Birthday Bag - Zara Office Mini City

So I have finally joined the club and got myself one of these beauties! and now I'm thinking why did I wait so long?

This bag is the bomb! There is no doubt about it it is perfect in every way, the size, the quality, the simplicity, the functionality, the chicness, the price tag. The list goes on but now that I've fell head over heels for it I now want it in Navy too but i believe that colour has been discontinued. I may settle and get the black one as well. I do feel like grey is perfect for spring though as it will go beautifully with the pastal colours that are currently making themselves known.

My favourite thing about this bag is the organisation as there is a pocket for everything. I love being able to give my most used items there own little space and it makes it so much easier to find what I need. I normally stand at my front door for ages fumbling for my keys or on the bus for my bus ticket but not any more as I know where everything will be.

I love how it isn't too small as well as I'm crap with tiny bags. I like to carry a decent amount of stuff with me and I will do a what's in my bag post soon so you can see what I carry around in here. I'm also enjoying using the shoulder strap as with most bags that is the first thing that I detatch and throw into the bottom of a draw never to be seen again. It is just a 10/10 for me.

My Picks of the Christmas Gift Sets

So it's getting to my favourite time of the year Christmas! I've already started my Christmas shopping and today I've put together my Christmas wish list.
Most of my favourite brands have released their Christmas gifts sets already on Debenhams, Boots and Selfridge's so I've spends a few hours this morning picking and choosing my favourites and here they are:

Origins Morning to Night Set £40
I've never tried Origins skincare and this set looks like a perfect introduction to the Ginzing range which is much raved about in the bloggersphere so I want to try it out.

Urban Decay Vice 2 Palette £42
Urban Decay are like the holy grail of eyeshadow palettes and this one looks like it could be the best yet. It looks so versatile as it has neutral shadows all the way the deep smokey eye colours I wan to this so bad.

Soap & Glory Power Trip £20
How cute and is this? I love something that is compact with lots of different products squeezed in. I've been wanting to try the highlighting powder for a while now so I can test it in this. This could be one of the presents that I end up buying myself early as I can't wait until Christmas day.

YSL Babydoll Mascara Set £24.50
I was hoping YSL would bring out a gift set that included a lipstick or 2 or even a whole bunch of like Illamasqua have but I can keep dreaming besides it would be hundreds of pounds. I just want lots of YSL lipsticks Ok, that's my dream as they are my favourite. Anyway I need a new mascara and this one looks pretty and has good reviews so it's made my list. You also get a make up remover which isn't a bad thing.

Ciate Mini Paint Palette £25
How cute is this set, seriously I love this! I don't own many nail polishes so a set like this would be a quick way to bulk up my collection and to bring some variety into my life.

Clarins All About Lips £18
I think this one is a good price and all the colours are nice and wearable, I think this one is definitely a winner.

So that's it my Christmas list, I hope my husband is reading :-)

Have you started your yet? What do you think of mine, I think everyone will be wanting the Vice 2 palette this year and I have a feeling it will sell out eek fingers crossed that I get one.

Jodie x

Glossybox UK September 2013 - The London Edition

Well this month's Glossybox was meant to be my last as I been left underwhelmed by my past few. I used my Glossydots to pay for this one but now it's arrived I'm not to sure if I can bring myself to hit the unsubscribe button just yet. I'm actually really happy with this month's box my favourites are the eyeliner and blusher.

First things first yes I am absolutely devastated that I didn't get the HD Brows blusher excuse me while I cry into my Glossybox tissue paper - but once I got over that fact I realised that I am happy with everything that I received.

Here is what I got in this month's box:
Rimmel Stay Blushed Blusher in 004 Sunkissed Cherry RRP £4.49 for 14ml
This colour is perfect for the upcoming winter months. I usually wouldn't buy such a dark blush but even on my pale skin this is not too much. The colour is gorgeous. It is very pigmented and a little goes a very long way. I squeeze abit of the product onto the back of my hand and then I use my Elf Stipple brush to apply to my cheeks. This way I don't get too much product on my face and look like a clown. I will definitely be scouring Boots for more shades of this.

Be a Bombshell Cosmetics Onyx Eyeliner RRP $14 for 3g
Yes I know the box is London themed so I don't have a clue where this brand fit into the equation but I'm not complaining because I love it! I have been eyeing the new L'Oréal felt tip liners for a couple of weeks as I've seen good blog reviews about them but after the disaster that was the Eyeko one that was free with a magazine a few months back it put me off felt tip liners. After trying this though I now want more, it's nice and jet black and goes on nice and smooth. I like how it is a thick pen it makes it so much easier to get my cat eye flick which I wear daily. I have never heard of this brand but in wouldn't mind trying more from them in the future.

Elizabeth Arden Untold £48 for 50ml, 5ml Sample received 

As far as perfume samples go this is a great size I'm very happy with it, not to mention that it smells just divine. I usually stay clear of this brand as I see it for the older lady for some reason but this is a gorgeous sweet smelling fragrance that I would be happy to own the full size.

Eylure Pre- glued Lashes RRP £5.06 I have never tried false lashes before but I'm happy to try these out. I've never tried them before as I'm scared I'll like the look so much that I will want to wear them daily and end up wrecking my own lashes in the process. I'm also not the most patient person and false lashes look like a lot of faffing about but I'll see.

Toni & Guy Classic Shine and Gloss Serium RRP £7.19 for 30ml
My Paul Mitchell shine spray from my May box is still going strong so I wasn't in the market for a new hair shine product just yet but I am happy to try this out. It smells gorgeous and you get a lot of product here so I'm sure that it will last me a long time.

Overall I think this month's Glossybox is a winner I don't really see the connection with London but who cares. I'm loving the Glossy makeover with a small magazine now included. I also like the new card layout containing the the product detail. you can subscribe to Glossybox here
What do you think of my box and what did you get in yours?
Jodie x

Real Techniques half price from iherb!

So the crazy rumours are true! It is cheaper to buy Real Techniques from iherb in the US and get them shipped to the UK.

I got the Real Techniques Core collection for £10.79 including shipping I know crazy right. I can vouch for these that they are genuine and authentic too. The Real Technique quality is definately there.
You get $5 off your first order and then I got the cheapest shipping which was $4. My parcel arrived within two weeks. I am so happy I will definitely be buying more from iherb. I also got two little freebies which where a iherb touch screen pen and a sachet for a healthy drink, I'm sure that I'll never use either but the nice thought was there.

These brushes cost £20.99 from Feel Unique in the UK and to get them for only £10.79 including international shipping is amazing, but if you don't mind the small shipping wait you need to head over to iherb right now and get ordering. I couldn't see any other gems that caught my eye from iherb but I will definitely keep checking.

Have you ever ordered from iherb?

Jodie x

Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer Review in Chantilly

I read a lot of blogs and one concealer kept constantly popping up and it was this the Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer everyone raved about how good it was so I decided to try it for myself.

I ordered it from Space NK as they recently had a free delivery offer on. I have got shade Chantilly which is the lightest that they do. I have noticed this shade is no longer available on the Nars website so I'm worried that maybe it is being discontinued.

So this is my first Nars product and I really like the sleek packaging and the rubber tip which I wasn't expecting I expected it to just be plastic but it's a nice touch.
The wand applicator feels very good quality and the fact that not too much product comes out of the tube.

When I first applied this I panicked oh no its too light my heart dank I'd got the wrong shade but once it was blended it settled and it wasn't such a shock. The shade was perfect phew. This is a great concealer and I would say that it is noticeably better than my current favourite of Benefits Boi-ing concealer. I hope I continue to love this as if I find out that it has been discontinued I will have to stock up.

Have you ever tried this concealer and what did you think? It is my new favourite.

Jodie x

My International Wishlist

There is probably tonnes of products that I want from the USA that are not sold in England but here is my main 3 that you cannot buy from storrs in the UK. If I wanted these items I would have to get them shipped over which would be very pricey in the postage department.
Here is what I am lusting over from across the pond.

Tarte Coral Crush Amazonian Clay Palette
Omg how gorgeous is this, seriously just look at it for another second. Amazing.
This is so cute and it has everything, I love the circular shape and everything. It even has a starfish on the top of the compact which has been cut off in this picture.
I am so tempted to have this shipped over but it is limited edition so I'm guessing it will be hard to get hold of. Sephora currently have it on their site.
I love how you shadows, blush, bronzer and a highlight all in this palette. I am palette obsessed so this is right up my street.

Sigma Brushes and Brush Cup Holder
These look amazing but they are on the pricey side. I think the brush cup holder is a great idea as you can use I for travel too as well as displaying your brushes.
I've heard great things about these brushes but I've never tried them so I might add them to my Christmas list.
You can buy them individually or in sets. I'd like the essentials set.
The good thing about Sigmas website is that they shipping internationally no problem but again pricey.

What do you think of my international picks?

Jodie x

Bioderma personalised skincare regime prize video introduction

So you might have seen in a previous post that I won a twitter competition for a Bioderma personalised skincare regime.
I went into more detail in my last post about it so I won't repeat myself.

Here you can see the 5 items that I got as my prize and what I thought about them.

Jodie x

I cannot go a month without buying Company and Marie Claire magazine!

Can you not go a single month without buying a certain magazine? For me it's Company and Marie Claire I love them both so much! I have to have them in the travel size too, none of that big bulky magazine lark.

I have to buy these on the day of release if my local store doesn't have it I will go to another. I will not rest until I've purchased it.

I want to subscribe to Company as this is my favourite out of the two but I'm waiting for that one awesome subscription gift that will draw me in.

What is your favourite monthly magazine? Do you read them in the paper or tablet version?

Jodie x

August UK Glossybox - Highflyers

So here is my August Glossybox, the theme this month is Highflyers and it includes products from around the world.

If you are subscribed to my blog you may have noticed that I've not done a blog post for the July Glossybox, this is because I've still not received it! I will get my rant over quickly. I've been subscribed to Glossybox for 4 months and the courier that they use Hermes are absolutely rubbish in my area of Wigan! My courier delivered both my May and June box the same day despite having my May box for over a week before I guess she just couldn't be bothered to deliver it. Now with my July one I tracked it religiously (as I'm inpatient) and it said there had been 3 unsuccessful delivery attempts which was BS as my husband was off work that week and he didn't hear the door go and there was no phone calls or cards left. I am furious to say the least as she sent the box back to Glossybox and I have still not received it and Glossybox aren't much help either, so this may be my last Glossybox review.

Anyway enough ranting here is the August box, mine includes:

Sweden - Emite Eyelash Curler RRP £20
Everyone received this in their box this month and it is my favourite item. I am currently using a £1 one from body care which is fair rubbish. A decent eyelash was something on my wishlist so now I can take it off. This one is great quality and I love it, it also comes with spare pads.

USA - Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy Noir Sample
Most people don't like receiving perfume samples but I am very grateful of this as my perfume has ran out and also this smells amazing! It really smells delicious and so feminine. I would definitely consider buying the full size of this. That is why I am happy to receive samples as I would never even try brand in store (as the word chavy comes to mind) anyway I really like it.

UK - Jelly Pong Pong 2 in 1 Shadow/Liner Full Size RRP £10.50
I didn't know that this brand was a UK one for some reason I thought it was international anyway let's hope that this is better than the mascara that we received in May as that went down like a lead balloon with bloggers.
Though to say that this was a 2 in 1 shadow or liner is abit far fetched as I can't imagine anyone using this as a shadow pencil but I will reserve judgement until I have tried it. The one that i received is in a dark green colour.

Brazil - Oceane Make Up Remover Pen
This doesn't have a RRP as it isn't currently available in the UK.
This is a full size product that comes with 3 refills. I am hoping that this fairs better than the Simple pen that I reviewed a few months ago that was rubbish. This difference with this though it that the nib is removable which was the Simples main problem as after a couple of uses the bib got dirty and just smudged the make up around which was the opposite of what I wanted it to do. So i hope this one works better.

USA - Tresemme Platinum Strength Hair Treatment Full Size RRP £1.49
I love Tresemme as it is currently the only hair product brand that I am using I will go into more detail for my love for Tresemme in a planned future post. I am happy to receive this product and to try it out as I suffer from split ends. I will let you know how I get on.

So there is my Highflyer August box what do you think? I am very happy with it as I got 4/5 full sized products and the eyelash curlers alone are worth more than I paid for the box which was £12.95.
Let's hope that my July Summer Glossybox arrives before Winter hmm.

Jodie x