April 'Natural Beauty' GlossyBox

It seems like forever and a day since a GlossyBox last graced my doorstep, but at least it was worth the wait!
Since the death of Carmine and the so called 'merge' or less-merge-more-glossy-domination I was expecting this box to be thin on the ground with products and over stretched with all the Carmine converts.

This months box is a 'Natural Beauty' box. Themed boxes always go down well, and this didn't disappoint!

Glossy have changed the box and packaging for 100% biodegradable card  - bonus!

GOODIES!

First up the Ayuuri Body Wash, which is Full Size and costs £4.95 - mines in coconut, but there are other smells! Looking forward to this, even though coconut is not really my smell of choice, I'm open to new things! Lets get coconut crazy!

Caudalie Vinosource SOS thirst Quenching Serum - a really generous sized sample, full size costing £29.00 - I like caudalie, and I really look forward to this, I'm always liking new moisturisers.

Figs and Rouge organic lip balm - Ive heard loads of people rave about this, my one is the Rose Balm, which again, not a huge fan of rose but a lovely lady on BBS has agreed to swap for a yummy vanilla and cherry one! Eeep exciting! These are again full size and £3.29

Kai Perfume Oil - Shame that its half full, and not something I'm mega fussed on myself but the smell is pretty nice, if a little strong - this full size is a whopping £41! My vial is 3.6m but I'd say more like 2ml full.

The only make up item in the box is an Inika Eyeliner. Comes in a sleek black box with gold writing and is certified organic. Mine is in Peacock blue and I really like the shade. The swatch is holding its own on my hand still, and the shade is a well pigmented colour with a slight shimmer to it, but not overpowering. This is the 3rd full size item and costs £11.75  to buy.

Overall I am really impressed THREE full size items for a box I only paid £8ish for with a discount code!!

Well done GB you've redeemed yourself!

Anyone looking to sub to GB, just click here

Also, did you check out my home-made Louboutin nails?!?!

Eye Brow Tutorial

I've always been quite proud of my brows and think that they frame your face when maintained and treated with the love and care that they deserve.
Personally I have never been a fan of mega thin brows, probably as it just wouldn't suit me.
I'm all about caterpillars and mono brows!

I had a request to do a tutorial on Brows so here we go....!
Bear in mind this is how I do MY brows, everyone different!!
Items I use on a daily basis here...nothing over fancy at all!

First up...

Brush the eyebrows...just so all the hairs are going the right way, mine are mental in the morning..literally crawling over my face...

I use the A la Carte Brow ink in Taupe... fill the brow in so they look more fuller. You can shape them as well concentrating on the top of the brow, and elongate it too.n Think this is around the £20 but last FOREVER.

I then use my trusty Elf Brow Kit in medium. I Swear down this is the BEST brow kit I have ever used. I sold my HD brows worth over £20 in favour of this £3.50 kit! I use medium.

The waxy side keeps the brows in place and the pressed powder is slightly lighter keeping the colour warm. The brush applicator is PERFECT.

Finally (mostly on nights out) I use a highlighter under the brow in the arc. Highlighter of choice is the MAC strobe cream...delish espesh on the cheekbones too!

I took a full faced pic so you can see the difference...

Have you checked out the magic disappearing - reappearing glasses. Cool huh!?

NOTD Sunset Pastels

Perusing my new ASOS magazine I saw a pic of some delicious nails. Reading the 'how to' part it looked simple enough for a rookie like me to attempt...here it is!

1- Base coat, I used Models Own 3in1.
I never used to use a base coat, lazy me, but it REALLY help prevent chipping! And also I find the colour goes on a lot better and more even with this Models Own!

2- Base colour - I've used Barry M in Peach Melba. I have applied two coats.

3- The effect - Again a Barry M in Blur Moon. Take the brush and remove most of the polish from it, from the side of the nail, mid way down place a small amount of polish and sweep across to the middle of the nail which will thin the colour.

The great thing is that there's no precision needed as its just to two-tone the nail. The ASOS instructions say to apply another amount across the very top of the nail, but I haven't as like th effect as is.

4- On the ring finger I have free-handed a little birdie! Using the Models Own WAH nail pen in black.

5- Top Coat! By chance, my new Seche Vite arrived this morning so I've used that as top coat. Silky smooth and super-fast drying this has been raved about....watch this space for opinions!!

Overall super easy! Give it a go!! (Please exsqueeze my lack of tidying the nails up before posting pic!)

Car Booty Swag

I car bootied with a friend at the weekend - a good way to de-clutter and make some pennies with out the evil evil eBay fees! Be prepared for hecklers, early mornings and not wee-ing unless you have a buddy!!

Before even parking the car up we were hounded by 'hustlers'!
"got any mobile phones/perfume/jewellery?!"
I managed to keep my cool (just) before we shouting at some woman who wouldn't give me room to get out the car!

After setting up and 4 or 5 strong coffees, I decided to have a nose
round...

Here's what I found!

Strolling past a stall covered in make up, perfume and what-not, tdia huge peach bottle caught my eye...on closer inspection I saw 'Ojon' written on it.

How much did he want for this beaut?! I was expecting £5-10 but no!

£1!!!!!

After posting my find on Beauty Box Swaps, I asked if someone could look it up online as I was on my mobile.

It's the Revitalising Mist in 474ml, and a little digging later it came to light my find costs on the Ojon website a staggering £54! And it's completely sold out!!!

WOWZERS!

My second, and more modest find, was a delicate vintage pearl necklace. Slightly pinky pearls in colour, a cute addition to my vast collection of kitch jewellery!
This, ironically I managed to haggle down from £3 to £1.50! More than my Ojon!

Have you found any bargains recently? Would you go hunting car boots for such things!?

OPI Save Me

A new quick post on my nails....excuse the fact I'm not great at putting on polish - shakey jakey over here....ironic considering how well my winged eyeliners seem to be!

This polish I bought off a lovely lady in Ireland, who'd also added little cute extras and sweeties (YUM!)

The Save Me, from the Nicki Minaj collection, is a glitter girls dream!! Silver sparkles and turquoise band glitter in two coats its like a disco on my nails!

Usually I'm not sure I'm a fan of sparkly polishes as it can distribute unevenly, but the glitter content is so high in this polish its gorgeous!

Any who - decide for yourself! Its def a winner to me :)

Two coats without a topcoat - I'd suggest adding a top coat as the surface of the nail feels very uneven, but I was so tired I went to bed!

Beauty Box Swaps

Some readers may already know about the PHENOMENON that is the Beauty Box Swaps  pages of Facebook.

Created by Lucy Brown with the idea to swap the items from each months Beauty Boxes (Glossy Box, JolieBox, She Said Beauty etc) that you wouldn't use yourself, or may be the wrong colours for you, for other items that you would use!

Genius right?!?

It gets better - this FAB idea has evolved, not just from Beauty Box Swapping to ALL make up/accessories and now even clothes and shoes - its ebay but better!

99% of the women I have spoken and swapped with have been divine. Just like myself, total make up junkies, giving advice to everyone from best brand of nail polish, to free shipping codes and offers on websites - never have I had such like minded friends! And yes they are my friends!

To outsiders (including my other half) people would think we are nuts - swapping make up?! But wow does it become addictive...

You get the opportunity to try things you may not have before, de-clutter your own items and swap for something you really love, and pleasing someone else at the same time!

The things that spring up on there are hilarious, from Merkins (feel free to google that one) to Harry Potter obsessives (yes-thats me) to just having a general moan and have these lovely ladies pick you up when you feel down....probably the best online community to be a part of...!

The generosity of these ladies would warm the cockles of anyone - including the aforementioned Other half, when I was sent a beautiful little purse for the Munchkin, with little sweeties hidden inside...!

I myself have recieved brand new MAC items, OPI, Scarfs, Yankee Candles, Perfume, Lipsticks, as well as those pesky items Im not a fan of from my Glossyboxes finding a brand new home where they have been loved!

Ive saved STACKS of money, tried things I'd never have before and made a ton of friends, my advice - come see us!

Sock Bun Curling

Also, giving the 'sock bun curls' a go!!

After washing hair (avec the divine Davines balm and a squirt if macadamia oil-my new love) I have wrapped my hair around a cut-up-sock and stuck it on the top of my head!

I'm told I shall awaken to beautiful flowing curls in the morrow....watch this space...!

Check out the ghostie jimjams too.

Nightooo!

Springtime Goodies!

Another fantastic bunch of goodies thanks to my LOVELY ladies on Beauty Box Swaps (a WHOLE other post will be dedicated to this!) and yet more goodies from TK Maxx.

Pixi Lip Blush in No.4 Love, and No.3 Happiness,
Pixi Rose Lip Treat in No.3 Lip Peach.
Smooch blush in Kookie Crumble,
Lollia Bee Balm Conditioner,
New CID I-pout in Scarlet - via BBS
Calvin Klein lipgloss pot in Boy Pencil, and lipstick in Sinful,
MAC lustre lipstick in Hug Me - via BBS
Korres Yoghurt moisture Mask
And
OPI in Save Me - via BBS

Plus a little Disney Princess Perfume for the little monster in my life (that's the child not the Big Man!)

Wowzers...and I've only spent £26!

What a Fantastic Wednesday this has been for the bargain bunny in me!

I'm going to review individually later in the mean time, feast your eyes on these bad boys!!!

Stila continued...Lash Boost, Multi Effect Mascara and Shadow Pot

Well continuing on from the last post on the Stila lippie, here are the eye products in my bundle.

First up the Lash Boost....

A mascara primer aimed at lengthening the lash before mascara application.

The product itself goes on well, dries clear and seemed to elongate my lashes slightly, with the mascara on top I was impressed, compared to the other eye with only mascara.

I've also used the ELF mascara primer, and this is much better as lower-end make up goes.

A relatively cheap product from £5 plus online but worth a shot I'd say!


Packaging does seem a little cheap and cheerful however.

Multi Effect Mascara

Mine is in brown, as I have so many black this works a treat for a more natural lash look.

The tube itself is large and chunky making me feel happy I have lot of product inside.

The wand had a curved applicator - I like this a lot as has a nice large definition to the curve and I am always poking my eyes with straight ones!!

The product feels quite chalky in texture but is not clumpy at all, and with the lash boost goes on a dream!!

Overall effect is a lovely natural healthy lash with plenty definition.
Very impressed indeed!!

These are sold for around the £15 mark and I'd highly recommend.

Lastly....Shadow Pot Eye Mousse in Petal

Selling from £5-10 online, I wasn't overly enamoured by the colour.

As it was in the bundle I couldn't pick and choose.

It's a pale pink in the pot, which I'd avoid usually as a pink always comes with 'sore eye' look.

The texture of the mouse is firm, more a cream than mouse but the colour payoff is great and actually surprising!

A lovely gentle shimmer with one swipe of it, and more colour and more glitz the market you apply.

The staying power seems fantastic,once dry the product is silky smooth.

I wouldn't use this on my eyelids as a shadow, however this will be a fantastic highlighter, in the corner of the eye and below the brow.

A surprise find I think!

Over all for £7.99 I'm amazed at the products - what a find!!! I'll definitely be going again for more!

Have you tried any Stila from TK Maxx

Stila Bundle Review

My first real review....!

Well, as you may know I came home recently after a trip to my local TK Maxx, and here's the review on the individual products from Stila...

First up is the shine lip colour in 'Sarah'

The packaging itself is lovely, feels like a good quality sturdy casing (which I always look for - cannot abide the feel of cheap nasty plastic on something that's going on my face! Or will break in the vast chasm of my handbag!!) This is actualy metal, and very pretty.

The lipstick tube is decorated with pretty flowers and the product itself is quite long. Another plus in my eyes!

Colour wise, this is a delight, a neutral tone, great for every day wear with a lovely sheen.
Its quite pinky rather than the peach in the lower picture.
Swatched, the colour payoff isn't that great but, a few layers and you can build it up.

Tested on the lips the feel is heavier than I was expecting, but still lovely and great for my skin-tone. a good every day lippie. Plus with it being SPF 15 a bonus in the spring!

I've seen this for sale between £6-15!

A fantastic bargain in my bundle!!

TK Maxx and Stila Haul

So, after perusing the aisles of TK Maxx just 'window shopping' (ahem...yeah right) I got to the make up department...albeit a small stand really...and they had wee mini baggies of Stila! What a find!

Individually packed with a label stating rrp £36.99 and for sale at just a minute £7.99
How could I say no!!

Heres a quick snippet....

Beautiful fresh spring colours....

My first Stila product too so Im looking forward to trying and reviewing!


Do you have any Stila? What do you think?

Lotsa Lovvings x

A Follow Up Message....

My previous post, (to entice the reader in) did well.....12 page views so I'm told!

Well here we go again. I will keep writing to hope to bring in a total to say...30? See how we go.

Im going to attempt to carry on the blog with a little more umph in my step. After reading a fair few others recently I have stumbled upon a niche that Im liking.
Make up.
Not the love of everyones life, but its definately something I can share, and hope you shall enjoy....!

Watch this space for my next post....its coming soon!