August 2016 Glossybox - The End of an Era

After being a member of Glossybox for over 4 years I am sad to say it has come to an end. After receiving box after box that I wasn’t overly impressed with, I have finally decided to take the plunge and leave. To replace my love for a surprise subscription box I have decided to continue My Little Box subscription following on from Kim’s birthday gift to me. This will be my last Glossybox for the foreseeable future, keep reading my review to see what I received.

Rae Feather Cosmetic Bag – RRP £20

This month’s pastel box was designed by Rae Feather and this month’s box contained a cosmetic pouch in the same design. It feels good quality and is a reasonable size for small items, ideal for your handbag. The outer material feels like linen and the inside contains a wipe clean water resistant material which is good. I will probably use this but wouldn't have paid £20 for it.

Cowshed - Wild Cow Invigorating Body Lotion – Full Size £20 

The first thing I have to say about this product is that I am not a fan of the bottle and it’s quite hard to get the lotion out of the bottle. The lotion is made in England using natural ingredients and has an oriental fragrance which smells really fresh and invigorating. This contains essential oils, lemongrass, ginger and rosemary. The sample size was  a bit small and I only had enough for one use over my body. My skin did feel moisturised after using the product, I just wish Glossybox provided us with more.

Mudmasky - Facial Detox Purifying Recovery Mask – Full Size £53 

This mask aims to hydrate, smooth, refine pores, brighten and help with anti-aging. You simply put the mask on your face and the amount of time you leave it on varies depending on your skin type. The mask dries and hardens slightly so you know it’s ready to rinse off. When I rinsed this off my skin felt smooth and looked refreshed. I really liked the smell, it reminded me of a spa. This mask is one of the first PH balanced facial treatments and contains all natural ingredients.

MUA - Eyeshadow Palette – Full Size £4

This month Glossybox gave us a choice of 4 MUA palettes and unfortunately they seem to have got it wrong for everyone, including me. I received the Hall of Fame palette which was not the one I chose. The palette contains nice colours and the shades are pigmented with a good colour pay off but I can’t help feeling annoyed that this wasn’t the one I asked for. Glossybox still haven't rectified this problem.

Spa To You - Deep Pore Facial Cleansing Brush – Full Size £6.99 

I have never used a cleansing brush before so I was very intrigued to try this out. The soft bristles on the brush help to buff away dead skin cells for a deep but gentle cleanse. Simply wet the brush and use with your usual cleanser. I really enjoyed using this, my skin felt lovely afterwards and when I applied my makeup it went on beautifully just after one use. The brush also has soft silicone cushions which help with the buffing. I was pleasantly surprised by this product, it wouldn’t be something I would usually pick up but if I continue to get the same results I will definitely repurchase this.

Overall, an average box. Next month’s box contains a Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara which I would have loved to have tried but I am sticking to my guns and leaving the subscription. Glossybox has entertained me for over 4 years, I look forward to my new monthly surprise.

Top 6 MAC Neutral Eyeshadows

My favourite eyeshadows are MAC ones and I often buy pan refills for my palette. I was recently stuck for blog ideas so thought I would share with you some of my favourite MAC Neutral shades and I hope to follow this blog post with my favourite grey and shimmer colours if this one goes down well. I couldn’t pick at top 5, so here are my top 6 neutral matte shades, perfect for simple and smoky eyes!

(L-R Brule, Omega, Wedge, Charcoal Brown, Brun, Corduroy)

Each eyeshadow for me has its purpose. A lot of them look very similar from the offset but they are all different in their own ways. As you can see I am a big fan of Brulé, this is the second refill I have purchased as I absolutely love using this as a neutral base every day. Although it is the lightest colour I don’t tend to use it as a highlight. Omega is the next eyeshadow I recommend and the colour is a soft light brown with a matte finish. I use this in my crease or under the eye. It is also a great eyebrow colour for people with fair hair. Wedge is again slightly darker than Omega and I also use this in my crease to create the illusion of a natural shadow. It’s a great natural brown colour and a great transitional shade.

Charcoal Brown and Brun are very similar shades but both different in their own right. I love using both of these colours on my brows but also as crease colours to really deepen the shadow. Charcoal Brown is a natural colour and stays put all day and looks great in the outer-V of the eye. Brun is a slightly deeper brown but is a little bit harder to work into the crease. It doesn’t seem to blend as nicely as Charcoal Brown but it does the job on my brows. Corduroy is the deepest brown shade that I own and is great blended out into the crease if you want a smoky eye but don’t want to go dramatic with a dark black colour. 

What are your favourite neutral eyeshadow colours?

February 2016 Glossybox

I always look forward to the February Glossybox because from past experience it’s usually a limited edition design and usually full of great goodies. In the past we have even received chocolate! This month was no exception, with a fun and flirty design I couldn’t wait to crack open my box and see what was inside. With 5 full sized items we were certainly in for a treat.

Browtician – Love Skull Tweezers – Full Size £7.99
I have never heard of this brand before but it is readily available in Superdrug. I was in need of some new tweezers as my mum stole mine so these couldn’t have arrived at a better time. I love the limited edition packaging. It makes them super easy to see in my makeup bag. The tip of these tweezers have been finished by hand and allow great precision when plucking those pesky hairs. I can see these being my new favourite.

Naobay – Protective Hair Mask Volume Conditioner – Full Size £10.64
I have received a few Naobay products before from Glossybox and it is a brand I like but I was disappointed the packaging didn’t follow on from previous products with the wood finish lid. Nevertheless I love a conditioning mask. I use heat on my hair often so it’s always nice to be able to give my hair a deep nourishing conditioning session. Upon trying this I loved how my hair felt. It was silky smooth and really easy to comb through at the end which was great. I would repurchase this product and use it every so often when I am in need of a pamper.

Nicka K New York – 24 Hr Waterproof Eyeliner – Full Size £3.99
I have previously received items from Nicka K in the past from Glossybox so this is a brand that is familiar to me (see my product directory for previous reviews). I love waterproof eyeliners as they don’t budge and they are great for the colder weather when the icy winds make your eyes water. I received this in the colour brown which I do not currently own and I enjoy wearing this when I want something less harsh than dark black. The great thing about this eyeliner is that it comes equipped with a built in sharpener.

MUA – Power Pout Glaze Low Voltage Gloss – Full Size £3.50
I will be honest I am not a huge fan of this product as I don’t like sticky glosses. I have seen that some people were able to choose the colour they wanted but I must have missed the email as I never got to choose. I received the colour Serenity which is a lovely pink colour with sheer colour payoff. I love the subtle hint of colour it provides but the formula is too sticky for me. For £5 off when you spend £20 or more, use code MUAGLOSSY2 online.

Wilkinson Sword – Intuition Razor – Full Size £6.99
Correct me if I am wrong but have we received this item in a Glossybox before? I’m not sure but I was pleased as this is the razor I currently use and it saves me buying some new heads for a little while. I recommend taking the head off after each use and popping it back in the plastic container because otherwise the soapy bit gets everywhere especially when I pop this in my gym bag. I am a huge fan of Wilkinson Sword and love this razor. It is great for more sensitive areas and provides a really close smooth shave without leaving nasty rashes or bumps. I will continue repurchasing this item.

Overall I really like this month’s box and will be making full use out of it. Do you get Glossybox? Link me your reviews in the comments.

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November 2015 Glossybox

I was pretty excited for this month’s box, especially as I had enough Glossydots to get a free one so I didn’t have to pay this month thanks to my friend Kim using my referral code. Always a bonus. This month’s box contained 3 full sized items and 2 travel sized items which I think is all you need to get ready for a night out on the town. Just what I needed in time for party season!

MUA – Eyeshadow Palette – Full Size £4
I received this MUA eyeshadow palette in Undressed which is a well-known dupe for one of the Urban Decay Naked Palettes. I already have this palette so I will probably donate this to my sister who I know will love it. The palette is packed with neutral shades in matte and shimmer. MUA palettes are really reliable and I find they give a great colour pay off and last all day. I have most of the MUA palettes and this one is definitely one of my favourites. If you’d like 20% off everything in store, head over to the MUA website and enter code MUAGLOSSY at the checkout (expires 31.12.15).

Royal Apothic – Body Lotion – Full Size £14.50
This Royal Apothic body lotion came in some beautiful vintage packaging and I can’t get enough of it. Massage this lotion into damp skin after showering and it goes on so smooth and sinks in really nicely. It has a really nice scent to it as well which lingers on the skin for hours afterwards. The smell is fresh and not overpowering. The handy travel sized tube we received is perfect for popping in your wash bag or taking away with you when you go away for the weekend.

Eylure – Natural Lashes – Full Size £5

I used to wear false lashes a lot when I went out and Eylure was always my go-to brand. Having not worn them for ages, I was delighted to see a natural looking pair in my Glossybox to ease my transition back into wearing them. These lashes apply really easily and I love the glue that comes with them as it keeps them on all night. I can’t wait to wear these to upcoming parties, they’re subtle enough that they aren’t noticeable but give a great volume and boost to my eyelashes. To received 25% off your next purchase at Eylure use code glossy25 at the checkout (expires 30.11.15)

Emite – Diamond Heart Primer – Full Size £25.90

Another travel sized item, this Emite primer aims to balance skin tone, boost radiance and give a smooth finish. I didn’t expect it to have a colour to it when I first tried it, but this went onto the skin leaving no obvious signs that you’ve put it there. This did leave my face feeling soft but did no better job than my go to primer so this is not something I would repurchase.

Revlon – Super Lustrous Lipstick – Full Size £7.99

This Revlon Lipstick  is the item I thought we were able to choose, however I don’t recall receiving any correspondence allowing me to pick a shade. I received the colour Black Cherry which I was very happy with because I don’t have any other colours like this. I really like how this goes on, however it tends to cling to any dry patches so make sure your lips are hydrated before applying this. I’m on the lookout for a matching lip-liner if anyone has any suggestions? Kim over at Romanov’s Views suggested a MAC one which is a great shout. Boots have 3 for 2 on all Revlon products in store and online until 25.11.15 if you would like to check out the other colours in the range.

Next month’s box has been guest edited by beauty blogger Really Ree to bring us a Rose Gold collectors box for the festive season. It’s going to be a good one, I can feel it already!

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