My Little Box – May 2015
Period Box Review – April 2015
My Little Box Review – April 2015
Period Box Review – March 2015
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
Whatever your cup of tea, I love that Period Box include a variety of unique tea’s from different companies, mainly sourced from brands I’ve not heard of before. This month’s box features four Blackberry and Elderflower tea bags from Taylors of Harrogate who have created this blend in partnership with the Royal Botanic Kew Gardens.
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?
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Get 15% off your first Period Box using the code HAPPY15 at the checkout.
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My Little Box Review – March 2015
My Little Super Box – March 2015
Price of the Box – from £13.95 a month
No of Products – 5 items
Value – £58.79
www.mylittlebox.co.uk
Price of the Box – from £13.95 a month
No of Products – 5 items
Value – £58.79
www.mylittlebox.co.uk
The March My Little Box has landed and this month see’s a fun and very comic inspired edition than the usual chic and relaxed versions we’re use to. Whilst there isn’t a magical cape, stretchy pants or any super powers within this month’s box (not that us women need these!) it certainly has the wow and pow factor shouting all things girl power. I love the super-hero theme and it was nice to see something a little different this month without compromising on any of those intricate details or the quality inside. Just when you think you’ve seen the best of My Little Box they go and surprise us with another showstopping edition and I’m sure you will agree there’s a lot to love about this month’s box which debuts the first ever clothing item.
I know I say this every month but this box never fails to impress me with this months edition being no exception. From it’s chic presentation to the stylish and luxe contents within, it beautifully captures this month’s theme.
This box offers something very different compared to the other boxes and if their previous boxes are anything to go by you will certainly not be disappointed. It’s definitely a showstopper and one which is beautifully composed with their very own in-house illustrator Kanako. Every month the box truly captures me and the contents and loveliness inside is even more pleasing, it’s something which My Little Box do extremely well.
My Little Box is a hand-picked and beautifully designed box of beauty, fashion and lifestyle surprises. With fashion accessories, beauty products and other goodies created exclusively for you and based around a different theme every month, each box promises to delight their subscribers. They also produce their in house beauty products known as My Little Beauty.
The February edition features five items with an incredible value of £58.79 and includes a mixture of skin and hair care products contained within a charming drawstring bag alongside two lifestyle items. Enclosed is the My Little World Magazine which is always a good read with interview features, useful beauty tips to mouth watering recipes.
1. Garnier Miracle Sleeping Cream – Full-Size 50ml RRP £12.99
I don’t know what it is but recently I’ve acquired quite a few anti-ageing products and can’t help but think someones trying to subtly tell me something! This innovative, self-smoothing texture cream by Garnier envelops the skin and visibly helps reduce the appearance of signs of fatigue during the night, promising visible results from the 1st morning. Whilst this is branded as an anti-ageing product it also focuses on tired skin and claims to leave the skin looking fresh and radiant while helping to regenerate the skin too.
I’m not quite there yet with the anti-ageing products but I’m definitely willing to give this a try to see if it does transform my skin overnight.
2. Keratase Lait Crystal Conditioner – Travel Size 75ml Worth £7.50
I’ve tried this range from Keratase last year and absolutely adored what it did for my problematic, frizz-prone hair.
If you have dry hair like mine, this unique conditioner will give you tremendous softness and volume and the secret lies within the triple-threat formula. Liquid light reflectors deliver mega-watt shine, while eco-friendly polymers restore brittle, uneven follicles on a microscopic level and the Vitamin-rich aloe vera hydrates the hair without weighing it down, giving a silky texture which we all crave.
The conditioner texture is really light weight and works great as a daily conditioner for my long, thick hair as it doesn’t weigh it down and leaves my hair feeling soft, free flowing and bouncy ( just like the hair adverts!) and not forgetting how divine it leaves my hair smelling afterwards. It’s definitely my little hero this month and happy to reacquainted again.
3. My Little Beauty Lip Nourishing Stick – Full Size RRP £5.30
I think it’s pretty amazing that My Little Box also have their own beauty range which is called My Little Beauty.
This month see’s a full sized Lip Nourishing Stick, made with sweet almond oil and shea butter to hydrate and nourish the lips. Unfortunately I have a severe nut allergy so wasn’t able to try this which is a shame as I love lip balms.
4. Lifestyle Items
This month’s box included two lifestyle items which really complemented the theme and excitedly contained the first ever clothing item for subscribers in the UK.
First up is a T’shirt designed by Gat Rimon and My Little Box (RRP £29) and there’s a few different one’s I’ve seen in terms of the statement on the front but they are all grey in colour with black writing. The quality is quite impressive and doesn’t look cheap or tacky. In fact it looks really stylish with it’s rolled-up sleeves. For me this is definitely the showstopper within the box and I absolutely love mine but there’s a little bit of a down side – that damn song keeps springing to mind every time!
Up next is a sheet of Super Stickers (RRP £4.00) which contains a variety of super-hero inspired stickers from outfits to empowering quotes. I’m not really too wowed by these but I’m sure I’ve got a boring notebook at work which could do with a little sprucing up!
My Verdict
I loved this month’s edition and it was quite refreshing to see something a little more fun and different compared to previous editions and as per every month the attention to detail, intricate design and content is impressive which is something this box never fails on. In terms of the beauty line up, it wasn’t what I was hoping for in comparison to what others received such as a Caudalie hand cream and a lip and cheek crayon, but nevertheless the t’shirt made up for this and I think it’s definitely the highlight within the box and I can see this being quite popular amongst subscribers. This month’s box has an amazing value of around £58.79 beating the price of the box and there was also a few discount codes included to redeem against some of the brands showcased.
One of the aspects I really like about the My Little Box is that they include a great handbag sized magazine which includes interview features, beauty tips along with recipes too. As well as all of the pretty photo’s it’s a great read too.
My Little Box is full of charm and I love the surprise aspect as they do not release any spoilers. This is a box which I eagerly wait for each month and one which holds it’s own class and uniqueness.
If you like chic and adorable lifestyle items along with good beauty brands, you will simply fall in love with this box and I can’t recommend it enough!
My Little Box Offer
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Beauteque Head to Toe Breakfast Bag Review – March 2015
Head to Toe Breakfast Bag
Price of the Bag is £20.82 including P&P
No. of Products – 7
Total value of contents in the bag – £45.72
www.beauteque.com
The March Head to Toe Breakfast Bag has arrived and whilst it’s not your typical breakfast line up, Beauteque have cleverly incorporated a wholesome menu of beauty treats that is impressively spot on with the theme. Unfortunately none of its edible but there’s a great selection of beauty products to kick start your day in the nicest possible way from skin loving treats alongside a lifestyle item in the form of an apron. All of the products come presented within a pretty floral toiletry bag which I absolutely adore and is slightly different compared to previous months where it’s mainly been make-up bags so welcomed the change this month. The bag also showcases well-known brands such as Tony Moly, Skin Food and Etude House as well as some new discoveries for me.
Beauteque in a nutshell is two words, beauty and boutique and they are an online retailer specialising in Korean Beauty products. They offer unique high end products that aren’t readily available in the UK and and to name a few, they showcase brands such as Etude House, Mizon, Tony Moly, and Lioele.
This month’s bag contains seven full sized products covering mainly skin and body care. The concept which I really love about Beauteque is that they offer some degree of customisation giving you control over what you want to receive leaving the remainder a complete surprise.
1. too cool for school Egg Cream Mask – Full Size 28g RRP £3.26
This is my first introduction to the brand “too cool for school” and within the bag you can expect to see an Egg Cream Sheet Mask which is suitable for all skin types.
The mask comes in a soft microfiber fabric and is concentrated with egg yolk extracts to nourish, moisturise, brighten the skin as well as minimising the appearance of pores. It’s also paraben, mineral oil, benzopenone-9 and triethanolamine free, making it suitable for sensitive skin too.
I love that this hard-working mask is an all-rounder and targets quite a few skincare concerns so it will be interesting to see how beneficial the egg yolk extract performs on the skin as it’s not something I’ve tried before.
2. Evas Vitamin Cleansing Foam in Citrus Lemon Fruit Extract – Full Size 150ml RRP £6.53
Citrus extracts within cleansing products are commonly known for their anti-bacterial properties, however they are particularly beneficial for those who suffer from oily and congested skin as well as revitalising tired and dull looking skin.
This cleanser contains AHA multi-vitamins as well as hyaluronic acid and claims to brighten your skin and remove pores. The formula has a really thick texture and a little really goes a long way due to it’s creaminess leaving your skin feeling fresh and squeaky clean. I love the zesty refreshing fragrance it really awakens the senses first thing in the morning!
3. From Nature e Choice Fermented Tea Skin Drinks Sleeping Pack – Full Size 70g RRP £7.84
You needn’t worry if you’re not tea lover as this sleeping pack has no obvious fragrant notes of tea and claims to hydrate, revitalise and rejuvenate, all whilst you’re asleep. The formula is infused with a calming and soothing mix of extracts from jasmine, rose, chamomile, green tea and white tea extracts as well as an oriental tea complex. This sounds wonderful especially if your skin is a little on the stressed side. I can’t wait to give this a go.
4. Tonymoly Magic Food Banana Hand Milk – Full Size 45ml RRP £6.53
Can we take a moment to admire this banana shaped hand cream its utterly cute and comes from Tony Moly, a brand that I truly adore, and admittedly I’ve been meaning to purchase this primarily because of the packaging and was delighted to see this within the breakfast bag.
This hand milk focuses on rich moisturisation and nutrition supply and whilst it’s not the greatest hand cream I’ve tried, the true banana scent and the packaging really is the highlight and it certainly grabs attention and not to mention the funny stares when you’re out and about but I love it!
5. Skin Food Bath Fizzer – Full Size RRP £7.84
As much I love bath bombs, they mainly take center-stage inside a jar within my bathroom as I’m more of a shower girl and rarely have baths but it was lovely to see a bath product in this month’s bag in the form of the Skin Food Bath Fizzer. There’s a few variants available and I chose Honey Salt which has a lovely sweet scent although it’s a little on the overpowering side and being completely sealed, it even fragranced the bag!
These bath bombs contain sea salt and minerals to cleanse the skin and keep your skin soft and you simply just pop one into the bath and let it dissolve.
6. Etude House Sunshine in Spoon Massage Yoghurt – Full Size RRP £3.92
Breakfast wouldn’t be complete without a yoghurt and Beauteque have incorporated this by including four massage cream sachets by Etude House.
I opted for the apple and the raspberry creams and both are packed with vitamins to make your skin clear and soft. These wash-off packs are used after cleansing and you simply massage the cream for 2-3 minutes and wash-off.
7. Cherry Apron – RRP £9.80
Lastly inside the Head to Toe Breakfast Bag is a vibrant cherry printed apron and I won’t go into too much detail here but it’s nice finishing touch to the bag!
My Verdict
Beauteque have cleverly incorporated a wholesome menu of beauty treats that is impressively spot on with the theme from the inside and out and is something that they never appear to fail on with this edition being one of my favourites. The line up mainly showcases skin & body care this month alongside a lifestyle extra, and with last month’s bag being very make-up focused it was good to receive a different mix as well as the pretty floral toiletry bag which will really come in handy for weekend breaks. The bag boasts seven products which are all very usable, all full size and features well known Korean brands as well as a couple of new discoveries. The aspect I like about the Beauteque Bags is that they offer some personalisation too which allows you to choose products from different variations and the remainder of what you receive is a complete surprise. I’ve had a few tasters of the Beauteque Bags and they are a great way to discover Korean beauty products and always include a good variety at an affordable price.
Inside the box is also a product card which is in English so you won’t be lost in translation. Each product within the bag is listed on the card along with a brief description and the value.
The entire contents within this bag has a value of £45.72 beating the cost of the bag which works out around £20.82 including shipping. It’s a small price to pay to discover Korean brands which aren’t available in the UK to buy.
Beauteque have a wide selection of Beauty Bags via their website at:
www.beauteque.com
For more information on the Beauteque monthly subscription bag please visit:
http://www.beautequemonthly.com
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You Beauty Discovery Box Review – March 2015
Price of the Box is £6.95 including P&P
No of items in the box – 5 items
Total value of contents in the box £27.00
www.youbeautydiscovery.co.uk
The March 2015 You Beauty Discovery Box has landed and this month’s shortlist theme is The Best of British and features a great variety of all things beauty from established and well known brands born and bread in the UK. This month’s line up definitely showcased a much better range of products and there was also a generous amount of extra samples thrown in too.
To see the March Shortlist please click here
“You Beauty Discovery” is a monthly beauty subscription service. The box consists of 2 selected hair, make-up and beauty products from well-known and new brands and they also include 2-3 bonus samples. Unlike the other subscription boxes you get to choose two products of your choice from a diverse selection menu each month.
My box included 2 products of my choice from the shortlist and three extra bonus treats.
1. Illamasqua Lipstick in Sangers – Full Size. RRP £18.50
I think the majority like me were lusting after this lipstick by Illamasqua and with popular items flying off the shelf pretty quick from the shortlist menu I knew that I would have to sacrifice that all important beauty sleep to grab one of these! Well the good news is I managed to get one and shock horror it’s still available!
I really struggle to find the perfect red toned lipstick and was particularly drawn to this shade as it claims to suit most complexions and is described as a true red. It is incredibly rich in colour, needing very little product to yield an opaque finish. The formula is excellent for how long it wears, but it could do with a touch more creaminess although once applied it feels very comfortable on the lips.
I absolutely adore this lipstick by Illamasqua. It’s all things a red lipstick should be, brilliantly pigmented, long lasting and will definitely not fail to get you noticed!
2. The Vintage Cosmetic Company Eyelash Curlers – Full Size. RRP £8.50
I’m not joking but the last time I used eyelash curlers was probably in secondary school and back then it was the coolest and “in thing” to have in you make up bag so I’m quite excited to be reacquainted again! I’ve tried various products from The Vintage Cosmetic Company and as well as there retro and girly packaging I loved their false eyelashes which I received in a previous beauty box.
I received the limited edition Rose Gold eyelash curlers which adds curl to your lashes. There may be different types of colours available if you opt for this but I was very pleased to have received this particular one as brands are now switching to this colour and it’s much more nicer than sliver or gold. Their instructions also state that the curlers can be warmed for a few seconds with a hair dryer to produce a better curl that lasts longer. I can’t wait to put these to the test.
3. Extra Samples within the box:
This month, You Beauty Discovery included a generous amount of samples. There was a shampoo and conditioner from Dove’s Youth Vitality range (both 50ml) and a Berry Delight nakd Bar.
My Verdict
This month see’s a much better shortlist menu that covers a good area of beauty too. I’m smitten with my picks this month and loved the generous amount of extras that were also thrown in. I’m particularly pleased with the Illamasqua lipstick especially as reds can usually be hit and miss but I can see this shade being really popular amongst subscribers who picked this.
The value of my box is worth £27.00 beating the actual cost of the box and includes three full sized products with the remainder being sample sized.
The magazine within the box included various discount codes for all of the brands featured this month which is great if you want to purchase further products.
You Beauty Discovery is one of favourite beauty boxes and it’s a great way to discover emerging and well known brands from a good selection of beauty products, and although it seemed they had lost their sparkle the last few months I think they have finally found their mojo again! I do love that I can personalise my box giving me full control on what I receive. The box itself is only £6.95 each month making it super affordable and good value for money.
For more information or to subscribe please visit:
www.youbeautydiscovery.co.uk
Birchbox Review – March 2015
Birchbox “Do Try this at Home” March 2015 Edition
Monthly subscription is £10.00 Plus £2.95 P&P
No. of Products in the Box – 7 items
www.birchbox.co.uk
I think the majority of us can’t wait to see the back of winter and thankfully spring is slowly but surely approaching and with this in mind the March 2015 Birchbox sees a surprising but exciting collaboration with Homeware and Lifestyle experts Habitat to inspire us to embrace the new season of renewal, whether it’s adding bursts of bright colours to your wardrobe, freshening up your existing beauty regime or introducing springtime motifs into your home. The “Do Try It at Home” edition features a spring-ready beauty line-up and comes presented in a refreshing, vibrant designed box which I absolutely adore. If that’s not enough to entice you, this month sees the return of choose your own sample with Benefit, a brand we all know and love. This month also sees the launch of Habitat’s SS15 Collection of dressing tables and beauty storage boxes and it’s the perfect partnership this month as both beauty and storage solutions go hand in hand.
This month’s box has all areas covered and features a selection of treats to get you in the mood for the spring including skin and body care products, your chosen Benefit Mascara sample, a hair smoothing cream, a springtime fragrance alongside two lifestyle extras.
Birchbox is a monthly beauty subscription service. The box consists of 4-5 selected hair, make-up and beauty products from well-known brands and new brands. They also include a lifestyle extra within their box too. Birchbox also have an online shop where you can purchase all the brands which have been featured in their boxes. Their reward program offers exceptional benefits too.
The content’s of the March Birchbox will vary. To see what you may receive please click here
1. Benefit Roller Lash Mascara – Sample Size 3.0g. Full Size RRP £19.50
Despite all of the surrounding hype and everyone posting pictures of their roller lash mascara last month I somehow don’t ask me how, managed to miss the boat of the free sample in Elle Magazine and was very delighted to see one tucked inside this month’s box. As it’s choose you own sample there’s three different Benefit Mascaras to choose from, all of which are hailed for enhancing your lashes in some form or another, so if you missed out too there’s still a chance to get one inside your box!
Benefit’s newly launched Roller Lash Mascara promises to hook, lift and curl the lashes and it certainly didn’t disappoint. The formula goes on clump-free and the brush really separates and grips the lashes giving both length and lift. It’s not the best mascara I’ve tried but in terms of it’s main objective it did much better than what I was initially expecting.
2. Catherine Malandrino Style de Paris Perfume – Sample Vial. Full Size from £50.00
I don’t mind receiving samples of perfumes especially from Birchbox as I’ve discovered some great niche and unique scents which are exclusive only to the Birchbox shop so I know I’m getting something a little more special and this one by Catherine Malandrino is no exception.
Style de Paris by Catherine Malandrino is a powder soft scent with citrus top notes that open up to aromas of lush orange blossom, sweet jasmine, and fresh gardenia with hints of amber and musk.
When I smelt this, it was love at first whiff with it’s delicate burst of floral notes with a very sweet twist. You need to like floral/sweet scents to really appreciate this but if you do, it will not disappoint. It’s the perfect scent to get you in the mood for spring.
3. TanOrganic Self Tanning Oil – Sample Size 25ml. Full Size RRP £24.99 My skin has definitely been looking on the pasty side recently and I’m talking Edward Cullen style so was happy to see a self tanning oil sample from TanOrganic to get my spring glow-on.
This self tanning oil by TanOrganic is the world’s first self-tanning oil and is essentially a moisturising dry oil with a elegant subtle tan. With its moisturising qualities it instantly illuminates the skin with an irresistible glow and contains no synthetic colours, preservatives or parabens making it much kinder for your skin. In comparison to other tanning products which smell unpleasant this oil has a refreshing and uplifting citrus scent and is something that I really like.
On first impressions the sample is teeny for it’s purpose however this will undoubtedly cover some area’s or alternatively you could do a little patch test to really get a feel of the formula and the developed colour. I was introduced to TanOrganic last year and got on quite well with their skin friendly formula and this has just reminded me to hunt for the bigger bottle I own! It’s a great product to achieve a healthy, natural glow and being a dry-oil it feels really comfortable on the skin compared to creams and mousses.
4. Philip Kingsley Smooth Cream – Sample Size. Full Size RRP £18.00
The Philip Kingsley Smooth Cream is for medium textured, coarse, curly or frizzy hair types and promises to tame frizz and calm and define waves and curls to leave hair superbly shiny and under control. It also contains sunscreen for UV protection and to extend the life of colour treated hair. This sounds like the perfect solution for my troublesome hair and I love that it can also be used on wet and dry hair.
Whilst I love the Philip Kingsley samples I’ve received via Birchbox, it’s apparent that the brand has become a regular guest and although it’s very welcomed, I would love to see some other haircare brands showcased to mix it up a little.
5. Janjira Pomegranate & Acai Facial Scrub Cleanser – Sample Size 10ml. Full Size RRP £24.00
I’ve not tried anything from Janjira who is a brand born and bread in Thailand and was happy to make the discovery.
This scrub cleanser helps to deeply cleanse and exfoliate whilst retaining moisture and brightening the complexion. It contains walnut shell to gently removes dead skin cells, dirt and black heads leaving the skin soft and smooth alongside fruit oils to help reduce the appearance of pores and moisturise the skin. If it’s pore fighting. I’m definitely in!
The cleanser has a subtle pomegranate scent and smells absolutely delicious, the fruitiness even comes through when squeezing the product out of the tube. It has a very thick consistency with a slight shimmer which gives it that luxurious element. Whilst the scrub contains walnut shell it’s broken down into miniscule grains and feels very gentle on the skin and combined with the creamy texture I couldn’t stop rubbing this on my face, it felt really therapeutic! If you like that squeaky clean feeling you are in for a real treat with this scrub and it doesn’t strip or dry out the skin but instead leaves your skin feeling rather pampered and clean.
6. Lifestyle Extra – A Perfect Heritage by Penny Vincenzi
An unusual lifestyle extra this month exclusively for Birchbox subscribers in the form of a book which gives you a chapter sampler of “A perfect Heritage” written by Penny Vincenzi, a novel which has the beauty industry as a backdrop.
I think the inclusion of one chapter is a great idea especially when I think about the amount of times a book has let me down or failed to grip me. This concept gives you much more control and if you like what you’ve read you’ll probably be more inclined to purchase the book to find out what happens next!
7. Lifestyle Extra – Birchbox & Habitat Exclusive Notebook
This handy little notebook has been designed by both Birchbox and habitat and the quality is fantastic with a durable cover making it robust for even the messiest and the brimmed to the top handbags.
My Verdict
This month’s Birchbox in collaboration with Habitat literally brings the beauty of spring straight to your door and embraces the season of renewal with a good balance of samples all contained within a cheerful, spring-inspired box. When it comes to spring cleaning, I really enjoy refreshing my beauty stash and replacing the old with the new and there’s definitely a few new discoveries which I will continue to use. There was also a little customisation available this month in form of pick your own sample which is always popular with subscribers.
I loved the unexpected collaboration with Habitat and the design of the box and whilst there was only few items that really stood out for me, all of the products are usable with the box showcasing a good mix of well-known and emerging brands. This month’s edition boasts seven items covering a good area of beauty and I’m looking forward to incorporating these new discoveries into my spring regime.
I’m super excited for April as next month there will be another “pick your own sample” from Laura Mercier and Birchbox will also be releasing a limited edition box in collaboration with Tatler and will be available as an one off purchase for £25.00 (worth £60.00) on the 2nd April 2015. You can register your interest here.
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Period Box Review – February 2015
Period Box – February 2015
Price ranges from £15.95 to £18.95
No. of Products in the Box – 6 items
www.periodbox.co.uk
It’s that time of the month again and not to mention that all important delivery which brings everything you could possibly need and more for a much happier period. The February 2015 Period Box arrives on time as promised to get me through the next few days in the nicest possible way. This month’s box not only contains my chosen monthly sanitary items but also includes chic and premium treats to make 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! Let’s face it us women aren’t the happiest creatures during this time but this box certainly puts a smile on my face. I was pretty impressed with the January box but this month’s edit is truly my favourite and I wouldn’t expect any less from the ladies at Period Box who curate their boxes with so much love and care.
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 get a selection of premium teas, chocolates from artisan manufacturers and high-end beauty samples. You will also receive a 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.
Upon opening the box it was literally brimmed to the top. I loved how the treats were beautifully wrapped instead of just being thrown into the box. It really gives the feel of opening presents. As well as the monthly essentials the box also included six additional items to enjoy, indulge in and an extra SOS item to make it that 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.
Dependent on flows, I personally think the box included the perfect amount, some of which could certainly be carried over for the following month. I was particularly happy to see Always, a brand which I trust and turn to and find them super comfortable, reliable and discreet.
2. Life NK Bath and Shower Gels – Travel Size 100ml x2
There’s nothing more dreamy than slathering yourself with an indulgent body wash especially in the evenings to simply relax and unwind. Within this month’s box is two very generous sized shower gels from Space NK’s own beauty collection. Both of the gels have a gentle formula and are paraben-free and sulphate-free meaning it’s much kinder to the skin.
The Drift Away Bath & Shower Gel contains an infusion of patchouli, vanilla, musk and white neroli flowers with hints of jasmine and rose whilst the Ultimate Unwind Bath & Shower Gel is fragranced with lime and green tea spiced with hints of cardamon and ginger.
These shower gels are great for using in the evenings due to their aromatic blend of soothing and calming notes, and not only do they smell utterly divine they really help to relax the body and mind to a point where I didn’t want to leave the shower. The shower gels lather up wonderfully, so you only need a little bit to escape into a truly relaxing bathing experience.
3. English Tea Shop, Sensual Me – 4 Tea Bag sachets
Whatever your cup of tea, I love that Period Box include a variety of unique tea’s from different companies, mainly sourced from brands I’ve not heard of before. This month’s box features four Sensual Me tea bags from The English Tea Shop who have a delicious range of handpicked teas for novices and tea connoisseurs a like.
The Sensual Me tea has a wonderful union of organic Lemongrass, Hibiscus, Rooibos and Blackberry leaves that dance with organic Lavender, Liquorice and Cinnamon, to awaken your sensuality.
4. Madecasse Dark Salted Almond Bar – Full Size 100g
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!
This month showcases Madecasse who source their pure cocoa ethically in line with Fairtrade standards from 200 miles off the coast of Africa, on the island of Madagascar.The savory-sweet classic Dark Salted Almond bar has a time-tested combination of chocolate and salted almonds and is made with 63% pure Madagascar cocoa.
The bar has a paper wrapping with a rustic look and feel and is tied with a piece of straw-like material with detailed information about the company and the rare cocoa they use to produce the quality flavours present in their chocolate. Whilst this alone left my mouth watering, unfortunately I’m allergic to nuts and therefore was unable to try it but my mum was at the ready. My mum isn’t a fan of dark chocolate but loved that it didn’t have a bitter taste and the salt and the sweetness had just the right balance along with the the crunch of the almonds which made it taste even more delicious! For someone who usually dislikes dark chocolate has managed to not even leave a crumb!
4. Heathcote and Ivory Wild Daisy and Elderflower Fragranced Sachet – Full Size
Every month you can expect to see a unique gift from an art print, to design stationery to a hand crafted jewelery item.
This month I received a beautiful designed fragrance sachet from Heathcote and Ivory. The sachet harnesses the benefits of plant extracts and is enriched with vitamins and essential oils of black pepper, cedar wood and cyprus oil to enhance the mood. The fragrance has a very calming scent with really delicate notes creating a lovely relaxing scent.
I find these types of sachets very useful and they can bring new life to almost anything! They’re great in small spaces such as wardrobes, drawers, bathrooms and even the car.
5. Cura-Heat Period Pain Patch – Full Size
As well as all of the delights above, Period Box also include a non-medicinal pain patch to help relieve cramps and abdominal pain which is very common during the time of the month. I certainly welcome this patch with open arms.
Cura-Heat Period Pain is an adhesive patch to provide targeted relief from menstrual discomfort and cramps. I received one patch which is designed to be applied to the abdominal area where the heat radiates through the skin to the source of pain relaxing sore muscles for up to 12 hours. Cura-Heat Period Pain pads are subtle enough to be worn under clothing to provide temporary relief from a variety of complaints and are also non medical with a discreet design.
I love the addition of the patch which is a great standby item should you require it. If not it can be saved for that moment of need.
My Verdict
I adore this month’s box, it’s definitely my favourite edition which includes 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 it all covered from soothing bath treats, indulgent chocolate, reviving tea, a fragranced sachet which I absolutely adore and a little warming relief patch to make it that much more bearable. Period Box have really got this concept spot-on and it impresses me how they cover every aspect within the box each month. 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 presentation, the thoughtful contents along with the intricate details such as the stickers and the wrapping are a lovely touch and really shows the amount of love which goes into these boxes. Period Box is full of charm and I loved unwrapping all of the individual treats to see what surprises were enclosed. I felt like an excited child opening gifts on Christmas day!
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 was a very 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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