Allure Beauty Box is a monthly subscription box by Allure Magazine, a beauty-focused publication, that offers six or more products, with at least 3 full-sized products. Subscriptions cost $25 per month. Right now, Allure is offering a flash sale where you can score your first box for $17.50 (with the code FLASH30). To save more, paying for a quarterly or annual plan. It’s also one of MSA’s top beauty subscription boxes for 2024.
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
This is my third box from Allure Beauty Box, and while I didn’t find it quite as impressive as my first two boxes (it’s hard to beat the YSL lipstick I received in February), it still had some great items for spring. I was looking forward to trying the Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream, which I’ve read great things about, and I thought the blush palette from Beauty Bakerie was pretty for the season. I also received a sample of a product I already use and like, a scalp scrub from Nature Lab Tokyo. All in all, this had a decent mix of skincare items, plus a hair and fragrance item, but I was a little bummed to see two highlighter/blush products in one box.
What's Inside the March 2024 Allure Beauty Box
Beauty Bakerie Cotton Candy Champagne Blushlighter Palette, 3.5 mL (full-sized), Retail Value: $38 for 3.5 mL
I’ve been in the market for a new blush, so I was happy to see this palette of four blush shades perfect for the start of spring. I don’t mind a little shimmer in my makeup, but these were maybe a touch too sparkly for me to wear every day. I like that each shade was easy to build upon; I could do a light swipe for a subtle look, or add a few layers for a brighter blush. I have very pale skin with cool undertones and some natural redness in my cheeks, and I thought the Stop and Smell the Rosé and the 24h Champagne Diet shades looked best with my complexion. The Sip Sip Hooray and No Champagne, No Gain came off a little too orange on my skin.
Strip Makeup Whipped Coconut Makeup Remover, 3.4 fl. oz. (full-sized), Retail Value: $28 for 3.4 fl. oz.
My typical makeup removal process starts with an oil cleanser that I have loved for years, followed by my usual face wash. I haven’t changed this routine in a long time, so I knew it’d be hard to sway me with any other type of makeup remover. I did really like the smell of this whipped coconut makeup remover, which was like vacation in a jar. I used it to remove tinted moisturizer, blush, eyeliner, and mascara.
The sticky, whipped texture from the jar quickly melted into a smooth, milky formula once it touched my skin, and although it took a little extra massaging to remove the eyeliner and mascara, it left behind no residue after rinsing. I only wish it came with a little scoop to get the product out of the jar without using my fingers, but otherwise, this is worthy of adding to my cleansing rotation.
19/99 Highlight Stick, 0.25 oz. (full-sized), Retail Value: $34 for 0.25 oz.
I was a little disappointed that the two makeup products in this month’s box were both a type of highlighter/blush combination. This product came in a stick applicator, and it felt nice gliding across my cheek. However, it was hard to blend and came on super pigmented, so it’s not great for more subtle applications. The brand offers the highlight stick in two colors on its website, and I wish the other color, Perla, had been included in the box. It has more pink to it, which I think would be better suited to spring. The Miele is pretty, but perhaps a bit too copper for my liking.
Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream, 30 mL (full-size), Retail Value: $94 for 30 mL
Wow, was I excited to see such a luxury cream in my March subscription box (just keep in mind this is a free gift for new subscribers), and even from opening the jar, I could tell how silky this marine cream was. However, the scent was off-putting to me. It’s supposed to have a subtle floral scent, but I thought it smelled medicinal, and the scent was really strong.
I liked how this felt going onto my skin; it was light and felt nice massaging it onto my face. But it didn’t seem to dry down very well. Instead, it left my face feeling a bit sticky and it felt heavy. I think this might be nice as a night cream, but I don’t think the scent or how it felt on my skin would be ideal for daytime use.
Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum VI, 0.27 fl. oz., Retail Value: $89 for 2.02 oz.
This had an oil-like consistency straight out of the pump, but it didn’t feel oily as I rubbed it into my skin. Actually, it felt very light and dried quickly. As it dried, it felt sticky on my skin, but once it was fully dry (about 30 seconds later), it left my skin feeling so soft and smooth without feeling heavy. I think this will be a great, lightweight serum for summertime, and I especially liked the bright, citrus-y scent.
A small detail I noticed with this product is that the pamphlet said the box included a 10-mL sample (0.27 fl. oz.) of this serum, but my serum sample was only 8 mL (the ounce measurement was correct though).
Nature Lab Tokyo Clean Clarifying Scalp Scrub, 20 mL, Retail Value: $19 for 8.1 oz.
I’m already a big fan of this clarifying scalp scrub. It has a thick, goopy texture that foams up in a really satisfying way on the scalp. It has sugar crystals to help clear scalp buildup, and I like how I can feel that they are exfoliating my scalp but they don’t feel like they are stripping it completely dry.
One thing I don’t love about this product is the smell—it comes across very perfume-y to me, and not in a good way. I like to remedy this by following up with the jasmine-smelling Eva NYC Therapy Session Hair Mask, which I bought a full tub of after receiving a sample in my January 2024 box.
Sweet Chef Ginger Vitamin C Mask, 0.77 oz., Retail Value: $3.99 for 0.95 oz.
I love a good sheet mask, and I appreciate that this one was biodegradable, according to the package. It didn’t have much of a scent, but it was dripping with the serum. The mask was pretty similar to other sheet masks I’ve tried, and fortunately, it didn’t leave my skin with any unpleasant burning sensations. I left it on for the recommended 15 minutes, then patted the thick remaining layer of serum into my skin. My skin felt plump, but sticky long after removing the mask.
While this mask was fine, it didn’t stand out to me in the world of sheet masks. I don’t think I’d seek it out specifically in the future, and that’s probably for the best; after digging around online, I noticed this sheet mask wasn’t available to buy anywhere and may have been discontinued.
I noticed another discrepancy in sizes listed for this product and the product in the pamphlet. The information in the pamphlet said this face mask product was 0.95 oz., but the packaging I received said 0.77 oz. Not a huge deal or difference, but it did make calculating the value of the box accurately a little trickier.
YSL Beauty Libre Eau de Parfum, 5 mL, Retail Value: $165 for 3 oz.
Like spring in a bottle, this little perfume sample had a powerful floral scent, with notes of orange blossoms, lavender, and white musk. When I sniffed the fragrance from the sample tube, it smelled like a nice balance of floral with a deeper, almost woodsy note that balanced it out. But on my skin, this scent came off really powdery and overly floral. It smells amazing from the sample bottle, but it just wasn’t the right match with my skin chemistry, unfortunately. However, for those who do like floral fragrances, the scent is strong and lasted a long time.
Value – Was This Box Worth It?
The Cost: $25 (save more with a longer subscription — 3 months prepaid is $64 for first-time customers or $75 otherwise, and an annual subscription is $225 for first-timers or $300).
Total Value: $221.02
Value Breakdown:
- Beauty Bakerie Cotton Candy Champagne Blushlighter Palette: $38 for 3.5 mL
- Strip Makeup Whipped Coconut Makeup Remover: $28 for 3.4 fl. oz.
- 19/99 Highlight Stick: $34 for 0.25 oz.
- Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream: $94 for 30 mL
- Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum VI: $89 for 2.02 fl. oz. (my sample was 0.27 fl. oz., bringing the sample value to around $11.90)
- Nature Lab Tokyo Clean Clarifying Scalp Scrub: $19 for 8.1 oz. (my sample was 20 mL, bringing the sample value to around $2.35)
- Sweet Chef Ginger Vitamin C Mask: $3.99 for 0.95 oz.
- YSL Beauty Libre Eau de Parfum: $155 for 3 oz. (my sample was 5 mL or 0.17 oz., bringing the sample value to around $8.78)
Key Takeaways
This box packed a lot of value, coming in at over $220 worth of items. Unfortunately, many of this month’s picks weren’t a good fit for me—the perfume sample didn’t smell as nice on my skin as it did in the bottle and the scent of the Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream just wasn’t for me—and I wish there had been more variety between the two makeup products. But still, I did enjoy some of this month’s picks, including a couple of the shades in the blush palette, the effective whipped coconut makeup remover, and the light yet smoothing serum from Sulwhasoo.
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? Allure’s website is currently advertising the March box, so if you’re interested in these products, sign up ASAP before April subscriptions kick in.
What do you think of the March Allure Beauty Box? What was your favorite product in the box?
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