Day Test: New Look Lip Liner and Matte Lipstick

 

Back in November New Look relaunched their Beauty range and extended the size of their collection. Part of that collection was a range of matte lipsticks and co-ordinating lip liners. So of course me being a matte girl I had to pick one up. And today I'm going to day test them both to see if they're as good as they seem.

I picked up the shade Mulberry in both the lip liner and the matte lipstick. It's stunning berry shade that is more purple in tone than other shades. 

10:30am: I start off by rubbing away any excess lip balm I have on. Then it's on with the lip liner and I have to say I'm really impressed by this lip liner. It's creamy, highly pigmented and opaque enough that you don't have to keep going over it. Plus because of it's creamy texture if you make even the tiniest of mistakes then it wipes away easily and doesn't leave a stain behind. Now it's time for lipstick and I have to say I was quite disappointed in the lipstick. It was glided nicely onto the lips but wasn't as pigmented as the lip liner and left behind a rather patchy covering that would have looked worse if I hadn't filled in my entire lips with lip liner. I blotted some off and reapplied hoping that would help and whilst it looked ever so slightly uneven it wasn't that obvious.

2:30pm:Four hours have passed and whilst it's feeling comfortable on the lips it's not looking fantastic. Where it looked patchy before it's gotten even worse and if it wasn't for the lip liner underneath then you would definitely be able to see the skin of my lip. I'd like to reapply over the top but think that it would take even more product off and look even worse. So instead I wipe away most of it before going back in with the lip liner and then more lipstick. However it's still not looking good and I'm heading out for the afternoon/evening so it has to.

6:30pm: Another four hours have passed and I'm ready to take this off. It's patchy, uneven, bleeding around the edges even with lip liner and is starting to feel uncomfortable. I can't help it, it has to come off. It not only looks horrendous but it's very uncofomortable and I'd quite like to do nothing more than slather my lips in lip balm. I'm not at home but luckily I always carry a pack of face wipes for swatches with me. It leaves a slight stain on the lips but it generally just looks like your wearing a lip stain instead of remnants of lipstick. I can feel my lips thanking me as I slather on my lip balm and whilst I enjoyed the lip liner I will not be reaching for the lipstick in a hurry.

Overall the lip liner was lovely, it was creamy, pigmented and didn't drag or pull at the lips. The lipstick however was the disappointment of the two. It took more product off than it applied, the product it did leave behind was patchy and uneven. And it smudged over the lip liner and bled along the lip line even though it didn't obviously transfer elsewhere. I wouldn't buy another lipstick if they are all the same quality as this one but would happily try another shade in the lip liner. 

Wear And Compare: Maybelline Dream Cushion Foundation Plus Review

As the weather starts to get nicer I've decided to ditch the heavier coverage foundations and embrace a lighter coverage. Of course that meant my trusty old Loreal Nude Magique Cushion Foundation came back out but instead of being my one and only choice, Maybelline coincidentally released their new Dream Cushion Foundation.

There are a lot of similarities between the two foundations from packaging, to pricing and general design. There are however some differences between the two products and some of them have really stood out to me as I've been wearing and comparing these.

 Let's start with the Maybelline as it's the newer of the two. The Dream Cushion Liquid On The Go Foundation is a medium coverage cushion foundation that comes in seven shades, has an SPF of 20 and leaves skin with natural glowy finish that still allows skin to breathe.The Loreal Nude Magique is a light to buildable medium coverage. It comes in six shades, has an SPF of 29 and leaves skin looking healthy and radiant. Both foundations can be applied with sponge that comes with it but if you don't like it then you can definitely go in with a sponge or brush of your choice.

My first impression of the Dream Cushion wasn't brilliant. Whilst the shade looked like it matched my skintone in the shop, it appeared darker on my skin when I tried it at home. And as the day went on it looked like it was oxidising on my skin the longer I wore it. The coverage wasn't perfect either and looked ever so slightly patchy in places where I needed it more. The finish of this foundation was it's only saving grace but that wasn't enough for me to not want to put it into my pile of disappointing products. That's until I started playing around with it and after a couple more tries I found myself becoming impressed by it.

When I initially tried it I was pressing the provided sponge into the product once and then using that for one side of my face. And that's when it started to appear darker on my skin. However I found that applying one press of product to both sides of the face and then blending it out worked a lot better. Sure it didn't give a lot of coverage and I found I needed to go in with concealer afterwards but the shade matched my skin a lot better this way. It also didn't seem to oxidise on my skin and I wasn't worried about having that tell tell line of foundation along my jaw/neck. Lately the weather here has been humid and left everyone feeling gross and sweaty. Normally my foundation would disappear straight away in conditions like this but my foundation still looked as good as it did when I applied it a good six or seven hours later.

The Nude Magique is/was one of my favourite foundations but lately I've found myself being disappointed by it's coverage even when I've built it up to it's most and even by the end of applying the rest of my make up it looks patchy and uneven. And whilst it's supposed to give skin a radiant glow it just makes me look ridiculously sweaty. And that's one of the major differences between these two foundations. I find with the Dream Cushion I don't need as much powder to set it in place whereas the Nude Magique I have to use a lot more powder to feel like it's set in place and not going anywhere and that leads to it occasionally looking very powdery, almost cakey on the skin. I don't know if it's because I'm used to the full coverage look my Loreal Total Cover gives me or even the Dream Cushion but I'm not enjoying this as much as I did last year.

Between the two of them right now I'm enjoying the Dream Cushion more than the Nude Magique. It's higher coverage, longer lasting and still allows my skin to look and feel like skin without being too pore clogging. The Nude Magique may come back into my rotation as the weather heats up and lighter coverage foundations become more my thing but right now I'm finding myself not reaching for it as much. If I was going to recommend purchasing one I would recommend the Nude Magique. Even though I am enjoying the Dream Cushion matching a perfect shade is harder as the shades jump quite dramatically and there really isn't a distinction between the yellow toned shades and the pink toned shades, especially in the fairer shades. Both are on the higher end of the price scale when it comes to drugstore foundations but I'd say that the Nude Magique is definitely worth the price tag whereas the Dream Cushion isn't really worth it's high price tag.

Review: Garnier Moisture Bomb Multi-Protecting Hydrating Mist With SPF

When it comes to facial mists I have my favourites as I know what works for my skin. Yet when Garnier released their Moisture Bomb Facial Mist with SPF I just couldn't help but try it. Normally I don't like aerosol based face mists as they don't seem to serve the same purpose as other mists but this one is one of few that contradicts that.

The Garnier Moisture Bomb Mist doesn't just refresh and hydrate skin, it also protects skin from daily aggressors such as pollution and UV damage. Containing Pomergranate extract and hydrating glycerin the main ingredients throughout the Moisture Bomb range, this aerosol mist hydrates skin in one spray. It also contains UV filters and an SPF of 30 but contary to belief it's not heavy, pore clogging or irritating to the skin. In fact it's lightweight, almost undetectable on the skin and can even be used over top of make up.

It says on the front of the can it's for dehydrated skin but because it's a mist and not a cream or gel any skin type can use it. It doesn't contain oil and won't cause those with more combination/oily skins to produce even more sebum. It's perfect for taking on the go with you and refreshing skin throughout the day.

I didn't initally see this doing anything for my skin but after about four uses I really felt the benefits of it. Spritzed over the top of my make up, my skin instantly hydrated and refreshed but it didn't disrupt any of my make up and made it look almost as if I'd just applied it. The smell of this reminds  me very much of my childhood when I had inhalers as it has a very chemical smell to it but it's something that's easy to overlook. This has become a perfect accompinment to my Sunday's as I spend a lot more time outside and like to make sure my skin is hydrated and protected all at once. My only bug bear with this product is the size. It's a tiny can that doesn't feel like it's going to last long, I wish it were a bit bigger not only for longevity but also in value for money terms. That being said though it's not a terrible product and I will be buying another when I finsh the original. If you're looking for a facial mist that doesn't drench skin, can be used over make up and protects skin whilst simultaneously then I'd highly recommend checking this out.

Review: Loreal Hydra Genius Liquid Moisturiser

When it comes to skincare brands Loreal is one of my favourites but it can be very hit and miss. They have some ranges that work absolute wonders on the skin whilst others fall flat. And their latest range called Hydra Genius is definitely a winner. 

Their new Hydra Genius Liquid Moisturiser has the consistency of a serum but acts like a moisturiser. It contains Hyaluronic Acid and Aloe Water and is available in three different variations for different skin types. There is even one for oily skin types as well. It claims to quench skin's thirst and release hydration when skin needs it for up to 72 hours. 

There's not a lot more to be said about this product except that it's the first of it's kind and that I absolutely love this. I use this in place of a serum in the morning, it's lightweight consistency meaning I can layer it under moisturiser, SPF and make up. It instantly sinks into my skin and leaves it feeling hydrated, plump and soft to the touch. I have the Dry/Sensitive version and whilst it works to hydrate my skin, it doesn't add that much hydration that it leaves my skin looking greasy or oily. I even know of someone who has oily skin that using the oily version and finds it works wonders for her skin. 

If you struggle to keep skin hydrated and don't like clogging your skin with lots of products this will be right up your street. It feels just like water on the skin and you will instantly see a difference in your skin, it'll look softer, plumper and hydrated for longer thanks to their slow release formula. It's oil free, fragrance free and a perfect skincare accompniment to the upcoming warmer months. If you don't like overloading skin with product during the summer, I suggest you check this out when you're in your local Boots next.

5 New First Impressions

Recently a lot of brands have released a slew of new products and some of them caught my eye. The ones I did buy you would have seen in my haul on Wednesday but whilst I was looking through my purchases I realised I had enough products to do more or less a full face of make up. So today I'm going to be sharing my first impressions on five new products from Maybelline, Collection and Barry M.

I did prep my skin before hand with my usual skincare which includes my Loreal Hydra Genius Liquid Moisturiser, Garnier Moisture Bomb Water Gel Cream and Hawaiian Tropic Facial SPF 30. And once this sunk in I went in my Maybelline SuperStay Primer which dries down to a semi matte finish and has a tackiness to it that helps products adhere to the skin. I thought I'd share this with you so you had a better understanding of why the products applied the way they did.

 Product: These are the new Collection Lasting Perfection Colour Correctors. They come in three colours, Lemon, Purple and Green. Yellow is for dark circles, Green is for redness and Purple is for dullness. I picked up the Green and Yellow as they were what I needed correcting the most.
First Impression: These are the same consistency as the concealer and only a little is needed as they apply very opaque on the skin. They blend out better with a damp beauty blender than they do a brush and don't leave behind a weird coloured cast like other correctors do. Under my eyes the Lemon shade worked well and really disguised the look of my dark circles. Both foundation and concealer applied nicely over the top of it and didn't separate or look patchy at all. The Green however didn't cover my redness as well as I though it was going to and when I applied foundation over top caused some sort of separation between the two along my jaw and chin.

Product: This is the Maybelline Dream Cushion Foundation. It's Maybelline's first cushion foundation and calls itself a Liquid Foundation On-The-Go. There are seven shades in the range from Natural Ivory (my shade) to Caramel. This has an SPF of 20 and is supposed to have a medium buildable coverage.
First Impressions: I have the lightest shade (Natural Ivory) and it doesn't look very fair in the compact or on the skin. It's very yellow in tone so any fair pink toned skins wouldn't be able to wear this shade. The compact is saturated in product and one press of the cushion is enough to do the majority of the face. The sponge you get with the compact is brilliant for blending it out but I'd also advise going in with a damp beauty blender afterwards just to make sure everything is completely blended out. It leaves a nice coverage behind and managed to conceal some of the redness still peeking through the colour corrector. It dried down to a satin finish but there was still a glow to my skin but that could have been from my moisturisers beforehand.

Product: This is the Barry M Ready Set Smooth Loose Setting Powder. This white no colour powder is not only supposed to set make up into place but also help control oil and stop skin looking shiny. It comes with a mirror in the lid, a powder puff and there is a deep rim around the powder itself so it doesn't spill everywhere. It's very lightweight in feel and doesn't leave a colour behind on the skin.
First Impressions: This powder is amazing. It's lightweight, doesn't leave skin looking or feeling powdery and doesn't a colour to the skin. Both under the eyes and on the rest of the face this didn't look cakey or leave my skin feeling like it was covered in powder. It mattified everything I needed it to and left my skin look matt but still natural looking.

 Product: This is the Barry M Lash Saver Lash Primer. This is a white mascara designed to be worn underneath mascara. Not only does it help prolong the wear of your mascara but it's enriched with ingredients that help encourage growth and conditions lashes as you wear it.
First Impressions: This is a really nice product. It's not a stark white which you can't cover with mascara but you can see it on the lashes before you apply your mascara of choice. I wasn't expecting a lot from this but this seemed to make my lashes appear longer and the curl more defined. I went in with my Miss Hippie mascara afterwards which normally gives me good lashes but over the top of this primer it gave me great lashes. They looked fanned out, defined and the curl seemed to sit better than before. Definitely going to be using this a lot in the future.

Product: And finally we have the Collection Primed and Ready Make Up Fixing Spray. This is a lightweight fine mist setting spray that is said to lock make up into place and prolong it's wear. It's set the face down to a matt finish but doesn't leave it looking dry or cakey.
First Impressions: This is another amazing product. It's a very fine mist that doesn't drench the skin or disturb make up. It doesn't leave skin feeling dry once it's locked everything into place and doesn't leave skin powdery to touch. Some setting sprays cause mascara to smudge but this one didn't even budge my mascara. Definitely a new favourite, it could even replace my Maybelline SuperStay Setting Spray.

And this is what everything looks like put together. I added a bit of Benefit's Gimme Brow through my brows and my favourite Rosie For Autograph Lipstick in Lady Rose. I'm happy with how this looks, my under eye area looks brighter than normal and even when I went to remove my make up, my under eye area still looks brighter than it would if there was just concealer there. The foundation looks okay on my skin here but I spent most of my day worried that my neck looked paler than my face even though I made sure to blend it thoroughly down my neck. I like how this wore but noticed where I applied the colour corrector underneath it started to dry out as the day wore on. The powder and setting spray really helped lock my make up into place and kept it in place all day. There are times I have a slight sheen to my skin when I go to take it off but with this combo I didn't have that problem. And the lash primer was the product that surprised me the most. A lot of the time my lashes droop a few hours after I've applied my mascara and whilst these did droop they were also malleable and could easily be lifted back into a defined curl that made my eyes look wide awake if even they weren't. There wasn't a lot of disappointments out of these products, just a few things that could have been improved but overall I'll definitely be reaching for them again, especially the lash primer, setting powder and setting spray. Those were three that the really impressed me out of the five.

Haul: Make Up And Skincare

There's nothing more that I love than a good haul. I love seeing what other people pick up when their out shopping because not only extremely nosy but I love finding new products via other people's hauls. Some of my favourite products I've discovered by watching other people's hauls. And over the last few weeks I've been collecting a few bits and pieces I've picked up and thought today would be a good time to share them with you.

I'm going to start with the product I was most excited to pick up. This is the Maybelline Dream Cushion Foundation. I picked up the shade Natural Ivory which is the lightest shade in the range. This is a medium coverage foundation that comes in a compact cushion form, making it perfect for doing make up on the girl. This is very remniscent of the Loreal Cushion foundation and there will be a post comparing the two coming in the next two weeks. If you'd like to catch my first impressions of this foundation, keep your eyes peeled on Friday for a first impressions post, including this and a few more new releases.

Another new release I'm looking forward to trying out is the new Collection Lasting Perfection Colour Corrector Concealers. There are three of these in total but I only picked up two. The two I picked up are Lemon for eradicating dark circles and Green for disguising redness. From just swatching these on the back of my hand, these are highly pigmented and actually cover what their meant to unlike other colour correctors I've tried before. A full review of these will be coming soon but my first impressions will be in Friday's post.

Barry M have recently release a slew of new products including this loose setting powder. Their Ready Set Smooth setting powder is a lightweight transparent setting powder that is supposed to mattify skin and absorb any excess oil. Maybelline have also recently released a loose setting powder but it's really bad value for money and lacks a few extra bits that makes the Barry M better value and quality.

Another new release from Barry M is their Lash Saver Lash Primer. This is a conditioning white lash primer which is supposed to condition lashes whilst adding volume and encouraging growth. It has a curved rubber bristled brush that is supposed to fit to the contour of the eye. I'm definitely going to be comparing this to the Benefit They're Real Primer, a post which will be coming soon.

Some new nail polishes from Barry M include these stunning Summer shades in their Coconut Infusion Range. These four shades are opaque in two coats, are extremely bright and don't stain the nails when you take them off. These are all very bright summer shades that'll look stunning against a tan. Infused with Coconut Oil and Water these are supposed to help look after the nail as you wear them.

Another Collection product I nearly forgot to mention is their Primed and Ready Make Up Fixing Spray. This claims to look make up into place with it's lightweight mist, leaving behind a natural yet matte looking finish. For a budget brand I have to say I'm impressed with it. I couldn't resist spritzing onto the back of my hand when I brought it and it's very fine mist doesn't leave skin feeling drenched in product. I think this could definitely become a favourite.

Something I didn't purchase but thought I'd include comes from Benefit. I recieved a sample of their Browvo Conditioning Primer free when I went to have my brows waxed last. This is a conditioning brow primer that you can apply before brow products or on it's own before you go to bed and it's supposed to prolong the wear of your brow products as well as helping brows to look healthier, thicker and fuller. I wasn't too interested in this to begin with but am now really intrigued to see what this does to my brows.

A couple of lip liners I picked up come from Essence. I didn't intially plan on picking any new lip products up but these two caught my eye. I have the shades Satin Mauve (top) and Honey Berry (bottom). I've already used these several times have to say I'm quite impressed by them. For a standard wooden pencil liner, these are quite creamy and don't drag or pull at the lips. And the best bit they only cost a pound, I'm definiteley going to be picking some more of this.

A couple of skincare repurchases I've made come from Liz Earle. The Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser and the Instant Boost Skin Tonic Spritzer are both holy grail products for me so when they began to run low I just had to pick some more up. Both of them are packed with natural skin friendly ingredients including Aloe Vera, Cocoa Butter, Shea Butter and Calendula. The Cleanse and Polish works well both day and night and really soothes skin as well as cleanses whilst the Skin Tonic Spritzer is perfect for waking skin up in the morning.

La Roche Posay is a brand that I've never tried anything from but heard great things about. So to dip my toe into the brand I picked up a small bottle of their Thermal Spring Water. Aimed at sensitive skin this claims not only to hydrate skin but protect and soothe at the same time. I've been really enjoying this in the evenings and on no make up days as it really does soothe skin as well as adding another layer of hydration to the skin. Definitely something I'll be picking up in a larger size when I'm in Boots next.

I love a good serum and usually use them to add a moisture boost to my skin but recently there have been a few days when my skin looks like it could do with a brighten. I had a scour of the Boots Skincare aisles and found this little number from Botanics. There Radiance All Bright Concentrate Serum is supposed to brighten skin's appearence in two weeks. I've been using this and have seen a slight difference but haven't used it enough to see a dramatic change in the appearence of my skin.

I absolutely love the Garnier Moisture Bomb Range and how hydrated the products leave my skin feeling but since I saw the launch of the Neutrogena Hydro Boost range I've been intrigued to see what it's like. So when I saw that their entire range was half price I couldn't resist picking up their Water Gel Cream. Containing Hyaluronic Acid, this lightweight cream claims to boost skins feel and look without leaving it looking greasy or oily at all. I'm definitely going to be putting this against my favourite Garnier Moisture Bomb Water Gel Cream.

Now all that I have left to show you is masks. I'm a face mask fiend and can't go out shopping without picking up at least one. The first two I got were the Garnier SkinActive PureActive Self Heating Sauna Mask. Each sachet contains two servings of mask and it's salicylic acid and zinc formula works to purify the skin without leaving it feeling dry or irritable. Plus I received a free reusable tote bag when I brought two of these which was the cherry on top.

Another set of Garnier masks that I purchased are their Moisture Bomb Tissue Masks. They have added two new varieties of masks recently and I love them both so when I saw them on off I stocked up. I picked up two of the Chamomile Mask and only one of the Green Tea Mask as I don't need to mattify/purify my skin as often as it needs soothing. I love these masks, they sit in place, aren't that saturated in product that they drip everywhere and don't break the bank. These have really set the standard for my sheet mask obssession.

A unique looking sheet mask that caught my eye was this new Sanctuary Bubble Sheet Mask. A oxygen and charcoal duo based formula that purifys the skin as well as deep cleansing and leave it looking revitalised. I'm very intrigued by this masks but also wary at the same time. I think it's the bubble aspect that's putting me off. A full review of this will come once I've used it and check out my Snapchat (zoe_holborn) to see what it looks like on.

Superdrug have recently started selling Yesto, including some products that you wouldn't find within the range at Boots. Two of these products are their paper masks. And course being a sheet mask addict I just had to pick them up. The first one I got is their Yesto Coconuts Ultra Hydrating Paper Mask. And the second one I picked up is the Yesto Cucumber Calming Paper Mask. I'm looking forward to trying both of these but more so the Coconut mask as I've not tried a lot of coconut based skincare products before. A full review of these masks will appear on here once I've used them both.

And the other two products I picked up from Yesto are a couple of their Mud Masks. I have the Yesto Primrose Oil Mud Mask and the Yesto Argan Oil Mud Mask. The Primrose mask claims to calm and soothe skin, something my occasionally sensitive could do with. The Argan Oil Mask on the other hand claims to condition and brighten skin, something I'm not always worried with but as I was making an order I couldn't resist adding it to my basket. And can we just talk about how cute the Yesto Mask packaging is. I keep putting off using these as I don't want to rip them open yet.

And the last thing I picked up were these Rodial Dragon's Blood Eye Masks. I picked up two patches and used one on Monday. These are supposed to smooth, depuff and hydrate the under eye area. I really liked this and am definitely going to enjoy using the second pair. A bit of a more pricey purchase in the long run but well worth it when you see the results.

Review: Garnier SkinActive Botanicals Skincare Ranges

When it comes to skincare brands on the high street there is only one I trust implicitly and that is Garnier. Unlike other brands on the market I don't have finding products I like and that work for me from Garnier and they don't break the bank either. So when Garnier started changing some of their products I was worried they wouldn't work for me any more. However that wasn't the case.
You may have noticed recently that their SkinActive skincare ranges have been slowly disappearing from shelves and being replaced by their new SkinActive Botanicals ranges. And that's because Garnier have been reformulating and rebranding their SkinActive ranges. And let's just say it's worked very well in their favour.

Each set of products in their newly reformulated range is ranged for a particular skin type. There are products for oily, dry and even sensitive skin types. Each mini range within it has three to four products each ranging from cleansers to toners to moisturisers so let me give you the lowdown on each skin type.

The first range they have is their RoseWater range. This is aimed at dry and sensitive skin types and each products promises to soothe as well as hydrate skin. In the range there is a cream cleanser, toner and moisturiser to choose from. The cream cleanser and moisturiser didn't appeal to me but the toner did as it claimed to soothe and hydrate skin something my skin could do with after cleansing. It's very lightweight on the skin and leave skin feeling refreshed, soothed and soft to the touch after every use.

Then there is the Honey Flower range. This range is designed for dry to very dry skin and promises to soothe and nourish skin. In this range they have a gel wash, toner and moisturiser. The only thing I didn't purchase was the moisturiser as it seemed very thick in texture and something that my skin didn't necessarily need. The gel wash and toner however are definitely something my skin does need. They quench any thirst my skin has as I use them and the gel wash doesn't leave my skin feeling tight or dry and so far hasn't broken me out. If you don't want something that's too hydrating but just enough to nourish skin then this is the perfect range for you.
 

There is also the Aloe Vera range. This range is designed for normal to combination skin and promises to soothe and refresh skin. This range not only has a gel wash, toner and moisturiser but also a cream cleanser. The gel wash is perfect for those no make up days as it leaves skin looking hydrated yet refreshed and doesn't cause any tightness or irritation. The toner is perfect for toning skin after removing make up. There are times when I use this toner after cleansing and I can feel my skin just drinking it in and letting it work it's magic. I don't have the moisturiser but out of the four to choose from this would be the one I'd probably choose.

And finally you have the Green Tea Range. This range is designed for combination to oily skin and promises to soothe and mattify skin. The gel wash, toner and moisturiser not only contains green tea to help purify the skin but also glycerin so skin still feels hydrated. These haven't quite had as much use as the other three ranges but I have a feeling these are going to come in handy during the warmer months when the heat and humidity cause my skin to look and feel a bit oilier.

And the best bit about these products. They are all free from parabens, silicones and articifical colourants as well as being 96% natural. Instead of being like a lot of other brands that claim to be more natural than the rest, Garnier has actually broken down their ingredients list on the back of each product so you can see where each of them is sourced from and how much of it makes up the product. It makes these products perfect for people who's skin reacts with certain ingredients as they can now see what they're putting on their skin.

Overall I really like this whole new range from Garnier. I haven't tried every product in the range but the ones I have tried have wowed me and totally impressed me, coming across as if their a higher priced brand rather than Garnier. If there were any more products I'd pick up it would probably be the rose moisturiser as well as the aloe vera moisturiser. I couldn't pick just one product that I absolutely love from this range as I love them all and find they really help my skin at different times. If you're struggling with skin issues/complaints then I highly suggest checking these ranges out. With the wide selection of products there is guaranteed to be something out there for everyone.

Review: Yesto Cucumber Two Step Eye Kit

Dark circles are the bane of my life, no  matter how many hours sleep I get or litres of water I've drunk, my occasionally horrendous dark circles never seem to disappear. So I started looking at solutions if not permanent at least temporary. And that's where under eye patches come into it.

There are so many under eye patches to choose from, from high end brands such as Estee Lauder and Skyn Iceland to more budget friendly options such as Masque Bar and Yesto who's product I'm talking to you about today. Recently Yesto have released a selection of Kits ranging from pore reducing, lip scrubbing to conquering dark circles and under eye bags. I've already tried the Yesto Tomato Nose Strip Kit and loved it, so when I saw the Cucumber Eye Kit I couldn't resist picking one up.

A two step kit that's designed to reduce the appearence of dark circles and depuff and soothe under bags. The first step is a pair of under eye patches that are soaked in Cucumber, Caffeine and Evodia Fruit that are supposed to soothe and depuff the under eye area. The second step is a Cucumber infused eye treatment that helps with the appearence of dark circles.

The pre soaked eye patches are saturated in a cucumber and caffeine mix. The cucumber helps to soothe the under eye area whilst the caffiene works to reduce any puffiness around the area and helps reduce the appearence of dark circles. And they really do feel very cooling and soothing on the under eye area. I did struggle to apply this in a way that was comfortable and getting the most from the product itself. Once I had them in place I left them for twenty minutes and found they didn't move or slide about unlike other eye patches I'd tried in the past. Once I took these off my under eye area looked refreshed and didn't look puffy or tired looking.

Then it was onto the eye treatment. This is a very thick cream and reminded me a lot of a general night cream. It smelt strongly of cucumber but felt very luxurious as I applied it and once it had sunk in left my under eye area feeling very soft, smooth and moisturised. It didn't appear to reduce the appearence of my dark circles though which I found a little disappointing.

Overall I really enjoyed this product. The eye patches worked really well and were really good quality for the price tag. The eye treatment whilst I enjoyed it didn't really meet my expectations and once I'd used as much as I thought I needed there was still a lot of product left which I found a bit wasteful. However that is my only issue with this product as a whole. I would buy/will be buying this product again as I really enjoyed the eye patches on their own. At only £4.99 a pack these are a great budget pamper treat that not only meet skins needs but are also paraben, SLS and silicone free. Currently on offer at Boots I'd highly recommend checking these out when you're browsing their skincare aisle next.

Review: Make Up Revolution Luxury Banana Powder

I'm going to put a full disclaimer out now, this post is going to be a Debbie Downer kind of post. And it's not because this product is terrible but purely because it didn't work for me. And again not every product is going to work for everyone. Whilst this didn't work for me, this could work for you.

If you're wondering what product I'm talking about it's the Make Up Revolution Luxury Banana Powder. This is a lightweight loose powder which is yellow in colour and is supposed to set make up in place, reduce shine and help reduce the appearence of redness or pink tones in the skin. It's colouring also adds colour and warmth to the skin when you apply it.

I'd like to say let's start with the things I liked about this product but really all it consists of is the easy to use packaging and the lightweight feel of the powder once applied on the skin. Sure this powder is supposed to add warmth to the skin but when I was wearing this it makes my skin/foundation look orange after a few hours. Under the eyes I found this clung weirdly and accentuated any imperfections I had around the eyes and it didn't help prolong the wear of my concealer.

If I wasn't so fair in colouring I'd probably really enjoy this product but when I was wearing it I found myself catching glimpses in any mirror and having a really orange looking forehead and jawline which is just not a good look. If you have light not fair to medium skintones then this powder will work nicely with your skin. Anyone who uses the shade porcelain or below I suggest staying away from it, it will not play nicely with any of your base products. And as I said at the beginning of this post, this may not have worked for me but it doesn't mean it won't work for you. If you've tried banana powders in the past and enjoyed them then definitely check this one out. 

Review: Loreal Miss Baby Roll Mascara

 

When it comes to mascara I'm not particuarly picky. about. I have my favourites but am never against giving the latest releases a go. And to begin with the latest Loreal release didn't really jump out at me. But then I saw a bunch of brilliant reviews and a family friend wearing it and just had to get it.

The new Loreal Miss Baby Roll Mascara doesn't just come in your bog standard black, black brown and waterproof. No this mascara comes in black waterproof, black, indigo, teal and lilac which makes it perfect for adding a pop of colour to any look, perfect for the upcoming warmer months and festival season.

This has a very unique looking brush. It has your standard multi bristle look to it but these bristles are shaped into a spiral. I'm not sure if it meant that it would grip the lashes better and give a better curl but I do think they've designed the brush to work with the name and that the spiralised brush would work wonders if you rolled it as you applied it.

Initally I wasn't too impressed with this mascara, it just seemed to clump my lashes together and my curl didn't stay in place as long as it does with other mascaras. However the second time I tried it I was more than impressed with how it lifted and seperated my lashes to give them a volumised fanned out look. It made my eyes like wider and more awake looking and I was quite impressed as my lashes held the curl a lot longer than usual. I found this mascara gave more volume if you did in fact twist the brush as you applied it.

My only bug bear with this mascara is the formula, I like how it works to give my lashes tons of volume and does what it says on the tin but removing it is a right pain in the ass. I use a bio phase oil based eye make remover which usually works wonders and removes all signs of mascara. However this mascara doesn't really budge even if you soak you cotton pad with eye make up remover. I find myself rubbing my eyes a lot more than necessary to remove this which is something I'm not a fan of doing. And this is the non waterproof version, so imagine how hard the waterproof version would be to get off.

Overall this is a nice mascara, it holds a curl, gives lashes a defined volumised look but let's itself down by being so darn hard to remove. If that's your kind of formula then you'll enjoy this mascara but if you don't then I'd suggest trying Loreal's Miss Hippie Mascara instead. The coloured mascaras are stunning but not up my street but if you have a hot summer holiday coming up or a ticket for a festival and want to try something new then I'd suggest picking one of these up. A nice mascara from Loreal but not one I think I'm going to find myself reaching for a lot.

Review: Sanctuary Cleansing Balm

Cleansing balms are a rare find on the high street. Sure you can pick up higher end brands in your local Boots or even Marks and Spencers but finding them on a budget isn't as easy as you'd think would be. You'd think big high street skincare brands like Simple, Garnier and Loreal would have one but they don't, something they'll hopefully rectify at some point. However a easily accesible high street brand that does a cleansing balm and a good one at that is Sanctuary.

This cleansing balm is a very thick balm but once it touches the skin it instantaneously melts into the skin and breaks down even the toughest of make up. A whole host of ingredients are packed into this balm including Cocoa Butter, Shea Butter, Vitamin E, Rosehip Oil and Argan Oil to nourish and revitalise the skin with every use. What starts as a balm melts into an oil when it touches the skin, effectively breaking down make up and deep cleansing skin. Add a few drops of water and the oil turns into a nourishing milk that revitalises and leaves skin soft to touch.

I like this cleansing balm. It breaks down even the most long lasting foundations and doesn't leave a trace of make up on my skin. It doesn't leave skin feeling tight or dry, something other cleansers can do no matter the ingredients. My only bug bear is the scent. It's very heavily scented which is expected considering it's not only a spa brand but contains a lot of essential oils. It isn't unbearable but it's very strong and is a little bit off putting which means I find myself reaching for my Clinique Take The Day Off Balm more than this. If you have extremely sensitive skin that doesn't react well to fragrance I'd say give this a miss and try the Camomile Cleansing Balm from The Body Shop.

Review: Garnier Moisture Bomb Sheet Masks

 

Back in September I reviewed the original Garnier Moisture Bomb Sheet Mask. It was the first sheet mask from the brand and it's popularity was outstanding. So with the sucess of their first mask and a relaunch of  their SkinActive skincare they released two more sheet masks to cater to the needs of different skin types.

At the moment there are only two new releases mask wise from Garnier but I could see it expanding in the future after seeing how well these have been recieved. The first is their Moisture Bomb Camomile Tissue Mask. Aimed at sensitive to dry skin types this mask doesn't contain the exact same ingredients as their sensitive skincare range but would fit in well as a once a week treatment. Containing Camomile as well as their key ingredient Hyaluronic Acid, this mask aims to soothe irritated skin as well as supplying skin with a week's worth of hydration.

And the other mask they released is the Moisture Bomb Green Tea Tissue Mask. This is aimed at comibnation/oily skintypes and fits in as a treatment within their new Green Tea skincare range. Containing Green Tea, Hyaluronic Acid and Hydrating Glycerin this mask not only hydrates skin without creating excess sebum but also mattifies the skin and reduces the appearence of pores.

Both of these masks only need fifteen minutes to work their magic. These tissue masks are thin and lightweight on the skin. They sit comfortably on the skin and don't flap or peel when you move around. And whilst they're saturated in product they're not that saturated that it's dripping everywhere as you wear it which makes them great as you can actually carry on with your day instead of having to lie or sit in one place as it works.

As my skin is more sensitive/reactive than oily/combination I do prefer the Camomile mask over the Green Tea Mask. Unfortunately last month I was hit by a horrendous virus and my poor skin went through the ringer. It was dry, sensitive to touch and my redness was going into overdrive. And the Camomile mask was a skin saviour. After cleansing my skin with my Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish I popped the Camomile mask on and took a twenty minute cat nap. Once it felt like the mask had given my skin all it could, I peeled it off and went for a good look in the mirror. Immediately I was impressed, my skin felt softer to the touch, looked less sore and aggravated and my redness whilst still there didn't look as bad as it had before.

The sheet mask trend is getting bigger every day and with every brand bringing out their own versions it's sometimes hard to chose the one that's best for your skin. And whilst sometimes it's necessary to pay more for skincare, for things like sheet masks there's no need to break the bank. Coming in at £2.99 each the Garnier Moisture Bomb Tissue Masks won't disappoint you. Easy to use, results are instantaneous and packed with high quality ingredients these masks are sure to become holy grail products once you've tried them.