*This post contains a paid for advertorial by Toppbox, however, all opinions are my own.
With skincare, it often is about trial and error. A long journey on the hunt for the perfect product, the one that fulfils all your needs. And even if you manage to find it, you might have to switch products over time because a new season starts, your environment changes or simply because your skin got too used to a component and it doesn’t work anymore. In short, you end up spending a lot of money to find the perfect moisturiser, cleanser or body cream, if you ever find it.
Fortunately, there are new options to ease the process a little bit. And that’s exactly why I’m featuring Toppbox today. They offer a subscription-based box that includes between five and seven grooming products for you to try. All you need to do is answer some questions about your age, skin type, hair length and shaving style for them to put together a hand-picked selection of full size skincare samples, delivered to you worldwide every two months. The best thing? The products included are worth between £50 and £70, but you’ll only have to pay £24 plus delivery. And if you want a 20% discount for your first box, use the code ZH20 (disclaimer: I don’t get any commissions).
Your selection will probably be different, but here’s my opinion of the products in my box:
NIP + FAB Glycolic Fix Concentrate Extreme 10%
After years of using The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling solution, a chemical peel I still love and cherish, it was great to try an alternative. And NIP + FAB’s does a great job. Even after using it once, my skin felt smoother and brighter, and my usually sensitive skin was not irritated at all. It is also easier to apply – it doesn’t need to be rinsed, so you put it on after your cleanser and before your other steps and that’s it. However, my advice is that, as with any other dropper, you shouldn’t use it directly on your skin – pour a few drops on your clean hands and then tap it onto your face. Otherwise, the bacteria on your skin will transfer and your dropper will become a farm of germs. We don’t want that, do we?
Q+A Peppermint Daily Cleanser
Cleansers are one of the most important steps in any skincare routine. It’s the moment when we remove the dirt and impurities accumulated throughout the day, especially when living in a big city. Because of this, it’s important to choose a cleanser that easily gets rid of all the junk but is not too harsh on your skin. The Q+A Peppermint Daily Cleanser works perfectly – at least for combination skin like mine, it removes all the excess oil but it doesn’t contribute to any dryness. However, its peppermint scent is not my cup of tea. It makes your skin feel fresh and awake, making this product the ideal morning cleanser, but I personally prefer more neutral scents for skincare.
Seacret Mineral-Rich Body Mud
As someone who suffers from mild psoriasis, I need products that help soothe and refresh my skin, like a good body scrub. Over the past few months, I’ve used the Soap&Glory Buff and Ready Coconut Body Scrub, which has massively improved the state of my skin. However, when I saw the Seacret Mineral-Rich Body Mud was included in my Toppbox box, I was excited to try this natural alternative, brought to you from the Dead Sea. And I’m not disappointed at all. After leaving it on for 15 minutes in the shower and rinsing it, your skin feels renovated and revitalised. The packaging, however, is not very convenient – it can’t be resealed and that makes it very hard to store. I’m not going to lie, I made a mess the first time I used it.
Stone Street Soaphouse Hay Ho! Body Cream
This is a body cream I’m definitely going to repurchase. Why is this product so great? Well, the Stone Street Soaphouse Hay Ho! Body Cream has a thick consistency that really helps my skin stay moisturised for longer but, at the same time, it’s light when you apply it. You instantly feel like a smooth, soft legend, and it’s not sticky at all either. Not even when it’s hot outside. Its subtle and natural scent also goes well with my preferences, and it avoids any scent clashes with your perfume or other skincare products you might use.
Ordo Complete Care Toothpaste
Ever since I wore Invisalign, I’ve been obsessed with my Oral-B toothpaste. But I have to admit Ordo’s Complete Care Toothpaste made my head turn. It has a pleasant texture in your mouth and a minty flavour, giving a fresh and clean feeling that I enjoy. In fact, I would like the flavour to be slightly stronger to make the experience even more enjoyable. This toothpaste has another great feature, although I haven’t tried it myself – if you don’t rinse it after brushing, and you only spit it out, the fluoride it contains helps strengthen your teeth.
Ted Baker Tonic Cu Copper Eau de Toilette
Normally, woody scents are a big no-no for me. I like my perfumes to be fresh and fruity, or even spicy. But Ted Baker’s Tonic Cu Copper Eau de Toilette is the perfect balance between cedarwood, grapefruit and patchouli, a scent described as “enigmatic” and that “embodies those who dare to be different”. When I review a perfume, since I’m not an expert nose, I like to describe it by imagining where I would wear it. Tonic Cu Copper is a scent that’s meant to be worn in formal – but not too formal – situations, like a dinner at a fine restaurant or a cute first date with someone you’re willing to impress. Situations that require a mix of power and modernity.
Cornerstone Sensitive Cooling Post-Shave Balm
If your skin is sensitive, wet shaving can be a nightmare. Because of irritation, pimples, blemishes and even small cuts make an appearance and ruin all the work you’ve put into your skincare routine. That’s why we should pay more attention to the kind of after-shave we use. The Cornerstone Sensitive Cooling Post-Shave Balm works for me – it gets on very well with sensitive skin like mine. Among other ingredients, it contains honey and mint, which provide both hydration and a cold effect that soothes and calms irritated skin.
