Showing posts with label Stila. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Stila. Show all posts

Saturday, 15 September 2012

Selfridges Beauty Box - Alternative Box

I'm sure you will have all heard about the Selfridges beauty box by now and heard how us beauty lovers managed to crash the Selfridges website in our excitement to get our hands on one of these limited beauty boxes - it was honestly like trying to get sort after concert tickets! After the initial batch sold out Selfridges released a few more boxes and I was lucky enough to be sat at my computer and after a lot of hassle with the website crashing, payment authorisation crashing etc I managed to finally purchase a box.

However, the next day I got a phone call from Selfridges to say that a computer glitch meant that they had sold more boxes than they had in stock, I thought they were calling to tell me they would have to cancel my order but no they were telling me they were going to refund the postage of £4.95 making the box a total of £15 and were going to add in an extra item for the inconvenience! The downside being that the box wouldn't be dispatched until the first week in September.

No box arrived and we had an email to say that they were waiting on an item from the USA, then Thursday night a dispatch email! The box turned up yesterday, which was my birthday so this was a perfect present!

Yes Selfridges it really is!
With the box being delayed I wasn't sure if I would get the same products as the original box, but on inspection it looks like I did.
Philip B Katira Hair Mask 60ml.
Selfridges don't actually sell this product on their website, but I found it for £14.90 here
Stila One Step Skin Tone Correcting, Brightening Serum 30ml
This is actually one of the products I was most looking forward to getting in the box as I have been eyeing it up in Boots for the past couple of months. I love how pretty it looks!
It retails for £24.00 on Selfridges website
Estelle & Thild Organic Lip Balm 15ml
The balms is Raspberry and it smells gorgeous, it comes in three different colours - I got natural and it retails for £16 at Selfridges
Aesop Remove 15ml
This is an eye makeup remover, again I can't find this item for sale on Selfridges website but 100ml retails for £20.72 here making 15ml worth £3.11
Omorovicza Deep Cleansing Mask 5ml
Selfridges don't stock any Omorovicza products on their website, but 50ml retails for £57 here making the sample worth £5.70
Bio Effect EGF Serum 5ml
I have read rave reviews about this product and I can't wait to try it!
Again Selfridges don't sell Bioeffect products but you can buy the 5ml for £49 here
Antipodes Organic Avocado Oil & Rosehip 30ml
Bizarrely another brand that Selfridges don't stock?! Retails for £18.99 here
Ciate Pom Pom Sample Size
This is the extra item, I don't know how much this retails for as it doesn't have say how much is in it. It's a very pretty colour though!

The products total a whopping £131.70! I do think it is a bit bizarre that the box contains a lot of brands/products that Selfridges don't actually stock. I can't wait to try everything in the box, it was definitely worth waiting for and one of the best birthday presents ever!

 What do you think of the box? Did you manage to get your mitts on one?


Thursday, 21 June 2012

What I packed in my suitcase!

Do you panic about what to pack when you take on holiday or are you a laid back chuck everything in a bag kind of packer?

I always pack the night before I go away although mentally I have been packing for weeks! I think about what I have in my wardrobe, anything I need to buy - always a new bikini and a maxi dress - accessories that match and so when I come to pack my suitcase it hardly takes me any time at all!

But this is where the panic part of me sets in...toiletries and cosmetics! So these are the items I took with me.


I bought the Ojon colour sustain 4 piece starter kit while they had the offer on to get a free full size shampoo and conditioner knowing the kit would be an ideal travel size. I didn't take the colour protecting cream with me.

I used up all the shampoo and conditioner - they were perfect sizes for my midlength hair for a week.

I used the hair treatment a couple of times in the week.  The tub is small but it will last me for ages as you only need a small amount. Its solid in the tub and you use the little round dish to scoop some out then warm it in your hands to turn it into an oil.  It smells very strongly and its not very pleasant but it made my hair lovely and soft.



Moroccanoil Hairspray - I find this quite a light hold hairspray, its easy to brush out and is not sticky at all. It also leaves a nice shine to your hair.

Fiji Oil - this smells like holidays! and Berber Oil which smells like Haribo!

Used both of these on my hair (and yes I probably didn't need to take two oils) I like both of these, not too heavy on my hair left it nice and soft and took away the frizz.  Thumbs up to both.



Perfume samples - perfect holiday size.

I used the Versace in the evenings and the Lolita Lempicka's in the day.  Although I could only spray tiny amount of the Lolitas and they were only 1/3 full when I get them as samples.


Picked up the deodorant in the airport as I normally use sprays and I never know if I can take them on the plane or not??
Essential Care Rose Moisturiser - I really liked this, it smells lovely, easily absorbed and could feel it tightening my face. I want to repurchase this when it runs out.
FAB Face Cleanser - if you are a regular reader of my blog you will know I love this cleanser.
Balance Me eye cream - this is really naughty but I think I only used this once on holiday!
Bharti Vyas Face and Neck Polisher - I like this scrub it makes my skin smooth and soft, it contains walnut shavings which sounds a bit harsh! But its a lovely scrub.


Balance Me Rose Otto Body Wash - the balance me body washes are so moisturising I just wish I liked the smell a bit better! They smell really strong and herbally to me and its really not a scent I would chose.  I thought I would like the rose one as when I first opened the tube it smelt of turkish delight! But after a week of using it it seemed to change to the strong herbal smell.
I used a squirt of this in the bath and it foams up brilliantly!

Soap and Glory Glow Lotion - I used this in the evenings for a bit of shimmer on my arms and legs.
Champneys Skin Comforting Body Butter - I loved this! Its easily absorbed, smells gorgeous and has over taken my favourite body shop butters to become my no1 body butter!



I always buy sun cream from the Solait Range at Superdrug, 

As we haven't had any sun this year and I was shockingly white I thought it was sensible to go for a high factor cream, I got the tan activating version and I could actually tell the different! My legs got a tan for the first time in years!

I got this aftersun as the hotel is next to a nature reserve so I thought there would have been lots of insects but I didn't see any bugs! Or get bitten so either this is the most amazing insect replellent ever or the bug problem was not as bad as I thought it would be....

I took the Green People tan accelerator sun cream that I got in my She Said Beauty box with me to use on my face. It smells like all the other products I have used from Green People. The cream is quite thick, but easily absorbed and didn't break me out.
I didn't notice any tanning over and above how brown my face would normally go (one shade up from porcelain LOL!) but it may be that I spent the week with my head in a book!


Ok this may be strange but I never pack my good makeup as I get scared it will get lost!

RMK Face base - love this but didn't use it at all on holiday!
Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation - Just used a tiny bit of this at night then nothing once my face got a bit of colour
Real Technique Stippling Brush and Powder Brush
Body Shop Blusher Brush
MeMeMe Arch Angel - I bought this just before we went so it was the first time I tried it on holiday, great colour on me as its quite dark.  I will do a post on this once the tint on my eyebrows wears off.
China Glaze Pink Chiffon - used this on my fingers and toes for the week (I did want to take a lot more nail polish but was persuaded by my friends on BBS that I only needed one!)
Lancome Hypnose Mascara - this is a sample size mascara and needed using up so perfect for holidays.
No7 Translucent Face Powder - nice loose powder and does stop me being shiny!



VIVO Palette - used the eyeshadows a few times in the evenings, great colours and I love the blusher its one of my favourites.
Stila Eye Mousse in Copper - this looks great with a tan, didn't crease and stayed on all night.
Two L'oreal Infallible Eyeshadows - I bought these for my holiday as they are waterproof but I didn't use them, oops!
Stila Convertible Colour Lip and Blush in Gladiola - This is not very good on the lips as the staying power is not great and the colour a bit strong for me but as a blush I love it, especially with the copper eye mousse. Easy to blend, great staying power and the colour is beautiful.
Pout Horny Hilda Lipgloss - perfect for the daytime.
MeMeMe Lipstick in China Rose - lovely colour and  as it contains shea butter is very moisturising.
Revlon Colourstay Palette - I didn't use this either!


Thought I would share a few holiday pics with you


The hotel where we stayed in Isla Canela


The harbour in Isla Canela


The beautiful beach, full of shells that my son liked to collect!


The beach went on for miles.


That was a long post wasn't it! Hope you found it interesting, do you have trouble travelling light or knowing what to take with you?


Don't forget to enter my giveaway! I'll be updating it with some more prizes at the weekend!


Sunday, 22 April 2012

TK Maxx Haul

I have been reading lots of blogs/FB posts about great finds people have had in TK Maxx, the store by me has always been a bit rubbish (although to be fair I hadn't been for AGES) so yesterday on my way home from a Lush Workshop - will be doing a blog post on this, it was amazing can't wait to share it with you!! - I took the route home that passes TK Maxx and went in to have a little lookie around......

Look at all these fantastic goodies I picked up!

Essie hydrating mask for nails, claims to increase nail hydration by 33% in 5 minutes.  It contains 3 lots of 10 masks. Bargain £3.99

Essie Intense Hydration Treatment.  50% more nourished nails in 5 days. Bargain £3.99

Color Club Glitter Vixen Polishes. Could not resist the immense sparkle of these! I have not tried Color Club polishes before and I'll do a nails post to show you these sparkles! Absolute bargain £7.99

They had packs of three Stila items for £7.99!! So I picked up two packs.

Dual Lip and Cheek Cream in Gladiola

When I opened the compact I thought the colour was really not for me but it is a gorgeous colour and looks great on my cheeks - this will be fab for my holiday.

Eye Mousse in Copper - look how cute the pot is :)

Love this colour! Again will look fab in the summer with a tan (or when I go a shade up from milk bottle white!!)

Eye Liner in Sapphire

Highly pigmented soft liner, I got the Eyeko Midnight Blue  in one of my beauty boxes but I prefer this one.

Shine Lip Colour in Sarah, love the design on the case

A little bit disappointed with this as its very sheer but will do for work! Plus it just glides on and smells gorgeous.  It contains SPF20 too so I like that it will protect my lips,


Demi Creme + Shine in Demi Tulip

LOVE the colour of this!

Mulit-effect Mascara in Brown. 
I have not tried their mascara before but I like the shape of the brush and I don't currently have a brown mascara so this will do nicely thank you very much.


Well this haul of goodies came to an absolute steal at £31.95!!

I've done this post first because its time to tot up how I've done on week 3 of the Beauty Budget Challenge.............

Have you got a TK Maxx near where you live?  Have you picked up any bargains recently?