You Beauty Discovery Box - December 2015

The December You Beauty Discovery Box is just brilliant.  I had a really hard choice trying to decide what I wanted to try more from the list we are given to choose from, but managed to narrow it down to my allotted two items.  December is all about Winter Wonder Shortlist products and they have been carefully chosen to help restore, rejuvenate and ready yourself for the party season.

As always within the box is a selection of treats and this month we have a sachet of Studio 10 Miracle Effect Priming Serum. Described as being a revolutionary anti-ageing skincare reduces wrinkles instantly and has clinically proven and tested results in just 15 minutes. The supercharged breakthrough formula dramatically improves the signs of ageing - wrinkles, age spots, dark circles, puffiness, dehydration - delivering powerful, real-time visible results that completely redefine the complexion.

The second item is a perfume sample of Narciso Rodriguez, Narciso.  It smells absolutely beautiful and I liked it from the first spritz. it uses top notes of white peony meld with bulgarian rose to compose a heady white floral bouquet that transforms the signature musc into a crystalline yet sensual heart. Enhanced by voluptuous woody accords - black and white cedars and a most elegant vetiver - the eau de toilette is hypnotizing.

When it came to choosing my two items, I had the choice of eight products covering a wide variety of areas such as skincare, makeup, relaxation or bodycare.  I decided to choose two items I have heard of, have seen and have been hankering after for a long, long time.

Pixi Glow Tonic.  I have read so many reviews about this that I cannot wait to try it.  It has become one of the most sought after and internationally revered cult skin treats of the last 2 years and there are seldom few who dislike it.  So what is it? Essentially it is an alcohol-free skin toner is packed with plant extracts & 5% Glycolic acid, and has a triple function:

• It gently exfoliates the skin, which brightens the complexion and smoothes the texture of the skin
• It soothes and hydrates the skin, leaving it with a beautiful healthy glow
• It balances the skin for a flawless finish

In my YBD box this is sample sized, very cute 15ml bottle which is more than enough for a few days to see if there is any reaction.

The second item in my box is from Kiko.  Kiko have become one of my favourite brands to use and the item in question is a long lasting eye shadow stick which is water-resistant with a creamy formula for extremely long lasting, pure, vibrant colour that won’t budge.  These eyeshadow sticks are available in 32 intense shades the creamy formula is easily blendable to help create a smokey eye effect, once set the colour remains radiant.  I have shade 06 and it is a beautiful Golden Brown shade which I absolutely love and have used a lot since it came into my possession.

So there you have my box of treats for this month and all for the bargain price of £6.95 and I think this is an amazing box and it is one I am really happy with. Had I been unable to have these two items as my main choices, I would have been more than happy with anything else that was given.  What do you think?

I Love... Christmas Bath Collection

As a huge fan of the I Love range, I was really excited to try out the Christmas collection which is just bursting with stunning fragrances and colours.  What I love about the range is the element of fun that comes with using it after all, who wouldn't want to bathe in chocolate orange scented bath foam?

I Love... Big Barrel of Love Cherry and Raspberry is just huge! Packaged inside this sweet baby pink coloured tin, inside there are four products which smell good enough to eat. Cherry and Almond Sparkle which is a Bubble Bath & Shower Creme plus a tub of Body Butter makes you smell good enough to eat and better than your mum's Christmas Cake.  There is also a Raspberry and Blackberry body Spritizer and hand cream which both smell as though someone has just freshly picked both fruits, juiced them and then bottled them and of course a puff to help you enjoy your bath experience even more.

This tin for me is such good value for money, it has an RRP £20 in Superdrug but is currently on offer for just £10!

I love... Lots of Bubbles Festive Edition which contains everything you need to enjoy your bath and shower with a different scent for almost everyday. This set features six 100ml bottles of fruity Sugared Cranberries, indulgent Chocolates & Oranges, delightful Mixed Berries, warming Spiced Cinnamon, sweet Iced Cookie and Cherry Almond Sparkle making each and everyone of them perfect for the Christmas Season, perfect for making you smell good enough to eat and brightly packaged and designed to look amazing in anyone's bathroom.

This set would usually retail at just £6 which is a bargain, but again, Superdrug has an amazing offer on right now where you can get this set for just £4.

The final set that I have is perfect for travelling or for that long weekend away.  So if you are lucky enough to be spending Christmas at a hotel, then this is the perfect item for your bag.  The I love... Little Bag of Love set is nicely and easily packaged inside this handy travel package and contains 100ml Cherry & Almond Bubble Bath and Shower Creme, 100ml Raspberry & Blackberry Spritzer and a White Shower Puff.

This set for me also makes a really lovely stocking filler and makes a great little secret Santa too.  Usually priced at £5.50 it is currently on offer for just £4 right here.

I Love products are not tested on animals and smell exactly as their names suggest, which for me makes me lots of fun and great gifts to buy for yourself and she give to others.

Do you have a favourite I Love scent?

House of Glamdolls Spirit Doll Look

I have been waiting to see the Freedom Makeup The House of GlamDolls palettes ever since I saw a sneaky peek of the collaboration on Instagram, so when one dropped through my letterbox I was even more excited. If you haven't seen them, then I have one to share with you, but the palettes are a partnership between Makeup Revolution and David Horne (was at Illamasqua) and if you simply Google him there are so many amazing looks he has done.

Spirit Doll Freedom palette is a beautiful palette which was said to be inspired by earthy natural and geological shades, to reveal your inner beauty and as a palette it is just stunning, not only does it have everything you need - ten eyeshadow Shades, three powder highlighters, two blushers, three lipglosses and four eyebrow powders but there is also a really handy mirror.

The Palette as you can see has some really amazing shades such as Euphoria, Zen, Crystal and Haze and I think there is definitely something for everything, whether you like your neutrals or the out there bright shades.  

At the top of the palette are the four eyebrow shades in Taupe, Brunette, Bark and Ebony and for my, Taupe is almost the perfect shade and ebony works well as an eyeliner if you use a brush!  All of the shades are easy to apply and are buildable depending on how prefer to have your brows shaded.

From L-R Bark, Ebony, Taupe and Brunette

The three lipglosses are surprisingly non-tacky which pleases me immensely and whilst they are not overly pigmented, they do work really well on their own or over a lipstick. I use Delight, which is the lightest shade as a base for my lipstick as it works well as a lip primer for me. Love is the kind of red shade I am comfortable wearing because it isn't a vibrant red and Love as a shade is an inbetween shade of the other two.

From L-R Passion, Love and Delight.

The two blushers are probably the two shades I use the least off the palette but they are just fantastic shades. Cherish is quite pink and can be built up to be really pink and Cherish is almost orange and as you can see, they are fairly pigmented.

The three powder highlighters I absolutely love - Starlight, Light and Haze are all different coloured highlighters and I like each one of them. The stand out shade is Haze which takes on a shimmery rose gold shade which is really pigmented but for me, I adore starlight and it has been my most used with Light being used below my brow arch.

L-R Starlight, Haze and Light

The final part of this palette comes from the ten eyeshadows and again there is something for everyone as I have said and some of the shades really stand out and are lovely shades and others are much more within my comfort zone of being neutral shades.  Again they apply absolutely effortlessly, they blend really well and there is very little fall out.

L-R Crystal, Utopia, Euphora, Hope, Peace and Zen

There are some stunning eye shadow shades on this palette, some I still find quite scary like Crystal and Euphoria, but just look how amazing they are. My most used currently are Peace and Serenity, which make for a great nude eye.

For the bargain price of £8, this palette is simply amazing and it is one I have enjoyed using and getting to know. There are another three palettes in this series which are - House of GlamDolls Exotica Doll, The House of GlamDolls Vintage Doll and The House of GlamDolls Fairy Doll ensuring there is something for everyone.

Have you tried any of the House of GlamDolls palettes yet?

Orla Kiely for the Home

I absolutely love Orla Kiely prints, there is something eye-catching and mesmerizing about them which makes them stand out and look absolutely amazing and most definitely Pinterest worthy. 

Orla Kiely is an Irish fashion designer who is based in London and she is renowned for her retro-inspired patterns which appear on a variety of items from clothing and home ware to beauty, Fragrance, books and candles.

I have three items within my collection which look just amazing and would make the perfect gift.

Basil and Mint Scented Candle - This candle is presented in a stunning glass jar which is embellished with one of Orla Kiely's signature designs.  The scent features clean, aromatic notes of fresh basil and green mint which are blended together with pure essential oils of caraway, may chang and lemon peel to create a scent that is both really refreshing and incredibly calming.  It is perfect for lighting when you come home from work and just need a few minutes to sit and relax.

Each one of Orly Kiely's candles are made from 100% Vegetal wax and they feature a pure cotton wick.  They also come with an individual heat mat to help protect surfaces.

Lavender Diffuser - Lavender is one of my favourite scents when it comes to relaxing and this diffuser is again beautifully presented in a glass bottle which is embellished with a signature Orly Kiely design, it also has a set of reed sticks. 

Using the pure essential oils of aromatic French lavender; zesty lemon; earthy geranium; and mint the fragrance is absolutely amazing to help you relax and unwind.

Orla Kiely Geranium Bath & Body Hand Wash Set - Presented in a beautiful tin you will find a Geranium scented Hand wash and Hand lotion plus a stylish ceramic dish which doubles up as a great little bathroom accessory which you can either stand both bottles in or you can use it for decorative purposes.

• Geranium Hand Wash - This is a gentle foaming hand wash which is enriched with violet leaf extract, known for its antibacterial properties, and nourishing pro-vitamin B5 to leave your hands feeling thoroughly cleansed. There is also a blend of 10 essential oils, including geranium, eucalyptus, lavender and clary sage, to help relax and refresh your mind as it cleanses.
• Hand Lotion - Helps to hydrate and nourish your hands and is enriched with passion flower oil and vitamin E to help moisturise your skin, the lotion also contains a blend of 10 essential oils, including geranium, eucalyptus, lavender and clary sage, to help relax and refresh your mind and body, and leave your hands feeling soft and smooth.

Each bottle within this set is 250ml which means they are going to last you quite some time.

These items would make a great gift for any fan of Orly Kiely prints and they look just amazing added to any home with their bright vibrant patterns and prints.

Are you a fan of Orly Kiely? Do you own anything with her prints on?