October Purchases

Hello beauties. 

 

I hope we are all well this fine Saturday morning and we are not all sat with our heads over the toilet seat. For once I am not.

 

I have recently purchased some new products in a recent shopping spree that I would LOVE to share with y'all. I am going to start with my favourite. Here we go. Enjoy.

 

1. MAC Mineralize Blush in Love Joy.  RRP £21

 

 

 

So I am the first to admit that if you asked me a month ago if I would spend £21 on a blusher I would of told you to go...you know the rest. Iv always thought that for certain products like bronzer and blusher than you really don't have to spend a lot as they all must do the same thing surely. I was wrong. 

 

This is an amazing blusher and I have a feeling I will not be straying. It's from the Mineralize range and at first I was hesitant about the darkness of the shade and the shimmer. Iv never been into glitter. It just makes me wretch. But hallelujah- the glitter doesn't stay on your skin when you apply and the shade isn't too dark at all, even on my light tanned skin (fake of course). 

 

It's super easy to build up if you want the shade to be darker and it doesn't budge or fade ALL DAY. It's a contourers dream. I highly highly recommend.

 

2. Smashbox- Photo Finish Foundation Primer- Pore Minimising RRP £28

 

If someone was to ask me what kind of product I would recommend from Smashbox I would scream PRIMER. I have been a huge Smashbox fan for many years now. They do some fab products including a great range of primers. 

 

So one day I was browsing on Twitter as you do when you can't be bothered to move out of bed and I saw a fellow beauty blogger say this new primer, I quote, 'shits' all over Benefits Porefessional. I couldn't believe my eyes- such a bold statement to make indeed! So me being me- I rushed to Boots and got myself one.

 

This is a beautiful primer indeed. Usually Smashbox's primers are water based so I was surprised to find that this one had the same creamy consistency like Benefits Porefessional. I personally don't think it glides on as easy as Benefits but the effects are pretty much on par! They both do the same trick leaving your face glowing, pores none existent and make up stuck to your lovely face all day controlling oil like a dream! 

 

If I had to choose one though it would still be Benefits Porefessional for two reasons. Number one- it's £3.50 cheaper (every penny counts) and two- I think Benefit just has that little bit more OOMPH with your skin and makes it look warmer and fresher than Smashboxes.

 

Still a fab primer though so I would recommended trying for yourself to see which you prefer.

 

And so my last purchase was....

 

3. Models Own- Make Up Blending Sponges RRP £7.99

 

 

So my Beauty Blender pink sponge I got in one of my Birchboxes no longer resembles an egg shaped sponge. Looks like the dog has had her wicked way with it. But no. It was me. 

Beauty Blender sponges definitely don't come cheap (mine was worth £26) but I have thoroughly enjoyed using a sponge to apply my foundation so I felt I had to get a replacement. So I popped into Boots and saw these by Models Own for a fraction of the price. 

 

For the price they are good. But they are nowhere near the quality and amazingness that the Beauty Blender has to offer. These first of all are rock solid and I wouldn't really call them sponges because it hurts my hands to squeeze them. Let's call them pink make up eggs. Secondly they do work OK and make your skin look pretty nice but because they aren't very 'spongy' they are super hard to use to blend the foundation in especially at the forehead line and I find it takes me three times as long for the make up to set. I wouldn't recommend these at all if you want quality. Get the piggy bank out and buy a Beauty Blender. They are magical.

 

So there you have it. Feel free to get in touch or comment.

 

Have a lovely weekend.

 

 

Beauty Box Battle: September

 

Aloha my lovely's. Gosh it feels like a lifetime since I last posted and this post is well due. I have started a new job recently and I have been super super busy with friends and family amongst other things. But also for some reason ALL of my boxes came a lot later than normal for September. I wanted to hold off on writing this post until I had used all of the products properly to give you guys a true review of course. 

 

Here are some photos to show how I have been spending my time recently.

 

 

Lots of walks, being at one with nature and watching cows.

 

  
 

Celebrating a good friend's little mans christening.

 

 

I cut my fringe back in to keep my forehead warm. Winter is upon us.

 

Celebrating one of my best friends weddings. A beautiful beautiful day.

 

The photo booth was a definite highlight.

 

 

I also like the I pad photo booth. Look at those cheek bones. Tyra Banks eat your heart out. 

 

 

And obviously talking to my pooch about politics and what not. 

 

Now let's move onto the important stuff. The boxes. 

 

 

Third place goes to Love Me Beauty. All I can say is what a let down and if Octobers box is the same I shall be cancelling my subscription with them. 

 

This is my first rant. Love Me Beauty has changed the way they operate now and I was bombarded with emails about a 'beauty revolution' that was coming all throughout August. It sounded incredibly exciting.

 

Now you can choose what products go in your box more specifically by logging on each month and using what are called credits. So basically instead of being able to choose from 3 different set boxes, you can now pick a few items yourself to go in that box and then Love Me a beauty fill the rest of the box themselves. Sounded great to be honest because you are given more control than ever before. 

 

 However,  they do not email you anymore to tell you when to choose your box and this has happened in October. My October box will be a complete surprise to me as it was shipped before I even knew it was ready to be picked and so all control has been taken away. Also I got no  product information in Septembers bag. I hope that was a one off.

 

But what has annoyed me the most is this. Love Me Beauty sent me exactly the same product I received only a few months ago. Very sloppy.

 

So as you can see they are not in my good books this month but I am hoping these are just teething problems that have happened from the changes they have made.

 

 Now I will run through the products. 

 

Please note that there will be no pricing information for Love Me Beauty as there was no product information card included.

 

 

1. Absolute Bronzing Boost. 

 

This I quite like. It is a liquid bronzing gel for the face and neck. It has a nice fresh smell to it and spreads really easily.  It also has an SPF of 15 which is great and I will be saving this for a summer holiday. It is quite a small sample however so I am not sure how many uses I will manage to get out of it but at least it's travel sized. 

 

 

2. Murad- Age diffusing firming mask

 

I actually really really liked this but the sample was so small that I only got two uses out of it which was disappointing. This mask claims to rapidly firm and boost your skin instantly and I definately felt that. My skin felt tighter and firmer after only a couple of uses. I just wished I had lots more.

 

 

3. Murad- Acne and Wrinkle Reducer

 

This is also from the same range and I also really really like this but I unfortunately only got two uses from it due to the size of the sample. I do suffer from mild acne and love anything that claims to prevent wrinkles so I was very pleased to see I had been sent this. I used this overnight after I had cleansed and toned and woke up with a super smooth face that was oil free. Once again I would have loved more! 

 

 

4. Deep Steep Moisture Stick

 

Hate this. It's basically a prit stick pretending to be a moisturiser. It smells of lavender which is lovely but it's super sticky. Not nice at all. I also set my Love Me Beauty profile to oily skin so I am not sure why I was sent it. Epic fail.

 

5. Anatomicals- 'Oi! You throbhead' headache relief balm

 

This is now a staple item in my handbag. I stare at a computer screen for most of my day and do suffer from the occasional headache. It does seem to work as well but thankfully I have only needed to use this once so far. You apply this to your temples and it tingles a heck of a lot but I liked that.

 

 

6. Nail Girls- Pink nail varnish

 

This is the product that I have received twice. There is nothing wrong with the nail varnish. I really like it but I don't need two of the same shade. You can find my review on this in May's Beauty Box Battle. 

 

So Love Me Beauty's actual products were quite good overall but the sample sizes were just so small compared to what I get from Birch Box and Glossybox I didn't feel satisfied... Plus I got a duplicate product and I absolutely hate the new changes that have occurred. I'm praying next month is much better or I will be saying bye bye to this subscription.

Second place goes to Birchbox this month but it was still a fab box!  

 

The theme this month was Happy Days which I absolutely loved and it definitely was a happy day when I peeked in my box. 

 

 

1. Urban Fruit- Smashing Strawberry Snack

 

I got two lifestyle extras this month and this was one of them. They are dried up strawberry pieces made of 100% fruit. Healthy and tasty and a nicely sized bag. Birchbox obviously know the way to a woman's heart.

2. Happy Days Photo Clip

 

This was my second lifestyle extra and I also loved this. I had the perfect photo to place in the photo clip and this now lives in my living room. What a fab idea.

 

 

3. Agave- Healing Oil Treatment. RRP From £16

 

I am always wary of these oil treatments because I have really oily hair as it is and I am scared to death of these treatments making it worse but this one was lovely and worked a treat. You apply it to damp or dry hair and use a tiny amount the size of a 5p piece. My hair was lovely and smooth and this will last me a super long time.

 

 

4. Benefit- 'It's Potent!' Eye Cream- RRP £25.59

 

By now you all know I am obsessed with all things benefit and I am really getting into my eye creams (must be old age) however this didn't wow me. You dab a small amount under the eye area and this claims to banish dark circles, smooth fine lines and protect against free radicals. I haven't seen a difference after using this for a good 3 weeks and that's the truth. I will continue to use it because I have the upmost faith in Benefit but so far I haven't seen anything spectacular. Breaks my heart.

 

5. Premae- Mild Dermabrasion Face and Body Scrub- RRP £22

 

Really like this and it has now won a permanent position in my shower. Great size and will last me a super long time. It's a very light facial and body scrub so at first I was wary that this might not really do anything. It does. Your face feels so fresh and awake after you use this and it smells divine.

 

6. Korres- Citrus Body Milk- RRP £9.50

 

Another great product and great size. This is a light body lotion that contains almond oil and Shea butter to hydrate and smooth skin. I use this after showering and it leaves me feeling super fresh and smooth preparing me for the day ahead.  I have to keep fighting my other half over it because he loves it too!

 

 

7. Model Co- Power Lash Mascara- RRP £24

 

This month Birchbox were ever so kind and emailed me to ask me to pick an extra product. Happy days indeed. I chose this mascara because I am always on the hunt for a great mascara but I can't seem to tempt myself away from Benefits wonder mascara- 'They're Real. 

This mascara fails to beat Benefits but it's still a great mascara which I have found is perfect for work as it's not as dramatic but still does the job. The brush is easy to use and I use around 3 coats to get a nice black thick lash. Here is a photo of it on....

 

 

 Another fantastic box as always with no bad products but Glossybox wowed me that little bit more this month to take first place.

 

 

This months theme was Karen Millen. The box may seem a little empty above but that's only because I had already attacked many of the products inside and used them all before I took this photo! (They were that good).

 

I am going to start with the winning product that totally amazed me and I will be buying myself again soon!

 

 

1. SkinPep- Enzyme a Eye Cream and Acid Peeling Gel- RRP £10.10 for all three samples

 

WOW WOW WOWZERS. Both the acid peels and eye cream blew me away with the eye cream in particular. The eye cream instantly plumps up the under eye area and reduces dark circles and bags straight away. When I read that it would give results like that so fast I will be the first to admit that I said 'yeah right'. But it works. As simple as that.

 

The acid peels were great as well. I have never had an acid peel but these will be an essential part of my beauty regime from now on. My skin was so smooth and refreshed afterwards and I had a lovely glow. Just don't use an exfoliator anytime time soon after using the peels. It burns. 

 

This brand in my opinion is a brand you can definitely trust.

 

2. Nails inc- Westminster Bridge Matte Top Coat. RRP £12

 

I now have no need to buy matt nail varnish shades anymore. What a great product this is. This top coat turns any shiny polish into a matt version so you can have the best of both worlds. Money saver alert. Have a peek below to see the results.

 

 

3. Vichy- Normaderm Night Detox and Hydrating Care- RRP £5 for both sample sizes

 

Another wonderful skin cream brand that I have never heard of before. I received a sample day cream and a sample night cream and was left craving more! Both tubes lasted me a week and I really noticed a great difference in my complexion. I had no nasty breakouts either. What I loved about these creams is that they are perfect for oily skin- they work to balance out oil production. These will also be going on my Christmas list for sure.

 

4. Model Co- More Brows a Fibre Gel- RRP £14.95

 

Model Co is a brand I have never made an effort to buy in the past but I am growing very fond of them. This is fabulous. I use this as a base before I use my brow powder and it really makes a difference. It's purpose is to make your brows seem more fuller and thicker and it does. I am now one step closer to having Cara Delevigne wonder brows. 

 

5. L'Oreal Professional- Mythic Masque

 

This is a lovely lovely hair masque for those days when you feel you need a little more TLC. You leave this on towel dried hair for only a few minutes and voila.... Shiny silky hair. Gutted its all gone. 

 

So there you have it. Glossybox won this round. I hope you enjoyed my post.