Cruelty free for you and me! Beautyforgood’s very first subscription box!

Have you ever seen or heard about something and immediately thought, “How did they know?”  Well, when I first learned of the Cruelty free for You and Me Subscription Box on Instagram, I practically dropped my IPad. A box specifically designed for the gal who is equally cruelty-free beauty- and dog-obsessed?  Suffice it to say, I was on the pre-order wait list in mere moments.

As far as I know, this is the first box of it’s kind to combine products in this way. All of the products are cruelty-free and natural, and many if not all are organic! Crueltyfree4youandme is a quarterly, seasonal box, with the inaugural box devoted to my favorite season, autumn.  This theme was reflected throughout in the packaging and color combos for the beauty products.  The box itself, which arrived nicely protected in bubble wrap that I promptly started popping, is a sturdy cardboard with an elegant black and white design.  It has a soft, braided handle that loops through the magnetic-closure flap for easy transporting.

Upon opening, you’re greeted by a riot of pumpkiny confetti and a lovely hand-written note.  And, let’s take a moment to appreciate the paw print tissue paper.

Someone immediately sniffed out that good things for dogs were included (see the little tip of the snoots at the top of the photo above).  So, I had to give up any hope of diving into the beauty goodies ’til further investigation had taken place.

First up, as chosen by herself, were the Complete Natural Nutrition Cheese Please treats.  She gobbled these up like no body’s business and actually started to cry when I put the rest away for later.  All dog parents know that sound, the aggrieved little whine that is your fur-kid telling you she feels simultaneously affronted and forlorn.

Happily, our girl was easily distracted by the other treats, the Max & Ruffy’s Natural Organic Treats for Dogs in the Banana and Coconut flavor.  Maggie isn’t usually into fruits, so I wasn’t sure how she’d feel about this particular flavor.  I needn’t have questioned… she’s a fan.  I’m embarrassed (but not really) to say I tried one and they really do have a nice coconutiness about them.  I think we’re going to try the W.P. Pizza flavor next 😉

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Now on to my treats!  There were two skin care products and three color cosmetics included.  Starting with skin care, were the Pure Natural Diva Polished Organic Sugar Scrub and the Skinveda Rose Sesame Firming Masque.  I’ve used each of these once so far.

The scrub is a nice combo of scrubbies suspended in a moisturizing gel, with no discernable scent.  I’ve used this once already and been very pleased with it as a post-shave shower treat.  The scrubbies are not messing around.  It doesn’t feel as creamy as I’d expected going on, but once rinsed off it definitely left enough moisture that I didn’t feel like I needed added lotion.

My skin and I have been having a bit of a battle of late, so there are a lot of dry, irritated patches where I’ve had to bring out the big guns against breakouts.  Have I mentioned how rude it is to be in your (late) 30s and still dealing with breakouts… Anyway, my face was ready for a little pampering and I liked how the mask felt hydrating without suffocating my skin or making it feel even more oily.  I also appreciated the light rose scent that was refreshing without being overpowering.

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Now, on to the bits that are always most exciting to me! The color cosmetics.  It’s clear that the shade choices were made thoughtfully, as the lip, cheek, and eye colors coordinate very nicely for a definitely autumnal glow.

The shadow comes from a company called Red Apple Lipstick, which has a line of mineral shadows and mascara in addition to their namesake lip products.

The magnetized shadow pan arrived well-protected in a little plastic case, which could be worth keeping if you don’t have a z-palette or the like in which to store the pan.  This gluten-free mineral shadow produces a buttery, velvety swatch and blended like a dream all over the lid and into my crease.  Being honest, the shade, Down to Earth, doesn’t really work on me, it’s too orange.  But, now that I know the quality of these shadows, I’ll definitely be checking out the rest of the line.

The cheek (and lip-safe) product is the Cream Blush in Riveting, from Brija Cosmetics.  The texture in the pan is a solid gel, sort of like that of a tinned lip balm.  The best way I found to apply it is with fingers.  I was concerned that I’d have to use so much pressure that it would move my base around, but it glides on nicely and doesn’t feel tacky on the skin.  A light layer provides a rose gold glow, and it can be built up to have more intensity of color.

I knew I’d ❤ the lip product on first sight, and it did not disappoint.  It’s the Lauren Brooke Cosmetiques Colourfusion Lip Glaze in Candied Plum.  It’s a twist up pen-style applicator, and I have to say, I’m kind of digging the fact that the tip is hard plastic rather than a doe foot sponge… seems more hygienic.  The color glides on smoothly for a stickiness- and taste-free shine.  And, this shade, right up my alley!  Simultaneously vampy and MLBB, if my lips were really a lot better.  Check out the lip swatches below, but don’t mind that little scrubbie on my lip in the before shot, just a lingering bit of ELF Lip Exfoliator I used for prep 😉

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Now for the nitty gritty.  The box cost me $49.95 + $5.99 shipping.  I know that seems a bit steep compared to other subscription boxes out there.  But unlike most others, which typically include only sample sizes, this box comes with all full sizes in the beauty products and the regularly-available smaller sizes of the dog treats.  The handy product description card indicates that the separate retail price for all this cruelty-free and green goodness would be $110.25-$116.  A little investigation of the brands’ websites confirms this to be the case.

Was it worth it?  For me, a resounding yes.  I got to learn (or learn more) about products that are good for me and (more importantly) my dog, which are also pretty (or tasty) and make us happy.  I have full sizes of products, some of which will certainly last for months, or days in the case of the dog treats 🙂  Yes, one of the products is in a shade I won’t use.  But, that’s the risk we take when we go for subscription boxes.

Will I continue my subscription?  Let’s just say Maggie and I are already wondering how to get on the winter box pre-order list 😉

*These are only my (and Maggie’s) opinions, formed through my our personal experience as a consumer.  I am not a medical doctor, an aesthetician, or a health/beauty professional.  There is no guarantee what effect, positive or negative, these products may have on anyone else.

**All products were purchased by me from brands that, to the best of my knowledge, are cruelty-free.