My Very Own Glossy Box!

Glossy Box - how much do you know?

Glossy Box is a great UK service where 5 products are sent to your door for a small fee of £10, every month. (Much like the USA's Birch Box) This means you can try products in your own home, in your own time without the pressure of sales associates. You also don't have to commit to buying a full-sized high-end product without testing it out first.

The wonderful Glossy Box team hosted an event on Thursday evening and I got to create my very own Glossy Box, containing products I wanted!

Choosing five products from their shelves, we got to wrap up the cute little pink box to take home. So here are the items I picked:

1. Deborah Lippmann Nail Polish in Prelude To A Kiss

This shade will most likely become a staple in my collection. The baby nude pink is perfect for delicately polished nails and I can't wait to try the quality!

2. Neal Wolf Silk

This I picked up from first glance. I saw that it was a balm for blow-drying and I thought that it would be perfect for me! I have actually tried this once already and I love the scent :)

3. Murad Time Release Acne Cleanser

Whilst at the event, I heard some raves about this brand and product so I thought I better give it go since my skin has had some weird break outs recently. It also seems to be a hit with those who don't suffer from acne, so good all round!

4. Korres Lip Butter in Wild Rose

I have always wanted to try Korres products but I just never got around to getting any so I grabbed my chance and nabbed this lip butter!

5. StriVectin Tightening and Sculpting Face & Neck Cream

I picked this up because I'd heard a few good reviews on how amazing this was and wanted to try it out for myself :)

What makes the product choices even better is that behind these products are people who are good and honest and trying to open up the market to their ideas. I love that I've never tried any of these brands before because it gives me something new to get excited about!

As always, I will be reviewing the products I love, either on here or by video on my YouTube account, so do follow/subscribe if you want to!

If you would like to find out more about Glossy Box and the service they offer, visit the Glossy Box website here!

Love love and glossyboxlove!!

Toffee xXxXx

Diagonal Gradient NOTD

I've actually written a similar tutorial for gradient nails so I'm going to skip a few steps. You can find my original post here.

Step 1: Choose your colours!

I picked Barry M's 294 Cyan Blue and a Nails Inc polish I got from InStyle magazine called Electric Teal.

Step 2: Paint the base coat onto your nails.

I've used two coats to get the colour completely opaque. I'm also wearing a base coat underneath to prevent staining and to prime the nails.

Step 3: Paint the sponge.

Because I knew I wanted to do a diagonal gradient, I painted the sponge vertically instead of horizontally. Paint the base colour onto the sponge and the colour you want to fade it into directly underneath.

Step 4: Sponge the nails.

Gently press the sponge onto the nail in a diagonal and lift it back off. Quickly build up to desired colour and repeat on all nails. Repaint the sponge when necessary.

Step 5: Apply a single layer of top coat.

This will even out the polish giving it a cleaner gradient look.

Step 6: Clean up the mess.

Taking some nail polish remover and a cotton bud or cotton pad, wipe away the excess polish around your nails from the sponge.

Et voila!

Let me know if you try it and what you think in the comments below :)

Love love and diagonallove!!

Toffee xXxXx

Naughty & Nameless

Welcome to the latest Illamasqua collection: Theatre of the Nameless.

I'm sure you've seen many a swatch from other bloggers, so I've chosen a few key products which I think are the must-haves this season.

(Really, I just forgot to bring my camera to the event... oops!)

I love love love these new nail varnishes! They're so different with their innovative "rubber-look" finish. I have just done a lovely NOTD post with Faux Pas and Kink. Check it out here :)

This lipstick matches the Faux Pas nail varnish. Of course it would! I adore the way Illamasqua always choose colours that resonate throughout the collection in different products. This is Kontrol and it is beautiful!

These two shimmer blushers are gorgeous. You have the pinkier shade (Morale) for the girlier girl, and the nuder colour (Ambition) for those who aren't so daring.

I was lucky enough to receive Morale shimmer blush, Kink nail varnish and Beguile pure pigment!

Thinking of picking any of these products up?

Love love and namelesslove!!

Toffee xXxXx

(P.S. Sorry for some bad quality pictures... I used my iPhone 2G camera as I forgot to bring my digital!)

Updated Nail Diary!!

Hey there, bloggerinas!

Whilst I haven't been blogging, I have been playing around with my nails like always. So, I thought I'd give you a picture update on my nails and what I've done with them :)

So since the Blue Ombre nails, I added Barry M's crackle nail effects polish to just jazz up the ombre and change it into a new manicure!

I was getting quite into the gradient effect polish and so I played around with a diagonal blend between a deep green and a sky blue. I took pictures for this so I shall write the tutorial soon.

I did a funky design for my birthday using colours that I really liked - lilac and baby blue!

(Boo at the smudges and chips)

This was in China. They did this with UV gel polish and the sakura flowers were done with a powder substance.

These were also done in China but a different salon. Again, with UV gel polish, they used clear with loose glitter to get the effect.

Sorry this one isn't so clear... It's actually a white rose patten with silver glitter. This is done in normal polish with the white roses hand drawn with a brush and acrylic paint. I got this done in a cute salon in Malaysia.

Right, so I got back and my nails were breaking crazy from being brittle after being softened from the UV gel polish remover. So I filed my nails down and wanted to brighten them up with yellow and gold! I can make a tutorial for this if you want me to :) Just leave me a comment below!

Polkadots are sooooo cute! And the best thing is that white works on any colour!

So, which is your favourite??

Love love and naillove!!

Toffee xXxXx

(P.S. Sorry for the bad quality pics... been using my iPhone 2G a lot)

Kinky Faux Pas NOTD

As a little introduction to the new Theatre of the Nameless Illamasqua collection, I've brought you two of their new nail varnishes.

Now these aren't just new colours, these are new textures too!

Forget the matte craze, we now have the waxy 'rubber-look' phase: a mix between matte and shine.

The packaging of the bottles still resemble the classic Illamasqua quirky square box but with a rubber-y feel lid to match the finish of the polishes.

There are four new colours in this fantastic finish:

Taint - stone brown

Kink - bottle green

Vice - deep cerise

Faux Pas - blue violet

Larissa (Ranking De Cosmeticos) is modelling Kink, and Fei (Peonies And Lilies) is modelling Vice!

So, what do you think? Will you be picking up any of the new "rubber-look" shades?

Love love and kinkylove!!

Toffee xXxXx

# Toffee's Top Lippie Loves! #

Well how about those lippies?

These are my faves from my collection :) The ones I keep in my bag and always pick out!

1. MAC Lipstick in Sweetie (Lustre)

2. Topshop Lipstick in Desert

3. The Body Shop Colourglide Lip Colour in 62 Velvet Wine

4. MAC Lipstick in Creme Cup (Cremesheen)

5. Barry M Lipstick in 147

6. MAC Viva Glam Lipstick in Cyndi (Lustre)

7. Sleek True Colour Lipstick in Barely There (Sheen)

8. GOSH Velvet Touch Lipstick in 66 Bourgogne

I made a video too!

Let me know what your favourite lippies are in the comments ;)

Music by my good friend Tom R

To listen to the full track, click here!

Love love and lippielove!!

Toffee xXxXx

$ Aussie-versary Giveaway!! %

Hi everyone :)

I know it's been a while since I posted on here, and you all know the reason (see previous post) but I think this giveaway will help reconcile our friendship, yes?

I got a wonderful party package from Aussie in the post this morning with a wonderful opportunity for me, as an Aussie Angel to offer seven of my readers to be sent an Aussie party pack themselves!

To win one of seven party packs (including one product of your choice from the Aussie-versary Limited Edition ranges), you just need to comment below or write a blog post telling me what your reason is for celebration!

The Aussie-versary Limited Edition ranges include:

Take The Heat range – shampoo, conditioner, 3MM, heat-protection cream, heat-protection spray – For beautifully blow-dried hair wrap these products around your locks.

Miracle Moist – Shampoo, conditioner, 3MM – These heavenly products infuse moisture into dry damaged hair, leaving hair quenched, luscious, smooth and conditioned faster than you can say ‘shine on me’.

Luscious Long – Shampoo, conditioner, 3MM, leave-in conditioner – Blended with wonderful lovelies like Blue Mountain Eucalyptus extract, these products help transform weak, distressed hair into luscious locks.

There are a few T&C's so please read them carefully before entering :)

1. This competition is open to the Aussie Angels online communities

2. Winners must be UK Mainland residents and aged 18 years or over

3. Winners of the giveaway are to be chosen by Aussie Angels

4. To enter, community members must write a blog post, OR comment on an Angels’ Giveaway blog post, stating how they qualify for a Summer Party pack

5. To qualify for winning the Summer party pack, they must have something to celebrate (there are no restrictions on their reasons for celebration)

6. Selection criteria: Each Aussie Angel will select their own 7 community member winners. Selection is entirely at each Angels discretion

7. The Promoter will not be liable for applications not received, incomplete, delayed or damaged. Last date for receipt of entries is Friday 19 August 2011

8. There will be up to 7 winners per Aussie Angel

9. Winners must be chosen and notified in writing, by the Angels, by Tuesday 23 August 2011

10. The Angels must also notify Aussie, in writing, who they have chosen, by Tuesday 23 August 2011

11. A list of the prize winners will be available on www.uncoveraussie.co.uk after this date

12. The prizes are as stated and cannot be transferred, sold or exchanged. There is no cash alternative. Only one prize per household. No bulk or third party entries accepted

13. Summer Party packs will be sent by Aussie, and all delivery costs covered by Aussie

14. By entering this competition, entrants agree to be bound by the rules and by any other requirements set out in the promotional material.

PROMOTER: Procter & Gamble UK, Weybridge, Surrey, KT13 OXP

For any further info, you can visit the Aussie blogpost here :)

My personal recommendation is the heat-protection spray from the Take The Heat range!

Don't forget, this will close on Friday 19th August so get entering!

(If you write a blogpost, don't forget to link me in the comments)

Good luck, Starlings.

Love love and Aussielove!!

Toffee xXxXx

*whispers* Hello, I miss you quite terribly.

Hi guys,

Sorry I've not been posting... Been out of UK for a while and so haven't had a lot of time to post...

I promise normal blogging will resume as soon as I get back.

But for now, this is where I've been...

1. Malaysia!

Kuantan Beach

At my cousin's wedding :)

2. Singapore!

Marina Bay Sands

Laying by the pool at the Chinese Swimming Club

Gorgeous view from the 30th floor!

3. Malaysia, again!

Ready to go out

The Petronas Towers (aka twin towers) in Kuala Lumpur

4. China!!

Ready to go out again :P

The TV tower in Guangzhou

5. Back to Malaysia, again!

(where I currently am)

Ready to attend a charity dinner!

Hehe, hope you are all well :)

Love love and travellove!!

Toffee xXxXx