january glossybox review 2013 ♥

I always have a little rant about Glossybox and how disappointed I can be with their boxes. After last months impressive box, I decided to stick with Glossybox and hope that their next box would be just as good! I'm actually quite pleased with this months box. Although I was hoping for more make up (last months box had an amazing Sleek palette!), I was still really impressed with the products. 

 The box included an:

Elemis Fresh Skin Facial Exfoliator: I'm so happy with this product! I think Elemis is considered a blog/youtube sensation! I haven't tried Elemis but I've always been eager to. It smells lovely and fruity and left my skin feeling soft and refreshed. Elemis say this product is aimed to "nurture skin and help prevent premature ageing". I hope this is true!

Glossy box sample: 30ml

Jason Lips Bee Healthier: This was a full sized sample, and a nice, little product. The product is so soft and almost buttery, and my lips feels moisturised all day...perfect for all of this cold weather that we're getting lately! The product contains beeswax, vitamin E, green tea extract and aloe vera gel. All of these ingredients are key to having healthy and smooth skin, so I had high hopes for this product.

Glossy box sample: Full size 4.6g

Duck Island Limited Body Lotion: The shape of the product is what caught my eye first, and the large picture of a duck! I'm not sure how I feel about this product. I actually was apprehensive about putting it on my skin because the smell is so overpowering. I think it smells like bleach! The smell has been described by the company as "zesty", which is definitely one word for it. I couldn't buy this product no matter how good it was, as I feel like I smell like a toilet after using it!

Glossy box sample: 30ml

Monu Aromatic Mask: My favourite product of the whole box! Glossybox has been introducing Monu products into most of their boxes, and although this should annoy me (Glossybox aim to introduce you to new, luxury products in each box) it doesn't, because their products are that good. My skin has been so dry recently, and after cleansing I put this mask on for 15 minutes as required. My skin looked literally glowing...even my mum commented on how soft and dewy my skin looked. It also doesn't dry and flake off on your skin which is a bonus.

Glossy box sample: 30ml

Paul Mitchel Super Strong Daily Conditioner: I received a Paul Mitchel product in a November box which I really enjoyed, so was happy to see this product. I've only used the conditioner once since receiving the box but I really like it. The ends of my hair are a little dry at the moment, and this made them feel lovely and soft. My hair also looked a lot bouncier and thicker. 

Glossy box sample: 100ml

Bonus product:

A Glossy box eye mask! I haven't photographed this as I couldn't find it, due to using it last night. I thought this was a lovely, little bonus and actually was really helpful in helping me sleep last night!

Do you receive Glossybox? What did you think of the box this month?

November Glossybox Review ♥

Hi everyone! Apologies I haven't blogged in so long. I've been really ill with kidney stones which I can assure you, is not glamorous! To make blogging even harder, my laptop decided to break! I'm therefore writing this post from my iPhone, and my photos will also be from my phone! Sorry for the quality... I should have my laptop back for my next post! Anyway November's Glossybox...

So the theme this month was Stocking Fillers which I thought was a really cute idea. I have to say I was very impressed with Glossybox this month. It is most definitely one of the better boxes I've received in recent months.

My stocking fillers included: Dr. Bart Water Fuse Beauty Balm- I'm yet to try this but I've heard really good things about this product. Apparently it prevents make up from streaming because of 'sebum production'. Very interesting. I also received Burberry's latest fragrance, Burberry Body eau de Parfum- it smells so lovely and I adore the beautiful, little bottle.

I think my favourite product in the box was Alison Claire Natural Beauty Mango Butter. It smells amazing! It smells like mango obviously, but it is so rich and yummy. It's gorgeous on my skin and definitely a product I may consider buying full size. Nails Inc also made an appearance in Glossybox and included a tiny top coat nail varnish. I wasn't wowed by this, but I think it's perfect for my handbag. Finally my box included a really good sample size of Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant- I haven't tried this yet but I love their products and I'm sure I'll be impressed!

What did you think of your Glossybox this month?
Apologies this isn't a great quality post...it's so difficult to do without a laptop and my camera!

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?

Glossybox July 2012 ♥

I was going to cancel my subscription last month, and then I thought I'd give it one last try. I've been really disappointed with Glossybox in the past few months. I didn't feel the products were high end as advertised, nor did I feel I was getting variety in products. I still feel the same this month. I seem to get so many products for anti ageing (I've filled in a profile, but it doesn't seem like they are aware I'm 22 years old!), or really horrible scents (this month is no exception), or Monu products ( I like them, but a girl can only have so many Monu products!). People seem to get the HD brows products, but I never received the tweezers as many did in their last box, or the HD brows palette as some have this month. 

I'm not saying the products aren't great at all, but I always seem to have Monu products in every box, and I've already received Paul Mitchel products. I also don't think a teeny perfume sample (that smells rather bad) can count as an actual product in a box that costs £12.95. The Jelly Pong Pong Lip frosting was really lovely and sweet, but I actually already have a full sized tube of this, not that that's Glossybox's fault!

I think what saved this box for me was the Nuxe oil for M&S beauty, which can be applied to face, body and hair. I don't use very many body oils, so it was nice to try a new product, not only from a different brand but I hadn't received anything similar from another Glossybox. The Paul Mitchel Moisture Mist was also another nice product, which can be used on skin or hair. To be honest, it hasn't done much for my hair or face, but it definitely felt refreshing on a hot day. 

I think the time may have come to cancel my box however, or even try a new beauty box. I just don't feel Glossybox offers "luxury products...from high end brands" as they say. I used to love receiving my Glossybox each month, but now I feel slightly conned.

Sorry for my massive rant! What did you think of your Glossybox?

Hope you weren't disappointed!

June Glossybox 2012 ♥

Yesterday I received my monthly Glossybox, and again was really disappointed. I just don't feel I'm getting my £12 worth of products, and sometimes many of the products I really dislike. There wasn't anything that I wouldn't use in this months box, however it was quite unexciting, and I'm thinking about un-subscribing.

The products included a sample of Vichy Ultra-corrective Foundation Case Stick. I was actually quite excited to try a sample of this, as I know this product was designed to hide any severe skin flaws, such as blemishes, scars, burns and birth marks. I have a small scar and a very dark birth mark on my face which I manage to hide with a good concealer, but when my make up wears off it becomes visible again. I'd heard good things about this foundation so I was happy to try it. It worked really well at covering all my flaws including little blemishes and circles under my eyes. A 12g full size of the foundation stick is £19.00 which I think is quite pricey, although I definitely think it's worth it if you have any skin flaws that you'd really like to hide.

I also received a full size sample of MeMeMe Sensuous Nail gloss (12ml for £4.50) It's a nice, natural colour, but it doesn't excite me, and I don't think it's a colour or make that I would have purchased had it not have come in the box.

I also received another BM Beauty sample (I received another BM product in my last box). Although I like BM products, I thought the idea of Glossybox was to try new make up products and I'd already received an eye shadow from them in my last box. I received 1g of Summer Warmth Bronzer, which came in a really tiny pot, that unfortunately makes a real mess when you try to open it. The product is lovely however.

In the box was also a 10ml sample of Caudale Eaux Fraiches, which came in a pretty box and the sample size is very generous. It smells lovely- quite fresh with a hint of floral. I was actually really pleased with this product, and thought it was the perfect size to pop into my handbag.

Glossybox also popped in one of their very own goat hair blush brushes worth £15.00. I'm yet to try it, but it feels super soft so I hope it doesn't disappoint.

I think the products I used to receive in Glossybox were really good, but I'm a little disappointed by them at the moment. None of the products seem very exciting, and I think it's a bit overpriced for the products I'm now receiving.

What did you think of Glossybox this month?

Oh dear, Glossybox, oooh dear...

I'm really disappointed with Glossybox this month...especially after receiving such an amazing box last month. I'm not sure what I think of Glossybox at the moment, as it always seems so hit and miss. I can imagine ending my subscription and then seeing some amazing posts about the lovely products people have received...oh, such a dilemma!

So my box included:

•  Becca, Beach Tint Watermelon- Full size £20.00/7ml. Overall, a lovely product, and my favourite item in the box. It smells lovely, is easy to apply to both the lips and cheeks, and stays put for most of the day.
• Dr Bronner, Lavender Hand Sanitiser- Full size £3.99/59ml. Very generous sample size. Smells lovely, but, well...it's hand sanitiser and I was hoping for a product a little more exciting. I guess it will come in handy.
• Awapuhi By Paul Mitchel, Wild Ginger Treatment Oil- Full size £25.95/100ml. Another generous sample size, and it appears to be a very good product. I'm yet to try it, but I'm keen to see what it's like.
• BM Beauty, Pure Mineral Eyeshadow- Full size £7.00/2g- Worst product in the box. It's tiny, so tiny that it makes such a mess when I try to poke my finger in it. I have to be honest and say that purple eye shadow really isn't my thing. Some people received some lovely colours however, so perhaps I was a little unlucky.
• Como Shambhala, Invigorate Shower Gel- Full size £20.00/300ml. It smells nice, and that's all I can really say. I guess the sample size makes it perfect for travelling purposes, but there's very little I can comment on other than it's shower gel.

I definitely don't feel the box was worth £13. Did you receive a Glossybox this month? What did you think?

December Glossybox

 Well, wasn't December's Glossybox a real treat? Firstly, the box is red and shiny...hello, Christmas, and the products were just so good this month. I am more than impressed. I'm at university so my boxes get sent to my home address, so when I started seeing people's reviews, I couldn't wait to come home for Christmas and get mine!

I was happy with every single product besides one...which I thought was pretty terrible. Actually, maybe I'm being too critical, but I just can't think who this product would suit. It was the the Blink and Go Eye shadow and Blush. I don't know where to begin with my dislike for this product. The packaging is awful- black and green? Oh dear. It's so masculine, but also reminds me of the products aimed at teenagers with acne. You know when the products typeface is really OTT and just so out there? It gets worse though. It turns out that it's a compact, again in this ugly black and green colour....

...and the colours? I think the last time I liked these colours was when I was eleven. What I will say, is that the pigmentation was actually really impressive. It's just a shame that I wouldn't wear  a single one of the colours. Same for the blush colours. They again reminded me of when I was small and used to receive free make-up in my magazine -they smelt like plastic and the blush colours were orange. So wrong.

However, I am so happy with the rest of the products. My favourite has to be the Deborah Lippmann nail varnish in Razzle Dazzle. It is just so perfect for Christmas and really pretty!

 I haven't used it, but I can't wait. I love a bit of Christmas sparkle! I was also chuffed to pieces with the Cargo lip gloss in Morocco. It's a shimmery pink colour, but looks lovely and natural on. It managed to stay on my lips for a good hour before it shifted too, so definitely a good'n.

Another gorgeous product is the Ritual Yogi Flow foaming shower gel sensation in Indian Rose and Sweet Almond Oil. Oooo, it just smells delicious! I always worry about using foaming products because I feel they run out quickly, however I used this in the shower last night, and just a small pump of it was more than enough. It just smells gorgeous! It left my skin so lovely and soft.

And finally...

The Bionova Eye Wrinkle Treatment. I probably won't need this product for a few years, but it smells nice and the consistency is lovely and thick. My mum seemed quite excited by it, so I'll be giving it to her to test out for me!

Do you get Glossybox? What did you think of December's box?

Love, Sophie Olivia x x

Oh hi November's Glossy box...

I'm sure you know by now that November's Glossybox has arrived, horrah horrah! I'm hugely disappointed, yet very happy with this box!

So this months Glossybox included:

• Arbone Fc5 Cooling foot creme
• Dead Sea Spa Magik Dead Sea Bath Salts
• Monu Skin Perfector
• Nail Rock Designer Nail Wraps
• Serge Lutens L' Eau Serge Lutens perfume samples.

 So Glossybox was a small dissapointment this month. The hideous perfume samples did not make me happy...what a smell they had. Unisex perfume is never a good thing. Also, the nail wraps seem to make another appearance, as I'm sure they were in September's box? I'm not so keen on nail wraps...I think they're tricky to put on and I prefer to just paint my nails really. I am in love with the Monu skin perfector however. It is just so lovely on your skin and smells lovely. It left my makeup flawless all day...beyond impressed. This is one product I will definitely be purchasing. The other products were just alright I guess. Nothing spectacular.

I feel like Glossybox is lacking a little at the moment. Thinking back to a few months ago when Glossybox contained full sized products by well known brands...I just don't think they're cutting it as good as they used to be. I don't think I'll unsubscribe because I know I'll regret it when I see a great review from somebody, I just think they're a little hit and miss!

Do you get Glossybox? What do you think?

Love, Miss Sophie Olivia x x

Lets go and get glossy....

I had a terrible day at work, but came home to my first ever Glossybox. Horrah! Properly excited. I basically tore the box open a bit too excited, as my mum watched and looked confused. Ha. Anyway, I'm satisfied with the products...not hugely wowed by them, but they'll do.

 

What did I get from GlossyBox?

• Daniel Sandler, Baby Jet mascara- I've seen a few reviews for the latest Glossybox, but I appear to be the only person that didn't get the jumbo mascara? Strange. I wish I did, because I'm not really that impressed with the babyjet mascara. Apparently, it's ideal for "very short lashes around the inner and outer corner of the eye. The Micro-Fine brush is perfect for precise, non-messy application". However, it is not. I was actually quite looking forward to using it, but I found it difficult to use a little and I ended up with quite clumpy, little lashes. 
• Murad, Time Release Blemish Concealer- "Clinically proven to increase cell turnover, it reduces blemishes while diminishing wrinkles and keeps your skin smooth and glowing!" I love this product. I can't comment on diminishing wrinkles, as at 21 I have few. However, I've recently had horrible skin, due to starting a new summer job which isn't great for my skin at all. I've used this product for the last four days and my skin has visibly improved. Far few spots and my skin is so soft. I love applying it to my face too...it's like I've splashed my face in cold water, and that fresh feeling lasts for ages.
• Ahava, Mineral body lotion- "Richly moisturizing lotion draws on the properties of Dead Sea minerals to effectively hydrate, nourish and protect the skin". I love the smell, which is pretty difficult to describe! It left my legs all soft, and smooth. Lovely product.
• KMS California, Hairstay Style boost- "Primer for your hair. The foam-to-liquid crackle formula enhances natural movement and bounce whilst boosting the performance of styling product for style that lasts". It's hard to comment. I find this product a little strange. When I squirt the product into my hand, yes, it crackles, but it also freezes my hand. It is literally, freezing, and you have to wait until it's liquid. Not pleasant. It also clumps in my hair and dries rock hard if you haven't managed to brush the product out before blow drying. I will say my hair looked shinier and was a lot smoother, but I just don't understand the product. It wasn't a primer, wasn't that great to use, and I was left with a frozen hand...
• Rebel Nails, Nail Wraps- "Easy to apply, long lasting and kind to nails". I haven't used this product yet and I'm not sure I will as I'm not so keen on the style (as shown in the photo), although I;m sure they're great for someone who wants a set of funky toenails!

GlossyBox is currently £10 per month, although the price is rising to £12. I love the pretty packaging, and overall you get some quality items. I'm hoping next time there will be more make-up products!

Have a look:

www.glossybox.co.uk

Love, Sophie Olivia x x