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. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Native Beauty Box: Spring 2014: Review

A couple of days ago I received my very first Native Beauty Box and I was very excited to try it. There was a good variety of products, although I was (and still am) a little disappointed that there were no make-up items. I've been dying to try some cruelty-free brands. There was also no information included regarding where you can purchase the items and no company websites provided. I suppose they are all available in their online shop. In any case, here's what was in the box:

 

 

Natralus Aloe Vera Gel: RRP: $4.45 for 30ml.

I got two 2 ml sample sachets. I have received a 20ml sample tube in my September Nature's Beauty Bag so I already know I like this product. It is 100% Aloe Vera and doesn't leave that aweful sticky residue other comparable products do. I have put these sachets in my two most-used handbags for hot summer outings.

 

 

 

Sukin Hand and Nail Cream:

 On the leaflet it says that this was supposed to be Hydrating Body Lotion RRP: $12.95 for 250ml. I am actually very happy with the hand cream. I already have the body lotion and a number of other Sukin products, but have never tried this product so I'm much happier with this one. It is a nice, faint almost jaffa-y scent and absorbs well without leaving skin feeling greasy.

 

 

 

Nature's Organics Sensitive Face Scrub: RRP $6.95 for 100ml

Not sure if the full size of 100ml is a typo as I received a whopping 150ml of this stuff. It is a very thick exfoliating scrub which lathers nicely. The exfoliating beads are small and gentle so you don't scratch your face while getting a good lather up. It is also scentless and leaves skin feeling soft and clean.I've been using this daily for a few days and I really like how creamy it feels. I think for this price I would definitly re-purchase this product. 

 

 

 

Australian Bush Flower Essences Love System Gentle Face Wash Serum: RRP: $19.95 for 200ml 

This is a 20ml sample. It has a runny, shampoo-like consistency and smells of lemon with a hint of honey-ness to it. This hint of honey transforms it from being a light feeling cleanser to feeling quite heavy so it would be great for the cooler months. I personally think it might be a bit heavy for hot weather. It also kind of smells to me a bit like cough lollies (probably doesn't help that I currenlty have a cold!). This one cleanses like any other cleanser so I don't really have too much to say about that. 

 

 

 

Gypsy Rose 2 in 1 Shampoo (with bonus face soap and DVD): RRP $17.90 for 200ml.

I'm not sure how much is in the sample I got but it does seem to quite a generous one. It claims to be pH balancing and doesn't require conditioner. It is also meant to increase time required between washes. I must admit that this product doesn't really appeal to me. It's quite a murky, watery looking thing and you have to do two washes normally and three for the first time (may as well be conditioning)The brochure is difficult to read and I won't be watching the DVD as I barely have time to write this up. I will update this if I do end up using it but it seems to be labour-intensive to me and I like my current Sukin shampoo and conditioner. I know it seems ridiculous to not use something you get but it just looks a little weird and I don't like how poorly written the brochure is (it lacks clarity). It just doesn't instill me with the necessary faith in the product I need to actually put it on my head. I think I will need to see some reviews before I use this one. I will probably use the face soap though and will update this once I've given it a go.

 

 

 

Go Green At Home Eco Toothbrush: RRP $39.95 for 12

So excited about this product. I actually really wanted to get one of these babies but didn't think that I would given how expensive they are. It's bamboo with black bristles. They head is quite small and has a soft-medium strength brisle. I love this baby. It seems to massage my gums a bit more than my usual toothbrush and just feels nicer to hold as well. I'm a little disappointed that it has been made in China as I thought all the products in this box were made in Australia. I love this toothbrush though, it's excellent and looks amazing!

 

 

 

Pure by Phytocare Pure Papya Ointment with Lip Applicator: RrP: $5.95 for 10g

This is a full-size itme which soothes, moiturises and protects your lips. It is a nice, thick texture, slightly thinner than paw paw ointment and conseqently a little less heavy. It has only a very faint smell which is quite pleasant. I needed a lip treatment so I am very happy to receive this. I also really like the applicator and the packaging is attractive as well. I sometimes find paw paw ointment a little heavy and greasy so this one is much nicer to use. 

 

 

 

Anerah Skincare Rejuvenating Mineral Mask: RRP: $22.00 for 30ml

I'm not sure how much this is as its a powder and has no weight written on it. You just mix a teaspoon of it with waster and paint it on. I've not used this one yet but I have used clay masks in the past and found them to be brilliant so I'm very excited about this product. I'll update this once I've given it a go. 

The Verdict

I'm very pleased with what I've recieved in this box. It think it's a great value box with a wide range of products. I like that there are some full size products in there and all the samples are very generous sizes.
I like the philosophy behind this box. The only thing I'm not 100% happy with is the lack of a make-up item, especially when there are great Australian companies who meet the requirements (Cherry Brown, Maeve Cosmetics, Adorn Cosmetics). This is a new box however, so hopefully there will be a cosmetic appearance in the future. I must say that I'm excited to see what the Summer box will bring. 

If you are interested in purchasing the Native Beauty Box or any of the products included in this box, check out their website:

 http://nativebox.com.au/

 

Have you received this box before?

What did you think?

What is your favourite product?

 

 Note: I paid for these products using my own money and have not been approached to do this review. These are my opinions and should not be regarded as anything other than that.