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Brown Sugar Box by Izzy & Liv Subscription Review – October 2017

Nich Baviera
ByNich BavieraOct 30, 2017 | 11 comments

Brown Sugar Box October 2017 box

Brown Sugar Box by Izzy & Liv
4.7 overall rating
3 Ratings | 3 Reviews

Brown Sugar Box is a monthly women of color lifestyle subscription by the shop Izzy & Liv that promises a total retail value of $85+. Here's how they describe it: "As a Brown Sugar Box Subscriber, you’ll get a box filled with the BEST of Izzy & Liv including best sellers, new releases, and limited edition (subscriber-only) products."

Brown Sugar Box October 2017 inside box

My Subscription Addiction paid for this box. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)

Brown Sugar Box October 2017 review

The Subscription Box: Brown Sugar Box

The Cost: $39.95 a month + $4.95 for shipping

LIMITED TIME DEAL: Use code GIVEMESUGAR to save $5 off your first box

The Products: “Your box will include 5-6 products every month. You will always get at least one Izzy & Liv tee, tank or sweatshirt along with other fabulous items -- and as often as we can, we will include items from other black-owned businesses we love!”

Ships to: The United States for $4.95 and International for $12.95.

Check out all of our Brown Sugar Box reviews and more women of color subscription boxes in the Women Subscription Box Directory!

Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!

Brown Sugar Box October 2017 inside booklet

Included in the box is a mini magazine with various articles for my reading enjoyment. This is a welcome departure from the two-sided info card.

Brown Sugar Box October 2017 inside booklet

Brown Sugar Box October 2017 inside booklet

Brown Sugar Box October 2017 inside booklet

Brown Sugar Box October 2017 booklet back

This month’s theme is “A Womans Worth Edition”.

Brown Sugar Box October 2017 mug

“Good Things Come To Those Who Hustle” Mug - Listed Retail Value $28.00

This white and gold mug has “Good Things Come To Those Who Hustle” on the front and back. The gold touch makes an ordinary mug chic and reminds me to continue to hustle for my dreams.

Brown Sugar Box October 2017 t-shirt

“She Is Worth Much More Than Rubies & Pearls” Gold Foil Tee - Listed Retail Value $30.00

This tee is an appropriate reminder that we as women are more valuable beyond the possessions we have or don’t have and we are worthy, precious, loved, valued, and favored. The pink t-shirt with gold lettering says, “ She Is Worth Much More Than Rubies And Pearls”.

Brown Sugar Box October 2017 cream

Butter Depot-Citron Whipped Butter8oz - Value Retail $20.00

This all-natural moisturizing whipped butter is intended for my hair and body and it’s handmade in small batches in the United States. It has a mild fruity smell, the consistency of the whipped butter is thick and a little goes a long way. The whipped butter consists of organic shea butter, pumpkin seed oil, mango butter, kokum butter, avocado oil, fragrance, and preservative. It has no parabens or synthetic dyes. The cold weather season is slowly approaching in my area and this whipped butter will keep my skin nourished all season.

Brown Sugar Box October 2017 booklet

Brown Sugar Box October 2017 letter

Breast Cancer Awareness Girlfriend 5-Pack-Postcard Set - Estimated Value 10.50

In honor of “Breast Cancer Awareness Month” this set of five postcards is a reminder to take care of self by doing self-check breast exams often, schedule yearly breast exams and encourages the women you love and care about to do the same. Since this box comes at the end of the month it would have been nice to have earlier in the month. It may have been better to put it in the September box to ensure delivery in the beginning of October. Still, a thoughtful way to address breast cancer awareness. I will send out to my female friends and family members.

Brown Sugar Box October 2017 Tote

“I Dream It, I Work Hard, I Grind ‘Till I Own It” Tote Bag - Listed Retail Value $22.00

This large green tote bag has ‘I Dream It, I Work Hard, I Grind ‘Till I Own It” scribed on the front and back. I see these types of totes in subscription boxes often and I would like to see a more functional purse for everyday use you can take to work.  This is functional and useful, and I’m sure this will appeal to most. It would be nice to see more of a variety when it comes to sending tote bags.

Brown Sugar Box October 2017 Breast Cancer Awareness enamel pin

“She Believed She Could” Enamel Pin - Listed Retail Value $8.00

This motivational pink ribbon enamel pin represents breast cancer awareness has “She Believed She Could… …So She Did” inscribed on it. A great way to show your support for the cause.

Verdict: The Brown Sugar Box has a boxed value of $118.50. This box was just okay for me.  I did appreciate the focus on breast cancer awareness throughout the box with the enamel pin, postcards, and the information on breast cancer and taking care of self in this month’s info magazine. There was no wow factor for me in this box but I did enjoy the whipped butter and I look forward to sending out the postcards provided. This box delivers on being a lifestyle box that sends a variety of items geared for WOC.

To Wrap Up:

Can you still get this box if you sign up today? No, your first box will be for November.

Coupon – Use code GIVEMESUGAR to save $5 off your first box

Value Breakdown: At $44.90 for this box, here’s what you are paying approximately per item:

  • “Good Things Come To Those Who Hustle” Mug: $10.61
  • “She Is Worth Much More Than Rubies & Pearls” Gold Foil Tee: $11.37
  • Butter Depot-Citron Whipped Butter: $7.58
  • Breast Cancer Awareness Girlfriend 5-Pack-Postcard Set: $3.98
  • “I Dream It, I Work Hard, I Grind ‘Till I Own It” Tote Bag: $8.34
  • “She Believed She Could” Enamel Pin: $3.03

What do you think of this month’s Brown Sugar Box?

Starting at $39.95
Active Deal
Save 20% off your first box!
Use Coupon Code FIRSTTIME20
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"As a Brown Sugar Box Subscriber, you’ll get a box filled with the BEST of Izzy & Liv including best sellers, new releases and limited edition (subscriber-only) products. Your box will include 5-6 products every month. You will always get at least one Izzy & Liv tee, tank or sweatshirt al... read more.

Nich Baviera
Nich Baviera
Nichelle has been obsessed with subscription boxes since 2012, when she received an email to subscribe to PopSugar Must Have Box. Since then, she has subscribed to Glossybox, Allure Beauty Box and GoodeBox which is now called GoodeBeing Box. She currently subscribes to: Birchbox, FabFitFun, Essence Beauty Box, PopSugar Must Have Mini Box, and Play! by Sephora. She is an avid admirer of PopSugar, so much so that she had an office tour of their San Francisco headquarters in April of 2015.

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11 comments

Grace

Is that tote bag really worth $22? It seems like the same quality of the free ones you get from sponsoring companies’ swag booths.

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Nich

I couldn’t find the exact tote featured in this box so I took the value from the magazine that had the cost of the bag. And yes it does seem inflated.

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sarah

I am not fond when subs market them selves in specific ways. I am the wrong dempographic yet still sorta like this box – except the tacky saying on the bag. When a box markets their box in a certain way especially with items many people not of that demograpic can use (shirts, body butter, bags, cups -ect) they loose money! I got bored and read this review. Normally when its a specific dempgraphic i dont bother.

Mommy boxes are great example of this. I am not a mommy yet still get a mommy box because the items are very useable. Yet i know many people that are not mommys will not sub based on the name and how they market it.

I might actually sub for this box if it gets better

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Grace

I don’t think there are enough sub boxes specifically for WOC / black women and Latinas. It’s great to have something just for us, dedicated to our confidence and self-acceptance.

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Luna

I totally agree with your comment. 🙂

While I am a WOC, I’m not in the sense of how these boxes classify a WOC (I’m half Native American/half Spanish), but I always check out these boxes anyways because I found that the products always appealed to me and fit my hair type (dry, frizzy, wavy with a bit of curl). The only things that never worked for me were bold lip colors, but those were easily gifted.

I’ve had subscriptions to a ton of the WOC boxes most of which are no longer in business, unfortunately… Essence, Onyx Box, Cocotique, Curl Kit, Curl Box, The Hair Show Box, Product Junkie, Godes Beauty, (there’s one more hair related one, but I can’t recall its name), and I thought they were all great, and actually had products that could work for others that aren’t WOC. Similar to what Sara said above, it’s too bad that many see WOC and automatically discount it as not being for them. I remember I was thrilled when I saw a ton of people were getting into Essence’s box, and they were excited to be subscribed even though they weren’t a WOC.

Btw, I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again… I’ve always felt Onyx Box & Cocotique (but Cocotique in particular) were a just a bit ahead of the game when it came to including certain products that ended up either being trendy on their own or because Sephora started to carry them months later, which then made them seem “legit” to some people. I loved how they carried some products (and I’m sure they still do) months before I started seeing them in the more mainstream boxes at the same time. 🙂

Nich

Great point, Grace.

Elena

I’m with you, Sarah! I’m not a mommy too but buy it anyway. It’s just weird to read “mommy” on my packages though.

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sarah

YEP! Exactly – Great point. Especially when the print is big on the boxes.

JustJese

Great review, I personally am very happy to see that you guys at MSA do indeed promote and take the time to review those subs that are geared/marketed towards WOC.
Now with that said, I still don’t think this subscription is worth it, with the exception of the printed marketing materials that come with the box. There haven’t been any WOW items and the items are all universally appealing. It wouldve been nice to see a quote from notable WOC instead or a breast cancer survivor or something. I dunno, i Just feel like this box is just not appealing.

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Nich

Thanks and you make a valid point.

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Artemis

I love the idea of this box, but I wish the value were higher.

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