Allure Beauty Box Review + Coupon – April 2021

ByMegan K.Apr 8, 2021 | 64 comments

Allure Beauty Box is a monthly beauty subscription from Allure Magazine. Each month they send out a mix of deluxe and full-size samples from mostly high-end brands. (It was named one of the best beauty subscription boxes by MSA readers in the 2021 Subscription Box Awards.)

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: Allure Beauty Box

The Cost: $23 per month + free shipping. Save with a yearly subscription.

The Products: Deluxe and full-size beauty and makeup samples. Ordering through Allure also means you receive a newsletter with tips, tricks & exclusive promotions like limited-edition boxes, access to members-only virtual events, promo codes, and more!

Ships to: The U.S. and Puerto Rico for free

Allure Beauty Box April 2021 Review

Heads up! There are variations this month. Find out more here!

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This handy booklet has all the product info inside.

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Akar Restore Eye Serum, 10 mL – Full Size! Retail Value $85.00

I really adore the Akar brand. The formulas are nourishing, fun to use, and their iconic red packaging just makes me smile. This frosted glass bottle has a genius feature where when you twist the cap closed the dropper button descends into the cap itself, preventing extra pumps while it is closed. The serum itself is a golden shade and has a warm and slightly nutty scent that I really liked. The ingredient list is another wonderful feature, in fact, if I could add together all of the oils I really love into one serum, it might look a lot like this! It has so many goodies: argan oil, jojoba, seabuckthorn, baobab, tamanu, rosehip seed, and more! These oils are combined with other delights like shiitake mushroom extract, calendula, and vitamin E. Because the skin around our eyes is so delicate (and often so dry!) an oil serum like this is a wonderful choice for any routine. Because this oil is so rich and spreads so easily, you don't need a lot each time you apply it to your eyes. I like to use oils like this in the evening and layer them on a little thick. I place a drop or two in my palm and I use a finger to pat it around my eye, including on my lids. Then it's time for some beauty sleep!

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Maapilim Face Moisturizer – Full Size! Retail Value $49.00

FYI: I didn't see this item's ingredient list on the page, so I tracked it down elsewhere. It is also on the back of the tube, but the font size is tiny! Here is the list for anyone who would prefer an easier reading experience:

Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate SE, Sodium Hyaluronate, Propanediol, Isopropyl Myristate, Cetyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Coriandrum Sativum (Coriander) Seed Oil, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Flour, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Water, Origanum Majorana Leaf Oil, Linalool, Tocopheryl Acetate, Chlorphenesin, Laurus Nobilis (Bay Laurel) Leaf Oil, Potassium Sorbate, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Oil, Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Bark Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Root Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Limonene, Geraniol, Eugenol, Citronellol.

I wasn't a huge fan of this cream. It has some ingredients that have higher irritancy and comedogenic ratings than I personally prefer to use on my face. That doesn't mean it might not be great for yours though! I did find it super hydrating and I will probably use it on my arms and legs since the hyaluronic acid, avocado oil, shea butter, and aloe inside do have a lot of benefits. I am not super crazy about the scent (it is sharp and smells a little like mosquito candles) but it dissipates quickly and isn't too bothersome.

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Chella Travel Size La Vie Eyeshadow Quad - Retail Value $20.00

This is one of the most wearable little palettes I have gotten so far in 2021. The neutrals are versatile and you can keep them more demure or go big with that gold metallic for more drama. The mattes didn't swatch that well but they are smoky and really nice on my eyelids. A little fallout here with a brush but this is a smaller travel-sized palette so I would likely be using my fingers anyways.

Here are the swatches.

And here is a basic eye look!

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Travel Size Aveda Botanical Repair Intensive Strengthening Masque: Light - Retail Value $12.00

I love Aveda products! They always smell so good and I find they work nicely for me too. While my hair is thicker and kind of coarse, I still found this "light" mask to be great for my hair. I used it instead of a conditioner after shampooing and left it on for 8 minutes instead of the recommended 2-5. It left my hair smelling great and noticeably softer, without ruining my natural wave. I will say though, I liked this even better mixed with water in a spray bottle as a leave-in conditioner. Add a few spritzes to damp hair, scrunch it, and air dry for some really fine waves.

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Cargo Cosmetics Swimmables Eye Liner Pencil in 'Black Sea' - Full Size! Retail Value $18.00

FYI: You might receive a different shade. Offered are: Black Sea, Pfeiffer Beach (a plummy reddish shade), OR Dorado Beach (a golden bronze)

The irony that I, someone who owns what feels like a million black liners, still received a black liner even with other color variations is not lost upon me. I wish I had gotten the plummy shade or the golden one! If you received either, let me know your thoughts in the comments below! As far as black liners go, this is a softer pencil that is great for smokier looks. It does have staying power but tends to smear a little if you mess with it. The pigment was rich and dark, and as far as liner pencils go, this one felt pretty effortless to use.

Smooth!

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M-61 PowerGlow® Peel, 3 treatments - Retail Value $9.00 (buy 10 treatments for $30.00)

FYI: You will receive either Hero Cosmetics Mighty Patch Duo or M-61 PowerGlow Peel in your box depending on your member history.

My final item was a set of 3 peel pads. I love peeling solutions like this because they couldn't be easier. You simply wipe your clean face down and let it dry. No need to wash or remove after! Inside is a potent mix of glycolic and salicylic acid that is great for minimizing the look of pores, exfoliation, and reducing the appearance of fine lines. The only thing I didn't love about this product was the instructions to slowly build up to using a pad daily. I feel like every day is a lot of exfoliation and it could easily over-work some people's skins depending on thickness and tolerance. I personally plan on sticking to no more than twice a week for something like this. Peels like this can make your skin extra sensitive to the sun, so (of course!) wear that SPF if you try these out and make sure your face is also getting the hydration it needs from a great moisturizer.

Verdict: This Allure box has a total value of around $193 which is wonderful for a $23 box. The Akar serum alone was worth over three times the cost of the box, making this an instant winner for me. The Chella palette was basic (aka totally useable!) and performed well, I loved the Aveda masque, and the peel pads were really fun and effective. I think if my liner had been a different color I would have been in love with it, and even though the Maapilim cream wasn't for me, it was still a nice expensive addition to a well-rounded box that was much more useful than flashy. And hey, that's ok with me!

To Wrap Up:

Can you still get this box if you sign up today? Yes! Scroll down this page to see what items you will get when you first sign up.

Value Breakdown: At $23 for this box, here is what you are spending approximately per item:

AKAR Eye Serum $10.13
Maaplim Moisturizer $5.84
Chella Palette $2.38
Aveda Masque $1.43
Cargo Liner $2.15
M-61 Peels $1.07

Alternatively, each of the 6 products has an average cost of $3.83.

Check out all of our Allure Beauty Box reviews and some more of our other favorite beauty subscriptions.

Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!

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Allure Beauty Box

3.6 overall rating

721 Ratings | 155 Reviews

Each month, you'll get 6+ Allure-approved makeup and skincare picks delivered to your door ($100+ value for only $25). 6 or more products (at least 3 FULL-SIZE) valued at $100+ with only expert-approved products, hand-selected by Allure editors. Enjoy a new member gift valued at $15+ free shippin... read more.

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Posted in Beauty Subscription Boxes, Makeup Subscription Boxes, Subscription Box Reviews, Subscription Boxes for Women

Megan K.

I love natural/vegan beauty products, Korean skincare, unique jewelry, and weird candies from far away places. When I am not waiting for my next exciting box you can find me painting or taking photographs of interesting people. I never leave home without pug hair somewhere on my shirt and a bold lipstick on my smile.

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64 comments

Jess

I received my box finally a few days ago. I think I won the lottery and got that purple liner, which was the only color that I wanted. The eyeshadow palette is pretty but I have a lot of browns already. I don’t see myself using it often. I am liking the eye serum. I do have to say that it goes on with a yellow-ish tint so I can’t imagine myself using this during the day. I do love it, though. My under eyes feel very soft the next day. I didn’t even bother trying the moisturizer. My face breaks out easily, so I gave it to my husband. I’m trying the Aveda mask now. This wasn’t a super exciting box but it was functional, like most allure boxes. I’m not unhappy with it.

Received my box late this month (today). I was excited when I read that the akar was an eye serum but then disappointed when I opened it and it’s an oil. I don’t like it at all. I don’t mind as I like everything else. I received the gold eyeliner and it’s so pretty. With something so flashy I’ll just use it on my upper lid line. Excited to have another waterproof makeup item for the pool.

Coco1

Does anybody else have itchy eyes after trying the Akar? And I don’t ordinarily have sensitive skin or eyes. I’m going to stop using it for a few days, and give it one more try. And that is really the only product that kept me from skipping this month. 🤬

Louisa

I have very sensitive skin and try new products very cautiously. That being said – no reaction to this at all. I actually really like it. I put some on after I’ve washed my face at night so it has time to soak in/dissipate before bed and not end up on my pillow. If you still have issues with it, check the ingredients against other products you use to see if you can narrow down what might be causing a reaction.

Lana

I got my box today and it might be the most disappointing box yet. Of course I got the black eyeliner, which I barely use and already have a stash of. I did get the Mighty patch instead of the peel samples, so that’s at least something. Aside from that, only Akar is of any use or interest to me and I’m not sure getting the box just for it was really worth it at all

Melissa

I felt like this was the most boring box I have ever received, and I have subscribed for many years. I got the gold eyeliner, and I don’t wear eyeliner, but I do think I will give this a try, but that is the only item that even remotely excites me. I can see that the RV is there, but most of the items are just of no use to me. Bummer.

Tavia

I need to go buy a lottery ticket, because after years of subscribing to beauty boxes I finally got a non-black eyeliner! I got Dorado Beach and have no idea what else I got, because I had to run to a mirror to try it. It’s a nice gold color, not really bright. I’m on the fair side and my eye color is similar to Megan’s in the photo above. I love it! It’s very subtle on my skin tone and just opens up my eyes. I look forward to how this will look when I get a little color from the sun or add a color, as it will probably really pop.

Laura

Glad you love the gold eyeliner. I got it too but prefer the black or purple. I have fair skin, blonde hair and light green eyes – I need color to define them or I look washed out. 😞

Tavia

I can see how the gold would do that, because it’s so subtle on fair skin. My eyes are a darker green flecked with amber so even though the liner isn’t noticeable it really opens up with eyes and makes the yellow in my eyes stand out. Black eyeliner on me during the daytime is too much and makes me look more club ready than office ready so just to get rid of all the black liners I layer a thin strip of light/medium brown liner or shadow to soften the effect. Little bits of the gold liner at the corner of your eyes might look really pretty with your light green eyes over a black or purple liner 🙂

Denise

I hope you’re old enough to know who the chuch lady was from Saturday night live , because I was about to write ” well isn’t that special” but was afraid it would sound bad if you didn’t lol i have no idea how you got the lucky purple, but congrats.

Pink5

My husband occasionally uses “Is it….. Saatan?”.

Tavia

I am old enough to remember my best guy friend did the church lady skit at our talent show in high school and to this day still puts on the voice and says ‘well isn’t that special” lol! I got the gold, not the purple (but I would have loved that because I have a shoebox of black liners that I’m never going to use!). Don’t mind me I’ll just be working from home feeling fancy in this gold eyeliner, elastic pants, and bunny slippers. My dog is not impressed, my husband hasn’t noticed, but I’m cracking myself up feeling pretty special 😉

Izzie

I just got my box yesterday. I think I’m in the minority, but I received the purple eye liner. The other variation I got is the mighty patch duo. I’m a bit meh just looking at the products, but I still have to try them, so I don’t have a final verdict about April’s box.

Mountaineer95

Mine hasn’t arrived yet :/
Hopefully soon! But it will be overshadowed by the Sephora VIB sale orders due to land any minute now!

Jeme

I noticed the akar included in the box is manufactured in China, are akar products always manufactured in China or is this a sub par version?
Not happy with this box at all. 3 of 5 products manufactured in China.

Mandi

All of their products seem to be manufactured in HK, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, they also claim they’re not tested on animals which should mean they can’t be sold in China.

The problem is that the site says their ingredients are sourced in Tibet which is going through some real problems right now. Half a million Tibetan farmers and citizens are being sent away from home to forced labor camps, so are other forced laborers picking these “natural ingredients?” I don’t want to support a company or this box if they’re ok with forced labor and cultural destruction.

Denise

THANK YOU !!! i feel the same.

Stephanie

I noticed that too and was super disappointed at first. On their website it says all products are made in Hong Kong, which is acceptable to me as HK is not like other parts of China’s or China’s manufacturing facilities. Not sure the laws of labels, if they have to read PRC on everything or if HK can get away with having HK printed on their labels.

Jeme

I asked a question on the product page on the akar site regarding where the product was manufactured. Akar answered that all their products are made in Hong Kong. Obviously the Made in China version for Allure has made me have many questions about cancelling sub boxes for good.

Stephanie

With that info Jeme, I’m not happy either. It was the one product I wanted to try….

Jeme

I have a lip balm from them that says made in Hong Kong, this is the first I have seen with the made in China. Not happy. It was the only reason I got the box, I can’t wait to cancel!

Louisa

I feel like Allure has been producing some really stellar boxes recently, especially at the end of 2020, but this was not one of them.

Since they started giving different box items to different subscribers, I feel like I have been getting the cheaper substitute items, rather than the ones I would have preferred. I still have value for money with the two products I will keep – the Akar + Aveda – but the rest will be re-gifted because they just have no appeal to me.

I got the gold eye pencil, and it pairs well with the Chella palette, but those – along with the Hero patches – are something that is definitely more aimed at my teenage niece than a 40+ year old.

Hoping for a better May and June box before my subscription expires so I have reason to renew it.

Lana

I loved getting the patches and would have loved a gold eyeliner and I’m 33 🤷🏼‍♀️

Amy44

I checked my variations. April cheap, March expensive, February cheap, January expensive.

Louisa

I checked mine too – January was the only one with the more expensive option (L’occitane), Feb/March/April all had the cheaper options, and in all cases would have really liked to try the other option ;-(

That being said, I got in an annual subscription right before the big change in boxes/price, so am still working my way through my $10 pcm subscription – and at that price is a really great deal! We’ll see how I feel when it’s time to renew at full price.

Denise

As did I. What I really can’t take is the herbal smell in the face cream. I wouldn’t use it anywhere on me, and I smelled it through the foil seal !!! never opened it. My husband will never use anything like that, so the patches really are the “hero” in my box…

Stephanie

I just received my box today and overall not excited, at all. I received the gold eyeliner which I don’t even need to try because I know it doesn’t work for my eyes (wish I received the purple colored one. Anyone, wanna swap?).

I got the mighty patch which at my age, I don’t get blemishes anymore making this product useless.

Won’t use the moisturizer for political reasons.

I was excited for the Akar but see it’s made in China, so no thanks. Chella palette is made in China too.

Aveda has always been a bit too harsh for my hair but it smells nice and I do think it’s a great brand so I’ll at least try this product out. Their formulas could have changed over the years where it’s not as hard on my hair. Fingers crossed.

Amy44

I thought the gold wouldn’t work for me, either. I have a gold one from UD that looks similar and completely washes out on me. This is not that at all! It’s quite pretty against my fair-light-neutral skin and dark brown eyes.

Sherri

My box arrived today and yes! the non-black eyeliners exist! I got Dorado Beach, which, while a pretty color, unfortunately is the only color of the three that won’t work for me. 🙁

Pink5

Got my box today. Regular Allure sub.

*A day earlier than predicted by the Postal Service. Yay, US Postal Service!*

I got the Dorado Beach eye pencil. It’s a dark gold, and in my unprofessional opinion the best match for the palette. I would have preferred to get the purple pencil because purple makes my green eyes pop, but at least it’s not black?

Also got the Hero patches.

As for the face cream, based on what I’ve read, this was developed by a man for men. The founder of the company is looking towards making more of the products unisex, so we’ll see how that goes. I found it has a a spicy warm fragrance that does fade in a few minutes. Reading through the ingredients list, there are a lot of oils in it, so a lot of us might find it a bit heavy for this time of year. Also, the number of herb-derived oils might be irritating for sensitive skin.

The size of the Aveda conditioner is going to make it a maybe two-use tube for my long hair, but we’ll see.

The Akar serum smells oddly familiar, but I can’t place it offhand.

Overall, I think this box is better than I initially thought.

Amy44

The moment I smelled the moisturizer, I knew I could not use it on my face. I will keep it for body lotion to combat summer pests. I’ve noticed they leave me alone when I’m minty (and I feel less overheated when I’m minty, too!)

Jacki

I know the argan oil won’t work for my skin, and I never use black eyeliners. A one time use conditioner and 3 time use peel pad set will get used, but this month is mostly not suited to me. I’m looking forward to CosRx in May

Amy S

My box hasn’t shipped yet (or I haven’t been notified) but I just got 2 black eyeliners in my Macy’s box and black is the only color eyeliner I DO NOT WEAR so if I get black from Allure too you will hear my “AARGH” all the way from Baltimore.

Amy S

Yay, I got the gold one! I’m so happy!

Lana

Lucky! I got black and I also never use it. I’m considering starting using them as eyeshadow base maybe :/ I always end up getting them free/in subs

Lana

I thought the Chella palette was $20 not $10 ?

Anna

In the booklet that comes with the box it says the eyeshadow is $45. So thinking that is a major typo?!!

Sherri

Allure always lists the full size price of the product in the booklet, regardless of whether it’s a full size or sample size in the box.

Pink5

The full size is $45. This is the travel size, which is priced at $20.00.

Sloppy, Allure.

Lynda

It does say $20

Lana

“Citric Acid and Limonene” are in that face cream? Great, so I literally got the whole box just for the akar. I mean, yes it’s a great deal on the akar, but it’s supposed to be a box of things for me to enjoy, not a sale on one item

Lynda

But the Akar is well worth the price of the box.

Also Beth

This is really well said!

Melanie

Thank you for the helpful reviews and the ingredients list. It is a tad annoying when I can’t read it on the packaging, so I appreciate your effort! I’m also a little jelly you’ve had time to review everything before my box even shipped. lol

echo

I don’t know where else to post this, so here goes: there is a new Allure subscriber exclusive! Members can get the Brüush Electric Toothbrush for just $39 (it’s usually $95). They sent an email but I thought I should point it out in case anyone missed it.

I haven’t been really taken by any of the things in the members only section, but I am a toothbrush junkie and felt compelled to buy it at a discount even though I’m happy with my current Shyn sonic brush!

Pink5

The Bruush is also a subscription service.

This does not excite me.

echo

Dry delivery can be the best. 😁

They happened to hit on a super niche market with me and my brush addiction, so I can totally see why I’m jazzed while this isn’t going to do it for most subscribers! 😂

My current toothbrush is from Shyn, which I’ve had for a few years now and is also subscription based. I’m looking forward to comparing them, because I’m that kind of crazy.

Mellissa

I get two boxes and I’m desperately hoping one of those liners is not black.
The rest of the box looks nice. I’ll pass along both eye shadows as I own two eyeshadow palettes by Alter Ego (my HG) and don’t wear eye shadow often.
I’m excited about the Akar.
I’d love to get two of the Mighty Patches as they work wonders for my breakouts. I actually just purchased about $50 in zit patches from Amazon as I break out often from food sensitivities. (I have 3 foods that won’t break me out at all but sticking to just 3 foods is hard.)
I subscribe to FabFitFun (but letting my membership run out), Beauty Heroes and Allure and Allure is my favorite by far.

Lori

Does anyone know what eyeliner version is in the Amazon version of Allure?

Heather

I got the black liner in my box from Amazon.

DST

I got black (Amazon).

Cat

Overall came out to a nice box! I wonder what the ingredients are that are more irritating in the moisturizer? Does anyone know?

Colleen

On the Paula’s choice ingredient dictionary, it says about isopropyl myristate that it is good and the comedogenic issue comes from dated research.
Anyway I think it might be the linalool, and the marjoram, and the plant extracts at the very end of the ingredient list.
Not really sure, but that’s the site I use to look up ingredients.

Lynda

Paula’s Choice is a good source.

Tiffany

I think it’s the Isopropyl Myristate. It’s really comedogenic and can cause breakouts if one is susceptible.

Tiffany

To add on…I can’t use comedogenic products on any body areas that are acne prone, not just my face.

Amy

Wait the eyeliner has a gold butt but it’s black?? I don’t care how ~aesthetic~ you’re being, eyeliner butts should be the color of the product. If I get black I’ll probably donate it, I’m not awake enough when I do my makeup to deal with wrong color eyeliners, and I have enough black to last a century at the rate I wear black liner

Jody

Megan, I cannot believe out of all the shades you got the black eyeliner!

Snow

The ‘black sea’ name makes it sound a bit more special but a black eyeliner is still a black eyeliner.

Like what’s the difference between a black mascara and a blackest black mascara?

echo

Agreed! I’ve never been able to detect any difference between black and blackest black mascaras but I buy the blackest black version for darn sure!

echo

Great review! I know the Chella quad is getting a lot of hate, so it’s good to read a positive take on it.
I’m hopeful that Allure is actually answering some complaints by sending you this box earlier in the month, though that might be a happy accident.

I have my fingers crossed for the eyeliner in one of the other colors!

Angela

Glad I skipped this. I am wondering what will be in the May box.

Snow

So far a moisturizer and a serum.

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Allure Beauty Box Review + Coupon – April 2021

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Allure Beauty Box April 2021 Review

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