GlossyBox Subscription Box Review – April 2016

ByLiz CadmanApr 2, 2016 | 97 comments

Glossybox-april-2016-

GlossyBox is a monthly beauty subscription box. They have the best packaging in the business, their products are usually deluxe-size or full size, and the value is usually really good too. The only issue with this box seems to be the late shipping – I would recommend just keeping that in mind and setting your expectations accordingly if you sign up for this box.

GlossyBox sent us this box early for review purposes. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes).

Glossybox-april-2016-items

FYI: GlossyBox sends out multiple variations of the box during some months. So, there may be some variation between what I review and what you receive.

The Subscription Box: GLOSSYBOX

The Cost: $21 a month (save more with 6-month or annual subscription)

The Products: Deluxe and full-size beauty products.

Check out all of my GlossyBox reviews and the list of the best beauty and makeup subscription boxes!

Ships to: US and Canada

Glossybox-april-2016-info

Each box comes with a fold out card detailing the items included.

Glossybox-april-2016-pencil

Leighton Denny Expert Nails Nail Polish in Pillow Talk - FULL SIZE! Value $16

This brand is new to me! It is a deep pink creme with a gloss finish.

Studio 10 Brow Life Perfecting Liner - FULL SIZE! Value $20

This item is one that we know will be in all April Glossyboxes! I think this is my favorite item in the box. It is a highlighter and brow pencil in one. At first I was concerned that the color would be too light for my brows, but it's one of those brow pencils that you can pretty easily control the color with how much pressure you apply. Here are both shades swatched:

Glossybox-april-2016-swatch

Glossybox-april-2016-unani

Unani Dermo Defense Face Mask - 3.4 oz Value $18

(I couldn't find this exact product on the Unani site, so I'm using the info provided by Glossybox.) This mask wasn't what I was expecting when I tried it out! I usually expect mud masks, but this is a gel mask. It dries while you are wearing it for 10 minutes, but it isn't a tightening feeling. The good news is that this is designed for sensitive skin, and I had no reactions to it. I thought it was very gentle, and while my skin wasn't super noticeably different after using it, it did feel cleaner and smoother.

Biossance The Nourisher - 4 ml Value $9.60

I think this is the most lightweight serum I've ever sampled! It absorbs quickly, has a faint rose scent, and is free from parabens, phthalates, synthetic fragrances, etc. I really love the formula, so I'll likely be swapping for more once this runs out, or buying the full-size version.

Glossybox-april-2016-norell

Norell New York Perfume - 7.5 ml Value $11.25

I love perfume minis! This bottle is so cute! Here is a closer look:

Glossybox-april-2016-perfume

At first, I thought this was a non-name brand perfume, but then I looked it up and found it at Neiman Marcus. They even have a limited edition $1500 bottle version! I like the scent, but I don't wear perfume that often, so it will probably get more use being on display on my vanity!

Verdict: This box has a value of about $75. I think that's great for GlossyBox, and this is a great box for me. The eyebrow pencil is my favorite item, but I'll use everything. And the sizes of all the products are great, too!

What do you think of the April 2016 GlossyBox?

Starting at $21.00

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GlossyBox

3.3 overall rating

481 Ratings | 117 Reviews

GlossyBox is a beauty subscription service box that allows customers to sample products monthly. Sampling lets the subscriber fall in love with new products and become life-long brand advocates. Each box is filled with five makeup, hair and skin care products from top brands.

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Posted in Beauty Subscription Boxes, Makeup Subscription Boxes, Subscription Box Reviews, Subscription Boxes for Women

Liz Cadman

Liz is the founder of My Subscription Addiction. She's been hooked on subscription boxes since 2011 thanks to Birchbox, and she now subscribes to over 100 boxes. Her favorites include POPSUGAR Must Have, FabFitFun, and any box that features natural beauty products!

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97 comments

Lily

I’m happily surprised that the eyebrow pencil actually works with my dark eyebrows 🙂 I totally expected it to be too light but nope it blends in perfectly. I didn’t know that it makes a huge difference if you do your eyebrows 🙂

Melissa

The April 2016 box was my very first Glossy Box and I ended up getting everything except the perfume and ended up getting the texture spray. I don’t really care for perfume and I’m completely fine with the spray. I love this box! The face oil made my box smell amazing once I opened it. I recently canceled my Birch box for Glossy and I don’t regret it!

Danielle

I got the same box as Liz. I’ve been subscribed to Glossybox for a little over a year now – the first year as a gift subscription from my husband, and now with the 1 year Gilt City voucher. I got the same box as Liz, and I like it. I think the nail polish color is pretty, and the perfume smells nice. I also like the brow pencil.

I already have a ton of skincare products waiting to be used and my skin breaks out easily, so I put the serum and the mask up for swap.

Overall, I’m happy this month. 🙂

Tierney

Pretty disappointed – I also got the sea salt spray instead of the Norell. I received the spray in another recent box (maybe Target?) and didn’t care for it at all. I wonder how Glossybox thinks it’s okay to give some people a lower value box, especially when the replacement is a cheap sea salt spray that we can buy at any Target or Wal-Mart? I expect more from Glossybox but they’ve gone downhill over the past several months. I used to love them, but Allure has been better for me lately (I hope I didn’t just jinx that!). Once I cash in my Glossydots for a free box, I’m done with them unless they step it up again.

Sarah

Got my box and i am so happy i got the same one as Liz, with the perfume ! After seeing so mant commets and people receiving the besch spray, i was sure i would, because i always tend to get the cheaper variation, but i love the perfume. This whole box is great !

Adeline

I just received my April box and it’s exactly the same as Liz’s box. I liked most of the items. I didn’t really care for my March box though. Honestly I’ve had them for almost a year now and I really like most of my items except for last March. That’s a win in my books.

Anna

I just received my box and I really, really didn’t want to get the sea salt spray, so of course I really, really did get it. Grrr!

Tierney

Me, too! Shame on Glossybox for giving such a low-value replacement. I understand if they didn’t source enough Norell samples, but they should at least make sure the replacement item is close to the same value.

Kay

I just received my box and it is the exact same as Liz’s. I am not a beauty blogger or reviewer. Just a box addict… I am also using Gilt voucher for 1 year.
My first box was Feb and I think everyone got the same box, except the mask variety. My March box was different than Liz’s with different hand cream and Marks eye shadow, both from their past boxes. I was ok because the previous box was only a few month back and I considered the products still fresh. I actually preferred my variety, so I was happy. As to this month, I would be upset if I got the sea salt spray… So I don’t know how they pick who gets what variety. I was worried that the brow color being too light, but it works for me and I needed one. I am new to all the brands except Biossance (which I liked!), and 3 products are from Europe, so I am excited to try something different. I haven’t opened the perfume yet, but from the description, I should like it. So far I am enjoying my Glossybox. And I am not looking at Liz’s review until I get my box, so keeping it as a surprise!

Crystal

What is a Gilt voucher if you don’t mind me asking

Kay

Gilt City is a Groupon like flash sale website. They had Glossybox sub on sale for $150/year (and other options like 6 months) and there were 30% off coupon code, so a lot of MSA readers took advantage of it. I think it was November last year.

Kisara

I am the same – I’m not a blogger or anything, and I did get the Norell perfume. I am also using the Gilt City deal, so I’m not convinced that these are deciding factors in box composition.

Barbie

I got the sea salt hair spray. 🙁 I got the Gilt deal, so I guess it’s to be expected.

Other than that, I really loved my box. I’m usually not a red nail polish girl, but I love this particular hue. I’m really excited to try the face mask, and in Glossybox’s defense, it is huge.

Overall I thought it was a good box, like most, I just would have preferred the perfume over the sea salt.

Taya

I was so mad about that sea salt spray and that some of us got lower valued boxes!!! I don’t need beachy wave hair. My hair is already curly. Glossybox and I worked it out though, so now I’m a happy camper. Customer service was really helpful

Donna

My first Glossybox and I had the same experience – sea salt spray for my short hair is not going to work and, while I can appreciate their variation, it would not appear that the boxes are equal in value. So disappointed! That said, their customer service was very helpful and have worked out a satisfactory solution. Thanks you Glossybox for turning it around and keeping me as your customer!

Taya

My $20 lip gloss came today, so now all is forgiven…until next time some of us get lower valued boxes!!!

Anna

The eyebrow pencil is too light; I have dark hair and medium light complexion. I was wondering if anyone here has used it as eyeliner or even lipliner.

Ann

Ok, so I’m a dunce when it comes to hair care products (aside from shampoo and conditioner of course) what is the sea salt spray supposed to do? is it like a regular hair spray? I have other hair things from beauty boxes that I also have no idea how to use. Guess it’s time to watch hair tutorial videos at the ripe old age of 47 🙁

Mary K

You’re not a dunce; all of us are unaware of stuff until we learn. Go easy on yourself. 🙂 Sea salt spray is just a sticky, texturizing kind of hairspray that you use to give yourself “beachy waves” (i.e., not tight curls, just big loose waves). You can use it in conjunction with a huge roller brush and blow dryer to maximize the effect, or just spritz it on and “scrunch” your hair with your hands to sort of form them into waves. Hope this helped.

Gia

Got my Glossybox today and I love it!

It contained the Norell Perfume, the Studio 10 Brow Lift Liner, the Biossance Rose Oil, the Unani Dermo Defense Face Mask and the Leighton Denny Nailpolish in Pillow Talk. I am surprised that so many of you are unhappy with the Not Your Mother’s Sea Salt Spray. I actually would have liked that, as well.

Not sure why everyone expects “luxury” brands all the time… they also promote upcoming trendy companies, which I enjoy learning about (as a true beauty junkie haha). Price is not always the ultimate arbiter of quality. Isn’t the whole point of services like Glossybox to learn and explore? Sometimes you like things you try and other times not so much. If I wanted specific items I would just go Sephora, and if I only wanted luxury I would go to Bergdorf, etc, not sign up for a beauty discovery subscription.

I don’t know, just my opinion ….

Jenn

I agree with you 100% I will be receiving my first box soon and I can’t wait! I love trying new things and learning more about new products out there, so I’m hoping I won’t be disappointed with my first glossybox. I also have birchbox and ipsy which sometimes I’m happy with the products and sometimes not but overall it’s the excitement of getting them, I’m also considering boxycharm so I guess I wait and see how glossybox pans out?

Coco

People expect “luxury” brands because Glossybox has always touted itself as a “luxury” beauty box subscription. No one is expecting Bergdorf from this mid range beauty sub but for $21 a month people are expecting a little more than a repeat drugstore sample. It’s all about learning and discovery right? Trendy, up and coming products. Not another sample of Not Your Mother’s that we all received in our Target Beauty Box last month. Because if I wanted specific items, I’d just add them to my grocery list, not sign up for a beauty discovery subscription. Am I right? JMO…

Lori

Exactly!

shannon m

i was so happy to see that perfume and didnt get it =( I got CC creme for hair which is ok but really wanted the norell

Jennifer

I will use the Rose oil and nail polish, but how many sea salt sprays must I get in subscriptions?!? Was hoping for the perfume.

Kim

I have typically liked Glossybox, this month was a fail for me, too. That $3 hair stuff is not typically the level of quality product that they send out,& definitely not an equal to the perfume! VERY DISAPPOINTING!!!!!!
When it comes time to renew, I will not be renewing!!

Tracie

I am very disappointed with the April box. There is not one sample in it I’m excited about. What a waste. I might as well throw the whole box in the trash. 🙁 I switched over from birch box in December, but I’m really beginning to question that decision.

Coco

Uhhhhh!! So dissapointed with GLOSSYBOX. This was my number one sub FOREVER but it has gone downhill fast. I received the low value box with the sea salt spray this month and last month my box was missing the only product I wanted to try, the eyeko liner, and they wouldn’t replace it! Super bummed. This is no longer the “high end” beauty box sub it use to be. I feel quality has really dropped with this company and i definitely don’t feel like a valued customer. Step it up GLOSSY!! Cause right now I’m just waiting for my sub to end, and that’s just sad.

Shawn

I’m starting to think that the beauty reviewers (who also seem to get their boxes much earlier than the rest of us) are tagged at Glossybox to get better items than the average box. Not one person I know who subscribes got the perfume, we all got the cheap beachy hair spritz. In legal terms this is known as bait and switch. I cry foul on Glossybox.

Would love to hear from anyone else (without a blog or youtube channel) – did you get the perfume?

Kerry

I am not a reviewer nor do I have a blog and I received the exact same box as reviewed above. And my box just arrived today so I had to wait forever!

Karen

I am just a regular annual subscriber (a discounted Gilt subscriber, no less) and I received the exact same box as Liz, including the perfume. I’ve always been really pleased with the items I receive but I will say that I do seem to get my box weeks after Liz has reviewed it. In this case, Liz posted her review on April 2nd but I didn’t receive my box until April 19th, but that’s the only notable difference. And honestly, the delay isn’t a big deal to me…half of the fun is the anticipation! I will definitely renew my sub when my year is up.

Sorry so many of you are so bummed – hopefully they will make it up to you next month. I’m thinking they might actually track what we have received – when I first started I received some box variations with items that had been included in boxes prior to the start of my sub. But they never seem to send the same thing to the same person twice so they must be keeping some sort of records.

Ann

I received my box today and got the perfume. I received the exact same items as Liz. I am a yearly subscriber but not on the $8 gilt deal. I think I paid about $16 a box after a coupon code. I have been very happy with my subscription so far and would have been a little disappointed in the beach spray since I got 2 through the Target deal and have never even used those yet. The perfume is nice and the bottle is adorable.

Lily

I haven’t received my April box yet, but many of my past boxes have been identical to Liz’s, a few better than hers. I also check a couple other blogs and the reviewers sometimes don’t get the coveted items either. So for what I’ve seen, I don’t think bloggers get better boxes, it’s more like a luck of the draw thing.

Max

I was just coming here to say I’m a regular subscriber (from the $8+ deal), and was expecting to receive the cheap hairspray after reading the reviews. Just got my box and I was very surprised to get the Norell (I really like it!). I usually get whatever is the worst option when it comes to variable boxes, so I was happy! But feel bad for those who got the cheapy option. There really should be more consistency in values.

Just received my April box and could not be MORE disappointed in Glossy! Was truly expecting the Norell mini, but NOPE they sent that stupid, useless $3 beach spray. Not to mention, my profile states I have thin hair! When Glossybox had a Norell post on Insta, I commented how excited I was for this, and Norell started following me. So sad that Norell will not be able to receive more positve publicity…Shame on Glossybox!

Darcy

NOT HAPPY with this box. As others mentioned, I got a $3 bottle of Beach Babe spray instead of the perfume. Yes, the same spray we got in TARGET boxes a few months back. So much for high end items! I realize that not every box is going to be a winner – the brow liner is useless to someone like me who already has overly dark brows – but when review boxes go out with a high end perfume and I get a cheap drugstore sample, if gives me pause. I suppose that this box was worth the $9 cost from the Gilt City deal (the nail polish is a pretty color anyway) but is in no way worth $21 to me.

Kat

This is my 3rd Bioessense. I really wish Glossybox would send facial moisturizer, not oil or facemasks. Every facemask I received, I gave it away. I wish they gave something different for a change.

Lori

Ugh i also got the sea salt spray. I’ve tried it before and it is horrible on straight and fine hair.

Lily

My box should be here any day and I’m so hoping I don’t get the sea salt spray! I got it in a Target box and it really is horrible for fine straight hair. I saw a review on another blog where she got a face cream, if I don’t get the perfume I will settle for that. I will not be renewing after my subscription is over, this thing with the spray really bugs me, they short handed their customers big time on this one.

Tiffany

Like many others, I also got the beach spray instead of the perfume. The perfume didn’t sound like my type of scent, but come on, how can you replace an expensive perfume with a cheap salt spray? I almost have enough Glossydots for my free box, but after that I’m canceling.

Noelle

I’am so tired of getting not your mothers beach wave spray in beauty boxes and I agree it’s unfair to recieve
This cleap product instead of the perfume….. Not Everyone wants their hair to feel salt and gross….. I’ll be looking forward to my Sephora play
Box….. Glossy box is failing this month in my book

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GlossyBox Subscription Box Review – April 2016

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