Glossybox - Dec 2013 Christmas edition

http://www.glossybox.co.uk

So Christmas edition boxes time, usually means a box of wonder and joy. So did they deliver ? I tried glossybox again for this month to see what they had in store. I wasn't disappointed. 

Beautiful red Christmas box and very festive. With candy cane paper for packing and a white ribbon to keep it all neatly in the box. On the top the Glossy magazine with Kimberly Wyatt on the cover. Festive treasures is the title of the contents included. 

So the contents of the box are ;

-Maybelline : Brow drama sculpting mascara 

- Seche : Nail lacquer

- Sanctuary spa : Active resurface and ultra polish

- Beautiful movements cosmetics : Nude lip gloss 

- Wilkinson sword Intuition : Naturals Razor 

Amazing box for me and really love all the products. I haven't tried any maybelline brow mascara so this was a bit of a hit and miss for me. I don't use a pencil and like my brush and gel application. I love the colour tattoos as i find them so versatile as products. However its something new and not a repeat product.

The naturals razor is perfect as I needed a new one. Since my skin is now quite dry at winter to have a moisturising, plus something that won't make my skin react is a nice edition. Then with the sanctuary spa included it makes for a box of amazing skincare, especially when the elements are so harsh. However i do wonder about the timing as a lot of bloggers have pointed out, this would have suited a summer box more when tanning and dresses are in season. 

The Seche polish is a lovely gold/bronze colour. Perfect for the holiday season and a lovely brand of polish which is beautiful on application. Looks more beautiful in different lights as the gold and bronze interchange. 

The lip gloss is a lovely nude natural colour. I'm not usually a lip gloss kinda gal but this gloss is a lovely nude. I really nice to know its a natural brand too. Plus no sticky pay-pah lips as i call them. 

So I'm very impressed with this box, however for a Christmas box and after having a Glossybox last year in comparison it's pretty meh. Last year we recieved a makeup palette with Seche polish and it was spectacular. This year seems very meh in regards to being something special. I kind of expect a Christmas box to include a lot of makeup based products. Something to make your looks seperate from the normal daily looks. 

Birchbox October 2013

Birchbox Website

So I did take a break from beauty boxes and then was sent the preview of the October box. I was so impressed with the contents that I decided to give Birchbox another go. Im so glad I did as you will see the quality is amazing this month. 

They say :

Co-founders Hayley Barna and Katia Beauchamp met at Harvard Business School. They created Birchbox to help consumers cut through the clutter of the retail world to find products that really work for them. Based in New York City, Birchbox launched in September 2010 and acquired JolieBox in September 2012. To date, Birchbox has shipped over 5,000,000 Birchboxes globally and currently has a global subscriber base of over 400,000 people. Birchbox has been featured by Time, Bloomberg Businessweek, InStyle and Marie Claire, among others.

So this months box was #BBXbuzz theme.

So the contents :

Laura Mercier - Foundation primer 

TheBalm Cosmetics - Stainiac

Egyptian Magic - 

Dr Bragt - Microdermabrasion treatment 

KMS California - Curl Up

Dr lipp - Nipple lip balm

      ----------------------------

Chia Shots (Birchbox extra) 

So can I just say wow amazing box, for starters the contents are all products I've been dying to try. They are decent samples sizes to get a great impression, if I like them enough to purchase full sized. 

So the first four let's run down on : 

Laura Mercier : Foundation primer

One of the most talked about products on the blogging network. This is the one product I want to see if it lives up to all the hype. I have my holy grail primer and I want to see if this primer will give me the same effect. 

KMS California : Curl Up

KMS California is a well known product and I've seen this brand many times. I'm so glad Birchbox are actually using the profiles, I also recieved a hair product for my "Curly hair". I'm so happy its targeted towards my hair type. I cannot wait to use this product.

Dr Brandt's - Microdermabrasion treatment 

Well I've heard of the respected Dr Brandt's skincare range and have tried some sample products. However I've not had a decent sized sample like this to trial and gain a decent opinion on the range. 

TheBalm Cosmetics - Stainiac

This is a beautiful colour stain that is for lips and cheeks. Now I don't usually use a stain as I find you need to work exceptionally quick if you wish this as a cheek colour, as i did find it dries super quick. 

Chia Shots - Green smoothie

These are a extra from Birchbox and I don't usually like these extras, as I'm not wanting health items like tea and suppliments. I can't take them for medical reasons so I do end up giving these away. I don't mind but I'd love a option to either a beauty tool or health option.  However with this box I'm not bothered by this addition, I am happy with all the products I want to try.

So what can I say other then I'm so glad i signed up to Birchbox again if this is the current standard of products being sent out. I could not say other then the Chia shots there is one product I'm unhappy with, each were to my skin type and also hair type which just goes to show maybe the profiles are being utilised now. So roll onto the next Birchbox for November and its contents.

Did you receive the October birchbox ? What did you receive ? 

BoxDelux - Beauty box

So with my love of beauty boxes deminishing as they just are the same plus offer no variety. So I saw a few different boxes on offer and I must admit these boxes are more quality. 

The boxdelux is a little more pricey at £35 but it comes with a £20 to spend voucher on the products you may like in there store. For that £20 you can purchase quite a few items plus I was impressed with the box I chose.  Its in the mystery box side and this changes monthly what arrives on your door but for this review I did request the summer prep box to choose. As with the current box the only product I could use would be the Argan oil (they kindly sent me this to trial) so there customer service is second to none.  There are also gift boxes for wedding brides, friends and relatives. 

Who are we 

BOXDELUX IS THE NEW AND EXCLUSIVE LUXURY BRAND EXPERIENCE. EACH MONTH THE TEAM AT BOXDELUX SOURCE PRODUCTS FOR YOUR TO ENJOY AND DELIVERY TO YOUR DOOR.

Each month you have a chance to taste, smell, feel and experience a selection of luxury products. We source many top products from new and established leading brands, and offer the chance to try before you buy. If you love the brands, then find them in the online store and redeem your £20 gift voucher.

"At Boxdelux we are a company on a mission to bring niche and luxury brands into the spotlight. We aim to promote these brands and give our customers the chance to experience and purchase from our online store. We offer a subscription service that delivers high-end tasters directly to our exclusive members along with a gift voucher to spend on their favourite products. Our platform revolutionizes the way customers discover products and delivers our brand partners a better way to access customers."

Within the box were a variety of healthy natural products I was surprised I really liked. Especially the natural nakd bars which were vegan and made with dates. I loved them plus with the makeup you were given 3 polishs and a lipgloss. So if you didn't like one colour you had a choice. In total 13 products (12 in a normal box, depending which subscription you choose).

So as you can see above which I should have pointed out first was the letter enclosed, £20 voucher code with the contents card. It was very personal and written to your name plus the box was courieried. The whole box design was very high quality and more of a feel that gives it a higher quality. So the price does show that box is of a higher standard and not just beauty. Its a lifestyle box. 

I loved and tried every product in this box, the popcorn was really good as the salt brought the slight sweetness in the taste. Very much an eye opener. 

The most surprising were the nakd health snack bars as they are vegan and I was like oooo I'm not sure but I nom'd these and I will defiantly be purchasing on my shopping list. 

The liquid lipstick is lovely consistency and not glossy at all just a lovely handbag product that I enjoy as are the varnishes which you can see in the swatch of my favourite polish colour, the purple. 

Also I have a 25% off voucher for anyone who wants to starts there own subscription. Using code : treat25

I can't thank Boxdelux enough for this chance to review this box.

BoxDeLux website

Beauteco box - July edition

So while I have I unsubscribed to all the major beauty boxes (Glossybox,birchbox,luxbox and glam guru) I however was intrigued by beaute box. It offers a box that is environmentally thought of with less packaging. Plus the brands they offer are also naturally safe to use although i would hope that they will increase the amount of brands as i will love to see more added so that there is nothing repeated. I love how there box gives you the option to choose what you wish to receive. 

They say :

We’re not going to say it’s where we think. That’d be a cliché. But it is where we put most of our effort to ensure what’s inside the box is as exciting as possible. Here at BeautecoBox, we know nothing beats that personal touch. So as well as letting you hand-pick the contents of your box. The result? A truly unique sampling experience that you can enjoy from the comfort of your own home.

I like there style of giving you 3 box options and you then pick which you would like for that month. The products come within the box itself and no extra inside to remove and then fill your house like a stacking market of empty boxes. Just plain purple packing, wrapped in a simple tissue paper then a little card explaining the contents.

Recyclable packaging plus there is no need to excess waste. I really do like this box but may only stay for a couple of months as I have so much to use that my house is becoming rather over-crowded. However this box was very hard not to pass up due to the very content and size of them. 

So this months contents were 

Full sized Neal and wolf hair products (200mls per bottle, in all 3 box options) 

.........

Art Deco kohl pencil 

Art Deco eyeshadow base 

Pukka serum and 2 sachets of cleanser

I was very impressed with these offerings as they are massivly sized plus I always wanted to try Art Deco before and this gives me the perfect opportunity to do so.

The eyeliner I've heard is a mix between a gel and normal liner so it will not smudge nor is hard to apply. I cannot wait to use the eyeshadow primer as its makeup I'm always loving to trial. Neal and wolf is a brand I've heard of being well thought of and respected.

I cannot wait to see what next months box offers. 

beautco box website and use the code Friend07 to receive 2 additional products included in your first box or you can use my friend link
The subscription is £10 with £2.95 for postage and packaging

BBB - British beauty blogger box

BBB box was released this week and I saw this by chance on a blogger site. Now to say this sold out like a hot cake is an understatement, when I emailed there was 6 left.

I saw the YouTube video and the promotional post via the blog and was so impressed that I asked if I could order. It was £19.95 incl postage. Well worth the money in my opinion. So many quality products were included that they were snapped up in quick record time.

It came in a box lined with pink tissue paper, had a booklet inside which gave a overview of each product plus certain products had promotional codes. Really great addition and showed it was well thought of, constructed over many months and had a main aim to offer value to the consumer as well as an opportunity to trial great products. 

So included were 

Benefits Porefessional 

Bourjois cream blush in honey glow 

Philosophy purity 3 in 1 cleanser 

Trilogy rose hip oil 

Jo loves by Jo Malone

B. lengthening and volume mascara 

Elemis 

Melvita orange body water 

Melvita body soufflé cream 

Lanolips lip colour 

Bioeffect oil

Illamasqua in Electrum
Neom - Hand cream 

I love all the products and have come across most of them in many beauty boxes before but the value is that I have these as travel companions for when I go to hospital or I really want to do a long trial of a product to see if I wish to purchase it.

The bourjois cream blush is just stunning and it does look a little orange but then smoothes out into a beautiful peachy warm toned blush. Really beautiful for summer. B. mascara I have wanted to try for a while as I've not had the opportunity to try any of there products as yet so I'm looking forward to using this when I've finished with this months mascara. (I do a monthly mascara review now). 

The illamasqua was also another product I wanted to add to my lovely collection as the colour is so unusual and I think it will go well with my green eyes as a base. I'm looking forward to using this colour. Also within the booklet there was codes to some brands offering percentages off products and showed a lot of work went into this box.

This was well worth the money and i really hope she releases more boxes as i would defiantly purchase again. It is quality and all the items beauty bloggers and lovers want in a box. Variety and quality products with proper sized samples. Im very impressed and will hold my hands up to say well done British beauty blogger you done an amazing job.

Selfridges Summer festival beauty box

WOW Selfridges , 2 boxes in the space of two months, you really spoil us as these are quality boxes packed full of amazing products. The summer festival themed one was no different and i love it all. Retailing for £25 with a value of £110. This was quality filled and had something for everyone.

So as per usual coming in the white and yellow box tied with a ribbon, there is always a style and chic to these boxes. It feels like store service to your door and packed in that way so you feel special. 

My only complaint is the delivery cost is a little steep as it doesn't change if you ordered 1 or 2 boxes, so when your talking about them giving you a little back as a thanks by covering delivery. I think thats the least they could do where other companies do, Selfridges maybe need to look at that as it does bump the £25 price up to £30. My one gripe and when I've received £110 worth of products then im not making a huge issue of this.

So the contents were -

Violent lips - Rainbow colours 

Illamasqua liquid metal - Surge

Eyeko - Skinny liquid eyeliner 

Topshop - Lip crayon in powder room

Cowshed - Antibacterial handgel 

Bare-minerals - Moxie lipgloss

Sol de Janeiro - Cooling mist

NPW - Chubby glitter stick in hottest pink

NPW - Face wipes in tutti fruity

ColourSmash - Pink hair shadow

Azature - Nail colour in Champagne

Also a Illamasqua card to receive a free colour consultation 

So as you can see the box is stuffed full with amazing items. There are some kooky items with the glitter chubby stick and the violent lips, but i will use them in some kooky looks. I know i have missed the week of looks as IMATs was last week. However ending up in hospital put a spanner in the works so i was not able to do that. I will be putting this back on track and doing the looks within the next couple of weeks. So back to the box. 

I love that i added to my Illamasqua family with Surge and this will be well loved as i want to branch into more Illamasqua to trial. I feel its my place to go now as its colour rich and explosive to the eye. So i have a vast collection i want to hit pan on and also go on a spending ban till october.

Eyeko eyeliner is again another addition i have as i own the chubby shadow they product and this liner is something i am dying to try. Now i own some violent lips but have not used them as yet as I've not found a look that i can expressively use this for but these rainbow lips are making me think of rainbow bright and a inspired look. So let me know your ideas. The colour-smash i love and yes I'm in my 30s but my hair would always have flashes of pink in it when i was younger. This cream is not permanent so it will wash out and i can use this for looks no problem. Not damage my hair and be expressive to my hearts content. 

Okay so the Chubby glitter stick in hot pink will be fabulous for some looks i have in mind to just add colour in hits with some sparkle plus be amazing for festival lovers everywhere. The Azature polish is amazing and if it comes off this colour and not clear then i will be impressed, as what inspires a glam look more then some nail glitter. The mini hand and face wipes are very purse perfect and i have grabbed these for my bag plus they smell so fruity and lovely. Paired that in hand with having the Cowshed anti-bacterial gel, as I'm one who always needs to have clean space and wipe down surfaces plus take wipes everywhere with me to hospital. I can imagine that at a festival i would take a truck load as its a quick way to clean up a mess.

So overall im so impressed with the quality of this box as i went into some items briefly to show the quality but even the cooling mist for these hot days is a godsend and i seriously am impressed with the huge bottle they provide, also the bare-minerals new Moxie lip product is something as well as the Topshop line I've wanted to try.  You will see these products in looks week shown to there full potential. I can't believe the value.

Did you purchase the Summer box from Selfridges ?

BeTrousse Box - Glitz and Glamour

Betrousse UK Website 

Facebook

So the lovely BeTrousse whom i have collaborated with in the past and kindly reviewed a previous box, have now added a new addition to the collection of boxes they offer for an amazing price. The contents  are all full size products that is the main attraction to Betrousse UK as with the brands being French they scream class and chic. 

I do prefer these boxes as i can use a product for a full period and then honestly know if i will repurchase. Its a quality and affordable beauty box. Plus you can pick which box you wish and no commitments or subscriptions to enter into, you pick and choose at your own will. 

Now the newest edition is the Glitz and Glamour box. 

Retailing for £10 plus postage and packaging, this box's contents will retail individually for £70

So as always it comes in a lovely spacious box with pink tissue paper inside and information cards to the products. I prefer this to other beauty boxes. I find them to be sturdy and reusable. Plus for the price of our beauty boxes on the market this offers value for your money. 

So contained within the Glitz and Glamour box were

Make Believe Beauty - Shimmer Lip Gloss (15ml RRP £10.00)

Jason - Normalising Natural Shampoo (250ml RRP £7.29)

Benta Berry- Exfoliating system (30ml RRP £14.00)

Fair Naturally - Mango and safflower Body Moisturiser (200ml RRP £3.99)

Tulecos - Toning Oil (

All products are Full size

Make believe Beauty - Shimmer Lipgloss 

So we first of all have Make Believe beauty known for there tanning line of products and they offer this lovely light shade of gloss with shimmer. Its perfect when sporting a tan to really make the features seem to just beam and just this with a fresh glow will show any natural beauty. Nothing else is needed when sporting a healthy tan, less is more and this shimmer gloss will defiantly be a holiday favourite for travellers.

Jason - Normalising Shampoo 

Ive heard of the brand Jason before and had the pleasure of using another version but conditioner, i love this brand is natural and so gentle on your hair. The size of the bottle is immense and will last you a good while, now i cant use to harsh a treatment at the moment with my hair so this has been fantastic. It cleans your hair so intensely but because it maintains the natural balance to the hair it wont strip it. It was a pleasure to use and was a real godsend on the days my scalp was sore.

Benta Berry - Exfoliating system

I wont lie i didn't use this product and passed it onto a teenage member of my family to use as i have a clarisonic system so i cannot double exfoliate. I have had this before and from what i remember it was a good exfoliator for when i was having a breakout plus when my skin was feeling very clogged without being harsh or too much for my skin. Nor over chemically. My relative has not presented to me any problem with this product. 

Fair Naturally - Mango and Safflower Body Moisturiser

Now this is one of the products i received immense enjoyment from and loved, it smells amazing and decadent with a lovely rich mango smell. Its lovely and rich, moisturises the skin beautifully and also absorbs so well. This was a lovely product as a little goes a long way so its lasting me really well. Im complimented on the smell when i have family over from using it. I love fruity based moisturisers and as this is natural its not a perfume to cause sensitivity. I also love this is a fair trade product so the producers also benefit for the work to making this, so I'm really happy. I would repurchase this in a heartbeat.

Tulecos - 

TONING !! - delete which ever it is not 

Massaging lush oil with all essential natural ingredients ( Lavender, Peppermint, Tea tree, Juniper and orange oils) This is meant as a foot or massage oil, i cannot use it on my feet so i used it on my calfs and also around my knees which really get sore and feel the pressure as-well as my elbows. I personally preferred this in the evening when i was going on down time before bed and especially after the shower to and sent me in a really relaxing sleep, with easing the tension and aches in the joints. I really do like natural aromatherapy treatments and find massage does help with warmth to certain conditions of mine.

This helped with my dry skin with the additional oils to help permeate the skin with a natural infusion of relaxant but also to help relieve the dry skin.Made by a well known french company and devised for the purpose of relaxation and also to be 100%natural with 95% grown in organic farming this oil is the expensive price for that very reason in the quality of the ingredients it contains.The essential oils act as the relaxant and the vegetable oils offer the skin softening agent. This works amazing and i really looked forward to the evening to use these. I did not use this nightly as i just found the oil could clog the skin so i would use this 2 or 3 times a week. As an oil you can imagine you need a few drops warmed in the hands to get the desired affect. 

Im really impressed with the Glitz and Glamour box and think it is well worth the £10 plus postage, you receive full sized quality products which can be used to the full use and not a tiny sample as most beauty boxes offer. I think that Betrousse offer something unique and a real quality box to consumers looking for a beauty box of new brands to trial. Its a pleasure to receive, being from france do expect delivery to take a little longer then usual but I've never found that to be an issue when i know I'm receiving a box full of quality french produce. I have put the links to the site and Facebook page at the top by the logo if you wish to see the boxes on offer. 

Do you receive Betrousse ?