GLOSSYBOX 2ND BIRTHDAY - MAY 2013 BEAUTY BOX

May was the month of Glossybox's 2nd birthday, so expectations were high as to what brands were going to feature in Glossybox's special box. I still can't believe that Glossybox has been available in the UK for two years now, I have been an avid subscriber for a year and a half, so I also received a little extra treat this month (Green & Black's chocolate) for my loyalty.
The first item which caught my eye was a full-size beauty of Paul Mitchell Awapuhi Wild Ginger Shine Spray which claims to add shine as well as also protecting hair from daily wear and tear. I really like the scent of this product, it reminds me of the Origins Ginger range. You can use this spray on styled hair or whilst using heat styling. Once sprayed into my hair I can smell the scent lingering for hours after. I would recommend this to anyone who wants glossy hair all day and it's ideal for heat styling.
Another full-sized product which I was really impressed with was Jelly Pong Pong Fairy Lashes Mascara. This mascara claims to be waterproof, long-lasting and feather light and it didn't disappoint. The wand was smaller than brushes which I normally like but I found the formula lengthening, voluminious and it produced no clumps which I was pleased with. I'm not sure I would repurchase at £15 as it probably matched up to my drugstore favourites.

I have tonnes of nail vanish in my collection, but it's always nice to receive a shade you wouldn't normally choose yourself and to step away from the taupes. Headline Colors is not a brand I was very familar with before receiving this box, but I received the shade Gunmetal which is a lovely metallic grey (not very spring/summer, I know). The colour applied really opaque with two coats and left a glossy finish and had great staying power! I will be looking into more shades as best of all they are free of nasty toxins.
Collection Fast Stroke Black Liquid Eyeliner is an old favourite of mine. I have used this product since the age of 13 back when I first discovered make-up and I still go back to it even now. It was great to see this in last month's box, it reminded me of how good the product really is and the intense black colour.

The final beauty product in the box was Beautiful Movements Prime & Create Mixing Medium, this curious little pot of product is a great multi-tasker that is an aloe vera based gel, which can be turned into a cream foundation, blush and eye shadow that works for all skin types. Formerly known as BM Beauty, Pussycat Doll Kimberly Wyatt's range of beauty products have been a firm favourite of mine in past Glossybox's. I use this product alone as a primer to give me a matte, shine-free base - I would say it's great for my combination skin!
Glossybox Emery Boards were also a nice little extra to receive in the box last month. Really handy to chuck in my bag and use on-the-go, more hygienic too! What are your favourite Glossybox picks?

SPRING/SUMMER 2013 BEAUTY TRENDS - STATEMENT EYES

Christian Dior's take on Spring/Summer 2013 make-up is all about the eyes. Full-on pop of colour with neon eyeshadows and lots of Swarovski crystals scattered across the lids. Keeping everything else really simple so the eyes are the statement piece.

Chanel's look is focused on the striking metallic silver Illusion d'Ombre eye shadow, with smoky black eyeliner used on the lash line. The look reminds me very much of Black Swan, pared with Rouge Allure in Gracile on the lips to create the pretty shade of shell pink.

Images: beautyeditor.ca

Versace's Spring/Summer trend is big on the metallic gold eyes complemented with big lashes and natural face make-up. Any of these looks would look great on a summer's evening, letting the eyes do the talking! 

GLAM! THE PERFORMANCE OF STYLE - TATE, LIVERPOOL

On my recent trip to Liverpool last week, I visited the Tate. I am a keen visitor to the Tate Modern in London, but had never actually visited the one in Liverpool, so it was nice to visit the gallery in different surroundings. We were visiting to mainly see Glam! The performance of style which ended on the 12th of May, but we did look around the rest of the Gallery exhibitions and I was impressed with the vast collection of works.

Glam! The performance of style is the first exhibition to explore glam style and sensibility in depth. The exhibition investigated the extravagant pop style which exploded across Britain during the years 1971-5. The exhibition looks at artistic developments in Britain, Europe and North America through the prism of glam, examining painting, sculpture, installation art, film, photography and performance. Themes of glamour, camp, exaggerated identity, androgyny, eroticism and dandyism is explored in the works of David Hockney, Andy Warhol, Cindy Sherman, Allen Jones, Richard Hamilton and many more. I really enjoyed the exhibition, maybe if I had lived through the era I would understand the randomness of some of the works a lot more. But I was really interested in Richard Hamilton's work and seeing certain trends of beauty and fashion that have come back into fashion today.

BEAUTY BAZAAR, HARVEY NICHOLS - LIVERPOOL

Last week I visited Liverpool for the day, whilst I was there I took a look around Beauty Bazaar. Beauty Bazaar, Harvey Nichols is a new beauty concept store, which opened in 2012. It's the UK's first one-stop destination for all things beauty across three falls in the heart of Liverpool. The store has 22,000 square feet of white, glitzy space dedicated to beauty with an array of treatment rooms on offer including; James Read spray tans, HD brows and STRIP waxing. There is even a champagne bar for post-pampering. The concept is so new to the UK that there isn't any competition, as it's one of a kind. I think it's a great concept, and would love to see stores like this in a few more major cities across the country. I was really impressed with the variety of brands stocked, any beauty lovers could spend hours in there! Have you visited Beauty Bazaar?

PEARL LOWE FOR GLOSSYBOX - SPRING FEVER APRIL 2013

I absolutely love the box design of last month's Glossybox which was exclusively designed by Pearl Lowe. It's so refreshing to open your box to find a different theme each month, this month was focused around 'Spring Fever'. I think this theme works really well and the products inside really reflect the season. I will definitely be reusing this box and display it on my vanity as storage.
Essie Nail Lacquer in 'We're in it together', Full-Size 13.5ml, £7.99 - I was very excited to hear that there was a full-size Essie polish in April's box. I am a big fan of the formulation of the diffusion line which can be found in Boots and Superdrug. The colour I received was 'We're in it together' which is a lovely baby pink with a slight blue/purple shimmer. It's not a colour I would normally go for but I have really been enjoying wearing it and adding it to my collection. Read my full review of Essie nail polishes here.
Illamasqua Medium Pencil in 'Thrash', Full-Size 1g, £13.00 - I had never tried any products from Illamasqua before so I was intrigued to find out what their products were like. This medium pencil can be used  for eye, lips, face and body, I received the shade 'Thrash' which is a warm burnt orange. I really liked the texture of the product it glided over the skin and gave a long-lasting finish. The colour was a bit scary at first, but I think it looks great on the eye area for a bit of a change from the usual black.

Crabtree & Evelyn Somerset Meadow Hand Therapy, Full-Size 100g, £14.00 - Again, I had never tried anything from this brand before, but have only heard good things. I have enjoyed the texture and scent of this hand cream, it leaves my hands feeling really hydrated and moisturised and not greasy at all. It's so handy to throw in my handbag and use on the go, the only downsize is that I'm not a great fan of the packaging as I know it will get harder to get the product out towards the end.
Yves Rocher France So Elixir Purple Eau De Parfum, Full-Size 50ml, £44.00 - It was nice to see a bigger sized fragrance sample in the box this month. The scent is feminine, floral and woody all at the same time. I quite liked the scent once I had put it onto my skin, the fragrance lasted quite well and I could still smell the product hours after I had used it. I'm not too thrilled with the packaging, I think they could update it a bit, but I would love to see what other products they have on offer.

Nip and Fab Pistachio Sundae Body Butter, Full-Size 200ml, £9.95 - This is one of my favourite body butters, I love the scent it's super sweet but I can't wait to put this on after showering. It does come in other flavours including, Coconut Latte (read my review here.) and Mango Smoothie. The texture of this product is lighter than many body butters I have used, and I enjoy using it during the spring/summer months. I will continue to repurchase!
I think this Glossybox is the best I've seen for a good while, so many big brand names in one box finished off with a lovely designed print! You really can't beat the value of a beauty box.