MyGeekBox September 2014

When I heard September's theme was going to be Apocalypse I was more than eager for something to do with zombies to be included, and MyGeekBox haven't disappointed.

The first item in my box is a copy of World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks, the book behind the recent movie of the same name. I haven't seen the film but I hear there are a lot of differences. One of my favourite novels of all time is Stephen King's The Stand, a post-apocalyptic fantasy horror, so hopefully I'll enjoy reading this. 

Next is a Hostess Twinkie, the iconic American sponge cake with a cream filling. If you haven't seen Zombieland you may be wondering what this has to do with zombies. One of the main characters, Tallahassee, has an obsession with hunting down the last Twinkie. 

Then I got a Funko Mystery Mini Vinyl Figure from The Walking Dead series. I'm very happy to have received Daryl Dixon, my favourite character, holding his signature crossbow. This adorable figure is just 3 inches tall and looks quite chibi-like.

There's also a voucher code for 10% off 'The Mill' at End of Days Events, a realistic zombie survival experience. My boyfriend is an avid paintball fan so I think he would enjoy this. 

The next item is a yellow T-shirt featuring an image of Vault Boy, a mascot in the Fallout video game series set in the aftermath of a global nuclear war, who has been redesigned with mutations due to radiation.

The final product is a single-use bright green Glow Stick with a cord necklace; a convenient source of light for when the apocalypse comes, or just a fun party item. 

This month saw the introduction of a free MyGeekBox magazine, but as it's only the pilot issue there isn't much in it aside from a game review of Metro Redux and an interview with a cosplayer.

If you're a fan of horror like me, don't miss out on next month's Nightmare box available to order now!

You Beauty Discovery September 2014

This month marked the first birthday of You Beauty Discovery. To celebrate the occasion all subscribers received a free Toni & Guy Glamour Volume Plumping Whip (90 ml), in addition to their usual monthly treats. 

Volume Plumping Whip is a hair cream designed to volumise the roots and create all-day body without flyaways, and it's applied to the roots of damp hair before heat styling. It's easy to use and doesn't interfere with my routine at all. It annoys me when a product requires effort, such as waiting 20 minutes before rinsing, but with this I can simply rub it into my roots right before I use the hair dryer. 

From the September menu I selected the following two items:

ARK Age Aware Skincare Body Butter & Shower Gel Duo (30 ml each)

I mistakenly received a duplicate of the Body Butter, but You Beauty were quick to send me a replacement Shower Gel. The Body Butter I got was in 'Living' scent, which is very herbal and has a strong lavender fragrance. It's a creamy lotion that leaves the skin feeling softer. It has a runny consistency so it's easy to pour too much. My Shower Gel is 'Loving', which has a lighter, citrusy scent. 

Wild About Beauty Nutrilips Colour SPF15

I received this lipstick in the shade 02 Bobbie, a nude colour with a sheer finish for a lovely neutral look. Enriched with argan oil and mango butter, it feels very moisturising and softens my lips but I find the scent is overpowering; It has a sickly sweet vanilla and greasy aroma. Perhaps I just have an overly sensitive nose?

The extra treats included two teabags from Crabtree & Evelyn - one Afternoon Tea and a Green Tea with Blackberry. Even though I'm British I'm not really a tea drinker, I much prefer a hot cup of cocoa, but I'm all for trying new beverages and have been curious about green tea for a while. 

Also included was a £25 voucher for Hello Fresh, a weekly subscription service that delivers fresh, high quality ingredients for you to cook healthy, chef-created recipes at home. The Classic Box in the '3 meals for 2 people' option works out at £39 for me, so with the £25 discount I would have to spend £14 - a reasonable price for 3 meals. I may gift this to my boyfriend's mother as she is more health conscious and has a greater interest in cooking meals from scratch.

The last of the freebies is a round cosmetics sponge that has a handy ribbon strap. This makeup sponge seems high quality and feels very soft and suede-like. 

I have to admit the selection this time wasn't as alluring to me as it has been in previous months, but the value for money cannot be disputed. The lipstick alone retails for £15 whereas this subscription costs just £6.95 a month, including postage. 

My Boutique Box Launch Box

My Boutique Box is the newest beauty subscription box service on the UK market, launching just last month. They offer subscriptions in one month, 3 month and 6 month blocks at £10, £28.50 and £55 respectively, plus P&P.

The box is a simple white cardboard box measuring approx. 6.5 x 6 x 2.5 inches, with a My Boutique Box sticker on the lid. It's supposed to include a product list but a factory error meant some boxes, including my own, went overlooked so this was emailed to subscribers instead. 

There were 5 products in my box:

1. NYC 'In a New York Minute' Quick Dry Nail Polish

This fast-drying nail polish came in the shade 046 Shinning Shoes (that's how it's spelt on the label), which is a very dark, shimmery green colour. I may wear it when I go to see Wicked next month. 

2. Azure Internationale Spa Collagen Woven Facial Mask

This pre-moistened face mask comes ready to use, simply apply it to a clean, dry face then remove the backing. After about 20 minutes, slowly peel it off then rinse and pat dry for softer, smoother skin. I love the packaging for this, it's such a beautiful light cyan colour, but it sure is a nightmare to photograph shiny surfaces.

3. Manhattan Soft Mat Lipcream

This is my favourite item out of the five. It's a creamy lipstick that applies like a lip gloss, with a wand applicator. Not only does it smell delicious, it also glides on easily and the texture feels silky and velvety soft on the lips. I received it in the shade 95G, which is quite a brown colour with warm coral undertones that's neutral enough for everyday wear. The matte finish can sometimes appear a bit chalky and can be drying, but using it with a layer of lip balm adds more moisture and gives a glossy finish if you prefer. Nonetheless, I'm very keen to check out other shades in this range.

4. W7 Angled Eye Shadow Brush

Talk about coincidence, I was actually contemplating purchasing this exact brush just a few days ago! It's smaller than I expected it to be at just 5 and a half inches long, and it's also very thin and lightweight. The angled shape of this brush allows for easier contouring and is useful for defining brows or applying eyeliner.

5. Vaseline Lip Therapy

This lip balm is very handy to keep in your purse as we move into the Winter season, to protect your lips against the harsh weather conditions. It contains soothing Aloe Vera and is lime green in colour but applies clear onto the lips. It, bizarrely, smells like cucumber and bubblegum to me.

Overall, I'm fairly happy with what My Boutique Box included in their launch box. I am a sucker for lip products, so to receive 2 is fine by me. The eye shadow brush is something I already wanted anyway, and I'm excited to try out the woven facial mask. My only concern is that it doesn't seem to be very good value for money compared to other beauty boxes on the market, but this is only their first box after all. I'm interested to see the direction they take in future.