Carmine: Beauty's Best, In a Box........ Review

OMG! What a pleasant surprise when I got home on Friday evening from work. A beautifully wrapped box holding inside 3 Full Size products and 3 samples of beauty products. And all that I will definitely use.

As a previous subscriber to GlossyBox and leaving them after such a bad run of experience from them ( customer services and box issues ), I left ( with some other ex-subscribers of GB ) to test out Carmine.

 As I unwrapped the ribbon, a card showing you all the products inside gave you all the details of the products,indicating which ones are the full size ones.

I was shocked to have received such a generous box containing 3 Full Size products plus a trial size sample and 2 sampler size samples.

With GB you were lucky to receive 1 full size product, yet alone a box worth this much.

So what was in the box??????




A full size product of;

The Balm - FretBoy All in One Shadow/Blusher

Andrea Fulerton Nail Polish

Daniel Sandler Eye Delight

 A Trial size White Glo, professional choice whitening toothpaste

and sampler sizes of

Yardley London Peony Fragrance

Diego Dalla Palma Lipstick no 42.





I wore the Daniel Sandler Eye Delight on my inner of my eyelids with The Balm across the rest of my eye and on my cheeks and the lipstick to work the next day. To my surprise I got loads of comments which gave me a chance to tell them about Carmine as well.

This morning I tried the toothpaste, I just LOVE the taste of this! It isn't your normal minty taste, I cannot quite put my finger on what the taste is but it is lush.  My teeth felt really clean but i will see in a few days if it makes my teeth whiter.

The Yardely fragrance is okay, just a little too powerful for me and very classic.

The lipstick is gorgeous, it comes out a coral pink/golden/apricot colour on me and works really well with the balm - fretboy shadow/blusher.

I have tried a little of the nail polish as my nails are very short was going to try this once i have put some fake nail on - on my nail it looks gorgeous - i have the bluey/green colour which has sparkly bits in when it dries. I have to say this product dries really quick and will require a good 2/3 coats on if you like it vivid as 1 coat looks watery.

Daniel Sandler eye delight I think is going to be my fave eyeshadow now. It sticks to your eyelids really well and the colour is amazing. I have the silvery white one which again worked really well the the pinky/apricot colour of the Balm/fretboy and the DDP lipstick.

Overall I am really impressed so far with Carmine, normally with GB boxes i only like a couple of products or I already use them. I can't wait till next month for my next surprise.

If you fancy trying out fantastic beauty products every month from Carmine than visit
Carmine.co.uk

• Receive a great box of make-up, haircare & skincare every month
• For only £10 per month, get £25 to £50 worth of products!

L.I.L.Y - A Fresh New Scent by Stella McCartney!

I wasn't a fan of Stella's previous fragrances, finding them too heavy and "classic" ( when i say the word classic, i mean the type of smell the fragrance has. Classic to me describes a fragrance that is strong, possibly woody, spicy etc, i.e perfumes like Chanel no 5, Elizabeth Arden Red Door etc ).

I was, however, pleasantly please that Stella has launched such a beautiful and delicate fragrance. Although, after reading what the perfume means - an a acronym for "Linda I love you," which, McCartney explained was "my dad's nickname for my mum.", I am not surprised Stella created such a fragrance in the honour of her mum.

L.I.L.Y offers a delicate balance between lily of the valley, with a touch of moss and exquisite black truffles. A fragrance for every woman: it adapts to, and belongs to, you. Inspired by a natural purity and the English countryside.

 L.I.L.Y 's bottle design is encased by an Art Deco style frame, reflecting the mixture of light and darkness, feminine and masculine, holding a radiant cut-glass bottle reminds of the old English vases.

This fresh, sensual fragrance will fast become your must-wear scent. Available in EDT and EDP, Body Lotion and Shower Gel.

This fragrance is certainly on my valentine list and possible wedding fragrance.

Introducing the fabulous products by BSQ Natural Couture

As a lover of natural products, and a hater for use of parabans, BSQ is one of my favorite companies producing a gorgeous range of natural products and fragrances.

BSQ features exclusive images from the V&A John French ( 1906 - 1966 ) archive to making their packaging look chic, glamours and elegance, bringing the world of art and beauty together.

The new Bsq. Natural Couture collection is a range of premium fragrances and body care products following a
three year collaboration with the V&A.

The range contains no parabens, no mineral oils, no SLES, no harsh preservatives, no artificial colours and no synthetic ethanol perfume bases.

The range has three beautiful fragrances – White Bergamot, White Amber and White Muguet inspired
by the Golden Age of Couture (1947-1957), one of the V&A’s most successful recent exhibitions, and features images from the V&A John French photography archive.

Bsq. Natural Couture White Bergamot fragrance has recently won the title Best New Fragrance of 2009 (silver) alongside Marc Jacobs, Daisy (Gold) in the UK Beauty Awards. The awards were shortlisted by a team of beauty editors and professionals and then by public vote.
The runner-ups included Shiseido ZenTM Eau de Parfum, Burberry The Beat, Prada Infusion D'Homme Eau
de Toilette, John Galliano Eau de Parfum, Paco Rabanne 1 Million Eau de Toilette, Jo Wood OrganicsEDT and Lanvin Jeanne Lanvin

White Bergamot – a sensual fragrance with floral bergamot & Neroli essential oils.
TOP: Bergamot, Neroli, Mandarin                         
MID: Rose, Orange Flower, Muguet
BASE: Amber, Sandalwood, Musk.



White Amber – a warming fragrance with amber & Sandalwood essential oils.
TOP: Mandarin, Neroli, Cypress
MID: Jasmine, Orange Flower, Lily, Violet
BASE: Amber, Vanilla, Sandalwood




White Muguet – a fresh floral fragrance with Muguet & Jasmine essential oils.
TOP: Green, Ylang Ylang, Watery, Hyacinth
MID: Muguet, Jasmine, Rose, Peony, Mimosa
BASE: Musk, Tuberose, Orris.



Although the above are EDT's, they are on the borderline of being a perfume and last notabily longer than a standard EDT. The White Muguet is my favorite, and one of the favorites with customers who I have introduced the BSQ range too.

Within each fragrance, there are also a gorgeous product range to go with them. The hand and nail cream is incredibly and have to say it is a good a the Clarins Hand and Nail Treatment. Both the Body Butter and the Body Lotion are wonderful leaving your skin notably soft and smooth. Plus a great way to layer up the scents.

Bsq. Natural Couture Shower Cream– a gently hydrating body cleanser for everyday use. The unique naturally enriched formula is perfect for an early morning wake up call to uplift your senses. No parabens, mineral oils, SLES, harsh preservatives or artificial colours.

Bsq. Natural Couture Body Lotion– a light moisturising body cream perfect for everyday use. Simply apply all over after bathing for a daily tonic to super, soft skin. No parabens, mineral oils, SLES, harsh preservatives or artificial colours.

Bsq. Natural Couture Hand & Nail Cream– keep hands soft and smooth with the moisturising Hand & Nail Cream. The cream is also a great overnight intensive manicure must have to nourish hands as you sleep. No parabens, mineral oils, SLES, harsh preservatives or artificial colours.

Bsq. Natural Couture Body Butter– a fine blend of shea butter and cocoa butter with Anuus seed and Moluccana nut oils to deeply moisturise dry, dull skin. Simply massage into the skin after bathing. The Body Butter will leave skin lightly fragranced and radiant looking.

Bsq. Natural Couture collection is available from House of Fraser Apothecary nationally.