My Little Parisienne Box UK Review (September 2014)

I just subscribed and was very impressed with the first UK My Little Box which arrived on my doorstep today! It was only £11 plus £3.95 P&P and you would pay around that just for the sample of the Laura Mercier Primer I received. 

You can visit their website and subscribe here!

Contents included:

A 30ml Laura Mercier Foundation Primer

A 10ml Nuxe Multi Purpose Dry Oil (face, body, hair)

A My Little Beauty Stylo Lumière (highlighter)

A Cute Drawstring Bag

A Parisienne Girl Illustrated Laptop Sleeve

A Notebook (with blank pages)

A Page of Adorable Paris Themed Stickers

An Illustrated Piece of Card (I’m going to frame mine)

and An Illustrated Box to keep things in.

I love anything to do with Paris, I’m so glad I found out about them and can’t wait for my next box! 

xoxo

Holographic Hero

 I've been searching for an affordable holographic nail polish for a while and now I've found the perfect one! I discovered this amazing nail polish by Gosh (Holographic Hero) in Superdrug for under £5 and I love it but be warned- holographic nail polishes usually sell out pretty fast. It applies really well and adds a subtle rainbow shimmer to your nails. This is my new favourite nail polish.

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 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

Naked Palette: Cheaper similar shades!

 I love Urban Decay's Naked Palette but I know that not everybody wants 12 eye shadows in natural shades or wants to spend that much on their make up. I've already done a post on the Naked Palette so if you want to see the shades I'm going to mention you can have a look at them here. 

 I got the True Colour Quad in Mocha Latte which is from Avon and at the moment it's available for £5 online so if you only want a basic range of natural shades then this is for you. The compact also has a mirror and a double-ended foam applicator although I do prefer to use my own shadow brushes and the Urban Decay brush in the Naked Palette is nicer.

 My favourite shades in the Naked Palette were the matte ones and this Avon Quad has dupes for Urban Decay's matte shades 'Naked' and 'Buck' which are great every day colours and can also be used to fill in your eyebrows. The other two shadows are very similar to 'Toasted' and 'Virgin' although Avon's highlighter is slightly warmer.

 Avon's Quad is more affordable especially if you just want to experiment with some warmer shades, and it's perfect if you're travelling light as it's small enough to carry in your pocket. If you already have the Mocha Latte Quad let me know if you agree!

Lauren Loves ♥: Warmer tones during the colder weather.

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  

GlossyBox November 2011 'Christmas Gift Guide: Part 1' Review

 Once again it's GlossyBox time, do you want to see what was in my November box? Of course you do! 

 I was so happy with this month's box, I think it's perfect for winter as your skin and hair can dry out and it is the party season so we all want things to make us feel special.

 GlossyBox has provided lots of perfume samples before but I think that Illamasqua's Freak Eau De Parfum is the best yet, I already enjoyed an Illamasqua Eye shadow previously and now I can't wait to see what they come up with next. I prefer sweeter scented perfumes and I think this one is sweet but has a musky edge, it is indeed 'bottled midnight'.

 Freak contains:

Top Notes: Black Davana, Opium Flower, and Belladonna

Heart Notes: Poison Hemlock, Datura, and Queen of the Night

Base Notes: Frankincense, Oud, and Myrrh.  

 Subscribers get 20% off with a code and I'm totally loving the fantasy elements of the packaging:

 So you're smelling wonderful, why not jazz up your nails too? I haven't used Nail Rock Nail Wraps before but they come with a useful guide and you can see the range of their designs:

  I got 'Black Lace on Red' in my pack, I'm sure they'll be a lot easier to use than creating the lace effect myself and I'll be sure to use them next time I want wow-the-crowd nails.

 The coldness of Winter usually causes everyone to turn their central heating up and BAM... dry hair and dry skin. Luckily I have some products to combat this problem:

 On the left there is Arbonne's Ultra Hydrating Hand Creme, it makes your hands soft and initially smells fresh and fruity as it is made with 'kiwi cell extracts'. Unfortunately I found that the scent faded after a short while and smelt a little bit too much like a citrusy cleaning product for my liking.

 In the middle is Dead Sea Spa Magik's Delicate Boosting Mask. I'm glad I got the one for Dry/ Sensitive skin and it does nourish your skin but it smells horrible, as a facial product this could do with a nicer scent.

 On the right is Phillip Kingsley's Elasticizer, a pre-shampoo treatment to add bounce and shine which I will no doubt need for my hair soon as it is exposed to the harsh elements, I'm keeping this on stand by!

 'We have a special surprise Christmas GlossyBox lined up for you'- okay the card in my box officially made me start being excited for Christmas. If you're struggling to find an xmas gift for a guy they are just launching GlossyBox for Men!

 If you're interested check out: www.glossybox.co.uk


Lauren Loves ♥: Illamasqua- Freak Eau De Parfum.



XOXO

The Best Eye Shadow Palette

 After much use, I've decided that the Urban Decay Naked palette is my favourite collection of eye shadows. It's versatile, I've used it on nights out and for a casual, day time look.

 The range of colours suit everyone and there's a variety of shimmer, glitter and matte shades. When I purchased the palette I also received an eye shadow primer potion!

 Here's the inside of the palette and a closer look at the eye shadows:

 My favourite every day colours are the matte shade Buck with Virgin on the inner corners as a highlighter to open up the eyes. This is what the shades look like on my pale skin tone to give you an idea of the textures and intensity of the eye shadows:

 The Naked palette is portable enough to carry around in your bag, allowing you to touch up through the day or transform your look from day to night. The new matte shades are also useful for filling in your eyebrows as they contain no shimmer or glitter unlike most of the other Urban Decay eye shadows.
 Overall, I think the palette containing 12 shades is good value for money, which explains why it's usually sold out. It's currently £35 from House of Fraser but I got mine in the sale; the single eye shadows cost £13-£15!


Lauren Loves ♥: Urban Decay & Matte eye shadows.



XOXO

GlossyBox September 2011 ‘5 Future Classics’ Review

 I’ve been testing out GlossyBox products since June and the September box came today, earlier than I expected!

 Firstly the 1.5 ml Eau de Parfum Plum by Mary Greenwell smelt very ‘mumsy’, not a scent I’d wear as a 20 year old and came in one of those awkward tubes to ensure that once opened, the perfume will be all over your fingers.

 It didn’t smell like a plum to me but then again I haven’t sniffed any plums lately, if you want to smell like a plum maybe you’ll love this.

 Day Solution by Green People is a daily moisturiser ‘delicately scented with fairly traded Rose Geranium’. It says to apply to your face and neck but the scent of Rose Geranium is about as delicate as an elephant wearing Dr Martens so it’s now my excellent hand cream for the winter months.

 There were also a couple of sachets of Rahua Shampoo and Conditioner. Apparently it ‘prevents frizz, adds bounce, body and shine’ but as it claimed to be ideal for colour treated hair I’ll be saving this sample for usage when I next highlight/ dye my hair.

Eye&Brow Palette in 'Vamp'.

 I was excited to find a HD Brows Eye&Brow Palette in my GlossyBox, however instead of receiving ‘Bombshell’ for blondes or even ‘Foxy’ for brunettes I got ‘Vamp’ for dark hair… I have blue/ green eyes and medium blonde hair.

 Somehow this product hasn’t matched the preferred requirements in my beauty profile I filled out for GlossyBox but I guess you get whatever products they have left over if there’s a high demand.

 On the plus side, for the price of £19.95 when I only paid £10 and P&P for the entire contents of my GlossyBox I really can’t complain. The shades are too dark for defining my eyebrows but I have been loving matte brown eye shadows recently and now I have 4 more that last ’24 hours’.

 My final and favourite product in this GlossyBox has to be The Green Balm by Moa. I tried this and it’s the most moisturising lip balm I’ve ever used! It is organic and smells very slightly like tea tree oil and my beauty card informs me that it has ‘many weird and wonderful uses’.

 As I’m so nice here are the discount codes for the products in my September box if you wish to purchase anything:

Green People Day Solution. Save £5 when you spend over £20. www.greenpeople.co.uk. Code: Glossy2.

HD Brows Eye&Brow Palette. £5 off at www.hd-brows.co.uk. Code: Glossy3.

Moa The Green Balm. 20% off at www.thegreenbalm.com. Code: LOVEMOA.

Plum by Mary Greenwell Eau de Parfum. 20% off your second item purchased from the Plum collection at www.marygreenwell.com. Code: Just register on the site to receive your discount.

Rahua Shampoo and Conditioner. 10% off at www.beautique.com. Code: RAHUA10.

 For more information about GlossyBox or to see what products were in past boxes you can visit www.glossybox.com.

Lauren Loves ♥: The Green Balm by Moa.

XOXO