April Bellabox

A couple of days ago I received the April Bellabox and I have to say that it was quite a good one this month.

Here's what was in my box this month:

1) Cellilux Glacial Mineral Gel (7gm sachet, RRP $69.00 for 60gm) - This is a face mask that claims to draw out positively charged bacteria (??) and impurities from deep within the skin. Sounds intriguing....

2) Lash Card (2 card sample pack, RRP $7.95 for 10 cards) - These are supposed to be placed behind the lashes when applying mascara to improve length, prevent clumping and smudging. Another intriguing product...

3) Indio Skin Tonic (30ml sample, RRP $44.00 for 200ml) - This is a hydrating mist that uses natural botanical ingredients to protect the skin against moisture loss.

4) Ayurda Skin Perfecting Moisturiser and Skin Firming & Toning Cream (10gm & 5ml samples respectively, RRP $79.95 for 120ml Moisturiser, the other isn't listed) - The moisturiser contains ingredients to increase blood circulation for even skin tone. There isn't any information listed for the Skin Firming & Toning Cream so I think this was an added extra sample.

5) Proplenish Marine Collagen Sachets (3 x 3gm sachets, RRP $49.95 for 30 sachets) - These are supposed to be consumed once a day by dissolving into water. Apparently it promotes beautiful healthy skin, hair and nails. A bit odd but I'm willing to give it a go!

6) Sally Hansen Magnetic Nail Colour - Graphite Gravity (Full size, RRP $16.95) - I haven't actually tried any of the magnetic polishes as yet so am super excited to give this one a go. The shade I received is a dark gunmetal grey.

7)  Cedel Dry Conditioner (30gm sample, RRP $7.99 for 100gm) - Wow, I can't believe we now have Dry Conditioner as well as Dry Shampoo. Seriously, how different can this really be to leave-in conditioner products? Oh well, it's definitely something I will get some use out of with my fine, frizzy hair.

So, that's what I received for the month of April. It's certainly a fully packed box this month and everything is useful to me which is great.

What do you think of the April box? 

Michelle xx

January Bellabox

I received the January Bellabox yesterday and was happy to see that it was focusing on Australian beauty brands this time around. I love finding new products from Australian brands as it's always good to support our own economy.

Here's what was in the January box:

1) Plunkett's 99% Pure Aloe Vera Cooling Gel (20gm, RRP $2.99) - I love using Aloe Vera gel in summer as a cooling and refreshing moisture boost for the skin. I'll be interested to see how this one stacks up.

2) Swisse Body Wash with Vitamin B3 and Macrobiotic Sea Minerals (30ml sample, RRP $14.95 for 250ml) - Well that sure is a mouthful and a half of a name. I've liked all of the Swisse products I've tried in the past so am looking forward to trying this one too.

3) Natio Pure Mineral Skin Perfecting BB Cream (5gm sample, RRP $14.95 for 50gm) - Yet, another BB Cream hits the market. Seriously, how many of these are there now?? This is something that I'll have to try when I know I'm not leaving the house because I received it in the shade Medium which will most likely be way too dark for my skin tone.

4) Ibeauty Cosmetics Eyeshadow in Hummingbird and Foxy (1gm sample, RRP $7.50 for full size single colour) - These shadows are so cute but I wish the packaging was a little more practical even though it is a sample pack. I'm not really sure which shade is which as they are not labelled separately but one is a really pretty shimmery pale blue and the other is a shimmery brown. They both seem to be fairly pigmented as far as I can tell from an initial swipe.

5) NS-8 Heel Balm Complex (50ml sample, RRP $11.45 for 60mls) - This is certainly something that will get a lot of use as this time of year means lots of thongs and sandals on the feet. I'm interested to see how well this actually works on dry feet.

I'm happy there was a makeup item in there this time even though it's a brand I've never heard of before but everything else is a little bit underwhelming. It will all certainly get used though, even if the BB Cream will have to be worn behind closed doors.

So, what do you think of the January box?

Michelle xx

December Bellabox

Sorry for posting this so late. This week has been crazy for me and I didn't even receive my Bellabox delivery until Wednesday anyway. It really irks me that almost the whole country seems to get theirs delivered days before I do. I don't even live in what you would call a remote area!

Anyway, on to the good stuff. This months box is quite awesome in the fact that there is a full size expensive makeup item in there in the form of a Savoir Faire Limited Edition Kit. Bellabox seem to have gone all out for their Christmas box which is great. I can't help but wonder if they over-ordered these in the first place for their online shop and just couldn't seem to get rid of them so they decided to just give them away but I'm still very happy about it none the less.

Here is what I got in the box this month:

1) Savoir Faire Limited Edition Makeup Kit in 'Winter' (RRP $110.00) - This kit contains 6 eyeshadows, a blush, eyeliner, mascara and lipgloss. It also contains 6 'how-to' guides on makeup looks to try using the kit (I was mystified as to where the guides were and managed to find them tucked up inside a little pocket behind the mirror). The eyeshadows seem extremely pigmented so I just can't wait to try them. The lipgloss is a dark brown/burgundy shade which I might not get much wear out of on it's own but it might be ok when layered.

2) Allegra Rhodes Hand and Nail Cream (5ml sample, RRP $32.95 for 175ml) - I got this in the scent Sweet Apple and Grapefruit which smells absolutely devine. Hand cream is something that never goes to waste in my house.

3) John Frieda Frizz-Ease Secret Weapon Flawless Finishing Creme (30ml sample, RRP $16.99 for 113gm) - I recently reviewed this as I received it in another box a little while ago and I love it. I'm so glad to have received some more.

4) EmerginC Multi Fruit Cleanser and Earth Hydrating Phytelene Cream (3ml samples of each, RRP $55.00 for 240ml cleanser and $109.00 for 50ml cream) - I have really liked all the other EmerginC products I have previously received and tried so hopefully these ones will be just as good.

5) Compeed Blister Patch (1 x patch, RRP $11.95 for a pack) - My days of getting blisters are luckily over as I don't really have a need to wear fancy shoes too often anymore since I gave up the corporate world when I had my little man. It might come in handy one day though.

So that's the Bellabox for the month of December. I'm extremely pleased with this box and can't believe that everyone got one of the Savoir Faire kits included. It's certainly a great way to end the year.

What do you think of the box this month?

Michelle xx

November Bellabox

I received my November Bellabox yesterday and have to say that yet again I have been impressed by what was in my box.

The contents this month were as follows:

1) Bioderma Sebium H2O Cleansing Water (20ml sample, RRP $29.95 for 250ml) - Out of everything this was probably the product I was the least impressed with as I just don't see how great this water is like the majority of people do.

2) 4Me Nail Polish Remover Pads (30 pads full size RRP $3.49) - These look really cool and are something I haven't tried before. I am looking forward to trying these out.

3) Swisse Hand Cream (30ml sample, RRP $14.95 for 100ml) - Hand creams are always welcome in my house as I have one in almost every room plus my handbag and my desk at work! For some reason I haven't been inundated with hand creams in my monthly boxes like some others have so I am always happy when I get one.

4) Palmolive Luscious Mango Body Wash (50ml sample, RRP $6.49 for 400ml) - This smells delicious and will be great for when travelling due to the cute size. It's not something that I would consider 'luxury' for a monthly sample box though. It will certainly get used regardless.

5) David Jones Radiant Moisture Day Cream (30ml sample, RRP $24.95 for 14gm) - I seem to have way too many day creams now that I have to try and use so this will just go onto the pile. It has a lovely citrus smell so would be a nice cream to use in the warmer months.

6) B by Bloom Col.lecta Colour Cheek Tint (Full size, RRP 19.95) - I was really excited about this until I opened it and discovered the colour. It's a shimmery brown kind of shade that doesn't really show up on my skin very much except as a subtle highlighter. It might end up being something I keep in my handbag for subtle touch-ups I think.

7) Rose-Hip Vital Rosehip Oil (30ml, RRP $19.95) - This was the best product in the box for me this month. Rosehip oil works wonders for my eczema when it flares up so I'm going to get some very good use out of this little gem. This one kind of has a bit of a weird smell though which is a little bit like hot sesame seed oil but that doesn't worry me too much.

So, overall I was very impressed with what they managed to fit into the box this month. I still think that Bellabox is the star performer every month and will definitely get use of everything that I received this month.

What did you think of this months box?

Michelle xx

October Bellabox - Pretty in Pink Party

So yesterday I received the October Bellabox and the theme this month is Pretty in Pink Party. Apprently $1 from each October box is going towards the National Breast Cancer Foundation too which I think is a really good thing.

I was quite pleased with the box this month as there were 4 full sized items. Here is what I got in the October box:

1) Estee Lauder Resilience Lift Instant Action Lift Treatment (5ml sample, RRP $100 for 30ml) - This is supposed to instantly lift and firm your skin wherever you need it. It also claims to boost collagen production and elastin retention in the skin.

2) Clinique Turnaround Concentrate Extra Radiance Renewer (7ml sample, RRP $74 for 30ml) - This is an exfoliating serum which promotes cell maturation, turnover and removal without causing any irritation.

3) Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Fast Dry Nail Colour in Sonic Bloom (Full size, RRP $13.95) - This is a gorgeous bright pink that will definitely be a great spring/summer shade. These polishes do dry super fast so I can't wait to try this one out.

4) DKNY Fresh Blossom Eau So Intense (1.5ml sample, RRP $135 for 100ml) - This is a very intense floral scent that seems to be just that little bit too sickly for me. I'll give it a go for a couple of days though and see if it grows on me.

5) Cedel Blow Dry Faster Heat Protector (Full size, RRP $9.99) - This is a heat protectant that claims to reduce blow drying time. I seriously cannot remember the last time I blow dried my hair as I have very fine curly hair that just seems to end up in a frizzy mess if I try to blow dry it (while my hairdresser makes it look sleek and flowing, I just can't get the knack of it). I may just have to try to blow dry it again to see if this stuff works, otherwise I may see how it goes just as a heat protector with my GHD.

6) E.L.F. Cosmetics Super Glossy Lip Shine in Candlelight (Full size, RRP $3.99) - This is a shiny gloss that is in a nude beige kind of shade. On first impressions it doesn't seem too sticky and tastes exactly like bubblegum which makes me feel like a teenager again!

There was also a full size Carmex Moisture Plus Lip Balm in a Pink sheer tint which wasn't listed on the card so much be a bonus item or something. Also, how can I forget about the chocolate heart that was included too.

All in all I think it was a pretty good box this month and I will definitely get use out of every item.

What did you think of the October Bellabox?

Michelle xx

Bellabox Haul

The other night I was playing around on the internet and I realised that I had accumulated a heap of reward points on the Bellabox website from the monthly subscription boxes I get from them that I hadn't yet spent. Of course, this meant that I just had to have a look at what I could get for my points and then spend them!

Here is what I ended up ordering:

1) Savoir Faire Mini Lipstick in Showgirl - I have two other Savoir Faire lipsticks and absolutely love them. This one is a really bright pink that I think looks quite good against my pale skintone. I really like the mini lipstick idea as I've never finished a regular sized lipstick in my life so at least a mini one gives me some kind of hope that I might finish it one day...... It's also the perfect size for my cosmetic purse in my handbag without taking up too much room.

2) Savoir Faire Lipgloss in Fierce - I decided to try one of their lipglosses as I haven't had the chance to yet and I'm really happy with the colour of this one. It's a red/orange shade that is nice and opaque for a gloss. It's also got quite a strong cinammon flavour.

3) Silk Oil of Morocco Lip Gloss in Sunrise - I decided to try one of these because they looked really nice and it was a brand I've never tried anything in before. It's a pretty nude/coral kind of shade.

4) Mode Nail Enamel in Cool As - This is a really pretty spearmint kind of shade that I can't wait to try.

(Left to Right: Silk Oil of Morocco Lip Gloss in Sunrise, Savoir Faire Lipstick in Showgirl, Savoir Faire Lipgloss in Fierce)

 

In my order there were also a few samples included as follows:

1) Neutrogena Deep Clean Gentle Scrub
2) Pangea Organics Eye Cream & Facial Cream
3) Avene Ystheal Creme

Overall I'm pretty happy with my order and the best part was that I had over 400 rewards points saved up which equated to $40 so I only paid around $30 for everything. Considering that's the price of the Oil of Morocco Lip Gloss on it's own I'm pretty pleased with my efforts.

Has anyone else placed an order from Bellabox yet other than the monthly subscription boxes?

Michelle xx

September Bellabox

I received my September Bellabox yesterday and was pleasantly surprised this month:

Here are the contents:

1) Bioderma Sebium Foaming Gel (10ml, RRP $24.95 for 200ml) - This is a cleanser which claims to purify the skin with a soap-free, alcohol-free formula. I'll be interested to see how this performs on my sensitive skin.

2) Bioderma Sebium Purifying Corrective Care (5ml, RRP $24.95 for 30ml) - This moisturiser claims to aid in the elimination of blemishes and blackheads and contains gentle exfoliating agents to help keep pores clear by reducing sebum in the skin.

3) You, Me & Everybody Sumptuous Skin Mousse (75ml Full size, RRP $13.99) - This fragrance free moisturiser comes out exactly like a hair mousse and I found out the hard way that a little goes a very long way. It seems to absorb quickly though which I like.

4) Australis Lash TLC Conditioning Mascara (Full size, RRP $14.95) - I haven't used an Australis mascara in years so am interested in trying this one to see what it's like.

5) USPA Beehold (30ml, RRP $32.00 for 150ml) - This is a multi purpose product that creates body in fine hair, curl retention in wavy hair and thermal protection and humidity resistance. I have fine and curly hair so I'm definitely interested to see if this works for me.

6) Guerlain L'Or Radiance Concentrate with Pure Gold Makeup Base (5ml, RRP $14.00 for 30ml) - This is one of the coolest products I have seen in a while. It's a face primer that has tiny pure gold particles suspended in it to illuminate the skin. It's almost a 'too pretty to use' product although I can't wait to see how it works.

There was also a voucher included for $15 off at The Iconic with a minimum spend of $69 before the end of December. I haven't bought anything from this site yet but may have to have a look. Maybe some more shoes could be in order.......

So, that's what I received in the September Bellabox. Overall I was really happy with this box and will get good use out of every product.

What do you think of the Bellabox this month?

Michelle xx

August Bellabox - Go Green!

I was really pleased when I received my August Bellabox the other day and saw two makeup items in there. Finally, something other than skincare!

So, here is what I received in the August Bellabox:

1) Luk Beautifood Lip Nourish in Cinnamon & Mandarin (RRP $24.95 from Bellabox.com.au) - These are a new lip product that contain 100% natural edible ingredients. The shade I received is a very sheer nude that doesn't really show up on my lips at all but feels pretty much the same as a nice lip balm.

2) Lush Ro's Argan Body Conditioner (45gm sample pot, RRP $29.95 for 225gm) - This stuff smells absolutely amazing! I can't seem to stop smelling the back of my hand where I have tested it. It feels like a really nice and thick body moisturiser which is perfect for me at this time of the year.

3) Aveeno Daily Moisturising Lotion (29ml sample, RRP $12.99 for 354ml) - I have used practically every moisturiser in the Aveeno range and have loved them. This one will be great to keep in my handbag for when I have any dry skin emegencies.

4) EmerginC Phytocell Cream & Kombucha Cleanser (1 x 3ml sample of each, RRP $44.00 for 120ml Cleanser and $105.00 for 50ml Cream) - I have received samples of this before in a previous box and really liked them.

5) USPA Organic Wild Thyme Foot Pumice (30ml sample, RRP $39.00 for 200ml) - This is a really lovely herby gel with crushed pumice all through it. I can't wait to treat my feet with this before breaking out all my summer shoes.

6) Bourjois Smoky Eye Pencil in Dark Purple (Full size, RRP $20.00) - This is a lovely deep plum shade that is a colour I use often as an eyeliner because it's not as severe as black. It has a brush on the end which is supposedly to use as a smudger which I think is a little odd as smudgers are usually a small rubber tip but I'm game to see if it works.

7) Phytocare Daily C (2 x 3.7gm sachets, RRP $17.80 for 30 sachets) - This is an interesting idea. It's Vitamin C in a powder form that you mix with either water or juice. I usually take Vitamin C chews every day (I secretly love the citrus tang of them) so am interested to try this.

8) Bonus product - You, Me & Everybody Hand Wash - A voucher was also included to get a free bottle of this hand wash with any Bellabox purchase during the month of August. I've looked on the website so many times in the past few months to try and buy something and use up my points but can never decide what I actually want. Maybe I'll have another look this week and see if I can choose something to enable me to use this voucher.

So, what did you think of the August box? Did you get anything else exciting instead of the above products?

Michelle xx

July Bellabox - Essential Beauty Buys

So, I got the July Bellabox this week and instead of the contents coming in the usual cardboard box they were loosely packed into the outside cardboard packaging and a small cosmetic bag was also included. It's obvious the regular box wasn't used due to the contents being so chunky.

Here is what came in my Bellabox for July:

1) You, Me & Everybody Shady Lady Daily Face Milk (75ml Full size, RRP $9.99) - A daily moisturiser with SPF30+. This will definitely come in handy.

2) Carmex Moisturising Lip Balm (10gm Full size, RRP $5.99) - I've heard so much about Carmex lip products but have never tried them myself. I'm interested to see what all the hype is about.l

3) Neutrogena Deep Clean Foaming Cleanser (Full size, RRP $13.99 for 175gm) - I've used this in the past and it's a decent cleanser.

4) Nutri-Synergy Sensitive Skin Cleanser (100ml trial size, RRP $15.95 for 500ml) - This is a non-foaming cleanser for sensitive, very dry or problem skin. Sounds just like my skin!

5) Ulta3 Nail Polish in Mulberry (Full size, RRP $2.00) - There are good polishes for their price.

6) ELF Eyeshadow Brush (RRP $3.99) - Another eyeshadow brush is always handy.

7) Royal Moroccan Hair Repair Shampoo, Conditioner & Serum (1 x sample sachet of each, RRP $29.95 for 100ml Serum, $17.95 for 300ml Shampoo, $17.95 for 300ml Conditioner) - I always love trying new hair products to see what they do to my fine and frizzy locks.

8) Neutrogena Deep Clean Gentle Scrub (15ml sample size, not written up on card) - Hmmm, two cleansers and a scrub. I'm seeing a bit of a trend with this box. Maybe they think I have a dirty face?

9) Givenchy Pi Neo (Sample sachet) - This isn't pictured as my hubby has already taken off with it. I quite like Givenchy scents so will be interested to see what this one is like.

Well, this was certainly a jam packed box that was great value for money this month. Yet again I missed out on any makeup as I noticed that some other boxes got an Almay mascara which would have been a welcome addition. Oh well, all of the items I did get will certainly get some use.

Michelle xx

June Bellabox - Winter Escape

Well I've been a bit slack on the posting front for the beauty sample boxes I have received over the past couple of months as I just kept forgetting about them and when I did finally remember it was too late in the month and seemed a bit silly to write about them.

I did actually receive the June Bellabox early last week and yet again left it sitting on my dining table completely forgotten about, but, I finally remembered about it today and decided it's still reasonable to post about it now.

Here is what the contents of the June Bellabox looked like this month:

Here's a list of what was included:

1) Benefit Porefessional Pro Balm (7.5ml sample, RRP $58.00 for 22ml) - I've heard so much about this product and have found that people either love it or hate it so I'm quite intrigued and can't wait to try it.

2) Pure Fiji Body Butter in Coconut (sample pot, RRP $29.95 for 235ml) - The consistency of this body butter seems to be gorgeous but I'm not a huge fan of the fake coconut scent. I might be tempted enough to by this in another scent though.

3) Sally Hansen Colour Quick Chrome Fast Dry Nail Colour Pen in Turquoise Chrome (Full size, RRP $16.95) - I love the concept of this and can't wait to try it out. The colour I received is a really pretty peacock kind of blue.

4) Be In Awe Vimala Cleanser & Shaanta Night Balm (Cleanser - 2 x 3ml sachets, RRP $39 for 150ml, Night Balm - 5ml sample, RRP $120 for 50ml) - I've never heard of this brand before so am interested in seeing what it's like.

5) Benefit Total Moisture Facial Cream (3.5gm sample, RRP $59 for 48.3gms) - I haven't tried this before so am interested to see if it's a good moisturiser for my thirsty skin.

6) Fan Di Fendi Fragrance (sample sachet, RRP $95 for 30ml) - This fragrance sample is in a sachet which I think is really odd instead of in a glass or plastic tube like they normally are. This means you'll only get one use out of it which I think is a little bit annoying. I've never seen a fragrance come in a sachet before.

7) Olea Olive Leaf Drops (4 drops, RRP $6 for 12 drops) - These look kind of interesting and I will definitely be trying them next time I feel a cold coming on. I used to take Olive Leaf extract years ago and was surprised at how it really does help the immune system.

So there you go. The main things I am excited to try this month are definitely the Sally Hansen nail polish pen and the Benefit Porefessional balm. Overall I think it was a good box and will get use out of everything in it.

What do you think of the contents of the June Bellabox?

Michelle xx

May Bellabox - Pamper Yourself

I received the May Bellabox today and was very excited because for once I received mine before sneak peeking at any other blogs to see what the contents were. It was nice for it to be a surprise for once!

Anyhoo, behold the contents of the May Bellabox below:

1) Emergin C Hydra Repair Capsules (4 x capsules, RRP $139 for 40 capsules)

2) Avene Eau Thermale Ystheal Emulsion and Eluage Eye Contour Care (5ml & 2ml respectively, RRP $61.95 for 30ml and $63.95 for $15ml)

3) Bobbi Brown Mini Mascara (RRP $48 for full size)

4) Savior Faire Mini Lipstick - Unite (1.2gm sample size, RRP $48 for full size)

5) Sebastian Professional Shampoo, Conditioner and Masque (1 x 10ml sample of each, RRP $34+ for full size)

While I think it's awesome there were two makeup products this month, I just wish the lipstick was in a better shade. The shade I got was Unite which is a caramel/beige kind of shade which unfortunately is not something I will wear very often. I almost cried when I opened it as I absolutely LOVE the Savior Faire lipstick we got in the first ever Bellabox and wear it all the time. Oh well, hopefully others got a colour they can enjoy so they can really appreaciate how gorgeous these lipsticks really are.

I'm a bit surprised there weren't any full sized products at all this month but I guess we can't complain considering how good value these boxes are when you average them over the last few months with what we have received in them.

So, what did everyone else think of the May Bellabox?

April Bellabox - Be Fashion Forward

I'm a little bit late posting about the April Bellabox as I must admit that I almost forgot I even received it (shows you how great it must have been this month, hey?)

Anyway, the Bellabox for this month was based around celebrating the lead up to Mecedes Benz Fashion Week with the theme of the box 'around the world in fashion'.

Well, I really don't get how this theme ties into what we actually received in the box. I don't know if I'm just a bit slow but none of the items we received really scream out to me as a celebration to fashion.

Oh well, lets move on to the contents for the April Bellabox:

1) Comvita Brightening Range - Exfoliant, Serum & Moisturiser (1 x 1.5ml sample of each, RRP $45-$79) - These are tiny sachets and I think it would have been nice to get at least 2-3 of each instead of just one to give a better idea of the product.

2) Ulta3 Nail Polish in Enchanted (Full size, RRP $2.00) - Enchanted is a dark pearly green with purple through it. It's a really pretty colour but I kind of expect a bit more than a polish which I constantly see in a $2.00 bargain box at Coles when I do my grocery shopping.

3) Benefit 'Hello Flawless' Foundation in Petal (5ml sample, RRP $55 for 30mls) - I must admit that I'm a Benefit virgin and have never tried any products from them before. This foundation seems to blend nicely and gives medium coverage on my skin but the shade I got is a bit too dark and yellow toned for me (I'm usually an ivory or porcelain gal when it comes to foundation shades).

4) Pure DKNY Verbena (1.5ml sample, RRP $80 for 30mls) - I really, really, really like this scent. It's refreshing and kind of floral without being too overpowering. This may go on my wishlist for my birthday or xmas this year.

5) OP Therapy Body Hydrator (75ml Full size, RRP $19.00) - This seems like a really nice moisturiser that smoothes on well and sinks in fast without leaving any greasy residue. It's unscented and ideal for dry sensitive skin which is exactly what I usually have so hopefully I'll see results from using this.

6) Hollywood Feet Heel Cushions (2 pairs, RRP $9.95) - Hmmmm, not really the sort of thing I'd expect to see in a monthly beauty sample box. I find that when I wear heels for too long I get pain in the ball of my foot, not my heels so these will probably never get used.

So there you have it. Nothing terrible exciting in the box for this month. So much so that it's been sitting on my dining table for over a week now because I pretty much forgot it was even there!

I'd love to know whether everyone else got the same things as me this month or anything better/different?

Michelle xx

March BellaBox - Get Naked!

Well I was excited to receive the March BellaBox a couple of days ago and here's how it came:

Yes, in a bag instead of a box! I kind of like the idea although the bag is a bit small to really be all that useful. It's pretty much the size of those little bags you can buy to put your underwear in when putting them in the washing machine so they don't get damaged.

Their theme this month was Get Naked and is all about natural beauty. I'm actually extremely pleased with the natural path that BellaBox seems to have gone down as it's refreshing to get a good feel for some of the natural beauty brands out there rather than just covering yourself in chemical laden products all the time.

Anyway, here's what was in the BellaBag!:

1) Yes To Carrots Lip Tint - Ready Red (RRP $9.95) - This a really nice tinted lip balm that only gives a very slight hint of colour. I am a big fan of the Yes To brand so was really happy to receive this to try. It's got a very strong peppermint taste to it though so if you're not a person who likes peppermint too much then these aren't for you.

2) Pure Fiji Coconut Hydrating Body Lotion (30ml? sample, RRP $29.95 for $354mls) - This is a lovely lotion that leaves the skin feeling nice and soft but it has a very strong fake coconut smell that just doesn't agree with me. Most products that have that smell always seem to have the tendency to give me a migraine so I may be steering clear on using this. It may be useful on my feet (as long as I wash my hands very well afterwards). I have tried other Pure Fiji products that haven't been so strong in the coconut arena and have loved them so if you're a fan of this scent then you'll love this lotion.

3) U Little Beauty Natural Repair Hair Masque (100ml, RRP $19.95) - This is a full size bottle which is just awesome. I've actually never tried a hair masque before so am very keen to see what difference this will make to my frizzy hair. Other subscribers may have received a Hair Serum instead.

4) Vital Skin Care - The Eyelift Kit (3 pot sample, RRP $29.00 for 15 pots) - These look quite interesting. You're supposed to use a quarter of a pot on the eye area to achieve a smooth surface for up to 10 hours. I have a lot of fine lines around my eyes so if this stuff works I'm going to buy a trailer load!

5) Bellamer Eye Balm (Possibly a 5ml sample?, RRP $40 for 15gms) - This is a balm that is meant to relax the skin around the eyes. Apparently you apply it and then wipe off any excess after 15 minutes so its like a mask for your eye area. Very intriguing. I better have the best looking eyes around after using this and the eyelift pots!

Also included was a Carmen's Classic Fruit & Nut Muesli Biscuit. I can personally vouch that these are seriously yummo as I actually already buy these almost every week to take to work and have as a healthy snack sometimes. They are great with a cuppa for morning tea.

So there you go. What does everyone think of the March BellaBox? I'm definitely keeping my subscription to this one and Lust Have It. After seeing what was in the March GlossyBox this month I'm certainly not disappointed that I made the decision to unsubscribe from that one.

February BellaBox -

I received my February BellaBox a couple of days ago and must say that I am very happy with its contents yet again.

The contents in the February box were as follows:

1) Sasy n Savy Hand Cream in Rose Lavender (5ml sample, RRP $15.00 for 50mls) - This is the second sample of this I have now received which I guess is a good thing as it means I can get a better feel for how it works as they are very small tubes which I think will only give two or three uses. One thing I have to mention is the spelling of this brand, does the awful spelling annoy anyone else or just me??

2) B by Bloom Collecta Eyeshadow in Sahara Desert (RRP $9.95) - I am a little confused as it says this is supposed to be an eyeshadow duo on my card but it's only a single shade which is a really shimmery bronze colour. Maybe they run out of the duos?

3) Mememe Seventh Heaven Face Base (10ml, RRP $34.95 for 30mls) - I am really excited to try this as it feels so nice on the skin from the tiny bit I have tried so far and it has a gorgeous citrus scent.

4) Sparoma Body Shimmer with Jasmine (10mls, RRP $44.95 for 150mls) - This is a pretty shimmer cream which isn't too overboard on the sparkle. It's extremely strong smelling though which means it may be used on my legs rather than my upper body as I don't know if I could live with such a strong scent so close to my nose all day.

5) Star and Rose Confetti Soap Roses (RRP $25.95 for a box of 12) - This is so cute and I really don't want to ruin it by using it. I'm guessing you just pull off a petal of soap to use as you wish.

6) Two chocolate hearts from The Chocolate Box - who can resist chocolate, right?

All in all I'm again very happy with the contents of the BellaBox and am glad that there is a good range of products this month. I will definitely get good use out of all of these items.

Was everyone else happy with their BellaBox this month?

January BellaBox - Sample City!

Well I finally got my January BellaBox yesterday. I swear I must have been one of the last people in the country to get it this month and found it so hard to restrain from reading everyone else's blogs who posted up their January box contents.

So, here it is:

1) Pangea Organics Lip Balm - Pyrenees Lavender with Cardamom (Full size, 7gm RRP $17.95) - This seems to be a really nice lip balm which goes on silky smooth and feels so nice and light on the lips. The flavour is very intriguing for a lip balm and to me it smells just like a hand cream instead.

2) First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream (5.7gm sample sachet, RRP $14.95 for 70gms) - Apparently this is used to hydrate dry, parched or itchy skin for the face or body. I'm going to wait and use this when I have a bout of eczema to see how it goes with that.

3) Soleo Organics Sunscreen SPF 30+ (2 x 3gm sample sachets, RRP $24.95 for 80gms) - What can I say, it's sunscreen, nothing really that exciting about that.

4) Sparoma Candle - Lemon Myrtle (Small tealight size candle, the card says RRP $19.95 for the candle but surely this couldn't be for the tiny tealight size??) - Anyway, there was a roll-on and body balm that could have been received in place of the candle. These are soy candles and the label says that when you've finished with burning the melted soybean oil can be used on your body for extra moisture or as a massage oil. Hmmmmm, don't know that I'm game enough to put hot waxy oil on my skin but each to their own!

5) La Perla J'Aime Parfum ( 1.5ml sample, RRP $79 for 50ml) - I honestly can't say what this smells like yet as I have had a really bad cold the past couple of days and my nose is still completely blocked. I'm looking forward to smelling this when my nose finally clears :-)

6) Puretopia Nourish & Repair Hand Cream (75ml full size, RRP $9.95) - This is the only full size product in the whole box this month. Yet again I can't tell you what it smells like but it seems to be a really lovely hand cream which leaves my hands feeling very well moisturised. Hopefully I don't find out it smells like crap and I've been walking around with it on my hands for two days!

7) Herban Essentials Towlettes - Orange Towlette (1 x towlette, RRP $17.50 for 20) - These are hand cleaners I think and are naturally antibacterial.

8) Qi Tea in Detox and Ginkgo (2 x 1.6gm samples, no RRP listed) - What can I say, it's tea?

So, I wonder if anyone else found this month's box to be as underwhelming as I did?

Also, I can't believe there was not one single makeup item this month. I don't know about anyone else but I kind of only subscribed to these boxes to get a bit more of an idea of other makeup and beauty products there were around. I really wasn't expecting things such as candles, tea, sunscreen, tampons and hair ties as have been in some of the boxes so far.

Am I being too picky? Are my expectations too high considering the $14.95 a month price tag?

It would be nice to hear what anyone else thinks of these boxes so far.

December BellaBox for Men - I'm Impressed!

When I discovered that BellaBox were bringing out a specific box for men I just couldn't help but order one for my hubby for Christmas. My husband is so bad at personal grooming it's not funny. He's purely a soap and water kind of guy so I thought that something like the male BellaBox might be the kick up the 'you-know-what' he needed to get him more interested in personal grooming.

The male version of BellaBox will apparently be sent out quarterly rather than monthly like the female version and costs $30 per box. I was super impressed with the first box which I actually received about a week ago and opened it ever so gently to sneak a peek prior to wrapping it for my husband. Of course I couldn't let you guys know about the contents until he'd opened it himself though so I had to keep it all hush hush until now.

The December BellaBox for me is a black box and is about double to size as the regular one. This is of course to cater for the fact there will be more samples included due to it being a quarterly rather than monthly box.

And here is the impressive amount of products that were included this month:

The list includes:

1) A'Kin Pureman Visibly Fit 24 Hour Moisturiser (50ml, RRP $24.95)
2) Kosmea Rescue Balm (50ml, RRP $29.95)
3) Milk Scrub & Cleansing Wipes (25 pack, RRP $14.95)
4) One Skin System Active C Scrub and Renewal Cleanse (Scrub 15gms, RRP $69.00 for 60gms, Renewal Cleanse 10ml, RRP $39.00 for 50mls)
5) Kenzo Power Fragrance and After Shave Balm (Fragrance 1.5ml sample, RRP $130.00 for 125ml, After Shave Balm 75ml, I'm unable to find a RRP for this anywhere)
6) Avene Shave Foam (50ml, RRP $22.95 for 200mls)
7) American Crew Citrus Mint Shampoo, Conditioner and Shave Gel (1 x 7.4ml sample sachet of each, RRP $22.95 for 250mls for Shampoo/Conditioner, RRP $24.95 for 150mls for the Shave Gel)
8) Sanctum Men's Shave Gel (5gm sachet, RRP $17.95 for 50mls)
9) Phytomer Globalpur Detoxifying Cleansing Gel (5mls sample, RRP $42.00 for 150mls)
10) Baxter of California Daily Face Wash (5ml sample, unsure of RRP)
11) Erborian Ginseng Infusion Total Eye Treatment (1.5ml sample, unsure of RRP)

So, as you can see it was a bumper first box which was well over the $30 price to subscribe.

My poor husband was a little overwhelmed when he opened it though as he has no idea how to use half of the products. I think he's also a bit scared and doesn't know where to start. So funny! I think I've got a bit of teaching to do over the next couple of months.

I'm definitely going to keep this subscription going and hope that the next box is just as good.

What does everyone think of the male version of BellaBox? Did anyone else subscribe to it too?

December BellaBox - I'm a Bit Excited!

Well I got a lovely surprise when I got home from the longest working day ever last night when I found my December BellaBox waiting on the dining table where hubby had left it for me just screaming 'Open Me!'

Here were the contents of this month's box:

I must truthfully admit that I was pleasantly surprised with the contents of this month's box and am happy that BellaBox have definitely redeemed themselves after the disappointment I felt with the one from last month. Every one of these products I will use with no hesitation.

1) Eylure Naturalites Intense false lashes (RRP $11.95 per set) - I will admit that I have never dabbled in the false lash world yet and am actually very excited to try these and see what all the hype is about. Now all I need to do is either find a good blog tutorial on how the hell these things are applied or a good Youtube video as I am scared to even pick them up! I'm a bit worried that these may be a little too extreme for my face though as I am quite fair and having huge black lashes flapping on my face may look a little odd, but we'll have to see what happens.

2) Savoir Faire Concealer Pack (Full size, RRP $35.00) - I am in love with this brand and think all their products just look so luxe. This is something that I actually really needed as my old concealer is almost on the way out so I was super duper excited to see this. It's a cute little compact with two concealer shades on the top and a finishing powder that twists off the bottom. What would only make this product better would be if it came with it's own sponge or small brush somehow.

3) Ozotic Elytra #530 (Full size, RRP $14.95) - This is a gorgeous polish that has glitter which changes from orange to pink to green depending on the lighting. It's suggested that it's best worn over a black base coat.

4) Elemis Pro-Collagen Quartz Lift Mask (3ml single use sample, RRP $117 for 50mls) - This is an anti-ageing mask that apparently works to instantly uplift the skin. I will be extremely happy to try this sample but don't think I could ever justify purchasing a full size amount of this. It's just a little out of my price range :-)

5) Kosmea Hydrating Rose Water Mist (50ml, RRP $11.95) - This is a gentle, soothing, cooling and hydrating facial mist for tired and weary skin. I absolutely love the smell of this and if will be carrying it around in my bag now in the hope that if we ever start to get some summer weather I can try out it's cooling effects.

So there you have it. Overall it's obvious that this month's box was extremely good value for money with almost every product a full size item and for once every product is something that I can get full use out of.

On a more personal note, I just have to brag about the fact that I finally got my CPA exam results the other day and found out that I passed both subjects, Yay Me!! If I manage to do well in the last two subjects I have left I'll be all done and dusted this time next year. Can't wait!

Hope everyone is having a lovely week so far. I'd love to know your thoughts on this month's BellaBox contents.

November BellaBox - A Tad Disappointed.....

I was eagerly awaiting the November BellaBox this month as I sneaked a peek at some blog posts from others who received their boxes a couple of days ago. I was mainly excited to try the OCC Lip Tar which was one of this month's contents as I've heard such good things about these and have been wanting to try them for ages. Unfortunately, when mine arrived I felt a little deflated :-( The Lip Tar that I received was in the colour of Strumpet which is an extremely dark bright plum colour which is just way too dark for me to ever wear anywhere out in public! I would have been over the moon with any other one of the lighter shades these come in. Boooo, way to disappoint!

Oh well, here is a complete list of the contents of this month's BellaBox:

1) Lancome Visionnaire (5 ml) - Visionnaire is the first skin care with LR 2412, a molecule designed to penetrate throughout all the layers of the skin's epidermis, triggering a range of micro transformations.

2) Erborian BB Creme, Elixir Au Ginseng & Yuza Sorbet (3 x 1.5ml sachets) - This is a Korean product which has selected priority energising and detoxifying herbs to stimulate the metabolism and speed up microcirculation. The result: natural anti-fatigue and strong anti-ageing properties.

3) Gatineau Melatogenine Force Collagene Anti-Wrinkle Concentrate - Helps stimulate the strength, vitality and longevity of collagen fibres.

4) Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics (OCC) Lip Tar in Strumpet (8 ml) - A stunning new innovation in lip colour. OCC Lip Tar combines the longevity of a lipstick with the ease of application of a gloss.

5) Orofluido Beauty Elixir for Hair (5 ml) - A heavenly indulgence for hair containing Argan Oil, Cyperus Oil and Linseed Oil, each producing its own beautifying properties to give remarkable silkiness, lightness and shine.

6) Twistband - A hair tie from California to keep hair secure without snagging or leaving ugly creases.

Personally, I'm a bit disappointed in this month's box and not only because the Lip Tar is practically useless to me. I think all the samples are too small to really give a good indication of any of the skin/hair products and the Twistband is something I could have made myself from some elastic in my sewing kit.

If this had been the first box I definitely would not have stayed subscribing. I know the Lip Tar is most likely supposed to be the spotlight item for this month so because I'm not happy with the one I received that's probably put a dampener on the rest of the contents for me.

Did anyone else receive the November BellaBox? If so, what did you think of it?

Michelle..

The First Ever Bellabox - October 2011

I was very excited to receive my first Bellabox yesterday as I'm finding that it's so fun to receive these little packages of the unknown in the mail and open them up to see what surprises they hold.

This is the third one of these monthly beauty boxes that I subscribe to and I was very impressed with how different the contents were to the others that I also get.

This is how the Bellabox arrived:

(My husband's exact words as he handed this to me were 'Not another bloody makeup box, are you having an affair with the postman or something?' Hehehe.....)

Once you opened the outside packaging inside was a cute little cardboard box with a lid:

And once this was opened it looked like this:

The contents were as follows:

* Napoleon Perdis Auto Pilot Pre-Foundation Primer (15ml) - Now I am probably the only girl on earth who hasn't tried this primer yet so I'm pretty chuffed to receive some so I can finally know what all the raving is about.

* A'kin Lavender, Geranium & Jojoba Hand & Nail Cream (30ml) - I have a bit of an obsession with hand and nail creams and have about 5 that are usually in use at once (one in my handbag, one in the loungeroom, one in the kitchen, one next to my bed and one at work) so this will add nicely to my collection.

* Alpha-H Gentle Daily Exfoliant (2 x 5gm sachets) - I have found that daily exfoliants are too harsh for my face to use on a daily basis no matter how 'gentle' they claim to be so I will be interested in seeing if this is another one of those that I can only use every second day or so.

* Savoir Faire Lipstick in 'Miss You' - This is a full size lipstick that comes in a gorgeous silver case (that actually doubles as a handy little mirror too!). It's a nice pale pink that I think will soon become a favourite colour of mine. It's also got a really yummy flavour that's kind of sweet and makes me keep wanting to lick my lips all the time (not sure if this is a good or a bad thing yet).

* One Skin System Daily Hydrate (10ml) - This product baffled me a little at first as at looks like a big syringe but now I've worked out how to get the cream out I can't wait to use it just for the novelty factor.

* Wine Wipes (1 wipe) - Apparently these are for those who get red wine stains on their teeth. Can't say I've ever experienced that problem (maybe that means I need to drink more!) but I'll be putting this in my handbag the next time we go out anyway just to give it a go.

As per the other two monthly beauty boxes you get a nice card that welcomes you and explains all of the products received as well as their usually RRP's.

Overall I'm pretty happy with this box and am surprised at the quality of what we received.

Did anyone else subscribe to Bellabox? Does anyone have an opinion on which is their favourite monthly beauty box supplier??