Bellabox January and February 2013 + Order

So, I know this is late.  Like really late.  I've begun to lose interest in my beauty box subscriptions.  Scratch that, mainly I've lost interest in bellabox after some pretty disappointing boxes.  I still love my LHI Eco and Mirenesse VIP box (stay tuned for that post soon), but if this upcoming bb box isn't great, I'm out.

Anyway, onto a brief recap of January, then an order from the bb shop and finally the February box.

I do get a little excited when I see the box waiting at the door.

January's Contents

I like that the theme was Australian brands and I'm happy I didn't get the really bad box, but I was still not wowed by these contents.  My partner had received the Swisse Body Wash in one of his belloboxes, so this was boring and I just gave it to him.  The Aloe is okay.  I'm fair skinned and burn when the sun peeks through a cloud.  Though still boring.  To be honest, I still haven't used the FOA lipgloss.  It hasn't even tempted me.  I didn't even open the Natio sachet.  Medium.  No way.  I have tried the Fair in the store and I've been really tempted to purchase it, but I love my current BB cream (more on that later).  Wotnot wipes.  Yea, they're wipes.  Nothing really exciting or innovative about them.

Left: Purchases Right: Freebies

I used my bellabox points during one of their sales to pick up the Bioderma Sebium H2O, ulittle beauty Natural Shine Hair Serum and Byron Bay Detox Foot Patches (to get free shipping).  Unfortunately, they didn't have the Bioderma in stock (and it took ages to get it in stock) so they sent some freebies to make up for it.  By the end of the experience, I was more excited by the freebies (more exciting samples than I'd been receiving in my bellabox).  Anyway, I was happy with how they handled the situation.  To be honest, their customer service maintained my subscription a little longer.

February Box

I did think the card and heart tissue paper was a lovely touch.  Again, I was pretty excited to see what was beneath it.

Meh.  Not too bad.

There were some products I loved in this box and some I didn't care much for.  I love the Frizz-Ease curl perfecting spray.  My hair is naturally wavy/some times there's ringlets (it's weird) and this has helped tame it a bit, but I can see if you don't have any curl that this would be really disappointing.  I also loved the U Skin Solutions Clarifying Cleansing Gel.  I was disappointed that I didn't get the exfoliant, because I prefer that to cleanser, but wow! I love this stuff.  I only got three uses out of this, but the smell is to die for.  I may use my remaining bellabox points to get this.  The other products...whatev, except the eye liner.  Now, that was exciting.

I have been lusting after Eye of Horus products for a long time now.  I was really hoping that I received the Bronze eye liner, but in the end, I'm happy to receive the charcoal obsidian pencil.  I don't have any sparkly black eyeliners, so this has been a nice addition.

L: Normal Swatch, R: After trying to smear it off

I've seen a fair bit of hate on this product and how it smudges.  I haven't experience that at all.  Above are two swatches.  One that I left alone and the second that I tried (really hard) to smear, but nothing really happened.

I have my fingers crossed that March will be excellent, but I'm not holding my breath.

Bellabox October 2012 and Lust Have It Eco Box

This past Wednesday, I received my first Bellabox and LHI Eco Box!  Two beauty boxes on the same day!  Talk about a great way to start a Wednesday and what an amazing entrance into the world of beauty samples delivered to your door!

I'll start with Bellabox since that was the first box I subscribe to.  The theme was 'Pretty in Pink Party' in honour of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Without further ado, here is what was in the box beneath the black paper....

Estee Lauder Resilience Lift Instant Action Lift Treatment, 30mL $100
I am excited to try Estee Lauder; however, I'm not sure that I need any lifting and firming for my 20s skin.

Clinique Turnaround Concentrate Extra Radiance Renewer, 30mL $74
I'm really looking forward to trying this.  I love Clinique products, especially their moisturising gel.  The description provided says it promotes cell maturation, turnover and removal without causing the slightest irritation to your skin.

Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Fast Dry Nail Colour in Petal Pusher, 9.17mL $13.95
This colour will be interesting.  I love it in the bottle, but I am not a big fan of light, flesh coloured nail polish on my fingers.

Carmex Moisture Plus Ultra Hydrating Lip Balm--Sheer Pink Tint, 2g $8.99
This is fantastic!  I love it on my lips.  The pink tint is subtle and looks more like your lips, just a bit better.  I will enjoy using this.

DKNY Fresh Blossom Eau So Intense, 100mL $135
I am very critical of fragrances.  I am a brand loyalist and I tend to stick with what I like for quite some time.  For several years, I have been a Burberry Beat lover.  With that said, I really do like this fragrance.  Who knows, maybe I'll allow another fragrance to join my crew.

Klorane Shampoo with Oat Milk, 200mL $9.95
I have heard of good things about this brand.  I haven't tried this or the conditioner included, but I will certainly give you some feedback once I get a chance to do so.

Klorane Conditioning Cream with Pomegranate, 150mL $9.95
The rose colour of this conditioner is so great.  A nice addition to this 'pink' box.

Bourjois Smoky Pencil 72 Dark Purple, 0.89g $20
I'm not a big fan of purple; however, recently it has been growing on me.  I do love Bourjois, so I will definitely try this pencil out soon.

Since this post is already so long, I will share my Lust Eco Box in a separate post.

How did you fare this month with your beauty boxes?  Any products you love or hate?

Beauty Boxes: Men's Edition

I was late getting into the beauty box craze and I am currently awaiting my first box.  After much deliberation, I decided on subscribing to Bellabox.  However, after seeing reviews of Lust Have It (LHI) Eco Box, I have also subscribed to that.  Again, anxiously waiting that box as well.

As a result of my interest in these boxes, I have also convinced my partner to sign up to one.  We went with Bellabox's Mens' Edition.  Of course, that arrived before any of mine.  Karma. 

Opening the Mens' Bellabox

We were both surprised to see how much was in it.  Definitely worth the $30 fee.  It was sweet being exposed to new brands and products, which makes me want my box even more.

All the items in the box

Here is a list of everything that was in this quarterly installment:

• Carmex Moisturising Lip Balm Squeeze Tube, 10g---This was full size and has a retail value of $5.99
• Z Zegna Eau de Toilette, 1.2g---Full size (100mL) retails for $110
• American Crew Precision Shave Gel, 7.4mL---Full size (150mL) retails for $24.90
• Lancome Men Age Fight Anti-Age Perfecting Fluid, 1mL---Full size (100mL) retails for $110
• USPA Supernatural Men's Sandalwood Cleanser, 30mL---Full size (250mL) retails for $28.95
• USPA Supernatural Men's Bambusa Facial Scrub, 30mL---Full size (150mL) retails for $34
• Faulding Multi Mens Energy Formula, 60 Tablets---This is full size and retails for $14.99
• Bioderma Sebium Foaming Gel, 10mL---Full size (200mL) retails for $24.95
• Bioderma Sebium AKN Purifying Corrective Care, 5mL---Full size (30mL) retails for $24.95
• Avene Soothing Moisture Mask, 5mL---Full size (50mL) retails for $38.95
• Nivea for Men Skin Energy Face Wash Q10, 15mL---Full size (75mL) retails for $7.99
• Nivea for Men Skin Energy Moisturiser Q10, 15mL---Full size (50mL) retails for $13.87
• Emerginc Multi-Fruit Cleanser, 3mL---Full size (240mL) retails for $63
• Emerginc Protocell Face Cream, 3mL---Full size (50mL) retails for $140
• Sranrom Shower Gel, 75mL---Full size (200mL) retails at $22

My partner has tried a fair few of these already and has some winners and losers and in-betweeners. 

Winners:

• Carmex Lip Balm (He now uses this daily.  I am stunned.)
• Z Zegna (He really likes it, but I find it slightly over-powering.  I'm trying to introduce fragrances to him now since he is keen on getting one)
• Nivea Moisturiser (Smells nice and 'it feels like it works,' according to him)
• Sranrom Shower Gel (Smells really good, environmentally friendly)
• USPA Supernatural Men's Sandalwood Cleanser (He really likes it and I like it because he now cleans his face)

In-betweeners:

•  Nivea Face Wash (Not as good as other things.  Nothing special)

Losers:

• American Crew Precision Shave Gel (Smell didn't work for him neither did the feel of it)
• Emerginc Multi-Fruit Cleanser (Smell really bad and not as good as the other cleansers included)

I will update again once more products are tried and tested. 

Again, I'm really looking forward to getting my own box this month and my partner is slightly sad that he has to wait until December-ish to get his next box.