November Glossybox

I don't often do a blog post on Glossybox, usually because the blogosphere is awash with posts and I'm generally too lazy! But hey-ho thought I'd share with you what I received this month.

I am sure you all know everything there is to know about Glossybox and if I talked about them it would be like teaching your Grandmother to suck eggs, but if you don't know about them you can read more here.

So the rundown on November's box:

• Vichy Idealia Life Serum 
• Emite micronized Eyeshadow in Nect
• Yves Rocher Cocoa & Pistachio Nut hand cream
• Elegant Touch Rapid Dry for Nails
• B. Complete long lasting nail polish in Matador

I've only tried the Emite eyeshadow so far.

 

This is a really pretty soft shimmery ivory. It lasts well and the colour payoff is good. Would say it rivals my eyeshadow favourites Mac but at £16.80 a pop they are a tad more expensive so don't think I will be swapping over. I have heard of Emite before as I had a set of their eyelash curlers in a previous Glossybox and were very impressed with them.

I'm looking forward to trying the Elegant Touch Rapid Dry; as anything which dries my nails faster is a bonus and I remember my Mum using something simliar when I was a kid and she swore by it, so we'll see.

I'm loving red polish this season so was really pleased with the colour polish that I got and can't wait to try it out.

So do you subscribe to Glossybox?

What do you think of this months box? 

April Glossybox

I don't normally post about Glossybox (read that as I've previously posted about it once), primarily because there are so many other (better) posts written about it that I don't think the bloggersphere really needs another post on the subject matter. But I am SO excited about what I received that I just had to share!

I had totally forgotten until I opened the outer packaging that April's box was another themed box. This time in collaboration with Pearl Lowe. I love the themed boxes, or more precisely the packaging of the themed boxes. I keep these boxes and store all manner of things in them from my muslin cloths, to nail polishes through to photos. Do you keep the boxes and if so what do you store in them?

This month it is the Spring Fever box and in my parcel I got:

• SunSense Daily Face SPF 50+ Invisible Tint Finish. This is made in Australia and this product offers a broad spectrum sunscreen (which you would expect from an Australian company) with a sheer matte tint. I mostly use a tinted moisturiser with SPF in the warmer months so I am really keen to try this product. The only downside with the sample is it has one of those annoying snap off tops, so once it's open that's it, it's open to the elements and as there is more in this little tube than I would use in one day, I am probably going to have to keep it in a pot. (Just a little bugbear). This product retails for £18.50 for 75g and the sample size is 10g.
• Nip + Fab Dry Skin Fix Body Butter in Coconut Latte. I've heard of Nip + Fab but have not tried any of their products until now. I tried this for the first time last night and it is a lovely rich but light lotion. I love coconut but couldn't quite get my head around what this scent reminded me of, until I asked Mr B.P. and he said PLAY-DOH, and Oh God is he right, it smells just like it, which has put me off slightly but I will keep using it! This product retails for £9.95 for 200ml and the sample size is 50ml.
• ModelCo Cheek + Lip Tint in Rosy Red. This is the one product that I'm not so sure about. I really don't like these tint products and I would say this is quite like a stain. I found it to be very matte on the lip, so I think I will stick to using it on my cheeks only. I received a full sized product which is £15 for 10ml
• So Elixir Purple Yves Rocher Eau de Parfum. Now I know a lot of you don't like receiving perfume samples in your subscription boxes but I don't wear perfume an awful lot and if they come in cute dinky little bottles like this one, then I am happy! As soon as I read it had a mix of tuberose, vetiver and patchoouli I was sold. I can see me getting a lot of use out of this scent. This product retails for £44 for 50ml and this sample was 5ml
• Essie Nail polish in Nice is Nice. This is a gorgeous light lilac with a hint of grey, which will be great through the Spring and Summer months. Anyone who has read my blog long enough will know of my love for Essie polishes. I have posted a number of NOTD using their polishes and recommended them numerous times on other blogs, so much so that I should get commission from Essie hehe! I think I literally squealed when I found out this was inside (I am easily pleased). A full sized product came in this box which is 13.5ml for £7.99.

So all in all I am totally stoked with this months box . Do you subscribe to Glossybox and if so what did you get? Also are you a read from the 'magazine' first kinda gal or do you just sling that aside and rip right through that tissue paper?! I would love to know! (I am the former).

Loves and Loathes - October

Whoah two posts in one day, I must be cooking on gas!  OK I know this is a bit late for October but if you've read the post below you will see I've been globetrotting!

Anyway, this is something I am going to try and do at the end of each month - my loves and loathes. It will be a random collection of all things I have liked and disliked for that month, so it could include, films, books, food, drink, fashion, make-up - pretty much anything goes.

Ok lets get too it......

First up is my read - South Riding by Winifred Holtby.  There was the adaptation of this on telly last year I think, starring Nathaniel Parker.  I'm usually a read the book first, watch the film/adaptation later, kind of gal but when this came out on t.v. I am ashamed to say I hadn't heard of it, so watched it, totally enjoyed it and when I saw the book in my local bookshop thought I have to read it.

'When Sarah Burton returns to her hometown as headmistress she is full of ambition, determined to create a successful school and to inspire her girls to take all they can from life.  But in the aftermath of the First World War, the country is in depression and ideals are hard won.  Lydia Holly, the scholarship girl from the shacks, is the most brilliant student Sarah has ever taught, but when her mother's health fails, her education must be sacrificed.  Robert Carne of Maythorpe Hall stands for everything Sarah despises: his family has farmed the South Riding for generations, its position uncontested.  Yet Sarah cannot help being drawn to this proud, haunted - and almost ruined - man.  South Riding is a rich, panoramic novel, bringing vividly to life a rural community on the brink of change'.

I would say if you've seen the adaptation and liked it then you will like the book even more.

Yankee Candle in Mandarin Cranberry.  This is such a nice mix and I've been burning it since the end of summer (when did summer actually start let alone end?!) as it is the perfect blend of summer and autumn scents.  I started burning this after reluctantly putting away my Wax Lyrical Cottage Garden candle, which is my favourite candle of all time.

My final love is Yves Rocher Instant Anti-wrinkle Moisturizer.  Like many I got this in my October Glossybox  I have found it to be a really fresh scented easily absorbed moisturiser.  Although not so sure about the Anti-Wrinkle properties LOL.

My one loath of the month is MUA's Undressed eyeshadow pallette.  I know this is big in the beauty blogging world and is a great price at only £4.00 (currently £3.00) at Superdrug but there just weren't enough matte shadows in it for me and worse still I 'think' I might have be slightly allergic to it.  I've used a couple of the colours a couple of times and both times it has made my eyes water slightly.

This means I am very reluctant to use it again.  I have only used a couple of the colours and swatched a couple of others, so I am GIVING THIS AWAY!!!!!! If someone out there would like this then just drop me an email with your details and I will pop it in the post to you.  Don't all rush at once but first come first served so to speak.

So what have you been loving and loathing in October?

Glossybox October 2012 Review

Ok, I know that Glossybox has been done to death out there in the bloggersphere but I've not done a post on it yet, so here's my tuppence worth.

Glossybox this month is a DIY beauty with a donation from each box going towards Breast Cancer Care.

I'm not going to do full scale reviews as I am sure you have already read all about this months box or already have opinions on your own box, so here is a little rundown.

Anatomicals - Don't just clean it woman, scrub it body scrub. (rrp £3.49)

I found this to be a nicely grapefruit scented scrub, quite gel like in texture, almost like a shower gel with added 'grit'!  I'm used to using a more heavy duty scrub and didn't think this would do much, but I was very surprised and it left my skin feeling supersoft.

Yves Rocher - Instant Anti-Wrinkle Moisturiser (rrp £18)

Well I didn't notice any instant dissolving of any wrinkles! This is a very nice moisturiser with a fresh smell.  A little goes a long way which I found after putting too much on and ending up with a very sticky face!!! Not a good look!

Skinetica - Anti-Blemish (rrp £6.99)

Not sure how much use I will get out of this product.  I'm not prone to breakouts and when I do get a spot I tend to leave it.  Will have to wait and see how my skin reacts to this next time I have a blemish.

Green People - Organic Self Tan (rrp £18.95)

I'm a big lover of self tan but as yet to try this one out.  It claims to have no 'biscuit smell', can't wait to see if this is true.

Sally Hansen - Complete Salon Manicure (rrp £6.99)

I got lucky and got the shade Black Platinum, which is great for this time of year.  The only downside is it is quite similar to my beloved essie - power clutch which I love with a passion, so I couldn't help but compare the shade to that.

I was very keen to see how this worked as it states it's a base coat, strengthener, growth treatment, colour and top coat in one bottle.  I am a base coat, two coats of polish and a top coat kinda gal so I was hoping I would be able to cut out a coat or two, but to be honest I needed at least 3 coats of this and could have possibly done with a fourth if I'm honest.  So although it has the complete package in one bottle, I still needed as many coats as I would normally use.

That said, I liked it.  It's lasted pretty well, about the same as the other polishes I use.  The photo above is about 3 days into wear and it's just starting to go around the edges but yep I would re-purchase.

I know there is much debate about value for money in Glossybox, but I've been subscribed for a year and there has probably only been 1 maybe 2 boxes where I thought I wasn't getting value for money and I like the fact I get to try out products I wouldn't normally have picked up in the shops.

So what did you think of October's Glossybox?