Beauty Box: My Little Energy Box

If you've read my last post you'll know that I, like many people, am trying to have a bit of a health kick this January. So far I'm doing ok. Lost a few pounds and been exercising more regularly. I am having a pizza tonight though - but balance is important right? Have you made a change this year? How's it going?

Anyway, the lovely people over at My Little Box are obviously having a health overhaul too because their first 2015 box seems perfect for anyone looking to have a little life refresh. I was really pleased to receive a full-size tube of Talik day cream worth a whopping £43.50. The photo-hyrda moisturiser is meant to "use energy from natural light to delve deep into the skin and moisturise it." I'm not really quite sure what that means but its non-greasy formula and illuminating effect were pretty great. I also got a Nails Inc nail varnish which I was pleased with because I love the brand. I was intrigued by My Little Box's own brand energising face mist too. It is meant to contain all sort of goodies for the skin and revive the appearance of a dull, tired complexion. While I'm not sure it'll fully makeover my face, it does smell pretty amazing and facial sprays are great for giving foundation a more dewy, natural look. I'm going to try and get in the habit of giving myself a quick spritz before heading out in the morning.

I was so excited to get a gym bag in my box too. Although I haven't really pictured it all that well, it's really cool. I like the pattern on it and it's a good size to bung my towel and swimming costume into, when I head out at home or for beach holidays. And the calendar was a great little extra because I forgot to buy one and kind of resented paying lots of money for a pretty one. I really like the My Little Box illustrations so the calendar will do me just fine.

I know I probably say it every month, but I really think that My Little Box is the most thoughtful, innovative subscription box currently on the market. It always has a great mix of high quality cosmetics, and the lifestyle extra, although sometimes not exactly my taste, is consistently well-designed and good quality. It's definitely my favourite box and the most exciting to delve into. I'm excited for next month already. Anyway, I'm off to order my pizza and gaze guiltily at my new gym bag. Oh, it is a Saturday, hey?

Are you a My Little Box Subscriber? Were you pleased this month?

Beauty Box: Birchbox January 2015

I accidentally took a bit of a blogging hiatus over the holidays. I took a trip to New York (expect to hear about it soon), and what with all the festive cheer, and some other (less cheerful) things that happened, the entire month just escaped. I hope you didn't miss me too much.

Birchbox decided to kick-off the new year with a collaboration box featuring Women's Health magazine. I suppose January is a great opportunity to start new habits, and get rid of some old ones too. I definitely want to change a few things this year. I am determined to be a bit healthier - to eat cleaner and take more exercise. It's so easy to forget to keep healthy. And the idea of it often doesn't quite fit with our hectic modern life schedules. But I am going to claim back some time to do something good for myself, I think. If I can find time to watch Netflix, I can find time to exercise. GO!

Birchbox have been very helpful in supporting my aspirations this month. I received a tube of activbod cooling lotion to soothe any sore bits from too many squats (worst pain ever, and if squats was a person, I would punch them). And I got a sachet of Embrace Matcha green tea which I immediately drank. It was really good. Apparently it has more antioxidants than regular green tea, so I would definitely consider repurchasing. And because of course, I want to look good on the outside, as well as feel good on the inside, Birchbox sorted me out with a few new beauty bits to try too. I've been researching new shampoos and conditioners to try on my often troublesome hair so it'll be interesting to see if Philip Kingsley's conditioner is up to the job, it contains wheat-protein which is meant to be great for injecting a bit of body into limp locks. And I also got a REN face mask, and a tube of HealGel, to deal with any skin complaints. I'm particularly excited about the face mask because I've always really liked REN and this product seems great for having a little instant face makeover, a faceover, if you will. Finally, Birchbox treated all their subscribers to a stila lip glaze. The colour of mine seems a bit insipid for my tastes but I'm sure I can find a home for it if it doesn't grow on me. And we also all got a pilates exercise band which will hopefully be a useful incorporation to my new lifestyle. I'm going to get on YouTube and find a few exercises I could try with it.

Although this box didn't particularly wow me, it does contain some useful products. And it'll certainly help me refresh myself after a long year - ready for the challenges of a new one. Let's make it a good one.

What did you think of this month's box? Have you started something new this January?

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 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?

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?

Beauty Box: My Little Box x DVF

I am always just a little bit late when it comes to trends. And I like to think that I was fashionably late again in discovering the amazing new monthly beauty box, My Little Box. I'd seen some incredible reviews popping up on the internet and finally decided it was about time I got a slice of the action.

The October box is a collaboration with fashion designer, and all-round lover of pattern and colour, Diane von Furstenberg. Birchbox did a collaboration with Lulu Guinness a while ago and I'd found it disappointing. I didn't really feel as though much of Lulu was in the box (other than a boring striped stick of rock). I think that My Little Box did a much better job. The design is thoughtful, interesting and inspiring. It has quite a fashion edge and is full of pattern, texture and colour. I love my DVF scarf, it'll definitely feature on the handles of my bags this winter, which I'll use to carry my little tube of L'Occitane hand cream - perfect for on the go dry skin related emergencies (I don't know if those actually happen all that often, but it felt fun to type).

My box also included a cute little DVF badge, a Kerastase hairspray (great for holding together any complicated hairstyles I attempt this party season) and a bottle of micellar water by My Little Box's own beauty brand, My Little Beauty. I've never tried a micellar water based product before but I know there has been some hype around them so it'll be interesting to see how this one works.

I'm really pleased with my first My Little Box experience. The contents were obviously chosen with some love and the attention to detail has really paid off. It's definitely the most stylish box I've ever received.

Have you tried My Little Box? What do you think of their collaboration with Diane von Furstenberg?

Beauty Box: MEMEBOX X Coffee with Dani

I’m late to the party. Again. But I have finally caught the MEMEBOX bug. The beauty box company is the leading Korean beauty retailer and it provides innovative and exciting boxes with products sourced directly from Korea. I am officially hooked.

I chose a collaboration box by Coffee Break with Dani because I always enjoy testing out products chosen by beauty bloggers with more experience and knowledge than me. Apparently Dani was one of the first bloggers to start reviewing MEMEBOX.

I have always wanted to go to East Asia. And visting South Korea’s capital, Seoul, is high up on my bucket list - especially now that I know how interesting the K-Beauty scene is. I think the area really appeals to me because the culture and lifestyle is just so different. It would be refreshing to visit somewhere that is really quite untouched by Western culture. A close friend of mine is currently living in Hong Kong and I am desperate to get over there for a visit before she heads home. 

Anyhoo.

Although a beauty box is a rather small, insignificant thing, I think it shows, on a fairly shallow level, just how different other parts of the world are. The Korean take on design and ingredients would definitely be considered unusual around here. I think it's great. I absolutely loved the small bottle of Hanskin Bio Origin Royal Ampoule BB Cream complete with a small pipette to release the small drop of cream that is apparently all that's required. I’ve also been intending to buy a new eye cream for ages, having reached an age where I feel preventative aging measures are necessary, and the tube of Chamos Acaci Snail Anti-Wrinkle Eye Cream will last me ages – if I can get used to applying snail slime to my face.

I really couldn’t fault this box. It was an absolute pleasure to explore all the goodies I received. I can’t wait to try out the tiny nail masks by Kocosar and to give myself a thoroughly good scrub with the Golden Glove Exfoliating Gloves. I definitely think that beauty boxes this side of the world could learn a thing or two from MEMEBOX – I can’t remember ever getting EIGHT full-size products in a box before.

Have you tried MEMEBOX? What unusual items did you discover?

Beauty Box: Birchbox July 2014

The theme of July's box is Sun, Sea & Sand, which seems pretty apt considering the blazing sun outside today. Have to shout out to my shadow in the photos, hello. The box included some beachy themed postcards which would look amazing framed on the wall in a little holiday cottage or beach house. I really must find myself one of those.

I had a few expectations of this month's box based on the reviews I'd read prior to receiving my box in the post. I think mine's quite different from what I've seen online so far though. It was a nice to get a few surprises and I'm really happy with my goodies. I think there's a good mixture of stuff, although the products don't exactly scream beach holiday for me. The theme was perhaps too specific.

I started using eye cream about a year ago. The eye area is just so delicate and even if wrinkles aren't a worry, a good cream definitely helps with puffiness and circles. I'm not the best sleeper so I need all the help I can get. I've tried Balance Me shampoo and conditioner before and wasn't exactly blown away but I've heard good things about their eye cream. The sample is a really generous size too so it'll save me having to buy another cream for a month or two.

I'm not really much of a lipstick girl. I always feel like I'm playing dress-up when I put one on. I don't know if it's the shape of my lips, or a lack of confidence, or whatever. Purple lips are so hot this season though so I'm definitely going to give this Laqa & Co lip colour a go. I like that it's quite sheer, it makes the colour less scary. I can imagine teaming the shade with a colour-neutral outfit and subtle eyes. I prefer things to be a bit more minimal nowadays.

I always use a primer, with or without foundation on top. The Porefessional primer by Benefit is a pretty cult product that I've tried previously. It's a winner for me because it gives a little colour too, which makes it far more wearable in the summer, especially as it's oil-free. My only qualm is that it doesn't contain an SPF. In fact, nothing in this box does (which seems like an obvious inclusion to me). I'm in the process of booking a summer holiday so I think I'll save the primer for my suitcase.

I only have a week and a half left at work before we break up for the summer holidays. I've been feeling a bit stressed and miserable recently, and I think I've been neglecting myself a little bit. I definitely haven't felt totally like myself. I'd already decided that I was going to have a really quiet weekend, filled with books, films, cleansing and cleaning. I think I'll give my nails a treat too with my new Filosofille 4-sided nail buffer (which has given me the glossiest nails ever by the way) and my Models Own varnish. I might even slather on the Whish lavender body butter after a long bubble bath. Bliss.

Are you a subscriber? What did you think of this month's box?