My Little Box August - Wild Summer Edition

Another month has arrived and another My Little Box has hit my doorstep! It seems to come around so quickly. This month's box has a 1970's vibe to it and I'll be honest, it hasn’t been my favourite box of them all! The box came with a Beach Boys print saying "good vibrations". I'm not really sure where I will put this as it doesn't really match my décor but a nice print in any case.

The first item I received was this Nana Benz Necklace. In the 1970s the nana Benz girls made their fortunes selling wax print designs. Nicknamed for the Mercedes they used to drive around town they were the ultimate vintage girl gang. This months necklace design is paying homage to the badass business women and their blinged out rides. Wear it loud and wear it proud. This necklace has gold hardwear and rope detailing along the front. It easily clips on and off so you don’t have to fiddle around trying to get it on. It is quite a statement piece so I will need to find some appropriate clothing to wear this with. It's not my usual style but will be interesting to try and style this up.

This gold Gem Catcher is very interesting and when I first saw it I wasn't 100% sure what it was! This can be hung on the wall and then you can hang your jewellery from it. It is hung by a piece of string but I can’t see why you couldn't replace the string for a piece of ribbon or something else that matches your décor. I hung a few necklaces on here just to test it and they appear to be safe and secure, I don't think they would fall off but if you have bigger pieces of jewellery then they may not stay on as well so be careful what you choose to put on here.

This isn’t the first time I have received the Ren 3-in-1 cleansing water in my box. I am pleased to see it again as I had used my other bottle. This smells fresh and leaves my skin feeling clean and soft. What I love about it is that it is a cleanser, make up remover and toner in one and doesn’t require rinsing so I can settle down in bed and use this without having to then get up again.

The My Little Beauty item this month was this Blush Me Tender cream blush. The shade is said to be universally flattering and it a peachy pink colour. The Formula is very creamy and this applies very easily and blends like a treat leaving a gorgeous colour on the cheeks. This doesn’t have a cheap scent like many of the blushers I have tried in the past and has good staying power when applied with a primer and setting powder.

Finally we received this Bareminerals skinlongevity vital power infusion. This product is halfway between a serum and an essence and has a lovely light texture to it. It retails at £34 for 30ml and we received a 7.5ml sample. It claims to dismiss signs of aging, brightens the skin and promotes skin vitality. I have been applying this morning and night after cleansing with the Ren Cleanser and it applies really well. It has a lovely scent to it.

Overall, not a bad box but not really themed as such, I am not sure how these items contribute to a Wild Summer but there we go, I look forward to seeing what we get next month!

My Little Friday Night Box

When My Little Box arrived this month, I ripped it open in anticipation to discover the box theme was Friday Night. Conveniently, my box arrived on a Friday so I had no problem in opening it up there and then and seeing what was inside. I was greeted with a colourful array of goodies as you can see!

As usual, we received the small linen bag. I do really like these, I use them for everything and they really do come in handy. I have one in my bag with my phone charger in, another with medicines and plasters and they’re great to pop my phone in at the gym so that I can hang it off the machines rather than trying to balance it on the small platforms available. (The joys of having an iPhone 7 plus!). We also received a little print as we usually do and a little booklet too which came in an envelope with some cocktail recipes and an invite to pass on to someone for a dinner party.

I really like the packaging on this body cream that I received. I haven’t seen many other people get this in their box. It is a really nice item and handy to pop on your body to moisturise any dry areas before hitting the town. I haven’t heard of this brand before but would like to see what else they have to offer.

It took me a moment to realise what this item was exactly however it is in fact a Black Bow Tie Bra Accessory. I have never seen anything like this before on the market, although I am sure there are similar items available. This bow is designed to slip onto the back of your bra meaning it doesn’t matter if you have a backless dress or top on. I personally do not own anything backless, maybe because I don’t want my bra strap on show who knows! I do think this is quite a unique item and I do like it, I will definitely keep it for those times when I need it. Any suggestions on how else I can use it? I was thinking a hair accessory would also look pretty cute or maybe slipping it onto a dog collar?

I really like the My Little Beauty Eye Pencil and Smudger in black. This pencil is very pigmented, goes on smooth and dries matte. It stays put all day. The smudger works well to blend out a smoky eye which works great for a Friday night out on the town.

This Gold Triangle Hair Pin was another one of the lifestyle pieces we received in this month’s box. I really like this item despite not yet having a chance to use it. I think it’s a nice item which will jazz up any hairstyle. Triangles were ‘in’ a while back so it’s nice to see they are sticking to trends. The hair pin is easy to use and feels pretty strong. You can use this in a variety of hairstyles or more importantly to get that hair away from your face when dancing the night away on a Friday!

The nail varnish in this month’s box was a bit of a disappointment if I’m honest when comparing this to what other people got. The colour is a dark taupe, something that doesn’t resonate with a Friday night to me. The brand is Nailmatic, one I am not familiar with. I would have expected something a bit more glittery or bright for the summer. This is not something I would wear this time of year but I will pop it in my drawer and keep it safe for autumn. 

The final lifestyle item we received were this pack of four cork coasters with a colourful design on them. They don’t really match the décor of my house but will be good for a backup when I do happen to be having Friday Night drinks and need some extra coasters to go around. The quality feels nice. I think I will keep these in my office for now to brighten the room up a bit, but the fact they have ‘My Little Box’ branded all over them means they won’t become part of my regular homewares. 

Overall this box was OK – I wasn’t blown away by the contents and think they could have made the theme a little better. I am coming up to my year anniversary of getting this box so hope they can bring something out of the bag this month to keep me committed! What do you think?

Primark PS Pro Oval Brush Review

I cannot tell you how excited I was to finally see these in my local Primark after convincing myself that they were all just a rumour. I even traipsed all the way to the London Primark thinking they would have them there but with no luck. Finally after months of searching, I saw the Oval Brushes in my own branch and had to snap them up. I decided to buy one of each size, for fear that they may go out of stock and disappear again. I got the Primark PS Pro Large Blending Brush for £4, PS Pro Medium Blending Brush for £3, and the PS Pro Small Blending Brush for £2.50.

Primark have well and truly upped their game when it comes to their beauty items. I even noticed acrylic storage now available – gone are the days of ordering it all from Muji! These PS Pro brushes are the perfect dupe for the much loved high end Artis brushes, and a lot more affordable. I have been after an Oval brush ever since I saw Kylie Jenner using them to apply her moisturiser but no way was I going to spend more than £40 on one brush.

These brushes are synthetic but the hairs feel very soft and work wonders when buffing products into the skin. I now pump my foundation directly onto the brush and I am amazed at how flawless my make-up looks. The brushes give an airbrushed finish. I love that Primark do different sizes and they are great for different areas on the face. I find the small brush perfect for getting around the nose and into smaller areas. It is also perfect for blending out that eyeshadow.

The brushes so far feel sturdy and when washed they do retain their shape. I recommend drying them bristle side down to avoid the glue getting wet and weakening. Even if one of these was to break, I think for £4 for the most expensive brush it wouldn’t be the end of the world. Overall I am really happy with these brushes and how good the quality is. My make-up now looks flawless and is so quick to apply. Such an affordable high street dupe!

Have you tried an Oval brush? What do you think?

Holland and Barrett Beauty Haul*

I wasn’t sure what to call this post as technically it is not a haul as such but I did receive a nice bundle of beauty goodies from Holland and Barrett which I thought I would review. I am part of the Holland and Barrett Good Life Insiders group which means I occasionally get to trial products for them. I recently got these beauty products and was over the moon. I have been trying them out for a week or so now so I thought I would share my thoughts.

I received four items from the Trilogy range, the first one being the Trilogy Make-Up Be Gone Cleansing Balm, 80ml retails at £19.50. This natural balm is made from plant oils and leaves skin feeling smooth and hydrated. The texture appears firm inside the pot, almost like wax but when applied this melts into the skin taking all of your make-up with it. this even removes waterproof mascara and I love how smooth my skin feels afterwards.

I also received the Trilogy Hydrating Mist Toner 100ml which retails at £17.50. This is perfect to use following on from the cleanser and also really hydrates my skin, especially at this time of year when it can be a bit dry. The mist contains rose, geranium and lavender and the scent of the rose is the one that comes across the strongest.

The third item I received was this lovely large bottle of Trilogy Botanical Body Wash retailing at £16.50. What I love most about this is the pump on the lid which makes it so easy to use in the shower or bath. The body wash is gentle and suitable for all skin types. The product is nicely scented and I really enjoy using this as part of my morning routine.

Finally from the Trilogy range I received the Trilogy Everything Balm which costs £12.50. this is my favourite product of the lot and is a certified natural multi-tasking balm. This balm can be used all over the body and on all skin types, including use on children and babies. This balm contains rosehip, marula and manuka honey. It absorbs quickly and the tin is the perfect size just to pop into your handbag. I have found this great for chapped lips and dry knuckles. I also burnt my hand the other day and popped some of this on and it healed up a treat.

I then received a few items from Beauty Kitchen, the first being the Seahorse Plankton Everlasting Radiance Cleansing Gel which retails at £14.99. This is simple to use, simply massage into damp skin and remove using warm water and a konjac sponge or cloth. The gel is gentle and really works with the skin. This product is suitable for vegans. My skin felt really clean after using this and looked radiant. What I love about this range is that 1% from all sales in the Seahorse Plankton range goes towards supporting The Seahorse Trust.

I am in love with the Beauty Kitchen Seahorse Plankton 5 Minute Miracle Mask that I received, retailing at £14.99. This mask is easy to apply and leaves my face and neck feeling refreshed. The product aims to stimulate, firm and plump the face and although I didn’t notice any plumping effects, my face felt softer.

Finally I received the Beauty Kitchen Seahorse Plankton Beauty Boosting BB Cream which also retails at £14.99. Like the other products this also contains seahorse plankton. The cream aims to blur imperfections and even skin tone. I wondered how this would work considering there is only one colour but it blended into my skin just fine. I noticed this really did even out the natural redness on my face, I think it’s a lovely product to wear when you don’t want to wear a full face of make-up but just want to give your skin a nice boost of colour.

I then received a few more items, including the Active Manuka Honey from The Real Honey Company. This product of New Zealand is 100% natural and a 500g jar like this one costs £42.99. Manuka Honey is harvested exclusively in the rural and unpolluted pastures of New Zealand and has been independently tested. Although I would never spend this much money on a jar of honey, it is a nice luxury to have this in the house. This can be used in recipes and we love having a teaspoon with our porridge. The honey can also be used on the skin to help heal cuts or even used to create a face mask.

I also received the Ekia Organic Crème Originelle for Normal to Combination Skin retailing at £30.99. This has a nice sweet scent and goes onto the skin smooth. This is a preventative anti-aging product for younger skin, it’s never too early to start using these items! Containing regenerative Dragon’s Blood Sap is the best cream for those who are starting to get fine lines and a dull complexion. Angelina Jolie is even known to use it! I have already noticed a difference in my skin after using this product, I have found that waking up after using this my skin is hydrated and it even helps my make-up go on better.

The last product that I received was the Freshious 5-a-Day Certified Organic Facial Serum  which retails at £36.00. This organic facial serum is enriched with white grape seed, pomegranate, apricot, avocado and green tea. It has a non-greasy formula which sinks into the skin with ease and does not leave an oily residue. I was a little confused with the packaging when I first opened this and was pressing the pump on the lid expecting some oil to come out, I then realised the lid doubled up as a pipette dropper which made more sense. I love using this and instantly feel more youthful.

Overall I have really enjoyed adding these products to my beauty routine and I can’t wait to continue using them. Have you bought beauty products from Holland and Barrett before? What do you think?

*I received these products free of charge. All opinions are my own and I was not influenced in any way.

My Little Christmas Box

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Well it certainly felt like it when I received this month’s Christmas themed My Little Box. As soon as I opened it I was greeted with a delicious fruity candy cane and I knew this box was going to be an absolute winner. Packed full to the brim with treats, this has to be the best box yet.

The first item I looked at and forgot to take a photo of can be see below and is little bottle contains the Courreges Hyperbole eau de Parfum  which retails at €72 per 50ml. This is said to be a deeply feminine fragrance with a slight masculine edge. I think this is a nice scent, one that lasts on the skin for a while which I like. The sample size is perfect for popping in my handbag for when I need a quick spritz, but I am not sure I would purchase the full sized version. 

The first thing I saw when I opened my box was this Kusmi tea in limited edition Tsarenva blend. This black tea is flavoured with orange and spices and smells like mulled wine and Christmas all rolled into a cup. At £24.80 for a 200g metal tin, this would be the perfect gift for tea lovers this Christmas, and beyond. I love all flavoured teas so when I finally found my tea strainer and tried this I thought it was a very interesting and delicious blend that I can’t wait to drink over the festive period.

My favourite item in this box was the Tiptree Essex Salted Caramel Spread. This retails at £2.49 for 210g and is made with fresh cream, golden syrup and a pinch of salt. This is an item I will definitely be repurchasing. I dipped chocolate fingers into this small pot of joy and it was the perfect naughty treat – although I did feel a bit sick afterwards. This spread would be perfect drizzled onto pancakes or waffles and I will be buying another tub in order for me to experiment on how to eat this.

I then received the Amande Shower Oil by L'occitane. This oil transforms into foam when in contact with water. Enriched with almond oil, this smells lovely. Having a shower with this oil makes the whole experience feel very luxurious and my skin is left feeling soft and nourished.

This Winter Morning Candle in Icy Mornings smells lovely but doesn't give off a huge scent when burning. I love the little wooden lid that came with it. The design is simple which works for me as I can comfortable have this in any room and it will instantly match the décor. Unfortunately I do not know the RRP of this item as it was not included in the box.

This month we received a jewellery item in the form of this Gold coloured bangle with red stripe. Perfect for the festive season the red and gold will go well with my Christmas outfits however I can’t see myself wearing this all year. I am not usually one for wearing a lot of gold which is a shame as a lot of the jewellery we have received so far from My Little Box has been gold. I’d like to see some silver coloured items in the new year please!

The My Little Beauty item this month was this gorgeous Christmas Melody - Duo Smoky Eye palette. One shade is Shimmery Taupe, the other a Deep Chestnut. Both are really nice shades for the festive season and perfect for blending into a smoky eye. Both colours are buildable and last on the eye all day without creating any fallout.

What do you think of this box? To sign up for yourself, head over to the My Little Box website.

From Day to Night Feat. The Body Shop*

The festive season for me is all about trying new looks, not only when it comes to my outfits but my makeup choices as well. The Body Shop have recently launched their brand new makeup brushes and I couldn’t wait to try some festive looks out to transform from day to night. The brushes have been designed to help master the latest trends and go alongside the essential brush range they already have on offer.

I was lucky enough to receive the whole new brush range and some make-up. The brushes are 100% cruelty free and have FSC wooden handles making them 100% vegan. The Body shop set me a challenge to take my look from day to night focusing on just the cheeks. With the amazing range of products I was sent, this was really easy. I’ll go into more detail on the products used below.

For the day time look I started off by moisturising then applying Instablur. I then applied some of the Concealer All-In-One with the Concealer brush underneath my eyes and on any blemishes and red areas. I then applied my foundation with the Buffing brush which felt so soft and made my foundation look absolutely flawless. Next I used the Face and Body brush to apply some translucent powder to set my liquid foundation in place. I then used the Down to Earth Eyeshadow Palette and brushed some matte neutral colours onto my eyes with the Eyeshadow brush and the Eyeshadow crease brush to really blend the darker colour through the crease of my eye. I finished the eyes by using the Eye liner brush to apply my gel liner then adding some of the Super Volume Mascara. To finish my daytime look I lightly applied some of the matte lipstick in the shade Rio Fuchsia which gave a lovely natural colour to the lips.

To turn this look into a night time one, I made a few simple changes. I started off by adding some shimmer to the eye from the Down to Earth Eyeshadow Palette with the Eyeshadow brush. I the darkened my crease further with the crease brush, and blended it out with the flat brush. To really make my cheeks pop, I used the Slanted Blusher brush to apply some bronzer along my cheekbones and up and around my temples. The Blusher brush really came in handy here and I applied some blusher to the apples of my cheeks. I then used the Fan brush to highlight. Finally I switched up my lipstick to the shade New Orleans Scarlett which I think really finished off the night time look.

Overall I think these brushes are amazing and there really is a brush for every aspect of your make up routine. They are soft and feel of great quality. If you'd like to check out the entire new range of vegan brushes, head to The Body Shop Website.

*I received these items free of charge in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not influenced in any way.

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.

My Little Box - July

This is my second box of the three that Kim very kindly bought me for my birthday and it just seems to get better and better. I am even considering keeping this box on myself for month 4 instead of Glossybox, shock horror!! I am really impressed with the contents of this box and love everything in it, it’s just so on trend and in season. I also really liked the magazine this month and it also included top tips for ways to use coconut oil! Keep reading to see what I received.

Firstly I received a Stella & Dot bracelet. Mine is a gold colour with a coral tassel but I have seen other colours available. I love this colour as it goes with some of my summer outfits already and I look forward to wearing this. It’s going to look great with a tan. This retails at £18. I’ve been loving this style of bracelet recently and have seen it popping up in various stores so I am pleased to get my hands on something similar.

I absolutely love this My Little Beauty Brume De Coco Apres Soleil (RRP £10). It smells absolutely delicious and I love applying this after a day in the sun. As you probably guessed, this after sun has a lovely coconut scent. The product sinks into the skin and after applying this I felt soft and the sweet scent lingered on the skin. I have even tried popping this in the fridge and using it after a day in the sun and it is AMAZING. The items came in this adorable cotton bag illustrated. I love how handy this is and I have been topping it up with essentials and popping it in the bottom of my tote bag to keep everything together.

My FAVOURITE item in this box is the Yves Rocher Noix De Coco EDT. This is the ultimate summer scent and I have been using it religiously to the point where I am worried I am nearly out! It smells like pure coconut, not artificial in the slightest. This retails at £7 but you can get it cheaper via the Yves Rocher website.. if it wasn’t sold out! I really wanted to buy the whole coconut set but unfortunately it was also sold out on the website. I will be checking back regularly to see if I can get my hands on some more.

We then received the Merci Handy Coco Rico Hand Sanitizer which retails at €3. I often use cleansing gel in my job and love having it handy so this is the perfect size to pop in my pocket when I am at work. The one I currently use is a little bit cheap and sticky so I was so pleased to see a nice new one with a scrumptious tropical scent.

Kim really loved this Ojon - Rare Blend Oil which costs £30 for 45ml. This oil is the ultimate moisture therapy for the ends of your hair. My hair has been bleached at the ends and the summer sun appears to have made this very dry. The Ojon oil is infused with natural oils from around the world and helps to hydrate, smooth, soften, boost shine, reduce frizz. What I love about this oil is that you only need a single drop. I have nearly used my oil up now and I have really enjoyed using it. I am even considering buying the full sized product because I really love how nice it has made my hair feel.

This passport cover (RRP £11) is the perfect summer accessory and I love the summer print and tropical design. I just wish I was going on holiday so I could use it! I recently received another passport cover so when I next go away I am going to put this on James passport – I’ll be the one carrying them both anyway so why not carry them in style?

Overall I really liked this box and even preferred it over my Glossybox this month believe it or not! I really feel like the theme tied itself together really well and each product has been suitably chosen and really works well in the box. Thanks again Kim for part 2 of my birthday present! Bring on next month’s box!