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.

You Beauty discovery Box October

For the past few months I have been getting the You Beauty Discovery Box which you can see February, March, April, May, June, July, August and September with previous box contents. My September box arrived a few days ago and there was a lot of excitement around this box from a Facebook Group that I am a member of because of a lipstick from Illamasqua and I have to say, I managed to get myself one and this is the content of my box.

As with every month so far, there are always a few extra treats inside each box and this month we got:

So the Gold Collagen Forte is said to be a new anti-ageing liquid beauty supplement which contains hydrolsed collegen enriched with a uniqe blend of antioxidents (Q10, Acai berry, pomegranate, lycopene, L-Carnosine and reveratrol) to protext against pxodative stress. Sadly it says Age 40+ on the bottle, which I am not, so I won't be using it.

The second treat is a sachet from Cowshed which is an anti-ageing perfecting night serum. Said to be designed for busy women with busy lives, the innovative serum-in-oil hybrid is bursting with natural active ingredients and essential oils that work wonders on your skin whilst you sleep. I love the sound of this, I just wish there was a bigger sachet to be able to really give it a good try.

Handbag Hereos is the theme of this months box and it covers everything from hair, nails, skin, makeup and fragrance. The choices this month was between:

• Wild About Beauty eyeshadow
• Spiezia Organic Facial Cleanser 
• Paul Mitchell® Fast Form® 
• Murad’s AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser 
• MeMeMe Cherub Blush
• Melvita Youthful Day Cream
• Lalique Nilang Fragrance
• Illamasqua Glamore Lipstick
• Crystal Clear Intense Anti-Ageing Serum
• Crabtree & Evelyn Nail Lacquer

I decided to choose the Crabtree & Evelyn nail lacquer and the shade I got was Petal Pink. Described as being a fast drying polish, it is said to glide on to produce a gorgeous glossy colour. Two coats are needed. This is a full sized nail polish which has an RRP £6.

The second product I chose was a Glamore Lipstick from Illamasqua, this is a full sized lipstick priced at £18.50. I have never owned a product from Illmasqua until now, despite visiting the store in Central London numerous times. The lipstick itself came in shade 'Rosepout' which is a nude shade and it gives a satin finish.

So for a £6.95 subscription, my box has a value of around £25 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.

Only Fingers and Toes

An invite hits your inbox inviting you come along and make your own manicure, what do you reply? Yes of course. So Off I went into central London to a fabulous event to see what OFAT which stands for Only Fingers and Toes was all about- how fab!

When I arrived, I was handed some champagne and taken to a nail polish mixing station - OMG heaven! I was then asked to choose a nail polish, if I wanted too, I could have more than one, mix two together or whatever I wanted to do and then if I am feeling really brave choose something glittery to accompany it. Once that had been done and trust with me over 60 different shades it was quite a hard decision, I decided to do things a little bit differently and choose a glitter first and a polish to match! Once the task had been completed, I handed my choices over for them to be mixed up in a science style petri dish and then off I went to a manicurist who applied it professionally for me!

So I opted for a dark black shade called Luxe Noir and then had glitter added to it.  The glitter was shades of red, gold and black which when added to my nails and I think it looked amazing, better still, it lasted for over a week before chipping, which to me is amazing!

I had a great time at this event, it was amazing to see a brand with so many different shades, have a chance to chat to the owner and see at first hand all of the amazing products in one place, not to mention, the mani red carpet, you can see my first appearance below

I am really grateful that I was invited to this event, it was such good fun and everyone was so lovely.  Inside the goody bag which we got to take home, was a trio of polishes which could be found inside this amazing packaging, who wouldn't want their nail polishes presented in this way?

These three gorgeous shades from left to right are called: 

Tuberose - Tuberose is a Mexican plant with heavily scented waxy flowers and was once cultivated for flavouring chocolate. This Only Fingers And Toes beautiful lilac hue has soft blue undertones with an undulating shimmer. From the Lustre Collecton, Tuberose is a true two coat polish.

Delish - From the Lustre Collection, this Only Fingers And Toes bubblegum pink shimmer has fabulous silver undertones and is reminiscent of childhood sweeties. Delish is both youthful and mature with a hint of cheek and is a true two coat polish. 

Bond - Inspired by the gorgeous pastel gowns of early Bond film vixens, this delicious lavender by Only Fingers And Toes is one of the shining stars of the Vivid Collection. This beautiful hue is a velvety two coat polish. 

Priced at £16 a bottle you can purchase them right here

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?