No Make No Life (nmnl) is a Japanese & Korean beauty subscription box. "The name itself stands for: *no makeup no life*, since beauty and makeup products are some of the essential aspects in our daily life."
nomakenolife is a subscription-based service that delivers you a box of Korean and Japanese cosmetics plus skincare. Each box, curated personally by our in-house beauty consultant, includes 8-9 high quality, exclusive and limited edition beauty products in several categories including skincare, bath and body, hair care, makeup, tools and accessories, masks).
FYI, COVID-19 Update: Learn about delays, updates to shipping methods, and more right here.
My Subscription Addiction pays for this subscription. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes).
About the No Make No Life Box
The Subscription Box: No Make No Life (nmnl)
The Cost: $35.00 per month + shipping. Save with longer subscriptions.
The Products: A mix of 8-9 full-sized Japanese & Korean beauty items from 6 different categories: skin, body, makeup, hair, bath, and tools.
Ships: Worldwide via DHL for $10.95. Get all the details on shipping info here.
January 2021 No Make No Life "Top of the Charts" Review
Before we get started, it's worth noting this is the third box I've received since March. Japan faced shipping backlogs, suspended shipping to a growing list of countries, returned shipments, and other complications due to COVID-19. More from nmnl:
NOTICE FOR USA BASED CUSTOMERS: Unfortunately, due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, on April 23rd Japan Post announced that flights to and from the USA have been reduced by 90% which resulted in delayed shipment of up to 4 months for Air Mail, with no guarantee of shipment. As such, we have made the decision to use Surface Mail, as it continues to operate during the COVID-19 crisis with a better guarantee of shipment at an estimated delivery time of 60-90 days.
Because of continued challenges, it looks like nmnl is moving away from Surface Mail in favor of other options. You can get all the details here.
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The booklet gives you detailed information on each item, as well as instructions on how to use certain products. This month's theme is 'Top of the Charts.'
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Mise En Scene Extreme Damage Repair Hair Mask - Retail Value $8.20 (currently out of stock)
My hair has really improved over the last year or so, mainly because I am not coloring it as often. However, it is very long and curly, so it tends to get dry and frizzy naturally. This hair mask uses oil, heat, and steam to hydrate your hair. It is made with butter, jojoba seed oil, and coconut oil. The monthly booklet provides detailed instructions on how to use this hair mask, and the packet comes with everything you need. I used this at night to allow everything to really drink into my hair and I actually really loved it! The cap didn't fit my head or hold all of my hair in that well, but I was able to get it to work after some adjustments. I noticed that my curls were more defined and my hair was less frizzy even days after using this mask!
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Mediheal Essential Mask - Retail Value $3.56 (currently out of stock)
You could have received this mask in the Collagen Impact, Placenta Revital, Teatree Healing Solution, Vita Lightbeam, or the V Life which is what I got. The V Life uses pomegranate and trehalose to lift the v-line of your face. The monthly booklet notes that the mask is made with other hydrating ingredients by the number one facemask company. I found the smell of this mask to be a little overpowering, it was very perfume-like with a strong floral scent, so I wasn't able to leave it on very long. It did feel very cooling on my skin and left me feeling super soft after removing it.
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Microfiber Hair Drying Glove - Retail Value $3.76 (currently out of stock)
This is a machine-washable microfiber glove that can help reduce your blow-drying time. It absorbs water quickly and keeps your hair healthy. I actually don't blow dry my hair, I towel dry and then air dry after applying some product. So I don't think that I will get a lot of use out of this glove. I decided to pass this along to my Mom who blow drys and styles her hair more often and she is really loving this glove so far! She said it does a great job to keep frizz down as well as the overall drying time.
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UR Glam Lip Oil - Retail Value $3.76 (currently out of stock)
This lip oil comes in a variety of shades, but I received the clear yellow so it didn't really go on with any sort of tint. The booklet notes that this is a cross between a balm and a gloss. It goes on shiny like a lip gloss but without the stickiness of a gloss. It smoothed my dry lips from the cold winter and made for the perfect coat prior to adding my daily lipstick. I love how this made my lips feel and is the perfect way to recharge my dry lips quickly!
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BT21 Hair Clip - Retail Value $10.18 (currently out of stock)
These hair clips are too cute and were instantly taken by my daughter! These clips are a collab between Big Hit and Line Friends. You could have received Tata, Kaya, RJ, Shooky, Mang, Chimmy, or Cooky. The characters are really large, but they look super cute when her hair is half up to keep some of those smaller pieces from falling into her face. They are a bit too 'young' for me, but I was really happy to give such a cute clip set to Philomena!
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Innisfree Matte Mineral Setting Powder - Retail Value $14.13 (currently out of stock)
This setting powder is meant to be used lightly over your foundation, or to eliminate shine. It is made with Jeju Island natural minerals and mint, locking your makeup in place so that it looks smooth and airbrushed. I have naturally very dry skin so I don't really have a ton of shine. I think since my skin is so dry, this setting powder just made my skin feel very tight and it made my makeup look cakey. I really love the idea of adding that smooth finish touch, but I think this product just didn't work well with my skin type.
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Fascy Moisture Bomb Hand Cream - Retail Value $5.24 (currently out of stock)
My hands are in such bad shape this winter so I have been keeping small bottles like this all over my house so I can quickly apply cream throughout the day. I received this hand cream in peach, but you could have received strawberry, violet, grapefruit, or milk. I have to say that receiving the peach made me realize that I don't love fake peach smells. It really is overpowering and far too sweet-smelling. The cream itself is amazing though which is why I keep using it. It is made with aloe vera and shea butter extract to help soothe dry skin. It is really helping to keep my hands feeling hydrated and repairing cracked spots.
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UR Glam Eyeshadow Palette - Retail Value $5.24 (currently out of stock)
I am obsessed with this palette! It really is the perfect everyday palette that I have found myself reaching for more and more. It comes in 9 shades with a mix of matte and glitter. I normally don't love glitter shadows, but I have found that the glitter shades are so subtle that I have been using them a ton! These shadows are really the colors that I like to use most days, especially in the winter when my skin is fair and I usually use more brown shades like this. I normally don't love the palettes that I have gotten in this box recently, but this one is high quality and the perfect mix of colors! Each shadow goes on really well right away so I get my desired shade without a ton of application and little fallout. What a treat this was to add to my growing palette collection!
Verdict: January's No Make No Life Box was a fun mix of products. While not everything was a hit, the products that were a hit were incredible! The eyeshadow palette is my new go-to every day lately. The hair clips are now my two-year-olds go-to for her daily hairstyles, which I really love! While I don't love the smell of the hand cream, it is doing a great job at keeping my hands feeling soft and repaired. At $35 + $10.95 for DHL shipping, I received 8 beauty items with a retail value of around $54.07. This box is always filled with fun and unique surprises, giving me a chance to try products that I wouldn't normally.
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? No, you'll receive the February box.
Value Breakdown: At $35 + $10.95 shipping ($45.95) for this box with a retail value of $60, you are approximately paying $5.74 for each of the 8 items.
Check out all of our nmnl reviews and some of our other favorite beauty subscription boxes!
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What do you think of the January No Make No Life box?
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