This is a double whammy of a review today – due to the *ahem* technical difficulties caused by my car being up the swanney, I was unable to review the rather fab April Glossybox, which I really loved, and before I knew it, the May Glossybox First Birthday Box had landed on my doorstep too.

Glossybox was (in the UK anyway) the “original” beauty box – although of course many others are now available… The box is £10 plus P&P (£2.95), although there are also offers which let you buy “blocks” of boxes for 3, 6 or 12 months which works out at slightly less per box. Each month, subscribers receive a new box containing “5 luxury high end samples”.

Instead of passing over the April box, I thought I’d do a bit of a rundown on both boxes so if you are interested in subscribing to the service it will give a bit of an idea what you can expect…

May’s Glossybox was highly anticipated as it celebrates the 1st birthday of the brand…

The box came in the company’s signature pink box – my box arrived with no damage, and was secure and well packaged.

Inside the box was a balloon, and I was invited to post a picture on the brand’s facebook page – but sadly I think I missed the boat as my box arrived a few days after the brand seemed to be having their main celebrations on twitter etc… (also I think I’d have felt a bit of a tool taking snaps of myself with a balloon… )

The contents were a mixed bag of samples and brands, some of whom I was less familiar with than others.

First thing I plucked from the box was a sample of NOBLE ISLE “Summer Rising” bath and shower gel. A full size of this product is 250mls, and this 75ml sample size is a generous sample – I’m planning to take this on holiday, or use when I visit my boyfriend in London. This has a clean, fresh and slightly floral scent (according to the website this is scented with elderflower, gooseberry, orange blossom, cut grass and moss). The product website is HERE and NOBLE ISLE is stocked in Fenwick, Fortnum and Mason and Liberty.

(Unfortunately I was unable to find any information on the company website regarding their testing policy, so I am unsure if this range is cruelty free).

I also received two samples from the Lolita Lempicka fragrance range.

In some other reviews of beauty boxes, I’ve noticed that some people really dislike perfume samples – that’s a personal thing I suppose – personally I don’t have a problem with it. The boxes are for samples, so obviously there will perfumes in them from time to time, and I’d much rather try them at home, rather than on counter with a pushy salesperson trying to force you to buy it…

“Si Lolita” is an intersting fragrance – it has a combination of floral and spicy notes which makes it unlike anything I have at the moment. I like this one a lot.

“L’Eau en Blanc” is a more traditional floral, scent – this is less appealing to me.

These fragrances are £63 and £65 respectively for full sizes (100ml)

(Unable to find any information regarding testing policies online)

I also received a sample of BERBER hair oil

This is a similar product to Morrocan Oil or Macadmia Oil, and a full sized 100ml bottle retails at £19.99. I’ll be interested to see how this compares to my current favourite Macadamia oil. This can be used on both damp and dry hair, to improve condition, add shine, and tame flyaways. The oil has a very very mild sweet scent, which I doubt would be noticeable on the hair.

(Unable to find any information regarding this being cruelty free).

I was also pleased to see HD Brows Smoothing serum in the box, as I have never tried this line before…

This is a full size product which retails at £19.99. I have only been able to try this a couple of times so far – the product comes in a mascara style tube with a doe-foot applicator, and the serum is light, and easily absorbed without having to massage or pull too much on the delicate skin around the eyes.

From what I can gather, the HD brows range is also cruelty free which is a major thumbs up for me!

I also received two sachets of APIVITA “Anti-wrinkle and firming mask with grape”

This range hails from Greece, and retails at £3.50 for 2 sachets and is now available at some of the larger Marks and Spencer stores which have had their Beauty Halls revamped. The range is cruelty free, and I’m really looking forward to giving the masks a whirl.

A final little bonus in the box was this cute little handbag mirror…

These are always useful for stashing in handbags – this one has a regular and magnifying mirror.

May’s box is a good one – my only hesitation/nit-pick with beauty boxes is that it can be difficult to identify whether brands are cruelty free. Having said that though, I think that most companies who are cruelty free will plainly state this on their sites, so I often draw my own conclusions! Overall though this contains a good variety of samples, and different brands, and includes a full sized product, as well as the lovely bonus of the mirror.

In April, Glossybox celebrated Earth Month, and I personally really liked the natural finish to the packaging!

All packaging on the April box was biodegradable, and the products in the box had a “natural” focus…

The box contained;

A full sized pot of Figs & Rouge Lip, Face and Body Balm – This is available in various scents, and retails at 33.29 for 8ml. This is a handy little product which is free of petroleum, 100% organic and natural, and can be used as a lip balm, cuticle rub, and general salve for patches of dry skin.

A 10ml sample of Caudalie Vinosource serum – this is a new product from the Caudalie range, designed to deliver rapid hydration, and from what I have tried seems to deliver really well on these claims… (full size retails at £29 for 30ml)

Inika Cosmetics lip liner in the shade “Sugar Plum” – this is a full sized product retailing at £11.75, and is a pretty nude pink shade which will go with lots of the lipsticks I own already…

Monu Hand & Nail Cream – This is a pretty rich cream, which absorbs well, and I particularly love the scent of this, which is a light citrussy one, and one of my favourite items from the box. (pricing information unavailable)

Phillipe B Styling Gel – this retails at £13.00 for a full 178 ml sized product (sample size is 15ml) – this is probably the one product from the box I will not use,and will probably pass to my boyfriend or to a male friend – thats simply because I’m just not a hair gel person though!

I really really loved the April box- and all products in the box were cruelty free, which I was massively impressed and pleased by…

Interested in Glossybox? You can find out more and subscribe HERE.

Disclaimer - these boxes were sent for review by a PR – all opinions expressed are honest. Please read as many reviews as you can before making any decisions, as this will give you a well rounded impression of the products! (Common sense, really!)