March Birchbox Review

Hey girlie's!!!

It's that time again... Birchbox time!!! This month's theme is a collaboration with Lulu Guinness, where Birchbox have added 2 of Lulu's picks and given the box a slight make over in Lulu's honour. I have to admit this is going to be my last Birchbox, I haven't been overly impressed by them this year and this month's box is quite disappointing as their are no full size products and the box really does seem quite empty as the samples are so small, also Birchbox must have forgotten to pop in the 'life lessons from Lulu' booklet as mine is no where to been seen.

So lets see the little treats I received inside my March Birchbox...

Benefit Stay Don't Stray 2.5ml (full size £20.50)

This is the first of Lulu's picks for our Birchbox this month and its probably the most exciting thing in my box too, say hello too a little sample of Benefit's Stay Don't Stray Eye Primer! The primer claims to keep your eyeshadow and concealer in place from AM to PM, so I'm really looking forward to giving this a whirl and considering I have oily eyelids I think I really could 'benefit' from this, just a shame the sample is so blooming tiny!

Dr.Brandt Pores No More Pore Refiner 7.5ml (full size £39.00)

I love Dr.Brandt products, it's a shame they are so expensive as I could certainly see myself using everything from them. This pore refining primer is a favourite of photo-ready celebs, and its sheer formula claims to minimise those pores and absorb excess oil all at once. It sounds pretty amazing right? I have actually used this twice since I received it and so far so good, it applies the same as Benefits POREfessional but has a strong menthol 'vicks' scent to it which isn't the nicest scent in the world, but I'll definitely use the whole sample up as I do like it.

Aroma Works Serenity Body Oil 5ml (full size £32.50)

As I've said before, I'm really not a huge fan of body oils but as this is only a tiny sample I'll use it up too see what its like. The oil is a blend of lemongrass, neroli, geranium and organic coconut oil, with all of those essential oils combined its supposed to free the mind of the stresses and uplift spirits, ooohhh!

Molton Brown Rhubarb & Rose Replenishing Hand Cream 7ml (full size £10)

Ohh I love a good ole hand cream and this one from Molton Brown smells absolutely incredible, just like the sugary rhubarb and custard sweets you get in the sweet shop, mm mm! I've actually been after a new hand cream for a while now so I'm looking forward to seeing if this is as good as it smells ha ha.

English Laundry No.7 For Her 2ml (full size £47.00)

Oh no, the dreaded perfume sample. This is such a pet peeve of mine when it comes to beauty boxes, I mean I could go into Debenhams and spritz perfumes until my hearts content and not have to pay a thing, but oh well. Moaning aside, this does smell lovely and I'll get another 2 spritz' out of it I'm sure ha ha.

Lifestyle Extra-  Lulu Guinness Candy Rock 

And lastly is this month's lifestyle extra, and Lulu's second addition to the box, a stick of rock. It's black and white striped design represents the traditional candy shops that inspired Lulu's spring/summer 2014 collection. Mmm I love rock, yum!

Overall I'm pretty disappointed this month and its made my decision about keeping Birchbox quite easy. It just feels like this months box is really lacking in goodies and to not even get one full size product is annoying too, as much as the Benefit sample is lovely I even think they've scrimped abit on that as its such a tiny sample. 

What did you think of this month's box beaut's?? Did you get the same as me?? I'd love to know.

Eyeko Skinny Mini Liquid Eyeliner | Review ♥

Hey girlie's!!!

You may remember that in my February Birchbox I received the Eyeko Skinny Mini Liquid Liner, which I think most of us girlie's received in our Birchboxes, so today I thought I'd share with you all my thoughts on it.

The Eyeko Skinny Mini Liquid Eyeliner (£9.00) is a felt-tip liquid eyeliner pen that claims to have a long-lasting, no-smudge formula which creates precise lines and is paraben free.

I must admit I do always get on well with and prefer the 'pen' style liners as I find them so easy to use and Eyeko's offering doesn't differ, the nib is quite sturdy which helps me create precise lines, thick or thin, and the shape of the nib makes creating a nice winged out look super easy, so if you struggle with winging out your liner this could be the one for you. As for the liners finish... It definitely has a semi-glossy finish, in some lights it looks more matte and then sometimes can be slightly glossy, both of which I like. The liners lasting power is also impressive, I have oily eyelids so I find that can effect some liquid liners staying power on me but Eyeko's liner honestly doesn't budge all day, there's also no claim that Eyeko's Skinny Mini Liner is waterproof but it does withstand watery eyes a treat, which is a major plus for me as whilst I've been walking around in this awful windy weather that the UK have had my eyes seem to stream.

The only downside to this product is how quick the nib drys out, I had only been using mine 2 weeks and the nib has nearly dried out completely, so I decided to turn it upside down and store it in the same pot that I store my makeup brushes in and that brought it back to life, so now I always store it upside down and it hasn't dried out since.

Overall I do really like this liquid liner, its so easy to use and creates winged out liner with ease, I love its long lasting ability and the fact it doesn't fade throughout the day, also with it being a mini liner its a nice size for storage or to pop in your bag for your day time travels!  

Have you tried the Eyeko Skinny Mini Liner beaut's?? What did you think?? I'd love to know.

February Birchbox Review

Hey girlie's!!!

It's that time again... Birchbox time!!! This months box has a London Fashion Week theme, giving us samples that will fit right into our personal routine no matter what are style is, don't forget style isn't all about fashion it can be everything from the scent you wear to the books on your coffee table.

So lets see the little treasures I received inside my February Birchbox...

Eyeko Skinny Liquid Eyeliner in Black £12

I'll start with the most exciting thing in my box this month, eeekk!!! I'm so happy to finally get my hands on an Eyeko product, I really wish they where stocked in Superdrug or Boots. The Skinny Liner claims to be smudge proof, easy to apply and precise, all things I love and look for in a liquid liner, I actually swatched the liner on the back of my hand the minute I saw it and it was jet black and never budged when I ran my finger over it so I'm expecting good things from this little liner.

Leighton Denny Nail Colour in Purely Plutonic £11

I've received a Leighton Denny nail polish in a beauty box before and loved it's amazing quality so I'm happy to get another, its also a colour I don't really have in my nail polish collection so that's another plus. The shade I received was 'Purely Plutonic' which is a metallic steel grey shade, I love that name ha ha, I always get lured in with cool quirky shade names. 

Gilchrist & Soames Shower Gel 45ml

I must admit I've never heard of this brand of shower gel before but it sounds pretty luxurious. The shower gel has a paraben free formula and contains red tea, grape seed and milk thistle to make the skin feel refreshed and hydrated. I'm looking forward to giving it a whirl, it also smells lovely.

Janjira Argan Oil Concentrate Serum Sample

Janjira is another brand I'm not too familiar with but I'm excited to try their Argan Oil Serum, it has youth boosting nutrients within which help to firm, plump and protect the skin,  sounds pretty amazing right? All you have to do is pat the serum into cleansed skin, simple!!

Beauty Protector | Protect & Oil Sample

Ohhh I love hair oils so much, I always find they work wonders on my hair. This nourishing hair oil battles UV rays, heat and breakage, all you have to do is work 1-3 drops into damp hair or on your dry ends, its prefect for all hair types too. I'm so excited to see the results from this little sample.

Lifestyle Extra - Green & Black's Dark Chocolate

Ohhh this months lifestyle extra comes in the form of something I love, chocolate!!! I actually scoffed this down the minute after taking the picture and it was delicious ha ha, chocolate doesn't last long with me around.

Overall I am really happy with this months box, I'm also pleased that Birchbox have brought back the little drawstring bags too, for some reason we had tissue paper in last months box?? I will definitely be giving everything in this months box a whirl, their isn't one thing I wont try or use which is good. I am still debating whether to continue with Birchbox though, hhhmmm???

What did you think to this months Birchbox beaut's??? I'd love to know!!!

Don't forget you can enter my GIVEAWAY here to be in with a chance of winning a MAC lipstick and a MAC eyeshadow of your choice!!! There's only a couple of days to enter now so make sure you get your entries in girls!!!

                                                       

Birchbox January 2014

Hey girlie's!!!

It's that time again... Birchbox time!!! It's the first Birchbox of the New Year so I couldn't wait to receive it. This months theme is all about 'Tiny Tweaks' where by they suggest breaking down our resolutions into bite-size pieces, and focus on some small daily changes starting with our beauty routine.

So lets see the little treasures I received inside my January Birchbox...

Philip Kingsley Moisture Balancing Conditioner 20ml

 I must admit I do love receiving haircare products in beauty boxes and this Philip Kingsley Conditioner claims to deliver moisture without weighing down your hair, leaving it shiny, smooth, strong and tangle-free, sounds pretty good right? The full size Conditioner retails for £18.00.

Benefit The POREfessional 7.5ml

I have to admit this is the only product that has really saved the box for me this month. I've been waiting to try the Benefit POREfessional award-winning primer for ages but I didn't want to splurge in case it wasnt for and be stuck with the full size. The primer claims to magically erase pores and leave your skin velvety. If it does what it says on the tin and I like it I will defiantly be buying the full size, which retails for £24.50.  

Rodial Glamtox Night 15ml

I must admit I've never heard of this brand before but I'm going to give it a whirl. It basically has a super-hydrating formula that you use before bed that soothes your complexion and plumps up fine lines. The full size retails for a whopping £75.00 so I'm expecting good things from this little sample.

Vasanti Detox Nutrient-Rich Purifying Facial Cleanser 20ml

I'm really into cleanser's so I'm sure I'll use this little sample up quickly. It claims to wash away toxins, not to mention every last trace of your foundation and will help brighten and refresh your skin. The full size retails for £18.00

Premae Anatomy Nutrients Instant Renewal Body Oil 20ml

I probably wont get any use out of this body oil as I'm really not a fan of body oils, if it would have been a hair oil, things would of been different ha ha. The oil claims to moisturise, tone and detoxify your skin with its natural, allergy tested formula. The full size retails for £9.50.

Lifestyle Extra - Itsu Miso Soup 25g Sachet

This month I had just the 1 lifestyle extra in the form of a soup, the soup is full of antioxidants and amino acids and only contains 42 calories, perfect for anyone on a new year health kick. 3 sachets of this soup will set you back £2.25.

Overall I think this is another average box from Birchbox, there was no full size products which is disappointing and the samples haven't really blown me away either to be honest, I also noticed that this month there was no draw string bag??? They have replaced it with a piece of pink tissue paper which I thought was crappy if I'm honest. I'm seriously considering switching back to Glossybox again as the reviews Ive read since un-subscribing last October have all been pretty positive again. Hhmmm could this be my last Birchbox??? 

What did you think to this months Birchbox beaut's??? I'd love to know!!! 

Don't forget you can enter my 500 follower GIVEAWAY here to be in with a chance of winning a MAC lipstick and a MAC eyeshadow!!!

December Favourites

 Hey girlie's!!!

I cant quite believe its that time again.... December favourites time!!! Did you all have a sparkling Christmas??? Did Santa leave you lots of beauty treats haha??? It's gone so quick!!! Anywhoo today I thought I would share with you all my favourite beauty products I've been loving throughout this festive month... So here goes... 

Rimmel Space Dust Nail Polishes

How gorgeous are these polishes!!! I bought them about 2 weeks ago and I've been wearing them constantly, they are just so pretty and perfect for the party season. My favourite is Aurora closely followed by Moon Walking ha ha. You can read my full review of the Space Dust polishes here.

MAC Quad Palette

For the last few months MAC's Satin Taupe and Naked Lunch have been my go to eye shadows as they just work so well together. They are such versatile shades, you can create lots of different looks with them not to mention the quality/lasting power of the eye shadows is incredible. But be warned these little MAC palettes are addictive, once you buy one you want to keep buying eyeshadows all the time as having an empty space in your palette is torture ha ha. 

Dr Brandt Microdermabrasion Skin Exfoliant

I got this little beauty in my October Birchbox and even though its only a sample size it has lasted me ages. It's basically an amazing skin exfoliant that I've been using twice a week and the improvement in my skins appearance in phenomenal, my skin is just so clear and near enough perfect! It's a shame the full size is a whopping £67.00, but I love it that much that I might splurge and treat myself, I could always put my Birchbox points towards it to he he.

MUA Matte Lipstick in Scarlet Siren

Its not a huge shock to see an MUA product in my favourites as I just love MUA, and their matte lipsticks have certainly been a hit with me. Throughout October and November I used the shade Wild Berry alot but in December I've been loving Scarlet Siren, it just goes beautifully with a gold eye look and looks so festive and christmassy and lets face it for £1.00 you cant go wrong.

Laura Mercier Long Lash Mascara

Another goodie from my Birchbox that I've been addicted to is the Laura Mercier Long Lash Mascara in Black. This mascara is great if you like incredibly long lashes, and as I have quite small eyes anything that will make my eyes look bigger is fab. When using the Long Lash mascara my eyelashes are so super long to the point where I've been asked if they where in actual fact my real lashes ha ha.

V05 Plump It Up Dry Backcombing Spray

This stuff is incredible!!! I hate backcombing my hair as its such a chore, not to mention how much it damages your hair but I do love abit of added volume at my roots so this stuff is like magic in a can for me haha. You simply give the can a good shake before use then spray evening on dry hair, including your roots, I then rub and jujj where ive sprayed the backcombing spray and then your left with loads of volume, woohoo!!!

 What's been your favourite beauty products this month??? I'd love to know!!!

I will doing my 'What I Got For Christmas 2013' post very soon girlie's so look out for that!!

Don't forget Im currently holding a Nanshy Eye Brush Set Giveaway, you can enter here.

Velvet Nails | Nail Rock Review

Hey girlie's!!!

I recently received my December Birchbox and within my box of goodies I got the Nail Rock, Nail Velvet in Burgundy!!!  I was super excited to see this in my box as textured nails and nail polishes seem to be everywhere at the moment and  Ive wanting to try velvet nail effects for what seems like forever, so I was really happy to finally get my hands on a good one to try out.

The nail velvet comes in 2 parts, a 10ml nail polish which acts as your base/glue and a 5g pot of the velvet. When it came to the application of the Velvet Nails it seemed simply enough when you read the box but it can be quite tricky and messy to begin with, here's how I apply mine....

1. Firstly you need to paint your nails with two coats of the nail polish, I found the nail polish dried super quick so bare that in mind when you apply your second coat as you need to move fast if you want your velvet to stick well.

2. Once you've applied your second coat you need to immediately dip/press your nail into the nail velvet, this is the tricky/messy part, as the pot of nail velvet is so small its hard to get your finger to bend in there and get a complete coating of the velvet onto your nail, I found the best way is to sprinkle a small pile of the nail velvet onto a piece of kitchen roll and press your nail into the velvet that way, trust me its the best way ha ha.

3. After your nail is covered in the velvet simply tap off the excess onto the kitchen towel and then repeat with the other nails, allow 15-20 minutes for your nails to dry completely.

4. Voila!!! You have a set of velvet nails that really do feel soft and furry ha ha.

I must admit the effect does feel very strange at first, I was worried that getting my nails wet would ruin the effect but it actually doesn't, the velvet does get wet but it dries back to normal. I never experienced the velvet shedding at all although it did attract any bits of fluff flying around which was slightly annoying. As for lasting power.... Its very disappointing, mine didn't even last me 2 days, also were I had been cooking, washing my hands, showering etc it really made the velvet effect look slightly shabby.

Overall I do think the Velvet Nail Effect is good and it certainly feels quirky and different but I think it's best used as an accent nail and not on all of your nails, I definitely think you would get more wear time that way.

Have you tried Velvet Effect Nails before??? What did you think???

Don't forget you can enter my giveaway here to be in with a chance of winning some fabulous make-up brushes!!!

Birchbox December 2013

Hey girlie's!!!

It's that time again... Birchbox time!!!! Ha ha... I was really looking forward to receiving this months box as I'm still getting used to Birchbox and the way they work after I unsubscribed from Glossy box a few monthes back, I've absolutely loved the last few Birchbox's I've received, but I have to say this monthes box is slightly mediocre and not as festive as I would have liked, that being said their are still some great bits in the box to try , also as Birchbox have just teamed up with BaubleBar a US jewellery store, they popped in a $20 gift card (approx £12) to spend on their website which I think is a nice little Christmas treat.

Anywhooo onto the little treasures I received inside my December Birchbox...

Nail Rock Nail Velvet in Burgundy

I'm so excited to try this out, textured nails and nail polishes seem to be everywhere at the moment but the Velvet Effect nails I'm yet to try. I love the deep purple shade I received as it will be perfect for this time of year and the effect seems simple enough to create, simply apply 2 coats of the nail polish, then dip your nails into the little pot of nail velvet, allow 15-20 minutes to fully dry, and then voila!!! This is the full size and retails for £6.99.

Alima Pure Luminous Shimmer Eyeshadow in Chai

Alima Pure isn't a brand I'm familiar with but I have to admit their all natural mineral eyeshadow is amazing!!! I tried it straight away after opening my box and immediately fell in love. The shade I received is 'Chai' which is a gorgeous Rose Gold shade, perfect for this time of year. You can use the eyeshadow dry for a more subtle shimmery look or use it wet for a more vibrant intense look. The full size of 'Chai' retails for £12.50.

Korres Citrus Shower Gel 50ml

I always like trying new shower gels so the Korres Citrus Shower gel will certainly get used up, I can imagine it will be great to use in the mornings rather than the evenings as its citrus scent will certainly be uplifting and wake you up rather quickly. The full size of the Citrus Shower gel retails for £8.00.

Number 4 Non-Aerosol Hairspray 43ml

I'm a sucker for trying out new hair products and this non aerosol hairspray is certainly intriguing. Number 4 is a haircare brand defined by its signature Liquid Complexes and it's botanical ingredients which work together to give impressive results. The Non Aerosol Hair Spray gives a flexible, strong hold, natural movement and boasts a humidity resistant formula with a shine rich finish. Plus, the packaging is earth-friendly. You can't say fairer than that. The full size of the hairspray retails for £18.50.

Delarom Acquaconfort Mask 15ml

I have always been abit shy when it comes to trying different skincare products until I started getting some amazing skincare products in my previous Birchbox's, which have all seemed to work wonders on my skin, so I'm super excited to try the face mask from Delarom. All you have to do is apply the mask to clean skin, leave on for 5-10 minutes and wipe off. It will rehydrate your skin and leave it looking radiant and refreshed, sounds good to me!!! The full size Mask retails for £24.00.

Twistband

Ive always been curious to see if Twistbands are as good as everyone says they are, they claim to keep your hair secure without snagging strands or leaving ugly creases. I'm sure it will come in handy at some point. Twistbands come in a pack of 6 and retail for £10.00.

Overall I think this months Birchbox is rather average, however I will get use out of everything in my box so it doesnt seem all bad really, I just wish it was slightly more festive hehe. 

What did you get in your Birchbox this month girlie's??? I'd love to know.

Dont forget to enter my Nanshy Brush Set GIVEAWAY here girlies.