Unevenlemming's Beauty Box

After British Beauty Blog's Beauty Box (there is a lot of B's there), it got me thinking, "If created my own beauty box, what would be my picks?" Now as normal these thoughts were swimming round my head on a late 1am evening, where either cramp, my bladder, or husbands snoring were keeping me awake.

First of all, what to pack it all into. I used to work for Fossil watches a few years ago and my favourite things about them was the tins that the watches came in. They were all limited edtion and was changed once a month, we also has them on display so customers could chose what tin they have. There was even some really rare ones that could be turned into birdhouses. The tin I have in mind is one you could use after for storing baking in (like I do with the old Roses tins), I do like the style of this one, and it is very much my humour.

So what to put into the tin?

Antipodes Divine Oil

 

I have reviewed this oil in a previous post here - Main summary is that it is a light notorious oil that hasn't broke me out in spots, smoothed and soothed my sensitive skin. The combination of essentials are also evoke relaxation and soothes rattled nerves. One of my facial must haves.

OPI Makes Men Blush

 

This has a special place in my nail collection, this is the colour I wore when I got married. It's a delicate pink/peach with a faint pink shimmer, which I use two coats on but goes opaque in three. I am a huge fan of OPI and even through I now own more Essie, my favourite colours have come from OPI collection.

Aussie 3 Minute Miracle

 

I have used Ojon, Aveda, and a few others that I cannot remember as there has been a few. I do have a sensitive scalp, one that if it doesn't like a product will itch constantly and flake everywhere. I took a gamble many years ago and brought this for when my hair was slightly drier. It was perfect, smooth, glossy and no allergy symptoms. I have tried other things but have always come back to Aussie every time. I've even converted my high end, fussy product mum to it, after she 'borrowed' it one day when hers ran out.

 

Glamglow Youth mud

 

 

OK, let's address the big elephant in the room - It is just under £50.00 a pot (please shop around, I have found it cheaper) and the most expensive thing in the tin. For me I loved how it felt after I took off, fresher, brighter skin that looked smoothed out with no sensitive redness. I have stated my case for it here

 

 Now I throw it out to you guys, what would you put into YOUR beauty box (because I'm noisy!)

#JulyLondonMeetUp

Today I meet up with a lot of bloggers in that there London town, to mingle, gossip and catch up on goings on in the blogging world. It's a as meet up should be, a time to mingle with old friends and met some new ones.

Did I get any photos? Urm.. No - I was to busy laughing my head off with Bex, Lisa, Clare, Natalie and a few others (please let me know who you are! I have a terrible memory at the moment, it would nice to get your blog links). We were the slightly louder table by the bar, who were talking quite animated and constantly laughing.

I also want to thank everyone who came up and said congratulations on the pregnancy, it really did meant a lot especially as now I am showing a bump and not looking a little bit fat anymore. I ask forgiveness that I didn't mingle as spent the whole thing sat in a chair, as I was suffering one of the joys of pregnancy which is swollen ankles.

As normal with these events I missed saying hello to several people and my apologies for this.

I had a fantastic day and the last HUGE thank you goes to Helen who has worked really hard (a nod to Grace who I know helped and everyone who helped as well). A well organised day and over generous gifts for all the attendees. Also a huge shock for a beauty blogger in a beauty department store - I didn't buy anything!

Time to put my hot, tired feet up ....

Why I love the #Bbloggers Community

Tonight on the old Twitter I put that I had bloggers block, and currently in the middle of trailing a lot of products I got unfortunately thoughts of, "What do I write about?". I then got a few suggestions over Twitter from fellow bloggers. This is when I got my light bulb moment, this is why I love this community, I know I can put out a SOS and someone, somewhere will have the answer or at least point me in the right direction.

This is more evident as one of the younger members go into hospital tomorrow for a back operation. Shona from FreshBeautyXOX is half my own age but has gone through more what I could only imagine.  Not only is she a fab beauty blogger but also has written about her Solicitous journey (that's an curvature of the spine in S shape). I know I am one of the many people who wish her an extremely speedy recovery and lots of carefully done hugs.

But this is why I love the community - I can have a bad day with my pregnancy and know that I can turn to people from the community to get advice, tea and sympathy (as well as product recommendations that increase my wishlist every chat).

You know who you all are so thank you and I cannot wait to see you guys this weekend in the other Helen's London Meet Up. If you are going and I haven't meet you yet, it will be great to see you and hear you're a fan, but if we have meet before I look forward to meeting you again.

I'll stop being soppy now, I blame the hormones!

Yes Another Blog Entry About #BBBBeautybox

Before I ripped it apart

I nearly didn't get this, if it wasn't for my hubby who snores thus keeping me awake at night, resulting in me sleeping on the sofa. I wouldn't of been awake for when this was released sitting on the sofa watching SpongeBob Square pants and reading Twitter.

I knew from rumblings during the week, something huge was coming, but I didn't realise this was going to be it. Prepare for a gush - I love Jane, she was one of the first blogs I read religiously, the first I commented it and one of the  first people I followed when I got Twitter. She's not only a wonderfully woman who is amazingly clued up on the industry but still take times to natter to people who read her blog.  I still screamed like a fan girl when she tweets me, sad I know.

The box of Jane's favourites, the products that she uses herself and has a great mixture of sample and full sized products (which includes the new love of my life Bourjois Cream Blusher in Healthy Glow, so now I have a back up!).

For the full line up, you can look up on BritBeautyBlog's page on it - typing the list out would give me reparative strain injury. There some beautiful gems in there, I've been wanting to try Lanolips for a long time and the colour I got is perfect everyday. I've already started using my Melvite Orange Blossom Floral Water, by putting it in the fridge for about 10 minutes to get it cool and spritz all over my face.

For once I've actually got to thank my husbands snoring rather than hitting him with a pillow to shut him up.

PS. Next box is due in November, set the alarm this time!

Bourjois Cream Blusher - Healthy Glow

 

I said I would own one when I first saw they were coming out here, but I got the colour that out of al them I liked but didn't love. I got this as a PR sample after that rave, so the colour was random. It's not a colour I head towards, I more the pinky type because to me they show up better on my skin. I do, however like to be wrong.

 

It is tiny compared to the pressed powder blushers, I'm sure the spin on that is that it is "Compact" or "Slimline". It is a mixture of peach and coral, but the little hidden gem that reveals itself after a few uses is that it has the tiniest flecks of gold in it, I didn't notice this until the Summer arrived and I was applying it in the sun.

 

It isn't as strong as it looks in the compact, I know when I saw it I thought it would go on bright peach and I would have to buff it down. This is not the case I find that I can build it up in fine layers (either with clean fingers or a buffing brush) and, as the name suggests, have a glow rather than a huge coral blob.

 

It has now become an everyday make up essential - I've even mentioned it in a previous post, Early Pregnancy Beauty because it has genuinely given me some glow back when glowing was the last thing on my mind. This also the reason why the skin above is not looking at it's best, the effect of hayfever allergies and the fact that I cannot take my allergy medication because of my pregnancy.

 RRP £7.99 (from the usual suspects - Boots, Superdrug etc.), price wise it is a little bargain. It has a wonderful texture and blends into the skin better than expected. This has now started a new interest in cream blushers, and the Diors are calling my name, just not the price tag at £24.

The Music Tag

Don't you hate it when you want to blog but cannot think of anything to blog. I do also look like a wookie on a bad hair day at the moment. While I wait for my afternoon of getting glam once again (Hairdresser, threading etc.), I shall provide you another insight into my little world by doing Makeup-Pixi3's Music Tag that she did a few months ago.

What’s your favourite type of music?

I am a rock fan, I am however not limited to that. I have a huge mixture of music in my collection thanks to my pop loving mum, jazz loving dad and hip-hop rap brother. I also find my music taste depends on the weather, mood and what I'm doing while playing music. Most of my music has all got some kind of memories attached to it, it's amazing how it can transport you to another time and place.

What’s your least favourite type of music?

As I find I am getting a little bit older now, there are some trendy music that I just don't get. Sampling done well is brilliant but most of the time it makes me feel nostalgic for the orginal. Not the biggest fan of County and Western, just cannot get into it really.

What’s the best gig you’ve been to?

Within Temption - an amazing rock band with a operatic lead vocalis. Got towards the front, danced sang and moshed happily away. They played every single song I loved and I even caught the drumstick of the support band. I even managed to get the train home in time to sneak into my weekly local and met my mates.

What albums are you listening to at the moment?

Currently listening to The 2nd Law by Muse. Husband and I are big fans of Muse, all of tables at our wedding were their song tittles and our first dance was 'Endlessly'.

I am also a huge fan of a Canadian band called Barenaked Ladies (most known for the mid 90's hit One Week), they have released their new album 'Grinning Streak' so I've been listening to the uploaded version on youtube while I wait for it to arrive. The 'Fun' album is on my wish list currently.

What's your favourite bands/artists & favourite albums?

Favourite albums:

Stunt - Barenaked Ladies
The Heart Of Everything - Within Temptation
21 - Adele
Greatest Hits of Queen (Yes I know that's cheating but it's well loved - Great memories of blasting it out of my friends Skoda on the way to watch F1 at Silverstone)

If you could instantly know how to play any instrument, what would it be?

I did want to play guitar and owned two, but because I have really small hands I never got very far. I learnt to play keyboards on an organ in my dining room, I played clarinet at school (but gave up after I fainted in a lesson) and sang in the school choir. I also did and failed my music GCSE's. I was happy to sing and dance, my Saturday nights were spent doing this to The Prodigy