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
The above
links are affiliate links and if you subscribe via the links I receive a small
Boxy Charm credit I can use to redeem items.