Friday 31 January 2014

I Shopped my Stash!

If you had read my last post on the Trevor Sorbie Volume Range here you would have seen that I've been in a hair 'rut', I've been the same with my makeup- using the same products for the last month or two and fancied switching it up! Instead of going and buying a load of new products -as much I would love to pay day isn't close enough so I decided to 'Shop my Stash' and switch my routine with items I already have.. 

Here's what I chose: 

Primer- Becca Radiance Primer RRP £32, I picked mine up from Fragrance Direct (I love this site!) for the bargain price of £5.99 as Becca are re-branding. Becca claim this primer illuminates and enhances the skin for a luminous complexion. It looks gorgeous when out of the tube, a silkly smooth pale gold colour with tiny flecks or sparkle in it. No glitter when applied to the face though or colour, just a smooth base.


Next I did my eyes- yep I make a mess so I do them at the beginning! Last year I bought all the Naked palettes.. they're so pretty but, I'm not so good with eyeshadow so they haven't got much love so far. On my eyes today I used shades from the Naked 2. I Lined my top lashes with Maybelline Lasting Drama Gel Liner,So glad I picked up this liner it applies so smoothly! I actually bought in the last couple of weeks and also the new Miss Manga mascara from L'Oreal which I also used here, the tv ads made it so appealing and so far I really like it !


Foundation- I've gone back to Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow £25.50. I'm shade Ivory. I love it! The only reason I can think that I ever stopped using this was that I once again fancied a change. It's really lightweight and you don't need a lot to get a nice coverage, I applied it with my fave brush for foundation- the Real Techniques Buffing Brush .

Concealer- One of two products I didn't change up- Maybelline The Eraser Eye! Luckily I don't have many blemishes at the moment so mainly this is used under my eyes and it works fab, I blend it in with a Real Techniques Deluxe Crease brush. If you're thinking of trying it read Nicola's review here !

I used the Bourjois Bronzing Primer to very lightly contour / bronze, I bought this when it came out and had barely got round to using it- eek! Such a nice product that smells yummy and so easy to work with.


Mac Well Dressed was my choice for blush, perfect shade for my skin tone and how I like to wear my day to day makeup I think. It is very pale and would be unnoticeable on some skin tones but has made me less afraid to wear blush daily! I finished off by using a tiny amount of MeMeMe Beat the Blues Pearl Pink Highlighter.




Last up I used Mac Steady Going Matte Lipstick, the colour is gorgeous but my lips are dry at the mo so to help hide that a bit I topped them with Lancome Colour Fever Gloss in 321 Dangerously Pink- I think they look fab together.   Finally I spritzed my face with the Kiko Cosmetics Make Up Fixing Spray, I bought this when I was in Paris last year and have been using it almost daily since but I keep meaning to do an order with them online as the prices are really reasonable! 


Let me know if you have switched up any of your products recently and re found your love for them!

Linzi
xo

Thursday 30 January 2014

Kate's Product of the Week: Lush Rock Star Soap

It's that time of the week again! This time next week I'll be in Barcelona so my PotW will probably be done a little earlier than usual. Last week I did my Owl Tweezers for my PotW and I'm very pleased to say I was an enabler and the lovely Louise from Confessions of a Secret Shopper had to go out and buy them straight away.

I know, I know. We've not long had a Lush Product but this one's very worthy of it and don't know why I didn't do it sooner. It's Lush's Fabulous Rock Star Soap

When I was about 12 I discovered Lush with my Sister in London and was entranced. As usual I over indulged and couldn't bare the thought of going into a Lush because of the smell being overbearing (this was before internet shopping was a big thing). But before Christmas I went to Lush in the Trafford Centre and smelt something that made me so nostalgic that I had to buy it and it was this: Rock Star Soap.

Source: Lush
I love everything about this product, the smell, the colour and it's just amazing. I've always used to have these problems under my arms which meant I'd get hives or sores under my arms but since I've stopped using body wash and started using this, my underarms have never been so clear and sore free.

The smell is like a candy store, it's sweet and lovely and also really creamy. It's pleasant and I always get told I smell great after I've used it. And it makes the water in the bath turn pink. (I tried to get a picture of the suds but my hands were really slippy haha)


A massive chunk this size will last me about 3 months and it cost £9 for nearly 400g which is double of what this massive chunk is. My favourite part about this soap is that it does have stars going through it. It's main featured ingredient is: Fair Trade Vanilla Absolute, which are basically Vanilla Beans or Pods, which is why it smells so creamy. 

I really can't recommend this product enough and below is the summary why it's my Product of the Week (and a big contender for Product of the Year 2014):
  • It smells fantastic
  • The colour of it's gorgeous and girly
  • It has stars in it!
  • It's made with Fair Trade ingredients.
  • It's helped with skin conditions that I've lived with for years. 
So there you have it my 5th Product of the week! I will be back next week with another fabulous product!  If you have any suggestions for products of the week, let me know in the comments below. 


Thanks for reading and for more of the latest news and reviews from the Beauty Hot Squad please follow us on Blog Lovin' 


Wednesday 29 January 2014

Back to Basics - Glossybox January 2014

To ring in the new year, Glossybox have brought us back to basics.... I never usually think much of the themes of these boxes, most of the time there seems to be zero logic behind it and the actual products don't seem to have any correlation to the theme, but this time round, it actually makes sense, and here's why...






Anatomicals Puffy The Eye Bag Slayer Wake-Up Under Eye Patches - (That's a mouthful!) This was definitely the most interesting item in the box and was the first to catch my attention. It's something really different and I appreciate products like this being in beauty boxes. These are basically little patches that you place under your eyes to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and revitalise the delicate skin in that area. It is advised you keep them on for 30 minutes, so they would be great for when you're having a full on pamper session or a long relaxing bath! I'm really excited to try these out, these retail for £6 for a pack of 3.

The Vintage Cosmetic Company Floral Slanted Tweezers - A pretty pair of tweezers with a cute vintage floral pattern. There's not much to say about these, I actually own a couple of pairs from various other beauty boxes but tweezers are always useful and I'm forever loosing mine so it's handy to have spares. These retail for £8

Montagne Jeunesse Passion Peel Off Masque & Blemish Mud Masque - I used to be OBSESSED with these face masks in my teens, but I haven't used them in years. I was actually browsing in superdrug the other day and was tempted to pick one up purely for the nostalgia (the peel off one was always my favourite) so it was lovely to receive these in my box and I'm genuinely looking forward to using them. These retail for £1.09 per mask

Balance Me Super Toning body wash - This body wash has a blend of juniper, bergamot & lavender essential oils and it smells really nice. I usually save these little bottles for when I'm travelling, but recently I've been using them up at home because I just have so many so this will soon be put to use. A full sized bottle costs £10.25

Yu-Be Moisturising Skin Cream - This is described as a multi-use cult moisturising cream from Japan. It is filled with all sorts of good ingredients including vitamin E and vitamin B2 so I'm interested to see what this is like. A full sized product retails for £13.50



And there we have the Back to Basics Glossybox.... What did you think of this months box? Let me know in the comments below....

Linda x


Tuesday 28 January 2014

I Scream for Eye Cream

Now I've never really cared for my eyes. I've always wore glasses and it sort of hid any bags or dark circles. But the last time I wore my contact lenses, my weeks of not sleeping properly have really caught up with me and my eyes looked really dark and sullen. I did not like this and it meant I had to cake on my make up around my eyes if I wanted to wear my contacts. That was until I started using eye creams.

At first I started using Simple Regeneration Age Resisting Eye Cream which was ok, but it wasn't doing anything for me. When I went to Vegas I remembered I had gotten an Origins GinZing Eye Cream (RRP £23 for 15ml) which I started using and I loved and then for Christmas in a gift set I received Benefit It's Potent Eye Cream which is £24.50 for a full sized little tub. Now even I think these are a little pricey but for the outcomes, it's a good price to pay. (I can say though these little tubs last ages!!)


First up is Benefit's "It's Potent" eye cream. I mean this is a teeny tiny little tub but it's gorgeous! It's part of Benefit's skincare range (which is pretty alright) I'd say it's about 5-8ml of product, which is fine. The consistency of it is quite light and silky. There isn't much in the way of smell and it's really gentle on eyes. I've been using this as a day eye cream. Since I've been using it, I have seen a noticeable difference in my fine lines under my eyes and a reduction in my dark circles. 


It is a bit pricey when it comes to eye creams but it doesn't take a lot just a few little dabs under the eyes and a little bit of a rub-in, I see this tiny pot lasting me a good few months. 



Next up is Origins GinZing Eye Cream, this eye cream promises to brighten and depuff, and that it has done! Before I go onto the product itself, I want to take a second to admire the lovely packaging of it, I love the Orange and White, it's so clean and crisp, well worthy of a place on my cabinet. Now onto the product! It's really a lovely product, the only problem I have is I feel it's a little too thick, not quite as light as the Benefit but it works amazingly well, which is why I use this of a night before bed to prevent puffyness being too much of an issue in the morning. 


It's really creamy and has a hint of pearlescent about it (yanno, it looks pearly). Like all good Origins products, it smells lovely and fresh. Again it is pricey but the price you pay for this is worth the quality you get out. It really is luxurious and has vastly improved my dark circles and the bags that lack of sleep can bring on. 


Both of these products have worked magnificently well and live up to their Brand names! I really do love them and I can now go out in confidence with my contacts in without caking on the make up. I don't look like a student on Dissertation deadline day any more and feel great for that. Both products are available from their corresponding websites and also Boots.com and Larger Boots Stores. 


A Few Little Tips About Eye Creams:
  • As eyes are probably one of the most sensitive parts of the face, do a little patch test under your eye where you can feel cheek bone. 
  • Use what you need, a few little dabs will work better than a whole lather
  • Replace eye creams every 6 months (at most) 
  • If you have any problems with eye creams then stop using them! Believe me I've had sore eyes before and it's not nice. 
  • If irritation does occur you should rinse with warm water then rest damp cotton pads over your eyes to reduce any redness or soreness. 
  • There are some amazing cheaper alternatives, these are just the ones that have worked best for me. 
Do you also have a love for eye creams? Have any recommendations, let me know in the comments below. (Hey, that rhymed!) 


Thanks for reading and for more of the latest news and reviews from the Beauty Hot Squad please follow us on Blog Lovin' 

Monday 27 January 2014

Trevor Sorbie Volume Range



I've been neglecting my hair recently, being lazy with it and choosing the quickest easy option of tying it back and getting stuck in a rut I guess. Nothing wrong with that but a change is nice sometimes so I decided I'd make more of an effort and it began with this four products I was sent. 

I've been straightening my hair for the majority of each week and the shampoo & conditioner - 'Trevor Sorbie Volume Shampoo 100ml £2.99' have really made a difference in it's appearance. Both products smell fab and left my feeling and looking shiny and soft. Plus they gave my hair a healthy bouncy look which was what I had been hoping for and was presently surprised in how well they worked while not leaving my hair feeling heavy at all. 

After washing my hair I use the 'Volume Leave In Conditioner 200ml £5.29' which compliments the shampoo and conditioner fabulously, I'll definitely keep using a leave in conditioner to help tame my fly away hair. 


Lastly if I was going for a night out maybe, I used the 'Volume Big Hair Power 5g £6.29' it works well for extra root lift, blends in well with my hair and lasts all night. It does however leave the hair a bit sticky to touch, but that didn't bother me as I just washed my hair as normal the next day.

 Trevor Sorbie products are great value for money and widely available and I certainly won't be over looking them again.  The shampoo and conditioner in particular will be products I would repurchase as my hair hasn't look this fab in ages! 

Have you tried any Trevor Sorbie products? Let me know what you think! 

Linzi
xo

Sunday 26 January 2014

My wishlist- Neutrals



Just a quick post today to show you a couple of the products on my wishlist right now. I'm trying my best to cut back this year so I can save and follow my dream of seeing the world but there are just some things that draw me in! I always gravitate towards neutral shades and it is purely by coincidence these products are all similar colours.

1. Origins GinZing Brightening Cream eyeshadow in Coffee Buzz - £17.00
I'm one for neutral eyeshadows- I'll have a brown or gold based colour on my lids about 80% of the time (Bourjois Color Edition 24H are the only colours I really wear but that's another story). This is such a beautiful colour and it looks like it could actually do me some good which is a bonus!

. 2. Models Own HyperGel nail varnish in Naked Glow- £5.00
The reviews I've already seen for these polishes make them seem just too good to be true! One coat for perfect gel like nails? Who doesn't wish for that? This is my favourite colour of the bunch and it'll definitely be the first shade I try.

3. Illamasqua Cream Pigment in Hollow- £17.50
I need this in my life. It is the perfect shade to use as a contour for a super pale complexion like mine. I've just got my hands on NYX blush in taupe which is miles better suited to my skin tone than my last contour but this just seems perfect. I'm lucky to have Liverpool City Centre 20 minutes from my house and can pop in to the Illamasqua store to drool over their full range as often as I like. I'd have about half of the things in there if I had my way the colours are stunning!

4. Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette- £20.00
As I said before I love my neutral tones for my eyelids on a day to day basis and this just contains perfect daily shades and bases for more daring looks. I've had my eye on it for a while but I keep seeing it more and more now I'm on the quest to find the Naked 3 palette and I don't actually know if I'd prefer to buy this first.

Kate A x

Wednesday 22 January 2014

Maybeline The Eraser Eye

I have been thinking about getting a new under eye concealer for a while now, I was browsing my local boots 'as you do' when I was drawn in by the oh so irresistible Buy one get one half price offer. I hadn't seen many reviews or mentions about this product but the concept intrigued me, and upon swatching my decision was made, Into my basket it popped.

Now, there has been alot of controversy about this product and the way it is designed although personally I know this is going to be used by me and only me, so the sponge applicator doesn't really bother me,  I actually really like the concept of the idea. I always enjoy trying new things! The sponge I imagine is no worse than your bog standard concealer with a doe foot applicator


The idea is you simply twist the product up to the sponge, and apply. This feels very nice and cooling on the eye, the sponge is very good to help blend in the product. The colour match is great and blends in perfectly, leaving a dewy illuminizing finish, and boy does this product banish your under eye bags. 

Over all this is a brilliant conclear, it lasts all day and doesn't crease and the sponge applicator doesn't mean loosing loads of product like you would expect. At £7.99 it is a lovely little concelar to have in your make-up bag and a very useful one indeed.

Much love Nicola :) xx

Kate's Product of the Week - Primark Owl Tweezers

Here we are at week 4 and what do I bring you this week? Bargainous Tweezers from Primark nevertheless. 

I love a good pair of tweezers and being quite thick-haired, my brows grow exceedingly quick. Up until like 3/4 years ago I never really tweezed my brows. I was paying to get them waxed but the growth was really quick and my poor skin didn't like being put through the waxing so I though I'd start to tweeze them. I bought a cheap pair, which I then lost before I went on holiday. So when I was in Benidorm my brows were looking pretty awful, this wasn't good! We decided to go to the supermarket and low and behold were these gorgeous China Doll Tweezers for only €1, I thought if they only last the holiday they've faired well. 


That was in early 2012, last week (nearly 2 years later), I noticed that they were blunt and weren't aligned anymore so I decided to buy myself some more. I really loved the cuteness of these and didn't want anything different. That weekend in work (PRIMARK) I noticed some new beauty items featuring owls, which were really cute, a sort of Cath Kidston theme going on and then a girl brings me something I fell in love with...A 2 PACK OF CUTE LITTLE OWL TWEEZERS!! Best part is that they were only £1! Yes one whole pound! Well naturally I got the boy to take me to Primark and I bought a pack! 


Some people say you should invest in tweezers because the dearer the better. That's not what I've known to be the case. I've borrowed my sister's ones before and they were Ruby & Millie ones and I didn't get a long with them. These Primark ones I found are much better.


What I really like about these is the sharp slanted ends. These even reach the little stubborn hairs that are just rooting! They are really easy to hold and are enamel so you have a better grip. 



Pro's:
  • Cute 
  • Cheap
  • 2 Pairs: so 1 for home and 1 for handbag
  • Gets even little stubborn hairs
  • They do them in leopard print also
Con's:
  • Only available in Primarks with Beauty Sections
Like I said you can also get these in Leopard Print and if slanted tweezers aren't your thing, Primark also do spotted pointed tweezers. The Owl Beauty Stock ranges from £1 - £2.50 which is a bargainous price range! Other products include: Nail Kit, Nail Files, Compact Mirror and more. 


Hope you've enjoyed my 4th product of the week. If you have any suggestions for products of the week, let me know in the comments below. 


Thanks for reading and for more of the latest news and reviews from the Beauty Hot Squad please follow us on Blog Lovin' 

Glossy Weddings

Glossybox have released a Limited Edition Wedding Box in collaboration with 'Wedding Magazine' which brings you the essentials you need to achieve a flawless look for any wedding, whether you're the bride or a guest. Sadly, I'm not getting married, nor am I attending any weddings but this box called out to me for a couple of reasons:
1) On your wedding day you are going to be using the BEST beauty products you have ever found and I knew that each product would have been carefully selected to be included in this box
2) I knew this box contained a lot of make-up items and if you read any of my beauty box reviews, almost every month I moan that there isn't enough make-up items included

Glossybox really made an effort to make this box special, you can tell just from the packaging - a simple white box with the classic Glossybox logo and inside the products are wrapped in a gorgeous lace effect tissue paper tied together with a beautiful ribbon with the word 'yes' printed on it in different languages. 

Once you untie the ribbon and unwrap the tissue paper you are greeted with flurry of pink rose petals, something I was not expecting and it brought a smile to my face... It's the little things....

The first product I pulled out was the NYX One Night in Morocco palette which includes 8 eye-shadows to create the perfect matte smokey eye, an eye-shadow base and four lip colours. This is a really cute little palette, I love how compact it is and the fact it has a nice big mirror on the front. It would be perfect for travelling. The white eye-shadow pan does fall out every time I open it so perhaps not the best quality product, but it's easy enough to stick that in and for a £15 palette I can't complain.I just wish NYX products were easier to find in stores!


Next up is this Bellapierre Volumizing Mascara. I've received a few other products from this brand in other beauty boxes and have always been really impressed with them so this excited me. I haven't tried it yet but the brush looks good and I'm a mascara junkie so this will have a happy home in my stash! This retails at £19.99


The perfect wedding nail colour was also included, Beauty Bird 'Yes I do!' Firstly, the name is spot on for a wedding and the colour is really pretty whilst remaining understated so as not to attract too much attention away from the important things, such as the ring and the dress. The colour is described as 'apricot-rose' and it retails for £10.30

Next we have this BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector which seems to be a multi-tasking wonder product! It works as a light-diffusing primer under make-up and can also be used as highlighter on your cheek and brow bones. The perfect product to give you that 'inner glow' on your big day. I'm really excited to test this out as I love these kind of products. This is a 15ml sample, and a 50ml tube retails for £33


It's hard to pick a favourite product when we have such a great selection, but if I had to I would probably choose this MODELCO Lip Duo which is a double ended lipstick and lip gloss with a built-in mirror on the side. Genius! The lipstick shade is an absolutely perfect 'my lips but better' shade, it feels lovely and nourishing on the lips and it is honestly the best smelling lipstick I have ever tried. The lip gloss is just as perfect, the shade complements the lipstick perfectly and it is not sticky at all! This product retails for £26


The final proper product included is this NAOBAY Moisturizing Peeling - I wasn't exactly sure what this was at first. The name doesn't give too much away but it seems to be a facial milk with natural peeling particles from the Acai palm tree. It is described as 'face peel' that gently exfoliates the skin, removing surface cells and impurities while reducing the appearance of fine lines. This sounds interesting but a little scary so I'll be searching for some reviews before testing this one out. This retails for £17.95


Finally, included as a little surprise extra was these.... I honestly don't know what to call them...? They have nothing written on them or about them but they are basically pink bows with clips on the back. From the image I can only assume they are designed to be clipped onto your shoes... A strange idea, I personally think it seems very childish and definitely not something I would do on my wedding day but each to their own! 


And that's everything! A longer and more picture heavy post than usual with these kind of boxes but everything was just so pretty I wanted to do it justice! This box is limited edition and you can purchase it here for £25 plus P&P. This box has a value of £99 so it is a really good offer. You don't need a Glossybox subscription for this one as it's a special edition and I think it's worth getting your hands on!


What do you think of this Glossy Weddings box? What was your favourite product? Let me know in the comments below...

Linda x

Tuesday 21 January 2014

Glam hair in seconds! ~ Hairaisers


Secrets Collection Hair Bun. Glamour ~ £21.60 click here


The absolute easiest way to create the most glamorous up dos is right here!
I jumped at the chance to try this hair piece out as I've been on the search for a hair piece that'll work with my short hair since forever but never have been willing to part with my money just in case it didn't work...
However, I am ordering another hair piece 'as we speak' because this girls, is the future of hair styling! If you can get your hair into even the tiniest ponytail, you can flaunt one of these.
100% worth every penny, these hair pieces feel and look completely real and have the most gorgeous multi tonal hair so you can be confident it will blend beautifully. They take seconds to attach, simply tie up your hair or twist it into a messy bun if it's long and slide the clips into the top and bottom of your own hair, done!
I can not say enough good things about this hair piece and can't wait to try out the other styles, see them for yourself here


Monday 20 January 2014

PERFUME LOVERS! Discovery Club ~ The Fragrance Shop



Hey Sweeties!

Perfume lovers, I've got something you need.
Discovery club ~ The Fragrance Shop.
£25 for the year and every three months you'll find a sweet little box full of fragrance minis as well as a booklet containing money off vouchers/codes exclusive to members, so you can feel less guilty about splashing out on the perfume or quite possibly perfumes (let's not pretend we're only going to buy one).
I'm very loyal to my perfume as a like to have a signature scent however I rediscovered an old favourite in 'angel' after receiving this box and will be buying it asap! LOVE! 
Keep the minis in your purse and try them out when you're on the go, this makes sure you try new ones :)

The box came with 9 minis, 6 for women and 3 for men so they don't feel left out ;) 
A booklet with the money off vouchers and a print off full of info about each scent.

Just to justify this even more ~ You'll be doing something amazing when you sign up as five pence from every subscription and subsequent transaction at the fragrance shop is donated to the Rays of Sunshine children's charity. To date,  over £150,000 has been donated!

What are you waiting for? Discover your new favourite or fall back in love with a forgotten gem.

Friday 17 January 2014

Rapid Brow Eyebrow Enchancing Serum: Part 1


If you saw my Rapid Shield post which you can find here you will know that I really liked the Rapid Shield Eyelash Daily Conditioner so when the opportunity came up to try out another Rapid product I jumped at the chance. 

This time I got the chance to try the Rapid Brow Eyebrow Enhancing Serum.

 
The Rapid Brow Eyebrow Enhancing Serum is a clinically proven formula with an exclusive Hexatein™ 2  Complex, a unique blend of fortifying proteins, stimulating peptides and nourishing ingredients designed to help condition, restore and repair the appearance of eyebrows as quickly as in 60 days*.


The brush of the Rapid Brow is very much like a mascara wand but smaller, You use the wand to comb the product into your brows, you can do this whenever you would like but I tend to do it of a night before I go to bed and have also used it to set my brows once I have filled them in which it also works well for. 

According to the packaging, within 60 Days* 
- Up to 108% improvement in the Appearance of Eyebrow Density
- Visibly Fuller-looking, Thicker-looking and Less Sparse Eyebrows.

Although I don't have thin or bad brows I have noticed so far with using it that my brows have looked a lot better, I haven't noticed any growth yet but I will carry on using this for a few more weeks and will keep you updated with another blog post of how I have got on with it. 


Chantelle
x
 

Tiny Tweaks - Birchbox January 2014

This month not only are Birchbox celebrating the new year, they are also celebrating their 1 year anniversary! They've also made a slight change to their packaging and the products no longer come in those little draw string bags. I personally never saw the point of them and had no use for them but it was the statement look of Birchbox so I was a little surprised when I first opened the box. 



Let's see what was inside...

Philip Kingsley Elasticizer - A pre-shampoo hair treatment I've always been curious to try so I was pleased to receive this 20ml sample. A full sized tube would cost £27.50

Benefit The POREfessional - A cult product in the beauty world, I love it. I've had a few samples of this through other beauty boxes/magazine freebies but I also have a full sized bottle in my stash so I was a little less excited about this one. It's super handy for travel though and I will definitely get use out of it. If you wan't to know more about this product Kate has done a full review of it here. A full sized tube costs £24.50

Laura Mercier Body Butter - Now don't get me wrong, this is a lovely product and I'm more than happy to receive Laura Mercier products in beauty boxes, but this was just a disappointment. I received this exact product in November's Birchbox which was only two months ago. I feel like Birchbox could have at least made it a different scent. The point of these boxes is to try new things, not to receive the same samples again and again. If you read my post on November's box you'll know how happy I was about receiving it then, it is a really luxurious product and I'll definitely use it, I just didn't feel any excitement by it this time around. A full sized tub would cost £26

Premae Anatomy Nutrients Body Oil - I've never head of this brand before but I've been really into body oils lately so I'm happy to test a new one out. A full sized bottle would cost £9.50

Delarom Acquaconfort Mask - Another brand I'm not familiar with, this face mask claims to nourish and hydrate the skin while restoring suppleness and vitality. I haven't tested this on my face, but I have tried it on the back of my hand and it smells really nice (like pomegranates). A full sized tube costs £24

And finally the lifestyle extra included this month as a Birchbox own branded eye mask. This is one of those gel-filled masks designed to cool the eye area and decrease puffiness. Now I hate sounding so negative but again, Birchbox have repeated the exact same product! This mask was also included in the August Birchbox. Again, a little disappointing. This mask retails for £10.



Now I want to make something clear, I actually think this box included some really good products and I would honestly use every single product included. It just annoys me to see products repeated. This month is Birchbox's one year anniversary, that means there has only been 12 other boxes and they're already repeating so many? That doesn't fill me with much optimism for future boxes. Another thing I'm not pleased about is the fact that there isn't even one make-up item here, I really think they should make the effort to include at least one make-up item in each box....

Birchbox, I love you but this box just didn't do it for me... 
What did you think of this month's box? Let me know in the comments below...

Linda x


Wednesday 15 January 2014

Kate's Product of the Week - Fräulein3°8 Make Up Brush Set

Product number 3! I'm doing well keeping up with these haha 3 weeks on the bounce! Well this week my product is - Fräulein3°8 Makeup Brushes Set.

This weeks product is focussing on a bargain product with real quality. 

I got these little beauty's for Christmas. I needed a small pack of brushes to take away with me for when I go away. These were only £2.85 on Amazon with only £2.49 P+P which in my opinion is a complete bargain considering the quality of the brushes.

These are made with Animal Bristles and Wooden Handles. They are all in a case, which will stop bacteria building up on them and they are really easy to use. 




This set of brushes includes: 
  • Powder brush
  • Blush brush
  • Foundation brush
  • Eyeshadow brush
  • Small shader brush
  • Sponge eyeshadow applicator
  • Nasal shadow brush
Foundation Brush, Sponge Eyeshadow Applicator and Powder Brush

These brushes are so soft and lovely to use. I've currently got into learning how to properly contour and these brushes are perfect for it. 

They are also a great size for handbags, and like I said if you travel a lot these are the brushes for you! The whole pouch is less than 6 inches long, it's not bulky. This would be perfect if you work in a place that's hot and you need to re-applicate on your break or if you work somewhere that you have to look your best. I just think they are a great buy for anyone. 



They are also really good if you are just getting into learning how to do make up or even if your daughter or sister is just getting into make up and you don't fancy spending loads on brushes for them. 

What I Love: 

  • Cheap
  • Great Quality
  • Perfect for travelling
  • Easy to Clean
What I don't like: 
  • These aren't as well known as they should be because they are really great
 Fräulein3°8 do a massive range of brush sets from 7 Pieces up to 32! I got mine from Amazon and they are all reasonably priced.

Hope you've enjoyed my 3rd product of the week. If you have any suggestions for products of the week, let me know in the comments below. 


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