Cohorted Beauty Box Review – February 2023

If you read my previous posts you already know that I am a fan of subscription boxes. They allow me to try new products every month for a price lower than the market price. Today I will review the Cohorted February Beauty Box, which is called Stylist. I just received it a few days ago. I know I am quite late with this review as we are already in March. My box was lost in transit for almost two weeks, but I hope to receive the next one in time, before the month ends. 

General Opinion about the Cohorted Beauty Box 

Subscribing Process to Your Monthly Cohorted Beauty Box

Firstly, I know this box is quite expensive (£40, plus £10 for transport if you do not live in UK). Additionally, you pay one month in advance. For instance, on March 1^st you pay for your April box. And if you subscribe now, you will not receive the March Box, but the April one. And before you receive the April box, you will be charged on April 1^st for the May box. Unless you pause your subscription in advance. 

Brands You Can Expect to Receive in Your Cohorted Beauty Box

I admit I am not a fan of this payment with a month in advance, but they make it really easy to skip a month or pause the subscription. And the value of the box compensates for this inconvenience. They work only with luxury, vegan, and cruelty-free brands, such as Kate Somerville, Mac, Laura Mercier, Nars, Huda Beauty, Fenty Beauty, 111Skin, YSL, Chanel, Marc Jacobs, MZ Skin, Charlotte Tilbury, Drunk Elephant, and many others. It is a pleasure to discover what is inside this box, and the products are of the highest quality. 

Cohorted Beauty Box Shipping

Cohorted boxes only downside? The carrier they use. They ship with Evri, which has many negative reviews in the UK, and internationally uses the cheapest carriers as local partners. For instance, in Romania my box arrived with the national post, which has a reputation for losing track of packages, not delivering on time, keeping the packages in their deposits for a few weeks or more. Also, the Romanian post office does not deliver at home. I had to go to lift the box from the closest postal office near me and to stay in a queue for almost an hour.

If the box would had cost £50, I would have paid them without any problem because the value of the products is worth that sum. But knowing that I pay £10 for shipping and I get the Romanian Post to deliver the box is something that makes me angry and frustrated with their business model.

Cohorted Customer Support

They answer really fast, and they try their best to help. I can give them this credit. I wrote them several messages regarding my box that was lost in transit, and they did their best to help locating it and speeding up the process for the box to arrive.

Also, I told them that I was supposed to receive a free product as a first-time subscriber, and I used a code on their website for this. I did not receive that product In addition to apologies, they offered me a 25% discount for the next purchase as compensation.

Transparency and Product Descriptions of Cohorted Beauty Box

However, I do not like that they are not transparent with two pieces of information. First, they cannot ship internationally perfume samples, but they advertise those as part of the monthly box. So, if you live outside the UK, your box will have one less product than the box you see on the website. And that product will be the perfume sample. Second, if you order the box internationally you will also have to pay the duty taxes in your own country when you receive the package. For me this was around $5, which was not a significant sum. However, it adds to the already pays £50 for the box and shipping. 

They also have a similar box called Stylist that is priced at £50 without transport. This box has 15 products instead of 10 (the ones in the monthly box plus other five products). They used the same pictures for both boxes, so some people felt ripped of when they found out they only received 10 products, and not all those that can be seen in the photos. They were transparent regarding the box’s products in their app and box description on the website, but the pictures they used were misguiding. I also received a product different from the one in the pictures and the box description instead of another. However, I did not complain about this as I enjoy the one I received more. 

Cohorted February Stylist Beauty Box Products Review 

Pixi Overnight Glow Serum

I admit this is the product I was the most excited about. I love Pixi serums, as they are natural and skin-loving products. Moreover, I like the fact that this is a full-size product. They enhance the natural glow and beauty of the skin and create a flawless texture and finish. This overnight glow serum is suitable for all skin types and it both gently exfoliates and soothes overnight, revealing a brighter complexion in the morning. 

Among the ingredients, you can find glycolic acid and arginine. Both ingredients help reduce fine lines and sunspots over time. Also, the cucumber and aloe vera extracts help calm the skin and soothe irritations. While the vitamins A, C and E nourish the skin and increase the skin hydration. 

“Pixi is all about youth enhancing multipurpose products to make you look like you, only better” Petra Strand (Pixi brand creator)

Nip+Fab Glycolic Fix Scrub

I find this product quite interesting because it is full-sized (so I get to try it for a longer period) and of an aspect mentioned in the product description. This scrub is supposed to be different from all other scrubs because it exfoliates inside the pores rather than just the surface of the skin. I was curious about how it achieves this result, but the answer is simple. The chemical formula and ingredients make this possible. 

This scrub has 3% glycolic acid. This is a chemical exfoliator that removes dead skin cells, improves skin texture and tone, and enhances natural skin glow and luminosity. Also, it contains salicylic acid. This is the ingredient that acts inside the pores, by unclogging them and effectively removing blackheads and blemishes. 

I’ve only used it once so far, but I love the texture and feeling it has on the skin when applied. However, it is quite strong on the skin texture and makes the skin more sensitive, so you should definitely follow the advice on their website not to use it more than three times a week. And never forget to apply SPF afterwards. Also, my skin felt quite dry after using the scrub, so moisturizer is a must-have too after using this product. 

Bare Minerals Skin Longevity Serum 

I have heard only good things about this brand, and I love their product designs. Even though this is only a sample, it comes in a glass-made recipient and has a really nice applicator. The serum is meant to strengthen the skin and to make it firmer. 

Among the ingredients, there is mineral-rich extract from Japan, California poppy, and niacinamide (vitamin B3). All those ingredients have a clinical positive effect on protecting the skin from environmental factors due to their antioxidative impact. Also, this serum should help reduce blemish scarring and dark spots, and to even the skin tone. 

The reason why I will wait to use this serum until summer is because, every winter and beginning of spring, I am fighting with skin dryness. And this year the dryness seems to be worse than ever. The niacinamides can have a drying effect, which can be seen also on the product description, where it is mentioned that it fights excess shine. However, during summer when my skin gets really oily, this will come in handy. 

WBCo. Soap Brows 

I love the story of this product and I like the fact that it is another full size one in this box. It was created in 2016 by a makeup artist that could not find a good brow product that could hold a fluffy brow look. This product is supposed to hold anytime of brow look effectively. It is also simple to use, as you only need to spray some mist on the product and then apply it with a spoolie. After applying it, you can use any other brow product you want. And another thing that I like is the bamboo spoolie that comes with the product, as well as the aluminum tin packaging that can be easily recycled when you finish the product. 

I love brow products as I always have problems styling my brows and keeping their natural look. However, I must mention that this is the product in the box that I am the least excited about. I had another WBCo. product in the LookFantastic Advent Calendar this year. It was a brow gel that I really loved. I applied it daily for a week and it was amazing. Then, I did not use it for a few days (less than a week). When I opened the product to use again (which was less than 2 weeks after first opening the product), the gel was completely dry and impossible to apply. Somehow, all the moisture in the gel evaporated, and it became a solid product impossible even to take out of the recipient, not to mention to apply. I really hope I will not have the same experience with this product. 

L’Occitane Hand Cream 

I tried many products from this brand, and I was never disappointed. I love how hydrating L’Occitane products are. Their scent is always amazing. And the chemical formula works magic even on the most sensitive skin types. 

This hand cream is a 30ml deluxe size product enriched with almond milk and oil. This is the reason why the cream has a silky-smooth texture. It nourishes and softens the skin, while enveloping them with an amazing fresh almond scent. And the hydration effect is long-lasting throughout the day. 

Another bonus for me is that this product has a really good sustainability story. The almond tree was once common in Southern France, in the Provencal region. Now it is almost gone. L’Occitane encourages its return through its commitment of purchasing almonds only from local producers of this region. It is a good model for other brands to follow regarding sustainability and local purchasing. 

L’Occitane Reset Oil-In-Serum 

This is only a 5ml sample size, but the packaging is still amazing, as you would expect from L’Occitane. I love the colors of the container and the product texture. It looks like small pearls or bubbles suspended in the serum. 

This serum is advertised as capable of recovering the skin smoothness and glow overnight. So that the skin will look rested, fresh, and radiant every morning. Also, it has powerful antioxidants in its ingredients, which will reduce the effect of environmental damage (especially pollution) on your skin. 

I am waiting to test its repairing and regenerating functions as soon is I finish the serum I am currently using. And I am also excited about some of its key ingredients. I have never used so far marjoram and acmella oleacera in my skincare products. Marjoram is known to reduce ageing signs. While acmella oleacera is an oleaginous plant known to relax muscle tension and smooth skin texture. 

It received the best night serum award at Marie Claire Skin Awards in 2022. So this product is definitely one that I am excited to try. I would have loved to have received a larger sized product (maybe a deluxe sample, if not a full-sized one), but I am thankful for the fact that I get to try it. 

Laura Mercier Hydrating Primer

Unfortunately, this is another sample product. However, it is a product perfect for dry skin types, so I will use it this month, hoping it will improve my skin hydration. It is a paraben and silicone free product. This creates a breathable and replenishing base for the makeup, while sealing in the skincare products too.

The packaging says that a dime-sized amount is enough to moisturize the skin, so I will probably get around two weeks of testing this product before it will finish. It can also be used on dry eyelids to refresh the skin, so I will try to use it this way too. 

Laura Mercier was the first to introduce a foundation primer on the market, so this is another reason why I am really excited about this product. Although, just as for the L’Occitane night serum, a deluxe-sized product would have been highly appreciated. 

OFRA Dew-the-Dew Shimmer Body Lotion 

I don’t know if this was a mistake in their packaging, but instead of the OFRA Rodeo Drive Makeup Fixer that was advertised on their website, I received a full-sized 90ml body lotion from the same brand. I did not write Cohorted customer support about this because I actually prefer the product that I received. Face mists are products that I love using, but I currently have a few unopened ones waiting to be tried.

However, this body lotion is a product I fell in love with on the first use. It is really hydrating, and the scent is simply amazing. I couldn’t stop smelling it the first time I applied the product on the back of my hand to test it. 

What I do not enjoy, however, is the shimmer and glow. After applying the product on my hands, my palms were full of glitter. The lotion has pearl pigments of the highlighter, so I can use it only when going out at night without my skin looking like Edward Cullen from Twilight while walking in the sun. 

As a tip: apply the product with a buffing brush in order not to have your palms full of glitter. And expect to fall in love forever with the scent. 

OFRA Highlighter

I admit that this is the product I am least excited about. I have a looooot of highlighters at home, in many different shades. And they are all full-size products, so they will last me for at least a few years. Regarding this one from OFRA, I can say that I love the packaging. It is simple and classy, and easy to carry in a bag. Also, it is a swirl of four shades: warm pink, cold pink, champagne peach, and bronze. And the product description says the pigment melts into the skin, so that you will not experience cakey or powdery looks. I only tested it on the back of my hand so far, and I love its finish and texture. 

My Opinion regarding Cohorted Beauty Box

Advantages

Cohorted beauty box is an amazing monthly treat to yourself. The product curation is one of the best out there, and the brands are not only the best ones you can, but also entirely vegan and cruelty-free. They also place a great value on female-founded brands and products. The customer support answers to email fast, and they try their best to help.

Disadvantages

However, they have two major downsides. The first is the carrier. Evri, their shipping carrier, takes a long time to deliver products internationally because they only work with the cheapest local partners. And the second is their transparency to its international buyers. I could not find anywhere on their website the fact that the customs duty is not included in the £10 shipping fee, or that the perfume products that were supposed to be part of the box are only part of the box for their domestic customers. 

Right now, the decision of whether to continue this subscription or not hangs in the balance for me. I already paid for the March box, but I skipped the April one. I am waiting for the March box to arrive, which will be a Kate Somerville products curation. The products included in this box are amazing skincare products, and I am really excited to try them. However, I will base my decision to continue or not with the subscription on this month’s delivery. If the box will arrive again late (in April instead of March), I will cancel the subscription even though I absolutely love the products and the value of the box is amazing.  

In the meantime, you can also read my review of the February LookFantastic Beauty Box or the NMNL Korean-Japanese January Beauty Box. Also, remember that for the LookFantastic box you can receive a significant discount by using the code MANEA-R1T when placing the order, or using this link.

What other monthly subscription boxes do you know? Let me know your opinion in the comments below and do not forget to subscribe for the latest news and some exclusive contents.

Love,

Cosmina

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