October Birchbox UK

Woo so for my first review back, I'm going to discuss my birchbox from this month. Also, yeah, I'm totally subscribed to birchbox now. I love it! Some of the things can be a little hit or miss, but I've liked all of my boxes so far. And this months is no exception!

Onto the pictures :D

By birchbox in all it's simplistic glory

Card explaining what I've received... (sorry for the crappy quality! I thought it wasn't blurry after I'd taken it, now I can't be bothered to take another pic)

Oooh look at all these goodies!

A closer look

Ok so my first though was 'wow this seems like a lot for birchbox!' And yes - count it - there are 7 samples here! Granted, one is a 'lifestyle extra' (the UltraDEX Wire-free interdental brushes) and another one a 'beauty extra' (the Egyption Magic all purpose skin cream samples), but when you think the American one but a hot cleanser and the cloth to go with it as two separate samples, this is pretty good.

Lets move on to the individual items.

First up, the Lauar Mercier tinted moisturiser.

From the card: A sheer, lightweight formula to add a healthy glow and moisturise, with antioxidant vitamin complex and SPF 20.
See, now I'm an extremely pale lady. Why give me a shade called nude? I'm never going to be able to wear something nude coloured! I'd be better off with a solid white colour... Now, to Birchbox's credit, this is the lightest shade they are stocking, so it seems like they are somewhat taking in to account the questionnaire I filled out at the beginning in which I stated that I was very pale... but then the question is, why are they only stocking 4 to 5 colours of this tinted moisturiser? Looking at her website, it shows there are 15 shades of this product? I'm sure the Porcelain shade would be much better for me, and something I would actually use. If I put this on my face I'd look like an oompa loompa! Which is a great shame, because from the swatch it really is a lovely tinted moisturiser. It feels lovely, it blended in nicely, and felt soft on my hand. It's just such a shame Birchbox doesn't have the full range! I would have much preferred the primer from the same range that was in some boxes instead. Oh well. It has SPF 20, which is something I like. Although I like to have more SPF than that in a moisturiser SPF 20 is better than a lot of products! Although god knows what an 'antioxidant vitamin complex' is...
At full size, this costs £33 at 1.5 oz (annoyingly I couldn't find out the full size volume in ml...). This sample is 0.5 oz, meaning this sample is worth £11. So this is £22 per oz (whatever that may mean....)

Next, Akane Mask Cocoon Nocturne

From the card: A fresh apple-scented gel mask to help beat signs of tiredness and hydrate thirsty skin.
So from what I can gather, this is a mask for your skin, and you use it overnight, washing it off in the morning. I haven't had a chance to use it yet, but I'm going to have a go tonight and I'll update this with the results. It does smell rather nice though, a little bit like apple pie.

The full sized product is £18 at 30ml, £60 per 100ml, so it's and this sample size is 12ml meaning it is worth £7.20. 



Next up on the list: KMS California Curl Up Wave Foam Mousse

From the card: This wave-enhancing mousse encourages curls, while protecting hair from heat.
I rather like this product. The most important thing for me about it is that is has no silicones! Yey! I have had two other hair products from Birchbox that I have been unable to use because they contain the dreaded cones, but luckily this doesn't.  So basically, this is a gel in the can which turns into a foam once it's come out. Reminds me of shaving foam... Anyways, this has a really nice scent to it, which is nice in the morning when your still asleep after your shower. I've only tried it the once so far, but it seems to do a good job and holding my curls in place. And it was pretty windy out today so it's lasted pretty well! The only this is that it is a little crunchy, although this might be because I might have used a little too much... but we'll see. I certainly liked it enough to try it again :) 

The full sized version of this cost £15 for 200 ml (so £7.50 for 100 ml), and this sample was 75ml, meaning it's worth £5.63

Next is theBalm Cosmetics Stainiac. Unfortunately I managed to miss this out of the individual photograph session... So I'll update with a picture another time :3
From the card: This easily blended two-in-one lip and cheek stain gives a natural, understated flush.
I'm really looking forward to trying this out! I like the fact that it doesn't dry quite as fast as other stains so you can actually blend it properly before it dries completely and you're left with streaks! Anyway, I'll update this again when I've tried it. Hopefully I'll try it tomorrow... and it won't be too noticeable for work!
This was the most stingy sample in this Birchbox, with the full size product costing £10 at 0.3 oz (again I couldn't find a ml equivalent), this sample is 0.04 oz, so it is worth a measly £1.34. Still it looks like it should be enough for me to see whether I like it or not.

The 5th sample is Dr Lipp Nipple Balm for Lips

From the card: Versatile lip balm that started life as a nipple balm! Hydrates and repairs dry flaky skin, sealing in moisture
Eh. I don't find anything particularly special about this. I found the formula rather thick, and struggled getting anything out of the tube at first. It also feels quite heavy on my lips, but it did moisturise nicely. This is something I can see myself using if my lips get badly chapped this winter. Hopefully it won't happen this year as I tend to put stuff on my lips everyday at the moment, but I feel like this would work wonderfully for when they are horrible dry and flaky as it feels it would penetrate the dryness well. Could do with a nicer smell as well! Although not unpleasant, it does smell a bit medicinal.


Onto the lifestyle extra! UltraDex Wire-free Interdental Brushes.

From the card: This award winning line kills bacteria, lifts stains, whitens teeth and freshens breath.
These remind me of what my orthodontist gave me with I had traintracks... And I assume they work in a similar way. I like that they don't have wire in them though! It looks like they might be gentler to use... From the picture on the back of the box, I think these are meant to be used a bit like floss, between the teeth after brushing and eating. Apparently, there is 'intelligent iQ+ ActiveOxi Technology [which] works with your natural oral pH level to release the appropriate amount of active ingredient to meet the individual needs of your mouth.' Um.... ok.... Oh! and it also says on the back that is is particularly suitable for tight spaces or gaps and around implants and metal fillings. So, you know, those of us with implants are safe. On thing it does not mention on the back, however, is whether each brush is one use or not... I'm going to assume they are, but it would be nice if it said... it's mentioned everything else! It also comes with a little travel case as well, which is a nice touch.
This is the full sized pack at 30 brushes, and Birchbox is selling them at £5.49, although they are cheaper at boots.

Last, but not least, the beauty extra, Egyptian Magic All Purpose Skin Cream.

From the card: A cult multi-purpose healing skin cream made with just six all-natural ingredients.
I have actually heard of this cream, so I'm expecting wonderful things from it... To be honest I would like to see evidence of how they know this was used in ancient Egypt! There's all the likelihood that it could have been, but I would like to see evidence non-the-less. Again, I'll update this when I've had the chance to use it.

The full size tub costs £34.90 for 118ml, which I'm going to say is quite a lot more than what I would pay for a skin cream... I received 3 samples of 3ml, 9ml in total, worth £2.66.


So! There you have it, my October Birchbox. And I'm quite happy with it! There's only one thing that I'll never use, and to be honest even thought the colour is completely off the actual product itself was pretty nice. It's also encouraging to note that at least two of my samples were related to the questionnaire I took when I started, the mousse for curly hair and their 'lightest' shade of tinted moisturiser. They tried, at least.
The overall value for this box is £35.62, which is more than covering the £12.95 cost of the box (including postage).


If you would like a referal code giving you £5 worth of points, mine is: http://birchbox.co.uk/?raf=16940

I'm back! :D

It's true! I'm back :D My love SO has lent me his DSLR camera for me to play with, so I can do reviews again! This makes me so happy :) It's surprised me just how much I've missed doing this over the last four months... Hopefully now I can bring you regular weekly updates, with new shiny reviews! And I now have rather a lot of stuff I can review, so although I'm now on a no-buy (stupid utility companies wanting my money for using their services!) I should hopefully have enough to talk about to keep me going for a while :D

So! Onto the first review since August! My October Birchbox review is coming up :)

Confessions of a blogger... Plus MUA Power Pout

I'm so sorry for the lack of posts in recent months... However my excuse is that my camera has had a rather untimely death. Although it still works, it won't charge, which effectively means it's dead... Which means I can't properly review anything! I would carry on, and just describe things... but if you've been reading this blog so far you may have realised that I am by no means the best person at descriptive writing. So, all in all, this means that until I can get another camera, this blog is on a hiatus :( Just as it was starting to get going as well! *sigh*

Although, just as a special mention as I love this product so much - the MUA power pout lip crayon is AMAZING! It's a tint and a moisturising balm combo which feels very nice on my lips... I got it in Broken Hearted, which is a gorgeous bright fushia pink, and the colour pay-off is fantastic. This has become my firm favourite to turn to for a moisturing bright colour! Very easy to apply as well. I bought it as I was eyeing up a very similar one by Bourjois, which as it is currently 3 for 2 at Boots and Superdrug, would have meant spending nearly £18 (because of course, I would have had to of bought another 2 products for the offer...) so I got the MUA one to scratch my itch for it. And at £3, I can't complain! Especially when the Bourjois one is £7.99... Although I may still have to buy the Bourjois one... Because for a full review I would need to compare it of course... *shifty eyes*

Revlon ColorStay Ultimate Suede Lipstick

Ok, so this week I'm having a look at Revlon's new ColorStay ultimate suede lipstick. I have it in two colours, Designer (097) a kind of orangey red, and Front Row (020) a light peachy pink.

First of all, they both have a wonderful scent! I'm not qute sure how to describe it... kind of vanilla-esque? The packaging feels kinda cheap though, not something I was really expecting as it is Revlon's most expensive lipstick they had at my boots at £8.99. In fact, the outside has already cracked on one of mine! And I've only had them about a week... They do have quite a cool clicky thing when you wind the bullet up, it clicks about 3 times (which brings up enough to apply) and then is smooth the rest of the way up.

They apply quite nicely... It seems to glide on my lips!

I absolutely love the colour Designer! I wish it was as orange as it appears in the bullet though, as it looks more of a red on my lips... still a lovely colour, but not what I though it would look like when I bought it! the colour pay off is really good, with just one layer it's opaque, and it lasts for ages! After wearing it for 6 hours plus and after a subway it was still as pigmented as it was when I put it on. It had come off a little on the inside of my lips (well... not the inside inside, but that bit where your lip joins the inside of your mouth..?) but only very slightly and not noticeably so.
The Front Row colour  on the other hand, I have to say is rather disappointing. I have had this with the lip butters and other Revlon lipsticks that the bold colours are wonderful while the pale colours leave much to be desired. This is no exception. I have been looking for a nice summery pale pink lipstick for a while so was quite happy when I found this lovely looking pale and slightly peachy/corally coloured pink which looked so wonderful! As soon as I put it on though, I realised I had made a mistake buying it :( It just seems to sit in the lines of my lips... My lips aren't even that dry at the moment, but this just seemed to make them appear dry and horrible. This also had the effect of making my lips look rather strange. As the coverage wasn't good the natural darker pink of my lips showed through patchily ... Not really something I am looking for when wanting lighter lips! It also left my lips feeling sticky, even after it had dried. The colour also wasn't what I thought it would look like... it applied on my lips as a very pale pinky pink, with none of the peachy/coral tones. *sigh* I guess my quest for a light pink shade continues!

On to the pictures! (Sorry the background for most of these is red... This is just what colour my bedsheet happens to be at the moment! I'm sorry if this has messed up the colour accuracy of the lipsticks in anyway...)

Swatch with flash.  Front Row on the left, Designer on the right. 

Swatch without flash. Front Row on the left, Designer on the right.

Both together. Front Row at the back (lol) and Designer at the front.

Designer

Designer on me! Really loving the colour and the colour pay-off. Just wish it was as orange as the packaging makes it seem!

6+ Hours later, after eating a subway!

Front Row

On me... Not so great :/

You can't really tell here, but it just sits in the lines looking all patchy... Not a good look!

Also, as a side note - New glasses! So much better than my old ones... These actually fit my face lol

Lily Lolo Corrector in Blush Away

So this week I'm reviewing Lily Lolo's Corrector in Blush Away. Now, for all those rosy cheeked ladies out there, you will know that finding a way to cover our red cheeks is a continuing struggle, with lots of products, green or otherwise, which promise to get rid of that pesky redness. If you're like me, none of them have worked very well... Until now!

This particular corrector is a green mineral powder. Once you get the hang of putting it on without the powder going EVERYWHERE it actually works! It feels lovely and light on the skin, and makes your skin feel so soft :D
I've been using after my moisturiser once it has completely sunk in, and powdered it using my EcoTools kabuki brush where I need it. I then put the mineral foundation (also by Lily Lolo) on top.

The pot

Side showing the green powder

The inside, with a plastic covering so the powder stays in the pot, and those annoying little holes...

Ingredients

Here is me in all my wonderful, unflattering, pink naturalness.

And me with one side of my face with the powder on! I wonder if you can guess which side ;)

Whole face with the powder. The right side of my face it being a bit annoying and still red, but can definitely see a difference! I could have put more powder on as well to over it up a bit more.... But I didn't.

With their foundation Porcelain on. I think this is a little light on me, but it is their lightest shade! (I usually go for the lightest and it is still usually too light lol)

Left side

Right Side

So as you can see - this powder is clearly making a huge difference! I absolutely love it :D Although, of course, it is a powder so it is best used underneath a powder foundation. I used it the other day on top of a cream foundation after it had completely dried, but I think it changed the colour ever so slightly... not really enough to see :) You could wear this by itself as it doesn't really give much of a green tint, if it does it's not very noticeable!

The only thing I don't like about it is pot it comes in... It has little holes the powder comes out of, but I think the powder clumps together a little too much in the pot, so it doesn't come out very well... Hopefully this will get better the more I use it so there's less in the pot! We shall see... This certainly isn't enough of a problem for me to not repurchase when it runs out though :D

e.l.f

Sorry for the lack of posts recently! I've been rather busy as of late, so I haven't had much time to do this :(

Anyways, exciting news! My e.l.f haul arrived! Yey! :D

Ah~ so excited! The brushes are so soft O.O Alas, the angled eyeliner brush got damaged, but I'm in contact with e.l.f about it so it should hopefully be resolved soon!

Right then! On to today's review - the lipsticks I got in the haul! I'm a little bit annoyed... I have a feeling the party pink I have may not have been labelled properly as mine is nowhere near the same as others when I've searched on google.... It's a lovely colour, nontheless, so I don't really mind. But I did want a pink. And this one isn't the pink I had hoped for. *sigh*

The first thing to notice is the difference in quality of packaging between the mineral lipsticks, and the regular £1 lipstick... The regular one feels really cheap, and like the plastic will break the moment you twist for the lipstick to come up. The mineral lipsticks are much sturdier, although again it still feels little cheap. But for £2.50 each (I got them at half price) who can complain?

The mineral lipsticks are  so creamy and wonderful to apply! Now we all know that I am a noob when it comes to make up, however these just glide on the lips :D The pigmentation is ok... I always have a bit of trouble determining how pigmented a lipstick is, I'm not sure why - could it be my natural lips are too pigmented (not the right word but oh well) themselves and so the colour doesn't show as much? I'm not sure... I only know that the brighter shades of lipstick that I have are the ones I can see more... And none of these are bright. Which makes them wonderful for everyday at work! Which is how I've been wearing them the last few days. They have a really nice matte finish which makes them look wonderfully natural, prefect for work :) The lipstick which shows up the most is the darker ripe rose colour, which I think looks amazing - perfect for a night out I think! The next one is surprisingly the £1 lipstick in captivating. Although this also has the shorted longevity as I notice it disappear quite quickly.  The staying power of the mineral lipsticks are a lot better, but still not great. They last for a few hours at least :)

Unfortunately the pictures I took of me wearing the different shades really didn't come out very well, the lighting was really weird and you couldn't actually see the different colours! I'm thinking I might update this when I get a chance to take good pictures as I wear them :)

So! Here are the different shades in the bullets.

Ripe Rose

Nicely Nude

Cool Coral

Party Pink

Captivating

Lip balm in Peach

Swatches:

With flash from left to right: Captivating, Party Pink, Nicely Nude, Cool Coral, Ripe Rose, Peach

 Without flash from left to right: Captivating, Party Pink, Nicely Nude, Cool Coral, Ripe Rose, Peach 

You can see how non pink the party pink is :( The nude is pinker than the party pink... But it is still a lovely colour! Oh, if anyone knows which colour this might be, please let me know! I'm curious haha

Also, I'm loving the lip balm! It gives a rather sheer colour, but enough that you can see a hint of colour. It smells like mint and you can actually feel it working like a lip balm on your lips! It's kinda like the revlon lip butters, however this actually feels much more like a lip balm, and so much more moisturising then them as well. I so want more of these!!

So, there you have it! e.l.f lipsticks :)

I'll probably review more of the haul before too long :)

Lush Colour Supplement - Jackie Oats

So on to my second review! I thought it might be best to start from the base upwards with the products I already own, so today's review is my foundation :D I've had this foundation for a few, never having used one before, but I already like it.

I've been a bit scared of using foundations in the past. I'm so ridiculously pale with my Irish skin that I thought if I ever wanted to wear foundation I was destined to look orange. And why bother anyway? My skin isn't exactly bad... Until the day I saw someone somewhere on the internet recommend this colour, Jackie Oats, to someone else with super pale skin; and it was only £8 so why not try it? Turns out the jar is tiny but nevermind :) A little goes quite far.

And I have to say, I am quite impressed. It doesn't have great coverage, so if you're looking to cover up acne scars or whathaveyou this probably wont be for you. However I have quite good skin, so was looking more for a product which evens my skin tone without being too heavy or obvious. This certainly does this. It does suggest mixing it with a moisturiser to turn it into more of a tinted moisturiser, but I found I really could not see a difference to my skin when applied like this, and it didn't really sink in/dry, which was annoying. So I now put on my moisturiser first (or my spf 50 face sun cream like I am doing now it's sunny outside), and then apply the colour supplement.

It goes on quite nicely, like a cream, really. I can't comment too much on the application, though, as I don't have a decent brush - mine leaves the foundation streaky, so I have to go over it with my fingers to even it out. It is buildable, so if you do want to put more on for more coverage you can. I have avoided doing this so far, due to my anxiety with not wanting to look too orange! It's a little shiny when you first apply it, but this soon dries after a few minutes.

I personally can't really see much of a difference from before I was using foundation, but my SO certainly has noticed my skin looking nicer, so it must be making somewhat of a difference, and the pictures certainly show a difference! My SO actually said I look more airbrushed haha :D However I think I still need an extra green base to get rid of further redness in my cheeks - I'm far too nervous about putting blusher on at the moment as my cheeks are already so red!

Overall, a decent product if you're not looking for a heavy coverage. I would certainly buy it again as it matches my paleness, which is something I haven't been able to get from any other foundation.

Now onto the pictures!

  Yeah... It really is that small...

One thing I really like about Lush products is how they all have these stickers on them saying who made/packaged your item. Such a nice touch.

 It looks so light, even in the jar!

 This is generally the amount I need to use...

How it appears on the back of my hand...

Comparison! My freshly moisturised, shiny, and surprisingly red face, next to my face with the colour supplement on. And there is actually quite a difference! And my face matches! Woo!

Taken outside to show it in natural sunlight. Looks pretty good to me! Apart from the eye wrinkles... damn sun...