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Birchbox Goodies // November 2018

Ok, so normally I'm dead against anything even remotely Christmas-related coming near me in November (working in retail ruins the Christmas period, don't do it kids) but I will admit this month's Birchbox can be the exception to this rule. This month, they've teamed up with Disney to celebrate the release of The Nutcracker and the Four Realms. I can't say I'm particularly interested in seeing this film, maybe the stage snob inside me is worried they're going to ruin a perfectly good ballet. However, I thought the products and the theme tied in really well together and this is probably one of my favourite boxes so far! This month, I received a Manna Kadar roller eyeshadow, a Paul & Joe illuminating primer, a night cream from Polaar, some gel eye masks from Beauty BLVD and a Spacemask! 

Manna Kadar Diamond Dust Roller Eyeshadow in "Pixie"

RRP £15
What better way to kick off the festive season than with a bit of shimmer and sparkle? I was really impressed with the pigmentation of this eyeshadow - the formula almost reminds me of the Stila liquid eyeshadows, so if you're looking for a cheaper alternative, this might be a good buy! My only criticism for this product is that it is quite hard to apply directly onto the lid as it's quite chunky. I found it was easier to roll a little bit on and then blend it out with my finger, but like I said the pigment was amazing and it definitely lasted all day! You can also use it on your cheekbones or on your lips, so it's definitely a versatile product!


Paul & Joe Illuminating Foundation Primer

RRP £27
I'm not normally a fan of illuminating primers as I find they're usually just glittery and don't do a lot under a foundation, however, this one actually ended up being really lovely! I'd say it's got more of an iridescent sheen to it, which gave my skin a really beautiful glow. I used it under a very lightweight foundation (I'm currently testing the Dior Backstage foundation and I definitely think I'm going to get a full bottle) and that worked pretty well. I don't know how it performs under a more full-coverage or matte foundation but I think if you're using those types of products you'd be hard pushed to achieve a really glowy look. It also smells gorgeous and the packaging is to die for, so I think I will be treating myself to a full-size bottle of this one!

Polaar Polar Night Cream

RRP £32
I am a huge fan of Polaar's skincare range and this night cream definitely did not disappoint! The texture of it almost feels like a balm as it's quite thick, but it feels so nourishing on the skin. This is the time of year where I get really bad dry skin, so having something like this in my skincare routine is definitely going to do me some good! It also smells absolutely amazing!

Beauty BLVD Divine Hydra-Gel Eye Mask

RRP £8.50
Well if the eyeshadow wasn't sparkly enough, Birchbox also included glittery eye masks! I was actually quite impressed with these, they felt really nice and cooling under the eye and I could definitely see a reduction in puffiness and a bit more brightness around the eyes after I'd used the mask. They did keep slipping down my face so I had to keep pushing them back up which was a bit annoying but I think the results were worth it.

Spacemasks Self-Heating Eye Mask

RRO £3.50
Ok. I am actually blown away by this mask. I've been talking about it all day after using it last night. I had the absolute best sleep of my life last night because of this mask. I'm not 100% sure how it works, but basically, it has these iron filling inside that heat up when you put it on which makes your eyes feel really heavy and sleepy. It's also scented with jasmine which is very relaxing. I left this on for 15 minutes before I went to bed and I think I was asleep within about 30 seconds! I will definitely be ordering myself some more of these as I can see them being so useful on the nights where I'm struggling to drift off or if I need some decent sleep before a show or uni assessment!
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