NewBeauty TestTube is a bi-monthly beauty and makeup subscription box. Every other month they send you a tube full of deluxe and full-size beauty samples and you also get a digital subscription to New Beauty Magazine. It’s a little pricier than other beauty subscriptions, but in general, the value is usually great.
This box was sent to us for review purposes. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes).
About This Box
The Subscription Box: NewBeauty TestTube
The Cost: $29.95 a box plus $8.95 shipping (ships every other month)
The Products: Deluxe and full-size beauty products. (This subscription also includes a subscription to New Beauty Magazine).
Ships to: US only
Our May/June 2019 Review
NewBeauty TestTube is one of my favorite subs because they send really unique and new items, many of which I have never even heard of! This booklet is a great reference for each item we received this month. It is full of additional info, interesting facts, and editor commentary.
Now, on to the items!
JKosmmune Lotion, 50 ml - FULL SIZE! Retail Value $32.00
I have never tried anything from this brand so of course, I wanted to do a little research in addition to testing it out. The main selling point here is "Highly pure (99.99%) and potent beta glucan" and I am not sure what that is or why it is beneficial. A little more digging and I found out that this is the first company to use it in the US, so I feel a little less awful about not knowing what in the world it is. Upon further reading, I learned it is a mushroom extract that helps with collagen production, reduced redness, fades fine lines, and is said to help with your overall immune system. That is a lot of potential! This might be a product I need to use over time, but the immediate effects were indeed redness reduction, moisture, retention, and plumper looking skin. It has a light citrus scent and the ingredients themselves are free of parabens, ethanol, talc, mineral oil, silicone oil, benzophenone, Phenoxyethanol, and parrafin. Ingredient conscious beauty fans take note! The formula itself was a little heavy but felt great on my skin.
NCLA So Rich in Rose Petals - FULL SIZE! Retail Value $18.00
I recently started getting my nails done regularly as a little treat to myself. (I also have pictures of my hands on the internet more often now and I am a little vain.) I get an acrylic overlay since my nails are small and super weak and I always thought that an oil would promote lifting. I picked my manicurist's brain at my last appointment and she told me that in terms of acrylics, cuticle oil can actually reduce lifting and keep my cuticles in check between appointments. Sign me up then! This pretty bottle is scented with roses and the dropper is perfect for getting just enough oil onto each nail. I love the scent and my cuticles are much softer.
Nyakio Quinoa Depuffing Firming Eye Cream, 15 ml - Retail Value $39.00
When I first tried this out, I thought "WOW. Why is this stuff so cold?" Well, that is because the tip is ceramic, which is actually genius for an eye cream because that super chilly surface is great for depuffing your eyes even without product. The main ingredient in this formula is quinoa, a Peruvian super grain. While I didn't notice any super drastic results with this product, it is a solid eye cream that will give your undereye a nice moisture boost and that chilling ceramic tip will feel like heaven in the summer, especially after chilling in the fridge for a little while.
Shea Terra Virgin Shea Butter, 59 ml - Estimated Value $6.67 (Buy a full size 177 ml for $20.00, found here for $16.00)
Although pure shea has so many skin benefits, I can never really get past the smell because it smells a little "foody". I generally will mix in a few drops of essential oil to circumvent this, as my sensitive legs LOVE shea butter! This blend is really, really pure and has a very low melting point, so be sure to store it somewhere cool or risk a liquid texture. This organic butter comes to us from Uganda and can be used on your cuticles, skin, and even on the tips of your hair if you dare!
Scalpforce UV Filter Hair Tonic, 8 fl oz - FULL SIZE! Retail Value $26.00
For someone who is adamant about sunscreen, I have to admit that I ignore my hair and scalp entirely when it comes to the dangers of UV rays. This spray could be the answer, as it is lightweight, smells great, and also detangled my damp locks. I could easily see this going into someone's beach bag for those super hot sunny days next to the sea. I never make it to the beach, but I live vicariously through you! It also gave my tresses a nice shine boost, though I did have to shampoo my hair the same night after using it because, texturally, my roots just didn't feel great at the end of the day. It crossed my mind to maybe add some salt to this and use it as both a protective and texture adding spray. Has anyone ever tried anything like that before?
MMXV Infinitude Universal Facial Treatment, 5 ml - Estimated Value $37.50 (Buy a full size 30 ml here for $225.00)
This was another brand that was new to me and I was happy to see such an expensive product in the 'tube, even if it wasn't full size. This seven-in-one beauty cream is hoping to replace most of your other skincare products. I am always really skeptical of "perfect for all skin types and all skin concerns!" products because I just don't know if I believe anything is consistently the best choice for every person's skin. What I will say about this cream is that the texture is magnificent. It also smells great. A combination of white truffle, olive extract, and THREE (!) types of hyaluronic acids, it absorbed into my skin with no effort and immediately left it feeling very plump, calm, and hydrated. This formula layered really well under my daily foundation and they played nice together throughout the day, with no weird slipping or patching. I personally prefer something a little heavier at night. As someone who loves skincare products and experimentation, I don't think I personally would replace all of my other beloved products for one single pot. If you want an easy route to good skin care and benefits without the trial and error of other multiple products clogging up your bathroom, this might be something for you to look into. It is absolutely high-quality enough to take the place of numerous other steps/products IF that is your goal.
Derma E Vitamin C Peel, 2 oz - FULL SIZE! Retail Value $23.95
The color of this peel immediately knocked my socks off. It is just really pretty! The formula itself was fast acting and very smoothing. Simply apply a thin layer of this to your face, leave on for 3-5 minutes (err on the side of less time if you have sensitive skin!) and then wash it away. The lactic and alpha hydroxy acids micro-exfoliate your skin without the need for scrubbies, sugars, or salts. I was impressed with the results, especially at such an affordable price point. As with any peels, be sure to moisturize after and use sunscreen, please!
Grande Cosmetics Grandeprimer - FULL SIZE! Retail Value $25.00
Finally, our last product is a lash primer. I like this brand, but I have yet to find a lash primer that works well or that doesn't make mt lashes lay splayed in all directions. This formula was actually more impressive before I applied mascara over it. You could really see that white primer coating every lash. They looked downright feathery! I was really excited until I then applied mascara over it and that affect basically disappeared. Womp, womp. The difference was so minimal that I just wore one set of lashes coated and the other just with mascara all day and you couldn't tell the difference. I think I will stick to the lip products from this company instead.
Left, with Gradeprimer and a coat of Lancome Monsieur Big Mascara. Right, mascara alone.
Verdict: NewBeauty TestTube always has such a fun and interesting mix of products and a great assortment of deluxe and full sizes. While there wasn't anything earth-shattering for me this time, I did find some products I really liked. The Derma-E Vitamin C peel was excellent, and I would easily recommend this to anyone. As a recent cuticle oil convert, I really loved this pretty bottle and it has a great scent. The eye cream was also really fun, and I think a ceramic tip is basically the smartest thing ever. I also loved the JKosmmure lotion. Less exciting for me were the shea butter and lash primer, but not everything can be a win. I loved getting to try out the super expensive MMXV cream and thought the addition of the UV spray was genius for summer. This box has a value of around $206.81, which is great for a $38.90 box and meets the $150+ promised value. This high value doesn't shock me at all because this box consistently delivers, which is why it is one of my faves.
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? It appears at sign-up that May is still available for purchase. However, make sure to email [email protected] before you order to confirm which box will be your first shipment.
Value Breakdown: At $38.90 for this box (including shipping), here’s what you are paying approximately per item:
- Jkosmmune Lotion $5.98
- NCLA Cuticle Oil $3.36
- Nyakio Eye Cream$7.29
- Shea Terra She Butter $1.25
- Scalpforce Hair Tonic $4.86
- MMXV Treatment $7.01
- Derma-E Vitamin C Peel $4.48
- GrandePRIMER $4.67
Alternatively, each of the 9 items in this box has an average cost of $4.32.
Check out all our NewBeauty TestTube reviews, and some of our other favorite beauty boxes!
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