I've always been a little on the fence when it comes to beauty subscription boxes - I had a couple of attempts in the past but inevitably always cancelled after my second or third box as the contents were never consistently that good.

However,  Latest in Beauty recently got in touch to see if I'd like to review their recent beauty box*, and as their service is subscription-free I decided to get back on the wagon and see if my opinions on beauty boxes could be changed. Their current box is the result of a collaboration with Get The Gloss, and together they've created a box that's full of must-have products to get you through the summer.

Philip Kingsley Swimcap
I'm already a big fan of the Philip Kingsley Elasticizer, so was delighted to find a bottle of his Swimcap cream inside to try. Swimcap is a protective cream that protects the hair from chlorinated water or salt water which can dry it out. As an added bonus, it also contains sun screen which helps to prolong the life of colour treated hair. Whilst I'm not sure I'll be heading off on holiday till much later this year, I'll definitely be putting it to use as soon as I can get myself near some sunshine and a pool.

Bourjois Aqua Blush - 03 Pink Twice
This is my favourite product in the box as I had my eyes on trying one of Bourjois' new fresh-effect blushes for a little while. Aqua Blush is an ultra-fluid gel that applies really well and gives the skin a gorgeous radiance. Pink Twice is a super pretty pink shade that's very buildable and adds a gorgeous pop of colour to the apples of my cheeks.

Elemental Herbology Cell Pumping Facial Hydrator
This was probably the least exciting item in the box for me, although I'll still probably make use of it. It's a lightweight, daily moisturiser that's full of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and ultra-hydrating botanicals which sounds intriguing but I'm not a massive fan of the smell. Although it's a little on the small size, it will be handy for travelling.

Aurelia Refine & Polish Miracle Balm
This is a product I've not used before but I'm really looking forward to giving it a try so feel it's a great addition to the box. It's a multifunctional product, that can either be used as an instant exfoliator, or as an enzyme mask if left on for longer. It's apparently a cult favourite at Get The Gloss due to it's reenergising properties, so I'm hopeful that I'll be a fan of it too.

Nails Inc Gel Effect Nail Polish - Regent's Place
Another product I was delighted to find inside was this gorgeous powder blue polish from Nails Inc. I've long been a fan of the brand as their polishes have great long lasting quality. The Gel Effect range are incredibly high gloss and contain Plasticiser Technology, meaning no UV lamp is needed.

NUXE Huile Prodigiuese
I've received this product in countless beauty boxes, and whilst on paper it sounds ideal, it's just something I've never really got on with. I do like NUXE as a brand, I just wish we'd see a bit of variation product wise in beauty boxes, I'm a huge fan of their Reve De Miel lip balm, so I'm hoping that might make it's way into a box soon!

Anne Semonin Eye Express Radiance Ice Cube
I love the sound of this product. I don't suffer with permanent eye bags, but occasionally after a rough night sleep my peepers are definitely in need of a pick me up. These freezer stored ice cubes are designed to target puffiness and dark circles, and contain hyaluronic acid and spring water which work to cool and refresh tired looking eyes.

Salon Science Aqua-Cacteen Hydrasoothe Cooling Spray
Last but not least comes a cooling spray with a difference - one for the scalp. I'm used to seeing cooling sprays around, but this is the first I've come across that's not used for the face. It's infused with extracts of rare cactus and works to rehydrate parched hair and soothe the scalp. It's not a product I can imagine myself using regularly as I'm unlikely to carry it in my bag and probably won't use it much at home, however I can imagine it being a dream when on holiday when the sun and sea dry out my hair and my scalp gets a little burnt too!

All in all I was really pleased with my Latest in Beauty box. Although there were a couple of products that I could take or leave, the majority I was really pleased with - it was great to see a mixture of well known, and lesser known brands too. Best of all, Latest in Beauty offer a service which allows you to Build You Own Box - which means you can't receive anything you're not interested in if you picked it yourself! If you're looking to try a beauty box I'd definitely recommend taking a look at the Latest in Beauty site.

Do you like beauty boxes?