Saturday 29 December 2012

MAC Myth Lipstick

 For anyone that knows me well, will know I have been desperate to own a MAC Lipstick. Currently at £14.00 each, this is just not possible for me to justify for myself. Very luckily, my Mam bought me one for a Christmas present. I was so, so grateful to receive this! I have many a time, gazed over the MAC counters, at all of the different lipsticks, standing in uniform. My Mam chose this shade well, as it is one that I really wanted!
The shade I received is called Myth. This is a nude, 'my lips, but better' shade, which is perfect to wear day to day, or paired with a smokey eye for night. I really wanted my first MAC Lipstick to be one that I would actually wear and use, rather than something that sat looking pretty on my dressing table, scared to be used. As I am still not the most confident lipstick wearer, this is the perfect shade for me to wear with confidence!
The finish of this product is Satin. As this is my first to own, I have no other finishes to compare it to, although I am sure everyone reading this, has had some experience with MAC Lipsticks. If not, then I am sure there is plenty of blogposts out there, to compare finishes to! One day, it would be lovely to have my own little collection, but again, they are so expensive for my budget, that its a unrealistic dream. 
However, I would like to try their Eyeshadows. Also their Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft and Gentle. At £21.50, this is still a hefty price tag, although is justifiable, as how long it would take to use up!

Back to the Lipstick! I'm really happy for this to be my first luxury make up item in my collection. This isn't something I will use up in a hurry. I am sure I will want to cherish every lip application! As sad as I may seem, I just appreciate the little things. Within my budget, its not everyday I come across my own high end makeup product. 

The only other product I could possibly compare this to, that I own, is Rimmel Kate Moss Matte Lipstick in the shade 113, which is the nude in the collection. I have reviewed it here (link). A very muted nude, with a matte, non-shine finish.
MAC Lipsticks are available online here (link), or at your nearest department stores.

I hope you enjoyed this post, as much as I did writing it. I have been so looking forward to blogging about something like this. As much as I would love to review another MAC product, for now, this will keep me content!

Have you tried the shade Myth?
What is your favourite MAC product?

LuceeLovesBeautyBox.

xxx

Friday 28 December 2012

LADY GAGA FAME

 Another wonderful gift I received this Christmas, is Lady Gaga's new fragrance; Fame. I was with my Mam when this was released in Boots, as half naked men gave out samples. Oo-er. As soon as I had a whiff of the new fragrance, I was totally sold! I'll not bore you with all the notes of the fragrance, as I don't understand them myself. I will however, try and describe the scent!
I would say this is quite floral, with a hint of sweetness. I know this will probably sound quite similar to everything else you own, but there is also a hint of dark, huskiness. I don't know what it is, its quite mysterious! You really do need to give it a smell. I'm not usually one for celebrity fragrances, although this is definitely an exception. I think Ms Gaga has done a fabulous job of capturing the soul of fame in a bottle. 

Aside from the fact that is smells divine, lets take a look at the perfume itself. The actually liquid of the perfume is black. This is the first fragrance to have launched a perfume with some resemblance to colour. This is to represent the soul of fame, that becomes transparent once airborne. I am sure many people must have initially thought this would be a bad selling point, as this could easily stain your brand new white dress. Luckily, this does indeed become transparent before it reaches your skin.

In the giftset I received, includes a 50ml bottle of the perfume. Beautifully packaged in a long round bottle (I'm sure there is a technical, mathematical shaped name for this), with three gold claws, encasing the glass bottle, which is the lid. This will look great on any dressing table, or whatever you use. The comparison in colours makes it so eye catching. Also included, is a 200ml bottle of Shower Gel, naturally holding the same scent as the perfume. I was surprised to see that it was a black gel, but this does work really well with the whole dark, fame theme. I'm quite excited to try the shower gel. I think I will really only use this on special occasions/nights out, to strengthen the scent of the perfume.
The products are encased in a really sturdy cardboard box, with a pull out draw, to reveal your products, sitting tightly in a red, velvet bed. As much as I would like to have the perfume out on show, I can't help but want to keep it safe and secure in its original home.
I'm really happy with this fragrance, I was from the moment I first had the sample! This is such a perfect perfume to lightly spray on during the day, or apply heavier and layered over the shower gel for night out.

You can pick this up at Boots online here (link) or in store.

Have you discovered Lady Gaga's new fragrance?

LuceeLovesBeautyBox.

xxx


Wednesday 26 December 2012

Boxing Day.

Hello, everyone!

I'm sure you are all still surrounded by chocolates, smellies and goodies. I hope Santa was good to you all! I spent my Christmas with my other half, and visited my family today on Boxing Day, to exchange gifts. I'm extremely happy with what I received. I'm completely grateful for all the things I have been treated to. Some you may see in future posts and reviews! As it was my blog first anniversary on Christmas Day, I believe they will be quite appropriate!
As I was just visiting my family, I thought I would apply a golden shimmer eye and thick liner. I love this look, I can just never be bothered to perfect the liner on a daily basis. 

 I also decided to finally dig out this old velvet skater skirt, that has been sitting in my wardrobe for years, brand new. I unpicked out the waistband, as it was twisted inside. The skirt falls a lot more natural now. I love it! Teamed with a simple Primark vest top and my New Look skull cardigan.
So, that's how my Boxing Day has gone so far. I've enjoyed every minute. I believe the next few days will consist of laziness and eating, so you should expect a few more structured posts from me.

I hope you have all enjoyed the festivities.
What are your plans for New Years Eve?
Any New Years Resolutions lined up?

LuceeLovesBeautyBox.

xxx

Sunday 9 December 2012

Winter Ice Inspired Nails!

A quick little nail post. I haven't done one of these in a while, purely because I am enjoying a block, dark colour for Winter. However, I thought I would break out of that little rut, for a pop of an appropriate colour for this current season.

I originally decided on just painting my nails with Barry M's Foil Nail Effects in Silver, before remembering the last nail look I created with this; the fishtail look. I remembered that the Bourjois blue works really well in conjunction this this colour, as you can still see the silver beneath the blue. An almost jelly finish.
To create this look, I used Barry M Instant Nail Effects Foil in Silver for my base block colour. Alone, this creates a really effective nail look, although I wanted to add a festive twist, I added Bourjois 29 Cocktail A Barcelona, which is quite a sheer aqua blue. As its so sheer, it creates a jelly finish, with the silver base peeping through. I applied the colour to just the tips, to add an icy definition.

Have you painted your nails with a festive or seasonal twist yet?
What do you think?

LuceeLovesBeautyBox.

xxx

Saturday 8 December 2012

Current Empties #5!

Its been a while since I have posted an empties post, purely because I have succeeded in my mission to use all up the products that have been gifted to me over the past year or so, that were in desperate need to be used up. The latest products I have used up, are ones that I use regularly and daily, as well as some body products that I seem to take forever and a day to use up!

Face
Johnsons Baby Wipes
Some point through the last month or so, I found I had just used my last make up wipe the night before, so I had to send out the other half to pop round to our local Boots Pharmacy, in the hope they would have some. Naturally, I thought they would. Instead, he returned with a huge pack of baby wipes. Better than nothing, I thought. These did the job really well. Removing my make up gently, as well as mascara!

 No7 Beautiful Skin  Quick Thinking Wipes
I have had this empty packet sitting in my empties box (which consists of a old cardboard Glossybox packaging), since those  No7 £5 off vouchers were floating around. These do the job lovely, but I couldn't justify the £7 price tag. Packaging is really good, especially for travelling, with a secure opening.

No7 Beautifully Balanced Purifying Toner Oily/Combination
This is something I have been using for a long time, I mean months, maybe almost a year! This has lasted me that long, using it pretty much daily. A pump or two on a cotton pad, swiped across the face, is so refreshing, whilst removing the remains of any make up or products.

Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream
I was quite sad to see this go. This little sample I picked up free in a magazine at some point a few month ago, as did the rest of the blogosphere! This is really light and refreshing around the eyes. Did it do anything amazing? I don't really know. I think eye creams are a really personal thing. Depending on your age, skin type, the product itself. Either way, I would repurchase this.

Soap and Glory Night In Shining Armour Cream
This lasted me since Boots had that deal on months ago; spend over £10 to receive a free bottle of shower cream? I really wanted to take advantage of the offer, and needed a night cream. Perfect timing! I'm sad to see this go, also. This came in a really sturdy, heavy glass jar, which made it feel expensive and luxurious!

 Body
Nivea Pearl and Beauty Deodrant 
Lets get the boring one out of the way. I thought this was worth a quick mention. This is a balmy, waxy kind of deodorant. I don't even know what to call it. Quite like a soap. Kept my underarms stink free. Thumbs up! I would definitely repurchase! Also lasted me months!

Soap and Glory Scrum 'Em and Leave 'Em Body Buff
This is my most favourite body scrub by Soap and Glory, from what I have tried so far! Its so sugary textured, and moisturising. I really want to try their Breakfast Scrub!

Soap and Glory Clean On Me Shower Cream
My last review of this wasn't a particularly positive one. Only because the last one didn't foam, lather, anything! This one in fact, did! I'm in love with this silky smooth product.

Soap and Glory The Scrub Of Your Life Body Scrub
I enjoyed this softer approach to a body scrub. More of a body wash, PACKED full of beads and scrubbing particles. Lovely product to use!

Soap and Glory Righteous Body Butter 
Already have a back up ready to use. Need I say more? Every girl an their mother had at least heard of this. 

Soap and Glory The Daily Smooth Body Butter
I really did like using this. This is aimed at more dry skin, so I preferred to use this on my legs or wherever I had some stubborn dry skin. This cold weather and central heating has been playing havoc with my skin!

The Body Shop Strawberry Body Butter
Yum! I actually received this from my little sister last Christmas. So gorgeous! Even my other half can tell when I have used this. So sweet smelling. I love how The Body Shop can always get scents spot on! I have a Strawberry Body Lotion on hand now.

The Body Shop Shea Body Butter
This is such a delicate smelling product. Ideal for when I wanted to be butterly moisturised, but nothing too heavily scented. 

Hair
L'Oreal Elvive Noursish & Shimmer Hair Masque
I bought this last time I got my hair dyed. I always like to pick something up for my freshly died hair, in the hope it prolongs the colour life of my hair. I really liked to use this. I generously slathered it through my hair, which left it soft and manageable.

Pantene PRO-V Aqualight for Fine Hair Shampoo
This did leave my hair feeling light and airy, or at least as much as a product could. I wash my hair daily, so this was a nice and refreshing product to use, with a clean and fresh scent.

Pantene PRO-V Aqualight for Fine Hair Conditioner

After tackling my fine hair issues, I thought this would be a good product to use. I always have to be carefully to apply any product, apart from shampoo, to just below my ears, to prevent any unnecessary weight dragging my hair down. This did a great job!

That is the end of my current empties. I think this will be the last of my empties posts for a little while, as I don't have anything to quickly use up, apart from the necessities that I use up regularly.

LuceeLovesBeautyBox.

xxx

Tuesday 4 December 2012

Christmas Gifts For Him Under £10!

1. Radio Controlled 1:20 Mini Cooper S £9.99
What male can resist a remote control car! I know my other half loves to chase our cat with his. Nightmare! Terrorising aside, this is a great little gadget, that will sure light up his face!

2. Calvin Klein Boxers £10.00
All men need some good boxers. That is all!

3. Whiskey Selection £8.00
I know my other half is quite partial to a whiskey tipple, as may many fathers or 18+ siblings! This is a nice little set, to experience a few different liquors.

Again, men and gadgets! This one is perfect for those occasions  when you imagine the worst. This neatly fits right inside your wallet or jeans pocket. Super handy & you wouldn't even know it was there!

5. Jack Daniels Set of Twin Tumblers £9.99
I, myself would love to open this. I love a good branded glass, to drink my favourite tipple out of. This is a set of two tumblers, perfect for a couple or some best mates!

Have you got all of your Christmas shopping in yet? I haven't, eek!

LuceeLovesBeautyBox.

xxx

Wednesday 28 November 2012

Christmas Gifts For Her Under £10!



 I really, really want this for myself! Contains a cute Snowman Bubble Bar & Ponche Shower Gel, which has a shot of Tequila in, oo-er! This is a lovely gift for a sibling or best friend!

Again, I would love to see this under my Christmas tree! Packed with sweet treat scented goodies, perfectly suiting siblings, daughters or even adventurous mums!

What Christmas is Christmas without a Yankee Candle?! For just under a tenner, you will receive a regular tumbler candle. Yankee Candles are one of the very best on the market - worth every penny!

I thought I would include some sparkly jewellery as a gift idea, as its always nice to receive something setimental. I'm happy with my find on this. H Samuel is a respectable company, of which I have been a returning customer, so I knew that no matter what the price, you will receive something utterly beautiful. For again, just under £10, this is such a lovely gift idea!

Finally, we have a Christmassy Body Shop giftset. I love The Body Shop and almost always receive some products for birthdays, etc. This is such a cute little set for any body product lover!


Have you started your Christmas shopping? Seen anything you like?

LuceeLovesBeautyBox.

xxx

Saturday 24 November 2012

More Magazine Models Own Freebie Nail Polishes!

Just a quick little memo to you lovely lot! This weeks edition of More magazine, are giving away Models Own products. Two nail polishes and two lip glosses, to be precise!
Unaware of the exact shade names of the two lip glosses - the two polishes I picked up were Raspberry Crush & Nude Beige. These are in fact the first Models Own polishes I have ever owned, so I am hoping to see some wonderful results with these!
I initially thought about just picking up the one nail polish. I already have a few reds in my collection, and my Barry M Mushroom polish is starting to gloop, I thought I would just pick up the Nude Beige. But at a lovely £1.50 per magazine, I really couldn't resist picking up both for £3 - considering they are £5 each!

As for the glosses, I'm sure they are a lovely product, but I barely manage to be bothered to apply a lip balm, never mind something as high maintenance as a gloss that will just be licked away!
I hope you have read this in time to grab yourself some bargains! 

LuceeLovesBeautyBox.

xxx

Tuesday 20 November 2012

Christmas Gifts For Him Under £5!

If you have read my Christmas Gifts For Her Under £5, you will be aware I have started to post Christmas Gift Guides. Today, I am going to share with you my gift ideas for the men in your life, for under five British pounds!


For the men? Pfft! I think I would have more fun with this game! This is a steering wheel, with a maze in the centre. I love these types of addictive games, so I am sure any man will be quite content with concentration!

Again, I have always wanted one of these, so I would quite happily steal this myself! For the novelty factor, this is a nice little gift to fill up his stocking.

3. LUSH Bubblebeard Bubble Bar £4.95
Well, this 'For Him' manly post is starting to turn quite feminine..
I think this is such a cool idea. A moustache bubble bar wand. My other half likes a good old LUSH bath bomb & bubble bar, so to make it feel a little more masculine, it comes in the form of a moustache!

For any man that likes to take care of their body & face, this is a nice little gift. Full with goodies & a wash bag, makes it quite a practical gift, for the mister in your life to try some products. As us beauty bloggers are obsessed with beauty products, lets see how the men can cope!

5. Thorntons Milk Chocolate Santa £2.99
What men/boys can not say no to a bit of chocolate. I, myself could quite happily live on it! As a stocking filler, this is quite a unisex gift to place under the tree. As well as being perfect for any age!

That was my Christmas Gift Guide For Him. I'm not the best shopper for men, I will probably get my other half some socks & boxers, but this is to show how not every Christmas gift will upset your purse!

LuceeLovesBeautyBox.

xxx

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Sunday 18 November 2012

Christmas Gifts For Her Under £5!

So, its time to acknowledge the fact that Christmas is in fact here. I love every aspect about Christmas, the weather, the lights & Christmas tree, Starbucks Gingerbread Lattes & Mince Pies. The one thing I do not like, is parting with my cash, on ridiculously expensive gifts.

I have decided to post some Christmas Gift Guides. I will be posting these over the next few weeks, which range from prices, to gift types. If you would like to see a gift guide solely on budget beauty products, let me know below! Today, I am going to be sharing with you my picks for Her, under £5! 

There is so many more I could have added to this selection, but believe it or not, there is quite a few gifts to be found, for under £5. Boots is also a great place to Christmas shop, as most items are 3 for 2!



1. The Body Shop Chocomania Cupcake Gift £5.00
This is such a cute little gift, for practically any age. The packaging is so sweet, with the contents of Chocomania Mini Heart Soap, Shower Cream & Ultra Fine Orange Bath Lily. I myself already own the soap. This smells divine. Unusual to find chocolate scented bath products, but they are pleasantly lovely!

2. LUSH Christmas Pudding Knot-Wrap £2.50
For £2.50, you will receive this very sweet pudding knot wrap. I think this is a perfect idea, if the person you are wanting to send a gift to, isn't particularly fond of the Christmas themed products, you can still wrap the ordinary LUSH products, in a Christmas themed knot wrap!

3. Babylis and Harding Large Gingerbread Shower Wash £4.00
This is one of the gifts I would really love to treat myself to, or hopefully find under the Christmas tree *hint, hint!*. I adore anything Gingerbread scented/flavoured, so I can imagine this little beauty will be heavenly to drench yourself in, on Christmas night!

4. The Garden Collection Candle Trio £5.00
This would be lovely for candle fanatics, or even your Mum. Very delicately packaged, you will receive three different scented candles. Again, this would suit many ages, so is quite a versatile gift to pick up!

5. Throntons White Chocolate Snowman £2.99
Lastly, how could you not pick this up for £2.99. Hardly going to break the bank, but will be much appreciated by the loved one who will receive it!

So, those are my quick Christmas gift picks for under £5. There is so many little gifts that are on the market. Even more on online shops, if you're willing to wait in for the Postie!

If you would like to see any more gift guides, aimed at children, different ages, themed gifts, etc, please let me know below!

LuceeLovesBeautyBox.

xxx

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Sunday 11 November 2012

Michel Mercier Detangling Brush for Fine Hair

Michel Mercier is a French hair stylist & product developer, with over 32 years experience within the hairdressing industry. Owner of the exclusive Michel Mercier salon group in Israel, Michel has created a de-tangling hairbrush, after acknowledging the trouble women & men go through, to brush our hair gently. After his 12 year old daughter would show visible discomfort during the hair brushing process, Michel set about creating a brush that would make daily brushing a more pleasant experience & less damaging to hair.
 For many months now, my hair has suffered from difficult hair brushing. I have quite fine, short hair. Trying to get my Denman brush through wet hair, results in a sore head & loss of hair. The only resolution I have came up with, is to apply a generous amount of conditioner, to soften the tats. Although, as I am prone to grease throughout the day, adding more product to my hair, is something I am trying to steer away from.

I have been tempted to purchase the infamous Tangle Teezer. After reading many reviews & seeking advice on Twitter, there have been advantages & disadvantages  The aspect I didn't particularly warm to, is the designed shape of there brush, which was essentially hand held.

Michel has created a large brush, to cover a larger surface area of your hair, effectively allowing you to brush your hair quicker. There is also a handle, that is blended into the shape of the brush head. This allows you to easily hold the brush, without fighting to keep it in your hands!
The brush has a range of different lengths & heights of 'bristles'. 428 in fact. With a unique geometric distribution, the brush helps disperse the pressure placed on your hair during brushing, resulting in easer detangling, reduced hair loss & breakage. The brush is available in three colour coded models, to suit different hair types; fine, normal & thick. This is a great bonus, as there is a brush for everyone, specifically designed for your hair type. The brush works effortlessly with all hair types, from dry colour damaged hair, to thick European, Afro & Asian hair textures. This brush is designed to brush sleekly through wet or dry hair, curly or straight, as well as being gently enough to tackle extensions & real or synthetic wigs!

I wanted to firtsly use this brush on wet hair, as this is the area within my hair, I find I have the most problems with. I found that with first use, the brush itself was quite strange to use. I have been previously using a Denman Paddle Brush for the past 5 years (repurchased!), so I am aware of how the brush feels upon my scalp.
This brush has a tougher brush head, due to the several plastic bristles, at different heights.  As these bristles are considerably shorter than my usual hair brush, i found I had to brush through layers of my hair - which I should be doing anyway! Once I had gotten used to a different way of taming my mane, I did find this had an advantage to my hair. I didn't have to pull at my hair, or fight knots. I believe my hair will be very thankful of this new addition!
I found this brush to make a huge difference to detangling my hair.
The process has been a much more enjoyable one. Once I had gotten used to the sensation of a different hair brush, this became a dream!
I hope to update you all on my hair, & whether it has improved the quality of my hair!

You can purchase this brush, I have the one for Fine hair, from Michel Mericer's site here (link), which retails for £14.95. There is also sets, as well as brushes, designed for children.

LuceeLovesBeautyBox.

xxx

Friday 9 November 2012

Graze

Graze is a company that sends out healthy nibbles for you to snack on, by post. Lets start with the best bits!
The boxed packaging that you will receive your Graze goodies in, fits perfectly through your letterbox, so there is no need to worry about missing the Postman. You can also get your box delivered to any address, Nationwide. Even at your work place! Perfectly in time for those 11.00am snack cravings before lunch time. Delivery charge? Absolutely free! If you are someone like most of us, that aren't quite prepared to dedicate ourselves to a subscription that we may not like, you will like this. Graze offers a subscription service, if you so wish to use it. This enables you to continually receive your boxes, on whatever days you like, how often you like. If this isn't for you, you can also order one off boxes. Brilliant!
Graze offers two types of boxes: A Nutrition Box & Nibble Box. The nutrition box contain the healthiest foods, rich in micronutrients, designed by their nutrients team.

The nibble box is perfect for if you want maximum variety. From flapjacks, nuts, dried fruits, seeds, chocolate coated nibbles, to freshly baked bread. Yum!

You will also receive four punnets of foods. Upon signing up, you will be able to rate the food that are available. This is quick & simple. Either rate: Try, Like, Love & Bin. This will determine which foods you will receive  Naturally, if you have rated Bin on certain foods, they will never arrive on your doorstep. If you are allergic or hate a specific ingredient, such as Coconut - you can search for the ingredient & bin the entirety of all the foods this is included. Foods you  are wishing to try may arrive, foods you like may occasionally turn up & lastly, foods you love will most likely turn up!
Now that all of the know how is out of the way, I can tell you about what I received  I love to rate Try on all the foods I like, so I can get a spontaneous surprise, each time I receive my Graze box. This also gives me the opportunity to try different things, I wouldn't necessarily pick up in a supermarket/health store. Here is what I received:

 Bakewell Tart: This punnet includes Cherry infused Sultanas, Cranberries & Almonds. They also contain manganese & copper - two antioxidant minerals. A good source of minerals & vitamins, as well as a good source of fibre.

Crunchini Basilico: This punnet included Basil infused Oil with Crunchini. Only contains 80 Calories!

Mississippi BBQ Pistachios: Says it on the tin! Also good source of fibre.

Honeycomb Flapjack: This punnet is also a good source of fibre, as the oats are packed full of healthy fibre. There is also a little drizzle of chocolate on top.

Each punnet is securely closed, with a cellophane lid. This makes it perfect for taking to work with you & travelling. Just pop in your handbag! There is also a handy napkin hidden away in the bottom of the tray. How caring of Graze!
These are the four foods I received. I enjoyed three out of four, which isn't bad going! I really didn't enjoy the Crunchini Basilico. I just found the Basil (I am assuming. I don't often eat Basil!) quite overpowering & strong. Some people may love this aspect, but for me, I did not. I liked the texture & crunch to the bread sticks(?). I also felt quite uncomfortable associating food with oil. I'm quite anti oil as it is!

My favourite had to be the Honeycomb Flapjack! This is the only punnet my other half was willing to delve into! This is packed with oats & topped with a drizzle of chocolate. This felt very comforting to eat, but knowing it was a healthier alternative to others, made it all the more delicious!

Thirdly, Mississippi BBQ Pistachios. Yum! I love eating nuts, although this has only became apparent recently. I always thought they were gross, but after some dedication to them, I have made a U turn! These a packed full of BBQ flavour which is a pleasant change to just Roasted, which I usually eat!

Finally, we have Bakewell Tart. I demolished this little punnet! Juicy Cranberries & Cherry infused Sultanas worked lovely in combination with the Almonds. Very enjoyable to eat. Rate: Love!
So, that is my Graze box review. I really enjoy the element of surprise the receiving these boxes, although that element can be removed for yourself, if you so wish. The concept of this box is great. There have been many healthy foods I have been introduced to, such as Vanilla Seeds. Usually, I would never have dreamed of pick them up, now I am on the hunt for some!

If you have enjoyed this post & are curious to try for yourself, you can enter this code on their site: 9QKPKF5D. This will guarantee your fist box FREE! This is how I became introduced to Graze. If you don't enjoy the box, or wish to discontinue receiving them, you can easily cancel any further deliveries!

Sign up at: www.graze.com.

I hope this has helped anyone that has been intrigued about Graze boxes or for anyone that has been curious to try. I absolutely love receiving these & tasting new foods!

Let me know if you sign yourself up! I would love to hear your thoughts!

LuceeLovesBeautyBox.

xxx

Wednesday 7 November 2012

Soap & Glory Small Wonders Mini Hat Box Christmas Giftset

I thought I would share with you, a little gift set I received  from my other half. As Christmas is well & truly just around the corner, this is the perfect opportunity to share with you this gift idea. 

I was first introduced officially to Soap & Glory, after said other half surprised me with some of their minis, to cheer me up. How sweet! I had heard so many lovely things about this brand, so it was lovely to give them a try at last! Again, he did very well, for picking this up spontaneously for me. What a good egg!
I already have my eye on a lot of their gift sets. They look amazing. My eyes would lit up if I were to see pink peeking through the wrapping paper! 

This box is quite rightly named; Small Wonders Mini Hat Box. This is full of S&G minis, as well as a poofy loofah. Included, you will find: Shower Puff, Clean On Me Shower Gel, The Scrub Of Your Life Body Scrub, The Righteous Butter Body Butter & Hand Food Hand Cream.
The packaging of the hat box, is so pretty. I have yet to decide what to store in here, but I am sure I will think of something. Nail Polishes would be a great idea! The box is covered in various S & G's, ranging from pinks, silver & white, with a cute embossed pink lid. This box itself is very sturdy, perfect for recycling into storage or organisation for your other products!

I think this is a lovely little gift for someone who is new to beauty, bath & body care, or someone who has yet to try Soap & Glory. This giftset includes some of the most popular products S&G cater, which is a great way to introduce someone to the products. I was pleasantly surprised to see a big, fluffy Shower Puff at the top, hiding all of the products below!
This Small Wonders Mini Hat Box retails at £10.00. You will receive 4 mini products, a shower puff, as well as a beautifully presented box, for you to store your new products in. You can purchase this from Boots here (link), or pick up in store. This gift set is also included in the 3 for 2 deal, throughout all of the Christmas gifts. Perfect excuse to treat yourself?

Have you already hidden this away, to treat someone?

LuceeLovesBeautyBox.

xx

Monday 5 November 2012

Accessorize Lipstick in Passionate

We are already into November! Where did the time go?! As Winter is setting in, wearing dark, warm colours is perfectly acceptable. Unfortunately for me, I'm still too timid to wear anything darker than a nude lippie. Never the less, I'm going to review a lipstick I was sent a couple of months ago for you. This seems the perfect time to show you!
I believe this is the first Accessorize make up product I own. For the store itself, I love it. I love all of the little bits & bobs, from key rings, handbags, scarves & gloves, to trusty umbrellas  Of course, their make up packaging is thoroughly decked out. I wouldn't expect anything less!

Packaging wise, I only recently became aware of a sneeky little section to this lipstick. At the end of the tube, you can see a swatch of the colour. This itself is a great aspect, especially if you store your lipsticks in an organised fashion, you will instantly know what shade to pick. As well as this nifty idea, you can also remove the 'swatch', to reveal its actually a little pot of the lipstick. This is great for touch ups on your lips, without a mirror, after you've eaten or had a drink!

The shade itself is named 'Passionate'. A very deep purple. This looks amazing against pale skin, like myself. If only I had the confidence to wear this lipstick in public, boy I would! Its the perfect deep, winter shade, that would pair beautifully with simple eye make up, or even just a slick of liquid/gel liner.

The formulation is very matte. When I say matte, I mean this is going nowhere once applied! Because of the consistency of the finish, you almost have to drag the product across your lips. Be warned, be careful applying the colour where you want it to actually go. As this is such a pigmented, deep colour, smudging will just spoil the whole look!
I think this is a lovely product for the braver women out there, but I would be very interested in looking into some of their other shades! 

I have been looking left, right & centre for a link for the product, although I just can't seem to find one! I'm sure you will be able to pick one up from the Accessorize store, or Superdrug stocks their products!

Have you tried any of Accessorize's Lipsticks or other make up products?
What are your thoughts?

LuceeLovesBeautyBox.

xxx


Saturday 3 November 2012

Glamour Magazine December 2012 Free Nails Inc. Nail Polishes!

May I start with this image, to start the post..
I am fairly sure every girl & their mother out there has either heard about, or picked up December's issue of Glamour. This edition, includes a free Nails Inc. nail polish, worth £11. As the magazine is only a purse friendly £2, you are saving yourself a few bob!
There is four shades of polishes to collect. From left to right, there is: Elizabeth Street, Glamour Glitter, Motcomb Street & St James.

Elizabeth Street is a very sheer pale pink. his would pair beautifully with white tips, for a French manicure look, or if you are unable to wear nail polish to school/work, but would like to make your nails look healthy.

Glamour Glitter is a light formulation of glitter. From the bottle, you would assume this is packed. Don't be fooled! This will look lovely as a top coat, to add definition to a simple base colour.

Motcomb Street is a very deep & dark blue. Nigh on verging into a black shade. Within the right lighting, you will be able to distinguish different tones of colour. This would look gorgeous for the festive season & New Year, with the Glamour Glitter on top, to had a touch of.. Well, glamour!

Finally, there is St James. This is the shade I wanted the most, purely for Christmas time. You cannot go wrong with a bit of red! I imagined the Glamour Glitter as a gradient tip, would suit this nail look, amazingly! As the red is quite a blue toned shade, this is quite versatile for this time of year!
Just thought I would include a little side note into the palavar I had to find one of these polishes. This may not be an issue for yourself, but boy, I'm glad I got there in the end. Pfft!

I picked up the pink, red & blue polishes at my local newsagent, no bother. I walked away extremely happy with my £6 purchase. Unfortunately, they did not have the Glamour Glitter polish in the shop. As I was going through town later that day, I decided to just pick it up somewhere else. Well.. somewhere else I did look! I honestly cannot remember the amount of stores, shops & newsagents I looked into, to find this one polish! I popped into M&S, Fenwicks, WHSmiths, x2 Tesco, Co-op.. Just to name a few!

Finally, as I were about to give up & go home, I popped into a little newsagents in a side alley. To my absolute delight, my partner immediately grabbed it for me as soon as he noticed it (bless him, after I dragged him left, right & centre!).

Basically, that was the torment I gone through, just to find this one nail polish. I'm sure I'm not the first or last to go to the moon & back, to complete a collection!

I will have some real swatches on my nails up soon, as well as making sure to Instagram them (if you're interested, my username is @Luceeloves), as that's where most nail images go, before blogging!

I'm really happy I have picked up these polishes. For the price, you really cannot complain!

Have you picked yours up yet?

LuceeLovesBeautyBox.

xxx

Thursday 1 November 2012

Current Empties #4!

Hello!

I don't have a particularly large empties post to show you, today. When slowly collecting my rubbish for this post, I thought I had a lot more, but I did run out of the majority of the Soap & Glory products in one go. Devastating, I know. I'm hoping Santa will surprise me with some more products!

As this is my fourth edition to my Current Empties posts, I have finally succeeded in using up the vast majority of products in my bathroom. Unfortunately  I still have countless tubs of The Body Shop Body Butters that need to be used up! The quest continues!
 
 Face
I think every girl & their mother has used this once upon a time. I know I started using this, after my Mam did. I was quite sad to see this go. I liked to use this pretty much daily. I found it was gentle enough to do so. I also liked to use this, if I felt my skin needed a deeper clean to just using a cleanser & muslin cloth.

I received the Mud Clay Spa Masks a while ago, but I kept one in my bathroom cabinet, for when I am in dire need of a face mask, but want one that is quick & will do the job! I love the concept of these particular masks. They come in the form of a face shaped cloth, that is essentially soaked in the clay mask product. Just un-peel the mask, apply to face, remove & massage in remaining product. Splash with water!

Body
To begin my extensive empty Soap & Glory products, I finally used up this huge bottle of shower bath wash. I never thought I would see the end of this, but when I did, I was quite sad to see it go. This was the perfect product to just grab & pump. It felt so moisturising to use, which would be great for people with dry skin. For the size, this lasts so long. I liked to use about 3 pumps, too, onto a poofy loofah thingy, or just my hands!

I received this for my 21st from my lovely Mam. I wasn't aware that S&G provided Bubble Bath products, so I was quite excited to use this! As far as Bubble Bath products go, I like to pour out quite generously. Love bubbly bubble baths! This did last for quite a while, though. Even with a little amount poured into running water, created a sufficient amount of bubbles for an obsessed S&G girl! This would be a definite repurchase!

This is the only S&G product I have found difficult to get along with, which is quite sad. As its a creamy wash, it was recommended to apply this onto damp skin. When I am in the tub, I submerge myself throughout. I found that I would have to dry myself off slightly, or sit up for a little while, before I could use this, so I would see the advantages of it against damp skin. This was a tad annoying for me, personally  I like to use a poofy thing & drench myself in the wash! 
However, I would be prepared to try this again & persevere with it, until I found a way I enjoyed using it. Am I the only one with these thoughts?

This is the second S&G Scrub I have tried. I enjoyed using this as a scrub, it did the job perfectly. The scent is as gorgeous as ever, too. I do have a favourite - in the form of Scrub 'Em & Leave 'Em. 
I would really, really like to try the Breakfast Scrub! Recommendations?

Hair
This is something I tend to always pick up, straight after getting my hair dyed. I never really see a difference in the vibrancy of my hair colour after using these, but its nice to think they are doing something remotely positive for your hair, apart from keeping it clean! This was a nice product to use. It did the job!

I could drench my hair in this for days on end! I believe I got 2-3 uses of this, out of one sachet. I have shoulder length, short hair. So I didn't find the need to use & waste the whole packet on one use. I like to apply any heavy conditioning product to the ends of my hair & up to my ears, just to prevent my hair from being weighed down. This made my hair feel a dream. So smooth & sleek, as well as smelling soo good!

So, that is my little Current Empties #4 post! Quite short, but sweet! Hopefully, my next Empties post will include some empty Body Butters or moisturisers. I will get there!

Do you have any favourites from the above products?

LuceeLovesBeautyBox.

xxx

Thursday 25 October 2012

Next Beauty Event!

I was very kindly invited to attend the Next Beauty Event a few weeks ago, although sadly I was unable to attend. Gemma, who I have been in contact with, generously sent me the events photographs for me to share with you, as well as all the info of the new A/W12 Collection!

I am so excited to show you the new collection. One of the things that immediately attracted me to the products, is the price! For great quality products, this won't break the bank, allowing you to treat yourself, too! I have shown you four of each from the collection, my personal favourites. There is so much more in addition to each collection. If I added them all to this post, it wouldn't have ended!

As per usual, I have linked all of the products and info under the title!


L-R: MilanLondon, New York, Paris.
50 Hour Candle £9, Four Reed Diffuser Set £18, Eau De Parfum from £8, Body Creme £8.

Milan captures the aura of that fast-paced and furiously stylish Italian city. Top notes of melon and green apple give way to a heart of magnolia and violet and a lingering woody base. Confident yet feminine, this fragrance has a super-chic modern edge. 

London has lychee and citrus top notes, a heart of rose and peony evolving to a powdery musk and cedarwood base. This intriguingly eclectic aroma reflects the British capital’s renown for individuality and creativity.

The essence of cosmopolitan uptown New York is represented by a radiant and captivating white floral, featuring tuberose and gardenia with elegant jasmine and sun-kissed orange blossom. 

Paris, the home of haute-couture, is perfectly portrayed by an exotic floral bouquet of orchid, jasmine, ylang-ylang and orange blossom, with a base of musk and warm amber. It’s sensationally sensual and unapologetically decadent.

Just Pink Eau De Toilette 75mlJust Pink Fragranced Candle

Cashmere Collection

L-R: Eau De Parfum £12Manicure Set £6, Cashmere Essentials £6.50, Cosmetics Set £10.

Gold Collection
Womens FragranceWomens Fragrance
L-R: Eau De Toilette £12, Nail Library £10, Fragrance Gift Set £12Dazzling Gift Set £16.

Next Beauty Blogger Event

Here is just a few of the images from the event. I wish I were able to attend that evening, but I am happy to have been given the opportunity to talk about the event & inform you all on the new collections!
If you would like to see more of the images from the event, you can view them here (link).

Have you had your eye on any of the new collections?
What are your thoughts?

LuceeLovesBeautyBox.

xxx

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