Glossybox UK: City Chic Edition March 2013

This month's Glossybox UK was themed as a 'City Chic Edition'. The premise behind this month's theme was to give Glossybox UK subscribers products that would help them achieve 'that glossy, groomed look that city girls miraculously manage to maintain from boardroom to barstool'.

Based off of what I had received for this month, I was a bit upset in receiving this box - I thought that the products were alright, but honestly felt that Glossybox could have done much more with their product range in this month's box. They have claimed that they have 'tried and tested until they found the hardest-working, multi-tasking, heavy-duty products', but again - Based off of what I had received this month, I was a bit unsure about that. It would be interesting to see if there was anyone else who had received a box with different products in it this month to compare with. However, nonetheless, I can't completely rule out this month's box as it did contain a brand or two that are notorious for having great products. I also really loved their 'My Little Travelling Book', which featured top attractions/restaurants in cities all over the world, courtesy of Glossybox's global network, as well as some cute stickers and blank pages for note taking. It was a good nod to their theme for this month and sweet touch to the box.

Nails Inc are a fantastic brand, and I've never had any negatives to say about their polishes. I remember receiving their Kensington Caviar Top Coat in my November Glossybox last year, and instantly fell in love. St. James is a beautiful, bright red colour (described in the pamphlet as a 'classic, pillar box red', but I personally think it's a bit softer in tone) with a slight hint of sparkle to it. It applies very smoothly, leaving a nice, glossy finish after application. I love the size of the product, as well - Although it's not full size (10mL), at 4 mL, it's still a great travel or handbag size to carry around with you.

I'd never heard of Jelly Pong Pong Cosmetics before I received the Lip Blush in this month's box. I think the product itself is quite moisturising and has nice packaging, although I do wish that I had gotten the red colour over the pink one that I received, since the pink one applies quite sheer (I assume that the red one is a bit more pigmented -- Has anyone received it that can either confirm/deny that?) but when applied in layers, comes out as a bright, bubblegum shade. The packaging is simple yet really efficient; I love that to get more of the product, you just twist up from the bottom of the stick, as well. Despite the shade being a bit too sheer-er than I'd have liked, I still think it's great and will be good as a spring handbag essential!

Tresemme is another brand, although being a drugstore brand, that I think plays its cards right. I don't see too many beauty bloggers talking about the brand a lot, but I'd say that it's still one of those brands that does what it says and does it right. I've received a 100mL bottle of the Salon Finish Extra Hold Hairspray in this month's box, which is a great size and perfect for travel - I don't use much hairspray in my daily routine, as I generally like to leave my hair in a natural, flowing finish, but for what this product says it does, I'd say it does it fairly well. It has a nice hair salon smell to it, and if used correctly, it shouldn't weigh hair down too much. I would warn that if, like me, you're not one for stiff hairstyles and tend to leave your hair quite natural, but want a bit of volume or Oomph! to your hair, to spray just a small amount of it about 10 inches or so from your hair to avoid a stiff finish. You can always add more afterwards!

Elizabeth Arden's Eight Hour Cream Fragrance Free Skin Protectant seems to have a love/hate relationship amongst the beauty blogging world. Personally, this would be the first time that I've tried it, and honestly..I don't understand what all of the hype is about. First off, the size of the product that was included inside of this month's box was ridiculously small, which was upsetting, especially since this was a product that I've never tried before..Th product claims that it is 7mL, but it looks about 2-3mL. Second, in testing out the product on my hand, the application of it was very greasy - Almost like slathering butter onto your skin. It took ages for it to sink into my skin as well, even after massaging it in for seemed like ages. The smell wasn't too great, either, although I don't think it was as bad as some bloggers who have mentioned the product make it out to be. Maybe it's a product that needs to grow on me..

One product in the box that definitely grew on me after a few uses was the Juicy Couture, Couture La La perfume sample. It's quite a strong, gaudy scent, sort of pepper-y and musky, yet with very subtle hints of florals in it. It's not something that I would wear everyday, but on a night out or for a longer-wearing use perfume, I'd wear this. 

So that's this month's Glossybox! What do you guys think of this month's box? Did any of you receive different products in your boxes?

February Birchbox UK: London Fashion Week Edition

Hey all! Sorry I've been a bit AWOL the past few days - Uni work has caught up with me (deadlines are coming up soon!) and my lovely boyfriend came round for part of the weekend to celebrate Valentine's Day. We had a nice meal inside, just the two of us, and it was really nice to be able to just relax and enjoy each others' company, since we've both been so busy lately.

I received my February Birchbox on Saturday, which was a nice accompaniment to the weekend. I was really excited in opening it, since I had no idea what any of the products inside would be - And after opening it, I still couldn't contain my excitement!

Ever since Joliebox merged with Birchbox, all I've seen are better and much better results. This month's box didn't dwindle my opinion, either! The theme for this month was to accompany London Fashion Week, so the box was packed with products to help you get through the festivities, whether on your own or at Somerset House. The magazine that accompanied the box this month was fantastic, as well - Full of great trends happening now, including what beauty trends to be on the lookout for on the catwalk this season; great interviews with Lena Korres, co-founder of cult-skincare brand Korres, as well as with Grazia's editor-at-large Polly Vernon; and of course, great beauty tips and tricks to try at home. I was really impressed with the magazine, and hope that Birchbox UK keep up with the amazing work!

Now for the products/samples, since I know you're all dying to see what they are..

Gerda Spillmann: Bio Fond Cream Foundation - I was excited to see how this product would work, as this is the same makeup that is used on the set of Bridesmaids and is apparently sworn by. It's a creamy, light-to-medium coverage foundation that eventually settles into a powder, creating a semi-flawless look. Unfortunately, I wasn't completely impressed by this product, as I think that I was given the wrong shade for my skintone - It wound up making my skin look orange in tone - Not very attractive! Also, I wouldn't recommend this product if you have dry skin, as it does eventually settle as a powder. (Side Note:  I did fill out my beauty profile back in January, as well! So I was hoping that that would've helped..) Either way, if you do receive the correct shade, and you're looking for a creamy, light-to-medium coverage, then this is definitely for you.

Korres:  Guava Shower Gel - This was actually the first time I have ever tried a product from Korres! I was really glad to see this shower gel in the box, as I've heard more than plenty reviews on how amazing their products are. This product smells absolutely amazing , a sweet yet soft scent that isn't too overpowering at all. It also builds up a nice lather, as well - I found that, combined with my buffer, I didn't need to use too much at all - which is something that I always look for!

Nick Chavez Beverley Hills:  Plump N' Thick Leave-In Thickening Mist - I had never heard of this brand before receiving their product in this month's box, but trusted that if Birchbox UK picked it for this month, it had to be decent! This is a leave-in volume treatment for lifeless, limp hair. It can be sprayed in either towel-dried or already dry hair and styled as usual, to give your hair that extra 'Oomph!' that's always wanted and needed! I loved using this product and felt that it actually worked on my hair pretty well - My hair naturally has a bit of volume after washing, but it can become limp so easily, and it's so annoying - So it was nice to get that back!

Vichy:  Thermal Spa Water (Limited Edition) - There's so much hype around this product, it's unreal! I had never tried it before receiving it in this box, but after one use, I think I have fallen in love! I've used refresher sprays before, but this one is quite different - It comes out as an actual spray of water, rather than spritz, and coats your entire face in a hydrating, soothing mist that dries within a few minutes. It also boasts to be naturally enriched with 15 minerals and 13 trace elements that are good for your skin, and can be used as a toner, to set makeup or just as a refresher when you need it!

EBoost:  Natural Energy Booster - I received one sachet of this product in my Birchbox as a 'Lifestyle Extra', which is pretty cool. I haven't used it yet, but thanks to my uni schedule becoming a bit tighter and deadlines coming up within the next few weeks, I know that this will probably wind up saving me through it when I need it most! It boasts to be a 'natural, nutrient-rich, no-crash tonic' that you just mix with cold water and drink to give you energy when you need it most.

Birchbox Eyelash Curler - This was the 'Beauty Extra' of this month's box, which I am definitely not complaining about! Ironically enough, I was planning on purchasing a new eyelash curler eventually, so this came to save the day! I'm sure you all know what eyelash curlers are, and how magical they are - I know for certain that if I didn't use one everyday, I wouldn't look nearly as bright-eyed and awake as I pretend to be on most days - But if you don't, then hop on that bandwagon straight as!

So that was my February London Fashion Week Edition Birchbox, proving yet again that Birchbox continue to do as well as they do. Have you received your Birchbox yet, and what did you think of it? Have you tried any of these products before, and what did you think of them?

Glossybox UK February Valentine's Box

Yesterday morning I received my anticipated February Valentine's Day-themed Glossybox in the post. I was surprised at how quick the delivery was; After receiving a shipping confirmation email the night before, it was delivered to me right the next day! I must admit that I was extremely impressed.

In opening up my package, I really admired the new design on the Glossybox - It was a nice change from their standard pink box, this one coloured a bit brighter pink than usual, endowed with a fuschia-coloured bow design on the lid. Opening up my box, I was also impressed with the wrapping - I have had Glossyboxes in the past that seem to have been put together quite messily, but after filling out their subscriber surveys, I can I see that they took that into account, as well. The contents of the box were wrapped in a lovely light pink paper, with a fuschia-coloured ribbon holding it nicely together. Inside was Glossybox's monthly mini magazine, with a tutorial on to create 'beautiful, bold lips' for Valentine's Day. In unfolding the magazine to a poster-sized paper, the magazine revealed the contents of this month's box.

I have to admit that I was really impressed with the contents from this month's box. It seems that (in a way), like Birchbox, Glossybox has been undergoing some changes for the new year, of which I'm pretty proud of. Past monthly boxes haven't been the greatest in terms of their layout and their contents, but I could definitely tell that with their February box, they are stepping up as a beauty box brand and that I will still continue to be a subscriber and support them. Inside of the box, since it was 'Valentine's Day' themed, I received a Micabella Cosmetics Mineral Eyeshadow in Intelligence (#94), Anatomicals - You Need A Blooming Shower! Body Cleanser, Sassoon Salon Professional Spray Shine, MeMeMe Cosmetics FatCat Lengthening Mascara, Miners Cosmetics Lip Colour in Dreamer, as well as cute red heart-shaped lollypop thrown in for the festivities!

Micabella Cosmetics Mineral Eyeshadow in 'Intelligence' (#94) - I was a bit upset that the sample size was so tiny, but that's the only issue I had with this product. The colour itself is gorgeous - A shimmery, smoky, purple-y - brown colour that would flatter anyone, in my opinion. I find it very similar to Bellepiere Cosmetics Mineral Eyeshadow in it's consistency and it's shade. Despite it's size, I feel that it would last me a bit longer since the product itself is so dense and concentrated, so I would only use a little bit at a time.

Anatomicals - You Need A Blooming Shower! Body Cleanser - Nice to see a full-sized product in this box! I know that from a previous Glossybox, I received the Don't Just Clean It, Scrub It, Woman Body Scrub and was not incredibly favourable towards it. However, I think that this body cleanser is great - It comes out of the tube as a neon pink colour, lathers up really nicely, and smells like they've shoved a bouquet of roses straight into the bottle! The scent is perfect for Valentine's Day, and it reminds me of spring/summer, which I love. Great product!

Sassoon Salon Professional Spray Shine - This product was a sample size, but a pretty decent-sized sample size, at that. After spraying a bit of this product into my dry hair, it instantly felt more refreshed, soft, and incredibly manageable. It smells absolutely lovely, like I've sprayed some light perfume in my hair, and it also added some nice shine to my hair, as well. The product contains  UV ray protection, which is perfect for my colour-treated hair.

MeMeMe Cosmetics FatCat Lengthening Mascara - This was another full-sized product, which I was proud of receiving. The product itself did exactly what it claimed to - It lengthened my lashes dramatically, and the colour was a really intense black, which is favourable to me in mascaras. However, it didn't add any extra 'oomph!' to my lashes, which, since they're a bit thin to begin with, made them look a bit sad. I like volume in my products, and I'm sad that this couldn't contribute to that. But a decent product, nonetheless!

Miners Cosmetics Lip Colour in 'Dreamer' - Another full-sized product! Really, Glossybox..you are definitely stepping up your game! This product was very moisturizing upon application and created a smooth finish. I wasn't too impressed with the colour, since I thought it was bit too shimmery for me, but other than that a decent product with good coverage that lasted a few hours without needing to reapply!

So there's my review for this month's 'Valentine's Day'-themed Glossybox! What did you think of this month's box, and did any of you receive anything different? Please leave some comments below, especially if you've also reviewed this month's box on your blog!

I'll be doing a Valentine's Day-inspired beauty post coming up this week, so keep your eyes peeled!

KMS California UK Birchbox Event

After a night of skincare bliss, I was invited yet again to another Birchbox UK event. This time, it was in partnership with KMS California UK at their KMS Hair Academy in West London. Upon arrival, I was greeted again by the lovely Birchbox UK staff with champagne and yummy cake pops. After sitting down and waiting for the even to start, I was approached by two stylists from the academy - One of them, the lovely Nicola Smyth, asked me if she could use me for her demonstration on stage, which I was more than flattered by!

I was taken backstage where the other stylists and their models sat being styled. I was then explained that the reason I, amongst the other two models, was chosen for the demonstration was because of KMS' philosophy - That their products are aimed towards real people; people who can't get styled at a salon or by a stylist everyday, but those of us who want to achieve great styles in the comfort of our homes by ourselves. I thought it was a great concept on their part. During this time, I was able to talk with Nicola about KMS' hair products - Their benefits, as well as how I could style my hair with them.

I was then taken on stage for the demonstrations. The hairstyle that was demonstrated on me was a twisted-knot bun. Surprisingly, it was so simple to achieve - Nicole explained how to create the look quick and easily. It's definitely something that I am now fitting into my daily hair routine, since I almost never wear updo's (Mostly because I don't know how to achieve any of the hairstyles that I like). It's a great way to wear your hair either formally or informally, which makes this very universal and great to constantly wear!

Nicola's website can be found here.

After the demonstration, I was approached by people who were saying how much they loved my hairstyle - I couldn't get over it! I'm not used to the flattery, so it was nice.

Nicola then re-explained the products she used on my hair, and guiltily on my part, I bought all of them! Definitely not nice for my bank account..But in defense, they are great products! (I also couldn't get past the 40% discount that night, so I suppose it was for a bargain..) I received a sample size of the Free Shape Quick Dry spray in my January Birchbox and absolutely fell in love with the product, so I knew that I was going to be buying a full size of it. I have very long hair, so this spray helps speed up the drying process and leaves my hair feeling über-soft and shiny afterwards. The Free Shape Heat Defense spray makes my hair feel even softer,  as well as protecting it from my blowdryer and it helps hold my style for a few days, especially if I straighten my hair - Which is fantastic! Finally, last but not least, I've never used a texturizing or salt spray on my hair before, mostly because I was wary of them making my hair look/feel too greasy, but this KMS version - The Hair Play Sea Salt Spray - is absolutely brilliant - Nicola instructed me to spray a bit on dry hair, flip it over and blowdry, then flip it over again, brush my hair smooth and then scrunch/mess it up however I like! The best part is, you can reapply the spray up to 2-3 times and it won't leave your hair greasy or weigh it down, which for me is a huge plus.

Free Shape Quick Blow Dry; £15

Free Shape Hot Flex Spray; £19

Hair Play Sea Salt Spray; £12

Before leaving the event,  I was given a goodybag with some bonus sample products from KMS - The Silk Sheen Styling Creme, the Free Shape Hot Flex Creme, and their newest product launching soon!, the Hair Play Playable Texture.

So another great night from Birchbox UK! I'm looking forward to more amazing events in the near future.

Have you ever tried any products from the KMS California range? What did you think of them?