An Ode to Essie

Sand Tropez, Chinchilly, Angora Cardi

Ever since Essie nail polishes hit the high street there isn't a beauty blog out there that hasn't mentioned them at some point. I've bought a handful over the past few months, and these three are my current favourites.

Sand Tropez is described as a 'soft sandy beige' and I guess that's pretty correct. It is very pale, so looks nude on my nails. However, it doesn't give me zombie hands as I am extremely pale anyway. I only bought this last week and have worn it a few times since. I find it to be a little bit thinner in consistency than the others, so the first coat applies slightly streaky, but this disappears with a second coat.

Chinchilly (the cutest name ever) is a cool grey colour, with a hint of mauve in it. I love a good grey nail varnish and this one doesn't disappoint. I don't have any issues with the consistency of this one, and you could get away with one coat. 
You can see a combo of Sand Tropez and Chinchilly in this blog post.

Angora Cardi is my ultimate favourite. This photo doesn't do it justice, in real life it isn't as red - it is more of a dusty rose, brown, mauvey mix. This blog post shows it in its true glory. I've been wearing this constantly; the consistency is perfect, and can be opaque in one coat, but I always apply two. It's just stunning, I urge you to go take a look!

As everybody always says, the new wide brush is brilliant; it makes application quick and easy. I find it also helps to get an even coat.
I always use the Revlon Nail Treatment as a base coat, and the Liquid Quick Dry top coat - both of which I recommend.

Thanks for reading x

Beauty Review: Summer Legs Combo - Soap and Glory Breakfast Scrub and Ekos Cacau Leg and Foot Cream

This morning the post man knocked (rather aggressively) at my door and handed a box addressed to me. I hadn't ordered anything so I was ridiculously surprised, to say the least, when I saw it was another Joliebox ( which I am 100% sure was a mistake, but I'm not complaining!) 

I opened it up and inside were pretty much the same products as the ones shown in this post, bar one. So I thought I'd talk about that as I was seriously impressed with it when I used it this morning.

Personally, I do not tan. Ever. I am a whiter shade of pale and covered in freckles. I have tried false tan a few times, mainly when I used to dance and had to wear it on stage and it does not suit me. Especially with my red hair, it looks quite ridiculous. However, in summer my legs and arms get really dry and flaky, especially after I've burnt, but I've found two products that seem to combat the scaly effect.

Introducing:

Soap and Glory Breakfast Scrub

I'm a bit of a cheapskate when it comes to body products, and this pot of exfoliator costs £10, so I was wary at spending so much on it, which is daft when you think about it as you kind of have to look after your skin, don't you?

Anyway, I love it. I had tried an FCUK scrub, but found that it left a greasy residue on my body which felt gross. The Breakfast Scrub doesn't leave a residue, has quite large particles, but isn't overly abrasive, and smells seriously delicious. Like honey. This is only my first tub, but I use it twice a week and bought it way back in January, so it has lasted quite a while, well worth the £10. 

This body scrub leaves my skin really soft, slightly red after use, but I take that as I sign it has done its job, and I colour up quite easily anyway. It is seriously lovely.

This is the product I received in the Joliebox this morning, the Ekos Cacau Foot and Leg Cream. I have never heard of this brand before, but I do like cocoa butters when it comes to moisturising so I thought I'd pop this on my legs after a shower this morning. It is quite a thick, white cream, but blends into the skin really easily and absorbs quickly. I am yet to use it on my feet though.

It smells like cocoa butter, but much more natural smelling, compared to say Palmer's Cocoa Butter range, which can smell quite synthetic and strong. 

My legs can get quite dry so this is excellent for drier skin.

I also really love the packaging of this product. After a bit of googling I found out that all of the packaging - box, metal tube, plastic cap - are all 100% recyclable. 

I think I've found my combination for super-smooth legs this summer!

What is your go-to combination for smooth skin?

Thanks for reading x

Beauty Review: Joliebox - Meg's Giveaway Box

Meg recently posted a giveaway on her blog, in which a few people would win a Joliebox. Having never subscribed to any of the beauty boxes, I decided to enter to see what the fuss was about and was picked as one of the winners! 

I tend to read Meg and Estee's reviews of the beauty boxes as I trust their opinions, but there are so many posts about them all over the blogosphere (I hate that word) it can get a bit tedious.

The box arrived this morning and I wasted no time in ripping it open to see what was inside.

The packaging is lovely, quite compact and I thing the little bag on the inside is great! It could come in handy when travelling - could act as a little wash bag or something.

The only thing I was slightly disappointed in was the fact that this wasn't a UK box (I don't think), as the magazine was written all in French. It's a very well laid out magazine, I just wish I could understand what was written inside!

My box contained (from left to right) Lierac Initiatic anti wrinkle cream, Dr. Hauschka Rose Body Oil, Roger and Gallet Creme Sublime Bois D'organce hand and nail cream, Clarins Glass Prodige lip gloss and Science et Mer makeup remover for face and eyes.

Overall I'm pretty pleased with what I got as they are all products I would never buy myself, which I think is the point of the beauty boxes - to try out new things. I have given the Lierac cream to my mum as it isn't suited to my skin (and she said if there was anything I didn't want to give it to her). I did open it though and it is a pretty thick cream which rubs into the skin quickly and doesn't really smell of much.

I have no idea what I'm going to do with the Dr. Hauschka body oil to be honest. I rarely moisturise anywhere other than my face due to laziness, but my legs have been a bit flaky from where they burnt in the sun a few weeks ago so I may try this out on them. It smells of rose, which isn't something I'm overly keen on, but it smells more fresh than grandma-esque so I don't find it too offensive.

This Roger and Gallet hand and nail cream is gorgeous. I never ever use hand cream as the ones I have tried in the past have left my hands greasy for ages afterwards. This contains argan oil and evening primrose oil which are supposed to be nourishing so hopefully this will help keep my nails strong. I put this straight on this morning and it rubbed in so easily. It smells absolutely gorgeous, I can't pinpoint the scent, it isn't orange, which is what I was expecting. It is slightly floral, but nothing too strong. It's beautiful.

The Clarins lipgloss is a lipgloss. It isn't overly sticky or anything, but I'm not a lipgloss wearer, so this may just get put on when I go on a night out or something. There isn't much to say about it really. It's not an offensive, unwearable colour so I'm sure I'll give it a go at some point.

I'm really pleased I got an eye make up remover in the box as I've been after one for ages after running out of the Bioderma a few months ago. This one isn't a micellar solution, but a very light gel-like cream. It doesn't smell of anything, so shouldn't irritate my skin.

Overall very pleased! When I have some money (ha!) I may subscribe to the Joliebox as I had such a good experience with this one. 


Are you subscribed to any beauty boxes? Are they worth the money?


Thanks for reading x