Red Paw Paw June 2014 Review

Hey Girlies,

I have to start by apologizing, I did get last months box and had full intention of posting it but by the time I got to take pictures my family had already eaten half of the goodies. Also, I know this isn't beauty related but I just had to share it.

So we write off last month and start fresh with the June Paw Paw box. For anyone who doesn't already know the box is $5 if you are happy to complete a survey and $10 if you just want the box. The survey is about 3 questions per item so it takes about 5-10 minutes max. It is a monthly subscription and really great value. The only issue is that they have very selective areas that they will deliver to so double check their list if you are interested.

So what did I get???

1. Gravox Chargrilled Beef & Riverina Merlot Gravy 160g
Coles RRP $3.80    Woolworths doesn't stock it online. Approx $3.80 

A Premix Beef Gravy Sachet with Riviera Merlot. This product must be very new as Woolworths didn't stock it in their online store so I have taken an educated guess that it will be around the same price as Coles. I don't use beef gravy myself but my brother loves it and so does my mum so i'm sure this will be gone in the next week. I'll give you an update in my next months box on how they found it.,

2. Ovaltine Cold Crunch Malt Drink 320g
Coles RRP $5.27    Woolworths RRP $4.93

Ahhh Ovaltine... I have fond memories of eating ovaltines when I was younger and making hot chocolate with them. I wasn't aware that they had a new product but will be tasting this one very soon. I have a feeling it is going to be a similar product to Milo.

3. Uncle Tobys Crunchy Triangles 14g
Coles RRP $0.43    Woolworths RRP $0.43 ON SALE FOR $0.30 ($3.00 for 10 pack)

This is a single packet and is sold in 10 packs. They are biscuits with a chocolate filling. I can see that kids would love these. perfect for kids lunches and portion controlled. Quite an affordable kids snack.
They can be found in the muesli bar aisle.

4. White Wings Real Blueberry & Buttermilk Pancake Mix 370g
Coles RRP $5.50 ON SALE FOR $3.00    Woolworths RRP $5.36

This product is very exciting. I love baking and as easy as pancakes are to make from scratch I am a lazy butt and never make them. It is a part of their new range of Black Label Pancake mixes. I seen they have a chocolate chip mix and I think the other variety was plain buttermilk. I will make them and give you some picture in the next post. Definitely need some fresh blueberries to put on top.
The pack says that it makes 15.

5. SPC Spaghetti in Tomato & Cheese with Sneaky Veg sauce 220g
Coles RRP $1.21    Woolworths RRP $1.08

I love spaghetti on toast for a quick and easy breakfast. This is an original product with new packaging branded towards being 100% Aussie Made. I know I will use this. Maybe for breakfast tomorrow.

6. Goulburn Valley Australian Peaches in Coconut Water 170g
Coles RRP $2.17    Woolworths RRP $ 2.14

I really don't like peaches. I have never liked peaches. Lucky everybody else I know does. This is a new range Goulburn Valley have released in coconut water. I can imagine it would be a more refreshing snack as opposed to being in syrup. If my mum doesn't steal it I might give it to my partner. He loves peaches and coconut water so i'm sure he would love it.

7. Uncle Tobys Oats Quick Sachets Creamy Honey 4 x 35g
Coles RRP $1.80    Woolworths RRP $1.79

These are a staple for me when I am on early shift for work. I don't have time to eat breakfast at 5AM so I can take some to work and put them in my desk draw. I haven't tried the Honey Flavour so I will really enjoy them next week. Yummy :)

8. Adriano Zumbo Choc Raspberry Macaron Mix 335g
Coles RRP $8.79    Woolworths RRP $8.76

I am slightly obsessed with Adriano Zumbo since I seen him on the first season of Masterchef. I have made his macaron mix before in the salted caramel flavor and they worked very successfully. They are so nice but I found I made them abit small so you can be generous when piping it out. There are several secrets to making perfect macarons, so they are not really for beginner bakers unless you put some time into watching some Youtube videos first.
The first batch I made were ok but the second batch were AMAZING!! The pack gives great, easy to understand directions and made about 30 slightly undersized macarons. If you didn't get the box this month I still recommend giving them a go.
Here is a picture of my first attempt at the caramel ones:

9. Nescafe AZERA Smooth Coffee 85g
Coles RRP $10.99    Woolworths RRP $10.74

I don't drink coffee but I know how much my mum LOVES this coffee. She has always been a Blend 43 drinker and would never drink anything else. She received a sample of this at her work and has since bought a jar for home. Now she has another jar. She hasn't shut up about it all week so she will be glad to see she has some more. It is quite expensive but most coffee is these days. If you like Blend 43 maybe give it a go.


So I am very excited to see so many full sized products this month. Even though I don't like or wont use all of them, when you consider what you can get for $5 these days I have done Exceptionally well. Even if I only use the Macaron mix I have made my money back already. I will have about 2-3 weeks before I have to submit the survey so I have lots of time to try them. It's great value as you can see:
Coles Total Value $39.96
Woolworths Total Value $39.03

It is a great opportunity to try new things and chances are there is something for everyone in your household.

What are your thoughts?

Have you tried anything here yet?

Keep me posted

J   xxx

Lust Have It June 2014 Review

 

Hey Ladies,

I am so happy. Yesterday I had over 1000 views on my blog!!! that is the most in 1 day so far. I hope you are all enjoying seeing what I am receiving in my subscription boxes and reading my first impressions. I am hoping to start putting some product reviews and tutorials soon. Stay posted.

Today I received my first ever Lust Have It Fab box. I have no interest in keeping the subscription as they have shocking customer service and are more miss then they are hit if you know what I mean.

The only reason I decided to try 1 month is firstly because this month's sneak peak was 3 Teeez products and secondly because I used the $20 off voucher code I found on the facebook page Beauty-Box Swap (thanks girls).

So the box is normally $35 per month and after my discount code it was only $15.

Soooo what did I get??

1. Teeez Trendy Cosmetics Paradise Perfect Lipgloss in shade Sheer Gold RRP $25.00 Full Size

 I  love Teeez so so so much. Everything I have tried so far has been lovely and this is no exception. Before I even tried it I could smell it. I can't figure out exactly what it smells like but it is very fruity and sweet ( I think its peachy but im not 100% sure). It is clear with tiny gold glitter. It is nice for when you don't want anything too over the top and it is not sticky at all. Would I buy this again, definitely.

2. Teeez Trendy Cosmetics Mysterious Crystal Eyeliner in shade Onyx Black RRP $28.00 Full Size

Have I ever mentioned how much I love Teeez?? Yet another great product with beauty packaging. I do have heaps and heaps of black eyeliners already but this one is still my favourite. I didn't realize until I swatched it but it actually has miniscule blue glitter/shimmer through the formula. It is smooth and claims to be smudge proof. I left it for about 2 minutes and it was not smudging or rubbing off so I tried it with water and it didn't smudge at all. I had to remove it with a facial wipe. I am always looking for mind blowing eyeliner and can never find them. Maybe I have officially found it. $28 is pretty expensive though. See swatch below.

3. Teeez Trendy Cosmetics Fabulous Foundation Brush RRP $35.00 Full Size

 I knew we were going to be receiving three Teeez products but was shocked to see a make up brush as I didn't even know they sold brushes. It is beautiful and so soft. I have been looking to get a new brush small enough to fit in my make up bag in my handbag and the beauty gods are looking out for me yet again. I will get a lot of use out of this and will have to look into what other brushes they stock.


4. LHI Accessories Crystal Love Bracelet RRP $29.95 Full Size

 As if all of the beautiful Teeez products weren't enough this month. I am not big on wearing bracelets but this is a lovely bracelet for a night out. Unfortunately it isn't very high quality. It feels like it would break if you knocked it or got it caught. I will probably wear it but don't see it being anytime soon. I am glad it is clear crystals as opposed to the bright, bold, neon jewellery I have seen in previous boxes. Would I pay $30 for it? No, I think realistically it is $10 value.


5. LHI Accessories Crystal Drop Earrings RRP $19.95 Full Size

 The matching earrings are a nice touch. They are very big and quite heavy. I would probably wear them if I was wearing the bracelet. Again I have no idea when this would be. I don't think the value is accurate. The quality feels quite cheap so I would say they should be about $6-7 value.


6. Lethal Lips Temporary Lip Tattoos in pattern Leopard Print RRP $8.00 Full Size

Lip tattoos are a new fad going around in the US and I have started to see them in Australia this year. I have not seen this brand but I do have a packet of Violent Lips which is the same idea. I haven't tried them as they are quite scary. I have watched 100's of videos on how to apply them but it is still very tricky to work out. From what I have seen you will use 1 or 2 pair's just trying to figure it out.
I will have a go in the next few weeks and show you how I went. I have opened them and as you can see below the directions are printed on the back .

So I am very impressed at the over-all value for money with a total value of $145.90. I would have been happy if I only received the Teeez products but the jewellery and lip tattoos are bonuses to me.

I am still not tempted to give it another month until I see the sneak peak but it would take a lot to keep me subscribing as I have lots of other subscriptions at the moment and they are still my favourites.

What did you all thing?

Did you get the same items?

Have you had any positive experiences with Lust Have It?

Lots of Love

J xxxx

Violetbox June 2014 Review

Hey Beauties,

Its the best month ever for Aussie beauty boxes. Bellabox was great, Violetbox is amazing!!!!, Lip Factory is on the way, Memebox is on the way and my two Lust Have It boxes should be here soon as well.

Make sure you stay posted because I am going to post reviews as soon as I receive them.

Violet Box this month is celebrating their first birthday and for this we all received an extra special something something ;-)

Sooooo.. What did I get this month???

1. GHD Straight & Tame Cream RRP $24.00 Full Size 120ml

I am so happy to receive this product because I could never justify buying it myself and haven't ever had a chance to try it as a sample before. I have seen product reviews and everybody seems to love it. I am looking forward to using it. It would have been great if it has a fresh or fruity smell but it has quite a chemical smell to it. I will be sure to do an individual review on this one with how I have found it once I've used it for a few times. Also I love that it is full size and not a sample.

2. Bioderma Sebium Pore Refiner RRP $30.95 for 30ml Sample Size 15ml

I have received this one before in my first ever Bellabox. Again I don't have any use for it as I have no issues with my pores. Last time I gave it to my sister so I would say she is probably ready for a top up. She still hasn't let me know what she thought of it so I can't really give you any kind of review on this product. It is a great brand and their other products are of more interest to me so I would be open to different samples from Bioderma.

3. Chella Brow Pencil in shade Brown RRP 21.50 Full Size

This is a great inclusion as I always seem to receive eyeliners and lip liners but never bow products. It is a great colour for me as I have just put a brown colour in the top of my hair to create an ombre look and this will help define my brows as they are very light. It is strange as it is very very thin but I guess this could assist in being more precise. This is two months in a row for Chella I think I will look into what else they have.

4. Strange Beautiful COLORBLOC DUO in shades Bandaid Pink and Ripened Red RRP $22.00 Full Size

 

I love this packaging. It is so different to anything I have at the moment. I have never heard of the brand and it took abit of google searching to find out more about the colour names and product name as this isn't mentioned on the product card at all.

I like the red much more than the "Bandaid Pink" colour. I have swatched below.



5. Appelles Blackseed Shampoo and Tamanu Conditioner RRP $18.95 for 150ml Sample Size 60ml each

I loved the soap included in a few other boxes last month  and now I get to sample Appelles other products. Exciting!! It smells a lot like tea tree even though it says it is Rosemary, Ylang Ylang and Lavandin Super. I enjoy the smell it is very fresh and would be revitalizing. They are generous for samples and I am interested in giving them a go.

6. Caddy Cosmetic Pouch RRP $26.00 Full Size

So our special gift this month is a beautiful make up bag. I love it. It has heaps of pockets and places you can put things. It has two zippered separate sides. The pattern is adorable. I am going to get so much use out of this.

Thank You Violet Box. You are amazing!!!

As you can probably tell I am super impressed (as always). Overall value is over $120!!! I love everything this month and I will use everything except the Bioderma BUT who cares. That is great value for money, the products are all great quality and is of no comparison to any other Aussie subscription service.

What do you all think?
Is it just me or do you love this month??

What was your favourite item?

Lots of  Love

J   xoxo



Bellabox June 2014 Review

Hey Lovely Ladies,

Its a great day today, both Bellabox and Violetbox have arrived and I am so so so happy :)

Just a quick update on my Lip Factory from last month. I didn't get a chance to post the review because Australia Post have managed to lose the parcel. I contacted Lip Factory and they have already sent out a replacement. It is still travelling the US at the moment but I will still post the review when I receive it.

Back to the point. Bellabox is on time and not half bad this month.

The theme this month is "Iconic Beauty" and for anyone who is interested the box is $15 per month but you can usually get a $5 off discount for your first box.

Enough of that... What did I get?????

1. Herbal Essences Naked Shine Shampoo and Conditioner RRP $6.99 for 300ml Sample Size 40ml each

I am glad to see that they are counting the shampoo and conditioner as 1 sample and not 2 as has been done previously. When I opened the box I couldn't believe how wonderful it smelled. I very quickly realized it was these samples. The description card says it is a white tea and mint scent but it is quite sweet and fruity. I love it. I seen the ads on TV for this product about a week ago and wanted to try it but being realistic I probably wouldn't have so it is nice to receive a sample of something I am actually interested in. I like that it is free from dyes, parabens and silicone as that is a deciding factor for me with a lot of hair care products.

2. La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo RRP $27.99 for 40ml Sample Size 3ml

So from the name I gather you were as clueless as I was about what this product actually is. After reading the product card I gather is it a moisturizing cream that unblocks pores and removes excess oils. It says it is effective after 30 days. Well its probably not the best idea to send a 3ml sample. I probably wont use this as I don't have blocked pores and its not going to do much. Realistically I could only get 2-3 uses max. Not that exciting for a luxe sample bellabox.

3. INNOXA Lip Liner in shade Ruby Red RRP $17.95 Full Size 5g

Well its nice to see that I actually got a colour product this month. I love lip liners and this is a great colour. It is a waterproof liner and I have left the swatch for 5 minutes and rubbed it. Its not budging at all. I am impressed that it is a decent product inclusion that I will actually use. This product alone is more than I paid for the box in total.

4. V05 Give Me Moisture Hot Oil RRP $6.99 for 4x15ml Sample Size 15ml

I love oils for my hair. I have very damaged hair from all of the bleaching over the years so find that using oil every 3-4 weeks gives my hair a nice shine and kick of moisture. It is interesting though that it states you use it as a prewash treatment. I normally wash my hair. Put the oil in and leave it for 15-20 minutes and then rewash. Its abit disappointing that the only directions are on the bottle that states to refer to packaging for directions. I will have to google it. Decent size sample and I would probably repurchase if it works well as $6.99 for 4 is quite decent.

5. Cedel Blow Dry Faster - RRP $7.99 Full Size 165ml

After seeing the facebook post that Bellabox posted of the packing process this month I seen this and got so excited. I have never used anything like this before. I love the idea that this will reduce the drying time for my hair. If this works this could soon be my go to heat protectant. It is relatively scent free but I was very surprised to see that it is a pump top not an aerosol spray. I will be trying this in the morning. Love love love it. This is a great inclusion.

BONUSES - Nutrimetics Nutri-Rich Instant Radiance Beauty Balm RRP $50 for 50ml Sample Size 2ml

A foil packet that I am happy about?? I must be going crazy. I love their Nutri-Rich Oil so I cant wait to try this. Would have loved a bigger sample BUT I wont complain.

InStyle Australia Magazine RRP $9.95 Full Size

I don't purchase magazines and after a quick flick through it looks like it is 70% advertising and a heap of big pictures. No real articles or reviews or anything like that. I'll have another look later but have no interest in a magazine subscription at all.


This is the best box I have received from Bellabox so far so I am very impressed. Overall Value is $43.60 which is nearly 3x the value of the box. I will be using almost everything.

What did you think this month?
What other products have people received?
Have you used any of these products? If so what did you think.

Love you all

J   xxx