November Glambox Revealed

Let's talk about luscious locks. What's the first thing that comes to mind? TV commercials featuring models with beautiful (let's-face-it-unattainable) hair or rolling of the eyes because you know hair once damaged, is hair that will never go back to being healthy?

For me, it's Rapunzel. As a kid, right after The Little Mermaid, Rapunzel was one princess that intrigued me. I was in awe of her long, beautiful locks and pitied her for the way Grizelda treated her. Then Disney decided to revamp the princess with beyond gorgeous hair in a 20th century version known as Tangled. I loved the movie because of the new characters (Flynn) and just how empowered Rapunzel was projected to be. I mean, beauty with brains?

In my world, Rapunzel will always remain the girl with beautiful hair and kudos to the writer who penned the original story. Beautiful hair is a result of several factors. It goes without saying genes also play a vital role. Nonetheless, damaged hair or tresses that require a pick me up are easy to achieve- be it through tapping into nature or by sitting in a salon, whilst hoping the hairdresser doesn't mess up your hair.

September Glambox Revealed

Korean beauty goodies are all the rage. I mean, have you seen Korean girls' skin? Flawless! Good genes also play a role however, that's one market that is obsessed with flawless, porcelain, blemish-free youthful skin.

Beauty products with seaweed made a huge splash in the US and European market and almost every third girl I knew was either using Korean beauty products or talking about purchasing them.

Isn't it grand when you have access to these products in UAE? And isn't it even more grand when it comes in a pretty box entitled Glambox? The month of Sept welcomes goodies that are quite exciting to discover and try. The best part? These products are available in stores located in the UAE, so you really don't have to bother about ordering online and the delivery time.

Let's unbox!

August Glambox Revealed

I genuinely love the concept of monthly beauty boxes. There are times I squeal with joy when opening them, and then there are times when I look at the contents with dissatisfaction. Regardless, I've discovered a plethora of brands simply through boxes like Glambox and have ended up purchasing full-sized products, some on a regular basis.

This month's box contains brands that I've been accustomed to using over the past 3 years, one more than the other.

June Glambox Revealed

Don't we all just love surprises? Especially when they come concealed in a vibrant pink box with the name Glambox on it? It's one of those beauty boxes I look forward to every month because I discover new products (and services, at times) on and off. In addition to this, you also get vouchers across the spas, bakeries, restaurants, salons and more.

This month's box is a pretty cool one. There's a brand I discovered that I'm really excited about!

July Glambox Revealed

Let me start of by saying the June Glambox is one of the BEST this year. Aptly named Arabian Nights, the beauty box arrived in the month of Ramadan filled with several things I fell in love with.

Many thanks to Glambox for creating these special themed boxes and bringing a smile to a lot of faces, including mine.

Here's the lowdown on what you can expect from each product:

March Glambox Revealed

Isn't it always amazing to receive a new product in the monthly Glambox? I, for one was ecstatic when I opened up March's Glambox and discovered a new gem from Dove.

February Glambox Revealed

February's Glambox was a pleasant surprise. The box had a few essentials that literally screamed spring-ready. From a moisturizing body lotion to a vibrant lip color, Glambox has you covered for the new season.

August Glambox Revealed

The August Glambox is all about combating summer beauty problems. Oily skin, clogged pores and more? Here's a quick review on what this month's beauty box contains:

June & July Glambox Revealed

Let's start with the most exciting Glambox i.e. the one that was delivered to my doorstep in July.I love it!

I love it primarily because it's got Olay. I love Olay, my mum loves Olay (it was the first product I remember seeing in her cupboard when I was a kid), my friends love Olay...who doesn't love Olay (I think I may have sounded like Oprah during her giveaways)? If you have yet to try Olay, then this Glambox is your best bet. Apart from Olay, you also discover some additional neat products (I got introduced to Caudalie in April's Glambox).

And guess what? If you take a pic of July's box and tag it with #giftofglam, Glambox has promised to deliver 5 boxes per hashtag to women's charities across UAE for Eid! Post, post, post on your Instagram, Twitter and other social networks. If you follow me on Instagram (@DarkRangerN) or Facebook, you would've noticed I did the same.

Let's unpack!

Olay Total Effects 7 Face Masks: The anti-ageing face masks from Olay that help keep wrinkles and pores at bay, smooth the skin texture, moisturize and diminish the appearance of age spots. The masks are made of cloth, so when you put them on, it looks like you've walked off the set of a horror movie. I have yet to try this but I can tell you this much- pretty sure this will work. Everything from Olay, be it their classic moisturizer to their cleansers, all have worked on mine and mum's skin.

Olay Wrinkle Relaxing Complex: While this is targeted towards older women, I discovered this magical product last year. You can witness the effect it has on your skin instantly. I am not exaggerating. The Wrinkle Relaxing Complex is almost a combination of a light-weight gel and cream that instantly blurs out certain skin flaws. You know those pesky laugh lines or emerging wrinkles on the forehead. Apply a small quantity and in a matter of few seconds, the lines/wrinkles have been filled in i.e. the skin appears more plump. You can't really pinpoint any wrinkles or laugh lines as this product works to blur them away (temporarily). I don't quite have wrinkles or large pores yet, but those who do, as a bonus, this product helps minimize the appearance of the latter. It also boosts moisture levels of the skin. Totally amazing product. As such, this product is designed for the entire face and neck. If you just want to target key areas, try Olay's 30 Second Wrinkle Filler. Say goodbye to laugh lines (temporarily). Works like magic.

Pantene Pro-V Hair Rescue Ampoules: I haven't tried it yet but it claims to repair severe hair damage. Use it after shampoo and conditioner. This is not a leave-in-conditioner.

Fragrance samples: I already own Escada's Especially Escada Elixir and love it. The other sample from Lacoste is Eau De Lacoste Sensuelle, a floral fragrance.

Max Factor Excess Volume Extreme Impact Mascara: It's a double ended mascara with different brushes at both ends. While one end is designed to give voluminous lashes, the other is a black 'lacquer' that aims to provide a glossy black coat to the lashes. I'm not  a fan of the lacquer side as I didn't witness anything different.

And here's a quick lowdown on June's Glambox. While this box wasn't that exciting, it did include my favorite cleanser from Bioderma!

Carita Serum & Night Cream: Anti-ageing line of products that helps revive the skin. I haven't tried this.

Shea Mirage Shea Butter: This is organic shea butter hence it has no fragrance as such (just letting you know that pure shea butter doesn't quite have that wonderful fragrance we are all used to in our skin and body care products. This doesn't mean it smells awful). It's a great product that keeps dry patches at bay and is a bonus on the lips esp. during this summer season. Brownie points for packaging- I love it!

Lolita Lempicka Eau de Parfum: I was just introduced to the Lolita Lempicka fragrances (review here) and this particular floral one is a delight. Don't you just love the packaging?

Bioderma Sensibio H20: Does this product need an introduction? It's a staple makeup cleanser, I use it for eye makeup removal only. One of the best cleansers ever.

So there you go. Make sure you don't miss out on the next Glambox, sign up today and get 25% off your subscription fee when you use the special code: GBNEELOFER.

Competition: Glambox x Benefit Cosmetics

Updated (May 31, 2014)

 The winner is Hemangi [@hemangiramani].

You will receive an email with details on prize collection. Thanks to everyone who participated!
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Did you miss my previous competition where I gave away a 6 month Glambox subscription? Did you miss the date to subscribe to the special edition Glambox filled with Benefit Cosmetics goodies? Fear not- one of my lucky readers stands a chance to win it!

The Glambox consists of: a voucher for a free brow tint at the Benefit Brow Bar, They're Real mascara, Big Easy BB cream, Fake Up concealer and Porefessional. If you want to know more about these products, read my review here.

Want to win this?

Here's how to participate:

1) Follow me on Instagram (search for: DarkRangerN).
2) Tag your friends to the Glambox x Benefit competition image on my Instagram account.
3) Repost the image on your account (take a screenshot), tag me to it and use the hashtag #KeepingUpWithN

You must follow all the steps to be eligible to win.

Winner will be chosen on random. Competition open to UAE residents only. Good luck!

May Glambox Revealed

Being a huge fan of Benefit Cosmetics ever since I purchased my favorite product, I was delighted to know that this month's Glambox is a Benefit Cosmetics special! Don't you just love the sound of that? Also, would you like a special discount on your Glambox subscription? Read on.

This special box contains mini samples of some of their best-selling products and a mystery item as well!

You can easily say this is the Best of Benefit in a box! They should've included Benetint, so you all can discover how pretty of a cheek and lip stain it is.

Let's start off with Pore-fessional. This one is popular with girls who have large pores and want to minimize the appearance of it. It also doubles up as a primer so your foundation can go on smoothly. I reviewed it previously here.

Next up is one of the best mascara's I've used, They're Real. This mascara coats the lashes in a jet black color. Use the wand in a regular manner and before you are done, hold it vertically and apply the mascara to the lashes. Instant transformation guaranteed. The only downside to this is the removal process. For me, it takes a while to remove every trace of this mascara from my lashes. But I don't mind it, considering they give my lashes added length.

Want a concealer that conceals pesky dark circles and hydrates the eye area? Look no further. Fake Up launched in Dubai last year and this concealer is infused with Vitamin E and apple seed extract to keep the eye area moisturized. I absolutely love it. Read my full review here.

Benefit Cosmetics jumped on the BB cream bandwagon and created their version of it. They call it the Big Easy BB Cream. While the cream is liquid in nature, it delivers a velvet powder finish, controls oil and keeps skin moisture locked in. The end result is smooth looking skin. As an added bonus, the product has SPF35- say hello to flawless looking, protected skin.

The fifth product is a mystery product! While I know what it is (and it's quiet an exciting one), I will reveal it soon.

If you'd like to get your hands on this Glambox, subscribe today and use this code BENE20 to get a 20% discount off your subscription (code valid until May 18, 2014)! If you haven't tried Benefit products yet, this is your chance to do so.

So, can you guess what the mystery product is?

Competition: 6 Month Glambox Subscription

Updated: May 18, 2014

The winner is: Bana Abu Maizer. Congrats! You will receive an email shortly.

Thanks to everyone who participated.

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Always wanted to get your hands on Glambox? I've partnered with the fab people at Glambox to give one of my lucky readers a 6 month subscription to Glambox! And it is worth AED 449.

Every month, for 6 months you will receive a glorious box filled with beauty products. Is this something you want?

Here's how to enter:

1) Like my Facebook page & Glambox's Facebook page.
2) Follow me on Twitter account here & here
3) Answer this question: Why do you want to win this prize? Comment below with your email address

You must follow all the steps to be eligible to win.

Winner will be chosen on random through an automated system.

Competition open to UAE residents only. Good luck!

April Glambox Revealed

Receiving a box filled with beauty goodies every month is just wonderful, right? Glambox is a subscriptions based beauty service available to the residents of UAE. Glambox is literally a glamor box that helps you discover different beauty products and services for a nominal fee. While some products are available in sample sizes, the others are full size thereby permitting you to test out a product prior to purchasing it.

Glambox provides 3, 6 and 12 month subscriptions. My readers have a special 25% discount- use the code GBNEELOFERto avail this discount. Sign up here.

The April Glambox is filled with interesting products. There are vouchers, skin smoothing creams, an eye shadow and so much more!

I was delighted to see Dove as part of this box. It is one of my favorite brands- I think I've tried almost every Dove product there is. In addition to this, I was pleasantly surprised to discover one of Glambox's new offerings- their own makeup brushes!

So here's what you can expect in this month's box:

Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration Protective Sun Lotion with SPF 30: I dread the summer season. My skin tends to burn easily...let's just say the sun and I are not on talking terms. Needless to say, I'm a huge fan of sunscreen lotions and have a few of my favorites. The Hawaiian Tropic lotion promises to protect under the sun with SPF 30 while keeping skin moisturized for hours. It has a sweet fragrance to it and the best part? It does not leave a greasy finish. This product sits in my car now.

Herbline Essentials Fairness Cream: I actually received the (full size) product from Herbline a few weeks ago and I've put it to test. Watch out for a post with my full review on it. To summarize, this cream targets pigmented areas on the face and aims to lighten them. It is slightly thicker in consistency and has a wonderful fragrance. More about this once I complete the test period.

Inglot Freedom Eye Shadow: This is such a gorgeous silver eye-shadow. It stays put for hours esp. when you have primer on and makes your eyelids dazzle. This is the first time I use Inglot products and it didn't disappoint.

Dove Purely Pampering Body Cream: Aaah Dove. What can I say more about one of my favorite brands? This cream in particular is infused with shea butter and keeps skin moisturized and silky like a baby's. Dove can do no wrong in my books. I love it.

Glambox Stippling Brush: Great for liquid foundations, this brush helps the product go on smoothly so you achieve an airbrushed finish. The bristles while on the softer side, does the job perfectly well.

I was quite excited to have gotten my hands on Caudalie products. I've heard so much about the brand and this was my opportunity to try it.

I tried the Hand & Nail cream first. Made from orange pulp and almond powder, this cream works to keep your hands and nails nourished at all times. While I love oranges (they are one of my favorite fruits) and love the fact that they are included in some of my skincare products, I found the fragrance of this cream a little too overwhelming. Apart from that, the cream is absorbed into the skin leaving my hands smooth.

The Caudalie Vino Perfect Day Perfecting Fluid is an oil-free facial moisturizer packed with skin perfecting benefits. I have yet to try this.

In addition to all these products, I received 2 vouchers- Nstyle offered a polish change and Wellbeing Medical Center gifted a AED 500 voucher.

If you loved what you saw and read, sign up today! Use the code GBNEELOFER to get 25% off your subscription!

Glambox x Bliss: A Box Full Of Skin Perfecting Goodies

If you are a beauty junkie and haven't heard about Glambox, then you probably have been living under a rock.

Glambox is (literally) a glamor box filled with beauty products that arrives at your doorstep every month. You pay a subscription fee and get to try products in the luxury of your home. I must say, Glambox has improved their partner list ever since their inception and added a plethora of brands including my favorite Elemis!

They recently brought on board another skin and body care brand which I like- Bliss. I have my favorites from Bliss and one particular product does its job every time I use it (read on to find out what it is). Glambox did a great job selecting products for the face and body.

The first two are products for the body- Bliss Soapy Suds in Blood Orange & White Pepper. This is a shower gel that doubles up as an invigorating bath soak. It has an incredible fragrance (I love anything orange) and leaves the skin squeaky clean and smooth.

You use the Bliss Blood Orange & White Pepper Body Butter for soft skin. I was sold when I read blood orange on the package. I tried it on and fell in love with it. It is non-greasy, absorbs almost immediately, has such a fresh fragrance and isn't overwhelming. I use this more as a moisturizing hand cream than on body.

The shower gel and body cream are a great pick me up post a long day at work.

There are interesting products for the face. The Bliss Fabulous Foaming Face Wash is a multi-tasking product. Containing rosehip extract, chamomile and passion flower among other ingredients, this oil- free face wash is a cleanser and exfoliator. It has minuscule exfoliating beads that scrub away dead skin whilst cleansing the face off impurities. And because the exfoliating granules are soft, you can use it everyday.

I am in love with the Triple Oxygen line from Bliss. I reviewed the Triple Oxygen Starter Kit previously and if you are looking for radiant skin or a new set of skincare products, I recommend you try the kit. The Bliss Triple Oxygen + C Energizing Cream is a moisturizer that is infused with vitamin C. My favorite product from Bliss is the Triple Oxygen Instant Energizer Mask. I said it before, and I'll say it again- this mask is magic. It does its job every single time it is used. Read about the Energizer Cream and Mask here.

The final product and the one that I'm excited about is the That's Incredi-peel.

Firstly, kudos to Bliss's creative unit for the product name. Secondly, this product contains Glycolic acid that specifically helps in improving the quality of skin, boosts cell renewal etc. Bliss calls it their 'overnight facial'. I have yet to try this, so watch this space for a review.

Bliss products are available to purchase through Glambox's website (or through select stockists in the UAE).

Bliss is just one brand that's available through Glambox. Subscribe today to discover more beauty goodies. It gets better. Glambox is kind enough to give my readers a 25% discount!

Use the code GBNEELOFER to redeem 25% off your subscriptions!

Have you tried any of these products? Are you a Glambox subscriber? What's your favorite product/brand that you discovered through Glambox?

Competition: Bliss Facial

Updated (March 7, 2014): The winners are:

Reem A Kareem
Faiza Saeed
Heba Attallah
Rreema Bhatia
Surbhi C
Neelam Zahid

You will soon receive a message on how to claim your prize. Thanks to everyone who participated!

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What better way to start a month with a glorious facial? Thanks to Glambox and Bliss, I am rewarding readers of my blog a Bliss facial of their choice at Mirdif City Center!

Bliss is one of the skincare brands that's been in my beauty case ever since last year and I absolutely LOVE their Triple Oxygen Instant Energizing Mask. Read about it and other Bliss products here.

Are you ready to have spa'ctacular, smooth, glowing skin with Bliss?

Here's how to enter:

1) Like my Facebook page, Glambox's page and Bliss's page.
2) Post your answer to this question in the comments section below- What is your favorite Bliss product and why?
3) Mention your Facebook name along with your comment/answer.

You must follow all the steps to be eligible to win.

Prizes must be collected from Dubai. Winners will be chosen on random through an automated system.

Competition open to UAE residents only. Good luck!