Whats in my Box!?! Birchbox July 2013

So its that time of the month again- when the beauty boxes start making their appearances- all those little goodies to keep me busy. 

BirchBox July 2013

 The first thing I pulled out was RMK Creamy Foundation (RRP £35.00 for full size). Although a sample size- this is a very generous size compared to usual foundation samples- always a bonus. The foundation claims to have a high water retention formula meaning its super hydrating for our thirsty skin this summer.  

 RMK foundation RRP £35.00

I have only tried this once so far and I liked what I tried- it went on smoothly, blended well and had a lovely dewy finish. I will need to give it a few days before I can give a proper full review on this one. But so far so good.










Next we have The Balm Cosmetics InStain Longwearing Blush (Swiss Dot) RRP £21.50 for full size.

The Balm blush RRp £21.50

This is such an adorable little trial size blush- when I first pulled this out the box I wandered what in the name of beauty it actually was- then I opened what appeared to be a mini magazine to find this cute little blush. Its described as 'fresh tangerine' in color, and be warned it is very pigmented- a little really does go a long way. Not a color I would usually go for but even so I'm sure it will get some usage.







Chia Shots (£4.79 for 10 sachets) are something I had never heard of before, and I did think in all honestly this is a slightly random item to include. All Chia Co products are all made from 100% natural Australian grown Chia seed. 

£4.79 for 10 sachets

 Birchbox claim they are ''Super versatile, these little seeds can be sprinkled on salads, smoothies and soups.''



Not too sure  what these will taste like and im a little reluctant to sprinkle them anywhere without giving them a little taste first- but we shall see... 







Next we have Dead Sea Spa Magik Gentle Cleansing Face Wash (RRP £8.80) It claims to have natural ingredients to help cleanse the skin and fight bacteria to help reduce blemishes. I always find it difficult to review samples such as face wash/cleansers as for me I need to be using a product for some time to see any true affects, if it turns out to be a miracle cleanser I promise ill let you know!!

RRP £8.80

Vita Bella Hand Cream (RRP £17.00) was the next out the box. 

 

RRP 17.00 for full size

This hand cream is said to be natural, gentle and non greasy and contains ingredients such as rosehip oil, soothing aloe vera and super-hydrating hyaluronic acid. 

The photo is deceiving, this sample is a teeny size. Its not a bad hand cream but it does not even come close to my all time favorite- Rituals Ginko Hand Balm (scroll back for a full review of this little gem).  It will be ideal to pop in my pocket at work- although im sure it wont last very long...








And I was thrilled to find a 6th product this month- making this box great value for money. The last product is Blanc Cachmire Day cream (RRP £54.75 for the full size)

Birchbox say this product is ''100% natural ingredients are used in a high-tech way to provide a gentle approach to anti-ageing''

I have tried this a couple of times and I was pleasantly surprised- my face felt super soft and slightly 'tight' after application - I guess that's those natural ingredients working on my pre-wrinkles!! ;)

All in all I was impressed with this months Birchbox, the extra item is always a bonus too! If you would like to subscribe please click on the link below

http://birchbox.co.uk/

Hollywood Lashes

I developed my Hollywood Lash addiction about 8 months ago, I thought I would get a one off set done for my holiday- but how wrong I was to think I would stop at one set- I have been in love with them ever since! 

Hollywood Lashes- Picture from the Official Website

Hollywood lashes are semi-permanent lash extensions, where each individual lash is carefully glued to each of your own individual lashes, creating a beautiful full set.

The procedure

On my first appointment I arrived with little knowledge of what to expect- but I was pleasantly surprised it was quite a relaxing experience. To start with I was asked how long I would like them- On average a natural looking set would consist of mostly 'size 12' lashes (with varying sizes in the inner corner to create a more natural look) .... but as the months have progressed- so has the size of my lashes, I now have a set of size 16's!! Hollywood lashes give a more dramatic look than normal mascara does- but a more natural look than the DIY  'strips' of lash extensions you can purchase from the shops. 

My Hollywood Lashes- Full set, Size 16

 After lying down on the couch, a sticky strip is applied under each of your bottom lashes (to hold them out the way I assume and give a working surface for the lash application). A full set took about an hour to apply- but it can be much longer depending on the skills and experience of the beautician. A set of infills takes about 30mins to apply. At the end the beautician brushes them applys a puff of air to dry them and your ready to rock your new lash look!! 

I was advised not to get them wet until the following day and to only use oil-free products near my eyes to prevent breakdown of the glue.The next morning I half expected to find a few fall outs on my pillow (like the individual 'DIY' ones I had tried in the past) but to my joy- not a single one had budged! 

My Hollywood Lashes- with no other eye make up.

Over the next 2-3 weeks you do find some shed- my lashes are infilled every 2-3 weeks for a new fresh look. I  believe how they last depends on how you care for them- initially I was constantly touching them and picking at them, but over the months as I have become used to them I tend not to fiddle as much- and they last much longer!!

Prices do vary quite alot- In salons they tend to average £65 for a full set. The beautician who does mine has years of experience and charges £35 for a full set and £18-£22 for infills and works from a home studio. If anyone lives in the Birmingham area and would like more details please feel free to drop me an email.

The Pros

• Your lashes continuously look full and beautifully glam!
• They save so much time- before I used to spend 15 mins applying a thousand coats of mascara- but now they are ready to go as soon as you wake up!
• No smears or smudges
• The compliments you will receive!! :p

The Cons

• Fairly costly if you go to a salon
• Approaching 'infill time' they can look like they have seen better days- and as your natural lashes grow, they Hollywood extensions can grow at less than desirable angles (although with the use of a mini lash brush this can usually be corrected)
• You need them infilled 2-3 weekly
•  You can never wear an eye mask to sleep- I found this one out the hard way. Not a pretty look with lashes sticking out in all directions.
• I cant really comment on the effect they have on your natural lashes underneath as I have not seen my own since the day I started having the Hollywoods. 

Overall I would recommend Hollywood lashes, I love mine and they have saved my hours of time applying coat after coat of mascara!! Give them a try and let me know what you think!! 

Lancome Vernis in love Nail Varnish giveaway...

All you have to do is enter (to the right of this page) and leave a comment below with your email address so that I can contact the winner. 

Good Luck, Lots of Love xx

My MAC Lippies!

MAC have such a fabulous range of lippies in all colors and shades to suit pretty much anyone. Here are the ones I own- as you can see i'm not the most adventurous with colors and tend to stick to pinks.(and do excuse the ones that are a little messy- there are certain ones that do not like the heat and tend to melt pretty easily)

First up we have Hue (glaze) this is the very first Mac lipstick I ever purchased, it is raved out alot on you-tube and seemed to be one of Macs best selling lippies. Hue is a 'glaze' finish and is a very pale neutral light pink. It wasn't quite what I expected- I had expected it to be a little more pink than it actually is and although it is a lovely wearable color- I just don't seem to find I wear it very often.

Next up we have Angel (Frost) This is very  similar to Hue, but a little more sheer. It is a 'Frost' finish and has slightly more lilac undertones than Hue. Another very wearable color that suits most people.

Bombshell (Frost)  is a lovely shimmery pink, a perfect every day color. Looks fab with a lick of pink gloss over the top. 

  
My all-time favorite is Pink Pearl Pop (cremesheen). This lipstick is a beautiful beautiful color. It is a vibrant girly pink that looks super flattering with smokey eyes. This is a perfect summer shade. Its smooth and creamy on the lips and there is no need for any gloss- its perfect on its own. 


Viva Glam Niki (Satin) is a yellow toned bright bold pink. All profits made from Macs VIVA glam lipsticks go to MAC Aids Fund (registered UK charity number 1147222). I love this idea- celebrity inspired lipsticks for charity. The lipstick is stunning- not the most wearable for the less adventurous but certainly one to try out!

Costa Chic (creamsheen) is an other shade that's very flattering in the summer whilst we all have our tans. (or even in the winter when we all have our spray tans) :p Its a pinky coral and has an opaque finish and brightens up any look. 

Mac lipsticks are priced at £15.00 each and you can purchase any of the above from this link http://www.maccosmetics.co.uk/ 

And let me know what you think!! xx