Boxwalla Beauty in 2020
Some of my favorite products, the best brands I saw inside, and my hopes for this subscription in 2021.
Boxwalla Beauty is hands-down one of my favorite subscriptions of 2020! If you are a skincare enthusiast with a love of clean, indie, and high-performing formulas, run, don't walk to this one. Every other month delivers a set of incredibly thoughtfully curated products that delight and intrigue me. The formulas feel so special and the ingredients and textures are so creative and enjoyable to use. This is a subscription that is ideal for anyone deep into skincare and especially anyone who might prefer the product load of a bi-monthly delivery schedule that still provides enough to craft a complete and totally nourishing skincare routine.
In 2020 I received so many products from this subscription that have become new must-haves for my routine. It would be incredibly difficult to play favorites, but I am going to try, so if you want to take a trip through my Boxwalla Beauty boxes across all of 2020, keep reading!
Gallery: My 2020 Boxwalla Beauty Deliveries
About Boxwalla Beauty
The Subscription Box: Boxwalla Beauty
The Cost: $49.95/box (delivered every other month)
The Products: Luxurious and effective green beauty products for your skin and body. The products are crafted by artisans from all over the world. All products are full-sized or large travel-sized products and are cruelty-free.
Ships to: The US for free, Canada for $11.95, Internationally for $18.95
What Boxwalla Beauty Got Right in 2020
Value
Boxwalla Beauty is a box with a lot of value to brag about. I added up all the retail values in arrivals from 2020 and landed at $1,219.80 worth of product for a year-long subscription that cost $299.70. That averages out to a value of around $203.30 per $49.95 delivery.
Variety
Boxwalla Beauty manages to send a pretty well-rounded assortment of goods throughout the year. The most plentiful were serums but I also included essences in my breakdown and honestly, the serums were just so wildly different that I can't imagine it feeling repetitive, even for a minimalist.
Here is a breakdown of product types in 2020:
- Facial Oil - 2
- Moisture Cream - 2
- Facial Serums / Essences - 4
- Eye Serums - 1
- Peel - 1
- Cleanser - 2
- Mask - 1
- Body - 1
- Facial Balm - 1
Smaller Brand Love
One of my favorite things about Boxwalla Beauty is that they source their offerings from some of the best little beauty brands out there. Sure, I love getting a bottle of Sunday Riley in a box as much as the next subscriber, but there is something special about a high-quality formula from a smaller brand that feels so bespoke and intentional. And in a year where smaller businesses could use a little extra love, it feels extra special and timely.
Education and Ritual
Each Boxwalla Beauty box arrives with either a physical or digital info card that has loads of information on the products included each month, extra info on the brand behind them, and instructions on how to enjoy them. This is a box that encourages you to approach your skin with mindfulness and turns skincare into something that feels like a whole lot more! I also appreciate how they touch on the ingredients in each product and their benefits.
Limited Editions
Boxwalla Beauty offers a handful of Limited Edition boxes throughout the year and they are just as magical at their monthly offerings! They are typically built around a single brand and still offer incredible savings compared to buying the products at retail. We reviewed 3 of these LEs in 2020 that you can peek at below:
What I Would Like to See in 2021
Boxwalla Beauty just needs to keep doing what it is doing because in my book they are getting it right! I would love to see more limited edition offerings focused on fragrance, body care, and haircare!
My Favorite Brands and Products from Boxwalla Beauty in 2020
Boxwalla Beauty was filled mostly with brands that were totally new and unfamiliar to me. A few of my new favorites include Votary, Fine, Lovinah, and Monestery.
A few extra special callouts? Sure:
Votary Super Seed Nutrient Cream, 1.7 oz. – Retail Value $102.00
From my February review:
Our second and final item is a luxurious cream packaged in the same stunning green glass as our oil. This product is also unscented and has 22 skin-hero oils inside as well as hyaluronic acid and aloe. The feels like a heavy-duty cream on your face until your skin starts to easily absorb it, leaving a perfectly primed and arguably matte surface for makeup. I thought I might reserve this for a night cream, but I love the finish so much I am happily going to make this my daytime go-to with or without makeup. It leaves my skin looking really bright and firm, and the hydration lasts all day while somehow feeling weightless. I love that these high-quality ingredients have both an instant effect on my skin and with longer-term use will improve its texture and overall health.
Monastery XX Rose Glycolic Gel, 2.03 oz. – Retail Value $74.00
From my April review:
I absolutely adore glycolic acid for its ability to gently exfoliate my skin and this formula is extra incredible because that wonderful acid is combined with rose water, which is incredibly soothing. Even though this 10% glycolic solution is gentle enough for all except the most sensitive skin, that rose element is going to provide extra calming moisture while the acid goes to work. It has a very light rose petal scent that I absolutely love and a clear gel texture. I like to apply this at night after cleansing, and before a serum or moisturizer. If you do have skin that is on the sensitive side, try applying this as a mask, leave on for 2-5 minutes then rinse off instead!
Nini Organics Natura Detox Foam, 100 g – Retail Value $58.00
From my June review:
Our third and final item was the one I was the most excited about! Most days I just want to get my skincare out of the way: cleanse, serum, moisturize, done. But on the weekends I have been savoring the products that take a little extra work and feel more like a ritual, or at least something very special. This green powder is totally going into my weekend stash! This is such an experience.
Inside are powders from dried veggies and coconut which detox very gently. It also has baobab powder for skin strengthening and willow bark for exfoliation. The texture here is slightly gritty, so when you rub in circles on your face it feels like soft exfoliation and a little bit of a massage. My skin feels so clean and refreshed after this.
Lovinah Skincare Dragon Blood Cleansing Oil, 2 oz – Retail Value $55.00
From my August review:
How pretty is this cleanser? It arrived in a beautiful frosted glass bottle with a luxe gold cap. Of course, I immediately had to sniff this stuff! It has a slightly off-putting scent that is tangy and tart. I don’t know that everyone will like it, but it smells a lot better when you are emulsifying it with water and rubbing it onto your face! Trust me. Inside this cleanser is a double-encapsulated salicylic acid that is great for both acne-prone skin AND drier aging skin because salicylic acid is a wonderful promoter of cell turnover, collagen production, and it also gently exfoliates. The other big ingredient callouts inside include a vitamin C ester, milk thistle, and loads of fatty oils with antioxidants. Because this cleanser has so many good things inside, I prefer to leave it on for a few minutes before I rinse it off. I like to take a pump or two, cover my face with a gentle massage, wait about 3 minutes, then rinse off with warm water. It leaves my face feeling clean but also highly hydrated.
Naturallogic Elemental Advanced Hydration Red Wine Essence, 2 fl oz – Retail Value $58.00
From my October review:
I am someone who likes wine in my glass and in my skincare so this red wine essence was exciting! The main draw for me with an antioxidant essence like this is to prevent free radicals from damaging my skin. Without trying to get too sciency here (I have an art degree and I know better), free radicals cause damage to the skin because they steal electrons from molecules in your skin, which in turn causes aging and damage. Antioxidants work to block those free radical thieves and protect your skin. Red wine happens to have LOADS of antioxidants and combine that with hyaluronic acid, squalane, and panthenol? Skin hydration heaven. I like to use this before a serum or as a replacement to serum, after cleansing, and before moisturizing. This is a very light serum that absorbs easily, feels great, and even smells just a little like wine!
Blüh Alchemy Active Relief Body Oil, 4 fl oz – Retail Value $68.00
From my December review:
My last item was what felt like a super-sized white glass bottle of body oil. Again, absolutely love this packaging. It’s heavy, feels chic, and has such pretty floral designs. I have discussed a few times before how (for whatever reason) lotion breaks my legs out but body oils seem to leave them hydrated and bump-free. So of course I was thrilled with this nicely sized bottle. The oil inside is a blend of some of the most delightful oils: bran, sunflower, camellia, sesame, and tamanu! The stars of the show are easily the Hinoki Wood oil (distilled from Japanese Cypress trees and considered sacred) and holy basil. These give this oil such a comforting and natural scent reminiscent of woods, earth, and warmth. My favorite way to use this is straight out of the shower. Just a few pumps into my palms and my legs are quickly covered in this soothing oil. This might be the highlight of the box for me!
Fine Peace Body Serum, 50 mL – Retail Value $25.00 (21,50 €)
From my Limited Edition 'A Fine Feeling' Box review:
‘Tis the season to get dry skin! Most of us have already turned our heat on for the year (though this weekend was incredibly warm and confusing for me) and that means a drier house and dry skin. If you are already dry anyway, this is a season of lotions, creams, and body oils. I will be adding this serum to my routine because I am so impressed with it. Firstly, it smells so nice. Think warm vanilla and lavender with some evergreen needles and resin. It is a mild scent, but you certainly notice it! The serum itself needs to be shaken up really well before using it because it does tend to separate a little because this is a nourishing mix of aloe and loads of skin-loving oils like tea seed, squalane, sweet almond, and more. There is also a nice bit of hyaluronic acid in here too for extra hydration. I did notice alcohol a little farther down the list, but I am not so worried about it in this formula since it is very much outweighed by the other goodies inside. I really like using this on areas where I typically find lotion a little heavy, like my neck and chest.
Antonin B Ceramides Enriched Desert Serum, 20 mL – Retail Value $45.00
From my Limited Edition 'Antonin B.' Box review:
I don’t really use a ton of product in my hair, but I do like hair oils. And this serum is a combination of a number of really great oils (kukui nut, hazelnut, jojoba, and more) mixed with loads of vitamins and antioxidants. I use oils like this everywhere except my roots because they can get a little greasy. I put a few drops in my palms, rubbed them together for warmth, and finger-combed the serum through my still damp but towel-dried hair. Winter is hard on my hair because it’s already pretty dry, and anything that helps me fight static and frizz is something I am going to use! This formula helps in that area as well as adding softness and shine. You can even use this on dry hair for a midday smoothing touchup. This stuff has a very natural and earthy scent that some people might not like, but I am into it. This comes from the essential oils of ylang ylang, lime, and lemon.
Who do I recommend Boxwalla Beauty for?
Boxwalla Beauty should honestly be on any beauty enthusiast's box list. I know it is a little pricy, but, in my opinion, it is totally worth it. Because it has that bi-monthly schedule it also would make anyone who likes to keep their product assortment smaller and curated very happy while still delivering enough quality and variety for a great skincare routine.
What were your fave Boxwalla Beauty products this year? Let me know in the comments!
Did you have a favorite box this year? Show it some love by casting a vote in The 2021 Subscription Box Awards!
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