PRODUCT REVIEW: WANTABLE BEAUTY BOX - FEBRUARY 2014

I am not sure what has happened, - well I do actually - February was an insanely busy month for me, moving house twice, and when we finally got settled, we didn't have an internet connection for over a month - and this all meant that my blogging got a little out of whack. But I honestly thought that I'd posted this already, but a look through some of my many drafts that I always have at hand for a rainy day when my days with a little baby just doesn't allow me to blog, revealed that I had in fact not published this one. UPS.

So here you go, very late, but as they say, better late than never, hey – so here are my thoughts on the *Wantable February 2014 box;

 

What They Say:

"We create unique customer profiles by asking customers a series of product and personality questions. We then use this data to introduce customers to assortments of products perfectly suited to their personal taste. You get 4 to 5 full-size premium makeup products, hand-picked to perfectly match your preferences, valued at over US$80"

RRP: US$36 per box if you subscribe, or US$40 for a one-time purchase – Available from Wantable

 

What I Say:

If you are new to the Wantable beauty box, check out my previous reviews of the October box  and the November box.  

The Wantable box is based on the US, and they have three monthly box options available including  a makeup box, an accessory box and an intimates box, as well as they also from time to time have limited edition boxes. The Wantable boxes are a little more expensive than other beauty subscription boxes available in Australia, but it also claims to have products included at a higher total value.

As per previous boxes that I’ve received, service from Wantable is impressive, as you throughout the ordering and shipping process get emails so you know when to expect your box.

Another thing that is rally impressive about the Wantable boxes is the extensive customisation process where you for each box you order, you go through the extensive customisation process, where you in the various categories select what you LOVE, LIKE and DISLIKE, and consequently Wantable promises to that you don’t end up with products you ‘DISLIKE’, but rather a box full of products you either ‘LIKE’ or ‘LOVE’.

Anyway, here’s what was in the February Beauty Box:

Color Club Nail Polish in Pret-A-Pink – Full Size, 15ml – RRP: US$8.00

 

 

This brand is new to me, so I really don’t know what to expect, but the barely pink shade is so lovely, and it is perfect for French manicure, which I always love to wear, so this one won’t go to waste. Having said that, the colour is similar to several others in my collection (proves that I do love that colour), but there is really nothing exciting about it, so deep down, I would have preferred a different colour.

Glam Natural Cream Blush in Ashley Ashley – Full Size, 15ml - RRP: US$32

 

 

Another brand that is new to me! And I love cream blushes, and this pink shade is just so gorgeous. And speak of the packaging. It comes in a beige and black box, which is nothing too exciting, but inside you find a velvet pouch which houses the beautiful gold pump bottle. Just divine!

 

29 Cosmetics Dew Lip Gloss in Sparkling Champagne – Full Size, 5ml - RRP: US$24

 

 

Yet another new brand!! This is not just a lipgloss. It also promises to ease the signs of ageing containing antioxidants and grape seed extracts to nourish and protect the lips. In the tube, the lipgloss colour is a gold colour with shimmery particles, but once on the lips, it doesn’t leave much colour – only the shine and shimmer. And lots of it. Sadly probably a little too much for my personal liking, but I will see if I can somehow tone it down a little, so I will get some use from it.

Michael Marcus Prime Foundation Brush - Full Size – RRP: US$20

 

 

I was introduced to the Michael Marcus brand in one of the previous Wantable boxes and as I have so far liked the products that I’ve received, I am certainly not complaining about the inclusion of the makeup brush in this box. It is a full sized foundation brush made from superfine taklon. It is a little smaller than my other foundation brushes, so it will be very interesting to see how it compares.

Sorme Under Foundation Makeup Enhancer – Sample Size, 2ml

 

 

And yet another new brand! This is a foundation primer which not only promises to even out the skintone, but also fill in lines and wrinkles. It also contains a blotting ingredient that holds up to 10 times its weight in oils, so it promises to keep your skin shine free for longer. Sounds pretty good to me, and absolutely perfect for use during summer on my combination skin, so I cannot wait to try it out.

So there you have it, those were the items in my February Wantable box. All up I am quite happy about the contents in this months box – although only one item, the Glam Natural Blush managed to wow me. The lipgloss is the least of my favourites, but that is only due to the amount of glitter in it, and the nail polish and the foundation brush are both great good quality ‘staple’ items that certainly won’t go astray, although I would again have preferred something a little more exciting. However, having said that, it is still important to note that NONE of these items are on my my DISLIKE list, as I have listed that I LOVE lip colour, nail polish and blush, and that I LIKE tools, so really I cannot complain. And in the end of the day, the box contains 4 full-sized makeup products and one sachet sample – all with a combined value of US$84 for just the US $40 that a once off box cost, which makes this extremely good value! Still pretty good if you ask me.

So as I said after my last Wantable Box review, I am getting more and more tempted to sign to a monthly box, as this is such a fantastic way of getting introduced to some international brands that you would otherwise never have heard off, let alone had access to.

What about you?? Tempted to sign up?

If you do sign up, feel free to use my link, which will earn me a couple of points/dollars towards future boxes. 

*This product was kindly provided for consideration, and it has been reviewed in accordance with my Disclosure Policy.

What do you think of this beauty box from Wantable? Tempted to sign up? Have you tried any of these products or brands before? Or maybe you are subscribed to other beauty boxes? And as always, if you’d like reviews of any of the products, do let me know in the comments below.

 

Product Review: Wantable October Makeup Box

Beauty Boxes are all the rave around the world, with countless of different versions available in each country. But similar to most of them, is that they are only available in the country of their origin. Of course there are some that ship around the world, including to Australia. Here are my thoughts on the *Wantable October Makeup Box;

What They Say:

"We create unique customer profiles by asking customers a series of product and personality questions. We then use this data to introduce customers to assortments of products perfectly suited to their personal taste. You get 4 to 5 full-size premium makeup products, hand-picked to perfectly match your preferences, valued at over US$80."

RRP: US$36 per box if you subscribe, or US$40 for a one-time purchase – Available from Wantable

What I Say:

The Wantable box is based on the US, and they have three monthly box options available including  a makeup box, an accessory box and an intimates box, as well as they also have limited edition boxes available such as the current Halloween Box.

Compared to the Australian beauty subscription boxes that I have tried, and am aware off, the Wantable box is more expensive, but it also claims to have products included at a higher total value.

And in spite of the box coming from the US, the service has been very impressive. I instantly cot a confirmation that my box had been ordered, and then I got another one shortly after that it had been shipped. They say that shipping to Australia takes 10-14 days, and I ordered mine on September 27^th, on the 2^nd October I got an email saying it had been left Wantable for the Export company, on the 4^th October I got an email saying that the Exporter had now shipped my box, which then arrived safely in Australia on the 14^th October. While this is a lengthy process, I really don’t mind and especially not seeing the communication throughout the process has been so great.  

Compared to any other box subscription that I am aware off, the customisation process for the Wantable boxes is pretty extensive as you start out by filling out a lengthy questionnaire about what types of make up you love, like, dislike, including colours, formulas etc., including the below categories;

 

My category preferences across the various groups

 

 

Preferred lip products

 

Preferred lip tones and textures

Preferred eye shadows



Preferred blush type and tone

Again, this questionnaire is a bit long and probably takes around 10 minutes to fill in, but it is easy to do, and as it helps customise the products you get in your box, it is a worthwhile process – and isn’t it just frustrating to continuously get beauty subscription box full of items in colours you’d never wear of doesn’t suit your skin tone – with this questionnaire there should be none of that, and all the products you receive should be products you’d love to use.

My preferences..

When I received the Wantable box, I was surprised at first – all other beauty boxes that I’ve received have come in pretty boxes that you can re-use for store other items (but seriously how many of those do you need!!), but the Wantable box simply came in small white postage box lined with egg-carton shaped foam to protect the items.

 

Also I did not find any pretty printed cards about what the items were in the box, but rather a printed photocopy – but again I really don’t mind, and as your box should be unique according to your profile preferences it would also be impossible to include postcard style cards with product descriptions. The printed copy also shows a brief description of the products I LOVE, and the products I LIKE, and states that you will be 'most likely to receive products you LOVE, and will never receive products you DISLIKE' – how brilliant! – and again, this box is a little more expensive, but there is no more wasting money on items you’d never use anyway!

The printed copy then contains a brief description of the items , and these are the items that I received in my box:

Lise Watier Ombre Souffle Supreme Eye Shadow - Sample

 

Lise Watier is a Canadian brand, that I’ve never heard of before, but it looks great. I contains two iridescent shades, a pinky-peach and a green tinged brown sample, in quite generous sizes, and as these are the colours that I always use, I look forward to trying them out.

Lise Watier Feline Mascara HD – Full Size – RRP: US$23

This ultra black mascara promises to condition and care for the lashes while giving thickening them with a dramatic intensity. Sounds pretty good to me!

Glossware Lip Candy Lipgloss in colour 121 Lip Candy – Full Size – RRP: US$19

 

This lipgloss is enriched with vitamin E, and to give extreme shine while staying put. It has a lovely subtle pink shimmery shade, and it has a gorgeous sweet vanilla scent. Glossware is another Canadian brand, and again a brand that I’ve never heard about, but again I am excited to be trying this.

Kikkerland Emery Boards Scull – Full Size – RRP$1.50

Yet another brand that is new to me – but how adorable is this!! I always carry an emery board around in my handbag, but when I need it, I can never find it – this is sure to stand out in the bottom of my handbag.

Michael Marcus Nail Polish in Once You Go Matte – Full Size – RRP: US$15

This is an American brand that I have seen mentioned on quite a few different blogs, and I’ve always been fascinated with the look and sound of the products, but never actually tried any, so I am excited about this nail polish – just the look of the special geometrically shaped bottle, which is enough to win me over. The colour is black, and as the name suggest, I assume that this dries to a matte finish. I can’t wait to play with this one!

 

Besame Cosmetics Brightening Violet Powder – Full Size – RRP: US$22

 

Another American brand that is new to me, and this one looks so cute in the lavender coloured box with violets on top. Inside you find a cute pale yellow jar with a red screw lid – so cute and retro looking. The translucent powder has a slight violet colour which is to help brighten up the skin and help with dark circles under the eyes. Just what I need – excited again!!

So there you have it, those were the items in my Wantable box. Overall I really feel that this is a fantastic beauty box, and I really love that I’ve received nothing but products that I really do like and will use – unlike many other beauty boxes which contain the same standard items, including facial wipes, shampoo sachets, foundations not matched to your skin tone, and makeup in colours you would never dream of wearing. The items have a combined value of US$80.50, so $40 for a once off box makes this pretty good value – and especially seeing I really do love all the items and can’t wait to try them.

Now who isn’t tempted to sign up….?!? I know that I am!

If you do sign up, feel free to use my link, which will earn me a couple of points/dollars towards future boxes. 

*This product was kindly provided for consideration, and it has been reviewed in accordance with my Disclosure Policy.

 

What do you think of this beauty box from Wantable? Tempted to sign up? Have you tried any of these products or brands before?