Subtle Sparkle Nails

I decided this week, I wanted to go for a nail look, that had something that little bit extra, but not over the top. I think the finished look is beautiful!

As per, I started my No7 So Smooth Base Coat. Supplying an even base & protection to your nail bed.

 I then applied a very affordable nail polish, in the form of W7 Nail Polish in Silver Mirror. This has very light, sheer, buildable coverage, ideal for a touch of colour to your nails. I applied two coats, to create a noticeable look.

Secondly, I applied two coats of one of my favourite polishes, Barry M Nail Paint in Hologram Hexogram NP244. Packed full of what it says on the bottle! I think the colour reflects & compliments the base colour so well.

Lastly, finishing off the nail look with a coat of No7 Stay Perfect Top Coat. Perfect for finalising your nails, adding protection & shine.

 As you can see, the finished look looks stunning. I find it looks lovely for any occasion, whether its a special occasion,  an added something to your look or simply an everyday look. As soon as the light its the little hexograms, they add an instant pop to your nails. When placed in a certain position or lighting, the nails look subtle & soft. This is definitely one of my favourite nail looks. 

Also, an alternative base coat, for example my preferred shade, black, creates a whole different dimension to the Barry M Hologram Hexogram Nail Paint!

I hope you enjoyed this post! Have you tried any of these polishes? What's your favourite nail look?

Thank you!

LuceeLovesBeautyBox,

xxx

St Ives Apricot Facial Scrub

My skin has been feeling slightly dull & unloved recently. I have been generally using just a cleanser & muslin cloth, although, I remembered my old love of St Ives Gentle Apricot Facial Scrub & immediately repurchased. I know I needed a scrub to replenish my skin.

A little about the product its self: 

St Ives Gentle Apricot Facial Scrub. UK's No. 1 Scrub Brand, St Ives captures the secrets of naturally beautiful & healthy looking skin in this mild cleansing formula that gently exfoliates to instantly reveal smooth, radiant, healthy looking skin.

For Dry/Sensitive Skin

• Extra Mild formula gently exfoliates dull surface cells to reveal smooth, radiant skin
• Hypo-Allergenic
• Contains more than 95% naturally derived ingredients, including Swiss glacial water & Swiss botanicals
• All St Ives formulas are dermatologist tested in Switzerland
• Promotes healthier looking skin. Gentle enough to be used everyday

How To Use

Moisten face & neck. Gently massage onto skin, avoiding eyes. Rinse well, dry & apply moisturiser as usual. If this product gets into your eyes, rinse thoroughly with clean water. - Boots.

New Packaging

Original Packaging

Just for those that weren't aware, like me - St Ives have repackaged their scrubs with a new look. opposed to the sleek & classic design, they have changed it up, whilst keeping it simple.

I chose the 'Gentle' scrub, as its suitable for use daily. Its a smooth texture, with sand like scrub pieces, which gently & carefully removes dead skin cells, leaving you with soft, replenished skin. I used this for 7 days in a row, to see the results, not in conjunction with any other I has been using. Throughout the 7 days, I  didn't feel any discomfort or harshness to my skin. This is really important to me, as I want a powerful results in a gentle formula, which this certainly has.

Of course, do I need to even mention the scent?

Some rather unflattering photographs, although, I thought I'd take some of the product in actual use, rather than a swatch, so for anyone that hasn't heard/seen this before, you know what to expect!

Over all - I would definitely re-purchase this. Without an absolute doubt. As I mentioned, I have previously owned this a few years ago, which did wonders. I struggle to remember why I stopped, although, I am over the moon to be using this, as well as a refreshing alternative to my usual cleanser & muslin cloth. For £4.99, you really can't complain. The smallest amount will do just the trick.

Thank you!

LuceeLovesBeautyBox.

xxx

Boots 17 Twitter Party Goodie Bag!

I took part in Boots 17 Twitter Party a few weeks ago, & I luckily won! I couldn't believe my eyes when my name was mentioned as a winner! So, I finally received my goodie bag & played around with some of the products. I thought I would share with you my new bits & pieces. I plan to review some of these, so if you have any requests, let me know!

The contents of my goodie bag:

Nails..

Magnetized Nail Polish

I have already tried the gunmetal shade, which I adore. Other than the beautiful colour, it creates an alternative finish, sure to set off your style! I've since tried out the plum shade. I've found it had a different texture to the one I originally own, which is really exciting!

Face..

Photo Flawless Skin Primer & Miracle Matte Foundation

Photo Flawless Skin Primer

I've been meaning to invest in a Primer, so I was really exciting to receive this & try it out. Its silky soft & leaves my skin actually looking flawless. It is amazing! I'll probably use this on more special occasions, when I want to add something extra to my make up. I've found it is also great for minimising the appearance of pores, quite dramatically.

Miracle Matte Foundation

I have yet to truly test this out. I already own No7's Beautifully Matte Foundation, that I wore for a few months. I later came to a self realisation, that matte wasn't the appropriate foundation finish for my skin type, however, I do find they have good coverage, upon fast application (I find they dry very fast!).

Instant Glow Bronzing Powder & Spring Fling Happy Days Palette

Instant Glow Bronzing Powder

As I am particularly pale, I have always steered away from bronzers. However, as the summer is approaching, I'm feeling more confident in adding a glow & definition to my skin. We'll see how this one goes! I did immediately swatch this. As you can see, the top layer is purely decorative. It is very shimmery, although, once the top layer is dusted away, your left with one, very slightly shimmery bronzer.

Spring Fling Happy Days Palette

This have amazing product packaging. Beautiful floral design, that slightly put me off disturbing the finish with my brush! I did have trouble opening the product, which you can see from the evident dint. Oops! I have yet to fully play around with this, as I'm unsure on where to apply this yet!

Eyes..

Starry Eyes Trio in Neptune & Blush & Glow in Bloom

Starry Eyes Trio in Neptune

There were a few other shades to choose from, although, I thought I would have more use out of these shades. I love the detailing in the product pans! These are shimmery, although not over the top. I think the gold would be beautiful as an all over sweep of colour, with some mascara on a summery day!

Blush & Glow

I was requested to choose a shade I would like, although the Boots website wouldn't show any. I was sent this one in Bloom. Firstly, I thought it would be way over the top, especially against my pale skin. I was pleasantly surprised as one sweep, created something so pretty. The colours are separated, allowing you to achieve a blushing blush & highlight, in one application! 

Peep Show Mascara & Perfect Definition Eye Liner in Onyx

Peep Show Mascara

As soon as I revealed the wand from the tube, I knew I would enjoy trying this! I've been wanting a mascara with a big fluffy wand, although, I didn't want to purchase another, until I used my previous ones, or they would end up drying out. I think I have to get used to the dramatic difference in size of the want, compared to my usual!

Perfect Definition Eye Definer

I have plenty of eyeliners in my collection, that to be honest, I rarely use. I'm more inclined to use my gel or liquid at he moment. However, for a smokey/night look, this will come in perfect to light my lower water line & lash line.

Lips..

Supreme Shine Lipstick in Bella & Berry Crush Lip Stain

Supreme Shine Lipstick 

I'm madly in love with Boots 17 lipstick in Beehive, which is a pink 'my lips but better'. I chose this in a more nude shade, which is just as perfect. Its so moisturising & glossy. You are also able to safely apply without a mirror (or phone reflection!), without worrying about being precise. This is one of my favourite products!

Berry Crush Lip Stain

This lip stain has 'hello, summer' written all over it. I've heard of these about, but never really thought to purchase one. These apply a beautiful wash of colour, that you can effortlessly build up to your liking. Very excited by this!

So, that's it! My new little collection of goodies! I've been so excited to receive this, so thank you very much Boots 17. If you have any requests, please do not hesitate to ask!

Thank you!

LuceeLovesBeautyBox.

xxx

L'Oreal Nude Magique BB Cream

I received this L'Oreal Nude Magique BB Cream in Medium in a sample pack, with the matching foundation. This BB Cream is only available in two shades, Light & Medium. I believe I would be more suitable for the shade Light. Non the less, I decided to still apply the product & review it, so I could compare the the formulation, consistency, coverage, etc.

L'Oreal Nude Magique BB Cream mimics the texture & glow of perfect bare skin

24 Hour Hydration

SPF 12

Smart Pigment Capsules. - Boots.

Upon dispensing the product, I was intrigued to come by a grey toned product.

I began to swatch the product on my hand. Whilst blending, you will notice the product changes, from grey, to the intended skin tone shade. This applied very smoothly & evenly. It felt lightweight against the skin, which is ideal for a BB Cream. This would be perfect for the warmer months ahead, when you don't want to be applying such a heavy coverage! I took some images in various lighting, so you can get an idea of the colour & coverage.

I actually enjoyed using this product, even though the shade isn't suitable for my skin tone. I would be very interested in trying this product in my correct shade. 

I'd love to hear anyone's thoughts, if you have tried/used/using this!

Please do not hesitate to ask any questions, queries, etc.

Thank you!

LuceeLovesBeautyBox.

xxx

L'Oreal Lumi Magique Foundation

Firstly, I'd like to establish the fact that the shade I received in my sample pack, is very much not mine! However, I thought I would persevere to review the product!

I received L'Oreal Lumi Magique Foundation in N4 Pure Beige. Its a very fluid, loose consistency, that could easily run off your hand, if you're not careful. After distributing this on to my hand from the packaging, I felt as though this foundation would have poor coverage, as it did feel very lightweight. However, this is in fact a medium to full coverage - in my opinion. Of course, you can easily sheer this out to your liking, although, you can as easily build this up to your preferred coverage, which is great for if you have your good & bad skin days! I really enjoyed applying this, which I used with my fingers. I personally prefer this method, as it warms up the product, enabling better coverage.

With age skin can become dull & tired. L'Oreal Lumi Magique Foundation helps give instant skin radiance. You will be glowing inside & out.

L'Oreal Lumi Magique is a Light infusing foundation which give luminosity to the skin. A luminous looking complexion as if lit from within.

It has a very light, silky soft formula which provides 24 hours of hydration. - Boots.

I took several shots in different lighting, to give you the best interpretation of the product. Although the shade is certainly not mine, I am still impressed with the finish. I did powder at the end, just to set the make up. I always like to apply even just a dusting, to ensure my make up will stay in place all day long. I would really be interested in trying this foundation in the lightest shade, as the texture, consistency & coverage is excellent for £10.99. This is definitely the highest coverage foundation I have tried on the high street.

I hope you enjoyed this post.

If you have any questions, queries, etc, please do not hesitate to ask!

Thank you!

LuceeLovesBeautyBox.

xxx

Soap & Glory Foam Call Bath & Shower Wash

Finally! This has been one infuriating post to create. Alignment has been such a carry on, it was ridiculous. Anyway, I hope the rest of this blog post will do!

So, we have Soap & Glory's Foam Call Bath & Shower Wash, which retails at £6.50 from Boots.

 I recently began to run out of my night cream, so I decided to ask around on Twitter which night cream would be best to try next. I asked MissBudgetBeauty on Twitter, whether she had a review posted on SteamCream. I have rarely heard about the product, however, I thought its always good to branch out of your comfort zone. So! I mentioned the Wish Upon A Jar by S&G, as I am very interested in its 21 days use approach, then returning to your original skincare products for 3 months. However, I would have preferred to continuously use it, which I guess would defeat the point of the creams claims. I'm almost done my natter! MissBudgetBeauty mentioned she was considering trying Night In Shining Armour Cream, which I hadn't heard of, so upon researching on Boots website, I discovered if you spent £10 or more, you would receive Foam Call free. I could not pass up this offer, so off I went to Boots the next day!

(That was a really long explanation of something really simple in my head!)

Firstly, the packaging. I think its safe to say almost everyone loves the packaging. Its so retro, vintage & adds a bit of glamour to your bathroom or vanity table. You get  a wonderful 500ml, which s always amazing. This baby will last you a good while, even if you have family that like to use generous handful of product! I really like the idea of a pump, especially as the bottle is quite big, it makes manhandling in the bath tub or shower, that little bit easier, leaving you more time to relax!

I found that I had to pump the product out a few times to get a good amount, however, if you use a poofy thing (my terminology of the contraption. I noticed MissBudgetBeauty as the same problem distinguishing the name. I get mine from The Body Shop, which is basically a bundle of netting), you can create some much more bubbles, foam, luxurious & more. You really don;t need that much product to achieve it, either.

As you can see from the swatches above, its a medium to thick consistency that will sit on your skin, without running, if left be. Once I began massaging, you can see it begins to melt into a lather, a subtle lather, depending on how vigorous your scrubbing action is! I really enjoyed using this. I felt as thought my skin was actually moisturised after use, which I don;t find with a lot of Body Wash's, as most tend to just smell good & ultimately clean you. I'm happy I have came across this, especially for free! At £6.50, I would definitely repurchase, though! For a mega 500ml, this will last you quite a while, even if you are a generous product pourer!

I hope you enjoyed this little post! I'm really starting to get into Soap & Glory products, mainly their skincare line. I would be very much interested in trying some of their make-up (concealer in particular), so if you have any recommendations of ANY of the products, please do not hesitate to leave a comment!

Thank you!

LuceeLovesBeautyBox.

xxx

Purple Eye Look | Perfect For Green Eyes.

I've been meaning to do this post for some time now, I just never seem to have the time/remember to do any make up looks. As soon as I wake up, I always reach for my everyday products. So, I decided to create a look that will enhance my eyes, which are green. I used to quite often create this kind of look on a daily basis, alternating between a smokey/grey look. This is so simple to create, so lets get started!

 Base:

I first started by using Maybelline Dream Satin Liquid foundation in Ivory. Once I had created an even base, I took my e.l.f Stipple Brush with he remainder of the product on my hand, to buff away any unseen harsh lines & to ensure I have a well blended base to my make up. I decided as I am creating a more dramatic look, to my usual everyday neutral contour & black eye-liner, I wanted to conceal my under eye circles the best I possibly could. I did this by using two concealers. The first one is No7 Blemish Cover Stick in 02 Extra Fair. I also used this on any blemishes. The second concealer is the Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer in Fair, to brighten up the eye area, as well as ensuring more coverage to my dark under eye circles. I finally finishes of the skin my adding a dusting of Avon's Pressed Powder in Fair, to set my make up for the day/night.

Eyes:

I started by applying some NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil In Milk to my eyelids. I did this, to make my eyeshadow pop, as well as brightening the eyes, as I wanted this to be suitable for the day time. On top of this, I swept MUA's frosty purple eyeshadow in Shade 4 -Pearl from the outer corner of my eyelid, inwards. This allowed me to have more eyshadow intensity on the outer corners, & lighter on the inner corners.


 I then took  my Rimmel Smokey Glam palette, which I have owned for several years now (some may say is bad, but I'm applying these products only to my face). Unfortunately, I believe this has been discontinued, however, you can still pick his up online. I found a site here, that you can check out, even to just compare eyeshadow colours that I used. I began my using the purple in my crease area, using my No7 Eyeshadow Blend & Contour Brush (perfect dupe for MAC 217). I intensified the contour in the crease slightly, by applying some of the royal navy blue, just to create a hollow. As a highlight, I applied the white to under my eyebrows. I also used this white to help blend my purple eyshadows.

On my lower lash line, I applied Blink & Go's Purple Eyeshadow from their Eye Shadow & Blush palette. I applied this using my No7 Smokey Eyliner Brush. Adding onto the lower lashline, I added some Avon Kajal Stick in Purple to the inner corners, whilst adding the other side - black, to my waterline. Finally, adding a sleek of Maybelline Eyestudio Lasting Drama Gel Liner on my upper lash line & a few coats of Rimmels Glam'Eyes Lash Flirt to my lashes.

 I'm finished! I promise creating this look wasn't as long as this sounded! I really enjoyed creating this look, especially accentuating different parts of the looks, I normally wouldn't. I'm hoping to create some spring/summer brights looks soon, with some bright shadows or lip colour. So, keep an eye out!

If you have any questions, queries, etc, please do not hesitate to ask!

Thank you!

LuceeLovesBeautyBox.

xxx

Biotherm Aquasource

I've rarely heard of this company, so I was intrigued to try their samples. Very thoughtfully, my little information booklet contained a day cream, as well as a night cream, so you can fully appreciate what the product offers, in a routine. Here is my thoughts..

Aquasource Gel

New Aquasource with thermal plankton cellular water.

Our latest breakthrough, Biotherm's next generation Aquasource formulation, delivers intense & long-lasting hydration.

For plump & radiant looking skin.

New formula with Mannose, a new patented hydrator. 36 nutrients in thermal plankton cellular water. Vitamins, minerals, amino acids.

Discover the innovative gel texture of new Aquasource.

Now paraben free & mineral oil free. A fresh & creamy touch that melts on the skin to help awaken the senses everyday.

Application:

Apply this gel to the face morning &/or evening.

50ml - £28.00. Available here. 

- Biotherm Website.

Official product via Google images.

 The product aimed at morning-daytime has a cloudy white consistency, when first released from the packaging. This is very light in formulation, which instantly absorbs & melts into your skin, upon massaging it into your skin. This left my skin feeling refreshed, lightweight & overall, clean - in the sense that its a light aqua product, not that my face normally feels unclean!
The scent of this product is again, very fresh & definitely water/aqua related. I can't help but get a slight smell of alcohol, which isn't at all overpowering, considering you wil be applying this when you wake up. 
I found this instantly drenched my skin with moisture & kept it hydrated.
I'm usually more comfortable with cream based products, so this was a refreshing alternative & change. I would definitely consider purchasing the full size product as I enjoy how the formulation made me skin feel, as well as a base to my make up.

Aquasource Nuit

Your skin loses more water at night than during the day. New Aquasource Nuit helps replenish skin with moisture & hydration all night long. Wake up to fresh looking, luminous skin which feels more elastic & radiant, as if rewakened.

Beauty From The Deep:

Bitherm introduces P.Antarctica, a microorganism able to survive the extreme conditions of the Antartic due to its incredible capacity to retain water. Enriched with P.Antartica, Aquasource Nuit helps the skin maintain its natural water reserves all night long.

Application:

Apply at night, after removing your make-up, for all types of skin. Follow with the Biotherm serum of your choice.

50ml - £28.00. Available here. 

- Biotherm Website.

Official product via Google images.

I originally didn't research into this product before trying, I just went straight in there! I first tried the product aimed towards throughout the night. I immediately expected it to be an expected night cream cream, however, I was pleasantly surprised to see a gel formula release from the sample packet. The consistency is  a very clear light blue. I also found the product to be quite lightweight, which is different for a night product. As I applied this to my skin, I felt so refreshed & immediately moisturised - honestly! I just wanted to keep re-applying this to my skin, it felt really comfortable & a pleasure to use. Its a very fresh, hydrating product, that I believe refreshes your skin & simply replenishes it, where you need it most. I found it, again, a refreshing change to my routine, using a non-cream based product, especially for night time, as I prefer a mask like consistency product, that I feel will work its best, throughout the night. However, I did find this product comfortable & almost certainly hydrated my skin.

Overall:
As I have only tried the samples, I can't give an opinion, that will benefit anyone looking to use these, full-size/long term. I acknowledge that skincare products are difficult to review on their 'claims' or what they can offer, as his requires long, continious use. My opinions have been based upon the product itself, & how i found it.

For products that I haven't heard  a great deal about, I'm really happy I have discovered these. I love their intention of moisture, which they actually succeed in & deliver. For me, personally, £28 is quite a lot to invest in for a skin care product, especially if you're on a budget. However, I believe in this case, you get what you pay for. If I had some spare coins rolling about, I probably would purchase the full size of these products. Based on its moisture locking properties, this would benefit my skin, as I find it needs plenty of moisture & hydration throughout the night, until morning, onwards.

I hope this post is helpful to anyone who is contemplating purchasing these products, or who have simply just came across them. Please, do not hesitate to comment for any questions queries, etc! 

Thank you.

LuceeLovesBeautyBox.

xxx

Purple Polka Dot Nails!

I decided to paint my nails with my new nail polish that I received. I decided I wanted a white two-way nail polish, that consists of a long, thin brush & find dotting tool, which will enable me to create more designs! I'm so excited to play around with it more & find some nail designs to recreate!

So, as we;re into Spring, I thought what better base colour to choose, than a pastel colour. I have limited choices of pastels in my collection, so I found this Nails Inc in Cambridge Circus. Its a lovely bold, muted purple/lilac. Its not as pastel as I would have liked, although, I think it works lovely against the bright white. I tried to find the link to the polish, however, for the life of me, I couldn't. Unsure whether its discontinued, although you can purchase it on eBay, or I found a little website here. I took a few pictures, in various lighting, as I couldn't portray its genuine likeliness, the way I wanted. I found it appeared more of a royal blue. In true light, its very much purple!

 I love the outcome, from simply adding dashings of dots. I found the best way to create more structerd dots, is to dot the nail polish in a cross, diagonally. Then filling in the sparse areas equally. However, you can go crazy, dotting away, 'till your heart is content! I love the simplistic look this creates! Something that is quick, simple, easy & great to ease you into nail art!

I would love some suggestions on any nail art ideas! I'm looking into getting some more colours, that I can use in the form of two-way polishes, or some dotting tools. Feel free to enlighten me & comment away, its very much appreciated!

Thank you!

LuceeLovesBeautyBox.

xxx