Nail of the Day - Ciate Island Hopping

I'm currently wearing this gorgeous Ciate nail polish which I received in my July Glossybox, and I'm absolutely loving it!

Ciate Nail Polish - £9

Island Hopping is an orangey red with gold shimmer, which screams tropical! It's part of the Bottled Sunshine collection which consists of a total of 5 different shades. I think this colour will look beautiful with a summer dress and is perfect for this summer. The brush is easy to apply with, however I don't love it as much as the OPI brush. The bottle shape allows you to have the perfect grip while applying and not to mention the packaging is super adorable. The formula is highly pigmented and you can get away with using only one coat, but I used two coats which gave a full opaque finish. 

Have you tried Ciate nail polish before? What nail polish are you wearing at the moment?

Glossybox July 2013

It's that time of the month again - my Glossybox has arrived! 

This month's theme is Seaside Splash, which is perfect since we are currently having a heat wave in the UK. As you can see the packaging is adorable and makes me really excited for the summer holidays which is only next week!

Ciate Nail Polish - £9 for 13.5ml

Ciate is one of my favourite nail polish brands as they always have gorgeous on-trend shades and have really cute packaging. I received the shade Island Hopping which is part of their new Bottled Sunshine collection. The formula is highly pigmented and gives a long lasting streak-free finish.

Inecto Pure Coconut Refreshing Dry Shampoo - £2.49 for 150ml

I never use dry shampoo as I wash my hair everyday and I hate the thick grubby feel that it leaves at the roots, but I really impressed with this dry shampoo. It has a beautiful light coconut scent that leaves your hair smelling irresistibly fresh and exotic but it also doesn't leave my hair feeling thick at the roots and hard to brush through. My hair feels exactly the same when it is applied and it comes out a white colour but for some reason it doesn't leave a white residue even on my dark hair. For only £2.49, you can't go wrong!

Coola Mineral Face SPF 20 Unscented - £29.99 for 50ml

I've been really intrigued to try the Coola face sun creams but couldn't justify spending the amount, so I was very excited to receive a sample in my Glossybox. This sun cream is hypoallergenic, free of parabens and packed with antioxidants. It provides UVA and UVB production and fights free radicals while soothing, toning and minimising pores. Organic Acai Oil provides powerful anti-aging benefits and organic Evening Primrose and Linseed Oils reduce inflammation and balance moisture.

Alterna Bamboo Style Boho Waves Tousled Texture Mist - £23 for 125ml

I love any products that add volume and give a beach wave effect. This weightless texturising mist gives a natural tousled 'just-back-from-the-beach' waves which is just what I am looking for as it is now summer. It adds texture, volume and a healthy shine to all hair types. I'm hoping that it does give me tousled beach waves, as my hair is naturally straight and curls usually fall out, so fingers cross this works!

Ila Spa Face Oil for Glowing Radiance - £75 for 30ml

This face oil has become a worldwide cult product and has been named 'a little miracle' by celebrity makeup artists. It contains Argan oil and rosehip seed oil that are high in antioxidants which regenerates skin cells while combating premature aging. This can be used both under makeup for a beautiful dewy finish or as a nourishing overnight treatment for visibly improved texture and radiance. It also has a delicate floral scent which I am obsessed with!

What products did you receive in your Glossybox? Have you tried any of these products before?

Glossybox June 2013

My Glossybox has finally arrived and I am pretty excited about most the products that I received!

Monu Hydrating Moisturiser SPF 15 - £29.95 for 50ml

I was really excited to see this in my box as summer is approaching I want to product my skin from the sun and using suncream on the face usually causes breakouts. I have received products by Monu in previous Glossyboxes and have loved them, so I'm really interested in trying more. This moisturiser is for all skin types which is perfect because I have oily skin and I hate getting products that are only for dry or normal skin types. It has a very light scent and is non-greasy on the skin which dries really quickly. It contains Zinc Oxide which provides protection against both UVA and UVB, while Vitamin E fights free radicals and soft focus technology helps to blur imperfections and correct skintone.

Figs & Rouge Cherry Blossom Multi-tasking Lip Balm - £5

This 100% natural lipbalm is packed with antioxidants and has a beautiful pink tint. Not only is it a lipbalm but it can also be used on cuticles, elbows, knees and even on eyebrows! As it is tinted, I'm not exactly sure how well it will work in other places but for the lips it is incredible! It feels so smooth and moisturising on the lips and I am just in love with it. I also love the pot lipbalms by Fig & Rouge so as well - I recommend trying any of their lipbalms.

NUXE Huile Prodigieuse OR - £34 for 100ml

This is a dry oil which has shimmering gold particles! It contains six precious plant oils and Vitamin E which are formulated to be easily absorbed and illuminate the skin and hair. It gives a beautiful subtle hint of shimmer to the skin and looks incredible with a little bit on the shoulders, cheek bones and collar bone. I have the original NUXE Huile Prodigieuse which has no shimmer and love using that on the ends of my hair!

MeMeMe Long Lasting Nail Gloss - £5

I received this MeMeMe nail polish in the shade 66 Innocent which is a nude ivory. I think it would be nice as French manicure base and it also has a wide brush which makes it really effortless to apply. It also has a beautiful glossy finish for the perfect groomed nails.

Helen É Shimmer Eye Powder - £5

This loose eyeshadow can be used both dry and wet for different effects. I received it in the shade 26 which is a grey with blue shimmers. I never use loose eyeshadows and I wasn't very excited about this product but I will give it a try and I think it could possibly look nice applied wet as an eyeliner. The packaging is really cute and doesn't look cheap like most other loose eyeshadows.

Are you subscribed to any beauty boxes? What did you receive this month?

Selfridges Summer Beauty Box 2013

Today my Selfridges Summer Beauty Box arrived and I was so excited to share it with you. The value of the box is £70 but you can get it for only £25 - what a bargain!

Selfridges Summer Beauty Box - £25

Aqua Splash Tangle Teezer - £13

You probably have heard of the original Tangle Teezer which many people have raved about, but this unusual looking thing is actually the Aqua Splash Tangle Teezer for wet hair. It's the latest innovation from Tangle Teezer and it has an upright design with unique drying feet which allows water to drain quickly after use. I'm actually really excited to try this out, as you know wet hair is a pain to brush. It actually is hollow in the middle which makes it really lightweight - perfect for travelling! It has revolutionary convex teeth for pain-free detangling and distributes conditioner and treatments evenly. I'm so happy that I finally have a Tangle Teezer and even though this one is for wet hair, it also works just as well on dry hair.

Caudalie Beauty Elixir - £11.50

I was super ecstatic to see the Caudalie Beauty Elixir in this beauty box because I have always been intrigued to see how it works because this is one of the cult beauty products. It is perfect for all skin types and is a powerful plant-based skincare which smoothes features, tightens pores and gives a burst of radiance to the skin. Not only is it for women but also men can use it too for after shaving.

St Tropez Instant Glow Face Lotion - £10.50

This face lotion adds a velvety smooth tint and an all-over glow to your face. It deeply hydrates the skin and leaves it feeling soft, smooth and radiant. It is non-transferable and can easily be washed off with a cleanser. I have been wanting to try this product because when I use St Tropez Self Tan Bronzing Mousse, my face is always lighter than my body because of cleansing and using my Clarisonic Mia 2 which takes off the fake tan, so I thought this would be perfect for making my face match the rest of my body!

Models Own Neon Nail Polish - £5

I'm really excited to try this neon pink nail polish because I've never owned a neon nail polish before and it is perfect for summer coming up. The shade of this nail polish is called Bubblegum. I'm also interested to try out the formula of Models Own nail polishes and to see how they live up to my all time favourite OPI nail polishes.

Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray - £8.50

I have super straight hair so I think that this product will be perfect for me because it recreates the tousled beach hair and adds texture. It contains extracts of sea kelp which adds shine and manageability. 

Erborian BB Cream - £13

This BB cream is a 3-in-1 formulation that combines a moisturiser, sun protection and foundation. It contains Korean Red Ginseng which is a natural element known for its regenerating and energising properties. This BB cream gives your skin a soft, flawless, no makeup look that last throughout the day and provides perfect coverage that is often better than foundation. I'm really looking forward to try this out because I've always been intrigued by BB creams but they usually don't have enough coverage to cover up scars, but this one claims to have really good coverage and healing benefits. 

Lancaster After Sun - £9

This is a lightweight, fast-penetrating after sun for the face and body which gives a soothing sensation while intensifying melanin production, naturally enhancing tanning by 50% to 80% for the perfect tan. It leaves the skin soft and makes your tan more radiant and long-lasting. It has active hydrating properties which re-moisturise dehydrated skin and reduces the risk of peeling. I'm looking forward to trying this out, because I have never used such a high-tech after sun before, so I'm interested to see how it performs.

 Molton Brown Blissful Templetree Bath and Shower Gel - £8

 This is one of Molton Brown's exotically fragranced bath and shower gels that gives you a taste of island life with plant extracts that help to hydrate the skin. It has templetree flower with jasmine and patchouli which smells incredible!

Jane Tran Hair Clips - £8

These clips have a beautiful summery design and the set contains three large clips and two bobby pins. I love the design of these clips so much and the gradient effect makes them more interesting. I don't often use clips in my hair when I'm out but I always use clips to pin back my hair when doing my makeup.

As something extra they included this St Tropez exclusive in-store offer card which you can receive a limited edition beach bag with any spray tan treatment. Sadly I don't live near a Selfridges so I can't use this but it's a nice extra for the people who do have access to Selfridges.

Have you bought the Selfridges Beauty Box? If not do you think all these goodies have convinced you to?

OPI Euro Centale Spring/Summer 2013 Collection Swatches

Today I'm going to share with you OPI's Spring/Summer 2013 collection, Euro Centrale. I have five of twelve gorgeous polishes and they are perfect for spring. Like all OPI nail polishes they are all highly pigmented and a treat to work with. 

OPI Nail Lacquer - £11.50

OPI also have a Euro Centrale Mini Collection set which is perfect for if you want to try out some of the colours for a fraction of the price!

Polka.com

Polka.com has blue, teal, violet and pink glitter suspended in a clear base nail which has both large hexagonal glitters as well as small. It looks beautiful layered on top of another colour, especially a dark purple but can also be built up, which I think looks quite like a disco ball. 

A Woman's Prague-ative

A Woman's Prague-ative is a gorgeous orange copper with gold shimmer. I think that this colour will definitely attract attention and would be great for transitioning into fall. It also has good pigmentation and only two coats is needed for full opacity.

Hands Off My Kielbasa!

Hands Off My Kielbasa! is a bronzy tan which is one of my favourites from the collection. It has almost a slight metallic sheen and is really flattering on pale skin. I think that this nail polish almost has a milky look to it which I think is really unusual for a shimmery polish. The pigmentation of this one is excellent and you can probably get away with only one coat.

You're Such a BudaPest

You're Such a BudaPest is a periwinkle purple and has a beautiful creme finish with a hint of shimmer. The pigmentation of this is very good and only needs two coats for full opacity. This is definitely one of the prettiest light purple nail polishes that I have come across.

Can't Find My Czechbook

Can't Find My Czechbook is a dusty aqua. It is the perfect shade of blue and is a bit different from others that I have seen. The formula was really opaque and easy to apply, which only two coats needed for full opacity.

OPI Liquid Sand Swatches - The Impossible and Get Your Number

OPI have introduced Liquid Sand which is their new innovative nail polishes with texture. They dry to a matte finish infused with reflective sparkles. 

OPI Nail Lacquer - £11.50

OPI have partnered with Mariah Carey to launch 8 new limited edition shades and I have two to show you.

The Impossible

The Impossible is a matte fuchsia with glitter and star confetti. The photo hasn't picked up the beautiful fuchsia colour and is coming across red, but in person it is absolutely stunning. It applied glossy but dried to a matte concrete finish and only two coats is needed for full opacity. I find that the star confetti sometimes tends to not stick down fully and has a bend corner, which makes it snag on some fabric. I think that it is fine if you put another coat on top of the stars or even a top coat for a glossy finish.

Get Your Number

Get Your Number is a matte blue with sparkles. It's such a gorgeous shade and is super sparkly and fun. It only needs two coats for full opacity and the formula is really easy to work with. The concrete finish has a slight gritty finish, but isn't majorly rough that it clings to fabric.

Glossybox May 2013

This month is a special month as it is the 2nd anniversary of Glossybox! I can't believe it has been two years since they first launched - time flies by!

I was actually expecting a little bit more seen as though it is their 2nd anniversary however I have enjoyed trying these products.

Headline Colors Nail Polish - £9 for 10ml

I received this Headline Colors nail polish which is actually a colour from their autumn/winter collection. I don't tend to wear dark colours like this, but it looks perfect for when autumn comes around. I'm hoping that it won't appear almost black as some dark polishes I have tend to do. These nail polishes claim to be ultra-high pigmented for an intense colour and has UV absorbers for staying power. It also is free from toxins which is really appealing as I have never heard of a toxin-free nail polish before.

 Awapugi Wild Ginger Shine Spray - £18.95 for 125ml

This product is part of the Paul Mitchell line and is used to add moisture and shine to the hair. I love the smell of this and I really enjoy using it. It makes my hair feel softer and really easy to glide my fingers through. I didn't notice a huge difference in the amount of shine it gave my hair, but it does give a nice subtle hint of shine.

 Jelly Pong Pong Fairy Lashes Mascara - £15 for 8ml

I'm pretty excited to try this out as it is a long-lasting waterproof mascara that is feather light. I'm intrigued to see how light it feels on the lashes because I find that waterproof mascaras tend to be heavier and make the lashes feel hard. It claims to be non-clumpy but at the same time, lengthening and volumising - sounds perfect doesn't it?

Collection Fast Stroke Eyeliner - £2.99 for 6ml

This eyeliner has a waterproof formula, which I have actually wanted to get a waterproof eyeliner but never knew of any decent ones. For liquid eyeliners, I love the kind of dip in packaging as it doesn't dry out like felt tips. I was actually disappointed this how it applied because the foam tip is really hard so it's difficult to control and it leaves a jaggered edge rather than a smooth line. When you curl the lashes and apply mascara, it masks the jaggered effect but I want to be able to apply eyeliner in a few clean swipes and with a smooth edge. I definitely will be using it again and trying to figure out different techniques to see if I can manage to make a smooth edge but I also really love the longevity of it. Also for a waterproof product, it is really easy to take off - a facial wipe is enough to take it off, so there's no need to use eye makeup remover. It's really good because you don't have to tug on your delicate eyes!

Beautiful Movements Prime and Create Mixing Medium - £20 for 20g

Beauty Moments, formerly known as BM Beauty have launched a new multi-tasking product which is a primer as well as a mixing medium. It apparently is a clear aloe vera based gel, however it feels very silicony. A little bit goes a long way this with product and it makes my skin feel super soft. I used it under my Revlon Colorstay foundation and it stayed in place pretty well. I will also be trying this out with loose eyeshadows and seeing how it performs.

Green and Black's Dark Chocolate with 70% Cocoa Solids

I received this small dark chocolate which I assume is for the celebration of Glossybox's 2nd anniversary. I actually don't like dark chocolate but I think it is a really sweet gift!

Glossybox Mini Nail Files

As a little something extra, Glossybox have included a little box set of five mini nail files which are absolutely adorable and will definitely come in handy as I am always misplacing my nail files!

OPI Skyfall and Dutch Treats Mini Collection Giveaway!

I've decided to host a giveaway to give back to my followers. There are going to be two lucky winners who will receive either the Skyfall or Dutch Treats mini set. Seen as it is spring I thought the Dutch Treats collection was perfect, but also I thought I would giveaway set with deeper colours which is perfect for evenings and for when winter comes around. GoldenEye from the Skyfall collection is honestly the most beautiful gold I have ever see and OPI nail polishes are really good quality.

There will be two winners - one for the Skyfall set and one for the Dutch Treats set. 

This giveaway is international so anyone can enter. If you are under 18 years old, please get permission to enter from your guardian.
You must be following my blog for your entries to count!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Nail of the Day - Essie Penny Talk

Today I am wearing Essie Penny Talk which was featured in my April Glossybox post. It is part of the Essie Mirror Metallics Collection along with 4 other shades. 

Essie Nail Lacquer - £7.99

Penny Talk is an authentic copper metallic and the formula is very opaque. You can get away with only one coat and even if you apply a second coat it looks identical to the first. It does dries really fast so it's perfect for people who can't help but fiddle with things, however you have to apply it reasonably fast as if you take your time and go over the same area several times it would apply uneven.

Glossybox April 2013

This months Glossybox was designed by Pearl Lowe and I'm absolutely loving the vintage floral design. I really love receiving the limited edition boxes because I use them for storage and they just add an element of fun. I must admit that this is by far my favourite box design for far! 

Overall these are some of the best contents I have had in my box and along with the box is a double whammy.

Essie Nail Lacquer - £7.99 for 13.5ml

When I saw that in other peoples boxes they were receiving Essie nail lacquers, I had my fingers crossed that I would also get one! I was seeing a lot of corals and pinks so I was surprised to see this gorgeous metallic colour called Penny Talk which I love it so much. I don't have any colours like this, so I'm actually so glad I got this rather than the coral and pink colours because I have so many of them. Essie nail lacquers are my second favourite nail polish brand after OPI and the quality of them are a dream to work with. There are a total of 15 vibrant, eye-popping shades in rotation for the April Glossybox.

Nap+Fab Dry Skin Fix Body Butter - £9.95 for 200ml

This Nap+Fab Body Butter smells divine and the scent smells pretty much exactly like The Body Shop coconut products. The texture is really creamy and moisturising without being greasy and heavy. It dries almost instantly to a semi-matte finish which is great because you don't have to linger around waiting for it to dry before getting dressed. It also leaves your skin smelling amazing for hours on end. This 50ml sample is worth £2.49.

Crabtree & Evelyn Somerset Meadow Hand Therapy £14 for 100g

This product is from the latest line from Crabtree & Evelyn which will be available on April 29th. It has the most delicate floral aroma which I just can't get enough of - I am constantly sniffing my hands when I use it! The texture is really lightweight and moisturising without the greasy residue. It has been enriched with macadamia nut oil, shea butter and vitamins C and E.

Illamasqua Medium Pencil - £13 for 1g

This little Illamasqua pencil is the perfect multi-tasking product - it can be used on the lower waterline to make your eyes pop, on the brow bone as a highlighter and even on the cupids bow for the appearance of fuller lips! It has fantastic pigmentation and has a really soft and creamy texture which makes it a treat to work with.

Yves Rocher So Elixir Purple Eau de Parfum - £44 for 50ml

I was ecstatic when I saw that I hadn't received a sample vial and actually a deluxe sample, as perfume vials are my Glossybox pet peeve! The scent is different to what I usually tend to gravitate to however I quite like it. It has a floral-woody elixir and has a unique infusion of Tuberose, Vetiver and Patchouli. It is definitely more of a nighttime scent and it actually reminds me of Ricci Ricci by Nina Ricci. This 5ml sample is worth £4.40.