What's inside my Glossybox: July 2011

     I've waited over two months for my first Glossybox & it has finally come! I had to try to control myself & not rip it all apart at first sight. I somehow found the patience to take photos as I opened it, so let's see what was inside my Glossybox...

For those of you who don't know what a Glossybox is, it's the UK's version of a Birchbox (US). You pay £10 a month to receive 5 deluxe samples of high-end beauty brands. On the website you fill out a little questionnaire style section so that they can get to know you & what kind of products you would be interested in, and then your Glossybox will be personalised to you. Because of this, everyone's Glossybox will be unique, and tailored to them. My favourite part is that the products you receive will be a complete surprise until the box arrives on your door-step!

 

    1) Ciate nail enamel: From the ergonomically designed bottle, the deliberately long cap for ease of use and the 250 bristle flat brush for long lasting, full coverage: Ciate takes exceptional care to make applying their beautiful enamel colours a pleasure.

     I was so pleased to see this full size nail polish in my Glossybox, I'd seen them before but have never actually owned one. The colour is a little out there for me, & I probably would have preferred the blue or nude shades that I saw in other peoples box's, but I'm hoping this shade will push me out of my box & get me to try out more vibrant colours. It's such a beautiful colour for summer, & makes a lovely addition to my little nail varnish collection.

Retails for: £9

                                             

      2) Illamasqua powdered metal in Ether: Powdered metal creates anything from a subtle sheen to an extreme metallic finish on the face and body. The shimmering pale gold adds radiance to bronzed skin, and highlights your skin where applied.

 
  



   I was so excited to see an Illamasqua product in my Glossybox, & the fact that it is full size makes it even better! I'm hoping it will give me the perfect extra bit of glow that I'm looking for in the summer months, & maybe even give me the confidence to rock a more daring metallic look. Fingers crossed that it makes it in to my monthly favourites!

Retails for: £22.50

     Orla Kiely eau de parfum: A charming debut fragrance by the acclaimed designer, the eponymous fragrance's light floral notes, with natural extracts of rose geranium and bergamot, are subtly balanced with fresh fig and a hint of chocolate.

     All I can think about is how adorable that bottle is, it's so tiny in my hand that I can't help but carry it around with me everywhere. It's a lovely scent, but perhaps not something that I would have picked out for myself. Nevertheless, it is going to be a staple item in my handbag all summer.

Retails for: £55 for 100ml (deluxe sample is 5ml)

  


Ultra sun face 30: Ultrasun's special Liposome formula protects skin from UV induced ageing. Apply it once a day for water-resistant sun protection that moisturizes, too. Perfect for face, next, decollete and hands, formulated without emulsifiers, fragrance or oil to reduce prickly heat.

     This item is definitely the most important staple product for the summer months, and admittedly I'm a bit of a sun-tan lotion avoider myself. I did actually try this out today & it doesn't give you that horrible sticky feeling, but instead feels more like a moisturiser that you can easily forget about for the rest of the day. Another amazing product for your handbag!

Retails for: £19 for 50ml (the deluxe sample is 15ml)

     Weleda pomegranate regenerating body oil: Weleda pomegranate body oil contains only pure plant oils. Rich in essential fatty acids and anti-oxidising vitamins, slather on this oil for more elastic, hydrated, smooth and supple skin. Suitable for vegans.

     This is the third product in my Glossybox that is full size! I've got to admit that I am not the biggest fan of the smell, but I have read reviews online & this bad boy seems to give amazing results!

Retails for: £19.95 100ml bottle









     I am so happy with my first glossybox, and I am definitely going to carry on subscribing! When you work out how much the products are worth together, the saving is amazing & suddenly that £10 seems like the best money you ever spent! Not only do you save all that money, but you also get given a few discount codes for some of the brands in your box. This month I got a 20% off at Illamasqua discount code, a Ciate offer where you can get a speed coat free if you buy two of their nail enamels, and a Weleda discount code to get £5 off when you spend at least £15.

     If you got a Glossybox this month, I'd love to know what was in it! Oh & I'd love to hear what your favourite Illamasqua products are, 'cus I'm probably going to use that discount code on a few goodies xo

Packages: Mac & Sigma

     So I did a little bit of online shopping. Naughty, I know! Anyway, I thought I'd do a quick blog post for you guys showing you what I bought, 'cus a few people on twitter were asking.
     From Mac I ordered brush cleanser, full eyelash curlers, travel-sized fix+ & an empty 4 pan palette. I have filled it with Naked Lunch, Woodwinked, Patina & Satin taupe, all of which I already owned.

 
         From Sigma I ordered four brushes, & got the miniature blending brush for free! So far I absolutely love them, so expect to see them in a tutorial soon!

     Sorry this wasn't very interesting, I just thought I'd show you guys what I've been getting excited about lately! What are your recent purchases? xo

Mini haul

     So I went shopping with my mum today. Cool, I know. Well, she treated me to a few goodies that I'd wanted for a while & I am ridiculously excited to try them all out! I got Estee Lauder Double Wear foundation, Dove summer glow moisturiser, and Revlon lip gloss in Peach Petal.

     My favourite purchase of the day would have to be my Estee Lauder Double Wear foundation. I'd heard great things about it and a few weeks ago I picked up a sample when I was out shopping with my friend Jess. I fell in love straight away! It's pretty full coverage, which might seem a bit much for summer, but I was looking for a full coverage foundation for nights out.
     Obviously I have only just bought it, so I can't speak too highly just yet, but I am so excited about this new addition to my foundation routine. Look out for a review in a few weeks!

     The Dove Summer Glow has been on my 'want list' for ages, and it was so cheap so I had to pick it up! I'll do a review on it in a few weeks, once I've been able to see how well it works. The last thing I bought was this Revlon lip gloss in the colour Peach Petal. This was the only product of the three that I could really talk about, because obviously the others will need a bit of time to get the feel of.
     It's such a beautiful milky pink and will look amazing over my nude lipsticks. It's not sticky either, which is always a pain, so I'm pleased!  I've swatched it for you below, & that's how it looks on my lips with no lipstick underneath. Pretty, right? I love the sleek packaging, it reminds me of Chanel and looks far more expensive than it is. My first impression is that it's a beautiful colour, has a lovely consistency and seems like one of those products that I'll become obsessed with in no time! Hopefully you'll be seeing it in my July favourites!

     Do you have any of these products? I'd love to know what your thoughts are on them! Have you guys picked up any amazing products lately that I can add to my 'want list'? xo

Dupe: Mac Satin Taupe vs Topshop's Glint

     So you like Mac's Satin Taupe eye shadow? Well, you're going to love this. I have found an amazing dupe for Satin Taupe in Topshop's limited edition collection. Meet your new best friend, Glint...

   Not only does it look amazingly similar to Satin Taupe, it also has a gorgeous silky texture and blends in so well. Even though it is an eyeshadow mousse, with a primer it stays put all day & the colour pay off is stunning. Here's a photo of the two together:

 On the left: Satin Taupe                  One the right: Glint

     Amazing, right? When I first saw it in the Topshop range I immediately thought of Satin Taupe. It's such a beautiful purpley brown that is so hard to find! It's become a staple product in my make-up routine & I absolutely love the packaging! It's cheaper than Mac too, at £8 it doesn't exactly break the bank & you get quite a bit more product than the Mac eyeshadows. A Mac eyeshadow has 1.5g of product, whereas Topshop's Glint has 5g of product!

     I really hope you guys pop in to Topshop for a cheeky swatch so that you can see for yourself how amazingly it sits on the skin. You can still buy Glint now, but it is in the limited edition collection so get it while you can! xo

Ombre hair - love it or hate it?

     A hot trend this spring/summer season has been Ombre hair, the technique of dying your hair so that it gradually fades down your hair, most commonly with the lightest section being at the ends.
So why has it become so popular? Probably because of the effortless effect it gives, making it so easy to wear with little to no effort. It's easy to do at home with a little dye and toner, and it needs very little maintenance, you can just let your hair grow without having to worry about roots! Tons of celebrities have been spotted sporting this trend, including Drew Barrymore, Lauren Conrad and Ashley Simpson.

     If you're feeling bold, you can opt for a bright slab of colour at the end of your hair. This gives a more unique look, and can provide the edge to your hair-style that you've been looking for.

     So why aren't we all going Ombre crazy? The problem is that if it's not done correctly it can back-fire so that instead of looking 'effortless', it looks more like severe roots. But if you do end up with a dramatic line instead of a gradient, toner will be your new best friend & you'll have the desired look in a matter of hours.
     It's easy to do, saves you an expensive hairdressers trip, & means that you don't need your roots tinted every few weeks. What more could you ask from a hair style? I am absolutely in love with this trend, what do you think?

My MAC palette & swatches

     Sorry that progress has been pretty slow lately. I've finally finished moving house, & my new camera is on its way in the post so the pace will be picking up soon. For now I thought I'd show you my beloved MAC palette.

 

1) Shroom                                       2) Naked Lunch

 

3)Sweet Lust

 

4) Cork                                          5)Wood-winked

6) Patina

7) Satin Taupe                                         8) Brun

 9) Aquadisiac

 

10) Da Bling                                 11) Knight-Divine

  

12) Carbon

Swatches from 1-12

 

     If you have any recommendations for my palette, please leave me a comment. What are your favourite MAC eye shadows?