Every season Rachel Zoe and the CURATEUR team will hand-curate more than $500 worth of their favorite fashion, beauty, and lifestyle items. It's been a couple of years since we've reviewed this subscription, but the boxes continue to feature high-end, curated items from both well-established and emerging brands. You'll see wearable accessories like bags or jewelry, beauty and skincare goods, and sometimes quality home goods. Typically there is opportunity for a choice or two.
ACTIVE DEAL: Limited Time Only! $50 off the annual subscriptionCODE: MSA50
Additionally you can use the code MSA25 for $25 off the seasonal box or MSA10 for 10% off The Shoppe.
The Cost: $125 per quarter, or $112.50 per quarter with an annual subscription. It ships to the U.S. for free, plus Canada, the U.K., and Australia.
This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out the editorial guidelines to learn more about how we review boxes.)
Opening the Box
The box is sharp as always, with the contents wrapped in tissue paper. There's no info card this time, though you'll make three choice selections at sign-up, so you'll know what to expect. (Existing members had to make their choices by November 20.) You can see a bright green peek under the tissue in the photo above—it's a Hello Fresh discount code for first-time subscribers.
What's Inside the Winter 2024 Curation
Doucce Posh Powder Palette + Perfect Blush Brush Set — Listed Value $92
Ah, the satisfying perfection of a new palette. The shimmering highlighters and matte blushes are lined up so perfectly. There's part of me that wants to keep this palette intact in the way that I would save a new notebook for the right moment to use. There's perhaps a stronger, more embarrassed part of me that's terrified to break into these hues because I don't feel like I know what I'm doing with makeup. These powders are cruelty free, vegan, paraben free, gluten free, and mineral oil free. The brush is fluffy and full, with a tapered shape to offer an accurate application. These two aren't sold as a set online, so it feels special and complete to receive them together. I especially appreciate it as someone who doesn't have a collection of makeup brushes.
So pretty to see the different sheens the highlighters take on as I rotate my arm in the sunlight. The blush colors cover a lot of ground with their variety of shades, too. Surprisingly distinct.
Four Truffles x CURATEUR La Maison Candle, 7 oz — Retail Value $59.95
This exclusive collaboration candle arrives in a mercury glass jar with the Four Truffles logo looking very festive. The scent is described as a "welcoming combination of florals, fig, and amber musk," and I do agree all those notes are readily available to the senses. There's some bergamot and citrus and clove in the mix, too. When I took a sniff of this candle fresh from the box I thought it seemed intensely perfume-y and almost soapy smelling, but when lit across the room it actually fills the space with a pleasant, elevated coziness. I enjoyed being proven wrong. This candle is cruelty-free, and with a burn time of up to 40 hours. I love leaving a candle lit in my bathroom when company comes, and this one should last me through the winter and beyond.
I'll note on the price that candles this size typically retail at $59.95 from Four Truffles, but that CURATEUR members get the benefit of a $35 price tag if they buy it through the CURATEUR shoppe.
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The following two items are choice items:
Subscribers can choose between the Ivory/Camel or Ivory/Black color offerings.
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Walter Baker Verushka Poncho in Ivory/Camel — Retail Value $198
I've watched through the years as highly touted lifestyle boxes have offered ponchos every so often, and thought, "hmm, I must be missing something." They didn't seem that special to me. The truth is, yes, I was missing something: touching them. The material of this shawl (and I assume all the others) is so beyond soft, I just want to wrap myself in it and never leave. Which is possible! It's so easy to toss on over anything you're wearing. It's also elegant enough, especially in this soft golden colorway, to dress way up. Where I live the winters can be bitter, and when the festive season of galas and holiday parties is upon us, this layer is going to be such a luxury.
For both options, you can flip it around and wear it on its mostly white side, too. Can you spot my matching pup behind me?
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Walter Baker Verushka Poncho in Ivory/Black — Retail Value $198
The Ivory/Black colorway is more of a charcoal, which to me feels more casual—and limiting should you want to toss it over a gown. But the contrast is lovely!
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The following two items are choice items:
Subscribers can choose between Crystal Clear or Black.
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Short & Suite Chunky Gem Choker and Hoops Set in Black — Listed Value $115
This duo isn't sold as a set to the general public; you can buy the Gold Chunky Gem Choker but it's not currently available in this black gem colorway. And then the Chunky Hoops are separate and only available in Black. So let's just say you wanted to recreate this set as a gift for someone, you couldn't currently make it a matching one. Again, similar to the palette + makeup brush combo, that's part of what's special about receiving them through CURATEUR. They think through what would make the components of the curation feel cohesive. They make it something you'll readily reach for because you don't have to math it in with what you already own. It's so fun.
In this moment I understood what makes people reach for special jewelry for everyday. It turned my very casual T-shirt look into something kind of magical!
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Short & Suite Chunky Gem Choker and Hoops Set in Crystal Clear — Listed Value $115
For the other option, the necklace is the same save for the gemstone color, but the earrings are a slightly different style with a less chunky gemstone. Super classy.
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The following two items are choice items:
Subscribers can choose between the cream or serum.
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FEMMUE Lumiere Concentrate Cream, 1.58 oz — Listed Value $82
Our third and final choice for the Winter box is between two products from Korean beauty brand FEMMUE. The moisturizer here "protects your barrier and plumps with peptides while evening your skin tone with pure Vitamin C." It's impressively smooth, soft, and absorbent, with a light floral scent — maybe ylang ylang? It's a little gentler than ylang ylang can be. The instructions say to apply it after a serum, but I still felt it would be more versatile for me as someone who's quick to cut a step (usually the serum step) in my skincare routine if I'm short on time.
I've been enjoying this moisturizer for its soft finish and feminine aromatherapy to start my day.
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FEMMUE Lumiere Vital C Serum, 1.01 oz — Listed Value $84
The serum option is also part of the Lumiere line, and strikes me as sort of a juiced-up version of the moisturizer. "Reveal your most radiant and refined winter skin with this potent serum made with a stabilized Vitamin C derivative as well as hyaluronic acid and Vitamins E and B5 to provide additional hydrating and soothing benefits." This sounds luscious. When used together, I'm sure it's an experience.
Value - Was This Box Worth It?
The Cost: $125 per quarter, or $112.50 per quarter with an annual subscription. It ships to the U.S. for free, plus Canada, the U.K., and Australia.
Absolutely all the bases are covered by the Winter 2024 Curation of CURATEUR. We have an article of clothing and a luxe jewelry set as our wearables, a quality makeup offering, a candle that brings a touch of festiveness to our home decor, and a skincare choice. These 5 items (or 7 if you break down the sets) add up to a total retail value of $546.95. It's so evident that the value is there just holding these items in my hands, but it's still so wowing to see that number. At $112.50 per quarter for annual subscribers, the cost breaks down to $16.07 per item. Incredible deal.
ACTIVE DEAL: Limited Time Only! $50 off the annual subscriptionCODE: MSA50
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? Yes, but act fast, as choice items have sold out for past boxes. For existing members, the deadline for making choice selections was 11/20. The Spring curation begins shipping on February 5, 2024.
What do you think of the Winter 2024 CURATEUR box? Click below to write a review!
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