Walmart Beauty Box (Trendsetter) Spring 2019.

Walmart Beauty Box is a subscription box which ships automatically four times a year once you have signed up for it. Containing a selection of full-sized products, samples, minis and money off coupons, the box itself is free but you must pay $5.00 for shipping and processing. There are two versions of the box intended to appeal to different age groups. I receive the 'Trendsetter' box aimed at younger customers, there is also a 'Classic' box for older customers. Let's take a look inside the latest Trendsetter box.

Skincare.

Soo Ae Unicorn Glow Hologram Mask.

This sheet mask is cutely packaged and contains Black Charcoal and Niacinamide to cleanse and brighten. It also says it is a 'Hologram Mask' - I'm not sure what that means but I'm guessing that the serum is iridescent? I'm not a huge fan of sheet masks but I have got into the habit of popping them into my travel bag to wear before or after flying so I will give this one a go, even if I wouldn't have picked a shimmering unicorn mask out for myself!

Olay Daily Facials.

This is a dry cloth that you wet and use to remove make up/clean your face with. It is a 5-in-1 makeup remover, cleanser, toner, scrub and mask.

I will give this sample (one dry cleansing cloth) a miss because I'm not keen on its ingredients and I don't believe that one cloth can do what this claims to - I actually like doing a long skincare routine!

Garnier SkinActive 3-in-1 Soothing Day/Night/ Mask.

Garnier has certainly been pushing this product! I have had samples of it from all over the place. It is basically a moisturiser, its ingredients aren't all bad and it has a pleasant rose fragrance but Shea Butter is quite high on the ingredients list and it is not an ingredient that my face can tolerate. I think I will repurpose my many samples of this product as an upper-body cream. It's quite nice but not nice enough for facial use as far as I'm concerned (#skincaresnob).

Cetaphil Hydrating Eye Gel Cream.

This is a generously filled sample sachet. I need to research the ingredients before I use it as I don't like the ingredient list of Cetaphil cleansers. If its good I will use it, if not I will let it go. 

Bodycare.

Curel HydraTherapy Wet Skin Moisturiser.

These wet skin moisturisers are a favourite thing for Walmart to put in these boxes it seems as I've had countless samples of either this one or the Nivea one. Honestly, I'm not a fan of them as I never feel properly moisturised afterwards and I hate all that 'patting yourself dry' nonsense.  I will probably use this at some point just so it doesn't go to waste and I do appreciate that it is a generously sized 2oz sample.

Haircare.

Pantene Intense Rescue Shots.

This full sized item is probably the standout item in the box. It is a treatment that you apply to the hair after washing to treat damaged ends and prevent split ends. I think it is probably intended for people with longer hair than mine but I will try this out after researching to see that it is compatible with colour treated hair (there's a lot of alcohol products in this and I don't want them to strip my colour). 

Miscellaneous.

This time the box also contained a makeup bag. It was a kind of cheap and plastic makeup bag, bronze in colour with a small tassel and a Walmart logo on one side. It went straight onto my donate/throw away pile. I really do hope that this was a one-off and that they aren't going to waste resources sending out a tacky bag each quarter.

Overall. 

If I'm honest, I'm not particularly thrilled with this season's box. I go back and forth about cancelling this box and I'm always saying 'well, if the next box is terrible too, I will' and guess what? That next box is usually pretty good.  

It's only $5.00 four times a year and I do enjoy receiving something in the mail and opening it to see what's inside - so for the moment, my subscription will ride for another quarter. 

If you would like to subscribe to Walmart Beauty Boxes you can do so by going to walmart.com Details and sign up can be found under 'special offers' in the online beauty section and you can sign up for both versions of the box 'Trendsetter' and 'Classic' if you wish.

Walmart Beauty Box (Trendsetter): Fall 2018.

Walmart Beauty Box is a subscription box which ships automatically four times a year once you have signed up for it. Containing a selection of full-sized products, samples, minis and money off coupons, the box itself is free but you must pay $5.00 for shipping and processing. There are two versions of the box intended to appeal to different age groups. I receive the 'Trendsetter' box aimed at younger customers, there is also a 'Classic' box for older customers. Let's take a look inside the Fall Trendsetter box.

Full size and Mini Items.

Freeman Beauty Hydrating Water Gel Mask.

Even though they are single use items I am counting this mask and the lip patch as full sized as they retail individually. Freeman Masks are a drugstore staple. I already have a big stash of masks but I like that this is packaged as a one time use and I do enjoy hydrating masks, I'm thinking this could be a good one to pop into my bag to use after a flight. If I don't use it Mr C&C will so it won't go to waste.

Verdict: Thumbs up. 

Sooae My Collagen Hydrogel Lip Patch.

This is something that I wouldn't think to purchase for myself but I have seen these KBeauty patches on several people's Instagrams and as I suffer from dry lips I'm intrigued to give this a try. Who knows I may have found a new product to love?
Verdict: Thumbs up. 

PanteneFoam Conditioner 'Sheer Volume'.

I had this exact same conditioner in last months box, and while I don't enjoy getting repeat products this is something that I will use (and I would rather get a repeat of something that I will use than a new item that I won't). I can't help but feel that these conditioners are a little gimmicky but I do like Pantene products and I'm always happy to have extra conditioners to hand as I always use way more conditioner than shampoo. I've already tried this out and while it's not the greatest conditioner I have ever used, it is okay. I've not noticed it adding much in the way of volume but equally, it doesn't weigh my hair down.

Verdict: Thumbs up.

Maybelline MasterPrecise Allday Liquid Liner.

I don't use Liquid Eye Liners but this is a decent sized product that draws a fine line and the liquid flows easily. I'm sure someone who uses a liquid liner would be happy to find this in a beauty box so while it's not my personal preference I can't fault its inclusion.

Verdict: Thumbs Up.

Biore Charcoal Micellar Water.

I like using micellar water for daily eye makeup removal and minis are great for travel. Biore is a pretty good brand and while I'm not sure what advantages the addition of charcoal makes I'm looking forward to trying this out. I think this is the best product in this box!

Verdict: Two thumbs up. 

Hello Activated Charcoal Toothpaste.

I've had this in a previous box but like the conditioner, it is something that I will use. I do really like the Hello toothpastes which have a fairly natural formulation and are SLS free. This one is mildly minty but is a little messy as it is a black toothpaste.

Verdict: Thumbs up.

Samples.

Kleenex Wet Wipe.

I had one of these in the last box as well. As I said then I will try and pop it in my bag next time I fly or go on the train but in reality, it will probably end up forgotten in a drawer. I know this is 'free'so I shouldn't complain but I do think the inclusion of one wipe is a bit rubbish!

Verdict: Meh.   

La Bella Avocado Oil Shampoo and Styling Gel.

I don't know anything about this brand at all. I will use the shampoo sachet but I won't use the gel.

Verdict: Okay.

Nivea Aloe Vera Body Lotion.

I love Nivea body products but I know from experience that these sachets are tiny. There is literally enough product for one arm and a bit! I will use (and enjoy) this but I can't help but feel that sachets of body lotion are a bit wasteful unless they contain a decent amount.

Verdict: Okay.

Overall.

Walmart's Summer Beauty Box was such a bust for me that I vowed to cancel my subscription if this one was as bad, luckily however, I'm actually rather pleased with the fall box. There's a good selection of products including some minis that will be great for travel and I'm looking forward to trying out the lip mask. There's definitely more than $5.00 worth of product here so I'm happy! Walmart has redeemed itself in my eyes and for the meantime I will continue with my subscription, in fact, after this box I'm eagerly anticipating the Winter edition!

If you would like to subscribe to Walmart Beauty Boxes you can do so by going to walmart.com Details and sign up can be found under 'special offers' in the online beauty section and you can sign up for both versions of the box 'Trendsetter' and 'Classic' if you wish.

Walmart Beauty Box Winter 2016.

Walmart Beauty Box is a subscription box that automatically ships to you four times a year when you have signed up for it. Containing an assortment of full sized products, samples and money off coupons the box itself is free and you pay just $5.00 for shipping. There are two variations of the box intended to appeal to different age groups. I receive the 'Trendsetter' box which is aimed at younger shoppers.

Ah, I almost forgot about my Walmart Beauty Box in all the excitement of the Holidays but never fear here it is...

This quarter's box didn't include any make up items but I don't mind as I have a ton of lip products and mascaras waiting to be used.

There was one skincare item - sample sachets of L'Oreal Age Perfect Golden Serum and Day Cream. I have received these before and although they aren't something that I would purchase I will throw them in a travel bag and use them. There's quite a generous amount of product in these, enough for a couple of days.

There are sample sachets of Garnier Whole Blends Shampoo and Conditioner in the 'Green Apple & Green Tea' variety. I'm always happy with shampoo and conditioner sachets and Whole Blends is a new range that I have been looking forward to trying out.

The other haircare item is a handbag sized (1.15oz) Tresemme Fresh Start Volumising Dry Shampoo. I already have quite a few dry shampoos, but I do use them frequently for adding lift and volume. Although they are super cheap I find Tresemme products to be good quality and this also smells lovely -unlike some other of the cheaper dry shampoos on the market.

The other four items are all body care. Dove Dry Oil Moisture Body Wash (1.8 fl oz) is something of a staple in cheaper sub boxes and goody bags I feel, but it is something that I will use so I am not complaining! This one is scented with Moroccan Argan Oil.

There are two 2oz samples of body cream both of which I have sampled before. Vaseline Advanced Repair was surprisingly good so I'm pleased to get more of this but I have to say that Curel Hydra TherapyWet Skin Moisturiser isn't one of my favourites... I'm simply not a fan of moisturisers that you use on wet skin. I have a few tubes of this already but I will endeavor to use it...The only coupon in the box this time around is for $4.00 off this product so there are no coupons that I will use this time around.

Finally there is a mini (.5oz) of Neutrogena Hand Cream. This tiny tube of a drugstore classic is super cute and will find it's way into my handbag before too long!

Overall.

I know it isn't very exciting but I actually really liked this box. The only thing that I'm not too keen on is the Curel Moisturiser but I will use it along with everything else here. Sometimes I feel that Walmart boxes are a very random selection of products but for once this seems seasonally appropriate and I'm pleased with this box!

  

If you would like to sign up for Walmart Beauty Boxes you can do so at walmart.com (Details and sign up link are to be found under 'special offers' in the Beauty department).

Surprise! A Free Allure Beauty Box!

The other day I received an email telling me to look in my mail for a free beauty box from Allure. 

I subscribe to Allure magazine and I know some other people have had a free box so I'm guessing that they are trying to get either more subscribers for the box or to keep magazine subscribers subscribing. I am a tad mystified as to why Allure sent out free beauty boxes but I'm not complaining...

The box I received is one of the variations that was sent out to Beauty Box subscribers in October this year and I must admit that it's a pretty good box. 

Inside were the following:

. Spongelle Body Wash Infused Buffer (Full size, value $15.00). I've never seen these before! This is a synthetic sponge that is infused with a body wash. The sponge itself is quite hard so this product will buff and exfoliate as you wash. This cruelty free bath time treat is vegan and free of parabens. It is beautifully fragranced with Freesia and Pear and lasts for around 20 showers. I adore the scent of freesias and I like a scrubby sponge so this is a perfect product for me!

 There is also a token for 25% off Spongelle products on line. These would make great sticking fillers or Secret Santa gifts don't you think?

. Tatcha Indigo Soothing Silk Body Butter (30ml, value $8.00). Tatcha products are an indulgence, even the way they package their samples feels very luxurious. I haven't tried any Tatcha body products but have always been pleasantly surprised by their face products. This blue toned body cream has a faint spa like smell and feels soothing and silky on application. I love body creams and butters and can't wait to try this out!

. Klorane Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk (50ml, value $10.00). Dry shampoos are something of a staple in subscription boxes (along with eye liners, mascaras and lip products) aren't they?

I don't use them for cleansing my hair but I do like to use them to add volume (especially now we are in 'hat hair' season). Generally, I like Klorane products so I will add this to my stash and give it a go.

. Brigeo Don't Despair, Repair! Hair Mask (29ml, value $9.00). This deep conditioning mask is free of sulphates, parabens and silicones so it's suitable for my dyed hair. My hair always feels softer and has less frizz when I use a mask such as this and I need to make the effort to use them more often. This tube can go straight into my shower!

. Mally Volumising Mascara (Full Size, 10ml, value $20.00.) Another sub box staple! This is great as it is full sized though, and whilst I don't know anything about Mally, I have read favourable reviews of this mascara.

. Doucce Freematic Eye Shadow (1.4gr, value $9.00). This is a shimmery, copper toned powder eyeshadow from yet another brand that is new too me. It's actually a great colour for the winter season with just the right amount of glitz to wear to parties over the festive season. 

Overall. 

This box sells for $15.00 when you subscribe to this monthly beauty box but I paid nothing for this surprise box!The contents of this box are valued at $70.00 and I liked everything in it, especially the two body items. And there were three brands represented that are entirely new to me.

However, I have to say that from reviews I have seen recently this seems to be one of the better Allure Beauty Boxes that has been issued of late. I'm afraid I'm not much of a fan of sub boxes I'm as the contents vary so much from month to month and there so are often repeat products or billing/delivery issues. For these reasons this box didn't entice me to take out a subscription even though I was impressed with everything in it.

It was a lovely surprise to find in my mail box though.

 Thank you Allure!! 

Target Beauty Box June 2016.

Each month Target releases a Beauty Box with a range of full sized, mini and sample products as well as money off coupons. The price of the box tends to vary from month to month but they are usually $10.00 or under. Unlike a lot of other boxes you don't sign up and get a recurring subscription you simply purchase them when they are released at target.com 

These boxes sell out very fast so I signed up for email alerts about them at mysubscriptionaddiction.com and ordered mine as soon as I recieved the alert.

June's box was themed 'Sun Kissed' and cost $10.70 with tax, shipping was free. 

There is a card included in the box with product details and whilst it doesn't give the value of the items in the box I read that this month's box has a value of $38.00 which seems about right.

The box itself is Glossybox sized and sturdy enough to be reusable. It contained one full sized item, ten minis and samples, as well as three money off coupons.

Full Sized.

The full sized product was an e.l.f. Lip Kiss Balm in the shade 'Bare Kiss'. 

My lips get very dry and sore so I am always eager to try out new lip products. This one is quite heavily pigmented (it is a coral/nude) so that for me it is more of a lipstick than a balm.

It smells pleasently minty and contains grapeseed and Jojoba oils to moisturise lips.

Mini Sized.

Yes to Cucumber Facial Wipes. A pack of ten face wipes that will be good to use as a refreshing wipe when travelling. (I no longer use wipes to remove make up but I have used these before and they were pretty good).

Pantene Expert Intense Hydration Shampoo (3.9 fl oz). I have used this range before and I was pretty impressed considering they are a drugstore brand. This smells like a more expensive shampoo and the bottle is a generous size.

Shea Motion Weightless Creme Rinse (3.2 fl oz). This hair conditioner is organic and free of parabens, phthalates, sulphates and mineral oils. It has a very summery fruity fragrance of apples and coconut. I look forward to trying this one out.

L'Oreal Revitalift Volume Filler Moisturizer (.5 oz). This is an intensely hydrating moisturiser for both day and nighttime use. It feels quite light and absorbs quickly but I dislike it's chemical scent that is quite strong on application.

Pixi Mesmerizing Mineral Duo Eye Shadow (2 x .03 oz). How adorable is this mini eyeshadow duo? These have a little shimmer but they feel buttery and are perfect shades to go with a tan. Very summery!

Samples.

Laneige Water Bank Serum. This is a generously sized .3fl oz serum. I've used this before, it is a gel formula serum that feels light, refreshing and hydrating.

CoTZ Face Sunscreen, SPF 40, Natural Tinted. This is a little too dark for me and it feels heavy and silicone like on my skin. I won't use this as I am very fussy about the feel of sunscreens. It's good to try it out though.

L'Oreal Paris True Match Lumi Cushion Foundation. I received the shade W3 which is a nude beige. Although this isn't something I will ever purchase I have to admit to being curious about cushion foundations so I will enjoy playing with this.

SW Basics Exfoliant is a powder exfoliant that you mix with water to form a paste. It is made from oat flour, almond flour and sea salt which sounds interesting. It is another product that I don't ever see myself buying but will be fun to try out!

Soap & Glory Righteous Butter Body Butter. Who doesn't like a bit of Soap & Glory? This is 'Britain's favourite body butter' after all! Now that Sephora don't carry this I look forward to seeing it in Target.

Coupons.

$2.00 off Pantene Expert, $2.00 off L'Oreal True Match Cosmetics and $3.00 off any Target Beauty purchase of more than $15.00. I most likely won't use the first two but will use the Target one for something by Boots or Soap & Glory (I'm so English lol).

Overall.

This is a great box don't you think? The products in it were relevant to the 'Sun kissed" theme and there are some fun items to explore in it. The only disappointing product for me is the CoTZ sunscreen.

It is an inexpensive box, (if you redeemed all the coupons it would be less than $3.00!) and although you need to be quick off the mark ordering these I think it's great that you can purchase a one off box without any of the hassles of being tied into a subscription. Full spoilers are released in advance so that you know exactly what you are getting and can purchase or not accordingly. 

I have so much stuff in my stash that I can't see myself picking these up each month but now and again when the boxes look promising why not?

Target, I'm impressed!  

PopSugar MustHave April 2016.

PopSugar MustHave is a monthly lifestyle box aimed at women that contains 5 or 6 items. It retails for $39.95 inc taxes and shipping but as with other sub boxes you can usually find a discount coupon of some sort online. I used one that gave me $5.00 off (so I paid $34.95).

Although I'm not that much of a subscription box shopper I seem to have a had a run on them recently. IMO Pop Sugar is one of the more interesting boxes as it's not just beauty or fashion orientated and they often include things such as books and edibles - in fact the only other non beauty box that I have purchased was a PopSugar box two years ago.

The theme for the April 2016 box was 'Floral, green, natural, sustainable,fresh, renewal'. I'm not sure how much of the contents fulfilled that theme but I thought that it was a jolly good box and the range of products that it contained made it very suitable for a Mother's day gift.

The Contents:

1. Cravings (a cook book by Chrissy Teigen). Retail value $29.99. 

Although I'm not generally a fan of celebrity cookbooks this is lovely book to browse. Of course, it contains lots of photos of Chrissy but each recipe also has a photo that accompanies it and they are great food shots! I like her breezy style of writing and the recipes are what I would call jazzed up versions of classics - mostly American, but there is also a short chapter of Thai food. It's not a cheffy book but it has lots of recipes for cheesy, spicy foods that look delicious (no dessert or baked goods recipes though). I most likely wouldn't have picked this book out for myself but I like it and it will be a welcome addition to my collection of cookery books.

Verdict: Two thumbs up.

2. Royal Apothic Hand Cream. Retail Value $24.00. 

Royal Apothic Hand Creams are one of my very favourite hand creams. This one is fragranced with 'Field Poppy Conservatories' which is a floral figgy scent. As with their other hand creams the fragrance is subtle and the cream effectively moisturises without being at all greasy. This came in a very nice box and I liked that it contained a key enabling you to get the most product possible out of the metal tube.

Verdict: Two thumbs up.

3. Farmacy Sleep Tight Firming Night Balm. Retail value $48.00. 

This night cream is beautifully packaged - from it's fold out box to it's wooden topped jar. This is unlike any other face cream I have tried in that it is a gel to oil formula. Made with botanicals this 'natural' product contains echinacea which is a powerful antioxidant. It has a soothing herbaceous scent that I am sure I will find restful at night. I have only used this once so far but it left my skin feeling soft and hydrated the next day.

Verdict: Two thumbs up.

3. Flour Sack Tea Towel by Noon Designs (with a print of 'Lemons'). Retail value $18.00. 

Now I know that it is difficult to get excited about tea towels but I am always pleased to get them as gifts. TBH nice tea towels aren't something that I am going to go out and willingly spend money on especially when they are in the $20.00 price range, so if I can get my hands on them without putting my hand in my pocket they make a very welcome addition to my kitchen! The simple graphic design of this is one that would go with any kitchen. It would also work effectively as a picnic wrapper for baked goods (cakes, muffins etc) or a basket liner.

Verdict: Two thumbs up.

4. Canvas Home Salt and Pepper Shakers. Retail value $12.00. 

These are cute - they look like old school enamel ware but are actually ceramic. The typewriter style labelling on these is fun as well. We use grinders rather than shakers for our salt and pepper so these are something that I can't see myself using at the table but maybe I can use them in the kitchen for spices?

Verdict: Thumbs up as I like them but they are superfluous to my needs so will most likely be re purposed or gifted.

5. Next by Nature Dark Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans. Retail value $4.00.

I like chocolate covered coffee beans as they aren't too sweet. These had melted during transit so they don't look great but they are still edible and yummy.

Verdict: Thumbs up.

6. Bloom That $20.00 gift card. I won't use this card as from what I have read on line it basically covers the cost of shipping an order.

Verdict: Thumbs down.

Overall: 

I thought this was a very well curated box. I loved the face and hand creams and the book. The only dud in the box for me was the gift card and that was an extra item anyway. 

I paid less than $35.00 for $136.00 worth of items (I'm excluding the gift card) and I will use everything except, perhaps, the salt and pepper set. 

I am definitely impressed with this box and will be keeping an eye on PopSugar mailings with a view to picking up more boxes if they interest me in the future.

Glossybox April 2016.

Glossybox is a monthly subscription box that costs $21.00 for five beauty items that may be sample or full sized. In addition there is often a coupon code available online for a reduced price box or an extra item.

No sooner had I unwrapped March's Glossybox than three days later an April box turned up! (I will leave my mini rant about subscription boxes and their unexpected shipping dates until another time...)

I had only subscribed for one month but here's another thing with sub boxes, they always send you one too many, two of the same one or something (at least they do in my experiences).

Long story short, I was going to return it, then for various reasons it was too much trouble to do so, so I ended up keeping it. Lets take a peek inside...

(I use any coupon codes for extra products this month as I wasn't even expecting a box so I received a standard five product box.)

1. Leighton Denny Nail Polish in the shade 'Pillowtalk'. Full sized, retails for $19.00. Leighton Denny polishes are very good quality and I love the colour of this. I would describe it as fuchsia, it's a colour that would work at any time of year but is perfect for spring and summer toenails. It's glossy without any shimmer or sparkles, exactly as I like my polishes.

Verdict: Two thumbs up.

2. Studio 10 Brow Lift Perfecting Liner. Full sized $20.00. Although my brows are naturally quite full and I rarely do anything to them I am pretty excited by this! The double ended pencil has a warm toned highlighter at one end and a mousey brown pencil at the other that is a good match for my brows. The pencil itself is hard enough that you can sharpen it into a very fine point but it is still creamy enough to apply easily. I love the fact that Studio10 participate in the Look Good Feel Better www.lgfb.org campaign which supports women with cancer by donating either a product for each product sold or 100% of their profits.

Verdict: Two thumbs up. One for the product and one for the charitable aspect.

3. Unani Dermo Defense Mask. Full sized, $18.00. This mask, which is recommended for twice weekly use, is a clear gel containing aloe, and glycerine. It appears to be a pretty straight forward hydrating mask and I can use this as part of a three mask treatment.

Verdict: Two thumbs up - although I'm not super excited about this it is a good quality basic mask that I can easily use.

4. Not Your Mother's Beach Babe. Full(handbag)sized worth $3.00. I already have quite a few salt sprays and texturising sprays but this one seems pretty good. The spray nozzle on it dispenses the right amount, it made my hair look tousled and piece-y and smelt deliciously of coconut.

Verdict: Thumbs up.

5. Biossance The Nourisher. 4ml sample worth around $10.00. This is a rose and Vitamin C facial oil. I use oils to moisturise with all the time and these mini oils are great for traveling with. There is also a coupon for $20.00 off a full sized bottle of this included.

Verdict: Thumbs up.

There was also a coupon in the box for 50% off 'Doorstep Desserts' which is an ingredient delivery service that provides you with all you need to make, quote, "Chef Inspired Desserts".

Overall, I think that this was a great box, I will use everything in it and there were four full sized products. The value of this box is $70.00 (excluding the coupons, neither of which I will redeem)  so it offers excellent value for money.

I actually prefer this 'surprise' box to the one that I picked out for myself last month!

Glossybox March 2016.

Glossybox is a monthly subscription box that costs $21.00 for five beauty items which may be sample or full sized. In addition there is often a coupon code available on line for a reduced price box or an extra item.

 While I'm not a huge fan of subscription boxes I do occasionally get one if there is something in it that I like using or want to try out. March's Glossybox had a code for a full sized Rituals Yogi Flow Shower Gel which is one of my favourite bath products and as it normally retails for $15.00 it was worth my while to get the box which I have just received. (I know it is kind of late for March but random shipping dates seem to be one of the traits of subscription boxes...)

 Now I know that I love the shower gel - this is the third tin of Yogi Flow that I have had, and I have also had this shower gel in other fragrances, but what did I think of the other products in the box?

1. Full Sized Luxie Beauty Angled Face Brush, which normally retails for $16.00. The certain inclusion of this was what made me decide it was worthwhile picking up this box.

 I like angled face brushes a lot, they are great for applying blushers and highlighters (and also contouring if that's your thing). This one feels lovely and soft with densely packed bristles that pick up a lot of pigment. The handle is nicely weighted and a good length and it's a pretty brush, rose gold and pink. It is slightly smaller than the other angled brushes I have so it's a great addition to my dressing table.

Verdict: Two thumbs up. I like this brush a lot.

2. Two Sample Pots of Vine Vera Merlot Moisture Day Cream. (There isn't a size on these so I can't work out the price.) This range is made by the Orogold people. I'm not a fan of their products or marketing so I'm really not impressed by the inclusion of these. The cream is very highly perfumed and contains ingredients that I prefer to avoid putting on my face so I will use these as body cream. The packaging looks and feels very cheap.

Verdict: Two thumbs down.

3. Too Faced Melted Liquified Long Wear Lipstick, about a third the size of a full size, so worth about $7.00. This lipstick/stain in a tube comes with an integrated foam applicator. I received the shade 'Chihuahua' which is quite a strong terracotta nude. I liked the colour but found that the formula was very drying on my lips. It's a little difficult to dispense the correct amount of product by squeezing the tube and it is also quite scented which is something that I dislike in lip products .

Verdict: Thumbs down I'm afraid. I wanted to like this but won't use it because it is so  drying.

4. Eyeko Eye Do Liquid Eye Liner. A little over a half sized product and worth about $12.00. A liquid eye liner that gets somewhat mixed reviews. It's something of a cult product for some people while others say it smudges too easily.
Verdict: Thumbs down. I never use liquid eye liner. 

5. I Love Raspberry and Blackberry Hand Lotion. Full sized and worth $6.00. I like the formula of this, it isn't greasy and it is a good sized plastic tube to pop in my bag. I'm not a fan of it's sweet fruity fragrance but I always need hand creams.

Verdict: Thumbs up. I'm a bit 'meh' about this because of the scent and  because it's a cheap supermarket/ drugstore brand in the UK but I will use it.

Overall, I'm not blown away with this box but the shower gel and brush made it worth while getting and there's also a hand cream that I will use.

The eye liner and liquid lipstick aren't bad but they are both things that I don't/won't use.
The face cream is a real bust for me, it feels like a cheap and tacky product and comes from a company with a bad reputation, I am kind of surprised that Glossybox included this tbh...

Walmart Beauty Box Winter 2015

When I came back home from my trip on Christmas Eve my Winter Walmart Beauty Box was waiting for me.

(The Walmart Beauty Box is a subscription box that automatically ships to you four times a year once you have signed up for it. Containing an assortment of full sized products, samples and money off coupons the box itself is free and you pay just $5.00 for shipping).

If I'm being honest I was a little underwhelmed by this season's box - there wasn't even a full sized item in it. There were three generously sized samples/minis however.
The most useful of these to me was the Nspa Rich Body Cream in 'Coconut" which I will use but I will save it until the Summer when the coconut scent is more 'seasonally appropriate'.

There is a 1oz atomizer of Pantene 4 Hairspray and a 2.25oz tin of Pure Silk Shave Cream which are both not bad in themselves but I don't often use either shaving cream or hairspray...

There are sample sachets of Burt's Bees Renewal Intensive Firming Serum and Olay Regenerist Luminous Moisturiser and a sachet containing two Centrum Vitamints Multivitamins and that's it for actual products.This box does contains a lot of money off coupons, but the only one that I may use is one for $3.00 off a Roc anti-aging product.

I don't think that this box is totally bad (Indeed I feel churlish complaining about it as it is 'free') it's just unfortunate that it contains a selection of products that don't appeal to me. As ever with subscription boxes some are a hit and some are a miss... this one costs so little that I'm quite happy to accept that it won't always be my jam and it is always fun to get a package of goodies in the post. 

If you would like to sign up for Walmart Beauty Boxes you can do so at walmart.com (The details and sign up link are to be found under 'special offers' in the Beauty department).

Porter Magazine GWP.

I do love a glossy mag! 

I know e-mags are convenient and environmentally friendly and all that but a real magazine feels like a proper indulgence and injects a relaxing dose of 'me time' into my day.

Porter magazine is produced by luxury shopping site Net-A-Porter and there are six issues a year. While I realize that a lot of it's content is produced to sell it's items, it really is a very nice magazine indeed.

Oversized with thick glossy pages and sumptuous fashion spreads it is one of the most luxe magazines out there. It has interesting articles about inspirational women, a lengthy beauty section and a travel section. One issue into my subscription and I'm impressed.

I'm also very impressed with the amazing GWP's that they offer to new subscribers. They tend to change seasonally and the price of the subscription seems to vary a little depending on the GWP being offered (I paid $18.00). When I signed up they were offering $86.00 worth of Phillip Kingsley hair care as the GWP made up of the following:

Elasticizer (75ml). A conditioning hair mask that you apply to wet hair before shampooing.

 Swim cap (75ml). A protective cream for use when sunbathing and swimming.

Daily Damage Defense (60ml). A leave in conditioning spray that protects and strengthens.

Maximizer (125ml).  A volumising spray that protects and adds shine.

Currently the Porter subscription is $25.00 and the GWP is a set of T3 SinglePass 2  Hair Straighteners (that normally retail for $180.00!) and once you are a Porter subscriber there are various free shipping deals on Net-A-Porter purchases offered to you.

Tempted?

 If you are and you are a US resident you can subscribe here portersubs.com/T3 

Magazine subscriptions always offer good value for money. Porter offers great value for money! 

Walmart Beauty Box Fall 2015.

Once again I had pretty much forgotten all about my Walmart Beauty Box!

(The Walmart Beauty Box is a subscription box that automatically ships  to you four times a year once you have signed up for it. Containing an assortment of full sized products, samples and money off coupons the box itself is free and you pay just $5.00 for shipping.)

The box I received this month didn't contain any make up but it had a pretty good selection of toiletries and a full sized Roc Retinol Correction Deep Wrinkle Serum that is obviously the big ticket item in this box. Whilst it's not something that I would normally purchase I'm happy to get a free retinol product that I can incorporate into my nightly routine a couple of times a week.

The Schick Hydro Silk Disposable Razor, travel sized Dove Deodorant and travel sized Act Mouthwash are definitely not the most exciting things to find in a subscription box but they're all practical and usable, as is the Curel Rough Skin Rescue sample.

There is also a generous sample of John Frieda 7 Day Volume Treatment that I'm keen to try. You use this after shampooing and conditioning and it contains polymers to plump each hair strand. I'm expecting that it is very similar to Garnier Fructis Full and Plush Treatment that I have used and been impressed with.

Finishing up there's a small sample of  Crest 3D White Toothpaste and Gel, a sachet of Nivea Extended Moisture Body Lotion and a coupon for a dollar off Dove Deodorant.

Overall, whilst it's not that exciting I think this is a pretty impressive box - especially as the Roc Serum retails for $15.98 alone.

If you would like to sign up for Walmart Beauty Boxes you can do so at www.walmart.com (The details and sign up link are to be found under 'special offers' in the Beauty department.) 

Walmart Beauty Box Spring 2015.

My Spring Beauty Box from Walmart arrived  at the end of March. 

These cheap and cheerful boxes ship seasonally (four a year) and cost just five dollars each. That's right - five dollars! -  for the price of a Starbucks coffee you get a little present in the post of samples, full sized products and money off coupons. (In actual fact the box and its contents are free and the five dollars is the charge of the shipping). Sure, the items in the boxes are drugstore rather than high end but I think these little boxes are fantastic value for money and they always contain things that I will use.

The big ticket item in this season's box was Rimmel Lash Accelerator Mascara. This full sized product contains 'procapil' that allegedly promotes eyelash growth. I'll get back to you on that!

There are deluxe samples of Dove Go Fresh Body Wash which smells deliciously of mandarins, Neutrogena Healthy Skin Booster Face Cleanser which promises to lather and cleanse without drying and Schwarzkopf (that name always makes me laugh) Essence Ultime Shampoo and Conditioner.All of these are good travel sized items and I will use them all. 

There's a sample of Lady Gaga Fame EDT. Sachet samples of Nivea In Shower Body Lotion, Garnier Ultra Lift Sleeping Cream and Maybelline Fit Me Foundation. I'm keen to try all of these. I'm not sure how effective a rinse off body lotion can be, I've yet to try a sleeping mask type of cream and I am constantly surprised by how good Maybelline products tend to be. 

There's also fourteen dollars worth of coupons in the box and you can use them anywhere, not just in Walmart.

Once again I'm happy with my Walmart Beauty Box and look forward to getting the next one!

Glossy box March 2015.

So though I only get the occasional Glosyybox they mistakenly shipped me one this month.

Now TBH it's not something that I would have sprung for myself but having said that it's a pretty darned good selection of products.
There's a generous 250ml bottle of Nexxus Colour Assure Shampoo. I've liked everything I've ever tried from Nexxus and I have colored hair so this is great for me - I can never have too many shampoos (lol!) and this one smells great.

All of the other products are from companies that are new to me.

Skincare wise there are two sample pots of Orogold 24K Multi Vitamin Day Moisturiser which contains both vitamins and gold. It looks and feels light but on application I realized that it was quite rich although it did absorb well. A full sized 1.7oz pot of this costs an astounding $178.00 so I'm happy to try this at no cost!

The three make up products that I received are all by British brands and are all full sized. There's a So Susan Concealer Quad - four shades of concealer in a palette that you could use for concealing or contouring. It's formulated from Marula oil and you can blend them to get a perfect match - clever huh?

POP Kajal Pen is a soft eyeliner in the shade 'Inky Purple' which is great shade of aubergine that I think will work with my hazel/green eyes and it has one of those *smudgy sponge things* on it also.

Finally there's a BellaPierre Cheek and Lip Stain in the shade 'Pink' - how did they come up with that name! It's a mineral based stain that I will most likely use on my lips unless its very blendable as it looks to be quite bright and pigmented.

Also this month there is a coupon code for www.caseable.com which is a site that makes customised covers for phones, iPads, laptops, ereaders etc. It's a mystery code for an amount between five and a hundred dollars. I'm sure most people got a five dollar code but I will check it out and if I have a decent amount I will get something... You never know right?

Overall I think that this is a pretty good box. I will definitely use the shampoo and moisturisers and will play around with the make up items. I like that there are three full sized items and the value contained in this box is amazing - $69.00 without the pricey Orogold samples and Caseable code. I think that Glossybox has to be one of the better subscription box services and even though I wouldn't subscribe full time I will  certainly continue to check them out from time to time.

Glossybox February 2015

I'm a little late with this as Glossybox ship in the latter half of the month and to boot the first box they sent me went astray so I contacted their customer service and a replacement box was shipped out straight away. I am really impressed by their customer service, in my experience it was prompt and efficient.

Personally, I prefer to shop beauty products to take best advantage of GWP's rather than locking myself into a long term subscription but if I see good online spoilers I will buy a one off box from time to time which is what I did here. 

GlossyBox costs $21.00 which includes taxes and shipping. 

I didn't have any promo codes to use but I purchased through ebates which gives a $2.75 rebate on each Glossybox bought through them so I only paid  $18.25. 

The theme of this box was 'Love' and the box itself was very pretty - that's it pictured above. 

I've read mixed reviews of this box but I am thrilled with mine! I'm delighted with every product in it. (Box contents do differ for different purchasers depending on what preferences you choose in an online survey.)

Here's what I received:

Rituals Yogi Flow Shower Gel was the product that enticed me to buy this box - Rituals shower gels are my absolute favorites and I had not tried this perfume before. They come in an aerosol and are a gel which transforms into a rich creamy lather - rather like a shaving gel. I find them to be luxurious and moisturising. Yogi Flow is scented with rose and almond and is a sweet yet not sickly rose. I really like it.

Scalisi Skincare is a new brand for me, I love skincare so was pleased to receive their Cleanser and Exfoliator. It's a clear non-foaming gel that contains exfoliating microbeads and is suitable for daily use. I'm not a fan of the scent of this but it does make my skin feel nice and soft without stripping it. I will use it but not as a daily face wash.

Royal Apothic is a fun brand that I like a lot. Tinties Lip Butter is a tinted lip balm that contains argan, grapeseed and sweet almond oils and shea butter. It comes in an adorable little pot. I received the shade 'Pink' which I look forward to using when I have finished my current balm.

I've not used Julep nail polishes before, they are a vegan 5free formula. I received 'Hartleigh' which has tiny particles of white, red and gold glitter and tiny red hearts in it. It's a shame that this came after Valentine's Day but nonetheless it's a fun polish and will be good for an accent nail.

Finally Unwash is a co-washing product (a conditioner that you use in  place of shampoo - basically you are washing your hair with conditioner). I'm not sure how I feel about co-washing - I think it may not work for me as my hair is quite fine -  so I am happy to get the chance to try it out without having to purchase a full sized product as they tend to be quite expensive.

All of the products I received were full sized with the exception of Unwash (which was still a generously sized tube). The total value of products in the box came to $74.67 and I will use them all so this Glossybox was fantastic value for me and definitely worth buying.