GLOSSYBOX UK - JULY 2014

This month's Glossybox was "Stars and Stripes" themed and I'm in love with the box designed to imitate the American flag. The box was full of beauty goodies from across the pond; let's break it down.

• BELLÁPIERRE Mineral Lipstick in Ruby | £20

I own a couple of Bellápierre mineral pigments (from previous boxes) which are gorgeous so I'm always happy to receive more items from the brand, and it's great to support natural products. I haven't purchased any on my own mostly due to the hefty price tag. This lipstick retails for £20 so even more than MAC and other high end brands; a tad expensive to purchase often but great in a £10 beauty subscription. This lipstick is a gorgeous red; I'm yet to test it out much but am happy to add it to the few red lipsticks I already own.

• ABSOLUTE New York Perfecting Eyeshadow Primer | $4.99

After a little testing, this is my favourite product I've received this month. I've been contemplating trying out a different eyeshadow primer, after relying on my NARS Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base (which I love and would recommend) for so long, and this one surpassed all expectations. It seems that pretty much everything tends to crease on my lids far quicker than anyone else, so when this primer continued to perform after an initial success I was over the moon. I apply quite a bit over each eyelid and blend it out with my finger. I give it a bit of time to dry and then go in with whatever shadow I choose that day. I've been using this every day since I got it and I'm in love. It works just as well, if not better, than the NARS counterpart. The only problem is that I don't think it'll be particularly easy to repurchase in the UK as it is an American product. It's slightly baffling to me that Glossybox would include a product that can't be easily purchased/shipped to the UK in a UK box. They suggest nicka.com which doesn't seem to ship internationally. However, if you're in the US I would highly recommend picking this eyeshadow primer up at a bargain of $4.99!

• CARMEX Lip Balm | £2.69

I wasn't particularly excited about this as I own a lot of lip balms and this is a pretty cheap one from the drugstore, but I've actually really been enjoying this. A few years back, I relied heavily on a cherry tube of Carmex as pretty much my only lip product and this little pot has reminded me why I loved it so much. The balm immediately moisturises the lips and, more importantly, leaves them feeling moisturised way after you apply the product. It induces a slightly tingly feeling which I am personally a fan of. I've been reaching for this over my other lip balms and Chapsticks every day, even before I go to bed.

• COLOR CLUB Glossy Seal Nail Polish | $8

I haven't tried this product out yet, but the sample size of 15ml is amazing. This is a big polish. The colour stands out next to my more conservative nudes, but it is a gorgeous shade. It might work well on the toes or maybe I'll get adventurous one day and try it on the fingers. I've tried one other polish from this brand before and remember liking the formula, and I love that this colour was formulated exclusively for Glossybox; it's always nice to feel special!

• TARTE lights, camera, lashes Mascara | £19.50 for 7ml

My first tarte product! I was pretty excited to see this when I opened the box. I've obviously heard tons and tons about the tarte brand so I was excited to finally get my hands on something from the range. This was the only sample size amongst the products, and honestly sample size mascaras tend to last almost as long as a full size. I've tried this mascara out a few times and it's pretty good although I think I'd prefer the waterproof version as I'm fairly picky with mascaras and this struggles to hold my curl. The mascara does give lots of volume and there's no clumping in sight; I've seen nothing but raves from other YouTubers/bloggers so definitely give it a go if you get the chance. Now, I need to get my hands on the blushers and foundations!

If you want full size make-up products then Glossybox is the way to go! They promised us 3 or 4 full size items in this month's box and did not disappoint. Four full size items; could you ask for more? I hardly ever find myself disappointed with a Glossybox and you definitely get more for your money with this subscription.

Approximate box worth - £40 (wow!)

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BIRCHBOX UK - JULY 2014

Every month I post a video on my YouTube channel comparing my UK Birchbox and Glossybox (like this) but I've always been torn between giving each box its own video or keeping it all bundled up in one. Now that I've started blogging, I thought that writing one blog post for each box, as well as a monthly video, would be a perfect compromise. This way I can go into a bit more detail on each box and include swatches and extra thoughts. Since I've had both of my boxes for a week or so now, I'll include some updates on how I've been getting on with the products I've used so far.

My July Birchbox is up first with a summer theme of Sun, Sea & Sand.

• WELEDA Millet Nourishing Shampoo | £8.95 for 190ml

The first product was a 18ml sample size of shampoo, so the sample is worth less than £1. I've already used up this sample barely getting two uses out of it. I didn't find the scent particularly pleasant (it smells a little citrus-y) and was honestly happy just to use up the sample and get rid of it. I won't be purchasing the full size; the product was okay but the smell has put me off.

• BALANCE ME Wonder Eye Cream | £20 for 15ml

I was pretty pleased to receive an eye cream as I haven't tried out that many and am almost out of the one I'm currently using. This 7ml sample should last a while and is worth close to £10 in relation to the full size. I could see myself repurchasing this, but need to try it out for a bit longer to really decide. So far, so good.

• LAQA & CO. Sheer Lip Lube Pencil in Menatour | £14 for 3.7g

Another sample size, but this is a cute little lip crayon. The colour is a gorgeous purple and I have high hopes for this one. It's a great bright summer colour which perfectly aligns with the box theme. The pencil has a minty smell which isn't too overpowering even for someone who doesn't usually like minty lip products. I should get quite a bit of use out of this so I'm pleased. It's not particularly sheer contrary to its name but gives a glossy wash of colour easily applied onto the lips.

• GILCHRIST & SOAMES English Spa Sea Kelp Extract Mineral Bath | £11.25 for 236ml

This decent 40ml tube of gel to be added to bath water is the only product from this box that I'm yet to try. As an occasional bath taker that may not change for a while, but it smells nice and fresh and I've been a fan of this brand's products I've tried in the past.

• WHISH Three Whishes Lavender Body Butter | £14.50 for 150ml

This last product completes a full set of samples. It's a bit disappointing not to receive any full size items but this particular product doesn't disappoint. I'm not usually a fan of lavender scents but the product description sums this one up perfectly - 'Not your granny's lavender'. This body butter seems to harness the perfect amount of lavender and the consistency is perfect for smoothing all over the body. It sinks into the skin quickly and doesn't feel greasy - I just wish there was more of it! I doubt this sample is going to last too long.

• VITA COCO Natural Coconut Water in Lemonade | £2.29 for 330ml

The only full size product is the lifestyle extra which I am saving to make a smoothie one of these days. Every single vlogger I watch seems to make and love healthy morning smoothies so my plan is to make one of my own in the near future. I'll keep you updated if it turns out any good. These little extras are always nice.

Overall, it's not the best Birchbox I've ever received but I will use every product so it's not a complete miss. The body butter has definitely been a bit of a surprise love since I have so many similar samples which are mostly half used. The others need a bit more testing but I'll keep you updated. I'm a little disappointed with the box's worth this month, but hopefully next month will be better!

Box worth - £22.17

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