Tuesday, May 14, 2013

The Lilac Box #3 Beauty Box in Malaysia Review

This is the first beauty box I’ve purchased in a while. My first ever beauty box company was Fabulous Finds which was actually the first Beauty box in Malaysia but it closed down after due to the owner having personal health issues. Quite sad actually, I wonder how she is now.

the lilac box logo

Anyway I read about Lilac Box is some magazine some time ago and apparently its founder by 2-3 guys. Interesting. Its also a higher price point then most other beauty boxes available here because, they say, they focus on higher end products and are the “first premium beauty box in Malaysia”

The Lilac Box also ignores the usual monthly subscription model and instead sells on a box by box basis. I think this really works for them because not only do they have to scramble every month to get good enough products but also they can build hype on their social media accounts to drive sales when the box actually arrives. This is proven in their fast sales : Box 1 sold out in 3 days, Box #2 in less than a week and Box #3 in 36 hours.

the lilac box 3 review 01

Firstly it comes in plain brown box with no markings or logos. They believe in getting customers to reuse their packaging and hence why they left it unmarked with minimal embellishments (which can be removed easily). This box has a purple lace decoration. The box itself is pretty sturdy and was wrapped in more cardboard for shipping. Note that there is no product sheet/unnecessary paper in the box to avoid wastage. All details of the products as well as vouchers are on their website once you login. Very eco-friendly = plus points in my book.

The whole concept of The Lilac Box is “blind dates”. Getting to know the product via samples to get a first impression of it, to try it out, kinda like the first time you’re meeting a person. When you login online, some products allow you to download a product list to “meet the family”. Or details to their website or more information to “get a second date”. It the same concept and messaging they use on their social media accounts. Just thought it was quite an interesting presentation.

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So without further ado, lets see what inside The Lilac Box #3. Products available in this box are :

  • Babor HSR Lifting Extra Firming Cream
  • Phyto Phytodéfrisant Botanical Relaxing Balm
  • Chloé See (perfume)
  • Max Factor Ageless Elixir (foundation)
  • Payot Pâte Grise and Spéciale 5
  • Yves Rocher Rose Fraîche Shower Gel

Babor HSR Lifting Extra Firming Cream

the lilac box 3 review 06Description :
HSR® lifting extra firming cream: The exclusive Lifting treatment with its intense anti-wrinkle effect creates an all around lifting effect together with the HSR® Lifting Integral Complex leaving skin looking smoother and tighter. Hyaluronic acid and shea butter provide additional skin care while vitamin E serves as an effective "radical catcher."
HSR® lifting extra firming eye cream: With the HSR® Lifting Integral Complex this highly effective anti-wrinkle eye cream gives the delicate skin around the eye area more elasticity. In addition, an active ingredient composition made from peptides, green beans and rutin compresses the collagen network making skin look visibly tighter and smoother. Natural oils like macadamia oil, corn seed oil and shea butter provide additional treatment. Vitamin E acts as a "radical catcher". This perfume-free formula has been tested by dermatologists and eye doctors and meets the highest standards.

I’ve never heard of Babor and in fact I didn’t realize at first that I got both the eye cream and the (normal) cream. The actual packaging is really cute and its all gold. 

Phyto Phytodéfrisant Botanical Relaxing Balm (0.5 fl oz)

Description: A 99% plant-based formula containing Ferula, Horseradish, Chamomile Matricaria and Sage to protect hair and provide natural hair relaxing benefits. The innovative alcohol-free formula works to hydrate and strengthen hair without making it greasy or weighing it down.

This is a French brand and this is the first time I heard about a hair balm.

Chloé See (1.2 ml)

the lilac box 3 review 04

Description:  The fusing top of juicy bergamot translates her energy and her urban edginess. Like a sweet smile, the sparkling notes of bergamot stir the senses. Her natural femininity is conveyed through a beautiful floral bouquet of apple blossom and jasmine that caresses this natural seductress. The delicate floral notes bring elegance and a touch of seduction to the fragrance. An olfactory game of hide and seek grows into a sexy veil of warm and sensual vanilla, and addictive sandalwood.

A perfume vial. I haven’t quite decided if I like the scent or not.

Max Factor Ageless Elixir (1ml x 10)

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Description : The Ageless Elixir 2 in 1 Foundation + Serum goes beyond delivering just cosmetics coverage; the built-in protective serum with SPF 15 containing Vitamin E and Green Tea, will help fight the signs of ageing by providing UV protection and moisturization for long-term beauty benefits, when used daily.

They were nice enough to include two shades in Light Ivory (#40) and Natural (#5) and 5 packs of each! That’s quite a lot of samples and having different shades is really good to cater for different skin/shades.

Payot Pâte Grise (0.03 fl oz) and Spéciale 5 (0.05 oz)

the lilac box 3 review 07Description : Pâte Grise has been a beauty secret handed down from mother to daughter to treat small blemishes. It works overnight to clear them up – just like magic – and it is a favourite with the women who use it! In 2008, Pâte Grise was reformulated for improved antibacterial efficacy and a more pleasant texture.
An essential complement to Pâte Grise, Spéciale 5 has cleared up the blemishes of thousands of girls and women. This dual-phase lotion used to require shaking before use to mix all the active ingredients.

Another French product in two tiny sachets. I don’t really have badly blemished skin so I’m not sure if it’ll work for me. Also the samples are a bit too small and I don’t know if its enough to show any different at all.

Yves Rocher Rose Fraîche Shower Gel (200ml)

the lilac box 3 review 05Description: "Discover the delicate freshness of a fresh picked rose in this eau de toilette with floral-citrus notes that leaves your skin delicately scented. The charm of a fragrance that recreates the freshness and delicate perfume of a rose in a garden at daybreak. Composed of Rose absolute and Grapefruit, Bergamot and Mandarin essential oils."

I believe this is a full sized bottle at 200ml and I love the smell! Generally I don’t fancy rose smells because it reminds me of “oldness” or worst that overpowering “Lovely Lace” smell but this was a very fresh smelling rose, not like The Body Shop types of smell but more like when you brew a pot of rosebud tea. Very delicate smell. Its RM39 for the whole bottle (the price tag was on it).

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Now was it worth it? I think for RM 49.90, I think it’s a pretty good deal seeing as the shower gel cost covers about 4/5 of the cost. Besides the Payot products, most of the other samples are reasonably sized and good for more than 1 application. And while I’ve not actually used any of the products, the brands seem quite good, though mostly unfamiliar to me.

I also like the whole no-subscription model so I’m not tied in to a “contract” of sorts where I already pay for the box and get good items one month and crap items the next (this actually happened in one other beauty box my friend subscribed to).

Now would I purchase the next one? I think I will. Well, that is, if it doesn’t sell out first.