Lash Out

Every now and then I indulge in getting semi-permanent lashes. My friend is a beautician and she does beauty treatments at home at a much cheaper rate than salons so I get cluster lashes done when I go away for a weekend or if I've got a lot of early starts coming up so that I don't have to take make-up in hand luggage or get up extra early to put make-up on. No mascara, no fiddling around with strip lashes, they're a dream.

Little Benefits

Say what you see!

It's Potent!

This month I received my third Birchbox and although I'm still quite pleased with their selection of samples Im going to unsubscribe so I can try a different company, just for a bit of variety ya know.

Sun, Sea & Sand - Birchbox Review

When I first started blogging my beauty posts primarily centred around my Glossybox subscription. To be frank, that didn't last long as unfortunately I didn't feel like they were living up to the hype. It's been about a year since I cancelled the subscription but recently I have been taken in by some of the other boxes on the market, particularly as I'm seeing so many being reviewed on other blogs.

I finally gave in and took up a new subscription, this time with Birchbox.

Believe The Hype - Micellar Cleansing Water

    I have read so many reviews of this product since it stormed the shelves a few months back and I didn't believe it could ever live up to the hype, but boy was I wrong. 

Nailed It

Ah Rimmel. I never used to be a huge fan of this brand but after becoming addicted to a couple of their mascara's (Lash Accelerator and Scandaleyes) I decided to give their nail polishes a second chance. This nicely coincided with the release of the Rita Ora Colour Rush line which feature some pastel shades that I really couldn't take my eye off, as well some awesome lip crayons but that's a whole other post waiting to happen. Choosing shades was a lengthy process but I finally settled on 'Lose Your Lingerie' and 'White Hot Love', two really cute pastel shades, one pink and white.

If The Shoe Fits

BLOGGER MAIL!!

    The lovely ladies at justfor5pounds.com sent me a spring surprise last week and I'm so excited to share it with you! To be completely honest I was quite apprehensive, seeing as I've never shopped with them before, but it couldn't have been more unjustified. I kept my fingers crossed all the way to the post office and after rushing home and ripping open the packaging, it was clear I'd struck gold.

High Heel Ankle Boots* - justfor5pounds.com - £5.00

Cracks in our Foundations

    I've never really had much luck with foundations to be honest. Whether the colour selections are too warm (tango is not my preferred look) or whether the consistency irritates or doesn't suit my skin type, it's always been a make-up minefield.
Working in Superdrug gave me plenty of time to try out different brands and types of foundation and a few years ago I settled on Maxfactor's Miracle Touch. I have two shades, one of which is slightly darker/warmer and I use this on the centre of my face as a second layer as I'm very self-conscious of my red cheeks and sometimes dark under-eyes. I only use this if I'm going out because, at over a tenner a go, it's an expensive insecurity; but I have a routine that works.
Just lately I've been hankering after that flawless look all day, everyday. Why should I only have picture perfect skin when I'm on a night out, I should be able to have it 24/7 and not have to look like a washed out zombie who's been dipped in a vat of oil by lunchtime if I only use a bit of make-up that day. I hate taking make up to work or out with me - I'm just not that kind of girl, but where can I find a foundation that gives a decent level of coverage, suits my skin tone and stays put?
It's a nightmare.

Forage & Find

    After my most recent jewellery post I was approached by a small London based jewellery company who asked me if I would review their website. What a lovely request! I'm never one to turn done the opportunity to write, especially when it's about something I haven't seen on the network yet (I love to have the inside scoop!) so I went straight to their site to have a gander.

Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse® OR



    I didn't do a Glossybox review for the June box as I was, again, unimpressed with it and had no motivation to review the products. Also, I didn't fancy writing a negative post because that's no fun! I've since unsubscribed to Glossybox and am on the prowl for a new beautybox subscription so if you have any recommendations please let me know.

There is one good thing that came out of that box though, Huile Prodigieuse OR by Nuxe. I love this product so much that I just want to scream about it from rooftops! I won't do that, but my blog is the next best thing so I will share it with you.

 

 

    Huile Prodigieuse OR is a multi purpose dry oil that is compiled of 92% ingredients that are sourced naturally. Among these are 6 precious plant oils (Borage, Sweet Almond, Macademia, St.Johnswort, Hazelnut and Camellia) which Nuxe have combined with Vitamin E to create a nourishing formula that will repair and protect skin and hair.
     Each review of this product I've seen has focussed on the products benefits for skin but I used it on my hair and couldn't be happier with the results.
I worked the oil through damp hair from tips to scalp, wrapped my hair in a dry towel and left for about 25minutes and then washed my hair normally.
The directions for use suggest 15-20 but I went for a little over 20 as my hair is very thick and quite damaged from so much heat styling. I was worried that this would mean that it would take more to get the oil out of my hair and was concerned about a greasy after effect but there was no such issue.
    This left my hair so smooth and manageable without making it feel heavy. It did wonders for product build up and made my hair feel a little stronger and in better condition all round. After one use, there's still quite a bit left in the bottle, which was a 10ml sample, so I'm going to use it every few weeks to give my hair a more deep cleanse treatment and to revitalise it a bit. In the mean time, I'm going to attempt to find some products which will deliver the same results but that are more in my price range because at £34.00 for 100ml, I won't be able to afford this one for a while yet! You can shop the Nuxe range here and if you have any recommendations I'd love to hear from you.

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Spring Fever

    This month GlossyBox have set out to set us up for Spring with the 'Spring Fever' beautybox and the box I have received is an all round winner.The box itself is in a cute floral print exclusively designed by Pearl Lowe (which is g-or-geous!) and the products featured sparked just as much girly excitement as the pretty exterior.

 

 

So what have we got...

 

Nip+Fab Pistachio Body Butter - 50ml tub retailing at around £3 each

 

This product smells DIVINE and doesn't feel greasy or heavy when applied. Nip+Fab are quite a well established and regarded brand and I've been dying to try out their products, finally the chance has come, and I think that this is a product that I will actually use until empty. I can't get over how good it smells and it doesn't feel greasy or heavy when applied. Now desperate to try the Coconut Latte version, down to Boots I go...

Essie 'Nice is Nice' Nail Polish - Full size product retailing at £7.99

 

A full size Essie nail polish! Glossybox really are treating us this month! This product was part of Essie's 2011 Spring Collection but is just as good for the beauty trends this spring. I tend to steer clear of purple shades for my nails as I'm quite pale and they tend to wash my hands out a little but I've completely abandoned that logic this month and have fully embraced the lilac. I love pastel shades wholeheartedly and this shade is perfect for Spring!

 

ModelCo. Rosy Red Cheek & Lip Tint - 10ml product retailing at £15

 

 

I've never tried any of ModelCo's products before and have never dabbled in multitasking products so was eager to try this one out. It's easy to apply and comes out in a thin gel that soaks into your skin quickly making it fuss free. It also feels very lightweight when its on and does last well.

I'm quite all or nothing with cosmetics but tend to hang on to things 'just in case' and I think this product might be joining the ever growing box of those products. Basically, I'm on the fence. Not because it's not a good product, but because it's not something I can see myself using.

 

Sun Sense Daily Face SPF50+ - 10g sample, 75g product retails at £18.50

 

 

I'll be honest, I haven't tried this product yet. Appalling, I know! Essentially, I don't usually get on with tinted moisturisers all that well and have been waiting for the sun to show it's face before I start using this product.

 

Yves Rocher So Elixer Purple EDP - 5ml bottle, 30ml retails at £29

 

 

I despise opening a box and finding a perfume sample, which was the case in the March box. However, the difference this time is that the March sample was a tester that can be picked up in department stores and this time we have an actual perfume mini which is much, much better.

In addition, I actually really like this one! I usually wear the AmorAmor perfumes and Ghost DeepNight and I would band this scent in with those vanilla and subtle incense fragrances (can you tell I used to work on a fragrance counter?!) This one gets a thumbs up from me.

 

All in all, the gang at Glossybox have done so well this month. I'm starting to see what all the fuss that made me sign up was about and I'll be sticking around as a subscriber to, hopefully, see some more boxes like this one. I've just received confirmation of payment for May's box, fingers crossed the high standard is maintained.

 

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Lips Bee Healthier!

    One thing you must know about me is that I have an unhealthy obsession with lip balm. Yep, lip balm. No colour, no gloss; just the everyday, bottom-of-your-handbag essential. I literally have a draw full of the stuff!

So, when I opened my January Glossybox, I couldn't have been happier to find a full sized 'Lips Bee Healthier' lip balm by JĀSÖN. YES!

    The JĀSÖN brand only use ingredients that are naturally sourced and this particular product is 70% organic, made from Aloe and Beeswax, is paraben free and doesn't contain any petroleum. Annnnd to top it all off, it tastes like an After Eight. Perfect! All that matched with a cute play on words title, you seriously can't go wrong here!



Lips Bee Healthier, JĀSÖN, £1.99

    I haven't come across JĀSÖN before and being featured in Glossybox I was partly expecting to cower at the price when I saw what I'd have to pay to feed my new found beauty addiction, but at £1.99 this product is going to be a permanant fixture in my handbag (although I won't go as far as to say I won't buy any other lip balms!).

Thank you Glossybox for introducing me to JĀSÖN products.

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