Review: The Pip Box (March)

What is it?

The Pip Box is a beauty subscription box with a selection of cruelty free products.  A donation from the cost of the box goes to an animal friendly charity (This month is Animal Free Research).  The box contains a selection of five products – skincare, body care, makeup and occasionally a sweet treat too.

Cost:  £13.50 (+£3.95 P&P) subscription, UK

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The Pip Box (March) Unboxing ?

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How to get a free box?

In each box is a card encouraging consumers to share their pictures on social media.  They then choose a winner to get their next box free.  Last month, they chose my February pictures and I got my March box free.

What was in my box?

The box came with an information card to tell me all about the products inside and their value.

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Dr Botanicals:  Tropical Invigorating Cream (website RRP £29.00, Sheet lists price as £44.00)

Dr Botanicals is a London based vegan skincare brand and made from pure natural ingredients, paraben-free and no harmful preservatives.  They pride themselves on their products being kind to your skin and animals.

The cream is really light but moisturising and sinks in fast. The tropical smell isn’t strong and reminds me of grapefruit but that’s not listed as an active ingredient.  These are:

  • Elderflower:  to protect the skin from free radical damage
  • Chamomile Flower Extract: to heal and soothe irritated and damaged skin
  • Tiara Flower Extract:  to deeply nourish and purify the skin

I’m still really enjoying their day cream from last months edit too – click here to read.

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Saturated Colour:  Make Me Matt (website and sheet RRP £8.00) and Moisturising Lipstick – Naked Pink (website and sheet RRP £7.00)

This month I got two products by Saturated Colour.  This is a UK brand (Essex), cruelty free and vegan friendly.  The brand is affordable and they products have great colour and some clever ideas.

The Naked Pink lipstick is a gorgeous colour that would suit almost anyone.  It is a daytime pink and you could wear it to work.  The ‘make me matt’ is a clever product that can turn any lipstick matt.  If you have an old favourite that is the perfect shade but want it to be matt, then this is for you.  I think it is genius.

Her are some pics and swatches of the lipstick, Make It Matt and Lip Lock (another Saturated Colour product for longer lasting lip colour).

Top pic: Make it Matt (over lipstick)

Middle pic (L to R): swatch of lipstick alone, lipstick with Make it Matt, lipstick with Lip Lock, lipstick with Make it Matt & Lip Lock

Bottom pic: Naked Pink Lipstick

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Okko Skincare:  ‘Try me’ Natural foot balm stick (£21.00 RRP for 50g on the website, £3 on the sheet for 4.5g ‘try me’ size)

Okko Skincare use natural and organic ingredients in their products.  They are proud of their balms in a stick format as this enables you to throw it in your bag without the risk of spills.

I was impressed go easily the stick was to apply to my foot. It instantly turned into an oil. I used it straight out my morning shower but think this would be better before bed to allow the oil more time to penetrate. It has a nice smell and I’d be interested in trying more of their sticks.

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Raw-Ganic:  Refreshing Aloe and Green Tea Facial Wipes (£2.99 on the sheet and website)

Raw-Ganic is an English brand (Oxford).  The brand uses natural and organic ingredients that are environmentally sustainable and affordable.  It is vegan and cruelty free.

I like these wipes. I’ve used them to remove Make-up before bed and in the morning. I also tested them on removing the searches from my arm and it came off easily, even the swatches with Lip Lock. I’m thinking of putting them away in my overnight bag or next to my bed for when I’m too tired to take my makeup off with a full cleanse.

Would I recommend?

I am a regular subscriber to The Pip Box and never been disappointed by the contents.  It was really rewarding to get my box for free and goes to show that the company really do care about their customers.

I’m starting to grow a nice collection of Saturated Colour and Dr Botanics products and I am interested in buying more. I like being introduced to new brands I may not have discovered otherwise like Okko Skincare and Raw-Ganic both organic brands with great ethics.

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Ally plus text

NUI Cosmetics Beauty Review

My husband spoilt me and Christmas and bought this foundation and lipstick from my wish list. I’ve used the foundation every day since and I’m now waiting for payday so I can buy some more.

About the brand

https://instagram.com/p/Bgf6Y-9jAGc/

Nui cosmetics are from Berlin, Germany. They produce natural and organic beauty products that are cruelty-free and vegan-friendly.

My products were purchased from Glow Organic (Brighton, England). This is my go-to online store for organic makeup.

About the foundation

  • Name: Natural liquid foundation
  • Shade: Intense Kanapa
  • Cost: £38

The foundation isn’t the cheapest I’ve bought but it is well worth its price tag.

It is the perfect shade for me and I love how I can build it up where I need it. It goes on easily like a liquid foundation but dries with the longevity of a Matt foundation. It doesn’t sit in creases and looks very natural. It has a sweet scent to it making it a joy to use.

I apply with my fingers or a sponge. I like the little cap (lid) that clicks on to prevent the foundation coming out when not in use.

About the lipstick

  • Name: Natural Lipstick
  • Cost: £23
  • Shade: Aroha

You need to be confident to wear this lipstick every day as it is a daring colour. True red is a tricky colour to find in organic brands but Nui has done it!

It’s quite a nourishing lipstick and feels lovely on your lips, however, this means it doesn’t last long and needs to be reapplied during the day.

Repurchase

The only downside of the foundation is I didn’t know I was about to run out until it did. ?

As I had already been on a hefty shopping spree this month (probably the biggest in a decade), I had no budget left to repurchase. I had to wait until payday. ??

Surprise:  Luckily, my husband knew it would make me very happy to surprise me with my favourite foundation. Upon seeing me trying to use up samples I had, he ordered it without me knowing. ?

https://instagram.com/p/BglArNrj60S/

Ally plus text

Axicology Beauty Review

 

For my birthday (in November), my husband treated me to a lipstick and a lip crayon by organic beauty brand Axicology and I loved them.  Working off his previous success, he bought me another lipstick for Christmas.

I thought it only fair that I share these with you so you too can discover this brilliant brand.

Axiology

Axiology is a brand that makes natural organic lipsticks that are vegan friendly and cruelty free.  Their packaging is from recycled paper and made by women in Bali giving them employment opportunities.  Plus, they donate a portion of their profits to charities that support the welfare of animals like PETA and Orangutan Foundation (so it’s ginger friendly).

By buying their lipsticks you are helping reduce pollution and support women in Bali and raising funds to support animal friendly charities.  Wearing lipstick has never felt so good.

 

Lip Crayon

Bliss is a lip crayon.

Bliss:  Is a summery coral so I haven’t worn it much yet.  I have found the crayon more drying than the lipsticks but I’ll probably wear it in the summer.  It costs £23

Lipsticks

Goodness and Fundamental are both lipsticks.  It costs £24

Goodness:  This is a nude colour and very natural.  It has a hint of gold shimmer to it and is very hydrating.  You could easily wear this colour everyday but if you wanted to make a statement the colour would be too subtle.

Fundamental:  The first time I wore this colour to work, I got so many compliments.  It was great.  It is a darker and more daring shade than I’d usually wear but I’m so glad I braved it because it is now my favourite.

The case

I have never been so impressed by a lipstick case.  The outside has a brushed gold affect.  You push the base and then it ‘pops’ and your lipstick unlocks, you slide the top off to reveal the beautiful polished gold lipstick inner tube.  I made a little video on Instagram to show it off because I love it so much.  Please check it out below to see what I’m talking about.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bd7bdu-h6T4/?taken-by=redfae

I discovered the brand via the online organic beauty store Glow Organic.

Ally plus text