Latest in Beauty: Style Summer Essentials with The Sunday Times

I couldn't resist snapping up a The Sunday Times Style Summer Essentials Box with Latest in Beauty which cost £46 and is worth £229. Up until Sunday there they had been offering monthly subscribers £6 off and non-subscribers free postage making the box even more bargainous! (I'm not currently a member but was happy to receive free p&p).

It's absolutely jam packed! And now for a closer look..

I'm super chuffed with this gorgeous SUQQU Designing Color Eyes Palette (Hikaritouka) which is worth £46 alone! The shades are really beautiful and pigmented and I'm looking forward to trying them.

From MAC there is a full size lipstick (Sultry Move) worth £17.50 which is in a very wearable pink nude. Also full size is a Code 8 Precision Eyeliner in Carbon Black which is worth £28. Yet another full size! OPI Nail Lacquer Don't Cry over Spilled Milkshakes which is worth £13.50. There are two try-me make up items - Laura Mercier's Translucent Loose Setting Powder 3.5g and Smashbox Super Fab Mascara 5ml (which are great try me sizes/for travel). So far, I'm loving it!

Yet another full size! From BareMinerals we have their BarePro Glow Highlighter Drops which are worth £23. There's also a mini Clinique Take the Day Off Make Up Remover for Lids, Lashes and Lips (30ml) which is perfect for try me/holidays.

From Elemis is their Peptide4Plumping Pillow Facial 15ml, from Kiehl's their Calendula Serum-Infused Water Cream 7ml and from Paula's Choice a luxury trial size (7ml) of their Resist Intensive Wrinkle-Repair Retinol Serum.

bondi Sands Self Tanning Foam Dark 110ml I won't use this as I don't use self-tan. It's worth £9.99 (I'll pass it along!) There's a mini from Bumble & Bumble of their Hairdresser's Invisible Oil/UV Heat Protective Primer 30ml (£10), Aveda Hand Relief Moisturising Creme 40ml (£12) and Living Proof's Perfect Hair Day Body Builder 98ml (£10).

Rounding up the box is a 10ml Narciso Rodriquez Pur Musc for her EdP spray. It's nice to receive a good size bottle rather than a perfume vial. It has a heart of musc with white florals and orange blossom and it would be perfect for summer holidays.

It's all a bit overwhelming (in a good way!) and I'll follow up with reviews for most of the products. Did you pick a box up?

The Perfume Society: The Travel Edition

I ordered The Travel Edition as soon as it was offered to VIP Subscribers and then waited 14 days for it to be delivered! The Perfume Society really need to sort out their courier problems as this is not the first time I've had issues with an order.

As ever the box is fabulous and stuffed full of gorgeous perfumes and other goodies.

This little set surely is the cutest! It contains a mini soap (30g) and perfume spray. Fragonard Pivoine 4ml EdT is from the FLORAL family. With top notes of redcurrant, rhubarb and mock orange, a heart of pink, red & white peony, jasmine and mimosa and a base of musk, powdered iris and amber. It really is a beautiful feminine summer floral.

The next perfume to jump out at me is the quirky Moschino Pink Fresh Couture 5ml EdT mini in the shape of a bottle of flash!  It's from the FLORAL FRUITY WOODY family and has top notes of pink grapefruit, cassis and lily of the valley with a heart of pomegranate, pink jacinth and wild rose and a base of cedarwood, ambrox and musk.

I'm already a huge fan of Etat Libre d'Orange's You or Someone Like You 2ml EdP (having received it my May Bloom Perfumery Sample Pack). It's from the FRESH family and has notes of roses, mint and wild grasses and is a really luscious and mouthwatering scent. Full size is already on my wishlist.

From Atelier Cologne we have Cedrat Enivrant Cologne Absolue 2ml which is also from the FRESH family (and is beautiful). With top notes of cedrat, lime and bergamot, a heart of mint, basil and juniper berries with a base of tonka bean, vetiver and elemi. It's a really beautiful sparking citrus (I also love that the samples come with a pretty postcard).

From Weleda is Onagre 1.5ml eau naturelle which is from the GREEN FLORAL family with top notes of magnolia, a heart of cardamon and a base of sandalwood. This is a really nice spicy scent.

I've tried Annick Goutal's Eau D'Hadrien 1.75ml EdP before and loved it. This perfume is from the FRESH family and is bursting with zingy citrus. It has top notes of Sicilian lemon, bergamot, citron and grapefruit with a heart of cypress, galbanum, basil, juniper berry and ylang ylang with a woods base.

Azzaro Chrome Pure 1.2ml EdT is from the FRESH family and has top notes of bergamot, mandarin and pepperwood with a heart of Akigalawood and orange blossom with a base of tonka bean, cedar and musk. This is a male scent so I'll pass it on!

Issey Miyake's Nuit Bleu Astral 1ml EdT is from the WOODY family and has top notes of lime and coriander with a heart of gentian and leather accord with a base of amber and vetiver. I really like this unisex scent.

Narciso Rodriguez For Her Fleur Musc 1ml EdP from the ORIENTAL family which is a really pretty feminine scent. It has top notes of bergamot, mandarin, tuberose, pimento leaves, ginger, saffron, honey accord and rum with heart notes of orange blossom, orchid rose and heliotrope with a base of myrrh, sandalwood, suede, tobacco and vanilla. 

The two extras this month:

30ml Molton Brown Costal Cypress & Sea Fennel Bath & Shower Gel

30ml Philosophy the microdelivey exfoliating face wash

It really is a fabulous box. Pick yours up HERE.

The Perfume Society: Modern Classics Discovery Box

My The Perfume Society VIP subscription kicked in again in January (when you re-subscribe you are given a £10 credit). I hadn't got round to buying a box in January or February but I couldn't resist current box Modern Classics (subscriber price £12.50/non-subscriber £17.50 plus P&P) as I adore Angela Flanders Columbia Rose EdP (having first tried it on a visit to London when we stumbled upon the shop) (with the other two in the trilogy). It's still love (it was the reason I wanted the box) and the trilogy is still on the wishlist!

L'Occitane Terre de Lumiere EdP (5ml) which is a delicious gourmand scent with top notes of bergamot, ambrette seed and pink pepper with a heart of lavender honey and base notes of acacia flower, bitter almond essence, tonka bean and white musk. This is almost edible and I'm looking forward to wearing it.

Illuminum White Gardenia Petals (2ml) which is famed by the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton wearing it on her wedding day. It's a beautiful and heady floral scent with top notes of bergamot and cassis, a heart of jasmine, muguet, white gardenia, ylang ylang with a base of amber and woods. It's a very feminine scent.

I haven't worn Narciso Rodriguez for Her EdP (0.8ml) for years. It used to be a favourite so it'll be nice to revisit. It has top notes of peach and rose, a heart of amber and musk with base notes of sandalwood and patchouli.

I was surprised to learn that Marc Jacob's Daisy EdT (1.2ml) is 10 years old this year! Doesn't time fly.  It has top notes of stawberry and violet leaves, with a heart of violet petals and jasmine bouquet with a base of musk and vanilla infusion.

Cartier's Basier Fou EdP (1.5ml) translates to "crazy kiss" and is a soliflore; a fragrance created to evoke a single note - in this case the exotic orchid. It has quite a tropical scent, with powdery and white chocolate notes. 

Yardley London English Freesia EdT (1ml) is a gentle but pretty floral. With top notes of bergamot, lemon, mandarin, freesia, cypress and lavender with a base of sandalwood, musk, olibanum and amber crystals.

Flower by Kenzo EdP (1ml) I've never really been a fan of this one but it's growing on me! With top notes of pink pepper essence and blackcurrant, a heart of Bulgarian rose essence and parma violet and a base of white musk and vanilla.

The extras this month are:

Philosophy Hope Renewed in a Jar Eye 7ml - a decent sized tube of eye cream which is "a beauty classic in it's own right".

A voucher code for £10 off when you purchase any full size fragrance at L'OCCITANE (valid until 31 May 2017).

Minnie's Literally Love It Shimmering Body Lotion sachet which I'll pass onto someone who will love this!

What do you think of the Modern Classics Discovery Box?

The Perfume Society: Scent with Love

I couldn't resist The Perfume Society's latest box - Scent with Love as it contains Shay & Blue's Spring launch - English Cherry Blossom (2ml) - a lush fruity floral which is perfect for springtime. It has top notes of bergamot, pink cherry blossoms and green mandarin with a heart of black cherry, honeysuckle and iris with a base of cherry wood - it's gorgeous! - I know I'll be buying it full size.

4160Tuesdays Sex Goddess (2.25ml) - after having had their Advent Calendar (loved) I know I'll enjoy using this one. It has top notes of peach and blackcurrant, a heart of strawberry and geranium with a musk and vanilla base.

L'Artisan Mure et Musc EdT (1.5ml) - this was the first L'Artisan perfume I tried. Love it. It has top notes of lemon, orange, basil and lavender, heart notes of blackberry and jasmine with a base of musks, patchouli and oakmoss. A lovely fruity and musky scent with a distinct scent of blackberries.

Agonist Vanilla Marble EdP (2ml) - this is so edible! It has top notes of vanilla, almond and tiare flower with heart notes of orchid, white fig, amber and patchouli with a base of sandalwood, vanilla, benzoin and tonka bean.

Elie Saab Rose Couture EdT (1ml) - this is another new launch and is really pretty. It has top notes of orange blossom, peony and rose with heart notes of jasmine, rose, vanilla and fruity notes with a base of sandalwood and patchouli.

Narciso Rodriguez for Her EdP (0.8ml) - I used to wear this all the time so this is a trip down memory lane for me!  It has top notes of peach and rose, a heart of amber and musk and a base of sandalwood and patchouli.

Moschino Fresh Couture EdT (1ml) - full size of this comes in what looks like a Flash bottle! I initially didn't like this one but when it settled on my skin I quite like it. It has top notes of bergamot, mandarin and ylang ylang with a heart of raspberry, white peony and osmanthus with a base of cedarwood, ambrox and white patchouli.

Juicy Couture I am Juicy Couture EdP (1.5ml) - this is very fruity with floral notes and contains top notes of raspberry, pomelo and passionfruit with a heart of gardenia, heliotrope, rose de Mai and sweet pea with a base of musk, woods and amber.

Taylor Swift Incredible Things EdP (1.5ml) - with top notes of grapefruit and pink pepper, a heart of suede, passion flower and vanilla orchid with a base of musk, vetiver, white amber and vanilla.

The extras this month are a sample of Aurelia Probiotic Skincare Firm & Revitalise Dry Body Oil which I've used before and loved and a 30ml tube of Time Bomb Hand to Hand Combat Hand Cream.

The box costs £12.50 for VIP Subscribers and £17.50 for non-subscribers. See the shop HERE. 

YOU Beauty Discovery Box - December 2015

My YOU Beauty Discovery Box landed with me on Saturday. Here's what I chose this month:

I'm a huge fan of REN's Moroccan Rose Otto range (especially the bath oil) so I knew one of my items would have to be a trial size of their Body Lotion (50ml) which I've used several times before.

My second pick was the gorgeous Beatitude Joy Body Oil (10ml) which is truly gorgeous (and one of my top picks for 2015). See my review HERE*.

The extras this month was a sachet of Studio 10 Miracle Effect Priming Serum which I'm sure I'll use and a 0.8ml sample vial of Narciso Rodriguez Narciso EDT which I'm happy trying out. It has notes of white peony, bulgarian rose, black and white cedars and vetivert.

Did you pick up this month's box?

*review - complimentary product