BoxDeLux – February 2016

I have tried out various beauty boxes over the last year so I was intrigued to review the new (to me) BoxDeLux this month. The package arrived in a sturdy cardboard black box and the difference of this subscription to any other was that it will always vary from month to month as to what you will receive, you will get a mix of beauty, lifestyle, fragrance and gourmet food and the surprise is that it will be a mix of these each month. You can have a one month to 12 month subscription and you can even buy a one off box for a special occasion such as a birthday, Mother’s Day or even Wedding favours etc.

I like the idea that each month will be a mixture of varied items and the mystery of the BoxDeLux contents is half the appeal. The delivery was quick and the presentation gives an air of quality as the box itself was really sturdy unlike a lot of subscription boxes I have tried. Thier whole ethos is to send out a box of luxury every month and unwrapping the contents it did have the feel of something special, even before opening – as I unwrapped the carefully packaged (in pink tissue paper) contents I saw two skincare products, one beauty product, one nail polish, one luxury soap and a pair of heart earrings.

The two skincare products were Marilou Bio Creme Mains Nourrissante a moisturising hand cream from a brand who are organic and natural and this nourishing hand cream is rich and hydrating and the 75 ml included will last a long time as you only need a little each time as it is so thick and rich. What I did like about this French hand cream was that once absorbed it sank straight in leaving no tackiness – I value this feature as it really puts me off a body product when it leaves a film. This makes it ideal to add to your handbag, have at your desk or leave in the car to moisturise your hands when you need. The scent isn’t overpowering or strong and the Vitamin E and Jojoba make it nourishing and rich.

The second skincare product was a 25ml Green People gentle cleanse & make-up remover, for me this was my favourite product as it’s so gentle and the scent of it is just gorgeous. It’s scented with rose geranium and rosemary, and the 91% natural ingredients of aloe vera, calendula and shea butter take of your make-up well as well as feeling very gentle on the skin. I would have loved to have seen a full size of this gem and I hope they include Green People products in the future as they never fail to deliver.

The nail polish included was in a pretty pink ‘Nice Gal Peony’ from Priti NYC a vibrant colour for Spring, easy to apply and only needed two coats for a good finish. The lipstick from Aden Cosmetics in Peach Puff – No. 15 looked like a lipgloss but once applied was more like a matte lipstick. Easy to apply and did last well, it doesn’t have a sticky feel once on and I liked the colour too, you can build for a stronger look and add a slick of gloss on top if needed although I liked the matte look for a change.

Next was a 40g handmade soap from Hayland & Whittle such a pretty addition that has a delicate rose scent and as it’s enriched with cocoa butter it helps to keep the skin moisturised. This product is so lovely and the presentation of the soap is beautiful, what a treat to have such a gorgeous item included. Although it is (I assume) aimed at wedding gifts or hamper gifts it is such a lovely item to add to a luxury box and I was very happy to use it.

Every time a subscription box includes a really useful item such as a cosmetics bag I am always grateful! It’s such a handy little bag in this month’s BoxDeLux and as you can see from the photos the bag is black on the outside with white stitching imagery and in the inside it is bright pink with internal pockets, spaces for pencils and brushes and even a zipped compartment. It’s quite roomy and to close you can zip it closed, it also has a small fabric hook attached if you need to hang it up. I don’t have the brand it comes from but it’s a great little bag and nice looking as well as very useful.

Lastly included were a pair of pretty silver heart earrings, I can’t give you any further details other than they are small and have an attractive and subtle design on the front as there is no branding on the box. The only thing I would like to have seen added to the box is some product information on the items as it’s always handy to read about where they have been sourced from and what ingredients they contain. I liked my first look at the BoxDeLux and for value for money it does offer a good variety of lower and higher costing items. I would have preferred a full size of my favourite item – the Green People product, and would have been happy to take out the lipstick or nail polish to do so. I’m looking forward to the next box and the variety it brings and for all the prices see below.

One month subscription is £15.99 plus £3.99 p&p

Three month subscription is £45.00 plus £3.99 p&p

Six month subscription is £90.00 plus £3.99 p&p