Essie | Available At Boots and Superdrug

We all love nail polishes, right? You know I do! The brighter, the better! So today is a blog post to let you all know that as of today - 30th April - Essie Nails are now available in Boots and Superdrug across the UK! Hurrah! Just take a look at the Superdrug Essie page! So many amazing shades to choose from! I love Essie nails because they have an amazing range of colours, they also have some great colour sets too but before now, I only owned a couple of bottles which was bought for me as a Christmas gift. I know they are available to buy on various beauty websites and they are stocked in over 5,000 salons/spas in the UK but I never come across these stockists and I don't really like to buy nail polish online just incase the shade on the screen doesn't match what it really is in real life! So I am pleased that Essie nails are expanding and you can now browse and purchase their range in larger Boots and Superdrug stores! 

Essie has always promised high quality and professional manicure application which are usually priced at £9.95 per bottle but now they have launched their "At-Home" range available on our high street drug stores which retails at £7.99. Their At-Home formulas make it easy to apply and quick to dry! 

I accepted an Essie challenge via Modern Girls Guide so I will review the nail polishes when I have had a chance to try them all. I will report back to you soon with my honest opinion. In the meantime, if you have tried Essie nail polishes, feel free to let me know what you think of them and which shade you would recommend.

GlossyBox: Natural Beauty Box Edition

April edition GLOSSYBOX - Natural and Organic Beauty Box

It was such a surprise to receive the latest edition of Glossybox because none of us expected another themed box. There was no hype like the Valentines Day or Harrods Edition so the fact that it was sprung on us made it a welcome surprise! In my previous post, I was just writing about how I am becoming increasingly more interested in natural and organic beauty products, so this feel like it has come at the right time. 

The box itself is 100% biodegradable and it is a nice touch from Glossybox that fits in to the whole theme, I think this was well thought out. As usual, we received five deluxe sized samples and I am pleased with everything I got apart from the Monu Collagen Cream only because this states it is for dry, very dry or dehyrdated skin. My skin type is normal/combination so if I use the collagen cream, would it make my skin more oily as the product looks to be extra hydrating? I've only just sorted my skin out with new products that seems to be working for me so am really cautious about using something new on my face without consultation.

The other items are Caudalie serum, Inika organic eyeliner in black, Figs and Rouge lip balm in cherry and vanilla, and last but not least, my favourite Burt's Bees milk and honey body lotion. I recently purchased lots of Burt's Bees products and I was eyeing the body lotion up but as I went for cleanser, toner and exfoliater, I ran out of money so had to put the lotion back! This is definitely a happy addition to my collection! Some have complained that there's too many moisturiser and lotions - I received three in the last box - but I like them and much prefer to have lots of moisturisers than perfume samples. I'll be using 4 out of 5 products until it all runs out, so all in all, a successful box in my opinion! I'm always interested in reading Glossybox reviews and comparing opinions so feel free to let me know if you have blogged about it and I'll check it out! Also, if anyone has a favourite natural or organic beauty brands, I would love to know your recommendations! 

EOS Lip Balm Sphere | Review

Scents: Strawberry Sorbet | Lemon Drop | Summer Fruits | Honeysuckle honeydew

"Packed with antioxidant-rich vitamin E, soothing shea butter and jojoba oil, EOS keeps lips moist, soft and sensationally smooth." 

If I was stranded on an island and had to choose one luxury item to bring with me, it would be lip balm. It is the one beauty product that I need! I have got so many different ones because I'm always buying lip balms and I am keen to try new brands, so I couldn't wait to get my hands on the EOS lip balm spheres which have been hyped and praised by American beauty bloggers. The first thing you notice is the shape of them, and the colours of the packaging. It is sturdy and really good quality. I bought the green one (which is a honeydew scent) a couple of months ago and really liked it so I bought three more! 

I wanted to blog about them and tell you a little more because I haven't seen any reviews of these on UK blogs and I know some people are intrigued by this product. The brand is currently not available on the UK high street at the moment - I don't know if there are plans to launch it over here - but in the meantime, it can be purchased online through UK-based independently owned beauty stores such as Zuneta, cutECOsmetics, or even Amazon. EOS have their own website where you can purchase  directly but they are based in America and shipping may cost more.

EOS products are 100% natural and 95% organic, and the lip balms are free from chemicals such as petrolatum and parabem. The feel of these balms itself are smooth and buttery with a matte application and I prefer this kind of lip product. I don't like the glossy lip products like Vaseline, but it always feel greasy and sticky to me, and for some reason, Vaseline dries my skin out even more so once the product has faded throughout the day. EOS is moisturizing and keeps lips smooth and it makes you want to apply more on, you might even get addicted to it like I am! The spheres come in seven different scents; strawberry sorbet, lemon drop, summer fruits, honeysuckle honeydew, sweet mint, medicated tangerine and passionfruit, each one in it's own lovely colourful vibrant packaging. 

They cost about £4.50 - £5.95 each depending on which retailer you buy from, and they seem to last for ages! The honeydew one hasn't gone down much and I've used it everyday since I bought it a couple of months ago. I don't normally review beauty products, but I really do love this product! It's easy to use, surprisingly easy to hold, I think it's fantastic that it is natural, organic and cruelty-free, and who can resist the unique and bright packaging! 

(please note: products featured were not gifted)

GlossyBox: Harrods Edition (March)

Contents: Vanitas Versace eau de parfum, Bliss Blood Orange and White Pepper Body Butter, Revive Creme Lustre SPF 30, Lancome Teint Miracle, Clarins Extra Firming Body Cream

Most people have had a lot of opinions on Glossybox's March edition, and there seems to be unhappy subscribers who perhaps see previews and spoilers of what the contents might be and then become dissatisfied upon receiving a different variation of the box. I have to admit that when I saw the Burberry lipstick in some of the previews, I thought it was one of those samples that would be in every box. I was initially disappointed to see I didn't get one....BUT the disappointment lasted about 2 seconds because I just thought "It probably wouldn't have suited me anyway" because it is difficult for me to find lipsticks that suit my skin-tone, and actually, I'm perfectly happy with the lipsticks I've already got anyway! My favourite at the moment is Crosswires and Lusterings from MAC, those are the two that I wear all the time, and if I ever wanted a new lipstick from Burberry, I'll just buy one.

Personally, I am pleased with what I got in the Harrods Edition, I received 3 different types of lotions, foundation and perfume. If I had one complaint, it would be that the perfume is not to my taste but I still think it's lovely packaging and something that I can pass on to someone else! Usually, even when something isn't to my taste - such as lipgloss or face mask, I would try all the samples in the boxes and aim to use it all up. However, I am really picky with fragrance and some will make me nauseous, especially when I'm travelling, for some reason! I just prefer perfume to be quite sweet, fruity and girly. 

Glossybox's latest collaboration is very clever marketing and they did well to hype it up. I really like it when they do special editions, such as the Christmas box and the Valentines special. I do think that the dissatisfaction of some customers are due to the different variation of boxes, and it would probably save them the hassle if all boxes were the same but as I always say; Variety is the spice of life! I still enjoy reading beauty box reviews, and it is interesting to see how people react to it each month.

Skincare Products

My skin hasn't been the best condition at the moment, there are typically good days and bad days. I think it's due to the skin care products I'm currently using that makes it more oily than it actually is or perhaps it is the lack of water I drink. Like most women, though, I hide blemishes with make up - sometimes that only makes it worst! I've had to wear foundation a lot more these days. As I mentioned before, La Base Primer from Lancome is a huge help as it makes skin looks smooth and prepares it well for a flawless make up application. 

I have been using Lancome skincare products for years now, about 12-13 years or so. It just doesn't work for my skin anymore and I am now trying out a few other brands including Clinique, Decleor, Elemis and Liz Earle. I always thought that as long as the product is expensive, it was guaranteed to work! I've come to realise that this is not correct! Having read the reviews on blogs and in magazines, I recently tried Liz Earle's Cleanse and Polish. Out of the products I have recently tried, it has been the best for my skin. I was keen to try this and I am now considering changing from Lancome to Liz Earle skincare products. Another brand that I love is Dermalogica - the exfoliator and mask (pictured above) are samples from a previous GlossyBox. I know everyone's skin is different but if you have any recommendations, please feel free to let me know! I was wondering if you all stick to one brand for all your skincare products, or do you mix and match? 

GlossyBox: Valentine's Day Edition

First day of February and I thought I'd blog about the latest edition of GlossyBox which is a Valentine's Day special. I couldn't resist this box, I did unsubscribed (had to sacrifice a few things in order to save up) but I would have subscribed again after seeing the review! GlossyBox sent me a complementary box to review. This GlossyBox is the January 2012 edition.

This special edition of GlossyBox is hot pink. As usual, there's a few variations - I know some boxes will have Clarins samples - but mine contained Eyeko Eyeliner, Murad Primer, F.A.B body wash and Davine's cleansing nectar and moisturising balm. I am pleased that there isn't any perfume samples in the box, I am not a big fan of them. Amongst the samples, I've yet to try the cleansing nectar and moisurising balm. These are dual use so can be used on body or hair. I love that there's make up in the box, and especially from a brand like Eyeko who have recently re-branded, but the shade of the eyeliner isn't one I would go for or buy again. It is still nice to try something new, though! I will still try it and make the most of it, and who knows, maybe I will end up liking it... and I guess that's the whole point of GlossyBox! I tried the Murad Skin Perfecting Primer straight away, it is light and dewy and I really like it and I will repurchase when the sample runs out. I didn't expect it to be tinted but it's not an overpowering colour, and it blends with my skin tone really well. It gives your skin a natural looking radiant glow and it is also nice alternative to high lighters/illuminators which can sometimes feel quite heavy and sticky. I have a few other primers in my make up bag, but I often use Benefit's High Beam on my cheeks under foundation and powder blush, this is to make the colour of the blusher last longer throughout the day but it can sometimes feel too much, especially on a sunny day! I'm happy to have discovered Murad via Glossybox! Especially as it's not widely available, I would never have known to try it.

I think it's really nice that GlossyBox does these special edition boxes in a different colour to their usual pale pink (The December box was red). It is a nice touch, and the change makes people more intrigued about the contents of them. I even prefer the hot pink box to the usual mute pink. A great marketing idea!