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Which Beauty Box UK March 19, 2015

GlossyBox Review – March 2015

Price of the Box is £10.00 Plus £3.25 P&P
No. of Products in the Box – 6 items
Total value of contents in the box is £35.00
www.glossybox.co.uk

The March 2015 Glossy Box has arrived with a spring in it’s step and I think you’ll agree that Glossy Box have been a great contender in delivering a much improved beauty line-up within their boxes not to mention the brands they’ve been partnering with recently. Whilst this month’s box didn’t immediately capture me at first, I was pleasantly surprised when I put some of the products to the test and with Spring in mind there’s a good selection of rejuvenating skin and hair care products alongside some make up treats which always goes down well with subscribers. This month’s box features a great variety and includes four full sized products and two generous sized samples from well-known brands alongside some budget-friendly beauty brands too, with a value of £35.00.

Glossybox is a monthly beauty subscription service. The box consists of 4-5 selected hair, make-up , body and nail products from well-known brands and new brands and includes a mixture of full sized and sample products.

1. NAOBAY Moisturising Peeling – Full Size 100ml RRP £13.71

I’ve heard of Naobay but never tried anything from their collection before so was looking forward to trying out my first ever product and it’s full sized too, worth more than the actual price of the box!

The NAOBAY Moisturising Peeling contains natural peeling particles from the Acai palm tree and claims to gently exfoliate the skin, remove surface cells and impurities, whilst also helping to reduce the appearance of fine lines.

This Moisturising Peel smells amazing with a refreshing citrus scent and comes in light weight milky formula with teeny exfoliating particles which don’t feel abrasive, providing you don’t work the formula too hard. I’m really fussy about what I put on my face due to my troublesome oily skin but this felt really soothing and didn’t irritate my skin at all which could be due to the mixture of both natural and organic ingredients. My skin felt soft, nourished and super-clean. I’m quite impressed with my first introduction to Naobay and my skin absolutely loves the goodness within this formula.

2. Essence Lash Princess Volume Mascara – Full Size 12ml RRP £3.30

This was the first item which caught my eye within this month’s box, mainly due to the pretty princess-y design and Essence is one of those brands that I’ve read lots about but never tried anything from their collection until now. This mascara has a specially shaped cobra brush and promises to cover each individual lash for breathtaking volume with a great curl.

Firstly I loved that the lid featured a raised rubber design, which additionally gives a nice extra grip to the wand, perfect for when you’re trying to get the lashes in the inner corners. The wand is quite unique and not one I’ve come across before but it works very well with the formula and is great for building and picking up the lashes without any clumping. The formula is a bit wet for my liking but the pigment is very black and really gives a noticeable finish and in terms of volume it does make the lashes look naturally fuller and thicker.

This definitely performs as promised and being under £4 I’m really impressed, it’s even better than some of the more expensive volume mascara’s I’ve tried and this one won’t break the bank either!

3. Dove Youthful Vitality Shampoo & Conditioner Duo – Travel Size 50ml x 2

This appears to be a new range from Dove and mainly concentrates on ageing hair to give it the boost it needs with a unique formula infused with Cysteine rich-Protein and Elasto-Lipids, bringing a deep replenishment with double fullness to create youthful and thicker looking hair. One of my pet peeves is receiving a shampoo without the conditioner or vice versa so it was good to see a duo within this month’s box to really get a feel of Dove’s Youthful Vitality range.

I received this same duo in another beauty box this month and unfortunately it’s not for me which is a shame but I’m sure a family member will happily take these off my hands. Both of the samples come in 50ml which is great for weekends away or short breaks.

4. ncLA Nail Lacquer – Full Size 15ml RRP £13.00

I’m a self-confessed obsessive when it comes to nail varnish and was delighted to see one from a he cruelty-free brand ncLA in the shade “I only fly private”.

The ncLA are “5 Free” luxury nail lacquers, meaning they are 100% free of DBP, toulene, and formaldehyde, but also of camphor and animal testing

I wasn’t too drawn to the colour initially as I normally steer away from orange and yellow shades, but this is more of a muted orange and looks much softer, it’s the perfect spring/summer shade. You may receive a different shade to mine but the others I’ve seen so far are beautiful too.

5. Sleek MakeUP Pout Paint – Full Size 8ml RRP £4.99

This little tube in the shade Port is literally filled with an intense pigmented lip formula and is very true to the colour in the tube being a lovely pink colour. It has a soft, creamy and moisturising texture which adds a vibrant pop of colour effortlessly with a semi-matte finish and feels just like a lipstick texture when applied. With these kinds of products I usually expect a little stickiness but surprisingly it wasn’t at all making it really comfortable to wear over a long period of time without drying out my lips. I especially like the small nozzle too as it perfect for getting just the right amount of product.I’m really smitten with this lip paint from Sleek and I actually can’t believe how affordable it is especially with it being so pigmented, I will definitely be looking into some of their other shades.

My Verdict

Whilst I wasn’t visually drawn to some of the products featured inside this month’s box, I was pleasantly surprised when I delved in further. There’s some great highlights within this edition which also covers a good area of beauty and not forgetting the four full sized products which totals up to £35.00 in value. Apart from the hair products I will certainly continue to use the remainder and can’t wait to pick up some more Sleek Pout Paints. I’m sure you will agree that Glossybox have really upped their game recently and I can’t wait to receive the April box as it’s another collector’s edition which taps into a golden era.

Glossybox always include a generous amount of full sized products and the total value always beats the actual monthly subscription cost so it’s a great affordable way to discover products from well known and new brands. It also comes beautifully wrapped and feels very much like receiving a gift each month.

April Spoiler Alert – All subscribers will receive a full sized Lord & Berry Crayon Lipstick.

Fancy Subscribing to Glossybox?

Click here to sign up

www.glossybox.co.uk

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Which Beauty Box UK March 17, 2015

So Susan Lip Love Bag Review – March 2015

Price of the Bag is £14.95 including P&P
No. of items in the Bag – 5
Total value of contents in the box £58.00
www.sosusan.com

The March 2015 So Susan Lip Love Bag has arrived and this month’s theme is ” I love to Travel”. We all know what a pain and struggle it can be packing for a weekend trip or a long haul holiday especially deciding on what products are worthy of making the cut into your make-up bag. I really battle to scale down and find that I always pack more than what I actually need resulting in an overflowing make-up bag that’s seen better days! This month’s edition features a selection of make-up essentials and boasts a beautiful collection of spring/summer inspired shades, perfect for creating a minimal day look or for evenings out when you’ll want to look your very best. I adore the design of the canvas bag and think it’s really impressive that So Susan design a different one for each monthly theme.

The So Susan collection ranges from make-up to nail varnish combining their lovely portfolio of colours with science. Their philosophy is to create colours which last, are cruelty free and also much kinder to your skin. As well as the philosophy behind the brand, I love the feminine and pretty designed packaging which always stands out for me. I’ve tried quite a few products from their collection and already have a few firm favourites.

Each month, the Lip Love bag will include 3 full sized items and one bonus product from either Jelly Pong Pong or So Susan. This month’s bag being the second edition includes 4 make up items and a lace bracelet.

1. Fairy Lashes Curl by Jelly Pong Pong – Full Size. RRP £18.00

I’m a daily wearer of mascara and whilst I have so many within my stash I love trying out new formulas from different brands just to mix it up a little, after all you never know it could turn out to be a holy grail!

Fairy Lashes Curl by Jelly Pong Pong is a sculpting, curling mascara that promises to continually curl lashes throughout the day with a unique synthesis of Moringa Seed resin that dries down and holds the curl of lashes for long-lasting results whilst adding volume.

The Fairy Lashes Curl Mascara definitely has fairies in mind with its weightless formula and soft finish and steers away from any crazy volume or length giving a very natural look. It’s ideal as an everyday mascara that keeps the lashes defined and wears well, although I didn’t notice any curling despite it’s claims.

2. So Susan Lip Dome in Rhubarb – Full Size RRP £10.00

I already own three of the shades from the lip dome collection and was happy to receive another in the shade Rhubard, a pretty girly pink colour.

This long-wearing lip crayon not only has great pigment but it also nourishes the lips as well giving a plumping effect. It contains Hyaluronic Acid and Tripeptide-1 that help increase lip volume and prevent loss of collagen elasticity and it’s also infused with Goji Berry and Mangosteen extracts, earth-engineered antioxidants to help reduce skin fatigue for a more youthful radiance.

The formula is truly amazing and doesn’t dry out the lips at all thanks to it’s super moisturising infusion of goodness. I really can’t get enough of these lip domes from So Susan and I only need one more to complete the collection!

3. Blush Duo by The Beauty Crop – Full Size RRP £11.00

This isn’t a brand I’ve of heard of before and think it’s fairly new. The Beauty Crop is a brand inspired by healthy living and they create products enhanced with nutrition derived from natural ingredients and was founded by Ning and Runee, two good friends based in London who came together through their passion for food, fitness and healthy living.

Housed within a compact and travel-friendly plastic palette, this blusher duo contains two shades, a pink powder blush and a coral cream blush and I love that they have incorporated two different finishes with the palette. These blushers are really pigmented, smooth and easy to blend giving just the right hint of colour on the cheeks. At first they both looked rather dark and I was a little wary of the pink as visually it looked very shimmery but when applied it was actually quite subtle and gave a lovely rosy colour with a very natural finish. With the coral cream blush you simply need a little dab and the cream literally glides on, is easy to blend and gives a radiant flush of colour. I’m really impressed with my first introduction to this brand and hope to see more products featured in the upcoming months.

4. So Susan Liquid Powder Shadow Palette (Bonus Item) – Full Size RRP £11.00

I love any kind of make-up palette and this one by So Susan is compact and small enough to fit straight into your make up bag or hand bag. This liquid eyeshadow formulation is hot-poured and solidified to form a creamy firm powder with an airy texture that moisturises and melts onto the skin which in turn promises to make your shadows last longer, with no fall-out, enabling your skin to breathe. It’s also infused with radiance-boosting minerals, Vitamin K to alleviate dark circles and Copper Peptide to promote collagen and elastin growth around the delicate eye area.

The eye shadows are housed within a sturdy plastic palette and inside there’s an applicator and a mirror, perfect for on the go touch ups. There’s eight different shades within the palette ranging from light matte shades to shimmery metallics making the transition from day to night pretty much a doddle. I initially found that the darker and more shimmery shades performed much better however the more lighter shades applied quite patchy with hardly any colour pay off, this could be down to the finish but I just couldn’t get them to work for me.

5. Cruiani-esque Butterfly Lace Bracelet (Bonus Item) – RRP £8.00

As well as the make-up line up So Susan also featured a cute butterfly lace bracelet which I initially thought was a hair tie at first! It’s really pretty and would make a great beach accessory.

My Verdict

It may be grey and dull outside, but So Susan have curated another great bag this month featuring a selection of make-up which incorporates a beautiful collection of spring/summer inspired shades. I loved the line-up this month and there’s a good balance of make up treats to brighten complexions whilst also adding a flush of colour to our cheeks and lips whether you’re at home or away! As well as the beauty line up, I loved the design of the canvas make-up bag which really gives it that So Susan look and feel, it’s so pretty and what’s even more impressive is that each one is specifically designed to fit the theme for the month.

It’s definitely refreshing to see just a make-up based subscription which not only is cruelty-free but kind to the skin too without compromising on any of the quality. This concept by So Susan really gives you a great opportunity to experiment with make up colours that usually may be out of your comfort zone.

The contents within the bag is worth an incredible £58.00 and beats the actual price of the bag itself making it super affordable and exceptional value.

I’m super impressed with the Lip Love Bag and can’t wait to see what they have in store next month.

The March Lip Love Bag is available now at:

www.sosusan.com

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Which Beauty Box UK March 16, 2015

Cohorted Beauty Box Review – March 2015

Cohorted Beauty Box – March 2015
Price of the box – £19.99 plus £2.50 P&P
No. of Products in the Box – 4 items (worth £70.00)
www.cohorted.co.uk

After last month’s huge success of Cohorted’s first ever beauty box I couldn’t wait to see what they had in store for us this month. Like it’s predecessor, the March box also sold out super-quick and just when I thought they couldn’t beat the February box, Cohorted surprise us again with another fantastic line-up that even exceeded my expectations and I actually think it’s even better than the first. For those of you who are not familiar with Cohorted, they are an online cult beauty retailer who provide a much fairer price when it comes to purchasing well known and loved brands such as Urban Decay, Benefit, MAC, NARS, Dolce & Gabbana, Real Techniques, plus many more. With this brand portfolio in mind it was inevitable that this box was going to deliver and be a crowd pleaser from the outset. Unlike any of the other beauty boxes, this features lust-worthy and luxurious brands which automatically puts this box within a league of it’s own. I certainly to date have not seen the likes of premium brands showcase within a beauty box until now! As well as the incredible line up, all of the products are exceptionally good sized with three being full-size and if you love the finer things in life, you are in for a real treat which won’t break the bank. This month also see’s a re-design of the original box making it more reusable and it’s great for storing nail varnishes!

The March box features another incredible line up worth £70.00 and showcases well known brands such as Urban Decay, bareMinerals, Sleek and Too Faced. The contents come beautifully presented within a chic black box secured with an organza ribbon giving it a very luxurious look and feel.

1. bareMinerals Pure Transformation Night Treatment – Full Size 150ml RRP £45.00

This revolutionary night time mineral treatment by bareMinerals promises to replenish your skin whilst you’re sleep to give you radiant looking skin when you wake up in the morning. I’ve not tried much from this brand but I think it’s pretty impressive that Cohorted have included a full sized tub as the RRP is a whooping £45.00!

Initially I assumed this was a cream and was surprised to discover a loose powder with a good-sized brush within the lid. The idea behind this product is to reduce the appearance of pores whilst giving your skin a glow and also increases cell turnover which helps the skin perfect itself. All this is done through the bareMinerals ActiveSoil Complex which provides the skin with renewing benefits overnight.

I’m already in love with the concept and I like the idea that I can go to sleep and look perfectly made up guilt-free! It’s also kind to the skin too and clinically proven to reduce the appearance of pores without any clogging. It will be interesting to see if this lives up to its claims.

2. Urban Decay Perversion Mascara – Travel Size 3ml. Worth £8.00

I’m a big fan of Urban Decay products especially their popular eye shadow palettes but apart from those I’ve not tried anything else from their collection and was happy to see the Perversion Mascara within this month’s box as I’ve been wanting to give this a go.

This mascara claims to give you bigger, blacker, and badder lashes which in itself is quite some statement! Upon opening the mascara, I noticed straight away that the formula was very rich and deep black with a classic spiral wand. I didn’t see any dramatic results but it did give some length to my lashes but the real drama definitely stems from it’s very black pigmented formula, and the few hours I did have it on I didn’t experience any smudging or flaking. It’s not the best mascara Ive tried but it’s great for everyday use.

3. Too Faced Exotic Color Eye Shadow – Full Size 15ml RRP £15.00

I don’t buy single eye shadows too often as palettes usually offer more value but I was excited to try my first ever Too Faced product in the form of their Copper Peony eye shadow from their exotic collection.

I love the black flower case it’s packaged in and it even has a small see-through hole so you can identify the colour quickly within your stash. This eye shadow comes in a beautiful metallic golden cooper shade with lots of shimmer and looks quite prominent when applied and I love that the shade didn’t lose any of it’s sparkle either when I was blending it out. Due to it’s great pigmentation this really gives the eyes an intense pop of colour making it perfect for evenings out. I’m really impressed with my first experience with Too Faced.

4. Sleek Face & Body Precious Metals Highlighter – Full Size RRP £9.99

I can see this Precious Metals Highlighter Palette from Sleek being a crowd pleaser this month, you just have to look at those beautiful light reflecting colours, it’s truly love at first sight!

This multitasking palette claims to create a gorgeous all-over shimmer that instantly enhances the complexion with a fresh, radiant glow.

Within this quad are four colours which pretty much cover all bases complementing all skin tones with three velvet cream formulas and one powder. The three cream shades vary in tone ranging from a pearly champagne colour to two more slightly golden shades, whilst the powder highlighter is a little more on the bronze side.

The highlighters are very pigmented and the the velvet creams along with the powder apply smooth and evenly however It’s very easy to over do it with the velvet creams since they are so pigmented and you simply need is a tiny bit to avoid a disco ball look! This palette is a great all-rounder and adds a radiant glow and a luminous polish to the skin and works well to really accentuate the brow bone, the cheeks and even across the décolletage. Really impressed with the quality from this budget brand and it’s definitely something I will continue to use.

My Verdict

Just when I thought I had seen the best from Cohorted they go and pull out another showstopping edition boasting a great selection of products from well-known and popular beauty brands. This month’s box will certainly put smiles on faces as it mainly focuses on make-up which I very much welcome and in my opinion I think this edit without a doubt even beats the February box with everything being very usable and versatile this month. As well as the beauty line up, I loved the presentation and the makeover of the box which is now secured with an organza ribbon and is a little bigger and square in shape but still keeps it’s luxurious look and feel. This month’s box boasts an incredible value of £70.00 which is really impressive and included three full sized products alongside one sample. I love everything within this month’s box and with this being Cohorted’s second box I’ve been really impressed so far in terms of the brands, the size of the products and the value of each box, and its great to see that the quality to date has remained consistent.

I really lust over premium brands but not knowing how the product will perform is the main factor which usually stops me from splurging out, but this box really gives you an opportunity to try before you buy at such a steal with a mixture of full sized and generous sized samples without any teeny samples in sight. Although the box isn’t cheap compared to the others, the value really does make up for this and one of the items alone this month equates to the box itself. If you need a little cheering up or a guilt-free treat each month this box can be purchased as a one off transaction so there’s no subscription involved giving you full control and flexibility to purchase as and when you want to.

I can’t wait to see what the April edition has in store although the pre-order boxes have now sold out.

Did you manage to get the March or April Cohorted Beauty Box?

www.cohorted.co.uk

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Which Beauty Box UK March 16, 2015

The BBB Dream Box III – March 2015

It’s that time again and Jane Cunningham, The British Beauty Blogger in collaboration with Latest in Beauty has released the much anticipated BBB Dream Box III. If you’ve been lucky enough in the past to get hold of one, you will know that they are exceptionally great value for money, are literally brimmed to the top with beauty products and being very popular you will need to race to the Latest in Beauty website as this box doesn’t stick around for long. Individually, the 16 products would cost a whopping £110.00, but you can get your hands on the whole lot for just £21.95 via: http://www.latestinbeauty.com

Inside the Box:

1 x OLEHENRIKSEN Pure Truth Melting Cleanser 15ml
1 x Vita Liberata pHenomenal 2-3 Week Tan Lotion (Medium, 20ml) with Tanning Mitt.
1 x Benefit They’re Real! Remover 7.5ml
1 x Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet 7.7ml (Full size)
1 x DECIEM Hand Chemistry Intense Youth Complex (30ml)
1 x Nuxe Crème Fraiche de Beauté Mask 50ml (Full Size)
1 x SALON SCIENCE® Reglosse™ Smoothing Serum 50ml
1 x Eye Of Horus Pencil Eyeliner 1.2g (Full size)
1 x Makeup Revolution One Fluid Blush 14.4g (Full size)
1 x Dr Organic Lip Balm 5.7ml (Full size)
1 x essence Nail Polishes 2x 8ml (Full size)
1 x Crabtree & Evelyn Pear and Pink Magnolia Body Lotion 50ml
1 x The Scottish Fine Soaps Company Luxury Soap 100g
1 x Roger & Gallet Fleur de Figuier Eau de Parfum 1.5ml vial
1 x Orelia Temporary Tattoos (1 sheet)

http://www.latestinbeauty.com

Which Beauty Box UK March 9, 2015

Love Me Beauty Box Review – March 2015

Price of the Box is £10.00 Plus £3.95 P&P
No. of Products in the Box – 5
Total value of contents in the box £31.29
http://www.lovemebeauty.com

It’s a new month which means new beauty treats and trends within the Love Me Beauty Boutique and since introducing their new beauty revelation concept I feel that recently they have been showcasing a much better variety of brands from well known to those not so known from around the globe. The March boutique covers a good area of beauty so it’s not just dominated by make up and nail varnish as previous months.

This month’s boutique features new brands such as Lipcote, Mr.Bean (not Rowan Atkinson!), CAILYN Cosmetics and Lord & Berry as well as some of their older stock from previous months.

Each month The Love Me Beauty monthly subscription is worth 6 credits and you simply chose the items you want inside your box from a selection of products ranging from hair, body, nails, skincare and make-up. Most of the items are either 1 or 2 credits.

All the items are packed within a drawstring bag which is enclosed inside a sturdy good-sized box which can also be re-used for storage.

1. Lipcote Original Lipstick Sealer – (1 credit) Full Size 7ml. RRP £3.69

Lipcote is an oldie but a classic as far back as I remember and was one of the items my mum always stored in her make-up bag. I remember back then it was quite drying and burning on the lips so I was intrigued to see if they had advanced their formula from 20 years ago.

In terms of packaging nothings really changed since the brand began and comes in portable and practical bottle with a twist off lid and an applicator brush. The brush is smooth and coats the lips well but unfortunately for me things hadn’t changed much at all, the same burning sensation upon application was still there along with the dryness making your lips feel quite uncomfortable. It does increase the wear of your lipstick significantly however I really would of thought with more advanced ingredients these days this would of been a bit more skin friendly. I guess if your on-the-go and can’t be bothered for touch-ups it’s not too bad being under £4.00.

2. CAILYN Cosmetics Linefix Gel Eyeliner – (2 credit) Full Size RRP £15.00

CAILYN Cosmetics is an american brand who select quality ingredients to formulate cutting edge products to design outstanding packages that are dynamically engineered and meticulously processed. It’s not a brand I’ve heard of before so was happy to be introduced in the form of their gel eyeliner. If your read my posts regularly you will already know that I love black eyeliners in any shape and form!

The gel is compressed within a little pot with a built in brush in the lid that keeps everything nice and neat. This formula is very easy to work due to it’s creaminess and even if you’re not an expert in drawing straight lines the hairs on the brush are short and firm enough to give you that precision. One thing I did notice is that it didn’t immediately dry after application giving you some time to perfect and alter your line. Whilst it’s not very pigmented like a liquid liner, it’s similar to a pencil finish with more of a color payoff and the longevity and smudge-proof formula is really impressive too and remained in tact for most of the day. I’m really impressed with my first introduction to CAILYN Cosmetics.

3. Popband – (1 credit) Sample Size Worth £1.60

There were three different Popband collections via the boutique this month and if you didn’t read the small print you will assume that you’re receiving a full pack just like the picture advertises, unfortunately it is just the one Popband I’m afraid. I picked the Bubblegum collection which is inspired by Hubba-Bubba, sweet shops and first loves and mainly included pretty shades of pinks.

Popbands are soft, stretchy ‘no dent’ hair ties that hold ponytails up tight, but still leave the hair fresh and kink-free when you take it down and are available in a wide selection of colours and themes. They claim to not rip or damage hair and they even encourage you to embrace this fashionable accessory by wearing it on your wrist and I guess it would look more trendy as opposed to normal hair ties.

I stand by the Invisibobbles since discovering them last year and nothing else has even come close to date. Both designs have the same concept but the Popband gives you a little more flexibility as it’s elastic. Unfortunately, as my hair is really thick it felt slightly tight and just wasn’t suited for hair type but overall I think these are great for kids and adults alike and they come in a huge variety of colours and patterns.

4. Nails Inc Nail Polish in ‘Aylesford Street’ – (1 credit) Full Size 10ml. RRP £11.00

Love Me Beauty added seven Nails Inc varnishes this month and whilst it was hard to pick just the one, I settled for Aylesford Street, a lovely rasberry red. They’re only one credit too!

5. MONU Conditioning Body Wash – (1 credit) Sample Size

I love the Monu facial oil that I discovered last year and wanted to try something different from their range so I picked the Conditioning Body Wash.

This delicate body wash has been specially created with naturally derived foaming agents to softly cleanse the skin whilst an added natural honey product ensures the body is thoroughly conditioned to leave it feeling soft, supple and utterly nourished. The body wash has a zesty cocktail of Grapefruit, Lemon, Bergamot and Lemongrass essential oils and smell absolutely divine with a very uplifting and invigorating fragrance without being on the artificial side making it the perfect companion for those morning showers when you need a little waking up.

My Verdict

I’m really happy with most of my selections this month and it was great to see a much better line up of both brands and products covering a good area of beauty unlike previous months where the boutique has heavily dominated by nail varnish and make up. I think Love Me Beauty are somewhat on the right track compared to when they first introduced their new concept. My only bug bear is that new items are not added simultaneously when the credits renew but instead are scattered at different intervals throughout the month meaning you may miss out on these products (if stock is limited) once your credits renew again.

I enjoy curating my own box filling it with products to meet my likes and needs which in turn gives me full control and flexibility at an affordable monthly price, A concept which I really like. My box this month includes a mixture of both samples and full sized products with a value of £31.29.

I’m looking forward to seeing who Love Me Beauty have on board next month.

Want to sign up to the Love Me Beauty Revolution? Please visit:

www.lovemebeauty.com

Which Beauty Box UK March 7, 2015

You Beauty Discovery Box Review – March 2015

Price of the Box is £6.95 including P&P
No of items in the box – 5 items
Total value of contents in the box £27.00
www.youbeautydiscovery.co.uk

The March 2015 You Beauty Discovery Box has landed and this month’s shortlist theme is The Best of British and features a great variety of all things beauty from established and well known brands born and bread in the UK. This month’s line up definitely showcased a much better range of products and there was also a generous amount of extra samples thrown in too.

To see the March Shortlist please click here

“You Beauty Discovery” is a monthly beauty subscription service. The box consists of 2 selected hair, make-up and beauty products from well-known and new brands and they also include 2-3 bonus samples. Unlike the other subscription boxes you get to choose two products of your choice from a diverse selection menu each month.

My box included 2 products of my choice from the shortlist and three extra bonus treats.

1. Illamasqua Lipstick in Sangers – Full Size. RRP £18.50

I think the majority like me were lusting after this lipstick by Illamasqua and with popular items flying off the shelf pretty quick from the shortlist menu I knew that I would have to sacrifice that all important beauty sleep to grab one of these! Well the good news is I managed to get one and shock horror it’s still available!

I really struggle to find the perfect red toned lipstick and was particularly drawn to this shade as it claims to suit most complexions and is described as a true red. It is incredibly rich in colour, needing very little product to yield an opaque finish. The formula is excellent for how long it wears, but it could do with a touch more creaminess although once applied it feels very comfortable on the lips.

I absolutely adore this lipstick by Illamasqua. It’s all things a red lipstick should be, brilliantly pigmented, long lasting and will definitely not fail to get you noticed!

2. The Vintage Cosmetic Company Eyelash Curlers – Full Size. RRP £8.50

I’m not joking but the last time I used eyelash curlers was probably in secondary school and back then it was the coolest and “in thing” to have in you make up bag so I’m quite excited to be reacquainted again! I’ve tried various products from The Vintage Cosmetic Company and as well as there retro and girly packaging I loved their false eyelashes which I received in a previous beauty box.

I received the limited edition Rose Gold eyelash curlers which adds curl to your lashes. There may be different types of colours available if you opt for this but I was very pleased to have received this particular one as brands are now switching to this colour and it’s much more nicer than sliver or gold. Their instructions also state that the curlers can be warmed for a few seconds with a hair dryer to produce a better curl that lasts longer. I can’t wait to put these to the test.

3. Extra Samples within the box:

This month, You Beauty Discovery included a generous amount of samples. There was a shampoo and conditioner from Dove’s Youth Vitality range (both 50ml) and a Berry Delight nakd Bar.

My Verdict

This month see’s a much better shortlist menu that covers a good area of beauty too. I’m smitten with my picks this month and loved the generous amount of extras that were also thrown in. I’m particularly pleased with the Illamasqua lipstick especially as reds can usually be hit and miss but I can see this shade being really popular amongst subscribers who picked this.

The value of my box is worth £27.00 beating the actual cost of the box and includes three full sized products with the remainder being sample sized.

The magazine within the box included various discount codes for all of the brands featured this month which is great if you want to purchase further products.

You Beauty Discovery is one of favourite beauty boxes and it’s a great way to discover emerging and well known brands from a good selection of beauty products, and although it seemed they had lost their sparkle the last few months I think they have finally found their mojo again! I do love that I can personalise my box giving me full control on what I receive. The box itself is only £6.95 each month making it super affordable and good value for money.

For more information or to subscribe please visit:

www.youbeautydiscovery.co.uk

Which Beauty Box UK March 6, 2015

Birchbox Review – March 2015

Birchbox “Do Try this at Home” March 2015 Edition
Monthly subscription is £10.00 Plus £2.95 P&P
No. of Products in the Box – 7 items
www.birchbox.co.uk

I think the majority of us can’t wait to see the back of winter and thankfully spring is slowly but surely approaching and with this in mind the March 2015 Birchbox sees a surprising but exciting collaboration with Homeware and Lifestyle experts Habitat to inspire us to embrace the new season of renewal, whether it’s adding bursts of bright colours to your wardrobe, freshening up your existing beauty regime or introducing springtime motifs into your home. The “Do Try It at Home” edition features a spring-ready beauty line-up and comes presented in a refreshing, vibrant designed box which I absolutely adore. If that’s not enough to entice you, this month sees the return of choose your own sample with Benefit, a brand we all know and love. This month also sees the launch of Habitat’s SS15 Collection of dressing tables and beauty storage boxes and it’s the perfect partnership this month as both beauty and storage solutions go hand in hand.

This month’s box has all areas covered and features a selection of treats to get you in the mood for the spring including skin and body care products, your chosen Benefit Mascara sample, a hair smoothing cream, a springtime fragrance alongside two lifestyle extras.

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 March Birchbox will vary. To see what you may receive please click here

1. Benefit Roller Lash Mascara – Sample Size 3.0g. Full Size RRP £19.50

Despite all of the surrounding hype and everyone posting pictures of their roller lash mascara last month I somehow don’t ask me how, managed to miss the boat of the free sample in Elle Magazine and was very delighted to see one tucked inside this month’s box. As it’s choose you own sample there’s three different Benefit Mascaras to choose from, all of which are hailed for enhancing your lashes in some form or another, so if you missed out too there’s still a chance to get one inside your box!

Benefit’s newly launched Roller Lash Mascara promises to hook, lift and curl the lashes and it certainly didn’t disappoint. The formula goes on clump-free and the brush really separates and grips the lashes giving both length and lift. It’s not the best mascara I’ve tried but in terms of it’s main objective it did much better than what I was initially expecting.

2. Catherine Malandrino Style de Paris Perfume – Sample Vial. Full Size from £50.00

I don’t mind receiving samples of perfumes especially from Birchbox as I’ve discovered some great niche and unique scents which are exclusive only to the Birchbox shop so I know I’m getting something a little more special and this one by Catherine Malandrino is no exception.

Style de Paris by Catherine Malandrino is a powder soft scent with citrus top notes that open up to aromas of lush orange blossom, sweet jasmine, and fresh gardenia with hints of amber and musk.

When I smelt this, it was love at first whiff with it’s delicate burst of floral notes with a very sweet twist. You need to like floral/sweet scents to really appreciate this but if you do, it will not disappoint. It’s the perfect scent to get you in the mood for spring.

3. TanOrganic Self Tanning Oil – Sample Size 25ml. Full Size RRP £24.99 My skin has definitely been looking on the pasty side recently and I’m talking Edward Cullen style so was happy to see a self tanning oil sample from TanOrganic to get my spring glow-on.

This self tanning oil by TanOrganic is the world’s first self-tanning oil and is essentially a moisturising dry oil with a elegant subtle tan. With its moisturising qualities it instantly illuminates the skin with an irresistible glow and contains no synthetic colours, preservatives or parabens making it much kinder for your skin. In comparison to other tanning products which smell unpleasant this oil has a refreshing and uplifting citrus scent and is something that I really like.

On first impressions the sample is teeny for it’s purpose however this will undoubtedly cover some area’s or alternatively you could do a little patch test to really get a feel of the formula and the developed colour. I was introduced to TanOrganic last year and got on quite well with their skin friendly formula and this has just reminded me to hunt for the bigger bottle I own! It’s a great product to achieve a healthy, natural glow and being a dry-oil it feels really comfortable on the skin compared to creams and mousses.

4. Philip Kingsley Smooth Cream – Sample Size. Full Size RRP £18.00

The Philip Kingsley Smooth Cream is for medium textured, coarse, curly or frizzy hair types and promises to tame frizz and calm and define waves and curls to leave hair superbly shiny and under control. It also contains sunscreen for UV protection and to extend the life of colour treated hair. This sounds like the perfect solution for my troublesome hair and I love that it can also be used on wet and dry hair.

Whilst I love the Philip Kingsley samples I’ve received via Birchbox, it’s apparent that the brand has become a regular guest and although it’s very welcomed, I would love to see some other haircare brands showcased to mix it up a little.

5. Janjira Pomegranate & Acai Facial Scrub Cleanser – Sample Size 10ml. Full Size RRP £24.00

I’ve not tried anything from Janjira who is a brand born and bread in Thailand and was happy to make the discovery.

This scrub cleanser helps to deeply cleanse and exfoliate whilst retaining moisture and brightening the complexion. It contains walnut shell to gently removes dead skin cells, dirt and black heads leaving the skin soft and smooth alongside fruit oils to help reduce the appearance of pores and moisturise the skin. If it’s pore fighting. I’m definitely in!

The cleanser has a subtle pomegranate scent and smells absolutely delicious, the fruitiness even comes through when squeezing the product out of the tube. It has a very thick consistency with a slight shimmer which gives it that luxurious element. Whilst the scrub contains walnut shell it’s broken down into miniscule grains and feels very gentle on the skin and combined with the creamy texture I couldn’t stop rubbing this on my face, it felt really therapeutic! If you like that squeaky clean feeling you are in for a real treat with this scrub and it doesn’t strip or dry out the skin but instead leaves your skin feeling rather pampered and clean.

6. Lifestyle Extra – A Perfect Heritage by Penny Vincenzi

An unusual lifestyle extra this month exclusively for Birchbox subscribers in the form of a book which gives you a chapter sampler of “A perfect Heritage” written by Penny Vincenzi, a novel which has the beauty industry as a backdrop.

I think the inclusion of one chapter is a great idea especially when I think about the amount of times a book has let me down or failed to grip me. This concept gives you much more control and if you like what you’ve read you’ll probably be more inclined to purchase the book to find out what happens next!

7. Lifestyle Extra – Birchbox & Habitat Exclusive Notebook

This handy little notebook has been designed by both Birchbox and habitat and the quality is fantastic with a durable cover making it robust for even the messiest and the brimmed to the top handbags.

My Verdict

This month’s Birchbox in collaboration with Habitat literally brings the beauty of spring straight to your door and embraces the season of renewal with a good balance of samples all contained within a cheerful, spring-inspired box. When it comes to spring cleaning, I really enjoy refreshing my beauty stash and replacing the old with the new and there’s definitely a few new discoveries which I will continue to use. There was also a little customisation available this month in form of pick your own sample which is always popular with subscribers.

I loved the unexpected collaboration with Habitat and the design of the box and whilst there was only few items that really stood out for me, all of the products are usable with the box showcasing a good mix of well-known and emerging brands. This month’s edition boasts seven items covering a good area of beauty and I’m looking forward to incorporating these new discoveries into my spring regime.

I’m super excited for April as next month there will be another “pick your own sample” from Laura Mercier and Birchbox will also be releasing a limited edition box in collaboration with Tatler and will be available as an one off purchase for £25.00 (worth £60.00) on the 2nd April 2015. You can register your interest here.

Thinking of Subscribing?

Join today and get your first Birchbox for only £7.95 by entering the promo code BBXHABITAT at checkout.

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

www.birchbox.co.uk

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Which Beauty Box UK March 4, 2015

The Glamour Spring Beauty Edit Review – March 2015

Price of the Box is £16.99 plus free shipping
No of Products in the Box – 9 items
Total Value of contents in the box – £99.00
http://www.latestinbeauty.com

With spring soon approaching, it’s nearly time to send winter packing and with this in mind Latest in Beauty have partnered with Glamour Magazine to bring us beauty addicts The Glamour Spring Beauty Edit, a spring-ready beauty box to refresh our make-up bags and beauty regimes to embrace the season of renewal and get us in the mood for spring. The box boasts 9 beauty must-haves making it the perfect debut as we slowly transition from winter to spring. I really love the line-up which fits in so well with the theme and includes a selection of beauty treats from skincare, make-up, a hair mask, nail products and a sample of a true springtime fragrance.

If that’s not enough the box is worth an incredible £99.00 and features eight full size products and only one sample, now that’s impressive. As well as the beauty line up there’s also a discount code for the Glamour magazine 12 month print subscription with a saving of 62% with free access to the iPad and iPhone editions.

1. MorrocanOil Intense Hydrating Mask – Full Size 75ml

I must admit I am the worst when it comes to looking after my hair. As much as I love having hair extensions it’s made me somewhat lazy in keeping my real hair in good condition so I was happy to see this hair mask from MoroccanOil which has a deep conditioning element to it.

The Moroccanoil Intense Hydrating Mask is a rich, creamy treatment, designed to hydrate, repair damage and provide the hair with much needed moisture and protein whilst adding elasticity and shine.

The formula is quite rich and thick in consistency and smells amazing. I can’t wait to really pamper my hair with this mask and with my hair being so thick it’s definitely the kind of treatment I need at the moment.

2. Nuxe Creme Fraiche de Beaute Mask – Full Size 50ml

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 it’s also great for all year round especially for soothing skin that’s been over-exposed to the sun.

3. Elie Saab L’Eau Couture – Sample Vial Size 0.8ml

L’Eau Couture was developed by perfumer Francis Kurkdjian, who created the original Elie Saab Le Parfum. The L’Eau Couture is a much lighter version and includes notes of bergamot, magnolia, orange blossom, green almond and vanilla and is a true springtime fragrance.

When I smelt this, it was truly captivating with a light and delicate burst of a refreshing floral scent with a sweet twist once settled. It’s an amazing mood-booster that brings to mind the memories of being somewhere nice, sunny, and warm. I love the rather simple selection of notes with each one retaining its own vibrant character. You need to like floral scents to really appreciate this but if you do, it will not disappoint.

4. Model Co Creme Rouge Cheek & Lips – Full Size 0.12oz

As well as a lipstick, this also doubles up as blush too and comes in a creamy matte peach/coral shade which might seem intimidating at first, but it’s actually a very wearable colour that comes in a handy sized case. It’s buildable formula means it can be applied sheer or you can go all out with a more bold and defined finish and If you’re not feeling the matte lip colour just add some gloss. Easy peasy! I love the colour and can see this suiting all skin tones.

5. Rimmel Oh My Gloss! Lip Gloss – Full Size 6.5ml

Within the box you can expect to see a new product launch from Rimmel who have partnered with Rita Ora to bring a collection of festival inspired lip gloss shades.I received the shade snog although you could receive a different variant from the collection.

I really like the texture which feels super- comfy on the lips without a trace of stickiness. The shade snog has a combination of pink and brown tones along with a great shine formula that simply adds a soft sheen of colour making it a great everyday gloss. I will definitely be keeping an eye out for other shades from this collection as this by far is the best formula I’ve come across in a long time.

6. Beauty UK High Brow Kit- Full Size

I must admit I’m picky when it comes to brow products mainly because I already have a few holygrail products and deep down I wasn’t expecting much from this brow kit. Well, it was very bad of me for judging a book by it’s cover, I was actually really wowed by it.

The palette is housed within a sturdy plastic case and inside there’s three different shades of powders, a clear wax, tweezers and a double-ended brow brush.

The darker shade matched my eyebrows perfectly and surprisingly the powder sticks to the brush like a magnet and doesn’t go everywhere unlike others I’ve tried. The brush has the ideal shape and flexibility giving a defined finish, and the most impressive factor was the longevity, the powder remained intact from 8am until 6pm without any fading or smudging.

I love this brow kit, it brings everything you need to achieve natural and defined looking brows. The RRP is complete steal at only £3.99 and whilst it’s budget friendly it really doesn’t compromise on quality.

7. Kiko Long Lasting Stick Eyeshadow – Full Size

I’ve not tried anything from the brand KiKo so was happy to be introduced in the form of their Long Lasting Eyeshadow Stick.

I received the 06 shade which is a deep metallic bronze with a hint of shimmer and you could possibly receive a different one as there’s three shade variants. The product itself is very creamy, super pigmented with a very smooth texture. It’s extremely easy to blend or smudge whether you’re using a brush or your fingers and once set it has serious staying power and looks very flattering. It’s buildable too and can transition you from a day to night look effortlessly. It works really well as a liner too. Really impressed with my first product from Kiko and will certainly be looking into more of their collection.

8. Revlon Colourstay Gel Envy Longwear Nail Enamel and Diamond Top Coat – Full Size 10ml

I personally like to coordinate with the seasons and pastel and bright polishes are perfect for spring time. This however isn’t your average nail lacquer it’s a gel based formula and comes alongside a diamond top coat too. I’ve not tried any gel formula’s before so was happy to be finally introduced.

From Revlon’s innovation in their ColorStay collection this pioneering nail collection promises to provide brilliant colour, gel-shine and a long lasting wear in an easy at-home 2-step system.

From the six variants I received the shade 320 Full House which is a lovely light sky blue colour and shouts all things spring and sunny. I’m looking forward to trying these especially the top coat.

9. Glamour Magazine Discounted Subscription

As well as the beauty line up, I think it’s great and very generous of Glamour Magazine to include a code to get a free Glamour magazine 12 month print subscription which also gives you free access to the iPad and iPhone editions. It’s a great way to keep up with the latest beauty trends and gossip whilst you’re on the go.

My Verdict

Just when you think you’ve seen the best of the Latest in Beauty Glamour edits, they pull out another showstopping box, although I wouldn’t expect anything less from this partnership, it’s something which they get right each time. This box really gets you in the mood for spring and boasts a great selection of products all of which are contained within a vibrant spring- inspired box. What amazes me is that eight out of the nine items are full sized and showcases well-known brands making it exceptional value for money. I also like that it’s not dominated by skincare giving a much welcomed break, and plus you can never have enough make-up and nail varnish!

Overall I’ve really enjoyed discovering everything within this box and there’s nothing that I won’t continue to use. I particularly love the shades that have been selected for the spring edition and whilst dark lips and nails are beautiful, I’m so ready to stash these away and pull out the bright and pastel colours.

Individually, the products would cost a whopping £99.00, but you can get your hands on the whole lot for just £16.99 making it super-affordable and great value for money.The box also includes some discount codes to redeem against the brands showcased within the box, which is great if you fall in love with any of the products.

I’m a big fan of the Latest of Beauty who curate incredible beauty boxes and showcase worthy and well-known brands for a very affordable price with the Glamour editions being my favourite partnership when it comes to collaborations. As with all of the editions there’s always something that I manage to fall in love with and usually it’s not just the one product! I’ve gone on to purchase quite a few products that I’ve discovered via their boxes.

The Glamour Spring Beauty Edit is available now and you can use the code HELLO10 to get 10% off your first order.

www.latestinbeauty.com

Which Beauty Box UK March 3, 2015

The Glamour Spring Beauty Edit – March 2015

With spring soon approaching, it’s nearly time to send winter packing and with this in mind Latest in Beauty have partnered with Glamour Magazine to bring us beauty addicts The Glamour Spring Beauty Edit, a spring-ready beauty box to refresh our make-up bags and beauty regimes as we make the transition. The box boasts 9 beauty must-haves and is worth an incredible £99.00. It’s available now for £16.99 plus free shipping at www.latestinbeauty.com

Inside the Box:

Model Co Creme Rouge Cheek & Lips
Nuxe Creme Fraiche de Beaute Mask
Moroccanoil Intense Hydrating Mask
Beauty UK High Brow Kit
Rimmel Oh My Gloss! Lip Gloss
Kiko Long Lasting Stick Eyeshadow
Elie Saab L’Eau Couture
Revlon Colourstay Gel Envy Longwear Nail Enamel
Revlon Colorstay Gel Envy Diamond Top Coat

Get 10% off your first order by using the promo code HELLO10
www.latestinbeauty.com

Which Beauty Box UK March 2, 2015

Beauty Pick of the Month – February 2015

Is it me or has February just flown by! It’s that time of the month again when I pick my favourite product which I received in one of my many beauty boxes. February’s showstopper was the super-impressive Cynthia Rowley Eyeliner Pencil which I received in my Birchbox and being a self-confessed eyeliner obsessive, this pencil is a game-changer for me.

I don’t know what it is, but as soon as a new eyeliner lands on my doorstop I am immediately drawn to it mainly because I’m always looking for the ultimate eye popping liner which comes with all of the benefits too such as depth, longevity and a super-creamy texture. Initially I thought I was asking for too much but along came the Cynthia Rowley Eyeliner which changed everything and blew all of my other liners out of the water and yes it really is that impressive!

Cynthia Rowley is more commonly known as a New York Fashion Designer and it was only via Birchbox that I discovered she also had a beauty range.

As well as the pretty polka dot design and the dashing gold and black colour combination, the pencil is smooth, dark and long wearing. It’s true black shade creates striking bold lines and gives big immediate drama thanks to it’s true black pigment.

I’ve really fallen head over heels with this eyeliner and my only sadness is that Birchbox won’t be stocking the black shade but they do have various other colours that are available via the Birchbox Shop for £11.00.

Have you tried the Cynthia Rowley Eyeliner?

www.birchbox.co.uk

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