Pink Parcel & Betty Box

A few years ago I first reviewed both Pink Parcel and Teen Parcel here on my blog and they recently had a bit of a revamp, so I am delighted to be sharing them with you today. Described as being the UK's number one period box, Pink Parcel is designed for those of us who are are no longer considered 'Teens' and that is where the Betty Box comes into play.

The Pink Parcel describes itself as uniting periods and pampering to make your time of the month fuss-free and fabulous and let's be honest, anything that offers to do just that immediately gets the thumbs up and quite probably a hug. The box is discreetly packaged and slim enough to fit through most letter boxes and inside it will be whichever sanitary brand and type of  product you prefer to use.  Brands such as Tampax, Lilets and Bodyform to name just a few allow you the choice of selecting Tampons or Towels to meet your needs. If like me you have quite a hectic life with work and everything else, sometimes forgetting Auntie Flo is on her way can be a nightmare, it is something I do frequently and I love that there is something out there for a peace of mind.

With Pink Parcel the monthly subscription price is £12.99 which includes delivery and depending on whether you choose a one off box or a longer subscription can alter the price, but there is no pressure to sign up at any time.  Once signed up you firstly pick the products you want, either tampons, sanitary towels or you can opt for a mixture of the two and then which brand and absorbency you need and there is quite a selection to choose from.  Once you have made your decision you decide which date you want your box to arrive and my advice is to obviously ensure it is before your next period so that you have everything you need.  Alongside your chosen sanitary products you will also be given some panty liners and some night pads to ensure you literally have everything you need and then it doesn't stop there because also included within your box will be some pampering products worth up to £40.

Once your box arrives, inside you will find three boxes and a drawstring bag and each one is clearly labelled.  In the 'For Night' box you will find some night time sanitary towels and my box has 5 of them.  The 'For Later' box has your product of choice for when your period arrives inside it and the drawstring bag, which I now keep in my handbag contains some panty liners.  The final box which is titled 'For you' has your pampering products inside it and this month my box was packed full of thoughtful products:

• Cuppanut Teabag - Turmeric and Ginger infusion
• Nail HQ - All in One nail treatment
• Cocoba - Cocoa Dusted Salted Toffee Truffles
• Beautaniq Beauty - Radiant Glow Sheet Mask
• Lipcote - Lipstick Sealer
• The Beauty Group - The Glamazon Stick which is described as being a creamy highlight Crayon
• Swiss Clinic - Sanitizing Spray

I love the contents of the For You box and love that it is put together is such a thoughtful manner.

The Betty Box, which used to be Teen Parcel is similar to the Pink Parcel with a few exceptions.  Firstly the entire box is brightly coloured and really stands out which I liked a lot and the subscription is £12.99 per month and contains all the period essentials you’ve chosen, from pads to tampons in all shapes and sizes.   The difference comes with the 'For You' part of the box because as this one is aimed at those aged 11-16 the treats have been chosen with that in mind, so the box might include jewellery, skincare, stationery and sweets.

In the box I was kindly sent, each section is again really well laid out and labelled so that you know which box you need and when.  Then within the 'For You' Box six products which includes:

• Bakedin - Chocolate brownie mug mix which is cooked in a mug in the microwave in 60 seconds.  Described as being gooey, warm and oh so good.
• You Tea - Sleep Tea which uses ingredients such as lavender, rose and chinese dates to ensure you feel calm in both body and mind
• Magnitone - Wipe Out Microfibre Cleansing Cloth which is designed to tackle the most stubborn makeup using just warm water
• Bandzee - Hair ties are like bobby pins for me, you have loads one minute and non the next.  Whenever I tie my hair up, I use a few different branded hair ties because I like that they don't cause my hair to kink.
• Freeman - Foot Scrub with Lemon and Sage.  This scrub is infused with pumice from volcanic rock and is designed to exfoliate rough and dry skin and the inclusion of Tea Tree helps to soothe tired and aching feet
• Bryt Socks - Now these socks describe themselves as being loud and proud and that they most definitely are.  It is said that colourful socks seem to increase happiness and confidence.

Again, I love the level of thought which has gone into these boxes with everything from packing them to including the pampering treats.

I would love to know your thoughts on these two boxes and whether or not you think it is something you would subscribe too.

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page here

2017 Sale Picks

Every year I always scour the sales looking for bargains and products on offer that I want to stock up on, the kind of things I use religiously and couldn't be without. This year, whilst there are quite a few items which have caught my eye that I either love or really want to try and here they are:

Anastasia Glow Kit - This is one of the first kits I swooned after when it was appearing across my social media feed and even now it is just stunning. Featuring ‘Sun Dipped’ contains ‘Bronzed’ (warm amber with a copper-bronze fleck), ‘Tourmaline’ (warm taupe with a rose gold finish), ‘Moonstone’ (radiant quartz with a pearl finish) and ‘Summer’ (luminous sand with a white gold shimmer) it has an RRP of £41 but is on offer here for just £24.60.

Becca Après Ski Glow Collection Eye Lights Palette - This is an exclusive selection of seven shades wrapped up in gleaming gold, festive packaging and it is just stunning to look at. Described as being a versatile palette, on it you will find ‘Pearl’ (a soft, luminescent white with a satin-matte finish), ‘Rose Quartz’ (a soft pink with a metallic shimmer finish), ‘Topaz’ (a radiant, golden bronze with a metallic shimmer finish), Opal (a neutral white gold with a metallic shimmer finish) and ‘Moonstone’ (a pale, incandescent gold with a metallic shimmer finish). As well as this, the palette blesses us with two new winter-themed shades: taupe brown ‘Toasted Marshmallow’ and warm burgundy ‘Hot Cocoa’, both of which give a sublime satin-matte finish. It has an RRP £40 but Cult Beauty have it here for just £28. 

If that doesn't quite float your boat then the Becca Limited Edition Shimmering Skin Perfector Highlighter Vault, which looks incredible can be found here for just £122.50 down from £175.

A lot of people seem to have an issue with Lush not having an online sale, so perhaps Bomb Cosmetics can be the solution. All of their Christmas gift sets are on offer with AllBeauty here and one of the best sets that I have seen is this Santa Sack which contains no less than 7 bath bombs which includes Cranberry and Lime Blaster and Oh Xmas Tree Blaster to name just two of them.

I think we can all appreciate how amazing Charlotte Tilbury is but finding something on sale makes me feel a bit spendy. The Gift of Goddess Skin collection which features five star-rated Goddess Skin Clay Mask, Magic Cream Moisturiser and Wonderglow Face Primer (all 15ml) is currently on offer for £27.30 instead of £39.99 here. Add to that you can find £9 off the Hot Lips Mini Celebrity Lipstick Charms here.

The Cover FX Custom Enhancer Drops Vault Set - This is a brand I see on my social media feed all the time and also one of the products I have seen duped by many different high street brands. The Vault contains all seven shades of Custom Enhancer Drops from Cover FX and it can be found right here for £95 instead of the RRP £190.

I am a huge K-Beauty fan and when mixed with French Beauty you have one heck of a brand.  Erborian is a brand I absolutely adore and find exciting with each new release and the Maskerade Kit which is a pampering session in a box contains three products.  The Black Scrub which is formulated with Charcoal and it helps to rid skin of impurities, eliminate dead cells and absorb excess sebum, for a mattifying effect. Then there are two sheets masks - Blanc Brightening Sheet Mask and the Bamboo Sheet mask. Usually this set retails for £17 but is on offer here for just £10.

The Marc Jacobs 'Cats Meow' Mini Le Marc Lip Crème Collection is definitely one for the lipstick fan. The travel-size collection features bestselling nudes, reds and pink and comes tucked in a vibrant Marc Jacobs leopard-print pouch made of vegan patent leather which would also make a fab evening bag. The lipsticks included are Sonic Truth (creamy nude), Goddess (deep maraschino),, J'adore (terra cotta blush),, Infamous (soft peony) and Currant Mood (currant red), It has an RRP of £37 but is on offer here for just £25.90.

It is no secret that one of my favourite brands is Omorovicza and the The Omorovicza Moor Mud Set is an incredible bargain. It combines a trio of skincare treats to leave your complexion feeling pampered, revived and radiant. The cleansing mask, balm and exfoliator all utilise a patented Hydro Mineral Transference™ delivery system, which infuses minerals into skin for maximum results. It has a value of £48 but is on offer for just £38 right here.

If you need some new makeup brushes then it could be this one from Spectrum Brushes with the Sassy Sirens - The Siren Shell. I have one Spectrum brush in my makeup brush collection and it is the fan brush, a brush that I use rather a lot thanks to my highlight obsession. There is no doubting that Spectrum Brushes are just stunning to look at and The Siren Shell being on offer is incredibly tempting. The collection comprises 12 of the brand’s most popular brushes and usually retails for £89.99 but here it is just £53.99!

I would love to know if there is anything in the sales which has caught your attention!

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page here

ADEXE THEY - Grande Silver & Blue Watch + Giveaway

Watches are an item of jewellery I tend not to bother with, I have slim wrists and don’t like watches that have too heavy a face or a fake leather strap, but I do need to have another option to my iPhone to tell the time.  Adexe describes itself as being the non-conformist brand which differentiates itself from the mass-produced competitors, by offering traditional quality and luxury, but invoking contemporary minimalism. Vertically integrated under one roof.  With one mission in mind: “Create Finely Crafted, Uniquely Appointed Timepieces at Affordable Prices”.  I love that everything is designed and manufactured in-house here in London and the story behind the brand is one worth reading. 

Just before Christmas ADEXE let me choose any watch I liked from their site and I was immediately drawn towards called THEY - Grande Silver & Blue. With its blue face and mesh strap detail, it is just a beautiful watch and has quite a few features which include:

Classic Multifunction dial: Day - Date - Second

• Case material: Hand-Polished All Stainless Steel
• Case size: 41mm diameter 
• Band Width: 20 mm 
• Glass: Curved Hardened Crystal 
• Straps: Hand-Polished Stainless Steel Mesh
• Waterproof: 3 ATM
• Movement: Japanese Miyota VD76
• Battery: 2 - 3 years

A non-gendered watch it can be worn by absolutely anyone and everyone and has been featured in GQ Magazine. On the wrist it sits absolutely flat against my skin and is so comfortable and light to wear, I almost forget it is there. It is easy to fasten and undo with one hand and the watch face itself is every bit as stunning as the photo which drew me in. 

I like that the watch not only tells you time but it does so in a manner which makes looking at it without my glasses easy to do. As well as the time there are three smaller dials which tell you the day of the week, the date and the second, so quite the functional watch. Add to that the silver mesh strap means it goes with every possible outfit whether you are dressed up or down and best of all, it doesn’t tick overly loudly, in fact it is quieter than I had expected it to be.

As you can tell I am absolutely delighted with this watch and have really enjoyed wearing it. Priced at £149 it isn’t going to break the bank and I have a 15% off code if you fancy ordering a watch from ADEXE for yourself or a loved one, all you be to do is add the code GIFTOFTIME15 to your basket! 

I also have a competition to win any watch of your choice and all you need to do use complete the Rafflecopter widget below and ensure you complete all of the mandatory entries otherwise your entry will become null and void.  Please also ensure that you are aged 16 and over or have parental permission to enter and finally please note that there is no cash alternative. UK Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page here

5 Tips to getting your first lip fill

The lips are a body part that speak a lot about your defining your smile and outlining the frame of your teeth and general shape of your face. Lip fillers, also known as lip augmentation can be done if you are not comfortable with your lips due to uneven lips, dry, cracking lips, your lips have poor borders, poor shape or thin. Lip fillers are a great option to enhance the definition, hydration, increase volume/fullness and also boost your smiling confidence.

Image Credit - CarfaxDental

If you’re looking at getting fuller lips and restore your smile, certified dermatologists are available that offer lip augmentation services. Lip fillers Perth at Iconic Medispa offer long-lasting lip enhancement by highly trained cosmetic dentists for the best results. Here are some tips to getting your first lip fill.

1. Seek the services of a professional

Lip enhancement is a delicate procedure which can affect your general appearance when it’s not carried out well. See a professional like a plastic surgeon or dermatologist that is highly experienced in the procedure. This is to avoid a botched augmentation and lip disasters that will leave you looking fake and unappealing.

After getting the right practitioner, you can choose the areas of your lips that you would like to be focused on such as whether it is the bottom, lower or upper lip. Consult with your doctor to know which area would complement your facial features.

2. Do not exercise and avoid painkillers

Seven to ten days before your procedure, avoid using painkillers (apart from Tylenol), vitamin E and fish oil since they make the blood thin. Thin blood increases the chances of bruising and bleeding which might take longer to heal. Also, avoid exercising and activities that increase blood flow to your face such as facial treatments and massage on the day that you will be going for the procedure.

3. Procedure Costs

The procedure costs vary depending on the condition of your lips, which areas you’d like to be worked on and the desired results of the treatment. Get a clinical exam to know the overall cost of the whole treatment although the price starts from $450 onwards.

4. Is the procedure painful?

The general procedure does not hurt and comprises of a combination of local and topical anesthetics. Being in a relaxed and comfortable position during the procedure will give your doctor an easy time and offer you the best results.

5. The post-procedure time and side effects

The procedure takes 15 to 20 minutes. The healing time is minimal and one can get back to their daily routines after the procedure. A bit of swelling or bruising that can last from a few hours to a few days might occur which can be concealed using makeup. The results can last for around six to twelve months depending on how your body metabolizes the formula.

Lip enhancement procedures take less time and are safe and effective. A few months after the procedure you will be feeling more comfortable and confident with your smile and facial appearance.

6. Additional treatments - The perfect lip fillers aren’t complete without white teeth to go with them. Clinics like UK Smiles have a wide range of dental services to help you finish your look, so consider this to achieve the perfect smile.

*this post contains a PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise all words are my own - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page here.