Roccabox - February 2020

The February Edition of Roccabox is one of the best I have had from the brand and it is all about staying hydrated because being hydrated is the key to feeling energised, strong and having clear, positively radiant skin.  So the lovely Tia, who is the brains behind the box has put together a beauty box that features some of her favourite moisture packed products which help you to say goodbye to parched skin and dull complexions.

This months box features six products and an added extra, which I found to be a really nice touch.  The products this month reach across skincare, makeup and well-being so there is definitely something for everyone.

The first item out of my box and the one Roccabox call their 'Hero Product' comes from SugarBearHair with their Hair Vitamins plus there is also a shower cap too.  I know this product has been in the media rather frequently and has caused some controversy but having never tried them myself, I am always eager to be a rebel when and where I can.

SugarBearHair Vitamins are formulated with ingredients such as biotin which supports the maintenance of normal hair, folic acid and Vitamin D. The bears themselves are chewy vitamins and they are quite sweet with a berry taste, the advice is that you need to be taking two gummies a day and being a supplement, they are not going to give you results within a week or two, infact you need between 3-6 months to notice any changes.

The inclusion of the shower cap is quite a cute addition, my last one was thrown away during my bathroom renovations, so I am glad to have a shower cap back again and this one works brilliantly when using a hair mask!

The next product out of the box comes from MonuSkin and this is a brand I have tried quite a few products from in beauty boxes.   The product within this box is the Revitalising Moisturiser.

Perfect for normal or combination skin types, this moisturiser is described as being ideal for combination skin. Using the soothing scents of Cucumber, Elderflower and Mallow extracts combine with Glycerine, Coconut Oil and Arnica to hydrate tired skin whilst calming and soothing the complexion to ensure a flawless appearance all day long.

If you love a good eyemask, have you tried one which is warming?  I absolutely love Popmasks and was delighted to see the Starry Eyes Self-Warming Eye Mask in this box.

Described as being 'a calm in a pouch', the mask is designed to give you that 20 minute break from life, the chance to lie and relax and think of nothing and no-one. Being made from non woven cotton, the mask is really easy to wear, it has loops which fit over your ears to hold it in place and you don't have to worry about scolding your skin because it doesn't get that hot. Once the mask comes into contact with the air the iron powder inside heat cells reacts with oxygen in the air causing it to heat up gently. The mask reaches a maximum temperature of 100.4 F or 38 C and stays at this temperature for at least 20 minutes.  

Another brand I am a big fan of is Dr Lipp and inside this box is the Moisturising Colour Lip Tint in the shade 'Sweet Potato'.  I have featured the original Dr Lipp product here on my blog which gives an insight as to why I am such a huge fan.

This Lip Tint is a 100% natural moisturising colour with Sweet Potato Pigment. The natural moisturing balm glides over the lips, coating them in smooth, glossy colour without being greasy or tacky on the skin. It does a great job at working to heal and hydrate dry or sensitive skin for a softer, healthier finish.  It also makes a great lipstick base for Matte Lipsticks, especially if your lips have been a little dry.

I love a good sheet mask and this particular mask is one I have never come across before. The Danielle Creations Lifting Peptide Sheet Mask which is described as being "The ultimate nourishment for your face".

Using a unique fabric blend that is said to tightly hug the contours of the face allowing for the most effective penetration of these beneficial essential ingredients. For this mask, the use of peptides to help revitalise the skin as well as helping to stimulate collagen production to lift and tighten your skin’s appearance, therefore it is the ultimate tool for reducing the signs of ageing.

The final item in my box is an added extra and it comes from the lovely people over at Tea Pigs with their Cold Brew in Cucumber and Apple.

I am a huge fan of iced tea, though here in the UK we don't make it as well as our friends over the pond in the USA. However, Tea Pigs have made an all-natural cold brew infusion which has been made specially to brew quickly in cold water, so it is great for adding to your water bottle and taking with you on the go. I happen to really like the flavour of this, so have bought a box, anything that encourages people to drink more water can only be a good thing!

I really liked this months edition of Roccabox and it has products that I will use or have already used. It is priced at just £10 per month if bought separately, Roccabox is a subscription service and there are further subscription offers available to choose from. However, before you run off, I have a discount code for you use the code 'BEAUTY20' to grab yourself 20% off a monthly subscription plan.  It can only be used once per customer and it means that you can grab your first box for £8 (plus p+p)

I would love to know what you think of this months Roccabox!

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

Glossybox - Love Crosses Borders

As February is the month of love, you can expect to see a lot of love-related posts in the next few days from me and my blog.  Having already revealed my his and hers Valentines gift guides, I am sharing with you this month Glossybox is using the theme - Love crosses borders.

Embracing love across the world, whether you say I love you, Je t'aime, Ich liebe dich or Jeg elsker deg, love really does cross borders.  With that in mind, this month Glossybox features five products and it is said these beauty products work together to give you dewy skin, a kissable pout and gorgeous eye makeup!

The first product from the box is from Floss Beauty, an American beauty brand with their hydrating lip gloss and I have shade ATH.

This Blush pink shade of lipgloss isn't sticky or tacky when worn, it is definitely hydrating and I love that you can wear it on its own for a hint of colour or you can wear it over your lipstick, I have found it works really well with most of the shades I wear on a daily basis.

Next out of the box from Starskin Beauty is the Dream Kiss Plumping and Hydrating Bio-Cellulose Mask.

Using Bio-Cellulose technology, this mask is formulated with naturally fermented Vitamin-rich Coconut Juice. On the lips, this ‘Dreamkiss’ lip mask closely follows the contours of the lips. Infused with a blend of Sea Fern, Collagen and Hyaluronic Acid which instantly works to visibly plump lips, improving the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, resulting in a more youthful look.

Another product for the lips comes from Saint Luxe Beauty with this Lip Liner duo. Saint Luxe describes themselves as being a high-end, luxury beauty brand founded on the East Coast.

Lip liners are not products I ever rush out to purchase, I have been using the same two for as long as I can remember.  From Saint Luxe, this Lip Liner Duo in shades Crush and Cupid.  Crush is a deep red shade and Cupid is more of a mauve pink and what I really like about these liners is how soft and smooth they are when applied to the lips, instead of giving that dragging feel, they glide effortlessly and I have been wearing Cupid with the Floss lipgloss above as a duo for the last few days.

The fourth product from my box comes from Figs & Rouge, a brand I have come to know through beauty boxes and within this one we have the Wonder Love Charm Glow Elixir.

The Glow Elixir which has been newly launched is formulated using hydrating hyaluronic acid and Vitamins A, C and E which work alongside minerals, rose water and rose quartz, so it looks after your skin as well as giving you a lovely glow. To use, it is advised that you need 3-6 drops directly onto freshly cleansed skin. From the unedited swatch above, you can see there is a slight glow from those drops.

The final product within my box is a Glossybox angled lip brush. The brush which features a lightweight wooden handle and is decorated in the Glossybox Pink colour. 

The hairs on this brush are 100% synthetic and are angled to allow for a more precise application, while the smooth, yet firm, bristles provide control and an immaculate, expert finish.

I think this is another really good box from Glossybox and one which features products I am definitely using for myself.

As always you can subscribe to Glossybox right here and if you use the code BQUEEN20 you can get yourself 20% off that first box!  

Launching Later this month

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

Popsockets #PhoneBetter

I absolutely love buying new cases for my iPhone, though I am quite picky as to what I accessorise it with. When contacted by the team behind Popsockets, I was intrigued enough to accept a few products because I had never tried them before, I have seen them sold for as little as £1 and I loved the story behind the brand.

As mentioned, I have seen Popsockets sold on the high street for as little as £1 and I've never really quite got the point of them.  Little did I know then what I do know - they are not proper Popsockets, but instead an imitation of, designed to look like but are not as good as the original.

History of Popsockets

It all started in 2014 when the founder David Barnett – a philosophy professor in Boulder; Colorado – glued two huge, horrendously ugly buttons onto the back of his phone to solve the age-old problem of the tangled earbud cord. Sixty prototypes later, the PopSockets grip was born -an expandable, collapsible grip and stand for your phone that could still be used to tame the tangle. The business has grown from David’s garage to having offices in San Francisco, Singapore, Hong Kong and Finland. To date, they have sold over 160million PopSockets grips globally.

Choosing your Popsocket

I had no idea there was so much choice when it came to choosing a Popsocket, you can choose by colour, holidays such as Easter and Valentines Day, there is Disney, Harry Potter, swappable Popsockets and even Swarovski Crystals to name just a few.  From the options available, if nothing grabs your attention, you can also customise your own using your favourite photos and not just for your Popsocket either, you can also purchase a Popwallet, Popthirst and other accessories too.

As mentioned I was kindly gifted a selection of products from Popsocket and over the past few weeks I have been trying them out on my iPhone and whilst I have been spoilt for choice as to what to use:

A PopGrip - Probably the most recognisable of the products offered. The Popgrip is a phone grip, they make it easy to grip your phone when taking a photo, playing a game, typing away and for using as a stand. 

Whether you want marble, glitter, abstract or even cute animals, there is something everyone can choose from. I am currently using the Stoney Heart PopGrip which I absolutely love.  PopGrips are priced between £8.49 up to £54.99 for the Swarovski Crystal option.

Within the premium section, how could I not opt for the PopMirror which is perfect for using on the go, especially as a beauty blogger who might need to re-apply my makeup on the go!

Like the PopGrip, this mirrored version works in the exact same way in how it grips to your phone, the only difference is the top pops open to reveal a double mirror. PopMirrors are priced at £22.99 and 

If you are not sure about a PopGrip then there are other products available, including the PopWallet.

I have Python Chic from the PopWallet section and it is designed to give you a sleek and secure way to carry your cards on your phone. It can hold up to 3 credit cards or 6 business cards, depending on the thickness of the card. I used mine when travelling around London not wanting to carry my wallet with me and it worked really well and held my oscar card really securely.

The final item I was kindly gifted is the PopThirst and the one product that confused me the most when I saw it.

The PopThirst incorporates an integrated (and swappable!) PopGrip for the ultimate grasp and it is ideal for putting onto your beer can, can of pop or any other can you need to hold on to. What it does is add sturdiness to that can, meaning you can carry it much easier. It also assists in ensuring your drink stays cold and because it is collapsible, it doesn't take up too much room if you wanted to carry it with you.  The Popthirst retails for £16.99 and is available in 16 designs.

I have had a lot of fun discovering the PopSockets range and knowing I can customise my own designs means I can have hours of fun accessorising my phone. 

Have you ever used a PopSocket product?

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

OPI Mexico City Collection

Over the past few years, OPI has had some incredible collections of nail polishes, one of the last being the Hello Kitty collection which I was lucky enough to review. The newest launch from OPI is the Mexico City collection and if bright colours are your thing, then you will absolutely love these shades.

Featuring 12-shades, this collection officially launched around February 1, 2020, and the collection draws inspiration from the city’s vibrant art and fashion scenes, jet-set appeal with trendy locales and award-winning cuisine, and exploration of individual self-expression.

Experience the eclectic Colours of the world’s most thriving art scene- Ciudad de Mexico (CDMX)- for Spring 2020 with the Mexico City Collection by OPI.

When I think of Mexico, I do think bright greens and reds as well as some of the most amazing food and of course Churros, which yes came from Spain and Portugal originally, but some of the best I have tasted have been in Mexican restaurants, where I am a huge fan of dishes such as Enfrijoladas and Fish Tacos and it is all of those bright colours from the food I expected to see within this collection and to an extent, it is exactly what you get, but with one or two surprises.

The first group of shades really sit well together and all have a hint of orange too them:

From left to right we have Coral-ing Your Spirit Animal, Mural Mural On The Wall, iViva Opi! and My Chihuahua Doesn't Bite Anymore.  What I love about this group is that Mural Mural On The Wall works with all the shades:

Coral-ing Your Spirit Animal: A light tone orange.

Mural Mural On The Wall: A dusty orange/brown with hints of gold & red glitter.
iViva Opi!: A hot orange/red. 
My Chihuahua Doesn't Bite Anymore: A warm orange.

The next group of shades I was really happy to see included but there is one shade from the collection of 12 which I feel is missing.

From left to right here we have Suzi's Slinging Mezcal, Don't Tell A Sol, Verde Nice To Meet You and Mi Casa Es Blue Casa.  I absolutely love the deep blue shade and currently have it on my toes, perfect for Spring and Summer.

Suzi's Slinging Mezcal: A sparkling gold. 
Don't Tell A SOL: A bright tone yellow. 
Verde Nice To Meet You: An pastel green teal. 
Mi Casa Es Blue Casa: A deep warm sea blue. 

The final collection of shades are the ones which I wasn't expecting to find within the Mexico City Collection, for me, it is missing a whole lot of green nail colours, which admittedly is not something everyone would wear, but something similar to OPI Envy the Adventure from the Nutcracker Collection would be perfect.

From left to right is Mariachi Makes My Day, Mexico City Move-Mint, Hue Is The Artist and Telenovela Me About It.  Whilst this section confuses me slightly with its connection to Mexico City, what I do love is each of the shades, especially the light baby blue shade which again is perfect for Spring and Summer.  

Mariachi Makes My Day: A elegant tone of purple. 

Mexico City Move-Mint: A light tone baby blue.

Hue Is The Artist?: A pale tone pink. 

Telenovela Me About It: A warm fuchsia pink. 

As with most OPI swatches, the advice is to add at least two coats of polish and I think this is the first collection I have tried that works really well with one coat, but two just gives that deeper hint of colour.

As with most collections from OPI, with Mexico City to have the choice of the Infinite Shine Collection at £15.90 per bottle of polish or the Nail Lacquer, which I have reviewed for £13.90 per bottle and you can see the whole collection with OPI.

This collection is available to purchase right now and you can buy the shades singularly or as a set from OPI directly.  I would love to know if any of these shades jumps out at you?

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