Glossybox

Hi,

So I signed up for the infamous Glossybox! If you don't know what Glossybox is it's a monthly subscription service where the company send you a box full of goodies from high-end retailers based on a questionnaire you take when signing up. Say if you have really dry hair and skin, they will send you products to cater for that. And if you want to only try out skin and make-up items, they won't send you any hair care products etc.  It costs £10 a month and you get to try out really high-end products and you could discover some new favourites. I've received three boxes now and I'm really loving the idea of this! I'm just going to take you what I got in my boxes and let you know my thoughts on the products.

 MAY GLOSSYBOX

First off, how cute is the packaging?! It's so pink and girly. Anyway these are the products I got in my May 2012 Glossybox-

First of all was this cute little extra gift. It's a compact mirror. I cannot believe I didn't have one of these before! It now lives in my bag and is so handy.

This is Noble Isle's Summer Rising Bath & Shower Gel. They say it's meant to smell like summer countryside etc. but I think it smells of men's aftershave! But I still really love it and I've now used it all up.

 Next up is a Murad Clarifying Mask. I was really excited to try this out. It does work well but not as good as my Origins face mask. This is great for people with oily skin however as the clay soaks up oil, draws out impurities and mattifies the skin. 

These are lashes from Eldora. I'm sure some people would like these, but this is my honest opinion and I really didn't like them. Maybe it was because they were quite full and thick and I prefer a more natural looking eyelash. Also the way they spiked out at the edges was really off-putting. Even though I tried to trim them down, they still didn't work for me.

This is a product that I absolutely loved! It's Uniq1 All in One Hair Treatment. It claims to do 10 things and I've really noticed that it's good at detangling, heat protecting, adding silkiness, making brushing easier and protecting against split ends. I have the thinnest hair ever so it gets crazy tangly and this is fab at making it so easy to brush out after a shower. This is just fab, amazing, can't rave about it enough. Sad to say I've used every last drop up. Definitely going to have to repurchase. I advise anyone to buy it! 

Last but not least for the May box was 2 Lolita Lempicka fragrances in L'Eau en Blanc and the original Eau De Parfum. These weren't really my cup of tea. They were a bit too sickly sweet for me but I enjoyed trying them out and I bet some other girls will love them. 

This is just the card you get with each Glossybox telling you a little bit about the products and how much the full sizes retail for. 

This overview of the first Glossybox has been quite in-depth with the pictures but for the June one, I'll just put up one or two photos. 

JUNE GLOSSYBOX

Soooo I had to put all this stuff on a tissue because I wanted to show the brush but I didn't want to get my carpet covered in mascara. Anyway! 

GLOSSYBOX SERIE EXCLUSIV PRO BEAUTY BRUSH

I think this is a full size brush and the RRP is £15 so that's covered the price of the box with one item! But....this brush is made of goats hair. Which freaks me out a little bit. It isn't the softest of brushes either but it does the job.

BM BEAUTY SUMMER WARMTH BRONZER

Love love love this. It's purely mineral so I feel good about putting it on, and once it is on, it feels really light and not-cakey and it feels like it won't clog up your skin or anything. The colour is so flattering as well and once when I wore it, numerous people asked me if I had a tan! So I think that says that it's a really natural bronzer. Normally with bronzers I just use them on my cheekbones but as this is so light and flattering I use it all over my face and neck for when I want a little bit of colour. 

AGENT PROVOCATEUR PERFUMES

These all smell so good. I was really happy to discover this brand. The red one is called Maitresse and I would say it's a summer night time scent as it is light but slightly musky at the same time. The black one is my favourite and it's called L'Agent. OMG this smells so nice! It's a dark almost woody scent but with a hint of a floral backnote. The final one, the pink one, is the original one and it is very fresh and floral. All these perfumes last ages on the skin. Much longer than many of the perfumes I've tried and that is a major deal for me with perfumes- they have to keep their scent for a long time. I've really enjoyed trying them out. I may have to purchase a full size of L'Agent! 

VICHY DERMABLEND STRTER KIT

In my box came a sample size set of 6 concealers (depending on your skintone). The packaging promised amazing results but I wasn't amazed by it. It covered my spots ok, but it wasn't brilliant. I didn't love it and I didn't hate it. It was an ok product, in my opinion. 

YVES ROCHER SEXY PULP ULTRA-VOLUME MASCARA

This is such a good masacra. I will be very sad when it runs out. The brush is so soft and coats your lashes so well. The formula isn't drying or flakey. It's super volumising and lengthening and I don't think there's a bad thing to say about this! I love it. 

JULY GLOSSYBOX 

I only just received this so this is why this post is only just going up! I haven't tried any of the products except for one but I can still tell you what I got and what I hope the products will do! 

CLYNOL SALON EXCLUSIVE COLOUR ENRICH SHAMPOO (forgot to put this in the pic oops!) 

I was really glad when I found this in my Glossybox as it is meant for colored hair and it will hopefully bring out my light blonde tones. I did use this shampoo this morning. I'm normally very skeptical about shampoos as I have a very sensitive scalp but greasy hair. But this shampoo didn't irritate my scalp and left my hair feeling really clean. I'm looking forward to using it more!  

HD BROWS EYE AND BROW PALETTE

This is a set of 4 eyeshadows that look really highly pigmented. It also comes with a small angled brush for precise lash work. I've been using the shades 'Buck' and 'Naked' from my Urban Decay Naked palette so I will be looking forward to seeing if these shadows work just as well! 

MONU GOLDEN GLOW 

This looks like an interesting product. It says it's a moisturizer that gives you a tan in 3-5 hours. I love looking sunkissed so I'm really excited about trying this. I just hope it doesn't look too orange.

JELLY PONG PONG LIP FROSTING

This is a cheek and lip stain that looks like it gives a good amount of pink colour. It smells delicious and the packaging is really cute so I can't wait to see if this is good or not! 

ELIZABETH ARDEN

I got quite a few EA goodies in this month's Glossybox. When answering the questionnaire, the Glossybox company asks you to input your skin type, so they sent me a load of samples suitable for my specific skin type which I thought was really good.

I hope you've all enjoyed this post and now know a little bit more about Glossybox. If you're a beauty junkie like myself, I really recommend this superscription service as you get to try out products you might not normally go for. Plus, it's really exciting getting a box of surprises through your door each month! 

Tomorrow (28/7/12) I'm off to Turkey for a fortnight so I won't be posting until I get back which is on the 11/8/12. So this is my last blog post for a while! Catch you all when I'm back!

Stay Glamorous,

Ella xo

Summer Beauty Essentials

Hi everyone,
Today I have a post for you guys on essentials that may be beneficial for you in your make-up bag.
From winter to summer you're make-up routine will and must change a lot based on the temperature. So here's a pick of my personal favorite summer-friendly make-up products!

TINTED MOISTURIZER
A moustrizer with a subtle shimmer is much better for your skin in the hot humid weather than a heavy foundation. Foundation will not only clog up your pores but due to the body sweating, it will just slide off. It will then look patchy and just icky. A subtle tinted moisturizer however will keep your skin hydrated whist giving your skin a nice sheen and glow. 
My personal pick of a tinted moisturizer is the Laura Mercier Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20. It's really light yet still moisturizing and really does give your skin an illuminating glow. It smooths out my skin and I definitely choose it over foundation in the warmer seasons. 


MATTIFYING POWDER
If you have oily/combination skin, a powder that mattifyes your skin and soaks up any oil and other nasties will be a god send to you.Choose one that will not clog your pores or make you look cakey. Concentrate more on your T-zone where you become more oily. Even if you don't have oily skin, a powder may still be a good idea as everyone gets a tad sweaty in the summertime. Just swirl a kabuki brush into the powder and sweep all over the face for a shine-free finish.


WATERPROOF MASCARA
If you're going to be by the beach or the pool this summer, a mascara that won't budge will be a must. If you can find your regular mascara in a waterproof version, even better. My pick is the Maybelline Colossal Waterproof Mascara. It isn't too expensive (around £7/£8) and is great for top and bottom lashes. It stays on and doesn't budge because of sweating or coming into contact with water.


CREME BLUSH
In the hot summer, a powder blush is more likely to flake off the skin. A creamy blush however will stay on the skin a lot longer, therefore providing more pigmented colour. Your cheeks are naturally one of the driest parts of your face, so a creme blush will keep your skin hydrated. I really recommend the Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush. The texture is amazing and the colour is really workable and buildable.  I have the colour 'Candy Coral' which is a really pretty summery shade. I feel much more comfortable with this on my cheeks rather than a powder blush in the summer months.


TINTED LIP BALM
Lipstick is bound to melt in hot weather. So instead opt for a moisturizing lip balm, preferably with SPF in it to protect your lips against sunburn. Maybe pick one that has a hint of colour or shimmer to it, to add a little flirtiness to your look.


I hope these picks of summer products have helped you to decide what to maybe take on holiday or pack in your beach bag etc! 


Stay Glamorous,
Ella xo

Summer fashion

Hi everyone!
I don't know about my readers outside of the UK, but here the weather is LOVELY!
Of course when the weather gets hotter, you want to wear lighter, more breathable clothes but still look fashionable. So here's my top summer fashion picks to keep you looking stylish but still making sure you're comfortable in the summer sun.

(DISCLAMER- these photos are not my own)

SHORTS
Obviously these are a summer staple. This summer there are so many different styles from loads of high-street shops; from studs and tie-dye to high waisted and distressed. Shorts can really be a focal point of an outfit whilst keeping you cool.

Topshop Moto Dip Dye High Waist Hotpants- £34.00

(I actually bought a pair of these yesterday but I have to return them as they're too small!)

ASOS- Thirty Four Disciples Stud Denim Shorts- £38.00

SILVER JEWELRY 
Cool-toned silver jewelry is the perfect accessory to light summer outfits. Gold jewelry, I think, is more for the winter months as it's a warmer tone. Silver is light, and easy to wear and will compliment any outfit.

Urban Outfitters Thumb Ring- £8.00

New Look Silver Animal Tooth Tunnel Earrings- £2.99

MAXI DRESSES AND SKIRTS
I usually go for mini dresses but the last couple of summers (and especially this summer) I've really been leaning towards maxi dresses and maxi skirts. You can get some really nice, dressy, patterned ones, sheer coloured ones  or simple light-weight black skirts. As for dresses, there are loads of choices too. They can give you a really nice silhouette and shape and can be flattering on almost every body type.

Miss Selfridge Black Slit Maxi Skirt- £24.00

(I did buy this skirt and I am in love with it!)

ASOS Maxi Dress in Catching The Sun Print- £28.00

HATS
Hats are key in the summer. The main reason being for preventing your head from getting sunburnt but also they can add an edgy twist to an outfit. A big 40's style floppy hat can complete a classic, classy look whereas a felt pork pie hat can make your outfit stand out and be unique.

Topshop Mini Roller Hat- £25.00

River Island Fedora Hat with Ribbon Detail- £15.00

STUDS AND SPIKES
This spring/summer spikes and studs have been absolutely everywhere. On shoes, jackets, tops etc. I love anything spiked. They can be added on to light summery fabric and really add edge.

Asos Sister Jane Studded Cross T-Shirt- £48.00 

Topshop Moto Khaki Studded Bralet- £35.00

I hope you've enjoyed this post! 

Stay Glamorous,

Ella xo 

My time at work experience

Hi everyone,
I've been at work experience all week and I've been super tired which is why I haven't posted in a while.
But I wanted to tell you all about my time at work experience.


I worked at a place up in London called FMG media group. I had such a fun time. But I was super nervous! Luckily I was shown around by a family friend who worked there.

On my first day, I was introduced to the lady I was going to be working with. But she was super busy so literally the first thing she said to me was would I mind working on a shoot with a company that they had in during the week. It just so happened that this particular company was Calvin Klein….and it was an underwear shoot. Not too bad for my first day! Of course I said yes, then I was introduced to the other photographers that worked at the studio and a man from Calvin Klein. I was shown how to use a steamer (as I’d never used one before) and I then had to steam all the pieces ready for the model to wear. I was steaming items for the male model. Who, I might add was absolutely gorgeous. His name was Casper Oechsler and he was with Next Models London. So anyway I had to steam his pants and pyjama bottoms. There was loads to do and I spent most of my day there. But I did get to watch the shoot whilst I was steaming. It was really interesting to see how a real photoshoot went down as I’ve never seen one happen before.

On my second day I worked on the Calvin Klein shoot in the morning organising the clothes and making sure the photographers and models were happy and making sure they had everything they needed. In the afternoon, I worked with a lady from the photography department at FMG and she was photographing wedding dresses to be in ‘You and Your Wedding’ magazine. I was so excited to help work on this because one of the careers I hope to have in the future is a wedding planner. There was another intern working there who was from the States. So we worked together and we had to dress the mannequins in some really beautiful dresses. Dressing them and making sure everything was perfect took a while but it was worth it because the photos at the end were stunning. By this time I was getting to know everyone and managing to find my way around the studio etc.

The third day consisted of two different company shoots. In the morning was Fortnum and Mason. Seeing how hard the photographers had to work to get the perfect shot has really made me appreciate photos I see in magazines etc. In the afternoon though I was really excited because Urban Outfitters were in and said they needed some help. UO is one of my all-time favourite stores. Their pieces are so unique and individual. During the time I was up in the studio with them I was again just steaming and doing some general helping out. But I did get to see the shoot happening. Their photography style was so different to Calvin Klein. CK would take a maximum of 3 shots of the model in the same pose, check it on the computer then change to a different pose. UO however did up to 20 continuous shots whilst the model changed poses. I was really pleased at the end of the day though because the lady who was in charge of the shoot asked me to work with them on Friday again!

My second to last day just really consisted of tidying up the studio we were working in and moving equipment around. In the afternoon, though I got to do some actual photography. We were working on a Long Tall Sally shoot and I got to actually work with the camera which I was really excited about.

My last day I think was one of the best. I was more confident and knew everyone and where everything was at this point. In the morning I went straight in with UO and helped them organise and get the clothes ready. I had to sort out the rails and get them in order for the models to wear. I also had to get all their new season stuff out and organise that. Getting to be around all their clothes was, for a fashion addict, a dream come true. Their stuff is so amazingly nice that I just wanted to take it all home. Myself and the other intern were going through the rails saying ‘ooo I really like this’ and ‘oh my goodness, this is so cute’ etc. which was pretty funny.                                                                                                                                                I then went off for lunch. I came back and UO were still having their lunch. But the lady in charge was super super sweet and said ‘you’re part of the team today, come join us for lunch’ which was really lovely. So I just sat and chatted with them. Because I didn’t really have anything else to do, I just got to sit and watch the shoot which was super interesting.

This is totally all my own opinion, but the UO team were unbelievably nice. The hair and make-up team were hilarious. Oh yeah, I also got to see the models get their makeover and got to see what products the make-up artist used which was fab. The dressers and the lady in charge of the shoot, were super nice and friendly. And the models themselves were so lovely as well. They spoke to me, they were smiley and one model even held the door open for me when I was carrying a water jug upstairs which was really kind. So yeah, everyone was really lovely and I was really sad to leave them!

Overall, I had an amazing week. Gaining an insight into the business world was one thing but to work on shoots with really well-known companies was just wicked. Everyone was so welcoming and I had such a fab time. I’ll really miss the photography department team I worked with and the intern who I really made friends with and who I got along with really well. At the beginning of the week I couldn't wait for the week to be over, just because I was so nervous. But towards the end of the week, I didn't want my work experience to come to and end! I feel very privileged to have been able to experience what I experienced.


So I hope you've enjoyed reading about my time at work experience! P.S. I'm off on holiday on the 28th July so up until Friday the 27th I should hopefully be posting everyday to make up for my 2 week absence whilst I'm on holiday! 


Stay Glamorous,
Ella xo

How I style....Lace Dress

Hi girls,
 Today's post will be about how I dress up or dress down a simple but stunning cream lace dress. This type of dress is, for me, a wardrobe staple. The color is perfect to match with almost any accessories, outerwear pieces, bags and shoes.
The dress I am styling is from Zara, and I actually picked it up in the sale for about £20 which I think is an amazing price.

So here's the dress by itself. It has all this gorgeous detailing on it and panelling down the front. 

LOOK ONE- KEEPING IT SIMPLE

HIGH HEELS- EBAY

FLATS- H&M

(this simple look could be accessorised with gold or silver jewellery)

LOOK TWO- AZTEC AND STUDS

SWEATER- H&M

FLATS- EBAY

LOOK THREE- LEATHER GRUNGE

LEATHER JACKET- H&M

BOOTS- EBAY

LOOK FOUR- PREPPY

BLAZER- H&M

BELT- TOPSHOP

FLATS- EBAY

LOOK FIVE- DENIM AND CREEPERS

DENIM SHIRT- H&M

CREEPERS- H&M

So I've noticed that basically everything in this post is from either H&M or Ebay! This was not intentional and I have only just realised this now! Both Ebay and H&M do great clothes, shoes etc. so that's why they've made it into this post.

I hope this has helped you with some ideas on how to jazz up or grunge down your favourite dress!

Stay Glamorous

Ella xo

MAC Heavenly Creature Colour Collection

Hey there,
So I've been browsing the internet and I found myself on the MAC website. And I saw that they have a new collection out called 'Heavenly Creature Colour'.
Looking at the products in the line, I was very impressed and excited!

(As a disclaimer these pictures are not my own)

I really love the blushes and mineralize skinfinish's! They look so beautiful. I've wanted a mineralize skinfinish for as long as I can remember and I might have to finally invest in one.

So I'm really loving the colours 'Light Year' (the 1st one) and 'Center of the Universe' (the 2nd one) They would be great dusted all over the face or just focused on the cheekbones. 

I don't have a favourite for the blushes because I love every single one of them! They are so unusual and unique and would look amazing on the skin. 

Last but not least, how amazing are these eyeshadows?! The colour mixes are phenomenal and I bet they would create such an unusual shade on your lid. My personal favourites are 'Invincible Light' (the 1st one), 'Earthly' (the 3rd one), 'Aurora' (the 4th one) and 'Bright Moon' (the 5th one). I picked the  more natural shades but the brighter ones would be so fun to try on a night out.

Myself, personally, I would highly recommend MAC. I only have a few of their products (a couple of eyeshadows etc.) and they are so pigmented and have no fall-out. I can't comment on their face or skin products but from what I have tried, I am really pleased with the brand. And if you're like me, I would think you cannot wait to get your hands on some of these!

Stay Glamorous,

Ella xo 

Collective Haul- Primark, Urban Outfitters, ASOS, H&M, Topshop, New Look & Zara

Hi everyone,

Today I have for you a big collective haul. These are not items from one shopping trip! I got these over the course of about 3 months. Hope you enjoy-

URBAN OUTFITTERS

Purchased in NYC. Around $55 

NEW LOOK

Around £16

ZARA SALE

Around £12

ZARA SALE

Around £19

NEW LOOK

Around £9.99

NEW LOOK

£14.99

PRIMARK

£9.00

PRIMARK

Around £8.00

TOPSHOP

£8.00

TOPSHOP

Around £8.00

PRIMARK

Around £4.00

PRIMARK

Around £4.00

URBAN OUTFITTERS

Purchased in NYC, around $20

URBAN OUTFITTERS

Purchased in NYC, around $50

EBAY

Around £10.00

H&M

Purchased in NYC, around $18

ASOS

£42.00

TOPSHOP

Around £28.00

PRIMARK (MENS)

Around £6.00

I hope you've enjoyed this post. In no way am I trying to brag, this is just a sneak peek into my wardrobe and style. Some pieces may even inspire you! 

Stay Glamorous,

Ella xo