Samantha's Secret | July Glossybox

Its that time of the month again ...

Glossybox time!!

I've said so many times that I'm not going to continue my subscription but I have wanted to give Glossy the benefit of the doubt, plus my glossydots would be wasted soo... here is another month's edition. Back to the classic pink boxes, this month is all about festival beauty.

Paul Mitchell - Awapuhi Moisture Mist - sounds great while the sun is out!

Monu - Night Renewal Complex - An anti-aging product but interested to try.

Nuxe - Huile Prodigieuse - Very excited to try this!

Jelly Pong Pong - Lip Frosting - I've known of JPP for years but have not tryed any of their things so keen to give it a go!

Bex London - Londoner Urban Fragrance - I don't think I've gone 1 month without a mini-fragrance but I'll forgive since I love the other things ...

and a little bonus product: Elizabeth Arden - Visible Difference Balancing Skin samples. - Have never tryed EA skincare - isn't it directed at older ladies? But you get a free deluxe sample with the Glossy card so will try and snap that up!!

I'm most excited about the Nuxe oil, the Monu cream and the JPP frosting which looks adorable and smells amazing.

This is the most exciting box I've recieved so far, in terms of wanting to get stuck straight into the products!! An uncharacteristically great box for Glossy!! What did everyone get in theirs this month?! I am a little sad to see that other people have got yet more HD Brow products, but hey! Individual reviews to follow!!

To subscribe the Glossy box for £10 + £2.95 delivery, here is the link. 

Samantha's Secret | Accessorize Lovely Day Palette

I cannot tell you HOW long I have waited to get my hands on this palette - ever since seeing the preview photos and blogs, and it became an absolute impossibility of a mission to find it!

Eventually after dashing into what felt like every Superdrug on the planet (WHY do Accessorize stores not stock their own full brand of cosmetics?!) I have one and here he is.

The shadows are in 32 gorgeous wearable shades, perfect for day-wear but equally buildable for the evening. The palette also, I think, contains shades that you would not normally opt for for a daily look, so gives you the opportunity to shake up your routine and perhaps try some different colours.

For the price, the pigmentation of the shadows is great, they blend nicely and stayed put. They are not as bright as what I would normally expect from a baked shadow (I assume it is the same formula as in their individual baked shadows) but am still impressed with the price.

This palette sells for £8.99 in Superdrug. I can't find it online for the life of me (would have made my search for it a lot easier.) Has anyone else got this palette and find it useful? I think its cute, fun and fills in the gaps of all the crazy eyeshadow shades that I probably don't need!!

Samantha's Secret | Space NK Sale £2!!!!!!!!!

I am so sad to be too slow for the amazing sale that Space NK still have some dregs left of - but wanted to share it with everyone incase others missed it too!! Some amazing skincare items and make-up went in, at up to 75% off.

I managed to get 2 x Laura Mercier single eyeshadows for £2, originally £18??!! A Laura Mercier lip glaze for £2, and a loose eyeshadow Magic Dust by Lime Crime, £2 - originally £12!!  Reviews to come soon!

I am also lusting after a trio of Rodial candles at £20.

Did anyone manage to nab anything special from the sale??! There is hardly anything left but Seriously its ridiiiculous look now!!

Samantha's Secret | Revlon Pink Pout

As my lipstick hoarde ever breeds, I wanted to share my first Revlon lipstick, and a Matte one at that which is an uncharacteristic choice for me but I loved the colour so ... hell!

Its a lovely mauve-pink, that looks great on a fair tone like mine but I'm sure would also suit darker skin tones alike! The consistency is creamy and smooth although being a matte formulation I definitely suggest this lippie for good lip days only or using a good balm before-hand! Unless you want dry liney granny lips, mmmm.

I've been loving this for everyday lips and as its a matte shade has great staying power.

You can get Pink Pout from Superdrug for £7.49 here.

I need more Revlon in my life!!

Samantha's Secret | Vichy Dermablend Foundation

As I am (supposed to be) on the quest to complete project sample - that is, use up my humungous collection of tiny vials, sachet, beauty box samples and freebies - I have been trialling Vichy Dermablend, a high-coverage foundation for covering minor to severe skin flaws.

Before I start I guess I have to say really that I don't have any specific problems with my skin when it comes to flaws or blemishes - I have usually very clear skin, not through any obsessive skin-care routine in particular, perhaps good genes, or I have just outgrown the oily teenage skin problems. I do though, have freckles and some rosacea along my jaw line (SO annoying as if I want to use blush or bronzer - it just looks like I did it all wrong and have a red face anyway.) Having said that I thought my skin would be a good reference to how well this foundation camouflages skin discolouration, if not acne-related issues.

So this is what the little kit looked like, and I used 12 Opal as the best match to my skin. I was really overwhelmed by the amount of coverage it gave, it was (for me) like using a heavy-duty concealer All over my face. It was great for smoothing out all my freckles into more of a uniform skin colour and actually did a pretty good job over redness.

I found the Dermablend foundation way too heavy for everyday use, I use really sheer foundation normally and I didn't feel like I could breathe in it. It has more coverage than even Estee Lauder Double Wear (holy grail for some.)

So overall this would be great as a heavy duty concealer for marks or long-term blemishes, and some would want this for everyday coverage. For that, its fantastic and does exactly what it claims to. Added to that, its SPF 30, hypoallergenic, and resists water and perspiration!

Samantha's Secret | Real Techniques Blush Brush

My second addition to my Real Techniques brush set is the Blush brush. I have the Stippling brush and it has completely revolutionized the way I apply my foundation, and I know that I am not alone!!

Its so beautiful and fluffy, slightly domed and the perfect shape for applying blush. I so strongly recommend the RT brushes, they are beautifully made, at an excellent price point and of course anything that supports the amazing Pixiwoo sisters I am happy to rave about!! I can't wait to get the Buffing Brush for foundation so that I can use the Stippler for cream products.

You can find Real Techniques brushes here individually or some in kits.

Samantha's Secret | Chanel Perfection Lumiere

Since Chanel discontinued their infamous Matt Lumiere and Pro Lumiere, this foundation 'Perfection Lumiere' was brought out as the replacement to both. It was met with slight indifference, with some indignant that it could ever replace their favourite Chanel foundations.

I have been trying this foundation for about a week. I had a sample and since I am getting on with Project Sample I thought I would trial it until it runs out. Now I'm really sad that it has as I will of course have to now go out and buy the full size!!

At first I was unimpressed, I found it hard to blend, a little too matte for my liking and the smell is quite overpowering. When I switched from a foundation brush to a Real Techniques stippling brush, I started to enjoy it a lot more. It does set quickly so you need to blend it quickly to avoid streaks and then it will set to  a medium coverage, lightly powdered finish.

I have combination/normal skin and generally go for a 'dewy' foundation such as Rimmel Wake Me Up (review here). A couple of weeks ago though, the weather here in Britain was rather hot and I felt I looked less 'dewy' and more 'oily'. I have been really loving having a more matte finish, I think that it lasts longer on my skin and can look a lot more polished. While it sounds odd, it does brighten your complexion even while semi-matte, hence the 'Lumiere' title. It also claims to be 'long-wear' which is definitely the case - for me anyway since it is matte- having moved onto this from more luminous foundations.

 I can suffer from dry patches around my nose, but this foundation did not cling to them or show them up. I do always moisturise before foundation though, and have been using a heavy-duty Oilatum moisturiser prior, as a mask to combat dryness - so if you do suffer from dryness I'm unsure if this foundation would dry your skin out too much. Some days I love the fresh scent, sometimes I find it really irritating, but it only lasts for as long as you are blending, you won't smell it all day! (It's a bit like bubble bath?! Not unlike the scent of Chanel skincare products.)

Photo from: Chanel.com

In general I think it's a great foundation, perhaps even better than Vitalumiere Aqua, though I would say it is more suited to the winter months than Aqua for the summer. It is also one of those foundations that I would say it requires good skin, as the coverage is not full and it sets to a powderish finish which I can't imagine would look great on blemishes. Perfection Lumiere sells for £36 and you can find it on the Debenhams website here.