New Additions To My Make Up Bag

I've recently been shopping and picked up a few new things for my make up bag. Some of these items I have seen reviews for and have been desperate to try, and some just a spur of the moment purchase. I love trying new products out and seeing how they vary from what I was previously using.

I purchased:

| SLANTED KABUKI BRUSH | The Body Shop. |

| SHEER MATTE FOUNDATION | NARS, Siberia. |

| CREAMY RADIANT CONCEALER | NARS, Vanilla.|

| THE SCULPTING POWDER | Kevyn Aucoin, Medium. |

| PERFECT LIGHT LOOSE POWDER | No.7, Translucent. |

SLANTED KABUKI BRUSH

£16, The Body Shop.

This will actually be my first ever kabuki brush and I only use it to apply my powder. I love The Body Shop brushes and instantly had high expectations for this one. I wasn't let down at all. The bristles are super soft and feel great against my skin. I actually bought this originally with my bronzer in mind but found much better use for it. The powder brush I had before was certainly a lot smaller and often gave the effect that I had caked it on. I find this brush gives my powder an even distribution and helps my skin look as natural as possible with minimal effort. The brush is only a few inches tall and whilst it looks fairly hefty can fit into a make up bag or hand bag with ease. As much as I love this brush, I don't believe it's worth the price and I would definitely suggest picking it up in a sale. It's a fantastic brush, I'm just sure there are far better alternatives out there.

SHEER MATTE FOUNDATION, SIBERIA, LIGHT 1.

£30.50 for 30ml, NARS, Space.NK.

I popped into Space.NK with the intention of trying out the Sheer Glow foundation, when I discovered this one. My skin can get a little oily sometimes and I decided trying to mask it with a matte finish rather than draw attention to it with a glow would be the better option for me. I don't understand why I haven't bothered to purchase this foundation sooner. I was a little put off by how sheer it is but I sooner realised that isn't a bad thing. The coverage is light/medium, but buildable and still looks natural after using a fair bit. I love how easy to blend this foundation is and how close to my actual skin tone the shade is. I would definitely suggest buying the pump (it's about £3) to go with this as getting the liquid from the bottle may be a tad difficult without one. This foundation would be perfect for an everyday 'no make up' make up look. It's breathable and so light on the skin, I sometimes forget I even have any on.

RADIANT CREAMY CONCEALER, VANILLA, LIGHT 2.

£21 for 6ml, NARS, Space.NK.

They certainly weren't lying when they decided to call this concealer 'creamy.' The texture is so rich, creamy and applies with ease. The coverage is medium to high, depending how much you apply and is definitely buildable. This concealer has been the easiest concealer I've ever tried, when it comes to blending. It takes minimal effort and the results are still amazing. I find it perfect for my dark under eye circles and any other blemishes I may have. The price is a little steep, but I love the finish it gives and how it makes my skin look and feel so I really don't mind at all. 

THE SCULPTING POWDER, MEDIUM

£35 for 3.1g, Kevyn Aucoin, Space.NK.

Out of everything in this post, this is my absolute favourite. Contouring has become a huge thing recently and I've been attempting to master it. Whilst still not there, this powder has been a huge help. It's a fairly unique colour, brown, with undertones of grey and red to help simulate the colour of the natural shadowing that occurs on the face. My skin is awfully fair and I was so worried this colour would look so ridiculous on me, but this colour is perfect for people with fair to medium toned skin. This powder actually leaves a better finish than any bronzing powders used whilst contouring due to the fact it is such a similar colour to the natural shadowing on your face. The powder is soft and silky and only a minimal amount is needed, otherwise it can look too dramatic. It blends really well, so you don't look like you've just drawn a brown line on your face. In my opinion, this powder is expensive, but because you only need a tiny amount, it will last for a really long time, so it's definitely worth the money. I would recommend finding a stockist and getting an artist to help you apply it, to see what results you can create with this powder.

 PERFECT LIGHT LOOSE POWDER, TRANSLUCENT

£10.50 for 20g, No.7, Boots.

I decided to try this powder because I'm constantly running out of powder and wanted one to last me a fairly long time. I usually buy a pressed powder and even though I find them more messy, I opted for a loose powder this time. With very few colour options I went for the translucent one. I've found I can never really find a powder that is the perfect shade for me. I was impressed with this product. It's soft and silky to touch and feels so light once applied to your face. I've found it gives me great shine control and keeps my skin smooth and matte. 

I suggest discarding the little sponge that comes with the powder because it can often make it look like you've put too much on. I apply this with the kabuki brush I mentioned earlier in this post and it gives me a light, consistent, natural coverage.

I'm extremely happy with my purchases, have you had any new additions to your make up bag? Have you tried any of these products?

If not, which items are you most interested in trying out?

Also, feel free to give me suggestions of any products you think I might like. 

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Festive Lush Favourites

Firstly, I hope you had a wonderful Christmas or alternative. I certainly did! My Christmas wasn't exactly jam packed with excitement but getting the time to spend time with my family was enough for me. I got a few presents, which I love and I'm grateful for having such generous family and friends. The best part was most definitely the roast dinner my dad cooked for us all. OH I don't think I've ever eaten so much in my entire life. My dad sure does know his way around a kitchen. It was perfect, then we all sat around to watch Toy Story 3. My older brother and family then left and the rest of the evening was so lazy it's unreal, but it's nice to relax and have a glass of wine and finish your book. 

ANYWAY, I digress.

Secondly, I'm aware I'm stupidly stupidly late with this post. I've noticed many other people have uploaded similar posts to this weeks ago. I've just been so preoccupied with other things I actually haven't been able to get down to my nearest Lush store. 

I was actually finishing my Christmas shopping with my dad, last week when I dragged him inside the store because I've been meaning to indulge.

I didn't go crazy, mind. I picked up a few of my favourite products at this time of year. (They're all so delicious smelling I can't handle it.)

ON WITH THE POST...

SNOW FAIRY SHOWER GEL

£6.85 for 250g

I adore Snow Fairy, genuinely, the only things wrong with this product is the fact it's limited edition and not at all edible. I'm actually kicking myself that I only bought the 250g bottle. I'm definitely going to have to purchase some online if it's still up. Stock up for the rest of the year. This shower gel is so incredibly sweet, both you and your bathroom will end up smelling like sweets for hours. Not that that's a bad thing at all. It's one of the things that actually makes me love this product so much. The scent isn't overpowering after you've used it, it's noticeable and lingers for a while, compared to other products I've used. It's a bubblegummy, candyflossy, pear droppy, sweet shoppy smell and I love it. The texture of the gel is thick and creamy and only a small amount is needed for it to lather rather nicely. If you're not a fan of sweet scented things, I would definitely stay as far away as possible from this product. It even has a hint of sparkle. What more can you want at this time of year?

SNOWMAN BATH BOMB

£2.50 each

This little snowman is adorable. He has a lovely vanilla scent to him and he turns your bath water a pinky colour when you use him. The main ingredient in making him is cocoa butter and he's incredibly moisturising. I find myself getting out of the bath with lovely soft skin. The scent doesn't linger for too long on your skin after you've used it but it does give an enjoyable bath time, full of flavour. The photos of this snowman on the website are a little misleading because the products are handmade and aren't going to look perfect, but he's definitely still super cute. 

STAR LIGHT, STAR BRIGHT BATH MELT

£3.30 for 40g

This is one of my favourite products I bought the other day. It's COVERED in glitter and when you pick it up will get all over your fingers. Since it's a bath melt, I suggest not to hold it for too long otherwise it'll start to melt a little in your hand. I love using this little star, it turns the bath water a lovely aqua blue colour and the glitter makes my bath time feel so magical. It's a quite refreshing smell, of limes and ginger, which always makes me feel fresh after I've used it. It's extremely rich and creamy in moisture and I've definitely noticed how amazing my skin feels after using it. Some glitter sticks around after using it, so I'd take a minute or so to properly clean your bath. I've found the scent stays on my skins for a while, which I love. I  find myself constantly sniffing my skin because I smell so good.

MAGIC WAND BUBBLE BAR

£4.95 each

I loooovee this so much. It's a solid version of Snow Fairy, the shower gel. Besides the smell, the best thing about this bubble bar is that it's reusable. I think I've managed to get about five to six baths out of this before, but it depends how sparingly you use it. It comes on a stick, which in my opinion, isn't strong enough to support the weight of the head. You swish it about in you bath and it turns the water a lovely light pink colour. It just smells so heavenly. I find the smell it leaves on your skin and in your bathroom lasts so much longer than any of the products I've bought recently. As fun as swishing the wand in your bath is, to get the optimum use out of this, I would suggest running it under the tap.

CHRISTMAS PENGUIN BUBBLE BAR

£2.95 each

This little penguin shares the same problem as the little snowman, the photos on the website are misleading and the product itself isn't as perfect as you'd like it to be. I'm pretty sure I've lost this little guy's nose somewhere and I feel awful about it. Obviously the appearance doesn't really matter since you're popping them in the bath anyway. He has a lovely citrusy, almost menthol smell to him, extremely refreshing. When you've crumbled this bar under running water, your bath will turn a lovely pale blue colour and a load of bubbles will form. This bubble bar leaved my skin feeling soft and hydrated. I've found the scent doesn't linger for too long after use. 

I'm really frustrated with how long it actually took me to finally get to lush, and how long it took me to put up this post. I definitely need to organise my time keeping.

Did you get anything from Lush for Christmas, or a little treat to yourself?

Have you tried any of these products and what are your opinions?

I'd love to hear what you think.

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Glossybox December 2013

I had so much fun writing my post about last month's Glossybox that I decided to make it a regular thing on my blog. I have a rolling monthly subscription to Glossybox and it's always so exciting when it arrives each month. 

Each month is themed and this month was 'Festive Treasures.'

Everything about the presentation of the box was so festive and it got me so excited about the festive season. Even down to the candy canes on the wrapper, you have to admire their attention to detail to make this box as perfect as they can.

The products inside, on the other hand I was severely disappointed with.

For the past few months I suppose I've been expecting too much from my Glossybox and they've been rather average. I was completely in love with last month's box and had extremely high expectations for December's. 

I think my problem was that there wasn't enough glamour in the box. I wasn't expecting tonnes and tonnes of glitter-covered, gold coloured items, but not a single item put me in the party mood, which being the last box of the year and in a way an early christmas present was what I was expecting.

Items in my box were :

| BEAUTIFUL MOMENTS COSMETICS | Nude Lip Gloss |

| WILKINSON SWORD INTUITION | Naturals Razor |

| MAYBELLINE NEW YORK | Brow Drama Sculpting Mascara |

| SECHE | Seche Nail Lacquer, Portobello |

| RITUALS... | Miracle Balm |

SECHE |  Seche Nail Lacquer, Portobello.

£9.95 for 14ml.

I've explained before why I dislike receiving nail related products in my glossyboxes. I've actually had a Seche polish before in a previous box and never used it, except when I first tried it after opening my box. Despite not wearing it for any longer than a day, I was completely impressed with how rich in colour and glossy these polishes are. I dislike the colour I got given this month, it puts me in a rather autumnal mood rather than festive one. It's actually a milk chocolately brown colour when applied and I just didn't like it at all. In my opinion, it's far too dark for this season and rather gloomy. Besides the colour, I'm not too bothered about this product since I never wear nail varnish, anyway.

BEAUTIFUL MOVEMENTS COSMETICS | Lip Gloss, Nude.

£12 for 8ml.

I'm not the biggest fan of lip glosses, I find they can be overly sticky and especially in this weather we're having at the moment, as soon as the slightest bit of wind comes along, I no longer have lips and find myself eating my hair. I was surprised when I tried this lip gloss, it's rich in jojoba oil which keeps your lips moisturised, I find that extremely important at this time of year. I was actually a little surprised when I found out the brand, Beautiful Movements was co-founded by Kimberly Wyatt, from the Pussycat Dolls. The entire brand is cruelty free and the products are free from harsh chemicals and fragrances, meaning it is suitable for all skin types and is actually beneficial to the skin. I expect we'll be seeing and hearing a lot more from Beautiful Movements in the future! The colour of the lipgloss itself is similar to my actual lip colour, but a tad more corally, so it's perfect for an effortless natural make up look.

I was sent a sample size of 4ml, which will easily fit in a pocket, or clutch bag for a night out. I will definitely keep using this product.

RITUALS...| Miracle Balm.

£10 for 75ml.

I just lovelovelove hand creams and balms. I find myself actually getting jealous of people with incredibly soft and healthy hands and I'm pretty sure I'll try almost anything to try and get mine the same. I adore this product so much it's unreal. I've actually worked it into my daily routine and have found that it works best for me when applied before bed, to allow the moisture to sink in properly. It's incredibly rich in texture and I've found a little goes an extremely long way. It smells amazing!! It can be a little over-powering some times but the white lotus and ginkgo biloba leaves a fresh floral scent to your hands. The ingredients include Glycerine, which is the main help in leaving your hands soft and provides the nourishment needed to repair dry, rough hands. The packaging is lovely and I would definitely recommend this balm with dry or rough hands.

MAYBELLINE NEW YORK| Brow Drama Sculpting Mascara.

£4.99 for 7.6ml.

I really did not like this product at all. First of all, I was send the colour 'dark brown' which is a completely different colour to my selection in my beauty profile; so the mascara was far too dark for me to start with. I feel like this mascara is more suited for those with naturally full eyebrows as it adds a little more definition but can draw attention to gaps already in the brows. I found that it is easy to accidentally apply to much, leaving your brows looking and feeling fairly hard and in a way, stale. I also feel the wand is completely the wrong shape, making it difficult to apply to the thinner end of the brow without smudging it either side of the hair. I really did not get along with this product at all, but I would recommend it if you feel you can benefit from extra enhancement of your eyebrows. Even if you decide to purchase it to try it, it's more affordable than the higher end alternatives available. I definitely suggest testing the colour out before you purchase it. I don't think I'll go out and buy the right colour for me, I rely on filling in my eyebrows far too much since they're not as full as I'd like them to be.

WILKINSON SWORD INTUITION | Naturals Razor.

£6.49.

I opened my glossybox and this was the first thing that caught my eye. I thought it was extremely weird to be given a razor but I'm so glad that I was. Nothing feels better than having freshly shaved legs and fresh bedding. I usually opt for the cheapest pack of disposable razors the shop has and often find myself trying to shave my legs in the shower in as little time as possible, leaving myself with battle wounds all over my legs. This razor is actually perfect. I haven't cut myself using it once (yet.) Surrounding the blades is a conditioning solid, meaning you don't need shaving cream or any alternative. All you have to do is ensure the solid is wet and shave away. It turns creamy when water is applied and moisturises as you shave. I actually felt really glamorous after using it for the first time. It comes with a cover for the top of the razor, so you don't get the conditioning solid everywhere after using it and it also comes with a holder which can be attached to the wall, or wherever you want to store the razor. 

It's refillable so once your conditioning solid had bitten the dust you can just replace it with a new one. I wasn't given any refills, but I've just looked online and you can get a pack of three for about £7. 

I definitely recommend checking it out, I have a feeling it's changed my way of shaving from now on.

It actually pains me a little to write a bad review of a product. I really dislike it when something doesn't meet my expectations, or I don't get along with it at all. All these opinions are my own  and obviously not everything will suit everyone, especially with things like beauty boxes, where you don't actually know what you're going to get. It's all part of the fun, though. I love trying new products and brands and I don't think I would be using half the things I do now if it wasn't for beauty boxes and other people's reviews. 

If anyone has anything in mind that they think I may like, or something you'd just like me to try out, please let me know and I'll see what I can do.

Are you subscribed to a beauty box like Glossybox or any other alternative?

What did you think of this month's box? and I'd love to hear what would be in your dream box?

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