The Boxwalla Beauty box – Limited Edition – A Very Fine Feeling

Where I got it

After reading everyone’s review of the Fine Cosmetics box from Boxwalla, I decided to purchase the box myself. This was a limited-edition box that features 3 full-sized products from the Berlin-based brand Fine Cosmetics. This was USD$64.95, shipping was a flat rate of $18.95. So the total was USD$83.90. At the current exchange rate, it came down to NZD$120.58.

This was a separate box from their usual subscription system, so you should be able to find this in their One-time Boxes section from their website. They were launched in early October so I’m not sure how long they will still be available. I ordered this on 26/11 and it arrived on 18/12.

I do want to point out something about shipping. I live in New Zealand and most of these clean beauty brands are either in the US, UK, or Europe. In this case, Boxwalla is based in the US and they ship using USPS I believe. Previous boxes I have had with Boxwalla were delivered at least 4 weeks after it was shipped. I am kind of frustrated and also worried because it was really hard to track parcels from overseas. They are easily tracked when they are in the US, but once it leaves the country and lands into New Zealand, the tracking is really wishy-washy. NZ Post has minimal information and the customer service can be pretty bad.

What I got

This is the Limited Edition Box from Boxwalla with 3 full-sized Fine Cosmetics products. This box contains the High Potency Nocturnal Renewal set (50ml and 30ml) and a Peace Body Serum (50ml). Fine Cosmetics was created by Judith Springer who brings her eclectic background (including experience as an art curator) to create extraordinary innovative formulations that combine unusual highly efficacious botanical ingredients. Her products are so effective, luxurious and a pleasure to use. 

High Potency Nocturnal Renewal ($140 for 50ml and 30 ml). High Potency Nocturnal Renewal is the active ingredient mask that overnight is renewing, refreshing, and noticeably smoothing the skin around your eyes and of your face. It is a bomb with nature’s power as much as can be. With Baobab, Marula, Broccoli seed and Argan oil, Squalane, French Deep Seawater, Niacinamides, Ashwagandha, Q10, Ceramides, Astaxanthin, low molecular and high molecular Hyaluronic acid, prickly pear stem and papaya fruit extract, beetroot extract, Panthenol, Persian Silk tree extract, Darutosiden amongst others. Welcome the new day with the perfect glow!

The Overnight Face Mask (50ml) is a powerful cream concoction, that delivers smooth, clear, glowing skin overnight. It contains baobab, marula, broccoli seed & argan oils, along with squalane to deeply hydrate & moisturize the skin and protective antioxidants like astaxanthin, repairing niacinamide, protective ashwagandha, ceramides, prickly pear stem & papaya fruit extracts.

Ingredients: Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Leaf Water*, Aqua (Water), Squalane, Adansonia Digitata (Baobab) Seed Oil*, Lactobacillus Ferment, Cetearyl Olivate, Sclerocarya Birrea (Marula) Seed Oil, Sorbitan Olivate, Glycerin, Brassica Oleracea Italica (Broccoli) Seed Oil*, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa (Argan) Kernel Oil*, Maris Aqua (Sea Water), Beta Vulgaris (Beet) Root Extract, Pullulan, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Niacinamide, Calcium Pantothenate (Panthenol), Carica Papaya (Papaya) Fruit Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica (Prickly Pear) Stem Extract, Withania Somnifera (Ashwaganda) Root Extract, Amyris Balsamifera (Sandalwood) Bark Oil*, Ubiquinone, Ceramide NP, Haematococcus Pluvialis (Astaxanthin) Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycosphingolipids, Hordeum Vulgare (Barley) Extract, Sambucus Nigra (Elderberry) Fruit Extract*, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract*, Acacia Dealbata (Mimosa) Flower Extract, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, Alcohol, Fructose, Sclerotium Gum, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Lactic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, p-Anisic Acid, Disodium Phosphaste, Tocopherol, Citral**, Limonene**.

The Eye Mask (30ml), is an incredibly gentle yet effective water-based eye serum, with tightening pullulan, ashwagandha extract, anti-inflammatory darutoside & more. It firms, & tightens the under-eye area, reducing dark circles as well.

Ingredients: Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Leaf Water*, Lactobacillus Ferment, Glycerin, Pullulan, Aqua (Water), Maris Aqua (Sea Water), Sclerotium Gum, Beta Vulgaris (Beet) Root Extract, Albizia Julibrissin Bark (Persion Silk Tree) Extract, Niacinamide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Calcium Pantothenate (Panthenol), Darutoside, Withania Somnifera (Ashwagandha) Root Extract, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Leaf Extract, Sambucus Nigra (Elderberry) Fruit Extract*, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, Fructose, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Lactic Acid, Alcohol, p-Anisic Acid.

Peace Body Serum ($25 for 50ml). This ingenious body serum is made in a base of aloe leaf juice along with camelia oil, rose canina fruit oil & squalane to provide both hydration & emollience. This luxurious two-phase body treatment contains Australian bushflowers to calm & soothe the skin, as well as a special extract from Mediterranean algae that repairs UVA/UVB & pollution-induced damage, rejuvenating & restoring the skin.

Ingredients: Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Aqua (Water), Corylus Avellana (Hazel) Seed Oil, Squalane, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Oil, Caprylic/ Capric Triglyceride, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Peel Oil, Cymbopogon Martinii (Palmarosa) Oil, Leptospermum Scoparium (Manuka) Branch/Leaf Oil, Crowea Saligna Essence, Banksia Robur Essence, Eucalyptus Macrocarpa Essence, Yellow Cowslip Orchid Essence, Banksia Serrata Essence, Boswellia Carterii (Frankincense) Oil, Alaria Esculenta Extract, Kunzea Ericoides Leaf Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Alcohol, Potassium Sorbate, Lactic Acid, Tocopherol (Vitamine E), Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Sclerotium Gum, Sodium Benzoate, Geraniol*, Limonene*, Linalool*, Citral*, Farnesol*. *From natural essential oils

How I find it

Let’s talk about the products. The packaging of these products is very special. The founder of the Berlin-based brand is Judith Springer who has a background in law, art, and sociology and is also a trained yoga instructor (not sure how that relates to skincare?). Anyway, her artistic background would explain the beautiful packaging from the boxes that it comes into the bottles that carry the products.  So far, all of the products I own from Fine Cosmetics are in brown-tinted glass bottles – full-on apothecary style.

The Overnight Face Mask from the Nocturnal Renewal set is a thick cream that you need to scoop out from the glass bottle (it comes with a little wooden spatula). It smells pleasantly of herbal extracts and oils. The first ingredient is witch hazel leaf water which might be alarming to some people because it can be viewed as an ingredient that you need to be aware of. I understand that there are different views of the benefits and cautions of witch hazel water – the tannins in witch hazel give this de-greasing effect and essentially tightening of the skin, but it can be sensitizing. The common distilling method for this ingredient is often denatured alcohol (ethanol) which can be drying to the skin as well. Here are some of my resources for the above information on witch hazel – Paula’s Choice, Dr Dray.  Also some resources for denatured alcohol (it’s not such a devil after all) – Susan Yara, Michelle – Lab Muffin.

After cleansing, I went straight into the Overnight Eye Mask, which has a thicker serum-like texture with a very nice slip (the first ingredient is also witch hazel water). It looks very much like their Daytime Radiance Eye Serum. Then I mist my skin with a hydrating mist and reached for the Overnight Face Mask. The slightly orange-yellow coloured thick cream melts into the skin as you massage it into the skin. It’s pretty much a rich night cream, and upon application, my skin felt so nourished and smooth. It doesn’t leave a sticky feeling on the skin, but a nice comfortable smoothness. I don’t need to put anything on over it. I was told by my friend that she felt a tingling sensation, but I hardly felt anything.

Finally, the Peace Body Serum is a bi-phase hydrating body serum. I used to apply body lotion diligently, but after having kids, I got so lazy and I just want to get dressed after drying myself. From time to time, I will get itchy skin on my legs, my arms from dryness and that’s when I need to pile on body moisturiser. However, I never thought of trying a body serum! When I took the bottle out from the box, it comes with a pump and you can clearly see the 2 different phases in the bottle. The phase at the bottom of the bottle appears to be quite gloopy and thick, the phase at the top is watery. You need to give it a good shake to mix up the ingredients and I apply about 3-4 pumps for each arm, 4-5 pumps for each leg and I use another 2-3 pumps for my chest area. That’s it, I don’t use this on my torso because this would be used up way too fast. You can see the oil and water-based ingredients mixed up in the liquid, and whilst it’s not super watery and lightweight, it quickly hydrates the skin and leaves that body oil feeling on the skin. Afterwards, my skin just feels smooth and soft and nourished.

Overall

I am loving all of the products at the moment! I love how nourishing the Overnight Face Mask is, how it melts into the skin leaving this pleasant scent on the skin. The Eye Mask is really silky and smooth and hydrating. The body serum is also a joy to use for its oil/water bi-phase formula. It instantly hydrates my skin and leaves that a glow on my skin after it is absorbed without feeling sticky or greasy.

I will definitely use both products a little bit more to see what the effects are on my skin from the witch hazel. Initial thoughts were that the formulation is nowhere drying or astringent. There is the alcohol content in the ingredients list, but it doesn’t indicate what kind – it might be fatty alcohol, but it is so low down the list that it would not dry out the skin, it would just assist the absorption of the extracts and oils that the product has plenty of.

Let me know guys if you also have this set and how you use it? What did you think of it?