October Birchbox

I will go on to talk more about the 'Coppafeel' theme of this Birchbox later on, so for now, lets jump right in and see what the October Birchbox had in store for me this month.

KMS Hair Texturing Style Spray

This didn't give me the best hold, but the almost spray putty texture meant I could really mould my hair into any style. It could still be felt a few days after using meaning mouldable hair was always possible, and it didn't have a sticky, or hard finish to it. As I said, the hold wasn't brilliant so you would probaly need to use a bit of hairspray afterwards to keep it in your desired style.

Balance Me Cleansing Balm

This cleansing balm had quite tough granules in to get the smoothing effect which I find to be a little coarse to start. Other than that, I really enjoyed using this cleansing balm and have found myself being a bit lost without it now. I really like cleansing balms this time of year as they add a little more moisture.

Pixi Tinted Lip Balm

This Pixi tinted lip balm is the perfect colour for a more easily achievable and quick way to do the Kylie Jenner lips I talked about in my post the other day. This dark nude colour is really nice for this time of year, and it's highly moisturising so a bit more comfortable to wear in the colder winter months.

Lollipops Nail Polish

This Lollipops nail varnish is a really curte shade of red. It is proper red if you know what I mean?! It doesn't have any other tones in it so it is a very bright and fresh colour. The consistency was a bit thin so you definitely need 2 or more coats, but as a brand I've never heard of before, this has really impressed me and gone to my go to colour when I want that classic red nail. Perfect for Christmas time.

The Cool Fix

I thought this was an odd product to put in the October Birchbox, as I felt it would have been better suited in a summer box where overshaving legs for summer skirts everyday can cause a lot of in grown hairs and razor burn. Once the cold hits, limbs go back into tights and leggings, so shaving can be kept to a minimum and the inner gorilla in us can come out again. I am joking... kind of. Anyway, I found this to be a really useful product, particularly on my underarms as I have really sensitive skin under there, and this helped to soothe the skin and keep rashes at bay. It also meant shaving the next time could be done sooner than usual and not be a scary, painful experience.

Birchbox Lipstick Pen

The theme of this box was a collaboration with 'coppa feel' which is charity who aim to make sure you are regularly checking your breasts for lumps or any irregularities. This cute little lipstick pen means you can mark in your diary when you last checked, so you can make sure you are keeping up to date with it! I love this little pen, it goes perfectly with my diary!

For more information go to coppafeel.org

Emma Hardie Cleanser

I'm going to go right out there and say it... but this is my favourite cleanser I think I have ever tried. Usually when a product is coming to the end, I am always thinking what I can try next, and this little sample size of Emma Hardie's Moringa Cleansing balm, has just not been around long enough for me.

Up until very recently, the idea of a cleansing balm made me sick to my stomach. A waxy oily balm all over my face and eyes sounded vile to me. Since trying a cleansing balm, I am now an addict, and would say it is my favourite consistency of cleanser. I like having the soft balmy feel afterwards, and I like feeling like every scrap of my makeup has been removed.

This Emma Hardie cleanser is said to rival the number one cleansing balm by Eve Lom, (small review at the end of this post here) which Vogue has said is the best cleanser in the world. I'm not one to argue with a top fashion magazine, but I think this just maybe better.

I do love the Eve Lom cleanser, but my only problem with it, is the clinical smell it has. It is also quite pricey at £55.00 for 100ml. Emma Hardie's cleanser is only £36.00 for the same amount, and this balm is made from all natural ingredients, and that really reflects in the beautiful smell it has. It's main ingredients are Grape, Almond, Orange and Bergamot. I smells almost like Neroli, the orange flower, which is undoubtedly my favourite smell at the moment. It melts on the skin and sweeps away all traces of makeup. 

The other winning counterpart to this product for me are the cloths. The full size cleanser comes with a cloth, or you can buy three in a pack like I have done. You can see the packaging of the products as well from the picture.

Emma Hardie has created this dual sided cloth, as the muslin material is traditional for cleansing balms, and is great at removing stubborn eye makeup. However on the other side is a micro fibre flannel, which goes deep down into the pores to really remove all grime, and give the skin a good polish. It is gentle enough to be used everyday, and you really see every trace of makeup come of on the cloth. It can also be run under a tap to remove the grime, and the cloth looks basically clean again. Obviously after a while they do need a quick go in the wash, but they are a good size and take a lot of usage before it needs to be washed.

The Emma Hardie 'way' of cleansing is not to scrub at your face, but to gently sweep down the natural lines in your face, so down each cheekbone, down the nose, and just general downward motions to really give yourself a mini facial.

The combination of this cloth and the lovely smooth balm makes me look forward to my evening cleanse. The balm can also be used as a mask for 10 mins, but I didn't have enough in my little sample size to try it! She also has a foaming face wash cleanser which is great for people on the go, or for morning cleanses. The two can also be added together to make a mega cleanse mask. I hope to try more products from the Emma Hardie range, so keep your eyes peeled!

Ren Cleansing Balm

We may be coming to the end winter, and entering the Spring season of April showers and the occasional burst of sunshine, but in the UK the weather could not be wetter or windier if it tried. During the days of sideways rain and whipping winds, my skin really goes into panic mode and becomes, dry, uncomfortable and flaky. Anyone who reads my blog will know I suffer from severe dryness around my nose area, that looks like eczema or something similar which I really battle with, and I would say is probably my number one skin concern. Walking to work when the weather is like this, makes my nose so unsightly but also really chapped and painful. I have friends who seem to be suffering with something similar, is anyone else?? When my nose becomes as painful and sensitive as it is, I have to really give it some TLC. My latest saviour is the Ren 'Rosa Centifolia Cleansing Balm'. Just to clear up any confusion, Ren have recently repackaged a lot of their stuff, and this used to just be called 'No.1 Cleansing Purity Balm' with a grey band at the top. Now thats sorted let me tell you why I love this balm.

I usually keep this Cleansing balm at my boyfriends house. It is such a versatile product its the only thing I really need to keep round his. This Cleansing balm is similar to products such as Eve Lom's famous cleanser, because as soon as it touches the skin it turns into a oil, and melts into the skin. When water is added, it turns into a milkier consistency, and washes away leaving skin feeling comfortably cleansed. This cleanser removes all traces of makeup, including waterproof eye makeup (although it stings slightly if you get it in your eye), and comes with a cloth that allows you to gently buff and exfoliate.

The Rose in the product makes it really soothing, and perfect for my dry nose. When its feeling particularly sad, I apply the balm to soothe the sensitivity and just leave it on. You can see why it is the only product I leave at my boyfriend's as it cleanses, removes makeup, exfoliates and makes a lovely face mask. Not only all this, but the brands is a natural brand and has no parabens, sulfates or mineral oils, meaning the product is helping your skin in such a gentle way, which we all know by now is a big thumbs up from me. I have had to bring this product home so I can use it more often, but I am also away on a skiing holiday in a couple of weeks where the whipping winds and cold will really harm my nose, so it is the first product going in my suitcase.

Ren has so many exciting new products and ranges coming out, including a hot cloth cleanser to rival Liz Earle's cult product, which will join the cleansing range along side the balm. Their new V-Cense range also has some interesting products coming out such as the one minute wonder facial product, which I cannot wait to try! I've been using a lot more Ren recently so keep your eyes peeled for more reviews!