Carmex // Cherry Moisturising Lip Balm Review

Carmex // Cherry Moisturising Lip Balm
RRP £2.69 for 10g

I received this in a Latest In Beauty box in August 2019.

First Impressions

Absolutely vile. This lip balm has one of the most hideous tastes; it's like the products you can put on your nails to stop you from biting them. This should be used as a torture device it's that disgusting. The sickly, chemical, overly sweet cherry smell is also a strong deterrent. It also has this weird chemical banana undertone to it as well.

Usage

I tried using this to completion, I really did but every time I went to take a drink, or eat something I would just get that vile chemical cherry/banana taste in my mouth and it honestly made me retch. I also hate the tube design. It has a little hole right at the top where the product come out and you just can't get the squeeze right; too little comes out followed by too much. It really is an awful design. It's a little more on the solid side at first but then quickly melts on the lips. So you end up with what you thought was an ok amount but then it melts and your swimming in rancid artificial cherry tasting bananas. Oh god, just sniffing this stuff from the tube is already making me feel sick.

Would I Buy It: Hell no. Save yourself.

Overall Impressions

What a major disappointment from Carmex. I'm obsessed with their vanilla lip balm and when I was running low on lip balms, I decided to add this to my box because it's Carmex and you can't go wrong with Carmex right?...Right?? Turns out Carmex can produce some absolute turds. Avoid this lip balm at all costs. It doesn't even provide the trademark Carmex tingle sensation.

Nourish London // Radiance Rejuvenating Peptide Serum

Nourish London // Radiance Rejuvenating Peptide Serum
RRP £23.50 for 30ml

I bought this from TK Maxx in November 2019 for £8.

First Impressions

This is a liquidy light weight gel that absorbs quickly but also leaves the skin feeling super sticky and unclean. I really detest the texture and how it leaves your skin afterwards. The scent is also very strange; it smells faintly of a urinal...lovely.

Usage

I used about 15ml over the course of 4 weeks and then I had to stop using it as it was causing me to break out in horrendous white pimples. When this happens I switch back to using products I know work perfectly with my skin and then use the offending product with these; if the pimples continue I know it's that specific one. Every time it made me break out I had to stop using the product for a week and a half whilst my skin calmed down and then the moment I re-introduced it back into my routine; instant spots. Usually within a few hours I'd see a whitehead appear. I do prefer these over the horrible painful red ones, but I'd rather not have any.

Would I Buy It: No, never again.

Overall Impressions

When researching this product to write this post I noticed that Nourish only sell this in a 30ml size which makes me wonder if this is belongs to an extremely old batch. The packaging and bottle are also different. I even went to page 3 of Google and still couldn't find any hits on the 50ml size. That could indicate that it was perhaps a limited edition size at some point. It's a shame really as I enjoyed previous Nourish products that I received in beauty boxes and I thought £8 was a bargain...now I know why it was £8. I have a sneaking suspicion that this serum is well past it's sell by date.

I don't like wasting products (especially ones I've bought myself), so I've started using this as a hand serum under my moisturiser at night and it actually works quite well at keeping my hands moisturised. I would never let this go near my face again though.

Moroccanoil // Treatment Oil Review

Moroccanoil // Treatment Oil
RRP £13.45 for 25ml Travel Size

I received this Latest In Beauty box a few months ago.

First Impressions

The oil itself is extremely lightweight and not greasy. After the first use when my hair was dry it felt super soft with barely any frizz. It has a slight nutty scent to it which does pass onto the hair. This is actually the 3rd 25ml size I've used now (they get featured in beauty boxes a lot). 

Usage

These 25ml sizes take me around 2/3 months to use up. I tend to wash my hair every 3/4 days and use about 2ml on my hair every time. My hair is down to my butt so I tend to always use a lot of product. I use this along with 2 other leave-in conditioners but as the last step as the oil helps lock in moisture. When my hair air drys it feels soft and bouncy and when I blow dry it, it's sleek and shiny.

Would I Buy It: I haven't needed to yet seeing as how frequent it crops up in boxes but if I saw it in TK Maxx I would. I don't think I would pay full price for it though.

Overall Impressions

When I first saw this product a few years ago I just thought it was a fad product but now having used several of these bottles I've come to really like the product. If I had a higher disposable income; this would definitely become one of my staple products. I especially like using it in the winter to keep all the moisture locked in from the cold, icy air.

Origins // Mega Mushroom Relief & Resilience Soothing Treatment Lotion Review

Origins // Mega Mushroom Relief & Resilience Soothing Treatment Lotion
RRP £32 for 200ml

This particular bottle I bought from Feel Unique in July 2018.

First Impressions

It's like splashing your face with lightly scented water. It takes a few seconds to be absorbed but it really helps to freshen up you skin when it's looking dull and dry.

Usage

One 200ml bottle lasts me 5 months of twice daily use. I tend to drop about 1ml into the palm of my hand, then quickly place my hands together and then apply it to my face it light patting motions as it sinks in. I have noticed though, that if your face is super dry, it will just run over the surface of your skin and go everywhere. Since I've started using a cleansing milk and a moisturising toner; my skin sucks up this stuff almost immediately. Afterwards I use a serum followed by eyecream and a moisturiser.

It has no colourings and does have a light scent but it's hardly noticeable. I'm quite sensitive to scents in face products but this one does not cause any issues. 

Would I Buy It: Yes, and have done multiple times. Its one of my HG products. This was my third 200ml size bottle (currently on the fourth). 

Overall Impressions

This was the product that my routine was missing. My skin takes a nosedive whenever I stop using it and breaks out into the angriest red spots. I would say this has helped prevent spots on my skin. When I don't use it, my face feels dry, tight and very uncomfortable. The price may seem a little high for water with some additions but it's absolutely worth it. I've tried many essences from different brands but none do what this one does. 

Sol De Janiero // Brazilian Kiss Capuacu Lip Butter Review

Sol De Janiero // Brazilian Kiss Capuacu Lip Butter
RRP £15 for 6.2g

I bought this from Sephora when on holiday in June 2018.

First Impressions

Alright, I'm putting it out there; best smelling lip balm ever. This lip butter is a heavenly cross between freshly cooked flapjacks and cookies. Every time I take it out of my bag to use it I get a whiff and it makes me so unbelievably hungry. The only problem is that as a lip balm, it's proper well naff.

The initial application is nice, and I love the huge stick but this disappears on the lips very quickly and you're just left re-applying constantly throughout the day. It also doesn't moisturise my lips as much as I'd like and breaks down upon contact with liquids in a way that my £2 Malibu and Carmex balms would laugh at. 

Usage

I finally got round to using it up around November 2019. At that point I was digging it out of the tube as it no longer swiveled up. There was so much product left as well; kind of a waste. They should've put this stuff in a jar if they're going to waste that much. Before taking it to work, I used it sporadically so that's why it took so long.

Would I Buy It: Not again. The smell is like heaven but it just doesn't do anything. For £15, it's not worth it.

Overall Impressions

It's a shame really because I love the Bum Bum cream (I just can't afford it on my current salary) but other products I've tried from this brand so far that incorporate that beautiful salted caramel pistachio scent just don't hold up in quality. I love the body spray from them but I'm now debating whether or not I should purchase the hand cream which has been sitting in my wish list for the past couple of months because I just don't want to be let down again. Especially when the disappointment costs so much.

The Bum Bum cream though I still wholeheartedly love and would buy in a heartbeat. This one on the other hand, not so much.

Hey Honey // Walk the Walk Propolis Foot & Heel Cream Review

Hey Honey // Walk the Walk Propolis Foot & Heel Cream
RRP £29.78 for 150ml

I received this as part of my FabFitFun Summer Add-Ons and purchased it for $9 (with $1.80 tax).

First Impressions

I love this product. It smells amazing; like soft peppemint and honey and has a luxurious texture that sinks into the skin. It's not greasy or watery but really works to soften the skin from the first use.

Usage

This lasted me a good 4 months of daily use. It was used at night after my shower and over the months my feet just glowed, which is a weird description for feet. You don't need to use much; about a walnut size amount and within a minute it leaves your feet nicely coated but not in a horrible way. I then put some socks on and go to bed and wake up with super soft feet.

Would I Buy It: Yes, absolutely. £30 is pricy for a foot cream (and too expensive for my current budget). But when i have a higher disposable income this will be bough as it's my HG foot cream. I've been patiently waiting to see it in the FabFitFun sales again but it hasn't turned up. The spring one is just around the corner so fingers crossed!

Overall Impressions

This is unlike any other foot cream I've used and really worked to keep my feet moisturised (without being sweaty) during the summer months. I wish I had saved it for winter though as every other cream I've tried so far has my feet dry and flaking; not a great look.

This brand appears to be a staple on the FabFitFun forums and it sells out quickly in the FFF sales. I added this straight to my cart in the summer add-on sale but should've maxed out on 3 because $9 is an absolute bargain for this product.

Birchbox January 2020 Review // Just The Way You Are

I always find the January editions of beauty boxes to be a bit "meh" and this box has continued that tradition. This will just be a general review of the box and then when I use the products they'll get a full review (or as full as you can get with samples).

Glow Milk in Just Dew It
The Beauty Crop
5ml Sample - RRP £9.38 (based on full size)

It's strange that they gave out a 5ml sample when the full size is 8ml. At £15 though this isn't something that I would consider buying. I actually forgot to customise by item this month but trusted that Birchbox would "tailor" the product for me based on my profile. They say that's what it's for however I ended up with the lightest shade which does not suit me at all. Sure the packaging is cute and reminds me of Beauty Bakerie products but I'll be giving this away.

I-Care Eyeliner in Navy

Laura Geller

0.35g Full Size - RRP £16

I can only find this for sale on Birchbox's website and it's out of stock so I'm guessing that this was an old product that they wanted to get rid of and Laura Geller no longer makes anymore. I won't be using it though as blue coloured eyeliner isn't my thing. I wear brown 90% of the time and then black on nights out. The formula itself is a bit dry and the shade looks dull. The cap is also insanely hard to get off. I would never pay £16 for this.

Argan Oil Body Lotion

Greenfrog Botanic

50ml Sample - RRP £1.40 (based on full size)

Finally a product I somewhat like. It's a shame that Birchbox is the only place that sell it and it's out of stock. At £13.95 for 500ml I think I would have to pass. This product and company seems to pride itself on being all natural however the second ingredient in this lotion is Paraffin Liquidum aka Mineral Oil; one of the cheapest, most refined chemical oils available. All the cheap moisturisers that you find in Home Bargains or Poundland contain this ingredient because it's so cheap. It is a known comedogenic which means it blocks pores and causes spots. It's a shame because this product smells amazing; like vanilla, chocolate and caramel but I really detest using products with Mineral Oil in them. It's the reason why I stopped using Palmer's products.

Jade Roller

Mélusine

Full Size - RRP £15

I've been wanting to try out one of these rollers for a while but I just never thought they were worth the money. They're the type of thing you see in spas just for the fancy spa treatment. I'm a little upset at how dark this is though as all the photos on the website and on their own website show a light green roller. This looks like plastic with a jade stone wrap on it...which for the price it probably is as I doubt an actual piece of Jade the size of the roller would be sold for only £15. I've been using it at night for a couple of minutes over the past week and I've not noticed any difference. I think it's purely a "self-care" product.

Dream Curls Curl Defining Créme

John Frieda

25ml Sample - RRP £1.17 (based on full size)

I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with John Frieda products. They use models with clearly straight hair (that they curled with heat and backcombed to look 'frizzy') and then show how amazing their product is when they don't curl the models hair or backcomb it....I find some of their products to be too heavy and greasy as well. I haven't used this yet as I'm currently using up another John Frieda sample from a Look Fantastic box.

Estimated Box Worth: £42.95

Not my favourite Birchbox as all of the products are lacking. Most of them are items that they clearly wanted to get rid of and they've been used to inflate the value of the box. Next month doesn't look particularly inspiring either with two extremely similar looking blushes.

Straight Arrow Mane 'n Tail // Moisturizer-Texturizer Conditioner Review

Mane 'n Tail // Moisturizer-Texturizer Conditioner 
RRP £4.49 for 355ml

This was a 60ml sample that I received in a Latest In Beauty box a few months ago.

First Impressions

This has weird, generic conditioner scent to it. It's also annoying that it's not in a squeezy bottle, getting product out of the bottom of these Mane 'n' Tail sample bottles is a nightmare.

Usage

The 60ml lasted me two uses as I have butt length hair. To be honest if I could've gotten it out of the bottle I would've used it in one go. Afterwards, my hair was silky soft even without applying my myriad of products. For some info on my hair type, I have mixed Afro/Caucasian hair with a tight coil curl on the lower half and a more relaxed coil on the top half.

Would I Buy This Product: Yes. I've already purchased a full size bottle that I found in TK Maxx.

Overall Impressions:
I love this brand. I remember first reading about it in a Meg Cabot novel in about 2001. It was "All American Girl" and the protaganists sister uses it on her hair as it's described as "unruly" and the only way to "tame" it is to use the products used on horses. After using it, the main character notes how her hair feels amazing. I'm not sure if Meg Cabot was in cahoots with Mane 'n Tail but that scene has stayed with me for almost twenty years and I'm glad the brand has finally made it's way over to the UK as it truly tames my unruly hair.

The products do smell a little chemically but they work and they're a great price.

Ecooking // Cleansing Gel Review

Ecooking // Cleansing Gel
RRP £18.40 for 200ml

This was a 50ml sample that I received in a Latest In Beauty box a few months ago.

First Impressions

Mainly positive. The gel has a nice texture and melts away product and oil on the skin. It does have a strong rose scent which worried me as rose items tend to break me out in spots however I think it's just used as a fragrance.

Usage

This lasted me a good 2 months daily use. I used it once a day before getting in the shower to remove the days makeup and just generally cleanse. It emulsifies upon contact with water for a quick and easy removal. My face doesn't feel squeaky clean after use which I like; it means it hasn't dried my skin out and there is no makeup left at all.

Would I Buy This Product: No.

Overall Impressions

I've used a few Ecooking products now and my opinion on the brand is "eh". It's not awful but it hasn't blown my socks away either. For the same price I'd much rather buy my favourite cleansing oil by Caudalie. I don't think this is a hack brand; it's very obvious they put a lot of thought into the products and the ingredients but in the words of Marie Kondo; this product does not spark joy in me when I hold it.

Nexxus // Encapsulate Serum Cavier Review

Nexxus // Encapsulate Serum Caviar
RRP £24.99 for 60ml

This was a 15ml sample that I received in a Latest In Beauty box a few months ago.

First Impressions

I honestly had no idea that this was a hair product. It was only when I read the back and it instructed me to apply to damp hair that I realised. I was about to use it on my face! It has a nice powdery smell; kind of like baby powder.

Usage

It's a nightmare to get this stuff out of the bottle. I had to keep banging it against the table to shift the product to where it would be dispensed. Once it eventually leaves it's in a white liquidy state. I thought the "caviar beads" would come out whole but the product gets mixed together when dispensed. 15ml lasted me about a month and I only wash my hair every 3/4 days and used 3 pumps at a time.

Would I Buy This Product: No.

Overall Impressions

This does nothing apart from leave your hair sopping wet. I've never known anything like it. Normally, my hair dries quite fast, but every time I used this, it took twice as long to air dry. I like to shower before bed, braid my hair and then quickly blow dry for 5 minutes in the braids just so it's not soaking wet. When I used this product, I was blasting my hair for 20 minutes and it still wouldn't dry. This product just seems to coat the hair in the something. That coating doesn't wear well either. I think if you wash your every every day or so you won't notice but after a couple of days I noticed that my hair would stick to itself and knot more easily. Something that doesn't happen with my normal Aussie leave-in.

I can't give this stuff away. I've taken it to work and everyone else had the same response, thinking it was a face cream then reading the back. I've also had one friend pull a face thinking there was actual fish eggs in the product. On almost every website this product has an average of 4 stars out of 5; I don't know how. Maybe this works for finer, Caucasian hair, but it was useless with my mixed Afro hair.

Prismologie // Sapphire & Oud Relaxing Foot Cream Review

Prismologie // Sapphire & Oud Relaxing Foot Cream
RRP £28 for 75ml

This was a 40ml sample that I received in a Latest In Beauty box a few months ago.

First Impressions

I'm not a big fan of the scent, I prefer sweeter smells and this is earthy and deep. It's definitely more of a masculine scent. The product is also more of a lotion and not very thick. It also takes a while to absorb.

Usage

The 40ml lasted me around three months daily use. I only use it once a day after my shower and I've definitely seen by skin take a nosedive since I stopped using my previous product (Hey Honey Foot Cream). This lotion was not moisturising enough for the winter months and there is a lot of dry skin on my feet now. They just look tired and they don't smell great either.

Would I Buy This Product: No.

Overall Impressions

I've also tried the rose hand cream from this brand and that was exactly the same product but with a different scent. This brand is super expensive for what it is and I've never heard of it before. According to their website they've been in business since 2013 and wanted a brand that infused colour with aromatherapy. It appears that the colour of the packaging is more important to them than anything else and whereas I love some great packaging; the product has to also shine and this foot cream is nowhere near worth £28.

It's great that this product is cruelty free and made in the UK however I'd recommend the Dr Organic Manuka Honey Foot & Heel cream as an alternative. It works infinitely better as a foot cream, smells great and only costs £6.75.