Birchbox UK | June 2014

Birchbox - May 2014 Edition

I cannot seem to get away from the football madness at the moment, something that was confirmed to me when I realised that the theme for Birchbox this month was footie related. Le sigh. However, the box did not disappoint. It was more of a global theme than a sports theme, with lovely products from around the world. Here is my round-up:

Embryolisse | Lait-Crème Concentré

I found this moisturiser to be very rich, though it did melt into the skin very quickly. I'm not sure how those with sensitive skin would find it, but I found it really pleasant on my combination skin. My skin tends to get drier in the winter months, and I have a feeling this would be a brilliant moisturiser for then.

Silk + Honey| Shea Butter Hair Mask

I only have showers, so to have to stand about for 15 minutes for this to soak in was never going to be a good idea for me. I loved the scent which was fresh and feminine, but it didn't stay after my hair was dried. I wasn't very pleased with the product (I'm used to a thicker, quicker hair mask). However, I did get lots of compliments later about how shiny my hair was looking so I can't deny that it worked!

OPI | Nail Lacquer - The Brazil Collection

I received the colour 'Next Stop the Bikini Zone'. It is a shimmery lilac shade, very feminine and metallic. Honestly, I'm not a fan of the colour, though the solution went on a treat. I've decided I'm going to give this away to my Mum and sister, who both tried some on when we were opening the box and fell in love with it!

Yves Rocher | Sheer Botanical Lipstick

This shade (corail doux) is a beautiful orangey pink that goes really well with my complexion. The stick is velvety and goes on really well, leaving lips very moisturised. I definitely recommend this if you find lipsticks dry out your lips or if you aren't used to wearing lipstick, as it was a lovely subtle formula. This was probably my favourite product this month and it's already become a handbag staple!

Naobay | Body Radiance Lotion

This citrus scented body lotion left my skin feeling very silky and the scent lasted a decent amount of time. It's a light formula and felt very fresh, making it a brilliant morning pick-me-up! It's organic and also against animal testing which is always great to see.

I also got a wee yellow and green flip-flop keyring as my lifestyle product, but there isn't much to say about it apart from it's now on my window keys! It was a great box with lots of really good pampering products as well as products for use on the go. I loved all the sweet and citrus summer scents and how moisturising all the products were.

You can subscribe to Birchbox for £10 per month (plus £2.95 for P&P). You receive 5-6 beauty samples to try each month, and makes a great present for family and friends, or just a monthly treat for yourself!

Mini TK Maxx Haul

TK Maxx is actually brilliant for finding bargains and discovering new beauty brands. The other day I popped in for a wee nose and managed to restrict myself to some new brushes and a toning moisturiser. I'm trying to be improve my savings a bit since getting the flat so TK Maxx is just perfect for treating myself in small doses.

elite models | Professional Foundation Brush

I've really been on the look out for a decent but affordable foundation brush. This one is lovely to use, I've tried it with a few of my different foundations and bb creams and it has handled the variety of products really well. It is a solid but soft brush that leaves a good texture on my skin so I'm really happy with the result.

Beauty Strokes | Mineral Optics Brush

This brush is more of a luxury than a necessity, but I adore it! It has different lengths of bristles to apply powders and mineralisers and it is so, so soft on the skin. It uses the lightest touch during application and it is really easy to control the amount you use, perfect for powder especially which I find can be easy to overdo. I usually shy away from bronzer because I find it too dark on my complexion but I managed to wear some when using this brush because it was so subtle.

(close up of mineral optics brush - the white bristles are a lot lighter, meaning you don't use as much product and you get a much more natural application)

Laidbare | Smooth as a Peach

The older I get, the more I notice 'difficult areas'. This cellulite buster promises to help firm and improve skin texture and appearance. It's made with natural ingredients and should help with both stretch marks and the 'orange peel' effect. I have only used it a couple of times and I have seen a slight improvement (though nothing beats a good diet and plenty water!). The lotion has a delicious summer scent of elderflower and dries super quickly which makes it really handy on busy mornings when you don't really have a lot of time.

Have you ever found a bargain at TK Maxx?

Argania Spinosa Special Treatment Masque Review

The winter blues have really taken their toll on my hair. Between hot air conditioning and straightening it for nights out, it's been feeling dry and in need of a little pampering. I was really looking for a bargain as I'm saving my pennies at the moment and I was so pleased to find this argania spinosa special treatment masque. I love how moisturising the Argan oil is, it's left my hair feeling so much more silky. I've been using the masque with every other wash and you don't need to use that much so it should last me a while. It also smells sweet, a really deep, luxurious musk smell. I'm really impressed, it's been the perfect perk-me-up.

http://www.arganiaspinosa.co.uk/