Cosmo Box Subscription Review + Coupon – January 2018

ByLiz CadmanJan 9, 2018 | 39 comments

There's a new subscription box from Cosmopolitan - CosmoBox! Each month you'll receive items selected by Cosmopolitan editors.

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

The Subscription Box: CosmoBox by Cosmopolitan

The Cost: $19.99 a box + $6 shipping

The Products: "Curated by the editors of Cosmopolitan magazine, this unique monthly subscription box brings you full-size quality goodies that compliment and empower your multidimensional lifestyle."

Ships to: US

Keep track of your subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wish list!

Each box comes with a card detailing the items included:

This month's theme is Get Cozy! They also included an offer card for the magazine subscription:

Now, on to the items!

Spongellé Body Wash Infused Buffer in French Lavender – Value $16

This is one of my favorite subscription box beauty discoveries!

If you aren’t familiar with Spongelle, you are in for a treat! It infused with body wash, and the sponge is firmer than your typical bath pouf, so you get exfoliation added in, as well! (And it should last for at least 14 uses!)

Namaste In Bed Mug - Value Listed $12

(There is no brand for this mug, so I'm using the value listed on the card.)

This ceramic mug is 11 oz, microwave and dishwasher safe.

Satin Eye Mask - Value Listed $12

(There is no brand for this eye mask, so I'm using the value listed on the card.)

Cute mask, but sadly it feels like an inexpensive one. The band isn't adjustable, so it's a little tight on my head, too. (And this is being SUPER nitpicky, but I think this is a different mask than the one they are showing in the promotional images for this box.)

LAFCO Classic Candle in Marine - 5.53 oz Value Listed $35

(Subscribers will either receive this Marine scent or the Lavender Chamomile scent.)

The candle is a soy-wax blend with a 40 hour burn time. And it comes in a handblown art glass vessel, that you can reuse - it's the palest blue and so pretty!

The marine scent is light and clean - I love it. This is hands down my favorite item in the box.

(One thing worth noting - the candle packaging doesn't have the typical LAFCO labeling, so that might make it less giftable for some. And the LAFCO packaging was shown in the promotional images for this box.)

Satva Headband - Value Listed $10

The fabric for this headband is made from Organic cotton, and the dyes are natural and plant-based. (Recycled fabric scraps from other Satva clothing.) And my favorite part? It's a wide headband that stays put! Perfect for working out or sheet masks! 🙂

And it also comes with a coupon for 30% off your first purchase:

Verdict: This box has a retail value of $85. I think that's good for a $25.99 box. And the Spongelle, candle, and headband are all great items for me, and worth well over the cost of the box. I'm also impressed that CosmoBox put together a box with such a good value that doesn't include makeup!

That being said, the eye-mask cheapened this box a bit for me, and nothing in this box is very original when it comes to the subscription box world. But, nothing wrong with playing it safe for your first box, and I'm excited to see what's coming in February!

To Wrap Up:

Can you still get this box if you sign up today? As of today, 1/9, yes!

Coupon – Use coupon code COSMOBOX25 to save 25%!

Value Breakdown: At $25.99 for this box, here’s what you are paying approximately per item:

Spongelle: $4.89
Candle: $10.70
Mug: $3.67
Eyemask: $3.67
Headband: $3.05

What do you think of the first CosmoBox?

Posted in 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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39 comments

MCD721

What has happened to this box? Did they cancel it? I feel like its been over a month and silence on a next box.

Tammy

My February shipped last night. No clue whats in it, their website still shows last months items.

Leila

Same here, my Feb box arrives tomorrow. I thought it was supposed to ship on the 20th of every month and no clue what is in it, wanted to see spoilers to see if I wanted to continue first.

Jeanette

I am always interested in seeing the newest boxes come out. The review that Liz did was fair and in my opinion on point. I am wondering if the reason the candle didn’t have the traditional wrapping/labeling is because of the no resale concept. I have seen some companies do that but they usually label no resale, etc. My only flag with this box is the price. If this box was $19.99 but with no additional shipping fee I would probably try one because the spongelle retails for $16.00 and most everything else woud make up the price. To me, if you charge the customer shipping you might as well call it a $25.99 box. This is where I compare that price to other boxes in that price category. For example, for $21.00 there is Boxycharm with no lifestyle item or $39.95 for PopSugar which has a good mix. I don’t know if anyone else does this but I do a lot of comparison and box value when I am deciding how to allocate my box spending. I really think this box would be more popular if it was $19.99 and included the shipping in that cost.

Mandiiii

I feel like I’ve seen these products in other subscription boxes. Nothing exciting. I won’t be subscribing. Maybe it’ll get better?

Totes. You think after reviewing the competition you would not want the same items they all have sent or tend to send. Get different brands, newer brands, more buzz-worthy items, exciting things that are not released yet or that nobody else has!!! geez. If I see script on a mug one more time… 😀

Bonnie

I signed up for this because I love the Cosmo brand. Nothing in this box was amazing to me, although I could use a mug, since I’ve recently gotten into drinking tea. But I’m giving it a minumum of 3 months to see how it evolves. I would love to see some makeup/more beauty products, maybe some jewelry, but I’ll take it as it comes. Fingers crossed for an upturn in exiting items.

Redhed36

okay I am going to be that person. This box is a big miss for me for the following reasons; there is no way that cup is worth $12. There is no name brand and it’s literally a white cup with some writing on it. I can go to Walmart and pay ~$7 and get a cup just like it. The eye mask also is not worth $12 you can get one for around $5 easily. I believe this is supposed to be a knock off of the Neiman Marcus eye mask. It looks just like it. That mask is going for $32 and definitely would never pay that much for a mask. That candle, it’s a 5.53oz candle for $35, that’s $6.32 an ounce. Are you serious! Two weeks ago I made two 12oz candles for less than $15 and they are all natural. I can see paying more for a quality candle, but you are just paying for a name that wasn’t even included on the box.
Come on Cosmo. If you look at the third picture down and say to yourself how much would I pay for this stuff (not looking at brand names). I would pay no more than $15. You’re getting a headband, a sponge, a cheap cup, a cheap eye mask, and a very small candle. hmmm. LOL. Oh my goodness.

Alex

I went to the 99c store today and saw about 4 different mugs that were so similar to this one. I think I even saw this slogan. That eye mask looks much plusher in the promotion than the product they sent.

Popsugar gave us a great eye mask in the October box and FabFitFun gave us a great mug in the winter box. You really can see the quality of these items in comparison to other boxes.

That being said, Cosmo hopefully has time to make this better next month 🤞🏼

Michelle

Very lackluster for a Cosmo box. I guess I was expecting more.

Shelli

I just clicked on the main cosmo box page. When I click to buy the box, it shows the beautiful candle in the LAFCO packaging as part of the box, I really am turned off by that!!

Shelly

Liz’s review is spot-on. Do you get amazing value? No. Do you get more value than the price? Yes, it’s like buying the $35 candle for $26 (including shipping) and getting the rest for free. That said, I was underwhelmed and decided to cancel after the first month, but if the boxes improve or the spoilers intrigue me, I’d sub again.

Shelli

I’m not signing up until I see February’s review. I’m still interested in this box. I just don’t want this box.

Erica

I think it’s a decent value for the money. I think most lifestyle boxes have free shipping, so some people may feel put out by that. The candle being in plain packaging isn’t a big deal to me – when you buy retail presentation is a lot of what you’re paying for. I think certain boxes have such inflated RVs nowadays that anything less than pop sugar or fabfitfun is considered”trash”.

Jewels

Loved this review, Liz, it was to the point and honest. Thank you!

Jenna

I really doubt a company as big as Cosmopolitan is going to be involved in a “Candle-gate” conspiracy over fake brand-name candles showing up in their box.

Emilia

This one leaves me scratching my head.

Bella01

Liz was very honest and is always honest. That being said, the candle is an imatation and not the real deal. Also the white cup is just that, a white cup with black marker to write the phrase. They eye mask is not the same one in the promotional image. Their not being honest and I won’t do business like that. No thank you. I really wanted it to work out.

Liz Cadman

Hi Bella01, can I ask why you are saying the candle is fake? It has official LAFCO branding and Cosmopolitan promoted them as being in the box.

I have the candle in front of me and the quality of the vessel, wax, and scent are good and on par with other products I’ve sampled from this brand.

Bella01

Yes Liz, I thought the candle was fake. I have a couple from the same company and mine look more professional looking and packaging is totally different too. It just looks fake to me. Maybe it because I’m already turned off by them adding a different eye mask than the one in their promotional picture. If not, My bad. I also gave some of these candles away as gifts and the packaging was beautiful.

Elena

I also think that this candle looks like imitation. I hope at least the Spongelle is the real thing here. lol

Angel

The items in the box seem fair for a $20 (plus shipping) box.

I thought the review was more than fair.

Marie

I agree.

Erica

Agreed

Adeline

I have always loved Liz’s honest reviews and this one is no different. I think some of the stuff would be awesome to receive i.e. candle and spongelle. Personally I don’t really care for the headbands colors but that’s a personal preference

Angie

Looks like a FabFitFun box but less stuff and half the price! I’ll keep my eye on this and if there’s better months I’ll reconsider! But for now it’s a no! Not appetizing for me just yet

Joy

That was exactly my thought, half a FFF box for half the price. I didn’t need anything in the box and don’t like lavender so I skipped it but I’m definitely going to keep an eye on this box.

Elena

Could you please show the picture of candle label? I’m curious if it’s an cheap imitation of LAFCO instead of real thing.

Liz Cadman

It is definitely authentic LAFCO, but it there’s only a small label that’s the plastic candle cover. I’ll add that picture now. Hope that helps!

Elena

Thank you! I meant the picture on the top of the candle box.

Hard pass! I feel like half the box was a rip off.

EmilyAnn

Umm. Wow. Just… wow.

This box was not cool in so many ways that it’s obvious you did not want to call out in any way other than the most gentlest possible

Your readers trust you to be straight up honest. And long have.
We get it, you don’t want to be mean.

It’s off putting that you can’t just say what you would have a few years ago. Like the word cheap. That it felt cheap.

Sammee

I thought Liz’s review was very fair. It’s definitely not the most glam box, but it’s not dollar store stuff either. They played it safe with products that most box subscribers are used to getting. And Liz did state the following: “That being said, the eye-mask cheapened this box a bit for me…” So there’s your key word. It’s an honest review.

katie

I also thought it was an honest review. Not a bad box, just not a box I am particularly interested in buying. Maybe next month will be more my style.

Liz Cadman

Hi EmilyAnn,

Thanks for the feedback. I felt I was being honest with the review and did use the words “inexpensive” and “cheapened” when describing the eyemask, but nothing else felt cheap in this box to me, so I didn’t use that word in describing anything else. Hope that makes sense!

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Cosmo Box Subscription Review + Coupon – January 2018

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