Myvitamins Vitamin C dissolvable tablets

Today it is a rainy day in Croatia... Holiday season is over and I am pretty much waiting for the spring to come. But, since there are quite a few days of winter ahead of us taking vitamin c or any other vitamins is a good idea. I would love to be fluless this winter, so getting a pack of these in my January Lookfantastic beauty box (review here, and December BB- here) was a good reminder to take a better care of my health.

Myvitamins offer a big selection of vitamins and other food supplements to improve your health. They claim to sell premium vitamins for affordable prices.

list of ingredients

By the claims of the brand they improve the overall state of your body and health in general, and that is why fitness trainers love them. They also taste great!

suitable for adults and children over 12 years

In this one packaging you get 20 dissolvable tablets. You add one tablet in a 200 ml of water and that is enough vitamin C for the daily needs of your body.

Mine are raspberry flavoured and they don't taste bad but I wouldn't say that they are like a yummy juice.

I am almost done with mine but I love that they've reminded me to take vitamins daily. I can't really say that my health is much better than before taking them because I don't have any proof of that but I am certain that this extra dose of vitamin C did good to me.

Although I received them in my LF beauty box I couldn't find these on their site. Then I visited myvitamins web site and saw that these packagings of 20 vitamins cost 4.49 GBP, and you have many to choose from (link). If you are interested there is a coupon code with 30% discount to buy anything from the myvitamins site and I think that it is valid only in January, so hurry if you are interested (the code is JAN30).

And although I can't say that I'll buy these particular vitamins again I am very happy that they reminded me to take some.

What about you? Do you take your vitamins?

Tell me...

Love, beautyandbrains007

I am not affiliated with Lookfantastic or myvitamins in any way.

AVON Planet Spa Fantastically Firming Neck & Chest Serum with Colombian Coffee Extract

WOW! That is one big title for a 50 ml bottle of serum. The bottle is brown and made out of plastic, light, travel friendly and has a pump on top. One pump is more than enough for the whole neck and chest area (meaning decolletage).

The serum itself has quite light and thin texture, although it is not completely watery, and has no colour. The smell of it is very light and doesn't linger, but you can smell a mixture of fruit and chemistry ;). I apply it only in the evening on clean skin and then follow it with a cream.

I bought this bottle of serum last year during some kind of sale, and before writing this review I looked up in Avon's current catalogue (campaign 2/2015) and found it reduced from 97 kunas (about 12.63 Euros/9.46 GBP/14$) to 69 kunas (about 8.99 Euros/6.73 GBP/10$), which in my opinion should be the full price for this product and what it offers. Although I like it, I wouldn't pay the usual and full price of 97 kunas for it. This whole firming line with coffee extract has two more products available: body scrub and body butter, and this is how Avon describes them:"Even after the first application you will already see the difference in your skin. It will look firmer and more radiant. USAGE for the serum: Apply the serum on your neck and decolletage area gently massaging them, 2-3 times a week."

Let's be honest. I am in my early thirties and really can't complain about the firmness or wrinkles on my neck and decolletage area, but since these areas are the most exposed and sometimes forgotten during spring and summer months, the skin can suffer from all the weather conditions, especially overexposure to the sun. That it is why I chose to provide a bit more TLC to that area and for me this serum probably kept my skin looking more radiant, cared for and firm.

If you are into all natural products, skip it. I am no expert on ingredients but can read parabens when I see them, which this serum contains.

In my opinion, this serum isn't bad at all for my skin but I am not sure if it would really make a big difference for mature skin?! I apply it regularly, like it and will use it up, but I wouldn't say that it has a HG status and that you just need it in your life. If anyone with more mature skin tried it, please write a comment on how you liked it and how it performed? Together we are smarter! ;)

Is this something for you? Have you tried it? Perhaps something else from Avon's Planet Spa line? Do you like their Planet Spa face masks?

Tell me...

Love, beautyandbrains007

I am not affiliated with Avon in any way, I bought this product with my own money and this is my honest opinion.

LUSH SANTA'S lip scrub

Except for the Rose Jam body wash that I got in a Lush present for Christmas from a friend of mine, this is the last Lush product from their holiday collection that I bought for myself. I already wrote posts about Holly Golightly and Christmas Hegdehog bubble bars (click on them for reviews) but wanted to say a few words about this scrub also. It is a part of Lush's holiday collection for a couple of years now, so I guess it will be again next year, and because of the way it looks it is very appropriate for Valentine's day, too.

On Croatian Lush site I found a scrub in Valentine's day collection that looks exactly the same (maybe more pink) - The Kiss. There's no information about the taste or smell of it, but if it is Coke, then it is basically the same product, with a different name. As I already said, Santa's has a Coca-Cola smell and flavour, actually more like Hubba Bubba Coke flavoured bubblegums.

As all the other Lush lip scrubs, this one also comes in a 25 g glass jar with a lid and it will cost you 60 kunas (about 7.79 Euros/5.83 GBP/8.73$), and if you still manage to find it in Lush stores you will pay 50% less for it because it is on sale.

It is red with small red hearts on the top.

To use it, take a small amount on your finger and scrub your lips to make them nicer and softer, then lick the rest of it off (it is natural and sugar based) or wash it off with water and apply your favourite lip balm. Since it is made from natural ingredients you can use it in the morning and in the evening, but I use it only once a day, usually in the evening, and that is enough for my lips to stay nice and healthy.

This is my second Lush lip scrub, I also have Bubblegum which is available all year round, and I wrote about it here before.

If I compare the two I must say that Santa's texture is more moist and softer, but as good of a scrub as Bubblegum. The main and practically only difference is the smell and the taste of them. I am aware that you can make something like this by yourself at home, but this is also a good alternative. And as with all of the Lush's products, you can recycle its packaging. Put the jar into recycling bin for glass and you can bring the lid to Lush stores.

This scrub has natural ingredients and list of them is visible in the picture below.

This product does exactly what it says, and it is good at it. I am glad that I have it but understand if you are not into it. If you are interested in it but can't find it anymore, try The Valentine's day one or choose one from their permanent line, perhaps Bubblegum.

So, what do you say? Interested or not at all?

Tell me...

Love, beautyandbrains007

MY 2014. FAVOURITES!!!

I must be completely sincere and say that I wasn't to keen on writing about my favourites. I just feel so much pressure to say which were my all time favourites but when I started to think about them a little more, then they just came to my mind. Products that I have really liked and because of that bought them numerous times.

Ugh?! Where to begin? Maybe, skin and hair care would be a good place to start from since they enhance your natural beauty.

My Croatian readers probably know about this Croatian brand, whose products I loved- OLIVAL. They have a whole line with immortelle. I tried their immortelle mask, toner, cleansing milk and face scrub and I also got their nourishing face cream as a Christmas gift this year, but haven't tried it yet. I liked the most their cleansing milk and toner, although their face mask is very good, too.

This is maybe a weird favourite, but I loooove my ebelin makeup removing pads. They are the best! They are DM brand product, never sticky, don't fall apart when they get wet, never make my eyes sting. Basically, the only ones I use. 

For some time now I have been using micelle solutions of all kinds. It all started with Bioderma Sensibio (review here) which I still love (Vichy's is also great) but one was great as a product and also as your value for the money- Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water. Almost exactly the same as Bioderma and for a fraction of the price. Loved it! My review on it here.

Somewhere towards the end of the last year I bought an eye cream and haven't dreamed that it will become my favourite. It is Caudalie Polyphenol (C15) eye and lip cream. I wrote about it here.

As for body care, I will mention just one product: Balea In Shower Body Milk. AMAZING!!! I can't be without it, and if I see any signs of it going on its last legs, I run to DM to buy another one. Great for busy or lazy days and you can read more about it here.

My lips and I both loved Korres-Jasmine lip butter. The most wondeful product ever! Such a great soft and nourishing texture, wonderful light caramel scent... I loved it and used it every day since I got it. I wrote about it here, just in case you are interested.

Hair products??? I know that I am always raveing about my Macadamia deep healing mask and oil, and don't forget their No tangle brush. I love all of them and they have been my favourites for many, many years. The only thing I have to warn you about is the fact that the brush looses some of its "miracle working" during time, so you should replace it every two years (also have to say that I use it every day on wet and dry hair). I wrote about the most of the line here, if you are interested, especially because I am not that crazy about their other products.
I also always have a bottle od Head&Shoulders shampoo on hand. I wash my hair with it once a week just as a precautionary measure. I haven't had dandruff in years and I think that this shampoo gets the credit for that.

And for the days when I just didnt' have the time or energy for washing my hair I used Batiste XXL Volume dry shampoo. A very good product which got some competition just at the end of the year but was definitely a winner during the whole 2014. I am planning to write a review about it so I am not going into details now, but it really is a good volumising dry shampoo.

My favourite roll on was Nivea fresh natural deodorant. I used up many of those...

I almost forgot steripods?! Those little tooth brush sanitizers are amazing and I would say buy them! My review on them- here.

And then there is makeup.

My absolute 2014. favourites are Urban Decay 24/7 glide on eye pencils! I got them for Christmas last year and fell in love with them. I used all of the colours during the year because every colour was perfect for some season. And actually, I used them all up! I got a new set for Christmas this year which will hopefully also be as good and earn its place among my favourites for this year, because they were so soft but long lasting, didn't smudge, acted well in the waterline. I loved them and wrote about them- here.

Another makeup product that I loved was my Chanel Illusoire cream eye shadow. I wore it almost exclusively this year. Mostly by itself. It is beautiful. This is a complete compliment catcher and you can read my review on it here.

I tried a lot of mascaras this year but loved one the most and think that it is a great value for the money. Don't get me wrong. It also performs great! My L'Oreal million lashes excess red mascara. It gives me wawawawoom lashes which I am all for! I am not a natural looking lashes type. More like a sophisticated drag queen type ;), if that even exists?

when I first bought it

I have quite a few blushes in my collection and there was one I used all the time. My Art Deco limited edition blush which was bought in Hungary- haul here. I know that it is from a 2013. collection but we made each other company mostly in 2014..

I have one favourite among makeup setting sprays and it is  from Skindinavia. I tried all of them but probably like the bridal one the most (although I have combination to oily skin).

And probably my favourite perfume in the year 2014. was Harajuku Lovers Baby. I used up two bottles of it so I think that it deserved its place among my favourites.

My lifestyle favourites this year were my dogs! I love having them in my life <3 <3 <3, and my travels!

2014. started on Cuba for me. I always wanted to go there and doing that just confirmed my love for it! I am going back for sure. I loved my European trips also, but probably a trip to Poland was my fave. I must not forget Morroco.... where we rented a car and drove thousand kilometers throught it just to get to know it better. Wonderful!

Now you also know a little bit more about me.

Do we share some favourites?

Tell me...

Love, beautyandbrains007

Before you start to think that the amount of spare bottles that I have is crazy, I want to tell you that they are from my emties post that I am writing about the amount of products I used up in a 6 months period. :)

LOOKFANTASTIC BEAUTY BOX - January 2015.

There are so many posts that I want to write and publish, about multiple products and topics..., but after receiving my Lookfantastic January beauty box, I just had to put them on hold and write about the box. My last, December box came quite late so I was surprised to see this one so early on my doorstep. I pre-ordered it and it came around 15th of January. I love this beauty box feeling when you never know what is coming to you, will you like it, need it or just hate it. I am kind of a gambler that way (although my bet costs me only 15 GBP, which is the price of one beauty box). But since I was really happy with my December beauty box (you can read about it here), I had to  my "tradition" and order another one. I will keep ordering them as long as they give us good samples, meaning nice sizes, perhaps a full size product and more high end products which I am less likey to splurge on. Or, I'll order them until I get bored with them... 

Everything is sealed with Lookfantastic sticker and wrapped in a dark gray tissue paper. 

On the top you can first see a little booklet which helps you to get to know the products inside of the box a little better.

January box will surprise you with six products.

The first product is a little packaging of Gatineau Collagen Eye Compresses. It looks like a small cream tester but it contains two eye pads for one collagen treatment of your eyes.

 It is supposed to revive and rejuvenate your eyes with these clever eye compresses, drenched in a soothing, marine-based collagen sollution. Fabulous for special occasion, it revives and rejuvenates the eyes, helps reduce dark shadows, plumps out wrinkles and relaxes the eye contour. I am very keen to try it although I am not sure if I'll get the best idea about this product from just one packaging. This product is very expensive and a packaging of 6 pads (2 per pack) costs 34.50 GBP (link). 

The second product is much larger in size, in fact it is a full size product, and I was very happy to see it inside the box- NUXE Soothing and Rehydrating Fresh Mask. This fresh, hydrating, mask soothes the skin to leave it with radiant appearance. 90% of the total ingredients are from natural origins, leaving skin moisturised and soothed for 24 hours. Since it is suitable for all skin types, it is a good choice for a beauty box like this one. Its full size 50 ml packaging costs 19.50 GBP (link) so this mask by itself is enough for the box to be a good deal.

Next choice in the box is a pack of  MyVitamins Premium Ingredients at Affordable Prices. You get twenty pieces and are supposed to take one a day. Not bad at all. This range has already become a favourite amongst nutritionists and fitness experts. Add this bestselling dissolvable tablets to water to produce a great tasting drink which is easy to consume. These tablets are ideal for anyone who is looking to increase their intake of vitamins for a healthier lifestyle. For me they taste OK, not delicious or horrible. I was very happy to get them in the box! It is January and I am always for healthy living in January.

Getting this next product was a bit of a lottery. You could have gotten one luxury hair care item from three different brands: GOLDWELL, O'right or 3'''moreinches. I received a 10 ml bottle of O'right's Golden Rose oil. I haven't had a chance to try it out yet but I can tell you that it "surprisingly" smells like roses.

Another kind of a lottery product was a body wash from MOLTON BROWN. There were two choices: a 100 ml/3.3 fl.oz. eucalyptus (green) or templetree (blue) bottle. Designed to gently cleanse and nourish the skin, Molton Brown uses a unique blend of ingredients, designed to work up a rich lather for a long lasting, refreshing smell. Skin will be left feeling silky soft and super clean. I got a nice travel size of the blue, templetree bottle. The smell of it seems pretty intense and I am not sure what I think about it yet. A full size of this product is 100 ml/10 fl.oz. and it costs 18 GBP (link).

And the last product in January's beauty box is Philip Kingsley's Daily Damage Defence leave-in conditioning spray (60 ml/2.03 fl.oz. spray bottle). Protect your hair with Philip Kingsley' Daily Damage Defence. The leave-in conditioning spray provides defence from daily heat styling and environmental effects whilst working to add shine and manageability to all hair types, Perfect for use on wet hair after washing. It de-tangles hair and helps to remove static. I didn't find it on Lookfantastic's website by itself, just in a set- here. Lately I've been eyeing this Philip Kingsley products and I suppose this will help me to decide whether I like them or not.

That is all for January's beauty box. In 20 beauty boxes there was an extra gift, a 145 GBP worth GHD Eclipse Styler, but unfortunately my box was not one of them... If you like this concept or want to have a chance and win that GHD styler, here is the LINK to order your beauty box.

What do you think about this month's beauty box? Interested? Which one do you like more- December or January beauty box?

Tell me…

Love, beautyandbrains007

I am not affiliated with Lookfantastic in any way, all the products were bought by me, with my own money.