Birchbox - Dec 2013 Christmas edition

Birchbox Website

So this is the Christmas edition from Birchbox and i must say i was quite impressed. However again it wasn't overwhelming. Maybe we have been spoilt with Laura mercier these past two months to appreciate the contents fully. In looking at my box after some thinking, i came to the conclusion it was a far more cohesive box then its counterpart. It had items for haircare, skincare, makeup and nail item to jazz your look for the festive season. 

Contents :

Nail Rock - Glitter nail art kit

Twistband hair tie

Sin care - Party girl Facial serum

Alima pure - Luminous eyeshadow

Number 4 - Non aerosol hair spray

Aromatherapy Associates - Bath oil 

So my box was very generous and quite surprising. I wasn't expecting the serum or to receive quite decent sample sizes. This sin-care facial serum is always a nice option within a box to trial new skincare. Aromatherapy associates i really like there oils and only takes a small amount to gain great throws of scents. 

So the party items in the Nail rock kit (Mine was the golden glitter) i usually would find this quite messy and just go with adding a top coated glitter polish. However I'm willing to try something new and pamper myself for an evening doing my nails. Plus its a full kit so you will gain a few uses from this set. The Alima pure eyeshadow is a lovely almost duo-chromes of vanilla and golden tones to add to a lovely christmas look. Really multi functional use as you can use this as a subtle highlight for new year as well (If your going for a party look).

The twist-band is a really good item to have as an emergency in your bag. As you may find you need to tie your hair up when it gets too hot within a function, this will protect your hair. Unfortunately my hair is so thick it would not hold my hair as from previous experience. I will try this one to see if the band is better able to hold my hair on this occasion.  As with the Hairspray it offers a light and free coating on the hair, however it was in my opinion not going to offer my hair the hold it requires. 

So overall the box as i said was good and covers all the bases to help the party season go off with a bang, plus its great sample sizes. All the things we ask for in beauty box but just don't feel this years boxes went far enough to surprise. The gift card was useless as to spend $20 in a overseas shop then all the customs and expense that comes with it, really is not worth the hassle. Especially when you think they could have bulk sent them over to distribute in our boxes. So a better box then counterparts but could have had more wow factor. 

LoveMebeauty - Dec 2013

http://lovemebeauty.com

So lovemebeauty is the most amazing box i have subscribed too. It offers the choice to the subscriber of which box you wish to receive each month, so that you are not left with products you wont use. There is a equal amount of love for makeup brands and skincare. There will always be 2-3 products that wont change within each box then the last 2 will change to meet different needs. There are also perks to gain new samples within each months box, surveys, friend referrals etc. Amazing decent sized samples to gain an accurate feeling of how a product works for you. 

Contents of the box ; 

S5 - Restore cream

Rodial - Glamtox day 

Lord and Berry - Intensity Lipstick in "Glazed Pink"

Lord and berry - Lipliner in Romantica 

Headline colours - Quicksand colour 

Extra sample of Essential care - Facial wash

I really love that they do give you the options between 4 boxes. So you can have the option of products you would use, then you can be safe knowing what you will receive is too your needs. 

So this month the staple products within the box were the Lord and berry products plus the Nail polish. The nail polish was a lovely neutral brown colour along with the lipstick being a natural colour. As with the party season i usually will go with a heavy eye look then a light lip colour. The Romantica pencil gives the lip a lovely plum pink look. As with all neutral colours you can have the option to jazz them up.

So then we come to the extra products within the box that i choose. Which would be the S5 restore cream, which i did choose because within the winter my skin needs that hydration. All helps hydrate and i do need a hydrating skincare within this season. It was a nice treat to be given such a high end skincare to use. 

Then the second item came again from a high-end skincare brand. Rodial glamdox day can be used as a primer and also highly praised within the makeup artist world. It can also be used as a regular skincare item for plumping and hydrating purposes also preventing hydration loss. 

So im really impressed with this box as it has a great balance of skincare with makeup for this festive season. Plus what i love most is that your given the option of choice with this box. So no nasty surprises or items that don't meet your needs. I cant wait too see what 2014 brings, however i would love to see more brands added to trial. As the sample sizes are fantastic and also cater for a wide range plus a very nice treat with high end skincare brands included. 

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. 

Soap and Glory - Girl O Whirl Christmas set

Soap and Glory Website 

So in the run up to Christmas when we all are looking for the perfect gifts, why not look at Soap and glory's offerings. This year they released a selection of gift ranges from their cosmetics line. So I'm am reviewing the Girl O Whirl set, which has a selection of the Soap and Glory cosmetics within a glossy black casing. Now this will be a picture heavy review as I want to show you the full beauty of the set. 

So Soap and glory discribe the set as ;

A cornucopia of colour, a stack of glamour, a bundle of bestselling beautystuff. Any way you apply it, colours that’ll give any girl the gift of gorgeous. 

This beautiful set includes ; 

- 6 Lid Stuff™ eyeshadows

- 6 Supercolour fabulipsticks™ 

- Thick & Fast™ Super Volume mascara 

- Sexy Mother Pucker™ gloss stick in Nudist

- Glow All Out™ luminising face powder 

- Solar Powder™ multi-shade bronzer

- Eyeshadow brush 

- Lip brush

- Blusher brush

Eyeshadows and Lipsticks

I will go through the eyeshadows and lipsticks first (swatches included). 

The fabulipsticks come in 6 shades, which are a perfect mix of nude through to a red shade. 

Top shades are : Naked beige, Guavarama and Red my lips

Bottom shades are : Missing pink, Perfect day and Man trap 

Now they are creamy and highly pigmented. It has a lip brush included for application, which is soft considering I do find applicators redundant in kits. This brush is suitable if you wish to travel and not bring additional tools.

The eyeshadows I've used before from a lid stuff quad palette. However I don't have these shades, so it was nice to have more to experiment with. 

Top shades : Vanilla, Wild blue and Smokin

Bottom shades : Minky , Dandy plum and Black gold 

Now Vanilla is embossed with the Soap and glory logo (as is like the quads, one shade being embossed). From my experience of the quad which was very creamy, blended well however I found a shade or two a little chalky. These shades seen to be more buttery and extremely pigmented with only a little swatch needed. Wild blue and Black gold are the most pigmented of the set, which was lovely as the blue is beautiful. A very unique shade indeed, then paired with smokin or Black gold could be an amazing smokey eye look. The colour choices are perfect for the season, plus defiantly give you more then one look. 

Beauty powders

The bronzer (Solar powder) and luminising (Glow all out) powder within the kit are just like the boxed versions. 

Solar powder is the bronzer side and a subtle bronzer with slight shimmer when applied. It can easily be built up using the darker half of the powder if you feel it's too subtle. 

Glow all out is the luminizer powder included. Now it looks quite heavily white on the swatch, but this is a heavy to show how it appears. You would not use this much in reality and only need a small amount. It can be used multi purposely for highlighting the cheeks, nose and Cupid's bow. It's not powdery and does blend well to a shimmer finish, help bring out that seasonal glow. I do like this powder as it is easy and blendable. 

Additional extras

The added extras in the kit you will find the brushes needed for eye, lip and powder finishes. They are soft and perfectly usable tools for the application of the products intended for use.

Sexy Motherpucker : Gloss stick in Nudist 

I use this gloss stick as a handbag essential, they are hydrating and offer a hint of colour. Perfect for winter also as they offer the perfect shade to look natural. 

Thick and fast Mascara : is soap and glory's mascara that offers thick and Volumous lashes. A bristled ended brush that seperates and coats lashes, leaving no clumps. A perfect way to finish a look off. 

The contents :

So all in all this impressive kit will give a loved one, a full set of makeup introducing them to Soap and glory. Also offer them quality and the perfect travel case (the plastic holding is not fitted, so can be removed easily).

I do wish that the Cat-eyeliner had been included as this truely would have made it the set to beat. However as whole this set won't disappoint, the colours are pigmented and a mix of usable products.  Very impressed at this years gift offerings from Soap and Glory. 

Do you like Soap and glory's Christmas offerings this year ? 

Top brands and Websites for Christmas

So I have decided to do a few posts before Christmas of natural brands and also bespoke gifts made by talented and inspiring ladies. I will be doing more posts in the run up to christmas but here are a few sites to get you started and also my favourite places to purchase beauty items. 

1. Nourish Skincare 

One of the most amazing finds for me this year. I want to express my gratitude to Nourish for allowing me to review there amazing natural products. 

I love there mini kits and I think they will make excellent presents for those dear to you and if you rather natural products. 

Website : Nourish Skincare

2. Basil and thyme bespoke gifts -

A lovely bespoke company whom offer a beautiful and friendly service. Catering to any need and with the Christmas selection looking delightful. I will be purchasing some Christmas pudding and snowball bath bombs for stocking fillers. 

3. Nima Brushes - 

Nima brushes I had reviewed and would find these to be a lovely addition to an avid makeup users collection. 

Website : NIMA brushes

4. Bagza Character bags - 

One of the most beautiful handmade products ive come across but what makes Bagza character so special is Jackie whom runs and makes the bags. Jackie has now started making baby wear so check out her facebook and email her any orders or enquiries you may have.

Facebook 

5. (Affordable) BH cosmetics / BeautyUK / MUA / Barry M  -

     

6. (Mid-range) MAC / Urban decay / NARS / Stila  - 

7. (Top-range) Tom ford / Charlotte tilbury / Sigma Brushes / Chanel / Dior 

8. Escentual.com

One of the most reliable and well priced sites for beauty and gifts I've used this year. Always wonderful customer service and good loyalty points schemes just been introduced. Sign up to be made aware of 1/3rd off sales and offers. 

Website : Escentual.com

Facebook : Escentual.com Facebook

9. Soap and Glory 

Via boots or online stores. 

Just don't forget to have fun and enjoy the season with those you love.

Its the thought that counts and ultimately if you wish to, then make gifts yourself to show that personal touch. 

Nourish - Argan beauty Collection review plus Discount code

Nourish website

So it's no secret, one of my great finds this year has been the Nourish brand. They have natural and professional products with a lovely feel to them. They have the option from mini kits to trial, or full sized products of the ones you love. I was sent the Argan Beauty Collection, Christmas set for review. 

They say -

A luxurious collection of shimmering gold, rejuvenating frankincense and revitalising myrrh, with omega-rich organic Moroccan argan oil and a stellar array of ultra-moisturising and radiance boosting bioactives, to enhance your natural beauty.

The packaging is beautiful with the gold snowflakes and presentation box. Within this contains 3 of Nourish's best products. 

It contains - 

Golden glow body shimmer 

Argan skin renew 

Argan skin rescue

They are all of a decent size products to give as a Christmas gift or a stocking filler. 

Now I have reviewed each of these products individually. I particularly favour the golden glow body shimmer and how my skin looks after use skin. Only a little amount is needed and it brightens up your whole look. It can be added to a foundation or any makeup to give a glow. I love to use it as a highlighter as it's beautiful. It's such a multi purpose product that there is no end to the uses. 

The Argan skin renew is just heavenly as I have done a full review on this product. It states how I enjoy this cream, as its light with quick absorbency. Perfect for night time when the last thing you want is a tacky, sticky cream sitting there all night. Smells divine and with the Argan skin rescue is a perfect duo for skin. Especially for me being on the dry side in winter, this is a dream. 

So the Argan skin rescue is a new product to me and now is a favourite. As it's like a serum consistency that I favour for night use. I prefer this at night as the serum has a slightly sweet floral scent too it, which is so calming and relaxing in the evening. However I do find this before my primer very effective. It's absorbant and lighter then a normal cream moisturiser. So again another multiuse product from nourish. 

All in all this kit is just lovely and I've been so wonderfully supported by nourish this year. They offer such high quality products that anyone would adore receiving during the Christmas period. So if this isn't to your taste then look at the mini kits on offer. 

I've been kindly given a money off discount for my readers. 

 Offer of a 10% discount with free P&H on our fantastic Christmas Gift. The discount code is: ABC10 and will be valid until 18th December. So thank you Nourish and a Happy Christmas. 

Argan Beauty collection

Kringle candle Company - Winter 2013 Scents

Kringle candle Holiday Favourites

So for the second time im reviewing for Kringle candle company with there new additions to the Holiday favourites line. Im so grateful to review another batch of lovely candles and especially in the winter time when it sets the mood for the home.

So the new scents are : Autumn winds , Blue Spruce, Ginger snow angel, Peppermint kiss, Snow day and White pumpkin 

These scents join there 12 other Christmas favourites. 

Ginger Snow Angel

So the first candle i was drawn too from the set was Ginger snow angel, this is a very beautiful scent of gingerbread and brown sugar. Its mainly reminded me of when you make gingerbread fresh and you just take it out of the oven. The smell envelops you and your home in a wonderful gingery hug. So if you don't like gingerbread then this may not be for you. However its a constant scent meaning that it doesn't become overpowering to the senses and keeps at a nice plato of sensual pleasures. I really love this candle and its double wick version in the evening, with a hot mug of cocoa is just how winter should be enjoyed. This is my favourite of the new range of scents released.

Snow day

The next is the beautiful Snow day and i must say the art work on Kringle candles never fails to make me gasp and get the feel of the candle. It really does show you what the scent is and trying to converge the feeling encapsulated. So snow day is a fresh scent to the first snow of the season, with a lovely cool almost powder like scent. Its hard to describe the smell of snow but its a nice fresh scent for the home. I would say the blue tinge in the tumblers really does convey the "snow" feeling more as it looks like packed snow in the container. Its lovely to have on display.

Peppermint Kiss 

The next is Peppermint kiss and well it reminded me of candy canes with the sweet outside and minty tinge of the inner layer. It has light notes of sugar with vanilla in it with a peppermint tinge to the air. Beautiful candle that really does give a taste of christmas to the home. I love having candy canes on the tree and they are a nice break from the sugar overload to have a minty fresh feeling.  

Blue Spruce

So the next Blue spruce is amazing and smells like a christmas tree from the minute its lit. We don't have our tree yet, the house smelt like a tree had been set up for a night filling the room with its scent. It was unbelievable how real the scent was. Great for anyone whom wants to have the smell of christmas trees filling the air. 

Autumn Winds

So the next is the Autumn winds candle which is very strong scented smell of leafs. Now I know every scent is personal preference and what I like another person may not and vice versa. So I'm not going to have a bad word to say on something that is subjective to the person purchasing it. If you like the leafs falling and conker smells of autumn then this is the candle for you. Personally I'm a fruity and foody scent kinda girl. So floral and natural scents are not my cup of tea.

White Pumpkin

Then finally we have White pumpkin which was not my favourite. I guess because we don't have pumpkins that I can't compare it. However from remembering Halloween I can vaguely say this is true to scent. It has the fresh pumpkin and almost outdoors woodland scent. Very nice for anyone wishing to bring a little of the outdoors inside, but like I said I'm very much a food and fruity scent kinda girl. So I do think the scents of the outdoors are great for maybe a more manly ambiance as my husband loves these ones. He was very impressed by them and had them burning whilst I was in my room with my lovely ginger snow angel. 

That's also another great advantage to Kringle candles is the scents don't clash, so when they meet in the hall it's not sickly. It's like Christmas has just settled  and It's a homely, cosy feeling. Another lovely selection to Kringle candle and they burn brilliant, no tunneling or any problems at all. I have had other brands and needed to return candles due to this but never a Kringle candle. The wax is so pure and a pleasure to have in the home.