Valentine's Glossybox

Glossybox has really put thought and effort into their themed boxes. I loved the red Christmas box and now we have a hot pink yes hot pink Valentine's box - The cutest Glossybox yet! And they have filled it with all things necessary to help you look your best for a romantic night with your valentine...

1. Eyeko Skinny Eyeliner - eyeliner pencil for precise definition and intense colour. A wax based, creamy formula that allows for smooth application and it's very smartly fitted with a silver handle that allows for longer use - you can sharpen the pencil to the smallest nub and the silver handle remains letting you use it right to the end. I received the emerald green pencil which I'm not too happy about as I have blue eyes and the colour will not really work for me. I also only use waterproof eye pencils as regular types just disappear or smudge on my eyes. I do however love the packaging and the nifty silver handle - brilliant idea.


2. Davines Authentic Moisturising face/hair/body Balm - a moisturising, organic, Safflower Oil based balm which can be used in three ways: as a make-up remover for the face, a hair balm and as a body moisturiser.


3. Davines Authentic hair/body washing Nectar - a shampoo with a delicate, moisturising, oily texture, suited for body and hair. Formulated with organic Safflower Oil and biodegradable surfactants.

Davines Authentic Formulas for Face, Hair and Body is a new line of delicate, moisturising, nourishing products. There are four essential, “intelligent” products, which can be used on your face, hair and body.  The formulas contain from 98 to 100% naturally derived ingredients and are free from SLS,  SLES,  sulphates, added parabens, artificial colouring, silicon, PEG and ethoxylates. 
I'm quite excited about these products. Everyone is more cautious and aware of the products they use nowadays especially since some of the additives used can be toxic and cause cancers. It's good that more and more companies are making organic products that smell nice and are a pleasure to use. I'm not a big fan of all in one products as I believe the skin on your face is very different to your body and that hair needs completely different care but these products will be perfect for traveling or popping in your handbag for emergencies. 


4. FAB Gentle Body Wash - a mild, creamy cleanser that leaves the skin clean and silky. Infused with FAB Antioxidant Booster to combat free radicals. Fragrance-free formula does not compete with your favorite scent or irritate sensitive skin. Also free from common irritants such as lanolin, alcohol, parabens, hash chemicals and colourants. A very gentle wash that I enjoyed using, although it does have that fragrance free smell that is slightly clinical/cucumbery, but over all with the added antioxidant booster a good product.


5. Murad Hybrids Skin Perfecting Primer - Dewy Finish - Oil-free primer with light enhancing minerals to create a radiant glow, Adaptive Shade Technology to create a perfect skin tone match and Pore Factor-5 to minimise the appearance of pores while balancing oil production. Apply everyday after moisturising, blend evenly over face and neck. Can be worn under or in place of foundation for a fresh dewy look. I love this product. It smells amazing and gives my skin a lovely silky finish. I have been using it under my foundation as it doesn't give a lot of coverage. I would, however, use it on its own on holiday when my skin is slightly tanned, just to give it that dewy finish. 

Free Soap and Glory Mascara

The March issue of Elle on sale now comes with a Thick & Fast mascara – worth £10! There’s also a voucher inside for £2 off their award-winning cosmetics range. 

Thick and Fast Mascara - Super Volume False Lash Effect Mascara - Featuring SUPERFILL™ False Lash Fillers, SHINE AMPLIFIERS, NOFLAKE24 technology and super-fine no-clumps natural wax film formers. Creates longer and fuller lashes. The brush is quite large but easy to use and coates lashes with no clumps and gives a curled lash effect. Amazing product to get free with a mag I read anyway.

Soap & Glory Cosmetics

Soap and Glory have launched a make up line and I for one am very excited! I could not wait to try their stuff and when I saw Boots had a 3 for 2 offer I could not resist. I had a limited choice when I got to the store as the products where flying off the shelves. I really wanted to try Supercat eyeliner in carbon black but happily settled for Kick Ass Concealer, It's About Prime and Sexy Mother Pucker.
Soap and Glory's affordable prices and rave reviews from users make it an amazing brand. It does slightly remind me of Benefit Cosmetics because of the look and idea - products with added benefits and quirky packaging, but costs about half the price and I love a bargain especially when the products work. I have found the products really do work they really do what they say they will and the quality is at the same level as high end cosmetic brands like MAC, Smachbox and Benefit all which cost more than twice as much.

1. Kick Ass Concealer - three piece camouflage kit in Light - RRP £10.00 - Includes an under eye brightening concealer with PUFFEASE-8™ technology, SUPERWEAR™ light scrambling ‘on the spot’ complexion concealer and a weightless transparent setting powder with INSTA-FIX™ polymer technology. It comes in light and medium to suit all complexions. It comes in a little compact with two layers and a tiny mirror on the under side of the first layer which holds the insta-fix concealer sealing powder - a translucent powder which fixes your concealer in place. The bottom layer is two colours of concealer: a slightly pinky under eye brightening concealer (lighter and creamier in texture) and a slightly yellowy superwear face concealer (thicker and drier in texture). I am very impressed by this product and this will be my concealer of choice from now on. I am a concealer addict and have used many brands and this is probably the best -  it doesn't cake and flake or dry out my skin and I love that you get three great products perfectly suited for their role in one container.

2. It's About Prime - Anti-Crease Eyeshadow Underbase in Bright Light- RRP £8.00 - contains Insta-Lift™ Firming Para Cress Flower Proteins (to help give you more flat, glossy, smooth-finished lids), anti–colour crease long wear polymers, and coffee extract to fight morning puffiness. Apply a visible layer to your eyelids. Smudge with fingertips to smooth and set (wait about 30 seconds) then brush eyeshadow over top. It has a slightly pearly finish giving a brightening effect.  I always use lid primers and up to now have been using MAC and Smashbox which are more than twice the price and It's About Prime is just as good. I love lid primers and use them even when I'm only using nude eyeshadow and eyeliner as I find they help the eyeliner stay on longer too.

3. Sexy Mother Pucker - XL Extreme Plump - RRP £10.00 - A super-sizing, extra-strength collagen lip shine with LIPSWELL™ natural plant oil infusion, SUPERFILL™ nanovectors and VISIVOLUME™ immediate effect lip filler. It gives an immediate and strong tingle and should only be used if you have previously used lip enchancing glosses with a tingling effect as this one is super strong and may be too strong for first timers. Otherwise can be applied whenever and as often as needed and can be used on top of lipstick. Gives a lovely glossy finish, is not sticky and stays on forever but the strong sweet chocolate smell and strong tingling sensation may not be to everyone's liking. Of the three products I was least amazed by this one as I didn't really notice my lips plumping although I may just not have been using it often enough.

 

Christmas Glossybox!

Super excited to finally get my Christmas glossybox! To be honest some of the contents will be given out as gifts but that makes me even more excited. I love that the glossybox team decided to go for a red box for xmas. It'll be perfect for packing someone's present in.

1. Blink + Go Eyeshadow and Blush Palette - I got the eye colour palette, which contains six metallic shades (brown, bronze, khaki, grey, silver grey and white) and underneath are a coral and pink blush. It's the perfect size to fit in your purse for touch ups or makeup on the go and will be perfect for travelling. Although I would love to try them I have more than enough eyeshadows and know just who I will be giving this to this xmas.


2. Cargo Cosmetics Classic Lip Gloss in Tokyo - I love the colour and it gives amazing shine without being sticky so I'll be keeping this for me, especially since I have just finished my MAC plushglass. 


3. Deborah Lippmann Nail Varnish in Razzle Dazzle - a dark raspberry glitter nail polish. This is the product I am most excited about and was really hoping to get before my work xmas party as it would have gone with my dress perfectly. I am crazy about glitter nail polishes at the moment so will give this one a try just as soon as I remove the blue glitter one I have on at the moment.


4. Deborah Lippmann The Stripper To Go Nail Lacquer Remover Finger Mitts - these will be perfect for travelling, will save me the need to pack nail polish remover and cotton pads.


5. Nip + Fab Spot Fix - A fast acting gel that targets blemishes. This effective formula helps reduce the appearance of problem prone skin. It decreases the appearance of redness and swelling whilst preventing and reducing the appearance of UV-induced erythema for sensitive skin. It contains: salicylic acid which deep cleans pores, vital et® which targets blemishes fast and eucalyptus + tea tree which purifies. I am looking forward to trying this as I have tried many products which claim to zap spots but have not found one which actually does yet.


6. Rituals Foaming Shower Gel in Hammam Delight - unique gel to foam technology with fresh eucalyptus and rosemary. I would love to try this but it will be perfect for my Mum, so I will be popping this into her stocking.

I can easily say that this is the best box so far :) it's like getting an early xmas gift!

Glitter Nail Polish

I never thought I would be writing this but I am totally in love with glitter nail polishes!!! I am a matte nail polish girl at heart and hate metallic nail polishes, so never thought I would fall for glitter...but alas I think I have caught the xmas fever that makes you love all things shiny, glittery and festive!

It all started when my friend brought in her Barry M Blue Glitter Nail Paint into work and then I saw that Glossybox were sending out a Deborah Lippmann dark raspberry glitter color called Razzle Dazzle. I decided I would try it for my work Christmas Party but sadly my glossybox did not arrive in time and so I used my friends shiny bright blue glitter nail polish and it was love at first sight. I now have an uncontrollable urge to buy a glitter nail polish in every shade possible! I just hope I can resist this urge until the festive period is over, as that is when my love of all things glitter will end...

November Glossybox

Excited as usual to get my new glossybox! It's amazing how something so small can make you so happy. I love this month's box in this order:

1. Nail Rock Designer Nail Wraps in Black and White Stripes - designed to last up to 7 days on nails and 8 weeks on the toes, with each at home nail wrapping treatment taking just 15 minutes to apply. Unlike nail polish they won’t chip or stain the nail and are quicker to apply as no drying time is required. I must admit I have not thought of trying these before as I love painting my nails but I'm really looking forward to try these and will save them for a big night out - maybe New Year's Eve.


2. Illamasqua Freak edp - first fragrance from the cult British beauty brand. I love love love this scent and would buy it if it weren't so expensive, but will be happy to use my sample on nights out.


3. Dead Sea Spa Magik Dead Sea Bath Salts - Sea Salts for the bath. I would love to try this as it claims to alleviate dry and flaky skin, helps improve and soften skin and refreshes, relaxes and soothe for a feeling of wellbeing and it contains minerlas which attract and retain moisture, but sadly I do not have a bath.


4. Monu Revitalising Moisturiser - a light, easily absorbed face cream to revive and soften skin, with cucumber, elderflower and mallow extracts. I love trying new face creams as I am always looking for that perfect one, so am looking forward to giving this one a go, but will probably wait till spring as during the winter I use a thicker more moisturising cream designed for dry skin.


5. Arbonne FC5 Ultra Hydrating Hand Creme - hand cream with fresh kiwi cell extracts and Moisture Fresh Complex. I am a bit obsessed with moisturising my hands as they easily dry out and I hate nothing more than scabby skin on my hands.

All in all a perfectly put together box :) 

October Glossybox

Sadly at first I was not excited about this box. None of the products are ones that I really wanted to try, however I found I was happy with the Dermatologica Age Smart products.

1. Dermalogica Age Smart MultiVitamin Thermafoliant - a skin polisher that combines physical and chemical exfoliants, with unique thermal technology that activates upon contct to enhance penetration. I love thermal products, I like the smell, its very zesty and refreshing and I love when I can feel a scrub scrubbing so this product was great for me. It is quite powerful so anyone with sensitive skin would need to be very careful.

2. Dermalogica Age Smart MultiVitamin Power Recover Masque - face masque with concentrated antioxidant vitamins to help skin recover and regenerate. The masque has the same fruity refreshing smell and the consistency is great - like a thick cream but sadly aggravated my skin when used right after the thermafoliant. I could feel an unpleasant tingling and after I washed the masque off I was left with bright red patches on my nose, cheeks and chin that lasted for a few hours so I would not be able to use this just before a night out.

3. Dermalogica Age Smart Renewal Lip Complex (bonus product) - daily treatment that restores the delicate lip tissue - I love this product! It smells beautiful - like raspberries, it moisturizes and give a lovely shine. Definitely a product I will buy.

4. Leighton Denny Expert Nails in Hanky Panky - an orange nail polish. This product I will definitely give away as I don't like orange and I don't like metallic nail polishes.

5. Stila Smudge Stick Waterproof eyeliner in Moray - a moss green glittery eyeliner. According to the description this is a highly pigmented, waterproof eye liner glides on to deliver intense, vibrant color with staying power. The color is interesting but not one I'd normally go for and I have found that it has absolutely no staying power and lasted maybe an hour on my eyes, so to sum up I am very disappointed with this product.

6. Robert Piguet edp - Fracas, Visa and Calypso - three signature scents from the Parisian designer. All three are too strong for me so I will be sharing these out.