My BirchBox shop disappointment *Update

Hey Beauties, 

As you may be aware I am a BIRCHBOX Beauty Box monthly subscriber and I have received some pretty cool bits from them to try. The product that stands out to me is the Number 4 Lumiere d'Hiver Super Comb Prep & Protect spray - it is amazing, I love it so much. 

So, when I finally reached 200 Birchbox points (which is worth £20) I decided to make an order for the real sized bottle which is £20 with free P&P/Shipping. 

I made the order on the 16th February, and received a package a few days later. I'm like a little kid at Christmas with delivers, I get super excited. So I cut the selotape holding the box together and opened it with anticipation. The Number 4 box seemed different to what I was expecting... it was square, I'm sure the item looked rectangular. I read the box before I ripped off the cellophane. Number 4 Lumiere d'hiver Reconstructing Masque. Huh? Oh - They must have sent me the wrong item by mistake, so I emailed them.

After a few days and a post onto Birchboxes Facebook wall I had a response; they apologised, gave me 50 extra Birchbox points (equalling to £5), asked me to send the wrong item back and said they have put in another order for the correct item. 

On the 21st February another order for the Number 4 Lumiere d'hiver Super Comb Prep & Protect spray was placed by a Birchbox member of staff. 

On the 24th February, I was handed another box by a friendly parcel man. I was happy to finally have what I wanted in my hands, with excitement I ripped open the box... I was disappointed, it was ANOTHER Number 4 Lumiere d'hiver Reconstructing Masque. I literally just threw it back in the box, closed the box and put it at the bottom of my stairs whilst I sent BirchBox another email. 2 days later and I still don't have a response from the team.

I don't doubt that the Number 4 Lumiere d'hiver Reconstructing Masque is amazing - it's just not what I want. It retails in at £36 which is pricey! It has some amazing qualities like; Liquid Vibrance Complex, Liquid Vitality Complex, Liquid Defence Complex and Liquid Purity Complex - So the price is worth it. It is a 5 star rated product, so if it's something your interested in and you can get it - then get it. I don't doubt how amazing it is as Number 4 is an amazing brand. I just really want my order of Number 4 Lumiere d'hiver Super Comb Prep & Protect Spray. 

So, Birchbox - if your reading this - please can you send me the correct order and please could you open an investigation into why the wrong item was sent twice? There is either a human error or an error within the warehouse (I'm guessing) either way it is frustrating for the consumer. 

Can I just say, to you - my reader. That I have ordered from Birchbox before and have no problems at all.

I shall keep you updated on this matter anyway... hopefully it will be resolved soon! 

*** After a few hours of this post going up I had a response from my last email to BirchBox; which said: 

" Hi Tessa,

Thanks so much for letting us know.

I am so sorry about this - I have gone ahead and gifted you 50 birchbox points for the issues you have had here. My apologies.

Would you like me to send the correct order or at this stage would you prefer a refund?

Hope that helps, again, my apologies for this!"

I replied asking for my correct product. 3rd time lucky I hope! 

I shall keep you posted...

Have fun, be good. 

Love Tessa. x

A very quick "Hello"!

Hey Beauties, 

I am missing blogging so much, and I also really miss reading other blogs too! 

I've been away from a keyboard for a little while now and that's because my daughter and I are in the process of moving into our own little place. Super happy. Super excited! A lot of work needs to be done so make up and beauty related things are taking a step back at the moment which actually hurts a little (literally - it's like a physical pain which is so weird). 

Not only that but my little girl destroyed my laptop by accidentally spilling chocolate milkshake over it when she was unwell. Gutted. For her (because she loves watching Peppa Pig on it) and for me (because it was my little 'me' and 'us' time). 

The very next day my phone charger also decided to not work - at all! The little metal adapter thingy that actually charges phones snapped off. I have no laptop and no phone. I actually bought a pack of postal stamps today and envelopes! I feel cut off from the world, especially as my home has no access to internet yet either or a home phone. Oh the horror! 

That's my quick "hello" as I asked if I could use my dads desktop PC for five minutes and now he needs it back. I feel like a teenager again - I never had a personal computer until I was 16, and I didn't have my own phone until I was about 14 I think, and even then they weren't as bad-ass as the phones today. Texting and phoning was all they did... oh and Snake! That mobile game is still the bomb in my opinion. 

I will speak to you soon - Don't know when, but I hope it is very soon! 
I received this months GlossyBox and Birchbox this week and I've bought loads of new products, plus I still want to do the review on AVON's new matte lipstick range! Uh - I need to get back on track with technology! 

I can't wait to be posting from my new home - Fingers crossed, It shall be soon! 

Have fun, be good. 

Love Tessa x 

Can this lip gloss really make my Lips Inflate?

Hey Beauties,

 

I am not one to shy away from the fact that my slim lips make me feel a little insecure, although I must admit now that if they were to miraculously develop into some amazing Angelina Jolie or Kylie Jenner type lips - I don't think they would suit me in the slightest! I just want a bit more of a plumper pout without going OTT for my face.

 

So in my quest for a more defined fuller lip I have tried many products, my latest product is one I came across by accident when I was scrolling through the make up section of the Very website and it's not one that's been heard of in the beauty-blogging-vlogging industry either as when I searched for before and after pictures or even a review I came across nothing!

 

Ladies (and gentlemen), I give you... FAKE BAKE Lip Inflate!

 

On the Very website it says; "Plump up your lips with Fake Bake's new lip-enhancing gloss. This 2-step product allows you to mix either one, two or three drops of collagen plumping mixer with the collagen plumping gloss to create a perfect pout.
It contains an effective peptide that enables the lips to produce more collagen. Glycerin helps to give a plump, hydrated look while a clever copolymer creates the illusion of smoothness" and it's on sale for £14.99.

 

I'm intrigued by the 2 step mixing formula - thing, that's a new concept to me and although it doesn't say how long the "plump"ness stays for, I'm hoping it's not just for a few minutes (like some products I have tried from other brands).

First of all, I love the packaging of the box. The brilliant white, the hot pink and the grey silver really make the product look great! The measuring chart on the bottom as well (just for illustration purposes only) is also pleasing on the eye. It definitely screams "I will enhance your lips" - just give me a try!

So, upon opening the box I found a standard 8ml clear lip gloss tube with a standard lip gloss applicator wand and a small 4ml metallic silver tube which is the collagen plumping mixture. There are no instructions leaflet inside, just a small sentence on the box with directions on how to use it; Mix - Apply - Maximise, "Add a drop of the Mixer to the lip gloss applicator, mix and apply. 1 Drop: minimum plump, 2 Drops: medium plump, 3 Drops: maximum plump".

I was expecting the Mixer to be in a liquid form, but it's a gel so to do "drops" was a little tricky. I literally just done a line on the applicator wand both times I have used it. I then put it back into the lip gloss tube (not sure if your supposed to because - to me - the directions aren't that straight forward), spun it around in there, took it out and applied it to my lips like an ordinary lip gloss.

After about 10 seconds I felt my lips become hot, a little while later my lips felt as if they were stinging. It definitely draws blood to the surface of your lips as my lips became quite red. A short while later my lips felt a little uncomfortable, but I still can't notice a big change in the plumpness or even the smoothness of my lips. I mean, my lips feel slightly fuller and they look ever so slightly pouter - but with the amount of mixer that I put on I was expecting a dramatic change,... "it's time to go large!" as they say on the box. The stinging sensation goes on for a long time though, so it's best if you try and find it comfortable, on my first application I nearly wiped it off but I just tried my best to ignore it and the sensation became a normal feeling to me.

But, whatever you do - try your hardest not to taste it or let your tongue touch it -  it feels so weird and it tastes disgusting (it makes your tongue sting for a few seconds ha!).

For the price and for what this product claims - I had high hopes. Especially with the sentence's on the box, "Create the perfect pout with this needle-free Collagen Plumping Gloss" and "take your lips from zero to hero". I dunno, maybe with continual use it will make differences over time. Again - it doesn't really say if it's a quick fix or something that will need to be done long term.

I shall keep trying... I still have high hopes for this so hopefully *fingers crossed* it'll pull through for me.

Before and after photos will be uploaded soon!



Let me know if you have found something that has given you a success story - I'll be happy to try it out, or even if you have heard of something being great!

Speak to you soon,

Have Fun, Be Good.

Love Tessa.