Box vs bag – monthly beauty delivery

I’m a sucker for gifts in boxes. I don’t know why, but there is sth much more exciting about opening a box than peeping into a bag or ripping the wrapping paper. 

It was just a matter of time before I ordered my first beauty box. In India, the whole concept is rather new and only now is getting really popular. I tried few of them, but at the moment I’m subscribing to two: Fab Bag and Envy Box. While the latter is completely new to me, I’ve been ordering the Fab Bag – previously known as Velvette Box – for more than a year. 

So here it is: a little compare and contrast. Box vs Bag – as I see it.

Envy Box is a quite close imitation of Glossy Box, attempting to provide luxurious sampling experience. Their website is well designed, easy to navigate at nice to look at with all the cute, girly illustration. What I really do love is the box itself. It already made its way to my desk as a pretty storage solution.

As for the samples they are perfectly adequate: good selection of five skin and hair care products, fragrances etc. But, fair warning, they really do come in sample sizes – the kind of samples you can get with your purchase in any nicer cosmetic store. Considering the price (850 Rs. per month and 10% off on full size products), I would say that value for money isn’t their strongest side. 

Boxes are delivered in a timely manner, however there was a little blip with one of the cosmetics I ordered. Allegedly it was not available in the whole India at the moment of my purchase. I’ve been offered a few choices like refund, late delivery, points to redeem in the store… I decided to wait, but it’s been more than a month now, and all I heard was that the product hasn’t cleared customs yet.

All things considered, I don’t think I will be placing another order, unless I get sth really amazing next month. I will miss those boxes though…

As I mentioned, I’ve been ordering Fab Bag for more than a year. At first, it was delivered in nice, black box, but at the moment it is, as the name indicates, small cosmetic bag. It comes in different print every month, and though they are undeniably cute, I really have no idea how many more bags I can find a use for. Their website is perfectly nice, plus I do like the fact that they offer bags for men as well.

The whole experience is definitely less “posh” than the Envy Box, as they carry products from less prestigious brands. The offer specifies three samples per month, but nice little bonuses – additional samples, cookies, jewelry – can be found every month. The samples come in perfect travel size. I can actually pack all the necessary cosmetics into one of those small bags. While the skin/ hair care and bath products come in bottles good for several uses, color cosmetics are closer to full size. Honestly, with all the eye shadow palettes, lip-glosses and mascaras they send, I don’t remember the last time I went makeup shopping. Value for money gets my thumbs up (599 Rs. Per month and 20% off on full size products) together with the choice of products.

To sum it up, if you want to pick up some high end cosmetic, Envy box is a good idea. You can try the samples and decide what works for you, before spending big bucks. If, however, you are looking for some cool, everyday products delivered to your doorstep and worth their price – then Fab Bag is a great pick.

Box or bag; it’s like getting a surprise gift every month. And who wouldn’t like that!

Feb Envy Box

 

Forest Essentials Sugar Rose Petal Lip Balm

Rene Furterer Carthame Moisturizing Milk Shampoo

Thalgo Collagen Cream

Eminence Organics Chocolate Mousse Hydrating Masque

Givenchy Gentlemen Only 

Givenchy Dahlia Noir L'eau 

March Envy Box

 

Innisfree Super Volcanic Pore Clay Mask

Narciso Rodriguez For Her EDT

 Eminence Organics Sour Cherry Whip Moisturizer

Eau Thermale Avene Very High Protection Emulsion SPF50+

Rene Furterer Okara Protect Color Radiance Enchancing Shampoo

Pipa Bella Jewelry

Feb Fab Bag:

Just Herbs Age Defying Kit

Tommy G Dual Lipstick

Cetaphil Cleansing & Moisturizing Lotion Kit

Cookie Man Fresh Baked Australian Cookies

Vivel Cell Renew Fortify + Repair Kit

March Fab Bag

Flormar Loose Powder

Thalgo Collagen Concentrate

Portico Spa Verbena Renewing Body Lotion

Pearl Drop Earrings

plant killer and P.S. diet muffins

You know how some people can grow absolutely anything anywhere and it is said they have green fingers? Their houses are like well-organized jungles and every plant is somehow greener, bushier and full of flowers.

Well… I’m not one of them. I was never able to grow anything but African violets and, unfortunately, it seems like I’m suffering from strong case of deadly fingers. Despite that fact I started thinking of some nice flowery arrangement on the balcony. I mean, wouldn’t it be nice to read and sunbathe among lovely greenery? I even got two hanging plants, but it got so damn hot, I didn’t have a heart to put them out. I figured, let’s just start with few window pots and see how it goes…

 It didn’t… I managed to kill one plant within a week, Cat took it upon himself to play with two others, up to the point when he dragged them out of their pots and murdered like a pro. The sweet lime tree started drying soon after, till I figured it wasn’t some much a window plant, as huge ants colony with few dry branches on top. The only survivor was chili, but I can see that, sadly, its days are numbered too. We took another trip to nurseries few days back, and I would say “so far so good” if I wasn’t too scared to jinx it. 

It’s quite funny that the only plant which doesn’t seem to have any trouble coping with its killer owner is avocado, I grew from the seed. Maybe that’s the key to the success, let them adapt to harsh environment early on?
Anyway, latest experience didn’t do much to make me, window gardener, feel any better. I decided to give it one more go and if it comes to yet another plant funeral, so be it. I will stick to what I know, hoping that Anant develops keen gardening hand one day.

P.S.

For no apparent reason I forgot to post this so I’m adding a little sugar to my dead plants: super tasty diet muffins. And yes, I said no to muffins some time ago, but they are a treat in these hard dieting days…

Recipe for around a dozen muffins

Dry ingredients:

1 cup oats

1 cup whole-wheat flour

¼ cup brown sugar

1 tbsp baking powder

¼ cup almond flour, coconut or any other nut powder

Wet ingredients:

¾ cup greek yoghurt

¼ cup coconut milk

2 spoons oil

2 eggs

Mix dry ingredients and wet ingredients separately then mix quickly and bake for 20 min in 180 degrees.

vicious circle

I’ve noticed that the longer the break from posting, the more difficult it is to get back to it. Especially after some busy days – and it was quite a week! I start writing and after a while I think… I can’t possibly post sth that long! 

So I put it off, more things happen and the vicious circle opens its ugly mouth to swallow me whole. I don’t much care for being swallowed so here it is: the account of my recent business.

First came the carnival and with it the first Goan disappointment. The main event was, of course, parade with platforms, dress ups and loud music. Turns out, it was more of a presentation of local businesses and social causes. It was amusing at time, I can’t deny that, but for much different reasons than any other carnival parade. There came a sound generator provider, pulling on their platform a huge… generator, after that came some other machinery I wouldn’t know… then “stop women abuse” campaign, with procession of sad kids carrying misspelled signs. And so it went… 

Only few people were actually dressed up and even fewer showed some carnival spirit. Mostly, they just looked out of place.  Along the procession some spirited (and much inebriated) kids were throwing colors and water – like during Holi. Afterwards there were some concerts and food stalls which I can’t complain about – they were all well planned and executed.

We made few much needed trips to the sea side and flea market, taking advantage of the last days before the heat hits.

Soon after, came a speedy Bombay trip, and by speedy I mean 3 days total, including two 10hours train rides. During that time we managed to attend a wedding, do some shopping and catch one of Fashion Week’s shows. 

 
For me, Indian weddings are a little bit like going to a fancy dress party, since I still can’t put on a saree and simply feel dressed – not dressed up. Plus there is all these “princess” jewelry and heavy makeup that makes me wonder if I’m a movie star, or 5 year old heading to a ball.

Fashion show wasn’t much different; it’s hard to say what was more interesting: the runway or the audience?! We had just enough time to see Tarun Tahiliani’s late show before catching early train the next morning. I have to say – he didn’t disappoint, though from people’s reaction I guessed that my taste didn’t follow the general public.

I fell in love with his dramatic, graphic contrasts and monochromatic drapes, while others showed more appreciation for bedazzled bridal gowns. 

The shopping part of the trip was, sadly, so rational (yes, reasonably priced basics, I’m talking about you!) that it isn’t even worth mentioning.

After coming back home and cuddling Cat to near death, we realized it is probably last chance to make a weekend trip to our favorite beach. Somewhere, over past few years, it got popular and, sadly, crowded. While I don’t mind caching occasional lunch or dinner in such happening places, for relaxing weekend I always pick more secluded location. Despite the crowd, it was lovely to wake up to the sound of crashing waves and read endlessly in the shade of beach umbrella. We may have to find some new place for the next season though…

spontaneous stamping

After I finally started working on my wedding scrapbooks, it became painfully obvious that, despite all my shopping, I still have great need for more materials. There aren’t many crafts shops in India, most of them  only online, and their offer is well… iffy. They don’t have the best selection to begin with, and one third of products are out of stock. Plus there is waiting for delivery which can take ages… Not that I don’t enjoy getting this big, cardboard box filled with paper treasures! 

Anyway, I’ve been searching for few stamps all over the place. Sure, they have it in Europe or US, but guess what – they don’t deliver to India. I also wanted to experiment with stamp making, but again, getting materials is a pain. Last night I reached my limit and decided to take the matter in my own hands – so to speak. I grabbed paper knife and potato (yes, that’s right, its back to primary school for me!) and got to work. I ended up with 2 stamps I’m extremely happy with: one made with potato/hot glue, second with old school rubber.

 

Now, the rubber one was quite obvious: trace the pattern, cut it out and enjoy the effect.

 

 The potato one was kind of an experiment.  Again – I traced the pattern and cut it out.
Then, I covered it with thick layer of hot glue. (After it cools down, it peels right of) This way I got the reverse form. I brushed it with some oil and filled with hot glue again, waited for it to dry and peeled it off.
It needed a bit of sanding to get the proper image, but after few minutes I had my “&” stamp ready. 

It doesn’t give completely smooth print; there is this kind of vintage quality to it. I think it is the matter of filling the form with glue. You have to make sure it really gets into all the cracks. I actually like it a little rough, so didn’t make another copy. Now I just have to figure out what to mount it on…