LOOKFANTASTIC Beauty Box is a beauty subscription box from the UK that promises at least six hand-picked items. Each box includes skincare, haircare, cosmetics, and body products curated around a theme. It's available to US customers for $19.00 per month with free shipping.
My Subscription Addiction paid for this box. (Check out our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we review boxes).
First Impressions
1 of 2
The July 2022 LOOKFANTASTIC Beauty Box has landed in a bright yellow box as the Sunshine Edit to remind us that summer is in full swing. Whereas a recent box has included - you guessed it - sunblock, that isn't the case here. Instead, this box focuses not quite on getting ready for summer, but rather, what you really need once you're in the height of it. It took me 24 hours to fully appreciate this concept, but once I did, boy, was I loving this box. Read on to find out why.
What's Inside the Box
The July 2022 Sunshine Edit comes packed with six products to keep you fresh and glowing this summer. From body butter to after sun gel, this box is designed to be your go-to kit for summer repair. Unlike the June box, July's LOOKFANTASTIC Beauty Box features a variation, where one of the items you receive could be either a Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser or Beauty Pro Clay Sheet Mask (but more on that later!).
MineTan - Aftersun Gel - 50ml - Retail Value: $7.03
1 of 2
When this box arrived, I didn't have a sunburn... yet. I wondered how I would be able to vouch for this rapid recovery blend without a skin trauma to test with. As much as I would love to give a thorough review, I must admit that I didn't intend to take the sun bullet for this product. And then Sports Day happened.
I've recently learned that Sports Day, commonly known in the US as Field Day, is kind of a big deal in UK schools. As a parent, I was invited to attend this 2.5 hour event, yet had naively anticipated this to be a gross overestimate. What could possibly take up this much time? I haphazardly applied a little sunblock, threw on some jeans and sandals, and did my due diligence as the cheerleader parent. I learned three things from this experience:
- When the school says 2.5 hours, believe them. It is.
- Having long legs does not necessarily make one an olympian in a space (ball) hopper race. I say this as someone who is 5'9" and fell on their bum in the parents race more times than I would have liked.
- Where there is sun, I will burn. Plan accordingly.
As you can see, I got a little toasted. Lobster, you might even say. So I was welcoming this after sun gel with open arms. As expected, this product is based in soothing aloe vera, however it is a little runnier than your typical gel. It's also packed with niacinamide for faster, more effective relief from sunburn. I spread this all over my fried and thirsty skin, and found it to be cool and soothing to the touch. It is rather thin, so I probably didn't need to be as liberal as I was when applying this, but here we are. I thoroughly anticipated some of that dreadful sunburn pain in the days to follow, but it never happened. Sure, I still looked red and splotchy from not applying my sunblock evenly, but at least I wasn't suffering for it. For this product alone, the July box is a winner in my book.
Mio - Future Proof Body Butter - 30ml - Retail Value: $3.00
1 of 2
Here is another product where I might have been indifferent about its inclusion had I not been marked by the big yellow spot in the sky. Body butters come a dime a dozen, but having put this to the test when it mattered most, I would set Mio apart from the rest. Filled with omega-rich actives and andiroba oil to help protect the skin from dryness, this thick textured cream was just the ticket to prevent the peeling phase of my sunburn. Its citrus scent is pleasant but not overwhelming, feels luxuriously soft, and made for a nourishing treatment on my arms and shoulders. Although they weren't burned in the Sports Day sun fiasco, I applied some to my legs as well, and appreciated the smooth touch that followed.
Foamie - Papaya Body Bar - 80g - Retail Value: $8.30
1 of 5
Serving as the final savior of my sunburn snafu, this Foamie body bar came was received as an absolute delight. I was expecting something, well, foamy, but found the consistency to be quite milky. Rich with papaya and oat milk, this massage bar includes a string so you can hang it in the bath or shower. I treated myself to a lukewarm bath, and found it to be so soothing and smoothing, I can't believe I ever doubted this box as being the miracle it has been. I have to say I think I enjoyed this in the bath more than I would have in the shower, as it practically transformed my bath water into a milk bath. It spread on so luxuriously without much effort, and the bumpy side of the soap only serves to enhance the experience against tight and tired calves (did I mention I fell off a space hopper?).
Umberto Giannini - Scalp Scrub - 200ml - $13.50
1 of 2
I feel like I can't escape the scalp treatment buzz these days - these products are everywhere! This scalp scrub targets excess oil, dryness, and breakage, while the walnut shell micro-grains gently slough away dead skin at the scalp. I personally haven't had to deal with dandruff in a long while -- there was a minute where I was giving keratin treatments a whirl, and dandruff was the nasty side effect that came along for the ride. I would have loved to have had this back then. Nonetheless, I found this to be a nice little extra for those times when I have time for a pre-shampoo treatment. It smells of lovely pineapple, as it should being packed with pineapple enzymes, which help to boost shine, support softness, and alleviate irritation. To use this, you'll massage the scrub into your wet scalp focusing on areas of build-up and dryness for 5-10 minutes, then rinse and carry on with your shampoo and conditioning routine. Ideally this should be used once per week, although I think if the need is minimal, this is more of a periodic treat. I enjoyed the scent most of all, and as I love a good exfoliation no matter where it happens, this one was a nice addition to my cleansing routine.
By Terry - Hyaluronic Hydra-Powder - 4g - Retail Value: $21.60
1 of 3
Hyaluronic: the most celebrated ingredient to hit skincare since retinol. Try to find a bad rap for this stuff - I dare you. I've tried as I regularly slab the acid on my face day and night, and I've yet to find it. As someone with skin that is on the dryer side, but also appreciates a matte powder look, I was eager to take this one for a spin. This translucent powder is more of a finishing touch, used to lock in foundation or give a helpful smoothing blur to makeup-free skin. I've tried it both ways, and personally found it to be more or less the same as any other powder. I don't know if it's that I can't see or feel the action, being a powder that doesn't quite get slurped up by my skin, but I can't say I noticed a healthier, more hydrated, less cakey appearance from it. The powder is ultra-fine and does lay on to the skin without a trace given its tint-less hue, however I didn't find that it performed better than any other loose mineral powders in my makeup box. I'll continue to use it however, to see if there's a long-term benefit to be had.
Cetaphil - Gentle Skin Cleanser - 29ml - Retail Value: $1.85
This one really takes me back to my youth - when I was a kid, Cetaphil was the mainstay at the bathroom sink. I remember a time when my best friend around the corner had her first breakout, and we went to the store so she could buy some Noxema (as you do when you're a kid in the 90s), and I encouraged her to buy this instead. Just like I remembered it, Cetaphil is gentle and soothing, ideal for sensitive and dry skin. The formula is soap-free, and removes dirt, makeup, and other yucks without leaving skin feeling dried out. It can be used with or without water, but I used it like a face wash, giving a little splash rinse after gently massaging it into my skin. Cetaphil rings like a true drug store classic to me - it's cheap, basic, and reliable. Happy as I was to have it, given this bottle is so teeny, and I'll likely see no more than a few uses with it, I probably would have opted for the counter variation product (the clay sheet mask), just because I'm running low on sheet masks, and that one looked interesting to me. If you're prone to a case of FOMO, you might not be happy to learn that you won't get much of a choice in which you receive, but I think you won't be too disappointed either way.
Beauty Box EDIT 07 (August 2022 Spoiler Inside)
1 of 4
The best part about this little magazine that comes with every box is the rundown of each product, so you know all the benefits in their glory + directions for how to best use them. Next to that, I tend to flip right to the back page for the next month's spoiler. Coming up in August, we can expect to see Medik8 Hydr8 B5 Intense, a supercharged hyaluronic acid to close out the summer with. Let me just say, I am here for it. The editorial within the mini mag includes six FAQs to know about SPF sunscreen, which I actually found pretty interesting (would've been helpful to know that I needed that SPF in the 2nd hour of Sports Day...), and as well the LF team's favorite ingredients for summer.
But back to the August spoiler for a sec. Here's the deets:
Medik8's original hyaluronic acid serum - supercharged. Harnessing all of the hydration power of the best-selling, Hydr8 B5, with added Natural Moisturising Factors alongside a potent triple-action hydration booster, Hydr8 B5 Intense recharges the skin's internal moisture source.
It seems we could expect to see the 10ml version of this product, which is valued at approximately $14.97.
Variations
Below is the item not received in my box, but could be in yours:
Beauty Pro - Clay Sheet Mask - Retail Value: $9.60
From LOOKFANTASTIC:
An effective two-part clay mask sheet powered by Calamine formulated to cleanse and tighten pores, lift your complexion and improve skin tone, elasticity and clarity. Suitable for all skin types, the mask wraps around the natural contours of the face and comes in two separate pieces to ensure the T and U zones are fully covered.
Verdict
It should come as no surprise that the July 2022 LOOKFANTASTIC Beauty Box was a total win for me. Worth its weight in gold, actually. Thanks to this month's box, I'm not nursing a burn with nearly as much grief as I otherwise might have been. At first glance, I wasn't nearly as excited about this box as I was when I realized how much I needed it, and now that I've been through the burn, I can say without reservation that this $19 box is worth having in your oh sh*t kit. You never know when you'll need it.
Value – Was This Box Worth It?
The Cost: $19.00
Value Breakdown:
I know I've come down harshly on LOOKFANTASTIC in the past for their valuations, however this month appeared a little more vague in the promise department, and regardless, I think this month's box carries loads more value than the $19 investment. Nonetheless, let's have a look at the breakdown, shall we?
Valuation:
- MineTan - Aftersun Gel - 50ml - Retail Value: $7.03 → $2.42
- Mio - Future Proof Body Butter - 30ml - Retail Value: $3.00 → $1.03
- Foamie - Papaya Body Bar - 80g - Retail Value: $8.03 → $2.76
- Umberto Giannini - Scalp Scrub - 200ml - Retail Value: $13.50 → $4.64
- By Terry - Hyaluronic Hydra-Powder - 4g - Value: $21.60 → $7.42
- Cetaphil - Gentle Skin Cleanser - 29ml - Retail Value: $1.85 → $0.64
Based on a total value of $55.28 of my box variation, this $19 box would come to you at 66% less than its retail value.
Valuation on Alternative Variation: $63.03
Other Things You Should Know
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? Yes, the July box is still available (as long as stock lasts).
Keep track of your subscriptions by adding this box to your subscription list or wishlist!
What did you think of the products in this month's LOOKFANTASTIC Beauty Box?
Please do not enter your email address in the Name field or in the comment content. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *. Remember to post with kindness and respect. Comments with offensive language, cruelness to others, etc will not be approved. See our full comment policy here.