Unboxing Beauty

This month has gone by so fast that I didn’t even check for spoilers for February!   I love The 3B Box ~  if you are looking for an Asian beauty box subscription that contains deluxe size products with a full sized item now and then, this sub is for you ~ they don’t just do K-Beauty, so you will get Chinese, Taiwanese and Japanese skincare products too.  What is 3B (Beauty Beyond Borders)?  It is an Asian sample monthly subscription box and is very affordable at $14.00/monthly ~ if you sign up for a longer subscription, you can save more money.  It is similar to ipsy and Birchbox, where you get 4 to 5 deluxe samples (and sometimes a full sized item!)

More about 3B’s monthly service:

Each box contains a collection of deluxe samples that are new or popular in Asia but hard to get your hands on. The products will change each month, and you’ll get to try new skincare, haircare, nailcare, and cosmetic products. Sample products range from go-to brands such as Lioele, Etude House and Skinfood to high-end premium brands like SK-II, Kanebo, and Sulwhasoo. Don’t worry about not being able to read Japanese or Korean – we’ve got you covered with English translations of descriptions in each box. (https://the3bbox.com/the-box/)

The 3B Box has an online shop now!  You can purchase full size AND deluxe sized samples ~ in case you missed out on a sample or you just want to try it.  Check it out  ~ and for the month of February, use promo code LOVE to get free shipping!

Informational Card

 

DHC Deep Cleansing Oil (Japan)  DHC has been around a long time and I still get the snail mail catalogs from DHC with little foil samples in them.  This olive oil based cleanser is their most popular product and I have used it before.  It does do a good job in removing stubborn makeup, dirt and grime from your face and it has a water soluble formula that does not leave a greasy or filmy residue.  It does contain moisturizing olive oil and antioxidant vitamin E.  Oil cleanse is the first step in the 2-step cleansing process ~ it will remove makeup and oils and then you follow up with a foaming cleanser.  Deluxe Size 1 oz RV $5.50

Description: DHC Deep Cleansing Oil makeup remover completely dissolves all traces of dirt and cosmetics—even waterproof mascara and eyeliner—while nourishing your complexion with antioxidant-rich olive oil. Using dry hands, massage it onto your dry face, and it immediately goes to work. Add water and it transforms to a milky, vitamin-rich emulsion that rinses clean, leaving your skin feeling soft and nurtured; never dry or greasy. One try and you’ll understand why it’s the ultimate cleanser. In a clinical study, 92% of participants agreed Deep Cleansing Oil worked better than a leading cleanser at removing complexion makeup. Rich in vitamins and antioxidants. Nourishes and hydrates for younger-looking skin. 1 sold every 10 seconds worldwide

DHC skincare makes some great olive oil skin care products. Since DHC is based on olive oil (in fact one product is solely pure olive oil), a common first thought is: Won’t DHC skincare items cause break outs? But the general reports from both the DHC skincare company and from consumers is that the products, even the pure olive oil, do not clog pores. Instead, olive oil helps to dissolve the gunk that can sink into them.

Ingredients: olea europaea (olive) fruit oil, caprylic/capric triglyceride, sorbeth-30 tetraoleate, pentylene glycol, phenoxyethanol, tocopherol, stearyl glycyrrhetinate, rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf oil cosDNA analysis

 

Wei Chinese Rose Foaming Cleanser (China) I am really enjoying this high end brand ~ Wei makes some great masks and now a foaming cleanser is included.  The Chinese Rose mentioned here is what is also called a Beach Rose and it a species native to Japan, China,  Korea and Siberia.  It is found on the coast-line, on sand dunes.  It is a hardy species and grows easily when transplanted ~ here in Massachusetts, it grows wild along our roads and coastal areas. where it grows on the coast, often on sand dunes.  Rose is used in skincare to help soften, sooth and hydrated skin.  Rose is problematic for me ~ depending the variety of rose used and how far up it is in the ingredient list, I cannot use it.  Alas, since this is marketed as a rose cleanser, it is in the upper third of the ingredient list, so this will be in a giveaway!  Wei is a stellar brand, so I am sure this is a great cleanser. Deluxe Size 1 oz RV $5.67

Description: For centuries Chinese women have used water with rose petals to rinse their faces, soothe their skin, and keep their complexion healthy, hydrated and soft. This creamy cleanser transforms into hydrating foam to gently cleanse and remove dirt and stubborn makeup without drying. Skin is left looking dewy and free of impurities, feeling soft and smooth like a petal to the touch. Chinese Rose moisturizes and softens the skin while purifying, non-drying astringents help tone skin and reduce the appearance of pores. Vitamin C from Mandarin Orange energizes and refreshes the complexion. Nourishing polygylcerins give a boost of intense hydration that soothes and refines skin

Ingredients: Water, Coco-Glucoside, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Glycerin, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Glycol Stearate, Glyceryl Oleate, PEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate, Rosa Rugosa Flower Extract, Hibiscus Mutabilis Flower Extract, Citrus Reticulata Peel Extract, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Polyquaternium-7,  Fragrance, Benzyl Benzoate, Benzyl Salicylate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyquaternium-10, Sodium Dehydroacetate cosDNA analysis

 

SkinRX MadeCera (Re-turn)  Cream (Korea) I received the MadeCera Mask last month and now the matching cream! This cream will help heal and sooth damaged skin. Its name ~ MadeCera ~ gives clues to its two main ingredients ~ madecassoside (centella asiatica), which is a common herbal ingredient that is used medicinally to help speed up wound healing, such as blemishes and skin rashes. It also helps minimize the appearance of pores, and since it stimulates collagen production, it will make your skin more supple and firm. Fermented Ceramide is the second key ingredient and they are a lipid found in our skin cells and we produce less ceramides as we get older ~ this will cause dry and flaky skin. This ingredient will help lock in moisture to your skin.  The MadeCera cream is meant to help strengthen your moisture barrier, condition, moisturize, brighten (due to niacinamide) and provide anti-aging care.  It is a small sample, but I am still excited to try it!   5 mL  RV $3.60

Description:   MadeCera Cream contains a powerful combination of naturally fermented ceramics and ancient herbal remedy, madecassoside. A great choice for healing damaged skin quickly. It contains a heavy concentration (10,000ppm) of ceramide, which helps rebuild skin’s ability to repair itself. Clinically-tested in Korea to treat skin damage and to increase moisture levels.

Ingredients: Water, Glycerine, Butylene  Glycol, Betaine, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, C14-28 Alkyl Acid, Stearyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Arachidyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Glucoside, Cyclopentasiloxane, Diisostearyl Malate, Ceramide 3  (10,000ppm) , PEG-10 Rapeseed Sterol, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycereth-20, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycosyl Trehalose, Panthenol, PEG-100 Stearate, Dimethicone, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Lanolin, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Squalane, Polysorbate 60, Allantoin, Xanthan Gum, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Adenosine, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Madecassoside, Fragrance cosDNA analysis

image source

image source

image source

 

My Beauty Diary Squalene Restorative Mask (Taiwan)  I am a huge fan of My Beauty Diary masks, so I am happy to see one in my bag this month.  This is a mask I haven’t tried yet, made with squalane, which has the ability to penetrate the skin quickly and completely, making it valuable in skincare products, as it is a powerful antioxidant, UV damage preventative, prevents hyper-pigmentation due to age and promotes cell growth. This mask contains vegetable squalene, made from olive oil and its molecular structure is similar to your skin’s own oils (sebum).  MBD masks are made with a silky thin tencel sheet mask material and are usually soaked with essence. This mask will help repair and hydrate your skin.   This is free from parabens, preservatives, alcohol, mineral oil, pigments and fluorescent agents.  RV $2.00

Description: Skin restoring Squalene –  in conjunction  with Cosphingo™ x Aquaroad –   provides outstanding penetration and absorption capabilities which heals and restores the epidermis  and prevents the loss of moisture from the inside. Marine glycoprotein and vitamin E hydrate the skin to enhance its protection against external pollutants, thereby transforming the appearance of coarse dull skin to a translucent one that emanates radiance. Using Tencel fiber cloth to create the ultimate water layer thin needle through interleaving and efficient water-bearing structure of the essence, so that the skin effectively absorb the essence mask enhance meticulous touch moisturizing skin moist, not adding chemical adhesive agents natural decomposition in the environment, eliminating the burden of skin-friendly sense of the Earth’s ecology.  My Beauty Diary persistent moisturizing ingredients Cosphingo™ perfect combination of Aquaroad™ provide efficient ultimate moisturizing skin moisturizing factor, let the water soak rough, dry keratin molecules from the inside out once the full complement level, improve skin deep moisturizing endurance, show water, water, soft water lock after health.

Ingredients: water, glycerin, butylene glycol, propylene glycol, aloe barbadensis leaf juice, pseudoalteromonas ferment extract, phenoxyethanol, chlorphenesin, triethanolamine, nasturtium officinale flower/leaf extract, laminaria digitata extract, fucus vesiculosus extract, gentiana lutea root extract, arnica montana flower extract, glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice) root extract, polysorbate 20, citric acid, sodium hyaluronate, enantia chlorantha bark extract, hydroxyethyl urea, hydrolyzed rice protein, dipotassium glycyrrhizate, glyceryl glucoside, codium tomentosum extract, lactobacillus/soy milk ferment filtrate, hamamelis virginiana (witch hazel) bark/leaf/twig extract, hibiscus sabdariffa flower extract, hydrolyzed soy protein, lecithin, polysorbate 80, squalene, carbomer, iodopropynyl butylcarbamate, xanthan gum, fragrance, sodium hydroxide, sodium lactate, sodium PCA, glycosphingolipids, tocopheryl acetate cosDNA analysis

The Face Shop Jeju Volcanic Lava 3-Step Blackhead Remover Nose Strips (Korea)  One of my favorite items is by The Face Shop from their Jeju Line ~ Jeju Tangerine Dry Oil (see review here).  I knew that they had some other products in the Jeju line, volcanic being the other.  This is a 3 step nose mask ~ and you will need an hour to perform these tasks!   The first step is prepping your nose and helping to extract the oils from your skin. The second step is that dreaded pore strip that we all know about.  You moisten your nose and slap this one, it hardens and then you remove it, along with gunk … and skin, in my case.  I actually remove it by re-moistening it with an astringent toner to help soften it up.  And the last step is a soothing essence that will help smooth and soothe your skin.

1. After washing your face, adhere the « Step 1» strip to your nose to fit its shape. After 15 to 20 minutes, remove the sheet and use a cotton swab to remove the melted sebum from your pores.

2. Wet the nose area thoroughly. Remove the clear film from the « Step 2 » strip with dry hands and adhere the strip to your nose to fit its shape. When the strip has completely dried after 10 to 15 minutes, remove it slowly from the edge.

3. Remove the entire film from the « Step 3 » strip and adhere the strip to your nose to fit its shape. After 10 to 15 minutes, remove the strip and lightly tap to allow the essence to be absorbed.

RV  4.00

Ingredients

Step 1: water, butylene glycol, hamamelis virginiana (witch hazel) water, salvia officinalis (sage) leaf extract, melissa officinalis leaf extract, arctium majus root extract, mentha piperita (peppermint) leaf extract, juniperus communis fruit extract, viscum album (mistletoe) extract, saponaria officinalis root extract, hypericum perforatum extract, 1,2-hexanediol, phenoxyethanol, PEG-60 hydrogenated castor oil, allantoin, sodium lauroyl sarcosinate, ethylhexylglycerin, xanthan gum, camellia japonica flower extract, chamomilla recutita (matricaria) leaf extract,  fragrance, sodium polyacrylate cosDNA analysis

Step 2: vinyl caprolactam/VP/dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate copolymer, silica, PEG-12 dimethicone, water, charcoal powder, titanium dioxide(CI 77891), dipotassium glycyrrhizate, camellia sinensis leaf extract, butylene glycol, allantoin, aloe barbadensis leaf juice powder, hamamelis virginiana (witch hazel) extract, tocopheryl acetate, iron oxides(CI 77499), volcanic ash cosDNA analysis

Step 3: water, butylene glycol, glycereth-26, alcohol, betaine, glyceryl polymethacrylate, propylene glycol, 1,2-hexanediol, PEG-60 hydrogenated castor oil, phenoxyethanol, hydroxyethyl acrylate/ sodium acryloyldimethyl taurate copolymer, phenyl trimethicone, ethylhexylglycerin, carbomer, triethanolamine, camellia sinensis leaf extract, disodium EDTA, fragrance, tocopheryl acetate, sodium polyacrylate, menthol cosDNA analysis

 image source

Despite not being able to use the Wei product, I am pretty happy with this month’s box ~ a new centella cream to try out ~ centella is fantastic for blemish prone skin ~ a classic Japanese cleaning makeup remover oil, My Beauty Diary mask and The Face Shop nose strips featuring Jeju ingredients.  This month’s box is about soothing care for your skin. We got products from Korea, Taiwan, Japan and China ~ I don’t know of any other subscription box that features all of these countries!  I paid $12.00 for this and received a RV of $20.77, which is one of the lower valued boxes that The 3B has produced but it is a quality box.