John Frieda // Frizz Ease Weightless Wonder Featherlight Smoothing Cream Review

John Frieda // Frizz Ease Weightless Wonder Featherlight Smoothing Cream
RRP £6.99 for 100ml

This is a 25ml sample that I received a beauty box in 2019...I honestly can't remember when anymore.

First Impressions:
Very runny and slightly sticky. I used this on dry hair and it made it look a bit greasy and didn't help with fly aways at all.

Usage
First use - Sometime 2019
Last use - 7th June 2020

Would I buy it: No.

Overall Impressions:

Who'd have thought...a John Frieda product that doesn't work on curly hair? I haven't bought any John Frieda products in a long time because they are naff. They say it's for curly and frizzy hair but what they actually mean is straight hair that has been curled and backcombed to look frizzy. It's a con. I'm glad to finally get rid of another useless sample that I've had lying around for at least a year. 

This did nothing for my hair (which is type 3b) whether I used it on wet or dry, blow dried or left to dry naturally. It was just another product causing build up.

Ren // Keep Young and Beautiful Instant Firming Beauty Shot Review

Ren // Keep Young and Beautiful Instant Firming Beauty Shot
RRP £42 for 30ml

This is a 10ml sample that I think I received in Feel Unique Pick 'n' Mix in February 2020. 

First Impressions:

13th May 2020 - This is a clear, runny gel-like substance very similar to the Ecooking serum. It has a very light scent and takes about a minute to absorb. It runs out of the tube easily and you can end up with more than you wanted. I've used a few Ren products before and I didn't rate them highly so I'm interested in how this will hold up.

Usage
First use - 13th May 2020
Last use - 2nd June 2020

Would I buy it: Yes actually.

Overall Impressions:

I'm actually surprised at how much I liked this; it didn't cause any spots or redness. My skin looked great whilst I was using it. It really did work like an instant beauty shot as I felt my skin looked plumped and refreshed when I used it. You can still select this in the Pick 'n' Mix which is only £3.95 so I think I might just go and get another one of those to try it out again before taking the plunge as £42 is alot (but not as much as my Origins serum which I feel this is almost as good as). 

It says you can use this on top of makeup but due to how runny it is I think it would just smear everything around and ruin it. I used it as a serum morning and night before my moisturiser and it fit perfectly into my routine.

Puressential // Slim & Firm Organic Skincare Oil Review

Puressential // Slim & Firm Organic Skincare Oil
RRP £17.90 for 100ml

This is a full size 100ml bottle that I chose as part of a Latest In Beauty box in April 2019.

First Impressions:

Kind of feels like I'm just rubbing jojoba oil with some essential oils into my skin. It's also not quite as thick as jojoba but doesn't leave the skin too greasy.

Usage
First use - April 2019
Last use - 7th June 2020

Would I buy it: Yes.

Overall Impressions:

At first I didn't really care for it but I also used it infrequently. It's one of those products where you just forget to use it. I eventually put it next to my body moisturiser so I wouldn't forget (sometimes I still did) and started using it daily around November 2019. I didn't use it all over my body but on my butt (as it's supposed to be 'firming'), my knees and elbows. I noticed it really helped keep my skin soft and flake free throughout the dry winter months. 

The cap it has is super annoying and barely allows any product to come through so I eventually started decanting it into a 15ml pump bottle that used to be a serum. When I did thta I started going through the oil a lot faster. I would apply it to my feet as well after using a foot scrub and I would wake up with wonderfully soft feet.

I think this has become one of my favourite body products to use and I was sad to run out. I have a few other body oils to get through but I can't be doing without an oil in my routine now. I don't think this is too expensive as good jojoba can set you back at least £10 for 50ml so I don't consider this to be an outrageous price. It also lasts a long time, even with frequent use I would say the bottle would last a good 6 months.

FabFitFun Summer 2020 UK // Beauty Box Review

Ahhhhhh! It's not free real estate,

I took a break for the Spring 2020 box...and by break I mean the box was delivered to work a day after the country went into lockdown and I'm counting down the days until the office re-opens and I can be united with my box.

But, I changed the address and now I am the proud owner of the Summer box. I will say it's not quite as good as last year but I'm glad I made some last minute changes to my items to make it feel more Summer-ry. I've had it for over a month now so I've had a chance to use most of the items but once I get through them full reviews will be posted!

So a quick recap of FabFitFun: It's an american quarterly subscription box. It features 7-9 full sized products each box and if you are an annual subscriber (select) you can customise 5 options and if you pay per box (seasonal) you can customise 3 options (with the other 2 randomly picked for you). They use to then include 3 items for "everyone" however they're close to 2 million members now so they have 'FFF Picks' and you can receive 3 randoms items from a selection. Some people really hate this; it's not great, especially because there is usually 3 items you really want. I lucked out this box.

Let's get into the items!

Round One

For customisation 1 this was a no brainer for me. I wanted that towel from the moment I saw it in the spoilers. I originally had the Lashes conditioner added but I read that it contains a chemical that can cause green eyes to turn dark so I quickly dropped it.

L*Space // Tie Dye Towel (chosen)

RRP $58 (£47.24 with current conversion rates)

This towel is quite thin but beautiful. I've not had a chance to use it yet and to be honest I almost don't want to unroll it because it makes a wonderful decoration just the way it is. I'm hoping the warm weather returns soon so I can walk to the beach and do some sunbathing with it.

Round Two

This was a difficult round. I originally had the Face Oil and the Shampoo & Conditioner but after some research I discovered that the face oil is mainly lavender and rose (which break me out in horrendous spots) and the R+Co set have mixed to bad reviews for hair that is not typically Caucasian so I dropped them. I added the cooler bag to make the box feel more like a summer box and I'm also having major fomo over the kimono even though it doesn't have sleeves...it's more like a shawl.

Business and Pleasure Co // Cooler Bag

RRP $59 (£48.05 with current conversion rates)

I think this is a special version of the bag made exclusively for FFF. Many people on the forum were a bit angry about this as it does look cheaper than the pro version which has beautiful brown handles. 

I originally didn't want this at all and thought it was an awful item but now I've had it for over a month and I think it's my favourite item from the box. I've used it so many times and it keeps food and drinks cool for around 3 hours (depending on how cold the items are). We had a day where it was 30 degrees and I packed 4 250ml bottles, 2 packs of fruit and 2 chocolate bars into it and there was still room to spare. The chocolate hadn't melted at all when I reached for it after 2 hours. It's sturdy, lightweight and I would seriously consider buying other items from this brand now.

Round Three

This was the hardest round; I wanted everything. I got the drybar spray in the Winter box and it has become my favourite hair spray so I was super happy to be able to add it on here; same with the Kate Somerville cream. I mentioned on the Winter box post that I wouldn't pay full price for it but I would buy it on offer; $10 is one hell of an offer.

Toms // Sydney Sunglasses (ADD-ON)
RRP £60

They only have the blue ones available in the UK but I can't believe I managed to snag these for $10. I was a bit unsure at first but I can't believe how well they suit my face. I think they're the best sunglasses I've ever bought; I can't do without them now.

Kate Somerville // Goat Milk Moisturising Cream (ADD-ON)
RRP £55

I have initial thoughts on my winter post here, and then a full review once I'd finished the pot over here. This is a great moisturiser and I'm more than happy paying $10 for it. I have a feeling this will suit the summer months a lot more than the winter months due to its light texture.

Drybar // Prep Rally Prime & Prep Detangler
RRP $24 (£19.55 with current conversion rates)

This is difficult and expensive to get hold of in the UK so it was my first choice here. I thought the scent was weird at first but it really grew on me and now I love it; it's become my favourite hair spray. It really helps keep my hair soft and protected from heat damage. I spray my hair with it before I go out in the sun as well. I have about a quarter left of my first bottle so there should be a full review up soon.

Round Four

This was a sad round as quite a few things were restricted (they only had the pillow case when customisation opened). I wanted the pillow sleeve anyway though so I wasn't bothered.

Silked // Satin Pillow Sleeve
RRP $29.50 (£24.02 with current conversion rates)

I'm not a big Silk fan (mainly for how the moths are killed and I don't like the texture) so I think I'm the only person receiving the summer FFF box who is happy that this is satin. I've always found that Silk stays too warm and makes me sweat. 

I've been sleeping on some satin pillow cases that I made myself out of some bright orange satin fabric I had left over from a Sailor Venus cosplay I made and they've made a huge difference to my hair and skin in the morning. This one is an open ended sleeve type case which doesn't bother me but it does slip most morning but it only takes a couple seconds to correct it. I don't think I would pay £24 for one though; especially since I bought a pair of satin cases off Amazon for £8 and they're practically the same in colour and feel.

Round Five

I kind of wish I'd chosen the vase now because I've seen photos off it in other box reveal and it's so cute. Other than that, this was my "eh" round. I didn't really want anything from it.

Amika // Brooklyn Bombshell Blowout Spray
RRP £20

Now that I've finally learned how to properly diffuse my hair, my hairdryer sees a lot more action. I don't do blow outs anymore so I suppose I'll have to start again to see what this is like. I actually have 2 mini versions to get through still that I got from a Birchbox. My mum seemed to really this product though and her hair did look super shiny and smooth after using it.

Box Boost

This season they introduced the Box Boost! More ways to spend money! I detest Grown Alchemist now after using the night cream I got in the Autumn box and I succumbed to buying the Too Faced bundle as I think it's impossible to get a better price in the UK. I'm still using up a serum so the good in bed serum hasn't been used yet but I did spray my face a couple times with the setting sprat/mist/cooler whatever it is. It does smell very coconutty but I feel it left my face kind of sticky and not very refreshed. 

// Items That *Almost* Everyone Receives //

Up next are the three items that I received out of a possible 7 choices. The other 4 items were the Riddle Oil roll on perfume, a Murad Cleanser, Wander Beauty Eye Masks and the Makeup Drop hybrid blender. The last 3 were the ones I didn't want the most so I was very happy to not get them.

Winky Lux // Universal Eyebrow Pencil
RRP £15

This is a fantastic eyebrow pencil! It's a light grey/brown shade that goes darker with more pressure. The majority of brown eyebrow pencils are warm and I can't use them as my brows are cool toned so I kind of look ridiculous. I use this sparingly just to fill in gaps and give a little more shape.

Cali Cosmetics // Tarocco Foot Cream with Menthol
RRP $24 (£19.55 with current conversion rates)

This seems a bit sketchy as the brand website looks like something from 2002 and one of those companies that mass produces products to sell directly to TK Maxx. I actually desperately needed a new foot cream though so this saved me from having to go out and buy one. I've been using it for a month now and I actually don't care how sketchy the brand might seem anymore because holy hell this is a great foot cream. I really hope I can pick up some more in the next add-on/edit sale. It has a strong orange smell that turns into menthol as you rub it in that I find nice but I know others don't like the combo.

Spongellé // Coconut Verbana Hand Cream
RRP £13.50

You can never, ever, have too much hand cream. I was very happy to get this. At first I liked the smell but then after a while it began to grate on me; it's just too much. I do love the packaging though and I'm cooking up some nail art designs inspired by it.

// Box Price £50 + £38.11 (for the Add-Ons & Boost)

// 12 Full Size Items

// £337.38 Estimated Box Worth

What an amazing summer box. I'm so glad I added on the cooler bag and sunglasses as I've already had so much use out of them; especially with living by the sea. At first I was a bit underwhelmed when they revealed the choices but once I got them I did a complete 180.

FabFitFun
// Seasonal // 
$49.99 per box + $10 Shipping* + $10 Tax
// Annual //
$179.99 (4 Boxes) + $40 Shipping* + $40 Tax

*UK Subs do not get charged any import tax, only VAT. 

And last is the shipping time. FFF give themselves 30 days from successful billing to ship your box. I was billed on the 7th May, received a shipping notification on the 21st and it was delivered on the 1st June. This was the longest I've had to wait so far for a box but I can't really be too angry as it's still fast for delivery from America. Once it leaves the US it's normally delivered by Hermes or Yodel within 24 hours of entering the UK. 

Caudalie // Instant Detox Mask Review

Caudalie // Instant Detox Mask
RRP £22 for 75ml

This is a 15ml sample that I received a beauty box. I think it was either a Birchbox or Look Fantastic. I've used another 15ml sample that I got in a Latest in Beauty box way back in 2018 but this tube was definitely more recent.

First Impressions:

I thought I would have problems with this as my skin doesn't particularly rose ingredients but I had no breakouts after use. The product is a salmon colour that dries to a light pink. I like how it doesn't feel extremely tight when it's fully dry and it rinses off easily with cold water.

Usage
First use - No idea
Last use - No idea

This has been sat in pile of "items to write about" that I've forgotten when I used it. For new items in my routine I've got into a habit of starting a draft post with the date and my first impressions and then I update it as I use the product but I'm pretty sure I finished this sometime last year. Based on other 15ml face masks, I'd say this would last around 7-8 uses.

Would I buy it: Maybe.

Overall Impressions:

This is a nice face mask. It's much better than the Mudmasky one I'm currently using that is double the price of this one. I've found that this mask is particularly good for my T-Zone. I remember the first time I used this product I especially liked how my pores appeared to be smaller. I have a few more face mask samples to get through but I think this is one that I would buy as it's not too expensive and it's great for sensitive skin.

Carmex // Vanilla Lip Balm Review

Carmex // Vanilla Lip Balm
RRP £3.49 for 4.25g

This is the full size tube that I bought for £2.49 from Superdrug.

First Impressions:
I love this lip balm. The smell, the texture, the Carmex tingle; it's just perfect.

Usage

A full tube tends to last me about 2/3 months. I do go through a lot of these tubes though. Sometimes it feels like it lasts me a month.

Would I buy it: I will continue buying this product until either a) I die or b) they stop making it.

Overall Impressions:

This is my holy grail of lip balms...nothing comes close to it. Some of merely just expensive imitators. This product has that perfect balm consistency that I love where it coats the lip but it's not greasy. I also love mixing this with lipstick and lip liners to create a light tinted lip balm. I have at least 5 of these tubes going at any one time. There is one in every bag, there is one on my desk, on the bedside table, one in the bathroom and in my car. I may try out other products but I always come back to this one.

Madara // Daily Defence Ultra Rich Balm Review

Madara // Daily Defence Ultra Rich Balm
RRP £16.50 for 60ml

This is a full size 60ml tube that I chose as part of my Latest In Beauty box in July 2019.

First Impressions:

It has a lovely sweet scent and a rich, almost buttery-like texture. It felt hydrating; like when you're really thirsty and you finally drink some water.

Usage
First use - October 2019
Last use - December 2019

Would I buy it: No.

Overall Impressions:

I initially thought this was going to be a great product but by the end of the tube I was disappointed. That initial hit of hydration that you feel doesn't last very long. I stopped using it on my lips because I noticed they were starting to feel more chapped throughout the day; the same happened with my hands. I would apply and then 30 minutes later my they felt like paper. It's a shame because it smells and feels wonderful as well as being an organic vegan product in packaging that's made more responsible than most products.

I tend to quite like Madara products but this one fell short for me. I used it at work where the air is always hot and dry and it just couldn't cope. It's really funny as on their website they state that to test the effectiveness; the Madara team went to Lappland and used this cream. They said it protected their skin, lips and hands from the cold winds...I doubt that they didn't use anything else other than this cream.

Hair Burst // Chewable Hair Vitamins Review

Hair Burst // Chewable Hair Vitamins
RRP £19.99 for 60 Pastilles

This is a 30 Pastille/15 day supply that I received in the Look Fantastic March 2020 box.

First Impressions:

They sort of taste like fruit pastilles and I will admit; I wanted to eat more than one. It had a fruity taste that wasn't to artificial.

Usage
First use - March 2020
Last use - Beginning April 2020

Would I buy it: It's a hard no from me.

Overall Impressions:

Whereas these taste great, you can go to Holland & Barrett, buy some multi-vitamins for less than half the price and get the same results. Also 30 pastilles is not enough to see any major difference. My hair didn't grow any longer, my eyebrows looked the same. I think maybe my eyelashes looked slightly longer but that's it. I don't think I took them regularly enough; I took one a day instead of two. Mainly due to the amount of sugar in the pastilles. The first two ingredients are glucose syrup and sugar. I find it really misleading and potentially dangerous for them not to disclose how much sugar is in them. Imagine if someone diabetic started taking them without reading the ingredients properly?

Second, they only have 9 minerals/vitamins whereas my multi-vit tablet from Co-op (which costs £2.50 for 60 tablets) has 13. Here is a comparison:

The co-op multivitamin and iron tablets have the exact same amounts as the hair burst apart from the biotin and selenium. Biotin may help increase hair growth however, hair/nails etc are not considered essential by the body so if you're not eating a balanced (and healthy) diet, chances are the extra vitamins are going to go to supporting essential systems. 

I would recommend going for the cheaper option and then eat biotin rich foods like eggs, raspberries, avocados and salmon. As for Selenium, I can't find any scientific articles with what it actually does; every article states "it may" do x, y, z. Good sources of natural selenium though include, eggs, chicken and sunflower seeds (which I sprinkle on my breakfast). 

Mane 'n Tail // Gentle Replenishing Conditioner Review

Mane 'n Tail // Gentle Replenishing Conditioner
RRP £6.99 for 355ml

This is a full size 355ml tube that I bought from TK Maxx for £4.99.

First Impressions:

It smells wonderful; like sugar-coated almonds and marzipan cake frosting. I would eat this conditioner if I could. It has a light, lotion consistency but spread through my hair nicely. I could easily detangle my hair whilst in the shower.

Usage
First use - October 2019
Last use - January 2020

Would I buy it: Maybe.

Overall Impressions:

I like this conditioner; it's nice but I'm not sure if it did anything outstanding for my hair. I think maybe it's just a bit to light to help keep my curls and frizz in place. I'd say this is definitely more for finer hair types. It does contain some oils and proteins so it could help with structure and prevent breaking however if you use these types of products too much without hydration, it could end up damaging your hair more. It always best to use different products depending on how your hair is looking/feeling. I liked using this to detangle though, so if I saw it on offer for less than a fiver then I would probably buy it.

Manna Kadar // Champagne Charcoal Scrub Review

Manna Kadar // Champagne Charcoal Scrub
RRP $24 for 520g

This is a full size 520g tub that I received in the FabFitFun Spring 2019 box.

First Impressions:

It smells kinda nice...I guess. It has an artificial sweetness to it that gets on my nerves after a while. The granules are very fine and it feels like I'm scrubbing my body with caster sugar. It did leave a mess in the shower though.

Usage
First use - June 2019
Last use - December 2019

Would I buy it: No.

Overall Impressions:

This took me a long time to get through and eventually I just stopped using it. There's about two more uses left but I just couldn't be bothered with it anymore. I'm surprised I managed to make my way through it. I suppose if I used fake tan more often I'd be using body scrubs but they're just one of those products that I think are useless. I'd expect a body scrub when I go to a spa. Maybe if it had a better scent then I'd enjoy it more but saying that, I rarely use my Sol De Janiero brazilian body buff and I think the SDJ bum bum smell is the best scent ever created; so maybe I wouldn't.

Caudalie // Vinopure Purifying Gel Cleanser Review

Caudalie // Vinopure Purifying Gel Cleanser
RRP £16 for 150ml

This is a 30ml Sample that I received in a Look Fantastic box sometime in 2019 (I think...)

First Impressions:

Smells wonderful; like all the products in the Vinopure range. It's a liquidy clear, gel-like substance that doesn't really foam. My skin felt quite dry and tight after use.

Usage

First use - November 2019

Last use - December 2019

Would I buy it: No.

Overall Impressions:

Unfortunately this was the last product I used in the Vinopure range as it just became too drying for my skin. I even had 2 full bottles of the toner to go through but I gave them away to friends because it was causing me to break out in spots. I no longer use cleansers like this anymore and rely on oil/milk cleansers and my skin has become less oily.

The problem with these products directed at oily skin is that they contain skin stripping ingredients like foaming agents in order to remove the excess oil however your skin then retaliates by producing more oil to counter what it lost. If you sufficiently moisturise your skin; it will eventually stop producing the excess sebum.

In looking up this product I discovered that Caudalie have a cleansing milk and it's not badly priced at £15 for 200ml. Once my current L'oreal runs out I will give it a purchase as whereas I won't be using anything from the Vinopure range; I still quite enjoy other Caudalie products (especially the cleansing oil).