GlossyBox: March 2012 - The Harrods Edition

I haven't written a GlossyBox post for a while, as I unsubscribed back when they introduced the delivery fee.  I kept myself informed, reading all the blogs to see what was in the new boxes, sometimes regretting not having the subscription still.  When I stumbled across a picture GlossyBox posted on  Facebook with the word 'Knightsbridge' - I was curious.  The next day they revealed that the March box would be Limited Edition, Harrods style.  I took the bait and read the spoiler blogs before making my decision and what sold me was that it appeared that you'd get a Burberry lipstick.   Well, when I opened my box this morning, I was more than a little upset to find no lipstick.  I was so upset in fact that I threw my box to the side and planned to properly look through it later on today (I was a tad stressed, had an interview - more on that soon).  

After my beauty tantrum (and the interview) I came home and realised that I actually still had a pretty good box, although was still confused that most of the products were available outside of Harrods. In fact only one product in my box was exclusive to Harrods.  I thought the whole idea of this months box was to give GlossyBox subs some samples of brands they might not have been able to get hold of easily.  So, what did I actually get I hear you ask?

1. Valentino Valentina Perfume Sample - This is such a lovely scent that I will definitely be spritzing for a while.  I've sprayed it onto the information card and every now and then, I get a whiff of it.  The card reads: "A daring and addictive, oriental, floral fragrance.  A true feminine classic, twisted with the pure insolence of Italian ingredients." Full size (100ml), this retails at £71.00.  

2. Molton Brown Vitalising Vitamin A,B + C for Bath and Shower - This smells like it would wake you up on a Monday morning.  The card reads: "Vitamin-rich fruit extracts boost the skin and invigorate the senses." Full size (300ml), this retails at £18.00.

3. SKII Skin Signature - I'm not in the market for a new moisturiser as I'm still smitten with my all Liz Earle skin care routine, but this one feels nice.  The card reads: "An anti-aging moisturising cream which helps to re-condition the skin, improve its resilience and leave the complexion smooth and radiant." Full size (80g), this retails at a whopping £127.00.  

4. Lancome Hypnose Drama Mascara - I used this, this morning whilst doing my make up and I have to admit, it's bloody good.  I don't really need another mascara as I'm currently going between Benefits 'They're Real' and MUFE 'Smoky Lash' - but this was too good not to consider.  I will test it out a few more times but I may have to use the 20% off coupon with it.  The card reads: "Instant full body volume mascara." Full size (6.5ml), this retails at £21.00.

5. Clarins Extra Firming Body Cream - I think everyone got a sample of this in their box.  I haven't tried it out yet so can't give any first impressions.  The card reads: "A formula rich in regenerating and firming plant extracts which immediately helps to lift and tone, for firmer skin and a younger looking body." Full size (200ml), this retails at £35.50.

6. Shu Uemura Cleansing Beauty Oil - I got a small sachet of this, but again, I'm not in the market for a cleanser.  The card reads: "A 3 in 1 cleanser, make-up remover and eye make-up remover that leaves skin soft, balanced and non-oily." Full size (150ml), this retails at £28.00.  

Overall I'm happy with what I received.  I'm not 100% sure if I will continue the subscription yet, but I'm certainly tempted.  Did you get this months GlossyBox? 

Glossy Box #3 July

(L-R) Illamasqua Lipgloss, Weleda Body Oil, Ciate Nail Enamel, XEN-TAN, Nouveau Lashes

It's that time of month again, and with all of the Glossy Box community left a bit baffled after their last box, we were extremely hesitant to receive the July box.  Luckily for us, Team Glossy took our points on board and have really redeemed themselves this month.  

First of all I was extremely excited to see that four out of my five products were in fact full size.  Secondly, they included two brands which I have really wanted to try, Illamasqua and XEN-TAN.  They kept a familiar theme to last month, this time it was 'Ready-Set-Glow'.  

#1 Ciate 

CIATE NAIL ENAMEL IN KITTEN HEELS

How cute are the bottles? Packaging aside, I'm a fan of nail enamels but when it comes to red I'm never too sure.  I like that this has a slight shimmer to it though.  I guess we'll see! 

NOUVEAU LASHES

I go through phases when it comes to lashes, so I'm looking forward to trying them out.  I think these would be best for a night out as they are quite voluminous and would make too much of an 'Essex' impact if worn during the day.  

ILLAMASQUA SHEER LIPGLOSS IN EXPLODE

I've never tried any of this brands products, although I've heard great things about them.  The only downfall I found whilst looking at this product was that it's extremely sticky.  

XEN-TAN DEEP BRONZE LUXE

I'm really excited to try this, although I prefer fake tanners where you can see what you're applying, to avoid streaks.  The Mama Mio body scrub from last months box will come in handy when applying this!

WELEDA BODY OIL

This is the only product I was disappointed with.  I have fairly oily skin and think that oil might make it worse.  I will still give this a try as you should never judge a book by its cover and all that jazz!  

So, what am I most excited to try? 

1.  XEN-TAN/Illamasqua

2. Ciate Nail Enamel

3. Nouveau Lashes

4. Weleda Body Oil

That's all on my first impressions, check back in two weeks time where I'll be posting product reviews on everything seen in this months GlossyBox!

Glossy Box #2 June: Product Reviews

This blog has been well overdue, what with my third GlossyBox on its way!  I've been super busy at Push PR, can't quite believe i've been here seven weeks almost, I never want to leave. Is anyone interested in a little catch up of what I've been up to?  If so leave a comment below! 

It's about time I got onto the product reviews from my second GlossyBox.  I was extremely excited and curious to see how the girls over at Team Glossy were going to trump the May box.  Unfortunately, Team Glossy have received mixed reviews with their latest box. I loved the whole idea of theming the boxes, but couldn't quite get over the fact that one product was not luxurious at all.

As a small recap, the June box included:

(L-R) Mama Mio Body Buff, Lalique Perfume, BioEffect EGF Serum, OPI and Batiste.  These reviews will be in order of popularity, 1 being my most favourite, 5 being my least favourite. 

#1 OPI

I was really excited about the OPI sample, which I immediately donned for a night out.  It has fast become a favourite product of mine and without a doubt I'd repurchase this in a heartbeat. 

Would I Re-Purchase?

Yes, without a doubt. 

#2 Mama Mio Body Buff

This product is amazing.  I've never had such soft and beautiful legs in my entire life.  The micro beads really exfoliate your legs well and plus it smells amazing.

Would I Re-Purchase?

Yes, this is a must have for fake tan junkee's too as it helps the fake tan glide on without the streaking!

#3 Lalique Perfume

In all honesty, I haven't worn this everyday.  I do however love it and think it's one of those 'special occasion' perfumes for when I want to feel, look and smell a million dollars. 

Would I Re-Purchase?

This brand is known for it's hefty price tags, but I'd definitely put it on my Christmas list!

#4 Batiste

Surprisingly, this isn't my least favourite product.  I use this product a lot, even before GlossyBox sent it to me, so it was nice to have a handbag size for travelling around.  I still feel a bit let down that this was included in the GlossyBox as it's not luxy. 

Would I Re-Purchase?

Always and forever, Batiste is a must buy for anyone. 

#5 Bioeffect EGF Serum

 I don't think this product actually does anything for my skin at least.  I really wasn't impressed with it, even more so when I saw the whopping £125.00 price tag for about 15ml?!

Would I Re-Purchase?

Even if I won the lottery, no. 

So that's it, I've just recieved news that my July box is at home, so this may be a very Glossy day on Non Optional.  What were your thoughts on this months products?

Glossy Box #2 June

It was like Christmas morning when I woke up this morning to find my GlossyBox left on the doorstep.  I was a good girl and waited until I got to the office before ripping it open.  Everyone will be in agreement that this box had a hard reputation to maintain and I'm on the fence as to whether it did or not, but more of that later!  Here are the products in all their glory:

(L-R) Mama Mio Body Buff, Lalique Perfume, BioEffect EGF Serum, OPI and Batiste.

So let's get into the little on the fence debate I'm having.  When I signed up, it was to get 5 luxury samples every month to try before splashing the cash.  Last time I checked, Batiste was readily available at the pound shop, not exactly luxury now is it?  On the other hand, this month they themed the box for the summer, which I thought was a great idea and also something that could keep this company versatile and original.  They've also made up for the Batiste with an array of discounts, 3 in total.  

Now onto my first thoughts for each product...

BATISTE ORIGNAL DRY SHAMPOO

Obviously, you can guess I wasn't best pleased when I opened this, but considering the theme, I can see why they put it in.  I swear by Batiste so having a handbag sized one will be really useful.  

BIOEFFECT EGF SERUM

This serum is supposed to stimulate the growth of skin cells, hydrate and give your skin a younger finish.  I will try this after cleansing my skin later on.  I'm hoping this product will grow on me and make more sense after use, at the moment I'm a bit WTF?

LALIQUE PERFUME

GlossyBox redeemed themselves with this product.  I'm a sucker for perfume, and this smells gorgeous. It's quite floral, with what I think a bit of a spicy tone to it.  i'm definitely going to alternate this with my everyday perfume.  

OPI DESIGNER SERIES MINI NAIL LACQUER

Firstly, how gorgeously sweet is this miniture OPI?!  I have only one of these polishes, always tempted by the Katy Perry collection.  I love this colour, it's a mix of a raspberry pink mixed with a purple and blue glitter.  It's also the perfect colour for my outfit for tomorrow night, so I believe this could be fate.  The only problem with this is that the colour isn't stated, so if I were to re-order than I wouldn't know where to start.  

MAMA MIO OMEGA BODY BUFF

The last product was some body buff exfoliator.  Now, this again is another of those fated products, as I intend to fake tan so will need to 'buff' my skin before hand.  I've been told that Mama Mio are a great brand so I'm excited to try this out.  This is also a hefty sample, all 125ml of it!

In order of most excited to try, here they come:

1. OPI

2. Mama Mio

3. Lalique

4. BioEffect

5. Batiste (I already know this works..)

So that's it for this months first impressions.  As always, two weeks from today I will review products after use.  I'd love to hear your thoughts on this months box if you received it or are merely reading this blog post.  

I hope you're all well and enjoyed todays sunshine.  

Glossy Box #1 May: Product Reviews

Can you believe that two weeks ago the beauty community were dancing around in their bedrooms with their first ever Glossy Box? It's been two weeks now, a reasonable amount of time to trial the products and find favourites.  For those of you who didn't see any bloggers post on Glossy Box, then this is what we got:

(L-R)

Alterna (Caviar Anti-Aging Rapid Repair Spray)

Como Shambhala (Invigorate Body Lotion)

NARS (Orgasm Illuminator)

Bionova (Bioactive Cleanser for Normal/Dry Skin)

All for Eve (Eve Red Lipstick)

I was extremely impressed with this months box and have used the products in it pretty much every day.  So in order of favourite products, here are my mini reviews.  

#1 - Alterna

I love hair products and this one hasn't disappointed so far.  When I first used it, I applied too close and too near to my roots which made my hair look greasy.  After correcting this, I've fallen in love with it.  It smells gorgeous and leaves an enviable shine to your hair.  It's a perfect size to pop in your handbag if you have a long day ahead and may need a hair touch up here or there.  

Would I re-purchase?

More than likely.  It's a great product to refresh your hair in the summer months and help give it shine during winter, when the cold leaves it limp and lifeless.  

#2 - NARS

I was a NARS virgin before Glossy Box came into my life, and I want to try even more of their products now.  I have used this illuminator in every way possible: mixed with foundation, as a primer, as a highlighter and as a blusher.  For me, I found the best route was as a highlighter, as I can sometimes get quite oily skin I didn't want to promote more sheen by using with foundation/as a base.  It really does give you a gorgeous glow, and in the right light makes you look fresh and healthy.  

Would I re-purchase?

Definitely, although as this is a full size product I don't think I will need to for a while!

#3 - Bionova

Now, when I saw this I was a bit upset, I'd just gotten my Liz Earle and didn't want to part with it.  After trying it out, I realised it was a good cleanser, but perhaps not for my skin as it wasn't for my particular skin type.  It foams up nicely on your face, and leaves it smooth to the touch.  The smell of the product reminded me of a relatives perfume, which gave the product instant nostalgia.    

Would I re-purchase?

At the moment, no.  I am happy with my Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish, but in the future if I found myself wanting to try a new(ish) cleanser then I'd get this one again, but for oily/combination skin.  

#4 - All For Eve by Daniel Sandler

Every girl needs a red lipstick in their collection and this is a gorgeous true rouge.  The only one I had was from a cheap drugstore brand and it didn't work so well.  I haven't used this product solely on it's own, pairing it with a nude colour to tone it down to a gorgeous pink, which I felt more comfortable with.  The consistency is lovely, not at all drying.  

Would I re-purchase?

Probably not.  I would like a deeper red lipstick but I'm interested in the concept of the All For Eve line.

#5 - Como Shambhala

There's no denying this lotion smells gorgeous but I don't usually shower/bathe in the morning, which made this a little weird on application.  My body was slowly winding down for the evening and then all of a sudden it was being startled by the tingle of peppermint.  If I wasn't so in love with my sleeping time, I'd definitely have used this more as it is extremely moisturising and refreshing.  

Would I re-purchase?

Unfortunately no, but perhaps I could find a more 'relaxing' scented moisturiser.  

So 3/5 for a re-purchase isn't bad at all! 

Now to begin the countdown to the June box and the anticipation of will Team Glossy beat their first ever UK box?

  

Glossy Box #1 May

If you have not received your box yet and you do not want to spoil the surprise, then this post isn't for you!

This will be a new 2 part feature on my blog every month.  I will firstly tell you the contents in one post and my first thoughts and then about two weeks later, I will review the products and order them from best - worst.  

Eagerly awaiting dispatch, my GlossyBox is finally here and it is so beautiful I cannot tell you!  It arrived at about 7.30am although I was still in bed at the time so when I saw it on the side I was so excited.  

I was really surprised at how beautifully it was packaged, after all this only costs £10 and you don't pay postage or packing.  

Once I saw the words NARS and Orgasm, I very nearly tore the packaging right open.  This card details what you get, what you do with it and why it's great.  You get a lovely little message on the back too!

So this is what Team Glossy had lovingly packed for us.  Five high end beauty samples, although the NARS looks full size to me!

*I can confirm that the NARS Orgasm Illuminator IS full sized, to buy this would be £21.50.  Thanks Team Glossy!*

Contents:

1 x NARS Orgasm Illuminator 30ml

"This silky, shimmering highlighter creates instant radiance, giving a perfectly dewy spring glow."

It also says that it is flattering on ALL skin types.  Now, when GlossyBox first came about this brand was rumoured to be in the first box, which lead me hoping for something from the Orgasm or Laguna range.  I tried to swatch but you couldn't see much on the picture.  It picks up light beautifully.

1x All For Eve Red Lipstick

"This long lasting colour was designed to instil courage and poise in all who wear it."

It's a gorgeous red, one I'm dying to wear.  Here's a quick swatch:

1x Bionova Lab Bioactive Cleanser for Normal/Dry Skin

"This cleanser gently removes all traces of impurities without damaging the skin's natural barrier system."  I'm in love with my Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish at the moment so I wonder if this could rival it?

1x Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Rapid Repair Spray

"Treat your hair with this vitamin packed finishing spray that immediately transforms the look and feel of hair."

It says to use this all day to revive dull and dry hair, so I will definitely be trying this out on my hair after straightening.  It smells lovely too!

And last but by no means least...

1x COMO Shambhala Invigorate Body Lotion

"Refresh yourself with this light hydrating body moisturiser."

This is best used in the morning, when I smelt it I felt really refreshed.  I can't wait to try this out on a really sleepy morning to wake me up.  

So that's it for May's box, I'm really excited for the NARS and Alterna finishing spray.  Have you got your May box? What were your first thoughts?

If you like the look of this you can order a June box now at:

www.glossybox.co.uk

And the angels started to sing 'Hallelujah'.

Last night, I made a beauty find that would trump all beauty discoveries for years to come.  Ever heard of a BirchBox?  You know, that insanely cool and cheap subscription which sends you five high end beauty products per month?  Well many UK beauty bloggers and gurus alike were devastated when they couldn't get involved.  Fear not, GlossyBox has arrived!  For only £10pm you could have five luxurious high end products straight to your door.  

Pretty isn't she?

Yes, the GlossyBox is the UK equivalent and it hopes to rival the BirchBox.  How will it achieve this?  Well they are called GlossyDots, you can earn them simply by reviewing the products you receive each month on the GlossyBox website.  Earn 20 points and get a free box, which is a pretty fair deal.  

This went viral around all fashion and beauty bloggers last night and rumour has it that one of the products could be from NARS.  If this is true, I'm hoping for Orgasm blush or Laguna bronzer (but it's NARS, i'll be happy with what I get).  

What's your verdict girls?  

Head over to www.glossybox.co.uk now to order your first box!