The boxes arrive packaged separately as they normally would which makes me happy as I have no storage in my room at the moment so i'm using the outer glossy box in my drawers for a little extra storage. But looking at first at the April box. I love the design so much for this box, if i had received the April box through my normal subscription i would have ordered another just to own another of these boxes. But anyway we're not here to assess the overall design we wanna know what we got.List of products recieved
Richard Ward Couture Hair Optimiser Style Reviver. Hundred and 150 ml for £19.00 (£6.34)
Yves Rocher France. Nutritive vegetal 24 hour comfort nourishing cream. 50 mL for £13.50. (£4.05).
Nip+Fab dry skin fix body butter in mango. 200 mL for £9.95. (£2.49).
sun sense daily face SPF. 75 g for £18.50. (£2.47).
Etre Belle collagen and Aloe Vera Hydro mask. 10 masks for €25.95. (€2.56/£2.19).
Looking at the products there is very little variation in the type of product I have received. There is a lot of skin products but absolutely no make up of any sort, making this box very uninspiring. I feel that make up and nail varnishes of things that make Glossyboxes really exciting. When there is of variety in the products, you can't help but feel slightly ripped off.
The first products went to look at is the Richard Ward couture hair optimiser style reviver. The leaflet says "the ultimate multitasker: Richard Ward couture hair has been designed to your head every styling need, giving you effortless achievable and long-lasting results. With absolutely fallen in love with the lightweight optimiser style reviver spray with wheat protein and Kukui oil from the Couture hair range! Not only does it counteract phrase and increase shine, but it also creates amazing volume without the typical residue or stickiness."This is very simply spray on product to hold a particular hairstyle. I do have something very similar to this from the July glossybox which I feel suits my hair type better. This could maybe be an interesting product but the big thing that jumps out at me is on the front of the bottle it says normal/fine hair. This is not me. Before purchasing my glossybox I filled out along the survey saying what sorts of products would be best for me, in this survey I explained I had thick hair. I didn't write it down I ticked a box. Does that not then mean that they would try to send me products which are not for thin hair, it makes no sense to me. I may try this product just because for £19 for the original size I would expect this product to be good. But looking more at the product the size of the bottle is fairly decent, this would be good for taking on holiday or just throwing into your bag if you're away for a weekend. Packaging is a little dull and wouldn't jump out on the shelf at me.
Yves Rocher France is a brand that I feel I have heard of but I have never owned anything from this brand. I issue that this brand is fairly open markets just from the name and from the price. According to the leaflet this moisturizer contains ash tree sap extract, macadamia oil, Shea butter and organic witch hazel water. The product is meant to make your skin feel soft and subtle for 24 hours. And it's free from parabens and colouring which can only be good. Now as I have only just opened these boxes I haven't really tested it, but as I am writing I am testing things on my hand just to see how they feel. First things first the smell, there is an overpowering smell of this product, it smells fairly natural and I think most people could bear this. The product blends very easily into the skin and makes the skin feel very soft and smooth. But you can almost feel the product there is still after rubbing it in. Looking at the packaging the package says that this cream is meant for dry to very dry skin which is a problem I don't have, for this upsets me a little, But I feel I will use this product, I just probably won't repurchase it.
Third products is the Nip+Fab mango smoothie dry skin fix body butter. Again a dry skin product, but I'll let them off because I am quite excited about this one. I am a big fan of body butters, I regularly get the body shop body butters and I am very happy I received mango instead of the other options of pistachio or coconut. nip+fab are a brand I have used in the past, I have used their bust fix cream (which is rather embarrassing, but who wouldn't want better boobs). I know this is a slightly more expensive brand but is available in Boots sot his product will be easier to buy in the shops. The leaflet says this product includes the ingredient "Aquaxyl" which improves skins water reserve. Yeah i'm clueless too. Looking at the size and quite happy with this, yes I would have preferred it to be bigger but then who wouldn't. This size is very portable and manageable, so I don't mind too much. The mixture is very light and blends into the skin beautifully leaving no residue or stickiness. The smell is very delicate and if I'm honest isn't as strong as I would like. I enjoy the body shop body butters because they really do smell like what they are supposed to smell like and when you apply its people will comment on the fact that you smell like strawberries. I couldn't see anyone commenting on the fact I smell of mangoes after applying this but if its subtlety that you want then this will be the product for you. I think I'll quickly get through this tub, but I won't be repurchasing this product.
Next is the Sunsense daily face SPF cream. This cream has SPF 50+ in it and is apparently oil free. I am all for suncare products as it is so important to protect your skin from the suns harsh rays. I am however not so impressed with this sample. The packaging is like a sort of capsule with a break away tip which means the packaging cannot be resealed. 10g is rather a lot to use in one sitting and therefore i will have to hope for a really sunny few days or waste half the product I don't want to waste it on an average blustery day. The instructions on the leaflet do not mention this but the packaging suggests this is a sheer tint with a matt finish. I am not sure what to make of this. I am also deeply offended by the fact the packaging says in big letters on the back "FREE SAMPLE". I cannot say if i would buy this as I haven't tried it but so far i'm not impressed.
The final item from the April Glossybox is the Etre Belle collagen and Aloe Vera hydro mask. The staff at Glossybox explain this is a "Deeply restorative and moisturising mask with collagen and aloe vera. Improves the skin's natural elasticity, providing optimum skin hydration. The perfect bundle don't remedy to achieve fresh and even looking skin." So this is looking a little better. I enjoy using facemasks as a special treat once in awhile. This mask is a kind of material mask you apply to the face (and who would want to look like a psycho for 15 minutes). Again this is a difficult one for me to try but I will update this blog as soon as I do. I look forward to using this on a pamper evening. The packaging seems a little unclear of the instructions so thankfully the glossybox leaflets tells you exactly what to do.So overall the April box has been very disappointing to me. I was expecting brands such as Essie, Illamasqua and Sleek. But instead I received a lot of things I didn't really want, and that didn't fit my skin type or hair type. I'm just hoping the July box can redeem itself.
So the July box is this lovely blue and coral coloured box just as it was the last time I reviewed it. (http://chicpicnique.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/july-glossybox-and-miss-glossybox-alike.html) which doesnt go with my room but hey thats what paint and wrapping paper is for (the next Glossybox is a union jack to that will be equally as annoying).Products included.
Alterna Haircare Bamboo style Boho Tousled texture mist. 125ml £23.00 (£4.60)
Coola Organic Suncare Collection. Mineral Face SPF 20 Unscented. 50ml £29.99 (£4.20)
Inecto Pure Coconut Refreshing Dry shampoo. 150ml £2.49 (full size)
Ila Spa Face Oil for Glowing Radiance. 30ml £75.00 (£4.38)
Ciate London Paint Pot in Island Hopping 13.5ml £9.00 (full size)
Total = £24.67
Having recieved the Alterna Haircare Bamboo tousled texture mist before and having nothing new to say on the subject means i can skin this particular product. The review i wrote previously in linked above. I don't mind having a bit more of this as I think its a decent enough product.
I quite like the Inecto Pure cocnut Refreshing Dry Shampoo,but who doesn't like a good dry shampoo, especially a handbag sized dry shampoo. I cant say too much as i have fairly clean hair at the moment but it doesnt leave me with a grey scalp which is always a good sign. I am a big fan of coconut so the smell makes me happy. what else can I say. the price is a little high, over a pound dearer than the Batiste equivalent but this is probably better for your hair. I'm cheap so I dont think I'd choose this over a cheaper product but hey, its better than a kick in the teeth.
Okay so dry oils, been there done that ought the t-shirt and donated it to charity. This one is just mental. this is of course the Ila Spa Face oil. £75 for 30ml!!! just no. I can honestly say i will never be buying this off my own back. But the product is lovely (as it should be). I have only used a little on the back of my hand but where I rubbed it in there is a definate radiant glow. It is so smooth and smells beautiful this will be my luxury product until it runs out. I may consider repurchasing if the product was under £25 but as it stands not a chance. Heaven forbid I should spill it.
So the product i am probably most happy with is the Ciate London Paint Pot in Island Hopping. I thought at first it would be the same as my Rimmel Cocktail colour in Shirley Temple but it is a lot more colourful and rich. Island hopping is a glittery orange/red colour with golden glitter. orange being my favorite colour I love this. it dries so quickly aswell and I know from previous experience that Ciate lasts for a while without chipping. this will get plenty of use.
Summary
Two boxes together equal £42.21 (box cost £14.95 so bonus value of £27.26) so the value of the products add up to nearly 3 times the value of the box. My problem with these two sale boxes is that there was only one product that really excited me even then it was one I had received before. I expected so much more and maybe that was the problem, but I am planning to test these sale boxes again so I can really tell if they are just an overall dud or that I just received a bad batch. the March "city chic" box is on its way to me and this really will be the decider for the Sale Glossyboxes. only time will tell.
