Allure Beauty Box is a $25 monthly beauty subscription from Allure Magazine. Each month they send out a mix of deluxe and full-sized 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 arrived beautifully packaged in the classic Allure white and red box. There was also a helpful mini-magazine with info on the products and a note from Allure's deputy beauty director, Elizabeth Siegel.
Note to reader: If you feel like this November box review is a little late, you're not wrong. Allure was perfectly timely with their shipping, but my wedding and honeymoon fell in the middle of this month and caused a delay. Then, when I was finally back in the swing of things, a winter cold knocked me flat on my back. Thanks for understanding!
What's Inside the November 2023 Allure Beauty Box
Medik8 Crystal Retinal 3, 1 oz - Retail Value $64
This is a fantastic retinal brand and I’m stoked Allure sent us a full-sized tube. Medik8 has different strengths of their retinal and the number corresponds with the strength. Number 3 is their retinal for beginners (0.03% retinal), and they have three stronger formulas beyond this one (up to 0.2%). One thing to note is that this is a retinal and not a retinol- Medik8 says that their retinal is clinically proven to act 11x faster than standard retinol! I haven’t experienced any irritation in using this, but always make sure to apply sunscreen when you’re using a product like this, as it can increase your sensitivity to the sun!
Belif Moisturizing Bomb Toner, 5 mL - Estimated Value $0.75 (buy the 200 mL version for $30)
I’m a fan of belif products, so even though this sample is small I’m still happy to see it. This hydrating toner has a milky consistency and is formulated with ceramides to help nourish your skin's moisture barrier, and my skin seems to like it.
Nativa Spa Quinoa Firming Body Lotion, 30 mL - Retail Value $6
I don’t believe any body lotions can actually firm my skin, but the dry skin on my legs still always loves trying lotions. This was nourishing without being too heavy and doesn’t leave a film on my skin - I’m a fan.
Mudmasky Vitamin-Infused Scalp Serum, 2 oz - Retail Value $45.99
Mudmasky has some truly creative pricing in their products, and I don’t think this one is worth it. I was excited to use it because I love a good scalp product, but this didn’t really make a difference in how my hair or scalp felt. It has a nice ingredients list with macadamia seed oil, hyaluronic acid, honey, and lactic acid.
Paume All-in-one Cuticle and Nail Cream, 0.75 oz - Retail Value $28
It feels like I am always dealing with raggedy cuticles no matter how many oils I apply, so I welcome trying any product that may help. This is very lightweight on the skin, but after using it consistently I do think my cuticles are in better shape. Formula-wise this has plant keratin, biotin, and sweet almond oil, and I like that it doesn’t leave any greasy fingerprints when I use my phone after applying.
Naturelab Tokyo Perfect Repair Leave-in Treatment, 30 mL - Estimated Value $2.89 (buy the 145 mL version for $14)
I think Naturelab has some pretty great hair products at a reasonable price point; this leave-in treatment is made with bamboo extract, pea protein, Argan oil, and prickly pear oil. It’s lightweight but still adds some softness and shine to my hair and the brand says this is safe for color-treated hair, too.
Cetaphil Healthy Renew Night Cream, 10 mL - Estimated Value $5.20 (buy the 50 mL version for $25.99)
This Cetaphil sample is fragrance-free and has some nice ingredients like panthenol, niacinamide, and edelweiss extract. I wouldn’t say it provides 48 hours of hydration like the marketing claims (does any moisturizer?), but I do think this is very solid for the price point.
Value – Was This Box Worth It?
The Cost: $25 (save more with a longer subscription - 3 months prepaid is $60 and an annual subscription is $228).
Value Breakdown:
- Medik8: $64
- belif: $0.75
- Nativa: $6
- Mudmasky: $45.99
- Paume: $28
- Naturelab Tokyo: $2.89
- Cetaphil: $5.20
Key Takeaways
This month’s Allure Beauty Box was pretty solid. While the value feels a bit overinflated due to the MudMasky hair serum, the Medik8 retinal and Paume cuticle cream definitely make this month's box worth it to me. Value-wise, Allure promises a monthly value of at least $100, and everything in the box added up to $152.83. They also met their promise of sending at least 3 full-sized products in the box.
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 December, you should receive the December box.
What do you think of the November Allure Beauty Box? What was your favorite product in the box?
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