Hi All,

I always wanted to try the Cleanse and Polish cleanser by Liz Earle, but as I had a No 7 £5 voucher which was going to expire soon, I went to Boots and I discovered that No 7 had just released their own Hot Cloth Cleanser, http://www.boots.com/en/No7-Beautiful-Skin-Hot-Cloth-Cleanser_1245026/, for £10 and with my voucher £5! Yaaay!! It is actually very good, it removes the makeup completely and leaves the skin smooth and refreshed.
On the video I am also using:
- Botanics Skin Brightening Toner http://www.boots.com/en/Botanics-Skin-Brightening-Toner-250ml_34095/ - and mention Botanics Brightening Skin Cleanser http://www.boots.com/en/Botanics-skin-Brightening-Cleanser-New-Improved_50728/
- Boots Essentials Cucumber Eye Makeup Remover Gel http://www.boots.com/en/Boots-Essentials-Cucumber-Eye-Make-Up-Remover-Gel-150ml_869638/
All of the above from Boots http://www.boots.com/
Finally, I am finishing with Bepanthol Nourishing & Reconstructive Face Cream. My mummy left that cream from the last time she was here. It is a rich, thick moisturising cream that replenishes and nourishes the skin, and the smell reminds me so much of my mummy!
 I have found that it is sold mainly in greek pharmacy sites.
http://www.pharmeden.gr/product_info.php/bepanthol-ultra-bayer-nourishing-and-regenerating-face-cream-50ml-p-1365?language=en or you can try Bayer's website http://www.bayer.co.uk

Here's the vid:

You subscribe for one Glossybox per month and two come in one week!!!

This video is my take on this month's Glossybox, which was made in collaboration with Harrods.
Watch me opening the box in front of the camera and my reactions for every product, especially when I discovered that I have received a specific product that lots of people didn't, hehehe.
Afterwards I review each product, this was filmed on the next day.  There has been so much hype for this particular box in cyberland, eversince Glossybox announced the collaboration with Harrods. Here, I send a little message to those who had negative things to say. My opinion, you're free to comment :)

I just received from Amazon a tripod for my iPod (and it rhymes!)
So now, I can make videos with ease, as before I had to mount my camera on my tripod and attach my iPod with...rubber bands on the camera! (previous video of Feb favourites was filmed like this).
So today, I woke up early, made my coffee and put my iPod on my tripod - hahahaha, it cracks me up everytime I write it - and filmed a video about my favourite tools and accessories. I also thought of including a couple of things I bought for my room, like a mini haul.

I also decided (don't ask me why) to curl my hair with my Babyliss Curling Wand, which was sitting on my dresser for a while... I like the ease of use, but I think my hair needs a strong styling mousse to keep the curls, well...curly, and bouncy.
Here is the video: 

Products mentioned:
Lamp and Mannequin necklace holder from Store Twenty One: http://www.storetwentyone.co.uk/homewares/icat/homeware/

Headbands from Claire's Accessories: http://www.claires.com/store/the-goods/Teens/cat310174/Shop-by-Category/Hair-Accessories/

The Organiser, make up bag by E.L.F. : http://www.eyeslipsface.co.uk/product~prodID~105.htm

Model Mirror: Les TaiTai http://www.lestaitai.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=1

Daily Brush Cleaner by E.L.F.: http://www.eyeslipsface.co.uk/product~prodID~168.htm

Fan Brush by E.L.F.: http://www.eyeslipsface.co.uk/product~prodID~224.htm
For MAC Brushes 217, 266 and 224: http://www.maccosmetics.co.uk/flash/brush_finder/index.tmpl?CATEGORY_ID=CAT1751

For a selection of designs of the Bohemian crystal nail file, check out these websites:
http://www.crystalglassfile.com/www/basic.php?section=sections&sec_id=12#sec_id_17 and http://www.cristalonline.com

Mr Mascara Girl Tweezers: http://www.mistermascara.com/products/tweezers/girl-tweezers.aspx - I bought mine from Harrods Urban Retreat http://www.urbanretreat.co.uk/harrods.aspx

Is it Christmas time? No! It's GLOSSYBOX time!!!
After a lot of deliberation, me being sceptic and stingy and analytical (and anal) I finally succumbed to the temptation and subscribed to Glossybox: a fabulous internet company that sends you luxury samples of high-end cosmetic brands for £10 a month (plus £2.95 p+p). My first box, the February, London Fashion Week edition, just arrived yesterday, but, as always, I was at work (insert outraged emoticon here).
So this morning, I couldn't wait and with just a smudge of lipstick and hair tied in a messy bun (the horror!!) I flew literally to the Post Office to collect it.
I came home also with wings in my back, opened it and OMG!!! It's like these guys have been living with me or read my blogposts in here!!!!

First of all when you subscribe they ask you to fill your beauty profile. I don't remember mentioning anywhere that I love PURPLE so much! The packaging is divine and the colours are exactly the colours I currently am obsessed with: purple, gold, pink and silvery-grey.

With too much excitement in my hands, that I dropped the box on the floor twice (classic Marietta!) I unravelled the pretty pink bow and Voilá! My first products to indulge and cherish were in front of my eyes!!

Click to enlarge

The brands are all luxury, rare brands.  I was so pleasantly surprised!!! A lavender hand sanitiser, which smells amazing, in gorgeous lavender purple,by Doctor Bronner's Magic. Only the word Magic was enough for me! Perfect for my handbag, to replace the boring, unscented pharmaceutical sanitiser that I've been carrying. And it does smell divine.

The next thing, for which a little yelp came out of my mouth was the Como Shamballa Invigorate Shower Gel with Eucaliptus, Geranium, Lavender and Pepermint essential Oils. I have been hearing the YT beauty gurus raving about this brand and I had the urge to try its products for so long. The shower gel smells like you are inside a fragrant steam room in the most luxurious spa....! I absolutely adore this feeling!!

A bigger scream came with the next product:
The Awapuhi Wild Ginger styling treatment oil by Paul Mitchell . I've been wanting to get Paul Mitchell products for my hair, plus a good treatment oil for a very long time. So I got both said desires fulfilled in this amazing little bottle. I have tried it on my hair and you only need to put a couple of pumps on your hand, as it's quite rich and then massage it on the ends of your hair (NEVER on the roots) for a shiny result!

I then looked at the little box from Becca, yet another brand that I wanted to try, after listening to the youtubers: the Beach-Tint in Watermelon. Suffice to say, I put it on my lips and I have been transported back to Greece, in the summer, eating watermelons in the afternoon. This will be great for my holidays, for a bit of cheek and lip colour on the beach! Can't wait!!!

Finally, and this is where the big Aaaaaaah! comes, a fantastic, amazing, stupendous, brilliant Pure Mineral eye shadow from BM Beauty in, yes, you guessed it, PURPLE!!! So I swatched it on my hand, only to discover this is the colour I WAS LOOKING FOR! I was in Superdrug just yesterday looking at Barry M's Dazzle Dusts, mumbling to myself  "I haven't got a purple one". But something stopped me from buying it, call it instinct or pure luck as my train was leaving and I was in a hurry and boy, didn't that hesitation pay off!! The one I got in my Glossybox is the same size as the Barry M one and the colour is even prettier! So happy!

And that's it for the February box! I will surely enjoy using these products and I can't wait for the March edition, which will be the Harrods edition, posted on the 9th of March, according to the website.

If you want, you still have time to subscribe, because I believe from all the hype for the Harrods box is going to sell out, So hurry if you don't want to miss it. Better yet, message me your email address, so I can send you a link to subscribe and I will get Glossydots, which means a free box for moi!

Stay glossy!

xxx

As I get older (and wiser) I keep finding ways to make my skin feel and look healthier.
Over the years, I've discovered ways, so easy to follow and so enjoyable that I can honestly say, I owe my healthy skin to 10 simple rules.
Here they are:

1. Avoid the sun - If you want to get a tan during the summer, never put your face in direct sunlight. Use sunscreen, wear a hat and keep your neck up in the shade. The sun will find your face anyway and give it a healthy tan, instead of burnt flesh that will get wrinkles and premature ageing.
2. Cleanse your skin every night - Take all the make up off, concentrate on the eye area. Use a gentle cleanser that will benefit your skin, according to your skin type. Avoid toners high in alcohol. Prefer natural ingredients, such as cucumber, aloe vera, coconut and almond oil.
3. M-O-I-S-T-U-R-I-Z-E!!! Cannot stress this enough. If you don't wear any other creams, (like me) wear a moisturizer, preferably with SPF 15-20 (I have been advised by a cosmetologist that there is no SPF higher than 25, so don't believe everything you see) and give your skin a refresher before you put make up on (tinted moisturizers are great!) and at night. Your skin needs moisture badly!
4. If you're younger than 30 you don't need any anti-wrinkle creams!!! Your skin is too young for heavy chemicals. Think of it as creating anti-bodies in the future: if you wear an anti-wrinkle cream from a young age, when you get a wrinkle in your 40's, it will not react to any cream - the skin will be used to them. So just cleanse thoroughly and wear your moisturizer religiously.
5. Don't put any heavy make up from a young age. I had a friend at school, who was wearing make up since she was 12. She now looks like she's my grandmother!!! I started wearing make up in my 20's and I never had zits, spots, blackheads, NADA!
6. Drink LOTS of water and fruit juices. Moisture needs to come from in and out.
7. Exfoliate once a week.  I love exfoliating masks!!! Especially the peel-off ones, they remind me of 60's movies, Doris Day, my mom who used to pretend she was a ghost scaring the shit out of us, and I love peeling them off! Mrs Doubtfire, you rock!
8. Treat yourself to a home-made spa! On my day off when I'm at home, the contact lenses come off, there isn't a trace of make up on my skin and I treat my self to a spa bath, with Eucalyptus essential oil, hair mask, exfoliating mask and my head on a bath pillow. I close my eyes and relax for 10 minutes and I feel like a new person. Music, candles and phone off the hook help as well. After doing me, I clean my make up brushes: I use my E.L.F. Brush Cleaner which smells wonderful, a cleansing wipe and baby shampoo to wash them thoroughly, I put them in Brush Guards and in a glass by the window, to catch the sunlight and dry upside down. Depending on the quality of the brush, they get as good as new. 

 9. Spend a day with no make up! Crazy heh? I know. But the skin needs breathing and with just a pinch on your cheeks and a bit of lip gloss you will feel refreshed and beautiful.
10. Most of all, HAVE FUN! Learn your face, its secrets, its pros and cons, experiment, learn things, get advice, enjoy your beauty, gorgeous!!!