Monday 31 March 2014

My April Wish List

My top 3 items to buy in April


Ginvera Green Tea Exfoliating Marvel Gel available from Janiro (£19.95 for 60g)

Picture taken from Janiro website

I received a 10g sample size of this product in my January You Beauty Discovery box and loved it. I haven't got around to buying the full size yet but its definitely top of the list to buy this month. Its a gentle exfoliator to be used on dry skin. It works by dissolving and removing the dead skin cells on the top layer of epidermis (skin). Great at removing black heads!



Goldwell Kerasilk Ultra Rich Care Shampoo from Hairtrade (£6.05 for 250ml)

Picture taken from Hairtrade website

Again another product I tested in my January You Beauty Discovery box. This is one of the best shampoos I've used in a while. It made my hair really soft, shiny and smooth - my hair is very thick and frizzy so a product that makes my hair smooth is always a bonus for me! The Goldwell range is fairly new to the UK, only being launched at the beginning of February. I may also buy the Goldwell Kerasilk Ultra Rich Care Treatment too.



Laura Mercier Ambre Vanillè Soufflé Body Crème Birchbox (£44.50 for 300g)

Picture taken from Birchbox website

I got a sample size of this product from Birchbox in January and its just about finished. It has an amazing vanilla smell, I would eat it if I could! I use it multiple times a day, more as a hand cream than its intended purpose of a body cream. Unfortunately its currently out of stock on Birchbox so I may need to search elsewhere. Or maybe see if I can buy another sample from ebay to tide me over until its back in stock at Birchbox. Laura Mercier also have a body scrub in the same scent - That is without a doubt going on my birthday wishlist for May.


Friday 28 March 2014

Manuka Doctor Haul Post



Today I received a recent order I made at Manuka Doctor.  I had ordered a free sample of the Mini Hero Kit through Sampleyes (an app for your phone that gives away free samples) which included a voucher for 25% off an online order.  So of course I made an order.  The website is currently still offering the mini hero kit for free (so I got another) and they are offering an ApiNourish Try Me Set for free so I added that to my basket too. If you spend over £20 you are entitled to free delivery.  My total order with discount came to £21 which meant I could get free delivery! What a brilliant deal I'm sure you will agree!  

Here's what I ordered






ApiClear Blemish Busters Bundle was £16.97 NOW £11
Contains Blemish Cream (25ml), 25 Facial Wipes and Ease & Repair Gel (25ml)



Contains ApiClear Foaming Cleanser (25ml), ApiClear Skin Treatment Serum (15ml) and ApiClear Facial Moisturising Lotion (25ml).




Platinum Introductory Kit was £19.99 NOW £10
Contains the best-selling Rejuvenating Face Mask (25ml), the ApiClear Skin Treatment Serum (15ml)and the ApiRevive Rub Ease Balm (25ml).



Then the FREE gifts


Contains Rejuvenating Face Mask (7ml), Age-defying Serum (7ml), Restoring Night Cream (7ml)




Contains ApiNourish Rejuvenating Face Mask (7ml), ApiClear Skin Treatment Serum (5ml), ApiRefine Targeted Wrinkle Filler (3ml)


As you may have noticed a few of the kits contain the Skin Treatment Serum but I am pleased about this. I can't wait to try these all out! I will hopefully do a review on some of the products later once I've used them a bit.  

Wednesday 26 March 2014

Glossybox UK March 2014 Unboxing

I gave in to temptation and finally signed up to Glossybox!  A beauty subscription box service that gives you 5 beauty treats each month for £10 + p&p.  I had been debating joining for a few months now.  I had read so many bad reviews of people getting cheap poundshop brands or small sachet samples or perfume samples that can be picked up in department stores for free.  But lets face it there are a few beauty boxes on the go that give perfume samples in boxes.  I agree its not fair when you are expecting 5 luxury high end brands and end up with something you can pick up for free yourself.  So why join now I hear you ask?  Well despite the worry of getting 'free samples' a lot of the boxes contained products that looked not half bad and I would use.  At the end of the day its about the quality of products not the quantity or size of products.  As long as the overall value of the boxes are more than I pay for them, then I'll be happy. 



So I signed up for the March box hoping against hope that I would get the product that stood out in everyone's boxes for me, in the colour I longed for.  That product is the Shimmer Powder by Bellapierre Cosmetics Ltd.  This item alone covers the cost of the box.  A full size retailing at £12.99.  The colour I wanted is called 'Sensation'.  And I got it! :-)


Now for some this colour may seem boring or unusable.  But for me its the kind of shade I would get the most use out of.  It's a glittery white colour which is shimmery when applied.  The Shimmer Powders are a multi-use product.  Can be mixed into blusher, nail polish or lip gloss.  I will be using it as a highlighter or adding it to the corners of my eyes when I do a 'smokey' look.


Next up is a product that will make me the envy of many...sorry ladies I really didn't think I'd get this in my box, but have to say I'm pleased I did.  Maitrise du Temps by Helenere is an intensive serum which claims to moisturise deeply while preventing skin ageing and adds skin elasticity to give a brighter complexion.  This product is full size at 10ml and cost £38.50!  I love that it comes in a dropper form, its makes for easier application.

Others received perfume samples or sachets of fake tan - which I think is very unfair as the price comparison of these items are nowhere near the same value of the serum.  I do hope Glossybox add an extra item next month into the boxes of those who didn't receive the serum to make up for the difference in box values.


I'm getting more and more into anti-ageing products.  I'm coming up for 27 and apparently women should be starting to think about using anti-ageing products from 25 onwards as that is when your skin starts to change. I'm not sure about the truth behind this claim as aging affects everyone differently but its always a good idea to start thinking about it sooner rather than later.  It's also important to have a healthy diet as the food you eat can change the way your skin looks aswell.  




Next out the box is a Sleek MakeUP Pout Polish in 'Bare Minimum'.  It's a tinted lip balm which moisturises while leaving your lips with a hint of a sheen. I'm kind of glad it doesnt add much colour to the lips as I prefer a more natural look on my lips.  Again this is a full sized product £4.49 for 10g.



Dove is a brand I've used before but only their soaps and shower creams.  This Intensive Repair 60 Second Treatment Shot is as you would expect a hair treatment.  I used it this morning and although it has left my hair soft I'm not sure I would buy it again.  There are many expensive hair treatments on the market so this one is good value for money with full size being £1.49.  Would be good to take away on holiday instead of packing a larger product but it seemed too much like a normal conditioner to me. 




Last is the product I'd use the least.  Body Cream from Mitchell and Peach. Containing English honey, organic cocoa, vitamin B5 and shea butter.  I can't quite decide what it smells of but it's not a bad smell.  I will use it but not something I'd be rushing out to buy again.  This is the only sample size product in this months box.  Full size is 180ml and costs £36 making this sample worth £8.




Overall I'm very happy with my box this month and hope Glossybox continue to impress me.  Total value of my box is £65.47 (mostly due to receiving the serum)


Leave a comment to let me know what you thought of this months box. If you got the March Glossybox did you get the same products? Were you happy with the selection this month? 








Monday 24 March 2014

You Beauty Discovery March 2014 Unboxing

This month when I saw what was on offer for the You Beauty Discovery box I just about screamed the house down! I couldn't believe the value of the products as so many of them were full sized or big samples. It was going to be a hard choice to make. I was so tempted by The Body Shop Camomile Cleansing Butter which retails at £12 but I have a few cleansers on the go at the moment so I didn't really need another one.

Content of my 'Best of British' box.



In the end I opted for GlycoWash by BeautyLab London which came in an impressive 100ml bottle.  Full size is 200ml with RRP of £32 making this 'sample' worth £16.



My second choice this month was a no brainer for me. Dr Lipp Original Nipple Balm for Lips. I've wanted to try this for ages but never got around to buying it. I was so happy to see it as an option in this month's box. I've enjoyed using this lip balm so far. It has a nice thick texture, and a little goes a long way! This is a 15ml full sized product retailing at £11.50.



The first thing of the added extras this month are two tea samples from DragonFly Tea. I'm not much of a tea drinker - I prefer coffee - but I have to say I really enjoyed these. Excuse the picture, I used the white tea before I took the photos. Also included is a voucher for 50p off a box which can be used in many local supermarkets. I will be using this voucher as soon as I decide on a flavour!


Last but not least I received Toe Separators from The Vintage Cosmetics Company.  I don't paint my toe nails so will have no use for these. They will be passed on to a new home where they will be loved!


Overall an excellent box this month.  As always You Beauty Discovery delivers month after month.  For £6.95 a month and free p&p, it is by far the best value beauty box on the market.

Sunday 16 March 2014

Love Lula Competition - Odylique Essential Care Toning Fruit Butter





Last week I entered a competition on Love Lula's Facebook page for a chance to win 3 Odylique Essential Care Toning Fruit Butters for 1 Winner plus 2 lucky friends of their choosing!

Guess what? I won!!

I received an email on Friday morning informing me of my win and requesting my address to send the products to.  Then yesterday (Saturday) they arrived.  After just 1 day!


So Delighted :-)

I won 3 full size Toning Fruit Butters which are worth £20 each.  I'm going to be sending one to my sister this week and give the other one to a friend.


This product is 100% natural and 100% organic so contains no nasty chemicals.  Always a plus for skincare.  To be used after sun exposure or bathing for a sublime skin toning treat. Contains sea buckthorn (rich in omega 7) which protects against aging UV damage and stretch marks.

I'm currently using Soap & Glory Sugar Crush Body Butter.  I'm just about finished the tub so will be using the Odylique Toning Fruit Butter as of next week.  
I couldn't resist trying it though! 





The Toning Fruit Butter contains hydrating raw shea, coconut & extra virgin olive fruit oils & toning oils of ylang ylang, bergamot and lemon.  It has a very citrusy smell.  On contact with the skin, I found the butter melted quickly into an oil like substance which absorbed nicely.

This 150g will last me quite a while.  I'm so pleased I won - I never win anything!




LoveLula also do a monthly Beauty Box.  I haven't subscribed as I already subscribe to 3 beauty boxes (which I think is as far as my budget will stretch atm) They do sometimes have past boxes for sale I have bought their Hair Rehab Selection Box which you can buy HERE



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Saturday 15 March 2014

January & February Birchbox UK Boxes

Heres a peek at what I got in my jan/feb boxes

January Birchbox Tiny Tweaks


February Birchbox Love Style



Details will be added asap. Sorry for delay.

Birchbox UK March 2014 Unboxing

It's Birchbox time! I love this time of the month when all my beauty boxes arrive. My box came today when I was at work but thankfully my boyfriend was home to accept delivery from the postman. I would of been very upset if I had to wait until monday to collect from the sorting office.

Anyway enough rambling, on to the review.

This month Birchbox did a collaboration with top British designer Lulu Guiness. I'm very pleased with my box this month as I will use EVERY product




Here is what's inside my box.





First is the lifestyle extra which inspired Lulu's spring/summer range. Traditional sweet shop candy! It even has a wee heart in the centre of the rock. How sweet :-)







First product is from a brand we had in our boxes in January, and I'm all too happy to receive another! Benefit's Stay Don't Stray in 'light/medium' is an eye primer to use above and below eyes before applying makeup.
Full size 10ml is £20.50, this sample is 2.5ml so is worth £5.12





Next up is Pores No More Pore Refiner from Dr. Brandt. I've wanted to try this brand for a while now so very pleased to see it featured in the box. This product is like a primer but can be used both under and over makeup.  
Full size 30ml is £39 which makes this 7.5ml sample worth £9.75!





Korres Citrus Body Milk is the largest sample this month being 50ml. I'm loving the smell of this body milk, citrus scents are so refreshing. And with almond oil and shea butter whats not to love. 
Full size 200ml can be bought for an affordable £9.50 in the Birchbox shop, making this sample worth £2.37.





Rhubarb & Rose Replenishing Hand Cream by Molton Brown is another affordable but luxurious product. It has a lovely scent without being too sweet - although it does remind me of the Rhubarb & Custard sweets I got as a kid. Its the perfect size to pop in your handbag to use on the go. This one will be coming to work with me as it fits nicely in my pocket! 
Full size 40ml costs £10 making this 7ml sample worth £ 1.75.





The last product I'm delighted to have. I've tried a sample of the signature perfume and loved it so very happy to have the No.7 For Her by English Laundry to try. 
Full size is 50ml and can be bought from the Birchbox shop for £47. This sample is 2ml making it worth £1.88.




Overall a great box this month. Total value (without the rock) is £20.87 so double the cost of the box at £10.

What do you think of the March box? Did you get any different products?

If you aren't already a member I'd love it if you signed up using my referral link. We both get £5 worth of points to spend in the Birchbox shop. Sign up by clicking HERE


Friday 14 March 2014

Love Me Beauty March 2014 Unboxing

Today I received the latest beauty box from Love Me Beauty. Every month you get to choose between three 'menus' from the Boutique, each with a slightly different choice of products. I like that you know exactly what you are going to receive in your box and can choose a menu that is more personally suited to your beauty needs. For £10 a month (+ £2.95 p&p) you get a good selection of sample & full size products. If you would like to join I'd love it if you sign up using my referral link Here

When it came to choosing which edition I wanted from the Boutique this month, I was a little underwhelmed by the options to be honest. I was tempted not to pick a box for this month but boy am I glad I did! Here is the box I went for - Edition 2. 


As you can see the box is jam packed full!


And as usual it comes with a little menu card to give more details on each individual item.





First out the box is this Pore & Line Minimizing Hydrator by Murad. This was one of the different options between the 3 boxes (other options were Day Moisturiser or Exfoliating Mask). Full size is 50ml and cost £49.50. This is a 10ml sample and is worth £9.90!





Next up is a lovely little tube of toothpaste. I've used this toothpaste by BlanX before and really liked it and I did find it made my teeth whiter. 
But at £7.50 for 50ml full size it doesn't come cheap for a toothpaste. This is a 15ml sample worth £2.25.





The next item is by Nip+Fab and also differed in each box. The choices were Post Workout Fix, CC Eye Fix or Viper Venon Eye Fix. I choose the Post Workout Fix as I do a lot of walking with my job and sometimes feel I need something to cool my knees or other aches after a long day. This muscle cooling gel is perfect for that and I've used it already. It comes as a roller ball for easy use, just roll on any area you want to 'fix'. Its very cooling and has a menthol smell to it which I like. 
This item is a 50ml full size and worth £9.95.



The 4th item out the box and by far the product I was most excited about is the Moisture Stick by Deep Steep. Every box has one of these but in different scents. Mine is Honeydew/Spearmint and it smells amazing! Rich in hydrating oils and butters, Deep Steep's Moisture Stick targets dry areas, resulting in soft, supple skin. Apply to any area of the skin in need of extra moisture, formulated to melt on contact with the heat from your skin. 
Another full size product 15ml worth £3.60.




The last two items were what made me debate whether or not to get the box. Bath Salts (I dont have a bath only a shower) and False Eyelashes (never wear them).

The more I thought about it though, bath salts didn't seem like a bad idea. My sister is getting married in August, we will be having a 2 night stay in a big posh venue, which I have my own room with a posh bath! I could use them then. Perhaps. Or I could keep the bath salts until I finally move out of my flat and into a nice house with a bathroom big enough for a bathtub! Time will tell.

Quintessentially English Bath Salts in 'Summer Solstice' are hand made and smell sooo good! Dappled with sunlight and infused with summery scents to leave you hop, skip and jumping for joy! 
This is a 50g sample size worth £2.12. Full size is £4.25 for 100g.


Last is the False Lashes in 'Gracie' by The Vintage Cosmetic Company. I will be giving these away to someone who will use them, false lashes have never interested me unfortunately. Another full size item worth £6.



So there we have it. A brilliant little box of goodies, worth a total of £33.82! Not bad for a box costing £10 + p&p.

If you'd like to sign up I'd appreciate if you use by referral link HERE



Tuesday 11 March 2014

Love Me Beauty January/February Unboxing




Love Me Beauty is my favourite beauty box at the moment. It launched last year but I only heard about it in December and promptly signed up for a years subscription! Every month you get to choose between three 'menus' from the Boutique, each with a slightly different choice of products. I like that you know exactly what you are going to receive in your box and can choose a menu that is more personally suited to your beauty needs. For £10 a month (+ £2.95 p&p) you get a good selection of sample & full size products. If you would like to join I'd love it if you sign up using my referral link Here

As I signed up for a year in one go, I saved £30 off the full price for 12 boxes. £90 plus £35.40 p&p for 12 boxes, so it worked out I was paying just £10.40 per box! A bargain I'm sure you will agree!


January Love Me Beauty Box



NYX Cosmetics Single Eyeshadow in 'Cryptonite' (Full Size - RRP £5.00)
Weleda Sea Buckhorn Hand Cream (Sample Size 10ml - worth £1.79)
Anatomicals Rose & Jasmine Body Cleanser (Full Size - RRP £3.00)
Pureology Colour Stylist Silk Bodifier (Sample Size 65ml - worth £3.90)
Cosmetics a la Carte Divine Lash Mascara in 'Black' (Full Size - RRP £23.00)


This months box has 3 full size and 2 travel/sample size products. Overall this box is worth £36.69 well worth the £10.40 I paid!





February Love Me Beauty Box


In February the box menus only showed 4 products. The 5th product was a surprise 'hero' item added as a Valentines treat. Unfortunately I received the same nail varnish as I got in my December box, so was a little disappointed by this.




Percy & Reed No-fuss Flawlessness - Dry Conditioner (Full Size, RRP £12)
Beautify Me - Vitamin Complex by Inner Me (Full Size, RRP £15)
La Claree Smooth Day Face Care (Sample Size 7ml, worth £3.92)
Bakewell Soap Company's Multi-Purpose Pocket balm in 'May Chang' (Full Size, RRP £3.95)
Headline Colors in the shade Quicksand (Full Size, RRP £9)



This month had 4 full sized products! And 1 sample size. This box has a total value of £43.87!