Glossybox: September 2012 Rising Stars & Maggie Li

This month's limited edition  GLOSSYBOX came just in time for Fashion Week and has been designed by London-based illustrator Maggie Li. This month's theme is an introduction to rising stars across fashion, design and beauty - granting an exclusive preview of Lady Gaga's new fragrance 'Fame' and Vichy's new Idealia range. I adore the limited edition illustrated box this month however I found the contents a little sparse...

Lady Gaga's Fame Fragrance (worth £1.44) 

I have already voiced my opinions on receiving perfume samples in boxes...I'm quite fussy when it comes to perfume and unless its a 'luxury' size sample mini bottle rather than a tiny vital then I don't think it should count as one of your five as these can easily be picked up on many beauty counters for free. I was intrigued to smell this new Lady Gaga perfume but I'm not a fan it smells like the typical sickly sweet celebrity fragrance.

Rodial Glamoxy Snake Serum and 5 Minute Facial (worth £5.78)

I have heard of these products before but not tried them as they had such a high-price tag and no samples on beauty counters. I'm pleased to receive these as I have heard mixed reviews both good and bad so look forward to trying to see if they do what they promise!

Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream (worth £9.33)

This is a natural triple action eye cream designed to soothe tired eyes, smooth away dark shadows and reduce the appearance of fine lines. 

Vichy Idealia Day Care Cream (worth £7.50)

This is a new launch - a smoothing and illuminating day cream that smoothens skin's texture and improves complexion radiance. I think this cream would probably be more suited to a drier skin so will pass this on to my mum to try as my skin is normal at the moment.

Maghrabian Hair Oil Treatment (worth £2.40)

I love Argan hair oil and not heard of this brand before so look forward to trying it out, although the full size seems a little pricey.

This month's box contained quite small size samples so it seemed very sparse and I have totted up the value of the products and it comes to roughly £26.24 which for £10 (plus £2.95 P&P) is not bad but this month I wasn't over whelmed by any of the products! But thats the point of beauty boxes - you discover new products and find out the products you like (and don't like!) before buying full size. Let's hope that next month's box is a better one! You can find out more and order your own GLOSSYBOX here. 

What do you think of this month's GLOSSYBOX? Did you receive anything different to mine? 

Review: REN Body Contouring Anti-Cellulite Gel

I have recently been trying the new REN Body Contouring Anti‐Cellulite Gel formulated to visibly reduce the appearance of cellulite and orange peel skin.

Deep penetrating liposomes deliver actives that target the causes of cellulite by increasing microcirculation and drainage, stimulating elastin production and encouraging lipolysis which helps reduce the formation of fat lobules below the skin. The leg contour appears smoother, firmer; swelling is reduced and discomfort is cooled and soothed. The gel contains natural bio extracts of pink pepper seed, caffeine, red microlage and horse chestnut.

The gel is very cooling and smoothing and I have been applying this morning and evening to my legs, lower body and any areas prone to cellulite, however it has a pretty strong herbal scent. I found it has reduced the appearance of cellulite and has toned up the tops of my legs and it is lovely to use in the summer months as it is so refreshing. I have been using this gel as well as body brushing to get my circulation going - which I think both work well together in combating the dreaded cellulite.

REN Body Contouring Anti‐Cellulite Gel is priced at £32 for 150ml available from Liberty, Selfridges, John Lewis & Look Fantastic. Have you tried any cellulite treatments that have been effective?

Kelly Brook Lingerie Exclusively at New Look

Following the fantastic success of her swimwear, clothing and lingerie collections, Kelly Brook has launched her second lingerie line exclusively for New Look!

Vintage lingerie and prints played a key role in the inspiration for this collection. Focusing on acute details such as delicate lace ups, trims and pleated satin, the sets are designed to flatter and highlight women’s natural curves. Polka dots are fun and flirty and the high waisted briefs ooze 1950’s glamour. Black lace is overlayed on nude satin and is the finishing trim to the animal print cami and shorts. The romantic cream satin bra features New Looks signature cored eyelash lace and the matching briefs finish this classic look. Contrasting bows and gorgeous rose gold branding are placed on every set with blacks and purples sitting against creams and nudes. Classic lingerie spots and leopard print bring fun to the collection, while the vintage baroque rose print set screams sexy with its matching suspender belt.

This range caters for everyone with sizes available from 32B – 36F and prices starting from just £5.99 and you can view the full range here.

Phillip Treacy LFW Slendertone Face

Milliner Philip Treacy will be showing his Spring/Summer 2013 collection at London Fashion Week this month and marks his first return to the London catwalk after a 12 year hiatus. Philip Treacy fans include the Royal Family as well as Lady Gaga and Sarah-Jessica Parker.

Philip Treacy has also created a special edition Slendertone Face to give users a natural facelift from the inside (and look even better when wearing a hat). Both the ‘original’ Slendertone Face and the special edition version harness pioneering electronic muscle stimulating (EMS) technology which stimulates the facial nerves to activate natural muscle contractions and therefore exercise the face.

This lifting and anti-ageing device targets a key contributor to the ageing process – muscle wastage - which starts from the age of thirty. As the facial muscles are directly attached to skin, when they lose mass the attached skin sags and hollows and causes ageing of the face. Slendertone Face is able to restore the youthful shape of the face by toning and lifting the muscles naturally. It also increases the blood flow to the face and within two weeks users report an improvement in their circulation and the boost of a healthy glow.

Philip Treacy’s design for Slendertone Face involved reworking the headset to enlarge the contact pads so that they resemble headphones and which are worn rather like a music headset. He also coloured them a flamboyant and unashamed shade of fusica pink. However it is not just the look of the special edition Slendertone Face which has been enhanced, it now features five different modes; two more than the traditional Slendertone Face device, allowing users to opt for radiance, lift, massage, advanced lift and complexion settings.

Both versions of the Slendertone Face have been specifically created for people who don’t want to have invasive anti-ageing treatments but want to restore the underlying architecture of the face providing a visible and natural face-lift without the need for surgery. Unlike facial freezing (Botox) which actually fosters the atrophication of the muscles and therefore increases the maturing look of the face, this device is designed to help people to ‘use it rather than lose it’!

Slendertone Face by Philip Treacy costs £400 and is available from Slendertone for a limited time, whilst the standard Slendertone Face costs £250 and is also available from Boots.com, Slendertone, and very.co.uk. Have you ever thought about trying the Slendertone Face?

September She Said Beauty

My She Said Beauty Box arrived today and my dad found it under the patio table in our back garden - thanks Yodel! I thought I would share what's inside this month's box. She Said Beauty is a monthly beauty box subscription, that you can cancel at anytime, whereby you get 5 deluxe samples (and normally a bonus item or two thrown in for good measure!) packaged beautifully and delivered to your door to try at home for £9 per month plus £2.95 postage & packaging. Simply visit She Said Beauty to find out more and order your own box!

The box comes with a bright pink outer box, and I noticed the packaging is slightly different this month - the duck egg coloured inner box with a flip lid seems sturdier and all the products wrapped in straw and pink tissue paper. So onto what's inside this month's box:

Ginvera Green Tea Whitening Marvel Gel (worth £3.66)
I have already tried this product out and I was impressed, although it didn't shift all my blackheads it did a pretty good job. This is a gentle exfoliating gel helps to remove blackheads and remove deep layers of dead skin. It's handy to have a travel size.

COLLECTION Primed & Ready Smoothing Make-up Primer (*full size* worth £5.99)
This does what it says on the tin but seems to contain a lot of silicone which I'm not a huge fan of using on my face and I don't really need a primer so will donate this to a friend to try out!

COLLECTION Fix Me Up Long Lasting Make-up Fixer (*full size* worth £5.99)

This is another product that I don't really need as I don't have a problem with my make up not lasting all day so will be donating this to a friend to try out too!

DHC Deep Cleansing Oil (*full size* worth £3.50)
I received this in last month's Glossybox and I really enjoyed using it so I am happy to have another. This oil cleanser is from Japan and thoroughly dissolves dirt, excess oil and make up - even waterproof mascara. This antioxidant rich olive oil formula nourishes and hydrates skin and rinses away completely with no greasy residue left behind. 

Amie Spring Clean Cooling Clay Mask (*full size* worth £1.50)

This is a brand I haven't heard of before, so looking forward to trying out this cooling clay mask that promises to draw out deep-seated dirt and impurities.

**SSB Treat** Popchips
This is a bit of a random extra treat but looking forward to sampling these!

I have to admit this month's box didn't overwhelm me mainly because it contained products that I have already tried in other boxes previously. I am pleased to receive another cleansing oil and another whitening gel and looking forward to trying the face mask. This month's box works out at £20.64 which is pretty good value considering the subscription only costs £9 plus £2.95 p&p so you are really getting your money's worth with six samples - four of which being full size and an added bonus gift. Simply visit She Said Beauty to find out more and subscribe for your own box!

Have you subscribed to She Said Beauty? What did you think to this month's box?

Review: Beauty Angel Energising Light Technology

A few weeks ago, I visited Cucumba Salon in Soho to try out the brand new treatment: Beauty Angel ELT (Energising Light Technology). Once I arrived at the salon, I was led downstairs to the treatment area and was left to undress, take off all my jewelry and lie on the bed - my modesty was covered with a towel. The ELT can be applied anywhere on the body, but I opted for the treatment to focus on my face, neck and decolletage areas. The treatment began with a cleanse, scrub and vitamin mask applied to my face, neck and decolletage all from the Dermalogica range. The Beauty Angel light enhances the skin's ability to absorb all beauty products and optimises their effectiveness. The therapist then put on a hair net and goggles to protect my eyes from the light and some cotton pads underneath for extra protection and then switched on the light!

With results achieved after just one session, optimum results are achieved with three sessions per week over a 5-10 week period dependent upon the age and condition of the skin, as long as you wait 48 hours in between treatments. Beauty Angel rejuvenates and revitalises your skin and is a safe, non-invasive therapy that uses no lasers, UV, injections or surgery to boost the production of collagen naturally and suitable for all skin types. The Beauty Angel light stimulates the body's own production of collagen, elastic and hyaluron. Unlike any other light therapy product, the Beauty Angel ELT uses a broad active light spectrum of 570 – 850 nanometres, instead of selective wavelengths. Light induced skin rejuvenation is more effective when several spectral ranges are applied at the same time.

The light treatment lasts 20 minutes and I will warn you the light is VERY BRIGHT almost unbearable at first but you do get used to it after a couple of minutes and then you relax and it feels almost as if your lying on a beach in the sun. After just the one session, my complexion was refreshed, brighter and I experienced an after-glow. I felt relaxed, especially the muscles in my neck and back felt less tense and I felt as if I had been in the sun for the day. Longer term, clients can see a reduction in fine lines and wrinkles, age and pigment spots fade, wound healing and can have a positive influence on hair and nail growth, bones, muscles and tendons.

Have you ever tried Beauty Angel ELT? What were your thoughts?

StraightWear™ - A New Discovery In Hair Straightening from Macadamia Hair Oil

Thought I would share some information for a new at home straightening kit from the makers of Macadmia Oil that promises 100% safe and chemical-free formulation that transforms curls and frizz into smooth, silky hair in a single product application for a perfectly smooth, beautiful finish that lasts for 4-months and delivers the following key benefits to hair:

• Up to 4 months of unparalleled straightening
• Hair reverts to natural texture with no re-growth issues
• Intensifies colour with brilliant shine
• Reduces styling time to minutes
• Infuses touchable softness
• Safeguards hair against heat damage, breakage and split ends
• Use after chemical services with confidence

StraightWear™ is a new simple two-stage system for effective long-lasting results: Purify shampoo clarifies and preps the hair by removing build-up with its infusion of botanicals and citrus extracts, paving the way for Smoother; a single product that smoothes and straightens hair in one simple application. Enriched with Macadamia Oil and Quinoa Seed Oil, amplifies the hair's moisture as it simultaneously strengthens and intensifies colour and shine. And unlike any other smoothing system on the market, StraightWear™ delivers up to 4 months of hair straightening with no formaldehyde, no thioglycolic acid, no lye or other harsh chemicals used in the process.

The new range starts at £10.50 and will be available on Beauty Bay, CheapSmells.com, feelunique.com and Fragrance direct. Have you tried the original Macadamia Oil treatment? What do you think to the new StraightWear?

HOUSE by John Lewis

As you will be aware I am in the middle of moving house so have been buying some house-related bits and pieces for my new flat! I was excited to hear that John Lewis have just launched HOUSE by John Lewis - a new contemporary home ware range that is well thought out, well-made and affordable. The 600 piece range features affordable products including furniture, lighting, textiles, and cooking and dining accessories, all designed to complement the contemporary urban home. 

The look and feel is contemporary, with an evolving colour palette, anchored with combinations of neutrals which will remain the foundation. A playful set of solid colours and patterns will be introduced for different seasons. Core materials include wood finishes, glass, metal, and white ceramic that come together to create a relaxed, informal look. Here are a few of my top picks from the new collection:

House by John Lewis Georgie Floor Lamp £60

House by John Lewis Glass and Oak Storage Jars £8-£16

Home by John Lewis Alex Sofa £299-£799

House by John Lewis Towels in Mocha £1.50- £15

House by John Lewis Ceramic Casserole in Steel £20 

House by John Lewis Bento Porcelain Bathroom Accessories £6 - £25

House by John Lewis Jersey Marl Duvet Cover in Grey £30

What do you think to the new collection?

                                                                                       

                                                               

Free ghd air Blow-dry

You know I love the ghd air hairdryer it's definitely worth the investment and is the best hairdryer I have tried to date! You can currently save £20 here off ghd air. I wanted to let you know that ghd air boutique are on tour in the UK and the first stop is London in Covent Garden this weekend 8th-9th September from 10am - 7pm where you can receive a FREE blow-dry using the ghd air hairdryer!

Will you be popping along?

Limited Edition Maggie Li GLOSSYBOX

You may remember I posted in my review of last month's GLOSSYBOX I mentioned there was going to be a special Limited Edition box for September? Well I can share that Illustrator Maggie Li has partnered with GLOSSYBOX to create a limited edition beauty box this month. Maggie has chosen a pastel blue with a bold peach print, interspersed with white, and as per usual, the box will contain a handpicked selection of five luxury sample sizes courtesy of beauty brands. The limited edition September GLOSSYBOX box is priced at £10 (+£2.95 P&P) but there is only a limited number of these limited edition boxes so get your  GLOSSYBOX before they sell out! 

What do you think to Maggie's Box?

September 10% Discount Code for Sigma Beauty

Sigma Beauty are offering 10% discount during September so to save yourself 10% off your entire order until 30/9/12 visit Sigma here and enter the code SB2012 at the checkout plus if you spend over $30 (£18) you receive a free gift! Are you a Sigma Fan?