So this is the Best Beauty Forward Box:
Box description: With hundreds of new K-beauty products hitting shelves every year, how can you tell apart the goodies that you'll be loving for a lifetime and the dudes of the century? Beauty experts at Memebox tried and tested the most-talked about skincare and body products of 2015 to curate the most perfect box, jam-packed with Memebox-tested winners that will up your gorgeous factor this year. We promise.
In my opinion Memebox went a little bit too far with this description - 'the most talked-about products of 2015', really? It would make sense in November 2015, but for the box released in January? Bitch, please.
So this are the products, that are supposed to 'up you gorgeous factor':
1. Rimbi Powerful Treatment Essence 125ml
Product description: Powerful Treatment Essence functions as a toner and essence and is enriched with 85% galactomyces ferment filtrate - a key ingredient that penetrates deep into the skin to balace skin's renewal process and boost skin's radiance. It is also formulated with nourishing vitamins, amino acids, minerals and organic acids to enhance efficacy of the complete skincare ritual.
How to use: After cleansing, use a cotton pad or your fingers to apply essence all over your face.
The essence was featured in box's spoilers and was the main reason why I bought this box. After what Missha's First Essence did to my face I'm eager to try any similar products. Because for me this is the most important product from box I translated the ingredients:
Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Glycerin, Propanediol, Niacinamide, Tamarind Seed Polysaccharide, Purified Water, Adenosine, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Phenoxyethanol, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin
There is Galactomyces (type of yeast from Saccharomycetale order, some other essences of this kind, for example Missha, despite of Galactomyces contain Saccharomyces, genus from the same order), glycerin, vitamin B3 and adenosine, but where the hell are minerals and amino acids? It's not the first time that Memebox promises something that is not there; in my previous box there was a serum that was supposed to contain Acetyl Hexapeptide and EGF, which were not on the ingredients list... although that serum seriously pissed me off, the case of missing aminoacids in this essence doesn't really bother me that much - the Galactomyces was the most important for me, so it's fine.
The essence is watery and has slippery texture, but isn't sticky. A little goes a long way, the amount show on picture is enough for the whole face. I pour it on my palm, then rub my pals together and pat gently to face. It is moisturising, however it doesn't offer feeling of such deep moisture as Missha. It's scentless.
According to Memebox this essence is worth $34, which is not true - on Avecko website you can buy two bottles for... $11.19. Checkmate Memebox, you're cheating. Unfortunately I cannot compare this price anywhere else, as this "most-talked about product of 2015" is not available anywhere else, not on e-Bay, Amazon nor Gmarket.
2. W.Lab 3P+ CO2 Pore Crown Pack Deluxe Sample (6g + 1 mask sheet)
Product description: These powerful yet gentle blackhead butterfly patches* instantly remove blackheads and unclog pores while tightening and cleansing pores. Completed with carbonated gel syringe and a butterfly shape mask sheet, this two-step system features optimal pore purifying benefits for clear, healthy looking skin.
How to use: Place the mask sheet on hard surface. Inject the contents of the syringe onto the butterfly mask sheet and spread until evenly distributed. Place the butterfly mask sheet on the centre of cleansed face, so that mask covers the nose and cheek areas. Leave on for 15 minutes, remove and rinse with lukewarm water.
*it says "masks" but in this Memebox we receive only one mask.
I haven't tried this yet, so I can't say much. The packaging looks nice and intriguing, but I'm afraid that this "two-step system" may be triumph of form over content. In general I don't like blackhead strips and patches, when I remove them I feel like I'm going to ripe my face off and they usually don't do such a good job on blackhead removing. I don't even use peel-off face masks, they are just painful. So I'm not really looking forward to trying this out. And this "carboneted gel", seriously?
According to Memebox full size product (11g gel and 6 masks) is worth $79. Damn, expensive! However I am not able to check if it's really that pricey, because product is not available anywhere in the Internet.
3. Secret Key Perfume Body Peeling Body Scrub
Product description: This gently exfoliating body scrub hydrates skin and locks in moisture in the skin while rubbery peelings form to resurface, enrich and revitalise. Without the use of harsh granules, this formula is enriched with nourishing sweet almond oil, milk proteins, shea butter and walnut powder for an irritation-free skin cleansing.
How to use: Use approximately a dime size of scrub and spread it onto your face. Massage in a circular motion. Rinse with lukewarm water.
So is it a body or face product? Scrub or peeling gel? Usually word "scrub" describes a traditional peeling product with peeling granules, however this one is a peeling gel, no granules, only cellulose. The name and the size of the tube suggest it's a body peel, however the usage instructions are about face. It turns out that this is actually 2in1 product, both for body and face.
Product is available in two types. I've got pink one, "fresh fruity" with notes of melon, plum and freesia. The smell is lovely, fruity and sweet. The other version, purple one is called "mild soap" and has notes of musk, iris and cotton.
I've tried this only on my palm, so I can't say much. It rolls up well, has lovely smell, as a face peeling the big tube would last ages. I can't really see this as a body product, as it has to be used on dry skin you would have to first rub yourself in it and the enter the shower or bath. I prefer using peeling on already cleansed skin, so it can focus on my dead skin cells not on rubbing off sweat and dust, so I would have to first take shower, then dry myself, rub peeling into skin and then shower again... Nah.
According to Memebox the tube is worth $24, which again is not true - the prices on e-bay start from $13.10.
4. SUR Nail Polish
This doesn't really require description or usage guidance. There were three randomly selected versions placed in boxes: red, lavender and gold glitter. As you can see I've got gold glitter, which I'm not happy about as I hate glittery nail polishes. According to Memebox it's worth $6.
5. Ferfree Ultra Facial Intense Hydration Cream 50ml
Product description: This comfortable moisturising cream is an oasis-in-the-desert for the skin, continuously plumping it with hydration for 24 hours. It improves the appearance of fine lines, flakiness and tightness, leaving skin looking and feeling happier and healthier all day long.
How to use: After cleansing the skin, take a dime-sized amount of cream and massage all over the face and neck. Use daily, morning and night.
Cream has a nice creamy, but relatively light texture and lovely smell. For my oily skin is perfect as a moisturising night cream, for day use is a little bit too heavy and leaves skin shiny.
According to Memebox it's worth $16. On Gmarket you can buy it for approx. $12.
6. Virgin Farms Double Care Fresh Gel (7x3g) + Double Care Ultra Cream (7x3g)
Product description: Virgin Farm's Double Care Set aggressively, yet gently and effectively targets matters that plague blemish riddled skin, such as mild acne, redness, dryness and sensitivity as it enhances skin's moisture balance and elasticity. The dual skincare set uses natural ingredients such as baobab seed and fermented galactomyces filtrate to to deliver cosmic doses of hydration, energy and nutrition to blemished skin.
How to use: On clean face apply Double Care Fresh Gel (green) to entire face. After complete absorption apply Double Care Ultra Cream (orange) to the entire face. For best results use twice daily. Continued use helps keep skin looking fresh and rested.
According to Memebox the full size 100ml version of each of these is worth $94. I'm not able to verify this information, product is not available anywhere...
7. Tony Moly Delight Tony Tint in Red Deluxe 1.5ml
Product description: One of the best selling lip tint in Korea, instantly gives vivid colour to your lips with just a single touch. It creates long-lasting, radiant lips, popular among Korean Beauty lovers.
How to use: Apply small amount of the tint from the inside to outside of your lip. Apply before lip gloss to give natural gradient lips.
Lip tint is not my thing really - after my every attempt to use it I end up looking like vampire after dinner. In addition this is really REALLY wear-proof. If you don't like that your lipstick disappears from your lips and leaves marks on glasses, lip tint is what you're looking for, it's indestructible. And indelible, so if you don't know how to use it, don't experiment just before leaving house... and make sure your lips are moisturised and smooth, applying this on cracked lips gives terrible result!
Some time ago I received exactly same sample as a free gift from e-Bay seller, so now I have two. It has gorgeous smell, but I don't think we will make friends. I will give it to my friend, who loves all lip stuff.
According to Memebox the full size product (8.3ml) is worth $4, which is true for a change. But since is so cheap why didn't they just provide full size product???
Summary
I'm happy to use my Galactomyces Essence and Ferfree cream, although I'm not sure about the rest. The Best Beauty Forward box just confirmed that 'mystery box' shopping is not for me, I prefer to choose for myself and know what I am paying for. So I'm not really bothered that they stopped international shipping - even if they would continue selling worldwide, I wouldn't buy another box for a long, long time. I don't like their misleading product descriptions (for example missing ingredients) and overstated prices. They sell low budged cosmetics as a higher end ones by putting them into pretty pink box and adding fancy descriptions. It also annoys me that majority of featured products are so hard to buy anywhere else - it's cool to get something unique from time to time, but then if I like it I can't re-purchase it.
Goodbye Memebox, I won't miss you.
Aw, I've always been reluctant to purchase Membox because of the price and not knowing if I'll like what's in the box or not. The element of surprising is exciting, but that dies down when I end up hating everything in it. Thanks for the first impression though! I like that everything was pretty much full size though. I hate when companies only give miniature samples to skincare products.
ReplyDeleteyeah, I've been the same! But I'm glad that I eventually bought these two boxes, so I won't feel that I'm missing something since they stopped international delivery... coz now I know I'm not missing anything special lol! Altough I must say I'm really pleased with this Galactomyces essence, gives my skin healthy glow :)
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