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!

Degustabox April 2014 Review

Holy yumminess. This month's box was immense I have to say. I will eat everything. I already have eaten a lot of it! Let's tuck in!

Dr Oetker - Cooking Chocolate (£1.69 each)

Fairly self explanatory. The box came with a yummy looking recipe for chocolate fondants using these so I might well be attempting that with these at some point. Random thing to put in the box maybe, but it will get used at some stage!

Mornflake - Superfast Pots (£1.20 each)

I love the idea of these. Handy pots that become a ready made bowl of cereal when you add water to them! They even come with a spoon in the lid. Great idea. So, imagine my face when I noticed both were nutty flavours. I'm fairly sure I stated on my profile not to send me nutty products because I'm allergic, but I got these. They'll be donated to my Mum I think, loves granola so she does.

Lindt - Lindor Bar (80p each)

Ok, hide my face in shame. The box came with three of these in it. Two of them had magically disappeared into my tummy before I got around to taking any photos. Whoopsie. Also, this one is gone now just before I started typing up this review. Whoops again. So, maybe that's enough said. These are delicious. I do like chocolate. Just a tad. Honest.

Go Splash (£2.45 each)

This product is a great idea I think. Just splash some into your water anytime to give it a flavour. I like that this is sugar free too. It'll make 30 glasses from this little thing as well. Very handy for work I think I'll be giving this a try next week. I'd quite happily get one of these again, but the price puts me off to be honest, when you could get regular diluting juice for a lot less.

Cawston Press - Love Sparkles Rhubarb (£1)

Fruity sparkling water in a can. This will be coming with me to work next week. Sounds yummy anyway! I'll put it to the test then, but I like the idea anyway!

Clearspring - Miso Soups (£1.29 each)

Just add water to these to get yourself some tasty Miso soup. Handy indeed me thinks! Again, I will be taking these for lunch to work this week, hopefully they taste as good as they look. They come freeze dried to seal in the flavour apparently, so it's worth a try!

Keogh's - Atlantic Sea Salt & Irish Cider Vinegar Crisps (£1.00)

Now, since I don't like salt and vinegar crisps, these were donated to the boyfriend. He ate them. When I then asked for his thoughts on them for this review he said 'They were alright'. So there you have it. Top notch review skills right there.

Mcvities - Jaffa Cake Mini Rolls (£1.30 each)

Now, here we have more chocolate. Somehow I ate the Lindt first and left these to the side. I was intrigued by the try me frozen claim on the outside, so 2 of each flavour have now been put in the freezer and I'll try one this evening me thinks. I like the berry burst ones the most so far, but I reckon the tropical ones will be awesome cold, so I'll let you know how I get on!

Crabbies - Alcoholic Ginger Beer with Raspberry (£2.19)

Lastly, some booze. This stuff tastes really yummy right from the fridge in the sun. I'll be getting this again have no fear. Well, if it's on offer that is.

Loved this month's box. I'm really enjoying having a food box, so much so this will be replacing one of my beauty boxes, as I feel I get more value from this sometimes. And it's always interesting and full of things I will use. This has to have been the best box so far though. Great stuff.

Glossybox April 2014 - Sweet Treats Review

 

Well, it's April time and another beauty box themed around sweet treats and sweet things. Weird coincidence huh? I did well this month, I forgot to take a photo of everything in the box. Go me. But no matter, there's at least photos of all the products! Let's investigate!

Emite Make Up - Lip Brush L312 (£17)

This is a slanted brush for lips to give more precision when putting on lipstick. As you know, I'm not really one for wearing lipstick, but I am trying my best to get involved in it so I'm sure this will help me on my way a little! 

Monu Spa - Warming Giner Massage and Body Oil (£25 for 100ml)

You can use this in your bath, or slather yourself in it before you hit the shower to help you leave with bathroom with super smooth silky skin. I love the smell of it, very ginger it and it does leave skin feeling quite nice. I've used it more in the bath than the shower though, I slid everywhere when I tried it in the shower! Be careful lovelies!

He-Shi Professional Tanning - Face and Body Gel (£7.95 for 50ml)

Let's start this with a confession. One you probably already know. I don't do fake tan. It's not something I've ever been greatly attracted to. So needless to say, I've not yet tried this product. I was debating using it a few days before I go on holiday to try it out just in case I look ridiculous! I'll aim for trying it on my legs before my face though! I'm afraid of that orange look. Classy.

MeMeMe Cosmetics - Beat the Blues (£5.50)

I feel like I've already cover this. But here's MeMeMe producing another dupe for a Benefit product. And I actually like this one. It's meant to be great for creating shimmer and highlighting skin. I've been mixing it in with my foundation to create a subtle shimmer and dewy finish, as well as applying it under my blusher as a highlight. It's been pretty effective. Great buy for less then £6!

TRESemme - Instant Refresh Cleansing Dry Shampoo (£4.99)

I feel like I've gained like 6 dry shampoos thanks to boxes alone. Not sure I've bought one in ages. I don't use these a lot to help refresh my hair, I use them more for volume and helping boost my curls when I have curly hair. This one smells nice and does help with volume. Nice to get a full size product as well! 

Annoyingly, another half decent Glossybox. I've claimed my last free for May so hopefully that will be good. And it will be my last one. I need to make cut backs and overall I still feel that Glossybox is losing to Birchbox. Plus, Glossybox now officially costs more than Birchbox. But I'll review one more in May, so let's hope it's a good un!

February Degusta Box Review

 

A different kind of review, but such a yummy one it's all good. At the start of February I spotted an ad for this box on facebook. At the time they were offering one month for £5, I thought I had nothing to lose really! It's normally £12.99 a month for the Degustabox and even then I think you get more for your money in that case. But for a fiver I couldn't pass it up. I forgot I ordered it as well, so I was really happy when it showed up and I couldn't believe how much stuff was in it! So here's a look at the contents!

 

 



 

You get a handy card with all the descriptions of the products and their prices on one side, and the other side has recipe ideas for some of the products as well. The two products focused on here were the Redcurrant Sauce (£1.80) and the Peppadew Peppers (£3) so that's really helpful!

 

 

Some old school Soren snacks, some original malt loaf (£1.39) and a pack of banana lunch box loaves (£1.35). The banana ones are yummy and make a decent on the run breakfast! Suits me then!

 

 

Some new style Ryvita treats in the shape of these Thins in the sweet chilli and Cheddar and black pepper flavours (£1.89 each) and nice and low in calories and pretty tasty as well so that helps!

 

 

And some different types of crisps. Tyrrell's Apple Crips in Cinnamon and Original (£1.15 each) These are interesting, and a nice snack if you're after a bit of a change!

 

 

These are energy drinks by Scheckler's (£1.35 each) and they are very berry flavoured. One was lower in calories but otherwise they are exactly the same. I am addicted to energy drinks since I don't drink coffee and these were really nice for a change from red bull.

 

 

Finally, the good stuff. Chocolate. These are from Bahlsen the Pickup bars (£1.60) are basically a slice of chocolate between two rich tea types biscuits. Nom. The Waffeletten (£1.65) are wafers with chocolate. Nom all round.

 

 

Now, that's quite a lot of food for a fiver. Even for the regular £12.99 you'd be saving money. You can choose what kind of products you'd like when you sign up as well, so hopefully you won't get much you won't like. The only thing I didn't think in this was the chutney, all good otherwise! Total box value was £22.37 - so that's a decent saving anyway! I'm gonna keep it going for another month anyway and see what treats I get in March!