Pink Parcel - It's a Monthly Thing

Pink Parcel* is a monthly subscription service designed for us ladies to make that time of the month a little more enjoyable, if that is indeed possible, but they are certainly trying. Each month in addition to your chosen sanitary products you'll receive a selection of luxury products from make up to speciality teas and I was recently sent a box to sample for myself.

It is traditional in its service; for £10.50 each month your Pink Parcel will arrive containing all your goodies from one of the three delivery dates you have chosen that best suits your cycle and of course you can cancel or pause your subscription at any time.

Whilst you can gather a sneak peek at what treats will be included in your months box online, you will already know what sanitary products you have requested from brands such as Tampax and Always Infinity in various absorbencies to see you through the different stages of your period. 

The photo above shows you a sample of the sort of products you can find in your box each month, snacks, beauty products and even in Decembers' box was a fabulous pair of socks for those nights on the sofa with a hot water bottle feeling sorry for oneself but what did I think of the whole service?

In theory I love the idea but it's not necessarily something I would want each month but then this is the opinion of someone who has never been lured by beauty boxes. I would be tempted to have a subscription and then gift boxes as I saw fit to friends and family, perhaps the friend who is having a particularly rough visit that month or a young lady you know who has just started her periods.

Inside your Pink Parcel* will be a neatly arranged selection of boxes, containing 16 tampons, 8 pads and 6 panty liners and it was nice to have the drawstring bag which discreetly hides inside your bag. Again this is adequate depending on your periods length and needs. I didn't make use of the panty liners as they're not really something I reach for so they were wasted but the sanitary towels and tampons served me well.

Overall I think this will be of value to those who need a pick me up each month or have a love of subscription services. Perhaps I'm slightly jaded from my influx of 'blogger mail' and the fact I don't suffer too much at the time of the month and only for a couple of days at at time so for me it isn't a service I'd necessarily benefit from but I do think it is a nice service and something different providing products you need in addition to those you'd like to receive and are a treat. Of course it's also perfect for the forget types who find that visitor arrives just as you're out of your last tampon.

What are your thoughts on this service, would you be tempted?

*this post contains press samples and / or affiliate links

Review : Friction Free Shaving - A Monthly Subscription Service

Subscription boxes and services are in abundance these days and when I received one from Friction Free Shaving* I thought it was something of a gimmick but would appeal to some and worthy of testing. I was amused after my first use and my subsequent investigations into how the service works that I have been completely sold. Yes if I was handed this as a gift I'd probably roll my eyes but I'm sure months later I'd not know how I have lived without it.

Friction Free Shaving is simple in it's genius. Log onto, pick your razor type, add on any lotions and potions and hit subscribe. You'll receive your razor and four weeks worth of blades and then each subsequent month following you'll receive your months worth of blades.

As I said when I read about this service it sounded slightly gimmicky, is this really necessary but if like me you weep at the cost of razor blades or have found occasion when you're torn your legs to shreds shaving with the only razor left in your bathroom, and a blunt one at that this removes any concerns.

There are three razors to choose from, the highest priced at £7 per month. That is Samantha, of 'Golden Sam'. 5 blades, a vitamin E lubricating strip and a 'wide soft rubber guard for lifting hairs up'. Samantha is a nicely weight razor and far superior to the plastic handles I am used to - if you've ever pinched your fella's razor this is the quality you're getting here.

I love my Gilette Venus & Olay razor but it is messy and costly to purchase the replacement blades each month. Friction Free Shavings Samantha is a major contender. Of course a monthly subscription may work out excessive for many, especially during Winter when if you're anything like me your legs are encased in tights and you can afford to go a day or two between shaving but you are able to cancel or postpone your subscription at any time so you manage based on your needs.

Friction Free Shaving work on a daily shaving needs basis, you replace your blades every Sunday and at the end of the month your next set arrives. I've so far used the razor three times during a week period and it's working well. I'm keen to see if they are useable for a full seven days and/or it's more based on an average weekly use - especially as if you're shaving daily there's less to tackle each day. But perhaps I'm taking things a little too literally.

Using Friction Free Shaving, however fits your lifestyle certainly appears to work out as a more cost effective option, saves you from ever running out of razors and stops you using bacteria laden, blunt blades on your legs. And at under £2 per week for the highest priced option it's a thrifty choice.

This is a great product for your holidays as you could take one or two sets of blades depending on your holidays duration and dispose when no longer needed. I often grab disposables for my travels or the Gilette Venus Snap but Friction Free Shavings option seems like it'd actually be more travel friendly in size.

As part of your subscription you are able to add on the Friction Free Shave Cream* for £6 which is a lovely product, or though one I'd say nice to have and would depending on the types of products you like to use. Developed by experts and scientists this cream containing Manuka Honey, Shea Butter and Coconut Oil will soften hairs and reduce friction.

Applied onto damp skin I have used my razor with and without and there's no denying it's going to leave legs smoother and softer to touch than a regular shower gel.

I'm sold, how about you?

*this post contains press samples

Scoff Box Sweet Subscription Review

I like a bar of Cadbury's Chocolate as much as the next person but turn up with a box of sweets and I'm yours. That's the real way to my heart so when Scoff Club got in touch asking if I'd like to test out one of their monthly sweet subscription boxes I was responding very quickly with a resounding yes please as my mouth watered scrolling through their instagram feed.

With subscription boxes for anything and everything these days by way of function Scoff Club are not doing anything different. There are three price plans available, starting at £12.99 for the monthly service which includes free shipping. If you want to purchase a one off box, perhaps to try or indeed give as a gift you simply select the monthly option, press order and promptly cancel the service thereafter. Perhaps a little bit of additional admin but it's a fuss free process.

Scoff Club is a new service that launched last year and prices itself lower than some of it's competitors, who from my cursory investigations they seem to be more focused on American Candy and certainly higher priced. Scoff Club are aiming to hit your nostalgia buttons and bring back fun childhood memories and it's a great way for families to share or bring back those memories of days gone by.

Every month you will receive a box containing an array of handpicked retro and classic sweets to satisfy any sweet tooth and plenty to share if you're wanting to. A rather heavy box will arrived, lined with bright yellow tissue and containing a selection of sweets for you to work your way through.

The biggest issue posed when I received by box was that it was a Monday and I would have to wait a whole five more days before I could photograph the items for today's post. As such you will see that there might be one or two items missing due to my impatience.

In my April box I received eight different types of sweets; a packet of Reese's Pieces (which Ben has already claimed), a large bag of Chocolate Honeycomb (which was amazing and demolished very quickly), Clotted Cream Toffee Bon Bons, Tutti Fruiti Fizzy Cubes (another favourite I was unable to save), Jelly Babies, Eye Poppers and Now and Later chews (yes they're missing too!).

Ignoring the postage costs and if you were to split the price of the box between the eight products it's approx £1.62 per item although based on the weight and sizes of things such as the Fizzy Cubes and Toffee BonBons and the fact you could pick up a smaller pack of Cadbury's Crunchie Bits for about £1.50 for example you need to be a more exacting with working out value for money although I certainly can see it's worth the cost. It's all well and good saying you could pop to the supermarket and pick up some treats but if you're anything like me you'll revert to old favourites rather than trying something new.

Every month is a surprise and there is no option to swap or change items, for example if you wanted to omit chocolate and you'd need to be wary of any allergies but I can imagine this being a great hit for parties or family movie nights as you all wade through trying new and old favourites.

To be a little critical the packaging of the sweets is a little bit of a let down as it's pretty basic but I can understand that a company is working with quantities and looking to keep costs down. I have seen earlier reviews when tubs and paper bags, just like you would have received your sweets in 'back in the day' but I do acknowledge that they're not conducive to postage. It also helps push me into creating a little sweet dish to display my sweets in and/or for serving when I'm in front of the tv and wanting to satisfy my sweet tooth.

I can certainly see the Scoff Club Sweet Subscription Service being a hit and after paying nearly £10 for a Haribo Pizza as a gift for friends at Christmas last year I think I'd much rather gift one of these boxes to offer more choice.

*this post contains press samples