Unboxing Beautibi aNEW Limited Edition Box

[ disclaimer: products received for review purposes ~ all opinions are my own and are honest. blog post contains referral link ]

Beautibi just released a limited edition box to really jump start the New Year, called aNEW. I was lucky enough to be offered one for review purposes and here is my unboxing! Beautibi is an online boutique Asian skincare and makeup shop, straight out of Southern California and Jen, the owner and curator extraordinaire, has a nose for new brands and upcoming trends in Korean and Taiwanese skincare! Some of my favorite brands were discovered through her store ~ L’Herboflore, 23.5N, Simplistic Skin, B-Lab and Naruko, just to name a few. All of her orders include a ton of samples and confetti, as we all need a little sparkle in our lives! Her beauty boxes are wonderfully packaged in a study teal box, great for gift giving!

Description

The design behind the name of our first box of 2017 comes from that feeling of peeling off old layers to bring out the new. Our design features the delta symbol to signify “change.” This box is also going to be a little different from our past boxes, as it won’t include only skincare but some other amazing products as well. We hope our newest beauty box lets you make some beautiful changes in your daily care routine and welcome a brighter you. Box Includes 9 different items (6 are travel size, 1 full size item + 2 sheet masks) introducing 2 new brands with a visit from familiar faces.

There are 3 versions of the aNEW box

Soothing & Brightening: Great for sensitive/combination skin
Hydrating: Great for people with dry or normal skin
Balancing: Great for people with oily/normal skin

I requested the Balancing box as I do have oily, aging skin.

23.5N Balancing Travel Set All of the kits have 3 items, plus a really adorable drawstring pouch, so you can keep your travel items safe! I love 23.5N ~ it has become on of my favorite Taiwanese brands all due to the amazing Oriental Beauty Tea Balancing Gel wash off mask ~ I use it as a sleeping mask and it so good for oily skin! This kit contains the Oriental Beauty Tea Toner (1 oz), Bamboo Ultra Hydrating Serum (5mL) and Beauty Tea Peppermint Cleanser (20mL). I have tried all 3 items and I have found that both the toner and serum are scentless, but the cleanser is a peppermint scented. The toner is watery and has a light golden color that applies colorless with a mildly acidic pH level of 5. Its key ingredient is tea ~ tea is full of powerful anti-oxidants, due to its high concentration of polyphenols and it helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The bamboo serum is a watery gel and is clear ~ it absorbs quickly into my skin without any greasy or tacky residue. It is quite hydrating and bamboo extracts are a great anti-aging ingredients ~ it contains over 70% of silica, which is a crucial item when it comes to your skin’s connective tissue, collagen. By stimulating certain cells, silica helps strengthen your collagen and elastin, which in turn will help firm and tone your skin and plump up your skin, so fine lines and wrinkles are not as noticeable. Bamboo also is a very soothing ingredient that is good for sensitive skin, as it is an anti-irritant, retains moisture and helps combat free radicals as it does contain anti-oxidant proprieties as well. This also has honey in it, which not only moisturizes, but helps heal blemishes and balances your skin.

The cleanser is amazing ~ it has a sharp, rich peppermint scent and in the tub, it has a creamy solid texture. I just dip my pore brush into the tub and it foams up with a rich, refreshing lather that tingles due to the mint extracts. It has a pH level between 7 and 8, for those who are interested. I found that this cleansed my face beautifully without any stripping and my face didn’t feel dry or tight. I REALLY hope Jen carries the full sized version of this cleanser in her store, as it is amazing ~ I think it would be fantastic to have it in the summer time (hint hint hint).

You can purchase this Travel Set by itself ~ Beautibi has all 3 versions on their website. RV $24.00

Description: It’s a revisit from a brand we launched late last year. From all the love that you guys have been giving 23.5N we decided to curate a small mini set of goodies, great for travel with canvas bag included for easy traveling! Variations: Soothing & Brightening Box [[ Red Pearl Whitening Serum, Rice Soothing Gel Mask & Oriental Beauty Tea Cleanser]] Hydrating Box [[ Red Pearl Barley Whitening Toner, Bamboo Cleanser & Bamboo Facial Cream ]]

Oriental Beauty Tea Balancing Toner Description: Deep Pore Root Balance Oil secretion and improve pore obstruction, so that the skin to restore clean and refreshing feeling. No addition of alcohol is not easy to stimulate the formula, with the leaves and mint extract to add, can moist and soothe the skin calm, balance the skin pH and conditioning oil secretion

Oriental beauty tea origin: Hsinchu Emei – Ishii Village 24 ° 41’N, 121 ° 0’E ~ SGS Taiwan Inspection Technology ~ No pesticide residue test ~ No alcohol added

Oriental Beauty Tea Balancing Toner Ingredients: Water, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tea Extract, Glycerin, Terminalia Catappa L. Leaves (Indian almond) Extract, Peppermint Extract, Benzyl Alcohol, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone cosDNA analysis

Bamboo Ultra Hydrating Serum Description: Long-lasting moisturizing essence, 10% high concentration of bamboo essence and long-term moisturizing factor to add, strengthen the moisturizing skin soft, long-lasting moisturizing effect is good, improve skin water shortage or scaling. For dry or troubled skin.

Bamboo bamboo origin: Nantou Zhushan Ping top 23 ° 67’N, 120 ° 69’E ~ mining natural agricultural cultivation, raw material through the absence of pesticide testing ~No alcohol added

Bamboo Ultra Hydrating Serum Ingredients: Water, Sodium Hyaluronate, Carbomer, Phyllostachys Reticulata (Bamboo) Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, Honey Extract, Benzyl Alcohol, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone cosDNA analysis

Oriental Beauty Tea Peppermint Refreshing Facial Cleanser Ingredients: Water, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Glycerin, Polyethylene Glycols, Propylene Glycol, Olive Oil PEG-7 Esters, Carbomer, Glyceryl Stearate (and) Cetearyl Alcohol (and) Stearic Acid (and) Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Tea Extract, Menthol, Peppermint Oil, Mentha Piperita Extract, Benzyl Alcohol, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone cosDNA analysis

image source

invi+apotheke Hair + Body Care Travel Set Another new brand for me and this time, some hair care and body care products in 50mL travel sized bottles, with a white drawstring pouch to carry them in. The key ingredient here is peat and it is my personal belief that peat is the next “big” thing in skincare ~ Peter Thomas Roth has an Irish Mud line, belif has some peat skincare items, Make P:rem has a peat skin cleansing line, of which I own both products ~ and now, invi+apotheke. Peat (Irish Mud, Irish Bog) is actually the product of partially decayed plant matter ~ it contains almost 100% organic compounds and is a rich source of antioxidants and antiseptics. Peat also acts as an anti-inflammatory, tightens pores, acts as an astringent and helps with skin elasticity. It is also a great detox treatment for your skin, removing excess oils and skin cells, dirt and debris. If the Irish Bog can preserve bodies for thousands of years, maybe it can help preserve our skin!

These 3 products also contain lactic acid, which makes sense ~ Lactic acid is an AHA, which will gently exfoliate your skin, removing dead skin cells, excess oils and unclogging pores. The scalp on your head and the skin on your body all need some type of exfoliation. Hair follicles, the sacs in the skin where your hair grows out of, can get clogged and that leads to scalp acne, rashes and hair loss. Your body can also benefit from gentle acid exfoliation, to help remove dead flaky skin and smooth out skin issues like body acne and keratosis pilaris, which are those raised little bumps on your upper arms and legs. All of the invi+apotheke are made with 100% natural and plant-derived ingredients, with natural surfactants, preservatives and essentials oils. They are pH balanced as well and although I didn’t test the pH on these products, because they are black liquids and it is difficult to tell, I will post what the website has for the pH levels. All three of these items have a lovely light herbal and warm scent to them, which I have to assume is due to the herbal root extracts and perhaps even the peat, as Make P:rem Black Cleansing Water smells just this trio. This travel kit retails at $27.00

Description: Peat is a natural organic substance created through a repeated accumulation of decayed moss, reed, and other water plants in the soil. Peat extract in cosmetic products serves two functions: it cleans and moisturizes your hair and skin, leaving behind a soft and healthy feeling. Among anti-aging factors, plant sterols have been of particular interest for female cosmetics. Sterol extracts from peat have been marketed in facial creams. Exfoliative activity of peat is used in bath foams and shower gels. Anti-inflammatory activity is used in toothpastes and gels.

Peat Hair Cleanser (pH 5.5) contains 30% organic aloe maculata (another variation of the aloe plant) leaf extract, which will help moisturize, soothe, reduce skin irritation and leave your scalp healthy. This is a deep black color but it doesn’t stain or turn your skin or shower black. For a natural shampoo, it foams up nicely and my hair is clean without feeling straw-like or dry. It contains .45% peat water.

Ingredients: **aloe maculata leaf extract (30%), *palm kernel/coco glucoside, *decyl glucoside, peat water (.45%), *scutellaria baicalensis root extract, *paeonia suffruticosa root extract, *glycyrrhiza uralensis (licorice) root extract, *caprylic/capric triglyceride, lactic acid *plant-derived natural origin **certified organically grown

Peat Hair Treatment (pH 4.5) contains 20% organic aloe maculata leaf extracts, 0.3% peat water and it is a creamy dove grey in color. This is the conditioner and it does provide moisture and detangles my hair.

Ingredients: **aloe maculata leaf extract (20%), *cetearyl alcohol, *cetyl alcohol, *cetearyl olivate, *sorbitan olivate, peat water (.3%), *scutellaria baicalensis root extract, *paeonia suffruticosa root extract, *glycyrrhiza uralensis (licorice) root extract, *caprylic/capric triglyceride, lactic acid *plant-derived natural origin **certified organically grown

Peat Body Cleanser (pH 4.5) contains 28.61% organic aloe maculata leaf extracts, 1.8% peat water and it is the same deep black color as the shampoo, but the way I can tell the difference is that the body cleanser is much thicker than the shampoo. It foams up beautifully as well.

Ingredients: **aloe maculata leaf extract (28.61%), *palm kernel/coco glucoside, *glycerin, *decyl glucoside, peat water (1.8%), *scutellaria baicalensis root extract, *paeonia suffruticosa root extract, *glycyrrhiza uralensis (licorice) root extract, *caprylic/capric triglyceride, lactic acid *plant-derived natural origin **certified organically grown

Thank You Farmer Be Beautiful Pure Makeup in Base The Balancing box comes with Base, which is a green color corrector. This will help tone down redness ~ either thru natural ruddiness or blemishes, scars and PIH. It is on the exact opposite color wheel spectrum as red, so green will neutralize the redness in your skin. This is a step that you use after your skincare and sunscreen products and before your BB, CC or foundation step. Base makeup should always be followed by a foundation of some kind, as otherwise, your skin will look a bit funky! lol I do have a lot of ruddiness in my skin ~ the years have not been kind to me ~ all of my sun-damage and PIH just shows thru, plus I do have a couple of broken blood vessels from too many falls on the ski slope!

This is a lightweight mint-green base has that has that classic perfumed scent from Thank You Farmer ~ which does disappear quickly. It has a pump applicator for ease of application ~ and I use a couple of pumps and dab, dab and dab on my face and start blending in. Your face will turn several shades lighter with this color corrector ~ or at least it does with me. I swear, I look like a ghost, but that is the point of it ~ to give a brighter canvas for your foundation. This is due to the titanium dioxide in the product, as that will give your skin a white cast. The photo on the right has the product blended out in the lower part of the picture.

So, how does it look on an actual face, you might ask? Well, don’t say I didn’t warn you ~ there is a reason why I hate doing selfies!

Bare Faced with Just Skincare: Blech. So much hyper-pigmentation and ruddiness. No wonder my skin tone is tough to figure out.

With Thank You Farmer Base: Wow, it really brightened AND lightened up my skin ~ I even put some over my lips too, as I am a messy applicator of foundations. You can tell that by my neck and shirt that this really did make my skin very pale and by doing so, removed a lot of the redness. I still have tons of imperfections, but it is blurred.

With Makeup: I used Klairs Mochi BB Cushion (only comes in one shade) and then added some blush, eye shadow and lippie. My skin isn’t perfect, but I think that it still looks natural without all of that redness with my bare skin. Ladies, wear your sunscreen. I don’t care if you love being tan, as it will come back and bite you hard in a few years.

All in all, this works really well as a color correcting base and it will lighten and brighten your skin tone ~ which will allow your foundation step to look more even and smooth. The other boxes could have the Thank You Farmer BB or CC Cream ~ You can also replace it with the Thank You Farmer Peeling Cream (Gel) if you would rather have a skincare product instead of makeup. Just make a note of it when you check out. RV $29.00

Ingredients: water, cyclopentasiloxane, ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, butylene glycol, titanium dioxide, phenyl trimethicone, isoeicosane, caprylyl methicone, PEG-10 dimethicone ,dimethicone, ethylhexyl salicylate, niacinamide, zinc oxide, vinyl dimethicone/methicone silsesquioxane crosspolymer, disteardimonium hectorite, magnesium sulfate, dimethicone crosspolymer, talc, C12-14 pareth-3, phenoxyethanol, fragrance, palmitic acid, aluminum hydroxide, chromium oxide greens, aluminum stearate, methicone, ethylhexylglycerin, tocopheryl acetate, octyldodecanol, adenosine, sodium hyaluronate, ultramarines, echium plantagineum seed oil, cardiospermum halicacabum flower/leaf/vine extract, helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil unsaponifiables cosDNA analysis

image source

Description: This dried bio-cellulose mask is patent approved technology that was developed using natural fruit water of coconut. Its cooling effect and adhesiveness are excellent for skin cleansing. The WISHING U mask also has an outstanding water supplying effect that allows for comfortable maintenance of moisture for long hours with any skin irritation. Effects: Deep moisturizing, hydrating, cooling, soothing, sebum control, brightening and wrinkle improvement. It has cooling, soothing, brightening and anti-wrinkle effects, while removing skin impurities from your pores. Mask contains E.G.F to stimulate new cell growth, niacinamide for improving appearance of enlarged pores, while visibly improving uneven skin tones, dullness and weakened skin surfaces. No mineral oils, parabens, sulfates, phthalates, artificial colors or microbeads. Dried bio-cellulose causes no skin irritation, no bacteria and no preservatives. It effectively absorbs and delivers essence to skin while remove dead skin cells and controls sebum.

Wishing U Advanced Whitening Dried Bio-Cellulose Mask Wishing U is another new brand to me ~ Beautibi is always looking for new and interesting brands! This patented facial mask is made with natural, fermented coconut fruit water and it is not only a brightening mask, but soothes and removes impurities from your pores. This mask is a very thin bio cellulose, which Wishing U calls “dry” ~ I hate to say it, but it does remind me a fine thin condom!!

It is sandwiched between two very thin paper protectors and the first thing I noticed was the scent. It is glorious. It smells like summer, on the beach with tons of coconuts freshly cracked open with that wonderful cream. Speaking of cream, the essence on this mask is thick and creamy, almost like a lotion.

I did have a bit of a hard time peeling the 2nd paper bit off, as it was so thin, but I did succeed! The fit is a bit smallish for my huge face, but it works out okay and there was enough essence left over in the package, that I added more on my cheeks and all over my neck.

After 30 minutes, I removed the mask ~ it is now very thin, very dry and it peels right off, taking gunk with it! I guess that is what removes the dirt from my pores! And it really does look like a used condom now ~ hahahhahaha. My face looked brighter, very moisturized without feeling tacky and my blemishes (I am suffering thru some horrid hormonal and stress zits right now) were less red and swollen. This is a great night time mask, due to its moisturizing properties. I have one more Wishing U mask to try out, which is the firming mask. I would LOVE for Wishing U to make a serum with that essence that is in this mask. It is fantastic. RV $8.00

Update: I found out later, as I didn’t read my info card, that if I put the used mask in some water to re-hydrate, it will show me all of the gunk that it removed from my skin. I will have to do that with the firming mask.

Description: Paraben Free, Dried Bio Cellulose Mask Dual Functional on Anti-Aging & Whitening. No preservatives, strong cooling effect, effective absorption of dead skin cells and sebum, effective absorption of full contents. Wishing U whitening helps to keep your skin elastic with natural dried bio-cellulose anti-bacterial sheet without preservatives. It also contains EFG, bFGF and panthenol to nourish your dry and rough skin. You can keep your skin safe with no preservatives sheet. It absorbs 200 times of full contents and moisture compared with dried status and naturally lifting your skin with its dehydrating process.

Ingredients: Water, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hyaluronic Acid, Dimethicone, Polysorbate 60, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclohexasiloxane, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Ascorbic Acid 2-Glucoside, Adenosine, Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Acetyl Hexapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, rh-Oligopeptide-1, sh-Oligopeptide-1, rh-Polypeptide-1, sh-Polypeptide-1, Vincetoxicum Atratum Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Betaine, Acacia Concinna Fruit Extract, Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Panthenol, Morus Alba Bark Extract, Broussonetia Kazinoki Root Extrac, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Diamond Extract, Ubiquinone, Tocopheryl Acetate, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, 1, 2- Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Caprylohydroxamic acid, Nigella Sativa Oil, Sodium Benzoate, Chlorphenesin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Disodium EDTA, Fragrance cosDNA analysis

image source

Wishing U Advanced Firming Dried Bio-Cellulose Mask This mask has the same type of sheet mask as the Whitening and the ingredients list is similar, but one thing I did notice is that they contain precious gemstones. The Whitening mask has diamond powder and the firming has amethyst extracts. Interesting ~ diamonds gently exfoliate and amethysts are used to detox and purify your skin, brightening it. I will be using this mask soon, so look for a review on IG and I will repost it here. Plus I will re-hydrate my mask to see the crude it removed! lol Fun Fact: The company that produces this also distributes the I’m Sorry masks! I know that people love (me included) those jelly filled sheet masks. RV $8.00

Description: Mask contains E.G.F to stimulate new cell growth, niacinamide for improving appearance of enlarged pores, while visibly improving uneven skin tones, dullness and weakened skin surfaces. No mineral oils, parabens, sulfates, phthalates, artificial colors or microbeads. Dried bio-cellulose causes no skin irritation, no bacteria and no preservatives. It effectively absorbs and delivers essence to skin while remove dead skin cells and controls sebum.

Ingredients: Water, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Hyaluronic Acid, Polysorbate60, Cyclopentasiloxane ,Cyclohexasiloxane, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Ascorbic Acid 2-Glucoside, Adenosine, Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Copper Tripeptide-1, rh-Oligopeptide-1, sh-Oligopeptide-1, rh-Polypeptide-1, shPolypeptide-1, Ceramide NP, Vincetoxicum Atratum Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Extract Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Betaine, Acacia Concinna Fruit Extract, Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Panthenol, Amethyst Extract, Collagen Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Carbomer ,Triethanolamine,1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Caprylohydroxamic Acid, Nigella Sativa Oil, Sodium Benzoate, Chlorphenesin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Disodium EDTA, Fragrance cosDNA analysis

image source

Final Thoughts

Okay, whew!! Lots of lovely items in this box ~ 23.5N is one of my favorite brands and I am glad to see Beautibi continue to carry these items and expand on their products and I love that we have gone from skincare to makeup with Thank You Farmer. I needed a new green color corrector, so this fits the bill perfectly ~ it works really well and I haven’t had any skin reactions to it. Now, onto the new brands! I am so excited about the peat products from invi+apotheke and I hope to see more from this brand at Beautibi. Peat is the word, I am telling you! I wasn’t sure how I was going to like Wishing U Dried Bio Cellulose masks, as I have a hard time with Leader’s Coconut Bio Cellulose masks, which are slippery and juicy, but these are really nice! I had to struggle a bit with it initially, as I was not used to the material, but once I got it on my face, it didn’t want to move ~ plus the lovely coconut scent was a winner too. If you are using coconuts as your sheet mask material, make sure it smells like it too 🙂 I am looking forward to seeing how much stuff was removed from my face when I try the Firming mask. Beautibi is always pushing the envelope in bringing the best and unique niche Asian skincare products to the USA markets ~ if you are interested in this Limited Edition aNEW box, you can purchase it for $78.00 here. This does have a retail value of $92.00, so you are saving some money here ~ plus you get lots of free samples ~ I received a mini of LoveIsDerma (oh, another brand I really love that Beautibi introduced me too!) HydraMax Serum! Many thanks to Jen’s amazing generosity in sending me this box to try and review.

If this is your first time purchase at Beautibi, you can get $5.00 off by using my referral link (click here). Now, if you only wish to try some of the items here and not all, I have hyper-linked each name of the items here to Beautibi’s store, so you can purchase them individually. Are you interested in getting this box? Which version do you want to try?

[ description in italics from Beautibi. blog post contains referral link ]