LookFantastic March Box

One beauty box that I am loving right now comes from LookFantastic, every month I have loved the contents this month is no exception.  The box costs just £15 and you more than get value for money for the items that are included and all of the brands that feature are available on the Lookfantastic website.

So the March box is here and this is what I found inside:

bliss Fatgirlslim - I quite like a few Bliss products, but this is one im not too impressed with the name of. That aside, this is said to make the skin look and feel firmer and more toned.  You apply it twice a day and massage it onto your skin for 20-30 seconds to simultaneously stimulate circulation and stimulate lymphatic drainage to improve body contour.

This sample has a value of around £10

Lil' "Wet" Brush - This is my first dealing with Wet Brush, though I have seen them mentioned quite a lot on other blogs, so I am quite looking forward to see how well it works. This is a handy travel sized brush, so it has gone straight into my handbag. Even though this is a mini version of the classic Wet Brush it is still described as being fierce on knots and tangles but a big pussy cat on scalps! It has what are called IntelliFlex™ bristles to ensure snag-free brushing as they bounce back to their original form after every brush stroke and the SofTips™ on the ends of the bristles  gently massage your scalp to stimulate circulation.

This brush costs £7.99

Lord & Berry Line/Shade Kajal and Eyeliner Pencil in Travel Black - I am told you can never have too many black eyeliner pencils, though as I dont wear eyeliner I will have to accept the majority rule. This Lord & Berry Couture Kohl Kajal Eye Pencil is described as being silky and smooth and it creates a semi-matte look, whilst the highly pigmented formula gives a rich colour for ultimate definition.  It has also been Ophthalmologically-tested and is suitable for those with sensitive eyes.

This eyeliner is worth around £5

Cowshed Lippy Cow Natural Lip Balm - I am a huge Cowshed fan, particularly of their bath range, not only do the product names make me laugh, they are insanely good. One thing I have never tried is their lipbalm and as a lipbalm addict I am always happy to add to my collection. This product contains no parabens, no petrochemicals and is free from sulphates, artificial fragrances and colours. It is suitable for vegetarians and has not been tested on animals. It does contain the essential oils of linden blossom to protect and nourish, rose geranium to help rejuvenate, and ylang ylang to stimulate circulation.

This balm is available online from Look Fantastic for just £5.00

NudeStix Magnetic Colour Gift in Gilt - This is my first look at Nudestix and there are 8 different shades in total. In my box I have the shade Gilt which is a really pretty light gold shade, something I would refer to as a champagne. For me it is a brilliant multi-purpose stick in that it can be used as all over the lid, in the inner corner and even on the inner lower lash line and it gives a really lovely natural colour, I absolutely love it.

This product is available online from Look Fantastic for £24.00

The Final item in my box is by Nuxe and it is called the Nuxellence Detox, Detoxifying and Youth Revealing Anti-Aging Care cream - what a mouthful that is.  This is described as being an innovative anti-ageing treatment that uses 10 patents to recharge your skin and detoxify cells overnight. It is suitable for all skin types and ages. This nightly detox also helps to promote cell renewal, allowing you to wake up every morning with a refreshed, youthful glow! Full of natural ingredients Nuxellence Detox helps to smooth wrinkles, plump skin and brighten your complexion.

This 15ml sample has a value of around £14.

So there you have it, the contents of my March Lookfantastic box and I absolutely love, it is possibly the second best box there has been and as usual there isn't a product I don't like in the box, I like them all and cannot wait to try them out.  

What you think about this month's #LFBeauty Box. Which product would you be most excited to try out?

Nutmeg - Are you Savvy?

“Greed is good” or so said Gordon Gecko from the 1980s hit film Wall Street. With inflation rates and interest rates running at all time lows, the simple reality for most savers is that simply depositing money in the bank will see little returns or the actual erosion of the initial capital (the amount you originally put in the bank).

Nutmeg, who London’s Evening Standard (the evening newspaper in the capital) called “an online wealth manager causing a stir” is a website that offers all kinds of financial products, tips and advice from Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) to personal pensions.

When I was asked to take a look at their website and jot down my thoughts I have to admit that I logged on with some knowledge of financial services, BeautykingUK having worked in the sector for a good ten years (ten years ago) and some of that knowledge (read boring facts) rubbed off.

For the less investment savvy Nutmeg is perfect. The site is brilliantly laid out for the novice, written in plain English and really is geared up to help you and I, the general public navigate the veritable minefield that is investing your hard earned cash.

This is what Nutmeg say about themselves:

‘Based on your information, we build and manage a portfolio for you, diversifying your investments to avoid putting all your eggs in one basket. Our experienced investment team monitors your portfolio, adjusting the asset allocation appropriately and rebalancing every month — at no extra cost.

In this way, we aim to produce our best return, at low cost, for the risk level you choose.’

After scouting around the site some of the most important things to factor into your own investment portfolio and decision making process as to whether you should actually invest are your own attitude to risk, the fees your investment manager will charge and the size of any pooled investments.

While attitude to risk, affordability and product choice is down to individual circumstances, the Nutmeg website is clear and dedicates an entire page to their fee structure. So, all open and above board.

In addition to this, there are lots of helpful sections of generic advice for new investors or those who already have holdings elsewhere. Great stuff.

Before deciding whether or not you should take the plunge and develop your own portfolio I would strongly recommend that you seek independent financial advice from an advisor regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

The website is easy to navigate, has a great search function and explains everything in language that the man, or woman on the street will understand. Investing doesn’t have to be a minefield and I would recommend Nutmeg as a good place to start your investment journey.

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Lilash & LiBrow - Eyelash and Eyebrow Enhancing Serum

Lilash is a brand that I have come to recognise across Social Media and being happy to jump on the bandwagon to try it out for myself, I was sent this lovely little package**.

Inside there are two tubes, one for your eyelashes and one for your brows, plus this incredibly cute and handy mirror, making application an absolute breeze. Both of these serums have been designed to enhance your eyes natural beauty by promoting growth of your lashes and eye brows. 

Now I was something of a little plucker when I was younger and then I had a total nightmare a few years ago when a well known department store almost left me with no eyebrows and they are taking their time (and revenge I am sure) to grow back, so anything I can do to help that process I am willing to try, I have major brow envy of so many people.

So my tube of LiLash® demi is said to contain a complete three-month Induction Cycle. This is the recommended size for anyone who, like me, are interested and intrigued by the entire concept.  Once you have tried it and decide you love it, you can purchase bigger tubes

Again, my tube of LiBrow® demi contains one complete three-month Induction Cycle and with Lilash, this is again the recommended size for trying it out and then once you love it, opt for a bigger tube, which gives you 6 months worth of treatment instead of the three.

To use, you apply the eyelash serum once a day directly on the skin of your upper eyelid along the lash line, just as you would do with a liquid eyeliner. Every time you apply, alternate the direction of the stroke from outer to inner and visa versa.  Once you have applied it, you leave it to dry for 2-3 minutes and then apply your make-up as you usually would.  I was surprised that firstly the serum is quite lightweight, so there is no dripping and there is no chemical scent.  Once it dries, you would never know there was anything there, it disappears into the skin with no trace.

The Brow serum is used in the exact same way, use it once daily and apply it directly on the skin of your brow area and again, every time you apply, alternate the direction of the stroke from outer to inner and visa versa. You only need to apply the serum once in a single stroke and it takes less than 30 seconds once you get the hang of it.  Once the serum has dried, again in 2-3 minutes, you can apply your make up as you would normally do.

I have been using these products for a few weeks and will do an update in a few weeks, but this was my eyelashes and eyebrows before I started the treatment and I cannot wait to see what happens!

Have you tried Lilash? Is it something you would want to try?

Dr Organic Snail Gel Face Serum

I am obsessed with products which sound really odd and slightly weird - Sheep Placenta Cream, Dragons Blood Facemask, Be Venom and the product I have currently been loving by Dr Organic - Snail Gel Serum.  Now before you all sit there thinking 'snails ewwww' all I can say is don't knock it till you try it!

I first came across Snail Gel last year whilst at a Blogger event and I got to chat to some lovely people from Dr Organic who told me all about the range and where the idea came from, infact this is what Dr Organic has to say :

"Snail Gel boasts a wide range of anti-aging benefits including softened wrinkles, smoother skin, antioxidant protection and improved hydration. We combine Snail Gel’s unique ingredient Helix Aspersa Muller with a proprietary blend of bioactive, natural and organic extracts to formulate innovative skincare products. Specifically designed to hydrate, soothe and moisturise the skin, helping to develop a natural youthful glow".

Dr. Organic Snail Gel Range contains the mucus slime known as Helix Aspersia Muller, this is the slimy substance that the snails produce in order to rebuild and repair their damaged shells or skin. It is quite a unique ingredient that is rich in complex blend of proteins, Glycolic Acid, Collagen and Elastin, all of which help with regeneration and reparation. Add to that with the further ingredients of Olive Leaf Extract, Aloe Vera Leaf Juice, Lemongrass Oil, Vitamin E, Rose Fruit Oil plus a few more and you have a formula which is said to have created a soothing non greasy serum that penetrates deep into the epidermis, instantly hydrating the skin to help leave it feeling smoother, nourished and restored, revealing a more youthful glow.

Knowing this has snail slime within it, I hadn't expected the serum to be anything like it is.  Firstly Lemongrass as a scent is really dominant and that is the main scent of the serum, despite any other ingredient.  The texture of the serum is not at all slimy, I am still not sure whether or not that disappoints me, but when applied to the skin it does feel lovely and cool, it is incredibly lightweight and absorbs really quickly and leaves no snail trail behind.  Instead what you get is soft, smooth and very moisturised skin, so smooth to the touch it is as though you have just had a facial.  Designed to be used both in the morning and in an evening, I use it after being in the shower so my pores are open, allowing it to sink in much further to do its job.

I am a big fan of this serum and if it I good enough for the likes of  Katie Holmes, Louise Redknapp who looks amazing, as well as Ashley Roberts ex Pussycat Dolls who in 2013 shared the contents of her make-up causing sales of Snail Gel to rocket by 700%!  So if it is good enough for them, it is good enough for me and all for just £17.99.

If this sounds like something you would love to try, then Dr Organic have an entire range to entice you in and they include: their best seller, the gel, face cream, facial serum, eye serum and moisture mask and hand nail elixir and you can purchase the range from Holland & Barrett.

Have you tried anything from the Snail Gel Range?  Would you?