Glossybox for Harvey Nichols

 If I could only celebrate one season for the rest of my life it would, without a doubt be christmas. I love Christmas and all it entails. Therefore when I was treated to this beautiful Christmas edit Glossybox I could not contain my excitement! 

So Glossybox have collaborated with Harvey Nichols to create a limited edition (with only 2000 boxes available) box full of the luxury retailers most popular beauty products worth over £150 - fascinating when the box was only priced at £40. 

The packaging is beautiful, not only does it elegantly showcase the winter/Christmas theme but grabs your attention with the Pure white colour. Moreover, it is heavy! A great sign of things to come. 

As you can see from the pictures above, unfortunately the candle was broken, I'm presuming that happened during transit however, it is extremely disappointing. 

Luckily the remaining ten products can mildly make up for it - with three full size products and seven sample sizes the box has a mixture of beauty products. 

Laura Mercier Foundation Primer - Full Size £29 for 50ml 

This is a fantastic sample size at 30ml it boasts a wonderful, quality primer that is an essential for any make up lover. 

The lightweight, creamy gel is to be applied before foundation to create an invisible base on the skin, ultimately making your foundation sit more evenly, smoothly and last all day. 

TIP - Place the primer in the refrigerator before applying to make the gel cool, reducing redness and puffiness of the face upon application. 

Elemis Pro- Collagen Marine Cream - Full Size £135 for 100ml

Another generous sample product at 15ml equating to £20.25 in price. This is a anti ageing cream that supposedly increases skins elasticity, suppleness and hydration levels at a deep level. Moreover, it can be applied on the face or neck. 

Dermalogica Overnight Repair Serum - Full Size £57.50 for 15ml 

This 5ml sample equates to £19.16 in value, which as I am sure you would agree is another generous financial sample. This overnight serum is used to minimise fine lines and give a healthy glow to your face and fight ageing. 

Rodial Bee Venom Moisturiser - Full Suze £150 for 50ml 

Another pricey brand sample, at 5ml again it is worth £15! This is another anti-ageing moisturiser, used to keep your skin looking young for both your face and neck. 

Benefit Cosmetics They're Real! Mascara - Full Size 8.5g for 19.50 

This is an adorable sample, a miniature of the oh so famous, award winning mascara "They're Real" at 3g this makes a lovely travel friendly mascara that can be easily fitted into a make up bag, your handbag or even a pocket! If you are not aware the product itself boasts to make your lashes look like false lashes after application; it is a deep black colouring that not only lasts all day, smudge free but leaves your lashes lengthened, curled and looking delicious! 

A great brand, product to have included in this box. 

Macadamia Natural Oil Healing Oil Treatment - Full Size £21.95 for 125ml 

With the winter season upon us it is essential to update your hair care, this oil is applied to leave your hair smooth, shiny, manageable and nourished. To be applied to damp or dry hair for styling or simply finishing. 

OPI Nail Lacquer - Viking In a Vinter Vonderland - Full Size £12 for 15ml 

I love OPI nail polish, not only is it beautifully formulated but long lasting. Not to forget the luring names that OPI always seem to find for their polishes. This colour is a gorgeous deep purple, perfect for both day and evening wear. I can see myself wearing this colour consistently during the Christmas period. 

NARS Satin Lip Pencil - Full Size £18 for 2.2g

A sample size again at 1.7g which actually is not far from the full size product. NARS never fails to excite me, not only for the quality but the imagination in which all their products process. This is a chunky lip sayin pencil, I'm guessing the name of the colour is RIKUGIEN which is a dark nude colour. The formula itself is in fact smooth leaving the lips feeling silky, moisturised and smooth after application. 

La Coupe Coconut and Macadamia Oil - Full Size £3.50 for 40g 

Another full size product and another hair treatment - you can never have too many! This oil is infused with coconut oil, macadamia oil and cocoa seed butter all blended together to leave hair deeply hydrated. 

SHOW Beauty Lux Volume Lotion - Full Size 150ml for £40 

Possibly my favourite product in the box, this is a full size product also and at the price of the box I'm in love. The spray itself helps create volume, structure and body to your hair once applied to damp hair. 

Harvey Nichols Mini Scented Candle - £30 for a set of 4 

Everyone received 1 of the 4 possible miniature candles, valuing at £7.50 each. I received the bathing candle which is a grey glass holder with a cream candle insight - it smells gorgeous. Unfortunately the glass holder broke during transit so I'm hoping Glossybox will send a replacement because I adore candles! Especially during the winter period. 

This limited edition box is 100% a winner in my eyes, I have never received a beauty box better than this one. It is a real shame only 2000 were available because I could see this box wanted by so many more! 

November Glossybox 2014

This months glossybox has arrived and this month I am yet to find one subscriber raving about the products included. I for one, am not far behind on disappointment however, I can see many positive products in this box also; to begin with 3 of the products are full size leaving 2 sample sizes. 

Another great aspect of this box is that unlike last months box glossybox brought back the product cards - meaning the surprise element was heavily welcomed back. 

Prior to receiving this box glossybox announced two of the products for every subscriber; a eye pencil and Burt's Bees lip shine. Furthermore, not only does the box contain a spoiler for Decembers box (a bella Pierre lip stain) but a coupon code off a fashion website.

So the box was pale pink again and also matte again - a concept I really dislike given the title "Glossybox".

Lollipops MakeUp Eye Pencil 

One of the products announced early was this eye pencil; a deep black retractable pencil which is beautifully packaged; a nice pale pink pencil with gold leopred print - I love it! 

The formula itself is said to be long lasting, enriched with Vitamin E with anti-ageing and anti-radical action - a lot of fancy wording for an eye pencil but I must say having used the product it did last right up until I washed my face in the evening, with the colour still as dark and bold as when I first glided it along my waterline. 

Burt's Bees Lip Shine 

We all love Burt Bees products, natural ingredients that only nourish your lips! This lip shine is no exception, not only is it enriched with moisturising apricot wax but it leaves your lips feeling sweet, smooth and looking super shiny and eye catching. A great product at full size also! 

H20+ Face Oasis Hydrating Treatment 

This is a small sample of a moisturising gel that is supposedly meant to minimises the look of fine lines, I have used this product a number of times and have noticed no difference! Moreover, the sample is merely 8ml which really is nothing, however considering 50ml costs £27.50 I guess we can't be too greedy. 

MONU Skincare Refining Capri Facial Oil 

A facial oil that balances the oils on your face and reduces the chances of breakouts; I was super happy to see this product, I love anything that works to prevent spots however, I have tried this product the last three days and have found it has brought me out rather than reduced breakouts, hopefully if I perciever it may come good - only time will tell. 

Umberto Giannini Miracle Worker

The last of the three full size products. This spray is to be used on damp hair before blow drying for shine of overnight for full treatment to hair; it supposedly transforms dry, damaged frizzy hair. Either way it smells gorgeous, essences from the argon oil. 

October Glossybox 2014

I have no idea where the time goes; yes I am referring to my glossybox, having been a month already the October box has now arrived. 

This month the theme was pop art, as you can see from the picture above, the box itself was a little different this month as every subscriber received a different colour - mine being yellow. 

Another quirky aspect of this box is that usually it comes with a small product card with all the information regarding each product in the box. However, this month Glossybox has emailed the product card to create an online product card; the information was emailed prior to receiving the box therefore, all subscribers would be aware of the contents prior to the arrival of the box. I understand the concept and of course being a keen go green individual its a brilliant idea, however the beauty of this box is the surprise element, I for one quite enjoy the excitement of not knowing until I have the products in my hand!

NUXE CRÈME FRAÎCHE® DE BEAUTÉ MASK - Full Size £19.50 - 50ml

This is a 24hour moisturising mask which is said to hydrate and soothe the skin, leaving skin radiant, relaxed and minimal redness.

This mask was a spoiler in last months box - a nice smelling product and at full size it is defiantly a clincher with this box! 

I look forward to trying it out, a little bonus with this product is that GLOSSYBOX has provided a 15% code off at uk.nuxe.com with GLOSSY15. 

ÊTRE BELLE COSMETICS LIPLIFT PEEL - Full Size €12.95, 15ml

Possibly my favourite product of this months box; a lip scrub that once massaged into the lips and left to absorb for a minute leaves your lips soft, refined and free from dead skin. A beautifully formulated scrub that I have already fell in love with after one use. 

Defiantly a beauty must!

SO SUSAN COSMETICS FLUTTER MASCARA - Full Size £14.95, 4ml 

Slightly more pricey then your usual drugstore mascara however, not as expensive as high end. First of let me comment on the packaging, I love the shiny gold effect (not for camera purposes however), this So Susan mascara is said to create an ultra dark curled lashes after two applications. 

CIATÉ LONDON PAINT POT - Full Size £9, 13.5ml

The best trait of Ciate nail varnish is the value for money it brings; at almost 14ml for less than £10 this varnish is a steal. Although, perhaps more importantly the formula is undoubtably amazing, after one coat the colour is opaque, with a beautiful shine to the nails. Furthermore, the resistence of the varnish is also impressive, giving days of non-chipped nails. 

YVES ROCHER FRANCE QUELQUES NOTES D’AMOUR - Full Size £33, 30ml 

This is one of the most adorable mini samples I have ever received; the little perfume bottle is adorable. The smell on the other hand is deluxe - fresh, classy and highly addictive. On an even better note, the sample comes with a discount code;-

RIMMEL LONDON BB CREAM MATTE - Full Size £6.99, 30ml

As you can see from the image above a small sample came of this BB Cream. A cream I actually happen to love very much. For a much more detailed review please go and read my previous post. 

Overall this month was a great box, a lot better than usual, in my opinion. I am not sure too convinced with the revealed product card prior to recieving the box itself however, I would never fault a go green idea. 

Glossybox September 2014

This months glossybox was designed by the fashion brand Karen Millen in honour of London Fashion week; named London Skyline Box. 

The box contains 5 products; 2 Full size and 3 Sample size. It also comes accompanied with a £25 off voucher at Karen Millen when you spend £150 in-store. 

The box itself is gorgeous (as always) it is again, similar to August box matte however the london landmark design you can see is glossy, making it obviously stand out in texture and look. A lovely little box to add to the glossybox collection. 

The contents are tied with a white ribbon this month and opens up to a lovely selection of products. 

ModelCo More Brows Fibre Gel, 3.5ml - RRP £14.95

A small little product with a large importance - a fantastic must have for all beauty lovers. With brows so big in fashion at the moment it is no wonder that so many beauty makers are producing these little brushes. 

The brush is tiny, making it easy to shape and fill in your eye brows without getting the tinted gel everywhere. On application the gel is wet however, it quickly dries and holds your brow hairs in place for hours. 

Perfect size for easy application, travel friendly and more importantly perfect for making those brows perfect all day long. 

L'Oreal Professionnel Mythic Masque, 75ml - Full size £15.50 for 200ml

A nice sized sample of this hair masque, that works a little differently to some of those others I have used. It is to be used after you have washed your hair and towel dried your hair, you then apply the masque for 3 minutes and wash out again. 

I look forward to trying this product out on my next pampering night, with the winter weather upon us products like these are brilliant treats for our hair. May I add this product smells delicious! 

SkinPep Enzyme and Acid Peel - 

- Peeling Gel = £3.05 3.5ml 

- Eye Cream = £6.49 2ml

Exspensive samples alone let alone the full size products. However I enjoy getting these kinds of example, it's good to know exactly how the product is on your skin before paying £40+ for these Skincare essentials. 

I look forward to trying these out, especially the eye cream which is supposedly meant to erase dark circles. Whereas the peeling gel acts as a exfoliater, leaving skin soft and bright. 

Nails inc Westminster Bridge Matte Top Coat, £12 for 12ml

The second of the two full sized products in this box; a matte top coat. Giving women the chance to make any, yes ANY nail polish matte. 

With everything matte so hot right now it is no wonder this little beauty found it's way in the glossybox. A lovely little extra that is actually award winning. 

I can't wait to try this out!!!

Vichy Normaderm Night Detox and Hydrating Care

Tiny 3ml samples however, this is a very well known skin care brand that can be used to target adult blemishes - a cream we all need from time to time. 

I especially like how both the day and night cream are provided here. Again, another product I wouldn't normally buy due to the high price tag, it's always good to start with a sample!

A good box this month, packed with some lovely treats and great samples to try. I especially love the box itself this month, but I'm obsessed with London so this fantastic to me! 

Another delight this box comes with is a sneak peak into next months box. Interestingly, Glossybox havnt done this before which is a shame because I like the hints they offer online so I was especially pleased to see this. 

The sneak peak card provides that the October Glossybox is going to be a Andy Warhol inspried Pop Art Box; which will be available in green,yellow,red and blue - so every reader will receive 1 of the 4 variations ! A nice little gimik to think about for next month. 

Furthermore, next month every reader will revive a full size (50ml) Nuxe Masque Creme Fraiche de Beaute - which is a hydrating face masque worth £19.50. 

Urban Decay Pulp Fiction Palette

I am so excited to have been gifted this, so much so I could not wait to blog about it. I can not comprehend how someone with a love for all things make up would not purchase this beautifully crafted gimik palette. 

So Urban Decay have always been one of my favourite make up brands, it is high end price but really there is a reason - the pigmentation, the imagination both ooze out with UD palettes in particular. Perhaps most renowned for their perfectly designed naked palettes (which I also adore).

This year marks the twentieth anniversary of the realease of the famous film Pulp Fiction, to celebrate UD have brought out a small limited edition range in honour of Mrs. Mia Wallace (a character of the film).

The packaging is simple but elegantly in theme of the movie itself. The front of the actual palette is a quote of another character in the movie, reading;

"The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides yh the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he who, in the name of charity and goodwill, shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of post children. And I will strike down upon the with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to position and destroy my brother. And you will know my name is The Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee." - Jules Winnfield, Bad Mother F***er.  

It is however, a little confusing how the theme for the make up is designed in honour of Mrs. Mia Wallace but embraced with various words and themes of the movie itself; a factor I know many people to have complained about. I for one love how they have crafted the whole palette around the movie itself as oppsed to focussing on one character. 

The back of the outside packaging gives a small introduction to the Mia Wallace and the pallete itself, whereas the back of the actual palette is embedded with a direct quote from Mia herself "be cool honey honey bunny". 

The palette comes with a small card explaining how to replicate the look of Mrs. Mia Wallace with the colours provided. The colours themselves are beautifully creamy and pigmented, even if you do not wish to reproduce the look guided it still has some great nude every day shades. Not forgetting the big mirror, a great size especially for travelling with. 

The swatch above speaks volumes itself! 

Need I say anymore ?

Overall I love this pallete, I love the gimik alternative this palette offers. I am especially excited how a movie can be specifically formulated into a palette. For all the Pulp Fiction fans out there I can see this being a real hit, on the other hand for those who have no thought in regards to the movie it does offer a great selection of wearable shades; handy for every day application. 

August Glossybox

The August Glossybox is a celebration of Glossbox's third birthday. To celebrate such Glossybox has not only thrown in an extra product but it has given it's signature box a slight make over. 

You will see from the picture above on the left is the new box whereas the box on the right is the signature style. Normally the box is pastel pink and glossy throughout - signifying the title "glossybox" whereas this month the box is matte texture and slightly smaller, the logo is also larger. I am not sure if this is a permenant change or a special edition in light of their anniversary; either way I am actually fond of the beautiful matte finish although, it is kind of contradicting the logo name and idea. 

Differences aside. The above picture shows what came in this months glossybox, overall a nice little treat although unfortunately for glossybox I have seen many subscribers unhappy, yeah ok it's not the best box and considering it's a birthday special it is nothing to shout about. However, for the price and element of surprise I quite like this box and it's contents.

As previously mentioned the box included 6 products this month as oppose to 5. Every month Glossybox include a sneak peak product where they alerts their subscribers of one product that will be included in the box for everyone; this month it was the Philip Kingsley Elasticizer. 

Philip Kingsley Elasticizer, Full Size £38/250ml

Surprisingly I have never heard of this product. Boasting it's creation to Audrey Hepburn, this pre shampoo treatment is designed to give your hair elasticity, bounce and shine without weighing it down. A lovely little sampler, considering the price of this product I look forward to testing it out. 

Kryolan for GLOSSYBOX, Full Size £12.95/4.5g 

You can see from the picture above the beautiful creamy highlighter that has been designed by Kryolan specifically for this months glossybox. 

The highlighter itself is very lightweight and full sized, it offers a subtle glow complementing any skin tone. I can defiantly see myself reaching for this adorable little pot in the future. 

Figs & Rouge, Mini Hand Cream, Full Size £6.95/80ml 

I love a good hand cream and this one does not disappoint. Not only does it smell absolutely delightful but it is enriched with Shea Butter, leaving your hands soft, nourished and ultimately pampered after every use.

I'll be sure to add this beauty into my handbag, even if it's just to smell! 

YVES ROCHER, Pink Nail Polish, Full Size £3.60/3ml

This little pot of joy was the 6th birthday bonus product in this months box. 

At only 3ml this is the tiniest nail polish I have ever seen, however I love it! Perhaps it's because tiny products really excite me, it is so adorable.

The color itself is a beautiful natural pink tone, it was completely opaque after one coat and glided on nicely. The only issue I had with this was the look it have once dried, you'll see from the image below it gives off a matte, kind of bubbly look - however I will note I did not apply a top coat. 

ESSENCE, I Love Extreme Crazy Volume Mascara, £2.79/12ml

I have only recently noticed the brand essence and that is thanks to wilkinsons. However, I do not own any of their products so I was very excited to give this a go.

You'll see from the photo that it does make a difference. It does provide volume and deep colour but I personally find it very clumpy.

All negatives aside it is a nice little bonus in the box, the brand itself is also very affordable. It's not the worse mascara I have ever tried!

LALIQUE L'Amour - Full Size £67/50ml

Glossybox treated us this month to a lovely little sample of the L'Amour perfume. 

It has a lovely fresh floral scent, it's a little strong to start with but once it has settled - Goregous! Nice little sample to explore, based on the price I don't think I will be saving for this. A little gem all the same. 

A nice box this month, defiantly something to compliment Glossybox on their third anniversary. The box also came with a few coupon codes so that's something extra with this box! 

Nice! 

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Wilko Premium Blusher Brush

I recently posted a blog post of wilkinsons premium stippler brush, boasting how amazing the affordable new collection was, showcased via the stippler brush. Therefore, leading me to purchase the blusher brush from the same collection. 

Wilko Premimum Blusher Brush RRP £3.00

If you have seen my previous post regarding the stippler brush then you will recognise the design to be identical to the stippler brush, highly expected being from the same collection!

Wilkinsons have really out done themeselves recently with their make up department, the stores now have a bigger selection of big brands such as Rimmel London and Maybelline but perhaps more exciting is there own brand accessories, i.e. Their Premimum brushes. 

This particular brush is made of 100% synthetic hair, the handle is plastic; mostly matte black but it has a beautiful rose gold plated top holding the soft luxurious brush bristles itself. A lovely classy design, although I do have my reservations on how long the handle will hold up. The brush itself comes in a very useful travel case, which I personally use to keep my brush in whilst not in use. 

The application is just as pleasing, I have used it for both blush and bronzer, preferring its application for bronzer far more. Not only does it feel soft and velvety on the skin but it applies and blends evenly, leaving the skin looking naturally sun kissed. 

Now let's talk about the most exciting element of this brush, the price! At only £3.00 this brush is almost essential for any make up collector. It is great quality, gives great results and only entices you to purchase more from the collection. 

Once again, well done Wilkinsons. The new Premimum range is not only taking me by surprise but making me want to sell it myself. I certainly hope they will be looking to extend the range further in the near future. 

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July Favourites

So August has arrived, therefore I thought today I would do a post of my July favourites; a small list of all the products I have loved over the past month. Moreover, I am pleased to report that not only are these products fantastic but affordable also. 

I have 10 products to tell you about this month, three of which are hair, four cosmetics and two beauty products. 

Hair Products

Schwarzkopf Got 2 b oil-licious weightless Dry Oil Mist - RRP £3.99, 200ml

This has become a favorite of mine over the growing months, more so in July. With the weather heating up my hair has dried out, therefore I have been searching everywhere for a nice product to help with dryness. Moreover, whenever my hair gets dry it becomes frizzy and unmanageable. This spray is designed for those exact situations, it tames the hair, leaving it smooth and shiny. 

Schwarzkopf Got 2 b oil-licious tame & shine Styling Oil - RRP £3.99, 50ml

Having been so happy with the oil mist I decided to branch out and looked at the other products in the oil-licious range; this is the styling oil, as you will see from the picture above (at the front) it is only a small little bottle, however a little does go a long way. The oil is a non-greasy formula including argon oil, which is always a healthy bonus - it can be used either prior to washing your hair, after you have washed your hair, prior to drying and also for styling dry hair. I personally use this oil after washing my hair, it has helped make my hair shiny, healthy and moisturised once dried. A great little addition to my hair routine.  

Batiste dry shampoo XXL Volume - RRP £3.99, 200ml

Every girl needs a dry shampoo on there vanity unit and Batiste is one of the best I have ever come across, specifically the XXL Volume edition. A quick little spray over and my hair becomes voluminous, alive and looks fresh; fantastic for on the move. The best element of Batiste products is that they do a product for everyone, no matter what you want from your dry shampoo, you will find it with this fantastic brand. 

Cosmetics

Max Factor Face Finity all day Primer - RRP £10.99, 30ml
I have been loyal to my MAC primer for long enough, however over the past few weeks I have found myself reaching for this very affordable alternative. My sister very generously gave me this primer, I will always be grateful, I do not own many Max Factor products but this primer is fantastic, not only does it smell beautifully refreshing but it is remarkably smooth. Make up lasts all day and skin feels moisturised and nourished. I will defiantly be re purchasing this new beauty essential.  

Rimmel London BB Matte - RRP £6.99, 30ml

Consider how much I have used this product I should have placed it at the top of the list. I LOVE this BB cream, not only does it apply effortlessly but it also blurs pores, evens skin tone and leaves your face looking beautifully matte, but not dry. 

L'Oreal Volume Million Lashes, Extra Black - £10.99, 9.2ml

I walked into Superdrug with the goal to purchase the new L'Oreal Million Lashes So Couture, however after much debate and a little chat with a sales assistant I walked out with the extra black million lashes instead and I certainly do not regret it. The brush itself has a multitude of bristles which separate the lashes, giving you long individually bold separated lashes, that last all day long. Since purchasing this mascara I have not even reached for any of my others, holy grail status here. 

Maybelline New York, Colorstay Stripped Nude Lipstick, Coffee Craze - RRP £6.99

I actually purchased this back in May, however, I did not use it too much. Having given the lipstick a shot, it has successfully made its way into my every day make up bag, it is a beautiful moisturising nude that is remarkably similar to my lip colour but adds a slight shine. A lovely nude, lovely quality and lasts very well considering it is a drug store lipstick. 

Other 

Johnson's Face Care Makeup Be Gone, Extra Sensitive wipes. 25 Wipes - RRP £3.03

I always like to have make-up wipes for those nights I am far too tiered to wash my face. I came across Johnson's range whilst shopping in Asda and have actually grown rather fond of them. Like always I purchased the sensitive option as I don't want any harsh ingredients on my face. These wipes are 100% fragrance and alcohol free and leave the skin feeling cleansed and soft; they even remove waterproof mascara and bold eye liner easily. Great purchase if your on the hunt for make-up remover wipes. 

Nivea anti-perspirant stress protect rollerball deodorant - RRP £2.09 for 50ml

Having mostly always used spray deodorants it did not occur to me to try this little roller. However, it was actually bought for me and with the weather only getting warmer I was not going to turn it down. Gosh, I am glad I didn't, the deodorant itself has lasted all through July, it smells fresh, clean, moisturised and it does not need to be frequently applied. Once is enough, sometimes twice throughout the day, depends on what I am doing. 

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Wilko Premium Stipler Found Brush

Have I got a discovery for you ........

Anyone that has been in Wilkinsons recently would have noticed the fresh look they have adopted, therefore, subsequently the new products they now have to offer; specifically in relation to the health and beauty department.

I was in the shop for a total of 40 seconds before I almost ran to the new premium brushes;

Wilko Premium Stipler Found Brush, RRP £4.00

The first thing that I was immediately drawn to was the new brushes that the store now offers, this includes a Stipler Brush - a little confusion as to the spelling as I have always known the brush spelling as Stippler, however it appears wilko on everything other than the outer packaging of the brush Spells it as Stipler. A spelling mistake I am sure, but forget that and look at the brush:

The brush handle is of course a little cheap, it does feel like that after a moderate use the handle will fade, snap or simple fall apart. However, at a mere £4 I don't expect anyone to think it will last forever; although I am going to remain positive and hope it surprises me! The actual handle is plastic, with black and gold detail. So I am not a fan of the packaging, although the little pouch the brush comes in may be a blessing when it comes to travelling....

The most important part of this brush is of course the bristles, made from 100% synthetic hair, it is soft, full and actually appears to be very durable indeed. I have also read many reviews on this brush claiming it to be in the very same state as purchase after several washes, simply incredible.

Apart from the cheap design and poor spelling errors, this brush really is a beauty to have in your collection. It is not only very very affordable but it works just as well as the top brands equivalent. I will be sure to be purchasing the whole range of Wilko's premium brushes asap. Well done Wilko, bringing affordability and quality into one.

Now, go get your brushes ladies!

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Cadbury Dairy Milk Chips Ahoy!

Hello Beautiful! 

Without chocolate a lot of us ladies would not be able to enjoy beauty products as much as we currently do; you have a nice pamper night in with some wine and chocolate, am I right? Chocolate is a evil necessary, it taste good, it looks good and makes you feel amazing BUT then the evil kicks in, the fat tummy, bum? Let's ignore the evil today and enjoy the benefits chocolate brings. 

More specifically the beauty of the NEW Cadbury Dairy Milk, Chips Ahoy! A combination of the nations favourite standard dairy milk with cookie mixed in. 

From the picture you can see the delicious cookie in the centre with the standard dairy milk coat topping.

I can not begin to describe accurately the sensation of this chocolate, with cookie combined it is remarkably smooth with only a small crunch, but enough to enjoy the biscuit expierence all the same. 

I found this little treasure in Tesco, on a special introductory offer of just £1.00 for 120g - 30p cheaper then the average 120g dairy milk chocolate. 

You can thank me later ladies, for now go and get your guilty pleasure today. 

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eos Hand Lotion

eos Hand Lotion, Fresh Flowers, 1.5 fl oz -RRP $1.99

"eos" is an abbreviation of 'Evolution of Smooth', it is an American brand that I had known of prior to vising America, however I had only known of the lip balms. 

This hand cream is beautiful in every aspect, the packaging is cute, pretty and practical (even survives in my handbag) whilst the cream itself is smooth, creamy, soft and smells amazing, leaving the skin moisturised and nourished. 

A little really does go a long way with this hand cream, it's formula is perfectly formulated to create a creamy finish that, unlike other leading hand creams does not leave the skin oily, my hands soaked up the good moisture this product has to offer in seconds. 

And the smell? Absolutely gorgeous, fresh, flowery and addictive. I find myself re smelling this product over and over again; sometimes without applying!!!

Overall, I am in love with this hand cream, which now sits (with pride) in my handbag as an essential alongside my purse. A pleasant find on holiday, that actually since I have returned it can be bought online via eBay, defiantly check that out if your looking for a delight.

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Graduation Hair, MakeUp and OOTD

Having spent two years at college prepping for university, learning every detail just in the hope to place myself in good stead for the degree I was about to face, I finally made it to university enrolled on LLB Law.

Then began the three years of case reading, reciting Acts, researching commission papers, engaging with journals, long days, no sleep and finding the intelligence to form a well structured, valid legal/commercial criticism paper. All in the process to earn that degree. 

I finally made it! I am now a proud owner of a 2:1 LLB Hons Degree, a 2014 Graduate. I survived law school and I have come out the other end feeling positive, inspired and tiered. Therefore, it was only right I planned every beauty detail to prepare me for the day of my Graduation ceremony. 

At times like a graduation ceremony a girl needs to priorities her beauty needs, in my case the key elements to really nail was first, the skin; it needs to look bright, moisturised but most of all fresh. Next in the list is hair, my hair is long but not in the best state, something I really needed to nurse before the big day. Then we have the issue of make up and of course what to wear! 

Skin Care

Clean and Clear Cleansing Cream Wash 150ml - £2.00

I have used this face wash for months, I can not envisage myself betraying this wash, ever.

"Clean & Clear® Deep Action Cream Wash cleans deep down to effectively remove dirt, oil and impurities without clogging pores, and contains a special ingredient to help prevent spots and breakouts. The tingling sensation tells you your skin has been thoroughly cleaned, leaving it cool, refreshed and really clear."

Garnier Moisture Match Skin Boosting 50ml - £4.75

 If my memory serves me correctly, I was introduced to this moisturiser by a magazine, although I can not remember which one; it was months ago now. However, since receiving a small sample of this soft, creamy, thick formula I have used it every single day as my standard moisturiser; applying after washing my face. I believe it comes in varies editions, mine is for dull skin, created to wake your skin up for the day - fresh and clean. I can not argue with that statement!

"24h hydration: Wake me up is enriched with a patented hydrating active and reinforces the skin's barrier function, helping your skin to maintain its level of hydration."

Simple Kind to Skin Illuminating Radiance Cream, 50ml - £6.00

I do not want to say too much about this product as I plan to give a proper review at a later date, however, I can say I love this cream. I used this after washing my face and applying my moisturiser, it applied smoothly and gave my face that extra glow; just what is needed on a day when you expect a lot of photos.

Make Up

Now this is where the blog could get lengthy, therefore I am briefly going to go through the products I used and will look to review each at a later date.

  From the left;

- Rimmel London BB Cream, Matte, Shade Medium, 30ml - £6.98
- Nars Cosmetics Radiant Creamy Concealer, - £22.00
- L'Oreal Pari Volume Million Lashes, Extra Black, 9.2ml - £7.99
- Covergirl Bombshell Volume by Lashblast Mascara, Sexy Curvy in Very Black, 10ml - £4.69
- Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation, Shade; Beige, 30ml - £9.99
- Mac Prep + Prime Skin, 30ml - £21.00
- Mac Fix+ Spray, 100ml - £14.50
- Benefit the POREfessional Pro Balm Primer, 22ml - £18.20
- Mac Lipstick in the shade Hue, 3g - £15.50
- Collection 2000 Bronze Glow Mosaic Radiant 2, 15g - £2.99
- Anastasia Beverly Hills, Dipbrow Pomade Dark Brown, 4g - £11.25
- Rimmel London Gel Liner, Black - £6.99
- Sleek MakeUp Blush, in the shade Coral, 8g - £4.49
- Mac Mineralize Skin Finish, in the shade Lightscapade, 10g - £23.00
- NYC Color Showtime Velvet Eyeliner. Black Velvet - £6.94
- Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette - £37.00

Hair

Babyliss Boutique Soft Waves - £25.00

This cheeky little iron is a must for effortless, soft curls. I love loose curled hair, therefore it was a must to curl my hair for my graduation ceremony, you will see in the pictures below, I only done a very loose curl and clipped in my FoxyLocks exstensions to create that little extra volume.

Blowpro After Blow Strong Hold Finishing Spray, 350ml - £6.99

This hair spray is a god send, it holds your hair style but does not dry out the hair, make your hair hard and brushes out with ease at the end of the night. It is a little pricey for a hair spray but I would highly recommend this product, the formula, the packaging and the results; all fantastic.

Outfit of The Day

Prior to my Graduation I spent five nights in New York, therefore I only had shopping on the mind whilst there, searching high and low for a beautiful dress to compliment my make-up and hair choice. It was just my luck that I actually found a beautiful coral dress in H&M; the H&M in Times Square, NY was amazing, big, shiny and open till 11pm - heaven. I paired the dress with some black and white heels from New Look, simple, professional and elegant but not to high to ruin my feet.

The day itself was lovely, a great day with those closet to me to celebrate three years of studying; Congratulations to all of you who are graduating this summer and well done for the hard work, it has finally paid off guys!

My Hair Care Routine

I love my hair, shamefully it is not in the best condition however, it is still healthy! I use a range of products, so I thought I would share with you my top 7 hair products.

Here are my 7 must haves for your hair, I did try to narrow it too five to be easy but I simply could not decide between every product, I love them all! 

L'Oreal Elvive Fibrology Thickening Shampoo, 400ml RRP £3.99 

L'Oreal Elvive Fibrology Thickening Conditioner, 400ml RRP £3.99

Please excuse the camera flash glare, the packaging is very dark so it is difficult to get a satisfying picture of these beauty's. L'Oreal boast this duo to be a breakthrough in the science of hair, I call it magic, after one use of this perfect pair I noticed the difference, my hair felt stronger, thicker and had life with body and bounce- imagine my surprise when the results simply continue to get better wash after wash. 

If you take anything from this blog then make it a purchase of these, I am in love and would happily stand by this product 100%. For those seeking an outstanding result then simply purchase the accompanying thickening masque and thickness booster from the same line - you will be amazed!

Garnier Ultimate Blends The Nourishing Repairer shampoo, 250ml RRP £2.79

Garnier have very kindly embraced the wide range of issues that the average woman has with their hair and intruduced solutions in the form of there Ultimate Blends range. I purchased the nourishing repair shampoo, with avocado oil as a key ingredient, this shampoo is fantastic for dry, damaged hair or in my case, the morning after curling and hair spraying!  

No matter what I do to my hair it will always be gently restored by use of this shampoo, the only negative I have is that once the lid is opened it is difficult to control how much comes out of the bottle, it takes a while to control it! No matter however, as this shampoo smells of Shea butter, absolutely divine. If your hair is really damaged then Garnier kindly intruduced a conditioner to accompany this saver - I am yet to try this though! 

Tresemme 24hr Body Amplifying Mousse 225ml RRP £5.75

I have has this product for months, maybe even a year! It just goes forever. The mousse is a proffessional formula designed with volume control complex which gives voluptuous body and bounce to your style - boy does it! I only ever use this product when I am need for big hair for example when I am planning to curl my hair as it makes my hair thick, big and holds the curls for days! The only issue I have with this is how sticky the mousse gets if you do not massage it in to the hair roots correctly. However, we can look past that fault and just peel our eyes to the beautiful locks this product helps us to achieve! A great mousse for anyone looking for BIG hair. 

Herbal Essence Bee Strong Mask, 200ml RRP £4.79

Herbal Essence Beautiful Ends Mask, 200ml RRP £4.79

As part of the Herbal Essences family these two masks of course smell amazing, they both do what they claim, one gives your ends some care, nourishing any damage but more impritantly preventing damage whilst the other makes your hair thicker and more shiny - both as beautiful and beneficial as the other. I tend to alternate weekly which one I use depending on what products or heating tools I have used on my hair that week, defiantly LOVE these masks.

Moreover, many leading supermarkets actually do promotional offers on theses products, I myself got both of these for the price of one; as Sainsburys was running a promotion of both being half priced - therefore I snapped these up! I have since seen these out of stock in many places, not surprising but don't compromise, wait. This will be a holy grail after one aplication.

VO5 Give Me Moisturiser Hot Oil Treatment 4 X15ml, RRP £4.29

Every Sunday this is my hair treat, with a blend of 5 vitamins, active shine boosters this oil is great for giving your hair a nice little weekly boost. I have used this now every week for the past two months, it is extremely affordable and really shows results. This oil, unlike others I have trialled is very easy to apply, I place it in boiling water while I run a nice bubbly bath, then as I get into the bath I apply it all over my hair specifically the ends, after 10 minutes of relaxing I simply wash it out and that is me done for another week, simple!

I believe VO5 also do another set focussing on nourishing your hair shine, I have not tried this myself as I would rather focus on the condition of my hair then the shine but if it is anything like this little gem then I would imagine it to be just as good. 

So there you have it, 7 little gems you may not have known about but I can not live without. My hat goes off to some beautiful brands who are not only impressive scientists but hair gods/goddesses. 

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