Agave Bun

Continuing with my "what I took with me to Germany" string, this post will focus on body oils. it took me a while to get into the swing of body oils, which is rather surprising because I quickly got on the good terms with facial oils (unlike the majority of people who initially thought facial oils are the next creation of Devil, you know, right after the creation of a bra). While I do love my body oils, I will still say they do not give me as much moisture as I like during winter time so I like to supplement my routine with body butters / lotions. It is summer time so my skin does not complain of being dry and just sticking to lightweight oils works just fine for me.

Those who follow me on Instagram will know I have been spending some time of my summer in Germany (and to be more specific, in Jena - the small but friendly town in eastern Germany). My plan was to stay here for 2 months for work/study reasons, and since I knew very little about the place, I have decided to take all my skincare and toiletries with me (which somehow added 10kg into my baggage - I blame the heavy glass jars!). Sadly, I have made a mistake of putting some of these jars with balms into my carry on, without realising airport security counts them as liquids. It was incredibly heartbreaking to see them take away my favourite Tabitha James Kraan Leave in conditioner and brand new Whamisa face mist! I had to tuck in those tears and get on with my journey. Upon arrival, I found there are plenty of health shops which carry all sorts of goods suitable for vegans, with prices ranging from super affordable to higher end. While I am very tempted to sample everything from the local stores, I will not be able to finish all the products in time for my departure and, sadly, my baggage allowance is not unlimited.

The creme de la cruelty-free. This is the motto of Petit Vour. Do not be fooled by this small pretty box, Petit Vour is natural and cruelty-free online retail and beauty box subscription service which delivers only the best of what green beauty world has to offer. The selection process of each item needs to pass 4 steps:

• .     high-performing, top-shelf formulations that go above and beyond to impress, with
• .     healthy, non-toxic, plant-derived ingredients, 
• .     manufactured ethically with fair labor practices and without animal testing, and
• .     a gorgeous aesthetic that is coveted by all. 

Only if all of these steps are completed, the item will have the honour of being added to the "family".

I have first been introduced to Petit Vour by Teri Miyahira. A small subscription service offers monthly box containing 4-5 full sized and samples of various beauty products (makeup, body care, haircare, skincare etc.) with the total value of approximately $35-40. The price of the box is $15/month plus $10 for tracked worldwide shipping. As a customer from the UK, this means I did not have to pay import taxes or VAT but make sure to check the import charges of your own country before ordering.

Han Skin Care Cosmetics Eye shadow (full size) RRP $13.00

Full sized rice based eye shadow in the universally flattering neutral shade. The colour is peachy with some shimmer. The ingredient list looks like an expensive moisturiser with many skin loving butters and extracts. However, the pigmentation can be improved upon, it takes several swipes to build up some colour (and I am very pale) and if you want to use it as inner corner highlight over other eyeshadows, then you might as well give up now. The wear is also not mind-blowing, this eyeshadow starts to crease quicker before my beloved Jane Iredale eyeshadow. 

Mullein & Sparrow Hydrating Facial Mist (travel size) RRP $9 for 15ml 

When I opened the box the first thing that hit was the smell of geranium. I actually though it was the bath oil that got leaked inside until I realised it was the facial mist. At first strong, the rose aroma shortly after became unbearable and I had to move the box into another room, otherwise, I was risking developing a headache. I have also seen other people complain their mist have leaked in transit, and Petit Vour offered some loyalty points for compensation. The official site suggests the mist originally was with lavender and mint, designed for oily and combination skin types. I have received mist with rose oil for dry and mature skin and obviously, this does not apply to me (it is important to note, rose-based facial mists are pretty much universal and are suitable for every skin type, however, I would have much rather try the mist for oily skin). When you join the subscription service you have to fill in the questionnaire about yourself and I would have preferred if the sent boxes were more individualised according to the provided information, rather than whatever has been randomly put into each box (although that comes at increased processing time and, therefore, cost).

The mist itself is a very classic rose water mist which I like to use in the evening, right before applying hyaluronic acid. It feels refreshing and gentle on the skin. My favourite about it? The nozzle! It sprays so finely the mist is deposited very evenly onto the skin (I am keeping the bottle after I am done with the mist!). Of course, you can also use it as a makeup setting spray or during the day, and if you keep the mist in the fridge, it also adds an amazing cooling effect. Sadly, the full-size 60ml bottle costs $36 and this is way too much that I am prepared to pay for a mist.

Vegan, organic



Juara Java Plus & Avocado Nourishing Face Mask (sample size) RRP $6 for 8ml

Enriched with hyaluronic acid, shea and avocado butter and other skin-loving ingredients, this mask it designed to soothe, hydrate and plump the skin, giving it a dewy finish. This is a leave-on mask, meaning you do not have to wash it off. This actually leads me to a question - how is it different to a moisturiser for a dry skin? It has a creamy consistency and the developers recommend to leave it overnight so that makes it... a night cream? Not that it makes much of a difference, this question comes up time and time again into my mind.

This mask for not suitable for me, however, Mr Bun has dry skin and I got him to try this out instead. Small mistake, do not use too much, otherwise half an hour later it still sits on the face and the excess needs to be blotted away. The verdict is that it makes the skin soft and moisturised but not something a simple moisturiser would not do. There is an overwhelming amount of 5-star rating on the Petit Vour website for this product so this is probably not a bad product, it just did not wow us. And again, rather annoying to receive 2 products for dry skin in one box - a mask for oily or congested skin would have been much more appreciated!



Vegan, organic



Aromatherapy Associates De-Stress Muscle Bath and Shower Oil (sample) RRP $6 for 3ml

I have previously reviewed these shower oils and I really do like them - I love pouring them into a running bath and my bathroom fills with the lavish aroma of essential oils which is incredibly long lasting!  However, I have seen these samples going around in different beauty boxes for a while now and I signed up to this service wanting to try some new and novel products so I feel like this is a well-known product to the subscribers (let's be honest, why sign up for one subscription box when you can sign up for many?)


Vegan, organic, UK brand


Overall, I felt rather underwhelmed by this box. I have seen some very fantastic boxes in the past and I hope the next one will be fantastic too. While the overall value of the items is twice the amount of the original price of the box ($15), the additional $10 for UK shipping (plus not so welcome transaction fees from the bank), this reduces the "power of bargain" to the customer. Add products that are not suitable for your skin type and you start to get annoyed.

Agave Bun x