The 3B Box Review

If you (1) love Asian makeup and skincare brands, (2) are crazy about mini-sized products, and (3) like the idea of subscription boxes, then you might be interested in what I am about to share with you in this post!

About 3B

3B (the3bbox.com), or Beauty Beyond Borders, is a new Seattle startup founded by Ke Chen. The 3B Box is a monthly subscription box where for only US$12 a month, you will receive a curated selection of full-sized products and/or deluxe samples of Asian skincare and makeup items that you normally won’t be able to find in the US market (unless you are willing to pay unreasonable markups!). According to the company’s website, brands that you can expect to see samples of range from go-to brands such as Lioele, Etude House and Shu Uemura to high-end premium brands such as — now prepare to gasp — SK-II, Amore Pacific, and Sulwhasoo!

I was recently sent a box for review purposes and I believe this is the first box they sent out to subscribers (December 2014). Although it did not include any high-end products, I’m still very impressed with the variety of samples in the box. I actually see myself using every single one of them on a regular basis.

Details and restrictions

 

Details

• US$12 a month (shipping included)
• 4-5 products (full- and/or sample-size) plus an info card detailing the product names and descriptions in English; all wrapped up in a beautiful organza bag
• Ability to buy full-sized products directly from the 3B website (upcoming feature)

Restrictions

• US mailing addresses only
• Credit card is the only accepted form of payment; no PayPal
• Inability to personalize products based on skin color, type, or needs

They are actively looking into expanding shipment to international destinations, though! All you need to do is email them and let them know where you’d like the box to ship to! They are still a relatively new company so I’d give them a little time to iron out the kinks. Hopefully there will be good news for international customers soon. After all, it’s supposed to be Beauty Beyond Borders right? :)

Box contents

For my first box, I received the following:

1. Etude House Moistfull Collagen Facial Freshener and Emulsion (15 ml each; made in Korea)
2. The Face Shop Herb Day Cleansing Tissue (20 sheets; made in Korea)
3. Peripera Nail Story Polish (8.5 ml; made in Korea)
4. K-Palette 1 Day Magic Liquid Eyeliner (size not indicated, made in Japan)

Pretty good value there in my opinion considering that the Face Shop Herb Day Cleansing Tissue and K-Palette 1 Day Magic Liquid Eyeliner are both full-size! I’ve been wanting to try anything from K-Palette for a long time so I’m super excited to see it in the bag. :)

Etude House Moistfull Collagen Facial Freshener and Emulsion

The Facial Freshener is basically a toner applied after cleansing. It has a colorless gel-like texture that refreshes the skin upon contact. The Emulsion is a creamy, lightweight lotion that glides on easily and sinks in almost immediately without leaving behind any residue. Both have a light, refreshing scent that does not linger. I can’t attest to the collagen claim but my skin feels nice and hydrated after use.

The Face Shop Herb Day Cleansing Tissue

These wipes are excellent for removing makeup and leaving the skin clean and fresh! No tight or stripped feeling afterwards. It breaks down everything be it foundation, concealer, waterproof mascara or eyeliner. The wipes are perfectly saturated — not too wet and not too dry — and stay relatively moist throughout the cleaning process. I also like that they are not too thin or rip apart easily. I’m not sure how I feel about its perfume-y scent, though. It’s a refreshing scent, definitely, but it’s rather strong and seems to linger on the skin.

Peripera Nail Story Polish

This is a classic, vivid red nail polish that leaves such a gorgeous shine! Not sure how often I will get to wear it but the formula seems to spread really easily. It’s not too think or too thin and becomes opaque in 2 coats. It has ridiculously fast drying time, too!

K-Palette 1 Day Magic Liquid Eyeliner

Now for the item I’m most excited about! This is a pen-style, black liquid eyeliner with a brush tip tapered to a super fine point! This is a dream eyeliner for those who prefer lining really close to the lash line or those who want to achieve extremely sharp winged eyeliner. The black isn’t the blackest I have seen but I like that once it sets, it stays on without budging until removal time (and it’s easy to remove with any eye makeup remover). The continuous ink flow is also another major plus as it helps to create a smooth, crisp line with ease.

Swatches

Overall, I am very satisfied with the items I received. They are good, quality products that deliver top performance but more importantly, they are something that I would use on a regular basis. I’m also impressed with the friendliness as well as professionalism of the company. My questions and concerns were addressed promptly and they truly value your feedback. I highly recommend the 3B Box! :)

Note: There is currently a wait list to subscribe to the box. I’d sign up ASAP to be notified when space is available!

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP!    or LEARN MORE ABOUT 3B

Disclosure: The 3B Box was provided by 3B. All opinions are my own.