Unboxing | Walmart Beauty Box Summer 2015 | Hello Pretty Bird! - A beauty and not-so-glamorous lifestyle blog

23 June, 2015

Unboxing | Walmart Beauty Box Summer 2015

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For the second time in a row, the Walmart Beauty Box managed to show up on my doorstep without any warning. A quick search of my e-mail reveals that they did in fact send me tracking info, but it came from "auto-notify" with the subject line "Unregistered Demo". Who knows how I managed to overlook that. Anyway, it's here now—want to see what's in it?

Walmart Beauty Box Summer 2015 review unboxing WMS T1

Unfamiliar with the Walmart Beauty Box? It's a quarterly beauty subscription box created by a little retailer you might have heard of once or twice, Walmart. For just $5 per quarter you get a box filled with drugstore beauty and personal care samples (and occasional full-sized goodies too). You can check out my reviews of past boxes here.

Since its inception, Walmart Beauty Box has sent out at least two versions of the beauty box in any given quarter, each with slightly different products. I'm not sure how many variations there are this time around, but my shipping e-mail said I was getting "WMS T1". I still don't know if that reference number actually corresponds with the box though. Unregistered Demo. Walmart is mysterious.

You & I by One Direction: The New Fragrance EDP eau de parfum sample

You & I by One Direction: The New Fragrance EDP (1.5ml, approximate value $1.98):
Apparently "You & I" is also the name of a One Direction song, not just a fragrance. I just learned that on Google. (Excuse me while I old.) I'm not sure what the tone of the song is, but this fragrance is light and bright—a fairly nondescript fruity floral. My boyfriend thought it smelled like Ivory soap, but I think he needs to get his nosebuds tuned. By the way, I couldn't find this on the Walmart website—maybe it's only sold in stores? Shrug.

Clear Scalp & Hair Therapy Complete Care Shampoo sample

Clear Scalp & Hair Therapy Complete Care Shampoo (1.7fl oz, approximate value $0.66):
Sexy, sexy anti-dandruff shampoo. Show me your Pyrithione ZINC, baby. In all seriousness though, I like every CLEAR shampoo I've tried to date, and I do get dandruff (yay!), so this is right up my boring alley.


Dove Go Fresh Revitalize Body Wash (1.8fl oz/53ml, approximate value $0.45):
I got this exact same body wash sample in my last Walmart Beauty Box. It's a perfectly fine body wash—creamy and sort of fruity-smelling—but repeat samples make me sad.


Nivea Soft Moisturizing Creme (0.84oz, approximate value $0.87):
A multi-purpose moisturizing cream with a light, whipped texture. The formula of this cream is pretty basic (heavy on the glycerin and mineral oil), but I could see it coming in handy for rehydrating chapped extremities. The scent isn't my favorite—kind of like the juice that wet wipes come packed in? If I'm putting it on my feet I don't really care about the fragrance that much though.

NYC Liquid Lipshine in Fashion Ave Fuchsia 579

NYC Liquid Lipshine in Fashion Ave Fuchsia/579 (Full size/7.2ml, value $1.87):
A high-shine lip gloss with a slim wand for precise application. The color looks pretty intense in the tube, but it looks much more natural on the lips:

NYC Liquid Lipshine in Fashion Ave Fuchsia 579 lip swatch swatches

Well, minus the sparkle anyway. I like this shade a lot—it's a lot pinker than my natural lip color, but still subtle enough that it doesn't make you look super done-up. My boyfriend actually asked if I was wearing lipstick after I put this on—I think he could tell that something was different about my look, but it was so slight that he had to ask (and then stare at the lower half of my face like a creep once I told him). The formula is a touch sticky, but with all things considered, it's not too bad.

St. Ives Fresh Skin Apricot Scrub sample

St. Ives Fresh Skin Apricot Scrub (1oz, approximate value $0.60):
Now here's a product that's been around for a while. St. Ives scrub is a polarizing force in the beauty world—some people swear that it keeps their acne at bay, while others insist that the walnut shell scrubby bits create problematic "micro tears" in the skin (and will threaten to CUT YOU if you say otherwise). I don't have any hard scientific evidence to support one theory or the other, nor do I usually use scrubby scrubs like this on my face anyway, but I will say this—it does feel pretty darn good as a foot scrub.

Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer - Medium to Tan sample

Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer - Medium to Tan (24ml, approximate value $0.81):
This moisturizer contains Dihydroxyacetone, which in my view puts it in the self-tanner category, not the moisturizer category. It is pretty low down in the ingredients list though, so I doubt regular usage of this product would result in more than gradual color. Self-tanner is definitely not my thing so I won't be trying this, but it does seem like an appropriate choice for a summer beauty box.

Neutrogena CoolDry Sport Lotion SPF 70 sample

Neutrogena CoolDry Sport Lotion SPF 70 (0.5fl oz, approximate value $0.85):
A chemical sunscreen with mad high SPF. I won't be trying this one because it contains an ingredient I'm sensitive to, but I'm sure Mr. Bird will be thrilled when I give it to him. Will he actually remember to use it though? Stay tuned... but either way, high SPF sunscreen is certainly a good choice for the season.


In addition to the samples, there was also a little booklet with makeup brush tips and $2 off coupons for Real Techniques, EcoTools, and Essential Tools. This would actually be sort of useful if the coupons didn't expire on June 30th—not sure I'll have time to use them before then. Oh well. It's good to know that Walmart is selling Real Techniques though—they're great brushes for the price.


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Total box value: Approximately $8.09
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Overall impressions:
I liked this month's Walmart Beauty Box a bit better than the last one. Some of the product selections weren't exactly cutting-edge, but I got to try some stuff I hadn't before, and for the love of all things pretty there was only one packet sample. Yay! My favorite item from the box was definitely the NYC lip gloss—I like the color enough that I will actually wear it again instead of letting it rot in a drawer. And most of the rest of the stuff will get used by me or Stan, so... OK.

Bottom line: If you're looking for exotic, high-value products, the Walmart Beauty Box probably isn't for you. But if you like the idea of sampling a bunch of shit from the drugstore à la going on a random shopping spree in the travel-sized products section, it's certainly worth the $5.

Like what you see? You can subscribe here. Your first box will most likely be the fall one, FYI.


What do you think of the latest Walmart Beauty Box? Which one of these samples would you adore (or abhor) the most?


Disclosure: Some or all of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I will earn a commission if you make a purchase after clicking on them. For more information, check out my full disclosure policy.
 

25 comments:

  1. I got the same stuff as you. I def think its better than last months box. I was hoping the lip gloss would be more pigmented and that sucks that the coupons expire 6/30!

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  2. El-The Beauty IsleJune 23, 2015 at 3:35 PM

    I got the crappy version of the last box and I think I lucked out this time b/c I feel like I got the better version haha. Posting it on my IG in a little bit.

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  3. my last box STUNK! This one looks really good. Since I got my shipping notice several days ago, I'm hoping my box looks like this one. :D

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  4. Yeah, I was frankly kind of annoyed about the coupons! I think a lot of people are still receiving their boxes this week, which doesn't leave much time to use them at all.

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  5. Did yours have Olay and Caress in it? I saw some boxes like that on Instagram, and I do think they're a bit better than this one!

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  6. Hopefully! I've since peeked at Instagram unboxings and it seems like the other version they've sent out so far is also decent. Too many packet samples last time, that's for sure.

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  7. El-The Beauty IsleJune 23, 2015 at 11:29 PM

    Yup, and a John Freida Sea Salt Spray!

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  8. Looks like we got the same box! I haven't seen any variations yet although I haven't done too much digging. Like you said, while nothing here is particularly remarkable, it's still pretty decent for $5. Although I agree I was a little miffed at the repeat sample. I mean...they're Walmart. Do they not have endless access to samples of all kinds? Tch. I'm so happy you tried the lip gloss out too- I was going to toss in my give away pile when I saw that 80's fuchsia shade LOL

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  9. Box twin dance! I peeked on Instagram and some folks got a box with Caress body wash and an Olay thing and a John Frieda spray. Not sure if there are other variations beyond that. Which makes me even more irritated about the repeatsy sample... give me some of that Caress, lol!

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  10. This looks like a decent box! I would be annoyed by the repeat sample too, but other than that all of the items seem really practical.

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  11. Yeah, practical is a good word for it! I gave the bodywash and sunscreen samples to my boyfriend and he was pretty excited about it, lol.

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  12. Kimberly OhannesianJune 25, 2015 at 2:27 AM

    wow, my box was different. I got a full tube (not a sample size) of Revlon HD Lipstick $7.97 value, a Olay 7 in one anti aging eye treatment $14.35-$18.97 value (which I use!!!!), along with the sunblock, hair therapy, a john frieda Sea waves spray, caress body wash, and the coupons. this box was worth over $20. My Spring Beauty box was not the greatest.

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  13. I got the same box you did and it says on the bottom of the Clear Scalp Shampoo that I got that it expired May 2015.

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  14. Yikes, thanks for the heads-up! I just checked and mine says the same.

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  15. My box was different from all the ones I have seen so far. I got a full size NYC liquid eye liner, sample size Neutrogena mascara, .5 oz. Netrogena facial cleanser, .5 oz. Aveeno lotion with sunscreen, and the Nivea crème, Clear shampoo, and perfume sample that many received. No lip gloss or lipstick.

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  16. I got the same one as you, too! It also included the Jergens packets and the Ken Paves packets, the John Frieda sea waves spray and an Aveeno $2 off coupon for sunscreen(that thankfully doesn't expires until Dec.)! Much better than my Spring box which pretty much sucked...I just hope the rest of the boxes are at least as good as this one!

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  17. I got the same stuff ... Minus the perfume sample and minus the moisturizing creme but with nothing in place of them. I felt like my box was rather lacking this time around and now I really think that they skimped me on some items Lol oh well.

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  18. Interesting, I haven't seen that version yet! I'd take liquid liner instead of lip gloss. Makeup is good.

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  19. Natalie Carlson BrownJuly 2, 2015 at 10:08 PM

    This was a pretty decent box for the price. My favorite item would have been the lip gloss too. It's really pretty!

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  20. I agree! It's inexpensive too... I wonder how the other colors are now.

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  21. Mine was terrible. Old lady box since I'm 39. Foil pack samples of a L'Oreal Total repair 5 trio. Foil pack of a Burts Bees serum. Tiny type of a Neutrogena Hydro Boost water gel. Full size RED Revlon lipstick (don't wear). And a full size Vaseline lotion. I'll use that but nothing else 😞

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  22. I would've been happy with the Olay box. I feel that they should all be worth the same and they're clearly not....

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  23. Same thing happened to me. I got 2 of those. Wanted to give one to 23 yr. Old sister. The lipstick was it's only redemption.

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  24. Great summary btw.

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