Beauty in miniatures

I know some people don’t like posts about Christmas gifts, but here I’m showing you a few of my favourite mini beauty products that I got.

You, Latest in Beauty advent calendar 

I had a beauty advent calendar from Latest in Beauty, which had a range of carefully selected beauty products. 

1.    StTropez Instant Glow Body Lotion 50ml – Move over Rimmel, this stuff works a dream! The light formula gives you a natural bronze glow with a subtle shimmer finish. I always wear this on my legs on a night out. A little tip...put a small amount on your cheekbones; I find it similar to Benefits High Beam.

2.    Dermalogica Favourites Pack – this pack included Special Cleansing Gel, Daily Microfoliant, Skin Smoothing Cream and MultiVitamin Power Firm. I have super sensitive skin and found that the scrub was a bit too harsh on my skin and I had a burning sensation after I used it. So it was removed from my routine (that’s why it’s not in the image). But other than that I can’t grumble. Dermalogica products are expensive, so I do recommend getting yourself a ‘trial kit’ to try before you buy. The Favourites Pack did make me skin feel baby bum smooth and I could feel a dramatic change compared to when I use other cleansers and moisturisers. The Skin Smoothing Cream is something I would like to invest in, I can recommend it to people with dry/sensitive skin!

3.    L’Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream 10ml – this smells yum and the size fits comfortably in my bag, it has honey, almond and coconut extracts. The texture is thick and creamy and quickly rubs into your skin leaving them moisturised and nourished. I am a bit obsessed with this, and it’s not the first time I’ve tried it. You don’t need a great amount because the texture is so rich and creamy, if you like soft scented moisturises you’ll appreciate this. 

1.    NickyClarke Instant Calmer 30ml – does what it says on the bottle. Simply apply to damp hair and cya fly aways! It has left my hair feeling sleek and manageable. My hair sometimes goes frizzy after drying it but this Instant Calmer smoothes out any frizz - you miracle.  

2.    BalmBalm Organic Lip Balm 7ml – at first I was a bit wary because the texture is a bit gritty but once it’s rubbed into your lips it helps keeps the dryness at bay. I use this before I go to bed and wake up with kissable soft lips. It’s a great daily lip treatment.

3.    RichardWard Volumiser Root Booster 50ml – I have long thick hair, so the weight pulls my hair down, I have to use rollers to get some volume in my hair. I’ve tried volumising powder, mousse, shampoo, conditioner and sprays. But I actually found that this spray made a difference and I now use it every time I do my hair. I simply spray it onto damp hair all over concentrating on the roots and blow dry my hair downwards. It does leave you with a very faint powerdy/sticky residue but it really does leave my hair looking bigger!

Jess

xxx

The Beauty Box

Over the past year the trend of the beauty box has grown enormously, beauty product lovers across the country have joined in the growing development of new and exciting products that get sent directly to your door every month, how exciting!

After not a lot of persuading (me being a HUGE beauty addict myself) I signed up to Glossy Box. I subscribed online, the price is reasonable at only £10 + £2.95 p+p per month. Each month I will receive a box full of new sample, travel and full size beauty products to ‘try before you buy’. During your registration, you have to answer a series of questions regarding your skin and hair type and the kind of products that you usually buy, this is because Glossy Box will try and send you out products that are suitable for you, bonus!

 First impressions: When my box arrived I was extremely impressed, it comes very well presented with ribbon and tissue wrapping paper – the perfect little gift to surprise you each month. With the presentation being at such a high standard, it would be suitable to give as a gift to friends or relatives.

Advantages: The products that get sent out for you to try are tailored to suit you, and you can give a review back to Glossy Box on the products to receive Glossydots (points that you can accumulate to get a free box – think of it as a Boots advantage card). There are many popular brands such as Dermalogica, Paul Mitchell etc, whilst introducing you to new up and coming brands. The box also comes with a guide about the products, the price, offers and where to purchase if you wish to do so.

Disadvantages: You may receive the odd product that doesn’t appeal to you, save them and give them to your friends as a gift.

July Glossy Box

I received: 

Collin Resultime – Regenerating Collagen Gel

Paul Mitchell – Texturising Sea Salt Spray

Monu – Extra rich night cream

Jelly Pong Pong Cosmetics – Lip Frosting

Kryolan – Satin Powder (SP333)

Elizabeth Arden – Visable Difference Skin Balancing samples.

What's in my beauty bag?

Miss Dior Cherie

Temple Spa Duvet body cream and Sugar Buff body scrub

MAC lipsticks, Seasoned Plum, Viva Glam &n Politely Pink

L'Occitane hand cream

Dior eyeshadow, 616 Golden Spotlight

Schwarzkopf Silhoutte hairspray

Lush Honey Trap lip balm

You don’t need an excuse to hit the shops, especially when it comes to essential toiletries. Okay so they’re probably not that essential but they are crucial items that you need in your wash bag in order to smell/look lovely. 

1    Miss Dior Cherie – this perfume isn’t overwhelming, it is a floral, fruity, light, and spicy fresh fragrance for every day usage. It has a sweet oriental flagrance for the girly girls out there, it also has the cutest perfume bottle ever!

 

1     Temple Spa Duvet and Sugar Buff – The Mediterranean body scrub is a deliciously smelling scrub that removes dead skin cells revealing silky smooth skin (it is also recommended for the removal of fake tan). The firming body scrub does leave your skin feeling cashmere soft and is a light texture which absorbs quickly. Both products are from the sleeping range, and smell heavily of lavender so it is suggested to only be used at night time. 

 

1       MAC lipsticks – three very different colours for day and night wear. MAC has produced moisturising glossy lipsticks, however CATWALK found that they don’t last long and need replying frequently. MAC does offer us all the colours imaginable though, and we do want them all. We found that applying a small amount of clear lipgloss on top helps the colour last longer.

 

1        L'Occitane hand cream – this fruity smelling hand cream is ideal to keep in your handbag. It is slightly greasy and doesn’t absorb straight away but it does leave you hands smelling beautiful and feeling silky smooth. 

 

1     Dior eyeshadow, 616 Golden Spotlight – Dior Golden Spotlight looks perfect for a night out, a neutral glitter shade that actually lasts despite the amount of glitter. But it does tend to smudge all over your face towards the end of the night, which isn’t a great look. We would recommend sticking to the matt colours as we are still on the search for a glitter eye shadow that satisfies our needs. 

 

1        Schwarzkopf Silhoutte hairspray – Schwarzkopf promises an invisible hold. And its promise does deliver, however we are not happy with this product. If used at night time, you will wake up with your hair feeling extremely sticky and greasy! Stick to Elnette, this product only gets a 2/10. 

 

1        Lush Honey Trap lip balm – this stuff is amazing. Screw Vaseline, Honey Trap has a delicious smell and actually leaves your lips feeling moisturised. It smells of orange, chocolate, almonds and honey. It’s good enough to eat; the waxy texture gives you a full coverage of goodness and reveals your lips natural condition.