April Jolie Box

It's that time again JOLIE BOX TIME!

I'm so glad I went back to the Jolie box. It feels luxurious and I haven't received anything yet that I wouldn't use (and even better, I've never used any of the products before).

I always feel that when I read blogs and watch Youtube videos on the beauty boxes that it's just another thing that people have received and isn't very special for a lot of people. They always say this will be great as I travel a lot and I just think, I don't pay £10 per month to collect lots of travel toiletries! We just get a run-down of what's there and some other facts from the menu. Hopefully when you read this you'll know how excited I am when I get my box!

It's Saturday today- the perfect day to collect parcels as you have hours to luxuriate over them!

I eagerly rushed home with my box (after stopping at Costa for my morning coffee)!

I like to do a lucky dip and not really look at what I am reaching for when I first open the box. What came first for me was the KMS California Freeshape Hot Flex Spray.

 I like to receive hair products like this as normally I don't like to spend a lot of money on them and so this is something I would never normally buy. If this spray works I'm going to be a very happy bunny; my hair is big, messy and curly and when I straighten it, it never lasts and I long for the hold I get after I have my hair cut and my hairdresser straightens it for me.  

Hold this space for an update as it's my mum and dad's anniversary party tonight I will be trying this out!! 

Next to come out was the Balance Me Cleansing Balm. 

This says it is for dry and sensitive skin (me) so looking forward to trying this later too. This brand has featured in a lot of beauty boxes so my heart sank a little that it wasn't quite so unique as some other products but as it's a nice soothing balm and I'm always looking for new skin products I'm going to enjoy trying it out.

This next product's packaging left something to be desired; it feels like it's either new to the market or doesn't normally do samples as the pot was poor quality with a paper label stuck on top (not good for wet hands). However, the Tropic Skincare Skin Revive cream smells divine and like it's bursting with anti-oxidants and lovely face smoothing berries!

The next discovery had me so excited I couldn't stop smelling it....

Pure Fiji Exotic Bath and Body Oil. The smell is out of this world! Whilst I'm writing I want to smell it again- it's addictive!!

After I had been on holiday last year I was obsessed with finding a perfume that had the smell of coconut sun cream. The closest  I came was Jennifer Aniston's perfume which smells like fresh laundry (amazing, but not sun cream). This however fills all my desires to have that smell around me. I'm only a little sad that the bottle is a sample and not a massive one! It's advertised as a bit of a do-all product; for skin, hair and scalp. I think it will be similar to a dry oil spray body moisturiser. I don't doubt that it will smooth my hair but I'd prefer to save it for my skin and I can't wait to use it!

Finally, out popped the mascara. I really like to receive at least one cosmetic in my beauty box. When you don't have a lot of money you can't always try the things you want to and so this is the perfect way to do that. This week I needed a new mascara so bought one from Boots, it's typical that a mascara would therefore be in this months box. 

I can tell though that tit will be completely different from my other new one (I think it was Collection 2000). The Jolie box Bellapierre mascara has a thin brush and the formula looks very thickening. I think for nights out I will end up using this mascara to bulk up my lashes and then my Collection 2000 mascara to add some length. Let's wait and see, this is definitely getting a test later today!

I also really like the printing inside the box. It makes it feel very luxurious.

This is my favourite box I've either tested or read about yet. It has everything I signed up for and more.

 I hope that you all enjoyed your beauty boxes this month and if you don't subscribe, give it a go for a month. There is absolutely no commitment to keep it up for any longer than that!

I hope you are all having a lovely lazy Saturday morning!

Lots of Love

Lauren  xXxXx

Avon Calling...

Hello there chums!

I have been waiting to show you my new nail polish (how sad)!! We've recently started having the Avon book delivered which I've not had for years and as expected I am very excited by it- cosmetics and skincare direct to my door and they always have some really good offers.

My first foray into Avon was when I was about 17 (though we'd always had it delivered when I lived with my parents I never really ordered anything noteworthy), to earn a bit of pocket money I became an Avon lady but, it was winter and the dark nights made me not want to go out to collect the books etc and I gave it up after a couple of months. The people who are delivering on my street at the moment seem to be an Avon couple, but I've only seen the male Avon lady so far.

My first delivery didn't get off to a great start as he delivered on Good Friday, whilst me and I'm sure a lot of other people were away for the weekend. He pushed a note through saying he'd be back the following day but we weren't back until the Sunday and so on his third attempt on bank holiday Monday he was successful. This is what I ordered.....

Tummy sucking in Jeggings

I also got a lavender colour

Good old shampoo and conditioner

I was most looking forward to the nail polish as I ordered the aqua colour and a lovely lavender.  I haven't tried the aqua yet but the lavender certainly hasn't disappointed. The colour is lovely- it did take two coats though but one week on I only have a few small chips to the edges. One thing I will say though is that I didn't like the brush. It made the application difficult and streaky. I kept getting big blobs of nail polish running down the sides of my nails (not something that normally happens when I apply nail varnish). However, a nice thick second coat and a glossy topcoat paid off and I love the colour!

These photos were taken after about 4 days so there is some slight wear, but I am not gentle with my hands!

I'm not too sure about the jeggings as they are more a lycra material than jegging so I might send them back but I need to try them on properly. The shampoo and conditioner smell lovely; flowery but fresh and I think they will be good for everyday use. It wasn't overly moisturising but I might try leaving the conditioner on for longer to see how that works.

Who else loves a bit of Avon shopping? I know you can but online but there's nothing like getting things brought to you and I don't think they have the same offers online!!

Bye for now!

Lots of Love
Lauren xXx

Buyapowa!!

I thought I'd talk to you all about a little thing called Buyapowa. I first saw this on Miss BB's
blog and youtube channel. It's a similar idea to Groupon and Living Social except most of what you can buy are beauty products! Yay!

The idea is that there are four things you can buy at any one time and the more people that buy the lower the price is! There's the added bonus that if you bring other people to the site who also buy, then you might get the item free (not that I envisage this happening to me any time soon).

The website I admit looks a bit cheesy but you can get some really good things at cheap prices. They have had GHD's for about £70, loads of Liz Earle products and all brands of make up! The reason I've recently got excited about it again is because right now they have the Katy Perry perfume for £17 pound!! Less than half price!

I received this perfume from my boyfriend for my birthday last year and I've had to save it so I don't run out because I couldn't afford to buy any more. Everything about it is great- the bottle is so different from any other and the smell is sweet but fruity. I think it's perfect for going out and in the evenings but as Buyapowa have such a great deal I'll be able to wear it all the time now!!

Has anybody else tried Buyapowa and what do you think?? I'm looking forward to my new perfume coming!!

Loads of Love

Lauren


P.S Shipping is only £1.50!!! Bargain!

What's in my bag?....

 I've tagged myself for this as I love this tag and always enjoy a good nosy in other people's bags!

I'll start with the bag itself- a TK Maxx special. If I need a bag or shoes the first place I always look is TK Maxx. This one is a fairly new purchase from last month. I'd found that none of my other bags fit everything in plus my lunch when I'm at work. Hopefully this one is going to last me through until the summer. It's really two bags in one. The inner one clips in so you can either have it extra large or a smaller accross-body bag. I fell in love with it as soon as I saw it!






Here's a peek at everything that I manage to fit in it (most of which I don't use on a daily basis)!

I carry way too much with me, but I can't help feeling like I will need it at somepoint! In fact there are only 3 things I every definitely check for with my little mantra before I leave the house; phone, money and keys. If I desperately need anything else I can buy it (money) I have my phone for emergencies and keys to get back in the house!

I don't even wear lipstick to work but for some reason I have many lip products in my bag- just in case I end up going anywhere lip products make me feel  more 'made-up'. I am ashamed by how many I carry day-to-day though!! Don't judge me!

 The products include Lush bubblegum lip scrub, Collection 2000 cream puff gloss (amazing staying power) my sample of Jane Iredale stain from the February Jolie Box along with TWO lipstains that I picked up in a set of four from TK Maxx (told you I love that shop) and my 'never without it' lip balm.

Even with all those lip beauties I manage to fit in my I-Pod- sorry I'm old school no I-Pod touch or I-Phone. Some perfume samples of CK Shock to keep me smelling sweet whatever I'm doing. I also carry Impulse body spray (so cheap but very 1999).

 I have my bag foundation which is a Virgin Vie powder foundation for touch ups. There's also my kindle, my strawberry shaped laptop mouse- I'm at my mum's for Mother's Day so my brother, me and our respective partners all like to laptop it up around the table and the Avon book I've brought to see if my mum wants anything.

The only last bits are L'Occitane hand cream and some anti-bacterial hand gel which has almost run out, a bobble for when my hair gets annoying as it always does and two sets of keys, one for my house and one for my mum and dad's.
.

When it's all in my bag (which when I see it all spread out, I can't believe it can all fit) there is still loads of room! Amazing, maybe I need more bits and bobs to carry around with me?!?

Please tell me I am not the only one walking around with random bits in my bag? Please?!! :)

Carmine Update...

Carmine have said I can have my money back! Finally! I offered to send the box back if they send a free shipping label but they haven't asked for it. I'm going to cancel it and re-sign for Jolie Box! Yay





 Photo provided by Ambro at:
 http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=1499