My January 'Back to Basics' Glossybox

Hello Lovelies,

I received my January Glossybox earlier this week and I always look forward to it arriving and seeing what is inside, but this month I was quite disappointed with what was inside mine. The Theme for this month’s Glossybox is 'Back to Basics' and the Glossybox Team have chosen 'simple essentials' for this box.

The actual box this month was the same pink colour as the usual ones, although it looks a bit glossier and is bigger than the usual ones. The ribbon inside has also been changed and now has Glossybox and the Glossybox symbol printed on it.

Here is what I got this month…..

Yu-Be Moisturising Skin Cream - 2 x 3g

This is a 'multi-use' moisturising cream that can be used on really dry skin including your face and lips. I hadn't heard of this brand or product before and it isn't something I would normally buy, but I will give it a try. 

Balance Me Super Toning Body Wash - 50ml

This Body Wash has 'juniper, bergamot, geranium and lavender essential oils' in it and unfortunately I really don't like the smell of it, so I think I will see if a friend or one of my sisters likes the smell and I'll give it to them. 

The Vintage Cosmetic Company Floral Slanted Tweezers

These tweezers have a gorgeous floral pattern on them and are probably my favourite thing in this month's Glossybox, although I already have a few pairs of tweezers, so didn't really need another. 

Anatomicals Puffy The Eye Bag Slayer Wake-Up Under Eye Patches - 2 sachets

I've tried a few Anatomical things before, but hadn't heard of these. They 'help reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and revitalise the delicate skin around your eyes'. I haven't tried any eye patches before am intrigued to see how these work, so will give them a try.

Vaseline Essential Moisture Clean Feeling Lotion - 50ml

I was a bit disappointed to see this in my Glossybox, because I thought the samples in Glossyboxes were supposed to be high end ones and I wouldn't say Vaseline was high end. Although moisturisers like this are always handy so I am sure I will use this. 

Overall I am not very excited about what I received in my Glossybox this month and after speaking to other people on Twitter I realised that I am not the only one who was disappointed with this month’s Glossybox. I really hope Glossybox do better next month or I may have to cancel my subscription, particularly as my Birchboxes have been so good recently.

What did you get in your Glossybox this month? Leave me your link as a comment if you have posted about yours.

Thanks for reading :)

Nyss x

Christmas Beauty Box Swap - My Box from Hannah

Hello Lovelies,

Back in November I organised a Christmas Beauty Box Swap and everyone who wanted to take part was randomly paired with someone and I was paired with Hannah from The Makeup Times. We had planned to send the boxes before Christmas so everyone would have them by Christmas, but unfortunately Hannah didn't send mine until the middle of January. I am not sure of the reason it was sent late, but Hannah did say she had added a couple of extras to make up for the delay, which was nice of her.

My box was wrapped up and inside all my the things inside were wrapped individually, which I think was a really lovely touch and I did the same with the things I sent to Hannah. 

I hadn't tried anything from Elf until the end of last year and so far I have been impressed with the things I have tried, so I was pleased that Hannah had chosen me some things from Elf. She chose a Duo Powder Eyeshadow in Mocha Swirl, a Lip Stain in Berry Blush, an Eyeliner & Shadow Stick in Smoke/Black, a Blush in Innocence and a Nail Polish in Mango Madness. These are just the sort of colours I would choose for myself and I'm excited to try them. 

Also included in my Box was a gorgeous Ted Baker 'I Wanna Be Loved By You' set which includes a beautiful makeup bag, a hand cream, a body spray, a lip balm and a candle, which all smell really lovely and I'm looking forward to using them.

She also chose for me some No. 7 Blissful Body Wash and a bath bomb, which both smell lovely and I am looking forward to using these and as a little extra Hannah also included a Chocolate Orange and who doesn't love a Chocolate Orange! :)

I really enjoyed organising this Beauty Box Swap and taking part in it. I will probably organise another one for Christmas this year, so if it’s something you would be interested in, follow me on Twitter, Bloglovin or GFC and watch out for a post around November.

Did you take part in a Christmas Beauty Box Swap? If you did leave me the link to your post about it, because I love seeing what other people received and sent.

Thanks for reading :)

Nyss x

My November 'Icons' Birchbox

Hello Lovelies, 

Today I wanted to share with you what I received in my November Birchbox. The theme for this month's box is 'Icons' and the Birchbox Team have taken their 'motivation from the icons that help inspire us to be the best possible versions of ourselves' and I think the products chosen for this month are from what they consider iconic brands.

Inside my Birchbox was…..

Weleda Citrus Creamy Body Wash - 20ml

This Body Wash has moisturising sesame oil and I really like using body washes that are also moisturising, especially at this time of year. It smells really fresh and I will look forward to using this. It is quite a small sample size, but I guess if you were going away for the night it would be perfect to take with you. 

Beauty Protector Protect & Detangle Leave in Conditioner - (I can't see what size this is)

This is a leave in conditioner that is also a heat protector. I received one of these samples in my July Birchbox (which I posted about here), so I was a bit disappointed to receive another one this month, although I do like using it and it smells really nice. I tweeted Birchbox to mention this and they told me to email them and they will replace it, because you shouldn't get the same thing twice in only a few months, which I thought was excellent customer service and reassured me that I shouldn't in the future get the same things I have previously received. 

Chella Ivoory Lace Highlighter Pencil - 1.4g

I love using highlighters and this pencil is a gorgeous colour and feels really soft and I am looking forward to using this.  Birchbox posted an article with 10 different ways to use this, which I found interesting and you can find it here.

Laura Mercier Long Lash Mascara in Black - 5.67g

Last month I received a Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser and was really excited to receive this Mascara this month. The card that came with my Birchbox says this is 'smudge-free and lengthens lashes for a wide-eyed, fluttery look' and I can't wait to try this.

English Laundry Signature For Her Eau de Parfum - 2ml

I'm not always so pleased when I get little samples like this in Birchboxes and Glossyboxes, but they are handy to keep in your bag and I guess a good way to discover fragrances you might not have otherwise. I am really bad at trying to describe scents, but this smells quite sweet but is also fresh and is really nice, so I will use this and try this if you get a chance to because it does smell really lovely.  

Pukka Herbs Selection of Teas - 3 x 2g.

These smell quite strong and the smell of these was the first thing I noticed when I opened my Birchbox. The flavours I got were Gorgeous Earl Grey, Three Cinnamon and Elderberry & Echinacea, but I do not like teas like this so will give these to someone who does. 

Birchbox Pencil Sharpener 

I really like when you get little extras like this and I was particularity pleased when I saw this because I have been needing a pencil sharper for bigger pencils for a while and I hope the eyeshadow pencils I have fit this. 

Overall I am really really pleased with what I received this month and I think Birchbox have done really well again this month and have done for the last couple of months. 

If you fancy trying a Birchbox, you can find more details here.

What did you get in your Birchbox this month? Leave me your link as a comment if you have posted about yours.

Thanks for reading :)

Nyss x

My August 'Summer Nights' Birchbox

Hello Lovelies,

Today I wanted to share with you what I received in my Birchbox this month. The August Birchbox is my second Birchbox after I bought a six month subscription in July. When it arrived just over a week ago I was excited to see what was inside.

For this Month’s Box Birchbox have teamed up with InStyle and the theme for this month is Summer Nights.

As well as the Birchbox itself you also get a Birchbox Magazine that has short articles about various things including beauty, life and about some of the products that were in this month’s Birchboxes, which I think is a nice little extra.

Inside my Birchbox was…..

Bluemandarines SkinLife Energetic Cellular Cream - 10ml

This is a facial cream that claims to brighten, refresh and protect your skin and it can be used in the morning and in the evening. I haven’t heard of this Brand before, but will try this and if it does what it says it does then I’m sure I’ll like it.

Philip Kingsley Elasticizer - 40ml

This was a product chosen by InStyle and is a 'super-moisturising pre-shampoo treatment' that 'add elasticity, manageability, bounce and shine' and also ‘strengthens, nourishes and prevents breakages’. I don't think I have tried a hair treatment that you use before shampooing before, but my hair does feels like it could really use this at the moment, so I was pleased to see this in my Birchbox.

Gerda Spillmann Hydro Pearls Moisture Lotion - 10ml

This is a smoothing make-up primer and I do like using primers especially if I need my makeup to last a bit longer, so I was pleased with this and will definitely try it.

LaQA & Co. Lip Pencil in Ring of Fire

This was another one of the products chosen by InStyle and it is moisturising lip pencil that can be used all over your lips. Being a fan of red lip products I instantly loved this colour and although I would have liked to receive a full size one this size is perfect to take out and about with you. This smells slightly minty and I'm looking forward to trying this. 

Molton Brown Ylang-Ylang Body Wash – 30ml

This is the last product that was chosen by InStyle and it is a gorgeous smelling body wash. The bottle is quite small so I am not sure how many uses I will get out of it, but I think I will keep it for if I go away for a weekend or something as it is a perfect travel size.

Inner Me Beautify Me Vitamin Complex - 14 days supply

This is a supplement for your skin, hair and nails that contains MSM, Silica, Marine Collagen and Vitamin C, which together 'are the first natural steps to healthy skin, hair and nails'. I am not sure whether I will use these or not, I will need to read about them a bit first. I did really like the packaging though, because when you pull one side of the tablets out the other side comes out too.

Birchbox Gel Mask

This was a little beauty extra this month and I think it is always nice to get little extras.

Overall I am pleased with what I received this month and although I didn’t receive any full size products I think I will have to accept that unlike with Glossybox I probably won’t receive any full size products in my Birchboxes, although I hope they will surprise me in a future box :) I also like how the products come in little drawstring bags. 

What did you get in your Birchbox this month? Leave me your link as a comment if you have posted about yours.

Thanks for reading :)

Nyss x

Soap & Glory Sugar Crush Body Wash

Hello Lovelies,

Today I wanted to share with you something I am absolutely loving at the moment and that is Soap & Glory’s Sugar Crush Body Wash. I have quite a few Soap & Glory products and don’t think I have ever been disappointed with any of them. They always smell so gorgeous and I love the packaging too.

I really like that Soap & Glory make shower gels and body washes in quite big bottles with pumps, because I think this makes them super easy to use and also stops you using too much.

This Body Wash has quite a creamy texture and I always use it with a shower puff and it lathers up really well. It feels quite moisturising and leaves your skin feeling lovely and clean, but what I love most about this is the scent. It has lime oil, kiwi juice water and omega-rich veggie oil in it and I think it smells like sugar and limes and it makes the whole bathroom smell lovely when I use it. If you haven’t tried this, you at least have to smell of it next time you are in Boots.

Soap & Glory also make a body scrub and body butter in this scent, I have the body scrub too, but haven't tried the body butter yet, although I think I will have to try it :) 

Have you tried this? Would you like to see more posts about some of the other Soap & Glory products I love using?

Thanks for reading :)

Nyss x