Flamingo Candles Lemon and Lime Mojito

Flamingo candles is a brand I have seen on many blogs, so when I got the chance to try out my own candle, I was every bit as excited because I am candle obsessed, even as I sit and type this, my Flamingo candle is burning away. If you haven't heard of the brand, Flamingo Candles are handmade candles which use soybeans and natural cotton wicks, they contain no no petroleum, paraffin or beeswax products and more information about the brand can be found HERE.

The candle I was kindly sent is Lemon and Lime Mojito and it smells exactly as the name would suggest and is described as follows:

"Fruity and exotic Lemon & Lime Mojito is a fruity aroma incorporating notes of freshly squeezed juicy lemons combined with notes of warm orchids, infused with fresh lime with added notes of cool aldehydes, mandarin and grapefruit".

Once the lid has been removed there is a sudden citrusy scent which captures your senses and once alight, that scent is magnified and quickly spreads throughout the entire house. I am a huge fan of candles which have a big scent and this one is definitely one of those, it is fresh, zesty and is perfect for those Sunday afternoons once everything has been cleaned, scrubbed and polish to sit back and relax too with a cuppa whilst browsing blogs or reading the paper. 

Flamingo Candles' Classic Jar Candles cost just £12 each and you can find them on the Flamingo Candle website, Amazon and Asos to name a few. They also offer upto 50 hours of burning time which I think is really impressive for a candle of this size. Next on my list of Flamingo Candles to try is
Oriental Lotus & Rose Otto Scent Melt and the Coconut Lemongrass Scent Melt to see if they are as good or better than similar products out there!

Have you tried anything from Flamingo Candles? Do you have a favourite scent?

LOLA IT Girl Range

LOLA is an exciting New British designed make up brand. Created by professional make-up artists, LOLA offers a wide range of colours, High quality textures and professional artistry tools. LOLA is retailed exclusively at Marks & Spencer.

To date, the only products I have ever owned from LOLA was a miniature kabuki Brush which I got in a beauty box and it happens to be pretty fantastic and one which resides in my everyday work make-up bag and a finishing brush which came in a You Beauty Discovery Box.  So when I was offered the chance to try out some of the make up from the range, I jumped at the chance.

The products found in the IT girl range are inspired from three of the periods (60s and 79s) most iconic IT Girls - Edie Sedgwick, Debbie Harry, Angie & David Bowie.  The range features Lip Gloss, 6 eyeshadows, Automatic pencil, Eye Pencil, an intense lipstick shade, Matte Lipstick, 3 nail polishes.  I have some of the products** from across the three looks - Icon, Factory Girl and Studio 54 which are Eyeshadow in Satinado which is a dusty pink shade, a eye pencil in gold dust and a lip gloss in 009 which is Hot Pink.

The first thing I noticed about each of these products is how lovely they look within their packing, the white writing on a black background looks very classy to me and really standing out.  Then the actual product inside is just amazing. 

Both pinks shades suit most skin tones, even mine which is very pale and the lip gloss and eyeshadow can be used to give a light smattering of colour or built up to give a really edgy shade, depending on your preference. 

Have you ever tried a product from Lola?

Fragrance Club Discovery Box - Autumn Winter 2014

I am a huge perfume fan, love it and I am one of those people who loves perfume samples. What better way to decide whether or not you like the scent of something? We do it with make-up, so why not perfume? Back in April 2013 I brought to my blog a new subcription box from The Fragrance Shop Discovery Club which you can see HERE and again in June which is HERE and then September which is HERE, then the final box of 2013 HERE if you didn’t see it. Already in 2014 I have had the spring edition which you can find HERE and the summer edition which is HERE.

For those of you not in the know this is the description of the box, which is a subscription:

"If you love fragrance, then you'll love our Discovery Club.

Our exciting new club allows you to explore the very latest fragrance launches from the comfort of your own home. For just £5 per quarter, each edition comes with fragrance samples for you to try, details on each of the fragrances included, as well as discount vouchers so you can make some big savings on all the scents featured."

This quarter I have the Autumn Winter Edition 2014 which includes both male and female scents and this is what is in the box:

So inside the box as you can see there is:

Jean Paul Gaultier Classique Intense, which is an update on the original Classique fragrance. The new scent is more vivacious, intensive, oriental and solar, containing notes of tiare, pomegranate and gourmand accords at the top, with the heart of orange blossom, rose and jasmine and the base of patchouli and vanilla.

I have to admit I do like this, I didn't want too though, there is something about Jean Paul Gaultier which annoys me.  This scent contains a lot of my favourite scents - Rose, Jasmine, Orange Blossom and thankfully the Vanilla is over the top headache-making.

Kenzo Jeu d'Amour celebrates the romantic lovers game with an ultra-feminine, sensual and captivating fragrance. While notes of tea, mandarin and pomegranate set the mood, tuberose and freesia sign an ultra-feminine floral heart over a sensual base of musks and creamy sandalwood.

I actually really like this once it has settled on my skin. It is so delicate and floral you cannot help but love it.  One that I am tempted to purchase.

Loewe Quizás Seducción. Representing seductive sexiness, Quizás Seducción has a fruity-floral aphrodisiac quality. Top notes of blackberry, passion fruit and sweet orange give way to elegant sambac jasmine with strong tuberose and orange blossom. Base notes include caramel and vanilla.

I am currently not a fan of this scent, it smells nice until it hits my skin where it then smells horrid which is a shame because it has all the ingredients of being a lovely scent.

Loewe Aura Eau de Toilette. The scent represents feminine mystery and magnetism. A relaxed and carefree force that is inescapably alluring. Loyal to the past, loyal to the present, loyal to Loewe. A fresh floral and fruity Eau de Toilette.

I can't decide whether I like this or not, it is one of those fragrances which leaves me sitting on the fence.  It is nice, but I doubt I would buy it, though I would be happy if someone else bought it for me.

For the men folk we have:

Jimmy Choo MAN -  This masculine fragrance is a woody aromatic fougère. Top notes of lavender and mandarin spray are softened by the fruity notes of honeydew melon, followed by heart notes of pink pepper and geranium mixed with pineapple leaf. Finally the fragrance unveils a lasting print of patchouli, suede and ambery woods.

I really don't like this and I should do because it again contains all the ingredients I really like the scent of, but there is just something about it which is really just not for me, not that I would be wearing it, but isn't one I would buy for someone else.

So this quarter has produced a really interesting box again, one or two perfumes I would want to buy and some I most definitely would not.  The thing I do like about these boxes is that I get to sample the products at home. I can wear then to work, around the house, going for coffee with friends or just shopping.  I am not trying them in a department store where I can be easily influenced to part with money for a scent I am not totally sure of.  That said, the spring box did lead to my buying Valentino Uomo for Beautykinguk who has written his own version of what he thinks of the fragrance on his own blog.

So what do you think to this quarters box? Are there any perfume samples you like the sound of?

Birchbox Supporting CoppaFeel!

I have just received the October box for Birchbox and it is absolutely fantastic again this month! Supporting CoppaFeel!, whom if you haven't read the few posts ive done about them here is a little background to them. 

CoppaFeel! aims to stamp out late detection and misdiagnosis of breast cancer by ensuring that people know that signs and symptoms of breast cancer, know what their boobs look and feel like normally, check their boobs regularly throughout their lifetime and have the confidence to seek medical referral when they detect abnormalities. Currently 5% of diagnosed cases are already at stage IV with breast cancer being the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in women under 30 in the UK (181 new cases diagnosed and 12 deaths annually). CoppaFeel! strives for a country where no one dies of breast cancer because of late detection or misdiagnosis. The charity receives no government funding and relies solely on voluntary donations.  As October is Breast Cancer awareness month, this is such a good idea of Birchbox to do a collaboration.

Inside the box this time as you can see, there is this amazing pink make-up bag which is the perfect size for fitting everything within the box in it! The idea behind the products is to focus inward on health and wellbeing with the products to help you 'work it' and to get motivated to tackle whatever your day brings.  So inside my box there is:

KMS California Free Shape Hot flex Creme - Apply it to towel dried hair and comb through before drying.  It is said to smooth curls, waves and/or frizz. This is a 50ml sample.

Cindy Crawford Meaningful Beauty Glowing Serum - A Sumptuous radiance-enhancing anti-ageing serum to be used in the morning before your moisturiser or anytime for an instant pick-me-up.  This is an 8ml sample.

Balance Me Cleanse and Smooth Face Balm - This is a nourshing cleanser which uses oatmeal powder to exfoliate dry and dead skincells. Perfect for normal-dry skin but also balances oily skin too.  This is a 40ml sample.

Shaveworks The Cool Fix - Said to be a genius cooling gel lotion that treats ingrown hairs, razor bumps and redness after hair removal.  Can be used morning and evening until the redness fades.  This is a 29ml sample.

Pixie by Petra Shea Butter Lip Balm - I have Ripe Raspberry and when used on the lips it does leave a hint of colour which you can work up to a much bolder colour should you wish.  Using Shea butter, this lip balm leaves your lips feeling soft and smooth.

The final item is the Birchbox Lipstick pen which I love, it is such a brilliant extra item to have and one that will appeal to most beauty bloggers.  

Finally the most important aspect of this box is Copping a Feel, knowing your Boobs can save your life!  Inside the box on the pink card is a little and it features some really useful and important information and this is it:

I hope everyone who got this box or who is reading this post looks at the instructions on this card and does CoppaFeel!  It is so important and as someone who has three friends at various stages with the disease, I can't tell you enough how important it is to check!

What do you think to this months Birchbox?

Gina Conway Salon Experience

Have you ever wished you could find that perfect haircut, go along to a salon and say "I'd like that please" knowing you will love it? Well, I was recently introduced to website called HAIRCVT which was described to be as something that would allow Londoners to find the very best salons and stylists around them to give them the very best hairstyle possible. Relying on Google maps or friend recommendations (when you have completely different hair to your friend) is a thing of the past now! Finding those great little salons and stylists throughout London!

So I decided to put it to the test! Once you get to the site, you simply choose your options which are clearly shown in the left hand side of the screen. Then once your options appear in a matter of seconds, you choose the one you want, call the salon where it was styled and off you go. This is the style I liked the most, note this is not me in the photo.

To get this style, my selected salon was Gina Conway in Chelsea and last week I finally went to have my hair sorted out. I have been quite bad and havent had so much as a trim since April, which meant my hair had got to that stage where it was in dire need of sorting out and the Gina Conway Salon in Chelsea came to my rescue. 

Gina Conway salons are part of the Aveda Salon and Spa who like to approach every guest with fresh eyes and by listening and caring about each individual we can create a bespoke plan for them and deliver and delight above expectations.

The salon is situated down The Kings Road, one of my favourite roads in London and it looks amazing from the outside, never mind the inside. As soon as I walked in, I was greeted like a long lost friend which really put me at ease and as my coat as taken, I was shown to a chair to begin my consultation with the lovely Saffron. As we went through my options, the one thing that struck me is that for once, I actually felt I was being listened to about my hair rather than guided to or having styles recommended to me, something ive found quite rare. Once the options had been taken through, I was told I was about to have a lovely Chakra Ritual & Massage which as more amazing then I can begin to describe:

"Balance your energy systems by choosing from the Chakra Aroma Range while you receive a relaxing shoulder and head massage"

I won't give away any of the secrets of how this works, but by the time it was finished, I possibly resembled someone who had just woken up from a very deep sleep, that is how relaxed I was and I had had an extremely stressful day with one of my cats being taken really ill resulting in frantic calls too and from the vet and then to work.

Once my hair had been washed, cleansed and conditioned, I was back in the chair ready to await my transformation. The whole time my hair was being trimmed and cut, Saffron would constantly tell me what she was doing and how she was doing it, so throughout the entire process I felt at ease and almost in charge of what was happening, rather than the stylist just cutting away with their scissors and you waiting until they have finished to see what has happened.

One my hair was complete, dried and then styled, I was able to go through a list of products that had been used and the one which really caught my attention is the Aveda Smooth Infusion Style Prep Smoother which is appear in its own review shortly.

This is one amazing salon, the whole experience is wonderful and the staff are just really lovely from the minute to arrive to the second you leave. There is abslutely no pressure on you the customer to do or have anything you do not want or are uncomfrtable with and the added extra of a spa treatment is such a nice touch, it is worth booking an appointment just for one of those.

If you are looking for a new salon, then please visit Gina Conway who can be found via the website HERE and if you are looking for some hair inspiration HairCVT might just have something you'll like and I would love to know what you think to it!

Lookfantastic Beauty Box - October

I bought the September Lookfantastic Beauty Box which you can read all about HERE and I was so impressed, I ordered the October one straight away and it has already sold out. The box offers a great selection of handpicked, must have beauty fixes wrapped in a beautifully presented box and delivered straight to your door. The beauty box will always include a minimum of six products and will offer a selection of skin, hair, cosmetic and body products, catering to every kind of beauty lover.

This month’s box is filled with 7 beauty items and inside you will find some well known and high end brands such as L’Oreal Professional, Gatineau, Balance Me, This Works, Korres and KMSCalifornia and all for £15!

The first item in my box is the L’Oreal Professional Serie Expert Pro-Keratin Refill Shampoo and Masque. The Shampoo cleanses and replesnishes damaged hair for smooth, reinforced feel. Enriched with pro-keratin and incell, hair fibre feels strengthened and re-inforced. The Masque intensively replenishes damaged hair for a smooth reinforced feel. The formula creates a defensive shield providing day to day protection from external aggressors.

Secondly is the KMS California Free Shape Quick Blow Dry in a 75ml bottle. I have never tried anything from the KMS California range, so I am quite looking forward to this because if and when I do blow-dry my hair, it can often end up quite frizzy and and a static nightmare. The spray claims to reduce your blow drying time by up to 50%, reduce friction whilst conditioning lightly and provide heat protection, so essentially a three in one product.

Korres Citrus Shower Gel is next. I am a huge fan of Korres products so was really happy to see this as I haven't yet tried it. With claims of being an uplifting, clean and fresh scent with surprising tenacity. It uses wheat proteins and contains vitamin C and E, zinc and anti-oxidant enzymes to enhance the skin’s immune system, this is due to active aloe’s ability to stimulate collagen and elastin synthesis, which helps reduce the visible signs of ageing.

The next product is Balance Me Facial Expression Filler. I am a huge fan of Balance Me products, ive said it numerous times on this blog how much I love the brand, so I was delighted to see a product I hadn't yet tried in my box and it is a full size product which has an RRP £22. Said to be a hi-tech daily ‘natural botox’ fix for an instantly smoother-looking complexion, it is perfect for targeting fine lines on the forehead, above the lip and at the sides of the mouth and eyes.

This Works Sleep Plus Pillow Spray has made an appearance this month, there was a similar product in Septembers box, but this appears to be a newer edition. Said to act faster than the original spray it is a fast acting natural remedy to help restore healthy sleep patterns for restless sleepers and is clinically proven to provide a better night’s sleep. It contains a potent blend of Lavender which naturally encapsulates to gradually release aromatherapeutic benefits as you sleep. This edition has more of a lavender fragrance and does smell a little medicinal.

As I sometimes go through bouts of insomnia, I love to have products like this around so that should I need them, they are there.

The last product in the box is the Gatineau Paris Collagene Expert Ultimate Skin Soothing Cream . I am a big fan of French skincare, I think here in the UK it is very much undervalued. This cream contains high concentrates of collagen and elastin which helps with the appearance of wrinkles and uneven skin texture. Further ingredient’s are Tri-Collegen complex and Hyaluronic Acid for a smooth and plumped complexion. Putting all of those together your skin is said to benefit from an increase in elasticity, fine lines and wrinkles are visibly smoothed and the complexion feels velvety soft, smooth and plump.

 

I think yet again I have an amazing box and I will use every product, some I have heard of and some I haven't.  I love that the products are said to be sample sized but in reality they are much better than that, big enough to allow you a real opportunity to try and test things to see whether or not they work for you.  I have got Novembers box on its way to me because I have been so impressed and all for just £15.

Urban Veda Body and Skin Care

Urban Veda is not a brand I have been all too familiar with.  I have had the odd sample here and there but not enough to be able to decide whether or not I like them as a brand.Then I was kindly sent a set of three products to try, which I have been using for the last 6 weeks and this is what I think!

The philosphy being the brand is one I like and it is this Originating 5000 years ago in the Himalayas, Ayurveda's holistic health and wellbeing system is based on the therapeutic properties of plants. Brimming with plants rich in vitamins, antioxidants, essential fatty acids and phytonutrients, our products are uniquely formulated to help maintain skin's natural balance. Our key ranges help to harmonise environmental factors, to purify, soothe, revive and add radiance. We believe in the value of nature and source natural, fresh, and pure ingredients to create our holistic products.  So you know that whatever product it is that you are using, is one that is full of goodness to take care of your skin, rather than one that is full of nasties to cause further irritations.

Starting with the Radiance Body wash in the lovely purple tube, I have to say it is a scent I absolutely adore, as soon as I used it for the first time, it was love.  The little accompanying blurb states:

"Naturally formulated to Ayurvedic principles, our Radiance Body Wash cleanses, moisturises and boosts all-over skin tone and radiance. Brightening bioactive and skin softening extracts help to soothe dry areas, boost collagen production and support skin's natural barrier function, helping to protect from transepidermal water loss and keeping skin healthy and hydrated".

The cream inside is quite a thick white texture, so it is one which only needs a small amount to cover your entire body and as you do so, the scent really comes to life. It is the kind of scent you can imagine in a candle which is supposed to relax you after a hectic day at work or a stressful moment in time. After using it in both a shower or the bath, it leaves the scent lingering on your body pretty much all day. The use of Turmeric to brighten the skin, skin softening liquorice and collagen boosting Arjuna all come together to leave your skin feeling soft, smooth and incredibly moisturised. Add to that the aromatic scents of Marigold, Patchouli and Coriander to revitalise, this is one amazing product.  Priced at £8.99 for 200ml it is something I will be definitely repurchasing.

Next on the list is the Purifying Body Scrub which is described as follows:

"Naturally formulated to Ayurvedic principles, our Purifying Body Scrub harnesses powerful plant-based cleansers, botanical extracts and aromatic essential oils to cleanse, moisturise and detoxify skin. Star ingredient cold-pressed Neem oil aids skin health and combines with natural exfoliants Walnut shell powder and Pumice to buff away dead skin cells. Antioxidant-rich botanicals and collagen-boosting extracts keep skin supple, smooth and hydrated."

The first thing I noticed about this was the Tea Tree scent, which I have to say is not a favourite of mine. I was put right off it when in my youth I tried some in a spot removing treatment which made my eyes water for hours. That aside, I have just had a heavy head cold and this product was absolutely amazing at clearing my sinuses, I went into the shower sniffing and snorting and came out being able to breathe - amazing! Using Neem Oils to bring your skin back to health, it also uses a natural exfoliant of walnut shells and pumice to remove dead and dry skin cells and mixed in with the cream, it can be as light an exfoliant as you want it to be or with a little pressure, a lot more abrasive and it is very very effective. Also included in Arjuna to keep your skin supple, smooth and hydrated. Again, after using this, the scent lingers on your skin and flows throughout your home leaving a really lovely scent. Again priced at £8.99 for a 200ml tube, it is something I will definitely repurchase.

The final product in my set of three is the Daily Soothing Facial Wash in the orange coloured tube and it has the following description:

"Gently remove grease and grime and balance irregular dry and oily patches with uplifting yet balancing Ayurvedic ingredients. Aromatic flower, herb and spice essential oils combine to help enhance vitality, while moisturising, skin softening and vitamin-rich botanicals leave skin soft, supple and refreshed".

This is perfect for my skin which is combination with oily patches on my Tzone. Using Palmarose, Ylang Ylang and Clary Sage to gently remove grease and grime whilst bringing balance to dry irregular patches, this product uses Rose Geranium, Clove and Rosemary to help tone your skin leaving Sandalwood, Arjuna, Orange and lemon which are rich in vitamins to leave your skin feeling soft, supple and full of vitality. The scent of this is totally different to the other two, it is one which you would find in a lovely spa, those fresh scents which instantly make you feel relaxed when you walk in all pent up with stress and in need of a good massage, infact I think this product would make a lovely relaxing massage cream! As you apply it to wet skin and massage across your face, the instant feeling of cleanliness hits you. Once your skin is dry, that lovely fresh clean skin feel is fully evident. Priced at £8.99 for a 150ml tube, this again is a product I want to keep on my shelf.

It has been an absolute pleasure to use all three of these products, and I have even noticed my hubby Beautykinguk using them as well, so they must be good because he is quite fussy about what he will and won't use on his skin.

Have you tried any of these products? Are you an Urban Veda fan?

Look Fantastic Beauty Box

I am a huge fan of the site LookFantastic, there are so many amazing products that I drool over all the time and flirt with buying.  When an email arrived in my inbox to let me know there was a new beauty box to be had, I ordered it before I had finished reading the email - at a cost of £15.

The box, to look at is black in colour with blue and silver writing stating this is from LookFantastic, I was really eager to open my box and see what contents I had and I was definitely not disappointed!

All of that for just £15, no wonder it sold out so quickly! 

So inside the box we have Kerastase Bain Satin 1 shampoo and conditioner in these very cute and very handy 80ml bottles.  This product is said to present an innovative nourishing formula to protect your hair against the relentless return of hair dryness.

Caudalie Divne Oil for face, Body and hair is next and again in this cute 15ml glass bottle. I am already a massive fan of this and have used it before, but have almost run out, so I am chuffed to have a smaller, travel sized bottle handy.

Jurlique Herbal a Recovery Advanced Serum which is said to help combat fine lines, dullness and dehydration with a clinically proven antioxidant gel serum. Packaged inside the cutest 15ml bottle, this serum smells absolutely divine.

St Tropez Bronzing Mousse which needs to be applied with an applicator mitt for a streak free finish and stain free hands, is said to create a natural looking golden glow which lasts for days.  Admittedly this is the product I like least in the box because I am not the biggest fan of fake tan, but I will more than probably give it a go and see how I get on with it.

The final item for me is one I have been really wanting to try for ages. This Works Sleep spray, which is a deep sleep pillow spray which is said to cocoon you in a soporific mist. Using the soothing scents of Chamomile, Vertivert and true Lavender, the scents work together to calm the mind, acting as a natural sleep sedative to prepare you for sleep.

For just £15, you have to admit, this is one fantastic box, I am absolutely thrilled with it and think it is simply brilliant.  So many high end brands in a box, the sizes are all really decent sizes too, so you can actually get to test and try them before you buy.

I am so impressed with this box that the October one has been pre-ordered because one again, I fear it might just sell out very very quickly!

Did you get this box? Do any of the items stand out at you?

You Beauty Discovery Box - September Edition

Today is day 2 of my week long look at Beauty Boxes to see what they are like, what kind of content we get, how good they really are value wise and to ask whether or not we need them!

For the past few months I have been getting the You Beauty Discovery Box which you can see February, March, April, May, June, July and August with previous box contents. 

This month I had been undecided as to which products I was going to choose because I liked the look and sound of them all. Themed as being the Birthday Box, each subscriber was being give not the usual two extra treats, but three! Those three being:




Toni & Guy Volume Plumping Whip which is described as being the ultimate hair treat to give your locks all-day body and bounce from the roots. It is a non-sticky formula which lifts the hair for glamorous, voluptuous volume without any flyaways. This product is worth £7.19.

Two sachets of tea sachets which sounds amazing, a handy sponge for your make-up bag and a voucher for £25 with Hello Fresh.

Again, there is an accompanying magazine which is always nice to read, it gives you some further information about each product.

So now to my choices, this month there was a choice of nine products which included:

• ROSE & CO. 
• CHERRY KISS LIP BALM, PEGGY SAGE 
• NAIL POLISH (Nude COLLECTION), MARSK 
• RICH LIST, MINERAL EYESHADOW, LOUISE GALVIN 
• SACRED LOCKS TREATMENT MASQUE, JUSTBE BOTANICALS 
• HYDRATING SERUM, GAZELLI 
• TRIPLE YOUTH WITH WHITE OIL DUO, EUCERIN 
• SUN FLUID MATTIFYING SPF50, EUCERIN 
• SUN FLUID MATTIFYING SPF30, DANIEL SANDLER 
• LONG LASTING WATERPROOF EYELINER (AQUA) 

This is what I selected:





I have been wanting to try products from both of these ranges, specifically the Perricone MD No Foundation, Foundation. Described as being the first advanced anti-aging, multi-tasking translucent foundation with non-chemical SPF 30 protection. With Alpha Lipoic Acid, DMAE, and Vitamin C Ester. Created to keep skin looking dewy and flawless, this multi-purpose foundation provides natural translucent coverage, corrects skin undertones, instantly smoothes fine lines and boosts skin's natural moisture throughout the day, all the while delivering antioxidant benefits. This is a sample size 7.5ml is and said to have a value of around £9.

The second item from Pixie is a Tinted Brilliance Balm and it is described as being packed with lip-loving ingredients, this glossy gel balm protects & hydates lips instantly. After the balm wears off, lips are left tinted with a flattering, personalized hue just for you (colour & intensity depends on pH level of lips). Twist-up crayon requires no sharpening. I got the shade Pretty Pink and it is very much the pretty pink shade and I am looking forward to trying it out. This is a 1.8 sample size worth around £5.

So for a £6.95 subscription, my box has a value of around £20 which is more than three times the value for money and not a bad box.

What do you think to do this? Do you subscribe to these boxes? What would you have chosen? If you subscribe, link your post below so I can see what you got. 

Birchbox Happy Days September 2014

Birchbox is a popular favourite with bloggers and from the two boxes that I have had, I can see why. This month is themed 'Happy Days' and apparently September is the month that is filled with nostalgia. The start of the back-to-school season has us reminiscing about the happiest days of our lives and so on. Inside this box I am told I will find products that will help me look my best during my happiest days!

The first item in my box is a 4ml glass vial of the Agave Healing Oil Treatment. This oil claims to smooth and transform your hair, build resiliency and boost shine and colour. The Agave Oil is also free from parabens and phthalates and is also cruelty free. To use the oil the directions state that you should warm a 5p sized amount between the palms and smooth through damp hair evenly from mid-lengths to ends. Agave is a brand I have never heard of, but I am a big fan of hair oils and am looking forward to giving this a go. This sample is worth around £1

The next item is a 5ml sample of the ModelCo Power Lash Black Mascara. As an Australian brand, I don't really know that much about ModelCo so I am looking forward to giving this a try. This mascara claims to give full gorgeous luxurious lashes, with great length. The wand is said to be a unique shape to capture those tiny lashes for maximum impact and minimal effort. This sample is worth £13.

Next up a 3ml sample of the Benefit It's Potent! Eye Cream from their Skincare range. The cream itself is a very light caramel shade, which includes cocoa extra to help boost microcirculation and fade dark under the eye circles. The inclusion of a daily peptide complex works to preserve the elasticity of the delicate under the eye area, whilst skin is hydrated and protected from free radicals! Whoa! This sample is worth £1.80.

The next item I received is a 20ml jar of the Premae Mild Dermabrasion Face and Body Scrub. A scrub which contains olive granules to smooth the skin is said to be gentle enough to be used on both the face and body whilst buffing away dead skin cells, blemishes and trapped dirt. It cream itself has a really nice consistency, imagine your favourite cream with added bits into it, once on the skin it feels really soft until your begin the process of massaging the skin, it is then that the exfoliating particles come into being and whilst you most definitely know they are there, they are still gentle on the skin. This sample is worth around £5.

The last beauty item in this month's box is a very small sample of the Jane Iredale Just Kissed Lip Plumper in shade Rio. I am a big fan of Jane Iredale and I have featured the products on my blog before. This lip plumper contains Spearmint and peppermint oils, in combination with ginger root extract, gently stimulate circulation making lips fuller, faster. Shea butter, sunflower oil and aloe vera soften and hydrate and the essential oils of lemon and tangerine help to exfoliate dead skin cells. I love the size of this lipstick, it is something that would be perfect if you were unsure whether or not the colur you wanted was right, but rather than pay out for a full sized version, you have a sample sized to play with. That said, this shade is a little too much on the brown side for me. This sample is worth around £3.

This month we received  two Lifestyle Extras; the first item is a Birchbox Happy Days Photo Clip and the second item is a packet of Urban Fruit Perfect Mango Pieces. I really like the photo clip, it is something a little bit different, it fits with the theme of the box and I quite like the green coloured cube.  The fruit snack is also something as an addition, again it is a little bit different and is something I wanted to try, and by the time you read this, I have! 

If you were interested in purchasing any of this month's samples in the full size, you can do so through the Birchbox shop and if you have never subscribed to Birchbox and would love to do so, I have a £5 off offer for you, just use the code BBX5QUEEN - Enjoy!

Are you a subscriber to Birchbox?

Aromatherapy Associates Inner Strength Candle

I have recently become a massive fan of Aromatherapy Associates, starting from the time I had my hot stone muscle massage. From the bath and shower oils to their massage oils, I can pretty much tell you it was love at first try. Then the Inner Strength Candle** came into my life and well, wow!

I am a huge candle fan, I've said this a million times on my blog and I will probably keep on saying it, but I find them incredibly relaxing. There is something about watching the flame dancing about once it is alight that makes me feel suddenly relaxed and I like to have a candle alight in whichever of the rooms I am in, whether that is watching TV in the lounge, having a long hot soak or even reading a book in bed, I will always have a candle alight.

Described as follows:

"Evoke a sense of calm and inner peace to your surroundings with the fortifying combination of frankincense and cardamom to inspire. Elegantly designed and beautifully embellished, this candle will create an atmosphere to uplift the senses in any room. Our candles are hand-poured in the United Kingdom and made from the highest quality soy wax with unbleached cotton wicks. 100% GM free".

So being created to evoke a sense of calm and inner peace to your surrounding, the ingredients used are frankincense and cardamom. Frankincense is said to soothe and calm the mind, slows down and deepens breathing and is excellent for use when meditating. It also helps to calm anxiety and obsessive states linked to the past.  Cardamom leaves you feeling refreshed, invigorated and is known for its uplifting and refreshing properties.

As soon as you open the lovely bright purple coloured box, the scent immediately comes to life, it is one of those you breathe in deeply as soon as you get sense of it.  As soon as the candle is alight, that very same fragrance instantly surrounds you, almost enveloping you within and you get a sudden sense of calm and as it drifts throughout you home, the scent is simply wonderful and even when the flame has been extinguished, the scent lingers for a good few hours afterwards.

If you haven't used on of these candles before, they are all poured by hand with soy wax and the wicks are unbleached cotton. The burn time is a rather impressive 40 hours and as you can see it is presented in an elegantly designed and embellished frosted glass jar.

If you are looking for a candle which can transport you from a stressful day, week or are simply in need of some relaxation time, I cannot recommend this candle highly enough, it does everything it states it will do and more and is totally and utterly heavenly.

You can purchase this Aromatherapy Associates Inner Strength Candle for £35 and there are four others within the range which include - Relax, Revive and Indulge and every one of them sounds as appealing and amazing as this one.

Are you a fan of candles?  Do you use them to relax?

10% of proceeds from each sale of this candle will be donated to the charity, Defence Against Cancer.

Old Wives Tail SOS Organic Anti-Hair Loss Oil Treatment

Every now and again a brand name pricks my interest and none more so than one called Old Wives Tail, I am sure after all, we all know a few!. When offered the chance to try one of their organic hair oil treatments, I jumped at the chance. The story behind the brand can be found HERE and it is one I found quite fascinating.

I was very kindly sent the SOS Organic Anti-Hair Loss Oil Treatment which is a 100% organic oil and it contains ingredients such as natural anti-bacterial agents that soothe and heal scalp infections and remove dead skin cells. SOS has stimulating properties that increase circulation and encourage healthy hair growth. So ingredients such as peppermint, lavender, almond oil and avocado oil and I should also mention that it is free from sulfates and parabens, as well as being gluten free, not tested on animals and suitable for both vegetarians and vegans - pretty impressive right?

My hair is always described to me as being particularly fine but lots of it, hair loss isn't something I suffer from (unless you look too closely at my hairbrush) but my scalp can be a right nightmare. If I am ill and stressed it turns into a snow storm and flakes quite badly not to mention becomes very itchy.  As it is, I have greasy roots and dry ends (if only someone would make that perfect shampoo) so I am very careful about which products I use on which parts of my hair, too much conditioner and you could fry an egg on it, not enough and I look like a scarecrow!  So To use the oil, you are directed to massage it deeply into the scalp, paying particular interest to the most dry areas.  Once you have applied the oil to your hair, ensure your whole head is covered, right to the end and leave it on your hair for an hour, or for the best results, leave the treatment on over night and wrap your head in a warm towel.  

Once your allotted hour is over, you need to rinse your hair with fresh water and shampoo it, repeat the process if necessary until your hair feels clean and product free and then dry and style your hair as normal.

I decided to try this oil overnight, using my Save The Blow Dry shower cap in place of the warm towel over my head, but I did have a towel over my pillow to protect it from any leakages.  As I did so, the one thing you would expect to find with a product like this, is the amazing scent, the peppermint and lavender being the two most dominant scents and two that I am a huge fan of.  

The following morning, I was straight in the shower, hair washed and was surprised to find it was really easy to remove the oil from my hair, I had expected to have to wash it a fair few times, but once was enough and then after finishing I allowed my hair to part dry and then finished with the hairdryer.  Usually I get a bit of static when I dry my hair with the hairdryer, but I did notice there was slightly less of it this time round, the peppermint scent was also still noticeable on my hair and once completely dry, my hair looked really shiny and was a pleasure to style.  

For me, this treatment is something I will continue to use weekly or bi-weekly, depending on how my hair and scalp feel, it is such a pleasure to use, more so knowing there are no nasties within it or that a poor little bunny hasn't been used to test it.  For 100ml it costs just £13.99 which is a complete bargain!

If this Old Wives Tales is something you think you would like to try, you can find more information on all of their products on the website and they also offer free worldwide delivery on any order. There is also a competition to win a hair mask of your choice and it ends on 1st November 2014.