Medusa’s Make-Up Review August 2024

Medusa's Make-Up Beauty Box is a vegan and cruelty-free makeup subscription box from the popular indie brand of the same name. Each month you'll receive a box of 3-5 vegan beauty products for just $22.95 with free shipping, with a total value of around $40. The shades and colors are always unique and the packaging is super fun!

ACTIVE DEAL: Limited Time Only! 20% off your first box!
CODE: MSA20

This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we review boxes.)

The August 2024 Box

As a beauty enthusiast, I have been a subscriber to a slew of make-up boxes, but Medusa's Make-Up is newish to me. When the opportunity to review this box arose, I jumped at the chance, and couldn't wait to see what it was all about. After my first box, I became obsessed - so what does box two have in store?!

Packaged in a pretty pink foil mailer, it was love at first sight! Adorned with sweet script and adorable make-up clip art, this subscription is already one of my faves!

To start off the box, we received an info card that details the contents of the box, along with their retail values. August hosts Medusa's Make-Up 8th Birthday, so they are in celebration mode! Kicking off the special month with pink and gold hues, I was ready to up my summer vacay make-up game with all of these fun inclusions. (I did notice on the back of the card, the year wasn't updated from 2023 to 2024, but rest assured - the contents of this box are different than last August's - I checked.)

Canvas Bag - New Subscribers Only

If you haven't taken the plunge yet to subscribe to Medusa's Make-up, this month would be a good one to jump on in. Every new subscriber this month will receive this canvas tote bag, and a bonus bubble bag. The bag is really nicely made with durable handles and thick canvas - plus check out that pink font! A great way to entice new customers, I do feel for the Medusa besties that have been with this company from the beginning without a reward. The bag is cute though!

Bubble Bag - New Subscribers Only

The other item geared towards new subscribers is this bubble bag. Looking exactly like bubble wrap, but actually un-poppable plastic, this bag has a sliding closure and features the Medusa's Make-Up logo on the front. Another cute inclusion, but a little bit of a bummer for the long term subscribers.

Girlactik Lip Gloss - Retail Value $21.95

To start of this party, we received a featured item made by Girlactik. Packed with Jojoba Oil, Goji Berry, Sunflower Seed Oil and Vitamin E, this clear gloss adds the prettiest sparkly sheen to your lips, all while making them feel soft and hydrated. Fun packaging is a deal maker for me, and this gold tube with see through hearts has me swooning. Topped off with a scent reminiscent of Fruit Loops, I really love this gloss and am impressed with the inclusion, as it's retail value is almost the same cost as this entire box!

As far as wear goes, this gloss went on silky and smooth, even with the included glitter. My lips felt hydrated with each swipe, and while colorless, created a sparkly yet natural lip. The wear length for this gloss is that of a typical gloss, so I do keep it close for re-application.

Hello Style Eyeshadow - Retail Value $12.00

The next item we received was this mini eyeshadow palette. Made by Hello Style, this little pan contains three colors, and has the cutest clip art stamped on the front. With fun hues of pink and purple, we received one glittery pan, and two mattes. The color payout was decent, and all three colors were very buildable. I did notice, however, that the glitter does fall out of the purple, creating a bit of a fairy goddess look. While I typically don't go for these colors in my daily make-up routine, I did have a bit of fun incorporating them into my summer looks, and appreciated the inclusion.

Terrible angle, but here you can see the eyeshadow palette in full use. I utilized the purple on the brow bone, which doesn't show up on camera as much as in real life, but it did turn out kind of pretty. Because I just couldn't do the all pink look, I did add some brown eyeshadow, and found the collaboration gave summer vibes that I really enjoyed.

Medusa's Baked Eyeshadow  – Retail Value $14.00

Now this is an eyeshadow color that brought me back to my freshman year of high school! I was all about the metallic silvers and blues, and now I have a new version! This pan is quite large and created by Medusa's Make-Up. This metallic "Yes Please" version is cruelty free and vegan, and is a silvery white color. Great for lids, creases, and even a cheek highlighter, I was impressed with the color payout!

Here you can see the eyeshadow in action. I dabbed a bit on the inside of my eyes as well as my lids for an extra sparkly look.

Jelly Pong Pong Balloons Lipstick –  Retail Value $18.95

I love lipstick, but the kind of lipstick I love stays on all day, doesn't get in on my teeth, and is brightly colored. While this lip butter is soft and hydrating, (and adorably packaged), the ultra light color blends wayyyy too much with my skin tone, creating a very 2004 look. That being said, the other colors on the website look decent, and I'd be open to trying one of those, I just can't go back to the days of matching your lips to your foundation!

Yep, the closer the lips matched the skin, or the more metallic I could get them, the better, and I'm not going back! While this wasn't that bad, it just wasn't my style - fun to try though!

Lavender Crystal Angle Eyeliner Brush – Listed Value $8

How pretty is this brush?! I honestly haven't ever owned an angle eyeliner brush, so I was excited to try it out, and boy does it cut a crease! I was very impressed with the ease of use this pretty brush offered, and love it for shadow liner and for my lids. The multi-faceted handle is my favorite color, and it just makes my make-up bag look so much more fun and interesting.

Blender Sponge – Listed Value $2

When I apply make-up, I typically use my fingers, but I did like the versatility of this mini blender sponge. Great for applying eyeshadow on the lids and in the creases, this little guy was a great help in my application routine. And of course, it came in my favorite color - pink!

Heart Nail File – Listed Value $1

Another fun little inclusion! I haven't had this style nail file in years, and loved the heart shape. Small in size, this worked well for touching up my nails and prepping them for an at-home manicure and pedicure! 💅🏻

Lavender Moon Bath Salts – Listed Value $10

The last item I received was this package of bath salts. Donning a unicorn on the package, these colorless salts even include biodegradable glitter! Including Epsom salts and lavender oil, this is a very relaxing addition to a soak, and is extra pretty. Self-care is key people!

The Verdict

I have to say, I am super impressed with the August Medusa's Make-Up box! Containing 8 items, the packaging and formulas were super fun, and really brightened my day. While I found the Jelly Pong Pong lipstick to not be my style, I loved the other 7 items, which made up for the one that didn't work. If you aren't a subscriber, I highly suggest subscribing this month, as you get the bonus canvas tote and bubble bag! Overall, the curation was well-rounded out and fun, leading me to be a big fan of this box. I am already excited to see what's in store for September!

Keep track of your subscriptions by adding this box to your subscription list or wishlist!

To Wrap Up:

Can you still get this box if you sign up today? You'll likely receive the September box. Some past boxes are also available for a one-time purchase here.

ACTIVE DEAL: Limited Time Only! 20% off your first box!
CODE: MSA20

Value Breakdown: I estimate I received $87.90 worth of items this month, which is more than three times the cost of the box! That's definitely a good value for $22.95!

What was your favorite item in this month's Medusa's Make-Up Beauty Box?