Mintd | A Different Kind of Luxury

I have a confession about myself: although I love pretty much everything beauty related and I like to have my finger on the beauty pulse, I’ve never really been into subscription boxes! I am the type who spends countless hours stalking a product online, reading reviews, blogs, and educating myself on the specifics of a product before I decide to actually purchase it. I like to marvel at results and evaluate if it’s a product I, or more appropriately said, my skin simply cannot live without. Now these rules don’t apply to my makeup stash, but when it comes to skincare, only deserted island-type products make the cut.

After much trial and even more error, I’ve now become educated with what my skin needs. Often times, especially when it comes to skincare, paying a little extra justifies some benefits of the product: free of harsh chemicals, ingredients sourced locally, cutting-edge scientific research to back up bold claims. With my extra sensitive and fussy skin, I simply cannot take any chances. So you see why signing up for a subscription service didn’t seem to be in the cards for me!

A few weeks ago I received an invitation to try and sample Mintd, a luxury subscription box which specializes in sending premium high-end beauty products (skincare and makeup) on a monthly or bi-monthly basis (short-term plans are also available, read more here). So I bombarded Cheryl, the Mintd representative, with a million questions and even scheduled a telephone conversation that ran over an hour long (yes, long-distance)!  I wanted to find out what brands they work with, what products are typically included in the box, what sizes are available (often times, particularly when it comes to skincare, a small sample size might not be enough to see for yourself if the product works or not as advertised), what research is done on their side to guarantee that only high-end brands and products of the highest quality are included, how easy it is to freeze, cancel, postpone or gift a subscription. Yes I was a woman on a mission!

I have previously turned down collaborations with subscription services, mainly as I did not think I would personally be able to truly endorse their services for reasons described at the beginning of my post: I like to do my own research and only use products that are truly of the highest quality and truly beneficial to my skin. As a result, I save and choose to pay a little extra (I only have one skin after all).

Now I appreciate that as bloggers we are often times offered experiences and products from brands and while some might think that it is such opportunities that might sway our opinion, I pride myself that my opinion is always my opinion: it cannot be influenced or bought. Here’s why I thought Mintd was different than other subscription services…

Why I Choose Mintd

There is no secret that skincare is very important to me. Loyal readers of my blog and those following me on Instagram ( @DailyCatL ) know that I only feature products that I adore and that I currently use myself and anticipate using in the future. Mintd gives me the opportunity to explore high-end brands who share in my belief that only the best and highest quality products should be put on the skin, brands that might not be that easily accessible here in the States.

Skincare is not an exact science and there isn’t a brand or product that suits all. Unlike makeup, skincare requires patience and dedication. When it comes to skincare, sample sizes are typically not enough to trial and test a product and ultimately judge for yourself whether or not that product works as advertised. Mintd offers only full sizes and travel sizes.

Life is hectic we all know that. Mintd seeks out brands carried in Sephora, Space NK, Harrod’s, and Selfridges, just to name a few beauty meccas of the world, and features full size new releases and cult classics to include in their monthly boxes. This frees up time I would otherwise spend stalking Sephora’s site for up-and-coming products worth the attention.

We live in a tremendously diverse society where having multiple options at our fingertips is truly paramount. Mintd offers great customer service (have I mentioned I pestered Cheryl with multiple emails and a lengthy long-distance phone conversation?) and several plan options for their subscription services. They offer various plans such as: monthly, bi-monthly, every 3, 6, 12 months. You can freeze the membership at any point, skip a box, cancel, or gift to a special person.

Explore the Mintd August Box

The theme for the Mintd  August box is aptly called Explore, as it aims to create a luxurious pampering session right within the comfort of your home. The brands and products featured are carried in Selfridges, Space NK, Anne Semonin and Alkaya.

Ameliorate Body Polish (Alpha Hydroxy Therapy) – Full Size – Ameliorate is a brand I was somewhat familiar with and that’s been featured in Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire and Good Housekeeping, just to name a few.

The Ameliorate Body Polish Alpha Hydroxy Therapy is a high-performance multi-action body exfoliator that combines lactic acid (meant to melt the glue that binds dead, follicle-clogging cells while locking in moisture) alongside physical, micro-dermabrasion granules. Enriched with natural skin-conditioners, it works to promote elasticity and leave the skin supple, smooth and more radiant. I see this as the perfect double-duty product: a luxurious exfoliating treatment as well as skin-smoothing body lotion. I love using this product 2-3 times a week, especially on those days when I don’t get around to dry brushing (read about my dry brush routine here). It’s very easy to use: simply massage into dry skin and rinse off in the shower. It leaves my skin feeling smooth, calm and clean.  This luxurious body treatment is not that easily accessible in the States, so I’m very appreciative it made it into the Mintd box.

Kahina Body Serum Fez– Full Size – Kahina is a brand I truly adore as their mission speaks volumes to my own heart:  provide the highest quality skin and body care products, while preserving, protecting and enhancing the resources (natural, human and cultural). I love that! Using their body serum is simply the most luxurious experience for both the skin and the senses. Infused with a complex of distilled essential oils evoking the sacred Imperial city of Fez, Morocco, this moisturizing body oil has notes of rose, orange, patchouli, sandalwood, ylang ylang, and hints of cumin and clove. It has high concentrations of argan oil to improve skin’s elasticity and texture, as well as watermelon, sunflower, olive and coconut oils to deeply moisturize. I am a huge face and body oil fan and strongly believe in aromatherapy as a way to relieve stress and calm the senses (read about aromatherapy here). The Kahina Body Serum Fez does just that: it leaves both my skin and my senses happy and calm.

Smith and Cult Lip Lacquer – Full Size – I fell in love with this brand a few years ago when I first discovered their nail polishes: the alluring colors, the elegant packaging, the overall quality of the product itself, all came together to create a ‘can’t live without’ product. But did you know that Smith and Cult did lip glosses as well? They now do and spoiler alert, it was instant love!  The formula is the most moisturizing and comfortable I’ve ever tried. Enriched with Portulaca Pilosa Extract to moisturize and plump, natural Coconut Esssence to smooth and extend wear time, these lipglosses veil the lips with juicy, glamorous shine, aiming to plump and hydrate. They are vegan, gluten-free and paraben-free. I remember lusting after these every time I’d see them on Instagram photos. So you can imagine my utter joy and excitement when I spotted a Smith and Cult Lip Lacquer in the Mintd August Box. The Now Kith shade caught my eye immediately, and as you’ve probably guessed, it’s a mauvey nude, suitable for most complexions, trends, outfits and seasons. I haven’t parted ways with this gloss since I first laid eyes on it, which for those of you already familiar with my lip product addiction, will come as a shock (yes, this gloss is that good). It lasts well on the lips, feels light and nourishing.

Anne Semonin Skincare – I fell in love with Anne Semonin products a few years ago, during one of my trips to Europe, but have always had a hard time restocking as this is one of those brands not that easily accessible in the States. This luxurious Parisian line combines essential oils with mineral and marine ingredients to create a powerful and very effective concoction of active ingredients meant to penetrate thru the deepest layers of the skin, helping it to detoxify and regenerate.  The brand believes that regardless of age and skin type, any skin can be nourished, nurtured and revitalized. They care about your skin and also care about the planet. They only use very small amounts of preservatives to guarantee the long-term stability of their exclusive formulas and limit the use of chemical additives. They use recyclable packaging and production processes that respect the environment and they never test on animals. You can read more about this brand on their own site here. The Mintd August box includes the Anne Semonin The Daily Musts, Anne Semonin Botanical Milk and Anne Semonin Botanical Toner.

• Anne Semonin The Daily Musts – Full Size – This is a collection of 4 different masks meant to supply the cells with nutrients needed to balance the skin and prevent against premature aging. The set includes:
  • Exfoliating Mask – formulated with exfoliating seaweed, detoxifying extracts of rosemary, sage, yarrow and white nettle and absorbent kaolin. This mask breaks down the top layers of the skin to reveal a brighter and more radiant complexion.
  • Gel Mask – formulated with seawater containing a high concentration of marine agents and enriched with essential oils (lavender, cypress, ylang ylang, palmarosa). This mask revitalizes the skin and boosts its luminosity.
  • Cream Mask – formulated with moisturizing and anti-free radical seaweed and enriched with soothing kaolin. This mask nourishes and soothes the skin while protecting it against premature aging.
  • Mineral Mask – formulated with sea cabbage and extracts of hoursetail and enriched with essential oils (lemon, hop, pine leaves and rosemary). This mask detoxifies the complexion, tightens the pores and rebalances the skin.

I’m already planning a proper pamper session and I simply cannot wait to put these amazingly luxurious masks to good use.

Anne Semonin Botanical Milk – Travel Size – This cleanser tackles it all – the morning time no-makeup cleanse and the evening full-makeup cleanse. It has a balmy texture that makes the skin feel hydrated and nourished, it’s beautifully scented and leaves skin looking fresh and radiant. It’s formulated with furze extract, a natural plant botanical cleansing agent, seaweed to purify and remineralize and hazelnut oil (and I, for one love everything hazelnut) to hydrate and nourish. This has to be my favorite cleanser discovery of the year, thanks to Mintd.

Anne Semonin Botanical Toner– Travel Size – This toner gives my skin a glow and extra boost of hydration, prepping it for moisturizing. It contains deionized water and witch hazel, a powerful antibacterial astringent and is meant to be used as a last step in the cleansing process.

Final Thoughts

The Mintd August box features 4 full size items and 2 travel sizes for a total value of 110.50 British Pounds or the equivalent of approximately $145. The monthly subscription price is 65 British Pounds or approximately $85. As previously mentioned, different plans are also available (read more here).  The company has kindly offered a 10% off the first box with promo code 10OFF1STD.

Now I realize that the Mintd subscription is not for everybody. While it might seem expensive to some, when you start considering the brands included, the type of products, sizes and exclusivity of brands, Mintd becomes the perfect opportunity for those trying to test the luxurious waters of high-end beauty with compelling skincare and alluring makeup.