This month MLB is on the road and comes loaded with travel themed goodies.
It’s also really cute, illustrator Kanako has really got into the theme with a gorgeous box and illustrated sheets.
As well as the fold out magazine/poster (please go back to a glossy) there’s a travel organizer with pockets for your money, passport and tickets.
There’s a illustrated note card and envelope with a handy pen to scribble down your greetings from the road.
And onto the beauty goodies.
Travel size Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water, Essie nail polish in time for me time (a pale pink) and My Little Beauty Summer Sorbet body lotion.
This month’s box is lovely, though veering more to the lifestyle than beauty box. I know some people will be disappointed with the contents but I quite like it. And it arrived on time! Hurrah!
So, you may remember a post about the missing My Little Box.
It finally appeared today, over a month late. July’s box is due to arrive next week.
Anyway, now that it’s here – was it worth the wait?
And the answer is… Not really.
These boxes are a bit hit and miss – and this one feels like a miss.
In terms of beauty products it contains
Kerastase Anti-frizz leave in hair milk.
Exclusive blue nail polish picked by designer Sarah Lavoine who curated this box and My Little Beauty body scrub.
The lifestyle items are where this really falls down this month.
There are a pair of plastic sunglasses that will never suit me, I know there were several different pairs – perhaps they could have asked us to select them.
There are also two plastic printed plant pot holders/covers that you can apparently use to store your make up.
These are really cheap looking and one of them has a hole in the bottom where the stitching is badly done. If this was what delayed the box to start with, I’d rather they hadn’t bothered.
Frankly I’m underwhelmed, and since no real apology for all the hold ups and faffing about has been forthcoming, I’m not sure whether to continue with MLB.
As always the USP is a chance to select two of the items for your box.
I picked Lola Ultra Shine Nail Polish in Stone Grey and Hairy Jayne Hair Perfume in Citrus.
Also in my box was a sachet of Emma Hardie primer SPF 30, Nairns Muesli Break oatcake snack pack and St Tropez Gradual Tan in Shower – a current bestseller.
As always there are discounts on the brands included and a competition to win a goodie bag of products.
I’m quite impressed with this box, for £6.95 they send a nice selection of things and the option to select some of the items is always good, although you have to be quick, as some items are limited and go fast.
This month Birchbox has dispensed with boxes and has instead sent out clear plastic bags in a selection of colours.
To be honest they look cheap. Mine is pink (not my favourite colour) and I don’t see it getting used at all.
However the items inside make up for it somewhat.
Benefit Dream Screen SPF 45 – sample sized. Benefit is one of my favourite cosmetic companies, I love their quirky packaging and product names. This sunscreen is formulated to absorb quickly, leaving your skin hydrated and protected.
Balance Me Congested Skin Serum – a targeted spot shrinker and break out preventer. It contains chamomile, lavender and aloe.
Unani Aloe Vera gel – useful as after sun or just to soothe irritated skin (from bites or the heat).
Pop Beauty eye shadow trio in Peach Parfait – summer smoky eyes, here we come. Instead of dark greys and blacks, it’s peaches and creams.
Jelly Pong Pong – Glow Getter Luminizer Gel – a full size facial illuminator for a subtle glow – perfect for fresh summer skin.
Pure Vida lace headband in Aqua – a bit like pop bands, this is a stretchy lacy band, to be honest I only use these to keep my hair off my face when applying a face mask.
A nice selection of summer themed products in a slightly disappointing package.
After a delay in posting (don’t ask) my May MLB is finally here. Here’s my thoughts.
Provence in France is supposed to be a beautiful place. Blue skies, fields of lavender, so it’s no surprise that My Little Box has taken inspiration from it.
However I have my reservations about this box.
Provence is the home of cult beauty brand L’Occitane and this box feels like an homage to that company, and having recently had a sample box from L’Occitane, this felt a little repetitive (although not everyone will feel this way).
As always the box is beautifully presented (above are my unboxing pics). Inside is a slightly confused selection.
There have been a lot of blogger and Facebook complaints about this box, and how MLB seem to be a bit muddled about who their box is aimed up – not for the first time.
The stickers in the My Little Super Box caused the same moans, this time it’s magnets. I will most likely give them to my friend’s little girls to play with, although they are very nice, I don’t need more fridge magnets.
Most of the actual beauty items are L’Occitane, Verbena soap, Verbena body lotion, Mer & Mistral body wash, Rose hand cream. They also included a My Little Beauty eye shadow crayon. They come in a themed mini canvas bag.
Eye crayon - a brown with a little shimmer
The lifestyle item is a gold cuff bracelet with two shades of blue thread so you can personalise it (check out their Instagram for ideas).
MLB are always pretty generous with the box contents – for £10 this box is worth about £40. There is also a L’Occitane voucher (that ran out on May 31st).
There is, as always, a copy of their My Little World magazine. However they’ve changed the format and now it opens out like a poster, which makes it harder to look through. There’s also a cute illustrated quote card, which will find a home on my wardrobe inspiration wall.
All in all, not thrilled with this box, I prefer a wider selection of products, not an advert for one company. Hopefully June’s box will do better. Still fancy a trip to Provence though!
This month’s gimmick was select your box design. I went with the pick ‘n’ mix pattern.
To be completely honest I am not impressed with this month’s selection.
Temporary tattoos! I last wore these age 6 or 7. I am far too old and more likely to get a real one than wear these.
Another mascara – I think I get one of these every other month. I can’t even use them. There were other make up items hinted at, but no, another mascara.
Oil is an ingredient in much of the rest of the box.
Nude ProGenius treatment oil – applied after cleansing to boost skin’s hydration.
Beauty Protector Protect & Oil – hair oil that claims to protect against UV and heat damage.
English Laundry No. 7 For Her – perfume sample – adapted from a men’s fragrance, this is quite musky and a little too heavy for me.
Cowshed Body Lotion in Knackered Cow – contains essential oils of lavender and eucalyptus.
ModelCo Powerlash Black Mascara – another mascara, hot on the heels of the last one.
STYLondon Temporary Metallic Tattoos – nope, not even going there.
Bonus lifestyle item – a shoe bag designed by French Sole in matching design to the box. What a disappointing item – don’t see it getting much use.
Not shown - temporary tattoos - they seem to have run away!
Birchbox seems to vacillate between good and pretty poor. This wasn’t my favourite by a long shot. I think they’re not entirely sure who their customers are – which is weird considering you do a questionnaire on the site.
May’s Glossybox finally arrived and it’s themed with some of this summer’s biggest trends and products.
MeMeMe Enchanted Eyes Dual Ended Eye Wand – blue eyeliner is a big trend for this summer and this full size features two shades. Both have a slight glittery shimmer to them and being a crayon are soft and easy to apply.
Etre Belle Aloe Vera Ultra Moisturizing Gel – 40ml full size product. Aloe Vera is so skin friendly and soothes all manner of irritations from sun burn to nettle stings. This fits perfectly into a beach bag or picnic box so you can refresh and calm your skin on the go.
Zerreau Towel Off Shampoo Foam – new generation of dry shampoo. Wash your hair without water. Apply to scalp, massage in, towel dry and voila! Great idea for camping, festivals or staying somewhere with iffy showers!
Sass Intimate Perfect Skin Concentrate – this post-shave concentrate has been formulated to soothe the skin and reduce the chances of ingrown hairs, getting your legs summer ready, even if like me, they don’t get much sun (way too pale!)
Philosophy Renewed Hope in a Jar Refreshing & Refining Moisturiser – philosophy is a brand I’ve always liked, except for its prices. The full size of this moisturiser is £35.50 which is just too much to justify. However a great sample to play with. This claims to reduce the appearance of lines, discoloration and uneven texture. I will certainly be testing its claims.
There’s a group on Facebook called Battle of the Boxes, full of women who buy and review beauty boxes and they are a sweet, funny, generous bunch. Frequently offering make up goodies or other treats to one another.
Recently I took advance of such an offer and got myself a free box of mini L’Occitane goodies.
If you don’t know what L’Occitane is, it’s a French beauty company based in Provence that focuses on quality and natural ingredients.
I’ve never bought any of their products, due to price mostly, but love when magazines give away free handcreams from them.
However, their new eau de parfum launching in June is so nice I may have to treat myself.
Onto the box. This is a sample box, but even though everything’s mini, there’s a lot to play with.
The almond hand cream smells delicious, and is rich and creamy but not greasy on.
The foot cream, currently soaking into my toes, is also rich and smooth, smells good and hasn’t left a greasy residue on my hands.
There’s a Verbena leaf soap, which I haven’t opened, as well as Verbena shower gel and body lotion, both of which are delicately scented.
Also in this little box is a voucher for £10 off a £25 spend in store or online, which I may well take advantage of (hand cream and perfume most likely).
Finally a tiny sachet of lavender seeds, which you plant as it is, in the hope that lavender, a fairly stubborn plant to grow (I have 2 and they hate me) will bloom under London’s grey skies not Provence’s blue, sun-filled ones.
Latest in Beauty’s latest collaboration is with radio station Heart FM.
The box contains a mix of 13 full and sample size products. £18.95 + P&P.
Nails Inc. Gel Effect Hyde Park Place
Kneipp Devil’s Claw Herbal Bath
Green People Sun Lotion SPF15 with Tan Accelerator
bareMinerals Complexion Rescue
philosophy 3 in 1 cleanser
Wild About Beauty Eye Shadow in 08 Polly
Vichy Idealia Life Serum
Skyn Iceland Hydro Cool Firming Eye Gels
Dove Youthful Vitality Shampoo & Conditioner
Balance Me Radiance Face Mask
Le Couvent des Minimes Cloisters Hand Cream
Amie Hydrating Daily Moisturiser
Face Cloth
And if you enter the coupon code HAIRSPRAY you get this free.
The only link to Heart (which my dad listens to!) is the heart shaped face cloth (which expands in water -haven’t seen one of these since I was a kid).
Overall it’s a nice selection of things, and definitely worth the money as some of these items on their own are quite pricey (Nails Inc I’m looking at you!)
Next up from LiB is the Glamour Beauty Edit box for Summer. Will you be buying it? Or the Heart box?
Are you a member of the Libbie Club? (I’ve applied).
ramblingmads 