Other – Testing The City

Where Have You Been? Blog Update

It has been almost long 7 months since I last posted on the blog. Why? Life!

Starting a new job and completing my studies stole my focus and made me neglect the blog. I also found a lack of enthusiasm in regards to writing. I was still testing new products and subscription boxes and making notes of what I liked but they were not exciting me!

But…I’m back with a new thirst for blogging, testing and reviewing! You might have noticed that the blog has had a makeover and there will be regular updates (hurrah!).

I am currently 4 months pregnant, so there will now be a pregnancy section and soon a baby section. There are so many ideas I have brewing for the blog so stick around as there are exciting things to come!

Pink Parcel – April Box 2016

If you have read my previous post, you will know that I received my April Pink Parcel box a bit late due to technical errors.However, Pink Parcel were fantastic in ensuring I received it in the end.

I have to say that I am ecstatic that I did receive this box as I think it is the best one I have received so far!

Pink Parcel is a monthly subscription box which offers 3 dispatch dates for you to choose from, based on your time of the month so you can be sure to receive your box before your period is due. This box removes any and every monthly cycle worries you may have as you are able to choose your preferred brand of sanitary products so your box is specific to you. It is only £12.95 per month (postage is free) and you get your first box for £9.95! Be sure to read about what was inside my March box.

As usual, I received a more than adequate amount of period essentials for the month as well the super cute drawstring bags. I love these drawstring bags as they really do come in handy.

Just like in my February box, I received a feminine hygiene product and this time it was the SASS Purifying Cleanser (RRP £8) which unfortunately didn’t have a quote on it (I do secretly look forward to reading those!).

This cleanser has been specially created to ensure that you are left feeling fresh throughout the day.

Now onto my favourite part of the box, the lifestyle and beauty products!

Full sized Boozi Body Care Hand Cream in French Martini (RRP £3.95) which simply smells AMAZING! I love sweet smells and this cream definitely does it for me. This cream is lightweight and very hydrating. It left my hands nice and smooth with a lingering exotic scent of raspberries and pineapples.
A NPW Pomegranate & Paw Paw Face Mask (RRP £1.85) which left my face feeling fresh and rejuvenated.
As a lover of nail polish, I was excited to see the True Brit London Nail Polish (RRP £12.50) which had been specially created for Pink Parcel subscribers to match the Pink Parcel logo. The shade is a cute girly pink which I would pick out for myself.
The real superstar of the month was the New CID Cosmetics product. There was the opportunity to get one of three products. I received the iPout Lipstick (RRP £18) in the shade Pink Bliss. This lipstick is revolutionary, it comes with a mirror on the side of the lid and has a built in torch. With this you are able to touch up wherever you are, even at a nightclub.
There was a nice savoury treat this time as Pink Parcel promoted World Health Day by including a pack of Nairn’s Rough Oatcakes (RRP £1.29). These oatcakes are perfect for providing you with an energy boost due to the high fibre and complex carbohydrates. I only managed to get a bite before my boyfriend took the rest….he loved them!
To satisfy that sweet craving you normally get whilst on your period the Mallow & Marsh Bar in Raspberry flavour (RRP £18 for a case of twelve). As I’m not a huge fan of dark chocolate, this bar wasn’t for me but my daughter truly enjoyed it.
I really enjoy the range of teas I have tried, thanks to Pink Parcel. The Teapigs Chamomile Flowers Tea (RRP £1.30 for two) is no exception. The tea bag alone is beautiful and the flavour was strong but tasty.
Last but not least Pink Parcel gave us a tasty surprise due to the tampon tax being abolished which was Chocolate Smiley Face by Cocoba. I definitely want to buy more of these as it hand small pieces of caramel in it…simply delicious.

This is officially the best Pink Parcel box so far. The products were simply of great quality and carefully chosen. It is obvious that there is a high level of care and thoughtfulness goes into these boxes each month. Roll on May’s box!!

If you want to know more about Pink Parcel, check out their website:http://www.pinkparcel.co.uk

I love Pink Parcel…..

As you may know, I have subscribed to Pink Parcel which is a monthly subscription box which caters to your all your period needs. From sanitary products to chocolate and other little pick me ups, Pink Parcel has you covered.

I have done a few reviews on my Pink Parcel boxes but what truly makes me love Pink Parcel is their customer service!

In March, Pink Parcel gave their website a face lift and it now looks awesome! As a result of this, all of their customers had to re-enter their payment details. Now I had a bit of difficulty locating the payment details area of the site but I really didn’t want to miss out on getting my April box.

I sent an email to their customer services and I received a really friendly response from Jacqueline. She didn’t make me feel stupid at all (thank God!). She was able to direct me to the correct area of the website and she kindly amended my shipment date so that I wouldn’t miss my April box.

Unfortunately, it is now 9th May and I haven’t my April Pink Parcel box. I have seen Instagram pics and Twitter posts about how great it is and I’ve been brewing with jealousy. I sent an email to Pink Parcel‘s customer service team at 09:15am and received a prompt apologetic response from Elle at 09:27am!

She was kind enough to send me a free April box today, so it should be with me soon and she assured me that I would receive my May box on time too.

Now Pink Parcel do not know who I am personally, so their kindness was not because I write blog posts about them. It is simply how they are as a company and I think that is pretty awesome! The best customer service I have received from beginning to end!

P.S – Look out for the April Pink Parcel review soon!

Nailbox – March 2016

I’m not sure if I’ve made it clear or obvious yet but I absolutely love nail polish. I have an ever growing collection which is currently at 263 shades. As you can probably imagine, my bank account takes a hit from my addiction.

I was incredibly excited when I found out about Nail Box. Nail Box is a subscription box which delivers 3-4 nail colours plus a useful nail tool or accessory every month for £15. You can cancel at any time or if you like the box you can commit to a 3, 6 or 12 month subscription.

This subscription box was made just me….well that’s how I feel! The March box had an Easter theme which I expected to be full of pastel coloured polishes but I was completely wrong!

Here’s what was in my Easter box:

Invogue – Matte Suede Effect Emerald Dust (RRP £3.49)

The first full sized bottle of nail polish was metallic green with a matte suede effect by Invogue. This colour is called Emerald Dust and is green with speckles of silver. This isn’t the usual colour I would go for but the matte suede effect is really intriguing. It was easy to apply the nail polish. It wasn’t too thick and went on smoothly.

MoYou London – XOXO (RRP £4.99)

I have heard of MoYou London from their nail stamping plates but I didn’t know they also made nail polish. This polish in particular is a nice vibrant and bold pink. It is perfect for a summer holiday and is exactly the type of colour I love to wear on my toes. This nail polish is so bright that it looked good after one coat!

Eye Candy London – Naughty But Nice (RRP £6)

To be honest, I am not really a fan of Eye Candy London nail polish as their polishes can be quite sheer and require a few coats. “Naughty But Nice” actually surprised me a lot. It is a nice opaque lilac colour which applied really nicely. I really liked the softness of this shade and will be wearing it soon!

Elegant Touch – Speckled Eggs False Nails (RRP £7.10)

I am a huge fan of false nails, I think they are incredibly fun if you want to have a quick manicure for a cheaper price. I love that these nails go really well with the Easter theme of the Nailbox but I think they are a bit too wacky for me!

Nails Inc. – Express Nail Polish Remover (RRP £8)

I am in love. This nail polish remover is the stand out product in this month’s box, it is amazing! I have seen nail polish removers before and I haven’t taken an interest in them because I felt that they would leave your fingers tasting of acetone for ages….yuk! But this hot pink baby doesn’t do that at all!! I had on a deep maroon coloured nail polish and this nail polish remover took it completely off after 2 twists!

Overall, I was quite disappointed with this box as it didn’t really match the theme and I didn’t particularly like the nail polishes, bar one. I would have loved more pastel coloured polishes to get me in the Spring/Easter mood. The Nails Inc Nail Polish Remover really saved the box this month. The contents of this box were worth £29.58 so I definitely got my money’s worth, I just hope the next few boxes improve.

If you wish to purchase a Nailbox subscription, check out their website: http://www.nailbox.co.uk

Brief hiatus but I am back!

So I am sure you have noticed my absence from the blogging world. I was taking a much needed break in beautiful sunny Jamaica! It was such an amazing holiday and I would recommend you all go there!

I will be back to blogging this week with my next post being the Pink Parcel March box…..I hope you’re all looking forward to it!

Planet Camping – Glamping Wishlist…..

Whilst at secondary school (many years ago *sigh*), I was a keen athletic teenager who loved doing all sorts of activities from Netball to Football to Athletics. So it’s really no surprise that I signed up to do the Duke of Edinburgh Award (DofE).

DofE is youth awards programme founded in the United Kingdom in 1956 by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh that has since expanded to 140 other countries.The programmes are at three progressive levels which, if successfully completed, lead to a Bronze, Silver or Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. The physical side of the award involves orienteering in a group to find camp.

Looking back, I wish I knew about Planet Camping (http://www.planetcamping.co.uk/). Planet Camping is a great website which sells products to meet all of your camping needs. Whether you’re having a mini camping party in your back garden or going to a festival, Planet Camping have you covered.

If I were to do another DofE expedition (in style), here is what my wishlist from Plant Camping would be:

VW Camper Van Tent (http://www.planetcamping.co.uk/vw-camper-van-tents.html)
How cool is this bad boy? Knowing that I could look forward to putting this awesome tent up once I’ve found camp would spur me on and give me all the encouragement I need. This would be the ultimate way to celebrate finding camp.
Lazy Patch Adult Duvet Suit (http://www.planetcamping.co.uk/adult-duvet-suit.html)
As fate would have it, it is always cold whenever you go to do DofE. The day before could be a heatwave but guaranteed, it will be zero degrees on DofE day! Having an adult duvet suit which is designed to make you feel like you never got out of bed in the first place would feel like HEAVEN!!
Selk Bag Lite Sleep suit (http://www.planetcamping.co.uk/musucbag-lite.html)
Considering you have to carry EVERYTHING on your back whilst trying to find camp, it is very important to pack as light as possible. Does that mean you have to compromise your comfort? Well not with this starfish sleeping bag. It is super lightweight, has an insulated hood and Velcro hand release system. When you wake up, you literally can just get up without dreading the cold! Matter of fact, forget camping, I would want one of these for home. It would make the ultimate onesie!
Camping Cook Set Bundle (http://www.planetcamping.co.uk/camping-cook-set-bundle.html) One of the hardest things about DofE for me was leaving my kitchen. How would I survive without a variety of decent pots? Needless to say, I just about survived on noodles! However with this set, I would have been more than ok! The set includes an Aluminium 4 Cooking Pan Set, a Foldaway Kettle and a Bamboo Picnic Set for 4 people.
LED Torch with Bottle Opener (http://www.planetcamping.co.uk/led-torch-with-bottle-opener.html) When it comes to camping, I think it’s important to find as many multi-use products as possible. This torch would definitely meet my needs. Since I am now 25, I’m sure I would need a good drink to wind down my evening at the campsite. Whilst providing me with some light to find my bottle of alcohol, I could then use it to open it…..Fab!

I hope you have found this wishlist useful if you are planning to go camping or to a festival any time soon.

Be sure to check out Planet Camping at http://www.planetcamping.co.uk/ They have a great variety of products and quite a few items are on sale, so get them whilst you can!

About

A little about myself…

My name is Denika and I’m a London-based blogger. A HR Professional by day, insane bargain hunter by night with a lot of opinions.

Testing The City simply explains what I love to do. I have to be the first to try new products and recommend my friends and family….or warn them! This blog is a creative outlet for me to tell more than my friends and family about the latest products.

Be sure to check out my Instagram, Facebook and Twitter pages to keep up with the latest! If you have any queries or opportunities, please feel free to email me: testingthecity1@gmail.com

Thanks for following along,