Review: The Love Lula December Beauty Box

Here's a look at the December Love Lula Beauty Box.*

MADARA HYDRA MASK

This gorgeous pink cream feels so nice smoothed over the face. It's vegan and ECOCERT and smells divine. After 15-20 minutes, my face felt so soft and hydrated. You only need a little bit too, so the tube will last ages. This is a definite keeper for twice a week pampering.

Ingredients: Aqua Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil Alcohol Rosa Damascena (Rosa) Flower Water Cetearyl Alcohol Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Dicaprylyl Carbonate Arachidyl Alcohol Behenyl Alcohol Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) Fruit Butter Hippophae Rhamnoides (Sea-buckthorn) Fruit Extract Sodium PCA Glycerin Stearic Acid Palmitic acid Aroma Arachidyl Glucoside Betaine Linum Usitatissimum (Flax/Linseed) Seed Extract Urtica Dioica (Nettle) Leaf Extract Paeonia Lactiflora (Peonia) Root Extract Coco Glucoside Xanthan Gum Sodium Hyaluronate Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid Hydrolysed Glycosaminoglycans Ascorbyl Palmitate (Vitamin C) Tocopherol Xylitol Iron oxide CI77492 Citronellol Geraniol Benzyl Salicylate Eugenol

PHB ETHICAL BEAUTY LIQUID EYELINER

A few years ago, I used a liquid eyeliner exclusively every day and man, was I good at the cat-eye flick. I used the Body Shop or Urban Decay and then I switched to a pencil, probably something to do with having a child and having less time for the unforgiving nature of a liquid if you make a mistake. So I was really pleased to see this in the box as a) my current eyeliner of choice is PHB pencil in black and b) I'd love to get back into using a liquid eyeliner and c) I love PHB!
My first experiment with this was spot-on. It's jet black and applies evenly with a tiny brush just right for the job. It also lasted all day with no fading and I'd say it's definitely as good as my previous favourite liquid liners, so another winner from PHB and one I'm converted to. The question is, if a natural liquid eyeliner with such minimal ingredients can be this good, why exactly are other liners full of chemicals?

Ingredients: Aqua, *Hydrolyzed Zee Mays (Organic Corn Starch), Sorbitan Olivate, Iron oxides (CI 77499 CI77491), Mica, Leuconostoc /Radish Root Ferment Filtrate.

PHB LIP CRAYON IN PEACH

I don't often use a lip liner but then I noticed that this is actually a lip crayon, not just a liner. It's a really soft pencil that outlined my lips really well, despite them being dry. It looked good with a nude lipstick. I also tried it as a lip crayon and was impressed with the colour and how smoothly it went on.

Ingredients: Octydodecyl Srearoyl Stearate,C10-18 Triglycerides, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) oil, Copernicia Cerifera Cera, Olus Oil, Candelilla Cera, Mica, Sesamum Indicum Oil, Polyglycceryl-3 Diisostearate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sorbic Acid, C.I. 77891, C.I. 77491

URBAN VEDA SACHETS - FACIAL OIL, NIGHT CREAM AND DAY CREAM

I decided to give the night and day creams a miss as I wasn't sure some of the ingredients would agree with my skin. However, the facial oil was an incredibly pure blend that I was happy to try. 

Oil in a sachet is pretty tricky. I ended up with it all over the place and squeezing out far more than I needed. It smelled good and absorbed well and I enjoyed using it. I'd use it again, but in general Urban Veda's use of nasties disappoint me and I don't think Love Lula should stock them.

Ingredients: Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil*, Squalane (Olive), Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Pogostemon Cabin (Patchouli) Leaf Oil, Carica Papaya (Papaya) Seed Oil, Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Oil*, Lycium Barbarum (Goji Berry) Seed Oil*, Passiflora Incarnata (Passion) Seed Oil, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Rubus Idaeus (Raspberry) Seed Oil, Vaccinium Corymbosum (Blueberry) Seed Oil, Cedrus Atlantica (Cedar Wood) Bark Oil, Coriandrum Sativum (Coriander) Leaf, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licquorice) Root Extract, Tagetes Minuta (Marigold) Flower Oil, Limonene**, Linalool**. *Certified organic ingredients **Naturally occurs in essential oils

Ingredients: Aqua (Water) Isopropyl Myristate Glycerin Alcohol Denat. Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil Glyceryl Stearate Cetearyl Alcohol PEG-100 Stearate Rosa Damascena (Rose Damask) Flower Oil Rosa Damascena (Rose Damask) Flower Water Rosa Canina (Rosehip) Fruit Oil Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Juice Extract* Pelargonium Graveolens (Rose Geranium) Oil Terminalia (Arjuna) Bark Extract Eugenia Caryophyllus (Clove) Flower Oil Borago Officinalis (Borage) Seed Extract Jasminum Officinale (Jasmine) Flower Extract Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Seed Extract Parfum Phenoxyethanol Sodium Polyacrylate Xanthan Gum Ethylhexylglycerin 2-Bromo-2-Nitropropane-1,3-Diol Potassium Sorbate Sodium Benzoate Citral Citronellol Eugenol Geraniol Limonene Linalool, *Organic

Ingredients: Aqua (Water), Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., Isopropyl Myristate, Glyceryl Stearate, Caprylic/Capric Trigylceride (derived from Coconut oil), Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, PEG-100 Stearate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate (Liquorice root extract), Carica Papaya (Papaya) Fruit Extract, Lycium Chinense (Goji berry) Fruit Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Terminalia Arjuna (Arjuna) Bark Extract, Pogostemon Cablin (Patchouli) Oil, Coriandrum Sativum (Coriander) Leaf Oil, Cedrus Atlantica (Atlas Cedar) Bark Oil, Tagetes Minuta (Marigold) Flower Oil, Xanthan Gum, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Tetrapeptide-30 (Amino acids), Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, 2-Bromo-2-Nitropropane-1,3-Diol, Citral, Citronellol, Coumarin, Geraniol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Butylphenyl methylpropional, Limonene, Linalool, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-cyclohexene carboxaldehyde, Alpha-isomethyl ionone

MOSSA MIRACLE PEEL MASK

Mossa are new to me, but I've perused them on other sites before and they've interested me. Now Love Lula are stocking them and there is a good range with nice, bright packaging. They are owned by Madara (but more purse friendly, I couldn't help noticing) and their products are based on Nordic berries. 
I'll admit I'm a bit behind the door when it comes to facial masks. I use them, but they tend to be mild hydrating products (like the Madara above) rather than peeling masks with AHA which I tend to regard as a bit hardcore (rightly or wrongly). The instructions on the LL site mention that this mask can leave the skin red and irritated, which worries me a little. This is the only product from the box I haven't got around to trying, so when I do I'll add it to an empties review.

Ingredients: Aqua, Lactic Acid, Glycerin, Galactoarabinan, Rosa Damascena (Rosa) Flower Water*, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Glucomannan, Potassium Hydroxide, Ethyl Lauroyl Arginate HCl, Aroma, Sambucus Nigra (Elder) Fruit Extract*, Cellulose Gum, Xanthan Gum, Vanilla Planifolia (Vanilla) Bean Oil*, CI77019 (Mica)***, CI77891 (Titanium Dioxide)***, Linalool**, Limonene** * Ingredients from Organic Farming ** Natural essential oils *** Pure mineral pigments 99% of the total ingredients are from natural origin 5% of the total ingredients are from Organic Farming Natural Cosmetic certified by ECOCERT Greenlife according to ECOCERT Standard.

DR. HAUSCHKA HYDRATING CREAM MASK

This was another promising mask sample and I haven't used Dr. Hauschka before. This contains lanolin, which I try to avoid. Although I use products with honey and beeswax, I don't like to use those with lanolin because I'm highly suspicious of how it's obtained and how the sheep are treated (I'll admit I don't know much about the issue). I used this in order to provide a review, but I probably wouldn't use it again, unless it was reformulated. This is a thick white cream which feels really nourishing going on. It smells quite strong, with a fruity undercurrent. When it came off after twenty minutes, my skin was satiny and hydrated. A very good mask.

Ingredients: Water/Aqua, Pyrus Cydonia Seed Extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Glycerin, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Lanolin, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Beeswax/Cera Flava, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Lecithin, Sucrose Distearate, Rosa Damascena Flower Wax, Fragrance/Parfum, Citral*, Geraniol*, Citronellol*, Linalool*, Limonene*, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Propolis Wax. *component of natural essential oils

In summary, a good choice of products for the cold winter months and it was nice to see two make-up items too, particularly from PHB as I have a soft spot for them. My item of the month has to be the PHB eyeliner.

You can subscribe to the Love Lula beauty box here



*As a member of the Love Lula Accredited Blogger Programme, I review the Love Lula Beauty Box every month.