Memebox Seeds & Flowers was one of the last boxes that shipped from Korea; these days everything ships from USA warehouse and arrives within a week. This particular theme had a lot of potential, but I still waited until I saw spoilers, because some of those new 2015 releases seemed a bit underwhelming.
HOW IT WORKS: Memebox Global is not a typical subscription service. They periodically curate boxes filled with assorted beauty products popular among Koreans, and those Limited Edition bundles are sold on first come first serve basis. Prices vary depending on the type of the box. At this time Memebox ships to USA, China and Korea. All themed boxes tend to sell out fast, so by the time you read this review this particular box probably won’t be available for sale anymore. Click here to see available boxes.
Coupon codes:
- Use code FABFIVE to get $5 off $50 in Memebox USA shop and XO Memebox products. Can be used 3x per account.
- Use code SOOTHING10 to get 10% off your entire order when you buy Soothing Sista Eyeshadow Quad. Yes, it works on boxes, too!
- Use code WELCOME to get 15% off your first purchase. Works only for first-time customers.
Yadah Pure Green Emulsion – I don’t have any emulsions in my stash, so that spot in my routine is currently unoccupied. Emulsions are lightweight moisturizers for people with oily and combination skin, or for those of you who like to layer several serums underneath. Yadah formulated this emulsion with rosemary, chamomile, royal jelly, and prickly pear extracts, and without using common irritants like mineral oil, parabens, talc, alcohol, and artificial dyes. However, since this emulsion expires in December 2017, I should probably save it for later and use other Memebox moisturizers first.
How to use: Apply after toner and serum, as you would moisturizer, and pat in for absorbance. Suitable for all skin types.
Echoice Perfume Body Mist Dear Iris – Memebox says this body mist is not overpowering or overwhelming, and maybe for most people that would be true, but since I’m sensitive to fragrances, I found it too strong and unpleasant.
How to use: Hold the spray at arm’s length and spritz onto hair, body, or clothes. Not suitable for people sensitive to chemical fragrances.
Sevendrops Moringa Light Sunblock – Yess! I got a small sample of this sunscreen in Memebox Boxing Day #2, and already used it up. It has runny milky consistency, and layers well over my moisturizer, without leaving white cast typical for physical sunscreens. I almost finished my current bottle of SPF, so this one will be next in line to appear on my vanity table.
How to use: Apply over toner and moisturizer as a final step of skin care routine, and pat in for absorbance. Suitable for all skin types.
Kskin Rise Moisture & Nutrition Facial Cream – This moisturizer reminds me of a cream my grandma used to love, she would smell like bulgarian roses all the time without the need for perfume. This moisturizer has gel-cream texture that is easy to spread, and leaves slightly powdery finish once absorbed. I didn’t care for it as a facial cream, but it seemed to work well for my hands, so that’s how I’ll use it from now on. FYI – I can’t find this product on the manufacturer’s official page, so chances are it’s either brand new or discontinued; I’m willing to bet it’s the latter.
How to use: Apply a dime sized amount to toned skin after serums and ampoules, and pat in for absorbance. Has a very strong scent of roses.
Enesti Rose Hip Oil Foaming Cleanser – Many Korean cleansers turned out to be too harsh for my skin, so I bought a set of pH strips that help me know right away if the product is going to strip me of all good oils and moisture or not. My test showed that the paste itself has pH9.5, and in foam form it went “down” to 9, which is still too high for comfort. Actually, I consider 7 to be too high already, so this was an easy decision – it’s going to be used for my synthetic brushes. That’ll make them smell like roses, too! 🙂
How to use: Dispense a small amount of cleanser in your palms, and rub them together to create lather, then gently massage your face and wash off with lukewarm water. I can’t think of what type of skin I would recommend it for, because I can’t recommend it period – it’s too harsh.
Purederm Lavender Collagen Pulp Mask – I got a whole bunch of these Purederm masks in my stash, and despite being very cheap, they’re actually quite nice and seem to soothe and moisturize my skin well. The effect is temporary, but very pleasant, especially when my face is all dull, tired, and tight.
How to use: Spread the sheet over clean face, and relax for 15-20 minutes. Take off the sheet and pat in the remaining essence. Suitable for all skin types.
THE VERDICT: Overall, the box clearly followed the Seeds & Flowers theme, even though there were way more flowers than seeds, and I would have preferred it the other way around. I am over the moon happy with that full-sized moringa sunscreen, it really made the whole box worth it to me and then some. I also think Yadah emulsion will fit right in with my routine, based on things I read other bloggers say about it, and the list of ingredients. I was not excited about that harsh cleanser and the body mist, which gave me a migraine, but they can’t all be winners.
Product values below are calculated based on manufacturer’s prices, if available. I understand that you can get these products a lot cheaper at discount sites like eBay and TesterKorea, or for a lot more at big online retailers like Memebox or Wishtrend, so in this case the manufacturer’s price works as the median.
| Product | Retail value |
|---|---|
| Yadah Pure Green Emulsion | $15.71 |
| Echoice Perfume Body Mist | $2.96 |
| Sevendrops Moringa Light Sunblock | $28.85 |
| Kskin Rise Moisture & Nutrition Facial Cream | $8.00 |
| Enesti Rose Hip Oil Foaming Cleanser | $3.61 |
| Purederm Lavender Collagen Pulp Mask | $2.00 |
| Box Retail Value | $61.13 |
