February Birchbox | 2016

Hi guys. When I received this months Birchbox I was not disappointed, everything from the pretty box to the products inside were great! I have a had a look online at Glossyboxs' February box, which did look quite good also, but again I am glad I stuck with Birchbox as I think the products are slightly better. The box itself is really pretty this month, it's turquoise with marble affect and it says "shine Bright Like A Diamond" on it. 

Spectrum Collection | Tapered Powder Brush | RRP £7.99

"This vibrant hand-finished brush makes light work of powder application (whether that's setting powder, shimmery highlighters, or your fave bronzer) Thanks to the precisely-shaped tip and super-soft tapered bristles. Oh and it's absolutely gorgeous."

Thoughts|  I was so excited when I saw this inside my box, I was looking at the Spectrum brushes the other day and almost bought some! This brush is beautiful, it has a pink handle, with blue and purple ombréd bristles. It feels really good quality, the bristles are super soft. If I like this I may end up buying one of their sets as it's too pretty not to!

Number 4 | Lumiere d'Hiver Super Comb Prep & Protect | RRP £20.00

"Treat your hair to a little TLC with this does-it-all wonder product. Not only does it strengthen and repair tired strands but it de-tangles and tames flyaways, too - and all without sulphates or parabens! That's what we call win-win."

Thoughts|  I love a good tangle spray for my hair. My hair's fine so it gets tangled really quickly. I highly doubt I would re-purchase this one though as I am in love with the Beauty Protector Protect & Detangle which is a Birchbox exclusive and it's £6.00 cheaper than this one. 

Only Fingers + Toes | Nail Polish | RRP £16.00 

"While nail polish trends come and go, a polish that stands the test of time is hard to come by. Thankfully, this lacquer boasts a timeless glossy formula, applies effortlessly, and is free from the Big Five chemical nasties found in many polishes."

Thoughts|  I'm not a massive fan of the colour of this it's a muted pink with a nude undertone. This will probably be thrown into my nail polish collection and forgotten about unless I can think of a friend that may like it.  

Ayres | Body Butter in Patagonia | RRP £19.50

"Not only is this luxurious plant-based formula brimming with shea butter, vitamin E, and antioxidants to soften and hydrate, but the mix of jasmine, lavender, and ylang-ylang leaves behind a serene scent that lingers on nourished skin."

Thoughts|  I'm looking forward to trying this, being 8 months pregnant I am trying all sorts of body butters and oils to lather onto my growing belly. I applied a bit of this onto my hand and it sunk in quickly which is great as I hate it when creams leave a film across your skin.

LOC | One and Done Shadow Stick | Champagne Problems | £8.00

"What you are about to experence is Birchbox's first in-house make-up brand that we are SO excited to share with you. So what can you expect? Up to 11 hours of creaseless, waterproof colour in one handy stick, that's what."

Thoughts|  This is the one product that I have tried since receiving the box. Subscribers were emailed in January and asked to choose from two colours, one was this one, champagne colour and the other was a gold,  I would usually opt for the gold but I own so many gold/bronze eye colours that I decided to go for this one, and I am glad I did. The colour is a beautiful metallic champagne. It last really well on the lid, I wouldn't necessarily say it lasts 11 hours but it lasts a good amount of time maybe 7/8 hours. The price is great considering brands like By Terry do shadow sticks for £29.00...The £8.00 LOC one is much more appealing for your purse! 

Derm Eyes | Make-up Remover Wipes | RRP £9.50 | Beauty Bonus

"Eliminate all traces of make-up, gently, with these hypo-allergenic cleansing wipes. perfect for sensitive peepers, they've been created with a super-soft fabric to cleanse and hydrate the eye area without irritation"

Thoughts|  This is a nice little extra and as I do have sensitive skin it will be interesting to see if this irritates my skin. 

January Birchbox | 2016

What a beauty this months box was. It had a few new brands along with a few brands which I know and love. I am so glad that I went back to Birchbox after changing to Glossybox for a few months. I personally prefer Birchbox and the brands that they use.

1| Benefit | They're Real Tinted Primer |£18.50

"For supercharged lashes,one coat of this game-changing product will make all the difference! The mink-coloured formula separates, lengthens, and boosts each individual lash to prepare it for your mascara."   

2| Jelly Pong Pong | Lighten Up Brightener + Waterliner | £14.95

"If, like us, you love your make-up to be multi-tasking then you'll heart this brightening pencil! Use it along your waterline for wide-awake eyes or blend it beneath brows to awaken your complexion, without any shimmer!"

3| Cowshed | Gorgeous Cow Blissful Body Lotion | £20.00

"Nourish your skin and lift your spirits with this fragrant lotion. Filled to the brim with essential oils like lavender, rose, and ylang ylang, the happy scent will transport you to your own little oasis while hydrating your skin deep down."

4| Parlor | Moisturising & Repairing Shampoo and Conditioner | £16.00

"Not only do these lightweight formulas cleanse and condition but strengthening ingredients help to repair your locks at the same time! Even better? They smell of the brand's signature scent - ripe peach and freshly-cut grass."

5| Absolution | L'Eau Soir et Matin | £27.00

"Make light work of removing your make-up with this purifying cleansing water. Packed with kind-to-skin ingredients like hazelnut oil and Aloe Vera, it removes all traces of the day to leave your complexion feeling soft and refreshed."

6| Compact Mirror | £4.00

"Thanks to this handy compact mirror you'll be able to take care of beauty touch-ups and unruly locks on the go - so you're always selfie ready!"

June | Birchbox | 2014

Hello,

Today I recieved my birchbox and I must say I was very pleased with it! The box was themed for the world cup. Each product is from a different country in the world cup. 

Naobay Body Radiance Lotion | £14 
A Lemony fresh organic body lotion with shea butter, olive and avocado oils for soft skin. 
- I love the scent of this products I am obsessed with citrus scents and this smells beautiful.

Yves Rocher Sheer Botanical Lipstick | £9.90
A sheer, glossy lipstick infused with moisturising cherry oil to leave lips lusciously soft. 
- This is a very sheer lipstick, which I quite like. It smells incredibly fruity and it does leave your lips feeling very moisturised

OPI Nail Lacquer | The Brazil Collection | £11.95
A vibrant polish inspired by Brazil's tropical rain forests and sandy beaches. 
- As much as I love OPI nail polishes I am not a fan of this colour it is a glittery purple colour. 

Silk + Honey Shea Butter Hair Mask | £55 Full DIY set 
This deeply nourishing mask protects and softens hair, while fortifying its elasticity.
-I am really excited to use this product, as I bleach my hair it is in bad condition, I love hair masks!

Embryolisse Lait-Creme Concentrate | £12.99
This cult French moisturiser soothes skin with natural ingredients and is suitable for all.
- This is the item I am most excited about, I have heard everyone talking about this moisturiser. My friends who are make-up artists are obsessed with it. 

Birchbox | Extra | Brazil inspired keyring
A fun flip-flop keyring to brighten up your bag.

Benefit Boi-ing Concealer

Hello My Beauties!

I recently purchased the benefit boi-ing concealer from Birchbox. I won a competition on their Instagram and received £50.00 to spend on their online shop. I have now been using this for a few weeks so thought I would give you my opinion on this product. I have to apologise in advance for my pictures my DSLR camera has broken :( so until I can afford to get it repaired my pictures will have to be taken on my Iphone.

 

I decided to get the concealer in shade 01 light as I wanted to use it on my dark circles so wanted a very light shade as I am fair anyway.

I found the colour perfect and the coverage great. I did have a problem with it creasing under my eyes which I was quite disappointed in as on the description it says "This award-winning concealer camouflages dark circles, shadows and discoloration without creasing or fading."
As I said the coverage was great and definitely covered my dark circles which is great as you can imagine with a hyper 2 year old my dark circles are definitely a problem! The product didn't last all day but it lasted a good 7 hours I'd say which is fine by me as it lasted a whole shift at work without me having to touch it up.

Overall I think this concealer is good but not great, I think I may actually prefer my collection lasting perfection concealer and at about quarter of the price I think I'll stick to that one!


 

June 2013 | Birchbox | Review

Hi guys. My Birchbox arrived today and before I go into the review I have to say this is probably my favorite box I have received so far!
Also Birchbox have changed their packaging and logo. I have heard a few people saying they preferred the old logo but I prefer this one.   

Beauty Protector | Protect & Detangle | £15.00
Multi-purpose products are festival friendly and this sweet-smelling spray detangles, adds shine and protects from UVA rays and heat. Its exclusive to Birchbox! 
Hold the bottle 4-6 inches from damp hair and spray a few times before combing through and styling. 
- i'm excited to try this. it smells absolutely amazing! I have also recently bought a tangle teezer so it will be interesting to use these two together. I like the packaging of this the bottle is made of rubber so its squeezey.

Color Club + Birchbox | wanderlust collection nail polish | £10.00
Brighten up your festive style with these exclusive-to-birchbox neon and pastel shades. Layer two coats of the polish between your base and top coats to extend the life of your mani.
- These are by far my faviourite items from this box. I love the colours they are so bright and summery. Having previously used nail polishes from color club I know that these are such good quality and last on the nails for a long time! 

Coola | Classic face SPF 30 Cucumber |  £26.00
Wave goodbye to sun protection's typical white residue and help prevent premature ageing with this clear cucumber-scented SPF for face. Apply over your face and neck after moistuiser and before make-up or use alone for a protected fresh-faced finish.
- This smells really nice and to be fair its not a bad sized sample as things like this normally come in a sachet (Which I hate).

ModelCo | Eye define Eye Pencil |  £14.00
Highly pigmented and long-lasting, This fab pencil liner comes with an in-built sharpener - perfect for festival rock chic style. Suitable for sensitive eyes, the pencil stays soft and creamy for 30 secs of blending before settling to a budge-proof finish.
- I have heard a lot about the ModelCo brand recently so I am looking forward to trying one of their products. I love the way this has a sharpener on the lid, its very handy. I don't think I would spend £14.00 on an eyeliner though!

Noble Isle | Bath & Shower Gel |£20.00
Pack a little luxury for the festival season with this bath and shower gel inspired by the countryside. Nothing complicated here: Lather up and get lost in the divine scents.
- This shower gel smells nice. I don't get excited about shower gels they tend to just sit in my shower and my partner normally uses them! On the plus side this is a decent sized sample!

I love this box I think it is well worth the money this month, I am very happy as I was starting to doubt Birchbox!
What did you think of the June Birchbox? 

Late | Birchbox May 2013

Hi Guys! Sorry about the lack of posts, I have just started working full-time again and its taken me a while to get my head around full-time work and looking after my 1 year old daughter!

I thought I would let you all know what I received in my Birchbox from May although you have probably all read other peoples posts on this! 

OPI | Nail Lacquer
For red carpet worthy mani, just paint on this gorgeous colour from the iconic nail brand between a base and top coat. Easy! Full-size, £11.50
- I am so excited about this, I love OPI polishes I find they are really good quality, they last on your nails without chipping for a long time and the colours are really pigmented you could just leave them with one coat if you wanted to. Also this is a really pretty summer coral colour, which I love! 

MURAD® | Hydro-Dynamic® Ultimate Moisture for eyes 
Science is at the heart of all Murad products and this clever blend of nutrients increases and maintains cellular hydration to the delicate eye area. Full-size £57.00
- I am excited to try this, I get really dry skin on my under eye area so I am hoping this will help, although I don't think I would spend £57.00 on it!

BIORGANICS HAIR THERAPY | Salon secret Elixir Hair Perfecting oil
This hair elixir smooths and tames flyaways for a picture-perfect ' do. Bonus: It's free from parabens and nasties. Eco thumbs up! Full-size, £12.99
- I haven't tried any hair oils so I look forward to trying this as I have wanted to try moroccanOil for a while but it is quite expensive this one is a lot cheaper so hopefully I like it! 

WEI™ | Chinese Rose Foaming Cleanser   
This gentle but effective cleanser is high in vitamin C, which helps your pores stay clear and your oil levels in check - leaving a refreshed, bright complexion behind. Full-size, £25.00
- I like WEI™ products but I am not a massive fan of the scent on this as its rose which I don't particularly like and I also have lots of cleanser samples to try, so I guess I will just add this one to the pile to try out! 

BEAUTY EXTRA - WEI™ | Pomegranate Buffing Beads
Revive dull skin with this scrub packed with pomegranate peel and other natural ingredients,. Blend it with your go-to cleanser for a mild exfoliant to rid you of your tired skin. Full-size, £13.00 
- I look forward to trying these as I have heard a lot of good reviews on them!

LIFESTYLE EXTRA - KUSMI TEA | Detox Tea
This healthy tea rids your body of pent-up toxins, boosts your energy and lowers your stress levels. Perfect for pre-event nerves! Full-size, £13.85
There is nothing I hate more than a TEA sample in a Birchbox, especially when its loose tea! PLEASE Birchbox Stop giving TEA samples!

So Overall I am quite impressed with this box my favorite items are the OPI polish and the hair oil! 

Did you receive anything different in your months box?    

March Birchbox 2013

Hi Guys. I know this is super late but I thought I would do it anyway! The March Birchbox's theme was "Role Models." When I received the box I was so excited as I had already seen reviews on it and I saw that it had the Beauty blender in it, I have been wanting to try this for so long and don't know why I haven't already purchased it! I don't think that the other samples were that amazing but having the beauty blender definitely made up for this! 

Beauty Blender|Sponge
"Beloved by make-up artists and celebs alike, this ingeniously shaped fushia beauty tool enables you to create a flawless finish with your foundation and concealer." - Full-size £24.00
I cannot wait to use this. I will do a full review after using it a few times! 

Beauty Blender|Cleanser
"One thing we've learned from our beauty role models? You must clean your tools. This cleanser prolongs the life of the beautyblender and all your make-up brushes. Get a head-start on your spring clean!" Full-size £22.00

Laura Geller Beauty|Inkwell waterproof gel liner
"This smooth long-wearing gel eyeliner comes with a handy brush that makes it super-easy to apply. Jojoba oil and vitamin E are among the skin-loving ingredients." Full-size £24.50
I can't believe the full price of this. I will try it but unfortunately it is a purple colour so I don't think I will get much use out of it!

Molton Brown|Valbonne Fragrance
"Known for their gorgeous lotion and shower gel scents, Molton Brown's fine fragrance collection is predictably heavenly. Valbonne combines notes of bergamot, dewy orange flower, rose, vetiver and leather for a sophisticated scent that will take you from day to night." Full-size £65.00
I have worn this once and hate it. I have a bit of a funny taste in fragrances I prefer really sweet, young, girly smelling fragrances. This smells really strong and masculine. 

La Sultane De Saba|Body lotion with argan oil
"Inspired by ancient beauty rituals of the Orient and Asia, La Sultane de saba's body lotion with rich Argan oil sinks into skin with ease, leaving a delicate scent. Divine." Full-size £26.50
I have used this a few times and I really like it. It is really moisturising and it has a really nice light scent to it!

Yu-Be|Moisturising Skin Cream
"Don't let the primrose colour fool you - this multi-purpose medicated moisturiser is made of tough stuff. A bestseller in Japan since 1957, the comforting camphor scent magically disappears about a minute after application, but leaves you with super-soft skin." Full-size £19.50
I will definitely try this as it is supposed to be really good for dry skin, and my skin is very dry at the moment!

Lindt| Lindor Heart Tin Filled With Chocolate Truffles
"Treat yourself with the irresistibly smooth LINDOR truffles, made with passion by LINDT master Chocolatiers."
This is brilliant! A little tin of my favorite chocolates, can't complain! 

So over all I think that the beauty blender made this box the other items weren't great! I think that if the eyeliner was in black then that would have been great but I rarely wear purple on my eyes! 

Did you receive anything different? What did you think of this months box? 

Everyday Make-up / FOTD

Hi Guys! Today I thought I would do a post on my everyday makeup. This look I have pretty much been wearing every day for the last few weeks. I always do this, I get stuck doing the same makeup look for weeks as its easy to get into the routine of grabbing the same make-up everyday. The only thing that does change is lipstick I try to wear a different one everyday. 

So for my skin I start with using this YONKA moisturiser - I got this in a Joliebox and I really love it, I have really dry skin but this is really moisturising this is £35.00 via the birchbox shop. I have been using my Laura Mercier silk creme foundation which I love I have it in colour beige ivory, I tend to use Estee Lauders double wear but I found that it really dried my skin out. Laura Mercier silk creme foundation has good coverage and feels nice on my skin I use my real techniques buffing brush to apply this. My favorite concealer is this collection 2000 lasting perfection  which I have in light 2. I then use my Rimmel Stay Matte powder which i have in 001 transparent, this is by far the best powder I have used it doesn't make you look to matte and it lasts all day.    

For my cheeks I use this little glow cheek block buster which I will also do a review on because I have fallen in love with it and its from Primark!! My mum bought me this a while ago and to be honest I just chucked it at the back of my make-up box thinking it would be rubbish, after finding it and using it a couple of weeks ago I realised I was very wrong and I really like it! I also use my Benefit Coralista (Excuse the battered box, it is rather old).

I have been using this liquid liner from Natural collection for the past few weeks and I love it! It costs just £1.99, its easy to apply and it lasts all day! I will do a review on this sometime this week.

I have started using this again recently. I got this in my media makeup kit when I was at college. You can get this on the Crown brush website for just £22.99. you can see the colours I use and they are just the neutrals. 

This is my current favorite lipstick and its the Rimmel Kate Moss lipstick in 107.