Hey guys! Today we’re discussing all things Boxycharm. If you read my March post, you might remember me mentioning that I was getting a little tired of my box but was going to give it one more chance. April’s box is the first one since Boxycharm’s merger with Ipsy so this was a big test to see if I wanted to keep my subscription. I’ll break things down more in today’s post so let’s get into it.
Boxycharm and Ipsy were the two biggest beauty subscription box brands on the market. Ipsy’s ‘Glam Bag’ includes five deluxe samples and a makeup bag each month for $13. Boxycharm is five full-size products for $28. I picked Boxycharm because historically they always had the best value (in my opinion). I pay whatever the currency conversion rate is at the time when they bill my card and I’ve never had to pay any duties or taxes to get the box in Canada.
Boxycharm implemented “Choice” where you get to pick one item a few years ago. Now with the Ipsy merger, I get to pick up to three products. This is exciting because I found I wasn’t always loving some of the products I was receiving in my box. The choice has some limits. There are three ‘categories’ with multiple product options within each category. So I still got one product that I didn’t want because I didn’t like any of the other options. There are limited quantities for each option so they can sell out. The other two items are selected by Boxycharm based on feedback from surveys.
The selection process is done on the second of the month. The boxes now ship the second week of the month and they can arrive sometime between the third and fourth. I find this a little annoying because I used to get my Boxycharm always around the 10-15th of the month and now it arrives around the 20th. This probably isn’t a big deal for most consumers but for me, it gives me little turn-around time before the end of the month to get my reviews up. This month I got my box right before my trip to Vancouver, and since I was flying carry-on I couldn’t review anything until I got home.
Now let’s get into this month’s box. One thing is that Boxycharm always gave a card with information on the products in the box. This month I didn’t receive any card so I had to go online to find information on the products.
The first product pre-selected for me was the Byroe Pear Serum Oil. I’ve never heard of this brand before. This face oil has moringa seed oil and red algae to help brighten the skin. The packaging is pretty but the dispenser for the product is just a hole at the top. I would prefer a dropper so I could be more precise in how much product I’m using. I was surprised that this oil dries down almost matte. I expected an oily finish considering it’s an oil lol. I need to test out the oil more to see if its claims are correct. Price: $65 US
The second product pre-selected for me was the Tula So Smooth Resurfacing & Brightening Fruit Enzyme Mask. I’ve tried quite a few Tula products through my Boxycharm subscription. This gel mask has fruit enzymes along with AHA, BHA and PHA to brighten, exfoliate and polish the skin. I put this mask to the test, using it after I hadn’t exfoliated my face in a week. While I still have some bumps from clogged pores, overall my skin feels smoother after using the mask. It helps get rid of any roughness. And with continued use, all the active ingredients should help with my clogged pores. Overall I think this is a pretty good chemical exfoliant and I will continue to use it. Price: $36 US, $47 CAD
The first item I selected was the Formula Z Cosmetics Unisexy Setting Spray. This setting spray is meant to be cooling, refreshing and hydrating. I picked this setting spray because I use setting sprays every time I do my makeup so I know I’ll get good use out of it. The nozzle is strong but provides an even mist on the face. The spray isn’t sticky or tacky. It helps take away the powdery look on the face. I like that it doesn’t make my skin look too dewy since I have oily skin. Overall I think I’ll get some good use out of this spray. Price: $26 US
The second item I picked was the Belle en Argent Fine Print Liquid Liner in black. If you watched my declutter video then you might remember me saying I needed a new black eyeliner so this was perfect! This product alone makes the box worth it since I needed a new black liquid liner. This eyeliner is supposed to have a super fine tip and smudge-proof formula. I tested this eyeliner out by going to a concert. It applied smoothly and lasted all night. Eyeliner is one of those products where I just want it to work and this does the job. Price: according to Boxycharm it’s $20 but the brand’s website says $15
And the final product I picked was the YC Bold + Matte Eyeshadow Primer. This product was the less of two evils if you will. I forgot to pick my items until late in the evening so the other options were sold out or sparkly lipstick that I know I wouldn’t like. I don’t need another eyeshadow primer. I don’t wear eyeshadow much anymore and the primer I have works perfectly fine. I thought this product would be better to pass along to my friends than sparkly lipstick. While I was hoping to avoid donating products with the new ‘choice’ it could be partially my fault for waiting too late and missing some options because they were sold out. Price: $23 US
The overall total of the box is $165 (or $170 according to Boxycharm lol). I picked items based on what I wanted and not value, so I don’t mind if the value isn’t very high. Hopefully, I’m happier with this box than the boxes I’ve had the past few months. I still would prefer to get five items that I love but as I mentioned I picked my choices pretty late in the day so my options were more limited. I’m willing to give Boxycharm/Ipsy another month or two before making any decisions.
Let me know what you think about the new Boxycharm in the comments. Do you think it’s worth the price? Should I continue getting the box? We’ll see what next month’s box is like!
xoxo
Lea
Leave it to Lea 