MAKE A SPLASH - JULY BIRCHBOX 2015

This month’s Birchbox was a complete surprise as it didn’t arrive in the normal box form, for the first time ever they have replaced the classic box with a super cute, splash-proof clutch. Birchbox has worked with editors from some of the most elite magazines in the UK, which has inspired the colours of the bags. I received the yellow Birchbag, which was chosen by Rose Beer from Grazia and her favourite holiday place of Somerset, which is her hometown and is now where she spends most of her summers. I will definitely be taken this zipped bag away on holiday with me as it’s perfect for all my poolside essentials.

Cowshed Cow Pat Hand Cream 50ml, £8.00 – When I normally see a hand cream in a beauty box I'm not really that bothered as I have so many, but this Cowshed one really interested me. This nourishing lotion is packed full of rejuvenating essential oils including grapefruit to uplift and coriander to soothe. It's full of shea and cocoa butters so it leaves the hands feeling really moisturised and toned, it’s even nice to massage into cuticles when you need a little hydration. I love the scent and it doesn't feel greasy at all on the skin.

Balance Me Congested Skin Serum 7ml sample, full-size £16.00 – This is exactly what I needed this month! This little skin saviour helps restore balance to the skin, as well as soothing breakouts. The formula contains chamomile, lavender and aloe vera so it’s really gentle but works wonders. I'm most likely to apply this before my evening moisturiser so my skin can rest over night.

Unani Aloe Vera Gel 30ml sample, full-size £15.00 – This is the perfect product to use after a day in the sun, as it can calm down any sore, red areas. It’s packed full of aloe vera which is cooling on the skin and helps to nourish and help with peeling too. It also works on blemishes, eczema and bites, it feels lovely on the skin and absorbs really quickly.

Pop Beauty Eyeshadow Trio in Peach Parfait, full-size £15.50 - I was really surprised how pretty these peachy shadows are. I have received Pop Beauty make-up before and know they are an affordable brand and I didn't really expect much from this palette. The shadows are very wearable colours and feel really silky and creamy when applied to the skin. I can see myself getting a lot of use out of this trio and it’s the perfect size to fit into my make-up bag.

Benefit Cosmetics Dream Screen 6ml sample, full-size £25.00 – I have really been enjoying Benefit skincare recently, but haven't tried Dream Screen before. This is an ultra-lightweight, matte-finish sunscreen, which absorbs quickly and protects against the sun with an SPF 45. It's oil free and perfect for layering underneath makeup. Another product I will definitely be taking on holiday with me and it’s the ideal size to put in your hand luggage for on the go.

Barely Prep, Blot & Blend Sponge, £5.99 - This is a bonus beauty extra this month, I've used a makeup sponge before, but this blending sponge is to smooth on your skincare and primers to prep your skin for makeup. You squeeze with warm water like you normally would with a beauty blender, then apply product and blend onto skin using a stippling motion. It's great for those hard to reach places or I like to use it with my eye cream.

July's edition has to be one of my favourite Birchboxes to date, my favourite product in the box is the Benefit Dream Screen! What was your favourite product from this month's box?

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HOT OR NOT - BEAUTY BOX PRODUCTS OCTOBER 2014

As I missed out reviewing most of my October beauty boxes, I thought I would give an overview on which products I enjoyed and would repurchase and which ones I would give a miss. I reviewed my current favourite box - Look Fantastic, so all of these products are from Glossybox, Birchbox or You Beauty Discovery box. Glossybox's theme last month was based around a pop art box, which I love and will be keeping after use. The limited edition box came in four different colour ways and included four full-size products and two samples, which really impressed me. October's Birchbox was a collaboration with Coppafeel as October is also breast cancer awareness month. I loved that all the products featured in that months box fit in a cute pink zip up pouch and the box also came with a handy lipstick pen, which is perfect for any beauty lovers! You Beauty Discovery's product list was based on handbag heroes which are effective in the quick fix approach. I love this beauty box as it gives you the chance to try samples you actually want to try at a really reasonable price tag.
Hot Products -
The products I got on with the most were; Ciate Paint Pot in Ditch The Heels (Glossybox) - I received a gorgeous green shade called Ditch The Heels. I've tried many Ciate nail polishes in the past and really like the glossy finish. Nuxe Masque Creme Fraiche de Beaute (Glossybox) - I was really impressed to receive a full-size product from Nuxe. This is priced at £19.50 and is similar to the Origins Drink Up Intensive mask, so great for dry skin types. So Susan Flutter Mascara (Glossybox) - Mascara is probably my least favourite make-up product to receive in a beauty box, just because I know if I try it I have to use it up within the next few months, so I have a stock pile building up. But I decided to try this and really liked the way it lengthened my lashes. Etre Belle Liplift Peel (Glossybox) - I had never heard of this brand, but I was intrigued as I haven't used many products like it. This gives your lips a gentle exfoliation to prepare your lips for lipstick and I was impressed with the results. Balance Me Cleanse and Smooth Face Balm (Birchbox) - I have tried samples of this before, I really enjoy the balm texture. It's a product I go back to again and again but have yet to purchase it as I keep receiving samples. Pixi Shea Butter Lip Balm in Honey Nectar (Birchbox) - I was very excited for this product as I haven't tried many products from Pixi. This gives a lovely nude tint to the lips and helps moisturise them as well, great for the winter months! KMS California Hair Play Playable Texture (Birchbox) - I have been loving KMS products and this one is a must try! You can use this before or after blow drying and it helps to build style and define layers without making your hair feel weighed down. Illamasqua Glamore Lipstick in Tease (You Beauty Discovery) - This was my first choice from You Beauty last month as I haven't tried a lipstick from Illamasqua before. I received the shade Tease which is a gorgeous matte nude and goes lovely with my skin tone. Crystal Clear Skincare Intense Anti-Ageing Serum (You Beauty Discovery) - I love a good serum and I knew this was a pricey brand so I thought I would give it a go. It helps to reduce wrinkles and firm the skin, I'm sure this is for an older target market but I love the way it peps up my skin. Cowshed Anti-Ageing Perfecting Night Serum (You Beauty Discovery) - Another serum similar to the Crystal Clear one, I liked massaging this into my face in the evening. It has made me want to try more from the brand!
Not So Hot Products -
The products I didn't rate were; Yves Rocher Quelques Notes D'Amour Perfume (Glossybox) - I'm not a big fan of perfume samples in beauty boxes, this one is a little too sweet for me! Rimmel BB Cream Matte in Light (Glossybox) - A nice little extra, but even the light shade is too orange toned for my skin. Shaveworks The Cool Fix Gel Lotion (Birchbox) - As I don't have any issues with shaving my legs this isn't a product I would normally pick up. It is really smoothing and cooling though, so maybe nice to leave until the summer months, not too sure of the manly scent though. Lollipops Paris Nail Lacquer (Birchbox) - I had never heard of this brand before, I really like the festive shade and the shade is quite pigmented. But I wasn't very impressed with the staying power as it chipped quite easily. Gold Collagen Forte (You Beauty Discovery) - I have received one of these before in a beauty box and I must admit I haven't tried it. It's aimed at the 40+ market, but I can't imagine it's a nice beauty supplement to drink, I think I will give it a miss.

I think my favourite box out of the three October editions has to be Birchbox.

Which is your favourite Beauty Box?

WHAT'S IN MY TRAVEL WASH BAG/IN-FLIGHT BAG - DUBAI EDITION

I'm off to Dubai next weekend and of course the first thing I've packed are my toiletries. I have collected so many mini sized samples by getting numerous beauty boxes a month, so it's a great time to use them up and try new things. I always find these sort of posts helpful when I'm packing myself and by doing my own version I can look back on this when I travel in the future. Let me know if I have forgotten anything or think I might benefit from taking something else or if you have tried any of these products and what you thought about them.
In my main Kate Spade wash bag which I will be putting in my main luggage there is; Kerastase Nutritive Bain Satin 1 and Lait Vital which I received in a Look Fantastic beauty box, my hair loves these. I have also popped in a couple of Bumble and Bumble samples of the Surf and Thickening shampoo and conditioner, if I want to use something different. For styling products I have; the KMS Free Shape Quick Blow Dry Spray, KMS Hair Play Texturising Spray, Bumble and Bumble Shine Finishing Spray and the Philip Kingsley One More Day Dry Shampoo. I have my favourite Mitchum Shower Fresh Deodrant, Korres Citrus Shower Gel and Body Milk which I also received in beauty boxes, thought this scent would be great to use on holiday! For sun lotion I have packed the Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration SPF 30 Protective Sun Lotion and the matching After Sun, which I always get along with. I also have a Coola SPF 30 Classic Sunscreen for my face, which I'm looking forward to using properly. My skin is very pale so I have also throw in a St Tropez Instant Tan Wash Off Face & Body Lotion for the start of the holiday. For skincare I have packed the Ren Rosa Centifolia 3-in-1 Cleansing Water, which I already use full-size and the Ren Rosa Centifolia Cleansing Gel. For toning I'm using the Premae Skincare Balance Rescue Face Tonique and if my face wants a treat I have the Ren Flash Rinse 1 Minute Facial. I also have a couple of sachets of Origins GinZing Refeshing Scrub Cleanser and a tub of Benefit It's Potent Eye Cream, which I can't get enough of. I then just have essentials like the Elegant Touch Nail Polish Remover Pads, a standard razor, flannels and muslin cloths, cotton pads, cotton buds, hair elastics and a tanning mitt.
In my In-Flight bag which contains 100ml and under products which will be in my hand luggage I have packed; the Cowshed Cow Slip Antibacterial Hand Gel, Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream (which is holy grail!), Gatineau Collagene Expert Smoothing Face Cream, La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water Spray which will be my life saver at the beach. Origins Make a Difference Rejuvenating Hand Treatment and Peace of Mind On-The-Spot Relief which I like to use just before boarding my flight. I also have my mini toothpaste and toothbrush, hand and face wipes, Eve Lom Kiss Mix Lip Balm, a mini first aid kit containing plasters and a hair bobble. I also have three mini perfume samples; Thierry Mugler Alien, Ghost Eclipse and Chanel Coco Noir as I'm hoping to pick up the new Chloe - Love Story perfume in Duty Free. I will definitely have to review my favourite products of the holiday when I come back.

What are your holiday wash bag essentials?

SELFRIDGES FESTIVAL BEAUTY BOX

I really enjoy the whole concept of a beauty box. You get to try new beauty products that you maybe wouldn't choose out for yourself and discover brands that you have admired from afar but have never took the plunge to commit to one product. This is the fourth Beauty box from Selfridges, I have managed to get my hands on all of them except for the valentines box which I wasn't really too fussed about, but this festival themed exclusive really won me over. The box contains eleven beauty essentials with a combined value of £110, making it the ultimate summer survival kit. I'm not attending a festival this year but the contents was too good to miss!

The box contains; Sol de Janerio Coconut Water Cooling Mist - This product is one of my favourites from the bunch, anything coconut scented is a hit with me! You can spray this on your face and body anytime to refresh your skin. It delivers a cooling sensation and would be ideal to take on holiday with you. Cowshed Antibacterial Hand Gel - This hand gel smells lovely! and doesn't have the normal overpowering antibacterial scent. It's ideal to pop in your handbag for travelling. My only dislike about it is that it doesn't seem to sink into the skin as quickly as others I've tried. Azature Nail Lacquer in Champagne - Festivals are all about the glitter! This nail polish contains gold, bronze and silver glitter and looks lovely over any nail base or simply on it's own. NPW Mini Scented Hand & Face Wet Wipes - Another handbag friendly product, also without the generic wet wipe scent. NPW Chubby Glitter Stick in Hottest Pink - I'm not too sure when I'm going to use this product, it would be great for parties or fancy dress. The stick contains bright pink and multicoloured glitter and is so easy to apply. Eyeko Skinny Liquid Eyeliner in Navy Blue - This eyeko eyeliner is foolproof, the colour is lovely, it's so easy to apply and doesn't smudge at all. The felt tip application means you can control the pen in a single stroke.

Topshop Lip Crayon in Powder Room - I had been wanting to try a Lip crayon from Topshop for a while. This one is in Power Room which is a bright baby pink, the formulation is matte but really creamy! Great to use even when you haven't got a mirror handy. Illamasqua Liquid Metal in Surge (Plus a complimentary eye colour consultation) - This is another one of my favourites from the box. I haven't tried many products from the brand but this cream eyeshadow is gorgeous! It gives a lovely metallic sheen and would be ideal for a dramatic eye. Bare Minerals Pretty Amazing Lip Gloss in Moxie - The formula of this lip gloss is really creamy which leaves you with a high-impact shine and vibrant colour - A real barbie pink shade. Colorsmash Hair Shadow in Je ne sais quoi - Another festival perfect product, Colorsmash temporary hair colour can be applied by rubbing it into the desired section of the hair and sealing it with hair spray. To remove, juat wash it out. It's as easy as that! Violent Lips Lip Appliques in The Warm Rainbow - This is the only product I am yet to use from the box. They would be ideal for parties or a night out. I love the colours, they last up to 8 hours and look quite easy to apply.

As you can see the contents is well worth the bargain price tag! The Selfridges Festival Beauty Box is £25 and is available here. Have you got yours yet?