Birchbox November 2013

 

This month's Birchbox definitely made up for my slightly disappointing Glossybox. Here's what I got:

 

1. Lila'lli Line Define Fill in black: Although I'm not sure how this black liner would be suitable for lips, I can't wait tot try it out on my eyes.

 

2. Weleda Oat Replenishing Shampoo: This will be handy when I'm staying overnight somewhere and don't want to take a full sized shampoo with me. It'll be great for my bleached hair too.

 

3. Laura Mercia Ambre Vanille Body Butter: This smells so good and I'm sure it'll be a treat for parched, winter skin.

 

4. Christopher Wick English Laundry Perfume Sample: Boasting a sweet scent, the fragrance is really long-lasting without being too over-powering. But as with Glossybox, I'm getting a bit fed up of perfume samples in beauty boxes.

 

5. Birchbox Sharpener: A little extra, a sharpener is always handy to have in your bag to keep your pencils ready for use at all times.

 

6. Chella Highlighter Pencil: This'll be great for perking up dull skin and enhancing natural radiance. It'll also be a saviour for tired eyes during the upcoming party season!

 

7. Pukka Herbs Teas: I love earl grey but I don't usually go for flavoured teas. I'll give the cinnamon one a go but I think I'll be passing the elderberry and echinacea one to my dad to enjoy!

 

Were you happy with the contents of your Birchbox this month?

 

 

Glossybox November 2013

 

With the theme of this month's Glossybox being 'The Glossy Wishlist', I was expecting some luxury, indulgent products to enjoy in time for Christmas, but sadly I was left a little disappointed with the November offering.

 

Here is what I got:

 

1. Yves Rocher Collection Cacao Cocoa and Raspberry Hand Cream, 75ml (full size), worth £1.95: This smells delicious and doesn't make my hands feel too greasy. I would say that this is my favourite product from the box.

 

2. Connock London Kukui Perfume, 1.5ml sample, worth about 75p: I found this scent a bit overpowering - it's very floral, with notes of gardenia, white jasmine and lily that rest on a woody base. My sample was only half full too, so I guess it's a good job that I'm not that fussed on it! I'm starting to get a bit sick perfume samples now. Switch it up a bit Glossybox!

 

3. Emite Make Up Micronized Eyeshadow in Dams, 1.48g (full size), worth £16.80: Although this is great for sensitive eyes like mine, it's not a colour I'd really wear, so I'll just use this as a base when I do a smokey eye. I could never justify paying that price for a single eyeshadow though, so it definitely bumps up the worth value of the box.

 

4. Elegant Touch Nail Polish Remover Pads, 20 pads (full size), worth £2: I'm a total nail polish junkie and I always remove it using pads, so these will come in super handy.

 

5. Vichy Idealia Life Serum 2 x 3ml, and Vichy Idealia Smoothing and Illuminating Cream 1 x 3ml, worth around £2.90 in total: My skin can often look quite dull, so I'm looking forward to seeing if these can perk up my complexion. I wish they were a more generous size though.

 

This box is a bit hit and miss for me - I'd like to see less perfume samples and if it wasn't for the eyeshadow, this box would have been worth less than the £10 paid for it.

 

What did you get in your Glossybox this month? Were you happy with your selection of products?

 

 

BirchBox October 2013

After a slightly disappointing Glossybox this month, I was hoping I'd be more impressed with the contents of my BirchBox, and thankfully I was!

 

Here are my goodies:

 

1. KMS California Free Shape Deep Conditioner 50ml: Although this says it's for coarse hair (which mine most definitely isn't), I'll still use this. My hair can get very dry, especially when I've just had my highlights re-done, so I'll try this out after my next salon visit next weekend.

 

2. 3 x 3ml samples of Egyptian Magic All Purpose Skin Cream: I've used this before and love it, it's so versatile. The cream transforms into an oil on your fingertips, and can be used to treat a range of skin complaints from cuts and burns to eczema and severe dryness. Think of it as being similar to Sudocrem.

 

3. Stainiac Cheek and Lip Tint 1.2ml: Just like the MeMeMe lip/cheek tint in this month's Glossybox, this seems very similar to Benefit's Benetint, however this has more of a jelly-like texture and applies with sponge wand. I'm looking forward to trying this out.

 

4. Dr. Lipp Original Nipple Balm For Lips: I love a good lip balm, and this multi-purpose one can also be used on areas of dry skin, cuticles, and as the name suggests, the nipples! It's a tiny sample size, however it's great for popping in my bag to keep my lips nourished when I'm out and about.

 

5. Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser SPF 20 14.7ml: Another product which I can't wait to try! I love BB creams and tinted moisturisers, they're a great alternative when you can't be bothered with full foundation. This one promises lightweight, flawless coverage, whilst hydrating the skin and providing SPF protection. Bonus!

 

6. Akane Mask Cocoon Nocturn 12ml: I've never tried a mask that you leave on while you sleep, so this will be a first for me. Designed to refresh the skin and reduce signs of fatigue, I'll definitely be packing this when I go on a night out!

 

7. UltraDEX Recalcifying and Whitening Toothpaste 15ml: Classed as this month's lifestyle extra, this mini toothpaste will be great for overnight stays.

 

I'd go as far as saying that this is my favourite BirchBox yet, there's such as versatile range of products and they're all things I'll use.

 

Were you happy with your BirchBox this month? Which monthly beauty boxes do you subscribe to?

 

 

 

 

Glossybox October 2013

The theme of this month's Glossybox was 'Dark Romance', however I'm not sure that the products I received really fitted the bill. I was expecting vampy lip colours, gorgeous autumnal nail polishes and tools to create smouldering eyes, however this month's Glossybox has been a bit of a let down.

 

Here's the contents of my box this month:

 

 

1. Eva Cosmetics Mystic Diamond Oil, 6ml sample worth £1.36 - I'm not a lover of hair oils, they just turn my fine hair really greasy, but I'll give it a go. It's formulated with argan oil and diamond powder to hydrate your hair and add shine. Not sure how it really fits the theme though.

 

2. Monu First Defence Illuminating Primer SPF 15, 20ml sample worth £9.98 - Although I'm not sure how this fits the theme, I'm looking forward to trying it out. My skin can sometimes look a bit lacklustre, and this promises to enhance radiance and give a smooth finish.

 

3. MeMeMe Cherub's Blush Cheek & Lip Tint, full size worth £5.50 - This is a dupe of Benefit's Benetint, which I have used previously and really liked, so this is a good product for me. It even smells like Benetint! It also fits the Dark Romance theme which is a bonus!

 

4. Premae Harmony Moisturising Smoothie Serum, 20ml sample worth £9 - Again not quite sure how this is in keeping with the theme, but at least it's something I'll use. Made with lemongrass oil, it's designed to provide lightweight hydration, so it'll be good for my oily skin.

 

5. Killer Queen by Katy Perry Perfume Sample, 1.5ml worth about 44p - This is quite a sultry scent so I can see why it was included in the box, however it's far to sweet for my liking. It smells quite chocolate-y, and combines fruity top notes with a floral heart, and has a base of cashmeran, natural patchouli heart and liquid praline. I'll use it up but it's not a scent I'll be re-purchasing.

 

Total box worth: £26.28

 

I would say this is quite an average box, due to the lack of full sized products and the fact most of them had no relevance to the theme. That said, I had a great box last month so I guess you win some and lose some.

 

Where you happy with your Glossybox this month? What did you think of the products/theme?