Saturday 31 January 2015

Memebox Special #52: Wonderful Treasure Finds

After discovering Memebox over the summer I have become somewhat of a fanatic. I am yet to be disappointed with a box, which is saying a lot since there have been a fair few. My favourite boxes happen to be those which contain products completely unlike those on offer in the UK, The wackier the idea the more interest I have in it, as compared to Korean market beauty products here can be a little (dare I say) dull. I was delighted earlier this week when the DHL man delivered the Special #52 WTF: Wonderful Treasure Finds box, filled with a whole host of 'under-the-radar' beauty products I cant wait to try!
Skindeco Comedo AC Power Serum ($36/50g) - I really love receiving skincare and have really impressed after trying items from past boxes. This particular item is a serum is housed in a read glass bottle which promises a 'healthier more glowing complexion'. The card also states that this is enriched with a blend of ginger and garlic, although luckily for me this doesn't really have a scent to it and I look forward to trying once my current serum has run out.

Tonymoly Mr. Smile Patch ($2/10g) - This has to be the most interesting product in this box, and is a patch formulated to 'effectively smooth out and firm up the skin along your smile lines'. While I'd love to see my house mates faces if I walked around wearing this, I cant say I find my smile lines to be an issue.

Elinette BMS Cure Cream ($65/50ml) - Again, creams are something I really like finding in my boxes as they're something I always need. This one has a pretty high retail price so I'm interested to see how I get on with it.
Mumur Air Waterdrop Cooling Hand Cream Snow Blossom ($9/50g) - I had a chance to try this out earlier and was impressed! The idea behind this is hat the cream melts into your skin like a snowflake melting into you hands. While I thought the idea was a little mad this actually works and melts into the skin effortlessly! A winner from me which is going straight in my handbag!

Dearberry Play Choux ($13/30ml) - This is the only make up item in this box, meaning I cant wait to give it a whirl. Play Choux is a primer which promises to 'create a smooth, even canvas for foundation' all while adding a 'healthy light-from-within glow to skin'. While I I'm a huge fan of that glowly look I think this is a little too much for me so will be using this as a highlighter.

Bath Charm Store Dead Sea Salt Natural Soap ($6/100g) - I've never used a face soap before, so I'm interested to see what this is like as it promises to 'help brighten up dulled complexions and is perfect for treating troubled, sensitive skin'

Yadah Capsule Tok Soothing Gel ($11/100ml) - Being the biggest item in the box this gel was the first thing to catch my eye, I look forward to using this to cool down in the warmer months.

Saturday 24 January 2015

Balmi Cube Lip Balm in Raspberry

If there's one thing that's become a bit of a handbag essential as of late its this cube balm from Balmi. I spotted this half price in the Boots Christmas sale and have to give it ago. I own way too many lip balms, yet I'm a complete nightmare at keeping track of them meaning I find the design of this ingenious. Complete with a handy keyring meaning I almost always have it with me, this lip balm is designed to be mess free enabling you to apply directly to the lips.The balm itself is wonderful quality too and melts effortlessly onto the lips leaving them feeling soft and if thats not enough, It smells divine! 

These retail for £4.99 in Boots which I think is pretty reasonable considering unless I loose my keys I wont feel the need to buy another lip balm until this runs out! However I do happen to already own a back up after spotting these in the 70% off sales!

Sunday 18 January 2015

Soap & Glory: Orangeasm

After finally finishing my exams last week, I treated myself to this Soap and Glory Eau-La-La set for £8 just in the Boots sale. For the entire Orangeasm range containing a fragrance, body butter and shower gel, I thought this was a great deal and couldn't wait to put the set to work! 
Orangeasm Super Tonic Fragrance (£12.00/100ml) - I expected to love this. Housed in a thin glass bottle, I love  the look of this bottle on my dressing table and think it looks more expensive than it actually is. Having quite an expensive collection of Soap & Glory products I expected this to be really sweet smelling, however it's somewhat more 'sophisticated' than your average Soap & Glory Fragrance containing 'energising elemi, fresh green mandarin, cool mint, Sicilian lemon and sweet orange peel oils' and smells rather tangy in my opinion. While its not a scent I'd normally be attached to I do rather like it on, and one of my house mates even complimented it after I'd sprayed it. However the lasting power on this spray is terrible. I understand that in terms of fragrance this is on the more budget side of things, however a fragrance which fades after 5 minutes seems rather pointless to me and it really lets the product down.
Orangeasm Super Rich Body Butter (£10.00/300ml) - Luckily the Orangasm body butter saved the day, and is a firm favouirte of mine. Filled with the same tangy scent, the texture of this body butter reminds me a lot of S&G's famous The Righteous Butter, only slightly thicker and filled with Shea butter massage balls. The butter sinks into the skin effortlessly and fails to leave any form of greasy film meaning it is super convenient if I'm in a rush. This is an absolute joy to use, and to be frank the only product in the range I would consider picking up again. 
 Orangeasm Body Wash (£6.50/500ml) - This is by far my least favourite product from the range. Like all S&G showergels the quality of the shower gel itself is great, in that it lathers nicely and I only need a little at a time. However the smell of this one baffles me considering I have enjoyed the smell of the other two products. For me personally when I use this in the shower the orange peel smell is too overpowering, and the smell becomes almost hearbly which isn't my cup of tea.

Overall for me personally this range was a bit of a let down, While I enjoyed the scent of the fragrance and body butter, the smell didn't stick around long enough to justify a repurchase and the shower gel was far too hearbly for me. 

Tuesday 13 January 2015

Current Favourites

 It's been a good while since I last shared a 'monthly favourites' with you guys, although to be completely honest, these days I don't try enough products to justify posting one every four weeks! However after receiving a few goodies for Christmas and treating myself in the sales I couldn't wait to share my current loves with you guys!

Soap & Glory Whipped Clean Shower Butter (£8.00/250ml) - Containing 'weet almond oil, grapeseed oil, macadamia nut oil and cocoa & shea butters and fragranced with delectable pistachio, almond and sweet vanilla' This is one of my favourite scents which Soap & Glory have to offer. This shower butter reminds an awful lot me of the wonderful Smoothie star body milk and has a smell which resembles cakes! I'm unsure If I'd buy this again as £8 is a lot for what is essentially a shower gel, however was a lovely treat!

Simple Moisturising Facial Wash (£3.49/150ml) - When I was home for Christmas I sneakily managed to finish one of these off as I forgot my own face wash and enjoyed using it so much that I picked up another. I cant quite put my finger on why I loved this so much, however it does a fab job at cleansing my face and works a lot better than products three times the price. A great little budget buy in my opinion.

Origins Out of Trouble Face Mask (£23.00/100ml) - In the Christmas sales I managed to bag three Origins masks for £20. My favourite of which happens to be 'out of trouble' which is ideal for when your skin isn't at its clearest as this mask helps to calm my skin down. My last tube lasted me ages so I'm hoping this one does too as it  has become a complete must have over the past few weeks. 
Benefit Benebalm (£14.50) - I managed to pick this up along with lolibalm and two tints in the sales for £13! While I think this was a fab price for the duo, I don't think I'd have paid £14.50 for a single balm. I have however really enjoyed using them, especially Benebalm which offers more colour to the lips making it a firm favourite this month and something I hope to review very soon.

Sexy Mother Pucker Gloss Sticks (£8.00) - I don't actually have a specific shade favourite when it comes to these crayons as I own three and tend to grab whatever is closest.  I do however really enjoy wearing them and have been reaching for them a lot in the past few weeks. I wont give too much away now as these are something I really want to review of you guys, but I will say that these give a wonderful glossy pop of colour without any stickiness and are possibly my favourite crayon product on the high street.

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara (£19.00) - I absolute hated this product when I first tried it, however now its been open for a while and the formula has dried a bit I have truly come to love it. This gives one of the best 'false lash looks' on the market and I love the effect it has on my lashes.

Yankee Candles - The Christmas cookie sampler pictured above is to represent the love affair I'm currently having with Yankee as a brand. I'm currently making my way through a mountain of samplers and wax tarts, along with three large glass jars as I was a very lucky girl for Christmas. Lately I've been burning Christmas Cookie which was a lovely gift, although I'm looking forward to trying Candy Cane Lane, which I just picked up in the sales with 50% off!

What have you been loving recently?

Friday 2 January 2015

The best of 2014

Revlon Nearly Naked Foundation (£8.99/30ml) - If there's one foundation I find myself recommending time and time again its this one from Revlon. In fact I'd even go as far as saying that this is my all time favourite, despite my pure hatred for the packaging (It's far too messy for my liking!). I love that this provides me with the coverage I look for in a foundation without any caking. I also love that it's pale enough to match my skin tone, somewhat of a rarity on the highstreet.  (To see my full review click here) 

Soap & Glory's Solar Powder (£11.00) - As a pale girl I've never been one for bronzers, but after reading such amazing reviews on this I had to give it a go. I simply swirl my brush around in this and use as a contour shade for a more defined look. Although like my favourite foundation, I have an issue with this products packaging! While the cardboard was enough for a good while, a years worth of travelling has been far too much for this product and the lid is hanging on by the skin of its teeth! (To see my full review click here)

Topshop Cream Blush in 'Head Over Heels' (£7.00) - It's hard to believe that such a vivid looking blush looking blush plays such a key role in my everyday 'natural' look. I simply stipple a this into my cheeks with a real techniques brush, and find it blends seamlessly into my skin. Unlike my favourites so far, I love the packing of this one! (To see my full review click here)
Younique Mascara* (£23/$29) -   I expect a lot of mascara and find that most disappoint me, so this was a refreshing change. Application is pretty easy, you simply coat your lashes with the transplanting gel, apply the fibers while the formula is still wet, then seal the deal by using the gel again. Never before have my eyelashes looked quite so impressive! (You can see them for yourself by reading the full review here)

Essence Eyeliner (£2.50) *  - I've always struggled with eyeliner, although this pen from Essence has made application a complete joy. If that's not enough it lasts all day too, without any from of smudging. Making it one of my best budget finds this year! (To see my full review click here)

Collection work the colour palette (£3.99) - I own my fair share of palettes although this happens to be my favourite! I find it's so easy to be other whelmed when you're given so many shades to work with although this product makes it easy and even gives users a handy how to! Fab for beginners (To see my full review click here)
Rio Nail Shimmer and sparkle set (£19.99) - I created one of my favourite nail looks with this kit so had to give it a mention in this post! While it may seem a little expensive you do get a fair bit for your money! (You can read more about this and see the finished look here) 

Maybelline bleached neons in 'coral heat' (£3.99) - It's rare that I wear a polish over and over again so I had to mention this one which barely left my nails last summer. I just love the colour and got so many complements on my nails whenever I had this on! (You can see my full review here)

Tools (Prices vary) - I did a very detailed brush post during the summer which you can see here. There haven't been many changes to the line up since that post went live, however I have also been enjoying the Real Techinque's Nic's picks collection in recent months and feel that they are worthy of this post too!