Latest in Beauty, The Glamour Beauty Edit Box July 2014

If you are looking for some new beauty products but you aren't really sure where to start, then this is the beauty box for you. The Glamour Beauty Edit Box is full of great products that you will actually use and love. It also includes a newly launched Illamasqua lipstick! The box is worth over £80, but costs just £16.95.. You all know I love a bargain!
I received my box around two weeks ago but I held off on blogging it until I'd had enough time to test everything out.

The Illamasqua Glamore lipsticks usually retail for £18.50. This whole box costs £16.95. I think you know where I'm going with this...Value. For. Money. Plus you get 8 other items! Illamasqua have only just launched their new nude shades within the Glamore line and each box contains one full-size lipstick.  

The shade I received is called 'Buff', and although it looks a little brown I actually really like the colour. It's completely different to what I would usually choose and it's really long-wearing.

I have never used a cleansing 'oil' before so I was a little sceptical as my skin can get quite oily on it's own but I really love this product! This is a deluxe sample size, but I think it's more than enough really. You only need to use a small amount and this oil literally removes every scrap of make-up, even waterproof mascara! It's also really moisturising. I think I will definitely invest in a full bottle once this sample runs out.

This product I found a little strange if I'm honest! It's literally a tube of little white fibres that you brush on your eyelashes between two coats of mascara. It's meant to give your eyelashes that false effect without the fuss, but I'm not sold unfortunately. I've used this a couple of times now and I can honestly say I can't really see a difference. Maybe I expected a little too much of this product? I don't know but I am a little disappointed.

I've never used a cream blush before (I know, I need to broaden my horizons!), but I really like this. It looks so dewy and fresh on the skin, not the usual powdery look I usually get with blusher. It's also really easy to blend! A big thumbs up from me!

I love trying new hair products, and this Toni and Guy Volume Whip didn't disappoint. It adds volume without leaving roots greasy or sticky. It's great if your hair tends to sit a little flat after you normally blow dry it because it's so weightless.

This Crabtree and Evelyn nail polish is a really nice, bright rosy-red shade. Although it does take a couple of coats to fully cover your nails. 

I've never actually used a tanning mitt on myself before as I don't normally fake tan. I'm more of a gradual tanning moisturiser kind of girl but this mitt is really useful for applying that too! It doesn't leave any streaks and blends whatever tan you are using perfectly. Also, no orange hands! 

As I said, I don't generally use fake tan, but I really liked this one. It's only meant to last 24hours and I think that is perfect. It's a BB cream and tan all in one so it's really moisturising. If you just want to be tanned for a special event, this tan scrubs right off in the shower the morning afterwards. So no annoying streaks! 

Unfortunately I'd already been on holiday when I ordered my box so I didn't get to test this suncream against the Turkish sunshine but I have tried it out here. I went on a long walk with my friend in a bandeau top and I usually always sunburn my shoulders but this time I didn't! This cream provides excellent protection and it smells amazing! Giving me massive holiday blues already!

I really think this box is amazing value for money, it;s full of amazing products and I'm so happy I purchased it! Get yours here.   

Benefit 'Bronze of the Champions' Sort-of Tutorial, Sort-of Review

I don't pretend to be an expert when it comes to make-up. In fact the idea of anybody actually taking make-up tips from me is pretty funny since day-to-day I never wear any make-up. However, I promised a closer look at my date night make-up so I decided to make it a little sort-of tutorial; 'sort-of' because I myself am no expert.

What I found really useful about this set was the inclusion of 'Tips and Tricks'. This enables make-up beginners like myself to create the look with minimal confusion or trouble.   

Here goes then...

1. I'm not wearing foundation here, I never really wear it in Summer at all. However I do have on Benefit Pore-Fessional Primer. First I applied the Creaseless Cream eyeshadow in 'Bikini-Tini' to my whole lid.

2. I then blended the Long wear Powder shadow into the corner of my lid, creating a smoky look.

3. Next I attempted some contouring with the Hoola Bronzer. The 'Tips and Tricks' states that applying the bronzer below cheek bones should slim your face. I'm not sure I did this right but I think it looks fine! 

 4. Highlighter comes next. This is the very first time I have ever used highlighter so I was a little wary but I actually really like how it turned out. Again, the 'Tips and Tricks' says to blend this into cheek bones and brow bones, I hope this is clear on the picture.

 5. I used Magnifibres Brush-on False Lashes with Benefit 'They're Real' mascara. The Magnifibres product came in my Latest in Beauty box last week and I've been dying to try them. I'm not all that impressed so far actually, I don't think they made a difference! 

 6. Next I filled in my eyebrows a little with my HD brow palette in 'Foxy', just to add a bit of definition.

7. My lipstick also came in my Latest in Beauty box and is one of the seven new Illamasqua Glamore nude shades. This shade, 'Buff', is not what I would have chosen myself but I'm actually glad I received this colour. It's nice to try something different every once in a while.
I already have the Hoola lipgloss that came with this set but I thought I would try my new lipstick out instead with this set.

That's it! It's that easy. These next few shots show the full look. I'm really pleased with this Benefit set, definitely worth the money. The colours are perfectly neutral and will go with pretty much any outfit. I think paired with the lipstick it works better for night time. For day I'd probably just wear a lipbalm. Get the 'Bronze of the Champions' set from ASOS here. 

I'd love to see some of your favourite make-up tutorials, leave me a comment!

Review: the Tangle Teezer Aqua Splash.

After reading a recent post on The Sunday Girl about Tangle Teezers I thought it was about time I bought one for myself.

My hair is pretty long and naturally wavy and de-tangling is always a big problem for me, as are split ends. I've always tried to use a comb to work the tangles out of my wet hair but this still seems to pull on and break my hair; enter the Tangle Teezer Splash. 

I've used this both in the shower to comb my conditioner through and after the shower to detangle my hair and it works like a charm both ways. Although you cannot use it with heat, the Tangle Teezer Splash is definitely a must-buy. The shape makes it easy to grip with both wet and dry hands, perfect for keeping in the shower. 

I suppose I didn't really believe that this strange comb-like thing could detangle without pulling on the hair and breaking it like traditional combs and brushes, but it really does! I was really surprised the first time I used it at how easy it works out knots. 

I'm so happy I bought this because I've been trying to coax my hair into growing just that little bit longer and I think this may do the trick. By preventing damage and split ends from detangling, I'm hoping my hair will now stay healthier longer between trims and maybe grow a little more. 

Whilst we are on the subject of hair, I would also like to recommend these products too! I always use this macadamia oil before blow-drying my hair to keep it smooth and shiny, and it's really amazing. My hair always feels so soft after using. You can get it here. 

The Coconut Oil 'Hair Shine' is excellent to carry around in your handbag to smooth hair over if it's gotten a little frizzy. It's actually a wax that turns to oil in your hands and you only need a small amount for it to work. Because it's a wax, it almost holds the hair cuticle flat. Get it here.

I think I may have to purchase the Tangle Teezer Compact to keep in my handbag! I'm addicted now!

You can get the Tangle Teezer Splash on Amazon or ASOS. 

Beauty Haul

I've finally finished my first year at university and this is why I haven't been able to blog for a while: so many essays and revision! Now it's over expect to be bombarded with posts over Summer! 

I thought I would do a beauty haul/review type post because I bought these products a few weeks ago and I've finally go the time to tell you all about them :) I suppose it's worked out okay because I have actually tried all these products now. 

I went to York Designer Outlet a few weeks ago with my boyfriend and although there aren't many clothes shops for girls, there is a Body Shop outlet and a make-up store, which is where I spent all my money! 

I got the banana shampoo + conditioner, Rainforest hair mask and coconut lip butter all from the Body Shop factory store for a bargain price, if you buy 4 items you get an extra 40% off! 

I love the shampoo and conditioner! It's seriously amazing. My hair can be quite dry at the ends and sometimes gets a bit frizzy as it's naturally curly but this shampoo works wonders. My hair felt soft, shiny and healthy after about a week of washing. And it smells great too!
The hair mask I use once every other week as my hair can sometimes get a bit weighed down with too much product. It's really nice, feels quite light as hair masks go but it does the trick when your hair needs a little pick-me-up. My hair always looks shiny after using this and stays shiny too. 
I really like this lip butter compared with other lip moisturising products. It hydrates the lips instead of drying them out and I only really need to apply it maybe once or twice a day for it to work.

In the make-up, they stock lots of higher-end brands such as Bobbi Brown, Bumble and Bumble, Clinique and Smashbox, but they are substantially cheaper here. The two lipsticks at the back of this picture are from Avon but I did get them around the same time so thought they needed to be included in this post. The Avon lipsticks both had money off of them so it was perfect timing. The lilac coloured one is  called Violet Friday and is from the Colour Trend range. It's such a great colour for Summer and goes on really smoothly. The lighter pink (Pout) is great for everyday wear as it goes with most outfits and it doesn't dry out your lips. 

The MAC lipsticks are both from the outlet and they were only £10 each! That's why I bought two. The dark purple, Smoked Purple, is a good colour but as it's matte I find it doesn't apply very well. I usually mix it with a little Vaseline to get it to cover easier, but other than that I am really happy with the colour. I wanted to try something a little different and this is great. As for the red, Lady Bug, I have been on the hunt for the perfect red lipstick for ages and I think I have found it! I usually look a little pale and strange wearing red lipstick but this colour matches with my skin tone and hair colour really well. I love it!

All in all, a successful trip and I have definitely found some products I will be buying over and over! What is your favourite lipstick shade? Do you have a shampoo you love? Leave me a comment!