Hi Everyone

Hope you all had a lovely weekend.

I received my latest Feelunique’s Pick ‘N’ Mix  selection early last week  As advised previously you can choose five ‘free’ samples from a selection of samples available while stocks last (one selection of samples per month) – you are charged £3.95 for shipping and handling fees although you can redeem this against any future order  (excluding Pick ‘n’ Mix) via a £3.95 gift voucher you receive in your follow-up email.

This is a great service and one of the reasons I love it so much is you are not ‘tied’ into a subscription i.e. you do not need to make a selection each month,  only when you see items you like, want to try.

I chose the following items:

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream (5ml tube) – I already love this product and if you have never used it before it is not really a cream more a thick gel type consistency.  This is the perfect multi-tasking product, can be used as a lip balm, tame your eyebrows, ends of hair, cuticles, irritated skin, the list goes on…  This is the perfect size for my bag to be used as and when needed.  Would definitely recommend trying;

Clarins SOS Primer in Universal Light (5ml tube) – this is one of the newer Clarins products, never tried before, it has a creamy glimmer consistency (see photo below tried to show the glimmer), has a light fragrance and leaves a lovely sheen to the skin.  I have used it a few times and although do like the finish not sure about the colour correcting element but would need to use for a longer period of time to confirm results – at this stage do not think would go on and purchase but prolonged use may change my opinion;

Figs and Rouge Hydra-Activ Smart Nutrient Day Cream (20g tube) – as this was a generous sample size, thought good way to try. I had not heard of this cream and although tried products from this range before none had impressed me enough to go on and purchase yet.  However this cream has already surpassed my expectations, a light creamy/almost mousse type consistency that absorbs into skin giving a matt type finish, also seems to help foundation to look more radiant.  The only one area I have had a problem with is around my nose area, as when I use this cream my foundation on this area is not as smooth, pores are more visible so I have started to just use this cream on all the other areas of my face and my normal moisturiser around the nose area. Although I may not go on and purchase because of this reason I definitely would recommend trying if you have an oilier skin or have no ‘open pores’ issues as think you will enjoy using;

Elizabeth Arden Standing Ovation Black Mascara (2.5ml) – Not tried this yet as so many mascaras to use before I do.  However impressed with the sample size, may last as long as a full size mascara because as we know we should only really be using each mascara for approx 3 / 4 months once opened.  Sounds good as states will add volume, help with curl and intensity but as we all know we need to try to see how good it actually is;

Nude by Nature Translucent Loose Finishing Powder  (v generous 2g jar) –  this is a really generous sample size.  I adore the Nude by Nature packaging and have enjoyed all their products I have tried to date.  This a fine mill finishing powder and does feel and look good on the skin once applied, does not feel heavy or settle into fines lines and does seem to help makeup last longer.  Initial impressions good but need to use for a longer period of time to confirm results.

Delighted with my selection this month, a good selection of generous sample size products again this month to enable me to decide whether I like them enough to go on and purchase.  I will definitely continue to use the Pick ‘N’ Mix as and when I see samples I want to try or already love. Remember the more generous sample sizes / make up samples  go quickly but as long as you regularly look through the sample choice you should always see something you want to try.  

As always I highly recommend trying this ‘service’ for yourself as a great way to try products for ‘free’ prior to purchasing especially if you make a future purchase through Feelunique to enable you to redeem your £3.95 gift voucher (the charge for shipping & handling fees) (if new to Feelunique you can use my code here to get £10 off your first order with a £30 minimum spend). 

Look forward to any comments you may have – would love to hear if you have used the Pick ‘N’ Mix service already, what you thought of it?

If not already a follower would love you to follow my blog too – would mean a lot.  Will have more posts up during and / or end of the week.

Thank you – take care and hope you have a great week.

Best Wishes Liz x

Hi Everyone

Although there are so many great beauty box offers available online at the moment I wanted to let you know about the latest Limited Edition Latest in Beauty Collection  beauty box which is now available to purchase while stocks last – The latest Harper’s Bazaar Beauty Box, Spring/Summer 2018 beauty edit that costs £50 but is worth £224 and is a one off purchase, so no subscription required (although you do get a £5 discount code to use off this box if you are).   I  love the selection of brands, high quality items they have included again this time.

Harper’s Bazaar Beauty Box 

The following 11 items are included in the box:

• Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant – 75g FULL SIZE;
• Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Day Cream – 15ml Travel Size;
• Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder – 4g FULL SIZE;  RRP £22
• MAC Prep + Prime Fix + – 100ml FULL SIZE;  RRP£19
• Aveda Damage Remedy Daily Hair Repair – 100ml FULL SIZE;  RRP £24
• Benefit Cosmetics They’re Real Black Mascara – 8.5g FULL SIZE;
• Caudalie Vinoperfect Brightening Essence – 50ml Travel Size;
• Fresh Vitamin Nectar Vibrancy-Boosting Face Mask – 15ml Travel Size;
• Alpha H Liquid Gold – 50ml Travel Size;
• Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser – 30ml Travel Size; and
• Shavata Complimentary Brow-Shape Gift Card.

A great box, love the selection  of items and v happy to see so many products I already like included.  I was especially delighted to see FULL SIZEs of the Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder, MAC Prep + Prime Fix+  and the Aveda Damage Remedy Daily Hair Repair included as RRP for all 3 would be £65 so saving money already and getting so many other products included as well – excellent value.  

I definitely would recommend checking out this box and the other options available while stocks last. The other boxes are good value as well and all the boxes would be perfect as beautiful pampering treats for yourself or as gifts as well.  As I have said before could also separate contents of box into a number of smaller gifts as well.

Currently if you are a subscriber and use the code HB5OFF you will get £5 off this box, as a subscriber you also get FREE SHIPPING on all collection boxes –  if not a subscriber and you use the code HBFD you will  get FREE SHIPPING on this box.

Latest in Beauty also have a monthly beauty subscription ‘Build Your Own Box’ which you can sign up to as well and is worth checking out – you can see my earlier post here for more details.   There are a mixture of full size and travel size beauty products you can select from.  As you would expect some products, especially full size items, sell out pretty quickly, however selection of products is updated / refreshed on a regular basis.

Hope you found this helpful and would love to hear your thoughts if you have, or are thinking of purchasing this or any other of the current ‘collection’ boxes.

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

Thank you – take care.

Best Wishes Liz x

Credit: Photo insert Latestinbeauty.com

Hi Everyone

A while back when we were advised that the Love Me Beauty (LMB) Subscription service was changing I was slightly disappointed as loved popping in and out of this monthly beauty subscription service especially when I seen a particular range of brands / products I wanted to try as it was reasonably priced at £10.00 (+ £3.95 p&p) a month (I always bought these myself).

‘New’ Membership

Firstly you need to sign up – 1 month membership is £5 but states minimum contract is 3 months.  Then after you become a LMB member you will gain access to LMB factory prices, I think you can purchase as many or as little beauty products (Phase Zero) at reduced prices, which will be added to your £5 – LMB advised this will save us 77%.  This service sounds similar to the Beauty Pie service which I will also be posting a review on shortly.  You can buy the ‘Phase Zero’ products without a membership but works out a lot more expensive this way especially if you are purchasing a number of items.

Initially I wasn’t really sure about this new service so when I was approached early last month by Love Me Beauty to see if I would like to receive some of the new Phase Zero products for *review consideration I was delighted and thought what a great way to see from the start what Phase Zero products are really like.  However although my package was sent quickly by LMB it went the scenic route and did not arrive with me until the beginning of last week.

I received the following five lip products (members price £3.50 each RRP £12); two liquid lipsticks, two lip glosses and one lip topper in a heavier see through / silver resealable packet and all arrived in an outer cardboard box as well.

When I opened the package first impressions were good as outer packaging of the lip products felt good, do like the silver colour way though does scratch v easily. Now onto the products themselves,  feel  and look quite high quality, have a see through hard plastic bottom with cream screw top, with the Phase Zero makeup embossed in black on the front.  They all have a sponge tip applicator and a vanilla / caramel smell, although for me not too overpowering.

I received the following (swatches of all at the bottom):

Liquid Lipstick in ‘Gingerbread’:

This is my favourite – a lovely dark dusty pink ‘neutral’ colour, applies really easily and does not feel drying at all but this could be due in part to it not drying completely on the lips.  There is transfer initially but when product dries a bit more, transfer reduces.  I have tried it without a lip balm and over a lip balm and feels comfortable both ways but I just prefer using a lip balm prior to any lip products, always leave a few minutes before I apply lip pencils, lipstick, lip gloss, liquid lipsticks etc.   It is quite long-lasting but I found to ensure full colour need to reapply after drinking / eating, but I find this the case with most lip products anyway.   High praise I know, but I am liking this particular one as much as my Charlotte Tilbury liquid lipsticks.  Recommend trying this one if you can as I would definitely go on and purchase.

Liquid Lipstick in ‘Chai Latte’:

This is a caramel / coffee colour as the name suggests and is again a nice neutral shade and applies the same as above but this is not a colour for me personally, just too brown toned.  I find it does not work well for my light skin tone but still a good quality liquid lipstick.  Least favourite but this is just down to the shade.

Lip Gloss in ‘Postbox Red’:

This is a gorgeous red shade, more pigmented than a lot of red lip glosses and also feels comfortable on the lips, only v slightly sticky initially.  It is definitely better to apply a lip liner with this gloss and apply a few coats to avoid any streaks.  Definitely will keep using this as think it is also lovely over a red lipstick as gives it that little bit extra which I love.  I have also used on top the Gingerbread liquid lipstick and love the finish, pink / orangey red shade.   2nd Favourite and would purchase as well.

Lip Gloss in ‘Dark Burgundy’:

As with the red lip gloss this dark burgundy shade with a slight shimmer applied really easily, found it slightly more sticky initially, it does apply a bit more streaky but just need to apply a few coats to address this.  Will also continue to use but just not one I would reach for too much but this is down to the shade not the quality.

Lip-Topper in ‘Holo-lip’

This is a shimmer lip product to apply over any lip product it does apply really easily and does stand out, I personally think the best way to apply is to the middle of the lips. Perfect for that party night, would not go on to purchase but this is just because I would not use that much.

Swatches

From left to right: Gingerbread, Postbox Red, Dark Burgundy, Chai Latte and Lip-Topper

Over the moon that I received these products to try, really impressed with quality, surpassed my expectations.  Have checked online and see there are other colours available which I am thinking about purchasing.  I was unsure about this ‘new’ LMB service as when you add the price of the products onto the cost of the monthly membership could work out a lot more than you thought but if the quality of the other products are as good as these lip products It would definitely be worth it.

Also love what is available now to pre-order; selection of eye shadows  starting from only £2.90 for members, one of my favourite makeup items – there also is a palette available to purchase to put them in which is great.   I would recommend checking out this new LMB service especially if you love makeup items as much as me.  Look forward to seeing what they have in store for us in future months.   Having  a minimum subscription of 3 months may put some people off but as it is only £5 a month it is not too bad and definitely works out better than purchasing items at non-member prices.  In addition currently when you sign up and use the code PZONEOFF at checkout you should get your first month free.

You can find out more about the new LMB subscription service here but noted some of the terms and conditions may not have been revised fully yet, still refers to the ‘old’ service.

Look forward to any comments you may have – love to know what you think about the LMB changes or if you have signed up to this new service already?

If you are not already a follower would love you to follow my blog too – would mean a lot.  Will have more posts up tomorrow and / or during the week.

Thank you – enjoy the remainder of the weekend and take care.

Best Wishes Liz x

* Received for review.

Hi Everyone

A quick post to let you know that The Cherish.Love.Indulge Beauty Box  is now available to purchase for £28, (worth over £95), at Aveda.co.uk and the associated brands online sites (check which online site suits you best i.e. type of samples available with orders, products you may want to try etc.) while stocks last – this limited edition Beauty Box, contains a number of beauty essentials for Spring.

The Beauty Box  contains the following products:

 

• Aveda Hand Relief Moisturizing Creme, 40ml ;
• Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm, 15ml;
• Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II, 7ml;
• Estée Lauder Revitalizing Supreme+ Global Anti-Aging Eye Balm, 3ml;
• MAC False Lashes Extreme, Black, 8g  – FULL SIZE – love this mascara;
• Bobbi Brown Lip Color Sandwash Pink, 2.25g;
• Darphin Stimulskin Plus Divine Cream, 5ml; and
• Glamglow Youthmud® Tinglexfoliate Treatment, 15g.

Please see link here for full details.

If there are products you need, wanted to try, or have gifts you need to get – good time to get them if you can.    From past experience similar beauty boxes do not last long.

Thank you and take care – will have more posts up later in the week.

Best Wishes Liz x

Insert photo – Credit Aveda.co.uk.