Glossybox May 2012 - 1st Anniversary Box

Hello ladies,

Two posts in one day you lucky things!

Yesterday i received the May Glossybox* which actually happens to be the one year anniversary Glossybox too! If you can scope back i actually reviewed the first Glossybox back in May last year!

The thing with Glossybox is that i absolutely love the element of surprise, it really is such a good feeling! and with Glossybox that is what you are getting every month! I really dont think it is a lose lose situation because even though you spend your £10 not knowing what goodies you will receive but each and every time, the packaging and contents themselves are worth above and beyond that amount!

Lets have a little look at the products in my box.

♥ Noble Isle Summer Rising Bath & Shower Gel ♥

Noble Isle is a new British bath and body brand inspired by the natural an cultural riches of the British Isles. The Summer Rising bath & shower gel has a lovely scent, that is familar to one that i have tried before i just cant put my finger on it and contains elderflower and gooseberry. I love shower gel samples, they are so handy for travelling and love the cute little bottle this comes with. This is a 75ml generous sample size with 250ml retailing for £20.

♥ Lolita Lempicka L'Eau en Blanc & Si Lolita ♥

Fragrance samples, some people love them and some people loathe them. I personally love them especially if they are combined with other amazing products. I love them because i get to smell scents that i wouldnt personally try or pick up myself. However, neither of these are to my particular tastes and smell a bit too 'old' for my liking. Having said that its a pretty pricey perfume with the 50ml of the L'Eau en Blanc costing £49.

♥ Uniq one All In One Hair Treatment ♥

I love these handy little hair treatment sprays that pop up quite regularly in monthly beauty boxes as it lets you try new goodies for your hair without shelling out a fortune in the first place. The Uniq one All in one hair treatment is to help repair dry and damaged hair, to keep frizz at bay and to be used as a heat protectant amongst other things. It sounds like a pretty multipurpose product which i am looking forward to trying. Cheap Smells actually stock this for £9.95 for a 150ml bottle so if it is any good i shall be buying it for myself. 

♥ Lets Go Lashes ♥

I do love lashes! I love receiving lashes in beauty boxes even more! I love boxes that contain more make up than skin care so lashes are always a winner. These are by Lets Go whose lashes i have never heard of or seen before although they are part of the Nouveau beauty group. The lashes i received were the Lets Go Tease Strip lashes in No 2 that cost £8.95 on their website. I will be wearing these on a night out tomorrow so i shall report back!

♥ Weleda body lotion ♥

The Weleda brand pops up quite frequently in beauty boxes. I had to google a little about this one as the box and bottle are actually in German. After translating the weleda website i found that this is in fact a rose scented body lotion. It contains wild rose oil to help moisturise skin and retain elasticity. Not a product i am particularly overwhelmed with if im honest. A full size 100ml bottle retails for £11.95 making this 10ml sample worth around £1.20. 

♥ Glossybox Compact Mirror ♥

As its their Birthday they added another little product this month in the form of a small compact mirror that has a magnified and normal side so will definitely come in handy.

Can i just add a sidenote saying how much i love the packaging? This month Glossybox have seriously gone above and beyond! The gorgeous tissue paper, special edition ribbon it is just all so lovely! 

Happy Birthday Glossybox! You can buy yours here.

Did you receive this months Box? What are your thoughts?

xx

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Fifi Lapin Phone Cover

Hello honeys,

I am constantly swapping and changing the cover on my Iphone 4, usually something either ultra girly and cute or blingtastic and quite tacky - either way i do love a good phone cover and have gone through quite a few in my time! 

I was recently contacted and sent my new Iphone 4 cover by Iconemesis a online mobile phone cover website that caters for the 3g and 4g Iphones. I chose this gorgeous Fifi Lapin Cupcake case after seeing it on quite a few other blogs and absolutely falling in love with it although i must admit i did have a hard time choosing between this one and this bow one. 

In real life this cover is absolutely gorgeous. The background is a pale purple shade with Fifi on the front dressed as a cupcake with a red cherry on her head. It fits so well and snug onto my phone and has a glossy finish. The case itself doesnt feel cheap and flimsy and you can tell it is of better quality than some of the cheapy covers i have acquired in the past, even my boyfriend commented on the quality. 

The design itself is beautiful and includes a cupcake which is always a winner with me. This particular case retails for £24.99 and the Iconemesis website offers free delivery. I received my case the day after it was delivered too, so extremely quick!  

Also, coming soon to the Iconemesis website is a create your own iphone case that sounds intriguing! 

What case is your phone currently sporting? 

xx

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MAC Reel Sexy Lipstick

Hello my loves, 

I blogged recently about MAC Reel Sexy lipstick in my recent MAC Haul however i promised i would do a more in depth review of it and as i am true to my word, here it is!

MAC Reel Sexy lipstick was released with the recent Reel Sexy collection and i must admit it was the only thing that i actually fancied from the collection. I do believe that this collection was released in the UK before the US (Surprisingly!) so swatches of any of the products on the internet were few and far between so i purchased online without seeing any pictures and really just going by descriptions! 

Boy did my gamble pay off! Reel Sexy is described by MAC as light bright coral and has a Amplified Creme finish. This lipstick was instantly opaque and bright and went on my lips with ease and didnt take much effort to apply. This lipstick definitely leans more peach than orange as i tend to find that lipsticks with too much orange in do not suit my skintone. For instance, Watch Me Simmer, a orange lipstick that came out in this collection and looks stunning is way too bright for me to pull off.

The colour itself reminds me very much of Costa Chic without the shimmer or frost finish. As it is an amplified finish it is bright but in my opinion beautiful. It feels gorgeous on the lips, isnt drying in the slightest and i find it to be quite moisturising and so creamy. 

This is one of the most gorgeous lipsticks i own and i am so glad i picked it up. I have quite a few MAC coral and peach shade lipsticks in my collection (mostly limited edition ones) but currently this is by far my favourite. 

I believe that this is currently sold out online but the Reel Sexy collection is still available in stores so you may be able to get it still. 

Did you get anything from this collection? What are your feelings towards orange lipsticks? 

xx

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Review: YSL Le Teint Touche Eclat Foundation

Hello sweethearts, 

Yves Saint Laurent are launching a new foundation named Le Teint Touche Eclat that will be available in 22 shades. Twenty years after the launch of Touch Eclat YSL have put the magic of the highlighter in a foundation to achieve the same illuminating effect but for the whole face.

I recently received a sample of the new YSL foundation and have been wearing it daily so i can give you my thoughts. 

YSL Le Teint Touche Eclat Shade B10 compared with NARS Sheer Glow in Mont Blanc
The foundation comes in 3 under tones, Beige Rose (BR), Beige (B) and Beige Dore (BD). Beige Rose has 6 foundation shades, Beige with the most at 9 foundation shades and Beige Dore has 7 foundation shades. I opted for Beige (B) 10. This was a complete guess as there arent really any swatches or pictures of this foundation as of yet on the internet as it hasnt been released yet, however i knew i would probably be the lightest shade and i must admit i did pick wisely as this colour is a great match.

In the bottle it looked quite dark, but i swatched a little on my hand as soon as i received it and as you can see from the picture it actually looks pale in comparison to my hand but it blended in with ease and the colour was fine. I have never personally tried YSL Touche Eclat even though it is an iconic product so i cant compare this foundation with this. 

♥ Coverage ♥

I found this to be good medium coverage foundation foundation that covered any blemishes and imperfections that i had. Unlike some higher coverage foundations i didnt find that it felt heavy or too mask like in the slightest. It was quite glowy and isnt a matte finish foundation which i really like. My skin looked radiant and healthy. I did apply my usual concealer (Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer) and Powder (MAC Mineralize skinfinish natural) over the top. 

♥ Packaging ♥

I only received a sample (10ml) size bottle of the foundation to try however the original packaging on the normal size 30ml foundation is a simple tall, rounded glass bottle with Yves Saint Laurent written simply on the bottle in gold text and it has a gold lid and pump. It fits in with the YSL make up range extremely well.

♥ Price ♥

This foundation will retail for £28 which i think for a high end foundation and brand is an extremely good price point making it cheaper than other alternatives from Chanel and NARS. I spend around £30 on my foundation so i would happily pay £28 for this. 

♥ Shade Range ♥

As i mentioned above there are 22 shades across 3 undertones which i do believe would include a lot of peoples skin tones and colourings. I wear shade B10 and usually use shade Mont Blanc in NARS Sheer Glow and NC/W15 in MAC. I am pretty much usually the lightest shade in most foundations and this is a perfect match.

♥ Application ♥

As with all foundation i apply it using the Sigma flat top kabuki brush. I apply a dollop of foundation on my forehead, cheeks, chin and nose and stipple it all over my face, i then go back and buff it all in. The foundation is quite thin in consistency as you can probably spot from the photos however it wasnt too runny and i didnt find you had to work quickly with it like some thicker foundations. It was quite a dream to apply actually that was quick and easy.

♥ Overall ♥

I really did love using this foundation. I loved the coverage that it provided and the glow that it gave my skin. The only downside to this foundation was how it wore on my skin. As i have said a few times, my skin is normal/combination and can get a little oily over the course of the day. I found that this foundation wore on my skin around my nose and made me look a little shiny whether i used a primer or not. After a few hours the foundation wore on my nose and chin area, which is where my foundation usually wears so this isnt unusual for me. As ive said before, NARS Sheer Glow is my favourite foundation and in some ways i find the YSL foundation similar to that, especially the glow that it gives and the coverage. I would especially recommend this foundation for those with dry skin as i dont think it would highlight dry patches. 

The YSL Le Teint Touche Eclat Foundation is due to launch nationwide on July 9th 2012.
Are you excited for this launch?
xx
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Top 5 Spring/Summer Nail Polishes

Hello my lovelies,

If you may remember i started doing a little Top 5 series of my favourite products before and have actually done something similar to my favourite Spring polishes but that was around a year ago so i thought i would do an updated version!

As ive mentioned many a times Spring/Summer to me, screams coral and orange! I think its the perfect colour for when the sun is shining and makes me happy! If i ever dont know what to pop on my nails i can almost guarantee that i will plump for a peach! 

So without further ado, heres my current top 5 Spring/Summer polishes that i will be sporting in the coming months...in no particular order may i add! Im not THAT good! 

♥ Look Beauty 'Flamingo' Nail Pop* ♥

I blogged about Look Beauty in this blog post and since then have reached for it quite frewuently! This is the most perfect creamy peach shade that goes on opaque within one coat and is just a stunning colour, especially paired with a gold glittery nail.

♥ OPI 'Mod About You' ♥

Mod about you is a milky pink shade that verges slightly on the lilac side. It is quite pale but looks absolutely stunning with a tan! OPI are probably my absolute favourite when it comes to Nail Polish brands and even though i have quite a small collection of their polishes theyre all beauts.

♥ Essie 'Haute As Hello' ♥

I have 3 Essie polishes and admittedly they are all in the coral/peach family. Out of the ones i own, Haute As Hello is definitely one of my faves and my most used. As you can tell from the swatch this actually dries matte which i personally dont like and either add a glitter or top coat to give it some shine. I do love Essie polishes, both for price, colour range and consistency and cant wait to purchase some more (Although i cant find them in any Boots or Superdrug near me!)

♥ Illamasqua 'Nomad'*♥

Illamasqua Nomad is the newest polish to my collection and actually came out with the Human Fundamentalism collection. It is a beautiful mint green that again is creamy and completely opaque within 2 coats. This is the only shade of green that i actually own as i never thought they suited me but i really am in love with this.

♥ Barry M 'Peach Sorbet' ♥

I love Barry M polishes, I have a select few that i go back to religiously, especially this one and also Pink Flamingo that very nearly made it into the top 5 also! For £2.99 they really are wonderful polishes! This is very similar to the Look Beauty Flamingo, maybe a little too similar but what can i say im a sucker for the peaches! 

I think ive got the right balance between peach, green and pink for perfect summer nails although maybe a little too much peaches? I could have happily continued and chosen more (maybe i should have done a top10?!) as i found this to be quite a challenge!

What colours will you be sporting on your nails this Summer? Any polishes that i need in my collection?

xx

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Neom Sensuous Body Wash & Lotion

Hello again ladies, 


Neom is a brand that i have featured a couple of times on my blog in the past, however usually in the form of their gorgeous candles. However, I have recently been using some of their Sensuous range in particular their organic body wash* and body lotion*. 

The scent of both products contains Ylang Ylang, Frankincense and Patchouli that smells amazing, however they smell quite strong and spicy making it in my opinion suitable for both men and women as i dont find them a particularly girly scent, especially the body lotion.  Pretty unusual to any other smells i have used before but smells so relaxing and comforting and is such a treat to use in the shower. 


The body wash is also packed with soothing Aloe Leaf, Chamomile Flower and Apricot Fruit extract, giving it a citrus, singly scent. It feels extremely gentle on the skin and not in anyway harsh leaving skin feeling soft and cleansed. 
The body wash contains 74% certified organic ingredients and 26% natural ingredients.

I followed using the body wash in the shower with the body lotion that as i mentioned has the same scent and has a blend of Vitamin A & E packed Shea Butter, Macadamia Nut & Rosemary Leaf. It leaves skin feeling extremely hydrated and moisturised whilst leaving it silky smooth, locking in the scent used in the shower. It feels non greasy which is always a bonus for body lotions and it sinks in quickly so doesnt transfer on to your clothes! May i also add that the body lotion was in fact a winner of the Bazaar Hot 100 Beauty Awards for skin in need of a luxurious moisture boost! Fancy! 
The body lotion contains 95% certified organic ingredients and 5% natural ingredients. 

I must add a note on the packaging. I love both the boxes and the bottles that both of these products come in, they also have a pop up cap and not a screw top so you can distribute as little or as much product as you desire. They bottles are simple yet quite expensive looking and look lovely in my bathroom. 
Both products are a whopping 240ml with the Body Wash costing £18 and the Body Lotion costing £25.
You can view all products on the Neom website here.
Have you tried any products from the Neom range?
xx
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Liz Earle Make Up Collection

Hello lovelies, 

I was recently sent a couple of products from the new Liz Earle colour collection that launched a couple of weeks ago. The new make up range has been four years in the making that results in effortless, easy to wear make up must haves that reveal naturally beautiful skin. 

The range is split into 5 categories, face, cheeks, eyes, lips and accessories. I was sent a Liz Earle Healthy Glow Powder Blush in Shade 04 Rose, the Liz Earle Perfect Fix Concealer in Shade 02 Fair and the Blush Brush.

♥ Healthy Glow Powder Blush - 04 Rose ♥

The Liz Earle powder blushes are available in 7 shades. The shade i was sent, 04 Rose is a warm rose pink colour with a slight hint of shimmer. As it had a slight hint of shimmer and isnt completely matte it gave a lovely sheen to the apple of the cheeks. I found it to be highly pigmented even with one swipe and could quite easily be built up if desired. The packaging is sleek, yet classic and is navy blue with shimmer much similar to the Liz Earle Sheer Skin Tint. Each blush has 6.5g of product and retails for £16.50 which is in line with MAC blushes. 

♥ Perfect Fix Concealer - 02 Fair ♥

The Perfect Fix Concealer is available in 7 shades again ranging from shade 01 Ultra Light to Shade 07 Deep. The shade i received, 02 fair was perfect for my pale skin tone. It was highly pigmented and creamy, applied to my skin like a dream and blended with ease, exactly what you want in a concealer. I found that this was fine for both under eyes and blemishes and preferred to use it and blend with my fingers instead of opting for a brush. The packaging is a simple silver mirrored finish tube that swivels up. The concealer has 2g of product and retails for £13.50. 

♥ Blush Brush ♥

My absolute favourite product out of everything i was sent! I am absolutely in love with make up brushes so was so so excited to receive this in my little package! The new Liz Earle make up range includes 3 make up brushes, a blush brush, powder brush and precision brush. I received the blush brush. It is honestly one of the softest brushes i have ever used, feels so nice on the skin and not scratchy in the slightest and as it is slightly angled it applies blush like a dream and gives a precise and effortless blush application. This is priced at £15 which i think is a amazing price for this brush and would definitely buy myself! I have my eye on the powder brush that looks amazing also and think that will be my next buy! They have a clear, see through handle with Liz Earle written on them and the type of brush and a silver, metal ferrule. 

Overall, this is a lovely make up collection that i feel really compliments the Liz Earle skincare range. As i said, it has been 4 years in the making and i think they have produced some lovely products. I have been using Liz Earle for 3 years and have loved and repurchased their products many times.

Have you tried any products from the new Liz Earle make up collection?

xx

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