Magazine Freebies Tried & Tested: Glamour Magazine and Balance Me Lip Salve

 

What?   Balance Me Rose Otto Intensive Lip Salve RRP £12

Free with? Glamour Magazine, August 2012

Magazine price?  £2.00

Thoughts?

Not only does Glamour magazine boast interesting content and an affordable £2 price point but it regularly gives away some of the best freebies around. This month Glamour has teamed up with natural skincare brand Balance Me to offer one of four amazing products free with the August issue. You can choose from Balancing Face Moisturiser, Wonder Eye Cream, Pure Face Wash or Rose Otto Lip Salve. It was a tough choice but as I’m a huge sucker for lip products I plumped for the lip salve.

I really cannot say enough good things about this product. Made from 100% natural ingredients like virgin coconut, sweet almond, shea and cocoa butter it is intensively moisturising, I only needed a tiny amount to instantly smooth and soften my lips. Although it’s clear in colour it gives a lovely natural sheen meaning it can be worn on its own or over your favourite lipstick. It is scented with a heavenly blend of essential oils and smells absolutely divine. 

The ergonomically designed tube is not only hygienic but the angled applicator applies just the right amount of product. The white packaging and purple floral design looks chic too!     

The only down side to the product is the hefty £12 retail price, although considering how concentrated the salve is I imagine a tube would last a very long time. If you’d like to try Balance Me Lip Salve it can be purchased here

Magazine Freebies Tried & Tested: Red Magazine and Jemma Kidd I-Glamour Mascara

When I’m not catching up on my favourite TV shows or reading a book I like to have a magazine ready on the coffee table to leaf through, I typically buy two or three a month usually choosing those that come with free gifts. Not only are magazine freebies a great way to get a product for a fraction of the retail price but they can introduce you to brands you may never have tried -or even heard of- otherwise. In what I hope will be a long-running series of posts I will review my favourite magazine freebies each month, this first edition is a little back-dated but in future I hope to get in early so the magazine is still available to buy.

What?  Jemma Kidd Make Up School I-Glamour Volume Mascara RRP £15

Free with?  Red Magazine, July 2012

Magazine price?  £3.90

Thoughts?

This volumising mascara is part of a new range of products from make-up artist Jemma Kidd, sister to model Jodie. The best feature for me was the large brush which applied the product evenly and managed to coat all of the lashes, upper and lower, making them appear lengthened and separated. It didn’t go on too thickly or clump, and I found a single coat was all that was needed. The downside of this product was that during the day it tended to flake, leaving unsightly flecks of mascara around my eyes. As a freebie I could probably overlook this although I was disappointed considering the premium £15 retail price. I think for the price tag there are many better alternatives. If you want to try the mascara for yourself it can be purchased here