Allure Beauty Box Review

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There is a lot of pressure on women to look their best and age gracefully. We are constantly being marketed to and sold products for every lump, bump, and wrinkle.

Now that I’m 30-something, I’m starting to notice a few fine lines and changes in my skin. Can the Allure Beauty Box keep me looking like a mummy at 50?

Table of Contents

About Allure Beauty Box

This high-end subscription box contains products handpicked by Allure Magazine’s editorial staff. Each month, you get a range of skin care and beauty products delivered right to your door.

The box is packed with both trendy, up-and-coming brands and established beauty favorites, so each box is a new experience.

The best part? The products you get in the Allure Beauty Box are always full-size or deluxe samples. No single-use tiny packets in this box! You can really get a feel for the products and decide if you want to buy them in the future.

The onboarding process was quick and easy. No quizzes or hoops to jump through. Allure focuses more on products with universal appeal, such as skin care items.

Rather than customizing upfront with a quiz, you’ll customize as needed based on what’s heading your way. My first box didn’t require any customization, but my second one let me pick a shade for bronzer.

Each box contains six items, three of which will be full-sized, with a total value of at least $100. My first box shipped almost immediately and future orders shipped at the beginning of the month.

Pricing

The Allure beauty box has three subscription options. These are:

A one-month $25 subscription that automatically renews every month.
A three-month subscription for $69 renews at the end of the three months. This rate comes out to $23 per month.
A yearly subscription for $250 renews at the end of the year. This rate comes out to $20.83 per month.

Allure normally has an incentive to sign up, such as a percentage off your first box or bonus items. Additionally, when I signed up, I got $10 towards their members-only store that has hefty discounts on name-brand products. If you’re into high end brands, the box and store alone could save you quite a sum and it’s worth signing up.

Example Boxes

If you want to do a deeper dive into the contents and my personal experience with the products:

The Pros and Cons of the Allure Beauty Box

What I Love

The best value I’ve found of any beauty box
You can try out premium brands for a fraction of the cost
It comes with a pamphlet with how to use each item
Items most people can use frequently, like makeup remover, lotions, and common cosmetics
Members-only store with deep discounts so you can afford your new favorite product
Free Shipping

The Less Desirable

Few customization options – You may need to share an unwanted item with a friend now and then
With an annual subscription, you could end up with a small pile of unused products
The samples in the box are for premium brands. You might fall in love with some expensive products!

Verdict

This is one of my favorite boxes! When I first started getting this box it was strictly for the blog and it was the one I was looking forward to the least. (Sorry, Allure!)

I confess that I was seduced by boxes with flashy, colorful palettes and bold lipstick shades. Once I started receiving them, I realized colorful makeup isn’t practical for a 30-something professional. I don’t want to be known as Ursula around the office (or Mimi from The Drew Carey show, if you’re old enough to remember that.)

Allure quickly became one of my favorites because it’s so useable and sends products I actually want to try. The month I got a full-sized perfume I had been dying to try convinced me I made the right decision.

As an added bonus, my skincare routine is improving. I’m learning where I can refine and take better care of my skin as I age. I’ve enjoyed trying new products I haven’t heard of, like pore control cream.

I can’t afford to buy some of the products at retail price. This box has become my monthly taste of how the other half lives without throwing my budget out the window or having to give up avocado toast.

If you want to treat yourself to something fancy without spending much more than you would at Target, you can sign up here.

Alternatives

In terms of product value, Allure seems to be the best buy, but there are a couple other good options:

Ipsy – BoxyCharm subscription is probably the closest competitor. High quality items at a similar price point. It can be customized to include more makeup or skincare products, depending on your preference. The add-ons each month make this one another favorite for me!

BirchBox – Each month they send out 4-5 mostly sample size products. It’s a little less expensive than Allure, but also has a lower value. The contents of the box are good quality, but also at a lower price point so it’s easier to purchase your new favorite items.

Petit Vour – Catering to our vegan friends, they are committed to sending out a mixture of sample and full-sized products. A similar concept and about $100 value in each box. If you’re looking for vegan skin and hair care, this is probably the best box for you.

Not in to Commitment?

It’s hard to find a similar one-time buy with the variety of brands and products in Allure’s box.

Estee Lauder’s Plump & Nourish or Reliance bags offer some similar products. If you’ve got some money burning a hole in your pocket, the Holiday Blockbuster is also an option.
Signature Gifts by Dorrie on Etsy has a variety of short term subscription and one-time boxes. I have gotten her beauty box and it was a great value. I’m itching to try her spa boxes and that is next on my list.