Allure Beauty Box (June 2016)

Allure Beauty Box is one of my favorite subscription services. A little background:

"Allure editors uncover the most noteworthy beauty products on the market, from hair and makeup to skin care, fragrance, and more. Then, they personally try and review each product, hand-selecting the ones they love — and know you'll love, too. And finally, here comes the fun: a glossy red box is delivered directly to your doorstep filled with the expert-approved products that are sure to become your new favorites."

Here's what's included:

• Five to seven deluxe-size beauty samples—so you can use each one more than once
• Curated mix of skin, hair, and makeup products, as well as fragrance
• Allure mini-mag, packed with in-depth beauty sample product reviews written by Allure editors

I really dig the mini-mag. Very professional and so much information on the products! Definitely the best, most descriptive tool I've seen in any box. Each page has a "What It Is," "How It Looks/Feels," "Why We Like It" and the retail price of the full-sized item. Some products have a "What It Does," as well as a "Key Ingredients" list. A lot of people have allergies or find certain ingredients affect their skin in negative ways, so I think this bonus information is great.

Here's what I received:

LEADERS Sheet Mask, Orange SuperFood Coconut Gel Mask (FULL-SIZE, $6.00) - Sheet mask that drenches skin in moisture while also tackling a range of skincare concerns.

KLORANE Shampoo with Mango Butter (3.38oz, ~$5.01) - A hydrating shampoo that cleanses and nourishes hair. Key ingredients are sodium laureth sulfate (cleanses) and mango butter (conditions). The papaya-colored formula sudses up to a rich lather that smells like a fresh fruit smoothie.

I cannot have enough sheet masks. I became completely obsessed several years ago when I discovered k-beauty. I could have received any of four: 7 Wonders Himalayan Camellia Pore Minimizing Mask, Tomato SuperFood Coconut Gel Mask, 7 Wonders Tundra Cranberry Anti-Aging Mask, or the one I received, Orange SuperFood Coconut Gel Mask. Honestly I would have loved either of the 7 Wonders masks because I've never tried those ingredients before, but I'm not complaining. I would've been happy if I'd just gotten a box full of sheet masks. The shampoo smells heavenly! Oh, I cannot wait to try it!

PUR-LISSE Blue Lotus SPF30 Essential Daily Moisturizer (0.5oz, ~$16.18) - A lightweight lotion with broad-spectrum sunscreen that protects against UVA and UVB rays without clogging pores or leaving  your skin slick. Key ingredients are avobenzone, homosalate, octinoxate, octisalate and oxybenzone (sunscreens), and algae, white tea and blue lotus extracts (antioxidants).

PUR-LISSE Blue Lotus Eye Adore Serum (0.24oz, $31.20) - A non-irritating eye treatment that softens crepey undereye skin almost immediately and smooths out fine lines over time. Key ingredients are peptides (firms and decreases fine lines), algae, white tea and blue lotus extracts (antioxidants), and haloxyl (depuffs).

I love Pur-lisse. Once upon a time you couldn't open a subscription box without finding them, but it hasn't been so bad lately. This Blue Lotus line is new to me. I can never have enough moisturizers. This one does have a strong sunscreen smell. I had considered passing on the eye serum as I am pretty pleased with my Origins GinZing, but I'm intrigued. I'm going to try it out.

JULEP Nail Color in Katie (0.27oz FULL-SIZE, $14.00) - A nail polish that's free of toluene, formaldehyde, and DBP.

KARDASHIAN BEAUTY Cabana Bronze (0.07oz FULL-SIZE, $14.99) - A skin-illuminating powder. The rose gold compact holds three bars of silky powder that can be mixed according to how dark you want your bronze.

I could have gotten the nail color shade I received (Katie, an orchid purple), April, a vibrant coral, or Cassidy, a rich teal. I actually HAVE Katie. It's lovely. I would have liked to get one of the other colors that I don't have, so I'll be passing this along. I'll also be handing off the bronzer. I am just far too pale to even attempt bronzers, but it does have nice packaging and I'm sure coming from the Kardashian brand it must be good quality.

There was also a 25% off coupon for a company called Iluminage, citing clinically proven results to see younger-looking skin in just four weeks. New anti-aging textiles??? The photo on the card shows what looks like compression gloves and socks often used by diabetics, but I'm sure that's not what these are since they "turn back time." There were no products from this brand in the box so I am somewhat confused why the coupon is included, or why the card doesn't explain what I'm looking at, or now, why I'm not looking it up. I just am not that interested. But coupons are never a bad thing. 

I calculate this June 2016 box to have a value of $87.38. That's incredible value for a box that only costs $15. There was also a LOT of diversity in the product selection. I've noticed in the last few boxes that Allure has really upped their game in the beauty subscription category. Can't wait to see what's next!