Tuesday 31 July 2012

May I ask a little favour?

Facebook Cancer Research's Page are looking for the photo that embodies Race For Life. The winning entry will win a Panasonic SLR worht over £300, kindly provided by Tesco.

My little sister (I say little, she is almost 18, but is still my baby sister!), ran for Race for Life last year.

"First time entering the Race for Life 2011 on July the 10th with my friend Kim in memory of my Step-dad and her two nanas who lost the battle to this disease. One of the best achievements I have accomplished. Proud medal holder knowing I have helped make that difference to help find a cure for cancer. We will beat it together." - Jess.

Sister, Jess, on the left.

If you are interested, could you please click on this link here (link) & vote for my sister. I know this would mean the world to her!

LuceeLovesBeautyBox.

xxx

MUA Every Lash Mascara

Today, I am going to review MUA's Every Lash Mascara.
I decided to take some shots, as I applied the mascara, so you could see the results for yourself.
No mascara


These are some shots after first application. As you can see, the application is not very neat, some may say I just simply cannot apply mascara, but I can assure you I can!

I found the formulation very wet. Once I had applied this through my lashes, the product would immediately imprint on my lid, & pretty much everywhere! As I coated my lashes, I found it just glided through them, quite swiftly, rather than giving them an even distribution of product. 

If you are used to mascaras that have a wet formulation, then this mascara is probably for you. I think with further use of this, as the product builds up with your shadows, etc, this will bulk the mascara up & create a more manageable application.
Second application
As you can see, I have applied to coats to the lashes. I found that the formulation wouldn't allow you to create a glided second application, to boost length & volume.
However, this mascara has added definition & boldness to my lashes.
 The mascara comes in a very different kind of packaging. I rarely see green on make up packaging, so this is a refreshing change. What also is quite unique about this product, is that the mascara has a scent if apples. Many, including myself, would say why would they want to add a scant to a product made to enhance your eyes? I think this is just an added perk to the product. I think it has worked well.
 The brush is a plastic type, with plenty of plastic/rubber bristles. I generally use these type of wands, so I wasn't put off upon unscrewing the product. At the very top of the wand, there is a little ball of bristles. I think this is an excellent idea to add to the wand, as you can use this section to coat all the little tiny lashes in the inner corners of your eyes, to use this to add more mascara to the areas that your brush is too large to reach.
I can tell you now, this mascara is most certainly waterporoof! I tend to use a make up wipe to remove the majority of my make up, before using a cleanser to remove the rest. I found it extremely difficult to use a make up wipe with this product, compared to other waterproof products. The dried mascara would literally stretch away, if you pulled it with your fingers, which I found odd.
I would definitely recommend using your heavy duty cleanser to remove this product!

This product is available for £3. so even if you wished to try it, it won't break the bank. You can pick this up from www.muastore.co.uk, as well as Superdrug stores.

Have you tried this product?
What are your thoughts?

Thank you!

LuceeLovesBeautyBox.

xxx

Monday 30 July 2012

Benefit the POREfessional & "that gal"!

As you will have all seen, last months edition of Glamour included free Benefit samples. I intended on posting a review when I first received & used them, although I thought I would try them out fully, as I am using other products in conjunction.
Firstly, I think these products have fabulous packaging! Definitely siding with Soap & Glory's!

the POREfessional
This product is my favourite out of the two, I will tell you why..
The formulation is first quite liquidy & wet. Once you begin to work with it into your skin, you see the product change consistency into a soft, delicate balm, which will smooth over pores & give you an even finish to your skin. I am always safe in the knowledge after applying this, that my skin will look as flawless as possible, giving me confidence throughout the day & night, as it is so longlasting.

I could definitely repurchase this, as I do find it works. My skin looks noticeably different from applying this, then foundation, to just applying foundation. The colour of the product is a light skin tone colour, which will blend into any skin tone, of you wished to wear this alone.

You only need to apply a small amount of this, to get great results. I apply this to my nose & what ever product is left over, I will evenly distribute this across my cheeks.

You can purchase the POREfessional here for £23.50 (link).

 "that gal"
 This one I have to say, is probably my least favourite. Purely on the basis that I don't notice any difference, I've just applied an extra layer of product to my face, that I could have done without.
I'm unsure if I am applying this wrong, or I just don't appreciate what it has to offer, although I believe I could probably benefit from using this with just a BB cream, so I can see the brightening effects this product has to offer.

As a primer, I found it to work well with the rest of my face make up, although I don't think I will be rushing out to purchase this, in comparison to the POREfessional balm.
The consistency of this is quite liquidy & stays this way until blended in.
I will keep trying this & use up the sample. I always appreciate trying new products & testing whether they are a good match for my skin or not. Turned out that this particular product just wasn't for me.

You can purchase "that gal" here for £21.50 (link).

I hope you enjoyed this little belated post.
Have you tried the POREfessional or "that gal"?
Let me know your thoughts!

Thank you!

LuceeLovesBeautyBox.

xxx

Sunday 29 July 2012

Cute Polish inspired Braided Nails!


If you love nail art & everything about it, you will have most likely watched the latest tutorial by Cute Polish.. Braided Nails. I loved this look as soon as I saw them, so I decided to give it a go myself.

I really didn't think the outcome would be very good, but I am so pleasantly surprised by the finished outcome! I decided to use similar colours to Cute Polish, but I think using other complimentary colours would also look great!
I did this nail look with sheer concentration, so I didn't manage to take any snaps along the way of creating this look, so I will link below the Cute Polish YouTube tutorial so you can see for yourself how this is done!

Cute Polish Braided Nails Tutorial - (link)

Have you attempted this nail look yet?
What are your thoughts?

LuceeLovesBeautyBox.

xxx

Current favourite cheek products!

I thought I would share a few of my favourite cheek products I have been loving the past few weeks.

Firstly, we have 17 Blush & Glow in Bloom, secondly MUA Blusher in Shade 2 & thirdly e.l.f All Over Color Stick in Golden Peach. All three of these products are inexpensive & highly pigmented!
 Depending on what the weather is like or how I am feeling, will depend on the product of choice.
On summery days, I love to apply e.l.f's All Over Color Stick to the highlights of my cheeks, which gives a gorgeous summery glow.
If I am wanting a pink flush, I will go for one of these. I have owned the MUA one for quite a while, although  not long after I purchased it, I became quite distant towards it. After spontaneously picking it up & swirling it upon my cheeks, I fell in love with it! The product is ever so slightly shimmery, although this gives a lovely flush of pink to your cheeks. I wear this fairly softly, just for a flush, although this is definitely pigmented enough for a stronger outcome!
 I received the 17 Blush & Glow in a goodie bag I won a while back. I haven't stopped using this since! 
This product comes in two shades. You can sweep your brush in one direction across the product, leaving you with two separate shades of colour on the brush, which you can proceed to apply upon your cheeks, with the lightest on top as a highlight & the darker colour below for the blush. I loved the outcome of applying this, this way, although on some lazy days, I just swirled in the blush & applied like any other blush. Both creates a sweep of flush across your cheeks, or apply with a heavy hand to create a more defined cheek.

L-R: 17 Blush & Glow, MUA Blusher & e.l.f All Over Color Stick

So, that is my cheek favourites so far! I love applying these in the summery days, although as the sun has disappeared this year, applying these still warms up my face, creating a healthy look!


What are your favourite cheek products?

Thank you!

LuceeLovesBeautyBox.

xxx

Saturday 28 July 2012

Jetley Mess LUSH Emotional Brilliance Giveaway!

Just a little heads up to anyone interested in LUSH's new Emotional Brilliance make up range.
This range consist of a range of make up, inspired by colours & emotions.

Jetley Mess is holding a 200 followers giveaway, for the chance to win a product of your choice, up to the value of £14.50!

If you fancy your chances, head over to here blog & enter!

Jetley Mess's Twitter: @JetleyJade

LuceeLovesBeautyBox.

xxx

Friday 27 July 2012

Going For Gold | Olympics Inspired | Golden Goddess Look

I decided to create a golden eye, using my MUA Going For Gold Palette. I've heard a few people aren't as impressed with this palette, as the shades are not as wearable. I do not think this is the case at all. Granted, it is very yellow gold toned in most of the shades, but I definitely think using the right shades in the right areas, makes all the difference. I decided to create a slideshow of the images I took throughout the make up look, as I thought putting them all on here would have made a very long blog post!

I have added little annotations to each picture, so you can catch the gist of what I done. This is a really simple tutorial, just using the palette & experimenting! I hope using the slideshow has worked successfully.
Let me know of you would like to to use this technique again!
Times like this, I wish I also did YouTube, so I could record the look. Maybe something to think about?

Anyway, I hope you enjoy! Comment below if you have any questions, etc!

LuceeLovesBeuatyBox.

xxx

Thursday 26 July 2012

Sally Hansen & e.l.f Matte Finisher


Before I start, I would like to say a quick apology for the background colour of the text. Blogger has been frustrating to use lately, making some of my sentences having a white background, & others the usual transparent. This will have to do for now!

Just a quick little review of the nail polish I applied last night.
I picked up Sally Hansen's Advanced Hard As Nails nail polish in Sheer Buff Gloss. Where? At Poundland! I immediately picked this up to see if I liked it, before purchasing other shades!
The shade is a light shimmering nude/silver. I initially purchased this light shade just as a base, to hopefully add strength to my nails, so I would be able to easily add any other shade of polish over the top.

Instead, I decided to apply this is a block colour, to see the overall pigmentation.
I applied 3 thin coats of this polish, to get a good block colour. 


The formulation & consistency of this is quite runny, so I needed to apply a few coats to get a good coverage.
As the polish is quite sheer, the polish dried quite quickly between shades.

On top, I decided to take advantage of using my e.l.f Matte Finisher, which is a top coat, that applies a matte finish. I have neglected this shade for a while now, so I thought this would be a goo opportunity to use it!

You can see that using this top coat as hidden the shimmery effects of the polish, slightly, which gives a natural nude glow to the nails. Perfect for day or night!
This is the first Sally Hansen nail product I have tried, & so far, I am really impressed! I will definitely be repurchasing the Sally Hansen nail polish in some other colours. For £1, you really cannot complain! Its amazing what you can find in your local bargain stores!

You can pick up the e.l.f Matte Finisher polish for £2.50 on there website (link).

LuceeLovesBeautyBox.

xxx



Personal Project Pan

So, I have had this thought in my head for a while, but I now think its time to set the wheels in motion!
I always keep lovely products, things I get for birthdays & Christmas, & tend to use them sparingly, as I don't usually pop into some of the stores I get gifts from. 

By doing this, I have been left with tonnes of products that have gone slightly used, with their expiration date looming quite rapidly! Depending on what the product looks/smells lie, etc, after the expiration date, will depend on whether I will carry on using it to basically finish it! (I hate the thought of throwing away products!).

After that little explanation, I have decided to basically use my products up. I have so many body butters & body moisturisers, that after the bath, I sometimes can't be bothered to apply, I they go neglected. For the past few days, I have been lathering myself up with my lotions & potions & putting them to some good use!

I am also saving my empty packaging of the products I have used for my empties posts, which is something that is giving me to incentive to continue! Its great to see all of the empty bottles, which you have emptied! (Weird?) Anyway, that is my latest plan, that I hope the novelty doesn't wear off & I continue to strive!

Have you kept any products to find you have too many to use?
Project pans for yourself?

LuceeLovesBeautyBox.

xxx

Moroccanoil Oil Treatment & Moroccanoil Extra Volume Shampoo

After being very intrigued by hair oils & products for the past couple of months, to add something extra to my lousy hairs appearance, I was very kindly sent some product from Moroccanoil, by a lovely lady named Laura.

I have been wanting to try the famous in the blogging world; Moroccanoil Oil Treatment, which every beauty blogger seems to have already tried! I recieved the original formulation, which includes 25ml, which would cost £12.85 at feelunique.com.
The packaging comes in a light blue box, with instructions of use on the back. The actual bottle is very sturdy glass, which I believe would be suitable for travelling. The oil is also stored in an amber glass bottle to protect the oil from ultra-violet rays that cause oxidation & degradation, as well as having a secured screw top, to protect the product from leaking. This product just keeps getting better & better!
The actual formulation & consistency of the product is slightly thicker than runny, so upon distributing the product into your fingers, the product won't come rushing out everywhere.

Directions for use:

Styling and finishing: After shampooing & conditioning, start with a small amount in the palm of your hand and work it through damp hair. Style as usual.

Protection: To control frizz & protect hair from environmental factors, apply a small amount (few drops) to dry hair as often as needed.

Moroccanoil Oil Treatment revives, hydrates, and most importantly, detangles hair, wigs and hair extensions.

I have previously used V05 Miracle Concentrate Elixir, which includes Argon Oil, that I apply to my damp hair, then proceeding to style, which tames my hair. I also use this on dry hair to soften frizz & fly-aways.

I was also sent the Moroccanoil Extra Volume Shampoo, which has been lovely & a refreshing change to use. This is suitable for all hair types. The product itself has a lightweight formulation, which will enable you to have volumised hair (which I am in dire need of wanting!), infused with Tilicine and other ingredients designed to penetrate the hair and plump up the cuticle from the inside out.

I found this provided my hair with shine & manageability. The consistency is medium is thickness. I only needed a reasonable amount to coat my mid-length hair. This foams up just enough for my liking. I tend to leave any hair care product on my hair for as long as possible, to ensure my hair has soaked up all the nutrients. I usually blowdry my hair, which has provided thickness in my fine hair, meaning I don't need to overstyle to create more volumised hair. Esssentially reducing heat damage to my hair.

I have really enjoyed using this product & believe the complimentary conditioner would further improve the outcome. As these are higher quality products, they are of course priced reasonably higher than your average drugstore product. I believe what you are paying for in these is incredibly worth it.
Your hair will also thank you!

Have you tried any Moroccanoil products? What are your thoughts?

Thank you!

LuceeLovesBeautyBox.


xxx

Tuesday 24 July 2012

Garnier UltraLift Anti-Wrinkle Firming Day Cream 14 Day Challenge!

I received this little packet of anti-wrinkle goodness a few weeks ago, & I have only finally managed to come across it & accept the challenge! Now, as a 20 year old, I can't really say I have wrinkles in the first place, but prevention is better than cure!
Garnier UltraLift Anti-Wrinkle Firming Day Cream is a daily solution to target different signs of ageing, including wrinkles & look of firmness. The triple action formula of this product does more than a classic anti-wrinkle cream action to fight the signs of ageing.
Intensively moisturises, 23% improvement in the firmness & elasticity in 2 weeks*
24% reduction in the appearance of wrinkles in 4 weeks*
*Tested on 40 women.
 This little pack, I applied for online, which is available here (link). You receive 14 sample sachets of the product, so you can try it out for 14 days & see the results for yourself. After you have your results, you can also submit your results & story to them in the chance of winning some spa days!
Included is a wrinkle chart. How flattering! This is a great little fold out to compare your eyes, from before using this product, then to compare after the 14 days, to see where your results fall.
Based on this chart, I believe I am at a 1. Some may say this challenge is pointless for younger people, however, I think anything is worth ago, to prevent what lies ahead.
 I will be starting this challenge as of tomorrow. I will be back after 14 days to update you on my results & views of the product as a whole. I am currently running out of my usually day cream, so this may be my next purchase. This is available here (link).
Watch this space!

Have you took on this challenge? What are your thoughts?

LuceeLovesBeautyBox.

xxx

Monday 23 July 2012

MUA Undressed Palette Giveaway!

I have had my blog up & running since Christmas day '11. So far, I have reached a lovely 9000 pageviews & 80 amazing people out there have chosen to follow & read my blog! I know this isn't anything groundbreaking, but to me, it makes my day!

Just to say a little thank you, I have chosen to giveaway my newest obsession: MUA's Undressed Palette, the latest dupe to Urban Decay's famous Naked Palette! I am in love with this palette & use it on a regular basis. As soon as they hit the stores, I dashed out to pick them up!

Filled with 12 shades of neutrals, suitable for day or night. Slimline packaging, making it perfect for travelling!
You can check out my review with swatches here (link)!
To enter, all you have to do, is simply fill out the RaffleCopter below. Easy & simple!
This giveaway is only open to the UK, as it is my first giveaway, I don't want to make it too complicated!

The rules:
I want to make this nice & simple. Nothing worse than entering competitions that require a user manual!
I will check that the winner of this giveaway has complied with the rules of the giveaway.
- Follow via GFC
- Post a comment, stating what posts you would like to see more of. Just so I can get a little more information & recommendations of what YOU guys would like to see!

Thank you!

LuceeLovesBeautyBox.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sunday 22 July 2012

Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream

I received this little beauty in this months Glamour magazine. I must be safe in guessing that the Eye Cream was the most popular product people wanted, as it took me a while to find a shop with this product in. Never the less, I got there in the end!

This company have launched publicly for around 6 years now, offering natural ingredients to their products for an affordable price, with a luxurious touch.

 This product intends to help wipe away dark shadows & fine lines & revitalise your eyes. This product contains hydrating hyaluronic acid, to further help brighten & smooth the delicate skin around the eyes.
What more could you ask for, right?
I have been on the look out for a new eye cream, reading reviews & requesting recommendations, but none have really stood out, enough for me to part with my money.

I have really enjoyed using this so far, possibly enough to repurchase.
As you can see, the product is very light in texture. I took the bottom to photos at different angles, so you can see what the texture looks like when blended in slightly.
I found this to be very light & refreshing around my eye area, although I am used to more heavy duty eye creams, that you can really feel upon your face, assuring you they're doing something good!

Naturally, I can't say whether this product vanishes all the badness around your eyes, as I have only been using a sample. These type of products need a good amount of months use, before fully reviewing. These are my initial thoughts.

You can purchase this for £14 for 10ml or £20 for 15ml here (link).

Have you tried out this product yet?
What are your thoughts?

Thank you!

LuceeLovesBeautyBox.

xxx

Thursday 19 July 2012

Leopard Print Nails!

I decided to jazz up my nails this week, instead of going for my usual colour block nails, that get a tad tiresome! I initially had a completely different design in mind, & just keeping the leopard print on my ring fingers, however, I think this look looks great on all nails, not too busy, not too subtle!
I started by skipping base coat of my usual No7 So Smooth Base Coat, as, well.. I forgot!
Swiftly moving on, I applied another No7 polish, which is a light gold. I received this polish in a Christmas collection, so I don't know the shade, however, I believe the shade 350 I'm Exquisite would do the trick.
I only applied one coat of this, as that is all I needed. I also try to refrain from applying many layers, as I find this is the result of my polish chipping so easily. Anyone else?

I then took, again, my No7 Nail Art pen in Black, although any nail art pen will do. eBay is a great place for only a pund or so! I using the nib to create semi-circles & dashes, which will resemble the leopard print - hopefully! Finally, using a silver nail art pen, I applied this inside the semi-circles, to highlight & add a touch
more to the design.
So, what do you think?

I think this is such a pretty look, for day or night time.
I will be defietnly recreating this look, or adding different colours, for an alternative look!

Thank you!

LuceeLovesBeautyBox.

xxx

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser

I was very kindly sent the most famous item Liz Earle are known for, which is the Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser! I very luckily received the 100ml Pump Starter Kit, which you can purchase here (link).
This is packaged in a light blue bag, which has a zipper opening at the side. This will be ideal for popping in cosmetics or smellies when travelling!
'Liz Earle Naturally Active Skincare is a Great British beauty brand, founded in 1995. We are passionate about all that we do & create products that really work on every skin type by harnessing the potent powers of the finest quality naturally active ingredients.' - Liz Earle Website.

Upon the kind information I was supplied with when receiving this, I discovered that Liz Earle also supply fragrances, make up, haircare, men's & gifts.










The product itself!
This is a very creamy formulation. One pump is enough to use, however, you can use slightly more if you personally wish to. I like how they have distributed the right amount of product for one pump, opposed to certain brands, you have to be careful upon pumping out the product!

As you can see, the product is thick & luxurious looking. Upon massaging into your dry skin, the product begins to break down & begin to melt, which feels lovely upon your skin. Once fully massaged in, the product resembles some sort of milky consistency, rather than the original thickness, which is enjoyable to feel & use.

The scent I found to be very refreshing & clean. Almost a touch of Tea Tree-like scent, which I believe is the natural ingredient Hops Extract, which comes from the pinecone-like fruit of the hop plant & has astringent & toning properties. This makes your skin feel so cleansed & clean, which is essentially what you are looking for! This scent is not at all offensive or over-whelming, as it does die down as the product is distributed throughout your face.
I like to apply this products on my dry skin & massage in one pump. If I feel my skin is a bit worse for wear, I will apply two pumps, to fully appreciate the products properties. Once massaged on, I sometimes like to let the product sink into my skin & work a little. If I'm not feeling as patient, I'll run a muslin cloth under comfortably hot water, wring the cloth & begin to massage the cloth upon my face, removing the product & gently exfoliating my skin.

What is great to know about this product, is it contains naturally active ingredients. This will help keep your skin looking its best, whilst removing the dirt & grime that has accumulated throughout the day, as well as safely removing your make up.

Liz Earle only offer this one cleanser, as they believe this formulation works on all ages & skin types. So, this would be perfect for a gift for someone, who has sensitive skin, or who can only use certain products.
This product is available in various sizes, depending on your preference. As they only offer this on cleanser, I think it is great that they have chosen to offer a selection of sizes, to give the customer more choice.

If you are unsure on the product, & whether it will interrupt your skin, you can purchase a 30ml tune of this product, with one muslin cloth included, which will be perfect to try out, before purchasing the complete full size.

Have you tried this product or any of the other Liz Earle products?
If you would like a comparison review to the No7 Hot Cloth Cleanser, let me know!

Thank you!

LuceeLovesBeautyBox.

xxx

Tuesday 17 July 2012

Current Empties!

I have been meaning to get this post up for a whle now, although, as I have had the builders trailing through my home, I have had to pack up all my belongings away, including all of my empty products!

Anyway! I can finally share with you what I had been loving not too long ago!
Firstly, I have face wipes.
They aren't always the most appropriate things to remove your make up with, as some would say. Although, they sit quite happily with me, so I shall continue to do so. As I use wipes to remove the majority of my make up, I continue on to use a cleanser, then tone & moisturise. Of course!

I had been & have still been enjoying Simple Kind To Skin Cleansing Facial Wipes. I am a big fan of their range to begin with, so I knew I wouldn't be dissapointed. They are very calming & gentle on the skin, so they would be perfectly suitable for sensitive skin.I found they removed my make up with ease, so I didn't have to drag away at my skin. These are available in Boots for £3.20.

I am the type of person that absoloutely NEEDS make up wipes. Even though I own cleansers that do this job for you, I prefer to remove make up this way, enabling me to preserve more of my more nice products!
I picked up these ASDA Cleansing Facial Wipes, whilst picking up some shopping. I haven't really looked at their own skincare range, although I bet there may be some finds! These wipes are only £1, or currently 5 for £4! I would probably pick these up again, as they did the job.

On the note of Face Wipes.. Has anyone tried Kleenex's version?
I received this product in my December Glossy Box - quite a long time ago now!
I really enjoyed using this. Although for £6.90 I probably wouldn't repurchase for a shower gel. I have previously reviewed this here (link).

I think I have talked about this previously before, but its a lovely spray deodrant to use. Lovely enough to repurchase, I ended up buying the Anti-Perspirant roll on balm type, which is even better. I wouldn't say the Pearl extracts transer to the eye or make it anything special, but its nice to just believe!

VO5 Give Me Moisture & Revive Me Daily 2 in 1.
I have previously reviewed these two before here (link), although I don't think I would consider repurchasing either. Luckily I only purchased the smallest bottles, so I didn't waste anything or force myself to use them.
 Final products!

I thoroughly enjoyed using this, as I have with all of their scrubs! I tend to acquire The Body Shop products for birthdays, special occasions, etc, so I like to save them a little. Although, I ended up with lots of un-used products, which needed to be used before their expiry date! This is subtle & offensive to smell. Its lovely to apply & the scent lingers lovely.

This has honestly got to be my most favourite body scrub that I have tried. This has a jam like consistency, with little black pips in as the scrub particles. Its so beautifully scented & such a pleasure to use. I really would like to re-purchase this, & at the moment, it is only £2!

I have previously blogged about this here (link), although once I used it up, I decided to change, just for a change. After a few months of continiously using one product, a change is very lovely! However, this wouldn't stop me from re-purchasing, at all. It has a lovely formulation & barely there scent, wich is great for applying just before bed.

That is my first edition of my Current Empties!

I hope you enjoyed reading this. If you would like to see more of these or any other suggestions or recommendations, let me know!

Thank you!

LuceeLovesBeautyBox.

xxx