Two (and a half) Months of Allure Boxes (Story Time!)
Let's talk about the Allure Beauty Box. I have feelings about it. I got my first box in May and loved it. You can see that review here. Well, my relationship with Allure has soured somewhat since then.
It started at the end of May. My credit card number changed, and I didn't change it on my Allure account. This was completely my fault. I didn't remember to do it, and that's on me. What is not on me is that Allure has the worst notification system for this -- I got a mailed letter the last week of June informing me to update my credit card. This really seems like the kind of occasion when an email is more prudent. I had actually looked into this the third week in June when my Allure box didn't arrive.
I called customer service. Allure has the worst customer service. Long hold times, rude agents. They inform me that they will reinstate my subscription, but that the June box was sold out, so I wouldn't get it. Instead I would get the July box next. Just a skipped month, no big deal.
In the meantime, Kat Von D was getting her ass handed to her because of her antivaxx, possibly nazi ways. The June Allure box was a special KVD collaboration that contained four of her products. Given the controversy, I was surprised that it was sold out, but whatever. They had promised fullsize products, and maybe that was enough of a draw. Either way, I was fine not getting it, or getting it, whatever.
Imagine my surprise when on July 8th, Kat Von D lands in my mailbox. Not only had I been told not to expect it, but my credit card had not been charged for it.
June
Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Bow n Arrow (Full Size)
This bad boy retails for $20, and is a mauve-brown color. I love these liquid lipsticks for their intense staying power. I don't have to worry about if I'm eating while wearing it, or if it's feathering out. This isn't my most favorite color. I find that the brown-based color can make my lips look really wrinkly and dry if I'm not careful. I've had more luck with other colors from the range. I do like the way this looks though, but perhaps with a simple makeup look rather than trying to do too much.
Kat Von D Studded Kiss Creme Lipstick in Double Dare
The full size Studded Kiss Lipsticks retail for $19, so this sample is worth $5.58 at about a third of the size. This is mostly a dusty-rose, but with brown undertones, much like the other two lip products in this month's box. I love it on it's own. It's easy to swipe on and walk away. It's a matte finish, but also doesn't look like a dry mess after a few minutes. I hadn't tried any of these before, and I'm impressed.
Kat Von D Everlasting Lip Liner in Lolita (Full Size)
Lolita is KVD's most iconic color. Another full-size, this retails for $18. There was a whole scandal about the color "changing" and it's spun out into several other products. I used to wear the Lolita liquid lipstick, but as my skin started to change a little, it kept pulling more and more orange, so I put it down. This is the lipliner version, so I probably wouldn't ever wear it alone. That's just not how I do, but it looks fantastic under lipsticks, or even with a gloss or balm on top. I love the color, and it works better for me than the liquid lipstick ever did.
Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper
This was a deluxe sample. Regular retail is $20, making this worth about $7.27. I don't have too much to speak about with this. I mean, that's a lie, but I've talked about this etensively over teh past serveral years. I switch back and forth between this and the Stila Stay All Day Eyeliner as the only things that I'll use. I have a hard time finding eyeliners that I like, and this is the one. It's blackblackblack and has the best brush tip. I can't recommend it enough.
Ole Henriksen Transforming Walnut Scrub (Full Size)
Okay, forget about all that Kat Von D for a hot minute. This is what I was really excited about. I love Ole Henriksen. He makes the stuff beautiful skin is made of. Physical exfoliants are super controversial, but they work for me. I mean, didn't we all try to banish high-school acne with that St Ive's Apricot Scrub? This smells define and leaves my skin smooth. It's too harsh to use on my face, but has been great for my knees, elbows, and feet during this summer. This product is also a little pricier, coming in at $28.
Pur-Lisse Daily Lip Nourisher (Full Size)
Surprisingly, or maybe not, this wasn't listed in my little booklet. I saw that other subscribers were receiving a Tatcha moisturizer that wasn't listed, so I guess this is my bonus? I don't hate it, but I don't love it either. It's a pretty standard lip balm. I tossed it in my purse so I can put it on when I'm driving or out and about. It retails for
In a $15 box, finding four of the six items being full-size is amazing! This box was absolutely worth the money. All of the Kat Von D lip colors require me to be a little more edgy than I'm feeling on the day-to-day, but I'll get my use out of them.
July
So, July finally showed up. All cards on the table here...I was billed for this on the 5th of July. Didn't hear a thing about when it was coming, in terms of getting sent a tracking number, and as the days went by, I became more and more concerned. But it's here!
Make Up For Ever Artist Everywhere in Red
This is a mini, and is about half-size of a full pencil, making it worth $6.38. I really love the MUFE pencils because they really can be used anywhere. This works for eyes and lips, so when I want to do a crazy red eyeliner look this is safe to use, and it makes a longlasting lip liner too.
Ouai Leave In Conditioner
Ouai is still teh go-to trendy high-end haircare out there right now. I have, personnally, found their products to be very hit and miss. This is thankfully one of the hits. I really like the way it makes my hair feel and it gives me pretty good curl definition. This sample is worth about $4.65.
Derma E Sun Protection Mineral Powder SPF 30
I was not really sure how to handle this. It's a translucent powder that has SPF 30, and can be used on top of makeup as sunscreen. I don't have oily skin, so this isn't particularly helpful to me. I also will not realisitcally be repowdering everying two hours like someone with extra oily skin would. I think its an interesting product, but totally not for me. This sample is worth $6.25.
Doucce Precision Eyeliner in Blue
This was a full-size product, retailing at $22. I hate this. I've been looking for a nice blue eyeliner since I used up my last one, but Doucce has disappointed me. It's too watery, not very pigmented, and lacking the staying power that I need. I feel liike multiple beauty boxes are tryign to make Doucce happen, and I haven't been impressed with much from them.
Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil
This is also the one thing that I was looking forward to in this box. Sunday Riley skincare is dumb expensive, and this has a value of $27.50, because it's half size. I find that this, being a retinol, is way too strong for every day. I have been using it at night twice a week and have noticed a huge difference in my skin. Fewer spots, and the ones that are fading seem to be moving out faster! I highly recommend this, if there's room in the budget.
Feel Harmony Rose Petal Facial Mask
Value of this bad boy is $16.18 at one ounce. That's a pricey mask, at best. I really like the packaging of this, with the squeeze tube, so I was a little disappointed to find that the fullsize comes in a tub. Standard mask, put on, wait ten minutes, rinse off. I have been using this in the morning when I have been doing my hair, and keeping it in the fridge for a little extra wake up!
Organic Pharmacy Antioxidant Lip Balm
Another full-size product, this is a higher-end lip balm at $21.50. I found that this had a grainy texture, but it works well, and lives in my gym bag now.
Olay Whips
This was a bonus item, so it didn't really count. It's a whipped moisturizer. Honesty hour? It's the same as a normal moisturizer. I don't think that it feels different than normal. It feels precisely the same. I don't dislike it, but I wouldn't buy it. Pretty standard skin cream.
$20 Bauble Bar Code
This was a nice bonus. Bauble Bar has some cute jewelry, that's usually fairly pricey. There are a few items on the website (mostly on clearance) that are $20 or less, so it is possible to get something for totally free with this. That's probably my plan, because I just don't want to spend any money on jewelry right now.
So, there we are. Two months of Allure, another "in the mail" but without tracking. The story of the August Box is for another day. I will say, their boxes are amazing, but their customer service is incredibly lacking!
I'll update again when August comes rolling in.
