Look Fantastic Benefit Box - Products I Received and Review

Look Fantastic Benefit Box

This is the first time I have used Look Fantastic but I've heard good things about their subscription boxes and their collab boxes so when I saw this advertised on Instagram I had to get it as not only will I get to try a Look Fantastic box but it is also Benefit which I love! A little background on Look Fantastic to start off with; Founded in 1996, lookfantastic.com is the original British beauty boutique and today they are Europe's number one retailer for beauty. They are not only a shop but run a monthly beauty box with surprise brands from high end to high street catered to the questionnaire you fill out or work with one brand to create a beauty box filled with classics and new releases.

As soon as it arrived in the post (it took around 4 days to arrive in the post after ordering) I opened up the postage box to reveal the beautiful box design. Not only will this work as good storage like my Birchbox ones do but it also looks nice on the side with the pattern, obviously it is a little stiff to get the lid off as it is new but as soon as I managed to get the lid off I noticed the quote in the lid "Laughter is the best cosmetic...so grin and wear it" from Benefit which is a really nice touch to it. Not only is there the beauty products but also a Look Fantastic beauty book on the Benefit Edition talking about what's in the box, Benefits' story line, about the beauty box subscriptions they do, how to do perfect brows at home using the products inside the box, which brow product they recommend for you, q&a with Lisa Potter Dixon (Head Makeup & Brow Expert at Benefit), q&a with Patricia Bright (lookfantastic ambassador and blogger) and q&a with Lydia Miller (lookfantastic ambassador and blogger). It does have some really helpful tips with how to use the products in the box and how to use these brow products as the only thing I have used is a dip brow pomade.

Not only is the box nice but how they've packed the products inside is really nice with the pink tissue paper wrapping it all together being held together with a sticker saying the box hashtag #LFBEAUTYBOX pushing past the tissue paper it revealed the products inside; a full size Roller Lash Mascara, travel size Gimme Brow in 3, travel size Ready, Set, Brow!, travel size Porefessional Matte Rescue, travel size new (and exclusive for now) Hoola Quickie Contour Stick, a brow measuring stick, sample of the It's Potent! Eye Cream, sample of Total Moisture Facial Cream and a sample size of Boi-ing Airbrush Concealer No.2. Considering the price of the box ($35.00 excluding postage) you really do get a lot for the money! I have already got a travel size of the Porefessional Matte Rescue and I did buy the Double Boi-ing Concealer so I will do a quick little review but not a full one as I am going to save it for when I go away and need a smaller size.
The first item I was dying to try is the new Hoola Quickie Contour Stick as I haven't even tried the original Hoola yet so getting the newest product is really exciting. I first swatched it on my hand as I am really pale so I normally have to have an ash tone contour to stop it looking so orange but this one looks more like my dip brow pomade! I tried it on my face and it did look a little dirty on my skin tone but it is smooth with a buttery formula. I am going to see if the original Hoola is any better on my skin tone as this one doesn't unfortunatly. I would say it is worth giving it a go thought as it is a really nice looking contour for summer time as the forumla is so buttery and you can't feel it on the skin.

Porefessional Matte Rescue is one of my favourite primers for every day use, not only does it help fight my oily skin while I am wearing make up or just want a oil free day but it makes my skin feel soft and like there isn't any product on it. I have noticed a big change in my skin since using it (oil wise) as I do struggle especially at work or in summer time in general as sweat tends to make my skin look even oilier. I won't right a big review on this product as I did get it in my Birchbox this month as well so I did do a larger review on it for that blog post (last week) but if there is anything you want to know about it then drop a comment down below and I'll answer any questions.

I tested out both the brow products (Gimme Brow and Ready, Set, Brow!) in the same day. The shade for the Gimme Brow is number 3 which is too dark for my now blonde/ginger hair but would of been perfect with my black hair. I've never used any gels before to do my brows, instead using pomades as I find them easier to work with but wiggling this through my eyebrows was quick and easy, my brows stayed in place all day and kept their colour even when I run a finger over them. This is definitely a perfect one for summer, it is even splash proof (it was drizzling outside) without loosing pigmentation or smudging in the slightest. I really like the applicators on these but I did use a usual duo brow brush to neaten it up a bit as it will take a bit of time to get used to using a brush all the way along.

 The full size product I received from them is the Benefit Roller Lash mascara (shade black) since I looked on the back I was hooked on the look of the brush (the bristle lengths perfect to covering every lash and the curved shape perfect for the eye). The packaging is as cute as the other Benefit products and the bottle is simple but pretty, I love the fact the lid is almost a grippy plastic coating for less stress on holding the lid. My lashes do look really good after application, they look slightly longer but nothing too noticeable, it didn't smudge throughout the whole day of wearing it. I did like that it was quite easy to remove, I've been having trouble with a different brand with how rough it is to my lashes to remove so this was a pleasant surprise. I definitely think I will buy it again when it runs out as it is a good day mascara.

As the samples are quite small I won't be writing about the It's Potent Eye Cream and Total Moisture Facial Cream as I'm going to save them for trips away to save on space in my travel bag. The last tester was for Boi-ing no.2 which I already have (in the double Boi-ing cream concealer) is too dark for me so I will probably give it to a friend who will match to the shade better.

Overall the box is 100% worth the price, at $35 you get 1 full size product, 4 travel size (1 being a brand new product not out yet) and 3 testers which gives you a chance to see if you like the product before making a decision on buying the full thing. These are still in stock if you want to buy one for yourself with the link down below.


https://www.lookfantastic.com/beauty-box/lookfantastic-x-benefit-limited-edition-beauty-box/11400443.html?widget_id=616286

Birchbox May - Products I got and Which I Would Buy Again

 Birchbox May

May's Birchbox is all about 'It's all in the details' so for this month they wanted to zoom in on all aspects of life where the small things really matter. In the information booklet provided in the box it says "This month we're all about the little changes that can make a big difference to your daily rituals" then they introduce the products in the box. Some of the brands I recognised already and others are completely new to me and so far this is the box I am really excited to use as some of the products in it I already wanted to try out!. This month we also got to choose which shade Marsk Mineral Eyeshadow we recieved out of Fifty Shades (a grey toned pigment) or Vanilla Frosting (a very sparkly white pigment) which I chose as I wasn't keen on the Fifty Shades as it wasn't unique for me having the same shades in multiple palettes unlike Vanilla Frosting which is completely unique and I really wanted to try. I like the simple box design but it didn't completely wow me like previous month boxes have, but it is still pretty and fits in nicely with the other draws I have received.

 To start off with I want to talk about the Marsk Mineral Eyeshadow as this was which one I instantly had to try. The packaging is nice with the cream and see-through tub showing off the sparkling pigment. It is a little difficult to get it open without it going everywhere however as you have to pull the cap off as you can't shake it out like I thought you might of been able to which is a shame as you can waste some without meaning to. A little goes a long way though, in the photo I placed my fingertip to the product without applying pressure and it was around enough for one eye, it spreads really evenly as well without clumping which I was worried about as this is the first loose eye shadow I have used and I thought it would just go everywhere and I would have no control over it. I tried it first with a dry brush before making it damp and using it then for a bigger payout. The sample size will last me months as well! But it is quite affordable for the full size of $14.49. This will be perfect for summer or even a festival look with how shimmery it is or even just using it to make the bellow the eyebrow pop.

 As you've probably read already I have been using the Benefit Porefessional for the past few months which I love so when they sent me a sample size of the Matte Rescue primer that I have been dying to try out so was pretty excited for it. The packaging like the full size which is nice and they do give you quite a lot considering a blob covers your whole face if not your t-zone so it will last a while. This one unlike the other one I have is a gel formula which is nice to try out and smooths down to make my skin feel really soft and made my oily skin not a problem while I've been wearing it. I have to say that I am starting to love this more than the one I already have. Once the sample has run out I will definatly invest in it again, it is a little costly at $23.50 but it is well worth it to keep oily skin at bay!.

Since we are talking about primers this is the first ever lip primer I have tried out! I'd heard of Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics before as they're lip sticks are meant to be amazing so I was really excited to try this. Since I normally wear long lasting liquid lipsticks I decided to try out it with normal lipstick for a 3 course BBQ to really test it out and I am happy to let you know I still had a full layer of lipstick on without having to reapply! It may of faded slightly but that is amazing considering how much eating and drinking I was doing! This is definitely going to be perfect for a night out and at only $15 for the full size it is worth the price!.

I love trying new mascaras so this little gem Birchbox sent this month is my new favourite! Doucce have really excelled themselves with this mascara, the wand has an almost choppy look with different lengths to really grab every lash. I have had so many compliments on how nice my lashes look from using this mascara! It separates them completely without clumping making them almost look like fake lashes with how long and voluminous they are. I am really impressed with the wand and the formula as well as how cheap it is at $18 for a full size version of it! The only thing is there is slight smudging at the end of the day but apart from that it is really good!.

The last product I got in my Birchbox this month is a hair mask from Kueshi for damaged hair which is amazing! Not only does it smell fantastic but even after the first time using it my hair feels incredible soft and looks shiny. The sample size is big enough to use a few times to really try it out which is good and I'm so glad I don't have another dry shampoo! Not only is this working but it is a nice treat once a week to relax with in the bath as it does need a little time to settle in and work it's magic. The full size is $10.50 which is quite cheap as well so it won't break the bank every time you want to treat your hair.

Since this month Birchbox also started their new rewards system I did buy a couple of extra things from the Birchbox shop to use up the points I had got through reviewing the products I'd received over the past 5 months (It has gone so quick!) so I headed to the shop and I'll add in what I brought and the free present I got with the promo code they had on end of last month.

Since I normally stick to liquid concealers I thought I would try a cream concealer to see if it will last longer and look better throughout the day than the liquid one as I had heard that cream is much better. This is why I chose to buy Benefit Boi-ing 1 & 2 which claims to be industrial-strength concealer to instantly camouflage dark circles and discolouration for a natural-looking finish without creasing or fading which sounded amazing. The darker shade, boi-ing 02 is slightly too dark for me but I used it first for my dark circle then used the lighter shade ov
er the top to even it out. I have to say that a little really goes a long way when it comes to cream concealers and I did find that when you do put a little too much on it does crease, I was hoping this would work miracles on the fine lines near my eyes with my bags but it didn't. I do like it but I don't think it was worth the $17.50.


The freebie I got with the promo code I had at the end of last month was a lipstick from LAQA & CO called Cheeky Lip, the colour is much like a bright pure red colour which isn't my style but it was free so I'll still give it a go! The applicator is a little awkward to apply with as it is really rounded so you can't get the thin parts of your lips, it feels creamy on the lips but unfortunately doesn't last that long.

If you would like to try use the link below to get £5 off your first box 

https://www.birchbox.co.uk/invite/exploringmakeup

Birchbox March - Products I got, Reviews and Which I Would Buy Again

March Birchbox

This months Birchbox I had been really excited to get my hands on as I had seen all the advertisement of the products coming up in this months box on the Birchbox Instagram account. In the advertisement they said everyone will get to pick either Lusty Rose or Fuschia Fever Benefit They're Real! Double the Lip. I love Benefit products so I am really excited to have this sample of it and them selling the large sizes on their website with more shades than the two sample ones. The packaging to start off with is different from the usual pink as well which is unique and nice. 

The packaging isn't the only thing what is different about this months box either, the usual draw with unique design is different as well this one coming in a box instead and you receive a draw string bag as well to keep make up in or whatever you want. Not only is there Benefit in it but also Bobbi Brown, Batiste, Korres and balanceme so it really is worth the money again like it has been the past few months. I am yet to be disappointed with any of the Birchboxes I've received so hopefully I'll like everything in this months box like I have the past few! It is a shame they haven't stuck to the draw design though as it looks out of place with the other ones and it is much more plain in the design than the others. 

 To start off with I used the Benefit They're Real! Double the Lip in the shade Lusty Rose as I have been highly anticipated it and couldn't wait to use it and see if I love it as much as I do the other products I have from them. To start off with the shape is really unique compared the other lipsticks I own as it is in a tear drop shape with the liner having the point to the shape and the regular lipstick having the more bubbled underneath. It is a really easy shape to use compared to the other lipsticks as you can get precision for your lip shape, I have quite thin lips and normally lipstick goes off my lip shape quite a bit so with this lipstick I can actually follow the shape of my lip really easily which is great. The packaging looks like the other products I have with the shape and the colours they've used which is nice and it feels expensive like the other products do. I really love the colour and having the two different shades which blend really well together on your lips and having the bottom to wind the lipstick up and down instead of the top. Since I've been using it non stop and it has earned its way permanently in my make up bag I will defiantly be buying it again in the same shade and Flame Game.

Birchbox Breakdown; What sets this lipstick apart from the rest? It works as both a lip liner shade and a lipstick colour - helping you to save space in your make up bag! Once you've tried the custom teardrop tip, specially shaped for precise application, you'll be in love with this semi-matte formula - it defines your lips beautifully for a plump and visibly fuller pout. Oh, and it contains lanolin oil for a comfortable finish that lasts up to 8 hours!


I've got a lot of primers so to get another one I was a bit excited to test it out compared to the others I've got. Testing on my hand a little I could tell already the smell is very over powering like perfume which I am not keen on especially as it will go minimum of my t-zone if not all over my face. I haven't heard much from balanceme before receiving this in my Birchbox and using it, it did the job well making my make up stay in place and not budge but the smell was still very over powering and it felt slightly sticky when spreading on my face with my fingers. Over all it does it's job but like I said I wasn't keen on the smell and I still prefer my Benefit Porefessional over it. It might just be my opinion on it so if you have tried this and liked it or had a different experience to mine then let me know in the comments or on Twitter or Instagram. The full size costs $22 from the Birchbox shop and a little goes a long way with this primer as I only used a pea size blob to cover the whole of my face apart from a little more for the tip of my nose and chin where my make up normally fades the fastest.


Pretty much every month's box I receive a shower gel so I constantly have a supply! This month is by the brand Korres, an award-winning Greek brand for all-natural body care. Not only does it smell fantastic but it makes my skin feel baby soft after every use. The sample size is large enough to last me all month as well which is good, however when it does run out not only can you get it on the Birchbox website but you can find it at M&S as well! If you're looking for a all natural shower gel then I would highly recommend buying this! The full size is only $8 from the Birchbox website or from M&S so you can order it or find it in your local shop!



I try to look after my skin as much as I can with weekly face masks or sheets so when I got the Bobbi Brown face masks samples of Radiance Boost (white), Skin Nourish (pink) and Instant Detox (grey) I was really excited to try them out as they are quite expensive ($33 per regular size tube). As the tubes are quite small I used a foundation brush so I could use it just on the different points of my face what needed it so it would work the best for my skin. Radiance Boost I used on the dull parts of my face, it doesn't smell like anything but feels amazing like the other ones do, the little beads seem to melt away and it dries fast like the rest do. Skin Nourish I used on the harder parts of skin to soft them up slightly, I did get a little of a smell from this one but it just smelt almost like freshly cut grass which was really nice. Last of all was the Instant Detox I used on my pores mostly to clear them out, this was my favourite out of all of them as it not only smells amazing but it really worked. If I could ever afford to buy a large bottle of this then I would go for the Instant Detox. There was only enough for one test of it which is unfortunate but I could see with the product price why the samples are so small.

Most months I get something to do with my hair and this time it was another one from Batiste. I do like their products as they always smell fantastic and do what they say on the can but when I had black hair it would always turn it grey, but since I have dyed my hair back to a natural colour (if platinum roots count) I have tried it again and really liked it! It makes my hair smell amazing and it works really well with my hair now unlike before so if you do have really dark hair then I wouldn't recommend it but if you have light hair then it works perfect.












If you would like to buy any of these products or subscribe to Birchbox then use the link below to get $5 off your first box!

https://www.birchbox.co.uk/invite/exploringmakeup

Battle Of The Primers - Benefit Porefessional Primer vs Smashbox Photo Finish Primer

Battle Of The Primers

When it comes to primers there are tons to choose from, most brands have their own, but these are two of the most popular primers than I have found online. These cult classics have wormed their way into most make up collections and I want to see which one offers the longest wear and nicest feel on the skin. Both of these primers are oil-free, help to reduce the sights of pores and can be worn with or without foundation. The Benefit Porefessional it tinted unlike the Smashbox Photo Finish and feel different on the skin with the Porefessional laying more heavy on the skin than the Photo Finish. I love both of these primers with them both being oil-free and doesn't give me break outs like some other primers I have used before.

 I am going to start with the Smashbox Photo Finish Primer as this is the one that I use the less out of the two. You only need around a pea size of the primer as a little goes a long way with this one, it almost feels like silk when you rub it in with your fingers leaving a satin finish to the skin. It gives you a slight glow which looks natural and I'm not sure if it is because of the Vitamins inside the formula or the fact my pores looked almost blurred smaller than usual. It was strange putting foundation on over because of how nice my skin felt just wearing the primer on its own, normally I can't wait to put on my foundation on but with this I could happily just wear it knowing my skin has a natural glow and you can't see any of the pores you can normally see. The first time I wore it was New Years Eve and all of my foundation stayed put the whole night, even my eye shadow didn't budge when I put some on my lids before doing it. If you want an all purpose primer which makes your skin feel baby soft then this is defiantly for you! The travel size is only $12.50 but you can get a larger tube of it for $32.00 on their website now. 

I can safely say that I use the Benefit Porefessional every day, it is tinted and a lot thicker than the Smashbox Photo Finish primer but for every day use it is amazing. I only use this on my t-zone and my chin instead of everywhere like the Photo Finish as it took a few days for my skin to get used to how thick this primer is. It covers dark circles under the eye really well as the tint to it seems to mask the purple and make them seem less big. I do occasionally use this as a base for my eye shadow if I have a few veins showing that day and it works well for keeping the eye shadow in place unlike concealer which sometimes lets it smudge. I do like Benefit and have always wanted to try this primer as I've heard and seen such good things about it but the more I use it the more I am slightly disappointed. It does require a lot of blending unlike the Smashbox where you gently rub into the face. The weight of it sometimes makes me want to exfoliated half way through the day even underneath light weight BB Cream or light weight foundation. This only comes in  one size for $24.50 on their website.

Over all both of the primers do their job and keep foundation in place all day and night without requiring a top up and look good if you just want to wear them on your own. If you have darker skin then I wouldn't recommend the Benefit Porefessional as it is a tinted primer and it is quite light, anything past Olive I think would be too dark for this primer. The prices are mostly the same, but Smashbox do offer a travel size one (for cheaper) so you can have a chance to try it out without having to spend the full amount for the larger tube. If you do not like heavier make up then I must say the Benefit one wouldn't be for you and personally I would save my money for the Smashbox. They are both amazing primers, made by amazing companies and I can see why they are cult classics now.

https://www.benefitcosmetics.com/uk/en-gb/product/the-porefessional-face-primer

http://www.smashbox.co.uk/product/6038/42523/face/primer/travel-size-photo-finish-foundation-primer-classic/travel-size/index.tmpl

Valentines Day 2017 Make Up Look and Products I Used

Valentines Day 2017

Valentines day is a time of love and when you're going out for Valentines day there is a lot of pressure to get the right look. From clothes to make up it takes at least two weeks to decide what look you're going to go for. Me and my boyfriend have been together for over two years so when it comes to events like Valentines day it's one of the rare moments I like to put in a lot of effort with how I look and what I will look like on the day/night. First to help you decide what you're doing on Valentines day, if you're going out for a meal at a restaurant then it's all about getting the right dress to suit the restaurant theme with the dress matching the eye shadow look and the lipstick where as if you're going to a more casual day/night you'll be looking for the perfect outfit to match where you're going and want a more bolder make up look to make you really stand out.

This blog is going to be on what me and my boyfriend will be doing and how I decided what to wear and how I will be doing my make up with the brands I'll be using. This is the first post I will be doing where I won't be really reviewing the products as I have used them before or they are new and will all be future blog posts.

To start off with I'll go through what I will be wearing and why I chose to wear this. We have decided to have a picnic at Rutland Water (a nature reserve/ reservoir near where we live) if the weather is as nice as it was last weekend then while we're there we are going to have a skate around the water as well. As it gets nippy up there I chose my outfit according to the temperature there; jeans, my new jumper and Converse as any other shoes (like ballet pumps) wouldn't work while skating. This is a simple yet nice outfit and with the jumper being a darker toned pink it goes with the whole valentines (pink or red usually). If I have enough time before packing up to go for the picnic I want to curl my hair to make it look nicer.

Onto the make up part... since I know what I will be wearing I know the colours for my eye shadow (pink to match the jumper) for my foundation I will use my usual Maybelline Better Skin foundation (in Light Beige) with Benefits Porefessional primer underneath to make the foundation go on smoother. For eye shadow I am going to use Huda Beauty Textured Shadows Palette Rose Gold Edition as I've tested the look before and liked how it looks so to start off with I used the shade 'Bae' with my Spectrum C06 blending brush to start off with all over my lid as a base shade to set the primer then I used the shade 'Shy' over my crease towards the outside of my eye to give it some depth. Using the Spectrum brush again I packed on the shade 'Flamino' in the outer corner of my eye towards the centre part of my eye then a dash of the shade 'Maneater' with my Zoeva 226 smudger brush  to blend it in to make the crease pop. For the inner corner of my eye I used the shade 'Moon Dust' as it really stands out. When you pick up this palette you know you have to use at least one of the textured shadows as that's what makes the palette so unique so I smudged a bit of the shade 'Angelic' in the middle of my eye up to the crease then used the blending brush again to just gently make it look smooth. For my lashes I used my usual Clinique high impact mascara as I know it makes my lashes look long and stops clumping. For my eyebrows I used Kylie Cosmetics Kyliner Creme Gel Eyeliner in Black with the brush which comes with the kit as I find it makes my eyebrows easy to shape and look nice and natural. In the photographs I have used my Sleek Medium contour kit as well for my jaw line and to make my cheeks look more defined but I didn't use as much as normal as I wanted to make it look more natural. I then used my Sleek Solstice Highlighting Palette to make my face have a nice glow on my cheeks. I might add blush on the actual day but I don't use it that often so I didn't use it for creating the look to start off with. I didn't go with eyeliner like I normally do as I wanted it to look natural and less bold as I would save that for the night time look. I didn't go with lipstick as picnic food can get messy and I wouldn't want to have to top it up.

For the evening we haven't decided what we will be doing so I am going to wear my a simple black dress with grey tights then my Converse again, I will bring my outfit from the day with my so I can change if we have plans which involves being outside again. For my eyelook I will make it more dramatic by adding my usual Maybelline Master Ink eyeliner and a dash of silver glitter eyeliner to really make my eyes pop.

I hope everyone who reads this has an amazing Valentines day and likes my Valentines look. I know it is simple but my boyfriend tends to like the more natural look so I like to make it look as natural but to the outfit as possible. Leave me a comment to let me know what you do for Valentines day and what look you did!.