LookFantastic March Box

One beauty box that I am loving right now comes from LookFantastic, every month I have loved the contents this month is no exception.  The box costs just £15 and you more than get value for money for the items that are included and all of the brands that feature are available on the Lookfantastic website.

So the March box is here and this is what I found inside:

bliss Fatgirlslim - I quite like a few Bliss products, but this is one im not too impressed with the name of. That aside, this is said to make the skin look and feel firmer and more toned.  You apply it twice a day and massage it onto your skin for 20-30 seconds to simultaneously stimulate circulation and stimulate lymphatic drainage to improve body contour.

This sample has a value of around £10

Lil' "Wet" Brush - This is my first dealing with Wet Brush, though I have seen them mentioned quite a lot on other blogs, so I am quite looking forward to see how well it works. This is a handy travel sized brush, so it has gone straight into my handbag. Even though this is a mini version of the classic Wet Brush it is still described as being fierce on knots and tangles but a big pussy cat on scalps! It has what are called IntelliFlex™ bristles to ensure snag-free brushing as they bounce back to their original form after every brush stroke and the SofTips™ on the ends of the bristles  gently massage your scalp to stimulate circulation.

This brush costs £7.99

Lord & Berry Line/Shade Kajal and Eyeliner Pencil in Travel Black - I am told you can never have too many black eyeliner pencils, though as I dont wear eyeliner I will have to accept the majority rule. This Lord & Berry Couture Kohl Kajal Eye Pencil is described as being silky and smooth and it creates a semi-matte look, whilst the highly pigmented formula gives a rich colour for ultimate definition.  It has also been Ophthalmologically-tested and is suitable for those with sensitive eyes.

This eyeliner is worth around £5

Cowshed Lippy Cow Natural Lip Balm - I am a huge Cowshed fan, particularly of their bath range, not only do the product names make me laugh, they are insanely good. One thing I have never tried is their lipbalm and as a lipbalm addict I am always happy to add to my collection. This product contains no parabens, no petrochemicals and is free from sulphates, artificial fragrances and colours. It is suitable for vegetarians and has not been tested on animals. It does contain the essential oils of linden blossom to protect and nourish, rose geranium to help rejuvenate, and ylang ylang to stimulate circulation.

This balm is available online from Look Fantastic for just £5.00

NudeStix Magnetic Colour Gift in Gilt - This is my first look at Nudestix and there are 8 different shades in total. In my box I have the shade Gilt which is a really pretty light gold shade, something I would refer to as a champagne. For me it is a brilliant multi-purpose stick in that it can be used as all over the lid, in the inner corner and even on the inner lower lash line and it gives a really lovely natural colour, I absolutely love it.

This product is available online from Look Fantastic for £24.00

The Final item in my box is by Nuxe and it is called the Nuxellence Detox, Detoxifying and Youth Revealing Anti-Aging Care cream - what a mouthful that is.  This is described as being an innovative anti-ageing treatment that uses 10 patents to recharge your skin and detoxify cells overnight. It is suitable for all skin types and ages. This nightly detox also helps to promote cell renewal, allowing you to wake up every morning with a refreshed, youthful glow! Full of natural ingredients Nuxellence Detox helps to smooth wrinkles, plump skin and brighten your complexion.

This 15ml sample has a value of around £14.

So there you have it, the contents of my March Lookfantastic box and I absolutely love, it is possibly the second best box there has been and as usual there isn't a product I don't like in the box, I like them all and cannot wait to try them out.  

What you think about this month's #LFBeauty Box. Which product would you be most excited to try out?

Beauty Christmas Crackers 2014

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Whilst beauty calendars might have been and gone, sold out or are too pricey for you to have, there is one other option - Beauty Christmas Crackers - yes! I did a similar post last year where there was a whole lot to choose from and it looks as though there is to be a similar amount this year - the details of which are only just trickling in, so these are the ones I have so far.


Harrods - A handpicked selection of the best the beauty world has to offer, the set of six crackers are enveloped in our signature silver and black colourway and tied with embossed Harvey Nichols grosgrain ribbon.

Each cracker contains: a snap, silver foil hat, motto and one of the following treats: ESPA Pro Serum 8ml, Bliss Energizing Mask 10ml, bareMinerals 'Inspiration' Ready Eyeshadow Duo 1g, Prada Candy Florale Eau de Toilette 7ml, Laura Mercier Lip Glacé 6ml, Deborah Lippmann Nail Varnish 8ml

Boots No.7 - Presenting this selection of our favourite No7 mini nail polishes and skincare products in 6 beautiful crackers. The No7 Cracker Collection makes an indulgent festive treat for ladies this Christmas.

Contains:
No7 Stay Perfect Nail Polish in Temptress (4ml)
No7 Stay Perfect Nail Polish in Beanie (4ml)
No7 Stay Perfect Nail Polish in Damson Dream (4ml)
No7 Protect & Perfect Day Cream (25ml)
No7 Protect & Perfect Night Cream (25ml)
No7 Protect & Perfect Intense Eye Cream (5ml)

    Jo Malone - well if there is one cracker I would quite like it would have to be this one, I can't afford the calendar but this looks equally good.  Priced at £32 this cracker looks amazing!

     This Works – Can currently be found at places like Feel Unique and Debenhams for £10 and inside this cracker you get a 10ml deep sleep body therapy spray which is an innovative spray on body treatment that helps you fall asleep. Priced at £10 per cracker.

Balm Balm The All Over Body Cracker - Priced at £21 this cracker includes:

• Balm Balm Calm All Over Balm 100% Organic 30ml 
• Balm Balm Detox All Over Balm 100% Organic 30ml 
• Balm Balm Indulge All Over Balm 100% Organic 30ml 

Lancôme's Christmas crackers which cost £54 for 6.  They contain six premium products including:

• Hypnose Volume Mascara (black), 
• Le Crayon Khol Eyeliner (black), 
• Advanced Genifique 
• Youth Activating Concentrate, 
• Lip Lover, L'absolue lipstick and 
• Bi-Facil Eye Make Up Remover.

Clarins - Add the perfect final flourish to your table setting and make sure your festive season goes off with a bang. Enveloped in opulence, these crackers offer a selection of iconic miniature Clarins products such as Beauty Flash Balm and Nail Treatment Cream.  Priced at £39 for six you will find inside

• Wonder Perfect Mascara 3ml
• Gentle Refiner 30ml
• Beauty Flash Balm 30ml
• Hand and Nail Treatment Cream 30ml
• Eau des Jardins 30ml
• Rouge Eclat Lipstick 1.4g

Cowshed - The name says it all really as this gift set from Cowshed would make a cracking stocking filler and comes in a Christmas cracker-inspired box, adding a touch of fun during the festivities. Filled with two luxurious little treats to restore and moisturise hands and lips daily.

Set includes:

• Cow Herb Restoring Hand Cream, 50ml 
• Natural Lip Balm, 5ml

Molton Brown - Pamper someone from head to toe with Molton Brown's Pink Pepperpod Christmas cracker body care gift set. Each item is beautifully presented in a festive, cracker-shaped box with pretty ribbon detailing, making the ideal Christmas gift and priced at £20

Set includes:

• Molton Brown Pink Pepperpod Replenishing Hand Cream, 40ml
• Molton Brown Pink Pepperpod Body Wash, 50ml
• Molton Brown Pink Pepperpod Nourishing Body Lotion, 50ml

Philip Kingsley - Ive spotted two different ones from Philip Kingsley so far this year. The is choice is between Soft & Shiny or Body and Volume for the cracker and they cost £10 from sites like FeelUnique.

Inside the soft and Shiny Cracker you get:

• Elasticizer, 40ml 
• Moisture Balancing Shampoo (20ml) 
• Moisture Balancing Conditioner (20ml) 

Inside the Body & Volume Cracker

• Elasticizer (40ml)
• Body Building Shampoo (20ml)
• Body Building Conditioner (20ml)

Arran Aromatics - Choice of three different crackers, so will it be
Frankincense & Myrrh, Mandarin & Petitgrain or Christmas Spiced Vanilla, Each beautifully embellished festive cracker includes three votive candles.

So these are all the ones I have to date and I have no doubt there will be more to follow. As and when I do get some information, I will update this post!

Do you think you will be treating yourself or a friend to a Beauty Cracker?

You Beauty discovery Box October

For the past few months I have been getting the You Beauty Discovery Box which you can see February, March, April, May, June, July, August and September with previous box contents. My September box arrived a few days ago and there was a lot of excitement around this box from a Facebook Group that I am a member of because of a lipstick from Illamasqua and I have to say, I managed to get myself one and this is the content of my box.

As with every month so far, there are always a few extra treats inside each box and this month we got:

So the Gold Collagen Forte is said to be a new anti-ageing liquid beauty supplement which contains hydrolsed collegen enriched with a uniqe blend of antioxidents (Q10, Acai berry, pomegranate, lycopene, L-Carnosine and reveratrol) to protext against pxodative stress. Sadly it says Age 40+ on the bottle, which I am not, so I won't be using it.

The second treat is a sachet from Cowshed which is an anti-ageing perfecting night serum. Said to be designed for busy women with busy lives, the innovative serum-in-oil hybrid is bursting with natural active ingredients and essential oils that work wonders on your skin whilst you sleep. I love the sound of this, I just wish there was a bigger sachet to be able to really give it a good try.

Handbag Hereos is the theme of this months box and it covers everything from hair, nails, skin, makeup and fragrance. The choices this month was between:

• Wild About Beauty eyeshadow
• Spiezia Organic Facial Cleanser 
• Paul Mitchell® Fast Form® 
• Murad’s AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser 
• MeMeMe Cherub Blush
• Melvita Youthful Day Cream
• Lalique Nilang Fragrance
• Illamasqua Glamore Lipstick
• Crystal Clear Intense Anti-Ageing Serum
• Crabtree & Evelyn Nail Lacquer

I decided to choose the Crabtree & Evelyn nail lacquer and the shade I got was Petal Pink. Described as being a fast drying polish, it is said to glide on to produce a gorgeous glossy colour. Two coats are needed. This is a full sized nail polish which has an RRP £6.

The second product I chose was a Glamore Lipstick from Illamasqua, this is a full sized lipstick priced at £18.50. I have never owned a product from Illmasqua until now, despite visiting the store in Central London numerous times. The lipstick itself came in shade 'Rosepout' which is a nude shade and it gives a satin finish.

So for a £6.95 subscription, my box has a value of around £25 which is more than double the value for money and not a bad box.

What do you think to do this? Do you subscribe to these boxes?  What would you have chosen? If you subscribe, link your post below so I can see what you got.

You Beauty discovery Box - June Edition

For the past few months I have been getting the You Beauty Discovery Box which you can see February,  March , April and May with previous box contents.  This month my fifth box has arrived and I have to admit, this was the first box I wasn't feeling all that bothered about, last months CEW(UK) box was superb and I really struggled to decide which options I wanted, so I wasn't so confident this box would be as good. Then it arrived!

This months box is themed "Beauty Hereos" and when I got my email to let me know my options for selection was now ready, I logged straight in with excitement to make my choices and I wasn't feeling too bothered about any of them, nothing grabbed my interest, but then I decided to pick things I haven't used but would more than likely use, a sort of compromise with myself to try brands ive heard of but don't go out of my way to use.

As I have said before, I love is how the box fits through my letterbox, it is packed really delicately and the box really study

Within the magazine which comes with the box we are told that for June's box they have titled it beauty heroes, those products which stick to their promises and deliver on them and the range features beauty and skincare products. So as a dedicated subscriber, I have been given the opportunity to try some of the following:

Urban Veda Daily Purifying facial wash, Transformulas Face Contour & Tightening Cream, Cowshed Slender Cow Extra Firming Body Butter, Herbacin Hand Cream for Protection and Care, Rituals Zensation Organic Rice Milk & Cherry Blossom Foaming Shower Gel Sensation, Her Haircare 300 Trecento Revitalising Hair Treatment, L'Oreal Infallible 24hr Lip Colour in Timeless Rose or Flawless Fuschia.

Again as with previous boxes, with this subscription you get some extra treats and mine came in the form of an expandable face cloth from YBD and a Montagne Jeunesse Dead Sea Mud Spa Facemask which I cannot wait to try.

So what did I choose?

Urban Veda Daily Purifying Facial Wash which comes in this 20ml tube, perfect for putting in your weekend bag and it is described as follows:

Naturally formulated to cleanse and purify.

In Ayurveda (Indian medicine), Neem is renowned as an excellent antibacterial tonic to help treat blackheads, excess sebum and clear toxins. Neem oil works in synergy with botanical extracts to reduce shine, while naturally astringent herbals & antioxidants help to minimise pores and clear complexion.

I have read quite a few reviews on Urban Veda products and liked the sound of this, so am looking forward to giving it a try.

My second option was the L'Oreal Infallible Lip Colour and I went for Timeless Rose which has an RRP of £9.99 and is described as follows:

L’Oreal Paris Infallible 24H lip Colour in 110 TIMELESS ROSE provides all day colour that lasts up to 24 hours.  A high concentration of pigments combined with Hyaluronic Gel to create an amplified colour that does not fade, bleed or transfer for an unbeatable finish and a renewed feeling of comfort. 3 Lip-Luscious actions:

1. All day long lips feel smooth.
2. All day hydration for endless replenishing comfort.
3. All day just-applied look for colour that does not fade.

I really do like the shade of this, it is so so pretty and I like the balm on the other end, which I wasn't expecting to find, this feels really moisturising when you apply to the lips.

So for a £6.95 subscription, my box has a value of around £14 which is double the cost of what I paid.  I actually do really like this box, all the contents I will use, so for me I think it makes really good value for money.

Next month the attention will be dedicated to Summer Holiday - quite excited already!

What do you think to do this? Do you subscribe to these boxes?  What would you have chosen? If you subscribe, link your post below so I can see what you got.

The Beauty Blogger's Perfect Christmas Tree!

As a beauty blogger there are many things that excite me and nothing could currently be more exciting than a Beauty Themed Christmas Tree.  I am amazed at some of the things you can buy as a Christmas Decoration and if I was to build my perfect Beauty Blogger Tree, some of these items would be making an appearance.

Starting with the top of the tree

The Liz Earle Christmas Star - £5.50-£14.00
How much of a bargain is that?! Inside your star, you will get a 30ml of the iconic Hot Cloth Cleanser and Muslin cloth to go with it which costs £5.50. Or there is a choice of two different shades of signature lipsticks which cost £14.00 or a choice of two shades of nail strengthening polish which cost £7.50 each.

Available from the Liz Earl website. 

Then we put on some crackers

I am quite excited about all of these crackers if I am honest and some of them are such good value for money.  These are just some of my favourites:

Nails Inc Christmas Crackers – £29.50

Take your dinner party to the next level and adorn your table with these stylish crackers. Each cracker is complete with a full size polish and fashion quote. 

• Mayfair Mews – navy Fibre Optic polish
• Baker Street – cobalt blue
• Marylebone Lane – red full coverage glitter polish
• King’s Road – rose gold Foil effect polish
• Kensington High Street - deep wine polish
• Trafalgar Crescent – silver Galaxy polish

 They are available from Nails Inc

Balm Balm Frankincense Organic Skincare Collection Cracker - £22.50In this cracker you will get:

• Balm Balm Frankincense Hydrosol 100% Organic 30ml
• Balm Balm Frankincense Deep Cleansing Balm 100% Organic 30ml
• Balm Balm Frankincense Light Facial Oil 100% Organic 10ml

Available from Feel Unique

Cowshed - Cracking Cow Christmas Cracker £10.00 each

A ‘cracking’ stocking filler or Christmas table decoration to add a touch of fun during the festivities and in this racker you will get:

• Wild Cow Invigorating Bath & Shower Gel (30ml) and a 
• Knackered Cow Relaxing Body Lotion (30ml). 

Available from Selfridges

Clarins - Box of 6 Crackers £39.00
In these crackers you will find quite a few lovely beauty treats which include:

• Beauty Flash Balm, 
• Mascara, 
• Lipstick, 
• Hand and Nail lotion, 
• Eau de Jardins 
• Gentle exfoliator. 

Available from Selfridges

Weleda Crackers for Men and Woman - ££14.95-£5.95
A choice of a moisturising cream for the man in your life or for yourself a wild rose smoothing day cream plus a Skin Food Cracker too.  

All Crackers are 30ml and available from Feel Unique 

Jo Malone Christmas Cracker - £30
Spoil every dinner guest with our Christmas Cracker, full of scented surprises. Tart-juicy Blackberry & Bay Cologne. Reviving Lime Basil & Mandarin Body & Hand Wash. Enlivening Grapefruit Body Crème. Tied with ribbon to set the table with style. 

Available from Jo Malone.

More crackers:

Marks and Spencer Crackers:

• Autograph Crackers - A collection of 6 novelty beauty crackers, each containing a specially selected mini make up product and beauty tip. Unwrap each to discover your Autograph lip gloss, liquid glow illuminator, mascara and kohl pencil eyeliner.  Cost £18 for 6
• Royal Jelly - A limited edition collection of luxurious hand creams from the Royal Jelly range and cost £6 each
• Nature's Extracts Lemon Verbena - Experience daily luxury with our Nature's Extracts collection in a festive cracker gift set. These limited edition body care essentials have been enriched with natural extract of lemon verbena - either a shower gel or hand and body lotion. Currently on offer at £2 each
• Happy Holiday Pick N Pix Cracker - Adding some festive fun to your bath with this cracker, costs £5

Now onto your trinkets and baubles.  Again there is so much choice out there that making a decision as to what I was to include was quite difficult, but here are some of my favourites:

Ciate Tree Trinkets - 6 Baubles for £30.00Each bauble is wrapped in a signature Ciaté bow, with a mini Paint Pot in a glamorous glitter shade peeking through, ready to be worn. 

Available from Selfridges

Lancôme In Love Christmas Cubes 4 for - £39.00
These festive cubes contain, a full size Nail Polish in Love, Mini Lip Gloss in Love, Mini Lipstick in Love and Mini Hypnôse Classic Mascara. 

Available from Selfridges

Rodial Glam Balm Christmas Tree Decoration -  £12.00
Give the gift of glam this year with Rodial glam balm LIP SPF 15 Xmas tree decoration. STEMCELL super-food SPF15 glam balm lip is a rose flavoured lip balm, with stem cells and the added benefit of SPF15.

Available from Debenhams 

The Rodial Glam Balm is also available as a little pot for £2 more which you can find HERE

AROMATHERAPY ASSOCIATES Little Bell gift set  - £10

Awaken your senses with Aromatherapy Associates' delectably uplifting and invigorating wonders of grapefruit, rosemary and juniper for a truly reviving start to the day. Includes Revive Morning bath and shower oil.  

Available from FeelUnique

Mistletoe Kisses - Coca Cola Lip Smacker - £3
Time to get festive with the heart shaped lip balm that you can use to decorate your tree or just simply save for that special kiss under the mistletoe this year. £3.00 available in Sainsburys

This Works Perfect Beauty Baubles – £12.00

Silent Night Bauble is a sleep balm to help calm the senses and Shimmer Balm a pocket sized pot of glittery balm. In two words: this works. – 

Available from ASOS

Jo Malone Christmas Ornament - £20

Trim the tree with this season's most desired decoration...a smart little box that opens to reveal a Pomegranate Noir Cologne and a delicious English Pear & Freesia Body Crème. Wrapped and ready to hang for a best-dressed Christmas. 

Available from Jo Malone.

More trinkets for your tree:

• The Body Shop Mini Shower Gels which cost £8 
• Mavala Nail Baubles which cost £5
• Cath Kidson egg shaped soap which costs between £4-£8 online and there are three different ones available
• M&S Limited Collection beauty bauble which contains a mini nail polish and two mini lip glosses and costs £5

And if all of that isn’t enough for you Beauty Bloggers then how about a Liz Earle Limited Edition Stocking? Designed by Jan Constantine and costing £50 

this stunning limited-edition Christmas stocking is brimming with treats, including:

• Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser 100ml pump
• Instant Boost Skin Tonic 50ml bottle
• Skin Repair Moisturiser Normal/combination 15ml tube
• Orange Flower Botanical Body Wash 100ml bottle
• Nourishing Botanical Body cream 50ml tube
• Two pure Muslin Cloths

So there you have it, my idea of the perfect Beauty Blogger Christmas Tree with decorations, baubles and even a star or five.

What would be on your Beauty Christmas Tree?