December Birchbox

Well it is that time of the month again!! and my favourite!! It it time for my December Birchbox!!

For those of you that don't know, Birchbox is a monthly beauty box that you receive, cost of £12,95, and it is send to you a little box with five samples, according to a questionnaire that you do when you subscribe to Birchbox. And every month there is a themed box!! This month the box was "Put on your party shoes" with the collaboration of Sophia Webster. 

The first product that I got was the High Beam from Benefit, which came inside a Christmas cracker.

I do have to say I wasn't really impressed with this product, I have a few at home, so I didn't wanted another one. To use it, put a small amount onto cheekbones, browbone and blend to give a nice highlighter look. (RRP £19.50) 

The next one was the Ilsci Organic mask. 

This mask is a plant based treatment which uses natural actives and soothing gel formula to smooth and rejuvenate. To use, apply a generous layer to clean skin and leave to dry before rising off. (RRP From £39.95).

The third product is from Electric Hair, it is the Electric hydrate shampoo, this product helps to repair damaged hair and improves the shine with this nourishing, moisture rich formula. Focusing on the roots, massage a small amount into wet hair before rising out. (RRP £17.50). 

I also received in the box, from Eyeko, a fat eye stick, and it is a full size product. 

For a 60's inspired look glide along your lash line or smudge all over for a sultry statement. (£8.00). I was quite happy with this product, it seems really good quality and it is a full size product!!!.

Next, was from Trilogy, Certified organic rosehip oil.

This product is a fine blend of pure rosehip oil, perfect to give some extra nourishment to skin. Just massage a few drops into any dry patches areas. (RRP £16.50). 

The next product I was quite disappointed with for the simple reason that at the beginning at the month, Birchbox send an e mail out giving a choice of four nail polishes from Models Own. 

Considering that my favourite colour was purple, that was the shade I went for!! but I didn't get it!!

  Instead of purple I got a green shade, sparkly, which has a velvet finish. I am not a big fan of green so I don't know if I will actually use this product!! (I really wanted the purple one!!).

The last product was from Lifestyle, and it was a Sophia Webster purse, with a leopard print.

It is a nice purse, little bit small, but I am not sure if it is worth £25.00!!!! Will have to think what to use it for, considering how small this actually is!!!.

And that was my December Birchbox!! It was quite a good box overall, except for the nail polish that I don't like the colour, but anyway, maybe I will actually give it a try, it is Christmas after all!!!.

Well flowers, let me know what you think about my box, or if you are subscribed to any beauty box!!

Until my next post

Be Happy 

Marlene 

xx 

Haul:)

Hello darlings today I bring you another haul (oppps)!! I just couldn't resist all of that beauties in the shelves!! 

The first thing that I bought was actually from black Friday, from Beauty bay. 

I really liked that packaging but I did thought, when I received the palette that it does look too cheap, specially when you open the palette, but the eye shadows do have a good pigmentation. It costed £14.00.

The next products where from Marks & Spencer the brand called Autograph. There was a sale on if you buy two products, the second is half price. 

So I bought a bronzer and a lip matte velvet. the bronzer was £12.00 and the lip velvet was the same price, but it was half price. 

The next products were from Boots, and Boots, L'oreal Bourjois and Max Factor had an offer of if you spend more than £14.00 you would get a free box with four products.

I bought a nail polish which comes with a topcoat to and I bought a L'oreal L'extraordinaire liquid lipstick and I got a box with a lipstick, white eye pencil, nail varnish and mascara. 

I also bought the two lipsticks that I didn't had from the Velvet Edition(£7.99), and I bought an eye shadow quad(£7.99)

And I got a box from Bourjois,containing a lipstick, eye shadow  quad, nail vanish and a mascara. 

I also stopped at Accessorize and I bought the cutest wallet I ever seen!!!!.

I always like to have a smaller wallet in case that I use a smaller bag and I thought this one was so beautiful!! It was £12.00.

I also went to MAC and I had to get something!! couldn't resist!! :)

I bought a lipstick, in Rebel, it is my favourite colour!! It is just so beautiful, I use it for day time and night time, I don't really have a specific colour for day time or day time, I just use what I feel like to use.

Well that is all I bought for now, let me know what you think of the products and what you have been buying!!

Take care

Marlene 

xxx

Make up Workshop with Jo Bilham

Hello flowers today I bring you my experience from yesterday's make up workshop that I attended with the fantastic make up artist Jo Bilham. Jo works as a make up artist but she also works as a photographer, but she actually graduated in Arts.

Jo was one of the first groups of students that attended a course with the famous sisters Pixiwoo, but at that time they weren't as famous as they are nowadays. 

I was quite excited knowing that Jo learned from Pixiwoo, they are so talented and creative, so I knew that Jo would possess the same  talented as them, 

At the workshop  was me and another lady(she was so lovely), and we sat down having a nice cup of tea while we discussed what  we wanted to learn in more detail.

The other lady wanted to know how to do a perfect, sharp smokey eyes as an evening look, I wanted to learn more about how to perfect an eye liner and how to do an eye look with an eye crease cut. 

I have to say that I love a look with a cut crease look, black eye liner and a bright red lipstick to add glamour and sophistication. 

Jo (very patiently) explained some of the techniques for blending, how to do a sharp smokey eye and a few tricks on how to do an eye liner. 

After explaining a few things of the more technical side, Jo then created a look according with what we wanted to learn, explaining step by step. 

I have to say i was so happy with my look, so simple but so glamorous at the same time.

My make up consisted in an Illamasqua skin base, and because I had a purple shirt, Jo did my make up with purple tones, black eye liner, contour, light pink blush, highlighter, the lipstick was the new Velvet edition by Bourjois in pink. 

I really like the way that the eye shadows were so well blended, how the colours are exactly in the crease not going above or to the eyelid, it just looks so perfect.
Jo also did a face chart with all the products that she used so that we don't forget in the future.
It was amazing to be able to spend the day with Jo, she is so lovely, great teacher, and an amazing make up artist. She is located in Hebden Bridge(but she does go to another areas), and she does photo shoots, bridal, workshops and private lessons.
This is her website if you want to have a look at her work (its really good) http://www.jobilham.co.uk/.
It was wonderful to be able to spend an afternoon with her, and to share my passion for make up and just talk about the products that we like and the ones that we don't like.
I really hope that I can meet her a lot more so that she can share her knowledge and techniques.
But it was indeed a wonderful afternoon.

Until my next post
Take care
Marlene
xx