The Beauty Spark

Affordable Skincare Treats.

2014-02-15T15:39:00.003+00:00

Now I like a bit of expensive skincare as much a the next girl, but sometimes you've just got to hand it to the affordable gems that are out there. Especially when they can give the big boys a run for their money.

If your budget can't quite stretch to the sometimes stratospheric prices of high end moisturiser, Organic Surge are definitely worth checking out. I've been road-testing their Blissful Daily Moisturiser* & the Overnight Sensation Night Cream* and I can safely say they do the job, and they do it well! I challenge you to find an organic cream under a tenner that does just as well as these beauties!

Even after a good double cleanse (or when you want to do a quick eye make up change) I find having an oil based make up remover really handy to either shift those last bits or to remove make up quickly but gently. I used to religiously use a much more pricey version but since I discovered the Nivea Double Effect Eye Make-Up Remover it has become a staple.

Finally The Body Shop Nutriganics Drops of Youth Serum* is something that has subtly become a favourite, I kept finding myself reaching for it. At £22 it may be at the higher end of affordable but compared to your top end stuff, this is very purse friendly. Packed with good stuff for your skin and free in silicones & parabens it's a great one for those ingredient conscious girls.

What are your purse friendly skincare favourites?

Love Me Beauty Box: January 2014.

2014-02-05T12:22:00.003+00:00

In January's Love Me Beauty Box some treasures awaited!

My box included:

NYX Cosmetics Single Eyeshadow in Hot Orange.

Weleda Sea Buckthorn Body Oil

Anatomicals Rose & Jasmine Body Cleanser

Pureology Colour Stylist Silk Bodifier

Cosmetics a la Carte Divine Lash Mascara

The Verdict?

Whilst orange eyeshadow isn't exactly my thing, I can forgive LMB as the rest of the box is a treat!

The Cosmetics A La Carte Mascara is a dream, I've been using it everyday despite vowing to use all of my others up first (naughty). Similarly, the Anatomicals Rose & Jasmine Body Cleanser is like Turkish delight in the shower, so that has sneaked its way to the front of the queue too! I've always been a fan of Weleda so the Sea Buckthorn Oil was well received, it's patiently waiting to be used. As I have no real use for the Pureology Hair Bodifier, I've passed that over to my mother, it's apparently amazing!

Overall I'm a happy girl, well done LMB!

Glossybox Jan 2014: Back To Basics.

2014-02-05T12:03:00.002+00:00

As we try our best to wade through the depressingly grey start to the new year, it only seems more important to take care of the basics, even if the temptation to crawl under a duvet with a packet of face wipes and dry shampoo is ever so great!

Those clever sausages at Glossybox have put together a rescue kit to keep on top of the basics and banish the winter beauty slacker in all of us.

My box includes:

Yu-Be Moistursing Skin Cream (full size £13.50 for 33g)

Balance Me Super Toning Body Wash (full size £10.25 for 250ml)

The Vintage Cosmetic Company Floral Slanted Tweezers (full size £8.00)

Anatomicals Puffy the Eye Bag Slayer Wake Up Under Eye Patches (£6.00 for 3 pack)

Montagne Jeunesse Passion Peel Off Masque & Blemish Mud Masque (£1.09 per mask)

What's the Verdict?

I love the idea to get back to basics, and whilst nothing hit me between the eyes, I've actually found I've used most of this box up this month, which rarely happens!

The Anatomicals Eye Patches were a novel thing to use, I can't vouch for their complete effectiveness but the gel patches were cooling and felt relaxing. Similarly the Montagne Jeunesse face masks are a great buy and I've bought a whole selection for an upcoming hen party, I'm sure they'll go down a treat!

I'm already happy with my tweezerman tweezers but this cute pair by the Vintage Cosmetic Company are a great emergency handbag pair! I love the Balance Me range so this cute mini body wash will be a great addition to my travel/gym shower gel stash!

I'm yet to try the Yu-Be Moisturiser as I already have so many on the go, but it smells lovely!

What did you get in your January Box?

Perfectly Iced: 12 Days of Blogmas 10.

2013-12-22T14:45:00.001+00:00

If you've had enough of red talons, going all ice queen is a great alternative if you still crave a bit of festive sparkle.

I'm a big fan of the Sinful Colors range as they're great for a cheap thrill without compromising on quality.

I plumped for 101 Snow Me White & 923 Queen of Beauty. It's like glittering icicles on your fingernails! Neither colour are something I'd use often so £1.99 is perfectly priced for a whimsical polish.

How are you painting your nails this Christmas?

Quick Fire Review, Lush Secret Santa: 12 Days of Blogmas 9.

2013-12-21T20:14:00.002+00:00

It seems an age since the last quick fire Lush review, so what better than to put the ultimate Christmas bath bomb to the test!

The Secret Santa bath bomb is a supersized burst of citrus festive joy. It's big enough to break into several doses (that would go towards justifying the eyewatering £5.75 price tag) but I went all in, it was a party in the tub!

It creates a fizzy orange bath that feels like your bathing in Irn Bru, don't expect a moisturising potion though as it leaves you feeling a little dry.

It's a good bit of festive fun but I'd definitely break it into pieces in the future.

Available here.

Lush Best Wishes: 12 Days of Blogmas 8.

2013-12-20T18:00:00.000+00:00

If you want a touch of magic in your bath at Christmas, Lush is the place to go. The gift sets are always adorable and the Best Wishes box is no exception.

It comes with three scrumptious treats:

Luxury Lush Pud Bath Ballistic

Snowcake Soap

Golden Wonder Bath Ballistic

Each treat makes for an extra special bath time, for you or a lucky friend!

Find it HERE.

Easy Mulled Apple Juice: 12 Days of Blogmas 7.

2013-12-19T19:51:00.000+00:00

Mulled Apple Juice makes for a delicious, warming alternative to it's boozy cousin and is the perfect party drink for any festive gatherings you might have.

You can always buy your spices (cloves, cinnamon and peel) separately, but I picked this ready to go pack of muslin bags from The National Trust range, they're the perfect foolproof kit if you're not sure on balance for your juice.

Just plonk your juice into a saucepan (I used a 1L carton) and add your spices, simmer on a low heat for 10-15 minutes and you're done. It's that simple!

I've jazzed things up a little by adding fresh peel & slices of orange and lemon, the cinnamon stick really is just for show.

Leave to cool slightly and serve. Christmas is served!

Gingerbread How To: 12 Days of Blogmas 6.

2013-12-18T16:23:00.000+00:00

Christmas isn't Christmas without Gingerbread, it's the rules...

It's seriously delicious but incredibly easy to do, so if you're not blessed with the baking skills rest assured you could whip these up and still pull off some impressive treats to serve to any guests popping by over to spread some festive joy!

You'll need:

300g Plain Flour

1 tsp Bicarbonate of Soda

2 tsp Ground Ginger

1/2 tsp Cinnamon

1/2 tsp Ground Nutmeg

125g Unsalted Butter

100g Soft Light Brown Sugar

3 tbsp Golden Syrup

Preheat your oven at 180C.

Step 1. Melt your Butter, Sugar & Golden Syrup in a pan until they form a caramel consistency.

Step 2: Sieve your flour into a mixing bowl and add your spices.

Step 3: Add the melted mixture to your dry ingredients.

Step 4: Combine into a dough consistency.

Step 5: Roll out your dough, cut into whatever you like and place onto greased (and lined, we forgot greaseproof paper!) baking tray. We went for festive Christmas trees, houses and people!

Step 6: Bake for 10 minutes at 180C.

Step 7: Leave to cool and then ice with whatever takes your fancy!

Voila, the perfect Christmas Gingerbread!

THRIFTY GIFT IDEA: Why not package the little guys up and give them as a gift? They're homemade and delicious, a gift anyone would appreciate.

Glossybox Christmas Edition: 12 Days of Blogmas 5.

2013-12-17T13:53:00.000+00:00

I always look forward to the festive edition of Glossybox, I can't believe this is the third Christmas box that Glossybox have released!

This year the box promises a feast of festive treasures, all the things you need to be a festive belle of the ball.

So, what's in my box?

Beautiful Movements Cosmetics Nude Lip Gloss

Wilkinson Sword Intuition Naturals Razor

Maybelline New York Color Tattoo 24hr Eye Shadow in On and On Bronze

Sanctuary Spa Active Reverse Resurface & Refine Ultra Polish

The Verdict.

Overall I'm really impressed with the festive offering from Glossybox. The star product has to be the Maybelline Color Tattoo cream eyeshadow, it's the perfect bronze shade in a dreamy formula that I'll definitely use over the holiday season. In a more practical sense I'm also really pleased with the Wilkinson Razor as I've always been a Venus girl, hopefully Wilkinson can live up to that! The Beautiful Movements Lip Gloss is a gorgeous nude shade which is the perfect antidote to a good dose of Christmas glitter.

I adore the Seche Vite polishes but the shade isn't for me, I'm sure I'll find a friend who will adore it though. Finally, I love Sanctuary Spa products so I'll look forward to trying this scrub.

It's certainly a very Merry Christmas in Glossyland!

*provided for consideration

Red Glitter NOTD: 12 Days of Blogmas 4.

2013-12-16T16:04:00.000+00:00

It wouldn't be a proper 12 days of Blogmas without a good old NOTD. This combination of OPI Bastille My Heart finished with a slick of Deborah Lipmann's Razzle Dazzle always puts me in the festive mood without going all out in the glitter stakes, I'll ramp it up just before Christmas but it's a good place to start.

Oh Christmas Tree: 12 Days of Blogmas 3.

2013-12-15T15:00:00.000+00:00

Felt Heart: thetartanfox, Red Felt Bauble: johnlewis, Wooden Heart, Christmas Carol Singer, Candy Cane, Metal Lanterns: thenationaltrust

Sometimes you have just got to be in it for the pretties, and when it comes to decorating the tree, can you get any cuter than these little decorations?

I'm slowly but surely trying to build up a collection that has a story, bits and bobs that I know have come from a certain place, been given by a friend or remind me of a certain time. If you can't get all sentimental at Christmas, when the hell can you?! I won't divulge into individual stories, but hopefully when I'm old and grey I'll have years worth of stories on my Christmas tree...

Last Minute Idea: 12 Days of Blogmas 2.

2013-12-14T18:00:00.000+00:00

Stepping into a bath or shower on a cold winter evening can be heaven, but ramping it up with a heavenly bath & shower oil is a step into pure indulgence I am all for.

For those luxury lovers in need of a pamper over the festive period this Organic Bath & Shower Indulgence set from Neom holds the key to a very happy mum/grandma/sister/cousin/aunt/best pal on Christmas morning. It takes a lot for me to commit to one scent so variety really is the spice of life with the set of six mini vials of oil. It includes Tranquillity (English Lavender with Sweet Basil & Jasmine), Pure Luxury (Lavender, Jasmine & Brazilian Rosewood) and Complete Bliss (Moroccan Blush Rose).

At a very reasonable £19.00 I'd be tempted to give them an extra touch of luxury with a travel candle to complete the set.

If you have a group of friends and want to spread the love, consider gift splitting. Split three ways the oils will look lovely in a gift bag with a candle.

Available HERE

*press sample, thoroughly adored though. p.s why did the elf go to school? to learn the ELFABET...hohoho.

All Wrapped Up: 12 Days of Blogmas 1.

2013-12-13T20:00:00.000+00:00

Once I've found the perfect present, wrapping it up gives me just as much joy. To start off the 12 days, I'm sharing a few wrapping ideas and bits that I'll be using to wrap Christmas up this year.

I'm a big fan of East of India for all my ribbon and tags. It's kitschy but classic and has formed my theme this year. I've also got crafty with my Christmas Graze box, using the cute printed cardboard to make thrifty but adorable tags.

Pretty packages in brown paper has definitely become an 'of the moment' theme but don't get sucked into to buying brown wrapping paper for an inflated price. I picked up this roll of packing paper for a very reasonable price. Even cheaper options are available but I think this grade of paper strikes the balance between good value and presentable.

Not everyone is blessed with wrapping skills, so if you want an easy option that will still pick up points. I fell in love with this mini hessian Santa sack from a local gift shop but have found a similar one here. If you're looking for a more purse friendly option, I think this large gift bag from Tesco is just as sweet.

For those final touches, I picked up this adorable wrapping and mailing set that I can't wait to use. Girl loves an ink stamp...

Happy Wrapping!

Bath Time Treats.

2013-12-12T14:13:00.001+00:00

Christmas time = long lazy bath time, it's the rules. If I can bath away in a bath scented with the spicy aroma of theYuletide, even better. Today brings two delicious offerings from Concious Skincare & Organic Surge.

I'll begin with the adorable Concious Skincare Sweet Orange & Frangipani Bath Soak. If you're after a christmas pressie for the cosmetic lover with a concious, this is perfect. It comes in a cardboard tube complete with festive ribbon and the bath soak itself is a deletable mix of warming citrus orange and frangipani that makes for a sumptuous bathing experience. You can rest assured that the ingredients are non animal tested and organic, so it's s totally guilt free soak!

If you tend to indulge more in the spicy side of winter scents, the Organic Surge Spiced Lily Foaming Bath is a rich blend of clove and patchouli that really appeals to me. After a long stressful day doing those last minute Christmas shopping bits, sinking in to a bath full of this is heaven.

Love Me Beauty December Christmas Edition.

2013-12-11T15:05:00.002+00:00

Any December edition of a Beauty Box is something to look forward to and delving into the December Edition of Love Me Beauty box is no exception.

Included in this months' menu:

Lord & Berry Intensity Lipstick in Glazed Pink (full size rrp £12)

Lord & Berry Kiss Proof Lip Liner in Seduction (full size rrp £7.50)

Headline Colours Nail Polish in Quicksand (full size rrp £9)

Matriskin Vitamin C Serum (sample size 7.5ml)

Rodial Glamtox Night (sample size 15ml)

The Verdict.

I'll start with the highs. I was really impressed with the Matriskin Collegen serum that popped up in a recent LMB box so I was chuffed to see another product from the line creep in for me to try. I adore the medicinal feel to the line and hopefully my skin will love it too.

Who doesn't like a little bit of Rodial? I'm really excited to try the Glamtox Night as I've heard great things. Another product I'm pleased with is the Headline Colors nail polish in quicksand. I've tried another colour previously and was really impressed with the formulation so a more mute shade is right up my street.

But.

I can't say I'm that pysched to see Lord & Berry pop up again. They've appeared here, here and here. It's all getting a bit deja-vu. I'm a big fan of the Love Me Beauty boxes but please don't turn into Love Me Some More Lord & Berry! The shade of the lipstick and liner are gorgeous though, so I suppose I can let them off. Maybe.

Overall the box is of a high quality and I'm pleased, but please mix it up a bit next year.

xxx

Psst. If you want to grab yourself 20% off your first box, use LMBBB20 to claim until the 10th January.

Ginger Sparkle.

2013-12-02T20:21:00.001+00:00

Ginger Sparkle Hand Wash

Ginger Sparkle Home Fragrance Oil

Ginger Sparkle Reed Diffuser

Ginger Sparkle Shower Gel

Joyful Gingerbread House

Gingerbread Man

Last year, a little gingerbread tin landing on my doorstep and it started a bit of a revolution. My ~~love~~ obsession with ginger is well documented on here but the Ginger Sparkle range from The Body Shop really is the one for me.

I may have gone slightly wild in the online aisles and bought a little bit of everything but I'm basking in a ginger haze. Ginger Sparkle is the perfect blend of warming but spicy. It's a pure ginger scent that is deceptively difficult to track down.

I'm bathing in the stuff, filling my room with the scent of it and even giving it away as gifts. I'm a certified Ginger Nut...

Love Me Beauty November.

2013-11-24T12:45:00.001+00:00

So, what does Love Me Beauty have to offer this month in the November Edition*?

I chose Edition 1 which included:

Absolution Le Soin Purifiant (Skin Renewing Mask) full size 50ml £24

Jelly Pong Pong 2-in-1 Bronze Shadow Liner RRP £10.50

Mitchell and Peach Shower Wash full size 250ml £20

Models Own Nail Polish in Hot Pink RRP £5

Art Deco Hydra Lip Booster in Translucent Rosewood RRP £11.50

So, what's the verdict?

I feel it is a little bit of a mixed bag this month. Whilst the two star products for me are the Absolution Mask & the Mitchell and Peach Shower Wash, I could take or leave the rest of the menu. Again, I'll stress it's not a case of being disappointed as the beauty of Love Me Beauty is you pick what you want to be sent, BUT I just can't get too excited about it. Similarly to my last post about LMB I'm going to have to have a minor gripe about product/brand repetition as It's happened again in the box. The magic of sample boxes is to try new things and to broaden your beauty horizons, but it just doesn't seem to be happening here.

I'm still a great believer in the Love Me Beauty boxes, and really look forward to seeing what they have to offer. The best it yet to come!

The Organic Surge Beauty Blogger Bundle.

2013-11-23T19:30:00.000+00:00

If like me, you are partial to a bit of Organic Surge, you've come to the right place. I personally found out a bit more about the brand through the bloggersphere so it only seems right I give you a heads up on the 'Beauty Blogger Bundle'* they are putting out.

Available exclusively through this link HERE, the bundle bags you four full size products for just a smidge over £20. If you're into your percentages, it's a 13% saving on the regular price.

The set comes complete with a zingy Citrus Mint Shower Gel, a nourishing Lavender Meadow Hand & Nail Cream, a divine 2 Minute Moisture Hair Mask and finally, a pot of the Blissful Daily Moisturiser.

There isn't a single product in the bundle I won't get full out of, so often than not you find at least one dud in the set.

It's a bundle of joy!

*sent for condsideration

Label M Vs. Jean Paul Braganza.

2013-11-20T10:30:00.002+00:00

If you're wondering what to get a high fashion obsessed sister/cousin/friend this Christmas but don't want to splash out on couture, why not bring them a touch of London Fashion Week in the form of Label M's fabulous Jean Paul Braganza collaboration?

I adore the Art Deco/Architectural print of the clutch bag and I'm sure it would add an interesting edge to a simple black outfit during the party season. The chic Duo Runway Giftbox* from Label M for Christmas is a perfect gift for those who adore a touch of salon haircare at home. I'm a long time fan of the Label M haircare range so I can vouch that this gift isn't all style and no substance.

If you've fallen in love with the clutch like I have It can be yours for free when purchasing three Label M products or spend over £60, Merry Christmas!

You can get your hands on this fabulous range from Label. M Salons, www.labelm.com.

Neom Scents of Christmas.

2013-11-15T08:45:00.004+00:00

With six weeks to go, It's finally feeling more acceptable to use the C word in its whole festive glory. Christmas is coming and Neom are getting festive.

I dare even the biggest Grinch to not feel a pang of festive joy when sniffing these three travel sized beauties. The set picks up on three Christmas favourites, Harmonise evokes the fresh clean scent of a Christmas tree, Wish fills the room with the mouthwatering scent of spicy Christmas cake and finally Comforting is a warming woody scent that could substitute for any festive log fire.

It's the perfect present to easily bring a bit of festive cheer on those cold winter evenings.

The perfect present for a candle connoisseur.

Buy Me.

RRP £42.

Post Party Pick Me Up.

2013-11-14T20:00:00.000+00:00

The party season is quickly coming around and if you don't have the luxury of hiding under a duvet the day after the office party, it's always useful to have a few tools in your inventory to fake a fresh face.

If you're anything like me the day after a night on the tiles my skin feels in desperate need of moisture and refreshing. The Body Shop Nutriganics Drops of Youth* is an essential weapon for preparing your skin to fake a glow. The light fresh concentrate smells fresh and sinks in instantly, it's the perfect product to quickly pick you up if you spent a few extra minutes in bed. Before you go wild with the concealer, sometimes less is more when you're trying to fake functionality. I'm a big fan of the The Body Shop All-In-One BB Cream* as it is very similar to my much tried and tested Origins Vitazing. It alters to your own skintone as you blend and is light and easy to work with. It won't cake or sit on the skin and really gives a healthy sheen to the skin.

Eyes are the window to the soul and a good eye gel or cream will do you proud in the fight against fatigue. This No Bags Allowed Eye Gel from Anatomicals is packed full of witch hazel which will battle your bags. It's also really purse friendly if you're looking for an affordable treat.

Finally I'd be lost without a good pair of lash curlers to open your eyes and make you look more awake, the good old Shu Uemura are always a winner in this department. Finally, I always need to fake a flush when I'm heading out the morning after the night before. I'm currently in love (again) with the Korres Lip Butter in Plum. It's perfect for looking rosy on the lips and if you're in a rush a small amount buffed into the cheeks is more than acceptable.

What do you do to fake a healthy glow after you've partied the night away?

Good Enough To Eat: The Yorkshire Soap Co.

2013-11-12T12:36:00.001+00:00

If there are two things in this world that this girl likes, it's bath products and cake. This dreamy hybrid was bought back from a recent trip to York & it is serious lighting my fire.

Now, before I go on, I'm afraid I didn't sit down to a seriously appetising piece of Lemon Meringue soap with my tea but trust me, the temptation was there.

The Yorkshire Soap Co. are producing decadent delights in soap form to please even the most girly bathtime. If a slice of soap cake doesn't tickle you, what about Bath Truffles, Cupcakes or perfectly packaged gift boxes as a Christmas Gift?

To borrow a phrase from the Soap Co. themselves, they wanted to a 'create a theatrical emporium of all things soapy'. Boy have they hit the nail on the head. You can almost reach out and sneak a taste of the white whipped topping on the soap itself.

If you can't make the trip up to Yorkshire yourself, the website is full of fanciful treats, I'm already eyeing up the Chocolate Fudge Slice!

They're (almost) good enough to eat.

November Glossybox 2013.

2013-11-10T19:35:00.000+00:00

Opening this November Glossybox*, It's clear things have been given a bit of a Glossy makeover. Complete with a sleek postcard product guide and a Glossy magazine full of ideas and interesting snippets of beauty info, the polished finish of the box is a very welcome change.

So, what was hidden inside this months box?

Vichy Idealia Life Serum: Full Size £29.50 for 30ml

Emite Make Up Micronized Eyeshadow in Dams: Full size £16.80

Yves Rocher France Hand Cream: £1.95 for 75ml

Elegant Touch Rapid Dry for Nails: £3 for 125ml

B. Long Lasting Nail Polish in Moleskin: £4.99 for 8ml

What's the verdict?

Overall this box gets a thumbs up. I was immediately pleased to see Yves Rocher in my box as I'm an existing fan of the brand. The hand cream itself smells like a chocolate dream so what's not to love?!

I was also really excited to try the Vichy Idealia Life Serum as anything vaguely French is always a winner in the skincare stakes. The fact it's in adorable reusable packaging is always a bonus.

The surprising product of the month is the Elegant Touch Rapid Dry Spray. I gave a tentative whirl after painting my nails with the B. Lasting Nail Polish (a lovely griege polish that was opaque and glossy in two thin coats...FYI) and was really surprised to see it was a winner. I wouldn't quite agree with 60 seconds to touch dry, but 2 minutes later I could pretty much do what I wanted without fear of smudging. For £3 it's a great bargain find. The Emite Eyeshadow isn't much to write home about, it's a great black eyeshadow but isn't going to blow my world apart.

What did you get in this month's box?

Laura x

A Cosy Night In.

2013-10-30T16:36:00.002+00:00

The clocks have gone back and the nights are drawing in, it's the perfect excuse to get cosy.

Autumn/Winter inevitably means the re-emergence of candles and cosy baths and Neom definitely gets my vote when it comes to getting warm and snuggly. I already had my hands on the Real Luxury Body Oil but the Real Luxury Candle* is the perfect solution to filling bedrooms and bathrooms with the chilled out fragrance that I love so much. Another old favourite is the NARS Monoi Body Oil II, perfect in baths or rubbed directly into dry limbs it reminds me of a summer holiday on a cold winter evening.

The Origins Ginger Souffle Whipped Body Cream is a great alternative to an oil if you don't have time to let it sink in. I'm a complete addict to the Origins Ginger Essence so layering this up with the actual fragrance the perfect winter treat.

Whilst I'm languishing in the tub, I like to do a face mask. At the moment I'm in love with this Organic Surge First Class Mask. It's an affordable treat that smells like a lemon and rosemary dream. It's also a great one for pepping up dull winter skin. Is anyone else finding the lack of daylight hours affects your skin?

What do you like the cuddle with on a cosy evening?

Love Me Beauty October Box

2013-10-18T11:25:00.002+01:00

It's Love Me Beauty time again, what does the October menu have to offer?

My menu constisted of:

Lord & Berry Smudge Proof Eyeliner (full size) RRP £7.50

Lord & Berry Scuba Mascara (full size) RRP £12

Balm Balm Balance Bath & Shower 5ml RRP £6

Weleda Millet Nourishing Shampoo (sample) RRP £8.95 190ml

Amie Skincare Clean Cooling Clay Mask RRP £1.50

So, what did I make of this months box?

I have been so chuffed with the past offerings from Love Me Beauty & BeauteCo Box that it was always going to be a tough challenge to deliver a consistent 'knock it out of the park' box each month. I feel this month is the inevitable 'it's good but doesn't wow me' offering. Obviously all of this is totally objective but only two out of the five products really caught my attention.

Before it gets mentioned, you do pick which menu you want before you receive your box so it is in no way a disappointment as I was aware of what I was receiving before it came but equally the menus didn't knock my socks off.

I'm going through a bit of a lavender stage at the moment so this dinky oil from Balm Balm was a lovely addition. The peppermint edge to this oil perfectly balances it and it's a treat to use in the bath or on a hot flannel in the shower.

I'm equally chuffed with the mini Weleda Millet Shampoo as I'm on the look out for a replacement for my current Aussie addiction. It's a light and smells lovely, a full size purchase could be on the cards!

Now, The other three products were a mixed bag. I've not had the best experience with Amie Skincare before so I'm reluctant to try the face masks but they will make lovely stocking fillers for friends or family at Christmas so all is not lost. My main gripe lies with the two Lord & Berry products contained in this months box. They are both decent little products but I'm on the verge of bored with the brand now. It's appeared once before in multiples in the boxes and it's surely time to branch out and try different brands.

I'm sure I will use them both but the curious cat in me wants to try new brands.

I'll give this months box a B+, good but a few tweaks could bring it back to it's best.

xxx

Find Love Me Beauty Here.