Jolie Box February 2012

Another month... Another Jolie Box! This is the second box since Boudoir Prive converted to Jolie Box UK.

You may have seen from my previous beauty box posts that I am a massive fan of Jolie Box/Boudoir Prive. I'm always looking forward to this box hitting my door mat (or rather landing into my hands via the post lady as the box can't fit through the post box!!). As usual this box didn't disappoint. Another wonderful selection of products from brands I wouldn't normally see wandering the aisles of Boots and Superdrug. I was also very excited to see the products now nestling in a Jolie Box drawstring bag rather then resting on top of shredded paper packaging - A nice touch.



Jane Iredale - Just Kissed Lip and Cheek Stain in Forever Pink
I was searching around my drawstring bag frantically trying to locate my fifth item before I finally found this cute little tube of stain. I was actually hoping the product was going to come out more like the coral colour it appeared to be in the tube before I tested it realising it was one of those 'magic' colour changing stains. This product claims to adjust to the colour to your mood and temparature. Now temperature I can believe... but mood... HAWAY MAN...No way. It's not the darkest of stains but it's pretty nonetheless. I already use the L'oreal colour adapting lipstick (very similar in colour but more glossy) and the Barry M touch of magic (this product is a must have! The colour is much darker and lasts agggges) so I'm not sure if I'd re-buy.





Lavera - Basis Sensitive Organic Hand Cream
Always nice to have another hand cream for my bag...

Macadamia - Deep Repair Masque
I love Macadamia Oil and I'm currently trying to use up all my serums and oils so I can buy a full size of it. Very excited to try out the masque!

Kimia - Rejuvenating Facial System
I think I've seen this included in another box before (Maybe Glossy Box?) but I didn't get it. I love the idea of a two step system and I can't wait to try it out. I had a little go of it on the back of my hand and it seems wonderful!

Taaj - Himalaya Micellar Water
When I saw this it immediately reminded me of that Bioderma Water that people rave about. Anyone have any idea if this is similar? Currently trying to use up a Clinique and Botanics make up remover so I wont be opening this until they have been done with.

Verdict:
Really happy with my box! The only 'hmph' product was the hand cream but these little tubes always come in handy for a hand bag so I can't be too unhappy about it. I noticed on my card that they are now listing what other variations of products people might get and I have to say I was a little down in the dumps that I didn't get the RMK cleansing oil instead of the Taaj water! But... that's the luck of the draw! I'm already excited to see what March has to bring!

Did you get a Jolie Box this month? What did you think?

Double review: Glossy Box February 2012

Claire's review.
I've never really been fussed by the whole beauty box thing to be honest, it's always been more Bryden's territory. But, after seeing a discount code to receive a Glossy Box for half price I thought I'd give it a go. I received an email on Friday saying that my Glossy Box would arrive within the next 2-3 days, when the pink and black package arrived on Monday morning I was pretty excited. That's until I looked inside that was.

After seeing previous boxes I couldn't help but feel let down by what was inside. Now I know that the contents won't always be to everyone's tastes and this months box wasn't going to be as exciting looking as last months Valentines edition, but I just felt so disappointed. It also didn't help that one of the products had leaked all over the inside of the box and the products. After some whinging on Twitter, Glossy Box have offered to replace if I send them a photograph of the box, I can't really be bothered or care enough about any of the products to do this.

I thought maybe even if the products didn't look up to much they might actually work well, so today I've given them a test.







Du Wop- Venom Gloss
Most people will have heard of this brand for their lip plumping glosses. This shade goes on quite sheer and the gloss has a nice scent/taste. I don't really have much else to say. It's ok, but there are so many other glosses I would pick over this one.



Dr Bronner- Magic Liquid Soap
I received this in the citrus scent, which is pleasant enough. This is apparently has 18 different uses and you do get quite a good lather from a couple of drops. I'll probably end up using this to clean my make up brushes.



Paul Mitchell- Super Skinny Relaxing Balm
This was the only products I was really interested in. Sadly it didn't live up to my expectations. My hair felt smooth after using it, but I own plenty of other products that do a better job.



BM Beauty- Pure Mineral Eyeshadow
I haven't heard of this brand before and this kind of eyeshadow isn't really my kind of thing or colour. The shadow wasn't particularly pigmented, but I did find applying it wet intensified the colour more.



Como Shambhala- Invigorate Body Lotion
This body lotion according to Glossy Box will 'put you in a perfectly uplifted mood', it just made me want to rip my own nose off. Not too bad at hydrating, just smells horrible.


Swatchy swatchy

Verdict.
On the whole I'm disappointed with my first Glossy Box. There isn't anything in the box I'd buy again, in fact most of the products will probably be passed on. having said that, I'll give you another month to impress me Glossy Box, otherwise it's over.

Bryden's Review



As soon as I got the text from Claire telling me her Glossy Box had arrived and she wasn't impressed I was scared! In my lunch break at work I was frantically trying to look through twitter to see what everyone else was saying without actually slipping up and finding out what was inside the box. I'm not one for spoilers. When I got home the box was waiting for me. Time to see what all the fuss was about!

I opened the box and I was a bit like hmm yeah ok... Fair enough. It's not as good at the last couple of boxes. However, the last couple of boxes was the Christmas edition box and the Valentines edition box so are bound to be a little more special.

I got some slightly different products to what Claire got and I got the Peppermint Dr Bronner's soap and the Paul Mitchell Round Trip. Everything else was the same as hers.



My thoughts:
Duwop - Venom Gloss (Buttercup) - Nice size! This product had me excited. I'm always looking at the Duwop products on Asos but I've only actually bought one product (The Mattillume powder)from them as they're quite expensive I don't want to buy without testing and being very disappointed.

Dr Bronner - Magic Liquid Soup - This is something I've had a look at in the past on the American Apparel website. I love the idea of only having to time one product to a friends house if I needed to stay over night. Saves space! I had a quick go of this the other night and it lathers up lovely! Leaves a nice smell on the skin afterwards too.

Paul Mitchell Round Trip - At first glance I was really excited about this but I'm not really sure how I'll be able to use this.

BM Beauty - Pure Mineral Eyeshadow (Storm Cloud) - At first I thought this was a grey pigment but on further inspection its a dark-ish moss green (quite a muddy colour). I first swatched it as it was and I was sooo unimpressed. Where's the colour pay off? I can't find it. I did try it wet afterwards and it did intensify the colour but wetting an eyeshadow every day isn't something I want to deal with.

Coco Shambhala - Invigorate Body Lotion - In all honesty I haven't smelt this yet as I am currently using up another lotion at the moment. Claire mentioned the smell wanted her to rip her nose off - Absolutely howled at this! I'm not too bothered on smells and as long as it moisturises nicely I'm ok with that. I'll use have to use it at night.

Bryden's Verdict:
An 'OK' box. I'm not overly excited but there's a few things I'm looking forward to trying (Duwop gloss, Dr Bronner and Paul Mitchell).

Pay day wish list...

Dress- Boohoo
Blush in Flush
Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch
Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish™ Hot Cloth Cleanser
Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra 24H
China Glaze Nail Lacquer- Knockout Neon Orange

Lanolips lip balm
Lana Del Rey's hair colour.

ROLL ON MIDNIGHT!

Claire
x

Boy you got my heartbeat runnin' away...

Happy Valentines Day everyone! I hope everyone had a nice day regardless of being in a relationship or not. Being the sad, lonely spinster I am, I decided to treat myself. I've been working like crazy lately and I thought I deserved some treats for when I got in from work tonight.



These Nicki Minaj Minis are the first OPI nail varnishes I've bought and I'm pretty impressed. They took about 3 coats to build up the colour, but I really like them. My favourite has to be Metallic 4 life which is a lovely black packed with silver glitter.


l-r: Metallic 4 life, Fly, Did it on 'em, Pink Friday.



Well, I'm off to eat chocolate and watch Big Fat Gypsy Weddings. Did anyone get anything nice for Valentines Day or treated themselves to anything lately? Does anyone have any must have OPI nail varnishes they can recommend?

Claire
x
P.S. Apologies for the rubbish lighting in these photos, roll on summer!

Beauty Box - Feel Unique February

I was checking my e-mails on my phone this morning and saw that Feel Unique had sent me an e-mail telling me that my box was dispatched so imagine my surprise when 10 minutes later there was a knock at my door from my postman with my beauty box! Now that's fast service... ha ha!

I'm not going to lie, the Feel Unique beauty box is not one of my favourites (I get Glossy, Jolie and Feel Unique). I am never excited by the contents and I think this is because it never includes any products/brands which I haven't heard of before. To some this could be a dream come true as there's no risk taking involved and you'll always expect something that readily available and probably something you've seen before which makes the box 'worth the money'. To me, this isn't what I signed up for. I want to hear about new products that could possibly become my 'holy grail'. I don't really want to hear about products which I've seen/heard about before.

I've been thinking about cancelling this box for a while now and I'm going to give it another couple of months before I decide what to do. I'm liking the look of the She Said Beauty Box and may subscribe to that one instead. I was debating about subscribing to Carmine instead as well but I'm unsure at the moment.

Enough rambling... Onto the box :





First Reactions:

Decleor Phytopeel Face Peel Cream - Promising to exfoliate and smooth. Interesting to see how this compares to the Dermalogica Thermafoliant as I'm loving using my sample at the moment. I think I got the Thermafoliant from Glossy Box.

Phillip Kinglsey Elasticizer - A pre-shampooing treatment to moisturise. Again, Interesting. I've looked into buying this in the past from raves from other bloggers but the feelings past. I hope this going to be something I'll end up raving about. I'm currently blogging with this on my hair at the moment!

Nuxe Hulle Prodigleuse Multi-Usage Dry Oil - Oil for face, body and hair. I love oils at the moment. I don't know why but the term 'dry oil' doesn't make me want to put this in my hair. We'll see...

Elemis Lime and Ginger Hand and Body Wash - Exactly what it says on the tin - A hand and body wash. Smells lovely! I always see Elemis products as something of a treat and I wouldn't normally buy from this brand as it is a lot of money to shell out for something you may not like. Really happy to see this in the box!

Leighton Denny High Performance Colour Nail Varnish in Steel Appeal - A nail varnish is always a welcomed product. I don't have anything like this colour so I'm happy with this to try out.

Bonus item:
Jean Paul Gautier Kokorico perfume sample - At first spray it smells like PERFUMECOFFEE but now its worn off its just your bog standard stinky bearing on granny-ish perfume. Nothing exciting.

Id like to know...
What do you think of the beauty boxes out there?
Have you subscribed to She Said Beauty?
What do you think of the Carmine box?

Help me decide what to do about my subscription to Feel Unique!

Bryden x