Posts Tagged ‘skincare’

Petit Vour June 2014 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions,Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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This month’s theme is “bon voyage” to get you travel ready. It features a bunch of items you can bring along to take care of yourself while on the go.

Petit Vour is $15 per box (or as much as $30 for international subscribers) and comes with vegan beauty, skincare, and other personal care products. Boxes are sent monthly with no option to skip. They offer a referral program that earns you points towards free boxes (email contact@petitvour.com to say I referred you if you sign up!).

contents of petit vour june 2014 box with evolvh shampoo and conditioner, tay balancing cleanser, mun brightening serum, ncla luxury nail lacquer, and info card with bon voyage theme

contents of petit vour june 2014 box removed from packaging

A closer look at some of the items.

petit vour june 2014 box info card with item details

EVOLVh UltraShine Moisture Shampoo & Conditioner – If you want to feel like you just came out of a salon, you need to try this shampoo. It lathers fantastically well and smells so luxurious! All day long I kept getting a whiff of it (a sweet sort of scent) and thinking I just stepped out of a professional haircut. Definitely one of the nicest shampoos I’ve tried. The conditioner has a more refreshing scent and it didn’t make my hair super slippery like I’m used to. Maybe it was getting absorbed into my hair? It worked pretty well, though I had a little chunk of hair that didn’t smooth out on its own without a hairbrush.

MUN No. 1 Aknari Brightening Youth Serum – I’m not sure if this sample is enough to really get a sense for how this serum performs… at first use it feels nice and smells herbal, so it’s promising. I did have trouble getting enough out of the tiny tube and it took awhile to apply the amount I wanted. We’ll see if I notice anything by the time I finish it up.

ncLA 5-free Luxury Nail Lacquer in Santa Monica Shore Thing – I’ve heard of this brand and got their nail wraps in a previous Petit Vour box, but this is my first time trying their nail polish. I got the shade Santa Monica Shore Thing, which is a creamy minty green. On the nails, it’s a slightly darker shade than what you see in the bottle and two coats provides a nice even color. It’s a more liquidy formula that applies well and smells rather like Julep’s polishes… somewhat apple-scented, I’d say.

TAY Rosehip Balancing Cleanser with Seabuckthorn – Immediately fell in love with this – not only is the packaging fantastic, it smells lovely and feels great. I’m a fan of this brand based on that.

Once again, Petit Vour delivered with nice products that I will use all of and would be the sort of thing to bring on my summer vaca. I really enjoy their curation of beautiful, luxurious, vegan products. What do you like best from this month’s items?

[This post mentions a referral program. Signing up and emailing contact@petitvour.com to say I referred you helps support my subscription and I’d be ever so grateful. 🙂 All opinions are my own and I received no compensation for this review. I just purchased this box and wanted to share what I got!]

Ipsy June 2014: Pretty In Paradise review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions,Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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Here comes the second artist-partnered design for an Ipsy bag. I like the tropical look and the colors, though I don’t know if they make sense together. Still, I’m a fan! The products they matched me with were hit and miss. I’ll surely be trying to trade some.

Ipsy is $10 per glam bag and comes with 5 or so beauty/skincare products. Bags are sent monthly with no option to skip. There’s usually a waitlist to get the subscription. They offer a referral program that earns you points towards free products.

ipsy june 2014 bag items with card including marc anthony dream waves beach spray, nyx butter gloss in eclair, be a bombshell lash out mascara, dermadoctor dd cream, and nicka k shimmer eyeliner in green

Marc Anthony Dream Waves Beach Spray – This smells like summer with some sort of coconut-y influence. I’m still working on how to get a good beach wave look that works for my hair. It seemed quite effective at helping me get more volume and that tousled effect, but then I have a tendency to run my hands through my hair and it kind of defeats the purpose. Still, I shall use this and spruce up my hair a little this summer!

NYX butter gloss in Éclair – I’m definitely into lip glosses, so I’m glad to have this one. It’s a nice smooth consistency that applies a nice thin layer. Not too shiny, a little bit sticky, and quite moisturizing. Good lip product to keep around, but I don’t know if I’d buy it myself. There are just so many choices out there.

be a… bombshell lash out mascara – I have so many tubes of mascara now I practically need to apply it all day every day to make a dent in using them. It’s a pretty standard-looking type in terms of the brush and thickness/goopiness of the mascara. When I took a look, I also happened to sniff it and I didn’t like that smell, so I’m going to trade this. Other than that I wouldn’t mind keeping it around for my own use.

DERMAdoctor DD cream – Much as I’ve hoped these creams would be sufficient on their own, I find that I still need to help it along with some powder. They just don’t provide enough coverage for my breakouts and also leave my skin rather shiny. I’m a sucker for these items even though they don’t exactly work for me. Still, they provide a nice base upon which I can apply my powder, so I’m definitely testing this over time to see how it holds up against the other half dozen or so BB/CC/DD creams I’ve tried.

Nicka K New York Shimmer Eyeliner in Green – Wow, green eyeliner?! Intense. Not something I’d go for and certainly something I’ll be trading. What a very bold selection to go with. This is the first non-nail polish I’ve received from this brand and I won’t be using it.

This month the items were an ok fit for me overall. I liked about half the items, but there always seem to be other products they offered that would have made much more sense for me. Does IpsyMatch ever consistently work?? If you want to trade for any of my items, check out my eDivv shop don’t be discouraged if I don’t reply to divvys at first. Sometimes I need a hiatus and until they offer a “vacation mode” I don’t have a way to let other traders know when I’m taking a break.

[This post contains affiliate links. Signing up through them helps support my subscription and I’d be ever so grateful. 🙂 All opinions are my own and I received no compensation for this review. I just purchased this bag and wanted to share what I got!]

Beauty Box 5 June 2014 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions,Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
1

Holy cow, it’s June box time already?! With summer in full swing, we got a summer chic theme. These products add up to a nice, simple beauty routine. Just wash, cleanse, rinse, and then apply a touch of mascara and nice nail polish! Not much more you need, other than a lip balm, I’d say.

Beauty Box 5 is $12 per box (or as discounted as $99 for an entire year, with an option in between) and comes with 5 cosmetic products. Boxes are sent monthly with no option to skip. You also have the option of buying it as a gift your box to a friend. They offer a referral program that earns you points towards products or boxes.

june 2014 beauty box 5 contents beauty box 5 june 2014 information card

beauty box 5 offer cards

Get a free box to try or $12 off a subscription!

Nicka K New York Nail Color in Ripe Apple: I first came across this brand in an Ipsy bag. I love the look of their bottles and the polish is a good consistency. Applying it was pretty straightforward and two applications offered the perfect kind of coverage. This color is bold but not too bright. A great darker look to fire engine red nails. I’m getting into nail art and this will be not only a nice canvas for designs, but great for little flourishes.

Organix Coconut Water shampoo & conditioner: These smelled really nice! I’m not even into coconut scents generally, but it was light enough to be pleasant and not suffocating. My hair felt pretty good after the shower, but once it dried it felt pretty normal again. I wouldn’t say this brand offered more or less shampooing and conditioning for my hair. I do like their argan oil conditioner though.

Glam Naturals mascara: There certainly will be no clumping with this mascara! It’s a much more liquid consistency than most mascaras I’ve tried. It’s perfect for when I want a little boost to my lashes, but still want that natural look. What a refreshing change from mascaras I’m used to. So far no smearing either; it seems to have good staying power.

Eslor Introductory Collection samples: I’m enjoying this set of products. They smell nice and are gentle. The scrub was a dry sort of formula, which is nice so a little mixed with water can cover a lot of area. It did tend to stick to the sides so I felt like I was losing out on product though. The mask is a green one that tingles a bit upon application. Everything felt good on my skin.

Vita Bath body wash in Dreamy Pink Frosting : I don’t usually use body wash, but I did give this a try and I like how it foams. It smells of sweet candy, so probably not something you’ll convince a guy to use. I didn’t notice if I smelled like that after I dried off though, so it can be a fun scent in the shower that doesn’t linger around too much.

I think the box as a whole was a nice package. I could use each item without feeling like I was covering the same part of a routine twice. They all build on each other to help you prepare for a day! What do you think of the box this month?

[This post contains affiliate links. Signing up through them helps support my subscription and I’d be ever so grateful. 🙂 All opinions are my own and I received no compensation for this review. I just purchased this box and wanted to share what I got!]

Julep “The Perfect 10” Memorial Day Mystery Game Box #5 with Bare Face Cleansing Oil review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions,Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
2

Ah, another mystery box. I’ve been waiting on this one to arrive for ages! When I got the shipment notification, it said it would arrive between Tuesday and Thursday of last week… and I just got it. I’m not sure what happened but I haven’t had a box get delayed like this before and I’m not pleased. But it’s finally here and time to evaluate it based on the merits of its contents and not how long it took to arrive! I chose this based on the “so fresh & so clean” clue with a picture of the cleansing oil and konjac sponge combo that I’ve had on my wishlist.

Julep mystery boxes are $10-40 per box and come with a mix of polish colors and beauty products. These are one-time orders and do not require a subscription.

julep  perfect 10 mystery box email with $102 worth of products including bare face cleansing oil and konjac sponge for $25

julep perfect 10 memorial day game day box #5 mystery box with $102 worth of products including bare face cleansing oil and konjac sponge for $25

What a beautiful gift box!

julep perfect 10 memorial day game day box #5 mystery box open with $102 worth of products including bare face cleansing oil and konjac sponge

Here we go…

julep perfect 10 memorial day game day box #5 mystery box contents including bare face cleansing oil, konjac sponge, buff lip scrub, and polishes in tracy, marjorie, and claudette

A nice mix of products, though the oil leaked.

julep bare face cleansing oil with power cell complex

Bare Face Cleansing Oil
It’s been a long time since I’ve used oil on my face for cleansing. Smells kind of like a tart flower.

julep konjac sponge cleanser and exfoliator with suction hook

Konjac Sponge
I’ve been wanting to try this product from Julep! I didn’t realize it would be moist like that.

julep buff lip scrub pen with fuzzy application tip

Buff Lip Scrub Pen
I already have one of these so I’ll try to trade. It’s fun, but not sure how useful it is.

set of julep polishes in tracy, marjorie, and claudette

Polish colors in Tracy, Marjorie, and Claudette. I can see myself using all of these.

two bottles of julep bare face cleansing oils side by side, with one bottle missing a lot of product

Both oils leaked and got absorbed into their boxes. What did they do to these things during shipment?!

This box was a nice value, especially with the bonus Bare Face Cleansing Oil I got for free with code OILPERK. I’m pleased with the variety and value, though I’m going to need to contact them about the faulty product I received. Why are those bottles so leaky? Still, I like what I got and look forward to using it all. The oil warmed up my face with rubbing and I just imagined it melting away the oil on my face as I did that. I hope it works! So what do you think of this box?

Estimated value: $102 (Nail Color @ $14 each: $42, Bare Face Cleansing Oil $28, Konjac Sponge $12, Buff Lip Scrub Pen $20) or $81.60 at Maven prices (20% off)

Join as a Julep Maven to get polishes sent to you monthly! Use code FREEBOX or FREEMAVEN to get the first box free (you pay shipping).

[This post contains affiliate links. Signing up through them helps support my subscription and I’d be ever so grateful. 🙂 All opinions are my own and I received no compensation for this review. I just purchased this box and wanted to share what I got!]

Beauty Box 5 May 2014 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions,Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
0

I was wondering what happened to my April review when I realized it was the 24ClearIt kit. Speaking of which, it started to dry out my jaw area so I stopped washing with it as regularly. Overall it’s done ok with my skin so far and calmed it down a bit, but breakouts just can’t be quelled it seems. As for the May Beauty Box 5, the theme is fresh and focused, which is meant to help with some pick-me-ups.

Beauty Box 5 is $12 per box (or as discounted as $99 for an entire year, with an option in between) and comes with 5 cosmetic products. Boxes are sent monthly with no option to skip. You also have the option of buying it as a gift your box to a friend. They offer a referral program that earns you points towards products or boxes.

may 2014 beauty box 5 contents

Is it finally time for summer?! What a refreshing collection.

beauty box 5 may 2014 information card

Info on the products with prices of their full sizes.

MaskerAide Hydrating Facial Sheet Mask: I’m a big fan of sheet masks, though they are rather pricey so I don’t use them that often. This one is suuuuuper moisturizing and just oozing with healing ingredients. I’m glad I read the instructions because I probably wouldn’t have cleansed and toned my face before using it otherwise. This is the only mask I’ve tried to date that actually fit my face! I have a pretty wide one so the eye holes are often too close together and the corners of my eyes get covered a bit, but not with this one! Amazing. It says to leave on for 10-20 minutes and after 10 I was itching to take it off. I can only take so much relaxation! There was a ton of serum on my face afterwards, so I rubbed it in, rinsed off a bit, and also put some on my neck.

H2O Plus Aqualibrium Marine Cleansing Gel: I couldn’t tell what this was for at first. I thought it might be some sort of eye gel, but turns out it’s a cleanser. It came out almost goopy, but smoothed out just fine. I didn’t smell any sort of scent to it and it was very nice and soothing. I do wish the sample size was larger since I feel like I can only get a few face washes out of this tube. I can’t really tell if it’s better than any other cleanser, but I do like this brand overall so I’d consider getting this product.

Ban Total Refresh Cooling Body Cloths: What perfect timing for these little cloths, which will be a very useful way to refresh the body during the heat of summer. I’d definitely keep some of these in my purse/bag/car or wherever to have them on the go. I was super surprised to find they had a bit of an alcoholic smell when you first open them. I guess it helps kill off bacteria? My skin feels great after the wipe-down and the powder finish is amazingly smooth without feeling like there’s powder on you (just the way I like it). It was moist enough to get my whole body, yet not dripping wet so there was no mess. If I ever work out during work hours, I’m totally using these to freshen up with.

Harvey Prince Hello: Never been much of a perfume gal, but this truly is a warm, happy scent. With such playful packaging, I was totally intrigued. Then I saw the citrus and floral choices and I knew this would be something I could enjoy. The little card is sweet and explains the choice of Meyer lemon, mandarin, grapefruit, forsythia, and plumeria beautifully. I’m liking this brand already!

Cattiva Precision Eye Liner: I was skeptical, but this eyeliner really delivered. Waterproof? Indeed! And such a smooth, easy application it’s hard to mess up. It doesn’t smudge even with my clumsy hands, so I’ll definitely keep this handy for the few occasions I do use a little eye liner. I like the retractable design so I don’t have to worry about using a sharpener. I’ve never heard of this brand before, but consider me impressed.

Ok, so I have to admit when I first got the box I was like, whatever, decent box. But now that I’ve tried them I am truly impressed. Not only did I underestimate some of the products, I wouldn’t even have given them a chance had I not wanted to provide a more thorough review for this post. Turns out I’ve been introduced to some really great items that I’ll keep in my arsenal. What’s your favorite item this month?

[This post contains affiliate links. Signing up through them helps support my subscription and I’d be ever so grateful. 🙂 All opinions are my own and I received no compensation for this review. I just purchased this box and wanted to share what I got!]

Yuzen Summer 2014 edition review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions,Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
2

It always seems like I sit on my Yuzen boxes for a long time before I finally get the review out. Don’t know why that keeps happening, so I’m finally getting this done before summer is truly upon us! I filmed the video for this a week and a half ago and it should be showing up on Yuzen’s YouTube channel in a few days. But hey, you get to see what comes in the box here!

Yuzen is $33 per quarter (with boxes sent Feb, May, Aug, and Nov) and comes with around 7 or 8 eco-friendly beauty, skincare, food/snacks, and home products. Boxes are sent quarterly with no option to skip, but you can get one-time gift boxes too. Sometimes there’s a waitlist to get the subscription. They do not offer a referral program.

unboxed summer 2014 yuzen box with contents shown

ShamanutiSeaweed Toner: I’m a huge fan of sprays and mists, so this toner is just fantastic. It has a light scent that is wonderfully relaxing and has a very soothing effect. I like how it’s ocean-inspired with the kelp they use. Some great skincare comes from the ocean! I did accidentally overspray myself at first because one push of this sends out a lot of product. I learned to hold it at a much further distance to get better coverage. Use code yuzenlove by 8/31/14 for 20% off at Shamanuti.

Kerstin FlorianLavender Body Spray: Wow, this was a major surprise when I tried it. I thought it’d just be a normal spray, but what I got was a sheen of ultra-moisturizing amazingness. A gentle rub into the skin and felt soft and smooth. This is fabulous! I love how the spray head allows me to quickly moisturize my skin with a spray and swipe. That’s all it takes to absorb and heal my skin. I’m very impressed. Use code ZEN20 by 9/30/14 for 20% at Kerstin Florian (restrictions apply).

KneippHerbal Bath in Lavender: What a relaxing bath additive. Lavender is the perfect choice for a bath and this bottle of concentrated goodness promises a most excellent bathing experience. Of course I still need to get around to drawing a bath in the first place… I’ll probably end up doing that within the week, since I’ve been so drained and I could use a good soak. Just smelling it in the bottle is helping ease my mind already. Use code Yuzen14 by 12/31/14 for 10% off the full size product at Kneipp.

MyChelle  Ultimate Lash and Brow Serum: I like this brand and I certainly like the idea of increasing my lash length. This is a small tube, but I’m sure it will last quite some time since you barely need any each time. I’ve applied it to my lashes and I hope it works! It doesn’t smell or feel like anything, though it did tingle a bit when it was drying. The consistency is liquidy enough to come on easily and we’ll just have to wait and see for results. Use code YUZEN25 by 2/1/15 for 25% off at MyChelle.

Aromaflagefragrance & insect repellent: Ok, this has got to be the most unique thing I’ve seen! Taking a fragrance (aka perfume) and making it an insect repellent too? What a brilliant way to make something I’d never care for (perfume) into something I’d actually consider! The scent is very special, with a warmth and citrusy notes. When the bugs start coming, I’m totally using this as my insect repellent. I mean, who wants to go out smelling like bug spray, right? Might as well disguise myself as a fine lady with this scent. It smells more down-to-earth than your typical perfume fluff too. 🙂 Use code Yuzen2014 by 7/31/14 for 15% at Aromaflage.

Hugo NaturalsVanilla & Sweet Orange soap: This is a brand and scent I’ve tried, not as a soap, but as a lotion. Funny enough, that was the same box I got my first taste of MyChelle from too. This is a generous full size bar that will last me ages! I’m saving it until my current soap is done so it doesn’t lose any of its scent or go through too many cycles of drying out and getting wet. I like the sweet scent of this bar that’s perfect for cleaning my body and giving me a fresh smell. Use code VSO20 by 8/31/14 for 20% at Hugo Naturals.

Sencha NaturalsPink Dragonfruit mints: How random that just after receiving these, I was in a store and saw them being sold! Was it just that I had never paid attention before? Granted, it was a completely new store I was in at the time. Whatever the case, funny timing. I love the leaf shapes they use and that they incorporate green tea to help with bacteria (and of course give you some antioxidants). This flavor is sweet with a mint that comes later and lingers nicely. Use code YUZEN15 by 7/31/14 for 15% off at Sencha Naturals.

I definitely feel more prepared for the warmer months, what with insect repellent and super healing products for my skin. And hey, I might just get some longer lashes too! What items are you most interested in from this box?

*Disclosure: As a super fan, I was invited to be the Yuzen Ambassador to help them spread the word about their brand. I now receive the boxes for free. I was not compensated otherwise and all opinions are my own, irregardless of my relation to Yuzen. I just happen to think they’re awesome (as does everyone else I’ve heard from). 🙂

Ipsy April 2014: Beauty Rocks review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions,Tags: , , , , , , ,
0

After a disappointing run last month, I was glad to get a bag that was pretty decent this time. The products actually made sense for my preferences for the most part and I can see myself trying all the products if I don’t end up trading the ones I don’t really want.

Ipsy is $10 per glam bag and comes with 5 or so beauty/skincare products. Bags are sent monthly with no option to skip. There’s usually a waitlist to get the subscription. They offer a referral program that earns you points towards free products.

ipsy april 2014 bag items with card including urban decay 24/7 velvet eye pencil, elizabeth mott pop goes the shadow in champagne, mary kay at play jelly lip gloss in teddy bare, dr brandt microdermabrasion, and st tropez gradual tan

Urban Decay 24/7 Velvet Glide-On Eye Pencil – This didn’t apply as easily as I’m used to. I had to press harder than with other eye pencils and then I ended up pressing too hard and making a fatty line. I did like the “velvety”ness once it was on, but I don’t know if I could achieve the nice line I’d want to. It was pretty smudge and waterproof at least.

Elizabeth Mott pop! goes the shadow in Champagne – Since I don’t ever use eye shadow, I’ll be saving this for a trade. I love the shiny look of it and I was tempted to touch it just to see what sort of consistency it has, but I resisted. If I don’t manage to trade this, it just might be an eye shadow I’d try out here and there.

Mary Kay at Play jelly lip gloss in Teddy Bare – I’m cool with gooey lip glosses, so I liked this. The nude color is great for a natural look or to go on top of a bolder color. It has pretty awesome staying power, which is nice since I don’t like having to reapply something on my lips all day (and if I don’t, they dry out easily).

dr. brandt microdermabrasion – Well, I’m fascinated with microdermabrasion so I’m really happy I got this. Since it has a seal, I’m going to keep it in my stash while I work through some other scrubs I have. I wonder how it will compare to the derma e microderm scrub that I absolutely love.

St. Tropez Gradual Tan Plus Anti-Aging Multi-Action Face – I’m just not into tanning products, so I shall definitely be putting this up for trade. If I was interested in trying them, this seems like a nice brand to use. I’m sure there are ladies out there who’d love to trade.

It was nice to get a bag with different dimensions and I like that shade of purple, but the design is meh. At least there are products I’m excited about and others I’m moderately interested in this time. If you want to trade for any of my items, check out my eDivv shop.

[This post contains affiliate links. Signing up through them helps support my subscription and I’d be ever so grateful. 🙂 All opinions are my own and I received no compensation for this review. I just purchased this bag and wanted to share what I got!]

Kaia Naturals Bamboo Tapioca Beads & Cleansing Cloths review

laelene Posted in reviews,Tags: , , , , ,
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I’ve been subscribed to Kaia Naturals for awhile and saw a deal from them recently as they promoted their new Bamboo Tapioca Beads product. Since they were offering a sample for $5 and free shipping with the code “tapioca” (now expired from what I’ve seen), I decided to give it a whirl. I’ve been curious about this brand ever since they showed up in a sub box that I do not get.

brown paper envelope from kaia naturals in canada

When I got the quaint package, I was confused for a second before I saw it was from Kaia.

kaia naturals bamboo tapioca beads and juicy bamboo cleansing cloth sample with thank you note

A nice note and sample of the cleansing cloths came with my order.

kaia naturals bamboo tapioca beads sample tube

The little tube of bamboo tapioca beads.

I like the idea of having a powder you can mix when you’re ready to use some. It’s pretty clever to use different liquids as the base so you can get other benefits out of the product. I tried cleansing my face with some tea and the Bamboo Tapioca Beads. I liked the grainy beads and I might have just imagined it, but the powder smelled slightly chalky to me. I got overzealous with the amount of tea I used so my first try was way too watered down. You really just need wet hands for this one, lest the blended powder just gets wasted in a watery mess. My skin felt tighter afterwards and I’d definitely need a lotion to follow. This would be really useful for travel, since it takes up so little space.

I also tried the bamboo cleansing cloth, which I really like. The size of the cloth is not too big and the saturation of the essential oils and honey is perfect. It smelled somewhere between fragrant and medicinal. Since it claims to remove waterproof mascara with ease, I had to test that out. With a little extra focus rubbing my eyes, the mascara came off just like that. Great performing product that I totally need to get my hands on once my current pouches of cleansing cloths runs low. I’m really liking this brand, though it’s definitely a more premium product than I usually spring for. I’m a sucker for something eco-friendly though.

I had no idea they were in Canada, so online ordering is probably out of the question unless they happen to be offering free shipping one day. Instead, I’ve found some stores within 20 miles or so that I can go visit sometime. It’ll be a fun adventure!

24ClearIt Acne Therapy review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions,Tags: , , , , , , , ,
3

In lieu of the April Beauty Box 5, I opted for the 24ClearIt kit that they were offering. I received it today and I’m ready to see if this is a solution that will work for me! I’ve tried a bunch of products before and various things have worked better than others, but none have truly calmed my skin for that long. Part of it might be that I moved on to other products. I’ve never been very good at committing to one set of skincare. I just like variety too much!

Beauty Box 5 is $12 per box (or as discounted as $99 for an entire year, with an option in between) and comes with 5 cosmetic products. Boxes are sent monthly with no option to skip. You also have the option of buying it as a gift your box to a friend. They offer a referral program that earns you points towards products or boxes. This was a special promotional box in partnership with 24ClearIt.

24clearit box with beauty box 5 sticker 24clearit instructions including quick start guide, clear facts guide, and product booklet 24clearit kit with exfoliating cleanser, clearing toner, clarifying treatment, recovery treatment, and treatment maskStep 1: Cleanse. Active exfoliating cleanser to be used in AM and PM. This is a more liquidy cleanser than I expected, so I accidentally squeezed out more than I wanted to. I like the scrubbing feeling of the beads – just enough without feeling too rough on my skin or too weak to do any exfoliating. It had the slightest scent that was vaguely medicinal. I massaged it in until it started to get sticky from all the water evaporating.

Step 1a: Target. Advanced treatment mask to be used as spot treatment or full mask. A few times a week, there’s the option to add the mask to the regimen. It is very thick and smells a bit of the sulfur that is in it. I tried a little spot of it and it tingled a bit. It sure feels like it can help zap away trouble spots. I’m going to have to see how the entire face mask feels and I’ll probably only do it once a week.

Step 2: Clear. Essential clearing toner to be used in AM and PM. The toner was very watery as expected and smelled quite nice. Once again just a very light scent and it felt very refreshing on my skin. I patted it over my face and let it dry. It felt really good!

Step 3 AM: Treat. Clarifying treatment to be used in AM. I tried this for the first time at night, so I just tested a little bit of it to see what it was like. It felt tingly and I think this is the harshest of the products and might have the potential of drying out my skin. We’ll see when I apply a full face of it tomorrow morning. It definitely awakens the skin and I feel like bacteria is being killed off right then and there.

Step 3 PM: Restore. Recovery treatment to be used in PM. This is a really nice lotion that is far more soothing and healing than the daytime one. I can see how it would be perfect to restore the skin while you sleep. My skin felt wonderful after this and completely hydrated for the night. I felt no need for any other products, which I like.

So based on first impressions, I am liking this line of products. I took a picture of my skin before and I’ll compare it to how things are looking in a week or two. At the least, these products feel good on my face, which is nice. Only time will tell how effective they are for their purported use. I’m really glad I decided to try this and skip the standard box Beauty Box 5 sent out for April!

[This post contains affiliate links. Signing up through them helps support my subscription and I’d be ever so grateful. 🙂 All opinions are my own and I received no compensation for this review. I just purchased this box and wanted to share what I got!]

Petit Vour March 2014 review

laelene Posted in general blog,Tags: , , , , , , ,
4

My very first Petit Vour box arrived! I like what I see and will keep them around for awhile.

Petit Vour is $15 per box (or as much as $30 for international subscribers) and comes with vegan beauty, skincare, and other personal care products. Boxes are sent monthly with no option to skip. They offer a referral program that earns you points towards free boxes (email contact@petitvour.com to say I referred you if you sign up!).

contents of petit vour march 2014 box with laface lotion, lotus wei serum, icon oil, ncla nail wraps and nail file, and california naturel skincare set

Laface Hydrating & Firming Body Lotion – This applies pretty well, but I’m not really into the scent. My skin does feel really good after applying it and it’s noticably softer and more hydrated. I’d have to use it more to see if there are any firming effects.

Lotus Wei Balancing Serum – Sweet! I’ve had other Lotus Wei products, but not the serum yet and I love serums. This scent is very calming and it’s supposed to promote inner peace. It applies a bit greasy, but very little goes a long way and I just kept rubbing it in. There’s a slightly cooling sensation on more delicate skin.

I.C.O.N. India Oil – Oh wow, this smells nice. There’s something very cultural feeling about it and I enjoyed getting the dryness out of my hair. I’ll have to make more use of this during the rest of these dry months. Feels great!

NCLA Nail Wraps & nail file – Well, these are… bold. I’ve never tried nail wraps before, so I sure hope I can apply them ok. I definitely appreciate getting the nail file too, since I don’t usually use them and would not have access to one. I think I’ll have fun with these even if they’re totally not my style. I never knew you’re supposed to apply clear nail polish first! Good thing I read the instructions.

California Naturel Skincare Set – The packaging on this is super cool, but then it opens to three little samples. Still pretty cool, but I thought it might be more exciting. There’s a cleansing gel, balancing complex, and nourishing cream. The gel is for all skin types and cleansed pretty well. Didn’t notice anything particularly different about it. The complex is for combination to oily skin and it immediately helped with my oily face. It’s quite watery but I love it! Finally, the cream is for dry to normal skin and I wasn’t a huge fan of the scent. Pretty good at moisturizing though.

What do you think of this box?

[This post mentions a referral program. Signing up and emailing contact@petitvour.com to say I referred you helps support my subscription and I’d be ever so grateful. 🙂 All opinions are my own and I received no compensation for this review. I just purchased this box and wanted to share what I got!]

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