Beauty boxes are something of an addiction for me, as you can probably tell from the many times they crop up here on the blog.
But there's really nothing like a little piece of delight swooping it's way to you through the post.
One of the standouts for me in the past has been Tili. Curated by QVC, who are actually the Uk’s biggest beauty retailer, it's usually a clever mix of cult favourites and up and coming products.
It's not a monthly subscription and it just seems to come out as and when, but it's usually worth catching. I didn't order the last couple, but when I saw ‘Urban Jungle’, their latest offering, I knew I had to get on board!
This box is all about the rigours of city living, with pollutant-shielding formulas, skincare designed to detox and makeup to act as your urban camouflage.
Tili Headband
As someone who always wears a headband to keep my ‘fringe-y bits’ out of my eyes when I'm doing makeup or skincare, this is a great addition to the box. It's a damn sight more glamorous than the basic black one I normally use, and as a huge fan of leopard print I think this is super cute!
Winky Lux Eyeshadow ‘Ursula’
This quirky brand from New York are probably best known for their PH-adapting lip balms which feature a clear bullet of product with a miniature flower suspended inside.
Modelling themselves on the ultra cute ‘kawaii’ Japanese pop culture look, they aim to deliver cruelty-free products with a tongue-in-cheek twist. This little pot of shadow in it's mint green pot emblazoned with a kitten illustration certainly fits that theme!
Described as a ‘squid ink plum’ this shimmering purple is a mesmerizingly pretty shade that has a velvety, blendable texture. It would make the most beautiful plum smokey eye colour. The product is micro-milled, which gives it its silky, crease-proof texture.
It's a really pretty shade unlike much else in my collection and perfect for evenings out.
Sand and Sky Brilliant Skin Purifying Pink Clay Mask
This mask seems to have been all over the Internet since it launched and has quickly gained cult product status.
It tightens enlarged pores, mops up any excess oils, detoxifies and brightens the skin and leaves a glow, according to devotees of the formula.
Although I think it's probably aimed at oilier skin types than mine, I have been a bit curious about it and I even bought the recent Lacura dupe of it, so it will be interesting to see how that stacks up against the original, now I have my hands on it.
With Kaolin and Bentonite clays, plus Aloe Vera and Kakadu Plum, it's also quite similar to the mud mask from GlamGlow. They certainly boast some impressive looking before and after user shots on their Insta, so I'm looking forward to testing this out and seeing what wonders it does.
BOD Mermaid Shimmer Sorbet
With party season in full swing, everyone is looking for a bit of extra sparkle, and this body lotion is here to help.
A high-shimmer formula, it provides an intensely moisturising hit for dull, winter skin while also sculpting and illuminating limbs and disguising imperfections and blemishes.
I always need a product like this if I go out as I'm covered in bruises from crawling around on the floor with my toddler. With an almost holographic finish, this is one for those who really want to amp up their look to hit the dance floor with.
Korres Lavender Blossom Shower Gel
Korres are the Greek naturals brand renowned for their science meets mother nature inspired body care products.
This shower gel smells beautiful and comes in gorgeous packaging but it's also deeply moisturising and uses special wheat proteins which form a protective film on the skin to maintain hydration levels.
The scent is relaxing and perfect for a warming shower before bed to help you unwind and forget the stresses of a busy day. With a full size bottle like this normally costing £8.00, it's a fantastic addition to the box.
Antipodes Worship Serum
Oxidative stress caused by environmental pollutants is a huge factor in skin ageing, so using an antioxidant skincare product which neutralises the damage these free radicals cause should be an important part of a decent skincare routine, especially for city dwellers.
This bright orange organic skin booster is packed with superfruits from New Zealand that are packed with some of the highest natural levels of antioxidants around - boysenberry, blackcurrant, kiwi fruit, acai berry, and Vinanza Grape.
Not only is the formula certified organic with 100 per cent of natural ingredients, it's also been scientifically shown to inhibit oxidative stress to the skin by up to 90 per cent. So powerful stuff that packs an all-natural punch.
Ciate London Liquid Velvet Lipstick
Ciate is a brand I've been increasingly drawn to lately, and they seem to be making some really great products - but here's one I hadn't tried before.
I'm definitely not normally a fan of the matte lips trend. Why? Well, out simply, I don't think it's flattering. I've tried so many brands and formulations that over-promise and under-deliver, that claim they are ‘just like velvet’ and ‘totally non-drying’, won't fade for hours and don't highlight fine lines and flaky bits. And they all do.
Matte lipsticks can be quite horrid - weird fading, patchy application, dry and wrinkly finish. Give me a cream finish, a gloss or a balm any day! Except this just might be the one matte lipstick I've ever tried which has lived up to the promise.
For once, the word ‘velvet’ hasn't been misappropriated. This glides on smoothly, giving opaque, dense colour, dries super quick, wears comfortably without that tight, drying feeling and gives a smooth, plumped appearance to lips.
It's really beautiful stuff. I'm really impressed with it and this shade, ‘Swoon’, is a really pretty nude colour. A great discovery!
Pixi Endless Silky Eye Pen
From new discoveries, to products I have tried before and really liked. Pixi are producing some lovely products, and this throws shade on the competitors.
It glides on so smoothly, but once it sets, that's it- the budge-proof, waterproof formula means you don't have to worry about panda eyes. It also works beautifully in the waterline, where a lot of eye pencils struggle to hold up, which makes it ideal for tightlining.
The colour payoff is stunning - a deep, dark inky black which doesn't fade. I love to apply it with an angled brush to wing it out a bit.
It's a bit of a holy grail product, and if you haven't given it a go, you'll be blown away - it gives the density of a gel pot liner, the ease of use of a pencil and the durability of a liquid liner. Amazing!
Shay & Blue Black Tulip Eau De Parfum
Perfume is an unexpected and really nice addition to a beauty box. I can be quite unadventurous with perfumes and tend to stick pretty much to the same two or three that I know and love, so trying something new is always good.
This unisex, naturally derived scent is made from a blend of flowers, fruits and spices and left to mature for over three months - a very different approach from all those identikit synthetic candyfloss fragrances which seem to be flooding the market at the moment.
A very modern floral, this combines the spring freshness of tulips and snowdrops with a jammy, plum note at the heart, and white chocolate and wooded notes at the base. It's not really like anything I've smelt before - very fresh but in a soft, dewy way. I like it a lot but I'm not sure if I love it yet- I'll have to test it out some more before I'm sure.
This elegant glass rollerball is not only the ideal thing for a clutch bag in party season, it also retails at £25, which makes this Tili box such great value.
Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo
My life wouldn't function without dry shampoo. I truly thank the gods for ever invented it, because with a small baby and an active toddler, washing my hair is so far down my priority list. I always ‘joke’ that I'm 80% caffeine and 20% dry shampoo, only it's less of a joke and more of a sad fact at this point.
It's an essential for keeping greasy roots at bay and adding volume and freshness, and I use it pretty much every day. I am quite fussy about them though, as I have really dark hair and most brands tend to leave a white residue which makes me look like I'm wearing an eighteenth century powdered wig!
You can also get some which are tinted brown but they're horrific for messing up your clothes and your bathroom tiles. This one has a fast absorbing finish that soaks up oil, sweat and odours while also containing a time releasing fragrance - clever, huh?
And on the powdery roots front, there's no worries either with a clever patented molecule which reduces surface friction and doesn't leave any residue either. It simply delivers clean looking, fresh smelling, volumised locks - a hair wash in a can, and isn't that what every woman needs in their life?
Caudalie Vinosource Moisturising Sorbet
A whisper light, gel cream formula, this feels so beautiful on parched skin, leaving it soothed and refreshed. With calming chamomile and the antioxidant power of grapes which is the USP of this French pharmacy brand, it's a great introduction to the brand that would even work for sensitive skins.
It sinks in wonderfully which means that your face can get a moisture hit without your foundation sliding about all over the place, so it's a lovely skin prep product. It has quite a soothing effect so it's a good choice if you use a lot of exfoliators or retinoids at night.
The inclusion of an SPF would really make it amazing, but as I'm currently using a foundation with SPF it's good for now. It's a great starter product for those who are curious about the brand.
After a couple of boxes that were less appealing to me, I feel like this is a return to form for Tili, which has usually been a fab combination of up-and-coming products, cult favourites and powerhouse brands.
The box is back to showcasing their status as an authority and is cracking value. It's still available here and ideal as a post-Christmas treat!
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