Just like Seeds & Flowers, Memebox The January Box was one of the last boxes curated by the Korean team before Memebox Global became Memebox USA. It is also the unofficial Global #19, which everyone believes is the last edition in the long-running Global box series. I’m kinda sad about that because Global boxes [as well as mask boxes] were my favorite and most-purchased variety ever since I became a customer in January 2014.
Unfortunately, due to temperature spikes, my box came with one item damaged – a toner that would have been perfect for my skin. It bursted inside the box, damaging the contents, and I even cut myself trying to clean up the mess. Memebox gave me some points as an apology, but I don’t know if I’m satisfied with that, I would have definitely preferred to have my toner replaced. Unfortunately, it seems that Memebox USA is not connected to Memebox Korea anymore, so they couldn’t get their hands on a replacement.
HOW IT WORKS: Memebox Global is not a typical subscription service. They periodically curate boxes filled with assorted beauty products popular among Koreans, and those Limited Edition bundles are sold on first come first serve basis. Prices vary depending on the type of the box. At this time Memebox ships to USA, China and Korea. All themed boxes tend to sell out fast, so by the time you read this review this particular box probably won’t be available for sale anymore. Click here to see available boxes.
Coupon codes:
- Use code FABFIVE to get $5 off $50 in Memebox USA shop and XO Memebox products. Can be used 3x per account.
- Use code SOOTHING10 to get 10% off your entire order when you buy Soothing Sista Eyeshadow Quad. Yes, it works on boxes, too!
- Use code WELCOME to get 15% off your first purchase. Works only for first-time customers.
The Choute Aurora Pearl Base is a shimmerbomb in dimethicone base. It’s a highlighter that can be used as a primer for that very shiny dewy look, popular in Korea right now. FYI they are not into matte complexions at all, so don’t be surprised with all the shimmer and glitter in your Asian boxes! I already have a lot of highlighters, including shimmer bases, so this one will be given away.
How to use: Dot on the areas you want to highlight and blend away for a soft dewy look.
Pureplus+ Acai Berry Magic Bubble – I like the idea of this cleanser, because superfuits like acai berry, are awesome for your skin and body. Unfortunately, it failed the pH test after my paper strip matched the 10 mark. TEN! That’s harsher than washing my face with a laundry detergent! Needless to say, this will not be gifted to anyone, and I’ll have to try and figure out how to use it.
How to use: Lather up between your palms with a little bit of water and gently massage into skin, then wash off. But really, don’t use it, even if you think your face can take it. Trust me, it can’t.
Esthetic House Vita 3000 Vitamin C Vita-Capsule Cream – It’s like Esthetic House was going for maximum SEO with these crazy names for their vitamin-enriched creams, so they decided to stuff three -vitas in one line. But you know me, I love my acids, and Vitamin C is a tried and tested treatment for hyperpigmentation. Sounds like it can be used as a spot treatment or an all-over brightening serum.
How to use: Apply topically to discolorations or use as an all-over brightening treatment.
CB Revitalizing Fermentation Essence & Gold Cream – Don’t all start fighting over these foil samples now, ladies! I know you’re all jealous, but show some manners here, sheesh! I mean, really?? Okay, I can see getting samples like that thrown in on top as a thank you for purchase kind of thing, but they are printed on the card so they are not just GWPs. Both the cream and the essence seem to be quite nice actually, and it would’ve been nice to give them a proper test run. It doesn’t seem like the company makes travel sizes, but Memebox could have at least included more foils, especially since you could request 30 foils online for free.
How to use: After cleansing and toning, pat in the essence until it’s absorbed, then apply the cream and massage it in. Suitable for all skin types.
THE VERDICT: Since my product card turned into mush, I had to toss it and rely another blogger’s picture; then it suddenly hit me: not only did I have a shattered toner, there was a hand cream missing from my box! Although, general consensus is that the cream doesn’t work well, so maybe I didn’t miss much, but still. Seriously, what’s the deal with my luck lately? From this bundle I will probably use up the Vitamin C cream, and the foil samples. The shimmer/highlighter is probably nice, too, but I just have too many of them in my stash right now, so it will be given away. As for the cleanser, at pH10 it’s kinda hard to figure out what to do with it, because it’s too harsh for the face, body, and probably even for the brushes. Wash dishes with it, maybe? That’s too weird, isn’t it? I need ideas!
Did you get The January Box? What do you do with cleansers that are too harsh for your skin? Tell me in the comments below!
The value below applies only to my box, since my Moringa toner was broken and the hand cream was missing. Basically, it’s the total value of the things I actually received.
| Product | Retail value |
|---|---|
| The Choute Aurora Pearl Base | $13.62 |
| Pureplus+ Acai Berry Magic Bubble | $8.99 |
| Esthetic House Vita 3000 Vitamin C Vita-Capsule Cream | $18.16 |
| CB Essence + Cream Samples | $3.25 |
| Box Retail Value | $44.02 |
Too bad magic bubble failed!
It was so disappointing 🙁 That shattered toner would have been the only product to be excited about. Totally bummed about this box, what a waste of money.
Gee, this was very disappointing, Anastasia, especially since it was the last Korean box. Boo. They should replace the broken toner and the missing hand cream instead of giving you points. I am a bit concerned about Memebox USA. I’m hoping the quality will still be there. Do you know if Memebox USA is a separate company, or will they have access to the same Korean products?
Yeah, I’m really bummed 🙁 Memebox USA is now a separate entity from Memebox Korea, so they don’t have access to the same brands yet, but they are starting to build relationships with some of the more popular Korean companies, like Skinfood, Missha, and Tonymoly. Hopefully that means we’ll see some indies as well, like we did in our Global boxes.
Not my favorite Meme box but they’ve had so many good ones that it was bound to happen.
Yeah, I think considering how many I bought over the past year, this is the first time something like this happened.
Oh nooo! I’m sorry to hear that the Magic Bubble didn’t work for you. It seems like it would have been some kind of great. Which reminds me, I need to get some pH strips.
Girl, those pH strips changed the way I look at cleansers forever. I was wondering why no matter what I do my cheeks stay dry, and acne keeps appearing until I read somewhere that it might be a very drying cleanser. I bought some strips on Amazon, and what do you know? It showed 10, which is a lot! I’m now using a very mild one, and my skin cleared up pretty quickly.
The only problem with subscription boxes is sometimes they don’t live up to the level of the ones before.
No kidding, Marcia. This was a disappointing box to begin with, and then I had a broken product, and another product missing.
Total bummer. Not only for the way they handled your missing and broken items, but in the foil packets and detergent they did include. Bad form, Memebox, bad form.
I think I might have been extra cranky when I wrote this review, but yeah, this was probably my most disappointing box to date.
That’s not good! I would be pissed if this was my box. Hopefully this was an isolated incident.
Luckily, this is the first time something like this happened to me, and that’s after over a year of buying Memeboxes [I bought over 60 so far]. Still, doesn’t make me any less pissed; I want mah toner! 🙂
Oh man, what a box. I am curious why they’d even make a cleanser that harsh.
Honestly, I keep testing Korean cleansers and most of them scored poorly. I wonder why?
I had a sub box with a can of natural soda in it do that!
All these items are new to me. Thanks for sharing.
Bummer, I bet that soda would have tasted really good!
That Pearl base sounds nice… I love the feel of Dimethicone though I know it is not good for your skin – I love the way it feels. 🙂
The highlighter is great, but I just have too many of these in use already. It should make a nice gift though! 🙂
I love Vitamin C creams so the Esthetic House Vita 3000 Vitamin C Vita-Capsule Cream sounds great to me.
Me, too, I am also a huge fan of Vitamin C in skin care. It’s one of those ingredients I know I can trust to work well.