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BEAUTY

LUSH: “THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS” BOX REVIEW

Hey you!

Today I’m back with another Lush review except this time we’re going to be talking about their “The Night Before Christmas” box. I’ve always been a huge fan of Lush’s Christmas ranges, particularly the Snow Fairy collection, which I reviewed the other day! Check that out here. I also love Lush’s stance on animal testing which you can read more about here.


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“Slip into a bath before Christmas and summon some well-deserved peace and tranquility.”

The packaging for this is just so gorgeous! I love the dark purple and the gold aesthetic plus I also love the moon and stars design. It makes me feel warm and cosy just looking at it! I feel like Lush are absolute pros when it comes to vibrant and colourful packaging – it’s partly why I look forward to any seasonal ranges.


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This box includes two products; the Shoot For The Stars bath bomb (my fave) and the Christmas Eve bubble bar. I love that they both match with their deep blue colour and astrology theme.


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SHOOT FOR THE STARS BATH BOMB – 200g

“Honey-scented sparkles of Brazilian orange and bergamot waltz in a swirling, cobalt sky.”

This is my absolute favourite bath bomb that Lush sells. I love the smell, I love the look and I LOVE how it makes my skin feel after I’ve had a bath. I love launching this one into the tub and waiting for the water to turn a gorgeous shimmery turquoise. The little gold stars smell like a mixture of toffee and honey and they release the most gorgeous shimmer into the water, making it perfect to sink into before bed. It’s such a warm and comforting scent to get you relaxed and cosy on a cold Winter’s night! I usually get a few of these in stock before they disappear after Christmas. I wish it was an all year round product! I really recommend trying this one out if you haven’t already.


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CHRISTMAS EVE BUBBLE BAR – 100g

“Bubbles piled high smell lovely and bright. Uplifting ylang ylang puts moods just right.”

This was a new product for me, I’d never seen it before I opened this set, however it came out every year between 2009 and 2014 and was one of Lush’s most popular Christmas products. It was revamped and brought back, much to many people’s delight, last year! I usually crumble a small bit of the bubble bar under running water (or I just hold it under for a while) until soft fluffy bubbles begin to fill the tub! The scent of Christmas Eve is super relaxing and comforting, as it features both jasmine and ylang ylang. It’s more floral then I would typically go for as I am usually a more buttery/vanilla kind of girl – but I still enjoyed using this! I would recommend this if you enjoy floral, clean and fresh scents in particular.


This is definitely a lovely box to give or receive for Christmas as it contains two really lovely products and they are packaged so beautifully too. I really recommend buying Lush’s gift sets after Christmas when they are on sale as they’re obviously cheaper but you can also get a lot more for your money. I usually get a few in stock before they’re unavailable and then I can enjoy these products and scents all year round until they’re back again (thank god). Let me know what you thought of this set or whether you love or hate these products in the comments.

N xxxx

 

 

 

 

 

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2017 BEAUTY BIRCHBOX BLOGMAS

BIRCHBOX DECEMBER 2017: MATTHEW WILLIAMSON – REVIEW

Birchbox is a UK beauty subscription service that sends beauty boxes to their subscribers containing 5 goodies every month. You don’t have to worry about lifelong commitments or any contracts, you can cancel anytime with a monthly subscription – no fuss whatsoever! The monthly subscription costs only £10 per month! You can edit your beauty profile on their site in order to ensure you get sent products that are suitable for your skin/hair type and personal preferences. Birchbox is so great for discovering new brands and products. I have been subscribed to Birchbox for over a year now and I look forward to receiving their boxes every month. I’ve gone on to buy lots of the things I’ve received because I have loved them so much. Every box you receive is beautifully packaged, some months are designed and inspired by artists and companies. One month the box was created and designed in partnership with Oliver Bonasand I use it to store makeup in as it’s so beautiful!

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This month, Birchbox teamed up with British fashion designer Matthew Williamson. The box is truly the epitome of luxe design and it’s so perfect for this time of year. I feel like December is a month that for some people, can be really stressful. Many seem to forget to take a minute to relax and pamper themselves and this box has definitely motivated me to do just that!


So let’s take a look at the first item…

NATURAL ROSE PIC 1.jpgvsco-cam-3-3.jpg(FULL SIZE) Pixi – Shea Butter Lip Balm in Natural Rose : £8

I actually already own a Pixi Shea Butter Lip Balm in the shade Honey Nectar which I love, so I was super excited when I saw another one in my December box! It adds the perfect amount of colour without drying my lips out completely, however for some reason I don’t feel like it’s as moisturising as my previous lip balm by Pixi. I would have liked a more nourishing product for this time of year as this is when my lips are chapping like there’s no tomorrow. I will definitely still use it, just not if my lips are in need of help. Natural Rose is a gorgeous nude-pink shade, perfect for more natural looks.  The packaging has a vintage feel to it which is adorable and it’s the perfect size to keep in your handbag.


BAIJA PARIS.jpg Baïja ParisCaramelised Honey Body Scrub : £14.90 (via the Birchbox shop) 

I had never heard of this brand before but after looking on their website it’s clear that they sell lots of other beautiful products too. This body scrub smells INCREDIBLE, if you imagine freshly made caramel or fudge – something along those lines. It’s made up of 97% natural ingredients which I love as I feel it would be a real treat for my skin. It’s perfect for exfoliating and scrubbing away dry and dead skin to make you feel fresh and moisturised. I cannot wait to have a cosy pamper night in with this!


MODELCO PIC.jpgModelCoContour Stick : £13 (via the Birchbox shop)

I am not blessed with chiseled cheeks so I’ll happily fake it until I make it. I was so happy to see this contour stick in my December box. For the last couple of years I have been completely hooked on the Barry M contour cream sticks (which I will be including in my every day makeup items post – coming soon!) however, I’m so excited to try something new. The one that I currently use is quite cool toned which sometimes doesn’t work for a warm summery look. This product seems nice and warm toned which will be perfect for Summer and natural holiday makeup. I also love that the end is pointed which means contouring can be done with precision. When I was swatching the product I was surprised at how creamy it was and how well it blended! This is something I look for in contouring sticks as I’m not a fan of streaky cheeks and I like products that blend like a seamlessly. I use a dewy foundation and this would glide perfectly over it to create a healthy and glowing makeup look.


vsco-cam-15-1.jpgSand & SkyBrilliant Skin Purifying Clay Mask£39.90

Is it just me or are there some strong Nip+ Fab vibes from this packaging? This product particularly caught my eye as I love a good face mask on pamper nights. The product is claimed to detox, invigorate and brighten your complexion (yes please).  The main ingredient is pink Australian clay which apparently draws impurities out from the skin. The product also contains soothing aloe vera and pore tightening pomegranate.


VSCO Cam-11-2.jpg (FULL SIZE)Spectrum CollectionsB04 Angled Blender Brush£4.99

I practically squealed when I saw this brush poking out from beneath the other products. I always say you can never have too many blending brushes so this one will be going straight into my collection. I love that it’s angled so that you can be precise with your shadows. The colour of the brush also had me drooling as anything gold or rose gold always catches my eye and matches my aesthetic in my bedroom.


Overall I think this box is worth the money that I paid for it (£10) as the products are all very luxurious this month and there are two full sized products included which together have a total value of £13! Let me know if you are subscribed to Birchbox and what you thought of this box or if you are subscribed to any other beauty boxes, I would love to know!

Go ahead and use my link (here) to subscribe and you will get £5 off your first Birchbox! 

Categories
2017 BLOGMAS LIFE LIFESTYLE REVIEWS

FAVOURITE CHRISTMAS CANDLES

BLOGMAS DAY 5

You guys seemed to really love my Autumnal candles post, as it proved to be my most viewed! I thought I would follow up with a Winter candles post as this is my favourite time of year to stock up on candles and have cosy days in with flat smelling as festive as Whoville.

I have already shared my love for DW Home candles and I’m afraid there is only more love to come! I am also including a candle by Sand + Fog, a company that claims to be inspired by “the California coast” who also sell beautifully scented candles around this time of year. Their online shop is still in the making, however, I am able to buy their candles from Homesense or TK Maxx.


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This first candle, Christmas Morning has got to be my favourite candle that they’ve produced so far (which is saying something). It smells of sweet roasted coffee with hints of vanilla. It’s such an incredible smell, it’s perfect for a cosy day in! It’s honestly good enough to eat! The packaging is also gorgeous, which makes it nice to have on display at home.


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Tobacco Noir is a candle I actually bought for my boyfriend but seems to have found its way into the living room with the others. DW Home seem to sell this candle all year round. The candle gives off the most amazing combination of smells; vanilla musk and subtle tobacco and topped with tonka beans which adds a scent similar to Woodruff. The Sand and Fog candle is also amazing and smells of white cranberry. I love berry scented candles for Christmas as they’re so festive and warming for Winter!


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The sparkling champagne candle is incredible! There seem to be candles everywhere with prosecco or champagne in them for Christmas and I am very happy to comply with this trend! It smells so tangy and sweet, it’s perfect for freshening up the room after some cooking or even before you have friends over for drinks. The packaging is so beautiful and sparkly! I definitely will have to find a use for this pot once the candle has disappeared, it’s too pretty to throw away.

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Snow Day is a beautifully fresh scent, with rich hints of peppermint and spearmint. There’s definitely some Winter berries in there too which makes it another festive must have for your candle collection.


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Peppermint Snow smells like heaven. It has fresh undertones of Eucalyptus and spearmint too which reminds me of candy canes! I love the packaging for this candle too, it looks so adorable, in a kitsch sort of way, which I’m all for. White Christmas is another super minty and fresh candle. It’s so sparkly and pretty to look at, I love lighting this candle when I have people come over as it always catches their eye and makes the flat smell so delicious!


I can’t believe it’s already Day Five of Blogmas?! I hope you guys enjoyed this post, let me know if you did in the comments as there’s plenty more of where this came from! I’ll be back tomorrow with another post for Blogmas Day 6!

N xxxx

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