GlossyBox - July Edition

"Ooooooo...!" was pretty much my reaction when I opened last month's GlossyBox. After a slightly disappointing contents from June - did you feel like you were left wanting more? - this month has completely met my expectations.

GlossyBox went with a slight 'festival theme' this time, with products to get you through the nights of long hard partying. And is it just me or did your July box feel like it was tailored to your preferences? If not, mine must just be sheer luck but I have never opened a box and felt that it's products were picked specifically for me before...

HD Brows Eye & Brow Palette in Foxy - full size worth £19.95

Oh yes, thank you GlossyBox! I couldn't believe it when I saw that I had the HD Brows palette and instantly gone was my hesitation of a repeated brand two months in a row - fickle I know! I was gutted when I missed this in the September box so hopefully this isn't a repeated item for any of the old-time subscribers. It is a bit naughty of GlossyBox really, as this is now the 4th or 5th time they've featured the brand and 2nd time of giving out this exact product... but I wanted this palette so much, I couldn't care less! I got the Foxy shade for brunettes - perfect or what???! Can't wait to give it a go...

Jelly Pong Pong Cosmetics Lip Frosting in Irish Cream Pavlova - full size 15ml worth £15.00

Mmm scented lip frosting... this smells good enough to eat! I have not tried any jelly pong pong products before but I have in the past tried many of Nicola Robert's Dainty Doll range which was by Jelly Pong Pong originally (not sure if it still is though). So far, so good. This is a lip balm/gloss hybrid in my eyes, not sticky enough to be a gloss but too liquid to be a balm. It gives a subtle pink shimmer and isn't sticky at all. The scent is meant to be Irish Cream Pavlova but all I can think is bubblegum! It says this can be multi-purpose too and used for cheeks to add a little cheekbone shimmer, I'll be sticking to lips though.

Monu Spa Golden Glow Face and Body Bronzer - 30ml sample - full size 200ml £23.00

Uh oh, another repeat brand offender! Monu appeared back in the November and April boxes but at least this exact product has not been featured before. Initially I wasn't impressed that I had received another Monu product but when I realised it was fake tan, I changed my mind. As many of you know, I rely on fake tan to not look dead in the Summer months. Yes, I am freakishly pale! But as I am currently sporting a Fake Bake session from last week, I cannot try this out properly until that has worn off so I'm looking forward to giving it a go in the next couple of weeks.

Clynol Salon Exclusive Enrich Colour Shampoo - 50ml sample size - full size 300ml £9.95

Wow, GlossyBox do know me well! A shampoo and it's for coloured hair. Bonus! I hate getting haircare samples that aren't designed for colour treated hair as when I use anything not remotely suitable for my colour, it fades and it fades fast. Clynol is not a brand I've come across before so I'm keen to see how it fairs against my Redken. It contains liquid jewel extract (whatever that means) and UV filters to give "diamond-like shine" and prevent against fading. This sounds exactly like what I need but I am a little dubious to see if it'll live up to it's claim of "30 washes later, you've still got 90% colour intensity" hmmm, we'll see!

Elizabeth Arden Visible Difference Skin Balancing Lotion SPF15 - 5ml sample size - full size 50ml £32.00

Now Elizabeth Arden is a brand I have most definitely heard of, but apart from their make-up, I have tried very little of what else they have on offer. Believe it or not, 8-hour cream has still yet to appear in my skincare collection! I am once again impressed at GlossyBox's ability (or accidental luck) to provide me with a skin product suitable for oily skin. Yay! I am so far really impressed with this lightweight lotion that is oil-free, contains SPF 15 and UVA/UVB protection. It feels really cooling on application and smells of cucumber. That's better protection than my current Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturisung Gel...

Elizabeth Arden Visible Difference Skin Balancing Skincare for Combination Skin x3 sachets - bonus sample

And GlossyBox have treated us with a sample this month - nice! Trying to contend with SheSaidBeauty by any chance? Anywho, I liked this little extra as it gave me a quick tryout of the full range from Elizabeth Arden. The cleanser left my skin clean, soft and didn't leave a residue. The serum felt a little too heavy for my liking but maybe 'less is more' is the key here. And of course, the lotion as I mentioned above, is a winner for me.


Well GlossyBox, you have surpassed yourselves this month! I'm still amazed at how much the products were suitable for me - for brunettes, coloured hair, a fake-tan lover and oily skin! I can't pretend that they knew I was lusting for the HD Brows palette, but I did receive it in the right shade. The lip frosting fits in less so but it is a product that I really like and I'm a big fan of lip balms/glosses more than lipstick, so it's still a win for me.

In spite of the negativity GlossyBox has received from subscribers recently, I am still very pleased with their service and boxes that they have provided. Now I cannot wait for August's box to arrive...

 If you love the idea of the GlossyBox beauty box and want to sign up too, then use this referral link to subscribe now.

 

And if you also enter the code RAF20OFF before 15/08/12 you can get 20% off your first box.

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?!!

Besotted with BuyaPowa!

Oh dear, I think I'm in love... and have spent way too much money already! Oops! My latest obsession is the co-buying website BuyaPowa. Ever since reading about it on Makeup Savvy back in November, I've been hooked.

If you've never heard of BuyaPowa before, basically it's a website that has bulk lots of certain products for sale; the more people that commit to buy a product - the cheaper it becomes. And if you refer the most people to a product, you can even get your one for free! If you're still unsure what I mean, check out Fee's blog post or the BuyaPowa website (both linked above) and take a look yourself.

Fee highlighted the fact that BuyaPowa were due to do an Urban Decay special, which initially sparked my interest, and they've since done a MAC one too. So I thought I'd share with you my little haul from the last 4 weeks of BuyaPowa indulgence...

In total I spent £149.50 including P&P (would have been £237.99) which saved me £88.49!!
Now I can argue until I'm blue in the face that I needed everything listed below, but if I'm honest I really didn't! However, I'm still going to detail all the items I bought, with some initial thoughts, and justify them as much as possible - well if I can convince you guys that I needed them then I can convince everyone else!

First of all, a couple of presents, which I can wholeheartedly justify! And thus not reviewed or swatched as they are a gift. Not pictured (as it's wrapped and already under the tree) is the Urban Decay Pocket Rocket Lipgloss Duo in Kirk and Doug - I paid £7 for these - yes, £7!!!! That saved me £15 off the RRP! They are a perfect little Xmas pressie for my sister-in-law who is Creme Brulee obsessed (which these taste of) so I hope she doesn't read this post! And secondly, Burt's Bees Baby Bee Getting Started Kit which cost me £6 (from £13 RRP) and makes a fabulous little something for my friend who is due to give birth any minute. It contains a buttermilk soap 20g, nourishing lotion 25g, shampoo and wash 50ml, diaper ointment 20g and a nourishing baby oil 30ml.

Now onto a few things for me... First up, a popular co-buy, which is also live on BuyaPowa again at the moment - but hurry they go quick! - OPI's Best of the Best ultimate nail lacquer set. For £17.50 (RRP £27.50) I got 10 mini OPI nail polishes (3.75ml) in their most popular shades. My favourite is Lincoln Park After Dark, bottom right, a dark plum purple shade. Having never tried OPI before, I thought I'd treat myself to this little collection to try them out first. Watch out for my review of this set on my sister blog brushupandpolishup.

I was very excited when I saw that YSL's Touche Eclat went live a couple of weeks ago, and snapped one up straight away. I always use this as a highlighting concealer so it made sense to stock up - especially at £14, saving £10.50 off RRP - it was cheaper than Duty Free! I also bought a NARS Holiday 2011 Eyeshadow duo in Mandchourie for £15 (RRP £23.50) but I can't find where I've put it, hence, no photo. It's a very richly pigmented eye duo in a silvery grey and navy blue which looks really nice as an alternative smokey eye. Having never tried NARS before, but heard lots of great reviews, I thought this would be a good start to my collection. But, yes, OK, it wasn't really needed!

Next up, as well as the earlier lipgloss duo, I also invested in some Urban Decay goodies for myself. Long ago I lost my Benefit Browzings and really needed a replacement so the Brow Box in Honey Pot fitted the bill perfectly. It was £10, saving me £6 off the RRP and definitely a cheaper alternative to replacing the Benefit one. Now the shades are slightly too light for my colourings - as although I'm pale I have dark hair - so I ended up mixing these, with my new MAC eyeshadow (see below) which works quite well! I also picked up the Lip Primer Potion for £7 (£13 RRP) as I have never used a lip primer before and I have to say I'm quite impressed. I've only used it a few times, but it has definitely helped keep my lipstick and even lipgloss stay put for longer. Justified? Check!

My favourite BuyaPowa purchase though, has to be my MAC haul! Last week, they were offering a MAC five piece collection for as little as £45! RRP was £74.99! And naturally, I purchased one straight away. Now I can honestly say, this purchase I did not need, but having only bought MAC eyeshadows/liquidliners in the past (and that was yonks ago) I wanted to freshen up my make-up collection a little. For an average of £9 per item (bargain!) I got (swatches from L to R):
Powder Blush in Dame, Mega Metal Shadow in Top of the Posh, Lipglass in Madcap, Eye Kohl in Smoulder and and Eyeshadow in Embark.

I love the lipgloss, I've worn it the most so far out of all my BuyaPowa purchases, it's a really soft beige/gold shimmer gloss that just enhances your lips without adding too much colour. And it smells fab too - of toffee I think?! I've yet to try the eyeshadow, it is very metallic, so I'm wondering how to wear it best at the moment.  The kohl is just a simple black kohl eyeliner which will probably wait to be used until I can no longer sharpen my Lancome one. The blush is a very matte pink tone which I have never worn before and am looking forward to trying, and the eyeshadow has been used as, well, an eye-brow-shadow as I mentioned before! It's the perfect dark matte brown that if I'm honest, will probably never get used anywhere except my eyebrows!

Now my last purchase actually wasn't the most recent thing I bought but it was by far the most disappointing. Benefit's POREfessional had intrigued me after reading Milly's review on her Pearls and Poodles blog. So when it popped up on BuyaPowa, I thought, what the heck! But I really wish I hadn't. Many bloggers have been impressed with Benefit's efforts to conceal pores but I found that mine were still visible and my make-up didn't hold that great on top either. Now I don't know if I just have particularly cavernous holes in my face or uber greasy skin (eew! That sounds gross! My face isn't that bad honest!) but I would rather my regular primer any day. I really struggle with oily skin and thus open pores, but I felt that this didn't live up to it's claims for me. I didn't like it's texture, which felt too silky (if there can be such a thing) to the point where it started to feel almost greasy and my make-up didn't seem to hold over the top of it. I didn't even attempt to touch up with it, over my make-up, having experienced bad times by doing this with similar products in the past. I wouldn't consider the £17 price tag for this product, let alone the RRP £23.50 but I think it is something you should try before you buy to see if it suits you. After all, everyone's skin is different and what doesn't suit me, won't necessarily not suit you either.

So that's my little lot (or rather large lot now I look at it in full!). I have to say, I cannot believe I'd never heard of BuyaPowa before, I know it's new (launched in September) but I'm sure many others aren't aware of it's existence and you can save so much on your make-up essentials - take for example me and my Touche Eclat! I particularly love the fact that they take recommendations for what co-buyers want to see listed as co-buys and they honestly do listen! There isn't just make-up for sale, for example, a VW Golf is on the list of 'Coming Soon' co-buys (I'm actually quite intrigued to see what kind of saving they'll have on it!). But it is definitely worth signing up to the newsletter and checking in every day or so, to see what's gone live.

There is only one warning I will give you though, and that is to really think "Do I need this?" before you purchase. Because, as I've found out, the temptation to get something because it is such a bargain can cost you more in the long run. I really didn't need my MAC purchase, or the OPI set and I found myself almost automatically trying to buy yet more OPI and MAC products, just because they were cheap. If you are sensible, you can truly find some excellent deals that suit you and your budget.

Have you heard of BuyaPowa? What have you bought from them? What are you waiting for to go live?