February BirchBox Review!

So I read on someone else's blog something called BirchBox which is a monthly subscription and you get beauty gifts sent to you each month. I used to subscribe to one called Glossybox but didn't feel as though the products were worth it so I switched. I finally got my box in the post today and loved the products I got!

I love the little box I received. The packaging is so cute and it comes with a little fabric bag inside the box containing all the products. I actually got a whopping 50% discount off so my first box came ot only £6 which is a steal!

You also get a little booklet inside telling you about each of the products and also any competitions and also discount codes for referral.

The first product I received was a full sized Tapered Powder Brush by Spectrum collection. (RRP £7.99). This vibrant hand-finished brush makes light work of powder application (whether that's setting powder, shimmery highlighters or your fave bronzer) thanks to the precisely-shaped tip and super-soft tapered bristles. Oh, and it's absolutely gorgeous! Dust the brush across your chosen powder then apply to your face where needed - the small head means you can super precise!

The second product is One and Done Shadow Stick in Perfect Cents by LOC (RRP £8). STOP PRESS! What you are about to experience is Birchbox's in-house make-up brand that I am SO excited to share with you. So what can you expect? Up to 11 hours of creaseless, waterproof colour in one handy stick, that's what. This nifty formula has been created by Birchbox's in-house product development team to eliminate the need for multiple brushes, blenders and primers and deliver effortless on-trend colour in one easy swipe. Apply all over your lids and blend with your fingertips for a soft, smokey look - or use as a bold liner.

Product number three is Lumiere d'Hiver Super Comb Prep & Protect by Number 4 (RRP £20). Treat your hair to a little TLC with this does-it-all wonder product. Not only does it strengthen and repair tired strands but it de-tangles and tames flyaways too - and all without sulphates or parabens! That's what I call a win-win. Spray evenly through towel-dried hair, comb through and style as normal.

Number 4 is Nature's Remedy Balm by Pommade Divine (RRP £19.80). Made with up to 97% natural ingredients, this multi-purpose balm has already caused quite a stir in the beauty industry (and for good reason!) it repairs and nourishes troublesome areas in a flash to leave skin calm and comfortable. Apply liberally to any problem spots (lips, scrapes, elbows - wherever!) and reapply as needed.

The fifth product is Fleur de Vigne Shower Gel by Caudalie (RRP £9). Formulated for even the most sensitive of skin types, this delicate body wash is enriched with calming aloe vera and fragranced with uplifting white rose, rose pepper and grape blossom for a relaxing shower. Lather onto damp skin then rinse away.

Last but not least we have Notting Hill Femme Eau de Parfum by English Laundry (RRP £46). A brighter more feminie take on their classic men's fragrance, this fresh scent blends fruity notes of mandarin and cassis with hints of warm wood and vanilla. Bliss! Spritz it onto your wrists, behind the ears and along the collarbone for all-day fragrance.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Cream Kit Review

Ever since contouring became in-fashion in the makeup world, I wanted to bag myself a decent contour kit. I did purchase a powder based one from Makeup Revolution but it just didn't blend as I wanted it to. I thought why not treat myself and I had a look at ABH. I found they had a contour cream kit rather than a powder one and I just had to buy one and have a look myself.

I bought the fair colour as I'm quite fair skinned and thought it would be perfect. It comes with 6 shades to highlight and contour with and they're all creamy and blend easy with a blending sponge (I use Real Techniques).

The shades are called (Top left to bottom right) Soft Light, Lustre, Fair, Fawn, Shadow and Mink. I mainly use Soft Light to conceal in a way (as I then use Mac highlight on top. I recently did a review on this) then Shadow for contouring. These cost around £40 and due to them being American based if you do a search with UK at the end there are few places that sell. Cult Beauty is the place I got mine from.

Mac Mineralize Highlighter Review

I've found it! I've finally found it. THE perfect highlighter in the world (well so far). I've been testing out different highlighters that won't either wash me out or make me look too orange and I came across Mac Mineralize Skinfinish highlighter. The colour is named 'Soft & Gentle' and I have to say it's the perfect mix of peachy pink colours.

 You can buy this amazing highlight from Mac for around £24. It is definitely worth the money as it lasts a while and is super pigmented so you don't need a lot.

I apply this using a Mac 184 duo fibre fan brush to my cheek bones, tip of the nose, chin and forehead. Basically all the usual highlight places. It gives your a skin a soft dewy finish.

I swatched this so you can see above how beautiful and shimmery the highlight is. Let me know if you have any other amazing highlights as I'm always looking for new ones!

Workout Outfits Feat Boohoo.com

I love to work out and I feel like having some sassy workout clothing can really boost how you perform. I'm still growing my collection but will be showing you some of my fave items of clothing I workout in. Most of the items I have are from boohoo.com as they have a brand named Boohoo Fit and have some amazing items. #

This is one of my fave outfits. The top is a crop top from Boohoo Fit and has an awesome galaxy print. The pants are Adidas and have a 'Harley Quinn' type look to them. These are super comfy and don't overheat you when you're working out.

The above two tops are from Boohoo Fit as well. I got these as they match with the jungle print. The vest has super low sides so it looks great with the sports crop underneath as you can see from the sides.

I wear these leggings as they're a sort of cropped cycle legging. These are by Pineapple and they are so comfy. The top is from Boohoo Fit as well and I love the play on words 'Dressed to Kale' (kale is super delicious, just saying). These are just a few of my fave items I have. Boohoo always have great discount codes to use as well if you go to their website. Workout wear is always a great motivational tip as it urges you to workout as well as looking fabulous.

Mini V Nutrition - Mini:BURN Review

Ever since I started working out I was always feeling super tired and out of breath half way through and feeling like I just couldn't carry on. I felt like I need a pick me up to help me all the way through and to not wimp out! As I'm an avid Geordie Shore follower, Vicky Pattison is one of my all time favorite people on Geordie Shore and I followed her all the way through I'm a Celeb! I was stoked when she won and couldn't be more proud of her. I then found out later that she has her own nutrition line and had a quick peek.

I found these little beauties called Mini:BURN. They're basically a high caffeine supplement that gives you that extra boosts during your workout. I was a bit skeptical at first as I've never tried anything like this in the past but I wasn't disappointed. All I had to do was take 2 tablets with water 20 minutes before I worked out. When I started I could instantly feel them working and I was full of energy. I smashed my workout and came out feeling fantastic! You can buy a tub of 60 capsules for £24.99. If you become a member (you pay monthly) you can get a whopping 40% discount on these beauties!

After using these for 2 weeks I've noticed a massive difference in the amount of weight and inches I've lost as they also boost your metabolism helping you burn those stubborn calories. I honestly couldn't find a better product to help me on my weight loss journey. Kudos to Vicky P for yet again outdoing yourself. You really are such a inspirational icon and I couldn't have done it without your motivation and my Mini:BURNS! I've included a link below to her website and there are tonnes of other products to be bought to help you boost your weight loss and overall health

http://www.minivnutrition.com/

The things I can't live without

Never really shown people what I carry around with me in my super huge handbag. So I thought I'd let you all in on my secret.

These are pretty much all the things I literally NEED in my bag to survive the day. I always have some form of diet coke/Pepsi in my bag as I think I have a slight addiction to them. My purse (of course) for all that money I (don't) have. My trusty notebook where I jot EVERYTHING down from blog ideas to appointments. My mobile phone. I think I would die if this was left somewhere. Car keys, I wouldn't be able to go anywhere without these. I rely too much on my car.

A bit of liptstick and my powder (just for little touch ups through the day). My body spray. I have to say this is the best body spray I've found. It's Pure Devotion and is from New Look. You can buy the body spray and parfume for £9.99 in stores. Bit of a bargain if you ask me. Sunglasses. Bit optimistic I know but hey-hoy. This is why, ladies, my bag is so huge. I do also carry my camera around with me all the time but I took the photo with it sooooo you get the idea.

Fresh out the shower hair care routine

I have very short hair as some of you may know so when it comes to hair care I can be quite low maintenance. I dye my hair A LOT so I tend to use only certain products in my hair to retain the shine and thickness as dying can seriously damage your hair.

I currently swear by Herbal Essences Nourish Me Butter shampoo and conditioner. It has a great smell of coconut and it really does my hair wonders. I do the usual lather, rinse repeat and then add the conditioner on while I do the rest of my business in the shower and rinse at the very last minute.  A lot of the stores usually do offers on Herbal Essences so you can grab both for around £3 all together.

After my lovely shower and coming out I lightly towel dry my hair. I then use GHD heat protection spray as I normally either blow dry alone or blow dry and straighten and that can really put stress on the hair. This stuff smells awesome and a good spritz of this and then a comb through does the trick. Once I'm done drying and styling, I'll put a tiny bit of GHD Smooth & Finish serum on my hair. This puts the shine back in my hair and leaves it feeling sleek and gets rid of the stray hairs. These are more on the luxury side and can cost between £10 - £15 each depending on where you buy them from.

By using all these products, my hair hasn't fallen out from all the dye (yet)! I hope these products help you decide if you use them or not.