LOOKFANTASTIC Beauty Box is a UK-based beauty subscription box that promises at least six hand-picked items. Each box contains skincare, haircare, cosmetics, and body care products curated around a specific theme. It’s available for US customers for $19.00 per month with free shipping.
My Subscription Addiction paid for this box. (Read our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we review boxes).
First Impressions
The July 2024 LOOKFANTASTIC Beauty Box has landed in a bright yellow box as the Sunshine Edit to remind us that summer is in full swing. While a recent box included—you guessed it—sunscreen, that’s not the case here. Instead, this box doesn’t focus exclusively on getting ready for summer, but rather on what you really need when you’re in the thick of it. It took me 24 hours to fully grasp this concept, but once I did, I absolutely loved this box. Read on to find out why.
What's in the box?
The July 2024 Sunshine Edit contains six products to keep you fresh and glowing this summer. From body butter to after-sun gel, this box is designed to be your all-around summer repair kit. Unlike the June box, the July LOOKFANTASTIC Beauty Box includes a variation where one of the items you receive can be either a Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser or a Beauty Pro Clay Sheet Mask (but more on that later!).
When this box arrived, I hadn’t been sunburned… yet. I wondered how I could vouch for this speedy recovery blend without having any skin trauma to test on. As much as I’d love to give a thorough review, I have to admit I wasn’t planning on throwing myself in the sun for this product. And then came sports day.
I recently learned that Sports Day, commonly known as Field Day in the US, is quite a big deal in UK schools. As a parent, I was invited to attend this 2.5 hour event, but naively assumed this was a gross overestimation. What could possibly take up so much time? I slathered on some sunscreen, put on jeans and sandals, and did my due diligence as a cheerleading parent. I learned three things from this experience:
If the school says 2.5 hours, believe them. It’s true.
Long legs don’t necessarily make you an Olympian in a space (ball) hopper race. I say this as someone who is 5’9″ and has fallen on my bum in the parent race more times than I care to remember.
Where the sun shines, I burn. Plan accordingly.
As you can see, I was a little tipsy. Lobster, you might even say. So I welcomed this after-sun gel with open arms. As expected, this product is based on soothing aloe vera, but it’s a bit more runny than a typical gel. It’s also packed with niacinamide for faster, more effective sunburn relief. I applied it to my burned and thirsty skin and found it cool and soothing to the touch. It’s quite thin, so I probably shouldn’t have been so generous when applying it, but that’s just how it is. I expected some of that horrible sunburn pain in the days that followed, but it never happened. Sure, I still looked red and blotchy from not applying my sunscreen evenly, but at least I didn’t suffer from it. For this product alone, the July gel box is a winner for me.
Here’s another product I might have been indifferent to if I hadn’t been marked by the big yellow dot in the sky. Body butters are a dime a dozen, but after putting this one to the test when it mattered most, I’d put Mio above all the others. Infused with omega-rich actives and andiroba oil to protect skin from drying out, this thick textured cream was just the ticket to prevent the peeling phase of my sunburn. Its citrus scent is pleasant but not overpowering, feels luxuriously soft, and was a nourishing treat for my arms and shoulders. Although they didn’t get sunburnt in the Sports Day sun fiasco, I also applied some to my legs and loved the smooth touch that followed.
This Foamie Body Bar was the final saviour of my sunburn chaos and was received as absolute delight. I was expecting something, well, foamy but found the consistency to be quite milky. Rich in papaya and oat milk, this massage bar has a string so you can hang it in the bath or shower. I indulged in a lukewarm bath and found it so soothing and smoothing that I can’t believe I ever doubted this box would work the miracle it does. I have to say, I think I enjoyed it more in the bath than the shower as it practically turned my bath water into a milk bath. It spread so luxuriously without much effort and the bumpy side of the soap only helps to enhance the experience for tight and tired calves (did I mention I fell off a bouncer?).
I feel like I can’t escape the hype around scalp treatments these days – these products are everywhere! This scalp scrub fights excess oil, dryness and breakage while the walnut shell micro grains gently lift dead skin cells from the scalp. Personally, I haven’t had dandruff in a long time – there was a minute when I tried keratin treatments and dandruff was the nasty side effect that came with it. I would have loved that back then. Still, I found this to be a nice little extra when I have time for a pre-shampoo treatment. It smells lovely of pineapple, as it should, as it’s full of pineapple enzymes that boost shine, support softness and soothe irritation. To use, massage the scrub into your wet scalp for 5-10 minutes, focusing on areas of buildup and dryness. Then rinse and continue with your shampoo and conditioner routine. Ideally, this should be used once a week, although I think this is more of an occasional, minimally needed treatment. I liked the scent the most, and since I love a good exfoliator, no matter where, this was a nice addition to my cleansing routine.
Hyaluronic acid: the most lauded ingredient in skincare since retinol. Try to find a bad rap for this stuff – I challenge you. I’ve tried, since I regularly smear the acid on my face day and night, and I haven’t found one yet. As someone with rather dry skin but who also appreciates a matte powder look, I was keen to try this product. This translucent powder is more of a finishing touch, used to set foundation or give bare skin a helpful, smoothing soft focus. I’ve tried it both ways, and personally found it more or less the same as any other powder. I don’t know if it’s because I can’t see or feel the effects since it’s a powder and doesn’t absorb into my skin properly, but I can’t say I’ve noticed a healthier, more hydrated, and less cakey look. The powder is ultra-fine and settles on the skin without a trace due to its colorless shade, but I didn’t find it worked any better than other loose mineral powders in my makeup box. However, I will continue to use it to see if it provides any long-term benefit.
Conclusion It should come as no surprise that the July 2024 LOOKFANTASTIC Beauty Box was a smash hit for me. It was worth its weight in gold. Thanks to this month’s box, I’m not in nearly as much pain as I would have otherwise. At first glance, I wasn’t quite as excited about this box as I was when I realized how much I needed it, and now that I’ve been through the ordeal, I can say without reservation that this $19 box is worth having in your oh-sh*t kit. You never know when you’re going to need it.
Value – Was this box worth it? The price: $19.00
Value Breakdown:
I know I’ve been hard on LOOKFANTASTIC in the past for their reviews, but this month it seemed a little vague in terms of promises, and even so, I think this month’s box has much more value than the $19 investment. Anyway, let’s look at the breakdown, shall we?
Rating:
MineTan – Aftersun Gel – 50ml – Retail Value: $7.03 → $2.42
Mio – Future Proof Body Butter – 30ml – Retail Value: $3.00 → $1.03
Foamie – Papaya Body Bar – 80g – Retail Value: $8.03 → $2.76
Umberto Giannini – Scalp Scrub – 200ml – Retail Value: $13.50 → $4.64
By Terry – Hyaluronic Hydra-Powder – 4g – Value: $21.60 → $7.42
Cetaphil – Gentle Skin Cleanser ng agent – 29 ml – Retail value: $1.85 → $0.64
Based on a total value of $55.28 of my box variant, you would get this $19 box at 66% off retail price. Value.
Alternative variant value: $63.03
Learn more Can you still get this box if you sign up today? Yes, the July box is still available (while supplies last).
Keep track of your subscriptions by adding this box to your subscription list or wishlist!
What do you think of the products in this month’s LOOKFANTASTIC Beauty Box?
Conclusion
Overall, the July 2024 LOOKFANTASTIC Beauty Box was a pleasant surprise that quickly became an essential part of my summer self-care routine. The carefully curated products provided much-needed relief for my sunburn and kept my skin hydrated and nourished. From the soothing after-sun gel to the luxurious body butter and scalp scrub, each product felt like a lifeline on the hottest days of the year. For just $19, the box’s value – especially with its retail value of over $55 – is undeniable, making it a great investment for anyone looking to replenish their skincare arsenal with top-notch products.
Whether you’re struggling with the aftereffects of a sun-drenched day or just need some extra pampering, this box really does what it promises. If you haven’t already, I highly recommend you give it a try – because you never know when a summer emergency might strike, and this box is the perfect solution.
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