Latest In Beauty - February 2020

It's that time of the month again for my review of the new Latest In Beauty edit! I'm lucky enough to be sent their boxes to review but I have bought their boxes in the past. As well as their monthly edits, they have limited edition collections available as well such as the new 2020 Beauty Resolutions Box (£28, worth over £152) which I've already reviewed on my blog.

*Latest In Beauty February Box - Brush Crush Edit

If you're not familiar with Latest In Beauty, they release a new selection of products every month and there's a new theme each month. Unlike most subscription boxes, you can choose every single item in the box from their selection (don't worry as there are almost 150 products to choose from) with new items added everyday. You can choose the number of items in your box as well, from the 'beauty novice' box at £16, the 'beauty enthusiast' box at £22 and the 'beauty guru' box at £25 all of which are the one off boxes but you can opt for the cheaper monthly subscription instead.

*MAC Cosmetics Lipstick in Chilli 

Each month there are a couple of 'hall of fame' and star products and for the month of February there's an extra special 'hall of fame' product and it's a MAC lipstick! I was very excited to see a MAC Cosmetics lipstick within the selection for February as it's such a famous and coveted brand. I have a few MAC products including their lipsticks and out of the products I've tried, the eyeshadows and lipsticks are the ones worth purchasing. The shade available on Latest In Beauty is Chilli which is a beautiful brick red shade which is something I usually wouldn't buy as it isn't the most flattering in terms of the colour of your teeth; however it is such a beautiful shade!

*Hairflick Vegan Hair Vitamins 

One of my favourite things about the Latest In Beauty Boxes is the wide range of items that include in their selection each month and the inclusion of products I never would have heard about otherwise, such as these vegan hair vitamins. I'm always on the look out for vegan vitamins as I don't love the taste of the ones I have been using for a while so I had to give these a go. Firstly, I love the packaging and thankfully they taste delicious! They have a 'blue raspberry' flavour which is very unusual but I love it and I will be picking up more of these vitamins in the future.

*SportFX Eyelash Curler

If you've been following my blog since last summer then you might remember that back in July I had laser eye surgery and because of that I had to throw away all of my old eye makeup as well as a few tools such as my very worn and beloved Tweezerman Eyelash Curler so I was happy to find one on Latest In Beauty as I hadn't purchased a replacement. The Tweezerman eyelash curler was fantastic and probably the best I've ever used but this one is a great second as unlike most eyelash curlers, this one fits the deep set shape of my eye really well. It doesn't pinch the skin, it is easy to use and I'd definitely recommend it.

*Erborian CC Cream 

I've been a little obsessed with Japanese and Korean food and culture recently and I wanted to try more Korean beauty products too so I added the Erborian CC Cream to my box. I've heard great things about this brand but sadly this CC cream just isn't for me. It is an off white cream that when blended into the skin becomes a skin tone shade (I have the shade Clair) but it isn't hydrating or quite light enough for my skin unfortunately.

*SportFX Body Build Dry Shampoo 

The final Sport FX product I wanted to try was their volumising dry shampoo which claims to be perfect for all hair types and is specifically formulated for active lifestyles. I do like this dry shampoo, it helps my hair to look a little fresher in-between washes but it isn't the best dry shampoo I've tried - I'm still on the hunt for the best so if you have any recommendations, leave them in the comments.

*Pure Essentiel Rest and Relax Air Spray 

I love using room sprays, candles and diffusers, especially if they contain relaxing ingredients or scents such as lavender so I had to try this mini 'air spray'. It contains twelve essential oils and is 100% natural. The scent is very strong but I love it and I will be looking out for this brand and product in the future.

Have you tried any of these products or the Latest In Beauty boxes?

*gifted

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Latest In Beauty: October Edit 2019

I love subscription boxes, particularly when they are beauty themed and especially so when I can choose the items. Latest In Beauty have some of the best limited edition beauty boxes, such as the new India Knight Edit (which I will be reviewing very soon) but their monthly boxes in which you can choose the items, are fantastic. I've been lucky enough to receive a few of their monthly boxes now and I've been very happy with each one, from the presentation and delivery to the item selection and brands available.

*Latest In Beauty - October Edit (£22, Beauty Enthusiast Box)

The October edit contains so many wonderful products, from more unusual items including an exfoliating hand cream and biodegradable baby wipes to CBD lip balms, collagen shots, insect repellant and tanning sheets masks, among others. I was very kindly sent the 'beauty enthusiast' box in which you can choose up to six items although there are other sizes available. The 'beauty novice' box is £16 and you can choose up to three items and the 'beauty guru' box is £25 with the option to pick nine items.

*SportFX Game Changing Mascara 

Let's start with my favourite item from the box and it's probably by favourite mascara ever, closely followed by the DHC Double Protection Mascara. The mascara packaging not only looks amazing with textured water droplets on the tube but it is such a long lasting mascara that's waterproof and it doesn't require countless coats or an eyelash curler. The mascara is unusual as on one end of the tube, there's a built in mascara remover...yes! The remover when brushed through the lashes, left for 20 seconds and then gently removed with a damp Makeup Eraser cloth, almost instantly removes the mascara. It's very impressive and perfect for me as I had laser eye surgery a couple of months ago and I still want to be a little more gentle with my eyes.

*Ciate Glow To Highlighter - Moondust

Another favourite product is the Ciate highlighter! I've wanted to try something from Ciate, besides their nail polishes, for a while and I'm glad that this item came up on the October selection. The highlighter is a great little travel size, the shade is utterly beautiful and thankfully it isn't filled with very chunky glitter. It is a little pink toned but it looks pretty on the skin and while it isn't as finely milled and minimally glittery as I wanted it to be, I still love the result.

*Dr Hauschka Lipstick in Chessflower 09

I haven't tried anything from this brand so I had to choose this lipstick when it came up on the Latest In Beauty selection. The lipstick contains moisturising botanical ingredients and mineral pigments including rose petals, almond oil and camauba wax. The shade is 'chessflower' which is the most beautiful crushed purple velvet colour that is ideal for this time of the year. The texture is so nourishing and moisturising but the longevity is there too.

*Sure Ultimate Fresh Deodorant

One of the things I love about the Latest In Beauty boxes is the wide range of items, from fragrance samples and skincare to makeup, unusual items and everyday essentials. There are a few beauty subscription boxes on the market that have lovely items but they can be quite repetitive or have mostly one category of items, such as skincare but the Latest In Beauty range is much more practical and convenient with the inclusion of everyday toiletries in it's line up.

*The NF Co Biodegradable Toothbrush 

Speaking of everyday items is this very unusual biodegradable cornstarch toothbrush...yes, it's a toothbrush made of cornstarch. I'm aware of wooden toothbrushes but I haven't come across one like this before! You can recycle the toothbrush head and the packaging as well as the handle are biodegradable. I think that the addition of a biodegradable, zero waste and non-plastic item is amazing!

*Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water

Last but not least, I wanted to choose this mini micellar water from Garnier as I have the larger bottle and I thought the mini version would be perfect for travelling. I've been using this product since it was first released and I think it is fantastic. I'm glad it's part of the selection for October and it's still available on the site if you are looking to create your own box in October.

I cannot recommend the amazing Latest In Beauty boxes enough, either their monthly subscription boxes or their limited edition boxes as the range of brands, wide variety of products and the packaging/presentation is fantastic. My favourite items from the October selection have to include the amazing SportFX mascara (which I cannot recommend enough), the Ciate highlighter and the Garnier micellar water. The selection is fantastic this month!

Have you tried any of these products? What do you think of the October selection? 

*gifted

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Latest In Beauty Weekend Away Box

I haven't been subscribed to a beauty box for so long, I think the last one was My Little Box and I have missed the excitement of receiving a beauty box as even though I may not like all of the products, it's the mystery of them that is so appealing! Does anyone else remember those Claire's Accessories £5 mystery goodie bags? I LOVED them!

Today, I'm reviewing the *Latest In Beauty Weekend Away Box (£20, plus postage and packaging) which I was so excited about! It contains nine travel friendly products that would be perfect for a staycation, weekend away or mini city break. Unlike quite a few beauty boxes, it contains really good sample sizes and the products are from brands that are well know and fantastic such as Nails Inc, REN, Philosophy and many more!

The product I was most excited about is the Nails Inc London Polish in Sloane Mews which is a full size polish - it's 14ml and it's huge. I adore the deep plum shade that almost looks like a rich blackberry shade with two coats. It applies SO quickly, literally just one swipe on each nail and it's covered; I was very impressed.

I was also really excited about the REN Moroccan Rose Otto Body Lotion (50ml); I adore REN skincare and I have wanted to try their Rose Otto range for years so I couldn't wait to try this body lotion. I thought it would have a sweet or powdery rose scent but it is really musky and gorgeous - love it!

The box contains a few products that I've heard of and can't wait to try such as the Philosophy Renewed Hope In A Jar Eye Cream (3ml) which would be perfect for travelling as the tube is small and it has a nozzle dispenser and the Melvita L'Or Bio Huile Extrodinaire (17ml) which is a hair, body and facial oil and I'm all about hair and facial oils so I will be trying this mini soon.

I used to adore Charles Worthington products as a teenager but I haven't tried anything from the brand for a while so I'm interested to try the Moisture Seal Hair Healer Leave-In Conditioner as I always hear great things about Charles Worthington products.

We're down to the last few products, the Garnier Miracle Sleeping Cream is a product I've seen on a few blogs over the past couple of months. It comes in a super cute tub and I've heard great things about it, especially for the low price tag.

I've you've been following my blog for a while, you will know how much I love skincare but I'm a little cautious as I have sensitive skin however one of the skincare products included was from Merumaya which is a brand that I've already tried and I know I like. The sample included is the Merumaya Mud Marvels Mask which is a tiny sample but for a one time use, it's a good size.

I think one product that always appears in beauty boxes, which you many think is a bad thing, are hand creams. I always have such dry hands so they are always welcome and in this box the hand cream is The Organic Pharmacy Marigold and Comfry Hand Cream. I haven't tried anything from this brand but it looks interesting and the hand cream is great so far!

Last but not least, the Sanctuary Spa Ultimate Cleansing Oil - I have tried so many of their body products over the years and myself, my sister, my mum and my aunties are all big fans of the brand; however I haven't tried any of their skincare so I will definitely be giving this one a go.

Overall, I think this is a fantastic beauty box considering that the samples sizes are fantastic, the samples are from well know and loved brands and the range of samples is great too, from a face mask sample and creams to a leave-in conditioner, eye cream and hair oil. For the price I think it is just amazing and I cannot recommend it enough! Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5!

What do you think of the Latest in Beauty Weekend Away box? Have you tried any of the Latest in Beauty boxes? 

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Latest In Beauty - November 2020

It's time for my monthly review of the wonderful Latest In Beauty Box; this months box was themed around pampering products which I think is ideal for not only this time of the year but for lockdown pampering too - which is something we all need more of! I receive the boxes to review but I genuinely cannot recommend them enough and I've purchased a couple of the limited edition (and amazing value) boxes previously. 

*Latest In Beauty - November 2020 (£12.95 per month)

As always you can choose up to six products for only £12.95 per month and the selection is added to each day so there's always a new item to add to your box. The range of items is fantastic, as it is every month on Latest In Beauty; from high end makeup, skincare and beauty tools to supplements, body care, toiletries, haircare and more. As well as a treat for yourself, the box would make a fantastic Christmas gift for beauty lovers. 

*KVD Go Big or Go Home Mascara 

I'll start with the two high end makeup products from the November selection that I immediately added to my box! I have tried both of these products already from previous Latest In Beauty boxes and I couldn't pass up the opportunity to have a couple of backups as I love both! It is a very black, volumising mascara that makes my lashes look fuller, thicker and curled instantly. 

*Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Do Me Baby 

If I could only wear one lip product for the rest of my life, it would have to be the Nars velvet matte lip pencils as not only are they easy and quick to apply but they are also comfortable, lightweight, pigmented and the longevity is amazing. I cannot recommend both makeup minis enough especially if you are looking for long lasting and long wearing products. 

*Umberto Giannini Flowerology Coco + Rose Hair Mask 

Moving onto a couple of hair treatments, the first has to be the most beautifully packaged hair mask I've ever seen! It also has an absolutely heavenly scent of soft powdered roses which is a scent I'll always enjoy. The mask claims to be an intensely moisturise boosting treatment for those with dry and dehydrated hair which definitely describes mine so I cannot wait to try this mask soon. 

*Aveda Damage Remedy Hair Repair

The 'hall of fame' product for the month of November is the Aveda Damage Remedy Hair Repair which is a hair treatment featuring 98% natural ingredients and a well loved reputation. I typically tend to add the monthly hall of fame products to my box as they're always higher end product(s) or from a brand that I've wanted to try for a while. I've tried a few Aveda products but I definitely want to try more so I'm very interested to give this product a go. 

*So Eco Angled Eyeliner Brush

You can't have too many makeup brushes, right? I have so many that it might have become a minor problem but I can't resist adding another to my collection especially when it is is vegan friendly and has  copper details. I've tried many brushes from this brand and I've been very happy with all of them, particularly the longevity and how well they stand up to use over the years as well as washing. 

*Nilaqua Oatmilk and Honey Hand Sanitiser 

Last but not least for my selection is a very useful product to have in 2020 - hand sanitiser. I've never used so many hand sanitiser than I have since March! The Nilaqua sanitiser comes in two scents: fresh watermelon and oat milk and honey. It is vegan friendly, alcohol free and it is approved by the NHS so I had to add it to my box as an everyday essential in 2020. 

Finally, I wanted to mention the upcoming Black Friday markdowns that will be live on Latest In Beauty from midnight tomorrow. The Black Friday offers will include up to 40% off, a plethora of beauty products on offer and two boxes that will be exclusive to their Black Friday offers - you don't want to miss out! 

Have you tried any of the products I've reviewed? Will you be checking out the Latest In Beauty Black Friday offers on Thursday? 

* AD - gifted item sent to me, not paid

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Latest In Beauty - August 2020

 

Latest In Beauty create my favourite subscription boxes as you can choose every single item in your box each month! I've been reviewing the monthly boxes for a while and I cannot recommend them enough - for more information on their previous boxes and product reviews, read my previous Latest In Beauty box posts. For unboxings, mini product reviews and a look at all of my blogger mail, follow (@ofbeautyand) on Instagram. 

*Latest In Beauty - August 2020 

The August selection was fantastic and featured so many products that I was interested in so it was a little difficult to choose the six items for my Beauty Enthusiast box (£22, one off box). I chose two sheet masks (I know Caroline Hirons doesn't like them but my skin seems to and while it's finally improving, I'm going to keep using them until I can find a more environmentally friendly alternative), a couple of unique hair products, a lovely body care minis set and a replacement for one of my favourite mascaras. 

*Farmologie Try-Me Box 

I'll start with the item I was most excited about! This body care 'try-me' box was part of the July selection but it was still on the website during August so I happily added it to my selection. I haven't come across a set like this on Latest In Beauty before (as far as I am aware) so I was instantly intrigued, especially as the packaging is so beautiful. The set contains a body wash (30ml), bath soak (30ml), moisturiser (30ml) and hand cream (15ml), all of which are grapefruit scented. I adore the scent as it is so summery and I think it's a great set to try the brand or for travelling. 

*Frank Body Coconut Coffee Scrub 

Occasionally within the monthly boxes, there will be an added item as a bonus and for the month of August, the added extra was a 20g packet of an exfoliating body scrub. This brand is famous for it's body scrubs so I'm interested to give this one a go, especially as the combination of coconut and coffee sounds wonderfully summery! 

*Toppik Hair Building Fibers - Dark Brown 

Next up, the two haircare items I added to my box, both of which are a little unusual. The first is a product designed to make your hair or hairline look fuller and thicker using hair building fibres. I personally have a couple of areas around my hairline that are thinner than others which I am a little self conscious about so I was intrigued to try this product. It claims to give 'fuller hair instantly' and from my experience of using this product, it works in a similar way to a tinted dry shampoo but in powder form. It does add more 'volume' and helps to covers greys but it is annoyingly messy to use unfortunately. 

*Grow Gorgeous Scalp Scrub 

My scalp can be quite dry and flaky at times which can be very frustrating and nothing I've used in the past has helped so I hoped that a scalp scrub would be a great solution. I've tried a scalp scrub from Loreal and it was a little disappointing so I have my fingers crossed that this one is better as I've loved the products I have tried from this brand in the past. 

*SportFX Game Changing Mascara

I received this mascara in a previous Latest In Beauty box and loved it so I wanted a new one as I'm trying to be a little more mindful about the expiration date of my cosmetics - you should apparently renew your mascara every three months. The mascara is a fantastic, volumising and very long wearing. It has a built-in remover which is very effective so I think it would be ideal for those with sensitive eyes or for travelling. 

*Oh K! Jeju Island Hydrogel Mask and After Sun Mask 

Last but definitely not least are two sheet masks from my favourite cruelty free and vegan mask brand, Oh K! I've tried the replenishing hydrogel mask previously and my skin adored it (hydrogel masks are so refreshing and cooling too) so I had to choose it again for the August box. We've had amazing weather all throughout lockdown in Manchester so I thought a soothing after-sun mask with aloe vera would be perfect for my skin after the glorious summer sun we've had. 

Have you tried any of these products? What do you think of my picks for the August Latest In Beauty box?

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Latest In Beauty: Backstage Beauty 2019

We all know how much I loves subscription boxes of any kind but sometimes the lack of interesting items or items you want outweighs the excitement of the mystery and that's were the Latest In Beauty 'build your own' boxes come in. Each month there's a new theme and selection of items to choose from and the theme for the month of September 2019 is 'backstage beauty'.

*Latest In Beauty - Backstage Beauty September 2019

The backstage beauty edit for September features so many amazing products, including their 'hall of fame' product which is a mini Nars lipstick...naturally I had to choose that one when selecting the items to review in my Beauty Enthusiast box. Unlike other subscription boxes, you can choose not only the items you want to receive but also how many items; from the Beauty Novice box (3 products for £9 per month), Beauty Enthusiast box (6 products for £15 per month) or the Beauty Guru box (9 products for £18 per month), all of which comes tip free shipping.

*Kat Von D Go Big Or Go Home Mascara 

I want to start with my favourite item from the selection I chose (well, it's probably tied in first place with the Nars lipstick). The Kat Von D Go Big Or Go Home mascara which comes in a decently sized mini tube and it's actually the first item I've tried from Kat Von D. If you've been following me on social media or my blog over the past couple of months then you might know that I wanted through laser eye surgery in July and I had to throw away all of my old liners, mascaras and eyelash curlers so I added a couple of mascara minis to my box.

I am incredibly happy with the results of the surgery but the recovery has been a little longer than I thought it would and not being able to rub my eyes has limited the amount of times I can wear mascara as it's very difficult to remove any mascara without having to rub my eyes. Also I hadn't had time to buy any new eyelash curlers so all of my mascaras have looked a little sad...until using this one! This mascara doesn't need the benefit of eyelash curlers as it volumises and boosts my lashes on it's own - I hadn't been this impressed by a mascara for a while!

*Buxom Big Tease Mascara 

The second mascara mini I tried was the Buxom mascara which is another brand I haven't ever tried before! There are so many great things about the Latest In Beauty 'build you own' boxes but the ability to choose brands you haven't tried before or to choose a selection of exciting products as well as 'essentials' is great! Unlike the Kat Von D mascara, this one is quite subtle and natural looking which is what I usually want in an everyday mascara but I think it might be a little underwhelming for some.

*Faith In Nature Coconut Body Wash 

As well as the mini sizes, there are also quite a few full sized items within the September selection including this heavenly scented body wash. You can see if an item is full sized or smaller by clicking on the product and you'll be able to read more information about the product including the size. The product smells gorgeous, it is a full sized item and it is available for vegans to use - what more could you want?

*Caudalie Vinosource Sorbet 

French skincare is a favourite of mine and Caudalie is one of the best brands out there so I naturally had to add a mini moisturiser to my box. I have tried this moisturiser quite a few times but I adore it so I'm always in need of more, especially as I'm travelling to Glasgow next month and I will be packaging very light so minis will be perfect. If you need a fantastic moisturiser (that's great on dry/sensitive skin) then look no further. 

*Nars Toledo Satin Lipstick

Onto the 'hall of fame' product which is the Nars Toledo lipstick - there will be a new 'hall of fame' product release on the 1st of every month so stay tuned. I have adored the Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencils for years but I haven't tried any of their other lip products until now. The mini size is adorable, I love the packaging and the shade is a beautiful natural rose red - it's a 'my lips but better/darker' shade on me. The longevity is fantastic, it feels comfortable on the lips and it has quite a matte finish which I love. 

*Living Proof Instant De-Frizzer 

Living Proof is a brand I've wanted to try more of for a while but it's a little more expensive than I usually pay for haircare, especially products I haven't tried before so I was very happy to see one of their products as part of the Latest In Beauty selection. The size of the product is fantastic, it sounds amazing and so far so good. Just spray it on and smooth down for less frizz - even on my very frizzy and thick hair. 

Have you tried any of these products? Have you tried any of the Latest In Beauty boxes? 

*Gifted

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Latest In Beauty Box: July Edit 2019

I've been lucky enough to review various boxes from Latest In Beauty previously and today's post is another review of their 'build your own' boxes but it's the July 2019 edition. If you aren't familiar with Latest In Beauty, they're a beauty subscription box with a difference - you can choose all of the items in your box. If you like the idea of a beauty subscription box but you don't want to spend money on items that you potentially won't use or that aren't suitable, then the Latest In Beauty boxes are the ideal solution.

*Latest In Beauty 'Beauty Enthusiast' Box (£22 - One Off Box) 

There are three boxes to choose from which differ in the number of items you can choose and the price accordingly. The first is their 'beauty novice box' which contains three items (£16), then the 'beauty enthusiast box' (£22) and lastly the 'beauty guru box' (£25), all of those prices are for one off boxes. You can choose from the same wide range of items for each box and the items can vary from hair accessories, nail polishes, skincare and makeup to bodycare, tanning products, toiletries/essentials, hand sanitisers and more.

One of the many things I love about the Latest In Beauty boxes is the vast range of items, not just in terms of the physical number of items you have to choose from but the category of items as well. The items aren't limited to just makeup or skincare but there is a great range of 'essentials' too, in my opinion. I also like the inclusion of a new item each day so if you have a few items in your box but you don't know what else to add then you can wait for a day, two or three to see the new items that are added.

I have the one off 'beauty enthusiast' box so I was able to choose six items to add to my box and as with the other boxes I've been very kindly sent, I try to choose a mix of items that I know I'll use (such as essentials) and some items that are either new to me or new products on the market. For example, I chose a full sized shampoo and conditioner for Lee Stafford as I know I'll use those products and a new micellar cleansing water from Garnier as it was a product I hadn't seen before.

Lee Stafford Keep It Clean Shampoo and Conditioner 

Let's start with the two items I've used the most since I received the box, the Lee Stafford haircare duo. Lee Stafford is a brand that I've loved since I was a teenager and I'm still loving their products. I love the packaging, the scent and the conditioner is the perfect combination of moisturising effects without being heavy, greasy or oily.

InvisiBobble Waver 

Sticking with the haircare theme as most of the products I opted for were haircare items. I have a few of the original InvisiBobbles but I found that they couldn't take the weight of my hair and they would fall out. However, I did want to try their new 'waver' which is a hair clip that is supposed to be comfortable, secure and traceless. I've tried it a couple of times and I like it but it is a bit tricky to use and it's only really useful for large sections of hair. However, I think it will be very handy when I'm curling my hair and need to keep sections secure before curling.

John Frieda Hairspray 

The penultimate haircare item is a hairspray from John Frieda. As with Lee Stafford products, John Frieda is such a nostalgic brand to me as I used their brunette and frizz ease range for years growing up. I use hairspray every so often when I use my GHDs to create curls and a little hairspray is all I need to hold them in place for most of the day.

Pureology Hydrate Shampoo 

The final haircare item is from Pureology which is a brand I've tried a couple of times and loved so I knew I had to pick up this mini shampoo. It's the 'colour care' shampoo which claims to gently cleanse without stripping the colour from your hair. I have been colouring my hair since I was around 14 years old but I've never really used any colour focused products...I probably should.

Garnier Micellar Milky Cleansing Water

I love the original Garnier micellar water, it's ideal for my dry and sensitive skin (although my skin is now more on the normal side) so I wanted to try this micellar milky cleansing water. It says new on the bottle and I haven't seen it before so I think it must be a new product to their range. I've only used it once so far and it is a nice product although it's very thin and runny - I thought it would be more of a gel like product but it isn't. So far, so good but it isn't fully blowing me away.

Sanctuary Spa Wet Skin Moisture Miracle 

Last but definitely not least is one of the more unusual products from the box and one that I was the most intrigued to try. I noticed this product on Instagram and wondered how it would work and I'm so glad that it appeared on the selection of products as I was going to buy it. The product is an after shower moisturiser that you use on wet skin, yes, wet skin. I've only ever used body moisturisers that you use on dry skin so I didn't know how this would work.

You shower as you normally would then before you dry off, you apply this lotion and then dry/dress as normal. I thought that it would feel strange...and it does at first but it doesn't leave my towels feeling like I've just applied a tonne of lotion to them and it also doesn't make my skin feel greasy. It's such an unusual product and one that's great for time limited or lazy people like me who always forget to use a body moisturiser.

Have you tried any of these products? What do you think of the 'build your own' boxes from Latest In Beauty? 

*Gifted

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Latest In Beauty: July 2020

We all know by now how much I adore the monthly boxes from the amazing people over at Latest In Beauty! If you aren't familiar with the subscription, bear with me while I explain as it isn't quite as simple as other boxes (but it's so much better). There are three price options for their monthly boxes: Beauty Novice (three products, £16), Beauty Enthusiast (six products, £22) and Beauty Guru (nine products, £25). The prices listed are for the one-off boxes but you can purchase a recurring subscription.

I am lucky enough to be kindly sent the *Latest In Beauty Beauty Enthusiast Box each month but I would genuinely buy the monthly boxes as well as the limited edition boxes from my own pocket as they are such good value for money, in my opinion. The Latest In Beauty boxes differ in a few ways compared to other boxes, the first are the price options and the number of products per box but the main difference is that you can choose every single item in your box so you don't receive unwanted or unsuitable products (which was my own negative about other subscription boxes). 

*It's a 10 Miracle Leave-In Product

I'll start by reviewing the haircare products I chose for my July Beauty Enthusiast box. It's a 10 is an American brand that has been coveted in the beauty and blogging world for years and it is a haircare item I have wanted to try since Fleur (of Fleur De Force, naturally) raved about it perhaps six or so years ago. It claims to add shine, deeply condition, control frizz, protect, detangle and act as a heat protection, among other claims. I've only used it a couple of times since I received my box at the end of July but so far I'm loving it. Not only does it smell heavenly but it definitely helps to detangle and reduce frizz. 

*SportFX Body Building Dry Shampoo 

The second and final haircare item is a dry shampoo from SportFX. I have their original volumising version and like the effectiveness so I wanted to try their 'fresh vanilla' scent. I find both to be effective at reducing greasiness and oiliness as well as adding a little volume; although I prefer the vanilla scent to the original. 

*Oh K! Caffeine Body Mask

One of my favourite products from 2020 so far, in terms of skincare, has to be sheet masks. I have become a complete sheet mask convert in 2020 and I'm always happy to try more. I have only used eye, lip and face sheet masks but never one for the body so I had to give this one a go as it sounds intriguing. The 'masks' are strips of a hydrogel material that gently adhere to the skin much like a traditional sheet mask. I do prefer the 'hydrogel' sheet masks as they are much easier to fit onto the skin and tend to be quite cooling. 

The direction images on the packet suggest to place the patches on the underarm which is what I did and although it did feel quite strange and cooling at first, it wasn't unpleasant or irritating. It is advised to leave the patches on the skin for 20 to 30 minutes but I removed mine between 10 to 15 minutes as they weren't sticking very well. While the patches did feel like they provided a smoothing and slightly tightening effect, I didn't notice too much of a difference or any lasting improvement unfortunately. I think I'll just stick to facial sheet masks in the future!

*Jiinju Under Eye Mask 

My favourite product from the July box has to be these refreshing, smoothing and cooling under eye masks. I used this product on an unusually hot day in Manchester so the cooling effect was very soothing - I'd recommend keeping sheet masks in your fridge for added refreshment to your skincare treats! The masks stayed on the skin very well, they didn't irritate and they left my skin feeling plumper, smoother and refreshed. I'm very tempted to add these to my August box...

*Burts Bees Wild Cherry Lip Balm

Next up is a lip balm from Burt's Bees which I choose not for myself but for my mum as she needed a new lip balm and the Burt's Bees balms are fantastic. I used to love the original beeswax version although now I'm personally avoiding products with beeswax or honey within them where I can (and to be honest, when I remember to check the ingredients list). 

*OM Skincare Konjac Sponge 

Within a previous Latest In Beauty box, I added a detoxifying konjac sponge and I've loved using it so I wanted to try another. The OM Skincare konjac sponge is 100% natural, suitable for sensitive skin and claims to increase circulation and detoxify the skin while leaving it more radiant. It also states that it is 'fantastic for anyone with acne or clogged pores' and as I've been suffering so many awful and very stubborn spots since lockdown, I hope this cleansing sponge will help!

Have you tried any of these products? Will you be created a Latest In Beauty box in August? 

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Latest In Beauty: April 2020 Edit

Today's post is all about the April edition of the Latest In Beauty box, which you can still purchase, and it's one of the best ever! As some of you may know, if you have been following my blog for a while, I am lucky enough to review the Latest In Beauty boxes each month. I am sent the *Latest In Beauty Beauty Guru Box (£22, one off box) and it contains six items, although there are two other box options to choose from if you want more or less products within your box. 

There are so many aspects about the Latest In Beauty boxes and the subscription in general such as the wide range of products each month, the packaging, the brands included and the flexibility that I love but one of my favourite things is the monthly theme and daily product additions to the monthly selection. At the start of each month, there's a sneak peek of all the items in the box so you can see what will be included. I had my eye on a couple of products I waited to order so my review of the April box is a little late, oops! 

*Oh K! Three Step Sheet Mask 

I'll start with the one skincare item I added to my box for April and it's a Korean sheet mask from Oh K! I have tried masks from this brand before and loved them so I was interested to try another especially as it's unlike any other mask I've tried before. I have tried a two step mask but this one contains not one, not two but three steps. Firstly, you use the detoxifying cleanser, followed by the anti-pollution sheet mask then the soothing serum. I cannot wait to try this mask!

*Schwarzkopf Colour Expert Permanent Hair Dye - Dark Brown

I'm always so intrigued by the items included within each months selection because they can be so varied and I think my April box is a great example of the range on offer as I was able to add a makeup item, shampoo, Korean sheet mask, makeup sponge cleanser, luxe body care products and a hair dye in my box. Where else you you receive such a wide variety of products in one subscription box!

As we are currently in lockdown, I wanted to choose items that would be useful for the next few weeks so I had to choose a hair dye as the greys are getting too out of hand! I am in my late twenties but I have had to dye my hair since I was around 22 because of grey hairs so I think hair dye is a lockdown essential for me! I haven't tried the dye yet but I will be very soon especially as it claims to provide long lasting colour and 100% grey coverage that also protects the hair from damage.

*System Professional Inessence Shampoo (50ml)

The second haircare item I added was a mini shampoo from System Professional which is a brand I haven't heard of before. The shampoo claims to reduce frizz (which is something my hair has in abundance), improve manageability and provide instant refreshment. It has a very salon-like scent which I love and I can't wait to give it a go as I'm not loving the shampoo I'm currently using.

*Molton Brown Heavenly Gingerlily Shower Gel and Body Lotion

Every month there will be a Hall Of Fame product (or in this case, two products), that are the highlights of the box. I'm always very happy with the Hall Of Fame products and I typically choose them to be included in my box and when I noticed that the April products were from Molton Brown...I was very excited. Molton Brown is one of my favourite luxury body care brands and I love all of their scents so I knew these two products would be heavenly, as the name suggests.

Typically the Hall Of Fame product is one item but the April box contains both the 100ml shower gel as well as the 100ml body lotion, in the same scent. The scent is so perfect for spring as it is very floral, fresh and uplifting to match the glorious sunny weather we've been having. I'm very happy with both Hall Of Fame products this month and I can't wait to see what next months selection brings.

*Sponge Clean Cleanser 

There are new products added to the selection each month but a few remain for a while and one item I've been intrigued by is this beauty sponge cleanser. It comes in a 250ml bottle and claims to wash beauty sponges (such as a Beauty Blender) easily and effectively so they are like-new after washing. I haven't tried the sponge cleanser yet but I'm interested to see how it differs from just using soap and water. It has a lovely summery scent and I hope I'll be able to use it on my makeup brushes too.

*Evalina Beauty Shimmer Shadow Stick - Stardust 

Last but not least is a makeup item and I typically don't choose the makeup items from the Latest In Beauty selection as they tend to come in a randomly selected shade but thankfully for this beautiful eyeshadow stick, I loved all of the three shades on offer. I received the shade 'stardust' which is a gorgeous and very summery peachy pink shade that looks so pretty on the eyes as a single wash of colour for a quick, easy makeup look. I've only tried it once so far and I love the shade as well as the formula but it creases almost instantly on my fairly deep set eyes so I will have to try it with a primer in the future and hope that it prevents creasing.

I recently published a new post all about my subscription box recommendations for self isolation and those in quarantine, if you want more subscription box reviews. 

Have you tried any of these products? What do you think of the April selection? 

*gifted

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