The Glamour Beauty Edit: Summer 2014 from Latest in Beauty

Hi fellow nomads,

It's time for another Glamour and Latest in Beauty collaboration - I've always been impressed with these boxes in the past as I think the quality and range of items included is always outstanding, and the Glamour Beauty Edit Summer 2014 is no exception.

There are a total of 9 items included in the box, so let’s go through and see what’s in mine:

Rimmel Sun Shimmer Instant Tan BB Skin PerfectorB in Medium

No Summer box would be complete without a little fake tan. Now I'm not normally one for fake tan as I am so super British pale that it tends to look a bit ridiculous on me. However, I do fear that my legs may actually cause blindness in others so for the sake of altruism, I gave this a whirl. While I'm giving the “9 in 1” claims the side eyes for now, as it was unexpanded on elsewhere on the packaging, what I do like about it is that it’s matte and that it washes off. I got the shade medium which was a little on the dark side for me, but it did apply smoothly and wasn't sticky at all. I personally like that it washes off because I'm a tan commitmentphobe (see above) and also terrible at applying it, so it’s nice to know I can get rid of any streaks quickly and easily.

Velvotan The Original Tanning Mitt

To help along my novice application of the Rimmel Sun Shimmer, I used this mitt. This was pretty successful in applying my BB Skin Perfector, and made the experimental fake tan application a lot less scary. I will definitely be using this in all my future fake tan endeavours.

Hawaiian Tropic Satin Protection Ultra Radiance Sun Lotion SPF30

Sticking with the tan theme, here we have a sun cream to go with your fake tan to make sure you don’t burn beneath your bronzer. This sun cream has a lovely scent of coconut which always makes me think of cocktails (just me?!) and the slightest hint of an iridescent shimmer. This actually looks very nice on the skin and isn't overly glittery. Whilst I wouldn't use it on my face, I think this would be a great product to take away on your holidays – handily, the bottle is an aeroplane friendly 100ml.

Crabtree & Evelyn Nail Lacquer

I personally had no idea that Crabtree & Evelyn did nail polishes- well, apparently they've been doing them for well over a year now. I guess they’re hoping to get their name out there a bit by being included in this box. I received the shade Petal Pink which is a very pretty, very sheer pale pink. This is great for subtle nails, and you could use it for a French manicure too. I painted my nails with it this morning and so far, so good. The formula is on the thin side and it's got a normal sized brush so if that's your thing, you'll like this polish.

Illamasqua Glamore Lipstick in Minx

The inclusion of this product in the box definitely made me click the “buy now” button. I think Illamasqua is a great brand and a fairly elusive one, too. You can’t buy it in too many places in the UK, and it’s quite expensive. This is a new release of lipstick from Illamasqua which made it even more exciting to be one of the first few to try it. This is described has having a cashmere finish, but it’s basically a not-so-severe-matte. Whilst I wouldn't say it was soft and buttery, it’s definitely not as drying as some matte lipsticks can be and I thoroughly enjoyed wearing it. Minx is a cool toned medium red, which is very wearable and flattering on my pale skin tone. I'm really impressed with this product and can see me getting a lot of wear out of it. I'll do a proper review with swatches and whatnot soon - so look out for that.

Toni & Guy Volume Plumping Whip

I was sort of hoping this would be a hair mask but actually it’s a volumising product. Very current. Everything is about volume at the moment, which is interesting seeing as that’s quite an 80’s thing whereas in everything else, the 90’s seem to be the era of choice. Maybe we’ll see a return of The Rachel soon?! Anyway, I digress. This is a thick cream type product which you work through your roots to give volume. I tried it this morning and found that the volume it gave was pretty impressive,  and my hair looks nice and healthy, however to the touch it feels product-heavy and thick. I applied the directed walnut-sized amount, so I don't think I've gone heavy handed, and it may just be that I'm not used to wearing a lot of product in my hair. I'll give this a go again and see if I can get used to the texture, seeing as the results are so good.

DHC Deep Cleansing Oil

This is a product I've heard a lot about and been wanting to try for a while. I used it straight away – and the things I had heard were all true. This did dissolve makeup effortlessly – almost scarily so. One minute I had on a full face of makeup – the next I did not. Totally weird. I haven’t tried this out with waterproof products yet as I don’t tend to wear them very often, but I'm pretty sure this would have no troubles carving through them as well. This was a decent sized sample and I think I’ll get quite a few uses out of it.

Bourjois Cream Blush in Nude Velvet

I already received this product – and actually this exact shade – in the BBB Dream Box, so you can read my review of the blush here.

Magnifibres Brush-On False Lashes

This is the curveball of the box. This intriguing product is basically just the fibres from a fibre mascara, meaning you can use this along with your favourite mascara. You apply one coat of mascara, then one of this, then one of mascara again. You can repeat if you like excessively long lashes. The application process was pretty bizarre and I ended up with fluffy eyelashes at one point (quite a look), Some of this did then come off onto my mascara wand, so you wouldn't want to use this with a product you're worried about spoiling. This did give me longer lashes, but compared to the eye that I just did an extra coat of mascara on, was it noticeably different? I'm not sure. The jury's out on this one, but off the bat I'm not blown away.

Once again, another brilliant box from Glamour and Latest in Beauty. I definitely feel I got my £16.95 (including P&P)’s worth, and the box arrived on my doorstep just a couple of days after I’d placed my order. There are also some enticing offers included in the box as well, so they've really got you covered. This launches officially tomorrow, and you can order your box here. Happy shopping!

­-Rachel

British Beauty Blogger Dream Box unboxing and review

Hi fellow nomads,

I've been reading Jane Cunningham’s blog for a little while now, and I'm always impressed by her insight, knowledge and down to earth approach to the beauty industry. If I had to pick any blogger who truly knew her stuff, it would be Jane. So when she announced that she was releasing a box of fifteen carefully selected products in conjunction with Latest In Beauty, another company I love, I didn't need to think twice about my purchase.

A mere 2 days later it had landed on my doorstep and I tore straight into it. I have to say, I was massively impressed. It’s now been a couple of weeks and I've had a chance to try almost all of the products in the box, so here’s what I got and what I've made of each of the products.

Bourjois Cream Blush in Nude Velvet

I think it’s great when larger brands participate in boxes like this. This is a peachy nude shade which is super flattering on my pale skin. This works really well for a no-make-up-make-up look, blends really easily and wears very well. It's not a shade I would have gone for had I been left to my own devices, and yet I've really enjoyed using it. This is exactly what beauty boxes are for - not just introducing you to new brands, but pushing you out of your comfort zone with brands you already know and love.

Ren Satin Perfection BB Cream

I thought I wouldn't even get half an application out of this tiny tube, but I was surprised at how little went such a long way. This is definitely a natural finish BB cream with very light coverage, however that’s just what I like so I really enjoyed using this cream. I liked that it had an SPF and it did actually feel like it was nourishing my skin rather than just covering it up. This plus the Bourjois blush was an excellent combination for me.

La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water Spray

I actually already have a bottle of this sitting waiting for the summer months, but I'm always glad to have another. This is one of those products that you will laugh at other people for having, and then one day you’ll find yourself in a situation where you realise that this would be just the thing you need. I’ll leave you to find that out for yourself, while I sit over here misting myself with this spray. Wonderful.

Charlotte Tilbury Lipstick Kisses in So Marilyn

So at first I thought this was an innovative new product which delivered a full application of lipstick whilst on the go. Upon reflection, I think this is just a way to deliver a sample sized quantity of the product, which I'm really glad about because that “kiss the paper” situation did not go well for me. Clumsy people shouldn't be let loose on this. Anyway, once I’d cleared up the mess I’d made, I realised this is a totally gorgeous colour. It was the perfect red lip and it also wore surprisingly well, lasting a good few hours. It didn't stand up well to eating, but what lipstick does? I'm going to be saving up for this one, I think.

Elemis Treat Your Feet Foot Cream

Elemis does such wonderful skincare and this foot cream is no exception. I used this cream almost immediately and it had a lovely thick texture without being sticky. It’s also a welcome change to have a foot cream that doesn't smell of mint – this is a beautiful blend of eucalyptus (always my favourite), patchouli and lemon oils. This softened my feet and was generally joyful to apply.

Essie Nail Lacquer in Hide & Go Chic

I was pretty excited to receive an Essie polish in this box because I knew I’d be almost guaranteed to love it. Luckily, I got this beautiful bright blue shade which you think is just like any other blue you own until you put it on, and then you realise it’s quite different. I love the colour, I love the fat brush, and this colour stays put for a good 4-5 days, which some Essie formulations don’t. 

Roger & Gallet Gingembre Rouge

I'm normally quite picky about perfumes so I wasn't holding up much hope for this, especially as the packaging was pink (I normally like quite clean, fresh scents which usually don’t come in pink packaging) but I was pleasantly surprised by this fragrance. It is a bit floral and a bit fruity, yes, but it manages to be quite subtle and grown up at the same time. I actually enjoyed wearing this and used it all up quite happily.

Kneipp Herbal Baths Enjoy Life Bath May Chang Lemon

This I haven’t tried yet as I don’t often have baths (let's be clear, I do wash - I just generally do so in the shower), but I've had a good whiff in the bottle and it smells divine. 

Bee Good Honey & Wild Water Mint Cleansing Water

I used this almost straight away and haven’t stopped ever since – in fact I've nearly finished this generous 100ml bottle already. This cleansing water is very effective at removing makeup, has a mild, clean and refreshing scent, and doesn't leave any residue on the skin. It doesn't irritate my sometimes-sensitive skin at all, and in my opinion this is up there with the very best of the cleansing waters. I will definitely look in to repurchasing this once my bottle runs out.

Janjira Hand Wash in Argan Oil

Oh wow this is just stunning. A thick gel hand wash that turns into the most beautifully scented, moisturising hand wash. I think hand wash is something people often overlook, until they end up with poor chapped hands. This makes washing my hands such a treat that I keep making up excuses to go and use it. My only small gripe is that the packaging isn't the easiest to use whilst washing your hands, but I will happily put up with it for this hand wash.

Lola Kabuki brush

I do love a good Kabuki brush and this has proved very good for applying my mineral foundation. Apparently it’s supposed to be good for blush and bronzer as well but I think it’s a bit too big for that, for me. I’d say this brush was ok, but I did experience some bristles falling out on me as I used it and, I hate to say it, but I thought it smelled a bit funny. Like *whispers* cat litter. I don’t know, maybe it’s just me. But I'm giving this one the side-eye for now. A shame, as the application results were decent.

Makeup Revolution Awesome Eyeshadow & Eyebrow Palette in Disappear Till Tomorrow

Firstly, I'm so glad I got this neutral palette and not the bright one in the accompanying booklet! The shades in this palette are really pretty and if you choose well, you can end up with a really lovely eye look just from this palette. I also like that they've included some generously sized eyebrow powders. The opening/closure method did really fox me for a minute though – there’s a little button that looks like it should do something so I kept pressing it and wondering why nothing was happening. Turns out, it’s just a rivet to keep the lid closed. Oops. Still, even if the packaging is a bit cheap, I’d rather this than pay more for a product just for a fancy closure. Overall I think this is a really good palette and I am sure I’ll get good use out of it.

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara

So far, I've really enjoyed using this mascara. It’s easy to apply and does everything you want from a mascara, without clumping. It’s great to get such a well known, full sized product in this box and this is already becoming my go-to mascara. The only thing I don’t like about this mascara is the name. I feel that it suffers from being bigged up a little too much - this has quite the claim plastered multiple times all over the packaging, so that you're expecting something hugely phenomenal. This is an excellent mascara, but it's no game changer. I'm sure they're trying to be ironic but this just strikes me as shock tactics marketing which I find annoying.

L’Occitane Immortelle Divine Lotion

I've been incorporating some Asian serums into my skincare recently and have been really enjoying the results. This is L’Occitane’s take on the craze and from what I can tell, it’s really nice. Of course it smells beautiful, and for that reason alone I will continue to use it until the last drop. I haven’t been using it long enough to tell whether it has the brightening and softening effects that it promises just yet, but watch this space.

Benefit It’s Potent eye cream

Despite being a teeny little pot, this packs a surprising amount of product in. Plus, it’s glass and pretty, and just the right size for travel. This is a rich cream and I've been loving using this on my horrendous under eye luggage. My dark circles are pretty much beyond help, so I'm not holding out too much hope there, but this cream is super moisturising without being too thick or sitting awkwardly on top of your skin. I think this is great.

That tops out the list of products in this box. Considering it was £19.95 and contained a massive 15 products, 8 of which were full size (or big enough to fool me into thinking they're full size) and all of which I like and will use, I'm seriously impressed. I kept waiting for the dud product(s) to appear but they never did!

Thank you Jane for an awesome box, and please make more. Very soon.

Did anyone else receive the box? What did you think?

-Rachel

Heart Ocean Secrets Giveaway Goodies

Hi fellow nomads,

I hate to be one of those people, but it's true. I never win anything. So I was absolutely delighted to win a giveaway over on a blog which I love to read, Heart Ocean Secrets. It's written by the lovely Rachel (great name) and well worth a visit, so do go and say hello.

Rachel sent me some lovely gifts, and I thought I'd write this post to let you know what I got, and to say a big thank you to Rachel.

The Body Shop Sweet Lemon Body Butter

The Body Shop can't be beaten for body butters as far as I'm concerned, so I'm really looking forward to using this. I haven't tried anything from the sweet lemon range before, so that's another treat.

L'Oreal Color Infallible in 031 Innocent Turqoise

This is such a gorgeous shimmery shade, perfect for summer. The pigmentation on this looks in-sane so I'm pretty excited about getting this onto my face asap.

OPI Nail Lacquer in Congeniality Is My Middle Name

I love the name of this polish, another inventive one from OPI - I wonder whose job it is to come up with them? Anyway, this is a beautiful pinky purple colour packed with pink and purple microglitter. It looks absolutely beautiful even in the bottle.

Soap & Glory No Clogs Allowed Super Self Heating Deep Pore Detox Mask

Phew what a name - I'm really excited to use this product as my pores could really use some declogging. Soap & Glory is a brand I've heard a lot about, but shockingly enough never tried anything from. I couldn't wait to get this on my face, so I tried it out already - it was amazing. Review to follow. 

Maybelline Babylips in Cherry Me

Ahhh Babylips. I'm not hugely fond of the packaging but I do like the product inside. I've tried the clear Babylips before and ended up quite liking it, but I think I will like this one more because a) the cherry flavour is scrummy b) it's got a very slight tint to it which makes it more flattering on the lips and c) the packaging isn't quite as babyish as the pink-and-blue monstrosity of the clear version. I can see this becoming a fixture in my handbag.

Pink dragonfly scarf

How pretty is this scarf! I've recently decided that I'm a huge fan of floaty scarves just like this, having got a pretty blue one for Christmas and another for my birthday. So, this pink one is the perfect addition to my rapidly growing collection! I've already worn it, and I think it's beautiful.

I'd like to say thank you again to Rachel for holding this very generous giveaway and I wish her continued success over at Heart Ocean Secrets. Here's to Rachels!

-Rachel

Memebox unboxing and review: 10 Minute Box

Hi fellow nomads,

After a short hiatus from Memebox related posts, I'm back for another!

The 10 minute box arrived through my door this morning so I thought I'd do a quick run through of the contents and let you know what I thought about them.

This box contained 5 products, and the description says it "comes with the most perfect make-love-happen-now beauty products that will get you all polished up for a night you'll never forget!"

*clears throat*

Let's run through those five items shall we?

Aromalab Designer Fragrance Oil - American Pheromone Woman Type 01

This is a cute rollerball perfume which is a designer fragrance oil with no alcohol or fillers. This is a good start. Let's ignore the spurious pheromone claims for now, and focus on the actual product. Whilst the card in my box says the scent is raspberry, violet and fresh grapefruit with vanilla base notes, my tube says it has top notes of jasmine, lily, rose and musk. I think I would have preferred the former. I'm not suuuuper keen on floral fragrances, but this is just about doable for me. The packaging is pretty travel friendly so I may keep this in my bag for emergencies.

Laboratory Eyelash + 5 pairs in BBB02 Cute Princes 002

Check out these bad boys! I'm actually quite scared by these lashes. They're pretty huge, and the actual lashes are quite thick which gives the set a fairly heavy, clumpy appearance. I have to say, I can't see me wearing these, "cute princess" or no cute princess.

Secret Romance Hair Essence in Lovely

Ah, another perfume. This time for your hair! This time also very floral. This is basically a conditioning serum with a strong (floral) scent. The main downside of this, for me, is that you are supposed to apply it to towel dried hair. I thought this was for products to apply in 10 minutes? Also I think I'd rather something that refreshed hair, like a scented dry shampoo, rather than a heavy serum. Did I mention it was floral?

Hope Girl Powdery Body Perfume

If you ignore the garish packaging, this is actually quite a cool product. It's a powder which is designed to absorb sweat whilst giving you a pleasant fragrance - mine is in 03 Tropical Lovers, which is thankfully not floral. It's a product which isn't very glamorous to admit you might need, but one which might really save the day. The only thing I'm not sure about is the packaging. Asides from being garish, you have to take the thing apart into three pieces (above) in order to be able to dip the sponge in the loose powder, and quite frankly I've made a horrible mess with it already. Also, this whole sponge thing. If you're dabbing up sweat with it, mightn't it get a bit funky quite quickly? 

Hope Girl Milky Balm Lipstick in Red Burgundy

Again, it took me a minute to get past that horrible packaging but this is a beautiful lipstick. It's very pigmented, no lip stain nonsense here, and very moisturising on the lips. I think it would work well with a variety of colourings and it's got a warmer undertone which can help bring a bit of life to the face. I really do like this and I think it's a product that genuinely could transform your look from day to night within the 10 minutes allotted time.

So whilst some of the products didn't work out so well for me, I'd be prepared to overlook that as it's mainly a matter of personal taste. However I do think this did miss the premise somewhat - I was expecting, in my 10 minute box, a series of products that I could use in 10 minutes to transform my look from daytime to night time, for a night I'll "never forget!". What I don't understand is why I got three perfumes. One; sure! But three? The point of the box is that they're all supposed to be used in conjunction. Think of all the other great 10 minute products they could have put in that wouldn't clash with each other!

The bottom line: I paid $19.99 for this box, or £11.99. I think the value wasn't too bad, but if it had been any more I would have been disappointed. I think that this was a great concept for a box, but for me the results went just a little wide of their mark. Did you receive this box? What did you think?

-Rachel

May Favourites

Hi fellow nomads,

Firstly, I'm going to buck the trend and say that May has positively dragged for me - honestly, it's gone pretty slowly. However, it's been a great month all told, and here are the products that have been easing me through it:

Rituals foaming shower gel in Hammam Delight

I pretty much love everything Rituals have ever made, and this shower foam is no exception. It really is delightful! The scent is fresh eucalyptus and rosemary, according to the bottle, and I’d say that this basically just smells like the fanciest spa you could imagine. The product itself is silky smooth and the scent lingers just long enough. It’s maybe a little on the pricey side, but I use this as a treat and it’s been a very luxurious way to start my May mornings.

Avon Planet Spa facial mud mask

I have spent a fair portion of this month away, staying in hotel rooms most weeknights. It can get a little boring after a while, but I like to use my time productively (!) by doing as many skincare type treatments as I can. This tube was nice and easy to transport, and what I like about this mask is that it smells lovely, despite being a mud mask, and it is medium strength (for a mud mask) which means it didn't leave my skin looking too stripped after use. I felt like I was doing a good thing for my skin, whilst sat in my hotel room watching questionable cable TV.

Laura Mercier eye shadow palette from the Flawless Eye Essentials set

It was my birthday during the month of May, and I was lucky enough to be given the Flawless Eye Essentials kit by Mr Nomad. It’s a gorgeous kit, which I’ll be letting you know more about soon, but the main component of it is this eye shadow palette. It contains 12 colours in a mixture of matte, shimmer and glitter finishes, and I absolutely adore it. The range of colours is great and the formulation is excellent – really buttery and blendable. It’s the first Laura Mercier product I’ve owned and I think it’s safe to say it won’t be the last.

Essie nail lacquer in Chinchilly

I do love me an Essie polish and I have been leaning heavily on Chinchilly this month. It’s neutral enough to be worn to work but is still subtly interesting. It’s a muted putty colour which comes up with a lilac undertone. I wore it to my birthday dinner and got plenty of compliments on it, and am just about it put it on for my long weekend away.

MAC eye shadow in Mythology

I also happened to call in to MAC on my birthday and the very nice staff there helped me pick out a couple of products. More on that later, but I've been absolutely loving the Mythology eye shadow. I'm not normally one for glittery type colours but I think this can add a little something extra to an otherwise fairly plain eye look. It’s kind of neutral and kind of not, so it can do lots of things. I'm so great at describing eye shadows, aren't I?!

banila co. Friday Night Highlighter

I received this in a recent Memebox and it was love at first sight. I've been wearing it almost every day since – and not even just on Friday Nights! Shocker! This is a gorgeous, fairly subtle highlight which comes with a really decent brush. It’s got a nice cool bluey-purple undertone, which I really like, and looks very natural on the face.

Stila lip glaze in Kaleidoscope

When I bought some Stila lip glazes as a gift for a friend of mine, I thought I might just get one for myself, too. I decided on Kaleidoscope, as it’s a little different to any other lip gloss I own. This isn't a difficult thing as I don’t actually own too many lip glosses – I always forget to apply them and when I do, I find they always stick in my hair which is just too much annoyance from a beauty product for me. I thought I’d do my best to try again as this is such a pretty shade, and I have been really loving it. The gloss itself has hardly any colour to it, but contains a good amount of shimmer to it, which is just what I was looking for. I love it so much, I've worn the writing straight off it.

Clinique Youth Surge SPF 15 age decelerating moisturiser

As the weather has been slowly warming up, I've switched to a daily moisturiser with an SPF in it. I like this offering from Clinique as it gives a good amount of moisture without being as thick and heavy as some creams which contain an SPF. I got this in a bonus time a while ago and it’s still going strong, as I only need to use a small amount every morning. However, I think the age decelerating properties may have worked a bit too well, having been informed by the girl doing my makeup in MAC that she thought I was 19 :-/

Fat Face snood

Another birthday present here – the scarf you can see peeking round the corner is a gorgeous pattern and completely circular (to the uninitiated, this is called a snood) so you literally wrap it round twice and you’re good to go. No loose ends flapping anywhere, and just check out that gorgeous print. This has been almost welded to my neck ever since I got it. Good thing it’s smart enough for work!

Have you used any of these products? If so, what did you make of them? What else have you been enjoying this month?

-Rachel