GLOSSYBOX May review

I had my lovely monthly treat turn up at work this week. It’s GlossyBox’s 2 Year anniversary and I think they decided to treat us all with full-sized goodies which I’m very impressed about! They are also running competitions all month on their facebook page to win a different product each day! They’re spoiling us!

4 full-sized products, a sample pot and a free gift of GlossyBox matchbook of nail files… a pretty good haul!

COLLECTION- Fast stroke eyeliner

COLLECTION FAST STROKE EYELINER IS A FAVOURITE WITH BEAUTY FOLLOWERS EVERYWHERE. ITS SPECIALLY DESIGNED NIB IS FIRM ENOUGH TO CREATE BOTH FINE AND BOLDER LINES BUT NOT SO FIRM THAT IT DRAGS DELICATE SKIN. WITH JUST-THE-RIGHT-CONSISTENCY FORMULA IT MAKES PRECISION LINING SO EASY.

Always enjoy a good eyeliner and this is definitely smooth and it drying quickly so no smudging which is always a plus!

JELLY PONG PONG – Fairy Lashes Mascara

This is not for the faint-hearted. Our first ever mascara is formulated to make eye lashes flutter & flap. Water-resistant, Fairy Lashes makes eyelashes thicker & curvier while allowing them to be spectacularly soft & light. A truly fabulous effect for the woman who wants to emphasize one deep, intense, seductive look.

A really good size and instantly made my eyelashes look thicker. Will make a fab addition to my make-up bag!

PAUL MITCHELL – Shine Spray TM

Pamper hair from the inside out with Awapuhi Wild Ginger™, with proven ingredients to restore weak, damaged hair.

Add brilliance to any style with the silicone and paraben-free Awapuhi Wild Ginger™ Shine Spray™. This clean, light mist adds luminous shine and helps protect hair from daily wear and tear making it ideal for heat styling. Natural Awapuhi extract balances moisture for a healthy-looking finish.

Smells a little like a glass of ginger beer but didn’t make my hair go heavy or greasy but there was a nice shine… think this will take a bit of experimenting!

BEAUTIFUL MOMENTS - PRIME & CREATE MIXING MEDIUM

A true hero product which compliments our range of loose minerals. When combined with mineral powders and pigments, this amazingly versatile product will allow you to create dozens of different make up finishes.
Use under your foundation as a matt finish primer or mix with loose or compact powders to create many different products.
Mix with mineral foundation powder for a long lasting airbrush finish or with mineral concealer for heavy duty coverage. You can also mix Prime & Create with eyeshadow pigments to create an intense finish or as a liquid liner. Other uses include mixing with Beautiful Movements Marble Sparkle eyeshadow to create a cream highlighter or Summer Warmth bronzer to create a bronzing cream. The possibilities are endless!

This was the most disappointing product in the GlossyBox this month. The ‘mixing media’ itself if fab but the container feels and looks cheap and nothing like their website image. Very unappealing.

HEADLINE COLOURS – Nail Polish “Poolside Party”

Designers are bringing a hint of the desert island to those who have chosen a staycation this Summer. Ripples of Aqua coloured fabric wafted down the runway at Gucci and turquoise blue eyes flashed with Swarovski crystals at Dior. There has never been a more feel-good colour at Fashion Week; against the grey skies of London models skipped down the catwalk with sunny smiles on their faces. Will this colour be the hit of the season? Just ask Chanel…]

LOVE this shade! Been really loving the SS13 nail varnish colours that have been hitting the shops and this is a great shade! Will be wearing this loads I feel!

Thank you GlossyBox team! Fab box this month!

Tatty Devine Lucky Dip Box of Awesomeness

All of us over at the RHCP Towers are in love with Tatty Devine Jewellery so when we heard TD where selling Lucky Dip boxes last week we became slightly obsessed… especially as TD kept teasing us with these  facebook photos…

I decided to treat myself to a large box and was pleasantly surprised…

I would have loved a big statement necklace but I still think I did pretty well!

My favourite is the Ghost Necklace! It’s currently on sale down from £27 to £13.50

Get your ghoul on. Something about this ghost’s floaty shape and monochrome colours makes it spookily wearable as a necklace. It’ll soon be haunting your every outfit. It’s made from white perspex with inky black eyes finished by hand. Dare we say it, this is a dead good necklace.

I’ve only been able to find black versions of the earrings online but I’m loving the hot pink! Very simple and clashes amazingly with my hair! I’ve found them for £18 but don’t know what season they are from.

It’s official: bow ties are cool. These perspex bow earrings are laser cut and etched with simple illustrated details to look just like the real thing.

Originally I wasn’t too keen on this next necklace but its really grown on me. The Enamel Gingerbread Heart Necklace is still on sale on the TD website for £21

Red Christmas gingerbread necklace says Ich Liebe Dich (it means ‘I love you’ in German). This heart necklace is inspired by continental Christmas markets, and makes a cute Christmas gift or love token. Shiny enamel necklace comes on a golden chain. Make it the icing on the cake of your winter outfits.

My one “statement” piece was this large green Parakeet Brooch. It’s from their 2012 Parakeet collection and was on sale for £36 but can’t see any available online so feel very special. As most people know birds are not my favourite things but I feel I could quite easily grow to love this bad boy – It is in my favourite colour after all!

This beautiful bird is lasercut from glossy emerald green mirrored perspex. The tail feathers hang in a loose sweep and there’s the tiniest purple beak swinging free at the top. You can almost hear the “caw, caw”. Use this brooch to add a glamorous touch

So two necklaces, one set of earrings and a huge statement brooch with a collective worth of £88.50 (£102 if you don’t factor in the sale) all for £35 … can you say BARGAIN!?

Now I wonder if I can get away with wearing all of them at once?

Our NYE Hogmanay fun!

The main reason we went up to Scotland for NYE was for their legendary Hogmanay Party! We wanted to do something out of London and have been talking of jumping on a train somewhere and this just called to us!

We rocked up to Edinburgh just in time to see the beautiful Torchlight Procession

The opening event of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay 2012/13 celebrations is the spectacular Torchlight Procession.

The total sell-out  2011 event welcomed over 25,000 people to this world renowned family event. Thousands of torch carriers illuminate the city from the new start position of Chambers Street to the Son et Lumière and fireworks finale on Calton Hill, led by Shetland’s Up Helly Aa’ Vikings and the massed pipes and drums.

Then came the main event… The Street Party!!!

A party with 80,000 friends beneath the backdrop of Edinburgh Castle and dance your way into 2013 with incredible live music and entertainment, DJ’s, giant screens, outdoor bars and the world famous Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Midnight Fireworks.

We decided to stay at the local talent stage as we weren’t too bothered about the headlining acts! Was a good plan as the 3 bands we saw where fantastic!

I love fireworks and Hogmanay didn’t disappoint! At midnight they set off their firework spectacle (thankfully the weather held off!) Unfortunately I managed to lose my phone so all my photos from the trip got lost but as there was 80,000 odd people there are still photos to admire!

(all photos of the fireworks taken from the Hogmanay facebook page)

Was the perfect end to a fantastic NYE! Amazing location, music, friendliest people and fantastic food! What more could you ask for! Will be back for sure!

Our NYE trip to Edinburgh

The Boy and I decided to have a bit of an adventure for NYE last year and hop of the train to Edinburgh! Neither of us had been before and as we are so close the Kings Cross it was a doddle to get up there… a couple of DVDs and the Walking Dead game on the ipad and we where there!

We had lucked out with an amazing new hotel based in Haymarket so the location couldn’t have been better. We did our usual thing of exploring and finding some amazing bars and restaurants…

The Red Squirrel Bar was our first stop of the trip. It had some amazing guest ales and some very yummy haggis burgers which made The Boy very happy!

We also had an amazing meal at Maison Bleue down a really cute little street. A great mix of french and Scottish food… nom nom nom

On the same street we found a fab art gallery called The Red Door Gallery buried between loads of amazing tweed shops! Loads of local artist and fantastic prints… so tempting to buy the whole shop!!

We also did the touristy thing and explored the castle … It was SO windy and wet but The Boy still managed to take lots of beautiful photos!

But of course the main reason we came to Edinburgh was for the amazing Hogmanay Street Party…

Time got away from me!

What can I say… Life, death, work, play… all things that have distracted me from blogging! Hopefully things have calmed down now!

Though if another Limp Bizkit cover band rocks up… I may go AWOL again!

Who knew that a limp bizkit cover band and a stolen Fred durst cap could cause such hilarity!!

 

 

GLOSSYBOX December & January review

The past two months have gone by in a blur of work and being über social but is always nice to have a little Glossy break at work and have a rummage through all the goodies I’ve been sent!

December’s box was amazing!

In a sliver box with special starry tissue paper it felt like an early xmas present! I got…

Milkshake – Conditioning Whipped Cream

Using the benefits of nature, milk_shake introduce Conditioning Whipped Cream.

With a gorgeous fragrance of sweet milk, this leave in conditioning foam contains milk, wheat germ and casein proteins to strengthen the hair whilst detangling agents add smoothness, comb-ability and shine.

I havent been brave enough to use this yet as I’m not 100% sure that I want my hair to smell so much like milk shake!? But it is a big sample 100ml so it looks quite impressive!

Rituals – Magic Touch

An ultra rich, whipped body cream based on nourishing rice milk and the flowery fragrance of cherry blossom. The whipped cream technology guarantees a smooth and easy application, while its rich and velvety formula nourishes and helps strengthen your skin.

LOVE the smell of this moisturizer! Its been living in my handbag and been really useful in this cold weather for my hands!

Anatomicals What A Complete & Utter Glosser – I Never Fake Strawberry Milkshake

A fabulously fruity strawberry lip gloss that gives long lasting shimmer and shine. The fruity title and language inherent in anatomicals products adds to the enjoyment of this product.

Not normally a fan of lip gloss but it looks and smells really nice!

Seche – Nail Lacquer

Seche, creator of the award-winning Seche Vite Top Coat introduces its first colour line: Seche Nail Lacquer.  Available in 33 stunning, fashion-forward shades, Seche Nail Lacquer delivers on both style and substance.

The high-intensity colour makes application onto the nail even easier with one stroke leaving a strong pigmented and long lasting colour. Add Seche’s Dry Fast Top Coat for a rapid-dry protective layer that will give nails a gorgeous, salon-finish.

I got this in ‘Chocolat’ which wouldn’t be something I would normally pick up let alone wear but it’s really nice and is a huge size bottle!

Sleek -  iDivine

i-Divine : Sleek MakeUP’s legendary i-Divines are 12 shades shades of high-quality, super-pigmented eyeshadow, suited to every skin tone.

Oh So Special i-Divine

The most feminine palette around creates super-sultry looks with shades from every day beiges and peachy hues, to matte browns and shimmering greys.

This was the best thing in the box as it was a full size palate with 12 different shades a lot of them are natural sparkly shades which I have been using everyday! Love it!

I also got a free gift of a glossy brand blusher which is a really cute shade!

January’s box was themed on detox…

In comparison to December’s it’s not as pretty but once I looked to see what was inside in the info leaflet I was pleasantly surprised…

Elemis -  Skin Glow Exfoliating Face

With a deep pore cleansing action, this exfoliating facial wash combines cherry powder and jojoba beads to gently polish away dead skin cells and help refine skin texture.

Enriched with mandarin and aniseed your skin will appear brighter and more radiant and left feeling soft and smooth.

 A nice smelling exfoliator which wasnt too rough on my skin! good size sample too!

Monu - Aromatic Mask

 

This warming facial mask helps to increase vitamin and mineral absorbtion, on application this mask will help to renew and invigorate the skin.

The content of Beeswax and Coconut oil to soften, nourish and hydrate the skin. This skin is left clear, boosted and radiant looking.

This is a lovely mask and left my skin looking much brighter and happier!

Duck Island Body Lotion

Paradise in miniature, Duck Island hotel toiletries offer an enchanting retreat from everyday life. The inspiration behind Duck Island comes from the island itself, which was described as one of the most enchanting retreats imaginable. Pelicans have lived on Duck Island since 1664 when King Charles II received a gift of pelicans from the Russian Ambassador; a tradition which still continues to this day.

Stimulating the senses whilst capturing the exotic aromas of the East, our Body Lotion will transport you to the opulence of the Royal Courts of Europe, with the time-honoured and fragrant combination of Mandarin & Bergamot. For centuries, Eastern cultures have long recognised the benefits of infusing nature’s extracts and the rich and exotic, zesty combination of Mandarin & Bergamot was no exception as a new-found fragrance to help both relax and stimulate the senses.

 SUCH a cute little bottle!! Only 30ml but is adorable and smells fantastic!

Premae – Balance Rescue Face Tonique

A brilliance toner which mattifies and rejuvenates congested skin. The toner cuts through trapped dirt, excess oil and closes pronounced pores.

This was a bit of a disappointment for me. My sample looked really cheap and the bottle is completely different to the photo above. It feels nice and smells okay just a shame about the bottle!

Jason – Lip Balm

Prevent Parched lips with this rich, natural combination of moisture-trapping Beeswax, Vitamin E, and Green Tea Extract.

Organic Aloe Vera Gel helps heal, soothe and protect chapped lips while Shea Butter and Sweet Almond Oil moisturize. Leaves lips tingly and soft with peppermint Oil.

This is just what I need with all this freezing weather! My lips usually are so sore and painful in the freezing weather but this has saved them! it smells really strong but not in a bad way!

The free gift this month was a Glossy Dreams eye-mask. a bit random but always nice to have one lying around!

Looking forward to see what February has in store!

Down the rabbit hole…

Another day another Halloween party to attend!

This time it was N*A*S*I*N’s 9th Halloween Monster Mash at the Borderline and we decided to go as Alice in Wonderland characters!

I decided to be the Mad Hatter but as there are so many different visions I thought it would be fun to go more steam-punk and tweed up! Thankfully good old Primark came up trumps again with tweedy jackets and shorts galore! Add my steam-punk corset and another fantastic hat The Boy found in Camden and my outfit was complete!

I customised the top hat with an old scarf, tartan flower broach, a In This Style card and a sleepy door mouse and I used nail varnish on the tea-pot.

I wanted my make-up to be slightly out there… this was my reference image

The end result looked like this…

(Luckily we had The Boy on hand as our Halloween photographer)

We had a Malice in Wonderland…

A Cheshire Cat…

And the Queen of Hearts…

Clearly we enjoyed out outfits…

(there was also a very reluctance white rabbit… note the ears lols)

We owned Halloween this year!!!

GLOSSYBOX November review

Hurray it’s Glossybox day!!!

I’ve been getting Glossyboxes delivered to work now for almost 6 months and where I thought I would go off them they have actually been pretty fab and I’ve ended up using every sample I’ve been sent!

All you need to do is fill in a quick survey so determined what type of skin / hair / colourings you have and if you wear a lot of make up/ keep it natural or like mixing it up etc so they can personalise your samples a bit better and your good to go. The best bit is that if you fall in love with any products you can generally buy the original product at a discount through its website!

The November box hasn’t failed to live up to the past few months…

I received…

Ayuuri – Indian rose face cream

A beautifully fragrant face cream with Indian Rose, Jasmine and Aloe Vera, it keeps the skin moist and protects from ageing elements. Rose is a wonderful stress-reliever. Used as the main ingredient in our soothing cream, it calms and moisturises the face. Rich in Vitamin C and antioxidants, it protects the skin from pollution. Coupled with Jasmine, it has an irresistible fragrance, and works with Aloe Vera to regenerate the skin

This smells really lovely and isn’t too heavy once its been applied. Normally I really don’t like rose scented things but the jasmine really balances it out. I’m slightly amazed that this is a huge 200ml tube but loving it!

Burberry- Body Eau De Parfum

Burberry Body Eau de Parfum is an effortlessly sensual, fragrance for women, woven with an eclectic combination of refined ingredients. The scent opens with top notes of fresh green absinthe, illuminating peach and delicate freesia; at its heart are floral notes of natural rose absolute and iris, gently blended with warm sandalwood. Its base is made up of woody cashmeran, creamy vanilla, amber and musk notes.

A really handy handbag sized sample of Burberry’s latest fragrance. I normally wear Diesel – Fuel For Life but this is quite nice if a little girly for me. Perfect for when I’m running from work to drinks!

Alison Claire – Mango Body Butter

The Alison Clare mango body butter is made with organic mango and cocoa butters; this contains the anti-aging influence of retinol, antioxidant action from green tea, mango and vitamin E, and anti-microbial protection. Then there’s the rejuvenating action of white willow and citric acid, and calming aloe vera and comfrey. All of these fine ingredients have been selected to smooth and improve your skin.

I quite like this body butter… the initial smell is amazing! It does feel slightly heavy on the skin so not an everyday moisturiser but as it smells so fab I’m very excited about using this one! A great size too at 50ml I can see this lasting for a while.

Nails INC – Porchester Square

The perfect nude nail polish. Chic, fashion forward and ultra glossy this flawless nude is flattering on all skin tones and works with any outfit and for any occasion.

A dinky little colour sample of Nails INC nude polish. Not 100% sure on the colour… I don’t think I would have picked it up on my own but that’s the whole point of these boxes I suppose! Will wait and see what it looks like but could be a nice one for the office?

And the one I was most excited about…. Dermalogica- Daily Microfoliant

Daily Microfoliant® had built a cult-like following over the past 10years – launched as the first daily-use exfoliating product.This gentle micro-exfoliating power utilized Rice bran and botanical brightening agents to smooth skin texture and balance pigmentation for a more even complexion.

My skin never behaves and I have been wanting to try the Dermalogica range for ages so very excited to try this one out and it feels fantastic. It’s a bit weird to get powder that turns to a paste but feels fab and my skin is feeling great! Watch the youtube vid below to see it in action…

Well think I got a pretty good selection and I’m really looking forward to using all of these this month! Any of you guys get a Glossybox? Did you get anything different?

K-Town Dirty Burger

Soho House’s not so secret burger shack came to Kentish Town a few months ago… how could we not go!?

But first we had to find the bloody place…

Lurking round the back of Pizza East in a car park overlooking LA Fitness is a corrugated shack which homes Dirty Burger and it’s very simple but yummy menu!

It did feel like a movie set for a zombie apocalypse film… which maybe why we loved it so much!?

It’s very small and you’re not able to book so prepare yourself for a wait if it’s busy but it’s worth it…

Anywhere you get a pint of Camden Town and a banana milkshake make us all very happy campers

A Very mOBSCENE Halloween

I’m sure you would have guessed that Halloween is my favourite time of the year what with my LOVE of fancy dress.

So far this year I’ve been Mystique, a Firefly inspired space cowboy,a Hippy & The Pink Panther

It was safe to say even I was getting slightly fancy-dressed fatigued!

Even so Halloween seemed to creep up on me and I had a couple of days to cobble a costume together before the big VOODOO ROCK night in Angel.

I managed to find the perfect jacket in Primani and The Boy found me the perfect hat in Camden so I could create a mOBSCENE outfit…

So all I needed was face-paint and BUCKETS of fake blood to do my make-up

Think it worked out quite well?

Of course everyone else’s costumes looked amazing too

Braaaains….!