YOU BEAUTY BOX: THE JET SET EDIT: JULY 2016

There have been a few changes to You Beauty Box this month and I am not too sure I like it. It used to be £6.95 per month and for that money you would get to choose two products and then you would be sent two treats. Now you have a choice of three different types of subscription which allows you to selected 2,3 or 4 products with the prices varying accordingly.  I now have the Silver membership option which are £8.95 I can now select a third product from those available on the monthly shortlist. I also receive the usual monthly treats, brand offers, FREE P&P, email previews and the option to cancel at any time.

This months You Beauty Discovery Box is titled 'The Jet Set Edit' and it is packed full of summer beauty buys, perfect for going on holiday with, preparing for that holiday and a touch of glamour. The edit this month features products for your hands, lips, face, body, Sun protection, perfume, nail polish, make up and your hair.

Now initially I had attempted to add Alpha H Liquid Gold to my box, but after a few technical issues, it wasn't to be and the selection was quickly sold out. So instead I had to make further selections and this is what I chose:

White Rabbit Skincare, Lime & Coconut Cleansing Water (30ml £2.25)

I have never come across the brand before and Lime & Coconut sounds like an amazing cocktail, never mind skincare.  White Rabbit Skincare is a brand which hails from Scotland and is described as being 'Luxury Vegan'.  So this Cleansing Water, as you can imagine smells incredible, I absolutely love it andit is  suitable for all skin types!  I have been using it as a first cleanse and it is great for removing make up, dirt and grime from your skin and it does leave my skin feeling so soft and smooth, it is hard not to love it.  

This is definitely one of those brands I might never have discovered had it not been for a beauty box and it is something I am grateful to have found.  A full sized 200ml bottle costs just £15 which is an absolute bargain.

Illamasqua Precision Ink Liner in Abyss (Fullsize £20.50)

This went into my box for a friend who absolutely loves it.  The Precision Ink creates perfect lines with its long-lasting water-proof formula.

With a luxurious fluid consistency which impart rich, effortless colour in one stroke, Precision Ink Eyeliner is perfect for use on the eyes, but can also be used on the face and body for creating sensational makeup effects. As you can see, the Precision Ink Eyeliner has an ultra-thin brush which allows for intricate sharp lines whilst the waterproof formula stays put until you decide it's time to take it off.

Rodial STEMCELL Super-Food Glam Balm Multi (25ml £17.50)

Having tried the lip balm and liking it, I have been wanting to try the Glam Balm Multi for a while.  Described as being 'a super-intensive anti aging multi purpose nourishing balm' it can be used in over 100 different ways to feed skin essential nutrients, restore moisture and balance out dehydrated skin. Using innovative PhytoCellTec Alp Rose stem cells combined with 3D Hyaluronic Filling Spheres it works to quickly reduce the look of fine lines and boost appearance of skin's vitality. 

Glam Balm Multi is packed with a revitalising cocktail of super-food oils and vitamins skin remains protected and moisturised.

Key Benefits:

• Stem Cell (PhytoCellTec™ Alp Rose Flower): Protects against environmental stress.
• VCIP Vitamin C: Helps corrects sun damage an skin tone.
• Calendula Oil: Soothes and calms the skin whilst protecting against skin irritation.
• Hyaluronic Filling Spheres: Instantly plumps fine lines and wrinkles.

The Treats in this months box comes from St Tropez and it is their newest In Shower Gradual Tan Lotion in shade medium.  I was really impressed with the original (here) and I am looking forward to giving this a try so I can see if there is any difference or much change in colour. 

Plus there is a £10 gift card to use with White Rabbit and it has no minimum spend, so I might just be picking up another cleansing water!

So there you have the July You Beauty Box and it is a pretty good box this month, a really good selection of products.  What do you think?

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

Camden Beauty Spa - Manicure

If there is one beauty treatment I love, it is a manicure.  There is something quite relaxing about having someone else file your nails, sort your cuticles and then paint them without a hint of a smudge, rogue hair or streak in sight.

Camden Beauty Spa is a fabulous location if you live in London, close to the tube station it is just a few minutes walk away and they are open seven days per week, open late (till 9.30pm Monday to Saturday and 8pm on Sunday) and to top it off you do not need to make an appointment. You can also take advantage of the online booking service so you don’t need to pick up the phone. It is perfect for on the go, last minute or surprise treat.

I went to the Spa for a manicure, though they do offer a lot more treatments which you can find here. I had the classic manicure which comprises of Hand & arm massage, cuticle tidy, shape & Perfect Polish. It lasts for 45 minutes and costs just £21, if you want to add gel polish to your manicure then there is a charge on top. The hardest task for me was choosing a polish, there is a lot to choose from whether you like Essie, OPI or Morgan Taylor. I opted for Essie Carry on which is described as being a deep burgundy purple shade and one I absolutely love.

So here are my nails before I entered the salon, not looking at their best and they had been unfiled for a few weeks!

So as part of my manicure, my nails were cleaned, buffed, filed and shaped, which they most definitely needed as it had been some time since I had done them and then my cuticles were softened and pushed back and doing this makes such a difference I feel. I have always been told to never cut to trim the cuticle unless when it is treated, there are bit of skin hanging. All of this I find so incredibly relaxing and sat looking into space whilst my manicurist just got on with the job.

Once my nails has been sorted, I was treated to an amazing hand and arm massage where upon which I possibly dosed off for a few minutes because it was so relaxing and I actually forgot about life and stress was eradicated.  Once I had been massaged, my nails were then prepped with a base coat, then two coats of Essie before a top coat by Seche Vite and then some cuticle oil and this was the end result.

The manicure, considering it wasn't a gel or shellac polish lasts for 10 days without chipping, which is not only the sign of a good quality polish, but a fantastic manicure done by a brilliant Manicurist and I am absolutely thrilled with the result, the shape of my nails and the whole experience.

If you are looking to treat yourself, a friend or just fancy some pampering, then I cannot recommend Camden Beauty Spa enough, it is an amazing experience, really close to the tube station and is a hassle free experience.

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

Magazine Freebies - August 2016

This month see's some absolutely amazing Magazine Freebies, making up for a few months where there has either been none or there is just one or two pretty decent ones, if you follow me on Instagram, I have featured them for this month. The best so far has to come from both Marie Claire and Glamour Magazine if you are a Benebabe and like your brow products or if like me you love a good Benefit Mini, as I showed here.

For those of you who are not in the know, Benefit have just launched a whole new Brow collection, which I have had a sneak peek of and it is pretty fantastic, keep your eye out here for more information. 

That said, in Marie Claire Magazine this month, you can get your hands on one of those brand new products - Read, Set, Brow and it is the product I think I am likely to reach for the most. Goof Proof Brow Pencil which is a clear and sturdy brow gel that promises a flake-free, 24 hour hold completely natural brows that are just set in place. I really liked this gel and you can use it on its own or with other products to ensure those brows stay in place. Ready, Set Brow is £18.50.

Staying with the Benefit freebies we have Glamour Magazine which has Gimme Brow in two different shades, 1 (light) and 5 (dark). Gimme Brow which has been given a makeover, is a tinted eyebrow gel which contains tiny microfibers that adhere to skin & hairs, creating natural-looking fullness and definition. The custom, tiny tapered brush blends easily while the precision tip shapes hairs into place.

Also this month:

• Red Magazine - The Organic Pharmacy trio of skincare products which include a Marigold and Comfrey handcream, Antioxidant Lip Balm and a duo rose face cream which together are worth £20.95
• Harper's Bazaar - L'Occitane choice of 4 products which include the iconic shea butter hand cream, the nourishing almond shower oil, or the refreshing Néroli & Orchidée scent which is divine or one of my favourites and that is the Imortelle Divine Creme which is as the name suggests, totally divine. Together these products are worth £32!

Image Credit - Harpers Bazaar

So, once again there are some fabulous freebies to be had this month which are more than worthy of being picked up.  Have you picked up any yet?

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

MY PURRFECT GIFT BOX | JUNE EDITION

I am back once again with the amazing Mypurrfectgiftbox* on the blog and as I have said before, it is an absolute must for cat lovers, cat loving friends and for your furry friends.

Kim and Juan Kniveton the founders of My Purrfect Gift Box are dedicated cat lovers, so much so they moved back from the USA to the Isle of Man to set up and run their own idyllic countryside retreat for cats - Boodee Beg Boarding Cattery, something I dream of doing (if I ever win the lottery). With their onsite gift shop not doing as well as they had hoped, Kim and Juan decided to start My Purffect Box and each month they choose to focus on a different cat charity, rescue centre or shelter and highlight the work they do through their social media sites and through information that comes in each box. They then donate 5% of all our profits from that month's box to that chosen charity of the month.

This box is aptly titled 'Head To The Beach' and the items enclosed are ready for you and your cat to enjoy the summer sunshine and again it is packed full of amazing products that are hand made!

Starting with the gifts for the crazy cat lovers we have some cat eye sunglasses which are obviously an essential summer item to have. These are possibly the cutest things I have ever seen and they are not only stylish but they will protect your eyes with UV protection.  They also come with an incredibly cute cat sunglasses case (which I adore) from Etsy seller LukieDukie.

Next up we have some cat themes luggage tags and there is one thing for certain, there is no way you wouldn't not spot your own luggage with these. With two in the box, they are lovely and bright white and have a stunning cat print them on with enough room to write the important information.  Again these come from an Etsy Store - Theeclecticcloset and are available in black & White or in Colour.

Everyone needs a tote bag and as far as I am concerned you can never have enough of them. I always ensure I have one in my handbag so I am not having to pay out for a carrier bag. This beautifully designed cat tote bag is etched with an original drawing by an artist.  Made from 100% cotton, again you can find it on Etsy from artdp.

The final gift for humans comes in the form of a lip balm and I am one of those people who has an obsession with lip balms, but this isn't like any other I have used.  This one is infused with pure catnip essential oil for a fresh minty flavour and is enhanced with extracts from Gunpowder Green Tea and Gotu Kola.  Given my cats reactions to anything catnip, I am quite interested to see how they react to this.  Available on Etsy from wildroseherbs store.

Gifts for the cats have caused some excitement this month, well for Dexter anyway!  Starting with the cat candy toy which is soft, cuddly and so very brightly coloured, you cannot miss it.  With a jingle bell and a bit of catnip, Dexter has a new favourite toy.  Available from rufflesnufflemat.

Finally in the box we have two products which go hand in hand with one another.  A sachet of Encore natural cat food which my boys absolutely love and I buy it for them as a treat or as a change from the food they currently have and a Mason & Cash ceramic cat bowl which is far too cute and I want to keep it to myself

I think this is just another fabulous box. I love that there is a great inclusion of products for my boys and for my as a crazy cat lady. Boxes start from £15.95 and there is a choice of three boxes to choose from depending on your budget and then you have a further option as to whether you would like a one off box or a subscription.

So, if like me, you are a crazy cat lady or have a crazy cat friend, this is a perfect little unique gift to give or purchase for yourself as well as do you bit for charity!  I also absolutely love the Crazy Cat Lady Accessories Box!

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise