That's What She Said...

My second (and last) SheSaidBeauty box arrived today so as usual I thought I'd show you what I got..

The Vintage Cosmetic Company

"Kitty" False Lashes £6.00

I have a drawer full of false lashes that I never use so this will just be added to the pile. They look nice and all but I don't need to try out false lashes.. it's not really a beauty sample is it?

Green People

SPF15 With Tan Accelerator £12.99 for 100ml

 When I first read the blurb on this I thought it had to contain an element of fake tan but having done a little google research it would seem that it in fact.. does not! Consider me shocked! It supposedly increases the melanin in the skin encouraging it to tan. Who knows if it works but it's a handy size to keep in my makeup bag to remind me to apply sunscreen every day!!!

Kim Kardashian

Eau De Parfum £22.95 for 30ml

This was the first thing I saw upon opening the box. Nowhere near me (that I'm aware of) stocks this but I've always wanted to smell it. Turns out it's really not for me but the packaging is super cute and the rollerball tester is a fab idea so had I liked the scent I would have loved this!

Inika 

Certified Vegan Lip Whip, Apricot £14.30

This is possibly the most overpriced makeup product I've come across to date. It's tiny yet apparently 'full sized' and everything from the packaging to the colour seems so dated to me. I guess the market for organic/vegan type products is growing all the time but I would never pay £14.30 for this.

Natio

Lotus Soap Trio £8.50 for 3

I think this was what hammered the final nail in the coffin for me.. a soap. A soap? What? 

It's 1 of 3 you can buy in a set for £8.50 all of which are feature mood enhancing scents used during yoga. Ok.. all I know is this is not a beauty product.. I don't care what 'she says'!

Snowberry

3 Sample Bonus Gift

Bright Defence Serum & Day Cream and Nourishing Lite Day Cream

I actually really liked this..  I always thought this is what beauty boxes should have been about. I'd have preferred a box full of little sachet samples that random bars of soap any day. They're great for travel and you can try a whole new range.. isn't that what we wanted?

Overall I wasn't uber impressed this month and in contrast to the awesome April Glossybox this has reminded me why I've cancelled subscription services altogether. Yes sometimes you get a brilliant selection but most of the time you don't and it works out a great big waste of money! This is a good exampe of what I've come to expect from beauty boxes and I'm just not impressed anymore.

For more info on this months box stockists and how to sign up

Visit their website here

Have you given up on the craze yet?

Miss BB

What Did She Say?

SHE SAID BEAUTY!

I haven't heard much about SheSaidBeauty thus far so thought I would share this as it may be new to you. Unfortunately I wasn't fast enough to make the debut box but if you want to see what was in it you can check out the Fee from makeupsavvy's post here

I have to admit the duck egg, Tiffany blue box was what sold it to me initially but I am actually really pleased with what I received. Lifting the lid you'll find pretty pink paper and ribbon, all very glossybox-esque but I very much liked the straw touch which I assumed was a nod to the Easter Holidays but turns out is just a coincidence - slightly disappointing. You will be familiar with the overall idea of a beauty box by now so I wont bore you with an explanation but these are the basics.

The service is £9.00 + £2.95 P+P monthly for 5 beauty samples from 'top brands'

You have the opportunity to save money when subscribing for multiple months at a time - nice touch - but otherwise it's a rolling month by month subscription that you can cancel at any time.

I know for some the random direct debit dates are an issue and most Beauty Boxes seem to take money (and deliver) whenever they feel like it, I'm not sure about this point yet but will report my experience in a couple of months.

So here's what I got...

Mischa Barton Luscious Lips in Pink Pop

(full size) £12.00 for 8g here

First of all who know Mischa Barton had branched out in to cosmetics? Not me! I love her bags but this seems like such a random step, anyway.. There's zero colour to this product but it is supposedly a 'hydrating lip protector' and has SP15 so I can forgive them and toss it in my handbag for a balm.

Bellapierre Shimmer Powder in Champagne

(full size) £12.99 for 2.35g here

Now this is really really lovely. I know I will likely never use it as loose pigments are just a bitch for me but it's a very beautiful shade, really flattering and a lovely product all the same.

Bharti Vyas Face & Neck Polisher

(sample size) £22.50 for 125ml here

Quite possibly the least interesting packaging I've ever laid eyes on. The product might be fantastic but nothing about it makes me want to try it. Am I being overly mean here? Another thing.. I don't like that the sample is in a little screw top pot. It should have been a tube or a sachet, it just doesn't make sense and screams cheap to me when it's really not. Had the product been £5.00 full price I think my standards would have been lower but it's £22.50!!

Filthy Gorgeous Nail Polish in Vampish

(full size) £9.00 for 10ml here

I hate to dis the packaging again.. this stuff looks cheap! I remember when I first saw it in Debenhams I thought it was their own generic brand only to discover the whopping £9.00 price tag. People tend to review this stuff well though so I will hold my judgement 'til I've tried it myself. I like the colour, though it's not entirely season appropriate.

Erno Laszlo

The Hollywood Collection available here from £85.00

Now this was an interesting one. The prices are sky high so it's unlikely I'd purchase from the range myself but this is for me what beauty boxes should be about. I want to try lots of samples of products that I wouldn't want to shell out big money for before trying them at home first. Ok so this is a little extreme - The Velvet Night Cream retails at £175! - but they don't know my budget and even if I had that kind of money to spend I'd still want to give it a spin before I made the commitment!

 

Comfort Zone - Body Expert Kit

 available here from £19.95

I don't believe you can buy this bunch of samples but having done a little digging it would seem that certain online retailers have had them as gift with purchase etc so chances are you could bag one on eBay. Comfort Zone featured in the first box so my guess is that they're gonna be popping up as frequently as Murad in Glossyboxes but I'd prefer lots of mini sample to just one. I got 6 sachets and chances are I'm going to like one of them.. it just makes so much more sense to do it this way than send one big sample which you might hate. This isn't a budget brand but it's affordable if there as something I really love.

Don't let my intermittent negativity fool you, I loved this box! I thought it was a good mix of products and really liked the sachets. There were 3 full sized products which though unnecessary is always nice and I more than got my moneys worth. Above all that this is their tricky second box.. the one that everyone expects to be a let down and they totally knocked it out of the park in my opinion. Maybe it's not for you but SheSaidBeauty is definitely for me!

For more info on what was in the box and lots more reviews check out

SheSaidBeauty.com

Miss BB