Pretty Pleasures

10th Mar 202110th Mar 2021Leave a comment

As we move into March and toward an end to the lockdowns in the UK, fingers crossed! This months Glossybox is all about thinking about the warmer days pastel colours and generally feeling the pretty pleasures of spring!

There are 5 products this month and a makeup heavy box this time which I am pleased about. So let’s dive in and see what we have.

Figs and Rouge Satin Soft Blurring Primer & Finishing Fix is our first item. I love a good primer and having used Figs and Rouge products before I have high hopes for this! This costs £38 to purchase and contains hyaluronic acid, marshmallow root and as the name describes it aims to blur imperfections and minimise shine for a perfect make up base. It also has anti inflammatory properties to reduce breakouts. I love the Figs and Rouge packaging it is so pretty and very millennial pink.

Figs and Rouge Satin Soft Blurring Primer & Finishing Fix £38

Nails Inc is our next treat with a nail polish called Palace Gardens, a really pretty pastel blue grey . Nails Inc has long been one of my favourite brands for nail polish and this one is no exception. Really love the colour and this is one I can see getting a lot of wear out of. This is £11 to purchase.

Beautaniq Beauty Nourishing Mascara is next and this is not a brand I’ve used before. This has conditioning ingredients like Camellia and Almond Oil to strengthen your lashes. The brush is oversized and designed to grip and coat every lash. I’m coming to the end of my mascara so this was a welcome addition !

Beautaniq Beauty Nourishing Mascara £15.50

The So Eco sponge I actually got in a Lookfantastic box previously but I like to change my sponges regularly so this is a nice addition to the box. They are a really nice sponge and I find they blend really well. Make sure to use your sponge damp so it doesn’t soak up all of your product! These sponges also have a pointed tip, this is great for under your eyes and blending concealer. The best thing about the So Eco brand is they plant a tree for every 100 products sold which is really important to know that they are considering the environment around them.

NYX Professional Makeup is one of my faves and this item is different for each subscriber. There was a lucky dip between highlighter, liquid lipstick and regular lipstick. I am so pleased with mine! Mine was a gorgeous hot pink liquid lip so pretty and definitely one I might have chosen myself. I really love NYX lip products so this was a really good choice for me.

NYX Professional soft matte metallic lip creme £6

Next month we have a sneak peek announcement of an eyeshadow palette from a new brand Sophia and Mabelle. No details on colour or anything just yet. Their website details them as a very inclusive brand which is really great to hear. A quote on their website reads

“With all skin tones and age ranges in mind, we created this beauty brand where anyone can come and find something that will be a staple in their beauty routine. S+M welcomes all walks of life, because beauty should reflect who you are on the inside, not the outside. We are proud to sample our products on persons of all ages, genders, sexualities, and will continue to strive at being an all-inclusive “made for everyBODY” beauty brand.

I’m looking forward to seeing what the eyeshadow palette is next month!

I have a yearly subscription to Glossybox which costs 11.75 per month including postage and packaging. There are loads of different options if you wanted to sign up from a monthly rolling subscription to 3, 6 and 12 month plans like the one I do. I do have a referral code if you click here which will get you 20% off your first box.

ASOS 5 Steps of Skincare

7th Mar 202118th Mar 2021Leave a comment

This month the ASOS beauty box is one of their best yet with a 5 step skincare routine to get your best glowing skin!

With 5 steps to put a spring in your skincare there’s everything from cleanser to SPF in this box with brands including Elemis, Sunday Riley and Caudalie. So let’s dive in !

So Step 1 is cleanser and this is the Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Energising Cleanser. This turns from a gel into a cream and smells amazing. This is a full size and costs £42 to purchase. Elemis is a fab skincare brand and I’m loving this cleanser.

Step 2 is Exfoliator and for this we have an Alpha-H Micro Super Scrub. Alpha-H has been in the ASOS box before and I really like this scrub. It’s super gentle and makes a real difference to the texture of my skin.

Step 3 is Serum and this Oh K! Chok Chok Hydrating Serum mist is one of my favourites so I was really pleased to see this included! It’s packed with Hyaluronic acid and glycerin to give you gorgeous glowing skin.

Step 4 is Moisturiser and is brought to us by Sunday Riley with their ICE Ceramide Moisturising Cream with ceramides and vitamin F to keep your skin super hydrated. This is a mini size and it is a really good moisturiser, my skin felt so good! It’s an expensive brand £60 for 50g but worth it if you are struggling with dry skin as this will sort it right out.

Finally we have Step 5 which is SPF from Caudalies face suncare in Factor 50. SPF is a key step in any skincare regimen and definitely something Im much more focused on than I used to be. SPF is key to preventing premature ageing via sun damage and I think we are all much more aware of this now. This is a really nice formula, lightweight and not sticky. Definitely a good everyday and a high factor which is really important.

Well this ASOS box caused lots of controversy with its release date! I’ve noticed the last 2 months that ASOS have been sending influencers the boxes to review on YouTube and this month they added a countdown to their Instagram. I like a lot of other people took it to mean it would be released at that time and it wasn’t. Following a message from ASOS via their Instagram they told everyone it would be released the following week. However they then released it the same evening and lots of people missed out. It’s a shame as it really is a fab box this month.

The box cost just £12 and with two full size products worth £52 it’s not hard to see why it sold out so quickly! Did you manage to grab one? Have you tried any of these products before ? I’d love to hear your comments !

Beauty beyond Boundaries

5th Mar 20215th Mar 2021Leave a comment

This months Lookfantastic theme is a great one with International Women’s Day approaching in March 8th.

The theme of Beauty beyond Boundaries is to encourage us to feel beautiful and ensure any flaws we think we have don’t define us. This years International Women’s day theme is Choose to Challenge and I think challenging the way we view and think about ourselves is a great way to celebrate this year. We’ve all at some point been way too hard on ourselves whether it’s our appearance, our work, whether we’ve been a good parent or spouse. But if the last year has taught me anything it’s that I’ve got to be much kinder to myself and give me a break, and I hope you all will too!

First we have AHAVA mineral mud soap which is for face and body and meant to cleanse without stripping your skin of moisture.

Next is a duel ended eyebrow brush from Brushworks. This has a angled brush at one end ideal for applying either cream or powder brow products. The other end is an angled spoolie brush, perfect for brushing through your product and giving the trendy fluffy brow look.

Then we have a Lottie London pencil eyeliner, this is a really nice formula and really glides onto the lid. It also has a sharpener built into the lid so you don’t have to remember to sharpen it.

One of the things I really love about the Lookfantastic box is that they often include different haircare products and this month has a Christophe Robin hair treatment which is ideal for dry or damaged hair. I like that with this you only need to leave it on for 2-3 mins so it’s not a long treatment and can be done while you have a shower.

First Aid Beauty is one of my favourite brands and I’ve actually used this product before! The facial radiance pads are amazing and something I really enjoy using. Basically they are to be used after you cleanse, you can use them daily, and act as a toner brightening and smoothing the skin. The thing I really like about these is they are able to be used on sensitive skin and make my skin look so clear.

Blossom and Bloom is a brand I’ve not used before and this is called their wonder balm. It’s a bit like the Dr Paw Paw original in texture and is a multi-use product so they recommend it for chapped lips and dry hands in particular. It smells amazing, like aromatherapy oils and has lavender, Shea butter and vitamin E. It also has anti-inflammatory properties, and the texture is really rich. I think I will use this at night as I think it will be lovely to apply before bed and have the scent lingering!

And finally the last product in my box is Polaar IceSource Ultra Moisturising Mask. I’ve used the micellar water from the same range and really enjoyed it. This mask is a cooling treatment for helping hydrate and leave skin refreshed. It’s a leave on moisturising mask so again I think this would be a lovely one to apply after a bath or shower in the evening and let work it’s magic overnight.

So this month everything was a mini or deluxe sample aside from the eyebrow brush but we did get 7 items this month, making each item cost just over £2 each which I still find great value.

Lookfantastic have a range of subscriptions available here . I’m currently subscribed on a monthly basis and pay £15 inc postage and packaging for my box. If you got this box what did you think?

Glossybox February 2021

9th Feb 20219th Feb 2021Leave a comment

Sing dance love repeat! Or so goes the theme of the February Glossybox with the cutest cassette design to the box, very retro and giving me major flashbacks to buying cassette singles in Our Price… showing my age there !

There are 5 products in this months box which, as it’s February, are aimed at giving you everything you need to be prepped and reading for Valentine’s Day.

First is our sneak peek from last month and it’s an Avant Velvet Perfecting Rose Sugar Lip Scrub. Of course this is to perfect your pout for Valentine’s kisses. Rose is not my favourite scent for skincare but this seems ok and as it’s a scrub I don’t think it will bother me as much. This is a full size and costs £58 to purchase. It’s meant to get rid of any dead skin cells so your lips are prepped and kissable for Valentine’s Day.

Continuing the lip theme is a Steve Laurant total repair lip mask which is £5. This is to give your lips a burst of hydration so perfect for getting over the cold winter weather.

Next we have a product we were meant to get last month but which was delayed due to COVID and the issues at ports. It’s a Rose Gua Sha. This is a skin tool which helps reduce inflammation and promote better circulation. It’s not something I’ve tried before but I will definitely give it a go to see if it works! This is £10 to purchase.

What would a Valentine box be without a nice lip pencil? I’ve had one of these Nudestix lip and cheek pencils before and I loved it. The formula is so creamy and blends brilliantly. This one is more of a balm than the previous one I had which is nice and I love the red shade for Valentine’s Day. This is a full size and costs £20 and I like that it’s multi use as well being for lips and cheeks.

Bubble T Peach Bellini hand cream is our next product and it smells amazing! All of the cold winter weather really takes it’s toll on my skin so this is perfect for sitting next to me in the office so I can keep applying throughout the day. I go through a lot of hand cream and this is a really nice formula. This costs £4.99 and is a full size item.

So in total this months box is worth £97.99 making it great value for money once again!

Stepping forward for Crisis

2nd Feb 20211st Mar 2021Leave a comment

Throughout March I will be taking part in the Step Forward campaign for Crisis, and I’ll be aiming to take 270,800 steps.

I’m going to be walking everyday throughout March – with my trusty sidekick Chip, and I’m sure Daniel and Phil will be with me too!

I’m aiming to smash my target of 270,800 steps–to represent the number of families and individuals who will experience the worst forms of homelessness in England by 2041. This truly saddens me and is something I want to try and change with support from my family and friends.

The funds raised from donations to my sponsorship page will help people like Jana.

After her mother died, Jana was constantly moving around and was eventually sofa surfing. Her health declined and she couldn’t work and got into debt. The local council helped Jana and placed her into a hostel, but unfortunately she had to leave her beloved dogs behind. Crisis helped when she was in the hostel and Jana took part in a number of courses including arts and crafts and a Renting Ready course which helped prepare her when moving into her own place. It was during the first lockdown in 2020 when Jana got the keys to her own flat and Crisis provided support with furniture and money management.

Stories like these are the inspiration for me to make sure I keep myself on track with my target. Everyone deserves a safe and secure home and the pandemic has made me feel even more aware of that fact.

If you’d like to find out more about the Crisis Step Forward for Homelessness campaign please click here

If you’d like to donate to my fundraising page please visit my fundraising page.

ASOS Box for your Bestie!

2nd Feb 20213rd Feb 2021Leave a comment

As always it gets to the start of the month and beauty boxes start getting dispatched. I am loving the ASOS boxes lately for some great brands and themes. This month has 5 products with a Valentine theme in the lovely red graffiti style packaging and a makeup focus.

First is a Spectrum Small Fan brush in a gorgeous green colour that would brighten anyone’s makeup bag! The fan brushes are recommended to apply powder products that you want a light touch with. Usually highlighter and blush looks great applied with this kind of brush. These usually cost £6.99

Next up we have the Ciate London Watermelon Burst Hydrating lip oil which just sounds amazing doesn’t it? I’ve used quite a few Ciate products now and I really enjoy them. The Watermelon range is one of my faves having used the Watermelon hydrating primer before. This is no exception and is a welcome addition given all the cold winter weather and the havoc it plays with your skin!

First Aid Beauty is another of my skincare favourites, I am currently using their cleanser at the moment. The Ultra Repair Cream is great for skin that is really parched and in need of soothing. I have sensitive skin and psoriasis and I’ve found this to work really well for me in the past. It’s quite a thick cream so I personally prefer this as a night cream and you can see a difference in just a few days.

Next is a TooFaced Hangover Primer spray which has coconut water to keep skin hydrated and can be used as a primer, setting spray and skin refresher. This is a travel size and has 30ml of product which costs £17 normally.

So Nars is one of those brands which is just iconic and remembered for the Orgasm blush more than any other product they make, and we have a mini version here! The pinky coral blush has just a shimmer of gold and is a gorgeous colour, super flattering for a range of skin tones.

Finally we have a Shiseido mascara – I have tried some of their skincare before but not their mascara. It’s a nice little tester and it’s meant to create voluminous lashes.

This box costs £12 each month, plus shipping. I have premier delivery enabled which means I pay a set fee each year to get next day delivery on my purchases.

The ASOS boxes are always great value for money and this one was no exception with a really great range of brands and products to try. I especially love the blush and fan brush but I know all of the products will be used. They sell out so so quickly you have to be really watching the site from the 1st of the month to get one.

Did you manage to snap this up before it went out of stock? What’s your favourite item in this months box?

Lookfantastic February 2021

2nd Feb 202119th Mar 2021Leave a comment

Love is in the air ! Even if you’re not feeling the Valentine’s vibes this month the February LookFantastic box is themed around Treasure with an emphasis on self care. Making the most of any little moment to give yourself a pamper or just relax is so important in these testing times. I loved the quote inside the box below.

Illamasqua beyond veil skin glowing gel was our sneak peek last month and it’s a good mini size. It combines their fab face primer and their Beyond Powder to hydrate and illuminate all in one. I’ve really liked using this and you only need a tiny bit it’s a really great base for foundation and my makeup sat really well. Would definitely recommend if you struggle with your makeup base staying put.

Magnitone Wipeout Swipes, these are basically reusable cotton pads. I have really enjoyed using the ones I got in my Glossybox last month and these have been great too. It’s a small thing but something I can change to be a bit more eco friendly as they can be machine washed and dry really quick.

Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel is our next item. I was really intrigued by this, it’s a cream based exfoliator which you apply and leave for 10 mins before cleaning off.

Eyeko London Galactic lid gloss in Zodiac. This is a really nice metallic cream eye shadow. It’s a lovely colour and really sparkly. It’s great on its own or would be nice with a neutral toned palette to add a pop of sparkle.

Bubble T Strawberry Macaron hand and body butter , first of all this smells amazing! Super sweet strawberry scent so if that’s not your thing sorry! It’s a really nice hand cream and can actually be used on the body as well if you prefer.

The last item is the Balance Me AHA Glow Mask there was a nice section in the magazine explaining AHAs and other skincare terms which is really useful as it’s so important to know how to properly layer your skincare. I can recommend the Caroline Hirons book Skincare which is a great guide for anyone more interested in this subject.

Lookfantastic have a range of subscriptions available here . I’m currently subscribed on a monthly basis and pay £15 inc postage and packaging for my box. If you got this box what did you think?

Take on the competition with your beauty looks!

26th Jan 202126th Jan 2021Leave a comment

Does your phone have great makeup selfies on it? Are you building up your makeup skills and not sure where to go next with it?

Why not try entering some competitions and see how your looks size up against the competition on Makeup Blogs

Whether it’s a photo you’ve already taken or a new look you’re trying out there are a range of categories you can enter and cash prizes on offer.

Makeup blogs pulls together high quality makeup and beauty blogs to give you a one stop shop for beauty news and reviews. There are even speciality feeds like nail polish for example to gather your interests in one place.

The deadline for entering is February 28th 2021 and you must own the rights to the photograph you enter. For full terms and conditions please visit the website

Self Care treats with Burts Bees

25th Jan 202125th Jan 2021Leave a comment

This post contains affiliate links.

If lockdown has taught me anything its that making time for some self-care is so important. Self-care doesnt have to be a massive ritual it can be as simple as taking the time to get a few products in your life you really enjoy and using them regularly. Burts Bees is one of my favourite brands for lip balm and their hand salve is a real life saver when your skin gets as dry as mine does!

The cold snowy weather has really been drying out my skin and its products like these which use natural ingredients which make all the difference. On average the product range is 99% natural but over half of the products are 100% natural! They have fab gifts if you have someone with a birthday coming up. The Trio Tin Gift Set is my pick as its got my favourite lip balm included Pomegranate which gives you a hint of colour as well as keeping your lips in tip top condition.

Burts Bees has a fab offer running from now until 31st Jan for free gifts with purchase! Spend £15 to get free Cleansing Towelettes with your purchase or spend £20 to receive the towelettes AND a free lip balm! Shop the offer here

I’d love to hear about any favourite products you have from Burts Bees ! Drop me a comment with any ones I should check out next!

Glossybox January 2021

24th Jan 202124th Jan 2021Leave a comment

January’s theme is The Power of Beauty with 6 products to get us kicking off 2021 feeling fresh and showing our natural beauty!

So first we have some reusable face pads, designed to replace the need for disposable wipes and cotton pads. I’ve been wanting to try something like this and I was pleasantly surprised. I’d always been put off by the idea of having to wash them and also whether they’d work as well as cotton wool. I used these with makeup remover and they work really well. My only recommendation when washing would be to use a delicates bag so they don’t end up getting lost in the washer! They washed and dried nicely and stayed soft so these are a winner for me.

Next is a moisturising serum from ECooking perfect for the winter weather. This is a really fine serum and works nicely under my moisturiser. I’ve been using it daily and am seeing my skin looking more moisturised and fresher.

Moisturising serum ECooking £22.50 Deluxe mini size

Saint Luxe Beauty is a brand I’ve had before in a Glossybox, we got some lip liners last year which were nice. This time it’s a brow gel to keep those brows in shape and make them stay put. It’s a really nice clear brow gel, no stickiness when applying and keeps everything in place, a nice addition to the box.

Mudmasky Undereye Mask is our next product . Mudmasky has been in quite a few Glossybox’s and is a brand I really enjoy using. This is an under eye mask to apply to clean skin and to help with the elasticity of the skin which as I’m sure you know is thinner and more delicate in your under eye area. This is a really nice serum infused mask and my skin felt lovely afterward. They say it takes between 4-7 uses to see improvement so I will look forward to that if it happens! This was a replacement product as Glossybox had a supplier issue but they did inform everyone via email prior to the box being sent.

Beauty Pro Avocado Infused Sheet Mask is a hydrating and moisturising mask, completely plant based so great for anyone who is wanting to put more skincare of that range into their routine. Beauty Pro products always seem really nice and this is no exception a lovely sheet mask and nice for a little pamper afternoon!

Well hand sanitiser is something we are all getting used to using on a regular basis so this Your Sanitiser was a good addition to the box! It’s a perfect handbag size so great for on the go and works well on sensitive skin. It also kills 99.999% of germs so definitely a great find in the current climate!

If you got this months box what did you think? My favourite is the E Cooking serum and the brow gel but I think it was a really well rounded box for January.

Total value of this months box is £94.97 which is fantastic value for money. The sneak peek for February is an Avant Velvet Perfecting Rose Sugar Lip Scrub to prep our pout for Valentine’s Day!

Vanessa Kay

Beauty, Fashion and Fun

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