I first read about rubybox. Then a friend mentioned GlamBox. And earlier this year I saw a mention on Twitter for a new “try before you buy” box: GlossyBox.

The first thing that sets GlossyBox apart from the other two services is that it costs R130 per month, as opposed to R100. Not a significant increase, but worth a mention. And on Facebook they responded to a question about the higher price by saying this is “the Rolls Royce” of boxes. 

Judging a box by its colour, this one wins by a mile. The external box is a silvery pink and grey, and the satin-finish inner box is a beautiful subtle pink. This box is also about a centimetre deeper than the GlamBox, but the actual size of all these boxes are of little concern, since they are all filled up with shredded paper packaging crap.

So let’s get down to the actual contents. Inside the first GlossyBox, there was the following:

1.Beauté Pacifique Metamorphique Crème*

2.Beauté Pacifique Dermoscan voucher (valued at R650)* 

3.Nesti Dante Citrus and Bergamot Luxury Soap

4.Carita Ideal Douceur Cotton Mask

5.L’Occitane Shea Butter Handcream

6.Twin compact mirror 

7.Gel eye mask

Seven items, two of which will last indefinitely. That already is a bonus. The voucher is another bonus, although I notice that the February  rubybox also had a voucher (for a full R50 discount on a purchase of something!). Another personal favourite: no perfume samples. Now, I must explain that in principle I don’t have a problem with receiving perfume samples. I do however take exception to three perfume samples (from the same company) being chucked into a box and counted as three items. (I also notice that a certain boxing company included an envelope with about 10 perfume samples from the same company. *insert blank stare* Each to her own, I suppose.)

The L’Occitane cream is fabulous, and the Carita mask was a great hydration treat. I didn’t care too much for the Nesti Dante soap, as I prefer liquid soap. I’m very intrigued to see if the Metamorphique Crème will live up to claims of renewing your skin in five days. You only need to use a tiny bit of the product, and apply it only every second day to allow your skin to get used to the high vitamin A content. The scan is really a fantastic way to see what state your skin is in, and will be great to verify results.

Overall, I like this box a lot. It had four samples, a voucher of real value, and some beauty essentials that will endure even when everything else has been used up. Some people said these items are budget and not worth the extra money, but I have to confess that the gel mask is my absolute favourite item in the box. People who don’t think creatively might be surprised by how versatile it is: I’ve tied it around my neck when my long hair has made it difficult to fall asleep on hot Pretoria nights, and folded double it is a fantastic, light cold compress for throbbing migraines. It is also not as cheaply-made as some critics may argue.

To be fair (and sure) I will get a second box and review that on the blog. I really want to subscribe to one of these boxes for a year, but I want to be sure that I won’t be disappointed after a month or two.

*I had my dermascan on Friday 17 February, and have decided to do a separate post on it. Keep an eye out.