Latest in Beauty; Beauty Boxes

If your a fellow product junkie, you'll have heard of Glossy Box but have you heard of the Latest In Beauty?

From as little as £9.95 (plus p&p) you can choose your beauty box collection and try a selection of luxury samples put together in a cute box. Or if you prefer, you can subscribe and on a monthly basis, receive a 'Little Beauty Box' with mini samples to try. There's also luxury samples available on their site to purchase separately if there's something you fancy trying but don't want to go the whole hog and would rather try before you buy!

I recently purchased the Summer Lovin' Box.

 For £14.95 I received a St.Tropez Instant Glow Body Lotion (50ml) and full size tanning mitt, Richard Ward Volumiser Root Booster(50ml), Bellapierre Mineral Blush and Eyeshadow(both full size), Cosmopolitan Blush Brush, False Lashes and Lash Curlers from The Vintage Cosmetics Company, SteamCream moisturiser (75g) and a Batiste Dry Shampoo(50g).

'Summer Lovin' Beauty Box'

I would definitely purchase a collection box again, I like that you know what your getting when you order and pay for it. The sizes were excellent and perfect for travelling if, like me, you purchased this for your summer hols! The products are high quality, reputable brands and the value for money is high.

Clinique A Different Nail Enamel for Sensitive Skins

Clinique have finally brought nail varnishes back!!

A Different Nail Enamel for Sensitive Skins, not a catchy name but the colours are eye catching and the packaging is pretty!

'packaging'

They have 12 colours here to stay, including a basecoat/topcoat, and 9 limited edition shades for the summer. The permanent range has a variety of easy to wear shades with your classic reds and pinks but also some stronger shades of deep red and slate, whereas the summer range has some more daring colours with yellow, blue, green,silver and fluro coral!

'Hot Date'

The bottles are quite similar to Nails Inc bottles but a bit skinnier and taller but the enamel itself is very unique. Like the rest of Clinique's range, the enamels are allergy tested and suitable for sensitive skins. 

It may seem odd to be allergic or sensitive to nail varnish but it's not necessarily the hands that can be irritated by our nail varnish..did you know that we touch our faces up to 5,500 times a day? 

'Heart'

The colours I've tried so far have gone on smoothly although a few shades have taken quite a few layers to build up a strong, opaque finish. The enamels have a high gloss finish and are long wearing although I'd highly recommend using the 2in1 Basecoat/ Topcoat. when I've used another base coat and topcoat, It hasn't lasted quite as well as when I used the Basecoat/Topcoat.

'Black Honey'

I love the colours available and at £12 for 9ml, it's not too harsh a price point but I am slightly disappointed with the application and drying time. 'Happy' went on smoothly, only need a couple of coats and dried fairly quick but the others that I've tried so far have needed a few coats before you can get the strong uniformed colour and then have taken a while to dry...I get pretty impatient as I dont often have very long to just sit around waiting for my nails to dry! 

 I'd give these an 8/10..They are still high quality given that they've had to be tested and formulated for sensitive skins but there is room for improvement on consistancy, application and drying time for sure!

Although, if I was someone that was normally allergic to  nail enamels and didn't have the choice to wear any ones I wanted, then I'd be rating them 10/10!!

BareMinerals New Marvelous MOXIE

 MOXIE: (mox-see) noun.

Shameless sass, All out spirit,Total passion overload with plenty of attitude to match.

BareMinerals already have a strong colour position within the beauty department with their vast array of eyeshadow pigments aswell as their newer compact eyeshadow pallettes but their lipsticks have been lacking that VaVa Voom, until now.
Introducing... the Marvelous MOXIE Lips range!

'Moxie Range'

I have never experienced a lipstick that feels so good to wear but actually lasts on my lips. The Moxie lipsticks are so creamy and buttery that on first impressions, I didn't expect them to last more than 20mins, let alone a morning! I put them to the test last week on a shopping trip with my lovely friend, Fay, (also a big makeup up fan!).

Before I left the house in the morning I lined my lips first with marvelous MOXIE lipliner in 'Electrified' then filled in with 'Lead the Way' lipstick and a slick of 'Ring Leader' lipgloss over the top. By the time I'd got to town, had a good mooch around H&M then had Costa and a natter...the lipstick was still in place- hadn't bled or faded in colour at all! It wasn't quite as dewy on my lips as on first application but the colour was still bold and my lips were still perfectly lined!

'Lead The Way'

'Electrified/Lead the Way/Ring Leader'

My favourite colour at the moment is 'Fly High' lipstick, a creamy  lavender pink. I'm a bit more tanned than usual and it really stands out and compliments my tan. I line my lips first with 'Jazzed'  lipliner and smudge it in a little so it's not too much of a strong line then build the colour up with 'Fly HIgh'.

'Fly High'

'Jazzed and Fly High'

As you all know, I'm a balmy kinda gal! I normally choose lipbalm over lipstick because my lips get too dry and I get fed up of having to reapply becaused the colours cracked up or disappeared.
What I love most about these new lipsticks is that they have a moisture-loaded hydrating complex that nourishes and conditions your lips aswell as vitamins A,C and E to protect your against enviromental stress whilst the mineral infused formula revitalises lips for a healthy looking pout so all you've got to do is apply and be MOXIE!!

I've noticed a difference in my lip texture since wearing these and I don't find myself wanting/ needing to apply lipbalm over the top to keep my lips comfortable. I can finally dare to wear colour without the hassle and fuss!

With 18 shades of lipstick, varying from peaches and pinks to stand out reds and bold berries, theres plenty of choice and variety and the 10 lipliners in the range means you can always have a perfected pout.
I can't get enough of the lipgloss too (10 shades). They smell good enough to eat and feel really refreshing! With Shea, Avocado and Murumuru butters they deeply hydrate and smooth the lips whilst giving long lasting shine and making your lips looking fuller and plumper instantly and over time!

The Marvelous MOXIE range is out now and available in the BareMinerals boutiques and Counters so go and see a BareMinerals Beauty Ambassador for 'make under' and find your MOXIE combination...

Clinique CC Cream- SPF30 Hydrating Colour Corrector

This latest craze in the beauty world is my new must have! Clinique's CC cream- Colour Correcting cream, removes redness in the skin and brightens dullness and greyness in the skin. The clever technology in this hydrating cream, targets all colour concerns in the skin by using a lavender pigment with a white shell that, on application, shatters and brightens the skin whilst the lavender pigment corrects colour concerns.

 Complexion Perfection Magic!!

'CC Cream'

This can be used alone or as a primer to foundation but since using it, I've found that I no longer need a foundation because this does everything I need in a foundation! It makes my blotchiness disappear, It brightens my skin, It minimizes my darker freckles whilst hydrating (its part of the Moisture Surge franchise) and protecting my skin with SPF30- higher than any SPF you'll find in a foundation.

I find the best way to apply this is with your fingers. Using my fingers, I found the coverage could be built up better and it blended in easier but with a brush I found that it's coverge was too sheer and not as natural.

A powder isn't necessary as it has a semi-matte finish but i've been using Clinique's Almost Powder dusted over the top and for touch ups through the day and it becomes flawless!

At £28 for 30ml, It's slightly pricier than most of Clinique's foundations but it's worth it for the amazing effect it has on your skin as well as the treatment benefits. This one is definately coming on holiday with me!

Dior Nail Glow

This is the most magical nail varnish I've come across! Dior's Nail Glow makes the pink look pinker and the whites of your nails brighter, resulting in an instant,natural, french manicure.

'Dior Nail Glow'

In the bottle it looks neon pink but when painted on the nail its the perfect rosey hue and because it brightens the whites, the cuticles and nail tips stand put making the nails look really healthy.The applicator is the original dior nail varnish brush making it quick and easy to apply, literally one stroke covered each nail and it was dry within seconds.

'Two Coats'

I found I needed two coats to really get that pretty manicured look as with one coat it was too much like a standard clear varnish and flaked and chipped too easily. Although, having worn two coats for a couple if days, it has stayed a bit better but then I chipped the paint on the thumb just by opening a drink can! 

So considering it costs £18, it's a bit of a disappointment in quality. I guess a topcoat over the varnish might lock it in to stay on better but in comparison to my topshop varnishes (which everyone knows im addicted to!) it hasn't got the stamina!

All in all, i'd give this varnish a 7/10...points for magical effect but not for quality and stamina!

 

Nail Polish Collection- Out Of Hand??

So after spending a good couple of hours sorting out my nail kit and rounding up the polishes from various makeup bags, hand bags and vanity cases I have finally condensed my collection down!

Well, I say condensed... I only managed to throw out a handful of shades and the case still wont close! I think the only solution will be to buy a bigger vanity case to house them!

' Just a few...'

Whilst sorting through them, I came across three that I had bought double of..quite clearly needed to look through and see what I already I had!

Over the years I seem to have spent a fair amount of nail polishes, from Rimmel and NYC for a few pound to Dior and YSL for quite a few pounds but still my favorites have to be my Topshop and Dior ones- They never let me down!

 For those that read my blog, you'll know how in love I am with Topshop polishes and I didn't realise I'd collected so many- I counted 15 of them in my box and after taking the above photo, I found more! 

You can never have to many though...I've already got my eye on some new shades in their new collection!

Dior, Diorshow Heat Curl

This is my latest beauty tool! Diorshow Heat Curl- It's a heated lash curler that was a litlle scary the first time I tried it but is so easy to use and I love the results!

'Heat Curl Applicator'

'Diorshow Heat Curl'

Luckily it came with a battery so I could get going straight away. You just flick the switch up and within seconds the little applicator has heated up and you're ready to go! It has two heat settings so you can chose depending on your desired effect.

To curl the lashes you brush through them as if you were applying mascara. At first it was a bit uncomfortable as you can feel the heat against your eyeballs- you really wouldnt want to slip! After a while i got used to it and the curler really lifts your lashes- my mascara goes on so much better and the lift and curl stays put all day.

'Curled with Heat Lash, Coated In High Impact Extreme'

This can also be used over mascara to thin the mascara formula and perfectly coat every lash for an even application. I tried this but wasnt too sure about it- I prefer using it before to prep my lashes as it got a bit messy and I was concerned with ruining the heated wand but it does come with a little brush to clean of the wand after.

At £23 it's a bit pricey for a lash curler and is priced similarly to Dior mascaras but it's totally worth it- look after it and you'll only ever need to replace the battery! I normally use traditional lash curlers and once the spare rubber has been used, generally I end up having to buy a new curler because replacement rubbers are hard to come by.

So i'm seeing this as a tool investment!

Click here to get yours!