BBB Givenchy Beauty Box

When I read that the lovely Jayne from British Beauty Blogger had collaborated with Givenchy and Latest In Beauty for a box of iconic products, there was no way I was going to miss out because there are three products from the list that I had been wanting to try for some time now.

Now I love the design of the box, it is plain yet striking and inside is this lovely tissue paper which hides all the products and this little magazine which gives you some information on each product, something I found really useful as it is simply written, no jargon and contains everything you need to know.

So... this is what was in my box:

Givenchy Foundation (1 empty bottle for a 5 day foundation trial + FREE make-over invitation).

Finding the perfect foundation is the Holy Grail for the complexion, so when you take your empty bottle to counter to have it filled with the sample of your choice, you can also have a free make-over to get you properly started.

This is such a good idea because finding that perfect shade of foundation is often quite tricky.  I am sure we all have one which is alright or will do.  Here what Givenchy are offering is something I think many brands can learn from and I cannot wait to track down my participating counter to see what I am recommended.

Gentlemen Only Intense sample & Costume Blotter (1ml)

In a beautiful black organza presentation pouch with a blotter for testing at your leisure, Givenchy Gentlemen Only Intense is a woody, spicy and citrus blend that plays with the senses. It’s a modern twist on traditional cologne that’s all things sexy.


I think this is a really lovely addition to the box and having a hubby who also blogs means that I can pass this scent onto him and he can form an opinion as to whether or not he likes it  To my knowledge he own no aftershave from or by Givenchy!

Dahlia Divin sample & Gold Blotter (1ml)

We've presented this in a golden organza bag with a golden blotter so you can spritz and pop it in your handbag. Every time you open your bag, you'll get a sumptuous waft of Dahlia Divin, with sparkling floral and fruity notes. The dry down is worth the wait, becoming a true sensual, skin scent.

Now this is a scent I have been wanting to try for some time now and I like to try perfumes away from shops so that I can get a real feel for what it smells like and this is a scent I really like especially because for me, the scent of Jasmine is really noticeable and it is my favourite scent right now.

Hydra Sparkling Nude Look BB Cream (2ml)

If you’re a regular reader of BBB, you’ll know I love BB creams. Hydra Sparkling Nude Look BB is another level – smoothing, perfecting and hydrating with an impressive SPF30 for skin protection. The texture is fluid, easily blendable and gives your complexion a veil of coverage that looks like your own skin, but better.

I have shade 02 Medium Beige which I have swatched below and it is slightly too dark for me, but it does, when mixed with my Boots Foundation, it works much better and worked really well as a concealer, covering my dark circles brillianty, though I know this was not what the use was intended for.  So this is one product I would love to try in a different shade.

Hydra Sparkling One Minute Glow Powder (0.5g sachet)

I have recommended this gorgeous cleansing powder over and over again. Tip a little into the palm of your hand, add a tiny bit of water and massage the paste gently over your skin. Your complexion will feel thoroughly cleansed and smooth.

I haven't tried this yet but I am intrigued to try it because it is a formula I wasn't expecting and curiosity is getting the better of me.

Hydra Sparkling Luminescence Moisturizing Cream (1x 5ml tube)Hydra Sparkling is all about creating hydrated and luminous skin and you only need to use this once to notice a difference in skin softness. The texture is cooling and gel-like so it feels light on the complexion. Hydra Sparkling uses a Givenchy exclusive complex containing five molecules to boost and maintain moisture levels. (for normal to Combination Skin).

This is another product I have wanted to try for a while now because I like the sound of the gel-like formula.

Mini Le Rouge Lipstick (shade 202 Rose Dressing - 1x 1.5g)

The joy of a mini-lipstick! Givenchy Le Rouge gives intense colour that feels velvety and light. One stroke is all you need for full impact, but you can build to your preferred intensity. Le Rouge is a grown-up lipstick with plenty of character and infinite sophistication.


This is shade 202 Rose Dressing and it is absolutely stunning, I just love everything about it, from the box it is encased inside to the actual shade which I have swatched below and the formula is so smooth it simply glides onto the lips and what is even cuter is that wrapped around the lipstick, whilst in its box are two sheets of blotting paper.

Phenomen’Eyes Mascara: The Iconic Reinvented (4g)

As if Phenomen’Eyes Mascara isn’t iconic enough, our hero of the Givenchy/BBB edit is the next generation formula of this amazing mascara. More length, more curl and more definition – it’s a huge launch for 2015 and we’re convinced you’ll love what it does for your lashes! There’s a new signature design, too, that matches the stylish reinvention of Phenomen’Eyes that coats each lash in dramatic black with not one clump in sight.

Now this is the one product I really really wanted to try, the wand alone is just magnificent, it looks like a weapon of torture and I absolutely love it and now want to buy the actual full sized version.

The final item in my box was this Givenchy Purse which is super cute and heart shaped. Now there was to be a choice of this purse or a notebook and I would have been chuffed either way.  So the purse, which is shown below is perfect for coins if you don't want to carry them around in your purse, especially for a night out.

So there you have it, the BBB Givenchy box collaboration with Latest In Beauty in its entirety and I think it is a brilliant box and totally worth the £18.95 that it costs.  There is a great mixture of products in this box to try and the samples are big enough so that you can use them more than once to try them.

Before I got this box, I hadn't used a single item from Givenchy as I never thought it was for someone like me, but my opinion has totally changed and I feel as though it is a brand I should really attempt to discover more about, after it is a classic brand.

Did you get your hands on this box? What do you think to it?

Real Techniques Bold Metals

I was lucky enough to be invited to the official launch of Real Techniques Bold Metal brushes and it took place at the beautiful five star Mondrian hotel here in London.  We were greeted with some amazing cocktails which were cleverly described and view across London not to mention, stunningly styled brushes set out around the room to touch, photograph and play with.

After the event we were handed a goody bag which is just amazing, I mean seriously stunning.  Inside the bag is this Accessorize gold leather zip top clutch bag which is beautiful. It is sleek, sophisticated and is just stunning.  Inside the clutch bag was three (wow) of the new Bold Metal Real Techniques brushes.  

As soon as I saw these popping up on Instagram and Twitter, I got quite excited by them because they look amazing an unsurprisingly they feel amazing, I'm talking real quality.  One thing I did learn at the launch is the brushes have been weighted in their design for optimal control and comfort and the brushes are engineered for perfect weight distribution when tipped toward the face for use.

So here we have the three brushes which I found inside my gold clutch bag.  Starting with the Arched Powder Brush which is number 100. Described as follows "The domed cut sweeps perfectly across the face for flawless application of pressed or loose powders".   This brush for me is perfect because I am a huge fan of powders and it works so well with my setting powder too.  Priced at £25 and is exclusively available at Boots.

The second brush is silver designed and called the Oval Shadow Brush and it is number 200.  Described as follows "The full, round shape allows for all-over lid application and seamless blending".  This brush is just so so cute, small enough to get into the corners of your eyes when blending and as you run it across your eyelids you cannot feel it.  Again this brush is available exclusively to Boots and is priced at £15.

The final brush that I have is brush number 301 and it is the Flat Contour brush and it is described as follows "A dense head creates shadows and highlights on targeted areas of the face to play up favourite features". This brush is packed with bristles and because of its design it fits perfectly with the shape of the face for contouring, or if you are looking for that flawless foundation look, you can also use this brush for buffing and it is just so so soft.  Again available exclusively to Boots, this brush is priced at £22.

I am a huge fan of Real Techniques Brushes and they have featured on my brush on quite a few occasions, I carry the Kabuki Brush around with me in my travel make-up bag along with the travel set and I love them because they are just so easy to use and so good at the job they have been designed to do.  These brushes have far out-weighed my expectations, which as you might have guessed was set pretty high.  

I have read so much about these brushes and to have three of the seven in my grasp is amazing and I just love them.  You can read more about the brushes or purchase them HERE via Boots and if you are one of those people who have debating whether or not to buy them, just do it, honestly they are brilliant.  I have my eye on the Triangle Foundation brush which is brush 101 and it looks amazing.

Have you tried the Bold Metal Brushes yet? 
Do you have your eye on any?

Secret Valentine with Hotel Chocolat

Just over a week ago, I received an email last to let me know that:

Your blogger pal has asked me to send you something delicious from the Hotel Chocolat Valentines range to enjoy this Valentine’s Day and it would be my pleasure to do just that.
If you’re dying to know who your Valentine is, don’t worry! All will be revealed when you receive your chocolates.

So when this huge box turned up at home, it felt as though someone had sent me the entire Hotel Chocolat store. Anyway, eager to find out who my blogger pal was, I looked inside to find a card which said: 

So the lovely Laura from Petit-Moi bigworld was the person behind this. Laura and I chat most days about everything, not always blog related I have to admit, but it is a friendship that I really value and being sent this gift really put a smile on my face.

Inside the box was this huge gift bag, which contained the following gifts:

The Sleekster Valentines Selection which contains 27 heart-shaped chocolates filled with lovingly soft centres, including the Caramel Dizzy Praline and Balsamic Caramel - yes my mouth was watering as I was typing this description. Unsurprisingly they taste just absolutely amazing and I just cannot pick a favourite, there is something for everyone. 

Whether you like a Zingy lemon and red berries mellowed in a light and creamy white chocolate truffle, a rare cocoa truffle with natural notes of raspberries and cherries and a whisper of coffee, a Light London dry gin truffle with plenty of juniper notes and fresh citrus zing or The silkiest, smoothest dark hazelnut praline in mellow caramel chocolate, you will struggle to decide which chocolate to eat first.

If that wasn't enough there was also a small box of chocolates called Wink Wink which has the following description - "Give someone a wink and a nudge in the right direction this Valentine’s Day, with this pack of five sweethearts, cast in deep, intense 70% dark chocolate. Perfect for leaving on pillows, desks, or popping into your beau’s bag for a bit of flirtatious fun".   Well no one will be getting any of these and I won't be leaving them as gifts because I am not good at sharing and I might have already eaten them - oops!

If none of those take your fancy, then there is an entire section dedicated to Valentines Day. Thank you Laura and Hotel Chocolat for choosing me to be one of your #HotelChocolatValentines

Birchbox Slimbox

I love beauty boxes, there is something quite exciting about getting home from work to find a box waiting for you either on the doorstep. However,  more often than not,you get home to be greeted with the "sorry you were out" card knowing that. You dare to look on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest or your blog reading list, everyone will have their box and will be merrily posting about it. So Birchbox have decided that to save us all from having to wait that extra 12/24 hours extra waiting should it your box be at the sorting office because they are introducing Slimbox!

So, the idea of Slimbox is that instead of the regular box, this one has been slimmed down to postbox size which means even with the outer packaging, it will fit through most standard sized letter boxes and it is so well made, it remains in tact having come through your letter box.  As you can see it has most definitely been slimmed if you look at the difference between the box I had in January and this one!  

So, inside your Slimbox, you still get your five/six decent sized sample products and within this box, which I have to say is just brilliant, the contents are: as follows:

T London Darjeeling Hand and Body Lotion - A light, silky, floral come citrus body lotion which smells absolutely delightful. Inspired by the delicate, reviving aroma of Darjeeling tea, this silky-soft lotion is packed with jojoba and aloe oils to moisturise and the subtle fragrance of Darjeeling to lift the spirits and renew the skin. This is a 50ml size which is brilliant.

Liz Earle Beauty Co Botanical Shine Shampoo - I am pretty new to the world of Liz Earle, so I am excited to see this product within the box.  Said to include West African shea butter, natural source vitamin E, shine-boosting apple and orange extracts plus naturally derived cleansers, this shampoo gently cleans without stripping to leave hair soft, shiny and smooth. Contains no sodium lauryl/laureth sulphate.  This again is a 50ml sized bottle and I cannot wait to try it.

Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum - I am a huge fan of Caudalie products, especially the oils, so this is a product I am looking forward to trying. Described as being an oil-free serum which uses powerful grape-derived viniferine to promote even tone and a glowing complexion; fading the look of pesky dark spots and preventing them from making an unwelcome appearance. It is perfect for all skin types and the luxe formula is free of irritating ingredients like parabens, sulfates, and petrochemicals. This is a 10ml sample.

the Balm Cindy Lou Manizer - this is a product I have heard and read a lot about and have never tried, so whilst it is quite a small sample, I am really looking forward to giving it a try.  Described as being a three-in-one highlighter, eyeshadow, and all-over shimmer it uses light-reflecting silica particles conceal blemishes and fine lines, while the honey colour leaves a sheer wash of shimmer.

Cynthia Rowley Beauty Eyeliner in Black is the final product in the box and it is a full sized product worth £11.  Not a brand I have heard of before but it is a kohl pencil which is described as being a luxe, creamy liners deliver bold color that lasts and lasts. 

The final item in the Slimbox is from The Chia Co and it is a sachet of Oats and Chia. Not something I have every tried and I see so many people adding Chia seeds to everything that I can now find out what all the fuss is about. They come in a range of three flavours which are Banana and Mango, Apple and Spice or Mixed Berry which is the option I have.  The description is "Wholegrain oats and sun ripened chia are blended with the finest quality fruit and virgin coconut oil to give our ‘just add hot water’ Oats+Chia a creamy, dairy-free texture". 

So there you have it, the very first Slimbox which I think is just absolutely brilliant. It is packed full of brilliant products, all of which I have never used before, so it is even more exciting and the packaging is just brilliant, no more trips to the sorting office! Regular subscribers of Birchbox can opt to have their February box as a Slimbox. Birchbox costs £12.95 per month and this included postage and packaging.

What do you think to Slimbox? Are you wanting to sign up/swap your box over to it?