Here’s a sneak peek at the April You Beauty Discovery shortlist menu which will be available on the 1st April at 7am. This month’s shortlist theme is Natural and Organic and has all areas covered showcasing both well-known and emerging brands.
Period Box – March 2015
Price ranges from £15.95 to £18.95
No. of Products in the Box – 7 items
www.periodbox.co.uk
It’s that time of the month again and the March 2015 Period Box arrives reliably on time as promised to get me through the next few days in the nicest possible way and after seeing some spoilers on their Instagram page, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this months edition. I’ve had a pretty rubbish start to the month with periods aside and this month’s box was a lovely distraction to come home to, and as always you can expect to receive a variety of chic and premium treats, your monthly essentials and lots of love from the founders themselves who curate their boxes with so much care and attention. This box impresses me month on month and makes that time of the month an escape from reality to something much more pleasant and luxurious. It also takes the chore out of buying your monthly pads or tampons, and if you’re anything like me it usually tends to get forgotten about until last minute but this is where the Period Box comes to the rescue and delivers everything you could possibly need for a much happier and hassle-free period.
Period Box which is fairly new to the subscription market, is a premium UK monthly subscription service that bundles your choice of tampons and pads with hand-picked goodies and exquisite treats to cheer you up when you most need it. With every box you will receive a selection of premium teas, chocolates from artisan manufacturers, high-end beauty samples and an unique design gift or a beautiful art print by their featured artist of the month.
Period Box literally takes care of everything and will ship your package five days before your period is due. If you’re worried about flows and absorbances, Period Box has that covered too. You can mix and match to suit your flow based on the length of your period, you can select the number of items in your box and choose the tampons and/or pads of your choice from well-known and trusted brands such as Tampax, Always and Lillets. No matter what your personal preference is your box is completely bespoke to meet your needs both day and night.
As always the box was brimmed to the top and I love how the treats were beautifully wrapped as opposed to just being thrown in, It really gives the feel of opening presents. As well as the monthly essentials the box also included seven additional items to enjoy and indulge in making that time of the month much more bearable.
1. Period Essentials (2-3 days cycle)
I opted for the short flow customised package which is for a 2-3 days cycle. I chose a mixture of pads suitable for both day and night. Inside the box was 10 pads (mixture of day and night pads) with four liners too. Period Box caters for all types of flows and your preferences can be chosen when you curate your box.
For me personally the box included the perfect amount of pads and liners. I was particularly happy to see Always, a brand which I trust and turn to and find them super comfortable, reliable and discreet.
2. REN Mayblossom T-Zone Control Cleansing Gel and Balancing Day Fluid – Sample Size 25ml and 15ml
Inside this month’s box you can expect to see two sample sized products from REN, I’ve been really loving what I’ve tried so far from them so welcomed this duo which includes both a cleanser and moisturiser, a great combination to really road test their T-Zone Control range.
The balancing, antibacterial facial cleansing gel is suitable for skin that is prone to oiliness and breakouts, particularly in the T-zone and promises to removes dirt, dissolves excess sebum, unclog pores and reduces the appearance of pore size. Sounds wonderful for oily skin types like me!
I’ve used this cleanser once since I received it, and I absolutely love it and even noticed a difference in the appearance and feel of my skin.
After using the cleanser I tried the Balancing Day Fluid too and immediately fell in love with the delicate scent which is almost tea like and is lovely when applied first thing in the morning. The texture is very light and works into the skin easily leaving the skin feeling rather refreshed and hydrated. I always receive some unwelcomed guests during the time of the month and this duo arrives just in time!
3. Heathcote & Ivory Sanderson Fifi Scented Bath Salts – Full Size 35g RRP £3.00
There’s nothing more pampering than immersing yourself into a warm, aromatic bath and I only wish that I dedicated more time for such activities but it was certainly a nice addition to this month’s box.
These bath salts help to cleanse, soften and subtly scent the skin with a beautiful rose and jasmine fragrance and comes in a beautiful designed box inspired by Sanderson’s glamorous vintage 1950’s print Fifi.
4. Taylors Blackberry & Elderflower Tea – 4 Tea Bag sachets
With a blend of ripe blackberries with the sweet fragrance of elderflower, alongside a touch of tangy apple, a zesty sprinkle of orange peel and a dash of raspberry, it’s an intensely fruity and refreshing infusion.
5. Divine Dark Chocolate with Raspberries – Full Size 100g RRP £2.00
Period Box really know how to spoil a girl and all subscribers can expect to see a full sized bar of chocolate inside their box each month! That’s right, there isn’t a sample in sight giving you a real chocolate fix as when you need it the most.
This month showcases Divine, who is the only Fairtrade chocolate company which is 45% owned by cocoa farmers and I received their Dark Chocolate with Raspberries bar. This isn’t a combination I’ve tried before or one that I would pick up myself when out shopping but surprisingly the partnership really works and it smells like raspberries too! There’s some crunch to this to which I quite like and found that due to the bold combination of flavours I was quite satisfied with two pieces until my next craving!
6. Island Bakery Lemon Melt Biscuits – 1 sample pack
I feel utterly spoilt this month and as well as the chocolate there’s also a packet of biscuits from the Island Bakery, who are a small artisan bakery on the Scottish Isle of Mull with a strict ‘organic only’ code and they only use local wood chip power and hydro-electricity – now that’s really impressive and you wouldn’t of even guessed as the quality is amazing!
I received a packet of their Lemon Melt biscuits and they are seriously heavenly and feel rather naughty due to the richness of the white chocolate alongside the lemon with a very soft and flavoursome biscuit base. The only downside is there’s no more left!
7. Pocket Notebook from Tom Pigeon – RRP £5.00
Every month you can expect to see a unique gift from an art print, a design stationery to a hand crafted jewelery item.
This month I received a beautiful designed Reflex Pocketbook in Copper & Turquoise from Tom Pigeon’s wide collection of unique stationary and coincidentally it matches my nail varnish colour too which can only mean we both have impeccable taste in colour! This particular edition is inspired by the reflections of their local harbour and being A6 size it’s the perfect companion for the handbag.
My Verdict
Let’s face it us women aren’t the happiest creatures during this time but this box always manages to puts a smile on my face and even more so this month as this edition showcases a fantastic line up with a very good balance of treats and has left me feeling utterly spoilt! Period Box are really flourishing as a company and it’s great to see them partnering with both well-known and emerging brands to bring subscribers a unique and chic line up of treats to make that dreaded time of the month a much happier one. We all look for comforts and indulgence in the form of food and pampering treats to get us through the cycle and this box really has all areas covered. Period Box have really got this concept spot-on and it impresses me how they cover every aspect within the box each month without compromising on the quality, the attention to detail or the presentation. It’s a great little survival kit which has something for the first day to even the last day of your period whilst accommodating for all of the uncanny stuff that happens in between!
The main aspect which is certainly apparent is that the founders are very passionate about the subject and impressively nothing has been overlooked when putting this box together and I wouldn’t expect any less from the ladies at Period Box who curate their boxes with so much love and care.
I really dread the time of the month and this box is always a welcomed distraction. It really is a little box of loveliness which makes the monthly visit much more pleasant and something to actually look forward to – did I just say that?
Offer for my readers:
Get 15% off your first Period Box using the code HAPPY15 at the checkout.
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**PR Sample** Please see my disclaimer for more information
Price of the Box is £12.50 including P&P
No. of Products in the Box – 8
Value – £45.00
http://www.lovelulabeautybox.com
Spring is definitely in the air and Love Lula have embraced the arrival of this season with a newly designed logo as well as this month’s box, which sees a beauty overhaul boasting such a great array of refreshing products to renew, rejuvenate and restore. It’s the perfect mix this month as we eventually phase out our winter beauty products. The box showcases another impressive line up with three full-sized products and three samples with a selection of skincare products alongside a body soap. This month’s box features mainly new discoveries for me and it’s another great edition which greets you with a very fresh spring fragrance, unintentional of course but very fitting .
Love Lula brings together an unparalleled selection of the world’s finest natural and organic beauty products. Their brands are hand-picked and tested: products are created using only the highest grades of ethically sourced natural and organic ingredients and must be effective, luxurious and guilt-free.
They insist on NO parabens, NO SLS’s and NO animal testing. Beyond this they seek out the most innovative companies and strive to support morally run and environmentally driven businesses. Love Lula also have a online shop which has a huge selection of the world’s finest natural and organic beauty products.
This month’s box includes three full sized products and three good sized samples .The box features the brands Acorelle, John Masters, Bon Naturals, Madara and Dudu-Osun.
1. Acorelle Eye Serum – Full Size 15ml. RRP £21.00
I love slathering on a eye cream especially when my eyes are feeling particularly tired, or if I don’t get enough sleep and want to avoid obvious panda eyes the next morning. Acorelle isn’t a brand I’ve heard of before but welcomed the discovery and it comes in a full size too worth £21.00, really impressed Love Lula have included this within the box.
This hard-working certified organic eye cream by Acorelle has been created with unique patented formula Api Oleo Actif (AOA) and claims to restore the appearance, smooth the eye contour, reduce the color of dark circles, rejuvenate and prevent congestion of the eyes, and is suitable for all skin types.
The serum is light with a very silky texture and soaks into skin quickly without leaving any kind of residue and leaves the area around the eyes feeling soothed and relieved. On the first application I noticed a slight difference straight away and the area around my eyes looked much brighter and rested.
2. Acorelle Cleansing Oil – Full Size 125ml. RRP £17.00
There’s another full-sized product from Acorelle in the form of their cleansing oil and I really like that Love Lula have included another product from the brand as it really gives subscribers a good opportunity to road test the brand.
The Acorelle Cleansing Oil gently removes impurities and make up,including stubborn eye make up. It’s enriched with nourishing plum oil and antioxidant Vitamin E leaving your skin clean and supple without feeling greasy.
I’m a little reluctant to try this as it’s mainly for normal and dry skin types and with my skin being quite oily I think I will pass this onto a family member. Such a shame as it smells really beautiful and seems quite pampering.
3. John Masters Cleansing Bar – Full Size 128g RRP £7.00
I’ve really been liking what I’ve tried so far from the John Masters collection and welcomed another new discovery within this month’s box.
This multi-purpose soap is an all-over body cleanser and shaving bar that lathers into a soothing foam for a close and comfortable shave, for both men and women. It contains Organic palm and coconut oils and is enriched with the antiseptic properties of essential birch and cedarwood oils alongside a high glycerin content, leaving your skin clean and soft – with no irritation from shaving and is suitable for all skin types.
I love multi-purpose products and I’m really drawn to the fact that this can also be used for shaving too, although I’m quite curious to see how this measures up against my beloved shaving foam, it certainly smells much nicer.
4. Bon Naturals Tissue Oil – Sample Size 5ml. Full Size 100ml RRP £9.99
Another brand which I’ve not heard of before is Bon Naturals, a South African family owned producer of natural skin care products that has been in existence for over 40 years. Their philosophy is to develop and manufacture the best quality skin care products, which are natural, have a proven benefit, and retail at affordable prices.
There’s an award winning, clinically proven face and body oil sample within this month’s box and is formulated to improve the appearance of scars, stretch marks, wrinkles, ageing and dehydrated skin. This Vitamin E enriched formula combines a unique blend of naturally derived avocado, grape seed & rose hip oils to nourish and improve the appearance of the skin. The sample comes in a little spray bottle which is great to get an even burst of product and I will definitely be putting this to the test on some of my blemishes and with it containing rosehip oil known for its scar fighting properties I have high hopes.
5. Dudu-Osun Black Soap – Sample Size 25g. Full Size 150g RRP £5.00
This is probably the highlight for me within this month’s box, it’s another new discovery and comes in the form of a black cleansing soap crafted traditionally for hundreds of years in Africa. The packaging itself is quite simple and fuss-free and with the bar being rounded it fits comfortably in the hands. If you love using skincare with natural ingredients, this is as natural as it gets. it’s enriched with Pure Honey , Shea Butter, Camwood (Osun), Palm Kernel Oil, Cocoa Pod Ash, Palm Bunch Ash, Aloe Vera, Lime juice, water and fragrance.
The first time I used this on my face it felt like it was on fire and left my skin feeling rather itchy and uncomfortable afterwards. However, this is supposedly normal due to the lime juice and other natural ingredients and some other reviewers had also reported the same issues. Despite this, I did persist with the soap and have been using this for over a week now and it’s much more tolerable and the results have certainly been worth it. Every time I use this my skin feels thoroughly cleansed and I’ve not had any breakouts since so I’m hoping it’s down to this miraculous soap. One word of warning, do not get this soap in your eyes it’s horrifically stingy and dry skins should definitely stay away as it does suck moisture out from the skin.
6. Madara Time Miracle Samples – x3 sample sachets
I’ve seen Madara appear quite a few times within the Love Lula editions and this month there’s three different samples from their Time Miracle range. I’m not quite there with the anti-ageing products so will probably pass these on.
This month sees another great line up by Love Lula and mainly showcases new discoveries for me. Although this month’s box mainly featured skincare with a couple of products not suitable for my skin type, there was still enough within the box to keep me interested. I was particularly impressed with the Dudu-Osun soap and I’m hoping it continues to keep my spots at bay. There was also a good mixture of full sized products and samples this month with an impressive value of around £45.00. One of the aspects I really like about Love Lula is that they always include a mixture of products from both well-known and emerging brands so they’ll always be something new to try and as their concept is focused, you won’t find the majority of these products within any of the other beauty boxes. I feel that Love Lula have really upped their game recently and I’m loving their new step in direction.
Love Lula also included a 20% off promotional code to use in their online shop on all of the brands which were featured in this month’s box which is great if there’s something in the box you really love.
The Love Lula Beauty Box offers a completely unique beauty discovery experience compared to the others boxes and focuses only on all things natural and organic.
If you love organic, natural and cruelty-free products or want to detoxify your beauty regime with a more skin friendly alternative this is definitely a box you don’t want to miss out on. I have discovered some wonderful natural skin loving treats thanks to Love Lula.
If you missed out on any of the Love Lula beauty boxes there’s a few available to buy without a subscription here.
For more information on Love Lula’s Beauty Box please visit:
http://www.lovelulabeautybox.com
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