Subscription Box Archives - With love from Lou

Birchbox | July 2017 Edition

07/08/2017 by Louise 53 Comments

Last month I mentioned that after taking a few months away from my Birchbox subscription, I’d signed up again as I’d spotted the June box on social media and thought it looked right up my street. Luckily, I was over the moon with it when it arrived and I soon found myself looking forward to my July box being delivered.

When it finally landed on my door mat I discovered that the theme of July’s box was ‘Summer Daze’, which is just perfect for this time of year. And I’ve spent the last few weeks trying out everything inside it so I could share my honest opinion of it with you guys. I hope you enjoy reading through it.

To match the summery theme of the contents, July’s box had one of the most gorgeous designs I’ve seen. It has an ombre sunset on the front, which goes down from a mid-blue shade, through to lilac shades, and ending in a fairly deep pink. And then on top of the ‘sunset’ are the silhouettes of six palm trees. I believe the design was voted for by Birchbox subscribers a while ago. And boy, did they choose well!

You may remember in June that Birchbox subscribers were treated to a bag instead of a box, and although I loved getting something a little different for a change, I’m glad the box is back this month. I love how Birchbox boxes have a little pull-out drawer in them. I stack them all up and use them for storing my ever-growing collection of travel minis!

When I opened the drawer last month I noticed that there were six products inside, instead of the usual five. But sadly, they were all sample sized. I did think this seemed a bit stingy if I’m honest, as I tend to expect at least one full sized product in a box like this. The products looked nice at first glance though, so I tried not to let it bother me. So, what did I get? Make sure you read on to find out …

Benefit GoGo Tint

Every Birchbox shipped in July contained a Benefit Lip and Cheek Stain, and I got the GoGo Tint, which I was super happy about as it’s the newest stain in their collection, and I haven’t tried it before, despite being a massive fan of the brand. The GoGo Tint is a bright cherry shade that you can use as either a liquid blush or a lip stain. I did worry that it would be a little too ‘out there’ for me, as I tend to stick to pinks and nudes when it comes to lip colours. But I really love it – it’s the perfect summer shade. I love that the tint is super pigmented and long lasting, and I can definitely see myself repurchasing this once the sample has run out. Go, go Benefit for making such a fantastic tint!

Balance Me Flash Cleanse Micellar Water

Every July Birchbox also contained a 30ml sample of Balance Me’s Flash Cleanse Micellar Water, which I was very excited to try out. I love Balance Me as a brand and very often use their products as part of my skincare routine. I’d never tried their Micellar Water though. In fact, up until receiving this sample in my box, I’d never tried any Micellar Water. Can you tell I’m not one to jump straight on a bandwagon?! Anyway, I’ve been using this in place of my usual balm cleanser to remove my makeup before bed, and I’ve been really impressed with it so far. It’s a 99% natural cleansing water which removes makeup and impurities quickly and easily without having to rinse your face afterwards. I’ve found this does a fab job, although I can’t use it near my eyes or they end up stinging like crazy. I should also mention that it has a lovely subtle-yet-calming scent to it that seems to help me relax as well. Will I repurchase? More than likely. It’s a great product that I can see me using again and again.

Percy & Reed Perfectly Perfecting Wonder Overnight Recovery

Next up I received a 30ml sample of Percy & Reed’s Perfectly Perfecting Wonder Overnight Recovery – try saying that when you’re tired or have had a drink! I’ve only used this product a few times so far as the idea is you apply it through dry hair, from roots to tips before heading to bed, and then shampoo it out the next morning. And sadly, I rarely know whether I’m going to need to wash my hair until I get up. I mean, I just hate washing it unless I have to! (It’s not the actual washing I dislike, it’s the time it takes me to dry and style it after. Urgh). Anyway, the product smells really nice, and it’s full of lovely conditioning properties, so on the times I have used it, it made my hair look and feel really nice. I can’t say yet whether I’ll repurchase or not as I haven’t used it enough, but I’m glad I got to try it out as I’m enjoying using it so far. Have you ever used it before? I’d be interested to hear your thoughts on it if you have!

Anatomicals Softening Eucalyptus Foot Cream

I have to admit, I get through a lot of foot cream. So I was really pleased to find one that I hadn’t tried before in my July Birchbox: the Anatomicals Softening Eucalyptus Foot Cream. It smells really nice, and feels super nourishing on the feet. I’ve loved using it! I’ve found a little bit goes a long way with this cream as it’s not super thick like a lot of similar products I own. The packaging seems to be aimed at a much younger person than I am, but it’s definitely summery looking! And as it’s only £5.99 for the full sized tube I can see me repurchasing this in the near future.

Origins RitualiTea Matcha Madness Face Mask

Last month saw Birchbox treat me to a 5g sample of the Origins RitualtiTea Matcha Madness Powder Face Mask, and as I love Origins masks I was eager to try this out! It’s basically a revitalizing powder mask enriched with Matcha and Green Tea, and you have to mix it with water before applying it to your face. I have to be honest and say I wasn’t blown away by it as it takes quite a lot of effort to apply compared to all the other masks I use, and I managed to make quite a mess when I mixed it up. It also smelled like Sushi, which I wasn’t overly keen on. It did make my skin feel nice though! Will I repurchase though? I doubt it very much. Sorry Origins, I’m not a fan of this one.

Catherine Malandrino Romance de Provence EDP

And the final product in last months Birchbox was a perfume sample: Catherine Malandrino’s Romance de Provence. I hadn’t received any perfume samples in a while, so I was interested to give this a try. And according to Birchbox, this is exclusive to them. So, what does it smell like? I’m rubbish at describing scents (as you may well know) but to me it smells very sophisticated – kind of like the scents I usually choose, but also a lot more daring! I imagined it to be quite a fruity floral kind of scent, but it’s not. It’s more of a musky, masculine sort of scent. It is described as containing layers of jasmine, orange flower, rose and violet with a backdrop of powder musk, amber and patchouli. For me, it’s a night out scent that I think I’ll probably repurchase in a full sized bottle as it’s different to all the other scents in my collection and I really like it.

Overall, I really liked July’s edition of Birchbox, and can see me repurchasing quite a few of the products in the box. The only downside for me was the fact that all the products were sample sized this month. I really think Birchbox should be including at least one full sized item each month. What do you think?

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Birchbox | June 2017 Edition

14/07/2017 by Louise 36 Comments

You guys may have noticed that I haven’t written a Birchbox review for a good couple of months now. And I have to be honest with you and say it’s because I fell out of love with it and cancelled my subscription. For a few months prior to cancelling, I felt that the products I’d been receiving weren’t really up my street. And a lot of them were hair care products that weren’t suitable for my hair type. As I’d filled in a survey on the Birchbox website specifying things such as hair and skin type, I found it really frustrating.

Anyway, last month I was scrolling through my Facebook feed when I saw some pictures of the June Birchbox. And I have to say it looked so much better than any of the boxes I’d had in a long time. After a few days of reading reviews of the box on other blogs, I decided I’d renew my subscription for just one month and see what I thought. And as I managed to get my hands on a code entitling me to 50% off as well, I was chuffed to bits!

So, my Birchbox (or Birchbag as it was transformed into last month) was delivered a couple of weeks ago. And I couldn’t wait to open it up and see what was inside …

When I re-subscribed to Birchbox I was given the option of receiving June’s bag in one of two pastel colours: lilac with mint coloured stripes, or lilac with lemon coloured stripes. Being a true Libra, I couldn’t decide between the two, so told them to surprise me. And what a nice surprise it was when my bag turned up in lilac with lemon coloured stripes. It’s so pretty!

The bag itself is made of PVC. And as well as the gorgeous stripey detail, it has a pink zip and lemon coloured rope detail in the corner, which can be used to hang the bag up on a hook. This is ideal for anyone wanting to re-use it as a wash bag when they go away on holiday. When I opened the bag I was surprised to see not one, not two, but three full sized products inside. I know from experience that this is really generous, and I was excited to try them all out. So, what did I get? And, more importantly, what did I think of them?

Full Sized Meech & Mia Brow Liner in #21

I love receiving new brow products to try out, so I was really excited when I spotted a full sized Meech & Mia Brow Liner in June’s Birchbox. Sadly, despite being sent the lightest shade available, it’s a little too dark for my brows at the moment as I haven’t had chance to have them tinted for a while. I do really like the size and texture of the liner though. It kind of felt waxy when I applied it to my brows, and since I wasn’t leaving the house on the day I tried it out, I left it on all day and my brows barely moved an inch! I think if Meech & Mia started making this in lighter shades I would definitely repurchase. And I’ll let you know what I think of shade #21 once I’ve had my brows tinted again.

Full Sized Ecotools Enhancing Eye Set

The next item in my Birchbox last month was another full sized product, and it came in the form of a set of two double-ended eyeshadow brushes from eco-friendly brush brand, Ecotools. This means I got 4 different eye shadow brushes that are perfect for using alone, or all together to create a more dramatic eye look. I absolutely love the natural look of these brushes. And they’re super soft and fluffy as well! It tells you on each end of the handle what each brush is used for – there’s a smudge brush, and blending brush, a shading brush, and a defining brush – and there’s even a handy perforated guide on the back that you can pop out and keep to show you which brush to use on each part of your eyelid. This makes it an ideal set for beginners! At £5.99 I think this set is an absolute bargain, and I highly recommend it. Nice one, Birchbox!

Full Sized Cowshed Cow Pat Moisturising Hand Cream

And the final full sized product I received in my June Birchbox was Cowshed’s Cow Pat Moisturising Hand Cream. I didn’t know what to expect from this as the name makes it sound like it’s going to smell of cow dung. It definitely doesn’t, though! It has a really nice, quite herbally scent to it that I really like. The product itself sinks into the skin really quickly and easily, doesn’t leave any greasy residue, and makes my hands feel super soft and moisturised. I’ve been using this every day since I received my box, and at just £8 for 50ml I think I’ll be repurchasing this once it runs out.

Scrub Love Original Lovin’ Invigorating Coffee Body Scrub

I love a good body scrub, so I was delighted to find a decent sized sample of Scrub Love’s Original Lovin’ Invigorating Coffee Body Scrub inside this months Birchbox. I’d never tried anything from this brand before, but I would have definitely picked some up if I’d seen it in a store somewhere as the packaging is just beautiful. The product comes in a little pouch that you tear open, but can reseal to keep the scrub nice and fresh. And this particular one has a white background with little black dots all over it and a pretty pink column that has the name and product info written on it. I really like it. The scrub itself made from 100% natural ingredients to buff away dead skin cells, reduce inflammation, and moisturise the skin. It has the most delicious coffee scent to it, and I feel like it worked really well when I used it. The particles in it were just ‘scrubby’ enough for me, and it left my skin feeling lovely and soft and smooth. It does leave a bit of a muddy mess in the bath tub when rinsed off, but it’s nothing a quick blast with the shower head can’t sort. I’ll most definitely be repurchasing this in full size when I run out. In fact, I love it so much I may even pick up some of the other products in the range to try!

Bobbi Brown Extra Eye Repair Cream

And last but not least I received a sample sized pot of Bobbi Brown’s Extra Eye Repair Cream. I have to be honest and say this is the one product I haven’t actually tried out yet. And that’s purely because I’m going on holiday later this month, and it’s the perfect size for me to take with me. I’ve had a little sniff at it though, and there doesn’t seem to be any scent to it. The product is described as being like an espresso shot for tired under-eyes: brightening, smoothing, and prepping the area for concealer. I’m not sure how well it will work on mine though, as they’re super dark and horrible from not getting enough sleep. But as the full sized version of this retails at £46 I’m expecting to see results of some description. I’m really excited to try it out. And I’ll be sure to let you know how I get on with it.

And there you have it, a mini review of all the products I received in my June Birchbox. Overall, I was very impressed and thought the whole box was fantastic. I was over the moon with all 5 of the products I received, as well as the pastel coloured bag. They’re all products I will continue to use. Well done Birchbox. What more could I have asked for?!

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Birchbox – October 2016 Edition

10/11/2016 by Louise 22 Comments

Well, we’re into the second week of November and I’ve just realised that I never posted my review of the Birchbox I received last month … whoops! I really need to work harder to get these reviews up during the correct month don’t I? I promise to be on time from now on!

Anyway, during October Birchbox teamed up with world renowned astrologist, Susan Miller, to bring 4 different boxes to their subscribers : Earth, Air, Fire and Water. The box we got was dependent on our star sign, and as I’m a Libra, I received the Air box.

I have to say I thought the box design last month was absolutely beautiful. It’s a midnight blue colour adorned with stars that actually glow in the dark! I love it. So, what did I get in my box last month? Make sure you read on if you want to find out …

LORD & BERRY 20100 MAXI MATTE CRAYON LIPSTICK IN INTIMACY

The first product I received in this months box was a full sized matte lip pencil from Lord & Berry in the shade ‘Intimacy’. I actually fell in love with this particular shade at first glance (if that’s even possible) and I wasn’t disappointed when I started using it! Intimacy is a beautiful pinky nude shade which is a lot like my lips (but better). Shades like this really suit me, and are the ones I tend to pick up when I’m out shopping for lip products.

I’ve never tried any matte lip products from Lord & Berry before, and I thought it might be a little too drying on my lips. But I needn’t have worried, as it didn’t feel dry at all. It lasted really well throughout the day too, with just the odd top-up needed here and there.

The Lord & Berry 20100 Maxi Matte Crayon Lipstick in Intimacy retails at £12.00 and I will definitely be repurchasing once I’ve run out!

BATISTE STYLIST OOMPH MY LOCKS XXL VOLUME SPRAY

The second product I received in October’s Birchbox was something I bought when it was launched last year – Batiste’s Oopmh My Locks XXL Volume Spray from their range of styling products. Now, I’ve always got on really well with Batiste’s range of dry shampoo’s, but their styling products really don’t suit me. I have really fine hair that I never seem to be able to add any volume to, no matter what products I use. I did give this product a second try so I could write up a fair review, but it still didn’t give my locks any sort of oomph!

What I will say though that the product is really easy to use – just shake, spray lightly on to dry hair, then massage in with your fingers to give it some volume. The mist is really fine, so it doesn’t leave your hair feeling like there’s loads of product in it. And it has a lovely light and pleasant scent to it. I just feel it would work better on thicker hair.

Batiste’s Stylist Oomph My Locks XXL Volume Spray is a steal at £4.29, but unfortunately I won’t be repurchasing myself.

DOUX ME PURE SPRING MIST

Next up I received the Doux Me Pure Spring Mist which, I have to say, has the most gorgeous packaging. I absolutely love the dotty design on the can. I’d never heard of Doux Me before, but that might be because they’re a Birchbox exclusive brand, and I’ve only been a subscriber for a few months.

The Doux Me Pure Spring Mist is designed to spritz onto your face to brighten tired complexions and hydrate thirsty skin. And although I love products like this, I see them as more of a summer thing than an Autumn one. I’ve used this a few times since receiving my box, and have found that it feels really nice on the skin when first spritzed on, but doesn’t really live up to its promises. My skin never looks any brighter or feels very hydrated after use.

I was really impressed by the size of the sample (50ml) but I definitely wouldn’t repurchase this at £16.00 for the full 100ml version. As the can only contains pure spring water it feels a little bit like daylight robbery!! It’s not for me.

NKD SKN PRE-SHOWER BUILDABLE TAN

October’s Birchbox also included a NKD SKN Pre-Shower Buildable Tan. Now, I don’t really get on with tanning products so I haven’t used this yet. And I haven’t decided whether I ever will or if I’ll pass this one on to a friend or family member. But I do have to say it looks really simple to use : you just apply to dry skin, wait for ten minutes and then wash away in the shower.

According to the Birchbox website, this tanning treatment is quick-drying, odourless and made from natural ingredients. Even I have to admit that it sounds great. And what’s more, the tan is said to last for up to 7 days. Wow!

The NKD SKN Pre-Shower Buildable Tan costs £13.95 for a full sized tube, which I think is a good price for something like this.

NUMBER 4 FLUORO5 ELIXER RESTORE & REPAIR OIL

The fifth product I received in my October Birchbox was the Number 4 Fluoro5 Elixer Restore and Repair Oil. I have to say I really wanted to love this product. But unfortunately, I didn’t. Hair oils have become big business over the last couple of years, and all my friends rave about them. When you have super fine hair like mine though, it’s not a product you can use. Why not? Because it leaves my hair looking limp and greasy instead of shiny and sleek. Which, believe me, is not a good look!

What I can’t quite understand, is that when I first signed up to Birchbox I filled in a survey to let them know what skin and hair type I have. Yet I keep receiving hair products that aren’t suitable for me. It’s a real shame.

I’ve had a quick look at some other reviews of the Number 4 Fluoro5 Elixer Restore and Repair Oil and it seems that people with thicker hair and those with dry or damaged locks found this product the most useful. So if you don’t fall into any of those categories it’s probably best to steer clear.

The Number 4 Fluoro5 Elixer Restore and Repair Oil comes in at £18.40 for the full sized 2.0 fl oz bottle, which I think is quite pricey, but would maybe consider if the product actually worked for me.

BIRCHBOX EYEBROW BRUSH

And last but not least in October’s Birchbox I received an eyebrow brush from their own range. This actually came at a good time for me as I’d left my only other brow brush at a friends house and was missing using it every morning! It’s a duo brush, so one side is for combing your lashes and the other is for tidying your brows. I always opt for brushes like this as I’m a big fan of multi-tasking products. The tool is a good size, well made and does what it’s supposed to do.

At £1.99 the Birchbox Eyebrow Brush is an absolute bargain, and I wouldn’t hesitate to repurchase it.

Overall I thought the October Birchbox was OK, but not as good as the previous two boxes I received. As we’re now on the run up to Christmas I’m hoping the products we get in the next two boxes outshine them all. Well, a girl can dream!

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*Product purchased with my own money

Birchbox – September 2016 Edition

07/10/2016 by Louise 12 Comments

Ever since I signed up to Birchbox back in August, I’ve been looking forward to receiving my next box. And I have to say, it didn’t disappoint! The theme for September’s box was ‘Heroes’, and it was said to contain lots of lovely ‘hero beauty treats’. As soon as the box arrived I dived straight in and started trying the products out, and today I thought I’d let you guys know how I’ve been getting on with them.

September’s treats arrived in a really pretty box which had a pastel coloured pattern on. But instead of having a lid, like most of the other subscription boxes out there have, it actually has a pull out drawer! I absolutely love this idea as it means I’ll reuse it rather than just recycling it like I usually would.

This month I received 5 products – one of which was full sized and 4 that were sample sized. There was a good mix of products, from makeup and skincare to hair and shower products. So, without further ado, let me tell you what I got and what I thought of each product …

MODELCO CREME ROUGE IN JUST PEACHY

All boxes this month included a full sized product from ModelCo, and we could choose from a creme rouge (which can be used on lips and cheeks) and a highlighting trio. I went for the creme rouge and I’m really pleased I did as it’s a really gorgeous shade, despite looking super scary in the pan! I used it as a cream blush, and found it gave my cheeks a lovely, natural-looking glow that lasted all day.

This particular creme rouge costs £14.00 for 3.6g, and I’d definitely consider repurchasing as a special treat to myself in the future.

AMIKA BOMBSHELL BLOWOUT SPRAY

Next up I received Amika’s Bombshell Blowout Spray. This spray is designed to be used before blow drying to give the hair extra texture and lift while providing a weightless layer of heat protection. It contains sea buckthorn berry oil, which contains nourishing antioxidants to strengthen and repair any damage to the hair as well. It claims to be suitable for all hair types, and as I struggle to get any volume in my super fine locks, I was hoping that this product would help give me the lift I crave.

Unfortunately, as with similar sprays I’ve tried, this did absolutely nothing for me. It smelt absolutely divine upon application, but left my hair looking really limp and greasy. I tried it on both freshly washed hair, and on second day hair and I had the same problem both times. From reading other reviews on the Birchbox website, this seems to be a common problem so I most definitely wouldn’t recommend trying it at its hefty £14.99 price tag. On a more positive note, I loved the packaging to this, and some of Amika’s other products look more up my street, so I think I’d be tempted to give them a try.

THIS WORKS IN TRANSIT CAMERA CLOSE-UP

This month I was excited to find there was a product from This Works in my box! They’re a brand I’ve loved for a good few years now, but the product I received in my Birchbox was actually one I hadn’t tried before – their In Transit Camera Close-Up. I mention time and time again that I’m a big fan of multi-functional products, so I couldn’t wait to give this one a try, as it just happens to be a mask, a moisturiser and a primer in one handy little bottle!

The product itself is packed with hyaluronic acid, argan and starflower oils, and also has a hit of caffeine in, to really help brighten up the skin. I found that it smelt really nice, and it’s quick and easy to use. I felt it really hydrated my skin, leaving it looking brighter and feeling so much nicer than before. The only downside for me is that I didn’t find this product sooner, as it also has SPF 30 and would have been perfect to use as part of my summer morning skincare routine!!

The full sized version of the In Transit Camera Close-Up comes in at £30.00 for 40ml and I can honestly say that I’ll be repurchasing it again and again. It’s absolutely fantastic!

NUXE PRODIGIEUX SHOWER OIL

Nuxe are another brand that I really enjoy using, so I was thrilled to find something of theirs in September’s Birchbox. And again, it just happened to be something I hadn’t tried before – their Prodigieux Shower Oil. Now I have to be honest and say that I wouldn’t usually use a shower oil, as they tend to leave my skin feeling a tad greasy, and I’m always wary of it transferring to my clothes. But I didn’t find that at all with this one. Instead, it left my skin feeling soft, smooth and supple, and the scent lingered faintly on my skin throughout the day. That’s good though, as it smells really nice!

At £10.00, the Nuxe Prodigieux Shower Oil is slightly more money than I would usually like to spend on a shower product. But as I felt it helped nourish my skin I would definitely be tempted to repurchase it.

PURISKIN NURSE AID CREAM FOR HANDS & NAILS

And last but certainly not least I received the Puriskin Nurse Aid Cream for Hands and Nails. I have to be honest and say I haven’t tried this product properly as I thought my mum could make better use of it than I could. She’s suffering with really bad cracked skin at the moment, and there’s very little that she’s tried that has helped her.

According to the Birchbox website, this rich barrier cream has been developed with nurses and clinical practitioners in mind. So it’s formulated to help protect the skin from regular exposure to harsh alcohol-based gels and soap, caring for dehydrated hands and nails.

I gave it a quick try and found that it sinks into the skin really quickly and easily. And it didn’t leave my skin feeling at all greasy, which is great. I think if it works to heal my mums hands then it will truly be a dream cream. I promise to keep you posted!

The full sized Puriskin Nurse Aid Cream for hands and nails is priced at £12.99, which, if it works, I think is a great price. What do you guys think?

Overall I thought the September Birchbox was really good. Although I was super jealous of everyone who received a Laura Mercier product in their boxes as I love their stuff. I’m looking forward to receiving my October box now, which I hear is based on the astrological elements of Earth, Air, Fire and Water. It sounds right up my street!

Birchbox – £10.00 (plus P&P) per month ||link||

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*Product purchased with my own money

Birchbox – August 2016 Edition

23/08/2016 by Louise Leave a Comment

I’ve been a regular subscriber to a number of different beauty subscription boxes for a while now. But in all honestly I’d started to get a little fed up with them as the same tried and tested products were popping up time and time again. So, I decided to shop around a little and see if any of the subscription boxes I hadn’t tried before looked like something I’d like, And the one that really stood to me was Birchbox.

Birchbox is a monthly subscription box which gives you the chance to try out 5 luxurious treats from both new and well known brands that are currently available here in the UK for just £10.00 per month (plus £2.95 P&P). I thought this offered great value for money, and I just couldn’t resist signing up!

August’s Birchbox is called ‘Dive In’, and rather than arriving in a box, this months goodies came in a super cool neoprene makeup bag (y’know, the material scuba suits are made of) with a neon coloured zipper. And this month it contained 6 summer beauty essentials, along with an extra special treat for me becoming a subscriber. How cool is that?!

The makeup bag itself is said to be worth £8.00, and you receive one of 4 different coloured ones as part of this months subscription. Each bag contains different products and I was sent the one with a yellow zipper. At first I was a little disappointed as I’d seen a couple of reviews on the pink zippered version, and they looked right up my street. But once I looked inside I realised that I’d probably use the products inside this one a lot more.

So, without further ado let me tell you what I got in this months box (or bag) and what I thought of each product …

MARCELLE WATERPROOF EYELINER IN EXPRESSO

All boxes this month included a mini Marcelle Waterproof Eyeliner in either Mulberry (purple) or Expresso (brown) and as we could choose which one to get I decided to play it safe and go for the brown shade. I like how lovely and creamy a consistency this liner has, and I think the shade is a lot nicer than some of the other browns I have in my collection. It also lasted really well throughout the day, and as I’ve had quite watery eyes recently due to suffering with terrible migraines, I’ve learned that it’s claims of being waterproof are well founded too!

At £10.50 for 1.2g, I think this is a really reasonably priced pencil liner and I can definitely see myself repurchasing the full sized version of this in the near future. I love it!

PHILIP KINGSLEY ONE MORE DAY DRY SHAMPOO

I’m going to be honest here and say that I’ve received Philip Kingsley’s One More Day Dry Shampoo in other beauty boxes before, so I already knew that I liked this product. I find that it doesn’t leave any nasty white residue in my hair that many of the other dry shampoos on the market do, and I can definitely tell a difference when I apply this to un-washed hair. It absorbs all the excess oils and leaves my hair looking less greasy and feeling a lot more manageable, which is great. The product itself feels really lightweight and it smells so good.

The only problem I have with this product is the price. I mean, the sample size in the box is 50ml, which is perfect for throwing into your school or gym bag. But the full sized version is 200ml and comes in at a whacking £14.50! It’s most definitely not something I’d consider buying as I wouldn’t want to be carrying something of that size round with me all day, and I think there are similar products on the market that cost less and do the same job. Don’t let me put you off though. If you’d rather pay more for hair products like this then I’d definitely recommend giving it a try.

BALANCE ME RADIANCE FACE MASK

Another product I’ve tried before (and still enjoy using) is Balance Me’s Radiance Face Mask. I won’t go on about this too much, as I wrote a full review of it here, but can I just say that this is one of my all-time favourite skincare products?! I love anything that’s multi-functional, and this product most definitely ticks that box! I apply this to my face once a week, leave it on for 5 minutes, then wash it off with a damp cloth and my skin always looks and feels better for it. It’s a mask designed to cleanse, exfoliate and brighten, and I can assure you that it does just that – I can always see a difference straight away.

This particular mask is quite pricey at £18.00 for just 75ml, but I’ve repurchased it several times over the last 18 months as it works well for me and does exactly what it says on the tube. It’s most definitely one of my favourite Balance Me products.

ANATOMICALS SMOOTHER BUTTS LOVE COCONUTS COCONUT + MANGO BODY LOTION

Next up I got Anatomicals Smoother Butts Love Coconuts Coconut and Mango Body Lotion. Wow, that’s a mouthful! I’d never tried anything from Anatomicals before. Mainly because their packaging looks to be targeting a much younger generation of lady than I am. But I was blown away by how lovely this smelt! I can smell both the mango and coconut in equal measure, and I don’t know why but I’m surprised at how well the scents compliment each other. The lotion rubs in really quickly and easily, and it doesn’t leave my skin feeling at all greasy, which is great. The only downside for me was that it didn’t seem to leave my skin feeling all that hydrated, which is a shame as Birchbox promised me truly nourished skin after using this!

I’m happy to report that Anatomicals products are purse-friendly and this particular body lotion comes in at £3.99 for 200ml, which I think is really reasonable. I’m not sure I’d buy the body lotion again, as I like something that gives my skin a little more hydration, but at this price I’d consider trying a few of their other products.

RITUALS HAMMAM BODY MUD

I always get excited when I find Rituals products in beauty boxes as they’re one of my favourite brands. And in this months Birchbox I got my hands on something I’d not tried before – Rituals’ Hammam Body Mud. This product can be used as both an exfoliator and a nourishing body mask, and I’ve tried both ways and think they work just brilliantly. And I’m not just saying that because I’m a Rituals fan! The scent of this is just gorgeous – really clean and refreshing. Perfect for early morning baths or showers. I felt the product really brightened up my skin. I loved this and would say it’s my favourite product in the bag. At 2.3 fl oz it’s a very generous sample size as well.

I don’t think it will come as any surprise when I say I’ll most definitely be repurchasing this body mud in full size soon. It’s not that cheap, coming in at £14.00 for 5.0 fl oz, but it works so well that I’m happy to pay that amount for it. I’ll also be checking out some of the other products in the Hammam range!

YES TO … COCONUT FACIAL WIPES

This month Birchbox subscribers were treated to an extra little treat in the form of a Yes To Coconut Facial Wipe. Now, there was just the one wipe in the packet, so I don’t think it would be fair of me to try and give you a proper review of this product, but it smelt really nice and it did a good job of taking off the light layer of makeup I was wearing the other day. I didn’t feel that it cleansed my skin or anything like that though so I’m not going to rave about it. This is definitely something you need to try yourself to see how you feel about them!

I’m going to be honest here and say that I don’t use facial wipes at all so I definitely wouldn’t repurchase these. And at £3.99 for 25 wipes they seem really expensive. I’ve heard great things about some of the other products in the Yes To range though, so I’d be more inclined to try something else from their coconut collection. Let me know if you have any recommendations!

MIRENESSE GLOSSY KISS CRAYON IN PERFECT KISS

And finally, because I became a Birchbox subscriber this month, I bagged myself a full sized Mirenesse Glossy Kiss Crayon in the shade Perfect Kiss! I’ve never tried any of their lip products before, so I was excited to try this out. And I found that it’s a beautiful pinky nude shade that compliments my skin tone perfectly. I’ve read a fair few reviews on these before and people always say how long lasting they are. But although I was super impressed with the colour payoff, I didn’t find they lasted any longer than any of my other lip products do. But maybe that’s just to do with my lips? I don’t know! I really like how creamy and pigmented it is though so I can forgive the longevity issue.

Glossy Kiss crayons retail at £17.50 each, and although I probably wouldn’t repurchase them on a regular basis, I wouldn’t hesitate to pick one up now and then for a special occasion as I really liked this one.

Overall I was really impressed with my very first Birchbox, and I’m looking forward to seeing what they have to offer in their September box next month. Way to go Birchbox!

Birchbox – £10.00 (plus P&P) per month ||link||

Have you ever tried a Birchbox subscription before?
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*Product purchased with my own money

Glossybox – August Edition

09/09/2015 by Louise 38 Comments

I have to admit that I’ve been reading Glossybox reviews for a good few years now, but it’s only been this past couple of months that I can honestly say I’ve been impressed by what I’ve seen. So last month I decided to bite the bullet and subscribe to them myself, and today I thought I’d share my thoughts on what was inside with you guys. I hope you’re sitting comfortably as this could well end up being quite a long post!

This month Glossybox celebrated its 4th birthday and the August box had a global theme to it to mark the fact that it’s now available to purchase in 10 countries. I was excited to read that it included four-full sized products and just one sample size as well. So, without further ado, let me tell you what I thought about the products I received this month …

Sass Intimate Purifying Cleanser
The first thing that was in my box was a purifying cleanser for the intimate area. I have to admit that I was quite surprised to find that this was included as I’ve never known any beauty boxes have them before. This is a good thing though as I have used femfresh for many, many years now but have never tried any similar products that are on the market. This particular one is from a brand called Sass, who I have to admit I’ve never heard of before, and it retails for £7.00 for 100ml.

Since receiving my Glossybox I have been using this cleanser every day and I have to say I’m really impressed with it. I won’t go into too much detail as I don’t want to embarrass anybody, but let’s just say it does a great job of keeping my intimate area feeling clean and fresh all day. And if you think that Sass is something you’d like to try out for yourself then you can find them at Boots.

Naobay Calming Face Toner
Next up was a calming face toner from a brand called Naobay. Again, I hadn’t heard of this brand, but that’s what makes subscribing to beauty boxes so appealing to me – there’s always something to discover! I was actually in the market for a new toner so I was over the moon at receiving this, and I think the packaging is absolutely beautiful – made up of a matte white bottle with a real wooden lid. This suits their natural and organic branding perfectly. Naobay’s Calming Face Toner retails at £10.65 for 200ml.

The toner that I received was actually full-sized, which I thought was fantastic, and again, I’ve been using this on a daily basis since receiving my Glossybox. According to Naobay’s website, this has a refreshing citrus scent to it, but I can’t actually smell anything at all when I apply it! I think this could be a good thing though as I’m not overly-keen on scented toners. I apply this product with a cotton pad, and it brings off every last scrap of makeup that I’m wearing! I also feel that it’s very soothing, and it does a great job. I will most definitely be repurchasing this once I run out, but the only place I can find who stock it in the UK is the Birchbox shop! So if you know of anywhere else who have it please let me know in the comments below.

Emité Artist Colour Powder Blush
The third item in the August Glossybox was a makeup item from yet another brand I hadn’t heard of before – Emité. Emité is a Swedish brand and, according to the editors note which came in the box (see above), Glossybox subscribers got to vote for a product to be in this months box, and they chose the Artist Colour Powder Blush in the number 108, which is a warm terracotta shade. I have to say that I was really impressed with the size of this blush – it’s absolutely huge! And it retails at £20.50.

Now, I’m usually extremely pale all year round, but this year I’ve actually managed to pick up a bit of a tan (yay), so this blush has looked really good on me (if I do say so myself), but I’m a little worried that once I go back to my milky complexion that it won’t work so well. It has a powder formulation but it actually feels quite creamy when I apply it to my skin. I should also mention that the pigmentation is fantastic and I think that one pan would last me a very long time. I just love it and can’t wait to pick up some of the other shades in the range to see what they’re like. I’m really liking the look of 107 and 113! I’m struggling to find anywhere in the UK that stock Emité at the moment though, so I think I’ll have to purchase through their official website.

MeMeMe Lip Glide Velvet Finish Lip Colour
Product number 4 comes in the form of a lip colour from one of my favourite drugstore brands – MeMeMe. The product that I got was one of their long lasting Lip Glides in the shade Playful Peach. Now, I have to be honest and say that I hadn’t tried these particular lip products before, but I was keen to give them a try so I was really happy to see this in my Glossybox. These Lip Glides are priced at just £6.95, which I think is about right for a drugstore lippie.

So, according to MeMeMe’s website, this lip pencil is supposed to give unbelievable impact, wearability and long lasting colour with a matte-velvet finish, and this was something that I was really looking forward to. However, I was slightly disappointed to find that this wasn’t the case. I can’t say I found this crayon to be particularly matte, as it definitely has a subtle sheen to it, and it didn’t seem to last for more than just a few hours on my lips once I’d applied it either! The colour is really pretty though, so it’s something that I can overlook myself, but might disappoint other people significantly more. These lip glides are available to purchase directly through the MeMeMe website.

Manna Kadar Lash Conditioning Primer
And last but certainly not least we have a conditioning lash primer from another brand I’ve not come across before – Manna Kadar. This award winning lash primer from the US comes in at approximately £15.67 over here in the UK and said to create a fierce flutter by priming and plumping the lashes before mascara is added. As I usually use a clear mascara to prep my lashes, I was really interested to see whether or not this would work any better for me.

I have to say that whenever I use this my lashes do feel a lot softer and more ‘fluttery’ than usual. I have really short, stumpy lashes so anything that can make them feel nice is a winner in my opinion. When I added my everyday mascara on top I felt that they definitely looked a little more voluminous than usual so I was happy with that. I think this does a slightly better job than my clear mascara does so I would most definitely purchase this again in the future, and I’m going to be looking into the Manna Kadar brand over the next couple of weeks as I’m really interested to see what other products they have in their range. I’m not entirely sure whether or not you can find this particular product in the UK yet, but I noticed that you can buy directly through the Manna Kadar website.

Overall I think the August Glossybox is really good, and I’m really looking forward to seeing what they have to offer in their September box later on this month. Well done Glossybox!

Glossybox – from £8.50 per month ||link||

Have you ever tried a Glossybox subscription before?
I’d love to hear your thoughts on it.

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*Product purchased with my own money

Scoff Club Subscription Review

20/03/2015 by Louise 24 Comments

Recently the lovely people over at Scoff Club got in touch and asked if I would like to try their brand new subscription service, where I could get a box of tasty retro sweets delivered to my door every month. Now, I should be honest here and say that I’ve never really been a big sweet eater, but there’s someone in my household who would happily sit and eat sweeties all day every day if he could. Since that someone is my other half, I thought I’d be nice and agree to a review in exchange for seeing his face light up when the box arrived. And let me tell you something, they didn’t disappoint!!

So, “How does this Scoff Club work”? I hear you ask. It’s actually very simple …

1. Subscribe to Scoff Club
To do this, just head on over to their website and fill in your details. You can choose from three different scoff boxes, depending on how much of a sweet tooth you have. Boxes cost £9.99 for 500g of sweets, £11.99 for 750g of sweets and £13.99 for 1kg.

When you subscribe you are given the chance to tell the people over at Scoff Club whether you love, like or hate different types of sweets. For example, I could say that I love chocolate, hard/boiled sweets and lollies, but hate anything sour or fizzy. I think this is a really nice touch.

Scoff Club also make it easy to cancel your subscription at any time, so if you’re not impressed with it (although I’m sure you would be) or you’re going away and want to skip a month or two you can do.

2. Your scoff is picked and packed
Once you’re signed up the folk at Scoff Club busy themselves by sourcing the tastiest, most mouth watering sweets they can find. I have to wonder though, do they scoff as many sweets as they pack? Or are they good and make sure that only their customers get the tasty treats?

3. You start Scoffing!
Your specially selected box of sweets is sent out to you at the beginning of every month. All boxes are delivered free of charge as well so you won’t get any nasty surprises on your bank statement. Phew!

When our box arrived last week I found myself just as excited as the rest of the family to see what was inside! The box was packed with a bigger variety of sweets than I imagined it would be, and there were actually a few things inside that I like. Whoop!

Nathan was keen to get stuck in, and quickly grabbed some cola cubes, a bag of rainbow drops and a wham bar. I’d never heard of one of those before, but he assures me that they taste just like they did when he was a kid. Although he believes that they’re smaller now than they used to be.

Stacey (our eldest) is just like her mum and tends to be a little bit fussy with sweets. She still raided the box though and was happy to find drumstick and vimto lollies and refresher bars. I’m still trying to persuade her to try a flying saucer just so I can see the look on her face when she bites into it! LOL.

Overall the Scoff Box went down a treat and there are only a few sweets left now. I think these would make a fab gift idea for a friend or relative, and if you have a child who prefers sweeties to chocolate then it would make a great alternative to an Easter Egg this year.

We all give the Scoff Club Subscription a great big thumbs up, and we can’t wait to see what they’ll have to offer next month.

Scoff Club Subscription – from £9.99 ||link||

Are you a fan of retro sweeties?
If so I’d love to hear your thoughts on the Scoff Club. Why not leave me a comment below?

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*Product kindly sent for review consideration