Glossybox VS Birchbox, September 2018.

Glossybox and Birchbox are two of the most well known beauty boxes on the market. They both cost £10 per month on a rolling subscription basis, so for the same price... which box is better this month?

We'll start with Birchbox. I love the box design this month and while I do like most of the products this month, there's no full sizes at all so value for money it is not!

Subscribers choice this month was between two Benefit Box O' Powder shades in Galifornia and Gold Rush. I chose Gold Rush and I really like it. This is a blush I can see myself getting a lot of rush out of.

Baija Caramelised Honey Body Scrub
This little jar smells delicious. This is the first product I've received in a Birchbox where I'm seriously considering buying the full size. So glad I got this in my box!

Marcelle City 24H Anti-Pollution Day & Night Moisturising Emulsion
Here's my problem with getting skincare in Birchbox specifically: Everyone's skin is different and the samples are so small you can't properly test for long enough if a certain product is suited for you. But still, I'll give this tiny sample a go.

Nuxe Multi-Purpose Dry Oil
I've already got another sample of this that I haven't tried yet so I might pass this on.

Eyeko Brow Liner
This brow product doesn't do it for me. I hate how wet it feels and it's so sheer, it doesn't fill in my dark brows adequately. Hard pass.

The sneak peak for next month is a choice between two Beauty Pro Thermotherapy Warming Foil Masks.

In comparison to Birchbox's samples, the September Glossybox contains five full sizes and one deluxe mini. 

For. The. Same. Price. 

I mean, it's a no brainer which box is better!

Beautypro Detoxifying Bubbling Cleansing Mask With Activated Charcoal (RRP £4.95)

Face masks are always a winner, I love getting more to add to my supply. I love the sound of this one, I've never tried a bubbling mask before.

Wild Garden Pure & Fabulous Eau de Parfum (Full size RRP £12)

I think scents are such a risky thing to include in a beauty box because everyone has different likes but I LOVE this. It has notes of pear, waterlily and warm amber. Favourite thing this month!

Bang Beauty Eyebrow Cream in Dark Brown (Full size RRP £16.80)

I'm a little unsure if Glossybox gave every subscriber a suitable shade based on their profile or if I happen to have lucked out with getting the right one. This also comes with an angled brush in the box.

Karl Lagerfeld + Model Co Lip Liner in Rosewood (Full size RRP £25)
Yesss. The shade, the creaminess, the name that makes me think of PLL. What's not to love with this?

Rosewood lip liner, Gold Rush blush.

Wet Ones Be Fresh Antibacterial Wipes (Full size RRP £1.19)
Handy for on the go, these have gone straight into my handbag.

Grow Gorgeous Scalp Detox (Deluxe mini RRP £7.37)
This is a pre-wash treatment to remove impurities that block the roots, which in turn will lead to hair growth. I'm definitely intrigued about this.

The sneak peak for next month's Glossybox is Illamasqua Antimatter Lipstick. I'm excited about it already!

What do you think of the September boxes?

Danni
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What I've Been Reading: August 2018.

There was a lot of novels that didn't make it onto this post, it seemed like I was being really picky with my reading habits over the last month. I started and then gave up on so many. I'm only including books I finished here as these are the gems you need you know about.

Jane Doe

Victoria Helen Stone

Current Kindle price: £3.98

"A double life with a single purpose: Revenge.

Jane's days at a Midwest insurance company are perfectly ordinary. She blends in well, unremarkably pretty in her floral-print dresses and extra efficient at her low-level job. She's just the kind of woman middle manager Steven Hepsworth likes- meek, insecure, and willing to defer to a man. No one has any idea who Jane really is. Least of all Steven.

But plain Jane is hiding something. And Steven's bringing out the worst in her.

Nothing can distract Jane from going straight for his heart: allowing herself to be seduced into Steven's bed, to insinuate herself into his career and his family, and to expose all his dirty secrets. It's time for Jane to dig out everything that matters to Steven. So she can take it all away.

Just as he did to her."

I got this for 99p as my Kindle first selection a few months ago and it sat waiting for me to read it. I wish I'd started it sooner. My favourite book of August! Jane's best friend was in an emotionally abusive relationship, something that she ended up killing herself over. Jane is out to get revenge after losing the only person who ever really mattered to her. The end result is so satisfying especially after we get to see how Steven treats Jane. I can't recommend this highly enough and I'll definitely be reading more by Victoria Helen Stone.

Extraordinary Means

Robyn Schneider
Current Kindle Price: £3.99

"Up until his diagnosis, Lane lived a fairly predictable life. When he's sent to Latham House, a boarding school for sick teens, Lane thinks his life may as well be over.

But when he meets Sadie and her friends- a group of eccentric troublemakers- he realises that maybe getting sick is just the beginning. That illness doesn't have to define you, and that falling in love is its own cure."

I really enjoyed this, it had everything a good YA novel should have. This was a really good introduction to Robyn Schneider for me, all her other novels are going straight onto my to read list.

You Had Me At Hello

Mhairi McFarlane

Current Kindle Price: £3.99

"Rachel and Ben. Ben and Rachel. It was them against the world. Until it all fell apart. It's been a decade since they last spoke, but when Rachel bumps into Ben one rainy day, the years melt away.

They'd been partners in crime and the best of friends. But life has moved on: Ben is married. Rachel is not. Yet in that split second, Rachel feels the old friendship return. And along with it, the broken heart she's never been able to mend."

I'm on the fence with this one. I liked it when I was reading it but the overall ending was underwhelming and the story is a little forgettable. It's a good summer read but I've read better romance stories.

Girl A

Anonymous

Current Kindle Price: £4.99

"This is the shocking true story of how a young girl from Rochdale came to be Girl A- the key witness in the trial of Britain's most notorious child sex ring.

Girl A was just 14 when she was groomed by a group of nine Asian men. After being lured into their circle with free gifts, she was plied with alcohol and systematically abused. She was just one of up to fifty girls to be 'passed around' by the gang. The girls were all under 16 and forced to have sex with as many as twenty men in one night.

When details emerged a nation was outraged and asked how these sickening events came to pass. And now, the girl at the very centre of the storm reveals the heartbreaking truth."

This has been on my to read list since the BBC aired the miniseries Three Girls last year. The series was difficult to watch and this isn't any easier to read but the book focuses on some things that weren't shown in the series. It's shocking how the authorities failed these young girls on so many occasions when they should have been protecting them.

Just a Child
Sammy Woodhouse

Current Kindle Price: £2.85

"Sammy Woodhouse was just 14 when she met Arshid Hussain. Ten years older, he promised to take care of her. Sammy thought she was in love, but in reality she was being groomed by a ringleader of Britain's most notorious child sex ring.

Just A Child tells the heartbreaking story of how a young girl from Rotherham was abused by her drug-dealing 'boyfriend', eventually giving birth to his baby, right under the nose of the very authorities who were meant to protect her. When reality dawned and Sammy realised she was one of countless vulnerable child victims- many of whom were trafficked around the north of England- she took it upon herself to blow the whistle and save others from a similar fate.

Thanks to Sammy's bravery, the gang was fully exposed, as well as the authorities that did so little to help her. Her shocking account of how these events came to pass will enrage and sadden but, above all, it will offer hope and show why this must never happen again."

Sammy Woodhouse waived her right to anonymity and is a campaign speaker for Sammy's Law. Her book tells how she was targeted at by Ash, became pregnant at 14, had an abortion and became pregnant again at 15. Ash was violent towards her, going so far as to drive to a cliff and threaten to throw her off. During his abuse, he manipulated her into carrying a truncheon, for which she now has a criminal record. If Sammy's Law comes to pass, it will ensure that abuse victims be pardoned for any crimes committed while being groomed.

Between The Lines

Tammara Webber

Current Kindle price: £2.99

"Seventeen-year-old actress Emma is starring in her major film role, oppostie Hollywood It Boy Reid. The exclusive nightclubs, snapping photographers and screaming fans are a normal part of life for Reid but it's all new to Emma. The rest of the cast befriend her but Emma can't help feeling out of her depth. She's grateful to fellow actor Graham for his friendly support and thinks maybe he's interested in something more- until she sees him sneaking out of beautiful Brooke's room one night...

Reid has no holds barred in his pursuit of Emma; he loves the thrill of the chase but he's also experiencing something new. Could be genuinely be falling for his co-star?"

Eh. I was underwhelmed with this and won't be carrying on the series. I had high hopes as I loved Easy by the same author but I just found this a little boring.

Want to know what I was reading in past months?
July 2018.

June 2018.

May 2018.

April 2018.

March 2018.

February 2018.

What were you reading in August?

Danni
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Glossybox VS Birchbox, August 2018.

Another month, another battle of the UK's most popular beauty boxes. Birchbox and Glossybox both cost £10 per month, with postage costing £2.95 for Birchbox and £3.25 for Glossybox. 

The box design for Birchbox this month is in collaboration with ten Etsy sellers, who've each designed a box. Mine was was designed by Jade Fisher Card Co.
As usual, there are five products and two of those are full size. First up is Dirty Little Secret Eye Shadow Crayon in Fetch. (full size RRP £10.50) I'm not a massive fan of cream eyeshadows but I really like the shade of this so this will be good for travelling. The second makeup product is CLE Cosmetics Melting Lip Powder in Red Cherry. I'm in awe of this, I don't understand how it works! It's powder but as soon as you swatch it, it transforms into a liquid formula. My favourite product of this month!

Dr. Botanicals Pomegranate Superfood Regenerating Sleeping Mask (full size RRP £14.90) is a product I'm excited about trying. I received a Dr. Botanicals product in a previous Glossybox and loved it, so I have high hopes for this.
I'm not a fan of receiving hair products in beauty boxes so I was disappointed with Luseta Beauty Keratin Smooth Conditioner. I'm a big fan of Rituals showed foams so I was happy to see Rituals Happy Budha Foaming Shower Gel.

CLE Red Cherry, DLS Fetch.

This is the best birchbox I've had since January, one of two boxes where I've liked the majority of the products. The sneak peek for September is Benefit Box O' Powder in either Galifornia or Gold Rush, which subscribers get to choose between.

The August Glossybox is themed for Pride Month and features SIX FULL SIZE products! The total value of all the products is about £54 so you're getting value for money with this box.

First up is Rimmel Ink Me Stamp & Sticker Tattoos (full size, £4.99 each.) I won't use the sticker tattoos so I'll be giving them away but I like the heart shaped ink stamp. The second makeup product is Trifle Cosmetics Lip & Cheek Jam (full size RRP £17.50) The idea of using this on my cheeks scares me a little so I think I'll stick to using this as a lip tint. The  Kaleido Cosmetics Astrolight Highlighter (full size RRP £13) is way too dark for my pale skin but I might give it a try on my eyelids as the colour is stunning! Another product that scares me is 3ina The shadow Paint in 703 (full size RRP £8.95) so I don't think I'll be keeping this one. The last product and the only skincare one is Victoria's Secret Pink Let's Pre-Glam Perfecting Face Mask (full size RRP £5). I love sheet masks so I'm pleased about this.

Rimmel Ink Me Stamp, 3Ina 703, Kaleido Astrolight, Trifle Lip & Cheek Jam.

The sneak peek for next month's Glossybox is Bang Beauty Eyebrow Cream. It'll be interesting to see if every subscriber gets the right shade they need in this, as you do fill in a questionnaire when you first join. Fingers crossed!

I can't decided which box I like more this month, which is a first! You do get more value for money with Glossybox but I like the products in both boxes.

Which box do you think is better?

Danni
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Planning a Holiday to Los Angeles.

With only 43 days to go until Glenn and I board a plane headed for LAX, I thought it was time to talk about our planning process, who we booked with and all that jazz. Obviously the first thing to get sorted before heading to the US is your ESTA application. After that, you're good to get booking.

We booked our flights before anything else. We originally looked at Norwegian air as I'd heard that they did pretty cheap flights. The reviews for the airline were all over the place and it definitely put us off. We checked out Virgin Atlantic next and that was out of our budget. We ended up booking with British Airways which was more or less the same price as Norwegian. We also booked our car hire with our flights.

We looked into hotels, but the ones in our price range didn't suit us or weren't in a nice area and we all also had to factor in extra parking costs. A much better idea and the way we ended up doing it, was booking an AirBnB for the first 9 nights. The one we chose has off street parking and is in a residential area of Eagle Rock, about a twenty minute drive from Downtown LA.

For the last five nights, we'll be staying in one of Disneyland's Good Partner hotels in Anaheim. There's plenty of hotels within walking distance if you're planning on hitting the original Disney park on a SoCal trip. We filtered the choice by looking at which hotels offered free parking and weren't too pricey. We'll be staying in the Wyndham Gardens Anaheim which was recently refurbished from a Ramada Plaza Hotel. It's so close that you can see parts of Disney California Adventure from some rooms.

When it came to buying tickets for places we wanted to visit on our trip, we used Attraction Tickets Direct. I used the same company last year for PortAventura tickets and it was one of the cheapest places I found for those. This time we bought 5-day Disneyland park hopper tickets and 5 day Go Los Angeles cards. The Go Los Angeles are print at home tickets and the Disney tickets were posted to us quickly. The Go Los Angeles cards are a great money saving way to hitting up multiple attractions as there's about 40 to choose from. You can visit more than one attraction in the same day as long as you enter before 5:30pm. Some require making reservations beforehand, but I found ringing ahead easy and was sent email confirmations straight away. The passes are available in 1, 2, 3, 5 or 7 day options, with Universal Studios Hollywood only included on passes or 3 days or more. Aswell as Universal, we will be using our passes to go whale watching and visiting Warner Brothers studio, Sony Pictures studio, The Queen Mary, Long Beach Aquarium, San Diego Zoo and maybe some of the smaller attractions if we have time.

We've also applied for tickets to watch The Late Late show with James Corden being filmed but haven't heard if we've been successful yet. I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

We've been changing some money every month instead of doing it in one go before we leave. I use MoneySavingExpert.com to find where has the best exchange rates on those days. I've found Tui to be the most convenient for us, as it's local and has one of the better rates. 

I'll definitely be doing some posts once our trip is over, probably a couple of hauls as the idea of shopping at Sephora and Ulta has me pretty excited already. 

Have you visited LA? Do you have any tips or recommendations?

Danni
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What I've Been Reading: July 2018.

July was a very heavy YA month. Despite hitting the big three-oh at the end of last year, I'm not gunna stop reading YA, as I find it really enjoyable. Some books I couldn't finish but I won't be mentioning those in this post. Some were predictable, some I didn't like and there was one clear favourite.

Sophie & Carter

Chelsea Fine
Current Kindle price: £2.12

"A girl. A boy. A porch swing.
Sometimes life breaks your heart.
And sometimes the boy next door puts it back together."

This is just a short novella but I really liked it. I've never read anything by Chelsea Fine before so this was a good introduction. I'd be interested in reading more books by her. The synopsis doesn't really give anything away but both Sophie and Carter have difficult living situations and support each other through it. A good, quick read!

99 Days

Katie Cotugno
Current Kindle price: 99p

"Last year Molly Barlow did something terrible.
Then, her mother wrote a book about it.
And so everyone in their tiny hometown found out that Molly cheated on her childhood sweetheart, the love of her life, her best friend with his brother.
After spending senior year at a boarding school in the middle of nowhere, Molly now has ninety-nine days to endure back in her hometown before she can escape to college.
Ninety-nine days of being the most hated person in town.
Ninety-nine days to heal the hurt she's caused.
Ninety-nine days to figure out what she wants, and who she loves..."

Honestly, although I actually finished this, I hated this. There is nothing redeeming or likable about the majority of the characters and as couples, they were even worse. I'm glad I only paid 99p for this. A frustrating read that was ultimately a disappointment. I won't be reading the sequel.

Cross My Heart

Katie Klein
Current Kindle Price: £2.49

"True love can blossom in unexpected places. This is Jaden pretending not to notice...
Jaden McEntyre and Parker Whalen are a wrong fit from the start. Jaden is driven and focused, Harvard Med School within reach. Parker has a past- a reputation- and the rumours about his mysterious habits abound. So there's no reason why, when they're assigned to work together on a project in English, they should discover they have nothing in commin, or even like each other, and they definitely shouldn't be falling in love.
As they bond over Edith Wharton's tragic novella, Ethan Frome, the 'bad boy' vibe Parker plays begins to dissipate. Soon, Jaden finds herself shedding her own 'good girl' image: sneaking around to be with him, confiding in him, and ultimately falling hard for this leather-wearing, motorcycle-driving loner who plays into the rebel stereptype.
Still, Jaden can't shake the feeling that there's more to Parker than he's letting on. He's hiding something from her, and discovering the truth means reconciling the Parker she'd grown to love with the person he really is. Because it's possible that his life inside the classroom- everything Jaden knows- is one, massive lie."

I'm on the fence with this one. It was written really well but a little predictable... until the truth about Parker is revealed. The twist comes out of nowhere and it's written that way, almost like the author hadn't decided where to go with this until she got to that specific chapter. I probably wouldn't recommend this, there are way better YA books out there.

The Truth About Alice

Jennifer Mathieu

Current Kindle price: £2.99

"There are all sorts of rumours about Alice Franklin. And after star quarterback Brandon Fitzsimmons dies in a car accident, the rumours start to spiral out of control blaming Alice for Brandon's death.
In this remarkable novel, four Healy high students- the party girl, the car accident survivor, the ex best friend and the boy next door- tell all they know.

But exactly what is the truth about Alice? In the end there's only one person to ask: Alice herself."

I'd previously read Moxie by the same author so I had high expections for this. I definitely preferred Moxie but I really liked this too. It had a strong message about slut shaming and is something teens of today will relate to. On the back of this and moxie, Jennifer Mathieu is now up there with some of my favourite authors.

We Are Young
Cat Clarke

Current kindle price: £2.99

"It starts with a wedding. And a car crash.

On the same night Evan's mother marries local DJ 'Breakfast Tim', Evan's brand-new step-brother Lewis is found unconscious and terribly injured, the only survivor of a horrific car crash.
A media storm erupts, with the finger of blame pointed firmly at loner stoner Lewis. Everyone else seems to think the crash was drugs-related, but Evan isn't buying it. With the help of her journalist dad, Harry, she decides to find out what really happened that night.
As Evan delves deeper into the lives of the three teenagers who died in the crash, she uncovers some disturbing truths and a secret that threatens to tear her family- and the community- apart."

This was the stand out book for July and it will probably be one of the best books I'll read this whole year. It's only been out for a couple of months so you may not of heard of this yet, but this is definitely a book you need to know about. It deals with mental health in teenagers and I was gripped from the very first chapter. I've read a few of Cat Clarke's book before and I've enjoyed all of them but this is the best by far. I can't recommend it enough.

Alex, Approximately
Jenn Bennett
Current Kindle price: 99p

"Bailey 'Mink' Rydell has met the boy of her dreams. They share a love of films and talk all day- Alex is perfect. Well, apart from the fact that they've never actually met... and neither of them knows the other's real name.
When Bailey moves to California to live with her dad, who happens to live in the same town as Alex, she decides to use her sleuthing skills to find him. But tracking someone down based on online conversations alone proves harder than Bailey thought, and with her irritating but charismatic colleague Porter Roth distracting her at every turn, will she ever get to meet the mysterious Alex?"

I feel the same about this as I do about Cross My Heart. Written well but predictable. Even from the synopsis, you can probably already tell that, spoiler, Porter is Alex. I would have found this more interesting to be thrown a curveball and have Alex be someone else entirely.

Want to check out what I've been reading in past months?
June 2018.
May 2018.

April 2018.

March 2018.

February 2018.

January 2018.

December 2017.

November 2017.

October 2017.

September 2017.

August 2017.

July 2017.

What were you reading in July? Tell me in the comments so I can check them out please.
Danni
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New Beauty Box Subscription: Mopbox.

There is definitely an influx of beauty subscriptions on the market right and if you're looking into what box to get, you may be feeling a little overwhelmed. One new launch is Mopbox*, which stands for Makeup Only Please. The box costs £24 per month and boxes are sent second class signed for.

The box it comes in is in a really fun, quirky print which is instagram worthy. As well as the products, you also get a mini magazine which details who to use the items. Each box will include one of these, up to four makeup items, a makeup tool and one brush.

The makeup products in this box are Lord & Berry Scuba Pro Mascara (RRP £16), So Susan Liquid Powder Eyeshadow Palette (RRP £11.50), Model Co On The Glow Cream Highlighter (RRP £14.95) and The Glitter Army Glitter Bag (RRP £4.50). There's also an eyelash curler and a Mopbox branded small blending brush.

The mascara is waterproof, just how I like 'em. The glitter and highlighter I probably won't use but the curler and brush will always come in handy.

I was disappointed when I tried swatching the eyeshadow palette. The formula feels very chalky and the pigmentation isn't great.

The idea behind this box is great, if you read my other beauty box reviews, you'll know I love it when they're very makeup heavy. However the execution behind the idea falls a little flat. The price of the box is something that I feel needs looking at. I can think of another very popular beauty subscription around the same price point that comes across as much better value for your money.

It will be interesting to see how the second box fares as I don't think you can properly judge a subscription on one box alone. If you want to learn more about this box, just click here.

What do you think of this new launch?

Danni
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*I was gifted this box for review purposes but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Glossybox VS. Birchbox, July 2018.

I think I've made my feelings on these two subscription boxes pretty clear. Glossybox is my favourite and Birchbox never seems to measure up. But could this be it, could this be the month that all changes?

So, Birchbox costs £10 a month plus £2.95 delivery with hermes (who as always are crap. Why bother ringing the doorbell when you can just throw it through an open window?! Is it any wonder so many people have complained about the powder being broken this month!) The box has changed from this month, so instead of a drawer style, it's now the same style as Glossybox, only smaller. There's 5 products inside, one full size.

The only full size product is the Manna Kadar Long-Wear Powder in the shade Paradise (RRP £15). This was the product subscribers got to choose this month, but I picked the suprise me option. This is a dark coral blush with a hint of gold shimmer, it reminds me of Sleek's rose gold blusher. Being totally honest, this is one of two products I'm happy with.

Next up if a sample of R + Co Badlands Dry Shampoo Paste. Kudos here to Birchbox finally sending me a hair product I'll get some use out of! Usually they send me ones for dry hair, when my profile is marked as oily hair so this was nice for a change. But it's such a tiny little tub, it just isn't enough to try it properly.

The only body product comes in the form of the What's in it for me..?  Shower Scrub. This is another product I'm happy with as I love a good shower scrub. This would be an ideal travel friendly size too.

The first of the two skincare items is Klorane Floral Water Makeup Remover. I'll probably get two uses out of this tops but again, I'll use this when travelling.

The last product is the Balance Me Congested Skin Serum. This is the product I'm most annoyed about. As this is a sample, it doesn't say what skin it's suited for but it you look on Birchbox's website, the fullsize bottle says its for oily acne prone skin. My profile is marked as dry skin so I'm annoyed that I've even been sent this.

I've had items sent for the complete opposite of my beauty profile on multiple occasions now and it's getting a joke now. I'm not happy with Birchbox and without a doubt, once my year subscription comes to an end, I won't be renewing.

Glossybox also costs £10 a month plus £3.25 tracked delivery with Royal Mail. There's five products this month plus an extra sample.

The first product is the Senhor Do Bonfim Sea Water Hair Spray (full size RRP £16). While I'm not a big fan of receiving hair products in beauty boxes, this one is a welcome addition. I've never used a saltwater spray before but I'm looking forward to trying it out.

Next up is Crabtree & Evelyn La Source Hand Therapy (full size RRP £8). I always need more hand cream as my hands are so dry and this is an ideal size to throw in a handbag. It smells really nice and fresh too.

We've got a make up product with the Oriflame THE ONE 5-in-1 Wonder Lash Mascara (full size RRP £9). This sounds ideal as it's supposed to lift, curl, volumise, lengthen and seperate lashes. I haven't tried it out yet as I have a few other mascaras to get few first before opening another.

That cute brush is the Inuwet Cheek Shell Brush (RRP £13.20). I'll be using this to contour with.

There's also a deluxe mini of Regenerate Enamel Science Advanced Toothpaste. This is the first toothpaste of it's kind as it regenerates enamel and reverses erosion. Sounds good to me!

The extra treat is a sachet of Hawaiian Tropic Duo Defence Sun Lotion SPF30. This provides an anti-pollution layer as well as UV protection but I'm more of an SPF50 girl myself! I'll keep this as a backup as I'm going through sun lotion like nobodies business.

Surprise, surprise, I prefer Glossybox over Birchbox again. I like the sneak peek for both boxes as Glossybox will have an eyeshadow paint next month and Birchbox will have an eyeshadow crayon.

Do you get either of these? Which do you prefer?

Danni
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