Midsummer Secrets | Little Known Box, June 2017*

I'll admit - hands up - that I do tend to announce that several inanimate objects are my baes and boyfriends on a daily basis. And I'll also admit that I can sometimes be just a smidge over dramatic. But when I say Little Known Box is bae - something I proclaim every month - I mean it. The day this little beaut plops through my letterbox [via Paul the Postman, another bae] is always a triumphant one. Full of overexcited swearing. And here's June 2017's curation: Midsummer Secrets*

This month's box is packed full-to-bursting with six fantastic items - including three newly launched products from Amie, Manna Kadar and Native Unearthed; and as always, it was a pleasure to unwrap. Little Known Box don't just spoil us with lesser known brands, they also feature newly released products from a wide variety of companies; meaning you're always in-the-know about the latest and greatest about to hit down in blogging town.

The Midsummer Secrets edit is all about products we use as part of our daily Summer routine[s], to keep us glowing and feeling our best during the looong Summer days and nights. It's a perfect theme and a perfect curation of products with which to achieve this with. So without further ado, let's get unwrapping! Literally, I could talk about my love for these guys all day haha and I'm insanely boring, so I definitely need to reign it in sometimes. A naked troll on Twitter told me so. Also, I always feel like Shakespeare when I write 'further ado' - anyone else?

Manna Kadar Cosmetics Trifecta Shadow, Full Size

I love the packaging of this versatile little powder - it's gorgeous and such a great size for popping in your makeup bag for touch-ups on the go. It's also cruelty and paraben free - two other massive plus points in my book. The Trifecta Shadow has a gorgeous, soft powder formula; which applies and blends like a dream.

It's the perfect multi-tasker - great for working some warm earthy tones into your smokey eye, for contouring, bronzing and filling in your brows [it's a little too warm / light for my cold-ass excuse for brows, but if you're naturally fair, this will make a fab brow powder.] Making it great value for money and a staple for any makeup bag this Summer.

Retail Price : £14.95

Follow : @mannakcosmetics and #mannababe

Shop : www.mannakadarcosmetics.com

Balm Balm Lip Balm, Full Size

Although I love a good matte liquid lipstick as much as the next person, sometimes in Summer, it's a case of cba. When you're roasting hot and potentially prone to a sweaty top lip situation, full lipstick can be a smeary gamble. So a subtle, glossy balm on the lips is a great alternative - especially when it's packed with as much natural goodness as this one is!

This way cute balm is 100% natural & organic and has a cute, feminine fragrance; perfect for making memories over the Summer months. It works to smooth, moisturise and nourish lips - and not only that, it can also be used as an all over moisturiser or balm; should you need it! Another perfect multi-tasker, ideal and compact enough to fit into even the smallest of bags this Summer. 

Retail Price : £5.50

Follow : @balmbalm and #balmbalm

Shop : www.balmbalm.com

SAMOL Herbal Hair & Scalp Oil, Travel Size, 10ml

I love this gorgeous little glass bottle - I'm a sucker for packaging. Especially when it comes to luxurious looking products, like this hair oil. As I have long, dead and rarely cut hair, I feel like this bottle may only really cover me for one treatment; but from the sounds of it, one treatment alone should do my locks the world of good.

This 100% natural oil is formulated with powerful, luxurious herbs and cold pressed oils; leaving your hair glossy, glorious and on-point. No matter what type of tresses you have, it's suitable for all; simply massage it into the scalp, leave overnight and wash it out the following morning. Boom. SAMOL's products are 100% natural, cruelty free and free from parabens, SLS, petrochemicals, phthalates, fragrance and dyes; half of which I never knew existed! 

Retail Price : £7.19 for 10ml [£24.00 for 50ml]

Follow : @samolherbal

Shop : www.samolherbal.com

Offer - Use code LKB2017 for 20% off, valid until 15/07/17 on SAMOL's website

Amie Exfoliating Polish, 25ml

I can't wait to scrub my face with this - it looks divine and I love the other products I've tried from this brand in the past. Once again, I have Little Known Box to thank for this! This fab little exfoliator is a new release for Amie; suitable for vegans and vegetarians.

This award winning brand was created specially for those with sensitive skin; meaning their collection is perfect for use on all skin types. Their products all boast gentle yet effective organic formulas, harvesting the power of natural plant and botanical extracts to keep your skin beautifully clear.

This New Leaf Pore Exfoliating Polish is a rich, deep cleansing exfoliator that'll leave your skin glowing and refreshed. It lifts away dead skin cells, unclogs pores and encourages the skin to renew itself; for a youthful radiance.

This exfoliating polish contains natural extracts of orange blossom to tone the skin and keep it oil free - making it perfect to use on my oil slick excuse for a face! And as if this gorgeous new release couldn't get any better, it's also free from parabens, mineral oils and sulphates. Amie, you are one of my new found faves!

Retail Price : £5.95 / 100ml

Follow : @amie_skincare [Twitter] @Amie_Natural_Skincare [Instagram]

Shop : www.amieskincare.com

Offer : Use code LKB25 on Amie's website for 25% off, valid until 21/08/17

Africology Cleanser, 25ml

Okay, so you know that packaging obsession I always allude to? This cleanser right here pretty much encapsulates all my branding goals in one. Just look at its luxurious little bottle and the antique style font. LOVE! Africology aren't a brand I've heard much about so far in my adult life; but judging by this cleanser, they're one that I totes need to get better acquainted with.

Africology create natural, ethical skincare products; fragranced with luxurious, 100%-pure essential oils. Their no animal testing policy sits very well with me and their ethical stance and brand ethos are things I admire a lot. This cleanser, as well as becoming a new bae of mine [see, I'm at it again] clears the skin without dehydrating it; leaving skin soothed and feeling refreshed.

Retail Price : £5.00 - £6.00

Follow : @ukAfricology [Twitter] @africology_uk [Instagram]

Shop : www.africology-uk.com

Native Unearthed Natural Deodorant, 30ml

When I first saw 'Activated Charcoal' on the side of this lux glass pot, I instantly thought [thanks to pretty much every reality TV star to walk the earth] of teeth whitening products. Which I was happy about, don't get me wrong. But when I realised that this was actually deodorant I was like whhhhaaaaaat? and had to crack it open to try straight away. It's so intriguing and it actually works; drying into the old 'pits much faster than roll-ons or sprays, for a clean feeling. Plus, I love the smell.

I'm terrified of smelling like BO, so I can be quite picky with deodorants. I tend to opt for the dry sticks from Dove; so the balmy texture of this natural BO deterrent instantly appealed to me. I like being able to control how much product I apply at a time - and applying it with your fingers means you can feel exactly where you've applied it; to ensure even coverage. Don't want no rogue BO popping out throughout the day, do we?!

Natural deodorant allows your body to perspire whilst controlling odour causing bacteria [aka BO bandits]; unlike mainstream alternatives which use aluminium compounds [which defo aren't natural] to plug the sweat ducts and stop your body from perspiring. It is a little different to get used to, if you're used to grabbing BO spray off the shelf in Boots; but it's effective, smells great, is easy to pop in your handbag for BO-on-the-go prevention and doesn't stain. Definitely worth a try, and the product I've used most from this month's offerings!

Retail Price : £6.99 / 60ml
Follow : @nativeunearthed
Shop : www.nativeunearthed.com

And that's a wrap! Another month, another fantastic curation and another six reasons to get yourself involved in the Little Known Box hype! If you fancy signing up, it's legit such great value and using code NEW10 at the checkout will knock 10% off the cost for you. I can't recommend these guys enough tbh. What are your thoughts on June's curation?

Have you tried Little Known Box or any of these brands before? What's your secret beauty product / tip for Summer?

*This post contains items I was gifted for the purpose of review, but as always; everything you read here has come straight from my heart. My heart, yeah, oh my heart [bonus points if you can guess which lyrics I'm quoting here]

Get That GLOW | SkinnyTan Sundays*

I've had some full-on disasters with fake tan in my lifetime. Granted, all down to my own stupidity - but still, shockers all the same. 

Once, I stained my hands a dark, rich tone of brown [and had to scrub my palms with pure toilet bleach for an hour, whilst panicking about potentially needing to ring in sick for work the next day and / or whether I'd have to wear gloves every day for the rest of my life] and I recently etched fake tan stripes across my arse cheeks, right before an examination at the hospital; where my zebra butt was totally roaming free. So I can understand why some people are a little scared to try home-tanning themselves - there are a lot of horror stories floating around. But there's also a lot of triumphs, if you use good products and wear appropriate tanning mitts / clothing.

This new Skinny Tan Body Glow Gradual Fake Tan Moisturiser* is a gradual, fool-proof tanning lotion and one of the best gradual tanning products I've ever come across. It doesn't STINK of biscuits and curry; like other tanning moisturisers I've tried in the past do *cough* HOLIDAY SKIN *cough.* It smells amazing, feels great and glides on like a dream; like all Skinny Tan products do.

Regardless of whether you're a seasoned tanning master - or new to the tanning game and perhaps a bit anxious on where to start and what products to use / avoid; there's room in everyone's lives for this sexy hourglass bottle and Skinny Tan's amazing formulas.

Unlike fake tan, which you'd normally only apply once / twice a week max to avoid Oompa Lumpa Syndrome; Body Glow can be used every day, in place of your usual body moisturiser. 

It's packed full of signature Skinny Tan goodness [smoothing oils, conditioning Aloe Vera and firming naturally-derived guarana] but with just a smidge of certified natural tan to take the edge off your paleness. It won't streak, is disaster-zone free and won't leave you looking like my boy David Dickinson / a Wotsit - your tan will be light, subtle and can be built up over time.  Instead of being left with the fear of streaks and orange patches, you'll be left smelling like coconuts with a little extra glow to your complexion. And who doesn't want that?

#SkincareSaturday | SENSSÉ's So-Blogger Range*

My obsession with Dr Pimple Popper is real. I LOVE watching the most hideous of spots being squeezed into oblivion and how satisfying it looks clearing out a minefield of blackheads.

If you haven't worked it out by now, I guess you could say I'm a bit of a rotter. Hahahaaaa. But I'm not alone - I posted a pic of this SENSSÉ Blackhead Extractor* on Instagram recently and the number of questions and comments I had about it almost made it feel like the engagement we used to get pre-algorithm. Almost. So here it is, featured on the blog; and reviewed to my usual levels of brutal honesty and occasional swears.

So, meet my SENSSÉ Deep Pore Suction Cleaner and Blackhead Remover; which retails for £100 but is on offer on Amazon for £59.95 with free postage. I'm sure you've all  seen those mini videos on Twitter of similar blackhead extraction devices doing the rounds [I know I have, that's why I was so keen to get involved and work with SENSSÉ on this assignment] - so the concept of this device is pretty similar. But not blag or some kind of scam, like I believe those 'viral' accounts to be.

I personally don't have masses of blackheads; I have a few blocked pores on the nose and chin areas [plus the odd blocked pore on my oily beast of a fod] but nothing quite to the same levels as some of the stuff that Dr Pimple Popper has to deal with. But that's okay, because that's exactly what this sleek little device is designed for - it's by no means a one-trick pony and bias towards purely blackheads. It's an all-rounder; perfect for members of the oily skin squad, like me.

SENSSÉ'S Deep Pore Extraction Cleanser works to do exactly that - removing pore clogging dead skin cells, excess oil [aka my whole face] and other impurities from your face and nose. It has a pretty strong level of suction [with three intensity levels] which lift away blackheads and acne to smoothen and clear skin. It also comes with three different nozzle attachments, so you can tailor your SENSSÉ experience depending on your skin type - and where on the face you're cleansing; giving you optimum results. And it's water resistant too; so if you live in the bath like me, you're good to go with it.

Design wise, there's no denying that this bad lad is every blogger's dream. Its sleek & minimal design, gorgeous packaging and use of rose gold could not be any more on fleek if it tried. It looks absolutely stunning [albeit a little like a sex toy on first impressions, especially with the noise it makes! I also had comments on that, hahaha!] SENSSÉ have absolutely nailed their aesthetic and their entire range of skincare technology is so beautiful it brings a tear to my eye. These guys are definitely one to consider when it comes to picking out gifts for loved ones - I don't know many / any gals who wouldn't be MADE UP to unwrap one of these.

It charges quickly, using a USB adapter. To charge, it simply sits upon its rose gold base / throne; like the absolute queen it is. 

And the results? Well, we'll get onto to them now. Just be warned that the next image is pretty grim, yet satisfying to the eye of the beholder.

THAT vile collection of grimness is what it managed to suck out of my face in just one session. There's no denying my ultimate sexiness after seeing that, is there? Haha. Using it on my entire face, with the largest, most general suction cup [and moving it slowly across the skin] has drawn out all kinds of unspeakable impurities and grim. Which obv I've posted straight to the internet for the entire world to witness.

I guess the most beneficial result in using the SENSSÉ Deep Pore Cleanser for me is that my skin feels SO MUCH less oily afterwards; which no doubt helps fend off breakouts. No matter how many products I use, my fod always feels like its coated in BP's finest oil; but after using this for just a few minutes, it felt so much softer and drier. 

I'm yet to experiment with the smaller attachments, but I can't wait to get stuck into my chin crevice where Boris the massive spot sometimes hangs out; and destroy his blocked pore family members.

If you want to try one of these beautiful devices out, click here to check it out on Amazon. Don't forget to check out the rest of SENSSÉ'S equally blogger-friendly range while you're there too; for lots more rose gold and affordable alternatives to high-end skincare technology. 

Would you try a blackhead extractor with suction, or have you done before? What's your number one skin complaint?

*This post contains a gifted item for the purpose of review, but all opinions and remnants of blocked pores very much belong to me.

Summer Fashion, with GlassesShop.com*

I love Summer so much - slipping on an oversized pair of sunnies that mask the fact you're not wearing any makeup and not having to brush your hair - instead being able to pass it off as 'boho' - are two of my personal highlights. As well as the sunshine and tanning opportunities, obv. When it comes to said sunglasses though, I've been somewhat restricted until now. I have my old faithful Raybans; but because my head's so sh*tting massive, they've got a bit bent. And then I had these super cute ones from Primark... but I sat on them last year and obv; cheap plastic vs my colossal arse was never going to end well.

However, my arse isn't going to have the last laugh here - I've found some BEAUT sunnies from GlassesShop.com to replace the ones it devoured and they're stunning. Like, possibly the nicest pair of sunglasses I've ever owned in my entire adult life. And I have a BELTER of a discount code for you guys, if you wanna pick up a pair in time for Festival Season or your Summer Holiday, too. But you'll have to keep reading for that; cheekaaaay!

These sexy beasts are the Edith Round Sunglasses in Black*, RRP $34.95 [this equates to approx £27.00... but just keep reading and see how much less you'll have to pay for them with my discount code. 50% less, some might say.] I'm absolutely in love with them - they're fantastic quality, a gorgeous shape, fit even my massive cranium pretty damn well and they have so many cute little details within their design.

I chose these sunnies with non-prescription lenses; as I wear contacts pretty much 99% of the time anyway... but if you do wanna get your hands on some actual prescription sunglasses, GlassesShop.com can fix you up with some of those, too. They have a massive range of sunglasses and regular eyeglasses in their online store; which are really reasonably priced and much, much better quality than I anticipated. I always assume that high street Opticians are the best place to shop for frames, but GlassesShop.com are making me question this - this fab online store is definitely somewhere I'll turn to again when searching for glasses online.

You'll have to excuse my resting bitch face and somewhat mad lipgloss situation; it was a hot, hot day and life was not impressing me much. Lol. But at least my sunglasses were. They look really high end and expensive with the engraved gold detailing don't they - and I love the round, almost bug eyed shape. I feel like a pure celeb when I put these on - 'No photos, pls peasants.' Except I'm not, I'm just that tramp who spends 89% of her spare time in bed and hasn't worn a bra for three weeks. Yolo.

I'm so happy with my Edith sunnies, I can't even put it into words. They're stylish, great quality and a fab fit [as I may have mentioned once or 34 times, I do have a massive head] - even on me. Plus they're super affordable - especially when you apply the discount code I've been pure teasing you with throughout this post. 

If you wanna grab a pair of these sexy sunglasses - or any other set of frames on GlassesShop.com's website [excluding sale] enter code GSHOT50 at the checkout and enjoy 50% off your order. That's right - literally half price on anything you fancy. Get on that, lads!

Do you love these glasses as much as I do? Where do you normally choose frames from - for your regular glasses or sunnies? You going to be using that discount code or....?

*This post contains PR Samples. However all awkward AF selfies, opinions and rambling on are 100% truthful, me and my own views.