May BellaBox Review

Hello everyone, I'm back with another bellabox review! I haven't done one of these since February because of a combination of me being lazy and not loving the products recently, but May has been a great month and I'm doing things a little differently today to help motivate me and perk these posts up! Plus I've missed reviewing beauty products and writing blog posts so here we go.

The theme for this month's box was a collaboration with Pop Sugar and everyone received either a contour or a highlighter pencil by Chella.

As you can see I got six products and two of those are full sized. So to begin with I was quite happy about that.

Real-U Control + Face Gel RRP $50.00 for 100ml

I was instantly drawn to this product because I've never heard of this brand before and the back of the tube stated in big letters that the product contains no salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide which is awesome because we all know I'm allergic to salicylic acid! I've been using this for the past week and I don't mind it. Yes my face still gets oily (when won't it) but it definitely does control it and delays how quickly it happens. I use this both morning and night underneath my normal moisturiser because it does make my skin feel a little tight and I don't want my skin to think it's undermoisturised if that makes sense, plus it's only a gel so it does need the extra. I'm seriously considering trying out their other products to go along with it.

Chella Ivory Lace Highlighter Pencil RRP $24.95

This is one of the products that everyone would have received in their boxes, the other was the contour pencil which my mum received in hers, so I'm very happy I have both of them. If you look at the tip of the pencil you can see it's definitely an ivory colour. I would love it more if it was brighter and lighter because against my pale skin it's not much of a highlighter for me but it's a good base for other highlighters!

Impulse Romantic Spark RRP $4.99 for 57g

This is a cute little sample of 'perfume in a spray' from Impulse. I quite like how it smells even though it does smell a little mature but I don't hate it. I think it's a great substitute for perfume if you don't want to wear something heavy or even if you're a little allergic to it. Plus the real size is a lot cheaper than perfume.

Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Moisture Rich Night Cream RRP $14.99 for 75g

I was very worried about this product when I read the words 'moisture rich' but I was pleasantly surprised at how much I like this moisturiser. I've been using it most nights and while it is a little bit greasy, it's not as bad as most thicker moisturisers I've used in the past. Combined with face oil and the control gel above it works really well at making my skin smooth and soft. I really like it and I'm super happy I've found a great night cream that I don't hate!

Eye Of Horus Goddess Pencil RRP $30.00

I've never heard of this brand before but it's nice to receive things like that and discover new brands and products. I'm not fond of the colour, I know emerald suits blue eyes but I didn't love how it looked when I used it and smudged it out. But I'll give it another go and see if I can incorporate it into my eye make up without making it look over the top or like I've been punched in the face. It's a great addition to any make up collection though.

Sunescape Hydrating Gradual Tan Extender RRP $33.00 for 200ml

I can't give a proper review on this product because I haven't used it yet but I've read all positive reviews so hopefully it works well for me and I love it as much as others do.

Overall I loved the May bellabox, for a while there I was doubting whether I'd continue my subscription after this month considering I've been getting this for a year now but I'm looking forward to June's box and I'm sure it's going to be just as great.

Thanks for reading!

- Melissa.

PS let me know if you like the layout of these posts like this with pictures instead of just a numbered list of the products!

February BellaBox Review

Today I have my first bellabox review of this year. I did receive the January box but wasn't in much of a blogging mood and didn't find the box very 'review worthy' so I didn't bother posting about it. But I'm trying to get back into the swing of blogging and I'm starting with this review!

This month bellabox teamed up with three Australian magazines, Elle, Harper's Bazaar, and Cosmopolitan. I was lucky enough to get to choose which magazine I wanted and I picked Elle, because it's a magazine I've never read before and thought there might be some good items in the box!

I felt a little indifferent towards the products though. I received some products I've gotten in the past and also products that I shouldn't be receiving at all according to what I put in my beauty profile on my account.

Let's get into the product reviews!

1. Essie Nail Colour in Truth or Flare (RRP $16.95) - As a nail blogger it's a no brainer that I'll love this product and any nail polish or nail art item that comes in my bellabox. Every member got an Essie polish and there was a range of colours sent out. The polish I got looks significantly different to what the colour on the official Essie website does so I'm wondering whether they changed or renamed the polish. But either way I love this colour. It's kind of a slate colour with strong blue undertones. It's so nice on my nails! See below of swatch pictures.
2. Indio Multi V-Serum (RRP $139.00) - I don't mind the brand Indio, I've gotten their samples before and even purchased their products but as I've probably mentioned before I had an allergic reaction to the salicylic acid in one of their cleansers so I just sent all the products back as it was easiest to just start over with a different brand. This smell of this serum reminds me of beer or some type of alcohol and I don't enjoy it. I only used it once so I can't vouch for it's effectiveness. It does mention that it's a hydrating serum though which isn't something I need so I won't be using this or buying it myself.
3. Burt's Bees Mini Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream (RRP $14.99) - Another product I can't help but love... except for the fact that I already received a sample of this back in August. I'm happy I have another sample which now brings my total tins of cuticle cream up to five (six if you count the sample of this my mum got in hers this month which of course she'll give to me), but I am annoyed I received something I had already gotten in a past box. So I definitely have enough cuticle cream to last me at least a year, probably two actually.
4. Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel ($24.99) - This is the product I'm most annoyed about this month. This is the opposite of what I need. My skin does not need hydrating, it needs moisture sucked out of it really. I did try it though because in the end it was free and it's a sample but within half an hour my skin was a shiny mess so it's definitely a no go. I'm pretty mad about receiving it though because my beauty profile clearly skin my skin is oily and NOT dry. They obviously don't take note of that.
5. Aveeno Daily Moisturising Lotion (RRP $14.99) - I definitely got my fair share of moisturisers in this box. This one I can use though because it's mostly for the body and I tend to get dry legs a fair bit so I'm happy with this one.
6. Kerastase Paris Nutritive Nectar Thermique (RRP $48.00) - I received this product back in December so that's another product I've already received but I really did love this one so I guess it's okay that I got it again.

 (Essie - Truth or Flare)

Overall I wasn't too happy with this box. I shouldn't be receiving one two products that I've already received before, it just seems like a waste. And I definitely shouldn't be getting hydrating moisturisers according to my beauty profile.

I am considering cancelling my subscription but I'll give it another month because I really do enjoy getting a box of goodies at my doorstep each month and for only 15 dollars it's not at all expensive. Here's hoping next month is better!

- Melissa.

December BellaBox Review

Hello everybody!

Welcome to this year's last bellabox review! The theme this month was Eat, Play, Love in the spirit of Christmas and New Year's. I think the idea of the theme is lovely but once again I don't see too much connection between the theme and the items in the box. But anyway, let's get into it!

1. Kora Organics Purifying Day & Night Cream (RRP $59.95) - This is a product from Miranda Kerr's skincare range and to be honest I never even knew she had a skincare range out, but clearly she does. I tried this moisturiser for a few days that I had off of work just in case I had a reaction to it (I can't trust new skincare products anymore) and even though I didn't have an allergic reaction to it, I ended up not using it again because it made my skin extremely oily and by extremely I mean it felt like my face was swimming in oil. I've said it before but I'll say it again, I have very oily skin and nothing helps it so there's no way I'll be using this product again. I don't need the extra oil on top of my already very oily face. I'm quite disappointed about it too because it's a full sized, very expensive product. It would have been nice to use it all because it did feel lovely, it was thin and lightweight but it's just not suited for my skin unfortunately.
2. Elizabeth Mott It's So Big Mascara (RRP $25.00) - This is supposedly a cult classic product and very popular on Amazon. I can understand the hype and popularity but it's not a holy grail product to me. It's pretty good though, I'll admit that! It has amazing coverage in only a few coats and it leaves my lashes still feeling natural and soft unlike a lot of other mascaras I've tried in the past. It's good for daily use but I think I'll combine it with another mascara for nights out etc. My lashes are just the type of lashes that look amazing for five minutes after applying mascara and then they uncurl and become dead straight again, so I can't really speak on it's curling effect. I doubt I'll buy this myself as I don't want to spend that much on it when I have other mascaras that are quite similar, but we'll see!
3. Enbacci Pore Minimiser (RRP $30.00) - I've seriously been wanting a pore minimising cream for a while now but every one I've come across is just too expensive for me to buy straight off without knowing if it works or not, so I was very happy to receive a decent sized sample for this. This has replaced my primer for the time being and I just apply it to my nose, some of my cheeks, in between my brows and my chin and from what I can tell it seems to minimise my pores. I still get oily, that'll never end really, but it does minimise them and that's all I can ask for in a pore minimiser. I'll have to see how it goes to determine if I'll buy the full sized product.
4. Keratase Paris Nutritive Nectar Thermique (RRP $45.00) - Firstly, I'm so bummed this was a sachet because secondly, I loved this product. I got about two and a half uses out of this so that was lovely. I don't really have dry hair and I think what this product is mostly aimed at but that didn't matter because it still made my hair smooth and I found that I only needed this one product when I used. Normally I use three treatments on my hair, a thermal styling heatspray, a prep leave in conditioner cream and a repair spray leave in. It's a lot of product, but I don't always use them all at once. Just depends how my hair feels, but this sample was amazing and I'm so upset that it's so expensive because there's no way I'm spending that much for one hair treatment.
5. Neutrogena Oil Free Acne Wash (RRP $13.99) - For those of you who have read my constant complaints about that time I had a severe reaction to skincare products, this was what I reacted to. I can't remember if I ever named the product, but this is it. So obviously I didn't use this sample and it's now in my bin. I did email bellabox requesting my allergy information be noted but they said it's not a feature of their website currently but that they'll look into it. I also asked if it was possible to get a replacement product but they said that as I had received the product and the box with no problems, they unfortunately couldn't replace it. I was a bit annoyed to be honest, but fair enough. The samples are set and they can't just go handing out more. I'm sure this product is great and maybe it works for others (do your research before you buy) it's not for me due to the salicylic acid in it.
6. Maybelline Superstay Better Skin Foundation (RRP $23.95) - This is another sample that went into the bin unfortunately. I've purchased this product in the past and had several problems with it, firstly it sat on my face weirdly and got caught in all my pores and slightly dry spots which aren't even very dry. Secondly it just didn't stay, as soon as my face became oily (which was a lot quicker than normal under this foundation) it just came off and sat even worse on my face than when I'd applied it. I think the colour selection wasn't that great either, ivory is never ivory on my face. Once again maybe this product is great and works for others, but not for me unfortunately.

There we go! That's all the products for the last bellabox of 2014! I had a love/hate relationship with this box as you can tell, some were good, some weren't so good, but you win some you lose some!

Hopefully you're looking forward to more of these reviews in the new year, because I'll definitely be posting them!

Thanks for reading!

- Melissa.

November BellaBox Review

Hi everyone! As it's end of November/start of December, I'm posting my monthly bellabox review. I received mine a few weeks ago, (I was in the first shipment I believe) but I've been a bit lazy with blogging and haven't gotten around to making this post until now! So let's get into it!

This month's theme was Dusk till Dawn which I guess means making it to the morning after a night out? I'm not sure but the items were pretty spot on if that's the theme. I never saw the blog post for their theme reveal so I'm a bit out of the loop!

Anyway, I enjoyed this month's box so let's have a look at the items!

1. Coastal Scents Revealed Palette Sampler (Full Palette RRP: $34.00) - This was a cute little quad sampler for the full 20 eyeshadow palette from Coastal Scents. I've seen this palette before on various YouTube tutorials etc. and really liked the look of it. I've used this sampler a few times and love the colours; they're very pigmented and easy to apply and use and combine together. I'm very tempted to buy the full palette.
2. Salon Tan Professional Wash Off Spray Tan (RRP: $19.99) - I used this for a night out last weekend and absolutely loved the result! It was easy to apply and evened out very nicely. For a wash off tan it takes a bit of scrubbing to get it off so if you're careful it could probably last another day. It was a warm night so I believe there were some inner elbow and maybe behind the knee patches, but nothing a quick touch up can't fix. I'm keen to look into the rest of their range as they're all the same price.
3. BOE Beauty Nail Enamel in Ballet Shoes (RRP: $2.00) - (The link is for a different bottle shape) I haven't yet used this polish so I don't have a swatch photo or even an opinion but that's only because I'm not keen on the colour. I know it'll take a few coats to be opaque though but I'm in no rush to find out just because I have a bunch of other polishes the same colour.
4. Lonvitalite 24K Active Gold Eye Mask (Pack of 5 RRP: $24.00) - I wasn't exactly sure of this product, I'm not someone who uses products around my eyes, even though I probably should because I have horrible dark circles. So I was a bit indifferent towards this product until I tried it. It was very cooling. Emphasis on very because at one point I thought my eye bags were about to burn off. But it became very relaxing and I almost dozed off with these one. I think it's possible I worse them the wrong way though, I assumed the bigger bit of the product went under your eyes and not over your eyebrows but from pictures I've seen, the latter is how it's supposed to be worn, which makes no sense to me but oh well. I won't be buying this product though just because I don't use these types of products.
5. Palmers Multi-Effect Perfecting Facial Oil (RRP: 30ml $19.99) - I can't say I was very excited to get this little sample (which came in one of those very small tubes that are never easy to open without spillage), but only because I've already tried the whole oil skincare routine. I occasionally use Rosehip Oil whenever I remember I have it and for the first six months of this year I used the Oil Cleansing Method to wash my face everyday. Needless to say it wasn't for me despite how good oil is at fighting oil. I've tried to sample once and it smelt too strong for me, too much like macadamia, which isn't a bad thing but I wasn't loving it. I won't buy this product only because I already use a quite expensive oil.
6. Compeed Blister Patch (Pack of 5 RRP: $12.95) - These are just patches that you apply over a blister to avoid it rubbing on your shoes all day. I currently have one on and I like them, they're quite thick, but not too thick that you can't put a shoe on. These will be good when I want to break in a new pair of shoes and can't be bothered dealing with blisters.

That's all for the review! I've rush this post a bit just because I know it's going up so late. I still enjoy making this monthly post, it's quite refreshing after always posting about nails. So I hope everyone is at least getting a good read out of them.

October BellaBox Review

Hey everyone! It's that time again where I review the most recent bellabox I received. This month's theme was Born To Be Wild! and was in collaboration with Nicole X Missguided.

Let's jump into reviews of each of the products! (Check the photo below to see which number corresponds with each product!)

1. ModelCo Skincare (RRP $8.00 - $35.00) - In my little package of sachets I got the following: 2x Exfoliating Cream Facial Scrub, Instant Miracle Booster Skin Brightening & Firming Serum, Soothing Moisturiser Day & Night and a Double Sided Face Wipe. Now as I've said in previous posts, I've had a lot of skin trouble this year and it's only just starting to become normal again so for that reason I chose not to use these samples, except for the Double Sided Face Wipe. My opinion of that is that it did a decent job removing make up with the smooth side and a good job smoothing my skin out with the exfoliating side which had moderate sized bumps. It did sting my eyes a little towards the end but I think I was overdoing it at that point anyway. I may try these out in the future because I don't expect too much of a reaction as it says they're natural but I'll leave that till my skin is good again.
2. Rimmel Lip Product: Apocalips in Phenomenon (RRP $15.95) - This was a fun little surprise because I didn't discover it until I took everything out as it was hiding under the sachets but it wasn't too fun when I applied it and it looked awful on me. It's a nude colour which 100% does not suit me, trust me, I've bought numerous nude lip shades only to discover I look completely ridiculous with them on. I mean, it's not as bad as their other nude shades on me, but I still don't think I'd be able to wear this without mixing it with a pink lipstick or something.
3. Nivea Stress Protect Deodorant (RRP $6.59) - This is only a small can so it's good for travelling or popping in your bag to freshen up during the day with. Mine currently sits on my Helmer and is there just incase I forgot to put deodorant on after a shower, it's very handy and it's a decent spray too!
4. Pantene Shampoo & Conditoner (RRP $7.99) - (I believe the one I've linked to is the correct one). We have a few samples of these new products in our household because mum got them in last month's box and also got three samples from Pantene to test out. I liked using them, they do exactly what they say and they left my hair feeling smooth and soft. However, they just won't replace my ultimate fave brand, Elvive.
5. Kester Black in Ruby Tuesday (RRP $20.00) - I've known of the brand Kester Black for a few years now, ever since I discovered Trophy Wife Nail Art because they sort of go hand in hand, so I was excited when I found out that every member would be getting a collab shade between bellabox and Kester Black. I was a bit disappointed when I got the red one though because it's my least favourite colour. However, I applied it and it was a very nice formula, very smooth and easily opaque in two coats. I would never pay twenty dollars for a nail polish though so I guess this will be the only Kester Black polish I own for quite some time. (Check below for a swatch photo!)
6. MOR Hand Cream (RRP $14.95) - I have to admit that I freakin' hate sachet samples, especially when they can be used more than once because when I open it and don't use all the product, (like I did with this sample) I now have an opened sachet laying around. Anyway, I wasn't a huge fan of this product, it left a very oily residue on my hands and I had to wipe them down to get rid of it. I wasn't a massive fan of the smell either, it was very sour smelling and reminded me a bit of cleaning products or washing detergent.

Kester Black - Ruby Tuesday

Overall, I was indifferent towards this months box, half were great, half were a bit disappointing. But that's not going to deter me from continuing my subscription. I love getting the boxes every month and I appreciate the effort all the people behind them put into getting them out every month with new samples, so I look forward to November's bellabox!

September BellaBox Review

Hi everyone! This post is going up quite late compared to when I got the actual bellabox because I didn't want to interrupt my challenge posts and then I just got lazy and needed a break from blogging. But here it is nonetheless!

The theme for September was Beauty Wardrobe with Gritty Pretty. Once again, I didn't massively understand the theme but oh well. 

1. Lash Card Mascara Shields (RRP $7.95) - I haven't yet used this, just because I don't have a massive need for it. I did open the package and have a look at it though and it seems pretty nifty. There are two sizes on either end of the card so that you can pick one that fits your eyelid shape. I used to be someone who got mascard all over my eyelid but eventually I became more careful with my application and if I get some excess I just wait till it dries and rub it off with a cotton bud. I might use this, but I also might not. It'll probably sit in my 'extras' draw for a while before I find it again.
2. Geologic Nail Enamel in Black (RRP $9.99) - This is one of those polishes that claim to be exactly like gel polish just without using UV or LED light. I haven't tested this particular colour out but my mum got the top coat from this brand/range and I've got a review of it coming so look out for that soon!
3. 1000 Hour Lashes (RRP $8.99) - I also haven't yet used these eyelashes because I only recently purchased different lashes from this brand and also some lashes online. So I'm just adding them to my collection of lashes that I may never use. It's good that it comes with glue though if you're someone who is just starting out.
4. Crabtree & Evelyn Summer Hill Hand Therapy (RRP $10) - A person can never have too many hand lotions so I was happy I got this. It smells very lovely too, but I think some people wouldn't enjoy this particular smell. I love it because it smells a bit like potpourri which reminds me of how one of my nana's house's smells. It does leave a slightly oily residue but it soaks in quite quickly and I always just rub off the excess anyway. I'll see how it goes over the next month to decide if I'll buy it.
5. Sleek Makeup Eye Dust in Eden (RRP $4.49) - I've never used loose eyeshadow before and I haven't yet tested this out, just because I think I need to be in the mood to deal with loose powder, plus it's not a colour I would wear anyway so I'm not sure when I'll use this. My mum also got one in a different colour I think so maybe hers might be more wearable.
6. Pureology Pure Volume Blow Dry Amplifyer (RRP $49.95) - This was one of the bonus sachets I got which is only 5ml so it's a one use thing. I also haven't tried this one just because I kept forgetting about it and usually I wash my too often to want to use special products like this in it. I do love a good volumising product though because my hair can be very flat at times. I would probably never buy the full sized product though, just because it's incredibly expensive and volume in my hair doesn't mean that much to me.
7. Revlon Colorstay Foundation in Natural Beige (Dry/Normal Skin) (RRP $34.95) - I recently purchased this foundation at Chemist Warehouse when it was half price, but instead I got it in Ivory for Oily/Combination skin and I love it! I can't vouch for the sample sachet I got because I probably won't use it, but it's a great foundation and I think I've finally found the one. I love it so much that I went a bought another one in a darker colour to wear when I go out and have a tan etc. 

That's it for last month's bellabox! Overall it was good, but I think when I got it I just wasn't really in a sample-type mood and couldn't be bothered experimenting with all the products. Stay tuned for my review of the Pretty Woman Gelogic Top Coat.

Hope everyone has been well, thanks for reading!

August BellaBox Review

Hi there lovelies! It's time for my monthly review of bellabox. I was a teeny bit peeved this month because it felt like I got my box after everyone else did, but I was patient enough to not email them until it had been two weeks since they had first start shipping boxes. But I received it before that so there was no need to worry. Patience pays off.

Anyway, this month's box was well worth the wait I think. I really enjoyed it, especially compared to July's box. The theme for August was Sport. Once again, didn't see much relevance between the products and the theme, but props to the bellabox team for having themes and making it relevant to current seasons and trends, etc.

As the bellabox website is going through some changes currently, I'm not able to link the products to their website, so I've found other links for them if you wanted to check them out further.

1. Eco Tools Detailed Lip Brush (RRP $8.99) - (The website I linked has it for $3.99) The first (and only negative) thing I'll say about this brush is that it feels quite cheap and I definitely wouldn't pay the $8.99 for it. But it is made with cruelty-free and recycled materials which is a plus in my books. It's the perfect size for my lips as well, being somewhere between soft and firm which feels lovely. I've used a lip brush before but it wasn't firm enough to get crisp lines, so I'm very happy that this one is firm enough to use for lining my lips.
2. Natralus Natrasan Hand Sanitiser Spray Kakadu Plum & Vanilla (RRP $4.49) - I love, love, love this product! It smells amazing, like Lush bath bombs. It promises not to dry your hands out and it doesn't, which I find a lot of other hand sanitisers do and being a nail blogger that's something I really don't want. It's a very lovely product for such a cheap price and I'm sure I'll purchase this when I run out.
3. Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream (RRP $14.99) - It should be very obvious that I already love this product, I think almost every girl in the nail art community does. I already have one tin in use and another spare, so this is a cute little addition to the cuticle cream collection I already have.
4. OGX Nourishing Coconut Milk Shampoo & Conditioner (RRP $17.99) - There wasn't anything special about this shampoo and conditioner, except that the smell of them bought back memories from when I used to use the leave in treatment from this line. They do a great job of leaving my hair smelling nice though and it did leave my hair a bit smoother than other shampoo and conditioners, but I don't think I'd buy this due to the price and the fact that I love what I use in my hair now so I don't feel the need to replace them.
5. Maybelline Color Show Nail Lacquer (RRP $5.95) - I got the colour Pedal to the Medal which is a silver polish. I'm not a fan of metallic polishes, I hate how they look on my nails, but it was nice to get another Color Show polish for my collection. Come on, it's a nail polish, how could I not love getting it? Haha.
6. Palmer's Cocoa Body Butter (RRP $9.99) - Do I even really need to talk about this one? It was the sample size and I'm sure everyone has tried it at least once. I find it a bit too thick personally but I still love it and think it's a great product.

All in all, it was a great box and I really enjoyed. It was definitely worth the wait. My favourite is the hand sanitiser, I've been using it so much since I got it. I'm already looking forward to next months box! There's not a lot else to say about it, plus I've been trying to write this post for days now so I just wanted to get it posted before the end of the month.

Thanks for reading!

July BellaBox Review

Hey there everyone, it's time for another bellabox review! This month's theme was American Beauty and just like last month I didn't really see the theme in the products I received, but I guess they were relevant.

I'll start this review of by mentioning flat out that I was disappointed with this month's box. I loved the first one I received, had mixed feelings about the second one (but ultimately liked it) and now, my third box has just left me feeling a bit annoyed.

As you can see from the above photo, I essentially was given three lip products as the bigger Paw Paw cream can be used for lips too. And don't get me wrong I love lip products, I currently have three balms in use (one in my bag, one next to my bed, and one in my make up drawers) and six spare. Six. That's a lot of balms, believe me I know it's a lot and they'll last me a long time. And I know that there's no way bellabox would know I essentially have nine lip balms but it's still a little disappointing to basically receive two of the same product.

However, let's get on to the reviews (please note I haven't tested them all, but you'll read why that is):

1. Anastasia Lash Genius Waterproof Topcoat ($39.00) - I'm not a huge fan of waterproof mascara because I feel like it ruins my eyelashes even if I'm very gentle with removing it. That being said, I haven't used a waterproof mascara in years but I imagine my opinion hasn't changed on them. The Anastasia brand is really good quality, I constantly see beauty bloggers and vloggers raving about their various products. I myself am a huge fan of the clear brow gel I received in my May box. This is a nice addition to my makeup collection and will be useful for summer. I haven't yet tried it out because I don't think I need waterproofing right now, but I've read some pretty good reviews and it sounds promising.
2. Designer Brands Cosmetics Paw Paw Plus Lips ($4.99) - I might be the only person on Earth who isn't a fan of Paw Paw ointment. I don't know why, but I just never got into it and preferred my Chapstick and Blistex instead. However, I don't hate the product, I'll often borrow my sister's if we're out and I haven't bought any lip balm. So I don't hate it and I don't love it, but this one is just like all the others you'll find, only in a more reasonable lip product size.
3. Innoxa Mineral Trio Eye Shadow ($14.95) - I've recently been getting more and more into wearing eyeshadow so this is the product I'm probably the most happy about getting. It's a good little trio of wearable, shimmery colours. I swatched the colours quickly and there wasn't a massive amount of pigmentation but I think the white will be a good under eyebrow and inner corner highlight and the brown will be a good outer corner colour. I can't see myself wearing the green as much as I would the white and brown, but who knows, if I can make it work, I'll wear it. I'm happy with this product because I never would have purchased it myself so it's nice to have something a little different. 
4. Designer Brands Cosmetics Paw Paw Plus Ointment ($4.99) - See number 2 because this is the exact same product to me, just in a bigger size. I might even give this to my sister because I really don't need it.
5. She Aromatherapy Fruit Gloss Tube ($12.95) - (For some reason this isn't on the bellabox website at all which is weird considering it was in the box) Once again, I find myself annoyed at a product in this box, which isn't bellabox's fault, it's just personal preference to me. I hate tubed lipgloss. I'm more of a matte lipstick kind of girl so this isn't a useful product to me. It does smell great though and goes on smoothly; it's not thick like I find other tube lipglosses to be. But I might give this to my best friend as I just don't want it and she might get more use out of it.
6. Natralus Pure 100% Aloe Vera Gel ($14.45) - (Bonus gift) This came in a sachet so I haven't tested it yet as I don't want to waste it. But everyone knows how good aloe vera gel is so I'm sure there are no faults to this product. I do actually have aloe vera plants in my backyard so I've never needed to go out and buy aloe vera gel so it'll be good to compare the product to the plant when I do use this one.

Overall, I'm not that pleased with this months box, and it's a bit disappointing because I received this on my birthday so I was really looking forward to some awesome goodies, but I'm very grateful for the time and effort the people behind bellabox put into making them and sending them out, so thank you to them. I'm already looking forward to August's box!

June BellaBox Review

It's time for my second bellabox review! This month's box was sent out a little later in the month so I only got it at the start of this week, but I've been testing it out since then and decided it was time to review it!

(I've just realised the position of the box on the magazine makes Sarah Murdoch look gigantic) 

The theme of the June box was Iconic Beauty, think Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn. Personally, I didn't see much of the theme in the item's I got compared to other's but I'm not complaining because I got items that were targeted towards me due to what my beauty profile says on my account, which means these products were more suited to me than the other products were.

This month, everybody got a free copy of the June issue of Instyle Magazine, which usually retails for about $9.95 I believe. I'm not a huge magazine lover (I can't remember the last time I ever bought one) but it was nice to receive a copy and have a browse of it. However, it doesn't make me want to go out and buy the next issue.

1. Herbal Essences Naked Shine Shampoo & Conditioner (RRP: $6.99 each) - These shampoo and conditioners are quite new in the Herbal Essences range and they're paraben and dye free, which is always a good bonus. I've been a fan of Herbal Essences for a while now and I loved these products. They smelt amazing and left my hair feeling soft and clean and smelling just as amazing as the product. They're very simple and I would buy these for sure as the price is just as good as the product.
   
2. Garnier BB Cream Original (Light) (RRP: $13.95) - I have an odd relationship with BB creams and this time was no different. I've tried various BB creams in the past, hoping for a nice light coverage to wear in summer or on lazy makeup days, but I'm yet to find one that I don't wan to throw away. This BB cream in particular was just a massive no straight away. It was in the shade Light, but was so much darker than my skin (I'm very pale but it's impossible to find a match). It was a little greasy as well. Maybe it's because I applied it with my hands (which it says to do), but I was just not loving this and removed it right away. I might give it another shot, but we'll see. Side note: I was sent the full sized product of this which is pretty awesome and very generous.
   
3. Indio Clear Moisturiser (RRP $62.00) - I'm having a lot of trouble with my skin lately, and by a lot I mean breaking out horribly in both acne and small rashes, dry patches everywhere as well as my usually oiliness, so I've only used this once. The next day was when my skin gave up on me, but I don't think it was because of the moisturiser (I've been using other new products). It was very nice and easy to apply and soaked into my skin straight away, which did leave it a little tight, but my skin really loved it. From the description of it on the packaging and the website, it sounds like the perfect moisturiser for me as it's "formulated for hormonally stimulated skin issues" and due to an illness that's exactly what my skin is like. I'll definitely try this again when my skin settles a bit more, because even though it might be really good for what I'm going through now, I don't want to overload my skin even more and have it hate me. However, even if I do love it and it works wonders, I highly doubt I'll buy it as it's just way too expensive for me.
   
4. Vaseline Ultimate 10 Anti-Ageing Body Lotion (RRP: $7.68) - I haven't tried this sample yet but that's only because I have used this product in the past and still have some left. I don't really know why I have the anti-ageing lotion, but I do like it so I'm happy to have that little bit extra which will be good for travelling.
   
5. L'Oreal Base Magique Primer (RRP: $29.95) - I've used this primer once, but I didn't use it all day so I can't vouch for a full day's use, however he application was so lovely and I did notice my foundation went on a lot smoother, especially considering how messed up my skin is currently. It feels velvety smooth and continues to leave your skin feeling that way even after you've removed your makeup. It removes shine and instantly makes your skin matte. I would seriously consider buying this, even despite the cost because I need a good primer and I think this could be it.
   
6. Nutrimetics Nutri-Rich Instant Radiance Beauty Balm (RRP: $50.00) - As I've said, my skin isn't doing so great this week, so due to that, I haven't used this sample yet. I might keep it for a while and use it to pamper myself as I doubt I'll buy this unless it's the most amazing thing ever.

A lot of products this month were skin related, actually all but one were, so it was sort of bad timing with my skin playing up and what not. But I'm quite happy with what I got, because as usual I get to try products I would never ever consider buying such as the primer and the Indio Moisturiser. For only $15 I received some pretty awesome products worth well over the price of the box. I always feel a little bit spoiled when my bellabox arrives! Don't forget to sign up for the July edition here if you'd love to get some new products!

May BellaBox Review

Before anyone thinks it (if you haven't already upon reading the title), yes, this isn't a nail post and I'm very much only a nail blogger, BUT I love all things beauty as well and I've found myself wanting to blog about that side of things. So welcome to my monthly review of the bellabox. Before I get into the review, let me talk about a few details on these type of posts.

Every month I will be posting a review on that month's bellabox; they'll probably be quite wordy posts as I want to get into the reviewing side of things a lot more than posting a bunch of photos on the products I get. That doesn't mean they won't be enjoyable posts though, I want to share my personal experiences with the products I get and let everyone know what I think of them. So far, these will be the only posts unrelated to nails except for my monthly favourites, but that doesn't mean my blog will be drastically changing anytime soon, believe me, I'm still a little all over the place with my nail posts so if anything was to change, it'd take a while to happen.

Now, onto the actual post! I was very excited to get my first bellabox, which if you don't know is a monthly subscription service that delivers at least five beauty/lifestyle products to your door in a cute little box for you to try out. They're all sample and trial sizes so that you can use them, decide if you love them and buy the full sizes if you'd like!

I absolutely loved the May edition, which had a theme of 'Come Fly With Me' for good travel products and I think it was a good first box to get. 

1. Appelles Rosemary Body Bar: I absolutely adore this soap. I'm not a huge fan of bar soaps because they don't seem to last that long, but I would happily buy this when it runs out. It smelt lovely and lathered up amazingly. Plus it's all organic, which is always a nice bonus. According to the description, it had dried rosemary in it which I found that when it becomes exposed, it acts as a slight exfoliator. There's nothing to fault with this soap, because ultimately, it's soap and it does a good job.
2. Chapstick Lip Conditioner: I'm sure everyone knows what chapstick is, so this really doesn't need much explanation. I am glad I got this though because you can never have too many lip balms. 
3. Timeless Truth Q10 Caviar Nourishing Mask: (the link on the bellabox website wasn't working so I found another) This mask, like it claims, is very nourishing. I think almost too nourishing for my very oily skin, but it was still such a lovely feeling and left my skin super soft and smooth. It's a cloth mask, that stretches to hold behind your ears so that it stays on while you wait the fifteen or so minutes. I didn't have a reaction to the mask, which I thought I might have, so that's definitely a positive. A few days after using this though, my skin did start to clear up after a bad few weeks of slight acne, whether it was this that helped or the new skin routine I've started or the combination of both I don't know, but it is making me consider buying it.
4. Wen by Chaz Dean - Sweet Almond Mint Cleansing Conditioner: Oh. My. God. This is one of the best products I have ever used on my hair. Seriously. This is definitely something I would buy, just not yet because it's quite expensive, but I reckon it would be well worth the money. It's super easy to use and because it's a cleansing conditioner, there's no need to use shampoo beforehand which I love the idea of. I did have one fault though, because it's a thick product, it tends to leave that slippery residue on the skin when washed out, which takes a little extra effort to wash off and it's a very small problem, which is mostly just a personal preference to me, but it wouldn't stop me from buying it because it's an easy fixable problem. It's left my hair silky, smooth and less frizzy and I can't stop touching it because it feels that amazing. Oh, it also smells very pleasant, albeit the mint is a little overpowering, much like the chest rub you use when you're sick, but it comes in other scents if you're not a fan of mint smelling things.
5. Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Gel - Clear: This is definitely my favourite product of the whole box. Well done brows are necessary and mine are always done but I've only recently gotten into using brow gel to set them. When I first used this, I realised how good a brow gel can actually be. This product is $39 so it's going to be a very sad day when I finish it because I don't think I can justify spending that much on two rows of hair on my forehead. It's amazing, don't get me wrong, but I think I'll only be using it on special occasions so that it lasts longer and I can truly appreciate how well it sets my eyebrows after using my other product in between.
6. Invisible Zinc Tinted Daywear SPF30+ - Light: This was the bonus sample and I'm glad it was just that. I really wasn't happy with this one, but I think it's more of a personal preference because I have very oily skin so this just felt heavy and thick on my face. Of course being a tinted zinc there wasn't great coverage and I need medium to full coverage. So the only reason I wasn't happy with this one was because it just doesn't go well with my skin, not because it's a bad product. It just wasn't for me.

There we have it! My first review of a bellabox. I hope you enjoyed this post, let me know in the comments whether you'd like to see a monthly post on this, or even if you don't like it! I'd really love to get some feedback on whether this is something people want to see or not! :)