Unboxing ~ Glossybox Subscription Box ~ May

Glossybox May 2017

 

If you are new to Glossybox then you can buy this month's box for just £5.00 using the code GB50

 

Glossybox is a monthly subscription beauty box of 5 beauty products (make-up, skincare, haircare, fragrances, beauty tools or bodycare items) which costs £10 per month (plus P+P). Generally, there are at least two full size items included each month.

 

Glossybox subscription boxes have the same design every month - a pretty pink sturdy cardboard lidded box with Glossybox and the logo in black script (as above).

 

 

The theme for May's box was 'Back to Basics' - the inspiration behind this edit, according to Glossybox:

 

"There’s something about buying statement pieces of clothing that makes a purchase all the more exciting than if you’re buying sensible staples. But it’s actually the basics that totally underpin a good wardrobe – and the same goes with beauty.
So this month, we made it our mission to curate an edit of five basics we think everyone should own – because once you’ve got those down to a T, everything else will follow beautifully."

 

Before we delve any further into this month's box, I just have to let you know that I actually cancelled my subscription to Glossybox.  It's not that I have fallen out of love with it, just that I think the honeymoon period is over, the excitement is fading and I'm veering more towards subscription boxes where I can choose my own products that I feel I will get more use of.

 

So here we are - the first tentative peek after the lid is lifted. The usual cardboard insert detailing the items in the box, describing how to use them and the full-size product cost and where to buy them.

Plus there's also a generous gift card worth £50 for Mockberg, who I'd not heard of before (more about Mockberg later).

 

 

Open me! Open Me!

 

You can't fault the Glossybox presentation - pale pearly pink tissue paper wrapped in black ribbon - you can't get more seductive than that, and this is a big chunk of the allure of opening curated beauty boxes.

 

 

This is it, the big reveal. The items laid bare and presented wantonly to you as you take in their form and make that split-second decision of 'are you doing it for me or not?'

 

So, my first impression. Was this box doing it for me or not?

My instant reaction was "it's a bloody sponge".

Second reaction was to clock four out of five brands that I had not heard of before and a Caudalie item, which although is a good name, has been a bit too over-featured in recent subscription boxes for me to get too excited about.

 

So unfortunately for me, my instant reaction was a bit of a heart sink, rather than a heart swim.

 

 

So here's a run-down of the items without me being all snarky about them (which will happen, don't you worry about that!)

* Scrub Love - Active Charcoal Body Scrub (full size rrp £13.95 making this item have a value of £6.98)

This charcoal-based body exfoliator absorbs day-to-day pollutants and impurities from the skin. 100% natural, vegan, vegetarian-friendly and a more mindful alternative to polluting and marine-destroying micro-beads often found in body scrubs and exfoliating products.

 

* Dr PawPaw - Original Balm (full size - value £6.95)

A multi-purpose balm which can be used on lips, skin, and hair, face and eyebrows. Ingredients include aloe vera, olive oil and pawpaw. Cruelty-free, fragrance-free and vegan-friendly.

 

* Ruby - Powder Blush in Coral (full size - value Euro 14.99 - approx. £12.70)

Super silky powder blush in a summery coral colour.

 

* Caudalie - Vinosource Moisturizing Sorbet ( Full size rrp £23.00 making this item have a value of £5.75)

A lightweight gel/cream rich in antioxidants and patented polyphenols to help calm reactive skin and restore its water reserves to make it more resilient.

 

* Daily Concepts - Exfoliating Scrubber (full size - value £4.00)

This bloody sponge (sorry in-shower body sponge) has a soft side and a scratchier side. It will also tell you when it's worn out as the label fades when it needs replacing.

 

Value

This month's box cost £13.95 - value of contents in box is £36.38

 

And that Mockberg gift card? I checked out the Mockberg website - it's a Swedish site (which instantly appealed to this here Scandi-phile) with beautifully designed watches. However, I don't wear a watch (although these are very, very beautiful) and you would have to spend another £50 to be able to afford anything on the site, so sadly, this gift card won't be of any use to me.

 

I think this Glossybox and I need to take a little break. You know, stand back and survey our future with a little bit of distance between us. I will be back soon, no doubt to kvetch some more, but also, I know I will be able to be magnanimous about it's good points. After all, we did have something quite special there for a while...