The new look box from You Beauty (they’ve dropped ‘Discovery’ from the title) has arrived.
The black and pink box is quite chic and packed to the brim. Along with the two selected items from the shortlist there’s several extra treats.
From the shortlist (The Rested & Radiant Edit) I selected Benecos Sea Buckthorn and Orange Hand Cream which smells delicious. My other pick was Aurelia Refine and Polish Miracle Balm, designed to brighten tired skin.
Also in my box were 4 bonus items.
Philip Kingsley Geranium and Neroli Elasticizer – this is a product I’ve used before, and this limited edition smells amazing. Use it before shampooing on damp hair to revive and strengthen hair.
Real Techniques Deep Cleaning Brush Gel – I’m always keen to see useful extras like this, while I do have other brush cleaners, I’ve heard good things about this particular one.
Vita Liberata Self Tanning Night Moisture Mask – not for me as my super pale skin doesn’t appreciate me trying to tan, a look I can create with make up anyway.
Eyeko Travel-sized Black Magic Mascara – bonus item for renewing my subscription following the new look and website.
I’m very impressed with the new You Beauty box. The old one had got a bit lacklustre so this is a brilliant return to form. I hope they keep it up.
Is this a box you receive? What did you pick from the shortlist?
This is January’s box, but it was doing the rounds in the delivery world so only just made it’s way to me.
This box is a little more restrained than the December Christmas lunch made me do it one (which apparently was my funniest post – thanks for the feedback).
The cream and black box is back, one of the classiest designs around, as is the the LMB The Journal (in house magazine) which is a nice addition.
With my membership points I selected four items, three beauty products and a cute bit o’ bling.
Percy & Reed Invisible Dry Shampoo – I love dry shampoo, but I hate the grainy white residue that looks way too much like dandruff. P&R say theirs doesn’t do that. I am building a fair collection of products from this brand and love the results I’ve had so far.
Lord & Berry Magic Brow in Wonderful – a double ended brow tool/product. One end is a brush to tidy up those stray hairs that I don’t have! The other is a marble effect pencil to fill in. I’ll probably use this in conjunction with my Clinique brow pen.
Omnisens Fresh Cleansing Tonic Water – teeny glass bottle with something a little different from the micellar waters currently riding high. I was intrigued and this seemed like a good way to try it out.
I’m a bit of a magpie, so the jewellery in the LMB boutique is a terrible distraction. I picked the rose gold quartz bracelet, combining my love of rose gold with rose quartz, a healing crystal.
Are you a Love Me Beauty subscriber? What did you pick from the boutique?
The Look Fantastic box had an adventure in the post but got here in the end.
January’s box is all about the detox. Something I really don’t get on with as a concept. But anyway, let’s dive in.
One of the things I find really annoying in beauty boxes is shampoo and conditioner samples. It feels lazy and a bit cheap, so I’m not thrilled to see these Kebelo bottles – clarifying shampoo and silk conditioner.
Bellapierre Shimmer Shadow in Earth –
These Mica powder shadows often pop up in beauty boxes, they’re hypoallergenic and suitable for all skin types. This one can double up as a highlighter.
Dr Lancer The Method: Polish – with plant enzymes and minerals, this polish removes dead skin cells and preps skin for a deeper cleanse.
Nuxe Nuxellence Detox – overnight anti-ageing cream that eliminates toxins and helps you wake up looking fresh.
Darphin Azahar Cleansing Micellar Water – a dinky bottle of a botanical based micellar water.
The postman was a bit late with this box, so I’m playing catch up.
January’s Glossybox is announcing “the year of more”. Unfortunately this box is “more of the same”.
Year of more
I’ve had at least three of these products before. Considering the palaver I’ve had with GB recently, I could really have done with a box full of goodies I’ve not encountered before.
Unani Dermo Defense Face Mask (full size) – herbal-based mask, nourishes and hydrates skin, especially sensitive skin.
Teeez Cosmetics Oasis Gem Lipstick (full size) in Coral Onyx – a matte coral colour lipstick.
Lipstick swatches
Madara Cellular Repair Serum (travel size) – boosts hydration and radiance with a cell repairing bio-complex.
Angele Paris Red Nail Lacquer (full size) – if this was a lipstick then I’d love the colour but I’m not sold on it as a nail colour.
Glossybox Eyeshadow in Glossy Mauve (full size) – GB has been developing their own range – this purple shade is part of that.
Randomly there’s an extra lipstick, maybe an apology for messing me around – a Yves Rocher in a mauve/brown shade I would never buy.
A new year a new box from My Little Box. Illustrated by regular artist Kamako the box edge offers us the MLB team’s wishes for the upcoming box, which is rather lovely.
Inside the colour theme of mint green and soft yellow/orange. As well as a lovely quote card for your wall, there’s a copy of the in-house magazine (and it’s staying a magazine, woohoo!)
Then there are the treats, and what a selection they’ve picked.
There’s a green and gold diary, perfect if you haven’t already got one, full of little messages and illustrations.
The little cloth bag holds three treats, a full size tub of Garnier Miracle Wake Up Cream, a little bottle of Ren 3 – in – 1 micellar cleansing water and a My Little Beauty lip balm.
There’s one final treat in the box. A set of message bracelets to wear yourself or give to friends.
I’m really happy with this box, MLB had a few weak ones last year but are starting strong in 2016.
What are your thoughts? Let me know in the comments.
The You Beauty Box has had a bit of a facelift, is moving website and is apparently going to be even better come February. Hope it stays at the same price of £6.95 inc p&p, and with the select your samples idea.
This month’s samples were from a wide range of brands and types.
If you follow me on Instagram then you’ll be aware of my love for lipbalms and especially the little cubes from balmi.
So it was pretty obvious I’d be popping their rose gold roseberry flavour in my box. With SPF 15, Shea butter, vitamin E and other skin loving ingredients, these little pots are a firm favourite.
My other pick was Korres Bergamot & Pear Body Milk (body lotion to you and me). I love the smell of this, having had it in a box sometime last year. Might have to treat myself to a full size tub at some point.
Also in the box are sample sachets of Dr Organic Snail Gel – something I’m not entirely convinced by, and Perfection Gel Cushions for those slightly uncomfy shoes.
It was Christmas Day, I was digesting an enormous lunch watching The Second Best Marigold Hotel (it was OK) from around the Christmas Tree at the out-laws, when my phone alerted me to the renewal of my LMB points and so off I went to see what the boutique could offer me.
While they have added lots of new products to the line up, you still need to get those bonus points (££) to get much.
And as it was Christmas, I thought, oh I’ll get some bonus points, they’ll last me. They did not. I spent them all.
This is not the cautionary tale – this is – do not shop online while under the influence of vast quantities of turkey, just don’t. I could not for the life of me remember what I’d bought so this box was a bit of a surprise when I opened it.
LMB have returned to their silver boxes, I preferred the rather fancier cream and black they sent out a few months back. But I digress. “What was in the box?” I hear you cry. Well here’s what my roast potato enduced memory wipe kept from me.
A handbag sized make up bag – I actually need this, daft as it sounds, woman of a million make up bags.
More like a few bits of make up, plasters and paracetamol
Lord & Berry Fluid Delicate Make Up Remover – did I mean to pick this? I have no idea. Blame the parsnips. But make up remover is always useful.
Percy & Reed Foaming Treatment Mask – I like P&R but they are not cheap so getting their products this way is a bargain. I probably did indeed select this.
Cailyn Mineral Eye Polish in Snow – I have no idea, probably picked out by the stuffing. This is very light, almost invisible eye shadow. My sister would like it, but it’s not very me.
Dr PawPaw Balm – I read an article raving about this Aussie lip balm/chafe balm/grumpy skin balm. The gravy remembered that and put this in my box. I’ll add it to the thousands of lip balms in my life.
Nails Inc in Colville Mews – I love Nails Inc, I love nail polish. Can I blame the fact that I picked a colour I already have on the cranberry sauce?
Roques ONeil Therapie Restore Aura Spray – something I definitely need I think. Spray onto face when frazzled, or opening boxes you have no memory of buying.
LMB have also added a range of jewellery items to their shop, and yep, you guessed it, my Christmas dinner coma picked out a few bits there too.
Pink quartz earrings – these look like upside down traffic cones. Therefore I love them. Also could probably stab someone with them. Pink quartz is a healing crystal and there’s me with my unicorn horn stabbing people earrings…
Gold necklace with green stone. Pretty self explanatory.
Pointy silver bracelet – again, says exactly what it is. Although when I first looked at it I wasn’t sure if I wore it on my wrist or my neck.
Green thread bracelet with bobbly silver charm – it’s a really good thing I don’t write the descriptions on the website.
Did your food coma induce you to buy anything you don’t remember this Christmas? Or is it just me?
My Little Beauty’s My Little Magic Box has been off on its adventures. The December party season themed box has only just made it into my hands.
I’m rather glad it turned up and to be honest I was so busy over Christmas I barely noticed. Hope you a great time box.
Inside the box, the boat has been well and truly pushed out for the festive season.
My Little World – the in-box magazine is magazine format once more, thank goodness, and I hope it stays that way.
On to the goodies.
The very chic make up bag inside the box, not the usual cloth drawstring, but one you might pop in an overnight bag.
Heat retaining mittens – the funny thing is I was walking to the bus stop in minus 2 the other day and I wished I had some gloves. How funny that these then arrive! I love the navy blue and gold, a theme throughout the box, and they’re really cosy. As someone who’s always tapping away on her phone, mittens are more use the full gloves and as we’re having a bit of a cold snap, these will see a lot of use.
The other mitten has bonded with my hand
Kusmi Tea – Anastasia blend. Made in France, these teas definitely have a Russian bent, this one is named after the famous Romanov princess, and is a blend of China and Ceylon teas.
Rituals Honey Touch Body Cream – rich and nourishing, with honey and rose.
Vice-Versa nail polishes – continuing the blue and gold colour scheme.
Nars blush in Orgasm – naughty Nars with your cheeky names.
It would have been nice to have had this box in December but it will all come in use in this bitter January. I’m actually wearing the mittens as I type this!
Captioned “Best. Year. Ever” Birchbox kicks off 2016 with a collaboration with online scrapbook site Pinterest.
Pinning has become a huge trend, with people compiling their dream weddings, cars, cakes, shoes and other things onto Pinterest’s digital mood boards. I do it too. Much handier than covering my walls in magazine cuttings like we did pre-internet. (Yes, there was such a time).
So how does a collab between a beauty box and a website work exactly? Well, inside the beauty booklet are suggestions for boards to create on Pinterest for the upcoming year. There are also five cute cards designed by illustrator Viktorija Semjonova in keeping with the theme. The Birchbox blog will have more throughout the year.
Onto the beauty samples.
There are five products in the box, and annoyingly some of them have been here before.
Left to Right.
Beauty Protector Protect & Detangle – I’ve had this little chap several times in the past. While it does work quite well as a dentangler, so does my conditioner.
Absolution L’Eau Soir et Martin – basically a micellar water, 2015’s big product. Containing aloe vera and hazelnut oil, a no rinse required make up remover.
Benefit They’re Real! Tinted Primer – apparently this coats and seperates lashes before your mascara. Or on its own.
Birchbox pocket mirror.
Jelly Pong Pong Lighten Up Brightener + Waterliner – I definitely have one of these, I used it the other day. Suppose it saves me buying a new one. It’s a great highlighter pencil, scribble it on!
Whish Three Whishes Almond Body Butter – I am all about almonds, I eat them, drink them (almond milk hot chocolate anyone?) and smother them on my skin and hair so this’ll be a little treat for my skin.
Are you a Birchbox subscriber? What did you think about this box? Let me know below.
Longer answer – still yes. They’re not mutually exclusive.
I’m a feminist, more than that I’m an intersectional feminist who doesn’t hate men, has never burned a bra (those things cost) and loves beauty products and wearing make up.
Feminist and beauty blogger, you bet'cha
If you’re not, then that’s cool. If you think the beauty industry subjucates women, is fatphobic, racist etc, then that’s fine. I see your point, I even agree with some of that, but I don’t see the harm in wanting to make up my face, in enjoying skincare and perfume and washing my hair.
Beauty faves
I read feminist media like Bitch and Bust magazines, The Riveter, and others, but I also haunt the make up aisles of Superdrug and read beauty blogs, follow Caroline Hirons and Sali Hughes (beauty writers, who also happen to be awesome women) and listen to music that isn’t mainstream.
Feminist stickers and magazines
And that’s cool. There’s room for all sorts in the world. There really is. Just not if you’re an asshole – please take your negative, bigotted views elsewhere. There’s a world that needs changing out there, and I am so looking forward to it.
ramblingmads 