Asiana Beauty Box | Another First for South Asians!

Beauty Boxes. Honestly, I've never understood the hype. I've seen plenty around though, I've read and watched plenty of re...

Asiana-Beauty-Box-for-South-Asians

Beauty Boxes. Honestly, I've never understood the hype. I've seen plenty around though, I've read and watched plenty of reviews, and no matter how excited people seem to get about them, they've never really done it for me. There have always been too many drawbacks or catches to put me off, so I've just avoided them altogether. And then this big unexpected package arrived a couple of Saturdays ago, and I couldn't quite believe my eyes.

Yes, Asiana have created their own Beauty Box, and yes, it's actually rather good. The first thing to note is that it has been created by South Asians, for Souths Asians - so it hasn't been assembled by that white girl from the MAC counter who matched you two shades too light or too dark or both at the same time. (That actually happened) No, this has been put together with South Asian skin tones at the centre of it all.

The second thing to note is that this isn't a Beauty Box in the sense that you or I may be familiar with. This is not a monthly subscription thing, and you won't be getting a box with seemingly random products from brands you may or may not have heard of before, so it's not quite right to compare this with the likes of Glossybox, where you sign up and receive a box of mystery stuff each month. With this Beauty Box, it's a one off and you know exactly what's inside.

So, What's in the Box?

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 Asiana-Beauty-Box-Desi-Makeup-Indian-Pakistan-Bangladeshi

As well as the actual products, the box contains a handy leaflet that explains what each product is and why it's been chosen, as well as giving some info on the people behind the box and a couple of ideas for looks. Most importantly though, it contains voucher codes for each of the brands included which will either give you free delivery or discounts on online orders. 

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And because you know what's inside, you can immediately judge if it's going to be worth it for you. You can see that there are no obscure, low quality brands in this box, it's all mid to high-end stuff. Heck, the Bobbi Brown Liner costs £19 by itself, so for an extra £6 you're getting your hands on some very interesting and useful products, from some household names like Clinique, Smashbox, MAC, Origins and Estee Lauder.

The Products


Bobbi Brown Gel Liner in Black Ink - Full Size - 1.0 OZ/ 3G

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Now this product takes me back. It was the first gel liner I ever purchased and taught me everything I know about gel liner. It's creamy and applies like a breeze, so smooth with zero drag and it stays put. From what I recall, this is one of those rare gel liners that doesn't dry out so easily in the pot and retains the creaminess that sets is apart. The fact that Asiana have included this, and made sure they picked Black, is a stroke of genius. Us Desis love our black liner, so this product could well go on to be a staple in your makeup box.

Oh, and it's FULL SIZE. No sample, so this baby is worth £19 all by itself, and that's before I even mention the brush that's been supplied for you to apply it with. A word on that though, the brush is good, but my preference is for something a little finer, so make sure to experiment and find a brush that works for you.


Clinique All About Shadow Duo: Night Cap - Full Size - 0.7 OZ / 2.2g 

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Another full size product from another household name, this Clinique All About Shadow Duo presents an interesting shade combination - the shimmery taupe contrasts really well against the darker charcoal shade with a tiny hint of green about it.

The texture is smooth and buttery, just what you need from a shadow, none of that chalky business. And it's also quite a versatile colour choice - for a daytime look you can pair the taupe shadow on your lids with liner, and to upgrade to something more suited to the night, you can apply the charcoal shade to the crease and outer V and blend it out.

Estee Lauder Perfectly Clean Triple Action Cleanser - Sample - 1.5fl OZ/45ml

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Apparently, the Estee Lauder Perfectly Clean Triple Action Cleanser removes makeup, cleanses and tones. I have to admit that it sounds a little far fetched to suggest that one product is capable of all three! I've used this both in the morning, and at night as my second step after removing makeup with an oil cleanser. It has a foamy texture, but unlike other foamy products, it doesn't give that horrible dried out, taut feeling I tend to get. I've been pleasantly surprised by this product, so much so it could become part of my daily routine.

Origins Ginzing Energy Boosing Moisturiser - Sample - 15ml

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This moisturiser is a bit of a cult hero, with it's own following. I too, used to be among them. I'm not  entirely sure why I stopped using it - probably something to do with my relentless pursuit of the perfect skincare regimen - but it has a lightweight gel-like texture to it and contains no silicones, an absolute must for me due to my proneness to milia. It has a gorgeous citrus scent that feels like a much needed slap to the face on a dull, dreary Monday morning and hydrates my oily/combination skin without any oily residue, yet leaves me with a nice, subtle glow.

Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer  - Sample - 25 fl OZ/7.1ml

I'm definitely in the minority when it comes to Primer - I am not a fan. I really don't like the feeling of it on my skin at all, but I know that a lot of people do love their primers and can't live without it. From what I've read, Smashbox are right up there amongst the best when it comes to primers, so a 7ml sample can't do any harm.

MAC False Lashes Extreme Black Mascara - Sample - 1g

MAC are renowned for doing some pretty decent mascaras, and this is a sample of just one of them. It lengthens, thickens and volumises for that false lash effect. When it comes to mascara, I love to layer coats upon coats (which explains why I always run out so quick!) and this allows me to do that, all without that heavy clumping you tend to get with the likes of L'Oreal.

Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge for Lips and Cheeks - Powder Pink - Sample 0.6 OZ/ 1.7g 

Bobbi-Brown-Powder-Pink-Blusher-Asian-Skin-Tone

For a sample, this comes in quite a generously sized pan, and don't let that name fool you either. It doesn't look powdery, pink or pastel. It's a pinky shade with brown undertones that when applied to my cheeks appears quite neutral. The pigmentation game is quite strong though, so I'd recommend applying a dab of this to the cheeks and building it up as you go along. Again, the shade selection here is spot on, as it's inoffensive and is flattering against darker skin tones.

Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation - Sample - 4ml

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Bear with me here, because I am acutely aware that the image above is just an empty bottle. This is another little stroke of genius from the girls at Asiana. Makeup brands in the likes of Selfridges are notorious for 'running out' of bottles at their counter, so instead of Asiana just blanket sending out their boxes with one shade of foundation for everyone, they give you the bottle, and you can go and get matched - for free! 

Confession - I'm looking forward to the look on the Estee Lauder assistant's face when I show them I've brought my own bottle! Also, the Double Wear foundation range has a huge selection of shades - I count 44 on their website - so they should be able to cater for our South Asian skin tones too! 

WOW, give yourself a pat on the back if you've managed to read this far! Seriously though, overall this Beauty Box is certainly one to think about - the products and discounts within make this well worth the £25. What impresses me the most about this though is how much thought Asiana have put into it, the box contains everything you need to create several full makeup looks. I did a little 'unboxing' video on my Snapchat and it generated quite a lot of interest not only from South Asians, but girls with darker skin tones in general.

So, the Asiana Beauty Box comes in at £25, which includes delivery too - for more information, check out the Asiana Beauty Box website! I for one will certainly be keeping an eye out to see if they make this a regular thing.

*PR Sample

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5 comments

  1. What a fab review! Ahh finally there's a box for us lot! Hehe <3 lovin' the brands/products Asiana have put together! I would definitely use all of the products if I had this <3 lovely photos and amazing review as always Lima <3 xx

    zaras-bowsandpearls.blogspot.co.uk

    ReplyDelete
  2. Nice product:)Lovely post! Keep In touch dear..
    Beauty and Fashion Freaks

    ReplyDelete
  3. Wow. Surprisingly, it was my first time hearing about this. But I'm glad that South Asians actually came up with this. I also love how you emphasized the fact that at least these are actually perfect for Asians' features. :) Hope to hear from you soon!

    Love, Airish
    Gorgeous Glance
    http://www.airishabella.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. That looks like a wonderful box with some good quality products in it :-) Sounds like it's worth the money :-)

    ~ Jasmin N
    Little Things With Jassy
    Bloglovin’
    AUTUMN BEAUTY GIVEAWAY

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  5. WOW what a fabulous box! I am going to buy the Asiana Box and I'm not Asian at all. Thank you for reviewing this xx

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