Memebox Global #9 Unboxing Review

Hey Ladies

I am so excited to bring you a review on the much anticipated Memebox Global #9.  I ordered this earlier in the month along with their Make up themed box and Mini Memebox which will ship late next month and I will review when they arrive.

All of their boxes are different prices. This particular box was $23 AUD. I have not yet been introduced to Korean Beauty products before and was so excited to open the box. It smells divine.
Also as you can imagine I will be referring to the product card a lot as I am not familiar with any of the brands or particular products.

So what did I get???
Included was 4 full size products and 4 samples.

1. Kerasys Oriental Premium Shampoo 200g (Sample Size $30 value)
The full size product is 600g and RRP $90
I was under the impression that this product was full size but according to the product card it is only a sample. It smells exactly like my John Freida Treatment, very fruity and sweet. The card also says it is targeted for split ends, which we all have so I will definitely try it in between my blonde shampoo washes. Quite luxury because I don't normally spend $30 on shampoo or Conditioner unless it is my purple toning shampoo. Very nice and I will let you know what I think when I have used it.

2. LUNA Wonder Essential BB Foundation in shade #21 Nudy Beige 15ml (Sample Size $13.10 value)
The full size product is 40ml and RRP $35
I was very grateful to receive a foundation sample that is actually my colour. It is SPF 25+ which is great. It has a light coverage and built up pretty well when I swatched it on my hand. It doesn't have a chemical smell which is nice. I will definitely be using this product.

3. Jaminkyung Gokmul Care Creamy Cleansing Masque 100ml Full Size RRP $45
I was only saying last week how I wanted a new exfoliating mask and the beauty gods have treated me. This smells so good that you would be tempted to eat it. It has a lovely creamy chocolate smell and after reading the card i discovered it is made from rice grains. It is a daily foaming cleansing mask. I only have a chance to use masks once every fortnight if I'm lucky so this should last me a few months.  I cant wait to try it out.

4. 25cc Hairbooster 25ml Full Size RRP $23
First I want to say how cute is this packaging??? It is a fun approach to marketing such a small amount of product. It doesn't have any scent and after reading the product card I can tell you it is a 3 minute rinse out scalp treatment to prevent hair breakage. I am excited to try it as I have bleach blonde hair so breakage is always an issue.

5. Savia Magic Count Down 7 days EGF & Multi Peptide 5ml Full Size RRP $30
I had no idea what this product was without my new best friend, the memebox product card. It is a facial toner to help you acheive healthy energetic skin and using the name I would say it is 7 days worth. I do have a toner that I love but would give this product a 7 day trial. Value for money is not great as it is 7 days worth for $30 which is unrealistic for most people but I am happy to give it a go.

6. Ellegirl I Say Tint You Say Gloss in shade Hardcore Red 5ml Full Size RRP $23
As you can gather from the product name this is a lip gloss/tint hybrid. It is very highly pigmented and is a deep red colour. There is no glitter or shimmer and is silky smooth, which means a little product goes a long way. It has minimal scent and very cute packaging.  I currently don't have a colour similar to this in a gloss/tint so I will be using this product. It's great to see another make up item included.

7. Botanic Hill Boh Moist & Radiant Youth Ampoule Essence 9ml total (Sample Size $7.20 value)
The full size product is 50ml and RRP $40
These are another two items I had to refer to my trusty product card for clarification on exactly what they are. Unfortunately it wasn't too helpful. They are anti-aging products one an essence, the other an oil. Directions state to apply to face until it has soaked in. Not too sure how I will go with them but I'll try them out and let you girls know.

Over all value of $171.30 for only $23. That is amazing. I am super excited to see what my other two memeboxes will include.

I love the variety of products and all are great sample sizes as opposed to some samples you receive of 1ml of foundation or 2ml face mask. It is an all round beauty box and I highly recommend giving it a go. If you aren't a fan of the variety you can choose a themed box like make up or skincare they even have men's boxes.

 I would love to know what you think.  

Lots of love

J    XOXO

April 2014 Bella Box Review

Hey Girls

I hope you have enjoyed a nice extended Easter Weekend/Holiday. Unfortunately I have had to work but after a long day at work I got home to 2 packages on my doorstep.

The first thing I opened was my Bella Box which seems to be very late this month. I feel like I am the last person to receive it but after opening it I am able to forgive the delay (especially with the public holidays we have had).

I didn't have high expectations this month because last month was so ridiculously bad. It is still sitting on my shelf an I haven't touched it since I opened it. For $15 per month I don't think my expectations are too high to want at least 3 usable products.

So what did I get?????

Dirty Works You Soft Touch Hand Cream 100ml RRP $5.95 Full Size
As the biggest item in the box this month it was the first thing I picked up. I don't use hand creams as much as I should because as soft as my hands are they can get dry at times and working in an air conditioned environment I should try to keep one in my top draw. The product itself is very soft and smells so nice. It has cocoa butter and Jojoba oil in the formula so I will definitely be a fan. I know some people will be sick of hand creams but I love it.  Something I will use,  a brand I haven't previously tried and such a reasonable price. Thank you Bella box for a great start to my April box.

Burt's bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream RRP $14.95 FOR 17g Sample Size 8.5g
I received a sample of this cuticle butter about 2 weeks ago directly from Burt's Bees and I love it. I use it at least once a day. It smells exactly like the moment you squeeze a lemon.  It is so lovely on my cuticles and I have noticed a massive difference in my nail growth as well. I love this and have given my mum this sample because I have not stopped talking about it to her. I will be buying another one as soon as it is empty. Ladies, this is a must have essential.

Red Earth Lip Lustre Multidimensional Lip Glass in 01 Crimson Flicker RRP $16.00 Full Size
I have never used any Red Earth Products before so I am grateful for the opportunity to try new brands. The lip gloss has so much glitter and is very shiny. It is a little bit sticky when applied to the lips which I'm not a fan of. The colour is red but has slight pink undertones with fine orange shimmer and blue/purple glitter that you see in natural light. So it is multidimensional as it states in the product name. It has no real scent and a big applicator.
Realistically I probably wouldn't purchase this product only because I do have some pretty awesome lip glosses already that I love.

Indio Eye Rise RRP $67.20 for 15ml Sample size 5ml
Indio is another brand I have not yet come across so I was excited to see not one but two samples from them.  This eye cream is definitely a luxury beauty item considering it is more than $4 per ml. After reading the product card it explains that eye rise draws moisture to the eye tissue which plumps the area. Overall sounds amazing. I am very interested in trying this product over the next few weeks.
I can't see myself purchasing the product purely because of the price. I can't justify such a huge investment in 1 product but depending on how I find it over the next few weeks I may look into their other products on offer.

Indio Skin Tonic Spritz RRP $44 for 200ml Sample size 30ml
The second Indio product I received is another luxury beauty essential.  Again it is expensive and it is great to receive a sample to try. I have sprayed my face with it already as we do, sample every product as soon as we see it. It is very refreshing and light. It has a very lovely organic scent and I will be using it as a travel sized toner. I love that it is in a spritz bottle as it means I don't need any make up pads in my travel case.
Depending how I go I may purchase in the future.  I will do another review when I have finished using the bottle to explain further what I think after using it for a while.

Last thing included was a bonus Revlon Nearly Naked Foundation sampler which had 4 different shades in tiny samples. None of the included shades suited my skin as the lightest (shell) is very yellow.

So overall value this month topped $55 which is awesome value.
I am very happy with what I received as I will find a use for each item.

I would have loved the UV polish or Avon Mascara but I have already purchased the mascara since seeing it this month.

What were your thoughts? Have you tried these products before?

Once again, lots of love
J     xoxo

April 2014 Violet Box Review

Hey beautiful ladies,

So I just got home to find a parcel on my doorstep.  Thanks to the wonderful invention of the internet and Australia Post's tracking service I already knew this was my April Violet box.

Enough of that... what did I get???

Teeez Trend Cosmetics Chain of Stones Nail Lacquer in shade Melted Copper RRP $ 15.00 Full Size
I can't believe how nice this colour is.  It is a part of their holographic range of nail polishes. It has very very fine rainbow glitter.  While I would normally buy bright bold colour this is unlike any other colour I own. I am excited to see if everyone receives this colour because im sure you will all love it.

Cedel Scented Hairspray in Oriental Blossom RRP $ 4.99 Full Size
I have never used a scented hairspray and I am very interested to try it out tomorrow for work. I quickly sprayed my hair just now and it is a strong hold, I'm personally not a fan of the Oriental Blossom scent but looking on the product card I can see it comes in Raspberry Punch which I can see myself buying. I'm not too sure where you can buy this as it is not available on their website but if you know let me know in the comments below id love to get the raspberry one :-) Also kudos on the packaging,  very chic.

Villainess Dulces en Fuego Whipped! Body Creme RRP $ 15.00 FOR 170g  Sample Size maybe 10-20g
I have been looking at Villainess Soaps for a few weeks now. After receiving this sample I can see it is a great formula which is very soft on my skin. The directions state to put the product on dry spots so I will be using it sparingly. I cant really put my finger on exactly what it smells like. Looking at the product card it explains it is a citrus spiced with black pepper and nutmeg.  I would prefer something abit more fruity as it is very strong. If I was going to purchase from the brand it wouldn't be this product.

Be a Bombshell Eyeliner in shade Espresso RRP $19.00 Full Size
This is my first ever brown eyeliner. I am not normally interested in the look of brown around my eyes but recently watched a tutorial on youtube and decided I had to have one. Well my prayers have been answered.  The liquid eyeliner pen is extremely pigmented and has a fine point to it. I swatched the eyeliner on my hand and after 30 seconds you cannot rub it off at all. It doesn't say if it is waterproof but only after putting make up remover on it could I get it off my hand. I am very impressed and will have to try it abit longer before I make an informed decision as to exactly how much I like it. I will let you know in a future post how I go.

Bioderma Crealine H20 RRP $19.95 FOR 100Ml Sample Size 20ml
Due to the packaging being in a different language I had no idea what this was without reading the product card. It is a fragrance free cleansing make up remover. It is in fact completely fragrance free and just looks like water. I used this to remove the Be a Bombshell eyeliner with this and it works as well as any other make up remover I currently own. It is a decent sample size and if I seen it on sale I might buy it in future.

Over all in my second month with Violet Box I am very impressed yet again. With a total value of about $ 45 I am very happy. I have received items I can actually use and I would normally not buy. So Violet box is pushing me a little outside my comfort zone but you know what? I like it.

As promised the back of the product card has the sneak peak at next month... read on if you dare...

Let me know what you thought about your Violet Box in the comments below.


lots of love

J     XOXO

New products: Bellabox Fast30 Sale

Hey Everyone,

I ordered a few things last month in the Bellabox 30% off sale. There was so much drama with payment and I know I wasn't the only one because it was posted ALL over their facebook page.

Needless to say... it finally arrived about a week ago. My favourite product before it even arrived was always going to be the Lime Crime Lipstick and what do you know, I love it.

I had seen reviews on Lime Crime online and I had to have one of my own. So I ordered Geradium which is a lovely pink shade. While I was ordering I found a leave in Conditioner I liked the look of, some hair clips that looked interesting and some face wipes (purely for the free shipping).

So.. this is what I got...

The Spinnacles Hair Pins in the colour Blonde are a creative and inventive new style of hair pin. I've never used anything like them. Normally to hold my hair I would need 5 or 6 clips. I have used them a few times already for work. They are a quick and easy way to do an up do. They were RRP $ 6.95 AUD but I got 30% off with the sale.

Next I tried the Unico Leave In Spray On Conditioner.  It smells so yummy and after reading the ingredients I realized its Apricot scented. Obviously this is why I love it. I love the Nutrimetics Apricot range and this reminds me so much of the Nutririch oil. I have used this product as a detangling spray and before styling. It works wonders :-) I will definitely buy this again when its empty. With a RRP of $25.00 at 30% off I will probably wait for it to be on sale again.

Bellabox threw in a sample size perfume to try. Lady Gaga's FAME Black Fluid 1.2ml. I hadn't ever heard about this but I have already ordered the full size 100ml bottle because it is so nice. Again it smells of Apricots. It is pretty cool and different in that it is Black liquid in the bottle but completely clear when you spray it. I would recommend smelling it next time you are at a perfume counter.

Wotnot Facial wipes in the oily/sensitive skin type (green pack). The catch with the postage is that postage was going to cost around $8-9 and because this product was featured in March this product made postage free. With a RRP of $ 7.95 you would be crazy not to add them in. You could say they were free or that postage was free but either way they are great. They leave my face feeling refreshed and they don't leave any oily residue.

Last Product was..... my Lime Crime in shade Geradium!!!!!!

It smells like candy. It is highly pigmented and so smooth on my lips. The packaging is gorgeous and I don't know why I never bought one sooner.  I am waiting for another decent sale to buy the other colours in the range to hopefully collect the range before I have used this one completely. Definitely recommend to anyone who likes bold statement lip colours. RRP $23 and as I said I got 30% off.

Overall I am so happy. Who doesn't love 30% off!!!

Did you get anything in the sale? What did you think?

Lots of Love

J   xoxo

Lip Factory March 14 Review

Hey ladies,

I hope that you have all had a lovely Easter long weekend.  I have filled up on lots of chocolate and I am getting very excited for the April subscription boxes to arrive.

Today I am doing my last catch up review from March 2014 and will be reviewing on time from now on.

Lip Factory is currently my only international subscription.  It is unlike anything Australia has on offer.  You receive 5-6 full size products from many international brands and some brands I have already been familiar with.  It is USD$32.00 including postage for us Aussies but with the exchange rates I think I pay a little less.

So... what did I get??

Mirenesse Lip Bomb Glossy Lacquer Stain in shade 17 RRP $39.00 AUD Full Size
Before I let you know what I thought, I do need to mention that the lid on this product was broken when I received it. Lip Factory should be replacing it this month. It is a lovely natural/nude pink with tiny gold shimmer. It is a thick shiny consistency. I swatched it on my hand and when I washed it off 10 minutes later it had stained my skin so that is pretty impressive.  I'm not fond of the smell, to me it reminds me of playdoh, maybe that is because it has been open for who knows how long being broken or if that is just the smell of the product. I don't think I would purchase this product as I mentioned I don't like the smell and the price is a bit excessive when I can buy other brands of lip stain that I actually like for much less.

Jessie's Girl Vitamin E Treatment RRP $3.99 USD Full Size
This product is so silky smooth. I love the smell and the feel on the lips is nice. It is a colour-free lip treatment and is quite a heavy feeling on the lips but coming into winter in Australia this will be great to stop getting cracked lips in the windy extremes. I love that Jessie's Girl ships to Australia and the products are SO cheap.  I will definitely be purchasing from them in the not so distant future.

Jessie's Girl Lip Liner in shade "Naked" RRP $ 1.99 USD Full Size
While I don't think this product is suited to the shade name "naked" I do love the colour. It is a bold red/pink colour. Yet another product I absolutely love.  As I mentioned above I will definitely be purchasing more Jessie's Girl, for $1.99 it is great. The lip liner goes on smoothly and after using this product nearly everyday since I got it, I can say it outlasts my lipstick and stays on ALL day.

Ellovi Lip Butter RRP $5.00 AUD Full Size
This product is quite simply amazing. After reading on the product card that there is only 6 ingredients in the lip butter I was very curious.  It is certified vegan (which is great) and scent free. It goes on smoothly and has next to no shine which I great when you don't want too much or to put over a matte lip stain. It is light on the lips and a creamy texture. After visiting the Ellovi website they also have a body butter which sounds good also. They do ship to Australia and I may be inclined to purchase from them in future for now this should get me through the season.

Last but certainly not least. ..
Cargo Lip Gloss Quad in the shade Casablanca RRP $24.00 USD Full Size
I was suprised to receive a lip pallete that had 4 shades I love. After receiving other subscription boxes I kind of expect to get things that I don't like. This was the icing on the cake for a perfect box. They are very soft and only require a very small amount of product on the brush. While it isn't very portable requiring a lip brush I keep it in my at home beauty box and I have used it a few times already for a sheer gloss effect.

Total value this month over $70 AUD.

With this being my first Lip Factory box I am in Love. I don't think anything could make me un-subscribe.

What do you think?
Is there a box you couldn't give up?
Let me know in the comments below.

Lots of Love,
J   xxx

March 2014 Violet Box Review

Good Evening Beauties,

This is my first ever review on a different subscription box I subscribed to in early March, Violet Box.

After hearing wonderful reviews from people about Violet Box I gave into temptation and redeemed a $5 voucher of my first month.

Violet box is also an Australian  beauty subscription.  It is $20 per month.

So... what did I get????

I received 3 Full Sized products and 2 samples.

Love Those Lashes New Silk Strip Lashes - "the jade" RRP $14.95 Full size
I love lashes and while I don't wear them all the time I am excited to try these lashes out. I havent as of yet but I can tell just by looking at the shape and length of them that I will love wearing them. The only thing I'm not fond of is the glue but its a personal preference.  I prefer the white glue as it doesn't make my eyes water when applying the lash. The clear glues tend to have a chemical that I don't like. I would probably buy these if I seen them online or in stores.

Starlooks Gem Pencil in Amethyst RRP $19.50 Full size
I have used this eyeliner pencil and it is very smooth, easy to apply and a beautiful shade. Im not sure I would pay full price but if I seen it on sale I would buy this again.

Sinful Colors Nail Polish in Island Coral RRP $4.95 Full size
Beautiful colour which is really similar to a dress I recently purchased so I'm excited to get some use out of it very soon. I did try it on one of my nails and its reasonably quick drying, very nice on the nail. Available in another 68 different colours so I may purchase in the future.

Accorelle Skincare Night Cream RRP $49.50 for 50ml Sample size of 2ml
This is a very very small sample. I tried it 2 nights in a row on my face and that was the whole sample.  It doesn't really have any scent and feels very soft on the skin.  It isn't too heavy  either,  which I find a lot of night creams are. Realistically I probably wouldn't buy a full size bottle because of the price.

Mirenesse Velvet Lip Lift Moisture shine in number 47 RRP $39.95 for 4.5g Sample size is 1.5g
I love the feel of this product on my lips.  It is so soft and smooth. They don't sell the lip lift anymore but none the less I love it. Pretty expensive lip gloss but I think as a sample this is amazing.

Over all I love ever single product in my violet box. I can definitely see what the hype was about.

Total value of about $45. I didn't even care about the value because I was so impressed.

In comparison to Bellabox this subscription has really shown me what I was missing out on.

Let me know what you think below.

Talk soon
J   xxx

March 2014 Bellabox Review

Hey ladies,

First of all. .. Happy Easter Long weekend... I am so happy to have 4 days off...

On a more beauty related topic.. I have another subscription review to show you. 

Today I will be catching up from March 2014. The first box I received for the month was Bellabox. 

As I mentioned last post Bellabox is $15 per month.

The theme this month was "Beauty Diaries".

I must admit it didn't sound too exciting to me but I'm always trying to stay positive. 

So... what did I get??????

I received 2 full sized products and 3 samples.

The item that caused the biggest fuss this month was the lipstick.

ModelCo Party Proof Matte Lipstick in colour "Vanity Fair" RRP $16.95 Full size

Well needless to say I was disappointed.  More than disappointed really. It is a very dark brown, chocolate colour. I did a colour swatch on my hand and as you can imagine it is not a colour I would ever use. What I really didn't like is that Bellabox has a beauty profile questionnaire that you complete when subscribing explaining a little about your beauty needs. For example I have that I have fair skin, blue eyes, blonde hair and I like pale pink and nude colours. I cannot imagine how they have even considered any of these details. I ended up giving this product away as it was unusable to me. It was such a shame as there was around 15-20 shades and I literally could have used any other colour.

Coconut Revolution Lip Pot RRP $7.95 Full size

I didn't mind this product. I personally don't really like the smell and I'm not sure why because I love coconut scented everything.  For this reason I used it when I opened it and havent touched it again since.

Pantene Aqua Light Shampoo and Conditioner RRP $7.99 Each for 350ml Sample size is 40ml each.

I had already purchased both prior to receiving this sample. I love the fruity smell and the formula works wonders on my blonde hair. There is also a hair treatment in the Aqua light range. I will definitely be purchasing both items again in future and I am always recommending them to friends and family. On Bellabox facebook page Soooooo many people were upset about this sample pack. Let me know what you think??

St Tropez Gradual Tan in Medium/Dark RRP $33.95 for 200ml Sample size 30ml

Again back to my beauty profile I have fair skin. I have absolutely no interest in having a tan. Real or Fake. I have not used this product and I am still trying to find someone to give it to. 

Lastly.. Wotnot Facial Wipes -Green RRP $7.95 for 25 wipes. Sample pack contains 5 wipes. 

These wipes are great and I have already purchased more. They are different to other brands I have tried previously in that they are wetter with more makeup removing/cleansing product. They smell very yummy and leave your face feeling refreshed. No oily or sticky feeling. I am very happy with the inclusion of these in this bellabox.

Overall I was disappointed.  There were two sample sized products that I liked and everything else was not great.

Total value of the box is somewhere around $30-35 which is technically more than what I paid but nowhere near the Feb 14 box I loved. 

I am looking forward to receiving my April box. I have just seen the first batch unboxing videos on youtube and I am in for a treat :-) 

Let me know in the comments what your thoughts are :-)

Lots of Love

J   xoxo

February 2014 Bellabox Review

Hey Gorgeous Girls,

Going to go back a few months to my February Bellabox. The theme "Red Carpet Ready".

For those of you who aren't aware Bellabox is a monthly subscription box that provide you with full size and sample size makeup,  skincare and haircare products. The samples range from everyday products you will find in supermarkets to boutique outlet luxe products you don't normally treat yourself to.

Bellabox is Australian and available for $15 per month.

Enough of that.... What did I get???

I received 3 full size product and 2 sample.

OM She Aromatherapy Liquid Eyeliner Pot in colour Navy RRP $13.95 Full size
I am glad I have left my review on this box until now because I have had a chance to use this product.  I love the colour. The product goes on smoothly and smells nice too. The only negative I have is that I do prefer a brush applicator as opposed to this as it is a stiff applicator it is harder to get a perfect line.
Over all I would be inclined to purchase for this brand in future just not this particular product.

Bioderma Sébium Pore Refiner - RRP $30.95 for 30ml full sized
As the product card stated it is a cult product. Not something I had a use for as I don't have any issues with having visible pores. It was very convenient timing to receive though as it was only the day before that I had commented to my sister about her pores. I passed this product on to her and I am still yet to hear how she felt about it. Even though I wasn't able to use it I am still very impressed by the inclusion in the box as its price alone is more than double the total cost of the entire box.

OM She Aromatherapy Wash Away Milk Cleanser RRP 12.95 Full sized
This product has a very pleasant smell and feel to it. I have used it once so far and I will say that I like it. I would probably buy this product in the future.

John Freida Precision Foam Colour Intense After Colour Conditioner RRP $16.99 for 150ml  sample was 50ml
This smells SO SO good. As soon as I opened the box I knew what was in there. I have used this product in the past and I have already finished using this. I have highly bleached blonde hair and I am always using moisture rich conditioners and treatments to hydrate my hair. This is up there in my top 5. I will definitely be purchasing this product again.

Romy Eucalyptus and Lemongrass Body Lotion RRP $29.99 for 300ml the sample didn't have a quantity but id say about 10-20ml.
I am personally not a fan of how it smells but that being said I have used it as a hand cream in my handbag. It feels nice and is very light on the skin. There was no oily residue either.
I probably wouldn't buy this product but only because I would prefer a different scent.

As a complete box I was extremely happy. Total value of over $60 which is great.
Money well spent.

Let me know what you thought about the February 2014 box below.

Take care
J   xxx

Introducing the Sydney Beauty Network

Hi Lovely Ladies,

Thanks for visiting :-)
As you may or may not be aware this is my new blog. I previously had a blog but due to changing work requirements I could not find the time to post as much as I would have liked.

So I am starting fresh and would like to introduce myself. I am a 23 year old make-up and beauty enthusiast. I am going to be sharing my beauty finds, reviews and my honest opinion on brands and products alike.

I am not sponsored or being endorsed by any company. I am simply sharing my own opinion and experience.

I look forward to getting to know you all and sharing my thoughts.

Don't be shy please let me know what you think. Whether you agree or disagree, I am always interested in hearing from you.

Feel free to introduce yourself in the comments below.

Lots of love

J   xoxo