Latest in Beauty: Grazia Beauty Advent Calendar: The first eight days

I hummed and hawed about picking up a Grazia Advent Calendar in association with Latest in Beauty. During their Halloween sale it was marked down 20% (was £85) and I thought I was getting a real bargain until Black Friday week tipped up and it went down to £42! (next year I'll be waiting!) Here's what I received during the first 8 days:

Day 1 - Anastasia Liquid Lipstick in Ashton, which I'd received before. It looks like a nice pink shade in the tube but in reality it's a matte brown. Not for me, I passed this one along.

Day 2 - Aurelia Probiotic Skincare Cell Repair Night Oil 15ml which I've used before and my skin loved. It's a decent size too.

Day 3 - System Professional Reconstructive Elixir 30ml which I use all the time. My hair loves it. A very welcome addition to the calendar. This is worth £17 and was one of the reasons I had to have the advent calendar.

Day 4 - bareMinerals Skinlongevity Vital Power Infusion - again, I've used this serum before and it's lovely. 

Day 5 - St Tropez Self Tan Purity - Face Mist - I don't use self tan so I'll pass this one along also.

Day 6 - Omorovicza Illuminating Moisturiser - another product I was really excited about. Expect a review on the blog soon!

Day 7 - NARS Satin Lip Pencil - ooh I love this one! Gorgeous wearable shade.

Day 8 - Darphin Vetiver Aromatic Stress Relief Detox Oil Mask mini - I love the scent of vetiver. I'm looking forward to trying this out.

In the first 8 days there are 5 products I'm really excited about - which is not bad going! What advent calendar are you opening? (I've also got a lovely tea one I got from my friend Magi).

The Glamour Summer Edit: Latest in Beauty

The Glamour Summer Edit (£20) is available now from Latest in Beauty. It contains Glamour mag's Beauty Director's favourites which are perfect for summer. The contents are worth an incredible £104!

I'm currently obsessed with Aurelia Probiotic Skincare's Miracle Cleanser. Inside the box is a 30ml size (perfect try me or for holidays) and a bamboo muslin cloth. See my review HERE.

Oribe Dry Texturising Spray 75ml also caught my eye. I'm always on the lookout for new to me haircare and this one adds texture and volume.

Grounded's Chocolate Orange Body Scrub uses coffee grains to exfoliate the skin leaving it soft and smooth. The chocolate orange scent sounds right up my street!

Nuxe's Prodigieux Shower Oil comes in a 30ml tube and is perfect for holidays as it has a golden shimmer. With notes of Orange Blossom, Vanilla and Magnolia this smells great. 

WOW Mask Luxury Facial Mask which is a single use sheet mask and contains collagen-boosting ingredients which firm and plump the skin.

The Revlon Ultra HD Matte LipColor is just the sort of shade I'd choose (Devotion).  A matte finish which is comfortable on the lips and a pretty shade.

St Tropez Self Tan Classic Bronzing Mist 125ml is (apparently) easy to apply and give an instant streak free colour.  I'm not a real fake tan fan but might give this a go before my summer holidays.

The final item is Ladival Sun Protection Spray SPF30 150ml which protects the skin from infrared-A rays as well as UVA and UVB.

What's your favourite item from the box? Did you pick one up?

Advent Calendar - Days 11, 12 & 13

On Day 11 I got Jo Hansford Intensive Masque (40ml).  Smells great and is a rich cream which promise to leave hair healthy.  Looking forward to trying this out.

On day 12 I got Balance Me Radiance Face Oil (10ml).  This retails at £15.  A 100% natural oil rich in Buriti Nut Oil, Roman chamomile, yarrow and benzoin.  I've tried this before and I really liked it.

Today, Day 13 I received - St Tropez Instant Glow Body Lotion 50ml - a lightweight cream which gives an instant even golden tan which just washes off.  Looking forward to trying this.

What are your thoughts?

Elle & Harper's Bazaar Magazine Freebies - St Tropez & NEOM

Some more great magazine freebies! My Elle magazine got a bit wet in the downpour yesterday.  With Elle there is a free St Tropez Gradual Tan - Everyday Body Moisturiser in two shades - I picked up the light/medium (75ml) and in Harper's Bazaar there is a NEOM Hand Cream in a choice of two scents - I picked Complete Blush - Moroccan Blush Rose (50ml) and it's worth £15!  If the magazine wasn't so expensive I might have bought another!  


The hand cream is gorgeous - scented with moroccan rose, lime and black pepper and is super-moisturising.  The full size of 75ml retails at £20.

Also in Elle there was a sachet of Lancome Genifique (2ml).  I love a freebie  (or two).  In Elle magazine next month there is a free Jemma Kidd eyeliner in a choice of three shades.

Just the Glamour Balance Me freebies to go.  Do you think you will pick up any of these magazines?


p.s. I almost forgot about Instyle's offers this month - out today - a free Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill sample size mascara (it's fab) and a Shiseido Cleanser! 

InStyle Magazine - July - Freebies & Offers

July InStyle magazine is fantastic! Not only do you get a freebie (Body Shop Mascara worth £10 or two Body Shop eyeliners - Black/French Navy worth £16) there is also some fabulous offers and interesting reading.

Also included is two 10ml sachets of L'Oreal EverPure Shampoo & Conditioner.

Onto the freebies (next month) and the offers!

Next month's issue (out 5 July) have a Free Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill Mascara and Shiseido Cleanser.  As well as 20% off at Time to Spa and 10% off at Benefit.

25% off The Body Shop Make up including Lily Cole's Limited Edition Collection plus a free makeover instore - just take the page with you.  Or order online using code 38938.

The final amazing offer is a VIP Make Up Masterclass at Giorgio Armani Counters.  It costs £10 with goodie bag and glass of Champagne.  The booking fee is redeemable on any products bought.  Goodie bag contains - 3ml Regenessence Serum, 5ml Luminous Silk Foundation, 5ml Fluid Sheer, 2ml Blushing Fabric (this is fab, currently using a sample) and 2ml Eyes to Kill Excess Mascara.  Definitely going to book in for this one!

If you subscribe to InStyle they are giving away a free gift of 3 OPI Nail Lacquers (first 400 subscribers).

I also have some new wants which are featured in the magazine -

The Art of Body Care Travel Collection, Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb La Vie en Rose EDT, Chanel Rouge Coco Baume, Givenchy Mister Radiant Body, St Tropez Aftersun Lotion and Kerastase Cristalliste Luminous Perfecting Shampoo & Conditioner.

The magazine costs £2.50 - a bargain!  Did you pick up InStyle magazine?

Latest in Beauty Box(es)

I received two Latest in Beauty boxes the other day.  One was a luxury sample one and the other Little Beauty Box.

Here's what I got:

A Balance Me Daily Essential Skincare Duo - comprising of 15ml Pure Skin Face Wash and 15ml Balancing Facial Moisturiser -  both normal/combination skin.  Both are a good size - looking forward to trying them out.

Melvita Youthful Skin Cream 15ml - I loved the previous Melvita luxury samples from Latest in Beauty.  Have tried this cream out once so far and I love it!  It's more a lotion than a cream and sinks into the skin and also smells great.

My third item (free postage with the purchase of 3 luxury skincare items) is Balance Me Rose Otto Body Wash - love this body wash - smells of Turkish delight.

In my Little Beauty Box I got:

St Tropez SPF 30 High Protection for Body with Tan Enhancer Sachet 36g - will keep this for summertime.

5 x 1ml sachets Lavera Moisturising Cream

5ml Sasy & Savy Rose Lavender Hand & Nail Creme

All in all, pleased with this little lot, reviews to follow x