Brush up and Make-up!

Sunday, 28 April 2013

GlossyBox - April - Pearl Lowe Edition

Ooh I do love a good floral! And this month's GlossyBox is definitely that. Pearl Lowe has collaborated with the beauty box brand to bring us a special Spring Fever edition - a beautifully floral printed box and Spring fresh goodies inside.

Better still, I've been hoarding those GlossyDots again so this was another free box for me. Bargain!

Sunsense Daily Face SPF - 10g sample size - full size 75g £10.50
I'm never without my SPF - bless me and my whiter than white skin - and having tried so many for the face that don't suit my oily skin type, it was nice to find a brand that might solve all my problems. Sunsense is actually Australia's No. 1 sunscreen and did you know it's also the UK's number 1 prescribed suncream*?? Nope, neither did I! Well I'm more than impressed with this little sample and will definitely be looking to stock up on a bigger size for this Summer. So what's so great about it? Well, daily face is a facial sunscreen that covers everything when it comes to sun protection - UVA, UVB and factor 50+. The cream is light, oil-free and has a sheer matte finish - yay for combination/oily skin types. It also has a slight tint to smooth out the complexion whilst you catch some rays. Sounds pretty damn perfect to me!

Yves Rocher France So Elixir Purple Yves Rocher Eau de Parfum - 5ml sample size - full size 50ml £44
Last time a I got an Yves Rocher product in a GlossyBox was back in October and it was a not so lovely shade of lipstick. So 'put off' is probably the best way to describe my association with this brand thus far. Thankfully, this little perfume sample has redeemed them somewhat and it's a decent size one too! Yves Rocher's So Elixir launched back in 2009 and So Elixir Purple is an updated version of their classic. It does smell familiar but I can't place my finger on it. The literature says it contains Tuberose, Vetiver and Patchouli - but I'm no perfume guru so I'll have to take their word for it! Anyway, it's half price on the website at the moment if you're looking to purchase.

Nip+Fab Dry Skin Fix Body Butter in Mango - 50ml sample size - full size 200ml £9.95
I've heard of Nip+Fab before but have yet to try any of their products. The brand was created by Maria Hatzistefanis, the same person who created Rodial - just with a more affordable price tag! And this body butter was the perfect introduction to the range. It smells deeeeee-licious! I got the Mango one but they also do Pistachio and Coconut versions that I can't wait to get my greasy little mitts on. This rich, whipped cream repairs and rehydrates skin with the added ingredient of Aquaxyl, a 24-hour moisture booster that improves your skin's natural moisture reserves. I love it and it's half price on the website now... I think I need to stock up!

Essie Nail Lacquer in Nice is Nice - full size 13.5ml £7.99
I do love a good nail polish and my collection of Essie has now doubled in the last month! Ok, I only own two but their pastel shades are glorious, they apply well and dry quickly so I fear my stash is set to expand. I love Ballet Slippers from my astrid & miyu secret box so it's nice to try another shade from their very large colour range. This month's box gave me Nice is Nice a soft creamy lilac that looks great on and is perfect for Spring. Here's a quick swatch that I'll put on the other blog soon:

Sleek makeup Blush in Pixie Pink - full size 8g £4.49
I loved the Sleek palette from the Christmas 2012 box so even though repeating brands is a pet hate of mine, this I can totally forgive. The flavour of the month was blusher this time and I got the, ever so vibrant, pink shade Pixie Pink. Sleek blushers are highly pigmented, long-lasting and have a silky-fine texture so they apply really smoothly. Although it looks a little scary in the palette, this shade looks amazing when on, and it suits my skin tone well. Less is more is definitely the way to go with this one:

I have to say, this is my favourite box so far this year. And it was all FREE! Not one item has disappointed me and I will truly use every single product this month, that could well be the first time that's ever happened!

If you like the idea of subscribing to GlossyBox, then use this referral link to sign up today.

Disclaimer - I have subscribed to GlossyBox out of my own choice and money (damn the fanciful idea of mystery beauty products delivered every month). It was my choice to review the products above and I have done so in a 100% honest manner. I am not compensated for my reviews but if you use my referral link to start a subscription then I can get points towards a free box next time... well who doesn't want free beauty stuff?!!

Wednesday, 3 April 2013

astrid & miyu March Secret Box

Earlier on this year, I posted about a new subscription box service from astrid & miyu called the Secret Box. I got my first box back in December and I was so pleased with the items they'd personally picked out I couldn't wait to receive my next one. If you want to read about my first Secret Box and how the subscription service works, then check out my original post here.

Well along came March and the delivery of my second Secret Box. One thing I had noticed was that astrid & miyu reduced the box value from 'up to £200 worth...' to only up to £100 in jewellery, as claimed on their website. Was I disappointed that they'd changed? Not really. After all, getting £100 worth of jewellery for only £39 is a bargain, let alone £200, so I still feel like I'm getting amazing value. And when they hand-pick products for your box so that it is tailored to your tastes, and they get it oh so right, I truly cannot complain...

... and oh boy did they get it right! I was ecstatic with the contents for my second box. If you read my first post you will remember that there was one sparkly, rose gold astrid & miyu number that I had had my eye on forever. And yep, you guessed it, I got it in the box, along with the beautiful matching earrings.

Readers, let me introduce you to the Love At First Sight collection...

Love At First Sight Ring £49

Love At First Sight Earrings £39

The Love At First Sight ring I spotted a long time ago on Tali's (now deleted) blog Glossy's Wardrobe and as worn by Zara at Mouldy Fruit. As one of astrid & miyu's signature styles, with curvaceous rose gold and glamorous sparkle it's no wonder why it's a best seller.

The metal ring is made from rose gold plated brass, adorned with Swarovski crystals and is easily bendable to adjust to fit most ring sizes. It fits my ring finger perfectly as it is and I am completely in love with the glittering elegance of it - I never want to take it off!

Along with the ring, astrid & miyu sent me the matching earrings and they are equally exquisite! Again, made from rose gold plated brass but with sterling silver posts.

The earrings are just the right size to get noticed without being to over the top 'bling'. They consist of two Swarovski crystal encrusted half circles that cross over and sit perfectly in the ear, gently curving under at the bottom of the earlobe.

Along with the gorgeous jewellery, astrid & miyu added a couple of little treats to the Secret Box which I thought was the perfect added extra. I got the ultimate elegant nude nail polish from Essie in Ballet Slippers so I can be perfectly manicured and show off my ring at the same time. But more importantly a little voucher for 30% off future astrid & miyu purchases... fear not, I spent that well and will show you the fruits of my spree shortly.

All I have to do now is wait patiently for my next box, three months seems so far but it will be worth the wait. For now I will continue to glitter in rose gold and stare lovingly at my new ring... roll on June!

Disclaimer - I have not been sponsored for this post and I purchased the Secret Box out of my own monies. For the terms and conditions or further information about astrid & miyu's Secret box then please check out their site here.

Sunday, 10 March 2013

Valentines with Aamaya by Priyanka

If you follow me on instagram (@brushupmakeup) you'd have seen me post a photo of this a few weeks ago. Last month was Valentine's day and typically, after nearly 8 years together, the boy and I decided not to bother with much.

That was until I saw this beaut on my-wardrobe.com - oh how she sparkles! Believe me, I didn't ask for it, I bought it there and then and promptly thrust it under his nose with the instruction 'give this to me for valentine's' - subtle I know! Well, I couldn't possibly buy myself a heart shaped ring like this now could I?!

The ring is called the 'Crystal Rose Gold Heart Ring' and is by a brand called Aamaya by Priyanka. I'd spotted it somewhere in the blogosphere before and then it must have been fate when it creeped into the my-wardrobe sale (half price down from £125).

Aamaya by Priyanka is a jewellery label by the designer Priyanka Lugani. She is inspired by her many travels around the globe to create her bold statement pieces and also finer jewellery collections, like this ring.

It is 18 carat rose-gold plated sterling silver and the open heart design is embellished with crystals. It only came in one size (US 6/UK L) so I'm glad this was the perfect fit for my ring finger.

I absolutely love it, which surprised me for someone who normally veers away from heart-shaped jewellery. But the simple elegance of it just seems to work.

Stockists of Aamaya by Priyanka can be found on their website and their collections are stocked in many countries around the world.

Disclaimer - This is not a sponsored post in any way but the ring was gifted to me because I am a kind and loving girlfriend who deserves to be spoilt... ;)

GlossyBox - March - City Chic

This month's theme for GlossyBox was 'City Chic' and I have to admit that they hit the nail on the head for those essential handbag beauty staples that help keep you looking effortlessly glamorous. And if that wasn't enough, they teased me with their little travelling book - an exciting guide to cities around the world... oh how I crave a holiday right now!!

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Skin Protectant Fragrance Free - 7ml sample size - full size 50ml £25
The Elizabeth Arden eight hour cream is as iconic as the Clarins Beauty Flash Balm and can you believe that neither exist in my vast beauty collection?! I know, bad beauty blogger indeed. Eight hour cream has so many uses (chapped lips, dry hands, smooth cuticles, shape brows, refresh skin... to name but a few!) that it would make a handy go-to handbag saviour for those little beauty emergencies. I'm glad that it's fragrance free too - the original version never quite appealed in scent to me.

Nails Inc. Nail Varnish in St. James - 4ml sample size - full size 10ml £11
Ooh I do love a good nail varnish and if it comes in a cute dinky little bottle - even better! I already own a similar shade to St James which I showed here on my other blog Brush up and Polish up! but this red seems to be on the pinker side of pillar box red, so it's not exactly the same. I love Nails Inc. products full stop - easy to apply, gorgeous colours and a smooth finish - so GlossyBox could never really get it wrong with this one.

Juicy Couture Fragrance in Couture La La - 1.5ml sample size - full size 100ml £63
Hmmm, skimping a little with a fragrance sample? Well I have to admit that a small handbag spray is quite handy at times so I see how it fits with the theme. I also have to confess that I'm not really a fan of Juicy Couture (the packaging is quite garish and just screams tacky to me I'm afraid) but the fragrance is actually fairly pleasant. It has a nice floral tone to it with a hint of musk as well as being not too overbearing and quite feminine. I doubt I will repurchase but it was a nice little sample to try.

Tresemmé Salon Finish Extra Hold Hairspray - 100ml sample size - full size 500ml £4.69
Perfect timing GlossyBox - I'd just run out of my handbag size and this was the perfect replacement. I tend to go for the lighter hold options though as the stronger ones can get a bit heavy in my fine hair. I have always bought Tresemmé hairspray, the big ol' tins for the dresser and a little one for the handbag. I'm sure you're all very well aware of what a hairspray does so I don't need to explain that one but the various brands do tend to differ. I guess I settled on Tresemmé a while ago when the shop own brands failed to do the job and Elnett was just too ridiculously expensive for a hairspray. Repurchase? Of course! This just saved me the job of a trip to Boots.

Jelly Pong Pong Cosmetics Lip Blush in Cranberry - full size 2.5g £12
I last tried a Jelly Pong Pong product in July's Glossybox and wasn't disappointed so it was nice to see another offering from the brand in this month's box. I would have preferred the pinker shade they do in this range, I'm not really a red lippie person, but I gave it a go anyway. They advertise this as a 'lip blush' which is essentially a balm like lip stain that moisturises and injects a bit of colour (just imagine a Clinique Chubby Stick and you're there). It was very easy to apply and very smoothing on the lips although I was a little wary (as I am with most lipsticks) that I'd end up smudging it and getting red smeared all over my face, thanks to the habitual lip chewer that I am. Asides from my fear of red, this was a lovely product that I would consider repurchasing - in a different shade of course!

If you like the idea of subscribing to GlossyBox, then use this referral link to sign up today.

Sunday, 3 March 2013

GlossyBox - February - Valentine's Edition

Love is in the air so GlossyBox have gone all pink. Naturally! How much this month's box actually fits with the theme of love is fairly questionable but they've managed to pick out a few pink-ish things that fit.

It looked like a good-un until closer inspection left me feeling a little all out of love....

Micabella Cosmetics Mineral Blush Powder in Terracotta - sample size - full size 9g £34.95
I thought I'd come across this brand before, but apparently not. I was thinking of another, similar mica powder cosmetics company. Anywho, I was intrigued to find a blusher as the foundation/powder samples I often get are inevitably too dark for my pasty complexion.The shade I got was Terracotta, a nice soft peachy bronze tone that won't be too dark once applied. I like that it has SPF 15 coverage too and am keen to give this a try out and step away from my comfort zone of pressed powder blushers.

ModelCo Eyeshadow Duo in Bronzed Goddess - full size 2 x 2.35g £18
I've seen ModelCo tanning products before and of course the famous fibrelash brush on false lases, but have yet to try any of their makeup. So it was nice to see a full size eyeshadow duo in this month's box, and in some colours that form a pretty staple shade palette for me. The colour combination is called Bronze Goddess and consists of a pale gold shimmer and rich bronze-brown tone - great for a subtle, natural glimmer or building up a full on bronzed blend.

Anatomicals You Need A Blooming Shower - 150ml sample size - full size 300ml £5
Ah, another anatomicals product! So that's October, December and now February... we must be on an every-other-month thing! I wouldn't normally mind as anatomicals win me over with their product names alone, but this one is a little different. It's rose scented, and we all know how I feel about rose *retch* the smell justs gets to me and gives me a headache. Ah well, I'll chuck this shower gel at my sisters and see if they can get some use out of it.

Helen É Cosmetics Moisturising Lipstick in Café Au Lait - full size 3.5g £8
Now a lipstick makes sense for the theme of this box, but shouldn't it at least be pink? Or red? Or kiss proof? I do prefer moisturising lipsticks, but not in yucky brown shades. This is still sat, unopened, cellophane intact, in a drawer gathering dust. I just wish they would send more appealing shades!

Docteur Renaud Raspberry Soft Cream - 30ml sample size - full size 50ml £25
Ooh this smells yummy, but it's a cream for normal to dry skin and that, I do not have. Ah well. Another for the 'sister' pile. I've heard a lot of great things in the beauty blogging world about Docteur Renaud products and was keen to give this raspberry cream a go, but it just won't work on my oily skin and I daren't risk overloading my face and the inevitable breakout that will surely follow. For those of you with normal-dry complexions, this moisturiser is designed to protect, hydrate and soften your skin all day long. And is raspberry scented, what's not to like?!

And a lollipop. Well, that was tasty! Here's hoping that March comes a little bit more up to scratch GlossyBox...

If you like the idea of subscribing to GlossyBox, then use this referral link to sign up today.

My Guess Rose Gold Arm Candy...

You might remember my Going Crazy for Chronographs! post I did just over a year ago and my quest for a chunky bit of arm candy... well if you follow me on instagram (@brushupmakeup) you will have noticed that I did not give up the search and have indeed purchased myself a very un-dainty timepiece to glam up my wrists. And what a bargain it was...

... I found this gem on eBay no less! It was an unused gift that someone wanted to sell and I managed to get in to bid at just the right time. I think I got it for around a third of the RRP so I was bloody chuffed with my bargain hunting. All I had to do was get one more link taken out and I was good to go.

So what is it I hear you cry, well this is the Guess Ladies' Spectrum Chronograph Watch or W170041L to be precise. They do loads of different colours, all pretty much the exact same style but with slightly different product codes. This one is the Rose Gold version with a Champagne face/dial.

It came in a little Guess branded presentation bag with a two-year guarantee. The watch strap and casing is stainless steel with PVD rose gold plating and it is water resistant up to 50m - not that I ever want to wear it in water, something about that just feels so wrong, but it's nice to have the safety of knowing that a bit of rain or washing up won't hurt.

As you can see it is quite chunky when on the wrist and it is the biggest watch I own, but I absolutely LOVE the simplicity of it and the colour is perfect. I am definitely not one for a diamanté or crystal encrusted bit of watch bling so this suits me perfectly.

Clutz here however, has already flung her arm around so much that I have scratched the glass face after only a week of owning it! So if you're clumsy like me then just bear in mind that this is on the larger side and you might want to be a bit more careful. With that exact thought I have put this aside as my 'special occasion' watch and I use a different one everyday that I don't mind getting scratched.

Althought this isn't exactly the same as the one in my original post (so much for insisting I wanted just a gold watch!) I am so happy with my bargain find.

If you're interested in the same design, I've found it for sale on the John Lewis website but if you're not fussed about your exact watch design and are looking for bargain too, then I highly recommend a trawl on eBay - just be careful, there are a lot of fakes out there and be honest with yourself how much you're willing to bid. Sometimes you're better off spending £20 more to get it from a 'proper' shop for peace of mind and guarantee.

Disclaimer - my rather gangster timepiece was purchased by myself for myself, should you wish to join me in chunking up your wrist, then the links above are merely suggestions of places you could acquire such a watch from (in exchange for monies of course).

Saturday, 2 February 2013

GlossyBox - January - Detox Edition

New Year and a new you... well Glossybox thought so too as the first box of 2013 is a 'Detox' box with a few bits and pieces to help you recover from the over-indulgence of Christmas.

Even better, I'd been saving my points and this was another freebie! I know, I'm a bit of a hoarder when it comes to GlossyDots aren't I??!

So that's two boxes in a row, December and now January, for free, well that's a good start to 2013 in my eyes...

Elemis Fresh Skin Skin Glow Facial Exfoliator - 30ml sample size - full size 100ml £12
This was the first thing in the box to jump out at me. I've had the odd Elemis facial before and received a couple of beauty box samples from SheSaidBeauty and (the now defunct) feelunique.com but have yet to be enthralled by any products specifically. Ok, I admit, I'm such a girl that the pink packaging was the first attractive thing about this item but actually on closer inspection I was pleased that I'd got it in my box. This exfoliator is from the new Elemis 'fresh skin' range - a collection designed for younger skins from teens to twenties... well, at 26 I guess I kind of still fit in that category right? It smells deliciously of mandarin and has jojoba beads that gently polish the skin without being too abrasive. On the whole, a nice product and it has lead me to check out the rather affordable (think Boots No7 sort of price) new range for any other exciting skincare finds.

Duck Island Body Lotion - 30ml sample size - full size 2 x 250ml £24.95
Just looking at this product screams 'hotel bathroom sample' and upon checking out their website (link above) I think I got it spot on! Duck Island are a brand of toiletries that infuses the fragrances of mandarin and bergamot to 'capture the exotic aromas of the East'. It smells lovely, sinks in well and leaves skin soft, what can I say? It's a body lotion! Cute packaging but at £25 for 500ml it's a little steep and even if I did want to pay that, they only seem to come in batches of 20 bottles on the website...!

Jason Lips Bee Healthier - full size 4.5g £1.99
Uuuuuhhhhh! Another lip balm! Really????!!! You can stop now GlossyBox, thank you very muchly. My drawer is bursting with ones I've picked up from beauty boxes and I can't seem to use them up fast enough. I'm a serial lip-chewer so lip balm is a must have skincare staple in my opinion but I just have too many now. Anyway, I've tried this one out in the name of beauty blogging, and I like because it's instantly smoothing and softening with the aloe and beeswax. But I dislike the hint of peppermint oil that makes my lips tingle and swell like I've been literally stung by a bee! Not one for those times when you're suffering with sore lips.

Monu Warming Aromatic Mask - 30ml sample size - full size 100ml £24.95
Ah, hello Monu, I haven't seen you in a box for a while.... This brand made quite a few GlossyBox appearances last year so it was a little annoying to see it again and then I realised it was a mask. Oh yeah, I love a good clay mask! My greasy and slightly spot prone skin makes me a perfect candidate for slapping on a thick natural clay layer and this one is warming too - a nice added benefit. It doesn't dry out and I think I prefer ones that do - you feel like you get more of a deep cleansing effect - but at least I can crack a smile when I have this on :) If I could change one thing, I would like this to not have a lavender scent, it's a little too 'old' for my liking.

Premae Skincare Balance Rescue Face Tonique - 30ml sample size - full size 50ml £27.50
Now I'd seen this brand before but couldn't think where and then I remembered I got a face balm in an old SheSaidBeauty box. I wasn't that impressed by it (I mean, who uses a face balm??) but this little face tonique intrigues me. It claims to be a face toner for combination skin (tick!), that mattifies (tick!) and rejuvenates congested skin (ummm tick??). It's alcohol free and contains lemongrass, sandalwood and rose water to cut through excess oil without stripping the skin - now this sounds like it was made for me! I'm going to give this a thorough trial and see how I get on. But if I like it, I'm not sure I'd like to fork out nearly £30 for only 50ml of the full size product!

And the GlossyBox ~~cuddly toy~~ freebie.... was an sleep mask instead of the normal make-up. I have to say I preferred this bonus item to most but seriously GlossyBox, lay off on the (slightly naff) freebies for a little while yeah? The boxes don't need them. And dare I say it, I'd prefer a sample perfume instead.