BoxyCharm Subscription Box Review – October 2017

ByLiz CadmanOct 6, 2017 | 121 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!

Dr. Brandt PoreDermabrasion – Value $58

(All subscribers will receive this item. Good to know for swapping - this item has an inner foil seal.)

Dr. Brandt makes amazing exfoliators, and I’m always happy to see this brand in subscription boxes. Unlike the Age Defying exfoliator, this scrub has a very subtle mint scent, and the scrubbing particles are a little finer.

I can’t get over how smooth this exfoliator makes my skin feel – if you haven’t sampled this yet, you are in for a treat!

Tarte Tarteist™ Quick Dry Matte Lip Paint in Delish - Value $20

(All subscribers will receive this item in one of eight shades.)

A quick drying matte lipstick from tarte? Yes, please!

And bonus, I LOVE this color! The formula is really lightweight, but it dries quickly, and it is mostly smudge proof immediately. And the pigment is fab, too.

(Swatched in lower photo.)

Jonteblu Lip Liner Pencil in Brown Sugar - Value $5

(This is a possible variant item. Not all subscribers may receive this. Colors will vary.)

When I first saw this color in the spoilers I assumed it would be way too dark for me, but it actually goes on in a shade that works with the tarte lip paint!

It looks brown in the pencil, but it really looks like more of a dark berry shade when I tried it on. Here it is swatched beneath the lip paint:

And that third item swatched is this highlighter:

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Highlighter in Prosecco Pop – Value $38

All subscribers will either receive this pressed powder Becca highlighter or the Becca Liquid Highlighter Prosecco Pop.)

The Prosecco Pop color is a warm gold highlighter and it is packed with shimmer and pigment! This is one of those highlighters that will last me FOREVER! You just need one quick swipe of a brush to get all the highlight you need. And it blends out easily, too.

(If you got the liquid highlighter in your box, please let us know how the formula holds up!)

NcLA X Boxycharm Nailed It Tool Kit - Value $18

(This is a variant item. Not all subscribers will receive this. Check out our Boxycharm October spoilers to see other options you may receive.)

I received this kit in red last year thanks to POPSUGAR and it has really come in handy, so I have no problem having an extra one!

And I appreciate that this case zips completely closed – no need to worry about anything slipping out in your purse. And these tools are good quality, too.

Verdict: This box has a value of about $139! As always, the value for Boxycharm is amazing! And every item ended up being a hit for me, too! (It was weird not having a full arm of swatches, though - I'm used to a palette in almost every box!)

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.)

To Wrap Up:

Can you still get this box if you sign up today? Possibly. Boxycharm is in waitlist mode, so I recommend signing up ASAP. They'll email you when your first box ships, so you'll know which box you'll be getting as your first month.

Coupon – No coupons at this time.

Value Breakdown: At $21 for this box, here’s what you are paying approximately per item:

Dr. Brandt: $8.76
Tarte: $3.02
Lip Liner: $.75
Becca: $5.74
NCLA Kit: $2.72

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

Starting at $30.00

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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.

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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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121 comments

Erica

I’m really sad I missed the October box. They put me on the waitlist. I’ve been on a box break for about 2 years. Wanted that delish lip and becca highlight.

JuJu

You’d be better off just buying the delish lip paint, because chances are you would have gotten some other color.

CBClarenbach

The FB group is actually BoxyCharm Beauties. My bad.

Crystal H

I really hate variations in boxes because I feel shafted when I get less than ideal items. The most disappointing item is the Tarte lippaint in Pillow Talk, which is the lightest shade of pink ever. It looks white and streaky on my tanned/ caramel complexion. It’s a complete and total waste of a product, unless you are the lightest complexion. This can’t even be salvaged by lipliner! I don’t understand why they would send out a color that was not universal. The only item in the box that I liked was the Dr Brandt scrub. I was excited to be getting the Becca highlighter, but I received it in the poured version. I really don’t use liquid highlighters and I have many already thanks to beauty boxes. At least I can give this to someone, so it isn’t a total waste. Hopefully November would be better, this is the first time I’ve been disappointed by Boxycharm.

heather

Debating on starting this boxcharm, sounds like Octobers boxes were not that great from what I am reading. Should I wait till Nov 1st to order?

Susan

No because there’s a waiting list with people who signed up in September who are still on it. You may not even receive the November box if you sign up today.

Julie B.

I was going to use my dls eyeshadow crayon for just the second time and the crayon part fell right out of the stick. It wasn’t pulled too far out. A bummer for a supposedly $14 item.

I just received my box and I got the same as you Liz, except for the tarte lipstick I got homeslice which I will definately wear 🙂 I’m always impressed with Boxycharm!

CBClarenbach

Lovelovelove the Becca pressed highlighter. just a wee bit here and there and I’m SET. Also, I didn’t get the nail kit – got a very pretty rose-gold eyeshadow.

Swatched the lip paint. UGH! so not my color. May put it up for swap or $$. haven’t decided whether it’s worth the pain in the butt to do such things. But I don’t actually have any close friends for whom this color might work. let me know if “get it” works for you!

AND it is not at ALL smudge proof “pretty much immediately,” and it turned like a faded pumpkin orange on my cool-toned skin. Not so good — for me, that is

Danielle

I got Pillow Talk for the tarte if you’re looking to trade!

Danielle

What color did you get for the tarte because I don’t like the color I got either.

Talia Gutierrez

I also don’t like the lip product I got! It’s the Tarte one in color Homeslice. Quick question. Is there an app you use to swap? I’m new to Boxycharm and I know in the future I’m bound to get a couple products I won’t want.

Lori

Try mysubscriptionaddiction.com for swaps – you may be put on the waitlist but its worth it in the end

Catharine Clarenbach

I’m on a fb group. I think it’s called BoxyCharmers?

Dianne

Had to unsubscribe after I got last months box. I just couldn’t see myself using anything in this months box. I have the Dr Brandt and I never get a shade of lipstick I like and I have way to many highlighters liquid and powder I have base eyeshadow sticks by the handful and I have a lot of lip liner and I don’t need anymore nail kits. I’ll see the rest of next months products and if anything peeks my interest I’ll go for it. If I’m on a wait list that’s okay. But if I didn’t have way to much of the Dr Brandt product I would totally love this box. I have about 4 bottles of the Dr Brandt. I like the eyeshadow palette but it’s not peeking interest yet. If their was First Aid Beauty or Farmacy I would be in.

Desi

This is the first box that I’ve really been disappointed with. I was really hoping to get the pressed powder and nail kit, but ended up with the liquid highlighter and the cream shadow stick. I was also hoping for a lip color that I could work with, but Pillowtalk looks like I smeared a really fair concealer all over my lips or ate something with a crap ton of powdered sugar on it. I’ll admit that I’m a bit frustrated that as someone with oily skin and medium skin tone, Boxycharm missed the mark on both of those fronts, especially since we fill out a profile.

Danielle

Where do you fill out a profile because I didn’t have to when I signed up

Lorena

I got the same box as you and I am disappointed as well! I really wanted that powder highlighter and for some reason was really surprised to get the liquid one! LOL! I think the only thing I will use in the Dr. Brandt.

clusby75

I received my box yesterday, it includes:

– Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Liquid Highlighter (I’m ghostly pale redhead so not sure I can use this, but nice brand for sure)
– dr Brandt Pore dermabrasion
– dirty little secrets eyeshadow chubby in illusion
– jonteblu lipliner in 955 spice (not sure on this color but will give it a try)
– Tarte tarteist lip paint in pillowyalk 😟😶 this lip color is SOOOOO disappointing, I cannot use a lip color that gives me no color, was so excited for this item and hoped for the color Liz got with the matching lip liner, so very disappointed on this item, if by some miracle someone wants to swap for Delish please email me 🙏🏻😊

Britt

GUYS…… My jaw is on the floor. While this box is an AMAZING deal and I am beyond happy about what I received ESPECIALLY for 21 bucks, but omg….. I held up my Dr. Brandt to the light to see how full it is, and it is literally 1/3 full. I have two subs so I immediately checked both and they’re BOTH like that. I’d be HEATED if I paid 50 something for a 1/3 full bottle of product, but luckily that isn’t the case. I literally just got blown away by that. Am I the only one!?

Lynn

Totally agree mine was like that too from both subscriptions this month. I was really shocked! Not only that but it’s a smaller bottle anyway! I was going to gift one of them to my sister but think I need both now just to get a full size!

Lauren

My box was .6 and contained:
Tarteist lip paint in salty
Jonteblu liner in spice
Dr. Brandt
Dirty little secrets chubby stick
Becca powdered highlighter

I was stoked about this box when I opened it even though i have 3 of the Dr. Brandt from previous boxes (I think I’ll gift this one). Salty is a very light color similar to the candyxtoo faced melted ice cream which I got recently. It actually looks fantastic with the spice liner and is great for doing ombré lip looks by placing it in the center of any color. The formula is bomb and I love the doe foot applicator. I was happy to get the chubby I already have a nail kit from another box and I get my nails done so it’s not for me. The chubby is great for highlight, inner eye and brow bone. I was so upset when I opened my highlighter though, it was shattered. I contacted cs and they said they are out of them so they gave me charms. Getting charms is awesome in theory then I can pick something I really want and I remember them having great stuff previously. Right now though all they have is a pencil sharpener and a clear plastic bag. So lame. Anyone know when they update charms? Or are they just giving me something useless in place of the best box item 😩

Danielle

Just use some rubbing alcohol on the highlighter. Mash up the powder. Add like a table spoon or a little more of rubbing alcohol to make a paste of the highlight and then just let it sit out until it’s solid. I do it all the time to fix cracks.

Susan

They add items to the charm shop every month that I have been a subscriber (July till now) but the stuff sells out within a few hours. Check their website every morning if you really want to redeem them. Good luck!

Sara

Got mine today!
Dr Brandt poredermabrasion
Becca pressed highlighter
Tarte Lip Paint “get it!”
Dirty Little Secrets chubby “illusion”
Jonteblu lip liner 955 “spice”

Happy with it!

bearymcsherm

My boxycharm just arrived at my house, I am very happy with the Variation I got. i got the Becca Liquid highlighter, dirty little secret eye shadow in illusion, tarte in salty, which i am pretty sure i could use as a base, if i dont like it a solo lippie. and the lip liner in spice. Dr. Brandt products are awesome and really loving its included in this box.

Boxycharm is never disappointing to me and i cant wait for next months!

JuJu

Macy’s has a 10 Days of Glam event that started today, and earlier today they were selling the Tarte Lip Paint for $10. Too bad I just saw it – it’s already sold out.

Blythe

This is my first box and I’m not that excited. I was hoping for the Becca liquid highlighter as I don’t like the pressed powder. Way too much glitter for my taste. If anyone wants to swap, let me know. Not a huge fan of liquid lipsticks, but I love Tarte so I’m looking forward to trying it, along with the lip liner. I wasn’t all that thrilled by the eyeshadow stick till I swatched it. I think it will work great as a base or inner corner highlight, but again nothing amazing.

I will try one more box and then I will probably cancel.

JuJu

It depends, really, on what you are looking for in a sub and how much you already have. My stash at this point, of both makeup and skincare, is so enormous that it would take me years to use it up. So it’s quite difficult for me to get excited about anything, really. Well, it’s obviously better to receive colors that suit me than those that don’t, etc, but the truth is I don’t need any of it anyway.

I am giving myself until the end of this year to unsub from everything, and then I think I’ll be done.

Tara

I’m having the same issue. I don’t know how so many women can sub to a dozen boxes. I had 4 a month plus fff and I’m down to boxycharm and beautyfix and it’s still way too much. I’ve debated about cutting boxycharm too, can’t use makeup as quickly as skin care. But then I worry I’ll miss something!

Aimee

i received my box today and once again I got this very same box listed above down to the delish lip shade. I like the shade and brand but I am a little over all the matte so I’ll put some balm over this. The liner does work well with the shade of lip that I received so that will work fine for a fall shade for me. The shimmer highlighter looks pretty but I’ll be honest I don’t use a lot of highlighter I think it’s a little too much for everyday so this will last me until the end of time. I am excited to try out the Dr Brandt, I love skin care. Meh on the nail kit but I’m sure I will use it. This was an okay box for me but hey they can’t all be Septembers.

Cam

I’m really disappointed with the October variation I received. In my box I had the
-dr. Brandt
-becca skin perfector liquid
-tarte lipstick in pillow talk
-eye shadow chubby in illusion
-lip liner in spice

I’ve used this Dr. Brandt product and found it to be ok. The eye shadow chubby is a pretty shade but it’s a cream and won’t last on my oily skin for longer than 10 min. Same problem with the Becca shimmering slin perfector. The trate lipstick is this AWFUL light pink/peach. Olor that clashes with my skin in a very unflattering way. The lip liner is a brown color?????? I guess not for use with this lipstick, because when I tried them together it looked hideous. Oh, and as a cherry on top the lip liner pencil already smells like a rancid lipstick that needs to be tossed.

I’m really disappointed with this box. I don’t understand why they have you take a quiz if they are just going to through a box together without consulting skin type, skin color, etc.

Julie B.

Cam, I got the exact same items and colors as you and the chubby stick works fine as an eyeshadow base for my oily lids, just like a NYX shadow stick. And I agree, that brown lipliner with that awful nude lip color was hideous together, and I doubt I’ll use either one separately. But stoked for next month’s Boxy.

Korey

Got mine today.

* Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Liquid Highlighter – really wanted the powder. A little goes a long way but the liquid really smells.

*Dr Brandt Poredermabrasion

* Tarte Tarteist Quick Dry Lip Paint in XOXO – LOVE the color!

*DLS Eyeshadow Cubby in Illusion – It’s great but I was hoping for the manicure kit just because my husband really wanted it, lol. He was actually upset I didn’t get it.

Jonteblu Lip Liner Pencil in Rich Red – Love the formula, color and price. When I run out, I have no problem “splurging” on another

All in all, I am really happy. I was disappointed no palette this month, but since we’re getting one next month, no worries.

Julie B.

Got mine yesterday. Severe box envy for those who got the powder, though I’ll try the liquid of course. And the lip paint is an awful nude shade but I’ll try using it as a base for another color…please Box Gods, no more liquid matte lip products.

Nancy

Of I get it another light tan. or grey liquid lip I will scream….I wear lipcolor for just that…color…

Nancy

That’s If…not Of…lol

SunnyT

I bet if you mixed your liquid lip color with the lip liner and a bit of gloss or lip balm, it would make a pretty pink color.

There’s a lot of differences in weights. I normally don’t look. Mine is .6 lbs, .27 kgs…so many variables, or maybe not. It’s always a gamble that we take. 🙂

SunnyT

Mine was .07 Ibs. and I was box twins with Liz. It’s a great box! Really love Boxycharm!

Carol

I got my October box today and am STOKED! The value is $138! I won’t lie, I kinda wanted the nail kit but got the chubby eye shadow stick instead. Never use those things, but am excited to try! I was also hoping for the Becca powder and got the liquid instead. I only wanted to powder as I am inexperienced with the liquid, but I am gonna learn it! This is my second box and, even though I literally JUST received my Sept. box due to shipping issues, I am not disappointed or displeased.

Shan

Hi Carol! This is my first box and I’m very excited about it. Do you know how much your box weighed?

Carol

Hey Shan! FedEx indicated .7 lbs / .32 kgs. I hope you love yours as much as I love mine!!

Alex

I just got this exact box this morning and I’m thrilled! Any variation would have been welcome. Becca is one of my favorite brands abs the highlighter is magic.

Gayle

Got my box today, didnt get a nail kit, but instead a DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS eyeshadow chubby. in color Illusion,

SunnyT

I was worried that the powder would be drying and settle into fine lines…. I was hoping for the liquid so I could mix into face creams or foundations, but this is a great powder formula that is absolutely magic! Sometimes we just need to give it a try. I’m glad I did!

SunnyT

I received this exact box! I was hoping for the Becca liquid but the powder will be worth a try and it looks like it will last forever! Love the Tarte liquid lip in Delish! This is the perfect color for fall and the lip pencil matches it so well!

cmm380

I’m looking to swap the Becca Liquid for the powder and the Tarte lip color. I got Salty and would trade for delish. This box was a waste on me this month. Only thing I can use is the microdermabration.

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BoxyCharm Subscription Box Review – October 2017

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