Retreat Yourself is an Australian quarterly lifestyle box that encourages you to slow down, make your health and well-being a priority, and put yourself first, as well as introduces you to conscious brands that have been carefully chosen to create a wonderful retreat at home.
For AU$79.95 ($51.37 USD), you'll receive almost AU$300 ($192.74 USD) of Australian and New Zealand wellness products, the 20-page wellness Retreat Guide, playlists, rituals, and more. Items range from home goods, health supplements, beauty products, and accessories, plus other fun finds.
This review is of the Retreat Yourself Limited Edition "Uplift + Unwind" Mystery Box.
Author's Note: This is a limited edition box but you can still sign up for the Autumn 2024 box. The mystery box is priced at AU$69.00 ($45.08 USD) and promises a total value of AU$170 ($111.08 USD).
This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we review boxes).
First Impressions
I've been loving the seasonal quarterly boxes so it was a pleasant surprise to learn about this bonus mystery box. I'm excited to dive into some new and cool finds.
This leaflet has some of the answers to the questions you might have about the products included in this mystery box. I like that they include a brand bio for each item so you can learn more about these local, conscious AU & NZ brands.
Now, on to the items!
Trilogy Products Vitamin C+ Super Serum (Mini)- Retail Value AU$7.49 ($4.89 USD)
Super stoked to received another Trilogy product but a bit disappointed that it's such a tiny sample. This Super Serum is formulated with 10% vitamin C, 2% bio-retinol (NovoRetin™ a natural retinol alternative), ceramide, hyaluronic acid, and more actives to brighten, tighten, and smooth skin. I do feel like it made my complexion brighter and I'm planning on springing for a full-sized bottle. Plus, it has the most delicious vanilla-citrus scent.
biobod Calming Balance Cleanse Bar - Retail Value AU$28.00 ($18.29 USD)
I enjoy using soap bars and a big part of the enjoyment for me is how they feel in the hand. So, the first thing I noticed aside from the round shape is the indent at the back that makes the bar easier to hold. But in the shower, I also realized that it turns the bar into a great body massager, it felt like using one of those massage balls, which I love.
This hypoallergenic, soap-free and fragrance-free cleanse bar is suitable for use on face and body and it's designed to purify, soothe, and nourish your skin while respecting the skin barrier or microbiome. It mimicks your skin's natural 5.5 pH level and features nurturing ingredients like Arginine, Colloidal Oats, and Centella Asiatica.
Carob Farm Salted Caramel Carob Bear- Retail Value AU$1.40 ($0.91 USD)
Aww this little Koala is so cute. And while I don't love the taste of carob, I will say this tasted quite nice and not overly sweet like milk chocolate usually. More importantly, it doesn't make you feel gross and bloated afterward. This guilt-free treat is gluten-free, caffeine-free, palm-oil free and 100% natural with nothing artificial. I'd be curious to try their other flavors like Honeycomb, Lamington and 100's & 1000's.
MOOD Tea Jolly Good English Breakfast Tea - Retail Value AU$7.00 ($4.57 USD)
This is interesting, when I opened this box, the first thing I saw was the note that said 100% of the profits of this tea goes to fund youth mental health programs. So it turns out, this brand was created by over 100 companies to raise awareness and funds for youth mental health through yummy teas. I love the mission but I'm not a fan of black tea. I know people usually drink it with milk and sugar but I made mine with lemon slices. Now that I've been introduced to this brand, I'm going to try some of their other teas like Peppermint & Passionflower and Hibiscus, Apple & Ginger.
Empire Australia Eucalyptus & Lavender Hand Cream- Retail Value AU$9.95 ($6.50 USD)
I love getting hand creams and stashing them around the house and in the car, so I'm never letting my hands get too dry. This is a good one with pure essential oils of Eucalyptus, Lavender, Lemongrass, Peppermint, Lime, Lemon Myrtle and Rosehip that smell amazing. This hand cream is lightweight and absorbs easily. It leaves my hands feeling a bit slick but not greasy and the fragrance it leaves is subtle.
Unichi Wellness Saffronia Happy Gummies - Retail Value AU$22.99 ($15.02 USD)
These gummies contain a concentrated extract of Crocus Sativus (Saffron) which is supposed to promote emotional wellbeing, improve sleep, and help reduce stress and premenstrual symptoms (PMS). It was almost my time of the month, so I started on these gummies right away. They're yummy and easy to enjoy and I feel like they took the edge off my cramping.
b.fresh Squeeze the Day Body Wash - Retail Value AU$8.95 ($5.85 USD)
I can always use another body wash and I love how bright and cheery this bottle looks in the shower. I also appreciated the punny name. Enhanced with ginseng and anti-oxidant rich citrus extracts to cleanse, invigorate + energize, this body wash more than lives up to its name. It lathers up well and leaves my skin feeling soft and clean.
The Unnamed Firming & Anti-Aging Sheet Mask - Retail Value AU$13.00 ($8.49 USD)
Oooh, I love the instant effect of this mask. I felt like my skin looked brighter and bouncier and I will definitely add this to my cart for times when I need a refresh. This sheet mask is supposed to have longterm benefits too with 3 types of anti-aging peptides to promote collagen production, boost firmness & protect against the future signs of aging like fine lines & wrinkles. I like that the description says to use it at least once a fortnight, which seems doable.
Exposed Naturals Dry Shampoo + Body Powder - Retail Value AU$42.00 ($27.44 USD)
Ah, I was excited to receive the dry shampoo because I'm out and need more. The other options were the Lip Balm (meh) or Tooth Tabs (would have been good too). Unfortunately, the dry shampoo did not work at all for my black hair. The white powder did not blend in or comb away and left a very obvious whiteness behind. I ended up having to hop into the shower after all to shampoo it out. At least, I can use it as a body powder and it does do a good job at that.
{SIMPLE as that} Natural SPF30 Raspberry Sunscreen Lotion - Retail Value AU$29.95 ($19.57 USD)
Always need another sunscreen, so glad this one was included in the box. This lightweight mineral sunscreen contains Zinc Oxide as the active ingredient to protect against UVA and UVB rays, as well as Red Raspberry Seed Oil, Green Tea and Rosehip Oil for their antioxidant properties. It's supposed to be for face and body but I'd probably use this mostly for body because it left a faint pinkish white cast on my face.
HIGHR Alcohol Free Wellness Cocktail, Valerian & Chamomile Giin & Toniic - Retail Value AU$7.50 ($4.90 USD)
Hmmmn, my immediate thought is that I don't like the taste. I didn't think I could finish it but I did and as I continued to sip on it, it kinda grew on me. I can see myself grabbing this as a non-alcoholic version of G&T for a party. Made with distilled Juniper and Yuzu Tonic, it also features incredients designed to relax and calm like Californian Poppy, Valerian Root, L-theanine, and Chamomile.
Verdict
I'm loving these mystery boxes that come inbetween the seasonal one. While I don't think the curation and value is as on point as the seasonal boxes, it's a good filler between seasons. It keeps the excitement going and gives me something to look forward to. The surprise element is definitely fun, even if some items miss the mark. Overall, it's a nice way to discover new products and brands that I might not have picked out for myself. My absolute favorite item of this box was the sheet mask and I'll probably go out and grab a full-size of the Vitamin C serum.
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Value – Was This Box Worth It?
The Cost: AU$69.00 ($45.08 USD)
Value Breakdown:
The total value of my box was $178.23 ($116.45 USD), which is over 2.5 times the cost of the box.
Other Things You Should Know
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? Yes, but you can also subscribe now for the Autumn 2024 box.
Do you have a favorite item from this Retreat Yourself mystery box?
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