October for me is the month of all things orange: pumpkins, squash, changing leaves… It is also the month when I wrap up everything left over to do from Summer, and finally switch to Winter mode, like get the warm wool throw out of the closet, put away my Summer skincare and start using heavier moisturizers and serums, and also give those bright nail polish colors a couple more weeks before I forget about them until next Spring. October Beauty Box 5 is all about looking fresh and polished as Fall settles in, and as an avid supporter of natural beauty, I couldn’t be happier.
HOW IT WORKS
For $12/month subscribers will receive a box filled with a carefully selected mixture of five travel-sized, deluxe-sized and full-sized cosmetic products from luxury, commonly known brands, niche brands, eco-conscious and even vegan brands. Aimed at introducing women to new cosmetic products and educating them on best practices, Beauty Box 5 scours the market to find the best products for your lifestyle.
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Chapstick Hydration Lock – Now I’m not going to lie here and pretend that Chapstick is the best thing that happened to my lips. In fact, I don’t like Chapstick at all, but this one is different and here’s why. This dual-ended stick contains two lip balms – one for the daytime, and the other one for the nighttime.
The AM one – “Moisturize” – contains two things I don’t like in my lip products – oxybenzone and petrolatum, so i won’t be using it at all. The other end, however – “Renew” – has a fabulous formula, filled with nourishing natural oils, and moisturizing butters! This is officially the first Chapstick I actually like.
Bellapierre Cosmetics Cheek & Lip Stain in Pink – I know Bellapierre Cosmetics for their good quality mineral makeup, and blushes are probably my second favorite makeup items after foundation/BB cream.
I received the color Pink, and it’s unlike anything else I own. It’s a very soft, very delicate shade that will look classy and sophisticated both on the cheeks and on the lips. I look forward to using it this Fall!
Nanacoco Nail Polish in Surfer’s Dream – Remember what I said in the intro? October is the month of giving those bright summery colors the last chance to shine before I put them away until Spring/Summer.
I received Surfer’s Dream, which is clearly a Summer color. However, to make it wearable for Fall, I came up with an idea to colorblock it with some gray creme or silver metallic, and I think it works pretty well that way.
Lashem Picture Perfect – An instant wrinkle reducer is not something i desperately need at this time, so if you are not really concerned with fine and not-so-fine lines, this gooey gel-cream can also be used as a makeup primer.
My palms always had a bunch of lines on them, and I’m not talking about fingerprints. In fact, I’m one of those people that can’t have a fingerprint password on my laptop because my hands and fingers are all messed up! I thought it would be fun to test the effectiveness of this serum and see if it can manage to plump out those lines. The results are in: either the formula doesn’t work on rougher skin, or I just didn’t notice any effect.
Extend Your Beauty Cosmetic Tool – How awesome is this little tool? I’ve always wanted a spatula like that! I swear, sometimes I would have to cut samples open to get every last drop of the product, and now I have this handy little tool to scrape off those precious bits without making a mess.
You know what else it can help with? I have this one Neutrogena foundation that I like, but it doesn’t come with a dispenser, so I have to shake it like ketchup. I always end up with too much product on my hand and it just goes to waste. Well, no more of that!
Don’t forget to share your favorite products on Instagram and tag @beautybox5 + brand hashtags for a chance to win five full-sized versions of this month’s products. In October they are #chapstickplease, #bellapierre, #spattydaddy, #nanacoco, #lashem, and #bb5fave. Good luck!
THE VERDICT
I have to say, I’m really pleased with my October Beauty Box 5! I love the quality and the color of Bellapierre blush, love the beauty spatula, and to my own surprise, I even found the first Chapstick that I like [and that says a lot!]. As always, the box was well-rounded and well-curated, and I totally get the “Effortless Allure” vibe they were going for.
| Product | Retail value |
|---|---|
| Chapstick Hydration Lock | $2.99 |
| Bellapierre Cosmetics Cheek & Lip Stain | $19.99 |
| Nanacoco Nail Polish | $3.00 |
| Lashem Picture Perfect | $13.33 |
| Extend Your Beauty Cosmetic Tool | $5.49 |
| Box Retail Value | $44.80 |
