Beauty Boxes are the next big thing in the world of beauty phenomena. We all find ourselves falling into the trap of buying the same product, the same brand, from the same shop, time and time again. There is nothing wrong with sticking to what you know, but in an industry worth over £15 billion, it is good to check out the competition every now and again.
And that’s exactly what Beauty Boxes let you do. They pick the products for you, post them off in a pretty little package once a month, and let you decide if you like it enough to buy.
I’ll admit I was a bit apprehensive about giving this a go when I decided to sign up for She Said Beauty’s Box. I mean, I’m a student. £9 a month (plus the cheeky P&P in small print) is kind of significant. But I willingly signed on the dotted line when a promotion pops up, making it that bit more economical!
It is definitely worth bearing in mind that you might sometimes feel like your box isn’t worth the money you paid. There are good months and bad months. A bad month once saw me open a box to a cheap pair of eyelash curlers, a pack of sorry-excuse-for nail wraps (which stayed on for about as long as the stickers I used to get in Girl Talk magazine when I was 6), and a handful of sample size products which I could easily have gotten free from my nearest department store.
But when they do a good month, they do it well. Some favourite finds have been virtually anything by Balance Me (who make a luscious smelling hand cream that I now never leave home without); some gorgeous false eyelashes which I reckon I can get another wear out, and a decent sized St Tropez Gradual Tan lotion.
So, the products are a touch and go. I’d recommend shopping around before you sign up, as this is a service which has just started growing. There are plenty of reviews online of a fair range of companies, so it’s up to you to decide which ones you like the look of.
If you’re after quality organic products, Amarya or Joliebox is the place for you. For slightly more unusual, quirky products (such as the in-your-face ‘DON’T JUST CLEAN IT WOMAN, SCRUB IT’ body scrub), then Glossybox is a good option. All of these are priced at around £10/month – plus postage and lovely packaging.
And you know what the best thing about Beauty Boxes is? If you’re like me, whom no-one else sends surprise presents to every now and again, you might as well do it yourself!
This box from Glossybox was full of some great products, including the Lady Gaga – Fame scent and products from The Body Shop and Balance Me.
These cute boxes from She Said Beauty are perfect for storage once you’ve used the products inside!