Beauty Bloggers Unite and LolaStarHearts – Beauty Blogger Box Swap

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I was really inspired by a swap Island Girl Insights did, so I’ve teamed up with Beauty Bloggers Unite to host a massive Beauty Blogger Box Swap. It’s a great way to get to know other bloggers and try lots of new products that you perhaps wouldn’t have picked up yourself, or that aren’t available in your country.

 Bloggers from all over the world are free to take part – the more the merrier in fact! 

I’ve been swapping on Beauty Box Swaps for a while and of course there are always swapping incidents that are undesirable so BBU and I have come up with some rules to help things run a little more smoothly. 

 ♥ There are bloggers from all over the world who have expressed interest in taking part so it’s really important that you tell us where you’d like your buddy to be from – that’s if you don’t have a buddy already! 

 ♥ This swap is only for bloggers with an active blog. Follow me via GFC so I can keep track of everyone (I have Hello Cotton & Bloglovin’ links in my sidebar if you’re not hosted by blogger).

 ♥ You must decide the appropriate budget with your buddy. We recommend £10-£20 plus postage costs, depending on what you can afford. Please remember that if you’re swapping with someone abroad then postage will be a bit higher so take that into account when budgeting. Feel free to talk to your buddy about a bigger/smaller budget though, my budget is much higher as there are lots of things we both want to try!

 ♥ All packages must be sent via some sort of recorded post. I understand that it’s more expensive, but we don’t want any packages getting lost. 

 ♥ You must have proof of postage. Don’t forget to ask for it when you post your package, and please email a copy of it to BBU or myself.

 ♥ Items must be new. Please don’t include any used products in your package! 

 ♥ I’ve created a button for this ‘event’ so feel free to post it somewhere on your blog! I’ll email this to everyone once you’ve signed up. 

 ♥ Some countries have strict import rules, so check whether everything you’re going to be sending is allowed to be posted.

 ♥ Do a blog post on your swap once you receive it and send me (or BBU) the link. This way we can make sure everyone gets her package.

 ♥ Enjoy it! 

 Please fill out the form below if you want to take part. We won’t be asking people to post their packages for a couple of weeks, so there’s still time if you’re strapped for cash at the moment! 

 Your details will not be passed on to anyone, and will be deleted once you have received your swap.

 I’ve created an email for this, so if you’ve got any issues then feel free to tweet me @iamlolastar or email me at BBUswap@lolastar.co.uk

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My week in Instagrams #1

I’ve seen lots of bloggers doing this and I really enjoy them – since I’m so nosey – so they’ll hopefully be a regular addition.

I’m taking part in FatMumSlim’s #PhotoADayApril challenge, where you take a picture everyday in the month of April. So some of these pictures are from my challenge.

#PhotoADayApril 1. – Reflection. Me in the lift on my way to work.

#PhotoADayApril 2. – Colour. This was dinner on Monday. Tuna jacket potato with cheese and avocado.

#PhotoADayApril 3. – Mail. As you all know I did the Beauty Box Swaps Easter swap. These were the packages I sent off. I added lavender underneath the cellophane so it smelt nice when they opened it.

Chocolate Philly. It was on offer for £1 in Asda and curiosity got the better of me. Surprisingly it tastes really good.

#PhotoADayApril 4. – Someone that makes you happy. My boyfriend and I messing around.

St Ives Apricot Scrub. This came free through the post last week. Review coming soon. Really loving it.

Got my first amazing Easter swap from Jade. Loving the Vaseline!

My new panda ring. Totally in love!

Baking. Forgot to buy a rolling pin when we moved in, had to improvise! Haha

#PhotoADayApril 5. – Tiny. Cute little eraser from Jade’s bunny swap.

#PhotoADayApril 6. – Lunch. Cheese and caramelised onion tart with coleslaw.

Love the feeling of a fresh bedspread.

My second amazing bunny swap from Claire.

Accent nail – NYX 24k Glitter polish from Claire.

Revlon Just Bitten Lip Stain & Balm, also from Claire.

#PhotoADayApril 7. – Shadow. Wagamama’s for the besties’ birthday. Jasmine flowering tea.

Sunday morning. Massive mug of tea and a blog catch-up.

#PhotoADayApril 8. - Inside my wallet. I keep more cards in another wallet but these are my essentials - yes, Nando's loyalty card is an essential!

What did you get up to last week?

Beauty Box Swaps - Easter Bunny Swap Part II

A couple of days ago I blogged about an Easter Swap Event over at BBS on FB, and the box of goodies I got from Jade over at Jetley Mess – post here.

Well this morning I received my second box from Claire-Louise, and I love it!

My box included:

♥ An Easter card

♥ A cute cuddly toy

♥ Two Mini Easter Chicks

♥ Two Caramel Bunnies

♥ Thorntons Shoe Goddess Chocolate

♥ Aero Mint Lamb

♥ Malteaser Bunny (Which I’m eating right now!)

♥ Chocolate Face Mask

♥ Eylure Naturalites Double Lashes

♥ M&M’s Milk Chocolate Flavour Lip Smacker

♥ Body Shop Chocomania Lip Butter

♥ Body Shop Born Lippy in Strawberry

♥ NYX Nail Varnish in 24K Glitter

♥ Vanilla Satin Yankee Tart

♥ Charles Worthington Max Hold Hairspray

♥ MUA Eye Shadow in Pearl

♥ 17 Peep Show Mascara

♥ Revlon Just Bitten Lip Stain & Balm in Passion

I know, it’s a huge, long list and I love everything. Before we arranged to swap we asked one another what products we both liked (she said she liked hand creams so I got her a selection of different ones) and I told her about my lip balm addiction – which she has well and truly fed!

I love the chocolate – goes without saying, and the chocolate themed products.

Love, love, love the Revlon Just Bitten Lip Stain. I was actually looking at it when I bought my swaps for Jade and Claire but decided to save my pennies for the swap.

The NYX nail varnish is lovely and looks great over my shellac :)

Massive thanks to Claire-Louise for this amazing box!

Beauty Box Swaps - Easter Bunny Swap

Beauty Box Swaps is a small beauty community over on Facebook where girls of all ages can swap their beauty items. Every ‘holiday’ a big swap is arranged between members, and unfortunately I missed out on the big Valentine’s Day swap due joining just a few days after Vals Day.

I was gladly around for the Easter swap however and arranged two swaps, one of which was with Jade over at Jetley Mess. The admin set the swap budget at £5, but Jade and I both agreed to up it to £10.

The postman knocked with my parcel uber early and I didn’t hear it, so I had to pick it up on my way to work – which meant that I had to wait until my break to open it! :(

But when I did open it, it was amazing and Jade’s swaps were really thoughtful.

Packaged up in a revamped Glossy Box was:

♥ An Easter card

♥ Marc Jacobs Lola body lotion

♥ Pink heart socks

♥ Rimmel Stir It Up Eyeshadow in Sure

♥ Body Shop Chocomania Body Butter Sample

♥ A Bunny iPhone case

♥ Very Berry face mask

♥ Benefit Triple Performing Facial Emulsion sample

♥ Vaseline Crème Brûlée

♥ Agent Provocateur L’Agent perfume sample

♥ A bunny lollipop

♥ Smarties chocolate chick

♥ Mint Aero Lamb

♥ Mini chocolate eggs

♥ Cadbury Crème Egg

Unfortunately some of the chocolate didn’t make it into the pictures…

I loved everything inside my box; it felt like Christmas opening it!

I was especially pleased with the Crème Brûlée Vaseline, I don’t really use Vaseline on my lips but I really wanted to try it out. It smells soooo good! It already has a massive dent in it because I can’t stop using it.

The Rimmel eyeshadow looks almost edible. It reminds me of Galaxy Cookie Crumble. It looks powdery but it’s actually a cream and smooths into a deep purple, almost black, with a pink, shimmery undertone.

The Marc Jacobs body lotion was a lovely touch – since my name is Lola – and it smells gorgeous too!

As well as lip balms, I love perfume so I'm really happy with the Agent Provocateur sample. :)

I can’t wait to have a night in and a mini pamper session with my facemask and Benefit moisturiser.

I’m currently rotting my teeth with the bunny lolly :)

Did anyone else take part in the Easter swap??

Lola ..x