July's Glossybox

July's Glossybox arrived and its theme this month is festival glam for festival season.  I have never been to a festival and won't be attending one this year but it doesn't mean that it is still not a great set of products.

There was a great selection of products this month and I was so happy to see the HD Brow Palette when I first opened the box.

Monu, Golden Glow:  This is a moisturing treatment which after 3-5 hours will develop into a natural looking tan.  I have never tried fake tan or gradual tanners, this doesn't look too scary and I've loved the Monu product I've recived before so I may be brave and try this.  Full size is 200ml and costs £23.

Clynol Salon Exclusive, Enrich Colour Shampoo:  This is a gentle shampoo with liquid jewel extract to boost shine and also UV filters to protect rich tones from fading.  I colour my hair so will be interested in trying this.  I do have an extremely sensitive scalp so will give this a go and see how it works.  Full size is 300ml and is £9.35.

Jelly Pong Pong, Lip Frosting:  I got this in Irish Cream Pavlova and it smells yummy! This can be used on lips or cheeks.  Having tried it on both I will probably just be using it on the lips.  It contains grapeseed oil, aloe vera extract, beeswax and vitamin E so not only does it smell yummy it is also good for your lips.  I have heard lots about this brand but never tried them before, so far I'm impressed.  I really like this.  This is one of two full size products.  15ml costs £10.

HD Brows, HD Brows Eye & Brow Palette:  This is the second full size product and I have to say the one product that I was so excited to get.  I had been disappointed to miss out on this before and had been looking into buying this when I got this months box, so you can guess how happy I was.  It is great not only for brows but also for using as eyeshadows. I got mine in Vamp which has a nude and carbon shadow and two dark brown tone powders.  I am loving using this, I can make up so many different combinations for my brows.  Full size this costs £19.95. 

Elizabeth Arden, Visible Difference Skin Balancing Lotion SPF15:  This is an oil-free lightweight lotion which helps to protect skin from UVA/UVB rays, pollution while also providing hydration all day long.  I am looking forward to trying this. Have only tried the 8hr cream from Elizabeth Arden so will be interested to see what this is like.  50ml costs £32.

And as a bonus product we got sachet of the Elizabeth Arden Skin Balancing Line. I'm quite happy with these, yes there isn't enought to get a proper go at using the line but it will give me a chance to see what they are like. 

Overall I'm really happy with this months box.  I feel that after a few boxes where I liked what I got, they just weren't my wow box, the past two months have been really good and I'm hoping that it continues.

Wonder Eye Cream

As alot of you will have done I'm sure, I picked this up with this months Glamour magazine.  Balance Me's Wonder Eye Cream. 

Full size is 15ml and in the above tube is 7ml so just under half for the price of the magazine which is only £2-3 I can't remember which and full size £20.  The Balance Me website also do a 10ml size which is £14, so you can see the value that you get from Glamour magazine.

The Balance Me website says 'Our three-in-one naturally active eye cream is rich but not heavy and absorbs beautifully. We’ve blended Roman chamomile and skin-brightening lemon, cucumber oil and witch hazel with super hydrating hyaluronic acid, anti-oxidant spruce knot, softening and smoothing virgin coconut, rosehip and carrot oils, all to help brighten and smooth the delicate skin around your eyes.'  This is definately not a heavy cream, it sinks into the skin easily and quickly.  I'm a nightshift worker so my eyes can really show the effect of lack of sleep, working 12hr shifts and working in a dehydrating environment and this works really well to combat all of those things.  It says to use this twice a day but I use this at night as I prefer a gel in the mornings.  Even with just using this once a day it works really well.

I am going to try and get some more from Glamour magazine if I can, if not I can see me buying this full size as I love it.

https://www.balanceme.co.uk/

Another The Body Shop Haul!

I got an email through from The Body Shop last week offering money off if you spent so much.  There was a few things that I wanted so I decided to spend £50 which would get me £25 off so I was only paying £25, bargin!! 

I do love the offers that The Body Shop do online, you can get some really good bargins and also their delivery is fab.

I didn't go crazy, just a few things that I needed to buy and a couple of things I wanted to try.

Long Handled Cactus Bath Brush:  This can be used for dry body brushing or wet in the bath/shower.  I intend to use this for dry body brushing. 

Coconut Foaming Bath:  I got two of these for my other half. This is a repeat purchase and I'm sure will be once these are finished.  Great bubble bath, smells good and not drying on the skin.

Madagascan Vanilla Flower Fragrance Mist:  This is from the Scents of the World Collection.  I have the normal vanilla body mist so wanted to give this a go.  The Body Shop describes it as "A light spritz infused with Madagascan Vanilla Flower. This warm, sensual blend of floral and oriental accords was inspired by the tropical island."  To me this is a more subtle vanilla than the other one.  I like this but it's not what I was expecting.

Born Lippy Pot Balm - Passionberry:  Love this, smells great.

Shimmer Cube Palette -Warm:  I go the limited edition shimmer cube by Lily Cole and I love it so wanted another one.  Looking at the different colours I thought this would be one I got most use from.

Just a few things, I needed to get the foaming bath and I really wanted the shimmer cube, so for less than what they would've cost I got everything, which is rather fab in my book.

Dr Spot.

I love the name of Soap & Glory's spot gel as much as I love the product.  I first bought this a good few months ago and have only just started my second tube.

The packaging is just as lovely.

I orginally picked this up as part of a 3 for 2 in Boots, as my third item, I didn't know what to get, needed a new spot gel so got this.  Have to say I'm very glad I did.

I really like the tube that it comes in, its easy to use and easy to contol the amount that you need.

It contains salicylic acid which helps to remove the dead skin cells and to reduce any inflammation, witch hazel to balance the PH of the skin.  Vitamins A, C, E and B3 to help exfoliate  and condition the skin.  Liquorice and ginger bark to help slow down the oil secretions on the skin.

I really like this.  I find it works really well on my spots without drying them up.  It doesn't remove them overnight but they do look alot better the next day and after a few days they will go away.  What more can you ask for?

Born Lippy Stick

A few months ago I ordered one of these in am online The Body Shop order.  I really like their lip balms and was really happy to see them now in a stick form.  I don't have anything against the pot versions but I don't like the pots for my work as working in a hospital it just seems a bit yuck.  So for work I much prefer stick lip balms.

I first got the plum one and I loved it.  They moisturise the lips and also give a hint of colour, perfect for day time and work.  I find them really easy to use, they keep my lips really soft especially during a 12hr shift in a really dry environment.  I quickly bought more of these and now the only one that I don't have is the toffee one as I'm not keen on the smell.  The rest of them smell yummy, kinda like fruity sweets.

Left to right: Pomegranate, Lychee, Plum, Strawberry and Pink Berry.

The Lychee one has a shimmer to it, I don't find it too much of a shimmer but I must admit this one and the Pomegranate one are the two that I tend not to take to work with me.  I don't really want that type of look on my lips at work and the Pomegranate one has a really good colour pay off.  It's very red, not like a red lip stick but it has more colour than the others.  Again red isn't a colour I would wear to work.

I would have taken a picture of them all to show you but having used the others a lot more they don't look so good.

I love these lip balms, and I will be repurchasing them when these are finished.

July's Joliebox

On the day that I finish writing about last months box I get this months.  Very speedy deliviery, hadn't even recieved an email saying that it has been dispatched, not that I'm complaining after last months fiasco.

I was over the moon with this months box, once again I was not disappointed.  There was also an extra gift in the box this month to make up for last months fiasco.

Etat Pur, Biomimetic Skincare B09 Express Purifying Mask:  This is a 5 minute mask, which is quite quick.  It is meant to purify the skin by absorbing toxins and impurities, unblocks pores.  I'm really looking forward to trying this.  I have been looking into this brand a lot recently and been thinking about making a purchase.  It's like Joliebox can read my mind at times!  This is a full size product at 50mls and it costs £7.50 from Etat Pur's website.  If I like this then I will be going onto the website and trying more.

Jane Iredale, Tantasia Self Tanner:  This is a bronzer aswell as a tanner so you will get an instant bit of colour while it is developing.  It is meant to be a streak free, hydrating formual with a citrus scent.  I have never used self tanner before and I'm not sure if I'll try this. I've never really felt the need to be tanned, I'm very pale but it doesn't bother me.  This is a tiny tube so I'm not sure how much you would get from it. Full size it is £23.30 from here.

Nailgirls, Medal Collection:  There are two mini polishes from the medal collection which has been inspired by the Olympics.  I got gold and bronze.  I have never heard of this brand before.  They are free from any chemical nasties, not tested on animals, vegan friendly and the packaging is recyclable.  I have never tried a nail varnish before that doesn't have all the usual chemical nasties so I am interested to see what they are going to be like.  A full size bottle os £10.50.

Wen by Chaz Dean, Sweet Almond & Mint Cleansing Conditioner:  This is not your typical shampoo.  Chaz Dean, a haitdresser created this range of products to be free from detergents and sodium laurel sulphates that lather and strip your hair.  This is applied to your hair in a particular way so I would recommend looking at the website to see how.  I first came across Wen when on a nightshift and it was one of those shopping adverts, as it is a natural product I went onto the website to have a look.  I have a crazy reactive scalp and struggle to find a good shampoo that doesn't aggravate my scalp but also really cleans ny thick, oily hair.  I have wanted to try this but I must admit never have, being slightly put off by the fact it was on an advert.  In the box is a 60mls tube.  On the website, full size is 480mls and is £24.95.  But there are also various offers/kits available.  If I really like this and it works I would probably purchase.

Toe nail separators:  These are pink and cute.

Davines Authentic Moisturing Balm for Face, Hair and Body:  As this is not on the card I'm assuming that this is the extra gift to make up for last months fiasco.  This is a gentle and moisturing oil based conditioner.  This can be used as a hair conditioner, moisturiser for the body and a cleanser for the face.  Reading the reviews on a website, peopel have also been using it for many other uses.  In the box is a 75mls tube, full size is 150mls which is £17.40 here.  Again this is a product that I had read about and wanted to try.

Once again Joliebox has not disappointed, I love this box and am happy to have spent my money on it.  I can't wait till next months box.  So far I've not had a box that I didn't love and I hope this continues.

Joliebox's Birthday Month - June

Now some of you may be thinking that this post is a little bit of the late side, it now being the middle of July, but no, due to shipping problems I only recieved this box on Monday.  For those who subscribe to Joliebox you will all be aware of the disaster that was the birthday month's box. Which I have to say, was such a shame as it was a box that I was really looking forward to.  The box I got was a replacement box, no doubt due to the labelling fiasco someone somewhere else has my actual box.  So whether I should have got the products that I did get, I will never know.

The actual box is orange which I really liked, though there was nothing to differentiate it apart form the colour to a normal box. 

Institut Esthederm, Bronze Repair:  This cream not only helps you to develop a natural tan but also helps to rengerate the skin therefore minimising the signs of aging.  It encourages the melanin to come to the surface of the skin so enables you to develop a tan safer. This sounds very much like the Elemis tan accelerator which encourages the melanin to the skin faster than normal so you have a safer tan.  I look forward to trying this, unfortuantely it doesn't look like it will be this summer as so far the summer has consisted of rain rain and more rain, good old british summers!  This comes in normal or strong sun.  The strong sun is £55 in the Space NK website

L'OCCITANE, Angelica Hydration Cream:  This is made with organic Angelica.  It moisturises and revitalises the skin.  I have never tried any skincare from L'OCCITANE even though I love the brand and repeat buy a number of the products.  I am really looking forward to trying this, to see if thier skincare is a good as the rest of their products.  This is £29 for 50mls from the L'Occitane website

Yon Ka, Pamplemousse:  This was the custom mathc product in the box if you had filled out the beauty questions.  This cream helps to protect form enivronmental aggressors, regulate the moisture levels, enliven and brighten.  It sounds good. 

 Elysambre, Lip Pencil: Elsyambre are a natural makeup range who combine up to date technologies with plant based, organic as possible ingredients.  Paraban and mineral oil free, not tested an animals.  I got 107 which is a sort of muted red.  I don't normally wear red but I liked this colour and I think with some lip gloss over it this will be very nice for a night out.

Joliebox nail file:   A nice looking nail file that I will keep in my bag for emergencies as I use a cyrstal nail file when doing my nails.

I really liked this box, it was a box that I had been really excited about.  Had I got this when it was meant to arrive I would have loved it, like I have done with every Joliebox so far.  But unfortunately with the mix up with the labels and mine not arriving I had to wait for a replacement box.  So for me to have been blown away by this it would have had to have been amazing which it was not.  I am looking forward to this months box which I see will be sent out sometime this week, I hope that there are no problems with this one.  Joliebox has been my favourie box out of the two that I subscribe to, I have not had a box yet that I haven't been impressed with.  I would hate for this to be ruined with a repeat of this disaster.

NOTD - A wee change

It's not often I do a French manicure. Its not that I don't like it, just prefer colour. But I decided today to paint a French manicure as I'm working for the next three nights. It is a look that I do prefer to wear to work, very rarely will I wear it if I'm not working.

I used OPI Alpine Snow for the white tip and OPI Bubble Bath for the pink.

Eyeshadow Collection

I have a large eyeshadow collection, well what I believe to be a large collection. I love eyeshadows, they are my favourite thing about make up.  I love that you can create so many different looks and that there are so many different colours, textures and finishes.

This is where I store the majority of my eyeshadows, these are from the stationery section of Wilkinsons.  They were about £2/3 something.  I think they are cute.  I do at some point want to get the acrylic storage from Muji but that will be at some point in the future.  I have recently changed how I store my makeup and I'm happy with what I have just now, but it will change at some point in the future.

These are the bottom four drawers.

These are the cream eyeshadows I have.  Maybelline Colour 24hr Tattoos, Bobbi Brown, 17 and a Clinique one.  The Maybelline ones I use alot more than the others as I tend to wear them as a base colour under eyeshadows.

These are some of the little palettes that I have. I love the smoky colours one from Revlon.  The Sue Devitt palette is so pretty.

I love the No7 palette so much that i had to show you a picture of it.  This was a limited edition out at christmas time a few years ago.  I know that you are meant to follow the expiry date but it doesn't smell funny and it still works the same so I'm still using it.  I love the metallic colours, they aren't too in your face and look great on.

I have a lot of Clinique eyeshadows.  Some I have bought some have come in the bonus time freebies that Clinique often do.

These are my random ones, a Mally one, a Bling Tone, a couple from The Body Shop.

These are the top four drawers.

A couple from Bourjois, I love the pale pink one.  It is my go to colour when I want a hint of something on the eye but am not wanting to wear a full on eye colour and eyeliner.  Loreal Infallible eyeshdows, these are some of my newer eyeshadows.  They are a mix between a powder and cream.

MUA and No7.  MUA eyeshadows are great, they cost £1 and you get a great colour selction.

Laura Geller.  This is an american brand and I buy them from QVC.  I love these.  Have to be some of my favourite out of my colllection.  Here is a micture of eyeshadows and eye rimz.  Eye rimz is like am eyeliner.

Smashbox. This is another american brand, again that I buy from QVC.

So that is all my single and small eyeshadow pallettes.  I will do another post on my larger pallettes.  Otherwise this will go on for ages!

Eyeshadow Palettes

Following on from my eyeshadow collection, this is my palette collection.

This is where the majority of my palettes are stored, in a wicker type basket from Wilkinsons.  It is from a set of four, two this size and two bigger ones.  If you have read my body lotions post then you will recognise the basket.

This Bobbi Brown palette has to be one of my favourites and as you can see I have hit pan on the palest colour which is Bone.  This I got a few years ago and it is a great every day natural palette.

This i got in The Body Shop sale.  It's not one I use often but I love the colours.

This is a Laura Geller one, that not only contains eyeshadows but also two blushers, a highlighter and a mattifier.  I love this palette, gives me everything I need in the one place. I tend to use the dark blue and green as eyeliners.

These are my two Mally palettes, though the one at the bottom is really a single eyeshadow with a lid primer, it doesn't fit in my other eyeshadow storage hence why its here.  The top one is great for a smoky eye and also comes with its own eye primer.

This has to be one of the few items in my collection that I wanted for so long before I got it and I love it.

From the top, Soap & Glory a great wee palette, MUA heaven and earth, No7, Make up is from Tescos one christmas again has lip eyeshadow and blush, Benefit beautiful eyes love this one and Urban Decay Get Baked.

These are my two Too Faced ones.  Think they are great, easy to use with little cards to help you create the three looks.

Two Smashbox palettes, the bottom one has eyeshadows on top then slides out to reveal eyeliners.  I really like both of these.

This Smashbox palette has to be my favourite as it contains everything you need apart from foundationa and mascara.

On the left side it has your brown, natural eyeshadows, both matte and shimmer.  Eyeliners and their brow fix with the wax and all the shades that they do in it.  As you can see I dropped this and one of the brow shades didn't survive.

The right side is your more colourful eyeshadows and your lip glosses.

In the middle you have the brushes that you need, the top two colours are your blushers, then 3 soft lights which are your highlighters.

This palette allows me to experiment with colours that I would never actually buy, I never create the same look twice.  Its great.

So thats my palette collection.  Theres a few there but I love them all and do use them.

My go to nude lip

Its a bit of a new thing for me to be wearing lip stick, nevermind lip stick and a lip gloss.  But recently I've been loving this combination together, especially as I really like to play up my eyes more so this nude lip goes really well with that.

The lipstick is Beehive from 17, love the colour a great nude for me.  How amzing does the packaging look? The lip gloss is a lip buxom from Bare Minerals called Sandy, I got this as part of a kit a while ago.  I really like the Buxom lip gloss as it plumps the lips and slightly tingles but not in a horrible way.  It's not an uncomfortable tingle like other products that plump the lips.

Aren't the colours lovely? From the looks of the Bare Minerals website you can't actually get this lip closs any more, which is a shame as it's really nice on its own aswell as over the top of a lip stick.

May/June empties

I'm back! After finally finding the camera again, randomly it was in the kitchen, blogging duties can resume.  This lot of empties has been building since May so I thought I'd do it now as a May/June one cause there might be loads if I left it till the end of this month. 

As you can see from the photo, the Joliebox bag that I keep my empties in is rather full.

Vichy Normaderm Micellar Water for Imperfection Prone and Sensitive Skin:  Love this stuff, use it at least once a day.  I talk more about this in my skincare post.  Had one in backup for when this ran out and will definately be buying this again.

Caudalie Vinosource S.O.S Thirst Quenching Serum:  Love this stuff, its great for my skin.  Although I have combination skin, I do get very dry cheeks and between my eyebrows. This was great for that, without making the rest of my face oily.  I got this in a Glossybox and I'm glad I did.  Will purchase this at some point.

Elemis, Pro-Collagen Eye Renewal:  I got this as part of a set with the eye serum.  It is a good eye cream but it doesn't compare to my Decleor one which I love. I was using the ones from Elemis when I was having my month of from the Decleor one.

Elemis, Absolute Eye serum:  This was from a set with the eye renewal.  Again I used this when I was having a month of from the Decleor one.  This I used in the morning and the eye renewal at night.  I preferred this to the eye renewal.  I would purchase this again.

Ultrasun, Aftersun Cooling & Hydrating, Face High SPF30 Anti-Ageing Formula:  These are definately from May, as it has rained for more or less the whole of June! I really like Ultrasun, put it on in the morning and that is you for the day. Really works, I burn really easily and I don't with this.  With the face one, it has enough skincare properties in it that you don't need to use your moisturiser with this.  I have done that before and its brilliant. Have a back up of these and a few others, will def repurchase when those run out.

Soap & Glory, Flake Away Body Scrub, Hand Food:  Both of these are in the travel size.  Love these, think they smell amazing!  Have bought the full size of the scrub and will be getting the full size hand cream at some point.

Dove Beauty Finish roll on deodorant:  Love it, works well. Not much else to say, yes I would repurchase.

Waitrose Baby Bottom Butter:  Yes I know I'm not a baby, but this stuff is seriously amazing and should not be kept for just babies.  On their website it says that women use it on their face, personally I find it a bit greasy for this and use it on my legs.  I have crazy dry skin on my legs and this works wonders on them.  It smells like cake batter, so yummy. It also has no nasties in it which is brill, it is cheap at £2.89 as a little goes a long way. I have two in back up but when they are done I will be repurchasing.  I never want to be without this I love it so much.

OPI Nail Envy:  Again, amazing stuff! This is my 5th bottle I think.  Works wonders for my nails, after years of not being able to grow them they now grow.  Again another product that I will repurchase and wouldn't be without.

Lolita Lempicka, Eau de Parfum:  Think this was from a Glossybox.  Loved it, really glad it was in the beauty box as I don't think that I would have came across it otherwise.  Want to buy the full size but am going to ce a bit cheeky and ask for it for my birthday which is soon.

Opps, I forgot to take a picture of the baby wipes.  These were from Johnson's.  I use wipes to clean makeup off my hands when I'm doing my makeup or to clean my hands after using hair oil.  To be honest I buy any wipes that are on offer, but I do love these as they smell yummy.