Monday, March 30, 2015

Violet Box March 2015

Morning lovelies!!

My Violet Box just rocked up!  It's kind of late in the month, but it arrived in March (unlike another box i won't name).
I must admit i opened my box, and was very disappointed.  On first glance this is a very, very boring box.
But the card redeemed it!
Biology Equilibrium Body Lotion No. 304-$52-sample size

I'm not a fan of VB's info card this month.  The RRP price on this is for 375ml, but there is a 100ml tube for $29 (and this being a 30ml sample makes it a decent size).  I've never heard of this brand.  It is Aussie (yay!), and smells divine!  From the website-

Body Lotion No. 304 delivers long lasting hydration in a lightweight, non-greasy formula. Active plant DNA, bio lipids and powerful Australian extracts fight premature ageing, brighten the skin, restore natural lipids and lock in fundamental moisture reserves to promote a youthful glow.

Ingredients-
 
Aqua (Water), Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Sodium Polyacrylate, Panthenol, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Rosa Moschata Seed Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat, Microcitrus Australasica Fruit Extract, Banksia Serrata Flower Extract, Davidsonia Pruriens Fruit Extract, Alcohol Denat., Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit Extract, Syzygium Leuhmanii Fruit Extract, Kunzea Pomifera Fruit Extract, Phospholipids, Glycine Soja Oil, Glycolipids, Glycine Soja Sterols, Cymbopogon Flexuosus Oil, Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Perlagonium Graveolens Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Citric Acid, Linalool, Citronellol, d-Limonene.

This smells like lemongrass/lemon myrtle, and feels amazing on my skin (plus leaves my otherwise extremely dry patches feeling moisturised and soft).  I would love to see more from them.
Bioderma Sébium Foaming Gel-$24.95-sample size

Meh!  Although i'm glad it's a different product to the normal Bioderma samples that are sent out.
Lonvitalite C8 Collagen Crystal Eye Mask-$32-sample size

Full size of this is 6 sets.  This is supposed to help dark circles and fine lines.  Must admit, i'd be happy to never see another Lonvitalite product, however i know a lot of people like them, and i'll be interested to see if these work.
Doucce Lip Definer-$29.95-full size

This was one of our sneak peeks.  Doucce is an American brand, and new to VB.  This didn't tug at all when swatched, went on smoothly and is well pigmented.  It's in colour 456, which is described as a soft pink (although to me it looks more like a dusty pink/brown).  It's a great neutral shade.Do
Doucce Mineral Matte Lipstick-$29.95-full size

This is what got me excited about the box.  This lipstick matches the lip pencil!  It's in colour 903 Champagne (again, though, it's a dusty pink/brown, although a shade or 2 lighter than the lip pencil).  It smells delicious (like pineapple and musk lollies), and went on so smoothly.  It is SPF 10, and contains Vit E, so is supposed to keep your lips hydrated, which is a problem with a lot of matte products.  I can't wait to give these a proper go.  Oh, and the packaging is amazing!

OMG, the lipstick and pencil saved the box.  Between them and the body lotion i love this box, although i'll use everything in it.

What do you think?

Thursday, March 12, 2015

David Jones Sampler Tote March 2015

Morning lovelies!

David Jones have released another Sampler tote!  They were released last month, but for some reason weren't promoted all that well, and i've only just discovered their existence.  There are yet again 2 variations (although they're easy to distinguish between, one has a white tag and one a black tag).

I chose a 'white' tag, i liked the variables more.
This is what i bought to qualify, another Dr Bronner's soap.  I adore this stuff, and i haven't tried this one before (it's cherry blossom).  At $4.95 is doesn't break the bank, and is a cheap option to be able to purchase the tote.


The tote is a lovely small bag this year, has side pockets and a magnetic closure.
Ecoya Sweet Pea and Jasmine mini candle-$19.95-This is in every bag :) It's value is slightly shocking though, as you can buy this size at DJ's.
Dermalogica Barrier Repair 7ml-$13.77-This sample is tiny!
The Aromatherapy Co. Therapy Feet Enriched Balm 30ml-$4.37-decent size, and something i'm interested in trying.
Philosophy Amazing Grace Body Lotion 30ml-$2.81-i've liked what i've tried, and this sounds interesting.
Guerlain Abeille Royale Eye Cream 5ml-$47.67-Holy F***!!!!  15ml sells for $143, this is a huge sample for the price.
David Jones Argan Oil Shampoo 60ml-$1.91-A decent size sample, and it is half decent.
David Jones Argan Oil Conditioner 60ml-$1.91-i love that they put in the matching conditioner
Scottish Fine Soaps Body Milk 30ml-????-I've tried this before and it's ok.
Dr Bronner's Liquid Soap-$4.95-As you know, i love this!
Ultraceuticals Ultra CC Mineral Tint 5ml-??-Something to try :)
Napoleon Perdis Lip Gloss 0.7ml-$2.53-This is a basic lipgloss
OPI Nail Lacquer 3.75ml-A basic google search is telling me this is a Gwen Stefani colour (i'm no OPI expert, so i'm going off the numbers on the base)

Total=$99.87, without including the 3 items i can't find prices for.
There were also some vouchers included, 1 for extra Guerlain samples, 1 for a 20 Dermalogica skin treatment thingy, and 2 % off vouchers (1 for Dr Bronner's and 1 for The Aromatherapy Co).
NP Lipgloss Swatch
I'm really happy with this bag.  It's much nicer than the last one from last year, and i'll get use out of everything included, including vouchers.


Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Empties.........


Morning!!

I have a feeling this is 6 months worth of empties.  I look at some bloggers who have a huge pile each month, some months i'm lucky to have 2 items.  But i've accumulated a couple of bags worth, and i thought it was time to chuck them out!
Haircare!
The new pantene i seem to have received from everywhere, and i still have samples left.  It's definitely something i would repurchase, it it's the right price.
The Spa Vitaberry shampoo came out of a Memebox, and i ADORE it.  Would love some more.
VO5, lovely.
The dry shampoo came from a VB, i used it twice and then it was completely empty.  Either i got a faulty bottle, or the brand has issues.
Davroe argan oil, meh.  I didn't think it did a great job, and it was so far from being an oil it wasn't funny.
Other samples were used for the sake of getting rid of them.  Both were too small to provide any decent feedback.
Body.The organic care body wash was lovely, would happily buy it again.
The jewellery scrub came from a memebox, it was ok, not something i would buy myself, though.
The palmolive i bought in bulk when i discovered it, i'm almost finished bottle #2.
Original source is a brand that is used regularly in this house.
Appelles Soap it really nice, i have another stashed away to use.
The Bioderma/kora were ok, again they were used for the sake of clearing space.  I'm still using the Dr Haushka full sized product i was sent to review, i love them.  Schick worked well, but was a disposable which i try to avoid.
Face

The good skin micro exfoliant, i loved.  Shame we can't buy it here anymore.
The face wipes, meh.  They aren't something i use regularly, although they were some of the better ones i've tried.
Biore charcoal cleanser, once i've used what i've got, i'm repurchasing.  It's a favourite.
Both toners were nothing to write home about.
Seven wonders argan oil, was too heavy for my skin, but worked great in my hair.
Purity/people for plants cleansers-were ok.  I'd happily have samples again but wouldn't bother with buying full sized versions.
Puretopia day cream-lovely.  This one isn't actually empty, it's just on the old side and has started to cause issues with my eyes when i use it.
Princess mask-meh.
Clarisea exfoliant-I want the full size!
Kmart rounds-there are much better out there, however they do the job.
Bioderma-does what it should, it isn't a product i rave over, though.
Other samples-too small to discuss.
Makeup

Maybelline Dream Fresh BB cream-I liked this, however i preferred the Dream Pure sample i tried.  I would buy it again, though
Rimmel Scandaleyes retro glam-It wasn't the worst mascara, nor was it the best.

There you go!!  6 months worth of empties.  Now to fill those bags again!

Thursday, March 5, 2015

Redpawpaw March 2015

Afternoon All!

I know, second post of the day!  But i wanted to get this up ASAP.

I don't think i ever posted the changes to Redpawpaw.  They've gone from a monthly subscription to a quarterly one.  Prices haven't gone up (at least mine haven't, i know a few people complained that theirs did), the box will still contain the same amount of goodies, but it's once every 3 months now.  I don't have a problem with it, i'd prefer them to continue providing a great service than to go under (as we've seen many aussie boxes do).

And it's finally RPP time!  Payment was taken the 3/3, it's now the 5/3 and my box is here.
It doesn't look overly full, but the contents are really interesting.
Table of Plenty Nicely Nutty Muesli-full size-$5.54

Yum!
Special K Biscuit Moments-full size-$5.38
Nivea In-shower Body Lotion-full size-$8.59

Full review to come :)
Finish Dishwasher Freshener-full size-$6.44
Gravox Traditional Gravy Tubs-???-???

I cannot find these anywhere, even on the gravox site. 
Darrell Lea Liquorice Choc Stix-sample size (full size 200g)-$2.04 ($4.07)
Sunrice Global Kitchen-full size-$3.75
QI Ginger Green Tea (and 1 Detox green tea teabag)-full size-$5.43
Saxa Green Jalapeno salt grinder-full size-$5.26

Total (minus the gravox)-$42.43    (all prices taken from woolworths online)

I <3 this box!  I'll use most of it myself (i don't think i'll share), and the rest will happily be used by the family.  It is still well and truly worth the $17 i pay, and i can't wait to dig in to it all.

Is anyone else still a subscriber?  What do you think?









Violet Box Feb 2015

Morning lovelies!

My Feb VB rocked up a couple of weeks after my Jan one, just before the end of the month.  I honestly think i'm slightly burnt out from boxes, i've been subscribed to one or another for the last 3.5 years, which is making it hard to get excited over a lot of the items sent out.  But that won't stop me from buying them, and this is a fairly good box.


Natural World Moroccan Argan Oil-$5.99-full size

I think we all know about Argan oil by now, right?  What i love about this one, though, is the price.  It's cheap!  It isn't pure oil, but it seems to be much the same formulation as the devoe (i think that's the brand) one, which isn't cheap.  It doesn't weigh down my hair, it doesn't make it greasy (unless i put too much near my roots), and it does a good job.  I'd repurchase it.
Teeez Trend Cosmetics Easy on the Eyes pencil-$26-full size

Teeez is back!  I like Teeez products.  I do have an eyeliner from them already, thanks to LHI's FAB box last year, but it's black with blue sparkles.  This is supposed to be long lasting and waterproof, however i agree with every other review i've read.  It smudges, it moves, etc, etc, and that's just from swatching.  However it'd be great for a smokey eye, it's lovely and soft, and really pigmented.  And as always the packaging is amazing.
Emite Make Up BB Highlighting Pen-$32-full size

I'm liking the products from this brand.  This is called a Highlighting pen, however the instructions say it's a concealer.  I'm yet to play with this, but it swatches nicely, and if it works well would be perfect to throw in your handbag for touch ups.
Suki Exfoliate Foaming cleanser-$46.95-sample size

Other skincare companies, take note.  This is how you do a sample.  This sample is 1/4 the size of the full size product, which gives you a really good feel for the product.  This is all natural, smells yummy (very lemony), and makes my skin feel amazing.  It has sugar crystals to exfoliate, and foams up beautifully.  I must admit i though i could smell something chemical-ish when i was using it, it's probably just one of the essential oils used, but it was an unpleasant undertone to the rest of the product.  Otherwise i love this.
Pretty Woman Magnetix Nail Polish-$9.99-full size

OK.

A)  Didn't we only just get a magnetic nail polish (dec maybe)
B)  Since when were they back in fashion?  I remember buying one on clearance at woolies a couple of years ago, for around $2

Honestly, i'm really not impressed to see this.  It feels like they needed a spot filled, and this was all there was.  It's a pretty colour (an antique-y gold), but it wears off quickly, and isn't the best formula.
Teeez eyeliner and Emite Highlighter
 All in all i like the box, it is fairly well curated (bar that nail polish), and has a good mix of brands/products.