Glossybox August 2017

So August has arrived and with it, both myself and Glossybox are hoping to see that yellow ball in the sky! Speaking of Glossybox, the August Box, themed “girls just wanna have sun” has arrived and in quite some style. In a pastel blue box featuring gold writing on the lid, we have a box that has some Summer perfect products hidden inside.

The first item in the box is a full size product and it is the Model Launcher Safari Sun Bronzer worth £16.50. I’ve never heard of Model Launcher before but the description reads as follows: "Soft, mineral-enriched bronzer offers complimentary shades to highlight all skin tones and provides a natural healthy glow. 

Conditions and protects skin with Vitamins A, C and E. Hypoallergenic, mineral oil-free, talc-free, dye-free and paraben-free." I am drawn to the Safari style print of this bronzer and I like, how with one swirl of my Kabuki brush, the colours are brought together, the one thing I would like to have seen though is a mirror in the lid.

The next item in the box is a full size SportFX Time Out Face Mist + Fix and it is worth £5.99 for 30ml. I have come across SportFX before via Glossybox (here). Described as being an uplifting mist which provides a feeling of instant freshness and continuous hydration. 

The mist controls oil, deflects surface shine and keeps your skin looking and feeling beautifully fresh. With a formula rich in vitamins and anti-inflammatory ingredients it is claimed that any redness is reduced. If that isn't enough, this mist also fixes your makeup in place! With no parabens, petroleum or mineral oils, this mist does has a hint of menthol.

Up next we have the Valquer Ice Hair Mask Total Repair in a 100ml size. It is described as being an energizing hair mask with cooling effect that enhances and optimizes the effect of macadamia oil for the most unruly and exigent hair. 

I am a huge fan of hair masks and have quite a few within my collection but I have never tried a cooling hair mask before, so I am looking forward to giving it a try. I can imagine it comes in really handy when on holiday, having been out in the Sun all day and your scalp feels a little tender. but I can’t think of anything more soothing than a cooling hair mask after a day in the sun, especially if you’ve got a burnt scalp.

I am glad to see another item of Makeup in this months box and it comes from none other than Rodial. A full sized Rodial Suede Lips in the shade Big Apple worth £22. This is an intensely pigmented matte, moisturising lip pencil which contains hydrating vitamin E. 

Big Apple is described as a soft berry shade and it is a shade I absolutely love to wear. As a matte shade, it is non-drying which again gets the thumbs up and it lasts for much longer than I was expecting and on my lips, it lasted 5-6 hours with little colour transfer.

Next up we have a 50ml size of the Batiste 2 in 1 Invisible Dry Shampoo and Conditioner which is a travel size. There was a full size Batiste product in the June Glossybox which you can see here. 

This one is a really handy sized product to have for summer and to have in your luggage if you are going away or if like me, you often just cannot be bothered with washing your hair and dry shampoo becomes a must have!

The final item in the box is a little added extra and it is a Purelei Aloha Hairband. I am a longtime convert to these types of hair bands and have collected quite a few from other brands. I like that they are gentle on my hair and scalp, don't trap any hairs and don't leave a kink in my hair when I remove the band. 

This is a first for me from Purelei as I have never come across the brand before, but I like how super-stretchy the band is and I hope it manages to retain its stretchiness over time.

I really love this months box.  I like that there is a little something for everyone and everything, whether it is makeup or skincare to haircare.  I also like that there are brands I have come across but some I definitely have not and I am looking forward to trying and using everything in this box.  If you fancy getting your hands on this box there is an offer below for you and I would love to know what you think!

**Throughout August, new customers can receive their first box for just £6 using code ‘SUN’ at the checkout!**

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise. Please see my Disclaimer page here for more info.

Tony Moly + Giveaway

I have become a huge fan of Tony Moly products. Not only are they cute and colourful, they are actually really fabulous products. Available from Cult Beauty, I was really excited to see they stocked Tony Moly and with my love of Korean beauty, it possibly doesn't come as too much of a surprise that I snapped up a few products.  

Today I am sharing some of my favourite products that I have tried from the range and there is also a giveaway too.

Tony Moly Panda's Dream Hand Cream - Who doesn't want a hand cream cleverly disguised as a Panda? Well, it is more than just cute. 

This hand cream is incredibly moisturised and hydrating and as it is Infused with a blend of precious manuka honey and bamboo sprout extract, the cream softens and moisturises to leave palms and fingers looking illuminated and youthful.  At £10.50 (here) it makes a lovely gift or a treat!

Tony Moly Magic Food Banana Hand Milk - Again how cute is this playfully packaged hand cream? Disguised inside the banana packaging, this cream is perfect for using on hands which are dry and in need of intense hydration and soothing. 

It is enriched with nourishing banana extract, Shea Butter and milk protein, the formula is incredibly luxurious and absorbs really quickly into the skin leaving behind no trace it was ever on the skin.  It soothes your hands and leaves them smooth and so soft from using. At £8.50 (here) again this makes a lovely gift or treat.

Sheet Masks are something I am obsessed with and the Tony Moly ones are some of the best I have tried. The I'm Real range features some fabulous masks and whether you want something to add vitality, radiance or clean the skin, there will be something right here. Each mask is designed to be left on the skin for 20-30 minutes and the serum like texture absorbs quickly into the skin.  I am a huge fan of the masks and from the 6 I have tried so far, these three have been my favourite.

I'm Real Seaweeds Skin Purifying Mask (£5 here) is infused with vitamin-rich seaweed extract which works to purify the skin and leave it cool and calm. Perfect for helping to reduce redness this mask is described as being S.O.S. for skin in crisis and it helps with alleviating inflammation and discomfort within minutes.

I'm Real Tomato Mask (£5) - This 3-layer pulp sheet is filled with tomato extract and an enriched water-based essence that yields maximum hydration with glowing effects for your skin.

I'm Real Broccoli Mask (£5) - This mask is also a 3-layer pulp sheet and it is filled with antioxidant-rich broccoli extracts and an enriched water-based essence that yields maximum hydration while promoting elasticity for your skin

Tony Moly Super Peeling Liquid - Getting your feet ready for Summer (whenever that might return) is an absolute must for me and I have a post coming soon on this blog about how I get my feet Summer ready. 

 This Super Peeling Liquid has a unique formula fortified with fruit extract is a gentle way to remove layers of dead skin cells. Inside the box, there are a pair of single use plastic socks and the Super Peeling Liquid to ensure you get those soft, smooth feet and as an added extra there is a sachet of foot cream.

Of course being a crazy cat lady, anything which features a cat is going to get the thumbs up from me and this Tony Moly Cats Wink (£11.94 here) is an adorable kitty cat compact but it might not be what you are expecting! Inside it is a powder compact that helps control oil and covers pores for a velvety smooth and soft look that gives a more balanced complexion and helps makeup last longer.

I have been using this for some time now and I am really impressed with how good it is. I picked this up on a whim when out shopping as it was on sale and I absolutely love it.

I think you can guess that I am really impressed with Tony Moly and I am working my way through a few more sheet masks and creams, but as I am sure many of you might have never tried anything from the range, I thought I would do a giveaway featuring all of the products mentioned in this post, don't worry, they are all brand new and unused.  All you need to do is complete the rafflecopter and ensure all mandatory entries are completed and that you are aged 16+ or have parental permission to take part because I will need your home address.  This is a UK only giveaway owing to the prize contents.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

L.A.B.2 Lash Out Loud Mascara Wands

I am quite picky when it comes to Mascara Wands and I often switch the brushes between formulas to make it work for me. For example, I absolutely love the brush with Rollerlash from Benefit, but I am not so keen on the formula, so what I do, is use the brush from Rollerlash in other mascaras to make them work for me. However, if you still haven't managed to solve this issue, then you need the L.A.B.2 Lash Out Loud Mascara Wands from beautyMART. 

The L.A.B.2 Lash Out Loud Mascara Wands are priced at £5.50 and the box contains twelve disposable mascara wands which come in four different styles. So depending on the look you want, depends on the wand you would use and of course, we all want eyelashes we were not gifted with at birth! So the options here are:

• To Lengthen - This is the orange/coral brush and it has a mixture of rounded spikes, and sharper spikes to encourage length.
• To Volumise - For this, the Yellow brush is in play and it has lots of long sharp spiky bristles on the sides as well as the tip.
• To Curl - The Pink brush is the one you need for this and it has lots of shorter spiked bristles with none on the tip.
• To Define - Last but no means least is the Purple brush which has lots of shorter spiked bristles similar to the Curl wand except it has a ‘ball’ shape at the end with longer bristles for catching the outer and smaller lashes.

The wands are made from silicone and are reusable, you obviously just need to wash them. I find they are really handy for having in my makeup bag and desk drawer at work as well as for taking on holidays and weekends away.  What's more, if you run out of spoolies for your eyebrows, then you can also use these brushes for a bit of an eyebrow groom too! 

For £5.50, I think these wands are great value for money. I really like that there are four different styles to work with and that there are three of each within the box, giving you chance to experiment and see which brush works best for you and your lashes. For me, it ultimately depends on my mood and I do switch between them, if the mascara formula I am using is quite a wet formula then it is either Pink or Purple to help separate the lashes that little bit more.

I’d love to know what your favourite mascara wand type is?

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

Bio-Extracts - Your @Home Lab

As part of the Thirty Plus initiative of which I am a member, a few weeks ago I was invited to dinner with Marina Shcherbinina the founder of the Bio Extracts brand. A brand up until this dinner I had never heard of or come across, but the introduction I was sent by email intrigued me. In short Bio Extracts use the latest biotechnology to develop creams and boosters for you to combine at home - pretty much giving you the chance to make your own skincare, after all no one quite knows your skin as well as you do.

Marina was incredibly passionate about her brand and what stood out during her presentation is what she is not only dedicated to making each product the very best that it can be but she will not cut any corners when it comes to the ingredients or quality. It is through using highly purified ingredients derived from plant extracts that skincare benefits are delivered in this unique skincare brand.

There are two elements to the Bio-Extracts system - Creams and Boosters, pretty straightforward and relatively easy to get to grips with.

The Bio-Extract Creams use what is called a Multi-Lamellar System which is explained as follows "the Multi-Lamellar System has a very distinct structural similarity to these natural layers in the skin and mimics the skin’s own lamellar structure. It is designed to act like a “patch” on the skin, restoring its barrier function thus preventing trans-epidermal water-loss (TEWL), improving hydration and protecting the skin from external irritants. Now for someone who isn't techy I get this.

Then come the Bio-Extracts Boosters  and they use a phospholipids-based delivery system to ensure actives penetrate deeper into the skin layers. Again it is explained that Phospholipids are essential constituents of the cellular membranes of all living organisms and they regulate cell life.

Bringing those boosters and the creams together you have the opportunity to create your own skincare product for whichever skincare concern you might. The cream comes in an airless jar and the booster are contained in syringes.  What I like about this is that the airless jar of cream dispenses a precise amount of moisturiser each time with just one pump and although you can use it on its own, the combination of using the syringes allows you the chance to address one or more concerns.

Within the range there are 3 creams and 9 boosters to choose from and for my skin type my prescription was:

 

Light Cream - This is an oil absorbing, mattifying moisturiser with uplifting scents to help people with combination, oily or problem skin. What I like about this cream is that it does absorb excess oil and does mattify the skin, something which if like me you have combination/oily skin the oil slick shine can often be an issue, so it is nice to use a product which helps to deal with it.

Antioxidant Boost – contains a powerful combination of fruit extract, minerals and flavonoids to counteract the damaging effects of oxidative stress. Rutin and Rosmarinic acid help in scavenging free radicals, while manganese, zinc and selenium support the antioxidative defence enzymes.

Hydro Boost – The Hydro Boost will enhance skin radiance and give a firmer, plumped up appearance to the skin. It also gives intense hydration with botanical Hyaluronic Acid to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and to prevent further signs of premature ageing.

Redness Relief Boost - helps to strengthen the skin’s natural barrier integrity, improving the ability of the skin to act as a physical and mechanical barrier against external factors. The bio-extract from the bark of White Wallaba, a tree that grows in the Guyanese rain forests, is a true botanical powerhouse. High in tannins, the bark and resin contain anti-inflammatory properties and have been used traditionally by local people for wound healing, toothache or ease of joint pains. White Wallaba bio- extract immediately helps to visually neutralise skin redness and restore skin clarity.

Now that I have my cream and boosters, which I have used up, I liked being able to create and tailor my own skincare in so much that I could decide how much of the booster I felt my skin needed and if you’re thinking that this might be a skin care system that you want to try for yourself then the sets that you can buy that come with a cream and 2, 3 or 4 boosters  and you can choose per issue that you have and there are even sample sets for just £5!

This brand is vegan, paraben free, non GMO, British made, not tested on animals and all ingredients are natural.

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise