Tag: Beauty Box

LookFantastic #LFLOVES Edition Beauty Box

Hello February and hello February Lookfantastic box! This month love is (supposedly) in the air with Valentine’s Day just around the corner and so this month’s Beauty Box has been appropriately themed with the box itself coming in a fabulous hot pink – I love it! This month’s box included an added surprise for me, as when I opened the box I found my face staring back at me on a money off voucher for Cloud Nine. This campaign has been out for several months now but I still keep finding advertisements from it popping up in the most random places. Anyway, on with the contents of this month’s box…

Monuspa Relaxing Bali Massage & Body Oil

I really like body oils and massage oils and this Monuspa one is great. It smells really good and has that relaxing aromatherapy oil scent that instantly makes you want a good massage just from one whiff. It’s a great product if you want to treat your other half to a massage or even be treated yourself for that matter, or you can even had a few drops of it to your bath and enjoy a nice relaxing soak.

Bliss Pink Grapefruit And Aloe Body Butter

This body butter smells so delicious and it contains Vitamin E, so it’s super nourishing for your skin. I like how this body butter doesn’t feel too heavy yet it leaves my skin feeling smooth and soft, not forgetting smelling great!

KMS California Color Vitality Conditioner
and Denman Mini Keyring Brush

Although these are two completely separate products, I decided to group them together just for the fact of them both being hair products and two things that I won’t use. For obvious reasons the KMS Color Vitality isn’t appropriate for me because I don’t have colour treated hair and the mini keyring brush (although super cute), is more likely to get lost in my afro than do any sort of job of detangling it. However I’m sure I’ll find a friend to give these to, who will love them both.

Hi Impact Brows Eyes And Brow Perfector Palette (coming soon)

It’s funny because there have been plenty of times in the past when I’ve used eyeshadows for my eyebrows and eyebrow products as eyeshadows, so it’s finally great to own a product that is actually intended for both. I’m certainly loving this palette. The constancy of the powders is great and they really stay on well.

I used the last three shades in the pallet for my eye makeup below; Shade 2 for my eyelids which I quickly blended with my finger, shade 3 for my brows and shade 4 to do my liner. The brush that comes in the palette is really good too and perfect for shading in the brows, or doing eye liner with. This one will definitely come in handy when taking trips away.

Lord And Berry Matte Lipstick in Intimacy

Before I even tried out this lip colour, I knew I was going to love it. Subtle dusky pinks are some of my favourite lip shades to wear and I can already tell that this one is probably going to become a new favourite. It glides on like a dream and stays on well yet feels comfortable on the lips. I just love, love, love this lipstick pencil! What do you think?

That’s the full round up of the #LFLOVES Beauty Box. Although there are two products in here that I won’t get use out of, that hasn’t put any damper on February’s Beauty Box for me because I actually love two of the products (the brow/eyeshadow palette & lip pencil) and have discovered two others that I really like as well. So I’m very happy with this month’s Beaut Box indeed!

Have you tried any of these products?

Samio x

Some of the items may have been sent to me for review purposes, however this does not affect my opinions – check out my disclaimer for further information.

February 1, 2016
LookFantastic November Beauty Box Review

This month’s Lookfantastic beauty box includes another great selection of products and here’s a full review of what is inside…

Bellapierre Cosmetics Mineral Lipstick
I have to admit, I am yet to use this lipstick but that’s only due to the fact that I currently have several red lipsticks on the go. However I have been tempted to give this one a go as it smells delicious (I’m always drawn in by sweet scented lipsticks), and the Ruby shade in bright red look gorgeous.

Korres Guava Showergel
For the full size bottle (250ml) at £8, this showergel is quite a bit pricier than what I would usually spend. It’s funny though because I easily spend large amounts on what I put on my face but never really consider it when it comes to the rest of my body… First off this stuff smells amazing. The Guava scent of the showergel has a really unique tropical smell, which I love. And why is it the price it is? Well, it claims to help maintain the skin’s moisture whilst protecting it, along with helping to reduce the visible signs of ageing. Maybe I should start investing more on my body lotions and potions after all.

Ole Henriksen’s Empower Cleanser
I’ve only used this a couple of times (my cleanser collection appears to be building up rabidly). The couple of times I have used it though, it has left my skin feeling lovely and soft. It also contains salicylic acid which is great for helping to shed dead skin cells.

Dr. PAWPAW Ultimate Red Balm
Makeup artists often have this to hand on shoots and it’s something I’ve said I’m going to buy for ages. Now I finally have my own PAWPAW in this convenient miniature size, which currently lives in my handbag. This PAWPAW Red Balm, unlike the original, is slightly tinted. It is a very subtle tint however and just adds the slightest hint of colour when applied to the lips. It can also be used on your cheeks and can be used as a skin protector or for irritable, dry skin. For me personally this has currently been my lip saviour.

REN V-Cense Youth Vitality Day Cream
I really like this day cream. It really helps hydrate and add moisture to my skin without leaving me looking shiny. It smooths on easily and it leaves my skin looking matte. It has a sort of herbal scent, which reminds me of herbal tea but I rather like it. I’m enjoying the results of this day cream as it leaves my skin feeling plump and hydrated.

Kebelo Enriching Masque
I’ve used this hair masque once and I have to say, it’s not for me. It is designed for naturally dry hair, which is certainly my hair, however It’s probably not intended for my hair texture and that’s apparent with the fact that it did not do much. It’s probably much more suitable for European hair I would imagine.

November’s Lookfantastic Beauty Box has been another hit with me and there’s only been one product that I have felt is not something for me, which was of course the hair masque. I fell I get slightly repetitive in my round up of these Beauty Boxes, but I am genuinely impressed with the selection of products that I find in them each month. It may be the fact that each box I’ve received so far has had a great selection of skincare and I am a self confessed skincare addict after all.

Have you tried the Lookfantastic Beauty Box or any of the products in November’s box?

You can subscribe to the Lookfantastic Beauty Box here.

Samio x

You may also want to check out some of my past Beauty Box reviews:
October’s Beauty Box
September’s Beauty Box
August’s Beauty Box

Some of the items may have been sent to me for review purposes, however this does not affect my opinions – check out my disclaimer for further information.

November 13, 2015
LookFantastic October Beauty Box Review

It’s the end of October already but better late than never I guess. So here is a review of this month’s LookFantastic Beauty Box.

Balance Me Radiance Face Mask

I’ve used this face mask before and you can read my full review of it here. As it is a product that I’ve previously used and liked, I was quite happy to find it in this month’s box.

Percy & Reed Smoothed, Sealed & Sensational Volumizing No Oil Oil

As someone with ‘big hair’, who uses copious amount of ‘actual oil’ to add moisture, this isn’t exactly a product targeted at me. I will be quite honest in saying that I haven’t tried this product, nor do I intend to (for obvious reasons) but I’m sure I’ll be able to give it to a friend who will find it useful.

Look Good Feel Better Eye Shading Brush

I currently use a few of the Look Good Feel Better makeup tools and so I was happy when I saw this eye shading brush in this month’s box. Like the other LGFB brushes, it’s super soft and it works perfectly for applying and blending eyeshadow.

Murad AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser

I’m always happy to find new skincare in a beauty box. I’ve not tried any Murad products before and although I’m still yet to try this exfoliating cleaner (due to the fact that I currently have a few on the go), I’m sure it will come in handy for when I’m next travelling and need to take a miniature.

Monu Firming Moisturiser

I had never previously heard of Monu skincare but I must say that I am pleased with this moisturiser. It does what it says and helps to firm the skin and you can feel it working instantly. It’s not greasy and it sits well under makeup, which I particularly like.

Elemis Hydra-Balance Day Cream

I really like this day cream. It’s been ideal for my skin whilst being on holiday, as after coming in from the sun it was nice to refresh and apply this day cream to restore moisture and hydration to my skin. It really does help to hydrate the skin and you can instantly feel it soak in. – I’d probably buy this product in full size in the future!

Nuxe Paris Hand and Nail Cream

I’m surprised I haven’t finished this hand cream already. I’ve been carrying this around in my handbag on a daily basis and using it on the go. It doesn’t feel too oily and keeps my hands moisturised for a good amount of time. This miniature size has actually really come in handy when my handbag has been stuffed to the brim.

Overall that’s another LookFantastic Beauty Box that I’ve been pleased with. I’ve received a good selection of products, some of which have really come in handy and others which I would purchase in the future.

Have you tried any of these products?

You can subscribe to The Limited Edition LookFantastic Beauty Boxes here.

Samio x

Some of the items may have been sent to me for review purposes, however this does not affect my opinions – check out my disclaimer for further information.

October 30, 2015
Glossybox – The Style Edition Review

After having received my first ever Glossybox last month, I was eagerly awaiting this month’s arrival, in hope that this time the contents would be slightly more appealing.

I opened this month’s box with optimism but I have to say, I wasn’t overcome with excitement over the products that I saw at first glance…

The Nails Inc polish may have stirred a more positive emotion, if it didn’t look like the drabbest shade of khaki I’d ever seen. It only added to my disappointment when I checked the information card and saw that the other shade that some people received, was a pretty blush pink, a shade I would have actually worn – *sighs*.

Okay, so aside for the nail polish, what else was in the box… Unfortunately the next product I spotted wasn’t much better. It was a Maria Nila Luminous Colour Hair Masque and seeing as it was the biggest item in the box, it was a bit disappointing considering I don’t have dyed hair. A colour hair masque is a bit wasted on me.

Next was a Bellapierre shimmer pot in shade Whesek. I recently discovered Bellapierre cosmetics in last month’s Lookfantastic Beauty Box. Luckily enough, this shimmer pot came in a different shade to my last one and although not a colour I would have chosen myself, I’m sure I’ll find use for it at some point.

As someone with big curly afro hair, these Invisibobbles really did not excite me. Bobbles routinely get lost in my hair anyway and when your hair is as curly as mine, there’s not much point in a bobble that isn’t suppose to leave kinks.

Finally the last item in the box was this Marsk eyeshadow brush. This for me was the one item I was happy with, as I often want more makeup brushes and I see myself actually using this eventually.

Needless to say I wasn’t overly thrilled with September’s Glossybox. I feel that a couple of the products certainly weren’t tailored to me at all, which is a shame considering I filled out a online profile so that the products in my subscription could be geared towards me somewhat. I’m sure that for many other people, this box may have been great but for me I just didn’t feel like the majority of the products were ones that I would like to try or buy in the future.

I still don’t want to completely write off Glossybox just yet though. I still have one box left out of my three month subscription and I’m hoping that the next one can end my experience with Glossybox on a high… We shall see.

Samio x

Check out my September LookFantastic Beauty Box review here.

You can also read my first Glossybox review here.

September 28, 2015
My First Ever Glossybox – First Impressions

This month I’ve been able to try out another beauty box and this time it’s the famous Glossybox.

I’d been toying with the idea of subscribing to Glossybox on numerous occasions but luckily enough my best friend beat me to it and on my Birthday this year she treated me to a three month Glossybox subscription gift card and finally I began my subscription this month.

First Impressions

Although I’m still slightly new to beauty boxes, I must say that the Glossybox is beautifully packaged and I like how it is protected by a cardboard box packaging (a box in a box basically) for in the post. I love pink and so the box that the products come in really appeals to me and it’s probably something that I will keep to store bits in afterwards.

I’ll be completely honest, I didn’t get overly excited at the products I saw when I first unwrapped the contents. However, after closer inspection and a read of the details card that comes with it, I discovered that four of the products in this months box are actually full sized. So I guess that’s why it didn’t seem to be bulked out with smaller samples.

The Products

MeMeMe Lipglide in Playful Peach

Manna Kadar Lash Primer

Emite Artist Colour Powder Blush

Naobay Calming Face Toner

Sass Intimate Purifying Cleanser

The products I was most excited about were the Emite powder blush and the MeMeMe lipglide. The Emite blush comes in a shade that I really like so I’m pretty pleased with that one. The MeMeMe lipglide comes in a shade I wouldn’t usually wear but I guess that’s the point of the box, to try new things and I do like it. I’m yet to try the Manna Kadar lash primer but as soon as I do I’ll share my verdict on social media.

I wansn’t too excited by the Sass intimate cleanser, as I’d personally prefer to just receive skincare and makeup products but I guess it’s always going to be a mixed bag with these types of boxes, so that there’s something for everyone. As for the Naobay calming face toner, I have used it a few times and although I have found it okay, I’m yet to decide if it will take a place in part of my regular skincare routine.

Overall Thoughts

I’ve definitely discovered one product that I really like and will use regularly and that’s the Emite powder blush, with that alone, I guess you could say that this box has been worth it, as it costs £10 per month (plus P+P) and the Emite powder blush alone is £20.59 – and I’ve received the full sized product. However, in terms of discovering new products/brands that I love and will return to, in this months box I don’t think that’s really happened (although like I say, I’m yet to try the lash primer). I’m keen to see what comes in next months Glossybox and after my three months is up it should give me a good idea if this is box I’d like to continue a subscription with or not.

Do you subscribe to Glossybox? Or are there any other beauty box subscriptions that you like or have tried in the past?

Samio x

Check out my Look Fantastic Beauty Box review here.

August 19, 2015
Look Fantastic August Beauty Box | Beauty Product Reviews

This month I received my first ever beauty box. I’ve always been intrigued by these and seeing people blog about their monthly treats has always made me eager to try one but with so many to choose from I’ve often not known which one to go for.

Lookfantastic were ever so kind to send me their August beauty box and after excitedly unwrapping my nicely packaged gift, I was able to see what all the hype was about.

The products inside…

Rimmel London Wonder’Full Wake Me Up Mascara

I don’t like to change my brand of mascara much and usually I’m slightly pessimistic when it comes to trying new ones. At first when I tried this one, I wasn’t sure about it as I found the consistency a lot more runnier than I’m used to. However, I found that because of this, I’m able to lengthen my lashes a lot more with it before it dries on my lashes. Strangely enough this mascara smells great and so far I am loving using it, as it’s making my lashes look super long when I’ve applied it.

Eve Lom Cleanser

This cleanser is actually amazing. It melts into the skin and gently helps remove makeup and even stubborn mascara. You then wet the cloth with warm water and place it onto your face to open the pores and fully cleanse the skin. After repeating this a few times my skin is left feeling so clean and soft, it doesn’t even sting my eyes when I use it to remove eye makeup. It also smells so fresh and after using the Eve Lom cleanser for the past week, I’ve really become a fan.

Alterna Caviar CC Cream

I have to admin, this is the one product in the beauty box that I haven’t tried, however it does appear to have great reviews. I’m not sure if I’ll use it on my hair yet as I’m trying to be quite selective with what I put on it. I’ll need to do a little bit of research on it first before I decide if it’s appropriate for my curly/afro hair.

Beauty Works Ten-in-One Miracle Spray

Again, with this hair product I’m not totally sure how it will work on my hair. I have used it once and it smells great! However that was before my hair had been trimmed and so with my split ends my hair still felt dry and looked extra frizzy anyway, so I’ll have to try it again now my hair has been freshly trimmed to see how it works on curly hair.

Omorovicza Queen Of Hungary Mist

This face mist is so refreshing. It’s the perfect product to keep in your handbag, as you can spritz your face on the go and give your skin an instant pick me up. It can also be used to tone after cleansing and I love the scent of this mist as it has a refreshing lightly floral scent. I’m not sure if I’d buy this one but it’s been nice to try out.

Bellapierre Cosmetics Shimmer Powder

This shimmer powder creates an awesome highlight! I’ve been applying it to my cheek bones and just below the brows and the smallest amount gives the most amazing highlight. I’m used to using liquid highlighter but this is now so easy to dust on with a small brush. I love it and I can see it will actually last for quite a while.

Overall I’m really pleased with the products I recieved in this month’s Look Fantastic Beauty Box. A few of the products I even think I will purchase in the future.

Have you tried any of these products?

You can subscribe to the Look Fantastic Beauty Box here.

Samio x

Some of the items may have been sent to me for review purposes, however this does not affect my opinions – check out my disclaimer for further information.

August 10, 2015