Glossy Box | September 2012

The other day I got home from sixth form and was just sat in my room when there was a knock at the door. Oh, hello Mr Deliveryman here to give me my latest Glossy Box!

This month marks my year of being a Glossy Box subscriber and I have to say that I've had mixed feelings about them. Over the summer I found that there were a couple of boxes that really didn't live up to my expectations. As a result of that and a lack of money I unsubscribed for the month of August meaning that I missed out on the around the world box which really wasn't upsetting for me at all! I subscribed again and I'm quite happy that I did, this month's box was much more interesting and something to get a little bit more excited about than previous boxes - although I must say that it isn't my favourite box that I've received.

One major plus about this box is the actual box itself. The picture isn't very clear but it's mint green with pink and white doodles all over. It's so cute that I'm using it for storage in my room.

Lady Gaga Fame Fragrance: This is probably the most exciting product for me in the box. I've heard people say that they aren't too impressed by the scent of this but I'm quite a fan. I haven't actually tried it out properly so I don't know how it will smell on me but hopefully it'll be nice & I may have to splash on the full size!

Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream: I've tried the Balance Me moisturiser and lip balm before and have quite liked both and this seems good too. My only issue with it is the fact that it has a scent, I'm not too keen on smelly products going on my face.

Maghrabian Hair Oil: I've never actually used a hair oil before so I'm quite interested to trying this out. The smell is lovely which is always a plus!

Vichy Idealia Day Care Cream: I'm always on the look out for new moisturisers and this one looks promising. It's a pink cream and smells lovely and well, moisturisery..

Rodial Glamoxy Snake Serum & 5 Minute Facial: Not the most generous samples ever as they are just two sachets of each but hey, still two uses I suppose. The serum is pretty self explanatory whilst the 5 minute facial is a clay mask. I'd never heard of Rodial before but may have to look into them more if they work well.

Do you subscribe to any beauty boxes? I'd love to know which ones and what you received!

Hair A-Z

I love reading other people's posts about their 'hair history' and have been wanting to do mine for a while now. Unfortunately mine isn't the most interesting in the world but I figured some of you may like to read it. So here goes, the story of how I've had my hair for the past 17 (and a half) years...

**WARNING** Severe overload of photos of me in this post, I got a little overenthusiastic with picking them out, I even had a nice little trip over to ye olde bebo!

As a baby I had very, very dark hair. The style was baby style, you know, just kinda there. Then as I became a toddler it turned a lot lighter, almost blonde even. My mum kept it cut into a bob until I was about four maybe? Then it started to get darker again and went to a dark brown and I grew it to just below my shoulders. It stayed like this until I was about eleven. There was one slight incident at the age of about eight where I got hold of a pair of scissors and gave a chunk along my hair line a lovely chop (think stupid looking tufty fringe!)

When I was leaving primary school I got a long side fringe cut in, just basically a few layers/feathering to make it a bit more interesting as I was getting a bit older. The length was still just below my shoulders and I had it parted at the side.

Then when I was about 12/13 I took a bit of a risk. I got my hair cut into a Posh Spice-esque style (unfortunately I can't find the picture). Think super short bob with it shorter at the back. I loved it like this, I had a nice side fringe, layers and the cut quite suited me (I think anyway..) but it was just so much to maintain! I'd have to straighten it every day and put loads of serums on it to keep it smooth and it couldn't be tied up, basically I just got a bit stressed out with having to put so much effort into it! I decided to grow it out into a longer bob, just below my chin, still with the layers and fringe. I kept it like this for perhaps a year and a half.

I then grew it to about shoulder length and still had the fringe and everything. It stayed like this for quite a while and I just kept getting it cut into the same style over and over. Now is when I got lazy... I didn't bother getting my hair cut for quite a while and it started to get long. I decided that I liked the length and, after a trim to get rid of the graveyard that was forming on my head, I kept it long, with a longish side fringe and long layers. I really loved it like this as I could do literally anything with it!

I got slightly addicted to the length and just kept growing it and growing it and then in spring/summer 2011 I changed my parting to a near-middle one. Since then my parting has gone even more centered and the length is now to about my waist. I tend to just leave it blow dried which gives a natural, slightly wavy look, or chuck it up in a bun. I'm not really very into hair if I'm honest, as long as it looks slightly decent then I'm happy!

Just to add, as for the colour I have never dyed my hair. It's naturally a medium brown colour & in the summer it sometimes to develop some subtle blonde/ginger highlights. For the natural look of my hair see the final image.

Haul | Boots, Topshop, Superdrug

Leigh Ankle Grazer jeans | Topshop | £38

Set of 4 rings | Topshop | £4 (I think) in the sale

Herbal Essences Beautiful Ends shampoo | Superdrug | £1.69

Barry M Nail Paint in Coral | Boots | £2.99

Nivea Oil Free Moisturiser | Boots | £3.99

Maybelline Superstay 24hour foundation (Nude) | Boots | £9.19

Maybelline the Falsies Black Drama mascara | Boots | £7.99

Maybelline Colour Sensational lipstick (Sweet Pink) | Boots | £7.19

Natural Collection Bronze Powder (Sun Shine) | Boots | £1.99

Natural Collection Blush (Pink Cloud) | Boots | £1.99

Natural Collection Eyeshadow Duo (Mocha/Latte) | Boots | £1.99

Collection 2000 Colour Pout Lasting Lip Stain (Flirt) | Boots | £4.99

L'Oréal Paris Super Liner (Black) | Boots | £6.49

Models Own Nail Polish (Utopia) | Boots | £5

Models Own Beetlejuice Nail Polish (Copper Pot) | Boots | £5

This was originally going to be two hauls - hence the different backgrounds - but I figured it was easier just to pop them both together! I received quite a few offers on the makeup products but can't quite remember them all, I do remember that the Models Own nail polishes were buy one get one half price though which is a fab deal! Boots also have an offer where you receive 10 points for every pound if you spend over £15, meaning that on a shop that cost £22something I got 220 points, how great is that?!