January 2013: Glossybox and Birchbox

I got both my Glossybox and Birchbox (formally Joliebox) this week and here is what I got.

First up the Glossybox. The theme this month is detox, for January that is pretty much the best theme to have.  In my box I received:

1. A sample of Lacoste, Eau de Lacoste.  I don't usually like perfume samples as I'm a bit boring and stick to the same 2/3 perfumes.  I feel as though I have found my perfect scents and until I get bored of them I'm happy to stick to them.  However, having said that the Eau de Lacoste is a really nice clean scent, its not to sweet and I will be throwing in my weekend bag for next time I go away.

2. Next up is the Monu Micro Exfolioant.  This liquid is really light and the spreads easily on the skin and the tiny tiny particles offer a gentle exfoliation which I think is good for this time of year, especially as skin tends to be more sensitive due to the cold!

3. I also got the Murad Hydro Dynamic Ultimate Moisture for eyes which I'm looking forward to trying as I really like Murad products - especially the Essential C Cleanser and also their Water Resistent Sunscreen.  Both of these are lovely to use and my skin just really gets on with them.

4.A samples of Sanctuary of their Peptide Transformation Serum and the Thermal Rose Clay Mask which is a two step system which is meant to detox your face and promises to "...dramatically improve the appearance of your skin, without cosmetic injections."  I'm a bit uncertain on this.  I'm trying out the Aesop Parsley Seed Cleansing Mask and the Aesop Primrose Facial Cleansing Masque (I couldn't decide between the two and the lovely people at Aesop have given me loads of samples of both so that I can try them out), and for some reason they just appeal more to me, I think that this Sanctury Skin may be more suitable for my mum so she might get this to try out.

5. The BM Beauty Dewy Perfection Finishing Powder is a 100% natural mineral powder and has a nice texture.  I think I prefer this to the Bare Minerals as this just disappears into your skin with a lot less effort.  Thumbs up on this one!

Finally, I also got a Glossybox sleep mask which to be honest is lost on me as I hate wearing them.  Overall, the January Detox box is good, nothing exciting but definitely things that I am happy to try which is whole point anyway.

On to the Birchbox, this is the first box received from Birchbox after it took over Joliebox and I'm hoping that it will mean that we will get lots of lovely US products sent our way.  January's box has a Fresh Start theme:

1. I'm a fan of Fresh products and I'm more than happy with the Sugar Rose Lip Treatment I have received. I already have this lip treatment in Berry, Passion and Honey and just love the texture.  The product really a lovely texture, really helps with dry lips and the colours are lovely.

2. The KMS ADD VOLUME Volumizing Spray has a very strange texture, its really gloopy looking and a little unattractive. Having said that I like volumising products and if this does what it says then happy days.

3. Taaj is a brand that I've been reading more and more about so Creme Mains Delhicates Hands Cream is something that I'm more than happy to try.  The cream itself is very light in texture, it sinks into the sink almost immediately and doesn't have a strong scent.

4. Another eye cream I received this month is the Wei White Lotus Moisture Rich Eye Blend and first impressions are that the cream feels really thick and as a result I think it might feel heavy on my skin.  Perhaps this is one for the evenings.

Finally, I also received a Teapigs sample in peppermint.  I love this tea so this bought a smile to my face.

If you are interested in signing up for these boxes here are the links:
http://www.glossybox.co.uk/
http://birchbox.co.uk/

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November 2012 Glossybox

The November '12 Stocking Filler Glossybox is supposed to serve as a Christmas gift guide.  Unfortunately, I'm a little disappointed in the November box as I received another sample of Olay Regenerist 3-Point Treatment Cream which I received in the October Glossybox.  Also, I'm not sure that I know anyone who would want this as a stocking filler. (Whilst writing this blog article I received an email from Glossybox with an apology for sending the Olay cream again and I've been told that an extra item will be added to my December Glossybox which is great news!)

November 2012 Glossybox

Other items in this month's box are:

1. Wei Beauty Jujbe Age Control Serum - this is an all in one anti-aging serum and is meant to restore suppleness and elasticity.  This is a product that I'm probably going to pass on to my mum.  I had a quick sniff and the smell isn't as pleasant as some other creams but the texture of the serum is nice.

2. Alison Claire Natural Beauty Mango Body Butter - The packaging of this product is lovely, I like the pump and the way it looks, I also like the texture of the cream which sinks into the skin really quickly and doesn't feel greasy at all.  The only downer on this product is the smell, its just too fruity for me and reminds  me of Body Shop body creams which hover around in your nose all day.  Personally, I don't like highly scented body creams as I like my perfumes to stand out, but I'm sure that there are plenty of people out there who wouldn't mind smelling fruity!

3. Nails Inc Kensington Cavier Top Coat - I love this nail varnish so I can't complain.  I've used it for years and I like the fact that its quick drying and the Nails Inc brushes are a breeze to use as well.

4. Dermalogica Daily Micofoliant - a rice based powder that you mix with water and exfoliate you face with. I've used this in the past and had forgotten about it, when I did use it some years ago I really liked it so I'm happy to be reminded of this product and I'm looking forward to using it again.

What did you think of your Glossybox this month?

Glossybox v JolieBox

I signed up for a 3 month subscription with JolieBox which as you may know was bought by the US beauty box giant Birchbox recently.  I decided to go for the JolieBox as I wanted to compare their offerings to the Glossybox which I have been receiving for over half a year now and have had mix results with.  First impressions of the October JolieBox were positive overall.  The box itself is a little smaller than the Glossybox and comes with a nice little bag to hold everything together which is quite cute.  The box also has a menu which lists everything in the box and also includes loads of offers to JolieBox subscribers and a little magazine which is nice.

The October JolieBox has a Pure and Natural theme and contained:

1. Jason Bee Healthier Lip Balm Stick - initially, I wasn't too excited about this, but when I took of the lid and smelled the product I was pretty much won over, the lip balm smells lovely and minty, which for me is a bonus as I can't stand sweet smells.  The lipbalm itself is not too sticky and in fact feels dry when you first put  it on, however, I liked the tingly feeling I got on my lips and I like the fact that it wasn't gloopy like some lip balms.  I'm looking forward to using this in the winter months.

2. Ritessens Exfoliating Cream - a creamy face scrub with really fine grains to help exfoliate your face.  This is recommended for daily use and I think it will be fine for this as the scrub is quite delicate when you compare it to some other scrubs.  The smell is lovely and rich - very spa like.

3. LOV is Beautiful Organic Tea - a herbal tea with white and green tea with mango, pineapple and apricot.  I love this tea, it smells amazing and my sister and I are totally addicted and can't wait to buy some more.  The JolieBox came with a free shipping voucher so will definitely make use of this.  To top things off the tea also has proven skincare benefits according to the spiel on the JolieBox menu so all boxes are ticked :)

4. MOA The Green Balm - a multi-purpose balm which I guess I will use in the same way that I use Elizabeth Arden's 8 hour cream, i.e. on lips, elbows, feet, knees(!).  A nice travel sized pot which will fit comfortably in my handbag and will be useful for the winter months.

5. Iroisie Ultimate BB Cream - I haven't had a chance to try this yet, but as I love BB creams on the whole I'm looking forward to trying this.

6. Wen Cleansing Conditioner - I haven't heard about Wen before and on taking the plastic cover off the tube was hit with a minty smell, so far so good.  Will use this when I next wash my hair and will Tweet what I think.  The Conditioner can either be used as an intensive conditioner or as a leave in conditioner for the ends of your hair.  Again, as with a lot of the products in the October JolieBox I think this could be perfect for the coming winter months.

7. Twistband Hair Tie - I've read about these on various blogs and look forward to trying it out.  I think to be honest I will probably use it to put my hair up for when I go to bed as I'm not sure that I like the look of it enough to go out with it.

8. Nailgirls Silver Nail Polish - a vegan friendly nail polish, the silver shade that I received is nice, the colour I achieved with one coat was pretty good.

In summary, I was quite impressed with the JolieBox, I got a quite a lot for my tenner and most of the products are ones that I would use and l don't think much will get wasted.  I will see how the 3 month subscription pans out and see whether its worth keeping one or both my JolieBox and Glossybox subscriptions.

JolieBox - http://joliebox.co.uk/
Glossybox - http://www.glossybox.co.uk/ 

October 2012 Glossybox

The October '12 Glossybox has a DIY beauty theme which is supposed to create the ultimate 'home spa' experience.  I think that a few face masks etc would have probably been a bit more appropriate than a lipstick and BB cream, but overall I'm pleased with my box so I'm not complaining!

This month's box contains:

1. Anatomicals Don't just clean it woman, scrub it body scrub - lovely fruity smelling body scrub that I've put away to take on holiday with me in December. 

2. Olay Regenerist 3-Point Treatment Cream Fragrance Free - another Olay product (got one last month too), again passed on to mum.  She's starting to do well out of my Glossyboxes!

3. Skinetica Anti-Blemish solution - just in time as I've had a couple of breakouts so will try this out and see how we go.  I've never heard of Skinetica so looking forward to trying this out. 

4. Yves Rocher Moisturising Cream Lipstick - an absolutely lovely colour for my Indian skintone and it feels lovely on the lips.

5. Dr. Jart Premium Beauty Balm - I was so excited when I saw this in the Glossybox as I've read about Dr. Jart's BB creams for a while now and the general consensus seems to be that its a good product.  Unfortunately the colour sent to me is just too 'grey' for me which is a real shame as the texture and consistency seem to be really nice. 


What did you think of your Glossybox this month?

September Glossybox...or should I say October?

I was really excited about the September Glossybox, the limited edition box design by Maggie Li, the Rodial samples I was hoping to get etc.  However, the anticipation was almost drawn out to breaking point when the box itself didn't arrive on time.  Not only did it not arrive but I had trouble getting through to the customer services department and my emails went unanswered.  Finally the Glossybox arrived over a week late and with the wrong name on the box!  Ah well better late then never!

This month's box contained:

1. A sample of the Lady Gaga Fame Fragrance which to be honest I didn't like and I kind of wish that Glossybox didn't include perfume samples in the boxes as we can easily get them from good department stores.  The smell itself is very flowery and sweet whereas I like clean, fresh smelling perfumes.

2. RODIAL Glamoxy Snake Serum and 5 Minute Facial - now these samples I was really looking forward to receiving.  A friend of mine tried her samples when she got her Glossybox last week and was raving about her skin after.  I can't wait to try them.  (NB: No actual snakey bits in the product!!)

3. Balance ME Wonder Eye Cream - just in time as I'm sleeping so badly at the moment, I could really do with some help in the undereye area so I can't wait to try this.  The Glossybox also contained a £5 off voucher but only until 01.10.2012 which, given how late I received the September Glossybox seems a bit unfair to me.

4. Olay Regenerist Wrinkle Relaxing Complex - Have passed this on to my mum to use.

5. Sexy Hair Spray and Play - I'm looking forward to trying this volumising hairspray, although it doesn't smell that nice which is a shame.

Lets see how we get on!

GlossyBox - August 2012

I received my August GlossyBox yesterday, yay!  It might be silly but I can't help but get a little excited when the email comes through confirming that my GlossyBox is on its way!

This month's GlossyBox has an International Superstars theme and I received:

1. Alessandro Pro White from Germany, a nail polish which is supposed to brighten the appearnace of nails.  As I like to paint my nails on my hands in neutral colours, I'm really looking forward to using this.

2. DHC Deep Cleansing Oil from Japan, I already use Shu Uemura cleansing oil, not only to clean my face but also to get rid of wax residue when I've waxed my legs and even to smooth the way when I want to shave my legs!  You can therefore safely say that I'm a fan and I'm glad that I have this travel size that I can take with me when I go on holiday.

3. All For Eve, Eve's Balm which is just what I need for my feet, elbows and knees which all get a little dry at this time of the year.

4. Vera Valenti L'ombre a Paupiere Margarita eyeshadow palette from Spain.  I've never heard of this brand and the packaging does look a little cheap and a little bit playschool, however most of the colours look quite wearable so I will reserve judgement on the actual product.

5. Lipcote, lipstick sealer.  I used to use this stuff back in the 90's and promptly forgot about it.  I'm looking forward to having a retro moment with this when I next wear some colourful lipstick, however more than likely this is probably going to be given to my sister who tends to wear brighter shades then me.

6. GlossyBox Lipstick in Glossy Pink, this was an extra in this month's box and I really like the texture of the lipstick, it doesn't dry out your lips and it feels very nice on.  The colour is pretty but not that suitable for my Asian skin tone, however, I will see what I can do with a bit of mixing and matching and it may well earn a place in my makeup drawers!

Overall, I think that this GlossyBox is a winner :)

GlossyBox: To Be or Not To Be?

I was very excited last night to recieve my July GlossyBox (www.glossybox.co.uk), I signed up a few months ago as it seemed like a brilliant idea, you pay a monthly fee of £10 plus postage and packing and you get a lovely box filled with 5 new products that you can try out.  GlossyBox ask to to fill in a questionnaire which basically builds a beauty profile and this is what they use to decide what products to send you.

Great idea right?  Well it would be if only GlossyBox paid attention to the beauty profile.   My first GlossyBox was amazing, all the products were great and were ones that I would be happy to try out.  Now I recognise that this can't be the case all the time but I do expect a certain percentage of 'good' in each box.  The last few GlossyBoxs I've recieved have been OK although I was a little annoyed at last month's Vichy Dermablend sample as it was just literally a dab of 6 different shades, 4 of which are of no use to me at all as I'm Indian and the colours were just too light. I was hoping that this was a one off issue, however I realise with my July box that isn't the case at all.

July GlossyBox

In this month's GlossyBox I recieved:

1. HD Brows Eye & Brow Palette - in Bombshell (I have Indian dark brown/black hair)
2. Clynol Salon Enrich Colour Shampoo which looks really good.
3. Monu Golden Glow (which apparently provides a natural looking tan - again no use to me as I am Indian and have light brown skin anyway),
4. Jelly Pong Pong Lip Frosting, I'm excited about this one.
5. Elizabeth Arden Visible Difference Skin Balancing Lotion SPF 15 which also looks really good.

So, out of the 5 items I recieved, 2 aren't quite right.  I mean the colours in the HD Brows palette are nice and neutral so I probably could use them.  However, the issue here is that it doesn't look like GlossyBox is paying attention to people's beauty profiles, which, in turn makes me wonder why we were asked to complete them in the first place!

Come on GlossyBox, sort it out!  A bit of care and attention would go a long way!