My JolieBox Experience!

I finally caved and decided to join the JolieBox hype and after using the products from my first box this month, i thought i would give you an insight on my experience, from service to products!

I firstly went onto the website and wanted to know more about the company, if you haven't heard of them before, JolieBox are a members only company that send you one box of goodies a month that are suited to your individual needs.

How you may ask?

When you sign up, they will ask you to fill in a short questionnaire all about your skin types, hair, makeup etc, so they can send you products you will actually use and benefit from.
It costs £12.50 which includes postage and packaging. So i was smiles all around when i saw that price! :)
On delivery, you also receive a monthly brochure/magazine, so you get to hear what other people would recommend.
The website also includes a SHOP, so if you like the mini product they send you, then you can see if they sell the full size version.
In your first JolieBox, you get sent an extra product to say welcome and thanks for joining, which i thought was lovely!
Here is what i got in my July JolieBox.....

My Goodies! YAY! :)

Jane Iredale Tantasia face and body fake tan

This smells just like satsumas, yum! I only used this on my face as i have already found my favourite body fake tanner, it gave my face a healthy, gradual tan!

Nail Girls Nail Polishes

I got a metallic gold and metallic bronzey/brown. I have been wearing the lighter colour on my hands and darker one on my toes. The darker colour is definitely my favourite. Looks nice after two coats.
The golden one did look a little streaky.

Institut Esthederm Bronz Repair Tanning Cream

I haven't really had chance to use this, as the weather in the UK has been pretty poopy, however it smells lovely. It is supposed to help repair your skin after sun exposure.

Etat Pur Salicylic Acid 300mg

This stuff is great! It helps treat acne/blemish prone skin. I must admit i was scared a first, anything that says acid on the front i am a little nervous about, however, this was great, it has helped calm my blemishes down so far!

Wen Almond And Mint Conditioner

This is my favourite product out of the JolieBox this month, this stuff is magical! It gives your hair that deep clean, soft, silky feeling! Smells ultra minty too, yum!

JolieBox toe separaters

You use these to help the application of painting your toe nails, i haven't used these as i never do, i have never been a fan, but it was a nice gesture.

Overall,  i have been very happy with my first experience so far and i look forward to receiving next month goodies!

Goodbye For Now,

Em x

Products I Regret Buying!

These are all products i have really tried to like but they just don't work for me!

Revlon Colorstay And L'oreal True Match Foundation.

I have put these two together as i have had the same issue with both.

I find they both cling to drier areas of the face, even though i chose the one for normal/dry skin and cling to any little hairs, which of course, is so unflattering!

The L'oreal foundation is supposed to match your skin tone, have super blendable coverage without caking and give you a flawless looking complexion as if it is your won skin but better, all i can say to that is NO, NO and NO!

I find even the smallest, lightest application just looks cakey, like a mask and i find you have to blend it quickly before it sets like concrete otherwise it becomes difficult. I find after a couple of hours, it just looks flakey.

Similar with the Revlon Colorstay, although the coverage is good on this one, it just doesn't last long on my skin without looking dry and cakey.

NEED TO USE ANOTHER WORD OTHER THAN CAKEY! HA HA!

Overall, i guess foundations look and work differently with everyone skin, but for me, i do regret spending money on these foundations.

Rimmel Lipstick In The Shade 230 Red Fever

This Lipstick would look a-ma-zing on some people, but on me, i hate hate it!

It is that kind of red that just makes me look even paler and my teeth yellow!

I dislike the strong scent it has too, i think it is supposed to smell like strawberry, but to me it's just a little bit sickly.

It is quite matte too, so if you suffer with dry chapped lips ,this will show it all.

And after a hour or so i found i had to touch this up otherwise it looks like a horrid pinky red!

Maybelline Illegal Length Mascara

Although this is a great waterproof mascara, it really does last in heat and in water, i know, i took it to sunny Egypt this year, it just doesn't do anything for my lashes. If i wanted any length at all, i would have to sit there and apply many layers before anything really happened. It just failed for me.

Schwarzkopf Repair Rescue Intense Spray Conditioner

I have very dry hair, so when i saw this i was stood there and said oooooooh!

I had high expectations as i do love other Schwarzkopf products. It says it will help detangle, recharge your hair with new strength and elasticity without overburdening. Your supposed to spray onto towel dried hair, which i did and spray in short bursts, which i also did. It's not that this did anything bad to my hair, it just didn't do anything. I haven't noticed a difference in my hair at all to be honest. I did find it left my hair feeling a little bit sticky, as if i had sprayed a lot of hair spray on it, which i hate. I like my hair to feel squeaky clean.

Vichy Lumineuse Tinted Moisturiser...

Vichy Laboratories Lumineuse Sheer Radiance Tinted moisturiser. 30ml.

Vichy honestly hasn't been a brand i have used before, so when i was browsing and found this Tinted Moisturiser i was curious to say the least.
Vichy is actually he number one pharmacy skincare brand in European Continental Pharmacies and it all sounds like they have tried to do lots of different things in this one bottle.
They claim to moisturise the skin whilst protecting it using fruit acids, vitamin A and provitamin B5 which is supposed to help stimulate the skin cells, it also contains UVA/UVB filters to provide a radiant complexion.
I am always quite sceptical when one small product claims to do so much, but i will get onto results in a moment.
They have developed this product with the help of health professionals and believe every persons skin type is different and needs different benefits, so they believe this formulation will help people with all different skin types.
What i really liked about this was they tested this on sensitive skin, so they must have worked very hard to get this just right. Its hypoallergenic and contains their own Vichy thermal spring water, which all sounds very nice!

They do say there is no need to apply a moisturiser before hand, which is fine if you have normal/oily skin, but with my dry skin i think this does look better with a little bit of a moisturiser underneath, just to give it a little helping hand.

The colour i use is Peach number 2. Which when i opened it, looked very very dark and i was very worried how this would turn out. They really have the worst colour range for this, which does let them down. If your very pale, like snow white, then this will look very orange on you, but when i have a tan, this compliments my skin beautifully.
I did find once i blend it into the skin it does lighten to your skin slightly, but it does definitely have that Orange tone about it, so be careful.

It does have a slight fragrance about it, but its not overpowering in any way.

I personally use a brush to apply it to the skin but you can use your fingertips, it just depends on what you prefer. I find it gives a more sheer finish if applied with fingers.

I have never been a tinted moisturiser fan, I'm defiantly a foundation kinda girl. However, i think i may have been converted.

It honestly leaves your skin silky soft, looking healthy and glowing and has a good coverage.
I just go over any blemishes with concealer afterwards.

At £12.50 i think it is a respectable price, although i know you can get it slightly cheaper at a pharmacy, i have seen it at £9.99 before.

Beauty World Of Amazon!

It suddenly occurred to me the other day that i keep meaning to have a browse on Amazon to see if i can find any beauty bargains.
I was pleasantly surprised!
As i was running short of new blushes, i began my search!

I came across a palette of 10 different blush shades by Coastal Scents, i quickly pressed add to basket and got free next day express delivery.

First of all, i was a little worried on how it would arrive and whether the packaging would have supported the powder blushes enough so they didn't crack. However, i was proved wrong, it came in a sturdy tight box with plenty of supportive packaging inside too! Fabulous! It also has the added bonus of only costing me £13.80! Which for ten blushers, is pretty good!

Here are some sneaky pics to see what they are like....

The 10 different shades in a mixture of matte and shimmery finishes.

How the palette looks, simple but sturdy.


I thought there are plenty of different shades, some matte and some with a slight shimmer which i don't mind. I did think some look similar to some Mac powder blushes.


They feel very powdery to touch, not as soft as some blushes i have tried in the past and have a strong scent about them which i definitely do not like! But they are very pigmented and blend very well, so i can cope with the smell for a good pay off i guess! :)

Here is the link where i found this beauty buy on Amazon.
Check it out :)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Coastal-Scents-Professional-Palette-CS10PB/dp/B0045U2CKW/ref=sr_1_2?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1342432032&sr=1-2

Bourjois Delice de Poudre Bronzing Powder

Don't you just think this looks like a Willy Wonka Golden Ticket?

Well, you really are onto a winner if you try this.

I personally, have always used Mac Harmony to contour and bronze myself up as i find it hard to find a bronzer without that orange tone. If you're fair skinned like me, it is very easy to look a little bit orange if you're not careful!
However, i ran out when i got back off holiday and i was fed up of using the same thing every day and it isn't the cheapest thing on the market either!
So off i plodded to good old Boots and there i stood for ages swatching different bronzers!

Alas, i came across this one. I must admit it was the packaging that mentioned the word 'CHOCOLATE' that caught my eye.
Come on, we all love chocolate. Yum Yum.
And yes, it really does smell like you could eat it, obviously don't do that though. Ha ha.

It glides on smoothly, blends really easily, smells Divine, looks Divine and it only cost me £6.99! So about half the price of mac's harmony.
I also comes in a handy compact with a mirror, which is always handy when you're out and about on the go!

I've been using this everyday for about a month and my opinion is still exactly the same. I love love love it!

http://www.boots.com/en/Bourjois-Delice-de-Poudre-Bronzing-Powder_35023/

Organix Nourishing Coconut Milk Anti-Breakage Serum...

Firstly, may i just scream and shout at how frustrated i was that i hadn't discovered this earlier.

It seriously is magic in a bottle!
And.... only £5.99!!

I have tried many serums and oils, including Moroccan oil and macadamia oil, which are both great, but i believe this sweeps them off the floor and for only a fraction of the price.

The first thing i noticed, apart from the beautiful price tag was the smell. It smells like a holiday in a bottle, think coconuts, palm trees, the beach and sunshine. It makes you feel happy just smelling it!

It is designed to help repair damaged hair, which if you're like me and colour your hair every couple of months, use heat styling tools every so often, then your hair will also be crying out for a little help.
It helps repair spilt ends and soothe frizz whilst adding strength and elasticity.

How you may ask?
Containing an organic blend of coconut oils, keratin and silk proteins to give your hair that silky sleek look and feel!

The texture of this product is very runny, so be careful not to pump too much of it out onto your hands.
All you need to do is simply run a small amount between your hand and add it into the lengths of damp hair, however i also use it on dry hair to help it look extra soft and shiny. Plus the smell lasts for ages!

I really do suggest you try this!
http://www.boots.com/en/Organix-Coconut-Milk-Serum-118ml_952901/

My Skincare Routine

I cleanse my skin in the morning and the evening, i make sure i give my skin a good deep cleanse but i make sure not to over cleanse or over scrub my skin. This is just my day to day skin routine, i do use other luxurious products a couple of times a week, but this is what i use everyday.

I have tried many products over the past couple of years, however these are the ones that really seem to be working for me right now. I do tend to change products every so often just to see what is out there and so i don't get stuck in a skincare rut. I also find for me that if i use the same product for months on end, my skin stops feeling the benefits and just needs to feel something different.

When i wake up in the morning, i use either my No7 Soft and soothed Gentle Cleanser ( £8 ) just to sweep away any impurities or excess oils that have formed on my skin over night. This cleanser is for normal to dryer skin and i would definitely say it is suitable for those with sensitive skin. It is a non-drying formula, Hypo-Allergenic and PH balanced. It really is just a gentle cleanser that does what it says on the bottle and i find it works well for me. http://www.boots.com/en/No7-Soft-Soothed-Gentle-Cleanser_1259431/

On some days, i alternate my morning cleanser and i use the Soap And Glory Peaches And Clean Deep Cleansing Milk (£7) which may i add, smells Divine. I absolutely love the bright packaging that the Soap And Glory range have! I would say this works just as well as the No7 cleanser but i like to switch them up every couple of days.
This cleanser has the benefits of Peach extracts with skin smoothing fruit acids, quillaja bark (a gentle natural ‘soap’), jojoba oil (an emollient skin softener), Detoxyboost™ technology (to help purify and deep clean) and Pore shrink R2™ (for a clearer, fresher, brighter complexion).
It says it works for all skin types and does work fine for my tricky dry skin but if you have extra sensitive skin or really oily skin i would perhaps stay clear as i do find it extra moisturising.
http://www.boots.com/en/Soap-Glory-Peaches-And-Clean-Deep-Cleansing-Milk-200ml_1214926/

For a toner, my favourite of the moment is the Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic. I must say, this is ultra refreshing! It really does wake my skin up, it feels cooling and soothing. You can get this in a bottle or as a spritzer, i use the spritzer as throughout the day i like to give myself a quick boost and the spray bottle is great to take away travelling. It retails at £13 which i think for a 200ml product, it's neither too pricey or very cheap.
It contains naturally active ingredients like aloe Vera which will soften and revitalise the skin, calendula, chamomile, cucumber and natural source vitamin E which will all really help to save your skin from feeling tired and leave it feeling super soothed. It really is like a spa break in a bottle. If you use this alongside other Liz Earle products, then you're onto a win!  
http://uk.lizearle.com/cleanse-tone-moisturise/instant-boost-skin-tonic.html

On a day to day basis, i will them moisturise as i don't like to exfoliate my skin everyday, i tend to do this every three days. Exfoliating is important for your skin as it will remove those dead skin cells and help stimulate the blood circulation, leaving your skin feeling soft and making it appear more radiant and glowing. I do think it is more difficult to find an exfoliator that is not too harsh for dry, sensitive skin, however i do like this one that i am using at the moment.
I'm using the St Ives Gentle Apricot Facial Scrub (£4.99) which i think is a brilliant, affordable price!
It does say it is more dry/sensitive skin and i really feel they have put alot of effort into making it work.
It has a very mild formula, its hypo-allergenic and contains around 95% of naturally derived ingredients, which is always nice to know.
http://www.boots.com/en/St-Ives-Gentle-Apricot-Facial-Scrub-150ml_1110529/

My favourite point of my skincare routine is my moisturiser, it always feels nice to gently rub something cool into your skin after cleansing.
I use the Eau Thermal Avene Skin Recovery Cream which is formulated for skin which is exposed to alot of different cosmetics, over cleansing and skin that just needs recovering after being used alot. It claims it is for sensitive, intolerant, allergy prone skin and i think it works miracles.
I find it hard to find a moisturiser that doesn't feel to heavy, this one, sinks straight into the skin leaving it feeling super soft and well looked after. I use this under my foundation and think it makes my foundation look healthy and glowing.
I suffer with a little bit of redness and i do get a few blemishes, however, since using this product, both of those have improved alot!
The only moan i have about this, is that it does retail at £12.50 which for a 40ml bottle, i find a little pricey, but i don't mind paying that little extra if it works, which so far, so good!
http://www.boots.com/en/Eau-Thermal-Avene-Skin-Recovery-Cream-40ml_1588/

In the evening, it is so important to remove any makeup before you go to sleep. I quickly use a makeup wipe just to remove the layer of makeup on my skin, before i cleanse my skin properly. I just use any makeup wipes that are on offer at the Drugstore, but i do try to choose ones that are for sensitive skin.
After that i use my Liz Earle Cleanse And Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser, which may i add has been a holy grail product of mine for about two years now. It comes with a muslin cloth which you use to remove the cleanser in hand hot water. I firstly love the smell of this product, it just smells really fresh and if you imagine a scent that smells like the product is really good for you, then that smells like that! That is the only way i can describe the scrummy smell. You just gently work this into the skin then remove with the muslin cloth. I do this twice just to make sure i have removed all my makeup and then given it a chance to deep clean my skin before bed. You can use this on the eyes as well which is useful and saves you money on buying an eye makeup remover. I even found it removed my waterproof mascara when i went on holiday! I honestly cannot think of a negative point about this cleanser, other than, if you haven't tried it before, then you really need to! If you watch QVC, they always have sets of Liz Earle products on offer, so check out that website, but i just repurchase this over and over now.
And on the last note, its for all skin types too! Could they have thought of anything else?! I don't think so.
Check it out.
http://uk.lizearle.com/cleanse-tone-moisturise/cleanse-and-polish-hot-cloth-cleanser.html

Last but not least, i moisturise my skin with a night cream, which does tend to be a little heavier than a day moisturiser but my skin really feels the benefits of this in the morning.
I use the No7 Essential Moisture Night Cream. Honestly, this is just simple, it just moisturises my skin over night and when i wake up it feels healthy! I don't need any anti wrinkle creams so i won't really expect anything from my night time moisturiser other than for it to do just that, which this one does nicely and it's only £10, so its a win win situation really.
http://www.boots.com/en/No7-Essential-Moisture-Night-Cream-50ml_15608/

PICTURES COMING SOON! SORRY MY CAMERA IS OUT OF USE!

Avène VS Oilatum

Don't you just wish you woke up everyday with flawless, moisturised skin? I do.
I have very sensitive, red, dry skin, so finding a moisturiser that ticked all these boxes was difficult and like anyone else out there i don't really want to be spending a fortune when it will run out in a month or so! So, my mission began....

Oilatum natural repair face cream - This moisturiser claims to deeply nourish dry, irritated, sensitive skin whilst relieving tightness, leaving it feeling smooth. It also contains natural ingredients. This retails at Boots for around £7.65  so it isn't too expensive either. Oilatum have a huge range of products for your body and hair.
I have used this product for about six months now and i love to use it just before applying my makeup to help it look glowing whilst acting as a great base to help my makeup stay on alot longer. The only negative i found with this product was it felt a little heavy.

Avène Skin Recovery Cream, Calming Formula- This moisturiser claims it is for fair skin, prone to redness skin, thin skin or any skin which has been effected my over cleansing, cosmetics, drying or treatments. It has anti irritating properties which helps to provide long lasting protection. All i can say about this, is that it does exactly what it says on the bottle!
I have been using this for about two months now and i think it may replace my Oilatum. It is super lightweight on the skin and i must admit, my skins redness has pretty much disappeared and my blemishes seem to have made a runner too! It is slightly more expensive and you do get a smaller bottle. From Boots it retails at £12.50 so if it is a price war then the Oilatum wins hands down, but if you are looking for a more lightweight moisturiser that doesn't feel heavy on your skin, but wipes away that redness, soothes dry skin and still works fine it you have super sensitive skin? Then i have come to the conclusion that the Avène Skin Recovery Cream wins for me!

I hope i have helped you if you are in a moituriser rut like i was!

Have a nice day! :) xx

Top Five Hair Products Of The Moment

After Years of constantly trying to improve the look of my hair, having it's colour changed much too often and using heat to style it most days, i have definately damaged it.
I have spent far too much money searching for a holy grail hair product that will magically smooth, condition and help my hair shine without those costly prices that we all dread.
I have been testing products to my hearts content with the help and advice of my hairdresser and i have come up with my top Five for you to try, all with different price tags, so there is bound to be one that your purse and bank balance will allow you to buy.

1. Label.M Treatment Shampoo This Shampoo was recommended to me by my hairdresser. It is aimed at damaged, chemically treated hair which will help to repair and strengthen your hair without weighing it down, so it will also be suitable for all hair types. You can buy this at your local Toni And Guy Salons or online and at £9.25 they price tag is kind of what i expect for a good quality shampoo.


2. Label.M Honey And Oat Conditioner This Conditioner helps moisturise your hair without making it feel heavy. It includes these lovely ingredients; Honey, Oat extracts, Sea Algae and Sea Cabbage which helps your hair smell Divine all day long. http://labelm.com/uk/product/292/label.m-honey-and-oat-conditioner

3. Macadamia Deep Repair Masque I bought the small sample size at first as i was slightly unsure of how this product would benefit my hair, i thought it would seriously weigh my hair down. However, i am now on my second large pot of this product, so i can safely say i am a strong believer of this product and feel it does exactly what it claims to do. Whilst if provides natural UV protection and reduced drying time up to 50% it already improves my hair. I personally have quite thick hair, however my Mum has also been a convert and she has very fine hair, however i would recommend not to leave it on for so long. http://www.feelunique.com/p/Macadamia-Deep-Repair-Masque-250ml

4. Tresseme Instant Refresh Dry Shampoo I can honestly say this is my holy grail product right now. Not only is it affordable, it smells wonderfully fresh and actually works! What more can you ask for? Available at Boots, Superdrug and online, you have no excuse not to try this. After being told off by my hairdresser for washing my hair everyday i went on a mission to find a dry shampoo that didn't leave that much hated white residue or that dried my hair out. This product also helps to volumise your hair, which even with thick hair, it can look dull and weighed down, so i would say this would work for all hair types. Try it, you now you want too! http://www.tresemme.co.uk/Products/Instant-Refresh/Dry-Shampoo

5. Tangle Teezer Finally, something to help with my knotty, tangled hair. I would brush my hair before bed, before jumping into the shower to wash it and still, it would bring tears to my eyes to comb through my wet hair. However, my prayers have been answered! The Tangle Teezer glides through your hair and leaves It silky smooth! http://www.boots.com/en/Tangle-Teezer-Pink_1000439/

What To Pack?!

I recently went on holiday to Egypt and had the time of my life. I know many of you reading this will shortly be going on holiday or are thinking about booking one, so i thought this was the right time to recommend a few products to include in your packing.

Although i know when we go abroad we all want to catch some sun and come home with a stunning tan, it is important we protect our skin from harrmful rays and to stop ourselves from burning and having to stay out of the sun for the next couple of days...

Nivea Instant Protection SPF This suncream protects you from the moment you apply it. Some brands do not meantion that you need to apply your SPF a good half an hour before you expose yourself to the sun, half an hour is plenty of time to burn! I loved this SPF as you can throw it on and get out there, not to meantion it is also water resistant and smells lovely! Avaiable from most supermarkets, Boots, Superdrug and online it is easy to find and there seem to be plenty of offers on at the moment. http://www.nivea.co.uk/products/Sun-Care

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Elizabeth Arden has a whole range of Eight Hour products that are designed to keep you moisturised for, you guessed it, a whole Eight Hours! This is absolutely essential for the plane journey, where the aircon can really dry out your skin and on the return journey you can lose up to 60% of your tan on the plane if you do not moisturise. The sun will also dry out your skin, so these products will really benefit you and keep your skin looking glowing and soft in your bikini. http://www.cheapsmells.com/productPaging.php?productSex=&priceRange=&category=0&brand=Elizabeth%2520Arden&name=Eight%2520Hour&previousBrand=Elizabeth%2520Arden&cm_mmc_o=7BBTkw*Vzbp+mwzygt*aB5+mwkkwyl*HbkOz_wft+-ypwE+C+o+ZBAy&gclid=CJbmgMKo7LACFQQhtAodelT7uw

Clarins After Sun Moisturiser Self Tan Clarins have really thought of everything here and at £18 it is worth the extra pennies as it is really a three in one product. Guaranteed it has a slightly biscuity smell, it is not overbearing compared to most self tanners. It is very important you use a good after sun after sunning yourself silly all day long, it will help the skin feel cool whilst providing that much needed moisture it will have lost during the day. There are many after sun's on the market at different prices, but we all like to look tanned and glowing and this gradual tanner really stays on, even if you enjoy jumping in the pool like i do! http://www.houseoffraser.co.uk/Clarins+After+sun+moisturizer+self+tanning/114147166,default,pd.html

Aveda Limited Edition Sun Care After Sun Masque This product really is a no brainer, it's only £5 from John Lewis and works wonders on your hair. We all think of protecting our skin from the sun, but we sometimes forget our hair can also get damaged and dry. I teamed this up with a after sun shampoo, but found this was the product that really saved my hair from fading and drying out.
http://www.johnlewis.com/231641854/Product.aspx?s_pccid=pc_gs_500_120000

Nasty Gal Clothing We all search for lovely items of clothing with decent prices to go along with it. I came across this website and i have to say i love it. http://www.nastygal.com/

Have a lovely Holiday! xxx