Review of freebies I've received! ..

Just a little post about freebies that I’ve recently received – all of they items were free but I paid P&P for all of them.

Bourjois Ombre Stretch Eyeshadow in Green

Bourjois claim that this eyeshadow contains nylon microspheres, allowing it to be “stretched and blended infinitely”. Not too keen on the colour but I want to give it a proper try before I rule it out completely.

Nivea Super Moisturising Lipstick in Big Berry

I’ve raved about this product before, but I really have fallen in love with it. It’s not as dark as it appears on the website, and glides on as a very sheer pink not purple. I liked it so much that I ordered another one as soon as it arrived, so I have one in my makeup bag and one in my handbag.

Revlon Mix & Mingle Lip Palette in Tango with Mango

Not my cup of tea at all. Very sticky gloss and the colours aren’t really for me. ‘nough said.

Fudge Oomf Conditioner

You get one sachet of these for free with every order from HPF so I’ve had three so far. It’s for “fine, limp hair” and my hair is far from fine and limp. I’ve been giving these as extras in my Beauty Box Swaps trades to get rid of them.

Big Shotz

Mango and Passion fruit vitamin and mineral drink delivering 10 daily vitamins at 100% RDA. Tastes … weird. One of those things you tell yourself tastes nice ‘because it’s good for you’. Probably wouldn’t buy again, but was okay to try. The Boy didn’t really seem to think so though, and I had to force him to drink the whole thing!

Victory Tea Blend N^o 1

I love a good cuppa but the sample was a bit of a rip off – 16 ‘free’ teabags and £1.99 delivery make it more expensive than a normal pack. BUT I’m always willing to try something new so I gave it a go. Really like the tea, can’t explain the taste but there’s a definite difference to my usual PG Tips haha. 

Percy & Reed Totally TLC Hydrating Mask

Got this free from Glamour Magazine this month and used it yesterday. I could definitely see and feel a difference in my hair afterwards. I stupidly decided to use a different shampoo & conditioner before the mask though, so I’m not sure if the difference was because of the shampoo or the mask. Probably wouldn’t buy it full price though. 

Clinque Moisture Surge Gel

Got it free with April issue of Cosmopolitan. I’d heard rave reviews about it and the sample was worth about £18 (!) so really wanted to try it. Applied it one night before bed, instead of my Clarins Extra Firming Night Cream and … woke up with spots all over my face! Literally could have cried. I get the odd breakout around my TOTM and a few whiteheads here and there, but I had about 10 spots all over my face when I woke up. Never again!

The gel also came with a lipgloss that I’m yet to use. Might apply it over my lipstick to see what it’s like.

So that’s it, always on the lookout for free stuff – so when I know, you’ll know :).

SO. 

My next post is a little treat for you ;)

Lola ..x

February Carmine Box!

This months Carmine box was – in my opinion – a massive treat. I think a lot of people signed up after receiving a disappointing Glossy Box, and I think Carmine managed to pull the stops our for this one.

So...

IN THE BOX:

ANDREA FULERTON Nail Varnish in Julia. (Full size)

BALANCE ME Super Moisturising Body Wash (Full size)

STEAM CREAM Steam-infused moisturiser (Full size)

DIEGO DALLA PALMA Lipstick in shade 42

WHITE GLO Professional Choice Whitening Toothpaste

* YARDLEY LONDON Peony Fragrance *

As a few regular readers will know I’m newly converted to Shellac, having tried it at Christmas and been HOOKED since. Because of the shellac I kind of have no need for nail varnishes anymore as my polish lasts two weeks without chipping (if I’m not careless!) and keeps my nails long and strong. So the nail varnish, as nice as it is, wasn’t for me. I really loved the colour though and if I didn’t have the shellac I know I’d definitely use it! Worth £5.

My new shellac in 'Sacha'. Decided to get them cut down and go for something natural this time.

I’m quickly falling in love with all Balance Me products, having recently gotten the face oil in a beauty box and buying the Rose lip salve. I’m yet to use the body wash but this was probably my favourite item out of the whole box. I wouldn’t have discovered the brand if it hadn’t been for beauty boxes, which is part of the reason, I signed up in the first place. Retailing at £8 for 125ml I’d definitely repurchase. Yes, slightly premature since I haven’t used it, but judging by the other products I know I’ll love it.

I’m sure it was the Steamcream that was responsible for the February box selling out so quickly. The quirky tins were really cool and I love mine. I’m not sure how true it is but apparently Streamcream is the sister company of Lush. Even if it it’s not true I love the fact that this cream is made of steam and absorbs really well into my skin. It’s not the cheapest of moisturisers, it now retails at £12.95 (they’ve apparently hiked the price up from £10), but it definitely earns a place in my handbag.

I was really sad when I tried the lipstick today, as it really doesn’t suit me. You know when you eat a spag-bol that has a little too much oil in it and your lips go a funny colour? Yep, that. No offence to Diego Dalla Palma, as the lipstick smells amazing and you can instantly tell that it’s really moisturising, but the colour just wasn’t for me. The sample was really cute and if the colour was better suited to me then I’d buy the full size in a heartbeat!

I have a complete obsession with teeth. I feel really uncomfortable when I look into people eyes (not because I’m lying!) so I’m always looking at peoples’ mouths, and inadvertently their teeth. I get SO jealous when I see people with lovely pearly whites – even though I know my teeth aren’t yellow – so this product gave me a big toothy grin. Probably the last thing you’d expect in a beauty box, the White Glo toothpaste did receive mixed reactions but I personally quite like it. I can’t really see a difference in my teeth yet but I do like it so I will probably switch to this toothpaste once the sample is finished.

 

Last but not least the cute little bonus perfume put into the box. The Yardley London Peony fragrance smells really nice, if floral perfumes are your thing. Now as a bonus ‘gift’ I loved it – simply because I love free stuff. But also because it does smell nice. Carmine did well putting this in as a gift, but I’m glad it wasn’t in place of a sample or product. Would I purchase it? Probably not. I did appreciate the sentiment though.

Overall I’m really pleased with this box, I think Carmine hit the nail right on the head and got one over on GB!

Lola ..x