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 2023 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
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The box arrives beautifully packaged in the classic Allure white and red box. There was also a helpful mini-magazine with more info on the products and a note from Allure's deputy beauty director Elizabeth Siegel.
What's Inside the February 2023 Allure Beauty Box
Beauty Bakerie The Chosen Bun Palette - Retail Value $38
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I've tried a few Beauty Bakerie products before, so I knew I was in for a treat whether I received the eyeshadow or highlighter palette (current subscribers got to choose, however what I received was a surprise). I am definitely pleased with this palette- it's gorgeous and it performs really well. The palette has four mattes and five shimmers, and the shimmers are buttery smooth with minimal fallout while the mattes apply well too. Oftentimes, a palette will have beautiful shimmery shades and then the matte shades will be dry and chalky but that's not the case here. All of the shades compliment each other really well, too. I wouldn't say this is a super unique palette, but it's one that I think has been done really well.
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Here are the swatches.
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And here I am wearing some of the shades. I applied Dough all over my lid with a brush, and then applied Fresh to the middle of my lid with my finger and then blended it in with the same brush. Finally, I did my best to line my undereye with the shade Gourmet.
YSL Beauty Lash Clash Extreme Volume Mascara, 2 mL - Estimated Value $6.44 (buy the 9 mL version for $29)
This isn't a groundbreaking mascara, but it's a solid one- and honestly, for the YSL brand, I'm a little surprised it's not more expensive. I like the matte black packaging of the tube with the gold YSL accent, and how this mascara gives my lashes good definition without clumping. I wouldn't necessarily say this gives me "extreme volume" but hey, maybe I just haven't applied enough coats yet. I forgot to grab a picture of me wearing this when I tried it on, but you can see me wearing it in a different review here.
D’alba Piedmont Aromatic Spray Serum, 2.02 oz - Retail Value $32
I am a fan of toners and serums that apply via a spray- maybe it's hereditary, because my mom loves them too (I just ordered her the Indie Lee CoQ10 Toner because Ulta had it 30% off and her birthday is right before Mother's Day. I can tell y'all this because she doesn't read my reviews). I really like this! I know it's called a serum, but mentally I still classify it as a toner because it has such a lightweight formula, even with the bi-phase oil-liquid formula that you mix together before spritzing onto your skin. It's vegan and hypoallergenic, and I like that along with truffle this also has rosewater, pantheon, and evening primrose oil. If my mom did read my reviews, after hearing about this she would text me and say "I want that spray serum."
TULA Skincare The Cult Classic Purifying Face Cleanser, 4.2 oz = Retail Value $24
Oh baby, hello! I'm a big fan of Tula so seeing a full-size product of theirs in a subscription box is a treat. I've had samples of this cleanser before, and it's a solid performer. It starts out as a gel that emulsifies into a milky cream texture once you add water as you massage it into your face. It has a little bit of added fragrance, but I personally think it smells nice and didn't have any issues with this irritating my sensitive skin. This didn't dry my skin out, either- some cleansers leave my skin feeling tight when I rinse them away but I didn't have that issue here.
Sephora Collection Nourishing Moisturizer - Buy the 50 mL version for $18
Don't scoff at the Sephora Collection branded- products: Sephora's house brand can pack a punch. I'm partial to their makeup brushes, but this moisturizer was pretty nice. It has prebiotics from agave and chicory and it's made with marula oil and glycerin. The formula is pretty rich, but my dry skin soaks it right up. Those sensitive to fragrance will appreciate this is unscented, too.
Sweet Chef Beet + Vitamin A Sheet Mask - Retail Value $3.50
I absolutely adore the sheet masks by Sweet Chef- I will take ten of them from them and be as happy as a clam. They are made of a thicker, plush material that feels soft on my skin, and they have cute sayings and pictures printed on the mask itself that makes for fun selfies (this one has beets, hearts, and says "beet of my heart"). Along with beet extract (a source of nutrients for your skin) this also has vitamin A, Centella, and panthenol, and my skin always looks hydrated with a soft glow when I remove this mask. I say "always" because I have personally gone through at least five of this specific mask from Sweet Chef (plus more from their other variations) that I purchased myself, and I will happily continue to use them because my skin just likes them.
Value – Was This Box Worth It?
The Cost: $23
Value Breakdown:
- Beauty Bakerie: $38 → $8.40
- YSL: $6.44 → $1.42
- D'alba: $32 → $7.08
- Tula: $24 → $5.31
- Sweet Chef: $3.50 → $0.77
- Sephora Collection: N/A
Key Takeaways
The month of February may have gotten away from me, but Allure Beauty Box stayed on the money with the February box. The January box was great, and I thought February was a great encore. I really liked the full-size products we received and didn't think that any of the samples we got to try were particularly small- that's always a nice perk. I really like that Allure now let's existing subscribers customize their box when they're going to offer variations- I think that's a nice incentive to stay subscribed. Value-wise, Allure promises a monthly value of at least $100 and everything in the box except the Sephora moisturizer added up to $103.94. I like that both the Beauty Bakerie palette and D'alba serum products individually retail for more than the cost of the entire box- it really adds to the sense of personal value you get as a subscriber.
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? If you sign up in March, you should receive the March box.
What do you think of the February Allure Beauty Box? What was your favorite product in the box?
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