Carmine's November box!

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This post is a little late, but I've finally got around to revealing to you lovelies the wonderful contents of Carmine's November box...

       Themed as their 'fame and good fortune' box, all the products link to a celebrity (a lovely, albeit a little bit of a cheesy, idea).

As above (L-R):

Lulu's Time Bomb Flashback Night Cream (£9.50 for 15ml)

Neom Organic Body Lotion (£23.50)

Dainty Doll Eyeliner Pencil (£10.50) 

New CID i-pout Lipstick (£15)

Cosmetics A La Carte Brow Ink (£22)

New CID Lipstick

First of all I had to quickly praise Carmine's inclusion of New CID's lipstick. Having tried it out, I can tell you I absolutely love it. The quality is fantastic, with lovely pigmentation and a formula that kept my lips hydrated and moisturised...and somehow stayed put for quite a while. The best part though? Well obviously the genius idea of the lighting! Ok I haven't practically tested this out at night yet, but I just love this inventive idea that makes applying lipstick just a little bit more fun (yes I fall easily for gimmicks in packaging).

Lulu's Time Bomb Flashback Night Cream

I really think Carmine should introduce some type of form in their subscription asking a few simple questions, ie. What age are you? Ok I know I can use this cream and it might be lovely, but ordinarily I won't go out and buy an anti-ageing cream, being 21. 

"This extremely powerful anti-ageing time machine does all the work...". I'm not sure if that's Lulu's words or Carmines (read from the description card), either way I'll be passing this onto my mum and will be sure to report back if she's whisked back to her youthful wrinkle-free days any time soon.

Cosmetics A La Carte Brow Ink

Having wanted to try out this semi-permanent brow ink for a while (and retailing for £22) I was very impressed this was included! I got the shade taupe, which is a little on the light side for my brows but was still usuable. This can be doubled as an eyeliner but I personally found that it wasn't pigmented enough for this. I have to say that I'm actually pretty disappointed with this product having been so excited to try it out. Maybe mine is a little faulty, but hardly any of the ink actually comes out, leaving the lightest impression of a brown stain. After persistently trying I've given up, but I'd really like to know if anyone else who's tried this product has had the same problem or if mine is in fact faulty.

Neom Organic Body Lotion

Neom is a brand I've only recently heard about, but having read great reviews and knowing of it's organic ingredients I was really excited to try this out. Carmine have given a luxury sized sample in the box, which I thought was still very generous and has lasted me a while....So yes I have been using it and this is because I'm a little bit in love. I'm not normally that impressed with body lotions and often find myself going back to Burt's Bees range, but this product delivers on all counts. It's rich yet absorbs and sinks in easily to my dry winter skin... and smells incredible with lavender and jasmine packed in. Suffice to say I will be buying a full sized one once this is lovingly used up!

Dainty Doll Eyeliner

Lastly, I was once again pleasantly surprised to find a product from a range that I'd been wanting to try out for a while. Dainty Doll was created by former Girl's Aloud member, Nicole Roberts. I wasn't their biggest fan but I love the idea of her makeup range, designed specifically for pale skinned gals (a need-to-fill gap in the market). This retails for £10.50 and was a full size eyeliner..so once again I think Carmine have really outdone themselves in terms of value for money! The eyeliner I received came in the shade 'Night Train', quite a unique dark bluish-grey colour, which I've now worn a few times. I like the staying power, although the pigmentation isn't great, having to apply it about 2-3 times before the colour will build up properly...So I probably wouldn't buy this again because, if I'm being brutally honest, I don't think it's any better than a eyeliner that I could get at half the price, still a lovely treat to have included though!

Overall, although I was a little disappointed with a couple of products, I am still impressed with this month's box. Carmine have yet again delivered high end and high quality brands and products (mostly full size) that all retail for a considerable amount more than the £10 payed for the box. 

However, I have now cancelled my subscription to Carmine. Wait what?...Ok, I'm just guessing that's what some of you were thinking :p Basically, although I have really enjoyed Carmine's first two boxes, I still want to try out other companies offerings. After I've tried out pretty much all the boxes I want I'll then come back and make a decision over which I'll keep an ongoing subsciption to. So what box is next? Feel Unique! I've been wanting to try out this box for ages and since I can't really afford to keep Carmine going as well on my lowly student budget I've had to say goodbye (for now).

So what did you think of this month's Carmine box? I'd love to know as well if you've tried out any others this month.

My Ever Changing Hair Care Routine

My hair care routine seems to be ever changing (as the title would suggest). I'm very finicky with hair products and am therefore I'm constantly looking to try out new things. I get bored pretty easily which I guess comes down to the fact that hair care is not exactly the pinacle of excitement in beauty terms. 

Still, I want to find products that will improve the texture and strength of my hair...which can often be dry and quite weak (most probably from endless straightening and damaging heat!). So I'm pleased to say that four new products that I've tried out this month really impressed me, so much so that I might actually be sticking with them once they're used up...most probably :p.

 

 The first product I tried out was Neil and Wolf's Intensive Care Treatment. This came with October's Glossybox as a full size product, and as normal retail is £12 I was pretty impressed that this was in there. But, I actually neglected this product for a while until the hair mask I was using ran out. Now after a few of weeks of use I can report that this treatment is so enjoyable and lovely to use! Not only has it helped smooth and moisturise my dry ends, but the smell is incredibly enticing.

I now use this 2-3 times a week and it's a great addition to my routine that I always look forward to using.

 

VO5's new range of hair care products have been out for quite a while now and I know there have been a fair few reviews, but I had to give in and make my contribution. I was previously using a L'oreal shampoo and conditioner before I bought V05 Give Me Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner for dry hair. Once I began using them, there was a marked difference and improvement. My hair actually became shinier once dried, silkier and softer. I really didn't expect that much of a result and I have used it every time since. If you have dry or damaged hair then I honestly couldn't recommend this range more, which also has a variety of other products for all different hair types, and at just £3.49 this is an absolute bargain!

The bottle does actually say, "Quenches thirsty hair for a shimmering, shiny transformation"...and a rare moment has struck; the product has done exactly what it says on the bottle.

Dove's Nourishing Oil Care Express Treatment Conditioner was free with Marie Claire (from at least a couple of months ago I think). Even though it's just a small sample, it's fared me well, lasting for about 6 washes. Like Neal and Wolf's hair treatment, this has an amazing fragrance, quite sweet and floral but sophisticated. I have loved using this up and was actually sad when I couldn't get any more out of the bottle (despite consistently trying). This nourishing oil treatment has worked wonders for my hair, especially the ends which have gotten very dry and damaged recently. Every time I used this the texture of my hair seemed to improve more and  more...needless to say I won't be waiting for another free sample, I'll be sure to buy one of these as soon as possible.

Together all four of these products seemed to have worked amazingly well, leaving my hair softer, shinier and more manageable in the last month... I think, in fact, I may have struck 'hair care routine gold' with these! No changing products now, I'm definitely sticking (well, no promises).

P.S. Don't forget to enter my GIVEAWAY ending on the 4th December for your chance to win a carmine beauty box, E.L.F., Ted Baker, Leighton Denny products and more!

Soap and Glory Cosmetics: Good Face Foundation Review!

If you haven't heard of the brand Soap and Glory, then you should really be down right ashamed of yourself...Ok fine, a little harsh, but this has to be one of my favourite skincare brands who have just recently delved into the world of makeup!

Well known for their creative and vintage/retro style packaging and design of their products (quite similar to Benefit), the quality is also amazing...well this being said from the products I have tried out so far. Favourites would have to include The Breakfast Scrub and Big Butter Blueberry Thrill.

But anyway, yes you see where this going, I gave in, got up and went to my nearest Boots to try out a couple of products. I didn't exactly splurge because I didn't want to spend too much, but as I had just run out of my Bourjois Healthy Mix foundation I thought a replacement was in order.

The 'Show Good Face Foundation and Primer' looked very appealing and seemed to be an all-round package. Soap and Glory really haven't missed anything out, including an SPF factor and primer into their foundation which I found unusual and to be quite honest, a brilliant idea! The packaging is also lovely and really drew me in, which I know is a bit of a gimmick but it's always great to find something quirky and original.

Inside the packaging the actual product is simple but still sweet and small enough to pop in your handbag. It has a secure twist top, ensuring that product won't get out. So far so good! I really can't find any flaws in regard to design and packaging, but obviously what really matters is the product quality itself.

As you can see above I got the shade 'Blanche Neige', which is the 'fairest of them all'. My complexion is pretty pale, but I'm sure there are others out there paler than me and this shade would probably be too dark for them as it's only just light enough for me to wear. The shade has strong yellow undertones that is perfect for me having easily irritated and therefore often reddened skin, as it helps counteract it...but again I don't think this will be a colour match for everyone.

When I first applied the foundation I found it had the consistency and texture of a moisturiser and was really pleasant to use. However, the coverage was minimal and didn't do a good job of covering up pigmentation or other flaws. I'd have to say I found this 'foundation' to be much more like a tinted moisturiser. The primer in the product is also supposed to make it 'long-wear', but for me this wasn't the case. Still it left my skin dewy and and with a bit of a glow...but I'm definitely on the fence about how much I'll be using it particularly in the winter months when I like a little more coverage.

Overall I do quite like the product but I have to say I don't think I'll purchase again. It's a nice, lighter option to wear when you're feeling lazy and your skin needs a little bit of a break, but at £11 it's still not what I would deem cheap seeing as it's a high street brand. Yet I have to say I'll probably still try out some other products in this lovely looking range that I'm just really drawn towards... gimmicky packaging is definitely the culprit to blame here!

Have you tried out any of Soap and Glory's cosmetics? What did you think?

Festive beauty buys!

This is a post that I was so excited to write. It's taken a while to look though all the wonderful products, sets and gifts that have been released exclusively for Christmas, but I can finally say that I've come up a very exciting list featuring the best of the best!

So here's my count down of my five favourite Christmas beauty launches to get you in the festive mood...

Gingerbread House Bubble Bar, £2.95

Snow Cake Soap, £2.95

Candy Cane Soap, £2.75

If you're a fan of Lush, then you'll absolutely love these new additions that smell of all things sweet and lovely (as expected). The Gingerbread House is something that's especially caught my eye, and at only £2.95, I say let's treat ourselves girls...or ask the other half :p

Available in store and online at Lush

1. The More the Merrier gift set.  
2.  The Gingerbread Girl shampoo, shower gel, bubble bath and body lotion.  
3. Peppermint Bark shampoo, shower gel and bubble bath.  
4. Candy Cane Lane shower gel, body lotion and lip shine


I always find myself getting excited when I have a look at Philosophy's latest products, and these Christmas sets don't disappoint. The peppermint bark gift is designed as an ornament and would also make a lovely stocking filler. But for myself, I can't imagine anything more perfect than the Gingerbread Girl set, packaged like it's already been especially gift wrapped and I'm sure smelling completely divine and 'Christmassey'. It's definitely allowable to make up words on special occasions.

Philosophy Christmas gifts can be found on their website or if you're from the UK they can be found here.

Illamasqua have created the 'perfect foursome' for a white Christmas. The gorgeous shades include a base coat and varnish in Scorch,  as well as Prism and Harsh. When I came across this special collection for winter I thought I had to share...it'd just be selfish not too. At £39 they're pretty pricey, but if you're looking for a lovely and unique present than I'd definitely recommend this. Layer these pigmented colours with iridescent glitter and you've definitely nailed the Christmas look. Pun totally intended.

Available online and in store at Selfridges.

1. Lancome Beauty Christmas Crackers
2. Kiehl's Exclusive Holiday Cracker
3. This Works Christmas Cracker - Dream


This year brands have come up with truly original and creative ideas for Christmas. Looking around for gifts I came upon so many Christmas beauty crackers that have been especially released this year, and I have to admit that they are a genius idea! While most are just a small gift of one cracker as a stocking treat, Lancome have gone all out with a special luxury box of six. Although a little pricey at £38, these Christmas crackers are filled to the brim with Lancome beauty treats, and if you use them traditionally at the Christmas dinner table, they'll most likely have you drooling before the food's anywhere near you.

Kiehl's and This Works beauty Christmas crackers are also both well worth a look. This Works cracker comes with a lovely sleep balm and has another variation called Star. The Kiehl's cracker (£19) contains three different flavours of their cult lip balm in Vanilla, Coconut and the original, which Kiehl's have designed and wrapped gorgeously.


P.S. I've just had a look online and all these Christmas crackers are in stock right now! ...I think I'll be making some subtle suggestions to a few family members.

The mother of them all and my number one choice to request (no, demand!) for this Christmas would have to be the Selfridges Exclusive Advent Calendar. Scratch the traditional chocolate boring one, and help yourself to a heap o' product goodies. The calendar includes products from YSL, Lancome, Armani and many more high-end beauty brands. 

Although this is the most expensive of the bunch, at a whooping £70, it's also the most unique and contains a large range of amazing quality products. So if Christmas is the time where you splash the cash, then definitely go pick one of these up!

Available in store and online at Selfridges.

What's on your Christmas shopping list this year? :)

* Guest post * Products for a flawless look, on or off camera.

Hiya! My name is Jessica, also known as JesiDeVa, and I’m the author of the fashion blog, “Musings of a DeVa.” I’m totally excited to be writing as a guest blogger at Bow Tied Beauty! My blog showcases my occasional Look of the Day and often details my life as a fashion writer and stylist for a North Carolina-based publishing company.

I’ve been fortunate to work with a ton of talented makeup artists and hair stylists throughout the years. But if we’re shorthanded on set, I have to take on their duties and “make it work!”  

So I’ve learned a few tricks of the trade on how to look fabulous and flawless in front of the camera. Here are a few tried and true products in my arsenal that’ll help you put your best face forward.

-       If I’m styling a model’s hair, I always tell her to arrive with wet, freshly washed hair. For fine or thin tresses, I’ll apply Nexxus Headress Volumizing Leave-In Conditioner throughout her hair and blow dry with a vent brush for larger-than-life hair that won’t fall flat.

-       Hair + Humidity = Inflated, fuzzy hair. Well, at least that’s the equation for my curly tresses. So after I’ve styled a model’s hair, I spray Garnier Fructis Volumizing Anti-Humidity on fine hair or Garnier Fructis Style Bamboo Flexihold Shine & Hold Spray for bouncy hair that won’t fall flat.

-       For early morning photo shoots, you’re bound to see pale and sallow complexions. My remedy: Maybelline Dream Mousse Bronzer, Glistening Sun. It works on a variety of complexions and blends beautifully for a natural sun-kissed glow. Top off with a light dusting of peach blush on the apples of the cheeks for a healthy look.

-       Have you ever applied your foundation and noticed those blasted wrinkle lines underneath your eyes? Well, so do most of my models. Those pesky creases are inconspicuous until you pile makeup on them. To avoid aging my models on camera, I prep the skin underneath their eyes with Too Faced Wrinkle Injection. I keep a tube in my makeup bag and use it daily.

-       One of the biggest lies ever told is that little to no makeup is needed for a natural look. Maybe this applies for your daily beauty regimen, but not when there are bright lights and cameras aimed at you. Every imperfection is magnified and Photoshopping dark circles, blemishes and the like is expensive and time consuming. A great way to get that freshly airbrushed look for your next photo or an evening out is to brush on Make Up For Ever HD High Definition Loose Powder after you’ve finished applying your makeup. It reflects light and creates a pristine finish. Darker complexions should use this sparingly, as it can give an ashen appearance if you’re not careful.

So there you have it! I hope these products become useful staples in your beauty regimens, as they have mine!

Tootles!

JesiDeVa

CLOSED: A Massive Thank You and A Big Giveaway!!

I was so happy to see that I'd reached 200 followers last week, and it really couldn't have happened at a better time. The lovely people at Carmine have sent me a box especially to give away to my readers! The contents are the same as in the post below, so lots of goodies including a Daniel Sandler eyeshadow, Caudlie moisturiser, The Balm blusher and more!

I've really loved every minute of blogging so far and I really appreciate the comments and time you take to have a look at my pretty small blog. So really, although I'm doing a giveaway, this is mainly a post to say a huge thank you :)

In addition to the Carmine Box, I'll be adding a Leighton Denny nail polish in Baby Doll (from October's Glossy Box), false eyelashes from Cosmo, a Ted Baker Invigorating Body Wash and Men's Navigator Hair and Body Wash (both 300 ml), as well as an E.L.F. Luscious Liquid Lipstick in Cherry Tart. So a heap of goodies!

Need to know:

1. The giveaway will close on the 4th December.
2. Once the winner is contacted if they do not reply within 48 hours then another person will be chosen.
3. Unfortunately for now I can only open this giveaway to readers in the UK.
4. If you're under 18, be sure to get parent's permission.

To enter this giveaway you'll need to:

1. Follow Bow Tied Beauty through Google Friend Connect and be a public follower.

2. Leave a comment below with your name that will appear on Google Friend Connect and your email address for me to contact you.

You can gain extra entries if you:

1. Like my Facebook page  = 2 extra entries

2. Follow me on Twitter and tweet about the giveaway = 2 extra entries

3. Post about this giveaway (include the link back in your comment) = 3 extra entries

[Please note that if you unfollow or unlike any of the above once the giveaway is over you will be disqualified from entering future giveaways.]

The winner will be chosen randomly by using Random.org. 
Good luck to everyone who enters!

Carmine and Glossy Box Review!

Beauty boxes are a craze I'm definitely into and last month I was sent my last Glossy Box before I cancelled my subscription, as well as a Carmine box, because I had just taken one out for their box. If you're slightly confused about all this box talk, just check out my post here. As I had these boxes ordered to my home address (and am currently at university) I was only just able to pick them up this weekend, and so this review is a little very late! So if you're a frequent visitor of beauty blogs I'm sure you would have already seen the contents and many reviews, but I still wanted to give my opinion and do a bit of a comparison of the two companies: Glossy Box and Carmine.

1. Balance Me Super Moisturising Hand Cream

2. The Balm Shadow/ Blush

3. Caudalie Quenching Sorbet Cream

4. Daniel Sandler Eye Delight in Peach and Ice

5. Trind Nail Repair Natural

Carmine are a brand new company and this was their first ever box, so I was really excited to try it out. ...And I have to say I really was impressed! The brands and quality of the products were amazing and nearly all of them were full size! Having already tried out the blusher, hand cream and moisturiser I can report that I loved them all. I still have yet to try out the nail repair and eyeshadow but I'm sure that I'll have nothing negative to say, especially since Daniel Sandler is one of my favourite brands.

One thing that I think Carmine might have to work on though is their packaging. Whilst I like the design, the outer box was a bit like a shoebox and weathered by the time it got to me. The actual box that you opened to see the contents was also a struggle to get off, but I'm sure these are things Carmine can tweak in the future given that this is their very first box. All in all, I am absolutely a fan and definitely keeping my subscription!

1. Robert Piguet perfume. Samples of Fracas, Visa and Calypso.

2.  Dermalogica: MultiVitamin Thermafoliant and Power Recovery Masque, and Renewal Lip Complex.

3. Leighton Denny Expert Nails in Baby Doll

4. Dermalogica bag

5. Stila Smudge Stick Waterproof Eyeliner

October's Glossy Box is officially my second and I have to say I wasn't as impressed with this one as I was with the first. Whilst they still provided some lovely brands I had a couple of issues. The Dermalogica products are all for mature skin and so I decided to pass these onto my mum, the perfume samples were nice to get (and I did fall in love with the scent, Calypso) but I think you could go into a store and pick up these sized samples yourself. Also, the nail polish is lovely, but just not a colour I'd wear. I did however love the Stila eyeliner, which is a gorgeous colour and the Dermalogica small toiletry bag is very useful and I'll be using it quite a bit.

Overall though my feelings towards Glossy Box have now become a bit, meh. I've been very impressed by Carmine so maybe that's overshadowed my expectations, but I'm now looking forward to receiving more of Carmine's beauty boxes in the next couple of months.

Origins splurge!

 I thought I had found 'The One' in terms of skincare with the cult brand Elizabeth Arden. I was using the 8 Hour Cream Moisturiser and the Cream Cleanser in that range for dry/sensitive souls like myself. It really benefited me, moisturizing any dry patches and soothing my ultra sensitive skin, but my skin seemed to grow a bit tired of it and it didn't seem to have the same effect it did when I first started using it. 

...So browsing around a massive Boots with an array of brands to choose from, I decided now my Elizabeth Arden products had ran out to get something I had never tried before. Origins is a brand you always hear good things about and their special range for dry/sensitive skin sounded perfect for me. Okay it's a little on the pricey side for a student like me but I wanted to splurge a little.

Also I have to admit the customer service really drew me in. Normally the girls at beauty counters can be a little, how should I put this? Unwelcoming. But I got the friendliest and most helpful girl who advised me...and who also gave a me a load of free samples! Definitely top marks for customer service, Origins.

Two weeks on and I've got a few positives, but also a few negatives to say about this range.

 All the products I tried out were from Origin's Mega-Mushroom Skin Care line by Dr. Andrew Weil. Did the fact that it promised to relieve redness and sensitivity and was collaborated on by a doctor help in it's appeal to me? Yes, yes it did. I've really become a bit desperate in my quest to find products that won't irritate my skin and this sounded like heaven sent to me in a bottle. Firstly I tried the cleanser, priced at £24. Once applied I immediately noticed a lovely cooling and calming feeling on my skin. The smell also was incredible, I'm not sure this will appeal to everyone, but it's a soothing herbal scent which I loved. The texture is also quite unique, I'd say it's somewhere in between a gel and cream, so not too heavy and pretty pleasant to apply.... all good so far. The problem occured when:

I TOOK IT OFF.

Unfortunately my face turned as bright red as a tomato and was irritated and itchy. Damn, damn, damn sprung to mind, I'd just wasted quite a bit of money! So I persisted in using it, but 5 more mornings later and my skin had gotten even worse with dry, angry red patches appearing.

I used the Mega-Mushroom Face Cream every morning as well for about a week after using the cleanser (£46). After getting that reaction after my first use of the cleanser I was hoping the moisturiser might somehow counteract the effect that had led to my reddened face. One thing I have to say about this cream and the rest of the range is that the quality of the products are clear. They were all lovely to use, and the moisturiser was rich and felt velvety soft on my skin, absorbing and sinking in a treat. The only negative thing I would have to say about the face cream is that there is no SPF, something I normally look for.

Also...yet again after a couple of minutes my skin felt itchy and irritated and I realised this would probably be a recurring theme with the other products too (the samples).

The samples that I also tried out were Origin's Mega-Mushroom Advanced Face Serum (£44) and Calming Face Mask (£32). And yes, I was glad I only got samples...because yup, I reacted again. Both products were still nice to use, especially the face mask which had an amazing rich texture and left my skin feeling oh so silky. However the serum (which I used overnight) has a bit of a runny texture that didn't appeal to me as much and the smell was very strong, which I didn't mind, but my boyfriend reported to me that my face smelt somewhat unpleasant :/

Overall, the problem?  I'M CLEARLY ALLERGIC TO IT.


This is something I've concluded from trying out almost every product in the range. Specially formualted for sensitive and easily irritated skin, I'm sure it helps most people and is a pleasure to use. In my case it's really just unfortunate that there's an ingredient in there somewhere that doesn't agree with me. Does that mean I wouldn't recommend this range? Actually I would more than do so, it's an amazing line with genuinely great quality products.

But alas, I've made the right decision to pass these on to my housemates (pretty begrudgingly) and I guess my quest goes on for 'The One'.