Birchbox Away We Go - August Edition

I am in receipt of my very first Birchbox and it is the August edition, aptly titled Away We Go. Full of samples to take with you on a weekend away.  So when the little box was handed to me by my blog reading postie, I was really excited.

The box, which is slightly smaller than the Glossybox boxes contains five sample products, all of which are available in full size from the Birchbox shop.  This I quite like the idea of because you often get sample products, love them and haven;t got a clue where to get them from, now with Birchbox, you do!

The first item my eyes were drawn too was the chapter sampler, an amazing idea if ever there was one for us book lovers.  How many of, you like, own a Kindle and before buying a book which you are not too sure about, download a sample of it first? Well this is the same concept for me and having already read that sample chapter, I have ordered the book because I was gripped!  

The Proposal by Tasmina Perry features chapter one of the spellbinding and romantic novel, which spans 1950s London and present day NYC. Just 27 pages this long, this sampler did leave me wanting to know what happened next.

Next comes this very cute travel toiletry bag which is very summary looking in bright yellow and pastel blue shades and inside it has the following products:

Liaison De Parfum - Inside this envelope which boldly states "I dare you" which happens to be the name of the perfume, it is said to capture the romantic essences of life and travel. , With notes of vetiver, sandalwood, leather and amber. A 100ml of this has an RRP £105 which at that price is out of my price range, but is a scent I actually quite like.

Number 4 - Super comb Prep & Protect. This is a leave in conditioning spray to detangle and protect against heat and sun damage.  To use you simply spritz over damp hair and comb through before drying and styling. This is a sulfate-free formula sinks in quickly and has a pretty floral scent thanks to white freesia, amber, and musk.  A 200ml bottle has an rrp of £20

Supergoop - A Daily Correct SPF35 CC Cream.  A natural shade-adjusting CC cream with SPF to smooth fine line and even out skintone. This CC cream uses 100% natural ingredients and antioxidants to triple protect against UVA, UVB and infrared-A rays. Light-diffusing mica minerals soften the appearance of pores and wrinkles for a fresh, flawless complexion. I have two 3ml tubes in shade light-medium and it is just a little it too dark for my skintone, but mixed with my MAC foundation, it works perfectly well.

Wild About Beauty - Creme Eyeshadow. A paraben-free eyeshadow from Louise Redknapp and Kim Jacobs make-up range, which is said to give a long-lasting satin finish.  I have shade 03 Buster which is a dark bronze shade.  This is a full sized product with an RRP £13

Nude Progenius Omega Treatment Oil - Nude's signature treatment oil is a work of pure genius. Rich in omega 3, 6, 7 & 9, this pure and active treatment oil delivers a precisely balanced diet of vital skin nutrients.

The addictive oil redefines how we treat the skin, lighting skin from within. Created with 10 precious oils, the beautiful formula absorbs instantly, for deep and long lasting skin cell nourishment. Skin is instantly luminous and younger looking.   

Overall I am really impressed with my first box from Birchbox and I love the toiletry bag plus the book sampler, such great ideas.  For monthly subscriptions, Birchbox is £12.95 per month, including Postage and Packaging.

Are you a subscriber to Birchbox? Are you a fan?

If you have read my blog recently, you will have read that Birchbox have partnered themselves with Breast Cancer Charity CoppaFeel! which you can read all about HERE.

GOSH Cosmetics AW14 range

I am a huge fan of GOSH Cosmetics and a few weeks ago I went along to the launch of the AW14 range. Held in the fantastic location of The Sanderson Hotel, we were treated to the most delightful little canapes, Lychee lemonade and a few glasses of bubbles not to mention make-overs and manicures.

The AW14 range is a really exciting one for me, particularly with the nail polish. I am one of those people who prefers the darker shades to the lighter ones and my manicure was done with Night Sky which at £3.99 is an absolute steal. As you can see from the photo's below, this colour is a black but within it are little speckles which shimmer in the light. Also within the range are 4 other shades called Stardust, Milky Way, Moonlight and Million stars.

Then there is the Defining brow gel, brows seem to be the 'in thing' right now and GOSH have brought out their defining gel which is Vegan friendly and available in three shades; Brown, Brown/Grey and Black. They are priced at £4.99 each.

More mascara, well you can never have too much. There are two new ones coming from GOSH and they are - the Crazy Volume Mascara (£6.99) which has a large brush, it is designed to give you that big lash look. The second one is the Double Precision Mascara (£7.99), this one has not one, but two wands and they work together to help define both your upper and lower lashes. Both mascaras are paraben and fragrance free.

Lipsticks - GOSH have added eight new shades to their range of velvet touch lipsticks; Adorable, Temptation, Divine, Scarlet, Diva, NightKiss, Twilight and Angel. These are full of pigment and last well, but also soften the lips thanks to the Vitamin E. Each lipstick is £6.49. Unfortunately there’s no swatch of NightKiss.

Cheek blushers - These I absolutely love and couldn't wait to try them. They come in three stunning shades which are called Shy, Passion and Pink Parfait. At a first glance, they do look similar to the chubby sticks from clinique. What I love about them is how easy they are to hold and how little you need to apply to your cheeks to get this fabulous colour not to mention the fact you can also use them on your lips, so it is like having two products in one!

The Palettes - The first item I spotted as I walked through the door was the amazing palettes. I have a bit of a thing for palettes at the minute and as soon as I had said hello to a few people I was swatching away. Available in three different options 001 To Enjoy with in New York, 002 To have fun with in LA and 003 To Play With In Vegas each palette has a multitude of options for everyone, whether you like your nudes, bright colours and I mean really bright or something which is halfway between the two, these palettes are simply stunning and a first from GOSH.

The final two items are the Mineral Powder and the brush to accompany it. Priced at £9.99 this powder is said to give really good coverage to leave a flawless complexion. The shades available are 02 Ivory, 04 Natural, 06 Honey and 08 Tan and I am between the 02 and 04 shade from the swatches I did on the back of my hand. Once on the skin they blend in really well and definitely something I will be looking to purchasing.

As ever the lovely PR girls and GOSH were exceptionally generous with the goody bag and mind included this:

What do you think to the GOSH AW14 range? 

Are there any products which take your fancy?

Emjoi Micro Pedi Mini + Giveaway

When asked if I would like to try the Emjoi Micro Pedi Mini foot file with roller, I jumped at the chance.  With a holiday looming and needing to make sure my feet are in the best possible condition they can be, I needed all the help I could get.  Yes I have a hatred of feet, especially other peoples and cannot stand them being touched, even if it is me. 

The Emjoi Micro Pedi first launched on QVC in the UK at QVC.  Described as being a portable, battery-operated device which features a unique micro-mineral crystal roller for use on tough skin including cracked heels, calluses and corns, also gently and effectively exfoliates and buffs away dry, hard and rough skin - stomach churning stuff but important all the same.

Inside the box is the Micro Pedi and a brush for cleaning. It features a protective cover and a safety switch. The device needs two AA batteries which do not come with it, but a soon as they are loaded in you are good to go. The first thing I noticed about this device was the rubberised handles on the side, making it easy to grip onto, it is quite small in size, possibly lighter and smaller than your iPhone, but it fits into the palm of my hand perfectly.

To use you are advised to ensure you feet have been properly washed and dried and then once you are ready simply switch the device on, it comes with the roller in place, and then using gentle back and forth, side to side motion over your feet, you will notice the dead and dry skin coming away. A bit of advice, have a towel underneath your feet! If you have harder skin on certain parts of your feet, you are advised not too press too hard otherwise the devise will switch itself off, instead just complete the actions mentioned above.

Now my feet are as looked after as every other part of my body.  I regularly exfoliate and moisturise but because I have been wearing my Fitflops for the last week, I have noticed slight patches of dry skin on the soles of my feet toward the heel, which no-one else but me would notice, but it is the perfect excuse to try this machine out.

The Micro Pedi states you will have smooth and soft feet in seconds because the "unique micro-mineral roller spins 360⁰ at 30 times a second, quickly, painlessly and safely removing microscopic layers of hard skin on the soles and heels, giving immediate results".  So batteries in and on button located, the roller starts to spin quite quickly and then as you apply it to your feet, there is a slight tickling sensation, but you then see bits of what is best described as dust falling onto your towel so you can see it working, rather than show you my feet, you can see what I am talking about in the photo below.

To use this device on both feet took just a couple of minutes, gone was the hard skin and in its place, soft smooth skin and it was both pain and hassle free.

I have a giveaway for you lovely readers and 

it is this fantastic prize:

Nails Inc Electronic Foot File Kit - Powered by MICRO Pedi

This kit contains everything you need for fabulous feet in seconds. The electronic foot file powers mineral rollers to gently buff away hard and rough skin leaving your feet amazingly smooth and soft. We have also included two of our favourite Nails Inc Polishes so you can give your nails some love and complete your pedicure. Fabulous feet has never been easier.

Contains:

- Nails Inc Electric Foot File and Mineral Roller (2 x AA Batteries are not included)

- Cleaning Brush

- Two Nails Inc Nail Polishes - Porchester Place and Brook Street

All you have to do is complete the Rafflecopter form below (UK only giveaway sorry) - Good Luck!

The Winner was no.16 which is Becky from Lilblogofbeauty

Birchbox Manithon for Coppafeel!

Breastcancer is an issue that is close to my heart.  My best friend from my early school days died from the disease when she was in her early 20's and three current friends have it.  Everyone it seems knows someone with the disease, has had the disease or is undergoing treatment from the disease.

CoppaFeel! aims to stamp out late detection and misdiagnosis of breast cancer by ensuring that people know that signs and symptoms of breast cancer, know what their boobs look and feel like normally, check their boobs regularly throughout their lifetime and have the confidence to seek medical referral when they detect abnormalities. Currently 5% of diagnosed cases are already at stage IV with breast cancer being the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in women under 30 in the UK (181 new cases diagnosed and 12 deaths annually). CoppaFeel! strives for a country where no one dies of breast cancer because of late detection or misdiagnosis. The charity receives no government funding and relies solely on voluntary donations.

On August 29th, Birchbox are hosting a Manithon which will take place here in London's between 10am and 7.30pm. Here you will see 20 manicure stations, set up by Birchbox in partnership with Models Own nail polish, take over London’s Soho Square as a team of manicurists file and polish all day long and you can book your slot by clicking HERE.  All that is asked is a donation of at least £5 is given and that donation will go to CoppaFeel!

This exciting beauty charity event is also being supported with the sale of a Limited Edition T Shirt, designed by renowned fashion ilustrator Sally Faye Cotterill. Modeled by celebrity ambassador Sarah Jane Crawford the T is available exclusively through the Birchbox website at www.birchbox.co.uk/shop from Friday 1st August, 2014 priced at £12.00, with 100% of proceeds from the sales of the T-shirt going to CoppaFeel!  Here is the t-shirt!

You can find out more about this event by using any of the information below:

Website: www.birchbox.co.uk
www.coppafeel.org
Twitter: @BirchboxUK  and @CoppaFeelPeople
Hashtag: #BirchboxManithon

**Update** Visitors to the Birchbox CoppaFeel! Manithon later this month will all received a FREE Birchbox tote bag, with a choice of three luxury beauty samples from a choice of 10 best-selling brands, along with an exclusive Birchbox scarf and subscription offer.

Hen Do’s and Don’ts: Advice for the Hen Do Organiser!

If you’ve been put in charge of organising a hen do – whether it’s for your best mate or a family member – it’s your responsibility to make it as memorable as possible. You’re not going to get tears of joy from something that has been put together in a matter of hours, so it’s up to you to plan the time that you have wisely to ensure that what the bride-to-be gets is nothing short of a hen do dream come true.

This doesn’t mean that you have to spend a fortune, because you don’t. Hen parties on a budget are just as unforgettable as those that aren’t; it’s all down to what you do with the time that you have! Here are some of the hen do’s and don’ts that you should consider during the planning process, so that you can ensure everything will run smoothly, without a hitch.

DO speak to the bride about her wishes and desires. Remember that it’s not your hen do, it’s hers, so make sure that what you plan reflects her personality. Is she the sort of person who would thrive in a pair of hen do head boppers and a bright pink sash? Or would she prefer to have a more sober evening, enjoying a nice meal with friends?

DON’T listen to her completely, though. Even if she says she doesn’t want any fuss, chances are she’d like a little bit of fuss, she just doesn’t want to say that. Bear in mind her desires and, if she’s completely anti something, then obviously don’t include it. That being said, hen do’s are all about the FUN, aren’t they?

DO give guests a dress code. This is particularly important if you’re hoping to incorporate a theme into the evening. Let all of the guests know (including the bride), in advance, what the dress code is so that they can plan their outfit. Is it fancy dress? Or can the guests shop for occasion dresses from George at ASDA to be as girly and feminine as possible? 

DO consider who will be coming to the hen do. If she wants her mum and her gran to be there, perhaps a stripper or a naked butler wouldn’t be the best way to go. That is, of course, unless they aren’t prude in the slightest and would grab the opportunity with both hands…

DON’T stretch the budget if you can help it. The bride will want her guests to be able to attend, and if that means cutting the budget because everyone will be able to come if it’s that little bit cheaper, then do it. Book things in advance and ask guests for their contributions as and when you need it. That way, you won’t be out of pocket and nobody will have to worry about funding things on the day.

DO remember the personal touches. The little additions to the hen party, or weekend, that will let the bride know just how much you care will make her hen do special. Perhaps you could ask the guests to write a little note to her, in a guest book, that she can look back on in years to come?

Give yourself plenty of time to organise everything and be sure not to wing it – the more planning and organisation you do, the smoother the hen do will run!

*Guestpost

OSCO Clear Acrylic Organiser

I was recently sent the OSCO Desktop Organiser** which is a set of clear acrylic three drawer organiser from Viking Direct. Described as:

"This transparent range from Osco gives a clean and clear appearance to any desk, and allows you to see exactly where everything is. Made of clear acrylic so it'll last a good while too"

I decided to use them as a make-up organiser on my bedside cabinet as I had been looking for something that would fit without taking up the whole space I had free.

As you can see it is very clear see through which means it is perfect for seeing what it is you have inside them and the drawers are much roomier than I thought they would and filling them because an afternoon of fun trying out new and exciting things to put on show.

As you can see, within each drawer there is plenty of space and since taking these photos there has been a few more products added.  

The first drawer contains my favourite lipsticks and within there is everything from MAC, Dior, Moxie and Cargo not forgetting my brand new YSL lipstick and the fact I have them in their original boxes goes some way to show how big and deep these drawers are. The second drawer is lip balms I am currently really liking, my go to Dr Jart BB Cream, Maybelline Baby Skin Primer, my Dr Lipp nipple balm, my tweezers and my beloved Balance Me Radiance Facial Oil.  The final drawer contains some mascaras I am yet to try, a few lip crayons, a few Benefit trial sized products a friend sent to me, a Sleek Blush in Rose Gold and a Collection eyeshadow pencil - in total almost 30 items in these three drawers which saves a lot of space.

As you can see, I have saved lots of space and my bedside table doesn't look over cluttered and there is still room for lots more products!

Do you have any make-up storage?  Do you have any drawers like this set?

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Introducing ChattyFeet!

Today I am going to share with you a product which even now is making me cackle and its name is Chattyfeet!

ChattyFeet are socks which have the sole intention of making you smile and cheer you up with funny character on your toes. Who and what are ChattyFeet?

"When we were kids we thought being a grown up would be non-stop computer games, seeing our friends, going into space, eating waffles and getting to pick all the songs on long car journeys. Then when we actually arrived in grownupland we found out it actually involves paying rent and having a job and fixing the dishwasher and making PowerPoint presentations. Boo to that!

So we decided to stage a secret rebellion against boringness, starting from the ground up (literally) with our funny ChattyFeet socks.

Produced in Portugal, each sock puts one of our quirky characters at your toes. That means you can express yourself through ChattyFeet socks the second you kick off your shoes as well as enjoying all the other bonuses of socks like warmth and being able to slide across the floor like Tom Cruise in Risky Business..."

So when asked if I would like to try some, I immediately went over to the website to choose a pair and was met with this:

There are three different options to choose from - Men, Woman or Children and within each section are the choices of socks from which you can choose and this is what made me cackle, the socks have names. Allow me to introduce you to Brad Feet, Don Cottone the Sockfather.




I chose Yoko Mono which you can see below. These socks are made using 75% cotton, 23% Polyamide, 2% Lycra and they are not only comfortable on the feet but they are also washing machine friendly.







Costing £7 per pair they are quite expensive but do make a good gift for people because they are quite quirky and usual. They come in a variety of sizes, all of which you can find on the website under each sock option.

What do you think to my socks? Do you like the character names?