June GlossyBox

Good Evening.

I know I was supposed to post last night, but I had an impromptu sleepover with Sam, due to her needing to view some flats today, I am pleased to say she has got one and will be moving here soon! I can't wait! 

So yesterday my GlossyBox arrived, which is always exciting...

 So once again the box came beautifully presented in pink and black. So now to what I got...

 It was pretty hard to miss this box! This cleanser, toner and moisturiser set from Dermalogica will be ideal for my holiday, miniatures are awesome! I am pleased to see the moisturiser is SPF 15, it's always important to protect your skin. At £12 for a full size kit, I would say this is really good value, unless this is the full size kit, then I would say it was a bit steep. So yeah, when I get back from Menorca I will give you the low down on this!

 Speaking of miniatures, this DermaBlend kit from Vichy will be great for my holiday as my tan develops. I don't plan on wearing foundation in the day, just mixing some tinted moisturiser into my SPF 30 facial moisturiser, or the SPF 15 from this GlossyBox. But yeah, this is great, such a nifty gift in the GlossyBox. A full size Ultra-Correction Foundation Cream Stick is £19, so it's great to have so many shades to try. 

I am also pleased to see more BM Beauty in the GlossyBox, I really liked the eye pigment I received the other month. However, this bronzer is in a pretty small container, I think I need to press it into a bigger pot so I can use it without throwing it all over the place. The full size of this product is £8, which is pretty reasonable, the full size is 4 times the size of this pot. I will let you know how I get on.

I always like to try a new mascara, though the name of this sort of put me off. 'Sexy Pulp' is by Yves Rocher. I am excited to try it though, I still don't think I have found 'the one' as far as mascaras are concerned, so I am always on the lookout. The full size of this product is £16, which is quite a lot of pennies, but I would pay it for something I thought was perfect for me.

 And finally, we got this GlossyBox Serie Exclusiv Pro Beauty Brush, which is some pretty neat advertising on GlossyBox's part. What slightly disappoints me is that this brush is goat hair, as opposed to synthetic, compared to my elf and body shop brushes, this one is pretty rough. It will get some use no doubt, but I can't see it being a favourite. I am interested to know other people's opinions on the goat hair brush, as general opinion seems to favour synthetic brushes.

All in all I am pretty pleased with my GlossyBox, I like the theme of summer miniatures that GlossyBox went with this month, given me a few bits to try on holiday!

In other exciting news, the Olympic Torch relay made it's way through York yesterday, so obviously we went to watch it go by. 

The lovely gentleman carrying the torch is Stan Wild, gym coach for York Gymnastics Club and former gymnast. It was great to see it go by, I felt very patriotic and proud to be British.

So yeah, that's it for today, I am majorly tired from a couple of long days walking, and I went to try a gym tonight and did some swimming. Tomorrow I am going to visit my friend in Huddersfield to do some 'cheap ass' shopping, basically; Ikea, B&M Bargains and Primark, lovely :)

See you soon!

She Said Beauty Box Review

Good Evening!

So unfortunately I was a bit under the weather yesterday, so apologies for no post, but I am back today, raring to go and excited to tell you about a lovely pink box that arrived on my doorstep yesterday morning...

So this is the She Said Beauty Box, it costs £9 plus £2.95 postage, so is £1 cheaper than the average beauty box, but that does not mean that it feels cheaper in any way at all!

I love the design of this box. I like the fact that it is subtly decorated on the front, the fact it has a magnetised flip lid, and the fact that the colour scheme is so bright and fresh! These are all aspects that make this box differ from other beauty boxes I have seen. I think this box feels fun, and who wouldn't be excited by that bright pink beauty on the doorstep! I also love all the little touches on the packaging, the fact that every side of the box has something printed on it, it shows a lot of care and attention has gone into the packaging, and I really appreciate things like that. I also think it's great that the info card tells you the prices of each product, and which ones are full size, I find information like this very helpful.

So I think you get the idea that I like the box itself, now to what's inside!

So I was very very excited to see the usual five products, plus a bonus sixth! It's always nice to receive surprises, and for a first box from She Said Beauty, this definitely gives a great impression of what to expect from this company. 

Here is some detail on all the goodies!

This Natio Lotus Soap is one of a trio set that incorporates 'all-natural Indian Attar perfumes' that are apparently used during Yoga. I don't normally buy bars of soap, I am a liquid soap kind of person, I think they are less messy, but I am happy to give this a try, as it's something I definitely wouldn't buy myself. The full trio is £8.50, which seems a bit much for soap. But if you're after all natural soap that smells lovely, or are looking for a beautiful smelling gift for under a tenner, then this may be for you. And, you're getting three 150g bars of soap, which are pretty big actually, even getting through this one will probably take me a while. So yeah, this smells lovely and I will let you know how I get on, I am always wary that soaps like this dry my skin out, so I am interested to see how this goes.

 After receiving a Inika Eye Pencil in my Glossy Box, I am pleased to have received another Inika product to try, this time the Lip Whip in Peach. This product contains essential nutrients for the lips to keep them 'soft and kissable'. The camera really doesn't do justice to how loud this colour really is! I am so excited to try this and if I like it, wear it in summer with a neutral eye and barely there blush. This is a full size product, and should be £14.30. I think this is quite a lot for a small 8ml lip gloss, however, if it is a good non-sticky and moisturising formula, then my opinion may change. 

Why oh why have I not heard of The Vintage Cosmetic Company before?! These eyelashes look beautiful! I think I will be saving these for a special occasion. These retail at £6 and I think for a special treat they should be well worth the money. I really like the packaging. I also think it's good that the lashes are on a clear strip, so they don't look too thick. When I get round to trying these I will let you know.

I can't say that I am a huge 'superfan' of the Kardashians, I didn't even know this perfume existed. However, I think it smells lovely! I am pleased that this is a 'proper' sample, not a vial with a couple of drops in. This roller ball is the perfect size for my handbag. I like the metallic pink bottle, I think it's very girly but sophisticated. This perfume RRPs between £22.95 - £39.95, but She Said Beauty sent a great 40% off code in the box! If I hadn't have just spent a tonne of money on new clothes, I may have invested in this. I think it's a great scent and would be happy to purchase this for myself (or receive it as a gift haha!).

I am interested to know how an SPF 15 can be a tan accelerator (can accelerate tan by 25%) as well, but when the sun next shines I will definitely give this a try. I find sun-tan lotion very expensive, it's like companies put a premium on our skin's safety, and we are all begrudged to buy it, or worry about the consequences. This product retails at £12.99 for 100ml or £17.95 for 200ml. She Said Beauty Box subscribers were sent a special offer for this entire brand, but it looks like this range is out of my current budget. I will be doing some research into sun creams soon, as I am planning to go on holiday in July, and if the prices of this brand are competitive with other brands I am considering, I might just invest, as I would rather be using organic products, (this is 82% organic), on my skin if I can afford to. 

 

The final 'bonus' samples came cutely packaged in a pink organza bag. I like this little touch as it makes the freebie feel a bit more special. These samples are from a company called Snowberry, a New Zealand brand I have not heard of before. I received samples of Intensive Renewal Face Serum, Bright Defence Day Cream No. 2 and Nourishing Rich Day Cream, which all contain pure ingredients from New Zealand and 'the remote places of the world'. I love the 'doodling' style graphics on the packaging. There were no prices for these products, but if I enjoy the samples I may be tempted to do more research.

So all in all, I am very happy with my box from She Said Beauty, part of me is so tempted to keep this subscription on. As you all know, (or should know if you have been reading a while), Sam bought me this box as a gift, and I am very grateful, thank you again! If I hadn't have just blown a load of money I would definitely keep this on, but I do enjoy my Glossy Box too, argh this is difficult. I will let you know what I decide to do, but rest assured, once I am working full time, I will have beauty boxes coming out of my ears! They make me so excited!

Have you tried the She Said Beauty Box? What do you think?

So see you tomorrow for another... haul! 

(*gulp* I had to show my mum in advanced because I know she reads and would ring me and shout at me very loud!)

Update on the April Glossy Box

Good afternoon!

I am zonked today! I agreed to go to the car boot sale with my dad this morning, which meant me getting up at 6:30, which was bad enough, BUT THEN to wake up to an instant cramp in my calf really took the biscuit! 

The car boot was mad busy, and mad cold, I ended up with 6 layers on, still cold, wearing my dad's golf hat and with a hot cup of tea to try and make my hands warm, I swear by the end of it my eyes were frozen! (name that film!)

Anyway, after a nap and a rest under a blanket I am finally warming back up. I am also thinking about joining him at a different car boot sale tomorrow, does this make me insane?

Anyway, a week ago today I got my April Glossy Box, this month (well last month now!) is earth month so I was thrilled to see organic products in my box, here are my follow up thoughts...

First of all, I am in love with this Ayuuri Coconut body wash. The scent is beautiful and it feels so lovely on the skin. It doesn't leave my skin any softer than usual, but when you are using it just feels good for you, and the scent stays on your skin for a little while which I like. I mentioned in my last post that I normally just buy my shower gel from Poundland, so £4.95 is quite a lot for me for shower gel, I would rather splash out on other products. Saying that, if someone bought me some as a gift I would really enjoy using it again.

I am so impressed with the Figs and Rouge Rambling Rose lip balm. I use it every night as I am going to bed and it keeps my lips hydrated through the night. Other 'night time' (I always keep a lip balm next to my bed) lip balms I have used have not been as effective, and I have had to reapply them several times before I get to sleep, not with this one! The initial grainy texture is a little bit weird, but it seems to melt into the lips. I would love to try the mint version of this balm and at £3.29 I would definitely buy another of these once this runs out!

 I am pleased to have received a graphite coloured eye pencil, I have plenty in black, but this grey gives a much more subtle look. The formula is so creamy and it goes on a dream and blends well, as can be seen above. I like this product but as I mentioned before I would not pay £11.95 for an eye pencil, as there are other products I would rather spend my money on, but I will enjoy using this while it lasts.

I have not really had much use out of the Kai perfume oil yet, I am still trying to figure out if I like the scent, it is very unusual. What I do know is that I wouldn't pay £41 for this product, as there are other perfumes I would rather spend my money on.

The formula of the Caudalie Vinosource SOS Thirst Quenching Serum is lovely, and I am enjoying using this as part of my night time routine. The UK weather really can't make it's mind up at the moment, one day it's shorts weather, the next day you're back in your thermals. My eye area does not appreciate these changes and tends to get quite dry, and I sometimes suffer from excema in this area. I am pleased to say that using this serum under my eye and on my eyelid is keeping my eye area lovely and hydrated. It is very gentle so is not making my eyes puffy by over hydrating them. I am pleased to have received a Caudalie product after all the blog and Youtube hype, and I will continue to use this. However, at £29 for a full size product, I would have to seriously consider  how beneficial it is before I purchased it. 

Overall I am very impressed with the selection of products in this months Glossy Box, and I can't wait to see what comes in this months box!

So probably no post from me tomorrow, as my mum and Rosie are coming to visit, so no doubt there will be shopping to do!

So see you Monday, enjoy your bank holiday weekend :D 

April GlossyBox First Impressions

Good afternoon,

So the blogs have gone crazy once again for this months offerings from GlossyBox. I was pleasantly surprised to receive an eco-box, full of organic products and 100% biodegradable packaging, although, like others have pointed out, why the packaging is not 100% biodegradable every month is beyond me. I do like to make use of my boxes so I will not be throwing it away, but many probably make it to landfill. I try to make sure I am eco-concious, so to test products that support this philosophy is great, and it gives me an idea which brands to look for in the future.

Anyway, I could go on about eco-ness all day, being a bit of a warrior for it myself, but I won't, and instead will show you what was in my box...

So the box looked quite exciting when I opened it, I was pleased to see some quite big products. At first I thought I had only got four products but one was hiding from me.

Here are my first impressions...

This smells lovely! It will be making it's way to the side of my bath as soon as I have used up the last of my Naked Ooh La La Shower Gel (which has lasted me forever, and smelt beautiful!). I am pleased to see this is quite a big bottle, I think it is full size. It is supposed to be £4.95, which is not bad, but, as someone who normally buys their shower gel in Poundland, it is unlikely I would buy this, but hey, that's why GlossyBoxes are such a treat!  I can't wait to try it as like I said it smells lovely, (I love coconut!), and it sounds like it has some great skin-loving ingredients in it. So I will let you know how I get on with that. 

After using up the last of my Blistex Roller Ball I have been testing all of my lip balms to find a suitable replacement as my night time lip treatment. I need something that stays hydrating for a long time. I find that some lip balms are great for a little while, and then actually make your lips drier, so you have to apply more, which isn't ideal for when trying to sleep. However, I think I have found the answer in this! Oh. My. Gosh is this moisturising! The rose scent is a little heavy, (the peppermint one that was in other people's boxes sounds lovely), but I can live with it, I like nice scents around me when I am going to sleep. At first I thought it was a little weird because it feels a bit grainy when first applied, but it sort of melts onto your lips and goes so buttery and smooth and lasts for ages. I think it's ideal for on a night because I wouldn't really want to eat or drink soon after applying this, because it doesn't really sink in. It can also be used as a face or hand balm which I like. I imagine if you had a cold and a flakey nose from all the tissues this would be a welcome relief. Anyway, I will stop rambling about this, it is a full size sample and is supposed to be £3.29, which I think I would pay for something organic and this moisturising.

I have never really considered that an eye pencil could be organic, but here we have the Inika Organic Eye Liner in 07 Graphite. I will do swatches in my follow up post, but from my initial try I can say that the texture is lovely! It's so soft and easy to apply and blend. I usually don't use eye pencils above my lashes but I tried this today and it went on beautifully, without that whole 'dragging your eyelid' experience you can have with other eye pencils that are too hard or dry. The only thing that puts me off is the £11.95 price tag. With eye liners I just think that they are something you can buy cheap and get away with it, so I couldn't justify this much on a pencil really.

So the above product was my only 'kind of' disappointment. I say kind of because all the other samples are quite large, so I can't be too disappointed with one mini mini product. I do think that if beauty boxes are doing perfumes though, they should be proper samples, and not just a vial of liquid that you can maybe use once or twice, the Fendi sample in the Harrods box was a perfect size. This is a perfume oil to be applied to the pulse points and I am not sure if it is supposed to be calming. The scent is pleasant but unusual, not something I would usually pick but I am happy to give it a try, but for £41 for a full size product, a try is all it will be getting!

I was very excited to see a Caudalie product in my box, after reading all the hype over other Caudalie products. This is a S.O.S Thirst Quenching Serum, that uses plant-based ingredients. I read on someone else's blog (I can't remember who's) that they use this as an under eye cream, so I have decided that's how I am going to try it. On a night I take my make-up off with a wipe, then moisturise my face, currently with the SKII moisturiser sample that came in the Harrods GlossyBox, I will therefore just add the eye serum into the routine and see how we go. If it performs miracles then the £29 price tag might be justified, I'll keep an open mind for now...

So all in all I am very impressed with this months box. I like the fact that GlossyBox is drawing attention to eco and organic brands in a positive way, (unlike a certain soap brand that recently went about proving it's point in a very controversial fashion...), and have delivered them in beautiful packaging once again. 

Not everyone can be pleased by the contents of beauty boxes, and some say that the 'hype' about them is over. However, as relative new-comer to the party and the concept of beauty boxes. I am still excited by the idea and will probably continue to be so. I mean, how can you not be excited about getting little presents through the post?! If I encounter anything I particularly don't like but I know someone who will I will just pass it on to them, I don't feel like I am losing out just because I don't fall in love with everything, I just like trying new things without having to pay ridiculous price tags. £12.95 a month for a little me time with some high end products I would never buy myself is definitely worth it for me... but what do you think?

(sorry for the essay, a short sharp post tomorrow I promise! And I am going to the Festival of Vintage tomorrow, so keep your eyes peeled for the post on that!)

See you soon :)