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Skincare

Birchbox ‘Cath Kidston’ Beauty Box April 2018

4/5 cruelty-free products this month from Birchbox!

This months box consisted of 5 products:

  1. ModelCo Baked Highlighter in Moonshine
  2. Beautaniq Beauty – Fill and Tame Brow Gel
  3. Cath Kidston Hand Cream
  4. Whish Shave Cream
  5. Marcelle BB Cream Golden Glow

Within the box, I got a 25% off leaflet to spend at Cath Kidston.

ModelCo Baked Highlighter

It’s obvious I like a product when I don’t put it back in the Birchbox ready to look at it another day. That product this month is the highlighter by ModelCo. I got to choose out of 2 shades which I’d prefer – and I got my chosen one, ‘Moonshine’. I don’t know if it’s a sample size or full size but at 1.5g/0.05 oz, you don’t get much. Not a problem – who uses that much highlighter anyways? (hello Kardashians) It’s super shiny and goes on like a dream. I used an eyeshadow brush to apply it on my cheekbones (with a few strokes). It stayed on all day too.

The highlighter is NOT cruelty-free, so I personally wouldn’t buy it again – however, ModelCo is slowly going the cruelty-free way, as they have a Vegan section on their website….. check it out here: https://www.modelcocosmetics.com/shop/vegan/

Cath Kidston Hand Cream

After much Googling, I do believe this hand cream is cruelty-free. Fab fab fab!

The smell is beautiful and fresh; it made my hands feel extremely moisturized. Took about a minute to dry which isn’t a bad thing seeing as though I’m typing this after applying. A little seems to go a looooong way and the one I got is 30ml.

Beautaniq Beauty fill and tame brow gel

“Nourishing tinted brow gel”
This looks promising but I use Wunderbrow so I don’t think I’ll use this #soz (unless I run out ofc)

It has an icon on the tube which says cruelty-free – hurrah!

It looks like it’d be useful for those lazy days when I can’t be bothered to perfect my brows but want them styled, shaped and tinted.

Whish Shave Cream

Smells lush; smoothes on the skin like a dream and has a moisturizing effect; it’s slightly shimmery too. I got 22ml which, to be honest with my long legs and big thighs didn’t go far.

On the tube, it says, “tested on us, not animals” – another cruelty-free product! Amazing!

Marcelle BB Cream Golden Glow

This illuminator is too dark for my skin but has amazing reviews online from ladies saying it, “enhanced my skin” and “gave me a fab healthy glow”. It can be used as a primer, which is handy as well as a moisturizer.

Even though it’s too dark for me, I gave it a whirl by adding it to some other white moisturizer (it helped dilute the colour making it lighter) and I could definitely see a glow. I only put it on my cheeks (as I have an oily forehead) and it made them look plump and fresh.

Cruelty-free again as confirmed on their website https://www.marcelle.com/en/faq

 

Sign up and save £5 on your first box

Use my referral link (https://www.birchbox.co.uk/invite/ahoydesigns) to sign up, and get a fiver off your first box. You are welcome!

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Skincare

How does Birchbox Beauty Box work?

I decided to start trialing Birchbox beauty box after using Look Fantastic’s beauty box for a little while. I was getting fed up of receiving moisturisers and face oils when I hadn’t even used up the ones from the previous month.

There are loads of beauty boxes around but Birchbox has an awesome looking website and that’s why I decided to go with them.

Personalised

They ask for your details when you sign up, such as your skin type, so they can help tailor the products they send you. This is a BIG winner for me – I don’t want moisturiser for sensitive skin because I don’t have it – nor do I want frizz ease hair product because I don’t have frizzy hair. I want products tailored to me.

How does it work?

You buy the box each month and you get 5 products. The products can either be full or a smaller size. For each the products each month, you get these benefits:

  • 10% off full-size products sampled in your current and last months’ boxes (say you get a small size product in your box and use it up, you have time to purchase the full size from their shop and get a discount)
  • if you buy from their online shop there are usually discounts on other products or freebies to be had – make sure you check the site
  • if you review each item in your box within a time-frame, you get free delivery on your next box
  • if you sign up for 6 months you become a VIP which entitles you to more benefits (see below)

For all the benefits, check out here: https://www.birchbox.co.uk/birchbox-benefits

Here’s a photo from the Birchbox website detailing the benefits (there are lots to be had!!)

You get a discount if you review what’s in your box, so the awesomeness of that is because soooo many people have tried the products, there are plenty of reviews to read before you reach for your purse. You can use the site to buy products too even if you aren’t signed up to get the Beauty box.

I’ve had 3 boxes so far and I’ve found a handful of gorgeous products I’d happily buy.

Price

Prices (at time of writing this post) are £10 per month plus £2.95 delivery for each Birchbox. For me this is a no-brainer – you get to try out products you wouldn’t normally; have them delivered to your door; get them tailored to you; get discounts if you find one you love; get other freebies if you review your box. The list of benefits is huge and a big winner as to why I signed up (and stayed) joined up!

I haven’t (unfortunately) been paid or received any goodies for this review. It’s from my own experience so you can believe it’s 100% honest. Whilst that’s 100% true, because I have an account with Birchbox they do ‘recommend a friend’ – sign up using this link and we BOTH get £5 off our box https://www.birchbox.co.uk/invite/5xf1n

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Skincare

Look Fantastic Beauty Box – October 2017

Indulge Me #LFbeautybox

In this month’s beauty box I got 6 products – ranging from ModelCo concealer, firming face oil, to coffee bean body scrub! At only £14.50, it’s an absolute steal… I also got a free handbag-sized Elle magazine, which alone is worth £3-4.

Look Fantastic beauty box - October 2017
Look Fantastic - October 2017

In this month’s box…..

  • Bean Body – coconut coffee body scrub
  • Ciate wonderwand – mascara
  • Lancer – the method polish
  • ModelCo – instant radiance concealer
  • Monu Skin – firming fiji facial oil
  • Skimono – beauty mask

Bean Body – coconut coffee body scrub

I’ve used this scrub in the shower (it’s messy) to help reduce my cellulite. It’s made my skin extremely smooth and reduced my cellulite a bit – using it often I hope to massively reduce it.

It’s vegan and cruelty-free as confirmed on their website.


Ciate wonderwand – mascara

Look Fantastic - Ciate Mascara

Lancer Skincare – the method polish

You use this on your face as a scrub to get rid of dead skin cells. It’s got amazing reviews. I’ve tried it and it’s great for leaving my skin smooth. I unfortunately wouldn’t buy it because it isn’t vegan, as so confirmed on their website (search for “vegan”). They are cruelty-free though (search “cruelty”) in their FAQs.

ModelCo – instant radiance concealer

Look Fantastic - ModelCo concealer

It’s the wrong colour for me so I was unfortunately unable to test this. I would say it went on my skin smooth and blended well.

I’ve been unable to find it on their website. It does however, say that everything they sell is vegan and cruelty-free.


Monu Skin – firming fiji facial oil

Look Fantastic - Monu skin oil

This oil has been amazing for my skin. I don’t use it on my forehead as that’s really oily anyway and I wouldn’t want to make it worse. I put it on overnight and by morning, my skin is super-smooth.

It’s vegan and cruelty-free! Confirmed on their website.


Skimono – beauty mask

Look Fantastic - Skimono mask

Inside the packet was 2 hand masks. They left my hands super smooth. I wouldn’t purchase these as unfortunately I can find no information relating to if they are either vegan or cruelty free on their website, https://skimono.com/pages/faqs.

Where to buy & discounts

If you decide to buy, feel free to use my ‘friends and family’ code for £5 off (if you’re a new customer) I get £5 off too. Here is my referral link: https://www.lookfantastic.com/referrals.list?applyCode=RACHAEL-RBAF

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Skincare

Mabel + Meg Lumilixir Serum review

I first found Mabel + Meg Lumilixir Serum through a beauty blogger on Instagram. She put a few blobs on her makeup brush, along with her foundation, and began sweeping it across her face. It seemed to blend perfectly and gave her a dewy glow. I can’t remember who she was, but she was really happy and posted a fab review (not to mention, a bloody gorgeous selfie).

Now I’m not sure about you, but I always think…. “do you REALLY think that….. or are you being PAID to think that?” so I decided to buy some for myself.

Mabel Meg Lumilixir Serum review

When I looked into and read the reviews, it seems it’s not just a primer. It helps to (from their website):

  • Plumps and hydrates skin
  • Smooths complexion
  • Brightens skin
  • Paraben free
  • Oil free & non-comedogenic
  • Fragrance-free
  • Absolutely no animal testing (hurrah!)

It’s described as something you can use as part of your morning and evening routine, applied over a cleansed and toned face. You can moisturise beforehand, but you need to wait for it to absorb before applying.

It’s vegan and cruelty-free 😀

Mabel + Meg Lumilixir Serum – How do you use it?

It comes in a bottle with a dropper, so you can control how much you’re using (and it looks really professional). I use 3 drops on my fingers or makeup brush, then rub lightly all over my face. Once done and it’s still slightly wet, I apply my foundation. I use The Body Shop Fresh Nude foundation which glides on amazingly even. I then add concealer & blusher.

What are your results from using it then?

My skin looks fresher and dewy. I have an oily T zone, which has continued to be oily, so it hasn’t helped it (or made worse) It makes my face feel light, clean and brightened. My makeup also stays on all day, which didn’t before using this.

I get spots on my forehead and chin but since started using this, they’ve reduced massively. I still get them, but they’re tiny and not as noticeable. If I do get a breakout of bigger spots, I use this twice a day (once before makeup and once before bed) and the day after, they’re almost nothing.

Let’s get down to brass tax…

The bottles come in 20ml or 30ml, starting from £29 up to £39 for the 30ml. For me this is very expensive – my foundation and concealer comes to £50 so spending this on top makes me think “jeez, is it really worth it?”. So there’s only 1 way to find out…. coughing up £29 for the smaller bottle!

Mabel Meg Lumilixir Serum

I bought directly from their website, with £4 shipping fees. I’ve since bought it from Cult Beauty where I paid no shipping (over £40 though).

#TipAlert

If you buy from Cult Beauty make sure you first go through Top Cash Back – at the time of writing, “new online customers” can get 8% back. I’ve used it for years and I’ve had thousands back from it. It’s a cashback site – you visit Top Cash Back and find the brand you want to buy from. You click on it and find out what the cash back available is. You usually get a lower % if you’re already an existing customer of that brand. It takes ages to get paid out but you will eventually get it.

This is a screenshot of my Cult Beauty payout of £3.33 in my Top Cash Back account:

Cult Beauty payout from Top Cash Back

#TipAlert

If you choose to buy it from MabelandMeg.com, look out for the popups where you can get 10% off if you sign up for their newsletter.

Is it worth the money??

Honestly….. I’ll continue to buy Mabel + Meg Lumilixir Serum until I need the money elsewhere. £39 is pricey, so I’ll buy as and when – maybe a couple a year. 3 drops a day will last a good month… or 2. I don’t do as per the instructions and apply in the morning and evening – it wouldn’t last as long (unless I have spots, see above!) and I only want it to help glide on makeup. If I wanted it to stretch, I’d go down to 1-2 drops and only use a few times a week, or on nights out.

If you wanted to use it as a moisturiser then applying morning and evenings would be good for improving your complexion quick, even though you’d use it up faster. Even if it lasted a month, a month’s worth of high-quality moisturiser is well worth it.

UPDATE: 9th March 2019

I still use Mabel and Meg to this day. I usually buy in bulk as that’s when you can get the discount. I still use just 2 drops each morning after I’ve moisturised and before my makeup. It keeps my skin looking fresh, helps reduce spots and keeps my makeup on all day. I love it.

UPDATE: 17th February 2020

Yep… still using it. Had a few months off towards the end of 2019 whilst I was using other things (blogs to come; Beauty Pie, Aurelia probiotic to name a few) but I’m back to using this. It really is absolutely amazing at keeping my makeup on all day. I still get spots during my period week (NOTHING has helped with this, argh) but my oily forehead definitely is better after I use this. I still only use 2 small drops per day. I give it 10 mins to settle on my skin before I put make up on. Love this stuff. Don’t forget to find discount codes from my above tips if you decide to buy! Oh one last thing, the price is still the same – no increase!

I haven’t (unfortunately) been paid or received any goodies for this review. It’s from my own experience so you can believe it’s 100% honest.

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My photo, hi I'm Rachael

Hi, I'm Rachael.

This is my beauty website where I review lots of different products, from make up, to CBD coffee and vegan moisturiser. I've been using products for over 20 years, so I hope I've gathered some tips and tricks to share, plus I'm always learning so I'll be sharing them too. I have oily-skin, that's acne prone, so join me as I navigate this new age being a millennial!