Lust Have It - March, 2013

 

Lust Have It for March comes once again in their new presentation boxes which I find quite useful for makeup storage.  The missing product from last month arrived, there was more than one full sized product and there was a good range of products too, including more than one make-up item.  All in all, a very good month indeed.  Here's what was inside:

The Natural Source Camouflage Colour Crayons in Metal Green and Purple Plum (full size value $9.99/ea)

The sticker on the red crayon didn't come off cleanly, leaving residue all over my crayon.  Don't you just hate it when that happens!  These crayons come in an amazing range of shades and they say can be used "on the face or body to create that sense of fun, theatre, class or individuality".  While I'm quite happy to leave the house wearing a petticoat my makeup choices are a little more on the mainstream side, so the only use I can find for these are as an eye liner. Both crayons were lovely and soft, perhaps even slightly too soft as I did find little extra bits of colour balled off when I used them.  Metal Green did make a very cool unusual looking eyeliner and because it was so soft it was comfortable to apply.  I did find something really odd on their web-site.  They have in their faq "It is bovine free. Bovine ailments affect the central system and is related to the “Mad Cow’s Disease"."  Slightly awkward sentence structure aside, bovine just means cow.  I don't know what they mean by "central system", but mad cow's disease is transmitted to humans by EATING contaminated cow products.  No-one's going to be eating their makeup so I'm at a loss why they feel the need to advertise their product in this way. 

Orly Flash Dry Drops (deluxe sample size)

I'm very happy to try this as an alternative to my Seche Vite.

Bioderma Atoderm Nourishing Cream (sachet)

This was the product that was missing from last month's box.  Points off for being a sachet - they're so hard to dispense and I always end up wasting product because I can't re-seal it.  I do love that this is intended for sensitive skin and can be used on the face and body, though it's really a bit expensive to use as a body cream.

Goldwell Dualsenses Rich Repair Hair Treatment (deluxe sample size)

I'm always happy to get a new hair treatment.  My hair seems to respond well to mixing up a lot of different treatments rather than always sticking to the same thing.

Ocean Essences Gold & Pearl Rubber Mask (full size $9.95)

This product isn't listed on Ocean Essences website (much like their offering in March's Bellabox) so finding out more information about it was tricky.  The value I'm taking from Lust Have It's product information card because I can't find anywhere to purchase this mask.  I also couldn't use it, though I did try.  No matter how hard I mixed it I just couldn't get it to mix properly.  It ended up really lumpy and made a huge mess.  I just wasn't comfortable putting it on my face.

Bio Elixia Body Shaper Cellulite Contour Cream (full size $59)

I've never really believed that cellulite creams do anything.  Now I'm going to have the opportunity to find out for myself.  I'm very impressed that Lust Have It managed to include a full sized product worth $59 and if it ends up working (I'm going to give it a try over the suggested 4 weeks) then I'll admit I was wrong about cellulite creams.

So this was a pretty solid month from Lust Have It.  My only grumble is that other bloggers seem to be getting a lollipop.  I want my lollipop darn it :-)

Check out other bloggers reviews of this month's box:

See It, Love It, Swatch It
Shrinking Wallet
Katy's Beauty Secrets
Sweetaholic Beauty
Matilly Rose's
Kitsch Snitch

Her Fashion Box - March, 2013

 

 

The first Her Fashion Box is here. I got the classic box and here's what was inside:

 

 

Circa Home Everyday Soap in Lilac and Orchid (full size, value $9.95)

Mmmmmmm.  This made the whole box smell great and it's so smooth.  I have a few soaps and body washes to go through before I get to using this one, so I stored it in my lingerie drawer to take advantage of the amazing scent.

Gold Ponytail Holder (full size, value $2.60)

There's been some controversy on the web about where Her Fashion Box are sourcing their fashion items and what they are worth.  I found this which looks identical at $2.60 each.  I do quite like the product.  It's tricky to get in without pinching bits of hair but it holds well and looks good.  Luckily I have long hair though!

Moxi Sample Collection (deluxe sample size)

Quite a few Her Fashion Box customers weren't too happy to receive "time of the month" products in their box.  Some felt it was inappropriate and others had no use for them.  Unlike some I was happy to see Moxi included here as I can use their products and they're the most premium brand out there that I know of.  I can't imagine any other brand being included in a fashion box though, so I expect this is a once-off partnership.  The cute little box contained two tampons, two pad and one liner.

Master Makeup Blending Brush (full size, value $30)

Great!  I'll get lots of use out of this.  It's a really nice brush too.  The bristles are held firmly in place, they're nice and soft, and it's the perfect size for blending.  There was a special offer for 20% off the rest of the collection, but I've just purchased two sets of Real Techniques brushes so I'm set for the foreseeable future.

Redken Diamond Oil Shampoo, Conditioner and Treatment (deluxe sample size)

I'm happy with the size of these as there's enough to try over a few washes.  This is a new product that's going to be released in May so we get to try it early which is pretty cool.

Maybelline Colour Sensational High Shine Lip Gloss in Gleaming Grenadine (full size, value $15.95)

Another hit.  This gloss was very pigmented, a lovely colour, not sticky at all and to top it off it had amazing staying power and a quality glass container.  I ate two meals while wearing it and it didn't budge at all.  This may be the best lip gloss I've ever tried!

Classic black and gold necklace (full size, value $2.99)

I'm guessing at the value of this necklace.  The necklace from the feminine box was worth $2.99 so I'm assuming the classic necklace has a similar value.  It's reasonably nice looking, but on the back side the pieces are hollow and look a little cheaply made and two of the gold pieces fell off when I took it out of the bag.  Hopefully I can get a replacement from them.

So am I happy with the first box?  Yes.  I make the total value to be $61.50 from the value of the full sized products alone.  It was especially good value at the first month's reduced price (even given the suprisingly low value/quality of the jewellery items) and it was good enough that I think they can sustain next month's higher price, especially if they take a little more care with the quality of their fashion items.  I liked that a brochure came with the box that showed what products were in the feminine and trendy boxes as well.  It was interesting to have a sticky beak at what else was sent out.  I was not pleased, however, that Her Fashion Box did not reply to an email I sent them about the quality of the jewellery.

Check out other bloggers reviews of this month's box:

Matilly Rose's
Kitsch Snitch
Shrinking Wallet
The Made Up Maiden

Bella Box - March, 2013

 

Some versions of March's Bella Box received a full sized Clinique lipstick.  I was not so lucky.  Instead I got a much cheaper very nude lip gloss.  Not nearly as exciting.  This month's box was OK, not standout special and not horrible either.  If I'd received the lipstick I would have been much more pleased with the offerings, but it was still value for money without.  Here's what was in my box:

Swisse Active Recover Bar in Chocolate Coconut (full size value $3.95)

The product card said that this was supposed to be the "Energy" bar that is for consuming prior to exercise.  Instead I received the "Recover" bar that is for consuming post exercise.  Regardless, I no longer do serious exercise following a knee reconstruction so this isn't the kind of product I'm interested in.  I did try a tiny piece just to see what it tasted like.  It was suprisingly bland, it tasted of coconut but not really sweet at all.  My husband polished off the rest of the bar so it must have not been too bad.  I received the 60g bar which retails for $3.95 per bar, despite Bella Box's product information card saying that bars are $2.39 per bar.  The 30g bar is listed on Swisse's website at $2.95 per bar and the "Energy" bars aren't $2.39 either so it looks like Bella Box really needed to do a bit more proof-reading on their information card this month.  I'm actually happy to receive a food product as a bonus product with Bella Box, but I'd prefer gourmet teas or chocolates/fudges rather than exercise related products.

Simunovich Olive Estate Olive Shower Gel (deluxe sample size)

I love getting shower gel in sample boxes because I know it's a product I will use.  The sample was a decent size and smells lovely and "clean".  It's a man-friendly shower gel if you like to share in the bathroom.  It lathered well and I'd like to try some of the other products by this manufacturer.

Ocean Essence Coconut Body Milk (deluxe sample size)

Something strange is going on with the pricing for this product.  Bella Box is selling 20ml in their shop (the sample I received is 20ml) for $4.95.  There's no way anyone is going to pay that much for just 20ml of product!  The website listed on the rear of the product (www.oceanessenceskincare.com) does not exist and if you add an ".au" to the url you get a site which does not list this product for sale.  It's a very nice product and I love the coconut scent but it's so strange that I can't find it anywhere else on the web and Bella Box is only selling tiny tiny tubes of it. 

Designer Brands Lip Pencil in Nude (full size value $4.99)

I don't use lip pencils.  I have never had trouble with my lipstick bleeding or running so I've never wanted to try one.  In the spirit of experimentation I did try this lip pencil, but I didn't manage to completely line my lips because it was so painful.  There must be a trick to it that I don't know.  Designer Brands website says their lip pencils are "luxuriously soft" but I can say after experience that they are hard and spiky and hurt.  I did like the sharpener included in the lid.  I'd like to see eyeliner pencils come with their own sharpener in the lid too.  That would be quite handy.

Guerlian La Petite Robe Noire Eau De Toilette (vial)

Yummy.  I found the scent to be quite powdery, a real "french lingerie" smell if that makes sense at all.  It smells very "clean" and "pretty".  A full sized bottle of this perfume is very pricy indeed, even for the Eau De Toilette.  I think the bottle would look classier without the picture of the black dress on it, but that's a pretty minor point.

Yes to Carrots Lip Gloss in Playful Nude (full size value $9.95)

I have a tinted lip balm by Yes to Carrots that I love and wear all the time.  It's so pigmented I actually wear it as a lipstick.  This lip gloss was sheer with a tiny hint of sparkle.  It's what you would expect from a shade called "Playful Nude" but it's not the shade I would have chosen.  Yes to Carrots website lists this as available online in the US only and their Australian distributer Priceline doesn't have it listed on their website so this might be slightly tricky to get your hands on.  Bella Box is selling it in their online shop and looking at the available shades I wished I had received "Red Hot" (which isn't available on Bella Box's website by the way, though it is one of the shades in this range).  I will use this, I like it as a sheer gloss, I would have just preferred a brighter colour.

And that's it for Bella Box this month.  As usual it had some hits (the perfume, body milk and shower gel), an OK product (the lip gloss) and some misses (the exercise bar and lip pencil) and the inclusion of two makeup products was greatly appreciated.

Check out other bloggers reviews of this month's box:

Imminent Beauty
Kitsch Snitch
Beauty Behind the Imperfections
Katy's Beauty Secrets

Eco Box - Summer, 2012

 

For some reason Lust Have It have decided to send me the Summer, 2012 Eco Box today.  That is, the first day of Autumn, 2013.  I'm expecting them to send the Autumn box pretty soon so this is fairly strange.  I'm presuming they had a few left over and wanted to get rid of them.  I'm happy with the products, it just seems a bit silly to be sending them so late.  As in three months after the box was released!  It also contained three different facial cleansers, hence this review only going up three days after I received the box as I wasn't going to cleanse my face more than once a day just to test all the products quickly.  Here's what was inside the jute bag:

 

 

Kuu Konjac Deep Cleansing Sponge (full size)

Here's a new thing.  It's a big red spongie thingie.  On the back of the packet I noticed that it was suitable for sensitive skin with rosacea so I was really interested to try this as they are both skin concerns I have.  I really didn't like touching the sponge.  The texture and colour reminded me of raw meat.  When I used it cold water oozed out of the sponge and ran down my arm which was quite unpleasant.  To top it off, it didn't clean at all.  The sponge failed to remove any of my makeup so I can only conclude that this sponge is only suitable to clean you face when it is already clean, which completely defeats the purpose.  I suppose it was gentle as advertised, but so gentle it didn't actually clean anything.  Not recommended.  It's going in the bin.

The Organic Skin Co. Freshness Juniper Berry Face Wash (deluxe sample size)

This was just OK.  I didn't really care for the smell.  It did an OK job of cleaning - it removed my makeup but didn't completely clean the pores around my nose which to be fair a lot of cleansers have trouble with.  I only needed to use a little bit of the product, so a full sized tube would last a long time.  I did appreciate that the packaging suggested doing a patch test before using for the first time.  I do that as a matter of course after having a bad reaction to another cleanser, but this is the first product I've seen that actually suggested it on the pack.

The Organic Skin Co. Brightening Almond Seed Face Exfoliant (deluxe sample size)

I didn't like the smell of this, but it cleaned relatively well and was suprisingly gentle for an exfoliant.

De Lorenzo Elements Earth Mud Slide Styling Creme (full size)

My husband tried this as I have long hair and this is a styling product to "add texture and shape to short hair".  It also says it can be used to get a high shine finish on a classic up-do but I don't care for that kind of look as I think it makes the hair look greasy.  My husband, however, spikes his hair up every day with various styling products so this was a good fit for him to try.  This product sells for $24 so he was pretty pleased to get a full sized one from my box.

Earthly Body Hemp Seed Hand and Body Lotion (full size 3oz, they also sell an 8oz version)

Lovely and thick this was really hard to get out of the bottle.  Their 8oz version comes with a pump which would have been perfect.  The cream really did smell a bit crisp and fresh, they called the fragrance Cucumber Melon.  It's a nice change from my usual sweet smelling creams.  It was absorbed very quickly and left a slightly sticky film on my hands.  I appreciated the nice big size they sent, it should last me a while and I use hand creams multiple times a day so I go through quite a lot.

Dr Hauschka Melissa Day Cream (small sample size)

I really liked this.  I thought the sample size was too small to be any good, but when I tried it I realised that a tiny bit goes a long way so the tiny 5g sample will actually be enough for many days application.  It smelled AMAZING and was absorbed almost instantly so it was great to apply just before foundation application as there really wasn't any waiting time.  I also appreciated that this product was suitable for sensitive skin, which I have.  I'm finding that the Eco Box has a lot more face products that I can actually use, as opposed to the mainstream Lust Have It box which has less products suitable for sensitive skin.  This product is quite pricy for the full sized cream, but it's pretty tempting to purchase one when I've used all the sample.

Aphrodite Shimmer Powder in Orchid (full size)

So messy to apply, there was no sifter on the top of this loose powder so it was really hard to get only a little bit on my makeup brush.  They should look at the way Everyday Minerals packages their loose mineral powder eyeshadows which are much easier to use.  The shade "Orchid" doesn't appear on Aphrodite's website, but as my box came so late perhaps it has since been discontinued?  It's a really pretty highly shimmery light brown which looks lovely.  I quite liked it dotted with my finger in the tear duct area combined with a less shimmery brown on the rest of the lid, though I tried an all-over shimmer look which was quite pretty too.

I liked the jute bag this box came in by the way.  There's no logo on it so it's very reuseable.  I used this season's bag to store my kids snap cards.  Those cardboard boxes get ripped really easily.  I'd like to see them rip this!

Check out other bloggers reviews of this season's box:

The Beaute Buzz
Mitzi Sparkles
Sweetaholic Beauty
Matilly Rose's
Kitsch Snitch

Her Fashion Box

Photograph from www.herfashionbox.com.  Thanks.

Her Fashion Box is a brand new box that will ship its first box in March, 2013.  It costs $39.95 per month (reduced from $49.95 in response to consumer feedback).  You can use the code "FASHION" to receive your first box for $24.95.

There will be three box themes: trendy, classic and feminine.  Here's what they have to say about their new box:

"Every month, you’ll receive a beautifully packaged Her Fashion Box to your home or office! Inside will be an on-trend fashion accessory tailored to your style profile, as well as a number of carefully selected beauty products or deluxe size samples from high-end, boutique and cult brands from around the world. Each month will be a different mix of beauty products, ranging from makeup, skincare, fragrances, body, hair, and nail. In addition to your fashion accessory and beauty products or samples, Her Fashion Box will bring you products, samples or offers from premium lifestyle brands that could include things such as gorgeous stationery, luxury candles, beauty or spa services, hair and make-up tools, gourmet food or wine tasters, cute home wares, online products, entertainment and more. "

I'm going to be getting the classic box in March, so stay tuned to find out what's inside.

Lust Have It - February, 2013

The Lust Have It box for February arrived super late this month, but they made it just in time for it to still be February.  They did send an email earlier explaining why there are only four products (the missing product will be included in March's box) and why they have not used their new presentation box (the biggest sample wouldn't fit).  I did appreciate them sending the email explanation so I knew what was going on.

I have mixed reactions about it.  I have no problem with leaving out the presentation box to fit a bigger product in, though in this case the product in question is useless to me which you'll read about further below.  They said they left out the fifth product, which was to be Bioderma Atoderm Cream because the weight was too great for their postal arrangements.  Again, because I'm not interested in the big heavy full size product that was included and I am interested in the sample that was left out, this was a bit annoying.  Having said that, I am extremely happy with two of the four products included so it wasn't a bad box by any means. 

That's enough suspense about the mystery full sized heavy and useless product.  Here's what it was:

Summer Tan by Mancine (full size)

They sent a full size large and quite heavy 250ml bottle of dark self tanning lotion.  If I used tanning lotions I'd be over the moon about this.  However, I'm a very pale skinned girl and I like my skin that way.  I have absolutely no interest in this product and will not be trying it even for review purposes.  It did smell quite pleasant, a bit like a nice sunscreen but that's as far as I'm going to go with it.  It was a scary dark chocolate brown colour which I suppose is so you can see where you've applied it.  This was a wasted product for me and a big disappointment that this was the much hyped full sized product that the box was delayed and had altered to include.  The rest of the box is much better though.

Lon Vitalite C9 Moisturising Hand Mask (one application)

I'm constantly applying hand creams throughout the day but I've never come across a treatment mask for the hands.  This is the kind of new product I'm interested in seeing in sample boxes.  Something completely new to try is very appealing.  Using the mask required me to wear the provided gloves for 30 minutes so I had to wait until the kids were in bed so I could be sure to have a half hour to myself.  I ended up wearing them one at a time so I could still use my other hand.  My hands felt sticky afterwards but very soft and it left a nice fresh fragrance.

Styli-Style Timeless Lipstick in Spirit (full size)

This is the first of the two winning products for me - this full sized lipstick was lovely and creamy and was quite highly pigmented for a pale pink lipstick.  I don't have a lipstick colour like this in my collection, though I do have a Mirenesse lip gloss that will be the perfect colour to go over the top.  The case is pretty and feels solid and expensive and has the colour on the lid which makes it easy to find in your makeup drawer.

The Natural Source Camouflage Colour Nail Lacquer in Lilac (full size)

My nails are still wearing Mermaid's Tale from February's Bella Box which has proved to be very chip resistant and long lasting so I just swatched this one to see the colour.  I am quite excited to try it when it's time for a new manicure.  I haven't got a colour like this one and it's so pretty.  I thought I might layer Sally Hansen's Disco Ball over the top which is a pretty mini-glitter.

So it was a mixed bag this month, two great products, one interesting new product, and one complete waste of time.

Check out other bloggers reviews of this month's box:

The Beaute Buzz
The Made Up Maiden
Shrinking Wallet
Miss Sparkle Diva

Eco Box

Photograph from www.lusthaveit.com.au. This was their Summer 2012 box, but not a photograph of the actual sizes included, this photograph is of the full sized products.

Eco Box is Lust Have It's quarterly eco friendly version of their beauty box.  Being a little more expensive and coming out quarterly it contains more products than the monthly Lust Have It box.  Boxes cost $29.95 and include 6 or more premium samples and they say each box will have a value in excess of $100.  Brands include Burt's Bees and my favourite Everyday Minerals.



Photograph from www.lusthaveit.com.au.  This was their September 2012 box, but not a photograph of the actual sizes included, this photograph is of the full sized products.

You can see what other bloggers thought of the summer box here including photographs of the actual products they received:

Sweetaholic Beauty
Kitsch Snitch
Matilly's This n That

Bella Box - February, 2013

 

Bella Box is here, bringing this month's bit of luxury to my mail box.  Luckily they didn't include any chocolate for Valentine's Day because we're sweltering in the middle of a heat wave.  The box came with Valentine's themed wrapping and product card but missed Valentine's Day by four days.  I got one product I'm extremely excited about, so I'll talk about that one first:

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Mermaid's Tale (full size)

I think this is the most beautiful nail polish I've ever seen.  Blue/green with big sparkles.  It also says it's chip resistant so I'm trying it without my Seche Vite top coat to see how long it lasts on its own.  I love this so much I think I would almost have been happy if the box was empty except for this one product!

Batiste Dry Shampoo in Blush (deluxe sample size)

I've read the instructions, I've watched online videos, but dry shampoos just don't seem to do anything for me.  I've even waited until my hair is completely ready to be washed and used the dry shampoo again, and it just doesn't seem to make any noticeable difference.  I have heard that dry shampoos are good for adding texture to fine straight hair, and as mine is thick and wavy that's not something I've ever had to worry about.  Blush does smell pretty at least.

U Skin Solutions Clarifying Cleansing Gel (sample size, enough for two applications)

This smells amazing.  I think there's Lemon Myrtle in there which is my favourite thing of all time.  Just try one of Haighs Lemon Myrtle Creams and you'll see what I mean.  Yum!

Banana Boat Sport SPF 30+ (sachet)

Luckily this was the bonus product because sunscreen is a bit of a non-event for me.  I'm just not excited about it.  It's more of a medicinal product.  We'll use the sachet next time we want sunscreen, but I just can't get all revved up about sunscreen.  It's just... sunscreen.

John Frieda Frizz Ease Dream Curls Curl Perfecting Spray (deluxe sample size)

This product is right up my alley.  I have thick wavy hair which can be coaxed into a curl with the right product and preventing frizz is always on my radar.

Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Oil (deluxe sample size)

I got a really decent amount of this - 10ml is enough oil to last a long time as a little bit goes a long way.  I'm most excited to try this on my hair, but as I tried the John Freida product I'm not due to wash my hair again for a few days and I don't want to wait that long to post this review.  So I tried the oil on my legs instead.  It leaves a shiny film which actually looks quite nice, very "beachy", and would be good to wear if you're planning to wear a miniskirt and bare legs.  The scent is subtle but quite pleasant.

Check out other bloggers reviews of this month's box:

Laura Lam
The Ainsleeyx
Luxury on the Lips
The Beaute Buzz

David Jones Beauty Tote - 2013

The wait is over and the David Jones Beauty Tote for 2013 is now available.  My lovely husband took a trip into David Jones in his lunch break to pick it up for me.  He's quite lost in the beauty department, so he brings a list and the ladies always help him out to find what I want.  You can also get the tote online, or save the postage and pick it up in store like we did.  This tote is available until 3rd of March, 2013 so there's still time if I've inspired you to pick up one of your own (read about how it works here).

 

Lanolips Golden Ointment (full size)

Just the packaging alone was enough to get me excited about this product. Yellow and gold in a vintage looking little tin, this one earns a place on my dresser just for prettiness alone. It smells subtly sweet and a little bit goes a long way.

Armani Sport Code Perfume (small vial)

My lovely husband tried this as this is the men's version of the perfume. We both agreed that it smells very "male". Quite nice, and to be honest one of the better men's perfumes I've trialled recently. It was nice for him to get a treat as he was the one who braved the beauty department and picked up the bag for me.

OPI Nail Polish in A Taupe the Space Needle (deluxe sample size)

As the whole point of getting a sample sized product is to find out if you want to purchase the full size, it was a little strange that Opi didn't put the name of the shade on the bottle. Opi is my favourite brand of nail polish, they have an amazing range of shades and have lasted the longest of any brand I've tried. The shade I got this time was dark brown. Hmmm. I'm not sure about that. Do I really want dark brown nails? Not too excited about this one, but only for the colour.

Boheme Shampoo (deluxe sample size)

I found it really hard to find any information about this product. Even the manufacturer doesn't have it listed on their page. It worked well enough, as shampoos go, but it was odd that I couldn't find it listed anywhere, not even on David Jones own page.

Elixia Daily Skin Smoothing Lotion (deluxe sample size)

This lotion is supposed to smooth away fine lines and wrinkles but on the back of the bottles it says to avoid applying to the eye area. As that's the only place on my face I have any fine lines or wrinkles this product isn't going to be much good for me! I tested it on the back of my hand and it's lumpy and uneven with an odd slightly chemical scent that I don't really care for. It was absorbed reasonably quickly but not straight away, it left a shiny film on my skin for quite a while after. I wouldn't like to try applying a foundation directly over this without a significant amount of time in between.

David Jones Day Cream (deluxe sample size)

Nicely scented thin light cream that was a pleasure to apply. I would use this again.

David Jones Facial Cleanser (deluxe sample size)

A thin clear gel. I found a little went a long way, it cleansed quite well and didn't react with my sensitive skin. I would also use this again.

Revlon Colorburst Lip Gloss in Gold Dust (full size)

This went on as a pretty sheer gloss with a flattering amount of gold sparkles.  I really like it as a top layer over a lip stain or long lasting lipstick to add a bit of shine and sparkle.  I'm really happy with this as I didn't have this shade in my collection and it will get a fair bit of use.  The packaging is extra pretty too with a black quilted pattern on the lid that looks very classy.

David Jones Cream Foundation in Fair (full size)

I almost can't bear to open the lid of this foundation again because of the horrible squeeking noise it makes.  Think fingernails scraping down a blackboard!  Still, a full sized foundation in a glass bottle with a pump top and in my shade.  That's a pretty amazing product to get in a $20 bag.  I trialled this on a 37 degree celsius day and after a full day's wear including two 15 minute walks in the hot sun in the middle of the day and a date in the evening with my lovely husband it survived just fine.  I need a touch up after the walks in the sun, but I've never met a foundation yet that could cope with those conditions.  The shade was spot on, one pump was enough for my whole face, and the coverage was opaque enough to almost but not quite cover the redness on my cheeks and nose.  Wow!  The whole bag was worth it for just this one product.  I'll just store it with the lid off to avoid having to hear that noise again.

Grown Alchemist Camellia and Geranium Hydrating Cream (deluxe sample size)

Quite a pleasant herby smell and interesting medicinal looking packing made this product stand out.  It needed a bit of working to get it to apply to the skin evenly, but a little bit went a long way.  I liked this to apply at night to give it a chance to have time to absorb.

Check out other bloggers reviews of this year's tote:

Mishelle's Sleepy Time
Glamourpussgirl

Bella Box

Photograph from www.bellabox.com.au.  Thanks.

Bella Box is Australia's other major beauty sampling subscription box.  They do a monthly box of 5 samples which are a mix of deluxe sample sizes and sachets with a full sized product every so often.  Boxes are a mixture of hair care, skin care and makeup products.

The boxes are quite well packaged in a sturdy brown box which looks quite classy, and inside the products are wrapped in tissue paper and a pretty ribbon.  Boxes are usually themed (i.e. Australia Day, Christmas) and decorated accordingly.  They make a pretty good gift actually.


Photograph from www.bellabox.com.au.  Thanks.  This photograph shows the range of full sized products that were in their January, 2013 box.  The actual boxes contained sample sizes of a selection of these products.

Bella Box do use a beauty profile to customize products to people's skin tone, etc, though in my experience it is not always used.  My profile shows that I have sensitive skin but I received a facial cleanser that reacted badly with my skin and left me with a red sore face for three weeks.  I'm a little more cautious about trying new cleansers now and do a patch test before trying anything new.

On the positive side their December 2012 box contained a full sized Savoir Faire Limited Edition Kit valued at $110 which was an amazing Christmas bonus and was very well received around the web as you can imagine.

The boxes cost $15 a month, and they currently offer one box free if you purchase a year's subscription at $165.  Bella Box also offer a men's box and baby box and are currently the only Australian company to offer a men's box.  They also have an extensive and impressive list of brands available including my favourites A'kin, Bobbi Brown, Bourjois, Glamourflage, Lush, Mor and Natio.

David Jones Beauty Tote

Picture from www.davidjones.com.au.  Thanks.

This one is a bit different from usual as it's a sample bag instead of a box and it only comes out once a year, but it's such good value I'm including it as well as I get this every single time it's released. 

The David Jones Beauty Tote is a yearly sample bag that's available in-store and online.  It costs $20 and to be able to purchase it you need to purchase any product from their beauty department.  There's no minimum spend though, so even a little nail file is a big enough purchase to be able to buy the tote if there's nothing you want/need at the time.

The tote is amazing value, it's jam packed full of deluxe sample and full sized products with a mix of makeup, skincare and haircare items.  The tote itself is pretty good quality too, though the main event is inside.

There are two varieties, and the products are in a clear plastic bag attached to the outside so it's easy to take a look and pick the version you want.  David Jones also releases a beauty book at the same time which has lots of gift with purchase offers from their major beauty brands.  I usually chain together both offers and buy just enough to get a gift with purchase and a beauty tote at the same time.  Some girls have even been known to visit two different David Jones stores to get both versions of the tote, it's that good!

Lust Have It

Photograph from www.lusthaveit.com.au. Thanks.

Lust Have It are a monthly box which contains 5-6 beauty samples, usually a mix of skincare, makeup, nails, haircare and fragrance for $14.95 per month.  The samples range in size from single application sachets, deluxe sample sizes and some full sized products.

They have an impressive range of affiliated brands, including some of my favourites Nude by Nature, Mirenesse, Nyx, Everyday Minerals and Lush.

At the moment the boxes are gorgeous solid cardboard with a pink pattern that closes securely with a magnet.  They are beautiful and reuseable, especially useful for storing small items.  Last year they did a range of zip-up coloured make-up bags.



Photograph from www.lusthaveit.com.au.  Thanks.  This photograph is of the range of full sized products that spanned all three box types, not the sample sizes actually included in the boxes.

The only negative I've found is that the box contents are selected by age bracket (there are three different boxes each month) and they don't use a beauty profile so shades of foundation and skincare products are not customized for your skin type.  There is an active swapping community on the facebook page for people looking to trade foundations that were in the wrong colour for them.  Having said that, the last foundation I received was full size and the perfect shade for me so I was completely happy with it.

I really enjoy my Lust Have It subscription and I'm not going to be giving it up anytime soon.  There's always something I love in each box, and some boxes every item has been a hit.  There are often full sized products included, and makeup items which I especially enjoy sampling.

Lust Have It is highly recommended.  If you're only going to subscribe to one box (and you're interested in beauty/makeup) then this is the one.

Lust Have It - January, 2013

This is the best beauty box I've received in a long time, thanks Lust Have It.  I needed to contact the company this month about a missing product and they responded straight away and I got the product in the mail the next week.  Very impressed with the customer service.

The new packaging is lovely, the only thing that would improve it would be the removal of the company's logo on the spine.  Looking around the web, I think I got the best version of this months's box. I received:

Lush Emotional Brilliance in "Sophisticated" (full size)

Described by Lush as "shimmering taupe" I found the shade to be very wearable for a less dramatic everyday eye look. It was extremely easy and mess free to apply and lasted and lasted. I think I'm going to buy some of the other products in this range.  My favourite from this month's box.

Nude by Nature BB Cream in "Medium" (full size)

I would have chosen "Light" but when I had a go with "Medium" it was exactly the right shade.  It was perfect for a no make-up look and I've been using this daily since I received it.  I apply it with the Kabuki brush (see below) so there's no mess on my fingers and application is easy.  I wish Lust Have It would send out foundations tailored to people's skin tone. I got luckier than some bloggers (some pale skinned girls received "Dark") and I'm pretty excited to try this.

Lust Have It Kabuki brush (full size)

This is actually the third kabuki brush in my collection so it will be perfect to put in my travel bag as it's a short handled version. I use a kabuki brush every day and find them perfect for foundation application. This brush is lovely and soft and dense. I tried it out straight away and it works very well.

Klorane Shampoo and Conditioner (sachets)

I'd prefer a slightly larger sample size as it's difficult to assess a product on one application and I have long hair so there's never enough conditioner in a sachet. Having said that, there were three full sized products in this month's box so I'm not too annoyed at the small size and it did smell amazing.

Avene Cleanance Skin Range (large sample size)

I've already received this range in a previous box but I've just finished the gel cleanser and loved it so I've happy to have another to go on with. I didn't try the exfoliant as it's not suitable for my skin type. The gel cleanser is, however, very good indeed and worth a purchase when I run out.  It's really grown on me since my last review.

Check out other bloggers reviews of this month's box:

Beauty Down Under
Shrinking Wallet
The Beaute Buzz
Miss Tango 2
Aleesang

Lust Have It - October 2012

The Lust Have It box for October has arrived packed full of goodies. I got the fun and flirty box.

Mask in a Cup Facial Mask (full size)

It was fun to mix this up in the little cup and I certainly got plenty of mask.  The mask went warm once mixed with water which was suprising.  I found it to be gentle and a relaxing way to treat my face in the bath.

NYX Cosmetics Girls Nail Polish (full size)

I got Milano. I thought from looking at the bottle that it was going to be a rather unattractive brown, though my husband disagreed and voted for silver. After a couple of coats it turned out to be a slightly sparkly silver with a hint of brown. I quite like it. I'm tying to move away from just pinks and reds and this made a nice change.

Avene Cleanance Skin (sample sizes, enough for three or so applications)

Gel Cleanser - This was nothing special when I used it, but after I finished cleansing and followed it up with the accompanying moisturiser I've noticed that my skin feels smoother than usual. There was enough in the bottle for quite a few goes (though not enough of the moisturiser to accompany it) so I'll finish using this. I'm not sure it was special enough to purchase a full sized bottle though.

Cream Exfoliant - I didn't try this. I squinted at the tiny writing on the bottle and discovered that it was going to have a skin peeling effect. I've done that a couple of times by accident when I've had a bad reaction to a cleanser and I can't imagine doing that to myself on purpose. This one went in the bin! I did really appreciate that it was written clearly on the bottle though so I could avoid damaging my skin by accident.

Anti-Shine Moisturiser - This little product did exactly what it said. It was totally no-shine. I got a bit worried when my skin tingled when I first applied it. I almost quickly wiped it off again. Luckily the reaction didn't go any further and my face is fine.

Caron Waxaway Ready To Use Sensitive Wax Strips (two strips, not enough to do a full wax)

I don't wax. And now I know why. Ouch! Every follicle on the strip I waxed is now red and angry with me. The strip worked just fine, and the accompanying after-wax wipe was soothing, but my leg looks so angry there's no way I would want my whole leg to look like that. Three hours later every follicle is still red and angry looking. Not a good look.

Star & Rose White Bath Fizzer (full size)

I thought this was doing nothing. It melted nice and quickly into my bath and completely dissapeared. I usually like my bath to have a pretty colour or some bubbles or something. I couldn't tell there was anything in there at all. I was all set to blog that the fizzer had done absolutely nothing, until I dried myself off after my bath. Then I noticed that I didn't need to moisturise my legs. I had shaved the bits I couldn't cover with the wax sample which usually dries out my skin. So I guess the fizzer did do something after all. It's not a product I would choose though, for a luxury relaxing bath product I like to see it (the aforementioned colour or bubbles do the trick).

Check out other bloggers reviews of this month's box:

Shrinking Wallet
Kitsch Snitch
Bottled Beauty
Beauty Down Under