LookFantastic Beauty Box - July

The July Lookfantastic box arrived a few days ago, which is really quick considering we are only just into July and it has a value of £50. This month we have six delightful products to try out, some of which come from my favourite brands and others I have yet to try something from, so here are the contents:

First up is a handy sized 10ml pot of Trilogy Everything Balm. I am a huge fan of Trilogy and have had this balm on my 'must try' list for some time now, so I am delighted to see it in this box. Described as being a multi-purpose balm it comes with the following information 

"Soothe, soften and condition skin anywhere on the face or body with Trilogy Everything Balm, the perfect multi-tasking beauty tool, ideally sized for travel. Helping to replenish, repair and soothe, it makes the perfect handbag-sized protectant.

Everything Balm combines antioxidant-rich certified organic marula oil and certified organic rosehip oil, both revered for their skin healing and preservative properties, as well as jojoba, olive, avocado, honey and vitamin E to deeply nourish your skin. Softening dry elbows, knees, hands and feet, Trilogy Everything Balm provides pure and natural skin care for baby and makes dry lips delicious again".

The second product is from another of my favourite brands Nuxe and this time it is the Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse (7ml). Suitable for all skin types, the NUXE Huile Prodigieuse is described as a "Multi Usage Dry Oil is the perfect choice for your face-nourishing needs. After use, your face will be velvety soft and your skin will look healthier than ever before. If you decide to use this multi-use oil on your hair, it will quickly become more supple and full of volume and shine, without feeling greasy". Included is lots of vitamin E, which makes sure that the skin is repaired and softened. It also includes various plant oils, which are very efficient at removing any visible signs of stretch marks.

Monu are next with a 30ml Monu Fiji Facial Treatment Oil. I have tried a few Monu products to date and have always been really impressed with this. The Fiji Facial Oil is a soothing facial oil which has been formulated to nourish and protect the skin whilst preventing dehydration. This product uses a blend of rosewood oil and patchouli provide essential protection to soothe dry skin and stimulate your complexion.  It is also Paraben free.

I am always delighted to see a Balance Me product in any beauty box and within this one there is the fabulous Pure Skin Facial Wash. I have used this product before and had run out, so it is always handy to have a spare one around just in case. 

This face wash is perfect for Balancing normal/combination skin, calming congestion and preventing breakouts. This gentle cleanser removes make-up and impurities without stripping away skins moisture. Described as a "Super-fast and effective to use, this gentle, wash-off face cleanser effortlessly removes all make-up and impurities. To improve and smooth the appearance of congested, inflamed complexions we’ve blended together balancing grapefruit and petit grain, with soothing frankincense essential oils and calming spruce knot extract. We have also packed this skin-boosting cleanser full with anti-oxidant rich moringa and rice bran oils to help brighten and illuminate dull skin with every wash. Use in the morning to wake up and revive tired complexions, or in the evening for skin that feels squeaky clean no matter what it has faced".

Next is The Kebelo Clarifying Shampoo which is a brand I have never come across. The shampoo is designed to be used once or twice a month and is described as "Rid your hair of built up impurities with the Kebelo Clarifying Shampoo. Paraben and sulphate free, the detoxing shampoo is gentle in formula but tough on grime. Deeply cleansing, the blend of mild ingredients work to exfoliate your hair, rejuvenating every strand for purified, soft results. Can be used as little as once a month dependent on your lifestyle and even as an invigorating body wash for your skin. Suitable for all hair types" so this is a product I am really looking forward to trying out.

The final product in the box is a Lord & Berry Ultimate Lip Liner. Lip liners are one of those beauty products I should probably buy and use but never do. This is described as a nude version which is waterproof, infused with macadamia oil and waterlily extracts and is said to be highly blendable. Of all the products within the box, this is the one I am probably least likely to use, but as it is there, I might try it out eventually.

I think this month’s box is a great box, it is nice to see a mixture of products from some brands I know and recognise to some that I know little or nothing about.

What do you think to the July Box?

Balance Me Stellar Face Balm

It is no secret that I am a HUGE fan of Balance Me products and have over time reviewed a fair few of them on my blog.  Today's product is for me the best product I have ever used from the range - woah huge claim!

The Stellar Face Balm** is a one-pot wonder that repairs, prevents and soothes dry, broken, distressed or irritated skin with anti-oxidant protection. it also helps deal with dehydrated skin across the face and body as well as regulating skin prone to uneven oil production.

The balm itself is a non-sticky formula and is made with 60% organic shea butter, plus mango, coconut and cocoa butters and smells not only incredible but feels just amazing when on the skin. Naturally being Balance Me, it is made using only 100% natural ingredients, so add in some rosehip oil, Neroli and Mandarin Peel Oil and that simply adds to the beautiful scent.

As for its uses, well they are simply endless and you can use it as:

• a hydrating overnight mask, 
• a lip balm, 
• a cheek highlighter, 
• an eyebrow styling wax, 
• cuticle cream, 
• to sooth dry skin around the nose, cheeks, elbows, heels, 

As well as:

• to tame fly away hairs, 
• to calm itchy insect bites,
• to prevent cold sores, and soothe burns, cuts and grazes.

For me, it is that one product that covers everything and has a use for everything and should always be in your bag, on your desk at work, in the fridge and be by the bed and a 30ml pot costs just £18 - absolute bargain!

Are you a Balance Me fan? 

Have you got a favourite Balance Me product?

Balance Me Super Toning Body Polish

I am  huge fan of Balance Me products, you will see them scattered about my blog full of praise, because they work so well with my skin and are just brilliant.

The Super Toning Body Polish is a new product that I have been using for the last few weeks and it is amazing, described as being:

"An invigorating, tone-enhancing, anti-oxident rich daily body polish with walnut shells designed to firm, plump and smooth as it cleanses and exfoliates. It offers your skina mini work-out each time you massage it all over your body"

Not only is it said to do all of that above but to also encourage good circulation thanks to the unique blend of Juniper, Geranium, Lavender and Bergamot essential oils. Add to that the use of Meadow Foam, Rice Bran and Sweet Almond Oil, all of which are rich in essential fatty acids, vitamins and anti-oxidents to leave your skin look super smooth, energised and smelling simply amazing.

When you use this body polish, the advice is to massage it onto wet skin, focussing primarily on problematic areas such as upper arms, bottom, hips and thighs.  You can also massage it onto the skin and then leave it for a few minutes before rinsing it off so that your skin gets an extra treat as the body polish makes for a really nice deep hydrating mask treatment too.  I find during the current changes in weather and temperature that my skin needs a little extra TLC,specially because I am in a heated environment, then out in the cold, wind and rain before going back into a heated place - my skin becomes quite dull looking, dry and in need of hydration.

For me this body works brilliantly as a body polish, it isn't too abrasive on the skin so it doesn't scratch the skin, it is gentle enough to remove dead and dry skin cells whilst leaving behind an amazing energising scent that really gives you a wake up.  Not only that but as you pat your skin dry, it feels so soft and supple there is almost no need to add any additional moisturiser, though I do.

Yet another brilliant release from Balance Me which you can find HERE.

Have you tried any Balance Me products? Do you have a favourite?

Birchbox Supporting CoppaFeel!

I have just received the October box for Birchbox and it is absolutely fantastic again this month! Supporting CoppaFeel!, whom if you haven't read the few posts ive done about them here is a little background to them. 

CoppaFeel! aims to stamp out late detection and misdiagnosis of breast cancer by ensuring that people know that signs and symptoms of breast cancer, know what their boobs look and feel like normally, check their boobs regularly throughout their lifetime and have the confidence to seek medical referral when they detect abnormalities. Currently 5% of diagnosed cases are already at stage IV with breast cancer being the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in women under 30 in the UK (181 new cases diagnosed and 12 deaths annually). CoppaFeel! strives for a country where no one dies of breast cancer because of late detection or misdiagnosis. The charity receives no government funding and relies solely on voluntary donations.  As October is Breast Cancer awareness month, this is such a good idea of Birchbox to do a collaboration.

Inside the box this time as you can see, there is this amazing pink make-up bag which is the perfect size for fitting everything within the box in it! The idea behind the products is to focus inward on health and wellbeing with the products to help you 'work it' and to get motivated to tackle whatever your day brings.  So inside my box there is:

KMS California Free Shape Hot flex Creme - Apply it to towel dried hair and comb through before drying.  It is said to smooth curls, waves and/or frizz. This is a 50ml sample.

Cindy Crawford Meaningful Beauty Glowing Serum - A Sumptuous radiance-enhancing anti-ageing serum to be used in the morning before your moisturiser or anytime for an instant pick-me-up.  This is an 8ml sample.

Balance Me Cleanse and Smooth Face Balm - This is a nourshing cleanser which uses oatmeal powder to exfoliate dry and dead skincells. Perfect for normal-dry skin but also balances oily skin too.  This is a 40ml sample.

Shaveworks The Cool Fix - Said to be a genius cooling gel lotion that treats ingrown hairs, razor bumps and redness after hair removal.  Can be used morning and evening until the redness fades.  This is a 29ml sample.

Pixie by Petra Shea Butter Lip Balm - I have Ripe Raspberry and when used on the lips it does leave a hint of colour which you can work up to a much bolder colour should you wish.  Using Shea butter, this lip balm leaves your lips feeling soft and smooth.

The final item is the Birchbox Lipstick pen which I love, it is such a brilliant extra item to have and one that will appeal to most beauty bloggers.  

Finally the most important aspect of this box is Copping a Feel, knowing your Boobs can save your life!  Inside the box on the pink card is a little and it features some really useful and important information and this is it:

I hope everyone who got this box or who is reading this post looks at the instructions on this card and does CoppaFeel!  It is so important and as someone who has three friends at various stages with the disease, I can't tell you enough how important it is to check!

What do you think to this months Birchbox?

Lookfantastic Beauty Box - October

I bought the September Lookfantastic Beauty Box which you can read all about HERE and I was so impressed, I ordered the October one straight away and it has already sold out. The box offers a great selection of handpicked, must have beauty fixes wrapped in a beautifully presented box and delivered straight to your door. The beauty box will always include a minimum of six products and will offer a selection of skin, hair, cosmetic and body products, catering to every kind of beauty lover.

This month’s box is filled with 7 beauty items and inside you will find some well known and high end brands such as L’Oreal Professional, Gatineau, Balance Me, This Works, Korres and KMSCalifornia and all for £15!

The first item in my box is the L’Oreal Professional Serie Expert Pro-Keratin Refill Shampoo and Masque. The Shampoo cleanses and replesnishes damaged hair for smooth, reinforced feel. Enriched with pro-keratin and incell, hair fibre feels strengthened and re-inforced. The Masque intensively replenishes damaged hair for a smooth reinforced feel. The formula creates a defensive shield providing day to day protection from external aggressors.

Secondly is the KMS California Free Shape Quick Blow Dry in a 75ml bottle. I have never tried anything from the KMS California range, so I am quite looking forward to this because if and when I do blow-dry my hair, it can often end up quite frizzy and and a static nightmare. The spray claims to reduce your blow drying time by up to 50%, reduce friction whilst conditioning lightly and provide heat protection, so essentially a three in one product.

Korres Citrus Shower Gel is next. I am a huge fan of Korres products so was really happy to see this as I haven't yet tried it. With claims of being an uplifting, clean and fresh scent with surprising tenacity. It uses wheat proteins and contains vitamin C and E, zinc and anti-oxidant enzymes to enhance the skin’s immune system, this is due to active aloe’s ability to stimulate collagen and elastin synthesis, which helps reduce the visible signs of ageing.

The next product is Balance Me Facial Expression Filler. I am a huge fan of Balance Me products, ive said it numerous times on this blog how much I love the brand, so I was delighted to see a product I hadn't yet tried in my box and it is a full size product which has an RRP £22. Said to be a hi-tech daily ‘natural botox’ fix for an instantly smoother-looking complexion, it is perfect for targeting fine lines on the forehead, above the lip and at the sides of the mouth and eyes.

This Works Sleep Plus Pillow Spray has made an appearance this month, there was a similar product in Septembers box, but this appears to be a newer edition. Said to act faster than the original spray it is a fast acting natural remedy to help restore healthy sleep patterns for restless sleepers and is clinically proven to provide a better night’s sleep. It contains a potent blend of Lavender which naturally encapsulates to gradually release aromatherapeutic benefits as you sleep. This edition has more of a lavender fragrance and does smell a little medicinal.

As I sometimes go through bouts of insomnia, I love to have products like this around so that should I need them, they are there.

The last product in the box is the Gatineau Paris Collagene Expert Ultimate Skin Soothing Cream . I am a big fan of French skincare, I think here in the UK it is very much undervalued. This cream contains high concentrates of collagen and elastin which helps with the appearance of wrinkles and uneven skin texture. Further ingredient’s are Tri-Collegen complex and Hyaluronic Acid for a smooth and plumped complexion. Putting all of those together your skin is said to benefit from an increase in elasticity, fine lines and wrinkles are visibly smoothed and the complexion feels velvety soft, smooth and plump.

 

I think yet again I have an amazing box and I will use every product, some I have heard of and some I haven't.  I love that the products are said to be sample sized but in reality they are much better than that, big enough to allow you a real opportunity to try and test things to see whether or not they work for you.  I have got Novembers box on its way to me because I have been so impressed and all for just £15.

Balance Me Reader Event

As many of you will know, I am a massive fan of Balance Me products and have featured them on my blog quite a few times.  If you are yet to try them, are a big fan like me or need to stock up, this could be the event for you! 

Balance Me have teamed up with Marie Claire and Debenhams to hold four in-store events this September and October.  Those dates are:

• 30^th September – Oxford Street
• 2^nd October – Cardiff
• 8^th October – Chester
• 9^th October – Leeds

At the event you will be able to address your individual skincare needs with a team of skincare experts as well as a personal skin reading session with the Balance Me mobile skin scanner.  I have had this done and I was surprised at the results, not as bad as I expected and it felt good to know where my problem areas actually lurk rather than me guessing.

All you have to do is click HERE too book your tickets for just £10 and what's more, you'll receive a goody bag worth over £75!  Enjoy.

Are you a fan of Balance Me products? Do you have a favourite?

Balance Me Congested Skin Serum + a Birchbox Reader Bonus

I am a huge fan of Balance Me products, they work well with my skin and the Radiance Oil is the first ever oil I used on my skin which convinced me to be a little more brave and try other products.

When I was contacted by Birchbox about reviewing the Balance Me Congested Skin Serum I immediately said yes because it is a product I have had my eye on for some time now after reading some rave reviews and I also have an exclusive offer code for you, found below.

I am quite lucky that I don't suffer from breakouts, it is very rare that I do get any spots, but when I do get them, they are quite painful, lurk beneath the surface of my skin and look like beacons glowing to attract attention. 

Arriving in this lovely box with bright green swirls to catch your attention the 15ml bottle inside features a handy pump to help with dispensing the gel like lotion, only be careful how much pressure you put onto the dispenser or you will have enough to cover your entire body and not just your face!

The gel inside is really light in texture, so much so you hardly notice it on your skin, it is just the scent which gives it away.  As with all Balance Me products it is 99% natural with no mineral oil, silicone's or parabens.  It does however contain:

"Roman chamomile, anti-bacterial may chang, calming lavender and eucalyptus in a light, non-greasy petroleum free gel. This instant treatment benefits from super soothing and cooling organic aloe vera and spruce knot to calm as soon as a blemish begins to show without drying out the skin".

With all of those ingredients I am sure you can imagine just how it smells, the eucalyptus is not too overpowering and works wonderful alongside the lavender but for me it is the May Change which provides the most dominant scent and if it is an essential oil you are not familiar with, track some down because it is lovely and lemony, more lemongrass than than zesty.  Once on the skin the feeling is one of instant cooling and in this heat it has been very much welcomed, I did consider covering myself in it from head to foot and then standing in front of a fan rather than have a cool shower.

I have had just one spot since this product came into my hand on the underside of my chin and I decided to tackle it head on and applied the gel to the area directly before I went to bed, woke up the following morning and the spot had gone

If you would like to try some of these amazing Balance Me products, the exclusive code will give you a free Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream sample with any Balance Me purchased in the Birchbox e-shop which you can find here - birchbox.co.uk/shop simply use the code 

Be quick because it expires on August 18th!

Have you tried this product from Balance Me? 
Are there any Balance Me products you have your eye on?

Balance Me Body Wash + Bon Voyage Competition

Balance Me are British run family company who have frequented the skincare market for around 9 years. They are one of the brands I absolutely love the products of and are infact the brand who managed to convince me that as someone with combination skin which leans towards the oily side, I could use a facial oil and not end up with greasier looking skin.

Over the past year I have tried a lot of Balance Me products and am yet to find one I don't like. The photographs below just some of the products I have tried:

So yes as you can see, I am a bit of a fan!

The latest releases from Balance Me introduces reformulated sulphate free body washes - Rose Otto, Super Moisturising and Super Toning have also had their packaging remodelled so it is now much sleeker and more hi-tech looking to compliment the reformulation.

So what does all that mean?  Essentially as the brand as Sian Jones the Balance Me Director and Aromatherapist states "We have improved the formulation to increase out natural surfactant to make then even more luxurious on the skin with a thick consistency and more naturally foaming"  so they are now more skin friendly.  Many cosmetic companies use sulphates in their products to help them create a lather, but the effects can be harsh on the skin and cause irritations such as a dryness and can strip the skin of its natural oils.  As part of the Balance Me philosophy, they try to omit any ingredient that they believe has question marks surrounding its composition and prefer instead to formulate products using natural alternatives.

I was very kindly sent the Super Moisturising Body Wash** which is this amazing bright yellow coloured tube, it definitely catches your attention in the morning when your half asleep and in the shower!

The body wash is described as being:

Perfect for: Soothing, smoothing and protecting parched or sensitive skin.

Key benefits: We’ve used four natural active skin enhancers to guarantee long-lasting softness and suppleness. Softening benzoin, calming yarrow and patchouli, plus essential fatty acid and vitamin-rich shea butter work together to gently soften and protect skin.

This body wash is most definitely as it is described - super moisturising, it lathers exceptionally well onto my beloved natural sea sponge and as soon as it comes into contact with water it begins to lather.  The scent is also amazing, it wakes you up, alerts your senses and lingers on your skin all day with the patchouli being the dominant scent, it smells very luxurious.

‘Beauty Voyage’ Balance Me Competition

But bloggers how would you like the chance to win youself a Balance Me Product? Well the lovely people over at Balance Me are  inviting you to take snaps of your favourite Balance Me products and submit them with the #balancemehome or #balancemeaway hashtag! The competition is running over July & August and the best images picked each week to win Balance Me prizes.  You can find more information on Twitter and Facebook.

Have you tried anything from Balance Me?  
What is your favourite product?

Magazine Freebies!

Every month I read reviews about magazine freebies and it is very rare I am excited enough to go out and buy them, though last month I did get the mini REN hot cloth cleanser which was fabulous. This month, I feel a little bit more spoilt for choice with the choices on offer, there are just so many good ones to get, plus my very friendly newsagent has been a little generous with some of the extra freebies which didn't seem to belong to any of the magazines for sale in his shop, so when he asked if me I would like them, how could I refuse?

So what did I manage to get my hands on?

Yes I think I have done pretty well this month with getting my hands on the whole Clinique set which comes from Glamour magazine. There are two Chubby Sticks in Super Strawberry and Woppin' Watermelon, a mini High Impact Mascara and a mini bottle of Dramatically Different Moisturising Lotion+ though I seem to have two of these. All of these together are said to be worth £30 and given Glamour Magazine costs just £2 perhaps it would have been worth shelling out that extra £6? I had initially opted for the Chubby Stick in Woppin' Watermelon as I like the look of the colour, but as I was given both Chubby sticks plus the mascara and two Moisturising lotions, I am more than chuffed with this little haul!

With Instyle magazine comes a free Neal's Yard Geranium and Orange Hand Cream in a 50ml tube, which is worth £10 and given Instyle costs just £3.90 this in itself is an absolute bargain and I am a huge fan of Neal's Yard products and am yet to try a hand cream, of which I go through quite a lot, so I am hoping this is good.

The magazine I really wanted besides Glamour was Red magazine because they have a Rodial Stemcell Super Glam Balm Lip 10ml, a 7ml version in Marks and Spencer and Harrods which has an RRP £17, so this is an absolute bargain given I paid just £4 for the magazine!

In Cosmopolitan this month you can choose from four freebies from a brand called New CID Cosmetics, those freebies are a Black Mascara and three shades of their Lip and Cheek Tint, all together worth £60, I have the Mascara which I was given and the Lip and Cheek Tint in Rose Tint which is a shade I really like.

Marie Claire Magazine has a freebie from one of my favourite brands Balance Me this month and there is a choice of the Luxury Face Cream 15ml or Cleanse and Smooth Face Balm 40ml which together are said to be worth around £25. I opted for the Face Balm which I have had my eye on for some time and I can't wait to see what it is like. This Magazine usually costs £3.90 but if you go to Tesco it is just £2.50 which means even more of a saving for a fab freebie.

The one magazine I didn't buy was Elle which has a skincare travel set by Malin and Goetz and the kit contains a Grapefruit Face Cleanser 10ml, Lip Moisturiser 5ml and Vitamin E Face Moisturiser 10ml which together are worth £10, the only reason I don't have it is because someone had stolen all the freebies from the magazines on offer, but if you do want it, then Elle is £4.

The Lip Crayons I am really looking forward to using and this is how they swatch:

The Mascaras I am also looking forward to using and they look like this:

So there you have this months magazine freebies and the ones I was lucky enough to get.

Have you managed to get your hands on any of these freebies this month? 

Are there any that you really want to try?

Balance Me Natural Protection Moisturiser SPF25

When Balance Me invited me to a sneak preview of their new product The Stellar Balm, due out in May, I also got the chance to have my skin analysed and try out one of their other new products which is the Balance Me Natural Protection Moisturiser with SPF25.

Described as follows:

A 99% natural protection moisturiser SPF25 which contains a unique blend of natural ingredients to give you the best possible holistic protection from the sun and environmental damage, while also working as a skin nourishing anti-ageing moisturiser.

This is no ordinary product, it took the Balance Me team two years of extensive research to come up with their pioneering formula and within it are five key elements which all work harmoniously together and they are:

• Innovative SPF - What makes it so special is the use of an innovative sun filter, using titanium dioxide as a physical mineral filter.  It works on both UVA and UVB rays, offering great protection against sun damage and makes it suitable for those who suffer from things like prickly heat.  It is also suitable for all skin types.
• Antioxidents - These are vital in protecting the skin against environmental factors that can damage the skin,  The antioxidents, one of which is blackberry seed extract, neutralise the free radicals and also encourages collagen production.
• Essential Fatty Acids and Vitamins - The carrier oils are rich in essential fatty acids and vitamins which help to nourish and replenish your skin.  These oils include Abyssinian which is radiance enhancing, Camellia which is softening and Rosehip which protects.
• Essential Oils - Bergamot, Frankincense, Roman Chamomile and Lavender are all used together to calm, soothe and brighten the skin.  All these elements together also help to treat any symptoms of environmental damage such as redness, inflammation and sensitivity.
• Hyaluronic Acid - This is used to deeply hydrate and plump the skin making it beautifully soft as well as helping to restore the skins natural moisture balance.

What I really like about this product is that it comes in this handy to carry around 40ml tube which is really slim and sleek.  It features a screw on and off lid and you only need the smallest squeeze of the tube to release enough cream to cover your entire face.

To use, you are directed to apply a light layer of cream onto a cleansed face in the morning, it can be used on is own, over your regular moisturiser or under foundation.  You should also apply to your neck and decolletage.  The cream itself is white in colour and it absorbs quickly into the skin without blocking your pores or leaving a greasy film behind and as always with Balance Me, the scent is absolutely stunning not to mention how hydrating it is for my skin, which upon application is lovely and smooth to the touch.

For me this type of product is perfect because I have a real issue with putting suncream on my face from your normal bottle, spray or pump, I don't like the texture of feel of those creams on my face, so I am always looking for an alternative and this is exactly that.  As it is oil based it gives a very light barely there feeling on the skin instead of feeling as though it has clogged every pore on your face, which is how normal sunscreen makes me feel.  Then at the end of the day, again rather than having horrible feeling skin, I have soft, smooth skin.

This product is available now as you can see HERE and it has an RRP of £26 for a 40ml tube.

Are you a fab of Balance Me?  What SPF do you use on your face?