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28.5.12

Happy Birthday Glossybox!


Hi everyone :)
I know a lot of people have been writing reviews on the beauty boxes recently but I do like to see what everyone else got and last time some people commented that I had different products to them, so I thought I’d share what I got with you guys anyway. I was really looking forward to receiving this month’s edition of Glossybox as they have just reached their one year anniversary and I was hoping for an extra special box to celebrate. 
So here are the products that I received this month and what I thought of them.....
Apivita Express Beauty with Cucumber Face Mask
 I haven’t used these face masks as yet but I love a nice face mask so I am looking forward to trying them out. I have heard quite a lot about the Apivita products but haven’t used any before so I was quite pleased to see this mask in my Glossybox this month. I will let you guys know how they are when I’ve put them to the test!
Berber Oil Hair Treatment
 As you may have seen from past posts I am quite a fan of Moroccan Oil but have often thought of giving another similar product a try as well. Therefore, I was really pleased to see the Berber Oil in my Glossybox and I think this may be my favourite item that I received this time. My hair was left feeling silky and soft after using this treatment and I would definitely consider buying it once my Moroccan Oil has run out.
Noble Isle Bath and Shower Gel
 In the three boxes I have received since subscribing to Glossybox, I have been sent a shower gel and for that reason I was a bit disappointed to find another one in this month’s box. I am also not too keen on the smell of this one from Noble Isle and don’t think it really reminds me of summer as it says it should on the bottle. Overall, I didn’t think this was a great product but will still use it so it’s not a wasted item.
Lolita Lempicka Perfume Samples
 Similarly with the shower gel I have also received a perfume sample in every box that I have subscribed to. I don’t really like perfume samples either as you can usually test the perfumes out in the shops and I just feel like there are other types of samples which I would much rather receive. I also found these perfumes to be quite unusual and neither of them are a fragrance which I would wear unfortunately.
Eldora False Eyelashes
 I do often wear false eyelashes on a night out but I prefer them to be quite natural looking so these diamante ones from Eldora are a bit on the glitzy side for me. I will probably get some wear out of them on a fancy dress night or when I’m after something a bit more glam but I wouldn’t have chosen them myself.
Glossybox Mirror
I thought the Glossybox mirror and birthday balloon were a really nice touch for the one year birthday box but sadly my mirror was broken when it arrived L I understand this isn’t really Glossybox’s fault as these things can happen when more delicate items are sent in the post. Glossybox have asked me to email them the details so I will hopefully get a new one in replacement.
Overall I have to say I wasn’t very impressed with this month’s Glossybox. Maybe I had built it up thinking this edition would be extra special to celebrate Glossybox being around for one year but unfortunately there are just too many products in this box that I wouldn’t use. I am also getting a bit bored of trying the same type of products, for example perfume and shower gel, and was hoping for something a bit different this time around. I am now thinking of cancelling my subscription to Glossybox and trying a different beauty box instead. I’d love to know which beauty boxes you would recommend :)
What products did you guys receive this month? Do you think Glossybox is one of the better beauty boxes or are there others you prefer?
Thanks for reading :)
BBx



21.5.12

A Hair Health Kick!


Hi guys!
I am loving so many hair products at the moment and thought that I would share a few of my favourites with you on my blog. I remember that when I was younger I never put conditioner on my hair as I thought it would make it greasy! Things have definitely changed now though and I try to look after my hair as best I can, especially as I put my hair through so much, such as regularly using a hair dryer and straighteners as well as bleaching it every 5 weeks.
So these are the products which I use regularly to keep my hair looking healthy and to stop it from drying out....

Moroccan Oil Treatment (around £22 for 100ml) 
Moroccan Oil Treatment is definitely one hair product that couldn’t live without. It can be used as a styling, finishing and conditioning product which helps reduce frizz, detangle unruly locks, condition and repair damaged hair. It can also reduce drying time which I was a bit sceptical about at first but I was pleasantly surprised and found it really does help my hair dry quicker.  To use this product you simply put a small amount into the palm of your hand and run through damp hair before blow drying or letting your hair dry naturally.
After using this product my hair is so much easier to manage and it just feels so silky and soft. My hair can get quite frizzy and Moroccan Oil has definitely helped to tame my locks and reduce fly aways. I use the treatment after each time I wash my hair but you could just use it a couple of times a week and it would still work wonders. It is quite a pricey product but the 100ml bottle will last months so I definitely think it is worth the money, and it smells delicious :)

 
 
Sebastian Taming Elixir (around £11)
I have already written a post on the Sebastian Taming Elixir so I won’t go into too much detail but I couldn’t blog about my fave hair products without mentioning this little treasure! This is a mid-strength taming serum which is another product aimed at fighting frizz without weighing the hair down.  I use this as well as Moroccan Oil each time I wash my hair for added frizz control. I apply both of these products from half way down the hair to the ends so as not to make my hair look greasy at the roots and as the ends are where the hair is driest. I would definitely recommend this product as it has done wonders for my hair and helped to keep it looking sleek and smooth.
 
 

Neal and Wolf Hold and Shine Spray (£11.95)
I absolutely love, love, love the Neal and Wolf products and the Hold and Shine Spray in particular is a hair product which I use all the time. It is designed to give long lasting hold whilst also making hair look shiny and glossy and it certainly doesn’t disappoint. It also smells absolutely delicious! It’s definitely worth giving this one a try as it doesn’t make hair look ‘crispy’ or weighed down and it helps keep hair in place all day long.



Milkshake Active Yogurt Mask Hair Treatment (£13.69)
I think the first thing I noticed about this product was the gorgeous vanilla smell! I would probably use this hair treatment just to make my hair smell so lovely but the added bonus is that it actually works to help to keep my hair feeling soft and healthy. This mask helps prevent hair from drying out and becoming damaged so is especially good for coloured or over processed hair. Simply apply to wet hair after shampooing and conditioning and leave for a few minutes before rinsing off. I noticed a difference immediately after using this product and my hair was left feeling silky smooth and healthy. I have just order a new tub of this as my last one has run out and it's just so good!

So there are my favourite hair products to help keep my hair in tip top condition and stop if from look dry, damaged and frizzy! I put my hair through so much on a daily basis with straightening, curling and styling so I find it’s important to try and reduce the amount of damage done and keep my hair well conditioned.
Which products would you recommend to keep hair well looked after? Have you tried any of the products that I use? What did you think of them?
Thanks for reading,
BBx

13.5.12

Art Deco


Hi everyone!
I thought I’d do a quick post on some new Art Deco makeup which I purchased recently. The Debenhams near to where I live have had a big refit and introduced some new makeup counters into the store, including Art Deco and Origins. I have never tried any makeup from the Art Deco range before so was interested to see what it is like.
The Art Deco counter was very modern and everything was really nicely presented so the products were easy to swatch and test out. I have to say the assistant that served me on the counter was extremely helpful and polite and not at all pushy when it came to sales. I thought that the prices were fairly reasonable in comparison to the other beauty counters in the store, particularly the ‘colour’ items such as blushers, eyeshadows and lipsticks.
One aspect which I particularly love about the Art Deco collection is the ability to create your own palette. Refillable, magnetic boxes are available in four different sizes allowing you to add and remove eyeshadows and blushers as you wish. Each blusher and eyeshadow has a magnetic bottom so they simply snap into place in the box and can be removed again to create a new palette design.
So after much deliberation and a lot of time spent at the counter, I decided to start with these few products ....
Blusher – Colour 05
I really like the warm orange colour of this blusher and have been really impressed with it so far. The texture of the blush is really smooth and it glides onto the skin easily. I have also found it easy to use a small amount of the product for a more subtle look or layer it up to create a bold sweep of colour to the cheeks. The colour is quite highly pigmented and it has great staying power, lasting well throughout the day. I paid £10.25 for this blusher which I think is a good price and I would definitely consider purchasing some of the other blushers in the range.

Eyeshadow – Colours 33 and 517

I thought these two eyeshadows complimented each other really well and would also look great with the blusher which I had purchased too. I’m not as keen on the eyeshadows as I am on the blusher as I feel like the pigmentation isn’t as good and the colour faded slightly throughout the day. When I was applying the eyeshadows I did have a bit of fallout which I had to touch up as well which was a bit of a pain. On the plus side the eyeshadows were really easy to blend and there is a large variety of colours to choose from. At only £6 each they won’t break the bank and I think they would be a good purchase if you don’t want to spend too much, for example if you want the shadow for a particular night out or to match a certain outfit.

Overall I found the Art Deco range a bit hit and miss and some of the products seem really good and others not as great. I was also given a sample of the White Lotus Skin Refiner and the Long Lasting Oil Free Foundation so I will give them a go and let you guys know how I get on!
Have any of you guys tried any products from Art Deco? I’d love to hear what you thought of them and if you would recommend any products in particular :)
Thanks for reading,
BBx



6.5.12

What's in my handbag?


Hi everyone!
I thought I would do a ‘what’s in my handbag’ post as I always find this type of post interesting to read and there are a few essentials which I always have handy when I go out. I recently purchased a small makeup bag to keep in my handbag as I would always end up losing products which I had thrown in my handbag before dashing out the house. I am going to focus on what I keep in this makeup bag as these are the beauty products that I usually have with me when I am out and about.  So here it goes ......

Makeup Bag from Primark (£3)

Les Tai Tai Mirror (£22)

I was given this mirror as a Christmas present last year by my lovely boyfriend and I now always keep it in my handbag as it’s just so handy to have.  These mirrors have eight LED lights in a ‘Hollywood mirror’ design which light up at the push of a button. It also has a 2x magnification mirror and comes with a drawstring pouch to help keep it clean and scratch free. I absolutely love this mirror and use it all the time when I am out and about. You can purchase the Les Tai Tai mirrors here.

Avon Pop-Up Brush (£3.25)
 This pop-up brush from Avon is so handy to have in your handbag, especially with the wet and windy weather we have been having recently! They are usually £3.25 from Avon but I think I paid around £1.65 for this one and they are currently on offer for £1.90. 

 M&S Gloss Lip Balm
 This was another Christmas present and it is now one of my favourite lip balms. I love the gold lipstick style tube that it comes in and it leaves the lips feeling soft whilst providing a glossy finish. I always keep this lip balm in my handbag so I can keep my lips moisturised when I am out and about. As it was a present I’m not sure how much it was but I do know it was bought from Marks and Spencer. 

Clinique Almost Powder Makeup (£22)
 I always keep some powder in my bag as my face tends to get a bit oily throughout the day, particularly on the t-zone area. I love this powder from Clinique as it lasts a long time on the skin and provides a natural finish. The Stay Matte Sheer Pressed Powder (£21) is also really good and I usually switch between the two depending on which I feel like using that day.

Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick in Nude Pink (£4.99)
 I always keep a lipstick handy for touch ups during the day and the Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick in Nude Pink is one of my favourites at the moment, as you may have seen in my Aprils faves blog post. I just love the pinky, peach finish and think it is a really nice colour for the spring / summer. I am also really liking the Rimmel lipstick in Spotlight Beige which I got from Amazon for around £3.50 as it is being discontinued!

Travelo (around £6.99ish)
 I have recently become a bit obsessed with perfume and like to carry a Travelo with me with my favourite perfume of the moment in. Unfortunately mine leaked in my handbag so I have sent it back and I am just waiting for my replacement to arrive in the post. Although mine leaked I would still recommend getting a Travelo or a different perfume atomizer if you like to freshen up your perfume throughout the day. 

Hand Gel (£1)
 I always always have a bottle of hand gel in my handbag and it just makes me feel better to freshen up, especially if I’m out for a long day. I have a few different ones and just chuck one in my bag before I head out.

So there are my handbag essentials which I have with me whenever I go out. Some of them change from time to time, for example which lipstick I have, but the basics pretty much stay the same. Which beauty essentials do you never leave the house without? I’d love to hear what your handbag essentials are so leave any ideas as a comment below!
Thanks for reading,
BBx
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