Happy 5th Birthday Birchbox

Birchbox was the first beauty box company to launch in the UK, so it earns it status as being very special. Since then there seems to have been an explosion of other beauty boxes flooding the market, but with Birchbox celebrating their 5th birthday, it has clearly got something right.

For their birthday box, Birchbox have gone back to their roots in the USA with each product coming all the way from the good old USA and it is a great box!

My first item comes from New York and it is from Bliss. A 30ml tube of Foot Patrol is one of those all in one products. It exfoliates, cools and conditions your feet giving them a bit of TLC. Now after the Summer, my feet do need some TLC as I've pretty much lived in my Fitflops. Alpha hydroxy and salicylic acids slough skin while cooling peppermint stimulates tired toes and it does, as a cream, smell absolutely delightful and is instantly refreshing when applied. A top tip is to apply to your feet before going to bed, pop on your moisturising socks and wake up the following morning with incredibly smooth feeling skin.

Next there is a 30ml sample of Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant which hails all the way from Seattle. I am not familiar with the brand, so I am looking forward to giving it try. To use you apply once daily to clean skin using a cotton wool pad, you don't rinse off or remove but instead apply your moisturiser over the top. This product utilises Salicylic Acid to exfoliate, remove impurities, soften and brighten the complexion plus it is also said to reduce redness and build collagen.

Next I have a 30ml sample of John Masters Organics Citrus Neroli Detangler which hails all the way from New York. This conditioner uses Coconut Oil and Wheat amino acids to help detangle, repair and nourish the hair shaft, with neroli and grapefruit soothe those troublesome scalps. When using it, you can either rinse it out after 1-3 minutes or you can also use it as a leave in treatment.

Next up from San Francisco and Benefits POREfessional range which every subscriber will get to sample. ThePOREfessional Licence to Blot (which I reviewed here). For me this is a lifesaver of product. It works as an oil blotting stick which is designed to instantly mattify the skin, giving those of us with a slightly shiny t-zone a long-lasting shine-free complexion. This sample size if perfect for make up bags and for carrying in your handbag.

The fifth product is another that all subscribers will receive and it is Laqa & Co Cheeky Lip Pencil which comes all the way from Brooklyn.  My Lip Pencil came in the shade Humble Brag which is described as being a pretty blush pink shade and it is a multitasking item which can be used on the lips and cheeks. It is easy to apply and is really pigmented, much more so than I was expecting it to be. 

The final item is the Birchbrush. A product which you could say is the Birchbox alternative to the Tangle Teezer. Designed to sit comfortably in my hand, this bright orange brush is brilliant, I already love it and it does a great job of easing knots out of my hair without tugging and causing breakage and it also works really well if you have a hair mask on to brush it through and massage into the scalp, so again another fabulous multitasking tool to have.

I think this is a brilliant box.  It has a nice mixture of products which are all a really good size, perfect for a long weekend away, to pop into your handbag or to sample at home.

What do you think to the Birchbox Birthday Box?

My Three Favourite Benefit Blushers!

Benefit Blushers are amongst my favourite make up products and I find myself using them constantly and then always re-purchasing when I hit pan to the point where there literally nothing left. Of all the products available, there are three which have become staples within my stash.

Rockateur, Marjorette and Dandelion are all products that I disliked to begin with.  All bought on a whim because they looked and sounded great at a Benefit Counter, but getting them home, I decided I didn't like them.  Oddly, I bought them all at different times and now have since repurchased each one.

Dandelion is often described as being a pink perk me up powder and it is indeed quite pink. That said, it is also really subtle when used and is perfect for my pale skinned tones.  If you want a bit more of a colour then you can build it up really easily.  

The reason I disliked it to start with is because I just didn't think it suited my skin at all, at the time of purchasing I did, to be fair, have a bit of a tan, so it was barely visible.  Now, tan faded and I am fully embracing my milk bottle shade, it actually is really rather pretty.

Marjorette is one of the newer products from Benefit and again, I loved when it at the Benefit Counter when I had a make-over with it. Got it home and instantly disliked it and almost gave it to a good friend of mine before having a change of heart and deciding to give it a second chance.  Marjorette differs from other Benefit blushes as this is in a pot rather than a box an I think I prefer it this way because the boxes become a bit bashed about in my make up bag and quite tatty looking, whereas this one looks near perfect.

Marjorette is a cream blush which has a coral-peach shade to it. It applies much easier than I ever anticipated it would do and has quite a creamy consistency which ensures it blends well and you can have it as light or a bold as you wish. For me, I like the barely there look with this and I think the shade does suit me much more than I gave it credit for. One of the best things about this blush, and it wasn't something I noticed until after reading someone elses review, is the smell! Yes, Marjorette has a scent which to me is quite peachy, not overpoweringly peachy, but once you have noticed it, you know it is there.

The final blush of my trio is Rockateur and possibly my favourite of the three here, not too surprisingly considering it is the UK's no.1 selling blush! Made up of two Rose Gold shimmers and the word Rock clearly emblazoned, this blush is just stunning.

Benefit describe their Rockateur offering as a "rockin' rose gold" and for me that is a good enough description. It is quite a cool toned rose gold and again being really pale, I find it works really well on my skin, even if I do happen to get a bit of colour to my cheeks. Easy to use and easy to apply, you can of course choose to have a much bolder shade by building it up, I personally prefer one or two sweeps across my cheekbones and from there I am happy with the shade and slight shimmer.

All three of these blushers are totally different shades yet I really enjoy using them all, obviously not together!  

The swatch above shows each blush - Marjorette, Rockateur and then Dandelion in turn, as you can see against my pale skin, they work really well and don't leave me looking washed out.

Each are priced at £23.50 and for that, I find they are not only great value for money, but they last for ages and ages, well apart from Rockateur because I use it all the time and this is my second or third one since it was launched.

Do you have a favourite blusher?

This post has also appeared on JustJulie

Brand New Products from Vichy

Vichy is quite a phenomenal brand with products cleverly created for every skin issue you can think of. Last week I was really lucky to be invited along to see some new products in action, have a play with some existing products and ask as many questions as I could possibly think of to the experts, which was simply brilliant.

Most of you will have heard of (and love) the Idealia range. Well those clever people at Vichy have now created Skin Sleep which has been described as being a recovery night gel-balm. Following on from a lot of research, Skin Sleep is the first night product clinically proven to stimulate all the skins deep sleep mechanisms, to ensure that no matter how many hours sleep you have, the skins nightly functions will remain at their optimum. 

Skin Sleep is a Gel like balm which feels quite an odd to the touch at first, but you get used to it. It smells divine and the tub within which it sits has a really funky design making it quite easy to grab hold of. Once applied to cleansed skin, it is quite cooling and almost instantly absorbs itself.  Since using it, I have found that my skin loves this product, it leaves my skin feeling moisturised and hydrated.

Dermablend Fluid Corrective Foundation is now available in three new shades, giving a total of 8. Shade 05 Porcelain, 65 Coffee and 85 Espresso have been added to the range to try and give more colour options. I was matched with Shade 05 which is the lightest shade and it has an impressive SPF35 and is said to last on the skin for around 16 hours. 

The Dermablend Corrective Fluid Foundation offers a range of camouflage coverage product for irregular skin tone, redness, minor acne scars, enlarged pores, dark circles and pigmentation disorders.  Having been matched to the new shade 05, I was really looking forward to giving it a try.

I am told you can use this with fingers or a brush, but as someone who likes my brushes, i've been using my foundation brush to apply and I think it is fabulous. It is lightweight on the skin, it covers redness and conceals dark circles really well and it blends magnificently with little or no effort required. If, like me, you like to look as though there is a minimal amount of coverage on your face, this Dermablend Corrective Fluid might well be something to look into.

Have you tried any Vichy products?

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Pixi by Petra - New Beauty

Everyone will have heard of Pixi who are quite famous for their Glow Tonic, a cult product for many and one which is on my wish list as I still haven't tried it. Until a few weeks ago, I had no idea how wide and varied the entire skincare range was and what's more, their Autumn launch, which I am sharing with you today is pretty fantastic.

The two skincare products that I have are the H20 Skindrink (£24.00) and Beauty Sleep Cream (£24.00). The H20 Skindrink I loved from the moment I tried it. Containing Aloe Vera, Green Tea, Rosemary and Glycerin it claims to refresh, cool, stimulate, rejuvenate and help trap moisture into your skin. 

When you use it, the first thing I noticed was how wet it was, odd to say but it is the best way I can think to describe the texture. On a hot summers day, it is an absolute delight to apply especially if it has been stored in the fridge a few hours before you use it and my skin absolutely loves it.

The Beauty Sleep Cream is a soothing and nourishing night treatment, with uses 100% natural mango butter, plus oils of lavender, lemon & bergamot to protect, nourish, and hydrate skin while you sleep.  

This cream is really light-weight on the skin and it sinks in so quickly you don't even know it is there and it is a product I definitely love and want to try, as suggested, with Overnight Glow Serum which also sounds delightful.

The final skincare product I have is the 24K Eye Elixir (£22.00) which is an anti-fatigue peptide serum that massages away puffiness as it smoothes and refreshes the eye area. The formula contains actual gold, to stimulate circulation, peptides to plump fine lines, and raspberry to tone the skin. The metal rollerball gives a fantastic cooling feeling on application, which really does refresh instantly.

As well as skincare, also in the box was three makeup products and this is another first for me because ive never tried the makeup range, which again is quite extensive and looks amazing.

First up we have the Lengthy Fibre Mascara (£16.00) which is filled with really tiny fibres to help thicken and bulk up your lashes.  I really like the wand, it is lightweight to hold and really easy to work between your lashes. It doesn't clump and it doesn't produce spider lashes, I think this is going to be one of those mascaras that I absolutely love and always need to have.

Staying with the eye, we have the Endless Silky Eye Pen (£12.00). The pencil is waterproof, smudge proof and incredibly long-wearing. There are around 14 different shades and they all have a super smooth and silky formula which glides on beautifully. 

Impressively they are all paraben-free, mineral oil-free, preservative-free and hypoallergenic. Slate Grey is a brand new shade to the already large collection, and I love it! If you’re not a fan of black eyeliners, this colour is a fantastic alternative.

Finally within this little bundle of joy is the Endless Matte Lipstick in shade Rose Naturelle (£14.00). I absolutely love this lipstick and have worn it everyday since it came into my being. This shade is described as being a ‘vintage lip tone rose’. The Endless Matte Lipsticks offer a demi-matte finish and they also contain peptides, hyaluronic acid, and vitamins C & E help to create fuller, smoother looking lips. 

I find this really moisturising and hydrating on my lips and it is long lasting. Once applied I get good 4-5 hours wear out of it and for me it is shade perfect. This iwill definitely be a repurchase time and time again, plus there are a few other shades I am looking forward to trying.

Alongside these delights, Pixi also have a lot of other new products that have just been launched such as a Colour Correcting Powder Foundation, Makeup Melting Cleansing Cloths, a Glow Mud Mask and more. You can check them all out here.

Have you ever tried a Pixi product?

Inika Cosmetics - Gift with Purchase During September

Inika Cosmetics is an organic make-up brand which has won over 35 cosmetic awards and is a certified organic, vegan, halal, and cruelty-free brand.
This September, Inika is offering a complimentary Puff Pot Mineral Blusher with any Mineral Powder Foundation purchase.

It will come as no surprise that Inika use only the highest quality, natural and safe ingredients which are free of petrochemicals, synthetic substances, mineral oils, parabens, ingredients of animal origin and talc to name just a few from an impressive list which you can find here. INIKA uses the finest Australian botanicals and pure minerals to produce makeup that cares for your skin as well as performing brilliantly. INIKA ingredients feed the skin in a soothing manner, whilst being beneficial.

The Mineral Foundation Powder with SPF15 is available in 8 different shades and it works as a foundation, concealer and powder, all in one. INIKA foundations can be built up to offer amazing coverage which is especially great for those of us wanting to hide skin conditions such as acne, scarring, rosacea or pigmentation. As it contains no cheap fillers or harsh chemicals INIKA foundations won’t clog your pores or irritate your skin, making it perfect for anyone with sensitive skin.

I like this foundation powder quite a lot.  It is light on the skin but covers my imperfections, it is multi-use so I can if desired just carry this one powder around with me and it is buildable, so if you prefer a much heavier coverage than I do, then it will work really well.  The pot is also lightweight and you can, if desired, use your own make-up puff pad and store it within the lid.

The Mineral Blusher Puff Pot is available in two shades, Rosy Glow and Pink Punch and is designed to give you a warm, luscious healthy glow. As with the Mineral Foundation there are no nasty fillers, no parabens and no talc. 

This blusher pot comes with its very own puff pad to make the application easy and perfect for on the go, to use all you need to do is turn the pot upside down, tap on the bottom and the blusher appears in the puff pad, how clever!. Not only that, but the lid also houses a super handy mirror and it is really easy to apply and the colour is much more pigmented than I ever thought it would be, so you only need a small amount at any one time.

Inika products are widely available in stores such as Wholefoods, Lloyds Pharmacies, Planet Organic and online.  Together these products have a value of £46.50 so if you are wanting to try something new, cruelty free and get yourself a bargain, look out for this offer throughout the whole of September.

Have you tried Inika Cosmetics before?

Chin Up Mask - The Non Surgical Face Lift!

If there was one thing I could change about my skin it would be the chin.  Mine is horrible, small, fat with the beginning of a double chin.  So eager to get rid of it, I jumped when the opportunity arose to check out a brand new Indiegogo campaign called Chin-Up, a product which launches later this month over on their website chinupmask.com.

Chin-Up claims to be the equivalent of a non-surgical facelift and utilises the latest scientific developments in pressure technology whilst the specially formulated fruit-extract filled face masks are absorbed; lifting up and firming the shape of your face, promoting facial blood circulation, burning up extra fat on the face to remodel a more refined face with effects which last for a few days. The mask uses 4 main ingredients to achieve its results:

• Vitamin E - Protects skin cells from free radicals and protects product formulation or carrier oil from lipid peroxidation. Acts as an antioxidant. Possesses moisturising and protective properties. Offers improved elasticity and smoothness.
• Corum 9235 - Gives a warming sensation when applied to the skin. Stimulates the absorption of serum and promotes the losing of chin-fat
• Q10 Coenzyme - Stimulates cell strengthening and promotes the regeneration of skin. Q10 has strong anti-oxidant effects, giving immediate relief to dry and dehydrated skin. It also has anti-ageing and anti-wrinkle properties.
• Skintronics - Facilitates the fat release and aids in the contouring process. The Skintronics serum converts fat into stabilized fibrous tissue and eases the edema under the cheeks, jaw and chin. It helps boost the density of collagen and cell tension, instantly lifting and firming up to 20%.

The Kit has everything in that you will need to use.  Two Chin Masks, a Slimming Band and a Tape Measure to record your results.  

To use it is quite simply.  Apply the Chin Up mask to your face and neck, it is like a sheet mask but just for your chin and under-chin area and then apply the slimming band and leave for around 30-40 minutes, after which time you should see effects of up to 2cm of fat loss.  Now the slimming band isn't going to be the next fashion accessory and it does nothing for your vanity at all, but it is easy to wear with velcro fastening so you can adjust it for comfort.  Once the sheet mask is applied and the slimming band is on, you feel as though your chin is up by your nose and it is quite hard to talk, eat or drink.  So you really need to use it when you have nothing much else to do and especially not when you have friends coming round.  During those 30 minutes, I felt a slight warmness to my chin, nothing that was too uncomfortable, but it did get warm, so there is something to think about should you use one of these, the feeling was similar to that of a Clay Mask when you use those.

Once those alloted 30 minutes are up, I removed the band and this is my result.

So, yes, it did work. Thankfully! I lost just under 2cm off of my double chin in just half an hour.  The loss for me was right under my chin and at the side, not so much so it is massively noticeable and I wasn't expecting to remove the mask and find a brand new chin, but I am pleased with what I have seen as a difference.

Was it worth it? For a one off, yes and I would do it again, it would be great to use before a night out as an extra treatment, especially as it gave me a little more confidence and something less to worry about and I am definitely going to use the other mask in a few weeks times.  There has been no price set for when it is released, so it is a case of watching this space.

You can find more about Chin Up by visiting their website, mentioned at the beginning of this review, or via their social media channels such as facebook, twitter, instagram

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Do you think this is something you would want to try?