I can't say for sure when my next "weekly" nail art post will be but there definitely will be more to come as I still paint my nails on a regular basis.
Thursday, 31 August 2017
Weekly Nails - Cupcakes and Silver
I can't say for sure when my next "weekly" nail art post will be but there definitely will be more to come as I still paint my nails on a regular basis.
Sunday, 4 June 2017
Review: October 2016 Beauty Boxes - Part 2
Last time I talked about the October 2016 Birchbox and Glossybox so this time I'll review the LookFantastic and Amazon Luxury Beauty boxes.
LookFantastic Beauty Box is another box I was new to, it costs £15 per month (P&P included) and there are slight savings if you subscribe to 3, 6 or 12 months of boxes at a time. The theme for the month's box was "Pamper" so included items to help make you look and feel relaxed and pampered. The LookFantastic box also comes with a complementary handbag-size copy of that month's Elle magazine which is a nice extra.
The first sample in this box was Murad - Intensive-C Radiance Peel (RRP £49.50 - sample worth £9.90) which is a blend of glycolic acid, vitamin C and Indian fig which when used once a week is said to decongest the skin and reveal a healthier complexion. I've used it several times about 4 days apart and it does seem to brighten my skin momentarily after using it. It does slightly tingle when used but not uncomfortably so and the sample size has lasted quite a while so far.
Next is Mio - Liquid Yoga (RRP £26 - sample worth approx £6.50) which is a restorative bath soak made of a blend of Epsom salts, lavender, arnica and mandarin. I've used this sample up and got 2 uses out of it. It gives your bath a strong lavender scent and that does help you to relax. The soak is also meant to help ease tension and muscular aches but I always find baths soothing anyway so can't really say this made a difference.
There was also a hair product included in this box: Alterna - Caviar Moisture Intense Treatment (RRP £31.50 - sample worth £6.30). This is an oil creme pre-shampoo treatment to use on dehydrated hair. I like to do conditioning treatments a couple times a month just to try and give the ends of my hair some moisture back so this sample came in useful. Despite it calling itself an oil creme, it isn't as "oily" as I thought it would be, it's more like a thin conditioner with a nice fragrance.
The Editor's Pick in this box was Oskia - Renaissance Mask (RRP £49.50 - sample worth approx £11.90) which is an award-winning facial mask made with a blend of fruit acids that gently exfoliate dead skin cells and impurities. I haven't tried this mask yet but I've read reviews about it and they all seem very positive so I am looking forward to trying it at some point, I just hope it doesn't irritate my temperamental skin.
The box also included Laura Geller - Pout Perfection Waterproof Lip Liner in Claret (RRP £14, full size product) which is a warm red lip pencil. The pencil applies smoothly without dragging too much and contains jojoba oil and vitamin E. I do wear red lipsticks so this will come in useful for me.
Finally, the last item is Polaar - The Genuine Lapland Cream (RRP £8.29, full size product) which is a lip balm made with polar berries, blackberries and lingon berries. The lip balm is parabens, fragrance and colour free so shouldn't affect even sensitive lips. It does feel very moisturing on the lips but the only drawback is that it has a strange taste at first, not sure if it's just the blend of ingredients.
Box value = £56.89
Lastly, the Amazon Luxury Beauty Box which was on an offer on Amazon for a period of time where if you spent over £40 across certain categories you would receive the box for free. The box didn't have a particular theme but included haircare, skincare and beauty products.
The first item was Gatineau - Mélatogénine Furtur Plus Anti-Wrinkle Radiance Mask (RRP £42, sample worth £8.40) which includes ingredients, including collagen extracts, to help rewind the effects of time and promote a glowing complexion. The mask can be used in 2 ways, in a thick layer for a 10 minute mask treatment or in a thin layer overnight for a more intensive treatment. I haven't used the product yet as I'm currently using a couple other masks and products but I will give it a go shortly.
The only nail polish from all of my boxes received this month was a mini OPI - Do You Have This Colour in Stock-holm (RRP £11.95, sample worth approx £3), which is a lovely true purple creme gloss shade which covers well in 2 coats. Can't wait to use this for some nail art.
I have a feeling these boxes are trying to tell me something with all the anti-aging products they've included... Murad - Age Reform AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser (RRP £34, sample worth approx £5.10) contains salicylic acid, glycolic acid and lactic acid to improve the skins appearance and texture. I haven't tried this one yet but I'm actually looking forward to giving it a try to see if it can help perk my skin up a bit.
The next item is one I've received a sample of previously from Birchbox, Elemis - Pro-Collagen Marine Cream (RRP £99, sample worth £14.85). This cream contains anti-aging ingredients that should help improve the skin's appearance in 15 days. I've not noticed any noticeable effects in the past and it seems to make my skin appear oilier throughout the day than when I use my ordinary moisturisers/face creams as it is quite rich, I'll give it another try though as it does seem to get positive reviews from people.
This box also featured a perfume sample, Rose Silence EDP by Miller Harris (RRP £65, sample worth approx £9.10). The perfume has a strong rose fragrance with a hint of spice, rose isn't my favourite scent but the spicy notes give it a different dimension.
Like this month's Birchbox, the Amazon Luxury Beauty box featured a face mist, Rodail - Dragon's Blood Hyaluronic Tonic (RRP £33, sample worth £16.50) however this one contains more than just water which is a plus. The spray contains rose water, dragon's blood, vitamin b3 and hyaluronic acid to help provide more hydration to the skin and to brighten and soothe. The spray can also be used as a makeup setting spray. I've tried this a few times and it does briefly make the skin feel a bit refreshed but I haven't seen any longer lasting benefits yet.
Next is Percy & Reed - No-Fuss Fabulousness Dry Shampoo (RRP £12, sample worth £4). I do use dry shampoo quite regularly, I'm really lazy with washing my hair and often rely on my Batiste Dark & Deep Brown dry shampoo, but I'm wary of uncoloured dry shampoos as they often leave noticeable white/grey patches in my dark hair. This one, unfortunately, does leave light patches in the hair, even if brushed through.
I received a duplicate item that I already got in this month's Birchbox, Rituals - Rituals of Sakura Magic Touch Body Cream (RRP £19.50, sample worth approx £6.20). Not a huge complaint as I do love the smell of it and I'm sure I'll use both samples up.
The next product is one I was pretty excited to try when I saw it, Merumaya - Melting Cleansing Balm (RRP £16.50, sample worth approx £4.10). The balm contains a mix of oils and anti-oxidants that both cleanse the skin and leave it feeling hydrated. You rub the balm over your face and mask and then you apply water and it turns into a milk on the skin as you massage it further, you can remove by rinsing or with a cleansing cloth. I did like this product and it left the skin feeling moisturised however it did not fully remove make up as I hoped it would.
The final product in this box was Spongellé - Spongette Bourbon Vanilla (RRP £6.50, full size product). This is basically a soap infused sponge which gives you 5+ uses. The scent is quite pleasant and it works well even if the sponge is a little rougher than I normally use. This would be ideal for travelling as you wouldn't need to take a liquid body wash or soap with you.
Box value = £77.75
Not a bad bunch of boxes with some products I would consider purchasing again (Murad Intensive-C Radiance Peel, Bee Good Facial Exfoliator, Body Shop Drops of Youth Concentrate..) and good box values, with LookFantastic having the best value for money this month.
Do any of you subscribe to any of these boxes? Which is your favourite?
LookFantastic Beauty Box is another box I was new to, it costs £15 per month (P&P included) and there are slight savings if you subscribe to 3, 6 or 12 months of boxes at a time. The theme for the month's box was "Pamper" so included items to help make you look and feel relaxed and pampered. The LookFantastic box also comes with a complementary handbag-size copy of that month's Elle magazine which is a nice extra.
Next is Mio - Liquid Yoga (RRP £26 - sample worth approx £6.50) which is a restorative bath soak made of a blend of Epsom salts, lavender, arnica and mandarin. I've used this sample up and got 2 uses out of it. It gives your bath a strong lavender scent and that does help you to relax. The soak is also meant to help ease tension and muscular aches but I always find baths soothing anyway so can't really say this made a difference.
There was also a hair product included in this box: Alterna - Caviar Moisture Intense Treatment (RRP £31.50 - sample worth £6.30). This is an oil creme pre-shampoo treatment to use on dehydrated hair. I like to do conditioning treatments a couple times a month just to try and give the ends of my hair some moisture back so this sample came in useful. Despite it calling itself an oil creme, it isn't as "oily" as I thought it would be, it's more like a thin conditioner with a nice fragrance.
The Editor's Pick in this box was Oskia - Renaissance Mask (RRP £49.50 - sample worth approx £11.90) which is an award-winning facial mask made with a blend of fruit acids that gently exfoliate dead skin cells and impurities. I haven't tried this mask yet but I've read reviews about it and they all seem very positive so I am looking forward to trying it at some point, I just hope it doesn't irritate my temperamental skin.
The box also included Laura Geller - Pout Perfection Waterproof Lip Liner in Claret (RRP £14, full size product) which is a warm red lip pencil. The pencil applies smoothly without dragging too much and contains jojoba oil and vitamin E. I do wear red lipsticks so this will come in useful for me.
Box value = £56.89
Lastly, the Amazon Luxury Beauty Box which was on an offer on Amazon for a period of time where if you spent over £40 across certain categories you would receive the box for free. The box didn't have a particular theme but included haircare, skincare and beauty products.
The only nail polish from all of my boxes received this month was a mini OPI - Do You Have This Colour in Stock-holm (RRP £11.95, sample worth approx £3), which is a lovely true purple creme gloss shade which covers well in 2 coats. Can't wait to use this for some nail art.
The next item is one I've received a sample of previously from Birchbox, Elemis - Pro-Collagen Marine Cream (RRP £99, sample worth £14.85). This cream contains anti-aging ingredients that should help improve the skin's appearance in 15 days. I've not noticed any noticeable effects in the past and it seems to make my skin appear oilier throughout the day than when I use my ordinary moisturisers/face creams as it is quite rich, I'll give it another try though as it does seem to get positive reviews from people.
This box also featured a perfume sample, Rose Silence EDP by Miller Harris (RRP £65, sample worth approx £9.10). The perfume has a strong rose fragrance with a hint of spice, rose isn't my favourite scent but the spicy notes give it a different dimension.
Like this month's Birchbox, the Amazon Luxury Beauty box featured a face mist, Rodail - Dragon's Blood Hyaluronic Tonic (RRP £33, sample worth £16.50) however this one contains more than just water which is a plus. The spray contains rose water, dragon's blood, vitamin b3 and hyaluronic acid to help provide more hydration to the skin and to brighten and soothe. The spray can also be used as a makeup setting spray. I've tried this a few times and it does briefly make the skin feel a bit refreshed but I haven't seen any longer lasting benefits yet.
Next is Percy & Reed - No-Fuss Fabulousness Dry Shampoo (RRP £12, sample worth £4). I do use dry shampoo quite regularly, I'm really lazy with washing my hair and often rely on my Batiste Dark & Deep Brown dry shampoo, but I'm wary of uncoloured dry shampoos as they often leave noticeable white/grey patches in my dark hair. This one, unfortunately, does leave light patches in the hair, even if brushed through.
I received a duplicate item that I already got in this month's Birchbox, Rituals - Rituals of Sakura Magic Touch Body Cream (RRP £19.50, sample worth approx £6.20). Not a huge complaint as I do love the smell of it and I'm sure I'll use both samples up.
The next product is one I was pretty excited to try when I saw it, Merumaya - Melting Cleansing Balm (RRP £16.50, sample worth approx £4.10). The balm contains a mix of oils and anti-oxidants that both cleanse the skin and leave it feeling hydrated. You rub the balm over your face and mask and then you apply water and it turns into a milk on the skin as you massage it further, you can remove by rinsing or with a cleansing cloth. I did like this product and it left the skin feeling moisturised however it did not fully remove make up as I hoped it would.
The final product in this box was Spongellé - Spongette Bourbon Vanilla (RRP £6.50, full size product). This is basically a soap infused sponge which gives you 5+ uses. The scent is quite pleasant and it works well even if the sponge is a little rougher than I normally use. This would be ideal for travelling as you wouldn't need to take a liquid body wash or soap with you.
Box value = £77.75
Not a bad bunch of boxes with some products I would consider purchasing again (Murad Intensive-C Radiance Peel, Bee Good Facial Exfoliator, Body Shop Drops of Youth Concentrate..) and good box values, with LookFantastic having the best value for money this month.
Do any of you subscribe to any of these boxes? Which is your favourite?
Tuesday, 23 May 2017
Review: October 2016 Beauty Boxes - Part 1
In October 2016 I received 4 boxes: Birchbox, Glossybox, LookFantastic Beauty Box and the Amazon Luxury Beauty box. Since I have so many boxes to catch up with (it doesn't help I subscribed to more!) I thought I would write about a month's worth at a time rather than box by box.
Instead of having one super long post, I'm breaking it into two parts. So here is part one...
First up is Birchbox, which costs £10 (+£2.95 P&P) a month with savings of £20 if you sign up for a year of boxes. I've been signed up to Birchbox for a while now and have stuck with them as they are, more often than not, good value for money. This month's box had a theme of "What's Your Sign?" with 4 different box designs that could have been received (Air, Earth, Fire or Water) and with me being an Aries I aptly received the Fire box (the stars on the box also glow in the dark).
The first product in the box was a little disappointing, Doux Me - Pure Spring Mist (RRP £16, sample worth £8). Ultimately this is water in a can; I can see it being useful in the hotter months when you need to freshen up your face or if you've just worked out but you can get the same product for much cheaper elsewhere.
Next there was a good size sample (70ml) of Rituals - Rituals of Sakura Magic Touch Body Cream (RRP £19.50, sample worth approx £6.20) which is lovely and rich and soaks into the skin easily without greasiness. The scent is very pretty but not overpowering and lasts for a long time so I look forward to using this more.
The box also featured Number 4 - Fluoro5 Elixer Restore & Repair Oil (RRP £18, sample worth approx £4.60). I do use hair oils on and off so I will use this sample up; it has a very subtle scent and feels light when applied to the hair but there's no noticeable differences between this and other hair oils I have used so far.
I do like a face mask to brighten my skin up every once in a while so I was happy to see Whish Renewing Mud Mask (RRP £29, sample worth £7.25). The product is quite thin so dries quickly and you leave it on no longer than 2 minutes before washing off (the mask also exfoliates as you wash it off). It does have a strong scent to it and left my face a little red once washed off but this soon went away, unfortunately there was no noticeable difference to my skin after.
The full-size product in this month's box was the Lord & Berry 20100 Maxi Matte Crayon Lipstick in Intimacy (RRP £12, full size product) which is a rose-pink shade, suitable for everyday wear. The formula is good, not too dry for a matte lip crayon, and does not transfer too easily so it should last for a while when worn.
Finally, the box included a sachet of Bodyism - Beauty Food (RRP from £50, sample worth approx £1.80) which is a supplement powder that is meant to fight ageing, reduce lines and wrinkles and help repair damaged skin. It seems a bit pointless including this in the box, as with any supplement or vitamin you need to take/use them for quite a while before seeing any results. Anyway, the supplement is to be mixed with water, milk or milk substitute and taken on a morning. This does have a slight taste but I mixed mine with milk and it wasn't too unpleasant - I didn't see or feel any effects from it though.
Box value = £39.85
Next is Glossybox, which costs £10 (£3.25 P&P) with savings on boxes with their 3, 6 and 12 month plans. I'd looked into Glossybox before but this was the first one I had received so it was interesting to see how similar or not it was to Birchbox. The contents of the month's box were picked in collaboration with blogger Estée Lalonde and contained a mixture of haircare, skincare and makeup products. I was pleasantly surprised by the number of makeup products included as Birchbox usually only has one, if any. It was also a plus that there were 3 full size products in the box!
The first product in the box was a mystery shampoo sample that turned out to be by Head & Shoulders (RRP £2.99, sample worth approx 90p). I'm not picky with shampoos so I'll try any samples I receive and this one was cleansing without being drying and left my hair shiny. I would definitely use it again and I'm not put off it being by Head & Shoulders.
Next was a sample of The Body Shop - Drops of Youth Concentrate (RRP £25, sample worth £5.80). I have combination skin which can be sensitive to some things causing it to break out but luckily this hasn't caused any negative reactions so far. The product dries unscented and soaks into the skin well without leaving a greasy finish. I have tried a sample of this before and didn't really notice much difference to the appearance of my skin after using it but I'll give it a go again.
The box also included Universal Beauty Cosmetics - Secret Flush, Soothing Cream Blusher & Lip Stain Duo (RRP £15, full size product) in Nectar. The product is pink in colour and has a shimmer to it which creates a pretty look when used on the cheeks, it's not really my style for lips so I'm unlikely to use it for that purpose. It has a fruity scent too so it could possibly affect sensitive skin but it has been ok on mine so far.
There was also Bee Good - Honey & Camelina Facial Exfoliator (RRP £10.50, full size product). This has lovely packaging and is made by British bees and is environmentally friendly. I'm not too sure whether I'm keen on the scent (I'm not a massive fan of lavender) but when used it does feel like it is exfoliating the skin well, and once washed off my skin did feel much fresher and smoother. I look forward to using this a few more times.
The second makeup product in the box was Trifle Cosmetics - Lip Parfait Buttery Lip Cream in Exotic Fruits (RRP £12.95, full size product). The first thing about this is the fun cardboard packaging, looking at the Trifle Cosmetics website it seems to be a big thing for them and I love that. The lip cream itself is a light nude-pink shade which applies easily and feels lovely and creamy on the lips, it's infused with vitamin E so should be great at moisturising when needed. Unfortunately the shade is too pale for me and doesn't suit my skin tone but I might still wear it at home when my lips need a bit of TLC or even try and mix it with different lip products to lighten darker shades a bit.
Finally, PS... Pro HD Mascara in Black (RRP £3, full size product). I don't wear mascara every day and I'm not too fond of over-the-top mascaras for every day wear. This one, from Primark, applies OK with the rubber brush (although it does clump a little bit) and does create a noticeable effect to the eyelashes but it is not subtle enough for me to wear every day for work. I'll still use it for other occasions though.
Box value = £48.15
I'll post the second part shortly, which includes my review of the October LookFantastic Beauty Box and the Amazon Luxury Beauty box.
First up is Birchbox, which costs £10 (+£2.95 P&P) a month with savings of £20 if you sign up for a year of boxes. I've been signed up to Birchbox for a while now and have stuck with them as they are, more often than not, good value for money. This month's box had a theme of "What's Your Sign?" with 4 different box designs that could have been received (Air, Earth, Fire or Water) and with me being an Aries I aptly received the Fire box (the stars on the box also glow in the dark).
Next there was a good size sample (70ml) of Rituals - Rituals of Sakura Magic Touch Body Cream (RRP £19.50, sample worth approx £6.20) which is lovely and rich and soaks into the skin easily without greasiness. The scent is very pretty but not overpowering and lasts for a long time so I look forward to using this more.
The box also featured Number 4 - Fluoro5 Elixer Restore & Repair Oil (RRP £18, sample worth approx £4.60). I do use hair oils on and off so I will use this sample up; it has a very subtle scent and feels light when applied to the hair but there's no noticeable differences between this and other hair oils I have used so far.
I do like a face mask to brighten my skin up every once in a while so I was happy to see Whish Renewing Mud Mask (RRP £29, sample worth £7.25). The product is quite thin so dries quickly and you leave it on no longer than 2 minutes before washing off (the mask also exfoliates as you wash it off). It does have a strong scent to it and left my face a little red once washed off but this soon went away, unfortunately there was no noticeable difference to my skin after.
Box value = £39.85
Next is Glossybox, which costs £10 (£3.25 P&P) with savings on boxes with their 3, 6 and 12 month plans. I'd looked into Glossybox before but this was the first one I had received so it was interesting to see how similar or not it was to Birchbox. The contents of the month's box were picked in collaboration with blogger Estée Lalonde and contained a mixture of haircare, skincare and makeup products. I was pleasantly surprised by the number of makeup products included as Birchbox usually only has one, if any. It was also a plus that there were 3 full size products in the box!
Next was a sample of The Body Shop - Drops of Youth Concentrate (RRP £25, sample worth £5.80). I have combination skin which can be sensitive to some things causing it to break out but luckily this hasn't caused any negative reactions so far. The product dries unscented and soaks into the skin well without leaving a greasy finish. I have tried a sample of this before and didn't really notice much difference to the appearance of my skin after using it but I'll give it a go again.
The box also included Universal Beauty Cosmetics - Secret Flush, Soothing Cream Blusher & Lip Stain Duo (RRP £15, full size product) in Nectar. The product is pink in colour and has a shimmer to it which creates a pretty look when used on the cheeks, it's not really my style for lips so I'm unlikely to use it for that purpose. It has a fruity scent too so it could possibly affect sensitive skin but it has been ok on mine so far.
The second makeup product in the box was Trifle Cosmetics - Lip Parfait Buttery Lip Cream in Exotic Fruits (RRP £12.95, full size product). The first thing about this is the fun cardboard packaging, looking at the Trifle Cosmetics website it seems to be a big thing for them and I love that. The lip cream itself is a light nude-pink shade which applies easily and feels lovely and creamy on the lips, it's infused with vitamin E so should be great at moisturising when needed. Unfortunately the shade is too pale for me and doesn't suit my skin tone but I might still wear it at home when my lips need a bit of TLC or even try and mix it with different lip products to lighten darker shades a bit.
I'll post the second part shortly, which includes my review of the October LookFantastic Beauty Box and the Amazon Luxury Beauty box.
Tuesday, 9 May 2017
Review: MeeBox August 2016 - Boho
I'm finally working my way though all the MeeBoxes I have received so far! I actually swatched the polishes quite a while ago but haven't had time to write the actual post, but here goes.
MeeBox is a monthly subscription box which costs £20 (including P&P) if you want to pay month-to-month or £18 per box if you prepay for 3 months (this is my second box of my 3 month sub).
August's MeeBox had a 'Boho' theme and included polishes from Zoya, Barry M and Cuccio plus a few extras which I'll show you too, including a pretty silver midi ring.
Barry M - Green Berry (£3.99)
As with the Models Own polish from the previous box, I already own this polish and have used it a few times (I am a huge Barry M fan!) but I guess it doesn't hurt to have a spare bottle. This is a pretty turquoise creme polish from the Gelly Hi Shine collection so has a slightly thicker consistency which dries with a great shine. You could probably get away with 1 coat but I used 2 for full coverage, it also has a wide brush which helps to get a smooth coat. I used 2 coats with no top coat for the swatch below.
Zoya - Aggie (£11.70)
This looks stunning in the bottle but I couldn't quite capture the true colour/duochrome with my camera. Aggie is a shimmery duochrome polish which shifts from a strong gold colour to a green shade - it isn't as noticeable on the nails as it is in the bottle which is a shame. I used 3 thin coats with no top coat for the swatch below.
Cuccio - Prince I've Been Gone (£6.95)
This is a rich, dark teal creme polish which dries with a really good shine. I can imagine this polish would stain the nails slightly just from the way it looked when I removed the swatches. I used 2 coats with no top coat for the swatch below, I should have done another coat for fuller coverage.
MeeBox - 'The Grape Escape' Nail Polish Remover (£3.00)
This is MeeBox's own nail polish remover which does have a fruity scent. I tested it out and it removes polish fine, did have to use a little more than with my usual remover but it might be that this one is more gentle on the nails.
Miss Cat Nails - Metallic Leaf (£2.49)
This metallic leaf is from the 'Pistachio' leaf collection on the Miss Cat Nails website. It is a gold colour with hints of green, it reminds me of tarnished metal, but not in a bad way because on the nails it produces a lovely effect. You just apply it to the nails when they are still tacky, or you can use a clear polish if they've dried. Just tear some of the leaf off and smooth it down so it is flat on the nails then apply a top coat to seal it on. I wore it with my nail art from this box for a few days and it lasted really well and kept it's metallic appearance throughout. I would definitely look into buying different colours of this product.
Sterling Silver Midi Ring (£10.99)
The final little gift in this month's box was the sterling silver midi ring which was in the shape of an arrow. I already own some midi rings so this is a nice addition to them which I will get lots of use out of, plus it went well with the Boho theme.
Took me a while to think of how to use all the different polishes and extras together as well as suiting the Boho theme. I decided to use Prince I've Been Gone on the thumb, index and pinkie fingers then Green Berry with a MoYou-London stamping plate at the base of the nails. On the middle and ring fingers I used Prince I've Been Gone as the base then 2 coats of Aggie on top. Finally I used some of the metallic leaf on the ring finger. I finished it off with a coat of Sally Hansen's Mega Shine top coat.
I wore this nail art for a few days and it lasted well, with some edge wear as usual. Prince I've Been Gone didn't stain too bad when I removed it, it was harder to get off the skin than the nails themselves though.
The photos below show the nail art indoors with LED light and outdoors with natural light.
So this month's box had a value of around £39 and the contents included were impressive yet again. I thought they did suit the theme well as there's lots of different effects you can create with the polishes and foil. I was a bit disappointed that out of both boxes I've received so far I already have 2 of the polishes but I guess it's bound to happen when you own a silly amount of nail polish like I do!
MeeBox is a monthly subscription box which costs £20 (including P&P) if you want to pay month-to-month or £18 per box if you prepay for 3 months (this is my second box of my 3 month sub).
August's MeeBox had a 'Boho' theme and included polishes from Zoya, Barry M and Cuccio plus a few extras which I'll show you too, including a pretty silver midi ring.
As with the Models Own polish from the previous box, I already own this polish and have used it a few times (I am a huge Barry M fan!) but I guess it doesn't hurt to have a spare bottle. This is a pretty turquoise creme polish from the Gelly Hi Shine collection so has a slightly thicker consistency which dries with a great shine. You could probably get away with 1 coat but I used 2 for full coverage, it also has a wide brush which helps to get a smooth coat. I used 2 coats with no top coat for the swatch below.
This looks stunning in the bottle but I couldn't quite capture the true colour/duochrome with my camera. Aggie is a shimmery duochrome polish which shifts from a strong gold colour to a green shade - it isn't as noticeable on the nails as it is in the bottle which is a shame. I used 3 thin coats with no top coat for the swatch below.
This is a rich, dark teal creme polish which dries with a really good shine. I can imagine this polish would stain the nails slightly just from the way it looked when I removed the swatches. I used 2 coats with no top coat for the swatch below, I should have done another coat for fuller coverage.
This is MeeBox's own nail polish remover which does have a fruity scent. I tested it out and it removes polish fine, did have to use a little more than with my usual remover but it might be that this one is more gentle on the nails.
Miss Cat Nails - Metallic Leaf (£2.49)
This metallic leaf is from the 'Pistachio' leaf collection on the Miss Cat Nails website. It is a gold colour with hints of green, it reminds me of tarnished metal, but not in a bad way because on the nails it produces a lovely effect. You just apply it to the nails when they are still tacky, or you can use a clear polish if they've dried. Just tear some of the leaf off and smooth it down so it is flat on the nails then apply a top coat to seal it on. I wore it with my nail art from this box for a few days and it lasted really well and kept it's metallic appearance throughout. I would definitely look into buying different colours of this product.
Sterling Silver Midi Ring (£10.99)
The final little gift in this month's box was the sterling silver midi ring which was in the shape of an arrow. I already own some midi rings so this is a nice addition to them which I will get lots of use out of, plus it went well with the Boho theme.
The photos below show the nail art indoors with LED light and outdoors with natural light.
Did anyone else get this MeeBox? What were your thoughts on it?
Monday, 10 April 2017
Review: Birchbox September 2016 - Heroes
So I got way behind posting my beauty box reviews and I have lots more to write about over the next couple of weeks, but today I'm going to review another Birchbox.
Birchbox costs just £10 (+ £2.95 P&P) a month and if you sign up for a year of boxes then you only pay £100 (+ P&P per box) which is 2 free boxes in the year!
September's "Heroes" Birchbox arrived and it was the drawer box style again - I keep these boxes to store bits and bobs in so they're very handy. The contents were: volume spray, foundation primer, moisturiser, shower oil and highlighter trio. Honestly, compared to previous months I was a bit disappointed with the initial looks of the contents of this box but they might change my mind once I've used them.
Model Co Highlighting Trio in Champagne, Peach Bellini & Bronze, RRP from £14
This was the product that we got to choose before the boxes were sent out - it was between the cheek and lip tint or this highlighting trio. Since I don't have many highlighting products at the moment I decided to go with this one to see what the fuss is about. This is the full-size product and the cremes all have a strong pigment and are noticeable when applied to the skin. I'll most likely use the Bronze shade as a cream eyeshadow and the other two colours as highlighters. I only briefly tested these out so far so can't comment on their longevity but I'm sure they'll get plenty of use in the future.
Polaar The Genuine Lapland Cream, RRP from £15
I've received a couple of Polaar products from previous boxes but this one will come in very handy over the next few months as it is a rich lotion containing berries to use on dry skin. It is suitable for the face and body and has a very subtle scent so should not cause any reaction or irritation to sensitive skin. It soaks into the skin quite quickly and leaves it feeling instantly nourished and smooth so hopefully it will help over the winter months.
Laura Mercier Foundation Primer Blemish-Less, RRP £29
I don't really wear foundation so not sure if I will use this product up. It is a water-based gel primer to use before tinted moisturisers or foundations, and it is said to hide pores, blemishes and control shine throughout the day. It soaks into the skin quickly and feels smooth once applied but has a scent to it that I can't figure out what it reminds me of, and I'm not overly fond of it.
Nuxe Prodigieux Shower Oil, RRP £10
You can never have enough shower gels/cleansers and this one has a shimmer to it so should leave the skin looking smooth and silky. It is quite perfumed so might not be suitable for everyone however, it is paraben and sulfate free.
Batiste Stylist Oomph My Locks XXL Volume Spray, RRP £4.29
I am a regular Batiste dry shampoo user so it will be good to see how another Batiste product works. This is a volume spray which is meant to be like an instant back comb in a spray. My hair usually doesn't hold styles or volume for very long no matter what products I use so it will be interesting to see how this one turns out for me.
I've recently signed up for the Look Fantastic and Glossybox subscription boxes to see how different they are to Birchbox. What is your favourite beauty box?
Birchbox costs just £10 (+ £2.95 P&P) a month and if you sign up for a year of boxes then you only pay £100 (+ P&P per box) which is 2 free boxes in the year!
This was the product that we got to choose before the boxes were sent out - it was between the cheek and lip tint or this highlighting trio. Since I don't have many highlighting products at the moment I decided to go with this one to see what the fuss is about. This is the full-size product and the cremes all have a strong pigment and are noticeable when applied to the skin. I'll most likely use the Bronze shade as a cream eyeshadow and the other two colours as highlighters. I only briefly tested these out so far so can't comment on their longevity but I'm sure they'll get plenty of use in the future.
I've received a couple of Polaar products from previous boxes but this one will come in very handy over the next few months as it is a rich lotion containing berries to use on dry skin. It is suitable for the face and body and has a very subtle scent so should not cause any reaction or irritation to sensitive skin. It soaks into the skin quite quickly and leaves it feeling instantly nourished and smooth so hopefully it will help over the winter months.
I don't really wear foundation so not sure if I will use this product up. It is a water-based gel primer to use before tinted moisturisers or foundations, and it is said to hide pores, blemishes and control shine throughout the day. It soaks into the skin quickly and feels smooth once applied but has a scent to it that I can't figure out what it reminds me of, and I'm not overly fond of it.
You can never have enough shower gels/cleansers and this one has a shimmer to it so should leave the skin looking smooth and silky. It is quite perfumed so might not be suitable for everyone however, it is paraben and sulfate free.
I am a regular Batiste dry shampoo user so it will be good to see how another Batiste product works. This is a volume spray which is meant to be like an instant back comb in a spray. My hair usually doesn't hold styles or volume for very long no matter what products I use so it will be interesting to see how this one turns out for me.
I've recently signed up for the Look Fantastic and Glossybox subscription boxes to see how different they are to Birchbox. What is your favourite beauty box?
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