Mini Festive Lush Haul

Its that time of year again, where Lush roll out the sexiest christmassy cosmetics on the market. Naturally, I just had to pop in and buy some of my festive favourites, as you can see I managed to control myself not to buy a hundred and one bathbombs - even though I don't know anybody who doesn't enjoy a good christmas bath bomb. ;)

The first thing I picked up on my visit was the Holly Golightly (£4.75). This is one of the more expensive bath items but it is a bubble bar meaning you can split this up to quite a few uses. It smells super spicy and underneath all the glitter it seems to be the same colour as a christmas tree! Usually I'm not keen on the copius amounts of glitter on these bubble bars but I will make an exception for the delish smell of this chap.

I couldn't go in without buying Let The Good Times Roll cleanser (£6.75). I love the formula of this, its a nice scrubby consistancy which is great for my flakier areas on my face. It also smells lovely and toffee popcorny - which is a bit ironic as it contains popcorn as a natural exfoliator. You also don't need a lot for one use so as small as the tub may seem, you will get your moneys worth.

Lastly, Santas Lip Scrub (£5.50) ended up in my basket, purely because my last one (which was the Bubblegum one) had gone all skanky, but it was pretty old. This one is better despite the annoying lovehearts that get stuck on your lips due to its special cola flavour. It smells amazing and leaves my lips feeling super soft and free from chapping.

What are your favourite products from Lush?

Emma x

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Benefit Gimme Brow

Since purchasing this tiny baby during the summer, I have fallen more in love by the day. For the size of this and the money you pay, it seems dauting but first impressions in terms of packaging is not relevant. I bought this in the shade medium/deep which is spot on for my colouring. This applys like every other brow gel on the market, like a mascara for the brows. Sweeping this on, you immediately notice that your brows look thicker and darker, you really don't need a lot of product if you're into the natural look (which is what I personally prefer!).  The only dissappointment with Gimme Brow is the stench of this, I really don't like the scent it just smells artificial and chemically, but seeing as you put this nowhere near your nose, its not a big issue.

I definately recommend you give this a go if you're not hot for the drawn on brow look, and want them to look as natural as possible. I do think the price is a little on the high side but you do end up with quality for your money. Also, Benefit are quiet a reliable brand and I really enjoy using many of their make up line, and this is no black mark against them.

You can try Gimme Brow out for yourself here for £17.50.

Emma x

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November '14 Favourites

Its favourites time again! This time its November, and in a couple of days time, it will be December, which means it is almost Christmas! Anyway lets talk about what I liked and loved this month...

First up, its something I recently rambled on another post about - The Body Shops scrub gelee in Blueberry (£13 - discontinued). I have been using this as I'm currently prone to dry skin on my arms and its worked an absolute treat. I won't ramble on too much about this one because I dedicated a whole post to it so go back and have a look if you are more interested.

Lush's Let The Good Times Roll Cleanser (£6.75) has come out to play once more, I know you can by this all year round but for me its truly a Christmas time treat. I feel like this is more of a scrubby exfoliating cleanser, and it smells like toffee popcorn. It leaves my skin looking clear, feeling cleansed and removes make up nicely. The only downside is that you cannot use it around the eyes as it stings so bad, which is not good for lazy people like me who want to remove their make up with one fell swoop, but nevermind!

Next up is Emite Make Up's Micronized eyeshadow in Dams, which is impossible to find on the interwebs. I recieved this in a Glossybox this time last year and hadn't actually touched it until a few weeks ago, and I'm using it as an eyeliner. It is love, its super blendable and highly pigmented, its a dream to apply but am using it sparingly due to its impossibility to be repurchased. If you can find it and like using shadows for lining the eyes I highly recommend it.

Speaking of eye make up, another is Clarins Crayon Khol Longwear Eyeliner (£14.95), this is very long wearing and has impact on the waterline. You could apply it in the morning and it would still be there ten hours on, I like how you also get a brush on the end to blend it to create a smoky eye. However I personally don't find it to be hugely blendable, but this seems to differ from person to person.

Lastly we have OPI's A Grape Affair (£11.95) - I love this sort of vampy purple at this time of year, I find it is season appropriate (to me anyway). As always the OPI formula is always top dollar, this creme is opaque and if you were pro at nail painting you could probably do it in one coat. They are my favourite brand of high end nail lacquers.

What have you guys been loving this month? 

Emma x

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The Body Shop Blueberry Scrub Gelee

Upon opening and smelling this tub of jelly goodness, I just knew I had to have it. And then I saw it in the sale for £5 and it was in my bathroom before you can say 'scrub gelee'. The stuff inside is awesome, I have been using it religiously for over a month now and it doesn't even look like I have even touched it. The scrub itself looks and smells like jam, so much so it has a non edible sign on it. It is like a jelly with lots of scrubby particles within the goo, and when applied, its not like a gritty scrub but does just as good a job. I particularly enjoy using this on the tops of the arms where I do get really flaky and dry. As expected with all Body Shop items, it smells amazing and vividly blueberry, I really enjoy their fruity scents they bring out during the summer months.

As I said this was in the sale and is now unfortunately discontinued, but I would suggest keeping your eyes peeled for a new scent because its definately worth the purchase. 

Emma x

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Glossybox November '14

So the November Glossybox has landed! Bit of a strange mixture of products this month but a pretty even score of hair care/skin care and some cosmetic items. However, I don't feel like these products aren't particularly season appropriate.

The biggest item included within the box this month is the OGX Argan Oil of Morocco Shampoo (£3 for 385 ml). I have tried some of this line previously but nothing has ever blown me away. I never realised how cheap this shampoo range is, it definately is competitive with some of the other 'oil' based shampoos I've used in the past.

This tiny sample is H20+ Face Oasis Hydrating Treatment (£27.50 for 50ml). I like the idea of this as its a deep hydrating gel that you can use as a mask and also refridgerate it for maximum refreshing effect. However at the price point its selling at, for the size you get, I don't feel like its worth the money. Plus I don't feel like I will know that I like it from how diddy this guy is.

Next up is MONU Skincare Refining Capri Oil (£26 for 100ml) which is also on the higher price point. I have tried a couple of products from MONU before, I especially enjoyed the primer I had from these chaps. I am excited to try this as an overnight treatment instead of an industrial moisturiser as suggested on the product card.

Probably my favourite item in the box is a full size Burts Bees Lip Shine in Smooch (£6.99). Its a lovely sheer wash of berry toned goodness on my lips. It definately feels like its doing something when applied and its not overly sticky. I love the colour of this, its definately very me.

The last item recieved is this Lollipops Eye Pencil (14 euros). This is just a general purpose black eyeliner so it will get used and come in handy. However I'd like to put a note out on how hideous I find this packaging, I think it just looks tacky. The pencil itself seems like it has lasting power but only when it fades to something a little more charcoal like colour wise.

As you can see, an odd mix of things that just feels thrown together than carefully thought out this month. Lets just hold out all hope for the December boxes (I'm pretty darn excited myself) and the packaging for the Glossybox is looking swish.

You can pick one of the boxes up at Glossybox for £10 plus p+p.

Emma x

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Birchbox November '14 - 'Cosy at Home'

I am really enjoying using the contents of this months Birchbox. The theme for November is 'Cosy at home' and I'm totally getting that from the range of products sent out this month.

One of my favourite items from this months selection is the Dr Jart + Pore Refine Tight Effect Toner £18 (which more than pays for the box itself!!). This guy smells like a mixed berry squash, its lovely. I still don't think it adds up to A Breath of Fresh Air from Lush, its just not as wow, refreshing and in your face. This is a much toned down version (excuse the pun there!) but it still leaves my skin feeling fresh as a daisy.

My other favourite this month is this OPI Nail Lacquer in A Grape Affair (£11.95). OPI make my favourite varnishes and I didn't have one in a vampy purple shade until now. This purple is so dark it almost looks black in some lights and is pretty opaque on the first coat. I did paint my nails as soon as I got this as I was that excited, its lovely and as always the quality of the polish is top dollar.

The third thing in this months box is Lord and Berry Bronzer in Sienna £19. This baby sample has yet to be used but the texture upon swatching seems nice and pigmented, a nice shade to warm up your face during these colder months.

Next up we have Beauty Protector Protect & Treat Mask (£16). I have used this all up, one of these tiny pots just covers the length of my hair. I can say I was quite impressed, this left my hair feeling really soft but I don't feel like it did anything long term. This also smells really nice and that scent ends up lingering on the hair. I'm not totally sold on this mask yet, especially at that price point.

This baby sample is Jane Iredale Pure Lash Extender + Conditioner (£15). I have yet to put this baby boy through the tests yet but anything to make my lashes looking lovely and on top form is a winner in my books. Its a shame the sample seems so weeny, but perhaps I'm just being negative in the sense that you may only need the smallest amount, we shall see! ;)

Lastly we have a mini Montezumas Organic Milk Chocolate (£2.39) which is always nice when Birchbox includes a little choccy treat, especially when its nice milk chocolate like this!

So as you can see there are some nice pampering items included within the box for November. You're more than claiming your money back on this box with the £18 full size toner water and the almost there £11.95 nail varnish. I'm very happy to have got such a nice selection in the box and would highly recommend this months package.

If you would like to try this out for yourself, head on over to birchbox and for £10 (plus P+P) you can get your hands on this.

Emma x

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Miniature Clarins Haul

Before I went on my holiday (almost a month ago now, crazy!) I had set my eyes on a couple of the newer range of Clarins products and I just felt I needed them for my travels. When I saw that Escentual were stocking my wished for items at a discounted lower price, I was sold. The three items I picked up were the Crayon Khol Long Lasting Eye Pencil with Brush in Intense Black (£14.95), Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector in Apricot Shimmer (£15.80), and the Instant Light Brush on Perfector in Light Beige (£22). I will no doubt post later on reviews of these guys as I have used them quite liberally already and they're pretty interesting guys. I definately recommend the service Escentual supplies as you can get high quality goods at a discount rate with incredibly fast and free delivery when you spend over the £30 mark.

Have you got your eyes on any Clarins goods?

Emma x

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