June Glossybox

I have really enjoyed the Glossyboxs I have had so far and haven't had one which made me think I had wasted my money. Last months was particularly good and I had ruined the surprise by checking reviews online before I got mine so this month I decided not too look. I had noticed a couple of negative comments on twitter but this hadn't put me off and I was excited to see my box had arrived. This all changed when I opened the box though. This has to be the worst box I have ever seen and makes me wonder whether the beauty profile you fill out actually has any effect on the samples you get as I said I had straight, fine hair on the profile, but for some reason have been sent hair samples designed for curly hair. What am I gonna do with that Glossybox? I also said I liked fruity scents rather than floral, yet got a rose scent not a cherry...anyway onto the pictures:

The theme of this months box is "Summer Looks", a fitting theme for the weather but I was expecting some make-up samples in summery shades but received all body/hair products, really disappointing and not really related to summer. Also, black lining in a summer themed box? Really? The total value of my box this month was about £31.00. 

The first product which caught my eye was the Nuxe Shimmering Dry Oil (£34.00 for 100ml, 10ml included). This can be used anywhere as a hydrating oil or to add a little shimmer. I can't really see myself using this as I'm not really a fan of glitter on my body or face other than eye shadow, but it does smell and feel really nice and makes your skin feel really soft and only a little shimmery so I might find a use for it. I wouldn't pay so much for the full size thing though!

The second product included is the Monu Hydrating Moisturiser (£29.95 for 50ml, 30ml included). I do like a good moisturiser with SPF so wasn't too disappointed with this one. It is really hydrating and left my skin feeling amazing so I can't fault it for that but it doesn't smell fantastic. 

Figs & Rouge Lip Balm in Coco Rose (full size £5). I have heard a lot about this brand and the lip balms but haven't had chance to try one myself yet. I was a little disappointed to find the rose scent as I have mentioned before I am not a fan of rose but would have liked the cherry one! I do like that this is completely natural and as a lip balm works well but the you can feel the shimmer in it on your lips which isn't nice. It does leave your lips soft but the balm feels rough on your lips which is strange and has put me off it to be honest. 

Next up the big disappointment, Paul Mitchell Curl Duo- Leave-In Treatment and Beachy Texture Cream-Gel (Leave-in treatment full size 200ml, £14.95, 15ml included and Texture cream-gel full size 150ml, £11.95, 15ml included). I don't understand why I would have been sent this when I stated on the beauty profile that I have fine, straight hair. My hair won't curl without curlers so these are of no use to me. They might be lovely for someone that has wavy hair but just aren't suitable for my hair. Well done Glossybox. 

Finally, Q Body Spray (full size £2.29). This is quite nice and smells very florally, which I'm not usually too keen on. This is probably the only product in the box which will get used up, other than the moisturiser, which is a shame. 

I am really disappointed with this months box and if it hadn't been my free box from redeeming my Glossydots, I think I would be tempted to cancel my subscription. I have loved every other box so far which makes me think this may be a one off but I'm really surprised how poor this box is. I don't mind a few body products but really just want the make-up so this really let the box down for me. Hopefully next months box will make up for this one or I might consider making that my last! I think its a shame the majority of the box value came from the moisturiser and the other samples were relatively cheap boring bits.

Did you get a Glossybox this month? Was yours as rubbish as mine, or would you have liked this one?

British Nail Bloggers Giveaway!

My little blog is only a baby and as yet I don't have too many followers. I was intending to put together a little collection of some of my favourite polish brand to offer as a giveaway prize in a couple of months time, but I couldn't resist joining in when I saw a group giveaway suggested on the British Nail Bloggers page!

The prizes are fantastic! There is a total of $250 up for grabs! This will be split into three prizes which are being offered as gift certificates to be spent at the nail e-tailer of your choice! 

1st prize - $100

3x runner up prizes - $50 

The giveaway is open internationally and will run until 8pm on Friday the 28th June. You can earn a huge amount of entries by following the blogs on the list- the more you follow the better your chance to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck! :)

NOTD: Summer Dotty Flowers

I know things have been a little quiet around here lately and NOTD posts are getting a little old, but it is about all I can find time for at the moment. 3 weeks into my new job and with two weeks to go until my dissertation draft is due, I am beginning to feel a little stressed out and my baby blog has had to take a back seat until things calm down. I am getting settled at work though and as soon as my dissertation has gone I will have a little more time to spend on some more interesting posts, so just bear with me until then!

This week though, it has finally started to feel like summer is coming! I am so glad as I love the sun and could quite happily live somewhere much warmer than England. I hate having to wear coats and the bright weather brings out a much happier me. My mood always seems to reflect on my choice of nail polish, so I found myself reaching for some of the new Barry M Summer 2013 Gellys. I managed to grab a couple of these a little early and they will get a post of their own but I wanted them for a flowery design today.

I used Prickly Pear as a base with Passion Fruit for the petals and Mango for the centre of the flower. I love the contrast between these colours and as for quality, the new shades don't disappoint. I can't actually imagine not using Gelly polishes now, they have to be my favourite polish range and for the price they are such amazing quality. The shade range keeps growing and I keep adding to my collection. Barry M are onto a winner here and I hope they carry on expanding this range.

I really love these summery flowers and it was so simple to create. I just used my dotting tool to first create the petals with four dots and pulled these in together with a single dot in the centre. The one thing I always seem to do though, is put top coat on at least one nail before its completely dry and smudge it. This design has lasted a good three days without much chipping, another bonus of using the Barry M Gellys!

Have you tried a flower design like this? I love using the Gelly polishes for nail art!

NOTD: Claire's Accessories Leather Effect Polish

I posted the other day here about my bargain haul of £1 nail polishes from Claire's Accessories. I couldn't resist picking up a couple at such a bargain price and I was really impressed with the range of different effects they stocked.
These are the ones I managed to limit myself to buying, and the pink speckle is show on the post linked above. I love how similar it is to Nails Inc's Sprinkle effect and I'm hoping the blue will be as good.

I have to say the leather effects were the ones I was most excited to try, and couldn't actually believe that they stocked. them I never really took much notice of Claire's before and didn't realise they had such an amazing nail polish range. I mean, leather effects for £1? Seriously? I hadn't wanted to splash out £12 on a Nails Inc Leather Polish but I have been seriously lusting after Shoreditch Lane, so the burgundy leather had to be mine!

Just for a little comparison: left- Seventeen Rock Hard Nail Effects, right- Nails Inc Shoreditch Lane (Picture with permission of Charlotte from soyoubeauty).

Although the Claire's polish is a little lighter and slightly more textured, for a difference of £11 I am so impressed with this polish! I do think these are very similar in texture to the Seventeen Rock Hard polishes which I also loved. I did actually get asked by one of my friends if I was wearing the Nails Inc one though, so they are close enough for me! 

I love that these polishes were only £1 and I'll  be watching out for new offers or effects that Claire's might stock in the future as I would still have happily paid £4 for this one! I got a good three days wear out of this with only the tiniest amount of chipping on the tips, so they really are good value for money and if like me you aren't happy to pay out over a tenner for a single polish, then I'd give these a go!

Did any of you manage to grab a few £1 polishes? I'm so glad I did!