Hot Pink!

I have never been one for lipstick on myself unless it's a nude as I thought they just didn't look right on me but looked good on other people. However, recently I have been a bit braver and decided to take the plunge into hot pink lips! I bought mememe's 'Elektra' which is hot magenta and is such a gorgeous colour. It's creamy and non-drying on the lips, highly pigmented and applies so easily.

It's £8.50 from mememe.

I loved the hot pink so much I decided to coordinate my nails!

The colour is Barry M Fuchsia 302. I love Barry M nail polishes they are very hard wearing and have such a wide choice of colours, cheap and usually on offer in superdrug and always seem to be at the forefront of nail trends.

It's not just me who's loving pink lips at the moment, here's my daughter after she found her way into my lipstick drawer! 

Pink lipstick kisses, Rosie and Lily-Rose x

Ombre Hair

Whether you love it or loath it Ombre Hair (or balayage) is big this season. It has been around for a while but it's made more of an impact recently. Celebrities seem to be rocking this trend a lot recently with Drew Barrymore, Jessica Biel, Ashlee Simpson, Rachel Bilson, Whitney Port and Caroline Flack to name but a few.  I personally love the look if it's done well and have wanted to give it a go for about a year. I have always been put off by the fact I have to bleach my hair which as everyone know's really isn't good for your hair. However, I decided to go for it and thought if it all went wrong I could always cut the bottom of my hair or at least dye over it!


I used L'oreal Perfect Blonde Crème Highlighting Kit. It comes with gloves, a highlighting cap, a hook, brush, developing crème, 2 sachets of powder bleach, a container to mix it in and a conditioner.
It's £6.12 from boots which I think isn't bad for a 'new look'.

There was plenty left over (and my hair is long and really thick!) that I highlighted my bf's hair twice and still had some left so there's more than enough for the thickest, longest hair!

As you can see it's more subtle than some ombre hair but it's exactly what I wanted.
I won't go into how I did it cos there's plenty of other tutorials all over the web but I found it so easy to do and so effective I absolutely love it. It's a great look for summer and recommend it to anyone to try. I do however issue a word of caution that when you buy the bleach, buy an intensive conditioner, I bought the John Frieda Full Repair shampoo, conditioner and intensive conditioner as it was 3 for £10 in Boots on John Frieda products.

Have you embraced the ombre trend?

Rosie x

Radiant Glow

A couple of weeks ago when I ventured into town in the train with the pushchair (which is a bit of an ordeal round here as the platforms are SO low and the trains are SO high it's not easy) I had just taken Lily-Rose to the dentist and needed some serious cheering up after that! (Try getting a 16 month old to open their mouth and keep it open when they have a full set of teeth and chomp right down into your fingers and draw blood! I think a crocodile would've been easier to tame!) We went into boots where my little madam likes the make-up counters and trying it on without me knowing! and came out with a couple of new items they had on offer but they didn't have what I really wanted which was a new blusher for spring as I'm getting a little bored of the selection I have right now. 

Anyway I ventured into Boyes which has all the cosmetics that have been discontinued from Rimmel, Revlon, Bourjois, Sally Hansen etc. and found the perfect product! It's not a blusher as such but a brightener. Its the 

Revlon ColorStay Mineral Finishing Powder in Brighten. There is another one for a 'sunkissed' glow but they didn't have that. It's Like MAC's Mineralize Skinfinish which I adore but it's so much cheaper. I think I picked it up for a couple of pounds! It doesn't come out pink it comes out like a pearl kind of colour which I use on my cheeks and in my brow bone arch as a highlighter. I use it over blusher's and bronzer's that I already own and it gives a different affect over different ones.

I can't really capture a picture of what it's truly like but it's a really subtle highlight that really makes you look healthy and give you a nice glow. It is called a finishing powder which seems to imply that you can apply it all over ans I tried it out with barely any product and I looked like a robot, all shiny and looked really greasy so I would advise against the all over approach! When applied to the cheeks and used as a highlight it really does do wonders for your skin I looked healthy and dewy when in reality I'd had zero sleep and felt dreadful! I HIGHLY recommend this! I think Revlon have discontinued it but there are a few places online that sell it if you type it into Google.

Go fourth and Glow!

I'm Back and Benefit Freebies!

Hello lovelies,

I have been away for a while for a number of reasons, moving, work, studying, being crafty, having my daughter christened, making the cake, decorations, food and dress for the christening, and now she's getting older she's taking up all of my time. I'm thinking of starting another blog for all my arty/craft and mummy type things too cos I'm making so much and testing out so many products that aren't just makeup it seems a shame to not show them and share my opinions, so please let me know what you guys think.

So, I have a bunch of posts coming your way, I have just had a big MUA (Make Up Academy) delivery which I am currently testing out and loving! I have found an AMAZING product for that perfect subtle 'glow' which makes your skin look gorgeous! I have been thinking about doing a YouTube channel but still not 100% sure about it, so let me know if you like watching youtube videos such as tutorials and hauls or whether you prefer reading posts.

 

If you pick up a copy (or three!) of Glamour magazine this month they are giving away 3 different Benefit products. There's a mini black 'BAD gal lash', a 7.5ml 'that gal' brightening face primer and a 7.5ml 'the POREfessional' pore minimizing primer. At £2 per magazine it's a great way to try out all 3 products from such a great make-up line. 

L'Oreal Elvive Triple Resist Update

 

I did a post about L'Oreal's new shampoo Triple Resist in January and I have still been using it every day since I bought it way back in October/November 2011.

Well firstly it must be good if I have repurchased it as I change (or should that be changed) shampoo ALL the time!!

I wash my hair every day or occasionally every other day, and this shampoo and conditioner has made such a difference I am amazed! As I have mentioned in previous posts my hair was pretty awful after I had had my daughter, it wasn't growing after I had it cut and it was thinning terribly. Now, after 5 months of continuous use my hair is as thick as it used to be, which is really thick!, and it has grown sooo much I couldn't believe it.

To be honest I keep forgetting to use the root spray, and I have 1 full and 1 nearly full bottle to get through so I will start using it again! 

I am aware this is probably a very boring post but I like to read updated about products that people use, especially when they are so cheap!

I highly recommend you try this shampoo if you want your hair to grow, be thicker, and stronger! Go on, you're worth it! (Oh god that was awful!)

The original post can be found here.

Sorry...again

 

Once again I apologise for the lack of posts recently. I have had a massive amount of work to do and very, very little time to do it in. But it has now been handed in and I can get back to blogging! However, I will be without internet connection at the beginning of April so please bear with me.

FREE Soap & Glory Mascara!

Just a quick post to let you lovely people know about getting a FREE Soap and Glory mascara from their new cosmetics range.

If, like me you are an avid Soap and Glory fan or you want to try out a new mascara then all you have to do is purchase ELLE magazine for £3.90 and you will receive a FREE Soap and Glory Thick and Fast mascara. The wand is very much like Benefit's Bad Gal mascara if you need a comparison. For under £4 I think it's a bargain to try a new mascara. 

I'm in (seventh) heaven!

This is just a mini monday review about my favourite product at the moment.

In my December GlossyBox (Which I  LOVED) I received the mememe Seventh Heaven moisturising face base. It's a moisturising face base enriched with Shea Butter, Vitamin A and Beta-Carotene to prep and prime skin. It smells really citrussy (I know that's not a word), and feels really fresh and tight but in a good way, like it's giving me a mini facelift! 

I apply this after cleanser, wait 5 minutes then apply foundation. My foundation lasts longer and it just glides on. I purchased the larger 30ml version after the initial 10ml I was sent as I used it all the time it ran out so quickly. 

I personally love this and will repurchase it when it runs out. There are 2 sizes available on their website, 10ml and 30ml, the 10ml is £2 here, highly recommended as you can try it to see what you think so you don't have to commit yourself to the 30ml, and I think more companies should do trial size products. The 30ml is £15 here.

I am new to the mememe range, having never tried anything before but heard lots of good things about them. In my order along with Seventh Heaven were the Correct and Perfect concealer and the Angels with Halo's skin illuminator. 

The Correct and Perfect concealer is similar to the Bobbi Brown's Cream Concealer. It has a creamy concealer in the top and a setting powder in the bottom. I found the concealer a lovely consistency and the powder is very finely milled. However when I used this under my eyes, it was too orangey for me, I think it'd be better on spots and blemishes than under eye circles. I have the shade Nude, which is the middle shade, from 3 choices. It's £6.99 from their website.

The Angels with Halo's skin illuminator is pink, which isn't what I was expecting, I thought it's be more like a solid version of Benefit's 'High Beam'. Its supposed to blend over foundation for illuminate and contour the face. I haven't noticed any change with it to be honest, but I am willing to keep trying it, if mememe would like to let us see a before and after with this I am willing to see the results as I cannot see any difference. Has anyone else tried this and found it works? I'd love to know what I'm doing wrong. 

It is currently £7.99 was £9.99 and can be found here.

There are a couple of thing I would like to try from their range, and would love to hear from anyone who has tried them to see what they're like.

These are the Goddess Rocks that is a multi-task bronzer, eye shadow and highlight and looks, cute with a fun name, who doesn't want to be a Goddess?

These are currently £10.50 from £12.50 here.

I would like to try their mascara's out being a massive mascara junky so would love to hear anyone else's thoughts on them.

Enjoy your monday's!

L'oreal Triple Resist

I have found my hair's saviour and it's all thanks to L'oreal Elvive Triple Resist. I hadn't heard anything about it, or seen any reviews, in fact when I typed it into Google nothing about it came up. I was intrigued by the sleek black and magenta packaging and it really stood out to me so I gave it a go, being the beauty product junky I am!

It's the new hair range that J-Lo has been advertising and I have to say the promotions and advertisements are very well done, eye catching and sleek. There are 4 products in the range, the shampoo, conditioner, treatment root spray and a masque. 

This is what L'oreal says about the triple resist range: " You put your hair through daily torture and sometimes it can lack essential nourishment. Weakened, your hair has a tendency to break and fall out. Introducing new Elvive Triple Resist shampoo enriched in ARGININE + PROTEIN. The formula provides a triple action: reinforced, nourished from root to tip and stronger. "

I have been using the shampoo, conditioner and treatment root spray for about two months now and I have found less hairs falling out in the shower and in my hair brush. Since having my daughter just over a year ago (it was her birthday last week!) my hair has been falling out more than usual but now I have put a stop to it. 

The shampoo lathers up really well and the conditioner glides on nicely. I use the root treatment first thing in the morning and when my hair is damp after a shower in the evening. I never normally use anything directly at the roots as I always thought it'd make my hair greasy but it soaks up as you massage it in instantaneously and feels like my roots are 'drinking' it up. I am yet to try the masque but can only think it'll be as good as the rest of the range. I personally like the smell of the range but I know it might be too sickly for others.

I bought this in boots but cannot find it on their website so I thoroughly recommend the Triple Resist range, and it's sometimes on offer like 3 for 2 or half price so I stock up!

Happy New Year!

A great big (belated) HAPPY NEW YEAR to you all!

I hope you all had a lovely time over Christmas and got some lovely presents. I really enjoyed this Christmas as it was my daughters first and it was so nice to have the magic back at Christmas and it was a really nice family time although very hectic! My favourite present was a gorgeous pandora bracelet from the Mr and a beautiful charm from my beautiful baby, but my strangest present has got to be a bathmat! What did you all get?

We had a nice quiet new year this year and had friends round and a takeaway watching Alan Carr, as I didn't want to leave my little lady on her first new year! It was a different New Year to last as that was my due date and I was really uncomfortable and getting very impatient for my little lady to arrive! Just after New Year I had a little tea party for my baby as she will be one on thursday! She's growing up so fast.
Being a new year I have set a few resolutions, one of which is to be better at blogging! but I have been so busy recently I just haven't been able to, for which I do apologise, but I have been testing out lots of products which will be reviewed in due course, so please bare with and stay tuned!
Have you set any resolutions?

So here's to a great year ahead and many reviews to come.....

Urban Decay's NAKED Palette

Ok, so I know everyone will have heard the hype around this palette and now I have FINALLY got my hands on it (squeel!)

I won't go into too much detail about it as so many people already have but here's what I've found the palette to be.

This palette has 12 gorgeous shades both matte and shimmery which is what Urban Decay are famed for. The colours are highly pigmented, don't crease, and are such amazing quality. The 12 shades in the palette are all you'll ever need, and you can create so many looks from them.

The shades in the palette are:

Virgin, Sin, Naked, Sidecar, Buck, Half Baked, Smog, Dark Horse, Toasted, Hustle, Creep, Gunmetal.

They are packaged in a gorgeous velvety case with a decent sized mirror so you don't need a separate one which is always a bonus.

This amazing, gorgeous, sleek palette is around £35 from Debenhams.

A little note to say...

I know it has been a while since my last post but I have been VERY busy, with my daughter, moving, courses, and the list goes on. So I have been a bad blogger for the past month which I apologise for. I have loads of new posts to come but please bear with me as I have a lot of things to do at the moment. I will try my very best to be a million times better at blogging in the future though. 

If there is anything that anyone would like to see then please feel free to leave a comment or message me.

Benefit's tints

I am a huge fan of Benefit cosmetics from their quirky and edgy packaging and product names to the quality of the products themselves. I have to say I love their 'tints' they are a marvel product.

I currently have the original 'bene tint', 'posie tint', and 'high beam'. I love high beam as I like highlighters and this one is lovely, it has a really nice creamy type consistency and it blends out well and looks so natural on.

I differnce between the bebe tint and the posie tint is the bene tint is a deeper reddy pink and the posie tint is paler pink. They both look a little scary and startling as soon as they are applied but once they are blended out they create a lovely natural flush of colour to your cheeks, or lips. I know there are many imitations of these Cheek and lip tints but I have to say that I still love these ones they are my go to product and are great for adding a bit of colour to your face. They are very build-able which is great if you are going day to night and don't want to or have the time to change your makeup but just make touch-ups. I love both colours but if you want a more dramatic night time look then the bene tint is the best to build up colour with.

Imagine my excitement when Benefit recently launched a new tint, the Cha Cha tint, which is a coral colour and I cannot wait to get my hands on it.

The tints from Benefit are £24.50 from their website.

MUA Heaven & Earth Palette

I'm sure most people have heard the hype surrounding this palette by now as it's been referred to being a dupe of Urban Decay's Naked palette. 

If you aren't familiar with MUA (Make Up Academy) they are a brand that started out selling products for £1, (just what the country needs a this time) however, what kind of quality are they going to be for £1? Well I decided to try out a couple of their single shadows to test the quality and I have to say I was very impressed. After all even if they weren't very good, for a pound you can't go wrong.

Anyway they have now released a 'pro' range which are slightly more expensive than the original line, and these include palettes, eye shadow trio's, 'crackle' nail varnishes, primers, and much more.

I saw this palette whilst in Superdrug a while ago but I didn't get it for some reason, and I have no idea why. Needless to say I went back asap to buy it and I am SO glad I did. I am in love with this palette, I can't fault the quality or price. The palettes are £4 and for 12 shadows that's a mere 33p per shadow, you really can't go wrong. The quality is amazing, they are highly pigmented, don't crease, there's no fallout, and they last ages. All the colours are usable, sometimes with palettes there's a few colours or shades that you are never going to use, so it's really worth the money. In all honesty I'd have paid twice or three times over for this palette.

 The shades suit every skin tone and age, they aren't matte shadows but they aren't glittery, they have a subtle shimmer that I personally love as they really make eyes stand out. I have found that dark colours can become to 'goth-like' and the shimmer really makes a difference, and makes eyes 'pop'!

There is however a couple of tiny little things I am going to pick on and that's the packaging, and the applicator sponge. The both make the product look cheap, which in effect is what it is I know but I prefer brushes to sponge applicators. However I am being VERY picky there and I'm not complaining about it because it is such an amazing product, and all that matters is the quality of the shadows. 

I have used this on many people and I use it every day that it's just a great all rounder. If you love natural shadows then you NEED this palette. Lets face it even if pay day is far away you could still buy this. They aren't available online yet that I can find but get down to Superdrug and take a look at the MUA stand. 

If you 'Like' Make Up Academy (MUA) on facebook they are always having give-aways. 

Garnier's BB Cream

I have heard a few people mention BB creams. Now for those who don't know, BB stands for Blemish Balm, and the idea is that they mask imperfections, even skin tone, and smooths fine lines. For a quick background about BB creams, this is from the Boots website, "A skincare sensation that has swept Asia...B.B. has arrived!  B.B. creams are hybrid products which combine the benefits of skincare and make-up all in one. Initially developed by a German dermatologist in the 1950', to soothe skin and provide coverage, B.B. Creams were made famous in South Korea by an actress famed for her beautiful skin. Over the years, they became a cult must-have product across Asia due to their sheer, flawless finish and their "all-in-one" qualities."

It's like a tinted moisturiser but better! It has an SPF 15 in it, 24 hour hydration, and makes skin look radiant and dewy. There are two shades light, and medium. I have light and I find it's the perfect shade for me. It looks really dark when its just come out of the tube but once its applied to the face it's shade perfect. I have to admit I think this is a brilliant product and definitely worth the hype surrounding it. I know there are a few different brands marketing BB creams but Garnier is the easiest to get hold of. It can be work alone or as a primer under foundation. I wear it alone during the day if I'm at home or if I don't want to or have time to put on a full face of makeup. I think it's great as a primer as foundation glides on over the top.

I recommend this to anyone whether you wear a lot or a little makeup, I have tried it on a few people and everyone agrees it's such a lovely product. It's only £9.99 and for near perfect skin under a tenner who wouldn't want it?!

It's currently on offer at Superdrug for £7.99 which is even better! and if you've got a Superdrug Beauty Card you can earn 35 points on it.

August Glossy Box - Wash & Glow

I know this is a bit late with it being September now and the September box will be sent in the next week or two but better late than never!

So this month (or last I should say) saw the arrival of 5 more luxury products come through my door in a beautiful brown and pink parcel.

This month I received:

Murad - Time Release Blemish Cleanser

Salicylic Acid is the hero ingredient in this dual action, extra gently cleanser. Clinically proven to increase cell turnover, it reduces blemishes while diminishing wrinkles and keeps your skin smooth and glowing. 

This sounds like a wonder product, it can reduce blemishes AND diminish wrinkles, now who doesn't want that! Well I was really looking forward to using this, I'm the sort of person who thinks I'll see a dramatic difference at once, and if I don't then the product is a dudd! Well of course there was no dramatic difference (when is there?!) but I persevered for a few days with this and didn't really notice anything different. I don't know what I was expecting really as I don't have any blemishes at the moment, and being in my early twenties and looking like a 15 year old, I don't have any wrinkles, therefore I couldn't say whether it does what it claims or not. This is a travel size 30 ml but if you want to try it then you can buy it from Murad for £29 for 200ml.

Ahava - Mineral Body Lotion

Part of Ahava's new My Skin Reborn range, this quickly absorbed richly moisturising lotion draws on the properties of Dead Sea minerals to effectively hydrate, nourish and protect the skin.

I absolutely adore the scent of this it reminds me of almonds. It's so moisturising and my skin feels so smooth and soft after this. I love it so much that I have repurchased it. I have never really been one for body moisturisers as I don't like my body if I'm honest therefore I neglected it and concentrated on my face and areas that are on show. But after trying this, I have been converted into using body lotion, and look after my body more. After all you have to make the most of what you've got. There is also a hand and foot cream in the dead sea range, but the body lotion currently has 10% off on the Ahava website and is £19.80 for 250ml.

 Daniel Sandler - Jumbo Jet Mascara

JUMBO JET is the only mascara a woman needs when she wants high-performance, luscious lashes. After one stroke of the brush lashes can appear thicker & longer.

 I have been a Daniel Sandler fan for a while I particularly like his Watercolours, which, if you haven't heard of them is a colour for cheeks, lips and eyes. Being a mascara junkie I was very eager to try his mascara. With a name like Jumbo Jet I was expecting big things from this and if I'm honest I was a little disappointed. I have cheaper mascaras that give a better full luscious lashes look. I do however think it's a nice mascara for a daytime 'barely-there' look. If you would like to try this mascara it's £14.85 from here. 

KMS California - Hairstay Style Boost

Primer for your hair! The foam-to-liquid crackle formula enhances natural movement and bounce while boosting the performance of styling products, for a style that lasts up to 3x longer.

What appealed to me about this was that it's sold as 'primer for your hair'. I think skin and eye primers are a great invention so to hear that your hair could benefit from a primer sounds like a great idea. Its a really strange product it is really cold and crackles and expands in your hand before you apply it. I have used this a few times and I think it's great, I have curled and waved my poker straight hair and not used hairspray and my style is there from one morning to the next! There isn't the usual straw-like texture or sticky residue left behind like I have found with so many mousse-type products.  All in all this is a great product I highly recommend it. You can find it here for £14.50 for 200ml.

Rebel Nails - Nail Wraps (for toes)

Welcome to the Nail Revolution! Rebel Nail's nail wraps are easy to apply, long lasting and kind to nails. No chipping, fading or wear. Amazing professional finishes and designs are now available at your finger (or toe) tips.

I have yet to use these so I can't comment on how they apply, or withstand every day wear and tear. I have heard a lot of good things about nail wraps and with the promise of no chipping, I can't wait to apply them. They are a dull, dark gold, but I quite like the colour, it's a good transitional colour to take you from summer to autumn. You can buy them from the Rebel Nails website with prices starting from £7.99. Take a look at their designs there are so many! I cant wait to try out some funky designs on my fingers. 

E.L.F New Lines

E.L.F have added a couple of new lines to their already amazing studio line. They now have a foundation and matte lip colour which are really on-trend right now. I was sent these two products for review a while ago and I'm writing this review now as I have had chance to really test out these products and tell you my honest opinion.

Studio Flawless Finish Foundation 

I was sent the two lightest shades which are Porcelain and Sand. I didn't know which shade I would be and as it happens I'm a happy medium of the two. I use one pump of each shade on the back of my hand and use the beauty blender to apply it. I really like this foundation, I find it to be a full coverage foundation which applies easily. It does leave a flawless finish on my skin, and a slight dewy finish. I applied this in the morning and it has lasted with minor touch-ups all day. I have dry skin and find that it's perfect for my skin, but as it's oil free I think oily skin types would suit this too, however I can not say for sure as I don't have oily skin. There are six shades so there's not a great range but there are the basic shades and at the price you can buy two shades and mix them. It's got an SPF of 15 within the foundation which is always a bonus. I think this is an absolute bargain at £6.50 as it feels a lot nicer than some other foundations that have cost me more than double the price. You can buy the Flawless Finish Foundation here.

Studio Matte Lip Colour

The second item I was sent was the matte lip colour in coral. Matte lips are really on-trend right now and it couldn't be easier to achieve than with these. It's really moisturising and glides on easily and effortlessly, and has a creamy consistency. I put this on in the morning with lipcote (amazing stuff!) and it has lasted through eating, drinking, talking and stayed put till bedtime, I'm very impressed. The coral is such a lovely colour and looks nice with heavy eye makeup. There are only four colours but they are all wearable colours and at the price you could buy them all! They are £3.50 each and can be found here.

How to get flawless, airbrushed skin

Whilst browsing in Superdrug the other day I saw a strange looking pink sponge and went to investigate! It's called the Blend Perfection Sponge which is a copy of the Beautyblender. I have been a huge fan of the beautyblender but I seem to have misplaced it and never got round to replacing it. I decided to try Cosmopolitan's version, which is a fraction of the price (£10 cheaper) and has a slightly different shape to it.

The sponge allows for a flawless application of foundation, using a bouncing or 'stippling' method to blend make-up which leaves an airbrushed looking finish. The fatter round end is for larger areas of the face and the pointed end for those hard to reach areas such as around the nose and under the eyes. The sponge needs to be wet and wrung out before use which helps the foundation glide onto your skin.

I have used the Cosmopolitan Perfect Finish Make-up Sponges before which I found to be ok to blend out foundation on the jawline but the Blend Perfection Sponge is so much better to use to aply the foundation. I personally like to use sponges to apply foundation as you can achieve a flawless airbrished finish and the coverage can be built up really easily and effortlessly. I put the foundation on the back of my hand and 'bounce' or stipple it all over the face with the Blend Perfection Sponge. If I'm using a concealer on top of m foundation then I apply it with the sponge too and build up on the converage if needs be.

Go buy it NOW!!!

The Blend Perfection Sponge is £4.85 from Superdrug (although I can't find it on their website) However I have found it on feelunique for £4.95.
The Perfect Finish Make-Up Sponges can alos be bought in Superdrug or feelunique for £1.95.
There's a 3 for 2 offer on Cosmopolitan make-up tools at Superdrug at the moment too.
The Beautyblender is £14.50 with free postage from their wesite.

July GlossyBox 'Summer'

I'm sure most people have heard of GlossyBox by now, but if you haven't then I shall briefly explain. From their website they say: "Every month we send you 5 exciting luxury product minatures, packed in a beautiful box for you to test at home."

I know theres a couple of other companies proving these type of packages, feel unique's Beauty Box being one, but I thought I'd give the GlossyBox a go, and I'm so glad I did.

Even though they say 'product minatures' I got 3 full sized items. I know that everyone gets something slightly different but I must say I'm pleased with what I received.

In my box were:

1) Ciate - Nail Enamel in mojito (full size)

I must admit that the colour isn't really to my taste I don't tend to wear green on my nails unless it's a mint green, but it's a summery colour and it does look nice on. Ciate polishes are a really nice quality, long lasting and chip free.

2) Illamasqua - Powdered Metal in Ether (full size)

I couldn't believe my luck when I saw this, I LOVE it. If anyone doesn't know what this is it's described as 'Powdered Metal creates anything from a subtle sheen to an extreme metallic finish on face and body. The shimmering pale gold adds radiance to bronzed skin, and highlights your skin where applied.' I got a pink tan at the weekend (aka sunburn but don't want to admit that!) and it's now turned to nicely bronzed skin. I sparingly added this to my decollotage and sholders over my tan and it really made my skin radient and healthy looking. it can be applied sparingly or built up to a full on metallic look (hence the name).  It also looks gorgeous appled lightly to the cheek bone as a highlight.

3) Orla Kiely - 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.' This is divine! I love the scentof this, although I can't smell chocolate but I still wouldn't hesitate about buying the full sized fragrance.

4) Ultra Sun - Face 3

I'll be honest I looked at this and thought it's just suncream, I buy that as an everyday item, not a luxury product, but, I was wrong I'll be glad to say. I like the formula of this and it doesn't have the normal suncream smell. I usually use moisturisers or foundations with an SPF built in, but this was a really nice moisturiser as suncream can be greasy on the face. It's advertised as protecting skin from UV aging but that's what any cream with SPF in will do.

5) Weleda - Pomegranate Regenerating Body Oil (full size) 

'Weleda Pomegranate Regenerating 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.' I like body oils as they feel a lot more hydrating than a cream or lotion. I I love the idea that it's supposed to firm the skin, which is something i deffinatley need after having my baby a few months ago. It's also got a lovely scent to it.

I highly recommend the GlossyBox, not only do you get the products but it comes in luxorious packaging, and has offers and discounts on some of the companies whose products are in the box.

All this for £10 a month plus £2.95 postage. Evan at £12.95 I think you'll agree it's a bargain! you can order your GlossyBox here.

(note: all pictures are taken from the internet as i couldnt upload my pictures)

Keeping BaByliss in business!

I seem to have so many BaByliss hair products that I should be on commission! Here are a few of the products that I love and use most.

The Conical Wand

This is a curling tong without a clamp and a cone shaped barrel. It creates gorgeous ringlet and loose curls with variable temperature you can easily and quickly achieve gorgeous curls.

The Waving Wand

This like he conical wand doesn't have a clamp but the barrel is oval shaped rather than round. Having naturally poker straight hair I've always tried different ways of creating waves such as the going to bed with damp hair in plaits and curling it with the conical wand the day before and sleeping in the curls so they fall out into waves. Both ways work but for a near on instant way to create waves the waving wand is amazing. Natalya from filthygorgeousmakeup and Babyliss teamed up to create the look of Lauren Conrad using the Waving Wand for Babyliss' Get the Look series. Watch the video here.

Thermo Ceramic Rollers

I had never used heated rollers before I bought these a few years ago as naively I had visions of my grandma using them sat with a hair net over them watching countdown. I used rollers in my hair before and blasted the hairdryer over them but it took forever to do so I decided to buy these. They heated up so quickly, there's a range of sizes and there's enough rollers for my long, thick hair. Once they are all clipped and clamped into my hair I can get on with my makeup whilst they cool down. So they are a great time saver and give great volume and body to my hair.

Big Hair

Want a perfect salon blow dry at home? Then this is THE product to use. It's a hot brush that rotates and dries your hair in one product. If like me, you find it difficult to use a big round brush and big heavy hairdryer to blow dry your hair then YOU NEED THIS! Want hair like Kate Middleton but don't have the hair entourage she has, then this is the next best thing.

All these can be bought from Boots or Argos or just search the internet as prices vary dramatically.