Allure Beauty Box May 2022 Review

ByMegan K.Jun 10, 2022 | 12 comments

Allure Beauty Box is a $23 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 2022 Subscription Box Awards.)

This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we review boxes.)

First Impressions

Note: Your box might look a little different! To see all variations, check out our spoiler post here!

Also, I apologize for the wait on this review. I have been out of town for the last few weeks due to a family emergency. I was in Tennessee, this box arrived in Pennsylvania, and the whole schedule was more than a little disrupted. I truly appreciate your understanding!

As always, the box arrives beautifully packaged in typical white and red Allure fashion!

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There was also a helpful mini-magazine with more info on the products.

Now, on to the items!

Avant Collagen Intense Radiance Activator Serum, 30 mL - Retail Value $125 (full size)

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I know Avant is one of those pricey brands (that few of us have ever heard of outside of subscriptions..) and I am always skeptical of the crazy high value associated with this British line. From a purely ingredient perspective, it does have a lot of good inside. In fact, since the ingredients seemed to be MIA from the product page, I am going to provide them here:

Aqua (Water), Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Betaine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Urea, Glycerin, Sorbitol, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Trehalose, Lecithin, Serine, Niacinamide, Arginine, Pyridoxine Hcl, Calcium Pantothenate, Phenylalanine, Histidine Hcl, Tyrosine, Erythritol, Rna, Algin, Pullulan, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Retinyl Palmitate, Ubiquinone, Thioctic Acid, Arachidyl Glucoside, Disodium Adenosine Triphosphate, Mannitol, Maltodextrin, Potassium Phosphate, Disodium Phosphate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Dimethicone, Caprylyl Glycol, Arachidyl Alcohol, Sodium Starch Octenylsuccinate, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Glyceryl Linoleate, Glyceryl Linolenate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Silica, Sodium Polyacrylate, Behenyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Xanthan Gum, Pentylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Parfum (Fragrance), Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol

Immediately I see a few of my personal favorites: hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and collagen. It also has other interesting additions like moisturizing mannitol, super antioxidant alpha-lipoic acid (ALA), and a stable vitamin C. The only red flag is algin, which can be irritating and acne-causing, but it is pretty far down the list and is likely there to keep the texture of this formula intact. Speaking of texture, this one is a really nice gel-cream that has weight to it but absorbs quite well. There is an elegant scent here that even I must admit smells higher-end. So, I kind of like this stuff a lot. Would I spend $125 on it? No. But I do like it and think it made my face look brighter and feel smoother.

Verb Ghost Oil, 2 fl oz - Retail Value $20 (full size)

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In my opinion, Verb Ghost Oil is like the modern version of that BioSilk silicone smoother we all used to love. But it has the advantage of feeling a little more modern and having more conscious ingredients. I like to use this on damp hair when I am wanting more shine, less frizz, and easier manageability. I add a few drops to my palms and finger comb it through my hair, then I generally twist it up into a top knot because I am very lazy. Even my air-dried hair looks better! I have never been crazy about the scent (it smells like generic haircare to my nose) but it is light and doesn't hang around.

AHAVA Mineral Hand Cream Cactus & Pepper, 5.1 oz - Retail Value $36

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Speaking of scents I don't like, AHAVA and I don't have a great track record. I generally regift all of the lotions and creams I get from this brand. But anything with pink pepper usually agrees with me and I was pleasantly surprised by this lighter and much more natural fragrance. It is very fresh with a backbone of spice, but the whole package wears really light and doesn't punch you in the nose like I find the other AHAVA scents can. And I finally can appreciate the hype that this hand cream boasts because my hands do feel so soft and absolutely incredible. And between doing nails and giving facials, it is a softness I totally need!

Pyungkang Yul Essence Toner, 30 mL - Estimated Value $3.60 (Buy 100 mL for $12.00)

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Allure seems to always have some super small samples for the more affordable items inside, and I always love them. I so wish this was full-size! This Korean toner essence is 91.3% Astragalus Membranaceus root extract. This Chinese herb is deeply rooted (pun intended) in Traditional Chinese Medicine and this root is pretty amazing. In addition to being both anti-inflammatory and antiviral, it is also bursting with antioxidants. There is also arginine inside this cute blue bottle and it is one of those magical ingredients closely related to collagen. This stuff feels great on my face! A few drops in my palms and a few pats on my face and my skin gets an extra dose of hydration and antioxidants before I apply my moisturizer.

APTO Orange Blossom Lip Balm with Coconut Oil, 10 ml - Retail Value $5 (full size)

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I liked this lip balm, though honestly if it moisturizes my lips and doesn't taste bad, I am not that picky about balms. And this does both with the added benefit of a nice scent. It also worked well over my favorite lip stain.

La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-in-Milk Sunscreen SPF 60, 15 mL - Estimated Value $3.70 (buy 150 mL for $36.99)

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I'm an SPF freak and if you read my reviews often, you already know why I say SPF is mandatory: it is the BEST thing you can do to protect your skin from premature aging, sun damage, and skin cancer. I don't even care what brand you use. The best SPF is one you will actually wear! And, I won't be wearing this one. Sure, I am drooling over that SPF60 rating. But it left me feeling slick and greasy and had a weird smell. Because of the cute little size, I plan on keeping it around if I am in a pinch, but I don't see myself applying this on my face again.

Verdict

I was very prepared to dislike this month's Allure Beauty Box, but breaking each item down piece by piece shows a very good assortment of solid staples I will use. And, honestly, I think that is my problem with this box lately. When I think of Allure Beauty, I think of the latest and greatest! Stuff I can't buy on Amazon or at Target. And items that are sometimes designer and at least a little out of the "attainable" range for someone like me. And I think that is the missing piece for me month after month. Literally, the value is always good (this month it is $193.30), and I always use most of the stuff inside. So maybe the error is on my end with my YSL and YTTP expectations? Sure, that AVANT serum is like $125, but, I just don't know. I need a little more magic.

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

To Wrap Up:

Can you still get this box if you sign up today? You'll likely receive the June new member box as your first box.

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

AVANT Serum $14.87
VERB Oil $2.38
AHAVA Cream $4.28
Pyungkang Yul Toner $0.43
APTO Balm $0.59
La Roche Posay $0.44

Alternatively, each of the 6 products has an average cost of $3.83. I did not include the sponsored samples in this breakdown.

What do you think of the May Allure Beauty Box? What was your favorite product in the box?

Starting at $25.00

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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 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.

Read More By Megan K. >

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12 comments

Snow

Hoping all is well on the home front Megan! One piece of skincare advice I have appreciated is paying attention to the first 7 ingredients, the crux of the product.

Leah

I went to cancel my allure after getting two garbage boxes full of repeats in a row. They are re-doing their website and I’m locked out until the 17th. I can’t believe that their quality tanking and being locked out of my account (and therefore not being able to cancel) is a coincidence.

Barbara

You can email them to cancel. [email protected]

VLM

You can call them (800) 274-1603 they respond right away and always helpful

Alice

Could someone else make the call for you?

Leah

I’d rather die than talk to someone on the phone. Literally, I’ll probably be in a situation where I should call 911 and my little introvert heart will just choose to let the barn burn down around me.

Carol

I got the new subscribers’ box (which was really good!), but I also received the shampoo and conditioner and loved them. They gave my fine curls a lot of volume and smelled good 👍

Alex

I love that hair oil and I also dislike the regular scented Ahava lotion. I’d love to smell this new one

Whitney Earl

I don’t like how when Allure hiked the price up, they promised 2 or more full size items. The problem with those full Size items, is that they are generally a lotion or a lipstick. Most of the beauty box subscribers I know aren’t paying $23 for lipstick and lotion. Boxycharm is $25 and you get 5 full size products. Allure needs to do better.

Dawn

I stopped Allure because of the phone call required to skip or cancel. I preferred to subscribe through Amazon, but now that box has the worst assortment. I have Ipsy now on indefinite skip. The products are mostly trash and the extra $1.99 a month makes this a big no. I generally like one or two products a month. Definitely not worth it.

Melissa

You don’t have to call. I just email when I want to skip.

Charlotte G.

I agree with your assessment of recent Allure boxes. I think the last box I was truly excited for was the January box with the Sunday Riley eye cream. I’m also very tired of the variations. I hope they’re able to pull it together soon.

Our reviewers research, test, and recommend the best subscriptions and products independently; click to learn more about our editorial guidelines. We may receive commissions on purchases made through links on our site.

Allure Beauty Box May 2022 Review

First Impressions

Now, on to the items!

Avant Collagen Intense Radiance Activator Serum, 30 mL - Retail Value $125 (full size)

Verb Ghost Oil, 2 fl oz - Retail Value $20 (full size)

AHAVA Mineral Hand Cream Cactus & Pepper, 5.1 oz - Retail Value $36

Pyungkang Yul Essence Toner, 30 mL - Estimated Value $3.60 (Buy 100 mL for $12.00)

APTO Orange Blossom Lip Balm with Coconut Oil, 10 ml - Retail Value $5 (full size)

La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-in-Milk Sunscreen SPF 60, 15 mL - Estimated Value $3.70 (buy 150 mL for $36.99)

Sponsored Gift: LatinUs Beauty Hair Care Control Shampoo & Conditioner Samples

Verdict

To Wrap Up:

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