Glossybox May 2014 Unboxing

This month Glossybox have done a collaboration with Superdrug to celebrate 50 years of Superdrug! I'm still in two minds about whether or not I like my products this month, some I will definitely use and other I'm thinking meh.

Heres a look at whats inside my box.

First I must mention a little extra in this months box. Ghost is my all time favourite perfume so I was thrilled to see a sample in my box. Eclipse is actually a scent a haven't tried yet as it has just recently been released. I love it and will be adding a full size bottle to my collection soon! £33 for 50ml. (sample worth £1.32)

The second extra is a 10ml sachet sample of Garnier Oil Beauty Lotion. Infused with argan, macademia, almond & rose oil. A good little sample to have for a weekend away. Full size retails for £4.99 for 250ml. (Sample worth 20p)

Other than the extras above I received 4 full size and 1 travel size product in my box this month.

First full size is unfortunately a product I will not be using. 2true PRO - 3D Candy Nail Art Noir. I don't wear nail varnish much so won't have much use for nail art either I'm afraid. Retails for £3.

Next product is from a brand I like Maybelline. Their Dream Matte Mousse is my go to foundation. I already own a few of their mascaras (some still in packaging) so this one is going to someone else. Maybelline New York Great Lash Mascara - Very Black retails for £4.99.

I do wonder if glossybox take the beauty profiles into account when picking products for the boxes as I have lipgloss as a like but haven't liked lipstick. Some others recieved a lipgloss in their box which I would have preferred. However B.Sheer Condioning Lipstick in shade Merlot is a lovely shade of red and adds a nice little touch of glitter to lips when applied. Retails for £6.99

Last of the full sized products this month is Spray & Go CoCo Body Moisturiser by Vaseline. I have to admit I was a bit letdown to see a Vaseline product. The only Vaseline product I would normally use is the lip therapy. I would rarely buy their products. Having said that after trying this moisturiser I feel I may have judged too soon. I love the cocoa butter scent and the spray bottle means less mess than if it were a in a tub. Retails £4.99 for 190ml.

The last product is a 50ml travel size Blow Up Daily Volumizing Conditioner by BlowPro. I love getting hair products but my hair is quite thick anyway so not sure how well this will work for me - I don't want huge hair!  Full size is £9.99 for 235ml making this sample worth £2.12.

Overall an ok box - could have been better. This is the lowest value box I've had from glossybox coming in at £23.61 but still worth the £10 + p&p paid. I have seen other boxes this month with a value of £40, which is a big difference.

Birchbox Points E-shop Haul

I finally decided to make some purchases from the e-shop using my Birchbox points. I noticed Birchbox had reached 1 Million fans on their Facebook page and were offering £10 off when you spend £50 in the e-shop. I had some points saved up so thought now would be a good time to use some of them up. This bundle came to £60 exactly to the penny (funny how that worked out) and with the £10 off code I only paid £50 worth of points.

I placed my order late in the evening on 8th may and it arrived yesterday 12th so that's really quick delivery! Here is what I ordered.

Urban Veda Purifying Day Cream 50ml £14.99 - I tried this day cream through a sample I purchased from Latest in Beauty and loved it so much I had to buy the full size.

Weleda Mini Body Wash Pack 5 x 20ml £9.95 - I've only ever used the Weleda shampoo but as I was in need of some new shower gels I figured it was a good time to put these to the test. Includes Citrus Creamy Body Wash, Lavender Creamy Body Wash, Pomegranate Creamy Body Wash,Sea Buckthorn Creamy Body Wash & Wild Rose Creamy Body Wash.

Philip Kingsley Happy Hair Days Kit 10 x 20ml £19.99 - Currently I own samples of Philip Kingsley's Elasticizer, and Moisture Balancing Shampoo. I wanted to buy a conditioner to try out alongside the shampoo but didn't want to buy a full size so instead opted for some more minis.

Included in this set is: I WANT VOLUME DAYS, a Body Building Shampoo and Conditioner; BODY & SHINE DAYS, a Body Building Shampoo and Moisture Balancing Conditioner; I WANT MORE MOISTURE DAYS, a Moisture Balancing Shampoo and Conditioner and FLAKE FREE DAYS, a Flaky/Itchy Scalp Shampoo and Moisture Balancing Conditioner.

TommyGuns Pomegranate, Orange Flower & Hemp Conditioner 250ml £5.50 - As above I wanted to try out the TommyGuns Shampoo (also full size 250ml) that I received in last months Birchbox alongside the conditioner, so I bought the conditioner in the same scent as the shampoo - makes sense I know. Can you tell I love hair products :)

Balmi Lip Balm - Mint 7g £4.99 - I own the strawberry Balmi and really like the texture and moisture it gives. I went for Mint but its a shame birchbox don't sell the Blackcurrant any more.

Green & Black’s White 100g Bar & Green & Black’s Butterscotch 100g Bar £2.29 each - I couldn't make an order without some little sweet treats. My favourite chocolate is white so it was a no brainer to pick the Green & Black's White Bar. Butterscotch sounded very appealing too so I added that to make up the order to a round figure.

Overall a great haul. Diet starts on Monday so I best be off now to eat all the chocolate ;)

If you would like to sign up to Birchbox I'd appreciate it if you use my referral link http://birchbox.co.uk/?raf=30654 and we will both be awarded with 50 points worth £5 to spend in the e-shop.

Blog's Liebster Award

Recently Dagmara from Mummy's Beauty Corner nominated to me for a Liebster Award!

The Liebster Award is given to new bloggers who have less than 200 followers. Blogging is about building a community and it's a great way to connect with other bloggers and help spread the word about newer blogs. Word Liebster has German origins and means sweetest, kindest, nicest, dearest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing, and welcome.

There are a set of rules to accept the Award, this is what you have to do:

1. Each nominee must link back the person who nominated them.

2. Answer the 11 questions which are given to you by the nominator.

3. Nominate some other bloggers for this award who have less than 200 followers.

4. Create 11 questions for your nominees to answer.

5. Let the nominees know that they have been nominated 

My questions from Dagmara are: 

1. How did you come up with your blog's name?

I'm the worst at choosing names so it was a bit random really.  I wanted something that incorperated my fav tv show (see Q7) and beauty related obviously, I also like to live in a dream world (don't we all) I'm always reading books and watching movies imagining its me in that world. Pretty Beauty Dreams is what it ended up being.

2. How would you describe yourself in five words?

Shy - but only at first until I know you.

Strong - I take what life throws at me & throw it right back haha bring it on I say!

Honest - It makes life easier when your honest with people, lying gets you nowhere.

Organised (semi) - I like to have everything in its place, but my flat is a bit cluttered at the moment which I blame on having no storage space!

Hard Working - I always put my all into work or other projects I take on.

3. Tea or coffee?

Definately coffee, i have a tassimo coffee machine which I'm constantly buying t-discs for. My favourite would be caramel latte

4. What are your 3 beauty products you can't live without? 

It's so hard to pick just 3! First would have to be Laura Merceir body butter - it smells amazing! Second lip balm (at the moment I'm using Soap & Glory's Smooth Operator, but I love any lip balms really. Third would be face cream/moisturiser just now I'm using Urban Veda's Purifying Day Cream.

5. Do you have children?

 Nope not yet but planning for the future. I do have a nephew who is 2, and a baby niece just 3 weeks old :)

6.What's your favourite holidays destination? 

I would love to go to Australia but not sure I could handle that long a flight

7. Your favourite TV show? 

Pretty little liars is my fav, but vampire diaries is a close second.

 

8. What's your fondest childhood memory?

its hard to pick just one, but one that has stayed with me is when I was around 6 me & my friend was playing hide and seek with my dad, we were hiding and he counted to 100 or something and then tried to find us. I always thought we must have found good hiding places as he took ages to find us, it wasn't until recently he admitted he used to sit on the couch reading his paper and every few minutes walk up and down the lobby pretending to look for us, when he knew where we were 'hiding' all along.

9. Where do you work? 

I changed jobs last year, I worked at my local animal rescue centre for 5 years but just wasnt happy there anymore and hadnt been happy there for months before making the decision to leave. I now work at Royalmail as a 'postie' (let the haters hate) and I love it! I'm so much happier there. I work with great people and get paid to exercise! But I do still curse my postie when he doesnt bring me my beauty boxes on time.

10. Who is your biggest blogger inspiration? 

The first ones I came across before I started blogging was Petit Moi - Big World and Tattooed Tealady. They all always the first blogs I look at every morning.

11. What is your favourite time of a year? 

May as its my birthday! Haha. No honestly spring/summer in general. I love the lighter months and if the sun is shining I'm smiling.

I would like to nominate

Supersnoo

Dedicated Follower of Fashion

Ljsblogblog

iblushbeauty

Bubble Tea And Soy

My questions for you to answer are:

1. What make you decide to start blogging?

2. What do you like most about blogging?

3. Name one thing you couldn't live without.

4. Who is your favourite Actor/Actress?

5. Do you have any pets?

6. Whats your favourite flavour of ice cream?

7. Favourite item of clothing/jewellery.

8. Which blogger inspires you the most?

9. Early Bird or Night Owl?

10. If you could go back in time would you change anything?

11.What is your favorite post that you’ve written (with link)

Birchbox May 2014 - Harper's Bazaar Collaboration

It's Birchbox time!!

Birchbox is a subscription beauty box where you receive 5 luxe beauty samples for £10 + £2.95 a month. If your interested in joining please sign up using my referral link -http://birchbox.co.uk/?raf=30654

 We will both be awarded 50 points worth £5 to spend in the e-shop!

This month Birchbox teamed up with Harper's Bazaar to bring us this great box. Look how pretty the box itself is! I wish they did a different design on the boxes every month instead of the normal plain boring boxes. Included this month is also a little magazine with beauty tips for the great outdoors.

Here is a look at what I got in my box this month

Harper's Bazaar Collaboration May Birchbox 2014

First up is a product a actually already own. I won a free full size of this just last week from feelunique. So far I've enjoyed using it, so I'm quite happy to have a spare as a back up. Benefit They're Real Mascara, this is a 3g sample worth around £6.88, full size is 8.5g and retails for £19.50.

Next is a nail varnish from the brand Soigne. I received the shade 'Creme Au Beurre' which is a lovely natural pink shade (another pink to add to my collection) It came packaged in a box which I think gives it a more expensive feel and an edge over other nail polish brands. It is the only full size in this months box and retails for £11.

Aromatherapy Associates is a brand I have wanted to try for so long. Revive Morning Bath & Shower Oil 3ml sample. Ive used this once and maybe only have one more use out of it. It would love to see what this is like in a bath (I only have a shower). It smells really amazing with a blend of pink grapefruit, rosemary and juniper berry. Its quiet expensive full size being £39 for 55ml, making this sample worth about £2.12.

Next is Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser from Liz Earle Beauty Co. Also included is a muslin cloth. I tested this yesterday and found that although it left my skin feeling clean and fresh, it make my skin feel very dry. Good thing for the invention of face moisturisers! I will continue to use it just incase my skin was having an off day. Full size is £13.25 for 100ml. This sample is 30ml worth £3.97

Last but DEFINATELY not least. Birchbox's own Beauty Protector - Protect & Shampoo and Protect & Condition. I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE did I mention LOVE! these products. Having sampled the Protect & Oil in my February box I immediately bought the full size Shampoo & Conditioner. I just really love the smell! I wish they would make a shower gel/body butter using the same scent as it is just amazing!  I also have a sample of the Protect & Detangle which I bagged on ebay. I'm currently waiting for the Oil to come back in stock in the e-shop so I can buy it too. The Shampoo & Conditioner works wonders for my hair. These are both available to buy exclusively in the Birchbox e-shop for £14 full size 236ml. I'm guessing these samples are around 25-30ml so somewhere around £1.48-£1.77 each. These are going to be perfect for taking away with me when I visit my mum next week.

Unfortunately no lifestyle extra this month. I see a few people got some Imedeen's Derma One supplements worth £18.99! However I like my box this month (highly due to the Beauty Protector products) Average box value around £25 (give or take)

Love Me Beauty May 2014

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. 

I was in two minds about this months Love Me Beauty box. Originally a beauty box, it has now turned into more of a lifestyle box. I'm not opposed to this but would prefer if it stayed as purely beauty. Here is what I received in my box. I choose menu 3.

May 2014 Love Me Beauty Menu 3

First is yet another nail varnish. Its hard to get excited about nail varnishes as they seems to be making an appearance in a lot of beauty boxes these days and I have gathered a rather large collection. Its maybe time I started painting my nails once in a while. Nail Girls in 'Nude Pink' is a 10ml product 15ml retails at £13.50 (although can be found on other online sites for half this). I have to say though it is a pretty colour.

Next up is a product I'm much more excited about. I love lip balms. This Natural Lip Balm by Raw Skincare in the flavour 'Rescue Me' is a scentless balm, which moisturises, soothes and calms sore dry lips. It also creates a barrier to protect lips and allow the skins natural healing process to take place. A very affordable £1.98 full size.

I have been wanting to try some products in the Suti range so was happy to see this in the box. Trial Pack by Suti contains 4ml samples of Cleanse Balm, Purity Balm & Fabulous Foot Balm. LMB claims this is worth £6.50 however on the Suti website HERE the trial pack for £6.50 also contains 4ml trial size of Rejuvenate Face Oil, Nourish Face Oil & 2ml trial size of Honour Face Cream. So this kinda leaves me feeling a little cheated.

This is not something I would expect to find in a beauty box. Go Stationery Pocket Notebooks pack of 3 'Meadow Bird' retails for £5. Nothing to get hugely excited about really, small unlined books, good for popping in your handbag.

Lastly is 3 samples of Tea Pigs 'Super Fruit' Tea each retailing at 65p. Im not a huge tea lover but I will give these a go

So there we have it. LMB estimates this box has a value of £24.43 although I'd say its closer to under the £20 mark. Still value for the money I paid for the box. Not one of the best boxes, bit disappointing this month I have to say. Lets hope next month is back on top form.

You Beauty Discovery May 2014

This month at YBD its all about CEW 2014 Beauty Awards which means all products featured in this months box are finalists or winning brands. YBD is a subscription box for £6.95 a month, where you choose 2 products from a list of 10 and then get some little treats added.

There was a great selection to chose from and of course with my love for hair products it was a no brainer to pick Dr Organic Moroccan Argan Oil. I have yet to put this oil to the test, but it smells amazing and I have no doubt I will love it. I received 100ml which retails at £14.99.

Next I choose a product ive enjoyed using before. Glamglow Supermud Clearing Treatment. I sampled the Glamglow Youthmud in a previous box and used a voucher code to get a try before you buy set which included the Supermud.  I much preferred this as opossed to the Youthmud. The Supermud works wonders at clearing blackheads. Full size is £44.99 for 34g so is quite expensive for a face mask. This is a sample size 10g worth £13.23.

As always a few little extra treats are added. 

First is some lovely Lizi's Toasted Granola in the flavour Treacle & Pecan. I'm a big fan of granola - this will be my breakfast tomorrow :)

Last but not least 2 little sachet samples - Charles Worthington Moisture Seal Hair Healer Leave-in Conditioner & Divine Legs Tinted Body Lotion by Caudalie (10ml & 5ml respectively) 

I'm looking forward to using both these samples (especially the hair healer)

Again another great box from You Beauty Discovery. For a limited time only get the CEW(UK) 2014 Limited Edition Box for £16.95 which you can find HERE

You Beauty Discovery April 2014

This is my april unboxing post. My box arrived VERY late! Arrived last week just havent got round to doing any posts :(

 I think a few people had issues this month with boxes going missing or maybe not even being sent in the first place, i'm not sure.

April YBD 2014

This month I was delighted to see Steam Cream as an option. Ive been wanting to try this cream for a while but held off on buying as I got the feeling it would make an appearance in one of the beauty boxes soon. This can be used as a face or body cream, id probably use it more as a body cream. This is a full size product which retails for £12.

Next I chose Moisture Replenishing Night Necar from Melvita. I have to say night creams are one of my favourite products to use, ive no idea why! I think I like the thought of something nourishing my skin as I sleep. Full size is £28 for 40ml.  This is a good sized sample - 15ml worth £10.50!

As always you get little extras in the box. This month I got a Fruity 9Bar which is a gluten free, wheat free energy bar made from mostly mixed seeds.

 Also in my box was a wee sample of Antioxidant Face Cream from The Organic Pharmacy. 

A great little box this month, worth the long wait...just hope that doesn't happen too often. May unboxing post to follow soon :)