Last few weeks in photos ♥

I haven't blogged in a few days, so apologies! To be honest, my heart hasn't been in it for the last week because my dog sadly had to be put to sleep. I'd had him since I was 12, so for the last ten years. It has been so difficult, more so because we didn't know how ill he was and he was put to sleep so quickly...I didn't feel I had time to prepare myself. It's been so sad. 

I only took this photo a few weeks ago. He looks so healthy, and I couldn't even imagine him passing away so soon. He was such a lovely dog- so happy and excitable. 

Besides Oscar passing, I've really enjoyed the past few weeks.

 It was my cousins wedding on the 8th (apologies for bad quality photos!), and it was absolutely beautiful. The weather was stunning and the whole day was lovely. 

 It was also my friend Soph's 22nd birthday. It was absolutely hilarious...we all went into Manchester with celebrity masks on...I didn't realise how popular Keith Lemon was!

Have you done anything fun lately?

September Glossybox Review ♥

I'm always indecisive about Glossybox. Two months ago I was going to cancel my subscription but forgot, and luckily too, as I received an amazing box. Unfortunately I feel this may have just been a fluke, as September's box is pretty poor. 

This months box has been designed by Maggie Li. I actually think the box is really pretty, and probably the best thing about this months box. I was really excited when I first saw the box and couldn't wait to see what products I'd received. 

 The five products I received were:

Lady Gaga Fame Perfume Sample (1.2ml)

Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream (7ml)

Vichy Idealia Day Care Cream (15ml)

Maghrabian Hair Oil (10ml)

Rodial Glamoxy Snake Serum and 5 Minute Facial (Four sachets)

Lady Gaga Perfume Sample- I hate it when Glossybox put perfume samples in and consider them one of your five products. I think for £12.00 a box, a little perfume sample isn't quite good enough. However, the actual fragrance is really beautiful. It has a deep floral scent, and perhaps a little sweet, but nothing too overwhelming. I actually really enjoy the scent, and although it wore off quite quickly, I think it smells quite expensive and reminds me of other designer scents. 

Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream- Glossybox seem to love this brand and I often receive one of their products in every box. Although I really enjoy the brand, I thought Glossybox was about variety and trying new things. The eye cream is lovely- a little thicker than other eye creams, but I quite like that. It has an unusual scent, I think lavender, but it's not too overpowering. My eye area was left feeling soft and a little more rejuvenated. 

Vichy Idealia Day Care Cream- This is the first Vichy product I've tried, and I really enjoyed it. The product is lovely and creamy, and slightly scented of Rose. It definitely illuminates, and made my skin look fresh and awake. Definitely a product I would consider buying full size.

Maghrabian Hair Oil- I'm not really into oils, especially for my hair. My hair is very fine, so oils can leave my hair looking and feeling greasy. This product I love, however. It has the most gorgeous scent, which is quite hard to describe. It's quite a gloopy oil, which meant that I used a pea sized amount. I used the oil to apply to my dry hair after straightening, and it looked and felt lovely. My hair was so smooth, but definitely not greasy, and I just really enjoyed the scent of my hair all day!

Rodial Gamoxy Snake Serum- I'm excited and scared of using this product. The thought of applying snake serum to my face isn't so exciting, and I'm dreading even applying it to my face (I'm such a wuss!). I have heard amazing things about this product however, so it's something I'm definitely going to try. I think I'll be doing a full blog review of this product because it's definitely an unusual product.

Although I received some great products, they're such small samples that I just don't think it justifies the prize. Oh well. 

What did you think of Glossybox this month?

Topshop Sunbeam Highlighter Review ♥

I've been after a good highlighter for a while, and spotted Topshop's Sunbeam and thought it was so pretty! I have to say that after using it a few times, I'm a little disappointed. It looks so beautiful and shimmery in the pot, but this just doesn't translate when applied to the skin.

 I love the packaging for Topshop's make up range- it's simple but really quirky and unique. It's a shame because I had high hopes for the highlighter, but it's so gold when applied to the skin that it's really difficult to blend.

 When I swatched the product in store, it looked so beautiful in the store lighting. In natural lighting however, it's unbelievably gold. The purpose of highlighters is to apply them where the light catches your face- I like to apply mine to the cheekbones and eyebrow bone. However I feel that when using the highlighter, it doesn't highlight these areas, but makes them look rather scary! It's very hard to blend, and I feel like I'm left with big patches of gold on my face. 

WITH FLASH

WITHOUT FLASH

As you can see, the colour is beautiful but definitely not ideal as a highlighter. I'm unsure what to do with the product, and as it was £10.00, I feel that I need to get some use out of it. I may try and use it as an eye shadow for a night out, or perhaps try applying it lightly to my shoulders and collarbone for a night out.

Have you tried this product? What's your favourite highlighter?

My Prize- Serenity of Beauty Giveaway Winner ♥

I just wanted to do a quick post to show you what I was lucky enough to win recently! The lovely Serenity of Beauty had a giveaway competition on her blog and I won! I was sent a box full of goodies, and I just wanted to share some of the lovely products I received. 

 It was packaged beautifully, and came with a little note to say congratulations. I didn't expect there to be so much in the box...I was definitely spoilt!

 I can't wait to try all of these products! The Yankee Candle is burning away at this very moment, and I tried the chocolate face mask last night (yum!). I'm really excited to try the MUA Beauty Balm because I've heard lots of great things about it.

Definitely take a look at Serenity of Beauty's blog for lots of great reviews!

River Island + Company Magazine Discount ♥

Company Magazine (which is £1 this month!) are offering 20% off at River Island to students with NUS cards. Well, I was straight there! I'd seen some shoe boots that I really wanted that were already reasonably priced at £35.00...but 20% is even better!

 I love that because the wedge blends in with the colour of the boot, the heel looks really big. They're not that high, and so easy to walk in. I'm already getting prepared for winter and stocking up on my knitwear! I thought these boots were the perfect colour for winter, and so easy to wear with most outfits. I also bought some gold, cross earrings which I thought were really cheap at £3.00. 

Definitely go grab Company Magazine if you have your eye on something in River Island. I've always thought it was bad that River Island doesn't offer students any discount, and to be honest, it puts me off from shopping there....so this makes up for it!

Bourjois Texture Silicone Gel ♥

I think I have discovered my favourite beauty item of this year! I absolutely love having polished nails, and love having a good manicure. I'm particularly a fan of shellac nails because it's a gel like polish that lasts for weeks and looks immaculate. Well, I seem to have found a cheap and amazing way of achieving this look at home with Bourjois Texture Silicone Gel. I cannot believe I have never heard of this product before!

I love a red polish, and the gel makes the colour look amazing on my nails. I always think red polish makes my nails look very tidy and well groomed, if that makes sense! I used 17 Knockout Red, which is a lovely, bright red. 

 The gel is red but applies and dries transparent. Bourjois claim that it takes a second to dry but I'd say it takes a good minute, which is still pretty impressive. The application brush is large and in width and lengh which makes applying the gel really easy. The results are amazing!  

BEFORE

My nails before applying the gel polish.

AFTER

 I think they look amazing, and have a real professional finish. So any people keep asking me if I've had my nails done, which is a sign that they are looking good! The gel also manages to increase the time it takes for  my nails to chip. It has been around 5 days, and I've only just started to notice a few minor chips, which is pretty good seeming as I've had such a busy week. 

I really can't recommend this product enough! I really think it's amazing, and it actually makes me wonder what I did before I bought it.

What do you think?