Her Fitness Box Feb 2014 (box launch)

So you all know by now I'm a Bellabox Junkie! I love a good subscription box! Lately I've been trying to eat cleaner, exercise more and be all in all a healthier human... not too excessively because I haven't that much resolve! So I subscribed the  the new Her Fitness box  by the people who make her fashion box.
The concept is you pay $39.95 per month as a subscription and you receive a curated box containing:

• 2 x Fitness accessories
• 4 x Health and Lifestyle deluxe samples
• a collectable box (at time i subscribed it said collectable tote) 
• and some exercise tips, recipes etc.  

They claim the box contents will be Over $110 of value, no contracts - cancel anytime.
I opted for a three month subscription to try it out. So I guess this blog is 1 of 3.  I was really excited about this as February 2014 is the launch of this new subscription box on the market. It is the first of its kind in Australia. 

the BOX: 

the CONTENTS: 

• Skipping rope 
• Cantik Notebook
• Emma & Toms life bar
• Green Smoothie Co. single sachet
• Jt Coconut essence 330ml (coconut water)
• Norbu sweetener sample (4 sweetener sachets)
• Coupon for Brasilfit $30 off if you spend $130
• 1 week pass 'anytime fitness
• Recipe card 
• Workout card 

More info: 

• Skipping rope

Valued at $17.95 on the HFB card, maybe not- one of the end caps fell off. I put it back on but its loose, will superglue- no drama. In a word useful. I used to love to skip as a child so I'll head to a park and give it a go. Good cardio.

• Cantik Notebook

Nice but Meh. yes its pretty, I didn't get what it has to do with fitness but its 'a food diary and to track your progress'. but its blank. They say $19.95. And that they put lots of effort into making sure the products were so great for their subscribers. Well, Kikki K do a great one cheaper at $16.95 here and its at least specifically designed for Food and exercise as well as inspiration. There's lots of similar products that actually fit the purpose this one is supposed. Also you cant clip a pen to this so its not ideal to tote to the gym.

• Emma & Toms life bar

I'm looking forward to trying this. I love on the go snacks that are yummy & healthy. Cacao & Coconut- match made in heaven. I'm going to enjoy this in the car for breaky tomorrow. Sydney traffic beep beep!

• Green Smoothie Co. single sachet
• Jt Coconut essence 330ml (coconut water)

I'm putting these together as the recipe card has a recipe that uses these together to make a smoothie. I LOVE this concept. I will 100% make the smoothie as per instructions. I am curious as to what's in the smoothie as there is no ingredients listing... are they allowed to do that on consumables? ah who cares> yum yum yum can't wait! 

• Norbu sweetener sample (4 sweetener sachets) 

Again Looking forward to road testing this product. We use sweetener instead of sugar in our household, we currently use Natvia which incidentally is from the same brand. I would like to make one comment though> 4 serve sachets does not a 'deluxe' sample make. 

Ok that's it for actual product>Next: Cards

• Coupon for Brasilfit $30 off if you spend $130

whatever... just promo crap. I refuse to spend $119 on leggings. Call me cheap. Call me tight. I am Scottish (background) after all. I am happy with my $24.95 Cotton on tights. Mine are good quality and come in nice fabric.They've really lifted their game. I won't use this, so if there's anyone out there that will, I will post it to you, just comment below xxx. I promise I wont act like I gave you a $30 gift.

• 1 week pass 'anytime fitness'

I already am a Fitness first member but I might check out anytime to see the difference and its marginally closer to my house. Note: if you too want a week trial just go here they give them out like lollipops to anyone. No promo card needed. FREE TRIAL- you are welcome xxx.

• Recipe card 
• Workout card 

Nice touch HFB! These cards are quite handy and I love the recipes. As above I LOVE that the recipes apply to products IN the box. SMART!
At first I thought explaining how to do a squat was redundant considering this boxes focus audience but I can see the value as proper form is key to getting where you want to go with exercise.

Bang for your Buck: 
In a word NO. To be honest I felt pretty miffed and ripped off with this box. As you know from my Bellabox reviews I love debunking the value myth and showing those cheapskate haters what's what. As much as I want to love it, I just can't do that here.

• Skipping rope:$17.95
• Cantik Notebook:they say $19.95 (its just a blank page hard cover notebook)
• Emma & Toms life bar $2.85 at woolies
• Green Smoothie Co. single sachet $3.00 ($15 for pack of 5)
• Jt Coconut essence 330ml (coconut water) $2.95
• Norbu sweetener sample $0.43c (4x sachets) $4.35 for 40 sachets at woollies

total:
$47.13
So I emailed HFB to see what's up! They advertise $110 worth of value!

Then I was told to include:

• Coupon for Brasilfit $30 off (umm only if you spend $130)
• 1 week pass 'anytime fitness': $25 (average $59 per month so really $15!) (but actually free on Anytime website)

What a joke. Since when was a coupon considered box content?
As I said I contacted the company and they have been nothing but pleasant, fast to respond & helpful 100%. I do not wish to discredit them. They just fail to see validity in the point that coupons should not be counted towards the total value of the box. They are claiming that the coupons represent $55 of the $110 value. Its cross promo PR crap! Those relationships usually work that company A puts an offer out to company B's clientele and or vice versa- they benefit by reaching a new market of each others clients and get sales or members as a result. That's fine, I love a little promo material/ junk mail but don't wrap it in a bow & respond to me that its 'vouchers hand picked to be relevant to the subscribers' and 'they believe it is beneficial and valuable to all of their subscribers'. Your having a lend? 

HFB maintain they are proud of the range of health living and fitness goodies. Of the stuff that's in the box, I tend to agree. I was happy with what was in the box there just wasn't enough of it! In my humble opinion it isn't in line with what they say your getting.

I wondered if I was being unreasonable. I looked to see if there was other feedback. So I watched a vid of what the bloggers were given to write about at launch vid here she got what I got (what subscribers got) PLUS:
A tote
A tanning mit
a full size bondi sands tan
a 'babe scrub'
a single serve muesli
a tooth paste mini
a mini hand cream
a hair/ body oil mini

That's just poor form. The bloggers are spruiking a box that is NOT what real paying subscribers get. Not cool. And not fair to the blogger who is telling people their getting more than they are. As bloggers we try and show both sides and perspective.

This sort of disrespect to the customer really ticks me off. As customers we are savvy and deserve to get what we pay for. Half a box value made of coupons. No deal.

Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored blog. Box was subscribed to on my own accord.  

HFB we're shocked by my negative feedback. What do you think? Seeing my box, would you subscribe? Seeing what the other blogger got, would you? Am I being unreasonable? Am I being unfair? Comment Below!!

Bellabox February 2014 Review

Definition: Bellabox is a $15 'beauty discovery' subscription box delivered monthly. It is available to Australian residents.  

February 2014:
This months theme is 'red carpet ready'. This is a playful nod to the awards season that is in full swing. I enjoy the effort Bellabox make to be on trend & make the box fun and different each month.

Packaging:
This months box comes in (same as January) a brown carton box with Bellabox on top, BB iconic dots on edges & the 'inspo' quote "be beautiful, surprise yourself". Its nice to see some consistency and seems Bellabox might finally be finding their sense of style. Only 2 years old, Bellabox has been through the transition of a young woman. She's seen the puppy fat stage (make up bags) the 13 going on 30 stage (heavy duty boxes) the 21, I'm so cool stage (teal boxes) & now is in the equivalent of mid-late twenties, knows what she wants and is chic and simple. Ah-hem and also much more appealing to a broad audience, Eco friendly and likely economical for the brand. (AND It's what's on the inside that counts). 

Inside: Yay a product card! (I didn't receive one last month). It's designed to look like a ticket and says 'red carpet ready' 'admit one'. Keeping in theme, the box this month is lined with red tissue paper. Unraveling it is like rolling out said red carpet.

What's in mine: 
1.OM SHE Aromatherapy Lipstick in Coco -colour
2.Burts Bee's Naturally Nourishing Milk & Honey Body Lotion -cult
3.Aveda Be Curly Style Prep -cult
4.Synthesis Organic Hydrate Tonic -luxe
5.OM SHE Aromatherapy Foaming Red Rice Cleanser -green
Bonus: Swisspers Naturals Nourishing Face cream

(I never noticed before...each product is categorized i.e colour, luxe, cult & green > I love that!!) 

More info?

1.OM SHE Aromatherapy Lipstick in Coco -full sized
First impression, Coco- for a second I thought I'd landed a brown lippy, to my delight it's a really nice red! Might sound weird to say but it's quite a neutral red. Its quite smooth to apply and has a glossy finish. Feels ultra moisturising and silky. It has a essential oil sort of smell but never fear, not taste. See the swatch and selfie below. (I prefer to blow up a selfie so you get a better scope of how it looks on in a more realistic perspective than close up).

2.Burts Bee's Naturally Nourishing Milk & Honey Body Lotion -25g
They say: creamy and sweet, skin softening and fast absorbing. I agree, its lightweight but nourishing. I'm undecided how I feel about the smell. The first application was on my hands and they felt smooooth afterwards. I'd say its a good all round lotion and I can see why it might have 'cult' status.

3.Aveda Be Curly Style Prep -40ml
BUMMER. let me explain. My hair is straight. The straightest of the straight. I've tried all sorts of curl boosters for when I GHD curl my hair. Nothing really makes it curlier. Heat protecting spray and a good lashing of hairspray for setting its my so far proven combo. This is for curly hair. My Bellabox profile says my hair is thick not curly which is an option on their 'profile questionnaire'. This is my one constructive criticism for Bellabox. Members have profiles but they don't seem to get used or maximised as carefully or much as they could. There were other Aveda products available this month but as predicted to a colleague after 'sneak peek' 'I bet I get the curly one'...I'm an oracle. That said I usually am pretty happy with the other selections by Bellabox so I don't want to poo poo them too much. I will use this prior to curling and give it a fair go. At the least it will hydrate and heat protect. I seem dramatic... Here's a pic of my hair: this is second day so it was washed, turbie towelled, slept on, out the door, gym bunned, taken out, slept on then out the door the next morning. Not even brushed. When I holiday, I don't even take a brush. It's that straight.

4.Synthesis Organic Hydrate Tonic -15ml
I'm in LOVE. I'm a huge fan of face mists. I've used Jurlique, Clinique, Kosmea, Evian & Australis mists in the past. My Clinique one was confiscated at the airport once because its 125ml- heart broken... ANYWAY back to this Synthesis one. Oooh, YES! & Mmmm I believe were the first impressions. Smells divine- like a rosewater and essential oils. My inner hippy rejoices. I'm really going to enjoy using this. I love how refreshing a facial mist can be. It hydrates and adds radiance. TIP: put it in the fridge on a hot day.


5.OM SHE Aromatherapy Foaming Red Rice Cleanser -30ml
More OM SHE. Inner hippy continues to rejoice at all the lovely aromatherapy products in this months box! Smells again like a one way ticket to Zen town, carbon neutral of course. The product claims to be 'fuss free purification for a clearer brighter complexion> buzz words that are heaven to me and any other combo skin girl.

Bonus: Swisspers ALOE Naturals Nourishing Face cream -5ml
I'm interested to try this, Hydrating-tick, cooling- I'm interested, minimises pores and fine lines- clincher! Although in a sachet (not my fave mode of delivery) I think this will have a good handful of applications- enough to suss it out.

Value

(for those non believers of Bellabox being a steal at $15 inc delivery)

pro rata:

1.OM SHE Aromatherapy Lipstick in Coco -$14.95
2.Burts Bee's Naturally Nourishing Milk & Honey Body Lotion -$2.93
3.Aveda Be Curly Style Prep -$15.98
4.Synthesis Organic Hydrate Tonic -$16.48
5.OM SHE Aromatherapy Foaming Red Rice Cleanser -$4.48
Bonus: Swisspers Naturals Nourishing Face cream- $1.09

Total value: $55.91

All in all a pretty great box once again! Products I know I'll love and others worth a shot!

Highlight: Synthesis mist & SHE lippy

Lowlight: Be Curly (I would if I could)



Please note: I subscribe to Bellabox on my own accord. This is NOT a sponsored blog. My opinion is my own.
To see my January Bellabox review click here

What was in your Bellabox? What was your highlight? Are you keen to join? Any Q's? Comment below!

Feel free to subscribe to my blog for other pretty liddle reviews and beauty posts! 

Essence Express Dry Drops

  

Every now and then a liddle wonder product comes along. I'm particulaly fond of this one. 

Let me prefix this by saying: I'm a clutz, I'm impatient, I do things last minute & I'm a busy body (when not slothing watching back to back episodes of Girls). So with all this in mind when I decide at 10pm /or 7 minutes before I'm going out to paint my nails, they're gonna get smudged. They always get smudged. And instead of looking put together and feeling glam, a level of trash seeps in. 

Enter Essence Nail Art Express Drops (where have you been all my life?)

How they work> 

These drops are applied after your nail polish and act as a quick drying agent. You just hold the little dropper lid and drip 1-2 drops onto each nail. 

(I usually do a base coat, 2 coats of colour & a top coat then this product)

Good to know:

The product leaves a slightly oily feel on the nail surface, I found it similar to the feel of a cuticle oil. After a few minutes, you can wash it off if its not your cup of tea. 

 

These drops retail at a bargain $3.50 from Priceline and make an awesome purchase for someone who suffers from smudged nails due to routine impatience or for those occasions when you need to get out the door fast.

These drops drastically reduce wetness and tackiness and will prevent most minor smudges.

If I so happen to paint at night, I don't find I get those horrid sheet impressions when using these drops (anyone else who has a propensity to paint nails at night, you feel me?). 

That said nothing replaces a good half hour setting time though so big dents may still happen you smash about the place. 

FYI: There's a few others brands doing similar versions such as Sally Hansen & OPI but for the same price as a small coffee, I'm pretty pleased with this Essence one. 

The verdict: 

It's love! 

Note: I purchased this product with my own funds & have no affiliation with the brand. My opinion is my own.