GlossyBox Subscription Box Review + Coupon – August 2017

ByLiz CadmanAug 12, 2017 | 124 comments

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 good too.

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

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)

FLASH SALE For a limited time, use coupon code COOLVIBES to save 50% off of the August box AND get a free FREE Josie Maran Argan Illuminizing Powder with your first month of Glossybox!

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

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

Now, on to the items!

Doucce Freematic Blush in Pink Beach - Value $14

(All subscribers receive this item.)

This blush goes along with the other blush and palette subscribers received in the July box.

Like the other blush, the pigment is great, the finish is matte/semi-pearlescent, and the color works well for me, too.

Here it is swatched:

Pixi Brow Tamer - .15 oz Value $7.90

This is a great sized sample (over half the full-size version.)

It provides light hold, and didn't make my eyebrows stiff - it's the perfect kind of brow gel for me.

Bliss Body Butter in Blood Orange + White Pepper – 1 oz Value $4.30

(Good to know for swaps - this item has an inner foil seal.)

I've been a fan of Bliss citrus scents for a while now, and this one is probably my favorite. The formula is moisturizing but not greasy, too. It's nothing new or exciting, but a solid sample!

Lancôme Monsieur Big Mascara – .06 oz Value $6

(All subscribers received this item.)

(This is half the size of the travel size version.)

Props to GlossyBox for getting a new release makeup item in the box - I've been wanting to try this!

My first thoughts after applying it? DRAMA! This mascara gets an A from me in both volume and length! It gets a B in lash separation, but all in all, this is a fab formula!

Rituals Zensation Organic Rice Milk & Cherry Blossom Shower Gel - 1.6 oz Value $3.75

This is a foaming shower gel - a little goes a long way! The cherry blossom scent is very fragrant, the formula itself is light. (It didn't strip my skin of moisture, and it didn't add moisture, either.)

Doctor Babor Hydro RX Eye Pads - Value $7.25

These eye gels are designed to make your skin feel more refreshed and hydrated - and they worked! I can't say I noticed any difference between these and many of the other eye gels I've sampled, though.

Verdict: This box has a value of about $43.20. That's OK for a $21 beauty box, but not great. And if it wasn't for the Lancome mascara, this box would feel a bit ho-hum to me. Everything is useable, but a lot of these products are things I've sampled before. (Still, the mascara is a great discovery!)

What do you think of the August 2017 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!

Read More By Liz Cadman >

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124 comments

Kaycee

I’m really glad for all these comments. I was excited to make this my next subscription but the quality seems to have gone down over the last few months. Not to mention the shady billing practices and customer service issues. On the opposite hand- you have a company like Bark Box that consistently sends exciting products and their customer service responds immediately. I don’t work for Bark Box haha- just making a point that it shouldn’t be that difficult to get what you pay for. I’m passing on this company all tougher.

katie

I used to love Glossybox, I resubscribed and got this box. This box is terrible! I didn’t even get the shower gel -I got a lemon face rinse. And I waited for a promo to sign up (paid $21.00) to get pink gel coat polish. They did not send the polish and CS said that it would definitely be in my box. AND they also charged me for September even though I cancelled right away.

Susan Marie Ferry

Yep, me too!!! Charged again!!! I followed their policy on cancellations yet still got billed $21 for $22 worth of samples. I guess with so many people dropping the great monthly subscription they offer money has to be made up somewhere… I love the replies from customer service too. Rude, rude and a little more rude. Ugh, why did I start up at all..

LaKendra

I cancelled too but still got charged. I’ve been trying to call them for 2 days, but I haven’t been able to get anyone. I’m just going to handle it through my bank. I signed up for the 3 months for $10 special but I couldn’t use many of the items that were sent.

mightysparrow76

This is the worst subscription box ever had the misfortune of trying, seriously cheap products, July wasn’t worth the $10.50 I paid, and on top of that an absolute SCAM. I cancelled after that box, and even though I only signed up for the one box anyway, they charged $21 to my credit card for the September box and refuse to refund because I didn’t cancel before 7/15…I didn’t sign up for the July box until 7/29!!! Seriously folks. Five emails to customer service later, they refuse to refund my money because I didn’t cancel before I was a customer and despite the fact that it was a one month box. I’m reporting them to the BBB.

Lynn

I also have told them that I am reporting them to the BBB. I have emailed them twice that I will be reporting them. They have no customer service, but worst of all – they falsely advertise! How dare they advertise $100 box value when it was their lowest ever. I think if we all start reporting them something might happen – hopefully!

bmcd3713

Glossybox has been bought by a British company called THG…so whatever has happened previously (and purposefully) might become moot.

Cat

Interesting August box. I signed up using a voucher I purchased on Gilt City for a six month sub along with a bonus box. I received the bonus box in July – it was the controversial December box with Harajuku perfume. So far so good. Imagine my surprise when I received a second bonus box – December again – and yes, more perfume – along with my August box. So while things do seem a bit mixed up at Glossy, it certainly ended up being in my favor this time. Not sure if this has happened to anyone else that used a Gilt City voucher. Am interested to see what happens in September…

Lia

I emailed Glossy box on August 13 about my broken Doucce Blush and to date they have yet to respond to me. Have not heard from their customer service. Does anyone know a toll free number I can call. This is unfortunately, the worst beauty box customer service I have experience.

Kora

I received a broken blush as well and e-mailed them about it yesterday. I received a reply from them today apologizing for the damage and said they are sending out a replacement immediately. I should receive it in 1-2 weeks. My experience is good customer service, sorry that yours hasn’t been.

Bonnie

Service hotline:
1-646-844-7234

I don’t think it’s toll free, but if you have a nationwide plan, you won’t get charged.

LaKendra

They’ll have you on hold until you hang up.

Julie

I sent them a note last month. Got a form letter in response where they never even looked at what I wrote. But they did sound super sincere!

Jul 14, 03:04 CEST

Just a heads up…. the box with the lipstick isn’t actually worth the advertised $76 unless you count the actual box it came in which was super cute but pretty sure if someone paid full price for it they’ll be pretty mad.

Today I get a response:

Melissa (GLOSSYBOX)
Jul 14, 15:08 CEST

(AUTOMATED RESPONSE – ALL CUSTOMERS PLEASE READ THE BELOW MESSAGE, AS IT IS ESSENTIAL IN REACHING US VIA-EMAIL)

Thank you for writing in to us at GLOSSYBOX USA!

This automated message is a confirmation that your ticket has been received by the Customer Care team and will be responded to within 10-14 days, as we are experiencing a much higher than normal backlog. We know this is not a top quality experience, rest assured, every email we receive will be responded too.

Please allow us the allotted time listed above to reply before sending us another message, as each new response automatically pushes your ticket to the bottom of the queue, which will sadly take us longer to address. Please try and help us avoid this from happening! We want to deal with each customer in a timely manner, and don’t want you waiting any longer than necessary.

For this, we do sincerely apologize and hope that we can work together to make your experience a bit more Glossy. We understand it can be frustrating to wait for answers to your questions, but rest assured, we will get to your ticket and we are responding to all messages as fast as possible. Your patience is greatly appreciated at this time.

Feel free to review our FAQ section via the link below if you are in need of terminating your account, address change etc. Sometimes, the answer you need is hidden in there.
http://www.glossybox.com/faq

If this is regarding more than one issue, please consolidate each concern into one email for a faster more efficient reply!
If this is regarding a damaged item, please send us images of the damage, per our company’s policy.

Sincerely yours,
from GLOSSYBOX

AAC

I *wish* I got this variation. Instead, I got the one with Bliss foaming face wash and Beautiful Nutrition Lemon hair rinse, so it’s worth even LESS. Last box of a 6 month sub. No more for me!

Anna

I got the same box as you. That Lemon Rinse is a complete joke. I asked for the Pink Beach cheek and got the dark Vintage Mauve. I think Glossybox just likes to F*&ck with its subscribers. Never again, not even for $8 a box with a super freebie thrown in.

Christie

This was my variation as well. Felt like a target box. Which items are considered full size? The blush (really?) and the mask (again, really?)? I get better items with 100 Sephora points than this.

Jess

I would have preferred the face wash or the Freeman charcoal mask that I saw some ppl get. Instead I got some root booster which I won’t use. And the bliss lemon scented lotion.

bmcd3713

I received my Glossybox last week but was planning on swapping everything in the box UNTIL I smelt the Rituals Zensation Organic Rice Milk & Cherry Blossom Shower Gel today. It was delicious, it was luscious, it was something I wanted to slather all over my body…that is until I tried to use it. When I tried to use it, there was no way it would come out. I tried poking the head with a small tool hoping to get it dislodged so that it would spill forth. Fat lot of luck that was…

I cannot get this thing to expel the soap, no matter how nice it may smell…and since I have been sent THREE blushes and all have been shattered, I don’t have much hope for this.

This is not just bad business practice, it is BLOODY MALICE! I simply do not know what else to do since I believe I have used all options possible, including writing to their NEW OWNERS: Hut Group. I am BEYOND angry at this point and want blood…Glossybox, you lie and misrepresent yourselves constantly. I am JUST beginning!

Susan Marie Ferry

Please let me know how to help!!!

bmcd3713

Susan, Thank you, but I don’t know what to say. The only thing that could be done is to provide a bottle of the soap that actually disperses the product, short of that…all I can say is the box stinks.

Lynn

Sad to report that I am done with Glossybox for good! I’m so appalled by their customer service (months to answer!), their false advertising (advertising August’s box as $103 value and up to 3 full size products when in fact this was one of the lowest value boxes in awhile!), receiving the wrong color choices two months in a row (first the box, now the blush), and the crazy variation in prices for boxes. I really enjoyed glossy when I was first subscribed. But now it’s nothing but frustration. I’ll be sticking with beautyfix and boxycharm happily. I’ll keep checking back here to see if things ever change, but it’s not looking good!

Christine

The Glossybox as we know it is no more. Well, not quite. It was announced earlier this week that Glossybox was acquired by the Hut Group, who also have Look Fantastic and Beauty Box in their portfolio.

Bonnie

I do think Glossybox and Look Fantastic are similar already, and I like them both. Hoping they don’t just send the same stuff to both. And what’s Beauty Box? I’m not familiar with that one. Is it available in the US?

bmcd3713

Fascinating Christine…I missed that one! Thanks for the update and thus the reason for the super-califragilistic Prices in the last few months. More subscribers means more money?

Allison

Can someone explain why I signed up for a three month sub, got one July box and two August boxes? Aren’t they supposed to send you one box for three consecutive months? Instead, I got three boxes in 2 weeks. I feel like they are just purging the leftovers. 🙁
I’d email them, but I did that before and it took over a month to get a half-brained response.

Goodbye forever Glossy. And good riddance!!

Jessica

I feel you! I signed up for the same thing and so far have gotten the Aug box and my July box is stuck at the Pack stage since July 25th. I emailed to complain. They closed it saying it would ship within 14 business days of July 25th (Aug 14th) now it’s Aug 16th and it still hasn’t shipped. Not great.

Upside for you you’ve gotten 3 boxes! I’ve only managed one!

Melinda

I had my mail on hold while I was on vacation and was so excited because my Glossybox was being delivered today. When the box arrived, it was already open, and all of the products were gone. All that was left was torn up tissue paper and the booklet. Has anyone else had this problem? And if you did, when you contacted Glossybox, did they send you a new box? I’m afraid that I won’t be able to straighten this out.

Bonnie

That’s a tough one…you can try contacting GB but they probably won’t replace unless they have some kind of insurance. They are not known for magnanimous customer service.

Freaking post office has more and more criminals working there. It’s not like it used to be where people took mail tampering seriously. You hear all the time now about postal workers stealing stuff from the mail. We just had a postal worker arrested a few towns away and they found 3500 stolen envelopes in her private vehicle. She was taking birthday/special occasion cards if she thought there was money or gift cards in them.

Good luck on recovery. After reaching out to Glossybox (try the facebook page; most companies are much quicker to respond on social media than to emails), see if you can do anything with the post office.

Jess

So I canceled before the 15th so I wouldn’t be charged another 6 months in Sept. And it’s still in pack stage. Has anyone canceled and if so when did you receive your package? I got an email confirming I’d still receive August since it was prepaid and usually have it by now.

I cancelled July 12 and just got my box today (shipment notification a couple of days ago). I wouldn’t worry too much yet…Glossybox seemed to have inconsistent shipping schedules like they have inconsistent box content. 😉

Svetlana7e

My last box is August and I canceled sometimes early July (way before 15th), they sent me shipping confirmation for August box, but I have not received it yet.

bmcd3713

This is the version I received and for a value of $43, this stinks. I don’t know why Glossybox ha fallen the way they have, but I cancelled and am not going back.

Bah Bye Glossy!

Julie

good luck on canceling Glossybox. I did last month and still am receiving emails that my payment method cannot be charged. I don’t want it to be charged, because I CANCELED. They must be the most unorganized company I have dealt with. Numerous emails that I have responded to, and they still don’t get it.

bmcd3713

Jule, I am crossing my fingers that doesn’t happen to me, although I wouldn’t be surprised. Do you know that the blush that came in July’s box came shattered, but they send me a replacement TWO more times…and each time it was shattered. So I still don’t have a useable blush…and now they have stopped responding. Glossybox is the single worst company I have dealt with in years and I would not be surprised to see them close up shop.

Lisa

Just tried to use the promo code COOLVIBES and it is no longer valid!

Amanda

I just tried as well and for the 3, 6, and 12 month subs the code COOLVIBES came back as invalid but for 1 month it worked! 😘

Teresa k

Just trying to make sure I cancel in time before being charged full price. I did the promo in July for the 3 months at $10 per month. I got July and should get August and September. I still have not received my August box yet. So do I need to cancel today to make sure that September is my last box and I don’t get charged again or do I have until September 14th to cancel??

Amy

Teresa,
I canceled and got this response:

You’ve decided to leave us? That’s too bad. It was nice taking a beauty journey with you.
In September 2017 you will receive your last GLOSSYBOX, in accordance with your subscription plan’s terms and conditions. So, because I paid up front for July, Aug, Sept, I canceled and will still receive the September box.

Teresa

I cancelled today also and got the same response.
I was worried if I did it too early that I wouldn’t get the last box, especially since I still haven’t gotten August. At least it is out of the way now and I don’t have to worry about it.

Carol

Maybe you’ll get an awesome box, to suck you in again at full price! You know
” box variations”!

Amy

Teresa, I have the exact same question. I am not sure if I need to cancel today or September 14th.

Carol

Just cancel now and don’t worry about it! I paid full price for this from the time I started. Get out, get out while you can!

Erica

I got the same box, and I was pretty disappointed. Not only were none of the products that interesting, they didn’t even send the blush shade I requested. I don’t know why they offer the choice when they don’t even honor it. I saw a lot of subscribers last month complained about requesting specific box colors and not getting the one they requested, though, so I wasn’t even surprised. And I haven’t heard anything good about their customer service, so I don’t even think it’s worth complaining about.

Glad I’m only paying $10 for this one. Definitely canceling before I have to pay full price.

Emilia

I have received the wrong blush shade, as well. When I contacted Glossybox, I was informed that no choice has been made! Really? I don’t sleepwalk.

Carol

I agree! Don’t ask me to choose my box, product, color, etc, and then send a random choice. If you’re going to do that, don’t even ask!

Lynn

100% agree! Received the wrong box color last month and the wrong blush color this month. Stop asking for my choice if your system cannot handle it! I emailed about the box color and after a month was pretty much told, “oh well! Our system shows you did not make a selection.” I’ve cancelled and won’t be coming back!

Sandra

I got this same box without mascara. It was on the product sheet but not in the box. I liked my box and since I am on the $10 special 3 month sub I think it was a good price. I am not sure about continuing this sub for$21.

Jenny

I did not receive half the box

Carol

Did everyone else’s blush fill the case? My second one is the same size as the first, so there are gaps. Not a big enough gap for another pan, it just doesn’t look right!

bmcd3713

Carol,
The blush pans lie horizontally in the Doucce case…not vertically (like the eyeshadows).If placed like that, they fill the pan.

AmySoup777

I haven’t tried it yet, but I was thinking it would fit one of the extra doucce eye shadows from Allure. It looks about like the same size.

Christina

The empty space is for a brush. I contacted doucce and they said they did not include the brush for this special edition made just for MSA.

Cindy

That’s so stupid! Where are people going to find the brush that is supposed to fit there?

Christina

Sorry. made for glossybox, not MSA!

C.J.

I just cancelled GB last month, after being a subscriber for nearly two years straight. Their CS email responses to me have been nothing short of stupefying. They clearly don’t look into problems and customer accounts, before responding back with nonsensical responses to issues.

When I saw on MSA that this months box was going to include the Monnsieur Big mascara, I felt a twinge of FOMO. Seeing the tiny size of the one that was actually sent, along with the rest of the items in this review, has completely removed the FOMO that I felt and reaffirmed my feeling good about having cancelled my long standing GB subscription.

Lola

I had less stress once I dropped Glossybox. I totally enjoy my other boxes.

Lori Tinsley

So disappointed in this box, they could of at least gave us a full size rituals body wash which I love. I am cancelling and going with Boxy Charm for September. They are consistent with having full size items.

Lily

The better the new sign up coupon on is. The worse the box
is.

Glossy box….please stop having great new sign up coupon and focus on great spoilers and consistly good boxes .

This box is a disappointment.

Luna

I was sort of thinking the same thing. I noticed when boxes give really steep discounts, the products in the box are no longer up to par (during the months the deal covers) to the level that subscribers expect. I know I’m one of the rarities though, because I still like the contents of a lot of the boxes during the discount periods.

Kaitlynn Marie

Of course the only thing I’m interested in (the brow gel) has aloe 😫

May

How hard is it to cancel this sub if I only wanted one box with the deal

Emily

Hands down the worst Glossybox I’ve ever received. Really depressing.

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GlossyBox Subscription Box Review + Coupon – August 2017

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