Bellabox September 2015

The past couple of months I have been pondering whether or not to renew my Bellabox subscription when it runs out in January. When I first started getting Bellabox I was so impressed with all the different types of products that all seemed so exciting and new. But recently I have found the past few months to be quite repetitive and lackluster, until this month that REALLY excited me. To be honest I didn’t have high hopes this month after having a stalk through the #bellabox hashtag on Instagram and seeing photos of boxes full of left over products from last month as well as completely random items like ovulation tests.  This box contained such a variety of different products and I rediscovered brands that had slipped my mind and found others that excited me and made me want to run out and buy all their products.

Jurlique Purely Age-Defying Firming Treatment Mask

This mask is a firming paper mask for the face and neck that uses botanical extracts like Beech Tree Bud, Pueraria Lobata and Willow Bark to assist collagen deficiency, reduce the appearance of age and dark spots and lift hydration. I used to use Jurlique products so much when I was first starting university and was utterly in love with their Lavender hand cream. I loved their products and would purchase them for family members at Christmas who then fell in love with them as well. I loved the whole natural and soothing aesthetic that the brand presented and thought it was a great Aussie brand to get behind. Then I found out that Jurlique sell in the Chinese market and by doing so have their products tested on animals over there as it is part of the regulatory standards for the Chinese beauty industry. I was so disgusted. I immediately stopped buying any Jurlique products, as did my family because I found the whole thing so incredibly shady.  Even on their website they continually backflip on their animal testing which you can read about here. A lot of great brands including Dermalogica and Urban Decay have refused to sacrifice their animal testing policies to enter the Chinese market, so Jurlique could have easily too. As a company that says they are the leaders in natural skincare, I don’t think it is very natural to pour your products into poor defenseless bunny eyes. TESTS ON ANIMALS. Deluxe Sample.

Red Earth Australia Lip Nectar Intensive Therapy Lip Salvation in Pomegranate

When I was growing up I remember my mum using pretty much only Red Earth makeup. I was obsessed with the single eyeshadows and remember them being so beautiful and sparkly in the gorgeous silver tins. Then the brand kind of disappeared off the map until this year when they have delivered a bit of a brand overhaul. I’m so excited for this because I think Red Earth are such a great Australian company that produces quality products. At first this lip product does come across as a bit thick and sticky, but once applied to the lips it thins out and leaves lips feeling SO hydrated and plump and also gives a nice long-lasting subtle pop of shimmery colour. I received the shade pomegranate, which isn’t pomegranate, but instead a really light natural pink that’s kind of your lips but better. I was so excited when I received this lip product in my Bellabox and jumped straight onto their website to have a bit of a sticky beak and was so impressed. The products and packaging are absolutely stunning and give off a bit of a Charlotte Tilbury vibe with the glamorous gold and I really want to try the Secret Potion Illuminating Skin Fluid, as it looks absolutely gorgeous. Next I jumped to the FAQ’s to double check that they are still a cruelty free company, and they are! I’m so excited to have some Red Earth back into my life and will definitely be purchasing more products from them in the future. Cruelty Free. Full Size $22.

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water

I’ve heard so many people rave about this product because they find it to be a dupe for the very expensive Bioderma. I was going to pick this up once my last bottle of Bioderma ran out a few months ago but I found a cruelty free Australian alternative in the Swisse Micellar Water and have been so chuffed with it. Still I was excited to give this one a go and to finally try it out and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised! It removed all my makeup and left my skin feeling cool and refreshed without being irritated. It was a nice product and I have to say compared to Bioderma I would actually prefer this. But I still prefer my Swisse version between the three as it is free of a lot more nasties than the other two, is Australian made and Cruelty free. While the Garnier one is good, I would recommend the Swisse version overall. TESTS ON ANIMALS. Full Size. $6.95.

Milk & Co. by Lindy Klim Hand Quench

I am so in love with this hand cream it is absolutely beautiful. The smell is so delightful and reminds me of musk stick lollies. I put this straight on my hands because they were quite dry and a little bit flaky and it instantly treated them and left me with beautifully soft hands in mere seconds. Hand Quench contains cocoa, shea butter, sesame oil, vitamin E as well as lots of other nourishing ingredients. In other hand products these ingredients can sometimes feel quite heavy and leave you with really greasy hands, but this formula is so light and absorbs instantly so you can open door handles with ease and not have your hands sliding about. This Bellabox also included a discount voucher for the range that I will definitely be using, I want to run straight out and buy the full size of this delight! This is the first product that I have tried from the Milk & Co. range and I am beyond impressed. All their products are free from animals testing and parabens, are made in Melbourne and all the packaging is recyclable. I love nothing more than supporting amazing local brands and this is one we should all get behind. Cruelty Free. Sample Size.

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel

This water gel is incredibly lightweight and the tiniest amount of this goes the longest way. It leaves skin feeling refreshed and is really cooling. At first I thought this was Neutrogena’s way of creating an updated moisturiser until I read that it is to be worn on its own or under your regular day creams, so it must be like a serum to offer an extra boost of hydration if you suffer from really dry skin. It’s an interesting concept and it does feel lightweight and also absorbs into the skin really nicely so I could see it working well with other products. Though it was nice enough it didn’t really impress or wow me and I would rather skip an unnecessary skin care step and use a more multitasking moisturiser. TESTS ON ANIMALS. Sample Size.

BONUS

Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula with Vitamin E

I feel like every Bellabox I receive comes with a sample sachet of Palmer’s Cocoa Butter. It is okay because they are a bonus and aren’t taking the spot of a bigger product but I feel like its become a bit boring and stale and some different Bonus sachets could be used. But nonetheless this will get used and I don’t want to sound like a spoiled brat because it is a bonus after all! Cruelty Free. Sample Size.

Disappointing Products #2

Revlon Bold Lacquer by Grow Luscious Length & Volume Mascara

This mascara was just a clumpy disaster. As soon as you pull the wand out of the tube the mascara formula is all clumpy and thick all over the bristles of the brush. While the brush shape is good to get to the root of the lashes, the bristles on the brush don’t provide any separation and you’re left with about three eyelashes after they have all clumped together. If you’re looking for length and volume I would recommend Fat Lash by ModelCo, it is a much better alternative and my holy grail mascara. I wouldn’t say this gives any length or volume and the formula is very wet so don’t blink otherwise it will end up everywhere. TESTS ON ANIMALS

Universal Beauty Tint Stick

I love tints, I find them so effortlessly beautiful to apply to the cheeks and lips for a beautiful and natural flush of colour. The benefit ones were my favourite until I decided to switch to cruelty free, so when this one from Universal Beauty popped up in a Bellabox one month I put it on and immediately loved it. It was a bit brighter than normal but it applied nicely and I thought it would be a nice addition. That is until I tried to remove it. Normally tints and stains are a bit tricky to remove but a good eye and lip remover will usually do the trick. Before I hopped in the shower I used makeup wipes, cleansing oils, soaps, everything I could think of and it wouldn’t come off. Then I jumped in the shower and cleansed with my Clarisonic and it still wouldn’t come off. It lasted nearly three days of showers and washing my face every morning and night until it began to fade. Also when I applied it some got on my hands so I had to walk around with it stained on my hands for days that even my compulsive hand washing couldn’t remove. It’s a nice tint and I love the fact that it’s cruelty free but it is just too much hassle for me considering how bad it stains to keep it. Cruelty Free.

Estee Lauder Sumptious Extreme Mascara

For mascara that retails for $48 this was pretty bad. The length of the brush and the shape of the wand make it so extremely awkward to apply and to get into the inner corners to get those baby lashes. I curl my lashes before I apply mascara and even with curling this mascara made my eyelashes look so lackluster and a little bit clumpy. Because the wand is so difficult to use it makes it hard to get right to the root of the lashes to give that great vavavoom lift and you’re just left with all the product on the end. The formula also is pretty terrible and every time you touch your eyes it gets all over your face and hands, even when it’s dried! I expected such great things from this mascara but it really was quite a mess. TESTS ON ANIMALS.

Empties #11

REN Flash Rinse 1 Minute Facial

This was an absolute treat and a beautiful pick me up for my skin. Enriched with Vitamin C you apply this all over your face and when you add water it activates the little beads within the formula that literally burst on your face. It is such a bizarre sensation. Once all the beads have popped you leave it on your face for one minute and then rinse off. You’re left with beautiful refreshed and clean skin; it’s like a mini at home facial. It is also incredibly quick and easy so it could be worked into the busiest of routines. Every product I have tried from the REN brand has been beyond amazing and I will definitely be buying the full size. Cruelty Free.

Go-To Skincare Exfoliating Swipeys

These are an absolute lifesaver for anyone who suffers from blocked pores, acne scarring or pigmentation. After I used these, all the products I apply after like serums and treatments work so well because they just create such a clean canvas to apply other products. The single use wipes contain AHA’s to exfoliate without the use of harsh scrubs. After you’ve wiped one of these all over your face hold it up and look at everything that it has managed to pick up off your skin, it’s amazing. It's like a gentle glue free version of a Biore pore strip. I can’t go a week without these, so I had already purchased a new replacement before I got down to my last swipey in this jar. They are also free from nasties like parabens, synthetic fragrances, sulfates and silicones so they won’t upset your skin. Cruelty Free.

Paula’s Choice Resist Intensive Wrinkle Repair Retinol Serum

When I saw that the name of this serum included the word ‘Wrinkle’ I thought that it wouldn’t really do much for me since I only have a few fine lines around my eyes. So I opened my laptop, jumped on the Google machine and decided to do a bit of research. The reviews for this product are through the roof and people of all ages including as young as 18 use this product for many different skin concerns. While it might be marketed as a wrinkle repair serum, because this contains retinol it actually works to target a multitude of skin concerns including age spots, sun damage, redness and acne scarring. The last two concern me a lot so I started using this product a few nights a week until it ran out and have been so happy with the results. I used this after the Exfoliating Swipeys and before Face Hero from Go-To Skincare and these three little products soon became my little skin saving treatment trilogy. I saw a noticeable reduction in redness and of my acne scarring to the point that I switched from wearing full coverage foundations like DoubleWear to barely there light coverage foundations like Naked Skin from Urban Decay. My skin still isn’t 100% but I feel so much more comfortable going out without makeup and this product has helped achieve that. The deluxe sample lasted me about two months of on and off use, so I will definitely be repurchasing the full size which retails for only $40. While that may seem expensive for some, for the results I’ve seen it is definitely worth it. Like REN products, I have never tried a product from Paula’s Choice that I haven’t liked so when I repurchase this online I will be picking up a few more to try out. Cruelty Free.

Antipodes Avocado Pear Nourishing Night Cream

I have such mixed feelings on this cream and I still don’t know how I feel about it. I received a deluxe sample of this in one of the Priceline goody bags and I have heard so many beauty gurus rave about this cream so I was definitely pumped to give it a go. I was not the biggest fan of its smell and when applied it initially sits on the skin and doesn’t sink in, so you’re left feeling quite greasy. When I would wake up in the morning though my skin would look and feel so amazing. It was just so bright, glowy and hydrated. It contains avocado oil, Manuka honey, shea butter and vitamin E so it does leave skin feeling quite luxurious and despite all the oils and butters it never once broke me out; and I have quite oily skin. I didn’t like the feeling or smell of this cream once applied to my skin but I did like the results it provided, especially with the harsh drying Melbourne winters. I’m still not quite sold on this, so I don’t know how I would feel about repurchasing it straight away, but in the future I might go back and give it another go. Cruelty Free.

Covergirl Lash Perfection Mascara in Black

I picked this up at a Heat Cosmetic warehouse sale because I needed a bunch of back up mascaras to keep in my bathroom. I really wasn’t expecting great things from this product as it kind of looked a bit mediocre, but holy guacamole this mascara is like the wonderbra for lashes. The rubber brush contains so many tiny little bristles that one swipe of this leaves your lashes separated and lifted like nobodies business and leaves you with beautiful bambi doe eyes. I actually couldn’t believe how insanely wonderful this mascara was and how I had gone 23 years without using it. It was actually one of the best mascaras I have ever used. But. There are two downsides to this kickass mascara. One: It is discontinued, like most of the products you pick up at the Heat Cosmetic Sales. Two: Covergirl test on animals and this is the biggest deal breaker for me. But that’s all right; I will just go back to using my holy grail ModelCo Fat Lash Mascara after I have used up the other six I have stored in my bathroom. TESTS ON ANIMALS.

Avene Rich Compensating Cream

Unlike the Antipodes cream I did not have mixed feelings for this product at all. It was beyond amazing. I would compare the feeling of this cream to jumping into the cool ocean on a 42-degree day; it just leaves you feeling so refreshed and comfortable. I received these two mini samples from my local pharmacy when I was picking a few products up and the two tiny tubes lasted me a week. I would slather this all over my face at night and it instantly got rid of any dryness, soothed breakouts and left skin feeling incredibly hydrated. I also noticed that whenever I used this that my face wouldn’t be as red as it usually is from my acne scarring. Unfortunately though, despite this being another absolutely incredible 10/10 product from Avene, I will not be able to repurchase due to the fact the Avene do condone animal testing and I’m sure (fingers crossed) that I will be able to find a cruelty free alternative to this wonderfully nourishing cream. TESTS ON ANIMALS.

The Parcel by Marie Claire 20th Anniversary Edition

This edition of The Parcel isn’t seasonal themed like it usually is but is instead celebrating the 20^th Anniversary of Marie Claire Australia. Now for this momentous occasion I was expecting massive wonderful glittery fireworks things but instead was feeling a little bit dejected. Yes it was full of big name brands and no tiny sachet samples but I felt like there wasn’t a hero piece to celebrate the anniversary. It just felt like a regular old box from The Parcel, which is far from regular or ordinary, but for an anniversary box I was expecting a bit more pizazz. But nonetheless it was still pretty magnificent and still clocked in at over $100 in value, which is pretty darn good if you ask me.

L’Oreal Paris Colour Riche Matte Lipstick in 640 Erotique

The colour I received is a matte mauve that is quite in fashion at the moment thanks to similar colours being slapped all over the pout of Kylie Jenner.  I don’t own a colour like this because I tend to go more towards bright pops of colour, but when I applied this I was so surprised at how much I liked it. It looks beautiful against very pale skin and gives off a bit of a 90’s grunge vibe. I do find the packaging quite cheap and when I removed the quality seal it ripped off all the gold underneath. Even where there wasn’t any tape the gold has already started to flake off and that’s from only removing it from the box, swatching and applying once. So it isn’t the hardiest packaging. The formula is quite soft and applies ridiculously smooth like you’re running butter across your lips. As much as I love the formula of this lippie, I wouldn’t repurchase others from the range as L’Oreal are big advocates of animal testing. NOT CRUELTY FREE.

Clinique Smart Custom-Repair Serum

I was so excited when I saw the deluxe sample of this serum in the box because I have wanted to try it for forever and a day. I mainly use serums to help with the left over redness from having cystic acne and I’ve had such amazing results using serums and treatment oils from Paula’s Choice and Go-To Skincare and this product has such rave reviews online. It has a beautiful fresh scent like all Clinique products do and is a peachy coloured lightweight serum that absorbs really nicely into the skin. You have to use this morning and night to see the best results so this might not last too long, but hopefully I will get some results. After it is finished up though I will not repurchase as Clinique do test on animals, which is incredibly disappointing as they were previously a cruelty free company before being taken over. NOT CRUELTY FREE.

St Tropez Gradual Tan In Shower

I’m not a fan of tanning and have only tried it about three times in my life. I like to just stick to my natural ghostly colour because I find it a lot less messy and tiresome, but if I were to try a tan this would probably be it. After cleansing in the shower you apply this all over your body, wait three minutes and then rinse it all off and once you get out of the shower you skin will begin to darken. This tan sounds pretty appealing because there isn’t much of a mess factor like you get with regular tan but still this summer I will be sticking to my lilywhite skin and will be passing this product onto my mum or a friend who can really appreciate it.  Cruelty Free.

John Frieda Frizz Ease Smooth Start Shampoo & Conditioner

Shampoo and conditioner are fail-safe options to include in beauty boxes because it’s always a great item to have a backup of in your bathroom. This one from John Frieda is meant to protect the hair from humidity and friziness and leave locks beautifully smooth and ready for styling. This will be perfect for summer if it delivers results and it smells really fresh due to it being enriched with olive oil. It is also safe to use on coloured hair.  NOT CRUELTY FREE.

MOR Rosa Noir Hand & Body Milk

This product is so absolutely divine that it’s ridiculous. Made with shea butter, macadamia oil, wild rose extract, hibiscus and fig this is an absolute dream for dry skin. It is very liquid, so a small amount goes a long way, and when rubbed in it leaves skin feeling so incredibly soft and absorbs instantly. It absorbs so quick you wouldn’t even know if you applied it or not, it's like The Flash of beauty products. The smell is so delicious and it smells like a rich ladies bathroom. Strange description? Yes. Accurate? Yes. Cruelty Free.

Redwin Coconut Balm

This balm which contains 100% certified organic coconut oil is meant to act like a do it all balm that can treat anything from chapped lips to burns, cuts and insect bites. It is free from parabens, animal testing and surprisingly petroleum jelly. Why is that surprising you ask? Well considering all the recent backlash against the Lucas Paw Paw ointment being touted no good as it is just a fancy version of Vaseline, it seems you could find an alternative in the Redwin Coconut Balm. I applied this on the back of my hands because that’s where my skin is the driest from so much hand washing. It was great for the dry skin and smelt SO divine but it did leave a greasy heavy feeling. It didn’t absorb at all and kind of just sat there. The balm is incredibly thick unlike the MOR product, which instantly absorbed.  BUT on lips this stuff is amazing! It should definitely be marketed just as a lip balm because it is so soothing on really dry and chapped lips. Cruelty Free.

Estee Lauder Modern Muse Le Rouge

This smells absolutely beautiful and is the perfect scent for spring! It has a very light floral but fruity smell. I find quite a lot of Estee Lauder perfumes very heavy and powdery smelling sometimes just so overwhelming to the nostrils, but this scent is absolutely beautiful. NOT CRUELTY FREE.