L'Oreal INOA Colour Capture

L’Oréal Professionnel broke new ground with INOA, L’Oréal Professionnel’s first no ammonia,

permanent hair colour – and now they’re bringing us another amazing and innovative new

smartphone app, INOA Colour Capture.

Using augmented reality and geolocation technology, INOA Colour Capture sends users on a mission to capture thousands of virtual INOA colour bubbles in participating salons across the UK and Ireland. By capturing a bubble, consumers can win a luxurious INOA Hair Colour service or a fantastic INOA Colour Care sample pack at all participating salons.

On September 3rd, thousands of these bubbles will be released across the UK and Ireland where consumers will be able to capture virtual  bubbles on their mobile phones in three exciting ways.

These virtual colour bubbles represent two different types of prizes:

♥ Over 15,000 INOA Nationwide complimentary colour services available in salons Nationwide

♥ Over 90,000 INOA colour care sample packs (one shampoo, one masque & one conditioner)

When a prize bubble is captured the winner can make their INOA colour booking or collect their INOA sample pack from salon, depending on the bubble captured. There are 3 exciting ways of capturing the bubbles Street view, Map view and List view as below:

The bubbles are under wraps at the moment but you can register your interest in downloading the app

at www.inoa.co.uk right now. Get ready – there’s going to be an explosion of colour when all the

bubbles are released! The iNOA colour bubbles won’t be around forever though; INOA lovers will only have until September 30th to capture them and win these great prizes!

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I've already registered and will definitely be getting the app. Looking forward to popping a bubble or two! What are your thoughts on this new generation of brand interaction?

Sunday Shopping Stash

So, I totally didn't go wandering into Boots for two things and coming out with £40+ worth of stuff. Oh no. But you know, 10 points per pound and a cheeky scan of a double points coupon - what's not to love?

First up, I was in need of a new shower gel and I decided to branch out and get something new. I loved a previous Radox Shower Smoothie so I decided to try a new scent which smells heavenly! Very fruity and conjures up images of sunnier climbs. I can dream eh? I picked up a new Spa shower cream which is perfect for relaxing, its got a lovely mellow scent. Pretty sure these were buy one get one free :D

I spent a while perusing the cosmetics aisles and I knew I definitely needed to try Revlon's answer to Clinique's Chubby Sticks. I picked up Crush as it was the only one that stood out for me and I know I'll get a lot of use out of this in the winter months. I'll try and do a comparison post as I also own a Chubby Stick. On a whim, I picked up the Collection Gel Eyeliner in Teal and a Balmi Strawberry Lip Balm which I am loving! It's so small and cute!

Now, I'm not usually a L'Oreal fan and I haven't bought anything from the brand since my teens. Quite a long time ago! Having seen May's post where she mentioned the Colour Riche French Riviera polish, I had to pop this in my basket. I also got Luxembourg Gardens that I'd seen on Liloo's blog an absolute age ago. I'm a sucker for a gift with purchase (aren't we all?!) and if you currently spend £15 on L'Oreal you can pick up the new Nail It, Gloss It, Wing It kit, so I bought a Rouge Caresse lippie in Tempting Lilac which looks gorgeous. Having left the vast L'Oreal stand for pastures new, I was sucked in by an end of aisle promo board and knew I absolutely had to have the Infallible Shadow in Innocent Turquoise. The GWP was surprisingly packed full of goodies! There's two full sized Colour Riche polishes with some nail guides, a full size Super Liner and a full size Glam Shine gloss. Plus you get a sachet of True Match foundation which of course is too dark for me, and a sachet of the Nude Magique BB Cream which comes in Medium. I previously swatched the lightest version and my hand turned Tango orange. I kid you not. Also tucked in the box is a 'how to' guide for nails, lips and eyes. I'll definitely be trying out the mani on the box!

Swatches

L-R: Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Crush, L'Oreal Rouge Caresse in Tempting Lilac, L'Oreal Colour Infallible Shadow in Innocent Turquoise, Collection Lasting Colour Gel Eyeliner in Teal, L'Oreal Glam Shine in Magnetic Nude Glow, L'Oreal Superliner Luminizer in Brown

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I also managed to test Lady Gaga's debut fragrance, Fame. It smells absolutely gorgeous and a steal at £25 for 25ml or £32 for 50ml. I'm determined to get it with my Boots points. Only 70 to go!

Have you been shopping lately? Picked up any good bargains?

Blog Sale

Just a quick post today to say that my blog shop has been updated with new items and I've reduced lots of prices. So why don't you go and bag yourself a bargain?

There's lots to choose from including MAC, Liz Earle, Kryolan, No 7 etc.

Click here to shop :)

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August Glossybox: The International Superstars Box

The August Glossybox* is all about hero products from around the world that have cult status in their native country.

First up we have an eye shadow palette from Spanish brand Vera Valenti. It looks cheap and tacky (sorry to all you Vera loving Spanish Senoritas). There are a few good shades in there but I wasn't an overwhelmed Olivia if I'm honest. And it would seem its not just the UK that are plagued with those terrible eye shadow applicators. Although they do come in handy for ombre nail art!

Following on from the Glossybox branded accessories I've received of late, they've branched out into cosmetics and we have the first Glossybox lipstick in Glossy Pink. Its not what I'd call pink but it is a good staple lip colour. It has that generic lipstick smell - know the one I mean? - it doesn't look particularly glossy and it feels a bit greasy on the lips. Not one for me I'm afraid.

Carrying on the lip trend and flying the flag for the UK is Lipcote. I actually bought a bottle of Lipcote a few weeks ago, and I won't lie, I hate this product. It stinks, it tastes absolutely vile and its about as useful as a chocolate teapot. And don't get me started on the horrible splayed brush applicator.

Next up we have the DHC Deep Cleansing Oil from Japan. Sceptical Sandra has come out of her box again. Oil on my face to remove make up? I haven't yet tested it on my face but I have swatched stuff on my hand and removed it with this. It takes a bit of elbow grease but it works. Also in August's box is the All For Eve Eve's Balm. According to the insert, its not flying the flag for any country but I suspect its a third UK product. This is at least the third multi-tasking balm I've received in a Glossybox. Come on chaps, some variety please! Eve's Balm has that lovely, soothing scent and it's moisturising without being greasy. Perfect handbag size and good for using on cuticles I find.

The only product I'm actually intrigued by in this box is the Pro White Original Effect Polish from German brand Alessandro. Its an optically brightening polish with an anti-yellowing formula for radiant white and gleaming nails. Any nail polish addict like myself will know how hard it is to obtain white natural looking nails when they barely ever go without polish. I can't wait to see if prolonged use will help! I'll keep you updated.

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Have you received the August Box? If you're from any of the listed countries, let me know if you think of the products as cult products - are they must haves?

* PR gift - disclaimer

July Glossybox: The Festival Edition

This is the first of two Glossybox posts this week as the August box has just landed on my desk!

I think this has been the first Glossybox that I've been disappointed by. Don't get me wrong, I think a festival edition is a good idea, I just thought it'd have more festival appropriate products in. I'm thinking multi-tasking products. I'm no festival goer, but I just think the choice of items could have been better. Anyway, on to what was in the box!

I'm a bit funny with skincare samples. They tend to sit unused and unloved for ages basically because I'm a bit of a sceptical Sandra really. I mean I love the current products I use, so why would I want to change and try something that might potentially upset my skin? However, things like this are great for sticking in my make up bag if I'm going away for a night and I'm being a space saving Stella*.

*I'll stop with the names soon. Maybe.

Monu have been a recurring brand in Glossyboxes past and I seem to have amassed a few products from them. The green Calming Cream claims to tone down redness on the face which I am a bit prone to sometimes. I've used similar products before that just don't work and I can't say this amazed me. Can't really see how it's a festival product but maybe that's just me? Also in the box was a Collin Regenerating Collagen Gel. I'm no droopy Daphne** by any stretch of the imagination so again I don't quite see why this was included considering the target market of Glossybox.

** Or not ;)

Now on to the items that I'd expect to find in a festival edition of Glossybox!

The two products that really excited me were the Jelly Pong Pong Lip Frosting and the Kryolan Satin Powder. I'd not tried anything from Jelly Pong Pong before and I was sucked in by the cute packaging. But that's where my excitement stopped. Although the lip frosting is a beautiful almost hot pink shade, it is very heavily scented of, no not Irish Cream Pavlova, but Bubblegum. Pong whiffy. (See what I did there?) Not my cup of tea at all. My inner disappointed Dot*** turned her nose up in disgust. The Kryolan Satin Powder faired slightly better. It's a lovely bright peach shade with added shimmer that is a lovely summer colour, perfect for those lazy days when you want a wash of eye brightening colour. It reminds me a teeny bit of MAC Melon pigment. Check it out in the swatches at the end of the post. Kryolan are a great brand and I'd love to see their products in future boxes.

*** Nah, having too much fun with these

The final product in the July box was a texturising sea spray from Paul Mitchell. Spritz, scrunch, go. Easy peasy lemon squeezy volumised, festival appropriate hair with an interesting scent of ginger.

Swatches

Top to bottom: Jelly Pong Pong Irish Cream Pavlova Lip Frosting, Kryolan Satin Powder in SP333 heavily swatched, Kryolan Satin Powder in SP333 blended out

Top to bottom: Jelly Pong Pong Irish Cream Pavlova Lip Frosting, Kryolan Satin Powder in SP333 heavily swatched, Kryolan Satin Powder in SP333 blended out

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Which products would you have liked to have seen in this box? Do you have any festival going faves?

♦ PR gift - this has no reflection in the content of my post