Summer nails from 17!

Hot weather = summer nails!!
Fancied some sherbert brights so chose these 17 Lasting Fix in Pink Grapefruit and Orange Soda.

Now just hope the rain holds off :-)
xxx

Neals Yard Remedies Rose Facial Polish -£14.80 for 100ml

I first tried the Rehydrating Rose Facial Polish a couple of years ago and I always go back to it.  I love exfoliators and this really lives up to it's name as a polish. It smells amazing, due to the fact it contains flower and essential oils and leaves skin really smooth and so hydrated.

Of all the exfoliating scrubs, masks, gels etc that I have bought over the years this remains the best in my opinion. I suffer from mild acne and discolouration under the skin on my jawline and cheeks and within a few uses of this it clears up. I am not suggesting that this is an acne cure and certainly that it would work for everyone but, for my skin, this is fantastic.

First off, although it is very grainy the actual cream it is in is quite oily. Despite my blocked pores my skin is actually quite dry and works best with oil based products. Although the grains of this polish are fairly harsh the softening cream base counteracts this so it sloughs of the skin but leaves it really soft, smooth and hydrated and most of all without irritation. Compared to much cheaper face scrubs from the drugstore this is a real winner hands down. I should point out that this is not a cleanser and will not take your make up off, I use it every other day but I think people with less problematic skin than mine could use once a week as part of their regime.


As with all Neal's Yard products the ingredients are really high quality, natural and in most cases organic. I am a big fan of NYR mostly due to quality of their products, which are all very gentle but make such a big difference to my skin. In recent years I notice they have cut back the number of larger sizes that are available which is a real shame, particularly for their face washes. They aren't the cheapest brand but I do feel that you get what you pay for.

June Glossy Box product review & pics

I was so excited about getting my first Glossy Box. I read about it after the first box was sent out which was disappointing as there was some fantastic products in there.
Anyway, I signed up straight away. The concept is great, a £10 monthly subscription gets you a goodie box of five products to sample.

The box looks great, really beautifully packaged and feels like a real treat. Similar packaging to Net a Porter where you pay £10 just for P+P!

Perles de Lalique perfume sample (4.5ml)

I adore this, it is my perfect type of scent quite spicy and exotic but still fairly floral. It reminded me the smell in the gardens when I went to Mauritius. I think it is quite an unusual choice because I am not sure it would appeal to everyone, it is very grown up and distinctive and if you like fruity, floral scents this is probably not for you. But for me this is a real winner. I will definitely be purchasing a full size bottle.

OPI nail polish (3.75ml)

As I have mentioned in previous posts, OPI is my absolute favourite nail varnish brand. They go on smoothly, last well and are touch dry almost instantly. This is a pretty small sample bottle (about 3.5ml) and the only disappointment for me was the colour is not something I would choose. I tend to buy bright opaques so a silver metallic colour would not be my choice. But a great product to add in as OPI really is brilliant.

Batiste original dry shampoo 50ml

I read a lot of disappointed comments from other Glossy Box recipients on the inclusion of the Batiste dry shampoo, as it is pretty cheap (about £2) and easily available and is certainly not a luxe brand.
As someone who washes their hair everyday, and has dry hair, I was not sure this was of use to me. However, I went out after work and gave my fringe a spritz to freshen it up and it was really great. Although my hair was not greasy it gave it a bit of a volume boost and a nice fresh scent. I am not sure this is a product I would use loads, particularly having short hair, but I think it will be kept in my desk drawer for certain! I definitely would prefer a more luxurious brand in future but it was an interesting trial of something I would not normally consider buying.

Abahna White Grapefruit and May Chang Shower Gel 100ml

The shower gel is huge! Great to save for trips away. The gel itself smells good, quite heavy perfume content. It is quite a woody scent and gave a nice foam. According to the Abahna website, it is reach in essential oils and has natural rather than chemical cleansers so as not to irritate the skin. The full 250ml bottle is available for £17, which I would not spend on a shower gel, but it was a nice treat to include in the box and I will be saving it for my holiday!

BIOeffect EGF Serum

Thought I would save this for last. I was really excited to receive this sample. as I had read about it before and love facial serums. The bottle provided doesn't have a size but I would guess it is about 2ml and comes with a little dripper. I would say the sample would last a week maybe two. Considering the cost of a bottle that is a pretty generous sample!

The website lists benefits as, improved skin tone, reversal of the signs of aging, added radiance and luminosity, deep moisturisation and improved complexion. It only contains 9 ingrdients- one of which is alcohol (although less than 1%) and another is water- so I should hope the other 7 ingredients have something special! The EGF part is a natural protein from barley and use 'cellular activators' to renew the skin.

I gave it a whirl last night before I went to sleep, it had been a pretty heavy night out so had a bit of work to do. The serum is slightly sticky in feel, although this is probably the glycerine. It absorbed really quickly and I felt like my skin really drank it up. This morning I had really soft skin is was particularly firm and plump around my eyes and on my cheeks. The skin on my forehead also looked firmer and softer. Much better skin than I would expect after a night out!! I hope to see so more improvements as I continue to use it, and would consider buying it (despite the high price tag) if I noticed a difference. I was a bit sceptical when I saw the limited ingredient list but my skin seemed to like! Really great sample to receive!!

Overall, my first impressions of Glossy Box are really good. I look forward to see what will be included next time. It would be nice to get some make up but I am a skincare junkie so I love an overpriced miracle cure to try!! After receiving the box yesterday, I was emailed by Glossy Box to let me know that, starting with the September box, there will be a £2.95 charge for delivery. I had wondered how they could keep going with such a lot of packaging and sending the boxes out recorded delivery so I am not completely surprised or disappointed by this but the extra £35 a year may put some people off. Can't wait to see what its in next months box!!

xxxx

June Glossy Box

Just a bit of info as to what is in my June Glossy Box

Glossy Box is a monthly subscription of £10 and you get a box of beauty goodies each month.

Mine just arrived and I got:

Silver OPI nail polish- about 3.5ml

Handbag size Batiste dry shampoo in original

BIOeffect EGF serum which I can't wait to try! There is about a weeks worth and it retails at £125 for 15ml so a pretty good size sample for such an expensive product!

Sample bottle of Perles de Lalique perfume (useful as I am out straight after work tonight!)

Abaha shower gel- 100ml bottle which is pretty huge for a sample

I will blog pictures and reviews later, but definitely a good haul. I am especially pleased with the serum!

Let me know if you got your Glossy Box and what you thought!

xxx

Dermalogica Multivitamin Power Recovery Masque- RRP £33 for 75ml

I have been using this Dermalogica for a few years now since discovering it during a facial. It is a really rich, creamy, water-based mask with a lovely fresh scent. Although it is part of the Age Smart range, it is not greasy or heavy. This is definitely my favourite staple products. Apply a thin layer to the face and leave for  15 minutes, then rinse off. It leaves your skin feeling really soft and smooth and glowing. It is a great product before a night out to give you a fresh glow (or after a night out when you need a glow). After using it my skin looks plump, moisturised and really healthy. I have found it works quite well if you mix it in with your moisturiser before going to bed. Mr. VB is also a big fan!

I think the only disadvantage to this product is the price, although I don't think I have ever paid the RRP (£33) for it as you can find it online pretty discounted. Because you only need a thin layer the tube tends to last a while as well. I use it once a week and am still on the tube I got at Christmas.

Inika Mineral Eyeshadow- Gunmetal- £11.75

I thought I just do a quick post on this eyeshadow. It came free with Marie Claire (UK July 2011 issue). Inika is an Australian mineral makeup brand with most of their products being Vegan and organic, all of them Halal and environmentally aware.

I thought the pigment was really strong and built up well. My only issue with this particular colour was, that it seemed to be made up of black and silver particles which separated slightly on application. You can see on the swatch how the colour varies left to right. I haven' tried many mineral make up products so would be interested how this brand compares, but as eyeshadows go this didn't rock my world.

OPI So Hot it Berns!!

OPI "So Hot it Berns" £10.50 (Swiss Collection)

This is the perfect screen goddess red, bright tomato shade. OPI nail polishes have fab staying power, always go on smoothly and the surface dries quick for a good smudge free finish! Perfect.

Undereye concealing and brightening- the Laura Mercier way!

I decided to take a break from my Bobbi Brown under eye concealer and check out the Laura Mercier range.

I purchased Secret Concealer in #2 (£18.50) and Secret Brightening Powder (£18.50) with promises to "quickly bring a youthful, brighter look" while the powder adds a "invisible lightening boost".

Secret Concealer:
The concealer is very similar to the Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer I was previously using. Although the Laura Mercier is £1.50 more, you get an extra 0.8g so it is better value for money. I found the Laura Mercier formula slightly tackier to touch than the Bobbi Brown, which is very silky, however it went on very smoothly and stayed in place very well. It was easy to blend into the skin and foundation. It did not highlight creases and provides good but lightweight coverage.I applied with my fingers and this worked very well, I am yet to try with a brush.

Secret Brightening Powder:
When I first saw the powder, I was a little concerned as it is white a sparkly! However, you only need a really tiny amount to the set and brighten the concealer. There was no hint of glitter on the skin which is always good, and through the day the concealer stayed put and did not crease at all. I would usually use face powder to set my eye concealer but this is much, much lighter and more comfortable.

Overall, I have been thrilled with this product. I would not say the concealer was any better or worse than the Bobbi Brown, however the Mercier is only available in 6 colours and the Bobbi Brown has 14!
The main reason I would probably choose the Laura Mercier over the Bobbi Brown in future is the price, although it does not seem to be much in it, the Laura Mercier is £8.19 a gram while the Bobbi Brown is £12.14 a gram!

The Secret brightening powder is definitely a new must have. I really noticed how lightweight it was and I think it provided fantastic longevity.

I will be checking out some more Laura Mercier products for sure!!

Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil- £17.50 each

Nars describes these as a 'lipstick in a jumbo pencil' At the moment I have Red Square (red) and Roman Holiday (pink). There are currently 20 shades available.

They are fat little pencils are ideal for covering the whole lip rather than as a liner, very much like a matte lipstick or lip paint. They are truly matte with no shine. However, despite this, they are not drying (although I would not call them moisturising either). They coat the lips in a powdery colour and provides great colour coverage.

The Red Square fades evenly (no ring) and lasts really well- through dinner and drinks!! The pink, being lighter fades slightly quicker but still lasts a few hours and is fairly drinks proof.

RED SQUARE
You can see from the picture this is a real orange based red. It is very bright and only one coat is needed to cover the lips with colour. It has a very matte finish, and as I mentioned, really long lasting.

ROMAN HOLIDAY
This is a pale powder pink on the verge of lilac. Despite being an unusual shade it is quite flattering and suitable for the day. I usually wear it with a lip gloss over the top (Nars: Angelika)

Sorry for the scowling pics!

Nars have recently bought out a  Velvet Gloss version of the pencil. I am hoping to pick some of these up soon. I have tried them out in Space NK and they are much sheerer and I would guess they would not have the longevity of the the Velvet matte but I will give them a go and let you know!

Mama Mio Boob Tube with Magic Shimmer- £21.50 for 50ml

For the last month and a half I have been using the Mama Mio Boob Tube with Magic Shimmer on my décolletage. This Bust and Neck firmer promises lift and tone the bust area and nourish the skin with ingrediants such as Shea Butter, Almond Oil and Avocado Oil. While at the same time providing a little shimmer from the gold micro flecks.

In general I am not keen on glittery products for the body, however this is fairly subtle and gives more of a gold sheen than a body glitter look.

The texture is a cross between a cream and a gel, it is not in the least greasy.

As I said, I have been using this for 6 weeks now and here are my observations:

Pros:
-Goes on smooth, absorbs quickly
-Acted as moisturiser, skin felt soft and moisturised without a greasy residue
-Gold flecks add a nice sheen

Cons:
-Not to keen on the scent, although it is that not strong it smells a little chemically, maybe like household cleaning products.
-Overall I would not say my skin was any softer or firmer than if I had used my usual moisturiser everyday
-As some may say I am fairly 'blessed' in that area, I needed a few pumps to cover my whole décolletage area, it absorbed so quickly it was difficult to spread across the skin so has run out quite quickly, particularily for the price.

You can see a slight shimmer on the skin.

Overall, I will not be repurchasing this product. I think for the cost, it did not show enough benefits for me and I will probably switch back to just using body cream. The thing I liked most was that I did not have moisturiser residue on my skin and therefore rubbing off on my clothes.

Ginvera Marvel Gel with Green Tea- £15

I love a good exfoliator and had been meaning to try this for ages. There is nothing better than sloughing of a layer of skin to get you looking shiny and bright.

I warn you now, you may find this product a little gruesome but I think that is part of the appeal.

It is sold as an blackhead treatment, popular in Asia. I ordered it from Cult Beauty which is a great store for unusual products.

The product itself is a green gel and is supposed to break up and remove the top layer of skin so as to brighten and even skin tone. It is recommended for refining pores and suggests it is a great treatment for adult acne (which I suffer from). I was a little concerned that it may be quite harsh, although it does say that it is suitable for sensitive skin.

On a clean face, use your fingers to rub the gel, in circular motions into the skin. As you begin to do this you can feel little balls of skin on your fingers as it takes the layer off (told you it was gruesome). It was surprisingly really gentle. You can see the balls of skin on your fingers (see pics) which I quite like as it seems like it is working! After rinsing it with cold water, my skin definitely looks brighter, the black heads and pores around my nose much, much smaller and my skin was shiny. It did not look red or feel dry at all, just very very smooth. The next morning still felt really really smooth and there was no irritation.

This is the skin that came off- gross!

I have now used this on my areas of acne (around the jawline) and I have to say I am quite impressed, it is not necessarily a cure but certainly a treatment for smoothing the skin and removing any roughness.

I was really impressed with this product, although it is £15 for a fairly small tube (30ml) a little seems to go a long way and my skin stayed pretty smooth for about a week. Although I have ended up trying out on so many people I think the tube is not going to last that long but I will definitely be buying more.

Sorry the pics aren't great-

BEFORE

AFTER

AFTER

SK-ii Facial Treatment Essence- £92 for 150ml

I was given a half empty bottle of this stuff, which is pretty lucky as I am not sure I would be willing to splash out 100quid without testing it first!

 The product description lists it as a treatment to "help restore helps restore vital balance by promoting the skin's natural 28-day surface renewal process" using its magic ingredient Pitera (90% of the product), which, a quick google tells me, is a mineral rich yeast by-product from the fermentation of Sake.
It is a moisturiser to be used daily, a teaspoon of the product poured into your palm and patted on to the skin, and will "renew skin's surface for a smoother texture.

When you pour the product out, it has a texture very similar to water- certainly not an oil as I was expecting it be. It has a very light fragrance, I patted it in to the skin as described and it was absorbed in instantly.

Being that it seems so watery, I was a little concerned at how moisturising it would be, however by the morning after it was applied my skin felt fine as if it had been moisturised and not at all dry.

It does not specify whether this should be used in the morning or night or both, but I am going to try it as my nightly moisturiser as it does not contain SPF which I prefer for the day. I will let you know if I notice a change.

In the beginning..

Okay, so I know the web is pretty over subscribed with makeup and beauty blogs- I follow loads of them. So I thought I would set up my own, just for some fun and just in case anyone was interested in my opinion.
I am looking to provide some reviews on a variety of products- a mix of the standard makeup and beauty ranges and maybe a few high end, bespoke and cult brands.

I am a 20something living in London, I don't have any affiliation with the beauty industry or any particular brands, just a debit card in far too easy reach and a love of all things beauty.