Hip Apotheca is a new online store that sells natural makeup, hair care, bath and body, and other personal care products. They opened about a month ago and offered discovery kits for registering and filling out a profile. My discovery kit came about two weeks ago - three samples, in a cute pink envelope. Unfortunately, I don't think they are offering these anymore, but I figured it was still worth a blog post to show you what I received.
John Masters Organics Firming Eye Gel
This is the only sample of the three that I've tried so far. The eye creams I've used in the past have been a lot richer and heavier than this one, which is a pretty thing gel consistency. As a result, it feels light on the skin and absorbs quickly. I tend to have moderately dark under eye circles and slight puffiness, both of which the gel noticeably lessened right after application, but unfortunately, after a couple hours, both the darkness and puffiness came back. The sample was enough for about a week, but I didn't notice any lasting results during that time. Hip Apotheca sells the full size for $42CAD/$30USD.
John Masters Organics Lavender & Avocado Intensive Conditioner
I haven't had a chance to try this one yet, but I've always heard good things about John Masters' hair care line, so I'm looking forward to it. A full size is $31CAD/$22USD.
Antipodes Vanilla Pod Hydrating Day Cream
Antipodes is a new brand to me and even though I usually love vanilla scents, I think I'll be passing this on to someone else, as it contains phenoxyethanol, a preservative I do my best to steer clear of. The full size is $42.50CAD/$48USD.
Pricing
One thing that is a little strange is the price conversions of different products. My discovery kit shipped from British Columbia, Canada, but Hip Apotheca allows you to shop in either US or Canadian dollars. I've noticed that while some products are priced the same in both currencies, others are priced higher in one currency or the other. John Masters products, for example, are more expensive in Canadian dollars, while Antipodes are more expensive in US dollars. To me, this inconsistent pricing just seems unnecessarily confusing.
The Bottom Line
The discovery kits were a great way to launch the store and I think Hip Apotheca shows a lot of promise. Right now, they don't carry a ton of different brands, but they seem to be consistently expanding their stock. Signing up for their newsletter will keep you informed of new products and will also give you access to specials and coupon codes.
As for me, here are a few things I'm considering ordering from the sale:
I'd never heard of Yarok before, but I might add some of their products to my Christmas list! I definitely need to experiment more with hair products. :)
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