You Beauty Discovery - July (Travel)

As the Summer holidays approach, I think it's a good thing that this month's You Beauty Discovery Box theme is travel. The products in the shortlist are all travel-friendly sizes and give you the chance to try something new as the weather gets warmer.

From this month's shortlist, I chose the Philip Kingsley Moisture Balancing Shampoo & Conditioner Duo, and the Vichy Purete Thermale 3 in 1 One-Step Cleanser & Idelia Life Serum Duo. As I'll be going away for a few days to Turkey next month, I chose these products as they'll be perfect to take with me. It'll be a good opportunity to try out new products whilst on holiday and it means that I've got my hair and skincare already sorted (partially anyway). All that's left to get is some sun protection and pack away any other samples I have lying around. The extra products this month include a St Tropez Gradual Tan in-shower lotion, a sachet of Emma Hardie Protect+Prime SPF30 and a taster pack of Nairns Muesli Breaks Oatcakes.
I haven't quite worked out the retail value of this box, but I'm sure it is worth at least the cost of the box (if not more!). What do you think?



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Sephora Valencia Haul

I didn't really get to buy many beauty products from Sephora thanks to the liquid restrictions for hand luggage, but I did manage to pick up a few items to try.

I love the Sephora Smart Liner which I picked it up in Dubai and it's my go-to eyeliner, so I had to get a back up for when my current one is finished. The liner is a true black shade and has a slight sheen once dried. The shape is really the selling point, because it's small and really comfortable to hold and use (especially as I use a hand held mirror to apply my makeup) making the application of eyeliner really easy.

I also picked up a selection of Sephora Fiber Sheet Masks from the store. I like using these masks on days when I don't have time to apply a cream or clay based mask. These are really simple and easy to use, as the mask only needs to be unfolded and laid over the face. There is a wide range available in the fiber masks, for the whole face as well as for use under the eyes. I'm looking forward to trying these out over the next few weeks.

At checkout I also got a Sephora blusher sample and miniature Clarins eye contour gel. Even though I didn't buy a lot, I now have a good idea for what I'll be putting on the shopping list for my next trip to Sephora (whenever that may be) =)


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You Beauty Discovery Box - February (Red Carpet)

This month's YBD box is all about products that are that little bit more indulgent and ready for the red carpet (very fitting considering it's awards season!). The products are all about radiant skin and finishing touches to keep you looking your best.

From the selection of products available, I chose the In.fused Coconut Body Scrub (100g) and the Proto-col Moisturising Facial Gel (20ml). The extra's included in this box were Lindor Milk Truffles (already eaten...Ooops!) and a sample of the Bare Minerals Bare Skin Serum Foundation.

I know I've chosen another body scrub this month, but the In.fused scrub is completely different to the Afyna one from last month's box and I'm looking forward to using this before I'm back at school (currently enjoying the half term). The body scrub is 100g which is half the full size product which retails at £18.99, making this sample approximately worth £9.50. The scrubs are vegan friendly and made from natural ingredients. They're also not too coarse, which makes them perfect for applying on the face (avoiding the eyes of course).
The Proto-col facial gel is a product I randomly chose, thinking it would be a little bit like my tube of Hydraluron. Obviously this is not the case, as the product is more of a gel-lotion hybrid, rather than a clear gel. It does keep my skin hydrated but seeing as it aims to reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles, it's more suited for mature skin. The 20ml tube retails for £9.50 on the Proto-col website.

With a box worth £19, I'm pretty pleased with my picks and the fact that the YBD box is only £6.95. Plus, the addition of Lindor truffles are always a way to my heart =D



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British Beauty Blogger Dream Box II

I may have temporarily cancelled my YBD box subscription this month (I didn't really need/want any of the products available) but I couldn't resist purchasing the Dream Box II by The British Beauty Blogger and Latest in Beauty. With a total of 18 full, travel and sample size products (worth approximately £130) for the price of £21.95, I was logging into my Latest in Beauty account as soon as lunchtime came around. Unfortunately the site was down (because of the popularity of the beauty box), so I signed up on the waiting list and was able to purchase the box the next day. It's really no surprise that the box is jam packed with products. Once I had opened it up, I couldn't get everything back in to close it up!

The products included in this box are all hand picked by Jane (British Beauty Blogger) and I'm looking forward to trying them all out. Included in this box are the following products:                                                                                                                 

Ardell Natural Style Demi Wispies (Full Size)
Vichy Aqualia Thermal Light Cream (15ml)
Kerastase BAIN SATIN 1 (30ml)
Kerastase LAIT VITAL (20ml)
Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Lip Protectant Stick SPF15 (3.7g)
Mio Double Buff (50ml)
Sleek MakeUP Mini Pout Polish (4.5g pot)
LOLA Make Up Ultra Shine Lipstick (full size 4g)
invisibobble The Traceless Hair Ring (3x hair rings)
Agent Provocateur FATALE (2ml vial)
Eylure Brow Crayon in Mild Brown (0.23g)
Le Couvent des Minimes Gardener's Hand Healer (25ml)
The Body Shop Beautifying Oil (100ml)
NUDE Skincare Deluxe Pro Genius Treatment Oil (10ml)
Essie Nail Polish (1x 5ml)
Bourjois Delice de Poudre Bronzing Duo (full size)
Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream (8.5g)
Ciaté London Lashlights (6.5ml)   I'm most looking forward to trying the Burt's Bees Cuticle Cream, the Mio Double Buff and the Vichy Aqualia Thermal Light Cream. I can't believe I've never bought the Bourjois Bronzing Poweder before, so this product will also be on my first to try list. As I'm a big fan of the L'Occitane Shea Butter hand creams, I'm wondering how the Le Couvent des Minimes Gardener's Hand Healer will compare as it also contains 20% Shea butter.   Overall, I'm loving this box as these are products that I would never have picked up for myself (especially the Ciaté Lashlights and the Elizabeth Arden Lip Protectant) as well as products that I would have liked to try earlier, but my student budget doesn't allow for it. Hopefully I'll be posting a few reviews with my thoughts on individual products, but for now I'm just going to enjoying trying them all out (not all at once though!)

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Project Shoebox

Project Shoebox started out as a small facebook campaign last year, aiming to collect 40 shoeboxes filled with essentials for Bromley Women's Refuge. The total was more than double the number of boxes and a few additional essential boxes to keep supplies stocked up. This year, Project Shoebox has grown and is again collecting items that can be given as aid/gifts to the women and children at the refuge.

As a compulsive hoarder, I emptied out most of my stash last weekend and filled two boxes (each one smaller than a shoebox) with a bunch of products, from unused cosmetics to sample sachets of lotions and more. The truth is that I definitely don't need any of them (especially when I already have a lot to get through!) so to pack them in a box and post them to the Project Shoebox address was the obvious thing to do. 😊

If you're thinking of doing a little clearing up and 'de-stashing', make sure you don't throw away anything you could possibly donate for a good cause.
 

You can find all the details for Project Shoebox on the facebook page here. Don't forget to follow them on Twitter and Instagram too (@PRJshoebox).
 

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Sampling Foundation #4 - Bare Minerals bareSkin Pure Brightening Serum Foundation

Picking up on this mini series from where I left it in April, I recently picked up a sample of the new Bare Minerals liquid foundation (the whole name is a mouthful!). The formula is a combination of mineral foundation and a skincare serum with a non chemical SPF 20. As you may already know, my usual foundation is the Bare Minerals Original Powder, so I thought I'd see how the liquid one would compare in terms of shade match, coverage/finish and ease of use.

Personally, I love the powder foundation because it's so easy to use, simply tip a little into the lid, swirl your brush in, then tap off the excess and buff into the skin. It literally takes two minutes (or less) and I'm left with light-medium coverage without a heavy feeling on my skin. The bareSkin foundation requires a little more effort as you have to shake the bottle before you take it out. This is quite satisfying as you can here the ball inside mixing the product. Then I simply apply a 1-2 drops directly onto my foundation brush (in this case, it's the Real Techniques Expert Face brush) and dab around the face before starting to buff it in.

What are my thoughts? I actually really like the bareSkin foundation. It feels very light on the skin and doesn't oxidise once you've applied it. I apply enough for light coverage, but it can be built up (without feeling cakey) if you wanted more. The finish is dewy, and really does give you that glowing look (probably something to do with the fact that it is a serum foundation). It hasn't reacted with my combination/sensitive skin and lasts throughout the day - around 7/8 hours for me (I do set my foundation with a little MAC Prep+Prime Translucent Finishing Powder).

At the Bare Minerals counter, I was matched to two different shades, Bare Latte and Bare Sand. There was only a sample of Bare Sand available, which is the slightly darker shade, but once buffed into the skin (and it's the same with the original powder foundation) the slight shade variation didn't really make a difference. So, definitely get shade matched at your nearest counter before purchasing (and ask for sample to try at home). There are a total of 20 shades available so there is bound to be one that matches your skin tone.

Despite the little bit of extra effort required at the beginning, I really do like this foundation and I will (hopefully) purchase it after Christmas (downside of being a student, I have to prioritise my purchases). I think I've been converted from mineral powder foundation to liquid foundation!

Have you tried the Bare Minerals bareSkin foundation? What are your thoughts?



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What's in my Travel Bag? [Flight Essentials]

As you probably know by now, inshaAllah I'll be going on holiday to Dubai in a few days. I'm one of those people that tends to pack well in advance so that everything is ready to go on the day (none of this last minute packing the day before!). I also love making lists and tick things off as I've packed/done them. Anyway, here's what I've put in my hand luggage ready to be used during the flight or once I've landed. My carry on bag isn't very big, so I needed to be extra picky about what to put into it. Also, thanks to the restriction on liquid products, all the items that I've packed are 100ml or less =)

1) La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water (50ml) - I know it's just a water spray, but I know that this spray will help keep me awake during the flight as well as make the heat in Dubai a little more bearable. It definitely will be staying in my bag throughout my holiday.

2) Bioderma Atoderm Nourishing Cream - This little 8ml tube is from the rather large set of Bioderma Samples from Escentual. It'll be mostly used for making sure my eczema doesn't flare up during the flight.

3) Impulse True Love Body Fragrance - This was a last minute (well, a week in advance) addition to my travel bag. The smaller 35ml size means that it'll take up less space in my bag (originally I had a Bath and Body Works Fragrance Mist which was bigger).

4) Lanolips Lip Ointment with Colour SPF 15 (Rose) -  As my usual EOS lip balm is a little bulky, this tube of Lanolips will definitely keep my lips moisturised during the flight and throughout my holiday. The added SPF is a bonus and will protect my lips from any sun damage while I'm out and about. It's the only lip balm I'm packing in my luggage for my holiday.

5) L'Occitane Shea Butter Honey Hand Cream - Another one of my handbag essentials going into my travel bag. L'Occitane hand creams are 20% Shea Butter and keep the skin moisturised without leaving any residue. I also love using this for a mini hand massage, which is something I can do whilst on the flight =)

6) Wet Ones Sensitive Wet Wipes - In case of any emergencies, I do like to keep a packet of wet wipes in my bag.

7) Bioderma Photoderm Max SPF 50+ cream - Another little Bioderma miniature for my hand luggage. I know that once we land it'll be around 10am but it'll be pretty warm and bright outside, so I'll definitely need to apply sun protection before heading out of the airport.

8) Optrex Eye Drops (for dry eyes) - Pretty self explanatory this one. I usually get dry eyes during the flight, and because I'll be wearing my contact lenses when I'm actually in Dubai, these eye drops will be my saviour in all the air conditioning!

9) MAC Prep+Prime Transparent Finishing Pressed Powder (not pictured)- The only makeup that I'll be carrying in my hand luggage will be pressed powder (and a powder brush to go with it). I'll only need to apply this after my sun protection just before leaving the airport. Big sunglasses will hide everything else =)

I think that's all my flight essentials. Obviously I'll have my non-beauty items as well, including my iPod, phone, camera, travel documents, sunglasses etc.

Do you have any particular products that you pack when travelling?



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You Beauty Discovery Box - August

I received my August YBD box a few days ago. Aptly named 'Summer Essentials', I chose the Eucerin Sun Mattifying Face Fluid with SPF50 and the Gazelli Triple Youth with White Oil duo from the products available. The added extras included in the box were Jimmy Choo EDP and Jimmy Choo Man EDT samples, a sachet of Face-D 3-Luronics Instant Effect Cream Serum as well as a 4 way nail buffer.

I won't be taking this bottle of SPF with me on holiday, but I know that this will come in handy if the weather is still lovely and warm when I get back. It's always important to use SPF because without it, our skin would age before its time (and prevention is always better than treatment!). The Gazelli Sample set stood out as the YBD website stated that there was limited availability of the product, so I added it to my box without a second thought. There are two 5ml samples included: a face cream and a face serum. I know that the products are designed to be anti-ageing, so I'm not sure they're quite right for me but I'll definitely be trying them out.

There was a decent selection of products this month, and for £6.95 I have the opportunity to try out products that are worth much more. What's there not to like?



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Eid Mubarak! and an Escentual Haul =)

A belated Eid Mubarak to all my readers! It's been a busy few days with lots of henna, baking, food and visiting relatives! Anyway, here's what I treated myself to from Escentual.com (a sort of Eid present to myself) =)


What was originally meant to be a repurchase of my Bare Minerals foundation, turned into a miniature haul from Escentual (oops!). Alongside my foundation, I also ordered the Bioderma Skincare Sample Set, which consisted of 27 sample sizes of Bioderma products. Luckily, it was on offer at £16, and I got a voucher emailed to me with a value of £20 after I had ordered. Win!

And here's what arrived in the Bioderma Sample Set. I know that I'll be taking quite a few of these miniatures on holiday with me, especially the Micelle Solution's and the Atoderm range of products.

A full list of the samples included in the set:

Sébium

• H2O Micelle Solution 10ml
• Global - Intensive Purifying Care 5ml
• Hydra - Moisturising Replenishing Care 5ml
• AKN Fluiid - Purifying Corrective Care 5ml
• Pore Refiner - Corrective Care 5ml
• Purifying and Foaming Cleansing Gel 10ml

Sensibio

• AR Anti Redness Cream 5ml
• AR BB Cream - Anti-Redness Skin-Perfecting Care 5ml
• Rich - Soothing Cream 5ml
• Light - Soothing Cream 2ml
• Forte Cream - Reddened Sensitive Cream 5ml
• H2O - Micelle Solution 10ml
• Eye Contour Gel 2ml
• DS+ Soothing Purifiying Cream 5ml

Atoderm

• PO Zinc Crème - Ultra-Soothing Cream 8ml
• Creme Lavante - Nutri-protective Cleansing Cream 10ml
• PP Baume - Ultra Nourishing Emollient Balm 8ml
• Nourishing Cream 8ml
• Atoderm PP Ultra Rich Foaming Gel 10ml

Photoderm

• AKN Mat - Mattifying Fluid SPF30 5ml
• Spot Cream SPF50+ 5ml
• AR Tinted Cream SPF50+ 5ml
• MAX Cream SPF50+ 5ml

Hydrabio

• Light - Moisturising Cream 2ml
• Rich - Moisturising Cream 5ml 
• Serum - Moisturising Concentrate 5ml

Cicabio

• Smoothing Repairing Cream 5ml

With the £20 voucher, I then placed another Escentual order for my saviour from eczema (Bioderma PO Zinc Crème) and thought I'd try out the Bioderma Sensibio DS + Soothing Purifying Cream for my eczema as it has a lightweight texture which will be much appreciated for the rest of the summer. With my purchase of the Sensibio Purifying Cream, I also got a Sensibio Micelle Solution (100ml) for free. Another win! All in all, I think my haul from Escentual will last me a good few months and I'm looking forward to trying the different Bioderma products over the holidays =)



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You Beauty Discovery Box - April

After an issue with delivery, I finally received my YBD April box yesterday. For this month. I chose the Steamcream Naturally Effective moisturiser and the Clayspray Glow Red Clay masque. Both products are full size, with the Clayspray masque retailing at £13.50 for 30ml, and the Steamcream at £12.95 for 75g. Considering the cost of the YBD box is only £6.95, the retail value of the products inside is at least 4x the price!

I'm looking forward to trying the Steamcream as a daily moisturiser (I'm currently on the hunt for a light one for the Summer), and the Clayspray is another addition to my face mask collection, which I'll definitely be trying out on my next pamper session. The extra's include a fruity 9bar, which I've never tried before, and a sample of the antioxidant face cream by The Organic Pharmacy.

What do you think of this box? Have you subscribed to any beauty boxes?

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