The Box: Allure Fall Beauty Box (no longer available)
The Price: $44.95 + s&h
The Goods: A collection of beauty, skincare and haircare products curated by Allure magazine.
Arm & Hammer Spin Brush Truly Radiant - Deep Clean: ($8.97) I mean, who can't always use another toothbrush? Side note: is it just me or are there way too many options for toothbrushes? Shouldn't there be a general consensus that a handful of styles are all we really need?
Neutrogena Triple Repair Fortifying Leave In Treatment: ($5.99) I put my hair through hell with all of the bleaching and dying, so I use a leave in treatment every time I wash my hair. I am glad to see that this one is safe for color treated hair.
e.l.f. Makeup Remover Cleansing Cloths: ($3) I have used these before, but I prefer Yes To... or Burt's Bees. These are really thin, flimsy cloths and they aren't very effective on waterproof mascara. They do work well as clean up wipes, however, if you happen to make your eyeliner wing a bit larger than you wanted or if you colored outside your lip line.
Arm & Hammer Truly Radiant Toothpaste: ($3.48) Like with the toothbrushes, I feel like there are way too many options in toothpaste out there. It does have a slight baking soda-y flavor, but it's not overwhelming by any means.
John Frieda Brilliant Brunette Colour Protecting Shampoo: ($5.72) There are currently no brunettes in this household, so I'll be listing this for swap.
Sally Hansen Miracle Gel - Shock Wave and Top Coat: ($14.99) I've been wanting to try this line since it was announced. I am pretty rough on manicures, so it'll be interesting to see how many days I actually get out of this.
Organic Doctor Tea Tree Face Wash: ($9.59) I've never actually tried this brand, but it is cruelty-free so I'm super stoked to give it a go. I've been a fan of tea tree oil for years now, so this face wash has already been bumped up to the next on my list to try.
Make It Straight: ($12.49) Most of the reviews I've read mention that they didn't like the smell of this. I'm pretty picky when it comes to hair scents, so I'll sell or trade this.
John Frieda Intense After-Colour Conditioner: ($11.92) I am going to be redoing my purple in the next week or two, so I'll be trying this then.
Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser: ($9.59) This is a substantial bottle of cleanser and I already have a substantial backlog of face washes. I already passed this on to J. He goes through a LOT of face wash during the Halloween season.
TRESemme Keratin Smooth 7 Day Smooth Control Starter Set: ($6.98) Unlike the Make It Straight, nothing I've read said that this has an awful smell to it. I'm still a little hesitant to try it since I am overprotective of my color, but I might man up and give it a try.
John Frieda Frizz Ease Go Curlier: ($8.49) This is heat activated and I usually just stick with braids or other heat-free options to add curl and wave to my hair. I might give it a try the next time I attempt scrunching my hair, though.
Ban Total Refresh Cooling Body Cloths - Restore: ($3.29) These actually are very cooling. I wasn't entirely fond of the powdery scent, but it isn't strong enough to be a complete deal-breaker. I would totally pack these the next time we go hiking.
Aloxxi Dry Shampoo: ($20) This has got to be the wettest dry shampoo I have ever used. It has a consistency closer to hair spray. It did absorb the oil in my hair, but not quite as well as my beloved Batiste. If you hate the powdery feel of most dry shampoos, this might be a good option for you.
Real Techniques Blush Brush: ($6.74) This brush is super soft. I'm of the opinion that a girl can never really have too many different makeup brushes. My current blush brush is a little bit different in shape.
Redken Blonde Idol BBB Spray: ($19) Surprisingly, I really like the way this smells. I'll probably make my way back to blonde at some point, so I'll keep this for the future. I wonder if anyone makes styling products specifically for purple hair...
Jergens Natural Glow Firming Lotion - Medium to Tan: ($8.49) You know, I remember when Jergens first came out with their natural glow lotion and it was in such high demand that you couldn't find it anywhere and people were selling it on ebay for super high prices. Anyway. I kind of like my ghostly-pale skin, and I think that this shade would probably be too dark for me anyway.
Organic Doctor Dead Sea Mineral Bio-Plasma Mud Mask: ($9.59) I already have so many face masks that J and I could probably do a spa day twice a week for a year and not run out. This will be traded.
Burt's Bees Lip Crayon - Hawaiian Smolder: ($9) I was a little surprised that this has a standard lipstick smell and not something yummy like Burt's Bees' lipbalms. It feels smooth on the lips, but I did notice that it accentuated any parts of my lips that weren't entirely smooth.
It does have a nice, buildable color. I was able to get it to look like a tinted lip balm by using just a little or like a lipstick by using several layers.
Dove Deep Moisture Body Wash: ($5.99) Meh. There isn't really anything spectacular about this body wash. This will probably get donated.
Curel Rough Skin Rescue Body Lotion: ($8.88) J is constantly complaining of dry skin, so he's already claimed this.
Clean & Clear Advantage Daily Soothing Acne Scrub: ($6.37) My face is actually fairly clear right now, but I'm sure I'll be needing this at some point.
Organic Doctor Organic Moroccan Argan Oil: ($9.59) Since J discovered the wonders of deep conditioner, we seem to go through a lot of it. It isn't very fragranced, but I do like the smell of it.
Healthy Sexy Hair Soy Renewal Oil: ($22.95) I generally really like Sexy Hair products and this one seems to wear quite a few hats. It can be used as a deep treatment, a thermal protector, a styling product, and/or a finishing product.
Total Value: $231.10
Compared to the past few Allure boxes, this one is a bit of a let down. Others I've gotten were over $300 in value - so basically they chipped $100 off what you got and kept the cost the same. It also seems like there were a lot more brand repeats in this one. Don't get me wrong, the Allure Beauty Boxes are still one of the best values out there, but I really hope that this isn't the start of a downward trend.
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