Oh Love Lula, how you do love surprising us every month with your Beauty Box collections!  November's edit was most definitely the most unique I have ever received, so much so that this review was actually a little tricky for me to write.  But for better or for worse I will be remembering it for a long long while.


With five products in the box this month, the Love Lula subscription brought products from REN, The Perfect V, Alteya Organics, Urban Veda, and Natura Siberica to my door.  Nearly all of these were brand new to me, and while not all are favourites, I appreciate the efforts to deliver something totally new.

Let's just jump into it -- (the follow products contain affiliate links*)


* REN Glycol Lactic Radiance Renewal Mask (15ml):

For those who have been eyeing up the Glycol Lactic Radiance Renewal Mask from REN but have been a bit unsure and hesitant based on the price tag, this is your lucky month!  While this is a sample size, it is pretty generous at 15ml, as there is at least two or three uses you can get out of this (possibly more depending on how much you feel you need to use!).

If you have been looking for a mask that can renew your complexion, target fine lines and wrinkles, leave your skin looking more radiant, and combat congested skin or acne, then this mask may be the skincare treat you have been searching for.  This potent "bio active" product is a "cult-favourite peel mask for dry, mature and sun-damaged skin, clinically proven to smooth, firm and minimise pores.  Developed to renew and refine, this deeply cleansing mask works to smooth out wrinkles and fine lines as it exfoliates, leaving behind refreshed, firmer, more radiant skin."

However, I do have to say that REN is one of those brands that for me is hit and miss -- some products have relatively clean ingredient lists, whereas others I steer clear of due to there being far too many nasties.  This mask is on the cleaner side for sure, but I have decided to skip this for one main reason: my semi-sensitive skin.  The mask contains phenoxyethonal (the bane of my existance) plus both alcohol denat and lactic acid, both of which can be irritants and fairly drying.  I was disappointed to see phenoxyethonal popping up in yet another product on Love Lula, as this rules out me using it entirely as it burns my face and leaves it red and sore.

Ingredients: Polysorbate 60 (Source Rape Seed Oil), Glycerin (Source Coconut Oil), Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Water, Lecithin (Source Soybean), Lactic Acid (Source Wheat), Ribes Nigrum (Black Currant) Seed Extract, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Passiflora Quadrangularis Fruit Extract, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Fruit Extract, Ananas Sativus (Pineapple) Fruit Extract, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Fruit Extract, Alcohol denat. (Source Grape), Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Cranberry) Seed Oil, Xanthan Gum (Source Corn), Maltodextrin, Carica Papaya (Papaya) Fruit Extract, Parfum (100% Natural Fragrance), Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Oil, Citrus Nobilis (Mandarin Orange) Peel Oil, Citrus Tangerina (Tangerine) Peel Oil, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Seed Oil, Limonene, Linalool, Citral, Phenoxyethanol (Source Aromatic Ether), Sodium HydroxymethylGlycinate (Source Amino Acid), Hippophae Rhamnoides (Seabuckthorn) Berry Oil, , Tocopherol (Vitamin E).


Urban Veda Purifying Exfoliating Facial Polish (125ml):

This product is not actually on Love Lula at the moment (at least from what I can find!), so subscribers who enjoy Urban Veda as a brand are sure to be excited by this full size bottle that was included in the November Beauty Box.  Designed to help normalise oily and congested skin, the Purifying Exfoliating Facial Polish contains ayurvedic neem, wild mint, witch hazel, and eucalyptus, along with a host of other ingredients like anise and orange peel oil, pumice, and black mulberry extract.

"Microbead-free, the Purifying Exfoliating Facial Wash helps to buff away dead skin cells to encourage cell turnover, resulting in softer, smoother skin.

This Ayurveda-inspired face scrub helps to decongest and detoxify pores for a spot-free, clear complexion.

Naturally formulated to Ayurvedic principles to balance the Kapha dosha."
I am actually testing this for the 2019 Beauty Shortlist Awards currently, so I can't give my full thoughts on this product quite yet -- my lips are sealed until awards day on Friday March 1st!

Ingredients: Aqua (Water), Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (derived from Coconut oil), Isopropyl Palmitate, Glycerin (vegetable source), Cetearyl Alcohol, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Extract, Glyceryl Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate SE, Pumice, Polyglyceryl-3 Dicitrate/Stearate, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Mentha Arvensis (Wild mint) Leaf Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Melia Azadirachta (Neem) Seed Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Illicium Verum (Anise) Oil, Mentha Viridis (Spearmint) Leaf Oil, Azadirachta Indica (Neem) Leaf Extract, Picrasma Excelsa (Quassia) Wood Extract, Terminalia Arjuna Bark Extract, Menthol, Arctostaphylos Uva Ursi (Bearberry) Leaf Extract, Morus Nigra (Black Mulberry) Leaf Extract, Disodium EDTA, Alcohol Denat., Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Xanthan Gum, Chlorphenesin, Potassium Sorbate, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Sodium Benzoate, Limonene


* Alteya Organics Organic Rosehip Seed Oil (20ml):

For me, this is the star of November's collection from Love Lula.  I have tried several of Alteya Organics' products in the past, including their Illuminating Perfecting Serum, Lavender Water, and Rose Water, and I have always been impressed by their clean and effective formulas.  This Rosehip Seed Oil is no exception, being 100% pure and certified organic.


Rosehip seed oil is rich in antioxidants and essential fatty acids like Omega 3 and 6, and works to smooth, soften, and soothe the skin over time while also helping give it much needed hydration -- perfect for these chilly days and nights!  I find this type of oil is one of the few that is genuinely suited to any skin type -- sensitive, acne prone, dry, mature, normal, oily -- they all seem to benefit from this 'miracle' oil.  It is the one that works best for my skin, and pretty much every product I have tried that contains this has been brilliant!

Alteya Organics' cold pressed organic oil comes in a glass bottle and is dispensed via a glass dropper, so this ticks a few important boxes for me.  When it comes to buying oils, you want to be sure they come in dark containers so the product does not degrade (which can happen if the oil is exposed to sunlight) and are free from plastic so nasties like BPA do not leech in.  When you untwist the stopper and get a whiff of the deep gold liquid, you get your first hint that this heady green treat is going to do wonders for your skin -- it has the faintest hint of sweetness, but overall is very earthy and herbaceous.  The scent just SMELLS of the beauty of nature -- like fallen leaves in the autumn, or a cuppa, or a hazy day in the countryside.  So pure, so healing, so perfect.

I honestly find it SO refreshing to receive an oil like this in the Beauty Box.  Don't get me wrong, I adore a lot of the skincare discovered through Love Lula's subscription service, and I have ended up repeat buying many products that have been included in past edits of the box, but it is also nice to have something so pure and simple arrive.  During the winter months especially it is nice to have oils like this that can be mixed in with face masks, or that can be popped on underneath a day cream or as an additional moisture boost at night.  I love how many options there are for using this rosehip seed oil, and that I can get creative -- bath, body, face, hair...  The possibilities are pretty much limitless!

Ingredients: Organic Rose Hip Seed Oil


* VV Cream Gentle Exfoliator (50ml):

A "beauty cream exfoliator for the V" you say???  I was totally thrown by this product, and not just because it is designed for those more delicate areas (but more on that in a bit).

This treatment from The Perfect V is the bulk of the value in this month's beauty box, as it is full size and retails for £31.  The Cream Gentle Exfoliator has been formulated to ward off any issues with ingrown hairs and redness around the bikini line, and is ideal for anyone who waxes, shaves, lasers, trims, or dyes "that small triangle" below the belt.

This luxury cream exfoliator "rejuvenates and enhances the delicate skin" -- natural AHA acids like lemon, sugar cane, sugar maple and orange extracts along with jojoba oil provide soft exfoliating for this delicate area, while vitamin E oil works to condition the skin.  The cream also gently repairs damaging effects of hair removal, while bilberry, cloudberry and lingonberry provide an anti-aging and moisturizing effect.

The cream doesn't have much of a smell, which is good as you don't want to be applying loads of fragrances to that area of your skin, and the exfoliant is genuinely gentle -- not too scrubby, but effective enough to buff away dead cells.  I have never in my life heard of an exfoliation treatment being done down there, and while you don't actually put this on your lady bits, it may be a little too close for comfort for me personally.  There are several moderately high comedogenic ingredients that could potentially clog pores which is not so good for those with oily skin, and a handful of things that could upset those with more sensitive skin.  I don't want to risk irritating my "V" so I will be using this on less delicate parts of my body, like my legs!

That being said, I appreciate the effort by Love Lula to include something totally new for their subscribers -- it just isn't quite my thing unfortunately.

Ingredients: Aqua (Water), Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Glycerin, Coco-Caprylate, Glyceryl Stearate SE, Cetearyl Glucoside, Vaccinium Myrtillus (Bilberry) Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Benzyl Alcohol, Potassium Sorbate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Octyldodecyl Myristate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Xanthan Gum, Saccharum Officinarum (Sugar Cane) Extract, Capparis Spinosa Fruit Extract, Tocopherol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Fruit Extract, Salicylic Acid, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil, Sodium Phytate, Acer Saccharum (Sugar Maple) Extract, Rubus Chamaemorus Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Citric Acid, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract, Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea Leaf Extract, Sorbic Acid, Sodium Benzoate


* Natura Siberica Oblepikha Hand Cream (30ml):

Remember all those tips I gave about caring for your hands?  Well, it's that time of year where a good hand cream really becomes essential, as without one your skin can quickly become dry, chapped, and sore.  Love Lula really provided this month

"Gentle daily care will permanently preserve youth and beauty of your hands. The Altai sea buckthorn cream butter and amaranth oil will provide daily nourishing and deep moisturising for the skin. Cranberry seed oil nourishes the skin with essential vitamins, has a healing effect and perfectly protects the skin from harmful environmental influences."

Natura Siberica, like REN, are one of those brands where I judge their formulas on a case by case basis.  Some are relatively clean, and some have far too many nasties included for my liking.  But for such a budget friendly brand, I know they offer items at a price range that is ideal for many customers.  And thankfully, this is one of the better ones -- the Oblepikha Hand Cream passes (most of) my tests!  There are a few questionables, but overall this is pretty solid.

The hand cream does soften the skin and feels like it is doing a good job of moisturizing.  It's not the most hydrating cream I have ever tried, but if you are not spending your entire day out in the wind and rain, or washing your hands constantly, this should do you.   Oblepikha smells a bit of a fruity gummy sweet and is relatively pleasant, though unfortunately that may be due to the product containing 'parfum' -- there is no way of knowing quite what this includes, but based on how fragrant this is (verging on sickly sweet/fruity and very strong in smell) I would guess this uses synthetics which can be not so good for those prone to headaches or allergies.

Seeing how inexpensive the hand cream is, this could make a great stocking stuffer or be ideal for any beauty bundles you are making up as gifts for Christmas -- just be sure the person you are exchanging with does not have any sensitivities to fragrance.

Overall I am happy with this hand cream from Natura Siberica, and I am thankful that I finally had a chance to try one of their products.  I really appreciate how budget friendly their goodies are, and with this full size hand cream retailing at just £3.95 for 75ml, this is truly an incredibly affordable option to help keep your hands nourished.

Ingredients: Aqua, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Octyldodecanol, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Isopropyl Palmitate, Glycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Saccharide Isomerate, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil(*), Pinus Sibirica Seed Oil Polyglyceryl-6 Esters(PS), Vaccinium Macrocarpon Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sorbus Aucuparia Fruit Extract(WH), Geranium Sibiricum Extract(WH), Hesperis Sibirica Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract(WH), Larix Sibirica Needle Extract(WH), Crepis Sibirica Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract(WH), Abies Sibirica Needle Extract(WH), Amaranthus Spinosus Seed Oil(*), Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Xanthan Gum, Dehydroacetic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Parfum, Cl 19140, Cl 15985, Geraniol, Linalool. (*) – Issued from organic agriculture (WH) – Wild Harvested Siberian Plants Organic Extracts (PS) – Siberian Pine Oil Derivative




Overall, the actual value for the November box is fantastic, with the five products being worth £66 -- that means subscribers make a savings of over £52.  This was a great box for subscribers who aren't fussed about having totally clean and green products, or those who are just starting their journey and need a bit of a transition period.

However, I think this box just wasn't for me.  I will not be using all of the five skincare treats, as I was not super pleased with some of the ingredient lists personally.  I did like that Love Lula offered a very varied collection and included a type of product that we have never ever seen before, but I think many were put off by the concept, myself included.  I also was disappointed to see not one, but TWO more exfoliating treatments included in November's edit -- we have had so many exfoliators in the last year, and I am running out of skin to buff and peel.


But I'm not the be all end all here -- what did YOU think of the November beauty box from Love Lula?  Did you love all five products included?  Were you baffled by The Perfect V??  I would really like to hear your thoughts on this one especially, as I know there have been very mixed views on the Love Lula Natural Beauty Club on Facebook.

If you missed November's box from Love Lula and were hoping to get in on all the beauty treats, don't fret -- you can always grab next month's*!  Just be sure to subscribe before the end of the month, otherwise you will have to wait again.



Blogger Note: Every product mentioned in all of my posts are purchased with my own money, are gifts from friends or family, or were won in public competitions unless otherwise stated.  However, my posts may contain affiliate links. This will never change my approach to my reviews, nor will it influence how I represent the products I am writing about, as I only choose to represent or work with brands and companies that I 100% respect and trust.