Beauty Box 5 Unboxing and Review: January 2014

Need help sticking to your beauty resolutions? Beauty Box 5 has you covered with products that will inspire you to be your softest, shiniest, and smoothest self. Cheers to you!

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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H2O Plus Spa Sea Lotus Body Wash – I like the size of this sample: not too big, not too small; it’s the perfect amount I would need for a weekend getaway. It smells pretty much like any other “ocean breeze” product, and according to H2O Plus, that’s what aquatic florals and sea grass smell like. The formula boasts mineral-rich red algae and aloe extracts, as well as Vitamin E; but honestly, to me it’s all about how good it cleanses, since my skin is usually dry after the shower no matter what I wash with.

Epic Blend Hemp Coconut Lip Balm – I’m a huge fan of good enough to eat lip balms that contain only natural ingredients. I think that’s the way it always should be, because I don’t see what’s the point in stuffing them with unnecessary chemicals when 100% natural ones are still the best. Hemp extract is known for its softening properties [in fact I think The Body Shop has a Hemp line of products which is very popular with their customers] and coconut oil is a great moisturizer. I almost finished my current lip balm, and when the tube is finally empty, I’ll give this one a shot.

Swissco Bath & Shower Exfoliating Gloves – If I’d known that I was getting these exfoliating gloves in my January Beauty Box 5, I wouldn’t have bought a new pair at TJ Maxx the other day, but I guess it’s nice that now I have a spare. The material is not as rough as it looks, so these scrubbers will most likely provide gentle exfoliation, which means they are suitable for daily use. My current ones are rougher than this so I use them every other day instead.

Nubar Cuticle & Nail Oil – Just what I’ve been looking for! This cuticle oil smells like sweet almonds, no wonder I can’t stop smelling it, since that’s one of my all-time favorite scents. The brush was very stiff at first, like a stick; but then I realized it’s due to bristles being all stuck together, so I fluffed it up and it became a normal soft brush we’re all used to. This oil does a pretty good job at softening and moisturizing my cuticles, and the sample size is perfect for keeping it in my cosmetic bag for on the go touch ups.

Jergens Daily Moisture Dry Skin Moisturizer – This body lotion is a staple in many households, and it’s certainly very emollient and moisturizing. There isn’t much I can say about this product that you all don’t alredy know 🙂

[Bonus] That Awkward Moment Compact Mirror – In January Beauty Box 5 is also promoting That Awkward Moment, coming out in theaters on January 31st. They included a little card with a few tips on how to re-create Ellie’s look from the movie, as well as a pocket mirror stamped with the movie logo. It’s a useful accessory, but I won’t be carrying it around in my purse because I prefer not being a walking advertisement 🙂

THE VERDICT
As you can see, in January we received only skin care and body care samples, but I’m totally ok with that because I need a breather from all the makeup I received across my multiple subscriptions over the past few months. I can see how some of the newer BB5 subscribers would be disappointed, though. I think the products this month are very cohesive in a sense that they all kind of complement each other. We got a nice shower routine here: a body wash and scrubbing mitts, followed by a body lotion, lip balm and cuticle oil to preserve the moisture and maintain our soft skin. The bonus mirror was quite handy, too, although I probably won’t be taking it outside of my house, because I think brand-stamped accessories are tacky.

Are you a Beauty Box 5 subscriber? What do you think about the January box?