Since this is my first blog post, I thought what better way to start it than with a beauty box unboxing. Granted, I took my time to post this because I didn’t know I was going to create this blog and I wanted to share some short reviews for the Marie Claire Beauty Kit.

This beauty kit is released by the Marie Claire Romania magazine and it doesn’t have specific release dates. Sometimes it can take one, two or three month between the boxes releases. Some boxes are better, some are worse, but they usually sell out pretty quick, so you don’t have much time to think if you want it or not. The May 2018 kit was one of the best if not the best of all time in my opinion and it’s worth every penny and even more.

The beauty kit was released on May 29th, at a price of 65 lei and 12 lei for shipping. This is about 17 euros in total and it was a bargain because we got many full size products and many of them were quite expensive.

Unfortunately, I don’t have pictures with all the separate products, but I promise I will make sure to take some in the future.

Calendula and aloe soothing hydration mask from Kiehl’s 1851

This was a deluxe sample of 14 ml. I know Kiehl’s products are rather expensive and this was the first one that I tried. It’s supposed to calm, soothe, hydrate and reduce redness, being suitable for normal, oily and sensitive skin. I used it about 5-6 times but honestly I wasn’t impressed at all. I didn’t get remarkable results and it was pleasant, just like any other mask. In fact, it could have been more hydrating, because it has a delicate gel texture, but I would have liked something more. I couldn’t find the price for the sample size, but Kiehl’s Romania sells 100 ml jars for 205 lei, so a 14 ml jar would have the price of 28,7 lei or 6,3 euros.

Ivatherm thermal water

This was a full size product, a spray of 100 ml. I didn’t try any thermal waters so far because I was convinced that water is just water and I wouldn’t see any benefits. Well, I couldn’t have been more wrong. This water is supposed to be soothing and calming and invigorate the skin. I used it especially on vacation to wash my face because I’m very sensitive to certain tap waters. I really did noticed a difference on my skin, it felt softer and it looked a little glowy. The sprayer is not as fine as I would like, but it doesn’t bother me too much. The water is actually really affordable, because it’s a Romanian brand. A 100 ml spray bottle costs 26,49 lei or 5,8 euros and I think I will buy it again once I’m out of it and even try other products from their skincare line.

La Mia Perla eau de parfum from La Perla

Obviously, this was just a small sample of 1,5 ml, but since even samples are sometimes available in Romania only if you purchase them, I would say it’s worth about 3-4 lei, which is a little less than 1 euro. I always try to not like expensive perfumes, but of course I had to like La Mia Perla. It’s elegant, delicate, a little sweet but not too sweet, in other words a perfume that I like, especially since I love flowery or fruity perfumes.

Artisan Blu eau de parfum from John Varvatos

This was another small sample of 1,5 ml, but it didn’t impress me. It’s a fresh, summer fragrance for men, but I usually am very picky about the perfumes for men and this simply didn’tdo it for me. My husband also find it just nice, but nothing too special.

Biosilk Silk Therapy with organic coconut oil 3 in 1

I simply loved this product, which is supposed to be a shampoo, conditioner and body wash. We only received a sample size of 30 ml, so I used it as a shampoo. I loved how my hair felt so smooth and silky, but without being weight down or turning oily quickly like in the case of most oil-based shampoo. The coconut scent is also delicious, because it’s not sickening sweet like those synthetic fragrances. The only problem is I couldn’t find this exact product online in Romania for the life of me, so I don’t know how much it would cost. I would also like to purchase the full size of it but so far I couldn’t hunt it down.

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant

It was only a foil packet sample so I consider it a bonus item and I don’t think it’s for sale. I don’t know what the fuss is about this cream is because it’s just mostly petroleum jelly and it has an unpleasant scent. It’s very greasy, you can only use it for places like elbows, knees, chopped lips or extremely dry skin. Since I have combination skin I didn’t like it at all. It was probably the product I liked the least from this kit.

Soleombra silky after-sun fluid from L’Erbolario

It was a tube containing 75 ml. It has shea butter, argan oil and quinoa protein and it’s supposed to hydrate and sooth the skin after sun exposure. I find it hydrating enough for the body and not too greasy, so I can’t use it for the face as well without any problems. Unfortunately, I have no idea what the price is, if it’s a full size product or a sample size because L’Erbolario is mostly sold in Sensiblu pharmacies here and I don’t usually shop there.

L’Erbolario super tanning ointment

It contains natural carrot, aloe vera and green nuts extracts. The tube has also 75 ml, but it’s the only product I haven’t tested yet because I hate to tan. However, I do think it’s a useful product for a summer beauty kit.

Essence To the Moon and Back eyeshadow palette

Of course, having an entire eyeshadow palette in a beauty kit is great, but let’s not forget that Essence palettes are very cheap and the quality is not that great. Although the palette is supposed to have eyeshadows with three different finishes, I found that all of them could be categorized as sparkly or at least shimmery. Some of the pans are so small that I couldn’t use a brush or even an applicator for them. For me, it looks like kids makeup honestly. The palette is sold at the price of 21 lei or 4,6 euros.

Bruno Vassari Vitamin Eye Cream

This full size product was the most expensive in the entire kit. I was not familiar with the brand, but I do have to say that I noticed that the fine lines I have at the corner of my eyes were significantly reduces and the skin looks less tired and dull. The price tag is pretty hefty – at least for me – 101 lei or 22, 4 euros. I wish I wouldn’t have liked it so much but I don’t know if I see myself spending so much on an eye cream.

Rimmel London Ink Me temporary tattoos

They’re  fun, metallic temporary tattoos that don’t rub easily but can be removed with water. I wouldn’t use them because I don’t go to festivals and stuff but I guest teenagers would love them. A packet contains 2 foils and it costs 20 lei or 4,4 euros.

Bourjois Little Round Pot Duo Blush

Even though this is a full size product, I was shocked at how small it is. It’s so small that the the two colors which are supposed to be a bronzer and a delicate rose blush, both of them shimmery, are impossible to use without mixing them. The blush has a very nice rose fragrance, which I like because I do like the scent of Bourjois powder products. The packaging has magnetic closure which is a nice touch and a tiny brush. The rose shade is beautiful, infused with subtle golden sparkles, so I love it, but I wouldn’t have bought it myself because it’s so small. It has only 2, 5 grams and it costs around 30 lei or 6,6 euros.

Resist Smooting Primer Serum SPF 30 from Paula’s Choice

This is another product that I have fallen in love with. We received a travel size, a tube of 30 ml, but on the Paula’s Choice Romania website even this small size costs 65 lei or 14,4 euros. I herd good things about Paula’s Choice products and I loved this serum as a primer, because it leaves the skin perfectly smooth and the makeup applies so much better. It also absorbs fast and it doesn’t leave a sticky layer behind. I’m seriously considering buying at least another travel size of this serum because a little goes a long way and I can use a small tube like this for quite some time.

These were all the products in the beauty kit and I must say I was impressed with the brands and the products included, it did seem like a curated kit, not just something thrown together. Most of the brands were not familiar to me and I discovered some very interesting products. I am excited about the Bruno Vassari eye cream because I know I wouldn’t buy it on my own, I liked the after sun cream from L’Erbolario, the blush from Bourjois and the La Mia Perla perfume. I loved the Ivatherm thermal water, the Biosilk 3 in 1 Silk Therapy and the Paula’s Choice serum – all products that I want to purchase in one form or another. I was not impressed with the Kiehl’s mask but I was glad to try it out, I didn’t care for the Artisan Blu perfume and the Essence palette was nice just because it came in the kit, otherwise I wouldn’t have bought it. I have no use for the temporary tattoos and I hated the Elizabeth Arden cream so I’m glad it was only a small sample.

Now for the value. Just with that expensive Bruno Vassari eye cream, the value of the beauty kit was exceeded. In total, the products in the Marie Claire beauty kit have a value of 298,19 lei or 66,2 euros, without counting the Biosilk and L’Erbolario products for which I don’t know the price. Considering that I paid only 77 lei with shipping, I think it was a great deal and I’m so glad I was able to order it. Marie Claire Romania did a great job and I can’t wait to see the next beauty kit.