I always get excited for my monthly Mintd beauty box, and i was a huge fan of last months box - which you can read about here. Sadly this months box review took a little longer to get up. If you follow me on Instagram you will know why (or you can catch up briefly here). All of the heartbreak resulted in me adding a new addition to our family,who comes in sweet kitten form. We have named her Joanie, and she has been a huge positive influence for me. I also spent the months of March and April on a strict product routine, which i was doing in partnership with my friend Jason (skincare routine & review coming soon). So that also made it difficult for me to incorporate any new products into my routine. Over the past 6 days i have briefly tested out the contents of 'The Upkeep' April box and i thought that i would share my first impressions with you...

Rosalena Beauty & The Beast Face Oil | Full Size 15ml - Retail Value of £42

Rosalena first came under my radar when their Frank & Sense Face Oil appeared in Septembers Mintd Box last year. Despite having interest in this brand for quite some time i still had not got round to purchasing anything of theirs, so i was excited to find a Rosalena product in this months box. From what i can see of Rosalena they are a beautiful and natural oil based skincare brand that was founded in 2013 by Helena Chapman & Maja Griffith. They Specialise in clean, pure plant bioactive ingredients with the aim to combine the ancient wisdom of plant oils, with contemporary botanical actives. Their products contain no additives or preservatives, and aim to evoke a sense of wellbeing. I am a huge fan of clean and green skincare that also doubles up as self care, through a relaxing sensory experience. So this pretty little bottle certainly piqued my interest. The Beauty & The Beast Oil is a lightweight, antioxidant rich oil that helps to hydrate and tone the skin. It is supposed to be fantastic pre-makeup or post shave for all skin types, as either a morning moisture boost or a night time nourisher (or both!). I will admit that the rosalena oils can be a little confusing to decide which one to use as they all seem to say that they do the same thing!?? However because i know my own skin and what ingredients it likes, i choose the products i use by the ingredients list. This oil contains Watermelon Seed Oil to help hydrate but without causing congestion or clogging the pores. Camellia Kissi Oil to help rejuvenate tired skin. Apricot Kernal oil which is high in oleic acid and is great for inflamed & dry skin. Rosehip Oil i have talked about many times (see here) and then they're Antioxidant rich ingredients like CoQ10, Grapeseed Oil & Vitamin E and Organic Essential Oils include Cape Chamomile, Cypress, Sandalwood Mysore, Sweet Orange & Neroli which are all in low amounts to prevent irritation, but also help give the oil its beautiful scent. Though this is labelled as good for all skin types i would say that this will work best for those with normal to dry skin (so my skin will love this during the winter months). I definitely want to try their other oils, and i think these will be beautiful to mix and combine together. Overall i have only used this a few times but so far i am thoroughly enjoying it. Besides the Beauty & The Beast Oil and the Frank & Sense oil (that i mentioned briefly above) Rosalena have two other facial oils ( which you can view here and here).

Ingredients: Camellia Kissi Seed Oil, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Citrullus Lanatus (Watermelon) Seed Oil, Borago Officinalis (Borage) Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Tocopherol (Natural Vitamin E), Bisabolol, Rosa Canina (Rosehip C02) Seed Oil**, Rosmarinus Officinales**, Ubiquinone (CoEnzyme 10), Tocopherol Acetate, Cupressus Sempervirens (Cypress) Oil**, Santalum Album (Sandalwood Mysore) Oil**, Citrus Aurantium (Neroli) Flower Oil**, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Sweet Orange) Peel Oil**, Eriocephalus Punctulatus (Cape Chamomile) Oil**, Farnesol*, Geraniol*, Limonene*, Linalool* *naturally occurring ingredients ** organic.

Sunday Riley Martian Mattifying Melting Water-Gel Toner | Deluxe Travel Size - Retail Value of £48 for 130ml

When this first released it received so much hype from bloggers that received PR packages and Sephora Purchasers (SR are definitely ahead of the game when it comes to Marketing & Press); But after seeing how shady Sephora are with their reviews (they promote sponsored brands and delete peoples negative comments, which is misleading to consumers) i decided that i wanted to wait until the buzz had died down before purchasing this, along with the UFO oil (which i've still yet to get). So i was very pleasantly surprised to find a deluxe travel-sized sample of this toner in this months Mintd box. Just in time for the summer months when my skin leans a little oilier. My skin has been so much more balanced recently and i have noticed it can dry out very easily, so i was a little apprehensive that this might strip my skin of its natural oils. I personally like a little oil on my face, as it gives my skin a beautiful youthful glow. However i genuinely like this toner! After a bad reaction to Tidal (which i rushed out and purchased the day it released on Sephora) and with Sunday Riley discontinuing so many of their most popular products, i have been a little apprehensive to purchase any more of their products recently (even though i desperately want to try the new CEO serum). As who wants to fall in love with a product and then have it discontinued? Sunday Riley have discontinued both my beloved Artemis face oil & Start Over over cream. I am also too nervous to use my Blue Moon which has stayed in my bathroom cabinet, because it too is being discontinued. There is nothing more disheartening than finding a product that you love, then never being able to get it again *sigh. Many of my skincare friends feel that Sunday Riley nowadays concentrate too much on their marketing and gimmicky names, and not enough focusing on the quality of their products anymore - which is what originally made us fall in love with them in the first place. I personally adore Sunday Riley products (i have purchased them all myself), and with the exception of Tidal i have loved everything else i have ever tried, but we can't always like everything can we? Now regarding the Martian toner, the ingredients list didn't wow me! Especially with the first ingredient being water (which usually means the product is heavily diluted). It also contains alcohol (something i try to avoid, as i find it drying on me personally) and it has a lot of carriers and emollients. However moving past those it does contain some beautiful extracts, oils and skin soothers like: Manuka Oil, Black Cumin (which is great for helping with congestion), Witch Hazel (a natural astringent that helps with blemishes), Aloe Vera, Chaulmogra Oil, Bentonite (which helps to absorb excess sebum & mattify the skin) and Cucumber Extract (which is very soothing and cooling). It's these ingredients that made me love this product. I use this in my toner or essence step, and simply pour a few drops into the palm of my hands and gently press into the skin. Concentrating mostly on my t-zone where i produce excess sebum. I prefer using this in the morning, as i prefer an exfoliating toner and hydrating-mist routine at night. If you have combination/oily, acne-prone skin you will love this.

Ingredients: Water, Alcohol Denat., Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Sorbeth-30 Tetraisostearate, Sorbitan Sesquiisostearate, Ppg-8 Ceteth-20, Acrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Copolymer, Dipropylene Glycol, Taraktogenos Kurzii Seed Oil, Nigella Sativa (Black Cumin) Seed Oil, Leptospermum Scoparium (Manuka) Branch/Leaf Oil, Potassium Lauroyl Wheat Amino Acids, Palm Glycerides, Capryloyl Glycine, Magnolia Grandiflora Bark Extract, Lauryl Lactate, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Tapioca Starch, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Bentonite, Tapioca Starch (And) Polymethylsilsequioxane, Lauryl Lactate, Phenoxyethanol, Propanediol, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Althaea Officinalis (Marshmallow) Root Extract, Hammamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Cymbopogan Schoenanthus (Lemongrass) Oil, Chlorphenesin, Caprylyl Glycol, Triethanolamine, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Amino Esters-1, Mimosa Tenuiflora Bark Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Solanum Melongena (Eggplant) Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract, Lawsonia Inermis (Henna) Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Ocimum Basilicum (Basil) Flower/Leaf Extract, Pearl Powder.

Skyn Iceland Brightening Eye Serum | Full Size 10ml - Retail Value of £30

Skyn Iceland is a brand that i have seen pop up quite a bit on Cult Beauty. The website i probably do the most damage on each month (followed up by this site and this! #help). I have been eyeing up the Arctic Face Oil of theirs for a quite some time, so i was happy to see a product of theirs in the box. Especially being an eye product! Due to lack of sleep, a bit too much crying and allergies recently, my under-eyes need all the help they can get. Though Cult Beauty stock Skyn Iceland i could not find this product on their website, but i did find it through Marks & Spencers. The Skyn Iceland Brightening Eye Serum is best described as a cooling gel, and has a watery gel consistency. It contains over 20 peptides, as well as antioxidants and algae extracts designed to help hydrate, smooth, de-puff, firm and brighten the under eyes. I love that its texture is similar to my favourite eye serum, being that it's lightweight and easily absorbed and doesn't irritate or sting my extremely sensitive eyes. Whether it will help with the dark pigmentation, only time will tell; but i do think this is a great eye-hydrator and it has been a wonderful product for me this week with the early school mornings. With eye products it takes quite a while to see results, so i will update on this in a few months after i have finished up a couple of other eye products i am testing out (this and this). So watch this space! I also think the price point is brilliant for such fantastic ingredients. Have i finally found the eye serum to replace the Elemis one i used to love? (sadly i no longer purchase anything from this brand).

Ingredients: Water, glycerin, dunaliella salina extract, centella asiatica extract, palmitoyl tripeptide-38, chamomilla recutita (matricaria) flower extract, palmitoyl hexapeptide-52, buddleja davidii extract, cucumis sativus (cucumber) extract, thymus vulgaris (thyme) flower/leaf extract, palmitoyl tripeptide-5, oxycoccus palustris (arctic cranberry) seed oil, rubus chamaemorus (arctic cloudberry) seed oil, palmitoyl heptapeptide-18, angelica archangelica root water*, acetyl citrull amido arginine, simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) seed oil, phenethyl alcohol, sodium gluconate, panthenol, sodium hyaluronate, carbomer, ethylhexylglycerin, sodium hydroxide, hydroxypropyl cyclodextrin, perfluorodecalin, xanthan gum, sucrose palmitate, glycosphingolipids, glycolic acid, lactic acid, polyvinyl alcohol, potassium sorbate, sodium benzoate. *component of Icelandic glacial water.

Apa Beauty Lip Loofah | Full Size 11g - Retail Value of £16

Apa Beauty is a brand that i had never heard of until i received this lip scrub. That's one of the cool features of a beauty box is that sometimes you can discover wonderful new brands. The Apa Lip Loofah is a rich exfoliating lip-balm. A mix of sugar and walnut shell powder help to gently buff away dry and flaky dead skin, used in conjunction with jojoba oil, olive oil, almond oil, orange peel, shea butter and cocoa butter it not only exfoliates but really nourishes the lips. The inclusion of Beeswax really helps to add a protective coat across the lips, so they are protected all day but without feeling greasy. Obviously the inclusion of beeswax means this isn't vegan. It also smells and tastes soooo good! Upon looking into Apa Beauty a little bit more, i discovered that it is founded by Dr Michael Apa. A cosmetic dentist who creates simple yet effective oral care and hygiene products. I must say that i am intrigued by the Blue Lip Shine. As i love anything that can make my teeth look whiter without irritating or sensitizing them.

Ingredients: Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Sucrose, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Beeswax, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Theobroma (Cacao) Seed Butter, Olea Europea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Silica, Squalane, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Seed Meal, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Juglans Regia (Walnut) Shell Powder, Citruss Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phenoxyethanol, Flavor.

Potion London The Beauty Formula | Full Size 60 tablets - Retail Value of £25

I'm a firm believer in that in order to achieve best skin health, it has to start from the inside out. I already make sure i drink plenty of water, take vitamins and keep a balanced diet, trying to reduce how much sugar i have. Not only can diet mess with skin health but stress can also be a huge benefactor for how our skin looks. Sometimes an extra boost through a supplement can really help! Potion London are a fairly new brand to the market that focus on making easy to understand supplements that can be easily incorporate into your life. Currently they have 6 different types of supplements (probiotic, super greens, bone formula, hyaluronic acid and collagen booster) with the 6th being the Beauty Formula which is within this months Mintd Box. The beauty supplements ingredients include Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin D (something we lack of in England), Vitamin B3 (Niacin) and Zinc to help promote healthy hair, skin and nails. The supplements have no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives and are also vegan and gluten, nut and soy free. These are the only products i have not yet tried in the box, only because i spent most of April poorly with a sore throat and swollen glands, swallowing pills was quite a mission. I will update properly once i have really introduced these into my everyday routine, but they do sound lovely.

Ingredients: Calcium Carbonate (with Maltodextrin), Magnesium Oxide, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Vitamin C 97% (Ascorbic Acid, Hydroxypropylmethyl Cellulose), Calcium Pantothenate, Ferrous Fumarate, Vitamin E 50% (DL Alpha Tocopherol Acetate, Silicon Dioxide), Nicotinamide, Zinc Oxide, L-Cysteine Hydrochloride, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Magnesium Stearate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Silicon Dioxide, Hydroxypropylmethyl Cellulose (with Glycerin), Riboflavin, Cupric Sulphate Anhydrous, Vitamin D3 Prep (Sucrose, Corn Starch, Gum Arabic, Medium Chain Triglycerides, Tri-Calcium Phosphate, Cholecalciferol, DL-Alpha Tocopherol), Manganese Sulphate Monohydrate, Folic Acid, Potassium Iodide, Chromium Chloride, Sodium Selenite, D-Biotin, Cyanocobalamin. No artificial colours, flavours or preservatives. No added salt or sweeteners. No gluten, no crustaceans, no fish, no egg, no peanuts, no soya, no milk, no nuts, no celery, no mustard, no sesame seeds, no sulphites. Suitable for vegetarians.

As always the box is great value for money, with the box containing products with a value of £141 for just £65. Every month Mintd offer a new subscription box which contains 4-5 luxury/highend brand products that are stocked on a variety of premium sites like Space NK, Selfridges, Style.com and Beauty Expert to name a few. What a lot of beauty box companies don't tell us is that the products within them are actually old stock, where as with Mintd everything is globally on trend NOW. I personally hold the 'quality over quantity' rule when it comes to the beauty products i use, especially so with skincare. So Mintd really speaks to me on a personal level and is the only beauty box service i currently use. Mintd Beauty Box has multiple subscription plans to suit your lifestyle or budget, and their customer service team go above and beyond to help you with any queries. Their subscription plans go from monthly or bi-monthly at £65, 3 months for £190.50, 6 months for £381 and yearly/12 months for £762. They can also be cancelled if you just contact their customer service and can easily be reactivated by yourself manually on your 'subscription' plan under your account. Mintd Box has Worldwide Delivery (UK Free, Europe, North America & Australia). For those out of the UK you can receive Free delivery on your first box when you sign up using the promo code WELCOME17. Sign up here or at www.mintdbox.com. Or alternatively you can invest in this months box here. "At Mintd box we aim to inspire & encourage women from all walks of life to own their presence, reveal their inner beauty through experimentation and discovery of new luxury beauty brands. We believe that every women deserves to feel confident and in control of her day"

Images & Article by www.jameylynnloves.com