The Naturally Beautiful Box by Latest in Beauty Review – November 2014

Price of the Box is £24.95 including P&P
No of Products in the Box – 14 items
Total Value of contents in the box – over £80.00
http://www.latestinbeauty.com

Christmas is slowly creeping upon us and with only five weekends left there’s not long to go before we all start to enjoy the festivities and exchange gifts with our loved ones. I love this time of the year which see’s the release of bespoke and limited edition beauty boxes which make the perfect Christmas gifts or a much needed treat for yourself to beat the winter blues.

With the launch of the Latest in Beauty’s Gift shop they have curated three themed boxes brimmed with premium, cult and classic beauty products with brands such as Caudalie, L’Occitane, Loreal Paris, Crabtree & Evelyn and many more.

I kindly got sent The Naturally Beautiful Box to review which contains active skincare, delicious body treats, make up for the party season ahead and some indulgent treats making it the perfect box for pampering both the body and mind this winter.

The box is tied with a pretty pink bow and the contents are wrapped within festive paper embossed with gold specks. It’s very presentable and comes with a card too, perfect for gifting this Christmas.

1.    Caudalie Polyphenol C15 Antiwrinkle Sample Set – Worth £9.95

I adore Caudalie products and inside this box is three generous offerings from their Polyphenol C15 Antiwrinkle range which includes the Defense Serum (10ml), Defense Eye & Lip Cream (5ml) and the SPF 20 Antiwrinkle Protect Fluid (15ml).

The Caudalie Polyphenol C15 Antiwrinkle range is packed with antioxidant filled ingredients such as grape seed, polyphenols, Vitamin C and Hyaluronic acid and it’s aim is to protect and plump your skin.

Latest in Beauty have this exact set for £9.95 on their website and it’s amazing that these have also been included within this edit. The set will also enable you to fully road test this range and give you a good for the brand itself.

2.    Dr Bronner’s All-One Hemp Lavender Pure Castile Soap –  Travel Size 30g.

Whilst this may appear to be just a simple bar of soap it’s truly natural with it’s no-fuss packaging and it’s multi-purpose uses. The soap which isn’t restricted just for the face and body can also be used for household cleaning and laundry washing, and amazingly it’s not harsh in the slightest. This soap is completely biodegradable, vegetable based and is made with certified fair trade and organic oils.

Scented with relaxing lavender which smells very natural it’s very soothing and relaxing, perfect for using in the shower to unwind in the evenings.

I’ve heard raving reviews about this soap and it’s effectiveness in cleaning make-up brushes and sponges. Brush cleaning is a chore and one where I procrastinate. However last night was the perfect opportunity to try out the soap as my beauty blender had definitely seen better days! This lathers up pretty well and surprisingly this soap works just as well as the beauty blender cleanser solid only this one will last longer and doesn’t cost half as much. A very welcomed discovery which makes brush and sponge cleaning a little more pleasant!

3.   Herbacin Wuta Kamille Hand Cream –  Travel Size 20ml. RRP £1.99

The Herbacin hand cream is a proven Canadian classic with it’s triple action formula which soothes and nourishes hard working hands with the healing powers of the camomile. The Glycerin moisturizes, repairs your skin and makes it perceptibly softer and smoother without leaving a greasy film. The cream also contains silicone which acts as an invisible glove and offers optimal defenses against daily environmental influences at work, at home or when gardening.

I use hand creams religiously during winter so receiving another one as a back-up is always welcomed. This can also be used as an intensive night-treatment by smothering your hands with the cream and wearing gloves to lock in the moisture.

4.   ModelCo Black Lengthening Mascara – Full Size. RRP £10.00

I love eye make up and along with eyeliners which are my favourite make-up staple, Mascara is also on the top of my list when it comes to daily make-up must-haves. I tend to stick to lengthening formulas rather than volume so was pleased to see a ModelCo one tucked inside the box.

The brush itself is tapered and captures each lash perfectly even the pesky small ones towards the inner corner of the eye without any clumping. The the end result is very natural yet impressive as my lashes certainly look much longer without any product build up. I’m pleasantly surprised by this mascara which is perfect for everyday wear.

5.    Nailberry Nail Polish –  Full Size 15ml. RRP £13.50

I’m a newbie to the Nailberry collection which hosts a collection of 4 free nail polishes, free of Formaldehyde, Toluene, DBP and Camphor. It is also cruelty free and boasts ultra long wear and resistant, high pigmentation, contains UV filter to prevent discoloration and yellowing and dries very quickly. They have a wide collection of beautiful colours which are unique and include brights, neutrals, darks and pastels, all of which are contained within a very chic designed bottle.

I received the shade Pink Me Up which is described as an honest pink and is perfect for a natural nail look along with its high shine payoff. The brush is ideal for the clumsiest of people and the varnish dries pretty quick too.

6.   Maddi Alexander Frivolous Bath Oil –  Travel Size 10ml. RRP £10.00

There’s nothing more relaxing then immersing into a hot running bath infused with a luxurious bath oil especially during the colder months. I only wish I had the time to indulge in such activities.

The bath oil hydrates, soothes and nourishes your skin whilst the uplifting and refreshing blend of Sicilian lemon, bergamot, sweet orange, ginger and clove focus the mind and invigorate the spirit.  The scent reminds me of mince pies due to it’s sweet spicy notes, it’s very festive and comes enclosed within a little gift box too.

I’m hoping I find some time to enjoy this bath oil as I rarely get a chance to have a nice relaxing bath.

Whilst on the subject of Maddi Alexander, Latest in Beauty also have a box which includes a selection of Maddi Alexander’s Rose range which is available here.

7.   L’Occitane Almond Milk Concentrate – Travel Size 50ml.

I’m a big fan of  L’occitane, who’s products smell absolutely divine.Their distinct potent scents can always be smelt when walking past their pretty dressed windows.

Enriched with powerful almond extracts, the Almond Milk Concentrate melts into the skin to help the skin look firmer and smoother whilst giving 48 hours of hydration.

The texture feels heavenly and luxurious and it’s the perfect consistency which glides onto the skin effortlessly with quick absorption resulting in silky, velvety, and moisturised skin.

As with all L’Occitane products this smells wonderful with subtle floral notes which is sweet and fresh. Dry skins will love this pampering treat during winter.

8.   Dr Organic Snail Gel Facial Serum –  Full Size 30ml. RRP £17.99

Snail based products are renowned for their restorative and healing properties and has hit the beauty industry like a storm with it being hailed as the latest beauty wonder product promising great skin benefits and boasts as being a miracle face fixer. Whilst some of you may frown, I can confirm snail secretion filtrate is the main ingredient, also known as snail slime and no snails were harmed in the process.

This Snail Gel serum with Olive Leaf Extract, Levan and Jujube Seed Extract is a soothing non greasy serum that penetrates deep into the epidermis, instantly hydrates for smoother, nourished and restored skin, revealing a more youthful glow.

The serum is quite light which is what I look for in facial serums due to my oily skin and I think this will work for most skin types. It’s very refreshing and simply just sinks into the skin. I’m not too sure of the scent but it soon fades after a few minutes once applied.

9.   Rose & Co Cherry Kiss Lip Balm –  Full Size 10g. RRP £5.00

This lush and lovely lip balm is sweetly scented with a rich cherry fragrance and a hint of red cherry colour. Gives lips a surge of protective moisture for soft and scented cherry lips.

The balm glides onto your lips and makes the lips feel super soft, it’s a bit sticky but tends to stay put for longer. It’s a great nourishing aid for the colder months whilst the wash of sheer red provides a subtle hint of colour.

10.  Amphora Aromatics Orange & Clove Candle – Full Size. RRP £2.70

Christmas has certainly been captured in this very festive scented candle infused with notes of uplifting orange and warming spiced cloves. I love lighting candles in the winter it makes the house feel that little bit more cosy and at the same time lifts the mood and relaxes the mind.

The candle is made from pure essential oils and 100% natural plant wax from sustainable sources and it’s one of Amphora Aromatics best sellers.

This warm luxurious fragrance really takes you back to Christmas past and the musky notes released from the cloves combined with the orange really fills the room with a warming spicy scent with a hint of citrus.

11.   Latest in Beauty Pocket Mirror – Full Size

This is the ultimate handbag essential – a pocket sized mirror to accompany you on night outs from lipstick top-ups or to check that your mascara hasn’t smudged from tipsy episodes of laughter! It’s the perfect size and would even fit into the smallest of clutch bags.

12.  Lindt Milk Chocolate Novelty Hollow Figure 10g

Last but not least is the cute iconic chocolate reindeer by Lindt which definitely is a sign that Christmas is on it’s way and finishes off the box perfectly.

My Verdict

I’m really smitten with The Naturally Beautiful box which is perfectly presented, wrapped to perfection and contains a wide selection of luxurious and lust worthy essentials,  perfect for pampering your mind and body this winter. Upon opening the box there’s also a unintentional warming welcome with the scent of the festive candle which has fragranced the whole of the box – very fitting indeed!

The box is brimmed to the top with an impressive 14 products and covers all aspects of beauty. It contains active skincare, delicious body treats, make up for the party season ahead and some indulgent treats all from well-known brands. All of the products are really good sized too with a mixture of deluxe samples and full sized products.

This box is incredible value for money and worth over £80.00. Everything’s very usable making it the ultimate beauty gift this Christmas or the perfect pampering treat. 

For anyone who is looking to detoxify their beauty regime with a more skin friendly alternative this box boasts a selection of natural and organic products, ideal for the new year.

As well as The Naturally Beautiful Box there is also The Pamper Box and The Party Prep Box. Each box comes complete with a premium finish, tissue paper, bow and a card. All of the boxes are £24.95 plus free delivery.

Latest in Beauty have an amazing offer where you can get 3 boxes for the price of 2.

http://www.latestinbeauty.com/giftshop/

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