Better Late than Never, Eh....?

If Christmas wasn't such a mad rush (who feels like they've been here, there and everywhere this festive period?), I'd have had a bit more time to blog about the special edition Glossybox my postie brought me over a week ago.

The December edition, which came in a lovely red box, was really quite impressive. I know there's been some hoo-ha surrounding Glossybox in the past. Some say it hasn't always been the best value for money, while others have been consistently thrilled with the contents of their box. Pop on over to the brand's Facebook page to join the debate conversation.

Without further ado then, here's what's inside the Christmas box....

And here's a rundown of the contents:

Rituals Foaming Shower Gel (£6.50 for a full sized bottle)

Glossybox say: "This unique foaming shower gel gently cleanses your skin and leaves it silky soft and smooth"

I say: I was really impressed with this. I know it's only a shower gel but it was ridiculously soft and silky with a lovely mandarin scent.

BLINK  + Go Hi-Definition Mascara (£14.99 for a full size product)

Glossybox say: "Longer, thicker, sexier. Give your natural lashes a stunning flake-free, waterproof boost"

I say: "I'm on the fence about this one. It did a great job at separating my lashes but didn't do too much in the way of volume. Not a bad mascara but a bit pricey. Still, I'll give it another shot and let you know"

CARGO COSMETICS Mini Classic Lip Gloss (£10 for a full size tube)

Glossbox say: "CARGO's new lip gloss formulation. Perfect shades, great wear and high-shine without being too sticky."

I say: "Glossybox are right about the sticky part; I hate a sticky lip gloss and this wasn't. The colour - a pink/coral - was just my cup of tea and application was smooth. My only fault was that it wasn't as longwearing as I'd hoped. I got about 6 applications out of this and would've liked more, but this is definitely a brand I'll be taking a look at in the new year."

Deborah Lippmann Razzle Dazzle Mini Nail  (£16 for a full bottle) and The Stripper to Go Lavender Finger Mitt Nail Remover Sachet (£14 for 6 sachets)

Glossybox say: "Party glitter nail colour with a sachet of the most amazing polish remover finger nail mitt."

I say: I absolutely loved this nail polish, such a gorgeous colour and I received a ton of compliments when I wore this red/purple sparkly number on Christmas Eve. Chipped like mad though, so I recommend carrying a small bottle around with you if you can't bear to have chipped, scratched nails while you're out and about. The nail polish remover was strong and effective (even on notoriously-difficult-to-remove glitter polish), but a bit pricey for £14!"

MEMEME Seventh Heaven Face Base (£15 for a full sized pot)

Glossybox say: "A luxurious moisturising face base enriched with active nutrients and extracts to prime and nourish the skin"

I say: I liked this. A bit sticky on application but sank into the skin quickly and provided a clean, smooth base for easy make-up application."

Plus, there's a £5 voucher (and a free delivery code) inside the box to use against a full sized product.

As an aside, Glossybox for men has finally launched and I signed my chap up as part of his Christmas present. If anyone's interested in the contents of the first box, feast your eyes on this...

Apparently, there'll be a bit of a longer wait for the January Glossybox but the girls at the brand assure us it's going to be worth the wait. Keep your eyes peeled, ladies!

Did you get December's Glossybox? What did you think? Worth the money or a rip off?

17's Falsifeye Mascara: Wow!

There was a time, not so long ago, when I thought nothing could replace my beloved Volum' Express the Colossal mascara. Well, move over Maybelline...

This bad boy (17's Falsifeye Mascara) may just have changed my mind.

Gaudy it may be, but this pink mascara is a wonder product. I don't think anything has made my lashes look as long (and I'm lucky to have fairly long ones anyway).

My mascara is far too shabby (after one too many uses) to photograph. Thanks, Google images!

I received this in a 17 goodie bag and I'm glad I did. I rarely buy products from the brand, heading straight for the Maybelline stand when I need a new mascara.

This one's similar in price to Maybelline's Volum' Express (it's currently £6.49 at Boots), but doesn't seem to dry out as quick and adds length as well as volume to the lashes. Well worth a look if you fancy a change.

Which mascara do you use?

I hope everyone had a very merry Christmas, by the way. What did Father Christmas bring you?

FTC Disclaimer: This product was sent in a 17 goodie bag, as a thank you for a recent post. I did not feel obliged to write this review, nor am I affiliated with the brand in any way. All opinions are 100% honest and my own, as always.

Santa Claus is Coming to Town....

....indeed he is. And I was lucky enough to meet the big man in the run up to December 25th. He was fairly busy with last minute preparations, as you can imagine. But fear not, I managed to have a quick word in his ear to remind him what I want for Christmas.

Have you been a good/bad blogger/blog reader this year? What have you asked Santa for?

Aussie: The Challenge So Far...

If you've been keeping up with my blog lately, you'll have read this post in which I talked about a very special hair challenge set by those creative ladies behind Aussie.

Didn't read said post? No worries. In a nut shell, the Aussie Angels' new mission is to document how the latest addition to the hair care line up - the bigger 500ml shampoo bottle - is faring.

Just how many washes can an Aussie girl get out of this mammoth bottle? Well, so far so good. I've been using the shampoo daily for over a week and I'm only about an eighth of the way through the bottle.  And while I do have fairly short hair, I still think that's pretty good going. Here's a few shots of 'the hair'.

Friday, December 16th

Just days into the Aussie challenge and my hair already seems to be looking glossier. Here I am in the office for a festive Jacob's Join and the swapping of Secret Santa pressies. I'm pictured with my colleague and chum and the obligatory festive jumper and silly head wear. I ditched the straighteners for the day and opted for pigtails, even if they do make me look about 12 : (

Saturday, December 17th

I'm pictured desperately struggling to get my mic to work before my lyrics flash up on the screen on the game, Lips last Saturday night. I kept my coat on as it was a parky night. As well as swapping my usual Pantene for Aussie, I've been trying to use less heat on my hair. This is my hair au naturale. It's clearly in need of a tidy up/trim, but overall it's in pretty good nick.

Sunday, December 18th

On Sunday I donned my reindeer mask (yep, it is pretty scary eh?) to host a 'dinner party' for my folks. It didn't turn out too badly to be honest, despite rushing round the supermarket only a couple of hours before for the ingredients. Had a late night Saturday but while I did get up late, the Aussie shampoo challenge ensured I at least gave my hair a decent wash. It was a duvet day until the evening when I shoved my hair up in pigtails again.

Have you tried Aussie's bigger bottles yet? Or, like me, are you taking part in the challenge? Let me know how you're getting on.

Til the next update...

`

Last Minute Gift Idea? 20% Off at Doris Designs!

I love anything even mildly retro-looking, so when an email pinged into my inbox from Doris Designs I was on the website fancy than 'a tramp on chips' (nicked that delightful phrase from The Apprentice's Nick Hewer).

I was delighted to spy all manner of cute petticoat skirts, beautifully made from double layered chiffon. Lovely stuff, but even lovelier with 20% off. That's right - there's 20% off, exclusively for readers of A Lauren to Herself.

So if you're looking for a last minute gift (or just want to treat yourself) enter the code: laurenholden2011 at checkout. The code will expire on Monday, December 20.

Why not hop on over to the website, if only to marvel at the pretty photos.

Gosh, That's a Big Un!

It really is great being an Aussie Angel and surprise packages from the brand almost always turn up when you're having a bad week and in need of a treat - magic!

And to celebrate the launch of the bigger Aussie bottles, this mahoosive inflatable bottle turned up at my abode, accompanied by the new (and large) shampoo and conditioner.

I don't always get this dressed up when I'm having my photo taken with inflatable shampoo bottles; I was on my way out to see one of my favourite acts close their UK tour in Manchester.

Aussie say: "Here at Aussie we love to hear your feedback, so when you said you wanted bigger bottles we took that on board and have come up with More More More of what YOU love! The formula is still same sweet smelling Aussie, but with an added extra of Aloe Vera."

You see, it was all for us : )

So aside from being lucky enough to receive the latest addition to the Aussie line-up in the post, we've also been set a little challenge.

Aussie want to see just how many washes us Aussie Angels get from our bigger bottle, so I'll be bringing you a weekly hair diary to let you know how I'm getting on. Watch this space!

Are you a fan of Aussie?

Music Monday

This week's instalment comes from the fabulously festive (if I do say so myself) A Lauren to Herself household.

And well, it might be a bit early to put the decs up....but I don't care : ) After barely setting foot out of my bed last Christmas thanks to a nasty bout of flu, I'm determined to make this festive season the best yet. And so I put my tree up at the very first opportunity. Who else has?

To celebrate, I'll leave you with this:

My favourite Christmas song is actually Wham's Last Christmas, but for some reason I couldn't embed it into this post.
What's your favourite Christmas song? And are you feeling festive yet?

From the Makers of Rodial...

I've been a fan of Nip and Fab since its recent launch, but had no idea the brand comes from the people behind Rodial. Did you?

I used to write a beauty column at a regional newspaper and Nip and Fab's 'Eye Fix' concealer was one of many products sent for us to test out. But I've also tried the brand's facial oil and loved it.

So I was chuffed when I entered a Facebook giveaway on Nip and Fab's page and won one of the latest products in the ever-growing line - Pistachio Sundae Dry Skin Fix Body Butter.

The good news is, Nip and Fab is Rodial's 'younger sister' brand and therefore is not nearly as expensive.

This hefty tub of body butter was just £9.95, which I didn't think was too bad.

The product blurb: "Get set for smooth + utterly nourished skin with PISTACHIO SUNDAE from the new Nip+Fab body butter range! This rich, creamy body butter helps repair dry + dehydrated skin with 24 hour moisture-boosting hydraconcept Aquaxyl ™ while leaving you feeling perfectly pampered with the deep, nutty scent of pistachio.
"Aquaxyl™ boasts scientifically substantiated benefits to improve the water reserves in the skin, limit water loss and visually improve the surface of the skin."

I liked the sound of this namely because of its scent. I love the sweet but slightly salty fragrance of pistachios but this body butter is probably about the sweetest thing you'll ever smell. Almost too sweet, in fact. My boyfriend certainly didn't want to come anywhere near me once I'd applied this!

But overbearing scent aside, this is a highly nourishing product and one which is much needed for my dry, flaky winter skin.

Oh and did you know the brand has a fair few celebrity followers, including Jennifer Anniston, Girls Aloud's Kimberley Walsh, Olivia Palermo and Diana Vickers?

Have you tried anything from Nip and Fab? Which products are getting you through winter?

Boux Avenue Winner!

Thanks to everyone who entered my Boux Avenue competition to win a body wash and hand cream duo!

Pic: We Heart It

I've selected a winner out of a hat. And the winner is..... Girlie Blogger. Congratulations! Email me at laurenholden6@gmail.com and I'll make sure your prize is sent to you asap

Make a (Christmas) Wish - The Fairy Hobmother's Back!

Skint? Want to buy your folks/friends/family a Christmas pressie but funds are running short? Or maybe you're in need of a brand new frock for the office Christmas party?

Whatever your Christmas wish, the Fairy Hobmother is here to help!

If you're a keen blogger (or blog reader), you'll have heard all about the famous Fairy Hobmother from Appliances Online. She's been busy sprinkling her fairy dust on UK blogs to offer people just like yourself the chance to treat themselves or a loved one.

Her mission? "To  bring joy and happiness to the world’s bloggers by providing treats for great, hard work in the blogosphere!"

Pictures: We Heart It

And lo and behold...I got a visit from the Fairy Hobmother myself!  I'm spending Christmas with my boyfriend and his family this year and was hoping for some new baking books to help me whip up some sweet treats so I'm not arriving on Christmas Eve empty handed. My wish was granted! I was rewarded with some Amazon vouchers to purchase some new books, so I'll be heading to the shops this weekend to stock up on ingredients.

What's your wish? Simply leave it in the comments below (with your email address). The Fairy Hobmother secretly scours UK blogs, so who knows -  she may pay you a visit too.

Make a wish......

Friday Favourites

How close is it til Christmas now? Luckily, I managed to get all my shopping rounded off yesterday, so I can't wait for December 25th to come around.

Here's what I've spotted (and loved!) in the world of blogging this week:


The talented lady behind the blog Lipstick on the Cup created this beautiful Geisha look...

Clare over at Big Beauty Blog trialled a bold new lipstick shade...

Frankie wrote about the trials and tribulations of growing one's brows

Maria at Lulu Letty enjoyed a walk in the snow in a glamorous retro-inspired Forever 21 skirt.

Which blogs have you enjoyed this week? Link me up, ladies!
Right, I'm off for my Christmas do. Last Christmas by Wham better be on the stereo!