CURRENT FACE-PRODUCT FAVOURITES!

Hi lovelies! It feels like ages since I last wrote a post but I'm giving my last push for my end of year exams right now, just another few weeks and my first year of university will be over with! In the mean time, I thought I'd give you all a short post on a few of my current favourite face products.

The first is the foundation I've been using for at least a month now - the NO7 Instant Radiance foundation which is £12.50 at BOOTS (I use the shade 'calico' which is the lightest shade for my ever-so-pale skin). I went into BOOTS to get a colour-match for this foundation and I can honestly say it is the perfect shade and undertone for me which is wonderful - some foundations I find to be too orange-toned but I find this to have a cooler undertone which suits my skin wonderfully. The foundation itself is very 'watery' in consistency and provides a medium coverage in my opinion which can be built up without looking too thick or feeling heavy on the skin (wonderful for summer). I prefer foundations with this type of consistency as they leave me with a dewey finish and are easier to blend out (although I think you would always need to set this with a powder for it to last longer). Lovely foundation, I really recommend it!

The second product I've been loving since I purchased it recently is the Bourjois Radiance Reveal concealer in the shade (01) Ivory (on the website they do not list the shade names which were in store but I'm guessing 'Ivory' is the same as 'Light') - this retails for £5.99 at BOOTS. I've continuously been using the Rimmel Wake Me Up concealer in the shade 'Ivory' for a very long time but I always found that the colour wasn't light enough for brightening my under eye area or thick enough to cover any blemishes. However, this Bourjois concealer has solved both of those problems and it really doesn't brighten up my eyes with a lovely radiant glow! It also has the lovely fruity scent of the Bourjois foundation which I also love and the packaging is slightly frosted - I love the design, it feels like a high end product as its quite weighty and sleek.

One last face product I've loved using lately is my Emite Makeup Diamond Heart (Illuminating) face primer which I received in a GLOSSYBOX (in a luxury-sized sample) in November and retails for around £26 on their website. I have used this a couple of times before but I feel that, coming into the summer months, I've been looking for a more dewey glow to brighten up my skin - I very rarely like a matte skin look as I think it makes my face dimensions a lot flatter. This primer just gives me that subtle sheen that I like for my skin when it's sunnier outside (not that we've had much of that lately). I'm not sure if it actually helps my makeup stay on longer but I find that if I apply this specifically under where I highlight, its intensifies my highlight and makes it look so beautiful!

I made this post slightly shorter than usual as next week I plan to upload an April favourites video on my YouTube channel which will mention a few more of my favourite products from the month of April. I will also be filming a Spring/Summer try-on haul which I am very much looking forward to sharing with you! I'd appreciate it if you'd check out my last three videos from my YouTube channel; my everyday makeup routine, my pamper routine and my April GLOSSYBOX review.
Thank you as always for reading,

Holly Amber X

NOVEMBER GLOSSYBOX REVIEW!

As always, the box came un-damaged and in its beautiful pink and black design. Upon opening the box I was extremely excited. I had received 3 full sized items and 2 travel sized items (which were still a surprisingly decent size).

The first product I came to in my box was a REVLON SUPER LUSTROUS LIPSTICK which can be purchased on the BOOTS WEBSITE FOR £7.49.

REVLON Super Lustrous
Lipstick.

"Pink in the Afternoon"

Each GLOSSYBOX subscriber this month got to choose between 4 shades of the lipstick. I can't remember the other three shades they had offered but the shade I decided on was "Pink in the Afternoon" - a beautiful, classic pink colour. 
The creamy consistency of these lipsticks is amazing; it makes my lips feel so plump and hydrated whilst being long-lasting at the same time. The lipstick itself contains vitamin E and avacado oil which gives it its moisturising properties.
The only thing I dislike about the lipstick is the scent, but it is barely noticeable after applying and it wouldn't put me off purchasing another of these in a different shade.

MUA Undressed Palette.

The next product I came to was an MUA eyeshadow palette (the UNDRESSED palette.)
I have previously bought many of these palettes and loved the eyeshadow formulation so I was happy to receive another which I hadn't previously owned.
Although these palettes are only £4.00 at most high-street makeup stores, you get 12 beautiful shades which are surprisingly good quality for what you pay.
In the picture to the left, the shades are (from the bottom, upwards) Cool Grey, Fuel, Henna, Tawny, Bronze ore, Lion, Hazel, Gild, Fawn, Rose Ash and Puff. 
I personally think these shades are beautiful, metallic shades which could be used for everyday wear or creating a smokey-eyed look for any occasion.

EYLURE Eyelashes.

The next item in the box was some EYLURE NATURALITES fake eyelashes which also came with the adhesive glue. I was very happy that they included some fake eyelashes which were natural-looking as I really dislike dramatic eyelashes for myself.
These lashes are "sweet and subtle" and add natural volume to your existing lashes without it being too obvious that they aren't your own.

They are suitable for all eye shapes, can be cut down to fit smaller eye shapes and can also be re-used.
There are so many different eyelashes you can choose from on the EYLURE WEBSITE for around £5.00 each and they are wonderful quality.

ROYAL APOTHIC Cream Creme Body
Lotion.

The next item I looked at was one of the two "travel-sized" products.
I had never previously heard of the brand ROYAL APOTHIC so I was intrigued to test out one of their products - a body lotion. 
First of all, the packaging of this product is gorgeous! I love the colours and design used - very appealing.
The instructions for use are to "massage into slightly damp skin after bathing to seal in the moisture". 
I'm not sure what the scent of this product is exactly as I can't find it on the packing or information sheet included in the box but it's very fresh and pleasant with some floral properties - nothing too overwhelming. 
The consistency of this product is very moisturising, creamy and absorbs into the skin quickly. 
"Formulated with milk proteins and lactic acid, this rich cream soothes, softens and hydrates dry skin without ever feeling greasy. Nourish your skin as you indulge your senses with subtle fragrance."

Due to the product being travel-sized, I will probably use this mainly as a hand-cream over the winter months as to not run out too quickly. It can be purchased (full size) on the ROYAL APOTHIC WEBSITE FOR £14.50. 

EMITE MAKE UP Diamond Heart (Illuminating)
Primer.

The last product in the box was also the other "travel-sized" product - EMITE MAKE UP's Diamond Heart (illuminating) Base Primer.
I was slightly concerned about the size of the product but when I tested it, I found that you need barely any product at one time anyway as it spreads quite far.
It feels very light on the skin and the scent is very pleasant but again, not overpowering which I like very much. It gives a very subtle, illuminating sheen to the skin which would look beautiful under foundation to give you a glowing complexion. 
"This peach fluid balances skin tone, boosts radiance and creates a smooth finish, perfectly prepping skin for the day (or night) ahead."
I am extremely excited to try this out under my foundation - I have very high hopes!
The full-sized version of this product can be purchased on the EMITE MAKE UP WEBSITE FOR £25.90.



The overall total of the products in the box this month is just over £57!
Although this isn't as high a total as the previous boxes, it is still 5x the amount you actually pay for the box each month which is pretty good value to me! 
Im so pleased with all 5 products I have received this month - wonderful choice from GLOSSYBOX.

I am very excited for the upcoming partnership of GLOSSYBOX with NARS and I will definitely be purchasing the box! Information about this can be found here, i really do urge you to have a look!

I am also excited for next month's GLOSSYBOX after reading the small message at the bottom of the information leaflet:
"Next month, we have a very exciting collaboration on the cards - a beautiful box to match. Beauty blogger Really Ree will be guest editing the Rose Gold collector's edition GLOSSYBOX - December has never looked so festive"

If you are at all interested in subscribing to GLOSSYBOX and receiving the December box, I'd really appreciate it if you did so through this link as I receive reward points :)

Thank you very much for reading!

Holly Amber x