£20 AND UNDER GIFT GUIDE (BEAUTY AND PAMPER)!

Hello lovelies!
So here is the first of three gift guides for this December based around beauty and pamper treats! 

NO7 Winter Nudes Collection

There are so many lovely pamper and beauty gifts each year! I especially love +Boots UK 3 for 2 offer they have each year on their gifts - one gift on this offer is the NO7 "Winter Nudes" nail polish collection which is £12.00 and contains 5 shades of nail polish from a metallic gold to a dark plum. 
Another gift on this offer is the Soap&Glory "She's the Gloss" set of 4 Mother Pucker lipglosses for £14.00. Considering just one of these lipglosses is usually £9.00, these four handbag-sized versions are a great deal! You could even split these 4 up for four friends as a stocking filler! 
+Soap And Glory do lovely sets each year and there's so many to choose from right now!

Below I've linked some other lovely beauty treats from boots:

• Ted Baker "Double the Dazzle" set (tinted lip balm and nail polish) - £8.00
• SLEEK Mini "Matte Me" Collection (4 mini matte lipsticks) - £5.00
• NO7 "Glamourous Nudes" eyeshadow palette (8 shades) - £10.00 or the NO7 "Ultimate Eyeshadow palette" (20 shades) - £20.00
• Soap&Glory "Glamorama" Set (Mascara, Eyeliner, Lipgloss, Face Powder, 3 Eyeshadows and Brush) - £20.00
• Ted Baker "Sparkle and Shade" set (Mascara, 2 Eyeshadow Crayons, Eyeshadow Trio, Eyeliner, Eyebrow Pencil) - £18.00
• SOAP & GLORY "Tricks of the Shade" set (2 blushes, 3 eyeshadows and lipgloss) - £14.00

Soap & Glory Soaper Spa Set

In terms of pamper treats, there are so many of these at BOOTS too! You can trust Soap&Glory to supply a brilliant pamper set each year - One of this is the "Soaper Spa" which is £20.00 and includes a shower gel, body buffer, body butter, hand cream, foot cream, headband and shower puff. A good pamper set is always welcome - there's nothing better on Christmas day than having a shower/bath with all your new products and then pampering yourself afterwards! They also do smaller pamper sets such as the "Simply the Zest" set and the "Take your Pink" set, both for £10.00.
For a more mature present-receiver, the NO7 Youthful Skincare Collection includes all the things you need to look after your skin - a hot cloth cleanser, facial oil, day cream, night cream, eye cream and muslin cloth - all for £20.00!
And of course, no pamper session would be complete without a candle! My personal Christmas favourite is the "Christmas Cookie" scented candle from Yankee which is extremely sweet to smell at first but burns a lot milder and smells absolutely yummy!

Other pamper gifts I think would make lovely presents I have listed below:

• Cath Kidston "Blossom Hand Treats" set (Hand Wash and Cream) - £9.00
• Sanctuary Spa "Pick a Treat" set (face wash, exfoliator, salt scrub, body scrub, bath soak, body wash, hand cream and body puff all in a little jar!) - £13.50
• Champney's Manicure Moments Kit (Mini Hand and Nail Cream, Hand Scrub, Nail Polish, Nail Polish Base & Top Coat & Glass Nail File) - £14.00
• St. Tropez Instant Cracker (Instant Tanning Lotion) - £5.00

I hope you enjoyed this first gift guide! Keep your eyes peeled for more to come!

Happy Christmas shopping!

Holly Amber X

MAYBELLINE LASH SENSATIONAL VS BENEFIT ROLLER LASH - FIRST IMPRESSION!

Hello lovelies!
I'm definitely late jumping on the Lash Sensational bandwagon since near enough everyone owns/has owned this in their lifetime, except me, until now!
My current favourite mascara has been the BENEFIT Roller Lash which is on the higher price-end for a mascara (£19.50 at BOOTS) so if I could find a cheaper alternative with the Lash Sensational (£7.99 at BOOTS) then brilliant!

PACKAGING
The Roller Lash packaging is definitely prettier and feels a lot higher quality but I feel as if this contributes to the price whereas I'd rather pay less for a simpler packaging design. The handle of the mascara wand is easier to hold than the Lash Sensational however, as it is a rubber material.
The lash sensational isn't even close to how pretty the Roller Lash packaging is but I don't dislike it at all - its compact and pleasant to look at so I can't complain.

MASCARA WAND
The Roller Lash has a slightly curved rubber wand which has small "hooks" which apparently help curl the lashes. The Lash Sensational wand is very similar in that it is a slightly curved, rubber wand but this one is slightly bigger. They're both very similar which is why I'm guessing many people compare them.

LENGTHENING
I find the Roller Lash to be slightly lengthening but I do believe it would work better for those with lashes that are already long, unlike mine. However, it does curl the lashes well, giving the appearance of longer lashes.
Although a slightly clumpier formula, the Lash Sensational lengthens my lashes A LOT more and I can apply multiple coats without it looking too clumpy. This did take some getting used to and I have to spend a little more time on completing my mascara but the overall look is much longer in the end.

VOLUMISING
I definitely believe the Lash Sensational too be better at volumizing as the formula is thicker. It can take some practice as it can be a "clumpy" mascara when applying for the first time but when you get the hang of it, it makes the lashes look much better in comparison to the Roller Lash, which doesn't do much for volumizing. However, I'm pretty sure the Roller Lash doesn't claim to be a volumizing mascara, simply more curling and lengthening so I didn't expect this anyway.

PRICE POINT
If you have the money to splash out on the Roller Lash, it is not at all a bad mascara and gives a much more natural look to the lashes. It was a lovely treat as a birthday present for myself and I still use it on makeup days where I want a more natural look. 
However, I would much sooner recommend the Lash Sensational if you are going to be using this type of mascara day-to-day as it is a lot cheaper. I prefer the overall look when using this mascara in comparison to the Roller Lash but it is all about how you prefer your lashes to look. If you're looking for natural length and curl - Roller Lash, if you're looking for stand-out length and volume - Lash Sensational.

I hope this was helpful and thank you for reading!

Holly Amber X

MY LAST GLOSSYBOX? (FEBRUARY GLOSSYBOX REVIEW)!

After the disappointment of my previous GLOSSYBOX, I was wary to receive my February edition - I hate being disappointed. However, I was optimistic that the January edition just wasn't for me; it didn't mean it was a bad subscription service.

This month's GLOSSYBOX was better than the last, but I'll explain my thoughts about my subscription to GLOSSYBOX as a whole towards the end. 

The box itself was, as always, beautifully designed and I've kept all of my boxes each month which I use to store my make-up or skin care products - they're really sturdy and I've saw people use them for many different things!

The first product in the box was an MUA PowerPout Glaze in the shade "Spellbound" (each subscriber got the chance to pick which shade they wanted). These can be purchased for £3.50 on the MUA website (or most drugstores) and they come in 6 different shades. MUA is definitely not my favourite brand for any type of lip products - I do like their highlights and eyeshadow palettes though. 

Unsurprisingly, I didn't particularly like this product (but it was not as bad as I had expected). The colour itself I don't like even though I had watched lip swatches before choosing my colour - it's a very sheer, shiny red colour which seems to rest on top of the lips. However, the consistency is only slightly tacky which I was happy about although I'm not sure how long it would last on the lips. 

The next product in the box was a set of slanted tweezers from the Vintage Cosmetics Company which can be purchased on their website for £8.00 - although I absolutely love the design of these (they have the cutest floral pattern), I already have about 4 pairs of tweezers. Definitely not a wasted product though, I just didn't necessarily need these.

The third product in the box was a Wilkinson Sword Intuition Sensitive Care shaver which can be purchased on the Superdrug website for £6.49. Again, this is not necessarily something I needed and I much prefer receiving makeup/hair products from GLOSSYBOX. I can't say I know a lot about razors but it states that it is good for sensitive skin as it moisturises as you shave and so requires no type of shaving foam/gel etc. It also states that it contains vitamin E and aloe vera. 

The next product in this month's box was a Nicka K 24-hour waterproof eyeliner in the shade "NYA41 - Dark Brown". I was especially pleased with receiving this as I was in search of a dark brown eyeliner. It comes with a wind-up eyeliner pencil on the one side and a small smudging sponge on the other end and the product itself is so creamy and pigmented! I would definitely recommend this eyeliner but I can only find it on the Nicka K (American) website for $5.99. However, if you can get your hands on this product you won't be disappointed at all, especially for the price you pay! 

The last product I received in the box was a NAOBAY (natural and organic) protective, volumising hair mask. I'm really excited to use this - I absolutely love the scent (although I'd be terrible at describing it). 

"This mask contains natural triglycerides that add density and volume to hair. It also features organically grown Shea Butter and Argan oil. Formulated for all hair types"

I was surprised at the size of this product also, will definitely get a couple of uses out of this. On the information sheet it states that it can be purchased form the NAOBAY website for £10.64 but I haven't been able to find this link myself.

Overall, the products in the box this month totalled to just over £30.00 and I wasn't over the moon with all of them. After receiving my box this month I made the decision to cancel my subscription with GLOSSYBOX for a couple of reasons. Firstly, I just haven't enjoyed the products I've received as much in my last couple of boxes - I understand that you can't expect to love every single product you receive but I feel as if the products do not match up to the first few ones I received. I think this can be seen in my reviews as well since I subscribed up 6 months ago. 

Also, each month the total retail price of all of the items in the box has slowly declined and I have started to receive cheaper products from brands I don't necessarily like (such as MUA, Essence etc). It is all a matter of opinion and I know many people who still love GLOSSYBOX and their customer service is brilliant - I just don't feel as excited as I previously was when waiting for my box each month and, although I may re-subscribe in the future, right now I've made the decision to try a different subscription service...

BIRCHBOX! 

So, in the next couple of days I'll be receiving my first monthly birch box and I will be sure to review and give my first impression.

Thank you as always for reading!

Holly Amber X

JANUARY GLOSSYBOX REVIEW!

Along with the new month comes the exciting thought of receiving my monthly GLOSSYBOX subscription - waking up to the knock on the door and speaking deliriously to the postman as I was still half asleep must have been entertaining for him. 

The first item in my box was the UNANI Dermo Defense Face Mask which was a full-sized product (I can't find an English/American site where this product is listed on but it is £11.36 on this Spanish website). I was really excited when I saw this face mask product as I've been wanting to purchase a weekly face mask for a while now. It is a herbal-based formula which cares for a protects the skin. It is said to be targeted at sensitive skin and you are advised to use this once or twice a week by applying, leaving for 10 minutes and then rinsing off.

When I first used this, I was surprised and slightly put-off by it's consistency - it's not like any face mask I have used before. It is a very very thin consistency, almost water-like, which seems to absorb into and not sit on the skin as many face masks do. 

I can't say it's my favourite consistency but I'm predicting this is due to the herbal base of ingredients; it just wasn't what I was expecting. It did seem to hydrate my skin and leave it feeling soft but it didn't feel like it had been cleansed or give me as deep a clean as I would have liked from a face mask. 

The second item in the box was a simple red nail varnish from ANGELE Paris (I can't find a shade name or code) which retails for £6.32. Again, I can't find a website where this is sold which is slightly annoying. This isn't my favourite nail varnish - its very thin and states that you would need two coats and a top coat and the brush is not a paddle-style brush. I'm sure it's not a terrible nail varnish to many other people but I'm so lazy when painting my nails; I like to be able to apply one coat with an easy-to-use brush and I'm done. 

Swatches of the GLOSSYBOX
Mauve Eyeshadow.

The third item in the box was a GLOSSYBOX eyeshadow in the shade "Glossy Mauve" which retails for £7.10 (not that I can find a website where it can be purchased, again). I'm very glad mine wasn't broken when it arrived as I've saw this happen in quite a few people's boxes this month. The colour itself it definitely my type of shade - a purple-brown shade -and it has a nice satin finish. The formula seems okay; I think it would apply better wet where it would be a lot more pigmented. I definitely would not apply this with your finger as, when I have tried to swatch it, the product sticks to my finger and near enough none of the product applies to the back of my hand without a lot of effort. It's not a bad eyeshadow, but no where near my favourite.

The fourth item in the box was a luxury-sized sample of the MADARA Cellular Repair Serum  which is £38.00 (for the full-sized version).

"The clinically proven serum from MADARA combines a cell repairing bio-complex alongside revitalising birch juice (the wonder ingredient the beauty world is currently buzzing about) to plump skin, while boosting hydration and radiance"

I like the consistency of the product and it has a lot of good reviews about minimising wrinkles and giving a youthful, instant lifting effect. However, I hate the scent of it so much,  I wouldn't complain if it was subtle or if the scent wasn't as strong when it sets into the skin but it stays on the skin for a very long time. It does say to follow with a moisturiser which got rid of the scent but it really put me off using it again. I'm not sure how often I will be using this or how I will fit it into my skincare routine. I may give it away for someone else to try (it may just be me who dislikes the scent). 

The final product in the box (and the only one I seemed to really like this month) was a TEEEZ Oasis Gem Lipstick in the shade "Coral Onyx" with a satin matte finish (this can be purchased for £11.93 as quoted on the information leaflet but I cannot find it on the website). I don't own a lipstick this colour so I was really happy with the shade, the formula is also really good and I like that it sets to a slightly matte finish which doesn't look or feel drying on the lips. It claims to last for 8 hours but I haven't worn it for that long yet - the finish does make me think it would last for quite a long time though.

"Coral Onyx" TEEEZ lipstick.

I also loveeeeee the packaging! It's so different to anything else I own and is really attractive. I think this will be a lovely formula and shade for the summer.

Although I wasn't thrilled with my GLOSSYBOX this month, I usually love this subscription service and I won't be cancelling my subscription - I'm sure that I won't always love the products I receive and I'm sure other people who received these products might have reviewed them completely differently to I have and thats the decision you make when subscribing to a service which sends you different products every month. I won't give a sugar-coated review about how I felt about this month's box as it would be pointless in me writing about them but I am hopeful that next month's will be better and I still believe that, for what you pay, you get the chance to try out some wonderful products. 

If you are interested in GLOSSYBOX please read my previous reviews and visit their website - if you decide to subscribe for one month, three months or even more, please do so through this link as I receive reward points. 

Thank you for reading, 

Holly Amber X

BODY & BEAUTY STOCKING-FILLER GIFT GUIDE! £20 AND UNDER X

Belle of the Ball, photo taken
from BOOTS website.

One of the things that brings me the most joy is giving people gifts and I must hold my hands up to starting my Christmas shopping the first week of November - you could say I was a bit eager, oops. It's usually easier to buy the more expensive 'main' presents and some may struggle to fill up those stockings with smaller gifts. So I have some suggestions!

I think I speak for all women when I say a Soap and Glory gift-set would look wonderful under the Christmas tree of Christmas morning. The display in the BOOTS stores for Soap and Glory at the moment is so exciting and to make it even better, you can find most of the sets in the 3 for 2 offer as well!

The first I'd suggest is the BELLE OF THE BALL gift-set which is £12.00 at BOOTS. The packaging for all of the S&G products is beautiful for starters. This set includes the "Smoothie Star" body wash, body smoother, hand cream and a body polisher.

Gloss it girl, photo taken
from the BOOTS website.

The Righteous butter drum, photo taken
from BOOTS website.

The second is the GLOSS IT GIRL set of 5 sexy mother-pucker lip glosses for £14.00 at BOOTS. In its cracker-shaped packaging, I think this is such a lovely present! Considering the lip glosses are usually £9.00 each on the S&G website, how wonderful is this set for the price!?

One more S&G set I'd suggest buying as a gift is the RIGHTEOUS BUTTER DRUM which is only £5.00 at BOOTS. Any one who has tried out this body butter will believe me when I say it is wonderful and for £5.00 I think it'd make a lovely little gift to add to someone's present pile!

TED BAKER "Shine On" set, photo taken
from BOOTS website.

TED BAKER have had some lovely small and big gifts for Christmas this year. One of those is the "Little Luxuries" set which is £14.00. 

This comes with a hand cream, body spray and lip balm which are have a soft floral scent - all packed into a lovely little bag. Products such as hand creams are nice gifts as I personally think a person doesn't think to buy themselves one, so getting one as a gift is perfect.

Another TED BAKER set is the "Shine On" set which includes a pair of tweezers, a mascara, an eyeliner and two eyeshadow trios with a mirror in each for £16.00. My favourite thing about this set is that it comes with everything you need for the eye-section of your makeup routine.

Sparkle and Shine Set, photo
taken from BOOTS website.

A smaller, cheaper TED BAKER gift is the Sparkle and Shine set which comes with a nail polish and a lip/cheek tint for £8.00. There are two versions, one of which come with a nude toned nail polish and a golden-toned tint and another which comes with a deep pink nail polish and pink-toned tint.

Sparkle and Shine Set, photo
taken from BOOTS website.

Eye-shadow palettes can be a wonderful gift for someone either just starting to experiment with make-up or for those who purely love make-up and trying out new looks. 

Travel-sized, Full Exposure
Palette, picture taken from
the SMASHBOX website.

One palette which would be perfect for somebody who doesn't have much experience with makeup is the SMASHBOX "Full Exposure palette" (which is £17.50 in the travel-sized version). This has all the shades needed to create an everyday look or a more dramatic smokey-eye with both matte and shimmery shades. The travel-sized version includes 8 shades (the best shades from the full-sized palette in my opinion). 

One of my favourite drug-store make-up brands is definitely SLEEK. This SLEEK Make-up palatte gift set which includes a make-up bag, the Vintage Romance i-Divine Palette, the Antique blush and two lipsticks in the shades Liquer which has a sheen finish and Vamp which has a matte finish (my favourite shade of the SLEEK lipsticks) is only £19.99!

SLEEK Make-up gift set, photo taken from
BOOTS website.

 I find SLEEK products to be such good quality, I  particularly love their eye-shadow palettes and the shades  they put together in them. The palette included in this set is probably for a person who already has some experience with make-up in my opinion as the shades are darker and maybe a little more complicated to work with as a newbie. 

LUSH is amazing all year round and for someone who only has a shower in their house (like myself) it's painful seeing everyone else with the gorgeous bath bombs. Still, some of their Christmas gift-sets don't include bath bombs! My absolute favourite scent at this time of year is "Snow Fairy" from lush which is a very sweet scent (I'm pretty sure it's described to smell like pear drops). In the "Little Snow Fairy" gift-set which is £8.50, you get the Snow Fairy shower gel and some pink FUN! 

Magic Wand Bubble Bar from LUSH.

The LUSH website has wonderful little videos at the top of the page for their products so you can see how they are used and how their bath-bombs look when fizzing in the water. For someone who does have a bath, the Magic Wand bubble bar has the same snow-fairy scent and turns to water sparkly, bubbly and pink. You can purchase it for £5.25 which may seem a little expensive to some people but I'm pretty sure this will last for 3/4 baths!

I hope this has helped anyone struggling for gift ideas! Over the next few days I will be uploading a couple more gift guides of different sorts for all of you last-minute shoppers!

Thank you for reading!

Holly Amber X

DECEMBER GLOSSYBOX REVIEW!

The collaboration box with Really Ree was only ROSE GOLD!!! Everyone's current favourite colour, I'm sure.

It was so beautiful! Most definitely my favourite design of all the boxes I have received so far. It was also wonderfully festive with "Let it snow!" written down the front side in the same rose-gold colour.

A little side note: I never throw away my GLOSSYBOX boxes! I simply remove the packaging inside of them and use them as makeup/beauty product containers - I've saw plenty of other uses for them also! They're just too pretty and high-quality to get rid of.

As if the design wasn't brilliant enough, there was 6 products as oppose to 5 in this month's edition which was thrilling! The bonus 6th item included in the box was the STARSKIN Balancing Bio-cellulose Second Skin face mask (the behind the scenes version) which is £8.50 at SELFRIDGES.
It includes a mask which is soaked in a vitamin-packed serum. The one I received claims to be "intensely soothing...deeply purifying...pore refining...sebum balancing...(and provides) breakout prevention"
The mask should be applied onto dry skin and left on for 20-25 minutes (with 10 minutes in the fridge beforehand to enhance its calming and cooling effect). It includes ingredients such as coconut juice, vitamin B, vitamin C and chamomile (and so many more).

I haven't tried this yet; I'm saving it for a pamper day where my skin needs some revitalising! However, I am very excited to try it out, it sounds wonderful.

The next product I came to was the HYLAMIDE pore delete (prismatic liquid) which is £18.00 for the full-sized version. It claims to blur pores and mattify the area; unlike a normal primer, you apply this after your foundation but before your powder (or as the last step in your skincare routine). I've been using it after my foundation and have found it a little hard to use as the consistency is quite thin but as you pat it into the area it becomes very tacky. Nonetheless - it does what it claims to! It definitely makes the area seem "blurry" and minimises your pores and it also mattifies the skin. I'm just not too sure about the consistency of this product but I'm going to continue to use it, it might just need some getting used to!

The third product in the box was the COLLECTION long-lasting nail effects nail polish in the shade "Cosmic stars" (retailing for £2.99). The colour is a gorgeous glittery purple, so perfect for the festive month! Although these nail polishes are relatively cheap, I loved receiving this in my GLOSSYBOX this month; a colour I'm sure I'll be wearing throughout the Christmas period.

It claims to be a chip-free nail varnish which lasts up to 7 days - I very much hope so! Nothing annoys me more than spending an hour painting your nails (whilst trying not to smudge them) for it to chip and break off the very next day!

The fourth product in the box I was very wary of when I first opened it. It was the ESSENCE liquid lipstick in the shade "Show Off" which retails for £2.50. First off, I'm not a huge fan of this brand and I wasn't crazy about the packaging of this product - it felt slightly cheap and I was a little disappointed. Still, you shouldn't judge a book by its cover! (Slightly cliche but its true). The product itself is very pigmented and gives off a wonderful colour and coverage. Also, the shine it gives is beautiful just like a lipgloss but it doesn't feel as if it is going to shift after half an hour like one!
The shade is a slightly red, party-pink tone (not one I'd personally wear on a day-to-day basis). Though I don't think this colour suits me all too well, this may be down to my incline towards the safe, nude colours - boring holl.

To sum up, the packaging could definitely be better but the product itself is surprisingly good - for £2.50 I'd definitely give it a go, I'm considering purchasing an everyday shade for myself too (maybe "almost real" - a very safe, pink nude).

The fifth product in the box was the ETRE BELLE Golden Skin Caviar Eye Roll-on which, for the larger size, retails for just over £30.00! Safe to say, for that price I had very high hopes for this product. The cooling gel-like product is meant to refresh the skin under the eyes and soothe it - reducing the tired, run-down look that many students like myself tend to experience I'm sure! The size of this produce (the smaller version) is such a wonderful, handbag-like size which you can whip out and roll along the skin under your eyes to look instantly revitalised. 

The product is extremely cooling and soothing, I love the feeling of this when I apply it in the morning (when I'm usually struggling to keep my eyes open) and at night before bed. Definitely one of my favourite items in the box - I love feeling like you've received a luxury item when you pay so little for the subscription!

And finally my favourite product in this month's edition... the SO SUSAN Statement Skin Highlighting Pencil (which retails for £15.00) in the shade "Starlight" - such a pretty name! Before subscribing to GLOSSYBOX, I hadn't tried the SO SUSAN brand but I wish I had, I just love the products I've tried out so far. This highlighting pencil is a gorgeous white/champagne gold colour which is extremely pigmented (but with very little/no glitter). The shape of the pencil makes it perfect to highlight smaller areas such as the inner corners of the eyes or the cupids bow or the broader areas like the tops of the cheek bones. I've been using this so much (on it's own and below a powder highlighter). It blends wonderfully and it claims to work well mixed in with your foundation too. Also, its paraben and fragrance free which is always a bonus. 

The full-sized version of the products in the box this month total to £77.00 (considering only one product was travel-sized, in my opinion, and you only pay £10.00 for the whole box, I think thats pretty good value for money!) Very pleased with the December box and the extra item was a wonderful surprise. If you are at all interested in subscribing, I'd appreciate if you did so through my personal link as I receive reward points :) 

Thank you, as always, for reading!

Holly Amber X

GLOSSYBOX - NARS EDITION REVIEW!

I was so excited to receive my long-awaited NARS GLOSSYBOX!

When I heard the postman come to the door, I was so very eager to get my parcel from him. I was so happy to have been one of the lucky few to have purchased the special box within the 27 minutes it had taken to sell out. Although I had some difficulty accessing the webpage at first, I soon sorted this out (although I'm not sure many other people had been able to get one for this reason, which was a little disappointing I'm sure).

Upon opening the box, it was beautifully packaged (as with all of the GLOSSYBOXes) and the products were also in the very high-quality NARS packaging which felt weighty and expensive. I absolutely love the sleek but simple design NARS uses - it makes their products look very appealing and sophisticated.

An information card was included in the box; this explained what each product was, how to use them and their full-sized prices. Each product in the box was 'travel-sized' - I usually really dislike sample-like versions of products but these did not feel like "samples" as they each had a fairly good amount of product within them and their size only makes them more convenient to carry around with you! 

Larger Than life, long-wear eyeliner in "Via
Veneto".

The first product I came to look at was the "Larger Than Life Long-Wear Eyeliner" in the colour "Via Vineto" which, in full-size, is £19.00. On the information card it states that this eyeliner "stays put" for 12 hours and that it has a rich and creamy texture. I definitely agree that the texture of this is extremely creamy and, although I haven't tried to wear it for the 12-hour claim yet, testing it on the back of my hand left it very hard to smudge and remove so I'm pretty sure what they claim is possible. 

Directions for use are:

"Rather than applying it in one motion, try sketching on your desired shape for more control and a sleeker finish."

I particularly like the jet-black colour of this eyeliner and the fact it twists to reveal more product (if you understand what I mean). I am very excited to test this out!

Audacious Mascara in "Black Moon".

The second product I looked at was the "Audacious Mascara" in the colour "Black Moon" which is, in the full-sized version, £21.00. It claims to give extreme volume and length with a brush that has "over 200 hooks to coat a silky formula from roots to tips with full precision". After trying this out for the day, I'm very impressed I must say. It does give you extreme volume and length if you wiggle the wand up from root to tip. My only (very small) criticism of the wand is that it may be slightly big for some people as, if my eyes were any smaller, I think I may have found it hard to use.

The next three products I am so very pleased with.

The Multiple in "Orgasm".

The first of these is "The Multiple" in the shade "Orgasm" (cheeky, cheeky) which is, in the full-sized version, £29.00. First of all, the colour of this is absolutely gorgeous, I would describe it as a dusty rose shade with a beautiful shimmer.

The information card quotes:

" The trick with this multi-use cult classic is to use it like a crayon. Rub a little on the back of your hand to warm it up, then dab along the cheekbones, lips, eyes and even body for a shimmery, warming contour. Its totally build able - One stroke will highlight, two will provide a pinkish glow and three a healthy blush".

Top : NARS Blush (in the shade Orgasm)
Bottom: The Multiple (in the shade Orgasm)

I was really surprised at the texture of this (in a good way). When applying it, it first feels very creamy but as you touch it to blend it out a little, it becomes so light and dry as it sets into the skin so quickly! Such an impressive, multi-use product which I'd really consider buying in the full-sized version!.

The next product was the NARS blush in the shade "Orgasm" again (cheeky, cheeky) which, in the full-sized version, is £23.00.
Again, the colour is the beautiful "dusty-rose-with-a-shimmer" shade which I love and the pigmentation is amazing. I would expect nothing less for the price you pay for the full-sized version which, if you were wondering, I would definitely consider purchasing.

NARS Blush in "Orgasm".

I very rarely use the whole of a blush product and the size of this one is no smaller than many I use daily so I'm sure it will last me quite a while!
I think that using these two products together would be a gorgeous combination - although they can be built up to a very defined colour, they can also both be used very lightly in combination.
As a wonderful little bonus, the blush also has a mirror - brownie points for that!

As if it couldn't get any better, the last product in this special box works beautifully in combination with these two products and is my favourite of the five.

Satin lip pencil in "Rikugien".

It was the "Satin Lip Pencil" in the shade "Rikugien" which, in the full-sized version, is £19.00. This shade is gorgeous and matches so perfectly to the previous two products as it is that "dusty-rose-with-a-shimmer" colour again. The information card reads:
"Its silken texture drenches your pout in a slick of moisture-rich, creamy lipstick. Tap the pencil onto the centre of your lips and use your finger to smudge outwards for a kissed-off look that works day or night."

The texture of this product is so creamy! It feels so moisturising on the lips which is a must for this time of year. My first time wearing this out was a very pleasant experience, obviously it didn't stay on all day as I was out for 5+ hours and I only expect that sort of "staying-power" with a matte product. However, for the majority of that time, the lipstick stayed on in full colour and even when faded, the shade looked gorgeous still. 
Most definitely my favourite product in the box and I will be soon to purchase the full-sized version when I use it all up. 

I cannot give enough praise to this NARS edition from GLOSSYBOX. I'm always so impressed with their regular boxes but this has stepped it up a notch! I look forward to seeing where GLOSSYBOX go in the future with any of their upcoming special editions.
As always, I urge you to take a look into their subscription service which is amazing value for money! Their rose-gold December box, where they have collaborated with beauty blogger Really Ree, will be amazing I'm sure (and I have recently read on the website that there will be 6 products in every box!)
If you are interested, I'd really appreciate if you subscribed through my personal link as I gain reward points :)

As always, thank you 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