So I’ve finally had the time to go get you some new swatches and have a look myself at the Hey,Sailor! collection.  For those that haven’t seen this collection yet Here’s what MAC says:

“ Set sail this summer with a colour collection inspired by the glam of vintage pin-up girls. Go overboard with the never-ending colours of Pro Longwear Lip Pencils, Zoom Waterfast Lash, Lipglass and more! Limited Edition.”

In all honesty I thought I would fall in love with this collection but it has to be said its not the best collection I’ve seen brought out. There are a few key pieces I would recommend getting but there don’t seem to be any that you couldn’t live without.  I’ll start with what I haven’t swatched as you can probably guess what didn’t get swatched was either not worth it or not available.

• Hey, Sailor! Powder Blush : Launch Away & Fleet Fast – Neutral blushes in funky packaging not worth it.
• Hey,Sailor! Suntints SPF20 Liquid Lip Balm : Sea Mist, Au Rose & Abalone – Not a fan of these in any collection I find them too sticky.
• Hey, Sailor! High-light Powder : Crew – Almost no colour
• Zoom Waterfast Lash – Waterfast Black
• Hey, Sailor! Pigment : Old Gold & Naval Blue – I think these are completely duplicable.
• Hey, Sailor! Nail Lacquer : Vestral White & Touch Of Red – Vestral White is a wash out but Touch of Red is very nice buildable colour.

Okay with those out of the way lets start with the swatches. Here is a swatch of the Lipglasses I apologise it isn’t the greatest of pictures Ive got but it does give you an idea:

First starting on the left we have: Send Me Sailing, Blessedly Rich, Orange Tempera, Cut Loose and Rivera Life

My favourite was Rivera Life as a colour and Blessedly Rich for the overall colour and pigmentation I’d say it was probably the best out of the five shades. Unfortunetly the lipsticks looked a little too mangled to be swatched but an obvious favourite for me was Red Racer but I also loved Sail La Vie.

Right now we have everything else all in this next  swatch photo, Eye Shadows, Powerpoint Eye Pencils and the Pro Longwear Lip Pencils which gives you an idea of the colours.

Starting on the top left with Powerpoint Eye Pencils and Lip Pencils( the lines above the shadows) we have have: Blue Stripe (E), Sauter (L), Handforged (E), Emerald Sea (E) and Shore Leave (L).

Handforged has a gorgeous pigment pity I’ve already got one of a similar colour .Shore Leave is a lovely pink colour for lipstick base and lining. Throw Me A Line wasn’t available to swatch.

Eye Shadows from left to right are: Nautical Navy, Jaunty, Barefoot, Crystal Avalance and Feeling Fresh.

I can honestly say none of these caught my attention, not enough shimmer or pigmentation to stand out and not a good overall colour. The swatches were on normal skin with no primer applied but it took a couple of attempts to get an actual colour to show up. For Nautical Navy the colour just looks like a blue or black in the swatch but in the pot the colour has much more of presence which doesn’t come off in the final finish.

Verdict of the collection

Overall the idea of the collection was a lot more appealing that the collection itself. I can imagine a lot of people buying these for the packaging not the product. There is nothing special in this collection but of course if there’s something that hass caught your eye then give it a go. The one thing I just wouldn’t bother with are the Eye Shadows.

The astounding news is not many people protect there skin in the winter, even the likes of winter sun can damage your skin. Now I know its a funny thought when you get up on a cold winter day, go about your daily skin routine and then add some sun cream. But it doesn’t have to be quite like that many brands of make up and skin care companies already have products that do just that. You could either have a daily moisturiser cream that has it or everyones personal favourite for winter as it gives you a bit of colour back is tinted Moisturiser.

A new report states because of suncream though we are not getting enough vitamin d into our bodies and suggests going out out for half an hour to an hour before and then applying suncream. I personally don’t like the thought of this as I like my skin protected. Would you go out in the sun without any form of sun protection?

There are a few products I think work well for and heres a quick run down:

• MAC Prep+Prime SPF 50
• Benefit You Rebel Lite SPF15
• Urban Decay – Urban Defence SPF20
• Liz Earle Sheer Skin Tint SPF15
• E.L.F.  Tinted Moisuriser Spf 20

In no way are these better than putting cream on but its better that no protection at all and if you don’t feel that’s enough how about a big floppy sun hat too x

Benefit Eyecon

• Easily absorbed into your skin
• Light scent and texture
• Gentle moisturising for the sensitive skin under your eye
• Reduces the appearance of dark circles and fine lines

Benefit B.right It’s Potent

• De-puffs tired eyes
• Brightens
• Reduces the appearance of dark circles
• Gentle light formula

Verdit

Both products seem to be strangely similar so even though we all miss our Eyecon this isn’t a bad substitute. I have heard from some people that its not as good but when your that use to a certain product its hard for any product to live up to your expectations. In my opinion its definitely worth a try and you may be pleasantly surprised.

April GlossyBox

Caudalie Vinosource SOS Thirst-Quenching Serum 10ml – Full Size 30ml £29.00 : I really like this product it left my skin feeling revitalized and soft. At first I wasn’t sure if I would use this but it does make a difference to my skin but as lovely as the product is though I don’t think I will be buying this product once the sample has run out as its a lot to pay for a product which goes in between cleaning and moisturising. I will say that if you have dry skin this is definitely a product for you as it cleared up the dry patches of skin I had and made my skin look healthier. A refreshing product to add to your daily facil regime if your willing to pay the price… I can imagine is a full size bottle would go a very long way so its all depends if you think its worth the cost.

Inika Cosmetics Certified Organic Eyeliner – Full Size £11.75 : I’m always excited whenever I get make up and I love getting eyeliner so when I happened to receive the black eyeliner from Inika I couldn’t wait to give it a try. Again I have my favourites so this eyeliner had a tough act to follow and in all honesty it just didn’t live up to my expectations. It gave a good colour, smudged well but I got a little bit in my eye and my god did it sting which was very off putting. Also the pencil itself is quite stiff so if you want dark dramatic eyes you may well be there a while getting the intensity you desire which is never good when you have the rest of your make up to do or your limited for time.

Ayuuri Natural Body Wash – Full Size £4.95 : Hmm I have mixed feelings about this product because I’m not a huge fan of the fragrance I got. I received the coconut and even though the product itself it quite nice to me the fragrance puts me off now if I had received the rose then it may have been perfect. As a product it is something I could definitely see myself buying I think its the right amount of indulgence without the hefty price tag and it leaves your skin feeling silky soft.

Figs & Rouge Lip Balm – Full Size £3.29 : I loved this product it may have been the cheapest item in the box but it was lovely and now I carry it everywhere with me, I had the rose one so of course for me it already had an advantage. The best thing is it can also be used on dry patches of skin too which instantly soothes them, it does have an unusual texture (a little bit bitty) but it soon smooths out. Great product for the price and would definitely buy this.

Kai Perfume Oil – Full Size 3.60ml £41.00 : At first I was unsure of this product but as soon as I tried it I really did like it. It’s not as oily as I imagined and it sunk right into my skin. It lasted all day without been over powering and I found the scent for lack of a better word relaxing. Its not greasy at all but for the price I won’t be buying it as its just too expensive for what it is and for the quantity you receive.

Thank you

Here is what I got in my April GlossyBox which had a theme of Eco-friendly products:

• Caudalie Vinosource SOS Thirst-Quenching Serum 10ml – Full Size 30ml £29.00
• Inika Cosmetics Certified Organic Eyeliner – Full Size £11.75
• Ayuuri Natural Body Wash – Full Size £4.95
• Figs & Rouge Lip Balm – Full Size £3.29
• Kai Perfume Oil – Full Size 3.60ml £41.00

Now here’s what I thought of this months box as well as the past boxes I’ve had:

GlossyBox

The Cost: A month to month subscription will cost you £10 per month plus £2.95 p+p which brings you to £12.95 a month which is more expensive than some boxes but the cost of what you get in the box is always worth more. Again 3,6 and 12 month subscriptions are available which could help you save if you can pay up front.

 9/10

Contents:  As stated above the products you get are worth more than the money you pay for the box including the p+p. For example in this months I had a Full Size Inika Organic Eyeliner which is worth £11.75, Ayuuri body wash full size £4.95 just with those two alone you have your money back in product.

9/10

High Street or High End : This is a no brainer its mostly High End products in these boxes, I say mostly as there may be some people that wouldn’t class it as that depending on what they buy but to an ordinary everyday person like me its High End. Best way to sample products.

9/10

Verdict

In my opinion this box is worth every bit of money you pay for it and it is well worth trying especially with their Special Birthday Box which is due out at the end of May. An added bonus with GlossyBox is their beauty profile in which you can decide what products you want to receive i.e. more make up or more skincare which really is a brilliant feature. If your going to try a beauty box this one will make you smile when it turns up on your doorstep. Also as a side note they also do a Mens Glossybox which I’m sure if your man likes looking his best he’ll love the products that come s to him.

10/10

The real question is are they worth the money because to a lot of individuals £10 a month (not including the 2.95 postage fee) is a lot to spend. obviouly each box is different so I’ll start with my most recently recieved which is She Said Beauty.

What I got in my box for May:

• Trio by Natio (150g) Bar of “Pink Lotus” soap (worth £2.83) The RRP for the trio of soaps is £8.50
• Inika Cosmetics Lip Whip in Apricot Full Size item (8ml) with a RRP of £14.30
• The Vintage Cosmetic Company eye lashes “Connie” Full Size item with a RRP of £6.00
• Kim Kardashian’s Eau de Parfum in a rollerball 3ml (worth £2.29) The RRP for the full size fragrance (30ml) is £22.95
• Sun Lotion with 15 SPF with tan accelorator 20ml (worth £1.79) The RRP for the full size item of 200ml is £17.95
• 3 Bonus sachets of Snowberrys facial products.

She Said Beauty

The cost: A month to month subscription will cost you £9.00 each month plus £2.95 p+p. Total £11.95.
There is the choice of other subscriptions which you can then get a certain percentage off.

8/10

Contents: As far as range goes they offer a good range of items. In May’s Box subscribers are treated to False eyelashes, Sun cream tan accelerator, Lip Whip, Soap, mini rollerball perfume and a few bonus sachets of different facial products.

8/10

Hight Street or High End: Not the most expensive items on the market, as a friend of mine had an earlier box which had a collection 2000 nail varnish or lipgloss in is which put her off as she could get that anywhere. While another friend of mine had the April box and said it was their best box yet.

6/10

Verdict:

The conclusion is that if you want to spend almost £12 for a box that’s a bit of a gamble then give it a shot even if you decide to unsuscribe to the next one. You may find you love everything and you may find the complete opposite. On a personal note I was disappointed and wont be getting another box not until it improves. Don’t be fooled by thinking if you fill in the beauty profile then the box will be tailored to you as its not,its completely random in what colour selections you get etc. To me this was the let down.

Overall for me I’d give it a 7/10

March GlossyBox – Harrods edition

SK-II Skin Signature Cream : This cream is suppose to hydrate your skin and restore your skins natural radiance. Personally I didn’t love it, the texture was quite runny compared to my usual creams and it didn’t improve my skin at all so for me its not much use but that does not mean its a bad product only that its not right for me.

Valentino – Valentina : Not my kind of perfume, too me its too floral and too strong. I wore it once and felt like I was choking on it all day so I hope my work mates didn’t feel like that too.

Molton Brown Vitalising Vitamin A B+C Bath and Shower : I fell in love with this shower gel it is so luxurious, smells gorgeous and makes your skin feel silky. The little sample I had is still lasting and I dread it running out as I will have to buy a full size bottle to have it back. A must try for everyone it really is re-vitalising.

Clarins Extra-Firming Body Cream : This was a really nice product to try and once its gone I think I will buy this too. It made my skin firm and toned after one application. A nice texture but no scent which is fine for a cream like this. Pity the tube was too small for me to do my entire body everyday but it feels lovely on the face.

Lancome Hypnose Drama Mascara : Hmmm now I’m 50/50 on this mascara as I like it but I’ve already got my firm favourites when it comes to them. I found that after too coats it was a bit clumpy and didn’t make much difference to the volume or length of my eyelashes.

Shu Uemura Cleansing Beauty Oil : Made my skin feel beautiful soft and clean. This was the added bonus in the box definitely worth a try.

Febuary’s Box

Becca Beach Tint – Watermelon : At first I wasn’t quite sure what I’d do with this product as I had never heard of Becca before and I’m not an avid beach goer but I do actually like this product. Not only can is it a creme stain for lips but you can also use it on your cheeks too. Not a bad product overall but the only problem is its non-drying which means you can rub it off or somewhere else easily by mistake.

Awapuhi Wild Ginger by Paul Mitchell : I was very wary of this styling oil at first as I thought wont it just make my hair greasy? but it was actually a really good product. The best way I found to use this was to dry, style my hair and then add this. It added the perfect amount of shine to my hair and tamed any unruly bits that didn’t want to co-operate.

DR Bronner’s Magic Liquid Soaps – Lavender Hand Sanitiser : A few people I knew where disappointed with this product when they had it but even not been my favourite item to me this was so handy. Been a mum of two little girls especially one that’s still a baby this is perfect for my handbag. I probably wouldn’t buy it but I’ll use it until its gone. Only thing I’d say is only 1-2 sprays is enough don’t go mad because it has a very strong scent.

Como Shambhala – Invigorate Shower Gel: Perfect uplift after an hour at the gym but the scent is extreamly strong, you have to like herbal scents to use this. Lathers perfectly and a little goes a long way. My skin felt squeaky clean after using this which like I said after an hour at the gym is a blessing.

BM Beauty Pure Mineral Eyeshadow – Dusty Road : My favourite item in the box, yes maybe a little because its make-up but this pigment is so gorgeous its like a bronzed gold and I used it in my latest make-up look Movie Star / Red Carpet. The colour is extremely bendable and gives a true colour. Well worth the money.WARNING – if you haven’t used pigments before a little goes a long way and they can take a bit of practice to use.

That’s Febuary’s GlossyBox I hope this helped you.

For the skin I seemed to find the best product to get rid of any dry skin on my face and would you believe me if I told you it was £0.89p ?. Well it was and I’ll come back to that later in a review. As for lips theres nothing that works better than chapstick and the yummy cherry flavour just makes it even better. Lastly hair well this is a little harder as everyones hair is different but for myself it was an oldie but a goodie that my mum used when I was little and that’s Vosene shampoo.

Now as we are all hoping the winter is coming to an end and the sunny days are on the way. I’ve spotted a few new arrivals in my favourite make up lines that will be perfect for summer and I can’t wait to try.

• ELF Studio Tinted Moisturiser SPF20 - Available in 7 shades and for warm days a much lighter alternative to your usual foundation. Not to mention the SPF20 this is important if its sunny or not you should always protect your skin.
• Lily Lolo Bondi Bronzer – If you love your mineral make up you will love Lily Lolo who have an amazing collection. Their new addition been Bondi Bronzer which is a medium bronzer which gives a shimmering brown bronzed effect with golden highlights. A better way to get the bronzed look without damaging your skin.
• MAC Prep+Prime Face Protect SPF50 – This is on my must have list before summer (actually asap lol). Again a great way to protect your skin and sometimes that can make all the difference for your skin. Added benefits include it been a featherweight formula, oil-free and invisible.
• Too Faced Amazing Face Liquid Foundation – Oil-free, skin smoothing liquid foundation which will give your skin that airbrushed look. 8 shades. Use a silicone based primer before applying the foundation to get the flawless look.
• Smashbox In Bloom Collection –  New additions just in time for the sunny days to come. The collection includes Soft Focus Powder Eye liner, Limitless Long Wear Lip Gloss SPF15, Eye Shadow Palette and Artificial Light Powder.
• Illamasqua Sultry Selection – Not really a product summer but more like releasing your inner seductive goddess to come out and play. You get Liquid Metal in Resolute which can be applied a little or a lot depending on the look your going for and Intense Lipgloss in Hermetic. What more could you ask especially since you save £5 from the price you would pay buying them separately.

There will be many more great things to come but this is it for now, hope you’ve found a few little gems for your make up box.

Retropinuplady

A new year and already so far behind but I’ve decided no longer to worry about what I’ve missed but instead of what is happening now in the present. I wasn’t impressed by last months Mac collection and I’m sad to say I am not impressed by this months collection either. It all seems to be the same colours and nothing new that pops out to me.  So I’ve been shopping around for some new wonders and have found some amazing new lines that I’ll tell you about within the next couple of months.

As for the Mac collections I know theres many unimpressed by the collections so far and some saving for the new wonder woman collection but we will get back to that a bit later.

Only a short update tonight and a quick look, happy belated new year everyone