Glossybox - The Empowerment Edition

This month Glossybox is titled The Empowerment Edition and it is all about inspiring you to chase your dreams and to that end, there are 5 products within this months box and they include haircare, makeup and skincare.  When I first opened the box, I was unsure as to where this theme would lead but it is quite a good one.

What we have are products that come from companies which were single-handedly founded by a woman with a vision, a natural beauty label that encourages people to take control of their skincare routine and it is stories such as these that should empower you!

Bellapierre is a brand that Glossybox champion a lot in their boxes. As a brand, it started as a modest mineral-based company which has since evolved into an on-trend brand.  This month I have the Kiss Proof Lip Creme in shade Muddy Rose which is a beautiful shade. 

Described as being full coverage, high impact liquid lipstick that lasts for hours without the need to touch up.  The shade Muddy Rose is a beautiful shade of mauve and once applied, it dries matte, but wears very comfortably.  RRP £20.

The next product comes from BYBI, a brand I am quite a fan of and one I have promoted on my blog quite a few times. BYBI is a 100% natural, Vegan and Cruelty-free brand and it was founded by two very determined best friends and the tubes the products sits in, is just as amazing as the actual product itself because they are made from sugarcane and are 100% biodegradable and recyclable.

With its thick and creamy formula, Plumper is described as being a balm which not only works as a hydrating lip balm but one which also both restores and protects, whilst adding a touch of plump and shine.  With a hint of Peppermint and Blood Orange essential oils which come together and work to stimulate circulation in the lips, peppermint is first thing you notice when squeezing some of this balm out of the tube and as it is applied, the lips feel instantly cool. I really like this balm and I love how it feels on the lips. RRP £9.

Up next we have a brand I have only ever come across via Glossybox (here) and that is Laritzy Cosmetics. Said to have been born out of desire, Laritzy Cosmetics, which is a French-Canadian brand happens to be a cruelty-free and vegan-friendly brand. In this months box, we have the Dew Pot in shade Utopia.

Described as being a smooth, blendable highlighter it is said to enhance all skin tones and give an all-day dewy look.  The shade Utopia is described as being a rose gold shade and when the light catches it, there is a slight pinky tone and it really is just so pretty and it gives quite the hit of colour.  The swatch shown above is completely unedited and taken without a flash, so you are seeing the shade directly out of the pot.   Priced around £15.

Essence is a brand who I have enjoyed getting to know, with everything from eyeshadow palettes to sold out and hard to track down mascara.  As a brand, it was founded over 17 years ago by a lady called Christina, a fearless entrepreneurial woman who wanted to create fun, great quality products which are affordable and with a difference.

Glow to Go illuminating setting spray is described as being a product that not only stops your makeup from smudging, but it also boasts fine, light-reflecting particles that will give you a glowing complexion in seconds. I was quite keen to give this a try and the instructions are to hold the bottle around 30cm from your face and spray, the only issue I have with this, is that you need to shake the bottle for a good few seconds before using it and then, for me, it was a case of less is definitely more.  The liquid inside was slightly thicker than I was expecting it to me and the last time I used it, I decided to spray some into my tinted moisturiser and try it that way and that is more preferable.  Priced at just £3.30 it is a bit of a steal at that price, it doesn't leave you looking as though you are a sweaty mess with over-shine, it just adds a light glow.

The final item in this months box comes from Toni & Guy and it is their illuminating hair perfume.  In the past, I have used a lot of Toni & Guy products and have always liked what I have used.  As a brand, it started back in 1963 with brothers Toni Mascolo and Guy with a single London-based salon.  Fast forward some years it has become a family run multi-award winning global company.

I have tried a few hair perfumes in the past and admittedly they are not something I ever go and purchase for myself, but that said, I never put perfume near my hair ever.  From Toni & Guy, we have a product which smells just divine and is perfect for the summer with this zesty floral fragrance. Said to add instant shine to revive and enhance your look, it is something I would perhaps try using on a night out as something a little extra. Priced around £7.99.

So there you have this month's Empowerment Edition from Glossybox and I actually really do like the theme and how all of the products have been linked to it. I love to find out the stories behind a brand and how they came to be, so for me, this did tick quite a few boxes.

As always you can subscribe to Glossybox right here and if you use the code MARCH you can get your first box for just £7.  Plus, you can also sign up here for the Mothers Day Glossybox, which I can assure you is AMAZING, I've seen a sneak peek and the sign-up list is HERE.

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

Sonic Chic Deluxe Rose Gold Toothbrush

I travel quite frequently, the joys of having family outside of London means for any big occasion, the mister and I are on the train bound for the North of England.  This week I am off to Disneyland Paris with my family and that means I have the stress of packing for an entire week, the stress usually being which skincare to take with me.    I have said before the subject of toothbrushes isn't that exciting but it is a necessity and just because I am travelling doesn't mean I am going to lapse on my oral hygiene and for me, that means avoiding to use a manual toothbrush.  I made the switch from manual to electric quite some time ago and would never go back and to Paris, I am taking this Sonic Chic Deluxe Rose Gold Toothbrush which costs just £30 (here)

What I really like about this toothbrush, other than the fact it is, of course, Rose Gold, is that it is designed to be travel-friendly. No more do I need to lug my other electric toothbrush which comes with multiple accessories, instead I have something that is a thin as a pen, is charged by a USB and it takes just an hour to fully charge and then lasts for well over 2 weeks, even when being used twice a day and best of all, it slips into my cosmetics case alongside everything else I need. 

It has what is referred too as a 2 Minute Quadrant Timer which means every 30 seconds you will be prompted to move the brush to a different quadrant of your mouth. The brush will also power off automatically after 2 minutes.   It has a precision head which allows you to clean hide to reach areas, so for me, this is right at the back of my mouth where my Wisdom teeth constantly attempt to painfully break through the skin (and fail), this toothbrush reaches all the way back, without making me want to gag.

The Sonic Chic Deluxe Toothbrush also has two modes of use.  Aptly names mode 1 and mode 2 they deliver either 28,000 strokes per minute (mode 1) or 32,000 strokes per minute (mode 2).  I tend to switch between the two different modes when cleaning my teeth, I start with mode 1 and then move on to mode 2 and after I have finished, my teeth incredibly clean as does the whole of my mouth.

If you are someone who travels quite a lot, then this would be absolutely ideal to have in your travel case.  I charge mine before I go anywhere but also keep the USB cable with me just in case I need to recharge it, as yet, I have gone over two weeks of using it without the need to recharge, so I am very impressed.

What do you use as a toothbrush when you travel?

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

Cattitude Box - for the Crazy Cat Lady

If you are a regular viewer of my Instagram stories then you will be aware that I have three kitties and they are referred too as my furkids, they are spoilt rotten, have the run of the house and want for absolutely nothing.  When I was offered the chance to receive and review the Cattitude Box, which is described as being the 'Subscription Box for Crazy Cat Ladies" there wasn't a chance I was saying no.

Arriving inside this incredible box is a whole host of products for the kitties and the crazy cat lady, something to love and share between us. As soon as mine saw the box they knew there was something inside for them and pretty much clawed at it until I opened it.

Hello Kitty! We’re the cat’s pyjamas of cat gift boxes, treating you and your favourite furry friend to premium, unique cat gifts and lifestyle/home accessories every single month. You can also purchase one time gift box for the cat ladies in your life or yourself!

Each month the box is put together and features an array of products which are all cat themed and it includes everything from cat jewellery to cat home decor for the humans and for the cats there are treats, food and toys.  It is a subscription box and you get to choose whether you want the box monthly or bi-monthly and it is priced at £27.95.  Within each box will be 3-4 items for you and 2-3 items for the fur kids.  Here is what was found within my box.

First up, as I opened the box there is this beautiful card which says "I want to Meow with you forever" and it is actually the contents card.  I love the card so much I actually now have it in a frame on my bookshelf.

 Hiding all of the lovely products is the CatStronauts backpack and on it, there is a grey cat who looks so similar to my parent's cat, I absolutely love it.  Brightly coloured so you absolutely won't miss it, it is described as being for the fierce feline with a taste for an adventure.

Space themed, hence the name, it is the perfect backpack for light items that you need to carry around with you.  I used to have something similar for P.E which held my trainers in.

The next two items are for the boys and they are food related.  I try as best as I can to ensure they have a balanced diet and use food that has been advised by the vets because one of my boys has quite a delicate stomach owing to an intestinal disease.

 First up we have Lily's Kitchen Organic Fish Dinner which is made using good quality organic food and as soon as this tin was out of the box, they all got quite excited as Lily's Kitchen food is a definite favourite.

The second item is from Vet's Kitchen and this is something we have just started using for the three of them.  Little Hearts made from the finest Trout and Salmon are super tasty treats and it is a great alternative to other high streets brands.

The final items within the box are jewellery related and as a mad cat lady, I can think of nothing cuter I would want to own.  The first item is the Cat Slogan Necklace and it is comprised of a long gold chain with a cat head pendant.

The card upon which the necklace sits states "Cats represent exploration, mystery and self-discovery.  Wear your necklace as a reminder to strut your independence... You're Purrfect just the way you are.  I love the little statement that comes with the pendant and it is so true, anyone who owns a cat will know that they do like to wander off and often leave you feeling a bit worried as to where they are.  I have had more than my fair share of worry with my three.

The next item is the Puss in Pearl Earrings and these are possibly my favourite item within the box, including the cat shaped card they are fastened too.

These earrings are faux pearls and they have some cute little cat ears that are clearly visible to see, adding to the cat theme.  Made from Silver, these earrings are the perfect size for my ears, which are fairly small!

The final item of jewellery is the adjustable Kitty Ring and again the attention to detail with this item is quite something.

To the front of the ring you can clearly see two visible cat ears which has you in no doubt what the theme of this box has been, but the best part of this ring for me is the underside. As the ring is adjustable to fit whichever finger you find the rings looks the best on, it is adjusted by expanding the paws and there is so much detail, it is impossible not to love.

Now, this box wouldn't be complete without the final item and that is the Crazy Cat Lady badge. I almost feel as though it is something I should wear as a badge of honour because it is absolutely true. I am a mad cat lady.

If I ever won the jackpot on the Lottery or Euromillions, my dream would be to run a cat hotel and within it, as well as my own boys would be unloved and unwanted cats that I could show some love too.  But for that to happen, I obviously need to play the lottery!

This is my very first Cattitude Box and I love the mixture of products that I found inside it.  I love that there was something for my three boys, they are happy they got some food and some treats and of course a box to fight over as to who gets to sleep in it - If it fits, it sits, as the saying goes.  

If you know someone who is a mad Cat lady and struggle for gifts to purchase for them, then this would make quite the gift not just for them, but for their kitties too!  I would love to know what you think!

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

Hello Jo Power Hair Masks

I absolutely adore the scent of coffee... in a drink, in food and in beauty products, there is something about the aroma that just captures my attention.  When I saw that Hello Jo had launched onto Feelunique, I instantly wanted to try everything - the eye masks, the lip masks and of course the hair care.

Hello Jo Beauty has quite the story to tell. Described as being the new Korean developed Caffeine-Active Hello Jo Beauty’s goal is to be more than just a beauty brand and create a community for women and girls to speak out – a forum for discussion. The name Hello Jo derives from hello being the most important and most used word in the world to immediately build connections and Jo is the female version of “Joe” which is another word for coffee in so much as you might say "fancy a 'cup of Joe’" to someone, not something I have personally ever said but still there it is. Hello Jo Beauty agreed on three beauty beliefs, three things are so important to them as a brand, no matter what we do, they will always strive to live by them - Expression, Energy and Empowerment, and you can find out more about the story behind the brand here.

Hello Jo Beauty chooses to use caffeine within their product range like many beauty brands because there are so many skincare and hair care benefits to caffeine and they include:

• Caffeine is a powerhouse antioxidant which helps to fight free radical damage from pollution, toxins, and the sun.
• It has amazing anti-inflammatory properties which help to calm, and soothe stressed skin, reducing redness and evening skin tone.
• Reduces puffiness and under eye shadows created by eye bags.
• Stimulates the scalp to support hair growth and strengthen the hair shaft.
• Adds natural shine to the hair making it glossy and more manageable reducing the dreaded frizz!

So with all of this in mind and of course the linking to K-Beauty, the first products I have got my hands on are the Hello Jo Power Hair Masks. I make no secret of how important a hair mask is and this is regardless of your hair type, be it long or short, thick or thin, straight or curly. I used to think they were a complete waste of time and effort until I was introduced to one brand who literally changed my how hair looks and feels.

Hello Jo Pack of Power Hair Masks (£15) are described as being infused with a powerful, nourishing combination of active caffeine and natural argan, olive and moringa oils, our first ever sheet mask for hair helps tame frizz, reduce breakage and smooths and prevents split ends.  This might come as news to you, but did you know you might have been using your hair masks incorrectly?  Most of us, sometimes myself included, often apply a hair mask t the roots of our hair as well as to the length, in some cases this can cause further build up on the scalp which in turn blocks hair follicles, inhibits hair growth, and can cause itchiness and flaking.  Now I do have a few masks that are designed for the scalp but on the whole, unless it states I can use my mask there, I don't, I use it on my length and ends.

The Hello Jo Power Hair masks are the most unusual I have ever used, as you can see from the photo below (kindly used with permission from FeelUnique).  To use, I have always ensured my hair is damp and then, tying your hair up into a ponytail and drop it into the mask bag and then secure the bag using the band provided. The inside of the bag is coated with what feels like an oily substance and this is, of course, the amazing ingredients which, alongside Caffeine, an ingredient which is proven to support healthy hair growth you will also find the oils of Argan, Olive and Moringa which work to rehydrate your hair.

Once you have done this, massage your hair, which is sat inside the bag gently to allow all the ingredients to work their magic and leave it on for around 30 minutes.  Whenever I applied my mask, I used those 30 minutes to sit back with either a face mask or eye mask and just allowed the scent of caffeine to do its thing.

Once those 30 minutes are up, remove your hair from the mask bag and wash as you normally would do.  If you find your hair is in need of more love and attention, you can sleep in it and wash your hair the following morning.  This mask is ideal for use weekly.

I have just below the shoulder length hair (it needs a trim) and I found the pouch fitted really snug against my hair once it was in a ponytail.  I put the ponytail as high up on my head as I could comfortably get it to sit and then applied the pouch that way, assuming the more hair I crammed in, the better it would be.  Once removed and hair freshly washed, my hair was so soft and smooth, no flyaways, no static when brushing and even when I dry my hair using the hairdryer, there was no struggle, no tangles and best of all, my straighteners also glide straight through and straightening my hair has become a much quicker process.

At £15 for a pack of three masks (here), they work out at £5 per treatment which I think is well worthy of the price tag. At my local salon, they charge £7 for a hair mask when I have my hair cut and the results of this one are so much better in my opinion and of course have you ever used a hair mask where you put your hair in a bag? Nope, I bet you haven't!

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