GlossyBox Subscription Box Review – December 2017

ByLiz CadmanDec 28, 2017 | 76 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.

This box was sent to us for review purposes. (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)

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!

Beauty For Real I-Line 24-7 Eyeliner in Platinum Blonde - FULL SIZE! Retail Value $14

(All subscribers will receive this item in this shade.)

This eyeliner seems perfect for a New Year's Eve look - it's a platinum gold liner with lots of pigment and shimmer, and it stays put! (Swatched in lower photo.)

Laura Geller Easy Illuminating Stick in Ballerina - FULL SIZE! Retail Value $26

(All subscribers will receive this item, but colors may vary.)

This Ballerina color is a warm bronze, with a beautiful micro-shimmer. It's super easy to blend, too. Here it is swatched beneath the eyeliner:

Kryolan Eye Shadow Primer - FULL SIZE! $18.50

(Subscribers will receive this or one of the other items in the spoiled.)

I always use eyelid primer when wearing eyeshadow, so this is an excellent subscription box item for me. Plus a little goes a long way, so this tube should last me months!

Show Beauty Riche Couture Curl Enhancing Lotion - FULL SIZE! Retail Value $45

(Subscribers will either receive this or Show Beauty Riche Grooming Balm)

First, I love this fancy packaging! This curl lotion has a lovely scent (very light), and the formula didn't weigh down my hair at all. I used a blow dryer after applying to my damp hair (as instructed), so my hair dried straight, but I really liked this as a finishing cream.

MakeupDrop Original - Retail Value $20

I received this in a BeautyCon box and I am a fan! Typically, I use a beauty blender or a stippling brush to apply liquid foundation. This silicone applicator gets the same flawless application look of the beauty blender, but it has additional benefits:

No foundation absorbing into it! With a Beauty Blender or brush, I’m always losing some foundation to the tool itself, but this silicone isn’t porous, so all makeup goes on your skin!
Super easy cleanup! Just soap, water, and towel it off and it’s good to go! No waiting for beauty blenders/brushes to dry!

Verdict: This box has a value of about $123.50. And this box is all full-size items! I think this is one of the best boxes GlossyBox has done all year - I'm hopeful that it means better boxes in 2018!

To Wrap Up:

Can you still get this box if you sign up today? Not likely. It looks like if you sign up today, your first box will be the January box.

COUPON - Now through December 31st, use coupon code POPCLINKFIZZ to save 30% on your first month of GlossyBox when you sign up for a monthly subscription! (Regularly $21 a month.)

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

Eyeliner: $2.38
Highlighter: $4.42
Primer: $3.15
Curl Enhancing Lotion: $7.65
MakeUp Drop: $3.40

What do you think of the December 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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76 comments

Margie Moore-Cooper

UPDATE-

Hi All,

I am on hold with GlossyBox customer service as I write this. If you have been following my quest for my December Box you know that this has turned into a battle of – I will not let them get away with this! I now have $45. in what I consider to be absolutely useless credits that I never asked for. This entire time it has not been about money. I just want my December box that I have been promised repeatedly.

As I said I am on hold. I have forgotten her name but I’ll get it as soon as she checks back in with me. Yes, Katlynn is her name. I have now been on hold for 31 minutes. Katlynn is talking to her supervisor Melissa- who last week promised me that my box was being shipped in the next 24 hours. Apparently that wasn’t the case because now they are speaking with Lexie or Alexa who is Melissa’s supervisor. –How many GlossyBox representatives does it take to mail 1 box? Lol

Am I right? It should not be this hard!! In case you are new to my drama. I feel the need to tell you that I’m not one to complain unnessceraly. I’m a nice Southern Lady. That being said, in the South it you make us happy, we tell….

Just hung up with Melissa, (57 minutes) who with her manager Lexie contacted Lexie’s Manager ( was not given her name) and this is what I was told. Deep breath, breathe, in and out!

OK last week when Melissa promised it would be shipped within 24 hours it wasn’t done. The reason, deep breath. It’s too ridiculous to go into and I’m going to spare you the details. Nonetheless, it wasn’t done. Now, I guess Katlynn is no longer involved. But Melissa and Lexi are up! Here is where it becomes, I don’t know, ridiculous, comical? Take your pick. Glossy Box has a warehouse in Kentucky, United States. This warehouse is where my box currently resides. To get this box shipped to me- Lexie’s Manager has had to call the United Kingdom. Yes, the U.K. She Has to Call GB Headquarters in the UK to get this box shipped to me. “It’s the only way”

Yet again I wait. Melissa says that she will personally call me in 24 to 48 hours to let me know the status of this now infamous December Box.

I will let you know!

Ann

Thanks for letting us know Margie! I’m still waiting for my December box as well and when I called just now, they said, that it was packed incorrectly and is being repacked to send to me. I don’t know if I should believe them having waited this long already… everyone at CS seems to have a different story for whatever’s the matter.

Traci

All I can do is SMH. Simply SMH.

I would like to say I’m surprised that a company needs to contact a company on another continent to get something sent on this continent butt I can’t. Businesses are sometimes idiotic in that way. Good luck to you and all the other people who never got their box.

Still SMH.

Emilia

I have never received my December box. They told me it was sent without a tracking number to Canada. Wait, what?! Since when this is regular practice? How am I to prove if it never arrives? I DO have a tracking number, just no info there, “not found “.

I am very angry at the apparent lack of concern for the customers.

Redhed36

FYI to potential subscribers, I have had multiple issues with this company from not receiving my package (in a timely manner) to being charged after I turned off auto-renew. 1. It took almost two weeks for my package to travel two hours north (from mid Indiana to northern Indiana) Shipped on 12/20/17 received 1/3/18. I contacted them numerous times and they didn’t respond until the tracking was updated. When I finally got a hold of someone (after it was delivered) they said there was a warehouse issue.
2. I turned off auto-renew and within a couple days I had a paypal transaction for the next months box. I turned off auto-renew because I purchase a 3 month box subscription for Glossybox through Gilt city and wanted to start that. I contacted them and they seen where my subscription was cancelled and said the refund should be automatic in the next 7 days. We will see. If it doesn’t refund I will have to start the dispute through Paypal. They could not explain what happened just apologized. I don’t feel comfortable when company says ‘it should’ in my experience that usually means ‘won’t’ and they just didn’t know. Oh and I am not too confident when they say ‘I will pass this along to my supervisor’ as I have seen many reviews where they were told the same thing.

Google reviews for this company and the courier they use (newgistics (or something)). They are an interesting read.

Hopefully since the holidays are over things will settle down.

Margie Moore-Cooper

UPDATE- as of today January 6. I still have not received my December Box that has been promised to ship 3 x. The last time was a few days ago when I finally conceded and cancelled my account over the phone with a “supervisor” named Melissa. I was told even though I had stopped auto renew online in enough time that they could not refund the cost of the January Box.
Glossybox customer service could try the patience of God.
I used to love getting my Glossybox and said this every time I have called Customer Service. I never asked for a refund until I finally gave up and closed my account. It was never about tthe money. I made that clear when I told them more than once “I keep waiting for someone, anyone there to make t his better. I want to be excited about getting my Glossybox again.”
It’s apparent that they don’t care.

Constance

DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT order a prepaid subscription with them! Lucky for me, I only had a 3month subscription but once you cancel before the 14th of the following month to avoid the auto-renewal, they will completely wipe out your information as if you’ve never prepaid and even record of your last box. What a shady business!

Margie

I am so disappointed in GlossyBox customer service. I have been calling and emailing for a couple of weeks now about my December box. The first call I made I explained that I had been charged on the 1st but their website didn’t reflect it and showed nothing being processed. The Customer Service agent said that they had changed systems and that she wasn’t able to find my information because they were still switching over to this new system. But, if I had been charged I should get my box soon. lol I have had numerous communications with them since then. On the 15th I was informed by email that they had shipped a box. – but I never received any tracking information and they sent it to the wrong address. When I informed them of this they said they couldn’t send a replacement box until they found out what happened to the first box. After a week of this I was told they needed to speak to a supervisor about sending a replacement box and I would be called back that afternoon. I was never called back. Twice I was promised I would be called back and both times I had to call them. Finally I was told a replacement box would be sent to me. As of today, I still don’t have a tracking number and the GlossyBox website doesn’t reflect anything processing. I used to love my GlossyBox….

Margie

It blows my mind that GlossyBox charged my account today for their January box when I have yet to get my December Box. I am so done. – There Customer Service is awful. It’s just not worth it! BoxyCharm you’re up!

Redhed36

Margie: I turned off auto-renew and two days later they charged my account. I called them and they said I should received a refund in the next 5-10 business days. We will see.

Julie

I guess the question at this point is has anyone received their “replacement ” box?

Bonnie

Usually I throw my actual box out, but this one was so pretty I wanted to keep it! I hate those silicone sponges but that’s not Glossy’s fault! Otherwise, it was a nice box and I’m happy with it.

Julie

Thanks ladies for advising me to call after not getting an email response.
They said they’d send a replacement box but thought they were out of my version which was #1 w/ mist 🙁
Guess it’s wait and see if it falls in to Sparks, Nevada vortex again.

Ann

Have you received a replacement yet?

Cheryl

I called Glossy box yesterday after receiving no response to my email that I never received my December box.
The customer service agent was very curt and didn’t even apologize, told me my box was ” lost in transit” said I would receive a replacement box in 10 day.
I will see what arrives.
Oh and remember if your box late the survey’s might expire before you can do them.
Be sure and email glossy box and ask for a extension or you will lose your chance to earn points. ( Happened to me in November)

Candace

Would have loved that curl cream as I have very long, naturally curly hair but I’m terrified of subbing to glossy. I just hear too many bad things about them & their shipping. The comments here on MSA tell me everything I need to know.

Susan

I have subbed with them for over four years. Never had a problem with shipping or receiving my boxes. Have always been able to use credits for free boxes twice per year which means I basically pay $17.50 per box. Yes there are months that are not as good as others but overall I am happy with what I receive. I have only had to contact CS twice and both times they responded promptly and sent me new items to replace the ones that were broken or messed up. I get first dibs and discounts for the LE boxes also. Maybe the issue others have is that they constantly stop and restart the sub based on discounts. I’m assuming the people who get boxes for $10 probably don’t receive the same care and goods as those of us who have been long time subscribers. I’m not saying that is right but it does seem be what happens.

Margie Moore-Cooper

If you read my post you would understand that I too was a long time subscriber. My issues had nothing to do with discounts or money at all. I am so disappointed in the way that I have been treated. I practically begged Customer Service to “make this right.” They gave me no alternative but to cancel my subscription. And I believe I owe it to others to warn them.

Bonnie

I have been a subscriber for about 3 years and I too have had all the same good experiences as you. The only place I disagree is the CS. Twice in three years (not a bad record) I received damaged items. CS never got back to me. I chalked it up to still a low percentage of all the great experiences I’ve had and continue to sub. I have gotten some really nice items. They don’t do the free boxes anymore :(. I’m bummed because January would have been my free one – I only needed 70 more Glossydots, but then they changed it to credit in the Look Fantastic store. I’ll live though, and continue to sub to Glossy.

Anna

I was subscribed to Glossy for two years, stopped because I was overloaded with samples. I actually cancelled all but Play and having been making progress through the samples plus I made lots of little bags for my local homeless shelter. Anyway, I never had a problem I loved my Glossy so much it was my first beauty box. I think people who have bad experiences are most likely to say so than people who never had issues with them.

I wonder if they lost a truck or something because my box still hasn’t arrived.

KimberlyB

Be sure to contact them in the next day or two, because if you don’t within 30 days of the billing date, they won’t issue a refund or replacement.

I also have not received my box.

Thanks Kimberly! I contacted them today and they said that they’ll send me an email January first… Is this right? Surely the customer service lady wouldn’t lie to me?

Ann

They took my payment out on December 1st, and I still haven’t got my box. I email the 15th and they responded back on the 22nd that it shipped. The past few months no problem, but this month just stinks. I cancel my subscription the other day because you shouldn’t have to wait this long for a box. I’ll stick with Allure for now. I haven’t had an issue with them.

April

I got the grooming balm, which I’m very happy with, but I got the mask as my 5th item. I had hoped for the eye primer, and I rarely use masks. Oh well…

Redhed36

So has anyone other than MSA received their December box? This is my first box with them and USPS is still waiting on the item (it’s been over 8 days) and according to the tracking the item is only 2.5 hrs away from me. I have subscribed to numerous boxes from many companies and this one is the only one I have had issues with. So far no response from CS.

Redhed36

My box was delivered today. Finally. When I spoke to customer service they said there was a warehouse issue. Yeah right. I still say it’s their incompetent courier.

Bonnie

It’s the holidays, so all the shippers are experiencing delays. And they do lose stuff and sometimes find it months later. I got my box, but I got it pretty late in the month, not the norm for Glossybox.

Susan T.

I’m in Canada and I received mine over a week ago! I’m not thrilled with the products but at least I got my box. 🙂

Leslie

I’m in Florida and I received my box on 12/23.

Nancy

Yes. I got mine a few days ago. The only thing that I did not like was the illuminating stick by Laura Geller I got ballerina, which is not a good color for my porcelain white skin.

brenda

Still waiting on mine too and CS has not been responding to me at all!

JuJu

Yeah, I received mine a long time ago – if I recall correctly, before the 13th when I canceled.

JuJu

I didn’t recall correctly – I just checked, I also got my December box on the 16th. It was my order of two “past favorites” boxes that I received a week before that on the 9th.

Now that my three $10 months are over I am realizing just how lucky I was to not experience all the issues people post on here.

Mandy G.

Yes, I’ve had mine since around the 16th or so of December. I got the other version of the hair lotion, which is appropriate for my straight hair, and a very light pink shade of the Laura Geller highlighter stick called ” Ethereal”.
My variation product is the Omorovicza Queen Of Hungary Mist, and I love it.

I didn’t realize so many people were having problems. I had problems with almost every other brand’s box but this one and the LE Holiday one. Guess my time will come, though.

Susan

I got mine a week ago. It sat in Sparks, Nevada for 10 days before finally showing up for delivery by my local post office.

Carolyn

Oh wow. Mine is in the same place since 12/16/17. Same status, waiting on USPS. I thought I was the only one.

Julie

Argh! Mine sat there forever too but it left 10 days ago and hasn’t shown up anywhere since. What a cluster. Done with glossy after this box.

Kristi

I’m still waiting on mine. Says it was transferred to the post office on Tuesday, but who know.

Christine

I agree this was the best Glossybox of the year.

I received this exact same box and I agree, best box from Glossy in 2017!

vanessa

My box was returned last Friday due to “insufficient address” – even though I’ve been receiving GBs since May without issue!

I barely got an email response today regarding my complaint that a replacement is on it’s way. Lord knows what I’ll end up with 😒

So glad to be done with this sub.

Perezangela801

I just am glad I unsubscribed for this box. A lot of this I have already, but I am already resubscribed for January because they stepped it up this January for sure! Can’t wait

Beth

Did anyone else only receive 3 items in their box this month or was it just me?

JuJu

I received the exact same box as reviewed above.

RoxyBelleNC

So did I. I was shocked that I actually got everything that was in this review. To tell the truth…I think the hair lotion was my favorite item in this month’s box.

Shannon

Thank you! I’m in. As a new subscriber it’s only $13 for first month and if I don’t get December the sun will still come up…but I sure I hope I get December! LOL!

Jeri

I received my first box today with the same coupon…except they decided to send me September’s 2016 box with dried up and half empty products LOL (confirmed the box month/year on their website) I called up CS right away and they sounded embarrassed and are sending me December’s.

Kristin

The curl cream is the bomb!

Cynm

Dec 28th and I still haven’t gotten my Dec box yet, glad I cancelled cause this is not making me happy. I liked the boxes that I have gotten but I haven’t even gotten a response to my emails about my Dec box.

Katy

I’m kind of disappointed that I didn’t get this as the last box of of my three month sub for $10 a month because I cancelled before I would be responsible for buying a January box. Everything would have been a hit for me.

JuJu

I just canceled my subscription after I got the shipping notification from them, as soon as the tracking info populated.

Janell

I am curious if anyone actually received the grooming balm as opposed to the curling lotion. My email, as well as my detail card and item survey both said i was to receive the balm (being that I have straight as a board hair) but yet I got the curling lotion. Also, my initial email said I would be receiving the Hungarian mist, but my detail card and survey said the face mask, but I actually received the eye primer ( another thing I did not want or need…have a stock pile!) So basically I feel lied to, the old bait and switch. I was told one thing, and was excited to receive these items, Like Liz said, this month was a great curation, but not if you dont receive 2 of your items. Did this happen to anyone else?

Mandy G.

I got the grooming balm/ lotion, which is appropriate for my straight long hair. I was happy to get the right one. It was probably a fluke….

I actually got the grooming balm and Hungarian mist. I felt like I won the lottery for once…and then quickly cancelled since it was my last $10 box and I knew my luck was gonna run out. Sure enough I’m not thrilled by any of the January spoilers. Whew.

My box literature and survey both list the grooming balm but I received the curl enhancer…which is really sad since my hair can’t be any straighter. I saw several comments on another post from others that this happened to as well. I emailed cs to see if I could send it back to trade it but they don’t do that. I was happy with most of the other items so it’s a shame that one of the big items is unusable for me. I’m cursed though…if there’s a potential for error it will find me lol.

julia

I received a shipping notice for mine on Dec 5th. USPS is still waiting to receive it according to tracking. It seems like since they were sold to the new company customer service and shipping has gone down drastically.

Luna

Hi Liz, in the other post from earlier today showing January’s spoilers it was stated that if we sign up today then December will be the first box, but above you stated January would be the first box. Could you please re-confirm which box would be the first one if someone were to sign up today?

I’m just bringing this up because I’ve been interested in re-subscribing with that 30% off offer (or any deal really), but I’m not interested in the December box so I was going to hold out for another deal in January, but if I can definitely get January if I sign up today, I will.

Kellie Cole

Code doesn’t work. Not sure if it’s because I’m a previous subscriber or if it’s not good on month to month subs.

Liz Cadman

Hm, sorry for the discrepancy. Here is their policy:

“The month that you order in is the first month that you will receive. For example, if you subscribe any time between January 1-31, your recurring subscription will begin with the January Box. The only exception to this rule would be if the monthly box sold out before the end of the month.”

Based on the spoilers for January already being up, I’m guessing the December box has sold out, but I could be wrong.

Sorry I don’t have a definitive answer!

Luna

No problem 🙂 I’ll just wait until January and see if another promo comes around. Thanks!

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GlossyBox Subscription Box Review – December 2017

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