My Little Box July 2017 - Seashell Edition

This month’s My Little Box was a complete surprise to me having avoided/missed any spoilers and hints leading up to delivery day. I really didn’t know what to expect but did enjoy opening the outer packaging to discover a lovely nautical coloured box with the theme ‘seashells’.

Firstly we received these little pack of note cards with envelopes to encourage us to ”go offline”, put down the phones/laptops and instead write a note to a friend. I can’t remember the last time I actually wrote a letter to someone so it was nice to receive these and I will try and put them to good use.

The My Little Beauty item this month was this amazing Sandy Shore Body Scrub. I love everything about this, even down to the gorgeous packaging. This scrub is made from Polynesian Sand, Sea Salt Crystals, Tiare Flower and Seaweed Oils. It does a great job at gently exfoliating dull dead skin cells from the body, leaving skin feeling soft and supple. The scent of this is lovely and I am going to be pretty gutted when it runs out.

I really like these summer night candle holders and tealights. These paper based candle holders are supposed to be used outside, however they recommend putting the tealights into glass containers before popping them into the bags. The tealights are unscented. I like the design on the bag and the metal hangers that come with them mean that you can even hang them up on a tree branch or suchlike. Al fresco dining accessory at its finest!

This seashell sweet is quite intriguing. I heard it was the French equivalent to a freddo, not quite in my eyes! The shell was not edible so to actually eat the sweet without putting the shell into my mouth did prove difficult and if I’m honest I got bored of trying to eat it. The flavours were nice though and I do like that it was served this way.

This shower gel has a lovely scent to it and I loved the packaging, I just wish it was a little bit bigger. I gave this to my sister so hopefully she enjoyed using it!

I really like this Institut Karite Rose Mademoiselle Shea Hand Cream. Although it does not really fit into the seashell theme, it is a nice travel sized product to take along on those short breaks. The cream uses shea butter as a key ingredient and has a great scent of fresh roses. I find it leaves my hands incredibly soft and does not have that sticky residue that some creams have. I will definitely be getting my use from this.

This travel pouch pillow was one of the best things in the box in my opinion this month! You can either use it as a waterproof travel bag, or you can blow it up and use it as a travel pillow. Brilliant! The slogan says “Sea, Nap and Sun” so is perfect for this month’s theme. I just need to plan a beach trip for an excuse to use it! It will comfortable fit a couple of items in, I was thinking some sun lotion and some cooling spritz would be fine.

What do you think of the July My Little Box? I can’t wait to see what they come up with this month.

Holland and Barrett Dr. Organic Haul*

I was recently sent some more Holland and Barrett goodies from the Dr Organic range and after trying them out for a few weeks now, I thought I would share with you my recommendations. Dr Organic is a brand I have used before and I have tried many small sachet samples however I have never previously received full sized products. 

Dr Organic Raw Virgin Virgin Coconut Oil

The first item I saw was this coconut oil and being a massive fan I was so chuffed with such a large jar! Coconut oil is so versatile in that it can be used for cooking, baking, in smoothies and on your skin and hair. This Dr Organic one is unrefined and cholesterol free. There is nothing artificial here and it’s suitable for vegans too. As I was having my nails done for my holiday, I used the coconut oil just to soften and strengthen them ready for the acrylics and this oil really did a good job of that.

Dr Organic Manuka Honey Rescue Cream - 50ml -RRP £8.99

This Manuka honey cream can be used day and night, whenever you feel you need a top up. This cream is safe to use on sun exposed skin, sensitive or irritated skin. For that reason, it's great in the summer and the winter. This cream really did leave my skin feeling soft and absorbes fast so you aren't left with that tacky feeling. This is something I would definitely use again and for the price it's a pretty decent sized pot. A little can go a long way.

Dr Organic Virgin Olive Oil Face Mask - 125ml - RRP £6.49
I probably don't used face masks as often as I should so when I got this one, I wanted to make it a part of my daily routine. This mask is very hydrating and leaves my skin feeling smooth and soft. This is a clay based formula and aims to draw out oil from your pores. It leaves your skin feeling toned. The texture is nice and the mask rinses off easily which is something I always look out for in a face mask. I'd reccomend this to anyone that wants to control oily skin.

Dr Organic Virgin Coconut Oil Moisture Melt Body Oil - 90g - RRP £9.59

This body oil is amazing. This treatment is based on organic virgin coconut oil, and smells just like it. The texture is like coconut oil too and is soild at room temperature. To use this product, I submerge the bottle into warm water until some of it has liquefied and then pour onto the skin. This is best used after a shower or a bath and makes my skin feel amazing. The oil soaks in beautifully and doesn’t leave any residue. It has a really lovely scent which is based on coconut oil with gardenia flowers, papaya seed oil, mango butter, cocoa butter, orange fruit extract, bergamot fruit oil, lemon peel oil and added vitamin E. The product comes in a glass bottle too which makes this feel even more luxurious and is good for dry areas such as the elbows and knees. A little goes a long way with this so I think it will really last and I will most likely repurchase.

Dr Organic Hemp Oil Rescue & Restore Hair & Scalp Treatment - 150ml - RRP £14.99

This product is really easy to use and is described as an energising treatment mousse based on organic Hemp Oil. This product aims to increase hair density and stimulate healthy hair growth, With a mousse like texture, this product is best used on wet hair before styling. The product is light and made from natural and organic ingredients. My hair is already rather thick so I passed this onto the other half to use. The result is thicker hair that feels healthy and energised. 

*I received these items free of charge.

What's in my Flight Travel bag?

I don’t go on holiday for a little while yet but I still like to make sure my travel bag is packed and ready to go. When I talk about my travel bag I am referring to the bag that I take with me on the aeroplane. When I go long haul I pack more than I would on a short flight as I like to make sure I have everything with me. My bag is the MAHI Leather Galley Bag in Navy Blue which is a great size for all of my flight needs. I have even had my initials sewn onto it which makes it so unique and personal to me. I really am in love with this bag and you can read more about the brand MAHI here.

Electronics
The first thing I have in my bag is my camera and my lenses. I do not want to put them in my suitcase in case they are broken so along they come with me on the aeroplane. I will also have my phone with me, my charger and a travel plug so I do not have to root around for it when we get to our hotel. I also carry my Beats headphones for the plane as I prefer to use these rather than the ones that they give you.

Paperwork
Of course I have my passport with me at all times, but I also have with me my flight details, accommodation details, itinerary, insurance documents, directions, maps and a notepad and pens. I will be blogging about each day so I want to make plenty of notes along the way. My purse also comes along with another form of ID and some small notes for tipping at the other end. I also borrowed a couple of guide books from a colleague at work so I popped those in for some in flight reading/planning. Speaking of reading material, you will usually find a magazine or book thrown in there too, for when I get bored waiting around!

Clothing & Cosmetics
I always take a nice comfy pair of socks on the plane with me as sometimes it can get cold. I will also throw a scarf in there too as I have no idea what the temperature will be like when I arrive at my destination. I have been known to bring an eye mask too if I want to sleep but more often than not these are supplied on longer flights and I am usually too excited anyway.

I am not one for taking much in the means of makeup on the plane, mainly because I am too lazy to decant it all into small pots and place it in a see-through bag but you will usually find Travel sickness tablets and tissues in my bag – essentials! I also bring along some Vaseline for chapped lips and some anti-bacterial gel because you never know what germs you are going to encounter on an aeroplane and at the airport.

What are your travel and flight essentials?

August 2016 Glossybox - The End of an Era

After being a member of Glossybox for over 4 years I am sad to say it has come to an end. After receiving box after box that I wasn’t overly impressed with, I have finally decided to take the plunge and leave. To replace my love for a surprise subscription box I have decided to continue My Little Box subscription following on from Kim’s birthday gift to me. This will be my last Glossybox for the foreseeable future, keep reading my review to see what I received.

Rae Feather Cosmetic Bag – RRP £20

This month’s pastel box was designed by Rae Feather and this month’s box contained a cosmetic pouch in the same design. It feels good quality and is a reasonable size for small items, ideal for your handbag. The outer material feels like linen and the inside contains a wipe clean water resistant material which is good. I will probably use this but wouldn't have paid £20 for it.

Cowshed - Wild Cow Invigorating Body Lotion – Full Size £20 

The first thing I have to say about this product is that I am not a fan of the bottle and it’s quite hard to get the lotion out of the bottle. The lotion is made in England using natural ingredients and has an oriental fragrance which smells really fresh and invigorating. This contains essential oils, lemongrass, ginger and rosemary. The sample size was  a bit small and I only had enough for one use over my body. My skin did feel moisturised after using the product, I just wish Glossybox provided us with more.

Mudmasky - Facial Detox Purifying Recovery Mask – Full Size £53 

This mask aims to hydrate, smooth, refine pores, brighten and help with anti-aging. You simply put the mask on your face and the amount of time you leave it on varies depending on your skin type. The mask dries and hardens slightly so you know it’s ready to rinse off. When I rinsed this off my skin felt smooth and looked refreshed. I really liked the smell, it reminded me of a spa. This mask is one of the first PH balanced facial treatments and contains all natural ingredients.

MUA - Eyeshadow Palette – Full Size £4

This month Glossybox gave us a choice of 4 MUA palettes and unfortunately they seem to have got it wrong for everyone, including me. I received the Hall of Fame palette which was not the one I chose. The palette contains nice colours and the shades are pigmented with a good colour pay off but I can’t help feeling annoyed that this wasn’t the one I asked for. Glossybox still haven't rectified this problem.

Spa To You - Deep Pore Facial Cleansing Brush – Full Size £6.99 

I have never used a cleansing brush before so I was very intrigued to try this out. The soft bristles on the brush help to buff away dead skin cells for a deep but gentle cleanse. Simply wet the brush and use with your usual cleanser. I really enjoyed using this, my skin felt lovely afterwards and when I applied my makeup it went on beautifully just after one use. The brush also has soft silicone cushions which help with the buffing. I was pleasantly surprised by this product, it wouldn’t be something I would usually pick up but if I continue to get the same results I will definitely repurchase this.

Overall, an average box. Next month’s box contains a Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara which I would have loved to have tried but I am sticking to my guns and leaving the subscription. Glossybox has entertained me for over 4 years, I look forward to my new monthly surprise.