*DISCLAIMER - I am NOT in any way affiliated with Glossy Box and this review is in no way sponsored by them. The subscriptions have always been paid for by me and I am not receiving any freebies or payment from the company*
Hello lovely readers!
Back in 2011, I started a subscription to Glossy Box - a monthly beauty box containing 5 luxury samples of new and popular products available on the market. Anything from lip gloss to perfume to fake tan. I enjoyed them for a while, but started to tire of what I was being sent.
However, I recently received an email from Glossy Box about an offer for a box worth £75 if you subscribe for 3, 6 or 12 months. Being a sucker for a deal, I decided to sign up for 3 boxes and see if there were any improvements.
When I initially opened the parcel box, I was surprised to find a black and gold box inside. Normally the boxes are light pink unless there's a theme, which as far as I was aware, wasn't the case for this month.
Inside was the leaflet that describes all the products for you. This said "Razzle & dazzle this festive season", which, again, I thought was a bit odd. I've tweeted Glossy Box, but I imagine this is my £75 box with full size products. I'm happy with the products, but they're completely wrong for this time of year. Obviously this is the Christmas box from last year, which doesn't quite work for August.
As usual, the box was beautifully packaged. The box was slightly scuffed up, but I guess that's because it was from 8 months ago and in a black box, so the marks will show more. Doesn't matter though, I just keep the boxes for storage inside drawers/cupboards/etc.
So, let's get to the products! I'll quote what is said in the leaflet and then let you know what I think of them on first viewing. I haven't had chance to use any of them properly yet, but any I think are worth reviewing, I'll do so in separate posts.
So I'll start with the Butter London 3 Free Nail Lacquer. The leaflet says:
"Searching for a festive-inspired manicure? This fabulous Butter London nail lacquer is all you need! Long-lasting and rich in colour, this high-performing nail polish leaves a smooth and glossy finish".
This nail polish retails at £12. It's a lovely chocolate brown shade and will be perfect for the Autumn and Winter months. It's a shame I won't want to try it quite yet, but as soon as I do, I'll try to remember to review it for you all. I've never used any Butter London products, but I know they're very popular, so hopefully I'll enjoy using this one!
In the little pink tube is a Absolute! Perfume Stick. The leaflet says:
"This unique Absolute! perfume stick is a seductive scent, instantly conjuring up images of a winter wonderland. Packaged in a beautiful and elegantly designed bottle, it's the perfect Christmas gift".
This retails at £9.50. It smells very floral, and actually does work really well in August. I like the idea of a solid perfume, no more lugging around full size, glass perfume bottles in my handbag - much less risky (perfume bottles can smash phone screens - believe, I know this from experience!) and it's a real space saver. I have quite sensitive skin too, so was wary that this kind of perfume stick might bring me out in a rash, but it didn't, so I'm happy about that. Overall, it smells great and is a really good idea for a product.
The white tube is a So Susan Cosmetics Water-based Pure Luminizer. The leaflet says:
"Want the perfect red carpet glow for Christmas? Simply apply So Susan's lightweight Water-Based Luminizer to highlight your cheekbones, brow bones and eyes for a sparkling luminosity that will last all night long."
This retails at £25. This was one of the most disappointing products for me. This box was supposed to contain full sized products, which I suppose it technically did, however I was expecting full sized products that were actually full of the product. This could easily only have been half full - I had to really squeeze the tube to get any of the luminizer out, which is a real shame because I actually quite like it. I tried it out on my hand and it's very dewey and glowy. It could actually work well as a moisturizer on the legs if you fancied going tights-less for an evening out, though you'd want to mix it with a regular body lotion so you don't end up really sparkly! I'm intrigued to try it on my face over foundation as it does look kind of pigmented. I currently use Soap 'n' Glory's Hocus Focus illuminating cream mixed in with my foundation which just gives me a pearly glow. However, Hocus Focus is a white cream, so blends in completely transparently to the skin. I don't think this So Susan product will do that, and in turn might be too dark for my complexion. But considering I want to become a make-up artist (post on that to come!), I need to start building a kit that contains products for all skin types and tones, so this could prove very useful!
Next is a tube of EuPhidra Pearly Lip Gloss. The leaflet says:
"This lip gloss should be on everyone's wish list! Why? Simply because the perfume and Paraben-free Pearly Lip Gloss by EuPhidra not only gives you a perfect finish, it also protects and treats your lips with Vitamin E and Oryza Sativa Oil, ensuring they're in top condition throughout the year."
This retails at £11.90. My first impression of this was "Holy sparkles, Batman". It is SO glittery. Reminds me of the Bourjois 3D Effet Lipgloss that I got free from Boots when I was about 12 or 13. It was BRIGHT pink with a tonne of gold flecks in it. Not a good look for me! This is more subtle. It's a softer pink and the glitter is surprisingly subtle. I think it work best for a party, but I do quite like it. I wouldn't pay £11.90 for something like this, but as it was free, I'm pretty happy with it.
The bottle is a Philip B African Shea Butter Gently & Conditioning Shampoo. The leaflet says:
"Let your hair steal the show this season! Give yourself a glossy Christmas treat with Philip B's African Shea Butter Conditioning Shampoo. The gentle cleansing properties protect and strengthen your strands, leaving your locks full of body and shine."
This retails at £9.50. This one scares me a little. I'm wary of 2 in 1 shampoo/conditioners, and although it doesn't explicitly say it's 2 in 1, it does say it's a conditioning shampoo, sooo.... I'll try it if I'm ever desperate, but I can't say I'm that eager to. I love the smell of Shea Butter though, so mayyyyyyyybe....
And finally, there is a Be A Bombshell Cosmetics "Blush" - which was actually a bronzer. The leaflet says:
"This highly-pigmented formula is a must-have for all make-up kits, leaving you with a long lasting rosy glow that's flattering for all skin tones."
This retails at £9.95. Obviously this description isn't quite correct... Shame really, I would have much preferred a blush as I don't really use bronzer. I would have really enjoyed this "must-have" blush. It's waaaaaaaaaay too dark for my skin. The FCUK bronzer that I do seldom use, is a much lighter shade, so this is completely wrong for me. I did choose the light skin option on the form that is supposed to tailor your boxes to your specific needs, but I guess it didn't quite translate in this first box. Never mind, like the the luminizer, it'll be added to my ever growing kit to use on potential future clients. Not a total loss!
Adding up all the retail prices, this box actually comes to nearly £78, which although is only £3 more than advertised....is STILL £3 more than advertised! Which I think is pretty generous. I was expecting it to be slightly (or perhaps quite a lot) less than £75, so I'm pleasantly surprised that it wasn't.
All in all, I didn't love this box, but I didn't hate it either. It was alright. Hopefully the 3 monthly boxes I've ordered will suit me better, but I'm looking forward to using the lip gloss, perfume stick and nail polish.
SOTD - Wonder Woman by Frankmusik
IOTD - Dawn O'Porter
I think I might actually be in love with this woman. Genuinely. She's so cool! I just finished watching her series "This Old Thing" where she gave tips for vintage shopping and revamping old clothes in your wardrobe and I really enjoyed it! I picked up lots of advice, but the one that I thought was best for me personally was to try things on when shopping. I hate trying clothes on whilst shopping with a passion. It really depresses me if things are too small and ruins my shopping day. BUT Dawn is changing my ways. It's worth trying clothes on because they will look different on you than they do on the hanger - obviously! And yeah, it might look terrible, but something else might look AMAZING on you!
