BoxyCharm Subscription Box Review – September 2017

ByLiz CadmanSep 7, 2017 | 124 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!

MAC Cosmetics Eyebrow Pencil in Lingering - Value $18

(All subscribers will receive this item in the shades spiked or lingering)

MAC products in subscription boxes are VERY rare - so this is a great start to the box! (And full-size MAC, too!) This shade is a "soft taupe brown," and on the cool side. The pencil design makes it super easy to apply and creates feathered strokes, and I love that it is self-propelling/sharpening!

(And the pigment is ideal for a brow pencil. Swatched in lower photo.)

ColourPop Ultra Satin Lip in Strip - Value $6

(All subscribers will receive this item. Shade may vary.)

I wasn't sure about this color in the tube, but it actually ended up being a very wearable neutral for me! (Swatched in lower photo.)

And I love the ColourPop Satin Lip formula - it has an almost matte finish, with excellent pigment and amazing stay power!

Studio Makeup Luminous Loose Blush - Value $35

(This item is a variant item. You may receive a different Studio Makeup item. We've also seen the Studio Makeup HD Setting Powder as a possible variant.)

This is a warm peachy pink blush that is heavily pigmented. It has a matte finish with just a hint of shimmer/sparkle. It's really wearable shade for me, too!

(Swatched in lower photo.)

PUR Cosmetics Soiree Diaries Eyeshadow Palette – Value $34

(All subscribers will receive this item.)

Boxycharm is known for sending palettes in boxes, and I love them for it! This set of warm neutrals includes 8 mattes and 4 shimmers. The pigment is excellent throughout, and the shimmers are stunning!

Here are the shimmers and the 4 darkest matte shades swatched beneath the eyebrow pencil, the satin lip, and the blush:

And here are the 4 lightest shades:

I'm used to lighter colored shadows not matching up in pigment compared to darker shadows in palettes, but these ones hold their own!

bareMinerals Perfecting Face Brush - Value $28

(Subscribers will either receive this or Bodyography Duo Brush Set ($20): Angled Liner Brush + Eyeshadow Brush.)

I wear liquid foundation and I apply it directly to my face then buff in with a stippling makeup brush. But this changes the game! It has a built-in little reservoir to hold your liquid foundation! The bristles are SO soft, too! (I saw some MSA readers mention that they had issues with BareMinerals bristles falling out, but I haven't had any issues so far.)

Briogeo Don’t Despair Repair Hair Mask - 2 oz Value $18

(This item may be in all boxes or may be a variant - not known yet.)

This mask is free of parabens, sulfates, and phthalates – and it is safe for color treated hair!

There are two ways to use this mask – let it sit on your hair for 5-10 minutes after massaging it into your roots, then rinse out. Or for deeper hydration, cover your hair with a plastic shower cap and sit under a dryer, applying direct heat for 30 minutes, then rinse.

I tried the 5-10 minute version, and I could definitely feel a difference in the softness of my hair after using it.

Verdict: This box has a value of about $139! As always, the value for Boxycharm is amazing! (And based on the different variation spoilers, it looks like there is only an $8 value different in possible August boxes so far.)

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 September 2017 Boxycharm Box? What's your favorite item?

Starting at $32.00

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BoxyCharm

4.3 overall rating

1949 Ratings | 195 Reviews

BoxyCharm ($32 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.

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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

Kristen

Still haven’t received my box. Got the ‘your item shipped’ email on the 13th. Waited til the 21st to start really investigating after it not arriving. Saw that USPS still hadn’t received it, and discovered FedEx delivers their boxes to USPS. The FedEx website showed the box had been damaged and non-deliverable by Sept 11th, and BoxyCHarm was notified on Sept 12th. Not sure why they sent the email on the 13th to me that it was on its way.

I emailed customer service, a cpl days later they said as a ONE TIME COURTESY, they’d replace my box. How is FedEx destroying my box grounds for a one time courtesy to replace the box that never arrived? I could understand if I contacted them after I got it with a broken item issue, but I never even got the box. This is only my 2nd month of subscribing after an almost 2 year hiatus. So disappointed….and after reading so many comments, I hope my items aren’t used and arrive intact!

Emily

That’s so strange. I got an email saying my box had shipped on September 16, and then it spent the past 10 days getting further and further away from me. I live in Illinois, it shipped from Georgia, and it literally went all the way to Oregon and then stopped moving. Yesterday boxycharm sent me another email (without me contacting them first) saying they realized over the weekend that my box had been misrouted but that they were reshipping it to me and gave me another tracking number. I saw on Facebook that a lot of people’s boxes had been misrouted. I’m not sure why they would reship some people’s boxes but not ones that have been damaged. I hope you get your box soon!

Emily

So I actually got an email with a tracking number in it but I almost wish I hadn’t because it’s taking a stupidly long time to get here and I’m so impatient. It shipped from Georgia and they sent it almost as far west as it could go even though I live in Illinois. Then it spent three days in the same town in Colorado without moving. I know FedEx has been affected by all the hurricanes so I’m sure that probably has something to do with it because it usually doesn’t take two weeks for me to get my boxes after they ship. I’m just happy I’m getting the September box though because I just signed up earlier this month and apparently caught them at a time when there was no waitlist!

lenmay

got my all excited said to myself this feels light. I opened it nd all that was inside was the eyeshadow palette and the color pop lippie 😢😢😭😭😭😭😭⚰I msg them jus waiting for their reply

Bella01

My lippie in my box was used. i am a little disappointed. Scared to use it.

I don’t believe this at all. No way it’s “used”.

Karenkk

It happens. My powder blush in my box is definitely used. It did not come with the seal inside and when I opened it, the powder was everywhere. Very messy 🙁

Von

What makes you believe it was used? My colorpop this month was more runier than normal and so it had leaked up to the top and got into the lid area, just because it was super thin compared to normal, is what makes me believe this is whats at fault for it making its way to the tip of the applicator/handle (whatever want to call it) area. I really really HIGHLY doubt boxycharm even has the energy nor time to waist getting involved with used products, I mean, a $6 lippie is used but all the expensive pallets and things alike are brand spanken new..(?) Truly makes no sense at all, with that said, when I seen the lipstick somehow made its way to the top (I had to find a reason other than it being used since this truly doesn’t make sense, pluss boxy has only proven to me it’s loyalty and outstanding performance, I just couldn’t allow myself the second thought that it was anything beyond the product itself) and therefore how I was able to ponder up the idea that this product was quite bit more liquidy and thus -to blame for it looking this way…

Diana

Yay!! I got the finishing powder, flat brush and angled brush. Not sure about the Color Pop. Mine is Strut.

Sanna

I’m pretty disappointed, I got my box today and they forgot to pack the bareMinerals face perfecting brush that was featured on the makeup card. Hopefully I can contact them and have them send it to me anyways. The colorpop lip color I got was a terrible grey color, too,

Melody

I feel like an idiot, but I can’t figure out how to use the brow pencil. Google has been no help. What do I need to do?

Jessica

Came here to say the same thing! Cannot get the brow pencil to work to save my life!!

Caroline

Me too! I was about to say something lol. It seems to rotate a bit and I hear a click both ways but nothing comes out. It self propels? How?

vanessa

Mine looked used. Anyone else?

Diana

Just keep twisting it. But it will not go back in if you twist too much out.

DeanaCal

I still haven’t received my shipping notification. Is anybody else still waiting?

mel p

I never received any shipping notification, but my box arrived on Saturday.
Maybe yours will also just “arrive” without warning? Crossing my fingers for you!

DeanaCal

Well, the box showed up today with notice. Happy but that was weird.

Karenkk

Just curious- Does the Studio Makeup Luminous Loose Blush have any plastic wrap or something? I received my box yesterday and the blush seemed used….

chris

There wasn’t plastic wrap, but there is a seal that needs to be removed under the dispenser area.

Renee F Scalf

how do you remove the seal ?I can’t open it

Karenkk

Mine does not have the seal 🙁 It seems that they sent a used one.

chris

I got my box in today’s mail. I love it all!!! What a great deal for $21 with shipping. I didn’t think I would like the palette, in person it is lovely! I think I got the same box as Liz this month. Very happy. Looking forward to October’s box- and November and December too! YAYYYY Boxy charm!

Nicole

I got mine today and had a dark brown cracked eyeshadow in my pur that went all over the other colors. We will see if that can be replaced. I got the mess around brown color which will probably not be used and the loose blush. On the upside I did get the lighter mac pencil and foundation brush!

Debbie

I got my box( no shipping/tracking info) yesterday but the mirror in the Pur palette is cracked and glass fragments make it unusable.
Contacted Boxy customer service but haven’t heard back–any hopes for a replacement?

MzBev

Debbie, I have seen many comments on their FB page that they are NOT replacing the palettes and giving them 1000 Charms, instead. Didn’t your palette have a plastic cover over the shadows? That would have keep the fragments from getting into them? Mine was covered.

Nancy M.

I received Box #3 and it showed up Fri with no tracking. Contents were:
Soiree Diaries Eye Palette,
MAC Eyebrow Pencil in “Lingering,”
Colourpop in “Strut,”
my HD Powder was a white Finishing Powder,
Brush Duo,
and Briogeo Hair Mask

Stefanie

Box twin!

Nancy

Can someone please tell me how this swap thing works. How do you get the products to one another? If you have to mail them, then I don’t see the benefit. However, so many of you seem to do it so readily that I know there must be more to it. Can someone please explain.

MzBev

That’s pretty much it. You each pay to ship the item to the other person. Even though you pay for the shipping, it’s usually only a few bucks and you get a item that you wanted more.

Bella01

received my box today and I love it. i got mess around color pop and i love. funny how some of you don’t like it. I love mine. I also received the foundation brush. I never received a shipping notice this month.

Korey

Same! I got the PUR palette, MAC pencil in Lingering, the Briogeo hair mask, BM Foundation brush, Colourpop in Mess Around, and the Luminous Loose Blush. I have yet to have a complaint with BC but when I had Sephora, all I did was complain until I cancelled, lol. I was so sick to death of pink lippies. I am white and go from fair to medium skin with neutral undertones and I love the brown lip! It’s finally Autumn and (I hope) no more Barbie pinks!! I think it will actually compliment a host of skin tones looking like warm cocoa, stained lips.

Phung

Sigh, I received Mess Around and the blush. I listed both for swap and pretty much will swap for anything to rid the lippie.

Kathleen

I received my box today and I got the dreaded colourpop messaround. Right when i put it on, my 4 year old daughter said “ew.” It is truly awful. Everything else was okay for me. Ill probably just give it as gifts.

Cyndi

I got this same box today with the exception of Colour Pop – mine is Mess Around (Greige) and the only things I’m keeping are the brush and brow pencil. I’m disappointed in the eyeshadow, upon seeing it in person I can tell it’s too coppery for me. I’m not interested in loose blush. And Briogeo…I wish it did something for my hair because I get so much of it – 2 so far this month. Anyway, this will all be up for swap.

SunnyT

This was my first month with Boxycharm. I received this exact same box. I was worried I too would receive the dreaded “Mess around” lippie but was pleased to receive “Strip” VERY PLEASED!!! Great first box:-)

Marissa

I was charged on the 3rd and still have no tracking and have yet to get my box 🙁 I’m in California so it’s not like the weather here is holding it up….

SunnyT

My box was shipped from Kennesaw Ga. and I’m only an hour away from Kennesaw. Your package will probably be coming from Ga. I received tracking last night and received my box today.

Cara

This is my first box and I loved it! Only things I won’t use is the HAD Powder since it’s really shimmer and the liquid lipstick. I can’t stand any liquid lipstick and they are in every since subscription box! The color I got is a brown that looked terrible on me but I’ll gift to a friend. This is so much better than Play by Sephora which I’ll be cancelling.

Lily

I got my Sept box today. So much faster than last month which was my first boxycharm month. I’m happy with this box except for the colourpop item.
I got:
Soiree Palette
MAC in Spiked
Ultra Satin Lip in Mess Around
Loose Blush
Bare Minerals Face Perfecting Brush
Briogeo hair mask

I really don’t like the Colourpop Mess Around its straight up melted milk chocolate brown to say in a nice way. It’s not a shade I would pick up for myself. Lol they must have known I had ordered some of the variation shades. I received my colourpop order today too so I’m not too sad about the liquid lipstick. I will be giving it away. Not too sure who would want it.

My box just arrived and it’s the same as in the review except my lip color is Littlestitious. It’s a pinkish nude and I love it. I will probably swap away the palette and keep everything else. I like having the hair mask in a tube rather than the tub it normally comes in.
I am trying to cancel some of my subs but with Boxy putting out such great boxes every month I don’t see this one on the chopping block.

Cathleen

Me too with Littlestitious, also got the eyebrow pencil in Spiked, which is great for me as I have dark brown hair. I didn’t think the lip would work for me at first, but it “pinked up” when it dried and is very pretty. What a great box!

Sara

Got this exact box, except the brow stuff was Spiked instead of Lingering.
I don’t use eyebrow pencil, but am ecstatic with everything else!!

Aimee

Got my box today. I got my shipping yesterday so that was a nice suprise. I recieved the exact same items shown. I love everything!!!! Happy happy boxycharm gal here.

Liz

Anybody wanna swap the MAC eyeliner? I have lingering but want stripped. Just let me know. I am on the swaps site and have it listed

Kelli

Its actually a brow pencil, not an eyeliner

Liz

Spiked*

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BoxyCharm Subscription Box Review – September 2017

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