It's the end of April, and that means it is time for my review of this month's Love Lula Beauty Box -- like I mentioned in previous posts, I am delaying these posts as long as possible each month so I can provide more insights into each product, explain how I am getting on with the formulas, and give more honest reflections on what I like and what I don't like about each item.


Well, that's the idea anyways.  This month was a little different though, as I was just struggling to get super excited about some of the stuff in the box -- which means I didn't actually open some of them until more recently.  Whoops!  However, while part of this review will be more like 'first impressions' than detailed reports on effectiveness, I always do 'final' thoughts in my empties posts so you can check in later for my verdicts.

That being said, there are a few items I have used extensively since digging into the box properly, including the facial mist which has been a fast favourite -- but more on that later!

The April edition of the Love Lula Beauty Box was worth £63 and included four full size items plus two sample sachets.  Though this edit does focus mainly on skincare, there is also a nail product inside which was a nice surprise -- I love when there is a variety included, don't you??

All the brands inside are names we have seen before in the monthly subscription, but all new goodies (no repeats as far as I am aware!) which is great.  And while not all the specific products are my cup of tea, the 25% off discount on all these brands is a great perk as I can always pick up some things that are more suited to me if I wish!

But let's jump into the actual contents of the April edition, shall we?

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* This post contains affiliate links
Gifted product - this subscription was gifted as part of the LLABP

No matter how I have received a product, whether it has been purchased with my own money, gifted by a brand, been subsidized by a brand, won, gifted by friends/family, or purchased with a gift voucher, my approach is always the same -- honesty, integrity, and highlighting both the good and the bad.  You can find more information on Disclosures and Privacy here.




Alteya Organic Chamomile Water (120ml / £7.95):
"The gentle sweet and fresh fragrant mist provides hydration and balance to dry, lifeless skin. It contains skin enhancing and illuminating constituents revealing renewed and healthy glow. It helps relieve and soothe skin and protects it against moisture loss."

I was a huge fan of the Balm Balm chamomile floral water back in the day, and was really sad when my bottle ran out.  I've been meaning to pick up another, so imagine my excitement when I saw a full size one from Alteya was included in the April Love Lula Beauty Box!

Alteya is a brand I have been loving for a while now, and I have actually used up multiple bottles of their rose water and am currently using their lavender water too.  So I already knew the quality of this product would be great, but I was unsure how the chamomile scent would be.  Some formulas from other brands the aroma is so understated it is barely noticeable, and in some it comes across a bit sour... Well, Alteya got it just right!

Slightly cheaper than Balm Balm but with all the same organic goodness, this hydrolat has a lovely even spray, a light feel on the skin that is so refreshing and soothing, an aroma that is faintly sweet, delicate, and oh so calming.  You only need one or two spritzes to fully apply over your face and neck, and it doesn't leave any tacky or sticky feel on the skin at all.

I am loving this before bed as part of my skincare routine, but also find it works well as a pillow mist.  That's the wonderful thing about a floral water -- they are so versatile and you can choose how the product will best suit your needs.  Hair, skin, sleep aid, mask activator... You name it, you can try it!  What is your go to use for products like this??

Further Recommendations:
Sooo many to recommend!  Honestly there hasn't been a product I have tried from Alteya that I disliked yet.  My stand outs are the Rose Otto Face Sunscreen, the Bulgarian Rose Water, Timeless Glow Renewal Moisturizer, and the Illuminating Perfecting Face Serum.  With my discount I already picked up a few new treats to try, including the Bulgarian White Rose Water and the Melissa Water!

Ingredients: 100% Pure USDA Certified Organic Chamomile (Anthemis Nobilis) flower distillate


Gallinée Probiotic Body Milk (200ml / £28):
"Gallinée Body Milk deeply hydrates and nourishes the body, for softer, smoother, more supple skin. Its light and creamy texture melts into the skin. // It feeds your skin with a cocktail of firming bogbean and nourishing sweet almond oil, combined with a patented Triple Biotic Complex of prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotics to help support your skin’s microbiome in the most gentle and effective way possible."

I have actually used a full bottle of the Gallinée Probiotic Body Milk previously, and as well as it worked to add much needed moisture to my skin over winter, I think I may do a little giveaway for this product to pay it forward to all you beauties.  How does that sound??

I found the body milk is super moisturizing and works to soften the skin over time.  In fact, according to Gallinée this product adds over 103% hydration in just an hour -- impressive!   After use my skin would always feel very soothed and not sticky at all because the lotion absorbs fully - a huge plus for me!

However, you may remember I have mentioned before I'm not usually keen on lotions or "milk" consistencies as I find them a bit wet, and I admit that was still the case for me here.  While this definitely helps dry skin, it just took a bit too long to dry down for my preference, plus I am not super fond of the fragrance.  Despite that, I did get on with the body milk while using it and did see (and feel!) results after using this probiotic formula.  If you need a fast boost to heal and calm your skin, this is one that will not disappoint.

Plus, this is such a generous size and lasts ages, so makes for a great pick for those needing TLC as well as a larger bottle.  And with a shelf life of nine months, that's a pretty great choice for money!

Further Recommendations:
I loved the samples of the hand cream I got a while back - it was so fast acting, soothing, and incredibly moisturizing.  I have also tried the mask + scrub which I enjoyed as a body scrub but found a bit too much for my face.  One that I haven't tested out myself yet but has caught my eye and got me intrigued is the Prebiotic Scalp and Hair Serum - it's like a post-shampoo rinse designed to leave hair glossier!

Ingredients: WATER PROPANEDIOL ISOPROPYL PALMITATE ALPHA-GLUCAN OLIGOSACCHARIDE C14-22 ALCOHOLS LACTIC ACID GLYCERIN AMMONIUM ACRYLOYLDIMETHYLTAURATE/VP COPOLYMER PRUNUS AMYGDALUS DULCIS (SWEET ALMOND) OIL CETYL ALCOHOL NYLON-12 PENTYLENE GLYCOL INULIN POLYMNIA SONCHIFOLIA ROOT JUICE TOCOPHERYL ACETATE MALTODEXTRIN ARGININE ALOE BARBADENSIS LEAF JUICE LACTOBACILLUS MENYANTHES TRIFOLIATA LEAF EXTRACT AESCULUS HIPPOCASTANUM (HORSE CHESTNUT) SEED EXTRACT PALMARIA PALMATA EXTRACT SODIUM ACRYLATE/SODIUM ACRYLOYLDIMETHYL TAURATE COPOLYMER C12-20 ALKYL GLUCOSIDE ISOHEXADECANE PERFUME (FRAGRANCE) POLYSORBATE 80 SORBITAN OLEATE ALCOHOL ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN TETRASODIUM GLUTAMATE DIACETATE SODIUM HYDROXIDE LIMONENE


Dr Botanicals Lemon Superfood All-in-one Rescue Butter (50ml / £19):
"Packed full of minerals, antioxidants and vitamins from Lemongrass oil, Coconut oil, Almond oil, Grape seed oil and seabuckthorn fruit oil, they all working together to rejuvenate, renew and invigorate dull and dry skin. With a 96% natural formula, the Superfood power of lemongrass and its high content of Vitamin C helps with skin blemishes and rough skin. The result is a brighter and smoother complexion and a dewy, healthy glow."

I have to admit, Dr Botanicals is one of those hit and miss brands for me personally.  Their Apothecary Collection is definitely better in terms of ingredients and quality than the main range, but even with these some of the ingredients just aren't up to my standards.  And sadly the Lemon Superfood All-in-one Rescue Butter is one of those products for me.

As I have mentioned many times, phenoxyethonal is an ingredient that plagues me.  My face and scalp especially are incredibly sensitive to this preservative, and while there are a few formulas that don't seem to give me the same levels of irritation (don't get me wrong though - there is still issues, just less immediate for me), it's like playing with fire as I never know if putting a product on is going to leave me red, inflamed, and hyper-sensitive for the next few weeks.  Pair that with a few other ingredients that I just don't get on with (coconut oil for one), and I decided I just couldn't risk it this time as my skin has been so clear and radiant lately.

For those who aren't so fussed about the ingredients or don't have the same sensitivities that I do, I would recommend this butter for dry patches on the body.  This probably won't suit most as a facial product despite the product description -- a quick scan of the ingredients highlights the nature of the blend, and hints that congestion would be an issue for many who tried this as a moisturizer or face balm.  Instead, try it on areas like elbows and knees, as an all over body butter, or maybe even for hands and feet as an overnight treatment.

Further Recommendations:
The products I have had luck with in terms of ingredients and quality are the Coffee Superfood Renewing Facial Exfoliator and the Pomegranate Superfood Regenerating Sleeping Mask, and another one that I am tempted by is the Hemp Super Concentrated Rescue Essence Serum.

Ingredients: Aqua (Water), Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Hydroxide, Hippophae Rhamnoides (Seabuckthorn) Fruit Oil, Xanthan Gum, Allantoin, Disodium EDTA, Citral, Dehydroacetic Acid, Cymbopogon Flexuosus Oil, Geraniol, Linalool, Citronellol, Eugenol, Isoeugenol, Limonene.


Glossworks Raspberry Parade Nail Polish (9ml / £12.00):
"Professionally formulated, high coverage shades with a volumising, gel like texture; and an extremely glossy finish that does not fade."

Glossworks is another brand I have tried pretty extensively, so I was happy to find them inside another Love Lula Beauty Box.  I find their nail varnish is long lasting when used with a base and top coat, has a great variety of shades, is well priced for a non-toxic nail brand, and is easy to apply.  In fact, I enjoyed my first experience using their 9-free polish so much that I picked up a whole bunch of colours last year!

Because I have so many of the shades, I did notice one thing about the one included in this month's edit... Raspberry Parade looks very similar to other options in the range: Fandango Fizz and Name Of The Rose.  And to be honest, if I loved pink, that would be fab as I could do some cool ombre blends or a tye dye print or even a bouquet design, but since I'm not the biggest fan of this colour I wasn't over the moon about having a second bottle of a very slightly lighter colour.


That being said, for anyone who hasn't shopped the Glossworks range extensively, this is a lovely bold shade to add to a collection.  Even for those of us with moodier styles can make good use of this, using it as a neon touch in a nail look, for a pop of flair, a sharp contrast -- it's not just a Legally Blonde moment that's for sure.  I'm going to be testing out some looks over the next few weeks, and will be sharing them on my Insta stories, so if you are looking for inspiration be sure to pop by!

Further Recommendations:
Pretty much any of them -- I've enjoyed each bottle I have picked up, plus the nail oil and remover.  The only shades I have found trickier to work with are the light pastels (especially the whites/creams) as they seem to take longer to dry and then need multiple coats to be opaque.  The darker and bolder shades usually just need one (maybe two) coats.

Ingredients: Butyl Acetate, Ethyl Acetate, Nitrocellulose, Acetyl Tributyl Citrate, Isobutyl Acetate, Isopropyl Alcohol, Adipic Acid/Neopentyl Glycol/Trimellitic Anhydride Copolymer, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Sucrose Benzoate, Stearalkonium Bentonite, CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), Benzophenone-1, CI 15850 (Red 7 lake), Butylene Glycol, Aqua, Barium Sulfate, CI 15850 (Red 6 lake), Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Tocopherol.


Kimberly Sayer (2x 1.5ml):
There were two samples included in the April Love Lula Beauty Box - I got a sachet of the Restore Anti-Aging Cream and a sachet of the Gentle Face Cleanser.  I haven't actually opened either of these yet, as I keep samples like this for traveling to save on space - they're great for popping in your overnight bag or carry on, and are fab for shorter trips especially.  However, I admit I have a love/hate relationship with small size samples like this.  Since my face in particular is so fussy when it comes to products, I really need to be able to try for at least a week to see if I am going to have breakouts or delayed reactions of any sort.  It is tricky for me to judge off a single use (or maybe two uses if I am careful with how much comes out of the packet).

That being said, I know many LOVE Kimberly Sayer products, and this 25% off discount has got me so tempted to just take the plunge and hope for the best.  I would love to know which are your favourite from this brand!

Further Recommendations:
As I have not used any full size products, or more generous samples, I can't really recommend anything personally I am afraid!  Two things that are on my possible 'to try' list are the Deep Cleansing French Clay Mask and the Cellular Extract Eye Lift Gel.

Cleanser Ingredients: DEIONIZED WATER, ROSE FLOWER WATER, SUNFLOWER SEED OIL, WHEATGERM OIL, GLYCERIN (VEGETABLE), COCOGLUCOSIDE (COCONUT), VEGETABLE GUM, LAVENDER FLOWER OIL, ROSE FLOWER OIL, RADISH ROOT FERMENT FILTRATE (VEGETABLE PRESERVATIVE), FORAHA OIL, GINSENG ROOT EXTRACT, ROSEMARY LEAF EXTRACT, LECITHIN, ANISE, ALOE VERA LEAF JUICE, VEGETABLE GUM, CITRIC ACID (FRUIT PRESERVATIVE)

Cream Ingredients: Deionized Water, Sweet Almond Oil, Safflower Seed Oil, Algae Extract, Oat Beta Glucan, Oat Kernel Extract, Horsetail (silica), Lavender Oil, Vegetable Glycerin, Benzyl Alcohol (plant alcohol preservative), Aspen Bark Extract, Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline (potato), Shea Butter, Plant Phospholipids, Vitamins A, C & E, Borage Seed Oil, Rosemary Leaf Extract, Sunflower Seed Oil, Vegetable Gum




Overall I thought this box was great for many people, especially with the changing of seasons.  The body lotion is a nice change from an ultra rich oil or body butter, the rescue butter a good way to give your skin some extra TLC to keep it super soft, the nail polish is bright and cheery, and the chamomile water is fab for illuminating the face and soothing the senses during the chaos of spring.  I love that there is a mix of types of products, and a good mix of budgets represented in the box, meaning everyone can pick up some extra goodies no matter what their spending limit is (especially with the 25% off discount included in the edit for these brands!).

For me, it wasn't my favourite (I definitely preferred the previous two boxes!), but only because

a) I have used many of these brands/products before
and
b) some of the ingredients did not suit me and my skin type

That being said though, the discount code still brings a lot of extra value in my opinion, as I could then pick up some treats that suited me a little better and not have to stress as much about my bank balance.  Plus, it gives me an opportunity to give back to you beauties!

Keep an eye out for a giveaway - I'll be creating a little bundle of prizes for a nice springtime treat for one lucky winner, so you won't want to miss your chance to enter!  I think since I have done so many on Twitter lately (and did the massive Christmas giveaway here on the blog!) I will switch things up and run it on Instagram.  Sound good??

And of course, I would love to hear your thoughts on the April collection from Love Lula Beauty Box in the meantime!  I know the Facebook group expressed pretty positive reactions, but what do you lovelies think?  Will you be using everything in the box?  Had you used some of these items previously?  Let me know!

P.S. if you are interested in subscribing to the monthly subscription box from Love Lula, be sure to do so before the start of the month.  For just £14.95 per box on a rolling payment plan you can get a great savings, discover new brands and products, and get a nice treat delivered right to your door!  The April box is no longer available, but if you sign up before the first of the month you can get the May edit! xx