Tag: Benevolent Beauty Box

The Benevolent Beauty Box for April 2017 arrived today!  They’ve moved up their shipping schedule so that it ships mid-month which explains the earlier arrival this month.  That’s absolutely fine with me since this box is always a treat!  This also marks the one year anniversary of the box – I jumped on for their second box in May of 2016, so this is my 12th monthly box from them.  In honor of their anniversary, they sent out a special loyalty bonus which was the Bellapierre lip creme.  Even without the bonus, this box is pretty amazing!  It’s also the first that’s completely vegan.

• Scrub Supply Co. Coffee Scrub – 100 g / $16.98 – (Product is full size)  HOLY COFFEE BATMAN.  This smells amazing.  I LOVE my morning cup of coffee, so naturally anything coffee scented is right up my alley, and this is a great, coarse sugar scrub that only has four ingredients.  Did I mention how amazing it smells?  We received a Turmeric scrub from the same company a few months ago and I’m loving that one too, so it’s great to see another product from this company.
• Orglamix Cream Luminizer – 1.5 g / $18 – (Product is full size)  The color received is, “Illume.”  I’m just not into highlighters, and I received a similar version of this in another box last year.  The product is pretty greasy and the solid turns into an oil with the heat of your fingers in the pot.  Mine also released from the pot when I went to try it out.  I probably wouldn’t use this under or over any kind of powder since the oils  would probably just eat up any  powder, but I think I might actually like this better than the one from last year, so I’m not sure if maybe they tweaked the formula a little?  I could see this working out okay on summer days when you want a bit of a boost without wearing a full face of makeup.  It’s not quite as glittery or sparkly as the other one I have – it’s more of a subtle, rosy, pearlescent glow than a glittery sparkle.  And, of course, my dry skin would love the base of natural oils.  I may have to use this a few days to see how I feel about it.
• Clarria Pure Primer – 1 oz / $50 – (Product is full size)  A primer with no silicones!  It’s unscented and dispenses with  a thick, sticky cream/gel consistency.  A teeny little bit goes a crazy long way, so this is going to last me forever.  The ingredient list is a bunch of oils (jojoba, rosehip, avocado), so my dry skin is going to love this as a dual purpose moisturizer and primer.  It dries to a soft, matte, silky finish, and I REALLY REALLY like this.  I like it enough that I’d probably use it even if I’m not putting makeup on top of it since it feels so incredibly moisturizing too.  I’ve always been kinda meh on primers since I don’t usually do the whole foundation thing, but this is ridiculously amazing.
• Modish Polish – 15 mL / $12 – (Product is full size)  The color received is, “Where’s my mojito?”  It’s a super pretty, minty, spring green and it’s just perfect!  The other variant was a pink color, so I’m super pleased to see this color in my box.  I already know and love this brand, and it’s nice to get such a fun color.  This is definitely going to be my next manicure!
• OFRA Liquid Lipstick – 6 g / $19.90 – (Product is full size)  The color received is, “Mocha.”  I had actually gotten this same color in another box  last year, but it’s become a fast favorite, so I’m happy to see it again!  The product has this light vanilla scent and goes on smooth, drying to a creamy, matte finish.  It’s a pretty, reddish nude and from past use, it really does last a good long while without drying out completely like some long-lasting lipsticks do.
• Bellapierre Kiss Proof Lip Creme – 3.8 g / $20 – (Product is full size)  This was my loyalty bonus product.  The color received is, “Hibiscus.”  This is my favorite of all the lip colors ever, a really pretty red raspberry color.  The formula smells a little fruity and goes on as a light liquid cream.  It sets pretty quickly and it feels like it’ll last for hours and hours.  But the color!  I mean, it’s like they know me over there at Benevolent Beauty.  If I had to pick a single color out of the Bellapierre lineup, this would 100% be it.

Overall, the box value comes to $116.88!  Including the loyalty bonus, the box contains a total value of $136.88 in products which is INCREDIBLE for a box that costs $29.95 per month for a month-to-month subscription.  The big winner for me this month is the Clarria primer because it’s something I wouldn’t have searched for on my own, but it’s definitely a product I can see myself purchasing again because it’s just that amazing.  Both lipsticks are perfect, the nail polish is an OH YES, the coffee scrub is amazing, and I’m going to have to give the Orglamix Luminizer an honest try since it seems  different than the one I tried before.  There was also a coupon code in the box for 33% off your first month at SerenaFit, and a note on the product card about this being Prevention to Animal Cruelty Month.  I really love the commitment this box has to being cruelty free that extends beyond the products!

March’s Benevolent Beauty Box has arrived with some pretty spring colors!  I have to admit that this month didn’t really wow me as a whole like prior boxes, but I’m in love with the two Au Naturale products, so it still works out okay in my book.

• Manna Kadar Lash Extending Primer – .28 oz / $24 – (Product is full size)  The second ingredient on this is Mineral Oil,  a petroleum-based ingredient.  I’m REALLY careful about what I put on my eyelashes and around my eyes since I tend to have some pretty bad reactions, so anything with mineral oil (liquid paraffin) is a no go.  I don’t really have a need for a lash primer – most mascaras do the job just fine on their own anyway – so this is going to the trade/give-away pile since I don’t want to take the risk of having my eyes itchy and red for days.
• Meow Meow Tweet Deodorant Cream – 2.4 oz / $14 – (Product is full size)  I received the Lavender scent.  I’ve tried this brand in the regular version, but this one is baking soda free.  I’m.. I’m just not into natural deodorants and this is the second one I’ve gotten this month, plus it’s in a pot, so you have to get your hands messy to apply it on your pits (gross – stick deodorant only please!).  Natural deodorants don’t work to stop you from sweating (they’re not  antiperspirants), rarely deodorize for longer than four hours, and they just never work for me.  It’s the one big thing that I turn in my natural-hippie-organic-nut card for and man, if I never saw another deodorant in a subscription box, I would be a happy, happy gal.  Don’t get me wrong, for people who love natural deodorants, I’ve heard this is a good one, and the ingredients are awesome and natural, but like most personal care items, they’re just not going to work for everyone.
• Au Naturale Creme Eye Shadow – 3 g / $20 – (Product is full size)  The color I received is, “Bora Bora,” described as a bright, aquamarine blue.  This was one of the products shown as a spoiler with two color variations, the other being, “Bliss,” which was a warm neutral-ish pink.  I have to admit that I was secretly wishing for this color to show up in my box, so I’m SUPER pleased with this!  The color goes on as a stunning metallic blue that’s easy to build from a pale shade to a brilliant blue, so it’s pretty versatile.  The formula is fairly solid in the pot, but warms up enough with the heat of your fingers  to apply smoothly and blend easily.  I cannot wait to wear this!
• Au Naturale Eyeliner Pencil – .5 g / $18 – (Product is full size)  The color I received is, “Deep Sea,” described as a subtle ocean blue.  I have hazel eyes, so I’ve come to love blue eyeliner and mascara to bring out the green in my eyes, so this is another winner in my book!  It’s ever so slightly metallic, and the ingredients are all natural waxes and oils (no petroleum-based ingredients), and this is honestly just perfect for me.
• Jersey Shore Cosmetics My Lash Secret Eyelash Curler – 1 curler / $30 – (Product is full size)  Also included is one replacement pad.  I have to admit that I never really curl my lashes since I don’t have a lot of lash to begin with and mascara tends to give them a good enough curl  anyway.  I think this is my third eyelash curler that I’ve received in subscription boxes, so I didn’t  necessarily need another, but now that I have another one (and it’s not buried in the bottom of the bathroom cabinet), I’ll have to remember to start using it.  The company is committed to natural and organic beauty which I’m totally down with.

The total value this month comes to $106 which is great for a box that costs $29.95 for  a month-to-month subscription!  Even if I’m really only interested in the eye shadow and eye liner, the cost of the box is still covered by the value of just those two products.  I’ll probably still use the eyelash curler, but it’s not really something I’ll use on a daily basis since I find it really difficult to curl my short eyelashes in the first place.  So, mixed feelings on this one.  I LOVE the two products from Au Naturale, but the rest of the box just wasn’t a good fit this month.  But hey, the overall value is incredible, my cost is covered by the two products I really like, and all the products are cruelty free so that works out for me!

February’s Benevolent Beauty Box arrived yesterday!  It’s yet another pretty stellar box, and while these have no theme (other than being awesome), we got two lip products in some super pretty shades of red in perhaps a little nod to the holiday earlier this month.

• High Endurance Cosmetics Sweat Pretty Setting Spray  – 4 oz / $13 – (Product is full size)  LOVE setting sprays, and this is a huge size!  It’s mostly water and glycerin based, and there’s no alcohol, so this won’t dry out your skin.  The scent is a light, herbal sort of fruity scent and is really rather pleasant.  Once dry, it is perfectly matte.  While I haven’t had a chance to give this a good stress test, summer is right around the corner, so this is a perfect time to include this.
• Palmetto Derma Rejuvenating Antioxidant Mask – 1.75 oz / $64 – (Product is full size)  WHOA NELLIE.  That’s a pretty expensive product to include in this box!  I’ve gotten this before in the January 2016 Kloverbox, but I’m okay receiving it again in another box, over a year later.  The mask is pretty neat – it’s got a cooling effect, so it’s great for warmer months as a little treat for sun-toasted skin.  The ingredient list contains a bunch of oils and extracts, so it’s also pretty hydrating and doesn’t leave your skin feeling tight and dry like a clay mask can sometimes.  This is quite the opposite – my skin feels hydrated and soothed after using the mask.
• Moody Sisters Dry Skin Cream – 5 oz / $18 – (Product is full size)  I received the scent, “Herbal Blend,” which seems to be a mix of lavender, peppermint and juniper berry.  The scent isn’t really doing it for me right out of the container – it goes on smelling a little medicinal from the juniper and peppermint.  That medicinal edge faded pretty quickly though and left behind just a soft lavender scent which was much more appealing.  The cream is AMAZINGLY hydrating without feeling greasy or sticky.  The formula is a rich, thick cream, and just the tiniest bit goes a long way.
• Medusa’s Makeup Lip Paint – .34 oz / $12 – (Product is full size)  I received the color, “Hanky Panky,” which is a deep burgundy/raspberry sort of color.  I really dig the color, but unfortunately, this does contain parabens (the product card says it doesn’t, but the ingredient list on the box says otherwise).  This definitely needs an invisible lip liner to keep it contained since the formula seems to want to feather out.  You can control the amount of color that goes on, building to a deep opaque shade or going a little lighter.  I found that it still felt a little sticky even after drying, but not sticky enough to transfer.  It does need to be removed with an oil based remover and tends to stain your lips a bit.  I haven’t tried this all day yet to see how it would last, but it feels like it should stay put!
• Mirabella Velvet Lip Pencil – 2.3 g / $25 – (Product is full size)  I received the color, “Love,” which is a warm red.  This tips ever so slightly over to orange on me, but anything that isn’t cool-toned ends up looking orange on me.  Even the tiniest smidgen of a yellow tone just looks odd  on my skin tone.  The verdict is out on the color – it’s really close to being a perfect neutral red, but it’s just enough on the warm side that I’m not sold on the color.  The formula is amazing and I LOVE this sort of product.  It goes on matte but still creamy and seems like it has great staying power.  This also tends to  stain your lips a little, but that makes it a bit of a stain/lip pencil in one and I’m okay with that.

Overall, the total value comes to $132 which is PHENOMENAL for 5 full size products in this box.  That’s really excellent  for a box that costs $29.95 per month for a month-to-month subscription!  I’ll use everything, even the Mirabella lip pencil since the color is growing on me the longer it’s on.  I’ll definitely use the dry skin cream (HI MY SKIN IS A DESERT) and everything else in the box.  This one may even land in my top 5 for this box, I like it that much.  As always, looking forward to next month!

The January Benevolent Beauty Box has been here for a few weeks already, but I’m finally getting around to posting about it!  A pretty spectacular box yet again – everything is cruelty free, a couple of items are vegan, and I’m still digging how much this box wows me every month.

• Scrub Supply Co Turmeric Scrub – 60 g / $15.88 – (Product is full size)  This bright yellow sugar scrub that doubles as a mask too!  It claims it can help reduce pigmentation and help out with acne.  The bag comes with a scoop and a popsicle stick stirrer/applicator which is nice.  There’s no real discernible scent to it, though it does smell faintly like turmeric, and it doesn’t give me that flush like after a clay mask which is nice – it feels more gentle, despite being a coarse scrub.  I like it!  I obviously won’t notice any difference in one use, but it makes for a nice mask and scrub combo.  There’s also a coupon code included for the Scrub Supply Co for 10% off your next order.
• Lauren Brooke Cosmetiques Lip Color – 1.8 g / $13 – (Product is full size)  The color received is, “Sangria,” a plummy wine color.  The formula is pretty thick and waxy, more like a lip balm, so you have to thoroughly exfoliate your lips before using this or it will clump up on all the dry skin.  The color goes on sheer but can build to a darker shade.
• Lauren Brooke Cosmetiques Luminous Eyes Corrective Concealer – 7 g / $15 – (Product is full size)  I’m already in love with the creme concealer from Lauren Brooke, so this is great to see in the box!  The color matches my skin tone damn near perfectly, so this is going to get TONS of use to cover up dark eye circles.  I gave it a quick try and I LOVE that this actually works – so many concealers just don’t do that great of a job, but the peachy color is simply perfect for hiding dark circles.
• Franklin & Whitman Oak Lane Face Mask – 2 oz / $24.95 – (Product is full size)  This is a great clay mask that also contains cocoa powder, so it smells amazing.  I tried it right away using just plain water as my carrier liquid (though, in hindsight, I should’ve used honey!) to make a paste.  It took a little
• Deco Miami Nail Polish – .19 oz / $12.50 – (Product is full size)  The color is, “Boy Bye,” which is an iridescent pastel purple.  This bottle is A LOT smaller than most nail polishes which come in at .5 oz (over 2 times the size), but in a way, it’s nice to have the smaller bottle since I don’t tend to use up nail polish all that fast.  My only gripe is that for being a smaller bottle, the price shouldn’t be the same (or nearly double) other similar polishes.  Pacifica, for example, is $9 for .45 oz.  The formula is pretty well pigmented, and while I haven’t tried it on my nails yet to see how well it lasts, I’ll have to report back when I do since I do like the color!
• Terre Mere Angled Eyeliner Brush – 1 brush / $24 – (Product is full size)  A vegan angled eyeliner brush to go with the glitter and eyeliner set from the prior month!  Perfect followup to that product, and I can always use new brushes.  This brush is super soft, but still firm enough to get a nice line with a gel eyeliner.

The total value this month comes to $105.33 which is phenomenal for a box that costs $29.95 per month for a month-to-month subscription!  I’m really pleased with everything and I love how this box is just such a good fit for me.  It’s a great mix of new brands and old favorites with new products and solid basics.  As always, looking forward to the next box!

This is Benevolent Beauty Box’s first ever Special Edition box that shipped on December 10th.  Yep, I’m still behind on the blog posts, but I’m catching up, I swear!  Anyway, I knew the second they announced this that I’d need to have it since this subscription has been knocking my socks off.  It did not disappoint!  A makeup palette, BB Cream, lipstick, and three face products from some of my already-favorite brands plus a few new-to-me brands make for a pretty amazing luxury box that’s also 100% cruelty free.

• Manna Kadar Day-Dream Palette – 1 palette / $39 – (Product is full size)  A WHOLE PALETTE!  This palette contains 6 eyeshadows, 1 blush, 2 highlighters, and a contour shade all in one rather portable package which makes this perfect for travel since everything you need is right there.  The company is cruelty free and this product is vegan to boot.  The eyeshadow colors are right in my range (but really, what isn’t?), two neutrals, two rosy pinks, two violets to make for a great balance.  The colors are nicely pigmented and blend well too.
• Mommy Makeup Stay Put Matte Lip Cream– .12 oz / $22 – (Product is full size)  The color is, “Heather,” described as a dusty pink mauve and goes on a little darker than I expected, so I’m not 100% sold on the color, but I think I can still pull it off.  Dusty pink or rose colors generally wash me out but I think the darker shade actually makes it okay for fall and winter.  The formula is great – it goes on like a thin liquid but then once it’s dry, it’s matte and sticks and doesn’t move!  I like the formula, but as far as the color, I’m probably more interested in the “Marilyn” or “Harlow” which I may have to pick up since there’s a 15% off discount code included in the box for Mommy Makeup.
• Bellapierre Derma Renew BB Cream – 1.5 oz / $75 – (Product is full size)  I received the “Fair” shade which matches with the information in my beauty profile with Benevolent Beauty Box.  This is just a wee bit too light for my skin tone, but I found I like the formula enough that I can make it work by dusting bronzer over top with a really light hand to bring up the color just enough.  I found on my dry skin, it did clump up on the dry patches at the corners of my nose, so I just need to remember to moisturize well before using this.
• Baiser Beauty Formula N º2 Lumineux – 1 oz / $35 – (Product is full size)  This is meant to be applied just like a highlighter,  either under or over makeup.  It’s a pink, pearlescent liquid, and the teensiest drop goes a very long way.  It smells mostly like lavender and leaves behind a subtle brightness without any sparkle or glitter.  It’s oil based, so I’d imagine this would dissolve makeup if applied over foundation or powder, so this may work better without foundation for a natural glow.  I do like how subtle this is and may be using it on the regular because the oil base also works as an awesome moisturizer.  Also included is a code for 15% off at Baiser Beauty.
• Franklin & Whitman Walnut Hill Face Serum – 1 oz / $39.99 – (Product is full size)  HOORAY for local (to me) companies!  I’ve become a serum junkie as I’ve gotten older and my skin has gotten drier, so serums that are blends of oils I know and love with no parabens or silicones are on point for me.  This is a blend of grape seed oil, argan oil, rosehip oil, pomegranate oil, and Vitamin E and is completely unscented (yessss!).  These are all oils I use already, and they combine here to create a viscous oil that surprisingly goes on lightly and absorbs quickly to make my skin feel amazingly soft.  I know I sound like an advertisement, but these are all things I look for in a good serum, and I’m loving this one.  Plus!  5% of the purchase of this product goes to help dog rescue organizations in addition to the company being cruelty free, so they’ve won me over.
• Mullein & Sparrow Lemon Rose Face Wash – 2 oz / $32 – (Product is full size)  It’s like a castile soap, so it’s fairly gentle and works into a rich lather to wash away makeup without being too drying.  The scent is pleasant as well – the rose balances out the lemon perfectly so it’s not too floral or too citrusy and lands in that perfect goldilocks zone.  It works rather well if followed with a good serum just like the one above!

In total, the value of the box is $242.99 which is incredible since the full retail price of the box is $62!  There are some truly incredible products in here, and I’m finding it difficult to pick a favorite – between the face wash and serum together, the palette by itself, or the BB Cream (when dusted with bronzer, I have to say it does look great), I just can’t decide.  There are a total of 6 full-sized products in here that are all cruelty free.  I believe there are still a few Special Edition boxes available, and just with the BB cream alone, this box pays for itself, so it’s definitely worth it for a gift for yourself or your favorite cruelty free beauty maven.

Have I mentioned how behind I am on everything?  This is November’s Benevolent Beauty Box which did arrive on time as usual, I’m just late posting it.  There was a note in the box about excusing the appearance of the box, but it was just fine to me, but I appreciate the transparency!  Anyways, my mantra lately is Better Late Than Never, so here we go!

• Ardency Inn Modster Long Play Lip Vinyl – .28 oz / $23 – (Full size product)  The color received is, “Studio Mix,” which is described as a melon base with orange reflect.  The applicator is an interesting shape, designed to fit the contour of your lips and delivers a crazy bright color payoff.  I’m definitely going to be using this next summer, but it’s a little bit too intense and bright for fall and winter I think.  It’s definitely leaps and bounds brighter than what I normally wear, but it’s such a fun color, I can’t resist.
• Adamma 3D Mascara Kit – 1 kit / $50 – (Full size product)  I’ve never  used anything like this before, and I’ll admit to being pretty skeptical, especially with the high price tag for the set.  Basically, one tube is the mascara, and the other tube contains the fibers which consist of corn silk and cashmere (WHOA!).  The mascara goes on pretty thin and doesn’t plump or thicken really.  It’s meant more to be a glue for the fibers and allow you to look like you have longer lashes.  I’m happy to say, that even being the klutz I am with this kind of stuff, IT WORKED.  WOW DID IT WORK.  I have the teeniest little eyelashes ever, but one round of mascara/fibers/mascara was enough to make me look like I had put on false lashes.  The package says you can repeat the process as many times as desired, but really, once was enough for me (though I’m tempted to keep going till my eyelashes hit my glasses just because!).  So far, no irritation either since the ingredient list for the mascara is super simple.  I was worried about using the fibers near my eyes, but they didn’t seem to fall into my eyes at all.  Honestly really impressed with this!
• Herbal Transdermal Mineral Toner – 8  oz / $15 – (Product is 2 oz, value of $3.75)  I love that this is an alcohol free toner, but the wintergreen scent is a huge turn-off since I don’t like mint outside of my toothpaste.  Fortunately, it’s not so strong that it lingers with the product on your face, and it does feel nice and refreshing.  The addition of tea tree oil makes it a great skin refresher after a long day or as a quick clean before makeup.  Also included was a coupon for a free bar of soap with any order over $40 on the Herbal Transdermal website.
• Josie & Hue, The White – 2 oz / $20 – (Full size product)  I LOVE CLAY MASKS.  It’s such a great way to spend a little time on yourself and pamper your skin at the same time.  I haven’t gotten a chance to try this just yet, but on top of the regular clays, there’s coconut milk powder and cucumber peel extract, so this should be pretty refreshing!  They encourage the use of various carrier liquids to personalize the mask – everything from honey to oils, apple cider vinegar, milk, and witch hazel.
• LaRitzy Matte Lipstick – .16 oz / $20 – (Full size product)  The color received is, “Karma,” which almost looks a little like a dusty rose, so I was a little bit worried about the color at first.  Happily, this goes on more like a warm toned cappuccino colored neutral and is super matte!  I’m definitely going to be wearing this color a lot this fall and winter since it’s so versatile.

The total value for the box comes to $116.75 which is phenomenal since the box costs $29.95 per month for a month-to-month subscription.  Hands down, my favorite item is the 3D Mascara Kit which I totally didn’t expect to love this much.  Really, the whole box is awesome and I’ll use everything, so this month is a big win in my book.  Looking foward to December’s box!

HOOBOY!  I always get a little excited for this box because it’s been so consistently on point, but this month?  MINDBLOWING.  Oh man.  I can barely even put words together to put up this blog post, I am that blown away.  All the products are cruelty-free, some vegan, but they’re all rather ingredient-conscious and tend to be things that are right up my alley.

• Gypsy Soul Organics Sister Wind Aromatherapy Spray  – 2 oz / $19.99 – (Product is Full Size)  Okay, so I like the idea, but the scent is completely not me – spearmint and eucalyptus are near the top of my least-favorite scent list and honestly make me a little nauseous (I find those eucalyptus flavored cough drops are an instant upset stomach too, FWIW).  It’s not the product’s fault, it’s my picky nose/palate not liking the scents.  I’m going to pass this off to a friend, but there is a promo code included in the box and it looks like their “Family Tree” scent is right up my alley.  I could see this being a nice treat after  a post-yoga shower  since they’re all essential oil based.  The originals come in a glass bottle and the one included in the box is plastic so the value may be a little off, but it’s such a generous size to include in the box.
• St. Tropica Coconut Hot Oil Hair Mask – 6 pack  / $27 – (Single size, value of $4.50)  It’s like they were listening to me when I rant about hair products in subscription boxes – I don’t want parabens, sulfates, or silicones.  This?  Fits that bill in spades and the ingredient list is beyond perfect.  My hair is super curly and dry, so I pretty regularly use all kinds of oils to help keep it moisturized and bouncy, so this is SO BEYOND PERFECT.  The first two ingredients are coconut oil and coconut butter, so yes and yes.  It is in a foil packet, but it’s meant to be that way so that you can heat up an individual packet as a single-serving so to speak, and there’s enough in there to generously coat down my long hair.  I’ll probably give this a whirl next week, but I promise to report back with my results.  There’s also a card included for 20% off your order.
• Tat2 Lash Mascara – .25 oz / $16 – (Product is Full Size)  There’s beeswax, so this isn’t vegan, but as a beekeeper myself, I don’t mind.  LOVE the packaging!  The brush is a bristle tip, not one of those spiky plastic numbers, and it works fairly well considering the formula is on the thicker side.  I tend to like my mascaras a little thicker, so that’s perfect for me.  I did get a perfect application on one lash and then the next was clumpy which I figure is user error, but it does go on rather richly in one coat, no second coat needed.  Dries fairly quickly and the ingredient list is spectacular – no bad ingredients that may irritate my eyes.  So far, I’m loving this!  Better yet, there’s a card enclosed with a coupon code for 40% off your first order.
• Ecco Bella FlowerColor Lipstick – .13 oz / $19.95 – (Product is Full Size)  I received the color, “Primrose,” which is a shimmery mulberry spice type shade.  The ingredient list is really amazing, no parabens or petroleum-based ingredients.  It goes on a thick and semi-matte, but it stays put as a result of the waxes and still feels moisturizing thanks to the Vitamin E.  The color is spot on perfect for fall and I rather like the thickness of the product.  I figure some people may not like the waxiness, but I found that thicker products mean I’m not constantly moving my lips around together to redistribute the product and they end up staying put longer.
• Bellapierre Eyeliner Duo – .14 oz each / $25 as a set – (Product is Full Size)  The product card from Bellapierre goes into detail that the clear one can be used to pick up a little color from one of their eyeshadows and used as a colored liner which is a super fun idea!  I have PLENTY of mineral eyeshadows and this extends those to a whole new usage and it’s much easier than trying to mix  pigments with water and hoping they’ll stay.  Both the black and clear are waterproof.  The black has a felt tip and the clear is a brush.  I found the black a little watery and tough to apply evenly, but I’m also a little clumsy and shaky-handed when it comes to eyeliner, so it’s probably user error again.  It does go on nice and dark though and the ingredient list on both is great.
• Bellapierre Shimmer Powder – 2.35 g / $15 – (Product is Full Size)  The color I received is, “Jadoo,” described as a burgundy with gold shimmer.  I’d probably call it more of a Merlot sort of color – it’s more purple than red I think, but it is very heavily pigmented and yet again, the perfect color for fall.  Remember the vanilla lip balm from last month?  Yeah, this pigment will mix with that and create a really pretty lip color.  Or you use it with the clear eyeliner and make a gorgeous eyeliner color.  So many possibilities and I love the tie in to the last box.

Overall we have 7 products or 6 if you count the eyeliner duo as a set with a total value of $100.44!  The box costs $29.95 per month for a month-to-month subscription, so the value is over 3 times the cost of even the month-to-month subscription!  This is the first time we’ve had non-makeup products in the box, the hair oil and the aromatherapy spray, but honestly, I’m completely okay with that since the hair oil is  absolutely perfect and while I didn’t like the scent of the aromatherapy oil, I do like the idea.  Well done, Benevolent Beauty, this month is phenomenal and somehow the boxes keep getting better and better.  Excited to see what you come up with for next month!

Another Benevolent Beauty Box has arrived!  On time as usual (even if this post is going up a little late), and this month I  got a bonus product which was unexpected!  I know they were offering a bonus product to all members since they offered it to new subscribers, but I never emailed in with a preference since I didn’t feel like it was completely necessary to give current subscribers the same bonus offered to entice new people to sign up.  Still though, a bonus product, the Colorevolution eye shadow showed up in the box!  Totally unexpected but still  a nice addition.  Anyway, on to the contents!

• Bellapierre Vanilla Bean Lip Balm – 7 g / $10 – (Full Size Product) It smells absolutely lovely!  On the side of the box, the directions tell you to mix it with your favorite pigment or shimmer powder which is a neat idea!  I find the balm nice and smooth without being sticky, and the vanilla scent is present but not overwhelming.  Really a solid lip balm.
• Manna Kadar Priming Gloss Stain – 5 g / $24 – (Full Size Product) I received this in my first Lip Monthly shipment in July, so it’s not this box’s fault that it’s a dupe, I just subscribe to too many boxes!  I do really like this as an everyday lip product though – it’s enough that it’s something, but the color isn’t bold or outrageous.  It looks perfectly natural on my lips and very nearly matches their natural color, plus it seems to last a good long while and the formula is creamy and smooth but still matte.  I may pass this off to a friend though since I don’t need two of them, but I do like this product!
• Nvey Eco Eye Shadow – 1.5 g / $17.99 – (Full Size Product) I received the color, “Mahogany,” which is a deep warm brown with a hint of shimmer.  It’s heavily pigmented and the little compact even has a mirror which is a nice touch!  Love the color and will definitely be using this often.
• Your Minerals Transparent Veil – 7 g / $21  – (Full Size Product) I love powders like this especially for the summer months when I can’t bear to use anything heavy on my face.  This goes on silky smooth and the clay content helps absorb oil.  It can either be used under or over foundation, but I usually use it by itself just to give me a little more of a polished look when I’m not doing the bare minimum (eyes/lips).  I particularly like the texture of this one and I’m sure it’s going to go into regular makeup rotation right away.
• Paula Dunne Cougar Blush – 7 g / $19.66 – (Full Size Product) I received the color, “Punch,” which is a rosy pink.  It’s probably a little too dark for my complexion and I don’t really use blush much anyway, so this is kind of a miss for me.  It shows up on my cheeks as leaning over to brown, so it’s probably got some yellowish tones to it that don’t mesh with my skin tone which is already pretty red on my cheeks naturally.  The formula is nice though, very easy to blend, but this just isn’t the shade for me.
• Colorevolution Eyeshadow – 2 g / $12 – (Full Size Product) I received the color, “Sienna #2” which is a pink base with a gold shimmer, and this is the bonus product for the box, not part of the regular August shipment.  The shimmer comes out more than the color, but it’s a really nice effect and would work well over other matte shadow that I want to glitz up a little or for a good dose of sparkle just because.  The mix of the pink and gold is really growing on me and I’m loving it!  More eyeshadow is always welcome and I don’t think I’ve met a color that I didn’t like!

The box value comes to $92.65 without the bonus product and $104.65 with the bonus.  The box costs $29.95 for a month-to-month subscription, so this is really an incredible value!  This box consistently delivers products that I’m interested in and that are ingredient-conscious and cruelty-free.  It might cost more per month, but in this one, there are SIX full size products including the bonus.  No foil packets!  I’m really pleased, and even with the miss on the blush, the box is still well above the cost.  What’s really great about this box in particular is that a bunch of these brands, I hadn’t ever heard of or tried before, so it’s refreshing to see brands that are completely new to me.  As always, I’m looking forward to next month!