GLOSSYBOX FRESH START MUST-HAVES

Hi everyone I hope you are well. Today I want to share with you my first impressions of this month's 'Fresh Start Must-Haves GlossyBox'.

MEMEME EYE LINE PENCIL CLAY

A long lasting soft, glide on eye pencil that does not snag on the skin. The shade clay suits all eye colours. Can be worn on the upper and lower lash lines and the waterline. Not tested on animals.

This pencil does feel smooth on my hand and the shade appears to be very wearable for all eye colours as it's a mid-toned brown. Not too warm or too cool. A nice alternative to black which can be quite harsh and close up the eyes. I am not sure how well this will work on the waterline for me as I have quite watery eyes and find this type of pencil doesn't usually apply well on my waterline.

NICKA K NEW YORK COLORLUXE POWDER BLUSH ROMANTIC

A loose powder blush that applies with a soft, plush applicator puff. Comes in six shades.

This product is designed with the puff so that no powder sprinkles all over your handbag due to the puff applicator. The middle band of the pot however does twist off so I am not sure if that would be the case. It has a pop off lid so be sure to hold the band when removing it. The lid comes with a mirror which is cool. This shade Romantic is a dusky pink. Quite soft and English Rose. Great for paler girls, but can be built up for a slightly more intense blush. I am not a big fan so far of the applicator, but then I am not a big fan of loose powder or pigment products usually because they tend to spread everywhere so I can see why the puff is in place. However I find using a brush easier to get the right amount of product to sweep over the skin rather than dabbing a puff on a certain area.

JELLY PONG PONG ALL OVER GLOW

An brightening oil-free lightweight, luminizing gel with pearlescent pigments to highlight the face for a radiant complexion. Dab onto cheekbones and brow bones. Cruelty free.

This is a gorgeously glowy product that will instantly give you healthy, dewy looking skin. This is another product that is not too cool or too warm and I think would work well with many skin tones. It blends into the skin beautifully. It's not ultra glittery like some highlighting products can be, but instead has micro particles that catch the light giving a 'lit from within, youthful effect'. I think this would look great on cheekbones for an awakened look as well as the cupids bow for plumped, fuller looking lips. I would also try it on my lids for an easy day or night look. It may even be nice to mix with foundations that you would like to make more dewy.

KUESHI NATURAL & PLEASANT COSMETICS REVITALIZING FACE TONER

A soothing and re-hydrating skin re-balancing toner. Controls shine and softens dry areas.

I think some people don't see the point in using toners or just add them in to their skincare routine because they think they should. This is why I am especially intrigued to try this product to see if I think it makes a difference.

NAKED LIPS ORGANIC LIP BALM SUPERFRUITS

A sweet tasting balm that leaves lips nourished with a subtle sheen.

This does feel very nourishing with a silky balm feel. The scent is berry-tastic. I usually find lip balms to not work instantly or work for a while and once my lips get used to the product not work as well. I will keep using this and see how it goes.

I don't want to spoil a product in next month's box, but it is similar to one in this month's which disappoints me a little. I am not a fan of the spoiler card in each box as I like the fact that each month is a total surprise. It's party of the reason I signed up to GlossyBox.

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

Let me know your thoughts on this month's GlossyBox in the comments below.

Love to you all

Vicky xx

BLOGLOVIN' | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | YOUTUBE | TBP | GLIPHO

GLOSSYBOX BIRTHDAY ANNIVERSARY EDITION

Hey lovelies. I have been subscribed to GlossyBox for the past 3 years and thoroughly enjoyed receiving a present in the post to myself every month. So here is my first impression of this month's products.

KRYOLAN FOR GLOSSYBOX ILLUSION HIGHLIGHTER CASHMERE

This has a lightweight cream formula with a gloss finish for a beautiful velvety shine. It can be applied to the cheekbones, browbones, lips, cupids bow or other parts of the skin.

This is a yellow based champagne highlight which I think will be a great staple in my make-up bag. The lid is usually white with the Kryolan logo. This product also comes in 6 other shades.

FIGS & ROUGE ROSE BERRY SHEA BUTTER MINI HAND CREAM

A softening, nourishing and pampering hand cream.

This has such a pretty design of packaging. I don't want to break the seal on this yet as I have other hand creams open, but I can tell you that it also comes in scents of Mango & Mandarin as well as Vanilla Pistachio.

YVES ROCHER PINK NAIL POLISH ROSE

This is a very neutral pink shade wearable for every day with any outfit at any time of year.

PHILIP KINGSLEY ELASTICIZER

A product to smooth out the hair leaving it supple with added sunscreen protection. Super moisturising for a silky finish adding strength and shine making hair more manageable and lustrous. A weekly thirst quencher to beat dryness. To be used before shampoo. Suitable for all hair textures.

I have previously reviewed this product. Check out that post HERE! I already received this product in my November 2011 GlossyBox and although I do love it GlossyBox is for discovering new products and not having them repeated.

LALIQUE EMANUEL UNGARO LAMOUR EAU DE PARFUM

This floral, musky, soft, sensual fragrance is described as capturing the essence of love.

Top note: Bergamot, Rosebud, Neroli.

Heart note: Tuberose, gardenia, jasmin petals

Dry down note: Warm cedar, sandalwood, musks

It is definitely a soft scent perhaps more for daytime. It's very subtle and I think would suit all ages.

COMFORT ZONE ESSENTIALS CLEANSING MILK

A revitalising, hydrating, gentle milk cream to help remove make-up and dirt for radiant, refreshed and softer skin. Apply to dry skin am and pm and gently massage. Rinse well and remove with a cotton pad.

I am currently using another cleanser, but I will try this one out and review it for you.

Let me know in the comments below your favourites in this months box if you are subscribed.

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

Also don't forget to enter my NIVEA giveaway below ↓ 

NIVEA COMPETITION!!!!

Love to you all

Vicky xx

Pond's Institute Cold Cream Cleanser

Hi loves and Happy Fathers Day to all those celebrating it today. This afternoon I am here to talk about a multi-tasking skincare product that was sent to me for free to test and review for you.

POND'S INSTITUTE COLD CREAM CLEANSER 50ML

This cleansing product removes dirt and make-up deep down while hydrating your skin. It's such a versatile product that left my skin feeling and looking very glowing and radiant as well as moisturised and plumped.

The ways in which I used this product:

As a cleanser/make-up remover ~ With a cotton pad I manoeuvred the cream around my skin.

As a moisturiser ~ I massaged the product in with my fingers and my toning wand.

As a face mask/gentle exfoliation ~ I applied it all over my face and neck and after a minute or so used a warm wet face cloth to remove the product.

As a highlight ~ I dotted some onto my cheekbones for a highlight effect.

It can also be used to set the brows.

This cream has a very softening effect on the skin with a comforting old fashioned scent. The texture is not loose, but not too sturdy either. I am so glad that I got to try out this cult product. I can see why celebs such as Kylie Minogue are a fan.

Suitable for all skin types I would certainly recommend this product. When using this as a cleanser without removing make-up I didn't feel the need to moisturise afterwards so it's great for those always in a rush or on their travels.

As it keeps skin so plumped and smoothed I think it's a great anti-ageing product. My only negative is that if you apply it and don't wear any make-up it can look very reflective on the skin. This doesn't bother me, but it's something I thought I should point out.

I have linked to Tesco above as this product is currently selling for £3.00. It is also available to purchase at Boots, Sainsbury's & Superdrug.

What are your favourite cleansers? Let me know with reasons why in the comments below.

Love to you all

Vicky xx

SWEET TREATS GLOSSYBOX

Hi there everyone and Happy Easter Sunday! It may be a dull and wet day, but for most of you I hope there is another day off tomorrow so it's all good. I have my April GlossyBox products to show you today. This box is called 'Sweet Treats'.

EMITE MAKE UP LIP BRUSH (L312) ~ £17

I have never seen a slanted lip brush like this before. The synthetic taklon hair is very smooth and will hopefully keep its shape well. It's allergy free and supposed to be easy to clean. I could not find this product on the Emite website so I have not added a link.

MONU SPA WARMING GINGER MASSAGE & BODY OIL ~ £25.00 FOR 100ML

Guaranteed to restore elasticity and suppleness leaving you with skin that feels nourished, soft and thoroughly pampered. With a mixture of aromatic essential oils to uplift, awaken, refresh and energise. Relaxing the body and revitalising tired muscles. Paraben free. Suitable for all skin types.

Add a small amount to your bath or under the shower before rinsing as the oil will emulsify into a milk leaving no oily residue on the skin. Can also be used as a regular massage oil.

This smells spicy with a slight lemon zest. It looks more like a loose liquid than other body oils.

MEMEME COSMETICS BEAT THE BLUES (PEARL PINK) ~ £5.50 FOR 12ML

This is a multi-purpose product designed to illuminate and highlight. Can be used on cheekbones or on brow bones to highlight. Apply under blusher for a natural dewy glow or mix with foundation for a subtle shimmer.

I am in love with this product already and I have only tried it on my hand. This has a gorgeous glow that looks very natural when blended out like you just have healthy skin. The shade is a pearly pink which looks more white or pink in different lighting. The swatch shown above is one swipe of solid colour not blended. When left to dry this swatch gave a very strong pigmented colour. I would actually love to try this on my lips for a statement look and possibly even on the eye lids, but I am not sure if it would crease. It appears to have pretty good staying power as I rubbed this swatch once dried and most of the product stayed put.

TRESEMME INSTANT REFRESH CLEANSING DRY SHAMPOO ~ £4.99 FOR 200ML

To keep hair fresh between washes this product absorbs oil and adds volume.

Shake the can vigorously. Lift hair in sections, spraying roots outwards. Let the product absorb into the hair and massage in.

Dry shampoos are always handy to have not only for days when you don't want to wash your hair, but for an added volume boost.

VICHY LIFTACTIV ADVANCED FILLER ~ £31.00 FOR 30ML

This product has been produced to visibly correct the look of deep and vertical wrinkles as if filled. To give you a happier less sad and tired appearance. This moisturiser is suitable for all skin types including sensitive skin.

Apply to face and neck day and night alone or with your usual daily moisturiser.

Due to high pure retinol content please note!

When using this product it is advised to use an SPF of at least 15 during the day. Avoid sun exposure or artificial UV exposure. Do not use in conjunction with other retinoid products. Space out to using every two days if you have feelings of discomfort in the early days of use to allow the skin to become used to the retinol. Avoid the delicate eye area.

This sounds like quite a strong product which I will try out, but I am confused that it is suitable for all skin types due to the warnings. If I had really problematic sensitive skin I may be a little nervous trying this, but it does advise to ease your skin into using it so I guess its down to each individual to decide if it's right for them.

VICHY LIFTACTIV SERUM 10 EYES & LASHES ~ £24.50 FOR 15ML

Suitable for all skin types and sensitive eyes. Illuminating eye contours for a more youthful appearance as well as fortifying the lashes. Hypoallergenic and paraben free. 

Apply with fingertips gently to the eye contours.

Hopefully this will be great for tired eye days. I guess that it can be applied to the lashes in the same way, but the Boots website doesn't really advise on this so if anyone knows please advise in the comments below.

The stand out product for me in this month's box so far is the MeMeMe Cosmetics product. 

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

What are your favourite products in this months GlossyBox. Let me know in the comments below.

Love to you all

Vicky xx

Poundland Make-Up Haul

Hello you sweet peas. Happy Sunday and Happy Father's Day to Dad's out there. Sadly my Dad has passed so I can't spend today with him, but I hope you are having a wonderful day with your pops. I visited Poundland on Friday. One of my favourite shopping trips I have to say and here are the make-up beauties I picked up.

Chit Chat Foundation Oatmeal, 30ml for £1.00

I hope you can see here that it blends out nicely. This is a yellow toned foundation. I did see another shade that was pink toned from this range. I am not sure if they are the only two shades. There appears to be no scent with this. I was in desperate need of picking up a new foundation, but as I was short on time this seemed like a good option to try. This seems very lightweight as it is described.

Famous By Sue Moxley Lipgloss Edit, 6ml for £1.00

I could not find this on the website for a link sorry. This smells sweet like those twist up lipstick type of sweets you used to get. This is a beautiful iced baby pink lipgloss with I believe pink and lilac glitter reflects within the gloss.

Milani Glimmer Stripes All-Over Colour 05 Honey Glimmer, 12.8g for £1.00

These are the shades swatched as they are in the pan in the first photo. The two lightest shades don't show up too well when swatched.

I am not sure if you can see it well enough here, but this is a swatch of all the shades in the palette merged together. The effect is a very subtle, soft golden bronze shimmer. This palette is meant for the face, cheeks & eyes. I think this would also be beautiful on areas of the body such as the collar bone, arms and down the front of the legs to highlight a tan. This does not appear to be on the website either, but there were a few palette shades in this range.

What bargains have you found lately in Poundland or other pound shops? Let me know in the comments below.

Love to you all

FOTN: Helen É Cosmetics Reviews

Hello you beauts. How are you on this fine Sunday morning? I hope fabulous. Today I want to show you some products from a brand named Helen É Cosmetics. I received one of their Long Lasting Lipstick's in my last GlossyBox and gave my initial impressions which you can see here. I have been asked to review some more of their products which were sent to me for free and so I thought I would show them off in a FOTN post.

So here are my thoughts on the Helen É Cosmetics:

 Stage Foundation Ultimate Performance Liquid Make-up For All Skin Types (Monroe - Very Fair Skin), £20.00 for 35ml

 

Helen É Cosmetics, the Make-up Sponsor of the Miss England Competition have taken inspiration from iconic actresses when developing the Stage range. It is aimed at professional Make-up Artists and customers alike. The Stage Range is made up of Stage Liquid Foundation in four shades, Stage Matte Mousse Foundation in three shades, Eyelights, Stage Eye Shadow Primer and Cheek Radiance in two shades. The collection is available from the Helen É Cosmetics website and selected stockists now, priced between £8 and £24.99. 

When I heard the term 'stage make-up' I did think this foundation was going to be heavy duty and very mask like, but it is quite the opposite. It feels as light as a BB Cream and is buildable. I would say it gives a medium to full coverage without being dry or cakey. Great for my dry skin. It does not streak and lasts very well. I am still undecided if this shade is right for me, but it is the lightest of the four. I am not too sure if it's a little too yellow on my skin, but let me know your thoughts. This foundation is paraben and fragrance free. It comes in a squeezy tube with a screw top.

Chunky Twist-Up Miracle Concealer, £8.00 for 3.5g

I have never used this style of concealer before. I expected this to cling to dry patches everywhere and not apply very well. This is a correcting concealer which should be used to neutralise dark pigmentation or shadow before applying a skin smoother or foundation. I always apply my concealer after my foundation otherwise I think you just end up ruining the effect of the concealer or wiping it away all together. I used this under my eyes and on blemishes. I have to say this worked really well. It comes in just one shade which I thought may be a little too deep for my skin tone, but it blended in easily. This may be because the foundation is a little more yellow than I am used to as well though. It did crease just a bit when I initially applied it under my eyes, but when I corrected this and used a setting spray to seal all of my make-up there was no further creasing. This also covered my blemishes pretty well. I used it on my eyes as a shadow base too and it did not crease there. The pencil did start to get a little loose a couple of days ago though and start dropping forward a bit without the need to twist up.

Powder Blusher (Candylicious), £7.00 for 2.5g

This coral blusher is pigmented and easily buildable. It's a little hard to tell in the photos because my cheeks are naturally flushed from rushing around getting ready after shower, but this is a really pretty, wearable shade that I think shows up best in the 1st and 3rd photos. I also used this on my eyelids on another day and it really made my blue eyes pop. This has a very secure click shut compact with a transparent lid. There are 5 shades in this blusher range.

Cheek Radiance (Oyster), £10.00 for 5g

This product is said to add a flush of colour to your cheeks or to be used as a highlighter for the cheekbones, brow bones, collar bones and shoulders. This is another twist up product. Inside the pop off lid there is another cap, but I'm not really too sure of it's purpose as I think the click shut lid is sufficient. This comes in two shades. The one I have is a peachy golden highlight with glitter particles. I found the best way to apply this was to apply a fair amount to the back of my hand and use the tip of my finger to dab it on where needed. I applied this product on top of my cheekbones, on my cupids bow and a little down my nose. On another day I applied this too my eyes to add a very subtle shimmer. I think this added a nice highlighting sheen to my cheekbones and the cupids bow. It leaves a trace of a few particles of glitter on my cheeks which didn't bother me, but that may not be for everyone if you just want the sheen effect.

Long Lasting Lip Colour, £8.00 for 3.5g

Left: Blush

Centre: Coral

Right: Hollywood Red

Blush (shown in the photos above) is a very natural rose lip shade that is one of those 'my lips but better' tones. I find these lipsticks so moisturising. They are not drying at all and the pigment in them lasts so well. It barely fades at all and does not go patchy so great for an all day event or a night out. I like the clear packaging at the top so that I can actually see what the shade is inside at a glance. There are 21 shades in this range of both cream and pearlised colours, including neutral and more vibrant tones. I really want to try some more as I am so impressed by them. My only fault is that the stickers do tend to come off so that's a bit annoying if you want to repurchase a shade and can't remember it's name.

The next two lip swatches were applied by using my I-Phone camera to apply them on the weekend while making breakfast as I was trying to catch the sunlight so please excuse the not so neat looking lips. Photos were taken with my digital camera though.

Coral

This is actually a really nice nude shade. Not too pale and deathly as some nude shades can make you look. I think this is very wearable for many skin tones. Unfortunately this one snapped while using and I didn't use extreme pressure so that was a real shame.

 Hollywood Red

Just wow. This was an amazing colour to wear and is not for the faint hearted. This lasted so well throughout the day considering it's vibrancy.

Other products I used in this FOTN are:

No7 Exceptional Definition Nutrient Enriched Mascara Black

E.L.F. Studio Translucent Matifying Powder

Peacocks Quad Palette (White Shimmer Shade)

E.L.F. Studio Mist & Set

Overall I am very impressed by this range of products from Helen É Cosmetics. I am totally in love with their lipsticks and want to try out more products too.

CEO Helen Elowe also has a blog called Helen's Make-up Tips where you can discover more about Helen É Cosmetics with helpful tips and advice. I think it's great when brands back up their products with advice on how to actually use them. I believe it gives consumers the confidence to work with the items they have purchased and perhaps try new things.

Have you tried any Helen É Cosmetics? Which products are your likes and dislikes and why? Let me know in the comments below.

Love to you all

neutralises dark pigmentation or shadow before you apply your Skin Smoother or foundation. - See more at: http://www.helen-e.com/cosmetics/face/chunky-twist-up-miracle-concealer.htm#sthash.ic1cWzDP.dpuf

Benefit High Beam vs Moon Beam

Hi there my lovelies. Now I know that there have been many of us running around today trying to grab copies of Glamour magazine to get the free Benefit Cosmetics goodies, but I went to 8 places and none of them had it in stock. Admittedly this was after work at about 4:30pm. At least it gave me some exercise, hee hee. The 3 items available are High Beam, Posie Tint and Bene Tint. Now you may think I have failed in obtaining one of these, but I in fact actually did receive the High Beam in the post as I have Glamour magazine on subscription.

High Beam is the one that I most wanted to try, so I am super happy. This highlighter is a gorgeous colour known as the 'supermodel in a bottle'. I think this would suit most skin tones, but look especially good on light to medium skins. I already have Moon Beam which is not part of the offer. Please see the pictures below for comparison of colours and sizes as the products on offer are not full size.

The High Beam is still a good amount of product to get with the magazine only being £2. 

Left: HIGH BEAM, Right: MOON BEAM

I blended them out, but they are so hard to see. I tried taking a few pictures, but they didn't come out too well sorry.

I hope this picture shows a clearer difference between the two. They are in reverse though as this was after I had blended them out so left is Moon Beam and right is High Beam.

I hope that you can see the High Beam is a pale pink, creamy shade with shimmer. A great everyday highlight by the looks of things for the tops of cheeks, at the cupids bow, on the brow bone and down the centre of the nose. Perhaps it would also be good mixed with foundation for a dewy glow.

The Moon Beam does all of these things, but I think the High Beam may suit my paler complexion more. I bought the Moon Beam a few years ago and it has lasted well. I went for this over the High Beam as the assistant at the time told me it would suit me better. I ignored my gut instinct and took the Moon Beam, but I think the Moon Beam will be better as a highlight when I'm fake tanning as it has more of a golden, coral shimmer.

One of the two other products Posie Tint is a Liqui-gel formula cheek/lip stain. I would like to try this one as I have never tried a lip stain before. It looks like a pretty, sheer shade.

The other product Bene Tint does not really appeal to me. I think the colour is too berry for me. I would probably give it a try if I saw it with the magazine, but I'm not too upset if I don't get that one.

I am so pleased with Glamour magazine as I have many other magazine subscriptions too and Glamour are the only one who continue to pass on their free gifts to people who subscribe. I feel really cheated when the others come in the post without my free gifts. 

Fingers crossed I will get the Posie Tint. Are you going to take up this offer or have you already? What did you think of the products you got?

Love to you all

1st Post/May GlossyBox/Special Thank You

Hi to all you lovelies out there taking the time to look in at my very first blog post. I am so excited to be starting my own blog, but at the same time very nervous as I hope you find reading my blog enjoyable. I am going to be rambling on about many things, but most of them will revolve around all the things that most of us love like makeup, beauty, fashion, nails and lots of bargains.

This picture is just me saying Hi and is in no way related to the products mentioned below

Anyway, on to the actual post. I know there are lots of reviews out there about this subject as it took over Twitter when it was released here in the UK, but I just couldn't resist. I have signed up to receive a GlossyBox each month for what I believe to be a very valuable sum of only £10 as there is no shipping fee. For signing up you will receive five sample sized products every month which are to be a surprise. Some people may not be into the idea of signing up for something every month when they are unsure what they will receive, but I am very much a kid at heart and personally love the idea.

The GlossyBox before opening

All beautifully gift wrapped inside

The list and description of products included

The fab five

For £10 I was super excited to open this box of treats. So far I have only tested the All For Eve (Eve Red Lipstick) and the Nars (Orgasm Illuminator). Both I found to be lovely, wearable products. 

The blue-toned red lipstick glided on beautifully, even on my usually very dry lips. I found it to have quite a creamy consistency which lasted a good part of the day. 

The Nars Illuminator is a nice highlighter which is very sheer, but I think it would show up better on more olive toned or tanned skin as I am a very pale lassie and the highlighter itself is a bronze/golden hue.

Swatches: Nars (Orgasm Illuminator) and All For Eve (Eve Red Lipstick)

Swatches (as above), but smudged out

I did also try the illuminator on my eyes which gave a very subtle glossy finish, unfortunately those photos did not come out too well :(

The box also includes Alterna (Caviar Anti-Aging Rapid Repair Spray) to freshen up your locks throughout the day, Bionova (Bioactive Cleanser for Normal/Dry Skin) to remove impurities from the skin at the end of the day and Como Shambhala (Invigorate Body Lotion) to care for and awaken your skin.

 

For any of you considering signing up to GlossyBox there is an option to fill in a form so that they may look for products to suit you. I am not sure how they can meet everyone's wants and needs, but as this is the first UK GlossyBox we shall see. Please bear this in mind as at the end of the day it is meant to be a surprise of products each month. You can earn GlossyDots by giving feedback to products received. You get one GlossyDot for every review. When you total 20 GlossyDots you receive a free GlossyBox. 

Please read the fineprint on the website, but you can opt out of the subscription if you decide it's no longer for you. Personally I can't wait for my June GlossyBox.

I would also like to end my first post with a special thank you to @BeauMU_Natalie We met at IMATS London in January this year and we have kept in contact via Twitter and email ever since. Natalie has helped me a lot with my queries about starting up my blog, but beyond that she has been a generally lovely person to talk to. So thanks for being so patient Natalie. Please go and check out her great blog everyone in the link above.

Love to you all