The Box By Fashionsta for Men is a monthly men's box brought to you by online beauty store, Fashionsta, for $29.99/month with free shipping. Each box will include 5-7 full-size skincare and other self-care products for men with an $80-$150 value. They seem to focus on smaller indie brands that may be new to you, so it's a great way to discover companies that haven't blown up in popularity yet. Fashionsta also offers The Box For Women ($24.99/month) as well as a mystery box that costs $40 as an add-on with a subscription or $50 as a one-time purchase.
My Subscription Addiction paid for this subscription. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes).
About this Indie Brand-Focused Box For Men
The Subscription Box: The Box By Fashionsta for Men
The Cost: $29.99/month + free U.S. shipping (Internationally for $65.00 USD/month w/ free shipping)
The Products: 5-7 full-size products worth $80-$150 in value.
Ships to: The U.S. and worldwide for free
Good to Know: With each purchase, Fashionsta donates makeup, beauty, and self-care items to 1736 Family Crisis Center, a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving vulnerable community members in the greater Los Angeles area.
The Box By Fashionsta for Men November 2020 Review
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The Box By Fashionsta for Men comes with a simple info card that provides a short description and value for each product included in this month's box.
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The Lucky Pheasant Wool Beanie - Listed Value $45 (Currently sold out)
I'm a big fan of beanies. They are the only headwear that I use because my head is too big for anything else. My first impression of this hat was that there was no way it was going to fit my head. Not only do I have a large melon, but the hat looked pretty small. However, I was very pleased to find that it has a lot of stretch to it and it fits snuggly around my globe. It's light but really warm. It looks like something you'd see down on the docks. I like that it's plain, except for a small logo tag, which you could easily remove if you wanted. I recently picked a beanie from Nomadik as my favorite item of 2020, but this hat is already giving that one a run for its money.
When searching for this item, I found that it is sold by way of BennKai. Maybe The Lucky Pheasant is a brand they own? This item and a majority of the other items they offer are currently sold out. It's worth noting that at the bottom of BennKai's website, it says that items that are sold out will be discontinued. In addition, my first impression of BennKai was not good and I have been wary of them ever since that experience. However, I have to say that I really do like this beanie. Plus their website has changed – for the better – every time I've had to link it to a review. So, perhaps it's time to forget and forgive. I'm just glad they are selling individual items for linking purposes.
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Bennkai Manicure Grooming Set - Listed Value $25 (Found a similar set here for $6.50)
Not to brag, but I have great nails. Immaculate? No. Pretty darn good? Yes. Maybe that's just another way to say I don't work with my hands. This grooming set is nice. It has a little heft to it and fits in your pocket. There are seven pieces and the case they come in is regal. I won't lie. I actually don't know what a few of these items are meant for, but I like the sleek matte black look of them. My only real complaint about the set is that the items are a little hard to get out of the case, but it's not too bad. This would be a nice set to sit on the couch with and pamper yourself while you binge your latest show or throw in your travel bag when you go somewhere for the weekend, but who knows when that'll be? (I've used that joke a few times.)
So, here is something interesting and it goes back to why I said I was wary of BennKai in the first place. Out of curiosity, I searched "manicure grooming set" to get an idea of how prices compare to similar items. I thought $25 seemed like a lot. I found this set on Amazon, which looks to be the same exact set for $6.50, albeit with a different name. There are actually a lot of very similar ones – all for around the same price.
Note: As with the beanie, BennKai's website says that items that are sold out will be discontinued.
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Semblance Hemp & Shea Cleansing Body Wash - Retail Value $22
This is the body wash for you if you like a thick, rich lather. Enriched with hemp seed oil, it is vegan, paraben-free, and non-drying. I really liked the way it left my skin feeling. Plus it's a nice-sized bottle. Its scent is mint. I think it smells sort of like a York Peppermint Pattie... but maybe I'm crazy (or hungry). I typically don't like scents that are too strong, but this one is robust without being overpowering.
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Recherch'e Organics After Shave Treatment - Retail Value $18
I have actually never used aftershave, but I was due for a cut, so I tried it out. I definitely liked how it made my face feel, but personally, I cannot say I am a fan of the scent. The smell is a manly musk, like an old saloon or something. It's not terrible, but there is something in it preventing my enjoyment of it. Perhaps it's an ingredient that I cannot quite put my finger on. However, I do really dig the old-timey design and wax-dipped cap. For guys who do enjoy the scent, this will look killer wherever you keep it. Again, I'd just like to stress, it's just not for me personally. You may love it.
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3V Gear Rogue Neck Gaiter Face Mask - Retail Value $12
Gaiters are very versatile, as they can be worn in a number of ways. They are especially cute on one-year-olds. (See Photo.) This one is also pretty tight, which I like. However, for the life of me, I cannot figure these things out. I like the idea of keeping something around your neck and then lifting it up to cover your face when you need to. But I'm constantly thinking about it, because it always feels like it's falling down, unlike my traditional mask. To be clear, it's not the brand, but gaiters in general. Maybe they are just not for me, but if you like them, this one was solid. I received a gaiter in my DC Comics World's Finest box, but felt like I had to wear that one a certain way because of the face. I like this one because it's the same pattern no matter what.
Verdict: The Box By Fashionsta for Men has become one of my favorite subscriptions, it provides a great balance of personal care products and lifestyle items. My favorite item is easily the beanie; I'm wearing it as I write this and plan to wear it every day until spring. The gaiter is cool, but not my style. The aftershave looks cool, but the smell doesn't agree with me personally. The body wash is solid. And the grooming kit itself is nice, but there is just something about BennKai that keeps rubbing me the wrong way. Fashionsta lists the value of this box at $122, which is four times the cost. Even if the prices are a little inflated, I still think you get your money's worth with this box and I look forward to this box every month. The lifestyle item is always a hit for me and the personal care items really expand my horizons, since I am not typically the personal care type. It is comparable to the quarterly GQ Best Stuff Box, but I like receiving this one every month (as opposed to a quarterly subscription).
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? Your box will ship within 1-3 weeks from the payment processing date, so you'll likely start with next month's box. It's best to reach out to customer service and ask.
Value Breakdown: At $29.99 for the box, here’s what you are paying per item:
- Beanie ($45): $11.03
- Grooming Kit ($25): $6.13
- Body Wash ($22): $5.39
- After Shave ($18): $4.41
- Gaiter ($12): $2.94
Alternatively, for $29.99 including free shipping, each of the 5 items has an average cost of $6.00.
Check out our reviews of The Box By Fashionsta right here.
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Do you subscribe to The Box By Fashionsta for Men? What do you think?
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