Beauty Box || May Birchbox 2016

Birchbox are definitely one of the better beauty box subscriptions out there as they routinely offer a good variety of products within each monthly box and they always have a theme for each month too! This month, Birchbox have been inspired by fantastic dreams so they've created a unique box design that you have to scratch away at the coating in order to reveal. And if you're ucky enough to have an extra special message on the top of the box then you've won a dream holiday which sadly I didn't win this time around ;) Let's delve into what Birchbox have delivered this month!

The first product that I spotted is the Spectrum Unicorn Tears Wonder Sponge (£4.99) which you had the option of choosing which colour you preferred - purple or pink. I personally wasn't fussed which colour I received as it really makes no difference. This is very much like the BeautyBlender in the sense that you have to dampen the sponge before using in order to create a flawless base. I still haven't got round to using any of my BeautyBlenders as I'm still obsessed with the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge but as soon as I throw out my current sponge, I'll definitely be trying the Spectrum one out.

Next up is one product that I was most excited about seeing which is the Ole Henriksen The Clean Truth Cleansing Cloths (£12) which are one of the most hyped up, expensive wipes I've come across! I personally don't use makeup wipes for removing makeup and instead use them for cleaning off foundation and the very occasional freshen up. I would personally never use these particular ones for removing makeup but instead I'll use them on days when I'm not at work just to freshen up my face.

I haven't really been wearing a full face of makeup for just over a month now so I'm wondering if the addition of the Eyeko Black Magic Mascara (£18) will make me start wearing it again. I remember that this was the mascara to use when I first started blogging as it helps to truly lift and curl your lashes whilst being completely smudge proof. I like how it's not like traditional mascaras and is instead in a squeezy tube!

The next addition in this months box is the Philip Kingsley PK Prep Polishing Balm (£18.50) that helps to tame frizzy hair and transform it so that it looks sleek and glossy whilst always delivering a shot of ProVitamin B5 and Vitamin A to nourish your hair deep down. I've never tried a polishing balm before so I've got high hopes for this as I do suffer with frizzy hair especially the day after I've washed my hair as it's so soft and frizzy!

Whenever I get a blemish, it feels like it takes forever to go away and when it does it leaves a red scar that also takes forever to disappear so I'm rather excited to see a sample of Puriskin Resurfacing Cream (£13.99) in this months box. This is one of those does it all wonder products that helps battle dry skin, blemishes, scarring, stretch marks etc and it helps to soothe and calm the area. I'm truly hoping that helps with a few blemish scars that I have which no amount of rosehip oil seems to be helping with!

The last addition to the box is a sample of the Givenchy Live Irresistible Fragrance (£44+) which smells really fruity and floral and is perfect for the summer months! As much as fragrance samples annoy me, I truly am grateful for them as they're handy to have in my bag for when I want to quickly spritz myself on a night out. 

Current Haircare Routine

If you were to ask me what my biggest concern was, I would most definitely reply by saying my hair. Don't get me wrong, my skin and weight are still concerns however those can be changed almost instantly by working out and using products specific to my concerns but with my hair, it's a working progress. I've dabbled around many colours going from brunette to bleach blonde to red and all the way back again. I've finally settled on a colour that I'm comfortable with which I cannot express my love for enough however it does require a lot of upkeep to keep it soft and manageable and not so dry so I've been reaching for a lot of products to do so.

After washing my hair and keeping it wrapped up in a hair turban for a couple of hours or so to dry as much as possible, I spritz the Salon Services Protein Spray quite liberally all over. This literally helps to nourish your hair either if it's wet or dry and add some much needed shine back into your hair. I then follow this up with the Bumble and Bumble Prep Primer which is filled with with vitamins that helps condition hair, smooth away any tangles and makes any additional styling products work better. I've been using this for well over a year and I can certainly vouch for it's last statement! Before brushing my hair, I then use the Ojon Revitalizing Mist which is essentially a beefed up version of the Bumble and Bumble product but just smells better and feels more conditioning in the hair. 

After brushing my hair with hair brush similar to the Tangle Teezer except with a handle, I use another conditioning product in the form of It's A 10 Miracle Leave-In Product which I tend to concentrate on my mid-lengths downwards. This helps with literally all hair concerns and as I use it quite generously, I seem to be going through it at an alarming rate! As my hair lacks in volume, I like to use an oil that helps creating volume so I've been trialling the Percy & Reed Smoothed, Sealed & Sensational Volumising No Oil Oil which I concentrate on mainly my roots to my mid-lengths. This specifically states to use a small amount of drops and working it way through your hair however I've been using a lot and I've noticed that the minute I work it through my hair, it instantly looks more volumised albeit short lived. As the ends of my hair are heavily bleached, I tend to apply an oil that is quite nourishing so at the moment I've been reaching for the Ojon Rare Blend Oil Total Hair Therapy that is one of those products that you need to shake up to combine the layers in order to use. If I'm honest, I really do not like this product as no matter how little I use, my hair feels greasy almost instantly after using yet I'm determined to use it up. If you have any tips of how to make this work then they'll be more appreciated!

As you can tell, I do use a lot of products in my hair but that is purely to keep my hair hydrated as it can feel dry rather easily due to the amount of bleach in my hair. I've been using these products for the best part of six months and they have been working wonders for my hair however once I have used up certain products, they won't be getting repurchased as I don't want my hair to get too used to a product for it to then stop working for me altogether.

What hair products do you reach for?

Original Source Wild Cherry & Nettle Shower Gel

I've found myself becoming a little bit of a hoarder recently which I'm sure is a common trend among beauty bloggers. I tend to buy a lot of the same product when it's on offer so that I don't run out of it for quite a while thus saving me some money in the long run especially when I'm currently saving up to move out. However, I've recently found myself feeling inundated with shower gels as it appears that I've bought too many at once so as well as giving them to friends and family, I thought I better start reviewing the ones that I like the most which is why you've probably clicked over onto my blog.

The Original Source Wild Cherry & Nettle Shower Gel (£2.30) is one of those scents that I instantly grativated towards as it contains cherries and I LOVE the scent of cherries as well as it being a limited edition product too! It's actually one of those "as chosen by you" products as Original Source got 358,682 Facebook fans from around the globe to help choose this mysterious and tempting scent and I must admit, it's a brilliant choice! Also these are forever on offer at a £1 and have so many different scents to choose from!

Just like the rest of the Original Source Family, this smells really fresh and fruity without being too overpowering. It comes out in a really vibrant colour which lathers up really well. Despite it's vibrant purple colour, it doesn't stain the skin or bath! Unlike some shower gels that can linger on the skin hours after using, this particular scent doesn't as it just seems to blend in with your natural scent that we all seem to have. Long term readers will know that my other half uses a lot of shower gels and after giving him a few bottles of this particular one, he turned round to me and said that he didn't like the scent of it at all which means that there's more of it for me to use!

What is your favourite Original Source Shower Gel?

Feel Unique Skincare Superstars

Considering the fact that this month is my birthday month and I haven't asked for anything in particular from my family, I've decided to do what I do best which is of course treat yo'self! As I have more than enough skincare for any normal person and a stash to rival even the likes of Caroline Hirons at times when I came across the Feel Unique Skincare Superstars Beauty Box, I instantly caved in and bought it! The box itself contains everything needed to give your skin some much needed TLC with some of the best complexion boosting products around and with a value of £87 at the bargain price of £30, you would be mad not to!

I'm a huge fan of La Roche Posay products and in particular the Effaclar Duo+ so with the box containing a decent sized sample of the Physiological Micellar Solution (£12) I was a very happy lady! It's essentially a micellar water to remove makeup and acts as your first cleanse however this particular one is suitable for even the most sensitive of complexions. The real test with this is if it can remove even waterproof makeup so if it does, I'm sold!

Next up is a full size Balance Me Radiance Face Oil (£30) which I've had on my list of products to try for the longest time! It's ideal for transforming dull, dehydrated skin into a radiant, dewy and glowing complexion which creating a perfectly even tone by calming areas prone to redness. I've been really getting back into my facial oils recently and have even started mixing them into my morning moisturiser to help make my skin appear more dewy so I'm excited to start giving this a go. This actually costs the same price as the box so everything else is just extra!

I've never tried the This Works In Transit Camera Close Up (£30) and I've heard nothing but good things about it so I'm really happy to see that it was included in the box. It acts as a mask, moisturiser and primer all in one so it's the perfect product to take away on holiday with especially when it's a long haul flight! I'm hoping that my skin loves this as much as everybody raves about as I could easily see myself buying this in full size!

Another addition to the box is the Vichy Aqualia Thermal Night Spa (£26.50) which as the name suggests is a night time moisturiser. It's enriched with hyaluronic acid, aquabioryl and Vichy Thermal Spa Water which provides intense hydration for the skin that looks visibly nourished and radiant come morning. I absolutely love using thick, rich creams at night as my skin feels naturally dehydrated no matter how many different serums/oils/creams I use so I'm hoping that this works a treat.

I appear to have acquired a few sample sized products from Ole Henriksen recently so I was excited to see the Truth Sugar Glow Polishing Mask (£38) included in the box. This contains sugar and pomegranate seeds to refine skin texture with honey to nourish, soften and sooth the skin with rose hips and pumpkin extracts to help naturally brighten and boost radiance. I love anything that helps add radiance back into my skin so I cannot wait to start using this!

Saving the best till last is a full size REN Wake Wonderful Night Time Facial (£32) which is an overnight transforming treatment that leaves skin visibly brighter, refined, more luminous and even toned come morning. I've tried quite a few of these kind of products and have always seen great results from them so I have high hopes for this and I'm hoping that this works wonders for my skin.

Beauty Box || April Birchbox + Rifle Paper Co

Following on from last months mishmash products, Birchbox this month have teamed up on their April Edition with Rifle Paper Co who are known for their prints. Subscribers had the option of choosing which print they would prefer so naturally I chose the pink floral print for this months box. Before I delve into the contents, I just wanted to point out that there was a big delay with my box so I only really received last week whereas I normally receive the first week that they post them out. Also, the contents are not the same contents that were on my profile back at the start of the month so I'm rather annoying that I didn't receive the Benefit Liquid Hoola Bronzer which I was going to get but regardless, let's delve into what I got this month.

As every box this month had a definite Benefit product into it, I was surprised to see a travel size BADgal Lash Mascara (£17.50) inside the box especially after all the drama. This has an oversized wand that helps to create sultry, voluminous lashes that literally coats every lash. I haven't used this before so I'm hoping it's as good as everyone says as I don't yet have a personal favourite Benefit mascara.

Next up is the So Susan Lip Dome in Melon (£10) that is the only full size in this months box. It is packed with hyaluronic acid and goji berry extracts to help nourish and protect your lips all whilst giving intense colour. This shade is definitely not for me so it will be getting passed onto a friend who will get more use from it.

I've never tried anything from Nuxe before so I was excited to see a teeny Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse (£17+) that is a multi-purpose oil that you can use all over your hair, body or skin to hydrate and nourish. It contains a unique blend of six essential oils including sweet almond, hazelnut and macadamia along with reparative plant oils and Vitamin E that makes it one of the most nourishing oils I've come across so far. 

I've really been getting into my hair products recently especially since I've got ombre hair that needs a lot of maintenance so the Parlor by Jeff Chastain Detangling Leave-In Conditioner (£17) is a welcome addition to my stash. I believe I gave my last one of these away to a family friend so I'm glad to have another sample of it that I can use. This contains a sweet blend of almond extract and vitamin B5 that helps deliver softer, shinier, sleeker hair all whilst doubling up as a heat protection spray.

Lastly in this months box is the Kueshi Foot Care Cream (£12) which I'm not all that fussed about. It is enriched with sweet almond oil and royal jelly to help soothe and soften dry feet whilst the added extra of tea tree oil helps to calm and relieve aching feet that sinks in almost instantly. I'm not particularly wowed by foot creams as they all seem to be the same but I'll give it a go regardless at some point.

What did you think of April's Birchbox 2016?

Provoke Touch Of Silver Brightening Shampoo

When I was younger, I loved having my hair done so I would often be seen rocking blonde highlights or blonde hair as I preferred how I looked with blonde hair. Nobody ever told me that I had to look after it and use particular products in order to maintain the colour. There were a few occasions where my blonde turned a brassy shade or even a faint shade of green from swimming too often. Fast forward a few years later and I like to think that I now know how to look after blonde hair in particular by making it brighter even weeks or months after getting it done.

I've been reaching for the Pro:voke Touch Of Silver Brightening Shampoo (£3.19) which is bright purple in colour that helps neutralise brassy, yellow tones with its toning violet pigment and helps brighten the colour in as little as one wash. It's recommended to use as part of a three-step regime as well as to only be used twice a week for no longer than three minutes. It's suitable for natural blondes and bleach blondes, platinum or white hair so regardless of what colour blonde you are, you can most definitely use it.

I personally don't use it twice a week as I tend to use it nearly every single time I wash my hair which is three times a week and I often leave it in my hair for ten minutes. As my ends are often bleached blonde, I find that they can look brassy quickly hence why I leave it in for a lot longer than the recommended time just to brighten them up quicker. You can end up with a slight purple tinge if you leave it in for too long or use it more often although I haven't had that happen just yet, touch wood! I absolutely love using this and I use it almost immediately after getting my hair done and by the time that it needs doing again, my hair dresser always comments as to how blonde it looks. If you're not using a purple shampoo and you have blonde hair then you need to start using one!

L'Oreal Double Extension Beauty Tubes Technology Mascara

I'm probably a little late to the party on the whole two sided mascara - one to prime your lashes and the other to blacken them and add some intense volume. However after falling head over heels in love with the Lancome Cils Booster XL which is essentially just a white mascara that preps your lashes beautifully ready for a black mascara; I decided to try out an alternative to it considering it is rather expensive and all, so I looked no further than at the mothership that is L'Oreal which ironically own Lancome so I was hoping it would be a near dupe.

I picked up the L'Oreal Double Extension Beauty Tubes Mascara (£11.29) which is a two step mascara - a white base coat that acts as extensions for your lashes with it containing Ceramide R which contains naturally derived fibres whereas the black coat literally coats each lash with a intense colour wrap to darken them and to create the appearance of lash extensions. 

Now as much as I would love to say that this is a direct dupe for it's Lancome counterparts, it sadly really isn't as there is just one factor that lets it down which is the scent. I'm not sure about you but I like my mascaras to smell like mascaras however the white base coat of this instead smells very similar to nail glue and rather strongly too. Regardless of the off-putting scent, I cannot fault as to how well it performs especially when you spent the time to carefully apply the layers and build it up. I personally love to coat my lashes with the white base coat until they're literally white and have so much more volume than before and then using the black side to carefully cover up the whiteness, ensuring I coat every lash. Whilst it does give incredible volume and length, it doesn't quite resemble lash extensions as they are more often than not clumped together. In order to create lash extension looking lashes, I tend to go in with the No7 Extreme Length Extend Mascara afterwards to define my lashes and separate them. By using a separate mascara afterwards, it helps to create the appearance of lash extensions that look full, defined with plenty of length and volume. Whilst it can be a little time consuming, the effects are definitely worth it so whilst I may not be repurchasing the Lancome version anytime soon, I can definitely see myself repurchasing it's L'Oreal counterparts time and time again.

The Best Coconut Oil EVER

Everywhere you look now, coconut oil is being added to almost anything and everything. It's literally become the ingredient to use when it comes to beauty products and you could find it in a multitude of products including teeth whitening, skincare and even nail varnishes! Back when I first started blogging, I used to be hooked to the Superdrug Coconut Oil which may not have been the purest coconut oil around but seeing as it was cheap as chips, I made do. Fast forward a few years later and I like to think that I'm now getting better as to what works for me which is why I bit the bullet and invested in the Vita Coco Extra Virgin Coconut Oil (£9.99) I say invested as there is no way you can get through a whole pot of it at once!

Vita Coco is a brand that most of us are familiar with as they are the brand leaders within Coconut Oil due to their thirst quenching drinks. However, they launched their very own coconut oil last year which is 100% pure, raw, extra virgin, cold pressed; essentially the purest form of coconut oil you can get in a super market. You can use it for literally everything such as cleansing your skin with, removing your makeup, cooking with, oil pulling, moisturising your skin, as a intensive hair mask, as a hair oil and it can even be used to shave with too!

My personal favourite method is using it as an intensive hair mask. I tend to scoop out a big spoons worth and rub it between my hands, distributing the oil into my hair as and when it melts. This is the part that can take a while due to it being cold pressed, it takes a while for it to melt entirely into an oil. Once I've applied enough into my hair, I throw my hair up into a messy bun and get on with my day. I prefer to apply this on a day when I'm not at work or in the evenings as it gives the appearance of greasy hair. I like to leave it in for hours before washing it out entirely to reveal deeply nourished hair with an unbeatable shine that feels silky soft.

It might be worth mentioning that I have also tried oil pulling with it too however I wasn't too keen on the taste and managed about seven minutes before spitting it out completely. There's just something about swirling a solid that melts into a liquid in your mouth that is a little off putting and vile. If you have any suggestions on how I can last a little bit longer on the oil pulling front then they're most welcome!

New In || No7 Beautifully Defined Contour Kits

I love a strong contour just as much as the next person however it can be a little bit of a faff finding the perfect bronzer to contour with that isn't too muddy or too warm as well as a highlighter that compliments it beautifully. Luckily, I have quite the selection of both and I know which bronzer looks best with which highlighter although let's be honest in, the more highlighter the better! However there are sometimes when I just want to get my makeup done quickly without having to reach for two separate products so when No7 released their Beautifully Defined Contour Kits a few days ago, I instantly had to get both shades.

The No7 Beautifully Defined Contour Kit (£12.50) comes in two shades Light/Medium and Medium/Dark and both contain a highlighter and a bronzer. The Light/Medium is ideal for us pale beauties as the contour shade is a cool toned ashy brown that recreates the hollows in our cheeks without looking too muddy or warm whilst the highlighter is a yellow toned beige that contains no chunky shimmer or glitter that just looks natural on the tops of the cheeks. The highlighter can also double up as a setting powder for under the eyes as it brightens up the area whilst not highlighting the dark circles. The Medium/Dark is made for those who are slightly more tanned but that's not to say that you can't make it work for you! The bronzer is slightly warm toned and thus can look slightly muddy if you apply too much so a light hand is very much needed when applying. The highlighter itself is more of a champagne beige peach shade which could also be used as a setting powder for under the eyes if used very sparingly. Both kits features a brickwork almost cobblestone pattern that very much resembles a limited edition Bobbi Brown product from back in the day which had a very similar spray on. The kits are both finely milled with very little fallout that feels silky soft to the touch but apply ever so beautifully.

Whilst I have only had literally a few days to play with the kits since their launch, I've managed to make both shades work beautifully for me and I could definitely see them both being a staple in my makeup collection. I prefer using the bronzer in the Medium/Dark with an extremely light hand and just gently place it where I want to contour before blending it out with a very fluffy brush to avoid it looking too muddy. I then go in separately with the bronzer in the lighter kit to bronze up my forehead before applying it over where I contoured just to make the colour more intense but still blending it out as we go along. To set my under eye concealer, I do use the highlighter from the Light/Medium very sparingly whilst the highlighter in the darker kit is used to highlight the tops of my cheekbones. 

It's A 10!

I've had quite the love affair with leave-in conditioners over the years and seem to stick to one for a few bottles before moving onto a new product and doing the exact same. It's a vicious cycle that seems to happen whenever I find something that works brilliantly the first bottle or so but after that, it no longer seems to impress me as much as it first did. Recently, I've found myself breaking that habit and instead of sticking to the same product every time I finish a bottle, I've been switching it up and using a new product altogether each time which has been working wonders for my hair. Recently, I've been reaching for the It's A 10 Miracle Leave-in Product which has been quite literally the saviour.

The It's A 10 Miracle Leave-in Product (£11.75+) is an American product that has slowly been making it's way across the waters and finding itself on UK soil. It's a spray on product that does ten things instantly including preparing dry and damaged hair; adding shine; detangling hair; controlling frizz; sealing and protecting colour; preventing split ends; stops hair breakage; creates silkiness; enhances natural body and can double up as a heat protection spray. 

Whilst I have had this in my stash since America, it's only been recently that I've been reaching for it to give my hair an extra shot of conditioning after washing my hair. Since I've been using it, I've noticed that my hair has definitely appeared shiner and silkier to the touch and I haven't suffered with a lot of breakage too. Despite the fact that I do straighten my hair on the regular basis, it hasn't helped a lot with the split end situation but it definitely has helped transform my dry locks completely. I don't necessarily agree with it's claim of being used as a heat protection spray as it doesn't state which temperature it protects your hair up to however after straightening, I do like to spritz it in generously and then brush it out. Whilst it may be slightly pricey for a leave in conditioner, I do definitely think that it's worth it especially when you have coloured treated and heat damaged hair that needs a little something to bring it back to life.

A Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Dupe?

I'm pretty sure that everyone at some stage of their life has used a variety of Aussie's products before as they're forever on some sort of offer wherever you look and have a wider range of products to suit anyone and everyone. I used to be obsessed with their 3 Minute Miracles in particular their Reconstructor, Shine and Take The Heat offerings which are quite literally the bomb! However recently, I've had a huge overhaul on what I use on my hair so sadly, I've had to stop using their products altogether. So instead, I've been reaching for the Carino Moisture Deep Conditioning Treatment which is from Aldi from time to time which is practically the same but just a fraction of the price!

The Carino Moisture Deep Conditioning Treatment (£2.49) is targeted towards dry/damaged as it contains Australian Jojoba Oil and Mint Extract that promises to leave your hair silky soft and shine as well as being completely manageable with results in as little in three minutes. It helps to deeply condition your hair whilst leaving it looking healthy and full of life which I'm sure is definitely what we all want from a conditioner!

I tend to use this mainly when my hair is feeling a little worse for wear which is normally on a  Sunday night after a week's worth of heat styling so I tend to dispense a generous amount and massage it into my hair before leaving it in for a lot longer than the recommended three minutes before washing it out entirely. Once washed out, it reveals beautifully soft hair that feels nourished and is manageable once dry. Whilst it may not smell like it's more expensive counterparts, I much prefer the scent of this as it smells more sweet almost like bubblegum. Overall, I do much prefer the Carino offering over Aussie's purely because of the fact that it comes housed in a squeeze tube and smells slightly better however it's only downfall is not offering enough varieties to suit a number of needs which is something that Aussie do cater for.

Jimmy Choo Blossom EDP

We're nearly half way through Spring and I must admit whilst we have had our fair share of miserable weather, it has been pleasantly sunny on a few occasions. On the days when it has been a little dreary, I've been misting on Jimmy Choo Blossom Eau de Parfum - a fragrance that I've been obsessed with ever since it's initial launch into my local Boots store.

The Jimmy Choo Blossom Eau de Parfum* (£36+) is a sparkling and vivacious fragrance which is both floral and vibrant. It opens with bright and sparkling top notes of red berries blended with a citrus cocktail with a delicate heart of sweet pea and rose that compliments the rich and sensual base rates of white musk and sandalwood.

Whilst this fragrance may not be to everyones liking, I personally find it to be the perfect fragrance to wear at the moment whilst we're making the slow transition from mid-Spring to almost Summer. As not only does it fit in nicely with the entire Jimmy Choo range but it compliments nicely when layered with other fragrances especially those that are more citrus based.

Beauty Box || Birchbox Word Up March 2016

After being subscribed to beauty boxes for coming up to two years now, I like to think that I've seen them all. I've seen absolutely bloody brilliant boxes as well as seeing some right old disappointing ones with the occasional on the fence ones which sadly is how I feel about this months Word Up March Birchbox. I feel like this box is pretty meh when compared to previous boxes - a complete mix match of products with no real stand outs. With that being said, let's delve into what I got in this months box..

Firstly, we have a 5ml sample of This Works Deep Sleep Plus+ Pillow Spray (£16+) which contains both lavender and a potent blend of vetiver and chamomile to help you achieve a longer night's sleep by up to two hours. Now I'm a huge fan of the The Body Shop's edition and I've also included the Boots Re:Balance offering into my stash too so whilst I am intrigued to see how this livens up to the hype surrounding it, I'm a little underwhelmed as 5ml is hardly enough to get a real feel for the product.

Next up is the Arrow Boost Colour Enhancing Lip Balm (£11) which is both paraben and cruelty free whilst being completely vegan and a Birchbox own brand. It adjusts to your pH to a create a shade that is completely unique. On myself, I found that it's pretty much a my lips but slightly better shade so I'm little disappointed in that. I probably won't really use this as I tend to stick with my trusty EOS lip balms.

I tend to stick to my usual brow routine which uses three products in total ranging from Natural Collection to MAC with a little bit of Benefit thrown in for good measure as it's a routine that has been tried and tested for a year or so now, so when I saw the ModelCo More Brows (£13) I was intrigued. I received the shade Light/Medium which is pretty much identical to the Benefit offering except being a fraction or so cheaper. It's also the same story when it comes to applying it onto my brows, matches perfectly so I will definitely be using this when my Benefit one dries up.

I absolutely love hair masks so the Amika Nourishing Mask (£19.99) is a welcome addition to my stash albeit being a one use wonder. This helps to seal split ends and fight dryness with a hydrating concoction of sea buckthorn berry and jojoba oil. As I'm currently coming to the end of my current conditioners, this will help me kickstart on using up my sample ones.

Hand Creams and I have fallen out in the last year as I've been far too lazy to apply it as much as I used too so I'm hoping that the full size Lanolips Rose Balm Intense (£9.50) will help kickstart me into using it more frequently again. This particular offering was created for those with specially dry hands as it contains medical-grade lanolin, shea butter, cocoa seed butter, rose oil and vitamin E to help moisture the skin deep down whilst creating a protective shield to keep the skin moisturised. 

Lastly in this months box is the Doux Me Comforting Face Mask & Exfoliator (£18) which contains an interesting concoction of apricot oil, chamomile and marshmallow extracts that is gentle enough to be used on even the most sensitive skin. I love a good exfoliator as much as the next one so I'm hoping this will be gritty enough for my liking; if not then I'll just use it as a face mask instead.

What did you think of the March Birchbox 2016?

Liz Earle Cleanse + Polish Orange Flower & Chamomile

I am a complete sucker for limited edition products whether it's makeup or skincare, if it's something I've used a variation of before or something that's right up my street there is no mistaking that I'll purchase it! Which was the case with the Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish in Orange Flower & Chamomile which I actually picked up back in 2014 but have only just come around to start using it.

The Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Orange Flower & Chamomile (£20.75) is very much like the original in the sense that you can use it as either a first cleanse to remove your makeup or as a second cleanse or both except that it smells completely different. It's laced with delicate, fresh notes of orange flower water that's been paired with the familar warm glow of English chamomile that helps create an iconic twist on a beauty classic.

I tend to use this both morning and night as I find that it's the perfect consistency to both wake me up in the morning as well as cleanse my skin in the evenings after a long day at work. As much as I love the original and will forever have a bottle or two in my stash, I'm not exactly keen on this limited edition scent. Personally to me it smells of something you would find in a hospital; not that it smells anything like clinical products just it reminds of a product that would belong there. It also feels slightly thicker in consistency to the original in the sense that when you massage the original into the skin, it almost disappears whereas with this version, you can still see it on the skin as it's so creamy.

Sadly as this was a limited edition product, you can not buy it online although I'm sure you can still find some on the likes of eBay and I'm pretty sure that Liz Earle will re-release it at some point again as it was released in the Cleanse & Polish Trio Giftset that they released late in 2015.

No7 Instant Illusions Airbrush Away Primer

Long terms readers will know that I'm loyal to the L'Oreal Lumi Magique Pure Light Primer and I use every single day, without fail. However being a beauty blogger, I'm always looking for new products to try out and make my makeup last that little bit longer so I decided to try out the No7 Instant Illusions Airbrush Away Primer to see if it makes any difference to my makeups longevity.

The No7 Instant Illusions Airbrush Away Primer (£16.50) helps magic away any visible signs of ageing by containing clever light diffusing particles that are designed to instantly make the skin look younger by putting fine lines, uneven skin tone and pores into soft focus. It contains hyaluronic acid moisture locking spheres that help to fill out the skin and thus creating the appearance of smoother looking skin.

Whilst I may not necessarily have visible signs of ageing skin, I do have a few fines around my under eyes and am willing to try absolutely anything to help reduce the appearance of them which is exactly what this primer has been doing. It's been filling out my under eye area to make it appear as if it's completely smooth however this is short lived as the minute you apply any foundation/concealer/powder, they reappear which is a real shame. With that being said, I do however find that it creates the perfect base for my foundation as it just applies a lot better and doesn't settle in any dry patches. I haven't noticed my makeup lasting any longer than usual as I do find that my makeup lasts a very long time what with doing a full shift at work and then perhaps an hour at the gym or so. I'm currently on my third tube of this so I guess it's fast making it's way to becoming one of my holy grail makeup products.

What is your favourite primer?

February Shine Bright Like A Diamond Birchbox 2016

I've been a little laid back recently when it comes to blogging as some of you may have noticed. I'm not going to make up any excuses as to why but just simply life has been getting a little hectic so without further ado, I'm back with a review of this month's birchbox!

Birchbox have definitely been upping their game recently when it comes to their monthly subscription boxes and unlike other beauty boxes that have been taking the Valentines Day approcach, Birchbox have changed up the ballgame and continued with their powerful messages with this months box being no exception. This month's theme is Shine Bright Like A Diamond which is filled with products to help you look and feel bright like a diamond also. So let's delve in and see what's inside!

The first product in the box is from their inhouse brand LOC; One And Done Shadow Stick (£8) that all subscribers got to choose which shade they preferred. I went ahead and chose Champagne Problems which as the name suggests, is a beautiful champagne colour that just looks effortless on the lids. This is actually a full size product which is rather tiny but I'll making sure to give it a lot of loving!

Next up a sample of the Ole Henriksen Truth Serum Collagen Booster (£47) that I've been wanting to try for the longest time ever after hearing many people rave about it! It contains a high powered vitamin C complex that helps to smooth out fine lines and wrinkles to protect the skin from further damage. It's loaded with antioxidants and moisture binding ingredients that help to keep the skin nourished and hydrated. I'm looking forward to introducing this into my skincare routine although I'm a little worried that if my skin likes it, I'll have to buy the full size which is rather pricey!

One of the most exciting additions to the box is a full size Spectrum Tapered Powder Brush (£7.99) that I've been seeing a lot recently on Instagram! The brush is certainly eye catching with a pink handle and blue and purple bristles to match which are ever so soft! I bet this would work wonders with setting concealer under the eyes or even applying blusher, not that I wear any that is!

I tend to stick to my usual body butters in a tub so I doubt the Cochine Water Hyacinth & Lime Blossom Hand & Body Lotion (£19) will be getting much use from me sadly. It's packaged with shea butter and aloe vera to soothe and hydrate the skin with hints of zestly lime blossom and woodsy water hyacinth to scent the skin. Although with that being said, I could just add it to my stash of hand creams to use.

It appears that I have an abundance of theBalm Frat Boy Blush/Shadow (£15.50) samples from recent beauty boxes so this addition will be getting passed onto a friend for sure! It's a beautiful pale pink with a subtle hint of shimmer that would look beautiful on pale complexions for a hint of colour.

The last addition to this months box is a Derm Eyes Make-Up Remover Wipe (£9.50) which I'll be keeping in my handbag for an emergency as I don't tend to remove my makeup with a wipe as I opt for micellar waters or cleansing oils if I'm honest. These are hypoallergenic cleansing wipes that are ideal for sensitive eyes as they've been created with a super soft fabric to both cleanse and hydrate the eye area without irritation.

This box sure contains a wide variety of items and have definitely got me excited for the March edition!

A Shower Gel Good Enough To Eat (With A Good Cause Too!)

I'm sure that I'm not alone when it comes to not wanting to spend a fortune on products like shower gel, soap etc. I personally see it that you're literally washing away money as there is really no difference between a shower gel that cost £1 compared to one that cost £30+ apart from the brand/scent/ingredients but realistically, they all do the same job. With that being said, when I came across the I Love.. Perfectly Peachy Bath & Shower Creme, I had to stock up and buy a few bottles as they've teamed up with CoppaFeel to help promote breast cancer awareness.

The I Love.. Perfectly Peachy Bath & Shower Creme (£2.99) is a paraben-free and PH-balance shower gel that not only smells of heavenly ripe peaches but also gently cleanses and cares for the skin with a non-drying formula boosted with extracts of passion flower and peach. However it's much more than just a showergel, it has a handy #ShowerHijack guide on the back of the bottle which explains how to thoroughly check your breasts for early signs and symptoms of breast cancer.

I Love.. are the first company to include information like this on their packaging and it is such a great way of putting the information out there whilst making it accessible but more importantly, fun! It literally takes just five minutes to check your breasts and whilst you're in the shower/bath, it's literally the most ideal place to do so. I'm sure that once I've used up the ginormous bottle, I'll keep the back part and some how frame it in the bathroom so every time I'm in the bath, I literally CoppaFeel as it were ;)

The Only Electrical Toothbrush Worth Investing In!

I think that dental hygiene is one of those topics that isn't talked about enough on blogs which is funny because everybody including you and I brush our teeth twice a day amongst flossing, using mouthwash etc. I will admit that I didn't used to be a big fan of brushing my teeth whilst I was growing up as I would much rather spend those two minutes watching TV or playing on the computer than having to commit to cleaning my teeth. Nowdays, that's quite a different story and I enjoy nothing more than brushing my teeth however nerdy that sounds. I've tried various toothbrushes over the years ranging from the cheap manual toothbrushes that make your gums bleed to electrical toothbrushes which remove a lot more plaque for a lot less arm work! I'm rather lucky in my line of work as I'm given the opportunity to try all kinds of electrical devices so I was quite excited when I received the Philips Sonicare Diamond Clean Pink Toothbrush HX9361/67* (£249.99) which I've been using for the best part of three months now on a daily basis.

Firstly, I love how the Diamond Clean range comes in a variety of three colours (soon to be four!) where there is a colour to suit everyone or unless you're like me and instantly gravitate to the pink version of everything! Unlike some electrical toothbrushes that I've tried, this has to be the most comfortable one to hold with a sleek, modern look that wouldn't look out of place at the Apple store. Philips have really thought of everyone when it comes to the specifications of the product as you've got two different ways to charge it either with the charging glass; which is a more hygienic outlook on the traditional charging plug or through using the handy travel case that you can charge through USB. I much prefer the latter as you can store your toothbrush and up two heads in the case which is ideal for travelling. What makes the Philips Diamond Clean toothbrushes stand out amongst the likes of Oral B and Colgate is that one single charge will last for up to three weeks of brushing your teeth twice a day, for two minutes each time which is quite simply a life saver as with my previous electrical toothbrushes, I felt that I was forever charging them.

Unlike other electrical toothbrushes that may only have a few modes, the Philips Diamond Clean toothbrushes have FIVE modes which all vary in length of time as well as using a quadpacer which is an interval timer that beeps and briefly pauses, reminding you to brush all four sections of the mouth.. Clean is the standard brushing mode which is the ultimate option for plaque removal which lasts for two minutes; White helps remove surface stains for two minutes with an additional thirty seconds to both brighten and polish your front teeth; Polish is a quick one minute mode to brighten and polish your teeth; Gum Care has combined the clean mode with an additional minute to gently stimulate and massage the gums to improve gum health whilst the Sensitive mode is the extra gentle mode for sensitive teeth and gums.  Whilst I do have sensitive teeth, I do like to mix up my brushing by using three different modes; Sensitive followed by Polish for one minute, finishing up with White for one minute which means that I'm brushing my teeth altogether for four minutes. Four minutes may seem a little obsessive to most however I feel that this has truly worked for me in the long run especially thanks to it's 62,000 brush strokes per minute. Moving from a manual to an electrical or changing brands altogether can be a little scary at first when it comes to brushing your teeth however Philips have introduced an easy start feature that gently eases you into using an electrical toothbrush, gradually increasing the sonic power over the first fourteen brushings.

The Diamond Clean head comes as standard with all Diamond Clean toothbrushes which is a unique diamond shaped head that covers more surface area than other brush heads whilst giving you better brushing however you can opt to change it for any other head as they're all interchangeable with each other. I've currently got my eye on the new Adaptive Clean heads that have an enhanced adaptive brush head that helps reduce any brushing pressure which makes it more gentle for the gums which sound right up my street. As a side note, they all have reminder bristles on the heads which are blue to begin with but after three months worth of brushing, they slowly turn white indicating that you need to change it for a new one which is a genius way of keeping track. As you can see from my brush head, it's not as blue as it once was meaning that I've only got so much more brushing to go with this head before it needs replacing.

Whilst the price can put a lot of people off, including myself, I believe that it is definitely worth it in the long run as you only have one set of teeth to last you for life and you want to take the upmost care of them. It may seem like such a big cost at first but once you work out that it will last you easily three years if not more, it isn't such a huge cost spread out and is much more cost effective than a manual toothbrush. It's also quite often on offer at half price too which makes it even more worthwhile to invest in! Since switching over to Philips, I've  achieved a much whiter smile that has not only boosted my confidence immensly but I've found myself wanting to show it off which means that I'm now constantly smiling at both work and at home. I've even converted friends and family over to Philips and they've noticed such a huge difference in their smile too!

Benefit Gimme Brow Review

Eyebrows are the beauty world's marmite - you either love 'em or hate 'em. The days of having perfectly preened eyebrows are long gone and it's either go unruly or go home! I personally prefer going against everyone and the world by having them looking at least half decent without making them look too overdrawn/filled in. I used to fill them in with a powder whereas nowadays I strictly stick to two products - MAC Eyebrow Pencil in Lingering and Benefit Gimme Brow.

I never thought I would say this but I simply cannot live without Benefit Gimme Brow (£18.50) as it truly has changed the way that I fill in my eyebrows. It's a brush-on fiber gel that adheres to the skin to create naturally thicker looking brows. The brush itself is tiny in size with a tapered edge that means that you can really work it into the brows, filling even the teenist of gaps without the worry of spreading too much product around the surrounding area. Unlike the more typical larger than life mascara spoolies that most brow gels feature, this fits my brow easily and I find that just a few coats is all that is needed to give the appearance of fuller looking brows.

It is essentially a light tinted gel that can be applied in layers repeatedly until you've achieved your desired look. It quite literally glides on with such ease and it dries quickly without looking overly crispy too. It's available in two shades; Light/Medium which is a light ash brown that is ideal for most dark blondes/light brunettes and Medium/Deep that is a cool toned medium brown that is suitable for most brunettes. I got matched up to Light/Medium which matches my brow colour perfectly which for tinted brow gels is practically unheard of! Whilst you are basically paying for a mascara specifically for your brows, I believe that it is most definitely worth it especially if you've got the lightest of brows or invisible eyebrows altogether where you struggle to make them look as natural as possible.