Thursday, 15 October 2015

Cult Beauty Box by Caroline Hirons: My Thoughts (and they're all good!)

Caroline Hirons. If you haven't heard of her, what are you even still doing here? An expert in her field, Caroline knows a thing or two about your skin, and if you and you skin have yet to encounter her wisdom, believe me, you will both be ever grateful for it.

Caroline has recently started a joint venture with Cult Beauty to bring an expertly curated Beauty Box, filed with a collection of skin treats to help improve and nourish any complexion. Bearing in mind here, sweeping strokes for all folks, some products may be a hit for some and a miss for others. But you know what, every single thing in this box was an absolute hit for me.



This box of luxury goodies contains 6 full size and 2 trial size products, the thematic of which is to de-stress and offer glow and hydration to those complexions a little on the side of lacklustre. I know what you're thinking here, but Lucy, you're oily skinned! Well, yes I am. But there is a place here for every item to slot happily in my routine.
Totalling at a value of just a little over £170.00, this box retailed at £100.00 and contains the following:
Now that is quite the line-up of oversees, indie and cult beauty brands, a lot of which have been on my wishlist and watchlist for quite some time. What surprises me most (in the most pleasantest way possible), is a lot of these brands are natural and/or organic and every last one of these products stand to merit. 

RMS Beauty Raw Coconut Cream

Once upon a time, I assumed that solidified coconut cream was just solidified coconut cream. It didn't differ from brand-to-brand, or even coconut-to-coconut. Oh how very wrong I was. The RMS Beauty Raw Coconut Cream contains the most divine and luxurious coconut cream I have ever had the pleasure of gracing my face with. 

As it has been solidified into a cream - or what I would ascertain as a balm - this wonderful light coconut oil is easy enough to scoop up and apply directly to your skin. While there are multiple uses for coconut oil, I used this solely as a cleanser for removing make-up. Once heated by the warmth of your skin, this balms melts into a wonderfully thin and comforting oil. 

Make-up is no match for this oil. It expertly removes every last trace of make-up (yes, even that hard-to-remove stuff we use on our eyes) and it's safe and gentle enough to cause no irritation. I find my skin is left feeling nourished - none of that tight, irritating stuff here, thank you - and my eyes are not reddened or itchy. The sensation and effectiveness of this product is so indulgent my skin can't help but feel treated.

While coconut is one of my favourite fragrances and flavours, I may be a little bias here, but the scent of this oil is absolutely decadent. It's sweet, it's light, it's delicious. This is absolutely something I want to use on my skin when I want to pamper and treat. Effective, repurchase.

The RMS Beauty Raw Coconut Cream can be purchased from Cult Beauty for £12.50 / 70G.

Skyn ICELAND Pure Cloud Cleanser

This Skyn ICELAND Pure Cloud Cleanser is a clay-based cleanser that is incredibly gentle and cooling, helping to softly clear and calm skin. This cleanser always seems to remain cool, rousing skin with an instant hit of refreshment.

While clay-based, this cleanser is always wet, meaning it's perfectly easy to spread while the nice rich texture of the cleanser remains, allowing you to effectively massage the product, keeping your hands well-lubricated. I often use this product for several minutes, giving myself a full facial massage at the mercy of this gentle cleanser.

I supposed I'd refer to myself as an oil girl, meaning this is a cleanser I just wouldn't use for make-up removal. However, for a morning cleanse and a second cleanse, this product is ideal. My delicate skin is cooled, refreshed, cleared and soothed. As to be expected, it smells like clay, giving it a core natural and earthy scent. Effective, don't repurchase.

The Skyn ICELAND Pure Cloud Cleanser can be purchased from Cult Beauty for £22.50 / 5OZ.

Pixi Glow Tonic

The Pixi Glow Tonic has had so much traction, and it's all for good reason. Said to help tone, brighten and exfoliate skin, this 5% glycolic acid toner deserves its praise. But we run into a slight snag here, the active glycolic acid, doesn't really take much effect on my oily skin. That isn't to say this product isn't without its merit as I still used and adored it, but it doesn't offer me the same results as it would other skin types.

To understand more about what acids actually do and which acid is suitable for particular skin types, read Caroline Hiron's The Top 10: Acid Toners and Honesty: How To Tell Which Skincare Acid You Should Be Using. 

While it isn't necessarily applicable for my oily skin, the Pixi Glow Tonic is a non-astringent, gentle and refreshing acid toner that keeps skin revived and refined. This cult gem has rekindled my love for liquid and acidic toners once more. This tonic offers the ultimate hydration hit, giving my skin instant clarity and refinement.


Helping serums and moisturisers to penetrate deeper and absorb more effectively, this toner has helped to decongest and clear my skin in a completely gentle and non-irritating way, while keeping my skin fresh and hydrated. Effective, repurchase.
The Pixi Glow Tonic can be purchased from Cult Beauty for £18.00 / 250ML.

SkinOwl Eye+ Concentrate

I was one of those unfortunate people to receive one of the affected concentrates that had activated during transit. The hot LA weather had spoiled the active ingredients, turning them far more enzymatic that advisable. Meaning, you guessed it, horrible, horrible burning. But, I didn't let that sour my judgement. I got on the blower to both SkinOwl and Cult Beauty who sent me out a fresh jar straight away, and boy, how I love this little concentrate.

Gelatinous in texture, this ultra light and absorbent gel is the ultimate way to refresh the eye area. SkinOwl Eye+ Concentrate is instantly cooling, helps to balance any kind of discolouration and soothes any irritation. My eyes are instantly revitalised and brightened. My eyes are quite honestly looking bigger and brighter than ever before.

Having a gorgeously fresh cucumber scent (following suit on the age-old tradition of placing cucumbers on the eyes), this potent little gel has helped to smooth out rough, bumpy skin I had under my eyes. I'm talking completely smoothed out. I had, what I referred to as dragon scales under my eyes. It was a rough skin, that I just couldn't seem to shift. Well, I finally found my elixir.

I also suffer with dark circles; these are mostly self-inflicted due to my consistent failure to go to bed early. But now my eyes are brightened, my eyes look lively and awake. I have found what my eyes have been looking for. This jar will take up a permanent residence in my skincare routine. Essential.

The SkinOwl Eye+ Concentrate can be purchased from Cult Beauty for £36.00 / 0.8OZ.

REN Vita Mineral Omega 3 Optimum Skin Serum Oil

The REN Vita Mineral Omega 3 Optimum Skin Serum Oil falls into a unique cross-category of both serum and oil. This clever synergism of consistencies leads to a very rich and thick oil-like texture, providing an instant hit of hydration.

Due to its richness, this lends itself to more of an impermeable serum, meaning, my skin just can't absorb it, so I reserve it strictly for evening use. You can combine it with your moisturiser or use it as an outright serum. It is a little on the greasy side for me, but I really don't mind that when used in a PM routine.

The serum is very refreshing, instantaneously I can feel the revival of my skin. While it is a fairly warm oil, it effectively hydrates skin. In terms of glow and radiance, I've seen nothing of the sort. But I peg this more on my skin type, as I just cannot absorb it. Effective, don't repurchase.

 The REN Vita Mineral Omega 3 Optimum Skin Serum Oil can be purchased from Cult Beauty for £25.00 / 30ML. 

Odacité Hydration Serum Concentrate Pomegranate + Rose Geranium

The Odacité Hydration Serum Concentrate Pomegranate + Rose Geranium is another one of those potent oil-serum type hybrids. This truly organic serum is made from nothing but essential oils and essential vitamins, helping to supply skin with all the nutrients it needs to keep well fed.


Being fairly thick, it doesn't absorb well with my skin type, therefore reserved only for PM use. This rich oil is very, very powerful, this is the ultimate skin treat that wraps my skin in a snug barrier of goodness. It's very warming and comforting, providing optimum hydration and protection. 

This little bottle (and we're talking very little and very expensive bottle here) contains a very small dose of the concentrate, as it's so powerful, you really don't need to apply very much at all. The rich texture is very fluid, allowing for a seamless application. The scent is rich and powerful, an all-natural botanical scent. Effective, don't repurchase.

 The Odacité Hydration Serum Concentrate Pomegranate + Rose Geranium can be purchased from Cult Beauty for £33.00 / 5ML.

Alpha-H Essential Hydration Cream

This is one of the lightest moisturisers I've ever had my hands on. The Alpha-H Essential Hydration Cream is an ultra lightweight moisturiser that instantly absorbs into skin, providing a cooling and refreshing sensation. This gentle moisturiser disappears instantly, while effectively providing essential hydration and moisture without all the heaviness.

 With a near cloud-like consistency, in essence, this moisturiser completely absorbs at first touch. It's light as air to touch and super gentle and lightweight on application. The silky smooth texture allows it to be applied effortlessly.

There is an instant cooling effect when applied. This product seems to remain perpetually cool, helping to amplify that hydration hit. This is one heck of a refreshing moisturiser. The cool, freshness of the product offers an instant revival. It's minty, it's cool, it's fresh, it is essential hydration for skin, for sure. Effective, don't repurchase.

 The Alpha-H Essential Hydration Cream can be purchased from Cult Beauty for £35.00 / 50ML.

Pommade Divine Nature's Remedy Balm

The ages-old remedy of Pommade Divine Nature's Remedy Balm is one that has stood the test of time, and for very good reason, too. This golden-brown soft balm is an all-natural medicinal balm designed to cure and repair all manner of physical aliments. Said to cure dry skin, scrapes, cuts, bites, burns, you name it, this little wonder-balm can help soothe it. I used this primarily on eczema, chapped skin and as a therapeutic chest rub. Whatever takes your fancy really!

The gorgeous burnt woody scent of this product is enough alone to make you feel cured. It has an amazing warmness to it, it seems to very delicately heat up during application. The consistency is similar to a soft syrup, it's a super thick product that spreads gorgeously and helps to protect wherever it has been applied.
I used this product mostly for medicinal purposes. I have very sensitive skin and this is careful and gentle enough to be applied to the most delicate of places. I used it under my nose when suffering with a cold as my skin has become insufferably chapped from all the blowing into tissues. This worked a dream at healing the skin and the burnt smell was very welcome indeed. I also use this on cold evenings when I go for a late-night jog. I rub a little on my chest to stop the cold getting on my lungs. This is definitely a wonder-balm that is well-deserving of a place in my cabinet. Essential.

 The Pommade Divine Nature's Remedy Balm can be purchased from Cult Beauty for £19.80 / 50ML.
This luxury box of treats has been an incredible investment, introducing me to a number of products that have no become solid staples in my routine.

Being the second of the two boxes released so far, and having heard confirmation that Caroline will be releasing a Christmas box, you'll have to keep an eye on the news for as an when these boxes are announced. You'll have to be quick, as these boxes get snapped up quick (and rightfully so).

Follow Caroline Hiron's blog or subscribe to the Cult Beauty mailing list to stay in the loop for the next box.

I purchased this box myself, meaning all opinions are rightfully my own.
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Saturday, 10 October 2015

LoveLula Beauty Box October 2015

With each passing month, the LoveLula Beauty Box continues to get stronger and stronger, and the October Box is no exception to that rule. This month contains a total of 5 incredible products (3 full size, 1 trail size and 1 sample size) to help cleanse, hydrate and restore. There's usually a superstar in every box, but within the October Box, I'm finding it really tricky to settle on just one favourite.


- Balm Balm Frankincense Deep Cleansing Balm (£7.99 / 30ML)
- Yes to Coconut Hydrate & Restore Cleansing Wipes (£3.99 / 25 WIPES)
- Fair Squared Lip Balm Vegan Vanilla (£2.99 / 4G)
- Pommade Divine Nature's Remedy Balm (£19.80 / 50ML)
- Dr. Bronner's Lemongrass Shikakai Soap (£7.29 / 356ML)
Taking into account the relative size for value of the samples, this box totals in at just under £18.00 worth of kit. Not too shabby, eh? These five brands are some of my all-time favourites, each of which being either/or ethical, natural, organic, safe and caring, these are products that have a thoroughly well-deserved place in my skincare routine.

Balm Balm Frankincense Deep Cleansing Balm

Balm Balm are just tops. There's no two ways about it. Their balms are 100% organic, approved by the Soil Association, natural, safe and kind to skin. I don't think I could admire this brand more. The Balm Balm Frankincense Range has been a big hit with me, having tried and loved their Frankincense Light Facial Oil (reviewed here) and the Frankincense Hydrosol Soothing Facial Tonic, the Frankincense Deep Cleansing Balm has been on my need-list for quite some time, I can assure you.
If you're in want of a luxury balm cleanser at an affordable price, then look no further. This balm is truly decadent, offering an absolutely divine sensation as it's massaged across skin. This is a very soft balm that melts away into a hybrid balm-oil cleanser as it's heated. Its rich texture means it takes a thick consistency as it warms over skin. 

The balm is truly soft, making this cleanser ever so gentle and nurturing. Make-up is no match as this balm effortlessly takes away both base and eye make-up, leaving behind a hydrated and fresh face. The Balm Balm Frankincense Deep Cleansing Balm is completely balancing, restoring any redness into an even and glowing complexion. 

The almost fruity fragrance of frankincense is a welcome luxury as this balm provides, clearer, balanced and even skin. You can bet I'll be repurchasing this one.

Balm Balm Frankincense Deep Cleansing Balm can be purchased from LoveLula for £7.99 / 30ML.

Yes to Coconut Hydrate & Restore Cleansing Wipes

Facial wipes have a definite place within my skincare routine. Caroline Hirons gave wipes a bit of a bad reputation - she has very valid points on this, all of which I subscribe to - but, if used correctly they can actually be really useful. I already own the Yes to Coconut Hydrate & Restore Cleansing Wipes and I'm down to my last few, so this restock couldn't come at a better time. Hello serendipity! 
Firstly, coconut. Oh how I love the fragrance of coconut. These refreshing cleansing cloths have an all-too-delicious scent that makes using them all the more pleasant. They are very lightweight and gentle, delicately gliding across skin without stripping and causing no irritation. 

The Yes to Coconut Hydrate & Restore Cleansing Wipes leave me fresh faced and hydrated. I cleanse with facial wipes either pre-exercise or post-exercise, when I need something quick, simple and effective, and these clothes are effective. They remove make-up and clean the skin with little-to-no effort needed and leave my skin with a refreshed and revitalised sensation. The perfect complement to any exercise.

Yes to Coconut Hydrate & Restore Cleansing Wipes can be purchased from LoveLula for £3.99 / 25 WIPES.

Fair Squared Lip Balm Vegan Vanilla

A sentence I couldn't be more happy with is Fair Squared Lip Balm Vegan Vanilla. I'm a huge fan of Fair Squared, I have an uncontrollable (yet much wanted) collection of lip balms and vanilla happens to be once of my all-time favourite scents and flavours. Win, win, win. Fair Squared focus in natural products while advocating fairly traded ingredients. Their lip balms are all vegan-friendly and feel absolutely divine. 
As a silky-smooth balm, this lip balm glides effortlessly along the lips, transferring the creamy balm and leaving a wonderfully glossy finish. My lips are lovely and shiny without any of the nasty stickiness left behind by a typical lip gloss. Instead, the balm helps to keep my lips smooth and snag-free

The transparent butter keeps my lips smooth, hydrated, all while smelling and tasting delicious. This lip balm gets big points from me and is definitely something that should be on everybody's lips.

Fair Squared Lip Balm Vegan Vanilla can be purchased from LoveLula for £2.99 / 4G.

Pommade Divine Nature's Remedy Balm

This is a product that I already have on my skincare shelf, and for good reason, too. This soft golden honey is a generations old medicinal "cure-all" formula, for, well, literally anything you can think of. Pommade Divine Nature's Remedy Balm is a multi-purpose balm that I use for dry/chapped/damaged skin, colds, warming-up, like I said literally anything.

I just adore this thick, protective balm. It has a gorgeous woody, almost burnt scent that instantly reboots the senses and puts you on back the path to good health. The balm quickly melts away from first touch, warming and heating as you begin to massage, becoming quite a comforting sensation. 

This protective balm is something I will continue to keep in my medicine cabinet. The fragrance, the warmth, the protection and hydration are all essential for keeping anyone in good health. This is one luxury balm that's worth keeping around.

Pommade Divine Nature's Remedy Balm can be purchased from LoveLula for £19.80 / 50ML.

Dr. Bronner's Lemongrass Shikakai Soap

Dr. Bronner's know soap. It's what they do. Their Shikakai Soaps come in a range of delicious fragrances, and since lemongrass is on of my favourites, I pulled the long straw here. Shikakai is an Asian plant, which has been combined with Dr. Bronner's pure-castile soap to create a subtle, emollient lather. 
Dr. Bronner's Lemongrass Shikakai Soap is very, very hydrating. I am one of those don't-put-any-foam-near-me-as-my-hands-get-too-dry people. But you know what, this foam is subtle and gentle enough that it treats my delicate skin with all the care it needs. My hands are left all soft and moisturised, with absolutely no irritation and certainly no dryness.

The thin orange liquid transforms into a delicate white emollient foam. This does not froth or bubble, in fact, it barely foams at all, instead it just effectively cleans skin, while providing that rich and wonderful moisture. 

Dr. Bronner's Lemongrass Shikakai Soap can be purchased from LoveLula for £7.29 / 356ML.
Another month, another amazing box. You can subscribe to the LoveLula Beauty Box here. At £12.50 a month, the box is automatically delivered to your door and features 4-7 wonderful mystery natural products.

*This post is not sponsored. This box was purchased by myself and all opinions are my own. 
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Saturday, 3 October 2015

Burt's Bees Peach and Willowbark Deep Pore Scrub For A Very Scrubby Way To Scrub

If there's one thing I've said before, and it's one thing I'll continue to say again, Bee Conservation is so bloody integral to our survival, and it's one thing that should never go ignored. Burt's Bees production ethics are bob-on in terms of sustainability, conservation and partnering with charities to help maintain our bee populace (you can read about their policies here). 

What's more, Burt's Bees also avoid microbeads in their products, featuring natural alternatives instead, such as fruit and nut kernels, milled petals, jojoba beads and ground seeds. Microbeads are little plastic spheres that are too large to dissolve, making them a deadly pollutant as they are consumed by countless marine life. You can find out more about microbeads, alongside a list of products containing microbeads specific to your country, here.
Burt's Bees offer three different types of facial exfoliators, all of which I've purchased and all of which I love for different reasons. The Anti-Blemish Pore Refining Scrub (reviewed here) is the softest one of the group, using jojoba beads to exfoliate, this scrubs provides lusciously smooth and clear skin. The Citrus Facial Scrub (reviewed here) is a cakey little number that provides clear and balanced skin, using ground almonds to exfoliate. As for the Peach and Willowbark Deep Pore Scrub, I'd refer to this as the mastodon of the group. This really is a heavy-duty scrub. While I love it for my oily and congested skin, I'd always err on the side of caution if your skin is unsteady around a exfoliator that doesn't hold back.

This 100% natural facial scrub, uses nothing but the finely ground stone of a peach to - what we must refer to as fairly aggressively - exfoliate the skin. Now, this is indisputably heavy duty, designed for a skin type like mine, that has a quick cell turnover (an onset of which, a build-up of dead skin and clogged pores). Even I can only use this once every 2 weeks. 

While finely ground, the peach stone is still rather large and can very much be felt. As they aren't perfectly spherical, the stones can be almost sharp and gritty, their jaggedness is present as I roll them around my skin. For me, this isn't neccesarily a scratchy product, but it is something I can only apply with very little pressure indeed.

The ground stones are carried in a very lightweight and easily spreadable cream. This cream is thin, so thin in fact that it disappears as you begin to lightly scrub. This makes it quite a raw process, the cream is almost like a lubricant, to help you get purchase on the stones, allowing the peach do to its magic without impeding the process. 

With a name like Peach and Willowbark Deep Pore Scrub, you're going to expect some results. Well, if your pores are easily clogged like mine, I've found this scrub to very effectively 'empty' them, leaving me with a much clearer and smoother complexion. Any dark build-up that was trapped in my pores is removed, making my skin tone appear far more neutralised and all-round balanced. 
Interestingly, after watching Wild Organic Beauty's vlog recently (I know it's really late, but would you like to see my August favourites?), she mentioned that this scrub was far, far too aggressive for her face and instead used it as a foot scrub. I gave that a go myself, and you know what, she's onto something here! This product makes for a really effective foot scrub. Our skin here is usually a little tougher and if you're prone to hard or dry skin on your feet, this little gem might just do the trick. 

I do like this, I honestly do. If my skin is ever craving a heavy-going exfoliation, this is the scrub I can rely on. But once again, I would go on the explicit advice of your own skin. My skin can take a little brutality (product depending), or  it occasionally needs some tough love, so me and the Peach and Willowbark Deep Pore Scrub get on like a house on fire. Just be warned, this scrub pulls no punches. Effective, don't repurchase.

The Peach and Willowbark Deep Pore Scrub can be purchased from Burt's Bees for £11.49 / 170G.
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Wednesday, 30 September 2015

TruSelf Organics Clear Skin Foaming Cleanser; Relinquish The Foam Once More!

Foam. I wash my hands of it. Or, don't wash my hands, or my hair, or my face with it, as the case may be. Foaming cleansers are something that have been heavily on my avoid list for some time, and for good reason, too. As foam is usually a result of sulphates and other astringent chemicals, I figured trying an organic foam would offer the same sense of clean without all the nastiness. I was wrong. Enter saponified oils.

Saponification is the process of converting oils or fats into soap. While the process will differ from brand-to-brand, you can read an extensive overview of saponification on Dr. Bronner's An Overview of Soapmaking article or on good old faithful Wikipedia. Saponification can be used to create soft, hard and liquid soaps from a completely natural chemical reaction. All three of which can lather, offering a foaminess not too dissimilar to that created by chemical sulphates. 
Foaming cleansing agents are exceptionally powerful at removing oil, dirt, grime and anything that's generally a little tough to remove. The trouble is, when you use something that super strength on your skin, you are often at risk at removing essential oils and moisture as well. This can result in a disturbance of your skin's acid mantle, meaning your pH balance will be off-kilter. Ever wondered what that tight, dry feeling is after using a foaming cleanser? That's the disruption of your acid mantle, and that's not good.

The TruSelf Organics Clear Skin Foaming Cleanser is absolutely caustic on my skin. This sud-ridden froth lathers straight out of the pump-dispenser and leaves my skin with one of the nastiest, most uncomfortably tight sensations. It strips my skin past the bare bones, stealing away all my natural goodness and leaving me exposed and disturbed.

This liquid soap comes in a magical pump-dispenser that does all the foaming for you before you've even started. From the first pump you are supplied with a bubble mass with which you are to move around your face. It stings, oh how it stings. As you roll the soap around your pre-wetted face, the suds begin to multiply, converting you into a monstrous bubble. At this stage, my skin is already inflamed, I'm the sensitive type, I've gone beyond tingly and my skin is screaming out. There's difficulty in removal as the suds continue to breed and burst as I attempt to wash them away.

This cleanser is dangerous.

 After finally removing all the foam, my skin is just outright irritated. I'm blotchy, I'm red. This isn't an allergic reaction, this is just an extremely corrosive cleanser. I feel dry now. My skin is alone and stripped bare. I layer on moisturiser on top of facial oils on top of hydrating mists, but nothing is doing the trick. My skin has been exposed and it's not something you can simply re-nourish.

This cleanser removes any nutrients from the natural barrier of my skin in an attempt to make sure I'm thoroughly clean. It's harsh, it's corrosive, it's stripping, it's skin-tightening, it's something I will be ostracising from my routine indefinitely. No. Organic does not mean skin-friendly. Foam is never, ever, friendly to my skin.

I contacted TruSelf Organics regarding the corrosive nature of their cleanser, I was told I could return the cleanser and receive my money back. How compensatory! When I brought up I lived in the UK, and the cost of return P&P would actually be greater than the worth of the product itself, I was effectively shown the door and asked to leave. It's good to see real-honest brands looking after our skins and our well-being.

AVOID? YOU BET. BOYCOTT FOAM? ABSOLUTELY!

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Sunday, 27 September 2015

What's In The Beauty Box?

For the longest time now, I've invested in Beauty Boxes, and I find them to be the most charming and fun way to experiment with new regimes, new (or at least new to me) products and brands. As a specifically curated box - sometimes of mystery contents - their offerings often tend to be thematic; introducing you to a particular beauty method/regime/practice, a new collection of brands, or a complimentary selection of products, expertly curated to achieve results. What's more, bundling together like this usually offers a significant discount from the RRPs of the individual products. 
It started with the LoveLula Beauty Box and it grew from there. I loved receiving a little package of unknown goodies, and very often fell heels over head for products I may not have ever considered trying. From here, my love affair with all things Beauty Box blossomed. I'm hooked.

While Beauty Boxes aren't without their flaws, I have still considered them to hold high value for savers and opportunist alike. The trouble with Beauty Boxes is, different strokes for different folks must always be considered. However, when this stroke has to cover the massively variable nature of skin, it's like making sweeping strokes for all folks. Sometimes, these boxes will swing and miss. Sometimes they will be bang on. It's a gamble, sure, but one I like to invest in. 

I figure it would be responsible of me to share the contents of my boxes (from this point onwards), in order to highlight what charming little delights are available and a first-thoughts review of the goodies inside. So, without further ado, let's take a peek at some of the available boxes and why I purchase them:

LoveLula Beauty Box

LoveLula is where I do most of my shopping, and when I found out they do a Beauty Box, well, I couldn't be merrier. LoveLula's stocklist consists of a plethora of amazing natural and/or organic products, a huge number of which are certified by The Soil Association, The Vegan Society and The Leaping Bunny, allowing you to indulge yourself in luxurious safe and guilt-free products.
The LoveLula Beauty Box is delivered directly to your door on a monthly bases, featuring an average of 5-7 natural products, ranging from sample sachets, trial versions to full-size. While their monthly offerings are a random assortment of goodies, each box usually contains something for everyone.

As it's subscription based, these little loot drops are a brilliant way to experience the fun of beauty without the fuss of not knowing where to start. If you're a fan of mystery (who isn't?), this is a great way to treat yourself to a little surprise each month.

As LoveLula have an amazing stocklist of brands (full list available here), it's sometimes difficult to know where to start. The Beauty Box has introduced me to so many different brands and products that have now become solid staples in my routine. I couldn't be more grateful for the introduction as this boxes continue to flourish week-on-week.

This is the box that keeps on giving, as for each month there is a 20% discount for subscribers, for the purchase of any products from the brands featured in the box. So, if you liked one of the samples in the box, you can pick it up once more for a generous 20% off that month. Or maybe you didn't gel with that particular product, but like something else from the same brand, have that with a cheeky 20% off instead.

The LoveLula Beauty Box is a subscription box, priced at £12.50 (incl. delivery) a month. Payments are automatically taken and a 20% discount for featured brands is awarded to subscribers.

Naturismo Discovery Box

Naturismo are a natural and/or organic retailer, focusing on ethical and sustainable beauty and well-being. Their stocklist features a high calibre of global luxury brands, all of which are highly coveted. The Naturismo Discovery Box is a pay-per-box model, meaning there is no subscription needed. The products featured inside the box are announced beforehand so you can decide if you want it or not. But be warned, these things fly off the shelves, and once they're gone, they're gone. 
The Naturismo Discovery Box is expertly curated around a particular theme, their contents tailored to provide answers to particular needs. Seven seems to be the magic number here, as these boxes usually feature seven beautiful natural product from a variety of brands. This is a fantastic way to get acquainted with natural beauty brands, new beauty regimes and discover new product releases.

The boxes offer an incredible discount from the products RRP, usually containing a value of over £40.00 for just under a tenner. They are an absolute steal. As this is something I can view before I buy, I can pick-and-choose the boxes I feel applicable for my needs. These boxes do move fast, you may want to consider joining the Naturismo mailing list, or keeping an eye on their Instagram.

 The Naturismo Discovery Box can be purchased, when announced, for £9.95 (incl. delivery).

Caroline Hirons Cult Beauty Box

Caroline Hirons is an expert of all things skin. Having been in the cosmetics industry as a skin consultant, working alongside some of the biggest names in beauty, she knows a thing or two about what your skin needs and why it needs it. Caroline recently teamed up with Cult Beauty to provide a care-package of everything your skin will need in its day-to-day routine (at a heavily discounted price, may I add).
The Caroline Hirons Cult Beauty Box (of which there have only been two thus far, but I expect - and hope - for this to become a regular thing) is very much a luxury box, and thus, fairly pricey. Your eyes might water at the price-tag, but the contents are near-all full-size, or at least very generous trial sizes. They offer everything you'll need to start your daily ritual. Once again, this suffers from the issue of sweeping strokes for all folks, but will aid you to understanding each step to a routine, why it's important and what it actually means.

The boxes are fully revealed beforehand, allowing you to decide if you can fork over the best part of your monthly allowance for the possible advantage of your skin. But, these curated boxes come in limited supply, so be fast and be true. Following the Caroline Hirons blog will give you a heads up, as she always provides a waiting list. If you're on the list, you get a small priority window of which to purchase the box before it goes on general sale, but this still does not guarantee you a box. A lesson I sadly learned myself.

 The Caroline Hirons Cult Beauty Box is available as an when announced for a varying price (usually over £100.00).

Peace & Beauty London Samples Box

Peace & Beauty London are an artisan eco-conscious beauty, home and accessories retailer, stocking some extraordinarily luxurious handcrafted, natural and British skincare products. They recently introduced their Peace & Beauty London Samples Box to help you discover some of the incredible brands they feature at an affordable price.
While there have only been two boxes thus far, I expect this to become a more regular service. Sure, their current selection of beauty may be minimal, but every single item in their catalogue is one I wish to try or experience and a Samples Box is an affordable and fun way to do this.

The box contents are always announced beforehand, meaning you can pick-and-choose which boxes you'd like to take away with you. As a sample size, you'll receive a miniature version of the full-size products, which is just enough for you to experiment and make your mind up if you wish to follow it up with a full purchase.

The Peace & Beauty London Samples Box is available as and when announced at a varying price (history determines between £5.00-£10.00). Postage is not included in that price. 
For any future Beauty Box purchases, I will feature them on the blog, with a run-down of their contents. I will provide initial thoughts on the box and its content, but I will not provide full reviews of the products until I have tried and finished their full-size versions.
This is not a sponsored post. All Beauty Boxes were purchased with my own pennies and all thoughts are my own. 
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