REN GRAB & GO KIT

Ren is one of my favourite Skincare brands, along with Origins. The Ren Grab & Go Set has been on my wish list for a while now as I think it's such a great idea. I always try and take minis away with me on holidays or weekends away, so this set is perfect for that in mind or you could even pop this in your gym bag! This set contains all the basic skincare you could need and it's pointless travelling with bigger sized products that you just won't use. The set includes; Rosa Centifolia Cleansing Gel 50ml, Vita Mineral Daily Supplement Moisturising Cream 15ml, a full-size Vita Mineral Lip Balm 15ml, Vita Mineral Active 7 Eye Gel 3ml, Oat & Bay Conditioning Shampoo 50ml, Pro-Vitamin Conditioner 50ml, Neroli & Grapefruit Body Wash 50ml and Neroli & Grapefruit Body Cream 50ml. The kit also contains an airport security recommended bag, so you could chuck this set into your hand luggage and be good to go as everything in the kit is under 100ml. Some of my favourite products include the cleansing gel and the eye gel, which I have used before. I like the convenience of this kit, it means I can use up the Ren products currently in the set and replace what I use with extra minis. I haven’t tried the shampoo, conditioner, body wash or body lotion before from Ren, so I’m looking forward to giving them a go. I know my face likes the skincare, so I know I will get along with those products just fine. The set includes their most popular products for the face and body and it is also a great kit to try the products before you commit to buying the full-size. The Rosa Centifolia Cleansing Gel removes make-up, oils, dirt and pollution without the stripping effects of sulfates. The Vita Mineral Daily Supplement Moisturising Cream is a multi-active day cream that replenishes the skin with moisture and vital nutrients. The Vita Mineral Lip Balm is a rich balm formulated to replenish dry and chapped lips. The Vita Mineral Active 7 Eye Gel is light and cooling to treat, revive and brighten the delicate eye area. 
I ended up purchasing this set from Look Fantastic which is currently selling this kit at £20.00. The value of the set is £38.00, so that is a massive saving and saves me purchasing all my minis separately. I managed to purchase it for £17.00 as you can always find some sort of discount code online. There is also another variation of the set, which is called the Grab and Fly Kit. This set includes, Evercalm Cleansing Milk 25ml, Evercalm Day Cream 15ml, a full-size Lip Balm 15ml, Vita Mineral Active 7 Eye Gel, Shampoo 50ml, Conditioner 50ml, Revivo Tonic Body Wash 50ml and Revivio Tonic Body Cream 50ml. The Ren Grab and Go Kit is the perfect lazy girls travel companion and I will definitely be taking mine with me the next time I go away!

What are your favourite Ren products? 

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LOOK FANTASTIC BEAUTY BOX - NOVEMBER 2014

Look Fantastic has to be my current favourite beauty box of choice. I have used up most of the samples from last months box, this is really good for me as a lot of samples I try and then put aside as I'm already using other products. Everybody has been raving about this box, but I know a lot of people wanted to see make-up items, so it's nice to see a lip product in this months box. The contents of this months box include;

Eve Lom Cleanser, full-size 100ml £55.00 - This is a cleanser I have heard lots about and have received quite a few samples of it recently. This is a rich, balm texture that moisturises the skin as well as deeply cleanses. It's quite similar to the Emma Hardie balm cleanser, but less oily. I really like the way it leaves my skin feeling smooth and removes every last trace of make-up.
Monu Recovery Balm, full-size 50ml £22.50 - Monu is a brand I have received quite a few times in past Glossyboxes. This is the perfect product for the winter months. Recovery Balm is a soothing product for efficient and effective relief for sensitised or stressed skin in need of comforting. You apply this at night as the last step in your skincare routine, like an overnight mask. My skin is left feeling super smooth and hydrated. It helps to reduce redness, leaves skin feeling balanced and protective and has relaxing scents of Soft Rose and Bergamot to calm the senses. Probably one of the best products I've used from the Monu range.
Nuxe Nuxellence Jeunesse Youth and Radiance Fluid, full-size 50ml £47.00 - This is an anti-ageing fluid which helps to recharge the skin and to restore its radiance. It's quite a unique product as it also boosts the efficacy of any anti-ageing skincare product. This is lovely to use in the evenings and is suitable for all skin types. This product contains Passionflower, Anchusa and Poppy Flower extracts, skin is luminous and appears younger.
Glamglow Youthmud Tinglexfoliate Treatment, full-size 50ml £39.99 - I have tried this product a number of times and have always got on with it and enjoyed the results. It delivers instant results as its designed to be a 10 minute facial in a jar. When applied, you can really feel it working on the skin. My skin is left feeling refreshed, soft and glowing. It's a treatment that gives your skin a mid-week renewal.
Hand Chemistry Intense Youth Complex, full-size 100ml £18.99 - Hand Cream isn't a product I need more of as I have plenty, but I was quite excited about this product. I was first taken in by the pink packaging but this hand cream claims you will see visible results in less than 11 days. It targets eight signs of hand ageing. It contains 19.5% active ingredients that work to improve firmness, smoothness and evenness. I love the way this makes my skin feel, I apply it in the evenings and my skin still feels super smooth in the morning. 
New CID Cosmetics i-Crayon Lip & Cheek Tint, £14.00 - I have only used a lipgloss from this brand before, but really enjoyed using that. I am a big fan of lip crayons and this shade is perfect for Autumn/Winter, I received the shade Plum Cordial. These retractable chubby pencils are multiuse and can be used on the lips or cheeks. The formulation is pigmented and blends really easily. They leave a glossy tint to lips or cheeks and stay around for hours. I think I will mainly use this on the lips, but it's great to have products in my make-up bag that can be used for a number of things.

This month's box also included a £10.00 Coggles.com voucher, which is ideal to stock up on Christmas presents! and also a nice little extra. What is your favourite product from this month's Look Fantastic box? December's Box is currently on Pre-Order here.

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?

LOOK FANTASTIC BEAUTY BOX - SEPTEMBER 2014

Look Fantastic is the latest brand to release a beauty box. It’s nice to see an online beauty store bringing something different to the ever growing industry. I have always been interested in the concept, some people became uninterested in the whole idea but I’m always excited to see another new box released. Look Fantastic is always an online shop I check for deals and offers that are cheaper than the high-street. The Look Fantastic Beauty Box will contain a minimum of six products every month and you can decide if you want to order it instead of signing up to a subscription. The first box sold out really quickly, you don’t know what you’re going to receive before you get it through your letterbox and by using popular brands I know this box will be popular. The products included in September’s box were;

Kerastase Nutritive Bain Satin 1 and Lait Vital, full-size 250ml and 200ml £22.20 for both – I am a big fan of Kerastase hair products, you know you are getting quality hair care from this brand. I wish I had ordered my mum a box at the same time, as she loves this shampoo and conditioner. I sadly went back on the website that evening and it had sold out. I will definitely be taking these on holiday with me, it’s so nice to see deluxe samples. I have used this hair care range before so I know I will enjoy using them. This hair duo is perfect for drier hair types, they're super moisturising and has a nourishing formula that protects hair to an award winning standard.

Caudalie Divine Oil, full-size 50ml £17.50 – I have already tried and loved this product, but it’s nice to have an extra sample for travel. This is a multiuse product which can be used on the body, hair and face. I love the glass bottle packaging, I’m most likely to use this on my body. Caudalie are committed to planting one tree for every bottle sold. The oil has a light, floral fragrance with woody notes.

This Works Deep Sleep Pillow Spray, full-size 75ml £16.00 – I have always wanted to try this product, another product my mum swears by. I don’t have any trouble sleeping, but this is nice to spray on my pillow to relax me before sleep. Deep Sleep Pillow Spray is clinically proven to help you sleep better than normal, make you fall asleep faster and feel more refreshed in the morning. The soothing scent is wild camomile, vetiver and true lavender, which helps to calm the mind - I will definitely be spraying this on my bed sheets tonight.

Jurlique Herbal Recovery Advanced Serum, full-size 30ml £49.50 – Another product I was very excited about receiving. I haven’t tried many Jurlique products in the past, but the ones I have tried I have really enjoyed. This serum helps to recover your radiance, it features a proprietary active complex, Naturadiance PB18+ to help reduce the appearance of fine lines, restore radiance and increase hydration. I will be adding this to my evening skincare routine.

St Tropez Bronzing Mousse, 50ml £9.99 – This is probably my least favourite product in the box, just because I’m not much of a tanner. If I was to tan though, I would use St.Tropez as I’m always happy with the results, so this will come in use at some point. It gives a lovely even colour and this is a great sized product to touch up a holiday tan. I much prefer using a mousse product than a liquid. This bronzing mousse creates a streak-free, natural looking golden glow that lasts for days. I like to apply this with an applicator mitt for stain free hands.
Overall I'm really happy with the contents, so refreshing to find new products from brands I love and deluxe sized samples instead of sachets. The stand out product for me is the Jurlique Advanced Serum. I have already pre-ordered the October box, lets hope it lives up to their first box. Five random boxes will also receive a mystery gift worth £149.99, there's limited available so pre-order yours quick here.

What are your thoughts on Beauty Boxes?