January was a rough month for GlossyBox. After a December box that fell a little flat, the subscription service was plagued with weather-related problems throughout January, resulting in delayed shipments. A peek at any of GlossyBox’s social media accounts revealed a flood of angry customers demanding to know where their boxes were and complaints from people who weren’t satisfied with what they’d received in the shipments that had gone out on time (although that happens to pretty much every subscription service EVERY month no matter what.)

I received my GlossyBox earlier last week, but it typically arrives near the end of the month, anyway- so I wasn’t too displeased. At first glance, it looked as though the company had made every effort with the products they picked and packed to make up for any inconvenience.

But I have to try them, of course.

What I Received:

Balance Me Super Toning Body Wash

TONI&GUY Casual Sea Salt Texturising Spray

Vichy Aqualia Thermal Rich Cream

beautyblender.pure (with cleanser)

Bellápierre Cosmetics Mineral Blush in “Desert Rose”

Product # 1: Balance Me Super Toning Body Wash ($14)

If you’ve been following Legally Redhead for any amount of time, or at the least if you’ve been reading my cosmetics/beauty boxes posts, you’re probably aware that I’m kinda’ selective when it comes to my bath/shower products. I’m never opposed to trying new things, but I know what I like and what I don’t like because I know what works for me- and what doesn’t. I wasn’t sure what to expect from this lightly fruit scented body wash, which is described as being able to improve skin’s texture, tone, and encourage good circulation while still being gentle enough for everyday use.

I can’t say much about improving my skin’s tone, texture, or my circulation- since it looks the same to me, but I did like the way this body wash made my skin feel squeaky clean without drying it out or leaving behind any kind of residue on the surface. The fragrance doesn’t last very long after the shower, but my skin feels nice all day after I use this.

Would I Purchase?: Maybe. This is a quality body wash for sure- but nothing about it really struck me as extraordinary to the point where I’d feel like I had to run out and buy it immediately. I’d probably pick up a bottle as a treat to myself for when I travel (because hotel soaps are hit or miss,) since it does a good job at deeply cleaning and conditioning my skin, and doesn’t overpower me with fragrance.

Product # 2: TONI&GUY Casual Sea Salt Texturising Spray ($14.99)

I don’t care if it’s the middle of winter and “beachy waves” in New England aren’t technically “in,” I love sea salt sprays and the way they make my hair look, regardless of the season. This fresh smelling spray softens my curls and gives my hair a little bit more volume without making it feel crunchy or dry- which is super important with curly hair since dryness usually accentuates frizz and/or split ends. I usually use Bumble & Bumble’s “Surf Spray” in the Summertime, but this is just as good. I’ve been spraying it into my towel-dried hair (see: still damp,) and letting it air dry to get the most desirable results. Best of all? It seems to be safe for color treated hair- which means no strawberry blonde ends for me!

Would I Purchase?: Yes! Again, sea salt sprays are one of my favorite hair styling products. They give me the “spent all day surfing” hair I love but can’t achieve without risking hypothermia from diving into the ocean this time of year.

Product # 3: Vichy Aqualia Thermal Rich Cream ($31)

I was pretty excited to try a moisturizer that apparently gives 48 hours of continuous hydration, especially since some areas of my skin can be a bit dry and patchy in the winter. The first thing I noticed about this cream was that it had added fragrance to it- which immediately made me nervous since my skin can be sensitive at times, and anything with perfume in it is usually a one way ticket to breakout-ville. Thankfully, I haven’t had any kind of bad reaction to this moisturizer thus far- and it definitely keeps my skin soft and supple for hours at a time. It’s very rich, but it absorbs quickly into my skin and doesn’t feel greasy afterwards.

Would I Purchase?: Maybe. While I’m getting decent results with this cream, the fragrance is still a cause for concern for me. I may not have experienced any kind of breakout yet, but there’s always the possibility. If this came fragrance-free, I’d buy it for sure.

Product # 4: beautyblender.pure ($19.95)

While I’ve heard nothing but good things about the Beauty Blender, I’ve never actually tried it for myself. I’m a stickler for my makeup brushes, and truthfully, I just assumed the Beauty Blender was an over-hyped, overpriced sponge. I wasn’t expecting much, but decided to give this squishy white egg a whirl anyway. I followed the directions laid out on GlossyBox’s website (I also watched a couple of tutorials on YouTube just to play it safe,) and after wetting the sponge and having entirely too much fun watching it double in size with water- I got to work with applying my foundation- and wow.

I was pleasantly surprised with how well the Beauty Blender worked. Not only did it help me achieve good, even, and natural looking coverage quickly- but the tipped end made applying foundation around my nose and mouth a lot easier. Afterwards, I went to clean the Beauty Blender using the small bottle of cleanser that came with it, not entirely sure how well it would work considering past makeup sponge-cleansing attempts rarely ended well, but I was even surprised at the cleanser and how efficient it was. While my sponge does still have the faintest of foundation tint on it that wouldn’t wash out after a couple of attempts, it was nowhere near as bad or as messy as I thought it would be.

Would I Purchase?: Yes! While I still consider myself loyal to my brushes, this was a great product that I’d definitely re-purchase in the future. I got great results from this and I can absolutely see myself alternating back and forth between this and my foundation brush depending on how much time I have to do my makeup in the morning. Now I finally see why all the beauty bloggers and gurus rave about this thing.

Product # 5: Bellápierre Cosmetics Mineral Blush in “Desert Rose” ($20)

In the container, this loose powder blush looked a little dark- at least darker than what I’d normally wear on my cheeks, but it applied as a very pretty, very natural (and sheer) rose/peach tone with build-able color that I think will be my go-to in the Spring. I set this blush with my finishing powder and the final result was a flattering flush of pink in my cheeks. In the photo above, I’m wearing “Desert Rose” with my foundation, finishing powder, mascara, and a nude lip balm.

Would I Purchase?: Yes! This is such a beautiful color that blends really, really nicely and doesn’t give any unnecessary sparkle or sheen to my face. It lasts all day and feels nice and lightweight on my skin. I can easily see this becoming one of my favorite blushes in my collection.

Shipping issues aside, I was really pleased with January’s GlossyBox. Although I was on the fence about a couple of products, there wasn’t one that I disliked entirely. In fact, I was a big fan of most of them- which is always a good thing. I definitely got my money’s worth in this box, and I’m hoping they keep up the good work in February’s, too. This was a great way for them to start the new year.