Allure Beauty Box is a $23 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 2022 Subscription Box Awards.)
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
Note: This is a new member curation. To see all variations, check out our spoiler post here!
As always, the box arrives beautifully packaged in typical white and red Allure fashion!
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There was also a helpful mini-magazine with more info on the products.
Now, on to the items!
Blinc UltraVolume Tubing Mascara, 9 mL - Retail Value $26 (Full Size!)
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I always love seeing something from this brand! I have used this scalp scrub before and absolutely recommend it. It is a really refreshing treat for any scalp, and I say that as someone who has a pretty irritated one myself. The scrubbies get the job done but they aren't harsh and the smell of this scrub (a creamy and powdery violet) is one I would wear as a perfume. The only real downside is that this little tub is only about enough for one use (with my thicker hair), but at $17 buying the full size is a no brainer and I have done so a few times.
Shani Darden Skin Care Retinol Reform, 10 mL - Retail Value $30
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I really wish I could have tried this serum out for a few nights but sadly mind had a crack at the connection between the lid and the bottle itself (you can kind of see it separating in picture 5) and it was almost completely dried out inside. It looked like it had a light yellow tint and a kind of genetic serum sort of smell. Since I am limited in a first-hand take, I will just touch on the pretty exceptional ingredient list. Major callouts include: lactic acid, retinol, green tea, niacinamide, and tons of plant extracts. These ingredients speak to the potential over time of better skin texture, softer fine lines, and a brighter overall look. Wish I could have seen for myself!
Alpha-H Liquid Gold Exfoliating Tonic, 100 mL – Retail Value $54 (Full size!)
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I don't love this product. The number 2 ingredient is alcohol denat. which I find drying and irritating. Beyond that, studies suggest that it isn't great for the long-term vitality of skin. So, even though this has glycolic acid which I love for smoothing texture and brightening skin, this is a hard pass for me personally. If your skin isn't prone to dryness, redness, irritation, or sensitivities, I would try it out and see what you think for yourself.
Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream, 7 mL - Estimated Value $39.20 (buy 50 mL for $280)
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This is one of those items I love to get in a box because of the awesome ingredients (fatty oils from avocado, sunflower, argan, and evening primrose, with shea, hyaluronic acid, green tea extract, arginine, and peptides galore) but that I would never actually purchase at the retail cost. It is just bananas to me. Luckily, I find this small tube to last quite a while because the cream inside is, indeed, rich. And you don't need much per use, especially if you cut it with a favorite serum. Even if you don't have drier skin, I feel like you are going to love this stuff.
Eyeko Double Act Shadow Stick - Retail Value $12.50
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Eyeko used to be a brand that I just rolled my eyes at because I never tried anything from them except for their black eyeline which seemed to appear in every darn box there for a while. I find that I like these cream shadow sticks so much better! This duo is a chocolate brown and a golden shimmer that is super flattering. The texture is very blendable and is ideal for a smokey look. They also included a bright blue sharpener which is great, because I never seem to have one around.
Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser, 2 fl oz - Retail Value $2.99
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I know a lot of snobby people don't like Cetaphil. But, honestly, it cleans a face gently and without irritation. So I never have gotten the shade. Is it exciting? No, not at all. It is about as basic as a cleanser gets. But this is also a brand that is great for sensitive skin and has stood the test of time for a reason. So, while I personally like spending more $$$ on cleansers with more bells and whistles, I absolutely still love this gentle cream cleanser and think it's a solid budget choice.
New Member Gift:
Pixi Beauty LipGlow in 'Ruby' - Retail Value $14
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Why is Pixi so cute? Literally one of my favorite accessible brands. The formulas work well and won't bankrupt you. And sometimes I am a budget babe too. This is a balmy sort of lip color with a pinkish-red tint. It adds a lot of color to my smile but feels conditioning, too.
Verdict
This month's Allure Beauty Box was full of highs and lows for me personally. I was really sad that my Shani Darden serum was unusable. And I really don't like that Alpha-H product. So you could argue rightfully that a huge chunk of the value this month wasn't there for me. And, you would be right. This wasn't the most outstanding delivery from this brand by a long stretch. I did love literally everything else, though. Which is redeeming for the most part! It is always interesting reviewing a new subscriber version as someone who has been reviewing Allure for, well, years. (Allure sends us a variation of their choice per month). I would say that this is a really great view of what this box feels like on average: a mix of expensive higher-end brands with a few drugstore faves. The value this month totals about $166.62 without the member gift, which is nice for a $23 box. I am hoping next month is a little better just in terms of my own personal taste.
Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? No, April will be your first box.
Cost Breakdown: At $23 for this box, here is what you are paying approximately per item:
- Blinc UltraVolume Tubing Mascara $3.59
- NatureLab. Tokyo Scalp Scrub $0.27
- Shani Darden Skin Care: Retinol Reform $4.14
- Alpha-H: Exfoliating Tonic $7.45
- Augustinus Bader: The Rich Cream $5.41
- Eyeko Double Act Shadow Stick $1.73
- Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser $0.41
Alternatively, each of the 7 products has an average cost of $3.29. I did not include the new subscriber gift in this breakdown.
What do you think of the March Allure Beauty Box? What was your favorite product in the box?
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