My 2016 Favourites

2016 has been a pretty crappy year for a lot of people, and to tell the truth, I'm kind of looking forward to it ending (while simultaneously being terrified of what 2017 will bring). As it's the end of the year, I have decided to focus on the little things that have made 2016 somewhat bearable. Below are all my favourites of 2016; there's some bookish stuff, some beauty/skin stuff and some film/TV/music and food things that I couldn't include in a photo which I have just shoved on at the end. Enjoy!

No, my photos have not gotten any better, and yes, I am still blaming my terrible phone camera, even though I know that's only half the problem...

Bookish:

1) Magnus Chase and the Hammer of Thor (Magnus Chase #2) by Rick Riordan - I loved this book! I mean, I love anything Rick Riordan, so this should come as no surprise, but this book in particular, wow. It was hilarious (I loved Magnus's sense of humour), it was insightful, it was a great follow up to the first book and the ending. The ENDING. Rick is king of cliffhangers. And Otis is my favourite character. Just saying.

2) The Creeping Shadow (Lockwood & Co #4) by Jonathan Stroud - are these books getting creepier? I think they are. Plus, this book was very interesting because it started off with Lucy on her own, doing freelance work. And...dare I say it? Progress? Between Lucy and Lockwood? It's been four books and we're at the stage where they held hands ONCE. And this is progress. The Skull is pretty much the only one who has a clue right now.

3) Trouble Makes a Comeback (Trouble #2) by Stephanie Tromly - not pictured because I also have this on Kindle and couldn't show two things at once...plus I already did a whole review on it (see here). It was so good though that it has to be mentioned in my favourites. You've got to love Zoe and Digby.

4) Sword of Gryffindor Necklace - so my friend bought this for me for Christmas last year, but I have worn it so much this year that I have to include it. She got it from a Christmas market in Cambridge but I'm pretty sure the one I've linked to on Etsy is exactly the same, if you're interested. It's so pretty! You can see it clearer in the image below. I just wear it with everything (and I'm not even a Gryffindor).

5) Harry Potter Card Wallet - so my lovely work colleagues bought this (and a bunch of other Harry Potter goodies) for me as a leaving gift on my last day. I love it! My old Oyster card holder was dying, so it's nice to have a nice new one with a Harry Potter theme.

Beauty/Skincare:

6) Bioré Charcoal Cleanser - so I have really problem skin in the sense that most of my face is very dry, but my forehead is oily, and is where I get the most spots (literally, constantly, all the time, it drives me mad). This cleanser really helps control my oil levels, as well as prevent those horrible painful spots from appearing on my forehead all the time. Unfortunately I don't think a product exists that will prevent any spots from appearing ever, but this cleanser does the best I could expect a product to do (you can see from how empty it is in the pic below that I use it all the time).

7) Superdrug Tea Tree Spot Stick - if you want another skincare product that actually works, and is cheap, this is for you. This stick has worked wonders for my forehead spots. It honestly gets rid of them in about two days (three if it's the horrible ones). And while it doesn't really prevent them from reappearing, I'm really impressed with just how quickly it does help control blemishes. Highly recommended!

8) Garnier Pure Active 3-in-1 Wash, Scrub, Mask - I really like this because you can use it three ways. I mostly use it as a scrub, but when I have a lot of blemishes, I use it as a mask, and find that it has a really nice cooling and soothing effect. It smells terrible, but it's worth putting up with for the actual effect of the product.

9) Nyx Soft Matte Lip Cream - I know I'm late to the party with these, but honestly, these are some of the best lip products I've ever owned, and they're such great value. They're matte but not drying, soft and creamy in texture, really pigmented, long-lasting and they smell amazing! The two colours I have pictures below, from left to right, are Amsterdam and Cannes.

10) Nuxe Rêve de Miel Ultra Nourishing Lip Balm - another lip product and the saviour of my terrible dry, broken, cracked lips. I have the driest lips ever. They are so dry. I have tried every lip treatment I can think of. I have spent ridiculous amounts of money trying to treat them. The only thing that has ever done anything is this lip balm. It has a really weird thick, waxy consistency, but I put it on before bed, and when I wake up, my lips are actually soft. They aren't cracked. Or if they have been cracked, they're on the mend. It's the only thing I've ever found that remotely works for me, and while it's on the pricey side, I'm happy to keep repurchasing.

11) Benefit Boi-ing Concealer - I have the darkest circles under my eyes. Nothing covers them. This concealer is supposedly an "industrial" strength concealer, and while it doesn't cover my circles completely (nothing short of Dulux will), I have to admit, it's probably the best concealer I've used so far. Definitely reduces the darkness. I also have this in the lightest shade, and it's a pretty good match for my skin, and I usually struggle to find a match because I'm so pale. It's not perfect, and I struggle to justify the price...but of all the concealers out there, I think this is doing the best job for me.

12) L'Oréal Paris Volume Million Lashes Feline Mascara - I have round eyes, and sparse eyelashes, so I am always looking for a mascara that is both volumising and able to push my eyelashes out an angle on the side so that my eyes don't look so round. This mascara does both of those things, and to top it off, has a shiny finish and smells really great (I have a habit of sniffing it...don't judge me). 

13) The Library of Fragrance, Cherry Blossom - I love The Library of Fragrance! I love the packaging, the unique smells, the price point - everything. The cherry blossom scent is one of my favourites. It's very wearable, and can easily be your every day fragrance, and it's also not so floral that it'll make your head spin. The only downfall of this range is that the scent doesn't last very long - but at £15, who can complain, really?

Fashion:

14) ASOS Magical Loafers - so I'm not just saying this because I used to work at ASOS, but I love these shoes SO MUCH. Mostly because they actually fit me. I have the oddest shaped feet - wide at the front, very narrow at the back. Most flat shoes slip off at the back because my heels are so narrow, but I can't buy narrow shoes because then they won't fit the front of my feet. What is a girl to do? Well, these shoes are perfect because they somehow adapt to the shape of my feet. I think it's because the fabric is so flexible - but I can wear them without my feet slipping out! They truly are magical. I love them so much I bought them in the oxblood colour too. They're faux suede with metal detailing - and loafers never really go out of style.

TV/Film/Music:

15) Stranger Things - if you haven't watched Stranger Things, you're either living under a rock, or avoiding it on purpose, in which case, you should watch it anyway, even if you think it's overhyped, because how else will you ever, truly know? (It's so good, I promise you.) It has a sort of Goonies vibe, but then is also really creepy and jumpy, and is excellent. The cast is excellent, the story is excellent, the ending is excellent, it's just excellent. And there's going to be a season 2! What are your theories? [spoilers, highlight to view]What will happen to Will? Where is Eleven (she's totally alive, I know it)? Will there be justice for Barb? Will Nancy get with Jonathan?[end of spoilers]. Also, if you've seen Stranger Things, and you're a fan of Parks & Recreation, please watch this!

16) Hamilton soundtrack - not going to say anything. You've heard enough from me about how much I love Hamilton.

17) Spiderman Homecoming trailer - asdfghjk. I'm so excited for this. You don't understand. You don't understand! I know it's not out for so long, but the trailer is so good! Peter Parker in school! Tom Holland seems like he'll be a fantastic Peter Parker, and after so many bad Spiderman movies, I have hope that we're finally, finally going to get one that does it justice.

18) Guardians of the Galaxy 2 trailer - BABY GROOT!

Food:

19) Pulsin' Almond and Raisin Raw Chocolate Brownies - I couldn't include these in a photo...because I ate them all. Just imagine a squishy bar of chocolatey almondy raisiny goodness, but made from raw ingredients so it's actually not bad for you. Are you hungry yet? I am.

And those are my favourites of the year! What are your favourites of 2016? Do we share any of the same?

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My Little Box May 2016 Review

Soooo, I haven't done one of these for a while. I blame work. I blame all things on work (seriously though, to the bloggers who work full time and consistently post on your blogs, how do you do it?!). Anyway, I have now been subscribed to MLB for a year! So here's a review of this month's box, which has an Italian theme, the My Little Dolce Vita Box.

Love the design of this month's box! That outfit is fab, I would definitely wear that maxi skirt! I like the background scenery too and how it ties in with the Italian theme. I really like the yellow border on the sides of the box as well, it makes it feel a lot more summery!

(I apologise for my horrifically dry skin and terribly chipped nail polish.)

My thoughts on each individual product:

My Little Beauty Bain de Soleil - so this is an illuminating moisturiser for legs which is supposed to build up a gradual tan. I haven't had time to test the tanning effects yet, but for a moisturiser, it's pretty good, and has a nice citrus-y smell. I have really super pale legs at the moment so I will keep using this and see how it goes!

Baija Croisière Céladon Body Oil - I have never used a scented body oil like this before, but the little description card essentially makes it out to be a perfume. The fragrance is green tea and jasmine and is very pleasant! It's not a strong smell, very subtle, and I can't imagine it would last very long, but if you only want a hint of fragrance, that is slightly fruity and floral, then I think this would be perfect.

Courrèges La Fille de L'Air - this is another fragrance, and is a bit stronger than the body oil. It also has a slightly floral scent, but there's something a bit more musky about it too - it's not my favourite, to be honest, it has a slight grandma-ish smell (you know what I mean, right?) but I might still give it a chance and wear it for a whole day to see how it fares.

My Little Box Turban - this is really pretty, but I am so lazy with my hair that I don't think I'd ever wear it. I think it's a great thing to include in the box though - but I'll probably just pass mine on to someone who will make more use out of it.

My Little Box Ring - I adore this ring! It's so cute and it matches a pair of earrings I already have, so I'm really happy with it. I think it will go with a lot of outfits too, and the design is one that you could wear in summer or winter! Very pleases with this product, and I love the tiny little ring box it comes in too!

That's my review of this month's box! What did you think? Did you prefer any other beauty boxes over this one for May?

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My Little Box December 2015 Review

While I do love this month's "My Little Magic Box", I think I could have loved it more. For one, it arrived late again, so that was a bit annoying. And while I really like most of the lifestyle items, I'm not that impressed with some of beauty products. I think I'm feeling like this mostly because I've seen lots of other people's boxes and have preferred their variations to my own (the perfume! I wanted the perfume!). Overall though, this is still a great box (probably one of my favourites of the year, and a great one to end 2015 on) - here are my thoughts!

The design of this month's box is cute, I like all the sparklers and the lit up Eiffel Tower! It's not very magic-y though, they could have added some wands or potion bottles or something like that - but that's just me being picky! I'm happy with it in general.

The card is very similar to the box design, and simply says "this box is magical". Not much else to say really. (Though yay for the return of the proper magazine [see below] - I really did not like the weird fold out magazine/poster/booklet thing. The normal magazine is much better.)

My thoughts on each individual product:

Rituals Touch of Happiness Body Cream - noooo, not another body cream! I've had so many body creams! I don't even like the smell of this one! I mean, it smells okay (orange and cedar wood), but I personally wouldn't wear it. I'll probably give it to a family member. I suppose it's not a bad body cream, really, I'm just disappointed. I would have much preferred a perfume.

Too Faced Melted Liquified Long Wear Lipstick - I got this in the shade "melted fuchsia", and to be honest, at first, I thought it would look horrible. But I put a thin layer on and it's actually a really nice colour! As long as I don't cake too much on, it looks decent, so I'm pretty happy with this. It's a nice formula too, not too drying, and it doesn't crack as much as other liquid lipsticks. It's not long wearing really though - as soon as I had lunch, it was gone, but I think it's a great product overall. I might try out some of the other colours too at some point.

My Little Beauty Vice-Versa Nail Polish Duo - I LOVE these. Both of these nail polishes are so pretty! The blue is such a nice dark colour that's slightly iridescent, and the gold glitter is lovely and festive! Combined, these two would look amazing. Haven't tried them out on all my nails yet (I did a quick test for both and they seem like good nail polishes), so I can't wait to do a blue and gold glittery look for Christmas.

[EDIT: I've now tested the nail polishes properly, and they are so so gorgeous! They look really lovely on (I put the gold glitter on top of the blue base layer) and I'm very happy with them. I will say they do chip very easily, however (and I even bothered to put a top coat on this time), so that's a shame, but the end look is pretty while it lasts!]

Imperial Label Blend Kusmi Tea - yeah, no. I can see some people loving this, but I really don't like teas with flavours like orange and vanilla in them. The only teas I drink are regular, green, and maybe a chamomile once in a while. The tin is very cute though so I am tempted to keep this anyway. 

My Little Box Heat Retaining Mittens - what a great item! These mittens are blue and gold, matching the nail polishes, and really do keep your hands nice and toasty! I like how you can wear them fingerless, or you can unhook the mitten part to cover your fingers - very practical! Really happy with these.

My Little Beauty/Box (the card is not explanatory!) Makeup Bag - this has got to be my favourite item in the box this month. It's so beautiful. I've been wanting a little make up pouch like this that's not too bulky to carry in my bag when I'm out, so as well as being very pretty, it's actually a really useful item! It's just the right size for me too, and I love that it's blue and gold again! Ahh I just love it. 

That's my review of this month's box! What did you think? Did you prefer any other beauty boxes over this one for December?

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My Little Box November 2015 Review

The November box was definitely an improvement on October's box! Not one of my favourites, but I liked it, and it arrived early, which was a nice bonus. This month's box is called the "My Little Sweet Box" and while I'm a bit disappointed there was nothing sweet actually in it (e.g. chocolate), it was a good box overall. Here are my thoughts!

I love the design of this month's box! To start with, it's an actual tin instead of a cardboard box, which is amazing, and very useful. It's also just really cute! I love the illustrations - the wooden spoons and egg cups and scales! Definitely impressed. The only thing is that my box has a dent on one side, but it's not too bad, and I can live with it.

The card was a bit different this month, and featured a chef called Mimi (who was also interviewed in the magazine) which was quite interesting. I still prefer the illustrated cards but a change is nice once in a while.

My thoughts on each individual product:

My Little Beauty Sweet Hand Cream - well, it's another cream. But I have to admit, it is nice. It's not too greasy and has a light but sweet smell, and is pretty moisturising. I can't complain! And the packaging is very cute, once again.

Bliss Fabulous Foaming Face Wash - I haven't fully tested this one yet but I've done a patch test and so far it seems okay and my skin hasn't reacted badly to it. This foam face wash definitely smells a lot better than the last one I received (it has a very gentle floral fragrance) and it makes my skin feel really clean and soft. If it keeps working well for me, and doesn't affect my skin, I would probably consider using it regularly (which is saying something, because I really love the foam face wash I use right now).

Yves Rocher So Elixir Bois Sensual Fragrance - I actually really like this perfume. Originally I thought it would be too strong, but it was fine when I actually put it on my skin. The scent is difficult to describe, the card says it's a "feminine fragrance of aromatic substances including iris, vanilla and patchouli". So floral with some woody tones? I don't know, but I really like it. It's worth testing out if you ever come across it, anyway.

My Little Box Chef's Apron - this is a nice addition to the box, I think! Despite the fact that I actually really like baking, I don't own any aprons, so I'll be using this the next time I'm making something (and maybe it will encourage me to bake more, I've haven't made anything in a while).

My Little Box Jar Decals - well I don't know how useful stickers for jars are going to be for me. I don't put stuff in jars, I leave them in the packets, because I'm lazy, and it's more efficient. And even if I did put stuff in jars, I wouldn't then stick ugly white stickers on said jars. Not too impressed with these, but it was a nice thought, I guess.

That's my review of this month's box! What did you think? Did you prefer any other beauty boxes over this one for November?

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My Little Box October 2015 Review

I wasn't too impressed by this month's box. First of all, my box was late. The boxes are supposed to arrive by the 20th of the month at the latest - mine just arrived today. Secondly, I wasn't a huge fan of the actual contents. For a box titled "My Little Creative Box", the products inside didn't really match the creative theme. I did like some things, but overall, I'm a bit disappointed by this month's box. I'm still continuing with my subscription as I have enjoyed the previous boxes - I just hope November's box will be better! Here are my thoughts (and once again, apologies for the photos. The lighting was really bad here...).

I don't really like the design of this month's box. I prefer the illustrations which we usually get - having a real photograph doesn't appeal to me as much. And it all looks a bit cluttered to be honest.

I do really like this card though. I have to agree with the quote! I always wish I could be a bit more creative. When I was younger, I always wanted to try out the crafts and things I'd seen on programmes like Art Attack - but it would always end up in a PVA glue disaster...

My thoughts on each individual product:

Nominoë Gentle Foam Face Cleanser - this cleanser is actually gentle as it claims, and didn't affect my ridiculously sensitive skin. It did make my skin feel quite clean and smooth too, so it definitely works as a cleanser, but it is quite drying, so you need to apply a good moisturiser after washing this off. However, it unfortunately has a very unpleasant smell. To the point where I really wouldn't enjoy using this product. I don't even know how to describe it - it's sort of earthy and chemical-smelling at the same time. I might use this if I'm really desperate for something when my current foam face wash runs out and I don't have a replacement on hand, but otherwise, it'll probably just collect dust on my dresser somewhere.

My Little Beauty Crème de Minuit - this is a night cream which is supposed "charge your skin while you sleep" and ease tension, tiredness and fatigue. I have yet to see if actually does any of those things (and to be honest, I'm not that hopeful. And I tend to just use a regular moisturiser at night anyway) but the formula is pretty nice, it's hydrating and has a nice, subtle smell. The packaging is also absolutely gorgeous. So pretty! I might test this out, and see if it's compatible with my skin - if it is, I'll use it for a while to see if does what it claims to do, but I doubt it will replace my regular moisturiser. If not, I'm happy to use it as hand cream.

Baïja Hydrating Cream - this is a body cream, and has a nice non-sticky texture. I tried it on the driest part of my arm (elbow) and it worked pretty well. My elbow definitely felt softer and smoother, and you could visibly see the difference. The packaging for this product is also very pretty, I love the floral design! However, the smell of this cream is very strong. It's not particularly bad, but it's just a bit too much, and I don't really like using creams which give off a very strong scent, so I don't know how often I'd use this product, despite how effective it is.

My Little Box Toe Bag - this has come just at the right time with the introduction of the 5p bag charge in the UK. I was hunting for tote bags the other day and could only find one! No idea where all my others went, so I'm very glad to have another for my collection. I do like the design too; the photo only shows one side which says "collect moments now things", but the other side is polka dots and a cute illustration. The bag itself is actually pretty sturdy too, so I'm very happy with it.

My Little Box Wire-Wrap Beads - okay, so this product is actually useless. Like, what even is this? Why would I need beads on my wires? The card description tells me these beads will bring "a little razzle-dazzle" to my "worn-out" wires. Err, no. First of all, as you can tell from the image on the side, these beads make wires look worse than if they were just plain. They don't clip on properly, they don't look nice together - it's just a mess. And why would I want to decorate my wires anyway? What's the point? I'm just not a fan - and this really doesn't live up to the creative theme of the box. Maybe I would like these beads if I were younger, but right now, I am unimpressed.

That's my review of this month's box! What did you think? Did you prefer any other beauty boxes over this one for October?

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My Little Box September 2015 Review

This month's box was another great one! It took a while for my box to get to me (after supposedly being shipped on the 2nd of September, it took over two weeks for it to arrive) but it was worth the wait in the end! September's box is titled the "My Little Fashion Box" - here are my thoughts! (And, as always, apologies for the terrible photos.)

I really like the design of this month's box! It's done a great job of shifting from a summery vibe to something more autumnal. My favourite of the illustrated girls on the front of the box is the third from the right, wearing glasses and a messy bun. I could never pull that style off, but I love it!

My thoughts on each individual product:

La Roche-Posay Toleriane Ultra Fluid - I'll admit, I had no idea what this was when I first saw it! According to the description card, it's a "miracle cream especially designed for intolerant-prone skin". Well that's perfect for me, because I definitely have intolerant skin. I applied this product to my face and neck as directed (and my eye contour area too, which it is also suitable for!) and I have to say, it really is soothing. It is a bit greasy when you first apply it and I'm not a huge fan of how it feels on my face, but if it soothes and helps get rid of irritation, then it's worth it. I have some irritation just above my jawline at the moment, and while I can't yet say it's going away, the cream definitely made the skin there feel better and less itchy. It's also pretty hydrating (though not the best hydrating product I've ever used) - I applied it to my under-eye area, which is very, very dry, and it feels quite smooth at the moment! So overall, I'm pretty impressed! 

My Little Beauty Red Dingue Lip Colour - this is a lip cream that's basically like a matte liquid lipstick. It's a very pigmented raspberry red colour, which I tried on thinking it wouldn't suit me at all, but actually doesn't look too bad and I might wear it when I'm feeling bold (so, not that often, but still, it's a nice product to add to the collection). I like that one coat is enough, and that it lasts for quite a long time without reapplying. It is a little drying however, so I would have to wear lots of lipbalm before applying this, and maybe add some on top if it's possible to without smudging the colour. And the packaging - the packaging! It's so cute! Those mini polka dots just get to me.

Kératese Couture Styling Laque Noire - I've been really getting into hair products recently, so I was very pleased to see a hair product in the box! The formula of this fixing spray is especially designed to combat against humidity - which, once again, is perfect for me, because I'm actually going on holiday soon and was wondering what I should use on my hair in the humid conditions! I tried it out at home and while it smells lovely, I didn't notice too much of a difference in frizz levels (though my hair was down and I was just at home, so it's not really an accurate test of how good it is). I will take it on holiday with me though to see how it fares in a hotter, more humid climate!

Cointreau Cocktail Kit - what an unexpected item! I don't actually drink, so this will probably be enjoyed by a family member, but I think this is actually kind of cool. The mini bottle is really cute and the little booklet of cocktail recipes comes with a number of different and interesting ideas! I'm not sure how My Little Box is determining who gets the cocktail kit though - what about subscribers who are under 18? Can you subscribe if you're under 18? I forgot whether they asked me my birthday...

Alfa-K Adhesive Nail Decals - I have sort of a love hate relationship with nail decals. I love the idea of them, and would love to wear them (these ones are so pretty!) but I am so rubbish at putting them on. It always goes wrong, ALWAYS. I am determined to try again and get it right this time, but we shall see how it goes...

American Vintage and My Little Box Scarf - I got the blue scarf! Definitely love it, it's so soft, the pattern is very pretty and it will go with a lot of different outfits. I also love the box the scarf came in, 1) because the image on the front is really cool - the cut out bit that shows what the scarf looks like also acts as the scarf the illustrated woman is wearing, and 2) because the back of the box has three different ways to wear the scarf, which I thought was very creative! I have seen the black design of the scarf that other people have received in their boxes and I really do love that one too, but I'm happy with what I've got. 

That's my review of this month's box! What did you think? Did you prefer any other beauty boxes over this one for September?

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My Little Box August 2015 Review

I thought I'd continue reviewing the My Little Box beauty subscription service, seeing as July's post seemed to go down pretty well, so here are my thoughts on August's box! (Though as always, I apologise for my terrible, terrible photographs.) This month we have the My Little Gypset Box and overall, I'm once again pretty impressed by it.

Not as huge a fan of this month's box design as I was for July, but it's still pretty cute and very summery. I love the fact that we get a quote card each month - my collection is slowly building and I'm running out of space for all of them! 

My thoughts on each individual product:

Korres Body Milk - I love this body milk. It smells so, so good - mine is in the fragrance Bergamot Pear and it is absolutely gorgeous. It also leaves your skin feeling really soft and smooth, and is non-sticky as described, which means your skin actually feels nice after its been applied, and you don't have to wait ages for it to dry to get rid of that sticky sensation. I also really like the packaging - that greeny blue colour really appeals to me.

My Little Beauty Bronzing Powder: Summer Caress - I don't really use bronzer much but I love the colour of this one. It has golden tones and really does give a nice, glowing look. I would probably use it as an eyeshadow more than a bronzer (I know people will be horrified by this), just because I'm kind of terrible at applying any kind of bronzer/blusher/foundation. I react to so many of them that I don't really use those kinds of products much. I will make sure to test this out properly to see whether I do react wearing to it as a bronzer, but for some reason, my eyelids are less sensitive than the cheek area of my face (though I do still have to be careful), so I think I'll be okay there. And the packaging is so cute, as all the My Little Beauty packaging is.

So Susan Colour Hybrid Velvety Lip/Cheek Mousse - I was worried I wouldn't suit this shade of red (which is quite bold), and while I'm still not a 100% sure I can pull it off, I do like this mousse as a lip product. The colour stays on your lips for a pretty long time, and it's not too drying, which for me is great as I have the driest lips ever (and no amount of lip balm seems to help me). I unfortunately would not be able to use this on my cheeks (not even going to bother testing it because I just know my skin will not like it) but for people with less sensitive skin, I think it would be a nice colour blush, and the dual purpose of a lip/cheek mousse is always useful.

My Little Box Hair Ties/Bracelets - here's another dual purpose product; hair ties you can also wear as bracelets when you're not using them in your hair! I actually really like this idea - I have fairly long hair (it used to be much longer but I just had about 8/9 inches cut off) so I always carry hair ties with me in my bag in case I ever need them - but it can take ages to look for them because they always end up sinking right to the bottom.  Wearing them as a bracelet means you wouldn't have this problem! The designs are fairly casual, so you couldn't use these really for a businessy work outfit, or for going out, but on those days when you're in your jeans and a comfy jumper and you can't be bothered with actual jewellery (which for me is pretty much every day), these hair tie bracelets would be absolutely perfect.

Antik Batik and My Little Box Bucket Bag - I love this bag! I love the design and the colours, and it's actually fairly bigger than I thought it would be, so it could fit quite a few things in it. I'm going on holiday soon, so this will be the perfect thing to take to the beach, though I'm sure it would look great paired with a lot of outfits. My only little quibble is that I got a bag where the rope is very frayed at the ends, which makes it look slightly scruffier than I'd like. But apart from that, I'm really happy with it.

That's my review of this month's box! What did you think? Did you prefer any other beauty boxes over this one for August?

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My Little Box July 2015 Review

I decided to do a non-bookish related post today about a beauty box subscription service I've really been enjoying! I signed up for My Little Box in late April, so my first box was the May one. So far I've been liking everything, but not loving it - until now. July's box is the My Little Road Trip Box, and I've been really impressed with it, so I thought I'd show you the things I got, and my impressions of them!

(Note: I suck at taking photos. It is a curse. I have the least steady hand and no concept of good angles or lighting. I did attempt to take close ups of each product so you could see them in more detail, but the result was an atrocity, so you're better off with these blurry far away shots - trust me. I'm also using my phone camera which is rubbish as I don't actually own a proper camera because I am too useless to use one, so I do apologise. Just bear with it.)

Really like the design of this month's box, and the little card with the quote on it! I usually use the boxes to store miscellaneous items, and I use the cards to decorate the inside of my wardrobe (the illustrations are always really cute).

My thoughts on each individual product:

My Little Beauty Summer Sorbet After Sun Body Gelée: the My Little Beauty products always have the most adorable packaging! I love this after sun cream - it smells gorgeous and has a great texture. It's easy to apply and doesn't take ages to absorb into your skin (which is great for me as I'm kind of lazy and can't be bothered with creams that take ages to rub in).

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water: I have very sensitive skin so I have to be careful with what I put on my face. I'm not wearing make up today so I haven't been able to test out this product fully, but I did a little patch test and I haven't broken out in some hideous rash yet, so fingers crossed this product really will be cleansing and soothing "even for sensitive skin" as the bottle claims.

Essie Nail Polish: mine is in the shade "DJ Play That Song". You can't really go wrong with Essie, to be honest. I really like Essie nail polishes, they have a great formula, and even I can go a day or two or even three without chipping (and I am the clumsiest person, so going more than two days without chipping is some kind of miracle). Not the biggest fan of this shade of purple, but it's a nice, bright, summery colour, so I'm sure I'll wear it at some point.

DCER Golden Temporary Tattoo Set: these are so cute! I love the arrows and the feather. Not sure exactly when I'd be wearing these but I am excited to try them! Maybe I'll put one around my ankle the next time I wear sandals, and see how it goes.

Bic x My Little Box Ready-to-Send Notebook and Crystal Stylus Pen: okay, so this really appeals to my stationery loving self. The notebook is in the shape of an envelope and I love it. I love notebooks. Shove any pretty notebook in my face and I'll be content for hours. Notebooks will always make me happy!

My Little Box Travel Organiser: this is probably my favourite thing in this month's box. I like to prepare extensively before I travel, so an organiser for me is essential. This one is really lovely with a fab design and pockets for your passport, your tickets and any other things you'd need with you. It's perhaps not the sturdiest travel organiser you could get, but it's pretty and I will definitely be making use of it.

That's my review of this month's box! What did you think? Did you prefer any other beauty boxes over this one for July? The only other beauty box I've tried so far is Glossybox and I wasn't really that impressed. I'm open to recommendations though!

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