A Very Late Unboxing Of Glossybox UK - December 2019 Edition - Merry Metallics*

I've had a little look at the posts that I've got coming up, and I think that this might be the last one that dates back to 2019, so after this one everything else should at least be from the right decade, maybe? Anyways since this post and the ones that follow are so late I've had a chance to try nearly all of the products that I'm going to talk about, so that is really my justification for featuring boxes that you can no longer get your hands on - I hope you'll agree with me and I hope that you'll find at least some of the product reviews useful.

Like most Christmas subscription boxes, the December edition of Glossybox UK arrived on my doorstep in special, limited edition, festive packaging. The box lid was a warm metallic gold, overlaid with a rich, matte red geometric design, which coordinated perfectly with rich, matte red base of the box.

The red and gold theme continued inside the box with rich red tissue paper, and paper shred, and a sparkly gold ribbon.

The theme of December's Glossybox was "Merry Metallics" and it was full of radiance boosting products, to help you sparkly your way through the party season - ah the memories when we could actually socialise - surprising what you take for granted - but you can still get glammed up at home for those video chats and these are some of the products that I've been using over the last few months.

LA Splash Cosmetics Golden Gatsby 3D Faux Mink Lashes - 00370 - 1920 - Full Size - RRP £9.50 / $12

The first item in the box was the second LA Splash product that I received in December after the Wickedly Divine Eyeliner In Rosaline, that I got in my Glossybox advent calendar (you can read my thoughts on it here). 

I don't know a lot about them but from what I can gather LA Splash are a US based, cruelty free cosmetics company, and even though I'm not a huge lash wearer cruelty free ones are a must for me! These are gorgeous, full, synthetic lashes. I remember it caused a little bit of controversy at the time but there was no adhesive with the lashes due to potential latex allergy concerns, but I'm sure most lash wearers would already have a tube or two floating around.

This is actually the only item in the box that I haven't tried yet. Again my facial paralysis, is probably to blame but I am useless at applying false lashes, so now that we all have plenty of time on our hands, one of my goals for 2020 is to learn how to apply false lashes properly, so make sure you're following me on my other social media channels to see how I get on!

These lashes are available either direct from LA Splash for around $12 or from Beauty Bay for around £9.50.

Steve Laurant Loose Powder Pigment - Rose Gold - 1.5g - Full Size - RRP £14 / $14.60

Next up, an item from another brand that appeared in the 2019 Glossybox Advent Calendar, Steve Laurant. Where as the advent calendar contained a lip balm / tint (you can read my review here), December's Glossybox contained a multi purpose, loose pigment powder.

Both cruelty free, and gluten free this powder come boxed and beautifully packaged in a faced clear pot, with rose gold / copper toned lid.

This superfine powder is in a beautiful coppery, gold shade, the pigmentation is excellent and it blends effortlessly into the skin.

This is a multi use products so you can use it on the face, body and on the eyes. I've mainly been using this as an eye colour and I think that it's a really pretty shade, that would also work nicely in the summer with a tan.

The pot is quite small but since you only need to use a tiny sprinkle of pigment each time, it should last a long while.

The only official retailer of this product appears to be direct from Steve Laurant where it retails at around $18, Glossybox give it a UK retail price of  £14.60.

Bellapierre Liquid Shadow Eye Candy - Venus - 3ml - Full Size - RRP £15

The next product was another make up item and this time it was a product from cruelty free, mineral make up brand Bellapierre. Bellapierre is a real favourite subscription box brand, and even though I was already familiar with the brand various calendars and boxes have given the opportunity to try more products and learn more about the brand. I've tried a couple of lip things from them now including a Kiss Proof Lip Creme, in the March 2019 edition of Glossybox, the Kiss Proof Lip Finish from the 2018 Glossybox advent calendar, and the Banana Setting Powder from the 2017 Look Fantastic Advent Calendar, but this is the first time in a long while I've had the chance to try an eye product.

This is basically a liquid / cream eyeshadow that Bellapierre claim won't crease or smudge. The shade I received was Venus, which is officially described as golden nude.

First impressions were good, I loved the colour, and the swatch only encouraged my optimism,  the sponge applicator made it simple to apply, it was smooth, it was pigmented and it set pretty quickly.

So I immediately decided to pop it on my eyes, it was a little more glittery than I'd expected from the swatch but it looked it very pretty on, but and the big but it didn't last at all, the swatch on my hand actually washed off quite easily with just water, and in under an hour the shadow had completely disappeared from my mobile lid, leaving only dozens of particles of glitter!

I love the colour but this just didn't work for me at all - They were right it didn't crease or smudge, it just disappeared! I hate giving up on products so I'm going to try this with a variety of shadow bases, and I might even try it as a base for other shadows - I'm not relegating this to the useless pile yet but we'll see. The only place I can find this online is from the official Bellapierre UK website only in slightly different packaging.

L.O.V Cosmetics The Fateful Lacquered Lip Stain - No.730 Dewy Infinity - 5.3ml - Full Size - RRP £7.99 / €8.99

Yes, it's another make up item, and it was something from a new brand to me L.O.V, who are a mainland Europe based cosmetics company, with the same parent company as Catrice and Essence.

This lip product is described as the perfect of a lipstick and a gloss. Containing Vitamin E, hyaluronic filling spheres, this lip colour claims to be long lasting, smudge proof, and it also claims to plump and enhance your pout.

Glossybox subscribers apparently received one of 5 shades, the one that I got was Dewy Infinity, an almost cherry red. Packaged in an almost mascara like tube, this product comes with a tapered sponge applicator for easy and precise application, which is exactly what you need with a colour like this which has a tendency to creep outside of the lip line. It felt very creamy, and smooth on the lips, and it felt very comfortable to wear.

The finish itself was very shiny and glossy, that gloss gradually faded leaving a real pretty and slightly more wearable pink, red lip stain, which gradually faded from the inside out.

This isn't a very "Louise" colour but I'm slowly but surely learning to appreciate a bold lip, and whilst I would only wear this colour for a party or for a night out, I can appreciate the quality, the finish and the wear time. One word of warning though don't get this on your clothes if you can help it - I managed to get some on a pale blue top, and it's taking some getting out! The only place that I can find this range is directly from the L.O.V website where this full sized lip colour retails at around £7.99.

Original Source Sweet Rhubarb & Raspberry Shower Gel - 250ml - Full Size - RRP £2.30

Away from the glitz and glam of the rest of the box the final item was a little bit more practical and it gave me a chance to try another shower gel from Original Source.

Like the previous shower gel that I tried from Original Source (read my review here) this one is suitable for vegans, it's eco friendly and it contains 100% natural fragrances. This particular shower product contains 4 essentials oils and extract including rhubarb stalk extract and raspberry extract.

The first thing you notice when you open the bottle is the scent, it has a very fruity but at the same time, natural scent. I can smell a true raspberry scent, intermingled with the tart, sweet notes of the rhubarb - it really has one of those scents that makes your mouth water. It isn't all about the scent though this is a lovely thick shower gel, only a tiny amount produces a mountain of surprisingly moisturising bubbles.

I love rhubarb and it's slightly tart, tangy scent, and I'm really pleased to see it popping up in more and more beauty products, and this shower gel has quickly became a firm favourite in my bathroom.

Glossybox quote a recommended retail price of around £2.30 but like with a lot of drugstore, and widely available products it worth shopping round, obviously safely and observing government guidelines as you do it but I've seen it for as little as £1.

For me this was a pretty decent box, especially since I'm a huge make up lover, the eyeshadow was a bit of a fail, but the standout product for me was another make up item and it was the Steve Laurant pigment, a lovely shade, and something that I will definitely use. All in all this box was well worth money, and the contents were ideal for the party season and beyond. As I say despite the lateness of this post I hope you've found it useful and I hope that you've been inspired to look beyond some of the more obvious beauty brands and products out there, and to try something new x Don't forget to use my referral if you fancy trying Glossybox for yourself - have a click of this link to find out more x  If you have any questions on any of the items in this post then please leave me a comment below and I will see you soon with another late unboxing post x 

*This Post Contains Both Affiliate And Non Affiliate Links

Trimming My Stash - September 2019 Edition - Empties And Mini Reviews*

I think am at the stage in my life when I should just stop making plans. I've talked so much lately about about getting back on track when it comes to blogging, and what happens? A fibromyalgia  / CFS flare / weird virus puts every single thing that I've tried to do in the last fortnight on the back burner. It seems like I've spent most of the last week or so in bed, and whilst I'm still feeling way less than 100%, touch wood, I'm feeling well enough at the moment to do a little bit of work so I thought I'd take you back a month, to look at September's beauty empties.

Original Source Hydrating Water Infusions Raspberry & Rose Water Shower Gel - 250ml
Primark PS...Cuticle Oil - 10ml
Roger & Gallet Fleur de Figuier Hand And Nail Balm - 30ml
AVON Advance Techniques Anti Hair Fall Shampoo - 250ml
Philip Kingsley Elderflower And Rhubarb Body Building Shampoo - 500ml
AVON K Beauty Sugar Maple Glass Effect Hydrogel Face Mask - 1 x Mask
Simple Kind To Eyes Eye Make Up Corrector Pen
Primark PS...It's Oil Good Oil Balancing Facial Cleansing Wipes x 25 Wipes
Maybelline Dream Satin Liquid - 010 - Ivory - 30ml
Boots Botanics All Bright Micellar 3 In 1 Cleansing Solution - 250ml
XBC XPEL Body Care Olive Exfoliating Foot Pack - 1 x Treatment

Total - 11 Items 

Even despite the fact that I've been so poorly this post seems to have taken forever to write. It's taken a lot of planning and lot of research, because I managed to finish a whopping 11 beauty products in September, which is by far my best performance of 2019 so far. It wasn't just the number of items that I finished though it was also the variety of items that I finished. I finished a really nice assortment of skincare, hair care and body care items, and I even managed to finish a make up product -go me!

1. Original Source Hydrating Water Infusions Raspberry & Rose Water Shower Gel - 250ml

The first product was a shower gel that I received in the April 2019 Fruity Or Floral edition of Glossybox UK. You can read a full review here and even though it didn't smell quite like I expected it to, it had a nice fresh, almost green scent, it foamed well and it didn't leave my skin tight or dry. It was also really economical to use, but if you're interested in trying it for yourself then I would definitely shop around, I've seen this particular scent in a variety of stores, including Asda, Boots, Superdrug and Poundland, at various price points ranging from £1 - £2.29.

2. Primark PS...Cuticle Oil - 10ml

Yes I finished another bottle of my go to cuticle oil. At around £1 a bottle it's probably cheaper than a bag of chips and it works. I've got about 1/4 of a bottle of this , and about 1/3 of a bottle of OPI Avoplex remaining so I think I'm going to need to purchase a couple of back up bottles sooner rather than later.

3. Roger & Gallet Fleur de Figuier Hand And Nail Balm - 30ml

Next up another hand product and this was a product that I received in the 2015 Marks and Spencer Beauty Advent Calendar (You can read my unboxing posts here and here). I think that this was the first ever product that I've tried from heritage French fragrance brand Roger & Gallet, and it was a nice introduction.

Containing Shea butter, apricot kernel oil, and aloe vera, and fragranced with fig leaves, fig milk, and cedar wood, this formulation is free from colouring, parabens and silicone's. Despite the fact that it had a very rich and creamy texture it actually absorbed into the skin really quickly, leaving an almost protective but non sticky matte finish, I loved how moisturised and hydrated it made my skin feel and I loved the fruity floral, almost expensive fragrance type scent. I would definitely consider repurchasing this particular product. It's available on it's own for around £6.50 from various retailers including Escentual and Look Fantastic, and in a variety of gift sets from stores including John Lewis and Marks and Spencer.

4. AVON Advance Techniques Anti Hair Fall Shampoo - 250ml

I'm a big fan of AVON as a brand but seriously they are probably the worst brand out there for discontinuing products! So many good products have been and gone over the years and now you can throw my favourite shampoo and conditioner into the mix!

I've been using their Anti Hair Fall range for a few years now and despite their relatively small price tag this range has made a real difference to my hair, so much so in fact that I can actually tell when I haven't been using it. Containing keratin, argan and bamboo extract, this shampoo smells gorgeous, and it works. Alas it seems to be no more, and it's started to appear in their sale supplements, so if you want to try then grab it while you can. From what I can gather it has two potential replacements, the new Loss Control range, and the new Reconstruction range. I've bought a few bottles to try but I've also stocked up on the Anti Hair Fall range just in case. Why AVON? Why?

5. Philip Kingsley Elderflower And Rhubarb Body Building Shampoo - 500ml

Now despite my loyalty to the Anti Hair Fall range, I do tend to switch hair care brands quite a lot, I love trying new things, and I'm always on the look out for the next wonder product. Another brand that I keep coming back to is trichology brand Philip Kingsley. Whilst Elasticizer is my real love,  I'm more than happy to use whatever comes my way.

I reviewed the original Philip Kingsley Body Building Shampoo back in November 2015, after receiving a pack of goodies from the lovely people at Philip Kingsley (read my review here) and whilst this product is basically the same it's just that little bit extra special.

It has the same volumising and lifting properties as the original only with a gorgeous fresh, and fruity rhubarb and elderflower scent. It was a lovely shampoo, you need such a small amount this huge salon size lasted for ages, and the gorgeous scent lingered on the hair for at least a day or two. Alas this particular scent is no longer available but every now and then Philip Kingsley do limited edition scents like this one, that are either QVC UK exclusives, or that launch first on their regular beauty shows. This years exclusive scent seems to be Rose & Lychee and the range is still available on QVC UK.

6. AVON K Beauty Sugar Maple Glass Effect Hydrogel Face Mask - 1 x Mask

Next up another product up from AVON and another one that now seems relegated to the sale brochure. From AVON's K Beauty range, this clear hydrogel mask contains coconut extract, coconut oil, Shea butter and aloe vera, it also contains sugar maple extract, which contains natural source AHA's to help remove dead skin, and to leave the skin dewy, hydrated, and with a luminous glow.

This is a two piece mask - one half for the top of the face, and the other half for the bottom of your face. All you have to do is peel the sticky gel masks from the plastic backing, and apply them to clean, dry skin for around 10 minutes.

Unlike a lot of paper and fabric masks, you don't get any drips but even though these masks adhere to the skin quite well, it's better to lie down during the treatment to not only keep the mask in place but also to take some out to relax and enjoy the treatment.

This mask had quite a sweet, almost coconut and vanilla scent. It felt slightly cool on application but it warmed up slightly on contact with the skin. and the gel almost seemed to dry out as time passed.

Like all hydrogel masks it was really easy to remove, there was quite a bit of moisture left on the skin but it massaged into the skin quite easily, and it absorbed pretty quickly, although it left a slightly sticky residue. My skin looks slightly pink in the picture but it felt really refreshed and hydrated, and it looked a bit plumper and as if I'd just applied a moisturiser. The regular price for this mask is £3.50 but as I say I spotted it in the latest sale supplement for £1.75.

7. Simple Kind To Eyes Eye Make Up Corrector Pen

Now I found this a few months ago whilst I was searching through my skincare stash, and since I'm so bad at applying eyeliner I thought I'd dig it out and give it a try. Basically what it is is a felt tip pen filled with, or soaked in eye make up remover. The double ended pointy nib was perfect for removing mascara smudges and for correcting wobbly liner. Unfortunately it dried out quite quickly and as you can see it got quite dirty. Yes you can use a cotton bud or even a make up brush soaked in make up remover, but the point and the portable nature of this pen made it a really useful item, all be it one that didn't last that long. Unfortunately this pen appears to have been discontinued but I'm sure I have something similar, somewhere in my beauty stash.

8. Primark PS...It's Oil Good Oil Balancing Facial Cleansing Wipes x 25 Wipes

I've been shooting an awful lot of make up swatches over the last month or so, for some long promised and long overdue blog posts, and these tea tree based wipes have proved invaluable.  That said as devoted as I am to these wipes I'm really trying to get out of this "wipe" habit, so whilst I will definitely be picking up some more on my next Primark trip I feel that my love affair with these bargain wipes is nearing its end.

9. Maybelline Dream Satin Liquid - 010 - Ivory - 30ml

At last a make up item! Although I think I received this particular Italian branded bottle in a swap, this is a foundation that I've actually used on and off for a few years now, and it's one that I quite like. It has a nice texture, and it almost seems to even out my complexion, my pores don't look quite so obvious and the general texture and tone of my skin seems to look and feel smoother and more even. Apparently it's ideal for drier skin but I still like the finish and it wore pretty well on my oilier skin, all be it underneath several dustings of loose power. This particular colour was a touch warm for my skin tone, but it worked pretty well in the summer months, and with a bit of fake tan. I've got lots of foundations to use up including a few real loves so I won't be repurchasing in the the near future but that's not to say that I wouldn't buy it again.

10. Boots Botanics All Bright Micellar 3 In 1 Cleansing Solution - 250ml

Now I've had a mixed relationship with the Boots Botanics range over the years, and I still haven't quite forgiven them for meddling with one of my all time favourite eye make up removers (read my posts here  and here). Recently they've redeemed themselves slightly with their Cleansing Toner but when it comes to my eyes I'm still a little bit wary but giving them the benefit of the doubt I gave this a try.

I think I got it in a subscription box, and apparently it's one of the best sellers from the Botanics range. It's alcohol free, and it contains hibiscus and AHA's . It cleansed my skin with no problem, it was fine at removing make up, and it left my skin clean, fresh and bright. It did make my eyes sting a bit though so as I tend to use micellar waters all over my face, I probably wouldn't repurchase but it wasn't bad. If you're interested in trying it for yourself it retails at around £5.49 in Boots.

11. XBC XPEL Body Care Olive Exfoliating Foot Pack - 1 x Treatment

Finally a foot product, and I think I originally bought this in Bargain Buys, but apparently it's also available from various other retailers including Savers, Poundstretcher, and ebay. I can't remember how much I paid for it but I don't think it will have been much more than a pound or so. I originally bought this as a moisturising foot pack but even though it actually says the word exfoliating on the packet I didn't realise it was an actual foot peel!

"Formulated to moisturise and reduce callus build up, and cracked heels" the pouch contains a pair of plastic socks with a paper /  fibre lining, and adhesive  fastening strips for a secure fit. Containing mulberry extract, olive extract, rose flower oil and pomegranate oil, these socks had a lovely, slightly astringent apple like, fruity scent. The inside of the socks was very wet. After putting them onto clean, dry feet, my skin immediately felt slightly warm, and tingly, which should have been the first clue that these weren't moisturising socks!

After 20 minutes, which is quite a short amount of time for peeling socks, you take off the stocks, and also quite strangely for peeling socks, you don't need to rinse your feet. My feel looked slightly pink, and whilst my heels definitely looked less dry, they was no real difference moisture wise. I was pretty non plussed at this point because it still hadn't clicked that this was a foot peel, and then less a week later, this happened!

Apologies for the gross foot pack, but yes less than a week later all of the dry skin started peeling off the soles of my feet. The peeling process lasted for about a week. My notoriously dry heels, were still slightly cracked but my feet were generally a lot smoother, and the other calloused areas had all but disappeared.

Despite my initial confusion when buying and using this product, I am so, so happy with it. I used quite a few of these peeling products now and a lot of the more expensive ones haven't worked any where near as well as this one did. For the price, the performance, and the scent I really can't recommend these enough and I will definitely be making a repurchase.

So they were my very late September empties. I hope they were worth waiting for, as I said I finished a nice amount, and a nice variety of items. With only a few days left of October I don't think it's been anywhere near as successful a month as September was, but I can at least promise you that the post will be up a bit quicker than this one was x If you have any questions or comments let me know and I'll try and get back to you as quickly as I can, and I will see you soon with another post x

*The Post Contains Both Affiliate And Non Affiliate Links 

Unboxing Glossybox - April 2019 Edition - Fruity Or Floral*

Ah, at last I've found some time to sit down and get my blog on, so I'm stuck indoors despite the fact that it's Good Friday, and unusually for a Bank Holiday in the UK it's actually sunny! I can hear people laughing and generally enjoying themselves but I'm not bitter at all, I've actually had a pretty decent week for once, and I'm getting very excited about an impending new arrival (check out my Instagram and Facebook page to have a sneaky peek), and I've being enjoying the April 2019 edition of Glossybox UK.

Last month saw a return to the traditional pink and black Glossybox that we're so familiar with but in keeping with the changing seasons and hopefully the return of the warmer weather, April's vibrant, and colourful box design just screams Spring and Summer.

Every subscriber this month received one of two randomly selected boxes, one with a fruity theme, and one with a floral theme, which was reflected not only in the box design but also in the contents.

I received the floral box, which features a bright pink box base, and a white lid festooned with a large, glossy floral design in shades of yellow, pink, and turquoise, with gold foil accents. The goodies inside were wrapped in turquoise / teal tissue paper, and pink ribbon, and surrounded by pink shredded paper.

Sticking with the fruity and floral theme, all of the boxes contained an assortment of fruity and floral treats, the contents varied depending on what box design you received but all of April's boxes contained the usual 5 items, and an extra treat.

Jeanne Arthes Let Your Dreams Blossom - Eau De Parfum - 30ml - Full Size - RRP £20.99

Now perfume is always a slightly dodgy items when it comes to subscription boxes - fragrance is such a personal thing, you could ask 100 people what they thought of a fragrance and you'd probably get a 100 different answers. Personally though I don't mind receiving fragrance, I've probably had more hits than misses in my years of receiving beauty boxes, but at the same time I've also discovered some real gems over the years including the fabulous Courreges La Fille De L'Air which is now one of my go to fragrances.

The name Jeanne Arthes seems quite familiar to me so I think I've potentially tried something from the brand in the past, I don't think I have anything in my collection so if I have I obviously passed it on. Based on the research that I've done the brand was founded in my year of birth 1978 in the home of fragrance, Grasse. It doesn't seem that widely available in the UK but a quick search on ebay and Amazon brings up a few different fragrances from the brand.

From what I gather this fragrance, and the fragrance in the fruity box were made especially for Glossybox, and the floral design on the bottle even mirrors the floral design on the box lid. With notes of rose petals, cedarwood, lily, freesia and amber it's a lovely fresh, rose based scent. Rose scents can sometimes smell a little bit old fashioned but the fresher notes, and warmer notes give it a wider appeal. I like rose based scents so this was actually a winner for me, it reminds me a little bit of the long discontinued MAC Cosmetic fragrance Deja Rose from the Rose Romance Collection. Mummy Lou who loves Paul Smith Rose, and some more traditional rose scents also loves it so it's definitely a multi generational scent.

This fragrance is exclusive to Glossybox and the only official place where you can buy is directly from Glossybox but I've also seen a few on ebay x 

Soaper Duper Zingy Ginger Body Butter - 300ml - Full Size - RRP £10

After receiving the Soaper Duper Fruity Green Tuberose Body Lotion in the February edition of Pink Parcel (read my review here), and loving both the brand and their ethos, I was delighted to receive another Soaper Duper product in April's Glossybox.

Like the body lotion that I tried this body butter is vegan, cruelty free, and is free from parabens, phthalates and artificial colours. The ingredients in this particular body butter are 97% naturally derived and including all sorts of lovely things including ginger, eucalyptus, grapefruit and rosemary extracts, lime, macadamia, camelina, and sweet almond oil, vitamin E and C, and shea butter.

It's white in colour and has a thick and creamy texture, despite its richness though it absorbs into the the skin pretty quickly, and leaves it feeling soft and smooth, and looking hydrated and glowy. Rather than smelling of gingerbread it actually has more of a green, tropical scent with hints of citrus and ginger root that lingers on the skin. If you liked The Body Shop's Candied Ginger festive range from a few years ago, then you might like this. It isn't as warm but it definitely has a similar vibe. 

Again I was really impressed with this product, it's perfect if you need the hydration and power of a body butter but without the heaviness or stickiness - it leaves the skin soft, hydrated, glowy and delicately scented - what more could you want ? You only need a small amount too so this huge tub will last for ages. This body butter is available from Soaper Duper directly and various other retailers.

Dr. Botanicals Po Pomegranate Superfood Regenerating Sleeping Mask - 30ml - Travel Size - £12 - £14

Next up another product from Dr Botanicals, they seem to be a bit of a subscription box favourite at the moment, and do you know what? I'm not complaining - I'm still loving the Cr Charcoal Superfood Mattifying Face Mask that I got in March's Pink Parcel (read my post here) and I'm still picking up the rose facial oil on a regular basis so it was to the opportunity to try something else.

I haven't managed to try this yet but like the rest of the products in the Dr. Botanicals range it's cruelty free, vegan and it's certified by PETA, and it contains only high quality natural ingredients. Containing pomegranate, sweet almond oil, grapeseed and shea butter, this is an overnight mask that aims to nourish, hydrate and smooth the skin, and add brightness and antioxidants to the skin. 

All you do it apply a thin layer to clean, dry skin, 2 to 3 times a week before bed, and let it sink in while you sleep. I haven't tried anything like this before so it's gone straight in my to try pile. This is the 30ml travel size which seems to retail at anywhere between £12 - £14 from various retailers including direct from Dr. Botanicals and Beauty Expert. The full 50ml size retailers at around £19 and is again available from various retailers including Look Fantastic.

Original Source Hydrating Water Infusions Raspberry & Rose Water Shower Gel - 250ml - Full Size - Est. RRP £2.30

What I like about Glossybox is the real variety of products that you receive - now a little of people aren't a fan of the inclusion of more purse friendly products but I really don't mind. There really is nothing worse than falling in love with a products and not being able to afford to buy it again. This shower product comes from unisex, drugstore brand Original Source, I love their Lemon and Tea Tree shower gel already and this gave me a nice opportunity to try something new.

This is a product is part of a new range from Original Source of hydrating body washes, that are infused with vitamins and anti oxidants, and are designed to nourish, hydrate and detoxify the skin. They are vegan and are paraben free, but they do contain SLS. This particular one contains raspberry fruit extract, and rose flower water.

Just a small amount, of the slightly pink toned, translucent gel produces a lovely, creamy lather. It didn't smell quite as sweet and fruity as I'd expected it to, instead it had a green, more natural fruity scent, that reminded me a bit of raspberry leaf tea! It's not sweet instead it has a warm, greenness to it. It didn't feel drying on the skin and if your skin wasn't particularly dry, you could probably pass on a body lotion afterwards if you were in a rush. This is a full size tube and depending on the retailer the price at the moment varies dramatically - it's currently £1 in ASDA and £2 in Boots and Wilko.com so my advice is to shop around a bit.

Dr Paw Paw Hot Pink Balm - 25ml - Full Size - RRP £6.95

Next up a variation of a product that almost cult status in so many peoples lives. Dr Paw Paw Balm. Now I'm sure I have a tube of the original balm floating around somewhere but I can't remind whether or not I've ever tried it. In its original form it's a cruelty free, vegan, PETA certified, fragrance and gluten free balm that can be used anywhere from patches of skin, to dry lips, and dry cuticles. 

The main ingredient is Paw Paw or as we know it better in the UK, Papaya, which is combined with aloe Vera, olive oil and in this case colour pigments.

Although slightly less versatile than the original, this is a hot pink tinted version of the original Dr Paw Paw Balm, that you can use on your lips and cheeks. The shade is designed to suit all skin tones and complexions. You can apply a small amount and blend it out for a sheer finish, or you can build it up for a more dramatic finish.

I definitely think that it's easier to start of sheer and build it up, apply too much at once especially on the cheeks and you may be doing your best Aunt Sally impression. A small amount though and you get a really pretty, pink pinched cheek look that doesn't look greasy or shiny. As well as adding a pretty pink tone and a bit of gloss to the lips, it also adds and huge hit of moisture and nourishment and it actually wears pretty well.

Obviously as I say the pink tone makes it slightly less versatile when it comes to a skin care product, but it's still a multi functional make up item so it's a great one for travel and when you're on the go. You can buy this product directly from Dr Paw Paw and from various other retailers including Feelunique.

Palmer's Natural Fusions Chia Seed & Argan Oil Hair Mask - 30ml / 1 fl. oz. - Deluxe Mini - RRP £1.99

Finally an extra treat, and despite the fact that it's labelled not for resale ;) it's a nice addition to the regular 5 items. When it comes to Palmer's I automatically think body products, and Cocoa Butter, but did you know that they also have a hair care line? Well I didn't and although I haven't tried this yet, I do love a hair mask so I can't wait to give it a go.

This intensive conditioning hair mask isn't tested on animals and contains 95% naturally sourced ingredients and it contain no sulphates, parabens, phthalates, mineral oils or gluten. The two main ingredients are chia seed to strengthen the hair and promote new growth, and argan oil to rejuvenate dull and lifeless hair. It also contains sunflower oil, shea butter, coconut oil, rosemary leaf extract and rice bran wax. 

My hair is desperate need of some colour, so when I hopefully got rid of those greys, I'll treat it to some of this mask and let you know my thoughts in a future post x This is a deluxe mini with an estimated RRP of £1.99, the full 60g size is available from Superdrug and retails at £2.99.

I have to say that again I'm pretty happy with Glossybox, the value again was definitely there and it contained a nice combination of items all of which that I'll use, and that fitted in very well with the whole fruity floral theme. As per usual the box also included a little sneak peek as to what we can expect in May's box, and it looks like it's going to be a good one . In May's box every subscriber will receive either a Barry M Chisel Cheeks Contour Cream Kit, or a Barry M Cosmic Lights Highlighter Palette. Being a pale girl, and a highlighter junkie I would really love the highlighter palette but since it's randomly selected, I guess I'll have to wait and see x If you're interested in trying Glossybox UK for yourself, then check them out via my link, and save a little bit of money on your subscription xx Thanks as always and enjoy the rest of your weekend xx 

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