My Little Box February Products

There wasn't all that many products to try out in this month's box. Just the hand cream from Polåar, Mask and Peel from Noxidoxi, and the day cream from their own beauty brand, My Little Beauty.

The first product I tried was the Mask and Peel. As I explained in my previous post, all the instructions were in French. The description card included had the typical 'banterous' information from My Little Box....not useful in any way to work out how I should use this product. In the end, using my pigeon French, I tried my best to decipher the instructions. Mask applied, I waited the 5 minutes I believe the instructions recommended. The closer I got to the five minute mark, the more I wondered if my face should be burning like hellfire. After washing the product off I had two immediate thoughts in this order: 1) Jesus, my face is extremely red 2) my face feels immediately smoother. As I've said in previous posts, I fall for new skincare products all too easily, so in the morning I gave my makeup and product free face a closer inspection. Yes, my skin does seem slightly smoother and with multiple uses I believe it could make a bigger improvement. Coming in at €24.90 for 50 ml.
UPDATE - 29 / 02
I reused this product about 10 minutes ago. My boyfriend immediately asked if I was colouring my hair because that's exactly what this product smells like. Yes my skin feels a lot smoother, but to achieve this result it feels like 5 layers of skin have been burnt off. Here is the end result (apologies for the just out of shower hair):

My boyfriend has asked me to never use this product again. I recently reviewed another facial peel that has had similar results with the agonising pain of burning my skin off.
http://hansunahnah.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/avon-advanced-resurfacing-peel.html?m=1

Next up I tested the Polåar handcream. Priced at £16.90 for 75ml, it has some lovely Lapland themed branding, complete with big silvery snowflake on the front. For me this would have been a perfect addition to December's box as a Christmasy treat. In all honesty the wording on the card included definitely hints more at start of winter rather than heading towards spring.

Now I was expecting a berry scent to this little number so either it doesn't or it was too subtle for me to trace. However, it is a decent handcream, leaving my hands feeling hydrated and well protected. For me it's definitely more of a heavy duty handcream and should work well through the wintery months but if you're looking for a light, scented handcream for the approaching spring, I don't think this is the one.

The final product was some day cream from their own beauty brand, My Little Beauty. I am a fan of their night cream, so I was looking forward to test running this one for you. I'm not a morning person so going by the name 'Easy Morning' I'm expecting nothing short of a miracle. It says on the back that it's "subtle shimmer brings a radiant, all-over-glow". Let's just say I could do with all the help I can get to have a radiant complexion this morning after too much partying over the weekend. I liked the feel of the product and my skin definitely felt a bit better hydrated. However, the "subtle shimmer" is quite as subtle as I'd like. Every time I looked in the mirror I could just see flecks of glitter. Excuse my make up free face and pulled back hair, but if you look at my nose you'll see the glitter flecks I'm referring to.

Not for me this product at all. In fact not much in this box was me, which left me very disappointed. Especially after the fiasco with not receiving January's box until the end of February. I very much hope March's box picks up a bit and I'm hoping for products that aren't hand cream or face cream. Without a big improvement, I'm afraid to say that March's box may be my last.

Avon Advanced Resurfacing Peel

I've refrained from blogging about Avon products as I sell them and don't want people to think I'm being biased. This product is truly a little gem!

They claim superior results to a £185 professional facial peel which to be honest I found hard to believe. Now I've never forked out for a facial at the grand price of £185, so I can in no way confirm nor deny this claim. What I will say is that I've been mightily impressed so far. I do have quite good skin to beginning with it must be said, but after using it over the last 10 days I have seen an improvement.

My skin is noticeably smoother with a more even tone. It has a 10% concentration of glycolic acid which they claim won't cause redness or irritation. My skin is quite sensitive and whilst I wouldn't say it caused any irritation as such, it can be a wee bit nippy on my face.  Nothing to be worried about though. In general it doesn't cause much redness, definitely nothing that lasts longer than a few minutes. Word of warming though, I used it the day after using a Mask and Peel from Noxidoxi  (received in My Little Box this month - See My Little Box February 2016 for more details) and I was left with a lot of redness that lasted most of the evening. My boyfriend thought it was hilarious,me not see much. It felt like my face was on fire. This is no doubt my own fault, but it isn't the best idea to use after using an intensive face scrub. 

Charged at £10 for this current Avon campaign. Used 2-3 times a week, each tub contains 30 of the pads meaning that the price for a 10 weeks course works out at only £1 a week. Call me biased all you want but that bets paying £185 for a facial.

These gems can be bought by UK customers and delivered straight to their door from www.my.avon.uk.com/HannahWeetman

#MakeUpYourOwnMind

UPDATE 29/02-

I tried out another chemical facial peel from Noxidoxi that I received through my subscription box, My Little Box. The result from this other product was a burning red face. I can genuinely say that the Avon Advanced Resurfacing Peel gave the same results without the pain of other chemical peels!

Avon wins! 

My Little Box February 2016

Now this box sparked a huge amount of excitement when I opened it. Called My Little Home Box, I was ready to burst....the main reason I have just bought my first home. It's a very proud moment in my life and right now all things home related very much take my fancy. The box itself has a sweet illustration of a woman reading what I presume is the My Little World magazine in her cosy little armchair. I was in love at first site.

Upon opening my box I was expecting to find the usual little postcard, I was not disppointed. The postcard took pride of place in a little blue frame.  Featuring the usual Kanako figure relaxing in here living room with the Andy Warhol quote "All is pretty" appearing being here. Whilst the postcard this month is lovely and very much in keeping with the theme of the box, the frame it is featured in I do not love. The blue colour is nice but would I have the burning desire to purchase it for the £6 they sell it for on www.mylittlecorner.fr, I wouldn't. 

Underneath the frame was a cushion cover. Sweet idea that is again very much in keeping with this month's theme, but not really to my taste. It will maybe get used in one of the rooms in the new house, but to be honest probably not. It I'd double sided which again I think is a nice touch but like I say just not for me. Especially not at the price of £10 for one. 

I wad a little disappointed when I spotted that all that was left to open was my beauty bag. But I crossed my fingers and hoped for the best before opening. The bag itself is very pretty so I was really wishing for something equally pretty inside it.

Sadly I was left a little disappointed. The description cards spoke about winter scenes and even had a mention of Christmas....nothing at all that fitted in with this month's theme. I couldn't help but feel like I was being offered a random selection of leftovers. Handcream from Polåar may come in useful as one of my other handcreams is due to run out. However, it does feel a bit same old, same old.

I was a big fan of the Night Cream from My Little Beauty given a few month's back. So I was pleased to see a day cream from them. However, I have enough day creams to last me a lifetime. I will try this product out as soon as my existing one finishes but that probably won't be for quite a while.

To complete this month's box is a mask and peel from Noxidoxi. Whilst I appreciate that My Little Box is a French company and therefore many of the products are from French company, I do not appreciate when I'm given a product with no English instructions at all. I am left absolutely clueless on how to use the product correctly which makes it highly unlikely that I will make a purchase of this mask and peel.

With the exception of the My Little World magazine, that I am delighted to say is still in the glossy format, this box was a massively huge let down for me. The theme was right up my street and I was buzzing to see inside. I am now questioning whether or not I should continue my subscription. Between the fact I have still to receive my January box and the disappointment of this month's, unless next month's box is a winner, I'm sorry to say next month's box will probably be my last.

My Little Box January 2016

Sadly my box has yet to arrive as it was lost in the post. My Little Box have been in touch so I hope it should arrive soon....

Apologies for the delay in posting a blog as a result!

21/02 - UPDATE
My Little Box for January still hasn't here. However, Rachael in their team has been in touch to apologise for the delay and has kindly offered to refund that month's fee. I shall update as soon as my box arrives!

29/02 - UPDATE

My Little Wish Box had arrived finally! I had been told it was a goodie and due to it's late arrival I already knew what some of the items where, as I'm sure most of my readers will know by now too. None of the less....let's get opening.

The box is by a country mile one of Kanako's best pieces for My Little Box. I absolutely adore it and it fits the theme of the box beautifully (who doesn't remember wishing with each puff). The side of the box has a charming list of all the good things the My Little Box team hope for you for the new year (not so new by the time I got my box).

Upon opening was a beautiful card with the Walt Disney quote "All our dreams can come true, if you have the courage to peruse them". On a lovely duckegg blue background, that is pretty much the exact shade I'm hoping to do my new living room (move in date for new house is 31st of March - super excited), I can't wait to get this framed and up in the house!

I already knew there was a diary in this month's box. I was secretly hoping it wasn't a date diary as I have now lost a couple of month's out of it. However, with the lovely blue colour and rose gold writing on the cover, accompanied with quirky notes and illustrations on the inside, I was so happy with the product that I didn't care that I've got it a couple of months later. I love love love this diary and I think come 2017 if they have one, I shall be ordering one again. Great product, very happy with it.

Following on from the diary, was these 'Petits Riens' (Little Nothings if my french is correct). I loved the concept of these. 4 little bracelets featuring phrases like 'Wish you were here' and 'Say yes to new adventures'. The idea is to cut out each little postcard and give one to a friend. The downside for me is that they are essentially just ribbons. There is no tie on the back to attached the bracelet onto your wrist, so I'm sad to say it's unlikely I will be passing these on. On the plus side at the bottom was a lovely mint green and gold bracelet saying 'Just for You'. This one had a Chinese knot at the back and although it is a bit small and delicate compared to what I would usually wear, I will definitely get some use from this one.

Onto the bag of goodies: 3 products (2 winners and 1 jury still out). The first one was hard to miss: Garnier's 'Miracle Wake Up Cream'. A full size product, this 50 ml tub would retail at £12.99 so I'm delighted at my value for money. Here's my issue....more face cream! Given that I received February's box first which also had face cream (which I wasn't a massive fan of) http://hansunahnah.blogspot.com/2016/02/my-little-box-february-products.html but seriously more cream! I don't know when I'll actually get the chance to try out this product given that I only opened February's face cream today and I don't want to waste products. For me this will be the deciding factor on whether or not I continue my subscription after March. If the box has a face cream, I'm done.

Negative comments aside the next two products were great. The above pictures 'Rosa Centifola 3-in-1 cleansing water' from Ren. In December's My Little World they had given us a sneak peek that this was coming in this month's box. The scent is heavenly but not overpowering and I'm really looking forward to given this a bash tonight.

Last but not least, this month's My Little Beauty item: 'Make a Wish Lip Balm'. I love lip balm. Living in Scotland the harsh weather often takes it toll on my poor little lips. I haven't tried this product out of I can't say how effective it is but it is beautifully packaged and smells great. Perfect handbag size this will also be getting tested pronto.

This really was a lovely box with a great theme. The My Little World magazine in glossy form and featuring a new format for 2016 is a winner for me! Great value for money this month with the diary at £10, bracelets £6, lip balm £7, Garnier face cream £12.99 and the sample size of the cleansing water being worth about £3.25 (£13 for full 200ml), that comes to a grand total of over £39. My only plea to My Little Box for March is no more face cream!

My Little Box December Products

To anyone who read my blog about December's My Little Box it will come as no surprise that I was a big fan. I have now tried and tested the products and I'm pleased to say that I am still just as happy.

I'll start with the Vice-Versa nail duo from the in house range 'My Little Beauty'. In this month's edition of the magazine they had a lovely little tutorial aimed at using the duo to make your lunula sparkle...yes I had no idea what it was either. Who knew beauty boxes could be so educational?! Essentially it's the white half moon bit on your nail bed.

I tend to use boxes of clear nails and then paint them. For New Year's Eve (known as Hogmanay here in Scotland) I did the opposite of the magazines suggestion, painting most of my nails in the midnight blue and leaving the tips of my nails in a golden shimmer. One of my closest friends at a NYE party commented on how much she loved my nails.

The next product I tested was the Kusmi tea. I am a huge tea fan so out came my latest infuser and on went the kettle. The black tea with gorgeously subtle fruity flavour. My boyfriend had a little sip too and said how much he enjoyed it. The size of the sample sent won't last too long at the rate I go through tea and this is definitely a product I would purchase again.

Next up was the Rituals 'Magic Touch' body cream. I have a habit of using body creams, falling in love immediately and after a couple of uses discover it's just not quite right for me (a bit like some of my past relationships). So this time before writing about how much I liked this product I asked my boyfriend to test it. His words of wisdom were: "it smells luscious, it leaves my hands feeling silky smooth, it's easily absorbed AND I can pick my beer bottle up without feeling like it's going to slip out my hands". So there you have it Rituals 'Magic Touch': approved by boyfriends!
UPDATE - 29/02
Having just used this product again, I have to say that really like it. The scent is lovely without being overpowering, it applies easily without taking a lifetime to dry and to top that off my skin feels amazing. Very happy with this product!

Last on my list to test was the NARS blush. However, as my blusher still has a bit of life left in it for just now. I've opted to wait to open it. As soon as it's opened I'll post a wee update.

Christmas nails

Every year I try to do something special with my nails for Christmas. This year through ASOS I found Elegant Touch's Limited Edition press on nails 'Snow Fake'. I use press nails quite a lot as work, social and singing schedule takes up quite a lot of my time so manicures are a luxury time can't allow. Generally I buy a huge box of clear ones and then paint them myself. But I was drawn to the festive cheer of these little beauties.

Retailing at only £3, I felt it wasn't too much to spend if  I ended up not being overly keen on them. Especially as I was already ordering stuff from the site in any case. When they arrived yesterday I put them on immediately. A word on warning though the glue that comes with the Elegant Touch nails isn't the greatest so either be prepared to carry the glue everywhere and constantly be reapplying them or do what I do and buy a better glue. Available at most drugstores and pretty inexpensive, I think it's worth it to save losing nails left, right and centre.

Once on I was fairly happy with the result. Suitably festive with lovely little designs on each nail. Yes the quality isn't the greatest and no one would see them and think they're my real nails but for £3 they do exactly what I had hoped for.

http://m.asos.com/mt/www.asos.com//Elegant-Touch/Elegant-Touch-Xmas-Nails---Snow-Fake/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=5775668

I would just like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very much Christmas! 

My Little Box December 2015

My Little Box has been a delight since I  signed up with a few little disappoints here and there. December's My Little Magic Box I'm pleased to say is nothing short of amazing. To start with the box is actually 'magical'. Using an app the Kanako figures that we're used to seeing on the boxes come to life and dance before you're very eyes. It's an extremely sweet touch (albeit a little gimmicky) and at this time of year I love a little bit of cheesy nonsense!

The little sticker that came with this month's edition was equally cute. Then once I opened the box words can't describe how happy I was to see the return of the glossy version of My Little World magazine. Every since I've subscribed it's been a folded up paper version that I haven't really bothered about so I am delighted they've gone back to their old format and I now will take the time to read it. I really hope they'll be sticking to this style of magazine in the future and it's not just a one off for the Christmas version.

Next came the sweet mittens you see above. Black with gold sparkles, beautifully presented (as always), with the adorable caption of 'Anti-brrr kit for frosty days'. Now they probably won't be getting pulled out much this year. Here in the UK we're having an unusually warm December but once the snow does hit (I have no doubt it will at some point) I'll be rocking these bad boys. These retail at £10 through My Little Corner so I was starting to have a sneaky suspicion that I'd be getting my money's worth this month.

The next item was something I was equally as excited about. I'm a massive tea drinker of all kinds. Loose black tea is my preferred option so I was over the moon to see a tin of Kumi Tea. I receive the Anastasia blend which they describe as a Russian blend of China and Ceylon teas with scents of bergamot, lemon, lime and orange blossom. Now if this tastes anywhere near as good as it smells I'm in for a treat. This is one product I can't wait to try out! For 125g they charge £13.10, but it's a wee 25g tester size I've received.

I can now forgive My Little Box for not including a make up bag last month as this month they've gone all out with a bigger sized zippy make bag up. I am so happy with this addition to the box, which they normally sell for £6. Now I knew that regardless of the bag's contents we were onto a winner.

First out the bag was a body cream from Rituals called Magic Touch. It's Cherry blossom and rice milk scent is lovely. However as I received a body cream from Baïja in October's box, I have the feeling I'll be passing this one onto someone else to test for me. For a full sized one it would set you back £17 for 200ml. However, this is a tester size of 70mls. If I do try it out, I will let you know in my review of the products.

The next product I was delighted with: NARS blusher in 'Orgasm'. Normally priced at £23. My blusher is very nearly done as well so this couldn't have came at a better time. It's a best seller for NARS so I'd say this is a great addition to this month's box. The final product is....more nail polish. I've said it in a previous review and I will say it again. I do not need more nail varnish in my life! I literally have boxes of the stuff. However, that said the Vice-Versa duo from My Little Beauty is lovely. A gold sparkly number with a perfectly matched midnight blue I will definitely be trying out this product for you. Normally they would charge £7 for this duet of nail bling.

All in all this box has been a triumph for me. The thing I love most about My Little Box is that it's more than just a beauty box. The inclusion of items like the mittens and tea is what really makes it for me. That and the monthly theme. Granted there's some month's I haven't really got the theme but it's still a great concept. Well done to all in the My Little Box organisation and I can't wait for my first box of 2016!