Glossybox: October 2012 edition.

 I sort of forgot to review last month's box, whoops! Oh well, I figured I'd just move on and chat about this one, which is one of the best one's I've received to be honest :)

 All of the products for once are things I will definitely use, some I already have and others I am saving for when I go away and need to take smaller products. The 'theme' of this months box is DIY beauty, aimed at having pampering nights in and creating "the ultimate 'home spa' experience". Onto the contents:

• Dermalogica 3 step day & night skincare kit. I am saving this for when I go away and need to pack light, plus I already have skincare products on the go and want to use them up first. I think this is a handy little kit, the products smell very fresh and lemony. There is a foaming cleanser, and toning spritz and a mattifying moisturiser. It would cost £12 originally so I think it's a great addition to this box. Looking forward to trying it out!
• Anatomicals body scrub in grapefruit. I was thinking about purchasing the Soap & Glory body scrub a while ago, but it's pricey and I'm glad I waited as this came through the door. There are fine sand particles in this scrub, and they certainly give your skin a good buffing! The product smells lovely and fresh and really makes you feel clean- just clean out your bath/shower after using this as it looks like you've just got back from the seaside! A welcome addition to my shower and I think I'll be repurchasing it again, as the full size is only £3.49.
• Skinetica anti-blemish solution. Again, anything that might help my skin I look forward to trying out. This is a clear treatment solution you apply every 12 hours to clean skin before moisturiser. It claims that you can see results within 2-3 days, I'll be using this for a week or until it runs out so I'll see how it goes. The ingredients list water and alcohol though, so we'll see. Retails for £6.99 for 100ml.
• Yves Rocher moisturising lipstick in Mauve. Lovely lipstick, but it doesn't suit me :( If this was slightly more red, it would be perfect! I liked their mascara, so this was a nice product to get.

 So, Glossybox have surprised me this month, I like it all! The only little grump I have is that there were only 4 products, despite them advertising 5 per box. Oh well, they are useful products and I'm enjoying using them :) I also used my Glossydots for this box so it was free!

X.

Avon Products: Lipstick & Mineral Foundation

Avon Extra Lasting Lipstick in Rose Creme, Smooth Minerals Powder Foundation in Shell.

 As I'm feeling not at all well, I thought I might as well get some blogging done before I hopefully head off to Dorset after work tomorrow! I have been asleep since I got home from work, eating and also watching some rather tasty male swimmers in the Olympics ;)- that made me feel a little better haha.

 Anyway, Avon: I have been a fan of this company since my early teens, they provide a door to door service delivering makeup which you order from a catalouge. In recent years they appear to have had a major overhaul, both in appearance and also in terms of the products they offer, with competitive prices for (I think) quite high quality items. Their Supershock gel eyeliner and mascara are best sellers and also very popular amongst the blogging/youtube community, I own both and can vouch for the hype surrounding them. Although you cannot really get an idea of the exact shades of products from the catalouge, they seem to be pretty accurate IRL, so you should be pleasantly surprised when ordering.

 I chose a long-lasting lipstick in a bright pinky red shade- Rose Creme. I'm really considering ordering a few more shades as they really do stay put, but most importantly don't dry out my lips. They are creamy and highly pigmented, I think I paid around the £3.50 mark, this was an introductory offer, but Avon seem to have these on all the time, so keep an eye out! These remind me of the MAC Sheen Supreme lipsticks, but at a fraction of the cost and offer more pigmentation. The packaging is secure and inoffensive, I can see this lasting me a very long time and also looking good worn under a lip gloss.

 I was thinking of getting the Laura Mercier mineral powder foundation, but I thought I would try a more affordable version and see if my skin approved. I think the only downside to this product is the amount which is dispensed- not a lot comes out at first, certainly not enough to provide the level of coverage my skin needs. It is buildable though, so after a good shake I can get enough powder to provide a nice even skintone. I use my Real Techniques buffing brush to apply this in light layers. My skin has benefitted from using this, it's certainly a lot lighter than my MAC/Estee Lauder foundations and also seems to have good staying power if set with some additional powder. This shade is a touch too orange for me, I have quite fair skin, so I think ordering down a shade might have been better. Overall a good way to get into mineral foundations, I do recommend it if you're looking for something lighter on the skin and also an affordable alternative to the higher-end brands. Avon is the way forward! Makeup shopping from the comfort of your own home- what's not to love?!

X.

Glossybox: July 2012

 Festivals was the theme for this month's Glossybox, with a nice mixture of products, although the Nuxe oil was a recurrence for me, as was the Monu product. Would I have taken any of these to a festival? Some of them for sure, but maybe not the Elizabeth Arden facial products- I have never washed my face at a festival and prefer to rely on good old make up wipes for a few days! I would however, take the perfume to keep me smelling lovely, the Paul Mitchell moisture spray to keep my hair refreshed, and also the lip gloss which smells amazing.
 Overall, a good box, but if I have to be picky then I would comment on the reappearance of a few brands/products. Luckily I can swap some with a lady I work with as she received different products, so I can't really complain, but I still wonder if we really get our money's worth every month. I would love to see some new, different products from other brands in the future, and also the opportunity to review previous box's contents, as these haven't been updated online for months. Anyway, little grump over, here are the products I got this month:

 Elizabeth Arden Cleanser, Serum and Skin Balance Lotion.
This will be a product I will be swapping with my friend, this brand has never really appealed to me in skin care terms and I don't really need it as I have lots of cleansers at the moment. Still, it was a nice product to get and would be really handy for taking on holiday and maximising your luggage space for more clothes haha!

Londoner N6 Urban Fragrance sample by Bex Londoner.
I love discovering new scents and this one is lovely- quite strong and musky for an EDT and it has good staying power. These scents are based on areas of London, N6 is inspired by Highgate Village and Hampstead Heath, and smells very herbal in a good way. I really enjoy getting the perfume samples, I take them when I travel so my perfume bottles are out of danger from being dropped, plus I can take a few and have them on rotation.

Nuxe Multi-Usage Dry Oil.
Another product I will be swapping as I already have an unused one from a previous box, and I have my Vo5 hair oil to use up first before I try this one out, although I have read very positive reviews! You can use this on hair, face, body etc, although I have also heard it can cause breakouts, so maybe approach with caution? I think I will stick to using this on my hair when I finally get round to using it.

Monu Night Renewal Complex cream.
I'm really enjoying this overnight moisturiser, I got a daytime one in a previous box and didn't really like it, but this one is much better. It's very heavily scented, very herbal, but I like that. So far nothing bad has happened to my skin, but no real improvements either, so maybe this will happen over time, but this is a nice cream and makes my skin feel soft and nourished. It's not tested on animals either, win.

Jelly Pong Pong Lip Gloss in Irish Cream Pavlova.
The scent of this reminds me of something from my childhood, but I cannot think of what! Maybe if I keep sniffing it then I will remember, and as it smells so good I don't mind doing that haha ;) This is a thick, bright pink lip gloss which does indeed smell like sweet pavlova. It's lovely worn alone or over my Collection 2000 matte lip creme, and feels very nourishing on my lips. The tube is quite big so will be lasting me for ages, this is my favourite product this month.

Paul Mitchell Moisture Hydrating Spray for face and hair.
Kind of like Fix Plus, but by Paul Mitchell. This is quite a nice product, ideal for the recent hot weather we've had in the UK. This did react with my hair spray, making my hair crispy, so it's best applied to clean/un-styled hair I think. It is refreshing, but I do avoid my face with it as I'm paranoid about products which could potentially cause spots. Nice hair product though and I will be taking this with me when I go on holiday.

 So, there are July's offerings! Did you get the same ones, or something a little different? What do you think of the products?

X.

Liz Earle Products: my experiences

 These are my Liz Earle products, I have nothing but good things to say about this brand, and if you haven't tried any of these items then I would really really recommend them- especially if you suffer from any skin problems.

 In a nutshell, Liz Earle changed my skin for the better, I cannot even contemplate using another skin care regime in the long run, it's seriously that good.

 I also have a few pictures including some of the new Colour makeup range, but I'm going to leave all that for another post. Today I'm focusing on the skin care range. Picture time!

 I have the Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser, the Instant Boost Skin Tonic and the Skin Repair Moisturiser (Light- ideal for Oily skin). I also got the Intensive Nourishing Treatment Mask as a freebie as part of the monthly skin regime offer (the free product changes every month). Not pictured is the exfoliator- this had to be decanted into a glass jar as the pump didn't work and as it was free I couldn't be bothered to send it back!

 The stand out product for me is the Hot Cloth Cleanser, this helped my blemish prone skin no end and is gentle enough to use every day. I apply this to dry skin, leave for a minute, and wipe off with one of the muslin cloths which I run under hot water. I then apply the Skin Tonic with a cotton pad and follow with the moisturiser. Once or twice a week I use the Treatment mask, which helps soften my skin and helps clear up any spots. I mix the mask with some St Ives Apricot Scrub and leave this on when I have a shower to really nourish my skin, it loves this and I can really see the benefits afterwards. If you have sensitive skin then this range would probably suit you too, the products are scented, but nothing strong or offensive. I consider myself to have reasonably sensitive skin and these products have never contributed to any break outs.

 On the website you can buy the entire skin care range every month for a reduced price with free p&p. You also get a free (usually full size) product that changes every month, which is such good value. It all comes beautifully packaged (I hate unwrapping and ruining it!), and you also get given a small sample of a product whenever you place an order. This time I got a sample of the moisturiser, which is a good size to take with me when I visit my boyfriend.

 Anyway, try this brand! I really recommend it, it's good value and the customer service is brilliant, I have always been impressed. I see good skin care as an investment, especially if it improves your skin long term, and I realise that Liz Earle is on the more pricey side, but I do think it's really worth it. The products have lasted me a good while, I get through a bottle of Cleanse & Polish in about 2-3  months if I use it every day, and the Skin Tonic usually lasts quite a bit longer.

 I hope I haven't rambled on too much, I tried to keep this post as short as possible haha! I hope it's been useful to some people and thank you for reading :)

X. 

On a Sunday III

 Cannot get enough of my fur (fake) stole/cozy thing- so warm and snuggly, my mum cuddles it in the car if I've worn it out...!

 That time of the week again- my life is zooming by- oh well, payday soon!
 Did some ladybird style nails yesterday, falling in love with my nail art pen again. Also started my workout regime today- OH GOD IT'S INSANE. I had to pause it twice due to feeling faint...oh well, hopefully it'll do something!

Getting my hair done as soon as my money comes through- going for a trim and an 'ombre' look, yup a little behind on that trend (as ever) but I fancy a change without dying the whole lot, if I hate it then the ends can be chopped off.

 Also going to stock up on some more Liz Earle products since a little email arrived the other day informing me that the prices are going up on 1st of March, think the 29th Feb is the last day you can order with the cheaper prices. I'm going to order the Feb face kit which has free p&p, then I'll be sorted with skincare for a very long time :)
Going to have some tea now and think about what sort of soup to make this evening, also got to get around to putting some more stuff on ebay...money money money please!

X.

checkmate

tea solves everything, especially in a large Cath Kidston mug... ;)

 I put on a pound at slimming world this week, which massively depressed me. I had been very good all week, but it might just be one of those things. I guess it could have been worse- 2lbs would have made me cry. Onwards and upwards though, and I'm being extremely good until my next weigh in- desperately want to get to loosing half a stone!

  I finally sorted out my tax problem today- apparently my employers didn't bother telling inland revenue that my tax code needed changing and now I am owed over £700 back HAR HAR. I shouldn't have been paying any tax at all until April, stupid Lloyds- don't ever work for them. Although I got a £28 voucher to spend on the high-street from them today as our shop made all of our targets in December- I'm off to Topshop (where else) with mine. :)

 I got my Liz Earle stuff today which made me smile, it's packaged so nicely and feels so expensive (when I think it's very reasonably priced), they also gave a me a free sample of the skin tonic. I am going to get some use out of it before posting on here though, let's hope it lives up to the hype.

Cooking with my ma this afternoon and then we're going to a local archaeology talk this evening, hopefully I can get back on track with this and ask about some work experience- I am really feeling that I'm wasting my degree, and my little trowel is rusting away!

More soon,

X.

Glossybox: November

Nail Rock designer nail wraps, Monu skin perfector cream, FC5 cooling foot creme, Dead Sea Spa Magik bath salts, Serge Lutens eau de parfum (two separate samples).

This month's box turned out to be... so so. The only thing I really liked was one of the perfume samples (again, bit of an 'easy item' if you ask me), the one in the grey box- beautiful scent, but I'd rather pay out that kind of money (£70+) on some Chanel No 5. I don't have a bath at home, so I'll be trying out the bath salts at my boyfriends, but the packaging is hideous, reminds me of cleaning crystals from a supermarket... The foot cream and face perfector smell nice, and I'll be trying them out a bit later on. The nail wraps are ok, look very fiddly, so I might try applying them on some falsies first, very happy that I got the leopard print though! I'm hoping Glossybox bring out a good Christmas box, or I will probably unsubscribe in January, I'm fed up of getting endless perfume samples, although I really wanted to try the Illamasqua Freak sample, and it didn't appear in my box- typical. However, the samples in this one are nice so I kind of won both ways :) Anyway, this box has given me some new things to try out, and that is the whole point, but I would have reallllllllly appreciated some makeup...maybe next month!
Off to watch Super Tiny Animals now, hoping there will be a tiny pug!
X.

Little things

Primark cardigan, ASOS dress, Barry M Mint green nail polish

Dorothy Perkins jumper & dress

Eylure 107 lashes, Barry M silver foil nail polish and Nails Inc. Basil Street polish (free)

Duac Skin lotion (prescription only), Garnier BB cream in Light

Just a few new things I've accumulated over the past weeks, also got some more new stuff coming from ASOS haha... Work has been busy this week, and so has my life to some extent, with doctors appointments and family arguments over moving house, but I still feel quite dissatisfied with my situation at the moment, everyone else seems to be moving out/away from here, doing interesting stuff and getting interesting jobs. I just seem to be floating around with no real purpose or direction, I think I'm missing the freedom and independence of University. Anyway, enough moping, I just hope that this time next year I'll be somewhere different and more exciting...
I finally got somewhere to sorting out my 'problem skin'. Apparently my hormones are faulty, so they can't really do much about that but I now have some seriously strong antibiotic gel (Duac Once Daily- on prescription only) to help keep spots at bay. It really dries the skin out, making it tight, flaky and itchy- I feel so sorry for people who have this all the time. These symptoms should disappear in 2 weeks though as my skin should get used to the peroxide (bit scary). To help my skin along (you can't use oily makeup while using the gel), I invested in the BB cream from Garnier, it's very moisturising and smells lovely. It doesn't really cover up blemishes but gives light coverage to the skin without any 'cakey' feeling. I would recommend this to anyone who wants a good tinted moisturiser, or a light foundation that helps counteract dry skin. I apply it using a foundation kabuki brush, but you can use your hands if you prefer.
I also got some new eyelashes today, 107s from Eylure. I accidently hoovered my old ones up! I also picked up the Barry M silver foil nail varnish, to be honest I wanted a silver and this happened to be on the shelf, can't say it resembles tin foil, but it is a lovely silver shade. If you get Glamour this month there's a free full size Nails Inc. varnish included, I already had the red shade from a previous collaboration, so I opted for a nice nude/brown (actually nicer than how I've described it...). I'm also contemplating on going back to blonde now I have money. Decisions, decisions!

X.