Rambling on about books, baking and beauty…
If you were thinking of trying Birchbox, use this link https://www.birchbox.co.uk/invite/8hh7s
Here’s my last two boxes
April’s is in the post as are a couple of other beauty boxes. My three month trial is ending and I have decisions to make. This month’s boxes will be the clincher. Stay tuned…
ramblingmads
BuddhiBox is a yoga lover’s beauty and lifestyle box from the US.
They don’t currently ship to the UK as a subscription but you can buy the boxes through Etsy. Which doesn’t make a huge amount of sense and costs a lot more than the equivalent on their website, before shipping.
I also had to pay a hefty customs charge, which means until there’s an easier way to order this box, I probably won’t again. Which is a shame because their Instagram is full of lovely things included in their monthly boxes.
Anyway, back to this one.
It’s not a huge box but it is quite full. I said I didn’t mind which box I got, this is March’s. April’s is curated by a yogi called Jo and contains different items.
I received a small pot of rosewater ghee face & skin cream, which intrigues me as ghee is more commonly used in Indian cooking.
An organic sanitizer spray for use after yoga to kill any bacteria that transfers from the mat to your hands. I recommend giving your yoga mat a spritz of anti-bac every now and then and hanging it outside every now and then to air it so that feet smell doesn’t linger. This will probably end up in my bag, I like to carry hand sanitizer when commuting.
A fancy bottle of nail polish in Namaste, this has no formaldehyde and other not very pleasant chemicals and is a nude shade.
There was also a small yoga strap, which is used to assist with poses.
A small malas or Buddhist prayer bead bracelet to aid in meditation.
A recipe card for a dish called kitchari, which seems to be a bit like dhal with mung beans and rice.
A yoga pose card – tree pose, which is one of my favourite poses as it’s a big stretch to the sky and you have to focus to maintain your balance.
The card listing the box’s contents has a great quote on it “you are the sky. Everything else is just weather” – Pema Chodron.
Loose leaf oolong tea, custom blended for BuddhiBox. It also has a reusable muslin tea bag, which is a clever idea. I don’t drink black tea or coffee, mostly just water and herbal teas so this will come in useful.
There are a couple of business cards from the different companies involved – some with discounts and then the randomest item. A temporary tattoo.
I don’t really get the need for this item and would have preferred something else. This seems to be a bit of a trend because I’ve had at least one beauty box recently with temporary tattoos in them. I remember they were all the rage the summer I was 9, I think a cereal company were giving them away, but I don’t see many grown women feeling the need.
All in all it’s a bit mixed and not all of the items seem connected to yoga or meditation. As I said at the start this was pretty expensive so I’m a little disappointed at the contents. Hopefully they’ll start shipping internationally through their website soon and the prices will be comparative to the US.
ramblingmads
March’s Glossybox arrived today, so let’s take a look inside. The theme seems to be pink and black.
NCLA nail polish in Like…Totally Valley Girl. This is very pink and I don’t really feel I will get much use from it.
Sleek Make Up Pout Paint in Rosette – another really pink product. Although giving it an experimental squeeze produced clear, very sticky, goop.
Essence Lash Princess Volume Mascara – clearly beauty box companies think we can never have enough mascara. The bottle’s pretty but due to the extreme sensitivity of my eyes I doubt this will be for me – one for the Give and Make Up box I’m putting together.
Naobay Moisturizing Peeling milk – apparently this is designed for removing dead skin from your face. Will have to give it a go.
Dove Youthful Vitality Shampoo and Conditioner for ageing hair – I am 28, as is my hair (I was born with a full head of dark curls that gradually went blonde) I am not ageing. My mum will be getting these – she’s almost 60 and was complaining about her thin hair the other day!
All in all a mixed box. Next month is crunch time, which box will I keep and which will be cancelled?
Apparently next month’s Glossybox is inspired by the Golden Age of Hollywood. As my profile pic is Rita Hayworth, that should be (hopefully) right up my street.
ramblingmads
I quite like that My Little Box has a theme each month, last month it was My Little French Box and this month it’s My Little Super Box.
The packaging is really cute and addressed to the Marvellous Madeleine, which is always welcome!
Inside is a whole bundle of goodies.
As well as the usual mini magazine, there are superhero stickers, a t-shirt rolled up, and three full-size beauty products.
My Little Beauty branded cheek and lip tint in coral, I do like a two-in-one product.
Garnier Miracle Sleeping Cream – I don’t currently use a night cream so I might give this a road test.
Kerastase Cristal – a conditioner for dry hair and split ends. Not sure about whether my slightly greasy at the roots and grumpy at the ends hair will like this, but it’s worth a go.
On the little ‘what’s in my box’ sheet it gives the prices if you were to buy the individual products and trust me when I say the £13 this box cost is an absolute bargain.
ramblingmads
I bought this on a whim. But it’s full of nice goodies and randomly came with three samples of Avon’s Cherish eau de parfum.
A mix of sample size and full size products.
Pitrok Crystal deodorant wipes – not something I’ve come across before but probably incredibly useful, especially if you commute in the summer.
Crabtree & Evelyn Verbena & Lavender hand cream, handbag size and nice scent.
Merumaya Melting Cleansing Balm sample – you just get one but it seems to be really easy to use and a nice little tester.
Dr Organic Dead Sea Mineral Bio-Plasma Mask – I do like a face mask, and Dr Organic products are usually out of my price range.
Bellapierre Cosmetics volumizing mascara – I’m a bit fussy about mascaras but my mum and bestie do quite well out of that fact.
Rituals Miracle Scrub – a hand scrub which I will be road-testing not on my well moisturised hands but on my boyfriend’s sandpaper palms.
John Masters Organics detangler and shampoo samplers. I was thinking of changing shampoos, well I will be testing this next time I wash my hair.
ramblingmads
This was an additional box I ordered thinking my mum might like it for Mothering Sunday which is fast approaching but it’s a good thing I bought another gift as I think I might keep this one.
The box contains mostly full size goodies.
Sachajuan Hair Repair – for damaged and stressed hair.
Naobay Body Radiance Lotion – contains olive oil, avocado oil and shea butter. Not sure if I eat it or smear it on my skin.
Wild About Beauty Botanical Skin Prep Serum – apply on bare skin or over moisturiser to make you skin smoother and allow make up to be applied with ease.
Scentered Stress Less Therapy Balm – chamomile, neroli & mandarin, apply to pulse points to destress and soothe.
Vichy Liftactiv Supreme anti-wrinkle cream. I don’t currently have wrinkles but 30 isn’t too far away.
Urban Apothecary scented tea light candle – I love candles and this one smells yummy.
Little Ondine Twins nail polish duo. Cute design, red and cappucino coloured polishes.
Decleor Iris rejuvenating serum – a teeny, tiny bottle of something that smells rather good. My work wife loves decleor and is always recommending their products to me.
What is your mum (not) getting for Mother’s Day?
ramblingmads
I don’t get all the Latest in Beauty boxes, unlike most, they’re not monthly as such.
But I have bought a couple of the ones curated by Glamour magazine’s beauty editor.
The good thing about LiB is that you can see what products are going to be in the box before you order, so if there’s nothing that interests you then there’s no obligation to buy.
Inside this box is:
Moroccanoil Intense Hydrating Masque – I have wanted to try Moroccanoil for a while as I’ve heard good things but they’re quite pricey so this is great.
Rimmel Oh My Gloss lipgloss in My Eternity. I don’t often bother with lipgloss and I’m not sure about this shade on me, but it’s sparkly and not too gloopy.
Revlon Colorstay Gel Envy nail polish in light turquoise. Not a pastel shade = result in my book.
Revlon Colorstay Gel Envy Diamond Topcoat – now I don’t need to buy topcoat. I just wish ‘colour’ was spelt correctly.
BeautyUK High Brow all in one brow definition kit – my eyebrows are basically ignored, they don’t need much work.
Model Co Creme Rouge lips and cheeks in Just Peachy – I do like a product with more than one use.
Kiko long lasting stick eyeshadow in a bronze/gold shade. I prefer eye crayons to powder so this will probably get a lot of use.
Nuxe Paris Masque Creme Fraiche 24hr Soothing and Rehydrating Fresh Mask – I think I will be slathering this on, smells nice and would give my skin a treat.
Elie Saab le parfum sampler – a quite strong scent. Might have to let it sit and simmer.
Free 12 month subscription to Glamour magazine – print and digital. Plus entry into a prize draw for over £500 worth of products. This is the USP of the Glamour boxes, a free subscription.
ramblingmads
Another beauty box in my quest for the perfect one.
I filled in a beauty questionnaire intended to make the ideal selection, but there was a definite mis-fire amongst this little lot.
A fullsize Nails Inc. polish in bruton lane, which is a pastel shade (and if you read my post about nail polish, you’ll know they’re not my favourite).
Mirabella lip gloss in Muse, which is baby pink in the bottle, so will be used sparingly.
Cailyn eyebrow gel in Cocoa. Now I told them I’m blonde, which is my natural colour so a dark brown gel would make my very pale brows look silly.
Organic Surge Perfecting Face Polish (sample size) this says it’s suitable for sensitive skin, which I have, and contains rosemary and lemon essential oils, which means it smells amazing.
Monuspa Conditioning Bodywash (sample size) for all skin types – this contains honey and essential oils, and again smells delicious.
The goodies come in a little cloth bag inside a frankly enormous box. Their USP is that if you refer a friend with a unique code on their site you get credits towards products in your next box and so will your friend.
ramblingmads
I rarely get called wonderful so it was rather nice coming home to find a parcel in my letterbox doing just that.
Inside was February’s Birchbox. I had opted for the slimmer letterbox size, and as you can see above, it was packed with beauty goodies (and a sample packet of oats + chia porridge, not pictured).
There were discount codes and vouchers for beauty products.
The products themselves were a mixture of sample and full sizes.
I had filled in a beauty profile on the site, which should mean that the items in my box are tailored to me.
I received: a sample of Benefit High Beam, which is a product I already use so this was a little bonus bottle.
T London Darjeeling Bath & Shower wash, perfect size for my washbag and holiday travels.
Fullsize Eyeko London Fat Eye Stick in gilt – I like an eye crayon, easy to use and no mess.
Electric Hairdressing Hydrate Shampoo, again perfect size for my washbag. Finally Caudalie Paris Radiance Serum – I don’t use serums much so this will be fun to try out.
ramblingmads
Yesterday I received my first Glossybox. Having previously bought a few Latest in Beauty, which contain a mixture of full size and mini products, most of which I ended up not using and giving away.
Glossybox is a box of full size surprises. This is the February box and contains
A Wilkinson Sword HydroSilk razor, Marsk mineral eye shadow in grey, Royal Apothic tinted lip butter in coral, So Susan Rose Quartet for lips and cheek, B. All waterproof mascara and a mini pack of Love Hearts sweets. All beautifully packaged like a present.
Cheaper than Latest in Beauty boxes, but with fewer products, these boxes are clearly a promo product for the brands featured, which apart from the razor, I’d never heard of.
I will probably use most of the products, minus the mascara, due to my very sensitive eyes. I like eyeshadows and the lip/cheel tint is hypoallergenic.
The packaging is cute and the box sturdy enough to be reused.
My plan is to subscribe for three months and if I don’t use the products to cancel my subscription.
Do you subscribe to any beauty boxes? Want to recommend a product. Write me a comment below. 🙂
ramblingmads
ramblingmads 