(Very Late) November Glossybox

So first things first, many apologies for my complete lack of posts in the last few months. 

As it turns out studying + illness - sleep = sweet fa getting done, so sorry about that. Now a catch up is needed.

These are the products I got in my November Glossybox.

The first thing in the box was the H2O+ Face Oasis Hydrating Treatment. This is an oil-free moisturiser, so they're speaking my language already. You apply it onto damp skin (but I found it difficult to know just how damp it should be) and leave it for 5 minutes, then massage in the excess. I thought it was nice and light, but I didn't feel much hydration.

Next up was the MONU Skincare Refining Capri Facial Oil, which is designed to balance oily skin and decongest pores. The sample packaging made it a little difficult to get the right amount to use, but a little practice and I got there. This felt lovely on the skin and I liked the fragrance, but I didn't notice any improvement in breakouts and my face felt tacky after a few hours.

Next was the OGX Argan Oil of Morocco Shampoo. This is awesome. It left my hair feeling soft and looking super shiny. It still couldn't deal with my stupid flyaway bits, but I think that's beyond help. The only problem with this brand is the bottles; it's almost impossible to get anything out of them when you get about half way through. Could be a problem for fellow weaklings.

The penultimate item was the Lollipops Eye Pencil in Black. I so wanted to like this. I nearly did; it went on smoothly and had a really rich colour. But it kept breaking. The end fell off 3 times as I tried to apply it, which got on my nerves. Hopefully, I just got a duff one and this is usually a really good liner, but it has made me wary of buying another.

And lastly was the Burt's Bees Lip Shine. This contains apricot wax (who knew apricots produced wax?) to moisturise the lips and leaves them with a subtle colour with full on shine. I didn't find it at all sticky and I really liked the scent, but being a bit of a gloss fiend, this was always going to be my favourite product. 

Those be my thoughts, and I hope the next post won't be quite so late.

Nova Silver

So the rather lovely people at Nova Silver sent me a package this week.

 It's a ring! It's from their Marcasite collection and it's friggin' gorgeous.

Seriously, look at it. How beautiful is it? My photos don't show the little sparkly bits properly, so you'll just have to trust me when I say that it glimmers brilliantly.

I really wanted my hands to be looking good for this picture, but I broke a nail the day it arrived and then my cat attacked me. Ah well, just look at the ring.

I have a nail design inspired by this up on my other blog here.

Anyway, I just wanted to say thank you so much to Nova Silver for sending me this awesome ring.

Check them out at /www.novasilver.co.uk/

Bloglovin

<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/13126887/?claim=4ahrway9eh5">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>

Just a quick post to say you can now follow my blogs with Bloglovin

xx

Ventriloquist Dummy Makeup

It's Halloween season aka time to play with makeup, yay!

I find ventriloquist dummies creepy, always have, so I thought this would a good place to start. This is pretty much the only time my uber oily skin is an advantage. No powdering here - it should look like varnish. I also went mascaraless because I wanted the eyes to look really round and the whole look to be slightly androgynous.

Hope you like :)

Foundation - Revlon Photoready in Nude

Concealer (around brows) - Collection Lasting Perfection in Fair

Blusher - No. 7 Natural Cream Blush in Maple Silk

Contour - Sleek iDivine palette in Ultra Matte V2 (dark grey shade)

              - Sleek Contour Kit in Light

Brows - Max Factor Eyebrow Pencil in Ebony

Eyeshadow - Sleek iDivine palette in Vintage Romance (white and midbrown shade)

Liner - L'Oreal Superliner in Golden Black (plain black would be better though, mine's just gone weird)

         - Natural Collection Eye Lines Pencil in White

Lips - Barry M Lip Liner in Red

Black Details - Sleek iDivine palette in Sunset (black shade)

Dramatic Plum Smoky Eye Look

Sometimes you've just gotta go for it. I felt like it was time to step away from the neutrals for a bit and go for something a little bolder. I went for a deep purple and gold smoky eye with a defined edge and lashes, oh the lashes!

A couple of close-ups here. The gold on the top lid is a loose pigment so I could get the super shimmery gradient, and underneath is a pressed shadow because it's less likely to go walkabout. I ran a bronzer along the top of the shadow to help blend and give a flattering edge, and a black shadow over the gel liner to make it smokier. I left my brows au natural, other than some gel to tame, because I have more than my fair share as it is.

 This was my first time using Jinnylash falsies, and I have to say I found them very comfortable. They have a very thin clear strip so they fit pretty easily.

Hope you like!

These are the products I used:

Foundation - Maybelline Fit Me in 130
Concealer (as eyeshadow base) - So Susan concealer quad (darkest shade)
Contour - Sleek Face Contour Kit in Light
Blush - MAC Powder Blush in Royal Sunset
Bronzer - Rimmel Natural Bronzer
Eyeshadow - Sleek iDivine palette in Glory (light gold shade)
                  - Sleek iDivine palette in Bad Girl (dark purple and black shades)
                  - Barry M Dazzle Dust in Old Gold
Liner - L'Oreal Superliner Gel in Golden Black
Mascara - 17 Peep Show in Black
Eye Primer - Absolute
Brow Gel - Maybelline Brow Drama Gel in Medium Brown
Lipstick - Maybelline Color Sensational Nudes in Tantalizing Taupe
Lipgloss - Beautiful Movements Lipgloss in Nude

Marylin Monroe Inspired Makeup

So I watched a tutorial by Lisa Eldridge the other day which was a Marylin Monroe iconic look video (watch it here) and I got all inspired. It's not an exact recreation, it's a more wearable version, and slightly quicker to create. Hope you like.

I tried to keep the main points; the dewy skin, the winged liner (not liquid, apparently!), the red lip and arched brow. I did some contouring, but as my face is so round, if I did as much as her I'd just look stripey.

Here's a close up of the eye and lip. 

And here's what I used:

Foundation - Maybelline Fit Me in 210
Countour & Highlight - Sleek Face Contour Kit in Light
Eyeshadow - Sleek iDivine palette in Au Natural
Mascara - Soap and Glory Thick & Fast
Liner - Rimmel ScanalEyes in Nude
Brow pen - GOSH Long Lasting Brow Pen in Dark Brown
Lip colour - Revlon ColorBurst Matte Balm in Striking and Standout (outer edges)

May Glossybox

I've been getting Glossyboxes for a while now and I absolutely love them. It's like a little present every month (a present that I pay for, but still). The May box was a 50th birthday celebration for Superdrug and I got 5 full size products and 2 samples, that was an awesome surprise.

The products I got were: 

Vaseline Spray and Go Moisturiser in Cocoa Radiant
Max Factor Facefinity All Day Primer

Maybelline Great Lash Mascara in Very Black

GOSH Velvet Touch Eyeliner in Blueberry Ice

B. Sheer Conditioning Lipstick in Flamingo

Garnier Oil Beauty Lotion (sample)

Ghost Eclipse (sample)

My standout product was The Max Factor primer. I've been hunting for a primer that works for me for years. I have super oily skin so I've been concentrating on ones that promised mattifying properties. This product doesn't promise a matte finish, but delivers it for me. I gave it a proper test on a hot day through a dance class, and although I was shiny by the end, my foundation hadn't moved. It can be worn on it's own to improve the overall look of the skin or to anchor makeup. I feel like it holds my makeup a bit better than (dare I say it?) Benefit's The Porefessional, but doesn't provide as smooth a base. 

I loved this box and several products have become immediate staples. If you're interested in Glossybox, you can visit their website here.

(This is not a sposnsored post.)