Beauty Boxes: Lust Have It July 2013

Yeah, I know, technically it's August! I've been really busy lately and haven't gotten around to reviewing my LHI box yet. I received it one day after my July Bella Box, so that goes to show you how slack I am! It came in another gorgeous collector box, this time pink and purple. I already have several of these and I use them to keep everything from fountain pens to small craft projects. (The Bella Box boxes, which consist of a separate box and lid, I mainly use as trays for things like nail polish, jewellery and decoden supplies.) LHI also had some interesting news this month, and I'll go into it at the end of this post. But let's see what was inside!

* Nude By Nature Natural Tinted Mineral Moisturiser with Sunscreen, full size 30ml.
Interestingly, I received the Nude By Nature BB Cream a few boxes ago, and I came to the conclusion that I would rather use it as a tinted moisturiser. And now here is their actual tinted moisturiser! I'll be very interested to do a comparison of the two.

* Knotties by Condition Culture Hair Ties, 2 pieces.
These hair ties promise not to leave that kink in your hair after using them that normal hair elastics do. I haven't tried them yet myself, but my friend Mrs. M said her hair was less kinky after trying them. The card suggests that you can also wear them around your wrists, an idea that I like. I have to admit, a few months ago I saw a blog post on how to make these yourself with a length of elastic bought from the craft store. However, it's probably easier buying these instead of trying to source wide leopard-print elastic!

* ColorSmash by Condition Culture Hair Shadow, {not sure if full-size or sample}.
Finally, a hair product for those of us who'd be sent home if we rocked up to work with turquoise-coloured hair! Again, I'd seen a blog post a few months ago about temporarily colouring your hair with chalk pastels, but it's good to see products especially for the purpose starting to come out. I was lucky to get the trendy teal, and Mrs. M received a lovely marone colour. I'm not sure how it will come out on my dark hair, but I'll give it a try this weekend!

* Schwarzkopf Extra Care Volume Powder, full-size (?) 10g.
I had to laugh when I saw this because my hair is so thick and boofy, it doesn't need any extra volume! Although it does get a little flatter than normal as washday is approaching, so it might be handy for those days. There's very little that I rule out when it comes to beauty products!

* Swisse Pomegranate Hand Cream, sample size 50ml.
I was happy when I saw this product. I received one of these a few boxes ago, and I was sad when it ran out. It's so handy when you're meaning to buy something and it appears like magic in your box!

* Health Essentials zNano Active Gold Anti-Wrinkle Eye Patches, sample size 1 pair.
These eye patches promise to soothe, cool and refresh on contact with the eyes. They certainly sound appealing right now! I think I'll try them very soon.

* Alexami Face Mist, sample size 15ml.
I received a face mist spray in my Bella Box this month as well, so I wasn't terribly enthused by this. It had leaked into the box. It smells a little soapy, but I'll keep using it and see if it improves.

* BONUS: Health Essentials Maqui Berry Active, sample size 6g.
With Acai berries now shown to have no more nutrients in them than an orange, Maqui is the latest health food star on the block. Occasionally there will be a food or vitamin bonus in the beauty boxes, and I like that because it reminds me that healthy insides are just as important as healthy skin in looking beautiful.

Summary: There were a lot of products in this month's box, with face, hair and hand-care products included. The hair ties and the Maqui berry drink threw in a different dimension to the normal. The Hair Shadow is very on-trend, and I'm glad I received this as the cosmetic product instead of the same old lip gloss, etc. Overall I was very pleased with this box.

Gunna Use It Right Now Rating: 75%

.... And the LHI News: Lust Have It have released two new types of beauty boxes: a one-off Bridal Party Box and the FaB (Fashion and Beauty) Box. The FaB box is very similar in concept to the Her Fashion Box I subscribed to briefly earlier in the year. For $35, subscribers receive a selection of beauty samples plus a fashion accessory. Unfortunately there isn't much more detail than that at this stage. The website doesn't even specify how often the box is released, however the first box is the 'Spring Box', so I can only assume it's released quarterly. I unsubscribed to Her Fashion Box because I didn't think the products in the debut box were worth the hype and, despite getting the choice of 3 styles of accessory, I received something I wouldn't wear. Will the FaB box be the same?? Lust Have It are an established company with a large subscriber base already, so perhaps they'll be in a position to offer something more satisfying. Then there's the price to consider, not to mention the backlog of products I already have to use up! Then again, it's (possibly) only quarterly instead of monthly like Her Fashion Box is. Oooh, decisions, decisions!

Lust Have It Winter EcoBox!

I was excited to find my Winter EcoBox waiting for me when I got home on the weekend. The Autumn box was definitely worth waiting for, and I was hoping that this one would be no exception. Again it came in the rather stinky 'eco' hessian bag. Not even the cat wanted to play with it (and she loves fuzzy things) so I threw it in the bin. But let's see what was inside the bag:

* The Natural Source Mayaltha Better Breasts Cream, full size 175ml.
This full-sized product promises to make me firm, soothed and strengthened. There's a long list of lovely-sounding ingredients in it. It smells faintly of citrus. I may as well give it a go! This product retails at RRP $49.95, so it is a very generous addition to the box.

* Grants of Australia Natural Toothpaste, sample sachets, 4 x 3g.
This is an interesting product, a little bit different. I hate using normal toothpaste - the mint is so strong and every brand in the supermarket is the same! I never got around to researching alternatives, and EcoBox has done it for me! As well as your standard Fresh Mint and Mild Mint, the other flavours are Mint & Aloe Vera and Orange & Cinnamon. I'll definitely try these out.

* Nutri Synergy NS-5 Cuticle and Nail Complex, full-size 15g.
I welcome this product, as my nails are always ragged and peeling, so I don't get to paint them as often as I'd like. It matches well with the nail polish also included in the box. The product contains aloe vera, Vitamin E and many other ingredients to keep nails healthy.

* Couleur Caramel Nail Polish in #45, 4ml.
I'm not sure if this tiny bottle is a sample size or full size. #45 is a metallic deep brick-brown which buffed up to a lovely shine. I painted it on my toenails and it only needed one coat. Couleur Caramel make a range of eco-friendly beauty products with ingredients from all over the world.

* Rosehip Plus Rosehip Oil Roll-on, full-size 15ml.
Rosehip oil is the ingredient of the moment! I have a few of them waiting in the wings now. It is good for keeping my skin soft and moisturised, so I'll definitely use this... eventually!

* Planet Eve Luxe Hand Creme, sample size 10ml.
Aside from smelling gorgeous, this rich hand cream left my hands feeling soft, and didn't react badly with my excema. I really love it. Unfortunately though, it's rather expensive at RRP $29.95 for 50ml. Oh, how I wish the sample tube was bigger!! It will have to go on my list of things to get when I'm treating myself.

* Savi Organics Soothing Cream, sample size 20ml.
I received the Savi Wellbeing Cream in the Autumn EcoBox, and this has the same divine smell. The Soothing Cream is especially designed for sensitive and inflamed skin. I wonder if that includes eczema? I'll let you know!


Summary: I'd never heard of most of the products in this box, so it was a good introduction to lots of new brands. I was slightly disappointed that there were no hair products this time, as I was about to go and wash my hair when I opened it! It was a little heavy on the skin/hand care side. With 3 (possibly 4) full-sized products, it's good value. I'll definitely use everything in this box, so I'm happy.

Beauty Boxes : Lust Have It June 2013

I was so excited when my Lust Have It Box arrived two weeks earlier than normal! They sent an email advising that payments and postal arrangements would be occurring earlier in the month, so no-one would have to wait til the end of the month for their box. My May box came so late, it was already June, and I was too demoralised to even write a review at all. So I think it's a wonderful change. This month's box is again in the signature 'L' box. So far I've found uses for the other lidded boxes I've received, and I'm sure this one will be no different. The theme for this month is The Great Gatsby, so appropriate with the film having come out only a couple of weeks ago. I love the glamour and sophistication of the Jazz Age, so let's see what I got!:

❀ Batiste Dry Shampoo in Cherry Scent, travel size 50ml.
I like to have dry shampoo in the house for times when I'm really busy. It's not really a luxury product, but the cherry smell is appealing. The cherry more evocative of the 1950s than the 1920s I think! But it still has a touch of glamour to it.

❀ Pure Fiji Hydrating Body Lotion in Coconut, sample size {estimate 50ml}.
I was excited to see this one. I haven't forgotten the Pure Fiji Body Butter I received last year, so when I saw the logo again, I squeed! Pure Fiji products are on my wishlist of things I'd like if I want to splurge a little, and getting this little reminder pushed them up to the top again. I'm looking forward to using this luxurious lotion.

❀ Real Purity Natural Lipstick in Romantic Red, sample size {estimate 2g}.
The amazing blood red colour of this lipstick sample just screams 1920s! Unfortunately I don't have much occasion to wear bright red lipstick, but I do admire women who can rock a red lip. I want to step out of my comfort zone and try it one day. The disposable lipstick brush that was supplied will come in handy, too. It came with a 10% off coupon code for the Real Purity online store.

❀ Aromatherapy Associates Signature Bath and Shower Oil, sample vial 3ml.
The name Aromatherapy Associates sounded familiar to me, so I checked back through my tags and, yes, LHI provided a moisturiser and face mask from this brand last August. I have a good memory for beauty products, obviously! To be honest, I haven't used those products yet - they aren't suitable for my skin type so I put them near the bottom of the queue. The Bath and Shower Oil is much more appealing to me though. I opened the vial and, oh it smells divine! I'm planning on using it ASAP. I imagine if the moisturiser and face mask had come in resealable packaging instead of sachets, and I'd had a chance to smell them, I probably would have used them sooner. The smell of a product is half of its appeal to me. That's why I want to get cracking on this Bath and Shower Oil as soon as possible!

❀ Doctor Babor Biogen Cellular Ultimate Repair Gel-Cream, sample size {estimate 5g}.
I've never heard of this brand from Germany before, so I'll be interested to give it a try. Facial moisturisers are one of my weaknesses, and I'm curious as to what a gel-cream is! It came with an offer for a free cleanser with purchase from the Doctor Babor online store.

Summary: Overall I have to say this box was a little ho-hum. I was excited by the Great Gatsby theme, but I don't think the products themselves lived up to that expectation. None of the products were full-sized, and there were only 5, no bonuses. I know the guarantee is for a minimum of 5 products, so I'm not complaining. To have received a couple of full-sized products and/or some nice bonus products would have been much more consistent with the luxurious, glamorous feel of the 1920s. Having said that, there were some products that I really liked and will definitely use soon. There was a good mix of hair, makeup, body and face products.

Rating: 6/10
Gunna Use It Right Now Rating: 40%

Beauty Boxes : Lust Have It April 2013

I need to apologise again for the lateness of my box review! I received this box about 2 weeks ago, and the reason for the delay isn't because I didn't like it! I've just been very busy lately. I did like this box, and again it came in a beautiful patterned keepsake box, which I found handy to keep my fountain pens in. So without further ado, let's see what I got:


❖ Gosh Cosmetics Mono Eyeshadow in Aubergine, full-size.
Gosh Cosmetics comes from Denmark and according to the card, their eyeshadows come in a vast range of colours. It looks good quality and it does sound intriguing. Unfortunately, I already have several eyeshadows in dark purple shades (not least of which is the e.l.f. Mineral Eyeshadow I received in my LHI Autumn Eco box last month), so I don't think I'll keep this one. I would have preferred a nice light versatile neutral, personally.

❖ Rachel K Mineral Colour Control CC Cream, Original and Neutral Sample Sachets (2 of each).
CC Cream is the latest thing to come out of Asia, just when the West was starting to get used to the idea of BB Cream! I'm a massive sucker for Asian beauty products, and when I first heard about CC Cream last month (the CC stands for Colour Control), I wanted to get my hands on some badly. And here it is in my Beauty Box! I haven't heard of Rachel K before, but apparently it's a Singaporean brand started by former Miss Singapore Universe winner Rachel Kum. I tried the Original CC Cream this morning, and it seems similar to the BB Creams I've used, but with a few subtle differences. The cream is pink rather than tan, and seems to bring my freckles and discolourations back to my natural skin colour, without adding any new colour or glow. It's hard to draw any conclusions when each different brand and formula of BB Cream seems to have slightly different effects! I'll see if I can rustle up a proper review next week.

❖ Remedica Richesse Vanilla and Shea Body Butter, sample pot 50ml (estimated).
I have so many body creams, lotions and butters that I think my cupboard is going to burst at the seams! This is one of the nicer ones I've received, though. The formula is thick and luxurious, yet sinks in quickly without being greasy, and it has subtle nutty and citrusy scents to it. I will look forward to using this one!

❖ Pink Tiger Cosmetics Nail Tools: Buffer and Lint-Free Gauze.
I'm sure these practical tools will come in handy for keeping my nails neat and tidy. It's nice to receive, not just another nail polish, but some tools I can use for those times when I need to give my nails a rest.

❖ Be In Awe Cosmeceuticals Amala Clearing Serum, sample size 5ml.
I remember getting some Be In Awe products in one of my boxes last year, and they were to die for! The clearing serum is just what I need at the moment for my crazy breaking-out skin. I'll be putting my current moisturiser aside for a while to give this a go. Be In Awe is an Australian brand.

❖ Goldwell Dualsenses Ultra Volume Conditioner, sample size 75ml.
It's unusual to receive just a conditioner sample, not a set of shampoo and conditioner, but this 75ml bottle is a very generous sample. It should be enough for a few applications, even on my crazy long hair! This formula is designed to give fine hair volume, and I don't really have a need for that with my thick, boofy hair. The watermelon and bamboo scent does sound very enticing, though.

Summary: This month's box was a solid mixture of makeup, face, body and hair care products. I had a good feeling about it. It was unfortunate that one of them I had little use for, but that was just my colour preference rather than anything intrinsic to the product. On the other hand, receiving the CC Cream was very exciting! Overall, I do like the April box.

Rating: 8/10
Gunna Use It Right Now Rating: 67%

My First Lust Have It ..Eco Box..!

In a fit of excitement, I decided I needed even more beauty sample goodness, so I subscribed to Lust Have It's Eco Box. A separate subscription box to LHI's monthly service, the Eco Box is a little more expensive ($24.95), is released quarterly (with the seasons!), and contains only products that are not tested on animals, and are organic and made locally where possible. Yes, the Eco Box is a little more expensive than the normal monthly box, but it promises a larger selection of products, with more full-sized offerings. The box was larger than the monthly subscription box, and impressively hefty. The products were packed in a hessian bag, which fits with the Eco theme, but I think I'll just throw it away as it's a bit smelly. Nevertheless, I was excited when I pulled my products out!

Let's see what I got!:

❀ Savi Wellbeing Body Cream, sample size 20ml.
This organic body moisturiser smells divine - calming with a slight hint of citrus. The Australian botanicals really come out in the scent. I was instantly transported back to the time I had a holiday in Daylesford and went to a day spa. *sighs* My skin felt really soft afterwards. If only the sample bottle was bigger! I know I'll tear through it in no time! The product is made in Australia.

❀ Pretty Serious Nail Polish in Tux, full size 11ml.
Tux is a black nail polish with green micro-glitter. I don't really like very dark nail polishes, but I thought the glitter would redeem this for me. However, when I tried it out, I could only see the glitter from very close up. Otherwise it just looks plain black. That was a little disappointing. I don't wear black nail polish normally, so I think I'll give this one away. It was pretty long-lasting and I do like the brand's image though, so I might check out their other colours. Pretty Serious is an Australian brand.

❀ e.l.f. Cosmetics Mineral Eyeshadow in Royal, full size.
Mineral makeup products are supposedly easier on the skin than the alternative, though I personally don't see much of a difference - except in the price: I'm so cynical! ;) This eyeshadow is a beautiful shimmering purple colour; I don't have anything quite like it. Powder eyeshadows can be a bit scary for the spillage factor, but there's a sensible dispenser in the lid that should make using it much easier. I'm happy with this one and will definitely use it.

❀ Alfaparf Milano Anti-Frizz Oil Shampoo, Anti-Frizz Mask and Absolute Oil, sample sachets and 10ml bottle.
I'm always happy to try a new hair product, though the full sizes are sadly out of my price range. I tried the absolute oil on my hair earlier this evening, so it's a bit early to tell if it works, but it sure smells good and has a satisfyingly thick texture. It contains Prickly Pear oil, with moisturising properties, and all the products are paraben- and colourant-free. Alfaparf Milano comes from Italy.

❀ McArthur Complete Skincare Cream, full-size 250ml.
The drawcard of this product is that it contains 60% Mc Arthur Pawpaw Extract (TM), though neither the bottle nor the enclosed flyer explain how this is better than normal pawpaw extract. Call me cynical, but I'm put off by the near-miraculous claims and untenably complicated application instructions. It also has a really strange smell - citrus and lavender and something else that I can't quite describe. Having said all of that however, I love this product. Why? Because it doesn't make my eczema flare up! I can't count the number of hand creams I've had to throw away after only a few uses. Thankfully this comes in a nice big pump pack. This product is made in Australia and does not contain parabens.

❀ Wotnot Facial Wipes, full-size.
By an amazing coincidence, I was planning to buy some facial wipes the very day that my box arrived, as I noticed I was running low. I'm pleased to see that these contain organic aloe vera and rosehip oil. I'm looking forward to getting stuck into them. Wotnot is an Australian company.

Summary: I was happy with my first Lust Have It Eco Box. There was a good mix of skin care and cosmetics. The only disappointment was that the nail polish colour was not to my taste. I really liked everything else - and it's not often that I have so few negative comments about a beauty box!
I really like the idea of the Eco box. I don't have to worry about getting that pang of guilt when I open a box and see a product from a brand that tests on animals. I also like the idea of getting a larger box at longer intervals. I'm starting to get to the stage in my beauty box career that I want quality just as much as quantity. I'm happy to wait a bit longer if I know I'm going to get a larger proportion of full-sized products, in a more-thoughtfully put together box.
My only question now is ... so when's the Winter box coming out???

P.S. Today's photo was taken with my new camera that I received for my birthday. I hope you'll notice the difference in image quality from now on!

Beauty Boxes : Lust Have It February 2013

February's Lust Have It box is a little different to normal. In a spirit of honesty they sent an email last week explaining some changes to this month's box. One of the full-size products they wanted to include was so large and heavy that they couldn't put it in their new signature box, and they also had to leave out one of the products from the card due to the weight limit. There was to be 3 full-size products in total to make up for it. I was so intrigued as to what they might be!

The box finally arrived on Friday. The postie had put it in the letterbox instead of by the front door like normal, and unfortunately, being a 33oC day, the contents felt warm. Grrr again, Australia Post! I really hope the heat didn't affect them too much, though it can't have been too bad as the lipstick hadn't melted or warped. Moving on though, let's see what we got:

* Mancine Summer Tan Self-Action Tan in Dark, full size 250ml.
This is the large bottle that caused all the last-minute swapping surrounding this month's box, and unfortunately I have to say it's a product I probably won't use. I've received tanning products before and said I'd use them, but never do. Sometimes I get vain and want my legs to be a bit more tanned, but I always fall back on my good old Palmer's Gradual. Even then, I sometimes have to dilute it with moisturiser because even after one application it looks too weird with my pasty fair rose skin. I may well try it out, but I can't imagine going through a whole 250ml bottle of the stuff! So I was kinda disappointed to find that the product I'd been waiting for and which I had to miss out on my 5th sample for, is wasted on me.
The product is made in Australia and not tested on animals.

* Styli-Style L3 Timeless Lipstick in Spirit, full size.
I don't use lipsticks too much, but I'm in love with this colour! It's like a dusty rose pink with a touch of mauve, and quite sheer. I have swatched it below! It comes in a nice solid metal tube that I could throw in my bag and take everywhere with me. I can see myself using it often. This brand comes from the U.S.

* The Natural Source Camouflage Colour Nail Lacquer in Brown Plum, full size.
I just can't get enough nail polish! This one is a deep brick red tending to brown. I probably wouldn't have chosen it myself, but it might make an interesting base for some of the glitter nail polishes I've acquired lately.

* Lon Vitalite C9 Moisturising Hand Mask, 1 pr.
This looks like a really interesting product: like a cloth face mask except for your hands. I'm really looking forward to using it. My hands have been so dry in the heat, so I think they deserve a bit of pampering. The price seems very reasonable, $4.50 per pair, so I might buy some if I enjoy the pampering. ;)

Gunna Use It Right Now Rating: 75%
Summary: I'm in two minds about this box. While it was disappointing to only receive 4 products, I did like 3 of them, and LHI's upfront email went quite a way to make up for it. I can't help wondering though if they couldn't have thrown in one or two lightweight sachets as compensation, or if the box really was too heavy. Normally my box ratings depend on giving 0-2 points per product, and with only 4 in this one I'm afraid it only gets 5/10.

Rating: 5/10

Now for the lipstick swatch. This was taken under my daylight lamp. The colour is much more true-to-life in this shot (compared to my monitor settings anyway!). I think it will be fairly long-wearing as the lippie took a bit of rubbing to get off my arm!:

Beauty Boxes: Lust Have It January 2013

My January Lust Have It box finally arrived yesterday! I was starting to see reviews popping up on other blogs and was worried something might have happened to it. Despite living in a metropolitan area, I often seem to receive it a bit late. Never mind, it's mine now!
The first thing I noticed about the box is that it's bigger than normal. Exciting! Inside there was a special cardboard box with a magnetic closure. This must be the collector box that was promised late last year! It's beautiful, I love the colours, and it's a good size for storing lots of different things.

It contained:


* Lush Cosmetics Emotional Brilliance Eyeliner in Motivation, full size.
A product from Lush's New Emotional Brilliance Range, and a full-size one, no less! Of course I'd heard about Lush's Cosmetics range when it first came out a few months ago. It was all over the beauty blogs, and I subscribe to their emails, too. I was very curious, but at RRP $24.95 a go, a little hesitant. Especially because you're supposed to choose the colour by spinning the wheel! I'm just not that spontaneous! Yet this gorgeous blue colour and its name appeal to me. I really could do with some 'Motivation' right now. And I've been wanting to experiment with liquid eyeliners (I bought a brown one from Daiso recently which I haven't shown you yet). To sum up, I was excited to see this product!

* Nude By Nature BB 5-in-1 Miracle Cream in Medium Tone, full-size.
As I mentioned in my last post, I'm a bit suspicious of Western BB creams, but I'm glad to get to try another one. And this is a full-sized tube. It's much more generous than Bella Box's 5ml sachet (I know I promised not to compare different brands of box, but sometimes I just can't help it.) The medium tone will probably be too dark for my fair skin, but as it's summer I just might be able to get away with it.

* Lust Have It branded Kabuki Brush.
This brush looks very beautiful and I'm looking forward to trying it. Lately I've started applying my morning BB Cream/Foundation with a brush instead of my fingers. The main advantage to this is it saves time in the mornings - I don't have to go into the bathroom and wash my hands before finishing my morning routine. Whether or not I use less product or there are other advantages, I'm not sure yet! It's also fun to use a brush - I feel more grown up and sophisticated. =)

* Klorane Pomegranate Shampoo & Conditioner for Colour-Treated Hair, sample sachets 10ml each.
Well, I don't know if it's a coincidence, but this product is just suited for my constantly-dyed hair. Plus, I love pomegranate in all its forms. I'm really looking forward to trying these.

* Avene Clenance Gel Cleanser, Cream Exfoliant and Anti-Shine Moisturiser, sample bottles ___ml each.
Again, I'm happy to receive these three generously-sized sample bottles. I was really impressed with the Avene eye makeup remover, so I'm looking forward to trying some of their other products. The Clenance range is for sensitive skin; even though my skin isn't particularly sensitive, I appreciate products that don't have too many chemicals.

Summary: I was thrilled when I opened up this month's box - two full-sized makeup products, some relevant hair products and a generous sampling of skin things. Even though there are 5 products listed on the card, some are grouped together so there's actually 8 separate items. There was no splitting up of products to make the offering seem more generous like has occurred in the past (this month's Bella Box being the most recent example I can think of. This actually makes it seem more generous rather than less, in my opinion. The value of this box is somewhat over $55, which is very good for recent boxes.
In short, I really love this box!


Gunna Use It Right Now Percentage: 75%
Box Rating: 9/10

Favourites from the Boxes 2012 - Part 1

I've been subscribed to various beauty subscription boxes for just over a year now, so I thought I'd do a feature on the favourite products that I've received in 2012. It was a tough job, but I managed to whittle it down to 12. Here are the first 6; Part 2 is coming soon!

P.S. The photos were schlurped from the original photos I took when I originally received the boxes, so the quality isn't the best on some of them. I apologise for my laziness!

❤ Pure Fiji Coconut Milk and Honey Body Butter, Bella Box, June -- this generously-sized sample pot was a clear favourite. The creamy honey with a hint of tropical coconut smell made me swoon whenever I screwed off the lid. Unfortunately the product is a little expensive - RRP $29.95 - but it's definitely on my wishlist!
❤ Carmex Moisture Plus SPF 15+ Lip Balm, Bella Box July -- I've raved about this product before, I know! But it's the only SPF lip balm I've tried that didn't taste/smell disgusting. Plus I really like the product story: the brand is run by a family who give the products out to friends to test. Cute!

❤Tigi Catwalk Session Series Styling Cream, Lust Have It, August -- it was a toss-up between this product and the John Frieda Frizz-Ease serum - they both work really well on my crazy hair. The Tigi won out though, because I received a full-size tube. I smooth it on my hair before twisting into a bun, and the fly-aways on the sides of my head, and it makes a huge difference to my look.
❤e.l.f. Luscious Liquid Lipstick in Cherry Tart, Bella Box, October -- e.l.f. is a cheap and cheerful brand, but this product just appealed to me somehow. Maybe it's the twist-and-click tip or maybe the colour. I started using it straight away and I use it just about every day. It's a pretty shade of pink, and adds shine without being glittery or sticky. (I have no problem with glittery at all, but some days that's just not what I want!)

❤Mirenesse Ace of Base Concealer, Lust Have It, September -- I'd heard great things about this product, and it's not half-bad. The colour is less yellow than many other concealers I've seen, and it suits my skin tone well. It doesn't provide complete coverage, but it evens out my dark circles and and the red marks on my nose quite well. I use it on days when I need an extra boost, or when I can't be bothered with a full face of makeup.
❤Montaser Cosmeceuticals Renitence Eye Revival Cream, Lust Have It, October -- Montaser is an Australian brand that use a combination of native plant botanicals and the latest scientific ingredients in their products. Unfortunately it's way too expensive for me (RRP $79.90 for 30 mls), but that just made me savour it even more while it lasted. The cream made my under-eye area feel smoother, but the best part for me was the smell. Have you ever smelled or tasted wattle seed? It's absolutely divine - like a cross between caramel and coffee with a dash of cream. I also had my first ever taste of wattle seed ice cream this year ... I was in heaven! Sadly I will probably never get to use this product or anything from the Montaser line again, but the great thing about beauty boxes is that I at least did get to try it once.

Stay tuned for Part 2 in a couple of days!

Beauty Boxes: Lust Have It December 2012

Yes, I've been completely neglecting my blogs lately, but I'm not one for long apologies, so let's see what I received in my final Lust Have It box for the year. I found it on my doorstep on the Friday before Christmas, which was quite a relief as I was worried it wasn't going to come before Christmas, and I'm sure no-one would want that!

Here's the pic:

Here we see:

❏ Catwalk by Tigi Sessions Series Finishing Hairspray, sample size 80ml.
I received a Tigi frizz-control product a few boxes ago, and I was happy with its performance. I have a huge can of hairspray though I hardly ever use it. It'll be good to have a smaller size can.

❏ Baji Rose and Kakadu Plum Face Mist, full size 110ml.
With a beautiful rose smell, this face mist also contains bush essences and aloe vera. Face mists are one of those products that I used to find mystifying, but now use all the time. I like to give myself a spritz at the end of my lunch break at work, to give myself a little pick-me-up for the afternoon. This will definitely get used! Baji is Australian owned and made, and is not tested on animals.

❏ Everyday Minerals Cheek in Nature's Sweet Side, 4.8g. {I assume it's full-size.}
The options for Everyday Minerals products were an eyeshadow, a base or a blush. I received a blush in a pinky coral. I've only just started out with using cream blushes. I have a few powder and pressed powder blushes, but I'm too scared to use them. I'm worried I'll look like a throwback to the 80s! There's no time like the present to try something new, though. Everyday Minerals comes from Texas, U.S. Products are not tested on animals.

❏ Pelactiv Hydra Daily Defense Moisturiser, full-size 50ml.
I'm quite impressed to get a full-sized tube of this moisturiser, which retails at $69. I saw this brand advertised in a magazine not long ago and was curious about it, so I'm happy to see it in my box. The moisturiser contains Australian plant botanicals, as well as vitamins and seaweed extract. Pelactiv is Australian-made and is not tested on animals.

❏ Glasshouse Fragrances Hand Creme in Marseille Gardenia, sample size 5ml.
I have a few soaps from this range, and I really love the sophisticated floral scent. Unfortunately most scented creams react badly with my eczema, but I usually can't resist using them anyway if the smell is enticing enough. The product is made in Australia and not tested on animals.

❏ Lust Have It Exfoliating Glove.
The rough fabric on this mitt has a very effective exfoliating result. The instructions advise to use it 1 to 2 times a week.

❏ BONUS PRODUCT -- Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau de Toilette, sample vial 1.2ml.
I'm always excited to receive a perfume sample, and Marc Jacobs is the really good stuff! It must have been a last-minute addition, as it's not pictured on the card. I've become such a girly that I wear perfume nearly every day now, and I've collected enough now that I can choose different ones to suit my moods and outfits.

Summary: So far I've resisted comparing boxes from different companies in my reviews, but this month I just can't help it. Whereas December's Bella Box {review here} had one wham-in-your-face product with average products filling up the rest of the box, Lust Have It have produced a consistently pleasing box. There are a generous number of products, and three of them are full-size (including a high-end brand). I like all of the products and I'll use them. For this reason, I do prefer the LHI box to the Bella Box this month so I'm giving it 9 out of 10.

I would also like to make a comment on Lust Have It's marketing strategy. It's changed recently. Previously, I'd only receive emails when my credit card had been charged and my box had been posted. After a while, it started to feel, well, a little impersonal. While Bella Box sent emails which mostly consisted of "hey, it's [insert occasion here] soon, buy some stuff from our online store", at least they were communicating. In the last month or so, LHI have really stepped up in this department. They now send a regular newsletter which has interesting content with tips and further information about the products in the boxes. They also have a YouTube channel with even more in video form. I can't stress how much this has changed my perception of the LHI brand. I feel more connected and have a more positive perception of the brand. I just ... like them more!

I can't be bothered working out the total value of the box. It's Christmas, for pete's sake!
Rating: 9/10

P.S. : I have many posts planned for the new year, and perhaps a few changes too, if I'm feeling brave enough. Happy New Year and see you very soon!

Beauty Boxes: Lust Have It, November 2012

The theme of this month's box is Summer-Ready and Party-Gorgeous! All the products are designed for primping and preening. Apparently there was a bit of controversy over last month's box. Many people didn't like the box, and quite a few unsubscribed. In their e-mail, LHI promised an extra special box this month to make up for it. Personally, I quite liked what I got last month, so extra bonus for me!

Let's see what we got:


✔ ModelCo Fibre Lashxtend Mascara, full size.
To my mind the best thing about this box, this full-size mascara isn't even in the shops yet! I was impressed with the ModelCo lip gloss I received a few months ago, so I'm looking forward to giving it a go. This product has the same handy mirror inlaid in the side too, which is a feature I really like.

✔ Evodia Roll-On Fragrance in Lime and Coconut, full size.
I gave this a try straight away. It has a sharp, tropical smell that really evokes heat and summer time. It lasted for a surprisingly long time, too. I love my perfumes, so I'm sure this will get chucked in my bag on many occasions!

✔ GKMBJ One Minute Treatment, sample size 30g.
I wasn't sure what to make of this product at first - what's that name all about?? All it says on the tube is "Hair Care Products", and I had to check on the card to see what it actually was! I'm all for hair serums, so I'll try this soon.

✔ Aviva Inspires Skin Glow Light Tan Extender, sample size 30ml.
I don't really need this product, as I rarely use self-tanner. Occasionally I get self-conscious enough about my pasty white legs to slap on some Palmer's Gradual, so I'll keep it for those times.

✔ Star & Rose Hologram Tweezers.
These tweezers are very cute, but they're not as good as the ones I already have, I'm sorry! I'll probably keep them for craft projects. This product feels a bit like a filler or bonus item to me, not a core item. I like things I can use up! Not things which most girls probably already have.

Summary: Lust Have It promised a great box this month, and in the light of that, I was a bit disappointed. It's an ordinary box, not a great box. There are no bonus products, only 2 out of 5 full-size products, no luxury brands. If I hadn't read that this month's box was going to be extra special to make up for last month's then I probably would have been satisfied and not so disappointed! That's just how the cookie crumbles, I guess.

Total Value: $58.69. Cost of Box: $14.95. Benefit: $43.74
Rating: 7/10

Beauty Boxes : Lust Have It October 2012

The theme for this month's Lust Have It is Luxe and Luscious Lust-Haves. Like Bella Box, they are looking at the Cancer Council's Pink Ribbon campaign, and have packed the smaller items in a pink organza bag for that reason (bag not shown, but trust me, they were!). Here's what was in this month's box:


Photo by AntwanR.Here we see:

❖ Waxaway Ready-To-Use Sensitive Wax Strips, sample pack of 2.
I've always been terrified of waxing. I've tried going to a salon, and I've tried doing it myself at home, and every time it's been painful, confusing and a failure. I'm a staunch shaving girl and I don't think anything will make me change. Except for beauty product samples! So I will give these a go and you never know.

❖ Elizabeth Arden Red Door Aura Eau de Toilette, sample vial 5ml.
A lighter version of the iconic Red Door perfume. I received a sample of the original in my I Love This Box (now sadly defunct) box at the start of the year. This version is very similar, but lighter with more floral overtones. It still has that classic elegance, but doesn't make my eyes water. ﭢ Having tried it out last night, I definitely noticed the shorter staying power of the eau de toilette as compared to an eau de parfum. I do really like this perfume, though. It would be good for a garden party or daytime wedding.
Elizabeth Arden is not tested on animals.

❖ Say It With Scent Hand and Body Lotion in Lavender, sample size 30ml.
The rate of hand creams in my beauty sample boxes has dropped off a bit lately - and quite frankly I was kinda glad. I need to be really careful about what I use on my hands because I have eczema, and this one, while it smells lovely, would not be suitable for me, I think. Such a shame. I love the pretty tube. I think I'll set it aside and slip it into a friend's Christmas present.

❖ Star & Rose Confetti Soap Petals, full-size box of 3.
These soap flowers are way too pretty to use! They're the kind of thing you'd get in a gift hamper, not for solid, down-home everyday use. I'm going to put them aside for a gift as well. (Though I'll have to make sure I give them to someone who I'm pretty sure doesn't read the blog! ahahha)

❖ Montaser Cosmeceuticals Renitence Eye Revival Cream, sample size {not given but estimate 5ml}.
I'm feeling a bit of a glut of eye creams at the moment. I'd never heard of this brand, so I had a look at their website. They're an Australian company that use a combination of Science, native Australian plant botanicals and dead sea minerals to create anti-ageing products. While the mustard-yellow colour of the cream is a bit disturbing (I opened up the pot for the photo), it has the most divine and unusual buttery caramel smell. Mmmm!
The full-size product is not in a pot. It seems to be a pump pack. Montaser products are not tested on animals.

Summary: I'm a bit on the fence with this month's box: not excited, but not horribly disappointed either. Just like last month, none of the products were full size. (Well, the soap flowers are, but they just strike me as being a bit of a fluffy filler product, so I'm leaving them out of that statement.) Unfortunately that brings the value down a bit, but that isn't what's niggling me about this month's box. It suffers a little from a lack of makeup products, I think. The "Luxe and Luscious" theme could have done with a bit of indulgent cosmetic pampering. I do really like the perfume though, and I'm looking forward to using the eye cream.

Total Value: $44.28. Cost of Box: $14.95. Benefit: $29.33
Rating: 7/10

Beauty Boxes: Lust Have It September 2012

I'm a little late reviewing the September 2012 box. What can I say - I've been busy! So, this time the pack came in a pretty silver makeup bag. I have about 5 now, I think, all in different colours, and I've been using them to store my samples in. Handy! Here is this month's haul:


Here we see:

♥ Aum Gentle Facial Foam Cleanser, sample size 20ml.
I've sampled quite a few facial cleansers lately but I always like to have more. I love washing my face and feeling it squeaky clean. This smells divine, like lavender and ylang ylang and I can't wait to use it! It is not tested on animals.

♥ YSL Opium Vapeurs de Parfum, sample vial 1.5ml
This perfume is so new it's not even in stores yet, so I feel quite special being able to sample it. In fact, I even wore it to the wedding I attended recently. I really like the spicy smell - it's not as intense as Chloe, but not as floral as Lola.

♥ Davroe Colour Senses Ends Repair, sample size 50ml
I liked the Davroe detangler that I received a while back, and this end-repairing serum for coloured hair suits my hair profile perfectly. It's Australian and not tested on animals.

♥ Morrissey Hand & Body Lotion, sample size 40ml
I reluctantly broke the seal to smell this lotion - the bottle is so sophisticated-looking I didn't want to ruin it! It has an unusual scent of blood orange and lime that I quite like. Morrissey is Australian, not tested on animals, and paraben-free.

♥ Mirenesse Ace of Base Concealer, sample size 1.5g
I was excited to be able to try the Mirenesse Concealer. My current Smashbox Concealer is a bit yellow for my skintone, but this has a much pinker hue. It's a winner! I took it with me on holidays and tried it out a few times, not least of all for my wedding makeup look. Yay!

Summary: Despite the very low value of this month's box, I actually really like it. There's a good mix of product samples: face, body, hair, makeup and perfume. Facial cleansers and perfumes are two of my big weaknesses, so I did squee a bit when I saw them! And I was very impressed with the Mirenesse concealer. I have to say that I also loved the colours of the different bottles and vials - don't they look lovely against the background of the silver bag? Unfortunately all of this month's items were sample-sized, resulting in a very low box value compared to past boxes. I've taken a couple of points off for that, but even still, it scores a decent 7 out of 10.

Total Value: $27.21. Cost of Box: $14.95. Benefit: $12.26
Rating: 7/10

Beauty Boxes : Lust Have It August 2012

After four months in a row of receiving my Lust Have It goodies in a makeup bag, this time the subscription came in a proper box again. It was slightly larger than normal, the type of flimsy cardboard box that you might see at party supply places, though it was wrapped in a nice wide black ribbon. The tissue paper inside was plain white too. I just get the feeling that not as much effort was put into the presentation of this month's box, but what's inside is more important, so let's have a look:



It contained:

tanGo Tanning Glove
Well, for a start, this isn't a glove, it's a plain square cloth. On the card, it's pictured with the other tantalising tanGo products that we didn't receive. It's made of that soft microfibre material that some of my face washers are made of, and that's what I'll use it for. I think this would be more appropriately listed as a bonus product. The RRP of $29.95 seems a little high to me.

Bioderma Atoderm Cream, sample sachet 8ml
This comes from the same folks that brought us the H2O Makeup Remover, which many beauty bloggers were calling a holy grail product. I'm expecting it to be good! It's for very dry skin. Thankfully I don't have a dry skin problem, but I may as well give it a go anyway.

Tigi Catwalk Session Series Styling Cream, full-size 150ml
This stuff looks a lot more usable than the Tigi Bedhead Manipulator that I got a while back, which was a sticky, blue mess. This looks like something I would use regularly, as my hair is pretty frizzy. It's full-size, which makes me happy.

Aromatherapy Associates Triple Rose Renewing Moisturiser and Hydrating Face Mask, sample size 5ml each
I love rose, so I'm sure I'll love these. Again, these are for dry skin and my skin is normal to oily, so I hope I don't have any breakouts.

Wet n Wild Nail Polish, full-size
I don't know what the name of this colour is, but it reminds me of the nail polishes I had when I was a kid. It's a pretty iridescent colour. I haven't been in the mood to paint my nails lately, but this polish might bring me out of hibernation.

Shiseido Perfect Rouge Lipstick in RD305, sample size 2.5g
I've been wanting to try Shiseido products for a while, but the price range made me hesitate. So I was happy to see a Shiseido product in my box, but disappointed at the same time, because the product is one that I'm least likely to use. There's already a lipstick in a very similar colour in my 'Probably Won't Ever Use' box. I know that many people love lipstick and they have to cater to people with many different tastes and preferences, but it just leaves me feeling ... meh.

Summary: As you can probably tell, I'm not very enthused by this month's box, though I can't really figure out why. It's actually a very good box: the mixture of different types of products is good (face, body, hair, nails, makeup), and the value is very high. So I'll give it the score that it probably deserves, rather than the score I feel like giving it.

Total Value: $108.72. Cost of Box: $14.95. Benefit: $93.77
Rating: 8/10

Beauty Boxes : Lust Have It Box July 2012

My Lust Have It box for July arrived a couple of days ago. I'm not feeling the blogging inspiration today, so I'll just do a quick summary. It again came in a lust-have-it-branded makeup bag, but in a perky bright orange colour this time. Just looking at it cheers me up!

I'd also like to mention before I get started - my Beauty Basket subscription. Remember I received a Beauty Basket last month? I was really starting to wonder why I hadn't received one this month. No payment was taken out of my account, no email communication, nothing. So yesterday I finally went to their site to figure out what the deal was. It turns out - you have to log on to their site and manually purchase the basket every month.


last month's Beauty Basket

After the less-than-inspiring package I received last month (Lindt chocolates aside), and the less-than-encouraging feedback I've read about their service, I decided not to bother. In my mind, half the convenience of the beauty box subscription is that they arrive on your doorstep like magic each month, without you having to do anything. (I know! I'm lazy! But it's a part of feeling pampered, don't you think?) Plus, I can't believe I'm admitting this, but I'm building up quite a large stash of products now, and it's probably best if I stick to just two boxes. (*gasp!*)
Now on to the box at hand!:


my Lust Have It goodies!

I received:

✌ Baby Foot - it's a set of exfoliating socks that you wear for a couple of hours, and then over the next few weeks, all the dead hard skin on your feet eventually comes off. (See illustration on postcard at the bottom of my photo.) I was quite chuffed to receive this because a) I'm really slack with taking care of my feet, and I'd rather use something occasionally that gives them a really thorough treatment, than having to pay attention to them every day; and b) Celeste from Becoming Beautiful recently reviewed a very similar product from Tony Moly and I've been intrigued by it. The included postcard had a 20% discount offer for purchases before the end of August, which I may take advantage of.

✌ Matrix Deep Smoothing Shampoo & Conditioner - these paraben-free products are formulated to smooth rough, frizzy hair, which is exactly what I need. It's annoying when hair products come in a 15ml sachet which isn't enough for even one application on my long, thick hair. This bottle and tube though, will be good for a couple of washes.

✌ Mirenesse Velvet Lip Lift Moisture Shine - I like the pinkish-nude colour of this lip gloss sample, and I love the design of Mirenesse packaging. I can't tell you yet whether it's self-renewing or lasts all day, but I can tell you that it smells horrible. Sort of like plastic and chemicals. Which is a real shame because their primer and face mask both smell divine and really warmed me to Mirenesse products. The jury's out as to whether I'll actually use this.

✌ Avene Gentle Eye Makeup Remover - oops, I bought a full-size bottle of this on sale from Chemist Warehouse a couple of weeks ago! Though I haven't started using it yet. If I do end up liking it, then it'll be very handy for travelling and sleeping over at friends' houses (which we sometimes plan, but never get around to!).

✌ Avene Ystheal+ Anti-Ageing Cream - I remembered getting some Avene products in my Bella Box a few months ago, but I'm relieved to see this is a different product in the Ystheal line. (And no, I haven't started using those yet, either!) It's formulated for dry skin, so not my type, but I'll try it anyway with caution. Not only do I have oily skin, but I have a great honker of a pimple on my chin at the moment!

Summary: Overall it wasn't a bad box. There was a good mix of skin care, makeup and hair products, with all the brands being medium to high end. The Baby Foot is a new type of product (as far as I'm aware!) and I'm looking forward to using it.

Total Value: $62.56. Cost of Box: $14.95. Benefit: $47.61
Rating: 8/10

Beauty Boxes: Lust Have It May 2012

I always seem to get my beauty boxes after everyone else, wah! It's because I can only get to the post office to pick them up on Saturdays, so they're sitting in the lovely lady's back room, unloved and untouched, for up to five whole days! Ah well, at least I have my LustHaveIt box now. And boy, have they gone all out this time!

As I mentioned last month, LustHaveIt took over the failing GlossyBox last month, and everyone's been waiting to see what would happen this month. Last week I received a reassuring email from LustHaveIt, explaining again the changes and what's going to happen. They've been very open and honest about the whole thing, which is fantastic, because GlossyBox were pretty much the opposite! Even on the card in the box itself, they address some of the concerns that subscribers had about future boxes' quality and service being compromised. They've really gone all out to assure us this will not be the case. And here it is:



Yup, there are 7 (count em!) products in this box! 8 if you count the shampoo and conditioner as separate products. Wow! They are:

ModelCo Shine Ultra Lipgloss in Showgirl Red, full size.
Wow, the packaging of this lipgloss looks so glamorous with its slimline shape and mirror on the side. It makes me feel glamorous just holding it! The boxes contained a range of lipglosses and lipsticks, and I definitely prefer the lipgloss. It seems insanely red in the tube, but it goes on quite sheer, so it would be good for everyday use as well as a night out. I can see myself using it soon.
Conscience time: ModelCo is an Australian brand started by an individual. It is tested on models, not animals (to quote the website!)

Evo The Therapist Calming Shampoo and Calming Conditioner, sample size, 50ml each.
I received the Evo Moisture Mask in one of my first beauty boxes and I loved it, so I'm looking forward to trying these out. I have so much crazy hair, that I love trying out new products to see what works for me.
Conscience time: Evo is a U.S. brand (I think). It is not tested on animals.

Bioderma Crealine H2) Makeup Remover, 20ml sample size.
I was so happy to see this in my box! Just the other day one of my favourite beauty bloggers was saying in her latest weekly youtube video that she swears by this makeup remover. I'd been wanting to try it out, but not sure where to get it from. Now it appears right here in my beauty box! However, I'm disappointed to find that they do test on animals, so I'm kinda hoping it won't be that good!
Conscience time: Bioderma is a French company, I believe. They do test on animals (source is other bloggers).

Calvin Klein Sheer Beauty Perfume, vial size 1.2ml.
This perfume is quite nice, though it doesn't really do that much for me. It smells like a garden in Spring. It might be best put aside until warmer weather.
Conscience time: Calvin Klein is owned by Unilever, which do test on animals.

Lush Soap in Lust, sample size 50g {estimated}.
The whole box smelled like this soap when I opened it up, which added to the excitement. It's deep and musky and sexy; the name is a perfect description! I'll definitely use this, but maybe only at night before bedtime!
Conscience time: Lush is a U.K. company. It does not test on animals.

Caron Laboratories Bump eRaiser Medi Paste, full size 30ml.
A cream for eliminating ingrown hairs after waxing or shaving. I've never had an ingrown hair, but perhaps one of my friends might find it useful?
Conscience time: Caron is an Australian company, it does not test on animals.

Nicole by OPI Ultimate Trendsetters Nail Lacquer in {shade name not given}, sample size 3.75ml.
This is a lovely purple glitter in a clear base. I have to admit, after buying the Ulta3 red glitter earlier in the week, I was glad to get another one in a colour I prefer! And this has glitter in 2 different sizes, which makes it even more glam and fun.
Conscience time: OPI never used to test on animals, but they were bought out by Coty, which do.

Summary: This box blew me away with the number and types of products. Good work there, LustHaveIt! It's got so many things I like: hair products, nails, perfume, skin care. There's only one product that I don't think I'll use, which is really saying something. I wasn't very happy with some products from companies that test on animals, but sometimes that's the way the cookies crumbles when you subscribe to a surprise box service. The value was pretty standard compared to many boxes I've received before, but not the worst. Overall I really loved this box.

Total Value: $56.51. Cost of Box: $14.95. Benefit: $41.56
Rating: 9/10

LustHaveIt : The Verdict

I realised the other day that I've actually received 5 LustHaveIt boxes, having said I'd evaluate each box brand after receiving 4. So it's high time that I had a look at it! Because most of my statistics are based on percentages, I can still evaluate the 5 boxes the same way I did with GlossyBox's 4 boxes.



These are the affiliate brands promised on the LustHaveIt website, which I've received products from over the course of 5 months:

1Skin Solutions ; Davroe (x2) ; De Lorenzo ; emerginC ; Evo ; Glasshouse Fragrances ; Hawley ; I Nuovi ; Karpati DITO ; Kerastase ; Kosmea (x2) ; Lac/Taut ; Lancome (x2) ; LimeLily Cosmetics ; Lash Republic ; Lush ; Mirenesse ; Moxie ; Nude By Nature ; ROC ; Sasy N Savy ; Spa Fresh Blends ; True Solutions

These are the brands that I haven't received products from:

Bio Effect ; Burt's Bees ; Decleor ; Dermalogica ; I Love My Muff ; Laura Mercier ; MD Formulations ; Naked Tan ; Nougat London ; OPI ; Pure Fiji ; Urban Rituelle

I drew up some statistics, just as I did with my GlossyBox evaluation (I'm not sure why the tables are appearing as they do today, HTML can be such a mystery!):

Standard of Product
Luxury	2	10%
Top Shelf	9	40%
Middle Shelf	12	50%
Bottom Shelf	2	10%
Bargain Bin	0	0%

Please bear in mind that everyone's opinion is different! My evaluation of a valuable product/brand name might be different from others. For interest's sake though, the two Luxury products were the Lancome Tresor perfume and Juicy Tube lip gloss.

This second table is based on the out-of-10 rating I gave to each box. Here is how it works:
* a product scored a 2 if I was very excited by it; and/or it was something I needed and will definitely use ; and/or it's a type of product I love (e.g. eyeshadow) and also a brand I had been wanting to try.
* a product scored a 1 if it was a product I hadn't really needed but will use ; and/or it was a brand I had been wanting to try but a product in that brand I wasn't particularly interested in (but will still probably use)
* a product scored 0 if it was a disappointing cheap-o brand ; and/or a product I definitely won't use.
Now, I didn't record the actual scores for each product at the time, so I'm sort of re-creating the score, but here we go:

Wanted Factor
Scored High (2)	13	50%
Scored Medium (1)	9	40%
Scored Low (0)	3	10%

I used the above factors to give my box a rating out of 10. If I was particularly pleased with the box overall, I added 1, if there was anything that made me particularly disappointed overall, I subtracted 1. Here are the box ratings for the last 5 months, and the average rating overall:

Overall Box Rating
November 2011	7/10
December 2011	6/10
February 2012	8/10
March 2012	9/10
April 2012	7/10
Average Rating:	7.5/10

7.5 is quite a good average score. There was a bit of a blip when LustHaveIt decided not to send a box out in January, but overall I've been happy with them. So - LustHaveIt stays!
I think I'm going to start a monthly feature called 'Last Month's Beauty Boxes' (or something like that) because I like to look back at which products I actually used as well, and I think that'll help me evaluate the boxes too.

Last Month's Beauty Boxes: Looking Back on March 2012

Hi all! This is a new feature where I look back on my beauty boxes for the previous month and see whether I really did use the products in them. Previously I would edit my old posts and make notes on what I thought of the products, but I became dissatisfied with this way of doing it. I mean, aside from the blogger who wrote them, who goes back and reads old blog posts anyway? シ

So here we go with the March 2012 boxes (click on headings to see original reviews):

Lust Have It
Davroe Moisture Senses Argan Oil - haven't opened this yet, but very much looking forward to using it once I've finished my Garnier Smooth n Shine Serum (I'm phasing out Garner products due to their animal testing status).
Karpati DITO nail lacquer in Midnight Romance - used this on my toenails. Normally polish on my toenails lasts a couple of weeks, but this started to chip after only a few days. Unfortunately seems to be quite bad quality.
1Skin Solutions Lip Balm in Vanilla - in my lipbalm stash and next in the queue!
Kosmea Replenishing Moisture Cream - haven't opened this yet, but I just adored the exfoliant so very much looking forward to using it once my Jurlique Night Cream is finished. P.S. I was excited to see Kosmea products at Priceline and Chemist Warehouse recently!
Mirenesse Pearl Crush Creaseless Eyeshadow in Tahitian Pearls - love, love, love this! I use it all the time. The shadow is extremely pigmented and stays on all day.


Mirenesse Pearl Crush Creaseless Eyeshadow.
(Mine was a different colourway to this.)
From Pinterest.

I Love This Box
Essie Nail Polish 'Carry On' Autumn Collection in Lady Like - have only used this once, soon after I got it, but I adore it and will definitely use again. It was very long-wearing.
Maybelline New York XXL Pro Curl Mascara - have not opened yet, but will use when my current Maybelline mascara goes manky.
Sunsilk Co-Creations Frizz & Weather Defence, Weather Protection & Shine Serum - haven't opened yet. I've received a lot of hair products lately, so I'm not sure when I'll get around to it.
Thalgo Soft Hydrating Emulsion - I've been using this regularly. I like the sea salt smell and it makes my skin soft.
Glitter Puff Wand - not a product that you use, really. It's currently decorating my makeup station.


Thalgo range.

GlossyBox
Proactiv Cleansing Body Bar - Husband and I both used this bar, but after only a few days, we threw it away because it was giving us pimples and his back became very oily.
Eau Thermale Avene Thermal Spring Water - put this aside, may or may not use it. I do use a facial spritzer at work, but it has calming essential oils in it. This has nothing. Hm.
Nougat London Tuberose & Jasmine Nurturing Hand Cream - currently using. However, it sets off my eczema. (I'm bad like that: I'd rather use something up than throw it away, even if it's bad for my eczema.)
KMS California Free Shape Hot Flex Spray - currently using. I occasionally need to straighten my fringe, so I use it then.
Dr. Hauschka Cleansing Cream - currently using. Love the smell (very similar to Jurlique's exfoliating cream, actually) and makes my skin smooth. Not sure if it truly cleanses well, though.

Lust Have It Beauty Box: April 2012

After trying to find time all week to pick up this month's Lust Have It Beauty Box from the post office, I finally had time this morning. I'd been absolutely itching to get another box, so it was quite agonising, I can tell you! I also read some very interesting news yesterday - Lust Have It have acquired GlossyBox (the one I unsubscribed to last month, remember?). I guess I wasn't the only one who thought that GB wasn't quite up to scratch? If I had still been a GB subscriber, the email assured me, then my subscription would have been automatically transferred to Lust Have It so I could continue to receive uninterrupted sample-y goodness.
Umm... have they heard of the right to privacy? Have they heard of asking? I would have been really PO'ed if it had happened to me. No more ranting about GB though, they're out of my life forever. The field of beauty box companies in Australia is now reduced to 3. Interesting times ahead.
Anyway, here is April's Box. The products came inside a pretty blue makeup pouch (making it a little hard to photograph, sorry about that!). The pouch is lined and seems quite sturdy; I think I'll use it to keep my smaller samples and sachets in, so I'm happy about that.



I Nuovi Professional Glitterati in Blonde Fever, full-size pot.
This seems to be a multi-purpose glitter that you can use on your eyes, face, body and even nails, with a topcoat. The colour I received was gold. The other colourways, according to the card, seem to be blue and purple. I'm really not a glitter kind of girl, but I might try it next time I go to a party or something?
Conscience time: I Nuovi Professional is an Italian company. It does not test on animals.

emerginC Phytocell Moisturiser and Kombucha Cleanser, cleanser 3ml; moisturiser 3ml x2
I do love skin care products, and these look very interesting. It's one of the first 'cosmeceutical' brands I've had the chance to try. The full sizes are quite pricy, so it's a brand I wouldn't have tried normally. I'm glad to have received these. I like the shape of the sachets, too. They have a base so that they stand up on their own. It's the little things that can sometimes make a difference!
Conscience time: I believe it's a U.S. company, but their website was vague on that. They don't test on animals.

De Lorenzo Elements Ocean Mist Sea Salt Styling Spray, full-size bottle.
Of course, I've heard of sea salt sprays, but never really thought of using them. Normally I like my hair to be smooth and silky, not textured and messy. However, I was going to a garden party today, so I thought why not give something a different a go? Yes, this ended up being a same-day-trial product. And I really like it! I'd just assumed that it wouldn't have much effect, as my hair normally baulks at anything I try to do to it. But I ended up with messy textured waves that looked beachy cool. Wow! I may well purchase this product again.
Conscience time: De Lorenzo is an Australian company, founded by an individual (actually, two brothers). It does not test on animals.

True Solutions All Day Tinted Moisturising Cream SPF 30+, 20ml sample size bottle.
I already have a tinted moisturiser, but I thought I'd try this out for the garden party and this ended up being a same-day-trial product, too. The product was very thick in consistency: if my skin hadn't been warm and damp from the shower, I might have had some trouble blending it in. However, I liked the tinting: subtle but not so much as to be invisible. As for the 'all day' claim, I can't really say as I don't have problems with skin going dry anyway. It was quite a good product and I'll definitely use it up. And because it was made in Australia, where we have strict standards for SPF products, I don't have to worry that it might not have the full spectrum of ingredients to protect my skin from the sun. (I'm still concerned after reading the review of the Sheer Cover product on the Beautypedia website.)
Conscience time: The website was a little confusing, but I think the company was founded by an Australian. It's definitely made in Australia. It does not test on animals.

Spa Fresh Blends Romantic Discovery Bath Salts, sample sachet, estimate 50g.
Supposedly these bath salts smell like sweet orange, bergamot and ylang ylang. Sounds good! I don't take baths very often anymore (the bathtub in our new place is shallow and gets dirty very easily), but I might have to make an exception to give this a go.
Conscience time: Spa Fresh Blends was founded by an individual. Its animal testing status is not listed on its website.

Summary: Yes, this was a pretty good box. The makeup didn't enthuse me at all, but there were some other exciting skin and hair care products. Only 2 of the products were full-sized, but the value of the box was up there with the best.

Total Value: $72.70. Cost of Box: $14.95. Benefit: $57.80
Rating: 7/10

Review of Lust Have It Beauty Box, March 2012

After receiving the triple-whammy of 3 beauty boxes all at once in February, I was starting to pine for another one, wondering when my first one would come. Lust Have It was first cab off the rank this month, and boy, was I excited when I opened it!! Here is the pic of the products, nestled in an autumn-appropriate bed of orange tissue:



It contained:

Davroe Moisture Senses Argan Oil, full-size 50ml.
When I received the Davroe de-tangler in last month's box, I was a bit ambivalent about it. When I tried it though, it really worked! So I was happy to see another Davroe product. Not only that though, it's Argan oil! I've been wanting to try argan oil ever since I first heard about it, but wasn't willing to fork out the extravagant price point for the Moroccan Oil brand. Now here it is, right in my box! Yay!
Conscience time: Davroe is Australian made and owned. It does not test on animals.

Karpati DITO nail lacquer in Midnight Romance, full size.
What an interesting concept - a nail polish bottle with a finger-grip on it so you can slip it over your fingers while painting your nails. I'm always a little paranoid that I'll knock the bottle over while I'm painting my nails, so this seems like a fantastic solution. The white mod styling with the little round window showing the nail polish colour is really cool. It won a design award, apparently. The colour is also gorgeous; I don't already have a deep purple. I don't think I would buy this though, as it's $19.95 for an 8ml bottle (OPI is the same price, but has twice as much product). I know it's a boutique brand, and the bottle design is unique, but my grinchy soul just wouldn't let me!
Conscience time: Karpati is an Australian company founded by an individual. I could not find info about its animal testing status on the website.

1Skin Solutions Lip Balm in Vanilla, full-size.
I already have about 3 trillion lip balms, so one more can't hurt, I suppose! This one does smell/taste very nice, like the vanilla sugar topping on a biscuit. The feel and staying power are average. I wouldn't say it was worth $9.90! Probably my favourite thing about this is the gorgeous lavender colour of the label.
Conscience time: 1Skin Solution is Australian made and owned, founded by an individual (I believe - the website was a bit vague). It is not tested on animals.

Kosmea Replenishing Moisture Cream, 20ml.
I just adored the Kosmea facial cleanser I received in my December Lust Have It box, so I was very pleased to see the facial moisturiser as well. It has the same divine scent. The feature ingredient is rosehip oil, which many sources are saying is excellent on the skin. I've started using pure rosehip oil on my eczema, and its helping. So I'm very happy to receive this product.
Conscience time: Kosmea is Australian owned and made, founded by an individual. It is not tested on animals.

Mirenesse Pearl Crush Creaseless Eyeshadow in Tahitian Pearls
I've been hearing a lot about Mirenesse lately, and been wanting to try one of their products. Being a semi-luxury brand however, I was reluctant to make the purchase. Now here it pops up in my beauty box! Excitingly, it's a product I'll actually use, as well! (I'm not really into eyeliners, etc and there's only so many mascaras you can have, but I just love eyeshadow.)
The eyeshadow trio came in a glossy paper packet. I love the lacy baroque styling of the compact. I already have browns that are similar to the two in the compact, but the olive green is new and I'm looking forward to trying it. I was very glad to receive this.
Conscience time: Mirenesse is an Australian owned company, founded by an individual. (Though the product itself was made in Taiwan.) It is not tested on animals.

Summary: Overall - just wow! I 'squeed' in the car when I opened this!
4 out of 5 products are full-sized, and the sample size (Kosmea moisturiser) is large enough to last quite some time. All are from Australian boutique brands. No cheapo brands to be seen here! I'll definitely be using all of them, which is something I can't say for every box. And the total value is over $100 - amazing. I would say this is the best box yet, from any box company.
I do also have to say - I like the way the Lust Have It box is packaged. There's just one box which functions as both the presentation box and the postal packaging, and it's quite small. With the GlossyBox, I feel like I'm chucking an unnecessarily large amount of packaging in the bin, but the Lust Have It box is small and compact. That's all it needs to be!

Total Value: $103.73. Cost of Box: $14.95. Benefit: $88.78
Rating: 9/10

Review of February Lust Have It Box

Well, hello! Today I went to the post office to pick up my beauty box, and the lovely lady advised me there were actually two waiting! I was so chuffed. I actually subscribe to three now, so I suppose the chances weren't that low. There's been a bit of talk around the intertubes as to whether the box people would work double-time this month and make sure their boxes arrived before Valentine's Day. Two have passed the test so far. I'll review the LustHaveIt box today, and the GlossyBox tomorrow.

So, here is the February LustHaveIt box:



It contains:

Lancome Juicy Tubes {colour not specified}, half-size sample.
Lancome is a luxury brand, and Juicy Tubes are an iconic product, so this is is the kind of thing you'd want from your beauty box! However, I think they're overpriced, and the company will not confirm its animal testing status, so I've already decided not to purchase anything from this brand. This half-size sample is worth $23.
Beautypedia Rating Summary [see full here] : the Juicy Tubes get a smily face (very good) rating.
Conscience time: Lancome is owned by L'Oreal, a French brand. It does not divulge its animal testing status.

Davroe Tame Lemongrass Detangler Spray, 50ml sample bottle.
I do love hair products! I haven't tried a de-tangler before, so it should be interesting. I don't really have a problem with tangled hair, but it does get very frizzy, so it might help with that. I'm a bit confused though, because the bottle mentions lemongrass, jasmine, passionflower and ylang ylang, and it doesn't smell like any of these at all! However, it's always good to try an independent Australian product.
Conscience time: Davroe is Australian made and owned. It does not test on animals.
21-MAR-12 edit: This stuff really works! I've been using it regularly.

Sasy n Savy Rose Lavender Hand n Nail Repair Creme, 5ml sample tube.
A 5ml sample ... not much! And from an unknown brand ... not very generous. (An unknown brand with such a dorky name, too. What the?)
But! It's not too greasy and it smells divine. A good product shines through every time. I'd consider buying this if I wanted to splash out.
Conscience time: Sasy n Savy is Australian made and owned. It is not tested on animals.

Lush Sugar Scrub, full-size.
In the past I had a bit of an unhealthy obsession with Lush. But about a year ago, when I decided to be a bit more savvy about my beauty products and delved a bit deeper, I became unhappy with the ingredients they use. They choose to use problematic ingredients. There's no need for sodium laureth sulfate. There's no need for parabens. There's no need for so many colours and fragrances. They make a lot of claims about being natural and chemical-free which are, in my opinion, quite iffy. Anyway, back to what's in the box:
I've used this product before and I found it too scratchy on my skin. At the time I'd thought that, if I ever bought it again, I'd grind it up and mix it with some olive oil before I used it. So yeah, I'll use it. This is the only full-sized product in the box.
Conscience time: Lush is a U.K. company. It is not tested on animals.

Lac Taut Collagen Infusion Mask, 1pc sample (usually 5pc).
I was excited to see this, despite myself. I'm completely obsessed with Asian beauty products at the moment, and it's a bit of a guilty pleasure. It's very difficult to find out much about them - whether they test on animals or even a complete ingredient list. But I just can't help myself! I can't wait to try out this mask. I've been wanting to try out cloth face masks since I first heard about them. The only issue is - it's such a luxury product that I feel like I need a 'special occasion' to use it!
Conscience time: Taut is owned by AMS Life Science, a Japanese company. I couldn't find any information about its animal testing status.

Summary: I was terribly excited when I first opened this box. It has it all! - independent brands, Australian brands, Asian brands, hair, skin, yay! Only one of the products is full-sized, but still the value is good and the excitement factor is there. My only gripe (and it's really a small one) is that the box could have reflected the Valentine's day theme a bit better. Just some pink tissue paper would have done the trick, or a paper flower. Overall though, I'm very happy with the box.

Total Value: $67.90. Cost of Box: $14.95. Benefit: $52.95
Rating: 8/10