Sample Sunday

This week I thought I would bring back Sample Sunday as I have been making a conscious effort to use up some of the samples of products that I have and use up the sample sized tubs, tubes and bottles of other products that have come on various trips away with me.

This is my progress:

Givenchy Noir Couture Mascara which is from a Glossybox and I had two samples of it - I actually really like this mascara, though I didn't love it. The sample itself is just 1.5g and lasted for about a week, so not really enough to gage a formed opinion, but I did like the brush and you can see more detail about it HERE when the first sample appeared.

Soap & Glory Scrub Of Your Life  - One of my favourite products from Soap and Glory, I love the fact I can have travel sizes of this and take it with me when I go away. It is apparently the Ultimate soapy, super-smoothing body buffer.  I love the scent and how effective yet gentle this is on my skin.  It retails for around £3 for this travel size and it does last a long time.

Next up there are two Montagne Jeunesse Facemasks.  I am a huge lover of facemasks and love trying them out and these particular masks are just complete bargains.

The first is Chocolate Mud Pie which is an indulgent skin softening mask and it combines Cocoa and shea butter.  This mask smells good enough to eat, it is like someone pushing your face into a lovely chocolate cake and you leave it on for 15-20 minutes, it dries, you rinse it off using warm water and it leaves you with lovely soft to the touch skin, for 99p this is a total bargain and I got it from Asda.

The second is Manuka Honey Peel Off.  Now I love love love facemasks which you peel off, I know I have probably mentioned it before, but there is something so satisfying about waiting for a mask to dry on your skin and then getting to peel it off, yummy.  Anyway, this mask is described as being a famous natural cleanser and it contains Manuka Honey and Jasmin and as with the other mask, cleanse your face, apply, leave for 15-20 minutes and then peel it off.  Another fab mask for 99p

Next comes three Jenoris sachets which I got back in July from the London Blogger Meet and there are two hair masks and a shampoo within this collection.

The Keratin Shampoo, which is sodium chloride free, contains Omega 3,6 and for a healthy scalp and shiny hair.  It includes Keratin for long-term protection, moisturises the hair whilst restoring its natural gloss and vitality.  I actually quite liked this sample, it smells quite nice in that it has the clean smell and it didn't irritate my scalp and my hair was lovely and soft after using.

The Pistachio Hair Mask is described as being ideal for treating split ends, dry, coloured or lightened hair and as with the Keratin Shampoo it contains Omega 3,6 and 9.  With this mask you apply to your hair after washing and leave on for just 3-5 minutes before rinishing it off but if your hair is in a bit of a state, you can leave it for up to 12 minutes for a more intensive treatment.  I am not too sure this mask did anything for my hair in all honesty, it smells lovely and is easy to use but my hair didn't feel any different after using.

The Keratin Hair Mask is again sodium chloride free and is enriched with Omega 3,6 and 9 as well as Pistachio and borage oils as well as keratin to moisturise and give long term protection to your hair.  After using it claims to leave your hair with perfect softness, shine and glamour.  I preferred this hair mask to the pistachio one but again, I didn't really feel too many benefits of using the mask, it would make a much better conditioner in my opinion.

Apivita express beauty with Apricot - this is a gentle exfoliating gel with apricot and I got the sachet from the London Blogger Meet.  This was my first introduction to Aprivita and I loved this gel.  It smells divine, as though someone has just squeezed the life out of some apricots and put them into this sachet.  It is a gentle but effective exfoliator and it leaves your skin feeling super soft after using.  This is a brand I want to explore further.

Elemis Fresh Skin Skin Glow - Put simply, I am a big big fan of this product and I did a whole review of it which you can find HERE and it is a product I would buy again.

Dr Lipp Original Nipple Balm - This product has quite a few mentions on my blog and has its own review which you can read HERE.  Before I got it in a Glossybox I had heard so many people compare it to Elizabeth Arden's 8 hour cream which I dislike, I fully expected to dislike this product as well... WRONG... I love it and am sad it has run out, though I fully intend to purchase a full size version.  it has been an absolute lifesaver in this cold weather, I smother my lips in it before bed and it also makes a great base before applying lipstick.

So those are my empty samples for this month and I think I have done quite well in using them up and remembering to keep them for this post.  Have you ever tried any of these products, are you a fan of any of them?

My Favourite Products 2013 - Part 4

Having brought to you my favourite products for my lips, body and hair and then face, today I am bringing to you my favourite Make-up products of 2013, these are products that I have gone back to time and time again and absolutely love.

Make-Up

Make-up is one of those 'terms' and some of those 'products' that I love to use.  I am by no means an expert and nor I am overly confident in what I am doing which is why you will rarely see a FOTD post from me.  I tend to stick with what I know and like and experimenting isn't something I am good at, but here are my favourite products of 2013.

Seche Vite - Whilst I need to look after my nails a little bit more than I do to ensure they are not as weak and brittle as they are now, Seche Vite is by far one of the best products I have used on my nails.  I always use it as a top coat whenever I polish my nails and it dries so quickly and gives me a few extra days of no chipping with my nail polish.

Rough Dior 649 - I reviewed this lipstick HERE and it is to date my most favourite lipstick.  I was introduced to it at a Debenhams Beauty event that I was lucky to attend and have my make-up done by Dior and I was so impressed with the lip colour, I now own two for myself.

Porefessional - The first product I am to feature from Benefit and one of my favourites.  As a balm that minimises the pores I love that it does exactly that for me and I have gone through quite a few tubes of it to date and I am now using up my mini samples before deciding whether or not to re-purchase or try something else.

Fine One One - Another product from Benefit and one that I won from a Blogger Competition.  I wanted this product as soon as it came out, but I held off for ages reading review after review of it, some great and some not so great.  I love it and use it more as a highlighter on my cheek bones and it gives this really lovely shimmer and sheen once it is applied.

They-re Real - My current favourite mascara, the first time I used it, I knew it would be one of those products that would stay in my make-up bag.  I love how it makes my lashes look and appear longer, how it doesnt clump or flake once it is applied and it lasts a really long time once it is on my lashes.

Dream Weave & Co. Original Lash Extension Magnet Mascara - I was introduced to this product in October when I was kindly sent one to try out and review which you can see HERE.  I am so impressed with it that it is always in my bag.

Hoola - Again from Benefit, Hoola is my all time favourite Bronzer and when I was first given this I thought it would be far too dark for my very light skin-tone, however, I was mildly surprised that it actually looks really good on my skin and as long as I don't apply too much of it, it can look really natural.

Suede by Sleek - This product was my first introduction to the world that is Sleek make-up and it is currently my favourite product from Sleek.  I reviewed it back in October which you can see HERE and I pretty much wear it everyday because it is quite subtle and gives a lovely colour to my cheeks.

Hello Flawless - My all time favourite powder from Benefit and I wear it everyday, usually over a BB Cream as I am yet to find my Holy Grail foundation, they always seem too dark for my skintone, so I stick with a BB cream and this to give me a look I am comfortable with and it has an SPF15 which impresses me.

That Gal - Yep another Benefit product from me and I use That Gal quite a lot because I like it a Primer, it definitely does make my make-up last much longer and I dont get the feeling of clogged pores from using it, which is something I disliked from a similar product from another brand.

Collection Eyeshadow Pencils - I bought two of them on a whim a few months ago and Vintage Blush which is shown above is the shade I use more often than not.  As well as an eyeshadow, which is really easy to apply, I have also used it as a highlighter and it works really well.  I reviewed the two crayons  which you can read HERE

Max Factor Colour Elixir - I was introduced to these products when I took part in my very first beauty box swap and I instantly liked them.  My favourite colour of the two was Subtle Coral which is featured in the photograph above and reviewed HERE and I like the shade they give me when I wear them.

There you have my favourite make-up products.  

Do you think I am missing out on using anything or is there a product you think I should try?

May GlossyBox - What did I find?

So the postman has just been with my May Glossybox - super quick delivery yet again.  Whenever my Glossybox arrives I am always full of anticipation as to what I am going to find within my box.  Naturally if you havent got your box yet and don't want to know what is inside, click away now.

So opening the outer box inside I found the lovely dusty pink box that we have all come to love and like getting.  Now this month it is the 2nd Birthday for Glossybox, so I have my hopes up for some pretty fantastic and something a little unexpected maybe?  Well this is what I got:

I love the Neon Pink Ribbon and the wrapping paper inside this box, so we are off to a good start!

Now the contents:

Givency Noir Courute Mascara - it is in a sachet so this had me intrigued until I opened it to find a miniscule version - said to be a multi-tasker that creates instant volume, length and curl and using an active complex bunch of ingredients it is said to nourish your lashes too... Hmm.... this would cost £22.50 full size price.

Caudalie Divine Oil comes next and it is inside a 15ml glass bottle which costs £4.05 should you wish to buy it.  This Divine Oil is said to be the "Ultimate beauty Elixir for your body, face and hair" and after using it will turn me into a Caudalie Convert.  It can be used on the body, face, hair and nail or added to a hot bath and even used as a massage oil.

Premae Harmony Balm  - said to be a skin protector and primer leaving you with a silky, dewy finish.  It uses antiseptic lemongrass and aloe vera to soothe breakouts and reduce excess oil.  A full size tub of this at 30ml will cost you £26.50, the tub in the Glossybox is a 10ml tub

Beautiful Movements Cosmetics - Formerly known as BM apparently.  This is said to be a new product and a multi-tasking one at that.  It is a Prime and Create Mixing Medium which is an addition to Kimberley Wyatt (Formerly of the Pussycat Dolls) collection and it can be used as a primer to give that matte, shine free base for make-up or mix it with foundation for an air-brush effect or with blushers, bronzers to create a creme tint or even eye shadow pigments to create liquid eye-liner.  This is a 2.5g product within the box and to purchase it is £20 for 20g

Finally we have (yet another) Nails Inc mini - Portobello is mine, eye-catching Neon Shade named after one of London's most popular roads.

As this is a birthday box there is something extra - a matchbox styled box of mini nail-files which I love.  These can quite easily be shoved into your handbags and are so useful to have.  The packaging matches the wrapping paper from within the box and the nail files match the ribbon - cute!

So there you have it - the May Glossybox - what do you think?

I may have an addiction...

Soap and Glory is a phenomenon that I has hit us all in one way or another, I don't think I have come across anyone who hasn't used their products, loves their products and is like me, a little bit taken with them.

Whilst having a clear out of my wardrobe where I have some shelving inside for products, I was quite alarmed as to how much S&G stuff I had.  I do love their Christmas Gift Sets and am always straight in to buy one as soon as they are available because they are such good value for money and they last me pretty much all year round.

If you haven't heard of Soap and Glory (I mean really??) You can find out more about them HERE

Anyway, here I am showing my addiction:

So as you can see from the box above there is a whole lot of products in there, said box which is so full is missing two products which are:

The Breakfast Scrub which I have been using on my elbows, shins and knees where I have a few dry skin issues and of course the foot buffer which I love (though hate feet) to help get my feet in tip top shape for spring time FitFlop wearing.

Anyway... as for what is in said box...

As you can see there is a whole lot of Soap and Glory loving going on here... I was seriously surprised at how much I had here and that doesn't take into account the tube of Hand Food which is sat on my desk at work!

So we have in Picture one - Two 500ml Clean On Me™ Creamy Clarifying Shower Gel  and Smoothie Star™ Body Lotion 500ml  = £21

Picture Two - Hand Food™ Hand Cream 125ml x 2, 3 Heel Genius 25ml (well 2.5 tubes as one is half empty),  Pulp-Friction™ Foaming Fruity Body Scrub 250ml, and Face Soap & Clarity™ Foaming Face Wash 150ml - £51.50

Picture Three - Peaches And Clean™ Deep Cleansing Milk 200ml, Thick & Fast™ Mascara False Lash Effect Mascara Superjet black, Sexy Mother Pucker Lip Gloss, Off Your Face™ 3 in 1 Cleansing Cloths and Mist You Madly™ Body Spray 250ml and Soap and Glory Mits- £42

Picture 4 - Sugar Crush™ Body Scrub 300ml and 2 x The Righteous Butter™ Body Butter 300ml = £29

So there is quite a few products here... so I decided to add up how much all of this would cost me if I was to walk into Boots right now...

£143.50 

However, with the foot buffer and Breakfast scrub it takes the grand total

to £161.75 

This has seriously shocked me and tomorrow a friend of mine is bringing me in a new hand product called Endless Glove that I have been wanting to try, to be fair she bought it on a 3 for 2 and picked up two by mistake, so it is costing me nothing... but.... woah it is a lot of products and a lot of money!

EMERGENCY...

Like most girls, I do have my must have and must wear products that accompany me everywhere, the kind of items I never leave the house without such as Iphone, Purse, Kindle and of course make-up.  Some mornings I am in a rush and simply don't have time to sort my face out and put on make-up, if that happens, I have a make-up bag which holds these items and I grab it, shove it in my bag and I am away.

As you can see, my beautiful boy, Dude, is very kindly modelling my Gorjuss make-up bag, a present from a friend a few years ago.  I love this little bag because I can fit so much into it and it is cute.

So inside the bag you will find:

1. BeneFit - Hello Flawless foundation - I have 2 of these.  One I keep in this bag and one I keep at home.  I love the colour, how easy it is to use and I like the packaging.  £24.50

2. BeneFit Hoola - my must have bronzer.  I love this stuff and again have 2 of them as above. £23.50

3. Lip Balm - I am a lip balm addict, a post is coming on my lip balm addiction, but I am never without lip balm. Palmers Cocoa Butter Dark Chocolate Cherry is one of my current favourites, it smells good enough to eat and at £1.99 it is a bargain.

4. MUA under-eye Concealer - a recent purchase as my Touche Eclat has run out and whilst it isn't as good, it 'makes do' and it was only £2 so I can't complain.

5. Thick & Fast Soap and Glory Mascara - to be honest it is a good mascara, I like the brush and it doesn't clump and I am a huge Soap and Glory fan too.  £10

6. Rimmel Day 2 Night Glameyes Mascara - just incase I need it and I like the thin brush for the corner of my eyes. £7.99

7. M&S Autograph Blush - I love this perfume, it is perfect for work, fits in my bag and smells really lovely - the description reads "This refreshing fragrance has a fresh floral note with bergamot and cassis giving sparkle to a pretty violet accord. Water fruits and soft raspberry mingle with dewy rose in the heart which reaches into a background of warm amber, creamy vanilla and silky musks. A captivating fragrance to refresh and uplift." £8.50

8. A Nail File - I am never without a nail file. Boots £2.05

So that is my emergency bag of make-up that I grab in a morning and shove in my handbag and I thought it would be fun to see how much it is worth :drum roll: £80.53 and if you include the cost of the bag which is aorund £10, that takes the total to £90.53.  That total has shocked me a bit because for those few items, it is a lot of money to use as my grab bag! I dread to think what my 'Actual Make-up bag' that I use when getting ready and am not in a rush is worth!

Does anyone else have an emergency bag like this?

Follow my blog with Bloglovin