13 May 2018

Glossybox VS Birchbox, May 2018.


If you're a regular reader here, you might have realised that I haven't been particularly impressed with Birchbox as a whole. I was already subbed to Glossybox and saw a Groupon deal for a year subscription to Birchbox so thought it would be interesting to compare the two for the duration of a year. It's only really cemented my love for Glossybox and made me regret buying that Groupon. Maybe May can turn it around?!



Birchbox costs £10 plus £2.95 postage on a month to month basis. The box includes 5 items, all sample or travel sizes. No full sizes here!

Doucce Luscious Lip Stain in Steaming Red
Firstly, let's discuss the shade name... Nothing about the shade is red! It's more of a pink-toned nude. Subscribers could choose between the two shades but I wasn't bothered and I just clicked surprise me. It would be interesting to see what the other shade, Amber Rose, looks like it comparison to this. This is a standard liquid lipstick, dries down matte and seems to have good staying power. Just a shame it's so small.

Greenfrog Botanic Geranium & Peppermint Botanical Bodywash
This is something I won't be keeping. I don't have a problem with it but the description says it's great for psoriasis and this is something my Dad suffers with, so I think he'll find this useful.

Native Unearthed Activated Charcoal Natural Deodorant Balm
This is interesting and I'll be definitely giving it a go! If I like it, I'll probably by a full size as £7.99 doesn't sound too bad of a price.

Marcelle New Age Precision 8-in-1 Power Serum
I've already got a few serums to work my way through but these small samples definitely come in handy for travelling or weekend trips.

Eyeko Skinny Liquid Eyeliner
I just got a full sized fat version of this in April's Glossybox and I didn't keep that so I won't be keeping this either. I don't wear eyeliner that often, so I don't need anymore when I already have my favourites.




Glossybox costs £10 plus £3.25 postage on a month to month basis. This month includes 3 full size products, 2 travel sizes and an extra bonus sample!

Gelspa Just For Feet- Luxury Jelly Foot Soak (Full size RRP £4.99)
This sounds great, I just need to get a bowl or something to do it in. The box includes two sachets, one to turn water into your jelly soak and the other to turn it back into liquid so you can dispose of it.

Maria Nila True Soft Shampoo & Conditioner (Travel size RRP £3.98 each)
I've passed these on as the back says they're great for dry hair and mine is oily but for travel sizes, they're quite generous.

Trifle cosmetics Praline Palette (Full size RRP £15.55)
This is a cute little palette. I hadn't tried anything by Trifle Cosmetics before so I didn't know what kind of quality to expect but I was very happy when I swatched the shades. My favourite is definitely the coppery shade on the end. This would be a good palette for travelling as it's so dinky but still has 6 shades in, albeit no matte shades.

Kueshi Double Effect Makeup Remover for Eyes & Sensitive Areas (Full size RRP £10.50)
I'm always happy to have more makeup remover, especially ones this size which would be great for travel. This even works on waterproof makeup too so I'll be reaching for this a lot.

We Are Tea Earl Grey Supreme Black Tea
I'm so common when it comes to tea, if it ain't breakfast tea, I'm not having it. It's nice to get a extra bonus treat though and I know this is something Glossybox tends to do quite regularly, like the chocolates in the December box.

As usual, Glossybox is my favourite for another month. I expect the same next month, truth be told. I already know I'll be cancelling Birchbox when my year subscription comes to an end.

I'm not too bothered about wither of the sneak peeks for next month, but if you're interested, this is what we'll be getting in June.


What do you think to May's boxes? Do you get either of these?

Danni
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3 May 2018

What I've Been Reading: April 2018.


I managed to go over my monthly reading average in april, making a total of 7 books I managed to finish. I say that as I gave up on one book over halfway through. Usually I know a couple of chapters in if it's going to be something I regret buying from the kindle store but this certain book kept me hanging on til I couldn't force myself to read anymore. You know those books where the plot gets more ridiculous the longer you read? Yeah, that's some reading time I won't get back!


Losing It
Cora Carmack
Current Kindle price: £2.49

"As far as Bliss Edwards can tell, she's the last virgin standing, certainly amongst her friends. And she'd determined to deal with the 'problem' as quickly and simply as possible.
But her plan for a no-strings one night stand turns out to be anything but simple. Especially when she arrives for her first class and recognises her hot new British professor.
She'd left him naked in her bed just 8 hours earlier..."

I'm so on the fence with this one. I didn't hate it but I didn't love it either. There are some funny moments and I like the majority of the characters, but my main problem is the professor... or at least the way he's written. It's the usual British stereotype character adopted by most American authors.


We Were Liars
E. Lockhart
Current Kindle price: £2.99

"We are the Liars.
We are beautiful, privileged and live a life of carefree luxury..
We are cracked and broken.
A story of love and romance.
A tale of tragedy.
Which are lies?
Which is truth?"

I was so disappointed with this. You've probably at least heard of this book before, there is definite hype surrounding it and for me, it didn't really live up to it.


The Importance Of Getting Revenge
Amanda Abram
Current Kindle price: £2.83

"17-year-old Lexi Turner has just been dumped by her boyfriend of three years- on the day she was, well, going to 'do it' with him. And to make matters worse, he dumped her for a life-force-sucking-demon!
Devastated by this turn of events, she decides there is only one way to deal with this situation: Get revenge!
Enter Jase Holloway- Lexi's former childhood friend and adversary to her ex. The plan is simple: somehow talk Jase into pretending to be her boyfriend to make her ex-boyfriend jealous, make him regret dumping her and make him come crawling back to her on his hands and knees, begging for forgiveness...
With Jase on board, Lexi is sure she'll get the revenge she deserves. But nothing's ever that simple, and Lexi soon finds out firsthand that sometimes what you want is not always what you get- and sometimes what you get is what you wanted all along."

This was a cute story, I liked it. It's a little cliched but in this case, it's not a bad thing. Amanda Abram is definitely an author I want to read more of after reading this.


Twenty Boy Summer
Sarah Ockler
Current Kindle price: £2.49

"According to Anna's best friend, Frankie, twenty days in Zanzibar Bay is the perfect opportunity to have a summer fling, and if they meet one boy every day, there's a pretty good chance Anna will find her first summer romance. Anna lightheartedly agrees to the game, but there's something she hasn't told Frankie- she'd already had her romance, and it was with Frankie's older brother, Matt, just before his tragic death one year ago."

I really enjoyed this. It made me crave a holiday at the beach, or at least made me wish I was reading it on the beach, basking in the sunshine. I was dreading the moment Frankie found out and it didn't disappoint! This is amazing, especially for a debut novel, you can bet I'll be adding more by Sarah Ockler to my to-read list.



Existence
Abbi Glines
Current Kindle price: free!

"Throughout her life, Pagan Moore has seen souls. They don't speak to her but they know she sees them. It's a part of her life she keeps hidden from everyone else. She's different...
And he knows it.
Pagan begins seeing him everywhere. In her classroom and her bedroom. The soul is stalking her and she can't make him go away. Everything is different with him. Beginning with the fact he speaks to her. Just when she thinks he's gone, her world completely changes.
He is Death and he's about it break all the rules."

I think the idea behind this is interesting and it is really well written but it didn't hook me enough to read the rest in the series. If you have a kindle, I do recommend getting this as it is currently free on the kindle store.


The Distance Between Us
Kasie West
Current Kindle price: £4.49

"Money can't buy a good first impression.
Seventeen-year-old Caymen Meyers learnt early that the rich are not to be trusted. And after years of studying them from behind the cash register of her mom's porcelain-doll shop, she has seen nothing to prove otherwise. Enter Xander Spence- he's tall, handsome and oozing rich. Despite his charming ways and the fact he seems to be one of the first people who actually gets her, she's smart enough to know his interest won't last. Becuase if there's one thing she's learnt from her mother's warnings, it's that the rich have a short attention span. But just when Xander's loyalty and attentiveness are about to convince Caymen that being rich isn't a character flaw, she finds out that money is a much bigger part of their relationship than she'd ever realised. With so many obstacles standing in their way, can she close the distance between them?"

Another cute story, I finished this one in a day! And I know as a reader, I'm supposed to root for Xander but there is a secondary character called Mason and I loved him more. Since finishing this, I've added every other book by Kasie West to my to-read list.


The Mistake
K. L. Slater
Current Kindle price: £1.99

"You think you know the truth about the people you love.
But one discovery can change everything...
Eight-year-old Billy goes missing one day, out flying his kite with his older sister Rose. Two days later, he is found dead.
Sixteen years on, Rose still blames herself for Billy's death. How could she have failed to protect her little brother?
Rose has never fully recovered from the trauma, and one of the few people she trusts is her neighbour Ronnie, who she has known all her life. But one day, Ronnie falls ill, and Rose goes next door to help him... and what she finds in his attic room turns her world upside down.
Rose thought she knew the truth about what happened to Billy. She thought she knew her neighbour. Now the only thing she knows is that she is in danger..."

My favourite book that I read in April! This was difficult to read in places, it features an abusive relationship and I spent most time wishing Rose could see Gareth the way I did as a reader. It flicks between Rose as a teenager and the present day, after Ronnie is taken to hospital. The two timelines interact seamlessly and the story was so well done, the twist at the end was one I didn't see coming. A definite recommend!

Have you read any of these?
What were you reading in April?

If you want to read previous month's of What I've Been Reading, just click here.

Danni
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