around the same time this box arrived, I was dealing with super painful cracks in the corner of my lips that no lip balm could fix. Since that delicate skin around my lips needed to be soothed, I decided to apply some of the eye cream at the corners of my mouth along with on the skin under my eyes. Within a few days of applying this in both places, the cracks had healed, and I’ve also been able to keep them from returning. I just completely emptied this jar of eye cream, and it honestly may be the first full-size eye cream I have truly ever fully emptied. I’ll miss this for sure- if I had a much bigger skincare budget, this would definitely be an instant repurchase.
Read our full Skinstore Expert’s Choice LE Box review & more reviews by Jessica!
Sanna's Forever Pick
The Item: Paradox Lucky Stars Blemish Patches
The Cost: $18 (currently sold out)
From: FabFitFun, Winter 2020
How it’s impressed me: Even when I’ve loved a product, I very rarely buy it again because I’m always looking for something new to try. It’s even rarer that I would purchase something I received in a sub box but this and Feel Like Honey Moon Base are the only exceptions. I don’t break out very often now that I’m older but I’m almost excited when I do because I can bust out these fun blemish stickers. These black stars not only look cool but the shape gives them a better grip and they don’t fall off overnight. There are 40 patches in the resealable pack, which is why I’ve only recently had to purchase them when my first pack ran out.
Read our full Winter 2020 FabFitFun review (by Megan) & more reviews by Sanna!
Christen's Forever Picks
The Item: Tru Earth All-Natural Laundry Strips
The Cost: $19.95
From: Earthlove, Spring 2021
ACTIVE DEAL: $5 off your first box
CODE: MSA5
How it’s impressed me: I thought these zero waste laundry detergent strips seemed too good to be true and didn’t expect much from them. I had tried other natural laundry detergents before and found that after a month or so of use my laundry wasn’t smelling clean and my whites were dingy looking. Not the case here! Even for cold washes, these strips work just as well as regular, name-brand detergent! One dark horse win for these is that they’re super easy to toss into the washing machine with one hand while holding a baby. Huge.
Read our full Spring 2021 Earthlove review.
The Item: TokyoMilk Honey & The Moon Parfum
The Cost: $38
From: Margot Elena Discovery Box, Summer 2021
How it’s impressed me: I’m a perfume late bloomer. While all the cool girls in high school and even into college walked around leaving recognizable signature scents in their wake, I never found “my scent.” Now here I am in my 30s having my moment. TokyoMilk perfumes are my jam. This was my first love. I love how complex it is with its honey and its jasmine and its sandalwood and its cocoa-y tones. I love how its moodiness balances my brightness. I love reaching for it on a regular old day and how its scent makes the ordinary feel special, yet tasteful. I’ve been rotating TokyoMilk perfumes, but this is the one I reach for when I’m feeling especially in need of a boost.
Read our full Summer 2021 Margot Elena review & more reviews by Christen!
Do you think you'll try any of these awesome items? And what were your favorite discoveries this month?
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