Review: biOrganics Salon Secret Range

The kind people at biOrganics recently sent me their new Salon Secret Replenishing Shampoo, Replenishing Treatment and Hair Perfecting Oil Elixr to try out and review, and I'd like to add a *disclaimer* here just to say that although I did receive these products for free, this will not influence my review and all feelings expressed are my own.

biOrganics is a company that creates ethically sourced, cruelty-free, natural and organic hair products which provide salon quality results.

My hair has been dying a slow and painful death over the past few months, and trips to the hairdressers have been few and far between for a long time now (I last went for a trim at the beginning of March and it is now coming to the end of June...) and so it's safe to say my hair is not in the best condition.  I've been using restorative shampoos and conditioners, hair masks, treatments, avoiding heat, everything I could think of to try and sort out the birds nest on top of my head.  

I have been using these products for around 3 weeks now.

The website says that biOrganics Salon Secret Replenishing Shampoo is 

'The all-in-one secret to salon beautiful hair.

Our Salon Secrets range of luxury hair care is designed to combat dry, damaged and frizzy hair caused by heat styling, colouring and environmental exposure. Our natural, replenishing ingredients revitalize and hydrate, for lustrous healthy hair.

luxurious Replenishing Shampoo contains a blend of natural active ingredients that revive, repair and moisturise hair while protecting against breakage. Experience the benefits of nutritional ARGAN OIL, strengthening WHEAT PROTEIN and smoothing LAVENDER OIL & YLANG YLANG.'

It claims to 

- Hydrate and Replenish
- Repair and Revitalise
- Enhance Shine and Lustre
- Have a colour safe formula
- Be free from SLS and Parabens

It sounded like exactly what I've been looking for to tame my dry, dull, brittle hair - and with the added bonus of being colour safe. 

And I cannot express how happy it makes me that it is free from SLS and Parabens.  I've tried a SLS free shampoo before and my hair had never felt as good, and as for Parabens, well you can read my opinion of those here.

The first thing I noticed about the product was the packaging, it looks very high end with it's black white and gold bottle - minimalist and professional.  Next was the smell - it smells SO GOOD.  You can really smell the Lavender, which would usually put me off, but it's balanced out with the Ylang Ylang and just smells really natural and calming.

Without the SLS it doesn't foam up as much, but you really don't need to use any more than you usually would - it still goes a long way.  My hair is to my bra strap at the back, and I use just a bit more than a 50p sized blob.  

I have used this alone, without conditioner, and it leaves me with really nice, thick hair that isn't too dry or frizzy - which could be down to the Argan Oil in the mix.

The shampoo retails at £11.50 for 250ml / 17.50 for 500m (Click here).  I would suggest getting the larger bottle with the pump if you are going to spend the money, as you get twice as much for £6 more.  It is on the higher end of the haircare price scale, around the same as Paul Mitchell, Wella and Tigi.  The difference is that this is natural, paraben free and, in my opinion, actually does what it claims to do.

It is also available as part of a bundle with the Replenishing Treatment (Click here) Replenishing Treatment and Hair Perfecting Oil Elixr, for £35 - (Click here).

The next product biOrganics sent me was the Salon Secret Replenishing Treatment - a deep conditioning treatment which the website says will 

'Restore smoothness, shine and moisture with our Replenishing Treatment for unmanageable, dry and lacklustre hair. VEGETABLE PROTEINS repair and restore damaged hair, while ARGAN OIL smoothes and hydrates and SUNFLOWER SEED EXTRACT provides UV protection, reducing hair colour fade.'

The directions say to smooth through clean, wet hair and leave for 5-10 minutes.  I have used this twice a week since I received it, following the biOrganics shampoo, and left it for approximately 10 minutes each time.

It doesn't really smell very strong, it's kind of like a softened down version of the shampoo smell, but is still soothing and calming.  It has a pump action bottle and my hair needs around 5-8 pumps to cover the ends and most of the top - but I have fairly long hair.

As for the results, I have found that my hair looks in better condition each time I use it, and it is definitely shinier and sleeker - even when I let it air dry. I haven't been experiencing quite as much breakage, I still have split ends, only a trip to the hairdressers can fix that for me, but I haven't noticed the ends getting any worse.  

One of the biggest differences I've noticed is how easily I can brush my hair - I haven't had to deal with knots and tangles after using it, and as a result I'm not snapping off even more hair.

I've also noticed that my hair colour has stopped fading quite as fast as it was - I was heading towards blonde from my ginger, and nobody wants to see me as a blonde - trust me.

I definitely love that it is free from parabens, and feel comfortable leaving it on my hair for longer than my usual conditioner or deep treatments.

It's available for £15.50 for a 250ml bottle, or £23.50 for a 500ml bottle (Click here) 

as part of a bundle with the shampoo for £25 (Click here)

or as part of the bundle with the shampoo and elixr for £35 (Click here).

The final product sent to me was the Salon Secret Elixr Hair Perfecting Oil, which the website says 

'transforms your hair in just one application. Hair feels healthier with improved softness and shine. Used regularly, hair is noticeably stronger, whilst retaining colour vitality. The weightless formula is instantly absorbed, detangles and eliminates frizz. Offering protection against heat styling, it also reduces drying time.

Created to give you a salon-professional finish with every use, Salon Secret Elixir, Hair Perfecting Oil leaves hair smooth and frizz free for up to 48 hours.'

It claims to:

- Soften and smooth frizz- Add incredible shine- Replenish dry and brittle hair
- Strengthen and repair
- Protect against heat styling
- Reduce blow-drying time

It can be used on damp or dry hair, and for damp hair you should use 1-3 pumps (depending on the length of your hair) in the palms of your hands and apply first to the ends and then smooth the rest down the lengths of your hair - not the top.  For dry hair, use less and apply before using straighteners/curlers or, if you don't use heat, use alone to finish your hair style to leave it looking sleek and shiny with no frizz.

I've used this a few times since getting it, before drying, before straightening and on air dried hair to tame the frizz, and I've found that it works really well.  It smells good (Ylang Ylang) and the smell isn't too strong that you'll be overpowered all day.

I've found it really good with all methods of using it, and especially on the ends of my hair, which take a lot of smoothing to look good - I can have nice sleek hair without straightening it poker straight.

Again, it is paraben free, cruelty free, natural and organic, with Argan Oil doing most of the work.  It's something I can definitely see becoming a part of my regular hair routine, and at £3.50 for 12ml or £13 for 50ml (Click here) it's not ridiculously expensive.  It's around the same price as Toni and Guy Classic Gloss Serum, but without all the nasty chemicals. 

It's also available as part of the bundle with the Replenishing Shampoo and Replenishing Treatment for £35 (Click here).

Overall I'm really enjoying using these products, and whilst they are slightly above my current price range, they would make an excellent pay day treat or a great birthday gift for someone else.

If you have tried biOrganics products before, or have any questions please leave a comment below and I'll get back to you!

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Previous Post: Glossybox June 2013 Review

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June 2013 Glossybox Review

Glossybox is a monthly subscription of 5 high-end beauty product samples (with some full-size products sometimes, too) for £10 + £2.95 p+p)

You can earn Glossydots by reviewing the products in a quick survey, or by inviting friends, and redeem points for a free box.  Each survey is worth 50 points, so if you review 5 products a month, every 5th Glossybox should be free.  You get 200 Glossydots for every friend that signs up and places an order (1000 Glossydots = 1 free box) 

The June Glossybox theme is 'Summer Looks' - the ultimate staples for any summer make up bag.  

The first product I received was a Helen E Shimmer Eye Powder - in Shade 22 - silver.  I've always associated silver with winter, what with it being not at all warm or fun.  It is very sparkly and shimmery etc, but I can't see myself using it until at least October.  It's a good sized pot (1.5g) of loose pigment, and can be used wet or dry.  But I can't help being disappointed that I didn't get a bronze/copper or even the olive green colour they have (Shade 25).  They have at least 14 shades I would use and rave about, but I got silver.  Sad face.

The packaging is really cute, a clear hexagonal pot with a silver lid, and a pepper shaker style dispenser.  I guess that contributes to the price - £5 for 1.5g.  I always find it hard to understand the price difference between products like these, am I paying for the quality or the name? MUA do a range of eye dusts that are very similar, and cost £1 each.  Barry M Dazzle Dusts are £4.59 and Makeup Geek pigments are about £4.50.  I don't see the justification and I can't compare the pigmentation as the silver seems quite sheer, but it doesn't really show up well on my skin tone - is it bad quality or is it my skin colour?

The range is available from Helen-E.com for £5 (Use the discount code PR13 for £10 off orders over £25 until 31/07/13)

The next product in the box was a lip tint from Figs & Rouge in Cherry Blossom.  It's by far my favourite item in this month's box, as it is

- 100% Natural Ingredients

- Petroleum Free
- Paraben Free
- Mineral Oil Free
- Free of Synthetic Colours & Aromas

It comes in really nice bright packaging, which looks like a paint tube, with a screw cap.  The product itself doesn't have a strong smell or that nasty plastic feel to it like some lip products do.  It's moisturising and has a nice colour - kind of a deep dusty pink.  

It lasts quite a long time on the lips and doesn't transfer too much.  It keeps my lips soft and doesn't look too shiny or sticky (and my hair doesn't get stuck in it either, #1 trait of a good lip product)

It can be applied either straight from the tube, with fingers or with a brush.  I keep mine in my bag and use it multiple times throughout the day when I feel it's wearing off a bit - and it's great for summer when my lips are getting dehydrated faster than usual due to the heat we're actually getting for once in the UK.

It retails at £4.95 for 12.5ml and can be bought from FeelUnique.com with free delivery.

Third in the June box was a Long Lasting Nail Gloss from MeMeMe - a brand that keeps popping up in my Glossybox, and to be honest, I wish it wouldn't.  

It claims to be a 'premium, long-lasting, high-shine nail gloss complete with maxi-brush for one-stroke application.'  What I've found it to actually be is an almost clear, very watery nail polish that lasted just long enough for me to see the result and wipe it straight off again.  There was no opacity except at the edges of my nail where the product actually ran to.  I've never had a nail polish that was so watery that it could run before, so that's unique I guess.

Maybe it's that I got the colour Ambitious, which is a dusty pink, but I'm leaning more towards it being a bad product.  

I definitely wouldn't pay £5 for this, but if you want to give it a try, you can use the discount code GBUK15 for 15% off from MeMeMeCosmetics.co.uk

Next up is a Hydrating Moisturiser SPF15 from Monu.

'Soft focus technology helps to blur imperfections and to correct skin tone. We use Zinc Oxide to provide a physical barrier against the sun’s harmful rays. This provides broad spectrum UV protection with good UVA to UVB ratio. Includes Vitamin E, an antioxidant, to fight free radicals. The best way to stop your face from ageing is to protect it from the sun.'

My general rule with moisturisers is that if I can't pronounce at least 50% of the ingredients, it probably isn't good for my skin, and the ingredients on this bottle read like a Swahili tongue twister.

'Aqua (Water), Zinc Oxide, C12- C15 Alkyl Benzoate, Dimethicone, Caprylic/ Capric Triglyceride, Cyclotetrasiloxane, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Glyceryl Stearate, Cyclopentasiloxane, PEG-100 Stearate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Ribes Nigrum (Blackcurrant) Seed Oil, Isostearic Acid, Polyacrylamide, Parfum (Fragrance), Tocopherol, Silica, C13-14 isoparaffin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Lactic Acid, Linallol, Xanthan Gum, Laureth-7, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Isoceteth-10, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cassia Alata Leaf Extract, Citronellol, Benzyl Salicylate, Farnesol, Limonene'

I've tried it, and it does moisturise quite well, doesn't smell, and extra SPF is great any time of year.  Again, the price isn't very budget friendly at £29.95/50ml, so I wouldn't recommend it purely based on that if nothing else, but if you want to give it a try you can use the discount code Glossy1 until 01/10/13 on monushop.co.uk

Last in the box was Huile Prodigieuse (R) OR from NUXE, a 'multi-talking desert-island dry oil... forumlated to be easily absorbed and illuminate all skin and hair types with a subtle golden shimmer that looks like it comes from within'.  I'll admit, it is subtle, as I didn't notice any difference at all really.  

The ingredients say to spray the oil into your palms and rub onto the face/hair.  However the sample I got didn't have a spray dispenser, so maybe that affected the application.  It can be used all over the body, face and hair but again, I don't feel that I can comment because the sample wasn't packaged correctly and I can't really use it as it's meant to be used.

At £34/100ml, I won't try to recommend it as that's a lot of money to spend on a product that may or may not work.  However, if you have tried it, please comment below to let me know the best way to use it!  

I also have a 15% off discount code for Nuxe.co.uk - Just enter GLOSSYBOXDISC before 30/6/13.

***Bonus Item***

I would like to mention that in this box there was a bonus item, a sachet of John Frieda Sheer Blonde Everlasting Blonde Shampoo and conditioner - however, being a full on ginge, I won't be using it.  

I do complete my beauty profile on Glossybox regularly, to make sure I get the products that suit me best, but I'm getting the feeling that the information gets lost somewhere.

Overall, the June Glossybox was a bit of a let down - some of the other products available would have been PERFECT for me - Frizz Ease Original Serum, Helen E Waterproof Lip Liner, Monu Soap-Free Facial Wash, Sarah Chapman Intense Hydrating Booster/Skin Tone Perfecting Booster, Gosh Growth Mascara, ANY of those would have been great, and all 5 would have been a great box.  Maybe next month will be better... maybe.

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Previous Post: First Impressions: Seventeen 'On The Spot' Foundation
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First Impressions: Seventeen 'On The Spot' Foundation

Today's blog is a first impressions review of Seventeen's new product, On The Spot Foundation, which was released on 13th May 2013.

I came across it when I was in Boots looking for a concealer and figured I'd give it a shot - it cost less than the concealers I was looking for and says full coverage right there on the front.  Worth a risk, right?

It has SPF 25, which is higher than most foundations, and it also claims to give you clearer skin in 4 weeks.  Not many make up products which claim to clear your skin actually do, but looking at the ingredients it contains:

Salicylic Acid - which is used to clear blemishes and pimples in people with acne, by reducing redness and swelling and unblocking clogged pores, and also works for conditions such as psoriasis by softening and loosening any dry skin

and Kaolin - which draws out impurities and toxins in the skin, reducing excess oil, dirt and other waste materials.

So I picked it up and have been using it for about 2 weeks now in place of / mixed with my Bourjois Healthy Mix Radiance Reveal Foundation.  On it's own it's medium-full coverage, and mixed with Rimmel Wake Me Up or Bourjois Healthy Mix it's full coverage (no need for concealer!) and still light on the skin.

So far I have not had any breakouts since starting to use the product, and my skin is looking clearer than it was 2 weeks ago.  So far, so good!

The packaging is nice, a soft tube which is great for getting the last bits of product out, rather than the hard glass/plastic bottles, which inevitably have a good amount of product that you just can't reach at the end, and it has a pump dispenser, which dispenses enough for your whole face in 1 pump - less if you're mixing it with another foundation.

Overall I really like this foundation so far, and will definitely be repurchasing it if my skin stays clear whilst I'm using it.

RRP £5.99, available from Boots (Currently part of a 3 for 2 deal).

Previous Post: Glossybox May 2013 Review
Next Post: Glossybox June 2013 Review

Glossybox May 2013 Review

Glossybox is a monthly subscription of 5 high-end beauty product samples (with some full-size products sometimes, too) for £10 + £2.95 p+p)

You can earn Glossydots by reviewing the products in a quick survey, or by inviting friends, and redeem points for a free box.  Each survey is worth 50 points, so if you review 5 products a month, every 5th Glossybox should be free.  You get 200 Glossydots for every friend that signs up and places an order (1000 Glossydots = 1 free box) 

The May Glossybox was the 2nd Birthday edition, featuring some of Glossybox's 'trusted and most beloved brands'.  I was really excited for the box, knowing what the previous more impressive brands have been - Givenchy, Yves-Rocher, Dermalogica, Rodial, Essie etc.  And I figured as a birthday edition, they would be featuring some of the aboce.  They did include two Givenchy items, a mascara and a perfume, however I didn't receive either of those (not that I'm disappointed about not receiving yet another perfume sample! But the Noir Couture mascara would have been nice!)

The first product I received was a mascara, however it wasn't the Givenchy one, it was from Jelly Pong Pong - a brand that I've become very familiar with since subscribing to Glossybox. 

The packaging is super cute as always, but the product itself I'm not too keen on. The brush has bristles rather than the plastic wands I'm more partial to, so I find it barely picks up any product at all.  It has a better result than the MeMeMe Fat Cat mascara I got in the February box - which I tried once and put in my 'do not use' make up box - it is volumising and lengthening and does everything you'd like it to after a couple of coats, but the formula dries to such a strange finish I don't even understand how they could think it was a good idea to put it on the market.

It dries to a plastic finish - the best way I can describe it is as melted plastic honestly.  Rather than flaking off like a bad mascara normally does, it comes off in clumpy strips, and because it's so light it travels to weird places on my face.  I looked in the mirror a couple of hours after applying it and, no word of a lie, I had mascara on my forehead.  It fell upwards.  How does that even happen?  It wasn't a one-off either, it's happened multiple times since.

At £15 for 8ml, I wouldn't recommend it.  Cheaper mascaras from Rimmel have less flaking (melting) than this one, or for £19 you could get Benefit They're Real (holy grail mascara). 


The second product in the box was a liquid eyeliner from Collection (previously Collection 2000).  I really do like it, the handle is a great shape and weight for precision lines and the nib is neither too soft that it won't put down product nor too hard that it will cut you up.  

The formula is pretty great, it dries relatively quickly (10 seconds ish) and has quite good colour payoff.  I prefer using it as a base and filling in with a black eyeshadow on a small brush, to give it a richer finish, but it could definitely work on it's own too. 

I've done a few different looks with this, from very thin, close to the lash line, simple liner to slightly winged to a more dramatic 60's style wing.  I haven't had any problems with control - I can get a sharp point at the end of the flick, or get a really tiny subtle line - thanks to the pointed nib.

Retailing at £2.99/6ml it's very cheap and I would definitely recommend it.  I obviously can't comment on the product life as I've only had it for about a week so far, but for £2.99 you really can't complain if it dries out after 3 months.

Available from Collection Cosmetics, Boots, Asda, Tesco, Morrisons, Wilkinson, Lloyds Pharmacy, Gordons Chemists and Superdrug.


Next up is a brand I was hoping I wouldn't see again in my Glossybox - BM Beauty  which has now been renamed as Beautiful Movements Cosmetics.  I was pretty surprised to read that it's actually former Pussycat Dolls member Kimberly Wyatt's make up line.  She usually has lovely make up.  Obviously she isn't using her own products.

With the entire range being paraben free, naturally coloured and BUAV approved, I would LOVE to love the products but the ones I've tried, I just don't like at all.

This one is the Prime and Create Mixing Medium - a silicone based primer which can be used as a makeup base or mixed with mineral makeup to create a more full-coverage, airbrushed finish.  

As a primer it hasn't worked for me, and it hasn't really worked when I've mixed it with other products, but I understand how technically it SHOULD work.  Maybe it would work better with other BM products, but honestly I just don't want to waste money on products from a range I have actively disliked in the past.  

I do love the velvety feel of silicone primers on my skin and I will save it for when I inevitably get another BM product in a future Glossybox and update this if I see any difference.

It retails at £20/20g which, even if it did work, I probably wouldn't pay.


Fourth is a nail polish from Headline Colours - a brand I hadn't previously heard of.  It's a gunmetal polish which excites me, and I'm currently wearing it on my fingers and toes.  It hasn't chipped so far and it's been a good few days (with a top coat), so I'm suitably impressed!

It has a nice small brush so the edges of my nails aren't left naked, and two coats gives a perfect opaque colour, although it isn't streaky at all with just one coat, just a bit transparent for me.

Most of the colours are limited edition and created to match the very latest trends - according to the website, 'once they're gone, they're gone' - which is an interesting concept!

The formula is free from toluene, BDP and formaldehyde and is made in the UK.  It contains four plasticisers to allow for flex without cracking or chipping, and is water resistant for durability.

It retails at £9/10ml, which, for the quality, I would pay if I saw a colour I loved.

Available from Headline Colours




Last up is a can of shine Spray from Paul Mitchell's Awapuhi Wild Ginger range.


There isn't really much I can say about this product, it does what it says on the tin really.  It adds a really nice shine to any hairstyle, without weighing your hair down.  It smells clean and fresh, and has a really soft finish - no crunchy/dry texture. 
The RRP is £18.95/125ml, which is expensive by anyone's standards - and it's only available to buy in Awapuhi salons.

A list of Awapuhi salons can be found on the Paul Mitchell website.

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Review: Bourjois Healthy Mix Radiance Reveal Foundation

I recently started running a bit low on foundation, and seeing as spring is here, I wanted something lighter than Rimmel Wake Me Up, but heavier than a bb cream as I still need the coverage to conceal any redness and blemishes.

I did a first impressions review of Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum earlier this year, and wasn't keen at all, but after testing the Healthy Mix Foundation in Superdrug, I decided to give the non gel based formula a try.

I've been using it daily for a good few weeks now, and I'm really liking it.  It has light/medium coverage as opposed to the full coverage I'm used to, but it's buildable to full coverage if needed, and mixed with a bit of Wake Me Up, it's easily full coverage.

I found it extremely easy to blend, although I still tend to work fast with it just in case it decides to set and leave streaks on my neck (it hasn't so far).

I got the Radiance Reveal version, and it has a satin to dewy finish. On my normal-dry skin it's very wearable without powder, giving a nice glow to the skin.  It has apricot for radiance, melon for hydration, apple for antioxidant and ginger for energy, it smells incredible - very fruity and fresh and not artificial and plastic-y - and claims to give a healthy glow and flawless complexion for up to 16 hours.

Whilst I haven't worn the foundation for 16 hours, I haven't had an issue with oxidation, caking or fading.  It has always lasted as long as I've needed it to, usually for a good 8+ hours.

I have it in the shade 51 Light Vanilla, and it matches my skin tone quite well - it's very pale.  If I want slightly more colour, I mix it with my Wake Me Up, as I said earlier.  There are 8 shades to choose from, so chances are you'll be able to find a shade that fits your skin tone.

Overall I love this foundation, it leaves my skin looking glowy and fresh, it feels light on the skin and hasn't caused any kind of irritation or reaction.  I would just say that there are a few versions of the Healthy Mix foundation, and the one I have and like is the Radiance Reveal.  The others I have tested and didn't like as much as this one.

It's available from Boots for £9.99


Previous Post: Review: Glossybox April 2013
Next Post: Review: Glossybox May 2013

Review: Glossybox April 2013

Glossybox is a monthly subscription of 5 high-end beauty product samples (with some full-size products sometimes, too) for £10 + £2.95 p+p)

You can earn Glossydots by reviewing the products in a quick survey, or by inviting friends, and redeem points for a free box.  Each survey is worth 50 points, so if you review 5 products a month, every 5th Glossybox should be free.  You get 200 Glossydots for every friend that signs up and places an order (1000 Glossydots = 1 free box) 

The April Glossybox, 'Spring Fever' was designed by Pearl Lowe, and it is a beautifully designed box, with a spring theme.  I would assume a spring themed box to be full of light, fresh products, pastel colours, floral scents etc.  Honestly I don't think they really considered the theme on all of the products they offered - some that I didn't receive have just been recycled from past boxes, such as the Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant (which is a miracle product, but has appeared in multiple boxes now) and Lipcote.The first product I received, I was super excited about - an Essie nail polish.  I have been dying to try Essie since forever, but haven't been able to justify spending £7.99 on a nail polish.  The shade I got was We're in it together, a beautiful pastel pink with teeny tiny shimmery bits.  I usually avoid pinks, but this is beautiful.  

The brush is a good size and it applies pretty evenly.  The formula is a bit runnier than most polishes I currently own, it took me 2 coats to get good coverage and 3 to get it completely opaque.  Without a top coat it lasted a good few days without chipping, which is excellent for me.  

And then I peeled it all off because I can't have nice things apparently.

I was actually very surprised that it was a full size 13.5ml bottle in the box, and I can see it lasting a long time.  At £7.99/13.5ml it is a bit on the pricier side (I mean it's not super ridiculous, Chanel nail polish is like £18/13ml).  The cheapest place I've found Essie polishes is CheapSmells.com, and they have this shade for £4.95, and others starting at £2.95, all in very spring/summer colours).

The second product in the box got me VERY excited as soon as I saw the Illamasqua packaging.  I got a medium pencil, which can be used on the eyelids, waterline or lips.  Except once I opened it, I saw that it's in red, so unless I want  to look like I'm stoned every day, I won't be applying that anywhere near my eyes.  

I have no doubt that the pencil in brown would make a great eye liner, but then it wouldn't be great for lip liner.  Catch 22.

It has a lovely, soft texture and blends really easily, and I used it as a base under Elf Mineral Lipstick in Barely Bitten, with Lipcote to seal, which looked really nice.  Until I got out of the cinema 2 hours later to completely clean lips - I mean there was no trace of any lip colour left.  I think the texture of the pencil just made it slide off my lips somehow.  Weird.

It is a really nice colour and not too drying like some lip pencils, but at £13/1g, I'd prefer it if it lasted say, more than 2 hours.

Next was YET ANOTHER body butter. I don't know why the people at Glossybox assume I have skin like a lizard, but I do not need yet another cream for my skin.  I still have the others you sent me.  Please stop.

Aside from it being superfluous to my needs, the body butter is really nice, Nip + Fab Dry Skin Fix Pistachio Sundae Body Butter.  It smells just like pistachio ice cream and I considered eating my own arm after I'd put it on.  It's as moisturising as any of the others I've got, but it is the best smelling in my opinion.

The really good thing about this body butter is that it contains absolutely no preservatives.  Instead, it has Aquaxyl, a combination of glucose derivatives that moisturises and prevents further dehydration by increasing the body's water reserves.

At £9.95/200ml I think it is pretty good value, you can get cheaper ones but they probably won't work as well as this one does.  And they definitely won't smell as good.  You can buy it from the Nip + Fab website for 50% off at the moment.  For £4.95, I'd definitely recommend you pick some up. (Other flavours available)

The Fourth product in the April box was Somerset Meadow Hand Therapy from Crabtree & Evelyn.  The packaging is cute but a bit old lady ish for my taste.  I can't really tell what the smell is, it's very very very light.  It moisturises quite well, but my hands don't really get dry in spring, so I don't know how it fits the theme of the box (although I do know that it is released on the 29th April so it's probably just in there for the excellent reviews as adverts).  It's okay but not exactly a spring product.

The ingredients aren't exactly natural, either - the website says it is a 'superior moisturising and conditioning blend of macadamia nut oil, shea butter, antioxidant-rich vitamins C and E, and water lily and ivy extracts.' The ingredients, however, aren't as natural as they're made to sound - 

Water (Aqua)(Eau). Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil. Zea Mays (Corn) Starch. Hydroxyethyl Urea. Emulsifying Wax NF. Stearic Acid. Cetyl Alcohol. Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter. Isopropyl Myristate. Saccharide Isomerate. Fragrance (Parfum). Hedera Helix (Ivy) Extract. Nymphaea Odorata Root Extract. Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride. Cetearyl Alcohol. Sucrose Distearate. Arginine. Glycerin. Dimethicone. Sucrose Stearate. Behentrimonium Methosulfate. Caprylyl Methicone. Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate. Polysorbate 20. Commiphora Myrrha Resin Extract. Ceramide 6 II. Ceramide 3. Butylene Glycol. Phytosphingosine. Cholesterol. Carbomer. Xanthan Gum. Lecithin. Hydrolyzed Soy Protein. Hyaluronic Acid. Caprylyl Glycol. Hexylene Glycol. Ascorbyl Glucoside. Tocotrienols. Tocopherol. Elaeis Guineensis (Palm) Oil. Ceramide 1. Squalane. Disodium EDTA. Pentaerythrityl Tetra-di-t-butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate. Citric Acid. Limonene. Linalool. Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde. Geraniol. Benzyl Salicylate. Butylphenyl Methylpropional. Citronellol. Phenoxyethanol. Polyaminopropyl Biguanide. Methylisothiazolinone. Potassium Sorbate. Sodium Benzoate.

No Thank you.
RRP £5/25g.


The final product in the box was a Yves Rocher perfume sample.  I detest perfume samples, usually because they come in teeny tiny 1ml spray bottles or phials that you open and lose half the product instantly.  This one, however, came in a pretty decent sized (still small, it's a sample after all) little bottle.

It's a very light, floral smell, perfect for daytime or evening wear.  It smells sweet and fresh and lasts a relatively long time.  It reminds me slightly of Lady Gaga's Fame, it's not at all what you would expect it to be, but it's lovely.

At £44/50ml, the standard for most perfumes now, I won't recommend you buy it, but I will recommend you definitely should test it out if you see it in a shop.


Overall, the April Glossybox was better than the March one, but I would have preferred it if I could swap my hand cream for the Sleek Blush, I really want to try one of those!

Previous Post: Make Up Basics - Contouring and Highlighting
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Make Up Basics - Contouring and Highlighting

So you've put on your foundation, you've concealed any blemishes and you're left with a completely 2D face that's all one colour and looks... flat.

Contouring and highlighting can be pretty daunting to start off with, but it's a really easy way to add dimension back into your face.








The most important parts of contouring are 1. Blend, 2. Blend, and 3. Blend.

You can use powder or cream bronzer, or you can use a foundation a couple of shades darker than you'd usually use.  If you do choose the latter, I'd use it very sparingly, and add another 'blend' onto the above list.

If you're using powder bronzer, make sure it's matte - you don't want a glittery face, people will think you're from Twilight.

Apply your chosen contour product in the areas shown on the picture, and only apply a bit at a time - knock off any excess powder from your brush, wipe any excess cream from your sponge/brush onto the back of your hand.

Apply the least amount humanly possible into the outside of your face, temple/outer corner of your eye, the hollows of your cheeks, under your jaw and down the hollows either side of your neck.  You can also add bronzer to the sides of your nose for a slimming effect, and underneath your bottom lip, for a slightly poutier look.

Apply it in layers, take your time and blend out as you go.  You don't want lines of brown across your face, just subtle colour difference where your face is naturally hidden from the light.  Think about how the light would hit your face, and apply narrower layers as you build up the colour. 

You just want to add the depth you've hidden back into your face. 

Next comes highlighting.  You can use anything lighter than your base colour to highlight - an illuminator, a light coloured concealer, a lighter shade of foundation, loose pigment, light blush or highlighting powder.

You can use shimmer or matte, it's completely down to your own personal preference


You only want to add highlights to the parts of your face that the light would hit - 


Your brow bone
The tops of your cheekbones
The bridge of your nose
Your cupid's bow

When applying to your brow bone, you want to go just under the arch of your eyebrow and work down under the tail.  You can join the eyebrow and cheekbone highlights, just remember to blend everything out so it doesn't look like you've just drawn white lines all over your face.

When it comes to the bridge of the nose, you want to apply a very thin line of highlight - otherwise you'll be widening your nose (of course, if you want to widen the nose, use a slightly thicker line).

Highlighting the cupid's bow is a really good way to get a naturally pouty look without loading up on lipgloss and getting into the hassle of contouring your lips.  You just want to apply a thin line just above your natural lip line (the bottom of your frenulum) and blend it out.

Once you've practiced and got your preferred technique, you'll be able to contour and highlight as part of your daily routine, and figure out which products work best for you.  It's a case of trial and error, and as ever, practice makes perfect.

I hope this has helped, and if you want to leave a comment below to let me know what you thought of this, or what tutorials you'd like to see, please do!

Left - Base colour only

Right - contour and highlight

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