FACE INC BY NAILS INC CAT NAP BRIGHTENING SHEET MASK

I have recently been really into using sheet masks, especially during the colder months. Sometimes your skin just need an instant hit of moisture. This is my first time using a Face Inc by Nails Inc Sheet Mask, I was a little surprised when I first saw these as I didn’t expect a skincare product from this sort of brand. These face masks have a unique selling point of using the idea of fun Snapchat like filters printed on them instead of just the usual plain white mask. There are four different variations of the mask; Cat Nap, Instant Detox, Flower Power and 40 Winks. I have used the Cat Nap Brightening Sheet Mask which revitalises normal to dry skin. This mask is enriched with Green Tea and Botanical Root Extracts to balance, restore, moisturise and cleanse. It also contains Chamomile, Propolis Wax & Rice Bran Extract to brighten, refresh and nourish the skin. This mask helps when you haven't had much sleep or your skin looks tired and needs an instant pick me up. Cat Nap is suitable if you've had a late night or a long day at work and just need to relax. The packaging says to leave it on for 15 minutes but I like to just leave it on for as long as possible until no moisture is left on the sheet. You gently massage any excess liquid into the skin. I also find that there is a lot of left over product inside the sachet which I also massage into my skin (trying to get my moneys worth). These Nails Inc masks are priced at £5.00 each which I guess is quite pricey when you think a Garnier Moisture Bomb Tissue Mask is around the £1.00 mark. I found the Cat Nap mask moisturising but not as hydrating as some sheet masks I have tried. I also found the crease in the middle of the mask was hard to work with, where as with a tissue mask I can get most of the creases out and cover the majority of my skin. I did see a difference in my skin after using it, it looked refreshed and glowy. My skin felt soft and plumped after using. These would be great to use with your friends as you could have so much fun laughing and joking around in your masks taking photos. 
I like to use a face mask at the weekends as a treat and to help renew my skin ready for the week ahead. I like that more and more brands are making sheet masks accessible to the high street market, as it can be expensive for a one time use item. Nails Inc are a brand who are creative with their products and follow trends, so I wonder where they will take the brand next. I would be interested in trying out the other masks in the range, especially the Instant Detox mask as it contains Hyaluronic Acid. I have also seen that they do Glove Masks for your hands, which I think is a great idea and would be interested in trying the next time I'm in Boots. I also want to try the Boots Ingredients Sheet Face Masks next.

What's your favourite face mask?

you can also find me on twitter, instagram, bloglovin or pinterest

SELFRIDGES SUMMER BEAUTY BOX

There have been so many beauty boxes this month which have caught my eye that I don’t need to go beauty shopping for a very long time! I have brought Selfridges beauty boxes in the past, they normally put together 2 or 3 a year, but the most recent boxes haven’t made me want to buy them, until this one. This limited edition Summer Ready Beauty Box is exclusive to Selfridges and contains 13 beauty essentials including skincare and makeup products. I'm surprised this is still available online as I can imagine it being very popular!

The beauty box, came in a Selfridges presentation box and then all the product came inside a canvas make-up bag from Alphabet Bags. I couldn't believe the size of the bag and I love the summer quote on the side, ‘I've got 99 problems, but a beach ain't one’. I will be taking this on holiday next week with me for all my poolside essentials like sun cream and books.

The box includes the Starskin Instaglam Foam Peel Perfect and the Starskin After Party Brightening Face Mask which I have never tried before. Instaglam is a disposable, foaming, peeling puff that gets rid of dead skin cells to reveal radiant looking skin. After Party is a Coconut Bio-Cellulose Second Skin Brightening face mask that contains a powerful serum complex to leave skin luminous and brightened. The translucent, cooling sheet mask is packed full of Vitamin C and Herbal Medley which works to reduce visible dark spots and even skin tone, I'm very excited to use this one! Another skincare product included was the Rodial Dragons Blood Sculpting Gel. This is an anti-ageing formula which helps to volumise and defines facial contours. It reduces redness and is ideal for sensitive and stressed skin. There was also a product I have tried before, the Caudalie Grape Water which is designed to soothe and refresh the skin. It’s made from 100% natural organic grapes and is suitable for all skin types. This product is quickly absorbed and can be used multiple times per day, so great if you need to cool down in the heat.

Also inside were the Ribband Sorbet Hair Ties in gorgeous pastel colours. I have been after some of these for a while now, they come in a pack of four and I think they'd be great for tying my hair up on holiday by the pool. Another hair product in the beauty box was the Tangle Teezer in Original Blue. I have quite a few Tangle Teezers but I think they come in really handy and it’s great to have one in your handbag, one in your gym bag and one on your dressing table. It’s so easy to untangle your hair with these, I'll definitely be chucking this in my beach bag!

The next product I was excited about was the James Read Day Tan SPF15. This is a day cream that gives you colour as well as instant moisturisation. You can build up a subtle, sun kissed glow which can be used all year round as well as being protected from the sun at the same time. On the make-up side was the Eyeko Fat Liquid Eyeliner, this eyeliner creates bold lines and long-lasting colour. The tip is flexible enough to create winged flicks, it delivers a smudge-proof finish but is easy to blend before drying for smoky eyes. Most beauty boxes seem to contain a Nails Inc Gel Nail Vanish at the moment. I received the shade Chiltern Street which is a lovely milky pink. The formula applies nicely and leaves a high shine finish, as well as being long lasting on the nails.

Something for the lips was the Illamasqua Lipstick in the shade Luster which a gorgeous candy pink. I have a couple of Illamasqua lip colours now from beauty boxes. These lipsticks are highly pigmented, long-lasting, moisturising on the lips and leaves a satin finish. There was also a mini Nars Lipgloss in the box in the shade Orgasm. This is so cute and a great handbag size. This lipgloss is really wearable and can be worn alone or look great over any lip product.

During the summer months, it can be a task to keep your makeup in place all day, that’s where the Urban Decay De-Slick Setting Spray comes in. I have been wanting to try this for a while now, since loving the Urban Decay All Nighter Spray. The stand out product for me in this box was the Clarins Eau des Jardins Smoothing Body Cream. When I first applied this I fell in love with the scent, it’s beautiful!

The content of this box has the combined value of £176, so for the retail price of £40.00 I think this is a great deal! It's a little pricer than other beauty boxes but the Alphabet Bag is worth £20.00 on its own. I know I will get great use from all the products inside, I wish Selfridges did more regular boxes.

Have you been tempted by the Selfridges Beauty Box?

you can also find me on twitter, instagram, bloglovin or pinterest

LATEST IN BEAUTY - GET THE GLOSS SUMMER 'IT KIT'

I have recently really enjoyed Latest in Beauty boxes, as they have included many new releases and products that are exciting that I want to try for myself. Some beauty boxes disappoint me by featuring the same products over and over again which I already own and don't really need. I have gone off the Look Fantastic beauty box for now as there were too many duplicates and I received rubbish customer service after the delivery man decided to throw my box over the gate. But anyway, a beauty box should be crammed full of new releases and generous samples and I think this edition ticks every box.

Latest in Beauty have teamed up with Get the Gloss which is the UK’s leading online authority in beauty and health, with reviews and expert advice to create a Summer 'It Kit'. I'm signed up to their newsletter and know these ladies know a good product when they see one. The box is bursting with eight summer ready products that could be added to any girls ‘it kit’ I thought a lot of these products would be ideal to take on holiday with me.

Philip Kingsley Swimcap 50ml – This is such a genius product to take on holiday with you. Swipcap works as a guard to protect hair against discolouration and damage that can be caused by the sun, sea, chlorine and wind. It’s suitable for all hair textures and contains sunscreen for UV protection. This product was originally developed at the request of the first US Olympic Synchronised Swimming Team, PABA prevents oxidisation and colours fade and it is also a super conditioning treatment for your hair. You use this in wet hair and comb through your hair, you can reapply as necessary after swimming and rinse with water. It’s a summer saviour and a must-have for swimmers, I will definitely be taking this on holiday with me!

Nails Inc Gel Effect Nail Polish 8ml – I have quite a good collection of these gel effect polishes now. I received the colour Regents Place, which is a lovely cornflower blue which would look great on toes on the beach! I like the formulation of these polishes, they're not too thick in texture and the colour range is spot on! The formula is long lasting and I actually already own the blue shade, but it's one of my favourites!

Aurelia Probiotic Skincare Refine & Polish Miracle Balm 15ml – I have never tried anything from Aurelia before but I'm looking forward to using this multi-use product. You can use this as an instant exfoliator to gently get rid of dead skin cells and stimulate circulation and you can also use it as an enzyme mask to allow the active fruit enzymes to deeply exfoliate. It’s suitable for even the most sensitive of skin types and works to transform and brighten dull, rough, congested skin. The Miracle Balm is fragranced with uplifting essential oil blend of Chamomile, Eucalyptus, Rosemary and Bergamot. Skin is left silky soft, smooth and glowing!

Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse OR Multi-Usage Dry Oil Golden Shimmer 10ml– I have been wanting to try this product for ages, another item I will be putting in my wash bag for my holiday. This is a multi use product for face, body and hair. This dry oil has a unique super-activated formula combining Precious Plant Oils and Vitamin E to nourish, repair and soften skin. It has iridescent golden particles which illuminate with shiny reflections.  It leaves your skin soft and velvety, hair is glossy and full of volume and it also improves the overall appearance of stretch marks.

Bourjois Aqua Blush 10ml – I was excited about these new blush releases from Bourjois, I received the shade Pink twice, which is a lovely girly pink. They claim to last up to 12hrs and boost your skin’s natural radiance. They are a water-light gel formula which leaves skin with a refreshed, sheer, fresh colour. They're currently available in four sorbet shades, which are great for summer! I like the pump bottle, they add a lovely hint of pink to your cheeks and they smell lovely too. They last on my cheeks much longer than a powder blush, so ideal if you're in the sun.

Elemental Herbology Cell Plumping Facial Hydrator SPF8 15ml – This moisturiser combines antioxidants, marine actives and hydrating botanicals to help protect against the elements, reactivate pro-collagen synthesis to leave you with a youthful glow. It’s perfect for dry or sun-weathered skin to help plump up the skin and it contains an SPF8 which is great for everyday use.

Salon Science AquaCacteen Hydrasoothe Cooling Spray 150ml – This is not a brand I have heard much about, but it sounds an interesting product to try. It contains the ultra-refined elixir of organic cactus to help shield the hair and scalp against environmental stress and help prevent further irritation. It also contains soothing and moisturising actives such as Aloe and Panthenol to help refresh and provide instant relief to a dehydrated scalp and instant hydration to dry hair. You can use this on either dry or damp hair by just spraying from root to tip. This is the perfect product to take on holiday in your beach bag to relieve burn on the scalp or if you can feel your head getting hot in the sun. I don't really suffer from an itchy scalp but I can see this working well as a refresher and something to add moisture to my hair.

Anne Semonin Eye Express Radiance Cube 4ml – These eye cubes are designed to be stored in the freezer and placed over your eyes like you would do with cucumber. They soothe and refresh tired, puffy eyes to drain toxins and maximise skin’s absorption. They contain natural active ingredients such as Ginkgo biloba, gourd extract and hyaluronic acid to hydrate, reduce dark circles and anti-wrinkle. These would be great to use before going out for the evening after too much sun!

Latest in Beauty have also teamed up with the brands in the box to offer you some exclusive discounts on their products as well, which is a nice little bonus! The box is priced at £19.00 which is a real bargain for all these decent sized samples as the contents is worth over £85.00, they will definitely see me through the holiday season this summer. Which beauty boxes would you recommend?

#GTGITKIT

you can also find me on twitter, instagram, bloglovin or pinterest

LATEST IN BEAUTY - THE GLAMOUR SUMMER EDIT

Latest In Beauty have recently released their newest instalment of their Glamour beauty box ready for Summer. The Glamour Summer Edit is packed full with 10 different beauty items to make sure you're all set for the new season. Latest In Beauty always manage to outdo their last beauty box. Especially the Glamour boxes, these are some of my favourite to invest in. They've teamed up with Glamour’s Beauty Director, Alessandra Steinherr, to bring you the hottest Summer must haves. The contents are worth over £90.00, so at the retail price of £17.99 you're really getting a great deal! Included in the box is; the Vita Liberata Trystal Minerals and Luxury Kabuki Brush, Pixi Glow Tonic, Nails Inc Gel Effect Nail Polish, L’Occitane Aromachology Repairing Shampoo and Conditioner, Caudalie Divine Oil, Bourjois Colour Boost Lip Crayon, Eucerin Sun Protection, Balance Me Super Toning Body Polish and Seekers of the Sun Temporary Tattoos.

Vita Liberata Trystal Minerals is quite an exciting new launch, it’s the first ever self-tanning bronzer, which you dust over your face and a natural looking tan appears which lasts up to five days. The brush is full-size and feels so soft, you could even use this all over your body. I was quite scared applying this for the first time as I didn't want it to look too dark on my skin tone, but it just gives a natural, glowy look to your skin. I have wanted to try the Pixi Glow Tonic for ages, I was a little disappointed by the size of this sample but excited to use it as well. This product gently exfoliates your skin while infusing it with hydration, leaving you with a healthy glow. I received the shade Uptown in the Nails Inc Gel Effect Nail Polish which is a lovely nude pink shade that I was very pleased about. I have used this formula of polish before and have really liked the glossy, high-shine finish on the nails. I have received samples before of the L’Occitane Aromachology Repairing Shampoo and Conditioner in another beauty box. They helps to strengthen, repair, hydrate and protect my hair as well as making my hair feel silky soft. They're perfect to use during Summer and ideal travel sizes to take on holiday with you. I have also used the Caudalie Divine Oil before, I love the scent of this! This oil is a multi-purpose dry oil which moisturises, nourishes and enhances the skin, you can also use this in your hair! I received the Bourjois Colour Boost Lip Crayon in Fuchsia Libre. I have used these formulations before but didn’t have this shade which is good! I’ve really got into using crayons on my lips, I find them hydrating and last a good while on the lips. This shade is really pigmented and not something I would normally wear but I was really surprised how much I liked it. No Summer Edit is complete without some suncream, so they've added the Eucerin Sun Cream for the face. I will be saving this sample for the next time I go away, but it’s a handy size to take to the beach with you. The Balance Me Super Toning Body Polish is designed to give your skin a detoxifying workout, great for firming and smoothing. I have been after some temporary metallic tattoos for a while now. These Seekers of the Sun Temporary Tattoos are limited edition and have been designed especially for this box. They're ideal for festivals or Summer days or nights out, I can't wait to try these out!

The Glamour Summer Edit is such great value and it gives me the chance to try products I have wanted to try for ages! My favourite products have to be the Pixi Glow Tonic and the Nails Inc Gel Effect Nail Polish. You can also win every Glamour Beauty Edit Latest In Beauty release for the next year by taking a selfie with your box and posting it on instagram or twitter with the hashtag #ShowUsYourSmile, find out more here.

What is your favourite product from the Glamour Summer Edit?

you can also find me on twitter, instagram, bloglovin or pinterest

KAREN MILLEN GLOSSYBOX - SEPTEMBER 2014

Last Month, I posted my review see here, of the 3rd Anniversary Glossybox and stated that I was a bit underwhelmed with the contents. This month's box was totally different and is a collaboration with fashion brand Karen Millen. I love the London print skyline on the top of the box and I will definitely be keeping this out on display. Karen Millen's AW14 campaign is a celebration of the unique style and creativity in London hence the theme. I also received a £25.00 off voucher to spend in Karen Millen, which is a nice little extra. For me, this month's box is sky high compared to last month. I received;
ModelCo More Brows Fibre Gel Light/Medium, 3.5ml £9.00 - ModelCo is a brand that keeps popping up in beauty boxes. I have enjoyed a couple of their products and this More Brows is a great dupe for Benefit's Gimme Brow. I like that I received the right shade for my hair tone and at £9.00 its half the price of the higher end version. This thickening fibre gel helps to tint brows, fill in brows and keep brows in place all day. I wouldn't be without a brow gel in my make-up routine now. What I like about this version, is it hasn't seemed to clog up yet around the top like my Benefit one does. If you haven't tried the Benefit one, I would definitely recommend picking this up first.
Nails Inc Westminster Bridge Matte Topcoat, 10ml £12.00 - Nails Inc have recently re-branded themselves changing their bottles as well as their logo, see my post about this here. Saying that, I received the matte polish in the old packaging. I'm not normally one for matte nails, but it's nice to have. It is also another full-size sample, which is an extra bonus. I can imagine this looking really nice over a vampy purple, perfect for Autumn.
L'Oreal Professionnel Mythic Oil Hair Masque, 75ml full-size 200ml £15.30 - This is a product I have tried before and loved. My hairdresser recommended this to me and it's great to use on dry hair to hydrate ends. It smells great and the formulation is really thick. The masque intensely nourishes and leaves a glossy look. It's suitable for all hair types and it's a great sized sample to try if you haven't already.
Vichy Normaderm Night Detox and Hydrating Care, 3ml each fullsize 50ml £12.00 40ml £15.50 - I'm very excited to use this duo, their perfect to target adult blemishes. With use, blemishes appear reduced, skin looks purified and balances excess sebum production. I do struggle with blemishes on my chin from time to time, so I'm looking forward to see some results. There is a day and night cream and they're best used in conjunction.
SkinPep Brightening Enzyme and Acid Peel and Dark Circle Eraser, 3.5ml and 2ml Trial Size £6.49 and £7.98 - These are probably my least favorite products in the box, just because they're sachets and in my house these get put somewhere and forgotten about. But after reading more about these products, I'm more interested in using them. The Enzyme and Acid Peel is a highly effective peeling gel which uses Pineapple and Papaya extracts to create gently exfoliated, soft and bright skin. The powerful dark circle eraser uses anti-oxidant ingredients to boost collagen in the delicate undereye area. You can actually buy these trial sizes on their website.
Overall, I'm really happy with this months box, much better than last months. A few full-size products and well known brands, the only thing that would of made it better for me would of been if I had received the Origins product, but you can't have it all. Glossybox also included a leaflet in the box showing us the Pop Art themed box for next month and everyone will receive a full sized Nuxe Masque worth £19.50.

What do you think of September's box?

NAILS INC SPECIAL EFFECT - EXHIBITION ROAD

Nails Inc has always been one my favourite higher-end nail polish brands. I have enjoyed collecting their bottles in the past and love their little sets, including the My Nail Polish Diary that I picked up last year. Nails Inc has undergone a major rebrand to mark it's 15th anniversary, with a brand new logo and bottle redesign. The new packaging is just right up my street, the glass bottles feel weighty and expensive to hold and the concave design is sleek and modern looking. You remove the chrome lid and use the plastic wand to apply the polish. This new bottle design is very clever indeed, if you place your finger underneath the bottle you can see what the shade looks like against your skin tone. The brush is also new, a wide flat brush which is curved at the ends to fill the whole nail, I much prefer this smooth application. The bottles were designed in collaboration with Art Director and Editor Fabien Baron and contains 40% more product than the old bottle design.

There were so many shades I could of picked up including the new Alexa Chung Range, but I picked the special effects colour is Exhibition Road, which is a lovely lilac and gold chunky glitter. Exhibition Road is a new limited edition shade which is inspired by Pop Art. You can apply 2-3 coats for a full coverage finish or apply one coat over your favourite polish. I would definitely recommend the new brush, it's so much easy to apply the polish, if you are a fan of the Essie brush you will like this one. The polishes leave a lovely glossy look to your nails and the colour stays around with no chips, like every Nails Inc polish does.

Alexa Chung is the new face of Nails Inc for Autumn/Winter 2014 and has collaborated on her own range of fabric inspired polishes. Nails Inc have also formulated a range with the Superfood Kale 'NailKale' in it's ingredients, which apparently helps to strengthen and nourish the nails, I will definitely have to hunt these down. At £15 a pop they're a real treat, but I can see myself picking up a few more colours in the near future. I'm in love with the Alexa shades in Lace and Camo and I've also seen Alexa Hearts and Stars are coming soon, I think I've started a new obsession...

What do you think of Nails Inc re-branding?

CITY CHIC GLOSSYBOX MARCH 2013

March's Glossybox was all about City Chic. The theme of 'city chic' is all about achieving a glossy & groomed look that city girls maintain from boardroom to barstool. The box also came with a little travelling book full of cute stickers, information about places to visit and room to take notes. This was a nice little extra to receive and something I found really interesting to read. On to the products I received in the box last month;

Jelly Pong Pong Lip Blush, Full-size 2.5g, £12.00 - Jelly Pong Pong are a brand I haven't really used before, but I was excited to see this product in the box last month. I really like the crayon applicators as they are so easy to use and apply. The colour wasn't something I would usually pick, but it's nice to have something different in my collection and have found myself reaching for it more often than I thought I would and the pigmentation is great! I'm not sure I would repurchase at £12.00 as you can get just as good lip crayons on the high-street from Revlon and Soap & Glory. But I would like to discover more from the brand.
Juicy Couture Couture La La Eau De Parfum Spray, Full-size 50ml, £47.00 - I'm not really a fan of the Juicy Couture line, but was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed wearing this perfume. It has a really nice sweet, floral scent that is very wearable for every-day use. The only downside I could find was it didn't last too long on the skin and I found myself topping it up through-out the day. But I have enjoyed using this feminine, flirty sample up!

Tresemme Salon Finish Extra Hold Hairspray, Full-size 500ml, £4.69 - I already use this hairspray, so it was great to receive a back up. I really like the texture of this product, it doesn't feel too heavy in my hair and it really does last! giving my hair control for most of the day. The scent is also pleasant, where as a lot of hairsprays can be very overpowering and feel crispy in the hair. It brushes out really easily and gives body and fullness where needed. I would carry on repurchasing this hairspray and I would really recommend a lot of other Tresemme styling products.
Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant Fragrance Free, Full-size 50ml, £25.00 - This product really works wonders, it's a multitasking product which can be used to refresh jet-lagged skin, shape brows, revitalise shine, soothe dry hands and chapped lips or smooth cuticles and nails. Again, I already own this product, but it's been handy to have a small sized sample to take around with me. I mainly use this on the lips as it instantly softens them like no other product. A little goes a long way, so i'm still using the sample up - you really can't beat it!

Nails Inc Nail Polish in St.James, Full-size 10ml, £11.00 - I enjoy using Nails Inc polishes so it was great to see this miniature inside the box. It is not really a colour I wear on my finger nails a lot but it's great for toes. The formulation of these vanishes last ages without chipping and you don't need many coats to gain the desired look. This shade is a classic, pillar box red and adds a pop of colour to any outfit.
I like my reviews of Glossybox to be about what I thought of the products after using them for some time, instead of just showing you what I received each month. All in all I thought this was a great box, I received some products I already love and some new make-up ones that I've been trying out and also loving! The theme of the box was really up my street. I've just received April's box and can't wait to share that one, it's a good'un.

SELFRIDGES BEAUTY WORKSHOP LUCKY BAG CONTENTS

When I saw the Selfridges Lucky Bag advertised on their blog, I signed straight up to be alerted by email as I knew these wouldn't be around for long. After the success of their Beauty Box, (see my post here) I knew I wanted to get my hands on one of these as I enjoyed discovering and using new brands that I maybe wouldn't of picked up in-store, but I guess the contents of that box was guaranteed. With this lucky bag, you payed £15 for a random pick of 5 or more beauty products. There was a 1000 available on their website and a few of the bags contained a Beauty Workshop service card worth £150.

I have seen a lot of mixed reviews, but the bags are now sold out. The contents of my bag included, a mini Nails Inc nail polish, Anatomicals hand cream, Nail Art nail decorations, A pack of tissues, Beauty Junky strawberry face mask and anatomicals banana lip balm. I was fairly pleased with what I received, and thought it was an average bag from the other reviews I had seen. I was most excited about the Nail Art nail decorations as I had been looking at these in Topshop last week, which I thought was a bit of a coincident. I am also enjoying using the Anatomicals products, but I know you wouldn't think of Selfridges to stock such an affordable brand. 

I really like the concept of this Lucky Bag, I just wish that Selfridges had collaborated with brands that you imagine when you think of their Beauty Workshop. Maybe I have high expectations of Selfridges and was spoilt by their Beauty box, but I guess you get what you payed for. I believe a lot of people would of payed more for guaranteed high-end, quality sample products, as I think you can pick most of these products up from your local Boots. Maybe it would have been nice to find a sample size in your bag and then have the link to their website where you can buy the full-sized item. On their facebook page, Selfridges have stated that if your not happy with your Lucky Bag, you can return it for a full refund. I will be keeping mine as I feel I got my moneys worth, enjoyed the concept and liked taking the risk of what I might of received.

Did you order a Lucky Bag? What did you receive?