POP ART GLOSSYBOX

Hi everyone. I received my Pop Art GlossyBox the other day and have not yet properly checked out the products so here are my first impressions :)

To start with I have to talk about the box itself. I love the bold pop art design. It will make a fab storage piece in my make-up collection. So now for the products:

CIATE PAINT POT - TALENT SCOUT

There are 88 paint pots within the Ciate collection. It is recommended to apply two coats of this product. I love the long handle and pretty bow design of these bottles. This is a gorgeous purple shade that I am sure I will enjoy.

NUXE CREME FRAICHE DE BEAUTE MASK

A 24hr moisturising mask to hydrate and soothe the skin. Instantly the product works to reduce discomfort or redness. Skin is left with a radiant and relaxed appearance. Suitable for all skin types.

Apply once or twice a week to the face and eye area for 10 mins. Massage the excess into the skin thereafter. Can be kept in the fridge for a refreshing effect.

Let's hope that this is as moisturising as it promises. With winter coming it could possibly be a saviour for parched skin like mine.

RIMMEL MATTE BB CREAM - LIGHT

A 9-in-1 skin perfecting make-up product with a natural formula for a flawless matte look.

Apply in circular motions with fingers or a foundation brush.

I am sure I have tried a sample of this from a magazine, but I can't remember which shade. I know I didn't dislike the product, but I can't remember exact details so I will try out this mini shade and let you know my thoughts.

YVES ROCHER QUELQUES NOTES D'AMOUR

Encapsulating the feeling of falling in love.

Apply to the wrists and neck.

I like the simplistic bottle design. It's not too overdone and more of a classic. The scent is a little old school for me. It has rose which I am not a massive fan of. It just makes me feel older than I am.

SO SUSAN FLUTTER MASCARA

A carbon-black mascara with hyaluronic spheres to achieve the darkest, curviest lashes possible.

Apply two coats sweeping upwards.

My mascara did have a seal, but there were a few black marks on it as well as a small chip. I am not sure if the black marks were from the print on the tube or another mascara? I do like the gold packaging and the cute bird design. A key point on a flutter mascara, although I think more of butterflies fluttering by. When I try this out I will review it for you.

ETRE BELLE LIPLIFT PEEL

A moisturising exfoliator to replenish and define the lips. Removing dead skin cells for perfectly soft lips.

Massage in circular motions for 1 minute. Remove with a damp cotton pad.

Only recently have I noticed a big change in the condition of my lips as they are extra dry and peeling. This has come at the right time so fingers crossed this works.

I think this month it's a good box. I am not a fan of the perfume as already stated and I do own similar nail shades to this one, but I can't fault GlossyBox for that.

As a side note I do miss the information card in the box. For product information you are now asked to view the GlossyBox website. A card for a sneak peek into next month's box and a competition has been included instead. Perhaps product information could be printed on the inside of the box?

For more information on GlossyBox UK click here and for the US GlossyBox click here.

What did you think of this month's GlossyBox? Let me know in the comments below.

Love to you all

Vicky xx

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BALANCE ME BB NATURAL PERFECTION SPF 25

Hi gorgeous people. It's Friday so let us take a moment to say hooray for the weekend. Okay so mad moment over I will now move on to my review.

BALANCE ME BB NATURAL PERFECTION SPF 25

Product information:

An anti-oxidant and super plumping BB cream to firm and smooth away imperfections, address uneven skin tone, provide skin with a flawless, luminous finish and protect against the visible signs of ageing thanks to the natural titanium dioxide-based sun filter. 

It works to prime, moisturise and protect with SPF and deeply hydrate. A lightweight super silky cream for even sensitive skin types to brighten and condition. 

Contains a signature blend of essential oils for intense hydration and 100% hyaluronic acid for super plumping and resurfacing of the skin. Natural oils are included to really nourish and enhance the skin. 

This product does not have a whitening effect just a warming mineral based tint for a beautiful glow and light coverage to highlight. Designed for a wide range of skin tones. Also contains redness reducing ingredients.

My thoughts:

Okay so let me start by saying that I do like this product and am still using it as my current everyday make-up base, but I am going to be honest and say that I don't feel all of the above happened for me.

I found no plumping, firming or smoothing effect. By this I mean my skin still very much showed through as the tint of this product is so light to me it is more of a hydrating primer and moisturiser. The coverage would be great for someone who has great skin and just wants a healthy glow as in a skin highlight not a tan glow. I had to use more concealer than usual as I have uneven skin and blemishes. Therefore I can not say that this product gives a flawless finish, but it is luminising.

It is super lightweight on the skin and easy to apply with fingers as I did. I like the SPF factor and the scent is amazing. Very cleansing and relaxing. I love inhaling it every time I apply it to my skin.

Because of the hydrating feel I would say it is conditioning and due to the glow it is brightening. I usually have some redness on my cheeks, but I wouldn't say it was reduced by this product. Therefore if you have really obvious blemishes this product really isn't for you unless you are going to use it solely as a primer.

So in conclusion I do enjoy using this product due to the priming, moisturising, hydrating, highlighting effects and the lightweight feel. Plus it's an easy product to apply every day. SPF is included so that's always a winner for me. The scent relaxes me and prepares me for the day.

The downside is that it didn't plump, firm or smooth my skin. It took more work with concealer for the coverage I like, but it does claim to be a highlighting tint product and not a medium/full coverage product. Although a flawless finish is also claimed.

Let me know if you have tried this product with your thoughts on how it works for you and your skin type in the comments below.

Also balance me are currently holding their 'Beauty Voyage' competition until the end of August. Whether you off on holiday adventures or on a stay-cation as I am this week they want pictures of your favourite balance me products on your travels. Simply tag with either #balancemeaway or #balancemehome depending where you are. Then share it on @balancemebeauty Twitter and Facebook. The best pics each week will win some balance me prizes.

Good luck to those who enter!

 This was a pr sample sent to me for promotion and review purposes, but all opinions of this product are my own.

Love to you all

Vicky xx

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Pure B.B Cream Daily All In One Light

Happy Friday to you. Today I have a make-up/skincare product to talk to you about. I am a big fan of the idea of a bb cream and so I have been trying another one out.

 Pure B.B Cream Daily All In One Light

I have previously tried other products from this range such as the Pure Revitalising Daily Moisturiser and the Pure Revitalising Eye Make-Up Remover. Both of these products I picked up from Poundland, but this B.B Cream I believe I got from PoundWorld. Unfortunately I can not find a link to this on their website and I can't remember the price, but I did find this on Ebay for £3.25 plus £1.00 delivery for 30ml.

I bought this in two shades of light and medium as I could not see what the shades looked like from the packaging. These were the only two shades available in store, but now I have come to realise that this product also comes in ultra light which I would have tried.

As a bb cream this is fabulously easily to apply. I used my fingers to dot it over my face and neck before massaging it in. It covers well, but still looks natural with one layer. I did sometimes add another layer if my skin was quite uneven that day or just add more over blemished areas for a deeper coverage. 

It is not drying, but smooth and does actually feel like a skincare product because of the balm texture. It can be used as a make-up base to give a tinted moisturiser or foundation finish depending on how you layer it or just use one coat. It can simply be used as a concealer too.

I do find this to be a bit orange in tone though so I would not repurchase it for that reason. If however I come across the shade ultra light I will give it a whirl because I do like the way this applies and feels on my skin. The medium shade that I already have I will keep for when I fake tan and see how that works.

Here is a face of the day post where I used this product, link.

Have you tried the ultra light version of this product? Do you think it would work well for a pale one like myself? Let me know in the comments below.

Love to you all

Lips Of The Day: Sexy Pout Temporary Lip Tattoos By StarGazer

Hey loves. Happy Sunday to you. I have the house to my self today so I thought why not try out some temporary lip tattoos as you do. 

StarGazer Sexy Pout Temporary Lip Tattoos In Top: Red Hearts, Left: Red Cheetah & Right: Pink Tiger

I was sent the designs Red Hearts and Pink Tiger quite some time by StarGazer for free. They did not ask me to review them at the time, but I gave the Red Hearts design a go and was unsuccessful.

Kat from Touch Media recently sent the Red Cheetah design along with the Temporary Eye Tattoos which I recently reviewed here. I hate being beaten and not understanding how a product works so I gave this design a try.

Application:

• Ensure your lips are dry and clean as well as free from any other other lip products like lip balm or make-up.

• Pop the lip shapes out of the packaging. Snip to adjust the design to fit your lip shape and size. I found these designs quite large for my lips and although there are guidelines on them telling you not to cut from the top of the top lip or the bottom of the bottom lip I cut all around both in the end as they were just to large and an awkward shape to fit to my lips.

• It's not in the instructions, but you must peel the plastic from the front of the design and place the sticky side against your lips.

• Press a damp cloth or flannel against the design and try to keep the tattoos in place. This was a little difficult to do. I will warn you that it does feel weird and you will be trying not to drool (nice).

• You will see the design start to slip away. Gently peel off the backing after about 30-40 seconds of dampening. Use your cloth or flannel to gently press against the design now on your lips to mould it to your lips.

•  I applied the top lip first, but it's up to you which way you do it. Apply the design to your other lip in the same way trying not to let your top and bottom lips meet as these tattoos take 5 minutes to fully dry and seal.

• I applied these before any of my other make-up as I thought it would be easier. I had a little overlap on one corner which I managed to manoeuvre in place and then I applied the rest of my make-up. 

• To remove use gentle make-up remover or baby oil. Oily food may cause the design to be removed.

As you can see the design could be a little bigger on my lips, but I found it difficult to size and get a great fit. Nice attractive ring around the mouth (not).

Open mouthed to show you how it looks on the inner parts of the lips.

 

I do think these are a really fun and creative way to make your make-up stand out. However I think these are too fussy to apply and get the right size and shape for your mouth. I have been wearing the look while writing this post and already it's peeling from my lips dues to the saliva in my mouth as I haven't even had a drink. They are meant to last all day, but I don't see how they will stay in tact. I have one more of the designs to try which I will probably reserve for a Halloween look on my blog this year as I wouldn't feel comfortable or attractive when out in public and these start peeling away.

Other products in this LOTD/FOTD are:

Pure BB Cream (Light)

Helen É Cosmetics Miracle Concealer*

 

 E.L.F. Studio Translucent Matifying Powder

E.L.F. Studio Cool Bronzer

 

NYX Cosmetics Eyeshadow Base (White)

 

E.L.F. Mineral Eye Liner (Black)

 

 No7 Exceptional Definition Nutrient Enriched Mascara (Black)

HD Brows Brow Beater

*This Helen É Cosmetics Concealer was a PR sample that I reviewed in a FOTN post here.

There are many designs of these temporary lip tattoos which are available for £4.00 each here.

Are you a fan of temporary lip tattoos? Do you know how to make them stay on the lips for longer without peeling? Are there any products from StarGazer that you recommend? Let me know in the comments below.

Love to you all

Glam Bunny FOTD: Featuring StarGazer Eye Tattoos

Hiya Everyone. Happy Easter Sunday to you. I hope are enjoying the weekend so far. Today I have some interesting eye products to show you that were sent to me for free to review by Kat from Touch Media.

StarGazer Sexy Eyes Temporary Eye Tattoos in Left: Flourish & Right: Flames

I have been meaning to try out some eye tattoos as I was intrigued to see how well they work. They bring so much drama to the eyes so they seemed right up my street.

These looked a bit large for my eyes and I thought they might be a little fiddly to apply so I just used part of one set. I used the smaller section from the set Flames on the right to add a firey wing to my eyes.

My skin was clean. Free from oils and make-up. Make sure that yours is the same when applying these or they may not adhere to the skin properly.

I cut around the design carefully with some small, sharp scissors cutting off as much excess as possible so that they would be easier to apply. 

I removed the clear protector and placed the design facing downwards against where I wanted it on my eye.

With a damp cloth I pressed firmly against the tattoo ensuring it had wet through the whole design.

I could see the paper sliding away and some of the design appearing on my skin. I was worried that I may break or smudge the design so after about 30 seconds I removed the paper gently.

I used the damp cloth to gently press against the tattoo to make sure it sat nicely on the skin.

I have to say it came out perfectly with no smudging or splits in the design. I then applied the other eye tattoo in the same way, trying to match it at the same angle as the other eye, but in reverse.

I then applied my make-up being careful to use smaller brushes around the eye area. 

 

 

 

Other products used in the FOTD post are:

Pure BB Cream (Light)

Helen É Cosmetics Miracle Concealer*

Helen É Cosmetics Powder Blush (Candylicious)*

E.L.F. Studio Translucent Matifying Powder

E.L.F. Studio Cool Bronzer (Two Darkest Brown Shades)

Vera Valenti L'ombre a Paupiere Margarita Palette (Cream Shade)

NYX Cosmetics Winter In Moscow Palette (Black Shade)

No7 Exceptional Definition Nutrient Enriched Mascara (Black)

HD Brows Brow Beater

Fearne Glossy Lips (No Name, But Pink Shade)

E.L.F. Studio Mist & Set

*These Helen É Cosmetics products were both PR samples that I reviewed in a FOTN post here

I wanted the tattoos to be the main focus of the make-up and so I made the rest of the make-up quite simple. I went over the whole of the eyes with a cream shade, using a small angle brush around the tattoos. I used a black shade to define the crease and line the eyes so that the tattoos would join to it nicely. I went over the tattoos with this black shade just a little to deepen it a bit more and so it matched the eye lining. I did not apply any product other than clear mascara to my brows to keep the eye tattoos the focus.

The tattoos were removed easily with make-up remover on a cotton pad pressed against the eye for about 10 seconds. You can also use baby oil, but be careful not to get it in your eyes.

I like to blog while wearing the make-up look I am writing about and while doing so I wear my glasses. To show you these tattoos also look great with glasses I just had to show you this photo.

These come in 6 designs at £4.00 per set, Link. They all look great. I would like to try the design Four Eyeliners. I think you could cut that one also to use with one or two flicks at a time if like me you have smaller eyes.

Have you tried using temporary eye tattoos? Which ones are your favourites? Let me know in the comments below.

Love to you all

 

Dr. Jart+ Water Fuse Beauty Balm

Hey it's me again sweetie pies. I have a skincare/make-up product to talk about today that many people have tried and tested, but I thought I would give my opinion too.

I received my Dr. Jart+ Water Fuse Beauty Balm in my November GlossyBox where you can find full information on this product along with my first impressions. I wasn't too sure about this when I initially tried it out. It felt different from the Ginvera Green Tea Nude Cover BB Cream that I had previously tested, Link. I like that it's SPF25 as all skin protection is good and goes towards anti-ageing. This has a very thin formula which I suppose is to be expected as it's water based. It felt like this was giving something back to my skin, like a little drink if you will. This product is also oil-free. I would say this is a lighter coverage BB than the Ginvera as more of my natural skin poked through. On a general note I prefer more coverage than that, but it is buildable and can create a nice base with a little work. I applied this with my fingers, massaging it around the contours of my face. I applied about two layers all over my face and neck, then more to more reddened, blemished areas. This product comes in one shade so it may not suit everyone. I do like this BB, but to get the coverage I want it takes a little more time than other products. It does have a nice brightening, dewy effect though so it's worth it if you have the time.

You can find this product at Boots for £18.00 for 50ml or Sephora for $34.00 for 1.7oz.

You can see how this looks on my skin in this FOTN post.

Have you tried this BB? If so, what are your thoughts on it? Do you have any favourite BB's or Dr. Jart+ products I should know about? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

Love to you all

November 2012 GlossyBox: Stocking Fillers

Hello my little Beauty Addicts. Today I have my November GlossyBox to show you. This month it's all about gift ideas for Xmas. I'm starting to worry a bit now as the only pressies I have bought have been for my Secret Santa at work. Everyone else seems to be so much more prepared than me for Xmas, eek!

Anyway here are the products ....

Left: Dr. Jart+ Water Fuse Beauty Balm, £18.00 for 50ml

Flawless skin instantly with all-in-one multifunctional Water Fuse Beauty Balm. SPF 25. A cult product in Korea.

Apply evenly to cleansed and toned face. Add a second layer to increase coverage. Avoid contact with eyes. If product gets into eyes rinse well with water. Avoid contact with fabrics.

I have only tried one BB Cream so far which I fell in love with. That was the Ginvera Green Tea Nude Cover BB Cream. You can find my full review on that product here. This product claims to give a bright and glossy complexion. Bright I like the idea of, but glossy I'm not sure on. This is an oil-free hydrating moisturiser that holds water. It also has aloe. It sounds thirst quenching which should hopefully be great for my dry skin. I will definitely try this out and let you know how I get on.

Right: Burberry Body Eau De Parfum, £75.00 for 85ml

An effortlessly sensual fragrance. Top notes of fresh green absinthe, illuminating peach and delicate freesia; at its heart are floral notes of natural rose absolute and iris, gently blended with warm sandalwood. Its base is made up of woody cashmeran, creamy vanilla, amber and musk notes.

I have already tried this product when I received it in my October 2011 Feelunique Beauty Box. You can see my thoughts in that post. This sample bottle is more attractive though.

Left: Alison Claire Natural Beauty Mango Body Butter, £15.00 for 200ml

Made with organic mango and cocoa butters; this contains the anti-aging influence of retinol, antioxidant action from green tea, mango and vitamin E, and anti-microbial protection. This is a new brand. This product was not tested on animals and is suitable for sensitive skin.

OMG this stuff smells amazing like refreshing fruity sweets and sinks into the skin straight away. I love the pump design as not too much product comes out. I will be using this for sure.

Centre: Nails Inc Kensington Caviar Topcoat, £11.00 for 4g

A must have product. This top coat will give your nails wet look shine whilst nourishing the nails with added caviar extract. As if that wasn’t enough, this incredible top coat is touch dry in just 45 seconds. Sunday Times Style Beauty Award Winner.

I am on the lookout for a new top coat so maybe this could be the answer? Watch this space.

Right: Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant, £38.50 for 75g

This gentle micro-exfoliating power utilized Rice bran and botanical brightening agents to smooth skin texture and balance pigmentation for a more even complexion. Models Favourite!

I think I have heard of this powder to creamy paste facial exfoliator before. It says for daily use, but I'm not sure how my skin will handle that as I only exfoliate my face twice a week. I will test it out and let you know how it goes.



So that's all of the products. Which products did you receive in this month's box? Are you pleased with them. Do you already have these products and have thoughts on them? Let me know in the comments below.



For more information on GlossyBox here are the UK and the US sites.



Love to you all

My First Ever BB Cream

Hi Loves. I hope you are having a great day. I was sent a product by Touch Media PR as they thought it would appeal to me. Carry on reading if you want to see my thoughts.

The product is the Ginvera Green Tea Nude Cover BB Cream For All Skin Tones

Swatched

Blended Out

Now BB Creams are something I have wanted to try, but for some reason I just never got around to it. This BB Cream is described as a multi-tasker that will not clog pores like other waxy versions of BB Creams on the market. It is meant to give a natural and flawless coverage with oil-control properties, resulting in a matte finish. Providing all day hydration and an even skin tone that is revitalised, more radiant, soft and supple. It also has SPF30 and is said to help reduce the formation of lines and wrinkles. It does say that it gives visibly fairer skin which is the one thing I guess that put me off picking up a BB Cream before as lets face it I'm fair enough as it is, ha ha ;) I haven't noticed my skin getting any lighter yet, but I will let you know if I notice a difference in time.

Now onto the application and my thoughts. After applying my usual face care routine I squeeze some product on to the back of my hand and with two fingers I pat dots onto my face and smooth it around. I do this all over a bit at a time and down my neck. There is no need to apply lots of this in one go as a little spreads very far. When I feel like a need a bit more coverage I sometimes apply a second layer over the areas needed. It looks slightly green/brown like fake-tan when I first apply it, but don't worry as it does seem to just transpire into my own skin shade. I have tried this with and without applying a face moisturiser first and I can get away without applying moisturiser on my dry skin when using this. It does settle into what I would say is a semi-matte finish as it really does have a radiant glow which I like. I apply concealer and set my face with a translucent powder. I find this BB Cream does even out my skin tone really well. It definitely has more coverage than a tinted moisturiser. I did consider trying to apply this with a make-up brush, but I simply thought what's the point of using one when this applies so effortlessly on the skin and evenly. There is no patchiness and it lasts well throughout the day. It has a subtle scent to it which is pleasant, but I don't notice it once it's applied. Here is a link to ginvera.com for more information on this product. 

You can pick up 25ml of this product from janiro.co.uk for £20.00 +p&p. I think that the price could be a little lower, but to be honest I haven't put this baby down since I received it. I think it's a really great mix for me because it does even out my skin tone and give me buildable coverage that is semi-matte, yet radiant. I can see me picking this up when my tube runs out.

This product was sent to me for free, but my opinions are true and my own.

Have you tried this wonder product? What are your thoughts on it? What other BB Creams have you tried? What do you love/hate about them? Have you noticed their whitening effects?

Love to you all