Birchbox May

A little busy this month I am way behind with blogging. This months Birchbox arrived last week (all my boxes arrived within days of each other so been testing everything out, plus catching on paperwork for work (very important to buy bills!) This months Birchbox had a scratch top box, two boxes had the word winner printed on them only to be revealed after scratching the silver off, you could have won a holiday, my box did not have winner on it :( but it was fun scratching off the silver to see if it did, plus it reveals a very nice design, so all good fun.
Inside this months box (in the little bag) were 1 full sized item and 5 samples.
The full sized item was from Spectrum Collections a "Unicorn Tears Wonder Sponge" (Full size item price £4.99) We were given the choice of two colours pink or lilac, I picked lilac, so I knew this item was included in this months box. The sponge comes in a little plastic resealable bag, very Handy for travelling. The sponge is slightly harder than others I have tried but I liked that, very nice and may re-purchase, as its cheaper than a lot of other sponges out there.
The five samples (in no order) Philip Kingsley -PK Prep Polishing Balm (sample size 20ml, full sized 75ml £18.50) a hair smoothing balm that works on all hair types to smooth, condition, and tame whatever style you’re after. Contains nourishing ProVitamin B5 and vitamin A to add shine and gloss while nourishing your locks. My hair goes frizzy when it raining or when its sunny, generally its always frizzy! I used a tiny amount (less then 1/4 of a pea  amount) and it made my hair so shiny and a lot less frizzness, plus it did not make my hair look greasy, I will be buying this product when the sample runs out I really love it. Sorry the next sample is not in the photo of the box contents as it was put straight into my bag when I opened the box, for when I'm out 'n' about. TheBalm® cosmetics "Stainiac" in Beauty Queen a hint of a tint for lips and cheeks (sample size 1.2ml, full sized 8.5ml £10.00) It has a very suble tint/ colour, its quick and simple to use. I did apply twice for a better colour but it was still very natural looking which I like.
Caudalie Vinosource "Moisturising Sorbet" a gel/ cream a very lightweight non greasy moisturiser, the sample was 10ml but only contained approx. two pea sized amounts of cream so tried it in the morning and night. It was a good moisturiser but I did not like the smell and as the full size is £23.00 for 40ml I think its too expensive!
Rituals - "Dao Wai Wang Body Scrub" (sample size 75ml, full sized 325ml £19.50) enriched with white lotus and yi yi ren to calm the skin’s surface. I love this scrub, the smell is not over powering but light and uplifting. The scrub uses Chinese bamboo particles and does not scratch up your skin but leaves it smooth and feeling very soft and moisturised. I am really enjoying using this
(sample size 20ml, full sized 8.5ml £10.00)
The final sample was a Vita Coco Coconut Oil (sample size tiny 5ml, full sized 500ml £10.00) this is 100% organic raw cold pressed coconut oil. I use coconut oil for so many things cooking, hair, teeth, skin, nails, this sample will go in my travel bag very handy.
All in all a very nice box, that I am enjoying using










Note: If you want £5.00 worth of points with your first box click https://www.birchbox.co.uk/invite/nezumi6 currently you can get a free full-sizefull-size Jelly Pong Pong Glow Getter highlighter worth £8.95 with the first box - just put the code GLOWGIRL in the promo code box before ordering.  So that's a free Jelly Pong Pong Glow Getter highlighter and £5.00 in points, don't forgot to review the products when you get them and that's up to another £5.00 worth of points to spend in their shop. 
Birchbox UK cost £10.00 plus 2.95 p&p monthly, you can cancel at any time via your online account. They are an American company, different countries receive different boxes and products. 

Birchbox April

This months Birchbox arrived, its with Rifle Paper so the box has a really nice, we were given a choice of two different floral designs. The one I selected reminded me of spring! fresh colours. We also had a chance to upgrade the box by adding two little Rifle paper notebooks. So that's a no brainer for me, I love notebooks!! always have one with me so I upgraded start away, it cost an extra £4.00 I noticed they are now selling them on the site for £12.00! The box also had a 25% off coupon for rifle papers so will be looking at their website to see whats available. Inside the box was the usual cute little drawstring bag, these are great for making sure my crochet/ knitting projects don't end up like tangled around everything in my handbag or my comb/ hairbrush!!
This months items were - Cynthia Rowley - Full sized Black Eyeliner (Birchbox Exclusive!) It saids its "smudge-proof definition that lasts all day!" (Full sized £11.00) I tested it found It did smudge a little, but it also lasted all day in fact I had trouble removing it, I would only come off with an oil cleanser in the end.
 - Sample sized Kueshi - Foot Care Cream - A foot-softening treatment that uses natural ingredients to refresh and nourish dry skin. (The sample was 40ml, Full sized 100ml £12.00) This has a nice tea tree oil smell and my feet liked it they felt nice and soft.
- A half size sample of Benefit BADgal Lash - Volumising formula.(The sample was 4.0ml, Full sized 8.5ml £17.50) nice big brush I will need to test it more.
- Beaver Professional - Hydro Nutritive Moisturizing Shampoo (40ml sample) & Conditioner (small foil sample) - it saids it "gently revives and restores and keep the pH balance". (The sample was 40ml, Full sized 258ml £11.50) I will try this out soon.
- Balance Me - Tinted Wonder Eye Cream - An eye cream to cover dark circles with a tinted lotion (Full sized 178ml £20.00) This is the same cream I got free on a magazine last month. It was a bit to dark for me when I tested it, but I found it very mosituring (it has rosehip oil) so I have used it in the morning if I am not going out and it makes my eye area feel good. I wish it was a little lighter but I am really really pale so its hard getting a good colour to suit me. Saying that I will use it also as an light eye cream on days I stay in so it will not be wasted.
Again I liked this months box, I like been able to choice the design and the little notebooks. The products included new items I had never tried, so I liked that.



Note: If you want £5.00 worth of points with your first box click https://www.birchbox.co.uk/invite/nezumi6 currently you can get a free full-size NUXE Masque Crème Fraîche® de Beauté worh £18.50 with the first box - just put the code PAMPERME in the promo code box before ordering.  So that's a free NUXE Masque Crème Fraîche® de Beauté and £5.00 in points, don't forgot to review the products when you get them and that's up to another £5.00 worth of points to spend in their shop. 
Birchbox UK cost £10.00 plus 2.95 p&p monthly, you can cancel at any time via your online account. They are an American company, different countries receive different boxes and products. 

Birchbox March 2016

This month's Birchbox is here, can you believe that is the third box already, the months are flying by. Spring will hopefully appear soon.
I liked this box it has a word puzzle on it, if you get all the names and mark them on the box, photo it you can enter the competition to win a large box of goodies. I don't want to mark my box :( I like it.
The box contents were good this month two full sized items and 4 sample/ travel sized items all in the little fabric bag inside the box.
The first full sized item was a colour enhancing lip balm (full sized £11) this is made by birchbox its their new Arrow Boost line which is paraben-free, cruelty-free and vegan. The Color Enhancing Lip Balm has a mild minty scent and the colour tint in the balm adjusts to your lips PH so the color is unique to you. My lip colour only had a tiny colour change, a little darker, which I was happy with. The balm was soft and I have been using it when I am out 'n' about as the weather has been cold and windy, it has stopped my lips from cracking, which is very good, It's now living in my purse and I am very happy with it. The other full sized item, was ModelCo - More brows (Full sized £13.00) its a tinted eyebrow gel that has little particles in it that thicken the brows, it does what it saids, although not sure what happens when it rains, it does not say if its waterproof,  
The sample products were The Works Pillow Spray in deep sleep (The sample was 5ml, Full sized 75ml £16.00), I love this product and have been using it every night, I may need to buy this soon. You spray it on your pillow to help you sleep, it has the essential oils of wild chamomile, vetivert and true lavender, it smells really nice (some lavenders remind me of cleaning products, this has a good lavender smell). I do seem to be sleeping for longer too. 
I got another Polaar product (had one in last months mylittlebox) this is a moisturising gel called IceSource a good sized sample (The sample was 25ml, Full sized 50ml £27.00) it has glacier water to cool and mattify the complexion, not sure of the mattifying effect but it smells nice and my skin was strangely cool and very smooth and soft, very nice. I love trying new products :) 
The last two products were both for the hair, I will use them soon - Philip B Drop Dead Straighting Baume (The sample was 15ml, Full sized 178ml £20.00) A silicone free treatment to shorten blow-drying time for any hair type, relaxing unruly hair (how did they know about my hair!!!) and Amika Nourishing Mask (The sample was 20ml, Full sized 250ml £19.99) with sea buckthorn berry and jojoba oil to soften and repair hair in minutes! 
I really liked this box, new products to explore and try I Love it :)


Note: If you want £5.00 worth of points with your first box email me (or use the contact form on the right) for a link, I currently also have a code for 50% off the first box which can be used with the link - just put the code in the promo code box before ordering.  So that's half price for the 1st box and £5.00 in points, don't forgot to review the products when you get them and that's up to another £5.00 worth of points to spend in their shop. 
Birchbox UK cost £10.00 plus 2.95 p&p monthly, you can cancel at any time via your online account. They are an American company, different countries receive different boxes and products. 

Birchbox February

My 2nd birchbox arrived, I was so excited as I did not expect it yet. It was a pretty box with "shine bright like a diamond in gold" printed in gold on it. I saw on their website there were three different colour boxes this month, I am happy with this colour. Sadly I don't find a diamond necklace in my box :( there was one placed randomly in one box this month. I saw a lucky person had found it on Instagram.
When I opened the box everything was in a bag again, I like these bags prefect for projects.
I knew about two of the products that were in this months box from emails. The first was birchboxes own brand LOC newly launched product - one and done shadow stick. We were sent an email at the end of January, with a choice of two colours "perfect cents" a gold/ copper colour and "champagne problems" a silver colour. I chose the perfect cents and I am really glad I did, its a really nice pale gold/ cooper that is not to shiny, a soft eye shadow pencil that is waterproof I love this, great for a contact lense wearer like me and it did work as I had to go to work this week in the nasty windy wet storms. I wore it to test it out, loved the colour too (the shadow stick is £8.00 a full sized product was sent). The second item was a tapered powder brush by Spectrum Collections (£7.99 full sized product sent) a super soft brush that looks pretty also, very happy with this brush. The other samples I received were  
Ayres Body Butter in Patagonia (Patagonia is a blend of jasmine, lavender, ylang-ylang, and fir) info on their site said " paraben-free formula contains a signature blend of natural plant emollients, herbal extracts, and vitamins to soothe and moisturise skin. Vitamin E protects skin from free radical damage, while shea butter sinks in for lasting hydration" (£19.50 for 191gms, sample size was 28gms) When I tried this cream out at first the smell reminded me of a strong designer men's aftershave, but after about an hour the smell was not so strong and changed to something I really liked (earthy, clean smell) and my skin liked it also very hydrating.  
Korres Milk Proteins 3-in-1 Cleanser (£15.00 for 200mls sample sent was 16mls) this does what it said on the tube, cleanses, tones, and removes eye make-up quick and easy to use. 
Lumiere d'Hiver Super Comb Prep & Protect (£20.00 for 200mls sample size 30mls) the site blurb saids "Strengthening, repairing, de tangling, great at taming flyway ends as well as nourishing and protecting, it's a brilliant all-rounder. It's also 100% Vegan, gluten-free, sulphate-free and paraben-free" You wash hair and spray on this leave-in conditioner, or like me in-between washes spray on, it was excellent for detanging my hair, which is long and wavy so tangles easily. I really really loved the fact it untanged my hair :) 
and the last sample I received was BioNike DEFENCE XAGE ULTIMATE RICH Lifting Remodelling Balm (£27.00 for 50mls sample was tiny 3.5mls) this was a light cream very hydrating but did not feel like a balm. Very small sample but seems like a very nice product.
So I am again very happy with my box :) 


Note: If you want £5.00 worth of points with your first box email me (or use the contact form on the right) for a link, I currently also have a code for 50% off the first box which can be used with the link - just put the code in the promo code box before ordering.  So that's half price for the 1st box and £5.00 in points, don't forgot to review the products when you get them and that's up to another £5.00 worth of points to spend in their shop.

Birchbox

In my post yesterday I posted about my new subscription to mylittlebox. The other subscription box I ordered this month arrived yesterday. I am also very happy with this one. It's my first birchbox and lucky for me this month they teamed up with Pinterest one of my favourite websites (I spend for too much time pinning things with plans to make, buy or grow that item at a later date), so the box was decorated nicely with little photos and quotes, again this box will be reused to store something. 
The reason I ordered this brand was they have a nice looking boxes, which usually contains a small bag that the beauty samples are sent in. Normally appprox. 5+ samples (may include full sized items also) are sent to try out, so it  seems to give good value for money. The box is £10 plus £2.95 p&p. I got 50 extra points (worth £5.00) when I ordered because I went to another subscribers link, she will also get extra points. The points can be used to buy full sized items from the birchbox website and you can gain more points by reviewing the samples they send (the items in the box), doing the monthly reviews you can gain up to £5.00 in points per month. I will add my friends link here so if anyone wants to subscribe they can also get some extra points to start with (so will I).
Opening the box is like opening a present, very exciting as I did not know what it contained, firstly there were Pinterest inspirational postcards (very cute), a booklet with information on the beauty items in the box, a nice touch and useful. The items are different in each persons box, you fill out a profile and they select items from the range available that month that you get the items more suited to you, which is interesting. There are sample sizes and full sized items. The beauty items are in a small draw string bag, again this is excellent for small craft projects mine now has some knitting inside it. I will start with the bonus item for this month a mirror with #NO filter written on the back, (this is listed as £4.00 to buy, I will include the rrp as they list it in the booklet, I will also include the sample sizes) its a nice sized handbag mirror, I may make a little pouch for it so it does not get scratched in my bag. The full sized item was a Complexion Awakener pencil from Jelly Pong Pong (RRP £14.95) in the shade nude, this is a really soft pencil to be used in the corner of the eyes and along the inner rim (that's what I will use it for) it said in the information booklet the pencil can also be blended onto the cheeks or brow bones. 
Samples sized items were - Benefit's mink-brown "they're Real" tinted primer, I tried this when I got it,  I am lucky to have long lashes and putting this tinted primer on I now have really long lashes! So far no problems I would wear it without mascara as the tinted colour looks good very natural looking. It's a good sized sample 3gms (the RRP of the full size is £18.50 for 8.5gms) 
Caudalie's shower gel 30ml this is for sensitive skin, it may go in the holiday bag (or holiday wish bag I should call it) (RRP £9.00 for 200ml)
Absolution's L'Eau Soir et Matin cleaning water 30ml , this is certified organic and was something I was hoping to try it. Its a unisex product, it has natural ingredients including hazelnut oil which it said on their site will "soften and purify the skin and potassium to regulate your cells’ metabolism" here's hoping! I will try it tonight (RRP £27 for 150ml) 
And finally Parlor shampoo 30ml and a matching conditioner 12ml (have very long hair so maybe this sized conditioner will just do the ends) ( Both shampoo and conditioner are RRP £16.00 for 236ml each )
I think this months goodies were well worth the box price, again can't wait for next month. I read there is a real diamond necklace put into one box randomly next month as it's Valentine's Day. It's also my birthday next month so here's hoping :)
Note: If you want £5.00 worth of points with your first box email me (or use the contact form on the right) for a link, I currently also have a code for 50% off the first box which can be used with the link - just put the code in the promo code box before ordering.  So that's half price for the 1st box and £5.00 in points, don't forgot to review the products when you get them and that's up to another £5.00 worth of points to spend in their shop.