little white truths

Well, this will be my last Memebox for a while. As you may know, I'm on a beauty spending ban and this was the last box I ordered. I actually ordered it after the ban had started, but cancelled another order of equal value so I could do that because I wanted this package more than I did the other.

I'm glad I picked this one up, but I'm also glad to take a break from Memebox for a while. It's so easy to overdo them, and I've definitely done that!

Before I look at each item in turn, here are my December Affiliate Codes (I'll update these once the January ones come in):

The box contains five full-sized items and cost $23US plus $6.99 shipping. Just from scanning the contents, my initial thoughts were that it looked like one of the better boxes I've ordered.

Note that, as always, I'll do an unboxing now and then update this post once I've used everything and can comment on it properly.

I'm definitely most interested in the hologram serum, although maybe that's just because it looks cool in the cannister ; )

Ariul Spa Water 24hours Moisturising De-tox Mask (RRP $26 for 100ml)

This daily cleanser creates hydrating and pore clarifying bubbles that penetrate deep into the skin, and aims to remove all pore-clogging impurities. Good for those with dry and easily irritated skin, it also apparently delivers deep moisturising, brightening and tightening results.

To use, take a tiny amount and spread over your face. Bubbles will start to foam. Add water, massage, then rinse off.

I received a face mist from this brand in another box and liked it, so I'm happy to try something else from the range. But please note that this product expires in less than a year, so if like me you have a few cleansers in stock, you'll need to move this one closer to the front of the queue.

UPDATE: This one's a bit annoying because it leaks between uses, so each time I open the cap I'm confronted with a thin, sticky and bubbly film that's all over the inside of the cap and also on the applicator etc. I'm not sure whether that's an issue with the design or whether I just got a bung product.

Otherwise it's a nice enough cleanser that foams as it says it will. I don't feel it's a particularly great cleanser - it's pretty gentle - but my skin does feel a bit nicer and cleaner after use. What I normally do is a first cleanse with a more heavy duty product, and a second cleanse with this one. I wouldn't buy this but I'll use it.

AHC Hologram Collection Whitening Serum (RRP $89 for 50ml)

Anything that costs this much makes me look at it twice: sad but true! Note, however, that I've seen it on sale from Memebox's website for $21. I wonder if this is because the batch is expiring reasonably soon (November next year, according to the box - I call less than a year soon when it comes to these kinds of products, especially a full sized one that'll take a while to get through).

It contains a highly concentrated blend of acerola berry, camu camu berry, niacinamide, ice plant, hyaluronic acid, kiwi and tomato - all of which are natural ingredients that bring moisture and revitalisation to the skin.

You apply it after cleansing and before moisturising.

I wish I didn't have to open it next (I have so many serums in stock), but looks like I'll have to because everything else I own has a later expiry date. I'm interested to see how it fares.

UPDATE: I really don't know how I feel about this yet. It looks so fancy and awesome (and then there's the price tag), but it's a product that unfortunately reminds me in every way of the White Glo stuff that I use occasionally to bleach my teeth: the smell, look, texture and feel are all the same. Which begs the question: am I putting bleach on my face and do I really want to be doing that?

Also, I wouldn't really class it as a 'serum' - it's too thick for that. It's more like a gel and it's quite sticky, which makes me wonder how well it's being absorbed (and how well any creams you put on afterwards are being absorbed).

I don't think it's moisturising/revitalising as it claims to be, but I'll use it for a while longer to see if my opinion of it changes, and also to see whether it has any impact on age spots etc.

Full review here.

LadyKin Broccoli Super Brightening Cream (RRP $14 for 60ml)

This brightening cream contains 75% broccoli extract, which has an antioxidant effect. It also contains vitamin C and works to calm, heal and brighten the skin, as well as to diminish the appearance of uneven skintone, dark spots, age spots and fine lines. It can be used for both face and body.

I might end up using this as a body cream because I have so many face creams to get through and a paucity of body stuff. We'll see how good it is first.

UPDATE: What I did with this box was introduce each cream/serum separately (leaving a week or so between them), so I could check whether each seemed to be having more of an impact than the others. This is the most recent one I've opened, and while I feel able to update this post because I can give you initial thoughts, if you're interested in this product please do check back in later on because I'll do a full review of it (as well as the others) once I've had more experience of it.

It's a strange cream. When you squeeze some out, it seems to 'melt' on your fingers (leaving a watery trail behind), but then when you apply it to your face it takes a while to absorb and you really need to rub it in. If you don't rub it in, you're left with a white face - and I wonder whether it's been designed that way deliberately (ie, so you feel like it has a whitening effect because they've coloured it to make you believe that). I don't think this will have any great impact on age spots over time, but let's see.

Boscians Cycle Repair Whitening Spot (RRP $24 for 15ml)

This contains green bud complex, which reactivates the skin's balanced cycle for reducing signs of uneven skintone and darkened spots, and brightening the overall complexion. It contains a rich blend of hyaluronic acid that deeply hydrates dry, dull skin and leaves it soft and supple. You apply it under the eyes and over dark spots etc.

Now this is something I need. Pregnancy has given me a bundle of skin issues, including dark spots (these might be hormonal or just normal age spots). Let's see if we can't reverse some of that!

UPDATE: This is the product I've been using the longest - I opened it straight away because I didn't have anything like it in circulation. So far I've noticed no changes to my dark circles, age spots or uneven complexion unfortunately, but I'll keep going with it and do a full review of it once I'm reaching the end of the tube. I don't have high hopes, but maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised - particularly because I'll be using it in conjunction with the other items from this box. It may be one of those critical mass situations. I hope so!

Withme White Perfection Hydrating Cream (RRP $43 for 120ml)

According to the product card, this contains over 24,000mg of silk concentrates and ocean complex. The silk formula is rich in protein and amino acid, and it effectively detoxifies the skin of melanin pigments while the blend of sea minerals deeply relieves and replenishes dry, exhausted skin.

Another one I need, and one I can open straight away because I don't have a day cream on the go at the moment (only a day serum, and you can use both). Looking forward to trying it.

UPDATE: First, this is the second product I've received in this box that comes with bung packaging - argh! If you stand it upright (as in the photo), the inner cap mechanism obviously isn't designed well because product leaks into the cap from the tube, and so I'm having to stand it inversely and I'd rather not do that because it doesn't make for easy arrangement in the bathroom. Anyhoo.

Full review here. In short, I liked this to begin with but now that the weather is colder (and my skin drier), I'm not liking it at all and it's gone to the body cream section. What the product card that came with this box doesn't tell you, is that this cream contains alcohol - which may be why my skin doesn't like it. I've found it's irritating and not moisturising at all: it actually does the opposite and dries my skin out. FOO.

Verdict

This is a decent box. Its RRP value is almost $200, so it's definitely worth the $23 outlay.

I'm very happy to finish (for the time being!) on a high note with Memebox, since I've recently had a couple of dud boxes and was due for a good one. Yay to that!

Did anyone else receive this box? If so, what did you think?