Love Me Beauty Box Review April 2015

I have too much makeup! Said no women, ever!

This month, I went a little bit overboard with Love Me Beauty box, I bought 2 instead of one! Well to be precise, I got one box purchased with my credits which is basically free. So the other box came with random beauty products which I did not realised but I paid £10.00 Plus £3.95 (which is their basic monthly charge) for shipping for both of them!

Love me Beauty is a monthly subscription beauty box. Every month is worth 6 credits and you simply chose the items you want inside your box from a selection of products ranging from hair, body, nails, skincare and make-up. Most of the items are either 1 or 2 credits. All the items are packed within a bag printed their name which is enclosed inside a box which can also be re-used for storage.

You can also check out my review on their previous box on February 2015 or subscribe to them now here.

This month's box featured 4 + 3 products from Cailyn, Model Co, Lord & Berry, Too Faced and Nails inc.

Cailyn Pure Lust Extreme Matte Tint (2 credits) Full Size - $19.00 here

This matte tint creates a vivid explosion of colour on the lips with continuous coverage that lasts! A unique infusion which delivers a waterproof, non-sticky, matte finish in a single stroke for chic lips. They are available in 16 shades and I received the colour in 04 - Expressionist which is a bold bright red colour! 

I love the colour a lot but I am not confident to wear matte lipstick since my lips are very prone to dry. However, I would like to try this out one day by putting a clear lip gloss on top! 

ModelCo Lip Lacquer Lip Gloss in 'Socialite' (2 credits) Full Size - £15.00 here

ModelCo Lip Lacquer is a richly pigmented lip gloss that delivers intense vibrant colour with brilliant shine. The texture is creamy and delivers full-coverage, bold, long-lasting colour. Although it is a lip gloss, it has a non-sticky formula and provides vivid colours. They are available in 6 shades and I received the colour in Socialite which is a orange red colour. It also has a strong yummy berry scent to it as well.

Lord & Berry Intensity Lipstick in 'Chiffon' (2 credits) Full Size - £9.00 here

This intensity lipstick claim to be highly concentrated colour pigments formulated with karite butter, rice bran oil and Vitamin E. Their matte formula creates velvety finished lips while also delivers moisturising properties to your lips. The lightweight texture melts effortlessly for intense and long-lasting colour. 

They are available in 5 shades and I got mine in Chiffon which is a nude-ish brown colour which doesn't really suits my pale skin very much.  

Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer (2 credits) Sample Size 2.5g (Full Size - £25.00 here)

My most anticipated product from this box is a product from Too Faced which I am wanting to try it out for so long! I got mine in the shade Medium which I think still could work into my pale skin!

This chocolate-scented, shimmer-free, matte bronzer from Too faced is perfect for contouring using real antioxidant rich cocoa powder. It is infused with signature bronzing pigments to create a unique matte bronzer that neutralizes red and evens skin tone. They are made 100% cruelty-free, Paraben-free and suitable for vegan as well.

Nails Inc Nail Polishes (1 credit)- Full Size £11.00 each here

I have received a lot of nail polishes from Nails Inc from Love Me Beauty and I am LOVING it! The shade I got is a pale pink polish named "Upper Cheyne Row". I love Nails inc polishes as not only they are popular among the nails department but they are also very pigmented and long-lasting as well.

ModelCo Eye Define Pencil in 'Black' (1 credit) Full Size -£14.00 here

This eye define pencil from ModelCo includes a sharpener which is very convenient and useful for a precise application. They are formulated with creamy, densely pigment pencil which is great for long-wearing. 

ModelCo Fibre Lash Brush On Lashes in 'Black' (2 credit) Full Size - £10.00 here

This product claims to extends your eyelashes to dramatic lengths, adding 3-5mm to your own lashes giving you a fabulous false lash extension finish. There are 2 different brushes which includes the Lash fibres and the extension (the actual) mascara. 

Apply one coat of the Extension Mascara to clean lashes ensuring every lash is coated, then apply one coat of the Lash fibres to the ends of the lashes and let it set for about 20 seconds. Finally, finish off by applying another coat of extension mascara side to side with each stroke for maximum length and thickness.

I am very curious about this technology but quite skeptical about waiting 20 seconds for the Lash fibres to set. It is quite long in my opinion as a eye lash primer but I will definitely give this a try and hope it does give me a fake eyelash look!

Overall, I love this month's box because most products are full sized! Moreover, all these products are worth over  £60.00 which is a complete steal!!

Thanks for reading! xx

alicelovey

Read More

BirchBox Review April 2015

Birchbox ia a monthly beauty box subscription service that is based in the US but later expanded worldwide and shipped 5,000,000 of their boxes globally. Their monthly box will always include a theme, consists of 4 - 5 selected hair, make-up and skincare products from well-known brands. 

Moreover, they also have an online shop where you can purchase items that have been featured in their previous boxes and a reward program. Their reward program works by referring friends, answering surveys, purchasing their box or any full-size item in their online shop. The rewards can then be converted into cash and thus, more guilt-free shopping!

This month's Birchbox theme is "Royalty Good" in celebration of the upcoming birth of royal baby no.2, this collector's edition box are available in pink or blue colour. I received my box in blue and it comes with several post-cards going with the theme as well as the beauty products.

If you are interested in Birchbox, their boxes are only £12.95 with P&P per month and you can subscribe to them here

The box includes 5 items (4 Sample Size and 1 Full size) from brands such as Lola Barcelona, Be fine, Pommade Divine, Percy & Reed and Liz Earle.

Lola Barcelona Nail Polish (Rambla) (Full Size - £7.50) here

A spring/summer neon coral-ly orange nail colour inspired by the vibrancy and style of its namesake, Lola Barcelona. Their nail polishes claimed to be super glossy and ultra long-lasting as they are formulated with diamond dust to provide extra strength as well as durability. 

I can't have too much nail polish in my collection and I am always happy when I see them included in any beauty box! It is always nice to add a pop of colour to your nails during this spring time! 

Befine Warming Clay Mask with Cardamom, Arnica And Pomegranate Sample Size 5 oz (Full Size 150ml - £14.00 here

This clay mask with benefits of Pomegranate & Cardamom naturally fight wrinkles and tone your skin. Arnica helps to soothes and heals with its natural anti-flammatory toning properties. It claims that the purifying mask work immediately as it warms on contact with your skin, which breaks down unwanted oil and clogged pores. 

I have never heard of this brand before but I am excited to try this product which is made in the US! It is also proven to be safe and effective for all skin types which is great for people who have sensitive skin. To use it, leave it on for 5 minutes and rinse off. Use twice weekly to detox for a bright soft finish.

Pommade Divine Nature's Remedy Balm Sample Size 7ml (Full Size 50ml - £19.80 here)

This multi-purpose nature's remedy balm, uniquely formulated using 97% natural ingredients which helps to soothe, calm and protect dry, sensitive skin. It can even relieve serious skin complains like eczema or psoriasis.

I was pretty disappointed upon receiving this in the box. Although, I have never heard of this brand before but I thought it's small sample size is difficult to know if its worth to purchase the full size. However, it is nice to pop them in the bag and uses them whenever I have dry chapped lips or unexpected bruises.

PERCY AND REED Volumising No Oil Oil Sample Size 30ml (Full Size 60ml here)

This volumising no oil oil from Percy & Reed are specially made for fine hair with violet extracts and pro vitamin B5. It claims to strengthen, deeply nourish and moisturise your hair without feeling greasy at all, as the name suggests. It also added heat protection properties so your hair will be kept safe from thermal styling ensuing glorious locks everyday.

I have never tried any of their product and I am quite surprise when I started to use it. I noticed not much brands out there who do hair oil which concentrates on fine hair. I hate the feeling of greasy-ness after applying hair oil to my fine hair but this product instantly absorb to your hair once applied leaving your hands with no trace of oil.

It it really amazing and I really can get good use of this sample size. However, I only tried it twice so far so I can't comment much on it yet.

Liz Earle Beauty Co Cleanse & Polish (with Muslin Cloth) Sample Size 30ml (Full Size - £14.00 here)

This product has won 100 beauty awards due to their world-renowned two-part skincare system. It not only gently remove all traces of dirt, grime and make-up but also sweeps away dulling dead skin cells for a gorgeous glow when paired with their 100% cotton muslin cloth. Their award winning product also includes moisturising cocoa butter and two nature's best astringents (eucalyptus essential oil and rosemary) which list dirt off the skin's surface without disrupting the natural barrier function.

I have already owned this product an tried twice but I don't quite understand why there is so much hype on this cleanser. I have yet to try it for a few more weeks from this product before judging if it is good or bad. It does everything what it says, to remove makeup and dead skin cells which is great but I find it very fiddly to keep washing (and drying) the muslin cloth after every use.  

Which product do you like the most?

Thanks for reading! xx 

alicelovey.

Read More

My Little Box Review April 2015

"Everything starts with a Dream"

My Little Box is a subscription beauty/fashion box originally started in France but recently landed in the UK few months ago. Little Box offers something very different compared to other boxes and that, you will certainly not be disappointed. 

They contain hand-picked and beautifully designed box of beauty, fashion and lifestyles surprises. Every month, there will be a different theme and each box promises to delight you. Moreover, they also have their own beauty range and one product of their own in-house beauty range will be included every month.

I immediately feel very good about this box once I saw the box cover. In fact, I already fall in love with how cute is their packaging, even without knowing the products! This month's theme was "Dream" and that word meant very dear to me. 

I really love the inspirational quote by Walt Disney, "If you can dream it, you can do it". Having a dream and achieving it is the best feeling in the world so never give up trying to achieve it. 

They also created a website mylittledreambox where you can write down your dreams and email to yourself that you will receive them in one year, to confront your personal challenges. I think this is such a cool idea and I am currently filling out the lists! It's free so everyone can access the website!

This box was worth a total of £61.00 which is a complete steal as their box is only £14.95 (include P+P) here. If you're not convinced to subscribe, you should check out my reviews on their February and March box! 

Back to the main highlights of this cute box, there are 3 beauty products from Cowshed, My Little Beauty and Loved by. Moreover, they added 2 cute lifestyle items, a rotating stamp and a necklace.

Beauty Products:

Cowshed Wild Cow - Invigorating Body Lotion (100ml) - £18.00

This is my first time trying any products from the brand Cowshed. This invigorating body lotion is a fresh blend of essential oils of lemongrass, ginger and rosemary that leaves the mind feeling revitalised. It contains no animal testing, parabens, petrochemicals, sulphates, artificial fragrances and colours so it is suitable for vegetarians as well!

My skin is still quite dry from the winter season but I trust this would hydrate my skin. This lotion is enriched with naturally moisturising cocoa butter and vitamin E. I really like the decent size of the bottle as it can lasts quite a while before buying the full size (300ml).

Lip Balm Loved By Lou Lesage - £8.00

This Lip balm is inspired by a French actress, Lou Lesage also known as a brand spokeswoman and a singer. It is a red-tinted lip balm enriched with moisturising power and subtly colours your lips without drying them. 

Not a big fan of lip balm on a pot but because it is a conveniently-sized, it is perfect to pop in your handbag when you're on the go. 

My Little Beauty's Repairing Mask for Dry Ends (100ml) - £7.00

Another decent sample size product which is from their own range, My Little Beauty. My hair recently become more frizzy and dry because I dyed my hair few months back. I might need to visit the salon next week for a trim but I hope this hair mask can help to fight that dry-ness of my hair ends.

This repairing mask is infused with walnut oil and shea butter which gives a real boost to dry and damaged hair. I love the scent of this mask, it smells nutty and sweet! Really looking forward to try this product out. 

Lifestyle Items:

Stamped with Love Rotating Stamp - £8.00

This is such a nostalgic item to me as it reminds me during my tuition days, my teacher usually grade my test papers with stamps with stars on it to show how well I am doing. The more the better and this just makes me feel like younger again.

This rotating stamp has twelve message on it, which are really cute on journals and letters. I can't wait to decorate my diary with this cute rotating stamp.

"Bonne Etoile" Locket Necklace - £20.00

This necklace was inside this cute cloud-shape stitched paper, which I am not willing to rip it off as instructed. Instead I just cut of the string without cutting it off. This gold locket necklace engraved 'bonne etoile' created exclusively by Delphine Pariente who is a Jewellery designer. This necklace can give a nice touch to any outfit!

Discover Delphine Pariente's jewelery in her boutiques and online plus enjoy 20% discount from April 20th to May 20th with the code "DPMLB"

Overall, My Little Box is still the box that I am most pleased with and I already can't wait for their May box. May is my special month as it's my Biirthdayyy! It's crazy to think I am one year older soon, I don't want to grow old!!

Don't be afraid to dream big!

Hope you enjoy it and thanks for reading! xx

alicelovey.

Read More

April 2015 Collective Haul

Did quite a bit of shopping throughout this month from various online website. You can tell that I have an obsession on nail polishes. Couldn't help it especially they are on offer!

WAHL 3 In 1 Hot Air Styler Kit - £22.50

I never come across an hair tools that can do dry and styling in one go. I think it is a genius idea as it is a struggle for me to hold a hair dryer on one hand and a brush on the other to style it. I can never learn to do perfectly like what my hairdresser do to my hair. 

This is my first 1200w-hot air styler from WAHL which is suitable for curling, straightening and drying. It came with 3 attachment which i think its great and affordable. Moreover, it does have quite a lot of good reviews on it so I can't wait to give this a try, hoping it would reduce my hair styling time.

KMS California FreeShape Quick Blow Dry 200ml - £10.10

I was introduced this product from one of the subscription boxes and also featured in my Favourites last year. I finally came around to buy the full-sized product. It basically does what it says in the bottle, a quick blow dry spray and moisturises the hair as well.

Really recommend to those hair that never gets dry after 3 hours! It's a pain but this could be your saviour! I don't need a hair dryer to dry my hair for an hour now. I reckon this bottle could lasts me for ages considering its price, definitely inexpensive and worth the price tag!

If you're not familiar with the brand name Innisfree, they are made in Korea and is a natural brand that shared the benefits of nature from Jeju Island for vibrant beauty and pursues an eco-friendly green life to preserve the balance of nature. Innisfree are dedicated to use pure ingredients and eco-friendly containers on their products. 

Jeju volcanic pore clay mask 5ml - £ 1.73

This is actually a sample of their most popular clay mask call Jeju volcanic pore clay mask. A 6-in-1 pore treatment clay mask with super volcanic cluster capsules to effectively absorb sebum and resolve pore concerns.

I heard some korean bloggers said that it feels like the mud mask from Glamglow which I hope it is that amazing. I have tried Glamglow and know how amazing that product is but I can't wait to see if this does the same thing too! 

Eco flower Tint 10ml - £ 4.84

One of the most popular makeup item from any korean cosmetics is lip products. I bought the Lip tint in the colour, Rose and Camellia from Innisfree since they are doing buy 1 free 1 event at that time. I am in love with this lip product as once apply, it stays for the whole day, it even stays on my hand when I swatched them. It doesn't feel drying as well on the lips.

Camellia is more to a hot pink colour while Rose is a red-pink colour. I actually owned Camellia before and got a lot of compliments from my friends as it really brightens my face a lot. Plus it is so affordable! 

Skinny waterproof microcara 4g - GBP £ 7.61

This is a waterproof mascara with a ultra slim skinny brush that resists water, sweat, sebum and brings out hidden eyelashes. I initially bought it because I think it will work perfectly on my bottom lashes but I am surprised that it works very well on elongating my upper lashes. I put them on all day and it didn't smudge at all.

I remember I swear by not to use any mascara made from Korea but this one surprises me! My holy grail mascara is Kiss Me Heroine Mascara from Japan and I think it does the same job which I am so surprised! 

Definitely give this a go if you have straight stubborn eyelashes!

First Aid Beauty Eye Duty Triple Remedy 10ml - £26.00

I recently decided to splurge on eye cream as I think it it the time to maintain my eyes now before I get older and having wrinkles. This First Aid Beauty Eye Duty Triple Remedy is a complete eye treatment that erases dark circles while delivering serious long term skin care benefits to the eye area. 

I don't have serious dark circles but I agree when it claimed to brighten the eye area instantly in one application. It is very light and smooth on the eye so it is perfect for sensitive skin as well!

Last but not least, my babies (nail polishes, lol). Almost wherever I go, I must have a variety of nail polishes with me. I haven't got that obsession before until one day, when I painted a nail art myself and I started to get a lot of compliments. I didn't know I have the ability to do that and I enjoy painting nail arts anyway. From then on, I began painting different nail arts which means buying more nail polishes. It was time consuming to do, but it was worth it for me.

The nail polishes I bought are from OPI and Barry M with their respective names labelled on the picture above! which one are your favourite nail polish?

I did a easy Spring/Summer Floral nail art blogpost here. If you fancy cute and easy nail art that looks lovely for Spring, you should try it! 

Thanks for reading! xx

alicelovey.

Read More

Spring/Summer Floral Pastel Nail Art

I just felt very nice about the weather in the UK these days. Its officially spring here and I decided to paint my nails a Spring/Summer floral pastel nail art. I love doing nail arts, it makes me happy just by looking at it though I need to spent 2 hours on it. 

It might look complicated but honestly, It is really easy to do and I will show you step by step to create this nail art. 

Nail Polishes

Obviously you can use whichever brand/colour you want for the flowers and designs but these are the one I chose, from left to the right:

Base Coat: Sally Hansen Double Duty Strengthening Base & Top Coat

Top Coat: Revlon ColorStay Gel Envy Diamond Top Coat 

Mint: Makeup Revolution Nail Polish (Cool Days)

White: Barry M Nail Paint (Matt White)

Green: Barry M Gelly High Shine Nail Paint (Kiwi)

Bright Yellow: MAKE UP Gallery (Sunshine Yellow)

Light Pink: NCLA Nail Lacquer (Like...Totally Valley Girl)

Nail Tools

I keep my nail tools as minimal as possible to make this nail art easy. If you don't have a nail dotting tool and a brush, you can substitute them by using the end of a bobby pin and a toothpick! Who say you can't do nail art without professional nail tools? ;)

Start by protecting your nails with a good base coat. Always use base coat before applying other colours, it helps to extend the life of your nail art so it can lasts longer. Yes, it is as important as the top coat at the end to lock up all your hard work!

Once the base coat is dry, you can start applying your preferred base colour, I have used the mint colour here but you can use any pastel colour you like. This mint colour really reminds me of the Essie Mint Candy Apply, I think it is a good dupe for it. Not to mention Makeup Revolution nail polish only costs £1 only!

Nail arts

The best and fun part I always enjoy is to experiment nail arts, I only did 2 different style which is really simple to do it yourself!

Start from Left to Right

Make sure you give enough time for each colour to dry off before you start applying another colour. I decided to paint white horizontal lines on it. Then when the whites are dry, apply the pink on the half of it and this will make the pink pop even more.  

Start by using your nail dotting tool, or bobby pin to make 3-4 small dots on your nails so it resembles the petals of the flower. A bright yellow nail polish helps the nail art comes alive and lastly, you might need a nail brush or a toothpick to draw the leaves of the flower, 3 of them on each corner is what I did.

After everything is done, leave it a good 15 mins for everything to dry, then seal it off with a good top coat to give it a beautiful shine. A good top coat can affect how long your nail art will lasts so it is crucial to invest one! 

Hope the pictures explain better and hope you can re-create this design in many different colours that screams out spring! :)

Thanks for reading! xx

alicelovey.

Read More

Lookfantastic Beauty Box April 2015

Look Fantastic is an online beauty website having a wide range of products and they provide free delivery worldwide! With over 14,000 products from 400 different brands across from hair, skincare, electrical, fragrance and more. Their box offers handpicked, must have beauty items ranging from skincare, haircare, body products and cosmetics wrapped in one classy box. They will contain at least 6-7 items which definitely worth more than the box itself!  

I also have reviewed Lookfantastic previous boxes in March and February but so far, all their boxes includes really good sample size products that are worth more than the box itself which is £15. 

This month box are worth about £45 with 6 (4 Sample and 2 Full Size) products ranging from body care, hair care, makeup and vitamins. It features brands from Forza, Balance Me, Korres, CB12, Inika and Tigi Bed Head.

Forza Multivitamin for Dieters (Women) - 30 Capsules (Full Size RRP - £7.49 here)

This unique daily multivitamin from Forza has been designed exclusively for women. It provides 13 different vitamins and minerals to meet the needs of women who are maintaining a low calorie diet, avoiding certain food groups and taking part in increased physical activity. 

With Calcium, Vitamin C, Biotin, Zinc and 6 types of B vitamins, this month's supply of capsules ensures that your body still receives everything it needs to maintain healthy during diet.

I have been taking Vitamin B pills due to stress that I am having once in a while but I can't wait to try this out after I run out of my Vitamin B pills. It is recommended to take one capsule daily with a glass of water, preferably on an empty stomach.

Balance Me Revitalising Hand and Body Wash Sample Size 100ml (Full Size 300ml RRP - £12.50 here)

Balance Me products are great as they don't contain harsh ingredients on all their products. This hand and shower wash is sulphate-free, sunshine-inspired blend of zesty, skin-quenching essential oils and wrap your body in luxurious yet gently cleansing bubbles to restore skin's natural beauty.

They have blended calming mandarin with cleansing grapefruit, balancing bergamot and rejuvenating sweet orange and a hint of mint to give a refreshing scent throughout the day. It will leave hands smooth and hydrated with every wash due to the natural surfactants they have used.

This is such a decent size for travel and I always like Balance Me products! Definitely will stock it up for travel during Summer holidays!

Korres Calensula Soap Sample Size 40g (Full Size 125g RRP - £5.50)

This natural cleansing bar from Korress are free from mineral oil, silicone, Propylene glycol, Ethanolamine and Paraben. It is gentle enough to be used on the face and body, leaving skin feeling soothed and hydrated.

Calendula possesses emollient and mild antiseptic properties while Vitamin E protects and conditions your skin. It is suitable if you have dry or sensitive skin as it's exceptionally mild with creamy lather that leaves your skin feeling velvety.

Once again, Korres products always smells heavenly. Even though I rarely uses soap, I would like to give them a go since non of their product has ever let me down.

CB12 Mint Menthol Mouthwash Sample Size 50ml (Full Size 250ml RRP - £14.59 here)

Bad breaths is one of the biggest turn-offs for me so I always make sure that I have mints with me every time to give a good impression to people.

This mint menthol mouthwash from CB12 is a long-lasting mouth rinse, giving you confidence for up to 12 hours. It is also designed to help reduce plague build up and prevent tooth decay as it contains 0.05% of sodium fluoride. Simply gargle 10ml dosage, then spit and rinse mouth.

INIKA Certified Organic Eye Liner 05 Black Caviar (Full Size RRP - £13.50 here)

This eye liner pencil from INIKA are formulated with natural, organic ingredients with smooth, cremay texture that glides effortlessly onto the skin with longer lasting staying power. It is available in 8 different shades and the one I received is in Black Caviar. 

I have quite a few black eye liner pencil from various brands from other beauty boxes so I am not very pleased to find them again in this month's box. However, this pencil claimed to be suitable for even the most sensitive skin. I might give this a go as I haven't tried INIKA products before.

Tigi Bed Head Manipulator Sample Size 30g (Full Size RRP - £11.00 here)

A funky gunk that rocks! This TIGI Bed Head Manipulator is a fibre forming creme that allows you to create spikes and twist dreads while adding volume and texture. This cream has a coconut fragrance, provides texture with semi-matte finish which you can work through clean wet or dry hair. 

I have never used a styling product on my hair before, I usually style my hair with hair oils so I am not sure if I will try this out for give it to someone who needs it.

Overall, I do think that Lookfantastic has done a good job this month as I really enjoy receiving products from Balance Me and Korres. Moreover, it includes new brands every month that I never heard before which is worth to give them a try. For only £15 a month, I think it is a complete steal!

April box is still available here, be hurry before it runs out. They also do subscription plan for 3,6 and 12 boxes so you won't miss out your favourite products every month from Lookfantastic!

Thanks for reading! xx

alicelovey.

Read More