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 NewBeauty Magazine. It’s a little pricier than other beauty subscriptions, but in general, the value is usually great.
This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (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 NewBeauty Magazine).
Ships to: The US only
Our September/October 2019 Review
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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!
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Curology The Cleanser and Free Month Trial, 40 ml - Estimated Value $35
Let's begin with a brand I absolutely love! Curology is basically the perfect subscription for anyone who wants to add prescription level anti-aging to their routine but doesn't want to pay for dermatologist visits or high priced RX creams. You fill out a questionnaire and submit a few photos of your face and an actual dermatologist looks everything over and helps you create a treatment plan. They send you a customized blend of prescription level ingredients mixed into a cream each month for under $20. You can also upgrade to the $30 plan that includes a moisturizer and this cleanser for around $30. Included with this cleanser is a link you can use to access a free month of this service, though you do have to pay $4.95 shipping. I used to use this subscription for a year or so before I started reviewing, and I HIGHLY recommend it.
As far as this cleanser goes, it is unscented and super gentle, perfect for a deep clean without any negatives. I couldn't find a way to purchase just this cream, so I was unable to calculate an estimated value, though if you sign up for the monthly trial that came with it, that has a value of close to $35 after shipping costs.
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amika Reset Exfoliating Jelly Shampoo, 4.7 fl oz - Full Size! Retail Value $25.00
My husband Will has really developed into somewhat of a shampoo snob since I started reviewing boxes. He has very specific parameters for rating shampoos and conditioners now that actually put mine to shame. amika is one of his preferred conditioners, so I suspected he might like this shampoo, especially since it has both clay and salt, meaning it gives a super deep cleanse. We both like squeaky clean scalps! He gave this two thumbs up and wanted me to specifically say that he liked the salt because it provided "scrubbiness" without leaving any exfoliants in his hair. He still says this is his favorite, but this amika shampoo was a close second.
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ODE Orchard Alchemy Antioxidant Face Oil, 1 fl oz - Full Size! Retail Value $65.00
Ahhh, this packaging. Wow. What a first impression. Aside from being gorgeous, this face oil has THIRTY different skin-loving oils inside. This is a dry skin dream, ya'll! It also smells like heavenly, herbal, floral perfection. The deep orange color did show up on my very pale face a little bit, so I will be using this exclusively at night, after a serum and likely without a moisturizer. Aside from being a stellar face oil, this stuff is made at the most dreamy ranch, complete with olive trees, a signature perfume, fresh produce, a winery, honey, homemade jams, and stunning event spaces. Is McEvoy Ranch heaven or what?
BRB moving to the ranch.
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Nuria Defend Skin Shielding Essence, 1.7 fl oz - Full Size! Retail Value $48.00
Wow! This has to be some of the best packaging collected into a single NBTT! I absolutely love the Nuria brand. I have tried their eye cream and face wash before and I was impressed with both formulas, along with the swoon-worthy packaging. Who says you can't have both, right? This stuff is so cool. The texture is a totally clear gel and inside there are cute little peach-colored orbs and gold flakes. This is a defense sort of formula filled with detoxing ginseng, nourishing carob, and one of my faves: seaweed! I like to use this in the morning after cleansing and before moisturizing. It gives my skin a little boost and helps with product absorption and dispersion, meaning I use less of my pricy moisturizers!
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Batiste Dry Shampoo, 200 ml - Full Size! Retail Value $8.99
I have used this brand of dry shampoo for years, despite the fact that the first ingredient is butane. It just works SO well, and what is life without a little danger, right? Maybe not, but the effectiveness and accessible pricing of this stuff make it hard to resist. I only shampoo twice a week so dry shampoo is a necessity in my day to day routine. This fragrance is really warm and musky, a nice sexy scent that will complement most perfumes instead of overpowering it.
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Meh, this is the bummer part of the review. When I saw the spoilers, I realized a lot of people would have *feelings* about its inclusion. It kind of sucks to get an item that only subscribers in California can use right? (Unless I am missing a section of Hydrafacial providers?) This will likely end up in the trash for a lot of us, but before mine made it there, I thought I had a duty to force it open and at least tell you the consistency and scent. Right? Right! I don't enjoy being unable to provide you with info on an item. It bothers me! I also don't recommend opening your vial at home because it was REALLY difficult and not at all fun. Inside I found a clear watery substance with not a ton of scent. The texture was extremely slippy.
Here is an artistic photo of it literally slipping through my fingers, much like the Hydrafacial experience.
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Probiogen Daily Digestive Balance Probiotic, 30 capsules - Retail Value $29.95
I turned 33 this year, and much to my dismay, I am significantly less "regular" all of a sudden. A friend suggested a probiotic and lo and behold, one arrived in this month's tube! These contain some sort of special spore that survives in guts longer. Cool! I have only been taking these for a day, so I don't have any real results to report on, but hopefully, this will be an improvement to my movement!
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Mass Eden Facial Steam, 4 pouches - Retail Value $16.00
Facial steams are one of those treatments that feel more like a ritual than just skincare. They are also one of the treatments than really freak my husband out because they require me to sit with my head over a hot pot of fragrant water covered by a towel. What he doesn't understand is that this steam is opening my pores and making me feel extremely fancy. I always finish off a steam with a glass of wine, as any truly fancy person should.
Verdict: NewBeauty TestTube is always a subscription I look forward to. In my opinion, it really shines when it combines well-known and effective brands with new emerging ones. This tube was a perfect example of this! Along with some newbies, this month delivered two of my favorites, amika and Nuria, though both of the products from these lines were new to me. The standouts were easily the Nuria essence and ODE oil, though Will would argue it was the shampoo. Either way, we are both happy!
Again, this sub is awesome for discovering new brands, but I am always tickled when I see a familiar one (or two!) in the mix. Without calculating the values of the Hydrafacial formula and the Curology cleanser (I couldn't find a retail value for the cleanser alone) this box still has a value of $192.94 which is good for a $38.90 box. This goes up to $217.94 if you choose to try out Curology (a trial value of $29.95 - $4.95 shipping).
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? It appears at sign-up that this box 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), and assuming a retail value of $192.94, here’s what you are paying approximately per item:
- Curology Cleanser and trial $N/A (potentially $25: $29.95 kit minus $4.95 shipping)
- amika Shampoo $5.04
- ODE Oil $13.11
- Nuria Essence $9.68
- Batiste Dry Shampoo $1.81
- Hydrafacial Dermabuilder $N/A
- Probiogen Supplements $6.04
- Mass Eden Facial Steam $3.23
Alternatively, each of the 8 items in this box has an average cost of $4.86.
If you are disregarding the Hydrafacial Dermabuilder, that average cost rises to $5.56.
Check out all our NewBeauty TestTube reviews, and some of our other favorite beauty boxes!
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What do you think of the September/October NewBeauty TestTube?
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