Beauty Box: My Little Cosy Box

Bleurgh. I'm feeling a little bit delicate today. I was out and about with some university friends last night and ended up having to get the night bus home because I missed the last train. If you want to see London at its finest/most bizarre, take a night bus. Amazing.

There probably couldn't be a more apt box than My Little Box's cosy edition for how I'm feeling right now. Like Birchbox, the French export decided to go for a snuggly, autumnal-esque theme this month and I actually think they pull it off better. I am always incredibly surprised by the amount of love and attention to detail that is given to every My Little Box beauty box. And this month is no different. I immediately fell in love with the dinky little mug, which has now joined my shelf of pretty crockery. Yes, I have a shelf of pretty crockery. And the microwavable pillow is perfect for keeping cold feet warm in bed. I tried out the Yves Rocher eye shadow last night and managed to create quite a good smoky eye. The shape of the applicator really helps the process. It can be used either like an eyeliner for a thinner line, or to cover the whole lid. I'll keep the Star Liner black kolh eyeliner for when my current one runs out but it passed the try-it-out-on-my-hand test and seemed pretty soft and smudgeable. I just bought a new mascara so I don't currently need one but I'll probably stockpile the My Little Beauty mascara too. I've read in a few places that it's not the best, but I'll try and save judgement until I give it a whirl. It does make a satisfying pop sound when you pull the brush out of the tube. I'm pretty sure that is not the mark of a good mascara but hey, I like it.

My Little Box just seem to always get it right. I love the mix of lifestyle products and full-size beauty bits and everything just looks so pretty. I think we can all look forward to something special for their Christmas box - I reckon it'll be a good-un.

Are you in need of a cosy weekend? Which beauty box brand is your favourite?

Beauty Box: MEMEBOX SUPERBOX #69 Banila Co.

Phew. If you've seen my slightly pathetic attempt at blogging during the week, you might have gathered I was stuck in an essay blur. I had had to be very stern with myself and say that I wouldn't write a blog until I had finished said essay. Of course, I just started looking at poems about procrastination and time instead - perhaps the definition of procrastination? Anyway, my latest MEMEBOX was like a little ray of sunshine that arrived on my doorstep during a long week, and now that I've finished my essay (albeit a bit of editing) I think it's time that I shared its contents. Yay!

Banila Co. is apparently a bit of a big deal in China and South Korea. I hadn't actually heard of it but when I saw that MEMEBOX was releasing a box dedicated to the cosmetics brand, I decided it was time I had an introduction. It was pretty exciting to get a box filled with goodies for my face. It practically had an entire routine covered. The make-up removal balm and peeling clay face scrub are both really interesting. Don't you just love the name Claypatra? Amazing. The balm is described as having a sherbet like texture. Not sure about that. But it made my skin feel really soft.

And I also got some make-up goodies. The gel eyeliner arrived at a great time as I'd just lost mine. I'm pretty sure I have a make-up eating monster, as well as a sock eating monster, living under my bed. I also got a primer, which I'm not so keen on because it has quite a greasy texture, and a bright red lipstick which I'll probably add to my stash or re-home. I might have mentioned before that I only wear lipstick very rarely. I just haven't managed to find the one for some reason. My favourite product is the tint balm. It's a bit magic. It is very transparent in colour in the pot but when you add it to your lips it gives a really natural pink blush. What is this witch craft? It'll be a great addition to my handbag to give my everyday look a bit more polish and colour. I have to actually leave the house tomorrow and submit my essay so maybe I'll take it for a spin. Wish me luck.

What do you think of my latest MEMEBOX? What's your favourite handbag product?

Thought: Procrastination

We push time from us, and we wish him back;
Lavish of lustrums, and yet fond of life;
Life we think long, and short; death seek, and shun;
Body and soul, like peevish man and wife, United jar, and yet are loth to part.
Oh the dark days of vanity!
while here, How tasteless! and how terrible, when gone!
Gone! they ne’er go; when past, they haunt us still;

An excerpt from Edward Young's Thoughts on Time

I'm having one of those days. What are your top tips to avoid procrastination?

Beauty Box: MEMEBOX Global #16

If you regularly read my blog you'll already know that I'm a big fan of Korean beauty box brand MEMEBOX. I have yet to receive a disappointing box, and they are always packed to the brim with exciting, full size products. MEMEBOX's latest Global box is no exception. Advertised as providing all your beauty essentials, I certainly found a few new things to incorporate in to my beauty routine. The box contained 6 full size products with a joint value of over $100. Not bad considering I bought it for $23.

I had quite a long day out in London last weekend. I went with friends to a food market at Southbank and then on to fireworks in Hackney. It ended up being a lot of fun but a lot of travelling around and time spent on my feet. I certainly could have done with my new Elizavecca leg cream which apparently shrinks and soothes swollen calves after a long and stressful day. Regardless of what the cream's like, I'm smitten just because of the cute pig on the packaging. I think I'm becoming immune to the surprise of discovering snail mucus in products too. The Mizon gel recovery cream contains 74% snail mucus and I actually put it on my face. It smells pretty good and is meant to provide non-irritating blemish and wrinkle care. This is right up my street because being in my twenties I guess a small part of me somewhere is thinking about wrinkles, yet I still have to deal with teenage style breakouts. A confusing time indeed.

My favourite product was the RiRe skincare system. It included a blackhead brush cleanser and a pore refining cream to use afterwards. It is designed specifically for the nose area, which is a problem area for most people, but I imagine it could be used to target other areas too. I tried it on my nose and my skin felt really cleansed and soft afterwards. I also really liked the Hair + nutri-injection which is designed to be left in hair after washing and conditioning. I did give it a little try. I washed my hair as normal and then put the cream through the ends before drying and styling. My hair was a bit heavier and limper than usual but I just wore it in a ponytail. When I next washed my hair I was delighted by how soft and shiny it was. Really great little find.

I went to see Lykke Li at Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith last night which was ruddy amazing, and I think I'm off out again today and tomorrow - despite my best intentions to have a quiet week. I am rubbish at lying in so feeling a little tired today. I could definitely do with a spritz of my new Unni Recipe vitamin re-charger mist to liven up my face for the day. Or a power nap.

What have you been up to this week? What do you think of my latest MEMEBOX?

Crafts: Pottery #1

I'm a bit of a crafty soul at heart and I get really jealous and gloomy when I don't make time for some sort of creative outlet. I just think that making stuff with your hands is incredibly relaxing. And it gives your head a break too. I knew I was going to be busy at university this year but I really wanted to find something extracurricular I could do on the side. I've always been fascinated with pottery and ceramics and when I was searching for potential evening classes I luckily found a pretty cheap and convenient pottery class.

This is my first creation. It is nameless. It is multi-coloured. It is multi-textured. And I can't quite decide whether it reminds me most of a fish, a piece of coral, or an acorn. But I am feeling pretty proud of myself. If I have to be neat and detailed I really am a bit awful, but with pottery you can be heavy handed and messy and it becomes a style all of its own. Perfect.

I really can't wait to get stuck in and make more stuff. I guess the ultimate dream would be to be able to sell my wares but I think that's a long time off. In the meantime I'll keep sharing my creations with you all - they might even get a dedicated blog before too long!

Do you have any hobbies? What's your favourite craft?

Beauty Box: Birchbox November 2014

I recently realised that I actually completely forgot to blog about my October Birchbox. Naughty. That probably gives you some idea of how impressed I was with it.

Luckily Birchbox is back on form this month with its Cosy at Home box. November is definitely a month for snuggling. After the excitement of Halloween and Fireworks Night it seems only right to get under a blanket, warm drink of choice in hand, and watch the dark nights roll in. It makes me feel all warm and content just thinking about it.

I can't quite figure out why this box is particularly cosy but it's a good'un all the same. I was really pleased with the Dr Jart + face serum which is meant to give the skin a moisture boost and encourage a youthful complexion. I guess if I'm getting lots of early nights I'll have lots of skin pampering time. I really do try not to focus on the cost of items in my beauty boxes but I can't believe that this alone is worth a whopping £32. Thanks Birchbox. I was also happy with the OPI nail varnish in Turn on the Haute Light. Another full size product. The shade really reminds me of snowflakes and will look great at Christmas parties. I also got a Beauty Protector leave-in conditioner which promises to detangle too. I think this is something I'll keep hold of for holidays and weekends away as it's a pretty convenient size. I don't really get tangly hair very often so it will be perfect for using when I venture into swimming pools - something that only really happens when I'm off exploring somewhere! I wasn't as impressed with the Lord & Berry bronzer or the English Laundry perfume because the samples were tiny. I really do hate getting perfume samples in beauty boxes, they just take up valuable room. I can't deny the dinky vial smells good though. The award for random inclusion goes to the Drinkwel vitamin capsules which are meant to help relieve unwanted hangovers. These will definitely come in handy and, if they work, I'll tell all my friends so we spend less time crying on sofas with a biscuit tin but in a box all about staying in, they're a bit of a strange choice.

I'm not really going out much at all this week because I have lots of work to be getting on with and a bit of a cold I'd rather cultivate in bed so hopefully I'll have some spare time to test out my goodies. I can't believe it's December soon. I can't ruddy wait for the Christmas boxes!

Did you get a Birchbox this month? Will you be staying cosy at home?