Butterfly Part Soap Studio Mystery Box: Small, Unboxing

Butterfly Part Soap Studio mystery boxes can be found in the Limited Edition section of the website. I bought the small box and paid $15 and I got $21 in value. I was lucky enough to buy this in June so postage was only $5, which means I got $1 over what I paid.

There are 3 sizes, the small, the medium ($35 for $50 value) and large ($50 for $70 value). I am very tempted to get some more of these, although I’m nervous that I won’t have a good a luck next time.

I am very happy with the items in this box, in fact I don’t think I could have picked better scents for myself, apart from one product.

Lets dig in. . .

Coffee Scrub in ‘Spice it Up’: RRP $7 for 100g.

Received

: full size

This is great as I love a good scrub and coffee scrubs are my favourite. This scrub is scented with sweet orange, clove leaf, sweet fennel, cinnamon bar, cardamom and black pepper essential oils. This is not appropriate for use during pregnancy or breast feeding. I’m so pleased to have this in a full size. For some reason I thought this would all be samples. As you can imagine, it has a warm but sweet smell. The grounds in it are nice and fine so I think it will be nice and gentle. I can’t wait to use this one.

Bath Whip in ‘Strawberries and Cream’: RRP: $5 for 50g

This is a bright pink, cream soap. Kind of like a cross between body butter and cream body wash. It is freezing here at the moment so it’s a bit firm, but it will soften up once it’s in the shower. I really liked the foaming bath scrub which I think might be similar but with exfoliating particles. I am hoping that it will work similarly as I really enjoyed it. The scent is good for me, it’s quite subtle (although I don’t know if it will be stronger when it’s warmed up). I am really happy to get this and can’t wait to give it a burl.

Lip Balm in ‘Peppermint Candy’: RRP $3

Received full size.

I’m really happy to have this as I am mint obsessed. It tingles on the lips and feels nice and hydrating. I have really dry lips and am forever misplacing my lip balms so I’m very pleased to have this.

Handmade Soap in ‘Sweet Orange Chilli Pepper’: RRP $6

This smells amazing. It actually smells juicy, like orange juice. It looks like marbled white chocolate so I am tempted to just bite into it. I have used one of the soaps from this company before and found it to be hydrating and creamy with a nice lather. I didn’t like the scent of that one however so I am super keen to give this one a go. I am really happy to have gotten a full size of this one.

As you can see, I am orange/mint/coffee crazy and the strawberry scent is nice and subtle so this box suits me to a tee. I’m trying to decide whether or not to grab another one but I’m not sure I would get so lucky next time. If you want to take advantage of the $5 postage, get in quick as it ends this month (June). Given my experience with this company so far, and with this box obviously I would highly recommend it.

I have received the subscription Bath and Body Box (Shower version) and was very impressed, I’ve written a review if you want to check it out.

I will be writing up individual reviews of each of these products, as well as the mandarin face scrub which I purchased separately in the near future.

Butterfly Soap Studio Shower and Body Box: May unboxing and reviewB

This is my first BPSS purchase and I was very excited to receive it. I bought this as a 3 boxes for $70 deal. I used the code MEMBER for 5% off.
There were 7 products in this box, full size and samples.
All products are animal cruelty-free and made by the owner in Sydney, Australia.
Lets dig in:

CITRUS DREAM SCRUB. RRP: $5/15 for 50/200g
Received 30g sample with a value of $3
I was so excited to see this in the box because I love citrus scents, thus it was the first thing I opened. Unfortunately, i dont like the smell of this at all. It smells the way that orange snake lollies taste, quite heavy and very very sweet. The thing I enjoy most about citrus scents is how fresh, light and sharp they are. I didnt find those qualities in this product. Don't get me wrong, it does still smell of citrus, just not in the way I had hoped. The product has a lotion-like consistency with tiny exfoliating particles through it. It's gentle and would probably be suitable for every day use. Personally, i prefer body exfoliators to be outrageously abrasive so I would use something else for once a week exfoliation purposes, however this is a personal preference thing. Having said that, as I am an exfoliator addict, using a gentle exfoliator every day helps me keep my cravings under control and I am very interested in trying some of the other scents in this range. I like that it is available in small sizes so you are able to try various scents and both sizes are reasonably priced. I think that if this was in a scent I liked i'd be all over this.


BODY BUTTER in SALTED CARAMEL. RRP: $5/15 for 50/200g
Received 50g
This is amazing. The scent is sweet but not too sweet so it smells really decadent without being overwhelming. This performs well and leaves skin feeling soft. The best thing about it is that the smell lingers and you catch wafts of it all day which just feels amazing. Being in Tas it's very cold at the moment so it was a little thick (I think this has to do with the cold). I got around this by just dotting it around where I wanted it and then rubbing it in, just to make sure it went on evenly. I loved this and am really keen to try some of the other scents in this range.

JOJOBA FACIAL MOISTURISER. RRP: $14 for 100ml
Received 30g sample with a value of $4.20
This is a light fragrance-free lotion. This cream absorbs well, and while it does leave my skin a teensy little bit oily I believe that is because it contains jojoba oil. I think that for this reason, it is very hydrating which is excellent as I have very dry skin. In fact, I've noticed my every-present dehydration creases in my forehead have all  but disappeared since I started using this which is amazing. All in all I'm really enjoying this lotion and i think its well suited to my skin type. Again, it is very reasonably priced so I would definitely consider purchasing this in the near future. If you have very dry skin, I highly recommend this lotion.

FOAMY SCRUB in VANILLA, PEARL and LACE. RRP: $5/14 for 50/200g
Received 50g
This is a very thick cream with tiny exfoliating particles through it. Its consistency reminds me of creamed butter and sugar. The first time I used this I just grabbed a bit and rubbed it directly onto my skin. I found that it didn't disperse evenly. The next time I used it I rubbed it in my hands to warm it up and it dispersed much better. Again, this isn't abrasive enough to be my once a weeker, but fortunately it is gentle enough to use every day. This scrubs creamy texture is quite luxurious and perfect for winter. This product smells lovely, although I found that if i leave i on for too long it has an after-smell which isn't as nice. I have gotten around this by washing it off a bit earlier. I have come across this with other products of this kind so its not unique to this one and it probably wouldn't bother most people. I am just overly sensitive to smell. I have been mixing this with the citrus scrub which has improved the smell of that product immeasurably. This makes me very happy because this means I get to try that product without the smell ruining the experience. (again, this is just a case of my not liking the smell, not an issue with the product). Again, the pricing is amazing and I think if I was making an order already, Id probably throw in another scent to try. I found that the more I used this product, the more I liked it.




LIP SCRUB in BLUEBERRY. RRP: 5g for $3
Received full size
This is a huge amount of product for the price. This little metal tin has a screw-top too which is so much better than push/pull top ones you get. It smells lovely and, even though you wipe it off after use, it actually tastes nice too. Again, because of the weather, I am having to heat this up before I can use it but in summer I don't think this will be an issue. It is lovely and my favourite of all the products of this kind I have tried (Lush and elf). It feels nourishing on the lips and is an effective exfoliant. This is a win for me.

LUXURY SOAP in BAY RUM. RRP: 150g for $6
Received 32g valued at $1.28
While I am not a fan of the smell of this soap at all, it does feel amazing on the skin. It creates a very creamy lather which I love. I'm really looking forward to trying some more and will probably pick up some more at some point. I particularly like that it's not drying like some soaps are.


SEA SALT SCRUB in ISLAND SPA. RRP: $7 for 100g
Received full size
Now THIS is the kind of exoliator i love. You literally just grab some and rub it against your skin. This is the first sea salt scrub Ive tried and I love it. It smells nice, like raw lemon cake batter and is fresh, and zingy. It contains oils which leave your skin feeling soft, and the scrub leaves it feeling invigorated. I love this and for that price I reckon Ill be collecting these little guys. Win!


Overall I am so excited about this box. I have used absolutely everything in here which doesn't often happen with subscription boxes. The value of the box exceeds the price I paid, although I wouldn't even mind if it didn't given this is a small, local business. I just received a 'mystery box' from BPSS and got scents that are perfect for me so I will write up a post once I've tried them all. Can't wait for the next one!

SMALL MYSTERY BOX. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RUBIFRESH Hyrdrating Body Gel: Review

I got this sample item in my Nature's Beauty Bag. I was a little skeptical as I didn't enjoy their Daily Face Scrub at all, but I've been pleasantly surprised. It smells the same as the scrub, a slightly minty, organicy scent. It's not a terribly enjoyable scent, but it's not horrible either. It's fairly subtle and doesn't linger so it's not really an issue. 
It's got the consistency of a runny gel and a little goes a long way. It leaves your skin very very sticky after you apply it but this disappears pretty quickly and when it does your skin feels amazingly soft. I actually really enjoy this product and will be sad when I run out. RRP is $49.00 for the full size, although the website doesn't state the size of the pump pack.
Given the price, I won't be purchasing the full size, however I have enjoyed trialling this product. 

Note: I payed for this product with my own money. This is not a sponsored post.

SAVI Australia Organic Hand Lotion in Wellbeing: Review

I got this little 20ml bottle in the April (and unfortunately last) Nature's Beauty Bag. It is 95% organic and is certified organic. It is a light, yellow hand lotion (quite thin so definitely not a cream) that has a citrus-ey, herbally smell. It absorbs really easily and leaves your hands smooth and well hydrated without feeling greasy. This is just the sort of handcream I've been looking for but haven't managed to get yet. Needless to say, I'm a big fan and will be quite sad when I run out of this lovely lotion. Fortunately a little goes a long way so it should last me quite a while. My hands are exposed to a lot of drying cleaning chemicals at work so the fact that this has made my hands so hydrated is impressive.

On to the superficial stuff. The packaging is quite lovely. It is a brown plastic, so looks like brown glass (which I love) but is travel-friendly. The tube is quite long but the opening is almost the same diameter so it will be easy to access the bottom. This of course means that I won't be forced to throw any of this out. It is also a useful screw-top bottle which will lend itself easily to some other purpose. 

Overall I am very happy to have received this product. It is an excellent hand cream and is cruelty-free and Australian so big ticks from me!
 
You can get this size from the website for just $4. If you like the smell they have other minis and full sized items with the same scent.

This product would suit anyone who likes to support Australian, organic or cruelty-free companies. Given the reasonable pricing, this a product that would suit just about anyone, no matter their ideals.

If you are interested in this product please check out their website






Disclaimer: I paid for this item with my own money. I was not paid to do this review and all opinions are my own.

Change in direction. . . a little less cruel

Apologies for not having posted recently. I've been a bit bored with it all to be honest and uni is kicking my arse as well. I think that what I'm about to go into has something to do with my lack of interest in reviewing products/subscription boxes of late.

Anyway, I've decided that I will only buy cruelty-free products from now on. I'm a vegetarian and plan to support companies who share my values. I would also like to try and support Australian companies, preferably the small ones. I would like to feel good about where I'm putting my money. 

I've unsubscribed from Marie Claire's The Parcel and plan on subscribing to Flora and Fauna once I have the funds. I'll be getting the annual subscription as you have to pay postage for the seasonal subscription. It makes it a bit too expensive for my modest means. Here are some unboxings by Messy Downunder. Summer Box and the Autumn Box by Madhatter Cryss. I'm hoping that this will supply me with a good mix of products. Check out their website, or facebook page for more info.

Once my annual Violet Box subscription runs out at the end of the year I will not be renewing. While I love the boxes, they don't state that they are cruelty-free (leads to the assumption that that is not a concern when sourcing products), source from international companies, and I really don't like their connection with TOTE and the subsequent push to gamble.

I have just purchased 3 months of Butterfly Party Bath and Body Box's. This is a company run by a stay-at-home Sydney mother and all products are hand-made, natural, and cruelty-free. This is where I will be getting my skincare from and having looked at her website, I'm very keen to get trying. I will create a more detailed post about this company when I get my first box towards the end of May. In the meantime check out the website, facebook page and here are some unboxings of the soap box by snoozie, and the bath and body box with bath products by Madhatter Cryss and the bath and body box no-bath option. I got the no-bath option because I'm not a bath fan.

I've also recently made a purchase from Ministry of Mineral Makeup Australia (MOMMA) which is a local cruelty-free makeup, accessories/tools and skincare company. I have been impressed with everything I've tried, and I've tried something from each category. They also have kits available and their products are reasonably priced. They often have special deals advertised on their facebook page.

I already have all the makeup I reasonably need so I will use it all up, but after that I will only be purchasing products from cruelty-free and local companies with a preference for small companies.

From this point on I will only be reviewing products that fit this description. 


I'm quite excited about this and feel I may be posting more often because it will be about something I am passionate about and something I think deserves more attention.

Up for review: April 2015

Another month gone and i'm glad to be onto another bunch of products. This month sees 3 more products on trial.

Product #1: John Plunkett Glyco Peel

I picked up the full size of this product (15ml) in a Violet Box build-a-box over Christmas and I keep forgetting to use the bloody thing. This is night time chemical exfoliator that contains 25% Glycolic Acid. I"ve already gotten rid of the packaging so I'm not sure on the exact claims this product makes but i assume it's the standard anti-aging product claims you see all over the place. i should probably find out and i will before i write up the full review, however i want to leave it for now and see any effects this product has without the risk of convincing myself this or that has happened because the packaging said it would. There are different instructions for 4 different skin types. I have normal skin so my instructions are to use this every second day so that is what i will set out to do. 

Product #2: Covergirl Clean Foundation. 

This was supposed to be reviewed last month however I was having a remarkably makeup free month so i felt i hadn't used it enough to give it a proper review yet. I have used it a few times and quite like it so far. It is light and comfortable and seems so far to live up to the claim I am most interested in - it doesn't sit in pores and I have some montrous ones. I will continue to use this throughout the month but i would be very surprised in my review of this product is not a good one. 

Product #3: SolarD Active Vitmain D Friendly Sunscreen 30+

I really want to get into the habit of wearing sunscreen daily, however i keep forgetting to use it at all. Living in Tasmania you can't help but be VD deficient (due to our latitude) so any opportunity to soak up some more Ds is a welcome one. In Tassie the sun is particularly harsh and you can burn to a crisp in seconds so going outside unprotectected is virtually impossible in summer so this sunscreen is perfect and the only one I've ever seen that still allows cutaneous production of the sneaky little vitamin. Whilst i have yet to try it on my face, i have used it on my hand and once it has been absorbed it is grease-free and leaves no white caste to speak of. But wait, there's more, this product is usually $14 but i got it from the throw out bin at Wooley"s for $2. As it's so cheap I think i will definitely grab some more. 

That's it! Watch this space.

For Review in March: My thoughts

At the beginning of this month I put up 3 products to try and review over this month. You can see the original post here. 
Even though it is not the end of the month, I have used these products enough by now to make an informed decision about whether or not I want to continue using them so I feel the time for reviews is upon us.  

Item #1: Olay Regenerist Revitalising Hydration Cream SPF 15

Well, aside from what is a very pleasant smell, this cream doesn'f really stand out to me at all. It doesn't really leave your skin feeling plump and soft and doesn't absorb all that well either. I also haven't noticed any change to my fine lines either. All in all, this cream is OK, certainly not worth the $25 price tag. In fact it is so ordinary that I have needed to remind myself to use it. 

The verdict for this one is, unfortunately, 'forgettable'.

 Item #2: Inika Truly Organic Pure Primer

If you have read my original post, you know that I was not impressed with this product the first few times I used it. Unfortunately this opinion has not changed. I have used this with two different foundations and three different BB creams. I have also skipped the base and used blush and highlighter directly over the primer itself. This does nothing for either the application, appearance or longevity of my makup. It is not hydrating enough to be used as a moisturiser either. I hate this product, it smells great and looks nice however they are its only redeeming features. I don't like to throw anything out so I will probably add this to some foundation to make a tinted cream or something like that.

The verdict for this one is 'useless' which is unfortunate as I really wanted to like this.

 Item #3: Garnier BB Eye Cream

This product claimed to reduce puffy dark undereyes, and reduce fine lines and wrinkles. i really haven't noticed any changes at all to my very puffy and dark undereyes, and no real reduction in my fine lines either. Other than this, i do find this product handy as a BB cream. It is the right colour for my skin and the applicator makes it easy to put the product just where you want it, although it does require some blending out. I find this product particularly useful on days where I don't wear a base and just want some coverage over my bags. As this is most days (I am lucky enough to have good skin so I often skip the base and add highlighter, bronzer and blush on top of my natural skin), I do use this product a lot. I also find that it reduces the waste you get when you apply a product to your hand before destributing it onto your face. 

All in all, I do like this product and if I found it on special again i would definetely re-purchase it if only because I find the application so handy.

The verdict, 'does the job'.

While I did add a foundation to the original post,  I haven't really been wearing it enough to review it at this point. I will add this to the April products.

Let me know if you have used these products before and what you thought of them. I would love to hear other people's opinions and experiences. 

Violet Box: February Unboxing and Review

I got this a couple of weeks ago, towards the end of February, so I've had a good chance to try out the items I'm wanting to keep. This was another great value box containing 4 full size items, and 1 extremely generous sample.

Here's what was in the box:

Natural World Moroccan Argan Oil: RRP $5.99 for 25ml

This is a leave in oil hair treatment. It is designed to lock in moisture, nourish and restore shine. I don’t know about the nourish or shine part of this, but it does a brilliant job at softening and smoothing the hair without leaving it oily. I really enjoy this product. A little goes a long way so this is going to last a very long time (for me in particular as I have very short hair). I have found that it can be put into wet or dry hair and it has a very subtle smell that dissipates to nothing. This is a very important factor for me as I’m really picky about smells. I also like that it is so inexpensive. Congratulations VB, you have introduced me to a previously untried product that I will most definitely be purchasing in the future.

Suki Exfoliate Foaming Cleanser: RRP 46.95 for 125ml

This enormous 30ml sample is frickin amazing. I absolutely love almost everything about this. It has a strong lemon smell which I just love (it also tastes like lemon and sugar if you accidentally gets in your mouth – mmm pancakes). It is a sugar scrub so as you rub the gentle mixture into your face, it both foams and the sugar particles dissolve in a very satisfying way. The only problem I have with this product is the after-smell which smells like microwaving poppadums and stays on your hands for a bit. I have overcome this by washing my hair after I use it so my hands end up smelling like shampoo instead. If this product was cheaper I would be all over it, and the many others from this brand. Unfortunately, my budget doesn’t stretch to this at the moment, however I have already begun saving as this is honestly the best cleanser I have ever used. Big thumbs up from me. 

Emite Make Up BB Highlighting Pen: RRP $32

This product caused much confusion as it says it’s a highlighter, however the card says to use it as a concealer. Said confusion was only made worse when I used this product. It appears to be some sort of hybrid of the two. It is very thick and hard to blend like a stick concealer, very yellow in colour like a concealer, but more reflective than a concealer – more like a highlighter. I have been using it as my undery-eye concealer but have also been using it in the typical highlight areas (above cheekbones, temples, chin, cupids bow). It is ok, the consistency makes it a bit hard to blend nicely and it can look very very cakey without the proper treatment. I’m glad enough to have it, but it isn’t a product I would purchase having used it. Certainly not for that hefty price tag.

Teez Trend Cosmetics Easy on the Eyes Pencil: RRP $26

This is black. I have a multitude of black pencils and I don’t use any of them. I have small eyes and anything darker than a brown just makes them look small and heavy. I was so excited to see a Teez product as I’ve never tried one before but unfortunately that won’t change. The packaging is absolutely beautiful however. I have read that, despite being waterproof this product smudges and transfers fairly badly. I will try and swap or sell this product so I won’t be able to swatch it.

Pretty Woman Magnetix Nail Polish: RRP $9.99

I just could not be less interested in this. The colour is an antique, very very glittery gold. I’m 31 years old, I just have no interest in glitter. It comes with two different magnets which I suppose is good. I haven’t tried it as I’ll be giving to my niece. Magnetic nail polish isn’t new and this coupled with the fact we received a different branded one from VB in November has me questioning why on earth it made it to the box. I forgot to picture this sorry, there is a photo in the first photo at the top of the post. I am so unimpressed with this item that I'm not going to bother taking another photo of it. Apologies.

The swatches. . .

Top: Highlighter Pen, Bottom: Suki cleanser

What I thought. . .

Overall I’d have to say this is a great box and provides excellent value for money. Fair enough I won’t use two of the items in the box, however the value of the other 3 more than makes up for the price of the box. Two of those 3 products I really enjoy, and the other one I will most likely use up so I’m very happy.

Let me know what you thought of the products in the box, I would love to hear other peoples opinions/experience of the products.

Marie Claire The Parcel: Autumn Edit Unboxing and First Impressions

Unfortunately Marie Claire have pissed me off yet again. Again, I won't go into why until the end of the post so people who aren't interested aren't forced to read it. 

Once again, this box came in very good time considering all other boxes take at least a week to get to me(just 4 days after receiving the shipping confirmation). It was also chockers again, albeit a little less exciting that the summer edit. 

Here is what was inside:

Lancome Advanced Genefique Youth Activating Concentrate: RRP $95 for full size. 
We received a sample size of this one which is a cute mini version of the full size. It is 7ml which is a very generous sample size for a serum. It claims to repair skin and 'activate; the 10 visible signs of youthful-looking skin. You use 3 drops morning and night. I haven't had a chance to use this yet but I did try a little on my hand and it did leave my skin feeling nice and smooth so I think it might be a nice hydrating serum. As for the 'youth activation' side of it, we shall wait and see. I am naturally skeptical but am happy to be converted. I have a few serums to get through before I can try this one, so I'll probably do an individual review of this one down the track.

Schick Hydro Silk: RRP $14.25
Obviously we received the full size of this product. I have fallen into the habit of using my husbands disposable razors so I haven't had my own razor for about a year now. This is probably going to do wonders for me given what I'm used to but I'll have to see. This is also one of those razors that you can buy replacement heads for so that's great as I struggle to fork out that much money for one razor (I know that's really tight but I'd rather put that money towards taking my daughter to a coffee shop or something like that). I am very appreciative of the fact that it's blue and not pink as I'm just not a pink, bling, glitz kind of girl. 


Max Facter Masterpiece Transform Mascara-black: RRP $23.95

We recieved the full size of this mascara. I haven't opened it as I don't use black mascara as I find it makes my small eyes look even smaller. I have seen the wand on some unboxing videos on youtube (Messy Downunder and Vicki Seymour) so check them out if you want to see. It does look like a really good applicator shape and the bristles are plastic/silicone so I'm disappointed I won't be trying this one. 



Mor Emporium Classics Snow Gardenia Triple Milled Soap: RRP $19.95
The card states that this is a sample size, however it looks pretty full-sized to me. I really can't imagine how it would be bigger and still fit in your hand so I think we must have recieved the full size. I really like Mor products and I'm due for a new soap, however the smell of this soap is just too strong and floral for me. The packaging of this product is just beautiful.

L'Occitane Dry Skin Hand Cream: RRP $42
We received a very generous sample size of this. It doesn't say how much it is but I would guess that it is at least 20ml. The packaging is lovely and I'm always using handcreams so this is a good addition to me. I got it in the scent Rose Heart, which is the scent I was hoping I wouldn't get. I was a little disappointed as soon as I saw the colour of the tube, however it isn't as potent or 'old' as I thought it would be so I think I'll still be able to get good use out of this. It has an almost fruity undertone, although it is subtle, which might be what saves it from being too much. It absorbs very easily and doesn't appear to be too greasy either, as long as you don't use too much. 


Rimmel BB Cream Radiance: RRP $12.95
We recieved the full size of this very nice BB cream. This is a brand new product, due to hit the shelves next month. I was actually after a new BB cream so I'm very excited to receive this product. I recieved this product in 'light', even though the card indicates it should be 'medium'. I don't mind at all as it is on the lighter side of the right shade for me now and I will be getting all pale and whatnot as soon as winter sets in so it's perfect for me. It contains 'skin-brightening' vitamin C complex and shae butter. I have tried this on my face and it does give you a healthy glow so I'm really happy with this. I'll do a full review once I've used it a few times, however my first impression is a very positive one. I don't like to wear heavy foundation so this product is a great addition to the box.

Garnier Skin Naturals Miracle Skin Cream: RRP $19.95
We received the full size of this product. It doesn't say so but I think this may be a moituriser. It claims to reduce wrinkles, dark spots and dehydration and to illuminate. It looks like a cream when you put it on but turns into a skin colour once you start to rub it in (see swatches at the end of the post). This is apparantly due to the 'micro pigments' which adjust to match your skin colour. The skeptic in me says yeah right, however whatever the cause of the colour, it is a great match for me so I'm very pleased to have this. I was just about to go on the hunt for a tinted moisturiser so this is great timing. It is also affordable as you don't need to use much and it's a 50ml tube. Unlike the Lancome serum, this is a product I could see myself purchasing. I plan on trying to source another one in a facebook swap, sell, buy group.


Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes: RRP $3.99 (7 towelettes)
Recieved full size. Who doesn't use makeup wipes? I have to use water proof mascara to help hold a 100% artificial curl (no natural curl for me I'm afraid) and it is always difficult to remove so I am always happy to receive makeup wipes. I have also heard these ones being toted as the best so I'm glad to give them a go. Having said that, this item (along with the razor) are not items I would expect to see in a self-proclaimed high end service. 


The swatches

top: garnier skin miracle cream, bottom: rimmel BB cream. Both are blended out to the right hand side.

My thoughts. . . . 
We have again received a great value box. While not their most exciting box, it is probably the most practical box I have recieved from them to date. I will use most of the items in the box, and the ones I don't use I am hoping to swap for more of the ones I will (fingers crossed). The fact there is only 1 actual high end product in the box is a bit disappointing. I live in a small town in Tasmania, therefore I don't have access to high end samples as a matter of course and I do enjoy the feeling of 'luxury' you get when you use more expensive products. Having said that, I am still very happy with this box. It contained a few items I was actually going to source so it has saved me that hassle (not to mention the extra cash). I'm excited to get into it. 

If you got the box, let me know what you thought of it. I'd love to hear other people's opinions/experiences.

 Would you like to read my unboxing of the Spring and Summer edits?





The Rant

They have taken the payment for this box on the 1st of February. They indicate on the website that they will take payment on the first of the period (I assumed season), which would mean the first of March. When I emailed them about this, they sent me an email saying that this matter had already been resolved following my phone call. There was no phone call, I assume they meant my last issue with them (also taking money unexpectedly for the summer edit). I emailed back and received a patronising explanation of what a subscription service is, and that was it. No offer to return my money to me and no mention of my request for confirmation of the exact date the next payment would be taken. This is ridiculous and, aside from LHI, I believe they have the least helpful customer service of all the Australian subscription services. I have been a member of all except Flora and Fauna and consequently understand what a subscription service is. Also, I'm not an idiot and really don't appreciate being treated as such. Pull your socks up Marie Claire and stop being so condescending, you are not doing your company any favours here.

For Review March 2015

Hi There,

I have been feeling overwhelmed by the number of products I have lately but would get bored doing a Project Pan so will be doing something different. Each month I will choose a few items I'm keen to try and will aim to try them enough to provide a review by the end of that month. I'm a bit hectic at the moment so I will not be committing to too many products but if I want to review any extras I will.

Item #1: Olay Regenerist Revitalising Hydration Cream SPF 15

I have a 14g sample of this cream that I got from The Reject Shop (of all places!?) and wanted to give it a go before I commit to the full size. It smells really clean and fresh and is a light, easily absorbed lotion. It claims to fight the 7 signs of aging and all that other jazz. I've always been skeptical about this sort of thing (pseudo-science and buzz words aren't really my thing) but I'm beginning to age so I thought I'd give it a go and see if there's any difference. 

Item #2: Inika Truly Organic Pure Primer

I got this in the December Lust Have It bag. I tried it and didn't really rate it as a primer or even a moisturiser so haven't touched it since. Unfortunately (and I think inexcusably), I received the same primer in January's bag. Since I now have two I though I'd better give it a real try. While I really enjoy the lemon scent, I don't have high hopes for this one. If it doesn't work in the way it is intended, I will try it for other uses and hopefully will find something it is good for. 

Item #3: Garnier BB Eye Cream

This little baby was on special at the supermarket so I snapped it up. This claims to decrease puffiness  and wrinkles under the eyes. I have shocking bags and while I don't have wrinkles yet I have developed a lot of fine lines. According to the box it reduce dark circles, puffiness and signs of fatigue and will brighten eyes in one application. In seven days eyes are supposed to appear less tired, more rested and dark circles appear less visible and puffiness is reduced. Tall claims, we shall see.

Update: I'm adding another item.
Item #4: Covergirl Clean Normal Skin Foundation
I just picked this up from the throw-out bin at Woolworths for $6.95 because the packaging was damaged (who cares about packaging?). I have the Covergirl 3-in-1 Outlast Foundation which is quite good, however it is a bit heavy for me for everyday use, especially when it's as hot as it has been lately. This one claims to be lightweight coverage which feels and looks fresh and natural. It also apparently won't clog pores. I have a serious issue with my pores and foundation loves to pool conspicuously in them so hopefully this works. The colour is in natural beige which is bordering on a bit too dark now, so in winter it might be unwearable. I usually just add a lighter BB cream and that works fairly well. I have tried it without primer to see how the colour matched and it didn't seem to pool in the cracks or pores so my fingers crossed. 

I will check back with links to the full reviews once I have done them. I'm hoping they work, but am a massive cynic so it'll be interesting to see. 
I will include photos and better descriptions in each individual review. This is really just a post to inform you of what I'm intending on doing. 


If you've tried any of these items, let me know. I'd love to hear everyone's thoughts on them.