My First SaladBox: Focused

As a blogger, I find it really exciting to explore beauty boxes. Just last April, I took a step in doing it by subscribing to some beauty boxes. I first subscribed at Glamourbox for April, then SaladBox for May and BDJ Box for June- August. I am also planning to try out OrangeBox on my birthday month. With that I want to come up with a comparative post about the leading beauty boxes in the country.

What’s with SaladBox?

Last month (MAY), as mentioned, I subscribed to SaladBox. I actually read a lot before subscribing to anything.  SaladBox got some not so good reviews from its consumers that made me think twice on getting it on. But because I live in the concept of “trying before believing”, I subscribed to it for a month.

The Transaction

I made my transaction through Paypal. It is clearly mentioned in their site that the shipping should be free, yet before checking out at their store you will need to pay out a hundred for the shipping fee.

It is stipulated that the shipping fee should be free.

Actually, that was not my first transaction with SaladBox. I first got a sense of their service through their Sample Fun Shop where the item I got was free and you just need to pay the shipping fee of 100php. The first transaction took quite long before item was delivered to me. That’s why I expect that my May SaladBox will arrive late too.

During my waiting period, I also purchased from them a Witch Hazel Beauty Tonic from Vanilla & Co. hoping that my orders will be ship faster.

But I was wrong… My June BDJ box already arrived yet my May SaladBox is still not with me. That’s why I emailed them to voice out my concern. They actually did not reply to my emails that’s why I sent a message on their Facebook page, hoping to find a clear answer to my concern. Someone from their team replied to me after few days. They said that their courier which is BayadPo cannot locate my shipping address that’s why my parcel is not yet with me. But as a consumer, I know that I have a right to be informed right away about that matter especially if it delays the delivery of the items I purchased. I was thinking that if I did not air out my concern to them about my undelivered beauty box, I will also not be informed about the problem they got in delivering my parcel. Isn’t that they should be the one to contact me when those things arise?

But in due fairness, the one who replies to my messages in Facebook are respectful enough which makes me hold my temper regarding this.

Finally!

Two boxes were inside my parcel.

The boxes (I got 2) were finally delivered last June 21 (Friday).

The Box

Two boxes for me this time.

I was actually surprised to get two boxes when I actually ordered just for one. The first box I opened includes the item I ordered which is Witch Hazel Beauty Tonic from Vanilla & Co. and 2 sample-sized bottles Skin So Soft Glutathione Hand and Body Lotion, which I think are freebies. There was no note or anything from the first box. While the second box is the May 2013 SaladBox I ordered.

Inside the first box. Thanks for the freebies!

My original order.

The icon looks so cute!

I am actually excited in opening my May Box as it features a Korea’s most sought-after beauty brand- Missha. I just tried some BB Creams from other Korean beauty shops but never from Missha that’s why I am excited to receive my beauty box.

To my surprise, this was what I saw when I opened my box.

I was wondering why there was an ink smudge.

This was the actual photo I took after taking out the guide card. Something is open and the whole box looks messed up.

The overall appearance of how the items were presented was not that appealing. It feels like they just throw in everything that is included in the box. And worst, one of the items I got is not sealed properly and poured all over the box.

The paper wrap was also torn.

😦 I feel sad seeing all of this. Hay…

The sample toner that spilled actually ruined everything including the paper wrap that was putted as a mat of the box and also the guide card of the beauty box. I was actually really sad seeing the whole of it quite messed up. I don’t know if I just got a bad luck in this one or it is really their fault why it all happened. You may judge it on sweeties.

What’s Inside my May SaladBox?

The theme of May Salad Box 2013 is “Love Your skin, Love your soul.” It aims to introduce changes in their consumers’ beauty routine.

Essentially, I must say that I appreciate their effort to feature products from a single beauty line which is Missha. It makes me feel that they are trying to establish a good rapport from their suppliers and also to their consumers especially the ones who are fan of Korean beauty products.

They got a nice theme, anyway.

The back part of the card.

My Missha Box (that’s how they call it) has 5 items in it. Those are the following: (*based from the card inside the box)

*Rose Water Controlling Serum in 40ml size (valued at 50ml/ 750.00php)- Improve skin elasticity while calming and soothing the skin with this rose water-infused product from Missha!

Rose Water Controlling Serum

*Near Skin Firming Peptide Extra Vital Toner in a sample size (valued at 50ml/ 1, 650.00php)- Firming toner to help make dry and fatigued skin sleek and shine while helping the following skin care is well absorbed.

Near Skin Firming Peptide Extra Vital Toner

*Super Aqua Refreshing Cleansing Foam in a sachet sample size (valued at 200ml/ 850.00php)- Containing Sweet Flag Extract and Willow Bark Extract which gives a massage effect with its minute and rich bubbles, Super Aqua cleansing foam gently and completely removes makeup and impurities.

Super Aqua Refreshing Cleansing Foam

*2 Signature Dramatic Foundation in a sachet sample size (valued at 40ml/ 2,100.00php)- Liquid foundation with light and silky formula that lightly conceals skin flaws and leaves skin to breathe.

Signature Dramatic Foundation

Everything in the box is in a sample size except for the Rose Water Controlling Serum. All the sample sizes made the entire box look awful. Imagine a big box with those tiny pieces. It actually looks almost empty in my perspective.

These are the items that are  included in May 2013 SaladBox.

But considering the 500.00php price I paid for the box, it is actually enough, I think.

I never tried any of the products I got in my May 2013 SaladBox and I am hopeful that the disappointment that I am having right now will be sufficed by a great experience from these products. I am still hoping of something positive about SaladBox at this point.

My Thoughts

It was just my first time to subscribe for a  beauty box from SaladBox and I must say that I actually proved some of the negative feedback about it correct. I was actually tempted to have a 3-month subscription of it yet something in me refused and I’m glad I did not.

I find the courier service of SaladBox uncompetitive when it comes to giving their service. It was not just the first time it happened to me but in all of the transactions I had from SaladBox, the parcel were received way far from the time I ordered. I can say that it took almost an estimate of a month delay for the parcels to arrive.

I don’t actually know where the problem lies. Is SaladBox team cannot handle orders that fast? Or is the courier really as slow as a snail in delivering the items? They are the ones who can actually clear it up.

Regarding the items I got in the SaladBox especially the Near Skin Firming Peptide Extra Vital Toner that spilled because it was not sealed properly, I informed the team about it and they at least responded quickly.  Here was their answer.

It was really empty to the last drop 😦

They responded quickly in this concern of mine.

Here’s how they will address it, as they say.

Trying out the beauty box from SaladBox gave me a lesson that I must know how to uphold my right as a costumer and respond appropriately by listening to their explanations and give them chances to fix or address my concerns. In fact, the main goal of this post is not to bring down SaladBox but to share my experience to my fellow consumers and let them decide on their own.

Will I Subscribe Again to SaladBox?

Despite of everything that happened, I cannot say that this would be the last time for me to subscribe to SaladBox because I am actually planning a comparative blog post on August about the top four beauty boxes in the Philippines. Maybe (just maybe) I will try it out again after sometime. I just want to tone down first my disappointments about their May 2013 box.

This is not the original May 2013 SaladBox. I just included the freebies I got from my other order to make it look full.

I am still looking forward to their next boxes and hoping for some improvements in their courier service and items they provide for their consumers.

How about you sweeties? How was your experience on your beauty boxes? Come and share it with me. I would love to read from you.