Subscription Box – Vintage Frills

vintagefrills / November 1, 2016

October 2016 Birchbox Review

It’s been a while since I last reviewed a Birchbox. Although I was a little disappointed by my August box, the September and October ones have been really good. I didn’t get round to reviewing September’s box, but I’m including a picture of its contents at the bottom of this post. So before the November box comes in the next few days, I thought I’d pop a quick review of last months box up.

October’s box had a Fire theme as I’m a Sagittarius and was one of four different element designs for the month. I was pleased to have another drawer style box, as they’re always great for storing things in.

The contents are pretty good this month and a good mix of products and price points. I always like a good mix of make-up, skincare, hair and body products and getting to try new brands.

First up in the box was the Lord and Berry 20100 Maxi Matte Crayon Lipstick in the shade Intimacy. I really like pencil lipsticks, because you can use them as a liner and fill them in, giving a lovely neat precision look. This one has quite a creamy formula while still being solid enough to work with, so I found it really easy to apply. The colour is absolutely beautiful, much more pink than it looks in the picture, the shade is sophisticated and the perfect pink shade for winter. As with many matte lipsticks, despite the creamy formula it is a little drying after a few hours, but I still love it. This full-sized product would normally cost £12.

Next up was a Rituals The Ritual of Sakura Magic Touch Body Cream. This is a product I use all the time anyway and one of my favourite body creams. The smell is absolutely beautiful and really lasts. I’d highly recommend all the products from this range. I was also really impressed with the sample size of this. The full-sized product costs £19.50.

The only product in the box that I wasn’t that enthusiastic about was the Doux Me Pure Spring Mist. Although I like mineral water sprays, I do find them a little over priced and this isn’t a product I would really use at this time of year, although they are nice in the summer. This was very refreshing and I have been giving my face a spritz in the morning before applying my moisturiser, as recommended. I probably wouldn’t invest in this for the £16 rrp though.

I really love a good mud mask, so I was pleased to see the Whish Renewing Mud Mask in my box. This exfoliating mask contains fruit enzymes to brighten and purify the skin. This is a great quick skin boost as you only leave it on for a short amount of time. I really liked the product and it definitely gave my tired skin a helping hand. The sample however was quite small, despite the tube not being tiny, the amount inside was just enough for one application. The full-sized product costs £29.

Another really useful product in the box, was the No4 Fluro5 Elixir Restore & Repair Oil. Recently I’ve been using more natural and silicone free shampoo and conditioners for my hair. I prefer products that don’t coat up my hair and leave build up. To stop my hair feeling dull and flyaway, hair oils are really useful. This product was really lovely and just a little bit run through the ends of hair, helped to moisturise and smother it. A little goes a long way, so this little sample has lasted me ages. The oil also smells really nice. The full-sized product costs £18.

This months bonus item was an eyebrow brush. I found this one a little hard and scratchy on my brows, so it won’t be replacing the one I currently use.

Over all this was a pretty good box and I’ve enjoyed using the products. I was also impressed with the overall value of the products and at £10 a box, I think I got my monies worth this time.

As I didn’t get round to reviewing the September box, I though I’d quickly show you the box and contents. This was one of my favourite boxes of the year so far, I really liked all the products inside and have used them all loads.

If you’d like to receive a monthly Birchbox too, I have a refer a friend link which adds £5 worth of points to your account when you sign up. These can be used to buy full-sized products in the Birchbox shop.

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vintagefrills / August 3, 2016

I Love Gin – Gin O’Clock Box Review

I’m a big fan of both cocktails and subscription boxes, so I’m always keen to try combinations of the two. Last year I reviewed the Taste Cocktail box and had so much fun mixing up a mojito using the ingredients provided in the box. When I heard about their new venture the I love Gin box, I knew I had to give it a try. The box is all about trying new combinations and creating the perfect G&T.

My Gin O’Clock Box contained two types of gin and two different tonics. A 6 O’Clock Gin and Sloe Gin and A Peter Spanton London Tonic and Cardamom Tonic. I haven’t tried either brand before, so it was great to discover them both. Rob and I love reviewing things together so we settled down for an evening of mixing up our drinks and giving them a try together.

Each box comes with a booklet with the details of each ingredient and instructions of how to mix your them to make the perfect drink. It was really nice finding out a bit more about the products and the backgrounds of the companies who make them.

The instructions are really simple and easy to follow and we had our drinks mixed up in no time at all. Just remember to buy ice and lemon in advance, as I had to send Rob out to fetch them before we could begin!

You get enough in each box to make two drinks each. So it’s perfect if you want a little taster.

First we tried a classic gin and tonic using the gin and London tonic. It was lovely and smooth and tasted absolutely delicious. The two products worked really well together. This was Rob’s favourite of the two drinks we tried. It was as close to the perfect gin and tonic that i’ve tried in a long time.

I especially enjoyed the tonic, which is slightly fuller flavoured than other tonics I’ve tried. It’s definitely something I would buy again. It was a really refreshing drink for a hot summer evening.

Next we mixed the sloe gin with the cardamom tonic. I absolutely love spiced drinks and this was perfect for me. The flavours worked absolutely beautifully together. I think this would be perfect for the colder months as it has more of a winter-warmer type taste to it. This was great twist on the tradition G&T.

This one was perfect for serving up in a vintage tea-cup and was more like a cocktail, than a traditional G&T. This would be great for parties as it’s a little more unusual and looks as good as it tastes.

Overall I was really impressed with the box. It’s the sort of thing I would love to receive as a gift. It came beautifully packaged and it was a really fun way to spend an evening. I really enjoyed trying brands I wouldn’t otherwise have bought and I’m very tempted to re-purchase the full-sized versions. If you’re looking for a fun date night activity, this is a great option. I can’t wait to see what other boxes they’ll be launching in the future.

You can purchase both the box and the full-sized products from the I Love Gin website.

*Thank you to I Love Gin for sending me this box to review. All opinions are my own.

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vintagefrills / December 29, 2015

Taste – The Cocktail Subscription Box

As you may know, I love subscription boxes. It’s great receiving a little present from myself every month and seeing what hides inside. I’ve tried a few beauty boxes and a couple of boxes for the kids. I recently discovered a box which combines my love of cocktails with all the benefits of a monthly subscription and now I’m hooked.

I was recently sent my first Taste cocktail box to try and I had a really fun night trying it out. Each Taste box comes with a selection of high quality spirits and other cocktail ingredients and a brief history of the cocktail it contains.

It then gives you a few recipes to try, so that you can find your ultimate variation of the cocktail. My box contained ingredients and instructions to make my all time favourite cocktail – the Mojito.

The box contained a great selection of ingredients and I couldn’t wait to get started. The only things I had to pick up myself were fresh limes, mint leaves and soda water, which were easy enough to pick up at my local super market.

The kit contained 3 different cocktail recipes, two were different variations of the Mojito and the third was for a mint julep. The instructions were all really easy to follow and despite being a complete novice I really enjoyed putting the cocktails together.

The first cocktail I tried was the Classic Mojito, which is what I always order when I’m out and one that I’m really familiar with. I was amazed how straight forward it was to make and it tasted absolutely delicious.

Having used the kit to try this one, I’d definitely look out for the ingredients in larger quantities so I could make them again at home. I’d love to throw a little cocktail party one day.

The next one I tried was a Bolivian Mojito. This is similar to the Classic version but it also contains Agwa which I’ve never heard of before, but really adds a little something extra to the taste.

Lastly I made a Mint Julep, although it did taste good, this ones a little bitter for me and not as refreshing a Classic Mojito.

If you love cocktails and would love to learn to make them properly yourself, them the Taste box is definitely the way to go. I love the idea of trying a different cocktail each month.

You can buy one-off boxes from the taste website for £29 each or sign up to a monthly subscription which varies in price from £24 a month to £22, depending on the length of subscription. The one-off boxes would also make a great gift.

All the information and how to subscribe can be found on the Taste Cocktails website.

* My box was sent to me to review. All opinions are my own. Please drink responsibly and stay classy!

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vintagefrills / November 21, 2015

What’s in my November Birchbox

November has absolutely flown by! It feels like we’ve just said goodbye to the summer and now winter is upon us! With another month comes another lovely Birchbox. Yet again I’m really happy with the contents of this fabulous beauty subscription box. I’ve now been subscribed for nearly two years and I’m always amazed by how many fantastic products I’ve got to try through the boxes.

This months box is another really pretty one. Since Birchbox started using pretty patterned boxes rather than the old brown ones, I’ve started using them to keep bits and bobs in. They’re great for organising make-up and jewellery. This month’s box is a collaboration with Skinny Dip and includes a discount voucher for the store.

So what did I think of this months products? I always like a box with a good mixture of skin, hair and make-up products. This was one of my first boxes which didn’t contain anything for my hair, but overall I was pretty impressed.

The first product was a full sized Mascara from So Susan. I’m not familiar with the brand so this was the first product I’d tried from them. The Featherlash Mascara is a nice subtle mascara in a perfect black shade. The effect is subtle and it really spreads the lashes for a naturally full look. Perfect for everyday make-up.

My only misgiving with the product is purely a matter of personal taste. I don’t really like mascaras with brush wands. I prefer plastic comb ones as I feel they suit my lashes batter. So although this a great product, its just not for me. The usual price for the mascara is £18.

The second full sized product in the box, was a rather wonderful hand-cream from Cowshed. In the colder months I definitely need a good hand-cream to carry around and keep my hands feeling happy. This one is lovely and moisturising without feeling sticky and it smells amazing.

I’m really happy with this product and it’s probably my favourite in the box. It has a real luxury feel to it and I’m definitely going to keep this in my handbag and use it everyday. The hand cream is available from £8.

Another really useful product is the Absolution La Créme de Teint. This is a very faint tinted moisturiser which you apply over your moisturiser instead of foundation. I really like to let my skin breath so mid-week if I’m not going anywhere special I prefer to go very light on my make-up. This is perfect for brightening the complexion without a build up of heavy product and I absolutely love it. The full sized product costs £35.

I’ve used a few Lord and Berry products before and always been quite happy with them. The Silhouette Neutral Lipliner is a very handy little product. It works in the same way as a coloured lipliner, ensuring a neat finish without any bleeding. However being clear you can use it with any colour lipstick and it’s super subtle. I haven’t had a chance to test it properly, but I think its a great idea and very useful. The full sized liner costs £9.

Another great skincare product from this months box is the Delaron Créme Acquaconfort. This is a lovely cream with lots of natural oils to comfort skin that needs a little TLC.

It’s a lovely cream and I love the scent and the great list of ingredients, however I prefer slightly heavier face creams so although it’s clearly a very product this one isn’t something I’d buy again. The full sized product is £34.

The last product in box somehow passed me by when I was taking my pictures, sorry! I’ve tried quite a few English Laundry perfumes through birch box and I’m always really pleased with their old fashioned classic fragrances. On this occasion i tried the Notting hill Femme Eau de Parfum. I love spicy winter scents and this one, which is a feminine take on their classic men’s fragrance is perfect for me. The full sized perfume costs £60.

I really loved this box. it was great to have a box full of high end and luxury products, which is one of the things that first attracted me to try Birchbox. I really feel they’ve upped their game in recent months and I’ve not been disappointed for a while.

See how this box compares to last year’s November Birchbox.

If you’d like to receive a monthly Birchbox too, I have a refer a friend link with add £5 worth of points to your account. These can be used to buy full sized products in the Birchbox shop.

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vintagefrills / October 19, 2015

What’s in my October Birchbox

I’ve now been a Birchbox subscriber for more than 18 months, and I’m still really enjoying receiving my monthly box of beauty goodies. For those of you not familiar with Birchbox; it’s a monthly beauty subscription box. When you subscribe, you fill in a beauty profile and then each month you receive a lovely box of high-end products to try. You also earn points for each box which you can redeem on full-sized products in the Birchbox shop. I’ve tried so many fab products through Birchbox, some I’ve repurchased several times since discovering them in one of my boxes.

This months Birchbox were offering a choice of two boxes, one was curated by Stylist Magazine the other which I chose was the Back to Basics box. I chose this box because I like everyday products which I can use all the time and this was a great little selection.

I’m not sure how I’ve managed to never try Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat before. it’s one of those products that I’ve been hearing about for years. As someone who never has a second to sit and let my nails dry, a product that speeds up drying time and makes my polish last longer is an absolute must have. I’ve only tried it once since my box came, but I’m really happy with the results and will be using this loads. The product normally costs £9.

I wear eyeliner almost every day. When it comes to liquid liner I usually prefer a brush. However the soft and felt tip on the Eyeko Fat Liquid Liner is so easy to apply and is really easy to shape. The liner dries almost instantly and is such a gorgeous dark black that I may have found a new favourite. I was also really pleased to get the full sized product which normally costs £12.

Another cult beauty favourite is the Bioderma micellar solution. I’ve already tried this before and it really is a great product. It’s great for gently removing every trace of make-up and always leaves my skin feeling lovely. I’d use this product more, if I wasn’t completely loyal to Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish to remove all my make-up. I’d still highly recommend this one though. The full sized product costs £10.20.

I wouldn’t normally be particularly happy to get a toothpaste in a beauty box, however I’m really interested to try the Regenerate Enamel Science Toothpaste. It claims to regenerate early enamel erosion and bring back teeth natural whiteness. So far I’ve only used it a couple of times so I can’t comment on the results, but it does taste really nice and my teeth felt great after using it. The full sized product costs £10.

I haven’t used either of the hair products from this months box yet, But I’m looking forward to trying the Beaver Professional Hydro Nutritive Moisturising Shampoo. I don’t currently have a favourite shampoo and I’m trying all different brands at the moment. This one contains avocado oil and aloe vera to repair damaged hair and after all the colouring I’ve had done this year i think my hair needs it! This Birchbox Exclusive costs £11.50 for the full sized product.

This months beauty bonus is a sachet of the Beaver Professional Hydro Nutritive Moisturising Conditioner to go with the shampoo. This is designed to strengthen and smoothen damaged hair. The full sized product costs £12.

If you like what you see why not try your own Birchbox. If you’d like to sign up for Birchbox yourself I have a refer a friend link which will give you 50 points (£5) to spend in the Birchbox shop when you sign up. You can find out more or sign up for Birchbox here.