April's Glossybox

This week I received my May Glossybox which reminded me that I posted a video on my YouTube channel with what I got in my April Glossybox and hadn't shared it with you all!

I'll pop it below so head over if you want to see what I got! 

Also might be worth subscribing while you're over there in case I forget to share my video's again!

Thanks for reading

Iona x

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What’s In My Bag Tag

So this is a little bit of a different post for me as it isn’t fully focused on anything makeup or beauty related. Instead, it’s a tag which I love watching and so, although it isn’t as popular anymore, I thought I’d film a ‘What’s In My Bag Tag’.

I’m the type of person who likes to be prepared and my friends know this so if we’re out and about and they need something, I’m always the first one to be asked and chances are I’ve got it. To see what random things I’m talking about, click the link below to head over to the video...and while you’re there feel free to subscribe so you don’t miss any future videos!

Thanks for reading

Iona x

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Glossybox - March 2018

So a couple of week's ago I decided to cancel my Glossybox subscription once I had received my March box. However, now having received my box and seen what I got I can't bring myself to cancel my subscription as it was just so good!

So, here's what I got...

Mudmasky Sleep Repair Renewal Nourishing Mash - RRP £61.00 for the full size

I've never heard of Mudmasky before but this Amsterdam brand uses all natural ingredients and promises to sooth, smooth and nourish your skin. As with all my favourite night skincare products it's scent helps to ensure a better sleep so really it's good for body and mind! Still not sure if that allows the hefty price tag but I'll see how I get on with it.

Oryza Beaty Warm Nude Lipstick - RRP £15.95

This semi-matte/satin finish lipstick is definitely not my shade. However, the swatch was very pigment and felt very smooth. I imagine this would be very comfortable to wear but on someone else as this shade just completely washes me out.

Figs & Rouge Soft Foxus Pore Perfect HD+ - RRP £35.00

Yes this is full size and work more than double of the whole box! I LOVE the packaging of this serum with the hint of gold on the lettering. It is designed to minimise the appearance of pores which is absolutely something I can get on board with so very much looking forward to trying this.

Meg Cosmetics Good Morning AM Mask - RRP £4.50

I've never seen a face mask which is meant for use in the morning specifically but love the idea of it as it'll set you up for a great skin day. It helps to leave your skin looking fresh and bright so I think I'll save this for a 'morning after the night before', potentially after one of three weddings which I've got coming up!

La Theorie Des Volcans Noir Eternue Youth Potion - RRP £26.50

Another product which along is worth more than double the box! This is a brand which I've received before in Glossybox and LOVED. It smelt amazing the last time and my skin took well to it so I'm very excited to try another product by them. This is a purifying scrub which you can leave on for a couple of minutes, much like a mask, to have a deeper affect.

I can't get my head over the fact that the box cost £10.00 plus P&P (£3.95) and yet the value of the box is over £81.95 as four of the products were full size. So I thin kI'm going to have to back on my decision to cancel my subscription...dang it Glossybox! You win again!

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Iona x

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Birchbox - March 2018

This months Birchbox’s theme is Mindfulness which I am all about. I absolutely love the tag line it came with of ‘Be present not perfect’ and know it’s definitely something I need to work on more myself. This box is all about taking time out and looking after yourself so with that in mind, let’s see what came in the box!

Blaq Peel Off Mask - RRP £14 for the full size

I love a good face mask and especially a peel off one! This one is targeted at stressed skin and works in 15 - 20 minutes. I can’t wait to give this a go as my skin is definitely in need of some TLC just now.

Benefit BADgal BANG! Volumising Mascara - RRP £21.50 for the full size

Now this was undoubtedly the item which I was most excited about in the box. If you watch any beauty YouTube channels then you will have probably seen the massive launch which a Benefit held for this new mascara. They really hyped this up so I couldn’t wait to try it out and was beyond disappointed when I did. Admittedly I haven’t got on amazing with benefit mascaras (love their other products though!!) but I really hoped this one would be different. However, it is quite possibly the clumpiest mascara I’ve ever tried, so bad that I actually had to take it off before leaving the house which was extremely messy given how wet it was! I’m going to wait until it dries out a bit more and then give it another go.

Absolution Le Nettoyant Pureté - RRP £26

Took me a while to find out what this product is but apparently this is a natural cleanser which is great for sensitive skin. I love a good cleanser and also up for trying out a new one so excited to give this a go.

R + Co Badlands Dry Shampoo Paste - RRP £22

This is a dry shampoo paste....?! My mind is blown. I’ve never heard of a product like this but love how compact it is. I really hope it works well as getting rid of greasy hair and I’m also hoping that since it’s a paste it’ll give great volume (the main reason I use dry shampoo!). I’m going to wait until a day when I don’t necessary need to leave the house in case it goes horribly wrong.

Rituals Sakura Foaming Shower Gel - RRP £4.50

I love Rituals bath products and know that this one won’t disappoint. The shower gels which I’ve used in the past by Rituals all provided the best foam and smell beautiful so this is a very welcome addition to my collection.

Let me know what you think of these products and if you received a Birchbox too!

Thanks for reading

Iona x

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Morning and Evening Skincare Routine

I did not realise until writing this post how many Simple products I'm currently using but turns out that most of my morning and evening skincare routine is by them! It's not overly surprising though as when I'm a bit on a budget Simple is my go to skincare brand and one which I'd recommend to anyone who's starting out in the world of skincare. But let's see what else I use...

Morning

So my morning routine is kept very simple and quick as I don't often have a lot of time spare. In the shower I will use a face scrub/wash of sorts and then, after fueling up on breakfast, I make a start of my skincare. I always start with a cleansing water and I'm currently using the Garner Micellar Cleansing Water. This has been my favourite one for a long time and is always my go to. Especially when the bottles are so huge and therefore last ages! I then follow with Simple Soothing Facial Toner. After a swift cleanse and tone I will then use a serum and have recently discovered the Simple Hydrating Booster. I started using this when it came out at the beginning of Winter and haven't gone a day without it since. It is exactly what it says and gives your skin a boost of hydration which mine definitely needs during the colder months. My final step is to moisturise with a light moisturiser. Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser is a perfect product for the job as it's light on the skin, soaks in quickly and make-up sits beautifully on top. 

Evening

As soon as I'm home from work I head straight into my bathroom and take my make-up off. I love to use either the Liz Earle Hot Cloth Cleanser or the Simple (surprise surprise) Oil Cleanser which I've actually just used up which is why it's not in the picture. If my skin then feels tight then I'll pop on some moisturiser at this stage but if it doesn't then I leave me skin naked and able to breathe. When it's finally time for bedtime I get down to business with a bit more of a busy skincare routine. A lot of products from the morning routine appear again so the main difference in the evening is I like to use a thicker and more nourishing moisturiser. Often I use oils and recently finished the Neal's Yard Beauty Balm which I absolutely LOVE (and you can read about here) but at the moment I'm back to a cream and I'm absolutely loving the Pixi Beauty Sleep Cream. I've also written a post about this product here which will tell you all about my thoughts on it. I will then follow on with an eye cream and currently using the Boots Time Delay Anti-Aging Eye Cream. My eyes can be very sensitive with eyes creams (including the Simple one!) but gets on well with this one from Boots which is also very affordable so a winner!

And after all that I'm ready for bed, to then wake-up and do it all over again! I actually really enjoy skincare routines so if you have any product recommendations for me to add into mine then please let me know!!

Thanks for reading

Iona x

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Pixi Beauty Sleep Cream

I recently ran out of my beloved Neal's Yard Rose Beauty Balm (which you can read about in my post here) and then found this product in my drawer so have been trying it out for the past couple of weeks. Pixi Beauty Sleep Cream is a welcome addition to my evening skincare routine as I've really been enjoying using it. 

First off, I love the packaging. There's something so simple and quite old fashioned about it which I love. The cream itself is very buttery and absorbs into the skin quickly. It feels quite light on the skin which is a nice change from using oils which can feel a bit heavier and take longer to sink into the skin. Even though it feels light on the skin there’s no doubt that it’s working hard over night as my skin feels so nourished in the morning. This Beauty Sleep Cream also has a slight lavender smell which I also enjoy but I realise it may not be to everyone's taste. 

Overall I have really enjoyed using this cream and will continue to do so. However, the one down side is that the pump has let me down a couple of times. I don't know if the texture of the cream is too thick in the tube but I often find I have to twist the pump off and squeeze the cream onto my hand instead. Not a big issue and I can still use the cream but just a slight annoyance. 

So far the skincare which I've tried from Pixi is this Beauty Sleep Cream and the infamous Pixi Glow Tonic (which I LOOOOVE!). Let me know if there's any other Pixi essentials I need to be trying!

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Iona x

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Glossybox - February 2018

For some reason with this box the card lists more items than what you receive so I think it was a real pick 'n' mix situation but I have to say I'm really happy with the items I got and wouldv'e chosen the same products from the list had I had a choice - thumbs up for Glossybox getting it bang on yet again! Let's see what I got...

Ciate London Gelology Top Coat - RRP £6.00, £9.00 for the full size

This is such an adorable mini which I can't wait to try out. I love top coats which leave a gel finish to your nails as I find this helps them last the longest. This states it provides 10 days of high shine gloss which would just be fab!

Steve Laurant Nude Pop Lip Tint - RRP £17.00

This brand is popping up quite a bit in beauty boxes at the moment and I'm not complaining at all. The packaging of the products are beautiful and this lip tint is no exception. With a rose gold lid and a glass jar there's really not much to complain about. I've tried it on and the colour on me is more coral than nude but I still really like it. It did clump slightly on the dry bits of my lips but after buffing them down a bit it settled into a really nice shade. Can't say it felt over moisturising but at the moment my lips are really dry so maybe on a normal lip day this would be sufficient to keep them going.

Studio 10 Beauty Makeup Mist Glow-Plexion - RRP £14.00, £26.00 for the full size

I love a good setting mist and use one every day. Although on a daily basis I use the L'oreal one, my skin reacted the best to the MAC one and really improved with daily use of it. I'm hoping that this one will be much the same to the MAC one and bring some glow to my skin to help it look brighter and younger.

Icona Milano Emotion Allowed Mascara - RRP £15.00

I've already used this mascara once since getting my box and has to say I was impressed. Usually I like to let a mascara dry out a bit before using it as I really don't like the whole clumping together and 'spidery' look. However, this didn't clump lashes together too much and really did lengthen and hold the curl. It's also waterproof - hence the emotion allowed - and stuck around all day without the slightest hint of flaking or smudging.

Sleek Makeup Diving Eyeshadow Palette in Storm - RRP £8.99

I actually had this exact palette before so when I received this I dug out my old one. It had a cracked mirror and was extremely dirty and a couple of the eyeshadows were completely used. The fact I still had it however to me shows how much I liked the palette so I'm very happy to have a brand new clean one to replace it with. Sleek is also a drugstore makeup brand which I think is very under-rated and is great quality for it's price. If anyone was starting out in makeup I would 100% recommend checking out this brand and especially the eyeshadow palettes!

I think the item I'm most looking forward to using is the Ciate top coat but I'm also SO happy to have the new Sleek eyeshadow palette. If any of you have reviewed your own Glossyboxes or any beauty box subscriptions then feel free to leave a link below as I love reading about them!

Thanks for reading

Iona x

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Birchbox - February

For February's Birchbox we got ta choice of three themed boxes- 70's, 80's or 90's.  I'm not sure if it's obvious from the photo of my box above but I went for the 90's as it was the decade I grew up in. So let's see what I got in my box...

The Beauty Crop Eyeshadow Trio in 'Love You So Latte' - RRP £7

These three shades are all so useable and go together perfectly. Having all three in such a small compact makes it perfect to pop in your handbag for any touch ups. The real test for these will be how they blend together and how they last on the eyes.

ModelCo Green Concealer - RRP £14

When I first saw this I thought it was one of those lip crayons which look green and react with the ph levels on your lips to comes out your perfect shade. However, after reading the menu card I saw it was a concealer and was intrigued! It's used to help conceal redness so I'm actaully going to go this to a friend who says she already uses a green concealer as I don't feel it's something which I would necessary need myself.

Percy & Reed Quite Frankly Flawless Finishing Polish - RRP £10 for the full size

I've actually used this before and can't say I miss it much. From what I remember a little goes a long way and used too much will result in a greasy/over producted look which isn't what anyone wants!

Luseta Coconut Milk Hair Mask - RRP £32 for the full size

I've heard good things about this hair mask and can't wait to try it out. I love hair masks which you only need to leave on for around 5 minutes before washing off as that gets the job done there and then in the shower. I'm expecting this to leave my hair smooth and shiny so saving it for when my hair really needs a boost.

Laqa & Co B'Lighter - RRP £12 for the full size

I really like the packaging of this mini product and think it's a Summer must have. Having swatched it on my hand it's definitely strong on the shimmer but looks like if it's used sparingly it'd be perfect to add that holiday glow we all lust after but I for one already know I can't afford this year so very glad to have this little beauty to help me fake it. 

The more observant of you will notice that I actually got 6 items instead of 5 in this box. I'm not too sure what happened but I seem to have gained a little bonus product as there's no mention of the Arrow eyeliner anywhere. Having used Arrow before (hich I got in a previous Birchbox) I'm really excited to get to try another of they products and love the versatility of the two sided eyeliner. 

I've actually convinced one of my colleagues to start her Birchbox subscription again and she went for the 80's box so we could see the difference. It was slightly disappointing to see that we pretty much had the same products. I just had one different and she received a product which I got in a previous box instead. 

Thanks for reading

Iona x

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Neal's Yard Wild Rose Beauty Balm

I am now coming to the end of my Neal's Yard Wild Rose Beauty Balm mini so thought I would share my thoughts on this little all rounder. I see this balm to oil product as similar to Elizabeth Arden's 8 hour skin protector in that you can use it for many things such as burns, dry skin/lips etc. Except I have been using this mainly as my nighttime moisturiser (which I wouldn't the Elizabeth Arden) and absolutely love it.

My skin type is oily so using an oil product does put the fear into me but a little of this goes a long way and feels so comfortable on the skin. Using it at nighttime really helps me wake-up in the morning with fresh skin that feels like it's had a mini treatment over night and is ready to take on the day. 

I love the packaging of Neal's Yard product as the blue bottles/jars are so pretty and look so lovely on the bathroom shelf.

I may need to add this product to my wish list and the full size is a whooping £40 but I do feel that we all need to look after our skin so if a product really works for your skin then it's worth investing in...and this is really is worth it!

Let me know if you've given this a go or if you've tried any other Neal's Yard products. I've got a haul on my Youtube channel (click here if you want to watch it) from a couple of years ago with the other products I've tried but I'd love to hear about more so leave any links to your posts below.

Thanks for reading

Iona x

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Glossybox - January

I feel like I've been sayins this a lot recently but this month's Glossybox is definitely one of my favourites. I am genuinely so excited to try out every single one of the items and don't think there's one that I'm slightly disappointed with or feel I won't use. So, enough raving about the products...let me show you what I got!!

Boots Beauty Beneath Supplements - RRP £39.99

This is a full month supply which is so impressive! I find it hard to tell if supplements are working and feel like I won't be able to fully judge until after the full month is done but anything which claims to reduce wrinkles and give glory skin is worth a go.

Eyelyn Iona Cosmetics Green Tea Primer - RRP £22

Now I have never heard of this brand before as I know it would've stuck in my head since my name is in the title but I like the sound of this primer. It claims to not only help make-up stay in the right place for longer but also nourish your skin, reduce the appearance of fine lines and reduces the appearances of large pores. Everything you could possibly need in a primer.

Alicia Cream Blush - RRP £22

The fourth and final full sized product. I've tried this on the back of my hand and a little goes a long way. It's so smooth on the skin and blends beautifully! It seems to be a very natural blush colour for my skin tone so I know I'll get a lot of use from this.

Nail Medic Nail and Cuticle Energizer - RRP £5.99

The third full sized item! It's the prettiest nail oil I've ever seen with a purple and pink liquid staying seperate. It seems to be full of all the good stuff which will help strengthen your nails and cure any breaking/brittle problems. I've already seen someone review this and they loved it so I'm excited to start giving it a go.

Dr Botanicals Moroccan Rose Superfood Facial Oil Travel Size - RRP £55 for the full size
I've started using this oil and absolutely love it! It's very lightweight and absorbs into your skin quickly. I think though what I love the most is the smell which I know I won't be able to translate over this as good as it deserves. I look forward to using this product and also dread the day this runs out as I know i won't be able to afford this for quite a while.

So now I imagine you'll all agree with me on how amazing this box is. 4 out of 5 products are full sized and the value of them is over £80!! Considering the box costs only £10 plus P&P it's such a great value for money when wanting to try out new beauty products! I can't wait for February's box now...

Thanks for reading

Iona x

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Birchbox - January

And so soon after my December box (which arrived a few weeks late due to a storm) I’ve got my January box! This months box is in collaboration with Ohh Deer which I’ve checked out and seems to be an amazing stationary shop. Everything is adorable on the website so if any of you love stationary as much as I do then head over there! 

But first, this months Birchbox....

Lord & Berry Blusher Crayon - RRP £15

I’ve never tried a crayon blusheer before but like the idea of it. Perfect for the handbag make-up for touch ups on the go. At first I was worried about getting an even application but when switching on the back of my hand it’s extremely creamy so actually blends out beautifully! I got the shade ‘Camelia’ which looks like the perfect rosy shade.

Marcelle Waterproof Eyeliner - RRP £10.99 for the full size

This is in the shade ‘Charcoal’ and I always prefer a brown eyeliner during the day as it’s a much softer appearance. I actually think I’ve got the black version of this a while back in a Glossybox and have enjoyed it the couple of times I tried it out. I’m excited to have one I can wear more often and test how waterproof it is a my eyes are always very watery.

Thermaliv Night Cream - RRP £15.75 for the full size

Night cream is such an important step in my skincare routine and usually I enjoy using oils over night. However, I’m always keen to try new products out to find the most moisturing and oil reducing for my skin.

Parlor by Jeff Chastain Moisturising Sea Salt Spray - RRP £17 for the full size

I love the texturised effect that a sea salt spray has on hair but hate how drying they can be. I’ve also recently dyed my hair blonde (when I’m a natural dark brunette) so I’m very conscious of not drying out my hair further. This product has sweet almond extract and vitamin-rich algae so claims not to dry out your hair at all, bonus!

Afterspa Amazing Makeup Remover - RRP £5.50 for the full size

 Now this product intrigued me...a cloth which says it’ll remove all traces of makeup just by wetting it and wiping your face. You then wash the cloth and can use again. What kind of magic is this?! It  an also be used 100 times so lasts a decent amount of time.

So only one full sized item this month which is slightly disappointing but such a good range of products and all of which I’m looking forward to trying.

Thanks for reading

Iona x

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Birchbox - December 2017

Yes that title wasn't a typo...I really am about to share the December Birchbox which I received with you. Now, I realise this does seem slightly late given that not only are we in a different month it is indeed a whole different year. However, my actual December Birchbox got lost (thanks to some stormy weather we had at the beginning of December) but after contacting Birchbox, who replied after 20 minutes!, they had another sent out to me immediately. They had unfortunately run out of some of the items in the December box so instead made one up for me based on my beauty profile. 

Before I go on about what I got in the box I feel I can't before mentioning how beautiful the box is!! Stunning design which makes evident the collaboration with Matthew Williamson on the December box.

Now, here's what I got inside the box;

Pixi Shea Butter Lip Balm in Natural Rose - RRP £8

This was the item which I got to choose for December. It was between this and a red lip and I chose this thinking that it'd be beautiful nude and also can always do with a bit of moisture during the Winter months. The shade is better than I had thought so will definitely get my use out of this!

Baija Paris Caramelised Honey Body Scrub - RRP £14.90 for the full size

Although this is a miniature it's actually a really decent size and I'll get a good couple of uses from it. It literally looks good enough to eat but I'll save it for the shower.

Kebelo Clarifying Shampoo - RRP £13.95 for the full size

I have never used a clarifying shampoo before which means I probably really need to! This is recommended for use once or twice a month to give your hair a refresh, what better way to start the new year than a fresh start for your head. 

Sand & Sky Brilliant Skin Purifying Clay Mask - RRP £39.90 for the full size

I love a face mask and especially purifying ones. Anything that draws out impurities and leaves glowing skin is alright with me! Hopefully I'll get a couple of uses out of this sample as I think it'll be very effective. 

Spectrum Collections B04 Angled Blender Brush - RRP £4.99

I've got a couple of Spectrum brushes already from a couple of beauty boxes and I do really like them. The bristles are beautifully soft and with a rose gold detail to the brush who can complain!

Although it was slightly annoying getting the Birchbox late it also means that I don't have to wait as long for my next one so next week could be another Birchbox post with the January box - yay! I'd love to see what everyone else got in their December boxes so I can see what I missed out on so if you've done a post please leave it before for me to check out.

Thanks for reading

Iona x

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