Mintd Box – Mintd x MZ Skin – June 2020

Where I got it

This is my 4th Mintd Box from my monthly subscription. Mintd started promoting this box in early May which was unusual. I guess it is because it is a rather big collaboration between Mintd and MZ Skin and the value of this box is pretty huge – over £400! If you are an existing subscriber, you will automatically get this box in June without additional cost (£70). If you are not an active subscriber, pre-order is available for £95 plus postage for a one-off box, otherwise subscribe before 30th May to get this in May. This box is very limited due to the amazing value for money so if you are interested, pre-order, or subscribe now!

Anyway, the total charge to my bank account was NZD$156.94 at the current exchange rate and I received it on 25th June.

What I got

This is the Mintd x MZ Skin box. It comes with a full-size Soothe & Smooth Collagen Activating Eye Complex, a super deluxe size Brighten & Perfect 10% Vitamin C Corrective Serum, 

This edit is designed to deliver the essence of ‘timeless, youthful, glowing and beautiful skin – made for women by a woman’. With an incredible value over £400, this limited edition features 5 full/super-deluxe sized products inclusive of four of the brands’ bestsellers. 

MZ Skin is the ultimate in skincare luxury, made for women by a woman and so it brilliantly targets the elements most important to women. Its founder Dr Maryam Zamani, a facial aesthetics doctor by training, has taken her experience to formulate great products that utilise science to bring out the best in your skin.

Enjoy a deep cleansing experience without abrasion with the cult classic ‘Cleanse and Clarify’ a dual purpose cleanser and mask which boosts collagen and hydrates the skin. ‘Brighten and Perfect’ with a vitamin C corrective cream designed to protect against premature aging and reduce the effects of sun damage. Re-build, smooth and repair the skin’s surface with the ‘Retinol Skin Booster’. ‘Soothe and Smooth’ dark circles and provide long lasting hydration to the eye area with Albizia Bark Extract and hyaluronic acid. Finally, ‘Rest and Revive’ tired skin, decreasing wrinkle depth and improving the its smoothness. MZ Skin combines consistent daily routines with the right ingredients and formulations to create a skincare routine that works.

How I find it

Soothe & Smooth Collagen Activating Eye Complex (£95 for 14ml full size). A firming eye cream that contains a tri-peptide to stimulate collagen and elastin. Albizia Bark Extract detoxifies and strengthens capillaries, reducing dark circles and puffiness. Hyaluronic Acid and Ceramides restore moisture and plump and smooth fine lines. It provides long-lasting hydration to smooth fine lines and restore suppleness around the eye.

Ingredients: Aqua (Water), Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Tribehenin PEG-20 Esters, Glycerin, Caryodendron Orinocense Nut Oil, Rubus Idaeus (Raspberry) Seed Oil, Methylsilanol Mannuronate, Myristyl Myristate, Butylene Glycol, Adipic Acid/Neopentyl Glycol Crosspolymer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Olive Glycerides, Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Sorbitol, Benzyl Alcohol, Polyacrylamide, Triethanolamine, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Carbomer, Ceramide 3, Sodium Hyaluronate, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum (Fragrance), Tocopherol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Laureth-7, Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract, Sorbic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Asparagopsis Armata Extract, Myristoyl Tripeptide-31, Darutoside, Potassium Sorbate, Benzyl Salicylate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Linalool.

Never ever have I used an eye cream of this price range. It works out to be about NZS$195 for 14ml! The eye cream has a thick creamy texture which is very nice for an eye cream, it has a slight caramel scent very similar to their serums (see below).

Brighten & Perfect 10% Vitamin C Corrective Serum (£127.50 for 15ml, 15ml super deluxe size). This fast-acting, ultra-targeted serum combines a potent complex of actives and an optimal dosage of 10% stabilized Vitamin C to address the visible effects of UV activated hyperpigmentation, age spots and to reduce skin tone imperfections. Works deeper to help protect elasticity, stimulate collagen synthesis, and create a shield to protect against environmental aggressors resulting in a strengthened, refined, and brightened skin tone. Use to restore a luminous complexion.

Ingredients: Aqua (Water), Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Isoamyl Laurate, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Yeast Extract, Tribehenin PEG-20 Esters, Acetyl Glycyl Beta-Alanine, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Sodium Lactate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum (Fragrance), Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Polyglucuronic Acid, Hexyl Cinnamal, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Lecithin, Linalool, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Benzyl Salicylate, Citric Acid.

 

This crazy serum works out to be about NZD$260 for 15ml of serum (full size is 30ml)! Cute little bottle with a twist-lock mechanism but I was a little disappointed that it doesn’t have a cap. The serum feels quite moisturising to be a serum and doesn’t have that yellow or weird smell that usual vitamin c serums have. At 10%, this is quite a good concentration of vitamins C and I love to use this in the morning. It does have fragrance of a sweet caramel-like scent. I follow this with an SPF30 or more.

Rest & Revive Restorative Placenta & Stem Cell Night Serum (£210 for 30ml, xxml super deluxe size). Look fresh and revitalised with this intelligent night serum. It contains an innovative blend of ovine placenta and stem cells combined with peptides to detoxify, strengthen and repair the skin during its nightly rejuvenation. Stimulates collagen and elastin, replenishes moisture to plump and smooth fine lines and wrinkles. Results in revived, hydrated skin, and an even skin tone.

Ingredients: Aqua (Water), Glycerin, Isoamyl Laurate, Hydrolyzed Yeast Extract, Tribehenin PEG-20 Esters, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Caryodendron Orinocense Nut Oil, Rubus Idaeus (Raspberry) Seed Oil, Squalane, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Olive Glycerides, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Benzyl Alcohol, Plantago Lanceolata Leaf Extract, Parfum (Fragrance), Ceramide 3, Polyacrylamide, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Carbomer, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol, Triethanolamine, Asparagus Officinalis Stem Extract, Xanthan Gum, Dehydroacetic Acid, Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Laureth-7, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Polyglucuronic Acid, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Calcium Gluconate, Gluconolactone, Lecithin, Placental Protein, Myristoyl Tripeptide-31, Benzyl Salicylate, Citronellol, Geraniol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Limonene, Linalool, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone.

This serum has the same texture, colour and smell of the vitamin C serum and also in the same packaging so I really need to check the print on the bottle before I use it. I use this at night after the Retinol booster (below). I use two pumps which is plenty for my face, neck and chest area so I usually don’t need to use any moisturiser on top. If I do, it will be just a regular moisturiser, nothing active because I already have the retinol booster underneath.

Cleanse & Clarify Dual Action AHA Cleanser & Mask (£58 for 100ml full size). Fast track a glow with this multi-functional cleanser and mask. Carefully formulated with a blend of Alpha Hydroxy Acids and Fruit Enzymes to cleanse and exfoliate without irritation for refined skin texture. The perfect prep to reveal smoother, brighter, and more radiant skin.

Ingredients: Aqua (Water), Decal Glucoside, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Hydrolyzed Yeast Extract, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Lactobionic Acid, Lactic Acid, Sodium Lactate, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Peel Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Tropaeolum Majus Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Dehydroacetic Acid, Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil, Parfum (Fragrance), Carbomer/Papain Crosspolymer, Polyglucuronic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Lecithin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Algin, Limonene

One of my favourite product in this box set is this cleanser/mask product. It is a gel cleanser that doesn’t foam up a lot which I kind of like. You can use it as a mask which can feel a little tingling on the skin. It smells kind of astringent so it smells a little sour, but I can feel the tingle even when I’m using it as a cleanser. Day and night use is ok, but sometimes at night, I wash my face with this as a cleanser, then I apply a thin layer as a mask, jump into the shower, wash myself and then rinse my face as the last step before I step out of the shower (approx. 5 mins).

Retinol Skin Booster 2% Encapsulated Vitamin A Resurfacing Treatment (£110 for 20ml, xxml super deluxe size). This lightweight night serum utilizes the skin-renewing power of retinol to re-build, smooth, and repair the skin’s surface. Retinol is a derivative of vitamin A and is highly regarded for its youthful properties. Encapsulation helps target skin cells where it would provide the most benefit and enhances skin penetration. With high strength of 2%, this transformative ingredient helps increase the rate of skin turnover, as it amplifies collagen production and protects against free radicals for younger-looking, more radiant skin. Not suitable for those who are pregnant.

Ingredients: Ethyl Macadamiate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Phospholipids, Retinol, Tocopherol, Parfum (Fragrance), Malic Acid, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Linalool

Retinol Skin Booster 2% Encapsulated Vitamin A Resurfacing Treatment

I am no stranger to vitamin a or retinol products, but I do confess that I have overdone it on my face before and have burning sensations on my cheek areas. So right now. I like to tone down the use on acids with my retinols. This booster here is encapsulated vitamin A therefore is much more gentle and slow release. I am able to use this every night after cleansing (3 drops) and after my hydrating essence. My skin absorbs this oil booster quick and it leaves no greasy feeling. Then I use the night serum over it.

Overall

The first thing I need to mention is the overall value of this box. £70 is an absolute steal to be able to try all of these products, so thank you Mintd box for curating these products for us. I don’t know what blows my mine more – the value of this box or the RRP of these products?!

All the products in this box feels luxurious and expensive. They look great on the counter and the sensorial experience is amazing. I can not deny the fact that these products do a wonderful job, but at price points like this, I would expect it to make my kid’s school lunches. Nonetheless, if I can afford these in retail prices, I would definitely get the retinol booster or the vitamin c serum. I love the cleanser, but I really can’t justify the price for something that is staying on my face for 5 mins max. I believe a good retinol formula that is effective and low irritation is hard to come by and it takes technology to perfect. Also a vitamin c serum is also a staple in my skincare routine, and a 10% serum just does its job properly.