GlossyBox March 2012 - Harrods Edition

As soon as GlossyBox announced that they would be doing a collaboration with Harrods for their March box the beauty community went crazy and eagerly awaited the day that the postman delivered theirs to their door.

I was one of those people but the reality of it is that when it actually arrived I wasn't that impressed! Don't get me wrong, I think the selection of product that they included are great quality and I will use all of them however I have already tried 3 of the 5 product included in the box (I know they were not to know that but Harrods sells a huge variety of cosmetics so it sucks to get ones I've already used) and they included a perfume sample as one of the items! 

Now I'm all for perfume samples if they are provided as an extra but not when they are one of the actual items, I can go to any department store and get them for free, also I noticed that a few of the other boxes had mini bottles of fragrance which to me is a bit unfair.

I guess all in all I was expecting more from this months box and was a little disappointed.

Anyways this is what I got:

Molton Brown Heavenly Gingerlily Moisture Bath & Shower
I've used this in the past and while it is a lovely shower gel it's not worth the price, there are better products out there for less.

Yves Saint Laurent Forever Youth Liberator Serum
I love this serum and I'm considering purchasing the full size! It absorbs super quickly and it leaves my skin looking glowy and radiant.

Burberry Lip Cover in Rosewood
This is the item I was most looking forward to, I love the formula of this lipstick but it's not my kind of colour.
I'd be intrested in looking at the other shades on offer though.

Clarins Extra Firming Body Cream
I've not tried this yet and probably won't either as I'm not keen on Clarins Body products as I find them to greasy.

Narciso Rodriguez For Her Eau de Parfum
This scent is okay, what's not okay is that I can get these free at any department store.
This is not a deluxe sample, GlossyBox please sort it out!

GlossyBox December 2011

Rituals Yogi Flow Foaming Shower Gel
I love the smell of this and you only need the tiniest amount to get a really good lather.
I would definitely re-purchase and I'm intrested in trying some of the other scents.

Deborah Lippmann Nail Laquer in Razzle Dazzle
The consistency was a little thin on first coat but the second coat covered beautifully and the shade itself is very pretty, a dark purple base with a raspberry shimmer.
The lasting power was really good too and when I took it off 4 days later it hadn't chipped one bit!

Cargo Lip Gloss in Tokyo

A lovely pinky coral shade with gold shimmer, it felt nice and smooth and wasn't sticky but pigmentation is quite sheer which is a shame because it's a pretty colour.

Me Me Me Seventh Heaven

I almost bought the full size of this and I'm so glad now that I didn't,it's not a bad product as it moisturises well enough and provides a good base for makeup but for me the strong citrus smell is very off putting.

It almost as the same sort of scent as a lemon wood polish and those kinda scents literally make me feel sick, if you like citrus you will probably enjoy this product.

Blink + Go Long lasting Black Mascara

Love the fact that this is a full sized mascara but this did nothing for my lashes, no volume or length and it made my lashes feel really dry and crispy. Not a fan!  

GlossyBox November 2011

I must admit that I was a little disappointed  with the contents of the November Glossybox, they aren't bad but I just found them kinda boring and there's were no make-up items either.

Monu Recovery Blam

This is wonderful product if your skin is looking dull and it needs a boost. It smells gorgeous too.

Arbonne Ultra-Hydrating Hand Cream

This is a decent enough and cream and it absorbed quickly into skin. I like these little sample size tubes because they are good to pop into you handbag.

Nail Rock Designer Nail Wraps

Lovely pattern but an absolute pain in the ass to apply! I managed to do 4 fingers and then I got frustrated with how tricky they are to put on so I took them back off.

I love the idea of nail wraps but it's not for me.

Dead Sea Spa Magik Bath Salts

Have used these before and they do work well for relaxing you and making your skin feel soft but they are quite a "plain" product. 

You may want to add some nice smelling oil or something to the bath water when using these.

Serge Lutens L'Eau Serge Lutens & Vitrol D'Oeillet 

Didn't like either one of these, just not my kinda scent.

I do think there should be some sort of option on the Glossybox site (and for all of the other beauty boxes too) were you can indicate what sort of fragrances you like (sweet, fresh, oriental). Fragrance is so personal and so easy to get wrong and that would help narrow the choice down.

GlossyBox October 2011

I know it's now November and here I am blogging about Octobers Glossybox but better late than never, right? 

I was quite impressed this month with the way everyone got the exact same box, I think it works better this way as it's fairer and no one can argue over who got the better selection of products.

Here's what I got:

Dermalogica Multivitamin Thermafoliant, Power Recovery Masque & Renewal Lip Complex.

I've tried Dermalogica in the past and wasn't particularly impressed with it, these 3 products on the other hand have really won me over, especially the Thermafoliant which does a really good job at exfoliating my skin gently without causing irritation.

The mask is nice for a quick boost, it brightens skin and makes it look fresh and glowy.

The lip balm is okay,  it's not moisturising enough for me and I do find the taste and smell quite annoying, I think this would actually work better on more mature ladies.

Dermalogica Make-Up Bag

A nice little extra even though I probably wont use it.

Stila Smudge Stick Waterproof Eyeliner in Moray

The best item in the box! I have huge issues with pencil liner lasting on me, it normally fades after a few hours and even quicker on my waterline, this one does not.

I wore it the whole day and I got no fading or smudging and it still looked freshly applied after 10 or so hours.

I do wish I would have recieved the black or brown version as I don't think I will wear this olive green shade very often but this is an amazing product and one that I will re-purchase.

Leighton Denny in Babydoll.

Haven't bothered to use this as I have tried polishes by Leighton Denny before and they haven't worked well for me, I find the texture too thick and they take too long to dry.

It is a pretty colour though.

Robert Piguet Fracas, Calipso and Visa

I'm not normally a huge fan of perfume samples being included as an item (nice as an extra though) but I'm glad that these were included as I've never tried fragrances by Robert Piguet but heard quite a lot about them.

I will review each one briefly:

Fracas: not a fan of this one, very heavy on the gardenia and a bit to old lady for me to appreciate it.

Calypso: quite nice fruity, floral but not too sweet, again more suited to a more mature audience.

Visa: this one is my favourite out the 3, a nice sweet, warm scent, mainly vanilla and some woodsy note.

What did you think of the October GlossyBox?

GlossyBox September 2011

I recieved my GlossyBox over a week ago but didn't get a chance to blog about it straight away so I'm a little late but at least I've had time to try each product more than once and form a proper opinion on them.

This month I've included the discount codes for each product incase any of you want to take advantage of them.

Neal and Wolf Harmony Intensive Care Treatment £12.95
Recieve 15% off the range at www.nealandwolf.com using code GLOSSYBOX.
Expires 14/11/11

I was happy to see this product included in my box as I'm always on the look out for a good intensive conditioner but it simply isn't effective enough on my dry, frizzy, chemically treated locks.
It left my hair dry and tangly and did nothing for the shine or condition of my hair, I think if you have fairly healthy hair this would be great but if you have hair similar to mine stay well clear.
It's a shame cause it smells amazing.

HD Brows Eye Brows Palette in Foxy £19.99

Recieve £5 off at www.hd-brows.co.uk using code Glossy3 on any complimentary product including: Grow Baby Grow, Brow Beater or Vibe and Eye Smoothing Serum.

Expires 19/10/11

My favourite item in this months box! I'm lucky that I don't really need any extra help in the brow department but this just makes them look more defined without being too dark and it also doubles up as an eye shadow quad so it's good value for money.

I'm really impressed with how it last all day without fading or smudging.

Dead Sea Spa Magik Salt Brushing £13.30 500g tub, £1.80 50g satchet
Recieve 25% off your next purchase from www.shopforspa.com when entering code GLOSSYBOX.
Expires 08/10/11

I've used this product in the past so I know it's good stuff, it as dead sea salts in a coconut oil base and it scrubs and moisturises your skin all at once.
It's one of those "proper" scrubs that really exfoliates skin and can be a little harsh if your not careful also watch out if you use it in the shower cause it makes the floor incredibly slippery.
It's perfect to use once a week as an intensive body treatment.

Kimia Exquisite Rejuvenating Facial System £69
Use voucher code soften40a to recieve 40% discount off the entire Kimia range at www.kimia.co.uk.
Expires 31/10/11

This is a two step system consisting of a facial oil and hydrating spray to help nourish and moisturise your skin.
I love the facial oil, smells amazing and leaves skin feeling hydrated and smooth not sure if the mist does anything though, I used the oil on it's own and got the same results.
This is the one product I can see myself purchasing and will be taking advantage of the money off voucher while I can.

Plum by Mary Greenwell £90
Recieve 20% when purchasing your second item from the plum collection at www.marygreenwell.com
Expires 30/09/11

Nice light fruity scent with a musky, ambery dry down, nice but not one I would wear often, I'll enjoy using this up but wouldn't purchase the full size.
I've noticed quite a few people describe this as a more mature scent and I would have to agree.

GlossyBox August 2011!

I'm a little late this month, I actually recieved my GlossyBox last Thursday but haven't had time to put up a post. I'm really impressed with this months box, it's actually my favourite so far, a nice mix of skincare, haircare and make-up.

Murad Time Release Blemish Cleanser (£29)

I've been wanting to try Murad for a while and this cleanser does not dissapoint.

It work really well at deep cleansing skin without stripping it and feels nice and refreshing on the skin, I only wish that it would foam up a little better as a like my cleanser that way.

Ahava Mineral Body Lotion (£22)

I absolutely love this product and plan on buying the full size as soon as this runs out.

It has a light, easily absorbed texture and it smells gorgeous too and my skin feels super soft and moisturised after I've used this.

I would be perfectly happy replacing all my moisturisers with this one and I want to try the body sorbet and dry oil body mist too

Daniel Sandler Jumbo Jet Mascara (£14.85)

I like it, it's nice and works well but I'm fickle with mascara so probably wont repurchase.

It give nice volume and the brush gives an even application, it's long lasting and didn't smudge even though I rubbed my eyes a couple of times.

I like that the formula is a proper dark black as opposed to that sort of grey/black that most mascaras are.

KMS Colorvitality Shine & Shield (£12.70) 

This is a lightweight cream that adds shine while providing heat protection.

It's nice as a leave in treatment as it cuts frizz and adds moisture, if I let my hair air dry with this in it it's a lot more tamed and it sets in nice waves.

Not used it as a blow dry lotion yet but I'm sure it will work wonderfully.

Rebel Nails Nail Wraps (£7.99)

Wont be using these, the patters isn't me at all and I'm not that keen on nail wraps anyways.

A lot of people love them though and Rebel Nails do have a ton of different patterns so if nail wraps are your thing then you might like these.

I loved this months GlossyBox and can't wait for next months to arrive. 

What did you think of this months box and what were your favourite products?

GlossyBox July 2011!!

This months GlossyBox is AMAZING! I think last month a lot of people were disappointed with the selection of products especially the inclusion of the mini can of Batiste, I personally didn't mind but I would have preferred is they had have included a make-up item.

This month they have not only included a make-up item but 4 of the items are full size, considering the box cost £10 that is pretty generous of them, I do feel they tried really hard to please the people that were unhappy last month and yet some people are still complaining about receiving stuff they would never use.

The whole point of GlossyBox is to introduce it's subscribers to new products you would probably not try otherwise so you're not always going to get product you would choose you're self, that's the whole point of it, also it is a sample service so while getting full size items is nice we shouldn't always be expecting it.

I'm very pleased with the items I got and can see myself using up most of them.

Weleda Pomegranate Regenerating Body Oil £19.95

Nice and moisturising and not too greasy, smells amazing too, like lemons.

Ultrasun Face SPF 30 sample size, full size retails at £19

Nice and light in texture and dries matte so it make a great base for your foundation.

Generous sized sample and because you only use a little each time it should last a while.

LP Skin Therapy Lip Rescue Gel £20

A sort of lip plumper and balm in one, really moisturising and kinda tingly at first but I find it too sticky to be worn at any other time other than bed time.

Illamasqua Pure Pigment in Involve £15.50

I've got quite a few of these and while I do love them they require a bit of effort to look great, they are best used wet as the pigment is stronger and they stick to the skin better.

Ciate Paint Pots in Speed Dial £9

Not used this yet but it looks like a nice vibrant summer color.

Have you subscribed to GlossyBox yet? What did you get and what did you think of this month box?

Glossybox June 2011!

So today I recieved my second Glossybox and I while I still think it's value for money I was a little underwhelmed with the selection of products recieved.
I don't dislike any on the products I recieved but I was a little disappointed with the fact that I didn't recieve a makeup item but I guess some months will alway be better than others.
I think Glossybox set the standard so high with the first box that people are gonna feel a little bit let down with this box but I still think it was worth £10.
From what I can see on other blogs not everyone got the same items this month and the box was customised for you according to the preferences you  selected when you first joined.

This is what I got in my box:

Mama Mio O-Mega Body Buff

Not tried this one yet so I cannot say how nice of a product it is but it's quite a large size and should last a while.

Lalique Perles De Lalique

Love the bottle, not sold on the smell. It's okay but it's quite an heavy, woodsy scent and more suited as a winter fragrance. It as notes of Bulgarian Rose, Orris, Bourbon Pepper, Indonesian Patchouli and Cashmere woods.

Bio Effects EGF Serum

This is my favourite item, it's an anti-ageing repairing serum that help speed up cell turnover. You are actually getting a decent sized sample here as the full size of this product retail at £125 for 15ml.

There was also a voucher in the box for £30 pound of the full size product and I'm very tempted to buy it.

It makes my skin feel amazingly soft and it looks bright and refreshed.

OPI Nail Polish

I love OPI polish so I'm glad this was included, it's a pretty berry shade with loads of little particles of holographic glitter.

Batiste Original Dry Shampoo

The thing most people are disappointed with, personally I don't mind as I was going to go and buy one of these for my handbag and now I don't have too!

I love Batiste and have gone trough loads of cans, it's amazing if you have greasy roots but also if you just need loads of volume or a matte texture.

So what did you think of this months box? What items would you have preferred and what do you like to see in next months?

First UK GlossyBox May 2011!

You may have all heard about Birchbox, a monthly subscription were you recieve a box of deluxe sized beauty samples for you to try out before you commit to the full sized product.

Well we now have the UK equivalent called GlossyBox and let me tell you it's amazing!!!
The May boxes went quite fast but I managed to get my order in just before they sold out and I'm so glad I did.
For £10 a month you get a pretty little pink box delivered straight to you door filled with what supposed to be 5 deluxe sample sizes, I say "supposed to" cause 2 of the items this month were actually full size!
The two full sized items would set you back £32, yes you read that correctly, that's amazing considering the box only costs £10.

I'm gonna do a mini review/first impression on each product I recieved so let me show you exactly what was in the box:

This is how it's packaged, it all looks very pretty and it's very carefully wrapped, that card that you see under the ribbon tells you a little bit about each product you've recieved.

Yes, your eyes are not deceiving you, that is a NARS product you see there and it's full size!
Apart from the NARS and the Alterna I'm not familiar with any of the other brands.

NARS Orgasm Illuminator 

I still can't believe they gave us a full sized product worth £21.50!

Please note that this is the old style Illuminator, NARS re-launched this product at the beginning of the year so the new tubes look a little different now, however the product inside is the same.

The shade is a beautiful golden peach and the shimmer is very subtle, for me personally this works best mixed with my foundation as it just imparts a nice "lit from within" glow. I much prefer Copacabana Illuminator as an actual highlighter for my cheekbones.

All About Eve Lipstick

Another full sized item that retails at £10.50, I've never heard of this brand but it does say on the box "created by Daniel Sandler" who I have heard of.
I must admit when I first looked at this product I thought the color was quite boring, I have a fair few red lipsticks and this one didn't really grab my attention.
That's until I swatched it for this post.

It's actually a little bit darker and more pink that the swatch above and very wearable even when worn at it's full intensity.
It feels very creamy and moisturising but at the same time very lightweight in feel, similar to the new Chanel Rouge Coco Shine's. For the purpose of fair testing I did try this on without a lipliner and found it did feather a little and it faded quite quickly so a little prep work may be necessary to make it last longer.

Bionova Lab Bioactive Cleanser

Not much to say about this one other than it smells really nice but I haven't tried it yet.
It kinda sound like a cleansing oil but I will update as soon as I've tested it properly.

Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Rapid Repair Spray

This is basically a vitamin infused silicone spray to help tame your hair and add shine. So far I've only sprayed it on dry hair and it does seem to calm any frizziness and makes my hair really soft. It also smells wonderful.

COMO Shambhala Invigorate Body Lotion 

This is a really nice light, quickly absorbed lotion that's very heavily scented with essential oils of eucalyptus, geranium, lavender and peppermint.
If you're familiar with Clarins Tonic body range then you'll know what this smells like as they are very similar.
It's not an unpleasant smell but I tend to like sweeter scents and this is quite herbal so while I will use this sample up I know I would not repurchase.
Having said that I did get a voucher included for 10% off anything in their store and I am tempted to try the Harmony Body Oil which is scented with sandalwood, ylang ylang and lime.

If you have not yet subscribed to GlossyBox I recommend you do it now before they run out again, for £10 you can't go wrong and you will discover new products that you may never try otherwise.

www.glossybox.co.uk

For those of you who were lucky enough to get a May box what did you think of it? And what brands would you like to see next?