Harrods Glossybox...UNIMPRESSED.

I didn't think I would end up posting something like this but oh my days I am so unimpressed by this month's Glossybox. I thought with it being Harrods and all..(and being described as the most extravagant box blah blah) it was a toal bore and complete disappointment. Well my products were anyway. I was so excited when it was delivered to me but as soon as I opened it I thought...WHAT ON EARTH?
Sorry about my muted tone but the last glossybox I received was so much more exciting.

Right so the products I got given in this box were as follows:
~ Versace Vanitas Eau De Parfum 4.5ml which is a little travel sized bottle of this fragrance that has notes of Tiare Flower, Lime and Freesia. 

~ Bliss Blood Orange and White Pepper Body Butter. Which is deeply moisturising and skin softening. 

~ Révive Intensité Créme Lustre SPF 30. Which is an intensive firming moisturizer that is for sagging skin.

~ Lancôme Teint Miracle. Which is a natural light creator and bare skin perfector with SPF 15 this came in a 5ml bottle.

~ Clarins Extra Firming Body Cream. A body cream to restore your skin to a more youthful feel.

So on paper this products might look interesting for a usual monthly Glossybox. BUT for a Harrods Edition not so much in my opinion.

• The Versace perfume is a good smelling one it is very useful for nights out and it can easily fit into your evening bag. In reality it isn't like a really rare perfume that is ONLY exclusive to Harrods so as nice as it is to have one..I mean I could have done with something different from a brand like Chanel or Dior.

• The Bliss body butter does feel nice on the skin. Again this product is easily available in most Boots stores so why it needed to be included in this box is beyond me. I do not like the smell of this to me it smells like a toy I used to have back in the day which would release smells of orange. It is not complimentary at all and again I would have liked something from a different brand like Origins or something. I don't understand why this is only unique to Harrods? 

• The Révive brand is something I have not heard of and from my research it looks like this is a luxury brand specialising in skincare for anti-aging products. This particular cream itself costs around $375 for a 60ml pot! Which is over £100 for a pot. So yeah this is probably more like it when I talk about brands exclusive to Harrods this is what I expected from all of the other products too. I got given a 7ml pot and it does feel nice on my skin but I guess I need to use it some more to see the results. But I am only 22...so anti-aging products shouldn't be my priority at this moment in time! 

• I have heard quite a bit about the Lancome Teint Miracle which is a very natural foundation that evens the skin tone creating a natural base. My issue with this product is simple...I live in a city where there are 4 Lancome outlets...so why did this need to be in the Harrods Box. It is a easily available product but saying that I have been impressed with it so far. It created a lovely base for my skin but I was sent the colour 03 which might have been a tad light for it. I guess with this products you can't really judge the perfect skin type when you are packing them for someone in a beauty box. 

• Now the Clarins cream is really the one that set me off, like Lancome it is easily available, and like my previous Glossyboxes I have always had something from Clarins put into there. I don't hate the brand I just wanted to try something different...and again what is so special about this cream that it needed to be in the Harrods box? It doesn't do much for my skin as I am still young (in my opinion) for firming/anti aging products! 

So perhaps we can now see my frustration with this beauty box only 1 out of the 5 products was truly exclusive and extremely expensive. The others have been a total bore and to say that this was an extravagant beauty box is a lie in my opinion. Nothing about this box made me truly happy. I just hope that Glossybox take it up a notch in the future boxes or I may have to un-subscribe!

Have you had disappointments in this months Glossybox? If so why?

I hope that you are all well and that this post did not bore you to death.

Keep smiling!
Ash xx

Mini Lush Haul

Hello all I paid my local lush store a visit again...they know me by a first name basis now because I go in so often!

I picked up the Mask of Magnaminty and The Grass Shower gel. 



The mask is formulated for troubled skin like mine I suffer from outbreaks quite often and I thought that I would give this mask a try. I love how it isn't a fresh mask so I can keep it for months. AND it can also be used for backs if you may suffer from Back-ne as I like to say it. The formulation of this mask is similar to a scrub which helps exfoliate away dead skin as well as treating spots. The peppermint leaves a tingling feeling and stimulates my skin. I was so impressed with this product when I first used it, my skin was clean and left with a flawless feeling. Perhaps this did a better job than the fresh face masks for my skin. So if you have skin like mine that is acne prone and needs a little tlc do try this product!

The shower gel is a product that I was curious to try, I have tried all of their gels apart from this one and Dirty. So I was keen to see how it would work for me. I do love it because it has a fresh scent of grass which to some might be off putting but I really love it! It is totally amazing for spring mornings when you need a wake up! It actually left my skin feeling soft and healthy so its great if you want a fresh smelling gel. Again it probably isn't everyone's cup of tea but I like the combination of grass and neroli :P

Hope that you are all well!
Ash xx

Nails of the Day

Hello everyone! I am going for a grey look today with Barry M's Nail Paint in 293.

So cute. It has to be mentioned.

WARNING: This post features something overly cute and Kitsch and ADORABLE.

So at my recent visit to The British Museum in London and I don't know about you but I just lovee Museum Gift Shops! They always have the most interesting of things stocked up and waiting for tourists like me to buy and admire when we take them home! So I found these amazing lipbalms and I couldn't resist...I just had to get them :D
How wonderful are these!!! And at £4.50 a bargain! Great as a gift for anyone who loves London in all its cuteness.

Have a lovely day people! :)
Ash xx

Urban Decay Mariposa Palette

Hello again everyone. I hope that you are all well and enjoying your day.

I thought it was about time that I did a review/swatch/explanation of this Urban Decay Mariposa Palette that I had purchased a LONGGGG while back...but I have had no time to even open it! (Wasted purchase much?)

Anyway I was after an Eyeshadow palette that was easy to carry around whilst I would be travelling around the country/world. I don't want to end up doing the silly thing of over-packing my make up because whenever I go abroad I purchase MORE MAKE UP!!! :D So in a nutshell this was the main reason I bought this palette. I like the colours and it was £28 so not bad for the amount of shadows that come with it!

L-R: (Without flash and with flash)  Rockstar, Gunmetal, Skimp, Infamous and Wreckage.


L-R: (Without flash and with flash) Haight, Money, Mushroom, Spotlight, Limelight.

 

I really adore these colours they are perfect for creating a colourful look for weddings/parties/events etc... They are all really blendable and the little brush is handy if you want to create a swash of one shadow looks...The only colour that this is missing is a green which would have made it even more desirable and perhaps a matt colour that would have been ideal for highlighting. But I guess they wanted to add more neutrals metallics to make up for the brights! I do enjoy using this palette and I am looking forward to creating colourful looks with Haight and Rockstar! :)

Keep smiling everyone!

Ash xx

Feeling the Blue/Grey love.

This was another gift from my close friends in New Zealand which are in the most beautiful of colours!

This Glass Beads bracelet from Wallis is so amazing, it is perfect to jazz up any evening outfit and the colours are to die for! I love how a piece of jewellery can make any outfit look that extra bit special!

Schweeeet!

I have the most incredible friends!
My friend from Australia sent me a lovely gift of earrings. She knows I love jewellery and she knows that I have an obsession (and love) for Macaroons. And BAM! She sent me Macaroon Earrings. (Not real of course!) They are the sweetest and cutest thing I own!
They were purchased on Etsy from a store called DIVINESweetness which is run by Ciara and she specialises in making cute clay jewellery in the shapes of food (mainly desserts). They are so adorable and she makes all kinds of jewellery.

My Macaroon Earrings are in a Red Colour and I just love wearing them. I love how they are presented and the effort that goes into making them. I want one in every colour! Do check out her Etsy page because it is so amazing, I can't wait to make more purchases!

My current Lust list includes:
These M&M shaped Bobby Pins. 

This Lavender Macaroon Ring.

And these Cloud Shaped Earrings. 

I really like this store and its perfect for gifts for someone who loves really Kitsch and Cute jewellery :)

Hope that you are all well!
Ash xx

Talk to me!

I just thought I would drop a line here and say I do have a Twitter and Tumblr Account. I tend to update them more often than this blog so if you ever want to follow me and see what I am upto then please do! I would love to talk to you all!
:)

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/AshingtonRave

Tumblr: http://ashingtonrave.tumblr.com/

I hope that you are all well!

P.S. If you have an iPhone then follow me on Instragram I am AshingtonRave on there. You can see what kind of pictures I post :) 

Current Love

Ahh I am just in love with my Chelsea Pixie Boots by Select Fashion (link!) in this lovely Grey colour. They were a bargain at £15.00!

These boots are so comfy and perfect with dresses and jeans. I have been wearing them so much for the last couple of weeks. (And to around 3 trips to London...very handy when you need to walk a lot on public transport) The material can be off putting as it is suede...BUT they are soo lovely to wear...especially when you have to do a lot of walking. I recently wore them with a Navy Jersey Dress and Black Tights at The Black Keys concert I attended and my feet were perfectly comfortable. (Yes I were dresses to Rock Gigs...believe me they are comfortable...although the cold after did not help!) Boots are definitely my thing at the moment and these are just fab. I will definitely be purchasing these in a different colour :D
 What are you favourite items of footwear for the colder months?
Ash xx