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

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