I signed up for both Birchbox and Glossybox at the same time, with a view to cancelling whichever was least exciting. I am on the verge of cancelling both and just using my money to splurge on things I see reviewed by my fellow bloggers. I signed up for beauty boxes so that I could sample luxury and high end products from brands that I wouldn't chance buying the full version of due to price. That, and I like getting parcels! Enough of the prelude, let me show you why I am decidedly underwhelmed this month...
Anatomicals is a fun brand. The packaging is bright and eye catching, but ultimately their products are sold in Superdrug for between £3 and £6, so it is definitely not a high end brand. I personally believe that the "wacky" packaging is trying to hide the fact that the products just aren't that good. These eye patches probably won't do anything at all other than make me look silly for the 30 minutes I am wearing them. They cost £6 for three packets and I received two packets. At £2 a pop I can't imagine they will make any difference whatsoever to my dark circles.
Moving on...
Balance Me body wash. It's a body wash of 99% natural origin without sulphates, mineral oils or parabens, which is something I look for in body care. This sample is worth £2.50 but I don't like the smell, and I am currently very loyal to the Gamila Secret cleansing bar so I can't see when I will get to use this. There are a lot of essential oils in it which might cause a reaction on my sensitive skin, but time will tell. Whilst I don't hate this sample, I prefer makeup samples (of which there are NONE in this box!)
The next item, and the one that seems to have caused the most anger on the GB Facebook page is the Vaseline sample. What annoys me the most is that this sample is 'worth' 62p according to the list price of £4.99 per 400ml. However, you can get this for £1.75 in Home Bargains!! Like I said before, I signed up for GB because I wanted to try niche products and things I wouldn't normally try. I've tried Vaseline products before, most women have. I'd have rather had an actual tub of Vaseline because it would be more likely to be used in my household! I have sensitive skin and I tried this lotion about two hours ago and it made my legs itch. This will be 'gifted' to a friend methinks.
So far the items are worth £7.12. What else did I get?
Two 3g tubes of Yu-Be moisturising skin cream. The packaging screams "cheap" and has "sample - not for sale" stamped on it, as though someone would actually try and sell this! The value of the 6g is £2.45. The cream itself is very thick and it's yellow. There is an overwhelming smell of 'vapour rub' which the flimsy instruction leaflet states is 'camphor" and that it will "completely fade in minutes"... not so: I slathered it on my cheeks about an hour ago and I can still smell it.
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Even the info leaflet looks cheap! |
The final item in the January Glossybox is a pair of floral slanted tweezers from The Vintage Cosmetic Company. They're pretty, if you like floral things a la Cath Kidston (I don't!) but who doesn't already own at least one, possibly more, pairs of tweezers?! These are apparently worth £8 but I have a pair of Elegant Touch tweezers that I've already pitted them against that were only £4. The Elegant Touch tweezers won. I will definitely be giving these to a floral loving friend.
With the tweezers this box is worth £17.57. Bearing in mind the box costs £12.95 (inc postage) to buy I feel very ripped off this month. I didn't get any makeup samples, and the Vaseline sample worth 62p is an insult to the loyal GB fans. I note with interest that in the glossy booklet I received they review and mention products by La Roche-Posay, MAC, YSL, Philosophy, Pervonia and Ellis Faas. So why are they sending out Vaseline products that can be picked up in Poundland?!
Let me know what you think of your January Glossybox in the comments below. Thanks for dropping by!
A truly awful box. I will only buy one more then claim my free glossy dots boxes. Mine hasn't even arrived yet though
ReplyDeleteI don't think I've got enough dots for a free box so I might give them until next month to redeem themselves then I'll cancel after using my dots in March!
DeleteOh dear - I was considering signing back up to these but I think you've just made me reconsider! Vaseline is a bit ridiculous for something that markets itself as high end.
ReplyDeleteMy Birchbox was pretty good this month Tash!
DeleteI haven't received mine yet, but I'm not very excited about the arrival of it. I completely agree that the contents are not good enough. It feels cheap and really a rip off. I'm in Ireland and our boxes are always worse (some crap about not being able to send certain products overseas). So my box will probably be even more disappointing, if that's possible. I've one more box left in my sub and then I'm going to try one of the new Irish beauty boxes that seem much better.
ReplyDeleteHi Kate, I hope you find a better box! I'm on the hunt too. Birchbox was good this month, luckily. It's a shame there's postal restriction, how annoying!
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ReplyDeleteI cancelled my subscription in December and am so glad I did!
ReplyDeleteLibby from www.lifeoflibby.co.uk
xxx
Do you subscribe to any other beauty boxes? I'd love to sign up for others, other than GB and Birchbox!
DeleteSimone, you should try Lovelula. I subscribed a few months ago and love them so far. Glossybox are a joke, so I will be unsubscribing very soon!
DeleteThanks, I've been looking at their website but it seems more geared towards body care etc... there aren't may makeup samples, or am I missing them? :)
DeleteI've always want to subscribe to one of these.
ReplyDeleteRay | Obey Ray
very nice :)
ReplyDeletehttp://sbr-fashion-fashion.blogspot.com/
Wow that's definitely put me off Glossybox :| I was considering subscribing at some point too
ReplyDeleteCadaea.Blog
I havn't even received my glossybox yet! so gay!
ReplyDeleteTzeyien89 Beauty & Lifestyle Blog
xxx
I don't really think using "gay" in this context is appropriate - shame on you!
DeleteThanks for the comment on my blog - the palette is this one
ReplyDeletehttp://www.superdrug.com/mua-professional/mua-eyeshadow-palette-heaven-and-earth/invt/267771
Thanks so much Nicola! Is it any good? Desperate for a neutral palette! :)
Deleteoooh this doesn't sound great! i've never subscribed to any of these beauty boxes - i think you're way better off buying products you actually want/need!! :)
ReplyDeletexxx
http://eleanorcos.blogspot.com/
That's very true, but I've been lucky to discover some great new products and brands that have gone on to be some of my faves :)
DeleteHi Simone,
ReplyDeleteI also signed up to GBso I could try niche products which were new, but I stopped after a few months as I didn't really like what I was getting :(
Selena