I hope you had an enjoyable Christmas Day. I hope those observing local lockdowns/restrictions managed to fill their day with festive cheer. I thought I would conclude this GLOSSYBOX ADVENT-URES series with my final thoughts, along with some stats, now that the daily excitement is over.
What did I receive?
Day 1: Brushworks HD Complexion and Contouring Kit
Day 2: Illamasqua Liquid Eyeliner in the shade ‘Black/Noir’
Day 3: Filorga NCEF-REVERSE Supreme Multi-Correction Cream
Day 4: Pixi Glow Mist
Day 5: Lime Crime Mini Velvetines Liquid Lipstick in the shade ‘Red Velvet’
Day 6: Lee Stafford Hair Apology 10-in-1 Leave-in Treatment Spray
Day 7: Glossybox Skincare 3-in-1 Moisturiser
Day 8: Bubble T Cosmetics Winter Berries Bath Bomb Fizzer
Day 9: MUA Makeup Academy Brow Define Eyebrow Pencil in the shade ‘Mid Brown’
Day 10: Zoeva Screen Queen Highlighting Powder Palette
Day 11: Frank Body Original Coffee Scrub
Day 12: Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask
Day 13: Sunday Riley Good Genes Glycolic Acid Treatment
Day 14: Ecooking Hand Cream / Håndcreme
Day 15: Fenty Beauty Match Stix Shimmer Skinstick in the shade ‘Trippin’
Day 16: bareMinerals Prime Time Original Foundation Primer
Day 17: The Body Shop Himalayan Charcoal Purifying Glow Mask
Day 18: Sleek MakeUP Loose Pigment in shade ‘Trance’
Day 19: The Vintage Cosmetic Company Polly Bow Makeup Headband
Day 20: Huda Beauty Power Bullet Matte Lipstick in the shade ‘Wedding Day’
Day 21: Avant Skincare 3-1 Hyaluron-Filler Collagen Eye Formula
Day 22: Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant
Day 23: KVD Vegan Beauty Go Big Or Go Home Mascara in the shasde ‘Trooper Black’
Day 24: NAILS.INC Nail Polish in the shade ‘Victoria’
Day 25: Iconic London Day To Slay Eyeshadow Palette
The complete contents of the Glossybox Advent Calendar 2020
My personal favourites were the Iconic London eyeshadow palette, the Huda Beauty Power Bullet Lipstick and the Fenty Beauty shimmer skinstick. However, I have also enjoyed receiving items from the smaller brands such as the Frank Body Coffee Scrub and the Glow Recipe sleeping mask.
It’s fair to say that the Glossybox Advent Calendar continues to be one of the best beauty Advent calendars on the market. This is my third, and it does not disappoint. This year I ended up paying the full subscriber price of £80. In previous years I cashed in the ‘Glossy Credits’ I accrued by reviewing the monthly subscription boxes. This year, I didn’t really get around to reviewing much. My bad! But, even at £80, the calendar is incredible value as the contents are worth around £390. The packaging this year is better thought out. The individual boxes arrive in a set of four drawers. Post Christmas, I will recycle the cardboard boxes and will use the calendar and drawers for makeup storage (I can’t seem to get enough!). If you have read my individual daily posts, you will know that I suspect that the price of at least one of the skincare products is inflated which increases the value of the calendar, but with that said, I can’t deny that it is still good value for money. When researching the products to link on my blog posts, there were one or two items which weren’t currently available. Indeed some were released over two years ago, so clearly weren’t new to the market. I like it when we receive newly launched items. If they have potentially appeared in TK Maxx for example, for me, that devalues them. Below, I have added a table so you can see whether items were makeup, skincare or ‘other’; full sized or deluxe minis; and whether they are items I would keep for myself or pass on in a future giveaway.
Skincare
Makeup
Other
Full Size
Deluxe Mini
Keep
Giveaway
Value
Day 1
✔
✔
✔
£11.99
Day 2
✔
✔
✔
£21.00
Day 3
✔
✔
✔
£10.78
Day 4
✔
✔
✔
£16.00
Day 5
✔
✔
✔
£10.00
Day 6
✔
✔
✔
£11.99
Day 7
✔
✔
✔
£18.00
Day 8
✔
✔
✔
£5.99
Day 9
✔
✔
✔
£1.50
Day 10
✔
✔
✔
£15.00
Day 11
✔
✔
✔
£1.40
Day 12
✔
✔
✔
£3.93
Day 13
✔
✔
✔
£11.84
Day 14
✔
✔
✔
£7.50
Day 15
✔
✔
✔
£21.00
Day 16
✔
✔
✔
£6.00
Day 17
✔
✔
✔
£6.00
Day 18
✔
✔
✔
£5.49
Day 19
✔
✔
✔
£6.99
Day 20
✔
✔
✔
£22.00
Day 21
✔
✔
✔
£99.00
Day 22
✔
✔
✔
£13.50
Day 23
✔
✔
✔
£5.00
Day 24
✔
✔
✔
£15.00
Day 25
✔
✔
✔
£45.00
Total
£391.90
Product Breakdown Table
Breakdown:
The average cost of each item was £3.20 per day but was worth £15.68 per day
I will continue to subscribe to the monthly boxes and buy the Advent calendar. I may, or may not, try to buy limited edition boxes. I have experienced the stress and observed other subscribers’ rants on social media about the problems in grabbing one when they sell out in a couple of minutes after allowing bulk purchasing. I also see the frustrations people have in getting responses from customer services.
I can conclude that Glossybox appear to be victims of their own success. Subscription boxes really are a ‘thing’ now, and meeting everyone’s expectations at such volumes must be a constant headache.
So thank you Glossybox, for another industry-leading product. I look forward to sampling next year’s!
Louisa
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Happy Christmas everyone! My Christmas Day has started really well. My Glossybox Advent Calendar has revealed a showstopper. It’s an Iconic London eyeshadow palette! Wow! And it’s a stunner. These shades are my typical go-to colours. Warm-toned peaches, pinks and nudes. I find they really compliment my green eyes. I am so happy with the finale and it certainly makes up for all the items which I’ve not been able to use which will be going into a future giveaway. I have never used or tried any Iconic London products, but I know they are hightly rated, especially the ‘Prep-Set-Glow Spray’. I am so beyond happy to have this in my life! Well done Glossybox, you’ve surpassed yourselves!
Iconic London Day To Slay Eyeshadow Palette
Iconic London Day To Slay Eyeshadow Palette
Watch my video with close-ups of the Day to Slay Eyeshadow Palette
Box description: Create endless, beautiful looks with these 20 highly pigmented pink, peach, bronze and gold shades. These velvety soft powders include a mixture of mattes, shimmers and glitters for flawless day to night looks.
Iconic London website description: Create endless, beautiful looks with these 20 highly pigmented shades. These velvety soft powders include a mixture of mattes, shimmers and glitters for flawless day to night looks.
So many of our Baes got in touch wanting us to create an eye shadow palette – so squad, this one’s for you! Made up of 20 of the most unbelievably beautiful shimmers, mattes and glitters, you’ll be spoilt for choice when picking which to use. Our Ultimate Day To Slay Palette can be used with a wet brush to create a super-metallic, next level finish. High quality, crease proof, buildable and blend-able… what more do you want!?
(20 X 1.5g)
First Impressions: Now I’m not going to swatch this right now, as I’m going to feature this palette in a YouTube Video. But I will be sure to update you when I do. I will list the shades (from top to bottom and L-R) and attempt to describe them for you (I can’t tell the difference between shimmers and glitters in the pan at this stage, so I will just describe them as shimmers for now!):
In the nude: a light peach matte
Champagne Chic: a light copper shimmer
24K gold: an orange/gold shimmer
Deep soul: a warm, dark chocolate brown matte
VIP vibes: a peach/bronze shimmer
Copper me fancy: a copper shimmer
Ultimate tan: a mid-toned tan/peach matte
Closing party: a bronze/pink shimmer
Bronze BAE: a bronze/copper shimmer
Taupe d’taupe: a milk chocolate brown matte
Merlot Mondays: a muted mid-toned pink matte
Velvet crush: a dark brown/brown shimmer
Peaches & dreams: a mid-toned peach matte
Peach fizz: a champagne/peach shimmer
Bellini: a dark peach matte
Rags to riches: a peach shimmer
Icon: a champagne shimmer
Marshmallow: a very light peach matte
Wonderland: a pink/peach shimmer
Girl boss: a pink/brown shimmer
The packaging itself is foil-wrapped cardboard which is actually quite deep (¾ inch), and it contains a large, square mirror. It has a magnetic closure and an acetate sheet to help protect the shadows. The packaging design is a simple champagne gold metallic with embossed Iconic London logo.
After a little bit of research, I can see this palette isn’t new. There are some YouTube reviews going back for some three years. Although, I’ve never heard of it, so it feels new to me. So I will feature close-ups of the shadows in another ‘New to me’ eyeshadow palette video coming soon!
Louisa
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Watch our Spotlight Stationery unboxing video! 🔥 December 2020 —————————————————— BOXES 📦🖋🖊✏📖💌 Spotlight Stationery is a monthly stationery subscription box for £27 inc. shipping (within the UK). ——————————————————- Indulge your passion for stationery! Every month they curate a selection of contemporary stationery, based on a theme. They choose only premium brands and artisan products, including items you won’t commonly find on the high street. 📮🖇🖍📔 ——————————————————– https://www.spotlightstationery.co.uk 🔗 ——————————————————— Items Included:
Let me know what you think of this boxes in the comments below. Have you subscribed to Spotlight Stationery? Are there any other stationery boxes you would like to see me unbox?
Louisa
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Nail polishes for me, and I’m sure many other people who have their nails done at a salon, are a bit of a miss. Unfortunately, I have no need for nail polish, other than the fairly broad range of shades I already own (which come in useful for touching up the odd chip of gel nail polish). I don’t have a shade as deep as ‘Victoria’, but Glossybox did supply subscribers with a NAILS.INC varnish in the shade ‘Status Ready’ some time ago. This shade is a little lighter and redder than ‘Victoria’ but it is similar. If I had been able to make use of it, it would have been great to receive a shade in a completely different colour, even possibly a nude.
NAILS.INC Nail Polish
NAILS.INC Nail Polish in the shade ‘Victoria’
Glossybox description: Flaunting a classic deep red hue and long-wearing, high-shine formula, this nail polish is perfect for the festive season. Plus, it applies effortlessly thanks to the iconic brush. Apply a base coat, add two coats of your ‘Victoria’ polish, then finish with a top coat. RRP / 14ml, £15.00 SHOP / https://www.nailsinc.com/en/Victoria-NailPure-Nail-Polish/m-2593.aspx
Box description: None.
NAILS.INC website description: I could not find the exact product on the NAILS.INC website, but this is the nearest description.
NailPure is a breakthrough formula with a revolutionary oxygen resin complex. Create a high shine finish that is both air and water permeable.
Shade name: VICTORIA is a deep cherry shade.
The NailPure formula is alcohol free and is enriched with Nails Inc’s patented Regenerating Complex (a two-fold Aldehyde, Zinc, and Calcium blend) that boosts the production of keratin for harder, stronger and healthier nails.
Nails.INC NailPure is formulated to be ’10 free’ – meaning it does not contain Phthalates including DBP, Toluene, Formaldehyde, Formaldehyde resin, Animal derivatives, Camphor.
Apply one coat of Nails.INC base coat followed by two coats of polish. Finish with Nails.INC 45 Second top coat for glossy results.
First Impressions: Unfortunately, I won’t be opening or testing this item for the reasons I gave above. However, the colour is a gorgeous deep, chocolate cherry shade. It’s the sort of colour I would happily wear. I will add this item to a future giveaway so that somebody else can enjoy it.
Louisa
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Having received a couple of the KVD Vegan BeautyTattoo eyeliners in the past, I am pleased to receive a mascara from this brand. The eyeliners are excellent and even though they are the mini ones, they last for ages. I know about the controversies of Kat Von D and that she has now sold her shares and left her company. I wouldn’t wish to purchase anything myself if she was still involved. In my opinion, the fact that she used her massive platform to spread misinformation about vaccines is reprehensible, so I’m glad she left. Or was she pushed???
KVD Vegan Beauty Go Big Or Go Home Mascara
KVD Vegan Beauty Go Big Or Go Home Mascara in the shade ‘Trooper Black’
Glossybox description: This extreme volume mascara boosts a highly-pigmented, plant-based formula that glides onto your lashes and lasts all day without smudging. Wiggle the wand through your lashes from root to tip to create a blown-out, voluminous effect that makes your eyes look bigger and brighter! RRP / Deluxe mini 2g, worth £5.00. Full-size 10g, £20.00 SHOP / https://www.kvdveganbeauty.com/eye/mascara/kvdvb-go-big-or-go-home-mascara/10058.html?dwvar_10058_color=1025
Box description: Extreme volume. Long wear.
KVD Vegan Beauty website description: KVDVB Go Big or Go Home Mascara is an extreme volume vegan mascara, powered by plant-based fats. This long-wear mascara has a smooth texture that glides onto lashes for big, blown-out volume, delivering an eye-opening effect that lasts all day without smudging. In high-pigment “Trooper Black,” lashes stay saturated and true black until you go home.
Get a perfect application with the custom-designed Fluff Brush: Its wavy fiber bristles catch and coat each lash for fluffy full coverage. Formulated with a vegan blend of olive and sunflower oils (instead of beeswax which is commonly used in mascara), Go Big or Go Home has everything you want in your volumizing mascara…the only fluff is in our brush!
Fill weight: 10 g/0.33 oz
First Impressions: I like mini mascaras as they tend not to dry out. This is also my second mascara in a squeezey tube and I think I prefer them as you can manipulate the wand inside the packaging. I haven’t seen any reviews on this product, so haven’t got an opinion. Again, I will let you know how I get on with it once I’ve used up some of my others first!
Louisa
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Artful Box Unboxing | Art Subscription Box | December 2020 – February 2021
Welcome to our first Artful Box subscription unboxing! Watch our video on YouTube! 🔥 December 2020 – February 2021
Box Contents
—————————————————— BOXES 📦🎨 Each quarter (every 3 months), you will receive one lovingly packed box filled with materials and inspiration. Each Artful box contains a magazine with detailed tutorials + interviews with practising artists. You receive your box and can join their online community, each day they host a daily drawing challenge on Instagram and subscribers will be emailed an exclusive video tutorial once a month! 🖋🖌
Due to Dermalogica products being out of my price range, I’m not particularly familiar with them. I received a Dermalogica item a few months back in a Glossybox and that was the Daily Superfoliant. It would have, therefore, been interesting to try a different type of product from this brand this time round. I have tried the Daily Superfoliant a few times and have found it to be gentle and effective.
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant
Glossybox description: Formulated with rice bran, white tea and licorice, this exfoliating powder removes dead cells and evens out your skin tone to reveal a bright, smooth complexion. Dispense into wet hands, rub together to form a paste, then massage into skin for one minute and rinse. RRP / Deluxe mini 13g, worth £14.00. Full-size 75g, £55.00 SHOP / https://www.dermalogica.co.uk/collections/exfoliants/products/daily-microfoliant?variant=36242187747481
Box description: Achieve brighter, smoother skin every day with this iconic exfoliating powder. Rice-based powder activates upon contact with water, releasing papain, salicylic acid and rice enzymes to polish skin to perfection. Gentle enough for daily use.
Avant Skincare website description: Achieve brighter, smoother skin every day with this iconic exfoliating powder. Rice-based powder activates upon contact with water, releasing Papain, Salicylic Acid and Rice Enzymes to polish skin to perfection. A Skin Brightening Complex of Phytic Acid from Rice Bran, White Tea and Licorice helps balance uneven skin tone while a super-soothing blend of Colloidal Oatmeal and Allantoin helps calm skin. Gentle enough for daily use.
Removes dulling surface debris and evens skin tone
Reveals brighter, smoother skin
Gentle enough for daily use
Dispense about a half-teaspoon of Daily Microfoliant® into very wet hands and create a creamy paste by rubbing hands together. Apply to face in circular motions, avoiding the eye area. Massage gently for one minute, then rinse thoroughly. Follow with Multi-Active Toner or UltraCalming Mist and prescribed Dermalogica Moisturiser.
First Impressions: The packaging is easily identifiable as Dermalogica’s and I like the shape of the component with its rounded edges. I tested a small amount of the white powder on the back of my hand and activated it with water. There was no fragrance whatsoever and it felt like a natural abrasive as it wasn’t too rough. The skin was soft and smooth afterwards.
Louisa
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OK. So Glossybox have included yet another Avant Skincare product. To be perfectly honest, I really don’t know how I feel about this. The RRPs of these products are really high. The packaging is basic and the formulas are nothing special. For me, I feel that these must be filler products because we get them so often. It’s rare to receive other high end skincare brands with prices like this. Are they there to inflate the RRP of the boxes and this calendar? I wonder who would pay full price? And now that Glossybox have released their own skincare range, why would they include rival products? (I’m still using the Glossybox own brand eyecream I received in a Glossybox a few months ago. Watch the video!) Anyway, I’ve said most of this before in my post about subscription boxes, I think I may have a problem… including my thoughts around the idea that you rarely need to buy skincare again, because subscription boxes keep you topped up!
Avant Skincare 3-1 Hyaluron-Filler Collagen Eye Formula
Avant Skincare 3-1 Hyaluron-Filler Collagen Eye Formula
Glossybox description: Blending hyaluronic acid and collagen, this eye cream deeply hydrates your skin and improves its elasticity, helping to smooth out fine lines and wrinkles. Pat the eye cream under your eye, working from the inner to the outer corner of your lower lid. RRP / £99.00 SHOP / Avant Skincare 3-1 Hyaluron-Filler Collagen Eye Formula
Box description: Apply in the morning and evening onto clean, dry skin around the eye area. Caution: Carry out a patch test 24 hours before first use. Avoid contact with eyes. Discontinue use if redness or irritation occurs.
Avant Skincare website description: Our 3-1 Hyaluron-Filler Collagen Eye Formula is part of the Avant Age Restore range. This revolutionary formula contains signature ingredients to even out the signs of ageing while maintaining a mattified complexion.
The science: Hyaluronic Acid aims to penetrate deep into the skin to hydrate and instantly helps improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Collagen works as an important building block for elasticity and helps smooth the signs of ageing.
Aims to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
Works to deeply hydrate
Helps remove dark circles and eye bags
Contributes to smoothing and softening the skin
Apply in the morning and evening onto clean, dry skin around the eye area.
Discontinue use if redness or irritation occurs. Avoid direct contact with the eyes. Do not ingest.
Period after opening: 6 months
First Impressions: The packaging is the basic, plastic tube. The formula is gel-like and after testing it on the back of my hand, it absorbs well. It doesn’t have a particular fragrance and after it soaked in, it had a tightening effect, which I guess would help to keep the undereye area taught and help reduce wrinkles. I thought I felt a tingling sensation, but it subsided quickly. I will utilise this product once I finish the Glossybox eyecream and report back to you.
Louisa
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This is the fifth, nude, Huda Beauty lip product I’ve received from Glossybox and I have to say this is now, by far, my favourite lip brand. I previously received the ‘Liquid Matte’ lipstick and matching lip liner in the shade ‘Venus’, the liquid ‘Lip Strobe’ metallic lip gloss in the shade ‘Angelic’ and the liquid ‘Demi Matte’ lipstick in the shade ‘Day Slayer’. This latest addition to my collection is also a nude in the shade ‘Wedding Day’, and I’m over moon about that. I am officially a nude lip person!
Huda Beauty Power Bullet Matte Lipstick
Huda Beauty Power Bullet Matte Lipstick in the shade ‘Wedding Day’
Glossybox description: Boasting a highly-pigmented, full-coverage formula, this matte lipstick will coat your pout in a cool-toned, soft, carmelised pink hue that flatters every skin tone. Better yet, it is comforting on your lips and, despite being matte, leaves them feeling smooth and hydrated. RRP / £22.00 SHOP / https://hudabeauty.com/us/en_US/shop/huda-beauty-power-bullet-wedding-day-HB00238.html
Huda Beauty website description: Huda Beauty’s highly pigmented matte lipstick with unparalleled colour payoff, for unexpected comfort.
Wedding Day: A super soft caramelized pink (cool toned)
• Use the bullet’s pointed tip to contour and line the edges of your lips. • Fill lips in using the bullet’s flat base, beginning in the center and smoothing outward to the corners of your mouth. • Build up to your desired level of impact.
The most pigmented of lipsticks, the Huda Beauty Power Bullet collection pushed the envelope for color intensity! This lipstick is so pigmented, the machines in our manufacturer’s lab almost broke when trying to make them. The results are so worth it! Every Power Bullet has a unique custom formula that was handcrafted to maximize the color level for all day, full-coverage wear.
It’s easy to find your perfect matte rose lip color with shades developed for for warm and cool undertones. Power Bullets come with a custom pointed tip, so it’s easy to line and contour for a plump matte look. The formula glides on easily for a luscious, cushy feel, without any skipping or dragging.
First Impressions: The component is of excellent quality. It’s heavy with a magnetic closure. The ombré effect is stunning. The only downside is that it is packaged inside a plastic box rather than a recyclable cardboard one. The bullet has a chiselled tip which helps to create a crisp edge when applying it. The formula is creamy and the payoff is fantastic. It is comfortable on the lips and the shade is a beautiful, cool-toned dusky pink which enhances the natual lip colour. It does transfer, but after blotting, it is minimal.
Louisa
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