Mani Monday!

Hi hi hi (: 

Manicure Monday comes in the form of these little bargain buys from Primark Beauty. I actually got them quite a while back so these one's aren't readily available in stores right now, although if you search around on Ebay and Amazon you might find them. However, they are currently selling a pastel set and a lovely collection of blues so for £2, I think you should go and see for yourself. 

The set doesn't have a name, I'd say they were all jewelled colours. It includes a purpley blue, a blue/ pink/ purple glitter, a silver glitter which has various sequins in, and a glittered bronze. My favourite would be the silver polish, as it's really thick (gives the illusion of a gel nail) and it only requires 2 coats to get an even finish. 

They're all pretty different polishes in regards to consistency, texture and pigments which is quite odd but it is Primark and you get what you pay for. 

• Purpley Blue Polish- This is probably the one I wouldn't buy if it was sold seperately. It looks really rich in colour in the bottle but once it's on the nail it's almost invisible. It required 4 coats to get the colour in the photo, therefore took quite a while to dry. In fact, it took the best part of an hour to completely dry, this is no good if you're looking for a quick fix. 
• Blue/ Pink/ Purple Polish- I really like this varnish as it only took 2 coats to get an even finish and dried really quickly. It's a pretty standard glitter nail polish at the end of the day.
• Silver Glitter Polish- Not only is this my favourite of the set, but one of my favourite glitter varnishes in my collection. Like I said, it applies thickly so it looks like I've had it done professionally, but it also dried pretty quick. Bonus! 
• Bronze Glitter- I use this quite regularly because it's such an versatile shade to wear. It's easy to wear this from day to night and it doesn't chip that easily either. I wish they sold this individually!  

I'd definitely recommend getting yourself a set of these. Yeah okay, they're not the best quality but you get 4 pretty decent nail varnishes for a measly £2. 

£2!

XXX

Beauty buys & smokey eyes

Here's what I've been up to for the past week or two.

#1 I went into Superdrug for one thing… I’ve seen this got2b styling powder everywhere so finally decided to give it a try. It does create volume that lasts for a while but it feels a bit sticky for my liking. The Superdrug’s own vitamin E body scrub is amazing - really big thick beads that feel like a massage when you rub them in, and I can’t quite put my finger on the smell but I can’t get enough of it. Decided it was time to look less like a ghost for the summer (fingers crossed there’s going to be one). I don’t get the attraction of smelling like food but I can’t find a better tan than the cocoa butter one, it always turns out perfectly even and doesn’t go patchy after a few days / showers. I treat this more like a self tan than a gradual tanner though, definitely wouldn’t use it every day. Needed a new liquid liner, this Collection one’s okay but no match for my usual Rimmel Exaggerate.

#2 and I couldn’t resist these new natural texture lashes from Eyelure! I bought them mainly out of curiosity as I thought they’d look either amazing or terrible. They are amazing if you like your makeup messy like I do, a little too thick for me though so I’m dying to try the thinner ones.

#3 I wore them to two of my friends’ joint birthday a few weeks ago, along with a new leather-look skater dress I’m obsessed with.

#4 On Wednesday I went to a Mexican themed party for my friend’s fiancé’s birthday- tequila is my favourite drink ever so I was in heaven. Had so much fun trying on various moustaches, playing battle shots and we even had a piñata!! No photos though unfortunately as I charged my camera but forgot my memory card :( 

#5 I bought the dark red carnations to wear in my hair to the party, when I put the rest in a vase I realised I’d forgotten how happy fresh flowers make me! Couldn’t resist the bright yellow ones when I saw them.

#6 This is Chanel Illusion d’Ombré in Mirifique, it’s a granite grey cream eyeshadow that you can build up to be almost black, and it’s very very sparkly. I’ve only ever worn it once before on New Year’s Eve but it’s so so so gorgeous.

#7 I used it to do a smokey eye look, building it up towards the lash line and blending it out across my eye lid. Mine has gone a little dry so it wasn't the easiest to work with, it took some blending but was well worth the effort.

#8 Here I am wearing it.

#9 I went to rock night \m/ with my friends and my boyfriend and his friends, plenty of drinking and dancing and it lasted all night ;)

I hope you're all well! I have deadlines and exams coming up but I'll try and post whenever I can.

Much love

Sophie xxx

The big skincare review (January Glossybox products)

Hello lovelies! Sophie here. Sorry I’ve been so quiet lately but I’ve had loads of uni deadlines to keep me busy. They’re all out of the way now (for another few weeks anyway) so I’m finally getting round to doing some product reviews!

I will be reviewing: 

(From left to right:) Elemis Fresh Skin, Skin Glow Exfoliating Face Wash; Monu Aromatic Mask; Duck Island Limited Body Lotion; Premae Skincare Balance Rescue Face Tonique; and Jason Lips Bee Healthier Lip Balm.

All of these arrived as samples in my Glossybox last month. They’re all skincare type products as the theme of January’s Glossy was cleansing and rejuvenation. I got them in mid Jan so I’ve had them for a good few weeks now, plenty of time to give them a good try.

Premae Skincare Balance Rescue Face Tonique.                                                                      

What does it do? As a toner, this little guy wants to deep clean your skin. It promises to get rid of all that congestion and product build up in your skin, hydrate it, free it of dirt and unwanted oils and close up your pores, all whilst leaving your nice natural oils alone and leave you all fresh and plump and loving life.

What’s in it? You know that I’m a great believer in natural ingredients, so I was highly impressed with Premae’s ingredients list: rose water, lemongrass oil, and sandlewood oil. That’s it. No fragrances, no alcohol, no other nasties and nothing I can’t pronounce.

What does it smell like? My initial impression of the smell was that it was fresh and light and clean: that hasn’t changed. I know smell isn’t the primary concern of a toner but it’s an important factor for me. It smells quite floral, almost musky (maybe the sandlewood?) and the lemongrass freshens it all up and gives it that lovely clean smell, but without smelling clinical.

What's it like? I like to use a cotton pad to apply the toner to my face after cleansing, it spreads across the face really well so you don’t end up using too much. It feels really really lovely to apply, really deeply cleansing.  You can feel it getting to work, but not in the same way as most toners, there’s no harsh, chemical, almost burning sensation that makes you wonder how this could possibly be any good for your skin. But then, there are no harsh chemicals. Instead you get a kind of cool freshness that makes your skin rejoice.

Does it work? Yes! This toner will get rid of any stubborn makeup that stuck it out through your cleansing routine, any dirt, grease, and other things you generally don’t associate with nice faces. I don’t really struggle with blackheads or oilyness (touch wood) so I can’t comment on how it works with those. My nose does get a little dry sometimes, and cheaper toners can sometimes worsen the problem. This one, however, made my whole face, nose included, feel super soft, smooth, and hydrated- so much so that I felt I could have gotten away without moisturising afterwards. (I did anyway, force of habit.) I struggle with my pores as they’re quite large and open and visible, this product actually really helped, my skin feels tighter after using it and my pores seem considerably less visible after a good few uses.

How much? £17.50 for 100ml, click!

All in all: Overall, I really am a fan of this product. At £17.50 it’s a tad on the pricey side, but I do think you get what you pay for and good skin is always a good investment. If you have sensitive skin and find cheaper toners too harsh then it’s definitely worth giving this one a try, the natural ingredients mean it’s gentle to skin but still deeply cleansing. I would also recommend this if, like me, you suffer from visible pores. I'm very on-again, off-again with my current (cheaper) toner as it's cleansing but so harsh, but I think Balance Rescue Face Tonique and I will have a long and happy relationship. 

Elemis Fresh Skin, Skin Glow Exfoliating Facial Cleanser                                               

It was impossible to make these swatch type pictures look
pretty, sorry!

What does it do? As an exfoliator, this product’s aim in life is to scrub off dead skin cells and give the skin a nice deep clean. Getting rid of those dead cells should leave the skin underneath looking brighter and fresher, and it also promises to soften and condition. 

What’s in it? The main ingredients this product boasts are cherry powder and jojoba beads (these do the exfoliating), mandarin and aniseed. What's not in it? Elemis promises that this product is free from nasties such as parabens, SLS, SLES, DEA, mineral oils, artificial colours and silicones.

How does it smell? I love the smell of this product. It smells really fresh and clean. Of all the ingredients, to me the mandarin stands out the most and smells lovely.

What's it like? I’ve been using this product in the shower as it recommends massaging it into damp skin. I usually exfoliate while I shower, so as usual I step out from under the water, apply the product to my face then step back under to rinse it off. This product has a creamy consistency and isn’t too thick, it spread across my damp skin really easily so I didn’t need to use much. You can really feel the jojoba beads, they’re small but there’s plenty of them which is ideal for a facial exfoliator: using big grains such as sea salts can carry a risk of scratching your lovely face, and they wouldn’t be as effective if they were too scarce. I love using this, you can really smell it which is lovely and it does feel like it’s making a difference to your face. It wasn’t scratchy at all like some exfoliators can be, but my face does feel like it has had a good scrub afterwards.

Does it work? As promised, my face feels really soft and smooth after use, and definitely very clean. I’m not entirely sure that it makes a noticeable difference to the way my skin looks, but it definitely makes it feel lovely.

How much? £12 for 100ml (Superdrug are currently offering 100ml for £9.99 - Click!)

All in all: I probably wouldn't have bought this product on my own just because I’m not massive on skincare, but I was really pleased it came in my Glossybox. £12 for 100ml isn't cheap as chips but I think the quality definitely justifies the price, the smell is really lovely to enjoy while you’re using it and the texture of the product itself is creamy and soft. It feels good on your face and my skin felt lovely and clean afterwards. Although it didn’t make a hugely visible difference, I feel like it could improve the look and feel of my skin over time with continued use and it’s a definite improvement on my current (cheaper) exfoliator. 

Monu Aromatic Mask                                                                                                                 

What does it do? This is a clay facial mask with a warming effect, designed to ‘renew and invigorate’ the skin whilst giving it a nice deep clean. The problem with this product is the packaging, I know it’s only a sample but if the normal size product is anything like this then it’s so so difficult to read! The font is a really thin, pale blue and almost impossible to read against the pale beige-grey of the product inside!

What’s in it? The mask is natural clay based, and also contains Lavender (which you can really smell), Rosemary, beeswax and coconut oil designed to leave you with hydrated, softened and nourished skin. It’s recommended for normal to combination skin: I wouldn't recommend this if you have particularly dry skin due to the clay, and the oils probably aren't a great idea if you’re particularly oily.

How does it smell? Lovely! There’s a very slight clay-ey smell (not at all unpleasant), and you can definitely pick up the rosemary, but for me the Lavender stands out the most. The smell is strong enough to be picked up when it’s on your skin without being overpowering, and I find the lavender so relaxing, so this is lovely to use at night before bed.

What's it like? The texture of this is quite thick like clay, but not overly so. Just the right consistency to spread across your face easily. You’re supposed to leave this on for 10-15 minutes after cleansing and toning then remove with warm water, so that’s what I’ve been doing. To be brutally honest, I was a little disappointed with this product. I love warming face masks so I couldn't wait to try it, but it didn't warm up at all! The first time I used it I completely forgot that it was supposed to warm up as nothing at all happened, and in subsequent uses the most I’ve noticed is a very very slight sensation that I’ve attributed to wishful thinking. I managed to hold my boyfriend down for long enough to get some onto his face and he noticed no warming sensation either, so it’s not just me!

Does it work? Well it doesn’t warm up (maybe give it a try and let me know if it warms up for you!) but it does feel very nice on the skin. It doesn’t feel too heavy like some masks do, despite the clay, it felt very light and kind to my skin. Again I’m not entirely sure whether there’s any visible difference to my skin after using this, but it makes it feel tighter and very soft.

How much? 100ml of the Monu mask will set you back £24.95. (or £22.95 from FeelUnique with free delivery, click!) 

All in all: Overall, I do like this product. It’s a huge shame that it didn’t have the warming effect as promised as I’m such a fan of warming masks: it’s like you can feel them getting to work on your skin! I love love love the smell, it’s lovely and relaxing, and it feels nice on my skin and makes my skin feel nice afterwards. I’ll definitely finish off my sample, and I think if it did warm up then I would adore it, but as it doesn’t I won’t be paying the £24.95 to replace it I’m afraid! Saying that, it is worth giving it a go if you’re a face mask lover and not too bothered about whether it warms up or not (it may work for you, who knows) because it does have a lovely effect on the skin and the smell, oh the smell. I’m smelling it right now and mmm. Mmmmm mmmm mmmm mmmmmmm.

Duck Island Limited Body Lotion                                                                                               

Another less than glamorous swatch!

What does it do? Pretty much what it says on the tin (bottle). This is a body lotion, so needs to be applied after you bathe. There isn’t much on the bottle by way of instructions or promises, but body lotions are generally designed to soften your skin and moisturise you, whilst making your skin smell like angels.

What’s in it? Mandarin and bergamot, apparently, though I’m not entirely convinced that there’s any actual mandarin or bergamot in there as I can neither pronounce nor comprehend the majority of the ingredients list! I’m not a chemist so I may be wrong but it all sounds rather more chemical than natural to me, it is free of parabens though.

How does it smell? When I first had a sniff of this I really liked the smell, I described in my first Glossy post as indulgent and expensive smelling: it mainly smells like mandarin. I’m sorry to say that my opinion of this smell has drastically changed! The more I’ve smelt it over the past few weeks, and after smelling it on my skin, I just don’t like it at all anymore. I mean it’s not a bad smell, but it does smell quite chemical to me and not like actual mandarin.

What's it like? The lotion is quite creamy, not too thick. You don’t need much and it spreads across the skin quite well. It sinks in quickly and won’t leave you feeling damp or sticky, which is a plus.

Does it work? I desperately wanted to love this product, but I just don’t. I wouldn’t really say it makes my skin any softer or feel any more moisturised or hydrated. The smell is usually one of the biggest selling points of a body lotion, and as I said I’m not a fan of it. You also want the smell to last on your skin and leave you smelling good all day, but this doesn’t last incredibly well. You do catch a few whiffs of it now and again just after you’ve applied it, but it doesn’t last longer than an hour or so on me.

How much? £24.95 for 2 x 250ml bottles. (Not entirely sure where to purchase this from, but for the Duck Island website click here)

All in all: I wanted to love it but I don’t. Sorry. The smell is the major thing for me, I love things that smell fresh and natural and I really can’t stand even vaguely chemical smells. The ingredients list really put me off as well – as I said I’m not a chemist but I can’t imagine that all those long words can be doing my skin much good! I definitely won’t be repurchasing, for that price I’d expect a body lotion that made my skin look and feel amazing, and that had a nice, lasting smell. I doubt I’ll even finish off my sampleL.

Jason Lips Bee Healthier Lip Balm                                                                                       

 

What does it do? I had never heard of the Jason brand of lip products before. This balm is designed to moisturise and hydrate the lips, soothe them if they’re chapped, and leave them feeling softer.

What’s in it? This lip balm boasts plenty of lovely natural ingredients, including: organic cocoa seed butter, beeswax, organic coconut oil, sweet almond oil, shea butter, organic Aloe Vera leaf gel, organic peppermint leaf oil, natural vitamin E.; organic green tea leaf extract, organic marigold flower extract, and organic peppermint leaf oil. Genius!

How does it smell? To me, this smells just like mint chocolate! Very very minty fresh, but not in a clinical way, in a sweet and delicious and making-me-hungry way.

What’s it like? It’s like heaven in balm form. The stick itself looks quite rough and ready, not in a bad way, it’s very natural looking. It’s very soft to touch and melts into soft creamy loveliness upon contact with your lips. It feels kind of buttery, probably due to the shea butter and cocoa seed butter, and has that same thick, indulgent, really-good-for-you feeling that cocoa butter has. Once it’s on, you can feel it on your lips but it’s not sticky at all. There’s a slight shine to it but it doesn’t really change the look of your lips, definitely not colour-wise which is ideal for me. Over the course of a few hours it feels like it’s sinking into your lips and working it’s magic, but you can reapply (every 5 minutes like an obsessive-compulsive) as often as you like.

Does it work? It works miracles, that’s what it does. Even though my skin isn’t dry, my lips really really really really are. Terribly so. They’re dry and chapped when I wake up and get worse throughout the day, making it near impossible for me to apply anything to my lips, balms included. This is one of the only balms that mends all my woes. My lips are so dry that even balms dry them out and I’ve tried everything: vasseline, balms, moisturisers, the lot. But this really helps, I love it. It feels lovely on, it gets rid of dry skin and really hydrates my lips, preventing them from getting drier or more chapped throughout the day. I even use this as a base for lipsticks and glosses and it makes an excellent lip primer. It’s not too wet or sticky so it makes a really good base for the colours to stick to, and most of all it stops them from drying out my lips and looking awful (which, in case I didn’t myself clear, they always always do).

How much? £1.99!!! (4.5g) Click!

All in all: Okay so I’m not sure how well this came across but I am head over heels in love with this lip balm. It’s easily one of the best I’ve ever tried (and I’ve tried a lot), it hydrates my dry lips, it smells amazing, makes an excellent lip primer and is full of lovely natural ingredients that do your lips worlds of good. As if that wasn’t enough, it’s only £1.99. Will I repurchase this product? Yes yes yes yes yes yes yes. God yes. I will repurchase this product all day long. If you suffer from chronically dry and chapped lips like me then you’ll understand my enthusiasm for a good balm. I fully recommend this, especially to those of us that suffer from dry lips, but for everyone else as well – all lips need a little tlc and they’ll love you for it!

  

I know this has been a long one so well done for sticking with me! Even if you just skimmed the ones you were interested in, I'd love you to let me know what you thought of the review! Did any of you get these products in your January Glossybox? If you did then let me know what you thought, or if you're thinking of trying any.

Lots of love and sunshine

Sophie xxxxxxx

Cheeky little haul

Hey guys! Sophie here, just thought I’d share with you a few bits that I’ve picked up over the past week or so.

Dangly gold and silver cross earrings - £1 each pair, Primark; 12-pack stud earrings - £2.50, Primark; Rimmel 60 Seconds Nail colour in Caramel Cupcake - £2.99, Superdrug; Rimmel Scandaleyes Kohl Kajal pencil in Nude - £2.99, Superdrug; Rimmel Professional Eyebrow Pencil in Hazel - £2.99, Superdrug

I went to uni as usual last Friday and accidently came back with 4 new dresses. They’re all little black ones, and all 3 quarter or long sleeves which are perfect for the colder months. I was only going to pop into H&M just for a little browse (honest) but the following 3 dresses were on sale for £10 each – would have been rude not to!

   

Leather shoulder black shift dress - £10, H&M sale

Leather shoulder black shift dress - £10, H&M sale

Leather shoulder black shift dress - £10, H&M sale

This first one is a shift dress, meaning it hangs straight down from the shoulders. I absolutely love shift dresses as I like to pretend that it’s the 1960s. The visible silver zip at the back and leather effect patches on the shoulders give the otherwise plain style a bit of jazz – I will forever love leather and this is a flirty little nod towards it.  

I adore this next dress, it’s not what I usually go for but I’m so glad I did. Seeing it on the hanger here really doesn’t do it justice but here goes:

Black fitted dress - £10, H&M sale

Black fitted dress - £10, H&M sale

 

 

 

H&M black fitted dress - sleeve detail

 

  

It’s really low cut but balanced out beautifully by the long sleeves and the length as it falls to my lower thigh. It's very fitted, especially around the waist, but definitely isn't bodycon. I think this one’s an 8 – I’m usually a size 6000 in H&M as their clothes are always so inexcusably tiny, but I was lucky with this as it fits perfectly.

Lace shoulder shift dress - £10, H&M sale

Lace shoulder shift dress - £10, H&M sale

Another simple black shift, livened up a bit with the lace detail on the shoulders. This one hangs beautifully so it looks really elegant and pretty when worn. Ideal to throw on for an impromptu drink or two.

 

I picked up this next one thinking it was also on sale, it actually turned out to be full price (oopsie) but I really like it so I think it’s worth the £29.99 I paid.

 

Gold stud shift dress - £29.99, H&M

Gold stud shift dress - £29.99, H&M.

Another 3 quarter sleeve, high neck shift dress (are you sensing a pattern?) but this one has these pretty understated gold studs along the neckline. The reason I fell in love with this one was the back:

Gold stud shift dress - £29.99, H&M

Gold stud shift dress - £29.99, H&M

Can not wait to wear this with a messy bun to show it off!

 

Rimmel 60 seconds nail colour in Caramel Cupcake - £2.99, Superdrug; Rimmel Scandaleyes Kohl Kajal Eyeliner in Nude - £2.99, Superdrug; Rimmel Professional Eyebrow Pencil in Hazel - £2.99, Superdrug.

 I also slipped on a banana peel and landed in Superdrug.

Rimmel Scandaleyes Kohl Kajal in Nude - £2.99, Superdrug.

This nude eyeliner has quickly become a staple of mine: bigger, brighter, opened up eyes with no white liner in sight? Yes, yes please. 

Rimmel Professional Eyebrow Pencil in Hazel - £2.99, Superdrug

 I also got this Rimmel eyebrow pencil in hazel, as I needed a new one. Really liking this so far, the colour is excellent for me and it’s soft enough to go on easily but hard enough to last. The little comb on the lid is useful too although I do prefer a spoolie!

Rimmel 60 Seconds nail colour in Caramel Cupcake - £2.99, Superdrug.

  Loving Rimmel, also got this 60 seconds nail varnish in a nude colour (Caramel Cupcake). These are my all time favourite varnishes as I usually find doing my nails a real chore, I physically can’t sit still long enough for them to dry. These are really quick drying (maybe a little over 60 seconds), really quick and easy to apply due to the big flat brush, and you can usually get full coverage in one coat. I also find that these varnishes last quite a bit longer than others without chipping. You do need to work quickly with them though: the reason they are so quick to dry is because they are formulated so thickly.

I hate having bare or messy nails, so this nude is an ideal wear-every-day, goes-with-everything shade. Here it is on:

 

And finally I’ve got a few items of jewellery to show you. They’re all from Primark and amazingly cheap, I had to pop in after Jenn told me how good their jewellery is at the moment. She wasn't wrong!

12-pack stud earrings - £2.50, Primark; Silver dangly cross earrings - £1, Primark; Gold dangly cross earrings - £1, Primark

12-pack stud earrings - £2.50, Primark

Iwill never get over the fact that these 12 beauties cost me £2.50!! I’d just like to point out that Jenn got these first and posted them on instagram, so I feel a bit cheeky putting them in my haul, hopefully she won’t mind! I think I’m most excited about the little Buddhas and hands of Fatima.

Buddha and eye studs - Primark; Rose gold effect cuff - £2, River Island

I had my second ear lobe piercings done 6 weeks ago and today I was finally able to change the studs!  I went for the Buddhas and the little eyes, are these the evil eye sumbol, I'm not sure? I'm really wanting a 3rd one now but I'm running out of ear space! I got the rose-gold coloured cuff I'm wearing here from River Island in a set of three (gold, rose gold and silver colours) for £2!

Silver dangly cross earrings - £1, Primark

Also from Primark, I got these really pretty, dainty silver cross earrings.

Gold dangly cross earrings - £1, Primark

And I don’t usually wear gold (bar my beloved Michael Kors) but for £1 a pair I indulged!

That's all for now but I'm sure I'll have some more things to show you soon enough! Have you found any good bargains recently? Let me know!

Sophie xxx

All about Glossybox!

Having only stumbled upon the world of monthly beauty boxes a week or two ago, I could only assume that the tonnes of blog posts and reviews I’ve seen on them since are the universe’s way of telling me I needed to get myself in on it, and I’m so glad I did!

Basically, there are companies out there that want to send you monthly goodie boxes of sample-sized beauty products in exchange for your love and appreciation (and cash).

I’d seen a number of positive comments about Glossybox, so I headed to their website (www.glossybox.co.uk) to see what it’s all about. I know that there are a number of similar companies catering to Australia and the US, and I know that FeelUnique used to do a similar thing up until recently, but other than that I’m not sure what other options there are for the UK – I probably should have done a bit more research but I really liked the look of Glossybox so I treated myself to a subscription. 

 

 I just received my first box this morning, and I’m so so pleased with it! I thought I’d tell you a bit about the whole subscription process: how it works, what you have to pay and what you get for your money.

What’s it all about?

After signing up, choosing your payment plan and filling out your ‘beauty profile’ (more on this below) Glossybox put together a box of 5 beauty samples and post it out to you each month. I don’t think you get to choose what you want to receive or know what you’ll get in advance, but that’s the fun part! I think it’s a good way to try out some brands you may not have heard of before, new products, and products you might not usually buy.

 

What does it cost?

The subscription process is all very easy. All online, and you can choose whether you want to pay each month for your Glossyboxes or whether you want to buy 3, 6 or 12 months worth in advance.

• Monthly subscription: You pay £10 each month for your box, plus £2.95 postage and packing. So, the total you pay each month is £12.95. Signing up this way will mean your monthly payments will continue until you stop them, you’re not just paying for a one-off box. This is a bit like a monthly contract, but you are free to cancel at any time.

•  3 month subscription: for this one you pay £27 upfront for 3 boxes over 3 months, plus £8.85 postage and packing, so the total you pay is £35.85.

•  6 month subscription: this time you pay £50 upfront for 6 boxes over 6 months, plus £17.70 p&p. Your total is £67.70.

•  12 month subscription: and if you want a box each month for the next 12 months, you can pay £100 upfront, plus £35.40 p&p, so a grand total of £135.40.

Be careful with the monthly one as you’re not getting a one off box, you’ll get a box each month and be charged each month until you cancel. The 3, 6 and 12 months are one off, upfront payments that don’t autorenew.

I don’t think £12.95 each month is bad at all, but obviously the more you order the better the deal you’ll get. The 3 month option will save you £3 on the price of the boxes, the 6 month option will save you £10 (the equivalent of one box free) and the 12 month option will save you £20, the equivalent of 2 boxes free. I went for the 3 month one so I could give it a good try and see whether I think it’s worth ordering more.

Your Beauty Profile: Glossybox also give you the opportunity to fill out a beauty profile online. They ask 8 questions including your skin type, foundation colour (I was a bit stuck between ‘fair’ and ‘light’!?), hair type, whether you dye your hair, what colour it is, how much you spend on beauty each month (don’t think I want to know!!), how you describe your style, and your birthday. I assume that this is so Glossybox can tailor the items they send you to your needs and preferences.

What do you get?

My boyfriend bounded off like a puppy when the door knocked this morning, expecting it to be his new phone. To his dismay and my delight, it was in fact my very first Glossybox! I subscribed on the 17^th Jan, so it’s only taken 11 days to get here.

I fell in love with it before I’d even opened it, the packaging is so lovely! 

 

 

 This the outer packaging, a thick brown cardboard box with these pretty light pink (almost off-white) crown patterns.

 

 

Inside is a smaller pink box with a lid, a bit like a shoe box. I’ll definitely be keeping mine to use as storage!

Inside there you get a little newsletter, and yet more packaging! The samples were wrapped up like a gift in this cute tissue paper and pink ribbon.

  

And here they are! I was sent:

• Elemis Fresh Skin, Skin Glow Facial Exfoliator (30ml): This is a deep skin cleanser, designed to get rid of all those dead skin cells. This smells AMAZING, really fresh and clean. I love a fresh, glowy, dewy complexion so I can’t wait to try this.

• Monu Aromatic Mask (30ml): This is a natural clay mask, designed to ‘renew’ your skin. It also contains lavender, rosemary, beeswax and coconut. I love facial masks with a warming effect so I’m excited to give this a try, smells delicious.

• Duck Island Limited Body Lotion (30ml): I’ve been hearing a lot of good things about Duck Island products although I’ve never tried them, so I was delighted to find this little gem in my box! This is a really indulgent mandarin and bergamot all-over body lotion, it smells really expensive and fantastic.

• Jason Lips Bee Healthier (4.5g): This balm is an ingenious little mixture of beeswax, vitamin E, green tea extract and organic aloe vera gel, designed to hydrate and soothe the lips. I’ve had a quick try and this feels really good on my lips. Smells to me like mint chocolate!

• Premae Skincare Balance Rescue Face Tonique (30ml): From the description, this sounds like the perfect toner: hydrating for dryness, mattifying for oily areas, alcohol-free, fragrance-free, designed to remove all dirt and excess oil without removing the skin’s natural oils. It promises to freshen and plump the skin and close the pores. I have a very on-off relationship with my current toner so I’m dying to see whether this fulfils all it’s promises. It smells really fresh and light and clean.

And as an extra treat, Glossybox have thrown in this ‘Glossy dreams’ sleep mask!

The Newsletter was nice to read, it’s pretty much just a little hello and happy New Year from the Glossy team, and introducing the idea behind this month’s Glossybox. As everyone needs a little pick-me-up in January after all the indulgence of the holidays, the idea is that the products in this box give you a kick-start in getting back into all those good beauty habits. 

All in all:                                                                                                                

I love beauty, I love samples, and I love getting big parcels in the post so I don’t think Glossybox was in much danger of disappointing me! My box was beautifully packaged, it felt like I was opening a gift and I was really excited to see what was inside. I’m really pleased with the products they’ve sent me and I’ll do proper reviews on them when I’ve had chance to give them a good try.

Glossybox gives you a sense of luxury, like you’ve got a real treat. I loved sitting down this morning with a cup of tea and opening my box – the perfect pick me up on a rainy Monday morning! This is my first box but I’m very impressed and would definitely recommend it based on my experience so far. I also think a Glossybox subscription would make the perfect gift!

I hope this was useful for you if you were considering signing up to Glossybox, everything here was my own, honest opinion and I pay for my own subscription. All the information is as I understand it, but be sure to double check for yourself on www.glossybox.co.uk -especially before signing up to payments and things!

Thank you for reading

Sophie xxx