Look Fantastic Beauty Box January 2015

I have been getting the Look Fantastic box for the last few months and it has all been detailed on my blog if you would like to see previous boxes.  For just £15 a month you get such great quality products that for me, this is one of the best subscription boxes that there is out there.  Sadly I wasn't a lucky winner of the 20 included GHDs..had hoped to win one of them, but I still love the box!

Now we are in a new year and I am hoping this box continues because I am so impressed with it and the January Box is amazing, there is nothing I dislike or wouldn't use and this is what was inside.

Firstly the box, it is always so well designed and strong, not at all flimsy and you can see the 'Look Fantastic' logo clearly visible on the front and inside, there is nothing to spoil the surprise as to what might be inside (unless you have looked for spoilers) because the card which details the contents is hidden inside.  

So this month I have been treated to:

Michael Van Clarke is a hair brand I am quite familiar with and have me the great man himself at a blogger event he hosted in his West End salon.  The Life Extending Haircare pre-wash Treatment is something I am a fan of as well as the '3 more inches' idea, which I wrote about HERE.  Essentially it isn't about adding or encouraging your hair to grow 3 more inches, it is about the unique formulation which naturally slows down the ageing process allowing the hair to stay stronger and healthier during its lifetime, so it can grow naturally thicker, longer and more lustrous.

Molton Brown is comes next and as a brand, it is one I don't feel I have tried too much of. I have had the odd sample here and there, but have never exhausted the products out there. This box has given me the Templetree Bodywash Which is described as being "A blissful bath and shower gel blended with moisturising algae extract and purifying templetree flower extract". It also includes Jasmine, Fruity Rose and Sandalwood and it smells absolutely amazing, I cannot wait to give this a try!

Another haircare product next with Philip Kingsley, whom for many is synonymous for his elasticizer. This box however brings me a product I have never tried before with the Daily Damage Defence. This is a leave-in protective conditioning spray which adds elasticity and provides defence from daily heat styling, breakage and environmental effects whilst adding shine and manageability for all hair types.

Nuxe comes next with a product I have tried before but really like. The Creme Fraiche masque is said to quench the thirst of the driest skin types to leave your face feeling smooth and moisturised not to mention radiant.

Gatineau Collagen Expert is the final skincare item within this box and it is a sachet sample.  Designed to revive and rejuvenate your eyes with clever eye compresses which are drenched in soothing marine-based collagen solution. They are also said to help reduce dark shadows, plum out wrinkles and relax the eye contour.

The final item in this box is not skincare or bodycare and nor is it for your hair. Instead what we have is a tube of MyVitamins which are dissolvable in water and are said to make a great tasting drink. Effervescent tablets are ideal for anyone looking to increase their intake of vitamins for a healthier lifestyle.

I have to admit, I am not the best at remembering to take vitamins or indeed any tablet, I always need to set a reminder in my phone which literally shouts at me to get on with it. So I will attempt to give these a go and see how it goes. The tube has 20 tablets in it which is an odd number as it isn't enough for a month.

So that is my January box and it is worth over £44 in total, which is pretty amazing value for money when I paid just £15 including delivery.

What do you think to the January Box?

Artistry Intensive Skincare - Advanced Skin Refinisher

I don't usually get too excited over skincare with fancy names, to me it is all about what it does as opposed to what it is meant to do... Sometimes those notions are few and far between.  When Artisty came into my life, I will admit, I wasn't all that enthused about it, but them I opened the box and my fascination was pricked.  You see the bottle within which the Advanced Skin Refinisher sits, is just stunning, it is something to coo over and ooh and aah it every time you see it.  So it is true, first impressions do count and that you shouldn't judge a book by its cover!

Artistry is a new brand for me, this is the first product I have used from the range and have no previous experience of using it or anything else, so actually it is a little bit more exciting than I have it credit for because this product, titled the Advanced Skin Refinisher is described as being an intensive “Smart Pore Eraser” for instantly softer, more even-textured skin and a progressively more refined look and feel, wow some claim!  

It uses a series of patented non-acid exfoliating ingredients which gently resurface skin’s texture, instantly transforming rough, dull skin into smooth, shine-free perfection. Intensely concentrated botanical extracts penetrate deep within the surface layers of skin, strengthening its natural support, making pores appear significantly diminished. Over 4 weeks of daily usage is said to reduce the size of pores by as much as 62%. Those ingredients are:

• Patented* Oat Extract and NMF Sugars exfoliate the skin’s surface area to unclog pores and smooth away roughness. 
• Anti-oxidant rich Lentil Seed Extract counters the hollowing effect in the wall lining of the pore for a reduced appearance of pores. 
• Java Tea Extract suppresses excess sebum production, down to the core of the pore. 
• Star Fruit Extract reinforces the outside area of the pore’s structure to help reduce slackening, visibly tightening pores for an even texture.

I have used this product for almost 6 weeks now and whilst I haven't as yet seen any dramatic reduction in the size of my pores, because they aren't that visible to begin with, what I have noticed is that my skin feels velvety smooth as soon as it is moisturised into the skin and that effect lasts for an entire day, whether I am wearing make-up or not and let's face it, I've been having a lot of duvet days and make up has not been required, so my skin has really been treated and cared for. As the cream touches the face, it feels every bit as luxurious as you would expect it too, quickly absorbing itself and leaving no trace that it was ever there behind.

The downside however is that a product as that is this good comes with a fairly hefty price tag of £53 which you can find here but it has definitely made a difference and it is something I am going to continue to use.

This product has been both allergy and dermatologist tested. Suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin.