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.

My AVON Haul

Hey Beauties, 

My dear friend and AVON Rep, Debbie, dropped the 3rd brochure of this year through my door and I must say I like all the offers they have available right now, their sets and the cut price of a lot of their products, from make up to skin care, hair care and even tools. It's brilliant. I also bought all the sample sized shades of AVON's new range lipsticks which are called Perfectly Matte, they currently have 15 different colours which I will talk about in a coming post for you. 

I placed an order one week, then the following week I received them. I've mainly got eye make up bits and some bath and body products. Without further-a-do, let's start. 

 

On the very first page are the glimmerstick eyeliners. I already have a lot of these and previous-discontinued shades, I absolutely love them. This time two shades in particular caught my eye, Starry Night Blue (which the model is wearing and looks amazing in!) and Emerald (which is my birthstone and also I find green really suits my eyes and make them stand out so well). Usually they are £6 each however, in this brochure they are £5 each and also have an offer placed on them Buy One Choose One Free - mix and match saving £7. 
They have 'twist-up-bottoms' rather than pencil sharpening which is a huge plus, and the formula is super soft and super creamy. Colour pay off is gorgeous and the shades in real life match the shade swatches in the brochure really well.

'Emerald'

'Starry Night'

I bought a set that AVON put together which included an Eye Dimensions Eyeshadow, a Big & Daring Glimmerstick Kohl Eyeliner and Big & Daring Volume mascara all for £10 (saving £13.50). You could choose between all 4 shades of eyeshadow, I chose the one the model was wearing which is Sultry Smoke (a pearl, champagne and black trio). There was also 6 shades of the eyeliner to pick from, I chose boldest black. They have a Brown/Black and a Black mascara, I chose the black. All what the model was wearing, all looking gorgeous! 

The eyeliner is the same soft and creamy texture as the glimmersticks above, I'd say it's most likely they share the same - if not very similar - formula. The shade is a nice dark black, colour pay off again is excellent. The mascara feels bulkier than others I have had from AVON or other brands, definitely feels larger than most. The wand is curved to really give those lashes some help to curl and the bristles look as though they will comb and coat nearly all lashes well. Sultry Smoke Eye Dimensions Eyeshadow is WOW, upon sliding the item out of the box my mouth dropped, my eyes widened and I literally said out-loud "Ooooh... That is so pretty!". The shades are phenomenal and I love the sparkles within all three shades, just gorgeous! I can't stop staring at them, it's mesmerising. I think this will be my go-to palette for Valentines Day this year. Oh My Gosh - they are gorgeous.

Big  Daring Glimmerstick & Mascara

 

'Sultry Smoke'

 

The last eye make up item is the SuperSHOCK Vivid Eyeshadow in the shade Soft Bronze, they have two other shades called 24K Gold and Sparkling Platinum which are pretty self explanatory really. In the tube it is definitely liquid form, looks like water to be fair. It doesn't dry quickly so it is blendable and it is also buildable, so you can give it a few layers and get the colour really vivid or leave it subtle with one light sweep.

'Soft Bronze'

On to Body bits, I saw this, the Skin So Soft Silky Moisture Tissue Oil, normally £8 but it's £4 in this brochure. They've named it the stretch mark superhero and claims it also reduces scars, dark spots and discolouration. I personally bought it for the discolouration aspect, I quite like my stretch marks due to my pregnancy as it's something that I nor the doctors thought was ever going to happen. I wear them with absolute pride at my body for finally conquering it! Anyways, my skin has always been quite pigment-crazy, and I'd like it to somehow even out my skin tone.

The last bits I got were simply because I liked the packaging... although my photo's really don't do the design justice. The new fragrance Red Rose and Peach in AVON's Naturals body lotion, scented sprits and shower gel. All three items are half price in this brochure, which is a bonus. They usually range between £2.70 and £3.20. Doesn't the design with the two roses and the cut open peach still with the stone inside look gorgeous against the ombre red background and clear bottles. Gorgeous. These will look good in my bathroom. On to the smell, it does smell nice - not too strong, I'm not sure the scent will last all day but should make my skin smell nice in the morning at least. We shall see when I start to use them.

As said above, I also got all 15 shades of their new matte lipstick line in their sample sizes. So many to choose from and get to know... Will talk about them in a next post!

There we have it! What I got in this brochure. My favourite within this order is definitely - hands down - the eye dimensions eye shadow in Sultry Smoke. It's stunning. So stunning. Just... Stunning!

'Sultry Smoke'

'Sultry Smoke' eye dimensions eye shadow

I am a huge fan of AVON anyway, and seeing new products and lines that they bring out do excite me. Are they a hit or miss with you?

Speak to you soon,

Have Fun - Be Good!

Find me on twitter @MissTessaLeanne

Love Tessa. x
 

The Year of More with GlossyBoxUK!

Hey Beauties,

 

Another month to go through, another beauty box to look through.

 

In its pretty baby pink box is GlossyBox! As always, wrapped in pink tissue and black high quality shredded paper are 5... I'd usually say samples but, no, not this time... we have 4 full sized products and 1 luxury size product to delve into and get to know.

 

First up we have the UNANI Dermo Defence Face Mask which says "provides skincare, protection, nutrition and hydration while removing impurities", It also claims "you will notice a profound improvement in skin regeneration". This transparent face mask is in a 100ml bottle and retails at £11.36 from comprarcosmetica.es, it smells really natural and fresh. It is recommended for sensitive skin types, although I'd say drier skin would benefit from it too. I have neither, so I won't be using it  but I do have somebody in mind who would benefit from this greatly.

 

The next product my hand finds is in a small rectangle box which is in a pretty, graphic and edgy print. The item is in exactly the same design, I like it. It's the Teeez Cosmetics Oasis Gem Lipstick in Coral Onyx. Its a matte finish which is on-trend at the moment, but doesn't feel dry on the lips, its left my lips feeling silky-satin-smooth. They claim it will last 8 hours, I'm looking forward to seeing if that's true as the colour is gorgeous and the formula is so pigmented, it's intense. Plus I'm in love with the way it feels on my lips (I've just seen it contains coconut oil). It retails in at £11.93 from teeezcosmetics.com.

 

My eyes spot something red, what is this I wonder? ANGELE PARIS Red Nail Lacquer in the shade... I have no idea, I don't understand French. Maybe 'NL 01 - Vernis a Ongles/Nail Lacquer? I'm not sure, either way its a post box red colour; very bright and very red, the type that's always on trend, on point and a complete classic. You can buy it for £6.32 which makes it an affordable product, which should last... we shall see.

 

Next we have something that is from GLOSSYBOXes very own cosmetics range, an eye shadow in Glossy Mauve. GlossyBox say, "This season, smoky purple and blue eyes were seen at Christian Dior. We've tapped into this pretty trend with this exclusive GLOSSYBOX satin eye shadow. Either apply with your fingers tips for a sheer finish or with a wet brush for dramatic colour". There is 3g's worth of product which is pretty darn good and big in size for an eye colour and only costs £7.10. Packaging is classic, black with the glossybox motif on the transparent lid top, it seems strong and sturdy as well.

 

Lastly, in the luxury size, we have the Madara Cellular Repair Serum which retails in at £38 and GlossyBox have kindly added a discount code in this months box (20% off until the end of the month). Upon reading the box, it sounds amazing. First up, It's 100% organic with 0% added water/aqua and this is suitable for all skin types! I already want to smoother this all over my face, but I need to focus... So, based on a consumer report of 30 women; 86% reported an instant lifting effect and after 4 weeks 91% had increased dermis collagen synthesis more than 15% and 69% had increased dermis collagen synthesis more than 30%. Just to explain, the Dermis is underneath the epidermis and epidermis is what you can see (skin!) the dermis is what is underneath that and holds things like your nerve endings, sensory nerves, elastin and collagen (just to name a few). Collagen is a fibrous protein which basically leaves skin plump and full, this product claims to stimulate and create more collagen. Sounds intense... but yet gentle, I am super excited to give this ago - I know, I'm only 24 and I shouldn't need it, let alone want to use it but I do.

So there we have it, January's GlossyBox! And a pretty decent beauty box at that! What do you think?

Speak soon,

Have Fun and Be Good.

Love Tessa x

Primark Design Nails... My Opinion.

Hey Beauties,

If you had read one of my last post you would know that on my last haul I bought numerous false nails from Primark to try out. The Fashion Nails did not disappoint at all, so I had high hopes for the Design Nails.

After application, I needed to file down the tips which I done and then before I could take a photograph of the final results my little girl woke and she needed me, after going to bed myself and waking in the morning I noticed two nails had already fallen off. I managed to find them, so I glued them back on and went about my daily routine. Besides the hassle with getting them to stay on my nails, I did like the design. I wasn't too keen on the triangle negative space ones, but the stripes I did like!

The following day, more of them started to fall off and so I gave in and just tore them off my nails. I know these were only £1, but I was expecting them to stay on at least 24 hours. I am disappointed.

I can't say why the Design Nails may have fallen off so much more easily then the Fashion Nails, I applied them both the same way. I believe they use the same glues, the only thing that may have been different is the material the actual false nail is made from but I could be wrong.

I'm upset to say I won't be repurchasing, not yet anyway... maybe if I'm feeling a challenge and optimistic in the future I might.

Speak soon!

Have fun, and be good.

Love Tessa. x

Pop of Green and a quick brief of how I contour my lips

Hey Beauties,

 

As promised, I am giving you a run down on all the products I used to create this look:

 

Prep: Honestly, I completely forgot to use primer but if I had remembered I would have used Benefit the Porefessional  all over my face along with the Benefit Air Patrol eyelid primer on my eye lids (top and bottom areas).  

 

Base: I used the one, the only, the best, Collection Lasting Perfection concealer in shade 1 'Fair' to make my blemishes disappear. For foundation I used the Stila Stay All Day foundation  in Number 3 Light (review coming soon) firstly stippling it on using my Real Techniques brush and then buffing it in with the RT Buffing brush (I find that technique diminishes the look of my enlarged open pores). Rimmel London Wake Me Up Concealer in 010 'Ivory' was then buffed in underneath my eyes using the same buffing RT brush. To add a bit of depth and colour to my face I used Make Up Academy (MUA) Professional Bronzed Perfection powder, brushing it all over where the sun would usually hit and to lightly sculpt my nose, under chin and under cheek bones using RT Powder Brush and a Marsk eye shadow brush (I don't know specifically what type). To illuminate my cheek bones, the bridge of my nose and my eyebrow bone I used Make Up Academy (MUA) Undress Your Skin Shimmer Highlighter in Iridescent Gold brushing it on using my RT Contour Brush.

 

Eyes: I pressed the green/blue aqua colour in a Flutter Eye Collection Palette underneath my lower water line using the brush provided (I found this gave the best result). I then applied AVON Glow Liquid Eyeliner in Green Oasis over the top. Before mascara I used an AVON eye lash curler and then for mascara I used a conditioning eyelash primer by Manna Kadar  then using the Big & False Lash mascara by AVON to give my lashes some volume and a nice deep black colour. I applied these only to my top lashes. I ran my NYX Wonder Pencil in 01 Light on my bottom water line and to conceal any mascara mis-haps on my lids and fix any pigmentation issues I used the same NYX pencil blending it with a FERO eye shadow brush (which I'm sure is their Blending Brush).

 

Eyebrows: Seventeen Brow's that! Brow Kit is my best friend at the moment. I firstly use the pencil provided to fill my eye brows in swift and gentle hair like strokes, I apply the brow wax on top using the brush provided and then go over using the powder. I seem to get the most natural realistic look with that method, otherwise I find I have to brush my eye brows through with a spoolie to remove product to make them look how I want them too. I wipe the brush on a wipe (to clean and dampen the bristles to make the product pop more on application) and then apply the highlighter provided underneath my eyebrows and in my tear duct area of my eyes to make them lighter, illuminate and open.

 

Lips: I love to contour my lips, they lack lustre and are rather thin. I apply AVON ANEW Transparent Lip Plumping Conditioner to soften (I don't personally, think they do anything to the size but I'll keep using due to wishful thinking!). I then draw a line just underneath my bottom lip with Essence Eyebrow Designer pencil in 02 Brown (Bare with me,... I'm not crazy!) and I also put a fare bit amount on the area in-between my lips and nose (I'll need to attach a photo here so you guys know what I am on about as I have no idea how to describe it lol). I blend both lines out with a Studio eyeshadow brush so it gives the appearance of a shadow. I then go on the cupids bow and the little area around the newly shadowed area between my top lip and nose with the NYX Wonder Pencil in Light blending it slightly with a clean Studio eyeshadow brush. I quite liked my natural lip colour today, so I just applied an extra layer of my AVON ANEW Transparent Lip Plumping Conditioner to piece it all together. And Viola! The puzzle (that is my face) is complete after a few spritz of Make Up Academy Pro-Base Fixing Mist for all day long wear.

How I contour my lips into making them look fuller, after application - Blend! 

 

And again, Viola!

 

When putting it all on, It doesn't seem That much. Is it too much? No... but it seems it when you write it all down.

 

Hope you enjoyed reading this, and found it some use. I was completely unsure what to call it hence the rather unimaginative "Pop of Green" and lip contour title.

 

I shall speak to you again very very soon,

 

Have Fun, Be Good.

 

Love Tessa. x