BirchBox / January 2013

When I read that JolieBox had become BirchBox, I decided to re-subscribe!

The box was delivered by Yodel this morning - actually I don't have much faith in them as they always seem to f**k up our deliveries but no complaints this time.

The box itself looks like is made from recycled cardboard and it comes in a pink packaging, which wasn't sealed. The products are inside a pink string bag like JolieBox used to do and a small magazine.

Here is the content of my box:

Fresh Sugar Rose' Lip Treatment - this product alone made the box for me. Been wanting to try the Fresh Sugar lip balms for a while... so very excited to see it! 

The wee sample size tube is really cute too. :)

Kms California Free Shape Quick Blow Dry - this is a dual-phase spray that acts as a detangler and should help hair dry faster. I will definitely try it out and see if it makes any difference time-wise... fingers crossed.

Taaj Hand Cream - another lovely and useful product; unfortunately, I didn't have much luck with the Taaj cleanser because it stung my eyes but looking forward to try something else from this brand.

Wei White Lotus Moisture Rich Eye Blend - another brand that I have never tried but was on my wishlist. I received the eye cream - and happy about it - with moisturizing and firming properties. Decent sample size.

Teapigs Chamomile Tea - I really like chamomile tea so I'm happy! :)

All in all, I'm pleased with this box, although not blown away - the Fresh Sugar lip balm definitely had a lot to do with that... I think I will get another box and then I'll take it from there.

I also noticed people getting an 'extra beauty' item - anybody else's missing I Coloniali sample?

 x

1st JolieBox

This is the first ever JolieBox - technically, it's not a new subscription because it's basically the former Boudoir Prive' that joined forces with the french version and brought Jolie to the Uk.

First thing I notice about the box is that it's a tad smaller than its sisters; not a complaint, in fact everything is beautifully and neatly packed inside.
Also, the information card looks very expensive, quality paper - you can tell a lot was put into every detail.

OPI Gold Shatter Nail Lacquer

Good start, right? Who can be disappointed with OPI? It's the gold shatter and I'm very happy because I was looking to buy a gold polish for NYE. Sorted!

Also, it's a full size bottle and I just realised I don't have any OPI full size polish yet... it's huge!

worn over Nails Inc Lily

Mitchell and Peach Shower Wash

I've never heard of this brand before. The bottle is plastic but the label looks really posh: you can tell it's a natural product with essential oils and good ingredients. These includes honey, wheat proteins and vitamin E.

Straight from the bottle, the smell is too strong of lavender for me but once in the bathtub is not so overpowering. Also - being a shower wash - it's not idea for a bubble bath as I find it doesn't foam a huge amount.

CID Cosmetics i-gloss in Baby Doll

I was pretty intrigued by this product as Cid is famous for their gimmicky packaging. This one is a lip gloss with a light in the lid and mirror on the side; the mirror can come in handy but I'm afraid to say, the light became soon annoying! I know that you can turn the light off on the lipstick but not on the lipgloss, unfortunately... and it's kinda of blinding really. Also, the brush is rubbish and it splits up.

Nevertheless, It's a nice colour.

Jane Iredale 24-Karat Gold Dust in Rose Gold

I already received a lash conditioner in this Boudoir Prive' box and I can't help noticing AGAIN how bad and poor the packaging looks!

Apart from this - superficial, some may say - impressions, I love the colour!

The description says that it's a multi-use dust that can be used everywhere on the face and also on body & hair but I have mainly used it as an eyeshadow. I shall try on the cheeks too.

Like every pigment/powder, you need to be careful with fallout but it applies and blends nicely. Also, it has a good payoff in pigmentation.

Yon-ka Vital Defense

This is a day cream: anti-aging prevention, antioxidant and anti-pollution to help the skin preserve its youthfulness. Sorry but I haven't had the chance to try it yet... looking forward tho.

Lots of thought in the packaging and I like the foil tube.

Bonus Items:

Kusmi Detox Tea

I love that they also included a non-cosmetic product - I hope they keep up with this!

I know in the BirchBox in the States, they often send granola bars or chocolates... I think it's a nice idea. 

Anyway, this tea is a blend of Mate', chinese green tea and lemon grass, flavoured with lemon. Personally, I really like it! :)

JolieBox Concealer Brush

Finally, we received this brush and again I was super-pleased as I needed one - that's luck!!! :)

I've been using it for under eye concealing and I'm liking it. Good quality and also like the design of the white short handle.

To conclude I loved this box a lot! If I had to chose only one subscription, I would pick this one, right now. I hope they keep up with the extra bonuses (although, I understand these may have been included just as an introduction present) and I don't expect an extra item but I like the idea to get 'tools' & snacks too... I liked everything I received and they seem to be working with great brands... so fingers crossed for the next one!!! :)

P.S.: there's NOT going to be a January box. We were informed, at the beginning of the year, that they want to concentrate on getting everything right with the Valentine's Day box so they were skipping a month... fine by me. :)

GlossyBox Vs JolieBox

Finally, the boxes are here!!!

They arrived together - GlossyBox, 3 days late (by my calculations) and JolieBox on time... I've been avoiding all my favourite blogs because I didn't want to spoilt the surprise but I was getting a bit restless there; I'm glad I manage to resist, tho. :)

Content:

. Blink + Go Hi-Definition Mascara

. Cargo Cosmetics Classic Lip Gloss in Las Vegas

. Deborah Lippmann Razzle Dazzle Mini Nail Varnish with Stripped to Go Sachet

. Mememe Seventh Heaven

. Rituals Foaming Shower Gel in Yogi Flow

****

Content:

. OPI Gold Shatter Nail Lacquer

. Mitchell and Peach Shower Wash

. New CID Cosmetics i-gloss in Baby Doll

. Jane Iredale 24-Karat Gold Dust in Rose Gold

. Yon-Ka Vital Defense

. Kusmi Detox Tea

. JolieBox Concealer Brush

I'm very very happy with both boxes: there're some terrific products and I'm glad that they all made a special effort for the Christmas edition - but I'm giving the edge to JolieBox.

Mainly because I was going to buy this  VERY AFTERNOON a) gold nail polish b) concealer brush (no kidding!)

Plus, both eyeshadow & lipgloss colours are perfect for me (whilst I'm not going to use the Cargo lipgloss).

Btw, have I dreamt it or there was supposed to be an extra surprise under the wrapping?? I don't know, I thought I read something on GlossyBox (maybe) Facebook page... 

I didn't find anything... :(  

Boudoir Prive' -November and LAST issue

Here goes the LAST BP review. In few days, we should all received the first JolieBox. I'm excited and looking forward to it - it seems really promising.

DEAD SEA SPA MAGIK Silky Smooth Body Lotion

I'm a big fan of Dead Sea Spa Magik (have a read here if you're interested in check my history with this brand). I had never tried this product before but It's a lovely cream. They also suggest to use it on damp skin, which I did, and I felt absorbed really quickly, leaving my skin comfortably moisturized. Consistency is pretty light and non-greasy plus it has a lovely scent too.

KORRES Wild Rose 24-hour Moisturiser

This face cream delivers 24h moisturization. The smell, as you may guess, is really nice. I like Korres and the natural philosophy they follow. This cream, in particular, was very lovely to use and sinked in nicely into my skin but it didn't blow me away.

RAHUA New Voluminous Shampoo & Conditioner

Amazing!!! and I'm not easily impressed with hair products. I could really see a difference in my hair - definitely in volume and general healthiness. Both shampoo and conditioner were a joy to use, lathering very nicely and easy to rinse. I got 2 uses out of each satchet but at £27/28.50, I'm pretty sure I can't efford to purchase, I'm afraid. :(

I know this items were already send in September GlossyBox but there're not in my box - I'm glad I got a second chance to try them!

VINIES AYURVEDA'S SOUL Luminous Skin Mask

We received 2 small pots of this product, which I thought it was nice - also because it should prolong the durability of the second pot (if you keep it sealed, whilst you finish the first).

Personally, I liked this face mask! I read many girls experienced nasty side effects like redness and burning sensation but luckly everything was normal with me. The first time, I left it for the minimum 2 minutes and then increased to 5, for the following applications. I didn't feel anything different when it was on my face but I experienced tingling after I washed it off. I'm thinking, maybe, the trick is to use COLD water (as directed). I did see (and felt) a difference and althought it says you could use it daily, I'm happy using it only once a week. It feels like 'heavy-duty' treatment and I wouldn't want to put my skin under too much stress - if you know what I mean.

It smells quite strongly of liquorice but I'm totally fine with that - I like chewing liquorice roots, so yeah not a problem for me!

STUDIOMAKEUP Rich Hydration Lipstick

I, actually, received the truly red shade but I swapped it for the tender pink. Mainly because I already have too many reds but now I'm in two minds about the pink; It's quite nice swatched on my hand but I'm not sure it really suits my skintone. I reckon I'm put off by the frost but maybe mixed with another pink, I'll manage to use it. What I learnt? Never impulse swap!!! ;)

November-wise: this was my favourite box, out of the three I receive. Which beauty boxes do you get? Which was your favourite?

xx

FeelUnique Beauty Box

Finishing Touches

- TIGI Bed Head Candy Fixations Sugar Dust

- Annick Goutal Mandragore Eau De Toilette

- Clarisonic Cleanser

- Nails Inc. Oxford Circus Limited Edition Nail Polish

- Figs & Rouge Sweet Geranium 100% Organic Balm

- Living Nature samples

Would you be happy with this box?

xx

FeelUnique - November Box

Emma Hardle Amazing Face Natural Lift and Sculpt Moringa Cleansing Balm

I love this product! It comes in a paste form that you need to mix up with few drops of water to create a cream and then massage on the face; pretty similar action as the Liz Earle cleanse but I thought the cloth was of better quality. In fact the Dual Action Professional Cleansing Cloth has 2 side - I use the muslin side to rinse off my face and the smoother side to finish off and the eye area.

It smells really nice, like almond & marzipan and the packaging looks expensive; my only criticism would be that I'm not too keen in sticking my fingers inside the jar day after day, for an hygienic point of view. Nevertheless, I was so impressed with it that this reason wouldn't stop me from buying it.

Schwarzkopf Professional OSIS+ Dust It Mattifying Powder

This product is to add control and volume to your hair.

These types of dusts have become popular in the last couple of years and I already have this powder from Schwarzkopf, which I found really really similar so I will swap the OSIS+ for something else. 

I have barely used the one I got only a couple of times but this was a great item to include, especially since it's a full size.

Xen-Tan Deep Bronze Luxe

I was so disappointed to see this self tan inside the box. First, I don't use self tan products and secondly I already received the same identical one in the July GlossyBox. Luckly, I managed to get rid of the previous one easily - I'm sure there's somebody else out there that can make good use out of it.

Goldwell DualSenses Rich Repair Ultra Volume 60 Sec Treatment

OMG - WORST ITEM EVER!!! I hated it so much that I'm even regretting trying it out.

I don't usually bother with styling products but I try to give a test run to every item I receive, in the beauty boxes - at least once.

It's a pre-wash treatment so I thought it wasn't going to mess my hair but instead it has been like putting blue glue on my scalp!!! I found it incredibly difficult to rinse and, also after washing a couple of time, it still left my hair sticky and tangled.
Personally, to avoid like the plague!!!

Bella Pierre Shimmer Powder in Noir
Nice product but I received the black version which is something I'd never use. If I do a smokey eye look, I usually go for brown or purple. Sorry for the lack of swatch but I've already exchanged this one as well, so I kept it sealed.
Btw, I was informed by the receiver that noir is not shimmery at all.

Prada Candy Eau de Parfum
the name says it all really: too sweet! I don't like it.

To summerize: I only like 1 item out of the box.
 Still, I'm in two minds about the FeelUnique box: I can appreciate the quality of the brands that I received but they don't seem to cater for my needs, really.
I'm thinking the JolieBox will blow it out of the water...

P.S.: I thought I also spare two words about the customer service. In my October box I received a faulty nail polish and after much emailing back and forth I was told that a replacement was sent on the 18th October ( I received the box on the 8th).
Then, a month goes by and when I receive the november box, still no sign of the other polish. I email them again but I get ignored for several days so I decide to contact them on the Facebook page - to much disappointed I notice they've deleted my message. So, I leave another message and guess what? It also gets deleted.
Anyway - bottom line - they, at least, contacted me by email and issued a new replacement.
I can understand that the first one, apparently, went 'missing' in the post but all that censorship is very very poor. You guys can really take no criticism? And as I consequence they created more fuss than necessary because now I'm ranting for half of this blog post. Not too clever, if you ask me!