Beauty Box

Beauty Boxes

Stars and Stripes Glossybox July 2014

July 20, 2014

I have returned from hibernation! There are plenty of reasons why I took a little break from blogging and left HBFL in the very capable hands of Amie for a few weeks, but I shan’t go into them now for there are shiny treats inside this pretty stars and stripes box and playing with make-up is always more fun than waxing lyrical about mushy feelings!

This is an awesome box with four full size products and a generous 15ml sample, I adore the packaging and although it’s a tiny minuscule thing on the scale of importance I’m a little bit in love with the red filling!

Bellapierre Cosmetics Ltd Mineral Lipstick in Ruby

Wowza! I do so love a red lip so this was a perfect pick for me. I’ve used a few Bellapierre products before but nothing from their lip range, I think after this I’ll definitely be looking to pick up a few more. Ruby applies so easily, the texture is very creamy but doesn’t feel like it slips even after a few hours. The pigmentation is great and there is a gorgeous shimmer finish that isn’t too glossy. An amazing find that gives me a great interest in checking out the other shades in the range.

Full Size

£20 from bellapierre.co.uk

ABSOLUTE New York Perfecting Eyeshadow Primer

I’ve not heard of ABSOLUTE New York before but I’m already a big fan of this eye primer. It has a lovely texture and dries to a soft finish that gives a good smooth base for any colour. I can’t comment on longevity without giving it a few trial runs, but for application this is a great little find.

Full Size

$4.99 from Nicka.com

Carmex Lip Balm

I’m a sucker for lip balms and have a shamefully large collection, however I think I can definitely make room for one more pot with this little treat. Carmex is one of those classic brands that everyone has heard of but I’ve never been particularly tempted to try it out. I can see now though why it is a favourite amongst celebrities and make-up artists though, in one quick pat on my lips it made them feel smooth and moisturised, it is slightly greasy feeling but I don’t mind that so much. The menthol leaves a slight pleasant tingle so it might be worth some caution if you are very sensitive to such.

Full Size

£2.69 from Graftonsbeauty.co.uk

Color Club Nail Polish in Glossy Seal

I’ve dabbled with a few Color Club polishes but none as lovely as Glossy Seal. This inky teal-tinged blue is right up my street and surprisingly I can’t find a shade similar in my collection. The formula is a dream, application was quick and streak-free and one coat was enough for an even opaque finish. Love love love!

Full Size

$8 from Shopcolorclub.com

Juice Beauty Green Apple SPF 15 Moisturiser

This was the least exciting product in the box at first glance, but one sniff of the gorgeous apple scent and I was sold! My only qualm is the SPF 15 seems kind of redundant in this sort of weather, I think I’ll hold onto this for the colder months when I can be a little less strict with keeping my facial SPF above 100.

15ml Sample

£35.75 for 50ml from Naturisimo.com

So overall a pretty amazing box for me personally, especially the cosmetic colour choices!

If you want a Glossybox of your very own you can pick one up for £10 (+P&P) from Glossybox.co.uk.

Totally hellbent for a beauty box full of things I will definitely use!

– Gem

Beauty Boxes

Love Me Beauty June 2014 – Edition 1

June 13, 2014

I’ve been watching the front door like a hawk ever since I saw this months beauty boxes showing up on my Twitter and Instagram feed and the first to make an appearance was this amazing selection from Love Me Beauty!

Unlike other subscription boxes where you get sent a random selection, Love Me Beauty allows you to pick the exact box you want from three menus (though individual shades can still vary!)

This month I chose edition 1 and I love absolutely everything inside!

Model Co Shine Ultra Lip Gloss in “Fairy Floss”

I was never much of a gloss person, but I’m a big fan of the Model Co formula and have a few shades that I like to dip into now and again. I’d never have chosen this colour for myself, Fairy Floss is a lilac-tinged pink but it’s very sheer on the lips. It has a very light sweet fragrance and feels really rich without ever feeling gloopy. The packaging is well worth a mention, very sleek and stylish with a built in mirror that is SO handy for on the go application!

Full Size

£12.00 from modelcocosmetics.com

NYX Cosmetics Nail Polish in Pastel Lavender

Another shade that I don’t think I would have picked for myself, but actually I think it will probably get some wear as it almost perfectly matches a very pretty 50’s style dress I bought last year (and nothing is more satisfying then colour matching nail polish for a special occasion, right?)

The formula is lovely, and impressively fast drying for a none-fast-dry polish. I’ve not tried many NYX products but this has made me very curious about the rest of the range!

Full Size

£3.00 from nyxcosmetics.co.uk

Montagne Jeunesse Brazilian Mud Fabric Masque

Everyone loves a good face mask, right? This one includes purple Brazilian mud, acai berries, avocado and a whole host of yummy natural ingredients and is Vegetarian Society approved. However a scan over the ingredients shows that it includes Lactoperoxidase which is of milk origin. I’m a heavily vegan-leaning vegetarian and I haven’t drank animal milk for probably a year or so now, so I’m not so sure I am comfortable putting it on my skin either. It’s a dilemma, and one I will have to think about long and hard. I really like the sound of this mask but I don’t in honesty think I can use it without being full of mega-guilt at poor Daisy and her cow friends.

Overall I really like the ethics of this company, and an accompanying pamphlet talks all about their animal friendly ethos and green ways (including their own wind turbine!) but then I can’t quite understand why a company that says “Animals are our friends – that’s why we don’t bash bunnies or add bits of animals” consider milk an animal-friendly additive!

Full Size

£1.49 from montagnejeunesse.com

Beauty UK Eye-shadow Collection in Earth Child

This tiny little palette is adorable and full of earthy neutral shades that should suit every skin tone. The shadows are all very creamy for such a budget product, but do need to be built up a bit as they are not very heavily pigmented. In all honesty I don’t think the formula is a scratch on MUA or Make-Up Revolution’s similarly priced offerings, but I do like the tiny size which makes it perfect for travel or festival make-up bags.

Full Size

£3.99 from beautyukcosmetics.com

Urban Vega Purifying Day Cream

I’ve tried this day cream before and my skin really got on with it, so this sample size is a nice reminder to go out and purchase some more! With neem oil, witch hazel and spearmint this really is a great choice for us ladies of slightly oilier skin, and also did wonders for my disgustingly oversized pores. It’s also worth noting that it is free of parabens and SLS and is Vegetarian Society approved! The only reason I didn’t rush out to repurchase this before is the lack of SPF, which makes it a little redundant for me in the summer months.

10ml Sample

£14.99 from urbanveda.co.uk

Bonus – £10 Flavourly Voucher

For those inclined to try gourmet specialities this looks like a great food subscription service, but as there is no vegetarian menu (at least not that I can see!) this isn’t for me! Still £10 off brings the price of a box down to only £10, and it’s great to be able to try out such things at half price!

Find out more at flavourly.com

Overall another awesome box from Love Me Beauty, if you’d like one of your very own all three menus are still available for £10 (+P&P) from Lovemebeauty.com!

Totally hellbent for so many full size products!

-Gem

Beauty Boxes

Glossybox May 2014 – Summer Beauty Edit With Superdrug

May 16, 2014

Glossybox have been massive teases this month, dropping loads of hints about their upcoming collaboration (we all guessed it would be Superdrug though, right?) but boy was all the suspense worth it! This is hands down my best box ever with a whopping five full sized items and two samples! I’ll use absolutely everything and can honestly say there’s nothing I would change.

Max Factor Facefinity All Day Primer

This alone is worth more than the cost of the box! I wear as much SPF as possible once the sun comes out and having an extra SPF 20 in a primer is an absolutely magical notion for me. Combine this with my foundation (SPF 15) and my moisturiser (SPF 20) and I don’t even have to worry about extra suncream unless I’m planning on being out in direct sunlight for a long time! A quick swatch blended in smoothly and quickly and left a lovely base for make-up, I can’t comment on how much it affects longevity yet but it definitely helped application!

Full Size

£10.99 from Superdrug.com

Maybelline New York Great Lash Mascara – Very Black

This is a classic iconic mascara and I can’t believe I still haven’t ever tried it! I wont be opening it just yet as I’m still working through my L’Oreal Miss Manga and Rimmel Scandaleyes Rockin’ Curves at the moment. Mascaras don’t have much of a shelf life so I like to use only one or two at a time, this is definitely on the top of my list to open next though! A lovely addition to the box and another full size item!

Full Size

£4.00 from Superdrug.com

GOSH Cosmetics Velvet Touch Eyeliner in Blueberry Ice

I can’t say I’ve ever tried a frosted lilac eyeliner before, but the texture of this was so lovely when I had a quick swatch on the back of my hand that I had to try it on my eyes IMMEDIATELY! The result was a beautiful shimmery silverish shade that I think would actually make a lovely highlight for beneath the brows! This blends out wonderfully into a pretty shimmery eyeshadow too. I think I’ll be seeking out a black GOSH eyeliner based on the quality of Blueberry Ice.

Full Size

£4.99 from Superdrug.com

B. Sheer Conditioning Lipstick in Flamingo

Okay so when I said earlier that I wouldn’t change anything, I -might- have preferred this in a less girly shade. Flamingo is a very shimmery frosted pink, but it’s so creamy and feels so soft on the lips I find it hard to even complain that I would have preferred something a little more vampy. The very pigmented yet somehow sheer lipstick is enriched with Vitamin E, shea butter and aloe vera which explains why it feels absolutely divine on! Another product that has made me definitely want to seek out different shades in the range.

Full Size

RRP £6.99 but currently available for £3.49 from Superdrug.com

Vaseline Spray & Go Coco

I pulled a bit of a face last time there was a Vaseline product in a Glossybox, as I tend to think of it as a very boring brand. Well I’m eating my words now, this is an amazing product that I’ve instantly decided I don’t want to live without! Spray on moisturiser that actually leaves your skin soft and smelling delicious? Whodathoughtit?! The coco butter scent is to die for and I can see this being perfect for the gym bag or even festivals…or you know everyday. I’m a little bit in love.

Full Size

£4.99 from Superdrug.com

Garnier Oil Beauty Lotion

The first bonus product (aka sample size product!) was a generous 10ml sachet of oil-infused nourishing lotion. Despite having greasy skin I’ve become quite the convert to body oils, and with an infusion of argan, macadamia, almond and rose oil I’m quite sure I will enjoy this as much as the more expensive offerings I’ve tried of late.

10ml Sample

£4.00 for 250ml from Superdrug.com

GHOST Fragrances Eclipse

Ahh yes, perfume samples, the bane of every beauty box. WELL. This one is -gorgeous- and I couldn’t be happier to have found a new scent to lust after! Fruity-floral with a lovely romantic warm scent this would be perfect for the gorgeous weather we are currently having in the UK and I’ll be popping off to Superdrug very soon to pick up a bottle!

2ml Sample

£33 for 50ml from Superdrug.com

I can definitely see this box selling out with the amount of gorgeous full size products inside, so if you want to get your hands on this amazing box head over to Glossybox.com where you can purchase one of your very own for only £10 (+P&P)

Totally hellbent for the best beauty box ever ever ever

-Gem

Beauty Boxes

Glossybox April 2014

April 15, 2014

Gem actually received her Glossybox yesterday, but mine ended up at the post office instead since I’d spent the morning at the gym and there was no one to open the door to the postman. On collecting it today though, I’m pretty pleased with the contents – even if I did sneak a peek at Gem’s yesterday.

Whats in the box?

Emite Make Up – Lip Brush – L312 (£17)

I’ve been thinking of buying a high end lip brush for a little while now so this has come at just the right time! The brush is also synthetic which means it’s safe for Gem and I to use. It’s slanted and a good size as well which will make application much easier than some of the smaller lip brushes I’ve used in the past. Well done to Glossybox for bring this one out of the bag (or should I say box?)

Visit the emite website

MONU Spa – Warming Ginger Massage & Body Oil – 30ml sample (£25 for 100ml)

I love receiving massage and body oil samples, not only can I convince the other half into giving me a lovely back rub, it’s also a step up from your “Ann Summers Love Oil” so it’s great for your skin! This oil smells absolutely gorgeous and I’m a big fan of ginger at the moment. If this is anything like their other products, I’m sure I’ll be hooked.

Visit the MONU website

MeMeMe Cosmetics – Beat the blues Pearl Pink – Full size product receied (£5.50 for 12ml)

This looks similar to Benefit’s High Beam which is a huge essential in my everyday (and not so everyday) make-up regime. In terms of application, it looks quite nice with a subtle highlight, whereas the Benefit High Beam has more of a shimmer. I quite like the end result of this for a more toned down look, the only thing I don’t like is the brush applicator it comes with – it’s quite hard and I can imagine using it on my face will irritate me a little. Not to worry though, that’s what fingers are for right? I’m definitely going to get some use out of this, especially since it will prolong the longevity of my Benefit High Beam!

Vist the MeMeMe website

TRESemmé – Instant Refresh Cleansing Dry Shampoo – 100ml sample (£4.99 for 200ml)

I do enjoy a good dry Shampoo – since I try to avoid washing my hair more than once a week to keep my colour for longer, I’m often reaching for one of these to refresh my locks mid-wash. I’ve not tried the TRESemmé one before so this is a welcome treat. It smells quite fruity and applies like most dry shampoos. It seems a little pricey at £4.99 for the full 200ml can, but time will tell whether I like this enough to buy it over my current cheaper Superdrug own brand or Batiste.

Visit the TRESemmé website

SunSense UK – Daily Face SPF 50+ – 10g sample (£20.99 for 75g)

Gem was incredible annoyed when she found out I got this in my box. She ended up with some awful tanning product which I was also expecting, but was pleasantly surprised when I received this treat. It’s slightly tinted and has SPF 50+ which is perfect! Gem and I are always on the look out for face products with a high SPF and I know this is going to be just perfect for festival season. Unfortunately the tube has one of those annoying “tabs” instead of an actual cap, so I haven’t opened it, but come the festival season, I’ll be decanting this into one of my many many empties and hoping it helps me avoid the usually inevitable “dreaded-orange-face” over the summer – as well as protecting me from the Sun of course. If it passes the test of the holy Wacken lands at it’s hottest, I’ll definitely be purchasing some more.

Visit the Crawford Health Care website

Extra Treat!

Like Gemma, it seems I too have been subscribing to Glossybox for over a year, I received this cute Green & Blacks Dark Chocolate as a thank you. I’m no stranger to these mini chocolate bars since Birchbox often dish them out and I think they are most splendid! Just enough chocolate to satisfy your taste buds with minimal feelings of guilt – perfect.

If you want to get your hands on a Glossybox, you can subscribe here for just for £10 (+ P&P) per month.

Totally hellbent for SPF 50+ samples!

-Pants

Beauty Boxes

Birchbox April 2014 Review

April 12, 2014

I’m sure the courier who delivers my beauty boxes thinks I’m absolutely mad because I squeal with delight every single time!

I have to say I’m really impressed with this month’s Birchbox on every factor except one – the new delivery box! The outer box was taped shut and I scored the box beneath in my excitement to find the treasure inside! I know it’s only a tiny thing but the usual boxes were just fine! Anyway, tiny side-issue nitpicking aside, this really is a great box, and though it has only one full size product (and one full size lifestyle extra) alongside four sample sizes, I’m really excited about every single product (and how often does that happen?!)

TheBalm Cosmetics – How ‘Bout Them Apples Cheek & Lip Cream in Pie

I love these tiny TheBalm samples as they take up so little space in my make-up bag. This is a multitasking product that can be used both as a cream blush and a lip colour in a gorgeous pinky-red shade. If the quick play I had with this is anything to go by I will be rushing to get the full palette sometime soon! I’m usually more of a powder blush girl but this blended so smoothly into a subtle flush of colour that I could see myself being converted towards the way of the cream blusher!

0.57g Sample

Full palette £26 from Birchbox.co.uk

RMK Make-up Base

When I first spotted this I thought it was another nail polish, but actually it is a make-up base. Not quite a primer (however it does promise to make your foundation last longer!) but a moisturising skin prep. It’s a very lightweight lotion with quite a thin consistency but a quick test on the back of the hand did leave my skin very soft and even. Perhaps something for those days when I’m in a hurry and just want something to throw my foundation on top of!

15ml Sample

Full size £28 for 30ml from Birchbox.co.uk

Colour Club Gala Gems Nail Polish in Breakfast At…

Birchbox sent an email a few weeks ago allowing subscribers to choose which colour of polish they would receive, which was a really nice touch and ensured that no-one got lumbered with a shade they would not wear. I picked this lovely metallic mint green and I’m happy to say it’s even prettier in person that I expected. I don’t really buy into the seasonal nail varnish trends but if you are the sort that does I think this would be great for a pretty spring shade. The swatch above is only one coat, though I’d likely go with two and a top cot on my nails for longevity!

Full Size

Set of four for £15 from Birchbox.co.uk

Laura Mercia Body Butter in Creme Brule

A squeezable body butter? I wasn’t convinced at first (and it is really more of a thick lotion than a butter!) but actually this is very luxurious and left my skin feeling extremely soft. The scent isn’t something I’d pick out myself and it’s quite strong, however I don’t dislike it enough not to use the rest of this up based on how well it moisturises.

30g Sample

Full size £27 from Birchbox.co.uk

Yin Yang Natural Moisturiser

Made with a whole host of natural organic ingredients and a lovely wholesome scent, this moisturiser won me over right away. It’s got quite a citrus smell but not so overwhelming that you wouldn’t want to use it on your face. The consistency is quite light and I think this will make for a lovely day moisturiser (though unfortunately it has no SPF) however I won’t be using it myself as it says that it is not suitable for those with oily skin *sadface*.

10ml Sample

Full size £13.95 for 50ml from Birchbox.co.uk

Propercorn Sweet Coconut & Vanilla

I’ve been snacking on popcorn a lot recently so this was a pleasant surprise! At only 40 calories I didn’t feel even slightly guilty tucking into it and was so surprised at how sweet and flavoursome it was for such a healthy treat! I’m not the biggest fan of coconut but the flavour was very subtle and really you could have told me this was just sweet popcorn and I’d have believed you. Absolutely scrumptious and definitely going on my food shopping list!

Full size

£0.90 from Birchbox.co.uk

Yet another great box from Birchbox! If you like what you’ve seen, you can get your very own monthy box of treats from www.BirchBox.co.uk for £10 & P&P.

Totally hellbent for tiny treats and yummy snacks

– Gem

Beauty Boxes

Birchbox March 2014 Review

March 14, 2014

March already? Phew where did winter go? Who cares, the sun is shining and my Birchbox arrived this morning!

This month’s box is a collaboration with Lulu Guinness and comes in the usual Birchbox bag-within-a-box with a chic black and white candy stripe outer card.

Featuring five products and a “lifestyle extra” it’s pretty standard fare for Birchbox and there’s a great mix of all sorts inside!

Benefit Stay Don’t Stray

Just as my trusty ELF eye primer starts to run out this gem appears in a box! I’m a lover of all things Benefit so this is a real treat, I’ve tried it out before and was really impressed so this will definitely get put to use. Also included is a voucher for a free “Make-upper” at any Benefit counter!

2.5ml Sample

£20.50 for 10ml from Benefitcosmetics.co.uk

Dr. Brandt Pores No More Pore Refiner

I suffer with ridiculously large pores and greasy skin so am always happy to try out anything to combat that. This feels a lot like The POREfessional from Benefit (one of my absolute essentials) but with the full size at almost twice the price it needs to deliver twice the results and really there seems to be little difference at all. Still it’s definitely going to get some wear!

7.5 ml Sample

£39.00 for 30ml from Birchbox.co.uk

Aroma Works Nurture Body Oil

This body oil smells divine with a mix of 100% natural may chang, roman chamomile & sandalwood oils. Even though it’s a tiny bottle a little goes a long way and I can definitely see myself falling for this product. A small drop on the back of my hand covered my whole arm and left me smelling of lovely sweet oil all day.

5ml Sample

£32.50 for 100ml from Birchbox.co.uk

Cellu-Cup

I frowned in confusion when I first saw this inside it’s mini bag thinking it was a moon cup, but I’m glad to say it’s actually a massage tool for getting rid of cellulite! A really unique and fun addition to a beauty box I will definitely try this out! Rather than try and explain how it works just check out the video link from the Cellu-Cup website if you’re interested!

Full Size

£16 from Birchbox.co.uk

English Laundry No. 7 For Her

Perfume sample. Scoff.

No actually this is really nice and you get enough of a sample to actually wear it a few times. With top notes of pear and jasmine blended with gardenia, vanilla and sandlewood this is right up my fragrance street. If you’re a fan of sweet feminine perfumes this is pretty dreamy and it does come in a tiny atomizer so is great for just popping in the handbag. We all always complain about fragrance samples but actually when you find one you really like that you wouldn’t normally try it’s great! Definitely going to consider a full size!

2ml Sample

£47.00 for 50ml from Birchbox.co.uk

Lulu Guinness Candy Rock

Finally this month’s lifestyle extra is a stick of stripy candy rock, which is apparently the inspiration for the Lulu Guiness spring/summer 2014 collection! Yum! Also included is a code for £20 off a £100 spend at any Lulu Guinness store or online.

So all in all a pretty amazing box for me, and one with a pretty high product value! Even though there is only one full size item, it’s cost is £3ish more than the price you pay for the whole box. I wasn’t too fussed about the Lulu Guinness theme but the addition of Benefit definitely scored a few extra brownie points for me so thanks Lulu!

If you want a Birchbox of your very own you can order one here for £10 (& £2.95 p&p)

Totally hellbent for the sweet relief of “OH! It’s not a mooncup! Hurrah!”

– Gem

Enter our competition to win MUA & Etos goodies here

Beauty Boxes

Latest In Beauty – Glamour Beauty Edit 3 – 2014

March 4, 2014

I tried so hard to resist this box, I really did, but last week I caved and I am SO glad I did!

Welcome to the third Glamour Beauty Edit box by Latest in Beauty! I missed out of the first, but absolutely loved the second (reviewed here!) so really my resistance was futile.

The box contains seven products worth £45 which is a little less bang for your buck than the previous boxes, but certainly nothing to turn your nose up at!

Invisibobble

Initially I was very sceptical about these hair ties – I mean they look like those 90’s extendible keyring things – and was convinced they would get tangled in my hair but of course I was absolutely wrong! They held my long thick hair up in a pony with only one twist and slid out without any tangles whatsoever leaving absolutely no marks on my hair at all.

I think this will be an absolute godsend on tour when I have to straighten my hair in the morning and hope it will last throughout the day, usually I end up with a mark where my bobble has held my hair back whilst we are in transit and setting up, but with the Invisibobble I wont expect even the slightest kink!

Bonus marks for the colour!

Full size (box of three)

€4.95 from invisibobble.com

Burt’s Bees Lip Balm

I’m a big lip balm fan as I, like most people, suffer with unbearable dry lips in the colder months. I’ve had my eye on this one for a while but never got round to trying it! Made from 100% natural ingredients with a lovely tingly peppermint scent, I can see why there is so much hype about this product! It was instantly soothing on my chapped lips and has lasted out a good few hours so far. I also like how it adds moisture without feeling greasy, in fact the info card suggests using it for lipstick preparation!

Full Size

£3.69 from Burtsbees.co.uk

Cheeky Chat Me Up Nail Paint in Tongue ‘n’ Cheek

Well! I have to say this could be a contender for my new favourite nail polish brand! The pics above make it look a lot more red than it is, but in natural light it’s a very red-hued pink that is very glossy! It applied so smoothly (like I genuinely can’t express how easily this applies!), dried quickly and was completely opaque in one coat. This is a winning dream formula and frankly I can’t wait to try out some more polishes from Cheeky!

Full size

£7 from Urcheeky.com

Daniel Sandler Long Lasting Waterproof Eyeliner in Aqua Velvet

Well, this is certainly in my colour! I can’t say I’ve ever worn this shade as an eyeliner since having turquoise hair, but I will be giving it a try now! This is a bespoke shade created exclusively for the Glamour Beauty Edit, and it is BRIGHT! As you can see in the swatch it was a little uneven in application, so might take more than one sweep to get a solid line, however once it’s in place it’s really not going anywhere! It took a decent amount of micellar water to shift this off the back of my hand, so I expect it to last a damn long time on the lids!

Full Size

£9.25 from Danielsandler.com

Percy & Reed Abundantly Bouncy Volumising Mousse

I’m not really a mousse person, I find it makes my naturally greasy hair slick up (yuk!) and never seems to be strong enough to hold it up. This is probably the only product in the box I wont get much use from. I gave it the benefit of the doubt and tried it out, but really I couldn’t see that it did anything to volumise my locks even when following exact instructions. I think my hair is just too thick and long and heavy, or maybe I’ve just never really gotten the hang of using mousse? Either way it’s not for me and will be finding a loving home with my mum (who absolutely swears by the stuff!)

50ml Sample

200ml for £12 from Percyandreed.com

Rituals Zensation Organic Rice Milk and Cherry Blossom Foaming Shower Gel Sensation

Product names are definitely getting longer, but I digress, this is the surprise hit of the box for me! I wasn’t expecting to be excited about a shower gel but I can tell already this will be absolutely amazing! It smells divine and the texture is so light and foamy! I love that it’s so compact, so will probably throw this in my gym bag rather than lug around a bigger bottle that could spill!

Full size

£4 from uk.rituals.com

L’Oreal Paris Mega Volume Miss Manga Mascara

I struggle to get hyped about mascara but I’ll admit I was curious about this one, in fact it was probably the deciding factor that pushed me over the edge into buying this box! I’m glad to say Miss Manga is an amazing mascara that gives longer thicker lashes and a hell of a curl! I think it’s down to the wand which is tapered at the tip making it perfect for lower lashes as well as upper! Miss Manga has won my heart and will be going straight into my everyday make-up bag!

Full Size

£8.99 from Superdrug.com

I also received a free Dermalogica Starter Kit, but as this offer has ended I’ll be reviewing that separately!

Overall I’m really glad I decided to buy this box as it has some great products at a massive saving and I’ve discovered some absolute treasures!

These boxes are limited edition and have been available for a while so if you do fancy one I’d suggest heading over to Latestinbeauty.com to pick on up sharpish for a bargain price of £14.95 (+3.95 p&p).

Totally hellbent for should I? shouldn’t I? OF COURSE I SHOULD!

– Gem

Nails

Debenhams Beauty Box Nail Varnish

February 4, 2014

I received one of Debenham’s Beauty Box sets this Christmas and was pleasantly surprised at the contents – of which came 8 beautiful nail varnish’s.

Now Debenham’s isn’t really the sort of store that I think of when it comes to nail varnish, in terms of it’s own brand stuff, but the colours from this box are absolutely gorgeous!

The first two here are my favourite – this is two coats and the pigment’s are just superb. The purple is so bright and the other three are various shades of red/pink, however none of them are too pink for me to wear which is a bonus. Unfortunately, they don’t have any names or shade numbers.

The last four were these gold and silver shades. The first gold has a bit of a pinkey hue to it and the silver is really metallic which is great. The gold glitter was only one coat! I’ve never found a glitter that is so textured in just one coat and I’m super excited to try this out over some varnishes from my ever growing vast collection.

Debenham’s beauty box has been heavily reduced since Christmas and is now only £12.50 instead of £25.00 and contains the following:

2 x cuticle tool
2 x nail clippers
Nail scissors
1 x nail stencil set
3 x eye shadow
3 x eye shadow palette
2 x lip pencil
2 x eye liner
2 x mascara
7 x lip gloss
8 x nail varnish
2 x nail file

You can find this and other tiny treat’s and mini beauty box sets direct from their website here.

Has anyone else tried out this little bundle of joy? If so I’d like to know your thoughts.

Totally hellbent for surprising treats

-Pants

Beauty Boxes

Glossybox January 2014

January 21, 2014

It seems like only yesterday I was oooing and aaaahing over December’s Glossybox, and already here is the first box of 2014!

The first thing of note is that the box itself is bigger and well…glossier! This months theme is “Back to Basics” and contains five products, only one (almost sort of two!) of which is full size.

I have to say I wasn’t all that excited upon first impressions, the lack of a make-up item and the sample sizes too were a bit of a let down, but on closer inspection this isn’t a bad box at all.

Anatomicals – Puffy The Eye Bag Slayer Wake-Up Under Eye Patches

I’m definitely not a morning person, so anything that can banish the night before the morning after is a good thing in my book. I love Anatomicals and their tongue in cheek packaging and marketing, and definitely got a giggle out of the name. You get two sets of patches in the cute pink pouch, but they are single use so I’ll be saving mine for really dire mornings!

2 x full sized products

£6 for 3 sachets from ASOS.com

The Vintage Cosmetic Company Floral Slanted Tweezers

I can’t say I particularly needed another set of tweezers, but theses are pretty adorable! Made of high quality stainless steel with a slanted edge and a pretty vintage look, they are better than the bog-standard but it is quite hard to get excited about tweezers really isn’t it.

Full size

£8.00 from Boots.com

Vaseline Essential Moisture Lotion

I tend to think as Vaseline as a very plain and budget brand, something I wouldn’t usually pick up for myself. I gave this a quick try and I feel pretty indifferent towards it to be honest, but I knew there are people who prefer to keep skincare simple and for them this might be okay for a post-shower pick me up.

50ml Sample

£4.99 for 400ml from Superdrug.com

Balance Me Super Toning Body Wash

I’ve become quite a fan of Balance Me thanks to various samples from beauty boxes and magazines, so despite shower gel being a bit of a meh product, this was one of the more exciting finds this month. The smell is a delicious mix of juniper, bergamot, geranium and lavender, and it’s always great to know they come from natural oils rather than synthetic sources. The brand promises 99% natural origin in all it’s products, so great for us eco-types!

50ml Sample

£10.25 for 250ml from Looksfantastic.com

Yu-Be Moisturising Skin Cream

Another “cult skincare sample”, hrm. I wasn’t overly interested in this, but gave it a quick try and WOW that scent is way way too overpowering to use anywhere near my face! It smells like a very herb heavy vapour rub which is a shame because despite a heavy texture it left my skin feeling amazingly soft. Maybe I’ll save these for next time I have a blocked nose!

2 x 3g sample

£19.50 for 70g from Boots.com

So overall a very skin-care heavy box, but I suppose that makes sense for a Back to Basics theme. Let’s hope next month is filled with lovely shiny make-up and exciting treats!

You can order a Glossybox of your very own here for £10 (+ P&P) per monthly box.

Totally hellbent for a bigger, glossier box – bigger glossier treats to come?

– Gem

Beauty Boxes

Latest In Beauty – The Glamour Beauty Edit Beauty Box 2

November 23, 2013

There’s just something about a pretty box full of squiggly bits of paper and beauty products that gets my heart racing!

This is the second limited edition box put together by Latest In Beauty and Glamour magazine, I missed out on the first so made sure I got right in there for round two.

First off the box itself looks very luxe, the presentation as a whole is just lovely. Inside there are seven treats worth an amazing £65, so with the box itself costing only £15 you are definitely winning.

HD Brows Eyebrow Palette in Foxy

This was the biggest selling point for me, I’ve been having some issues finding a brow kit and have heard great things about HD Brows, and this alone is worth more than the whole box.

Unfortunately I’ll have to continue my hunt for perfect brows, as these are also too dark for me. Luckily all four shades double up as lovely neautral eyeshadows so it will certainly get some wear!

Full Size

£19.96 from HDBrows.com

Maybeline Baby Lips in Peach Kiss

Was this the most hyped beauty product of 2013? Certainly one I read about on almost all of my favourite blogs, yet I’ve not actually tried one till now. I have a massive love for all things lip balm, but I think it was actually the packaging that put me off getting one of my very own.

As ever I should learn that looks can be very deceiving as this is an amazing balm with a very sheer wash of colour and a delicious peachy scent.

Full Size

£2.99 from Superdrug.com

Eyeko Lash Curlers

As far as eyelash curlers go I think there are only really good and bad. I find it hard to get excited about them, and really didn’t need another set! Still these fall firmly into the good category with a solid build and ergonomic handle. Lovely as the soft blue handles are though, they’re already picking up bits of dust so I think I’d rather have had a standard rubber grip.

Full Size

£12 from Eyeko.com

Benefit They’re Real!

As someone absolutely in love with all things Benefit, this was certainly a highlight for me. Another product that’s been hyped like crazy, this lives up to all the expectations.

A quick test left my lashes looking amazing – longer, thicker and more curved lashes with just one quick coat.

3.0g Sample

Full size £19.50 from Benefit.co.uk

Toni & Guy Glamour Firm Hold Hairspray

This struck me as the least exciting product in the whole box, but I was pleasantly surprised after a quick test. First up the smell is actually very lovely, something I never expect from hairspray! It gave a great hold on my long thick hair without feeling sticky or heavy, and my hair still felt soft and easy to comb my fingers through.

I do like to have a few small hairsprays to keep in my gigging bags or for festivals, so this will certainly get a longer road-test at some point!

75ml Sample

Full size £6.39 from Boots.com

Phillip Kingsley One More Day dry shampoo

Dry shampoo is the saviour of my poor coloured hair, but I’ve never ventured from the Batiste range with it’s bargain price, gorgeous scents and bright packaging. A quick spray of One More Day was in instant confirmation of price = results. My limp, unwashed hair was suddenly not only fresh but so voluminous I started to wonder if there was a blow dry somewhere in the tiny white can!

Definitely going to consider a re-purchase!

50ml Sample

Full size £13.50 from Philipkingsley.co.uk

Balance Me Radiance Face Oil

It took me a long time to come around to the idea that putting oil based products on my oily skin could actually work, but this is the final bit of proof I need to really open up to the concept.

A mixture of gorgeous natural oils in a handy roller-ball, just a quick test left my skin feeling amazingly soft, and not greasy at all.

Full Size

£15 from Balanceme.co.uk

Overall I have to say this box was worth every penny, but if you fancy one for yourself you’d best be quick! The last box sold out pretty quickly, and as this makes such an amazing christmas gift for any beauty lovers I wouldn’t imagine this will last long at this time of year!

Available from Latest in Beauty for £15 (+p&p).

Totally hellbent for a glamorous box of treats!

– Gem