BoxyCharm Subscription Box Review – August 2017

ByLiz CadmanAug 10, 2017 | 116 comments

1949 Ratings | 195 Reviews

BoxyCharm is a full-size beauty and makeup subscription box. They always provide a great value compared the cost of the box. (If you are a makeup addict - I HIGHLY recommend this box!)

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

The Subscription Box: BoxyCharm

The Cost: $21 a month

The Products: 5-6 beauty items that will include nail care, skin care, makeup, haircare, fragrance and more. (At least 4 of those items will be full-sized).

Ships to: US and Canada

Check out all of my BoxyCharm reviews and the Beauty Subscription Box Directory!

Each box comes with a card detailing the items included.

Now, time for the items!

tarte Rainforest of the Sea Eyeshadow Palette in Volume II – Value $36

(All subscribers will receive this item.)

This is one of my favorite Boxycharm spoilers ever! Full-sized tarte? A palette?? Yes, please!

I love the tarte brand because they are ingredient conscious AND they make some of the best makeup formulas I've ever tried. (Lights, Camera, Lashes, is my favorite mascara, ever!)

This palette is gorgeous! And if you steer clear of shimmers for everyday makeup looks, I think you'll be happy with these subtle shimmers and semi-matte/satin shades! (The shimmery shades have a more subtle, pearl finish.)

In general, the pigment is great throughout, but some shades are easier to blend than others.

(Swatched in lower photo.)

And this box also included a coupon for $10 off your next tarte.com purchase of $60 or more:

Do you have any favorite tarte products you recommend I check out? (Also - if you love tarte as much as I do, check out this spoiler post.)

And with the palette, you also get some makeup look ideas:

Royal & Langnickel Moda Pro Brush Set - Value $26

(All subscribers will receive these brushes.)

The top Pointed Brush (BMX-130) is perfect for applying blush or powder with precision. The Chisel Brush (BMX-250) works for highlighting or contouring. And the Crease Brush (BMX-430) is designed to help define and blend the crease or to buff over your entire lid.

The bristles are soft and densely packed, and the textured matte black diamond handles are great for getting a good grip. This is an impressive brush set!

PUR Pro Eyelashes in Bombshell - Value $14

(Subscribers will receive one of two different PUR eyelashes.)

These lashes are soft, cruelty-free and made from synthetic lashes. I like that these are very light at the ends - they look as natural as fake eyelashes probably can get!

(Also - if you aren't into gluing on false eyelashes but still want a lash boost, I recommend checking out One Two Lash. It took me a while to get used to applying them, but now I find them much easier to use that glue-on lashes.)

The Beauty Crop #GRLPOWER Liquid Lipstick in Date Night - Value $15

(This item is a variant product for August. Check out all the possible items you might get in the full spoilers Boxycharm post.)

I love a good liquid lipstick, and this color is essentially my dream color. (It's almost identical to my everyday liquid lip, Stila in Patina.)

The formula has a subtle, sweet flavor, a matte finish, and major pigment. (Swatched in lower photo.)

BellaPierre Gel Eyeliner in Ebony – Value $15

(This is another variant item.)

If you've been subscribing to beauty boxes for a while, you might agree with me that it is tough to get excited about a basic black eyeliner. So while I'm not ecstatic about this item in the box, it's a solid way to round out this month's assortment.

The formula glides on, the pigment is great, and it is smudge-proof in seconds. Here it is swatched beneath the liquid lip and above the eye shadow palette:

This picture is pretty much all my dream colors on one arm! Everything is so wearable!

Verdict: This box has a value of about $106 As always, the value for Boxycharm is amazing! (And based on the different variation spoilers, this is the lowest-value August box, too.) And honestly, they had me at tarte palette. Everything else is just a fabulous bonus!

I think Boxycharm is a perfect subscription for people who love makeup. You're going to get a lot of palettes, highlighters, etc., so it's great if you want to build your collection and try all the things! (If you only need one highlighter/palette in your makeup arsenal, this might not be the best box for you.)

What do you think of the August 2017 Boxycharm Box? What's your favorite item?

Starting at $30.00

Subscribe Now

BoxyCharm

4.3 overall rating

1949 Ratings | 195 Reviews

BoxyCharm ($30 per month) is one of the most popular beauty subscription boxes that we review, with lots of loyal customers. They promise 5 full-size beauty products each month from a variety of both indie and... read more.

Spoilers

Deals

Reviews

Read customer reviews >

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!

Read More By Liz Cadman >

Join the Conversation

Please do not enter your email address in the Name field or in the comment content. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *. Remember to post with kindness and respect. Comments with offensive language, cruelness to others, etc will not be approved. See our full comment policy here.

Notify me of follow-up comments by email

116 comments

Sarah

This was my first Boxycharm and I love it! We just moved recently and I threw out all of my expired makeup, so I really need everything. The eyeshadow palette colors are perfect for work, and I (shockingly) didn’t have a black eyeliner so I’m thrilled. The brushes are great and the lipstick color perfect. The only thing I won’t use are the lashes but those are easily giftable. A win and fantastic value in my book.

tanya.jones43

HELP!!To be clear if I sign up for this month, I will get this month but will also be charged on 2nd of next month for new box??? Just trying to be clear. Also any coupons for first timers. I thought carefully and picking this one over Allure.

Nan

I’d definitely pick Boxycharm over Allure.

JuJu

Is there currently a waitlist? If there is, we have no way of knowing when you’ll be taken off it. With only a week to go this month, you might not get the August box.

jennharitopoulos

I just asked my bestie if she had signed up, she said they put her on the waiting list.

Lori

Did anyone else’s box take an insane amount of time to ship? I was charged on the 2nd like always, received a shipping notification from FedEx on the 6th, a shipping notice from Boxycharm on the 8th and I STILL have not received my box. According to FedEx it should be here by Thursday, but that’s over 2 weeks that it just sat somewhere. It was in label created status for over a week and after I emailed Boxycharm it suddenly “shipped” but still didn’t leave the FedEx facility for 3 days. My last couple of boxes have been a little later than usual, but this just seems ridiculous. I’ve always loved Boxycharm, but they have got to find a better way to get their product out to their customers if they want people to stick around.

JuJu

I think my Boxycharm was stolen! 😨
Yesterday USPS tracking was down and I couldn’t check, but today it shows that package was delivered yesterday, except that it wasn’t! 😱

Chrystal

I had a box that I never received, I contacted customer service and they sent another box. Definitely reach out to them, they have always been accommodating to me over the last 2.5 years!

JuJu

Thanks, someone actually left it by my door tonight, box half ripped open, but nothing is missing.
I got the variation with the face paint and the eyeliner, but was hoping for the one with the lip color. Oh well, at least I got it. 🙂

Kim

Got my box over the weekend– i got the variation I least liked which is disappointing but i still like the eye shadow palette, brushes and lashes so it’s still 3 things i’ll use. I got the lip and cheek cream and eyeliner – I don’t use eyeliner and I don’t like the lip and cheek cream so I was hoping to either get the box with the lippie or nail polish since I would have used those. Oh well, it happens can’t love everything every month.

Jennifer Dunlop-Gierok

I got the lippy and wanted the stain. I’ll never wear it. Too dark for my liking. If you were near me I’d just give it to you.

Christine

I’m actually happy I got the Aloette lip and cheek tint. The Beauty Crop liquid lip is getting terrible reviews. I got the Aloette in berry and you can actually use it to create a gradient lip (where the tint is strongest closer to the lip and fades out) which is something I had never tried before but seen online. It is really pigmented and actually tastes sweet . . . I am using on my lips but would not use on my cheeks.

Boxycharm does not take into account what they sent you previously. Like I got the Beauty for Real black eyeliner last month and I got the Bella Pierre black eyeliner this month. Two black eyeliners in a row from Boxycharm.

Boxycharm . . . growing your subscriber base with Tarte palettes and releasing the rest of the brands that will be featured for the rest of the year in the boxes is great, but make sure you can keep up with your own growth in terms of enough products, delivery time and customer service. Two black eyeliners back to back in a month is not a mistake any other beauty box would have made.

Jennifer Dunlop-Gierok

You’re wrong on that one. Can’t tell you how many times both myself and friends have gotten black eye liners in a row from ipsy. It’s a running joke now. On that note,if you need any unused unopened black felt tip eye liners I’ve got you all covered. The rest I totally agree with. But, for the price and quality of boxycharm I can handle a few eye liners in a row. 😆

Korey

I got my BoxyCharm today and it was this box! (except the eyelashes were Diva, not Bombshell) I am so, so happy! BTW, my shipping was .8 when they created the label, then it dropped to .6 when it shipped…just FYI for those of you who check it. I was going to be happy no matter my variation, but i am super pumped I did not get the face paint! The nail polish would have been fine, but I got some in an ipsy before and I am not fond of the formula (too runny and took 3 coats for opaque). I don’t need another black eyeliner, but from the Kathleen Lights unboxing, it looks really long wearing and the lip color is perfect!!

Alex

I got my box yesterday with the Alesse polish and the Aloette cheek and lip tint and I’m thrilled Aloette doesn’t test on animals.

My weight was .9 oz

Emily

Anyone know if I sub now, if I’d get this box?

JuJu

Depends on if there is a waitlist right now. If there is, we have no way of knowing whether you’ll be taken off it in time to get this box.

Sanna

This was the first month that boxycharm was a real miss for me. I don’t wear eyeshadow so the palette won’t be used, the lip color was unwearable for me, I don’t use eyelashes, and the eyeliner was ehh. I’ll pretty much only use the brushes

Bailey

How are they supposed to know your preferences? They don’t know your skin or whether eyelashes look good on you or not.

Seems like you don’t like makeup 🙁

Sanna

Actually, I really do. I love Boxy and have consistently loved what they send us– highlighters, body highlights, translucent powders, sheet masks, *wearable* lip colors, nail polishes, contour kits, foundation kits, brow kits, moisturizers…. the list goes on. But this was the third month of shadow palettes, and coupled with unusable eyeliner and lip stick this box was a miss for me.

JuJu

Also, the spoilers have been out for a long time now, the Tarte palette was the very reason everybody wanted this box. Why did you subscribe?..

Sanna

I’ve been subscribed since last December. I typically give away the palettes so no big deal there. It was mainly the other things that were a miss for me– the color was a dark purple that didn’t work with my skin tone at all. The eyeliner is a gel pencil which goes on clumpily– I typically use liquid liner, or something with a thiner tip than this one (which is rounded). I love Boxy and have consistently loved what they send us– highlighters, body highlights, translucent powders, sheet masks, *wearable* lip colors, nail polishes, contour kits, foundation kits, brow kits, moisturizers…. the list goes on. I think they could have broken up the way they are sending eyeshadow pallettes and highlighters. This is what, the third month we’ve received shadow pallettes? After like five months of highlighters? It could have been better interspersed.

JuJu

Well, in fairness, the subscription on the whole is a miss for you – they send palette after palette.

Aimee

My box arrived today and once again I got this exact box. The lowest value maybe but I really like everything! Palette is really really beautiful I can see myself using these colors everyday. LOVED the brushes. I have a ton of brushes so I may gift some of my older ones but I’m keeping these. I did gift the lashes since I have magnetic lashes but they were beautiful. The lip is wearable and not too over the top and since I use black eyeliner everyday I can live with getting another……at least I will never run out…..I got black liners from ipsy and allure this month. It’s boring but something I will use.

marina

I’m pretty upset about this month’s box. I was considering cancelling but didn’t cancel because I thought I was going to get the cheek and lip tint, but I got the same variation as you with just different eyelashes. I already knew I was going to give the lashes and palette to my friend considering I don’t wear lashes anymore and I find the colors in the palette to be bland, but I’m really upset I got another dang matte liquid lip and black eyeliner. I probably have about seven black eyeliners from subscription boxes, and maybe four are from Boxycharm. Overall, I’m pretty disappointed and will probably cancel. These boxes lately have been extremely lackluster.

I’m happy I got thgot same box as you Liz. I love that lip colour!

Kaitlynn Marie

(Just FYI your link to the stila liquid lip is broken.) I’m honestly mad I didn’t get this month’s box. I love that palette and am kicking myself. And curse you for the spoiler for Allure! It’s a great deal though, even if you only want the blush it’s still a $14 savings on it!

Kim

Does anyone know if Boxycharm ever does promotions for the holidays or subscription deals?

vanessa

I don’t recall seeing one for 2017 so far.

Luna

They did in 2015, but I don’t think they did in 2016.

Lola

To be honest, I think the weight of the box and comparing it to other boxes is all BS. My July box weighed .7 pounds and I was scared I was getting the eyeliner, or even missing an item, but I got both the powder and setting spray which in some boxes weight 1 lb or .9. So just wait and see what you get stop comparing weights cause a lot of them don’t match!!

Jeanine

But it’s fun to compare the weight!!! Also the beauty crop lipstick looks wonderful!! It’s kind of dry so put lip balm on before so it doesn’t crack!!

Ama

My box weighs .9 does anyone know which variation that is?

Adriana Duarte

what was the weight of this box?

Julie

Excited for this box. I hope I get the lip/cheek paint, I love that color.

Can someone recommend a glue? I have no clue how to put the eyelashes on and am afraid I’m going to rip my eyelashes out in the process. :/

Gwen

Ardell duo lash adhesive (comes in white or dark) is the best, in my opinion. Lashes stay on, but don’t pull when taking them off. Other lash glues I’ve used (that came with lashes) have pulled some of my lashes out, so the duo is the only one I use!

Julie

Thank you!

Lindsay

Anyone else notice Sephora is selling that palette for $18 in the upcoming week? Must be something that didn’t sell well.

Deanne

Maybe I got a dried out one before, but I found the shades impossible to get any color out of, I have no idea how she got them to look so pigmented in the review. I sold mine for half price to someone who likes really really subtle makeup. On the face of it the colors look beautiful, but in reality I don’t think they perform as well as Tarte’s other palettes, so there’s a definite reason this is being so generously distributed lol. I still hope somehow that I like it though, I love the heavier packaging of the palette and the idea of a Tarte brand item in my box!

bmcd3713

Lindsay,
I just checked sephora.com and they are selling this palette at FULL PRICE, however, they are selling another one of Tarte’s palettes (“Rainforest of The Sea™ Skin TWINKLE Lighting Palette” Volume II) at a discounted rate of $21.

Perhaps it is just your local Sephora selling this?

Carolann

Lindsay is right, the tarte Rainforest Vol. 2 eyeshadow palette is slated for next week’s Weekly Wow sale at Sephora.

amy

love love love the brushes and palette! i still use the Royal & Langnickel eyeshadow brushes we received months and months ago!

Laurie

My box shipped- weight is .8
Can’t wait to get it!!

sara

Mine is .8 too!

Heather

How do you know when you will get your box? I signed up recently, but haven’t gotten a shipping notification, and I can;t find any info on their website about when boxes ship.

Hillary

My box has been viewable on FedEx since the 8th, but it’s still in the “Label created” phase. Is that normal? This is my first box.

vanessa

They send you an email with tracking info. I went from shipping email to receiving box in about 4 days.

Kim

They send an email with a tracking number when your box is shipped. I didn’t get it till the very end of the month my first month

Anna

The website says under FAQs/Help that they ship 5-10 business days after billing, and then it takes another 5 – 10 days to deliver.

Based on my past experience, my boxes tend to ship out mid month.

Siren

Am I the only crazy person that saw the spoiler for this Tarte palette last month and ordered an extra Boxy sub? 😀 What the heck am I even going to do with the extra palette? I’m nuts. I’ll have to gift it at Christmas. I’m thinking I might hold the 2nd sub into next month to get a 2nd neutral palette because I’m really drooling over that!

Traci

Hahaha…. I ordered a second box, too! And I got an extra July box as well! I thought I’d just cancel after August, but i think I’ll keep the second sub going, indefinitely. It’s nice to be able to keep duplicate products in our other home so I don’t have to pack my kit every time, and I can say with great confidence that my Christmas stocking stuffers will be HUGE with all the gals in the family!

Jenn

Siren-I totally did the same thing when the waitlist was off! Ha ha don’t feel nuts, for a beautiful tarte palette why not get 2 for $21 a piece plus more products! We clearly have the same addiction 😊😉😄😃🤣

Liz Cadman

I totally understand the double box logic when it comes to tarte palettes! (And if you don’t end up gifting it, I’m guessing it will be super popular on swaps!) 🙂

Ann

Thank you so much Liz for the One Two lash advice! I just bought an original and bold. I have terrible eyelashes. I love false eyelashes but as a busy mom, I quit using them several years ago, as I don’t want to mess w the application and then ripping/washing them off, along with a few precious lashes of my own. I can tell that these are the perfect solution, and I will wear them almost daily. Yay!

I might buy a set of accent lashes for the inner part of my eye if needed, and trim to fit, since these don’t go all the way across. Anyway, thanks for the tip! Lashes totally open up my eyes! ❤️

Siren

I’ve just spent the last hour and a half researching these One Two lashes and watching videos and decided to order the originals! They look awesome! I did want to order the bolds, but I’m a redhead and I just think they’ll be too dark looking on me. I can’t wait until they come!

Liz Cadman

Hope you love them! I bought the original and bold, and the bold were too much for me, but I love the original. It took me a couple days to really get the hang of them, but now I have it down. I apply my mascara, wait for it to fully dry, then apply the lashes.

And now I’m thinking about getting those accent lashes you mentioned! 🙂

bmcd3713

Yes Liz, I a am with Ann in applauding your suggestion for those magnetic lashes! I stopped wearing lashes years ago and was about to buy some new glue for those coming with this new box, but LOVE the idea of magnetic application. No glue, no fuss (once you get the hang of it) and multiple uses from each set.

So thank you, I will keep you in my good thoughts for such a suggestion! 😉

Our reviewers research, test, and recommend the best subscriptions and products independently; click to learn more about our editorial guidelines. We may receive commissions on purchases made through links on our site.

BoxyCharm Subscription Box Review – August 2017

Advertise With MSA

Information

Company