Must have: The Glamour Summer Edit

Must have: The Glamour Summer Edit

Monday, June 22, 2015

I went off the whole idea of beauty boxes a while ago; month after month I was continually disappointed by lackluster offerings that I often ended up shoving to the back of the cupboard to collect dust. I was subscribed to both Glossybox and Birchbox for a year or two, and although there were a few good months, the surprise element of these beauty boxes quickly wore off and resulted in handfuls of unused and unloved products piling up. I still tend to steer clear of these subscriptions, but the one box that I check regularly is from Latest in Beauty. The main reason for this is because I never end up paying for and receiving products that I don't want. Not only is LIB non-subscription based - meaning that you can buy a box whenever - but it's also not a surprise so you know exactly what you're going to get when you add it to your basket. Therefore, you can check back everytime they release a new box and simply decide whether you want to buy it or not! 

I don't usually buy many boxes, but occasionally a star-studded box comes along that is simply too good to resist, and that was exactly the case with The Glamour Summer Edit. This box has so many goodies I have been wanting to try out for ages (I'm looking at you, Pixi Glow Tonic) as well as some lovely extras. What's more, you only have to pay £17.99 for the box even though it's valued at over £90! 

So what does this magical box contain?

- Vita Liberata Trystal™Minerals in Sunkissed (3g) + full sized brush

- Pixi Glow Tonic (15ml)

- Nails Inc Gel Effect in Covent Garden Place (full size)

- L'Occitane Aromchology Repairing Shampoo + Conditioner (35ml each)

- Caudalie Divine Oil (15ml)

- Bourjois Colour Boost Lip Crayon in Peach in the Beach (full size) 

- Eucerin SPF 50 Tinted Sun Creme (50ml)

- Balance Me Super Toning Body Polish (50ml)

- Seekers of the Sun Temporary Tattoos

I know this post sounds sponsored because it's just so damn positive - but I promise it's not! I just really love that you can see what's in the box before you decide to buy it and that they always include amazing deals and high-quality products. For me especially, The Glamour Summer Edit Box is a winner; it features great products from Nails Inc, Caudalie, Pixi, etc. and is an absolute bargain!

Have you tried any of Latest in Beauty's boxes? What do you think about them? Let me know!

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A new me, a new look.

A new me, a new look.

Saturday, June 20, 2015

Notice something different? I've been trying to figure out who I am outside of education, as that's all I've ever known, and a new design is all part of said adventure. I loved my old design, but typical ol' me got a bit bored of it and decided to revisit the Etsy shop where I purchased my previous design and came across this template. The Basic Page has some amazing designs and I would totally check it out if you're looking for a new look for your blog. As well as their lovely designs, the owner - Gabriela - is lovely and really helpful.

Anyway, the whole idea behind refreshing things was that I wanted Isobel Rose to move into a more sophisticated and professional stage - much like myself. It is my blog after all, so I want it to reflect me as a person - forever evolving. 

So what do you think? Oh, and don't worry - I'll be back to beauty in no time. I know I've been doing a lot of 'more personal' posts recently and those aren't everyone's cup of tea, but I'm just trying to find my feet again after my little break.

Until next time! 

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comments: 14

An identity crisis.

An identity crisis.

Tuesday, June 16, 2015

I'm having a really hard time writing at the moment; in all honesty I am totally and completely lost, not only for words, but also in terms of which direction to go in next, and where I'm supposed to fit in amongst this jumble. I feel like a misfit - I'm no longer a student, but I'm not yet a graduate, I have a blog, but I certainly don't feel like a blogger - It's all quite disheartening and I feel like I lack direction in every part of my life. There's no 'set' path for me anymore and that's a scary thought because I don't feel ready to 'grow up', but I really don't have a choice in the matter. I can't really control what happens next in my career or with my relationships, but I can control this blog and how I interact with the blogging world, but let's get a few things clear first.

There's something about blogging recently that has really been bugging me, but due to my lack of creativity at the moment, I've been hesitant to let it out. I've been blogging for over four years now, and although it's a complete cliché to say this, things have really changed - and not necessarily for the better. I will not name names, and I don't want to come off as passive-aggressive, but this is seriously something that has really frustrated me lately, so I feel like I have to get it off my chest. This is not an isolated case either, I know that it has been happening a lot lately and I really have to say my mind. I've come across a few bloggers lately that have really made me question why I'm doing what I do - girls who blatantly ask the best way to get 'freebies', girls who complain that their X number of followers isn't good enough, girls who are, in my opinion, blogging for entirely the wrong reason and frankly, are tainting the world I used to know and love. 

I know that the majority of bloggers aren't like this, but it seems that the number who are continues to grow day by day, and it's really putting me off, and even though I've just passed my dream milestone of 1,000 followers (Thank you!!) I do often wonder what I'm even doing here when the game has completely changed. I'd be lying if the occasional moisturiser landing on your doorstep or a rush of new followers didn't sweeten the deal, but that's not why I'm here. 

- I'm here because life throws obstacles at us every single day. I'm honestly scared more often than not, but if I can share even one ounce of wisdom that could help the next girl trembling in line, then my fear will be worth it.

- I'm here because it's an amazing way to connect with similarly minded people from all over the world and form bonds that would never have existed without this extraordinary platform. 

- I'm here because I'm just an ordinary 22-year-old girl with big dreams and even bigger ambition who wants to connect with the world so that I can share my experiences and learn from others. 

I'd be a hypocrite if I denied ever pushing for more followers or refreshing the page a few times a day, but not because follows will earn me money or get me more samples, but because seeing a follower count climb means that people actually like to read what I have to say, and as a girl who never had many friends growing up, that gives me a sense of self-worth and assurance that people actually like me. I know that I shouldn't attach my self-esteem to a tiny number at the bottom of a web page, but the satisfaction you feel when somebody enjoys your content is a thousand times better than any free eyeliner, and that's what I feel a lot of 'new' bloggers are missing - pride in their work and a desire to do better. 

So where do I go from here? I'm still the same girl, but the world around me has changed and I don't know how to relate to the queen of freebies, the over-zealous tweeter, or the social media mavens. I don't want to know how to 'reach my full 'SEO' potential' or how to 'get all of the PR samples', I just want to blog and enjoy the journey. This blog has accompanied me throughout the last four years of my life; seen some of my highest and lowest points, and has seen me grown up a hell of a lot. I refuse to let the 'trendiness' of blogging ruin such a significant part of my life; now I just need to figure out how to navigate this unknown and treacherous terrain and hopefully make it out the other side by continuing to do what I do.

The question is, will you continue with me on this journey into the unknown? I really hope so.

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comments: 17

The Essentials

The Essentials

Sunday, June 14, 2015

Although I am guilty of overindulging in the world of beauty, I'm still a girl of fairly simple taste who has a habit of sticking to a routine. I usually mess around with eyeshadows and blushes quite a lot, but when it comes to my basic beauty regime, there are a few products that seem to always make the cut, and those are what we're going to take a look at today...

The Concealer:

There isn't really much to say about the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer, apart from the fact that I'm about to purchase my third tube of the stuff. It's like magic - it is heavy enough to cover blemishes but light enough to slap on under the eyes - basically, nothing else can quite keep up with this bad boy, and that's exactly why it's an essential for me. 

The Lipgloss:

I've never been a lipgloss girl - sticky, shiny lips have never been my cup of tea - so imagine my surprise when the YSL Huile Volupté in 08 managed to sneak itself into a permanent spot in my handbag! It has the most amazing texture; it's smooth and silky like a lip balm, but still has an incredible shine. What's more, its slight tint means that it works perfectly whether over another lip product or on its own. 

The Mascara:

I know, I know, I have been known to be a tad flighty when it comes to mascaras, but you know how hard it is to find 'the one'! Although I wouldn't call the YSL Babydoll Mascara my one and only mascara saviour, it is still pretty damn close to perfection. It lengthens, separates, adds a nice bit of volume, and best of all, the brown shade that I picked up looks a lot less harsh than the typical black against my paler complexion - can't complain!

The Nail File:

The moment I switched over to a crystal nail file was the day that I decided to never look back. They never wear out, they are much better for your nails, and they give a superior finish to any other nail file that I've tried out during my 22 years on this planet. Mine's from Leighton Denny, but I've heard great things about other brands too.

The Eyebrow Pencil:

I've spoken about my problem in the past trying to find a quick and easy eyebrow fix for my blonde hair, and MAC's Fling Eyebrow Pencil has been my go-to for years now. Fling is the perfect compromise between warm and ashy, long-lasting and creamy, and drugstore and high end. I've gone through more of these pencils than I care to admit, so it's safe to say that it's a winner. 

The Eye Brush: 

There's a million and one eyeshadow brushes out there, but when it comes to the basics I never stray far from my beloved MAC 239. In fact, this is the only eye brush that I have ever decided to buy a duplicate for, and both of them still get their fair share of use. I challenge you to find another brush out there that can pack on the colour like this does - impossible!

p.s. I only noticed after taking and editing this photo the clash of book titles, but I thought it was pretty funny so I left it that way ;)

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comments: 15

Pressure...

Pressure...

Thursday, June 11, 2015

I've gotten myself into a bit of a tizzy - I seem to have built up this ridiculous idea in my mind that I have to return to blogging with a bang after my time away from it. For some reason, I feel obliged to change my layout, to tweak my writing style, and to do an overhaul of my main content. Why? I'm not entirely sure. I know that there certainly are some things I want to change around here, but not all at once; I don't feel ready to take in the huge task of redesigning Isobel Rose. I feel like my blog has become a reflection of my life at the moment - a bit lost and lacking direction and drive - but I do have ideas floating around and things I want to try. All I'm saying is, don't expect an overhaul; I need time to figure out what I want to do and experiment a bit, both in my own life and in the blogging world. So, keep your eyes peeled for little changes here and there, but also expect to still see my usual content around these parts. 

Okay, now that I've got that out of my system, I'd better get typing! Adios.

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comments: 5