Hello everyone!
Can you believe I’m finally back? ๐ Yes, I’m finally done with my finals and, please, don’t ask me how it went ๐ I’m not happy, but what’s done is done. What’s important is that now I can finally write a bit more, and I can relax, but just for a while. I’m not completely done just yet.
Anyways, today I have a very exciting post, at least for me. I remember about a year and a half ago, when all these beauty boxes became popular, I was more excited than some YouTubers to see what’s going to be inside. Something about those boxes was always fascinating to me. I remember thinking I could do one myself, since we didn’t have one in Croatia. Guess what? We have 4 now. Just a year and a half later. Maybe even less than that.
Since I really enjoyed those boxes then, and I still enjoy them now, I thought it would be interesting to some of you, too, to see what’s “popular” here, in Croatia ๐
If I’m not mistaken, Tester.hr was the first one that came out. The box is right around $15, it comes with at least five products in sample, travel or full size and the products are supposed to be picked according to your needs, which you state in a survey before buying the box. If you buy a six-months subscription, you get 5+1 free, and if you get a yearly subscription, you get 10+2 boxes free.
This month’s box was a collaboration with Love Elfs, which is a pretty well-known Croation fashion brand, and everyone was absolutely hyped, because they thought we would get some of their products (they make perfumes, too). Well, that didn’t happen. The box is super cute, but it’s very evident that 2 males picked out products in this box. See for yourself!
The first two things in this box are Fa products, both in full size.
The first is Fa Coconut Milk & Coconut Water shower gel. I mean, you could always use a shower gel, right? But I’m not really a fan of coconuts and Fa? Really? It’s honestly something we can buy for less than $2.5 in a grocery store for a 250ml bottle.
Same goes for the deodorant, which is a Dry Protect Cotton Mist & Linen Touch roll-on deodorant. I’m less mad at it than at the shower gel, but roll-on deodorants are stepping out of my comfort zone, for sure. I will use it, though, because I am STILL in search of my favourite deodorant. It retails for $3 for 50 ml.
Next are two travel sizes by Nivea. Again, a brand you see everywhere, nothing exciting, nothing special.
First is the Nivea Volume Care hair spray. Now, let me just say this. Every box was the same. Instead of one thing in here, you could have gotten a makeup sponge. Clearly, not everyone said they needed volume products for their hair. Why even fool us with a survey if you’re going to send everyone the same stuff over and over again. I don’t use hair spray, but since this is a volumizing one, I might try it, since I actually do need volume in my hair. Full size is 250 ml and it retails for $4.2, and we got 50 ml. Do the math ๐
Next is the Nivea Volume Care shampoo. Now this I’m anxious about. I’ve found my holy grail shampoo and conditioner, and I’m not too keen on switching it. I may take it with me the next time I travel somewhere for just a few days, though. 250 ml bottle retails for 3.30 and we got 50 ml, again.
Next are two products by brands I’ve actually never heard about (I think boxes in Croatia should definitely do that more).
The first is Egiptian Magic all purpose skin cream, with some pretty cool ingredients like olive oil, beeswax, honey, propolis, etc. The fact that it’s an all purpose skin cream screams male to me, sorry if I offended someone by saying this ๐ Full size is 115 ml and it retails for $43.50. Well, that’s a lot. I haven’t tried it yet, but I’m sure you’ll see it in my empties with a mini review soon ๐ We got a 3ml sample, so I’m not even going to include it in the final sum ๐
The next thing is the Himalaya Herbals nourishing skin cream. Again, a moisturizer for both face and body ๐ Males. I am not going to use it on my face, but I did try it on my legs and I enjoy it quite a lot, actually ๐ This is a full size, it’s 150 ml and it retails for around $3.50.
The last two products I am actually excited for.
The first thing is the L’Oreal Mega Volume Miss Hippie mascara. To be honest, I didn’t even know about it until I got it in this box, but I love their Miss Manga mascara (review here), so I’m definitely excited to try this one. I will definitely do a review as soon as I get round to it. I still have to review the first mascara I got for my birthday (birthday haul here). However, my mascaras are really starting to pile up, so I didn’t really need it, but you know how I am with my mascaras. I can’t say no. ๐ This is a full size and it retails for $10.50.
The last thing in the box is my favourite of all. It is the Moroccanoil hair treatment. I’ve heard a lot about this brand and the treatment, so I’m really excited to see what it does to my hair. The full size is 100 ml and it retails for $45, and we got a 10 ml sample size.
Final Thoughts
To be completely honest, I really did expect a lot more from this beauty box. If I include all the travel and sample sizes (except for the Egiptian magic cream), the value of the box is just a bit over $20. If I went to the store, I’d spend these $15 I spent on the box way better. I’ve been following Tester.hr ever since their first box (which was a huge disappointment for everyone) and they’ve really gotten a long way. They even had some higher end products in their previous boxes. I’m very sorry that I got this one and I’m not sure I will order again. Maybe I change my mind, though ๐ Do you see what I meant about it being obviously picked by guys? Some all-purpose creams, something for hair, some makeup and that’s it ๐
I might try some other beauty boxes now. We’ll see. I will try and update you on most of these products ๐
What is your favourite thing from this box? What is your favourite subscription box? Do you have subscription boxes where you’re from?
Thank you for reading!
See you soon xx