Let me recap for the uninitiated: Caroline Hirons is a knowledgeable, well-respected and hilarious skincare (mostly) blogger who occasionally cooperates with one of the best places to buy great skincare – Cult Beauty. They have done several boxes of carefully selected products by now (I covered one of them here) that make skincare nerds go crazy and usually sell out very fast.

As I write this, the latest box is still available, so I’m doing a very guick first impressions post, hoping it might be useful for some of you. If you want to know what and why is in the box, watch this. I will focus on my own experience and thoughts.

1. Sunday Riley Good Genes Treatment. One of the reasons I bought this box was that I needed a bottle of Good Genes anyway. I don’t have much new to say about this product: I have raved about it here, it’s still one of my absolute favourite skincare products and possibly the only one I have repurchased more than three times.

2. May Lindstrom The Pendulum Potion. A deluxe sample of this cleansing oil was the other major reason I wanted the box, as it’s not available anywhere else until January. And as Lindstrom’s products are pricey, it’s good to have a chance to try them first. I’m glad I tried it, as I’m not sure I need a full size of this. The best way I can describe it is that it’s intense: the scent is earthy, almost smoky, and the product feels more like a treatment than a cleanser on the skin (I believe you can actually use it as a face oil too). I’ve never been sensitive to scent, but with this oil I feel I need to be on top form to enjoy it, and frankly that’s not how I feel most morning or evenings. But it’s early days, I might still grow to love it and the ingredients are clearly high quality. In any case, I would not use it for makeup removal – second or morning cleanse only.

3. Kypris Beuty Elixir 1: 1000 Roses. There is no way I can tell you anything conclusive about this oil and its long-term benefits after four uses, but so far, I like it. The texture is nice, it absorbs well, it hydrates, it gives a bit of glow. It also smells nice – obviously of roses -, but it’s not overwhelming as some oils can be (see above). I used it alone on top of my retinol yesterday evening and woke up with nice, balanced skin. It’s the only thing I’ve tried from Kypris and I’m curious to try more.

4. Omorowicza Queen of Hungary Face Mist. This is my third bottle, but I have to admit I only like it, it’s not love (I’ve received the last two bottles as part of a set). I think it’s not so much the fault this product, I tend to find most face mists somewhat meh. In my skincare routine, I use an essence where Caroline Hirons would use a hydrating mist: I feel it does what the mists do and then some. Anyway, it is certainly not a bad product and as it’s a good size and the sprayer is excellent, I often travel with it. I also love the backstory and the name – not unimportant for me.

5. Zelens 3t Complex Essential Anti-Ageing Cream. This was the biggest positive surprise in the box for me. I have used 3t before, in a smaller size, and I didn’t like it much. It felt too much like a traditional cream, quite stiff and boring. Maybe because it’s winter, now it suddenly feels beautifully nourishing, plumping and supple-making. If you are a 19 year-old with oilier skin, ignore this. If you are over 30, struggle with dullness and maybe an occasional dry patch, this is well worth a look.

6. Therapie Equilibrium Bath and Shower Essence. The thing to remember about this essence is that it isn’t a shower oil that you use to clean skin. It does feel pleasant to slather on when you’re clean, though, a little before getting out of the shower. You can of course also add a couple of capfuls into your bath. The scent is nice, but too aromatherapy-y for my taste. All-in-all, a quality product I’m happy to use up, but would not buy myself.

7. Bella Freud Loving Candle. I’ve seen some people disappointed that there’s a candle in the box instead of more skincare. I completely understand, but for me, this was in fact a plus: I’m also a candle addict and have wanted to try this for ages. If you’re curious too, go read my post from yesterday.

Is the box worth it? The saving is certainly significant (48%!), you are not being cheated. If you are a skincare nut and can afford it, go for it. If you need to think about your budget more carefully, I’d say buy it if you would have bought at least one of the items anyway (better if two) and are seriously curious about a couple of others – or can gift the bits you have no interest in. If they match your needs, Good Genes and 3t alone are worth the price of the box. But no matter how good the deal, if you’d rather use something else, skip it.