Moi-Meme Spring 2018 Nature Box

I had been debating and debating for so long as to whether I should take the plunge and try out this subscription box, after all, it is on the high end of the spectrum. At £49.95 every 3 months it seems quite a lot of money, however, if you think about it in the respect that if you had a monthly box at the average cost of £14 (incl. P&P), then really it's not that outrageous. 

Moi-Meme is a quarterly subscription box meaning you get a box every 3 months, in the middle of January, April, July & October. Each box includes a minimum of  5 full sized products valuing a minimum of £75 total, each tailored to you based on a questionnaire you fill out during the subscription process. There's no contract so you can cancel at any time too.

This month's theme was nature and we received a Chilly's Mid-size Bottle, R.R.P £20-25. I am loving the pastel shade. These bottles have been created with the environment in mind to help us with the goal to reuse bottles and stop plastic waste. These are great because they keep cold liquids cold for up to 24 hours and hot liquids hot for up to 12 hours. I am always in need of these sorts of bottles for long days out with the dog, especially when you are worried about it leaking. The vacuum technology in these bottles means that won't happen.

A perfect blogging prop is this Marble Coaster by Blonde & Stone, £25 for 4. whilst this would have been better to have had the set, I was still pretty happy to have received the one. It is a very pretty statement piece that can go with basically any home decor.

Something I don't use often but will make the effort too is a facial mist. This one is Holistica's Crystal Mist, R.R.P £24.50. Each box received various types depending on your skin type, I received the I am Balanced one for combination/ oily skin types. When I first opened the box I thought it was broken because I could hear little chinking noises, but on further inspection, it was actually the smokey quartz crystals loose inside the bottle. This one is infused with Orange Blossom and geranium that work together with the aloe vera to naturally balance and restore your skin's oil levels. This can be used at anytime after cleansing, prior to makeup, after makeup to set and during the day to give you a fresh feeling throughout the day. I mainly use this after cleansing at night and have to say I quite like the feel of it, I can't say I have noticed any difference in my skin's oil levels, however, I haven't broken out so that's a plus.

I love natural skincare, so when I saw this Siskyn Rose and Neroli Day Facial Oil (retails for £42.00) I was pretty happy. This is a 100% organic facial oil, blended from 17 botanical oils including avocado, rosehip, camellia, rose otto and neroli. Each with their own special properties works to boost cell regeneration, increase collagen production, firm the skin and so on. This is more aimed at those with drier skin types and of a more mature age, however, those with oily skin can still reap the benefits too. You just need to use sparingly and just be conscious that a little goes a long way. I am one of the unlucky ones with an oily/ combination skin type, but I have been using this in the evenings with no bad effects. My skin is lovely and soft, dear I say more radiant in the morning.

A beautiful fashion piece we received was this Scarf by MSH which retails for £12.00. There were several styles and colours, and I would have been happy with my chosen style had I not have noticed that one of the feathers was damaged. So I am exchanging it for another colour, The general quality of these scarves seem to be pretty good and I am loving the thin material making them perfect for the spring to summer transition.

With the Moi-Meme box, there is the option to exchange some items within the box. At the back of the magazine they provide, will be a list of the items you can exchange should you not be happy with the choice you were sent. Provided they have the option you want they will exchange it for you, I think that is a pretty good service if you ask me. I am going to be exchanging the scarf for a pink and gold one, mainly because one of the feathers is damaged and I have too many blue scarves.

The final item in the box was a Moi-Meme designed pack of Wild Flower Seeds, perfect for getting your green thumbs out and helping the bees out. There is a mix of poppy, cornflower, corn marigold and corn chamomile seeds in this little pack and I cannot wait to get these planted to see what else sprouts up.

My Verdict

I am absolutely in love with this box!!! I think I have finally found a replacement for My Little Box and believe me that is saying something. This subscription box ticks all the boxes for me as a lifestyle and beauty box, the only downside for me is that they don't seem to do a styled box like My Little Box or Birchbox. The theme has been followed through, which is a must in my eyes and I was also pleased to find a little magazine inside too. I cannot wait to see what they cook up for the next box.

Have you tried out Moi-Meme? What did you think?

Always be kind, you never know what personal battle people are fighting.

Too Faced Melted Clover & Clover Palette

I haven't really done a Too Faced or makeup review in a while, so it's about time I do. The new Clover collection has got to be the cutest thing ever, honestly, I don't know why I waited so long to get the palette. I am glad I did though because it works out perfectly to review it together with the Melted Clover lippy! 

You can only get these two exclusively on the Too faced website or at their store at Carnaby Street London! As with the palette launch, they donated $250,000 to selected animal charities for the new clover collection! That is pretty cool if you ask me and well worth buying something from the range. 

I will be perfectly honest, I was initially put off by buying the Clover palette because the colours just looked too outrageous for my taste. Boy was I wrong, they are incredible, so unique and work so great together. You can create so many amazing looks with these and they don't look crazy at all, don't get me wrong if you want to create a wild look you still can, but the beauty is that you aren't limited to that. The one downside that I found was that there isn't a base shade for your lid, so I still needed to use another palette for that. It's not exactly the end of the world but if you want one palette for all and don't want to be lugging around two then this isn't the palette for that.

The Melted Clover is a limited edition Melted Matte Dusty Rose colour, that is just amazing! It has quickly become my go-to everyday shade. I am so happy I decided to purchase two, for the unfortunate day that the first one runs out.. (Just wish I had done that for the Gingerbread Man one). 

This one is just the same formula as the rest of the Melted Matte range, so is gluten & paraben free, yippee perfect for me!! It stays on perfectly throughout the day without bleeding or smudging, honestly, I cannot rave about this range enough. I should get paid to promote them really! Come on Too Faced pick me!! 

Obviously, I had to add an obligatory selfie, showing off the Melted Clover colour. Bearing in mind this was after 7-8 hours wear with no touch-ups to the lippy.. so honestly, you can see why I love it so much, plus that colour is just 😍.

What should I try next from the Too Faced range? Is the new Natural collection worth the hype?

Always be kind, you never know what personal battle people are fighting.

Tropic Hair Discovery Kit

I love tropic skincare and wondered when they would release some hair care products, well they have finally answered my prayers. Here we have an amazing selection of sulfate, paraben and all the nasty stuff free of minis, along with the scalp massager.

Within the mini-pack you get a generous sample size all 50ml of the Clarifying Hair Wash, Nourishing Hair Cleanser, Hair Feast and Hair Smooth (10ml), along with the Scalp Massager. 

I want to start with the Nourishing Hair Cleanser which for me is a great product and is really missing in the market if you ask me. It is a deep cleanser that you use once a week and lifts dirt and excess sebum that your usual shampoo wouldn’t get too.

You apply this non-foaming cleanse to your scalp and roots, using your scalp massager to get the most out of your hair cleanser. Working the massager in circular motions also promotes blood circulation which stimulates hair growth. I found this cleanser to be really refreshing and the mint extract in it really worked well with the massager and made me feel like I was getting a mini spa treatment. 

The Clarifying Hair Wash is a gentle shampoo created for sensitive scalps and gently daily cleansing. Enriched with Coconut, Aleo Vera and Babassu extract this is the perfect shampoo for anyone concerned about the daily damage our hair goes through and the need to strip it of all the nasties without stripping it of its natural goodness. I really enjoyed using this and although it didn’t really have a scent, when you give it a good sniff it smelt kind of weird. Not off-putting enough to not use it though, just odd.

Best followed with the Hair Feast which is a luxurious conditioner with Murumuru butter, Jojoba Oil and plant proteins that all work together to leave your hair super soft, shiny and feeling stronger. This smelt nice and did leave my hair looking so good like I have just had a professional treatment. It can be used as an overnight hair mask and is best left on for 5-10 minutes before rinsing off, perfect whilst you do the rest of your shower essentials.

The Hair Smooth is a very light multi-purpose hair oil, full of all essential ingredients such as Maracuja oil, Abyssinian oil and Vitamin E. These all combine together to provide your hair with all its nutrients and replenish its moisture, whilst taming any frizz and leaving an extra shiny/soft finish.

You can use this as a pre-treatment to the Nourishing Hair Cleanser, by applying a liberal amount before washing to help remove any residues and give your hair extra nourishment. I prefer to use it prior to styling when my hair is still damp, by applying a small amount through the roots and the scalp. This really helps to protect against heat damage and tame my frizz. 

I certainly think these are worth the splurge, especially considering that they are cruelty, sulfate, paraben and all the other bad stuff free.

Have you discovered anything from the new Tropic range you love?

Always be kind, you never know what personal battle people are fighting.

Birchbox Be Present Not Perfect March 2018

This is the third Birchbox I have tried and I have to say the box is extremely pretty. I was super excited to finally see what all the fuss was about with the Benefit Bad Gal Bang Mascara. 

First up in this months box is the BLAQ Hydrogel Eye Mask Under Eye Patches, R.R.P £22.00 for 5. I don't know if I am alone here, but does anyone else find these a bit gimmicky? I felt like I had some weird black slugs on my face, and to be honest the only thing I noticed after leaving them on for 20 minutes was that my under eye felt a little bit cooler. I wouldn't say that I noticed a massive difference in puffiness or that it lightened my dark circles at all.

I was not impressed to see what looked like yet another eyeshadow in my box and a brown one at that, this one was, however, a split bronzer and highlighter duo, from a brand I have never heard of. Manna Kadar Cosmetics Radiance Split Pan Bronzer & Highlighter Duo, retailing for £16.00. It is cruelty and paraben free, suitable for vegans but super tiny. Personally, I wouldn't spend that kind of money on a teeny tiny almost sample sized looking bronzer, even if it is a duo.

Again having never heard of this brand before I wasn't expecting much, but this little bottle was a godsend. I absolutely loved it. The Amika Bombshell Blowout Spray, which was a trial size usually retails for £14.99, which for the quality of this product I would say is fairly reasonable for the full size. It smells sweet, keeps your hair super shiny and in place. Not only that but it protects against heat damage and is cruelty, sodium chloride, petrochemicals, gluten, and sulfate free.

It was nice to receive a facial cleanser for a change, this Seba Med Antibacterial Cleansing Foam retails for £7.99. Having had a weird breakout when this box arrived I was eager to give this a try, it was actually very gentle yet refreshing. You could certainly feel it had worked because your skin felt stripped of some oils and dirt, without feeling completely dry. I wouldn't say that this cleared me up completely, I still had to use my go-to Tropic cleanser but it definitely helped.

The main focus of this box has got to be the Benefit Bad Gal Bang Mascara, unfortunately, a trial size. At full price this goes for a whopping £21.50, however, I have to say that it is probably one of the best mascaras I have tried and would be worth the splurge.

My Verdict, as I said last month this is my last Birchbox. I really wasn't that impressed with the selection of products and the only thing that really stood out for me was the cute mini boxes. Let's be honest, I cannot carry on the subscription purely for the box, however, I was a little sad to have missed out on the limited edition Cath Kidson box. The two main products I am happy to have trialed and will repurchase have got to be the Benefit Bad Gal Bang mascara and the Amika Bombshell Blowout Spray.

Always be kind, you never know what personal battle people are fighting.

Letting Go of Old Friends

Having had my fair share of heartbreak from boyfriend after boyfriend, you would think I would be used to being let down and the pain of a break up by now. 

After all, it is considered a normal part of growing up and therefore we shouldn't really be surprised when it happens. The thing is when it happens to friendships it's totally different, life doesn't prepare you for friendship breakups. They are especially painful. 

We all have friends that we think will be our partners in crime forever, you imagine yourself being that old cooky couple causing havoc. You never imagine the day that you walk away, certain people are supposed to be there for life right?

But there comes a time when you have to say enough is enough. You realise that the friendship isn't actually working and is kind of toxic, you wouldn't stay in a relationship that is like that and pretty much one-sided would you? So why should friendships be any different? When you have relied on certain people for so long it can be hard to turn your back and leave it all behind, I still find myself questioning my decision.

This year I decided that 2018 was going to be my year, I was going to stop doing things that I didn't want, that didn't make me happy and stop trying to please and make effort with people that didn't with me.

Just before Christmas, myself and someone, I called my best friend of 10+ years had a big fallout. Not for the first time either, having her attack me in such a manner that belittled me for being myself, a coeliac and blogger I said enough was enough and called it quits. I know how loyal I am, I would do nothing to hurt anyone let alone those close to me. So I was deeply hurt and distraught.

I had done more than she would ever know to be loyal, to which I have several witnesses to back me up. I only wish when I had the chance I had told my whole truth, however, it is all a bit late now and to be honest I really do not want the drama of it now.

Looking back over the years of friendship I find myself realising that she always tried to find ways to belittle me, taking stabs at me for being single and never taking me seriously when I found myself struggling with health issues. Yet I stuck by her, helped her whenever she needed it and going so far as to keep secrets that could otherwise ruin relationships.

I am in no way blaming her or criticising her because at the end of the day I stayed in that situation. I was the one that should have taken control, set boundaries and probably walked away years ago. Don't get me wrong letting go of this long-term friendship hurt like hell and still does but I am so much better off for it.

I am a firm believer in quality over quantity, I have never had many friends and have less now but wouldn't you much rather have a few genuine people in your life, than many generic acquaintances.

I can now count on at least one amazing friend. Who accepts me for who I am, no matter what the circumstances, supports me in whatever I choose to do and gets my quirks and weird ways.

We can go months without seeing each other yet when we meet it's as if no time has passed at all.
Yeah, it is hard to finally realise you need to walk away but, now I have removed myself from this horrible situation I can actually use the time I wasted trying to keep that friendship alive, on my old and some new friendships. You never know they may very well develop into the kind of friendships that I spoke about at the start.

Shirt: H&M
Skirt: Forever 21
Boots: Rocketdog
Cardigan: Primark
Glasses: Specsavers
Bag: Spectrum Collections

Always be kind, you never know what personal battle people are fighting.

Staying Safe with Online Dating*

With so many different dating sites, apps and even just forms of dating we all need to be aware of how easy it is to fall into a trap. We need to be aware of our own safety and how to deal with situations that make us uncomfortable.

There has been a lot of media coverage of the Me Too Movement, which I think is partially good. I mean there is a risk of some people just jumping on the band wagon, not to say that the vast majority haven't genuinely had an experience of abuse, but hopefully, you know what I mean.

If you have been a long-standing reader then you know that I have had my share of abuse, from an emotionally abusive partner to being sexually abused at work. Most people have experienced some form of it at one time or another, it is a real shame.

I have had my fair share of bad experiences with online dating, a few times guys have tried to sway me into sending nude or naughty pics. To which I replied with a really dirty picture.. Harley asleep with her fangs out. Needless to say, they didn't reply, but then would you if you got sent a dog's sharp teeth?

Other times I have been aware that the conversation was leading to dick pics... well I just quite simply said that I really was not up for that and do not see what the fascination is with it. The conversion slowly died off and obviously, he was only after one thing. At the end of the day, it was no loss for me because I would have wanted to know sooner rather than later.

Unfortunately, things don't always go so easily and we are forced into situations that we didn't ever think we would be in. In my early career days I was very impressionable, young and naive; which are all perfect attributes for men or women looking to take advantage. I was groomed in a sense to wear certain items of clothing, arrive to work early and form secret ways of communicating.

Alongside all this there were acts of sexual interaction that at the time I thought I wanted, however, hindsight is such a wonderful thing, you realise that you were actually being persuaded into the situation because really you felt you had no other option. Luckily I never actually slept with this person, however, it could have very easily have gone that way had I have not left the company when I did.

Being a female can be very difficult at times, so when you think about all the hassle we have gone through over the past 100 years, you should always be cautious in whatever it is you're doing. Be it work, going out with friends or even just dating. Never put yourself in a situation that you wouldn't want your friend or loved one to be in, be safe.

The main thing to be aware of when you are looking into a sex dating site or an adult dating site is to be vigilant if something seems off then it most probably is. If they are being abusive online then don't stand for it get out of there, remember there is a difference between fun play and actual abuse. Always tell someone, anyone that you are going to meet whoever it is online and where it is you're planning to meet. If you haven't met this person before, then set up the first meet in a crowded area, so you can get an idea of the person and check that they are actually who they say they are. Trust your instincts, your gut is usually right.

* This is a sponsored post. Please see my Disclaimer for more information.

Always be kind, you never know what personal battle people are fighting.

Be Unforgettable in this Cut Out Skirt

Spring is finally here it is time to break out the pastels and our legs! I recently had a rummage through Primark and managed to get myself a new outfit. Honestly, I couldn't believe that the skirt & shirt together came to a mere £18.00. It's funny that as we get older you find yourself caring less and less where your clothes are from and wanting to try and spend less; when I think back to when I was younger I wouldn't ever want anyone to know I was wearing anything that came from Primark.

This floral shirt is such a statement piece, with butterflies and many different floral sketches. It is actually quite a long shirt, so can be worn with leggings or jeans. Shirts like these are so versatile, making even the most non-girly girl look sophisticated. 

Do you have footwear that you rediscover your love for? I have had these suede boots for a few years now and don't actually wear them that often, however when I was putting this look together, they just seemed to finish it off. The chunky heel appears to be back in fashion and let's face it high thigh boots are never out.

Stand out with the cutout detail in this blush pink skirt, which is so pretty and really makes it perfect for spring and summer. It would also go great with a cami top too.

Leather jackets never go out of style, and always give any look an edgy vibe. Whilst a denim jacket would have gone well here too, the leather jacket fits better with the suede boots and gorgeous spectrum fire bag.

Shirt: Primark
Skirt: Primark
Boots: Primark
Jacket: New Look
Glasses: Specsavers
Bag: Spectrum Collections
Watch: Johnny Loves Rosie

Always be kind, you never know what personal battle people are fighting.

Too Faced Store on Carnaby Street

Ever since the flagship store opened in December last year I have been itching to go! I know it is a little sad, but come on it is their only stand-alone store globally and it's my favourite brand by far! Just look at how pretty the whole store is from the dollhouse till to the peach stand. 

This has got to be the focal point for the entire store, I cannot imagine any girl that doesn't want a dollhouse just like this all of her own. With the Too Faced goodies included of course, here you can find the mini's as well as their new exclusive pearl necklace.

I especially loved the set up for all the lippies, after all, that is my signature piece these days. You can also get the new Peaches & Cream collection in the store, which has been displayed in a giant peach. I was finally able to have a look at the Peach Blur, which is the compact finishing powder of the Peaches & Cream range. I use the Peach Perfect Setting Powder, so when I tried the Peach Blur it really made no difference at all. It was a little disappointing because I was looking for a compact version of the loose setting powder, however, I am glad that I waited till I actually tried it in store.

Another item from the Peaches & Cream range I was dying to try was the cream to powder blushers, I mean it is a strange concept to get your head around. Honestly, though, they did exactly as described and I was gobsmacked.

Life's a Festival was also in store, I had been intrigued to try out the Magic Crystal Lip Topper. Having already had a dark shade of Melted Matte on, I tried out Unicorn Tears over the top and it created such a beautiful look. The only downside is that it is a little sticky and does make the Melted Mattes not last as long as they usually do.

I obviously had to get a picture on the minibus, I would love a back wall just like this one!

Needless to say, I did leave the shop with a mini haul. I have been using the setting spray for quite some time now and have to say it is incredible, I was just in need of a new one.

I did get one blusher in So Peachy and had to purchase the Unicorn Tears Lip Topper obviously, I also re-purchased a sketch liner as these are so pigmented.

Have you been to the Too Faced store? What did you think?

Always be kind, you never know what personal battle people are fighting.