One Radiant Unboxing and Review: August 2013

August concludes my 3-month subscription to One Radiant, and while I enjoyed some of the products, I definitely decided that getting a box full of skin care samples only gets a little boring after a while. I didn’t post this review sooner mainly because today I finally got to try all of the samples in the box, so I could share my first impressions.

About One Radiant:
For just $12/month + FREE S&H (must commit to 3 months) you can get expert tips, receive skincare samples handpicked for your skin type, and earn rewards for your purchases when you find something you love. We have a skincare collection we’re proud of: all our samples and products are dermatologist-reviewed – and we’ve personally tried every product before putting it in our store.
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Astara Blue Flame Purification Mask
Facial masks play a major role in my weekly beauty routine. I always rotate between purifying, antioxidant and moisturizing masks to make sure my skin doesn’t get too used to specific products (it’s not a myth, that really happens!), so of course a new name in my routine is always welcome. The ingredient list boasts lots of natural oils and extracts, and I felt the skin tightening effect after the first use. The sample is big enough for two-three full-face applications, which will give me a good idea if the products works for me or not. Looking forward to using it again next week!

Avene Triacneal
I love many other Avene products, so naturally I had high hopes for this acne treatment. I’m currently dealing with a pretty bad breakout on my back and using the accumulated acne treatment samples to hopefully get rid of it. Despite the raving reviews, this treatment literally did nothing for me. My skin didn’t get better or worse, it’s like I never even used it at all, which is kind of a bummer. The sample itself is cute though and comes in its own little box 🙂

M2 Skin Recovery Moisturizer
The moisturizer was just okay. I have combination (oily/normal) skin and it makes it feel a bit dry unless I apply some type of serum underneath like I always do anyways. So I think it’s best used together with another product rather than on its own, which I think is what you’re supposed to do anyway. That way I have several products working their magic without the feeling like I’m wearing a creamy mask. Would I purchase? Probably not, but I bet it would work really well for someone with truly oily skin.

NIA24 Skin Strengthening Complex
I actually used this product about 2 years ago when I tried to get rid of some sun damage on my chest, and together with Origins Mega Bright serum it really seemed to lighten up my sun spots a lot. I don’t normally use this type of product on a daily basis, so it was a great trip down the memory lane 🙂 I’m saving this one for my mom who wanted to try it for a long time for the sun spots on her hands that started appearing lately.

Pangea Organics Australian Wild Plum & Willow Facial Cleanser
Last but not least, I received two sample packettes of this cleanser for combination to oily skin. While it’s not as deep cleaning as my favorite Dr. Jart, it’s definitely a good gentle yet thorough cleanser for those days when my skin is being sensitive, because scrubbing or overdrying it would be the last thing I want to do. I used some of the first packet today and it definitely makes my skin feel refreshed after I’m done, so I will keep the unopened one in my travel bag when I need some careful but thorough cleansing.

The verdict: My final box was alright, but I didn’t feel sad about not renewing my subscription. I got to try some nice products that I would not have tried otherwise, and I might be back in the future if I decide I need to stock up on some more skincare samples.

Are you a One Radiant subscriber? What do you think about this box?