Wantable - My New Favourite Beauty Box

Beauty boxes are still a relatively new thing for me - I am a convert since subscribing to Glossybox and Birchbox three months ago. For those unfamiliar with the concept, you pay a monthly fee (usually around £12 including postage and packing) and the box arrives packed with sample goodies of high end to high street brands. Usually the value of the boxes far exceed the price tag, which is great, its like playing the lucky dip every month and receiving a present in the post all at the same time. But what I love most about these boxes is the discovery of new products that I'd never otherwise try, some of which are absolute staples in my makeup bag or skincare routines now.

I discovered Wantable over a month ago and, like an addict moving onto the harder stuff, decided to take the plunge and subscribe $36 (about £21) a month to their boxes. This seems excessive and had I not had the positive experience of the others, I probably wouldn't have done it. But I am like a magpie to shiny things, or products, and the curiosity got the better of me. Wantable allow you to opt out at any time, so its not too much of a commitment. They charge more than all the others but the process is very personalised, they ask you an in depth series of questions about the types of things you like and the products you'd like to receive, so you know that you're most likely to get the things you like. They also send full sized products rather then samples, so you really do get more bang for your buck.

I received my first box in the post the other day, after some anticipation (Wantable is based in the US and text you to keep you up to date with the shipping process). I can't remember the last time I was so excited for the postman to visit, I really need to get a life! Anyway, I was very pleasantly surprised by the contents and wanted to share a little review of my box here.


I received 4 full sized items for my April box (which I received at the end of April due to joining late), though the website states you'll receive 4/5 products so I guess it varies month to month.

1. Eddie Funkhouser Hyperreal Eye Colour Palette Ultimate Smoky Eye - $14.99

I've not come across Eddie Funkhouser before, but I do love eyeshadow quads for experimenting with more shades. I've used this once and was very impressed with the outcome. The shadow stayed put for a long while, too! You get a good deal of eyeshadow in one swatch, which suggests that its of some quality, and the blend of colours means you can tone it down for daytime quite easily or create a dramatic look for the evening, depending on what you're up to.

2. Eyetini Eye Cordial Cream Shadow Tint & Base in Black Stripe – Value $18

I was so impressed with the packaging on this and thought it was a really cool idea - you swizzle the eyeshadow and it pushes up the eyeliner like a lipstick. However - to be honest, I wasn't too impressed with the product. It was a bit too dry and refused to glide on without quite a bit of encouragement, and the shade seems to come out a dark grey colour, which is contradictory to the name 'Black Stripe'. Mine also seemed a bit broken with the swivel bit sometimes, and refused to work properly. It was disappointing really, because this was one of the things that caught my eye initially when I opened the box due to its clever packaging. I would have been annoyed if I'd paid for this item. Wantable are one of the few beauty boxes that actually allow you to return your box and get a refund if you're not happy with the products, which is pretty great, but despite not liking this item much, I decided to keep it because I was so happy with the others.

3. Cailyn Deluxe Raw Natural Blush Powder - Peach Pink - $35


This is by far my favourite item from my box and completely makes up for the eyeliner above. I'm not actually a fan of mineral based makeup usually, which is odd being as I'm a pale redhead, and you'd think with the wider range of tones and opportunities for blending it would appeal to me, but it doesn't. However this peach shade is absolutely beautiful, and I was instantly impressed after applying it. It leaves a pop of colour on the cheeks and has a silky texture which blends easily. It's a bit cumbersome, I've had a few instances with blush escaping the pot and going onto the floor whilst trying to remove the sponge, but that's alright, because this one is a makeup life changer and I'm currently wearing it on a daily basis! I still used a makeup brush to apply it, but I can't work out if they are for some reason expecting you to use the sponge as some sort of applicator? There's far too much product on it and it would most definitely make you look like you were attempting clown college if you did. But this is forgivable due to its greatness otherwise. I'd happily buy this one again.





 4. Face Stockholm Lip Liner - Lauren $17

I actually generally don't use lip liners, and I would have thought I'd put this down when answering my questions to personalise my boxes, but I must not have done in the fear of ruling something great out that I don't already use. That's one of the reasons I subscribe to these things, yes I want the products I like, but I'm also open to trying new things. That's what was so great about this liner - the shade is lovely, and the staying power also very good, but I'd otherwise not have tried it because lip liner isn't a general part of my makeup routine. I've been subsequently using it not just to line my lips, but as a lip colour as well. It's perfect for daytime wear, and stays put even after my morning cup of coffee (which is when the lipstick usually vanishes), even though they don't market this as a long lasting colour product!




So as a newbie Wantable subscriber - I think I'm going to stick with them for the time being - though my monthly costs on beauty boxes are starting to mount up! I may need someone to stage an intervention soon, or I might drop my other subscriptions and stick with this one. What's worse, or great, depending on how you look at it, is that Wantable also do an intimates box, and an accessories box, so today after leaving reviews of the products I received on their website, I stumbled across this and signed up for their May accessories after being wowed by this. Oops! Fingers crossed.. However, the box value for these full sized products above weighed in at $84.99, so for a $36 box, you could almost call it saving money... (that's what I'm telling myself anyway).

Do you subscribe to beauty boxes? I'm always keen to hear about other bloggers experiences with them!

Alice xx

Glossybox VS Birchbox, March Haul!

Hello,

Over the past few days the March editions of Glossybox and Birchbox have arrived on my doorstep, and they have both really cheered me up after a very hectic week! Beauty boxes are nothing new, but the concept of being able to select the kind of products you like and get a bit of a random box full of samples every month is something I really enjoy. Especially when frequently the sample sizes are very generous, or even full sized, and retail at the higher end of the market! So for £10 a month (plus p&p) you often get a bargain. I've been addicted to many of the products this month so I decided to review them both!

Lets start with Birchbox. This month the box was Lulu Guinness themed, a designer that I love, who did a great job of picking out some winners with the Birchbox team.

• Benefit Stay Don't Stray - Light/Medium, £20.50 full size (6ml sample size) - I'd been looking for a new eyeshadow primer so I was excited by this addition! Having tested it twice, I am pretty happy with the results. I've used the Benefit foundation primer before and been less than impressed, but this glides on well and my eyeshadow seemed to stay put.
•  Molton Brown Rhubarb & Rose Replenishing Hand Cream £10 full size (7ml sample) - I'm not one to usually use hand cream to be honest, but this smells delicious, and actually I kind of keep using it mostly because I love the smell so much. My hands don't feel clammy after using it, and the moisturiser sinks in almost instantly. My hands do feel like they've been treated! I tried to buy some but it seems to have sold out everywhere right now.
• Korres Citrus Body Milk   - £9.50 full size (50ml sample) - I love citrus smells and this is so rich and comforting. Again I am quite rubbish at remembering to use body moisturiser and this smells so nice I can't help but use it. It sinks into the skin nicely, too.
• English Laundry No. 7 For Her EDP - £47.00 (small tester tube) - Birchbox have done well this month with great smelling products. This has a lovely hint of musk with fruity overtones. I have been wearing this as a welcome break from my usual perfume!
• Dr Brandt Pores No More® Pore Refiner - £39.00 (7.5ml)  Now, this one excited me the most when I opened the box, because I do love Dr Brandt but can't justify the prices that often! This stops the shine and refines the pores. I don't think I'll buy the full version due to price (and I don't feel I need it that much) but I have been using it in the mornings and once or twice in the afternoons and I think it has definitely helped to reduce the need to re-apply makeup.

Next: Glossybox, which also came up with a great selection.

• Sleek Make-Up Pout Polish £4.49 (full sized) - I really like Sleek, and I reviewed one of their lipcolours in a similar shade in this post. I've been quite happily wearing the two together and I like it - keeps the pout shiny and does what it says on the tin!
• Bellapierre Cosmetics Shimmer Powder £12.99 (good sized sample) - This is a multi use product, which you can use as an eyeshadow or highlighter (I've been using it for the latter) but you can also use it with lip colours or nail polishes to add a bit of shimmer.
• Dove Hair Therapy Intensive Repair 60 Second Treatment Shot - £1.49 (full sized) I've not yet used the shot, but it's always nice to receive a hair treatment!
• Helenere Maitrise du Temps - £38.50 (10ml, full sized!) - This is pricey for a 10ml full sized, but it's great that we got a full sample in the box for such a high end treatment. I have used this and loved the way it settled straight into my skin without greasiness, and did see a noticeable firmness straight away.
• Mitchell and Peach Body Cream - £38 (40ml) - Again this is a really generous sample size and it feels very luxurious, although I think the bodycream in the Birchbox wins for me as I'm not overly keen on the smell of this one. It's a bit rich for my skin and doesn't sink in too well, but it does feel moisturised. 

Winner: Glossybox was far more generous in its sample sizes, the Helenere Maitrise du Temps for me is a great sample and the box is worth over £65, which is a bargain for a £10 box (with £3.25 p&p). I don't know how much the Birchbox is worth in comparison, though it costs roughly the same, but the products were very well chosen, and I have honestly used and enjoyed all of them. Also, they win major points in my book for working with Lulu Guinness. The box came in very cool Lulu packaging and a black and white stick of rock, which I loved. Taking the extras into account and the amazing smelling products, the champion this month for me by a small margin, is Birchbox!

Check out Birchbox and Glossybox by clicking on the links.

Are you a beauty box fan? If so, which ones do you think the best ones are to subscribe to and why?