Savage Beauty

Glossybox is a monthly beauty subscription box, which contains a combination of five deluxe sample-size and full-sized beauty products. It is normally priced at £10 + £3.25 p&p, but you can receive 20% off your first box 'here'. This month's box channeled Christmas, and is titled the "All that Glitters" edition.

So, what was in this months box...?


Each box contained a full-sized Doucce Relentless Matte lip crayon in the shade "Winterberry". This is a deep, burgundy shade which is perfect for a day or night-time christmas-esque make-up look. The crayon applies seamlessly and is non-drying. It's not a smudge proof lippie, but it does last a few hours. It is priced at £20!

Moving on to the cheaper side, each box contained a full-sized Imperial Leather shower gel, in the scent 'Cosmic Unicorn'. This is a limited edition scent, priced at £1.00/250ml. It smells delicious and it is a nice addition to this month's box.


Next up, is a Bellapierre Cosmetics roll-on highlighter, which can be used on the face, body or eyes. Normally, I'm not a huge fan of Bellapierre as (after trying many of their products) I feel like their products are over-priced. However, this shimmer roll-on provides a blinding and dewy champagne-coloured highlight, and I think this would look amazing for a night-time look. It does RRP at £14.99 for 2g, but you can find it for half price HERE.

Each box contained a liquid-jelly blusher by Niko Pro, and this is one product that I am not convinced by. This has very little pigment when blended on the cheeks, but contains huge glittery chunks, which can ruin a make-up look within seconds. I am not a fan of this product at all, but it was nice to test... so, that I can steer clear in the future!


Channelling cult glitter masks which can be found all over instagram, this box contains a sachet of Vitamasques' cosmic pink ruby glitter peel-off mask. Personally, I love peel-off masks as I find that they unclog pores whilst firming your skin, and this mask claims to boost hydration, too!

Lastly, this month contained a bonus product in the form of two Maybeauty nose pore strips, designed to remove clogged dirt and impurities from your pores. The sample size contained two individual pore strips, priced at around £2.80.

Overall, I loved this month's 'All That Glitters' box, which encompassed the theme of Christmas, with it's gorgeous packaging. My favourite products were the Doucce lip crayon and Bellapierre's highlighter, whilst my least favourite was the jelly blush.

Let me know what your thoughts are, in the comments down below!

XO Zoe

Glossybox is a monthly beauty subscription box, which contains a combination of five deluxe sample-size and full-sized beauty products. It is normally priced at £10 + £3.25 p&p, but you can receive 20% off your first box 'here'.

So, what was in this months box...?


Each box contained a full-sized Huda Beauty matte lipstick worth £18. I received the shade "Girlfriend" which is a deep, orange-based nude shade, and I can definitely see myself wearing this shade day and night. I am not a lover of liquid lipsticks, but this is long-lasting and non-drying, so it is incredibly wearable.

Next up, is a deluxe 30g sample of Palmer's 24 hour moisture balm, priced at £1.20. I have just started my final nursing placement and the dermatitis on my hands is making a grand, old return, so, this has been a life-saver. This travel-sized balm soothes dehydrated skin and it is chocolate-scented, and it is just what I need after a 12.5 hour shift!

Each box also contained a Stylondon eyeshadow palette, and I received the palette 'Eaton Square'. This contains nine, warm-toned shades, which includes three matte shades and six shimmer shades. The shimmer shadows have a fantastic colour pay-off and they are long-lasting, with my favourite shade being a deep, burgundy shimmer shade! This palette is priced at £9.99, and I think it is a great palette for the Christmas season.


Included in my box was a deluxe-sized dry shampoo by the brand Living Proof. I've used this product a few times over the past few days, because washing my long hair is *such* an effort and it has worked well to reduce the formation of grease. It is tropical scented, too. I'd say it's the least exciting product in this month's box, because dry shampoos tend to do the same job, regardless of the brand!

Next, my box contained the Micro-derm regenerator by Context. It is a daily, two-in-one cleanser and exfoliator which claims to purify skin by gently removing dirt. I have only used this product once, as exfoliators tend to aggravate my skin if used more than twice in a week, but it worked well to unclog and minimise my pores. This comes as a a generous 30ml deluxe-sample!

Overall, I really enjoyed this months box, and my favourite item was the Huda Beauty liquid lipstick. Initially, I did not think I'd suit the shade but it works great alongside my skin tone. I love the eyeshadow palette, but I wasn't too excited about the dry shampoo. The total value of the box is priced at over £40, so we're definitely getting our money's worth.

Let me know your thoughts on this month's box in the comments!

XO Zoe

Glossybox is a monthly beauty subscription box, which contains a combination of five deluxe sample-size and full-sized beauty products. It is normally priced at £10 + £3.25 p&p, but you can receive 20% off your first box 'here'.


This month, the theme of the boxes was Halloween. Each subscriber received a 'trick' or 'treat' box, and I received the latter! The surprise element and the design of both boxes completely drew me into subscribing.

So, what was in my box?

First up, every box contained a *full-sized* Illamasqua 'anti-matter' lipstick which is priced at £20! The 'treat' box contains a dramatic pink lipstick, in the shade 'Nebula'. This lipstick is incredibly pigmented, non-drying with a super creamy texture. Normally, this shade would not be my cup of tea. However, I've found if dabbed lightly onto the lips, it can work well with an every-day look.

Each box also contains a *full-sized* Sleek 'i-Divine' eyeshadow palette, which is priced at £8.99! I received the palette called 'Oh So Special', which comes in an array of twelve warm-toned mattes and shimmer shades. The shimmer shades are incredibly pigmented, my favourite shade including a rose-gold called "organza", whilst the mattes swatch well.


Next, is a *full-sized* LunabyLuna translucent loose setting powder, which is priced at £17! This is a brand I have never tried before, but I'm a lover of loose setting powders. When applied the powder is soft and fine, and worked great at setting my make-up.

Each box contained a *full-sized* 'strobe and glow kit' from Make Up Academy, which is priced at £5! This is a strobing balm and powder, used to highlight the cheekbones. I love a blinding highlight, and this just didn't meet my expectations. It had little pigmentation and so, I will be passing this on to my Mum. But, it was nice to test out!

Lastly, the boxes contained a 20ml deluxe sample size of This Works 'in-transit camera close-up' moisturiser. The full-sized product is 40ml, priced at £35 which means that this deluxe sample is priced at £17.50! I haven't tried this product yet, nor have I tried any products from This Works, but look out on my Instagram for a more in-depth review!


Overall, I am incredibly impressed with this month's Glossybox. The total value of this box is £68, which is fantastic considering that the price of this box was £10. I am very happy with each product. Even though I wasn't a fan of the MUA highlighter, I'm sure my Mum will love it!

Have you received this month's Glossybox? What did you think of the items. Let me know in the comments!

XO Zoe

Birchbox is a monthly beauty subscription box which is priced at £10 + £2.95 p&p. It contains around five beauty products, ranging from make-up to luxury skincare brands. This month, Birchbox added an extra perfume sample to every box, too! After a looong break, a promo code for a free LOC lipgloss trio worth £20(!!!) reeled me back in.

So, what was in my box?


Every box contains a Beauty Pro Thermotherapy face mask. I received the silver foil mask, containing vitamin C and green tea extracts. These are self-heating and intend to even your skin-tone, whilst boosting moisture. The masks are priced at £5.95 each, so already we're getting our money's worth.

My box also contained a unique product by Daily Concepts. This is a two-in-one charcoal sponge and soap, which is used to exfoliate your skin. Charcoal is great for removing impurities, and getting rid of pesky blackheads. This is a full-sized product and it is priced at £6.00.


I bagged a hair mask by a unfamiliar brand called Amika. Unknowingly to me, this product is highly rated across beauty websites for improving the condition of your hair. I'm definitely looking forward to testing this, as I have long, dry hair. The full-sized version is priced at £20/250ml, meaning that the sample is worth £1.60/20ml.

Next up, another hair product by Number 4... which is a repeat product! I have received this product in previous Birchboxes. This is unfortunate as Birchbox is advertised to help you discover new products! Although, I will admit that I think this is a great heat protection spray, as it leaves my hair feeling super soft. The full-sized product costs £26.25/200ml, suggesting that the 30ml sample-size is worth around £4.


Finally, some make-up in the form of Winky Lux. This is a warm-toned strobing balm, used to highlight the cheekbones. But sorry, it's a no from me! This "highlighter" contains zero pigmentation, and has little effect. The balm is priced at £15/7g, making the sample worth £3.20/1.5g. No matter the cost, it is not worth the money.

To summarise, I liked the variety of beauty products in this box. I obviously was disappointed that there was a repeat product and I didn't like the strobing balm, but I'm incredibly happy to try the sheet mask, hair mask and charcoal sponge. Overall, this box is worth around £20.75, not including the free LOC lipgloss trio, which I received as a free gift when I subscribed (promo code: here). But, you're definitely getting your pennies worth!

Are you subbed to Birchbox? If so, what did you think of this month's box... let me know in the comments!

XO Zoe

I have officially have six months to go until I qualify as a registered nurse. The thought of wearing a blue uniform, being attached to a set of drug-cupboard keys and having a whole load of responsibilities... is terrifying.


As a student nurse, having a good level of confidence is key. It's important to ask questions, advocate for patient's care and grab learning opportunities. This requires feeling comfortable with raising your voice in front of others. But, I know that it's much easier said than done.

There's No Stupid Questions
Before I started my training, I had never stepped foot in a clinical area. In retrospect, this had set me back from my peers. Everything was new and scary and sterile. In my first year, I remember googling what "DNACPR" meant, because apparently the medical world loves it's abbreviations. I did have fantastic nursing mentors, but I had zero confidence in myself to say "wait a minute... what does this, this and this mean?".

If you're unsure of something, it is important to ask someone about it. Asking some questions can feel silly, but speaking out will enhance your confidence over time. The more you do it, the easier you'll find it. And, remember that there's no such thing as a "stupid question" in the nursing universe. Believe me, I have asked some pretty daft things.

Exhibit A during first placement:

Me - How do you turn this blood pressure machine on?

Nurse - Well, there's a large green button that says 'ON'
Exhibit B during second placement:

Me - Why is it called a convoy?

Nurse - Um, it's called a convene...

Seek Opportunities
During my first placement, I let a huge learning opportunity slip because I was too nervous to ask if I could observe. I was so disappointed in myself, and I promised myself that I would start speaking up when I was presented with learning opportunites. As students, we have the luxury of supernumerary status and it's so important to take advantage of this.

Before starting placement, I now make a list of clinical areas which I'd like to spend a day or two at. This list will not only make you look super proactive, but it will help you to find it easier to discuss future learning opportunities with your mentor. I feel that gaining experience in so many different areas whilst on placement, and constantly meeting new people, really did excel my confidence.


Embrace Yourself
Super cheesy, right? But learning to embrace yourself, and all the crippling nerves that come with it, is so important. Confidence comes with time, and it certainly didn't happen overnight for me. I still get a huge lump in my throat when it's time to phone placement to introduce myself, and you're completely wrong if you think that I'll ever be the first to speak during a lecture.

Embracing the qualities that make you, YOU, allows you to build on them. Over the past few months, I've kept a "reflective" journal. I'll either write one thought from my day or a complete essay, but it helps me off-load and identify areas in my life which I need to work on. Turns out, my confidence is still one of those areas which I need to build on...

There is also a ton of helpful books out there for student nurses, which emphasise the normality of lacking confidence and how to work on it! The Student Nurse Handbook by Bethann Siviter is one of my favourites.

Thank you for reading my post! Share your thoughts in the comments.

XO Zoe

For a "beauty blog", I have found myself writing posts on every topic except beauty. So, let's take it back to basics with an old-fashioned favourites.


Taming my Mane
As Brits, we've been incredibly lucky with the hot weather over the summer. However, the humidity has wrecked havoc with my hair, leaving it extremely dry. During August, I have been using L'Oreal Elvive's Extraordinary oil, in an attempt to revive my hair. It is a weekly mask which has boosted the moisture in my hair, and seriously improved my hair's condition.

Also from L'Oreal, I have been using No Hair-cut cream. It is a daily hair serum which smooths irritating fly-aways, and also adds moisture to your hair. I've been using this religiously throughout August, and I have found that my hair is much easier to style. It also smells amazing!


A Perfect Tan?
Unfortunately, my summer tan quickly disappeared with the sunshine. This month, I've returned to my trusty fake-bake to give my anaemic-looking skin a boost. I recently found a 200ml bottle of St Tropez Bronzing Mousse in B&M Bargains for £6.99. This product RRPs at £20, so it was a steal. The catch was that the only shade left was "dark". However, this tan left me with a healthy (but strong) tan. It applies streak-free, and it looks as natural as a fake-tan can get.

Wake Up, Make Up
This month, I ran out of my two favourite beauty products, making me realise how good they truly are! I won't say too much about the first one, as the Benefit Porefessional primer is a well-known product. I have used this primer for years, as it instantly minimises the size of large pores. It is priced at £27, but no primer compares to it.


Up next, is the Urban Decay All Nighter Concealer. This is actually the *best* concealer I have ever tried. It is a full-coverage concealer, but it does not feel caked or heavy on your face. It also lasts all day, which is perfect for me as I work long shifts. My only issue with the product, is that there is only 3ml of the product within a tube, so it does not last long!

All Natural
In June, I collaborated with Truvit Naturals on the launch of their Magnesium Oil. It is a natural, topical spray which aims to promote muscle function. This month, I up'ed my exercise intensity and I have found myself reaching for this spray throughout August, to soothe my muscle aches! You can find out more about the products HERE and look out for future collaborations with Truvit on my Instagram.

Sweet Scents
Recently, my parents jetted off to the Mediterranean and returned via the perfume isle in duty free, buying me two bottles of Lancome's La Vie Est Belle perfume. This is my favourite fragrance, as it is usually a scent I wear during the Christmas season, so it holds a lot of memories. It is a floral perfume, but it is musky and not too over-powering.


Music Monday
Since I am posting this on a dreary bank holiday Monday, I wanted to link my current music favourites. The playlist is a mix of rap, pop and everything in between.


Thank you for reading my blog post! Comment below your thoughts on these products.

XO Zoe

Each year, it is estimated that one in four UK citizens will experience a mental health problem. In a survey of 2000 UK citizens, only 13% reported having a good state of mental health. Most horrifyingly, one in twelve young people admit to intentionally harming themselves. In the age of social media, people are turning to online friends for support. The website 'Reddit' is buzzing with forums discussing self harm and depression. Even going so far as to having a forum called "suicide watch", where online friends discourage suicide attempts. So, why are people more inclined to discuss their illness online?
Welcome to the world of stigma.

If you have a mental illness, it can feel like the world is against you, and it can be difficult to approach your family or friends. You may not want to upset them or you may fear social stigma and discrimination. Some people can be uneducated in mental health, and they may not understand how you're feeling. Unfortunately, this can lead to a poor reaction on their behalf.

As a teen, I experienced this stigma first-hand. When I first plucked up the courage to confide in my family about my mental health, there was an awkward silence followed by a look of horror. Over the years, I have had eye-rolls, glares and horrid names thrown at me... And, that was just from strangers on the street. Due to the visibility of my illness, I was (and still am) made to feel ashamed about my past. When I think back, the term "elephant in the room" comes to mind. Except, I was an elephant carrying an atomic bomb.

Let's talk about it
If you're struggling with your mental health, the most important thing you can do is to discuss it with someone that you trust. The only way we can shatter the stigma of mental health, is if we speak openly and honestly about it. If you're not ready to speak to your friends or family, there are some fantastic organisations which can support you until you have the confidence to reach out, which includes 'Elefriends' and 'Heads Together'.

Educate others
When it comes to mental health, education is key. Like I mentioned before, some lucky folks have never experienced a mental health problem and don't understand the concept of it. They'll tell you to "get a grip" or call it a "phase", and you may feel that they are not taking you seriously. Look at it this way... If you're uneducated on topic, you're more likely to become defensive and angry when it is discussed.

When I opened up to my family, the awkward silence was deafening. My parents just didn't understand what was going on. I found information online explaining the problems that I was experiencing, and printed it for my parents to read. This was key in breaking the awkward silence, and opened up a positive discussion. Nowadays, they understand that mental health is just as important as physical health. For further information, 'Mind' have excellent online resources which are simple and easy to understand. This includes resources for your friends and family.


These days, I'm comfortable discussing my mental health with others. It's obvious that social stigma still encompasses mental health, but we must use our voice to educate others. Speaking openly and honestly is the only way that we will overcome this discrimination.

XO Zoe
If you feel like you have no one to talk to, please call Samaritans on 116 123.