You Beauty Discovery Box - May

This month's You Beauty Discovery Box has joined forces with and celebrates the CEW 2015 Beauty Awards. CEW is a not-for-profit organisation that is dedicated to furthering the interests of the British beauty industry. The shortlist for the months box featured an assortment of nominees.

In the box every month are at least two treats. This month we were treated to a sachet of Dr Organic Snail Gel of which I am a huge fan already. Jimmy Choo Man sample for the mister in your life and voucher for 20% off selected beauty and fragrance at Marks & Spencer. So a really nice treat or two to be trying out to use.

Then my actual choices is again one I found quite hard to decide between because I actually wanted three of them and was almost playing "Ip dip" to make my decision. The three I struggled to choose between was the Angel Face Cloth from The Konjac Sponge Company, Better than Sex Mascara from Too Faced which I absolutely love and Pro-Collagen Marine Cream from Elemis which is raved about by so many bloggers and still remains to be a product I haven't yet tried. So, my choice in the end were these two.

The Angel Cloth from The Konjac Sponge Company which at a first glance reminds me of a prawn cracker from my local Chinese Take-away but is actually described as being shaped like an angel. Once wet, the angel turns into a soft gentle exfoliating cloth, made from pure vegetable fibre. Perfect for cleansing with both hot and cold cleansers, or on its own with no cleanser at all; it even cleanses the delicate eye area. Kinder than a muslin cloth or flannel, the angel cloth will not damage the skin and leaves it feeling fresh and rejuvenated. 

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara.  This is a mascara that is always out of stock whenever I look for it.  Having used it some time ago, I have been desperate to get my hands on some more.  Described as follows "One application of this collagen-fueled formula and touch of the specially shaped brush will leave you begging for more. One coat and lashes are full, defined and stretched to unbelievable lengths. Two coatsand they’re reaching unbelievable heights of drama. Three coats and you’ll believe in magic".  What I love about this mascara is the formula which is not overly wet and nor is it overly dry, it sits somewhere in the middle and is perfect for day and night wear.

Given the number of choices for this month's box, at £6.95 it is an absolute bargain.

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Win a custom designed Handbag with Cooper & Hill

Do you ever sit and wish you could design your own handbag and be the next Victoria Beckham? Well Cooper & Hill give you the chance to do just that. With 25 years of experience manufacturing premium luxury bags for the high-end market, new fashion brand Cooper & Hill are taking bespoke bags to a new level. Cooper & Hill makes luxury bags more affordable by bridging the gap between manufacturer and consumer.

Whether you need more pockets, more zips, less studs but more slots for your loyalty cards, with Cooper & Hill you can sketch your dream bag from start to finish and then watch them bring it to life.

If I could design my own perfect bag, I would want a main zipped pocket inside the bag for my personal belongings, somewhere for my iPhone and also something big enough for my iPad which I carry around within its own case.  I am a big fan of handbags which can be carried or be cross-body bags and to that end, the straps would need to be good but also comfortable and not dig into my skin. 

With the help of @FemaleBloggerRT, the ORIGINAL retweet community for bloggers, Cooper & Hill is giving away a Bespoke bag, which is your very own custom bag designed by you!

Use the widget below to enter the giveaway. Contest open to UK residents and ends June 30.

Please also visit the fabulous hosting bloggers and show them some love!

Rachel // Teral // Emma // Sarah // Rosie

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Nip + Fab Skin Dragon's Blood Fix Plumping Mask

Nip + Fab Skin Dragon's Blood Fix Plumping Mask is described as being an intensely hydrating gel mask combining multiple skin perfecting complexes to plump the look of wrinkles + refine the skin's appearance for a brighter, more youthful-looking complexion. Well this is something I am definitely in need of and I couldn't wait to give it a go.

My fascination with products that are a little kooky is really taken to the limit with this Dragon's Blood Fix Plumping Mask. Naturally it doesn't contain any dragon's blood but it does have an ingredient which is created from the resin of the Croton Lechleri Tree which is also known as the ‘Dragon’ Tree. The resin in question is red hence the term Dragon's Blood and it forms protective film on skin to protect against environmental aggressors. Add to that the use of Salicylic acid to cleanses pores +and aid exfoliation, Hyaluronic acid an ingredient my skin absolutely loves to help hydrate and refine the skins texture,Glycerin which draws water to outer layer of the skin keeping it moisturised whilst helping to restore skin suppleness and finally TEGO Cosmo C 250 which brightens skin and fades age spots. 

To use the mask, Nip + Fab recommend that you apply a thick layer to the skin and leave for ten minutes before rinsing it off with warm water. If you need something a little more intense for your skin, you can or you can leave it on overnight and rinse off in the morning.  Once it has been applied to the skin the mask itself is quite a wet formula, so it is easy to apply and it doesn't feel at all sticky, it also disappears and absorbs itself into the skin, so that when you come to rinse your skin, there is very little product left.  Once on the skin, it has quite a soothing effect, especially if like me, you pop it into the fridge for an hour before using.  As you count down those ten minutes, you can feel the mask tightening the skin and really getting down to work.  After washing off the skin, the effects are immediate.  Soft smooth and incredibly moisturised skin which looks plump and radiant, not to mention clean.  

My skin has been really suffering from being quite dehydrated recently and this mask has been an absolute dream to use, so much so, even the Mr has taken to giving it ago because I have raved about it so much.

If you haven't tried this Dragon's Blood Fix Plumping Mask then it is something I would really recommend.  It is available from a range of stores both online and on the highstreet and retails for around £14.95 for 50ml.

LookFantastic Beauty Box - May

Last Month's LookFantastic Beauty Box wasn't the best box that I had had to date, it was alright but didn't excite me a great deal, so with the May Box arriving, I had high hopes!

This months box has six products neatly packaged inside the box, plus an extra treat of knowing what one of the items in the June box will be, now im not going to spoil the surprise but it is from REN and it is a great product.

The first product inside this months box is the Omorovicza Thermal Cleansing Balm. is a black balm made with Hungarian Moor mud which is brimming with calcium and magnesium carbonates that act as a magnet to impurities and make-up, as well as almond oil to nourish and protect the skin. Skin is left looking and feeling soothed and cleansed. This is a 5ml sample which is worth £4.60.

Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse is next and I am a big fan of Nuxe products and this is one I haven't tried. Described as being an Amazing Dry Gold Oil, it is a multi-usage dry oil that gives a golden shimmer to your face, body and hair .Said to have a super-activated formula that combines 30% of precious plant oils and vitamin E to nourish, repair and soften face, body and hair in a single gesture, this oil leaves your face and body soft and velvety, whilst your hair becomes supple, glossy and full of volume. Thanks to its small golden particles, your skin glitters and reveals its beauty whenever you move. This is a 10ml sample and is worth around £4

Tanworx by Monu Skincare. Whilst I am not a fan of fake tan, this offering from Monu, whose skincare products ive always been impressed with, is said to be a foam which is easy to apply and streak-free, providing an instant colour that develops and deepens into a healthy, bronzed glow. The formula is tinted so you can see exactly where you have applied your tan, for an even looking tan. The 100ml tube is worth around £6.50

Christoper Robin Regenerating Hair Mask is a brand and product I have never heard of or come across, so it is always exciting to try something new. Suitable for all hair types, this mask is enriched with pure prickly pear seed oil which is one of the rarest and most expensive oils in the world. Said to provide a deep and long-lasting action from root to tip, hair becomes sumptuous and smooth in just 2 minutes. It is also free from paraben, silicone, SLS and colourants.  This 50ml tube is worth around £10.

Erno Laszlo Transphuse Night serum is the penultimate product in this months box and whilst it is only a 2ml sample, it is worth around £15! The serum claims to helps turn back the hands of time as you snooze, naturally reducing the appearance of fine lines and helping recover damaged skin. This light-weight, anti-ageing serum boosts the skin's natural defense barrier, so you can wake up feeling ready and refreshed for the day ahead.

The final item in this months box are some pre-glued Eylure lashes. Again not a product I use as I can never apply them correctly and don't have the patience needed to practise. That said they claim to be hassle free and perfect for adding volume and extra length to your lashes.  Worth £5.50.

So that is the LookFantastic Beauty Box for May with contents worth around £45, for a box which costs £15 it is not a bad return for your money and even though there are two products I am unlikely to use, I do have four products that I will use, all of which I have never used before and am looking forward to giving a try too.