New Year and a new you... well Glossybox thought so too as the first box of 2013 is a 'Detox' box with a few bits and pieces to help you recover from the over-indulgence of Christmas.
Even better, I'd been saving my points and this was another freebie! I know, I'm a bit of a hoarder when it comes to GlossyDots aren't I??!
So that's two boxes in a row, December and now January, for free, well that's a good start to 2013 in my eyes...
Elemis Fresh Skin Skin Glow Facial Exfoliator - 30ml sample size - full size 100ml £12
This was the first thing in the box to jump out at me. I've had the odd Elemis facial before and received a couple of beauty box samples from SheSaidBeauty and (the now defunct) feelunique.com but have yet to be enthralled by any products specifically. Ok, I admit, I'm such a girl that the pink packaging was the first attractive thing about this item but actually on closer inspection I was pleased that I'd got it in my box. This exfoliator is from the new Elemis 'fresh skin' range - a collection designed for younger skins from teens to twenties... well, at 26 I guess I kind of still fit in that category right? It smells deliciously of mandarin and has jojoba beads that gently polish the skin without being too abrasive. On the whole, a nice product and it has lead me to check out the rather affordable (think Boots No7 sort of price) new range for any other exciting skincare finds.
Duck Island Body Lotion - 30ml sample size - full size 2 x 250ml £24.95
Just looking at this product screams 'hotel bathroom sample' and upon checking out their website (link above) I think I got it spot on! Duck Island are a brand of toiletries that infuses the fragrances of mandarin and bergamot to 'capture the exotic aromas of the East'. It smells lovely, sinks in well and leaves skin soft, what can I say? It's a body lotion! Cute packaging but at £25 for 500ml it's a little steep and even if I did want to pay that, they only seem to come in batches of 20 bottles on the website...!
Jason Lips Bee Healthier - full size 4.5g £1.99
Uuuuuhhhhh! Another lip balm! Really????!!! You can stop now GlossyBox, thank you very muchly. My drawer is bursting with ones I've picked up from beauty boxes and I can't seem to use them up fast enough. I'm a serial lip-chewer so lip balm is a must have skincare staple in my opinion but I just have too many now. Anyway, I've tried this one out in the name of beauty blogging, and I like because it's instantly smoothing and softening with the aloe and beeswax. But I dislike the hint of peppermint oil that makes my lips tingle and swell like I've been literally stung by a bee! Not one for those times when you're suffering with sore lips.
Monu Warming Aromatic Mask - 30ml sample size - full size 100ml £24.95
Ah, hello Monu, I haven't seen you in a box for a while.... This brand made quite a few GlossyBox appearances last year so it was a little annoying to see it again and then I realised it was a mask. Oh yeah, I love a good clay mask! My greasy and slightly spot prone skin makes me a perfect candidate for slapping on a thick natural clay layer and this one is warming too - a nice added benefit. It doesn't dry out and I think I prefer ones that do - you feel like you get more of a deep cleansing effect - but at least I can crack a smile when I have this on :) If I could change one thing, I would like this to not have a lavender scent, it's a little too 'old' for my liking.
Premae Skincare Balance Rescue Face Tonique - 30ml sample size - full size 50ml £27.50
Now I'd seen this brand before but couldn't think where and then I remembered I got a face balm in an old SheSaidBeauty box. I wasn't that impressed by it (I mean, who uses a face balm??) but this little face tonique intrigues me. It claims to be a face toner for combination skin (tick!), that mattifies (tick!) and rejuvenates congested skin (ummm tick??). It's alcohol free and contains lemongrass, sandalwood and rose water to cut through excess oil without stripping the skin - now this sounds like it was made for me! I'm going to give this a thorough trial and see how I get on. But if I like it, I'm not sure I'd like to fork out nearly £30 for only 50ml of the full size product!
And the GlossyBox
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Disclaimer - I have subscribed to GlossyBox out of my own choice and money (damn
the fanciful idea of mystery beauty products delivered every month). It
was my choice to review the products above and I have done so in a 100%
honest manner. I am not compensated for my reviews but if you use my
referral link to start a subscription then I can get points towards a
free box next time... well who doesn't want free beauty stuff?!!
