LATEST IN BEAUTY - GET THE GLOSS SUMMER 'IT KIT'

I have recently really enjoyed Latest in Beauty boxes, as they have included many new releases and products that are exciting that I want to try for myself. Some beauty boxes disappoint me by featuring the same products over and over again which I already own and don't really need. I have gone off the Look Fantastic beauty box for now as there were too many duplicates and I received rubbish customer service after the delivery man decided to throw my box over the gate. But anyway, a beauty box should be crammed full of new releases and generous samples and I think this edition ticks every box.

Latest in Beauty have teamed up with Get the Gloss which is the UK’s leading online authority in beauty and health, with reviews and expert advice to create a Summer 'It Kit'. I'm signed up to their newsletter and know these ladies know a good product when they see one. The box is bursting with eight summer ready products that could be added to any girls ‘it kit’ I thought a lot of these products would be ideal to take on holiday with me.

Philip Kingsley Swimcap 50ml – This is such a genius product to take on holiday with you. Swipcap works as a guard to protect hair against discolouration and damage that can be caused by the sun, sea, chlorine and wind. It’s suitable for all hair textures and contains sunscreen for UV protection. This product was originally developed at the request of the first US Olympic Synchronised Swimming Team, PABA prevents oxidisation and colours fade and it is also a super conditioning treatment for your hair. You use this in wet hair and comb through your hair, you can reapply as necessary after swimming and rinse with water. It’s a summer saviour and a must-have for swimmers, I will definitely be taking this on holiday with me!

Nails Inc Gel Effect Nail Polish 8ml – I have quite a good collection of these gel effect polishes now. I received the colour Regents Place, which is a lovely cornflower blue which would look great on toes on the beach! I like the formulation of these polishes, they're not too thick in texture and the colour range is spot on! The formula is long lasting and I actually already own the blue shade, but it's one of my favourites!

Aurelia Probiotic Skincare Refine & Polish Miracle Balm 15ml – I have never tried anything from Aurelia before but I'm looking forward to using this multi-use product. You can use this as an instant exfoliator to gently get rid of dead skin cells and stimulate circulation and you can also use it as an enzyme mask to allow the active fruit enzymes to deeply exfoliate. It’s suitable for even the most sensitive of skin types and works to transform and brighten dull, rough, congested skin. The Miracle Balm is fragranced with uplifting essential oil blend of Chamomile, Eucalyptus, Rosemary and Bergamot. Skin is left silky soft, smooth and glowing!

Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse OR Multi-Usage Dry Oil Golden Shimmer 10ml– I have been wanting to try this product for ages, another item I will be putting in my wash bag for my holiday. This is a multi use product for face, body and hair. This dry oil has a unique super-activated formula combining Precious Plant Oils and Vitamin E to nourish, repair and soften skin. It has iridescent golden particles which illuminate with shiny reflections.  It leaves your skin soft and velvety, hair is glossy and full of volume and it also improves the overall appearance of stretch marks.

Bourjois Aqua Blush 10ml – I was excited about these new blush releases from Bourjois, I received the shade Pink twice, which is a lovely girly pink. They claim to last up to 12hrs and boost your skin’s natural radiance. They are a water-light gel formula which leaves skin with a refreshed, sheer, fresh colour. They're currently available in four sorbet shades, which are great for summer! I like the pump bottle, they add a lovely hint of pink to your cheeks and they smell lovely too. They last on my cheeks much longer than a powder blush, so ideal if you're in the sun.

Elemental Herbology Cell Plumping Facial Hydrator SPF8 15ml – This moisturiser combines antioxidants, marine actives and hydrating botanicals to help protect against the elements, reactivate pro-collagen synthesis to leave you with a youthful glow. It’s perfect for dry or sun-weathered skin to help plump up the skin and it contains an SPF8 which is great for everyday use.

Salon Science AquaCacteen Hydrasoothe Cooling Spray 150ml – This is not a brand I have heard much about, but it sounds an interesting product to try. It contains the ultra-refined elixir of organic cactus to help shield the hair and scalp against environmental stress and help prevent further irritation. It also contains soothing and moisturising actives such as Aloe and Panthenol to help refresh and provide instant relief to a dehydrated scalp and instant hydration to dry hair. You can use this on either dry or damp hair by just spraying from root to tip. This is the perfect product to take on holiday in your beach bag to relieve burn on the scalp or if you can feel your head getting hot in the sun. I don't really suffer from an itchy scalp but I can see this working well as a refresher and something to add moisture to my hair.

Anne Semonin Eye Express Radiance Cube 4ml – These eye cubes are designed to be stored in the freezer and placed over your eyes like you would do with cucumber. They soothe and refresh tired, puffy eyes to drain toxins and maximise skin’s absorption. They contain natural active ingredients such as Ginkgo biloba, gourd extract and hyaluronic acid to hydrate, reduce dark circles and anti-wrinkle. These would be great to use before going out for the evening after too much sun!

Latest in Beauty have also teamed up with the brands in the box to offer you some exclusive discounts on their products as well, which is a nice little bonus! The box is priced at £19.00 which is a real bargain for all these decent sized samples as the contents is worth over £85.00, they will definitely see me through the holiday season this summer. Which beauty boxes would you recommend?

#GTGITKIT

you can also find me on twitter, instagram, bloglovin or pinterest

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.

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?