Glossybox Summer Soiree

This June, Glossybox is inviting you to join them for their Summer Soiree. June is the month the weather gets warmer, Spring comes to an end and Summer arrives, usually. Whether you have a wedding to go to, the races, a BBQ, garden party or even down to the beach, the iconic pink Glossybox for the month of June is full of essential products you can slip into your clutch bag, your weekend bag or to keep you looking your best on the go.

The first item in the box comes from Avant Skincare with the Pro Perfecting Collagen Touche Eclat Primer (£85). Described as being a silky, lightweight, universal primer that instantly perfects the look of skin.  

Given its price, this Primer clearly sits within the high-end category and it is formulated with two key ingredients which work to not only improve the elasticity of your skin but also reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and they are:

• Cetiol® Sensoft: a versatile oil that balances the pH of your skin and makes your complexion feel softer.
• Isododecane: a soothing ingredient that coats the skin in a protective layer, reducing the appearance of patchy skin and helping your complexion to stay hydrated for longer.

What I have liked about this primer so far is how it sits on the skin, it is lightweight, it is silky and it doesn't make my skin feel greasy or tacky to the touch.

The second item within the box comes from Hask and it is the Unwined Deep Conditioner called Sauvignon Blanc (£3.99). 

Free of Sulfates, Parabens, Phthalates, Gluten, Drying Alcohol and Artificial colours, this deep conditioner, which is wine based and it is designed to add shine and nourish using a whole host of incredible ingredients which include:

• Wine Extract - packed with antioxidants to help rejuvenate, strengthen and soften
• Resveratrol - found in the skin of grapes, helps protect and restore hair
• Grape Seed Oil - rich in vitamin E helps smooth cuticles & prevent frizz
• Apple Extract - rich in vitamins to promote healthy-looking hair
• Watermelon Extract - helps nourish & moisturise

I am a huge fan of making sure I use a deep conditioning treatment, hair mask or even an oil once a week to give my hair some TLC. Rather than smelling like a bottle of wine, this mask is freshly scented with a hint fruit and because the sachet is 50g there is enough product for two treatments and I was really impressed with how silky smooth my hair was after just one use.

Having dealt with both skincare and haircare, makeup now becomes the feature of the remaining products within the box and they include a contour palette, a matte lip creme and an eyeshadow chubby stix.

From ModelCo. we have the inclusion of a Lip Creme Matte in shade Peachy Nude (£15). It is described as being a full coverage, long-lasting and highly-pigmented lipstick that glides on effortlessly to give your pout a rich, matte coverage.  Upon application, this Lip Creme Matte dries to a matte without leaving the lips feeling dry and taut.

This Peachy Nude Lip Creme Matte has warm, pink undertones which softens the peachy tones and makes for an incredibly beautiful shade for the summer. It also has a scent of peaches when applied.

Meech n Mia is a brand I had never come across until Glossybox and this Chubby Stix eyeshadow (£12.99) is quite something.   I have shade #054 which is a beautiful gold and not only is this Chubby Stix is highly pigmented and what I wasn't expecting, is how creamy it is. 

A handy size for putting in your handbag, what I like about this product is that you can use it on its own for a pop of gold colour or you can use it with other products to really make your eyes pop and it blends like a dream.

The final item within the box comes from Sleek and it is the Face Form Contouring and Blush palette in light (£9.99).  I am a huge fan of Sleek palettes and this one is a multitasking palette which is perfect for being on the go.

Made up of a bronzer to help with contouring, a highlighter for radiance and a blusher to add a hint of colour.  I adore the rose gold blush which has peach undertones on this palette, it can be applied as a light dusting of colour or can be built up to add more of a flushing colour. The bronzer isn't too dark, so it works well with my fair skin and the highlight shade is a sparkly creamy beige shade.

Putting all of these products together, this is an incredible box which fits in really well with the Summer Soiree theme and whether you are going abroad, having a staycation or going to the races, a wedding or a garden party, then you have just about everything you need to be ready in this box.

As always you can subscribe to Glossybox right here and if you use the code BQUEEN20 you can get yourself 20% off that first box!  

On sale tomorrow is the Glossybox x Living Proof Box - More information right HERE

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

Father's Day Gift Guide

How on earth is it June already? I am sure I was still moaning January lasted for 36 months just a few days ago, yet here we are with half of the year behind us.  June is a busy month for me, off to see Metallica twice, the Mister has a birthday and of course, on June 16th it is Father's Day.

My Dad used to be notoriously difficult to buy presents for, he always claimed he had everything he needed and would just be happy with a phone call, but somehow that just never seems right when it is meant to be the day you are thankful for everything your dad has done.  Thankfully, with his love of fishing (the hubs too), ensuring he has an endless supply of vouchers to spend at his local Fishing tackle store means gifting is helpful but also a tad obvious and predictable.  With that in mind, I put together a little gift guide of products that might just help give you some ideas as to what to buy your husband, partner, dad, grandfather and any other male in your life.

Scooters aren’t just toys for  kids,  they can also be fun alternatives to bikes for teenagers and adults and an Adult Scooter can create a really good and different kind of gift.  Scooters come in all different shapes and sizes, from the standard three wheels and micro scoooters to ones which are foldable or even electric.

A keen whisky drinker, my Dad has used the same glass to enjoy his favourite tipple in for years now and to be honest, the dishwasher has pretty much worn it out. Corkcicle have the genius design that is the Whiskey Wedge glass which is described as being the artful way to perfectly chill your favourite spirits without watering them down.

Each glass comes with a 'wedge' which is made of silicone and to use, you simply add water into the double old fashioned glass, insert the mould, then freeze. The ice forms into a wedge and, similar to a glacier, melts slowly due to the reduced amount of surface area. If you Dad has another tipple of choice, then it would work perfectly with any other spirit, ive been trying it out using Baileys and it is just such a fabulous idea.  Priced around £15.

If your Dad/Husband etc. is a shaving enthusiast and likes to keep the facial hair trimmed and pruned, then The Personal Barber is the item you need to be buying. Best described as being a male grooming subscription service which focuses on the traditional razor and brush style of shaving.

New members to the service get The Personal Barber signature safety razor and shaving brush included for free in their first box and with it comes a step-by-step instruction which guides you through the best shave of your life. The Mister has been putting this box to the test, so look out for a full review coming soon, but in the meantime, what I liked about this box is that clearly a lot of thought has gone into what the contents should be. Alongside the razor, you will, of course, be needed replacement blades, so each month you can expect to see those inside your box along with a Shaving Soap, a product which isn't as easy to find as you might expect, but when you find one you love, it is, I am told, worth hanging on too and buying in bulk. The part I really like about this box involves mystery products and they can be anything from pre-shave oils, aftershave balms, colognes to alum products. JWith the promise of no two boxes being the same, along with your mystery product will be an explanation as to what it is and how best to use them.

The box has two offerings of subscription depending on the frequency of shaving, so the choice is to have a box delivered every 6 weeks or every 12 weeks and the price of the subscription is just £24.95.  When I look at other boxes available that have a similar theme, this one is much better value for money.

If fragrance is your thing, then Le Couvent des Minimes fragrances will tick all those boxes for you. With a choice of four, there is definitely something for everyone whether you like the Woody or the Orientals versus the Fresh Citrus or the Bitter notes.

I have Valparaiso which is said to have been inspired by Chile, it reinvents woody scents in an unexpected way, and this is where all its boldness lies. In the top notes, a bracing mix of petitgrain essence and spicy scents are fused with bitter tones and on a first spritz, you cannot help but be drawn in by such an incredibly fresh, citrus scent. The heart notes of patchouli, myrrh and incense settle the top notes to give it a more smokey wood essence before the base notes of vetiver and cedarwood really make this an incredible fragrance which is perfect for the Summer.  It smells fresh, it is uplifting and if you like something like is long lasting and gets stronger throughout the day, then this is the fragrance you need.  Priced around £80 via Lookfantastic*.

Staying with fragrance and this time it comes from Atelier Cologne.  As a brand, I am loving getting to know their fragrances and I am obsessed with Pacific Lime (review here).  For the man in your life, the fragrance Musc Imperial is one not to pass on.

Launched back in 2019, Musc Imperial is described as being a Woody Floral Musk. With each Atelier Cologne is a story behind the fragrance and this one is said to have been inspired by the Majestic Hotel & Spa Barcelona and the suites “impériales” in which Atelier Cologne founders Sylvie Ganter and Christophe Cervasel stayed, coupled with the vibrancy of the Catalan capital. It has top notes which are Calabrian bergamot, Spanish clary sage and black currant which really capture your senses with the fresh citrus and fruity notes.  Then we have the middle notes are lavender from Provence, Andalusian fig and leather accord which bring the fresh fruit notes under control as the Woody noted begin to make their mark on the fragrance and the intermixing is quite magical.  Then we have the base notes of Indian ambrette (musk mallow) and Virginia cedar which bring to life that muskiness and together creates a fragrance which is a fresh scented as it is unique and it is one I cannot help but love to smell.  Priced around £65 for 30ml rising up to £170 for 200ml from John Lewis*.

When it comes to Jewellery, my dad doesn't wear anything other than a watch, it just isn't him.  But, he could do with a new watch and the Adexe MAC Mesh Watch, which was featured on my misters' blog (here) is stunning.

It is a simple design being all black, but features a mesh strap and is made from hand-polished All Stainless Steel. I like that it can be worn with all outfits, the time is clear to see and it also has a sub-dial so you can see the date too. Priced at £119 it is an absolute bargain.

If all else fails, then you can never go wrong with a pair of trainers. I am a huge fan of Skechers Trainers, they have been an absolute dream to wear whilst I have had an injured anklnow have 3 different pairs.  

More recently, the Mister has taken a shine to some, shown above and I know my Dad owns a few pairs of trainers and think he would really like these.  They are usually priced upwards of £30 depending on the style and colouring that you prefer.

So there you have just a few ideas for that special man in your life from me and of course, Father's Day here in the UK is on Sunday 16th June, so if you haven't given it any thought, then now is the time to be doing just that!

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