GLOSSYBOX: DECEMBER 2014

Hi gorgeous people and welcome to my last post of the day. Here are my first impressions of the December 2014 GlossyBox.

BELLAPIERRE COSMETICS CHEEK & LIP STAIN CORAL

A 2-in-1 make-up product for lips and cheeks.

This has a buttery formula. The shade coral is great for every day wear and I think would suit all skin shades due to it's natural flushed hue. It also comes in the shade pink.

TRESEMME RENEWAL HAIR AND SCALP 60 SECOND TREATMENT SHOTS

Salon quality treatment shots to instantly nourish the scalp and renew the hair leaving it 3 times stronger.

I love quick fixes when it comes to beauty so lets hope these do the trick.

ANATOMICALS ZAP! ZAP! ZAP! GETS THAT CHAP. DAY AND NIGHT SPOT STICK

With 2 formulas to work day and night so that the blemished area is constantly being treated.

It's great that it's travel friendly. I take it that it works under make-up if it has a day and night formula? I will of course test it out when one appears.

SO SUSAN DUAL BROW POWDER

A compact product to define brows with a smudge-proof formula of two shades. A medium coverage for a natural look. Apply the darker shade to fill in sparse brows followed by the lighter shade over the entire brows.

I like the look of the shades in this compact for me, but I think a variety of compact shades would be better as a range to suit more hair colours. It's a great size that comes with a handy brush and a good sized mirror inside the compact.

SKIN PEP WRINKLE CLEAR PEPTIDE SERUM

Designed to reduce fine lines and wrinkles and restore a healthy new skin glow. Massage into the face and neck twice a day.

I am always up for trying out new skincare, especially if it can give me a youthful glow.

I think this is a pretty good GlossyBox this month as there are a few treatment products to pep up the skin during party season as well as some make-up to define and enhance facial features.

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

Were you impressed with this month's GlossyBox? Leave all comments below.

Love to you all

Vicky xx

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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

Lips & Haircare

Hi again beauties. I'm back today with another post including reviews of three products for lips and hair.

Dr Lipp Original Nipple Balm For Lips ~ £11.50 for 15ml

I received this product in my London Edition GlossyBox where you can find full product information. The packaging of this product is very sleek in appearance, but the child in me still has an inward chuckle when I think of applying a nipple product to my lips. All jokes aside though I love this product. I only used it on my lips, but it worked really well. It felt smooth to apply. There was no awful scent or tacky feeling. I could use any lip products on top of this as part of my make-up routine and it didn't interfere with them. It really helped in keeping my lips even and chap free. I would definitely pick this up again.

ChapStick Apple ~ £1.05

I received this free at a show. The scent of this product is very much apple. I really like the texture of this lip care product which did a pretty good job on my lips, but it broke before I finished using it like it did with the other scent I had.

Tresemme Keratin Smooth Concentrated Rinse Off Treatment, £1.49 for 15ml from Superdrug, Boots, Tesco & Waitrose

I received this product in my High Flyers GlossyBox. You can find full information about it in that post. I probably got about 6-8 uses out of this 15ml tube as you can put the stopper back on. It did feel like a conditioner should by separating any tangles as I smoothed it through my hair, but I wouldn't say that I saw amazing results.

I hope you enjoy these mini reviews as I try to keep everything that I use to let you know my thoughts. What are your favourite haircare and lip care products? Let me know in the comments below.

Love to you all

High Flyers GlossyBox

Hi there loves. Today I have my latest GlossyBox products to show you. This box is named High Flyers as it includes items for us girls during our summer travels.

Urban Veda Purifying Exfoliating Facial Polish, £8.99 for 125ml

To be used for a deep cleanse, removing impurities, treating blackheads, reducing excess sebum, tightening pores and leaving skin hydrated.

Apply to a wet face, massage using gentle circular movements, and rinse with cold water to tighten pores and help mattify excessive shine.

This is for oil-prone skin and mine is dry, but I will still try this out. The granules in this scrub feel very fine on my hand. The scent is almost medicated, but in a purifying way. The packaging is green on the website so I guess the design has changed?

Emite Make Up Eyelash Curler, Approx £20.00

Developed with professional make-up artists this tool has a special curved design to suit all eye shapes, without touching your make-up base. 

Insert lashes close to the lash line and press to curl. Use before mascara,

This feels very well made and it's great that it comes with three replacement pads.

Jelly Pong Pong 2-In-1 Black Shadow/Liner, £10.50 

Doubles as an eyeliner for thick, precise lines as well as a perfectly blended eye shadow. This also comes in shades of plum, bronze and steel.

This is a very deeply pigmented black eye crayon. I think this will be great for smudgy liner looks and hopefully as a great shadow/base too.

Tresemme Keratin Smooth Concentrated Rinse Off Treatment, £1.49 for 15ml from Superdrug, Boots, Tesco & Waitrose.

Apply once a week to damaged parts of shampooed and rinsed hair, avoiding roots. Leave for 60 seconds and rinse well.

I like that this is a quick treatment as not everyone has time for products to work.

Oceane Makeup Remover Pen, Not yet available in the UK

A make-up touch up/remover solution. 

Shake before removing lid. Replace tip if needed.

I tried this out on the Jelly Pong Pong swatch above and it did take a bit of work, but it pretty much removed it all. I think this sounds like a good idea in theory, but I am just not sure if you will end up making a make-up mistake look worse by removing or smudging other parts of your make-up like foundation. I think it would have been handy if the extra tips came in some sort of separate packaging so that when you open this product they have somewhere to be stored. Especially if this is meant for on the go use.

I think this is a great box this month. I am a little disappointed that I have another product for oily skin instead of dry though.

For more information on GlossyBox UK click here. The US box can be found here.

Which products did you receive in this month's GlossyBox? Are you pleased with them? Let me know with your reasons in the comments below.

Love to you all

 

March 2013 City Chic GlossyBox

Hello my loves. I have worked some overtime today and feel a bit knackered, but it was a nice surprise to come home and find my GlossyBox waiting for me. It always makes me smile. This month's box contains hard-working, multi-tasking, heavy-duty products that give a high-maintenance look with minimum time, money and effort.

The GlossyBox Little Black Book Of Style

GlossyBox shares it's pick of some of the capital's best fashion and beauty destinations. There are some cool stickers inside too.

Bottom Left: Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant Fragrance Free, £18.00 for 30ml or £25.00 for 50ml

This skincare classic works efficiently to sooth roughness, redness and minor skin irritations. This award winning cream has also been praised by make-up artists and beauty editors for many years now and no self respecting model would be without this cult product in their make-up bag. First created in 1930 by Elizabeth Arden to soothe skin, Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant became an instant and overwhelming success. Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant also aids in the temporary relief of chapped lips, smoothes rough spots on your knees, feet and elbows and softens tough, hard cuticles and hangnails. Dermatologist, clinically and allergy tested. Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant is suitable for all skin types. A little goes a long way with this intensive moisturiser, so enjoy it sparingly.

I will keep this product for particularly dry areas and minor skin irritations, but I did buy this for myself once before in a full size tube when it was very hyped up. I never replaced my tube because I don't really like the scent of this product which considering it's meant to be fragrance free is a little bizarre? It has a balmy texture.

Bottom Centre: Nails Inc. Bruton Street Nail Polish, £11.00 for 10ml

Bruton Street nail polish is a dusky pink nude shade. Bruton Street is ideal for a sophisticated, everyday look. Apply 2 coats after Kensington Caviar Base Coat, followed by one coat of Kensington Caviar Top Coat.

I really like the look of this polish and will apply it to mine and Mum's nails tomorrow as it's Mother's Day/Mum's birthday and I said I would do Mum's nails for her.

Bottom Right: L'Occitane En Provence Immortelle Precious Cream, £43.00 for 50ml

Ideal for normal to dry skin, the Immortelle Precious is a rich, smooth moisturiser which visibly corrects deep wrinkles and improves firmness.

The combination of organic immortelle and organic immortelle cell extracts offers:

Smoother skin: Immortelle stimulates collagen production, which helps fill in deep wrinkles and restructure the epidermis for smoother skin.

Firmer skin: The support network of the skin is reinforced. 

  

Younger skin: Micro-circulation is boosted to stimulate cell renewal. Skin is protected from free radicals.

The epidermis is re-invigorated, soft and comfortable. Skin is smoother and firmer, its youthfulness is prolonged. Non comedogenic. Tolerance dermatologically tested. 

It has a seal on it that I don't want to break until I start using it as I am trying and testing out other skincare at the moment, but I will let you know how I get on with this when I try it.

Top: Tresemme Salon Finish Extra Hold Hairspray, £4.69 for 500ml 

This spray won’t give you a helmet head but will hold your style through wind and rain. This fantastic hairspray refuses to let frizz take root, thanks to its humidity-resistant formula that keeps flyaways smooth for 24 hours. As an added bonus it's water-free formula goes on dry, giving hair grip and control without stickiness for frizz-free hold. 

I have already tried some Tresemme hairspray's which I have liked so I am pretty sure that if it's of the same standard this one will be good too. It has that typical hairspray old school scent.

Centre: Jelly Pong Pong Cosmetics Lip Blush (Cranberry), £12.00 for 2.5g

A moisturising lip stain that tints your lips with just the right amount of juicy colour and hydrates like a balm. Apply liberally, purse and let the silky lightweight texture melt onto your lips.

Bonus : Made with beeswax and ceresin wax for a sheer, smooth application.

The information I have says this is a multi-tasker, but there is nothing to say that it is also made for the cheeks as well as the lips. I presume it's meant for both as it's a Lip Blush? Also there is no shade name on the product, but I presume this is the shade Cranberry because there are only two shades in the link above and this looks like it. This is a twist up crayon that feels like it could twist up easily if it was in my bag/make-up bag because the bottom is a little loose and I prefer a click shut lid to prevent mess too.

This feels like a very smooth and moisturising product, although I have only swatched it on my hand. I would say this is more of a strawberry shade than cranberry. It does have a sheer finish, but is also buildable. I look forward to giving this a go. I think it's a great shade for spring/summer.

Overall the lip stain and nail polish are the stand out products of this box for me. I love trying out new skincare too so I hope the L'Occitane product will work well. 

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

Which products did you receive in this month's GlossyBox and what are your initial impressions? Let me know in the comments below.

Love to you all