August Boxwalla Beauty Subscription Box-African Botanics Fleurs D’Afrique Intense Recovery Oil

The Boxwalla Beauty Subscription Box has become my favorite subscription box. It’s a bi-monthly box and the August box features one of my all time favorite brands-African Botanics. This ‘Lean on Me’ Box contains a full size of swoon worthy African Botanics Fleurs D’Afrique Intense Recovery Oil.

Fleurs D’Afrique Intense Recovery Oil comes packaged in the most divine box. Not surprising as African Botanics is eco luxe skincare at it’s best. You’ve seen me rave and talk about this brand a lot-it deserves the praise as their products are all fantastic. A little pricey yes, but here’s your one chance to get this nourishing oil (which normally retails for $250) for only $50 by subscribing to Boxwalla. It’s an amazing deal. Boxwalla never disappoints in it’s curations either. You can subscribe HERE. Subscriptions are still open and the last day to get this amazing box is August First. The box then ships in August.

Fleurs D’Afrique Intense Recovery Oil is a highly nourishing, restorative oil with powerful anti-aging properties. It is a retinol in oil. Details per African Botanics:

Night-blooming flower extracts are combined with regenerating actives in this highly concentrated face oil.

Harnessing the healing potency of Africa’s night-blooming Baobab flowers, alongside ‘The Queen of the Night’ – Jasmine Grandiflorum – hand-picked at dusk, this oil-serum is ideal for hormonal, mature or confused complexions; neutralising the harmful effects of everyday exposure to pollutants and UV, while fortifying the skin barrier to boost resilience.

Blue Marine Microalgae extract, strongly stimulates production of structural skin proteins. Rich in antioxidants, amino acids (EPA), Omega 3, minerals, sugars, carotenoids and peptides with incredible cell-renewal properties.

Distinct African Oil Complex, including extracts of Damask Rose, African Immortelle flower and Rosehip seed oil, form a powerful essential fatty acid matrix to prevent and ‘undo’ existing signs of stress – from fine lines and wrinkles to blemishes, dark spots, redness and lost firmness. You skin is left luminous, with improved clarity, vitality and strength.

Key Active Benefits Contains Retinol, Vitamin C and CoQ10, helping neutralize free radicals and supports the building of collagen and elastin. Helps diminish the appearance of discoloration caused by sun damage.

Ingredients

Citrillus Lanatus (Kalahari Melon)* Seed Oil, Sclerocarya Birrea (Marula)* Seed Oil, Jasmine Grandiflorum (Jasmine) Flower Oil, Adansonia Digitata*, Rosa Damascena (Rose) Flower Oil, Rosa Moschata (Rosehip) Seed Oil, Caprylic Capric Triglyseride, Cylindrotheca Fusiformis (Microalgae) Extract, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Helichrysum Angustifolium (Immortelle) Oil, Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Oil, Myrothamnus Flabellifolius (Resurrection) Extract, Aspalathus Linearis (Rooibos)* Extract, Bulbinella Nutens (Bulbinella) Extract, Schinziophyton Rautanenii (Mongongo)* Oil, Cyclopia (Honeybush) Extract, Ubiquinone (CoQ10), Calendula Officinalis (Marigold) Flower Oil, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (Vitamin C Ester), Retinol (Vitamin A), Rosmarinus Officinalis Extract. *Wild-Harvested. Responsibly sourced. Never tested on animals. Formulated without silicones, mineral oils, parabens, allergens, phthalates, synthetic fragrances, PEGs and SLSs.

The packaging of this bottle is amazing. It’s very well done. The bottle has a semi-sheer frosted black glass finish with a pump/dropper top. The coloring protects the oil but its nice that you can see it as well. It’s unique. The pump mechanism is the best quality in a facial oil that I’ve ever seen. It manages to dispense one drop at a time with precision. I love it. I always love the minimalism aesthetic of African Botanics packaging.

The oil has a lightweight texture yet highly nourishing feel to it. It smells like earthy jasmine. Nothing too powerful or overwhelming, just a nice floral and earthy combination. If you’re tried African Botanics you know their line has a distinctive scent to it from the ingredients they use across their line of products (marula oil for one). This is lightweight enough it should work for almost everyone. I love how it manages to deeply hydrate and restore while not feeling heavy.

I only use over the counter retinol. I find it gives just as good of results as prescription minus the irritation. Plus I can use them everyday no issue which I cannot with a prescription. I gave up prescription retinol years ago and never looked back. There are some really great over the counter retinol formulations on the market today. I’ve also come to really love retinol in oils. I find them to be just as effective as retinol serums but more gentle and less drying. It’s easy to use them every night with less irritation. This is one of the most divine, luxurious retinol in oils there is.

I’ll delve into some of the ingredients a bit-Marula seed oil is a staple in the African Botanics line. African Botanics uses a different type of marula oil- “It all starts with the origin and the type of Marula fruit we use. We sustainably source a South African heirloom variety, it is smaller in size but much richer in important antioxidants and denser in nutrients which are necessary to produce the finest and most sought after Marula Oil in the world.” Marula oil is rich in omega 6 & 9 fatty acids yet lightweight. It reduces inflammation and balances the skin. As a bonus it smells fantastic.

Kalahari melon seed oil is a favorite of mine for it’s lightweight texture that doesn’t clog pores. It plays a role in regulation of hydration and restructuring of the epidermis. Jasmine flower oil is packed with antioxidants and it can help even the skintone. Baobab is rich in antioxidants especially vitamin C. Rosehip oil is well loved for it’s anti-inflammatory fatty acids as well as natural vitamin C and A content. The microalgae extract stimulates cellular proliferation and increases collagen synthesis. Immortelle oil is both an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.

Cylindrotheca Fusiformis is a blue marine micro algae that stimulates cellular proliferation and increases collagen synthesis. This is one of the key ingredients. It’s rich in amino acids, omega 3, carotenoids, peptides, antioxidants & helps stimulate natural collagen and elastin production. Resurrection plant is very unique. The Resurrection plant develops molecules to survive stress in times of drought. This allows the plant to come back after a desiccation state. The Haberlea extract form the plant is rich in caffeoyl phenylethanoid glycoside called myconoside which is what plays a role in how well it survives. The basic roles of the plant extract are an antioxidant & increasing production of elastin and collagen. It also helps increase skin elasticity and radiance.

Rooibos extract is an antioxidant powerhouse high in flavinoids. Bulbinella is a native South African plant that contain glycoproteins which have soothing and protective qualities. Mongongo oil is rich in omega 6 polyunsaturated fatty acids and vitamin E. It’s a bit richer. Honeybush is a cousin to Rooibos with anti-inflammatory properties. Calendula is soothing and anti-inflammatory. Throw in some vitamin E, C (Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate) for collagen building & A (retinol) for a multi-purpose anti-aging oil.

I adore this oil. If you try one product from the African Botanics line this should be it. I think anyone who has tried the line will agree. It’s extremely well done with a wide range of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, regenerative, soothing and anti-aging ingredients. I always love that African Botanics uses native South African ingredients as it really adds to their products. The resurrection plant would be my favorite. I find this oil not only to be effective, but it’s truly a sensorial experience.

I love the little cards that come with the Boxwalla boxes. They list a bit about the brand and featured product/s.

There are some cases where you get what you pay for and this is one of those. Except you can get it for only $50 instead of $250 by subscribing to Boxwalla. If you like green beauty at all this is the box to subscribe too. I like that it’s bi-mothly so you’re not overwhelmed with a monthly box and a ton of products to use up. Boxwalla also seems to score the most amazing green beauty brands & products. You can subscribe HERE.