Laurel & Reed is "a luxury-curated, cruelty-free and non-toxic beauty, wellness and lifestyle box. Every month we will delight your doorstep with a mix of 4-6 full-size products with a minimum total value of $100+. Enjoy a mix of makeup, hair care, body & skincare and wellness and lifestyle items."
This box is being reviewed thanks to an MSA reader request!
My Subscription Addiction paid for this box. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes).
About Laurel & Reed
The Subscription Box: Laurel & Reed
The Cost: $49.95/month + $6.95 US shipping. Discounts available for longer commitments.
The Products: A mix of 4-6 full-size makeup, hair care, body & skincare, wellness, and lifestyle products with a minimum total value of $100+
Ships to: US for $6.95, Canada for $18.00, International for $34.00
Laurel & Reed January 2019 Review
The front of the info card features a lovely print on one side, and the items clearly listed out with retail prices and short descriptions on the other.
Loli Purple Corn Grains, 1.4 oz. - Retail Value $32.00
I've never come across purple corn in a beauty product before, so I was excited to try this! It came accompanied with a recycled paper dish and a wooden spoon to mix this in (with water, rosewater, or any number of desired things). It has two uses and I decided to try it first as a cleansing scrub. I simply took a couple spoonfuls into my hands and applied it to damp skin and massaged it all over my face. It was a little messy, but that's to be expected with something like this. Alternately, I probably could have gotten it a little wet in my palm so there was less fall off as I spread it on. It was really gentle and didn't feel too harsh on my sensitive skin. It really made my face shine and feel incredibly soft! It buffed away some dry skin that the cold weather has produced and left me with glowing skin. Big fan of this purple corn (along with almond flour, pomegranate, yucca, hibiscus, and kaolin).
Lauren B Nail Polish in Pale Sand Paradise, 0.50 oz. - Retail Value $18.00
I'm a fan of lavender polish and a pale pretty one like this is perfect for Spring. I don't use regular polish myself anymore, but this one is nice and thick and brushes on smooth with a nice heavy coat. The best part about this brand is that they are "7 Free" which means they don't use 3 common chemicals found in nail polish like Toluene, Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP), Formaldehyde, in addition to 4 other very dangerous chemicals Formaldehyde Resin, Camphor, TPHP, and Xylene. This should make any nail polish aficionado very happy!
Skin Owl Maqui Berry Beauty Whip, 2 oz. - Retail Value $68.00
Skin Owl was a featured brand in another beauty box a while back, so I'm familiar with them but haven't personally tried this mask. It comes out of the pump looking like a thicker cream-colored moisturizer. Once I spread it on my face, it definitely felt more like an oil or serum though. I used this in the morning after my shower and decided to fill the 30 minutes it asks you to leave it on for with reading in bed. I could get used to this little ritual, either at this time or in the evening. It says that storing it in the fridge is best, though I forgot to do so. I'll have to try that later. After the half hour was up, I rinsed it off my face and was delighted by how hydrated my skin felt. So nice, in fact, that I decided to skip my facial oil and go straight to my SPF moisturizer for the day. So far, so good! Excited to see how this pans out in the long run.
Sonäge NMF Hyaluronic Serum, 0.5 oz. - Retail Value $36.00
Hmm- I don't think I care for this one. The consistency is really thin and slippery and after it dries, my face feels tight in a way I don't love instead of dewy as I prefer. It reminds me of the serum after removing a sheet mask that I have to massage in and hope that it doesn't leave my skin feeling weird. I'm sure this is a normal feeling for those that are into a specific type of product but it's a little out of my comfort zone. My skin did feel soft after a while but I didn't love the journey.
The Verdict: My favorite items from this month's Laurel & Reed was the purple corn grains and the beauty whip. Getting nail polish no longer excites me even though it was a lovely color, and the sonäge serum wasn't my cup of tea. Overall, the four products had a total retail value of $154 which is well over the $56.90 cost. Just the beauty whip alone was worth it.
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? Boxes ship immediately for first-time purchases (if current box is available, which this one is) with subscriptions shipping between the 15-20th of the month moving forward. You can also purchase any past boxes still available on their site for a one-time purchase of $49.95 (+ shipping).
Value Breakdown: For $56.90 ($49.95 + $6.95 shipping) here’s what you are paying approximately per item:
- Purple Corn Grains: $11.82
- Nail Polish: $6.65
- Beauty Whip: $25.12
- Serum: $13.30
Check out all of our Laurel & Reed reviews as well as our other beauty reviews via the Beauty Subscription Box List!
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