Glossybox June 2016

Reminder: this box is £10 a month + £3.25 P+P.

First impressions:

Glossybox has taken a leaf out of Birchbox: this box has a good skincare and makeup mix. It makes me wonder why they do the starter boxes that way if they aren't an indicator of what the proper boxes will be like. Not complaining though, as I much prefer this format. I'd like more in the way of hair products, as this box doesn't have anything for hair and the hair ties last month don't count as a hair product (to me anyway), but it's better than the starter box was. I'm hoping that it isn't a one-off.

Two sunscreens in a row! Hopefully this one is nicer than the one from the last box. It's good that there's some aftersun as well, as that's something I can get through very quickly so it's always nice to have another one. The spoiler for this box was the lip and cheek tint but the real star for me is that Konjac sponge. I have wanted one for ages and they're not sold anywhere around here, so I am really glad I got that to try. It was a total surprise as well, since I never saw anything about it anywhere beforehand. The eye cream is tiny but then it's just an eye cream, so I assume that it's still going to last for ages and be a good size for what it is. I've heard of Origins before but never used any of their products and the other brands are all new to me. I'm assuming that everything is full size except for the Origins eye cream.

Here's what I got this month! 

1) Spa to You Konjac Sponge - RRP £6.99

5/5
I was so excited to get a Konjac sponge that the rest of the products in the box seemed less interesting in comparison. I've wanted one for ages, but getting hold of one doesn't seem very easy. I was so excited to give this a try and it didn't let me down. It felt a bit weird when I got it out of the packaging as it was actually wet already, which I wasn't expecting. I'm not sure if that's to preserve it (it being made of vegetable fibres and all that: it does eventually break down) or not. I tried it with the Absolution cleanser from the Birchbox and it worked really well. It's a little exfoliating but it's not scratchy. It didn't hurt my skin or irritate it and afterwards my skin was like silk. I've used it with a variety of cleansers since, and without a cleanser at all as it can be used like that too, and it's been amazing every time. My skin feels so clean and smooth after using this that when it does break down and stop being usable, I will be able to tell the difference to my skin without it. That's the problem with Glossybox: they don't have their own shop, so I'm not sure how easy this is going to be to replace when it goes, but I can't not replace it now that I've had one. 

2) Origins GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream 5ml/0.17 fl. oz - full size RRP £20

4/5 
I was really curious about this as I've heard so many amazing things about Origin products but never had the chance to actually use one. Out of the tube, it looks like a lot like a liquid highlighter. There's a pinkish shimmer to it. On the eyes, this helps to brighten the skin. This cream is moisturising without being greasy. It didn't irritate my eyes, either by stinging the skin or making them water. I use an eye cream by Soap and Glory and I can't put that near my actual eyes as it makes my eyes feel like I have conjunctivitis and they water constantly. It's strictly for the skin under my eyes only, so it's nice that this one doesn't do that. It definitely made me more bright-eyed. Whether it reduces dark circles or not I don't know, mine aren't all that dark and I don't remember noticing a real difference, but there's zero puffiness and they're definitely brighter. Since it didn't bother my eyes, I would be really tempted to switch over to this once my Soap and Glory one has gone. 

3) De Bruyère After Sun Lotion Monoï 50ml/1.76 fl. oz - RRP £9.48

5/5
This. Smells. Amazing. It might not seem like you get a lot, but you only need a little. It's quite a thin, milky formula so a little goes much further than you'd think. It soaks into the skin well and is soothing and moisturising - just what you need after you've spent time in the sun. I don't generally burn anyway, but it's nice to soothe my skin with something when I get home as it can still be dried out from the sun and it can't hurt to moisturise just in case. I couldn't fault this product. I don't even care that it has perfume in it because it's such a lovely scent and it hasn't bothered my skin. I love that it isn't a thick goopy formula too, since it means that I'm not rubbing excessively on skin that may be extra delicate to try and work the product in. This glides over skin effortlessly. I'm not going to have leftover gunk stuck to my clothes and it isn't going to clog all around the opening (not yet, at least) of the tube. It's the perfect skin treat at the end of a day out.

4) Ladival Sun Protection Spray SPF 15 150ml - RRP £19.99

4/5
The second sunscreen in as many boxes and this is more like it! This is a much thicker formula than I thought it would be since it has a pump. It almost looks too thick for the pump to be particularly effective, but it seems to work fine. I haven't had it clog up on me yet anyway. The product itself is white but it does soak into the skin nicely (it didn't leave that white glazed donut look to my skin like some other white sunscreens can), it's not greasy and best of all, it doesn't have a really strong scent to it like the Hawaiian Tropic one does. It doesn't actually smell of anything at all. I don't want my sunscreen to smell really strongly, I want it to be functional. That's way more important. The only thing that bothered me about this is that it's only SPF15, which doesn't seem like a lot. I have other sunscreens around that and I would have liked something with a higher SPF just because I don't have one and on burning hot days, SPF15 just doesn't seem like it would be enough. Still, it's a nice sunscreen for general use and it didn't irritate my skin or attract any wildlife. The pump means that it's fast and easy to apply with minimal mess.

5) Emité Make Up Lip & Cheek Tint 6ml - RRP £12.50

4/5
This has become a staple in my routine when I'm getting ready for work. I use it on my lips, applying it with the wand like it's a lip gloss and then using the wand to blend for an even coverage. I can apply it more heavily if I wish by letting a layer dry and then reapplying, or I can leave it as one layer for a more subtle bit of colour. It will stay there on my lips all day. I can drink water and eat my lunch and it will still be there afterwards with no need for touchups. It generally comes off with my cleanser at the end of the day, but not before. The colour is really nice and suits my skintone really well. The only issue I have with it is the staining power. I said with the Jelly Pong Pong one from Birchbox that if that had a stronger stain it may not work so well on the cheeks, and I got that from this. This doesn't work on the cheeks for me. I can't blend it over my lips by dabbing with my finger as my finger will be bright pink all day, so I have to use the wand for that. If I use the wand to dot it on my cheeks and then try to blend with my finger, I get a bright pink finger and a darker dot of colour where the initial application from the wand was. I can't think of a way for me to apply this on my cheeks with the tools that I have: I'm not willing to sacrifice one of my two makeup sponges to see if it would work with that as I assume it would stain the sponge really badly, and while I could put the product on my finger first and try and apply it that way, I really don't like having bright pink fingers all day. Using cleanser on my fingers afterwards only cleans them so far. It seems that it needs the wear and tear of the day before it will come off. But for the lips this is an amazing stain. I haven't had any problems with mistakes as long as I correct them quickly. The formula is quite thin but not drippy, it dries fast and it definitely stays there.

6) Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Reconstructor Deep Conditioner 20ml - RRP £1.09

5/5
I forgot to get a photo of this before I ripped it open and smothered my hair in it. It's a sachet and there's enough for my hair to be mostly covered, which is quite rare. For people with shorter hair I imagine you'd get two uses out of this. It smells nice, it feels nice to use and it made my hair super soft and shiny. The effect has also lasted, which tells me that it actually did something. I've washed my hair several times since I used this and I can still feel the benefits. Definitely worth a go every now and then if you have dry or damaged hair.

Overall Impression:

I really liked the box for this month! It's definitely been the best one so far. Quite a few of the products could easily be daily use items for me if only they were readily available: I will forever lament the lack of a shop for Glossybox goodies. I love the konjac sponge and will be a little bit lost without it, and I use the lip tint most days for work because it will last for my entire shift. Glossybox seem to send better quality and much more usable makeup items than Birchbox do. They certainly have so far anyway. 

I don't really understand why they've sent another sunscreen though. It kinda seems like the one from last month's box is a waste of a product "slot" since this sunscreen is so much more wearable without the overwhelming stink of Hawaiian Tropic, and if I have to choose which one to use I'll use this one first every time. I'm glad I got the sunscreen for this month, don't get me wrong, but it does seem a bit odd that I have another sunscreen already. I know that it's summer and all that, but still. I wonder if this means I'll be wading through handcream once the winter boxes come around. Still, it's nice to get a Glossybox at last that doesn't have a dud product in it. They've broken that spell, hopefully it will stay that way. 

Box average: 4.5/5
Cumulative box average: 3.9/5

The sneak peek of next month's box is terrifying! They're sending a Utan and Tone facial overnight tanning cream. I'm scared of it already! I don't use tanning anything - I usually don't need to - so I'm already worried that this is going to either do absolutely nothing or make me very orange. And it's a tanning cream so I'm guessing it doesn't all wash off. What if it looks awful and takes a week to go away? Aaaaaargh! But, as I keep saying, trying new things is one of the reasons why I signed up for these boxes, so... 

Birchbox June 2016

Reminder: this box is £10 a month + £2.95 P+P.

First impressions:

The box arrived really early this time around, almost a week before Glossybox did I think. I'm still super late with reviews because I've been battling a virus and have spent most of my days off curled up in bed feeling like death. Not great for trying out new products. After that my working hours tripled for the summer. Also not great for trying out new products. Let's just pretend that these June box reviews aren't being posted in August, shall we?

This month's box was a special edition drawer so I didn't get a drawstring bag inside as usual. The bonus part is that the products actually fit inside the drawer. They obviously can't cram a drawer in, it either fits or it doesn't, so this is the one Birchbox I have that stacks properly and closes properly. I didn't get the design I wanted - I liked the palm trees much better - but we didn't get to choose the design this time around. Inside, it's the usual story by now: a good mix of products with skincare, haircare and a makeup item. I had a liquid Absolution cleanser in my April Birchbox and it burned my eyes, so the cleanser in this box is hopefully nicer. For brands, apart from Absolution that I know from the previous box, I have heard of Jelly Pong Pong and Huygens from YouTubers but never seen any of their products, and I'd not heard of the other two. Again, it's a box of new things for me. 

Here's what I got this month! 

1) Jelly Pong Pong Paradise Pigments in Fig Jam 4g/0.14 fl. oz - RRP £17.95

4/5
This product is full sized, so already the box has gone way over the price I paid for it. There were two shades of this and I got the pink one. It has a really nice fruity smell (you know, the kind that makes you just want to scoop the jar out and eat it) and feels very smooth like a balm. The balminess of it means that it's very easy to apply in thinner layers. This product is perfect for layering, both on the lips and cheeks. It can be subtle or it can be statement, which I really liked about it. Because it's a balm it's easy to smooth out so there's no harsh edges and it blends out on the cheeks very nicely. It also manages to not stain the finger I apply it with pink for the entire day. Unfortunately, it doesn't manage to stain my lips and cheeks for the entire day either. Easily washed off of hands, so it's easy worn off of your face. With cheeks this was less of a problem. I tested this when I went on a long walk/run on a sunny day, and it was still visible when I got back home. But the stain on the lips has to be reapplied: it applies like a balm, it feels like a balm and it wears off like one too. It's not straight off the first time I have a drink with it on, but it won't survive a whole day. If it was a bit more staining it would probably be harder to apply on the cheeks though, so it's a difficult one. Because it comes in a pot like a lip balm, it can be carried around like a lip balm for touch-ups, so on days when I can do touch-ups it isn't a problem. And it can be kept subtle during the day, and then applied more heavily for going out. All in all, it's not perfect because it can't be - I don't think it would necessarily be improved if it had a stronger stain - but it's a very versatile product and very handy to have.

2) Percy & Reed Reassuringly Firm Session Hold Hairspray 50ml/1.7fl. oz - full size RRP £12

5/5 
I was excited to get a hairspray. It's one of the things I really wanted, so getting this was great. It's a really nice size: perfect for a handbag, makeup bag or travelling as it's not big and bulky. The best bit though is that it definitely works! I tested it after braiding my hair, as my braid can get untidy by the time I get to work, especially if it's windy outside (pretty much always) and it kept the braid neat without making my hair feel crunchy. I've also tried it out on the top of my head to keep the little hairs around my hairline in check when I did a French braid and it worked perfectly there too even though it was a really hot day. It holds the style without making my hair look dull, it brushes through nicely, and it washes out easily. No sticky crunchy hair!

3) Huygens Le Gommage Visage 10ml/0.34 fl. oz - full size RRP £17.90

5/5
This has such a nice fresh and clean scent to it. The drawer smells of this as soon as I open it. It's a natural scrub with rice particles as the exfoliant and it made my skin as smooth as glass without irritating my skin or drying it out. I've been wanting a new face scrub without any harsh ingredients in it, so this was ideal. It contains 98.9% natural ingredients and 76.9% bio/organic ingredients according to the tub, but this sample doesn't actually list any of the ingredients on it. Because Birchbox has its own shop for the things you can get in your boxes, it's easy enough to find the list of ingredients there and this scrub doesn't contain any parfum, which is great. The full size is 50ml but you don't need a lot - I still have plenty left of this size. I am actually holding out on ordering from Birchbox because the full size of this is currently out of stock. I don't want to order at all if I can't have this in the order, so I'm waiting on it at the moment - I liked it that much!

4) Whish Coconut Milk CC Body Cream 22ml/0.75 fl. oz - full size RRP £15.50

3/5
I don't get this product. It's a CC cream but for your body. According to the packaging, it "corrects, moisturises and soothes" and is for "bronze, shimmer, shine" (or something). I don't need colour correction on my body. I'm not even sure what that would look like. But this is definitely a nice moisturiser and it smells amazing (I love coconut). It just confuses me with everything else that it's supposed to do. For bronzing, this cream may look like a regular cream but when you rub it into your skin it has bronze-coloured shimmer in it. It doesn't actually bronze your skin, the cream is not coloured, it's just shimmery. If you don't already have bronzed skin, that coloured shimmer is probably going to look a bit weird. It gives your skin a bronze sparkle and I think that it's that colour sparkle regardless of your actual skin tone. On someone with a cooler, paler skin tone I'm assuming that it just looks like you've got bronze glitter on your skin, and a bit out of place. As a moisturiser, it's nice, and on my skin tone the sparkle can be nice too, but I wasn't really wowed by this product. I don't get what it's trying to be, and I'd like it so much more if either that sparkle didn't exist or the cream itself had a slight tint so that it actually bronzed the skin. 

5) Absolution Le Nettoyant Pureté 15ml/0.51 fl. oz - full size RRP £26

4/5
I was a bit nervous of trying this after the burn from the Absolution liquid cleanser but I tried it with the Konjac sponge from the June Glossybox and it was fine. I could use it on and around my eyes and it didn't burn or otherwise irritate my skin. It actually did a really good job of cleansing my skin. I deliberately left my makeup on for it (not waterproof makeup, though. I use a waterproof makeup remover for that. I'm not going to scrub at my eyes if I don't have to) and it removed it nicely and also left my skin feeling super clean and soft. I have used it several times since with and without the Konjac sponge and it's always left my skin feeling nice. 99% of the ingredients are natural and 30% are organically farmed, so there's that too. There's no unnecessary perfumes or anything. It seems expensive, but the full size of this is 150ml, so it may last a while. I couldn't have it as the only cleanser I used though: my skin still got very oily very quickly after I'd used it. It could be a hot water thing, I don't know, but I couldn't use just this as a cleanser. Liquid cleansers usually work much better for my skin. If I'm going to use a cleanser like this, though, it's nice to know that a natural cleanser exists. When looking the product up I also spotted that Absolution have their own Konjac sponges available in the Birchbox shop, so I'm definitely eyeing those up now!

Overall Impression:

I really liked this box overall. I got products that I will - and do - actually use. The full size products were great to receive and the samples are all big enough that I will be able to make a good judgement on whether or not it's something I'd like to have for routine use. There's definitely things that I want to have in full size. This isn't something I thought I'd be doing much of when I started with these boxes, but I have been looking for a good face scrub and a good hairspray and those two just seem to fit so well. I'll wait a bit on the hairspray, because I'm still not sure whether it's the one I'd definitely like to get (it's the only hairspray I've ever used), but I'm on the wait list for the face scrub. I spend the majority of my "me" money on makeup and I know that the investment is supposed to go into skincare, so I was planning a haul of skincare products in the future once I've caught up with makeup products and it's great that I've been able to get new things on my radar because of these boxes. 

Nothing in this box irritated my skin. I really like the inclusion of the natural products. I know it's something that I asked for in the survey when I signed up, but it's really nice to be actually getting them. My skin loves them and I really want to be taking better care of it. I live in a difficult climate here that's very tough on skin so good skincare products are a must. The lip and cheek tint is a handy quick fix for faster makeup on days when I don't really have the time and the hairspray is handy to keep my hair neat on days when it needs a bit of extra help. The only product I don't really use that much is the body cream, but you probably gathered that much already. I already have a shimmery body butter if I want my skin to be shimmery and most of the time, I don't. It's just not a look I generally go for. It can be nice on summer days out though.

Box average: 4.2/5
Cumulative box average: 4.2/5

Another 4.2/5! Sneak peek for next month is a LOC lip pencil in collaboration with Millie Mackintosh. I'm excited to try the lip pencil after already trying an eye pencil, but I'm nervous that it's going to be one colour for all in case I hate the colour. With the summer boxes, I assume there's going to be more summer-themed products. That's actually kind of disappointing to me, because one of the things I really want is hand cream and I assume that won't make its way into boxes until it's winter. I use hand cream in summer too y'know, Birchbox! I suppose they're always going to tease something in the next box to keep people interested and entice new subscribers, but I really would like a box one month that's a total surprise as then I wouldn't have to spend a month worrying over whether a lip pencil colour will suit me or not.

Plein air watercolour painting - 16/07/2016

I finally had the time and the weather to go and paint outside again. It's been a long time since I painted anything at all but it's been years since I painted outside. I either have the time or I have the weather, never both. I had no idea what to take with me, so I took everything that I could think of. In hindsight I could have survived with a lot less.

I chose a spot on the grass (the tide was almost in, so no point setting up on the beach. All the sand was covered already) in a kind-of park/gardens (if it has a name, I forgot it) and set myself up. I looked around for a bit before deciding what to start with. The initial plan was to do quick and separate sketches of the plants I could see, not a scene, but then I started drawing the bench and that plan went out the window. Plenty of people walked past, but apart from two curious dogs, nobody bothered me.

Unfortunately, although it was the hottest day of the year so far, it clouded over after I'd been there for a while. I had my picnic, started my painting, and then the cloud came. It changed the light: I suddenly had no strong shadows, which is why they're absent from the finished painting. The bench looks a little weird without them, given that I painted a sunny scene, but I didn't want to make a mess of it by guessing. I'll take a photo of the scene before I start next time.

It wasn't too long before the absence of the sun got to me and I got a bit cold. I hadn't brought anything warm with me to wear. The cloud was making everything look darker and I felt that, since I was a bit of a walk away from home, I should go before it got too late. I finished up the painting when I got in, while it was still fresh in my mind. 

The bench - and the scene in general - is such a huge improvement on the last plein air I tried that I'm delighted with it even though I know there's loads of mistakes. The sky was a total accident and shouldn't be there. I'm still not really used to the strength of professional quality pigments, so my light wash in the top corner was much darker and it wouldn't blend out, so I had to paint sky everywhere in an attempt to get it to blend in. Because I was only planning on doing quick sketches of the plants, I didn't use watercolour paper and my sketchbook paper warped a bit. It's only 170gsm: I usually paint on 300gsm paper. But that's not the end of the world. It was much easier to paint on this paper with professional quality paints than it was to try it with Cotman paints. I think that may account for some of the difference in quality between this painting and the last plein air I did as I wasn't struggling to get vibrant colours with tonnes of layering. Although as I mentioned already, that was a blessing and a curse.

It was nice to be able to get out and play with my paints again - hopefully it won't be years before I can do it again!