Unboxing October 2015 The 3B Box!

October Rocks!  So far, my subscription boxes for October have been amazing.  That, of course, will change, I am sure, but The 3B Box is no exception to the fantastic boxes I have been getting in the mail recently.   Last month, I got a Japanese product, Yu-Be, which I actually really like as a lip balm!  This month, I received another product from Japan ~ yeah!!   What is 3B (Beauty Beyond Borders)?  It is an Asian sample monthly subscription box and is very affordable at $12.00/monthly.  It is similar to ipsy and Birchbox, where you get 4 to 5 deluxe samples (and sometimes a full sized item!)

If you are interested in 3B, you can sign up for their waitlist ~ it took me almost 2 months to get off their waitlist, which is fine, because they are being very careful not to have their service suffer by over subscribing customers.  More about 3B’s monthly service:

Each box contains a collection of deluxe samples that are new or popular in Asia but hard to get your hands on. The products will change each month, and you’ll get to try new skincare, haircare, nailcare, and cosmetic products. Sample products range from go-to brands such as Lioele, Etude House and Skinfood to high-end premium brands like SK-II, Kanebo, and Sulwhasoo. Don’t worry about not being able to read Japanese or Korean – we’ve got you covered with English translations of descriptions in each box. (https://the3bbox.com/the-box/)

Informational Card

DHC Alpha-Arbutin White Mask  DHC has been around a long time ~ I still get the catalogs with the little samples in them via snail mail.   They are a solid company from Japan and I have never tried their facial masks before.  This is an arbutin whitening mask, which just means it will help reduce hyper-pigmentation and even out your skin tone.  I  like that there is no added fragrance and once I saw the back of this mask packet, I had to open it up and try it on. 

It has EARS.  Or horns.  Depending on your point of view.  There are two tabs at the top of the forehead, on each corner, that look like ears (for a kitty) or horns (for demons and such).   I have no idea what these things are for, they are pretty useless unless you actually had surgery to put horns in your head (yes, that has been done and I am not judging..).  Or you are a goat.   I have to say, this is the most intricately folded mask that I have had the pleasure of unfolding ~ folded both horizontally and vertically.   It was like origami paper folding classes were taught in the Daigaku Honyaku Center labs and these masks are the product of that!! 

It is a good thing this mask is a thicker cotton mask, otherwise I would have ripped it to shreds.  Outside of the horns/ears things, this fit quite well and there is a lot of essence in the bag, which I then applied to my mask sheet.   It felt cool on my skin and I really enjoyed this horned mask!!  It does have brightening ingredients in here ~ arbutin, licorice, mulberry root extract ~ plus some nice moisturizing ingredients.  Full Size RV $4.50

Description: Conditioning DHC Alpha-Arbutin White Mask fights dullness and discoloration from aging and sun exposure. This innovative sheet mask unites scientifically advanced brightener, alpha-arbutin, with mulberry, serine and peony to deliver a continuous dose of this hydrating and radiance-enhancing formula.  Contains 43% more serum than before.  Formulated with moisture-binding sodium hyaluronate.  Mask features fold-over flaps that allow you to also treat your eye area

Ingredients: water/aqua/eau, butylene glycol, glycerin, pentylene glycol, sodium PCA, phenoxyethanol, alpha-arbutin, citric acid, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, sodium citrate, 1-methylhydrantoin-2-imide, allantoin, dipotassium glycyrrhizate (licorice), serine, sodium polygamma-glutamate, sodium hyaluronate, morus alba (mulberry) root extract, hydrogenated lecithin, placental protein, acetyl tyrosine, PEG-60 hydrogenated castor oil, tocopheryl acetate, paeonia suffruticosa (peony) root extract, pueraria lobata root extract cosDNA.com analysis

Holika Holika Good Cera Ultra Toner &  Emulsion  The Good Cera line is targeted for more combo/dry skin. I did try their facial masks once and the scent is lavender-herbal, in case you wanted to know.  The Cera is for ceramide, which helps your skin retain moisture up to 3 days (a bit excessive, if you ask me.  I wash my face twice daily).   These are nice sample sizes and if you have drier skin than me, you might find this would be enough for you to test and see if you like it.   Toner 5 mL (?) RV 70 cents Emulsion 5 mL (?) RV $1.08

Toner Description:  A hydrating & nutritive facial toner. Formulated with ceramide to balance moisture & strengthen skin’s barrier. Contains rucola extract, a naturally derived ingredient to enhance skin condition & vitality. Leaves skin soft, smooth, fresh & healthy looking. Free of parabens & BHT

Emulsion Description: A hydrating & nutritive facial emulsion. Features a mild, fresh & non-sticky texture. Formulated with ceramide to balance moisture & strengthen skin’s barrier. Contains rucola extract, a naturally derived ingredient to enhance skin condition & vitality. Skin appears softer, smoother, nourished & healthier looking. Free of parabens & BHT

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Toner Ingredients: water, butylene  glycol, betaine, glycerin, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, PEG-20 sorbitan cocoate, gylcosyl trehalose,  hydrogenated starch hydroylsate, diphenylsiloxy phenyltrimethicone, triethylhexanoin, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, polyouaternium-51, glyceryl polymethacrylate, aleuritic acid, yeast extract,  glycoproteins, dipotassium glycyrrhizinate, panthenol, cetearyl alcohol, gylceryl stearate, stearic acid, ethylhexyl isononanoate,  phytosteryl/isostearyl/cetyl/stearyl/behenyl dimer dilinoleate,  cetearyl glucoside, hydroxypropyl bispalmitamide MEA,  glycine soja (soybean) sterols, meadowfoam estolide, ceramide 3, hydrogenated polydecene, butyrospermum parkii (shea) butter, ceteareth-20,  glyceryl citrate/lactate/linoleate/oleate, glycosphingolipids, ceramide 6 II, eruca sativa leaf extract, sodium hyaluronate, xanthan gum, acrylates/C10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, PEG-60 hydrogenated castor oil, caramel, disodium EDTA, tromethamine, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Extract, Dipropylene Glycol, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Peel Oil, Cymbopogon Citratus (lemongrass) Leaf Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Pogostemon Cablin Oil, Santalum Album (Sandalwood) Oil, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid,  Caprylyl Glycol cosDNS.com analysis

Emulsion Ingredients: water, hydrogenated polyisobutene, cyclopentasiloxane, glycerin, butylene glycol, betaine, neopentyl glycol dicaprate, C14-22 alcohols, C12-20 alkyl glucoside, hydrogenated lecithin, cetearyl alcohol, dimethocone, yeast extract, batyl alcohol, stearic acid, caprylic/capric triglyceride, lecithin, glyceryl stearate, phytosteryl/cetyl/stearyl/behenyl dimer dilinoleate, ceramide 3, hydrogenated polydecene, butyrospermum parkii (shea butter), ceteareth-20, glyceryl citrate/lactate/linoleate/oleate, hydroxypropyl bispamitamide MEA, glycosphingolipid, ceramide 6 II, meadowfoam estolide, glycine soja (soybean) sterol,cetearyl glucoside, ethylhexyl isononanoate, glyceryl polymethacrylate, aleurite acid, glycoproteins, polyquaternium-51, camellia oleifera seed oil, tocopheryl acetate, sodium hyaluronate, glycine soja (soybean) sprout extract, centella asiatica extract, chamomilla recuttica (matricaria) flower extract, glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice) root extract, propyl gallate,  gallic acid-alpha-D-glucoside, epigallocatechin gallatyl glucoside, eruca sativa leaf extract, carbomer, arginine, xanthan gum, disodium EDTA, caprylyl glycol, ethylhexylglcerin, tropolone, caramel,  Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil, Dipropylene Glycol, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Peel Oil, Cymbopogon Citratus (lemongrass) Leaf Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Pogostemon Cablin Oil,  Santalum Album (Sandalwood) Oil, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Oil  cosDNA.com analysis

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La’dor Perfect Hair Filler  Ever since I read  fanserviced-b’s highly detailed review on this product, I am pretty excited to try it out!  This is a hair treatment that will come in handy in the winter time, where moisture is just sucked out of the air and I might need a little more TLC with this repair treatment with silk amino acids, collagen, ceramide and keratin.  You mix one ampoule with equal parts cold water, mix until it becomes creamy.  Then you massage it into your hair and rinse after 20 minutes.   According to Tracy, this does not weigh down your hair or leave it greasy ~ if she raves about this product, it is a must try for me! This is definitely a weekend treatment.  2 ampoules at 13 mL each RV $8.00

Ingredients: Water, Steartrimonium Chloride, Alcohol, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Hydrolyzed Silk, Ceramide, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Fragrance (per fanserviced-b translation)  cosDNA.com analysis

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It’s Skin Power 10 Formula VC Effector I have owned and used products from It’s Skin Power 10 line and they are pretty nice.  This is their VC Effector, which is a Vitamin C serum, that helps brighten and even out your skin tone, help reduce the appearance of your pores.  It contains green tea, which is an anti-inflammatory and an antioxidant.  What I really like is that it has polyglutamic acid, which is made from fermented soybeans and you might know its traditional name of natto gum.  This is a highly moisturizing ingredient that can reduce fine lines and wrinkles, help reverse hyper-pigmentation damage, and penetrates to your deepest skin layers, delivering nutrients and moisture.   I like to use these types of serums under my facial sheet masks, just to add an extra boost to my treatment.   I do not like using It’s Skin Power 10 products for the daytime, as this line is very sticky and doesn’t absorb quickly, but it is great as a facial sheet mask booster and also at night time.  Full Size 30 mL RV $11.00

Description: Skin-brightening and smoothing serum delivers a steady stream of Vitamin C derivatives and green tea components to suppress melanin formation and lessen the appearance of freckles and other skin discolorations. Continued use considerably lightens skin and gives skin a taut appearance with a more refined texture. Skin appears visibly healthier and fairer after only a few days of use.

Ingredients: Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Polyglutamic Acid, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate (Vitamin C), Carbomer, Methylparaben, Triethanol amine, Acrylates/C10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Chlorphenesin, Fragrance, Disodium EDTA  cosDNA.com analysis

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Another FANTASTIC month from 3B!!  Just a nice array of items and I love that they are putting in more Japanese products in their bags.   I paid $12.00, which includes shipping and the retail value of this bag is $25.28 and received 2 full sized items, 2 deluxe samples and 2 full size hair treatment ampoules!

Did you receive The 3B box this month?  What did you think of it? Let me know in the comments below!

[ descriptions in italics from linked product website ]