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

Unboxing Pink Parcel UK - August 2019 Edition - Midnight Garden Edit*

I know this post is a little bit late but I'm not going to apologise for that - I took a bit of time out for some family and friend time - I helped my mam celebrate her birthday and I spent a lovely day with my bestie, that unfortunately I'm still recovering from, walking along the sea front, eating ice cream, playing mini golf, and shopping.

Even though I haven't managed to get a post up, I've still being posting on Instagram and I've been photographing products, and make up looks for some upcoming posts. The first few posts that I've got coming up are quite long and in depth so I'm going to get down to it straight away, and do some catch ups starting with August's Pink Parcel unboxing x

After a few up and down months with Pink Parcel, like July's box , August's arrived bang on time and its arrival coincided perfectly with the arrival of my period. My August box was packaged in the old style grey and pink outer box, and inside it contained the familiar pouch and a mixture of Pink Parcel, and Betty Box cardboard boxes.

Again I chose a pads only box, and this time round I received 24 items, which was one more than last month. Like last month, and the month before, and the month before that I got a mixture of different brands rather than the brand and product type that I requested. As I've said before I don't really mind a mixture of brands but I actually received an email from Pink Parcel last month telling me that the items I'd selected were being discontinued, so maybe that's why I've been getting a mixture of different products. I've selected another product now so it should be interesting to see what I get in September's box.

Now on to the fun stuff and the theme of August's box was Midnight Garden, and the theory behind the box was products that would take from day to night. It contains products that would be great for festivals and summer days, and pampering products that would help you wind down at the end of the day.

Floss My New Favourite Lip Gloss - Yul - 15g - Full Size - RRP £16 / $16

The first item in the 'Wants' box is from a new brand to me, Floss. Hailing from Canada, their products are cruelty and paraben free, are specifically designed to enhance your natural beauty.

Packaged in a squeezy plastic tube, with a doe foot applicator, Floss claim that this gloss is smooth, hydrating and long lasting, and that it will quickly become your new favourite lip gloss, a big claim indeed!

I received the shade Yul, which I believe is the code name for Montreal International Airport. It looks translucent pink in the tube but as you can see from the swatch below it actually comes out clear.

It's not the thickest gloss that I've ever used but it feels comfortable on the lips, and it doesn't feel too sticky or tacky. I used to be a real lip gloss fiend when I was younger, but now I'm not a huge fan of the gloopy or tacky feel. This isn't bad though it adds a nice subtle gloss to the lips, without too much of the goo. Obviously you can wear it over another lip colour but I like the slightly glossy, natural look that you get from wearing it alone. 

If you're not a huge fan of full on thick, sticky glosses then this one might be worth trying. It looks nice and wears well, but personally I'm not a huge fan of the taste or scent which more often than not is a pretty big deal for me. It has a slightly synthetic, and dare I say it plastic like vanilla / coconut scent. It's not crazily strong so I will probably use this up but I can't see myself repurchasing it. If you fancy trying it for yourself though, then you can buy it directly from Floss.

Minus -417 Time Control Firming Radiant Mud Mask - 20ml -Est. RRP £8

Next up another brand that you may not have heard of Minus -417. Apart from featuring occasionally as potential prizes on the Clawee app (my invite code code is WCLLZER if you fancy playing), the first time I heard about the range was when I received a face wash in the January edition of Glossybox UK.

You can read my thoughts on it here, but I really enjoyed using it so I was really pleased to receive another product from this Dead Sea based skincare range in August's Pink Parcel. 

Pink Parcel are famous for including face masks, and this one is a 2 in 1 exfoliating and nourishing mud mask, that is designed to deeply cleanse, exfoliate, and nourish the skin, whilst at the same time drawing out impurities and absorbing excess oil. It contains Dead Sea mud, red and white clay, avocado, and olive oils, verbena extract, honey, titanium dioxide, and vitamins A, B, E, and F.

With a mild, slightly earthy, aquatic scent, it has a creamy clay mask type consistency, and it contains small exfoliating particles. -417 recommend that you apply it to cleansed skin, avoiding the eye area. It was nice and easy to spread, and to apply evenly. On application there was a slightly warming sensation that gradually disappeared after a few minutes. 

On Application

The advice was that it should dry in about 7-10 minutes, but given the humidity when I tried it out, it probably took around 10 or 11 minutes to dry completely. It dries like any other clay mask, and you do experience a slightly tightening sensation as it sets but it wasn't uncomfortable.

After Around 10 Minutes 

Clay masks can often be quite stubborn and quite difficult to remove, but this particular one was quite easy to remove with warm water, and a muslin cloth. My skin was a little bit pink after removal but that quickly disappeared. Unusually for a clay mask my skin didn't feel tight, it felt comfortable and supple, and it looked clearer, cleaner and smoother.

After Removal

I am a bit of a maskaholic and this was a nice one, I liked the warming sensation, and the exfoliating aspect and I liked how supple my skin felt when I'd removed it. I'm not sure I'd go out of my way to repurchase it but I'll happily use it up. Pink Parcel value this 20ml size at £8, the full 10ml size retails at around $39 direct from Minus -417.

Mudmasky Hair Mask, Scalp Treatment & Miracle Shampoo - Full Size - RRP £26-£29

The next item is a product from Pink Parcel favourite brand Mudmasky. Over the years I've recieved quite a few products from Mudmasky but this time it isn't a face mask, it's a hair product.

Now I haven't had a chance to try this yet but it sounds really interesting. It's basically a paraben and sulfate free, 3 in 1 hair mask, scalp treatment, and shampoo. Like all of the Mudmasky products it isn't tested on animals and based on the theory that healthy hair starts from the scalp, it's designed to repair and strengthen the hair,  and to moisturise and to prevent an itchy scalp and to control dandruff. It's suitable for all hair types but it's especially good for damaged hair.

As I say I haven't tried this yet, but it sounds like it could be a real time saver, you need to leave it on the hair for 1 minute, and it could replace up to at least 3 products, so I can't wait to give it a try. As per usual I'll let you know what I think in a future empties post x This is a full size tube and retails at around £29 / €29 direct from Mudmasky x 

Anatomicals Tanatomicals The Stick It Where The Sun Does Shine Stick SPF 30 Lip Protector - 5.5g - Full Size - RRP £3

It's been a little while since I've had an Anatomicals product in a subscription box, so it's nice to see them again and it's nice to receive a product that I haven't tried before x 

From their sun care, and fake tanning diffusion line Tanatomicals, this is basically a twist up, stick lip balm that contains an SPF 30. 

I'm not a huge fan of the slightly cardboard, synthetic plastic taste but it's actually a pretty decent lip balm. It has a nice moisturising feel, it adds a nice bit of gloss to the lips, and it actually absorbs into the lips, rather than just sitting on the top.

The addition of the SPF also means that you could also use it on the tops of the ears, on the nose, and on other exposed bits that catch the sun in an emergency. 

Even though the Anatomicals range still seems pretty widely available, the Tanatomicals website doesn't seem to exist any more, and I can't seem to find this product anywhere online, so it may have been discontinued. 

Moonface Fan Brush - Full Size - RRP £8

I do love a make up brush, as I'm sure my rather crowded dressing table would testify to, if it could talk that is, so I'm always pleased to see a brush in a subscription box, and in particular I'm always pleased to see a fan brush.

My first ever fan brush was from Ruby and Millie and would you believe that I still have it x Look after your brushes and they really will last a lifetime. Fan brushes are just so useful, you can use them for removing eye shadow fall out from under the eyes or on the cheeks, or to apply loose powder to the t-zone, or even to apply a bit of highlighter or cheek colour. 

This is a particular nice example, I love the pink and purple ombre handle, and the pink hairs are super soft.

I can't actually find out anything about this brand though, the website that Pink Parcel gave doesn't seem to exist and a web search proved equally fruitless. So if you know anything about Moonface then I'd love to hear from you so please leave me a comment below, or contact me via my email louloulanduk@gmail.com or via my other social media channels x 

Cocoba Milk Hot Chocolate Spoon - 33g - Est. RRP £2.75

I'm going to start off by saying that technically this is a stick not a spoon, but that in no way affected my enjoyment of this product ;) Why would it, gorgeous Belgian milk chocolate, that you melt into a mug of warm milk, or if you're greedy you can just eat it as it is.

I'm not going to lie that's what I did, when I got my Pink Parcel it was way too warm for hot chocolate, so I just ate it off the stick like a yummy chocolate lollipop. A huge chunk of good quality chocolate, what is not to love about that! 

I can't put an exact price on this product because all of the similar products on Cocoba actually contained a wooden spoon, but they looked almost identical so I would imagine that this product would retail at around £2.75. 

Lyons No3 Rich & Full Bodied 100% Fresh Ground Coffee In A Bag - 1 x Bag 

I honestly don't know why these bags aren't everywhere - the whole idea of ground coffee in a bag is just such an amazing, time saving concept. I've received a few of these in the past, most recently in March's Pink Parcel, and as yet I still haven't managed to try one - Mummy Lou drinks a lot more coffee than I do, and she always manages to get there first, so fingers crossed I get a chance to try one of these at some point in the future x 

I don't think was the most exciting box that I've ever received but as per usual there was a decent range of products, and most probably products that I'll use - the standouts for me was definitely the mask, and the chocolate spoon but I'm also excited to try the Mudmasky hair product. Let me know your thoughts on this box, and don't forget to check out the Pink Parcel website if you're interested in signing up for your own box x 

*This Post Contains Both Affiliate And Non Affiliate Links