Beneath The Lid: November JolieBox

This months JolieBox is entitled “Beauty in the City” and is dedicated to “all you busy city girls”.  In honour of JolieBoxes new expanded family (their merge with U.S beauty box; BirchBox) they have picked their favourite up-and-coming brands recommended by each of their headquarters.

Heres whats inside

Vertumne à vénus

Manucure absolue – Moisturising and Regenerating Hand Cream.

“Formulated with all natural ingredients, including sesame oil and pomegranate extract, this rich cream keeps hands nourished all day”

This tiny tiny sample comes from France.  I like this, I just wish there was more of it to try.  It has a very fruity/zesty smell to it that’s not too strong or overpowering.  It feels very rich on your hands and does leave them feeling moisturised, nourished and super soft.

 

Jane Iredale

Glow Time BB Cream

“At last! A full coverage mineral based BB Cream.  The lightweight buildable formula gives skin flawless finish and protects with SPF 25”

Another tiny sample but this time from the US.  I haven’t tried this yet, however it comes in shade BB5, which looks about the right shade for my skin- so that’s a good start.  I do like trying new BB Creams (especially as there are sooo many on the market) I just wish this sample were bigger so I could give it a good trial run.

Topicrem

Body Glitter 3D Effect

“Pair this pearly cream with your best party frock.  The Luxe lotion gives skin a shimmery-never sparkly-sheen”

 

Again from France.  This is defiantly one for the Christmas parties.  I’m not a fan of sparkle or shimmery sheen as they call it; I feel it’s more for ‘the younger generation’.  I tried this out on the back of my hand and unfortunately it went for a little journey and didn’t stay put! This is a huge bug bear for sparkly body lotions- once they dry you want them to stay where you put it, not be smeared all over you the next time you happen to glance in a mirror!  For this reason alone I shall be giving this one a miss!

Dead Sea Spa Magik

Gentle Cleansing Face Wash

“This mild cleanser uses a blend of natural ingredients to purify skin without over drying.  Use it mornings and evenings for a fresh, radiant complexion”

Home-grown and from the UK.  As soon as I see the words ‘dead sea’ I automatically expect the product to be a dark green/brown muddy colour but this was a pure glisten white.  Weirdly it smells like soap (??) which doesn’t make it feel very luxurious or special in any way and in all honesty the fact that you ‘work it into a lather’ makes it feels like you could be using a soap?!? Surly there could have been a better product to show what the Brits can do?

Galenco

SOS repair Balm

“A smoothing lip balm loaded with aloe vera and cocoa butter to repair and moisturise dry, chapped lips.  Bonus: it has UVA/UVB protection!”

This little darling is from Spain and I Love it!  I’ve been suffering with a painful dry cracked bottle lip and as soon as I applied this to my lips seemed to absorb it up.  I have been using another lip balm but this seemed to have a instant effect!?! I love the smell, its defiantly got cocoa butter in there and all those vitamins and UVA/UVB protections cant be doing any harm either.  This is going straight in my handbag!

L’Occitane

Angelica Hydration Cream

“The iconic French brands silky face moisture reinforces skins natural moisture barrier for a noticeably firmer, smoother completion”

If you’ve read any of my previous blog posts you’ll know of my love for this product!  Its super moisturising and does everything its says.  It’s a little pot of wonder.

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This months JolieMag Cover Crush is Mollie Chen, the editorial Director of Birchbox who tells us all about her beauty favs and routines (none of which are featured in our box…Hmmmmm!!)

Another disappointing JolieBox for me!  Sachet samples really put a dampener on a box; you just can’t try a product to its full potential.  Also I don’t feel that JolieBox give a good range of products, they seem to have a lot of  “skin’ based products and I would prefer if they were to mix it up a bit with more makeup, perfume or hair care samples, but maybe that’s just me?!?  I’m definitely swaying to cancelling my subscription in the New Year, as recent boxes just haven’t been very exciting :(

Are you subscribed to JolieBox? What are your thoughts?

Beneath The Lid: November GlossyBox

This month GlossyBox have got Christmas “covered” with their Stocking Fillers themed November box, which includes some of the most celebrated brands and also “some very exciting newcomers”.

Heres whats inside:

Dr. Jart+

Water Fuse Beauty Balm

“This BB cream gives a natural bright and glossy application for natural, fresh looking skin which controls sebum production from sweat and streaking”.

I’ve only used this once since my box arrived (yesterday) but so far I like! The coverage is great and buildable. It left me with a natural looking finish and covered my blemishes/red patches well on first application, I was then able to build the product more on those difficult to conceal areas.

I’m going to continue to use this product daily and see how my skin reacts, as in last months GlossyBox I received Dr. Jart+’ Premium Beauty Balm’ which at first I also thought was great but them started to bring me out in spots!! Lets hope this one doesn’t do the same?!?!

Burberry

Burberry Body Eau de Parfum

“An effortsley sensual, feminine fragrance with an eclectic combination of green absinthe, rose and cashmeran”

First of all I have to say how pretty is the bottle!!! Its soooooo cute, however as you can see from the picture there is a little bit of product missing as my cap wasn’t on properly :(  The bottle makes it look like it maybe a spray applicator but appearances are deceiving and its is a normal sample style application bottle.  It is a very wintery spell, a tad musky with spicy notes.  I think it’s a grower?

Alison Claire Natural Beauty

Mango Body Butter

“A delicious blend of organic mango and cocoa butters will leave your skin feeling wonderful”

This is the ‘very exciting newcomer’ in the box and I’ve got to say there’s nothing to be excited about here!  Firstly it’s a body butter, I’m sure we’ve all got loads of these knocking around in the backs of draws at home and secondly its smells disgusting!! For the first few seconds of pumping it out the bottle (which in its self isn’t easy to do) it smells like mango but them it morphs into something different, which I can only describe as smelling like B/O!  I even asked my boyfriend to have a whiff to make sure I wasn’t going crazy and he thought the same thing!  The product itself is moisturising, but nothing special however due to the smell alone this is a product I will not be using!

(As a side note, while writing this little review I tested the body butter again, just to make sure I wasn’t imaging the smell (I wasn’t!) and while continuing to type on I noticed my hand getting a little bit itchy which has now lead to a lovely red spotty rash where it was tested!  Hopefully im one of few who will have this reaction?!?)

Nails Inc

Kensington Caviar Top Coat

“3 Nails Inc best sellers including traffic stopping brights and an award winning caviar top coat”

There was a selction of 3 Nails Inc polishes on offer this month.  You could have got: Caviar Top Coat (like me), Porchester Square (a muted mushroom shade) or Notting Hill Gate (neon pink).  I’ve not tried this topcoat before, but I have heard good things.  Out of the three polishes available this would have been my first choice as I’m always after a good topcoat, closely followed by Porchester square and I would have been disappointed to have got Notting hill Gate, as neon pink really isn’t for me!

As a bonus if you visit the Nails Inc website and enter code GLOSSY20 at the checkout you get an extra 20% off your order (expires 30^th November 2012).  Also if you scan the QR code on the information card you can download a voucher (HERE) for £10 off a gel manicure.

Dermalogica

Daily Microfoliant

“A unique rich-based powder that gently exfoliates skin, leaving it noticeably smoother and brighter”

I opened this before reading the card and it completely threw me to find a powder, I expected a cream form exfoliate, what you would get with most exfoliators and this concept is something new to me. To use this you’re supposed to dispense into wet hands and create a creamy paste.  Again I’ve only used it once and I think I may have added too much water, as I didn’t make so much of a paste, more a runny liquid...eeek!  However I’m going to keep going with this one, as it felt gentle on my face and the exfoliate is super fine so I cant see it irritating my skin.

You can receive £5 off your first purchase when you visit buy.dermalogica.co.uk and enter code DAILYGLOSS at the checkout AND all orders are shipped free of charge (offer ends 31^st January 2013)

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All in all I’ve got to say I L.O.V.E this months box!!! The body butter aside I can see myself using every product and there’s even the possibility of repurchasing after further uses!   GlossyBox have really upped their game this month. There may be no full sized products (I’ve kinda come to expect this), but the products inside are sooo great it doesn’t bother me!

This months red GlossyBox Sticker

Did you get this months box? What are your thoughts?

Beneath The Lid- November SheSaid Beauty Box

Today I received my November SheSaid Beauty Box. Every month I always feel I receive mine quite late compared to everyone else?? From reading the 'Sneak Peek' on the website I was quite excited about finally getting my box......

Here's what was inside...

So....?

Brit Body Spray So....?

Reminds me of being at school and getting those tiny perfume sets from Boots every Christmas....so has much changed with them?? The simple answer is no! I'm not keen on the smell; it smells too much like talcum powder and flowers for my liking and much more suited to someone of a 'younger' age than mine. One thing I do like is the design on the can......very patriotic. 

Weleda

Wild Rose Smoothing Night Cream

'Smoothing night cream, with oil from organically grown rose mosqueta seeds, aid the regeneration of the outer layer of the skin during the night'.

I already have this cream, I think from a latest in beauty box so I'm not likely to use this one. I'm not fond of rose scented products and worry that they will play havoc with my sensitive skin. I wish I could give a better review of this product, but the whole 'rose' thing is just too much for me.

Redken

Smooth Lock Shampoo & Conditioner

'Smooth lock shampoo cleanses, refreshes and nourishes hair with smoothness while smooth lock conditioner eases detangling and instantly helps improve manageability with frizz-free smoothness and luscious looking shine'.

I'm looking forward to trying this, although sometimes shampoo and conditioner can just be shampoo and conditioner but sometimes it can do something magical to your hair.....lets wait and see.

Makebelieve 

Enhance Shimmer Lip Gloss

'Indulgent moisturising lip gloss for a luscious pout with a hint of shimmer. Apply to the lips for a natural looking enhanced pout or over your preferred lip colour'

There were 3 products on offer from 'Makebelieve' this month; Sunbeam Bronzer and Brush, luminize Skin Highlighter and this lipgloss, out of the 3, the lipgloss was the one I was hoping I wouldn't get! Apparently the gloss is designed to enhance your 'Makebelieve' tan......um tan, what tan? There's too much shimmer in this for me, it's very VERY sticky and smells like synthetic orange. The bonus is that's its full size and worth £10 alone.

Yardley

Royal English Daisy Eau De Toilette

'An elegant dewy fresh, green floral fragrance, reminiscent of flower filled meadows in the spring sunshine. It opens with a burst of energetic top notes in the form of fresh green leaves and apple, combined with a heart hyacinth and white roses, enhanced with warm base notes of sandalwood and musk'

I'm sorry but Yardley just makes me think of nanny perfume and doesn't belong in a beauty box. I LOVE getting perfume samples in a beauty box but not from a brand that is associated with the nana label. It's a very fresh and floral scent and not one I would wear. Think this one shall be passed on to the mother, along with the previous Yardley perfume sample SheSaid palmed us off with!

Murrays Manicure

MatchBook Nail Files.

This was my 'SSB Treat'. 15 tiny sized nail files, small enough to fit in your purse however I would have preferred if these had come in some kind of 'matchBook' covering, as once out of their plastic sleeve they will have the ability to scratch up the contents of your purse or bag.

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Having seen the sneak peek from the SheSaid website I've got to say I'm not impressed with my box. Yes the total value of the box compared to the sub price is good but I would have preferred some of the other products on offer. I know this is the deal with beauty boxes and you can't pick and choose, but I can still be disappointed that I didn't get the products I would have liked. On another note it seems that new subscribers also got the 'Collection; Primed and Ready smoothing Makeup Primer". Yes I know that regular subscribers got this a couple of months ago but what happened to looking after the subscribers you already have??? Bad show SheSaid :(

Are you a subscriber of SheSaid? What did you think of this months box?

Selfridges- The Beauty Workshop Lucky Bag

Soon to be released for Christmas 2012...

Almost as exciting as the Beauty Box, Selfridges are releasing a 'Lucky Dip' Bag:

'The surprise bag contains a lucky dip from the most exciting make-up, hair, skin and body brands, hand-picked within The Beauty Workshop at Selfridges. Inside each bag is a minimum of five beauty must-haves, some of which may be travel size. Priced at just £15, the Lucky Bag is perfect Christmas gift for beauty fanatics. '

Limited to 1000 bags available online, sign up now to be the first to hear about its release.

Find out more and sign up HERE

30% Off at Rodial

If you’re a subscriber to Glossy Box you may well of received some Rodial samples in September’s little treats…….Well here’s your chance to purchase some full size products with a fabulous discount.

Until the 8^th November, Rodial are offering a 30% discount with the above code.

If you’ve not heard of the brand before Rodial skincare delivers targeted treatments to specific skin concerns, combining the best of anti-ageing and firming ingredients.  The brand blends potent natural ingredients and scientific know how to create a range which is recommended by dermatologists and plastic surgeons alike.  With fans such as Beyonce, Kylie Minogue and Cheryl Cole they must be doing something right.

Visit the Website HERE to take advantage of this fantastic offer.