Birchbox June 2014 Global Strikers

Ok. So I know I'm running super behind with everything. Life's been getting in the way I guess. But with today off, I thought I'd try and use it to get all caught up. So be prepared for several posts today probably! 

First up, it's June's Birchbox. This came when it was world cup time in Brazil and it was celebrating some amazing global beauty brands. My box included products based on Brazil, some from France and some from America. So let's have a nosy!

France

Yves Rocher - Sheer Botanical Lipstick £9.90

This product is a sheer colour lipstick. It contains cherry oil and is very moisturising on the lips. It gives a very sheer wash of colour and I really like the packaging too. It's actually a really nice product and I'm comfortable with the lighter colour effect since I'm not really used to wearing lipstick anyway. 

Brazil Inspired

Birchbox Keyring

A cute wee extra. Might be handy for my new house keys! 

United States

Coola - Classic Face SPF30 Cucumber £26

Suncream for your face. And it smells like cucumber. Nice. It's been a handy sample size to have, especially since it's been so damn hot this last week. But there's no chance I'd be shelling out £26 for the full size. Nope.

Brazil Inspired

OPI Nail Polish - Full Size £11.95

This is a polish from OPI's Brazil collection that came out earlier this year. From what I can see I got the colour called 'Where did Suzi's Man-go'. This is a orange polish, not something I've really owned before and I would be unlikely to pick up at the beauty supply. But still, it's a nice summery colour and I'm sure I'll get it used up!

France

Caudalie - Divine Oil £18

Now, I've had this same sample size of this product before in another box at some point. And I've still not used all of it up! This is a oil that can be used on the face, body or hair to help hydrate. I've tried it in my hair, but I find that even a very small amount in the ends makes them look a little greasy, so I've preffered to use it on my face just before I go to bed. It's a nice product and has a nice spa like scent. It just seems to be taking me ages to get through! I would think if you used it on the body it would go quicker though, I might pop it in the spray bottle to use after the shower and see how that goes.

United States

Beautyblender and Blendercleanser Solid £16

Now this product is quite a cult one. And all us subscribers were very happy to be getting one on our boxes in June. I've seen this spoken about on many blogs and youtube beauty gurus seem impressed by it's ability to help apply your makeup and blend products flawlessly. I was keen to get trying it. And I was impressed it came with the cleanser to keep it clean as well, this stuff is great for cleaning brushes too by the way. I'm still not sure what I think of the blender though. I feel it does help blending everything into the skin well. it's just a bit of a faff because you need to wet it first. I'll keep trying to get used to it though, it's a good find.

I really liked June's box. Everything is useable and will get used so I always appreciate that. It was nice to have a different coloured bag everything came in too, I love putting stuff in those for when I go on holiday!

Birchbox March 2014 Review

So, welcome to March's Birchbox! This month was a collaboration edition with Lulu Guinness, so she had chosen two picks in the box so I'll you see those later on! I have to say, I was a little disappointed at the box design itself. I was kind of expecting a stripey box that would stand out from the normal birchboxes. But it was simply the usual box with a sleeve around it. I wanted a funky box I guess. But hey ho, time to look at the products inside!

Dr Brandt Pores No More Refiner - Full Size £39

So this product is meant to minimise pores and absorb excess oil. You pop it on before makeup and it should help makeup apply smoother as well basically. It is quite smoothing I found, but for the price there are plenty more primers out there that do a similar job.

Aroma Works Nurture Body Oil - Full Size £32.50

This oil is applied just after you come out the bath or shower and is meant to nourish your skin and leave you smelling nice. I felt it smelled mostly of verbena and lemon which was quite pleasant. I did use all the product up and it was nice to treat my skin to oil on occasion, but I definitely don't like oil enough to invest in the full price of this one!

Cellu-Cup - £16

First thought when I saw this item was pretty much 'what the frack?!', it's rather odd. It's designed to help fight cellulite basically, and is used on soapy wet skin or after applying oil. You basically slide it back and forth over the area you are wanting to treat. Now, in all honesty, I have not yet tried this product. It seems so random. But, having booked a holiday this week, I guess trying anything to fight cellulite is worth at least a few tries. My other half has already raised his eyebrow at this tho! I'll be keeping it in the handy wee bag anyway, it's just so odd looking! But hopefully it might help!

Candy Rock

This was one of Lulu's picks. Her newest collection apparently took inspiration from this kind of design in rock. Fair enough, not that exciting, but I'll certainly get it eaten. No bother.

English Laundry No.7 for Her - Full Size £47

Now, if you've been reading my blog for any amount of time, you'll know I detest perfume samples or sachets of things. If I can ask for one for no cost in a department store or Boots, then I don't feel it's a good item to get in a beauty box I pay for. Basically. Every time I review my box on the birchbox site I comment on this as well, but still, here's another one. This one is very vanilla scented, not really my kind of fragrance I have to say. Far too sweet. It's nice to try new scents I agree, but if I really wanted to do that, I'd go and hit Boots.

Benefit Stay Don't Stray - Full Size £20.50

Finally, onto the other of Lulu's picks in this box. This is Benefit eye primer called Stay Don't Stray. It can be put on your eyelid as well as under the eye to help any concealer stay in place. I've been using this since I got it and it's been pretty decent so far. I normally use Urban Decays Primer Potion and this is certainly close to as good as that. It is helpful it comes with an applicator so you can limit how much product you use, and I guess you might get more out of the bottle than you could with the potion. It certainly does it's job, but if my primer potion is still cheaper than this, I won't be swapping over as yet.

So there you have it. March's collab box. I have to say, out of the items in this one, I will use everything, but I really only like 2 products (candy doesn't count!). Above you can see everything else that came with the box, a voucher to try Benefit's 'gimme brow' at a benefit counter, the usual insert card, the box covering and a booklet of 'Life Lessons as told by Lulu Guinness'. I have to say I didn't really learn anything by reading it other than things about her new collection and that she likes red lipstick. Fair enough, onto April!

Blog Sale Update!

Right guys! I've cleared out yet more polish! I need to try and clear as much of this as possible so please head on over to the blog sales page and see if anything takes your fancy!

http://boredatthenailbar.blogspot.co.uk/p/blog-sales.html

Birchbox December 2013 Review

 

 

Another Christmas Beautybox offering. Hooray for Birchbox! They have the right idea anyway, something useful, and something sparkly! Only thing that's remotely annoyed me: new subscribers were given a bracelet from Baublebar. As existing subscribers we were given a $20 gift voucher to use on their website. Great, but hey, shipping costs more than the item I wanted to buy. Pointless. But still. Everything else wasn't too bad. Let's have a nosy at the items then!

 

 

yey! Aromatherapy Associates Revive Oil. Happy to this in a box. You can get this kind of thing in a gift set for like £10, so already I've almost made all my money back on this one product. That's what I like to see. And it's a great product, I like to put some on before I get in the shower then as you wash the essential oils seep out and smell divine and wake you up. I've been using it sparingly, but I love it.

 

 

Non-Aerosol Hairspray from No 4. Much better for the environment and it still keeps your hair in place. Great stuff! I used this mostly when I have curly hair and it helps keep the curl without being crunchy so a lovely product. But can't say I could afford the £19 price tag for the full size!

 

 

Classic Twistband, I have had these in a box from Birchbox before. They are really handy and don't crinkle your hair the same as regular hair bands. Another for my stash!

 

 

Party Girl Serum by Sin-Care. This is an expensive Serum (£46!) that helps brighten skin after too many parties. It's certainly nice, and goes on well before my moisturiser. But no way am I paying that price tag!

 

 

Sparkly Eyeshadow from Alima Pure. Love this over other colours at the moment. I have been applying a dark colour or even just a winged black liner, then gently patting this on the top and it just adds that little bit of sparkle that makes my day better. Subtle but sparkly.

 

 

Talking of sparkly. Wowza this is sparkly. You apply two coats of the polish then when it's still wet push your nail into the glitter pot then brush off the excess with a makeup brush. Its very glittery. Only thing I don't like is you can't really apply a top coat after so I tend to find the glitter falls off fairly easily and I wouldn't think this would last more than 2 days max. I only wore it for one evening at time. Good for an accent nail so it's easy to change I would say.

 

December Birchbox is definitely more up my street anyway. Glitter is what every gal wants for Christmas right?! (well, me anyway!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Latest in Beauty: The Glamour Beauty Edit

 

So, I went back for more. Last time Glamour joined forces with Latest In Beauty I snapped that box right up too and it is so insanely worth what you pay its crazy to not get right in there and buy one. Lots of items in here to get through! and believe it or not, this was only £15. Get following Latest in beauty on twitter so you know when the next one is released. That's how I found out!

 

 

Face oil by balance me. It's so nice to get a product from these guys that's not a moisturiser! This has a rollerball which is really handy too. I've been using it before bed and it smells nice and feels nice on the skin, I'll keep using up anyway!

 

 

Philip Kingsley One more Day Dry Shampoo. Hands down the best dry shampoo I've tried. It's not something I use lots and lots, but this one really leaves your hair feeling soft and normal. With no white stuff either. Lovely stuff.

 

 

Toni and Guy Hairspray. It's a great size to take on holiday and doesn't leave your hair sticky at all.

 

 

Eyeko Eyelash Curlers. These come with lovely velvet like handles which are at a different angle from other curlers I've used and once you're used to it, they are a breeze to use and get the job done well!

 

 

Benefit's They're Real Mascara. Some people love this so much. Other people say it flakes off and annoys them, but myself, I never had any issues with that at all. I'm enjoying using this along with the new eyelash curlers and feel my lashes look great with it. Not sure if I'd invest in a full size one as yet, I have so many more to get through first!

 

 

Hd Brows: Again, another really talked about piece of kit. I have to fully admit, I never much bothered about my eyebrows and filling them in until recently. And this kit has led the way forward really. I use the second to lightest shade and just feel it makes my brows look more defined without the coloured in look. Shame there's no tweezers in the kit though. That would be all you need for brows then really.

 

 

Maybelline Baby Lips. I love this product, already owning the cherry one it's nice to have another. And minty fresh at that. This is a handy good product, it doesn't really last for 8 hours but it does work in general and it's affordable.

 

So, yea. Next time there's a glamour edit available get your paws on this lot. Totally worth the money! and it's only an occasional spend, as well as you know what's coming in the box which helps you know if its worth it for you.

 

This post was not sponsored. I bought this with my own money.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Birchbox November 2013

 

So, welcome to another late review. ahem. This is the Birchbox from November. Some immense items. Some already gone! Let's just get right to it!

 

 

Getting started with the random items first. This is bust oil. Uh-huh. I totally needed that? I had no idea it was an item I could need to be honest! I had a mess about with it for a few tries, but not a product I ever thought about buying really, think I'll put this to one side. ahem.

 

 

Random item number 2. A selection of tea. Apparently it's quite nice. If you drink tea. Which I do not. Slight backfire there. Not sure I can update this section in my beauty profile though!

 

 

We're back to perfume samples again. Nooooo! This is from English Laundry. It smells very floral. Bout all there is to say about that!

 

 

A funky pencil sharpener from Birchbox. Very handy, these types of random things I appreciate! Win!

 

 

This is a highlighter pen. Pretty handy. And very subtle colour on the skin. Nice to try something different in this case anyway!

 

 

Weleda Oat shampoo for dry and damaged hair. Well, I definitely have dry and damaged hair, so this was worth a shot. I didn't really appreciate the smell and it left my hair feeling quite odd. Not sure if its a more clarifying shampoo? I used it up anyway, but its around £8 a bottle, I don't tend to spend that much on shampoo anyhoo.

 

 

Finally, this is why Birchbox is so clearly leading the way at the moment. Hello, Laura Mercier. A very generous sample of the Ambre Vanilla body crème. Oh my goodness. I am not a fan of vanilla normally, but holy crap this stuff was gorgeous. I savoured it for ages, using it only on my arms. And I felt like I could smell it at all times of the day. Just immense. I now lust after the full size. I stare at it in Harvey Nicholls. Then I remember I can't afford it. My birthday's not til next November, but I might ask for this. oh yes.

 

In general, the Laura Mercier made this box for me. Simple really! I do like the fact that if Birchbox gives you random things like samples or tea, you also still get a good number of decent items. I'll be sticking with Birchbox I think. So expect more reviews! yey!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Late as Always! November Glossybox Review

So, naturally, after the disaster that was the October Glossybox, I was intrigued to see if it would get worse in November. It was definitely better, but still not very impressive on the whole. Well, let's have a quick nosy at the treats in the box.

 

Now, we all know I love me a good nail polish. But I am definitely snobby when it comes to the brand of the polish. Apparently this Quartz polish from B Cosmetics is worth £12, but there's better brands out there for less. It is a nice colour, a kind of grey/silver with silver flecks, and the brush is quite wide, making it easy to apply, but it's just not for me. This is available for sale on my blog sale section if you fancy it at all. Perhaps that says it all!

 

 

A selection of serums from Vichy, plus a moisturiser. Nothing exciting here really in all honesty. They all have quite a strong fragrance, so avoid if you are sensitive to this. I do appreciate these more than the sample sachets, but it's still only 3ml to try and decide if I'd want to use the product more. I think I'll skip it.

 

 

A perfectly nice eye shadow, with a nice texture. From a brand I've never heard of. (Emite Make Up) In the most boring colour ever and it's meant to cost £17? Again, not for me. Let's move on.

 

 

Another nail related item here. Again, you'd think I'd appreciate. But again, not. I am in love with my fast dry top coat, the HK Girl one right now and nothing could ever come close. I might use this on clients, but I could guarantee it would never dry as quick as my super duper top coat.

 

 

This time we've got a hand cream. It's mostly cocoa butter so it smells nice. This will definitely get used. Probably the best product in the box. Now, looking at what everyone got in their November box it does look like Decembers might continue on this same iffy level. Here's hoping not. I'll get into that next.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blog Sale Update

 

Time for an updated clear out! Few more polishes up so please feel free to check them all out!

 

http://boredatthenailbar.blogspot.co.uk/p/blog-sales.html