YOU BEAUTY DISCOVERY BOX - MAY CEW UK EDITION

I have subscribed to many beauty boxes, Glossybox, Birchbox and Latest in Beauty naming a few. I really like the concept of sampling products before you commit to buying the full-size. You Beauty Discovery Box is a bit different; it allows its members to choose two products from a theme shortlist of skincare and make-up at an affordable price of £6.95 every month. They deliver your box between 5-7 days and P&P is always included in the price. I have been a member since the box was first released, as the months have gone on, the box has become more popular and choosing your products has become more competitive as only a limited number of each product are available. I like the idea of choosing my own products to receive and try but this does come at a cost of waiting up till 12am to choose my selection to make sure I receive what I want. The shortlist is available on the 1^st of every month, with a preview being emailed a couple of days before hand.

May’s shortlist was based around CEW UK beauty award winners. There was a large range to choose from and found this May's shortlist to be the hardest to pick yet. Brands included Glamglow, Batiste, Carmex, Philip Kingsley, Oriflame, Manuka Doctor, Lola Cosmetics, Fake Bake, Dr. Organic and Burt’s Bees. In the end I chose the following products;

Margaret Dabbs Foot Cream – This cream is formulated to address common complaints relating to the skin of the feet. Great for general foot hygiene, you can apply this product twice weekly and it restores beautiful feet by warming a small amount of cream in the hand, and then applying all over the feet and nails. The cream is a thick balm texture and is really effective and quick-acting. It contains a combination of ingredients include Benzoic and Salicylic acids to treat, as well as Emu Oil to promote skin renewal and hydration. This is a full-sized product at 100ml and is retailed at £18.00.

Percy & Reed Hair Shine Spray – This product acts as a multi-tasker, it is a hair fragrance and a shine spray in one. The scent is rose, you spray it over your locks and it leaves you with a glossy shine – it’s the perfect finishing spray. The product can be used by holding the can 10cm away and misting onto dry, styled hair. Salon Secret: Mist a blusher brush with Eau My Goodness Shine & Fragrance Spray and sweep over the surface of dry hair for a finish that radiates shine. I have enjoyed Percy & Reed products in the past and the packaging of this is lovely. It is a good sample at 50ml and I would go onto purchase the full-sized product of 100ml for £22.00.
As the Margaret Dabbs foot cream had a slight delay, they also gave me an extra gift which was a nourishing nail and cuticle serum. I was really pleased with the customer service and have loved discovering a new brand. Overall I think this is a great box to be subscribed to. You get great value for money, you can choose what you receive and most of the products are full-sized. It’s a refreshing change from the 5 sample beauty boxes that have flooded the market.

WHEN IN ROME - ITALY MAY 2014

Last week I visited more of my favourite country, Italy. I thought I would share some of my favourite snaps. We crammed a lot into the short week we were there including; The Colosseum, The Roman Forum, The Spanish Steps, The Trevi Fountain, The Vatican, The Opera, The Catacombs, Sephora, lots of carbs and of course a couple of gelato's to name a few. Venice and Verona are next on my Italy list, it's such a beautiful country I would recommend everyone to visit at some point.

ORIGINS GINZING REFRESHING SCRUB CLEANSER

Origins formulate some of my favourite skincare products, including the energising Ginzing range. When I saw online that a new product was coming to the Ginzing family, I knew I had to try it for myself. I have enjoyed Origins cleansers in the past, both Checks and Balances and Zero Oil being my favourites. I have reviewed the Ginzing moisturiser and eye cream on my blog here.

The Origins Ginzing Refreshing Scrub Cleanser is a two in one cleanser and exfoliator. The formula is packed with radiance-boosting panax ginseng and caffeine meaning this is great for morning cleansing as it really awakens the skin. It also contains jojoba and carnauba wax which is really moisturising, as well as the natural essential oil blend of Grapefruit, Lemon and Spearmint which are very revitalising. This cleanser is suited to all skin types, it smooth’s and brightens the skin and also helps to unclog pores.

It’s a clear gel consistency which contains exfoliating beads in it which are gentle and natural to the skin. The product produces a lot of lather, so a little goes a long way. The scent of the cleanser is a lovely citrus fragrance to accompany the moisturiser. The cleanser is priced at an affordable £18.50 for 150ml.

I would say this product is more of a cleanser as it’s great for gentle daily exfoliate, but if you want a weekly version I would pick up Never A Dull Moment, also from Origins. This product isn’t great around the eye area, so I like to use a creamy cleanser first to remove my make-up and then go on to use this for a mild daily exfoliate and pick me up.

The Ginzing trio is the perfect way to start the mornings. This has become a staple in my morning skincare routine. Have you tried the Ginzing range?

SOAP & GLORY - ORANGEASM BODY WASH AND BODY BUTTER

When I saw the new Orangeasm Range appear on the Boots website, I jumped in my car and headed straight to the Bath and Body aisles (I wish I was joking). Soap and Glory has always been my number one for body care. I have to say there isn't a Soap and Glory fragrance that I haven't liked, my favourite being Cream Team. I have recently become obsessed with Orange scented products, The Body Shop Satsuma range and Rituals Laughing Buddha range are some of my favourites.
Orangeasm Body Wash, 500ml £6.50 - The body wash is really skin softening and contains moisture boosting properties. It also contains Triple Tea antioxidant complex, Ginseng and Pinkpepperberry. I love the packaging it's so refreshing for a body wash to have a pump for just giving you the right amount. Also, the 500ml size of the bottle is really cost effective and lasts for ages.
Orangeasm Body Butter, 300ml £10.00 - The body butter actually looks like an orange in the pot. It contains shea butter, Mangomilk, green mandarin, Sicilian lemon and sweet orange peel oils. The scent is really summery and fresh and it lingers on my skin and clothing for hours. I love to apply this straight after having a bath, the super rich formulation really sinks into the skin and moisturises stubborn areas. The texture really reminds me of The Righteous Butter.
I love the idea of layering up fragrances. I now have my eye on the Super Tonic Fragrance Spray which would complete my Orangeasm collection. It really is a scent to be excited about - especially by the name!

Will you be trying the new Soap and Glory scent?

BARE MINERALS 15TH ANNIVERSARY MINERAL VEIL FINISHING POWDER

Every girl loves a beauty gimmick, but this make-up product has changed my life. I have oily/combination skin so touching up through out the day is very important to avoid a shiny t-zone. I have always loved the Bare Minerals original mineral veil for setting make-up in place and reducing the appearance of fine lines and pores. This product takes the finishing powder to another level. The packaging is so cleverly designed it means you can just pop it into your bag for use on-the-go. No way would I be able to take my original pot of mineral veil around with me, my things would be covered in the stuff. You slide the clear half circle around to expose a brush, give it a quick shake to activate the powder flow and then buff onto your skin. This flip-brush-go packaging is limited edition celebrating the 15th anniversary of mineral veil finishing powder and comes in two shades; original and tinted. The brush is of great quality and so soft on the skin. The powder is versatile enough for all skin tones. It gives a translucent finishing touch and an airy soft-focus finish. My only downside to this product is that I would love it to be refillable! I got mine from feelunique.com for £19.35.