Glossybox Merry Metallics

This month Glossybox have treated us to quite the beauty of a box with a varied mix of products inside. There is no denying that the festive season is upon on and by the time this review goes live, we will be looking towards 2020 and saying goodbye to 2019 - how quickly did that come about by the way?

Promising to give your routine a touch of glitz and glamour, the Merry Metallics edit is filled with full-sized products which features everything you need to see in the new year looking absolutely fabulous!

The first product out of the box comes from Lasplash Cosmetics with their Golden Gatsby 3D Faux Mink Lashes.  Can any look be truly complete without long, flirty and fluttery lashes?

Designed to help you channel your inner 1920's flapper girl, these cruelty-free false lashes are quite stunning and all you need is your lash glue and you are good to go.  I am really picky when it comes to false lashes, I tend to prefer ones which are pre-glued, though these ones are really easy to work with.

The second item out of the box comes from Original Source with the Sweet Rhubarb and Raspberry Shower Gel.

This shower gel is described as being packed with 4 essential oils which are designed to leave your skin glowing as well as scented with the fragrance which reminds me of Rhubarb and Custard sweets.  What's more, this bottle is recyclable and the product is vegan.

A brand I got to know through beauty boxes is Bellapierre and within this box we have the Liquid Eye Shadow Eye Candy in the shade Venus which is just stunning.

Liquid Eyeshadows seem to have been quite the thing to use during the whole of 2019 and this one definitely does deserve a mention.  Extremely pigmented, it has an easy to use applicator wand which allows for easy application and once in place, it doesn't move or crease, which is definitely a huge plus point.  I love the shade, it is definitely one which is within my comfort zone being a bronze colour and whilst it is pigmented with shimmer, it isn't something which irritates my eyes like some brands have done.

If a loose powder pigment is more your product, then we have another brand that I have again got to know via Glossybox and that is Steve Laurant.

This glittery multi-purpose pigment powder is very much the formula that you can use on your eyelids for that shimmery look, it can also be used wet and applied along the lash line for a sparkly eyeliner, or if you are wanting to really make your look pop, a little dabbing above the cheekbones for a beautiful highlight.  The one thing I will say is that you only need a small amount to create an impact.  Again, this shade sits within my comfort zone of colours because again, it a bronze shade with a slight rose gold hue.

The final item within the box comes from L.O.V and it is the Lipaffair color and care lipstick.  I have the nude shade and actually quite like it.

Described as being a lipstick which boasts a unique blend of pigments, the texture is quite creamy and it applies nice and evenly without dragging or pulling over the lips.  Enriched with Kendi Oil and Hyaluronic filling spheres which help to smooth your pout, it is also said to visibly plump the lips too, though this isn't something I have noticed.  It definitely does give really good colour payoff and it lasts a good 4-5 hours because it has totally disappeared and needs to be re-applied, but overall, I really like the shade.

Again for me, this is another really good box from Glossybox and one which fits with the Merry Metallic theme, though I think it is more of a New Years Eve than a Christmas Eve box for helping to create that wow factor look. 

As always you can subscribe to Glossybox right here and if you use the code BQUEEN20 you can get yourself 20% off that first box!  

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.

Why I cancelled my Glossybox

Some of you observant Bloggers have noticed the lack of Glossybox post from me this month and the simple reason is because I cancelled it.  It wasn't a decision I took lightly, after all I had subscribed to it for well over a year and it wasn't all bad, but when I decided to write my list of pro's and con's as to whether or not I kept it, it wasn't pretty reading, so I thought I would share some of those with you in a post and I would love to know your thoughts.

Some of the topics in this post will cover:

• Glossydots
• Special Boxes
• Themes
• Brands
• Samples
• Like, Love Loathe - products

Every month as people began to showcase their boxes, mine would arrived and more often that not I was disappointed with the contents, it was as though they had come to the bottom of the pile and just chucked random items in and it came to the point where I was preferring the design of the box to the contents.

One of the things that really irritated me recently was the change in compensation on Glossydots.  To drop from 50 to 20 I think was just a bit mean. For those people who are not subscribers, essentially every month you complete a short survey on each item in your box in exchange for 50 dots (now 20) which went towards getting a free Glossybox.  Each year you would get one or two 'free' Glossyboxes, where your subscription wasn't taken and your box was free.  To get this box you needed 1000 Glossypoints, so after every 4 boxes you probably had enough to 'cash out' - now at 20 points, it will be almost one year before this happens.  Add to this that any surveys you had to complete in your profile inbox were automatically reduced in value to 20 dots - slightly unfair in my view because we don't always use the products within a month to complete the survey to give an actual view.

The next thing that has been irritating me is the 'special' box. Currently (though it may now be sold out) there is a Harvey Nichols Box  which is full of really good items from really good brands - Laura Mercier, NARS, Benefit, OPI and Elemis to name a few.  Now this box costs £30 to subscribers plus P&P and £35 plus P&P and my main issue is -  WHY are these brands never in the boxes I have been paying for all this time? Why make it a 'special' box that anyone could have, when as a gesture, turn it into a box as a thank you or even keep it at the same monthly price? 

The themes - hmmm another issue I always had. Take the Stars and Stripes box that came back in July (you can see it here) and well I think from the comments that I got from other Bloggers let alone my own post, you can see the views and I didn't use a single item from that box, including those replacements. Compare that box to the Superdrug special  which you can see HERE,  for me, this is the best Glossybox I have ever had, not only did I use all the products, I actually re-purchased most of them.  For me, there is no point in having a theme if the products just don't fit it.  Dark Romance is just another odd theme to have with these products as the content.

Then we come to the brands.  One of the reasons I joined Glossybox was to try new and exciting products from brands I had heard of, maybe even bought products from and in the hope of discovering new brands.  Well, I guess I got a mixture of the two in many ways but then the repeated products would appear in another box later in the year, or there would be a few months where the same brand would appear and it began to grate on me a little bit which takes me back to the surveys.  As ive said, every month you get a survey to fill in about your products within your box and one of those questions is whether or not you like it, want to see more of them in your box and so on... so why if you say no, do they keep appearing? I got to the point with my surveys where I didn't see the point in completing them as I felt like no one was reading them.

Samples - now if I am paying £12.95 for a beauty box, I would like something more than a sample I can find in a magazine, admittedly some magazines had better freebies some months than my Glossybox (see this the March box).  Now I am all for perfume samples, though not every month, and samples of creams, but please, can they be bigger than two fingers worth which means I get to try them once and not form a view on them and nor do I want sachets of cream that I can get in Cosmo.

This wasn't meant to be a ranty post because it hasn't all been bad.  Infact had I not subscribed to Glossybox I would might never have tried Dr Lipp Nipple Balm which is one of my Holy Grail products, nor would I have bought Max Factor Primer, which I also love or the Nuxe Masque Creme Fraiche which I have a review on soon.  But from all the products I have had over the time I subscribed, isn't it quite sad that those are the only two that come to mind and jump out at me that I have loved? And that is what finally did it for me.  That and the USA both for a Tarte product this month, which alone would have been amazing but if I start comparing the UK box to the ones in the USA, I will get even more angry!

So that is for now, the end of Glossybox for me.  I am quite sad in a way because I did enjoy the excitement of getting the box every month, but I won't miss the disappointment of not getting products I want to use and I get to save an extra £12.95

Do you still subscribe to Glossybox? 

Do you think I have made any valid points?

Glossybox October - Popart edition

This month's Glossybox was to be a Pop-art edition and if you saw my Instagram, you will have seen my excitement about the outer packaging!  Inside the box was just amazing and it is fair to say that I absolutely love this box and it is one I will not be throwing away.

As usual there was one spoiler which everyone would get within their box and it is a 50ml Nuxe Masque Creme Fraiche, which is a full sized product worth £19.50.  The masque is said to quench the thirst of the driest skin types to leave your face feeling smooth and moisturised] not to mention radiant.


Next in the box was a full size Ciate nail polish.  I got the shade Ditch in heels' which is a mint green colour, not one I will be using sadly, but watch out for it in a giveaway.  

Rimmel Matte BB cream is next in shade light and it has an SPF 15 which I like and I actually quite like the BB Cream, the colour is almost perfect for my skin tone, I just need to buff a little extra after applying and it gives a really nice feel to the skin, not to mention is great for covering my oily patches!  This is an 8ml sample which is an alright size, you get to use it for a few days before deciding whether or not you want to purchase a full sized tube which costs £6.99 from Boots for 30ml.

So Susan is next, i'm not sure what it is about these products but I start off liking them and then within days come to dislike them.  In my box was a flutter mascara in black and it has an RRP £14.99. Described as being an intense carbon-black mascara formulated with hyaluronic spheres to help you achieve the darkest, curviest lashes possible. The long brush with extra stiff bristles helps to achieve voluminous, multi-dimensional lashes in just one coat. Suitable for contact lens wearers.  We'll see, I can't say I am over-excited about it, but I do love mascara and will give it a try.

Etre Belle comes next, a brand ive never heard of but a product that intrigues me because it is called a Liplift peel which is given the following description "Up to 54% more lip volume and smoothing wrinkles without injections. Pure hyaluronic microspheres smooth quickly and effectively deep wrinkles around the lips and restructure the lip volume. The lip contour is replenished and redefined". Well worth giving it a go and as a full sized product it is worth around £10

The final product is a perfume sample, which I am a fan of in general, especially when they come in actual cute bottles.  From Yves Rocher this is called Quelques Notes d'Amour and it is very very floral, one of those perfumes that you only need the tiniest amount of before you over do it and give yourself a headache.  Possibly not the scent for me, but more for my Mam who would love it, infact it is winging its way to her, so hopefully she does like it.

So there you have my box.  I actually think this is one of the better ones that I have seen floating around and although I wouldn't use everything within in box, I like that I have some new products to play around with.

So what do you think to this box? Good or Bad?

Karen Millen September Glossybox

As soon as I saw a spoiler for this months Glossybox, I wanted it, just for the box alone.  For me it is the best designed Glossybox that I have ever had, it is simply stunning.

Aside from the fabulous box, there was a few spoilers as to what we might find inside and ive seen a few posts from other Bloggers who all have the one item I hoped for, but didn't get... that said, this is what I got!

ModelCo More Brows fibre Gel -  I got light medium which I might get away with, we will see. This is a full sized item and it does have an RRP £14.95 for 3.5ml.  The enclosed card states that this innovative brush-on gel gives the appearance of fuller, thicker brows instantly.

L'Oreal Professional Mythic Masque - This masque is designed to intensely nourish and replenish the hair, for an effortlessly glossy-looking result.  This masque is to be applied to towel dried hair and left for 3 minutes before rinising.  A full sized 200ml tub has an RRP £15.50, this tub is 75ml.

Nails Inc Westminster Bridge Matte Top Coat - This matte effect top coat gives you two very different looks for everyone of your nail polishes.  This is a full sized 10ml bottle and has an RRP £12

Vichy Normaderm Night Detox & Hydrating Care 3ml samples are said to help target adult blemishes, leave your complexion radiant and balance excess sebum.  NOw I am a big fan of Vichy and I am looking forward to trying both samples.

The final product within this box are three sachets.  Skinpep Brightening Enzyme and Acid Peel which uses pineapple and papaya extracts to gently exfoliate, soft and bright skin.  A 3.5ml sachet which I have two of has an RRP £3.05.  Then there is the SkinPep Dark Circle Eraser and boy am I in need of this right now, I look like a walking zombie!  said to use anti-oxident ingredients to boost collagen in the delicate undereye area.  What shocked me is this 2ml sachet has an RRP £6.49 - wow!  I cannot wait to try it.

Also in the box was a gift card to save £25 on any spend of £150 in store during September.  If anyone is and wants my card, please let me know.

Now I like the box this month, I will use every product within the box, which is not something I often say.  That said, I had hoped to get the Origins Plantscription Serum as I have been wanting to try it since I read about it.

What do you think to this box? Anything that grabs your attention?

August Glossybox

I am a little late opening this months Glossybox as I have been away on holiday, so as soon as I was able to go and collect it from my local sorting office, I suddenly remembered that this was meant to be somewhat of a special box was Glossybox are celebrating their 3rd Birthday and if like me you are a subscriber then there have been no end of hints and spoilers as to what the contents might be.  So this is my August Glossybox.

So firstly, the box is different to the others, it looks more squared than the others if that makes sense and inside there is this lovely little card to tell you all about the contents and a little 'Thank You' from Charles Van Abercorn(check name) the Founder and Global CEO. Then there is the nice pink wrapping paper and black ribbon before finally, the contents.

Kryolan for Glossybox- This is a highlighter in shade Cashmere and it is said to be a versatile, lightweight cream with a gloss finish and can be used on cheekbones, lips plus other parts of the skin.  This is a full size item with an RRP £12.95

Figs and Rouge Handcream - A mini handcream in Rose Berry which is enriched with shea butter, natural antioxidents and algae extract.  Said to nourish and soften the hands and leave them with a pampered feeling.  A full size version costs £6.95 for 80ml, this one is 20ml which means it is worth around £1.75.

Yves Rocher Nail Polish - I got shade 14 which is Rose and it is more like a dusky pink, very pretty.  As a mini nail polish it has a little brush and I always find them quite difficult to use.  This is a full sized bottle at 3ml and has an RRP £3.60

Philip Kingsley Elasticizer - Said to have been originally created for Audrey Hepburn, this pre-shampoo treatment delivers unrivalled elasticity, manageability, bounce and shine without weighing the hair down or coating it.  I have another tube of this which I am yet to try, so hopefully it is worth the hype.  A full sized version of 250ml costs £38, this one is 40ml and has a value of around £6.35

Comfort Zone Essentials Cleansing Milk - A revitalising, gentle milk cream containing anti-oxidents and hydrating active ingredients to help remove any make-up and pollution residues for radiant, refreshed and softer skin.  To be used on dry skin in a morning and evening.  A full 250ml version has an RRP £20, this one oddly is 200ml and is therefore has a value of around £16. 

The final item is a perfume sample from Lalique and it is called L'Amour.  I have never heard of Lalique but the scent is described as being a tribute to timeless romance. An Imperial Japanese prince once invited René Lalique to create four stained glass windows for his Tokyo palace, its dominant motif a majestic female figure in the form of an angel. From her outstretched hands garlands of flowers stream, creating a halo of radiant blossoms akin to the aura of a perfume."Soft and sensual with delicate top notes of rosebuds laces with fresh bergamot, white floral heart notes and a musk base note" well one spritz and it is definitely more floral than musky to me!  I quite like it and to purchase it, you would be expected to pay just £94 for 100ml (woah).

So there you have my August Box and as a third birthday box, I think it lacks something exciting and amazing but it is alright and I will use all the contents.  Altogether it has a value of around £40!

What do you think to this months box?  Are there any products you like the look of?

July Glossybox - Stars and Stripes and a bit of drama!

I had been really looking forward to this months Stars and Stripes themed Glossybox, I already knew I would get one Lipstick from Bellapierre Cosmetics Ltd because there had been a big announcement, but when my box arrived, it looked as though every person who had handled it had trodden on the outside of the box and inside, I was gutted, the box has been torn down one side and I had items missing.  So, I emailed Glossybox to explain my woes and they rapidly sent me some replacements.

For the purpose of photos, sellotape has been used!

So, inside my box I should have had:

• Bellapierre Lipstick
• ABSOLUTE New York Perfecting Eyeshadow Primer
• Carmex Lipbalm
• Colour Club Glossy Seal Nail Polish
• Pur Minerals Dirty Girl Detoxifying Mud Masque

What I had was this:

Pur Minerals Dirty Girl Detoxifying Mudd Masque - Dirty Girl is said to unclog pores, Cleanse the skin and gently exfoliate. Pascalite Clay absorbs pore-clogging impurities while Salicylic Acid removes dead skin for a visibly fresher, more radiant complexion.  This has an RRP of £18 for a 120g tube and can be found in M&S.

Colour Club Glossy Seal - This Nail Polish is made in New York and is made only without non-toxic and cruelty free ingredients.  My shade was Baldwin Blue and it has an RRP of $8 for 15ml tube.

ABSOLUTE New York perfecting Eyeshadow Primer - This is an oil-free, ultra-creamy formula which evens skin tone around the eye area and keeps eyeshadow crease-free and colour-true for a lasting look.  This has an RRP $4.99

So those three items are the ones in my box and when my package from Glossybox arrived these products became my additions:

So I was re-sent the nail polish in the same shade and the eyeshadow primer but the additions were:

Wei Royal Ming firming and hydrating cream - It is said to nourish the skin with elements that improve luminosity and texture. You apply it the face and neck after cleansing and is designed for normal-dry skin. The tube is fairly small with just 4ml.

BeautyUk Posh Pout Lip Crayon - This shade is 'How Nude' which has a pinky colur to it and it has an RRP of £2.99.  I am a huge fan of lip crayons so am looking forward to trying it out.

Elizabeth Arden Sachets - I have to admit, I am not an Elizabeth Arden fan, I hate the 8 hour cream, I put it on par with Vaseline, so I was excited by these sachets, they look like something you get free in a magazine, which contain - Visible Difference Gentle Hydrating skincare for dry skin and then a cleanser, serum and a smaller version of the hydrating cream.

Bellapierre Lipstick - I did get one but in bright red, the one colour I would never ever wear, so hopefully I will find it a good home.  The shade is Ruby and it is stunning, but just not for me and it has an RRP £20.  Described as being a cult American favourite, it is formulated with waxes, mineral pigments and antioxidents including vitamin C and E.  

So there you have it, my box at the end of all the drama!  Whilst I might not be too over-joyed with the contents, have homes to find some of the products, I am really glad that Glossybox did reply to my email and did send out replacement products super quick.

Did you get this months Glossybox?  What did your box have inside?  Do any of these products interest or excite you?

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June Glossybox

There was so much hype and excitement as to whom Glossybox would be collaborating with for the May box that I had almost forgotten about the June box until I saw some posts about it.   

The June box for me has just arrived and this months box is said to help you channel summer beauty in one easy step... hmm okay then, let's see what I got in it.  

So we have gone back to the pink shiny box and this is the last Glossybox Magazine that we will be getting in paper form as it has been switched to an online version, slightly sad about that as I always read it, but not the end of the world.

Anyway on to my contents:

So quite an interesting box this month and this is what each product is:

Nailgirls 3-in-1 Base/Topcoat and nail strengther - well you can never have too many nail products right?  I need a new basecoat so looking forward to giving this a go.  It is a full size item which has an RRP £13.50 which is quite expensive for a brand I have never heard of.

TeeezTrend Cosmetics Beautiful Flat Stiff Brush - This is a Glossybox Premiere and has never featured before and this was a product I have seen most people wanting in their box.  I have to say I love the packaging, very floral and very pretty and the brush itself is a really nice size, so looking forward to giving that a try.  It is a full sized item and has an RRP of £15.

Rituals Qi Gong Spray is next and I am a HUGE fan of Rituals products and they also happen to make one of my favourite candles too.  That said this is is a spray which is infused with white lotus and nourshing yi yi ren which gives 24 hour protection from perspiration and leaves a subtle summery scent.  I really like the scent of this and as I am going away for a few days it is coming with me so I can put it to the test.  This is a 50ml can and it has an RRP of £3.50

QV Skincare comes next and in this cute little bottle is some skin lotion which is said to be a great all-rounder that can be used as dry skin relief and to remove make-up.  It is a small 15ml bottle and is worth around the 50p mark.

The final product is from the So Susan range and it is a brand I have seen across the bloggersphere recently and one I quite looked forward to trying.  In my box I have the Universal Blush and it is said to work with your skins natural chemistry to create a healthy and natural looking flush.  It is infused with Buriti Fruit Oil and offers UV Protection.  As a full sized product it has an RRP of £18.

So that is my June box and I have to say I am really quite impressed with it and will use every product that I received.

What do you think to my box and if you have one, please link me to it below in the comments so I can come and see what you got.

Glossybox for Superdrug - May Box

There has been much hype and excitement as to whom Glossybox would be collaborating with for the May box and whilst I had seen some spoilers on both Twitter and Facebook, good ones I might add, I was yet to see two people get the same box, which always leaves some room for a bit of excitement and anticipation.

My box arrived on Saturday morning and I couldn't wait to open it.  I had already seen that the usual dusty pink box had been replaced with a rather funky designed box with '50' being emblazoned on a bright neon pink and gold colour and the words 'Glossybox for Superdrug' also clearly visible.  We all know that Superdrug is celebtrating its 50th birthday and there have been some amazing products specially released to celebrate that, but what is in my box I know you are all wanting to know, well.... Ta-dah

OOOh now how fab does this box look? It has been a long time since I have liked all the contents of a Glossybox, that includes everything from the outerbox, the pink tissue and the matching ribbon to the crepe paper - all of which I think looks amazing.

So inside my box I have not one or two full sized items but FIVE - yes five of them, plus two little extras which I am chuffed chuffed with and they are:

Ghost Eclipse - Those of you who read my blog alot (okay occasionally) will know I am a fan of perfume samples, so I am happy to see this one in here.  Ghost Eclipse has the following description:

"Capturing the warm energy of the sun, GHOST Eclipse evokes feelings of carefree abandon.  Get lost in the moment and lift your spirits with this intoxicating and addictive fruity-floral fragrance".

The second sample is a Garnier Oil Body Lotion, something I haven't tried but more than willing to do so, it is infused with argan, macademia, almond and rose oil to help replenish the skin with moisture and reinforce its barrier function to prevent it from feeling dry, leaving your skin feeling soft and smooth.  

Here is the rest of the box!

Maybelline New York Great Lash Mascara - I am a fan of Maybelline Mascara and this is one I have never tried and you can never have too many mascaras right?  This has an RRP of £4.99

GOSH Cosmetics Velvet Touch Eyeliner - I am a huge fan of GOSH Cosmetics and this is another product I haven't tried though it is fair to say, eyeliner is not one of my favourite items.  However it has an RRP of £4.99

B Sheer Conditioning Lipstick - I got shade 88 which Flamingo and it is as you would expect it to be, a bright pink.  Possibly not a colour I would choose but I am going to give it a try anyway as I have never used anything from B before, despite seeing their products across many blogs I read.  This has an RRP of £6.99

Max Factor - Facefinity All Day Primer - perhaps the product I am most excited about and chuffed to have got.  This primer is said to have micro-correctors which work to absorb sweat and extend the wear of your favourite foundation for all day flawless finish.  This has an RRP of £10.99

The final item is Vaseline Spray and Go in Coco and this is a product I have been umming and arring about for months and months.  I am not the worlds biggest fan of Vaseline for my lips (yuck) but having read about this product so many times, I quite like the idea behind it, plus it makes life a tad easier when it comes to moisturising right?  An RRP of £4.99

So that is my box!  I think it is fantastic and I am chuffed with the contents.  What do you think to my box and if you have one, please link me to it below in the comments so I can come and see what you got.