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.

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.

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.

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

Description :
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)

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)

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)

Description : 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)

Description: "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.

[Sale] Bimba & Lola Off Season Clearance

Bimba and Lola is having an off-season Clearance sale from 1-5 February 2012, Wednesday – Sunday. 1st Feb is also a KL holiday so you KL peeps can head down to 1Utama for some shopping!

Get up to 70% and an ADDITIONAL 5% discount for ONECARD holders!

Bimba & Lola is located at G302, 1Utama Shopping Mall

LUSH Sweet Lips Scrub

Guest writer G

LUSH usually places their lip products on the cashier counter. I suppose it’s a marketing gimmick to tempt you to just pick one up and include in with your other LUSH goodies. Well, it worked because that was exactly what I did! I was just looking at the lip scrub and smelling it while the LUSH assistant was processing my goodies.

The one I picked up was the vanilla & chocolate one and it smells heavenly! I was busy weighing out the option of putting it back or picking one up for myself, when the sales assistant said “You can just scrub your lips and then lick it up because it’s edible!”. That was the tipping point for me because, (1) that sounded so cool/easy and (2) this would be fun to show the bf that my lips are irresistible! (haha). So I bought it and was happy.

Right: LUSH Sweet Lips Scrub
""Our fabulous lip scrubs are here to keep your kissers sweet. Sweet Lips is the lip scrub for chocolate fanatics. It smells like a bar of creamy milk chocolate. Vanilla extract keeps your lips moist, castor sugar gently exfoliates, and the rich, deep fragrance of cocoa absolute gives this an irresistible touch. Rub it over your lips when they're feeling the need for some sugar."

The scrub: It does scrub and exfoliate the lips well I must say and the sugar melts a little into your lips as you’re scrubbing it in a circular motion. I licked it a little and well it tastes like sugary chocolate. But after I licked it, it dawned on me that I could be eating up my dead skin / lip bits if I licked my lips after using the scrub! (Eek!). So no more licking my lips after using the scrub = totally defeated the whole purpose of me getting excited about this product!

Pro: Nice smelling and nice tasting; does what it is supposed to

Cons: Not worth the cash; when you put it on, you must do it over a sink because it gets all over the place once you start scrubbing

Overall, it’s just a sugar scrub that tastes and smells like chocolate and vanilla. There is nothing much to shout about this product. Infact, I think it would be cheaper for you to DIY at home with sugar and honey OR just by using a soft toothbrush and rub your lips in a soft circular motion. Judging by the length of this post, it is apparent that I will not repurchase ever again. Infact, I have only used it once and now its stashed somewhere.

It is priced at GBP4.75/0.25g (now I am wondering how did I buy this thing when I could have gotten a tub of Magnaminty for the same price!! ARGH) available at LUSH's website.

Or one of the Lowyat.net LUSH / USA sprees.

LUSH Mask of Magnaminty!

Guest writer: G

LUSH’s Magnaminty is my HG (holy – grail) for facial masks for my skin type. Frankly, my skin can be quite problematic. Besides the combination (oily on the T –zone and dry on the cheeks) & sensitive skin type, I always get pimples when it’s my time of the month. Let’s not forget blackhead and whiteheads on the T – zone!

Obviously for me, it is very hard for me to find a brand / mask that will not make my sensitive skin react. I have tried the Dermatologica skincare range and although it is supposed to be suitable for sensitive skin ( hypo allergenic etc etc), my skin had a reaction towards it. From then on, I usually do not take risks and stick to whatever works with my skin (which also means I am usually scared to take chances in terms of trying new products / brands).

I decided to try LUSH because they use natural ingredients and it just smells and feels so yummy! Plus the sales assistants are very helpful and if you ask, you can get free samples of their products!

Anyway, I have tried the Cupcake facial mask(review coming soon) before and found that nice but this one is stupendous. The sales assistant recommended this because I told her I needed something for my blackheads & whiteheads. LUSH does not sell those sticky peel off strips or anything similar to that, for blackheads/whiteheads because doing that will strip the moisture and healthy oils off your face making it create more oil. So they believe in nipping things in the bud and using this facemask regularly will(supposedly) help with the blackheads/whiteheads.

The mask is a "deeply cleansing, detoxifying & exfoliating pepperminty mask. Refreshes and brightens everything it touches."

It feels minty and cooling. The texture’s quite thick yet you can choose to put on a thin layer or a thick layer. It is specifically for detoxifying, toning and helps with blemishes. You just slather it on, leave it to dry and scrub it off in a circular motion with warm water.

Why do I like it?

1. You don’t have to keep it in the fridge

2. It lasts long because of the reason above

3. You can use it for “bacne”( back acne ), I don’t have bacne but I use it when I have dry patches of skin sometimes and it helps soothes the skin. I have also used this when I had an allergic reaction to seafood where I got bumpy skin around my neck and it helped soothe the bumps with regular use.

4. It’s the best for my skin type and really does detoxify tone and cleanse my skin. I can feel my skin feeling better internally and externally.

I keep going back to LUSH for this mask and I honestly swear by it. It actually reminds me of the Himalaya Herbals Neem Face Pack (check out So Loverly's great review here) which I have used before. If you have used the Himalaya Neem mask before, you would know that it helps detoxify and cleanse the face properly and after using it you’ll feel like your face is so clean internally and externally. This LUSH mask works quite similar to the Himalaya Neem mask BUT it is minty & cooling, smells so so much better and the texture is thicker.

Don’t get me wrong I love the Himalaya Neem mask but the LUSH Magnaminty is just so much better, in my opinion.

It is priced at GBP4.75/125g (this is the size I bought) OR GBP8.25/315g at www.lush.co.uk

You can get it on Lowyat.net LUSH or USA sprees ( please correct me if I'm wrong)

*p/s: I found that So Loverly also blogs about LUSH's Magnaminty here