GlossyBox August 2012 'International Superstars' Box

August's GlossyBox is filled with products from around the world. I thought this would be a great chance to try some things that I wouldn't come across usually here in the UK!

 The UK added Lipcote, a well-known product that seals lipstick and prevents it from fading and smudging as you party the night away. You may think that it looks like nail polish and I have to say that when you apply Lipcote it smells like nail polish, the scent stung my nose anyway! It also caused a burning sensation when I used it which I was expecting as it does tell you but is was very unpleasant and I'm used to strong lip plumpers. I tried it twice and my lipstick came straight off; on the third try I had to seriously blot the lipstick off my lips and keep my mouth open for 3 minutes while it dried. It did keep my lipstick on but left a horribly bitter taste on my lips when I tried to get it off later. I would not recommend Lipcote at all. 

 As an extra 6th product GlossyBox gave me a lipstick in the shade Glossy Pink. The texture was very creamy and the colour was a lot brighter once I applied it. I prefer more moisturising lipsticks but I loved the cute packaging with the GlossyBox seal on the lid.

Here's the lipstick in more detail:

 Germany's product a Pro White nail polish by Alessandro sounds useful and I can't wait to try this out when nail polish in bright hues such as orange leaves my nails in need of some brightening.

 I've been intrigued by Broadway Nails' imPress Press-on Manicure from the USA; can a stick on nail be the solution to those last-minute panics before a party? I had bad memories of those free packs of nails I got in magazines when I was younger that were far too big and would not stick, and I fear these are not much better. I loved the cute nail polish bottle container but I was disappointed with the disgusting, vivid purple shade of the nails (it looks worse in reality) and it just does not suit me. The colour may suit somebody else but maybe GlossyBox could have sent everyone a neutral pack or at least a classic shade. I'll be sticking with my nail polish.

 Spain's Vera Valenti eyeshadow palette looked really cheap and came in a plastic container that ruined my nails when I eventually prised it open. Including a mirror is a great idea but when it's so small it becomes a waste of space! The bottom left khaki green is wearable and great for the military trend at the moment and the neutral colours will always be wearable, it's a shame the shades aren't very pigmented as I think you'd have to use a lot of product to really see the colour.

 Japan's DHC Deep Cleansing Oil that removes makeup sounds good as I have dry skin but I already have a favourite cleanser! I might leave it at my boyfriend's house so I can remove my makeup if I forget my usual cleanser as I don't think I'll be using it much.

 I enjoy having a box of mystery products every month and sometime there's a really good box but at over £12 a month I don't think it's worth it. I'm getting lots of products that I don't use or like and I can't afford to do that so I'll be saying goodbye to my GlossyBoxes soon; hopefully I'll get some awesome products in the next few boxes before I unsubscribe!

XOXO

GlossyBox June 2012 'Summer Beauty' Box

 Another month, another GlossyBox. June's box seemed pretty average when it arrived and didn't have the 'wow' factor that previous boxed have had, but the contents are more useful than impressive.

 I received a Dermalogica kit containing a cleanser, toner, and moisturiser. I already have some of their skin care products and they seem to work fine I just wasn't too excited about this product. I prefer another cleanser and have quite a lot of it left so I don't know when I'll get around to using these products!

 I also had a Vichy Dermablend Starter Kit with 6 shades of foundation. None of the shades look pale enough to use on my skin tone but I might try the palest out with some of my other makeup later just to use it up if I need a heavier foundation.

 The GlossyBox Pro Beauty Brush is made out of goat hair for a supersoft application and I use it with my favourite bronzer. 

 The BM Beauty bronzer is really messy and hard to use without getting it everywhere, as it's a loose pigment bronzer it also has a tendency to appear too strong when you apply it. 

 My sample of Yves Rocher France's Mini Mascara- Sexy Pulp claims to give a 'lash plumping result'. Although the mascara gave no volume to my lashes it did give a unique fine and feathery finish and I'm going to use this mascara when I want a more subtle look as it's great for lengthening your lashes.

Overall, the products in this box will be useful but unfortunately they weren't anything special this time! This box certainly made me more inclined to cancel my subscription as I've had enough cleanser samples now.

Lauren Loves ♥: The GlossyBox bronzer brush, much easier to use than my old one.



XOXO

GlossyBox May 2012 '1st Birthday' Edition

 During May I wasn't the only one celebrating their birthday- GlossyBox celebrated their first anniversary too! I was very happy when I opened my box and saw more goodies than usual.

 The body products I received were Noble Isle's Summer Rising Bath & Shower Gel and Neal's Yard Remedies' Rehydrating Rose Daily Moisture. Both do their jobs but I'm not fond of rose scented products and I much prefer my Body Shop products that are strawberry scented.

 I also got two perfume samples from Lolita Lempicka (Eau de Parfum & L'Eau en Blanc). Now, I haven't been overjoyed with most of the perfume samples I've had so far in my boxes but the sweetness of these perfumes is just me. I've loved Lolita Lempicka ever since I purchased the Eau de Parfum in the Paris Sephora and it also comes in a beautiful apple shaped bottle:

 The beauty products I received were Collection's Lasting Colour Gel Eyeliner in gold, which did not apply well with the brush that came in the box and is now being used as a cream eye shadow; and some fabulous False Eyelashes from Eldora which I can't wait to wear on a night out soon.

 As a bonus there was also a birthday balloon and a handy little mirror with the GlossyBox logo on it.

 I like having a box of surprise products every month but for £10 plus P&P when I am but a newly graduated student in need of a job and therefore money, I don't know how much longer I can live with this luxury. As I have a huge box full of products (made larger by the monthly GlossyBox contents) I've decided to stop subscribing as soon as I get enough points for my free box. Who knows, perhaps when I have my amazingly high-paid job that I'll completely love and will be given any day now (ha ha!) I will have used all my products up and will be able to afford the subscription again.

 What do you think I should do with my £10 each month instead of the GlossyBox subscription?

Lauren Loves ♥: Memories of Paris when I wear Lolita Lempicka perfume.

XOXO

GlossyBox April 2012 'Natural Beauty' Edition

 Once again it's GlossyBox time and I received another special edition box- this one was about natural beauty. I loved the rustic packaging of this box and I'm sure I'll find something to store in it.

 The first body product in my box is a Sandalwood Body Wash from Ayuuri. The bottle looks really cute and flowery and the scent reminded me of bar of Dove soap, but I still prefer my strawberry scented body products from The Body Shop.

 My second body product is a Thirst-Quenching Serum from Caudalie which aims to moisurise your skin. I usually have dry skin and after using this once it already looks a lot more hydrated! Although this product is expensive I am actually considering buying a full sized version.

 I also received a sample of Kai's Perfume Oil. I liked the little card that came attached to it but I can't stand the little tube it came in, I hate opening perfume samples in these tubes because the perfume goes all over my fingers. The perfume smelt relaxing and natural but it started to give me a headache!

 I also had some beauty products in my box. There was a really pretty, vintage style tin of lip balm in Rambling Rose from Figs & Rouge. It smells a bit like turkish delight and the consistency is a little gloopy but  it does its job and you can never have to many lip balms.

The other beauty product I had is an Eyeliner from Inka Cosmetics in the shade 006 Coco which is as you might have guessed is a chocolate brown colour. The packaging is stylish and the eyeliner is long-lasting so I'm really happy with this and would recommend it.

 Would you be happier if makeup and beauty products in general weren't tested on animals or were 100% organic?

Lauren Loves ♥: Products that have a vintage style.

XOXO

GlossyBox March 2012 'The Harrods Edition'

 My Harrods box arrived and after all of the hype (the mystery, the clues!) I was a little bit disappointed but if I pretend that this is a regular box then it has some really amazing samples!

 I received a generous sample size of Versace's Eau De Parfum called Vanitas Versace in a beautiful bottle. It smells fresh and elegant if that's even possible! It has notes of tiare flower, lime and freesia. I probably wouldn't buy the full size bottle as I don't wear perfume that often but it would make a perfect gift for mother's day.

 I also received some body products. The Bliss Blood Orange and White Pepper Body Butter smells amazing, it reminds me of my holiday to Italy when I would drink blood orange juice for breakfast every morning outside in the sunshine. It's a really good sample size and the product is very moisturising, the only problem is the lid as it is hard to open, especially if you've got long nails. 

The Clarins Extra-Firming Body Cream is supposed to 'restore the skin's youthful density and elasticity' and at the ripe old age of 20 I hope my skin is still youthful, although I'll be 21 soon so I might start using this in a couple of months time when my skin rapidly transforms into something resembling a prune. 

 The Lancôme Juicy Tubes Toffee R'N'B 93 lipgloss smells so divine I could eat it. It's not sticky and it's hydrating. With a slight shimmer it looks lovely too, the only downside is that this sample isn't a shade that I'd usually go for.

 The Révive Intensité Crème Lustre with SPF30 is an 'intense, firming moisturizer that helps to reduce the appearance of sagging skin'. It smelt slightly fruity to me but the scent is minimal and pleasant which is what I like in a facial moisturiser. The sample is 7 ml and the 60 ml full size product is worth £235! For that price I expect very amazing things from this product and as I won't ever be paying that much for a moisturiser I'll be keeping this for moments that I really need to look my best.

 I really wanted to try the Ojon oil or the Burberry lipstick but I don't think the shades would've suited me anyway and overall I'm happy with my 'mystery' box! What's the most amount of money you would or have payed for a beauty product, and was it worth it?

Lauren Loves ♥: Harrods + GlossyBox = a winning combination!

XOXO

GlossyBox February 2012 'The Fashion Week Edition'

 It's the Fashion Week Edition and even though I won't be attending any fashion events during this time this box is meant to be useful for busy and stressful times.

 I always enjoy getting makeup in my boxes and GlossyBox included two makeup items in this box:

 The Venom Gloss by DuWop is in the shade Buttercup and while it looks like a nude/ cream shade in the tube it actually looks quite clear once applied. It has a cooling, tingling effect and plumps the lips slightly; I also found that the lip gloss was more moisturizing than a lot of other lip products. 

 BM Beauty's Pure Mineral Eye shadow came in the shade Storm Cloud which is a pretty combination of green and grey. The powder is loose and the colour doesn't have much depth but the shimmer effect could be lovely over another eye shadow.

 The Dr Bronner Magic Liquid Soap has no scent, other than being able to wash my hands with it there isn't any obviously clear instruction on how to use this product so if anybody knows how I can use this then let me know!

 Como Shambhala's Invigorate Body Lotion looked like it was going to be nice but unfortunately it smelt a bit too strong for my liking, I don't think I like anything that smells of Geranium; other scents in the lotion are Eucalyptus, Peppermint and Lavender. I ended up giving this product to my nan so all's well that ends well.

 The fifth product in my box was Paul Mitchell's Round Trip which is for defining curls. As I have long hair naturally on the straight end of the hair type scale and I probably didn't use it to its full effect it didn't make my hair curly in the slightest. However, my mum has naturally curly hair and when she used it her curls were almost like ringlets! I think this product will work best if your hair is already curly so avoid it my fellow straight hair peoples.

 This GlossyBox also included an 'Expect the unexpected' calling card. Intriguing you say? Well, there is a mystery box. GlossyBox have been leaving their Facebook followers letters as clues to the kind of box the March one will be. There have been rumours about a 'design your own' style box which could be interesting but subscribers will receive the mystery box regardless of what it is going to be.

 Let me know what you think the mystery box will contain!

Lauren Loves ♥: DuWop's Venom Gloss

XOXO

GlossyBox January 2012 'Pretty in Pink: Valentine's Day Edition' Review

 The limited edition Valentine's box is in an amazing shade of neon pink! The pink packaging makes a nice change and there was even a GlossyBox sweet in the box.

1) Murad: Hybrids Skin Perfecting primer- Dewey finish. I really like this product, it has slight tint which works perfectly with my pale skin. It's oil-free too so it won't block pores. 

2) Eyeko: Skinny Eyeliner- Emerald Green. The Eyeliner is long so that you can use it easily when there is only a small amount left and it reminds me of an Audrey Hepburn style cigarette holder. I wouldn't have chosen this colour but it is a glamorous vintage green and has a creamy texture so it blends well.

3) Orly: Nail Laquer- Ruby. The scent of this makes me dizzy but it's a nice shade for Winter if you like warmer tones.

4) Weleda: One Step Cleanser and Toner. This seemed to work well enough but I can't stand the herbal almost medicinal scent so I can't enjoy this product as much as other cleansers.

5) Fab: Gentle Body Wash. I haven't used this product yet but I like the fact that it has no scent as I like to wear a scented body butter. The packaging looks retro too which is always a bonus.

 Hope you all have a lovely Valentine's Day whatever you're doing. As always if there's anything you'd like me to do a post on (whatever it may be) then let me know!

Lauren Loves ♥: The glow of Murad's Skin Perfecting Primer.

XOXO

GlossyBox December 2011 'Christmas: Part 2' Review

 This limited edition Glossybox came in festive, pillar box red packaging:

 I have to say I was really happy with the contents of this month's box and there were two full sized products which are worth over £20 together so I certainly got my money's worth.

 The Rituals Foaming Shower Gel I received was Indian Rose and Sweet Almond Oil. It smells amazing but it's a good job I opened it in the shower because it went everywhere when I broke the seal!

 At first I was disappointed that I got the Blink + Go Hi-Definition Mascara instead of one of their eye shadow and blusher palettes but I have so many eye shadows already and my mascara is running out so It's probably better that I got the mascara. 

 The MeMeMe Seventh Heaven facebase is a primer and moisturiser and it smells like lemon mousse, so tempting I want to eat it. The full sized pot costs £15 though and I bet a decent moisturiser would be just as good as a facebase that you apply before makeup.

 Another makeup product I received was the Cargo Cosmetics Classic Lip Gloss in the shade Serengeti which is a gorgeous peach colour with a slight gold shimmer. As a sample sized product it's perfect to put in my handbag.

 Lastly I received a mini Deborah Lippmann Nail Polish in the shade Razzle Dazzle which is a glittery pinkish red, ideal for the Christmas party season, and a Nail Polish Remover Mitt which is useful to pack if you travel and don't want to take a big bottle of Polish Remover with you.

 This was my favourite Glossybox so far, if you subscribe too let me know what you got in your box! Now, how do I stop spending my Christmas money before I have it...

Lauren Loves ♥: Christmas glitter

XOXO