Ulta Beauty Loves Skin Care Superstars Review + Coupon – May 2018

Ulta recently released a few new sampler kits! This is a review of the Ulta Beauty Loves Skin Care Superstars Box, which features some of the best skincare products that Ulta offers!

FYI - this box is still available for purchase!

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

About The Box

The Box: Ulta Beauty Loves Skin Care Superstars

The Cost: $40 + $5.95 shipping for purchases under $50

The Products:

• Dermalogica Dynamic Skin Recovery SPF 50 (0.24 oz)
• Philosophy Purity Made Simple Micellar Cleansing Water (1.0 oz)
• First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads (10 ct)
• StriVectin TL Advanced Tightening Neck Cream (0.25 oz)
• Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Cucumber and Green Tea (1.0 oz)
• Origins Ginzing Refreshing Scrub Cleanser (1.0 oz)
• Shiseido Benefiance WrinkleResist24 Intensive Eye Contour Cream (0.17 oz)
• Skyn Iceland Hydro Cool Firming Eye Gels (0.11 oz)
• Juice Beauty Stem Cellular CC Cream SPF 30 (0.17 oz)
• Peter Thomas Roth Cucumber Gel Mask (1.0 oz)
• Cosmetic Bag (5″ H x 6-1/2″ L x 3″ W)

Ulta Beauty Loves Skin Care Superstars May 2018 Review

This kit came with a $5 off coupon for purchasing items from the brands included.

Dermalogica Dynamic Skin Recovery SPF 50, 0.24 oz – Estimated Value $10.16 (Buy the full-size version for $72)

I am a big Dermalogica fan, however I didn’t think this sunscreen was exceptional. This is a sunscreen-moisturizer combo, so I wouldn’t recommend this if you have oily skin like me. If you have dry skin and are out in the sun a lot, though, this could be a winner at helping you protect your skin. It absorbed relatively quickly for me, it was just a bit too heavy for my skincare needs.

Philosophy Purity Made Simple Micellar Cleansing Water, 1.0 oz – Estimated Value $3.28 (Buy the full-size version for $22)

I didn’t even know Philosophy had a Micellar water, and I was excited to try a product from the brand that wasn’t the purity face wash for a change. I felt this did a good job of removing my makeup without leaving my skin feeling stripped or unclean, and my skin also felt hydrated after using. I’m not sure if its worth more than double the cost of a drugstore version, however.

First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads, 10 ct – Estimated Value $5 (Buy 60 pads for $30)

I love using pads like these that are soaked in toner—it really simplifies my skincare routine! These are safe for even sensitive skin, and my skin felt balanced after using.

StriVectin TL Advanced Tightening Neck Cream, 0.25 oz – Estimated Value $13.97 (Buy the full-size version for $95)

At 23 I don’t know if my neck needs tightening yet, however I have been enjoying using such a luxe brand only on my neck. This is thick and spreads out well, meaning I only need to use a little bit at a time. This product makes me think of my mom, as having a “turkey neck” (which she doesn’t, my mom is beautiful and her neck is just fine) is one of her biggest complaints about getting older. Maybe if I diligently use this sample I can stave off a few more years before I have a turkey neck of my own—that is my plan, at least!

Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Cucumber and Green Tea, 1.0 oz – Estimated Value $2.50 (Buy the 2 oz version for $5)

This is a great refreshing facial spray, however I wouldn’t reach for it if I wanted more than a mid-day pick me up. The aloe and cucumber add a light hydrating boost, however, I didn’t find that feeling to last. An Ulta reviewer said she uses it on sunburned skin, and I think I am going to save this bottle to try it for that purpose as the ingredients should be good for soothing a sunburn.

Origins Ginzing Refreshing Scrub Cleanser, 1.0 oz – Estimated Value $4.10 (Buy the full-size version for $20.50)

I really enjoy the citrus scent the Origins Ginzing line offers as I find it to be a great wake-up scent in the morning. This cleanser provides a gentle exfoliation and helps to make skin look brighter after using, and while I don’t think this would be a good fit for my oily skin for everyday use, but I consider it an occasional treat to use.

Shiseido Benefiance WrinkleResist24 Intensive Eye Contour Cream, 0.17 oz – Estimated Value $20 (Buy the full-size version for $60)

This eye cream is thick, luxurious, and this tube is actually mostly product rather than being mostly air (score!). Considering this tube is a third the size of the full size, I am happy that the tube is actually full of product. A little bit of this goes a long way because of how thick the product is, but my eyes always drink it up. Fine lines and crows feet aren’t skincare concerns I have yet, but I have noticed that my dark circles have decreased since using this.

Skyn Iceland Hydro Cool Firming Eye Gels, 1 pair – Estimated Value $3.75 (Buy 8 pairs for $30)

These eye gels are one of my favorite purchases that I can get at Ulta, and every time these go on sale I nab more of them. These are so cooling and soothing to my under-eye area, and they do a good job of staying in place so I don’t have to be laying down when I use them. I always feel refreshed after using these, and whenever I have any under-eye puffiness these always help soothe them. I don’t know about the fine line and wrinkle fighting, but I think they are worth the price just for how relaxing they are to wear.

Juice Beauty Stem Cellular CC Cream SPF 30 in Desert Glow, 0.17 oz – Estimated Value $3.90 (Buy the full-size version for $39)

This was a nice CC cream for my face, and I liked the hint of glow this provided. I will reach for this sample on days I don’t plan on wearing makeup, however, it isn’t a product I would buy the full-size version of. If fine lines and wrinkles are more of a skincare concern for you than they are for me, however, I would recommend trying this.

Peter Thomas Roth Cucumber Gel Mask, 1.0 oz – Estimated Value $10.40 (buy the full-size version for $52)

I am used to getting the .5 oz sample version of this mask, so getting 1 oz actually felt like a pretty decent sample size. This mask never really does much for me—it is a little cooling, a little hydrating, but there is no real noticeable difference to my skin after using this product. I am keeping this around, however, because I think this would be a godsend for a sunburned face. There was enough product in this tub for at least three applications, and the tube is so much more user-friendly than the tiny jars!

The Verdict: Overall I think this is a good kit, however, if you have been a subscription box subscriber for a while you probably won’t find the brands included to be very exciting. I thought the sample sizes were good, but I had tried more than a few of these products before—Though I guess they are a SuperStar for a reason! This kit is something I would probably buy for my mom as a gift, as she is a bit stuck in her current skincare routine and could benefit from trying high-quality products from different brands. Value-wise, Ulta promises a value of $76 and by my math, this kit is worth $77.06. I am happy the promised value is met in this box. My biggest complaint would be the quality of the makeup bag—the lining on the inside is unfinished, and there were loose threads before I even unzipped the zipper.

To Wrap Up:

Can you get this box if you sign up today? Yes, as of publication, this box is still available for purchase!

Value Breakdown: This box cost $45.95 including shipping, and I calculated a value of $77.06. That means you are paying approximately the following per item:

• Dermalogica: $6.06
• Philosophy: $1.96
• First Aid Beauty: $2.98
• Strivectin: $8.33
• Mario Badescu: $1.49
• Origins: $2.44
• Shiseido: $11.93
• Skyn Iceland: $2.23
• Juice Beauty: $2.33
• Peter Thomas Roth: $6.20

Check out the Beauty Subscription Box Directory for more bath and body boxes!

What do you think of the Ulta Beauty Loves Skin Care Superstars Box?