Birchbox X Oliver Bonas Review

Hi, Beauties!

I thought this week I would review my first ever Birchbox. I know I'm late to the game but after seeing through Instagram and word of mouth that the September box was a collaboration with Oliver Bonas, well I had to subscribe there and then. For any of you that don't know, Oliver Bonas is a department store that sells Fashion, Furniture, Homewear and also the cutest gifts - I can never resist popping in if I pass one! I thought I would give you a summary of the beauty products I received and if it's worth the subscription. But before we talk about the products, can we all just take a minute to appreciate the box they came in. I managed to pick what designed box I wanted and OBVIOUSLY, I had to have the 'Sass Squad' design. The great thing about the boxes too is that they can be reused for storage or go on Pinterest and check out how to use them for more creative purposes.

In terms of the products themselves, I was lucky enough to receive all of the ones featured in the September box. This month, the featured product everyone received was the Manna Kadar cosmetics Fantasy 3-in-1 Eyeshadow (RRP £15.00) - which is now a staple in my everyday look. It can be used as an eyeshadow, blush and highlighter and honestly girlies, I can not rave about it enough, it's incredible. The shade is perfect for every skin tone and the pigmentation is very decent with little fallout.

I also received the Polaar IcyMagic Instant Eye Contour Energiser (RRP £22.00). This product is what it says on the tin; It's effectively an ice cold gel that you apply under your eyes to reduce the appearance of puffiness and dark circles. I've been applying it morning and night for 5 days now and I have noticed my eyes don't look as tired and dark as usual. I also love how cold it feels as if it's rejuvenating my skin and replacing the elasticity under my eyes. Thoroughly loving this product and will undoubtedly have to replace my tester with a full-sized one (R.I.P. Bank Balance).

Next was the Sand & Sky Brilliant Skin Purifying Pink Clay Mask (RRP £39.90). This product is perfect for the oily/combination gals as it gets rid of any excess oils and draws out all the impurities from the skin. I have used this once and will probably only get another use out of my sample. A few days after applying the mask, I noticed my skin was not as red and my spots had gone down in size. However, as it's normal retail price is rather hefty, I'm unsure whether it is worth repurchasing a full-sized pot as I didn't notice a significant difference in my complexion.

I also received the Dr. PawPaw Original Clear Balm - Yellow (RRP £6.95). I've only used this product on my lips as of yet, but it can also be used for the skin, hair, cuticles and nails! It worked beautifully as a lip balm. My lips felt really smooth after application and it also dried really quickly, which is handy if you're impatient like myself and want to apply your lippy straight after. I would like to use this product more to give a more rounded verdict but for now, I can say I am really enjoying it - I can already predict it will be a holy grail in the winter time (Bye Cracked Lips!)

Finally, the last product that came was the Benefit They're Real! Double the Lip (RRP £16.50). I'm normally a huge fan of Benefit products but I must admit I'm not sure about the product. First of all, I'm not too keen on the shade I was sent just because it's a little bright for my taste, especially at this time of the year.  I'm also just not a fan of the concept of the product, I really do not see the need to have a 2-in-1 lipstick/lipliner - call me old-fashioned but I like applying my liner first. With all that said, the product quality is flawless as always, easy application, super pigmented and creamy. Unfortunately, it's just not for me.

My final thoughts about the box are that it is a genius concept - try before you buy. You get to try luxury brands for a fraction of the price and not wasting your money on buying products at full price that you may not even end up liking. It is well worth the subscription - I opted for the £12.95 a month and cancel at any time subscription. However, as I was referred by my Best friend, I got my first box for just £7.95 - so thank you very much, Jenna!

If you guys liked this review, please let me know and I'll review my October box as well. I just want to say a big thank you for reading this post and subscribing to my blog, it means a lot to me.

Until next week hunnies!

With Love,

Emma xoxo

Mid-month Beauty Favourites

Hi, Beauties!

Can you believe we're half way through September already? It's crazy; I'm already getting excited thinking about Halloween and Christmas! (and yes, I'm deadly serious). Because of time flying by, I thought it'd be fun to do a mid-month favourites post and talk about the beauty products I've recently purchased and currently loving. I personally think that they're perfect for anyone and everyone and because of their small size, they're great for carrying around in your handbag on a daily basis. I am also aware I always talk about how great things are for travelling (sorry!) but, if you can't carry products around with you to touch up throughout the day, then gurl - what's the point?!

Urban Decay 'All Nighter' travel size makeup setting spray (30ml) (£10.00)
This is the first time I've ever purchased the UD setting spray after years of hearing what a revelation it is, and I couldn't agree more. It's such a weightless mist and makes my makeup last all day - and all night! It doesn't have a strong scent, so it's great if you're easily irritated by fragrances. I know some setting sprays can smell quite chemically which is not what you want when you're wearing it all day. It also absorbs any oils and mattifies the face, so for all you oily/combination gals out there like myself - this is a must-have. As you all know, I'm obsessed with travel-friendly products and why I purchased the 30ml product. I keep it in my bag and if I'm feeling like my skin is more oily than usual, I'll have a quick mist mid-day and know everything will stay put for the rest of the day.

e.l.f. HD Lifting Concealer (Fair) (£4.50)
This concealer is great for brightening the under-eyes and highlighting the bridge of your nose. It's nice and creamy and blends really well into the skin. I've found that once you've applied the concealer with the wand provided, use a beauty-blender to blend the product out as it reduces the chance of creasing and also sets the concealer better. There are currently only 2 shades available; Fair and Light. However, at £4.50 it's a steal.

Tanya Burr Chasing the Sun Peonies Illuminating Powder (£7.49)
I absolutely adore Tanya's beauty line. Her products are always such high quality and beautifully packaged, with this highlighting powder being no exception. I think this works great as both a highlighter and a blusher that can be used day and night. I like to apply it with a fan brush to the apples of my cheeks and cheekbones to give me a subtle, yet, a youthful pretty glow.

Tanya Burr 'Bear Hug' Lipstick
As Autumn is practically here, I always like to transition from using light pink nude lipsticks to more darker neutral nudes. This colour is perfect for throughout the day during the Autumnal/Winter season. It gives a really nice matte finish and the creamy consistency allows it to glide onto the lips really easily. It also has great pigmentation and lasts for a good few hours, even in these weather conditions!

Lush Charity Pot Hand & Body Lotion (10g Trial Size) (£1.00)
Containing 21 ingredients including shea butter and Rosewood oil, this lotion is great for protecting the skin, especially against the Autumnal cold and rain. I've only been applying a pea-sized amount onto my hands and arms throughout the day and it has worked wonders. My skin feels really hydrated and nourished and melts into the skin really well, leaving no oily residue behind. I purchased the trial size just to see how well the product would work with my skin, but also its compact size is great for keeping in your handbag and reapplying throughout the day. More importantly, 100% of all the proceeds made from the lotion are donated to small grassroots organisations - so you're not just being kind to your skin but to the world too! (smiles all around).

I hope you guys have enjoyed this post. If you'd like more posts just like this one, please leave me a comment below or contact me through my social media. Enjoy the rest of your week my lovelies and I'll see you all soon.

Until next time hunnies,

With Love,
Emma xoxo

The 3 Beauty Products I Reach For on a Daily Basis

Hello, Beauties!

It's been a crazy week so far for me, lots going on and lots to do! When I'm busy, my makeup look becomes repetitive and minimal in terms of the products I use. It gave me the idea for this weeks blog post topic, so I thought I would talk about the 3 products I tend to use on a daily basis to give me my signature look. This is normally a full-coverage, simplistic eye and nude-lip combo.

1. L'Oréal Paris Infallible Total Coverage Foundation (10-Porcelain) (£9.99)

This is my go-to foundation that I like to wear on a daily basis. Priced at just under £10, it doesn't break the bank and is a great dupe for the Estée Lauder Double Wear Foundation. It gives a nice smooth, matte finish and is perfect for anyone with problematic/oily skin. It easily hides any redness or blemishes and covers the odd spot to severe acne. I find that I don't need to use a lot of product for it to give me that full-coverage look, especially if I'm just wearing it during the daytime. If I was going on a night out, I would probably add another layer just to make sure it stays put and is certainly buildable. I purchased the foundation in the shade '10 Porcelain' which is a little on the light side for my complexion. However, there are 6 shades in total that you can choose from.


2. Maybelline Color Tattoo 24Hr Eyeshadow (65-Pink Gold) (£5.99)

This cream shadow is great for an eye base in any kind of eye look. I sometimes use it on its own or blend it in with a matte pink nude eyeshadow, to give a simple yet elegant look. The cream shadow blends very easily using any kind of fluffy blending brush or even using your finger, which is a bonus if you're in a hurry. Because pink is my favourite colour, of course, I would have it in the shade 'Pink Gold' but there are a variety of other colours including gold and turquoise. They are also available in Matte shades for those of you who are not fans of glitter. Despite it being a shimmer, it can definitely be used on a daily basis - just remember, a little goes a long way!


3. Illamasqua Glamore Lipstick 4G (Tease) (£20)

Now, I know the price point is definitely more high-end in comparison to the other products, but this lipstick is definitely worth it. This is the only Illamasqua lipstick I own. It is definitely one of my favourite makeup products I have ever bought and I describe it as the 'perfect nude'. It is highly pigmented, with the consistency being super creamy and blends out so well when it's on the lips. I also like to use this lipstick in conjunction with darker lip shades to create a stunning ombre effect. If you want to invest in a quality lipstick that you'll use time after time, then this is definitely one to add to the cart ladies.


So there you go! 3 makeup products that can be used every day to create a stunning day look. If you want to purchase any of the products I've mentioned, then click on the product titles and you'll be directed to the relevant website. I hope you all enjoy the rest of your week and I'll see you all next Thursday.

With Love,
Emma xoxo