The November Allure Beauty Box Challenge

Allure special projects editor and self-proclaimed creature of habit, Megan Salerno, challenges herself to snap out of her beauty rut with an Allure Beauty Box subscription. Come back monthly to find out how she uses the items in the box, which earn a permanent place in her cosmetics bag, and the ones that don’t quite make the cut.

From my original post, you could probably tell that I entered this challenge as a skeptic, but with the the November Allure Beauty Box behind me, I have to admit that I am pleasantly surprised. At first glance, you'd notice I’m still puckering up with my three variations of red lipstick and donning my signature cat-eye. But the changes to my routine have actually been drastic. Could it be that I’m not as stubborn as I thought I was? Or are the Allure Beauty Box products just that good? Here’s how the month of November is shaping up for me.

Klorane Shampoo with Essential Olive Extract

My current anti-aging approach is a skin-care cornucopia—a retinol treatment, a hydrating moisturizer, and the occasional mud mask. It does not, however, include a volumizing shampoo, a scalp-stimulating conditioner, or a rejuvenating hair mask. While I’ve accepted that my skin is susceptible to the ravages of time, I’ve never fully realized that the same is true of my strands. It certainly doesn’t help that I wash my hair every night and style with heat each morning. I found a welcome addition to my p.m. routine with a generous sample of . The same evening that I received the box, I lathered up before bed and air-dried as usual. The results weren’t visible on the first use, the second, or even the third. Three weeks later though, and my hair looks undeniably healthier and silkier. My one piece of advice is to make sure that you rinse thoroughly; otherwise, you will look like you haven’t showered in days.

Verdict: It’s a keeper.

Bonvivant Botanical Mask

While eastern Asia is a half-day ahead of us in real-time, the continent is light-years ahead when it comes to beauty innovations. One of the latest Asian trends to make its way stateside is the sheet mask. I’ve tried sheet masks before, always with almost miraculous results. So naturally, when I uncovered the contents of the November box, I was eager to try the . The botanical fiber sheet mask is thoroughly drenched in a tingly serum that cools and soothes as it delivers hydration to your skin. I’d consider the mask a win-win: the mere sight of me wearing it made my husband jump out of his skin, and after 20 minutes, I peeled it off to reveal a dewier complexion.

Verdict: I don’t see myself using this product the recommended three times a week; however, I’d like to keep a few packets on reserve for when my skin needs an emergency hydration boost.

Red Flower Icelandic Moonflower Moisturizing Body Lotion

I’ve been cursed with extremely sensitive skin, so for at least two decades I’ve relied solely on Johnson & Johnson Hypo-Allergenic Baby Lotion. Usually, I am leery of any moisturizer that does not have “hypo-allergenic” emblazoned on its packaging, but my interest was piqued with the . I decided to give it a whirl and I do not regret that decision. Its mild formula didn't irritate my skin in the slightest, instead leaving it petal-soft and kissed with a faint, but unmistakably floral scent.

Verdict: This one gets a resounding “yes!” I bought the full-sized bottle, and with the promo code on the sample, I received a free full-sized purifying body wash with my purchase. (As an added bonus, I now smell like a ladylike bouquet, not a newborn infant.)

Bulgari Omnia Crystalline

Even though I’ve declared my undying love for Lanvin Rumeur, I wanted to at least give a bid to . When I opened the bottle—which, by the way, is a work of art on its own—and wafted the fragrance towards my nose, the first sniff struck me as woody with a piquant hit of a citrusy undertones. In other words, it was a stark deviation from Rumeur and its overtly blossom-driven blend. When I doused the perfume on my wrists and rubbed them together, however, a pleasant floral scent came through.

Verdict: Still out! The scent certainly grew on me over the past few weeks, but I’m still deciding if I want to make the investment for myself. On the other hand, I can think of at least one person on my holiday list who will be receiving this as a gift from me, but I won’t spoil the surprise.

Some other holiday beauty news you might want to know about:

Here's Every Single Piece in the M.A.C. Nutcracker Holiday Collection
Count Down to the Holidays With Beauty Advent Calendars
The Best Holiday Makeup Palettes of 2016

Seche Premier Color in Refined and Goddess

While the November Allure Beauty box may have lacked a vivid eyeshadow or a statement-making lip shade, it supplied two bold nail polishes—a flirtatious red and a pearly metallic. An at-home manicure was simply out of the question after a nail-biting election night and its aftermath. On the other hand, my pastel-painted toes were practically screaming for a pedicure. Since I couldn't decide which shade suited my mood, I ended up using both, painting my first two toes red and the other little piggies burnished bronze. The deep crimson is currently poking through my peep-toe pumps, but when I kick them off, my festive two-toned toes show that I’m ready for the dance floor.

Verdict: My next experiment with these two colors will be a Paintbox-inspired, holiday-themed design. Whether it ends up being Instragram-worthy or a Pinterest Fail, only time will tell.

Eyeko Eye Do Liquid Liner

The secret behind my cat-eye is already out of the bag. To create this flattering look, I’ve used M.A.C. liquid liner for a precise line and a perfect flick for well over a decade. I’m very particular about the applicator—a fine-tipped brush is absolutely out of the question, and I’ve found that many of the pens don't release pigment as readily as I’d like. That’s why I always, I mean always, opt for a felt-tipped applicator that can be dipped directly into a pot of inky-liquid. When I was digging through the contents of the box, I almost immediately dismissed the . Eyeliner application is the most time-consuming—not to mention frustrating—part of my routine. On some mornings, I go through a dozen remover-soaked Q-tips to correct my mistakes. Needless to say, I didn’t want to fumble around with a new liner on a weekday. Then again, that's part of the challenge, so I woke up ten minutes earlier on the first day. To my astonishment, I didn’t need the extra time at all. The Eyeko liner worked like a charm. After three weeks of repeated use, however, the felt tip started losing its firmness, making it more difficult to get my lines right.

Verdict: My sworn allegiance to M.A.C. Liquid Liner has been tested, but I am not ready to discard it entirely. I’ll continue to use it to draw the line along my lashes, then switch to the Eyeko version for that perfect tapered wing.

Avene Hydrance Optimale Riche

In my twenties, it never quite sunk in that I’d get old. In my thirties, it’s reality. (Millennials, even you will age!) I’ve been using La Mer Crème de la Mer Moisturizing Cream every evening to soften the fine lines that an overly expressive face leaves behind. Its far too thick and creamy for morning, so I’ve been searching high and low for an a.m. lotion that will layer happily under makeup. When I received this Avene hydrating cream in the November box and read the packaging—hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic, apply morning or evening, check, check, check—I was hopeful I’d found the one. Unfortunately, since I have oily skin and a lightweight, watery foundation, it just did not sit right. Although it may absorb quick enough on a dryer complexion, it left mine too slick for immediate makeup.

Verdict: Better luck next time?

So there you have it. The results of my November Allure Beauty Box challenge. Check back next month as I swipe, sample, and swab my way through another thirty days.

Here's how Allure does party makeup: