Violetbox December 2014 Unboxing

Violetbox is an Australian beauty sample subscription which for $22.95 per month provides 5-6 samples. In my humble opinion I think Violetbox is one of the better beauty subscription boxes in Australia, and I also like that they tend to have a fair bit of full size products included in their boxes.

What was in my December Violetbox:
COASTAL SCENTS Go Palette (RRP $16.95 AUD) Full size
This was an exciting addition to this month's box, a full size palette of 12 eye shadows. I received the Cairo palette which had neutral shades, which just happen to be  my preferences for eye shadows so I am pretty happy with that. I am not a big eye shadow person (I am more about the lips) but I think I will have a bit of a play around with this palette. 

NAOBAY Oxygenating Cream Moisturizer (RRP $69 AUD for 50ml) Sample size 30 ml
A moisturiser is always useful so I don't mind getting this. I haven't heard of this brand before, and the product is a bit on the expensive side so I look forward to seeing what this is like. 

DESIGNER BRANDS Lashes (RRP $8.99 AUD) Full size
I don't like using fake lashes, in a large part because I do not know how to put them on properly but also because they look too fake for my personal taste. I will probably pass this on to a friend or otherwise let my daughter decorate her dolls with them (that is what we did to the last fake eye lashes I received).

MELLOW COSEMETICS Gel Liner (RRP $10 AUD) Full size
I am really interested in trying this gel liner out, I've only tried this type of eye liner out once and my application was terrible. Hopefully this full sized product which also includes a brush, will let allow me to have some practise because I do love the look of gel eyeliners.

LONVITALITE 24K Active Gold Yulan Oil Face Mask (RRP $9.95 AUD) Full size
This is a sheet face mask that has particles of gold it in which sounds very fancy. I have used this before, and from what I recall I was not that impressed. I think it smelt odd, and made my face tingle a lot which was a bit concerning at the time. Violetbox have written that on the information sheet that it does give you a slight tingle, and to avoid this if you have 'extreme sensitive skin.' I think I am going to pass this on to my mother, she would probably be excited about trying something with gold in it.

VERDICT:
 I am really loving this month's box, like most months Violetbox has impressed me compared to other Australian subscription boxes (my Bellabox for December was very disappointing). It has 4 out of 5 product being full sized items which makes for great value, and I will be using most of these items.
I also like that with the inclusion of the Coastal Scent palette that this box feels a little bit special, which in my option the subscription boxes should be doing for their December/Christmas boxes.

Disclaimer: I brought this box with my own money, my opinions are my own.

Bellabox December 2014 Unboxing

Bellabox is an Australian beauty sample subscription box, which for $15 AUD per month provides at least 5 samples and occasionally a full size product. I personally find that Bellabox is a bit hit and miss at times, especially with the vast variation of boxes among subscribers.

WHAT WAS IN MY DECEMBER BELLABOX:
NEUTROGENA Oil-Free Acne Wash (RRP $13.99 AUD for 175ml) sample size 14ml
I have used a sample of this before and I found that it was too harsh for my skin. I did use it daily for a little bit and it ended up burning my skin, I then just started to use it twice a week. I can't remember if it helped treat my acne or not, but I am willing to try it again.

ENBACCI Vitis Vinifera Rejuvenating Essential Creme (RRP $103 AUD for 100ml) sample size 10ml
This is an expensive moisturiser ($103 for 100ml) that uses grape stem cells, so I am interested in trying this out. I would not normally buy a moisturiser that is that expensive so even if I like it I would most likely not buy the full size product.

KERASTASE Paris Nutritive Nactar Thermique (RRP $45 AUD for 150ml) sample size 10ml
This is a leave in treatment that also works as a heat style protector, I'm not that excited about this sample but I will try this eventually.

ELIZABETH MOTT It's So Big Mascara (RRP $25 AUD for 10ml) sample size 4ml
Appartently this mascara is a top seller on Amazon and I have heard good things about this mascara. I have a couple of mascaras open at the moment, so I will try this out later on. I actually really like getting sample mascaras because I never finish a full size mascara before I need to toss it out.

AVEDA Tourmaline Charge Radiance Masque (RRP $79.95 for 125ml) sample size 7ml
I have tried this sample a couple of times before and I think it is okay. The thing that I like the most is that this mask treatment is clear, so that I don't look silly around the house while I am using it.

ENBACCI Hand and Nail Cream (RRP $23 AUD for 40ml) sample size 10ml
I have tried this hand cream and it was okay but nothing special. I probably would not buy the full size due to the price.  

SKIN DOCTORS COSMECEUTICALS Gamma Hydroxy Skin Resurfacing Cream (RRP $49.95 AUD for 50ml) sample size 3ml
This sachet was a bonus product and it does sound interesting. The package say that this resurfacing cream helps reduce the appearance of acne scars, wrinkles and signs of ageing. I have acne scars so I wonder if this cream would help reduce those. However it does state that it would take 2 to 6 weeks to see results, which I doubt that this 3ml sample will last for that long to see any difference.

VERDICT:
I will probably use everything in my December Bellabox, however I find this month to be a bit disappointing since nothing about it really excites me. I also think for a December/Christmas box Bellabox could have been a bit more special. There have been other subscribers who did receive some more exciting products like nail gel kits or full size Kora (Miranda Kerr's brand) organic products. 

November favourites

My favourite 3 products for November are all items that I have obtained from Memebox, a Korean beauty box company. I really love trying out all these Korean beauty products, but the downside is that if I fall in love with a product I might have a difficult time repurchasing it.

1. HOLIKA HOLIKA Soda Pore Cleansing BB Oil
I had been wanting to try a cleansing oil for ages, so I was super excited to receive this in my Holika Holika Memebox. I have been using this and it does a good job at removing make up apart from waterproof mascara, my face feels nice and clean afterwards.

2. SKINFOOD Black Sugar Wash Off Mask
This is suppose to one of Skinfood's most popular products and I can see why. It smells like sugar (well it is made from sugar) and I think it is a lovely gentle scrub that is also a mask treatment.

Skinfood's Black Sugar Wash Off Mask

3. SKINFOOD Tomato Whitening Toner
I was a bit wary to try this out because of the 'whitening' part of the name. However people have told me that it does not really whiten your skin but rather brightens it instead. I am normally indifferent to toners because I tend to not see/feel a difference in my skin when I use them. This one might be the toner that makes me like toners, I could feel a difference using this with some light tingling. I haven't been using this everyday since I still have 2 thirds of a toner that I should finish up first, but I am pretty excited about adding it my beauty routine soon.

Violetbox November 2014

Violetbox is an Australian beauty subscription box that costs $22.95 AUD per month.
The November Violetbox was late and arrived at the start of December, but unlike some subscription companies they let subscribers know that there was an issue with one of the products arriving.

WHAT WAS IN MY BOX

BLOOM Boost Lip Balm Stick (RRP $6.95 AUD) Full size
I love my lip products so I always welcome getting new lip balms. Mine came in the flavour 'berry bang' which smells nice. I've had a quick trail and it seems okay.

CLARISEA Rapid Detox Charcoal Exfoliant (RRP $18 AUD) Sample size
I've heard charcoal is suppose to be really good for getting rid of impurities in the skin so I am excited about trying out this exfoliant. The description states that this is helps attack acne causing bacteria, as a result I might wait until I have a break out before I use this.

TINI BEAUTY Eyetini Eye Cordial Eyeshadow + Base (RRP $23 AUD) Full size
I have tried this and I am impressed. I had it on my arm and then had a shower and there was great staying power, it only really started coming off when I started to scrub it. I also wore one night and it looked fine after a hot sweaty night out. I'm not that into eye shadows to be honest but since mine came in 'spiced rum' a brown colour, and I like nude/neutral colours so this is right up my alley. It has also stayed on all day long with no fall out.

TINI BEAUTY Swizzle Stick Eyeliner (RRP $23 AUD) Full size
A black eyeliner is always a staple so I will be using this in the future. I think my eyeliner is broken since I have trouble winding it up, which make applying it a little bit difficult.

COLOUR BY TBN 3D Magnetic Nail Polish (RRP $7.99 AUD) Full size
This was a bit exciting receiving a magnetic nail polish. I do have one but I haven't tried it because the nail polish was brown so I didn't find it very appealing. This however is a nice blue colour which I am sure I play around with soon. It is also really handy having the magnetic wand since you can use it with other magnetic nail polishes. 

Z'KIN ORGANICS Sample pack
I try and use a lot of organic beauty products, so I do like getting samples to try out. In the pack were samples of line smoothing serum, purifying cleansing gel and re balancing lotion.

VERDICT:
I am pretty impressed with Violetbox's November box, and I am planning to use everything in this. box. There are 4 full sized products with one the eyeliner being worth more than what I paid for the whole box.

Swatch: Tini Beauty eye cordial eye shadow + base and swizzle stick eyeliner

October Empties

DR HAUSCHKA Rose Nurturing Body Wash
Smelt lovely but it is a very expensive body wash.
Repurchase? Due to the price no, unless it was on sale at a very discounted price.

ARBONNE FC5 Nourishing Daily Shampoo and Conditioner
I love these hair products and plan on buying them again soon. I have eczema that spreads onto my scalp so I have issues with shampoo and conditioners burning my scalp, having a itchy an flaky scalp.  These literally fixed my scalp issues and I will be writing a full review soon.
Repurchase? YES, this is the best shampoo and conditioner that I have ever used on my scalp. I will be buying this again in the future.

SERAPHINA Happy Go Lovely Body Custard
I loved the smell and it was a nice rich cream.
Repurchase? I like it but no, at $50 it is way too expensive for a body cream

PAULA'S CHOICE Skin Perfecting 8% AHA Gel Glycolic Acid Exfoliant (sample)
Before I used this I had a break out of pimples and after a couple of days my skin cleared up. I think this works well since I hardly had any pimples during the time I was using this once a day. However the AHA in this exfoliant makes you more sensitive to the sun and I did manage to get sun burnt once where I missed putting sunscreen on. I will be writing a full review of this product soon.
Repurchase? Maybe, but I would only use it during winter.

GAIA Rose Otto & Lavender Refreshing Toner
To be honest I am a bit indifferent to toners, I mainly just use them because I know that I am suppose to. This one seem okay, it is nice and refreshing. 
Repurchase? Maybe.

SECRET KEY Petit No. 4 Hand Cream
This was okay but I was a bit disappointed because I was expecting it to be a heavily scented hand cream (since I received this in a scent themed beauty box).
Repurchase? No.

PELACTIV Gentle Foaming Cleanser (sample)
I thought this was okay but nothing special.
Repurchase? No.

GAIA Pink Grapefruit and Jasmine Foaming Cleanser
I have used several of these bottles and am quite happy with this cleanser, it feels very refreshing.
Repurchase? Yes.

OLAY Regenerist Hydrating Moisturiser SPF 15 (sample)
It felt very rich which was expected since it is an anti ageing cream. I liked that this came in small sample pot, it meant that I had jar of SPF 15 sunscreen that was easy to carry around in my hand bag
Repurchase? I don't really need anti ageing creams yet, but it the future I might buy this. 

SO SUSAN Flutter Mascara
I did not like this mascara it took a long time to dry. I only used this a couple of times before throwing it out, since there are just so many decent mascara out there that I don't want to waste my time with this one.
Repurchase? No.

BEAUTY CARE Makeup remover pads
These were very cheap and came from Kmart. I am using a brand from Big W at the moment and in comparison I prefer the Kmart one.
Repurchase? Yes, and I have already a couple of back ups. 

Sally's Box Friendly Cherry Blossom Hand Mask review

I received this Sally's Box hand mask in a Meme Box (a Korean Beauty Box Service). I have never tried a hand mask product before and I was interested in seeing if it would make my hands nice and soft. After many years of hand washing dishes and having a child (lots of hand washing involved) my hands are not in the best of shape, and lately I have needed to use a fair bit of hand cream.

Sally's Box is a Korean skin care brand, and luckily for me they had both Korean and English  instructions and ingredients on the back. The process of using this hand mask involved; washing and drying your hands, taking the mask out of the packaging and cutting along the dotted lines. After placing your hands in the mask you are suppose to rub your hands together to help absorb the treatment, after 10 to 15 minutes you can remove mask and lightly pat until all the treatment is absorbed.

 My hand inside the hand mask glove

I had been putting off using this hand mask because I wasn't sure I could go 10 to 15 minutes without using my hands ha ha. It did feel a bit strange having my hands in those big gloves, but I was somewhat able to continue with normal activities. While wearing the hand mask I was able to eat cheesecake and used my laptop, however typing with those gloves is not an easy task. 

After I used this product and had rubbed the rest of the treatment into my hands, my hands felt nice and soft. However in saying that I don't think it was any different than using a regular hand cream. The day after my hands feel pretty much the same, perhaps I would see more of an affect if I regularly used hand masks. As a result I am a little bit undecided on whether hand masks are worth buying or not.

My October favourites

Sorry I realise that I am pretty behind with some of my posts (had a death in the family a month ago) but hopefully I will be able to get back on track soon.

My top 3 favourite products were;  Ingobeau Ultra Skin Power Z Cream, J Cat Wonder Lip Paint, and Lailly +36.5 Steam Pore Pack. Oddly enough these are all items I have received from oversea make up box services, and probably won't be able to repurchase without some difficult in Australia.

INGOBEAU Ultra Skin Power Z Cream
This is a lovely rich moisturiser cream which I have been using as a night cream. It is also an anti wrinkle cream, which normally break me out a bit but has not. I have really enjoyed using this but sadly when I received this product it had a short shelf life remaining. As a result I have been very liberal with my use of this cream (I've even been using it on my knees occasionally), it is a bit of a shame that I have to get through this item quickly.

J CAT Wonder Lip Paint in 'Always Late, Rabbit'
I love this purple colour and received some lovely comments when I wore it which is always nice. I tried this on for Halloween because I thought if there was any day I could get away with wearing bright purple it would be Halloween. I thought that this wore well, and loved the colour. I am pretty sure that this is a cheaper version of the OCC lip tars, which I haven't used so I can't compare them to each other.

LAILLY +36.5 Steam Pore Pack
This is an amazing facial mask, which gives a hot steam effect to open up your pores and clean them out.When I use this product my face feels tingly and warm, not something that I have ever experience with any other face mask treatment and afterwards my face feels so clean. I received this in a Memebox (Korean makeup box service) and love it, however I don't know how I am going to find another one these to purchase since I live in Australia and Korean beauty products can be a bit tricky to find over here.

Rimmel Apocalips Lip Lacquer Review: Apocaliptic and Phenomenon

Swatch of the shades Apocaliptic and Phenomenon in natural light(top to bottom).

I've been meaning to do this review for a while, and when I received another lip lacquer in a different shade in a beauty subscription box I was finally motivated to write this up.

Rimmel Apocalips Lip Lacquer retail for $15.95 AUD and are claimed to be a 'long lasting ultra-comfortable lacquered liquid lipstick formula.' The two shades of Apocalips lacquers that I possess are 303 Apocaliptic a bright fuchsia pink, and 100 Phenomenon a nude lip colour. 

303 Apocaliptic in natural light.After wearing this for 15 minutes 

303 Apocaliptic is a beautiful bright fuchsia colour, and the colour pay off it quite impressive. There is a odd smell to this product, but it does go away after you have applied it. When I first applied it I loved it and could see myself wearing it a lot when I go out. However after 5 minutes I glanced at my reflection to find that the lip colour had smudged on to my chin, which is never a good look. I don't recall touching my lips or face, so seeing that smudge was very disappointing. After a little bit of further testing it would seem that Apocalips do not dry and transfers easily, which puts me off using this product.You can see from the photographer that it is bleeding a bit. I didn't use a lip liner (even with one I think it would still transfer).

100 Phenomenon in natural light.

100 Phenomenon is a nude lip lacquer that I received in my October Bella Box. I am going to admit straight up that when I saw this product I thought I was going to hate it, due to my experience with the Apocaliptic product and that nude colours hardly even work for me. I have an olive complexion so most nude colours wash me out and look terrible (mid tone nudes are sometimes workable). I am sure it would look better on people with fairer skin. This product also has an odd smell to it. 

Yesterday I gave this a try and if I really made the effort to blend it in a lot, so I could make it look passable. Despite that I still don't like it and considering all the other lip products I have I will not be using this in the future. I wore it for a while and I do not consider this to be a long lasting product I had to reapply within a hour. I can't really comment on whether this shade would transfer as much as the Apocaliptic shade because the colour blended in with my skin, so any smudging would have not been that noticeable.

Verdict:
Normally I am a big fan of Rimmel products, most of them are fantastic products and are very affordable. Unfortunately I am disappointed in these Apocalips lip lacquers, for my beauty needs and preferences they just smudges too much. The colour pay off is lovely regarding the Apocaliptic shade, however the prospect that this product would end up on other parts of my face is just not very appealing. Frankly I think these lip lacquers seems like too much effort if you were going to maintain your look through out the day, when there are heaps of other lip products on the market that stay put. 

Bellabox November 2014 Unboxing

Bellabox is an Australian beauty subscription box which costs $15 AUD per month, and provides subscribers with at least 5-6 beauty samples to try out.

What was in my November Box:

COASTAL SCENTS Revealed Palette Sampler (Full palette RRP $34 AUD) Sample 4 shades
I haven't had a chance to try this out yet, but I think it looks great. I'm not much of a eye shadow person but want I do happen to wear it I like neutral/nude shade which these are so I am happy about that.

NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk (RRP $9.95 AUD) Full size product
I have actually been thinking about buying a white eyeliner to brighten up my eyes with, so this came at a perfect time. I have used this yesterday as a eyeliner on my water line. My only issue it that this pencil is probably a bit big for that purpose, but it is something I can work around.

LE TAN Wash Off (RRP $14.99 AUD) Sample size
I don't really use tanning products because I have olive skin so I don't feel the need to, also I tend to get darker in summer naturally. I got the darker shade, which is fine for my skin colour. I did give this a quick try out the other day and it seemed alright, I do like that it washes off with water. I will probably do proper review later on.

PALMERS Multi-effect Perfecting Facial Oil (RRP $19.99 AUD) Sample size
I look forward to trying this out soon, I have only just started got into using facial oils so I am curious to see how this one goes.

ALLEGRA RHODES Hand and Nail Cream (RRP $32.95 AUD) Sample size 5ml
I love the smell of cherry blossoms of I think the smell is lovely. Sadly I think this sample is much to small to get a decent feel for the product. At the moment I think it is okay, but I wouldn't pay that much money for a hand cream.

COMPEED Blister Patch (RRP $12.95 AUD pack of 5) 1 patch
I have used these in the passed and they are great, so I don't mind getting this. My daughter actually had a blister on her foot the other day and I used this patch. These are much better to use on blisters than band aids, they cushion the blister and stay on longer.

Verdict:
I thought this box was just okay, the eye palette sampler and eye liner made this box passable in my opinion. I do enjoy getting Bellabox because it is cheap for a subscription box, and I like getting new things to try out.

The only thing that slightly disappoints me is the huge difference in variation of box values. For example this month some subscribers received Nail Gel light kits which is awesome, but not so awesome if you had a very low value box in comparison. It doesn't bother me so much that some people get amazing products some months, but it does annoy me when the other items in their box are also quite nice as well (some people with the nail kits also received 24K gold eye masks which are pricey too). I just think they should share the love around a bit more evenly, and I think other subscribers would prefer that too.

September Empties

Sorry again I have been a bit slack with my blog posts lately, life just gets in the way sometimes.

I'm going to share my my thoughts about the beauty products that I finished using during the month of September.

CUSSONS PURE Sensitive cucumber and aloe Body wash
I brought this on special and it worked like other body washes. It smells like cucumber, which was okay but not super appealing to me. 
Repurchase? I wouldn't mind buying this again in the future.

GARNIER BB CREAM Miracle Skin Perfector in Medium (Sensitive Skin)
When I first tried this product I was a bit disappointed because I had tried a sample of another BB cream and had loved that product. I later realised that that the other BB cream was designed for oily skin so that was probably why it worked a lot better for me. Apart from making me a bit shiny (nothing a little bit of powder can't fix) this is a decent BB cream.
Repurchase? Maybe I would buy a version for oily skin next time.

DOVE Beauty Moisture Facial Cleanser
I brought this on sale, but I think normally this is very cheap anyway. I don't like to use soap on my face, so I used this as my cleanser in the shower. For that purpose this worked fine, I never tried to take make up off with it so I can't vouch for it's effectiveness in that area.
Repurchase? Maybe.

LA Splash Mineral Blush in #22025 ring of fire
I am not a big blush fan, so when I received this blush in a beauty subscription box I was not happy with getting a dark red colour. Then when I saw that it had lots of shimmer I knew I was just going to end up throwing this in the bin, since I really dislike shimmer/glitter in most make up products.
Repurchase? No way, it is just not my sort of blush.

 BIODERMA Crealine H20 solution Micellaire
This is the first micellar cleansing water product that I have used, and I was so impressed  with it that I brought a full size version (by a different brand that was cheaper).
Repurchase? This particular brand is expensive, but I have brought a similar product.

MODELS PREFER BB Cream all in one skin perfector with MP aquaflex, in Light
I brought this when it was clearance for a couple of dollars, knowing that it would probably be too light for my skin since it was in the shade light. After trying it out even during the winter this just too light for me, so I can't really judge how it performs as a product.
Repurchase? I would consider buying this in a darker shade, just so I could at least give it a proper try.

 OGX Coconut Milk Shampoo and Conditioner
These were little 60ml samples that I really loved the smell of. I think it made my hair feel slightly more softer.
Repurchase? Maybe but I think they are a bit for pricey for what they are.

REVLON ColorStay Ultimate Lipcolor 095 Royal Rasin
I brought this at a Revlon Factory sale before I had really got into make up, and this with the lipstick that made me like lipsticks. I use to be a lip balm/gloss person but after trying this and seeing how long it stayed on, I started buying lipsticks. I am not a big fan of this particular colour since I think it is a bit too dark for me. This is been thrown out because it is getting too old.
Repurchase? I would probably buy a different shade

NUDE BY NATURE Nude Oil with Tamanu Oil
I think this is the first oil that I used regularly on my face so I can't really compare it to other facial oils. I thought it was fine, and over time my skin did improved but that might have also been because I was getting into a better skin care routine at the time.
Repurchase? Maybe, but I would like to try other facial oils first. 

RIMMEL LONDON Lasting Finish Nail Polish 061 Exotica
This was an alright nail polish. I am only throwing this out because I have had it for so long that it starting to go clumpy.
Repurchase? Yes, if there was a shade that I liked. 

MAYBELLINE Colossal Volume Express Mascara
I thought this was okay but nothing special.
Repurchase? No, I prefer other mascaras.

SUKIN Protein Hair Treatment
I am a big fan of Sukin skin care products so I was excited about using one of their hair products for the first time. I thought this worked okay, but I couldn't see much difference in my hair. However to be honest I do have pretty nice hair at the moment and I don't see much of a change with using any kind of hair treatments.
Repurchase? Possibly, if I was inclined to buy a hair treatment product I might lean towards this because it is organic.

September favourites

Sorry everyone that I have not posted anything for the last few weeks. On a personal note my father passed away last month. I was either too busy with my family or was simply not in the mood to post again until now.

In keeping up with my monthly favourites posts, here are my favourite 3 products for September 2014.

SHANGHAI SUZI Lipsticks:
Honestly for this post I was tempted to just photograph my entire collection of 7 Shaghai Suzy lipsticks, because during September I was obessed with them. These lipsticks are amazing and are also very affordable at $12.95 each. I love wearing lipstick and consider these to be better or equal to lipsticks that are more expensive. I am planning to write up a detailed review on these lipsticks soon.

GARNIER Micellar Cleansing Water
At first I thought the idea of miceallar cleansing water was a bit silly, but after trying a sample of the Bioderma version I became a fan. It is more than just ordinary water and is great to take off make up with (however some waterproof mascaras can be a bit tough to remove). I like that you don't have to rinse your face after using this, so I tend to use it when I am lazy and need to wash my face before going to bed. I found the Bioderma and Garnier versions to be comparable so I think I will stick to the Garnier product since it is cheaper.

PALLADIO Brow Fix
This is a clear wax eyebrow fixing pencil that I received in a Lip Factory subscription box. Before this eyebrow pencil I never bothered eyebrow products, but now I use this product almost every single time I leave the house. I think that it makes my eyebrows look neater, and that it is great that it only takes a few seconds to apply with hardly any effort.

Memebox Beauty Splurge with Lisa M Pullano Review

Memebox is a a Korean beauty box company that sells themed boxes of make up, skin care and hair products. You what ever purchase boxes you like so you are not locked into a subscription. This is my third box from Memebox and I have really been enjoying getting goodies from them.

This box was a collaboration between a beauty you tuber Lisa M Pullano and Memebox, which was priced at $23 USD plus shipping costs. The collaboration boxes tend to be naked boxes so that buyers know what they will be receiving, which I personally like so I can decide if I should buy it or not. 

So what was in my Beauty Splurge Memebox
1. IT'S SKIN Macaroon Lip Balm 9g  ($10.50 USD) Full size
Mine came in the 03 Grape flavor which I am pleased with. I like the scent and the balm goes on clear. The packaging is pretty cute too, it looks just like a macaroon. I will be keeping this balm even when I have finished it all up because I just love the look of it.

2. IT'S SKIN Babyface Petit Blusher 7g ($11 USD) Full size
The packaging of this blush is just adorable, with its cute little face and the puff inside. I received mine in the shade 02 Pure Lavender, which unfortunately for me is not flattering for my skin tone. I have olive skin so this colour either doesn't show up or if I apply it heavily it looks very weird. I could see this working for someone with very pale/fair skin. I have given this to my three year old who uses it to do her doll's make up. 

3. HOPE GIRL Milky Balm Lipstick 3.5g ($22 USD) Full size
I have tried Hope Girl lipsticks before and I thought they were okay but nothing special. They do not last for 10 hours as they claim. Mine came in the shade 11 Pink Pops, which at first I was not that happy with since light pink lips often does not suit me. I gave it a try and it looked okay, well better than I thought it would anyway.  I find these Hope Girl lipsticks to be quite sheer, but the colour is can be built upon.

 Left to Right: L.Vida Milk Choco and Hope Girl Pink Pops lipstick

4. L.VIDA Nail Polish LC-32 Milk Choco 10ml ($6 USD) Full size
I haven't tried this nail polish out mainly because I am not really into the colour. I am sure I will probably use it in the future. I do like the little flower on the nail polish, and I have used it as a hair tie for my daughter.

5. TOSOWOONG Makeon Mermaid Waterproof Gel Eyeliner ($11 USD) Full size
This came in the shade #05 Maple Syrup, which I think is okay but not a colour I would normally use. I haven't used this as makeup yet, however I have put some on my hand before a shower. In the water it stayed put, and it was only when I tried to rub it off that it finally smudged. I was pretty impressed with that test so I think it will be a very good quality eyeliner.

Swatch in natural light : Top to bottom; Maple Syrup eyeliner, Hope Girl Pink Pops done heavily, Hope Girl Pink Pops lightly applied.

 6. LAILLY 36.5 Steam Pore Pack 50g ($34 USD) Full size
This was the product I was most excited about and I have to tell you all that I love this Steam Pore Pack. I have used it twice already still it has arrived and I am very impressed. It is probably too early to determine if has improved my skin but after every use my face feels so nice and clean. This is suppose to make your face feel warmer and tingly, which it does slightly. When I watched this off with cool water, it really felt warm in a good way. I had never had an experience like that before with skin care, and I thought it felt amazing.

 Left to Right: Lailley Steam Pore Pack and Insobeau Power Z Cream

7. INSOBEAU Ultra Skin Power Z Cream 80ml ($46 USD) Full size
This is an anti wrinkle face cream, which smells really nice and is very nourishing. I am really happy that it is free from parabens, alcohol, mineral oils, artificial colouring and fragrances. Since I prefer products that are free from nasty chemicals.
The only thing that was disappointing about this product is that it will expire in 3 months time, which is a shame because it is a large jar and I won't be able to finish it all by within that time frame. In most cases I use the expiry date as a guideline but with this since does not contain a lot of artificial ingredients that tend to preserve products, I will probably throw it out when it passes the expiry date.

VERDICT:
I mainly brought this box because I wanted to try the Steam Pore Pack because I thought it sounded interesting, and I have pretty much loved all of my other items too. It is a bit of a shame that the Babyface Blusher does not suit my skin tone, but I guess that is the risk you take with buying these boxes. It is only a minor disappointment for me, because everything else is the box is usable.

I am really happy with this box and I would highly recommend it since it has a good mix of make up and skin care. As I write this review the Beauty Splurge box is out of stock, but occasionally Memebox restocks sold out boxes.

AFFILIATE LINK:
If you want to check out Memebox, I would appreciate it if you used my affiliate link here
Using that link will give you the discount of;
- $5 off an order above $100
- $10 off an order above $150

For the month of October 2014 you can use this code to get $5 off  your order 3R9U

*Disclaimer: 
This post contains an affiliate link. If you use this link it will help me earn memepoints, which I will be using towards purchasing more Memeboxes. Thank you. 
I brought this box with my own money, my opinions are my own.

Memebox Superbox #60 back to school by Hope Girl Review

This box was my second purchase from the Korean beauty product box company Memebox. Memebox sells themed boxes of Korean makeup, skincare and haircare products. Most of the time the contains of the box are a surprise but for the 'back to school' box the products that were going to be inside were shared. With standard shipping this Superbox #60 cost $23.99 USD however with a discount code and with me using up some memepoints I only paid $15.99 USD. It is currently still for sale at Memebox and everything is full sized.

I have to admit I mostly brought this box because I really wanted to try a Korean CC cream, because I have heard that their CC creams are so much better than the ones made in western countries.

So what was in my box:

1. HOPE GIRL Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil 02 Brown 1.9 g (RRP $18 USD) Full size
I am yet to actually try this out as an eyeliner but I have done a swatch on my hand and I am very impressed that it hasn't smudged when I wipe at it. I think this will be a long lasting eyeliner. This eyeliner also came with an eyeliner sharpener. I actually need to buy one with a bigger sharpener hole for my brow wax pencil, so I was pleased to get since it fitted perfectly in this one.

2. HOPE GIRL Milky Balm Lipstick Grapefruit 3.5g (RRP $22 USD) Full size
The packaging for this lipstick is so adorable with the leopard print, even my three year old loves it. The box's information card claims that this lipstick will last for up to 10 hours. I have worn this a fair bit lately and it lasts okay but it does not last for 10 hours. I would probably say it would last for 3 hours before needing a touch up (assuming that you haven't been eating) which I think is fine for a lipstick.

3. HOPE GIRL Nude Skin Color Control Cream SPF30 40ml (RRP $31 USD) Full size
This was the item I was most excited about and I have to confess I am loving this. I have never used a CC cream before so I was a bit surprised that it came out white, since I thought it would be a bit like a BB cream. It does start off making your face look quite white but after a couple of minutes the colour adjusts. I have olive skin so while I think this works well for me at the moment, once I get my summer tan it will probably be too light for me. The coverage is light but it does even out the colour of your skin. I like that it includes a SPF of 30+ which means I don't have to apply a separate sunscreen which is good.

4. HOPE GIRL Nail Travel Bling Bling Set 09 Neutral Aura 5g x 3 (RRP $14 USD) Full size
I haven't tried these out yet because these colours as nail polished does not really excite me to be honest. I think I will eventually try them out, mainly because I like the nail design that they have suggested on the back of the pack which uses all three shades.

5. HOPE GIRL Teen Teen Star Mineral Eye Shadow BR01 Real Brown 3g (RRP $10 USD) Full size
There were 4 different coloured eye shadows that we could have received, and I got the Real Brown colour which is a bronze like brown. I prefer my eye shadows in brown and gold shades so this will be used in the future. 

This is a swatch of the CC cream, the lipstick and the eyeliner.
The white cream is what the CC creams looks like straight out of the pump, beneath it is the BB cream rubbed in.
The lipstick is a sheer orange red.
The eye liner swatched twice. The bottom one is what it looks like after I have tried to rub it off. 

Verdict:
For someone who is still quite new to Korean cosmetics and Memebox I thought this was a great box to get to start off my collection. I am pretty happy with this box, and it was a much better Memebox experience for me than my first one the Floral Scent box which I thought was disappointing. I have been using the CC cream most days, and the lipstick has been getting a bit of a work out too. 

Dr. Hauschka Rose Nurturing Body Wash*

The people at Dr. Hauschka kindly sent me this 200ml bottle of their Rose Nuturing Body Wash, which retails for $26 AUD.

First off I have to say I love the scent of this body wash, like the name suggest it smelt like roses and people who like floral fragrances will probably enjoy this. Occasionally after a shower I could faintly detect the scent on my skin still. I have also tried a sample of their Lavendar Sandalwood Calming Body Wash previously and that smelt amazing too.

Another thing I was impressed by was finding out the Dr Hauschka products were all organic, are dermatologically tested for sensitive skin and they do not test on animals. They are also free from; preservatives, mineral oils, parabens and silicone. Followers of my blog might already be aware but I prefer to use organic products, I think they better for the environment and are more gentle on my skin.

As far as body washes goes this particular one works fine and lathers well. I am prone to developing eczema on some parts of my body, and after using this product for a few weeks now my eczema has not flared up so I think this body wash is very gentle on my skin.

Overall I think this is a lovely body wash, it smells nice and does what you would expect a body wash to do. The only negative is the price at $26 AUD, which I think is a bit on the expensive for a body wash. I would consider purchasing this again as a treat for myself or a present for someone. However at that price I'm afraid this will not be my everyday to go to body wash.

*This product was sent for my consideration. This post is my honest opinion.

Violetbox September Unboxing

Violetbox is an Australian beauty sample subscription box which is priced at $22.95 AUD a month to received at least 5-6 samples. I have really been enjoying Violetbox because they tend to have more full sized products in their boxes than other Australia monthly beauty subscription boxes.

What was in my September Violetbox:

POLISHED LONDON Nail Enamel (RRP $8.00 AUD) Full size
My nail polish came in the shade Buckingham Blue which is a lovely teal colour. I brought a blazer in this exact colour the other week so now I can match my jacket to my nails yay.

GIRLACTIK Eyeshadow (RRP $23.00 AUD) Full size
My eye shadow came in a baby blue shade called Dreamy. I'm not a huge user of eye shadow and I don't think this blue would suit me so I will be passing this on to someone else.

STARLOOKS Ultra Olive Gem Pencil (RRP $21.50 AUD) Full size
I am really loving this olive eye pencil. I normally only do black or brown eye liner but I think with this product I am willing to give olive a go. I haven't given it a proper test drive, but after doing a swatch on my hand I'm so excited by it. I love the micro glitter and how it looks kind of golden.

FOLTENE Nail Treatment (RRP $29.95 AUD) Full size
I've seen other people complain about getting this product because it is boring but I don't mind it. I have used this a couple of times, but I would probably have to make a bigger effort of applying this regularly to see if it does make my nails stronger.

SCANDALOUS Fabulously Flirty Dry Shampoo (RRP $16.95 AUD) Full size
I've never actually used dry shampoo before, so I was pleased with getting this go I can finally give it a go.

Verdict:
I was really happy with my box, 5 full sized items is always something to get excited by in my opinion. I will be using or trying everything in this box except for the eyeshadow mainly because I feel like it will be wasted if I keep it. Once again I think Violetbox has done an awesome job, and I look forward to seeing what will arrive in my October box.

Bellabox September 2014 Unboxing

Bellabox is an Australian beauty sample subscription box that costs $15 AUD per month. The theme of this month was a collaboration with blogger Gritty Pretty.

This month marked my 1 year of being a subscriber to Bellabox, and in that time I have really enjoyed getting my monthly treat of goodies.

What was in my box:

NEUTROGENA Make-Up Remover Cleansing Towelettes (RRP $7.99 AUD) Sample size, 7 wipes
I like using facial wipes for those times when I am simply too lazy to wash my make up off, so I am sure I will use these. I haven't tried this particular brand of facial wipes before, it will interesting to see what they are like.

GLIDERS Hair Ties (RRP $4.95 AUD) Full size product, 5 hair ties
I have to admit I was not that excited to see these in my box, but I have long hair and a daughter so I guess they will come in handy.

1000 HOUR Lashes (RRP $9.95 AUD) Full size product
Fake lashes are not really my thing, so I won't be using these.

TONI & GUY Heat Protection Mist (RRP $15.99 AUD for 150ml) Sample size 75ml
I generally don't use hair products that much, but I will be using this once I am finished with my current hair heat protection. This is a great sample size which I am pleased with, I actually thought it was a full size product at first glance.

SLEEK Makeup Eye Dust (RRP $9.95 for 6.5ml) Full size product
I am not a big wearer of eye shadow, and when I do wear them I tend to go for brown or golden shades. This black eye dust which I am afraid is very out of my comfort zone, so I will be passing this on to someone else. 

GARNIER Perfect Blur (RRP $16.95 AUD for 22ml) Sample size 1.5 ml
I have been curious about this new primer so I am glad that I received this sample.

REVLON Colorstay Foundation (RRP $34.95 for 30ml) Sample size 1.5 ml
Luckily this is sample is actually in a shade that will suit me so I will be able to use it.

Verdict:

This month was a bit of a miss for me sadly. There was nothing that I found very exciting and some of the items such as the fake eyelashes and eye dust I won't be using at all.  However last month I had an amazing box so I guess with subscription boxes it is just the luck of the draw sometimes. Hopefully what ever box I receive in October will be more to my liking.

August Empties

I'm going to share my thoughts about the products I finished using or threw away during the month of August.

AVON Naturals Hair Care - 2 in 1 Shampoo and Conditioner green tea and lime:
I generally don't really like using 2 in 1 shampoos and conditioner because I do not feel like that do a decent job at washing out my hair. This Avon one smelt nice but I didn't particularly like using it.
Repurchase: No

AVON Naturals Body Care - Shower Gel lavender and chamomile:
I brought this on sale and loved the smell of lavender. As far as shower gels go this was okay. 
Repurchase: Maybe. I would consider it if it was sale.

SEACRET Pure Body Lotion -
I thought this was okay as a body lotion. It felt light and non greasy, but I probably wouldn't try this again.
Repurchase: No. I prefer other body lotions.

WOT NOT Facial Wipes - oily/sensitive skin:
I really enjoy using Wot Not facial wipes, and I feel that I have the exact right amount of moisture that I like in a facial wipe. This is the oily/sensitive skin version but for me I don't have a preference between this or the original version.
Repurchase: Yes, Wot Nots are my favourite brand of facial wipes.

MARY KAY Fluid Eye Color - spring leaf:
I am not a big eye shadow wearer and did not really like this golden green colour either, as a result I have not been using this eye colour at all. I am getting rid of this product since I don't use it.
Repurchase: No.

AVON One Great Mascara - black:
I brought this when it was on sale for $5, and that price I just could not pass up getting a waterproof mascara. I thought it was okay, and would probably buy it again if it was on sale for $5 again.
I am throwing this out because I've had this open for 3 months already.
Repurchase: Maybe. If it was on sale I would think about it.

APPELLES APOTHECARY & LAB - Blackseed Shampoo rosemary, ylang ylang and lavandin super & Tamanu Conditioner rosemary, ylang ylang and lavandin super:
I really liked using these samples
Repurchase:  I would consider it however these are a bit pricey.

PANTENE Aqua Light - Nourishing Shampoo and Conditioner:
I thought these were okay but nothing special. I  did like the fragrance.
Repurchase: No, I prefer other shampoos and conditioners.

BURT'S BEES Almond and Milk Hand Cream
I loved the scent and thought it was a great hand cream.
Repurchase: I would think about buying it if it was on sale.

HAPPY SKINCARE Cloud 9 Deep Cleansing Balm:
This was the first cleansing balm I have ever used and I loved it. It made my skin feel of moisturised after cleaning my face. I have to admit I am a little sad when I finished this sample off, and now I want to try all the other Happy Skincare products out.
Repurchase:Ye, I will be buying this product soon. 

DR. HAUSCHAKA Lavender Sandalwood Calming Body Wash:
I love the smell of this body wash, it was a nice body wash.
Repurchase:No. The full size product is expensive and I don't think it is worth spending that much on it. 

REFRESHED Lemon Myrtle Exfoliating Natural Soap
I like using exfoliating soaps and I also enjoyed the scent of this soap.
Repurchase: Maybe.

VASELINE Anti-ageing body lotion:
I have used a couple of samples of this product before. It smells nice, but I don't really think I am at a stage where I need an anti-ageing body lotion.
Repurchase: No.

PALMER'S Cocoa Butter Formula:
I used this a lot when I was a younger and using this reminded me of that time.
Repurchase: Maybe

August favourites

I have decided that I am going to try and do a top 3 of my favourite beauty products for each month, so I'm going to share some of my favourites from August.

1.AVON Ultra Color Absolute Lipstick in 'caring coral'
The lipstick itself is nothing special. It is okay as far as lipstick go but what I like the most about this lipstick was the shade. I tend to always buy lip colours in dark pink or red, and this was one of the first lipsticks I brought trying to get away from those particular shades. I brought this on sale, but I wouldn't have paid the full price $19.99 (go and buy a Shanghai Suzy instead, cheaper and nicer in my opinion).

I probably liked this shade a lot during August because at the start of the month I went out shopping one day wearing this lipstick, and I got hit on by a guy telling me that this was a 'knock out' lipstick on me. Well the guy was a bit creepy but I was recovering from surgery at the time so it was nice to have someone say I looked nice. 

2. HAPPY SKINCARE Cloud 9 Deep Cleansing Balm
This is was a sample of this cleansing balm, and seriously I loved it so much. It isn't the best cleanser for a full face of make up but for everyday use I thought it was great and left my skin feeling very moisturised.

I am the kind of person that doesn't like spending too much money of cleansers because I would rather spend it on makeup instead. However I think this cleansing balm has really won me over and I would now be willing to spend $34 on a cleanser.

3. SERAPHINA Happy Go Lovely Body Custard
I am not normally a big body lotion person but I have really been enjoying this organic one from Seraphina. This cream has a lovely thick texture and keeps my skin moisturised. It smells like roses and candy mixed together which I love.

I received this product in my Winter beauty Native Box which you can read about here Whilst this is a lovely product at the price of $50 for 250ml it is very expensive in my opinion, and I would not be willing to pay that much for it.

What were favourite beauty products last month?

P.S Expect to see Shanghai Suzy lipsticks in my favourites for September, they are amazing!

Memebox Scentbox #4 Floral Unboxing

Memebox is beauty product company that sells themed boxes of Korean make up and skincare. Unlike beauty subscription boxes you only purchase the boxes that you want to receive.
I should point out that the boxes go on sale but the shipping dates may be a month of two away. Honestly it is a bit annoying having to wait such a long time to get your memeboxes, however there are a few that are ready to ship straight away.

This is the first Memebox that I have ordered and I was pretty excited, after looking at various unboxings of their past boxes on the internet.

What was in my box:

SALLY'S BOX Friendly Cherry Blossom Hand Mask 6g x 2 (RRP $2 USD)
I have never tried a hand mask before so I am looking forward to giving this product a go. I will just need to find a spare 10 to 15 minutes when I won't be using my hands.
I adore the scent of cherry blossoms so I am sure I will enjoy the scent from this mask.

ESTHE Shower Cologne 100ml (RRP $26 USD)
Randomly selected from Rosy Glow, White Musk or Floral Dream.
My shower cologne came in the scent Rosy Glow which of course smelt like roses. I thought it was a nice appealing fragrance. You are suppose to spray this on your body after you have a shower.
I've tried this product over the past week and it doesn't feel like it is worth $26 to me. The packaging looks a bit cheap, the smell is nice but it only seems to last for a couple of hours.

L'OCEAN Feromonika Perfume 10ml ($12 USD)
Randomly selected 04 Delos Coral, 05 Los Fresh, 10 Paros Rose
I received the frangance 04 Delos Coral which I quite like. It smells like flowers but I was a bit confused about the name since I normally associate corals with water. I find that unlike the shower cologne this perfume lasts for a few hours.
I really like the size of this product and I will keep in handbag for when I am out and about.

SECRET KEY Perfume Hand Cream 30g ($10 USD)
Randomly selected from petit 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
My hand cream was petit No. 4. I am terrible with describing scents but it does smell floral. This hand cream is meant to be moisturising while having a long lasting fragrance.
I thought that perhaps this would still have a strong smell to it once it was rubbed in, but I didn't think it was any different to any other scented hand cream in that aspect. It was an okay hand cream, but nothing special.

Verdict:
To be honest I am a bit disappointed with this box. I just feel like this theme had great potential with all the different type of beauty product out there which have foral scents, and instead this box had two items for the hands and two fragrances. I would have preferred it if there was more variety in the type of products that was included.
I am sure I will use all the items in here, but compared to what was in the other scent boxes I feel like I made the wrong choice in choosing the Floral scent box.

Lip Factory August 2014 Unboxing

At the start of  September I received my August Lip Factory box (this is an US box and I live in Australia so I always get it a bit late). Lip Factory is  a subscription box that costs $22 USD for those in the US and $32 USD for most other countries (including shipping).

What was in my August Lip Factory box:

CULT Nail Lacquer (RRP $12 USD)
My nail polish came in the shade 'centre of attention' and I love it. It is such a beautiful mix of different sized pink glitter bits which I like. Glitter in my nail polish is pretty much the only way I like to wear glitter these days.

LA SPLASH Mineral Blush (RRP $15 USD)
I am not big on blushes. When I do wear them I like them to be natural looking and sadly this is just a bit too over the top for my tastes. This came in the shade #22025 Ring of Fire which is a red with shimmer. For me it is too dark and I am not a fan of having shimmer on my face (except maybe when wearing eye shadows)

The top line is what the blush looks like straight out of the pot. Below is what it looks like with me blended in gently with my brush (after taking a lot of it off my brush). So it can be made more workable for me, except I still dislike the shimmer.  This photograph was taken in natural light but I don't think it really captured how shimmery this blush is.

LA SPLASH  Lip Lacquer (RRP $9 USD)
I normally get excited about lip glosses, but one look at all the glitter that this one contained and I was put off. This is probably something I would have loved when I was a teenager, but these days I dislike glittery lip glosses. I tend to end up with glitter all over my face. 

PINK POWDER PARLOR Lipstick (RRP $11 USD)
I adore lip products so I got excited seeing that there was a lipstick but unfortunately for me I don't think this colour will be very flattering on me. My lipstick came in the shade 720 which is a light pink. I will re home this lipstick to a friend that I think it will suit. Although the packaging is simple, the lid make it feel like a good quality product with some resistance when you take the lid on and off (I don't think the lid would accidentally fall off).

MEDUSA'S MAKEUP Stick It Eye Primer (RRP $8 USD)
I was delighted to find this eye primer in my box this month. I am not a big eye shadow user, but I am trying to wear them more often. I was actually thinking of buying an eye primer so this product came at a great time for me.  I am looking forward to testing this primer out.

RED CHERRY False Lashes (RRP $2.50 USD)
The fake lashes I received were #110 which black and made from 100% human hair. I don't wear false eyelashes because I can never seem to put them on properly and also I am a little concerned that might fall off. I think I will pass these on to a friend.

Verdict:
Despite the fact that there is only two products this month which I am excited about (the nail polish and eye primer) I still think this is a pretty good box. If I had received a lipstick in a colour I could wear, or a lip gloss in a different shade, or blush in a lighter shade with no shimmer I would have been over the moon this month. I guess it just one of the things that you have accept with subscription boxes that they can be a bit hit and miss.

This box is full of full sized products that come to the value of $56.50 USD. Since I am from Australia where make up products are usually more expensive then in the US I think Lip Factory has great value. I want not familiar with any of these brands which is another reason I love subscription boxes, because I get to discover new items and brands. I have currently unsubscribed to Lip Factory to have a bit of a break. However I am sure I will use their services again in the future since they have on the whole been my favourite beauty subscription service so far.

Disclaimer: This box was brought with my own money. My opinions are my own.

July Empties

Opps it seems that I am a bit behind with my empties posts, but better late than never I guess. So let have a look at the products I used up in July and my thoughts about them

ORGANIC CARE Normal balance shampoo and ORGANIC CARE Normal balance conditioner (full size)
I am a big fan of organic hair  products, they are affordable and make my hair feel great. I also get eczema on my scalp so I find organic product to be more gentle and less likely to flare up my skin issues.
Repurchase: Yes and I have brought this shampoo and conditioner many times.

AVON Naturals Body Care Cherry Blossoms (full size)

I got this pretty cheaply when it was on sale, I just had to grab it because I love cherry blossoms. This smelt nice, and was okay for a shower gel.
Repurchase: If it was on sale I would consider it.

SHE mascara (full size)

I received this mascara in the colour brown from one of my subscription boxes. To be honest I was not that pleased when I first got it because my eyelashes are black, so I thought brown mascara was a bit pointless. I tried it anyway and I didn’t think it was anything special. The brown colour was not as bad as I thought it would be on me, but naturally it didn’t make my eye lashes stand out as much as black does.
Repurchase: No, I didn't think it was anything special, and I personally prefer waterproof mascara.

SUKIN Facial Moisturiser (sample)
I am fan of Sukin products. Sukin are Australian owned and made, carbon neutral, organic, paraben free, vegan and do not test on animals; so what is there not to love about them. I thought this facial moisturiser was good and I really liked the smell as well. After using this product I went out and brought a whole bunch of Sukin products.
Repurchase: I already have a full sized bottle stored away.

HERBAL ESSENCES Shampoo and HERBAL ESSENCES Conditioner (sample)
I thought these samples were okay, they smell really nice. These products are paraben and colourant free which I liked.
Repurchase: Probably not.

CLEAR Nourishing Shampoo (sample)
I thought this shampoo was okay, but I prefer to use organic or at least paraben free hair products.
Repurchase: No

ROMY Body Wash and Shampoo in Eucalyptus Lemongrass & Lime (samples)
I loved the smell of these Romy products and I quite liked them. I love how Romy doesn't use nasty chemicals in their products, but for me I think their products are a bit out of my price range. 
Repurchase: Maybe if I found them on sale.

 

ESLOR Soothing Refiner & Cleanser, Soothing Cream, Replenishing Scrub and Comforting Mask (samples) 

On a whole I really enjoyed using these samples of an expensive brand that I probably would not have had a chance to try out otherwise (I received these in a subscription box). The comforting mask was my favourite, I have never tried a mask that nice before and you could tell it was expensive product. I also really like the scrub as well especially that it didn't contain micro beads (rubbing your face with plastic beads is gross in my opinion).

Repurchase: Sadly the full sized products are expensive so I don't think I will.

GAIA Foaming Cleanser (sample)
I really enjoy using Gaia products. I find they work well and they are Australian and organic. This cleanser smells lovely and I like how it foams up.
Repurchase: I already have a full sized bottle of cleanser. I've purchased Gaia a few times before and I probably will again in the future.

MARY KAY Botanical Effects Mask (sample)
This sample was tiny I barely had enough to cover up my entire face. I thought it was okay but it is hard to tell with only one try if it makes a difference or not.
Repurchase: No.