Benefit

Beauty Boxes

Birchbox December 2014 Box Review

December 28, 2014

Birchbox is definitely going up and up in my estimations, after a good few month’s of rubbish Glossybox contents, they have come to the rescue and gifted upon me all things I enjoy. This month was mostly no exception and with the exclusive Sophie Webster design, brought a little sparkle to my day when it eventually arrived through the post!

Whats in the box;

Eslor Firming Collagen Day Cream – 10ml sample – £50 for full size

This is where the “mostly no exception” comes in. As much as I love the idea of slapping firming collagen day cream upon my self, I can not use this. Although eslor say their products are not tested on animals, this cream contains hydrolyzed marine collagen, which is extracted from fish. So that is all I have to say on this cream and I will be gifting it upon someone who will at least use it.

Electric Hair Electric Hydrate Shampoo – 30ml sample – £17.50 for full size

This smells amazing, and allegedly promises to repair damage and improve shine. I can probably squeeze two applications out of this little sample but it will be strictly saved for when my colours have faded and I’m left with cotton candy pink hair as I am a strict sulfate free Shampoo user these day’s as I do not enjoy the 5+ hours it take Gem and I to complete the mammoth task of dying our hair, thus like to delay the inevitable for as long as possible.

Eyeko Fat Eye Stick in “Smoke” – 4g product – £8 for full size

I do enjoy Eyeko quite a significant amount – my first product of their’s was the Skinny Eyeliner pen that I literally bled dry. This is a little thicker than that though and I’m glad I received the shade “smoke” which is a very blend-able black. Application wise this glides on like a dream, however the longevity of it is a little more disappointing with a tendency to smudge a little and give you those panda eyes. Having said that I’m sure a little bit of primer will go a long way with helping this problem out and even a little makeup setting mist to help with the corpse paint look.

Benefit Christmas Cracker High Beam – sample received – £19.50 for full size

First of all I have to say, if you do not own this already as a highlighter, you really do need it in your life. I have about three of these tiny samples in my collection and I haven’t even dented the first one. It’s my staple go to highlighter which I use on my brow bone and to highlight my cheeks. It blends beautifully and can be built upon as required. Best of all, once applied, you can guarantee it will see you through the night until you reach for your trust micellar water to wipe away your face. So in a nut shell, thanks for another Birchbox, I absolutely love it.

Models Own Velvet Goth Nail Polish in “Absinthe” – 14ml product – £5 for full size

I coerced Roode Gem’s partner into buying her the Velvet Goth set for Christmas last year. Neither of us are particularly into Model’s Own, for no reason other than we hadn’t really tried much of their stuff, but as soon as I saw the glittery matte goodness of this collection I knew she needed it in her life. After sampling the red on boxing day with a post Christmas, hangover fueled nail painting session in her living room I was so jealous. When Birchbox announced that we would be receiving these in this month’s box and we got to choose our own colour I was definitely over the moon. I don’t actually remember choosing Absinthe, which is an emerald green, but I obviously did because it’s now mine and I don’t mind one bit. I enjoyed swatching this so much for my photo’s that when I used my Birchbox points to purchase a Benefit push up liner a few day’s ago, I also picked up two other shades from the collection. I definitely recommend a really good base coat when applying these though as they are difficult to remove, but so worth it. I also love how a top coat can be applied to transform the Velvety consistency to a bright and shiny nail for a completely different look.

Trilogy Certified Organic Rosehip Oil – 2.5ml sample – £16.50 for full size

Oil seems to have been a pretty popular product this year, not that I’m complaining because I’ve become quite a fan, it’s incredibly multi functional and I find does wonder’s for my dry skin but is also great for a massage when the other half is helping me to de-stress! What I love about this sample is the pipette applicator, which makes applying it so much easier. Although this is only a 3.5ml sample I expect it to last a fair while too.

Sophie Webster Purse – £25

To top the box off and in keeping with the theme of course, this month’s box features this utterly adorable Sophie Webster purse. A perfect fit for throwing into a handbag or clutch and with a cute leopard print design I’m imagining this will go with pretty much any outfit I throw together.

Overall this month’s box has been another spectacular one. Birchbox are definitely in the lead as far as beauty boxes for for me at the moment and with an amazing 7 products, all of which I’m enthused about (with the exception of eslor of course) I really do feel I got my money’s worth this month. If you’d like to try Birchbox, you can sign up here via their website for just £10 a month plus p&p.

I’d love to know what your thoughts were on this month’s box or whether you are thinking about signing up – just leave a comment below to share.

Totally hellbent for glittery nails and benefit crackers

– Pants

Beauty Boxes

Birchbox September 2014 Review

September 18, 2014

How am I still catching up on so many blogs? Where does time go? How is it Birchbox time again! Alas, this month’s box has arrive promptly and has a “Happy Days” theme. – a box to celebrate capturing nostalgic moments and making new ones. Before I start with the contents, it’s important to note that I had help from a very special individual. Not only was I given help to open this month’s box, but I also had help taking my photographs;

Meet Pickle – the new addition to the Hellbent For Lipstick “red camp” household – Gem has been making the epic long journey of approximately 30 seconds from her house to mine to lavish attention upon him and he has been ~~helping me to blog and work~~ – distracting me from everything important that I need to do.

With his incredibly useful *raises eyebrow* intervening, I finally managed to get my box open and see what it had inside!

Agave – Healing Oil Treatment – 4ml sample – £16 for full size

I’m building quite a collection of hair oils, which I don’t mind so much since they are really great for my hair. This oil promises to restore and transform unmanageable frizzy hair and is a little different to the current “Argan Oil” trend. Although the sample is small, I’ve found that I don’t need to use a lot of oil for my hair despite it’s length. It smells quite fruity – which I imagine would be a little sickly if too much was applied but it’s quite pleasant in small doses.

Benefit – It’s Potent! Eye Cream – 30g sample – £25.50 for full size

Gem and I make no secret about our love for Benefit so our excitement about receiving anything Benefit related in our boxes is often difficult to contain. The sample is gorgeous and although I already own this eye cream, it’s very welcome in my skincare collection. After a few sleepless nights thanks to Pickle’s arrival, this eye cream is pretty wonderful at perking me up!

Korres – Citrus Body Milk – sample – £9.50 for full size

At first glance I thought this was a cheaply packaged runny body milk but I was very wrong. When held the packaging is more luxurious and sturdy, housing a beautifully thick body milk that rubs into the skin, leaving a gorgeous “herby” scent. There is no overwhelming Citrus smell and it soaks into the skin very quickly, leaving it feel lovely and soft with no greasy residue. I’ll definitely be looking out for more things from this brand.

ModelCo – Lip Lacquer in “Morocco” – small sample – £15 for full size

I own a few “lip lacquer’s” or should I say “lip gloss'” from ModelCo. One striking thing about them is the scent. They all smell like sweeties which I adore. As for the colour of this gloss, it’s a sort of opaque nude. Definitely wearable, my only qualm with lip gloss’ is the stickiness they leave behind so I’d usually much prefer to go for a lipstick over a gloss. Alas, this will pop nicely in my handbag for a bit of colour when I don’t want to don any lipstick.

Beauty Blender & Blender Cleanser – Full Size – £26

What a surprise this was for Gem and I! After both of us missed out on the beauty blender a few boxes ago, we thought we’d never receive them but this month we were very blessed and over the moon! We’ve been wanting to try these out for absolutely ages. A lovely egg shaped sponge to help us apply our base with ease. Perfect for gigs where we have to lather on the foundation to cope with the heavy stage lights. With it came some blender cleanser – or rather a disc of “soap” for cleaning it, which is also very handy.

Urban Fruit – Perfect Pineapple – 35g snack pack – £13.20 for 6

I am a fan of Pineapple, as well as cramming as many of my daily fruit and veg “allowance” into my body, so this was a welcome extra. Pure pineapple coated in a little rice flour and at 100 calories per bag – it’s definitely a healthier alternative to a bag of crisps. I like discovering products like this, but £13.20 for 6 packets is a little overboard for me when there are so many great healthy treats available.

Birchbox – Happy Days Photo Clip – Lifestyle Extra

This is so adorable! It’s made it’s home on my desk in the office – currently holding the vaccination details for Pickle until I find a fitting picture to go here – by fitting picture – it will probably be a ridiculous shot of Gem and I drunk at a festival this summer! This fits wonderfully with the theme of the box and really tops the contents off nicely.

I have to say that Birchbox have really stepped up their game in recent months and each box keeps getting better. Their themes are fun and filled with lovable and usable brands and it’s definitely my favorite beauty box out of Glossybox and Love Me Beauty. So if you want to try Birchbox out, you can do so for just £10 plus p&p each month via their website – or you can opt for a 3 or 6 month subscription if you’re already hooked!

Totally hellbent for a box full of amazing treats and a tiny puppy to help me dispose of the packaging

-Pants

Beauty Boxes

Birchbox May 2014 Review

May 13, 2014

It seems Birchbox have stuck with their minimal packaging and have now taken to a smaller cardboard package in favor of their previous outer box. This is somewhat of a shame, since I reused mine for storing lots of different bits and bobs, but this month has made up for it, because the Birchbox itself is absolutely gorgeous, they have teamed up with Harper’s Bazaar and packed it full of lovely items.

Benefit – They’re Real! Mascara – 3g sample – £19.50 for full size

I admit I already knew this was on it’s way, because I spoilt the box for myself when I was catching up on my Lazy Days Beauty posts during flu recovery! You can check out her post here. I already own a full size They’re Real as well as another mini, which I usually take to gigs with me, so I’m pretty ecstatic about having another back up mini to stash in my overflowing makeup drawers, now I don’t have to be so thrifty with my current ones! For those that haven’t tried this yet, I suggest you do. It’s absolutely wonderful, with minimal clumping and accentuated lashes and I often reach for this during the days I can’t be bothered with a full face of makeup.

Soigné – Nail Lacquer in”Crème au Beurre” – Full size product – £11 for full size

My first thoughts on pulling this out of the box, was how beautifully packaged it was. Not that this was neccesary for a varnish, because the boxes tend to go in the bin once the pot joins it’s brothers in arms on the dreaded overfilled nail varnish shelf of destiny. None the less, ten out of ten for effort. It gives it a very luxurious feel to it, as does the colour which is a slightly shimmer pink-nude shade. It definitely harnesses a Parisian feel to it. Application wise, it took three coats, but actually I really like the colour and think it will pair perfectly with black. I’m full on into nude shades and black at the moment and have been for quite a while. A full size Varnish too which is always a bonus along with the promise of being non-toxic and made with up to 85% of natural origins, I’m excited to see more from this brand.

Aromatherapy Associates – Revive Morning Bath & Shower Oil – 3ml sample – £39 for full size

I own a few bits from Aromatherapy Associates, but nothing I’ve had has really stood out of wowed me. This is another oil to add to my increasing collection, but this one has a little twist. It can be added to the bath or smoothed over the body before showering. Yes, that’s right, before showering! Now I really like body oil and I also use this when I somehow bribe the other half into giving me a nice back rub, but one thing I have never done, is oiled up and then showered. It seems a little backwards to me. Kind of like brushing your teeth before bed and then eating a chocolate cake or moisturising your face before having a wash. Having said that, I’m open to suggestion so perhaps will give this a try. It smells lovely and I may even squeeze 3 or 4 uses out of the 3ml sample. As for repurchasing, it’s going to have to work miracles in order for me to spend £39 on something that essentially goes “straight down the drain”

Beauty Protector – Protect & Shampoo, Protect & Condition -two samples – £14 each for full size

I have a weakness for miniatures, and these are just the cutest. Granted buying miniature products isn’t the most cost effective way of me staying clean, especially since my hair is so long it usually takes 2 bottle of Conditioner, but still I’m pleased these came as a pair. The best thing about these is they are advertised as sulfate-free, as well as being Vegan, having UV protection and colour safe. Hopefully this should be perfectly safe to use on my incredibly bright, yet prone to fading pillarbox red locks. Depending on how I get on with these, I may even be prepared to empty my wallet and purchase some full size bottles. I was my hair once a week and rarely use Shampoo to preserve my colour, so spending a little extra on Shampoo and Conditioner is acceptable when it lasts so long!

Liz Earle – Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser – 30ml sample – £13.25 for full size

I’ve seen a few people raving about this before, so when I discovered people receiving this in their box this month, I was definitely a little excited. A relatively decent sized 30ml sample compared to some facial cleansers I’ve received, and it comes with a muslin cloth. Apparantly this is suitable for all skin types, and leaves the skin feeling beautiful when used daily. The Liz Earle website have also released a video here with some more info. Although the only difference with my morning face routine here is that I will be switching my trust flannel for some muslin cloth and slightly more expensive facial cleanser, I’m looking forward to giving it a go and seeing whether this could be part of my 2014 skincare regime. (I know I know, we are almost 6 months into the year already!)

Yet again, Birchbox have delivered a spectacular box and leaves me ever hungry for the next. (One day Gem and I will end up in rehab) If you want to try your hand at Birchbox, you can get hold of yours for £10.00 a month plus £2.95 P&P here.

Totally hellbent for all the best brands, crammed into one brilliant box

-Pants

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

Make-up

Benefit Dallas Boxed Blush

February 26, 2014

As a lover of all things Benefit I don’t know how I lasted so long without one of their signature box blushes!

Dallas could be considered somewhere between a blush and bronzer, and as a pale girl I’m so happy to finally have my hands on a bronzer that doesn’t make me look like I’ve been tangoed! Benefit describes this as “An outdoor glow for an indoor girl” and it certainly lives up to that.

Just a quick sweep over my cheeks brightened up my whole look, but it’s easily build-able for a more solid wash of colour. Used sparingly all over it gives a really natural warming glow, without ever looking even slightly orange!

The brush that comes with all Benefit boxed blushes is unfortunately made from animal hair (goat most likely) so it wont be going anywhere near my face. I think most people tend to prefer their own choice of long handled brush anyway, so no big loss.

One of my worries was that the cardboard casing would fall apart easily and I planned to leave this on my dressing table where it could come to no harm, however I love it so much I’ve had this in my make-up bag constantly (and have even taken it over-seas) and the box still looks absolutely pristine.

Dallas and I are in for the long haul together I think, but I’m already looking forward to adding more of Benefit‘s boxed blushes to my collection!

£23.50 from Benefitcostmetics.co.uk

Totally hellbent for an outdoor glow for a VERY indoor girl!

– Gem

Make-up

Contouring here I come … (featuring W7 & Benefit)

January 15, 2014

I have been most spoilt over the festive season. My dad Neil brought me a benefit tin which I was absolutely over the moon with (I’m guessing it has something to do with his beautiful daughter pointing him in the right direction and I don’t mean my good self!) the contents of which contained the Hoola bronzer. Gem also brought me Candy Floss highlighter and Africa bronzer by W7.

Although the Africa was largely due to the beautiful animal print inside, Gem highly recommends the Candy Floss as one of her (many) fav’s when it comes to highlighting.

I’ve been after a good bronzer for a while, one that I can use for contouring that isn’t going to make me look like I’m auditioning for a part on “The Only Way Is Essex” and thankfully once again to the Christmas fairies, I can now play to my hearts content.

I am overly chuffed with the swatches:

The Candy Floss gives a perfect shimmer and I can’t wait to try this out.

Similiarly the Africa bronzer has a subtle shimmer to it, but looks to be an absolutely perfect shade for contouring. The Hoola is also fairly light and once teamed with Africa is going to make for some beautifully chiseled cheek bones!

From left to right: Candy Floss, Africa, Hoola

Now I just need to spend some time working on my contour skills ready for the next social outing!

Totally hellbent for Christmas Piggies

-Pants

Make-up, Skincare

Dec Most Wanted

November 28, 2013

I was hoping my Oct/Nov Most Wanted installment would be it until after Christmas. I was so wrong!

Browsing the web and gift magazines has only made my love for all things … well erm … all things … even bigger!

So my Nov/Dec most wanted, is going to be all the things I want, but definitely can not have until well into the New Year.

Urban Decay Vice 2 Palette

20 Beautiful dark and glittery shades. God I need this. I was so upset when I saw fellow beauty bloggers posting reviews about this. It’s certainly out of my pre-christmas price range, but I am definitely going to think about purchasing this sometime in the New Year.

This beauty is only £37.80 instead of £42 at Debenhams.

Benefit Groovy-Kind-A-Love Gift set

Even though I already own two of these products, I still want this. I blame the packaging entirely. There is something about Benefit that makes me want to own it all, even though it may not be the right shade or something I would never wear.

Anyway, this beautiful gift box comes with the following:

mini the POREfessional
mini they’re real!
mini benetint
dandelion & gimme fever cheek powder duo with brush
eyeshadow palette with four neutral shades

This is one of those “should I – or should I not” kind of moments. Torn between spending my money on other mini Benefit products, or buying this simply because I am in love with the packaging.

You can pick this up directly from the Benefit website for only £29.50.

Nip + Fab Body Butter Trio

I squeeled when I saw this hidden in the corner of the Tesco gift magazine. I love NIP + FAB and I love Body Butter, I also love the smell of cherry and spiced apple, so for a set that includes all of these, it surely has to be for me.

As I write this, I am poking Brains repeatedly in the hope that he will get the hint. The set includes: Spiced Apple, Winter Cherry and Sugared Almond. Very festive indeed.

This beautiful trio are only £8.95 from Tesco’s

With all of my funds tied up in the gift of giving this month, I shall have to wait and see what the New Year and the delightful sales bring forth.

Totally hellbent for all the festive shiny things in all of the festive magazines. (For me?)

-Pants

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

Make-up

September most wanted!

September 11, 2013

The changing of the season always brings with is a whole bunch of new releases, and for some reason this time a lot of them are things that want to empty my bank account!

First up Rockateur from Benefit.

Er hello Benefit. Please stop making things that I want as my purse is very empty and I attribute most of that to your shiny pretty things!

I’ll admit the rose gold shimmer of Rockateur is not exactly the most rock and roll of blushes but the swatches of this look gorgeous and the packaging and marketing have sent it straight to the top of my wish-list!

Rocateur is £23.50 and available here.

Urban Decay Heavy Metal glitter liners

Urban decay have relaunched their Heavy Metal glitter eyeliners (which in my opinion are the best glitter liners EVER) in seven colours, L-R Glamrock, Distortion, ACDC, Spandex, Amp, Junkshow and Midnight Cowboy.

I own three liners from the last time around – Glam Rock, which is identical to Glamrock (except..you know…without the extra space in the name), Air guitar which is very similar to Amp, and Stavedive which doesn’t seem to have a dupe in the re-launch. I’ve already got my eye on Distortion and Spandex, but I think I’ll wait and see if they do them in a set at a discount before I rush to buy them individually.

As far as I can see these liners are currently only available on the US website for $19 each.

Lime Crime lipstick in Glamour101

This is by no means a new release, but something that has hidden on my wishlist for a long time. Glamour101 is described as a retro/blood red and even if it wasn’t for that gorgeous rich deep colour I would want this just for the purple glittery unicorn packaging!

It’s also well worth checking out their more extreme lip colours, one day I will be brave enough for the bubblegum blue of No She Didn’t!

Available for $15.99 from the Lime Crime website or £11.50 from Cocktail Cosmetics.

ELF HD Blush in Headliner

Again, not a new release but this has been out of stock since forever! The ELF HD blush comes in five shades, and Headliner is the lightest. Though I love a strong blush, the colours are very intense on the skin so I figure starting with the fairest shade and working up to the most intense might be a good plan!

Elf HD blush is £3.70 from here, though only 4/5 of the shades are back in stock.

Illamasqua Reflection Palette

Do I need more eye-shadows? Er yes! Illamasqua make the most beautiful silky colours that have real staying power and their newest palette is definitely up my street! I love the fact you could make everything from the most subtle to the most outrages looks with just these four colours. Also hello fabulous packaging. /shallow.

Available for £34 from the Illamasqua website.

So there you have it, all the shiny things I want the most this month, is there anything new or back in stock that you are dreaming longingly about?

Totally hellbent for things I don’t really need but really really really want!

– Gem

Beauty Boxes, Make-up

Me, Myself and my boxes …

July 11, 2013

I blame Gemma.

For a long time, I have tried to resist the temptation of beauty boxes.

A few months ago, Gemma gave in and purchased her first. Unfortunately, she gave me a demonstration of how she opened her box when it came. She had even resealed the package with the bow so I could satisfyingly pull the ribbon apart to reveal a selection of surprise beauty products. Not only was the ribbon pulled, but so were my makeup and obsessive compulsive brain cells being pulled – and tugged – and shook – and prodded, until eventually the sensible part of my brain gave in with that ever familiar, parent style, eye rolling look, that say’s “*sigh* go on then.”

Alas, completely unsatisfied at having to wait for my next Glossybox I was sucked into purchasing the Glamour beauty edit edition of the Latest in Beauty Box.

I’m not sure what did it for me, it could have been the adorable pink vintage style tweezers, or the excitement of adding yet -more- dry shampoo spray to my “miniature festival collection”, or most likely the miniature Benefit The POREfessional. What I do know, is that it was delivered to my house and now it’s mine!

Totally hellbent for “oops did I just purchase that?”

– Pants