The Natural Beauty Box May 2017 | Review

02:56


I said it before and I will say it again - I love simplicity in ingredients! There is no denial, it is very exciting to discover a product with a super ingredient which does wonders, however, to make a product more appealing (and perhaps to make suitable for everyone), companies seldom limit the ingredient list, hence the number of super nourishing oils and super powerful extracts is longer than my to-do list! Personally, this irritates me in several ways. First, say there are 30 ingredients in a moisturiser and they all have their own unique properties for which they have been selected. However, when you apply this moisturiser, you only use approximately half a millilitre per application. How much of a difference can an individual ingredient make in such case, especially when they are at the bottom of the ingredient list? Second, reading a long list of ingredients makes it easy to miss ingredients you are possibly avoiding, especially if it is an unfamiliar brand. Add tiny print, poor lighting, tired eyes and will get wasted money on a product you will not be using. Rant over. Breathe in, breathe out.

This month theme of The Natural Beauty Box is Beauty of Simplicity, meaning all of the selected products contain no more than 8 ingredients each - whoop whoop! 

Nourish Beauty Box April 2017 - Review

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Nourish Beauty Box is a subscription service based in the USA. Their selling point? All of the products included in the monthly box are vegan, gluten-free, cruelty-free. What about P&P charges you say? They are included too! That's right, free worldwide tracked shipping. In fact, the customs must have also been pre-paid because I did not have to pay any additional fees when this lovely box finally founds its way into my hands. The subscription service is available on the rolling monthly, 3 monthly and 6 monthly services, ranging from $31.95 to $34.95 per box. The products tend to be revealed in the middle of the month, however, you are guaranteed to get the same items in you order the box before the end of the said month. Why it is great? If you are like me and you do not like surprises, you do not have to be subscribed before you find out the contents. Also, if you happen to catch a glimpse of the box you really like on someone else's IG post, you will probably have enough time to get a box yourself. Frequently, previous boxes are also available in the online shop for $45.

LoveLula May 2017 Beauty Box

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I quite enjoyed my last LoveLula Beauty Box and so I decided to keep the subscription going. The Beauty Box is still £12.50/month with free P&P within the UK with overall value frequently more than twice of what you pay and the contents are kept as a secret. LoveLula is a natural online store, however, it is not possible to have a preference for a fully vegan or gluten free box. Everyone receives the same contents except for international buyers for whom nail varnish and/or perfume will be substituted for something of equal value. I have found about the contents of the box from an Instagram post before I returned home to discover mine was sitting patiently on the stairs.

Review: The Pip Box April 2017

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The Pip Box is a relatively new cruelty-free monthly subscription box which offers 5 full sized and travel sized skincare, makeup, body and hair care. The primary focus is on cruelty-free hence natural and vegan items are not guaranteed. 50p from every box is donated to Animal Free Research UK charity.

Catching waves with Deep Steep

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I started using Deep Steep products many many moons ago and I still love their products just as much as I did when this lovely discovery was made. 

This USA based company used to be available in the UK, however, for unknown to me reasons, all of the stockists have discontinued their products. Two out of three items below are actually from my old stash that I have purchased through the Feeling Unique website, the other was bought through Amazon when no local stockists were left. Currently, these products can only be imported from abroad and every time I have raised this fact on their social media, I was directed to purchase from iHerb. One might question why would a company not refer customers to their own website instead and this could be because the official website has a flat international shipping rate of $50 which is the highest I have ever seen. Fortunately, my local TK Maxx stocks a lot of items from the Deep Steep range. The whole range features over 15 different scent collections and I am slowly making my way through them. The majority of the products are vegan, with exception of the Fresh Honey collection and moisture sticks which contain beeswax.

The Natural Beauty Box April 2017

08:56


I think one of my favourite times of the month is receiving this subscription box. Honestly, I think it is one of best available on the natural market. I enjoy many things about it - it is all vegan (apart from 1 item in the first box released in January), it is all safe, it introduces to well known and indie brands, you get good sized products (none of those 1ml samples) and so on and so forth. I am truly in awe how Emma (the founder of the Natural Beauty Box) puts so much effort into each box, creating a theme and carefully selects each item. I think this box, with the theme Gold and Delicious, is probably my favourite out of all.

Myroo Superfood Balm Raspberry and Cucumber RRP £25 for 40ml

I have oily skin on my face but the body is a different story. I have dry hands and dry patches on my legs. Recently, I came on the quest to find the best deodorant for myself (spoiler alert, I am still not there yet). Some of the deodorants I am using contain a high proportion of bicarbonate of soda to which I am sensitive. To protect my skin, I apply a layer of balm to my armpits before layering with a deodorant. So where was I? Oh yes, balms! This balm excited my eyes with its star ingredients - raspberry and cucumber seed oils which are anti-inflammatory, nourishing and strengthening. When I opened the box I was pleasantly surprised by the generous size of the tub. For some reason I was under the impression we will get a small travel sized version, however, it is full sized 40ml version.


First, look at this colour. Isn't it gorgeous? So rich and even. The smell was actually a lot less powerful than I expected but I do not like overly scented products because it is always a potential for irritation. The smell is very light and gives a fruity vibe. The best is the texture. As soon as you touch the balm this soft goodness melts, so you do not need to dig in with a spatula (or nails) and then warm it up between your hands. The balm glides nicely on my skin, leaving it soft and nourished. I love everything about this balm and more people do need to try it! 

Ingredients: Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Butter, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Carica (Papaya) Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Butter, Hydrogenated Vegetable (Olive) Oil - Olea Europea - Tocopherol, Brassica Oleracea Italica (Broccoli) Seed Oil, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Seed Oil, Rubus Idaeus (Raspberry) Seed Oil, Olive Squalane, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Beta-Carotene, Citrus Nobilis (Mandarin) Peel Oil, Coriandrum Sativum (Coriander) Seed Oil, Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Root Oil, *Linalool, *d-Limonene, *Geraniol
*Naturally occurring in essential oils
Vegan, organic, made in the UK


Fitzjohn Golden Body Oil RRP unknown for 50ml

This travel sized version was exclusively available to the subscribers of the box, it was not even launched! There is one way to make you feel special. What surprised me the most is how rich the colour was. Deep orange, immediately making me think "Sea Buckthorn". Sea Buckthorn is one of my favourite ingredients because it has an endless amount of beneficial properties and full of fatty acids, amino acids and vitamins. And the most convincing argument? My granny used it and what can be a better trust test than granny's approval? If you are not sold on the sea buckthorn, the body oil also features nourishing coconut, macadamia and moringa oils. I think the slight sediment like seen in the bottle is due to coconut oil solidifying in cold temperature. This does not make a difference during the application, the oil glides and nourishes my skin.


Let's go back to grannies because the smell of this body oil brings me back to my childhood, when I am, as a little nosey girl, going through the makeup bag of my granny. I open up the powder compact and the powerful floral powdery smell hits me. This flashed in front on my eyes when I took the bottle to my nose. Such a sentimental detail to me about a forgotten memory. I love how this smell stays on my pyjamas and keeps bringing me back to my childhood again and again.
Ingredients: Prunus Armeniaca seed oil (Apricot Kernel oil), Macadamia Ternifolia Seed oil (Macadamia Nut oil), Cocos Nucifera (Coconut Butter), Moringa Oleifera seed oil (Moringa oil), Passiflora edulis seed oil (Passionflower oil), Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Hippophae rhamnoides Fruit Extract (Sea Buckthorn), Parfum (essential oils), Citronellol*, D-Limonen*, Geraniol*, Linalool*
Vegan, made in the UK

Isla Apothecary Lemongrass + Rosemary Renew Foot Scrub RRP £14 for 120g

The majority of you do not know but, for some peculiar coincidence, Emma features many products that are on my mental wishlist. I do not know how she does it but so many times, during a product reveal, I was left speechless at this nearly magic ability. Isla is the brand I wanted to try for a while now and the luxurious copper packaging is just mesmerising. 


I have very tickly feet so feet exfoliation is not my favourite part but this step in body care is still important. The ground pumice and Epsom salts can help to buff away the dead skin, while baobab and sweet almond oils will hydrate and nourish. The blend can also be used as a soak after a tiring day on the feet. Plus, the travel size means the tub can be taken on holidays to pamper the feet after a long day of exploring.
Ingredients: Magnesium Sulphate (Epsom Salt) + Prunus amygdalus dulcis (Sweet Almond) oil + Adansonia digitata (Baobab) oil + Ground Pumice Powder + Tocopherol (Vitamin E) oil + Rosmarinus officinalis (Rosemary) oil + Cymbopogon flexuosus (Lemongrass) oil. Naturally occurring allergens found in these essential oils: Citral, Eugenol, Geraniol, Citronellol, Limonene, Linalool.
Vegan, made in the UK

Fruu Mango Lip Balm RRP £2.99 for 4g

Lip balms and hand creams are 2 products that I go through like they are going out of fashion. I had an eye for a Fruu lippie for a while now so I was pretty happy to see one being featured in the box. Lip balms come in a variety of flavours such as pomegranate, watermelon and lime, however, this box contained mango flavour. When I first saw the shape, I became very excited because it resembles the oval shape of my favourite Hurraw! balms. These lippies are also cheaper and locally made so I was curious to see if these can become a suitable alternative. 

The consistency of the balm is very hard and it does not melt easily into lips. The smell is very faint and the taste is not offensive. What I did not like is how it feels on the lips. It is hard to describe but feels like a cheap lipstick, giving you the constant awareness of its presence on your lips. After 4 days of using it, I decided to get in touch with the company to see if they had any tips or suggestions. I sent my email on Sunday (during a long weekend) and received a reply within just a few hours. Indeed, my observations were not singular. The formulation is designed to provide more hydration than a conventional lip balm, hence the banana extract is added, which can give a tacky sensation on the lips. Due to such feedback, the company is working to provide the same benefit with a more pleasant finish. I was offered a replacement, however, I did not take it because it did not seem like there will be a difference in texture and I wanted to see if I can make my lip balm work. By Sod's Law, the same day I sent my email, I decided to apply the lippie after having a hot cup of tea. And guess what? It glided like butter and felt soft like velvet! It seems that warmer temperatures work better for this lip balm and since the summer is coming, I should be able to make a good use out of this balm. In the past couple of days the weather was very good and I have been frequently using Fruu lip balm without any problems. I am not sure if the issue was with cold weather or the top layers of the balm.

I really wanted to fall in love with this lip balm because the brand is local and supportive of small businesses and charity bake sales. Also, the products are vegan and affordable. Unfortunately, the decent competitor for my favourite lip balm is still to be discovered.
Ingredients: Euphorbia cerifera cera (Candelilla wax), Cocos nucifera (Coconut) oil, Simmondsia chinensis (Jojoba) seed oil, Theobroma cacao seed (Cocoa) butter, Mangifera indica (Mango) seed butter, Persea gratissima  (Avocado) oil, Aloe barbadensis (Aloe Vera) leaf extract, Butyrospermum parkii (Shea) butter, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Xylitol, Aroma (flavour), Musa sapientum (Banana) fruit extract, Stevia rebaudiana leaf/stem extract, Linalol.
Vegan, made in the UK

Dreamybath Ylang-Ylang Bath Bomb RRP £1.80

I am not a huge fan of bath bombs or bath melts because these are really single-use products and are more aesthetically appealing rather than functionally. Plus, in a case of bath melts, oils will be floating above the water so only a small part of skin will be in contact versus scrubbing the whole bathtub as the aftermath. Despite that, I can see their appeal and they can be a fun addition to the pampering session. I really like the small rose petals detail in this bath bomb.  


Vegan, organic, made in the UK.

The overall value of this box is £56.50 plus you receive two discount codes for Myroo and Fitzjohn brands.




Disclaimer - products are 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 the opinion of the author and cannot be taken as a fact.



Agave Bun x 

The Healthy Body Kit April 2017

10:13

The Healthy Body Kit from April 2017 edition is featuring some of my old favourites and new exciting additions. The selection for April offered a variety of food options in addition to the usual health and sports relations. I have previously provided the background information on the Healthy Body Kit here. All items selected for this box are vegan and the overall value of this box is over £25.

Terri Verde Yoga and Sports Massage Oil RRP £11 for 30ml
Beautiful body oil for massage or after a workout. Previously mentioned here. 



Green People Sun Lotion SPF15 RRP £6 for 30ml
The summer is approaching and I thought an extra SPF product is not going to hurt. While SPF 15 is not protective enough even during winter, I was thinking of using this cream as a hand cream when I am outside. In such case, the hands will get some sun protection but it should not be too greasy to be unusable. Unfortunately, this lotion has nano titanium dioxide so I will not repurchase it.

 Ingredients: AQUA (SPRING WATER), HELIANTHUS ANNUUS (SUNFLOWER) SEED OIL*, OLEA EUROPAEA (OLIVE) FRUIT OIL*, ELAEIS GUINEENSIS (PALM) OIL*^, ISOAMYL P-METHOXYCINNAMATE (NATURALLY OCCURRING UV-FILTER), TITANIUM DIOXIDE [NANO] (MINERAL UV-FILTER), CETEARYL ALCOHOL (EMULSIFYING PLANT WAX), RHUS VERNICIFLUA PEEL CERA (BERRY WAX), DIETHYLAMINO HYDROXYBENZOYL HEXYL BENZOATE, GLYCERYL STEARATE (PLANT DERIVED EMULSIFIER), CETEARYL GLUCOSIDE (PLANT DERIVED EMULSIFIER), LEONTOPODIUM ALPINUM (EDELWEISS) LEAF EXTRACT*, ALOE BARBADENSIS (ALOE VERA) LEAF JUICE POWDER*, FUCUS VESICULOSUS (SEAWEED) EXTRACT, CHAMOMILLA RECUTITA (CHAMOMILE) FLOWER EXTRACT*, ALTHAEA OFFICINALIS (MARSHMALLOW) ROOT EXTRACT*, PERSEA GRATISSIMA (AVOCADO) OIL*, CAMELLIA SINENSIS (GREEN TEA) LEAF EXTRACT*, INOSITOL (FROM CAROB FRUITS), COMMIPHORA MYRRHA (MYRRH) OIL^, ROSMARINUS OFFICINALIS (ROSEMARY) LEAF EXTRACT*, AROMA [LAVANDULA HYBRIDA (LAVANDIN) HERB OIL*], SODIUM STEAROYL GLUTAMATE (PLANT DERIVED EMULSIFIER), GLUCONOLACTONE, SODIUM BENZOATE, SODIUM DEHYDROACETATE, PHYTIC ACID, LINALOOL*, LIMONENE*. *82.4% CERTIFIED ORGANIC INGREDIENTS, ^FAIRLY TRADED
Vegan, organic, made in the UK


Well + Happy Raw Chocolate Bar RRP £2.50-£4 for 45g
The addition of chocolate is always exciting! A selection of 5 raw chocolate bars which are free from dairy, gluten, refined sugars and soy. Raw chocolate can be very flavourful and my favourite brand is definitely Ombar chocolates. Unfortunately, the requests for specific flavours to be included in your box were not possible. I received matcha green tea infused white chocolate and topped with quinoa. The texture of the chocolate is very smooth, however, there was little flavour. These bars are more suitable for people who want to reduce their sugar intake but not those like me, who enjoy their treat with a cup of tea.

INGREDIENTS: cacao butter solids*, coconut palm sugar*, coconut milk powder, quinoa*, chicory roots*, green tea matcha powder*. (85% organic ingredients)
Vegan, organic


Urban Fruits Magnificent Mango RRP £1 for 35g
This is my most favourite item in the box and as soon as I had hands on it, I could not resist opening the packet of mangoes. These are baked and not dehydrated hence they are softer and less chewy but nonetheless delicious and sweet. I really hope it will appear again in the subsequent editions.

Ingredients: Mangoes
Vegan


Your Superfoods Power Matcha RRP less than £1 for 5g (sample)
Matcha blend is an excellent addition to smoothies and had been previously reviewed here.


Yuyo Yerba Zing and Yerba Mint RRP £0.62 for 2 teabags
I love getting tea samples because they are excellent for bringing to work and holidays! This edition featured 2 samples to satisfy both the desire for peppermint and fruits. Both of these taste excellent when are cooled down!

Yerba Zing - Ingredients: Yerba mate, lemon and orange peel, peppermint, rosehips and grapefruit essential oil.

Yerba Mint - Ingredients: Yerba mate, peppermint, lemon verbena and garden mint essential oil.
Vegan


Surprise items - Greenfrog Botanic Geranium and Peppermint Body wash RRP £3.90 for 100ml
Previously mentioned here.

Green People Hydrating Aftersun RRP £0.75 for 2 samples
Infused with nourishing olive and sunflower oils and soothing extracts of chamomile, calendula and aloe vera, this lotion is designed to aid healing of the skin after sun exposure. Great to toss into a bag when in case you have been caught out by the good weather!

INGREDIENTS: AQUA (SPRING WATER), ELAEIS GUINEENSIS (PALM) OIL*^, CETEARYL ALCOHOL (EMULSIFYING PLANT WAX), OLEA EUROPAEA (OLIVE) FRUIT OIL*, HELIANTHUS ANNUUS (SUNFLOWER) SEED OIL*, CHAMOMILLA RECUTITA (CHAMOMILE) FLOWER EXTRACT*, CETEARYL GLUCOSIDE (PLANT DERIVED EMULSIFIER), GLYCERYL STEARATE (PLANT DERIVED EMULSIFIER), CALENDULA OFFICINALIS (MARIGOLD) FLOWER EXTRACT*, PRUNUS ARMENIACA (APRICOT) KERNEL OIL*, ALOE BARBADENSIS (ALOE VERA) LEAF JUICE POWDER*, SODIUM STEAROYL GLUTAMATE (PLANT DERIVED EMULSIFIER), COMMIPHORA MYRRHA (MYRRH) OIL^, ROSMARINUS OFFICINALIS (ROSEMARY) LEAF POWDER, AROMA [MENTHA PIPERITA (PEPPERMINT) OIL*^, LAVANDULA ANGUSTIFOLIA (LAVENDER) HERB OIL*^], BENZYL ALCOHOL, SORBIC ACID, GLYCERIN (VEGETABLE DERIVED), SALICYLIC ACID, LINALOOL*, LIMONENE*. *94.5% ORGANIC, ^FAIRLY TRADED
Vegan, organic, made in the UK

Disclaimer - products are 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 the opinion of the author and cannot be taken as a fact.



Agave Bun x 

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