December Look Fantastic Box

It's no lie that I have been so impressed with the Lookfantastic Beauty Boxes that I have literally crooned across a few posts, namely with the boxes for September October, November and now I bring you the December offering which is slightly earlier than I was expecting, but here it is.

The box is always so well presented and everthing is neatly packaged so that there is no wriggle room and nothing falls out of place. Inside my box, whilst I had seen a few spoilers are the following items:

• Macademia Healing Oil Infused Comb. Full size, £6.00
• Ole Henriksen’s Pure Truth Youth Activating Oil 15ml - £23.50 
• Pure Gold Collagen Drink  £3.50
• Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel 15ml £8.85 
• Murad Essential-C Cleanser 45ml £7.65. 
• Bourjois Intense Smoky Eyeshadow Palette. Full size, £7.99
• Lord & Berry H2ohhh designer Lip Gloss. Full size, £12.00
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So it would seem that the total value of this box is in the region of £69 which I think is pretty impressive given one item in the box alone is worth £23.50 and there are three full sized items. I am really pleased to see a mixture of skincare, haircare and make-up within a box and especially with amazing brands like these.  

You can never have too many wide toothed comb and this Macadamia Healing infused one has caught my attention because the well known Macadamia Oil has somehow been formulated within the resin on the comb, so that when you brush your hair, not only should it be easier to detangle but also treat your hair without leaving any residue behind - the mind boggles with that one!

The Ole Henriksens Pure Truth Oil is described as being an anti ageing treatment which uses 100% concentrated Rosehip Oil which activates the skins natural reparative ability with potent antioxidents and essential fatty acids to reveal your skins youthful state. 

You can spritz this to your face and neck and it works to quickly penetrate into the deeper layers of your skin to help heal, nourish and hydrate your skin. It claims that this should help reduce visible lines and that skin immediately appears brighter and more radiant and it smells absolutely amazing!

Murad Essential-C Cleanser contains Vitamins A,C and E as well as various other vital ingredients which should add moisture back into the skin. 

It also rejuvenates your skin whilst promoting a healthy and beautiful complexion by using Allantoin and Sodium PCA. The product smells so fruity too!

Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel uses the natural exfoliating fruit enzyme of Papaya and Pineapple which contain nourishing milk protein, anti-oxidant rich vitamin E and Marine algae to moisturise, repair and protect the skin. 

This peel smells amazing, I have used it once before, some time ago and it feels amazing on the skin, so cannot wait to try that again.

Pure Gold Collagen I have had in another beauty box and it remains untouched. But for those wanting to know what it is, essentially it is a liquid food supplement that improves the skins appearance from the inside out. The special blends of hydrolysed collagen,vitamins and minerals is said to reactivate the formation of collagen to give you brighter,plumper and more youthful skin.

Bourjois Intense Smoky I am a huge fan of Bourjois products, and they are definitely one of my favourite high-street brands so when I saw this little trio in my box I was quite chuffed. It contains 2 eye shadows and a liner and also includes a mini brush to apply it with. On the back of the palette are instructions for use, so one shade is a light shade for going above the crease on your eyelid, the darker shade going below that and then to define the liner is found with shade 3. The shades on this palette are not ones I would use, having blue eyes, purple most definitely is not a shade I can get away with, though to look at, it is stunning. I am just more of a nude eye kind of girl.

The final product is a Lord and Berry clear lipgloss which is a full sized product. There isn;t much to really say about a lipgloss other than it thankfully isn't a sticky one once applied and it can be used on its own or over lipstick, lip balm and so on.

I thought this was a brilliant box and I am really happy with the included content and cannot wait for January's Box!

I’d love to hear if you bought this box and what you thought of it?

Love Me Beauty - A New Concept!

Just over a week ago, myself and around ten others got to go along to The Sanderson Hotel, just off Oxford Street here in London to be introduced to a new Beauty box, only it is something a little more than a beauty box.  Unveiled by Oli and Sam the CEO and Co-Founders it was described as being the Netflix for beauty and this is why!

Love Me Beauty asks you to sign up to an account and then complete a short series of questions which begins the build of your personal profile.  You are then assigned to one of a team of beauty experts who read and look at your profile and recommend to you some products to try based on the answers you give to some questions. The better the beauty experts get to know you, the better the recommendations will get! Those questions to answer include your hair colour, hair type, skin type, age, favourite make-up and how much you tend to spend per month on beauty to name just a few.

Naturally if you don't like the suggestions given to you, you don't have to choose from them, you can choose anything you want from the Boutique which will have 100’s of products and brands to choose from which are updated on a daily basis. Love Me Beauty search the world for the best and most exciting brands and products out there, just for you.

Each month, once you have subscribed (read more about that HERE) you are given six credits and using those credits, you can add as many other products as you like. (That’s four or five items at the very least.) Credits are based on a weighted system and are either worth 1 or 2 credits.  If the item you want is worth 1 credit then it is typically a travel sized product and if it is worth 2 credits it will either be of high value or a full sized product, some of which will be in limited availability.

So this is what the Box looks like and this is an example of some of the brands and products you might come across during your selections:

Just how stunning is this box? The silvery grey coloured matched with the rose gold lettering is stunning and as soon as I saw it, I loved it.  It looks every much a luxury box and even the little bag inside is of really high quality.

The products I received within my box are as follows:

Percy & Reed Eau My Goodness Shine and Fragrance Spray for your hair - Is it a fragrance? Is it a shine and glossing spray? Ladies, it’s both – and what a wonder it is too! This airy green, delicate fragrance evokes the smell of a rose in the early morning, sprinkled with dew. Spray it over your locks and not only will you smell glorious, you’ll also have intense, dazzling, glossy shine.

Malin + Goetz Peppermint Shampoo - The Peppermint Shampoo is gentle and hydrating, effectively purifying and cleansing and balances all hair and scalp types. Blended with peppermint and olive oil, the hair shampoo is formulated for frequent use. The mildly foaming, residue-free formula softens and conditions.

S5 Balance Fluid for normal-oily skin - Advanced anti-ageing moisturiser for normal-oily, sensitive skim with age defying alpine, arctic and marine bioactives. Helps to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, balance and protect for a matte, clear complexion.

S5 Renew Serum - Targeted age defying treatment for fine lines and wrinkles with arctic bioactives to plump and smooth. Helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles for younger looking skin.

Absolute Bronzing Boost with SPF15 - Enjoy a guilt-free glow with an oil-free bronzer which protects your skin and blends easily for buildable coverage. The perfect facial bronzer that balances skin hues instantly and restores tone while giving a beautiful, even touch of colour.

The One Eyeliner Stylo - This eyeliner tool looks like a pen that comes with a fine applicator that allows you to define your eyes with precision. It dries quickly and therefore, doesn’t smudge. This item is highly sophisticated in appearance and at the same time it is fabricated by using best quality raw components so as to ensure excellence, reliability and optimality. Besides, this beauty product is long lasting and more interestingly, deep black in colour. Thus, achieving high colour accuracy is very much possible.

The One Illuskin Blush in pink glow - A Touch of Delicate Luminosity. Instantly create contoured cheeks.Sculpt & define with the darker shade. Highlight with the lighter, shimmering shade

Three Murad pomegranate exfoliating mask Sachets - Free your skin of dull, dry surface cells with Murad Vitalic Pomegranate Exfoliating Mask and restore the brightness to your skin. Pomegranate extract provides powerful antioxidant protection whilst fruit enzymes exfoliate and keep your skin clear. This tingly weekly treatment features pomegranate and gingko bilba extract which fight free radicals and inflammation whilst natural fruit enzymes and AHAs keep your skin clear and smooth.

For me this is a huge bunch of products which I am enjoying trying and testing out, especially because I have never used any of them before now and only recently realised that The One products are actually part of the Oriflame family.

All of that aside, I actually really like the concept and idea behind the box. Knowing that the more of a beauty profile you give, the more suitable product suggestions to you become, so rather than get a box every month full of stuff you won't use, instead, you get some say in what you might like to try and you never know, you might be finding you Holy Grail products.  I am looking forward to seeing what becomes of Love Me Beauty as they grow and become more established.

As with most subscription services, you can decide how you wish to subscribe. A monthly boxy is £10 plus £3.95 P&P or you can choose a 3,6,9 or 12 month subscription with prices varying.

Have you signed up yet? Is it the kind of idea you think will work?

Murad Balance and Protect Travel Kit

As you read this, I will be in France for a few days and the stress of deciding what I need to take with me has arrived.  I am only doing hand luggage as it is which means I can't take numerous pairs of shoes (always a good thing) and the crazy liquid limit always annoys me!

The lovely people over at Murad sent me one of their 'Travel Light, Stay Clear and Bright' travel-sized skincare sets which are exclusive to Marks & Spencer and cost just £10! There is a choice of three different sets:

• Smooth and Soften Travel Kit - Tackles fine line and wrinkles
• Youthful You Travel Kit - Firms and Brightens the skin
• Balance and Protect Travel Kit - Balances oily, blemish-prone skin.

I was sent the Balance and Protect Travel Kit which arrives in this cute little bag, which you can see below.  What I instantly liked about this kit is that it is travel handy and you can see everything in it and you don't need to faff about getting all your liquids out because it is all within the limit.

Within this kit you will find:

Clarifying Wipes x 5

Clinically proven to keep skin clear by removing dirt, bacterial and excess oil.  To use, you simply wipe over your face and neck

Oil-Control Mattifier SPF15 P++ 10ml

Immediately mattifies the skin and controls oil for up to 8 hours.  To use, you massage evenly over your face and neck

Skin perfecting primer - dewy finish 5ml

An oil-free, pore-minimising formula which can be used under or in place of foundation. To use you apply after moisturising by smoothing a pearl sized amount over your face.

Working together these products claim they will:

• Reduce excess oil and leaves a matte finish
• Restore skin's smoothness
• Give a radiant glow
• Minimise the appearance of pores

For just £10, I think this is a bargain and I am looking forward to seeing how my skin reacts to it whilst away.  Finally this kit is:

• Hypoallergenic
• Dermatologically Tested
• Suitable for Vegetarians
• Skin Type it is for -  Oily

What do you think to this travel kit? Have you tried it or any other Murad products?

Murad Essential-C Sun Balm

We all know the importance of sunscreen and for me it is just as important to apply it as it is moisturiser. You dont have to wait for the sun to come out, a common misnomer and I am one of those people who always looks for a product that has a high enough SPF that I am comfortable with to protect my skin.

I was sent the Murad Essential-C Sun Balm** which is essentially a sunscreen stick with Vitamin-C to prevent and combat sun damage. Now when I say sunscreen stick, think of a roll on deodorant and it is very similar. Whats more is that it is the perfect size for putting into your handbag to carry around to use as and when you need too.

As a balm this product is still designed to protect and shield your skin from UVA/UVB rays, free radicals and dehydration. With an SPF35 it uses

• Broccoli Extract which stimulates skin’s natural defense against UV damage
• Tangerine Butter which locks in moisture and leaves skin silky smooth
• Antioxidant Vitamins A, C and E defend and protect skin’s health

What I love about this balm, other than the fact it is perfectly portable is that it doesn't come with that sunscreen smell and when on the skin, it isn't greasy, it doesn't leave behind any marks or stains and in all honesty it doesn't feel as though you are wearing anything at all, which of course I really like. To use, you simply apply liberally to your face, neck and chest 15 minutes before exposing yourself to the sun and re-apply every two hours. I have used it on my face, ears, behind my ears, back of my neck, my chest and on both shoulders to great effect when the sun has been shining.

The Murad Essential-C Sun Balm costs £19.50 and can be bought here.