September Cult Cosmetics Blackbox Review

The box: Cult Cosmetics Blackbox

The cost: $24.95 

The goods: 3 bottles of nail polish plus nail art tools and other surprises.

Mash Nail Art Rhinestones: ($4.99)  I can't wait to attempt to use these, then accidentally spill half the container on the floor and still find them in the carpet 8 months later.

OPI Pure Lacquer Nail Apps - Blue and Gray Rattlesnake: ($11.95) I've never used the OPI brand nail strips, but I heard good things about them when they first came out.

OPI Jinx: ($9)  I think of all the texture polish, the sand-y trend has been my favorite.  It seems like it lasts a lot longer than normal polish.  I love this color, but I wish I'd had it to wear for the summer.

Color Club Haute Couture: ($4.37)  This is a fairly old color (2007 or 2008 I think) but it's unlike any colors I already owned.  It's a dark, plum-brown color that's perfect for fall.

Color Club Angel Kiss: ($10) The only reason I stuck around for September is because they said there'd be a holo polish.  I can't even describe how obsessed I am with good, linear holographic polishes.  I just want to paint my nails with this and stand in the sun and stare at it for hours.

Starting in October, Blackboxes are going to contain Cult Cosmetics' own custom line of polishes.  I've already cancelled my subscription, but I am interested to see how their new brand stacks up to the name brands they've been sending out.

August Cult Cosmetics Blackbox Review

Blackbox is a nail subscription box from Cult Cosmetics.  For $24.99 a month, they send you 3 nail polishes and a nail tool.

This month they included a card with 3 different nail art ideas using the items in the box.

Mash Striping Tape: (~$6) Striping tape is one of those things that I've always meant to buy, but never have. 

Essie Full Steam Ahead: ($8)  It's part of the Summer 2013 "Naughty Nautical" collection.  It's a pale lavender with a bit of shimmer.

Essie First Timer: ($8) This is part of the Resort 2013 collection.  I have a ton of mint nail polishes, but none of them are dupes of this.

China Glaze Surfin' for Boys: This is from the Summer 2012 collection.  This is a super bright neon coral with shimmer.  I've wanted this since the collection was announced.  I loooove burn-your-eyes-bright polish.

Also included in my box this month was this extra "Thank You" gift.  The note says that it's a token of appreciation for customer loyalty.  In this red and white OPI pouch, there was a buffer block, a nail file, and rhinestone toe separators.  

I was considering cancelling Blackbox to try out a different nail sub for a while, but then I got the "spoiler" email about September's box.  I'm pretty sure it's going to have at least one holo in it - so I'm going to stick around for that at least.

July Cult Cosmetics Blackbox

Cult Cosmetics' Blackbox is $19.99 + $5 shipping.  They send you 3 brand name nail polishes and a nail art tool every month.

This month they started including cards with examples of what you can do with the included tools.

Mash Marbleizing and Dotting Tools: ($4.99)  These five pens have tips on both ends in varying sizes.  I've always just used toothpicks for my marbles and dots, but I'm happy to have something that is reusable and sturdier.

OPI Silver Shatter:  ($8)  Eh. I'm over shatter nail polish.  I'll use black shatter very rarely, but other colors just aren't my thing.

Essie Rock the Boat: ($8) This is part of the Summer 2013 collection.  It's a really soft, shimmery blue.

Essie Madison Ave-hue: ($8) This is from the Spring 2013 collection.  It's a shimmery medium pink.  Not anything extremely unusual, but not an exact dupe of anything I already had.

When I first opened my box, I thought that they had sent me two of the same nail polishes as last month.  They're similar (especially the pinks) but not exact.  The first and third color are this month's and the second and fourth are last month's.

I'm kind of disappointed by the Blackbox subscription.  I thought that it would be awesome based on the nail art kits that Cult Cosmetics sells.  Even though I got my money's worth, none of the items this month really wowed me.  I'll give it another month and before I completely write it off and give another nail box a go.

Cult Cosmetics BlackBox Review

The last thing I need is more nail polish, but after looking at Cult Cosmetic's nail art kits, I just HAD to sign up for their new subscription service.  BlackBox promises to send you 3+ polishes and a nail tool every month for $20 plus shipping.

I honestly have no idea if this is the June box or the July box.  I was billed in June and it shipped in July. Cult Cosmetics has posted things on their Facebook page that make me think this isn't July's, buuuut a lot of girls have apparently already gotten that box.  So...no clue.

Mash Tweezers: ($3.99)  I've always just used a spare pair of eyebrow tweezers whenever my nail design required it.  After using these to place the glitter flakes on my manicure last week, I don't know how I've survived without them.  It's amazing how much of a difference the proper tools can make.

Loose Silver Glitter: This is super pretty.  I love loose glitter.  I used it for the "stars" on my 4th of July manicure.

Gold Nail Studs: I love clothing with studs, and I've seen awesome nail designs with studs, so I can't wait to give it a go for myself. 

KM Nail Glue: ($1.25) For use with the above studs.  Any time I've used nail glue, I've wasted about half the bottle on my hands, arms, and fingers.

 Essie The Girls Are Out: ($8) In the bottle, it looks very similar to Bottle Service, but on the nail it's much more purple.  And shiny.

Essie Bottle Service: ($8)  This color is neon, which I love.  I have a couple neon pinks, but none this exact color.

Essie Avenue Maintain: ($8)  I love blue nail polish, but for some reason I don't have many.  I used this on my toes and I can't stop looking at them.

Here are some hurried swatches of The Girls Are Out, Bottle Service, and Avenue Maintain.  Bottle Service is brighter in person.

They also included a Cult Cosmetics decal.

 The total value of the box is over $30, plus it has reignited my interest in nail art.  The customer service over at Cult Cosmetics is really good, too, which counts for a lot.  Right now, they're offering your first BlackBox at 50% off, no code needed.  They also have nail art kits that are very reasonably priced...and very tempting!