Allure Beauty Box August 2016 Review and $5 Coupon

The Allure Beauty Box routinely has some of the best brands in great sizes each month. Lately they’ve been including a lot of extras, as well. Normally there’s only five products in each box but this month has eight!

The Cost: $15/month

What You Get: Five or more deluxe-size beauty samples from a curated mix of skin, hair, and makeup products as well as fragrance.
Freeze 24-7 Anti-Aging Eye Serum– Well, I hate to break it to you (in case you were wondering) but this product is not like Botox. And the amino butric acid will not relax any of your muscles. At least not applied topically to your face. It doesn’t work that way. And thank goodness it doesn’t! Who wants a slack, drooping face!? In any case, it is a nice moisturizer with glycerin and aloe so use it but don’t expect miracles.
Pur-Lisse Blue Lotus Balancing Moisturizer– I think that I will never have to buy Pur-lisse at any point in my life. I’ve received so much of it over the years in beauty boxes. This is the next gen Blue Lotus version instead of one of their various sunscreens. This is a silicon based moisturizer with a bunch of peptides. It’s worth using, though it does have citrus oils you may want to avoid if you have rosacea or super sensitive skin. It’s a good moisturizer but too expensive for what it is. Getting it in beauty boxes is the way to go.

Supergoop Defense Refress Setting Mist SPF50– Okay, we got a full size one of these last year and I was SO excited about it! However, I have to be honest. After using it a few times, it was just too much trouble! It is sticky. It got in my hair because it’s a spray and the spray is pretty wide. So it’s not really that great for setting your makeup, mattifying or not. It’s much better and less annoying to use it as a regular body sunscreen.
Mally Mattewand Eye Brightener– I heard there was some kerfuffle over this product. Something about it being the spoiler but not everyone gets it? I can’t remember. In any case, this is a FUN beauty tool. It’s got a twist up pencil on one side and the other is a spongy-type applicator that ALREADY HAS PRODUCT ON IT!!! It’s billed as a “shimmer free highlighter.” Maybe this is fun and new to only me but I thought that was awesome! The product is stuffed inside the lid that covers the applicator. So, apply the spongey nude-ish shadow/highlighter from lash to just above the crease. Then use the liner to line your waterline all around your eye. Poof! Wide awake looking eyes. I know because I tried it. Not sure how long it stays on yet, though. And I didn’t use a primer. Time for testing!
Cargo Swimmables Eye Pencil in Pebble Beach– I thought this was going to be silver since the end of the pencil is gray and you know… so are pebbles but it’s not. It’s a dark brown. I’m totally okay with that, I like dark brown liners. This one is water-resistant which I like. I think I’ll take it with me to New Zealand.
Wet Brush Midi Brush– I feel like I got one of these in Allure before but with all the boxes I get, I could be way off. That one was yellow. This is a pretty blue green with flexible bristles that I love. I mean, I love my yellow one and this one is prettier so I’ll love it better. Now that my hair is so short it’s a breeze to brush through. I should post a photo of my new short, lavender/purple ombre cut somewhere…
Bonus: The Garnier Honey Shampoo and Conditioner are bonuses and not considered part of the retail value of the box (which is already stellar beyond belief this month). I never mind getting drugstore type bonuses ever. Nothing wrong with Garnier and I’ll use these because I like honey.

VERDICT: This box was amazing for me!! So much goodness! One of the reasons I love Allure so much is because it tends to have a lot of products I will use. I will use everything in this box even the Garnier. The Sephora Play box is gunning for top low cost box on my list because it’s $5 cheaper and the brands are just as good. But for now, Allure has my loyalty. I’ve been subscribed for three years now (wow, that’s a long time!) and I’m still happy with it. That doesn’t happen very often. I’ve dumped Ipsy and Birchbox several times but can’t let go of this one. 🙂 I have a feeling Sephora will be the same way and I’ll be getting it forever, too.

If you would like to sign up for the Allure Beauty Box, you can do that right here. If you are a new customer, using that link will get you $5 off your first box. Totally worth it, imo. I think you may start with the September box, it should tell you when you sign up.