April GlossyBox!

So who has had their latest Glossybox?!
We have all been waiting for this one for a while since Glossy have obviously had some issues getting the order together for this month. After a lot of negativity from the last two boxes, this was a make or break box for some! If you are a fan of Glossy on facebook you might have seen some of the abuse their poor office was getting. (!)

I've been a subscriber to Glossy since before Christmas. I pay for all of my boxes, and I too have had on/off boxes with some disappointing samples and products that didn't appear to follow my beauty profile.

But April box arrived eventually ... and here it is.

The 'natural' box

All of this months products were organic and / or natural. I grew up on an Organic farm and although I'm not a save-the-world hippy or whatever, it's slightly ingrained in me and I do like to do what I can to recycle, and gravitate towards natural foods and beauty products. After all, your putting it on your skin - why wouldn't you use natural products.

'Figs&Rouge 'Rambling Rose' Balm

The most exciting thing in the box for me this month was this gorgeous Figs & Rouge balm. It's meant to be an 'all-purpose' balm for dry skin all over the body. I am unlikely to use this anywhere other than my lips but thats fine for me and I love it. When you first put it on it feels gritty and wrong, but as you rub it in it soon smooths out to a beautiful, soft balm - and your lips feel exfoliated from rubbing it!! It's really nourishing, moisturising and smells beautiful. I'm definitely a fan!!
Get 20% off Figs & Rouge at feelunique with the code FIGS20 til 20th of May.

Caudalie Vinosource SOS Thirst-Quenching Serum

The next thing I was also super pleased with, French skincare brand Caudalie's new serum - I love it! It smells AMAZING - like natural and fresh and slightly floral. Its very similar to Chanel's Precision Hydramax Active Serum - I wear it under moisturiser in the morning. And since its hydrating its great for my dry skin - WELL DONE Glossy for noting my beauty profile!
Go to www.caudalie.com for a free travel kit with all purchases over £40.

Ayuuri Coconut Natural Body Wash - I've been getting a bit fed up of recieving body washes in my boxes - I feel like it's a bit of a cop-out product, I think I've had one in every box so far and I don't really see shower gel as an exciting beauty product. However getting a full-size product is quite impressive, this one smells lovely, is natural and has jasmine and aloe vera extracts. Can't go wrong.

Inika Organic Eyeliner - in Purple Minx - Another great full-size product - not the most wearable colour but might look nice as an evening look. It felt creamy when I swatched.

Kai Perfume Oil - Again I'm getting bored of tiny perfume vials in what seems to be every box - I have said I'll recieve perfumes in my beauty profile but not every time and some people recieve cute miniature bottles of fragrances whereas I seem to get these chucked in everytime. This one's a bit spicy/herbal smelling, sort of what you'd expect a 'natural' fragrance to smell off. I think it will be one of those fragrances that are tranformed once on the skin though.

So that's what I recieved this month, overall I'm quite pleased with everything. Again I am not affiliated with Glossybox and I payed for this box, like all my others. Did anyone else recieve any of these goodies / or what did you get?! Will you be staying with Glossybox?

HAUL: Bicester Village!!

Last weekend I went for a spot of shopping at Bicester Village - a designer shopping outlet near Oxford. I have so much uni work on at the moment and was feeling a little depressed, and this haul helped massively :D smug grin.
I didnt spend very much but I picked up some things from Jack Wills, Aubin & Wills, Penhaligons and Anya Hindmarch.
Here are my goodies!!! ...

Yes, that is an Anya Hindmarch bag - eeeeeeeekk!!

Aubin & Wills 'Raddington' Tee

First I got this slinky black tee from Aubin & Wills (yes I know it looks a little like a binbag!!) that I thought would look great under blazers and leggings and as a going out top with little skirts. At £15 I had no reason not to pick it up!! I got it in a M mainly as there was nothing else left but I also wanted a relaxed fit. If you havent heard of Aubin & Wills its like the grown up sister brand of Jack Wills, you can look at their website here. It was £55.

Anya Hindmarch Card Purse

Inside!

Ahhhhh!! Anya Hindmarch is my second favourite ever British hand bag designer (behind Mulberry of course!!) but before you think you spoilt little brat!! - I got this for TWENTY POUNDS !!! I am so happy with it. You can get them in pink, gold or navy. I literally wanted everything in the shop. Check out Anya Hindmarchs gorgeous designs here.

Hair bow from Jack Wills

Next I got this super cute sequin hair bow from Jack Wills, I don't usually buy clothes from JW but I had a quick look and fell in love with this. For £6 I thought it was great and looks great on a high ponytail - with my binbag tshirt!!

Bluebell Body Lotion

The last place I went was Penhaligons which sells Eau de Parfums, lotions and amazing candles. I was drawn in by all the cute bottles in the window and I couldnt resist picking up this dinky stopper bottle with Bluebell body lotion in it.

I then also went onto Zara in Oxford city centre and I could not not show these two amazing things that I picked up and am so happy with.

Zara Skull Stud Clutch

Isnt this THE cutest thing, its a hand-sized clutch that comes with a chain, with leather flaps studded with plain and skull studs. This may be my new lipstick pouch for my handbag! I love it and I'm sure it will sell out fast. It also comes in white - get it here.

THE Zara bucket bag!!!

Annd finally ..... the most exciting thing ever .... THE Zara bucket bag !!! As seen on gazillions of celebs.

Palermo sporting the bag in tan colour

Sadly I think it's sold out now but they are selling on Ebay for around £120!! I'm so pleased with it and its all thanks to Vivianna.

Soo thats all my goodies, sorry its such a long post !!
Have any of you been to Bicester and found any great buys?!
And to all of you who are reading please have a look at my other posts and follow - I recently reached 10 followers which I know is a minuuute milestone but still it made me really happy. When I reach 20 I hope to do a giveaway so PLEASE FOLLOW!!!
xxx

Boots Spreeee!!

I literally cannot help myself. Just wandered into Boots and lost £30 in there ...

Samantha Chapman Real Techniques Stippling Brush, Collection 2000 Skylash, Loreal Rouge Caresse Lipstick in 03 Lovely Rose, Maybelline Colour Tattoo in On and On Bronze, Revlon Nail Enamel in Pink Nude, Rimmel HD Quad Eyeshadow.

Can you believe that this is my first Real Techniques brush. I have been watching the Pixiwoo sisters for years, and they are so lucky that they have a platform to promote their product, and lots of doting subscribers that are willing to support them! So after all the hype I gave in and bought the Stippling Brush. I used it this morning to apply Rimmel Wake Me Up and so far I love it, of course it is wonderful. Super soft bristles and really buffed the foundation out to give an airbrushed effect. £11.99 in Boots

Real Techniques Stippling Brush

 I wasn't sure about the flared base, I thought it was a little dated and un-cool looking at first, but actually the fact that they can stand up is great as I am always laying my brushes down mid-use and its really unhygenic.

Collection 2000 Skylash - I should have really looked at the wand when I was in Boots as that is usually the decider for mascaras for me. Collection 2000 have had such a great rep recently and the tube was so chic that I had to buy it. I was a little disappointed when I got home as I discovered that it has a plastic spikey wand which I really dislike, but I havent tryed it yet so the jury is still out.

Loreal Rouge Caresse Lipstick - I bought this in Lovely Rose, mainly because there was no other choice. Everywhere I have been the Loreal promotional stand for the new Spring collection has just been totally raided and nothing is left. So far so good - I love it, really moisturising pretty pink lipstick. I also fancy Dating Coral! 7.99 from Boots

Loreal Rouge Caresse Lipstick in Lovely Rose

Maybelline Colour Tattoo -In On and On Bronze - These are similar to MAC Paint Pots but with greater longevity - and it appears to be a substanstiated claim! I swatched on my arm before buying and it stayed on the rest of the day until I washed it off later that evening. I'd love to get more but sadly I dont find the other colours very wearable.

Maybelline Colour Tattoo 24 Hour in On and On Bronze

Revlon Nail Enamel - in 003 Pink Nude. I love the Revlon nail bottles so I went for a pastelly shade in line with spring to freshen up my nails. I'm a little disappointed with this colour as I was expecting it to be more like Barry M's Peach Melba but its a really sheer french manicure pink. But, its clean and smart and I could get away with wearing it to work.

Rimmel Eye Quad - To be honest I needed 1 more thing in the 3 for 2 offer and I was drawn to this because its pretty. When I would ever wear a red / pink eyeshadow I'm really not sure but its a cool palette.6.99 from Boots.

Rimmel Glam Eyes HD Eye Quad

L-R Loreal Rouge Caresse in Lovely Rose, Rimmel HD Eye Quad (pink colour), Maybelline Colour Tattoo in On and On Bronze.

Another successful Boots haul I feel ... Meanwhile I am looking for a good nail pen - can anyone suggest any?!

Revlon Lip Butters

These babys have been out a while now and everyone and their granny will have bought at least 1 of the shades, but since I have a few I thought it would be a shame not to get them up on the blog and also so I could compare the new Loreal Caresse Lipsticks. I won't do a full on review since there are so many more reputable and followed bloggers that have already been through it all in full and I'm sure we're all tired of hearing about them :)

I have 4 colours : Creme Brulee, Cupcake, Strawberry Shortcake, Sweet Tart and Tutti Frutti.

L-R - Creme Brulee, Cupcake, Strawberry Shortcake, Sweet Tart.

The packaging is cute with colour co-ordinated chanel-esque quilted shells. Sadly I can't find Tutti Frutti anywhere to photograph, I think I've left it at Uni!

L-R - Creme Brulee, Cupcake, Strawberry Shortcake, Sweet Tart.

L-R - Creme Brulee, Cupcake, Strawberry Shortcake, Sweet Tart

Creme Brulee is a brownish nude, really sheer and wearable

Cupcake is a really cool toned pink - I can only apply a really thin coat or it is so impractical to wear! Cue teenage bubblegum lips. Its not for everyone!

Strawberry Shortcake - Blue-toned pink, really wearable, girly and just a throw-on lipstick that would look great on any one. A sheer, more wearable comparison to MAC Viva Glam Gaga. (Love!!)

Sweet Tart -A real fusshia purple-ish pink. Hard to wear and not for everyone - so pigmented !!

Tutti Frutti (not shown) is by far my favourite, a sheer orange that is surprisingly wearable and really summery.

I love these lipsticks, and thats what I would say they are rather than 'lip butters'. They are lovely and sheer, but some with more pigmentation than you would expect from a butter, especially Lollipop and Sweet Tart.  The Lip Butters are meant to be moisturising, and I would say on that note they are slightly disappointing, some in fact feel quite drying and do not last that long, which you would probably expect from a sheer lipstick. But they do glide on nicely and at £7.99 and in Boots 3 for 2 they are a great everyday lipstick.

I want to get some shades of Loreal's answer to the lip butter - Caresse - I've swatched them instore and they seem so much more moisturising and in more attractive bullets. What shades do you suggest?! 

LUSH Magnaminty

I'd never tryed Lush face products before now, I've not been a fan of all the crazy smells that hit you as you walk into the shop ... but I went in recently to get the Lip Scrub (which is awesome!) and was really converted. I don't think I've ever had a proper look round Lush and was really in awe of all the spatulas dipped in funky-smelling concoctions. Not really knowing how it all worked I wandered over to where they were all potted up. I figured trying out a face mask was innocent enough and went for 'Mask of Magnaminty'.

Mask of Magnaminty

It smells initially of peppermint and then, oddly, something like raw potatoes (ha!) almost a bit earthy. Aduki beans make up the bulk of the mask and are the bits that act like a scrub when you wash the mask off.

Green Goo

I forced my My boyfriend put it on with me and I loved the sensation the peppermint oil gave. After a few seconds of being on my face it gave an all-over, menthol tingle to my face - like it was impenetrating my pores and CLEANSING! The boy hated it though - it made him really uncomfortable! After 10 minutes or so you scrub it off with warm water and my skin just felt really clean and pores tight. After all the complaining the boyfriend couldnt stop stroking his face - even the day after - 'Oooh its soo soft' haha.

I think I'm a Lush convert! I cant believe that I havent tryed anything before! Has anyone used this mask before or recommend any others? What else should I give a go in Lush??!

Rimmel 'Wake Me Up' - does it?!

Rimmel Wake Me Up has had a bit of a buzz surrounding it in the blogging world - as there usually is when a cheap drugstore product is released that rivals our favourite make-up brands.
I have got hold of it and have been able to try it out for a couple of weeks and will share my thoughts with it in this post.

Rimmel Wake Me Up - True Ivory

Wake Me Up claims to have an 'anti fatigue effect' and to give a radiant glow. It has an SPF of 15 which is perfect for everyday use.
It comes in a different glass bottle with a tall orange lid with the Rimmel crown. The applicator inside is a long stick attached to the lid - a bit strange in my opinion since it doesn't even have a spatula on the end? I would prefer a pump applicator but this works fine since I just dot it straight on from the stick. You get quite a lot of product attached to this thing and you have to be careful when you put it back in the bottle or it will ooze down the side - neat freak nightmare.

EDIT: I recently had a whooshing feeling of realisation during one of Zoellas videos that I was being an utter RETARD and unscrewing the lid to reveal the tube that the PUMP is attached to! If you only pop off the orange lid you will find a very handy pump, and if you were a normal person you would have discovered this immediately after buying and not a month after using. Haha !!! Feel free to tell me what a numpty I am. That's cool.

Stick applicator

The coverage is medium but its definitely buildable, it is so lovely to blend - although initially feeling thick on the skin it will blend out and a little goes a long way with this. I got the shade 103 True Ivory (the second lightest) which is a tiny bit too dark but will be perfect for summer. I have dry/combination and it does not cling to dry patches, is really comfortable to wear and feels hydrating. I dont think it would be suitable for oily skin, as with all foundations that claim to give 'radiant glow' or you suspect will be dewy, it will probably slide off unless you have a great primer that you trust. The effect is a natural, yet dewy look and your complexion appears bright and awake - does what it says on the tin!!

The thing everyone seems to be commenting on is the glitter that can clearly be seen on the outside of the bottle. This doesn't actually show up on the face - you wont look like a glitterball however with a pocket mirror in natural daylight you can see fine glitter particles here and there - This must be what gives the luminous effect.

I think overall for a drugstore foundation, the quality of this is excellent, it has a slight fresh scent which some will HATE (and perhaps is not for sensitive skin), but its nice to see a foundation in cool packaging, a nice tall glass bottle that you can have on your dresser instead of the usual plastic. Wake Me Up retails for £8.99 for 30ml, you can buy it in Boots here ... 3 for 2!!
My usual favourite drugstore foundations are Bourjois Healthy Mix and 10 Hour Sleep Effect. I cant wait to use the new 123 Perfect!
I would be really interested to try the Wake Me Up concealer - if it is as brightening as this foundation it will be excellent for under eyes. Has anyone else tryed this foundation - or better still the concealer?!

Ciate Caviar - Fake It!

There has been so much hype recently surrounding the Ciate Caviar Nails and personally I think its just one of those rubbishy fads ... its not going to be something we all religiously do throughout the year is it - very unlikely. But they are pretty and a cool idea and after seeing Fleur de Force review the Ciate ones i had a look. They are horrendously expensive and mostly sold out. So I decided to have a go - DIY style.

My new ELF nail polish in Lilac, and Petit glass beads

Instead of going for an all over nail look I thought I would try to make it more wearable, and make tiny crosses on my ring finger.
Just apply 2 coats of nail varnish as usual, then when dry apply a coat in the shape you want the beads to be. Let it dry until its tacky then sprinkle beads over, push into shape and leave to dry.

They are SO impractical but really pretty and different. The beads I used are far too big, you need micro beads really about the size of hundreds and thousands. (hmmm ... maybe I could try those?!) But instead of £18 this cost me £1.60.

Has anyone else tryed DIY Caviar? I'd love to see some other attempts.
Please follow guys !! xx