Feeling Christmassy

Whether we like it or not, Christmas is on it's merry way and the mad present buying rush is rearing it's ugly head.

Working in retail, I can see how November is that 'inbetween' stage in which the shops are getting that little bit busier, the weather is getting that little bit colder and the shop displays are getting that little bit merrier. I myself LOVE Christmas and always have done. For me it's a beautiful (if not mad) time in which the whole family group together to spend one special day with each other before welcoming in the new year. I find it sad when people say they hate Christmas because although everybody has their reasons, I find it a wonderful, magical time and look forward to it all year (that's right, I'm sad).

It's no surprise that I adore Christmas decorations and would love to decorate my room like many shop displays (If only I could afford it *sigh*), however there is a fine line between creating a winter wonderland and creating a crowded room full of tacky, OTT decorations.

My family and I recently went to a little pine furniture warehouse not far from where I live just for a look and I got well and truly lost in their Christmas department. 

I was overwhelmed at the simplicity of the majority of the decorations and got some ideas for the decorations for my bedroom this year.

Last year I stuck to a natural theme and grabbed some sticks and pine cones from the woods. I then painted them white and covered them in glitter, scattering them in places around my room. I also made my own giant paper snowflakes and hung them from invisible string from my ceiling. It proves that simple, natural ideas made by yourself can be very effective. Sadly, although cheap, these decorations aren't easy to re-use the next year, but at least they're all made from recyclable material!

I love the twinkly lights and see Christmas as a great opportunity to get out all the fairy lights and 

Yankee Candles (I must say I spent a long time sniffing their wide range of Christmas Yankees despite neglecting to buy one!). My idea of a winter wonderland is plenty of white, silver and gold with twinkly lights, floaty bits and little things hanging from every angle. I loved the little gold crown candle holders in the bottom right hand corner of this picture!

It's safe to say I'll be taking lots of inspiration from these decorations and despite being over a month away from the big day itself, will begin mentally planning some special decorations!

Review: Maybelline Baby Lips

Let's face it, just about every beauty blogger has heard of these little delights as they've been booming in the world of blogging. There's certainly no doubt about why Maybelline Baby Lips lip balms are getting people talking. They're super nourishing, perfectly pigmented and all have their individual benefits suited to different lip types and different demands. 

I first purchased the peachy toned lip balm 'Peach Kiss' because it suited my pigment demands perfectly. My favourite lip shades are nudes, peaches and light frosted corals. I wanted to try a lip product that promised to nourish and protect my lips alongside providing them with a pretty sheen and delicate splash of colour. I was impressed with how soft and silky it left my lips for a good few hours, even after eating and drinking. Feeling so impressed I decided to try some more, but unfortunately the only others my local Boots had to offer were 'Quenched', 'Peach Kiss' and 'Pink Punch'. I purchased the two others right away and adored 'Pink Punch' almost instantly. It's a vibrant pink which on red lips looks even brighter. It's much more of a balm than a lipstick as like the other nourishes and protects your lips and leaves them looking shiny and soft. 

The third, 'Quenched' will become my new night time and first thing in the morning lip balm to treat dry, sore lips and to do exactly what it says - quench. 

This one is colourless but smells delicious and has the same nourishing effect as the others!

I believe there are a couple more coloured balms in this range, along with a few with different nourishing effects (some are SPF, others are for specific lip issues). After enjoying these three I will definitely consider buying more! 

Nivea Love

I'm a big fan of premium skincare, and I think it's nice to have the odd Liz Earle hot cloth cleanser or Clinique Moisture Surge Moisturiser kicking around your bathroom cupboard, however when money is tight, sometimes it's best to hit the drugstore for skin care. 

I recently ran out of my Liz Earle hot-cloth cleanser, and only had one other in my bathroom cupboard. The only option I had was an old No7 hot cloth cleanser and matching toner which has been known to make me break out. So I rushed to Boots to see what they had in terms of skin care that wouldn't cost the earth and wouldn't irritate my sensitive skin. 

I was already using the Nivea Pure & Natural day cream and was loving it. It's so soft and silky but is also refreshing and a good wake-me-up for tired skin. I decided to go for a budget buy and picked up the Nivea Pure & Natural cleansing lotion and cleansing toner. It was 3 for 2 on all beauty products at that point so I chose the Nivea Daily Essentials double-effect eye-makeup remover as my third product. A few weeks later I ditched my No7 night cream for the Nivea Daily Essentials Regenerating Night Cream for a great cost and now use every product in between my premium skincare or whenever my skin feels a bit vulnerable. 

They all work brilliantly together and leave my skin feeling fresh, soft, clean and clear and not the least bit irritated. 

Nivea don't use any harsh chemicals which is great for my sensitive skin and their products are never strongly perfumed, meaning you won't be overwhelmed with scent for those with a sensitive nose.

If you're after a good facial freshen-up, are tired of your regular skincare products or your skin is feeling sensitive and vulnerable, give Nivea a try and I'm sure you won't be disappointed!

Sophie.

xoxoxo

August Favourites

I've been quite experimental with products this month and thought it'd be a good idea to share some of my favourites as a result of my excitement. I bought everything in this post over the course of a few months and based on how good I thought they were I decided to give a detailed description of each one for you. Enjoy!

Sanctuary Spa Creme Souffle body cream

Boots recently had a great deal on in which you spent £10 on any Sanctuary product and got this free 475ml body cream which obviously I couldn't say no to! I'd never tried Sanctuary products because of their hefty pricetags but have always heard great things about them. It's texture is exactly what it says on the pot - creamy but light just like a souffle. 

It smells fresh and clean and leaves skin feeling delightfully smooth and soft. 

Soap and Glory Heel Genius Foot cream

Working in a busy shop every day can be hell for my feet and I've recently been noticing how dry the skin on the bottom of my feet has become as a result. I picked this up in the hope it'd be good as I usually love Soap and Glory products and have heard good things about their body creams. It smells light and fresh and has a lovely smooth texture once rubbed in. After using it for just a week I noticed my feet were so much smoother and healthier and now I use it every night after a bath.

Loreal Studio Matt & Messy Salt Spray

Through the summer months I've visited the beach a few times and wanted to have my hair looking effortlessly wavy and beachy but having naturally straight hair I really struggled to get it to stay looking beachy. I picked this up because I noticed it said 'matt effect' on the bottle, which is something you don't normally see on a beach spray. I totally love it as it doesn't add shine to my already straight hair what-so-ever and makes it easier to create effortlessly wavy/beach hair with just a couple of sprays over curled hair. I recommend it to anyone with straight hair as a holy grail product.

MAC Cremesheen Lipstick in 'Creme Cup'

I'm a big MAC addict, particularly to their lipsticks and I own quite a few, mostly all pink shades. I wanted a more nude pink for a subtle everyday look with the same moisturising creamy texture of a MAC lipstick so headed straight for the cremesheens. This is a perfect inbetween for a nude and a baby pink as its subtle, pretty, moisturising and lasts a long time. Definitely my new favourite, although I'm sure the next MAC I purchase will be a favourite too...

Estee Lauder Duo Eyeshadow Pallet in 'Raisins'

This will be no surprise to many of you as Estee Lauder 'Raisins' is a beauty bloggers favourite for sure! It's pricey but so worth it and lasts all day long. It's the only Estee Lauder product I own and is my holy grail for eyeshadows. The peachy nude is light and almost transparent and therefore great in the corner of the eye with any other colour for the crease. I wear a brown smokey eye almost every day and love to use this along with my Bobbi Brown makeup brushes. It's a lovely product and definitely worth the money. Just look at the beautiful packaging for a start!

Barry M Gelly Nail Polishes in Papaya and Lychee

I've never been the biggest Barry M fan and have never really used any of their nail polishes, but I recently purchased these because they were a lot like the shellac nail polishes used in salons but at a fraction of the cost! I picked these two up along with three others and chose these as my favourites. They're easy to apply, quick to dry and last a long time without chipping, as well as being pretty colours. The coral is great as a pretty summer colour and the nude is perfect for Autumn/Winter. 

Zara Perfume

I've always been a big fan of designer perfumes such as Miss Dior and Calvin Klein but short on money and perfume recently, I needed a pretty scent which wouldn't cost the earth. I was given a sample of Zara Woman '92, Champs Elysees Paris' and was pleasantly surprised at how lovely it was. I saved up a good £40 just in case the full-size bottle was expensive (being a Zara perfume, I thought I'd better be prepared), and headed to my closest store. This is when I discovered just how cheap their perfumes are. I bought the Zara Woman perfume in full size for £14.99 along with this one for £7.99. I still had enough money leftover to buy another but decided to save it instead. This one is my favourite. It has no name but a gorgeous musky scent with hints of vanilla. A perfect everyday perfume.

Yankee Candle in White Chocolate and Mint

I know this isn't a beauty product but I couldn't resist. I love a good candle and have the odd Yankee Candle that people have given me as presents in the past. They last long and smell incredible, with a wide range of smells to enjoy. I bought this one when Clinton Cards had an offer to buy one candle and get any one half price. Although it says thank you on the front (which I don't really understand), I chose this one because it was white chocolate and mint which intrigued me. It smells creamy and chocolatey with a fresh hint of mint to keep the room smelling pretty and fresh.

'The Perks of Being a Wallflower' by Stephen Chbosky

Again, not a beauty product but I thought I'd share this with you as I began reading this recently. I haven't finished it yet but think it's brilliant so far. It's an intriguing account from the perspective of a teenage boy about life in school and the journey through adolescence. I'm really enjoying it and am excited to read on!

So that's it for August, I'll get thinking about my September favourites soon and promise to do a post at the end of this month but for now, these products will remain a part of my everyday routine and hopefully still will as we go into autumn and winter. 

Hope you enjoyed my post and more to come soon!

Sophie.

xoxoxo

Top 3 High-end Lipsticks

I'm not the most adventurous person when it comes to purchasing lipsticks, and I rarely stray off the MAC path, but recently I splashed out on a lipstick I'd been lusting after for a long time and decided to be a bit bolder when it came to lip products. Out of all my MAC's, a few NARS, a couple of Illamasqua's and now the beautiful YSL, I picked my three favourites to give you a low-down of their pros and cons and share my opinions on the pricey products.

                                                YSL Rouge Volupte Number 7

Colour: very light candy/bubblegum pink

Texture: Incredibly creamy, smooth and thick

Pigmentation: 9/10 - heavily pigmented with so much colour!

Stay ability: 6/10 - rubs off easy as it is so smooth and thick

Scent/flavour: fruity/watermelon

Packaging: 10/10 - the gorgeous gold art deco packaging and heavy, sturdy design makes it feel lovely to hold, look at and show off! In terms of packaging it's definitely the best available!

Best worn with: very little eye makeup, bronzer and a tan for a pretty summery look!

MAC Cream Sheen 'Sunny Seoul'

Colour: Light frosted coral pink

Texture: light, creamy and smooth

Pigmentation: 7/10 - could do with a couple of coats and some adjusting with a brush to get the right look. 

Stay ability: 6/10 - it stays on for a while providing you don't eat/drink or rub your lips!

Scent/flavour: the usual creamy, vanilla scent of a MAC lipstick

Packaging: 8/10 MAC's usual sturdy, reliable packaging, soft to hold and durable for the handbag. 

Best worn with: a light brown smokey eye and subtle peach blush for an everyday look

NARS 'Fire Down Below'

Colour: dark, heavy cherry red (comes out more red than the initial colour of the stick)

Pigmentation: 9/10 absolute clear pigmentation with just one stroke on the lips 

Stay ability: 8/10 as it isn't creamy it doesn't tend to budge for a good couple of hours!

Scent/flavour: it doesn't have a flavour

Packaging: 7/10 soft and sturdy, nice to hold and look at but has the matt texture similar to Topshop makeup that gets dirty easily!

Best worn with: dramatic smokey eye for a night out and little eye makeup (perhaps just liquid eyeliner) for a classy day look. 

So there it is, my current top three high end lip products and a low down on each one! Obviously my opinions will change but for now, these three are my favourites and seem to be my most regularly used lip products. Don't get me wrong, I love my high street lipsticks too, but these just ooze a little more luxury and are so so beautiful! I definitely recommend saving a bit of cash for one of these beauties if you're on the hunt for a fantastic lip product!

Until next time!

Sophie.

xoxoxo

New room, more blogging, more makeup.

So the reason I haven't been blogging much lately is because my room is the most unorganised den of disaster I've ever known! Basically I have too much stuff and too little storage for it.

Being that there's barely any room to move or breathe in my room due to all of the clothes and makeup and general mess, there's also no good place to take pictures of products to review, therefore less blog posts happen! 

I've just organised the new furniture I'm ordering from Ikea which is a nice big white wardrobe and a big white desk which will also serve as a dressing table. At the moment I'm using some shelving in my wardrobes to contain all my beauty products and I use the mirror on my wardrobe to apply my makeup because that's where the best light comes from. I do have a dressing table but it's just full of my jewellery and old makeup bottles and stuff that just looks good for decoration! I love it because it's pretty but I'm going to have to say goodbye to the pretty and say hello to the practical! You'll hear lots more from me once my room has been done and I have a lovely big desk from which to do blog posts and maybe even Youtube videos (who knows!)

My old dressing table - I'll miss it!

See you soon!

Sophie 

xoxo

25 things about me...

I've seen loads of bloggers do this ever since I entered the blogging community and I think it's a great way to get to know the person behind the blog. I searched my brain for some things about myself that make me different to the next person. 

Enjoy!

1. I am only 5 foot in height (which is obviously teeny weeny!)

2. I can do pretty much any accent you throw at me

3. In my spare time I'm an avid novel and script-writer

4.I have a big fat cat called Bertie and he's my absolute world (as is my boyfriend, obviously!)

5. I have done a bit of acting with Jack P Shepherd, Brooke Vincent and Sasha Parkinson from coronation street and can confirm they're all babes!

6. I have a terrible addiction to crisps (any kind, I ain't fussy!)

7. I have very blue eyes, some say they're so pale blue they're 'scary'

8. One of my absolute favourite things to do is brush my teeth...

9. My favourite films are The Lion King, Billy Elliot, Pretty in Pink and Les Miserables (a new addition)

10. I sing pretty much ALL the time, even though I can't.

11. I am useless when it comes to doing anything exciting with my hair and have never had it done in a salon (lazy!)

12. I have 11 hairbrushes

13. I like sketching but only seem to enjoy sketching horses...

14. I have a major girl crush on Audrey Hepburn and Michelle Keegan

15. My absolute favourite female performer of all time is Nicki Minaj (guilty pleasure!)

16. I have a fear of vomit and moths and an especially chronic fear of mould, to the point where I scream and cry if ever in contact with it

17. My only flares in the kitchen are millionaire's shortbread, brownies and mini quiches and I can't cook anything else!

18. Pink is my favourite colour and always has been, to the point that I have a pink sewing machine...

19. I have an obsession with the programme Friends and have watched at least 5 episodes a day for 3 months after my boyfriend made the mistake of buying me the box set for christmas

20. I can't eat cake and it remains the only thing to ever make me gag

21. I constantly sit on my knees (even at a dinner table) and struggle to sit properly and have done so since I was a little girl!

22. I'm a night owl and therefore more awake at night than I am in the daytime

23. I have to ensure my toast is virtually charcoal (extremely burnt) before I eat it

24. I have absolutely zero rhythm and can't dance to save my life

25. I am the bomb when it comes to spelling tests and can spell near enough every word! (I even used to enjoy them as a child, what a loser!) 

Sophie. 

xoxo

My 3 Favourite Perfumes

One of my favourite beauty products is a good perfume and having quite a big collection, it makes it hard to choose a favourite. So I've whittled it down to my three favourites, not in any order, to give you a little low-down of the scent. Please note though that it's very difficult to describe a smell unless you're a professional perfume-maker (I guess?), but I'll try my very best!

'Miss Dior'  by Dior Eau De Parfum 30ml 

First up is a perfume my boyfriend bought for me as a surprise one day, without me having tried it before. He did very well as I absolutely loved it and used it up almost instantly. Being a Dior product its obviously going to be pricey. Mine, the 30ml retails for around £46, the 50ml for around £64, and the 100ml for around £89. There are many different varieties and I would say to sniff as many of the Dior perfumes as possible to find the right scent for you as they smell very different. I would describe this scent as sweet and sugary, with the ability to be either a night time or a day time scent. I have only ever had one bottle but try it every time I visit House Of Fraser and am still lusting after another bottle!

Viktor & Rolf 'Flowerbomb' 20ml

Another of my favourites is one which I've only ever had one of and have failed to re-purchase despite feeling desperate for another! This is Viktor & Rolf 'Flowerbomb', a fairly new, fashionable scent which I got as part of a set. The usual shape of the bottle isn't like this, but as this was part of a set with a body cream in the same scent, the bottle is obviously smaller. I bought this from The Perfume Shop in Leeds with some leftover birthday money last year and as it was summer time, the scent was really clear after applying the body cream as well. The set cost me about £48 and is called the 'Petite Flowerbomb'. I'm not sure if they still sell this exact set but they sell others like it. The 30ml retails for around £48 also, the 50ml around £65 and the 100ml around £90, varying with different shops. I'd advise looking around before buying this as prices can vary dramatically. There isn't really a way to describe this scent other than it is musky and has a lot of undertones, but its also fresh and pretty and definitely what I would call a summer scent!

Jimmy Choo Eau De Parfum 40ml

This was a perfume I received as a present from my Mum after asking for it. My sister had the perfume before me and I absolutely loved it, so I asked for it myself. It is a beautiful scent, quite similar to 'Flowerbomb' by Viktor & Rolf (mentioned above), and as you can see, comes in the most gorgeous bottle, inside a pink, snake-print box. I believe it retails for around £35 for the 40ml, around £45 for the 60ml and ariund £62 for the 90ml. It is also available at a cheaper cost for the Eau De Toilette however I wouldn't recommend going for that just because you're strapped for cash as the scent is completely different, much unlike a lot of EDT's, which tend to just be weaker, this one smells completely different and to me, not as nice. The scent is musky but fruity and although I do wear it in the day, smells much nicer on cold, wintery nights out. 

So that's it. My three favourite perfumes broken down for you in description of scent, price and availability. All the perfumes are available at pretty much any perfume counters as they're quite popular scents and prices will always vary (look for the best deals!). I hope you enjoyed my post and you'll hear from me again very soon! 

Sophie. 

xoxo

Perricone MD 'No foundation foundation' review

I recently took the plunge and forked out for the 'No Foundation Foundation' from Perricone MD Cosmeceuticals. It has a hefty ol' price tag and retails for around £47.00

It's only a 30ml bottle and obviously, for the price tag, doesn't look worth it, but once you get past the first impressions and give it a go, it is SO worth it! I took a while to decide whether or not I wanted this or the 'No Concealer Concealer' which retails for £37.00, but seeing all the rave reviews in magazines I went for the foundation. 

The idea of these products are that they're more for 'wakening' the skin, rather than masking it. They look like foundation on first glance but once used on the skin, appears like more of an oil or a gel. It suggests rubbing it into the skin using soft, small, circular motions until well-blended. It reacts with the skin pigmentation and creates a glowy, dewy effect to really wake up the skin. It will look different on every skin type as like I said it reacts with the skin, rather than covering it up like most foundations. (hence the name)

When I applied it I really felt like it was doing something for my skin, and although it doesn't give you completely flawless skin, I can imagine that somebody with a good complexion and skin pigment all over their face (somebody with olive skin for example) would be able to use this to bring out the best of their skin. However, as I have a very poor complexion and a miss-match pigment I would need to use a bit of foundation or concealer together with the product in order to cover any blemishes or problem areas. It comes in a little smooth glass bottle, with a screw-cap lid and an additional pump lid. This is great because the pump is easy to use and much more hygienic, but also because when you're running low, you can just stick your finger in and screw the lid back on afterwards. Easy!

Another benefit of the product is that it has an SPF 30 sunscreen, meaning that it is the perfect foundation to wear while sunbathing. The face is an area a lot of girls forget to protect when sunbathing (I hold my hands up, I do too!), because a lot of makeup doesn't contain any sunscreen or SPF, meaning a fully make-upped face is completely unprotected in the summer time. I think this would be perfect for those days when you can't be bothered to wear makeup but feel your skin needs 'a bit of help', or to wear on sunny days when makeup just slides off your face. After all, with the SPF, there's more than one great reason to wear it under the heat of the sun!

Although its pricey, it is a fantastic product, a 5 star rating in mine, and many other people's books. I'm unsure as to whether I would ever fork out for another bottle but I think that depends on how long this one lasts me. If it goes on for ages, it's worth it! 

I hope you enjoyed my review and I hope you feel the same about the product if you've tried it. A definite beauty must-have! 

Sophie. 

xoxo

Positivity opens new doors...

(image: Google Images)

This is a bit of a different post for me but with a lot of things on my mind I thought I would conquer the problem that many people from many different walks of life face every single day. Bad things happen to lots of people and no matter how big or small the problem, everybody is allowed to 'grieve' in some way. 

I've always thought of myself as quite a lucky person in that I live quite a comfy, cosy life, have an awesome family and lots of people who really care about me, and I've always done my best to teach myself to be positive, even when I'm having one of those 'off days'. 3 years ago, I sadly lost my Dad and my life changed somewhat. It was an accident and a shock and therefore unexpected, which made it a little hard to dig up any positivity I might have had shortly after losing him. Like every person in this world, losing a parent is possibly the worst thing imaginable and being positive is the last thing on your mind after experiencing such trauma. However, my Dad was a brilliant role model and a real life-lover and go-getter. He did near enough everything in his life he always wanted to, never hesitated and was always extremely positive and upbeat. There was rarely a time you'd see my Dad without a smile on his face or without him cracking some ridiculously un-funny joke. 

I taught myself after losing him that no matter how much grieving I allowed myself to do, I would live the rest of the years which he unfortunately couldn't, myself. I promised myself that when I felt really lousy and like I wanted to just give up, I would open a new door in my mind and walk through it, just to see what was on the other side.

This may sound like a stupid metaphor but when you think about it, it kind of makes sense. I imagine that when I'm feeling negative and crappy I'm in a dark room, and positivity gives me the key to a door to a bright room. Okay, sometimes the brightness in the next room might not be very 'bright', or may not be bright for very long, but it helps. 

Metaphors don't help some people, and nobody would ever be able to tell you how to cope if you were going through a rough time, you have to figure that out for yourself. But you should never let somebody tell you that what you're going through isn't "that bad", because if it means something to you, that's all that matters. Once you learn how to cope with a negative situation, and what makes you feel better about something, you'll find it much easier to be happy. 

Another thing which really helps me to cope with negativity, even now, is writing lists. It may sound a bit silly and irrelevant but it works for me, and it may well work for other people. When I begin to hate myself and wonder why I'm even on this earth, I write a list of 'Ways to be my better self'. The lists are only occasional, are written on different pieces of paper or in different notebooks or journals (I have many!), and they eventually end up discarded or lost but ultimately they are about altering my current mood and lifestyle, NOT being something completely un-me. It's about making yourself a bit better and therefore bettering the energy you're giving off to other people, because its so easy to tarnish the moods of others with your negativity. 

A list would usually look a little something like this: 

* Get more sleep

* Do more regular exercise, eat healthily and drink more water

* Smile more

* Take care to help others

* Value the great things in life

* Don't hesitate (life's too short)

* Do what you enjoy

* Listen to upbeat music

* Never compare yourself to anybody else

* Take chances (say yes)

* Don't think, just do

The last one is my favourite and ultimately the one that is pretty much always on every list. Its a small portion of lyrics from my favourite band and one of my favourite songs: Snow Patrol - You could be happy. Listening to music is a great way to effect your mood, especially upbeat music to lift your spirits. However, although Snow Patrol's songs sound quite sad and depressing, when you really listen to their lyrics it all begins to make sense. The message they send out in most of their songs are positive messages aimed at altering a person's perspectives on life. 

Remember, no matter how big or small the problem is, if it effects you, its worth thinking about. But positive energy is obviously better than negative, and so ignoring the problem is never the right idea, but dwelling so much on the problem isn't either. So find an inbetween, allow your mind to focus on the problem in a more positive light. Use metaphors and lists, music or exercise, anything you feel helps YOU. Nobody knows you better than you know yourself. 

I hope this may have helped in some way, because I know that when I'm going through a tough time, the positive words and energies of others help me to focus on the best of life. 

'Life's too short' - My Dad

Sophie. 

xoxo

My 8 Favourite Miniatures

When it comes to beauty products, I have my fair share of them, much like many girls my age. I was once a subscriber of Glossybox monthly beauty boxes which consists of a pretty pink (or other colour depending on the time of the year or occasion) box filled with around six different up and coming or not so well known products from the high end of beauty, usually in a miniature version for Glossybox's subscribers to try. There are many other monthly beauty box companies that do the same thing but I chose to join Glossybox after hearing a lot of other bloggers rave about it. I must say I was incredibly impressed that after spending just £12.95 a month (£10.00 for the box, £2.95 for postage and packaging), I could have a lovely, sturdy box full of great little products that I'd either heard of and wanted to try or that I'd never seen before. You would enter your details, whether it be skin type, the product category you're deiring or your favourite perfume scent, all your details would be processed by the team and your box would be chosen specifically for you. Occasionally, as a treat, Glossybox would throw in a full-sized product which really excited me as I felt I was being spoilt. 

Unfortunately, I had to unsubscribe because money was getting a bit tight and I needed that extra ten pounds a month but hopefully in the future when I've saved up a bit more money I will be able to re-subscribe and get all my little monthly treats again! In the mean time though, I thought I would make the most of the miniatures I already have and cherish those by writing my thoughts on my favourite ones. I've chosen 8 of my favourites from the many I have and have given my thoughts on each individual one. 

Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant

First up is the Daily Microfoliant from the well-known, model's favourite brand Dermalogica. They've cleverly created an exfoliant in dry powder form which reacts with water to create a grainy paste. This way you can really feel the grains of the powder working into every pore to clear any impurities as well as scrub any dry or dead skin and leave your skin feeling smooth, soft and nourished. I use it once a week as I'm running low and want to make the most of it! The full-size retails for around £40.

Lipcote Longlasting Lipstick Seal

Next up is the lipstick seal from Lipcote. I'd never heard of Lipcote as a brand or product before and I have never owned any product that promises to do what this product does. You apply the Lipcote on top of freshly applied and blotted lipstick and wait, mouth-opened for it to dry. Once dried it promises to offer long-lasting lipstick protection even while eating, drinking and talking. Perfect for a night out and it works very well with red lipstick!This product retails for around £3.99

Burberry Body Perfume

It's unusual to receive a fragrance product in a glass bottle as a sample which is why this miniature excites me the most. Burberry Body 35ml usually retails for around £40, the 60ml for around £50, and the 85ml for around £70 (varying with different retailers). There is little more than 10 drops in this little bottle but the fact it is literally a miniature of the original product feels like such a luxury, compared to the usual perfume samples which consist of a tiny plastic container and a small spray cap. Not to mention the fact that the perfume has a rich, earthy scent, quite heavy and perfect for a night out, and smells incredible. One of my absolute favourite samples ever!

Alison Clarke So Remarkable Mango Body Butter

Another brand I've never heard of before, this little tube of Mango flavoured Body Butter from Alison Clarke is a skin must have. Its rich, creamy texture allows for a smooth application and ability to blend and feels great against tired skin. One of my favourite beauty flavours is mango and the smell of this is to die for! The only downside is that the product is so small and doesn't last long. I'm on the last little dregs and I'm having a serious craving to purchase some more!

L'Oreal Full Volume Tecni Art Mousse

This product isn't considered a high end product as you'd expect from Glossybox, and I'm aware that a lot of people weren't happy to receive this. However, I think the fact that its such a great product with fantastic texture and hold de-emphasises the fact that its not a high-end product and in fact is something readily available and well known in high street beauty shops. The mousse is light and fluffy with a nice, mild scent and isn't too sticky on the hands and hair. I find I have to use it sparingly to two reasons. 1. I have very thick hair with which I try desperately to gain volume and too much would drag it down, and 2. as it is a sample size, I don't have many more applications before I have to purchase the full-sized product. Apart from that, I love it! This retails for around £9 for a 250ml bottle.

Skinetica Spot Treatment

This liquid spot treatment from Skinetica is a must-have product for problem skin. It is a tiny container with little more than 20 applications I would imagine, but for somebody like me is perfect when I have one big old whitehead pop up unexpectedly. The fact its a liquid rather than a cream or gel means there is no residue after its soaked in after about 3 minutes. Containing an alcohol it dries the surface of the swollen skin and calms the redness to relieve the pain of an irritating spot. The only downside is that you can't feel anything working, but other than that, it's great! This retails for around £9.99 per 100ml bottle.

DHC Deep Cleansing Oil

I've only used this product a few times but I'm already a huge fan of it! Being another brand and product I've never heard of before, I felt a bit dubious about using it, as the packaging isn't spectacular and it looks no more than cooking oil. However, I love the way it feels on my skin after a hot bath as it soaks in and softens the surface of the skin. I could imagine it would come in handy in the summer time after a day in the sun to treat dehydrated skin before sleep. This retails for around £20 - £25 a bottle.

Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream

This miniature is the perfect size for me as I only use a tiny amount at a time. Its a lovely creamy eye treatment to really awaken the eye area when its looking a bit droopy and baggy (attractive!)I find that Balance Me products are always beautifully fragranced, not too expensive and lovely light creams full of nourishment for your skin. I use a lot of eye products and like to mix and match but this one is definitely one of my favourites. It usually retails for around £20.

Despite sometimes being a little underwhelmed with products, I'm usually always pleased with everything I receive and beauty boxes are a great way of developing a lovely collection of well-rounded beauty products. I also find that they're a great way to be first in the queue to try new and exclusive products and finally find a place in your beauty-loving heart for a fantastic new product. I highly recommend purchasing the full-size of these products and will be considering purchasing them myself. 

I hope you share some of the same favourites as me and enjoyed reading my post :) 

Sophie

xoxo

"A girl should be two things; classy and fabulous" - Coco Chanel