Brown Sugar Box is a monthly woman of color lifestyle subscription, containing exclusively curated tees, accessories, and lifestyle products. Everything is designed by and made for women of color.
Each month's box includes a graphic tee and 4-5 exclusive full-size products ranging from drinkware, accessories, bags, jewelry, makeup, housewares, and stationery from the Izzy & Liv brand.
ACTIVE DEAL: Save 20% off your first box!
CODE: FIRSTTIME20
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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Each Brown Sugar Box used to include a mini-magazine that highlights the theme of the box, lists the products included, and offers interesting and inspiring articles. The mini-magazine has gone digital, and now, you can easily scan the QR code using your phone and swipe through the digitized version via your web browser.
This month’s box is the ‘Hair Goals’ edition; how exciting! I’m interested to see what kind of products have been curated for me to achieve said goals. Let’s check!
Now, on to the items!
IZZY AND LIV Nourishing Moroccan Hair Oil, 100 ml - Listed Value $30
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I am always in need of more hair oil, so I was pretty thrilled to see this Izzy and Liv Nourishing Moroccan Hair Oil in my box. It surprised me to see that it’s from the Izzy and Liv brand; I don’t recall seeing any haircare from them until now. One thing I noticed is that it does contain fragrance, but it doesn’t seem to be too overpowering, which I do appreciate. This oil works nicely for me. It’s easy to apply and evenly coat through my hair. The oil absorbs quickly and doesn’t leave my hair feeling greasy to the touch. I’m impressed with how nicely it smoothes down any split ends while also taming frizz and flyaways. Plus, it doesn’t weigh down my curls but instead leaves my hair feeling silky and soft. Definitely a solid hair oil.
IZZY AND LIV Styling Tool Set, 5-piece - Listed Value $24
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Sticking with the ‘Hair Goals’ theme of this box, we have this Izzy and Liv Styling Tool Set. It’s a five-piece set that includes a wide tooth comb with hook, a hair pick, a regular wide tooth comb, an edge brush, and a rattail comb. This is a nice styling set that has all the pieces you would need and then some; perfect for a variety of hair situations. I really like the design on the styling tools as well. I’ll definitely get some great use out of the edge brush especially. The bristles on it seem good and dense but soft enough. However, I feel like the teeth on both wide tooth combs won’t be a match for my thick curls over the long term, but only time will tell. Subscribers could have received one of four sets.
IZZY AND LIV T-Shirt Hair Towel Wrap - Retail Value $18
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I really like this T-Shirt Hair Towel Wrap from Izzy and Liv! The first thing I noticed about this towel is that it lacks the traditional towel texture that I expected; instead, it’s more like a microfiber texture. The pattern of the wrap is nice, too; very colorful, which is the brand’s MO. I honestly wasn’t sure how well this would work for my hair since it does take hours for my full head of hair to dry completely, but I have to say, it did seem to cut down on drying time. I also like how the microfiber texture protects my hair, preventing breakage and helping to minimize frizz. I especially enjoy using this to wrap my hair after a hair mask or while deep conditioning. My hair can use all the help it can get when it comes to retaining moisture, so this has been a great addition to my haircare routine. I’m glad I decided to give it a try. Subscribers could have received one of three prints.
IZZY AND LIV Simple Beauty Pose T-Shirt - Listed Value $25
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And now, the signature product… An Izzy and Liv t-shirt! I always look forward to seeing the design each month, and this Simple Beauty Pose T-Shirt does not disappoint. I love the artwork’s simple style. I do, however, wish it had come in the opposite color scheme: a black t-shirt with a white-lined design. I have a tendency to spill things, so a white t-shirt usually isn’t conducive to my lifestyle, but regardless, I’m a fan of the shirt. The shirt is 100% cotton, though, so be aware of that when you wash it for the first time. Subscribers could have received one of two prints.
MOISTURE LOVE Leave-in Conditioning Serum, 227 g - Listed Value $18
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Leave-in conditioner is an essential for me, and it’s something I’ll always need more of; but one size does not fit all. I have very thick, curly 3C hair, and it craves moisture. Some of the leave-in conditioners out there can be a bit thin and more suited to those with slightly finer hair; I usually need a thick, creamy product. What I love about this Moisture Love Leave-in Conditioning Serum is the clean ingredients. With a vegan formula free of chemicals and gluten, this conditioner is smooth to the touch, and the texture is a bit more slippery than I expected. But despite the slightly thinner texture, this leave-in does a really nice job of keeping my hair moisturized, without any flaking. It also does a solid job of keeping potential tangles at bay.
IZZY AND LIV Dry Body Brush - Retail Value Unknown (Bonus Item)
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Sooo, I received this Izzy and Liv Dry Body Brush, but I quickly noticed that it wasn’t included on the product listing in the mini webzine. Perhaps it was a mistake or a bonus item of some form. I have received this product in the past, though. While I know that dry brushing has many good benefits for the skin, it’s not really my thing. And believe me, I gave it a try, but the feeling of the bristles scraping against my dry skin was unpleasant to me. More like a bit of a sensory overload. For this reason I always disliked those velour ‘Juicy’ tracksuits that were so incredibly popular during my high school years; I wasn't a fan of the texture. Now, that’s my own personal bias against dry brushing. If you love it already, this dry brush may be your favorite product in the box. And if you haven’t tried it yet but are looking to unclog pores, exfoliate and detoxify skin, and promote circulation, you might want to give this dry brush a try.
Verdict
This was a great month for Brown Sugar Box! The highlight for me was the hair oil since that’s something I’ll always need. Along with that was the leave-in conditioner serum from Moisture Love, which is also an essential for me when it comes to haircare. I was surprised to see how well the hair towel wrap worked for me despite having such thick hair that ordinarily takes forever to dry. Also, I love the added benefit of using the wrap to lock in moisture when deep conditioning. This month’s t-shirt design is right up my alley except for the fact that I’m a spill hazard and will likely have a stain on this crisp white shirt before I know it. I’m going to get some great use out of the styling tool set; the edge brush has bristles that are dense yet soft, which works great for me. Lastly, the possible bonus item of the dry body brush… Although I’m not a fan of this product personally, I’m going to pass this along to a friend of mine who will enjoy it. Overall, I thought this was a solid box. I really love the haircare-inspired theme behind the majority of curated products, and the value is definitely there.
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Value – Was This Box Worth It?
The Cost: $39.95 + $5.95 shipping
Value Breakdown:
- Hair Oil: $30
- Styling Set: $24
- Towel Wrap: $18
- T-Shirt: $25
- Leave-in Serum: $18
The total value of my box was $115 (without the dry brush), which is a nice value for a $39.95 box.
Other Things You Should Know
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? No, but order today to receive the May box.
ACTIVE DEAL: Save 20% off your first box!
CODE: FIRSTTIME20
Do you have a favorite item from this month's Brown Sugar Box?
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