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!

Bella Box July 2013

I'm not much in the mood for writing today, but I wanted to share with you my Bella Box for July. This month's theme is Luxe Travel, and it certainly had that feel! Here are the goodies:

✽ Yu-Be Moisturising Skin Cream, sample size 3g.
✽ La Fresh Eco-Beauty Waterproof Makeup Remover Wipes, sample pack 1 wipe.
✽ Janesce Softening Refresher Mist, sample size 25ml.
✽ Egyptian Magic All-Purpose Skin Cream, sample size 3ml.
✽ Clear Scalp & Hair Beauty Therapy Shampoo & Conditioner, sample bottles 50ml each.
✽ ModelCo Cheek + Lips Tint in Rosy Red, sample size 5ml.
✽ BONUS Libra Hotties Heat Patch, 1 pc.
✽ BONUS Luxe City Guides: Bangkok

Summary: Overall this was a tolerably good box. It contains most the basics you'd need for travelling. There could have been more wipes - there seem to be a range of them including nail polish remover, so a few of the others would have been nice. However, the number of products overall is generous. Unfortunately I'm not in a position to travel at the moment! But I'll use all of these products anyway. In particular the Yu-Be Cream from Japan, and the Egyptian Magic Cream seem interesting. I give this box 8/10.

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!

Massive Asian Beauty Haul!!

Well, hello! Today I want to talk about my enormous Asian beauty haul which I bought online from YesStyle. I made the purchase on 31st December, so I've already had them for a while. Things have just been too crazy-busy for me to post my haul(s) before now, but I'm trying to catch up. I often feel like I can't start using a product until I've done a haul post, so yeah, I haven't even opened any of these yet.
I should also confess the reason why this haul is so big! I've been buying things from YesStyle for a few years now, but last year I spent enough that I was getting not really close to qualifying for Silver Club membership. The benefits are quite good so I thought, why not go for it? Plus I received a couple of sample sachets for spending over a certain amount. Here's what I got:

❀ Tony Moly Twinkling Persimmon Cleansing - cleansers are one of my favourite products (is that weird??) and this one smells gorgeously fresh and citrusy. The bright orange pump pack is adorable too, I think I will re-use it.
❀ Dr. Morita Red Wine Essence Eye Masks - this set of 8 eye masks is infused with polyphenols and collagen. The red wine essence was intriguing, and frankly, my undereye area could do with some help. I can see myself relaxing back with an actual glass of red wine while using these.
❀ My Scheming Blackhead Remover Pore Cleanser Set - this set consists of a Papaya Enzyme Sebum Softener, a Purifying Mask and a Pore Treatment Essence. My skin has been kinda derpy for a while: I've been getting lots of pimples and blackheads. I was on the lookout for a blackhead treatment product and chose this one. The packaging is as adorable as anything - check out the cute pictures of the upset-looking blackheads on the box!:

❀ Etude House Best Kit - this travel/sample kit consists of 5 products: Real Art Cleansing Oil; Wonder Pore Freshener; Moistfull Collagen Cream; Nymph Aura Volumer (not even sure what this does!); and Precious Mineral BB Cream. I'm a total sucker for small-size/sample products, even if I have to shell out for them. I love Etude House's aesthetic: the packaging is sweet and pink but not over-the-top kawaii.
❀ Skin79 BB Miniature Set - I've finished up 2 of the BB Creams from my Baviphat miniature set and the other 2 are well-squeezed, so I thought why not try some more? The 4 creams are: Super+, Super+ Triple Function, Luminous Pearl and Oriental Gold.
❀ Sample Sachets - I received 2 samples. Etude House Strawberry Milk Talk: I have no idea what this product actually is! There are 'Milk Talk' body wash and lotion on the site, so it must be one of those?? The other is Laniege Homme Aqua Active Essence, a post-moisturiser protective product for men. But eh, I'll probably use it myself!

Now I can finally start using the products! ahhahaha
Until next time...

Priceline Ooops Haul

I went to Priceline in the rain at lunchtime today to get a few things I needed. They didn't have everything I needed, so I felt like getting a couple of treats! Excuse the bad photo, I took it using my ipod at my desk at work. ....

I bought the Formula 10.0.6 Mud Mask because my pores really need some help at the moment.
Plus the strawberry sounded lovely.
Then I was intrigued by the Essence stand and impulsively grabbed a few things from the Cherry Blossom Girl limited edition range. I know, it's been out for ages, it's not the latest thing, but I don't really have any cosmetics in these colours and I love to experiment with new colours. The Dreaming Under a Cherry Tree quad palette has a series of peach-tinted colours that could pass as more-interesting neutrals. I got the It's Peach, Not Cherry nail polish even though I recieved a few recently in my beauty subscription boxes. I just can't help myself! And the Konnichiwa Girls! highlighter is a gorgous pale shimmering pink that will match well with the palette.
I really am a sucker for product!

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: Bella Box January 2013

Yes people, it's 2013! I have to apologise for being away for so long. I had all sorts of exciting things lined up for the blog, but then I came down with the flu and I could barely move for 3 weeks. I didn't even feel like using beauty products, let alone reviewing them! Drastic times. But now I'm back with the contents of my January 2013 Bella Box. And I have to say, I'm pretty disappointed with this month's box. Here's what it contained:

❏ You, Me and Everybody Cool It Aloe Vera Gel, full size 100ml.
Aloe Vera Gel isn't the most exciting product, but it might come in handy for one of the very rare occasions that I spend too much time out in the sun. (As I've mentioned before, I'm completely paranoid about sun exposure and I even apply sunscreen when I know I'm going to be inside all day!) YM&E seems like a very interesting brand, and I would like to have seen something more interesting and different from them, like the Skin Mousse I received back in September.

❏ Aurora Spa Rose and Aloe Body Cleanser and Ultra Rich Body Cream, sample size 50ml each.
These products are listed separately on the card. Perhaps I'm being unfair, but to me, two products from the same brand, a pair of items if you will, would perhaps be better listed as a single product. Or at least add a 6th product to the box to make up for it. That's just me. Having said that, these products smell absolutely freakin' amazing, and I can't wait to use them! This brand appeared before in the August Bella Box. It is Australian owned and made, and not tested on animals.

❏ Natio Pure Mineral Skin Perfecting BB Cream, sample sachet 5ml.
I love my BB Creams, and perhaps I'm a little precious about them. The BB Creams made by many Western companies have gotten a bad rap in the beauty world, so I'm a little suspicious of this one. It does have green tea, chamomile and SPF 15 (I'll wear sunscreen anyway as I never settle for less than SPF 30), so it might be alright. However, it comes in an ungenerous 5ml sachet, which will probably be only enough for 2-3 applications. (Even the card says, "yes, we know it's a sachet...") It comes in Fair, Medium and Tan, and the colourway I received is Medium, which will probably be too dark for my fair skin. (This supports rumours that beauty box companies do not actually pay any attention to customers' profiles!) Seeing as it's a BB Cream though, I'm curious to give it a try anyway and see if it's any good. I'd better do it soon though while it's still Summer, or I might look like I'm one of the orange ladies from Jersey Shore. ツ

❏ Face of Australia Colour Max Eyeshadow Palette in Mercury Rising, full size.
While Face of Australia has a good reputation, it's kinda everywhere and would certainly not be classed as a 'luxury' brand. I really love eyeshadows - I'm a colour girl - so I'm glad I received this rather than the lipgloss that was the alternative (I have sooo many of those, sigh). I think I'll put this away until winter though: the greys in this palette really seem like winter colours to me. Also, the black pan is cracked, but that's the colour I'd be least likely to use anyway, so I'm not really fussed.

Summary: Other subscribers received different products this month: a Swisse body wash (their hand cream smells divine so I'm curious about their other products), Face of Australia cleansing wipes (would have come in handy), a bright pink nail polish (I already have polish in the same shade so I'm glad I didn't get it), and at least one I saw got a bonus wall decal. Taking that into consideration, I'm glad I got the products I did, but I'm still a bit disappointed. Bella Box's last few boxes have made me start to re-consider my subscription. The RRP of the products is still more than the $15 per month I pay for the box, but they just don't thrill me like they used to. (Aside from the Savoir Faire palette last month, that was pretty amazing!) I'll reserve my judgement and make a decision in a few month's time.

Stay tuned for more posts coming up soon! I'll be writing about:
* my Christmas haul!
* Etsy indie makeup purchases!
* reviews!
* Asian beauty haul!!

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: Bella Box December 2012

My Bella Box came nice and early this month, and I have to admit I had high expectations for the Christmas/holiday box. I think the theme of this box should be 'Mixed Emotions'. Let me explain, but first let's see what we got!:


❖ Allegra Rhodes Hand and Nail Cream in Red Lychee, sample size 5ml
One of apparently 4 scents, the Red Lychee smells divine. Unfortunately the 5ml size of the sample will barely be enough for one application. At least the cream comes in a pot instead of a tube so I can eke out every last millilitre. I will definitely enjoy that smell while it lasts, though.

❖ John Frieda Firzz-Ease Secret Weapon Flawless Finishing Creme, sample size 30ml.
While I do like this product, I've received a sample of it before, and it's so thickly plastered all over Priceline and other stores, there's no way I wouldn't have heard of it by now. Seeing as I've already bought a full-size, it's like preaching to the converted. It would have been nice to see something new and different in the hair stakes.

❖EmerginC Multi Fruit Cleanser & Protocell Combat Cream, sample size 3ml each
I've had EmerginC product samples before, and I quite liked them. I always like to try new cleansers, so I was happy to receive these.

❖ Compeed Blister Medium, one piece.
This seems like a bit of an odd product for a festive December box. It's a bit ... pedestrian. (groan, sorry, but you know what I mean!) It will come in handy as I sometimes get blisters after my longer walking sessions, but I wish it had been something a little more exciting and glamorous. Or even beauty-related would have been good.

❖ Savoir Faire Limited Edition Kit in Summer, beauty palette.
Now this is the stuff! This complete beauty kit retails at $110. And apparently every single subscriber received one! I don't know how they pulled this off, but it's amazing! The sleek black box contains 6 eyeshadows, a blush, a mascara, an eye pencil and a lip gloss. The box also has a large mirror in the lid. The Winter eyeshadows would probably have suited me better, being fair-skinned, but the lip gloss and blush from this box would suit me better, I think. So it's much of a muchness, really. The only disappointing thing is that the box is supposed to include cards with guides to creating 6 makeup looks, but they're not present. Perhaps I'm just a silly duffer and can't find the compartment they're in? I'll wait until I see a few other reviews before I email the company.

Summary: Like I said before, I have mixed feelings about this box. All the products are sample-sized and some not very exciting, but the Savoir Faire beauty palette blows me away with it's value and contents. There's been much rumbling in the last few months about how the quality of beauty box subscriptions has declined, with smaller samples and less luxury brands. I'm interested to see how they'll deliver in the new year.
I'm not going to bother working out the value this month - the information on the Blister patch is vague - lets just say that due to the Savior Faire Palette, it's lots!

Rating: 8/10

P.S. There's a recent thought-provoking post on Chasing Elixir on why beauty sample boxes often fail.

Beauty Boxes: Bella Box November 2012

Both of my beauty box subscriptions came pretty late this month. I was really hanging out for them! The theme of this month's Bella Box is Soiree Season Staples, and I think they have done quite well. I was very happy with the box, except for one slight hiccup, which I'll detail at the end!

So here is the November box:

✽ Bioderma Sebium H2O Cleansing Water, sample size 20ml.
I was very impressed with the last Bioderma product I received, so I'm looking forward to using this cleansing water. It's formulated for oily and combination skin, which is perfect for me.

✽ 4Me Nail Polish Remover Pads, full-size 30 pads.
A basic but essential product if ever there was one! I've been painting my nails a lot again lately, so these will come in handy. I can see myself keeping them at work in case I get a multiple-chip issue and the whole lot needs to be removed straight away. (It happens to me quite a lot!).

✽ Swisse Hand Cream with Vitamin D and Pomegranate, sample size 30ml.
I'd noticed recently that the Vitamin company Swisse had put out a range of skin care products, and I was curious. The packaging design, while not exactly pretty, certainly stood out from all the rest. This hand cream is free from parabens and many other nasties, and is not tested on animals. I have to be really careful with hand creams due to my ezcema, and I really hope this will be one of the few I can use.

✽ Palmolive Luscious Strawberry Smoother Body Wash, sample size 50ml.
I would really rather have had the mango version of this, as I already have a bottle of the strawberry. But these things can't be helped. I was thinking of reviewing it, so perhaps this is a sign that I should!

✽ David Jones Beauty Radiant Moisture Day Cream, 30ml.
It's exciting to see another new product in the box! I'm very interested to see that David Jones have put out a store brand of skin care (and cosmetics too, I believe). I only use products with SPF in the morning, so this will be a night cream for me. The product is made in Australia and not tested on animals.

✽ B by Bloom Collecta Colour Cheek Tint in Barossa Valley, full-size 5g.
I was very excited to get a Bloom product in my box! As I've mentioned before, I have a bit of a soft spot for Bloom and can sometimes feel a little down that I don't have more of their products. (True beauty saddie, me?) I already have a Bloom Cheek Tint, but it's in a very different colour to this beautiful reddish pink. So now I have two. Yay!

✽ Rose-Hip Vital Rosehip Oil, full-size 30ml.
I love, love, love rosehip oil! It helps to sooth my eczema, and makes my skin feel so soft and plump when I apply it to my face. I'm very glad to know I have another bottle to fall back on when my current one runs out.

Summary: This month's box is very impressive! Seven products, three of them full size. I love the Bloom cheek tint and the rosehip oil, and the nail polish remover pads and cleanser will come in handy. There's a good mix of different types of products. The value of the box is comparatively good. There was only one disappointment, as I mentioned before. Whenever I open a beauty box, I always make sure to examine the products first, and then look at the card later. When I did that this time, I noticed it mentioned a bonus necklace. Oooh, that sounds good! But wait, I didn't notice the necklace in my box ... I searched the contents again ... no necklace! I was quite upset and thought I'd have to email the company to tell them they'd forgotten my necklace. Then I read the card again and realised that the necklace is free with purchase from the Bella Box online shop. The item isn't a bonus with the box, it's a bonus when you make an additional purchase, and yet it's listed on the card in the same manner as all the other products as if it were part of the box. I was angry then, and I felt a little misled.
But if I take a deep breath and put aside this quibble, I actually really liked the November box. My issue was with the marketing, not with the products or box themselves. So I'm giving it 9 out of 10!

Total Value: $56.42. Cost of Box: $15.00. Benefit: $41.42
Rating: 9/10

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: Bella Box October 2012

My Bella Box came so early this month, it was a lovely surprise! So I feel pretty bad about reviewing it so late. Here it is anyway! This month marks the first anniversary for Bella Box, and I think they've delivered quite an impressive box with the theme Pretty in Pink Party. Behold!

✰ Estee Lauder Resilience Lift Instant Action lift Treatment, sample size 5ml.
What an exciting-sounding name! I don't know why many beauty companies give their products such fancy names: surely the actual result has to be a let-down compared to that! I'm getting to that age now where a little lifting may be in order, so I'll be closely watching the results on this one. Estee Lauder products are tested on animals where required by law.

✰ Clinique Turnaround Concentrate Extra Radiance Renewer, sample size 7ml.
This fancy-sounding product is actually an exfoliant. With my oily skin, I'm all for exfoliation! I really liked the Clinique products I've tried before, and I'm a new convert to chemical exfoliants. Clinique is owned by Estee Lauder, whose animal testing policy is above.

✰ Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Fast Dry Nail Colour in Sonic Bloom, full size.
Wow, this bright pink is amazing! I don't have anything like it, probably because I would really have to be in a confident mood to wear something this bold. Some subscribers received the pastel pink shade Petal Pusher, but I'm glad I didn't - because I actually received it in a (non-Bella) box earlier in the year. My nail-painting drought is recently over (hello giant Orly bottle!) so I may debut it soon. I've been pleased with the performance of the Sally Hansen polishes I've received before, so, yay! I'm pleased to say that Sally Hansen products are not tested on animals.

✰ DKNY Fresh Blossom Eau So Intense, sample vial 1.5ml.
Funnily enough, I've almost used up the DKNY Verbena that I got back in April's Bella Box and was hoping to get another perfume. (A good beauty blogger never forgets! Or at least, has a good tagging system. ツ )
Crisp apple blossom and citrus combine to pack a punch in this intense scent. It conjures up warm summer's days, wandering through orchards in a floaty white dress. Normally I prefer sweeter or more spicy scents, but this one has a blend of fresh and floral that's appealing to me. DKNY is also owned by Estee Lauder.

✰ Cedel Blow Dry Faster Heat Protector, full size 165ml.
I have to admit, at first I was thinking "ho hum, another hair product, and a fairly low-shelf brand at that". Then I noticed that this product cuts down blow drying time. Interesting! With all my hair, something like that would come in really handy. And Cedel's not bad at all, really. I remember it from when I was a kid. Plus, it isn't tested on animals.

✰ e.l.f. Luscious Liquid Lipstick in Cherry Tart, full size.
e.l.f. (it's spelled with small letters and stands for eyes lips face) is a bargain makeup brand that's just arrived in Australia, and there's a lot of talk about it around the traps. How can a good quality product be so cheap? A quick look at their website just left even me excited. A free product worth $10 with a minimum spend of only $20. That got my heart beating faster! And they don't test on animals or use any animal ingredients, either.
As for the lipstick itself, it uses a twist-up mechanism to push the liquid lipstick into a sponge for application. It seems to be fairly sheer (hand swatch only at this stage) but I really like the cherry pink colour.

✰ Carmex Moisture Plus SPF 15 Lip Balm in Pink Sheer Tint, full size.
This product wasn't listed on the card at all, and it was outside of the tissue paper seal when I opened the box. I'm not sure what to make of it: was it a last second inclusion? Never mind, it always good to have more products rather than less, I think! This is the same SPF lip balm that I've come to know and love over the last few months, but with a very sheer pink tint. It'll be perfect for work! Carmex is a family-run company (I find that endearing) which doesn't test on animals.

✰ BONUS: Chocolatier Pink Heart Chocolate
Just about everyone loves chocolate; I was certainly won over by the pink heart. Well done, Bella Box!

Summary: Bella Box have done an excellent job with their first anniversary box. The theme is articulated very well, and we have the satisfaction of knowing that $1 from each box was donated to breast cancer research. It has a good mix of skin care, cosmetics, hair, nails and perfume. I declare it a winner!

Total Value: $59.17. Cost of Box: $15.00. Benefit: $44.17
Rating: 9/10

Things I Took on My Holiday, Part 2!

This is part 2 of my post on the products I took with me on my Queensland holiday.


Hair Products! [above]
I decided to experiment with a few sample hair products while away. The sizes are just so handy for travelling! I was glad I took along the Biolage Smoothing Shampoo and Conditioner. I think they really did have a smoothing effect. However the U-Haircare Style Beehold I'm afraid had no effect whatsoever! I have naturally frizzy hair, and the high humidity in Queensland turned me into a puffball! I washed my hair and applied the product (there were no instructions, so I applied it to towel-dried hair as you normally do with this type of product), but afterwards I still looked like a human poodle! I had a wedding to attend at the end of the week - this would just not do! After an emergency trip to the local IGA, I managed to get hold of some Schwarzkopf Hair Repair Straightening Balm. Thankfully it worked and I started to look like a normal human being again.
The V05 Hairspray is also the result of a last-minute trip to the supermarket. I'm pleased to report that it kept my hair in rock-solid shape throughout the entire evening.


More hair products [above]
My anti-dandruff shampoo - an unfortunate necessity - and my Schwarzkopf Colour Protectant Spray, which I always use before going out in the sun for any length of time. I don't tend to have the problems with my hair colour fading that many girls report, so I think it works! The smell reminds me of holidays now.
I also took along my Lon Vitalite face and eye cloth masks, but didn't get a chance to use them.


Necessary Products [above]
Deodorant, of course! And my Eulactol Heel Balm Gold, which I was sure I'd need with all the sandal and thong-wearing that I'd be doing. I have to be careful in summer or I get cracks in my heels. Ouch! The facial cleanser I took along was this Beautician's Secret Milky Cleanser sample size that I bought as part of a gift pack. It's made my skin break out a little bit though, so I don't think I'll buy it again.

That's it for the boring but necessary products. Stay tuned for Part 3 where I look at the makeup I took!

Things I Took on My Holiday, Part 1!

I've recently gotten back from a week-long holiday to Queensland. I'd never been to the tropics before, so I didn't really know what to expect! Sun, heat? snakes, crocodiles...? Plus a wedding to attend while I was up there! I tried to plan for every possible contingency! Husband was of the opinion that I over-packed, but I disagree. In fact, I needed to buy more products while I was there!

I've decided to split this post into 3 parts to try and prevent too much photo-spam.

First and most important - sun protection! [above]
I already had the Cancer Council sunscreen and the small sample from one of my beauty boxes, but the other sunscreens I bought especially for the trip. Husband and I both tried the SunSense Sensitive Skin formula and agreed that we didn't really like it. It was extremely thick and left a white residue on our skin that took about 5 minutes to rub in! The SunSense Invisible Tint Facial Sunscreen was pretty disappointing as well. The cream was tinted yellow, but unlike the brand's Invisible Tint Anti-Ageing Sunscreen (which I love), it left no tint on my skin whatsoever. I ended up using it on my arms/body instead, and used the Nivea Facial Veil combined with my BB Cream on my face. I didn't use as much sunscreen overall as I thought I was going to - I didn't end up going swimming as much as I would have liked, so didn't need to re-apply as often.
I have to admit, this is perhaps one area where I did over-pack a little. I'm glad I did though, because the new products turned out to be not what I wanted/needed, so I had other products to fall back on.

Face Care [above]
Knowing that heat and humidity can make skin break out, I made sure to bring very light products, like the Jurlique Herbal Recovery Gel. I gave the Avene Eluage Eye Contour Cream sample a go as well. I did notice my dark circles reduced over the course of the week, but I'm not sure if this was due to the cream, or getting more sleep! I also brought along the Witchhazel Blemish Stick, but thankfully didn't need to use it. (Though it came in handy for Husband at one point!)

Hotel Room Haul! [above]
One of the things I look forward to when travelling is the free products you usually get in the hotel room. (Does that make me a true beauty junkie??) This place supplied shampoo, conditioner and body lotion, and we received a second set of each part-way through, as we were there for 8 nights. They were pretty standard products, with no distinct smell to speak of. The body lotion was a very thick formula with a white residue that took a lot of rubbing to sink in (much like the sunscreen above!). I didn't want to just abandon it though, so I mixed it with my own White Tea and Ginger Body Lotion which is detailed next.

Body Products [above]
Months ago I bought a couple of gift packs to stash away especially for the trip (beauty junkie, moi?). One of them consisted of these White Tea and Ginger scented products, and they were quite lovely to use. The Shower Gel in particular was a good substitute for the sneeze-inducing hotel soaps (though I couldn't help snaffling 2, as you can see here!) I also used the Body Lotion to mix together with the hotel brand to reduce the white residue and add a fresh scent. And of course, Aloe Vera Gel is a must for after-sun care!


Stay tuned for part 2!

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

Empties July 2012

Yes, I know this post is way late! I haven't been in the mood for blogging much lately, but I finally got around to taking a photo of my empties tonight.



Cussons Imperial Leather Classic - Lasts a long time, but I hate the smell of this stuff. I always have!
Nougat London Tuberose & Jasmine Nurturing Hand Cream - (sample size) smelled good but made my eczema flare up.
Pantene Aqua Light Conditioner - Made my hair a little smoother, but not enough for me to have a clear preference.
Sebastian Professional Volupt Shampoo and Conditioner - (sample sachets) The shampoo foamed up well, smelled good, slightly floral and hair felt clean. The conditioner was smaller and wasn't enough to cover all of my hair, so I couldn't really form an opinion.
Palmer's Olive Oil Hand Cream - (travel size) was great with my eczema and smelled good. I would definitely get it again. It was a bit greasy though, so only use at home. I had to cut the tube open to get the last bit out. Another reason to use only at home.
Carmex Moisture Plus SPF Lip Balm - The only SPF lip product I've tried which didn't taste disgusting and made my lips feel soft. Used it every day at work. Definitely a high-rotation product.
Sebastian Professional Volupt Potion 9 Wearable-Styling Treatment - (sample sachet) made hair feel a little more smooth at first, but after a few days it was horribly tangled and rough. No way would I use that again!
Hotel Aloe Vera Soap - yet another standard tiny soap.
Lush Solid Shampoo Trichomania - Made my hair quite soft and smelled good. However, it went soft and disintegrated very quickly. I would try it again, but keep it in a room other than the bathroom next time.
The Face Shop Real Nature Kelp Mask - seemed to bring out some impurities in my face a few days after use - well, my skin didn't seem as smooth, anyway. Not sure if I would re-purchase.
emerginC Kombucha Cleanser - (sample size) Clear gel with a subtle citrus smell. A standard cleanser that did the job OK. Might consider getting again if it weren't so expensive.
Trilogy Traveller's Set: Cleanser - (travel size) really loved this. smelled great and worked well. Would get again.
Bloom Ginseng Daily Facial Moisturiser - had a nice, faint citrus smell and sank into my face well, but didn't seem to have much of an improving effect on my skin.
Dr. Hauschka Cleansing Cream - (sample size) seems to be a very similar formula as the Jurlique exfoliant. Didn't seem to clean my skin, but did leave it feeling soft.

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: Bella Box July 2012

At last! I was starting to get a bit worried. The 20th of July and not one of my 3 beauty box subscriptions had turned up yet. Then last night, after an evening out with some girls from work (geez, that almost sounds like I have a life! ツ ) I found my Bella Box sitting on the couch when I got home. Phew!

This month's Bella Box box was slightly different to the previous ones I've received. There was no actual box this time. The items were tightly packed inside the outer cardboard packaging, with the smaller items inside a cute little makeup bag, which I just know I'll use. How do I know that? Because just yesterday morning I was rushing around my bedroom frantically trying to find a suitable carrier for some makeup items I wanted to take to work. But more on that in a future post. At least this time the items weren't rattling around inside the box - they were tightly packed so they couldn't move. And, boy, were there a lot of them! There were no high-end brands, but BB seemed to have made up for them in sheer quantity. So let's have a look:



You, Me & Everybody Shady Lady Daily Face Milk, full size 75ml.
Recently I've seen a few mentions of this brand doing the rounds of the beauty blogs, and I was curious about it, so I was glad to receive this facial moisturiser. I like the image of the brand, it seems fun and fresh. Most daytime moisturisers only come in SPF15, but I only ever use SPF 30 - I'm a bit paranoid about the sun - so I'm glad to see that this one ticks that box. I'll definitely use it after I've finished my current moisturiser (Nivea Face Veil, for the interested). The only niggling thing is that I couldn't find out whether it's tested on animals.
Conscience time: You Me & Everybody is part of Symbion, which in turn is part of the Zuellig Group. Those are some big hitters in the pharmaceutical and agricultural industries. Some YM&E products are not tested on animals, but I couldn't get confirmation that this particular one isn't.

Carmex Moisture Plus SPF 15+ Lip Balm, full size.
I had to laugh when I saw this! Just the other day, I finished up a Carmex Lip Balm I'd received it in my December 2011 Glossy Box. It was such a great product - the first SPF lip balm I've ever used that didn't taste disgusting and kept my lips moisturised. I'd been planning on buying a replacement this weekend. Now I don't have to!
Conscience time: Carmex is a family-run brand from the U.S. From the website "No. We have never tested on animals – we test on our family members instead!"

Neutrogena Ageless Intensives Deep Wrinkle Eye Cream, full-size 14g.
Neutrogena is on my 'no-buy' list because of their animal testing status. Even before that though, it was a brand I was never really interested in, so I've never actually used any Neutrogena products before. I'm already happy with the performance of my Paula's Choice Retinol Serum, so I will just put this aside and perhaps use it when my PC runs out.
Conscience time: Neutrogena is owned by Johnson & Johnson, who test their products on animals.

Neutrogena Deep Clean Gentle Scrub, sample size 15ml.
This product isn't listed on the card, so I have only the information on the tube itself to go on. It's an exfoliating scrub and contains BHAs. I've read that things like BHAs and AHAs are only any good if they're in a leave-on product, not one that you wash off. But I'll put it in my queue to use anyway. It also has that annoying warning on the back that some products have: "If you experience dryness and irritation, use less frequently." I'm sorry, but if I experienced dryness and irritation, I'd stop using the product altogether! My skin is too precious for that. Just sayin'.

Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Night Renewal Cream, sample size 15ml.
I do love Palmer's products: the rich formulas are great for my skin (including my eczema!) and both the cocoa butter and olive oil variants smell great. However, for some reason this one has a 'fresh white lily fragrance' which is a bit off-putting. I don't like using highly fragranced products on my face, so I'll just have to see how I go with this one.
Conscience time: Palmer's is not tested on animals.

Ulta3 Nail Polish in Mulberry, full-size.
Ulta3 seems to be everywhere now! For $2.50 or less, they have better-than-expected staying power, so no wonder they're the biggest selling nail polish brand in Australia. When I first opened my box last night, this colour looked like a disappointingly drab purplish brown, I have to admit. But in natural light the gorgeous mulberry purple/marone really comes out, and I love it! I've been resting my nails this week, but I'm seriously considering this colour as my first choice when I break the drought.
Conscience time: I've heard conflicting reports as to where Ulta3 is from, and whether they test on animals.

Almay Get Up and Grow Mascara in black, full-size 6.2ml.
I'm all for longer, stronger lashes, so I'll put this in my queue to use once my current mascara goes off. (Cos let's face it, you never get to the end of a mascara before it goes off, do you?)
Conscience time: Almay is owned by Revlon, who do not test on animals.

Elgon Professional Primaria Nourishing Silk Hair Mask & Bath of Life Shampoo, sample sachets 15ml each.
This brand of hair products comes from Italy. The 15ml sachets may or may not be just enough to cover my long, thick, crazy hair. I'm always up for a bit of hair experimentation though, so I'm looking forward to using them.
Conscience time: Elgon Professional is an Italian brand. I could not find information about their animal testing status.

Givenchy Pi Neo for Him, sample sachet.
The included card instructed me to give this to my man, and tell him about the new BelloBox for men, which I duly did. He wasn't interested at all! He'll use face wash if I buy it for him, but that's about it. Plus, he's extremely wary of scents ever since the time he used a tester at a perfume party and somehow the chemicals reacted with his skin and made him smell like dog do-do! So, nice try at marketing your men's box, BB, but in this case it sadly didn't hit the mark.
Conscience time: Givenchy is a French fashion house with a fragrance and beauty arm. It is not tested on animals (which I have to say is a nice surprise, because in my experience, most perfumes are).

Summary: I think Bella Box really nailed this month's theme of Essential Beauty Buys. The range of products from different categories was good - skin care, sun protection, hair, nails and makeup. None of the products are from luxury brands, but the sheer number of products made up for this, with 9 products (10 if you count the hair sachets separately), and an impressive 5 of them being full-sized. This bumped up the overall value of the box to just over $80. There's only one product that I can't see myself using - the men's fragrance - so I'm glad to say that I'm very pleased with this month's Bella Box.

Total Value: $80.49. Cost of Box: $15.00. Benefit: $65.49
Rating: 8/10

Another Unexpected Purchase: The Face Shop

I went shoe-shopping today, and accidentally bought some more beauty products. Oops!

At the suggestion of some friends, we decided to change things up a bit, and we went to a different shopping centre to the ones we normally frequent. Yes, my life is that exciting! It's quite a bit further away than our normal haunts, so I wasn't really familiar with it. Having wandered around for a little bit and seen variations on all the same old shops, my heart started racing when we came upon a The Face Shop! I knew there were some The Face Shop stores scattered throughout Melbourne, and I'd been meaning to check one out for a while. So what was a girl to do, but go in and make a purchase! Here's what I got:



♥ Real Nature Mask with Kelp pack of 5 with free Pomegranate Mask
- I made a beeline for the cloth masks first, as I have a new-found love for them. There were many products scattered throughout the shop that were bundled up in little value packs. They were packaged up in clear plastic bags with little touches to many of them - this one had a little pink bow. Cute!

♥ Rich Hand & Cuticle Duo with Vitamin E
- Unlike many brand stores with intimidatingly young and snobby assistants, this one was staffed by an adorable middle-aged lady who came around and explained the products to me. Usually I find this kind of over-helping annoying, but she was just so sweet and lovely that I didn't mind at all. She showed me this hand cream which had a little pot of cuticle balm in the lid and I just couldn't resist.

♥ Lovely Me:eX Eyes Eyeshadow in WH006 Glitter
- By this stage I was wandering around the shop in a daze, wanting to buy one of everything and not being able to decide what to pick, with Husband restricting my spending helpfully considering my options with me. I finally decided to get some eyeshadow so I could try out a different aspect of their products than the skin care. I chose this sparkly light gold single, as I thought it might match well with my neutral work palette and give it a bit of extra interest.

The lovely lady also gave me four free sample sachets when I went to pay. She gave me a White Tree Snow Vita Lightening Serum, a Raspberry Roots Sleeping Mask, a Rice Water Bright Cleansing Foam, and a Face It Power Perfection SPF 37 BB Cream.

I have to say, my experience with shopping at this particular The Face Shop was 100% A-1 fantastic! I just wish it was nearer to my house so I could visit more often. If you're ever at Eastland in Ringwood, do check it out!

Asian Beauty Haul

The spending ban is over! I'm so excited! (Though really I should be sensible about money all the time; a girl needs to treat herself now and then!) I actually broke the spending ban one day early, because I suddenly remembered that YesStyle had a buy-one-get-one-free deal on certain beauty products in the month of June only. These things can sometimes be a bit dodgy, but nearly 400 different products were included in the deal, so it didn't feel like I was restricted in my choices at all. In fact, there were some things I really wanted and needed included in the deal. Even better! So in this haul I got 2 products for free! This is what I got.


* Kose Softymo Powder Sheet in Strawberry (40 sheets) (not pictured)
- this was a replacement for the Daiso sheets that I ran out of last week. So I can spruce myself up at work if I've gone for a walk at lunchtime, etc.

* My Beauty Diary Mexico Cactus Mask (pk 10)
- after trying out my first cloth mask a few weeks ago, I was determined to get more! These seemed like quite good value, and the Mexican Cactus sounded intriguing.

* SkinFood Good Afternon Honey Black Tea BB Cream (Light Beige)
- All of my Baviphat mini BB Creams are quite well-squeezed now, so I figured it was time for my first full-sized BB Cream. There are so many on the site, it was agonising, but I'd been eyeing off the SkinFood Good Afternoon range for a while now. So I decided on the Honey Black Tea variant, which is moisturising, illuminating and has SPF.

* Koji No. 62 Eyelash Curler
- call me vain, but ever since I've been reading beauty blogs and seen the long, lush, thick, curled eyelashes that many other girls have, I've become increasingly disillusioned with my own. There are tools out there to help, so why not try them! This particular one came in cool, faceted packaging, but it was mainly the price that made me choose it. Now I just have to figure out how to use the darned thing. Thank goodness for YouTube.

* Be Creation Oil In Cuticle Nail Pusher Pen
- I have terrible ragged cuticles, I tend to pick them a lot, as well. Hopefully this purchase will help me keep them in better shape.

* Be Creation Gradation Nail Polish Set (set of 3)
- I just wanted this, it was a total indulgence purchase. I already have so many nail polishes, but the idea of the easy colour gradation nail art just appealed to me. There were so many different sets to choose from, but I finally chose these colours because I don't really have anything like them in my collection. This colour set is called Pink Cadillac (after the cocktail I'm assuming, not after the car, as there's a picture of a cocktail on the packaging. Cute!).

* Sophie Monk Beauty Mild Cleansing Oil
- I'm nearly out of makeup remover, so I needed some more. I would not normally have chosen this brand, but it was one of the free items I got. At first I thought that the actress Sophie Monk had started a beauty line, but it turns out that this brand is from Taiwan, and it seems to have nothing to do with her, as far as I can tell from some googling. I'm actually slightly disappointed! But as long as it works at cleaning my face, it doesn't matter.

* Home-Sweet-Home Cutie Cat and Dog Button Earrings
- these were on my save-for-later for the longest time and I finally decided to get them. I'm into stud earrings at the moment, and these quirky mismatched pair are adorable! Apparently they were the last pair too, as I just went back to the site to check some details, and now they're showing as sold out. Now I feel like I have something exclusive! =D


Ok now, I will really try not to make any more purchases for the next few week, unless I actually need them! - purchases of beauty products, anyway. I've become completely obsessed with craft again lately, so all my money will probably be spent on wool and things like that.