Boxcitement September Box Review

Boxcitement is a monthly subscription box for stationery, crafts, jewellery and gift lovers.
Each month the Boxcitement team choose a theme and craft the boxes around that idea. This month's theme was Patternista and celebrates pattern. It also happens to be Boxcitement's first birthday so there's a slight birthday vibe going on too.
So, what's in the box?...Well, the short answer is, lots!

I was amazed when I opened the little letterbox friendly box at just how much had been neatly tucked inside. It was like an explosion of colour and exciting goodies!

First up is a selection of crafty bits. There is a pack of four mini greetings cards that have been made using the exclusive Patternista designs. My favourite is the light blue thank you card, it's incredibly cute. There was a large sheet of patterned decoupage paper which has a different pattern on either side. I think I will be more likely to use this as wrapping paper because it's a really useful size. There is also a couple of pretty ribbons to use when decorating gifts or creating something crafty.

Next up were a couple of cute pieces of jewellery. One is to celebrate the first birthday of Boxcitement and is a dinky string bracelet with a mini cupcake bead. I've actually used this as a charm for my planner by shortening the string slightly and hooking it over the rings of my Filofax. The other bracelet is made using a handmade, etched glass bead. Unfortunately, as beautiful as the bead is, the bracelet itself is made using very cheap chain so isn't something that I would wear. Because of this, I rescued the bead and turned that into another planner charm :) The final accessory is a sugar skull shaped emery board in a fab shade of bright yellow. I love this! It's sat on my desk full time now.

Lastly, the box also included a few lifestyle bits. My favourite item in the box is a bright pink and white geometric patterned tea towel. Pretty and practical! I haven't had enough pink in my life since moving in with Tom! Also adding some pretty to the kitchen, is a set of colourful storage labels for our tea, coffee and sugar pots. Finally, last but not least, is a pretty bookmark decorated with the Patternista prints. I'm a big reader so this will definitely get plenty of use.

Over all, I'm pretty happy with this box. I love the variety and as I mentioned at the start of the post, I was amazed by how much you receive, however, there were a few items in the box that I could perhaps do without such as the ribbons and the glass bead bracelet. This is because I don't think they really added anything to the box that wasn't already there so for me they were slight overkill. But, other than this, I think this box was a really strong offering and I'm looking forward to seeing what next month brings!

You can find out all about Boxcitement, see contents from past boxes and subscribe from £15 per month *here*.

Annie xx

Plenty of Pens!

Pens seem to be the flavour of the week here at Three Little Búhos Stationery, and we certainly have lots of them in stock at the moment (yay!).
Pens have always been one of my favourite stationery items so it's fab to see that you all love to buy them too. Over the last couple of weeks I have widened the range of pens that we have in stock, and there are still more to come!

Totoro pens went live last week. I couldn't resist the little faces on these pens and knew I needed to stock them. These write in black gel pen ink and have been cleverly designed with Totoro sitting on the lid so that when you remove the lid, his weight doesn't make it hard to write.

The ultimate accessory for planner royalty! I adore these golden crown pens that went live on Saturday. They come in cream, pink and blue and I definitely wish I could keep one of each. They write in blue biro ink and are the perfect size to carry on the go, or stash in your planner for easy access.

These little cuties were added to the site this afternoon and I can't stop staring at all of the sweetie shop colours. They have 0.5mm nibs that are perfect for people like me who naturally have smaller writing that gets smooshed by a larger nib.

One thing that all of these pens have in common is that they are perfect for brightening up even the dullest of desks, so if you're looking for a touch of colour, know someone else who is, or if you've begun your Christmas shopping, then these make lovely little stocking fillers.

You can find them all on Three Little Búhos Stationery *here*.

Annie x

Ohh Deer Papergang Box 7 Review

I always find that subscription box deliveries make the months fly by even faster. It seems like so recently that I was writing last months box review that I couldn't quite believe it when this one arrived.

This month is full of colour and variety. I love a touch of originality and Ohh Deer products certainly have that.
There seems to be less of a theme this month than you would find in usual boxes (animals, maybe?) but I like that because it means that there is likely to be a bit of something for everyone.
So, what was included?

Animal goodness!
First up is a sheet of Zoological gift wrap designed by Jessica Willan (RRP £1.75). Hands up, I love this. All of the animals are wearing party hats! When unfolded you find all sorts of unexpected animals on there including a skunk, ram, goldfish, guinea pig and a poodle! So beautifully random.
Each box also contains two randomly chosen gift cards (RRP £2.50 each). The Hedgehugging card is just super cute and is likely to be sent to my mum at some point along the line because I think she'd appreciate it too. :)

I'm a self confessed planner addict so I was thrilled to find the My Week Turquoise Ombre Planner designed by Jamie Mitchell (RRP £9.95) in this months box. I love the watercolour shades of the cover and the zip lock pouch on the back which make it easy to carry pens and bits of paper etc around with you. The pages are also well designed. They are undated meaning that you can pick the planner up any week of the year you choose and start from there. There is a blank section for each day as well as a section for appointments and times. Great for busy work schedules!
The Stop Procrastinating post it notes (RRP£3.50) are something that I have eyed up on the website multiple times in the past but never gotten around to buying so I was really excited to finally own a set. They are the size of normal post it notes and each pad is made up of 100 sheets "to make jobs slightly less dull" as they state on the back of the pack. Fab :)
Finally is this months Riso Printed Calendar page, which I have noticed doesn't have a price listed with it this month, so maybe Ohh Deer have realised that it makes little sense to advertise them as a single month. Who knows. But I do really like the apricot pink neon shade that was used.

Over all, this box is a lot more in line with previous months than box 6 was, and to me, it seems a good, rounded representation of the things that Ohh Deer sell so I'm more than happy with it. I'm hoping for something a little festive from the next box but maybe that's me being a little premature!

Annie x

Famous Boy Wizard Subscription Box Review

Phew, it has been a busy week!
Three Little Búhos Stationery opened nearly a week ago and I am so happy with how it is going, thank you for all of your support. You can find the shop *here* if you haven't checked it out already!
Yesterday was also my birthday so I've done lots of celebrating over the last couple of days. I'm feeling the effects of that now!

Anyway, today I wanted to show you one of the best subscription boxes I've ever bought; the Famous Boy Wizard Box from Ugly Bug Does.
I grew up a massive Harry Potter fan and I still am. My first tattoo was a Harry Potter tribute, its on my pj's and now it's on my stationery!

What was included?
Ugly Bug Does make brilliant planner stickers, and in the Famous Boy Wizard box, you receive six sheets which offer enough stickers to create several weekly spreads, even if you are using them exclusively. I tend to mix and match stickers so there are enough in the box to last me a nice long time.

There is a novelty quill pen which made me smile when I opened my box. I haven't used it for writing much yet as I've been on the move a lot and its a little bulky for that, but its a fun addition that looks good in the pen pot on my desk, ready for writing a complaint letter to Hogwarts as I still haven't received my letter to offer me a place!

How cool is Lego keyring Voldemort?! As much as I would have loved to get Harry or Dumbledore, I love my little Voldemort and he has already been put to good use. The level of care that goes into making these boxes is really evident when you look closely at the keyrings. To avoid the worry of losing hands or legs etc, they have all been very carefully glued together by Ugly Bug Does owner, Michelle.

There is also a fab canvas pencil case with a Harry Potter joke written across the front. The geek in me loves this way too much! I've actually used it to hold all of my Ugly Bug Does stickers because it is a generous size and too good to waste on anything I won't be using often,

Ugly Bug Does boxes are always great value and offer something slightly unique. I love that the themes are always different to those that you would expect from most subscription services, I think that keeps them fresh.

You can still pick up a Famous Boy Wizard box *here* for £15 with free UK postage and you can also pre-order the October box.

For 10% discount on orders from Ugly Bug Does, use code THREELITTLEBUHOS10 at the checkout. The products are great so they are well worth it :)

Annie x

September Papergang Subscription Box from Ohh Deer

The September Papergang subscription box from Ohh Deer sets the bar high. It really shows that quality over quantity rules the roost. I have been impressed with every box I have received so far but this one has been a real stand out month.

 This month is all about their new autumn/winter collection and it totally hits the spot with me. Deep blues and purples, copper and marbled patterns.
So, what did I get?

A4 Blue Marble Quarter Bound Notebook RRP £12.95:
This is the highlight of the box and holds the bulk of the weight and value. This beautiful notebook has a thick marble effect cover that is sturdy and has copper detailing. The pages are lined on one side and blank on the other meaning that it would make a great diary, sketch book or scrap book. I am going to use it as a type of photo album, documenting our beautiful puppy growing up. The pages are also copper edged meaning that the edges look gorgeous when the book is closed.

Copper Washi Tape RRP £2.50:
I love metallic washi tape so I was happy to see this in the box. It doesn't state, but it looks to me like a 10m roll so for the £2.50 price tag, it is nice and generous.

Greeting Card RRP £2.50:
Ohh Deer is well known for being a collective platform for artists to share their designs, and the card that I received this month was designed by Kris Tate. A percentage from each card sold on Ohh Deer is returned straight to the artist. I really like the design that I received. I know there were several versions available but I'm happy with mine and it is going on my office wall for me to stare at every day when I'm working.

Riso Printed Calendar RRP £1.95:
In last month's box we received a mini clipboard with an August calendar sheet attached so I was wondering whether these might become a monthly addition to the box. I'm really happy to see that I was right. I find them really useful to have propped up on my desk because I'm in a constant state of not knowing what day or date it is (is that what working from home does to you?!). The September sheet shares the same beautiful marble pattern of the notebook. I do think that £1.95 a sheet would be rather expensive if I wasn't receiving them as part of the box, but in this context they make a nice little addition.

A subscription costs £9.95 monthly with £1.95 postage cost *here* and you are also able to purchase several months in advance for a discounted price. I just use the one month rolling subscription and find that to be good value. The contents of this month's box come to £19.90.

As I mentioned earlier in the post, this box has been my favourite so far because I am a big fan of quality over quantity and this box really screams that message. There isn't anything here that is just a novelty that won't be used and it doesn't just feel thrown together like a couple of the earlier boxes did. If this is a sign of things to come then we could be in for some fab things!

Annie x

Lilac & Dot Sticker Hauling

Okay, hands up, I have a Lilac & Dot sticker addiction. Originally found through my favourite Facebook Group - UK Planner Addicts - Lilac & Dot is owned by a lovely lady called Natalia who designs all of her own images (no clip-art here!) and turns them into the cutest, prettiest, girly stickers that I've found in a while, and I can't get enough of them.

I can't show off my latest purchase because it was bought as a gift but I am just loving these stickers. People who follow me on Instagram *here* will have seen them popping up a lot in my weekly spreads.

So what do I like so much about them?
Well, first of all, it has to be the quality. The paper and print quality are truly lovely. I prefer glossy stickers in general but find that sometimes this means that the print quality suffers a little, but I haven't found this to be the case with any of the Lilac & Dot stickers that I have purchased so far. The colours are lovely and bright and the paper is good quality without being so thick that it sticks up from planner pages.

Then there is the mix between pretty and practical stickers. The kits come with a sheet that is more dedicated to pretty stickers relating to a theme whilst the other sheet has lists, prompts, weekend banners, flags and bullet point stickers. It means that they work well both together and independently and last a nice long time.

Finally, there is the individuality. As I mentioned at the beginning of the post, all of the designs are drawn out by Natalia herself, meaning that they can't be found anywhere else. To me, that makes them so much more special.

Yesterday I was lucky enough to find out that I have been accepted as a member of the Lilac & Dot design team which I am over the moon about. It makes me so happy to be able to work with Natalia and several other ladies to help show Lilac & Dot some love. Expect to see plenty more from this beautiful brand and please do check out all of the sets available in the shop *here* and show some love on Instagram *here*!

Annie x

Ugly Bug Does Rockabilly Subscription Box Review

I mentioned the other day that I had a full review coming up of the August subscription box from Ugly Bug Does, and here it is!

The theme this month was rockabilly which makes me so happy. What I love about Ugly Bug Does is that you don't get the typical unicorns, rainbows and bunnies themes, you get something a lot more unique. It's a breath of fresh air.
So, what was in the box?

All I can do is kick myself for this photo, I'm gutted. All of my photos of the sticker sheets that I took before using them came out blurry :( So I can only apologise. But the first item in the box is three sheets of exclusively designed sticker sheets all with the rockabilly, classic tattoo theme. There are boxes, to do lists, banners, icons and pretties which can all be used to liven up planner pages.

In order to make up for the awful photo out of focus photo, I have taken the photo above to show off some of the stickers in action on this weeks pages of my work planner. As you can see, the quality is beautiful and the stickers all work really well together to build up a themed planner spread.

Next up is this gorgeous rockabilly girl showing off her swallow tattoo and pretty dress. She was designed by Slinkytart and turned into a dashboard by Ugly Bug Does. When ordering your subscription box you specify the size or type of planner that you use, so these are customised to work with your planner.

I also received a lovely little selection of goodies.
The planner charm was customised for each order with the initial of their first name which I think is a lovely touch and really adds to the appeal of ordering from Ugly Bug Does.
There were several varieties of sticky notes across the boxes and I was really happy to receive the hearts because I'm a sucker for a girly heart on my planner pages and the size of these makes them useful for popping on the calendar in the kitchen too when I want Tom to notice something :P
The eye catching planner clips have become a bit of a trademark of the Ugly Bug Does boxes over the last few months, and this month did not disappoint. Again, it offers something that little bit different from the usual planner clips that you find, which makes it extra special.
And finally, two rolls of skinny washi. These are thicker than your usual washi tapes, it feels like they're made from a good quality thick paper. I like the gentle colours and I use skinny washi in my spreads every week so these will definitely get used up.

This months box is right up my street with both the theme and the contents so I have really enjoyed using everything from the box. I don't yet know the theme of next months box and haven't seen any spoilers so I'm very excited. You can find Ugly Bug Does *here* on Etsy. I have noticed a pre-order listing for a Famous Boy Wizard box which makes me way too excited!

Annie x

My Little Box "Friends Box" Review

This morning the postman delivered something beautiful to my door; the August box from My Little Box. This month is all about girl power so the Friends Box is full of lovely, girly goodness to help you enjoy some girl time with your favourite people.

I've been really impressed with the contents of this months box. I've been trying to decide lately whether to keep my subscription running (mainly because I'm too much of a subscription box fan and have a few monthlies that I get) but the goodies I received today have made me decide to keep it going a while longer.
So, what did I get?

First Up is the item that I was most excited to see in my box. It is a clip on fisheye lens that is compatible with any smartphone. You just clip it on and away you go. I've wanted one of these for a while but never been able to justify buying one so I am beyond happy to finally have one to play with (and believe me, I have already been playing with it! Grace's nose looks huuuge through the lens). The quality is great and the lens cap and carrying pouch mean I can pop it in my handbag without worrying. They're available through My Little Corner online for £12.

Next up was a bag of sweet and salty Propercorn popcorn (which definitely got the fisheye lens treatment!). It made me happy to see this because I have recently had to cut a lot of yummy things out of my diet, yet Propercorn make all their popcorn types gluten and wheat free, meaning that I can still enjoy them all! This was really tasty and didn't make it into any of the other photos because I'm a little piggy and wolfed it down :D You can pick up a full size 30g bag for £1 in all good supermarkets.

This month's box is nice and varied in terms of beauty items.
Batiste is a brand that I've always had a lot of time for, and I've used the Hold Me Hairspray before and found it to be really good. It offers a long lasting hold and I found that it didn't make my hair feel stiff or sticky whilst it did so. I always wash my hair to get rid of hairspray so I can't vouch for it brushing out easily but I can say that it is a very good quality product and I'll be happy to have it in my handbag again. A full size 400ml can costs £4.49.
Kadalys is a brand that I haven't heard of before but having done a little googling I have found that they have some very positive reviews. I received the Hydramuse Comforting Cream which is made using a delicious combination of banana and mango butter. It also uses hyaluronic acid to make skin feel as smooth as a baby's booty. I popped some of this on after having lunch in the garden today and it really did feel like instant re-hydration, very soothing! It isn't cheap at 22 euros for 50ml but I think it's going to be one of those products that I end up slightly hooked on.
There were two items this month from My Little Beauty; Summer Lips and a manicure set. Summer Lips is a tinted lip balm offering SPF 15. I have a lot of lip balms so I wasn't overly excited by this. I received a My Little Beauty lip balm a few months ago which I use a lot so I was interested to give this one a try. Sadly I don't find it particularly moisturising, it also has that slight typical lip balm taste which I didn't find the previous balm to have. So over all I don't this will be getting much love from me. I also think that the retail price from My Little Corner is too steep at £12...I do like the flamingo packaging though!
Last but not least is the My Little Beauty Nail Kit. This is very cute. It includes your typical manicure tools; nail file, metal file, nail clippers and hoof and clips closed to keep them safe in your bag. I also think the packaging is lovely. The inside of the case is a soft mint colour and the nail file has the same pattern as the outside of the case. This retails for £7.50 on My Little Corner and I think it makes a cute gift that is worth the money.

Overall, a very strong box this month, the best for a long time, in my opinion. Now I'm excitedly looking forward to seeing whether next months offering is just as good.

Annie x

My Little Box: The Creative Box

This month My Little Box have teamed up with the almighty force that is Pinterest to put together The Creative Box.

I'll be honest, when I first saw that this box was all about creativity and in collaboration with Pinterest I was pretty excited and expected something a little bit special. Whilst I really like everything that came in this box, I was a little disappointed in the creativity level. I was hoping for some cute stickers or a notepad or something along those lines and possibly more creative bits than beauty bits, but like I say, everything that was in the box is lovely. So what did I get?

 In the box this month I received a My Little Box tote bag with the message "Collect moments not things" which is the perfect size to keep my swimming things in and is a definite upgrade from my Sainsbury's carrier bag!
I also received a little packet of tech jewellery which are very similar to hama beads but have a little slit taken out down one side so that you can wrap them around headphone cables, phone chargers etc to keep them safe as well as looking fab.
This months beauty products are all about the skincare. I received a tube of My Little Beauty Creme De Minuit (Midnight ream) which is a rich night cream full of shea butter and cranberry which leaves skin feeling beautiful and smells great as well.
I also received a tube of Talika Photo-hydra Day Cream which I haven't used yet but I've heard good things about. The cream claims to use energy from natural light to help work its way deeper into the skin and moisturise. I'll be giving this a good try out when I've finished my current day cream.
Finally, I received a bottle of gorgeous AINY Skincare Huile Holistique for face, body and spirit. This is my favourite product from the box and I coat myself in it every night before climbing into bed. It smells beautiful and I have really noticed that my skin has been looking brighter and feeling so smooth. Its a pricey product but I know already that I'm going to be replacing it when I run out!

Overall, despite being less of a creative box than I was hoping for, I was really happy with everything I received. I'm already looking forward to seeing what the next box brings.

Do you receive My Little Box? What did you think of this months offering?

Annie xx

Campaign for Clarity with Nourish Kale Enzymatic Exfoliating Cleanser

This week is Organic Beauty Week, and to coincide with this, the Soil Association have launched their Campaign for Clarity (#campaign4clarity #organicbeauty) which aims to spread knowledge of genuinely organic beauty products and ingredients, and show the companies who claim a product to be organic due to tiny amounts of an organic origin ingredient, that this simply will not wash with consumers.
There is currently no legal standard in place for organic beauty, which means that companies are able to get away with branding their products, that may be full of chemicals and unpleasant ingredients, as organic simply from the addition of tiny amounts of organic ingredients or in some cases, no additions at all. This is hugely misleading to customers and fundamentally wrong.
Certification from an accredited organisation is the only way that you can ensure that the beauty products you are buying are truly organic and contain ingredients that are kinder to your skin. You can guarantee that certified products adhere to the detailed requirements on ingredients and manufacturing process that are demanded, meaning that the quality and ethics that you would expect from an organic product are preserved.

One of my most loved organic beauty companies is Nourish. They produce beautiful products using ethically sourced, natural ingredients and pure essential oils and are accredited by the Soil Association and Cruelty-Free International.
My latest love from their collection is the Kale Enzymatic Exfoliating Cleanser(*) which is a highly effective product that can be used in three different ways.

The creamy scrub can be used daily as a gentle cleanser by massaging over wet skin and rinsing straight away which is perfect for a quick refresh.
It can be used as a daily exfoliating mask by smoothing over dry skin and leaving for 2 minutes before rinsing with warm water. This is how I use the product most days, I like to pop it on whilst waiting for the shower to warm up and then washing it off when I get in.
The products third use is as a weekly revitalising facial. You apply the product in the same way as you would a mask and leave it for 5-10 minutes before spritzing with a little toner or water to soften and massaging gently and rinsing.

The reason that this product works so well and leaves your skin feeling lovely is due to its amazing ingredients. Phytoactive pomegranate enzymes gently exfoliate and stimulate natural cellular renewal, kale extract protects the skin from damaging free radicals and increase suppleness, healing probiotics oxygenate the skin and griffonia extract provides a protective shield against environmental stresses.

I have been using the Kale Enzymatic Exfoliating Cleanser every day now for three weeks and the difference that I've seen in my skin is amazing. It is visibly brighter and less clogged, I've noticed less blemishes and it also feels so much smoother and fresher. It really does live up to its claim to reveal smoother, healthier skin and I will definitely be continuing to use it daily.

You can pick up a tube *here* as well as discovering more products from Nourish. You can read more about the Soil Association's Campaign for Clarity *here*.

Do you support the Campaign for Clarity? Do you try to use organic products where you can? Or is it not something that bothers you when choosing a product?

Annie xx

Look Fantastic 1st Birthday Box

September marks the 1st Birthday of Look Fantastic's much loved beauty box. I was actually rather surprised that they've only been putting together boxes for a year, it feels like a lot longer to me, but to celebrate their mile stone, Look Fantastic have put together a special birthday box which is full of lovely little treats with a real emphasis on pampering and spoiling yourself.

Inside the box which this month is decorated with sprinkles, wrapped in pretty blue paper, were 8 good sized samples which were more than I was expecting. There were also lots of little postcards with vouchers from the likes of GHD, MyProtien and Coggles to enjoy as well.

What first struck me about this box was that there was lots inside to try, and I was really happy to see the likes of Bliss and Claudalie which are two brands I love. I did notice, however, that the one thing lacking in this box was any form of makeup product, which I think would have turned it into the perfect box (perhaps a lipstick or eyeliner sample instead of one of the hair products) but that might just be me being picky.

So, what's inside?

My box included the Vinosource S.O.S Thirst Quenching Serum and Moisturising Sorbet from Claudalie which are both products that I absolutely love, and have already built into my daily routine. It also included Scrubbing Cream from a French brand called Codage which I also really like because of their regular use of organic and gentle ingredients.

Hair care lovers will also be happy to find three products aimed at making sure locks are kept beautiful; Penetraitt shampoo and conditioner from Professional Sebastian which are designed to strengthen and repair and one of four deluxe samples from PHYTO Paris, mine was the Intense Repair Mask,

Beauty box regular Bliss is also included with a travel size bottle of their Fabulous Foaming Face Wash which is a 2-in-1 cleanser and exfoliator that is suitable for all skin types.

Finally, a Tan Maintainer from Tanworx by Monu Skincare which works to extend the life of your summer tan as well as giving it a little boost and moisturising skin at the same time.

So, like you can see, a pretty full box this month with some really nice products with a real pampering focus, just right for their birthday celebration. The box costs £15 *here* with free delivery and is worth £55 as well as containing lots of voucher codes.

What do you think of the 1st Birthday box? Have you treated yourself to one?

Annie xx

Tooth Brushing Revolution with the ISSA Mini from Foreo

Oral hygiene is something that we're both pretty hot on in our house. Having spent time as a dental nurse I am oh so familiar with the importance of looking after your teeth and gums so when I heard about the revolutionary ISSA mini* from Foreo I was really interested in giving it a go.

The design of the ISSA mini* is completely different to any other toothbrush due to its silicone bristles.
Not only do the bristles help to give an effective, thorough clean, but they also mean that the brush holds up to 10,000 times less bacteria than your average toothbrush. The head also only needs changing once a year as it is more hard wearing.
The soft silicone head is flexible, allowing you to reach all of the harder to get to areas of the mouth and is gentle enough to use on gums to help build up their protection and help to prevent gum disease.
The ISSA Mini* is targeted at adults with smaller mouths, young adults and teenagers so it has a small, compact size which makes it nice and easy to handle, unlike some other electric brushes.
One thing that I really like about the brush is that after two minutes of brushing, the brush pulses three times to let you know that you have reached the recommended minimum brushing time. There is also a smiling face light which glows after two minutes but this is more targeted at younger brushers!

I've really enjoyed using this toothbrush. It id take me a few days to get used to how gentle it feels when in use (I'm quite a vigorous brusher!) but once I had got used to it, I fell in love. It is incredibly effective, and when combined with my favourite Oral B Pro toothpaste, leaves my teeth and gums feeling lovely and clean and fresh. The battery life is great too, lasting 200 brushes before needing to be charged.
It isn't by any means cheap at £89, however, I definitely think it's a worthwhile purchase, especially for anyone who prefers a softer brush or has sensitivity issues as it allows you to be thorough without being too harsh.

Possibly my favourite product of the year so far.

Annie xx

Peau Naturelle Organic Tea Tree Oil Facial Serum

I have always had oily skin, even now I'm in my twenties I still get more blemishes than I'd care to admit to.
Unfortunately, the temptation to hold back on moisturising oily skin as I did for many years during my teens can just make matters worse and you end up with skin that is dehydrated, dull and producing too much sebum to try and compensate for the lack of moisture.
I'm now extra careful to care for my skin and moisturise twice a day which is why I jumped at the chance to give the Peau Naturelle Tea Tree Oil Serum* a try.

Peau Naturelle is a UK based brand who make all of their products by hand with an emphasis on making natural and organic products available at a price that is affordable to all who want it.
The anti-blemish facial oil combines beautiful lavender, lemon and tea tree oils in a base of grapeseed and jojoba.. Together these create a powerful antiseptic formula due to the tea tree and lemon, whilst the lavender also soothes any existing blemishes or discomfort. Grapeseed and jojoba oils are both light dry oils which skin into the skin quickly and easily, allowing it to breathe whilst being gently moisturised without blocking pores. The ingredients are all organic and the product is 100% natural and Soil Association certified.
I have been using this oil once a day for almost a month now and have noticed a real difference in my skin. It feels a lot more comfortable and is also noticeably more plump and bright. I have still had a few blemishes pop up around "that time of the month" but they have been quick to heal and less prominent than usual. All you need is two drops which sink into the skin super quickly. I tend to do this before bed as a night serum so that it can work its magic whilst I sleep. I also find the scent fairly comforting.

Overall, I really rate this product, and for £9.99 a bottle, I think it is well worth a try for anyone who is feeling less than happy with their oily skin. Next I might have to give the Detoxifying Clay Masque a go :)

You can pick up  bottle of Organic Tea Tree Facial Serum *here*

Annie xx

Staying Sun Safe: Tan Accelerating Sun Cream

Summer is one of those times where you want to look beautiful. Having that perfect, sun-kissed bronze glow is seen these days as being the ideal look to have over the summer months and people will go to all sorts of lengths to achieve that look. Some of which can be incredibly dangerous.

A lot of women will be spending every free hour they have, sat in the sun, hoping to gain a gorgeous tan. The trouble is that by doing so, we are exposing our skin to harmful amounts of sunlight that can cause premature ageing, burns, sun stroke and even skin cancer.

Tan enhancing sun cream is a much underestimated product in my mind- no one seems to know it exists, but everyone should! It works by using plant extracts that work with your skin to boost its melanin production and therefore, its tanning ability whilst the cream also contains highly effective UVA/UVB filters which protect your skin immediately on application.
What I love most is that I can relax, knowing that I am not going to burn or do any damage to myself, but that after a couple of hours of relaxing with a cold drink and a book, I will come inside with a noticeable tan, even on my stubbornly pale skin.
Many tan enhancing sun creams, including my favourite Nivea Protect and Bronze offering, also contain no self tan which appeals to me because there is no worry about streaks, orange hands, bad smells or general unnatural looking tan. Another great one is sold by Green People which is a little pricier but it is natural, organic and has a pretty light lavender and chamomile scent.

However, one thing that I cannot stress enough, is that even with a thick, even layer applied, no sun cream will make it good for your health to sit out in the direct light of the midday sun, so you do still need to take care of yourself by being sensible :)

Have you used tan enhancing sun cream before? Is there a brand that you're particularly keen on?

Annie xxx

My Little Box: The Provence Box

I jumped on the beauty box bandwagon when they were still  pretty new concept to the UK a while back now but eventually stopped receiving any because they just got too boring and samey. However, recently, I started noticing people picking up My Little Box and found myself interested once again because I love that they offer a mix of fashion, beauty and lifestyle in their boxes. I've been subscribed for a couple of months now and have really been enjoying receiving my box of pretty surprises through the post.

The theme of this months box was Provence, with all of the items drawing inspiration from the beautiful sun drenched region of France.
I was really happy to open my box and find nestled inside a cute drawstring bag (which is now being used to store our sewing kit) lots of little L'Occitane goodies.
L'Occitane originated from Provence so what better brand to feature! From their range each subscriber received a 50ml Mer and Mistral shower gel, 25g Verbena soap, 30ml Verbena body lotion and a 10ml Roses et Reines hand and nail cream. Tom already has his eye on the shower gel but as a big fan of L'Occitane, I know I will use up all of these very happily. They make some of the very best hand creams and body lotions in my opinion!
As well as the L'Occitane goodies, there was also a My Little Beauty eyeshadow crayon in a pretty bronze shade that will look perfect with most things in the summer. I wear a lot of gold and bronze so I was really happy with this too. It is soft and creamy and has great staying power. At the moment you aren't able to purchase from the My Little Beauty website in the UK (apparently they're working on it!) so it is nice to receive an item from the My Little Box beauty range in each box.
There was also a rather cute sheet of magnets featuring a doll who you can dress up in Provence inspired attire. I wasn't overly fussed by this but I've plonked them on the side of the fridge for the time being, leaving Tom a little dismayed.
Finally, inside the little box which say "Sunny things inside" was a little gold coloured cuff bracelet with two pretty blue threads to use to DIY your own little accessory. This I did enjoy. As I've been stuck sat on my bum in silly amounts of pain for the past two weeks I welcomed the distraction. The result is photographed below. I also used the pink string necklace from last months box to add a bit of extra personality to my bracelet.

I think this box was great value and once again, My Little Box have come up with something varied, unique and that will be enjoyable for subscribers.

You can join My Little Box for £11 plus postage per month and also check out their free app My Little App which updates daily with fun and interesting bits and pieces. I do think that out of the current beauty box selection available, they offer the best boxes, but that's just me :)

Do you subscribe to any beauty boxes? Which ons do you rate the most highly? What do you think of this months box?

Annie xxx

Nourish Rejuvenating Peptide Serum

One of my favourite beauty brands, who I am always happy to praise due to the consistent high quality of their skin care, is Nourish. I adore their products and just cannot get enough of them.
Because of that, when I was sent an email asking if I would like to try out the Rejuvenating Peptide Serum* I was only too happy to oblige.

(sorry for the grubby counter top, I took the photos at work!)
The serum is designed to stimulate the production of collagen, using foxberry and tripeptides. This helps to give a smoother, fresher and more youthful appearance and also minimises the visibility of fine lines.
Alpine foxberry is traditionally known  for having skin-brightening properties and when used in skin care it is wonderful for giving a more even skin tone.
The product also uses tonka-bean extract which emits visible light, helping to enhance the skin's natural luminosity.

This serum makes skin feel amazing! It is light and nourishing and sinks into the skin really quickly but leaves it feeling completely hydrated and super soft to touch. When I got mum to test it out there was an instant visible difference to fine lines an the whole face had a bright, healthy look to it.
I'm also a big fan of the Nourish Argan Skin Renew* which I spoke about *here* and that works really well when used alongside the serum to lock in moisture and give nice long lasting effects.

Like I said at the start of the post, I really don't have a bad word to say about Nourish and I would definitely recommend this product. At just £20 for 30ml I also think it is very well priced. It is 81% organic, cruelty free, and just generally fabulous! You can pick up a bottle yourself *here*

What do you think of the Nourish range? Have you tried many of their products?

Annie xx

Christmas Gift Ideas: Aromatherapy Associates Instant Inner Strength Roller

It if officially Christmas shopping time and the shops are filling up with beautiful gifts that are sure to please even the pickiest of people.
I love Aromatherapy Associates, and have enjoyed using every product that I've tried from the brand.
Last Christmas I reviewed The Little Bell from the gift selection and today I have the Instant Inner Strength(*) roller ball to show you.

I love the idea of this product. Made from blend of essential oils that are designed to work together to calm an uplift, the roller ball has been created for those moments when you just need a little boost.
I was really excited to review this because I work in a role that involves a lot of dashing around between sites in order to assist in delivering courses, invigilating exams and goodness knows what else so I get quite flustered fairly easily.
When you're feeling a little worn down, flustered or in need of a pick me up, the idea is that you run the roller ball over your pressure points, releasing the blend of geranium, rosemary, clary stage, cardamom, vertivert, black pepper, frankincense, patchouli, rose, bitter orange and sandalwood oils (wow, that's a mouthful!) and take a few deep breaths to let the effects wash over you.

When trying the product, I have been applying the roller ball to the pulse points on my wrists and also on the inner of my elbows so that it is warmed and wafted when I move my arms. It really is beautiful. The blend of oils smells fresh and clean, and have a brilliant effect on my mood, leaving me feeling clear headed and lifted, ready to carry on with the day. It's hard to describe how quickly and effectively this product works- and it really works well- but after two weeks of use, I am sold.
It is the perfect gift choice for anyone who has a busy job, travels a lot or is running around after the kids day in day out. The convenient 10ml vial means that it can be slipped into a pocket or handbag and taken anywhere you go.

You can pick up the Instant Inner Strength for £15 *here* and as a little extra incentive to buy, 10% of the proceeds of all sales are being donated to Defence Against Cancer making a gift that keeps on giving.

What do you think of the sound of this product? Do you think you would benefit from a little Instant Inner Strength?

Annie xx

Beauty Battle: Younique Moodstruck 3D versus Magnifibres Brush-on False Lashes

Sorry that it's been a few days again, I spent the weekend without internet and the last couple of days uber busy!

There is a lot of hype at the moment around brush on false lashes or fibre lash mascaras. As someone who has always hated applying false lashes but loves the look of them, this is a concept that I am more than happy to jump on board with.

These fibre mascaras work by clinging to a base coat of mascara that you then top off with another coat. The fibres work to dramatically lengthen lashes as well as building up extra body which makes lashes look fuller and more intense. You apply the fibres, allow them to dry on for 30-60 seconds and then cover.

Now, before I get started, this is a photo of me totally mascara free...and looking a little squiffy to be totally honest (I was rather tired) this is just for comparison.

The first mascara that I looked at was the Magnifibres Brush-on False Lashes(*) which is designed to be used with any mascara. This is the first fibre mascara that I ever used, and was one of the originals in the UK.The fibres in this tube are actually white which seemed a little strange to me when I first took a look, but when applying, it became clear that this as so that you could see what you were doing as it is applied. It allows you to ensure an even coat and that when applying the top coat of mascara, that you are covering it properly and not leaving any pesky fibres poking out.
One thing I will say about the Magnifibres offering is that whilst it claims that you can use it with any mascara, you do need to make sure that you choose a fairly liquid one, otherwise it can go a little clumpy on the top coat and cling to the brush.

Magnifibres costs £21 from their website *here*.

The second mascara that I tried was the much talked about Younique Moodstruc 3D Lashes(*). Until recently, Younique was a brand name that was fairly unknown in the UK as it has only recently been launched. However, there has been huge hype built around this mascara so I wanted to try it out for myself.
The Moodstruck mascara comes as a little set containing the fibres and also a mascara like gel that is designed to be used with it. The process is slightly different in that with the Moodstruck you need to apply a thin coat of your normal mascara, then the transplanting gel, the fibres and then finally the transplanting gel again, thus essentially just adding one extra step.
Th fibres in this kit are black, which part of my really likes as there is no worry of having any white fibres peeping out, but part of me also dislikes because it makes it tricky to see when you have a nice even coating. What I did love though is just how easy it was to remove after a day of wear, without budging at all during use. After being worn for 10 hours it looked immaculate still but came off with a baby wipe protest free.

You can pick up the Younique Moodstruck 3D Lash mascara from any local Younique seller or from the UK website for £23.

Overall, I have to say that whilst I really like both, the Younique Moodstruck has to be my favourite. There is a lot more lift from the product and the results are also longer lasting. It is a bit of a faff having that extra step during application but I think that the result is worth the little extra time that it takes. In the photos above, I used the same normal mascara (Bourjois 1 seconde volume) and the Younique product, as you can see, showed a more dramatic difference so, to me, it is the product of choice.

What do you think? Have you tried either of these products? Which did you personally prefer?

Annie xx

Revisited: Gold FUN from Lush

In my post earlier today I mentioned a product that made me realise that I as ready to start blogging again. That was this; gold FUN. It's a product that I first wrote about around this time last year when it was released as part of the Lush 2013 Christmas range, but has been brought back this year as part of the 2014 range.

For those who haven't heard of FUN before, it is a 4-in-1 product from Lush that is able to be used s bubble bath, body wash, shampoo and soap... It also happens to look, feel and handle in the same way as play-doh!
Designed to be suitable for those with even the most sensitive skin, FUN was released as a bath product for those who are unable to use the bath ballistics and bubble bars, due to their slightly harsher ingredients. It is made using a base of talc, glycerine and cornflour which work together to make it silky smooth as well as humectant.

Now, I'll admit that during the time that I worked for Lush, I absolutely hated FUN, and I mean really hated it. In my mind it was messy, gooey and just generally not my cup of tea at all. I think a lot of this was based on the demo station for the product which was always soggy, messy and gave me a headache, especially on a busy Saturday!

However, when sorting through my stash the other evening, I found a bar lurking from last winter that had gone a bit droopy and sorry for itself so I decided to give it a real chance and have a FUN only bath so that I could use up the whole bar. I have to say that as much as I didn't think I would, I loved it. I pushed the boat out and used around two thirds of the bar as bubbles by breaking it up and swirling it under the running water. If you have ever used one of the Sunnyside bubble bars then you will be aware of the swirling gold effect in the water, Gold FUN has the same effect. It also smells like the much loved Honey I Washed the Kids soap. By using two thirds of the bar I was surrounded by mounds of bubbles so I could have easily gotten away with using much less.
With the other third I washed all over and also shaved my legs by lathering a little up and using it in place of shaving foam.

I found that after my bath I came out feeling really smooth and relaxed. I often get trouble with eczema on my legs but I found that even they felt soft and supple and whilst I still moisturised, I could have gotten away with not using any.

So, as much as I will always carry memories of children modelling penises out of Pink FUN or mixing every single colour together on purpose because clearly it's very funny when I was working in-store, I can honestly say that FUN is not the product of nightmares that I originally thought. In fact, it is everything that it claims to be, and something that I will actually repurchase regularly and very soon.

Annie xx

Nourish Golden Glow Toning Body Shimmer

Nourish is one of my favourite brands for natural, organic products. They always feel so indulgent as they are packed full of beautiful butters and oils. The Golden Glow Toning Body Shimmer* is no exception.

The idea of this product is that it helps give skin a warm, lightly shimmering, glow whilst keeping skin hydrated, balanced and helping to tone all in one go. A big ask!
The packaging is sleek and I love the simplicity of it. White and gold are one of my favourite colour combinations and sat on my white dressing table this looks in-keeping and feminine whilst also looking quite high-end.
The bottle has a pump dispenser that deposits enough product to massage into both arms and along collar bones if you press it down fully or if you press lightly you can get just a little product out.

The product itself has a rich, creamy texture and contains light reflecting particles (which are a nightmare to catch in a photograph!) and due to a combination of argan oil and aloe vera leaf juice sinks beautifully into the skin leaving it feeling hydrated and silky smooth. It has a lightly incense like aroma coming from frankincense, myrrh and neroli oils which are all known for their positive effect on the senses- in fact, neroli is a natural antidepressant as it helps with the release of serotonin. 77% of the ingredients are organic, 6.5% are natural minerals and all are cruelty free!

I really like the finish that this product has on the skin. Instead of looking shiny, it just gives a warm glow which is subtle enough even on skin as fair as mine. When hit by the sun it lights up and really gives skin a healthy, luminous look. I've had several comments about how nice my skin has been looking whilst wearing this and I have to say that I see a real difference in the mirror and in photos. Another little trick I've been using is to mix a small dab into my foundation to give a dewy, fresh finish that also stops the foundation clinging to any dry patches.

Over all, I have been very impressed with the product. I wouldn't say that it is overly toning as it simply works to tone by keeping the skin well hydrated and the addition of a little gentle marine extract, but in my eyes, that isn't the main selling point of the product. The effect on the skin is beautiful and perfect for spring all the way through to autumn . Worn along arms, legs and collar bones it gives a long lasting glow, definition and warmth. A 100ml bottle will set you back £25.00 *here* and last you through the whole season, so in my opinion it is well worth investing.

What do you think? Will you be investing in a bottle?
Annie xx