Carmine's January Box

There's nothing better than receiving a parcel, especially when it's contents are a complete surprise and I suspect, this is the very reason that some of you subscribe to beauty boxes.

Content wise, they can be hit and miss from month to month but the risk and suspense of something unexpected being delivered to your door is somehow addictive.

A surprise Special Delivery popped through my post at the weekend in the form of Carmine's January box and I thought I'd share it with you as there are a few products in this months box from brands that I've never used before and have been loving all week.

What's included?

• Korres Wild Rose 24hr moisturiser - A 10ml deluxe sized sample of their intense brightening and hydrating day cream. A bit too thick and creamy for my skin but would be great for those with dryer complexions.
  

• Eldora false eyelashes - The set of these handmade lashes I received is amazing, super dramatic but natural. I'm so glad these were included in the box otherwise I'd never have found their website, seriously it's a lash addicts heaven! They do great Shu Uemura lookalike lashes for a fifth of the price. RRP £3.90.
  

• Balance Me Radiance Face Oil - Although the deluxe, 5ml sample looks small a little goes a long way with this. Use pre-moisturiser day and night to get your skin glowing!

• Eyeko Fat Eye Stick - You know I love my UD 24/7 Shadow Pencils so I was super excited to see this included in the box. I've used it all week and I love it. Eyeko's Fat Stick is super creamy, versatile and long lasting on the lids. RRP £10.

• Westlab Himalayan Pink Salt - You'll get one good baths use out of this sample which claims to give you detoxifying results of a 3-day fast in just 30 minutes!
  

As you can tell it's the make-up items which interested and impressed me the most. I love that I'd never have tried either of the above had they not come in my little black box.

I've already spotted some other shades of Eyeko's stick that I'm after over on ASOS and will be ordering some Shu dupes at Eldora later using the 50% off code that came in the box. (If you spend £15 you can get half off using eldoracarmine2012 at the checkout!)

Talking of discount codes, the box not only comes with great products to try but cash saving offers to use too if you like anything you receive.

Although this months offering isn't quite as exciting as previous months (November and December's were corkers) it is still a jolly nice box.

Carmine's beauty box costs £10 plus £2.75 postage a month and can be cancelled at any time so no contracts! If you are interested check out their website here!

Are you addicted to these monthly surprise boxes or not yet swayed by them?
xxx

Chanel Perfection Lumiere -an initial review!

When Chanel announced they were discontinuing two of their best selling foundations, Pro and Mat (my HG) Lumiere, to replace them with one super, do it all, base I was mortified. Mat Lumiere, you see is my 'go to' foundation and one I always go back to.

My skin is hard to please and there haven't been many over the years that have worked quite so well on it, but the news of an improved version softened the blow a little.

The minute it hit counters last week I snapped it up and for the past week it's all I've worn. Although one week isn't quite enough to warrant a full review, it is however just enough to give an initial impression.

I would love to say I'm blown away by Perfection Lumiere but unfortunately this isn't the case. I like it so far but I don't LOVE it yet. I'm hoping it's a grower.

• colour wise the selection is good, Chanel have produced 23 shades with multiple undertones so there should be one to match most.
• smooth and easy to apply but very fast drying, blending needed immediately.
• the scent is AMAZING! Fruitier and fresher than the usual Chanel smell.
• coverage is good, it is mid-heavy.
• I have oily skin and it is drying even on me! Those with DRY skin should stay well away.
• The finish is NOT the most natural or undetectable, it is quite powdery. Keep it away from the eye area!
• although advertised as luminous it is NOT, Pro lovers I feel will not get on with it's very matte finish.
  
• Lasting power is average, I get oily very quickly and this lasts about 5 hrs without the need to blot/powder but if you have normal skin it would last well.

You know I love my lengthy and in depth reviews so I'll update you on this one in a few weeks for sure. Did you rush out and pick up Perfection Lumiere too? What do you think?xxx

Dream cream - YSL's Eyeliner Effet Faux Cils Long-wearing Cream liner

I had thought using gel eyeliner was a thing of the past for me after I lost interest in them years ago when all my pots of Fluidline and BB Long-Wear Gel dried up and became hard to use.

As soon as this happened I swiftly moved on to liquid liner and never really looked back, that is, up until recently when a few shiny pots popped through the postbox as if to remind me just what I'd been missing out on.

And remind me they did. I'd long forgotten just how good gel liners were. Easier to apply than a liquid and more precise than a pencil. The perfect solution if you like a fuss free defined look that lasts!

I do, although I don't look like I do in this picture! Cue, slightly stern expression.

Anyway, back to the shiny pot that's helped change my mind, said pot is one of YSL's new Eyeliner Effet Faux Cils Long-wearing Cream Liners (what a mouthful) and I just love it!

Like all things YSL the quality is of course impeccable, it's by far the best gel liner or cream liner as they like to call it that I've ever used.

Want to know why?

Not only is the formula quite possibly the silkiest thing that's ever glided across my lids (no dragging here), it also offers intense pigmentation that lasts and I mean really lasts.

I have watery eyes and usually everything rubs off on me eventually, but it seems YSL's liner really is waterproof as this stuff just doesn't budge, not even on the bottom waterline.

p.s on this note it is smudgeable if you like your look a little softer but you have to do it immediately after application because this sets in seconds!

So we've established that the formula rocks, how about the application?

Well, the only downside to using gel/cream liner is that you need a brush to apply it. If you have one great, if not you'll need to buy one.

I've had a few over time and tried all shapes from slanted to flat and pointed but personally I find using a thin pointed brush the easiest and most versatile. Whether you want subtle or bold, straight or flicked a pointed brush allows you to create the look you like easily.

I used to love my Mac 210 until I lost it and since then my Louise Young LY24 has been the perfect replacement.

There are six shades available all in variations of black which I love because I never wear black, black as I find it too intense against my pale skin and blonde hair.

The almost black shade I've been wearing daily for the past few months is #2, Ashy Black, a deep graphite grey with subtle silver shimmer.

Although there are definite flecks of glitter in the pot, when applied they aren't obvious but help to create a slight metallic finish on the lids.

Yet again YSL have created another makeup bag must have for me in this dream cream and it's one I definitely recommend you checking out if you love gel eyeliners or are looking to try one, you won't regret it.

Do you use gel/cream liners? Which one's do you rate? I'd love to know as I'm going through a bit of a phase with them at the moment!
xxx

Festivities

I had meant to do separate Christmas and New Years posts but you know how it goes around this time of the year; there's little time for anything other than eating and being merry!

Some gifts

My Christmas look

Face - YSL Teint Resist (foundation), Estee Lauder Maximum Cover (concealer), Mac Harmony blush (contour), Benefit Hoola (bronzer) and Tom Ford Frantic Pink (blusher).

Eyes - Urban Decay Naked 2 palette neutrals with Mac's Paint Pot in Let's Skate patted on the top for festive sparkle. YSL Eyeliner Effet Faux Cils in Ashy Black (gel liner), review to come. Benefit's They're Real (mascara).

Lips - Tom Ford Nude Vanille (lipstick) worn alone.

Hair - Babyliss Pro Conical wand - Review here.

Lily with her new skates!

New Years Eve'11!

Face - same as above apart from the blush, I used my all time fave Nars Sin.

Lips - Tom Ford Nude Vanille with Mac's Glamour For All gloss.

Eyes - Chanel Illusion d'Ombre in Illusoire (review) all over and underneath with Urban Decay's Tease in the crease. YSL gel liner in Ashy Black.

Lashes - Benefit's They're Real (mascara). Shu Uemura Jeweled Love set (falsies).

I hope you all had a fantastic festive holiday and wish you all a healthy and happy 2012!

p.s link me up to any of your holiday snaps, love looking at there kinds of posts!
xxx