You Beauty Discovery Box - July Edition

For the past few months I have been getting the You Beauty Discovery Box which you can see February,  March,  April,  May and  June with previous box contents.  This month my fifth box has arrived and I have said I am just as impressed.

Whenever it is time to pick the contents of your box, there is always one item that goes really quickly, no matter how early I find myself logging in to select the products I would like to try, I miss the one I want to try most.  That said, I like this months box and this is it.

This months box is themed "You Travel" and it is designed to give me an offer of a range of travel-friendly beauty must-haves - to go! As I have said before, I love is how the box fits through my letterbox, it is packed really delicately and the box really study and it has never looked disheveled.

Within the magazine which comes with the box we given the opportunity to try some of the following products, the idea being you choose two and there will also be two little extra treats, so this month they included:

So yes, there are infact three little extras which are:

Agent Provocateur Fatale perfume sample, everyone knows I am a big fan of these and this one says "Are you ready to flirt with danger? Fatale, the new fragrance from Agent Provocateur, has dark glamour, seduction and a sensual hint of danger".  It is quite floral and fruity at the same time, a scent I would perhaps favour for evening over daytime.

Next comes something for my mister Beautykinguk and that is the New Pro Moisture Shave Cream from Dove.  It is said to have been designed to provide men with a more enjoyable shave experience!

The final extra is the Egyptian Magic all purpose skin cream.  I have been wanting to try this for some time now, it is one of those products on my life of something to get a sample of to see if I like it, well voila I have it.  It is described as being the celebrity favourite all purpose skin balm with super moisturising benefits which combines the healing powers of six natural ingredients and is bursting with antioxidents to nourish and protect the skin.

So now to my choices, this month there was a choice of nine products which included: Tanorganic Self Tan Original, Tanorganic Oil Arganic Body Oil, L'oreal Paris Mega Volume Miss Manga Mascara, L'Occitane en Provence repairing shampoo and conditoner duo, Green People Sun Lotion Tan Accelerator with SPF 15, Dr Bronner All-One Hemp Lavender pure castile soap, Balm Balm Rose Geranium Lip Balm, Archeia Rose Rejuventating Cream, Abahna White Grapefruit & May Change Bath Gel.

This is what I selected:

Starting with Balm Balm Rose Geranium Lip Balm which comes in a cute little pot, it is 100% Organic, Soil Association Certified Multi Purpose Rose Geranium Balm and has a delightfully uplifting, feminine fragrance.

It uses a combination of Shea butter, sunflower, beeswax, jojoba, and calendula rose geranium essential oil, gently melted together to create a solid balm to soothe, moisturise and nourish your lips or anywhere else that might need a little tlc.

Secondly the mascara I think most people are talking about and a product you can never have enough of is the L'Oreal Paris Mega Volume Miss Manga Mascara.  It is described as follows:

Mega Volume Miss Manga features a 360° fleible cone shaped brush for mega volume on top and bottom.

The 360 degree flexible brush enables easy application and mega volume on top, while the conical shape captures the lower lash for mega volume on bottom.

The result…Big Manga eyes.

So for a £6.95 subscription, my box has a value of around £15 which is more than double 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.

Catseye London Mid-Year Launch

One of my favourite companies Catseye London has just launched their new mid-year collection and I have a few of those items to share with you.  If you have read my blog before, you might have seen other reviews I have done, if you haven't seen them, then you can do so HERE and HERE.

Launched back in 2004 with a collection of quirky prints on many fashion and beauty accessories such as home décor,  Wash-bags  Nailcare kits, Cushions, Mugs, Storage boxes, passport holders, travel card holders all of which allow you to stand out from the crowd and your friends, there is even a few things for the men in your lives!

The collection I am sharing with you today are the Kitten on Green Small Bag and The Mr and Mrs Oval Bag.  Both of these items arrived in their own dustbag which is rather impressive, not to mention very useful.

The Mr and Mrs Oval bag which is the most brilliant bright pink colour, features these beautiful black and white bulldogs, just look at how cute they are!  This oval bag is the perfect size for my handbag which allows me to carry all of these amazing products which you can see below.  Measuring H10 W8 D19 cm it won't take up too much room, but what it can carry is clearly important! 

The Kitten on Green small bag is the one which made me go "OMGLOOKATTHISOMGHOWCUTE" yes as a lover of cats (I also like dogs) I couldn't help but fall in love with this beautiful little fur ball, just look at how cute this kitten is!  On a beautiful jade green background, this bag more than catches your eye, it makes you want to stroke it, it is that beautiful.  Its approximate size H14 W20 D7 cm makies it perfect for those weekends or few days away because you can literally fit everything you will need into it. 

What do you think to these bags?  Do you own any of the products from Catseye London?

Sleep aids with Silentnight

For just about as long as I can remember, I have struggled with sleeping and this isn't the first time I have mentioned insomnia on my blog.  In time I have tried quite a few different products to hope they bring about sleep, some have been successful and others have failed.

Silentnight are conducting a Sleep Clinic online to try to help some of the nation's poor sleep sufferers, their research showed that only 25% of all parents are getting a good nights sleep. So having completed a survey and being offered the chance to try out choice of products to review I selected a sleep mask** and a magnesium oil goodnight spray**.

I tried both separately at first and then together and wrote down how I felt. The mask is made by Tempur and it conforms to your body and uses soft velour that is allergen and mite resistant.  As soon as I fitted the mask using the elasticised strap, I was surprised at how soft it felt against my face and skin and how much light it blocks out.  

One of the issues for me is that as soon as it gets light, I wake up and given that the sun has risen by 4.30am most mornings, you can imagine how tired I am come lunch time at work!  I was also skeptical as to whether or not the mask would remain in place all night, it did and I didn't strangle myself with it (one of my fears) and it didn't leave any marks on my face when I did wake up the following morning.  So for me, this did help keep me asleep longer but drifting off remained an issue.

The magnesium oil goodnight spray I also used.  It states the oil can be applied to any area of the body. Apply 5-10 sprays every evening and gently massage into the skin for optimum absorption. 

Apply at least half an hour before retiring. Can be re-applied if sleep is disturbed due to muscle discomfort and it is suitable for anyone from 12 years of age.  This is its description:

Magnesium is an essential element in over 350 bio-chemical reactions within our bodies and many of these involve chemical reactions within the brain, particularly those responsible for sleep patterns. BetterYou Goodnight Spray helps promote a good night's sleep without the morning-after drowsiness.

Magnesium Oil Goodnight Spray is an ideal muscle rub to help maintain normal healthy sleep. The magnesium has been enhanced with the most relaxing essential oils of bergamot, clary sage and chamomile.

When I first applied this, i thought it would be a good idea to apply it to my pressure points as I have done with other products to aid sleep.  I had read that there could be a slight tingling feeling to the skin, well there was and it wasn't too uncomfortable and did subside after a few minutes, but it didn't help me drift off at all.  There was a slight scent to it, nothing overly potent, but one of those scents you would want in a candle which would be relaxing.  

Did it help me drift off to sleep, on its own no, but teamed with the mask I definitely fell asleep much quicker than I would usually done and even now I am still using both products and am falling asleep and staying asleep for a much longer period of time than usual.

I asked around my office for suggestions and tips from people about sleeping well or how they fall asleep and this is their list:

• Go to the gym and have a good work-out for 30-40 mins
• Get plenty of fresh air during the day, instead of eating at the desk, walk to the park
• No electronics half an hour before bed because it keeps your mind alert
• As above with the TV
• Turn your phone off or put it on Airplane mode
• Buy a Black-out blind
• Listen to relaxing music
• Use something Lavender scented before bed

What things do you find help you sleep better? I'd love to hear any tips!

To try out the Silentnight Sleep Clinic yourself, just click here

Magazine Freebies!

Every month I read reviews about magazine freebies and it is very rare I am excited enough to go out and buy them, though last month I did get the mini REN hot cloth cleanser which was fabulous. This month, I feel a little bit more spoilt for choice with the choices on offer, there are just so many good ones to get, plus my very friendly newsagent has been a little generous with some of the extra freebies which didn't seem to belong to any of the magazines for sale in his shop, so when he asked if me I would like them, how could I refuse?

So what did I manage to get my hands on?

Yes I think I have done pretty well this month with getting my hands on the whole Clinique set which comes from Glamour magazine. There are two Chubby Sticks in Super Strawberry and Woppin' Watermelon, a mini High Impact Mascara and a mini bottle of Dramatically Different Moisturising Lotion+ though I seem to have two of these. All of these together are said to be worth £30 and given Glamour Magazine costs just £2 perhaps it would have been worth shelling out that extra £6? I had initially opted for the Chubby Stick in Woppin' Watermelon as I like the look of the colour, but as I was given both Chubby sticks plus the mascara and two Moisturising lotions, I am more than chuffed with this little haul!

With Instyle magazine comes a free Neal's Yard Geranium and Orange Hand Cream in a 50ml tube, which is worth £10 and given Instyle costs just £3.90 this in itself is an absolute bargain and I am a huge fan of Neal's Yard products and am yet to try a hand cream, of which I go through quite a lot, so I am hoping this is good.

The magazine I really wanted besides Glamour was Red magazine because they have a Rodial Stemcell Super Glam Balm Lip 10ml, a 7ml version in Marks and Spencer and Harrods which has an RRP £17, so this is an absolute bargain given I paid just £4 for the magazine!

In Cosmopolitan this month you can choose from four freebies from a brand called New CID Cosmetics, those freebies are a Black Mascara and three shades of their Lip and Cheek Tint, all together worth £60, I have the Mascara which I was given and the Lip and Cheek Tint in Rose Tint which is a shade I really like.

Marie Claire Magazine has a freebie from one of my favourite brands Balance Me this month and there is a choice of the Luxury Face Cream 15ml or Cleanse and Smooth Face Balm 40ml which together are said to be worth around £25. I opted for the Face Balm which I have had my eye on for some time and I can't wait to see what it is like. This Magazine usually costs £3.90 but if you go to Tesco it is just £2.50 which means even more of a saving for a fab freebie.

The one magazine I didn't buy was Elle which has a skincare travel set by Malin and Goetz and the kit contains a Grapefruit Face Cleanser 10ml, Lip Moisturiser 5ml and Vitamin E Face Moisturiser 10ml which together are worth £10, the only reason I don't have it is because someone had stolen all the freebies from the magazines on offer, but if you do want it, then Elle is £4.

The Lip Crayons I am really looking forward to using and this is how they swatch:

The Mascaras I am also looking forward to using and they look like this:

So there you have this months magazine freebies and the ones I was lucky enough to get.

Have you managed to get your hands on any of these freebies this month? 

Are there any that you really want to try?