Mintd Box – The Birthday Edit – July 2021

Where I got it

July 2021 marks the 5th birthday for Mintd Box and I am happy to have come across the brand a little over a year ago (my first box was March 2020 – Clean Skincare edit). Last year, their birthday box had the theme of You Glow Girl (review here) and it featured 4 ful-sized products from 4 amazing brands. Amazing value as usual, this year Mintd Box is celebrating with 4 full-sized products again! The value of this box is a whopping £243!! Seriously, I don’t know how they obtain these products at such a great price for the subscription. It cost me around NZS$150 (£95) each time including shipping to New Zealand. It doesn’t matter what the value of the box, it the subscription price is set.

Mintd Box is on the more luxury side of subscription box option out there, but they do feature some major brands like 111Skin, MZ skin, Kate Sommerville, Sunday Riley, Omorovicza, Votary, etc. While other subscription services like Boxwalla, Beauty Heroes, are more focused on artisan skincare brands, slightly niche brands and most of the time “clean beauty” (I use this term lightly, so take it with a grain of salt). They are more affordable compared to Mintd Box, around NZS$100 – $120 per box and some companies do bi-monthly boxes. Of course, you can always check out the products in each month’s box and decide whether to get it or not. Anyway, let’s get to the contents of this box.

What I got

To celebrate Mintd Box turning 5, we have the Birthday Edit containing 4 full-sized products. We have a 120ml Kate Somerville Goat Milk Moisturising Cleanser, a 50g jar of Omorovicza Deep Cleansing Mask, a 50ml Sunday Riley Pink Drink Firming Resurfacing Essence, and a 30ml MZ Skin Hydrate & Nourish Hyaluronic & Retinol Moisturiser SPF30. For the last five years we have had the privilege of bringing our beautiful subscribers an array of skincare cult classics, enabling you to introduce skincare juggernauts to your daily routine. We look forward to marking another five years with you and our esteemed partners, bringing luxury to your door. We have the Holy Grail for even our most sensitive of (skin) sisters, a moisturising cleanser that gently removes dirt, oil and impurities without stripping the skins of its natural radiance. We are back at it again with SPF 30! This exclusive hydrating and nourishing day moisturiser protects against the sun, free radicals and brightens skin. Purify and brighten skin with a deep cleansing mask that clears and reduces congested pores. Resurface and hydrate your skin for a refreshed feeling with a blend of peptides and prebiotics that work to refresh your complexion and minimise the signs of ageing.

Kate Somerville Goat Milk Moisturising Cleanser (NZD$68 for 120ml). Over cleansing skin and harsh ingredients can lead to a depleted moisture barrier. This gentle, lightweight soothing cleanser helps to relieve redness, calm sensitised skin and restore the skins protective barrier. This product has been dermatologist tested and is safe for sensitive skin. Amino acids and ceramides: relieves visible redness & calms irritation while working to restore skin’s protective barrier. Ginger root extract: helps reduce visible redness. Tasmannia lanceolata fruit extract: works to calm skin. Cucumber seed oil: calms & soothes skin.

Ingredients: Aqua/Water/Eau, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Propanediol, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Xylitylglucoside, Betaine, Phospholipids, Linoleic Acid, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Sterols, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Seed Oil, Ectoin, Hydroxyectoine, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Root Extract, Bisabolol, Tocopherol, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Carbomer, Anhydroxylitol, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Stearic Acid, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Saccharide Isomerate, Xylitol, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate.

Omorovicza Deep Cleansing Mask (NZD$160 for 50ml). A deep-cleansing mask that harnesses the power of Hungarian Moor mud, rich in calcium and magnesium, to clear congested pores and draw out impurities. Skin is left firmer, more supple and younger-looking. Hungarian Moor mud: contains calcium and magnesium carbonates, humic acid and fulvic acid, which work together to purify and nourish the skin. White clay: draws out toxins and impurities while naturally absorbing pore-clogging oil. Healing Concentrate™: leaves skin firmer, suppler and more youthful in appearance.

Ingredients: Aqua (water), kaolin, glycerin, cetearyl alcohol, silt (mud), stearic acid, citronellol, cetearyl olivate, zinc oxide, phenoxyethanol, sorbitan olivate, ethylhexylglycerin, fragrance (parfum), tocopherol, saccharomyces ferment extract, sodium hydroxide, yeast extract, geraniol, phospholipids, limonene, linalool, malpighia punicifolia (acerola) fruit extract, mannitol.

Sunday Riley Pink Drink Firming Resurfacing Essence (NZD$81 for 50ml). Like a power drink for your skin, this peptide-infused essence works to help firm, balance and resurface. Featuring a cocktail of two peptides Acetyl Tetrapeptide-9 and Acetyl Tetrapeptide-11 that work together to create a firmer-looking skin surface, fermented honey and botanical extracts to help balance the skin’s natural microbiome. Firming peptides: acetyl tetrapeptide-9 and acetyl tetrapeptide-11 work synergistically to gently resurface and increase the look of skin firmness. Ceramides: to support the skin’s natural moisture barrier. Fermented honey: a hydrating prebiotic which supports the skin’s natural microbiome. Chlorella, kelp, and sea water: a prebiotic blend designed to fight the look of surface redness by supporting the skin’s natural microbiome. Pink yeast filtrate: rich in minerals, amino acids, and vitamins to nourish the skin. EGCG: a powerful antioxidant from green tea that fights the visible aging effects from pollution and oxidative stress

Ingredients: Water/eau/aqua, yeast ferment (pink yeast) extract, saccharomyces ferment filtrate, honey extract, acetyl tetrapeptide- 11, acetyl tetrapeptide-9, epigallocatechin gallatyl glucoside (egcg), ceramide ap, ceramide eop, ceramide np, cucumis melo (melon) fruit extract, cucumis sativus (cucumber) seed extract, sea water, phospholipids, sphingolipids, laminaria digitata (sea kelp) extract, zymomonas ferment extract, prunus armeniaca (apricot) fruit extract, pyrus malus (apple) fruit extract, chlorella vulgaris extract, phytosphingosine, theobroma cacao (cocoa) extract, cocos nucifera (coconut) fruit extract, triethyl citrate, camellia sinensis leaf extract, citrus limon (lemon) peel oil, citrus aurantium dulcis (orange) peel extract, citrus aurantium dulcis_ (orange) fruit extract, citrus_paradisi (grapefruit) peel extract, vanilla planifolia fruit extract, jasminum o cinale_(jasmine) flower/leaf extract, rubus idaeus (raspberry) fruit extract, rose damascena extract, melia azadirachta leaf extract, melia azadirachta flower extract, polyglycerin- 6, glycerin, saccharide isomerate, cholesterol, sodium, lauroyl lactylate, corallina o cinalis extract, coccinia indica fruit extract, betaine, polysorbate 20, dimethyl isosorbide, phenoxyethanol, ethylhexylglycerin, carbomer, hydroxyacetophenone, xanthan gum, 1,2 hexanediol, matodextrin, tris (tetramethylhydroxypiperidinol) citrate, alcohol, sodium phytate.

MZ Skin Hydrate & Nourish Hyaluronic & Retinol Moisturiser SPF30 (£95 for 50ml). This daytime moisturiser features a pioneering combination of encapsulated (non-irritant) Retinol and SPF 30 to simultaneously refine the complexion and protect the skin. Retinol boosts collagen production and smooths fine lines and wrinkles, while the addition of SPF 30 protects from UVA/B rays and free radical damage. Rich in Hyaluronic Acid, this moisturiser helps restore hydration, leaving the complexion smooth and supple and brightens skin tone.

Ingredients: Aqua (Water), Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Isoamyl Laurate, Tribehenin PEG- 20 Esters, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Glycerin, Silica, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Caryodendron Orinocense Nut Oil, Squalane, Titanium Dioxide, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Cetearyl Alcohol, Myristyl Myristate, Phenoxyethanol, Adipic Acid/Neopentyl Glycol Crosspolymer, Olive Glycerides, Sucrose Palmitate, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Benzyl Alcohol, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Triethanolamine, Glyceryl Linoleate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Carbomer, Ceramide 3, Parfum (Fragrance), Polyacrylamide, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol, Alumina, Polyurethane Crosspolymer-1, Dehydroacetic Acid, Retinol, Laureth-7, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, BHT, Glyceryl Caprylate, Benzyl Salicylate, Citronellol, Geraniol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Limonene, Linalool, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone.

How I find it

You have enough products for a morning skincare routine so I used these products all at once this morning. I start with the Kate Somerville Goat Milk Moisturising Cleanser. I wet my face slightly and then squeeze about a hazelnut size of the cleanser to my damp hands and just rub them together before massaging it onto my face. The cleanser is really gentle and lightly foaming. It feels like an emulsion and it rinses off clean and without feeling my skin is stripped bare. My skin feels soft and smooth, but no residue at all. I’m off to a good start, I like this cleanser!

After cleansing, I applied the Omorovicza Deep Cleansing Mask on my dry skin. It is a good ol’ clay mask, but it applies smoothly and it’s not chunky. During application, I could start feeling a tingling sensation on the skin. It’s bearable and it dissipates in a few minutes. You can leave it on for 10-15 minutes, but I washed it off at around 10 minutes before it fully dries up. It takes a little time to wash off as per your usual clay mask. It takes a bit of time to soften, and then massaged off with my fingers. My skin feels and looks clean and bright. I love a good deep cleansing mask maybe once a week to really help all the dead skin cells slough off, and to immediately unclog my pores ready for a moisture or hydrating mask. Nice mask, I will need to use it a few more times to see how long the effect works and how often I need to use it.

Next, I love a good hydrating spray and this Sunday Riley Pink Drink Firming Resurfacing Essence is in a spray bottle. Not your conventional spray toner, but if I do use a toner, I usually use a BHA or AHA liquid in place of my toner. I always have an essence/hydrating mist on hand to hydrate my skin immediately and keep it damp while I apply serums and moisturisers. The pink drink comes in a slim glass bottle and the essence had a light sweet floral scent. It’s refreshing and the spray is a rather wide, gentle spray. It is lightly hydrating and that’s pretty much all I can see right now. It woudl definitely need a continuous use to see improvements or changes. So far, no irritations or problems using the product.

To finish off the skincare routine, a moisturiser is a must, and this one has SPF30 as well! The MZ Skin Hydrate & Nourish Hyaluronic & Retinol Moisturiser SPF30 is a retinol cream that you can use during the day! I make sure that I use enough of this moisturiser so that I have enough SPF protection. The last thing you want to do is use a small amount of the moisturiser because you have oily skin, but in turn you are not getting enough protection from the SPF. I was a little worried that this moisturiser will be quite thick as it does look quite opaque and thick in the jar. There is an initial sheer white cast on the skin, but it soon settles down and becomes transparent. It is also not too heavy which is great. It feels comfortable on the skin, but if you have oily skin, it might feel a little too thick on you.

Overall

I genuinely enjoyed all of the products in this box, there wasn’t anything that I would not use (i.e. eye patches or lip masks). The Kate Somerville Goat Milk Cleanser is a very versatile gentle cleanser. It is suitable for all skin types and leaves your skin really comfortable and not compromised. I could easily use this both day and night. The Omorovicza Deep Cleansing Mask is also great when you need a deep clean. A deep clean is good for oily skin, combination skin and dry skin. You just need to adjust to your preferred frequency. If you have sensitive skin, you might just use this to specific areas where you get any congestion as a spot treatment. The Sunday Riley Pink Drink essence is also a really pleasant-feeling essence spray that I think everyone can benefit from. The peptides and hydration can be easily incorporated into any existing skincare routine. The MZSkin Moisturiser with SPF30 is certainly a must-have if you want to get into the retinol band-wagon. This is a gentle formula that you can use during the day. It moisturises and protects the skin with SPF30. There is a slight white cast on immeidate application, but it dissipates soon after. Skin is left feeling moisturised but not sticky and greasy.