Look Fantastic #LFHelloBeautiful May Beauty Box

Hey Sweeties,

The focus of this month’s Look Fantastic Beauty Box is to celebrate natural beauty, supported by the #LFHELLOBEAUTIFUL campaign. With summer approaching, we are entering a time where it’s about less is more and going after that summer glow using products that enhance what we have naturally, instead of piling on product. In response to this, I really appreciate any product, particularly skincare, that specifically focusses on brightening and adding radiance into your skin.

So, with that all in mind, let’s take a look inside this month’s box –

#LFHELLOBEAUTIFUL

#LFHELLOBEAUTIFUL

L-R: IOMA Optimum Moisture Cream; REN night-time facial; Revlon Uniq One all in one hair treatment; Wet Brush; Eve Lom cleanser; Vichy Liftactiv.

#LFHELLOBEAUTIFUL

Wetbrush: Having received several sample size brushes recently, including a Wet Brush one, I was delighted to see a full sized brush this month and it has instantly replaced my tired Denman hair brush. It’s comfortable to hold, glides through tangled wet hair, and I have found it has been good for styling as well. Definitely one to add to your wish list!

Eve Lom: This wasn’t actually featured in the booklet that comes with each box which has happened a few times lately, I was also potentially supposed to receive something from Decleor but who knows eh? Anyway. While I haven’t tried this specific cleanser supplied this month, I do already have two cleansers from Eve Lom, both of which I like. I was however delighted at receiving a new muslin cloth!

#LFHELLOBEAUTIFUL

Ren“This overnight treatment from REN combines Glycolic and Lactic Acids to brighten and refine the skin tone.” The advice is to apply onto cleansed skin at night after moisturising, and I’ve got to say I really like this product. Anything that makes my skin feel radiant and hydrated is always going to be a winner, and after a night’s sleep, my skin really does feel great in the morning which makes such a difference to the start of my day.

#LFHELLOBEAUTIFUL

Vichy“The Liftactiv moisturiser from Vichy has been specially formulated to firm and tone the skin; targeting signs of fine lines and wrinkles. It evens out skin tone, brightens the complexion and delivers intense hydration”. Recently I have started to really think about my skincare and that, with my final year of my twenties approaching on the horizon, it might not be a bad idea to start thinking about increasing the quality of some of the products I use, specifically tackling areas that down the line, I might wish I had thought about protecting and tackling sooner. I hate to say ‘anti-ageing’ but fundamentally that’s what it comes down too and so it’s time I started taking note of what I need to start incorporating into my routine. With that in mind, this product from Vichy couldn’t be better timed. Currently I have been using this as my morning moisturiser but I think it would equally work well at night, as similar to the above REN night-time facial, you can really feel the ingredients getting to work on your skin and reaping the benefits.

The next thing I need to overcome in my skincare journey is spending more than £20 on a single product; I have tried out some really fabulous products lately (i.e. the NUXE Nuxellence Detox -£48 for 50ml!- I am seriously pining for) but my reluctance to increase my skincare budget means I just have to lust, rather than buy and enjoy them. I know I need to just bite the bullet but I’m still in the process of psyching myself up for it. Also, my 12-month subscription to Look Fantastic is coming to an end next month (I think), and so it would then be a good time to reflect on the products I have received during this time, and decide what I would like to purchase in full going forward.

#LFHELLOBEAUTIFUL

Revlon: “This special hair treatment actually has 10 benefits that give you gorgeously healthy, shiny and protected hair…” Of the two Uniq One products that could be received, I got the Coconut hair treatment and while it smelled nice and applied fine, it didn’t particularly wow me. I have gained a lot of hair care samples over the last 11 or so months through beauty boxes and in that time I have definitely discovered some favourites, and unless I notice a real difference quickly or just really enjoy using the product, the others just kind of add to the pile to use later… and this product from Revlon is the latter, but ask me again in a couple of months and it might be a different story.

#LFHELLOBEAUTIFUL

IOMA“Enriched with PA Reviviscience which strengthens the skin’s natural barrier against environmental aggressors alongside Osmhydran which helps the skin to hold onto moisture; these moisturising tablets will leave your skin feeling perfectly soft and radiant”.  Of the box contents this month, this is the only product (if we excuse Eve Lom for reasons mentioned above) that I have yet to try so far, but just from the write up, I am positive that these will be of a similar quality to the Vichy and the REN products, and I love that these are travel size.

Have you guys tried the Look Fantastic May box or any of the products mentioned above? Thoughts?

Until next time x

Look Fantastic Beauty Box: December | Blogmas Day 19

Hey Sweeties,

We’re getting so close to Christmas now, it’s crazy! I can’t quite believe it’s next week and I hate to say this but I am not in the least bit ready, maybe because I’m not feeling all that festive yet and to be honest it is still quite warm for winter. Hmmm… Anyway, today I am reviewing for you the December Look Fantastic beauty box; the third of the limited edition Christmas boxes.

Look Fantastic December Box

Contents: Eve Lom morning time cleanser; Lord & Berry Pailette Glitter Eye Pencil; Wetbrush Squirt; Codage No3 Radiance & Energy serum; Eylure Double lash false eyelashes; and Molton Brown Body wash in Japanese Orange.

Look Fantastic December box

Look Fantastic December Box

Look Fantastic Lord and Berry

I was pleased to see another Eve Lom cleanser in the box this month as I have really enjoyed using the Eve Lom Summer Ready Complexion Cleanser I received in the August box (here). However, it took me ages to work out how to get product out which sounds bizarre but it’s true. To the eye it looks like a normal tube with a screw lid however the lid does not come off, for ages I was clicking it back and forth and it’s only when product suddenly landed in my hand did I realise it was a twist cap. Maybe it was just me being a bit slow but there was nothing anywhere giving instructions so I just assumed I had a faulty tube. That being said, it is of course a lovely product and absolutely leaves my skin feeling youthful and radiant. The only thing I would say wasn’t ideal was that it recommends leaving the product on for a couple of minutes before washing off, on a weekend this is fine when I have the time to do that but for an everyday cleanser I haven’t got that kind of time in the morning for one product/stage in my routine.

I am yet to try the false double lashes from Eylure but I am excited too and no doubt an opportunity will present itself over Christmas. They do possibly look a bit too dramatic for what I would normally wear and seem to remind me of Jessie from Little Mix for some reason -anyone else know what I mean here? But I have heard such good things about Eylure lashes.

I also have yet to try the Pailette Glitter eyeliner from Lord & Berry but as you can tell from the above swatch it’s dark and it’s glittery; a party essential!

I am undecided if I like the Codage No3 Radiance & Energy Serum. It’s described as being ‘a genuine elixir of cellular replenishment, especially formulated to detoxify and restore brightness to lacklustre skin.’ I think it’s the packaging; while it’s small and compact, the pump distributes the smallest amount so it takes a few pumps to get enough product. To apply the serum is perfectly fine but it hasn’t totally blown me away just yet, but I will continue using and see if I notice anything in time.

If I had received the Wetbrush Squirt earlier in the year when I had long hair, I think this would have been a total blessing in disguise as it glides through wet hair like a dream. For shorter hair, while it’s still a brilliant brush, I have been far too loyal to my trusty Detangler for that to be suddenly budged out the way. But if you are looking for a alternative to the Detangler, the Wet Brush is a worthy contender.

Finally and possibly my favourite within the box this month, the Molton Brown Body Wash in Japanese Orange. I love orange and citrus scented products and this body wash is not only luxury, it’s not overpowering in its scent so it’s a total pleasure to use.

Until next time x

 

Look Fantastic Beauty Box: August

Hey Sweeties,

Another post, another apology but if you read this post (here), you’ll know why everything went a bit crazy last week and why I am posting this Look Fantastic August box review a bit later than expected; the September box’s arrival being imminent. Hey ho!

Moving on. The August box is probably my favourite so far as I was beginning to get a bit frustrated with the contents of previous boxes but I think this is always the risk with beauty boxes; while they’re a great opportunity to try new brands, how many new brands do you really need to try, particularly if it’s the same types of products over and over?

August Look Fantastic Box

L-R bottom: bellapierre Cosmetics Shimmer Powder; Alterna Haircare, Caviar CC Cream; Beauty Works 10-in-1 Miracle Spray

L-R top: Eve Lom Cleanser; Rimmel Wonder’Full Wake Me Up Mascara; Omorovicza Budapest Queen of Hungary Mist.

Rimmel Wonder'full Mascara

I was so excited to see this Rimmel Wonder’Full Wake Me Up mascara in the box, the packaging is stunning and it was the first product I tried. Unfortunately, while its not terrible, it’s not the best and certainly nothing that’s going to make me convert from Maybelline’s Lash Sensational mascara as it doesn’t achieve the definition or hold a curl like my current favourite does. I also really dislike the size and shape of the applicator which is most of the problem I think and was the main element that made my heart sink when I opened it for the first time. What is different about this mascara though, is the waft of cucumber you get when you open it and that’s not something I have experienced previously.

I was pleased to see the Eve Lom Summer Ready Complexion Cleanser, although I am unfamiliar with the brand, I enjoy finding new cleansers and this one is (or feels) really oil based and on application, you can really feel it working but it doesn’t -for me- melt off my makeup in the same way The Body Shop’s Camomile Cleansing Butter does. Again this isn’t a flaw as makeup is still removed, but I am just throwing it out there for a comparison as for me, the one I currently use for that really deep feeling cleanse is hard to beat.

10-in-1 Miracle spray

I have really enjoyed using the two hair products in this month’s box -the Beauty Works 10-in-1 Miracle spray and the Caviar CC Cream but of the two the one from Beauty Works is my favourite as it contains Argan, Linen Seeds and Macadamia oils so my hair feels super nourished after using. The only thing I would say against it though is that it’s not really a spray, there is a pump which you use to dispense product from it into your hand, to then apply into your hair, so you don’t (and can’t) spray as the name and description would suggest. But this genuinely is a minor flaw against all the other perks.

I have yet to try the bellapierre Cosmetics shimmer powder as although it looks gorgeous, it looks very shimmery so not something suitable for the daytime I feel, or at least for work. The Omorovicza Budapest Queen of Hungary Mist is also something I haven’t tried a lot of yet but first impressions are good and something I’ll continue to use and try out.

Have you guys tried anything in this box?

Until next time x

%d bloggers like this: