Latest in Beauty Box January 2017 | Review
19:33
I love bargains. That's it, now you know it too. Nothing beats a good deal, a great way of saving those pennies. As a cheap person I seldom buy something for the full price, it needs to be something truly necessary in order for me not to wait for a 10% or 'buy one get one something' or 'free gift with this purchase'. I like feeling I am getting something a bit extra for my money and, let's be honest, sales are pretty frequent in the world of online shopping so it's not like you are waiting for that one day in the year!
As well as liking that "% off" I also like subscription boxes, especially the ones which allow you to pick and choose what you would like. Out of all subscription boxes, I came across Latest in Beauty provides you with the biggest "power of bargain"! Can be used as a subscription box or a one-off purchase, you can pick up to 9 items for £18 (that's £2 per item if maths is not your strongest asset). The deal is you can pick up 3 items for £9, 6 for £16 or 9 for £18 with free P&P for subscribed members (subscription can be cancelled a week before next payment is due through the personal account).
In addition to selecting your goodies, you can also purchase a pre-made collection for £20-30, however, these normally include non-cruelty/non-natural brands.
Without further adieu, let me show you my recent purchase!
The main reason why I jumped and purchased this box is because of this little gem! Laila London Rose Infused Marula Body Oil 100ml (RRP £19) is aimed to target cellulite, stretch marks, scars and dry skin. The official website recommends this oil for both body and face, however, I have dry skin on my legs I think I will reserve this oil for body only. This company is devoted to use pure natural products, recyclable containers, organic and ethically traded ingredients and of course cruelty-free and vegan! After browsing their website I fell in love with their products and I cannot wait to try them (when I use up some of my current stock). They also offer free P&P which is always a nice bonus.
Back to the oil. Formulated without water and this means it is not diluted and does not require any harsh preservatives (Vitamin E acts as a preservative). I am planning to use this straight after showering to help lock in the moisture. If you are so generous, you can also gift this little bottle because the rose petals are absolutely gorgeous (I will be definitely keeping mine!).
Ingredients: Sclerocarya Birrea (*Marula) Seed Oil, Helianthus Annus (Organic Sunflower) Seed Oil, (Coconut Oil) Coocos Nucifera, (Rosehip) Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Evening Primrose, Citrus Aurantium (Neroli oil), Citrus Reticulata (Mandarin) Oil, (Rose Geranium) Oil Pelargonium Graveolens, Rose Otto, Bergamot - Citral*, Geraniol*, Linalool*, Limonene* *Occurring naturally in essential oils. *Certified Organic
What’s not in it: Formulated without mineral oil, silicone, synthetic fragrances, parabens, PEGs, PPGs, DEA, TEA, urea or phthalates.
Popband London Hair Ties x 2 (approximately £3.20 based on RRP £8 for 5 ties) created with a promise to be more durable than normal hair ties and not dent, kink or damage our hair. There is no metal part which holds the two ends together, instead, it is, in essence, a piece of elastic with a tied knot. The hair ties look very pretty and do not dig into my wrist too. They hold the hair quite well however I am still to truly test them in the gym. Only time will tell if these will stretch out like the regular hair ties but hopes are high they will be as durable as promised!
Optiat Vanilla Velvet Coffee Scrub 90g Travel size (approximately £4 based on RRP £9.99 for 220g). Optiat stands for One Person's Trash Is Another's Treasure which reflects the background of this company - reusing arabica from coffee shops and turn them into body scrubs. They used coffee because it is a natural exfoliator, pH balanced to the skin, stimulated blood flow and full of antioxidants (oh, and it smells amazing!). Each of the four scrubs is infused with moisturising oils to leave your skin super smooth and soft. My only problem is I am scared it might block my shower drain! Everyone knows you are not supposed to flush coffee into your sink so, similarly, you should not be pouring it down you bathtub. In my defence, I only use a small amount each time and try to flush it well with water. I have tried using a half of tea infusing ball on top of the drain but unfortunately, coffee grounds still seep through. Does anyone know a good coffee filter for your bathtub? If you are thinking of starting a business, here is an unexplored niche!
Velvet vanilla is the relaxing and calming scent - squeeze a bit into your palm and massage into damp skin. Leave it for a while (and enjoy the scent) before rinsing off. Cruelty-free and vegan.
Ingredients: Arabica Coffee, Brown Sugar, Sea Salt, Shea Butter, Almond Oil, Mandarin Essential Oil, Vanilla Extract, WW Preservative
(The owner of the company, William, kindly answered my questions. The preservative used is Benzyl alcohol, Dehydro Acetic acid, Sorbic acid and Benzoic acid which makes up less than 1% of the total product. The company does not sell in countries where animal testing is mandatory).
Ila Bath Salts for Cleansing 50g (£4.90 based on RRP £49.00 for 500g). Great for relaxing at the end of the day! Advertised to stimulate circulation, relieve swelling and remove toxins. Simply pour a tablespoon into a bath and relax. The smell is absolutely divine. Cruelty-free and vegan.
Ingredients: Himalayan Salt Crystals (Sodium Chloride), Lavender Oil (Lavandula Augustifolia), Rose Geranium Oil (Pelargonium Graveolens), Juniper Berry Oil (Juniperus Communis), Lemongrass Oil (Cymbopogon Schoenanthus), Patchouli Oil (Pogostemon Cablin), Naturally Occurring Citral, Citronellol, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool.
Amphora Aromatics Orange and Clove mini pot candle (RRP £5 for up to 20-hour burn). Established in 1984, AA are one of the biggest UK suppliers of essential oils and aromatherapies. I will be honest, this is the second time I have ordered this candle (the first one is already used up). I absolutely love candles and I am always on a hunt for another natural great-smelling candle. While this candle does not produce the strongest aroma, it certainly does fill in the room with its zesty clove fragrance! Cruelty-free and vegan.
Ingredients: Pure essential oils and 100% natural plant wax from sustainable sources
The Organic Pharmacy Lip and Eye Cream 10ml (RRP £26.95). Nourishing for both eyes and lips, the product is promised to reduce dark circles, fine lines, and puffiness and hydrate the dry skin. Made in London this cream is made with 70% organic ingredients. I usually do not like the Organic Pharmacy products because of some ingredients they use (such as Grapefruit Seed Extract and Japanese Honeysuckle) but these were not included in the formulation. Vegetarian (beeswax) and cruelty-free.
Ingredients: Aqua (Water), Squalane (Vegetable), Glycerin (vegetable)*, Beeswax (Cera Alba), Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Polyglyceryl-3 Ricinoleate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Sucrose Distearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Eye Bright (Euphrasia Officinalis), Fennel (Foeniculum Vulgare), Bilberry (Vaccinum Myrtillus)*, Magnesium Sulfate, Benzyl Alcohol, Salicylic Acid, Neroli (Citrus Aurantum), Frankincense (Boswellia Serrata), Aloe (Aloe Barbadensis)*, Vitamin E (Tocopherol), Sorbic Acid, Perfum (Essential Oils),
Balance Me Congested Skin Serum Travel size 7ml (£7.50 based on RRP £16 for 15ml). Promised to clear and calm breakout without drying the skin. It is definitely not a miracle and takes some time to clear the spots, use at night after cleansing face. The tube is quite small so dab it only on the problem areas (sometimes it's easier said than done). Vegan and cruelty-free.
Ingredients: Aqua (Water), Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Oil, Glycerin (Vegetable), Moringa Oleifera (Moringa) Seed Oil, Picea Abies (Spruce Knot) Extract, Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Extract³, Papaver Rhoeas (Corn Poppy) Flower Extract, Iris Florentina (Iris) Root Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower Oil¹, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Oil¹, Litsea Cubeba (May Chang) Fruit Oil¹, Eucalyptus Globulus (Eucalyptus) Leaf Oil¹, Anthemis Nobilis (Roman Chamomile) Flower Oil¹, Kunzea Ericoides (Kanuka) Leaf Oil¹, Eugenia Caryophyllus (Clove) Bud Oil¹, Chondrus Crispus (Carrageenan), Sclerotium Gum, Xanthan Gum, Sorbitan Laurate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Polyglyceryl‑4 Laurate, Dilauryl Citrate, Potassium Sorbate, Benzyl Alcohol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Citric Acid, Limonene², Linalool², Geraniol², Citral², Citronellol², Eugenol².
(¹) natural pure essential oils, (²) naturally occurring in essential oils, (³) certified organic ingredient.
Balance Me Restore And Replenish Cream Cleanser 50ml (£7.20 based on RRP £18). I absolutely love cream cleansers because they are gentle and do not over-dry the skin. While this cleanser boasts many good peptides and nourishing oils, I do not believe that cleansers should be the one skincare item which needs investment - it will be quickly washed off into the drain with dirty water. However, if the cost is reasonable I will not be turning it down! Vegan and cruelty-free.
Ingredients: Aqua (Water), Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter³, Glycerin (Vegetable), Coco-Caprylate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Butter, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Pisum Sativum (Pea Peptide) Extract, Tripeptide-29, Rubus Fruticosus (Blackberry) Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Aleurites Moluccana Seed (Kukui Nut) Oil, Crambe Abyssinica Seed (Abyssinian) Oil, Camellia Oleifera Seed (Camellia) Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit (Rosehip) Oil, Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Extract³, Citrus Aurantium Amara (Neroli) Flower Oil¹, Michelia Alba (Magnolia) Flower Oil¹, Michelia Alba (Magnolia) Leaf Oil¹, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil¹, Boswellia Carterii (Frankincense) Oil¹, Citrus Reticulata (Mandarin Red) Peel Oil¹ Cymbopogon Martini (Palmarosa) Oil¹, Styrax Benzoin (Benzoin) Resin Extract¹, Citrus Aurantium Amara (Petitgrain/Bitter Orange) Leaf/Twig Oil¹, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower Oil¹, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Extract, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Xanthan Gum, Maltodextrin, Dehydroacetic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Limonene², Geraniol², Linalool², Benzyl Benzoate², Citral².
(¹) natural pure essential oil, (²) naturally occurring in essential oils, (³) certified organic ingredient.
Last but no the least, Melvita L'Or Bio Extraordinary Oil 17ml (£4.25 based on RRP £25 for 100ml). This oil is suitable for body, face and hair and is formulated with 5 rare and precious oils - Argan oil from Morocco, known for its exceptional skincare properties, is combined with two more unusual oils, Kendi oil from Indonesia and Inca Inchi oil from Amazonia, with regenerating properties, Buriti oil from Brazil helps nourish the skin and promotes a healthy skin glow while Pracaxi oil from Amazonia improves hair shine and strength. I have only been using this oil on my legs and I absolutely love it! I like the spray because it makes applying easier. The smell is absolutely divine and vanilla, jasmine and citrus blend takes you into summer. This oil does deliver - my skin does not feel tight or dry. It also absorbs quite well even though I like to slather it on - well deserved 5-star product! Vegan and cruelty-free.
Ingredients: OCTYLDODECANOL - CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE*** -COCO-CAPRYLATE/CAPRATE - HELIANTHUS ANNUUS (SUNFLOWER) SEEDOIL - ARGANIA SPINOSA KERNEL OIL* - ALEURITES MOLUCCANA SEEDOIL* - PLUKENETIA VOLUBILIS SEED OIL* - PENTACLETHRA MACROLOBASEED OIL* - MAURITIA FLEXUOSA FRUIT OIL* - TOCOPHEROL -PARFUM/FRAGRANCE - BENZYL SALICYLATE** - LINALOOL** -CITRONELLOL** - LIMONENE** - GERANIOL** - EUGENOL** - CITRAL**.
*Ingredients from Organic Farming
**Natural components of fragrance
***Made using organic ingredients
Final word - the overall cost of the box is £82 and I have spent £18. The 'power of bargain' is excellent and being able to choose what you want means no product is wasted.
The summary
The good: Able to choose what you want
The bad: The size and ingredients are not always displayed. Also, when something is gone, it's gone!
The notable: The best bargain power subscription service
Disclaimer - every product in this post has been bought by me with my own money. Please check the official website for up to date information regarding every product. All information presented in this article is opinion of the author and cannot be taken as a fact.
Agave Bun x
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