Medusa's Make-Up Beauty Box is a vegan and cruelty-free makeup subscription box from the popular indie brand of the same name. Each month you'll receive a box of 3-5 vegan beauty products for just $25.95 with free shipping, with a total value of around $40. The shades and colors are always unique and the packaging is super fun!
This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we review boxes.)
The September 2026 Box
As a long-time beauty enthusiast and subscription box reviewer, I've tried just about every make-up box out there. Medusa’s Make-Up, though, has steadily carved out a special spot in my rotation. When I first got the chance to review one of their boxes, I was curious, and now, several months (and many fun looks) later, I’m fully hooked. Each delivery brings something bold, cruelty-free, and totally unique. So, what’s inside September's box? Let’s dive in and see what this month has to offer!
Gone are the days of the pink mailer. Instead, we’ve been receiving a glossy black version with silver lettering. Pretty in design, it’s lovely, and all of the contents arrived safely and securely in a little bubble-wrap pouch. I couldn’t wait to dive in and see what this month might bring!
Now, let’s dig in and see what I received!
Kicking things off is the info card, which lists everything included in the box along with each item’s retail value. This month’s design feels a little lackluster compared to some of the others we’ve received, but the pretty pink color, sparkly clipart, and little kiss detail still give it a cute touch.
The back of the card provides a helpful breakdown of each item, but unfortunately, this month it doesn’t include the retail values. I have to admit, that’s a little frustrating, as I always enjoy seeing how much each product is worth. I also noticed that there aren’t many Medusa’s Makeup-branded items included this time around, which is another bit of a disappointment.
Now, let’s take a closer look, shall we?
Rainbow Shimmer Eyeshadow Palette
The first item I received was a 9-color eyeshadow palette from K’apeine. Honestly, I was excited to see the fun color scheme, but I was disappointed to find that this palette isn’t available for purchase anywhere I could find, aside from Temu, and I couldn’t find a reliable retail price for it.
The colors themselves are pretty, although some of the shades are very similar to one another. When I swatched them on my arm, I had to use an extremely heavy hand to achieve the light colors you see in the photo. When I tried using them in my everyday makeup look, even with both a sponge and a brush, I couldn’t get the bright, vibrant results I was hoping for.
Medusa’s Makeup has so many fun eyeshadows and unique color options, so I was a little disappointed that they didn’t include one of their own branded products instead. Unfortunately, the quality of this palette left quite a bit to be desired, and I’m hoping the rest of the items in the box will be enough to outshine this one!
Love Byrd Lip Balm - Retail Value $7.50
The next item I received is actually featured on the Medusa’s Makeup website, so we’re heading in the right direction! This lip balm came in the shade “Peck” and had a slight yellow tinge when you look at it in the tube, but it went on completely clear.
It was hydrating and felt nice on my dry lips, making it a perfectly good everyday balm. I didn’t mind the clear finish, and thankfully, it didn’t have any weird smell or taste. It has officially been tossed into my purse, where I’ll be keeping it handy to help keep my lips soft and moisturized throughout the fall season.
Gel Eyeliner Pen - Retail Value $5.00
I wear eyeliner pretty often, but unfortunately, this version just wasn’t my favorite. I typically use a liquid liner, so I tried applying this one in a similar way, but it didn’t layer well over my eyeshadow and didn’t give me the crisp cat-eye look I was hoping for.
It did work well for smudging along the lash line to create a smokier eye, but unfortunately, it didn’t last as long as I would have liked. Overall, it’s not a bad liner, but it just didn’t work particularly well with my usual makeup routine.
Lip Crayon
I’m always happy to see a lip product, but once again, I’m a little disappointed that this isn’t a Medusa’s Makeup-branded item. This lip crayon is a decent enough color, although it isn’t particularly easy to find online.
The dusty rose hue applies smoothly and has about the staying power you’d expect from a typical lip crayon. I did need to reapply throughout the day, but I really liked the color and found the formula to be perfectly fine.
It’s not something I’d necessarily switch to as my go-to lip product, but it’s a pretty shade that I could see myself reaching for every now and then.
Baked Eye Shadow - Listed Value $14.00
Finally!! A Medusa’s Makeup item!! I really enjoy this brand of eyeshadow, and the amount of product we receive is generous. This metallic shade, “Set List,” comes in a circular pan and is both neutral and gorgeous. It creates a beautiful smoky eye but can easily be worn as part of an everyday look, too.
The staying power of this eyeshadow is great, and it applies smoothly and evenly. I really enjoy this formula and hope we see more Medusa’s Makeup eyeshadows like this in future boxes!
Hair Clips
I have to admit, when I first saw these clips in the bag, I wasn’t exactly impressed. However, I believe they’re designed to keep your bangs or hair out of your face while applying makeup, with the plastic construction helping to prevent those annoying crimp marks.
With that in mind, I’m actually happy to use them, and they work perfectly fine for their intended purpose. These aren’t hair accessories I’d necessarily wear out of the house as a fashion statement, although I’m sure some people could pull them off! Functionally, though, they did a great job of keeping my hair out of my face without leaving behind weird kinks or crimps.
I think I might actually like them!
The Verdict
This month’s curation from Medusa’s Makeup was a little “meh” for me. I typically really enjoy the makeup they send and love discovering new brands, but this box felt a bit underwhelming overall. I was disappointed to see so many non-Medusa’s Makeup-branded items, especially since I didn’t feel the quality of several of them was particularly impressive.
I did appreciate the beautiful silver eyeshadow and was pleasantly surprised by how much I ended up liking the hair clips. Unfortunately, though, the rest of the items just didn’t do much for me. Hopefully, next month’s box will bring back the quality and creativity I’ve come to expect!
What did you think of this month’s curation? Which item was your favorite? Let me know in the comments below!
Keep track of your subscriptions by adding this box to your subscription list or wishlist!
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? You'll likely receive the October box. Some past boxes are also available for a one-time purchase here.
Value Breakdown: I can’t really estimate the value of this month’s box, as several of the items were difficult to find for sale, making it hard to determine their retail prices. I do think the overall value was probably close to the $25.95 price point, though, which unfortunately doesn’t make this month’s box feel like a particularly great value.
What was your favorite item in this month's Medusa's Make-Up Beauty Box?
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