Ciate Paint Pots In Talent Scout - Nails Of The Day

Today's Nails Of The Day are from the October Glossybox - Ciate Paint Pot in the shade Talent Scout, a gorgeous and rich purple creme. Two coats achieved a glossy opaque finish that is perfect for Autumn/Winter.

October 2014 Glossybox - Andy Warhol Inspired Pop Art Collector's Edition Box

Ooh I absolutely love the print on this month's GlossyBox! The Andy Warhol Pop Art design is so apt for a beauty blogger and is bright and cheery for this dreary October ... I will have no problems recycling this after I have used the contents.

As ever though, the outer is very nice but do the contents live up to expectation...

What's inside the October Glossybox

Inside my box features no less than 4  full size products, a fairly generous perfume sample and a bonus sample product.

From Left to Right -

Etre Belle Cosmetics Liplift Peel € 12.95 (Full Size)

They say - Get replenished and defined lips in an instant with this moisturising lip exfoliator. The gentle formula removes dead cells, refining the skin's surface for perfectly soft lips.

Out of all the products this is probably the one I am least enthused about getting use from as my lips are in pretty good condition, but you never know with the changing weather this could come in useful.

Yves Rocher France Quelques Notes D'Amour 5ml sample (Full Size £33 for 30ml)

They say - This scent encapsulates the feeling of falling in love through fusing notes of Damascus Rose , Guaiac Wood and Patchouli.

I like perfume samples and this is handy to pop into my weekend bag. This scent is lovely too, a bit like a delicious Turkish Delight.

So Susan Cosmetics Flutter Mascara £14.95 (Full Size)

They say - An intense carbon-black mascara formulated with hyaluronic spheres to help you achieve the darkest, curviest lashes possible.

I am always up for trying new mascaras and this sounds good, watch this space for my review!

Nuxe Creme Fraiche de Beaute Mask £19.50 (Full Size)

They say - A 24hr moisturising mask which hydrates and soothes the skin, instantly reducing discomfort or redness. Skin is left looking radiant and relaxed.

I am a big fan of Nuxe products so I am looking forward to trying out this mask which sounds ideal for the Winter months.

Ciate London Paint Pot £9 (Full Size)

I received Talent Scout a purple creme shade that be dressed up or down.

Bonus product - Rimmel London BB Cream Matte (sample size)

They say - This mulitasking 9 in 1 skin perfecting makeup cream with a natural formula contains kaolin, witch hazel and salicyclic acid for a flawless matte look.

I haven't tried this BB Cream so I will be interested to see how I get on with it, watch this space for the review..fingers crossed it is shade perfect!!

Final thoughts

This month's box represents outstanding value and with a great mix of products enclosed.

Thumbs up.

*PR Sample

Ciate Paint Pots in Jelly Bean - Nails Of The Day

Today's Nails Of The Day are from Ciate Paint Pots - This is Jelly Bean.

I used 2 coats for opacity and a glossy finish. Jelly Bean is a bright, hot pink.

*I seem to have managed to mislay the cute little bow that normally features on the Paint Pots, not a clue where it has got to!

February 2014 GlossyBox - The Valentine's Love Edition

The February GlossyBox 2014 has a rather fabulous Valentine's Day inspired kisses design which is great fun and one to keep.

The theme of the box I am not entirely sure about, it may be Love it may be indulgent treats. It wasn't completely clear but there were a few things to enjoy in my box as it happens. I think that these could have been used for a Valentine's Day look but unfortunately mine arrived the day after!

So what was inside my February GlossyBox

The 5 items

Nougat London Sparkling Body Shimmer in Cherry Blossom 100ml (full size 250ml £14)

This body lotion smells amazing, it contains mallow extract, vitamin E and wheatgerm enriched oil and comes with a hint of shimmer. I am looking forward to using this on my decolletage and legs!

Nougat London is a new brand for me to discover so I was pleased to see this in the box.

Maybelline New York Master Kajal Kohl Liner in Pitch Black £5.99

This is a cream stick eye liner and it applies like a dream with a nice and rich, intense black shade. I cannot wait to try this on my eyes. Can be used to line eyes and create bolder looks too.

Ciate London Paint Pot in shade Raspberry Collins £9 for 13.5ml

I am a fan of the Ciate formula but am not overly keen on hot pink shades which Rasberry Collins is so will be passing this on to my sister (lucky her!)

Eldora Eyelashes £3.90

I don't wear false lashes so will be passing these on.

Toni & Guy Hair Meets Wardrobe Stick It Up Gum £7.20 90ml

This hair product from top brand Toni & Guy claims to hold and control for a gravity style with a high shine finish. Glossybox says this product is good for flyaways. I may just give it a go for that as I rarely wear my hair up in a ponytail or require extra volume ;-)

A bonus chocolate treat from Lindt was included, the Lindor Treat Bar was devoured almost immediately upon opening the Glossybox! A gorgeously smooth chocolate with a lovely soft filling. Delicious and worth 79p.

Final thoughts

Value wise this was a brilliant box with 4 out of 5 of my items full size.  On a personal level however in terms of items I would use there are probably 2 that I am looking forward to using, 2 that I will be passing on to others and one I am a little undecided on its suitability for me.

*PR Sample

What's Inside The July 2013 Glossybox

July's Glossybox is themed Seaside Splash, the perfect box to help you prep for your Summer getaway. Quite often I say that I am not sure why they bother with a theme as I don't find the contents to particularly match the theme (except for probably the Harrods Edition and the excellent Natural Box). This month however I am happy to say the theme and the contents of my box fit perfectly.

The contents 

Ciate London Paint Pot £9 (full size) shade Mistress 

Paint pots are fab and this full size pot is a great addition to the box. If you haven't tried Ciate before you are in for a treat. There are 3 different shades floating around in the boxes and personally it would have been lovely to have received a different one as I already have Mistress which is a fab red. Click the link in the title of this section to see the gorgeous tomatoey red on my nails.

Nip+Fab Shine Fix £9.95 15ml (Full Size)

This is described as a light gel that removes and absorbs excess oil flow to instantly control shine.

I haven't had a chance to use this fully (ie test it out for a day or so) but it does instantly mattify the skin and can be used as often as required. It does have quite a medicinal scent and I found it to be a little sticky.

Alterna Haircare Bamboo Style Boho Waves Tousled Texture Mist (25ml) Full Size 125ml £23

Claims to create effortlessly tousled 'just back from the beach' waves. Adds texture, volume and healthy shine to all hair types in a weightless mist formula.

I absolutely love this, I have had my box for a few days now and in the heat have opted for carefree waves. This smells absolutely gorgeous and fresh with its cucumber scent. It defines the waves and adds shine although some pieces of my hair were a little crunchy but not overly so.

Anantomicals Spray Misty For Me Facial Spritz 100ml £6 (Full Size)

Suitable for all skin types this timely facial spritz has been a welcome addition to my skin these last few scorching hot days. It has a pleasant cooling effect and my skin feels nice and soft too. It contains calming Lavender and refreshing Peppermint extracts. Smells good.

Coola Organic Suncare Collection - Coola Mineral Face SPF20 Rose Essence Tint (7ml) Full Size 50ml £29.99

This is a teeny sample sized tube which I haven't tried yet. I will give it a go tomorrow. Hand swatched I have found it to be light in texture, slightly warming in colour and providing radiance to the skin but I will see how it transfers to my face and report back.

It looks promising though with it being paraben free, packed with antioxidants and hypoallergenic. It apparently provides complete UVA/UVB protection and fights free radicals whilst soothing, toning and minimizing pores. Although it claims that Organic Acai Oil delivers powerful anti-ageing benefits and organic Evening Primrose and Linseed Oils reduce inflammation and balance moisture, you are very unlikely to see these benefits from one or two applications.

ETA - I have been using this three days now (7ml seems to go quite far!) and I really like it. it gives warmth to the face, a dewy finish and it covers and smooths pores. Good stuff.

Final thoughts

Gorgeous bright turquoise box with a seaside coral/starfish print and useful contents that match the theme brilliantly make this a stonker of a box this month. With 3 full size products with a total value of just under £26 and 3 additional products one a perfect travel size this box is excellent value and one that I was rather excited to open and use the products!

Glossybox costs £10 a month plus p+p

*PR Sample

Nails Of The Day - Ciate Caviar Pearls Shooting Star & Cookies and Cream with Marie Claire

Free with July's Marie Claire magazine are 2 Ciate Mini's - Cookies and Cream which is a milky beige nude shade with a crème texture and Shooting Star Caviar Micro Pearls. I only picked up the magazine this morning but couldn't wait to have a little play (it took just seconds!) as these colours are just the kind of thing that I would wear.

In natural light

What do you think?

Free Ciate Polish With July's Marie Claire Magazine

Freebie Alert!

The July issue of magazines is proving to be a bumper month for beauty freebies.. thank goodness we have moved on from cut your own size paper thin flip flops!

Marie Claire are giving away a full size Ciate Nail Polish worth £9. There is a choice of 3 shades - Bon Bon (a soft pink - just like the sweet), Jelly Bean (a bright pink, I went for this) and Purple Sherbet.


July Issue Out now

NOTD - Ciaté - Mistress

I am fast becoming a fan of Ciaté Paint Pots - This one came free with the Marie Claire November Issue.

I love the packaging - ultra cute but classy. Mistress is a gorgeous and vibrant red - I don't usually wear red but for this I made an exception and think I will try reds from now as I have obviously been missing out (actually it made me feel naughty!). The applicator brush is excellent so it was easy to apply. This coverage was with just one application in the photo - although obviously for durability you will want to apply 2/3 coats and a top coat.

Marie Claire is also offering Dangerous Affair (rouge noir) as an alternative for the give-away and a bonus 25% off on the Ciaté site.

I definitely have my eye on some other shades too - they have an extensive range with fabulous names to match on the site.

This one is £9 from www.ciate.co.uk

My Chocolate Indulgence

I love chocolate. It is a rare woman that doesn't .... and although it is very tasty, it is not always good for the waistline. However, as it is Chocolate week (11-17th October - an excellent chance to take part in lots of chocolate related events),  I thought I would take a moment to indulge and share with you some gorgeous and useful chocolate inspired beauty products!

Click on picture to enlarge

Mmmmm, let's go!

Featured products


Avon Footworks Chocolate & Pomegranate Smoothing Scrub
This smells chocolatey and sweet - and it works! £4.50 from Avon

Avon Footworks Chocolate & Pomegranate Moisturising Cream Non greasy and effective moisturiser. £4.50 from Avon

Ciaté Paint Pot in Mines A Mocha A gorgeous chocolate brown nail polish £9 from www.ciate.co.uk

Ciaté White Chocolate Nail Polish Remover Smells like an ordinary nail polish remover until it has dried when it leaves your nails smelling like yummy chocolate! £14 from www.ciate.co.uk

Bourjois Delice de Poudre Bronzing Powder Looks like a bar of chocolate. An easy to use bronzer, where more application provides a deeper colour, with the added bonus that it is slightly scented of chocolate. £6.99 from www.boots.com

Karin Herzog Finest Chocolate Cleansing Delicious smelling and highly effective oil based cleanser suitable for all skin types. Smells like the finest hot chocolate! 50 mls for £32 from www.shop.karinherzog.co.uk

Clinique Colour Surge Buttershine Lipstick in Chocolate Ice A glossy and moisturising chocolate coloured lipstick. Lovely! £14.50 from www.clinique.co.uk

Lilylolo Mineral Eyeshadow in Chocolate Fudge Cake
Pretty, well pigmented and long lasting eyeshadow in a chocolate shade with undertones of purple - £5.49 from www.lilylolo.co.uk

Soap and Glory Super Colour Sexy Mother Pucker Lip Gloss in Yummy Plum 
Chocolate/Raspberry flavour - £8 from www.soapandglory.com

Also featured...
Triple Chocolate Wham Bam Giant Slabs £13.50 each  from Hotel Chocolat.
100% Pure Mulberry Silk Premiére Pillowcase, anti-ageing benefits and smooth hair. Comes with a free "hotel style" chocolate for your pillow. £29.99 from www.silkperfect.com.