Soap & Glory: It's the Whole She-Bang Gift Set

Hi Guys.

Sorry it has taken me a while to get this blog post out but it has been one stressful time at university.  I have had deadlines for uni work and all my life has been dedicated to that...plus work.  I have a few posts in mind for the coming month, maybe into February as well.  

To kick the first blog post of 2016 off, I am going to show you a gift I received at Christmas...well I got this at New Year as I went home over this period but it was a Christmas Present from my family.  

The first day I went home, I was presented with a giant present and once opened, I realised that I had received Soap & Glory's It's the Whole She-Bang gift set.  Now before I go into what is in this glorious  gift set, I would like to point out that I have never used any Soap & Glory products (through fault of my own)  It is not because I didn't want to try this brand, I just didn't know which one to try first.  

I had seen many post of this gift set throughout the blogosphere, and fell in love as this is the perfect way for Soap and Glory novices like me who want to try the brand out but are overwhelmed by the number of products they have. 

The gift set comes with 9 items from their brand and costs £60 but at the time of sale, this price was £30 at Boots   (On finding the link for this gift set on Boots.com, I found that they are selling this at £18 in the sale, however, this is unavailable on-line and after searching through a few main cities in the UK, only a select few stores still carry this)  

So what is in this beautiful gift set?  Well, upon opening this, I found a wide selection of goodies to try out.

  

The first three items I pulled out were, Clean on Me, The Righteous Butter and Peaches and Clean.  

Clean on me is a beautifully smelling body wash which lathers up like a dream.  I have used this a few times and I love the scent and wish I had tried this earlier.  I cannot put my finger on what the scent is but it is very sweet smelling, almost marshmallow like.  

The Righteous Butter is a thick body butter which smells fresh and clean with a scent of citrus.  I have yet to try this but I am looking forward to trying this and will update you all on this when I have tried this.

Peaches and Clean is the only skincare product that is used on the face.  This smells like heaven.  The scent of this is fruity yet minty.  I think this is the best smelling of the line and I will have to see if they have this scent in a body wash or body lotion.  Again, I have yet to try this but I cannot wait to try this.  

The next four items that I pulled out are Hand Food, Heel Genius Foot Cream, Thick & Fast High Definition Mascara and Sexy Mother Pucker Lipgloss.

Hand Food say it is a hydrating hand cream which is a thick cream that smells dreamy.  I detect 

a fruity smell almost like strawberries and cream.  I currently have a hand cream that I am using but I am looking for a small size for my handbag and I am thinking of purchasing the smaller size soon.

Heel Genius Foot Cream is a very sweet scented cream and by the looks of it, very nourishing, thick cream.  I am not one for foot creams or foot care but I am looking forward to trying this cream.

Thick & Fast High Definition Mascara.  I tried this mascara the other day and I love it.  I don't think it does exactly what it says, but it separates my lashes amazingly and it is so black which is what I love in a mascara.  I think I have found my favourite mascara for the time being.

Sexy Mother Pucker in Rose & Shine is a very nice rose colour.  I am not one for lip glosses but I may have to see how this looks layered over my new MAC Lipstick (This will be featured in my haul post)

The final two items are The Scrub of your Life and The Righteous Butter Sun kissed Tint Body Lotion.

The Scrub of your Life is fresh smelling, scrub with little pink beads.  I have tried body scrubs and nothing has caught my eye to being the best in my eyes so I am excited to try this.  The scent is bergamot and mandarin, rose, jasmine, peach, strawberry, oak-moss and amber.  Once again, I am plagued by the scent of jasmine (which indirectly I am drawn to)  

The righteous Butter Sun Kissed Body Lotion is a tinted body lotion.  This lotion smells divine.  I think this smells like chocolate but I could be wrong.  All I know is this smells amazing.  I am yet to use this as I am a bit weary of tanning products as I am not used to using them but I think in time, I will love this product.

All these products, come in a very pop art zipped carry case which is beautiful and I will use this time and time again.  I am so happy to have received this  at Christmas.  And I am hoping that one of these products will become a permanent fixture in my life.

What is your favourite Soap & Glory product?  Any other recommendations?

Bye for now.

Jess. X

Blogmas - Day Eight: Red Lips for the Party Season

Hi guys.

Today's post is a bit of a different one.  I am going to show you three red lipsticks you can wear for this time of year.  Before I get into the post, I would like to say that I am not one to wear red lips though I am trying out different brands and formulas to see which suit me best.  I am only showing three as these are the three I have in my collection.  I will try my hardest to give my opinion as I have only worn two of them so far.

From L to R: Revlon Colourburst Matte Balm in Standout, Model Co Ultra Long-Lasting Lipstick in Smitten & Rimmel Apocalips in Big bang.

From Top to Bottom: Smitten, Standout & Big Bang

Model Co's Ultra Long-Lasting Lipstick in Smitten.

I have not long had this lipstick...in fact I only received this in my December Birchbox (linked here) yesterday so I haven't had the chance to wear it yet to see if it is long-lasting.  I swatched the colour on my hand and I am excited to see how it looks against my skin tone.  Smitten is a red with a slight berry colour to it.  I feel that it has a slight blue undertone too which I have been told will compliment my skin tone.  The scent of this lipstick is heavenly as it smells like vanilla!

Revlon's Colourburst Matte Balm in Standout.

This by far has to be the red lip I am loving as it is matte and I am into matte lips as well as ling lasting products.  I wore this on a night out once and it stayed on the whole night and didn't stain my lips.  Standout is a red and again, like Smitten, has a slight berry colour to it.  I can also see a hint of blue again in this lip product though it isn't as noticeable from a far.  The scent of the product is mint and I haven't noticed the scent lingering for long although it isn't an offensive mint scent.

Rimmel Apocalips Lip Lacquer in Big Bang

This is a liquid lipstick which is a true red colour.  It has a glossy look to it which depending on my mood, I can make work for me.  I have only used this once and didn't feel that it suited me at all.  I will try and work more with it once my confidence with red and bright colours' is here.  I am eager to try more from this range.  The scent of this is quite chemically but it isn't offensive and doesn't linger.

So there are my three red lip products for this years party season.  Like I said before, I am not confident with wearing red or bright lipsticks yet but I would like to try more colours' to see what is out there that will suit me.

What red or bright lips are you loving this season?  Any recommendations for me to try?

Bye for now.

Jess. X

Blogmas - Day Seven: December Birchbox

Hi guys.

Today's post is a bitter sweet one as it is my last Birchbox of this year.  I ordered a Birchbox back in November 2014 to try it out plus I had a code to get the box for about £7 so I jumped at the chance to use it and try out out because I had seen and heard a lot about it and I was intrigued to see what it was like.  I loved it so this January, I got a years subscription and I haven't regretted that decision.  I have tried and been introduced to a lot of new brands as well as brands I had tried before.  

This months Birchbox came in a small clutch bag which has glitter and green suede.  A very pretty bag and I may find some use for it as a makeup bag for travelling.  So inside the bag was some very exciting products.

The first item I got was The Ultimate Party Kit by Benefit - Puff Off! and They're Real Push-up Liner.  

Birchbox says: You'll find everything you need to perfect your peepers for party season inside this GORGEOUS kit!  Heading out? A slick of this jet-black liner will complete any makeup look in style.  The morning after?  Soothe tired eyes with the de-puffing formula.  I have always wanted to try this liner from benefit and getting a small sample of this made my day.  I am also wanting to find a good eye cream so if this is any good I may purchase the full size!

Full price: £41 for both products.

The next product I received is Model Co's Ultra Long-Lasting Lipstick in Smitten.  

Birchbox says: There's nothing worse than perfecting your party lip only to check all night for smudges.  Luckily, this hydrating, semi-matte formula provides nourishment and long-lasting colour - so you don't have to worry!  I am always on the hunt for a red lip that suits my skin tone and when I swatched this, it seemed to agree with my colouring.  I am looking forward to trying this colour out when I go out later this week.  

Full price: £15.50 for a set of 3

Next is Ciate London Paint Pot in Power Dressing.

Birchbox says: These iconic polishes are beloved for a reason - they're super-pigmented, ultra long-lasting and a cinch to apply!  For a pretty. party- ready mani, they can't be rivalled (and we'll have how-to's over at blog.birchbox.co.uk if you're in need of a little inspiration!)  This super cute little mini polish is a beautiful royal blue colour that I don't have in my collection of nail polishes so I am happy to receive this little cutie.

Full price: £9

Another product I received is the Balance Me Congested Skin Serum.

Birchbox says: Uh-oh - it's officially party season and you've woken up to an enormous breakout.  Don't panic!  This soothing serum blends chamomile, aloe vera and lavender to calm and restore skin's balance without drying it out.  I am prone to the odd spot here and there especially since I am at uni and I am under some stress so a spot treatment is always welcome in my collection.

Full price: £16

A body product this time and this is the Skin & Co Sicilian Body Gel.

Birchbox says: Packed with zesty ingredients sourced from Italy (we're talking Sicilian orange and olive extracts) it purifies and moisturises skin while transforming your morning shower into an aromatic haven.  This smells amazing and I cannot wait to start using this in the shower to cleanse my skin.

Full price: £15

The final product I received is Roloxin Lift Instant Skin Smoothing Masque.

Birchbox says: If you've got a big party coming up, or you just want to feel a little more skin confident, then this wrinkle-smoothing mask will be your new BBF.  It diminishes pore, firms the skin and boots radiance - for up to 24 hours after use!  I am not one for using masks but I really want to get into using them more.  I will try this next time I am feeling like a pamper night!

Full price: £79

So that is it for today's post and for my subscription of Birchbox.  I cannot believe it has been a full 12 months and countless products later and I have received my last one.  I have been loving it but now feel that a new subscription is in order.  

What did you receive this month?  Have you got any recommendations for a new box to try next year?

Bye for now.

Jess. X

November Birchbox

Hi Guys.

It has been a while since I have posted a Birchbox blog post and even though I haven't posted one since the February/March Birchbox post, I still have been receiving them.  The only one I missed was the August box and that was some issues on receiving it from my end.

Anyway...this months Birchbox was a colab with a company called Skinny Dip who create quirky and cute accessories.  Sometime when Birchbox colab with companies, they let you choose your own samples or boxes, but this month subscribers could upgrade their box and get a phone case worth £12 for an extra £4 on top of your monthly subscription.  Skinny dip's website can be found here.http://www.skinnydiplondon.com/

The first product that I received was The Living Proof No Frizz Nourishing Styling Cream.

Birchbox says: Containing the brand's 'healthy hear molecule', OFPMA, this lotion creates a weightless shield that blocks humidity to leave hair smooth and sleek, whatever the weather.  I tend to have frizzy hair during the summer months so this product will have to wait until then...if the UK gets a hot summer next year.

Full price: £21

The second product is Lord & Berry Silhouette Neutral Lip Liner.

Birchbox says: Smudged lippie and wobbly lines will be a thing of the past with this neutral liner!  Apply it before sweeping on your favourite shade for a super precise lip with no unsightly bleeding.  The best part?  Its translucency means that you can use it with any and every shade of  of lipstick.  Mwah!  I am not a bit fan of lip liners just because I can never find the right shade for the lipstick I would be wearing so I am hoping this will save me from making a lip mistake and mismatching my liner to my lipstick.

Full price: £9

The next product is the Cowshed Cow Pat Hand Cream.

Birchbox says: This cheekily-named nourishing hand lotion is packed with rejuvenating essential oils - Grapefruit to uplift and Coriander to soothe - leaving skin moisturised and toned.  I have used this ever night since I received it and so far I am impressed.  My hands have been super soft considering the amount of hand washing I have to do at work and the weather changing to winter so it is a lot colder during the day and night and so far since using this, my hands haven't been dry or sore.

Full price: £8

This next product is Delarom Creme Acquaconfort.

Birchbox says: When your complexion feels a little sorry for itself, this rejuvenating cream uses almond, apricot oils and vitamin E to nourish and soothe dehydrated skin from first use - divine!  A brand I have never heard of.  My skin is not normally so dry it needs something like this but with the winter months coming I may have to bring this out and give it a try if my normal moisturiser doesn't cut it.

Full price: £34

The fifth product I received is Pure & Light Organic Revitalising Facial Exfoliation.

Birchbox says: An incredible 32 active ingredients, from arctic oat to antioxidant-packed berry-extracts, are packed into this gentle exfoliate that leaves skin smooth, radiant and glowing.  Exfoliation is one thing I need to start doing once a week but I have yet to find a good one to use so maybe Birchbox has helped me out with giving me this product.

Full price: £25

The final product is L. Erickson Grab & Go Ponytail Holder

Birchbox says: Whether you're sweeping hair off your face to apply make-up or just want to switch up your 'do halfway through the day, you'll never be caught short with this handy, metal-free hair-tie in your bag.  I have so many hair-ties that this wasn't really welcomed although it was nice to be given another one in case all mine snap or get lost and on the plus side, it is metal-free which tends to be the hair-ties I buy so who knows if this one will be the one I purchase from now on?

Full price: £11.50 for a set of 15

This months box has mixed reviews from me I think as some products I wouldn't normally use or think about purchasing so hopefully I will enjoy the products I wouldn't normally used or purchase.  I cannot believe that I have had my subscription for almost a year and I have to say I have enjoyed the wide range of products I have been introduced to and some have been good and some have been bad, some I have wanted to used and purchase for a long time and some I have been introduced to and been really impressed with.  

I do however think that I may try a different subscription box come January as well as  renew Birchbox and compare the difference between the two boxes .

Have you got any suggestions for a new subscription of beauty boxes?  What products have you been loving in your boxes this month? 

Bye for now.  

Jess. X

Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua Foundation in 10 Beige

 Hi Guys.  I'm slowly getting back into writing blog posts.  They will still be slow at first but once I get back into a routine, you should see more coming out each week.

This post is all about foundation and the foundation I have been loving recently is the Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua Foundation and the shade I wear is 10 Beige.  

This foundation is described as 'A fluid foundation that awakens tired skin.  its exceptionally fine, fresh and lightweight aqueous formula offers an incomparable "second skin" finish'

My thoughts on this foundation is that it has a sheer to medium coverage which gives me a dewy but not overly shiny finish, which lasts all day with no touch ups.  I don't find this foundation drying at all and that might be because is quite a watery base which helps moisturise the skin.  I find this foundation easy to use and blend out with my Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge.  I used the sponge dry as I find that using this foundation with a damp sponge ruins the finished look of the foundation.  I don't use any powder with this foundation because again, it ruins the finish of the foundation and makes it look cakey.  

This foundation also has an SPF of 15 in it so I don't have to worry about using an SPF underneath  (not that I need to worry about using one any way in the UK because we are going into the winter months now and as I am writing this, it is raining heavily)  And even though this foundation has that added SPF, it doesn't smell, in fact the smell is quite fresh and pleasent.

On the Boots website this retails for £32 pound but when I bought it back in January, it was £33 pound but I am sure it could be found cheaper elsewhere.  This foundation comes in only 7 shades which is quite a small selection.

What is your favourite foundation?  What is your go to way of applying foundation? 

Bye for now.

Jess. X

Nuxe Reve de Meil Lip Balm

This little gem right here may have found it's way into being my holy grail product.  I first heard about this lip balm from Estee from EssieButton where she raved about how good this little pot of heaven is.  I wanted to try it for the longest time but could never find it anywhere so I was browsing on Amazon back in January and found this little treasure.  It cost me £9.50 and soon this was in my hands.  Unfortunately, I was already reviewing a lip balm for #30DaysTested so I couldn't use it for the moment but then my lip balm I was using wasn't helping my very dry and very cracked lips so I had to stop using that and I started using this and within a few days, my lips felt softer and didn't hurt as much.  I was amazed!  

My first thoughts when I held the pot for the first time was how luxurious and expensive it is and yes at £9.50 is quite steep for a lip balm but I say it is worth it as you only need a small amount to cover your lips and for it to work and repair your damaged lips.  As you can see, I have had this since January and I haven't made much of a dint into the pot.  I do try to use this every day but sometimes I forget...I am human after all.  I loved this so much, I bought a second one for my handbag and it is now a permanent fixture in my bag.  This lip balm has a smooth consistency and also smells amazing.  Many different reviews of this explains how it smells different to them but to be it smells like chocolate orange and once the product is on your lips, the scent does not linger.

I honestly think that this is my holy grail lip balm and will continue to repurchase this until it is no longer available, which will be a very sad day for those who love this product.

What lip balm to do you like?  Have you found any holy grail products?

Bye for now.

Jess. X

February and March Birchbox

Hi guys.  

I know...it's been a while since I have posted a 'proper' post but university just got so busy and I have been suffering with my sleep so I have had no motivation to do anything but sleep.  I am now back but how often I will post still remains to be determined.  I would like to get back to my small series but again that will take time.

I have decided to combine both February's and March's Birchboxes together as I cannot justify doing two separate blog posts considering it is now March so technically the February box is very late so that is why I am including it within this post.

February 2015

As this is a February box, the theme of the box is love, after all Valentines day is all about love!  In my opinion, there wasn't much in there in respects to love but there was some products that can be used for pampering yourself.

The first product that I received was London Butterflies Bath Salt Scrub.
Birchbox says: Dead sea salt and almond oil renew the skin and lock in moisture.  I haven't had the chance to try this but the scent of this is amazing.  It smells so fresh and looks like it has just the right amount of graininess to it.  It comes in a nice glass jar which make this look expensive.
Full price: £35

The second product is theBalm Cosmetics Stainiac in the shade Beauty Queen.
Birchbox says: Add a pop of long-lasting colour to lips and cheeks with this gel stain.  Again, I haven't tried this as I am a bit weary of stains for cheeks and I am only just branching out into bright colours on my lips.  I will try this product once I have gotten a bit more courage for the bright lip.
Full price: £10

The next product I was hoping for in a previous box is the Eyeko Fat Eye Stick in Guilt (I think)
Birchbox says: Your smokey eye just got as easy as 1-2-3 with this bronze jumbo pencil.  I love this colour and again I haven't tried this yet but I cannot wait to try this and hopefully some more from this brand
Full price: £16 for a trio.

This next product is Electric Hair's Hydrate Shampoo.
Birchbox says: Boost, moisture and restore shine with this ultra-hydrating shampoo.  I have never heard of this brand before so I don't really know what to expect and because my hair isn't super dry, I don't know if this will work to it's full potential.
Full price: £17.50

The fifth product I received is Caudalie's Vinoperfect Radiance Serum.
Birchbox says: Skin will be glowing thanks to this radiance-boosting, oil-free formula.  I have heard good things from this brand so I am looking forward to using this.
Full price: £45

The final product and the only lifestyle product is Vita Coco Coconut oil.
Birchbox says: Use as a moisturiser, hair treatment, smoothie ingredient and more!  I don't really know what to use this and am thinking about using it to make my own lip scrub (Will hopefully do a post about it if I get around to using it.
Full price: £10.99

So that was February's Birchbox and overall, I am happy with what I got.

March 2015

This months box has collaborated with Habitat, a furniture and homeware website.  This month is also about trying things at home with an incentive to  refresh homes and selves for the spring and summer.  Also this month, subscribers as well as new subscribers can pick their own sample.  Birchbox teamed up with Benefit and gave us three sample size mascara's to try, BADgal Lash, Roller Lash and They're Real! Mascara.

The first product I got was a product I was really excited to receive.  Benefit's Roller Lash.

Birchbox says:  A jet-black, lash-perfecting formula from the masters of lashes themselves.  I chose Roller Lash because of two reasons, first, I couldn't find any Elle magazines (which were also giving away free samples of this mascara) and second, I loved the way it looked compared to the other two mascara's)  I have since tried this out and so far I am liking it but I am going to keep using it to get a better feel for what the mascara does and how I like it.

Full price: From £17.50

The second product is a perfume sample of Catherine Malandrino's Style de Paris.

Birchbox says: A playful yet sophisticated fragrance with citrus top notes and a fruity twist.  I had seen this in a previous box and was happy enough to receive this as I had never gotten a perfume sample before and I am looking for a spring/summer fragrance.

Full price: £50

The third product is Philip Kingsley's Elasticizer.

Birchbox says: A pre-shampoo treatment the restores suppleness and bounce to damaged tresses.  I have heard about this brand before but not this product so I don't really know what to expect from it plus from the directions, it says to leave on hear for 20 minutes but I don't know if I have time to use it properly.

Full size: £27.50

The fourth product is Whish Three Whishes Lavender Body Butter.

Birchbox says: Not old fashioned lavender - this sweet-scented antioxidant-rich lotion nourishes skin.  I was excited to see a lavender scented product in my box as I have been having trouble sleeping recently and lavender is supposed to help relax and calm the body so I am excited to try this out at night. 

Full price: £14.50

The last beauty product is Lord & Berry's Couture Kohl Kajal Eye Pencil in Black.

Birchbox says: A silky-smooth, highly pigmented liner for the ultimate smoky eye.  I love eye liner so a sample of one is more than welcomed in my collection.

Full price: £10

The first of the two lifestyle products is a sample chapter from A Perfect Heritage by Penny Vincenzi.

Birchbox says: An epic tale of ambition, ego and passion with the beauty industry as its backdrop.  I don't know how I feel about getting a sample of a novel in a box like this as everyone has different tastes and not everyone is going to like it.  I may have a look at this but for now it is say in a drawer gathering dust.

Full price: £7.99

The final product and the second lifestyle product is Birchbox & Habitat Exclusive Notebook.

Birchbox says: A petite but perfectly formed jotter to pen all your ideas and inspirations inside.  This is tiny and I don't know how much I will use this as I have other notebooks that are a decent size.

Full price: Is exclusive to Birchbox so does not have a price.

I am very impressed with the beauty side of this box and am looking forward to using the products as much as I can.  Next month's box is also another 'pick your own sample'  this time it is the turn of a brand called Laura Mercier.  I have heard so much positive things about this brand and I am looking forward to seeing what the options are for the pick your own sample.

Once again, I felt that I couldn't warrant separating the two boxes with it being 22 days into March so that is why I have merged the two boxes together.

Which box is your favourite?  Does any of your products differ to mine?  What Benefit mascara did you pick?

Bye for now.

Jess. X

#30DaysTested

Well February flew by and it is time for another #30DaysTested review.  I know this is a little late and I have explained why my blog posts have gotten a bit sparse here. This was created by Gemma from Beautiful Things.  She came up with a great idea of actually using a product for a month to see how well it actually performs as most of us tend to buy products, use them and go onto other products after a short period of time. Each month, I am testing on product out of the categories (Found here) and just using that product exclusively throughout the month.

This month's review is on hand cream

What brand is it?
Sainsbury's

What is it?
Vitamin E Hand & Nail Cream

Where is it from?
Any Sainsbury's stores and online.

What is it said to do?

'Nourish and hydrate dry skin'

How much was it?
£1

Did you use it for the full 30days?
Yes.

First thoughts?
'wow this smells amazing!'  It is a nice thin cream which is almost gel like

Positives...
Nice smell, great texture, great, simple  packaging

Negatives...
I don't think I have any negatives about this hand cream as it did what I wanted it to do.

Will you buy it again?
Yes as it is effective yet affordable

Overview
Great for using when hand are dry and it softens the cuticle as well.

Next months #30daystested product will be a Nail Growth Treatment / Nail Polish. So look out for that.

Bye for now.

Jess. X

Varnish Friday - O.P.I Embrace the Gray Nail Polish

As you may have read in the previous two weeks, I have started a series called Varnish Friday where I will review nail polish and other nail related products.  You can read the previous posts here and here  Today is the turn of O.P.I's Fifty Shades of Grey's Embrace the Gray.

Excuse the graininess of the photo, I took it off my instagram (linked here)

Embrace the Gray is a medium toned Grey crème and has fast become my favourite out of the collection.  I was very surprised at how well the polish applies and above is three thin coats and a top coat.  It is a very opaque polish and I find it to dry relatively fast and is touch dry after 10 minutes with my top coat (review coming soon)  I am surprised at how much I like this colour as I was expecting to like My Silk Tie better but I soon warmed to this colour as it suits my skin tone and doesn't clash with anything.  I do find that it appears darker than what the bottle suggests but that doesn't put me off...I have painted my nails this colour for the most of January!  I have had many compliments about this colour and find that I can get about four full days before it starts to chip which is fine by me.  This was the first ever O.P.I nail polish I had ever tried and am looking forward to trying some more of my collection...if you can stop me from reaching for this colour.

What is your favourite colour at the moment?  Is there any colour out of my collection you would want me to review?

Bye for now.

Jess. X

Birchbox January 2015 - Woman's Health Edition

Back in December on day 2 of Blogmas, I reviewed November's Birchbox and I was very impressed with the concept and the items which were included in the box that I decided to get a years subscription.  You can find my post of that box here where I will explain about the concept of the box and you can also see my view on the product (some of which could be reviewed now I have used them a bit more!)

I received my box in good time as I wasn't expecting it to land in my mail room at Uni until later this week...so far so good Birchbox!  I rushed back to my dorm room and opened it instantly and was very happy with the design of the box!  It is white and purple with the white part showing pretty patterns of sports and exercise equipment.  This months box has teamed up with Women's Health and is designed with health and fitness after the Christmas break to become healthier, all of which I am pleased about as I am starting the gym come Monday!

 Look at all the pretty stuff I got!  Out of all the items I received, I think I wont use 2 maybe 3 out of the 7 products and all will be revealed why further in the blogpost!









The first item is this sachet of Embrace Matcha Loose Green Tea.
What Birchbox says: 'Our new favourite superfood, Matcha is 100% natural with 10 times the antioxidants of regular green tea.'  I have only just got into drinking herbal tea and green tea is one tea that I haven't tried yet and one where I don't think I will try any time soon.  This sample may just go into my samples box and I may try it out, I may not do.
Price full size: £24.99

The next item is the only full sized item in the entire box and that is Stila's Lip Glaze in 'Gleam'
What Birchbox say: 'A coverted, suits-all-complexions colour - this sheer lip gloss is a cult classic for a reason!' 
I have never tried any products from Stila as I think they are a little over priced but my opinion may change after using this.
Price full size: £15




This product, I am sure a few people got back in November and this was the product I wanted but never got and I was very happy when I saw it in this months box.  This is Beauty Protector's Protect & Detangle Spray.
What Birchbox say: 'This sweet-smelling spray detangles, adds shine and protects from both UVA rays and heat damage.'
I loved the hair mask that I received back in November and am excited to try this out next time I wash my hair (which will be very soon!)
Price full size: £14

activbod is a brand I have never heard of and one that may get a bit of usage once I start the gym.  This is activbod's Feel Great Shower Concentrate.
What Birchbox say: 'Refreshing sea-minerals and green tea mingle with soothing almond oil for and energising post-workout shower.'
Like I said above, I have never heard of this product but that's what this box is for right?  I may just have to try this out after my first post-gym shower on Monday and do a review/first impressions as I can only see this sample as a one use only product.
Price full size: £5

This is another product that I was excited to see this month.  Lately, I have been on a skincare kick and have been trying to stick to a skincare routine (I will be posting my routine soon!) This cute little sample is REN's Glycolactic Radience Renewal Mask.
What Birchbox say: 'Radience in a tube!  A fast-working, exfoliating treatment that improves texture, tone and combats congestion.'
I have been back to Uni for a week now and my skin has just freaked out and like I said above, I have had to create a skincare routine to try and combat my freaked out skin so anything skincare related is good enough for me!
Price full size: £30

This is another product that might get stashed away in my samples box as I don't think I have any need for it.  This is Shaveworks 'The Cool Fix'
What Birchbox say: 'This genius cooling gel lotion treats ingrown hairs, razor bumps and redness after hair removal'
I never suffer with any other aforementioned hair removal conditions so this may not get used!
Price full size: £11


The lifestyle choice this month revolves around fitness and what this months box is about.  This is Birchbox's Pilates Band.
What Birchbox says: 'Tone, increase strength and improve muscle endurance with this stretchy resistance band.'
This is another product which may not get used but will have to see once I start going to the gym.  I may be able to incoporate it somewhere into my routine.
Price full size: £7.99

There are the usual cards with what they products are and how much the product is full size and a booklet of 12 mini challenges but I never read the cards unless there is something that is interesting on them :)

Overall this box has a pretty good selection of products which I will use.  I am pretty impressed with the fact of having a full sized product priced over the amount paid for the box has made it worth the £12.95 (with p &p) and there are a good number of products which I will used and enjoy happily this month and am looking forward to next months box.

Have you received a Birchbox this month and what do you think of your box this month?  How does yours differ to mine?

Bye for now.

Jess. X