The His & Hers Beauty Box by Latest in Beauty – February 2015

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With Valentines day soon approaching, Latest in Beauty have released The His & Hers Beauty Box. As well as a treat for you there’s something for that special man in your life too. The box includes 14 beauty treats with a value of over £50 and it’s available now for just £14.95 + £3.95 P&P. It even includes two Charlotte Tilbury K.I.S.S.I.N.G Lipstick sachets which are utterly adorable.

Inside the box:

1. Rituals Foaming Hammam Delight Foaming Shower Gel Sensation 50ml
2. Wild About Beauty Eye Shadow 2.5g (Shades may vary)
3. Crabtree & Evelyn Nail Lacquer 15ml (Shades may vary)
4. Sanctuary Spa White Lily & Damask Rose Body Lotion 75ml
5. Jimmy choo Eau de Parfum (2ml)
6. MeMeMe Cherub’s Blush 12ml
7. Charlotte Tilbury K.I.S.S.I.N.G Lipstick sachets (2 sachets)
8. Bourjois Volume 1 Seconde Mascara (12ml)
9. Percy & Reed Abundantly Bouncy Volumising Hair Mousse (50ml)
10.Spiezia Organics Facial Cleanser 10ml
11. Latest in Beauty Heart Shaped Expandable Face Cloth
12. Dove Men+Care Hydrate+ Moisturiser 15ml
13. Dove Men+Care Shaving Cream Hydrate 50ml
14. Jimmy Choo Man (2ml)

The His & Hers Beauty Box is available now at:
www.latestinbeauty.com

Birchbox Review – February 2015

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Birchbox February 2015
Monthly subscription is £10.00 Plus £2.95 P&P
No. of Products in the Box – 6 items

www.birchbox.co.uk

Valentines Day is soon approaching and with this in mind, Birchbox have taken quite a different approach and it’s all about the things we love the whole month through. This month, Birchbox are sending all their subscribers a little box filled with loveliness with the February “Birchbox Loves” edition. Not only does the box include a great beauty line up but this month sees a much slimmer and sleeker box design giving it a new look and feel. For those of you who run home to catch the delivery man or impatiently wait at home, this box conveniently fits through your letter box allowing you to carry on with your day whether you’re in or out and about. This is a great step forward and most importantly you won’t have to ever worry about missing that all important beauty delivery, I really like it and from this month subscribers can opt-in for the slim-line box. More information is available here.

This month’s box has all areas covered and features a selection of skin and body care products, two make up treats, and a shine-boosting shampoo.The box also features a lifestyle extra from The Chia Co.

Birchbox is a monthly beauty subscription service. The box consists of  4-5 selected hair, make-up and beauty products from well-known brands and new brands. They also include a lifestyle extra within their box too. Birchbox also have an online shop where you can purchase all the brands which have been featured in their boxes. Their reward program offers exceptional benefits too.

The content’s of the February Birchbox will vary. To see what you may receive please click here

1.  T London Darjeeling Hand & Body Lotion – Travel Size 50ml RRP from £6.50

T London isn’t a brand I’ve heard of before but they host a wide collection of hotelier worthy beauty products inspired by Tea and their collection includes bath and body products to home fragrances.

The Darjeeling Hand & Body Cream has a blend of jojoba oils to soften, Aloe oils to moisturise and a welcoming scent of darjeeling, all within a silky textured lotion.

The scent is absolutely divine and really soothing making it perfect for applying after a long day to relax both the mind and body.

2.  Liz Earle Botanical Shine ShampooSample Size 20ml. Full Size 20ml RRP £10.00

As well as Liz Earle’s popular skincare collection which most of us are familiar with, I wasn’t even aware until now that they also had a line of hair products.

Liz Earle have made their haircare range really simple and have designed a single Botanical Shine Shampoo for all hair types with an one for all formula. With Liz Earle’s natural approach to things, the shampoo is SLS free, plant-based, colour safe and of course not tested on any animals. The natural active blend of ingredients include vitamin E, aloe vera, west african shea butter, fruit extracts and naturally derived cleansers. The fruit extracts help to make hair look shiny and claims to gently cleanse without stripping, to leave the hair soft and shiny. It’s also infused with eight essential oils which gives it a delicious light refreshing fragrance.

I’m looking forward to trying something different from the Liz Earle range and it will be interesting to see if this lives up to the same hype as their skincare products.

3.  Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum – Sample Size 10ml. Full Size RRP £45.00

I’m really into my serums and oils at the moment so was happy to see the Vinoperfect Radiance Serum by Caudalie, a brand I really love and trust.

The Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum creates a radiant complexion, corrects dark spots and prevents them from reappearing making the skin evened out and more radiant. It’s oil-free formula is suitable for all skin types too.

I’m particularly drawn to this product as I’ve got a few acne scars and it will be interesting to see over time if these marks fade away. As well as it’s fade technology, my skin certainly welcomes this brightening formula especially now where winter seems to suck the life out of my skin, leaving it dull and lackluster.

4.  theBalm Cindy-Lou Manizer – Sample Size. Full Size RRP £15.00

Can we take a moment to admire this adorable sample of theBalm Cindy-Lou Manizer, it’s simply heart melting with it’s super-cute vintage design. It’s almost too pretty to use!

theBalm Cindy-Lou Manizer is an eyeshadow, blush, and highlighter in one and it’s a peachy pink shade makes it versatile for all skin tones.
The warm colour worked really well as a blush on my pale skin and although it’s a little shimmery, a little blending gave it the right amount of glow without looking too metallic. The powder is smooth and creamy and isn’t chalky at all. It blends into the skin well and has pretty good staying power too. I love this all-in-one product which not only brightens the complexion but also contours and defines the areas you really want accentuate giving a lovely pop of colour.

5.  Cynthia Rowley Eyeliner – Sample Size. Full Size RRP £11.00

I wasn’t aware that Cynthia Rowley had a beauty range although she is more commonly known as a New York Fashion Designer and I welcome the introduction in the form of a black eyeliner pencil from her beauty collection. If you read my posts regularly you will probably know how excited I get over black eyeliners in any shape or form! It doesn’t take much to make me happy!

Firstly I love the pretty polka dot design along with the black and gold colours which really stands. I wasn’t expecting much initially, but this eyeliner definitely exceeded my expectations. The pencil is super-creamy and glides on smoothly with minimal effort without tugging the skin. It’s true black shade creates striking bold lines which immediately draws attention to the eye area. Not only does this liner make your eye’s pop,  it also stays put without any smudging.

I’m really impressed with my first experience with this brand, and will definitely be looking into more of their products.

6. Lifestyle Extra – The Chia Co Oats + Chia pack – RRP £4.95 (pack of 5)

I rarely have time for breakfast in the morning but these packs of oats + chia by the Chia Co are a great and convenient way to incorporate the most important meal into your day.

There could be different variants of flavours within boxes this month and I received the Berry flavour. The packet contains wholegrain oats and sun ripened chia that are blended with the finest quality fruit and virgin coconut oil to give a creamy, dairy-free texture just by adding water and is an excellent source of both soluble and insoluble fiber.

I can’t wait to try this and I particularly like that it’s travel and desk-friendly and only requires hot water.

My Verdict

This month’s Birchbox is filled with true loveliness and sees a much slimmer and compact box design making it even easier to get that all important beauty delivery straight through your letter box. The inclusion of two make-up items will certainly put smiles on faces this month along with the remainder of the products which are all very usable, and mainly features new discoveries for me from well-known and emerging brands.

The box boasts six items this month and covers all areas with a selection of tip to toe discoveries from skin brighteners, a soothing body treat, a shine boosting shampoo, a true black eyeliner and a travel & work friendly breakfast sample.

I’m really impressed with the entire line up this month and the samples are decent sized too giving you an opportunity to really road test the products. I’ve already got a few firm favourites within this box!

I’m really looking forward to the March edition as it’s “pick your own sample” time again from a brand we all love and know, Benefit.

Thinking of Subscribing?

Get your first Birchbox for only £10.00 by using the code BBLOVES at the checkout.

To sign up for the February Box or for more information please click here

www.birchbox.co.uk

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Birchbox Spoiler – February 2015

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Valentine’s Day is soon approaching and with that in mind, Birchbox are sending all their subscribers a little box filled with loveliness with the February “Birchbox Loves” edition. Not only does the box include a great beauty line up but this month also see’s the launch of their much slimmer and sleeker box design which you can opt into now. Gone are the days waiting for that all important beauty deliver, the slimmer version fits straight through your letter box.

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This month’s box has all areas covered and inside you will find a selection of  worthy samples from Birchbox’s signature and discovery brands such as TheBalm, Caudalie, Liz Earle, T London, Caudalie and Wild About Beauty to name a few along with a lifestyle item too.

The February edit has a great beauty line up and all subscribers can expect to see two make-up items this month which I’m sure will put smiles on faces!

The February Birchbox is available now.

Thinking of Subscribing?

Get your first Birchbox for only £10.00 by using the code BBLOVES at the checkout.

Subscribe today to get the February Birchbox.

www.birchbox.co.uk

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Look Fantastic Beauty Box Review – February 2015

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Price of the Box is £15.00 including P&P
No. of Products in the Box – 6
Worth £48.00
www.lookfantastic.com

 I’ve kick started the month with the February Look Fantastic Beauty Box and I couldn’t wait to see what they had in store for us. Since launching only last September, this box has been a big hit with beauty lovers and addicts alike. This month’s box showcases a great variety of luxury hair and skin care essentials and a couple of make up treats which I’m sure will put smiles on faces this month! If that’s not enough to tempt you, this box also features a sample of a famous iconic bar of soap.  I know Look Fantastic have had numerous requests for more make up items and it’s great to see that they are taking this feedback on-board. This is certainly one of my favourite edits, there’s so many new wonderful discoveries and the sizes of the products are really generous too with two of them being full size.

 Look Fantastic have taken the plunge and bring you their very own monthly beauty box.  Known for providing all things beauty from A-Z via their website if anyone could successfully pull this off it’s certainly them being experts in this trade already. With  over 14,000 products online from more than 400 brands across hair, make up, skin care, nails, electrical, fragrance, health , home and organic it was inevitable that this beauty box was going to deliver and be a hit as soon as it landed. It really isn’t a surprise that these continually sell out when launched.

The box offers a selection of handpicked, must have beauty fixes wrapped in a beautifully presented box and delivered straight to your door. The beauty box will always include a minimum of six products and offers a selection of skincare, haircare, cosmetic and body products, catering to every kind of beauty lover.

This month’s box is filled with an incredible 6 beauty treats which have been carefully selected and showcases well known and premium brands along with a few new discoveries too. The box features products from Korres, Moroccan Oil, Bellapierre, Monu, Dr PAWPAW and Erzo Laszlo.

1.  Korres Citrus Little Body Milk – Travel Size 50ml. Full Size 200ml RRP £10.00

I received a sample of the Korres Body shower gel from the same citrus range last year and was pleased to see a body lotion to form a little travel/weekend duo.

The Korres Citrus body milk surrounds you with an uplifting, clean and fresh aroma and has a powdery texture to leave your skin soft and hydrated. It’s rich in trace elements awaken the epidermis with an energy boost. The combination of provitamin B5, Shea butter and Jojoba oil enhances the suppleness of the skin, while also providing long-lasting hydration. It also contains  Vitamin C and E, zinc and anti-oxidant enzymes to enhance the skin’s immune system, this is due to the active aloe’s ability to stimulate collagen and elastin synthesis, which helps to reduce the visible signs of ageing.

Just like the shower gel there wasn’t an overwhelming citrus fragrance, it’s got a subtle almost herbal scent. The body milk soaks into the skin very quickly, leaving it feeling refreshing and soft with no greasy residue. It’s also  dermatologically tested, free from mineral oil, silicone, propylene glycol and ethanolamine so it’s much kinder to the skin.

2.    Monu Illuminating Primer  –  Travel Size 20ml. Full Size 50ml RRP £27.95

I was really impressed with the last Monu skincare product I received, so I was really pleased to see this generous sized sample of their Illuminating Primer.

Monu is an ethical skincare brand, they are against animal testing and their products contain no synthetic perfumes or colours. This Illuminating Primer SPF 15 contains zinc oxide for sun protection, plus antioxidant vitamin E, and is paraben free.

The Monu Illuminating Primer which contains SPF 15 comes fragranced with a gentle scent and is suitable for all skin types. It contains illuminating, light reflecting particles to give the face a radiant and soft-focus finish. This does need to be massaged into the skin very well otherwise it will leave white traces due to the thick formula, but despite this I really love it. Not only does it help protect against UV damage, it also gives the skin a really nice dewy glow without making it look greasy on my oily skin, in fact it counter-acted the usual shine. It also grips foundation giving a much smoother canvas and a long lasting finish which keeps your make up looking fresh and intact for most of the day.

This primer can be worn alone as a day moisturiser, or under make-up as a primer. Another really great product from Monu!

3.   Dr PAWPAW Multi-Purpose Soothing Balm  –  Sample Size 10ml. Full Size 25ml RRP £6.95

I’ve not tried anything from this brand before but have read amazing reviews of this hard working versatile balm which has an endless list of uses.

Dr.PAWPAW products are 100% British made and their collection of balms are made from a variety of natural ingredients including Pawpaw (Papaya), Olive Oil and Aloe Vera Oil and when blended together, creates a multi-purpose formula.

Not only is this balm effective on extremely dry areas, it can also be used as a lip balm, moisturiser, cuticle cream, smoothing the hair or to treat skin conditions such as dermatitis and eczema. It’s even gentle enough to use on a baby’s bottom as a nappy cream which really gives you an idea of how natural and gentle the formula is.

The balm is quite thick and due to the cold weather may need a little warming up. I tried this on my lips and it felt super-nourishing without any stickiness and kept my lips moist and really soft without the need for further touch up’s.

This comes in a really handy sized sample and it’s a great multi-purpose saviour for a complete steal at only £6.95.

4.   Moroccan Oil Treatment – Full Size 25ml RRP £13.45

As the weather turns colder and gloomy, my unruly hair also takes a turn for the worse! I have thick coarse hair which annoyingly turns frizzy as soon as it comes into contact with the rain so I was pretty pleased to see this bottle which comes in a very generous size.

The Moroccanoil Treatment is infused with the precious key ingredient, Argan Oil. The formula also contains  strengthening proteins and shine-enhancing vitamins to detangle, speed up drying time and to boost shine leaving the hair smooth, manageable and nourished with each use.

The oil can be applied after shampooing for a sleek blowdry or alternatively a pea-sized amount can be applied after your blowdry concentrating mainly on the ends to add lustrous shine and softness.

I look forward to trying this wonder oil and will be interested to see how this measures up to others I’ve used in the past.

5.   Erno Laszlo Sea Mud Deep Cleansing Bar – Travel Size. Full Size 5oz RRP £45.00

I never thought a bar of soap would excite me as much as the Erno Laszlo Sea Mud Deep Cleansing Bar! The cleanser is Erno Laszlo’s most famous and best selling product, having gained a cult following since it’s original creation. Not only is this miniature soap suitable for normal, combination and slightly oily skin types, the full-size retails for a whopping £45.00 being the most expensive bar of soap I’ve ever tried.

The soap is formulated with an expert blend of 26 different minerals and is made using 97% natural ingredients. It’s enriched with therapeutic Dead Sea mud which detoxifies, hydrates and restores the skin’s mineral levels. The bar also gently exfoliates your skin to remove dead cells for a brighter looking complexion .

I wasted no time in trying this soap and although it’s a little on the small size it does the job perfectly. This lathers up pretty well and if you love that squeaky clean feeling you are in for a treat. The soap removes make up effectively and leaves the skin feeling super clean without drying or stripping the skin. I’ve been using the soap for a few days now and it’s definitely a showstopper.

This soap also goes a very, very long way so, although the full size isn’t cheap, it won’t need replacing for ages.

6.   Bellapierre Cosmetics Eyeliner Pencil – Full Size RRP £14.00

I love eyeliners but very rarely turn to shades other than black. I think the shades will vary in this month’s box and from the variations I received Snow White, the whitest of white.

The Bellapierre Cosmetics Eyeliner Pencil contains pure mineral pigments and boasts an innovative formula enriched with Botanical Waxes such as Jojoba, Safflower and Vitamin E and claims to stays put all day and night giving an intense colour on the top and bottom eyelids.

This eyeliner isn’t creamy which means it does drag the skin a little. It has a great colour pay-off and the longetivity is quite impressive with minimal smudging.

Although I wouldn’t use this on my eye lids or my water line, white eyeliner is also great for making your eyes look brighter and more awake and can even be used to highlight the brow bone for an instant eye lift.

My Verdict

 Look Fantastic have showcased another great box this month with this edition being one of my favourites to date. Not only does it feature a mixture of well-known brands and new discoveries but it also covers a good area of beauty with generous sized samples, two of which are full-sized. Whist everything is very usable, the box includes a selection of showstoppers such as the soap which works wonders on my oily and spot-prone skin, the Dr PawPaw Balm which is a staple for the handbag and not forgetting the primer from Monu which I absolutely love.

This box impresses me each month and it certainly gives you an opportunity to try more upmarket beauty brands without the hefty price tag.

In my opinion the quality, the presentation and the product selection throughout their boxes remains to be consistently great and focuses mainly on medium and high end brands. The samples sizes are very good sized too and are ideal to accompany you on short breaks and weekends away.

 It’s certainly a nice monthly treat to receive through your letter box and Look Fantastic certainly know the concept of a beauty box and are a company who get it right each month.

For only £15.00 it’s a great way to trial beauty products from brands we love and know along with some new discoveries too.

The February box is available now and 25 ‘T3 Featherweight 2 Limited Edition Hairdryers’ (worth £155.00) have been added to random boxes. Will you be one of the lucky ones?

For more information please visit:
http://www.lookfantastic.com

**PR Sample**
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You Beauty Discovery Box Shortlist – February 2015

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Here’s a sneak peek at February’s You Beauty Discovery shortlist menu which will be available on the 1st February at 7am. This month’s shortlist theme is Red Carpet and features a great variety of all things beauty from skincare treats, an indulgent body scrub and also an innovative hair product to disguise those grey hairs in three different shades.

Subscribers have the option to choose two products of their choice and as a bonus 2-4 extra samples are thrown in too by You Beauty Discovery. A complete steal for only £6.95 a month.

Items in the shortlist menu include:

• Age Defy+ – 24Hour Brightening Moisturiser (10ml)
• Proto-col – moisturising facial gel (20ml)
• IN.FUSED – Coconut Body Scrub (100g)
• Kiss The Moon – After Dark Face Oil* (3ml)
• Kiss The Moon – After Dark Bath Oil* (3ml)
• L’Occitane en Provence – Almond Delicious Hands (10ml)
• Josh Wood – Light Brown Blending Wand (28ml)
• Josh Wood – Dark Brown Blending Wand (28ml)
• Josh Wood – Dark Blonde Blending Wand (28ml)

Plus, each box will include bareMinerals – bareSkin Pure Brightening Serum Foundation (One time use) and Lindt – Lindor Milk Truffles (50g)​.  

www.youbeautydiscovery.co.uk

Birchbox Review – January 2015

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January 2015 Birchbox
Monthly subscription is £10.00 Plus £2.95 P&P
No. of Products in the Box – 7 items

www.birchbox.co.uk

So, we’ve made it through the Christmas and New Year celebrations and like me, you’ve probably braved a month of mad shopping, manic preparations, late nights and a near-mental breakdown along the way! Yes that pretty much sums up the last couple of weeks for me. The party’s over and it’s time to clean up and kick start 2015 with the January Birchbox who sees in the new year with their health and well-being ‘Hit Refresh’ box in partnership with Women’s Health. This month the box has had a detoxifying make over with a refreshing design which complements the theme perfectly.

This month’s box kick starts the year with a beauty overhaul and contains key essentials to make you feel wholesome again, inside & out and tip to toe. The box features a selection of invigorating and restoring skin and body care products, a lip glaze, a hair conditioner to give you a little oomph and a sample of an antioxidant tea to fire up the immune system. The box also includes a fitness lifestyle extra in the form of a Pilates Band, great to tone and define those trouble areas. There’s also an adorable little booklet replacing the usual cards this month and contains 12 bite-sized challenges and includes handy little tips and tricks.

Birchbox is a monthly beauty subscription service. The box consists of  4-5 selected hair, make-up and beauty products from well-known brands and new brands. They also include a lifestyle extra within their box too. Birchbox also have an online shop where you can purchase all the brands which have been featured in their boxes. Their reward program offers exceptional benefits too.

The content’s of the January Birchbox will vary. To see what you may receive please click here

1.  Stila Lip Glaze – Full Size RRP £15.00

What better way to start the year than a Stila Lip Glaze, which alone is worth more than the actual price of the box. I’ve not tried anything from the Stila collection and welcomed this make-up addition inside the box.

I received the shade Glow which is a light apricot colour with subtle hints of shimmer.  It provides an impressive pigmented colour and wears quite long with it’s thick formula without too much stickiness. The gloss comes in a click style pen with an attached lip brush for application and has a subtle vanilla flavour and fragrance.

This can be worn alone or over a lip colour to enhance shine or to make the lips look fuller. I like that this is a natural shade as it’s ideal for lazy days when you can’t be bothered to do a full face of make-up and can be worn during the day and in the evenings.

I’m really impressed with the lip glaze formula and they have a huge selection of shades to chose from.

2.  Philip Kingsley Body Building ConditionerSample Size 20ml. Full Size 20ml RRP £19.00

I’ve got a growing collection of Philip Kingsley hair products and was happy to receive another to join the stash.

The Philip Kingsley Body Building Conditioner is for fine textured hair with little or no processing. Perfect for those who wish to add body to limp, lifeless hair. This unique formula claims to detangle, controls flyaways and add shine without weighing the hair down. It also contains wheat protein to improves the hair’s overall volume and at the same time strengthens the condition of each individual strand.

My hair sometimes lacks a bit oomph and volume so I’m hoping this gives me thicker looking and bouncier hair. I would of liked to have seen the shampoo too within this month’s box to really get a feel of the body building range.

3.  REN Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask – Sample Size 10ml. Full Size RRP £30.00

There’s two brands within this month’s box which I’ve been wanting to try for while with REN being one of them. I was delighted to see a product from their collection to finally try out and what makes me even more happy is that it’s suitable for my oily and spot-prone skin!

The REN Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask is a potent bio active peel mask designed to renew the complexion, reduce the appearance of fine lines and dramatically improve skin tone. It also removes dead skin cells to renew the complexion and helps combat congestion, blackheads and blemishes. The mask has a really potent fruity aroma and contains natural fruit acids from Passion Fruit, Lemon, Grape, Pineapple and Papain from Papaya.

The texture is really smooth and whilst on feels refreshing with it’s uplifting scent. As per the instructions I left this on for ten minutes and then washed off it off with a muslin cloth. My skin felt fresh and clean and looked amazingly more radiant with a noticeable glow which is impressive for a ten minute treatment. This is the perfect pick me and arrived at the right time for me where my skin is still a little partied out from the festive season.

I’m really impressed with my first experience with REN, and will definitely be looking into more of their products.

4.  HealGel Intensive – Sample Size 5ml. Full Size RRP £37.50

HealGel was created by a team of leading British plastic and cosmetic surgeons with the help of a renowned dermatological biochemist and a well known actor is another brand which I’ve been wanting to try for a while.

Out of the variants available I received the HealGel Intensive which is a scientifically-designed, multi-purpose, skin rescue gel which brings an intelligent approach to skincare. HealGel Intensive unites the finest active ingredients such as Anica and Madecassoside amongst others to soothe, restore and protect your skin in a light, delicately scented and easily absorbed cooling aqueous gel to restore and protect the areas where it is most needed.

It has a lightweight clear gel texture which is non-greasy and can also be used as a make up primer.

I’m really looking forward to trying this over the next few days as it sounds like the perfect skin rescuer which is exactly what my skin needs at the moment.

5.  Activbod Cooling Finish Lotion – Sample Size. Full Size RRP £12.00

Activbod is a new on my radar and is a brand that gives you a complete regime of products to keep you enjoying your exercise. With their unique beauty concept which targets sports and gym enthusiasts, they cover a range of products from cooling lotions, rejuvenating shower gels to recovery potions for both men and women.

I received the cooling finish lotion which is a clear lightweight gel with a subtle menthol scent. The formula with provides a refreshing feeling is ideal for applying after a workout session. I love the cooling sensation which feels quite tingly on the skin. This is the perfect gym buddy and will definitely leave you feeling invigorated and fresh.

6.  Embrace Matcha Green Tea – 1 Sachet. Full Size RRP £24.99

We all jump on the green tea wagon this time of the year as it’s a great way to fire up the immune system back to it’s normal state not to mention the wide array of health benefits it boasts.

Matcha tea is 100% natural and is packed full of antioxidants and nutrients and contains up to 10 times the antioxidants of a cup of regular green tea making it supercharged.

I assumed this was a tea bag initially but the tea leaves and other ingredients are finely grounded and comes loose within the sachet. It can be whisked into hot or cold water, in a latte or in smoothies and juices.

Usually I would turn my nose up at a tea sample but this concept is quite unique and I like that the sachet can be added to cold drinks as well as hot drinks. I think these are really good especially if you’re on the go as you can simply pop the contents into a bottle of water or a juice drink.

7. Lifestyle Extra – Birchbox Pilates Band – RRP £7.99

In line with the health and well-being theme, there’s an Exclusive-to-Birchbox Pilates Band to help you tone, increase strength and improve muscle endurance and it arrives at the ideal time of the year to target those stubborn areas from overindulging over the festive period or to use alongside your current fitness regime.

I’ve never really got into the pilates craze but this month’s addition definitely puts the fun factor back into boring exercise regimes. There’s also a few tips within the booklet on how to make the most of the band in the comfort of your own home or even in the office. I love that it’s pretty easy to use too.

My Verdict

 As well as a great beauty line up which covers all areas, this month’s Birchbox in partnership with Women’s Health focuses on health and well-being and it arrives at the perfect time where most of us try to set goals for the year ahead. The Pilates Band was a nice addition to the box and is perfect to tone and define those stubborn areas especially if you’ve overindulged over the Christmas period. There are also some key beauty rescuers and pick me ups, perfect to restore partied out and lacklustre skin.

The box boasts seven items this month, two of which are full sized and contains a selection of tip to toe discoveries covering both inner and outer beauty this month.

I was delighted to see products from REN and HealGel inside this month’s box as I’ve been wanting to try both brands for a while. All of the items are very usable and the samples are decent sized too giving you an opportunity to really road test the products.

Inside the box there is also an exclusive subscription offer for 10 issues of Women’s Health Magazine for only £18.00 giving you a 52% saving!

I really love this months box which not only gets you looking and feeling great again but also focuses on health and well-being, giving you a little head start to a healthier new you.

Thinking of Subscribing?

Subscribe today and get the iconic beauty blender worth £26.00 FREE by using the promo code BBXBEAUTYBL1 or alternatively use the promo code JAN5 to get your first Birchbox for only £7.95.

To sign up for the January Box or for more information please click here

www.birchbox.co.uk

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Birchbox Spoiler – January 2015

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 So, we’ve made it through the Christmas and New Year celebrations and like me, you’ve probably braved a month of mad shopping, manic preparations, late nights and a near-mental breakdown along the way! Yes that pretty much sums up the last couple of weeks for me. The party’s over and it’s time to clean up and kick start 2015 with the January Birchbox which sees in the new year with their health and well-being ‘Hit Refresh’ box in partnership with Women’s Health.

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Inside you will find an Exclusive-to-Birchbox Pilates Band along with worthy samples from Birchbox’s signature and discovery brands such as HealGel, REN, Philip Kingsley, Activbod, Caudalie and Stila to name a few. This month’s box features a selection of tip to toe discoveries covering both inner and outer beauty.

The January edit has a great beauty line up and it’s perfect for giving you that much needed head start to achieve those goals for 2015.

The Hit Refresh Birchbox is available now. Please click here to read my review of this month’s Birchbox.

Thinking of Subscribing?

Subscribe today and get the iconic beauty blender worth £26.00 FREE by using the promo code BBXBEAUTYBL1 or alternatively use the promo code JAN5 to get your first Birchbox for only £7.95.

To sign up for the January Box or for more information please click here

www.birchbox.co.uk

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You Beauty Discovery Selection Menu – January 2015

January Box - New Year, New You

Here’s a sneak peek at January’s You Beauty Discovery selection menu which will be available on the 2nd January at 7am. This month’s shortlist theme is New Year, New You and mainly features skincare this month which is great if your skin is a little partied out from the festive period and needs some extra TLC along with a couple of nail varnishes from the Sainsbury’s Boutique Collection.

Subscribers have the option to choose two products of their choice and as a bonus 2-4 extra samples are thrown in too by You Beauty Discovery. A complete steal for only £6.95 a month.

Items in the selection menu include:

• Afyna – Organic Detoxifying Body Lotion (60ml)
• Afyna – Organic Detoxifying Body Scrub (60ml)
• Burt’s Bees – Beeswax Lip Balm (4.25g)
• Boutique by Sainsbury’s – Nail Varnish: Away with the Fairies (11ml)
• Boutique by Sainsbury’s – Nail varnish: A Rolling Stone Gathers No Moss (11ml)
• DHC – Deep Cleansing Oil (30ml)
• Elemis – Pro-Collagen Marine Cream (15ml)
• Merumaya – Melting Cleansing Balm™ (30ml) & Overnight Recharge Night Cream™ (3ml)
• TRESemmè – Platinum Strength 60 Second Treatment Shot (14ml)

Plus, each box will include: 3 Dragonfly Tea bags (4 flavours available: Green Gaucho organic mate tea, Mountain Honeybush organic tea, Swirling Mist organic white tea, Emerald Mountain organic green tea), Dove Hair – Youthful Vitality Hair BB Cream (5ml) and Hello Fresh – £25 OFF voucher card.

www.youbeautydiscovery.co.uk

Look Fantastic Beauty Box Review – January 2015

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Price of the Box is £15.00 including P&P
No. of Products in the Box – 6
www.lookfantastic.com

Hope you all had a lovely Christmas and a well rested break. I’ve already kick started the new year early with my first beauty box for 2015, the January Look Fantastic Beauty Box and I couldn’t wait to see what they had in store for us this month. Since launching only last September, this box has been a big hit with beauty lovers and addicts alike. This month showcases a variety of luxury hair and skin care essentials, an exhilarating shower treat and a tube of Vitamin C supplements, a must-have, if you’re still feeling the wrath of Christmas past.

 Look Fantastic have taken the plunge and bring you their very own monthly beauty box.  Known for providing all things beauty from A-Z via their website if anyone could successfully pull this off it’s certainly them being experts in this trade already. With  over 14,000 products online from more than 400 brands across hair, make up, skin care, nails, electrical, fragrance, health , home and organic it was inevitable that this beauty box was going to deliver and be a hit as soon as it landed. It really isn’t a surprise that these continually sell out when launched.

The box offers a selection of handpicked, must have beauty fixes wrapped in a beautifully presented box and delivered straight to your door. The beauty box will always include a minimum of six products and offers a selection of skincare, haircare, cosmetic and body products, catering to every kind of beauty lover.

This month’s box is filled with an incredible 6 beauty items which have been carefully selected and showcases well known and premium brands such as Nuxe, Phillip Kingsley, Goldwell, Molton Brown, Gatineau and My Vitamins.

1.  Nuxe Crème Fraiche de Beaute Mask – Full Size 50ml RRP £19.50

We all reach out for more hydrating and nourishing skincare during the winter months as the cold weather and indoor heating play havoc on our beauty regime. The Nuxe Crème Fraiche de Beaute Mask injects the skin with a surge of moisture within 10 ten minutes and promises to provide 24 hour rehydration for thirsty skin. It’s suitable for sensitive and dehydrated skin types.

The mask hydrates, soothes the skin and instantly reduces discomfort or redness with its skin loving ingredients such as 8 plant milks, aloe vera sap, almond and orange white flowers, all of which are abundant within the lovely fragrance of this mask.

I’ve used this masque quite a few times this year and I really like the instant cooling and soothing sensation it provides as well as giving a radiant and brighter complexion.

Not only can this be used as a hydrating mask for the months of winter it’s perfect for all year round especially for soothing skin that’s been over-exposed to the sun.

2.    Philip Kingsley Daily Damage Defence  –  Travel Size 60ml. Full Size 250ml RRP £22.00

I was introduced to the iconic Philip Kingsley Elastizer only a few months ago and receiving another product from the collection is always welcomed and comes in the form of the Daily Damage Defence Spray.

This award winning anti-breakage, heat protecting conditioning spray is for all hair types and not only offers protection from daily environmental wear, such as UV rays and heated styling aids, but also instantly boosts your hair’s overall condition, manageability and shine.

I regularly use heat styling tools on my hair and I must admit I tend to stay away from using too many products before blow drying as they weigh my hair down and sometimes also make my hair greasy. However this rescue remedy is a conditioner, detangler and a heat protector all in one single spritz which makes me a fan instantly.

3.   Molton Brown Eucalyptus Body Wash  –  Travel Size 100ml. Full Size 300ml RRP £18.00

I was delighted to see a product from Molton Brown which is a brand we all know and love, and for me it’s the star product within this month’s box. There are two different variants which you can expect to see inside your box, Eucalyptus or Templetree.

I received the Eucalyptus Body Wash which invigorates both your skin and mind with it’s potent infusion of eucalyptus oil, wild mint, menthol and cedarwood. The body wash gently cleanses and conditions your skin whilst helping to clear your head to aid relaxation.

I was expecting this to be very overpowering but It’s subtly scented and you can really pick up the woody notes along with the refreshing menthol which is really warming. This is a great a pick-me-up in the morning to awaken the senses or in the evening to simply relax and unwind.

On first impressions I wasn’t expecting to like this shower gel mainly because menthol scented products remind me of cold and flu remedies, however this scent has a really nice unexpected twist and is something which I’m looking forward to using before bedtime.

4.   Goldwell Dualsenses Color 60Sec Treatment – Travel Size 50ml. Full Size 200ml RRP £11.00

Commonly used by many hair stylists, Goldwell is classed as a professional hairdressing brand that takes salons to the next level of creative excellence. I’ve not personally used any products from Goldwell and was happy to make the discovery inside this month’s box.

Goldwell have created this wonder hair product and ultra-fast working formula especially for colour-treated hair and contains a specially developed Brilliance System with anti-oxidative pomegranate extract that acts quickly and effectively on your hair to leave it silky soft and smooth with an enviable healthy glow. It also claims to have ultra-fast and effective results on your hair with an infusion of raspberry seed oil which smells utterly berrylicious!

I try to treat my hair at least once a week but when time is limited I prefer treatment shots which can simply be left on while lathering on your favourite shower gel.

This is perfect for a quick pick me up when your hair needs an extra boost and a little restoration.

5.   Gatineau Strategie Jeunesse Eye Pads – 1 Sample Pack. Pack of 6 RRP £34.50

I’ve got the common tell tell signs of tired eyes at the moment and I welcome these eye pads which promise to revive and rejuvenate your eyes. These come in the form of pads which are drenched in a soothing, marine-based collagen solution.

These eye pads help reduce dark shadows, plump out wrinkles and relax your eye contour for a more youthful, toned appearance.

I’m looking forward to trying these to banish my tired looking eyes!

6.   MyVitamins Vitamin C Effervescent Tablets – Full Size (20 tablets) RRP £4.49

MyVitamins is a brand who takes a fresh approach to health & well-being delivering vitamins, minerals & extracts for the whole family, direct to your door.

Within this month’s box is a tube of Vitamin C Effervescent dissolvable tablets containing 1000mg of Vitamin C. These tablets are available in two fruity flavours raspberry and natural orange. You simply pop one tablet into a glass water for a great tasting drink which is easy to consume.

This time of year our immune systems are really challenged by sickness bugs and Christmas fatigue and it’s very easy for our bodies to take a sudden dip. These tablets come at the right time to fire up and restore the normal function of the immune system.

The tube contains a generous 20 tablets which gives you an opportunity to road test the brand and the concept. These are a great addition to this month’s box especially if you’re still feeling the wrath of  Christmas past or feeling run down.

My Verdict

 Look Fantastic have showcased a great box to kick start the new year and features mainly premium brands giving their customers a tip to toe discovery experience covering both inner and outer beauty this month.

The January edit has all area’s covered and includes a selection of winter skincare essentials, products to prep and prime the hair, a refreshing shower gel and a tube of energising vitamins to give you a little boost if you’re still all partied out from the festive season. The box boasts six products this month with two being full size.

This box impresses me each month and it certainly gives you an opportunity to try more upmarket beauty brands without the hefty price tag. I’m pretty chuffed with the January line up which has a good selection of products to road test including a few new discoveries.

In my opinion the quality, the presentation and the product selection throughout their boxes remains to be consistently great and focuses mainly on medium and high end brands. The samples sizes are very good sized too and are ideal to accompany you on short breaks and weekends away.

 It’s certainly a nice monthly treat to receive through your letter box and Look Fantastic certainly know the concept of a beauty box and are a company who get it right each month.

For only £15.00 it’s a great way to discover new brands and products from brands we love and know.

The January box is available now and 20 ghd Eclipse Stylers (each worth £145.00) have been hidden in 20 boxes. For more information please visit:
http://www.lookfantastic.com

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Beauteque’s New Subscription Launch – December 2014

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Being a beauty box addict I love hearing about new subscription launches and I am pleased to unveil that Beauteque will be launching their official subscription bag program on Friday 26th December 2014.

Beauteque is an online beauty retailer specialising in Korean Beauty products. They offer unique high end products that aren’t readily available in the UK and and to name a few, they showcase brands such as Etude House, Mizon, Tony Moly, and Lioele. They regularly release a wide variety of beauty bags which include a good mixture of beauty goodies.

Their monthly subscription programme will consist of four different options:

Monthly Subscription is $24 per month (£20.21 per month including shipping)

3 month subscription is $24 per month (£20.21 per month including shipping)

6 month Subscription is $23 per month (£19.60 per month including shipping)

12 month Subscription is $22 per month (£18.98 per month including shipping)

Shipping will be $8.95 for Europe, $3.95 for the US and $5.95 for Canada.

Each month you will receive 7 full sized products with a value between $65 to $85 and will include a selection of make up, skincare, jewellery and lifestyle products from Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Europe and America. The good news is there is also a little customisation which means you can choose between variations of some of the products featured in the bag. To see my review on previous bags by Beauteque please click here.

The subscriptions will run from the 15th to the 15th  (If you subscribe on January 16th, you will receive the February bag and so on)

The bags will be shipped out from the 5th to the 15th and subscribers will be guaranteed to receive their bag within the month.

Beauteque will also email options to their subscribers on the 1st of each month and you will be required to send back your responses for your preferences by the 5th or they will simply pick the options for you.

To celebrate Beauteque’s new launch they are offering customers the following offers

If you subscribe to the 6 month prepaid option before the 15th January 2015, you will receive a free gift with every bag AND also a bonus gift set valued at $50 on your last bag.

If you subscribe to the 12 month prepaid option before the 15th January 2015 , you will receive a free gift with every bag AND also a bonus gift set valued at $100 on your last bag.

Customers are eligible to cancel their subscription by emailing subscriptions@beauteque.com

The new website will be launching on the 26th December at:
www.beautequemonthly.com