Latest In Beauty - Get The Gloss Beauty Insider Kit

Thursday felt like a proper beauty box kind of day. Firstly I ordered the Givenchy – The British Beauty Blogger Edit Box and picked up my Get the Gloss Beauty Insider Kit from Parcel Motel.

I had ordered my first box from them a few months ago (The British Beauty Blogger Dream Box 2) and was really impressed with it, the box was literally bursting. The best thing about Latest In Beauty is that unlike most beauty box companies they aren’t a subscription service. Boxes usually cost around £16-£19 and come with some amazing well known products.

The Get The Gloss – Beauty Insiders Kit comes with 9 products for £19.95.

Eyeko Skinny Liquid Liner - £12

I’ve never bought anything from Eyeko before, I’ve always been tempted but never managed to get myself to a counter to buy one. I’m not the best when it comes to liner but I do always seem to do a bit better with pens like this so fingers crossed I don’t look like a panda afterwards.

Glamglow Supermud £15 for 10g or £45 for 30g

I bought the full size Supermud back in September and have been loving it ever since. I have such porous skin so popping it on my face every now and then keeps everything in check. It’ll be handy having a travel sized version.

Laura Mercier foundation Primer - £17.40 for 30ml or £29 for 50ml

This is probably the main reason I bought the box. I’ve been wanting to try this primer for ages after hearing so much good things about it. The size you get is 30ml which is a fairly decent sized tube.

Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate - £20 for 10ml or £60 for 30ml

If I’m honest I hadn’t a clue what this is when I first got it, I have found that it is a facial serum and from the sounds of it it’s a really good one. I’ve just started a new facial serum so when that’s empty I’ll be giving this one a go.

Therapie Roques Oneil Cherish Skin Repair Serum - £6.00 for 30ml or £44 for 200ml

From what I’ve read this is more of an oil based serum for any part of the body that needs rejuvenation. Seemingly good for stretch marks too. I don’t think I have anything like this in my collection so I’m sure I’ll get use out of it.

Daniel Sandler Concealer Brush - £12.25

I love his Watercolour Blushes and you can never have too many brush. I’d usually put on my concealer with my Beauty Blender but I think this will be better for targeting specific areas.

2 Essie Nail Laquer - £6.00 for 2 (5ml) or £16 for 2 (13.5ml)

In the box you receive Sheerling Darling (wine) and Parka Perfect (grey), both are from the 2013 winter collection. I’ll definitely get a use out of these guys, I really love these kind of colours.

Balance Me Radiance Face Oil - £15 for 10ml

I love facial oils, even though I have oily skin I apply it in the morning and at night. It doesn’t make me any oilier during the day but it does keep my skin more hydrated. I’ve 2 oils on the go at the moment so this will have to take a back seat until they’re used up.

James Read Sleep Mask Tan – 25ml for £12.50 or 50ml for £25

I’m really intrigued by this product, it’s an overnight mask that moisturises the skin through the night and also develops a tan. I’m still embracing my winter paleness but I can see myself using this in the summer.

The total of the box comes to £116.15, I’m bowled over by that figure especially as I spent £19.95 on it.

Latest in Beauty don’t deliver direct to the Republic so I get it delivered through Parcel Motel.

The box is still on sale and only takes a few days for it to get delivered. I highly recommend it, with added postage and the exchange it worked out at €32 which is still a bargain as the box is worth €155.

Have you received boxes from Latest In Beauty before?? Would you buy one of these boxes?? Let me know.

Thanks for reading.

Love Sarah xoxo

All About MEME – MEMEBox Special OMG3 #42 and Superbox #58 Lipstick Box

I had seen on Youtube a while back some beauty vloggers talking about Memebox, a Korean Beauty Box service, but it wasn’t until I had seen Leanne from Blather and Beauty do a few posts on it that I thought it would be something that I would be interested in.

Firstly unlike most beauty box companies you don’t have to sign up to Memebox on a rolling subscription, you can pick and choose from a different assortment of boxes so there isn’t any worry about making a commitment and then it not working out for you.

What I love about these boxes is that they contain beauty items that most of us have never heard of from Korea. Korean beauty products are becoming a lot more popular in the west as they are very good quality and also little quirky. The boxes are also pretty cheap compared to Glossybox or other subscription boxes, for one, you get full size items, I didn’t get any samples in my boxes and some of the products can be $20+.

 

In each box you get a card explaining the details of the product, the price and how to use it. You better keep these cards because if you’re not well up on your Korean you’ll be a little lost as all the products packaging is in Korean.

 

The First Box I received was the Superbox #58 Lipstick box. What drew me to this box was that I knew I was getting all lipsticks and as a lipstick junkie I knew this was going to be a good one.

I will say at first I was slightly disappointed in what I got. There were a few too many nude colours for my liking and also because I had never heard of the brands I felt I had nothing to get excited about, but I have actually grown to love everything in the box. After discovering that nudes do look good on me (click here to find out more) I did fall in love with all the colours and after reading up on the brands the excitement started to build.

The box contained 5 full sized lipsticks. In total the box contained $101worth of lipsticks, converted that’s €81 and seeing as I paid $33.99/€27.30 I am pretty pleased with what I got.

 

The second box I received was the Special #42 OMG3. I had heard how querky these boxes can be so I figured I’d try this one out. I received 5 full sized items, not all entirely odd but still I think I will get use out of at least 4 of the products.

I got a bar of soap in it which is a bit weird, I don’t know anyone who uses a bar of soap so this was definitely odd, it turns into a cleansing oil when you use it on the face so I might get use out of it, only time will tell. I then got a Donkey oil mist, which is a moisturising spray. It even says on the card that Cleopatra used donkey milk in her baths so if it was good enough for her than I can’t see why I won’t like it. It also has a lovely smell which is a bonus.

The Bee Venom and Honey cream was next, I’ve heard that Kate Middleton uses bee venom on her face so it can’t be that bad. This is a moisturiser, it takes a while to dry into your skin so if you have dry skin this would really suit you and even though I have oily skin it didn’t leave me greasy at all. I will probably use it more as a night cream as it is slightly too thick. After the lipstick box I’m sure I don’t need any more but they threw in the Tonymoly lip crayon which glows in the dark, I can’t wait to wear this one on a night out.

Finally they put in the Tosowoong Platinum Pore Tightening mask and as I’ve been on a mud mask buzz this was right up my alley. I’ve tried it a few times and after each go my pores have shrunk, it smells a bit funky but it works so it has a thumbs up from me. The box cost $35.99/€28.90 and has products worth $152/€122 honestly I’ve never come across a beauty box that gives so much.

 

Will I buy from Memebox again?? I think I will, they have some weird but wonderful products and the fact you get full sized items and the overall price is nearly triple of what you initially paid it really ticks all the boxes for me.

Find out more about Memebox HERE.

Thanks for reading.

Love Sarah xoxo

Chic Treat Club in aid of the Tricia McCarthy Memorial Fund

Chic Treat Club have gone above and beyond this month. Another month and another box that hasn’t disappointed, definitely one of the best beauty subscription boxes around.

As it’s Breast Cancer Awareness month Chic Treat Club along with Triona McCarthy have created a box in aid of the Tricia McCarthy Memorial Scholarship for Breast Cancer Research at the NBCRI with €2 from each box going to help fund the scholarship.

This month’s box is bursting at the seams, I will be using literally everything in this month’s box which can be hard to come by with some otherr beauty boxes.

To start we have the Yonka Lait Nettoyant Cleansing milk. This cleanser is for all skin types and will remove makeup from your face in a single wipe, at least that’s what it says on the box. This is a travel size which is really handy because I always find it difficult to decide which makeup remover to bring away with me. I love Yonka products and can’t wait to try this cleanser out. Full sized price is €30.00, the travel size works out at €4.50.

NYX came to Ireland this year, I have yet to go buy anything in stores that sell it here but I did pick up some of their makeup when I was in America. I already have 3 of their Power Blushes but luckily I didn’t get this colour. In the box I received the shade Rose Garden, it a lovely sparkly pink and retails for €7.49.

A big favourite of mine are the Wet N Wild Mega Last lipsticks. I have so many of these lippies and I love them, they last for ever on your lips, for me these are rivals for the MAC matte lipsticks. They cost €2.99 and can be found in all good Penneys and Dunnes. The colour that came in my box was Think Pink, which is very apt for Breast Cancer Awareness month. Luckily again this is a colour that I don’t have in my collection.

I’ve tried a few of these exfoliating foot masks out before, I love using them. It can be a bit gross when your skin starts to come off but they are left baby soft when the treatment is finished so it is worth a few days of shedding skin like a snake. The box contains the Purederm Botanical Choice Exfoliating Foot Mask, I don’t think I’ve tried this brand yet.  These masks retail for €3.99.

Another handy travel sized product in the box is the Roger & Gallet Bois d’Oranged Perfumed Moisturising Sorbet Body Lotion. I don’t think I have tried this brand before but I have heard many good things. I think I will be popping this in my hand bag for on the go moisture, especially during these winter months when the dry air from all the heaters leave me like a shrivelled prune. The full price costs €15.00, the travel size works out at €3.75.

The full box works out at €22.72, it’s probably one of the best boxes I’ve received from them as I’ll be using everything in the box and there is the added bonus of €2 from each box going to such a good cause.

If you’re thinking of joining the Chic Treat Club subscription service go check them out here.

Thanks for reading.

Love Sarah xoxo

August Beauty Box -Glossybox & Chic Treat Club

Last month I decided to give up my Glossybox subscription, I just wasn’t happy with any of the products I was receiving, especially compared to what I had been receiving in my Chic Treat Club boxes. I obviously left it too late to cancel for the August box because I received one in the post this week.

As usual I wasn’t blown away by it, but it did have one or two things that I will use. It was Glossybox’s 3rd birthday this month and to celebrate they had six items in the box, with 4 full size items and 2 deluxe sized samples.

Kryolan Highlighter – Full Size 4.5g RRP £12.50

This was specially made for Glossybox. The packaging comes with the Glossybox logo on a black lid. The colour is cashmere and is a creamy pink highlight. I haven’t tried it yet, but swatching it on my hand it looks like a very subtle sheer highlight.

Philip Kingsley Elasticizer – Deluxe Sample Size 40ml £15.20. Full Size 250ml RRP £38.00

This is a “intensve, super-conditioning pre-shampoo treatment for all hair types and adds elasticity, manageability, bounce and shine”. From the reviews this is a Holy Grail product so I’m excited to try this one out, I don’t have too much body to my hair so anything to give it a boost is good in my books. 

Figs & Rouge Rose Berry Hand Cream – Deluxe Sample Size 20ml £1.39. Full Size 80ml £6.95.

I feel like hand creams are like staples in the beauty box world, there always seems to be one in the boxes I get and this time it’s no different. I think I’ve seen this brand in TK Maxx but I don’t think I’ve seen it anywhere else. I haven’t taken the seal off it yet because I’ve so many hand creams open already that I want to keep it.

Pep Cosmeceuticals, SkinPep Hydra Sun Defence SPF30 Day Cream - Full Size 7ml £5.99

I’m really happy to have gotten this in my box, I’m off to Florida next month so having a good SPF that I can wear under my foundation is something I’m really going to need. It’s specially made for wear under foundation and dosent cause any chalkiness.

All That Jazz, Cuticle Balm – Full Size 15ml £11.99

Another product I’m really happy with is this cuticle balm. I got mine in Chocolate Orange, I could sniff it all day it smells just like a Terry’s Chocolate Orange. You’re to apply this twice a day to your cuticles to soften them so I think I’ll be keeping this at my desk in work and do it every day.

I Love Cosmetics, Strawberries & Milkshake Shimmer and Shine Lipgloss – Full Size 15ml £1.29

For me this is the dud of the box, firstly it’s a gloss and I hate glosses, it’s also shimmery and glittery which does nothing for me. I can also find this in any Penneys which is annoying.

The grand total of the August Glossybox is £48.36/€60.73

This month’s Chic Treat Club came with 5 products in it, with some things I’ve tried and some I haven’t. It isn't the best box I've received from Chic Treat Club but the last 3 have been beyond amazing so i'll let them away with it this month as I will use pretty much everything in the box. This months box had 6 items, 4 full size and 2 sample size.

Kiss, Vita-Strength Base & Top Coat – Full Size 13ml €5.07

This isn’t actually included as one of the 3 that you could potentially get in the box. It’s a strengthening base and topcoat that is ideal for dry or brittle nails. The only time my nails are dry or brittle is when I’ve taken off gel nails so I’ll keep for that.

Kubiss London, Face Powder in Sun Bronze – Full Size 12g (3 for €6 in The Cosmetic Outlet)

I got my powder in Sun Bronze, one of 3 different colours available. As a face powder it is way way way to dark for me so I will probably use this as a bronzer or to contour. I don’t entirely love it as it’s a bit on the orange rather than brown side but hopefully it will look ok on the skin. They only give a price of 3 for €6 and I can’t find a price anywhere online for them.

Montagne Jeuness, Brazillian Mud Fabric Mask – Full Size €1.99

I love a good facemask, any excuse really for a pamper session and this one looks like a really nice one and mud ones are my favourite. This is a cloth/mud mask so I’m real interested in how this will work out.

Thalgo, Soft Hydration Emulsion (€7.80) and Marine Shower Gel (€4.50) – Deluxe Sample 30ml

I can’t say I’ve ever heard of the Thalgo brand but it’s always nice to be introduced to something new. The emulsion is very fragrant, it smells very masculine to me but when my mother smelt it she said it was feminine but it reminds me of an aftershave. The little bit I did rub on my arms left them soft so it does work even if the smell is a bit strong for me. The shower gel smells more floral than the emulsion. It’s always handy to have little products like this especially for travelling or the gym so I’m sure I’ll get some use out of them.

Beter, Large All Purpose Brush – Full Size €16.99

This is a new company to Ireland and will be launching next month nationwide. I love how Chic Treat give you these exclusive previews of products that haven’t been released yet. I’ve been looking around for a brush like this for a while so to get it in the box was a real treat, It’s made from syntethic hairs and is super soft. A few hairs did come off but once I wash it I hopefully won’t have that problem.

This months Chic Treat Total came to €38.35

The Glossybox wasn’t the worst box I’ve received from them but I’m still glad I've cancelled my subscription, it was getting a bit expensive to have 2 boxes and compared to Chic Treat Club which are a much smaller company compared to Glossybox I expected much more from them.

I'd definitely recommend Chic Treat Club as a subscription beauty box, you get to see some amazing items that are sold in Ireland and I’ve never been disappointed with a box. I might sound disappointed with this months but I think that is because the last four boxes I’ve received have just been out of this world that receiving a normal box would make it look like just an alright box.

Thanks for reading

Love Sarah xoxo

Beauty Box Wars | Chic Treat Club Vs Glossybox

        VS 

If you have never heard of beauty boxes they are monthly subscriptions where you receive a surprise box of beauty goodies with usually 3-4 full size products and 1-2 samples sized products.

Back in February I signed up with Glossybox, they are a British company who ship to Ireland and cost roughly €16-€17 after the exchange rate.

In each box you get a magazine, 3 full size items and 2 samples. With Glossybox you fill in a questionnaire at the beginning and based on that they send you beauty items based on your preferences from the questionnaire. On the odd occasion you will get a special edition box with 5 full size products I think I only received one box of full size products since February and because you fill in the questionnaire not every box will be the same.

Chic Treat Club is an Irish based company operating since 2013 and cost roughly €15 a month depending on which payment option you choose. I decided in April that I wanted to spread my beauty box horizons and signed up for the 3 month option with Chic Treat Club. You don’t need to fill out any questionnaires as each monthly box you receive is the same for everyone. Just like Glossybox you will receive a magazine and 3-4 full size products and 1-2 beauty samples.

This month I stopped my subscription to Glossybox, after 6 boxes I just wasn’t happy and out of the 6 I only received one that I was blown away with. I follow a lot of people on twitter that receive Glossybox’s both from the UK and Ireland, it appeared that the boxes sent to Ireland where different to the UK boxes and that the boxes sent to UK customers got the best of what was on offer. The special American Stars and Stripes box for July was the straw that broke the camel’s back for me as each box was supposed to receive a specially made nail polish and also there was Tarte Cosmetics mascara available that I was dying to get but never came in my box, as I had received a few mascaras before I figured it would be the same. After doing some research it looked like the Tarte mascara was only given to UK customers. You were also to receive all American “All Star” products from the beauty world but I had only heard of one or two products. In my box I received:

·         Carmex lip balm

·         Impress Nails

·         Nicka K NY Eyelid Primer

·         Bellapierre Lipstick

·         Pur Face Mask

I had only heard of the lip balm and the Impress nails, mostly because I can pick them up in pretty much any Pennys store. I’m sure now that I have left Glossybox next month’s box will be amazing.

My Chic Treat Club box came last week and even before I opened it there was an amazing aroma coming from the box. When I opened it it was bursting with goodies:

·         NeoStrata Bionic Face Cream

·         Physicians Formula Blush

·         Yonka Quintessence Aromatherapy candle + samples of their Cleansing Milk and Invigorating Mist

·         I-Envy Lashes

·         Burts Bee’s Foot Cream (not in the picture because my mam stole it!!)

What I love about Chic Treat Club is that everyone gets the same products, they also champion a lot of Irish products and introduce new products that are starting to come into Ireland. I’ve received all 3 of my boxes and I’m definitely signing up again, I think this time I’ll get the 6 months. I haven’t been disappointed with any of the boxes I’ve received and looking back on the ones that I have missed out on it looks like each box is consistently good. You also know that if you want to buy anything that came in the box that it will be sold in Ireland.

If you want any more info on Chic Treat Club just click the link here J

Thanks for Reading!!

Love Sarah xoxo