JANUARY GLOSSYBOX REVIEW!

Hello lovelies!
I know January is over now but I thought that late was better than never!

The first item I received in my January GLOSSYBOX was a sample size, NIP+FAB Kale Fix Moisturiser which includes ingredients such as kale (obviously), watercress, almond oil, shea butter & aloe vera - all ingredients which should really hydrate the skin in these winter months when skin tends to be drier! This product usually retails for £19.95 (now only £9.96 at BOOTS!) which is slightly pricier for a moisturiser but it is quite thick and intensely moisturising. The only thing I'm not keen on is the scent of this product - I'm guessing its the kale scent - and you can still smell it even after applying it to the skin so I'm not sure I would purchase this in the full size.

The second I received in the box was a full-sized eyeshadow from the balm in the shade "Matt Moskowitz" from the Meet Matt(e) Trimony palette - how exciting! I've always wanted to try out eyeshadows from The Balm but the palette retails for £39.00 at Debenhams so is a little pricey. I'm really impressed that they included this item in the box! The shade is a slightly purple-brown and the formula is velvety smooth so blends really easily - very happy!

The third item in the box was a full-size "Illuminate Milk Cleanser" from Unani which retails for £13.60. Although this is a good cleanser, it is very milky which I'm not too keen on even after using it quite a few times - I find that it maybe doesn't take off my make-up as much as I would like. I've also received a moisturiser from Unani in the past which was also very milky. However, I'm still happy with the product and it was a lovely addition to the box. I'm sure others would like this more as it isn't a bad product - just not for me!

The fourth item was a Vitamasques "Manuka Honey Face Mask" which usually retails for £3.99. I've received this type of sheet masks in the past and they really aren't my favourite - however, my skin is very dry lately and I think this product is going to be extremely hydrating and help me out with that. I also really like the packaging and "Manuka Honey" sounds like a very nice scent so I'm looking forward to using this on a pamper day!

The last item we received in the box was a "Deep Pore Cleansing Facial Brush" from Spa To You which usually retails for £6.99. I was really looking forward to using this as these types of face brushes seem to be really popular lately. However, as my skin is quite dry and sensitive at the moment, it was a little harsh and sore for my skin. Still, it cleaned my skin really well and I'm sure it would work well for others whose skin isn't as sensitive!

Overall, I'm really happy with this month's box and I think the products are perfect for this time of year when the winter weather has dried out my skin and it is in need of some pampering. Next month I hope to see more makeup products from GLOSSY and will update you on what I receive (at a much earlier time than this month!) If you are interested in GLOSSYBOX subscription, you can subscribe through THIS LINK and pay monthly (£10.00 a box) where you can unsubscribe at any time.
Thank you for reading!

Holly Amber X

DECEMBER GLOSSYBOX REVIEW!

Hi lovelies,
After a very busy time at uni lately, the December GLOSSYBOX which contained five items was definitely a welcome treat. 

The first item in the box was a full-sized Luminzer palette from essence which contained a pearly highlight, a rose highlight and a golden highlight (this retails for £3.00). The palette is a generous size and the colours of the highlights are very pretty - my personal favourite is the rose shade. However, they have quite a bit of glitter in them rather than just being shimmery which isn't my favourite but I'm sure this wouldn't bother everyone!

The second item in the box was a REVLON nail polish in the shade "Gray Suede" which usually retails for £6.49. This is definitely my favourite item in the box! I love REVLON nail polishes and this colour is absolutely gorgeous. Although its described as a "gray suede" I definitely think this is more of a pink-nude colour with hints of grey tones. Very very happy with this item!

The third item in the box was a GOSH Mono Eyeshadow in the shade "dark green" which usually retails for £8.99. This shade is a very deep, forest green with a lovely shimmer - for someone more confident with their eyeshadow, I'd apply this with your finger rather than a brush to get a more intense colour and this would look absolutely gorgeous for the current season over Christmas time!

The fourth full-sized item in the box was a semi-matte lipstick from MDMFLOW in the shade "Bossy" which usually retails for £18.00. Glossybox subscribers got to choose between two shades of this lipstick for their box which was a nice idea to get the shade which you preferred. The lipstick is packaged as a gold bullet which is really cute and the shade is a cool-toned brown-pink shade (they describe it as taupe on the information sheet) which is a really unique colour I haven't really seen before. Although this looks mostly matte on the lips, it doesn't feel as drying as other matte lipsticks and you can still rub your lips together as you wear it. 

And finally, the last item in the box was a "Browcote" from the brand Lipcote - an eyebrow setting gel. This waterproof, transparent gel claims to hold your brow hairs and eyebrow products for hours with a weightless finish. I have tried this and the gel was really nice, the little brush went through my eyebrows well and the gel didn't feel uncomfortable when it dried. However, I'm not sure how long this would last as it doesn't feel like your brows are completely set in place indefinitely. But apart from that, I'm happy since I needed a brow gel anyway!

Overall I'm extremely happy with this months GLOSSYBOX and there's still a chance for you to receive it too if you subscribe soon - if you do so through THIS LINK it will also get your 20% off your first box! 
Thank you for reading as always, 

Holly Amber X

APRIL GLOSSYBOX REVIEW!

Hey sugarplums! Hope you are all having/will have a lovely day today and thank you visiting my blog!

Let's get right into the review of this month's GLOSSYBOX! The box was the same beautiful, girly design as always - its no secret I love the design of the boxes, very pretty. The first product in the box was a set of STYLondon temporary white henna tattoos which retail for £5.99 on the stylondon website. I think these are a really nice addition to the box and they'll be perfect for summery occasions such as holidays and especially festivals! You apply them by cutting out the tattoo and placing a wet cloth over it on the area you want it to be for a few minutes. I don't think this is something I'd buy myself so its nice to receive it in the box.

The second product was an ESSENCE Mosaic Compact Powder which retails for £3.00 on the ESSENCE website. This bronzing powder is a mix of five different bronzing shades and I think it could look quite nice dusted over your skin when you have a tan. However, I don't usually buy ESSENCE products as I don't think the quality is very good - this isn't the worst product but it has slightly too much glitter rather than a subtle shimmer that I prefer. 

The third product in the box was the LEIGHTON DENNY Expert Nails Miracle Mist which is £12.00 and works to dry your nail varnish quickly. I absolutely love this as I'm so impatient when it comes to painting my nails and I always find myself fidgeting and ruining them. I think this is a genius product and I have not seen this type of product before in this spray-form. If this works as miraculously as it claims to, I think I would actually consider paying £12.00 for this as it would save me so much time and irritation painting my nails. I think this is possibly my favourite product from this month's box.

The fourth product in the box was a STUDIO 10 Brow Lift Perfecting Liner which retails for £22.00. Personally, £22.00 seems like a ridiculous price to me and I wouldn't have purchased this myself for that price! I'm not all too impressed with the eyebrow pencil anyway - I don't like the design of the product as you have to sharpen the pencil rather than it being a twisting liner. I don't think the brown shade which you use to fill in your brows is too bad but I find the 'highlight/lift' side to be too peachy-orange of a nude (for my paler complexion anyway). Its not a terrible product by any means but I don't think it is worth the price you pay.

The last product in the box was a sample (the rest of the products were all full-sized) of the Body Shop Oils of Life Intensely Revitalising Facial Oil which retails for £28.00. For some people that may be a ridiculous price which I completely understand, but for skin care I always find I am more willing to pay a higher-end price as looking after your skin is extremely important. I've wanted to try out this oil for a long time now and I think it is a brilliant sample to be provided in the box. It allows you to try out a more expensive product and then decide to buy the full-sized version rather than buying the full-sized version without being sure you'll like the product. The oil itself feels really moisturising and smoothing without being greasy and the scent is a slightly herby, fresh scent as oppose to a sweet scent. Brilliant!

You can also watch the video of my April GLOSSYBOX unboxing via the video below or through this link to my YouTube channel!

The overall value of the full-sized product in the box was £43.00 and I really like that you get a sample of a facial oil which is nearly £30.00! I think the products in this box have been a little hit-or-miss but I am overall happy with the variety of products provided!
As always, thank you for reading this post and watching the video if you have done! I appreciate every single view and supportive comment I receive its really encouraging. 
Lots of love to you all, 

Holly Amber X

GLOSSYBOX VS BIRCHBOX!

Hello to all of you lovely people!
I thought you might be interested in a comparison of the GLOSSYBOX and BIRCHBOX subscription services after being subscribed to both of these for a couple of months each as I have a lot of thoughts to share with you!

A little about both of these for starters; each of these monthly subscription services cost £10.00 + postage (which is a little more for GLOSSYBOX) for around 5 products and, if you subscribe to the monthly service where you pay each month, you can cancel your subscription at any time. They both offer a range of products including beauty, makeup and hair and when you sign up you fill out a 'beauty profile' for each which is meant to tailor the products you receive a little more to you as an individual. I have found that there seems to be a lot more variation in what people receive for BIRCHBOX each month than GLOSSYBOX so it may be that BIRCHBOX take into account these profiles you fill out when subscribing but I'm not completely sure.

Now onto the packaging; both of these are obviously boxes. I kept all of my GLOSSYBOX boxes as they were so sturdy and the perfect size to store makeup in - I also love the simple pink with black writing design, so pretty and girly. Although the BIRCHBOX designs are always beautiful, I never keep my boxes as they are quite small and they're not as sturdy as the GLOSSYBOX ones. Also, the products in the GLOSSYBOX boxes were packed with tissue paper as padding whereas the BIRCHBOX's only contain a bag the products come in (I personally think the bag is quite pointless). I've not had any of the products come broken is either of these anyway - I think I do prefer the GLOSSYBOX packaging overall. 

In both boxes there is a information leaflet (GLOSSYBOX)/booklet (BIRCHBOX) which contains information on the products, where you can purchase them, how much they cost and other general information like that. The BIRCHBOX booklet does have some other bits of information in and is a magazine-style in some senses with small articles on makeup or hair etc. However, I am mainly concerned about the products in the box so I slightly prefer the GLOSSYBOX leaflet.

Both of these services have a 'points system' but they are used slightly differently - for GLOSSYBOX, you can refer friends and complete surveys to receive points which you can collect to eventually put towards a free box (1000 points = £10.00) whereas BIRCHBOX gives points mainly for referring friends (some for surveys also) which can then be spent at the BIRCHBOX shop which has a large range of products (100 points = £10.00)! I do love both of these points systems, however, points can take a long time to save up on GLOSSYBOX and, for BIRCHBOX, the points only last for 6 months until they are wiped off and I also find the products which I want to use them on the most are always out of stock which is slightly disappointing.

Some products received
in my GLOSSYBOXES

Some products received
in my BIRCHBOXES

One main difference between the products received in these is that BIRCHBOX tend to provide many more samples than GLOSSYBOX (when I say 'samples' they are luxury-sized samples in my opinion). Although it is nice to receive full-sized products, I do find that BIRCHBOX provide products which are slightly more higher-end and a wider range of brands which is lovely to try out. I really enjoyed the products in my GLOSSYBOXES when I first signed up in September, however, my last few boxes were slightly disappointing because they were using brands such as MUA and ESSENCE which are extremely cheap and easy to get hold of anyway (Note: I do like some MUA products but I prefer to receive brands which I may not have tried before or which are slightly better quality as it is more exciting). 
It's really hard to decide between choosing a box which provides a wider variety but does so in sample-size or a box which is slightly hit-or-miss but provides more full-size products. I personally haven't re-purchased/purchased the full-size version of the things I have received as samples so I think I'd lean more towards the GLOSSYBOX products (very slightly).

I understand that beauty box subscriptions are going to be hit-or-miss because you never know what you're going to get and what you may love one month, another may hate or vice versa. I love receiving either of these a month as its so exciting and for only £10.00, you get to try out products which you may not usually purchase or that you haven't even heard of before. I'm currently not sure which subscription service I'm going to go with next month - I may even search around to see what other beauty subscriptions there are to try so if you have any suggestions let me know!

I hope this was helpful to anyone trying to decide between these two services! Lots of love and happy days to you all as always,

Holly Amber X

MARCH BIRCHBOX REVIEW!

Hello lovelies!

I hope you're all well, a couple of days ago I received my second BIRCHBOX! I absolutely loved the packaging, a very pretty pink, white and gold design with a "word-search" theme! Each subscriber has the chance to win a beauty prize worth £450 by completing the beauty-related word-search on the box lid! What a fun little competition.
The box contained a bag with the 6 products in like last month's - there were 2 full-sized products in the box and 4 generous sample-sized products. Also included in each BIRCHBOX is a lovely little leaflet which explains each product in the box (with information such as its price and "how to use") and information about sharing your BIRCHBOX experience and next month's edition.

MODELCO MORE BROWS Brow Gel
£13.00.

The first product in the box was a MODELCO MORE BROWS brow gel which was one of the full-sized products in the box and retails for £13. I have a few issues with this product; first of all, it only comes in two different shades (light/medium & medium/dark). I received mine in medium/dark and I find it to be slightly dark for my eyebrows but I think the light/medium would be too light. Also, the term 'full-size' is very far-fetched - this isn't a criticism of BIRCHBOX but of the product itself, it looks so much bigger in the photo to the left than it is, it's tiny. 

Saying that, I do like the product and probably would be thrilled with it if it was slightly lighter - the product itself contains small fibres (hair-like) which can be used to set and fill the brows. The brush is tiny which could be either really good for precision, or really annoying to use. I don't think I would purchase the product myself - maybe if there were more shades to choose from and they were more generous with the amount you get for what you pay but I can't say I'm over the moon with this although I do like the idea of including hair-like fibres to fill the brows in a more natural way.

POLAAR Night Cream - £32.00.

The second product was POLAAR Polar Night Cream (in a sample size) which retails for £32.00 (100ml). It claims to promote cell-regeneration and revitalise skin and is alcohol, paraben and mineral-oil free. The size of this sample is quite generous (especially for the price of the full-sized version)! I also really like the scent of this, its quite a subtle but fresh scent (nothing too over-powering or strong to wear on your face at night). The cream itself is quite thick and moisturising and leaves the skin feeling smooth and soft - I can't comment on if it changes your skin in any way as I haven't been using it for long enough but I am impressed so far! 
Saying that, for £32.00, I'm not sure I would purchase this as that is quite expensive for a night cream. I've currently been using the BODYSHOP Vitamin E Night Cream(50ml) which retails for £13.00 since Christmas and I love it - the pot looks tiny but, trust me, it is lasting forever and you need very little to cover your whole face. It is intensely moisturising and smells lovely - definitely will be repurchasing that one when I run out.

ARROW BOOST Colour-Enhancing Lip Balm - £11.00.

The next product in the box was ARROW BOOST Colour-Enhancing Lip Balm which retails for £11.00. ARROW BOOST is a BIRCHBOX exclusive brand and focuses on being a natural, cruelty-free, paraben-free vegan brand designed for those with an on-the-go lifestyle. 
The lip balm itself has lovely packaging and is a full-sized product. The idea of this lip balm is that it protects your lips and creates a soft colour based on your PH levels so the lip balm is unique to you! The scent is very minty and cooling on the lips and I love the slight pop of colour it gives me whilst moisturising my lips at the same time. 
I'm really impressed with this product but £11.00 may be slightly steep for a lip balm to some people (including myself), however, the idea of creating a lip balm which adjusts according to a person's PH levels making it unique to each individual is a great idea and something people may be willing to spend slightly more for.

AMIKA Nourishing Hair Mask -
£19.99.

The next product was a sample-sized version of the AMIKA Nourishing Hair Mask which retails for £19.99. The packaging for the product is very pretty and vibrant! - A very upbeat and attractive design. It claims to be for all hair types (as well as coloured hair) and contains Sea Buckthorn Berry and jojoba oil to intensely hydrate and repair hair's damaged and split ends.
It recommends using this once a week by applying to the hair for 5 to 10 minutes before rinsing - I haven't tried this yet and I don't think I could reliably tell you if it is something to purchase with this one sample anyway. 

REGENERATE Enamel Science Advanced
Toothpast - £10.00.

The fifth product in the box was a sample-sized REGENERATE Enamel Science Advanced Toothpaste which retails for £10.00. It says that it is "clinically proven" to reverse early signs of enamel erosion and therefore whitens teeth. It is extremely minty and is quite a thick toothpaste - the size of this sample is quite generous and I'm excited to try this out! I'm not sure if I would pay £10.00 for a toothpaste but that is dependent on how well it works - looking after your teeth and having a nice smile can make or break a person's confidence in my opinion so, if it does all it claims to, maybe I would considering purchasing a full-sized version as £10.00 isn't a bad price to pay for whiter teeth.
I really liked receiving a toothpaste in the box as it was something I wouldn't usually be able to try out myself without purchasing the full-sized version which I wouldn't do for the price without knowing how well it works - however, I wouldn't like to receive these types of sample often (though I love it as a one-off!)

HYDRALURON Moisture Boosting Mask - £19.99.

The last product I received in the box was an INDEED LABS HYDRALURON Moisture Boosting Mask which retails for £19.99 (I think you receive a set of so many for this price, though this isn't clear on the website). I haven't tried the mask out itself yet but it includes a face-shaped sheet which is drenched in a serum that contains hyaluronic acid; an ingredient which hydrates the skin for a long lasting effect against dryness  - I really didn't like the scent of this (it is quite "chemically" [if you know what I mean]). However, it does claim to plump and intensely hydrate dull and tired skin and the packaging and ingredients all seem very "high-end" and "luxury" so I'll be very interested to try this out.
I personally prefer mud masks in comparison to these types of masks where you have a face-shaped sheet you put over the face - they can be quite fiddly and sometimes messier than mud-masks.  

Overall, I'm happy with what I received in my BIRCHBOX! It's nice to try out lots of different brands (most of which seem to be quite expensive) in the generous sample sizes they supply and it was great to receive 6 products this month. I look forward to receiving my next one - after which I will be doing a comparison post on my thoughts about the GLOSSYBOX and BIRCHBOX subscription services, exciting stuff!
Thank you for reading and have a lovely day,

Holly Amber X

If you are at all interested in trying out BIRCHBOX, please subscribe through my personal link :) thank you!

MY FIRST BIRCHBOX REVIEW! (FEBRUARY BIRCHBOX)

I was super excited to receive my first BIRCHBOX!

The box itself was lovely! I loved the design and that the quote "Shine bright like a diamond" was printed in shiny, silver colour. 

Inside the box was an information booklet which contained information about the products and a small bag with the products inside. (The bag could probably be reused for holding shower gels, shampoos etc. - I think it'd be great to take travel-sized samples away with you on holidays). 

The BIRCHBOX subscription service is a £10.00 monthly payment and you receive 5 products in each box (you can also pay for a 6-month/12-month subscription where you can save money). You can read more about BIRCHBOX here and browse their website.

DOUX ME Face mask and Exfoliating
Scrub - £18.00.

The first product I came to in the box was a sample-sized version of the DOUX ME Comforting Face Mask & Exfoliator which retails for £18.00 on the BIRCHBOX website. First of all, I've not heard of this brand before but I really like the sound it from doing a little research - they're environment-focussed and try to use natural, organic ingredients (listing them all clearly in a way that anyone can understand). 
It contains ingredients such apricot oil, cammomile and marshmallow extracts (can't say I've heard of a product containing marshmallow before). It can either be applied as a mask by using a thin layer which you wash off after 7-10 minutes or as an exfoliating scrub by applying in circular motions.

NUMBER 4 Prep and Protect Spray - £20.00.

I've not tried it on my face yet but on the back of my hand the exfoliation doesn't seem to harsh and it left my skin feeling smooth and soft! It doesn't have much of a scent which is better than a bad scent - I'm very much looking forward to trying this out.

The second product in the box was a sample-sized NUMBER 4 Lumiere d'hiver Super Comb Prep & Protect spray which retails for £20.00 on the BIRCHBOX website. You apply this to towel-dried hair by spraying and then combing through before styling as normal. It claims to strengthen and repair hair strands as well as detangling and taming flyaways.
Although this is a sample-sized product I think it's quite a generous size and I'll get quite a few uses out of it! 

SPECTRUM COLLECTIONS Tapered Powder
Brush - £7.99

The next product I got in the box is one of my two favourites -  A SPECTRUM COLLECTIONS Tapered Powder Brush which was (obviously) full-size and retails for £7.99 on the BIRCHBOX website. 
First of all - how BEAUTIFUL is this brush!? It's extremely soft (I can't stop feeling it at the moment!) and I love the design of these - definitely my favourite brush design I've seen (apart from the REAL TECHNIQUES Bold Metals collection) with it's pale pink handle and ombre blue to purple bristles.
The tapered end means you can be really precise with the brush and I'm really happy to receive this as I haven't got a smaller powder brush. Make-up brushes are definitely one of my favourite things to receive - very impressed with this product!

COHINE Hand & Body Lotion - £19.00.

The next product was a sample-sized COCHINE Water Hyacinth & Lime Blossom Hand & Body Lotion which retails for £19.00 on the BIRCHBOX website. The packaging for this product is really nice as it feels like you're using a luxury brand product; you also get quite a lot of product for a sample-size (I'll be using my sample as a hand cream). The scent is also really nice - quite subtle with a hint of lime. I like receiving hand/body creams in sample sizes as I very rarely get through a full-sized version of this type of product anyway! This was a nice little addition to the box.

The second of my favourite products (and final one) in the box was a full-sized, LOC (Love Of Colour) One and Done Shadow Stick in the shade "Champagne Problems" which retails for £8.00 on the BIRCHBOX website. 
Each subscribers got to choose between two different shades - I chose "Champagne Problems" as it was definitely my favourite type of shade, a champagne-gold with silvery undertones. The other shade was "Perfect Cents" which I believe was more of an orangey-gold (it looked like a lovely colour, just not what I usually go for). 

I am extremely impressed with this product! It has such a creamy formula which is so easy to blend out and I think they definitely need to produce more shades of this! It claims that it is waterproof and that it can last up to 11 hours without creasing - I haven't tested it for that long yet but I've had it on my wrist for nearly 2 hours now and it hasn't changed one bit from when I applied it.

I'd love to try out more shades from this product and other products from the LOC brand as I'm so impressed with this.

Overall I am so pleased with my first box from BIRCHBOX - there isn't one product that I'm not looking forward to trying out or that I disliked. I love that they supplied a range of brands, to try out some of which I'd never heard before, and their sample sizes were generous! I also like the fact that the two best products (in my opinion) were the full-sized products in the box. I am extremely excited to receive next month's box now and I urge you to check out their website and subscription service!

If you are at all interested in signing up for a monthly subscription (which you are able to cancel at any time), I'd really appreciate it if you did so through my personal link!
Thank you for reading,

Holly Amber X

Note: Today I reached 5000 views on my blog which made me so happy - thank you to every single person who takes 2 minutes out of their day to read a post, I appreciate it so much, it's so encouraging! I was always so nervous about starting something like this until I took the leap and had a bit of faith in myself - 5000 may not seem a lot to some people but to me it represents a lot of time and effort on my half and love and encouragement from your half :)

"And suddenly you just know its time to start something new & trust the magic of beginnings"

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

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