May – 2014 – Hellbent for Lipstick

Beauty Boxes

Glossybox May 2014 – Summer Beauty Edit With Superdrug

May 16, 2014

Glossybox have been massive teases this month, dropping loads of hints about their upcoming collaboration (we all guessed it would be Superdrug though, right?) but boy was all the suspense worth it! This is hands down my best box ever with a whopping five full sized items and two samples! I’ll use absolutely everything and can honestly say there’s nothing I would change.

Max Factor Facefinity All Day Primer

This alone is worth more than the cost of the box! I wear as much SPF as possible once the sun comes out and having an extra SPF 20 in a primer is an absolutely magical notion for me. Combine this with my foundation (SPF 15) and my moisturiser (SPF 20) and I don’t even have to worry about extra suncream unless I’m planning on being out in direct sunlight for a long time! A quick swatch blended in smoothly and quickly and left a lovely base for make-up, I can’t comment on how much it affects longevity yet but it definitely helped application!

Full Size

£10.99 from Superdrug.com

Maybelline New York Great Lash Mascara – Very Black

This is a classic iconic mascara and I can’t believe I still haven’t ever tried it! I wont be opening it just yet as I’m still working through my L’Oreal Miss Manga and Rimmel Scandaleyes Rockin’ Curves at the moment. Mascaras don’t have much of a shelf life so I like to use only one or two at a time, this is definitely on the top of my list to open next though! A lovely addition to the box and another full size item!

Full Size

£4.00 from Superdrug.com

GOSH Cosmetics Velvet Touch Eyeliner in Blueberry Ice

I can’t say I’ve ever tried a frosted lilac eyeliner before, but the texture of this was so lovely when I had a quick swatch on the back of my hand that I had to try it on my eyes IMMEDIATELY! The result was a beautiful shimmery silverish shade that I think would actually make a lovely highlight for beneath the brows! This blends out wonderfully into a pretty shimmery eyeshadow too. I think I’ll be seeking out a black GOSH eyeliner based on the quality of Blueberry Ice.

Full Size

£4.99 from Superdrug.com

B. Sheer Conditioning Lipstick in Flamingo

Okay so when I said earlier that I wouldn’t change anything, I -might- have preferred this in a less girly shade. Flamingo is a very shimmery frosted pink, but it’s so creamy and feels so soft on the lips I find it hard to even complain that I would have preferred something a little more vampy. The very pigmented yet somehow sheer lipstick is enriched with Vitamin E, shea butter and aloe vera which explains why it feels absolutely divine on! Another product that has made me definitely want to seek out different shades in the range.

Full Size

RRP £6.99 but currently available for £3.49 from Superdrug.com

Vaseline Spray & Go Coco

I pulled a bit of a face last time there was a Vaseline product in a Glossybox, as I tend to think of it as a very boring brand. Well I’m eating my words now, this is an amazing product that I’ve instantly decided I don’t want to live without! Spray on moisturiser that actually leaves your skin soft and smelling delicious? Whodathoughtit?! The coco butter scent is to die for and I can see this being perfect for the gym bag or even festivals…or you know everyday. I’m a little bit in love.

Full Size

£4.99 from Superdrug.com

Garnier Oil Beauty Lotion

The first bonus product (aka sample size product!) was a generous 10ml sachet of oil-infused nourishing lotion. Despite having greasy skin I’ve become quite the convert to body oils, and with an infusion of argan, macadamia, almond and rose oil I’m quite sure I will enjoy this as much as the more expensive offerings I’ve tried of late.

10ml Sample

£4.00 for 250ml from Superdrug.com

GHOST Fragrances Eclipse

Ahh yes, perfume samples, the bane of every beauty box. WELL. This one is -gorgeous- and I couldn’t be happier to have found a new scent to lust after! Fruity-floral with a lovely romantic warm scent this would be perfect for the gorgeous weather we are currently having in the UK and I’ll be popping off to Superdrug very soon to pick up a bottle!

2ml Sample

£33 for 50ml from Superdrug.com

I can definitely see this box selling out with the amount of gorgeous full size products inside, so if you want to get your hands on this amazing box head over to Glossybox.com where you can purchase one of your very own for only £10 (+P&P)

Totally hellbent for the best beauty box ever ever ever

-Gem

Beauty Boxes

Birchbox May 2014 Review

May 13, 2014

It seems Birchbox have stuck with their minimal packaging and have now taken to a smaller cardboard package in favor of their previous outer box. This is somewhat of a shame, since I reused mine for storing lots of different bits and bobs, but this month has made up for it, because the Birchbox itself is absolutely gorgeous, they have teamed up with Harper’s Bazaar and packed it full of lovely items.

Benefit – They’re Real! Mascara – 3g sample – £19.50 for full size

I admit I already knew this was on it’s way, because I spoilt the box for myself when I was catching up on my Lazy Days Beauty posts during flu recovery! You can check out her post here. I already own a full size They’re Real as well as another mini, which I usually take to gigs with me, so I’m pretty ecstatic about having another back up mini to stash in my overflowing makeup drawers, now I don’t have to be so thrifty with my current ones! For those that haven’t tried this yet, I suggest you do. It’s absolutely wonderful, with minimal clumping and accentuated lashes and I often reach for this during the days I can’t be bothered with a full face of makeup.

Soigné – Nail Lacquer in”Crème au Beurre” – Full size product – £11 for full size

My first thoughts on pulling this out of the box, was how beautifully packaged it was. Not that this was neccesary for a varnish, because the boxes tend to go in the bin once the pot joins it’s brothers in arms on the dreaded overfilled nail varnish shelf of destiny. None the less, ten out of ten for effort. It gives it a very luxurious feel to it, as does the colour which is a slightly shimmer pink-nude shade. It definitely harnesses a Parisian feel to it. Application wise, it took three coats, but actually I really like the colour and think it will pair perfectly with black. I’m full on into nude shades and black at the moment and have been for quite a while. A full size Varnish too which is always a bonus along with the promise of being non-toxic and made with up to 85% of natural origins, I’m excited to see more from this brand.

Aromatherapy Associates – Revive Morning Bath & Shower Oil – 3ml sample – £39 for full size

I own a few bits from Aromatherapy Associates, but nothing I’ve had has really stood out of wowed me. This is another oil to add to my increasing collection, but this one has a little twist. It can be added to the bath or smoothed over the body before showering. Yes, that’s right, before showering! Now I really like body oil and I also use this when I somehow bribe the other half into giving me a nice back rub, but one thing I have never done, is oiled up and then showered. It seems a little backwards to me. Kind of like brushing your teeth before bed and then eating a chocolate cake or moisturising your face before having a wash. Having said that, I’m open to suggestion so perhaps will give this a try. It smells lovely and I may even squeeze 3 or 4 uses out of the 3ml sample. As for repurchasing, it’s going to have to work miracles in order for me to spend £39 on something that essentially goes “straight down the drain”

Beauty Protector – Protect & Shampoo, Protect & Condition -two samples – £14 each for full size

I have a weakness for miniatures, and these are just the cutest. Granted buying miniature products isn’t the most cost effective way of me staying clean, especially since my hair is so long it usually takes 2 bottle of Conditioner, but still I’m pleased these came as a pair. The best thing about these is they are advertised as sulfate-free, as well as being Vegan, having UV protection and colour safe. Hopefully this should be perfectly safe to use on my incredibly bright, yet prone to fading pillarbox red locks. Depending on how I get on with these, I may even be prepared to empty my wallet and purchase some full size bottles. I was my hair once a week and rarely use Shampoo to preserve my colour, so spending a little extra on Shampoo and Conditioner is acceptable when it lasts so long!

Liz Earle – Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser – 30ml sample – £13.25 for full size

I’ve seen a few people raving about this before, so when I discovered people receiving this in their box this month, I was definitely a little excited. A relatively decent sized 30ml sample compared to some facial cleansers I’ve received, and it comes with a muslin cloth. Apparantly this is suitable for all skin types, and leaves the skin feeling beautiful when used daily. The Liz Earle website have also released a video here with some more info. Although the only difference with my morning face routine here is that I will be switching my trust flannel for some muslin cloth and slightly more expensive facial cleanser, I’m looking forward to giving it a go and seeing whether this could be part of my 2014 skincare regime. (I know I know, we are almost 6 months into the year already!)

Yet again, Birchbox have delivered a spectacular box and leaves me ever hungry for the next. (One day Gem and I will end up in rehab) If you want to try your hand at Birchbox, you can get hold of yours for £10.00 a month plus £2.95 P&P here.

Totally hellbent for all the best brands, crammed into one brilliant box

-Pants

Travel

Holland Adventures

May 11, 2014

You might have noticed we’ve been very quiet this week! I’ve just returned from the mainland where I spent the week with my lovely boyfriend in his home-town of Rotterdam, NL. Long distance relationships do have massive downsides, but I get a lot of European mini-breaks that help make up for the arduous time spent apart!

I had a lovely week that was filled with lots of time outdoors (despite having thoroughly British weather that couldn’t decide if it wanted to burn my skin or drench me in freezing rain!) and even more time snuggled up in the warmth being utterly lazy.

If you follow my Instagram you will likely have seen a few of these, but here are a some choice shots that sum up my adventure nicely.

Totally hellbent for only three more weeks till my other half is in England for the summer =)

– Gem

The view from the balcony

My favourite spot in the city

Roode and Mr. Slicky getting some love

Baby Ducks!

Finding a pretty pagoda on our jog to the Euromast.

Lovely vegetarian Surinamese snacks

Representing the home of metal | Roode loving off terrible British junk food | Pulling silly faces | Being an utter poser

Lifestyle, Vegan, Vegetarian

The Vegan Kind May Box

May 9, 2014

I had high hopes and the biggest of plans for blogging this week whilst Gem was away in Rotterdam, but after coming down with the flu, I’ve conserved most of my energy for getting through the day job (perks of being self-employed!). Unfortunately this has meant the blog has taken a bit of a back seat whilst I’ve been indulging in a pre-school-esque 8pm bedtime.

Although I’m still under the weather, today I opened the door in my dressing gown, with my eyes half closed and clutching a tissue to the postman, who rewarded my efforts of making it down the stairs with this months The Vegan Kind #TVK7 box.

Those that usually read my Vegan Kind reviews will know that it’s a monthly box with 5-8 Vegan and cruelty free products in. They also donate 10p of each box to a charity of which this month is “Give a dog a bone or an animal a home” you can check out their website here.

I have to say I’m delighted with this month’s treats and can’t wait until my body has learnt how to taste again so I can indulge like an ethical piggy. I’ve also noticed that they have ditched the brown shredded paper that my carpet is oh so familiar with – as much as I enjoyed tipping it into the paper recycling bin, I haven’t missed picking up all the bits I dropped on the floor!

Hectares Sweet Potato Crisps in “Piri-Piri flavour” (RRP £1.00)

This was first out the box and I was super pleased. I’ve recently ditched the potatoes altogether (despite having a batch growing in the garden) in favour of the Sweet Potato, which counts as a portion of veg, despite the starcy and carby white potato. I’m also a fan of savoury snacks and am currently into Popcorn and oatcakes to get my snacking fix and keep the calorie intake down. These look delicious and are Gluten Free which is an added bonus. The downside to this 35g packet is the 172 calories and 16.4g carbohydrates, but for a little treat once in a while, I’m willing to forgo the counting and enjoy some delicious Sweet Potato crisps. I nearly always share my Vegan Kind goodies with my other half Brains, so it’s not all bad!

Check out their range here.

Wholeplus Hot Pot in “Vanilla Spice” (RRP £1.80)

I am a fan of Porridge, but since giving up milk I don’t eat cereal which includes Oats because I find the taste of Soy Milk a little too bitter when it’s not in a nice cup of tea. I was glad to see that that this little packet was indeed wheat free, dairy free and soy free though. Packed with scrummy natural ingredients like Oats, Dates, Coconut, Goji berries, Vanilla bean and mixed spice you simply add boiling water. Although I hate raisins, I can just about deal with dates when they are in food and am looking forward to testing this out. If I like it, I reckon it will be a lovely treat to take along to festivals instead of the usual boring breakfast biscuits we end up with. (Perks of being Veggie at a festival!)

Wholeplus seem to have a great range of snacks, including “Toppers” which are naturally sweet toppings that can be added to food for a bit of a boost – it seems to me I may have just found some new ingredients to add to my morning smoothies!

See the Wholeplus products here

BIO D Concentrated Non Bio Laundry Samplee (RRP £4.45 for 1L)

I can’t say that I get excited over the prospect of laundry detergent, but it’s something I have to buy regularly so it’s nice to see the options available when trying to buy things a little more ethically. This liquid looks enough for one wash, and the price per litre if roughly the same that I’d pay for my good old Tesco laundry gel. My favourite thing about this though, is that the packaging is recycled and can be recycled again and the detergent itself has a minimum impact on the eco system. If it cleans my clothes, then I am all in! I’ll be trying this out when I feel up to doing the washing this weekend.

See some of Bio-D Company’s other products

Scoff Sweets Chocolate Fudge (RRP £3.50)

I am a fan of fudge, and I’m even more of a fan of people that make Vegan and Vegetarian friendly sweet treats. (Long live the Haribo) Yummy looking dairy free dark chocolate fudge a delicacy to be savoured for when my taste buds work. Who said being a Vegan was hard?

To see all the cakes, truffles and fudge you can get your Vegan chops around, check out their website.

Dormouse Tea Company Loose Leaf Tea and Tea Bags (RRP£1.60)

I’m English and I thrive off tea. Therefore I always get super excited when I receive tea samples. I’ve not had loose tea for years and I was given a packet of Jasmine Tea Leaves with some DIY tea bags that look like the most fun thing to play with ever! They have a beautiful range of loose tea’s on their site and although they don’t have any of these adorable DIY tea bags, they do have adorable tea strainers and tea pots. I’m all up for supporting small business’, especially when it’s something like tea! I’m definitely going to pick up a few of their other teas to carry on the leaf tradition.

If you fancy a different kind of brew, head on over to their site

Golden Apple Hazelnut sand Peppermint Raw Biscuits (RRP £3.95)

A savoury biscuit and a perfect addition to a salad. This is the accompaniment to this months Vegan Kind recipe card which is a Gluten Free SCD and Veggie Roasted Butternut Squash Dip. I’m certainly intrigued by the “Hazelnut and Peppermint” flavour of these biscuits which are made from seeds and spices and dried without the use of preservatives or additives. The ingredients list is probably one of the simplest I’ve seen, with only natural ingredients and although I probably wont be pairing these with a Roasted Butternut Squash dip, I may invest in a few other flavours to add to my salads and dip to my hearts content.

Check out their range of raw biscuits here

I’m really pleased with my box this month and there are lots of delicious things for me to try out as usual. If you want to try out The Vegan Kind box, they are just £10 per month and £2.95 p&p, simply visit their website.

Totally hellbent for all the Vegan sweet treats

-Pants