Wednesday 22 April 2020

A Very Late Unboxing Of Glossybox UK - January 2020 Edition - Sleep & Refresh*

Can you remember what you were doing in January? To be honest I can barely remember what I did yesterday let alone 4 months ago! but at some point in January, exactly when I'm not sure, I know I must have opened and photographed the January edition of Glossybox UK.


After all the glamour and sparkle of December's box (read my thoughts here), the January edition of Glossybox reverted back to the traditional pink and black colour palette, with the familiar pink and black cardboard box, pink tissue paper, and black shredded paper all neatly brought together with a black ribbon.


As per usual the first item in the box was a little booklet which as well as including more information on the contents, also revealed the theme of the box. The theme of January's Glossybox was "Sleep & Refresh" and the products inside were specially selected to leave subscribers feeling revitalised for the year ahead, with a mixture of complexion boosting products, and products that were perfect for a no make up look.



BYBI Strawberry Booster - 15ml - Full Size - RRP £12


The first item in the box was a product from a brand called BYBI. I've only tried one other item from the brand and that was a lip balm that I received in the March 2019 edition of Glossybox (You can read my thoughts on it here if you haven't already).


Founded in 2017, BYBI, which stands for By Beauty Insiders, produce a range of clean, and affordable beauty products. All of their products are certified vegan and cruelty free, and they are made of only 100% eco friendly, natural ingredients.


This particular product contains only 1 ingredient, 100% cold pressed strawberry seed oil, which is actually a byproduct of the juicing industry. Strawberry seed oil contains both Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids and allagic acids which are smoothing, nourishing, and calming especially on dry, dehydrated or irritated skin.



This skin boosting facial oil is designed to be integrated into to any daily skin care routine, you can add few drops to any existing balm, moisturiser, or serums, to give the skin on your face and neck an extra boost of hydration, or you can use it alone as a moisturiser or as a moisture boost.

The oil itself is quite runny, and in the bottle it has a yellow, green tinge. Despite claims that it has a subtle strawberry scent, all I got was a slightly green, oily scent which was a bit disappointing. 


Although my skin has been a bit traumatised over the last few months with the cold weather, central heating, and of course illness, it's still a little bit on the oily side, so I've mainly been using this on it's own as part of my morning skin care routine.

The bottle isn't very big but you only need a couple of drops. It glides easily over the skin and whilst it initially felt quite slick and oily, it absorbed quite quickly leaving the skin nourished, and smooth.

Although BYBI claim that it makes an ideal base for make up, it didn't really work that well for me, and my make up just didn't last especially on my oilier t-zone. I did noticed that even when I wasn't wearing make up my skin looked a lot shinier than normal but despite that I still liked the feel of it on my skin. It left my skin feeling comfortable, even when it was being severely tested by illness and central heating, and in fact it even kept the dry, flakey patches that I often get on my brows and forehead in the winter months at bay.


If you have an oilier skin, then this would probably be more of a seasonal product for you but if your skin is drier, or more sensitive or irritated especially at the moment with so little fresh air then this could be something worth trying that won't break the bank. This full 15ml size retails at £12 from a variety of retailers including BYBI direct, Boots, ASOS, and Feel Unique.

Basic Beauty Tweezers - Full Size - Est. RRP £15.10



Now I don't know about you but my eyebrows need some serious dye and wax action! The hair are getting longer, the greys are increasing, and I can see the perfectly trained shape disappearing before my eyes. 

It's for the best and we're all in this together, but what do I do? The sensible option would be to leave well alone, but surely it wouldn't hurt just to tweeze out the odd stray hair? No of course it wouldn't but we all know what would happen, I'd get carried away and before you know it I'd have no brows left. That said though if you have a good pair of tweezers then surely you should be able to just pull the odd super long one without destroying years of hard work, and thankfully I have a few pairs of decent tweezers that may save my brow sanity.

The next item in the box was of course a pair of tweezers from a company called Basic Beauty. From what I can gather Basic Beauty is a US based Indie beauty and fashion brand. The website features a few clothing items, some cruelty and paraben free make up items, and various different beauty tools.



These slim, baby pink, metal tweezers come boxed. They have a textured section to help with grip and a slim / slanted tip. One of the signs of a good pair of tweezers is to have a tip where the sides meet perfectly with no gap, and these ones do exactly that.

I normally prefer a sturdier set of tweezers with a wider slanted tip like my beloved Tweezerman but these aren't too bad. Since the tip is a bit smaller you do really need a good mirror to see what you're doing, even for those little stray chin hairs that you can sometimes grab blindly (admit we all get those little wires growing in places where we don't want them to!) but with a mirror these tweezers are great for smaller, more precise work. 

Tweezers are a real must have and whilst I probably will end up leaving  the majority of my brows alone, I will definitely find a use for a use for them in the future.

Glossybox quote a price of £15.10 for these tweezers, and from what I can gather they are only available direct from Basic Beauty who ship worldwide for around $20 / £15.84

Model Co Clear Brow Gel - 3.5ml - Full Size - RRP £14



Thanks to various subscription boxes and magazine freebies, I managed to try quite a few products now from Australian brand Model Co including a Matte Lip Cream in Peachy Nude, the Instant Brows In Light / Medium and a Lip Gloss in Berry Pink, and whilst I haven't loved everything I've tried I do have a fairly favourable view of the brand, and it was nice to have the opportunity to try something new and especially something that would work so nicely with the previous item.


Packaged in a hot pink mascara like tube with a clear bristle like wand, this is basically a cruelty free, and vegan clear brow gel. Unlike a lot of brow products that can look cloudy this is completely clear. It actually feels quite dry to the touch, and it doesn't feel sticky or gloopy.



I've included some before and afters here but apart from highlighting my long straggly brows, and some grey hairs, there actually doesn't appear to be any difference at all between the two pictures but I guess that's the point. Fitting in perfectly with the bare faced, no make up theme, all this product is supposed to do is tame the unruly hairs, and maybe add a little bit of thickness. It doesn't add colour or look obvious, it just makes your eyebrows look tidier and it calms down the off uncooperative hair, all without the tackiness and stiffness that you can often get with similar product or through using clear mascara. If you need a bit of colour on your brows you can also use this gel to set any other brow product.
Before


After



If you like the idea of brow setting products but you dislike the often sticky feel then this particular one is worth trying, you don't get a lot of product for your money but it works. Despite the fact that retailers such as Look Fantastic and Amazon stock a range of Model Co products I can't find this particular product on any other website bar Model Co direct where it retails at £14.

Beauty Pro CBD Oil Infused Mask - 1 x 22ml Mask - Full Size - RRP £5.95



I've tried a few products from mask specialist Beauty Pro now, but the next product is the first that I've tried from their Plant Based Range. All of the products in this range are 100% plant based in origin, they are also water free, vegan and cruelty free.

Suitable for all skin types, this sheet mask is made of 100% biodegradable bamboo fibre, this face mask contains the super ingredient of the moment CBD Oil. It contains Cannabis Sativa Seed oil and extract, as well as arnica, hibiscus, rosemary, lavender and rosehip. This mask is rich in anti oxidants, and Beauty Pro claim it is anti-aging, and will nourish and soothe stressed skin.

The first thing I noticed about this mask, is just how wet it. The mask was absolutely soaked in a cool, almost gel like solution. It was a little bit fiddly to unfold but it was strong enough not to tear. It had a lovely green scent, with just a hint of lavender. I applied it to clean, dry, skin where it felt immediately cooling and refreshing on the skin.

Mask On Face 


After Removal


When I removed it after about 15 - 20 minutes my face felt very wet and there was still quite a lot of liquid both on my skin and in the mask itself, so I massaged as much of the excess liquid into my face, chest and neck - waste not want not! It took about 5 minutes to completely absorb into my skin. and even then my skin still felt slightly tacky but it felt and looked clean, cool, and refreshed, and hydrated for a good few hours after removal.

I have to say that this is one of the nicest products that I've tried from Beauty Pro so far. I loved the subtle fresh lavender scent and I loved how fresh it made my skin look and feel. The mask seems to be quite new so it isn't that easy to find, the only retailers that I can find are Beauty Pro website where it retails at £4.95 and Look Fantastic where it retails at £5.95.

Naobay Detox Illuminating Micellar Water - 200ml - Full Size - Est. RRP £10.30


The final official item in the box was from Spanish skin and body care brand Naobay. I've had a few things from them in previous boxes but this is the first time that I've had the chance to try anything properly.

The range is paraben free, certified organic, cruelty free and over 98% of the ingredients in this particular product are of natural origin. This particular product contains aloe vera, lemon, sage, raspberry, and green tea. In simple terms it's a micellar water but according to Naobay it's a multi functional cleanser, that purifies the skin and prepares it for moisturiser, and it also protects the skin again environmental pollution whilst balancing, hydrating and soothing the skin.

I love micellar waters when I'm tired or when I'm in a rush, and I although I'm trying to get out of the habit or it, I usually end using a micellar for my morning cleanse. I normally use an oil, a balm or a cream cleanser to remove my make up but I decided to really put this product to the test and to remove a full face of the stuff.



Like the name would suggest, it has an almost water like feel, and a green slightly sweet scent. Like all micellar waters it was really simple to use, just apply it to a cotton pad or if your being eco friendly like me, a reusable cotton pad, and then gently wipe it over the face and eyes.

Before


After 


It felt cool on the skin, and almost exactly like water, there was no tingling or stinging on my face and even on my eyes. It took a few pads but as you can see it all came off, leaving my skin clean and fresh, it was a touch pink but it certainly didn't feel dry, tight or stripped.


Naobay isn't the easiest of brands to get a hold of in the UK and whilst Beauty Expert, Look Fantastic, and Waitrose do stock a small range of their products, the only place I've actually seen this is on a website called Ecco Verde where at retails at around £9.

Nakd Cocoa Orange Raw Fruit & Nut Bar - 35g - Full Size - Est. RRP 75p


Although there were officially only 5 items in the box, I actually received a 6th item - a Nakd bar! Eating a predominantly gluten and wheat free diet, I love Nakd bars and Cocoa Orange just so happens to be my favourite flavour. They don't look very appetising but they are really tasty and unusually for a lot of snack bars they are really filling.

Containing dates, cashews, raisins, cocoa and just a touch of natural flavouring, it tastes like an amped up fruitier, nuttier, and healthier chocolate orange, not only that but it's gluten, wheat and dairy free. The box also included a money off coupon so I may have gone out before lockdown and bought myself a few more bars.

A pack of 4 x 35g bars retail at around £2 - £2.50, where as individual bars such as this retail at around 75p from most major supermarkets, Boots, and health food stores such as Holland and Barrett.

After all of the glamour of December's box, January's was always going to feel a little flat, and a bit mehh in comparison, but whilst it lacks the glitz and sparkle it makes up for it in practicality. It contained things that people will use - tweezers, brow gel, and things to revive and pamper tired winter skin, and of course something a little bit healthier to eat after all the festive excesses. Let me know your thoughts on this box in the comments and of course don't forget to check out Glossybox for yourself, and I will see you soon with an epic combined empties post x 

*This Post Contains Both Affiliate And Non Affiliate Links

Wednesday 15 April 2020

A Spring Like Nails Of The Day - OPI Polly Want A Lacquer?

Hi Guys x I hope you all had a lovely Easter weekend, if you were celebrating. I found it all a bit surreal if I'm being honest, every day at the moment seems like the one before, and being unable to see friends and family, the only thing that made it seem any different was a chocolate egg or three. Seeing as the weather is so nice and spring like at the moment I decided to break up the unboxing catch up posts by sharing a little spring like nails of the day with you.

Being poorly, an increase in hand washing and of course liberal applications of hand sanitiser, have all meant that my hands and nails aren't in the best of shapes at the moment but it's surprising what a difference an application of pretty  nail colour can make to even the shortest of nails.


Officially described as a "lovely lavender" Polly Want A Lacquer? from OPI's 2017 Spring / Summer's Fiji collection, is a beautiful lilac shade. It's quite a pale one but in real it's a tiny touch more vibrant than my pictures show.


Although cream formulations are probably one of the most popular finishes, they can be a bit of a nightmare to apply. Thanks to their signature pro wide brush this polish applies with ease but like with a lot of cream polishes the first coat was thin and streaky, but after a couple of coats full coverage was achieved on most nails with only a couple requiring a third coat.


If the polish is decent I really don't mind having to apply a couple of coats, and this one dried pretty quickly so it wasn't too much of a problem. It dried down to a lovely glossy finish, but look closely and you can still see the odd brush stroke,  which often one of the downsides of pale, cream nail polishes, not matter what the brand or the price point.


I'm notoriously rough on my nail polish, and in the current circumstances even more so. To try this out properly I didn't apply a top coat, and I subjected it to showers, hand washing and sanitising, and cooking, so it was no surprise that I saw a bit of tip wear after around 36 hours, annoying but nothing that gentler treatment and a good top coat wouldn't fix.



I haven't worn nail polish for a little while now and I have to say that this pretty shade really lifted my spirits, I love lilacs and purples anyway, but there was just something so simple, and fresh about this pretty pastel shade, that made me feel a bit more positive about things. Although it was originally released in 2017 this nail polish is still available from a variety of retailers including direct from OPI, and from Nail Polish Direct. It has a RRP of £13.90 for this 15ml size but like with all things it pays you to shop around a bit, and if it takes your fancy it's also available in OPI's Infinite Shine, and Gel polish formulations. It might be a bit of a cliche but are you fan of pastel colours for Spring ? Let me know in the comments x

Thursday 9 April 2020

My Last Box - Unboxing Papergang - Box No. 47 - January 2020 Edition - Floral Boho*

I've been debating for about whether or not to publish this post, but since I've got quite a bit of time on my hands at the moment I've decided to go ahead and finish it, because it pretty sums both why I love the concept of Papergang but why at the same time I decided to cancel my subscription .

As I mentioned in my December unboxing post (read it here if you haven't already) I already decided that January's box was going to be last, and even though Papergang offered me a discount to continue my subscription my mind was already made up. My original plan was to cancel my subscription with December's box but the sneak peeks drew me in, and I knew that January's box would be the perfect way to tie up all the loose end and bring my Papergang experience to a close.

As you probably already know, I'm a huge fan of floral prints and the "Boho Floral" design of January's box was right up my street.


The box was designed by photo artist, Siobhan O'Dwyer, who create designs, prints and artwork from photographs.The box itself featured a gorgeous vibrant, cheery, almost flower meadow style, photograph style print.


Tear back the perforated strip and the contents was revealed. Bar a couple of escapees, the bulk of the contents were wrapped in a sheet of pale blue tissue paper.




The first item in the box as per usual was the little information booklet which as well as listing the contents also gave you so more information on the the box designer Siobhan O'Dwyer including her background, her work, and the inspiration for her designs and for this particular box.


A5 Linen Notebook



The first official item in the box, was probably the most beautiful thing in it in my opinion, and it's no surprise that they've used in a lot of images of it in their promotions over the last few months. It's a gorgeous, chunky, A5 linen notebook.

With a smooth, fabric feeling front and back cover, this notebook featured a beautiful almost photograph like print of a wildflower meadow featuring all kinds of flowers including sunflowers, daisies and poppies, with added butterflies. The colours are really bright and vibrant, and they all work beautifully against the turquoise, blue sky designs, which is only slightly disturbed by the word 'NOTES' embossed on the front in copper foil.

The inside of the notebook was lined in contrasting light blue, with a light blue ribbon page market, and lined pages which printed on FSC certified paper and card stock.





I was so, so pleased to receive, I love the colours and the floral design and it actually reminds me a little bit of a photograph I took last summer on the North East coast at place near Hartlepool called Seaton Carew.


This notebook definitely falls into the category of something that is almost too pretty to use but I will use it eventually though, when I can find a use for it that justifies its beauty. This particular notebook was exclusive to this box but similar linen notebooks retail at around £12.95 on Ohh Deer.

A6 Notebook



This next item was officially described as another notebook, but let's not beat around the bush here, it's really another to do list! On a bright blue, sea, sky and floral meadow design background, this pad featured a lighter section which contained days of the week for you to circle off, a section to write a checklist, and a blank section for notes.

Again the quality and the environmental credentials are superb, and the size makes it perfect for your hand bag, but lets face it, it's another organiser / planner. As I've said before I love the concept of Papergang but in the time that I was subscribed I received some sort of to do list pad or organiser in nearly every other box, and that is one of the main reasons why I finally made the decision to cancel. Similar products retail at around £4.50 on Ohh Deer.

A5 Art Print 



Next up an A5 print. Printed using eco toners and vegetable inks, this gorgeous print makes me really miss the seaside. it featured a gorgeous costal scene featuring the ocean, cliffs and rock formations, wild flowers and a rainbow. It could easily be Cornwall but I think it more likely to be somewhere in sunny California where Siobhan O'Dwyer's located.

Although the card wasn't that thick the quality it excellent, and I've already put it on the noticeboard in my office, to try and make me think sunny and positive thoughts, when I'm stuck inside, and to remind me that this whole situation will get better and there will plenty of opportunities to go outside and pick flowers, or walk along the beach, in the future.

It's hard to find something similar on Ohh Deer but their A5 prints generally retail at around £4.95.

Greeting Card




Next up a greetings card, and to be honest since I can't go out at the moment this couldn't have came at a better time. Printed on FSC certified card stock, this birthday card featured a lovely, pastel floral design featuring roses, peonies, and daisies on a pale blue background, with the words "Happy Birthday" embossed in gold foil on the front. The card was blank inside for your own message, and it came with a natural, brown envelope.

Despite a rise in digital communication, I personally think that we will always need cards, I love this particular one, and I've already got a recipient in mind for it. Again this card was exclusive to the January box, but Ohh Deer have a whole range of greetings cards available on their website for every person, and for every occasion you could think of, starting at around £2.50.

Gold Triangle Paperclips




The eagle eyed readers amongst you may have already spotted some of these escapees in one of my earlier pictures, but if you didn't the next item in the box was a lovely floral box which contained 18 gold tone, triangle shaped, paperclips. Paperclips are one of those things that you can always find a use for, even if it is reshaping them and turning them into Christmas hooks ;) These are particular nice ones and unlike some other novelty shaped ones that I've tried, they do actually work. These triangle shaped ones were exclusive to the January box but similar boxes on Ohh Deer retail at around £3.95.

Universal Calendar Card 




The final thing as per usual in the box was the universal calendar card, which featured a floral design in different shades of blue.

Looking back over the Papergang boxes that I've had this one was by far my favourite. I love flowers, and in particular I love daisies, so I fell in love with the wildflower meadow design on sight. The standout item for me was definitely the notebook, but I'll definitely use all of the contents, and even eventually the to do list.

As I said though that is one of the main reasons why the January box was my last box. Since I subscribed to Papergang last May there has simply been too much repetition, and I now have enough planners, organisers and to do lists to keep me organised for the next couple of years at least.

As much as I love the concept, and I've always been so impressed with the quality of the products that I've received, I can't justify continuing my subscription at the moment. I'm going to continue keeping an eye on the contents of the boxes, and who knows I might subscribe again in the future if the variety improves but alas it's goodbye for now.

To the best of my knowledge Papergang boxes are still shipping so if you fancy making your own mind up though, and trying Papergang for yourself then have a little look at their website to find out more x

*This Post Contains Both Affiliate And Non Affiliate Links

Saturday 4 April 2020

A Very Late Unboxing Of Glossybox UK - December 2019 Edition - Merry Metallics*

I've had a little look at the posts that I've got coming up, and I think that this might be the last one that dates back to 2019, so after this one everything else should at least be from the right decade, maybe? Anyways since this post and the ones that follow are so late I've had a chance to try nearly all of the products that I'm going to talk about, so that is really my justification for featuring boxes that you can no longer get your hands on - I hope you'll agree with me and I hope that you'll find at least some of the product reviews useful.


Like most Christmas subscription boxes, the December edition of Glossybox UK arrived on my doorstep in special, limited edition, festive packaging. The box lid was a warm metallic gold, overlaid with a rich, matte red geometric design, which coordinated perfectly with rich, matte red base of the box.



The red and gold theme continued inside the box with rich red tissue paper, and paper shred, and a sparkly gold ribbon.



The theme of December's Glossybox was "Merry Metallics" and it was full of radiance boosting products, to help you sparkly your way through the party season - ah the memories when we could actually socialise - surprising what you take for granted - but you can still get glammed up at home for those video chats and these are some of the products that I've been using over the last few months.


LA Splash Cosmetics Golden Gatsby 3D Faux Mink Lashes - 00370 - 1920 - Full Size - RRP £9.50 / $12



The first item in the box was the second LA Splash product that I received in December after the Wickedly Divine Eyeliner In Rosaline, that I got in my Glossybox advent calendar (you can read my thoughts on it here). 

I don't know a lot about them but from what I can gather LA Splash are a US based, cruelty free cosmetics company, and even though I'm not a huge lash wearer cruelty free ones are a must for me! These are gorgeous, full, synthetic lashes. I remember it caused a little bit of controversy at the time but there was no adhesive with the lashes due to potential latex allergy concerns, but I'm sure most lash wearers would already have a tube or two floating around.

This is actually the only item in the box that I haven't tried yet. Again my facial paralysis, is probably to blame but I am useless at applying false lashes, so now that we all have plenty of time on our hands, one of my goals for 2020 is to learn how to apply false lashes properly, so make sure you're following me on my other social media channels to see how I get on!

These lashes are available either direct from LA Splash for around $12 or from Beauty Bay for around £9.50.

Steve Laurant Loose Powder Pigment - Rose Gold - 1.5g - Full Size - RRP £14 / $14.60



Next up, an item from another brand that appeared in the 2019 Glossybox Advent Calendar, Steve Laurant. Where as the advent calendar contained a lip balm / tint (you can read my review here), December's Glossybox contained a multi purpose, loose pigment powder.




Both cruelty free, and gluten free this powder come boxed and beautifully packaged in a faced clear pot, with rose gold / copper toned lid.

This superfine powder is in a beautiful coppery, gold shade, the pigmentation is excellent and it blends effortlessly into the skin.




This is a multi use products so you can use it on the face, body and on the eyes. I've mainly been using this as an eye colour and I think that it's a really pretty shade, that would also work nicely in the summer with a tan.






The pot is quite small but since you only need to use a tiny sprinkle of pigment each time, it should last a long while.

The only official retailer of this product appears to be direct from Steve Laurant where it retails at around $18, Glossybox give it a UK retail price of  £14.60.

Bellapierre Liquid Shadow Eye Candy - Venus - 3ml - Full Size - RRP £15




The next product was another make up item and this time it was a product from cruelty free, mineral make up brand Bellapierre. Bellapierre is a real favourite subscription box brand, and even though I was already familiar with the brand various calendars and boxes have given the opportunity to try more products and learn more about the brand. I've tried a couple of lip things from them now including a Kiss Proof Lip Creme, in the March 2019 edition of Glossybox, the Kiss Proof Lip Finish from the 2018 Glossybox advent calendar, and the Banana Setting Powder from the 2017 Look Fantastic Advent Calendar, but this is the first time in a long while I've had the chance to try an eye product.



This is basically a liquid / cream eyeshadow that Bellapierre claim won't crease or smudge. The shade I received was Venus, which is officially described as golden nude.





First impressions were good, I loved the colour, and the swatch only encouraged my optimism,  the sponge applicator made it simple to apply, it was smooth, it was pigmented and it set pretty quickly.


So I immediately decided to pop it on my eyes, it was a little more glittery than I'd expected from the swatch but it looked it very pretty on, but and the big but it didn't last at all, the swatch on my hand actually washed off quite easily with just water, and in under an hour the shadow had completely disappeared from my mobile lid, leaving only dozens of particles of glitter!





I love the colour but this just didn't work for me at all - They were right it didn't crease or smudge, it just disappeared! I hate giving up on products so I'm going to try this with a variety of shadow bases, and I might even try it as a base for other shadows - I'm not relegating this to the useless pile yet but we'll see. The only place I can find this online is from the official Bellapierre UK website only in slightly different packaging.

L.O.V Cosmetics The Fateful Lacquered Lip Stain - No.730 Dewy Infinity - 5.3ml - Full Size - RRP £7.99 / €8.99




Yes, it's another make up item, and it was something from a new brand to me L.O.V, who are a mainland Europe based cosmetics company, with the same parent company as Catrice and Essence.




This lip product is described as the perfect of a lipstick and a gloss. Containing Vitamin E, hyaluronic filling spheres, this lip colour claims to be long lasting, smudge proof, and it also claims to plump and enhance your pout.



Glossybox subscribers apparently received one of 5 shades, the one that I got was Dewy Infinity, an almost cherry red. Packaged in an almost mascara like tube, this product comes with a tapered sponge applicator for easy and precise application, which is exactly what you need with a colour like this which has a tendency to creep outside of the lip line. It felt very creamy, and smooth on the lips, and it felt very comfortable to wear.




The finish itself was very shiny and glossy, that gloss gradually faded leaving a real pretty and slightly more wearable pink, red lip stain, which gradually faded from the inside out.



This isn't a very "Louise" colour but I'm slowly but surely learning to appreciate a bold lip, and whilst I would only wear this colour for a party or for a night out, I can appreciate the quality, the finish and the wear time. One word of warning though don't get this on your clothes if you can help it - I managed to get some on a pale blue top, and it's taking some getting out! The only place that I can find this range is directly from the L.O.V website where this full sized lip colour retails at around £7.99.

Original Source Sweet Rhubarb & Raspberry Shower Gel - 250ml - Full Size - RRP £2.30


Away from the glitz and glam of the rest of the box the final item was a little bit more practical and it gave me a chance to try another shower gel from Original Source.

Like the previous shower gel that I tried from Original Source (read my review here) this one is suitable for vegans, it's eco friendly and it contains 100% natural fragrances. This particular shower product contains 4 essentials oils and extract including rhubarb stalk extract and raspberry extract.

The first thing you notice when you open the bottle is the scent, it has a very fruity but at the same time, natural scent. I can smell a true raspberry scent, intermingled with the tart, sweet notes of the rhubarb - it really has one of those scents that makes your mouth water. It isn't all about the scent though this is a lovely thick shower gel, only a tiny amount produces a mountain of surprisingly moisturising bubbles.

I love rhubarb and it's slightly tart, tangy scent, and I'm really pleased to see it popping up in more and more beauty products, and this shower gel has quickly became a firm favourite in my bathroom.

Glossybox quote a recommended retail price of around £2.30 but like with a lot of drugstore, and widely available products it worth shopping round, obviously safely and observing government guidelines as you do it but I've seen it for as little as £1.

For me this was a pretty decent box, especially since I'm a huge make up lover, the eyeshadow was a bit of a fail, but the standout product for me was another make up item and it was the Steve Laurant pigment, a lovely shade, and something that I will definitely use. All in all this box was well worth money, and the contents were ideal for the party season and beyond. As I say despite the lateness of this post I hope you've found it useful and I hope that you've been inspired to look beyond some of the more obvious beauty brands and products out there, and to try something new x Don't forget to use my referral if you fancy trying Glossybox for yourself - have a click of this link to find out more x  If you have any questions on any of the items in this post then please leave me a comment below and I will see you soon with another late unboxing post x 

*This Post Contains Both Affiliate And Non Affiliate Links