Simply Angela : Boxy Charm FantaSEA (July’s Boxy Charm Base Box Review)

My Boxy Charm Basic Box for July arrived and…it seems to be throwing it back to the OG Boxy, which was one of my favorites. So, did Boxy Charm get it right? Let’s see!

There is a lot going on with this month’s Boxy Basic. If you’re new to Boxy, I’ve left all the information in the box down below. Just to give you a quick bit of info, Boxy Base is a $24 (plus tax, shipping is free in the continental US) monthly beauty box that features 5 full size beauty items and has a guaranteed value of at least $175.

It’s been about a year since I’ve reviewed Boxy Charm on the blog—that’s mostly due to the boxes arriving late, normally they arrive in the middle of the next month. Occasionally, Boxy Charm is late with shipping due to Covid restrictions but the majority of the time, my boxes (it doesn’t matter where they’re from) get stuck in Kentucky with DHL. If a box is shipping through DHL, I know that it will be two or more weeks late, apparently it vacations in Kentucky before finding its way to Ohio.

Getting back to the Boxy Charm Base Box, this is what I received in my July FantaSEA box.

Alamar Cosmetics Brighten & Bronze Complexion Trio (Shade: Fair/Light, MSRP: $25)—I’m always happy to get a palette that has complexion products in it, especially one that can be used as setting powdered and bronzers. It just makes grabbing products easier when you’re in a hurry. This one contains a brightener, a bronzer, and a deeper contour shade.

I tried the brightener under my eyes and I just didn’t like the way it looked with the bits of mica in it; I much prefer the Ofra banana powder if I want something to brighten my under eye area. If I go in with a fluffy brush, I can use this as a setting powder to brighten up my foundation that’s just a shade too dark. The middle shade is great to set my foundation with when my foundation is too light and it also gives me a lovely sun kissed look. It does work as a light bronzer but I prefer mine to be a tad bit darker. The contour shade is the perfect bronzer for me.

I have exceedingly dry skin and I’m happy to report this trio didn’t dry out my skin or highlight the dry patches. They blend perfectly and sit nicely on my skin. I wore this for 8 plus hours while I was running errands on a 90degree day and I’m happy to report it stayed lovely all day.

The Lyfestyle Co. Detox Hair Serum (MSRP: $79)—this has a very earthy scent, which I don’t mind as it does seem to dissipate quickly, and it seems to be a dry oil when I applied a drop to my hand. I haven’t tried this yet as I’ve been testing out a new shampoo and conditioner but I will try to give an update either in next month’s beauty wrap up or on Instagram.

MudMasky Vitamin-Infused Eye Serum (MSRP: $63)—this, my friends, is a massive eye serum. It’s an entire fluid ounce (normally they’re half an ounce or under) and seems to be packed with nourishing ingredients. I have a few more eye serums to get through before I open this one. Again, when I use this I will try to remember to make an update either on the blog or on Instagram.

Grande Cosmetics Grandeglow Plumping Liquid Highlighter (Shade: French Pearl MSRP: $25)—I’m not a fan of liquid highlighters but I did try this one out. I don’t like this as an over the foundation highlighter; no matter how I apply or blend it, it removes my foundation. If I apply it as a highlighter under my foundation, it gives a subtle, lit from within glow. My favorite way to use this is by mixing it in with my moisturizer if I want a glowy skin look without makeup or adding it to my primer for a glowy makeup look. Both ways wear beautifully all day.

Billion Dollar Brows Brows on Point Micro Pencil (Shade: Taupe, MSRP: $16)—If I’m using a brow pencil, it’s usually a BDB pencil so I’ve very happy to have received this one in my box. I was a bit worried when this said taupe, as the shade’s usually a bit too cool toned but this one’s the perfect color and not at all ashy looking.

MSRP Value of July’s Boxy Basic: $208

Rating: 4.5

(1 point for the complexion trio, hair serum, eye serum, and brow pencil. Half point to the liquid highlighter.)

Did the box fit the theme: FantaSEA? I don’t really see where this box had much of a theme. If someone would have showed me the items and asked if I could guess the theme I would have had to say random shop down the beauty aisle.

My overall thoughts: I’m not going to lie, I was a little shocked by the size of the box. It was super small—I think it seems smaller than the original size when they first started but it’s been so long it could actually be the original size—and it’s black on the inside rather than the red they switched to, which makes me think it could be the original box. Normally the Basic boxes are twice the size of this one so I wasn’t really sure what was going to be inside. There were a lot of smaller items in this box (liquid highlighter, brow pencil, hair serum), normally the items have been a bit bulkier.

The products themselves are items that I was happy to receive and I know that I’ll use them. It’s been a minute since the Basic Box has impressed me, not that I was getting bad products but rather products I wouldn’t use.

The complexion trio, eye serum, and brow pencil are items that I know I’ll use. I’m a bit hesitant with the hair serum as this is a scalp treatment and I normally don’t like the feel of products applied directly to my scalp but I gave this a point as it’s something different. Normally, most of the haircare in Boxy Charm is from the same two brands so it was nice seeing something new.

My only half point in the box is the liquid highlighter—I will never be a fan of liquid or cream highlighters—but I did like this when I used it give me a glowy look when mixed with my moisturizers and primers. The only problem with that is I’ll have to make myself remember to reach for it. I’m going to put this in my drawer with my skin illuminators and hope I remember to use it.

Overall, this was the highest rated Boxy Basic I’ve received for quite a while. I like that we’re seeing brands that’s not normally in Boxy (like MudMasky) but they feature in their sales. I also like that I’ll use everything in this box (just have to post a reminder about the liquid highlighter). It was on the smaller side but it was full of amazing products (and a nice mixture of hair, skin, and beauty) and I feel as though the monetary value as well as the use value was there.

BoxyCharm Base Box is a $24 (plus tax) monthly beauty box containing 5 full-size beauty items. The boxes often include makeup, hair care, skincare, hair tool, beauty tools, and more often from prestige brands. With the Base Box Subscription, you’ll be able to select 1 product of your choice each month. The Base Box has a guaranteed value of $175 or above.

There is an in-depth beauty quiz to fill out, including your shade of foundation and concealer, to help ensure your box suits your taste and your skin type. After your box arrives, you’ll be able to review your products, which helps Boxy Charm curate future boxes to your preference. You’ll also earn charms for each item you review which can be used to purchase products from the Charm Room.

As a Boxy Charm subscriber, you’ll have access to their Pop-up and Add-on sales, which allows you to buy products for up to 70% off the MSRP. It’s the perfect way to buy bougie makeup products and not feel guilty.

Boxy Charm does offer a Premium Box as well as a quarterly upgrade to the Base Box. To subscribe to either, you have to have an active Base Box subscription and will be put on a waitlist, which is often only a month if that.

Find out more about Boxy Charm HERE