Which beautybox is best for me?

Hi everyone, I received a few emails asking for advice on which box would I recomend for them so I thought I would do a quick overview of a few boxes and hope some of you may find it useful. (Please excuse the photography, I have finally ordered my new camara so higher quality coming soon!)

There are so many boxes out there now and sadly a couple of really good ones have stopped.
I am currently subscribed to three plus an extra optional one (more on that later) but most boxes are a monthly subscribtion so it's a great way to try the boxes and see if they are for you.

The first box I will be looking at is the Amarya box which is a monthly box and not one I see on blogs very often.

This is an organic and natural box every month and so far has been bang on time each month with no hassle.  It comes in the actual delivery box, there is no box inside however it does have lovely pink shredded paper!

Amary beauty box

Cost:  £10pm plus £2.50 p&p

Last months box contents:

AD Nourishing night treatment

Lavera all round cream

Terre de oc lip gloss

Tous H2O Eau de toilette

Pros of the Amarya box

Very reliable

All natural and organic products

The samples are fairly high quality and useable

Cons

They may not send as many samples as some boxes

Is this box for me?

If you like organic and natural products then yes!  This box would best be suited to someone who likes discovering new products and likes a good reliable beauty box service (as Amarya have never delivered late to me yet!).

The next box is the one which started my obsession with beauty boxes and probably the most famous of them all!

Glossybox

Cost: £10p/m + £2.95 p&p

Last months box contents:

Baloon and travel mirror (bonus birthday items)

Collection (2000) liquid eyeliner in gold

Eldora false lashes

Noble Isle summer rising bath and shower gel

2 x Lola Lempicka perfume samples

Neal's Yard daily rose moisturiser

Pros of Glossybox

Sometimes you get a nice full size product

Cons of Glossybox

Different people get different boxes and the value difference can be substantial

Have been known to be a little unreliable with the delivery dates

Samples can be pretty rubbish and my last perfume samples were empty!

Is Glossybox for me?

I feel that Glossybox is great for a younger market who like makeup and more heard of brands.  As mentioned above I have found the box to be unreliable with content and delivery at times and have since cancelled my subscription.  Having said that I feel that if Glossybox pull up their socks and send out some amazing boxes like they have done previously (i.e. Harrods themed box) then they could regain the love and I think they may well do that so maybe worth while keeping your eye on them!

This next box is a really nice box that each month comes with a little bag for the products and I have used them in my handbag, very handy!  Since being renamed and taken over from bourdior prive this box has got better I feel.

Joliebox

Cost:  £10p/m + £2.95 p&p

Last months box contents

Full size China Glaze nail polish

Essential care rose moisturiser

Talika eye serum

RMK Primer

Cons of Joliebox

I'm struggling!

Maybe sometimes they have changed the delivery date!

Pros of Joliebox

Samples are normally reliable

Good customer service

Good for discovering new brands

Is Joliebox for me?

Joliebox for me has been one of the most consistent in terms of sample quality and I have really had some wonderful samples from them.  This maybe isn't for you if you don't like trying new brands, but I feel this brands caters for those who like to mix high end with high street.

The final box I have only ever had twice but it is a really interesting box and one I feel slips under the radar a little at times but is getting a bigger name for itself.

Latest in beauty

Cost:  They have different pricing for different boxes

Last months box contents

Liz Earle cleanse and polish

Percy and reed dry conditioner

Mont Blanc and Elie Saab aftershave and perfume samples

L'Occitane hand cream

Full size nails inc polish

Elemis pro-collagen body cream

Weleda firming day cream

Cons of Latest in beauty box

They can often sell out fast

Pros of Latest in beauty box

You can see the box before you buy so no more getting a box full of useless samples!

Customer service is great

You have so many options for the type of box you want including build your own mini box anytime!

Is Latest in beauty box for me

I feel this box would suit everyone and although the box I showed the contents for was a special box is was priced the same and the quality of samples is usually similar!  You can buy Editors pick boxes, themed boxes and build your own where you choose 3 out of 9 samples anytime and get them delivered (dangerous!).  Although some may say the element of surpirse is gone I would agree but having had some boxes where I have only used one thing from this is a great option to have if you don't have the money for a box a month or don't want to waste it until you're sure you will use them!

Final word!

I tried ranking these boxes but couldn't decide my top one but I hope you have found my guide useful if you are trying to decide.  I have not had any Shesaid beauty boxes so that is why they aren''t included but that's another box that maybe worth looking at too.

What are your favorite boxes and why?

April Joliebox 2012

Hi everyone, today I was going to a totally different post but as my Joliebox arrived and I was again excited by the contents I couldn't help but change my blog post!

As well as the samples the box also contained the new monthly magazine again and I really enjoyed it last month so I will give that a read tonight!  Also there was a flyer for boticca.com and a code for a discount.  Now to the conents!

Most people save the best until last but I am so so excited to receive this product that I had to put it first!  It's the Tropic skincare skin revive cream.  This brand was launched by the former Apprentice contestant (who I desperately wanted to win) Susan Ma, she was the reason I was keen on this brand as she not only has amazing skin but was passionate about natural/organic products.  The product itself is the firming nourishing face cream that claims to be bursting with vitamins, blueberries and rosehip, this cream is a fairly thick consistency but sinks into the skin effortlessly and smells beautiful.  I'm really really looking forward to trying this and will be doing so tonight!

Next up I received the Pure Fiji exotic bath and bady oil.  Like the last multipurpose oil I received from Joilebox my product has solidified but I will pop it in the airing cupboard and it should return to normal again!  I got the coconut scented oil (I'm not sure if there were other varieties sent out).  It smells more like vanilla to me and as I'm currently using another oil on my hair I think I will use this as a bath oil as I think it will be very nice in a bath.  Another lovely product.

Then we have the Balance me daily essentials cleanse and smooth face balm.  This is a cleanser that contains anti-oxidant Cloudberry and oatmeal to gently polish the skin.  This is anaother product that smells lovely.  The oatmeal is so fine it'll be fine for every skin type and won't be abbrasive.  It is quite oily so was lovely to apply to my skin.

A hair product next and it is the KMS California freeshape hot flex spray.  This brand seems to be cropping up a lot recently and I'm really curious about the brand.  This is a heat activated shaping and holding spray.  Again this product smells great and I will be spritzing onto my towel dried hair before styling next time and seeing if it lives up to it's claims! 

The last product is from a brand I'm not overly familiar with and that is the Bellapierre black mascara.  This mascara claims to create thicker and fuller lashes.
It is a full size product and retails on their website for £19.99.  The brand I believe (and correct me if I'm wrong) is a natural and organic makeup and skincare brand which is fantastic as the more natural products we can use the better.
I'm really glad I received this and will try this tomorrow and hope I have a new everyday mascara as I'm in the market for one!

All in all this is another great box from Joliebox, I find them very consistent at the moment and have loved the last few boxes and have lots of lovely new things to try this month!
Thanks for reading

Febuary 2012 Joliebox

Hi everyone, this months Jolie Box has been much anticipated as with a break in January and the promise of something exciting I had a high expectations for this months box.  I can honestly say it's been the best box of all time for me!  I thought another companies box was good this month but this one blew it out the water!  The reason for me was as I have mentioned I am really getting into more natural products and love trying products that have less chemicals in and this months box was a natural nourishment themed box so I was already excited just reading the message card.

The products were inside the box as usual but this month instead of the usual paper stuffing in the box it contained a bag with the products in which in my opinion is much muh better as once you've had a few boxes you have soooo many paper bits everywhere!



I loved peeking in the bag!

Let's get on with the contents!

Jane Iredale Just kissed lip and cheek stain in forever pink
This was in a mini lipstick form and the consistency was almost a vaseline form lipstick!  It glided on amazingly, it really stained my lips a reddish pink and was almost glossy.  It looked gorgeous on my lips and was very moisturising for them too.  I will be using this in my handbag!

Lavera Basis sensitive organic hand cream
This was described as an organic hand cream with shea butter and almond extracts, my description would be the best handcream I have come across in a long long time!  I went to put this on the first time and got a clear oil out!  After a little shake up I got some cream out and it smelt lovely!  Then as I went to rub it in it sunk in within a few seconds and left no oil or grease on my skin but my hand felt like I had just let a load of good oils sink in to it.  I really was blown away by this hand cream and I will be keeping this with me at all times!

Macadamia deep repair masque
Everyone I know who has tried Macadamia oil loved it so I was really excited to see this in the box.  I haven't tried it yet but promise as soon as I do I will review it as I'm really hoping this lives up to the oil and I have a feeling I won't be disappointed!

KIMIA rejuvenating facial system
This nice little package came with a hydro-activator spray and facial oil to use together and again this smelt nice and I loved how this was presented too as the card it came on came with quite detailed instructions and sometimes in these boxes the instructions aren't always there so that was really good.  The product itself said to use the oil and then the spray after cleansing so I will be starting this tomorrow and again will review it fully but it is a lovely product to get and I'm so excited about new skincare products as they are my favourite things to receive,

TAAJ Himalaya Micellar water
This is described as an antioxidant and tonic make-up remover that will revitalise and purify the skin.  I haven't used many water based face products and so again it's one of those really exciting products to receive.  It smells lovely and almost spa like.  It is a very good size and will be perfect for my new less chemical skincare!

Verdict
This months box exceeded my expectations and I am so happy Joliebox did a natural box as it gives me a chance to try more natural products as this is something I'm finding more and more important.  All the products themselves were amazing and I'm so excited to try them all.  It's rare you receive a box that you feel every product will be used entirely but this is one of them and I am already excited for next months, thanks Joliebox!