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A Peek Inside… My Little Diane Von Furstenberg Box

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My Little Diane Von Furstenberg Box

Everyone knows the horror of coming home to find a ‘sorry we missed you’ note from the Royal Mail. Well I am not immune either it would seem, as I found out last week. I knew it had to be my October My Little Box. I rushed to the depot as soon as it opened the following day, and the relief I felt when my box was handed over to me was like nothing else. I think I’m hooked.

This month’s theme is ‘My Little Diane Von Furstenberg Box’. I wasn’t sure what to think when I first heard of the theme. DVF is a household designer name, yet for me all it brought to mind were images of wrap dresses. I wasn’t quite sure where they would go with this box. I didn’t hang around to find out…

What was inside My Little Diane Von Furstenberg Box?
– Illustration by Kanako
– Drawstring pouch
– DVF scarf
– DVF lips brooch
– My Little Beauty Eau Micellar
– Keratase Hairspray
– L’Occitane Hand Cream
– My Little World Magazine

What did I think?
Honestly I wasn’t looking forward to this box as much as last month’s, for the aforementioned reasons. Still I wanted to give the MLB team the benefit of the doubt. They’d done well by me last month, and I had faith that they would continue their winning streak. As I opened the box I was greeted by an array of gorgeous colours and patterns. The lip pin is adorable, and I can see it fitting in perfectly with my current love for monochrome. I wasn’t too keen on another travel size hair spray, but Keratase are a good brand at least. The eau micellar water (smells amazing by the way) and the L’Occitane vanilla hand cream are both perfect travel-size goodies. The pouch wasn’t as cute this time round, and Kananko’s illustration was ok, but not as cute as her previous ones. The magazine is a great read (love the scarf tutorial), and although I probably won’t use it, the DVF discount is a nice touch. The winning item for me? The scarf. At first I was a little disheartened that I hadn’t received the monochrome version, but truthfully this will look so much better paired with my outfits. It’s bold without being brash, and the colours which at first seemed daunting, are actually rather gorgeous. Ultimately the October My Little DVF Box falls into the goodie pile, mainly thanks to that gorgeous scarf.

If you fancy subscribing yourself, head to My Little Box.

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Review: Dr Organic Anti-Aging Snail Gel Facial Serum

Dr Organic Snail Gel Anti-Aging Facial Serum*
 
Remember my mysterious box full of snail gel? No it wasn’t a horrible prank, it was a delightful mix of beauty goodies from Dr Organic’s snail gel range. One of those treats was the Anti-Aging Snail Gel Facial Serum.
I’ve probably only used one facial serum before this. This is mainly due to my arrogance, believing that I don’t need to bother with anti-aging products. However it dawned on me recently that if I wanted to continue having people assume I’m 6 years younger than I am (it oddly happens a lot) then I needed to start thinking about looking after my skin for the future. They say your mid-20s are the best time to start using anti-aging products, so I decided to get my act together.
Pros:
+ Non-greasy
+ Natural ingredients
+ Hydrating
+ Leaves my skin smooth and glowing
 
Cons:
– Slightly odd smell
 
Notes:
I’ve been using this for around 2 weeks now. That means I’m half way through the 4 weeks stated before my skin hydration is supposedly upped by 32%. I’m not one to take note of statistics, but my skin has been feeling quite hydrated since I started using this, and that’s not bad when you consider the current cold/windy weather conditions. The slightly off-putting smell (this doesn’t smell as good as the other snail gel products) only lasts for about 10 seconds once applied, so it isn’t a massive put-off. I’m more than happy to put up with the smell for the benefit of smooth, glowy, supple skin. For £17.99 this is definitely one for those who prefer organic/natural ingredients in their beauty products. It works and I would happily purchase this with some of the other complimentary products in the range.
You can purchase Dr Organic’s Snail Gel Facial Serum at Holland and Barrett.
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Discovering How to Stay Beautiful & Healthy…

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It felt as though we were walking into a rabbits hole. Ready and willing to fall into a land of discovery. We were at the Holland and Barrett showcase. Mine and VA’s adventure started with a glass of champagne and an introduction to everything healthy. Chocolate filled with good bacteria (Biotic Chocballs), supplements to give you glossy long hair & nails, and a lifestyle tea with a variety of flavours. Walking around the centrepiece of the venue (a gorgeous table laden with treats) we came upon a Pick’n’Mix with a difference – it only contained nuts and fruit. It was perfection for someone like me, who favours these type of goodies over traditional sweets. As we nibbled on the contents of our bags we came up SmartShake, a handy little addition to anyones workout routine. My pink one goes perfectly with my new wannabe healthy regime. Finally we came upon the beauty section – my favourite. Most people don’t know that Holland & Barrett have an amazing beauty selection, with big brands such as Burt’s Bees and Manuka Dr. Although it was Marula‘s amazing product and back story that won the evening for me. The press event was magical and I discovered some delightful new brands and products. I can’t wait to try out the items in my goodie bag, which will certainly help me stay healthy and fit. Everything I would expect from Holland and Barrett.

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A Skincare Secret is Revealed…

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A mysterious locked box. A key hidden in a secret garden. It sounds like something from a children’s box. Well it was a reality for me last week when Dr Organic couriered a super secret box to my office. I had no idea what was inside. The tag read “…receive your key at Dr Organic’s secret garden tomorrow night”. This is what working with brands and PRs is all about. I was eager to find out more so I headed to The Ham Yard Hotel roof garden the following evening.

I’ve been to my fair share of roof gardens (Londoners love them, especially in Summer) but this one was different. It felt as though I had walked into a country garden, albeit it a slightly smaller version. Beautfiul wild flowers surrounded a decadent fountain, and all round us were Dr Organic Snail Gel products littered amongst logs, moss and ivy. It all felt very magical.

As we sipped on cocktails and ate our fair share of canapés (with my partner in crime Jamila) we were treated to a talk by make-up artist Kenneth Soh. He told us the best way to pair the products with our daily make-up routine. It was refreshing to hear from someone who wasn’t a typical ambassador for the brand, but instead was someone who used the product themselves and genuinely loved it. As the night drew to a close we said our goodbyes under the fairy lights, before rushing home to open our boxes with the keys we had acquired. Incase you were wondering, the boxes were filled with the new Dr Organic Snail Gel range (hand cream, face serum, face gel, face cream, eye serum and face mask), all of which will be released on October 8th in Holland and Barrett stores.

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Review: NARS Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil in Club Mix

Some people may change their wardrobe for Autumn, I change my lipsticks. Yes it’s true, I have a whole collection of lipsticks that I set aside just for A/W. Although in my defence it sounds worse than it is. It’s usually only about 3-4 lipsticks – don’t worry I’m not hoarding cupboards of them. This year I also have a new lip pencil to add to that collection, and it’s one that I’m very excited about.

NARS is a brand that has been recommended to me by several people, but never for their lipsticks. However I received one of their Velvet Gloss Lip Pencils in a goodie bag from ASOS recently, and it was in one of my favourite shades – a deep berry, or s NARS are calling it ‘Club Mix’. I was ready to make my first foray into the brand.

Pros:
+ Long lasting
+ Barely transfers
+ Good pigmentation
+ Applies easily
+ Moisturising


Cons:
– Needs to be sharpened after use


Notes:
It’s rare that I come across a lipstick that will stay put when drinking or eating. Even high-end brands fail at the task we all want them so desperately to succeed at. A lipstick stain on a cup may look good on Instagram but in reality none of us want to be re-applying our lippie all day. That’s why I’m so impressed with this little number. The NARS Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil offers long-lasting wear with minimal transfer. It applies easily with a creamy texture that feels very hydrating, and doesn’t dry out lips. The pigmentation is excellent, giving you the exact colour you see on the tube. The only downside to this amazing lipstick-gloss combo is the design of the product. Unfortunately this is very much like a pencil in that you have to sharpen it once it wears down. I’m not a fan of sharpening kohl, lip pencils etc. It’s a messy business and I don’t want anything to do with it. Still, I love this shade so I may give it a go once I use it up. Although I am already having premonitions of me breaking it like I did all of my eyeliners in high school. As for price, these retail at £18 each, which is pricey but considerably less than I spend on my Chanel lipsticks. Keeping that in mind, I probably would buy the matte version of the lipstick over this gloss one, purely because of personal preference.

You can buy the Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil in Club Mix at NARS and at counters nationwide.

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Review: The Micro Nail

When I attended the Pegasus Showcase a few months ago there were whispers of a new secret nail product being tested on the press and bloggers, from the makers of Micro Pedi. The lovely ladies offered for me to test the product out but as I would have needed to take my nail polish off (and I’d just had a manicure) I declined. Still, I was intrigued to find out what this mystery product was and so they promised to keep me up to date. Fast forward to last week whilst I was in France – I received an exciting press release revealing the secret and offering to send me along one of the products to try out. Of course I jumped at the chance, and now I’m going to share that secret with you.

The Micro Nail is a revolutionary new nail care product set to take the nation by storm. The innovative device claims to gently smooth, buff and polish your nails quickly yet effectively.

“MICRO Neil leaves your nails with a gorgeous natural shine lasting for up to two weeks. Using two micro mineral rollers it gives the illusion of a glossy top coat when you are actually nail varnish free, also helping to smooth ridges, reduce staining and improve the appearance of dryness. Battery powered, it takes the hard work out of buffing, with rollers that rotate up to MOO times per minute you can have a salon smooth manicure in seconds. The MICRO Smooth roller buffs away ridges and stains while the MICRO Shine roller works instantly, to leave nails with a beautiful, natural shine.”


What did I think of it?
I wasn’t sure what kind of product to expect when I first heard all of the hype behind the now announced Micro Nail. If I’m going to be honest I’m not sure if this is really needed. I can’t say I’ve ever wanted a battery powered buffing/shining device. That said the product does work, and I was very pleased with the results [See before and after photos]. I’ve been playing around with negative space nail art lately, and it’s good to know that after using this, my nails are shiny enough by themselves and no top coat is needed. If you wear a lot of nail polish you’re probably not going to be too bothered by this, which is why I think I’m on the fence about it. However if you’re the opposite to me, but you’d still like to add a bit of shine to your nails, then this would be perfect. The device itself easily fits into a handbag, and although I’m not a fan of pink I do like the kitschy appeal of it. As for price, the Micro Nail retails at £39.99, which is certainly not pocket change. It is an investment though, as you can buy replacement rollers (£12.99 for a pack of four) so you won’t need to throw it away once you’re done with it.

Fancy giving it a go yourself? You can buy the Micro Nail in-store and at Boots.

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A Peek Inside… My Little Parisienne Box

The package read ‘from France’ and my heart skipped a beat. It came, it finally came. There’d been no dispatch email so I hadn’t been expecting it. Something which added to the mystery of the whole process. Yes, I’m talking about my first monthly subscription box from My Little Box.

This month’s theme is ‘My Little Parisienne Box’. An arrangement which I myself was incredibly happy with. Before I opened my package I told myself that I had been waiting for this (for the brand to come over to the UK) for years, so I shouldn’t hype it up too much. As soon as I opened the parcel and saw the box itself, all my logic went out the window. It was adorable, and that’s just the outside. As for the inside…

What was inside My Little Parisienne Box?
– Illustration by Kanako
– Notebook (including an introduction to the brand)
– Parisienne 3D stickers
– Laptop sleeve
– Laura Mercier Foundation Primer
– Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse
– My Little Beauty highlighter pen
– Drawstring pouch

What did I think?
I know the first box to a new subscription always tries to impress, but I can’t believe the effort gone into this one. Everything from the outside to the inner flows, mainly helped along by Kanako’s delightful illustrations. As for the contents of the box, I thought they fit the theme wonderfully. Chic stationary for the busy lady? Check. French beauty favourites? Check. Happy? Check. Separately the items don’t seem to add up to much, but together and put alongside the theme, they really are lovely. I wasn’t sure if I would use the stickers, but after reading the suggestions I added a few to my laptop and I’m overjoyed with how fabulous they look on it. I am beyond excited at the prospect of using all of the beauty products (although I’ll be keeping the Nuxe oil as an extra to the one I already own), and I’ve already placed my illustration on my wall, and the notebook in my handbag. If the rest of my ‘My Little Box’ subscriptions are half as good as this, I will be more than satisfied. It’s whimsical, it’s chic and most of all it fits perfectly into my lifestyle.

If you fancy subscribing yourself, head to My Little Box.