I received my August My Little Box last Saturday  – it is a Parisian based monthly subscription box which costs £14.95 (inclusive of p&p) per month.    Each month My Little Box has a different theme and the box is always beautifully illustrated in line with that theme.  This month’s theme is ‘Friends’.

Each month My Little Box contains the usual high quality glossy booklet, which I love reading, additional product information cards, the My  Little Box cloth drawstring bag, red hearts with cream background this month, (which contains the three to four beauty / skincare products usually three – one of which is a My Little Box item), two accessory items and a beautiful card that can be framed.  Included in this months box are:  

• A Nail Kit in a Gorgeous Case – File, nail clippers, cuticle stick and patterned emery file come in this beautiful designed case, pattern of which is throughout box.   Case is embossed with  ‘My Little Box on the front and ‘#NAILSINPROGRESS’ on the back – secure clasp closure =£7.50; (absolutely love this case, not sure about quality of items within – however very pleased to see this included – absolutely love the pattern);
  

  

  
• Clip On Fisheye All Smartphones – £12  – comes in a the matching pattern gift box gift with a small drawstring bag  (this is only one of the reasons I love this box, such a great item to be included, one you would not think of but I have tried already and it works v well, able to get wide screen shots in v easily – however will still need a bit more practice);
  

  
• Batiste Stylist Hold Me Hairspray- 75ml –  £4.49 for 400ml  – (smells like hairspray as you would expect – I have tried few times and did give more hold to my hair but thankfully with no stickiness/ crunchiness  – not v excited about this product but will still use it);
  

  
• Kadalys Comforting  Face and Neck Cream – Yellow Banana and Mango– 40ml –  (never heard of this brand – it is a thick white cream that leaves a lovely sheen to the skin, slightly sticky when you first apply, need to only to use a small amount at a time and leave for a few minutes, initially impressed, only negative is the slight stickiness);
  

  
• My Little Beauty Summer Lips SPF 15 – full size – £12 – (a tinted lip balm that applies smoothly and gives a wash of dark pink red colour – feels nice on the lips and love the packaging – happy SPF included too); and
  

  
• Also included in this months box was a packet of Sweet & Salty Proper Corn – £1.

I am delighted with the contents of this months box, which I think are  excellent value for money,  I will use everything,  only item not really excited about is the hairspray but do not mind as all the other products, accessories, extra special details and the box design more than make up for it.   Even though I was more than happy with last month’s box, I prefer this months –  you can see what I got in last months box  here.  I still am hoping I will receive more makeup up items in future boxes as recently there has been a lot of skincare items included.   I would definitely recommend subscribing to this box as it gives you something slightly different / contains a variety of items and is a lovely surprise each month.

Thank you for looking – any queries / comments please let me know and if you would like a separate review on any of the above products just let me know.  Also if you received this months box would love to know what you thought, what were your favourite items this month?

If you are not already a follower would love you to follow my blog too – would mean a lot.

Best Wishes Liz x

I received my August Birchbox on Monday – it is a monthly subscription box which costs £12.95 (inclusive of p&p) per month and 3, 6 & 12 monthly subscriptions are also available.  Five personalised beauty treats are included each month and this month’s box theme is ‘Dive In’  and for this month only in line with the Scuba theme, Birchbox have included a Scuba Birchbag,  (each member will receive one of four colours – just the zip is a different colour)  instead of the usual drawstring bag and outer Birchbox – although love the normal drawstring bag was happy to see a zipped bag included for a change.

This month as well as the Birchbag every subscriber received a waterproof eyeliner in one of two shades, usual product  / beauty information booklet,  four additional products  based on profile and a little sample extra–  I received the following in my ‘Pink Pufferfish’ Birchbag:

• Marcelle Waterproof Eyeliner in Mulberry  (Deluxe sample size) – Full Size =  £10.50 – happy to see an eyeliner included as love eyeliners – you could have received it in either Expresso or Mulberry – although I love brown eyeliners too was v happy to receive the mulberry colour as perfect for my green/hazel eyes – it is a beautiful purple colour which in different lights has glipses of gold, pinks, not as noticeable when you apply on your eyes as when you swatch it e.g. on your arm.  Although  colour not very strong / opaque when you first apply, it is buildable and  easy to apply.  I have used by itself and at the outer corners of the eyes and like it both ways, I find it is long lasting, does not budge and definitely waterproof, more a smoky eye so if you wanted a stronger colour could apply black eyeliner first and this eyeliner on top- will definitely purchase in a different colour too;
  

  
• Parlor by Jeff Chastain Volumising Lifting Spray – 30ml (travel size) – Full size =£17 for 147ml  – This is a Birchbox exclusive  – have used a number of products from this range through Birchbox and have been impressed to date so expecting good things and looking forward to using it;
  

  
• Balance Me Radiance Face Mask –15ml (travel size) – full size= £18 for 75 ml – Balance Me seems to be a popular brand to be included in beauty boxes / special offers at the moment and therefore have received  and tried a number of their products, although I enjoy using their products cannot say I have noticed any major difference to my skin since using them- have used the mask once  and although skin felt clean / fresh, did not notice any visual difference to the skin but will keep using to see if results improve with usage;
  

  
• Anatomicals the buff stuff Citrus Body Scrub– 50ml (travel size) – Full Size 200ml and is £3.99 – Citrus fragrance but not overpowering – looking forward to using – perfect travel size for a short break; and
  

  
• Merci Handy Antibacterial Hand Cleansing Gel – 30ml – Full size £2.90 – ‘handy’ handbag size perfect for travelling although a v strong alcohol smell, similar to some other antibacterial hand gels,   left hands soft and fragrance died down when product sank into skin but I found fragrance slightly overpowering at the beginning but did feel like your hands were being cleansed but I will not be rushing out to purchase in the near future.
• There also was a sample sachet of the NUDE Omega Cleansing Jelly included in the Birchbag as an extra – small sample but was happy to receive as an extra as love majority of NUDE products too.

I love the addition of the zipped Scuba bag this month, very useful although the one I received was slightly stained and the interior does smell strongly of rubber as you would expect but it is great to store goodies in.  When I first opened the bag I was slightly disappointed,  as bag was not that full and the one full size item was small and only costs £2.90 however now I have had a chance to try most of the products although I am still not overly excited by this months products I am content enough, not as good as last month’s, you can see what I got / last month’s review  here,  but sometimes that is the way it goes with subscription boxes, a really good box one or two months  which builds up your expectations and then when you receive an ok box you are very disappointed.   I love the eyeliner this month, pleased with the lifting spray and body scrub and although may not be rushing out to purchase the mask and the hand gel will still use them.  Although not as good a value as other months, still an ok mix of makeup, skincare and haircare products which I am happy to receive although in future boxes as always I am hoping I will receive more makeup up items.

If you are interested,  you can sign up  through my referral link www.birchbox.co.uk/invite and you will receive £5 worth of Birchbox points and currently if you use the code SCUBA at checkout you will receive a FREE full-size Mirenesse Glossy Kiss (worth £17.50) when you join – while stocks last.  (However please remember this may be sent separately).

Thank you for looking – any queries / comments please let me know and if you would like a separate review on any of the above products just let me know.

Best Wishes Liz x

My August 2016 Lookfantastic beauty box  arrived last Saturday (it is a monthly subscription box which costs £15 per month (inc p&p) or from £11.25 for a 12 month subscription)and I was excited to see what was included as the theme of this month’s box was best of  / favourite British brands.

Included within this months box is the September 2016 edition of Elle (£4.10), the product  / beauty information booklet and the following six products (photos below):

• Percy & Reed Wonder Hair Balm – 30ml (travel size) –  £18.00 for 75ml
• Renu Skin Lip & Eye Active Lift – 7ml (travel size) – £31.95 for 15ml
• Bee Good Vanilla & Honey Lip Balm – 10 ml (full size) – £4.75;
• Balance Me Congested Skin Serum – 7ml – (full size) = £10;
• Bloom and Blossom Rejuvenating Facial Spritz – 40ml– (travel size) – £15 for 100ml
•  and
• Ren Flash Defence Anti Pollution Mist – 9ml (travel size) – £24 for 60ml

Thank you for looking – love your comments on what you thought of this month’s box and which beauty boxes you love reading reviews on?.

Best Wishes Liz x