January Carmine Box

Here I am, all bleary eyed and still in my PJs! My Carmine box arrived about half an hour ago but I have a busy day today so thought I'd do a quick first impressions post now.

Once again, it comes in a bright orange outer box which is too small.

Inside is the standard black box with neon interior.

And the obligatory tissue paper (I lost the ribbon!)

A card describing the contents, one about getting a free box and a £5 off Korres voucher for House of Fraser.

Here's a peek at what's inside.

First up, some lashes. these are by the brand Eldora and I'm not sure which style these are but I've checked the Eldora website and most of their sets of lashes retail at somewhere between £2.50 and £5. I'm not sure how I feel about these - I never wear lashes. I guess I'll give them a go but I can't imagine wearing them outside! It's a  nice inclusion considering there are people out there like me who've never tried falsies before. I don't know how these compare to other lash brands.

Next, there is a Balance Me Face Oil. The full size is 30ml and costs £30 so this 5ml sample is worth around £6 (whoop! for simple maths!). I've not had any luck with facial oils in the past but will give this a go. This is the second time we've seen Balance Me in a Carmine box. Whilst I did like the previous Balance Me sample, I'd prefer not to receive samples from the same brand as I've noticed this has become a bit of a trend with some other boxes, too.

The only make up item in the box is an Eyeko Fat Stick. This is a full sized product and retails for £10. I'm not a fan of Eyeko as a brand after their Big Eyes mascara fiasco but I was willing to give this a go. The shade I got is black and I was initially pleased since I've previously received a couple of blue eye products in these boxes. However, since this is more of an eyeshadow pencil than a liner, I don't see myself ever using it as a base - I never wear black shadow. I believe some customers may receive a brown or olive shade. I'm not that bothered since I think these are pretty horrible anyway. As you can see, they smudge out to give a delightful bruised look. About twenty minutes after taking this photo, both swatches rubbed off in seconds with a dry tissue and very little pressure. I can't see how these would last on the eyes; I think they'd be creasing terribly.

Next up is a 100g sample of Westlab's Himalayan Pink Salt. With 500g of this selling for a measly £2.85, this sample is worth all of 57p. Luxury samples, you say?  I'll give it a go because I like bath products but I'm pretty unimpressed with this one too. 

Oh Korres...it was only a matter of time, wasn't it? I've seen this brand in every other beauty box so I was wondering how long it would take to show up in a Carmine one. This is a 10ml sample of Wild Rose Moisturiser. A full size is 40ml and coats around £20 making this worth £5 or so. The only thing I will say is that I'm pleased that it's not another anti-ageing product!

So...I'm sure you can tell that I'm far from impressed with this box. I know January is typically a frugal month but the contents of this box is only worth around £26.50. I probably shouldn't complain since I only paid £12.75.

This is the third box in a row that I've not been pleased with. I will try everything aside from the Fat Stick out but I'm not excited about any of the products.

Unfortunately, this may be the end of the road for me and Carmine!

Stace xx

December Carmine Box

Woah...finally! 

I've only just received my December box because the original one they sent went missing. I think there may have been a problem with my address because it was incorrect on the box I received this morning, despite me confirming it a few days ago. I received the previous two boxes with no problems so I'm not sure what happened. Also, shipping out boxes so close to Christmas was probably a mistake. Perhaps next year Carmine will ensure they have the boxes ready to go before the week before Christmas.

Just in case you missed the other posts about this box, here's what's inside:

Benito Brow Bar - Brow Threading

This is a voucher for a brow threading treatment. Personally, I'm happy with just plucking or waxing my brows at home so I won't be using this. It is a nice touch for anyone wanting to try brow threading but I wouldn't count this as one of the samples. Also, not everyone will have access to a Benito Brow Bar.

Japonesque - Smudger Brush

I liked the fact there was a brush in this box because I do really like brushes. I've never tried anything from Japonesque before despite hearing only good things about the brand. However, this thing is so small! It's like the sort of thing you'd get in a palette and throw away. I doubt I'll ever use this, unfortunately.

Weleda - Pomegranate Creamy Body Wash

This is a full sized body wash. I'm not a huge fan of the scent (it's a bit 'herbal') but I will use this. Everyone needs to shower, after all!

KMS California - Freeshape Quick Blow Dry

This is a little 30ml sample. It's supposed to take 50% off your blow drying time. I've recently been getting into doing more with my hair so I will be using this the next time I wash it and will let you all know if it actually works!

Institut Esthederm - Time Technology Cream

For the third month in a row Carmine have included a face cream in their box. Whilst I do like trying new skincare, something new every month makes it difficult to maintain a skincare routine. I'm annoyed that Carmine say this isn't an anti ageing moisturiser because I've looked it up on Feel Unique here and it's clearly described as an anti-ageing product! This may be another one for my mum.

My Face Cosmetics - Blingtone in Crystalline Green

I've not even opened this as I know I'll never wear it. The packaging looks cheap and the colour is definitely not for me. This is the only make up item in the box this time around.

Okay, so I'm sure you can tell that I'm unimpressed with this box. I am going to see what the January box is like before deciding whether or not to continue with this subscription. I was so excited about this company to begin with so it's a shame. 

Did you receive this box? What did you think?

Stace xx

My Thoughts on the November Beauty Box from Carmine

If you saw my first impressions post for the November Carmine box, you'll know that I wasn't overly impressed with what I received. It wasn't a total disaster by any means, though, so I thought I'd give you guys a little update on what I think of the products after trying them out. 

Cosmetics A La Carte Brow Ink in Taupe

This is a full sized product which retails for £22. I'd been wanting to try this sort of product for a long time so I was really pleased to receive this. I don't do a lot with my brows because they're already very dark and I don't like it when they look too harsh but I do have some gaps from chicken pox scarring in my left brow. This pen is excellent for filling in those gaps. It's subtle but effective. This was the best product in the box for me. I don't know if I'll fork out the £22 for another one of these, though.

New CID i-Pout Lipstick in Belle

This is also a full sized product and costs £15. I should have liked this; I like lipstick and neutral shades are great for me to wear on an everyday basis. The frost finish and scent (very floral) of this just don't work for me at all, though. I find the packaging to be a bit gimmicky and wouldn't pay £15 for this product. Give me a MAC or Revlon lipstick any day! I was interested in trying more from this brand but this lipstick has put me off - good thing for my bank balance!

Dainty Doll Eye Pencil in 004 Shake Your Tail Feather. 

This is yet another full sized product, worth £10.50. This was the most disappointing product in the box for me because it's so hard. I've been spoilt with creamy liners from Milani and NYX. The amount of force required to use this on my eyes makes it a non-starter for me. Someone recommended I warm it up with a hair dryer first, which I've not tried yet. It's a nice colour, a bit different for me but trying something new is a huge part of this type of service. If it was creamier, I'd have used it.

Lulu's Time Bomb Flashback Night Cream. 

45ml pot of this goes for around £30. I don't like getting anti-ageing products in beauty boxes because I never use them. I'm only 22 and don't want to start using them before my mid-twenties. I've passed this on to my mum.

Neom Organics Real Luxury Body Lotion.

The full size of this product is 240ml and costs £23.50. I was initially put off by the smell and I have to say, my feelings about that haven't changed. I used up the sample, though, because I love body lotions. The texture is quite runny and I didn't find it as moisturising as my favourite Body Shop body butters. It was a nice product to try but I won't be getting a full size. 

***

If you're going to subscribe to any of these beauty boxes, you're taking the risk that you might not like anything in them. I like the Carmine boxes because so far, they've had a lot of make up items and all the samples are trial sizes. I don't expect as many full sized items in the next box but I'm looking forward to finding out what's in there!

Do you subscribe to any beauty boxes?

Stace xx

November Carmine Beauty Box - First Impressions

I've not been doing much online shopping or swapping recently so me and my postman haven't seen each other in a while. Until today; my Carmine box arrived!

The boxes cost £12.75 including postage and packaging charges.

So, what's inside?

Lulu's Time Bomb Flashback Night Cream - 15 ml

New CID i-Pout Lipstick in Belle - Full Size

Dainty Doll Eyeliner Pencil in 004 Shake Your Tail Feather - Full Size

Neom Organics Real Luxury Body Lotion - 50 ml

Cosmetics A La Carte Brow Ink in Taupe - Full Size

And what do I think of the box?

I have mixed feelings about this one at the moment. There seems to be three full sized make up items in this box which is great but I've swatched the Dainty Doll Eyeliner and it's really not very pigmented. I don't mind that it's a colour other than black or brown - I think one of the reasons these boxes are great is that they allow you to try things you typically wouldn't - but it's disappointing quality-wise. 

New CID Belle, Dainty Doll 004, Cosmetics A La Carte Taupe

(I swatched the eyeliner as heavily as I could here...)

I think the New CID lipstick and the Cosmetics A La Carte Brow Ink will be the stand out products for me. The lipstick is creamy and a nice shade; I'm getting better at wearing lipstick every day so this will be a nice one to try. I've been interested in trying a brow pen for some time so it was really great to see one in the box.

I don't think the Lulu's Time Bomb sample will be of much use to me as I'm only 22 and the Noem Organics body lotion smells weird. I realise that last month I was put off by the scent of the Balance Me hand cream but ended up really liking it so I won't write off the body lotion  just yet. I can't see myself purchasing the full sizes of either of these products.

All in all, it's a nice box. I'm not blown away but I will definitely be able to use three out of the five products and I was not expecting to see three full sized items in there. I like that it contains a few brands I've heard of before but never tried. Is it worth £12.75? I'm not entirely sure. Well, it is, because the value of the products exceeds the price but if the lipstick and brow ink don't work out for me, I will be disappointed.

If you want any more information about their service click here.

Did you subscribe to Carmine? What did you think of this month's box? 

Stace xx

October Carmine Beauty Box - My Thoughts

I've just received my November box and thought it would be a nice idea to look back at what I got last month and see what I liked or didn't like from that box. 

I've already reviewed the Balance Me Super Moisturising Hand Cream here. I really like this hand cream and will probably purchase the full size once I use up the other hand creams I'm currently working on. My sample only has a few uses left now.

The main reason I subscribed for the October box was to try the Frat Boy blush from theBalm. Unfortunately I've only used this once all month. I like the colour but I do find it a bit powdery and it's not the easiest blush in the world to apply. I think this particular shade would have been better in a spring or summer box as I've been going for deeper shades this month. I'm still pleased I own it, though.

The Daniel Sandler Eye Delight in Peach was a surprise for me. I hate loose eyeshadows so I thought I'd not be a fan of this. I do find it fiddly to use but it is lovely on my eyes and I've used it as a highlight powder on my cheekbones. It's a nice product.

I've been using the Trind Nail Repair pretty regularly and I have to say, I've not noticed any huge improvement in my nails. I think it has been making them grow very quickly, though! The smell of this almost knocks me out so it's a bit annoying to apply.

Finally, there was a sample of Caudalie Quenching Sorbet Creme and I liked this so much, I already have a full size! This is very hydrating but not great.

On the whole, this was an excellent box and each product is something I can use regularly. My top picks are, strangely, the hand cream and face moisturiser. I say 'strangely' because I don't usually like skincare samples and didn't use hand cream all that often. 

For more information about the service, click here.

Did you get this box? Or do you own any of these products?

Stace xx

Review: Balance Me - Super Moisturising Hand Cream

I received this in my Carmine Beauty Box a few weeks ago now and I mentioned that I was initially put off by the scent. However, I wanted to give it a chance since the whole point of a beauty box is so that we can try new things, right?

Product: Balance Me - Super Moisturising Hand Cream

Price: £14.50 for 100ml from www.balanceme.co.uk, John Lewis and other Balance Me stockists.

Description: "A multi-award winning, seriously rich hand cream blended with a unique and uplifting blend of renowned ancient skin conditioners, to really turn back the clock on hard-working hands and make even the driest hands smooth and soft to touch!"

What's Good About It?

Well, it moisturises my hands, which is great as that's what it's supposed to do. It's nice and rich but not sticky as it sinks in pretty quickly. That's not why I love this though, I have other hand creams which do pretty much the same thing.

 This stuff makes me go to sleep so much more quickly! I find it very difficult to get to sleep so this is lovely to use just before bed. I'm very tempted to purchase the full size then this sample runs out for this reason.

The fact it's 98.8% organic will also be a selling point for some. I think the price is pretty reasonable as you don't need to use a lot each time. My sample is 30ml and it still feels as though there's a decent amount left after using it for over two weeks.

What's Disappointing?

Some people will find the smell really off putting. It does linger but if it didn't, the aromatherapy benefits would be lost so it's up to the individual whether they can deal with it. Personally, I've gotten used to the smell so it doesn't bother me anymore. I suppose the packaging isn't overly exciting either but that doesn't bother me. 

Overall Score & Comment: 7/10 - this surprising sleep aid has made me very happy! 

Have you tried this product? Did you get the sample in your Carmine box?

Stace xx

Carmine Beauty Box - October 2011

The "Beauty Box" has become a hot topic in the beauty world in the UK over the last six months or so. First we had Glossybox who committed the cardinal sin of including a non-luxury brand in their box and sneakily upping the price of their boxes. Then Boudior Prive stepped into the ring. I was initially attracted to their service but after seeing the first box I felt a bit 'meh'. I think the brands they include are a bit *too* niche and I don't really want to receive tea bags in my beauty box. In addition, I won a voucher for a half price box in a competition they had early on and I asked about it a few times but never received the voucher so on a personal level I was a bit miffed!

I've seen a couple of YouTube videos about other beauty boxes available here in the UK but I don't know enough about them to comment.

So why did I decide to give Carmine a go? 

I was watching a video about the first box by one of my favourite YouTubers/bloggers. You can check it out here. I liked that I could still order the box she was talking about unlike with other services which keep you waiting a month or more for your box. I subscribed on Sunday and my box was here by Thursday. The box costs £10 with £2.75 postage and packaging. 

What do I think of the box?

Packaging-wise, I don't think it's as pretty as some of the other boxes but the big black box is sturdy and I'm planning to fill it up with nail polish! My cat also loved the packaging which meant I could look at the products without him pestering me. Teddy's very into his beauty products, don't you know?

The contents of the box wasn't a surprise to me, but that's okay as there was one thing in there I was excited about. Here is what was included:

Balance Me - Super Moisturising Hand Cream, 30ml

I'm really not a fan of the scent of this. It smells like something my granny would like. However, I've used it several times and it is nice and moisturising without being greasy. It's a nice size for my handbag and a very decent sample size.

Daniel Sandler - Eye Delight in Peach

This is a full size loose eyeshadow. Now, I hate loose eyeshadows; I spill them everywhere and find them a pain to work with. I would never buy one myself but I think these boxes are great for trying things you wouldn't normally pick up. The colour is pretty and using it isn't as frightening as I thought it would be. The shade is very light though and on my lids is barely visible. I'm planning on trying this as a cheekbone highlight next. 

Trind - Nail Repair Natural

This is another full size product. The instructions state it should be used daily for two weeks and regularly after that in order to maintain healthy nails. I paint my nails very often so I'll be trying this as a base coat, I think. My nails are in pretty good condition but I don't think using this can hurt. I've not used this yet so can't comment on how it works.

The Balm - FratBoy All-in-One Shadow/Blush

This is the product I was most excited for and I'm not disappointed. I've never owned anything from The Balm before but I've always wanted to try their products. The colour is perfect for most skintones as a blush. I don't think I'd use is as a shadow, to be honest. It's pretty long wearing, too. This was yet another full size product.

Caudalie - Quenching Sorbet Creme, 10ml

I've become a bit of a French skincare fan since trying Embryolisse and Bioderma so I'm excited to have this to try. I used it last night and my skin felt lovely and soft this morning. I'm already considering buying the full size once I've used up this sample. 

Overall, I think this box contains a really good mix of products. I think there's something for everyone in here so I think Carmine has done a great job in that respect. I think the selection of brands they've chosen is excellent. I don't imagine there will always be three full size products but I don't mind that as long as the samples are decent sizes. I'm excited to see what they include next month!

If you're interested and want more information, you can check out their website here.

Thanks for reading! Have you subscribed to any of these beauty boxes?

Stace xx

I think he enjoyed this month's box almost as much as me...