March Glossybox

The month of March means Spring is on the horizon and hoping we have seen the last of the snow, wind and rain and in its place will be that yellow ball of loveliness in its place.  Whilst we all wait for our dose of Vitamin D, the lovely people over at Glossybox have curated a box of products which are designed to refresh and revive with five products.

The featured product of the month comes from Mudmasky, a brand I have never come across until now but it is one which hails from one of my favourite cities - Amsterdam. The Sleep Repair Renewal Mask is described as being something which repairs, protects and nourishes skin while keeping your skin perfectly balanced at night. Using only fresh, raw, all natural ingredients this mask is scented with natural rose water which has been imported from a small village in Persia and this also helps to induce a more restful sleep after a long day.  

When it comes to using this product, it is a gel-like textured cream which isn't too thick, you simply apply a thin layer to your skin after cleansing and then leave it on overnight and wash off with warm water. This is a 20ml sample size but has a value of around £20 (a full 60ml size retails for £61).

Next, we have Laura Geller, a brand I am sure most of you will be familiar with. The product is an Illuminating stick in shade Ballerina.  For me, one thing I like about the Laura Geller brand is the highlighters, but I had no idea there was a stick version. Ballerina is described as being rose gold toned, so it is quite on trend with other brands right now and I like how creamy this feels on the skin and the fact you can apply it directly to your cheekbones, brows or even collarbone and then blend with your fingers to get the look you want.  

If Ballerina doesn't sound like it is the shade for you, then there is also Gilded Honey which is a warm, pale honey-toned gold and Ethereal which is described as being the perfect pearl-pink blush-meets-highlight. This is a full sized product and it has an RRP £21.

The third product within my box comes from Figs & Rouge, again a brand I know very little about. Soft Focus Pore Perfect HD+ is described as being a weightless, matte Serum which helps minimise the appearance of pores and create a sheer complexion. It features which is referred to as being a duo-Action Anti-Blemish formulation and this not only helps to reduce skin impurities but it also to combat breakouts. The HD+ Complex helps to diminish shine as well as helping to fade imperfections and promote a clearer balanced complexion. 

At £34.99 for 30ml it is quite pricey and it promised quite a lot, so I decided to give it a try on one of my busiest working days which saw me do a 12-hour shift and then go on to an event afterwards which meant a 15 hour day of wearing this product.  Having a slight hint of pink to the serum, it applies like an absolute dream, you only need a small amount and I was quite taken with just how much it helps to not only diminish that shine but also keep the shine at bay, it does help to minimise the look of pores but obviously it doesn't get rid of them because we all know that isn't ever going to happen.  My liquid foundation also applied like a dream and having tried this product just a few times, I am debating buying a back up because I like it this much.

Next is Oryza, another brand I have never come across and in my box, I have shade Velvet Ribbon which is described as being a warm nude which has a weightless, semi-matte yet satin finish. 

I wasn't too sure I would like this lipstick from the description but because it has peachy pink undertones it isn't too orange or brown, it is a nice nude shade, the swatch you can see above is unedited.  Hydrating because it contains natural ingredients which include rice germ oil, shea butter, papaya fruit extract and vitamin E hydrating complex.  This is a full sized product with an RRP £15.95.

The final item in my box is Lue by Jean Seo and another brand I have never come across until now. An American based brand, Jean Seo has created a capsule style skincare regime which has just three steps and Step 1 is called Erase and it is the product in my box. 

Described as being a cleansing, exfoliating & brightening powder. This pH balanced gommage works to clear the complexion, balance the skin and leave it not only feeling radiant but smooth too. It is made with non-fat milk powder, finely milled whole grain oats, and a touch of magnesium carbonate and to use it you need to mix a tablespoon of Erase with half a tablespoon of water to form a paste and then you apply that paste to your face and leave it on for around a minute to let it almost dry and then gently massage the product off your face and as it peels away, it should bring with it any bit of detritus which is hanging around on the skin - even blackheads!  This is a full sized product and it has an RRP £11.

Incredibly this box has a value of over £100 and for me, it is one of the best Glossyboxes I have ever had.  I love that I know pretty much nothing about the contents or the brands included and this is why I love beauty boxes.  I love being introduced to new things, there is always a chance I might not like something but equally, there is always a chance that I will love something - Figs & Rouge from this box being the prime example.   I would love to know what you think to this box?

If you do like the sound of this box then you can enter code: GLOSSY at checkout to get 20% off your one-month subscription. Expires: 31/03

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page here

TOUCH IN SOL Pang Pang Sun Cutting Powder SPF30 PA+++

Having combination skin can be an absolute nightmare, a mixture of dryness on my case my cheeks and oiliness of my t-zone can be just a nightmare at certain times of the month, especially when it comes to applying makeup, it will either cling to my dry skin or simply slide off mid-afternoon, so I do absolutely anything I can to ensure my skin behaves itself and if it doesn't, thankfully I have some products which can help me.

Touch In Sol needs no introduction on this blog I am sure. It is a brand I am 100% obsessed with and one I am so glad to have been lucky enough to try. I am facinated by the whole South Korean skincare and makeup that has come to the UK. Touch In Sol has been designed to embrace the spirit of Korean innovation. Touch In Sol is fun, innovative and uses some of the most advanced technologies and Pang Pang is really quite something.

Pang Pang is an ultra-fine powder which blends into the skin seamlessly whether or not you are wearing makeup. Finely milled, it has been formulated with high-resistance pigments and the power defies heat and humidity to balance sebum all day long. So yes, Pang Pang is a product that helps to balance oil, soothe the skin and most importantly with SPF30 it also protects your skin from the sun too.  I am someone who wears an SPF every single day whether it is raining, sunny or even snowing, it was drilled in to me many years ago back in high school as to the importance of SPF and it is a lesson I have never forgotten.

Pang Pang comes in this pot with a soft puff applictor and you simply pat it onto your skin as much as you need to throughout the day. It is really lightweight on the skin, doesn't smudge or move any existing makeup, it doesn't leave any white marks and isn't at all drying mainly because it is infused with both witch hazel and mulberry root which work to soothe and cool your complexion, while also protecting cells from the sun’s skin-damaging rays. I love that it is perfectly portable and it is a product that is always in my handbag.

Pang Pang is priced at £20 and can be found on Cult Beauty and Feelunique with other products from the range.

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page here

Introducing BLAQ

BLAQ is an Australian skincare brand whose packaging is minimal, not in the slighest bit fancy and tells you all you need to know about the product you are using. Blaq is built on the basis of one core ingredient - Activated Charcoal. 

Over the past year or so I have read about, seen and tried many products which contain activated charcoal, it has appeared in shampoo, conditioners, masks, eye masks, hair masks, conditoners, toothpaste and even foot creams. My skin either likes it or hates it. I have tried some masks which have really irritated my skin and others which have been simply amazing. My hair loves activated charcoal products and it doesnt dry out or irritate my scalp, which can sometimes be a bit sensitive. All said, I was intrigued to see what Blaq had to offer and this is what they have to say:

our products are formulated to solve your first world skin problems and erase the evidence of late nights, city-living and one too many wines (if there is such a thing), by detoxifying and nurturing your skin back to a healthy state.

The brand started with the Blaq Mask (£14), a face mask which is designed to target toxins and draw out impurities. The downside to living in London is the pollution, smog and everyday use of public transport literally plays havoc with your skin. Some days I come home and just want to scrub my skin raw to just rid it of pollution because I can pretty much feel it sitting there. 

When using this mask, you are advised to do a patch test first to ensure it will not irritate your skin.  I have had no problems using it at all but it isn't the mask you want to be using a day before an important event/meeting because it can lead to a few break outs. That said my skin has been absolutely fine using it.  After cleansing, you are advised to open your pores using a warm water and a towel/flannel and then apply an even layer to your t-zone areas but avoid the lips, hairline, and brows. Leave the mask to dry which takes between 15 and 20 minutes and then starting at bottom outer edge, slowly peel off the mask in an upward direction. It does have quite an odd sensation as begin to remove it, but it doesn't hurt at any point.  Afterwards my skin feel clean, smooth and soft to the touch.

Also coming from Blaq are the Hydrogel Eye Masks (£22 for a pack of 5) which are very much in keeping with the mask, are designed to to de-puff, detox and make those eye bags no longer visible. I have mentioned before that I suffer with insomnia and it can leave me looking like an absolute wreck with deep dark bags under my eyes. 

What I love about these eye masks is how they feel. They are rubbery but so incredibly refreshing, the perfect solution for tired, stressed and dark circle looking eyes. The Blaq Hydrogel Eye Masks use activated charcoal to reduce puffiness and detox the delicate, sensitive skin under the eyes. They should be used after cleansing your face and you then apply the eye masks to about 1cm below each eye, then leave on for about 10-15 minutes, during this time, they don't dry or go hard, they simply soothe and refresh and give to chance to have what I call a disco nap, do some pinning on Pinterest or go and like some photos on Instagram. After your time is up, the masks simply peel away from the skin without pulling or tugging and what you will see is that those pesky bags have all bit diminished and you have soft, smooth skin. I like how hydrating these are on my under eye and also that they don't irritate what so ever.

I am looking forward to seeing what else Blaq has to offering in the coming months and they launch here in the UK on April 1st, so look out for further announcements.

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page here

Lipstick Queen Transformative Trio

When I saw this Lipstick Queen Transformative Trio on offer from SpaceNK for just £11 I knew I had to snap it up. Lipstick Queen is a cult Australian brand which was born out of one woman's quest, Poppy King, to find the perfect lipstick. Now some 20 years later the range has grown quite extensively and contains so many beautiful lipsticks in every possible shade, look and finish you can imagine.  Poppy is said to have created the brand Lipstick Queen to fill the void in the market for unusual yet glamorous fun and stylish lip products. She believes that lipstick makes you feel able to take on anything and that is reflected in her fun yet glamorous range of products.

Lipstick Queen's 'Mini Transformative Trio' features three of the brand's best-selling hues which are Mornin' Sunshine, Frog Prince and Hello Sailor and they are the kind of shade that you can wear no matter the season. They are enriched with Shea and Mango Seed Butters which makes then incredibly hydrating and moisturising, but for me, the reason I bought them is because of the colour-adapting formula that adjusts to individual body temperature and this means that no two shades look alike.

The first shade out of the box is Mornin' Sunshine and it is described as being a happy and sunny lipstick which works with your pH to create a unique shade of a peachy coral but some people have reported that they had a slightly lighter shade. It is packed with Anti-oxidant Vitamin E and Sunflower Oil and is incredibly hydrating when applied.

Next, we have Frog Prince which is an emerald green coloured lipstick that transforms into a magical rosebud pink as soon as it touches your lips. By reacting and adapting to the natural pH of your lips, Frog Prince becomes your own custom shade of rosebud pink and it is said to work perfectly in harmony with your complexion. This lipstick uses Mango Seed Oil, Meadowfoam Seed Oil, Vitamin E and Shea Butter to keeps your lips hydrated.

Finally, we have Hello Sailor, the Lipstick I knew the least about and looks are most definitely deceiving with this one. It is a navy lipstick, in the bullet but when applied a really lovely sheer plum shade. It is described as 'the no lipstick lipstick' as it works as a nude lipstick and draws out pink tones to enhance natural lip colour; suiting all skin tones. Using Mango Seed and Sunflower oils as well as Shea Butter this is the most hydrating lipstick of the trio and I think my favourite too.

For £11 I think this was one of my best bargains to date. Three lipsticks I have been wanting to try but instead of paying out £20 for a full-size version, I've got three mini instead. Of course every swatch on each person will be totally different, some shades don't show up at all and others go much darker than the ones I am showing, the same can be said as to whether something is swatched on your arm, wrist or whether you are wearing it on your lips.  For me, I decided to show an unedited swatch on my wrist.

As well as lipsticks, within the Lipstick Queen collection, you can also find blushes which again take on quite a unique formula, Lip Liners, Liquid Lipsticks and Glosses. You can find Lipstick at John Lewis and LookFantastic as well as SpaceNK.  

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page here