LOOK FANTASTIC BEAUTY BOX - OCTOBER 2014

Look Fantastic is the newest beauty box to hit the market and this month (October) is their second box. After the success of last months box, I had high hopes that good sized samples and well known brands would carry on and I'm pleased they have, I just can't get enough of this box. It's a couple of pounds more than competitors Glossybox and Birchbox, but I think it's totally worth it to receive products you want to try.
KMS Free Shape Quick Blow Dry, full-size 200ml £11.45 - I was very excited to see KMS in the box, I have been wanting to try something from the brand for ages. I think they are also featured in Birchbox this month too. This product claims to reduce your blow dry time by up to 50%. As I wash my hair most mornings this is ideal for me and means I can quickly dry my hair and get out the door. This also provides heat protection, so is a multi use product. This is a bi-phase solution that you have to shake really well before use and the product helps to condition the hair as well. I really like the fruity scent and will look into buying the full-size version if this continues to work.
Gatineau Collagene Expert Ultimate Smoothing Cream, full-size 50ml £54.19 - This product can be used as a day or night cream, which works to give you younger and more radiant looking skin. This product contains a high concentration of elastin and collagen, it has a gel like texture which instantly absorbs to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and improve the feel of the complexion. The formula is thick and creamy and leaves a nice smooth, fresh feeling on the skin. This is probably my least favourite product in the box just because I don't know much about the brand. But I will be taking this sample on holiday with me at the end of the month to give it a good test run.
Korres Citrus Shower Gel, full-size 250ml £8.00 - I received the body milk in this range in last months Birchbox. So it's quite nice to use them both at the same time to layer up the scents. It's more of a summery scent, so again this is ideal to take on holiday with me. I've really got into using Korres bath and body care. The product contains wheat proteins which form a protective film on the skin, maintaining it's regular hydration level, leaving the skin soft and moisturised.
Balance Me Facial Expression Filler, 15ml £22.00 - This is a full-size product and is probably targeted at a slightly older customer than me but there is no harm in giving it a go. This product is marketed as a daily natural botox fix and helps to tighten and tone skin fast. It's suitable for all skin types and is 99% natural. I have really enjoyed using Balance Me products in the past and this product contains ingredients to soften the appearance of forehead lines instantly. I will probably mainly use this around the eye area before applying make-up.
L'Oreal Professionnel Pro-Keratin Refill Shampoo, full-size 250ml £10.99 and Hair Masque full-size 200ml £13.99 - These are probably some of my favourite products in the box, they're made for damages hair and L'Oreal claims that hair feels 70% more resistant to breakage with use. I currently use the L'Oreal Professionnel silver shampoo, so know their products are of good quality and certainly make a difference. The shampoo cleanses and replenishes the hair and leaves a smooth, reinforced feeling. The masque intensively repairs and creates a defensive shield providing day to day protection from external aggressors. These both smell heavenly and I would look into buying the full-sizes when these run out.
This Works Sleep Plus+ Pillow Spray, full-size 75ml £25.00 - Last month, we received the normal version of this and this month we have the stronger version. I really liked using the spray last month, so was happy to see another sample. It really does help me to relax and helps you feel less restless during the night. The scent is stronger but only time will tell if this version out does the original. Looks like this product hasn't been released yet, but you can pre-order on the website - out 17th October, so that's really nice to receive an exclusive sample.
The October box is now sold out, but you can pre-order November's box. I already have! It would be nice to see some make-up products being introduced into the box, but is that why this box is so successful? Are cosmetic items too individual to that person's taste? But if Look Fantastic beauty box carries on like this, their competitors better watch out!

Have you ordered your Look Fantastic beauty box yet?

HAPPY DAYS BIRCHBOX - SEPTEMBER 2014

This month's Birchbox is themed around the back to school season and reminiscing about the happiest days of out lives. The products in this month's box celebrate capturing these moments and making new ones. Inside there are products that will help you look your best during your happiest days.

Benefit It's Potent Eye Cream, full-size 14.2g £25.50 - This is an eye cream that I have used samples of before, really enjoyed it, but never purchased the full-size. The formula is really creamy, but still lightweight and I like that it comes in a pot. It's really refreshing around the eye and seems to reduce dark circles. It helps to smooth fine lines and protect against free radicals with this light peptide-packed formula.

Korres Citrus Body Milk, full-size 200ml £9.50 - Korres is a brand I always have a look at when I go down the beauty aisle at Waitrose. I have tried a couple of their moisturisers and lip products. The body milks are lightweight, so it's better to use this in the summer months. I like to use this out of the shower and you can layer up the scents by using the matching shower gel. It contains almond oil and shea butter and is great for dry skin.

Model Co Lip Lacquer in Morocco, full-size 3ml £15.oo - This month everybody got to choose one product they would receive. The choice was out of the Model Co Lip Lacquer in Morocco or Viva or the Model Co Powerlash Mascara. I chose the Lip Lacquer in Morocco which is a lovely nude pink. I haven't tried many products from Model Co before, but the Lip Lacquer is long wearing and highly pigmented. The formula isn't sticky at all, they're hydrating on the lips and I really like the glossy finish. This is one of my favourite discoveries this month.

Premae Mild Dermabrasion Face & Body Scrub, full-size 100ml £25.00 - Premae is a brand I have only used from beauty boxes before. The brand is well known for their Vegan values. This product is a face and body scrub containing olive granules. This is great for blemishes, decongested pores and dull skin. I do get worried about using a scrub on my face which is also suitable for the body, but this isn't harsh at all and my skin is always super soft afterwards. This is also great for use after tanning and hair removal.

Agave Healing Oil Treatment, full-size 120ml £27.00 - Not a brand I have heard of before, but this lightweight oil helps to smooth hair, build resiliency and boost shine and colour. You can use this or dry or damp hair from roots to ends and I love the coconut scent. I would definitely be interested in purchasing the full-size of this.

The lifestyle choices this month were a Birchbox Happy Days photo clip, which went with the theme of the box. They also included Urban Fruit Smashing Strawberry, which are so yummy, I'm going to have to try the other flavours. I'm now off to redeem some Birchbox points in the e-shop against my favourite full-sized products.

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