BIRCHBOX FEBRUARY 2016

My first Birchbox, and what are my thoughts ?

• Box – pretty but rather small? Still nice though. Reassured me that full size shampoo / body lotion etc would not fit inside this box which suggests Birchbox doesn’t include items bigger than 100ml or so. I could be wrong and maybe boxes vary in size month to month? Someone enlighten me!
• Delivery – had no issues, box was delivered on the date promised
• Price – reasonable (£10 per month + £2.95 for delivery)
• Contents – judging by February box only – very similar to Glossybox, probably slightly better brand choice (i.e. no cheap high street brands that are available in Superdrug etc) & no nail polishes !! But this might just be a lucky dip!

 

Inside February’s Birchbox: 

1. LOC One & Done Shadow Stick in Perfect Cents (£8.00 on birchbox.co.uk) – this is Birchbox’s own brand and stands for Love of Color. Clever! According to Birchbox brand LOC this Shadow Stick removes the need for multiple brushes, blenders, and primers to deliver up to 11 hours of creaseless, waterproof colour in just one swipe. My verdict is that it does all the above but the shade is a little bit 90s. It’s silvery bronze, very metallic. I would be keen to try the other shade (Champagne Problems) to see if I prefer it. This product has 180 reviews on birchbox.co.uk and all are pretty solid 4-5 stars so I think it’s just me disliking the shade! SCORE: 9/10 for quality; 5/10 for the shade.
2. Cochine White Jasmine & Gardenia Hand & Body Lotion (full size £19.00 on birchbox.co.uk) – this is a no for me because of the scent. Smells like fancy restaurant loos. I think this lotion is what hotels / bars would purchase for their fancy toilets and that’s great! I would use it if it was by their sink. I am not a fan of Yasmin scent anyway and I prefer sweet vanilla / coconut scents when it comes to body lotions and shower creams. Lotion itself leaves skin feeling silky smooth and is absorbed quickly but it is all about the scent unfortunately. I would consider other Cochine scents but I am not sure I would pick any of them as I don’t mix home fragrances with body lotions. If I had a fancy guest toilet I would repurchase. SCORE: 4/10 for the scent; 9/10 for quality
3. Number 4 Lumiere d’Hiver Super Comb Prep & Protect (full size £20.00 on birchbox.co.uk) – I loved this product and have used it up already! ‘Strengthening, repairing, de-tangling, great at taming flyway ends as well as nourishing and protecting, it’s a brilliant all-rounder.’ Yup – tick, tick, tick, tick. It does what it says. And I love the scent, can’t describe it but it has a hint of vanilla (I think). I have rather oily roots and this product is perfect as it conditions my hair without leaving it greasy. If that’s not enough it is also 100% Vegan, gluten-free, sulphate-free and paraben-free. Will repurchase eventually, not now as the price is a bit steep and I am on ‘no shopping’ mission for 30 days. SCORE: 10/10 
4. Doux Me Comforting Scrub Mask (full size £18.00 on birchbox.co.uk) – I didn’t love this because I like my skincare to leave my face feeling fresh and I love masks that pull my skin and I can really feel them working, while this mask is kind of sweet (it does contain Apricot oil, Roman chamomile and marshmallow extracts after all!). It left my face feeling almost sugary. It is a nice product but not for me. I will use the travel size product but won’t be repurchasing. Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel is my solution to dead skin cells. SCORE: 6/10
5. Spectrum Collections Tulip Powder Brush (£10.00 on birchbox.co.uk) – I think this is the brush I received but I am struggling to tell because mine isn’t numbered!! Anyway – I am 99.9% sure it is. Other Spectrum brushes are available on birchbox.co.uk. I am a sucker for brushes, I have lots of them, including MAC, bareMinerals and some Real Techniques but I have 2-3 favourites and I struggle to give them up and replace. I tried this brush for my contouring needs the other day and it’s nice. I am looking forward to taking it out in my clutch bag on Saturday because it is so pretty I think it might get some compliments! I won’t be using as my main contouring brush I don’t think as I prefer angled contour brushes. SCORE: 8/10 

What I really love about Birchbox is that all full size products can be purchased on thier website. It makes it easy for everyone but especially for beauty bloggers who spend so much time looking for best prices, availability etc to include links in their posts. Some items I have received in Glossyboxes in the past aren’t even available in the UK which is annoying. I also love Birchbox’s website, it is just so 2016!

I have unsubscribed while I am trialing out different beauty box subscriptions (can’t afford them all!) but I might come back in the future because I like what I see and I see what I like!

Love,

Mari x

GLOSSYBOX FEBRUARY 2016

Hi All & Happy Nearly Weekend!

First of all, I wanted to say that I am aware of many Glossybox reviews / unboxing videos and posts etc and I am also aware that many of you will scroll over my post and won’t read it. I can’t really help it because I also ignore most Glossybox/Birchbox reviews and read one or maybe two each month: a) to see if I agree with the reviews; b) for some inspiration (yes, I don’t always think of everything myself and reading other blogs helps, it doesn’t mean I copy paste). I also only read posts / reviews that have some more information than just ‘I am yet to try this but it looks gorgeous’. What I like to read is what other bloggers think are better alternatives or what the item may replace in their beauty collections. I also like to know if they think they will repurchase and how long products last. When it comes to Glossybox reviews I don’t always look for this information as I have the same products and can judge for myself but if I wasn’t a subscriber I would want to know more than just ‘it looks nice’. I would also want to see the emphasis on products and not the box because I may only want to buy one of the products.

So I hope my post lives to my own high expectations. All of the above is also reason I review things 3-4 weeks after receiving them, it gives me a chance to see the real pros and cons and long term benefits. I am very impatient with some things but most of the time I will wait, it is easy to write something on the spur of the moment & I have done it before – it isn’t always the full or true picture though and very rarely product is so amazing I can tell immediately!

February’s Glossybox was my 12th Glossybox and it was going to be my last one. Now, this is where I have to make a confession and admit that I re-subscribed yesterday and will be receiving my March box next week. No panic because ‘no shopping’ challenge still stands. I did say I will be receiving one beauty box this month however this box from Look Incredible isn’t arriving this month as they sold out (I am very disappointed btw!) so I decided to substitute with my good old favourite. Maybe I am just not meant to leave Glossybox club EVER! Anyway.. Back to February edition – it was a great Valantine Day’s themed box and I won’t go on about the box itself because it’s not like you can get the box now if you wanted to. You can however get the 5 products that were in February’s box if you like what you see.

 

1. Wilkinsons Sword Intuition (£6.49 in Boots but currently half price) – I have never used Wilkinson and have been Gillette Venus kinda girl since I can remember (i.e. since started shaving, i.e. 12 years ago or so!). BUT, I am a convert & will be purchasing some blades! Razor is a razor, I don’t care about moisturising bar, convenient to hold etc. I mean they are great extras but there is something about those blades!! My legs have never been so smooth. That is all. Bye Gillette! Will be repurchasing and stocking up on blades! SCORE: 10/10

2. Naobay Protective Hair Mask Volume Conditioner (in the UK available from sellers on eBay) – this is my 3rd Naobay product (all 3 came from Glossybox). And unfortunately – is my least favourite. I loved the calming face toner and loved the moisturising peeling milk but this hair mask just doesn’t do it for me. It smells ok, kinda citrusy which is not my cup of tea. My favourite hair mask (also introduced to me via Glossybox) is Maria Nila Luminous Colour Masque (£8.99). Naobay mask in my opinion simply doesn’t do anything, it works as a conditioner I guess but it doesn’t leave my hair soft and smooth which is what I want from a conditioner / hair mask. It does give my hair some volume but I don’t need volume, I have naturally thick bouncy hair. If I loved the scent (which I don’t) I would use it but I think this one is going to friends/family/who-wants-it box. Not going to repurchase. SCORE: 6/10

3. The Vintage Cosmetic Company Floral Slanted Tweezers (£8.00 0n feelunique.com) – these are really pretty tweezers but they are a bit chunky and stiff. I actually plucked my eyelid skin with them the other day. I have a good mirror, 5 x magnification, LED lights and I am not clumsy. These tweezers are just too chunky for me. Also I am VERY careful not to over pluck my eyebrows and love very precise tweezers for that reason. I think they are not bad but it’s what you are used to and my other tweezers are much slimmer so I am not used to holding these. The tips are sharp and slanted and they are stainless steel but are they worth £8? Not in my opinion. Will keep these is my make up bag but won’t repurchase. My favourite precision tweezers are ones that came with Benefit Brow Zings eyebrow shaping kit. SCORE: 7/10

4. NICKA K NEW YORK 24H Waterproof Eyeliner in Dark Brown – I reviewed this in one or two other posts (for various reasons) and didn’t wait 4 weeks but an eyeliner for me is a yes or a no after 1 use. Simple. This one is a yes. It came in dark brown which I have fallen in love with, black has always been too much for my light green eyes. It has built in sharpener and smudger which is great because I love the smokey eye look and not the precise line. It stays in place for maybe not 24 hours but at least 10 from when I leave the house in the morning (8:30ish) until I get back home (6ish). Will repurchase if I can find somewhere to buy it in the UK. I usually struggle with eyeliners staying in place for more than an hour so I really hope I do find this one on Amazon or ebay as it is the only pencil eyeliner that stays put. SCORE: 9/10

5. MUA Power Pout Glaze Low Voltage Gloss in Hush (£3.50 on muastore.co.uk) – again I reviewed this in my other post and lipstick/lipgloss too is a yes or a no after 1-2 uses. This one is a maybe. It gives a fairly natural but sexy pout and isn’t too sticky. But a little bit sticky. I am not a fan of lipglosses in general so I don’t want to be too judgemental as it is a decent lipgloss as far ad they go. I won’t be repurchasing but I also won’t be giving away and will use now and then. It’s a handy shade to have. I don’t have a favourite lipgloss but if you want that sexy pout / shine I recommend Bourjois Effet 3D Lipgloss Top Coat. SCORE: 7/10

Overall, February’s Glossybox was not the best nor the worst. I think all 5 were good quality products but not all were to my taste. I have found 2 gems and will be keeping the lipgloss. Tweezers might save me one day when they are the only ones to hand and Naobay hair mask / conditioner will find a good home I’m sure. For £10 I think this box was worth it, as they usually are. As I said I don’t want to keep going on about the box as they are no longer available (March box is though and if you are not a Glossy yet you can subscribe here) but I definitely recommend Wilkinson Sword Intuition Razor and Nicka K Waterproof Eyeliner if you can find it online.

 

Love,

Mari xx

GLOSSYBOX 1 YEAR ON

Sorry if you’re bored of hearing about Glossybox but Glossybox is my first love in the world of beauty and I will forever be talking about it like a smitten schoolgirl.

Glossybox lead me to many discoveries. It was my first ever subscription box and I have to thank Glossybox for teaching me so many things about my skincare routine and make up. Those of you out there who are beauty box subscription virgins I recommend you subscribe to one of many beauty box services promptly because it is a world full of discoveries and magic you are missing out on. You may think you already have your all time favourite products and know everything you need to know about them. You may think you have all the make up you need (said no one ever by the way). You may think you’re not that interested in beauty (don’t think you would be reading my blog though). You may just be fussy and think that a beauty box full of items picked by someone else isn’t for you. Well, you may be right but you may be wrong.

Some of my Glossyboxes. Others are hiding in drawers and cupboards as great storage solution. #upcycle

 

I wasn’t really ‘into’ beauty a year ago the way I am ‘into’ beauty today. I started using make up when I was 14 or 15 and women in my family and their friends were Avon and Mary Kay promoters since I can remember so I did know something about make up and skincare and when I started earning my own money I got more and more into luxury brands. I would buy what’s recommended to me by a sales person at a particular make up counter, sometimes I’d read about a product in a magazine. It was an expensive hobby if you ask me! And being a polite person I would often walk away with half the stuff I didn’t come there for! So I started reading beauty blogs, I started doing my own research and the more I was reading the more I was finding out about brands I had never heard of before and products I had no idea existed. Then a friend of mine told me about Glossybox and the timing was just right I guess, as I was starting to really educate myself about skincare and make up. £10 wasn’t something I had to think about twice so I subscribed last March.

My first ever Glossybox left me gobsmacked because I couldn’t believe that for £10 I could really be getting £50+ worth of beauty products. But you can! Then I slowly but surely got a little bit spoilt and as I became more picky I found some glossyboxes really disappointing. But like with your first real love not everything is sugar-coated (most of it is, of course). One year on I give Glossybox a steady 8/10 which is very very good. Short of excellent because of numerous nail polishes I now possess. And short of exceptional because very few things in my life make the cut.

Products and money aside, Glossybox taught me things that are priceless. Let me just say, I knew what a moisturiser, conditioner, face mask and a toner is before Glossybox. What I didn’t know quite as well is how many different types of these products are on the market. I’m talking variations, ingredients, price ranges and so on. Glossybox always comes with a description of each product inside which means you can learn about main ingredients, how to use it, what it is good for and often about the brand itself. When it comes to make up I used to think I am ok, I know what I like, I know what I should/shouldn’t be using but Glossybox opened doors I didn’t even know were there (you know like platform 9 3/4 in Harry Potter). Recently, I discovered that a brown eyeliner actually looks amazing on me. I also discovered that there are mascaras out there that are as good but cheaper than benefit they’re real which I’ve been using for the last 2 years. I discovered that bronzers work on fair skin too and that primer is actually a must. I never go to a make up store now hoping somebody can help me pick the right foundation or highlighter, I actually know exactly which one I want and I also know which products I won’t be walking away with. Glossybox has given me an opportunity month after month to try so many different things, some that have become my beauty staples or at least inspired me to get something similar and some that have been a complete disaster and have reassured me that I don’t need certain other things. I say ‘things’ because Glossybox isn’t just skincare and make up but you’ll have to subscribe to see for yourself.

It could’ve been any beauty box subscription I suppose. But how would you feel if I told you your first love could’ve been any boy/girl at school?

Glossybox, it is time for me to move on and explore some other beauty box subscriptions out there (unfortunately my funds are limited so I can’t keep them all going) but I will be back to see what else you can surprise me with.

To leave on a positive note, here are my Glossybox March 2015 – February 2016 TOP 5 (in no particular order):

1. Talika Photo Hydra Day Cream (£27.00 – £39.15 on beautybay.com)
2. Maria Nila Luminous Colour Masque (£8.99 on salon-services.com)
3. Naobay Calming Face Toner (£10.50 on birchbox.co.uk)
4. Nicka K Airbrush Blending Sponge (£6.50 on beautycrowd.com)
5. Invisiboble Traceless Hair Rings (£3.75 on boots.com)

Love,

Mari xxx

LATEST IN BEAUTY (LIB) BUILD YOUR OWN BOX (BYOB) & OTHER BEAUTY SUBSCRIPTIONS

I am slowly but surely turning into a beauty subscription box addict and it all started last year when I discovered Glossybox. Until then I didn’t even know beauty subscriptions existed! Since, I have learnt that they are definitely not the only type of subscription, you can literally subscribe to anything especially in US. Glossybox has been my all time favourite thing, however after my January box I decided to cancel my subscription and try something different. Unfortunately (or not), I missed the billing cut off date so February Glossybox is in the post and arriving next week. At least you all know I tried substituting – it just wasn’t meant to be and as a result I have treated myself to 3 subscription boxes in one month plus one for by boyfriend from TOPPBOX. Let’s just say it is all for research purposes.

My February Glossybox and Birchbox are arriving next week so keep an eye out for those reviews.

TOPPBOX is something I can’t quite review but I will say – it is great there is a beauty subscription service for men out there! My boyfriend has been rather jealous of my Glossybox and TOPPBOX was a nice surprise. They have long way to go if we are going to compare the two but nevertheless it arrived swiftly, had 4 sample/travel size items and all 4 seemed to be something my boyfriend hadn’t seen or used before. It is fairly good value and packaging is ok. I am used to pinks, purples and occasional glitter of Glossybox so I was a bit disappointed of course, but my boyfriend didn’t seem to care so I guess they’ve got that one right – men might not be that bothered about pretty boxes and ribbons. I am going to keep my subscription active for one more month just to see what March box is like.

Right now I want to talk about Latest In Beauty BYOB though. The idea behind this is simple – try latest beauty products for the fraction of their cost. And pick your own products so no more nail polishes in every box (sorry, Glossybox! Love you but you need to stop sending us nail polishes, most of us get their nails done professionally anyway, we are beauty addicts, remember?).

 

With LIB BYOB you have three options – 3 products for £8.99, 6 for £12.99 or 9 for £16.99 plus delivery. I don’t think 3 for £8.99 is great value for money but the other two are pretty decent options!
I chose option No 2 and was worried I won’t be able to stop at 6 but LIB don’t stock that many products at one time which is great news for your bank account (not so great for us wanting to have everything!). 6 products was the right amount for me, even though there are maybe 50+ products available I didn’t actually want or need many of them. Choice is pretty good overall but like Glossybox some products are cheap and pretty poor quality. I would also question whether Latest In Beauty are actually offering the ‘latest’ ? We can argue of course what ‘latest’ means but, for example, St.Tropez Gradual Tan In Shower Lotion has been around since last summer. Ironically, I added this to my box because to this day I haven’t committed to buying full size product and that I guess proves LIB’s point!

Some products are also available in full size which is great because who doesn’t love a full size product when the whole box costs us less than that! As much as full size products are a winner, some items are advertised as small bottles but are actually delivered as 3, 5 or 10 x sachets. I personally hate sample sachets and would therefore miss out on a lot of products as I would never add any sachets to my box. Sachets have to be used up once opened, they don’t give you the feel of the actual product and they are messy and feel cheap. Get rid of the sachets please, LIB!

Even though Glossybox also sometimes includes a non-beauty product (actually I am not sure, do bath salts count?), LIB has definitely acknowledged the fact that beauty is more than actual beauty products. I got my hands on a candle which was smaller than I thought and didn’t last that long but candles are great and spending money on candles is sometimes very painful. I then saw some personal massagers i.e. vibrators in stock later – amen LIB to acknowledging where beauty really comes from (sleep of course!)! Downside to this one – vibrators sold out pretty quickly! Understandable, but not any less annoying. I have been keeping my eye on LIB website and it looks like all the best products go pretty quickly and never return to stock.

LIB also offers ready-made boxes (LIB Collections) but the choice is limited. Currently in stock – cheapish pamper box including some fragrance samples and wet wipes, it doesn’t look all that bad but I’m not a fan. Then there’s expensive & not for my age gap The Harley Street box (great for a gift though!) and third collection is one for the boys which is great but at £35 it’s a gift for an occasion not just ‘Hey look what I got you just because I love you!’.

Items in my LIB BYOB were all picked by me apart from Murad AHA/BHA Exfoliator which LIB included as freebie:

Bourjois Aqua Blush 12hr (£8.99) and Beauty UK Brow Kit (£4.99) are both great and an unexpected discovery (you can read about them in my other reviews), these two items alone also cover the cost of the whole box.

The candle didn’t last very long but was a nice treat, shampoo and conditioner are yet to be used.

St.Tropez Gradual Tan In Shower Lotion (£14.50 for full size 200ml) is also waiting to be used.

Yardley London Deodorant was given away as I am not a fan of fragrance deodorants (also a freebie by the way, not sure if LIB put this in a box in error).

MOA The Green Balm (£12.50 for full size 50ml) is kinda multi-purpose balm, nothing special but will get used.

Murad AHA/BHA Exfoliator (£34.00 for full size 200ml) is great, especially for my acne prone skin!

I will definitely be ordering from LIB again but not any time soon because stock hasn’t changed much since last time I looked and Collection boxes are also still the same. Maybe they change monthly? I am not sure. I think the idea behind Latest In Beauty is genius and being able to pick your own items is great, I am also thankful the stock doesn’t change daily because unlike Glossybox / Birchbox you could be ordering one of LIB boxes as often as you like!

SCORE: 8/10

GLOSSYBOX BEAUTY FINDS OCTOBER 2015

This Glossybox is from October last year (I will be reviewing my future Glossyboxes in full but today I want to reflect on my finds from October 2015).

For those of you who have never heard of Glossybox, check them out here! £10 per month + delivery and you get 5 products to test, some of them are often full size making the box worth £50+ !!! My favourite thing about Glossybox is opportunity to try brands I’ve never heard about before. I have never tried other subscriptions but I know that Glossybox is one of the best ones out there. It comes in a really nice box and every second or third month it’s special edition so boxes are collectable too. Mine have become storage for everything around the house. Lookfantastic Beauty box subscription also looks very good but I don’t know if it comes packaged as nicely as Glossybox. I received one of their beauty boxes with my order earlier this month but it came in a little bag so took away the excitement of unwrapping it like its Christmas again.

In October’s Glossybox:

1. Talika Photo Hydra Day Cream (£30.00 on bathandunwind.com)

2. Jelly Pong Pong Fairy Lashes Curl Mascara (full size £17.95 on jellypongpong.com)

3. Nicka K Airbrush FX Blending Sponge (£6.50 of beautycrowd.com)

4.  SO SUSAN Haute Light – Highlighting Pencil (£14.95 on sosusan.com)

5. LANOLIPS 101 Ointment (£10.99 in Boots)

This was a pretty good Glossybox all together with contents worth over £80!! However, my favourite product (also voted the best by Glossies) was Talika Photo Hydra Day Cream . I have used this as primer for the last three months and it has been wonderful to my skin. It is silky, light and I swear it knows to moisturise my dry patches and leave my oily t-zone alone. It has gel consistency and is absorbed so quickly. See the photo below, I applied cream to my hand and took photos one after another, max 10 seconds apart.

Definitely will be re-purchasing this moisturiser / primer.

Second favourite product was Nicka K Airbrush FX Blending Sponge . It looked like something from a sex shop when it arrived but never mind, it’s shape has a good reason / explanation! I always believed that sponges are bad for applying make up and every time I buy a foundation they try to sell me a £25 brush with it. So I lived with my super expensive make up brushes trying to clean them every few weeks and make the most out of them. I no longer do that! I still have my brushes for powder, eye shadow, concealer, lippy etc but no more foundation brushes, my face isn’t canvas is it?! I am a convert. Applying foundation with a brush looks all very professional and I’m sure it works for many and MUA out there use them and do a great job, however when I use a brush to apply foundation it often goes on streaky (despite my £28 MAC brush!!). So then I have to even it out with my fingers / powder. With this Airbrush Blending Sponge foundation goes on perfectly and it does really give airbrushed effect. It is available online for £6.50 and I’ll tell you why it’s worth it:

1. Cheaper than average foundation brush.
2. It’s shape is designed to get to areas around your nose and eyes and it helps A LOT.
3. It doesn’t absorb the foundation like other cheaper sponges do. I bought Real Techniques complexion sponge but it’s not the same, it absorbs half of my foundation and is too soft.
4. It’s washable. It is probably wise to get a new one every 6 weeks or so but with a good make up brush cleaner it gets rid of most of the stuff it’s absorbed over time. I use bareMinerals® Well-Cared for Brush Conditioning Shampoo (£9.00 on feelunique.com), however I’m sure you can use soap or some of your face cleansers that produce more lather.

Definitely will be re-purchasing!

Another product I liked was the Lanolips 101 lip ointment. It is a bit messy because you need to warm it between your fingers, especially tricky during the cold UK winter when this product becomes solid in your bag. I keep this in my make up bag for when my lips feel extra dry but I use other lip balms day to day. I wouldn’t re-purchase but I’ll use it for as long as it lasts.

Not so impressed with the mascara or highlighting pencil but both products will end up used or given away eventually. Mascara doesn’t dry quickly enough so once you blink it’s everywhere, however I might need to give it another try seeing the amazing reviews here!! The highlighting pencil is too hard and dry so feels like using a crayon on your face. It is difficult to blend it in, I use  Benefit High Beam highlighter which looks like nail varnish, I apply it with the brush provided and it blends in so easily I don’t know if I can understand how is this pencil meant to do the same.

October 2015 Glossybox score: 4/5 because Talika cream and the Nicka K Airbrush Blending Sponge are the best.