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.

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.

Violet Box Unboxing: January 2015

While VB were really late this month, once the box as actually shipped it got to me really quickly. They also kept everyone well informed which was appreciated. 

The box is another great box this month with 3 full size items and 2 samples. 

Here is what was in the box:

Distilled Hydrolyzed Silk Treatment Serum. RRP: $36.00 for 5ml
This claims to be a water-based lightweight serum for the lips. It is also formulated with 96% certified organically cultivated ingredients. This is in a little glass brown bottle and I have no idea how much is in it. For a lip product, I would say this is a very generous sample. I have never heard of this brand, and have never used a lip serum before so I'm very excited to give this a go. It smells very clean, almost lemony but not quite. It feels kind of oily but without being greasy if that makes sense. I suppose that is what they mean by 'silk'. We were supposed to get either this product or a different serum. I was lucky enough to get a sample of both, although I have no idea if that is what everyone else got as well or if it's pure luck.

Distilled Restore Treatment Serum. RRP: $36.00 for 15ml
This one claims to be a serum for the skin, nails and cuticles. Again, I have never had a serum for the hands and nails before so once again I'm very excited to try this. I have to use chemicals at work so my hands can get a little mistreated sometimes. This comes in the same packaging as the lip serum and, while it looks lovely it really isn't practical at all. I tried to use some and could barely get any out of the tiny jar. I think I will have to decant this one in order to use it. It smells and looks exactly the same as the lip serum. Other than the ill-thought out packaging, this is a product I'm very keen to try out. I will probably write a separate review on these two once I've given them a good try. 

The Cosmetic Kitchen Raw Chocolate Clay Mask. RRP: $24.95
This is a full size product. You can mix this with water, oil or whatever else you like to turn the powder into a mask. I have already received this in the Dec. LHI bag however I have the Kora White Clay Mask on the go so haven't used it yet. I will be keen to give it a go, although I have heard that it leaves your skin a bit pink so I will probably do it in the evening. Just in case. 

Lonvitalite 24K Active Gold Yulan Eye Mask. RRP: $25.95 (5 pack)
I got one of these. It claims to soothe under-eye bags and blackness and boosts circulation. I still haven't tried the face mask we got in the December bag from this line as I heard bad bad things about it. Apparently more than a few people had allergic reactions so I'm a little nervous to try this. I do have shockingly bad under eye bags and blackness so I will probably risk it. It does say to use this twice per week for best results so I don't think a single use will indicate how well this product works. Having said that, I'm happy to give it a whirl.

Emite Make Up Precision Eye Pencil. RRP: $24.95
This is an off-white eye pencil. It is very soft and glides on easily. It claims to give you 'perfect accuracy when you want to emphasize or create striking makeup'. It also says it's a great way to create perfect lash marks? I don't know if I'm being incredibly naive but how would a pencil this colour do that? If you know please leave a comment and tell me because I am at a loss to explain it. I will most likely use this for the waterline to make my haggard face look a little less tired! I'm very pleased to receive this a I've been meaning to buy a white-ish eye liner for a while and just never got around to it. Mind you, I don't think I'd ever pay this much for one, but I'm just a bit of a tight arse. 

Mellow Cosmetics Blush. RRP: $14.00 for 5g
This is a full sized item also. At first I was a little disappointed because the colour was very skin-like. I ot it in bronze and there was another colour you could get also. I actually really like this colour once it's on the face. I put it over my highlight and together they looked so natural and gave me a healthy glow. It's really soft and blends easily so is really easy to apply. This is a win from me. I love blushes and would never have bought one this colour so I'm really happy to add it to my collection. 

Overall this is an amazing box, and so generous. I can't believe there was 3 full size item  in there. I don't know if I was supposed to get both the serums but they are so interesting I can't wait to try them. I just wish VB would release another type of box so I could get another one. I just don't think there is an equivalent monthly box out there. It's such great value. Let's hope they keep up the good work.

If you'd like to know more about Violet Box, click on the tab on the top of my blog, or go to their website here. 

Did you receive this box?

What did you think?

What was your favourite product?

Note: I paid for this box with my own money and have not been approached by anyone to create this post. All opinions expressed on my blog are my own.

Marie Claire The Parcel: Summer Edit Unboxing

Early last week I was very surprised to receive this lovely little Parcel! If you would like more information and links for this product, please see the The Parcel tab.

If you read my post on the the Spring Edit you would know that I wasn't that impressed with the customer service and was going to unsubscribe as soon as I received tracking for this parcel. I didn't and I'm quite glad as I was really impressed with this season's offering. 

The little black box was so packed full of stuff it sent butterflies swirling around in my stomach the second I opened it. 

This season's offering was very skincare based, which is fine by me as I've just signed up for a 12month Violet Box sub so I'm sure I'll have makeup samples coming out the wazoo very soon. 

Nuf chitchat, lets dig in. . .
 

Essie Nail Polish ($16.95) and Top Coat ($17.95). Full Sizes
I received the nail polish in a very very baby pink colour (can't remember the name of the shade and I've already given it away. . .oops). It is absolutely not a shade I would wear but I did try it on one finger and found it to be really really runny. The recipient also said the same thing. I will be keeping the top coat though because I don't have one and no way would I pay close to $20 for a top coat so I'm very grateful to receive it. 
  
Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye, RRP: $94. Sample

please excuse the atrocious photo

This is a really nice eye treatment and I will probably do a full review on it once I've finished it to see if it fulfills all its claims. It is supposed to reduce fine lines, wrinkles, puffiness, dark circles, dryness and uneven skin tone - most of which I have in abundance. It is described as a gel serum. I'd call it more of a gel/cream hybrid. The texture is lovely and it feels really luxurious on the skin. I have only used it a couple of times so I can't really go into more detail than that. It does look really nice on my makeup table though, sorry the photo isn't doing it justice. I would also add that at 5ml this is a very generous sample size. 



John Frieda Luxurious Volume Touchably Full Shampoo and Conditioner ($15.99 ea) and Fine to Full Blow-Out Spray ($16.99)

This is a great little set and we received 44ml each of the shampoo and conditioner and 29ml of the spray. I don't really blow dry my hair but I do straighten it sometimes so I will see how it goes for that. All these products share the same light, clean smell. I've never tried any products from this brand so am very interested to see how they work. 


 
Jergens Ultra Healing Body Moisturiser $5.99 for 100ml, full size
This is a really thick, intense moisturiser. I used it two nights ago after my shower and it was really moisturising. I didn't use moisturiser the next day (even after my shower) and my skin still felt smooth. I really like this, however I do think it's a bit heavy for an all-over moisturiser in summer. I will probably just use it on dry patches, but I would certainly use it in summer. It's also readily available and inexpensive. 
Revlon Age Defying CC Cream $26.95
Correct me if I'm wrong but this looks like a full size item. It is supposed to be a colour correcting cream offering light but buildable coverage. It is in the shade medium which is way too dark for me but I mixed it with my whitening BB cream from the makeup edition memebox which is way too light. The result was a light-medium coverage BC cream that matched my skin and left a dewy, fresh finish. I am really happy with this mixture and it means I can now make use of two products I wouldn't otherwise be able to use. More specifically, I don't really have too much to say about this product. It's a light-coverage cream, just like the others as far as I can tell. It claims to have anti-wrinkle, dehydration and uneven skintone properties so I will let you know if I agree with that when I've been using it for a bit longer. 



Philosophy Purity Made Simple 3-in-1 face and eyes cleanser, $15 for 90ml.
I received a 30ml sample of this product which is very generous for a facial cleaner. This product claims to remove dirt, tone and lightly hydrate and is safe for use around the eyes. It has a very faint, slightly musky smell. I have used it a few times and it removed my makeup very well, granted it was not waterproof makeup (note however that it isn't a makeup remover). I also rubbed my eyes with it to get mascara off and it didn't sting or feel uncomfortable at all. While I still moisturised after using it, it didn't leave my skin feeling tight or dry after use.  I really like this stuff so far and would consider purchasing the full size if I still like it after further use. 
Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant, $25 for 50ml
I'm not sure how much this sample is but I'd say it'd be around 15-20ml maybe. I was really excited to try this as I've heard a lot about it. It claims to be a do-it-all balm which soothes, moisturises and protects dry or mildly irritated skin. The description also suggests using it with your foundation to create a dewy glow. This is interesting and I will definitely try it. I did use some over my makeup a couple of days ago on my cheekbones to give them some sheen. It did, ut I'm not sure how long it lasted for. This isn't a 'cream' as such, it has more of a milky, gel-like consistency. It also has a very strong smell that I can't quite place my finger on. On the packaging it states that its fragrance free so whatever the smell is, it must come from the active ingredients themselves. I would believe that as it is almost medical in scent, its not unpleasant, just not a nice or clean kind of smell. Again, with this product I will do a full review once I have a more coherent opinion on it. 

The Verdict
I am so happy with the box. I was beginning to think over the last few days that I wasn't, but having gone through it again for this review I'm back to happy. This has a great range of products in it, most of which I am excited to try and all of which I will use (minus the nail polish but that's just due to the colour). We got 4 full size products and all the samples are a what I would call deluxe sizes. No sachets in sight either. The last box was very makeup heavy so I'm glad to see more skincare in this box, although I'm sure others would disagree. Again, I was happy to see a hair care product (3 really) thrown in as well. I also think that the price range in this box is great, most of the items I would say that I can afford to purchase if I like them. 
Even though I was adamant about ending my subscription to this box, I will be keeping it for at least one more box.   

Did you receive this box?

What did you think?

What's your favourite item?

Note: I have paid for this box with my own money and am not being paid to conduct this review. The opinions stated are my own and should not be taken for anything else.

Violet Box September 2014: Review

I received this box on the Wednesday 1st October, not too late but I would still have liked to have gotten my first Violet Box in the month of the box but oh well. I was still excited to get it even though I already knew what was in it and knew it would not be my favourite box. Anyway, here is what was inside and what I thought of it:

Scandalous Rock Chick Wave Spray. Full size 150ml RRP: $17.95

I'm very glad I got the Wave Spray and not the other possibility, the Dry Shampoo. I don't use dry shampoo but will use this one spray. I am currently growing out a very short cut so don't really have enough hair to test it yet. I did use it and un-surprisingly it really didn't do too much. The smell is ok, although a little strong for me. Not nice enough to want to inhale my hair but also not aweful enough for me to want to remove it and place it as far from my face as possible either. I have a natural wave in my hair and love to use things that will enhance it without making it crunchy. I'm a bit user of beach sprays and tousle-type sprays so will be very interested in what this one will do for me. I'll probably do an individual review of this spray in a few months when I have enough hair to see what it does.
Oh, forgot to mention that the packaging is great, I love black beauty products!

 Foltene Nail Treatment. Full Size RRP:$29.95

Unfortunately I have annoyingly strong nails that grow super fast (unlike my poor hair) so I won't be using this one. My sister has been trying to strengthen her nails recently so I have gifted this to her. She will let me know how she goes with it.

 

 

 

Girlactic Eyeshadow in Flame RRP: $23.00

I got the colour 'flame' which is a burnt orange. It feels nice and soft and is quite
pigmented. I'm still pale coming out of winter so its a bit orange for me now but I think it will look good when I have had a bit of sun. I love golds and browns so I think this one will fit right in to my current collection.

Starlooks Ultra Olive Gem Pencil. Full Size RRP:$21.50

This is a nice green colour and is really sparkly. I would actually have liked a little less sparkle and a bit more colour as it is really light. I have green eyes and was really excited when I saw we were getting this. I like it, just not as much as I thought I would. I'm thinking of getting a dark green eyeliner and then going over it with this pencil.
It is incredibly soft and easy to use, it goes on very well. I usually stay away from pencils as I find them a bit hard - not really a fan of stabbing myself in the eye over and over so I just find liquid/gel eyeliners a bit more user-friendly.

Polished London Nail Enamel. Full Size RRP:8.00

Unfortunately I got this is what was probably the only colour I would never wear. It was a baby pink colour and made my skin look jaundiced. My neice loved it though so this was gifted to her. I did try it on one nail and it seemed to take ages to dry, and once dry it seemed quite soft. I don't know if this is how it actually goes on though because it was one nail, one time so don't base any opinions on that.

The Verdict
I think you can probably see why this one isn't going to be my favourite box. Despite some of the items being a bit of a miss for me, they were all full sized which made it a great value box. None of the items will go to waste though as I always have willing recipients in my very female family which is great. I'm looking forward to playing with the eye make-up, and the wave spray once i stop growing nails and start growing some hair! Overall, I'm happy enough with this box and look very forward to getting my next one. Hopefully in October, but it doesn't matter too much if its not. Still fun!

http://www.violetbox.com.au/the-box.html 

Have you received this box before?

What did you think?

What is your favourite product?

september 2014 nature's beauty bag : review

september 2014 nature's beauty bag

 

in the bag was: