Top 3: Eye Make Up Removers

When it comes to eye make-up removers I've never been able to stick to one. They're either too greasy or don't remove my make up well enough. However over the last couple of months I found 3 that I rotate on a nightly basis.

L’Oréal Absolute Eye and Lip Make Up Remover
This is the only duo phase product that features in this Top 3. It is my favourite of three because it's one of the best drugstore eye make-up removers out there. Like most duo phase products this contains an oil that breaks down your eye make-up while the other half solution soothes the delicate eye area. However unlike other duo phase removers this doesn't leave a greasy residue on the skin. The formula is strong enough to break down all eye make-up and lip products but doesn't leave skin irritated afterwards. Non-drying and soothing on the eyes this remover is suitable for even sensitive eyes but still removes all traces of make-up.

Simple Kind To Eyes Eye Make Up Remover
Between this and the Nivea one I couldn't say which one is better. They're both gentle formula's that require a little bit more work to make sure everything is removed. Like other products in the Simple range this has no fragrance and is packed with skin loving ingredients that makes it perfect for people with either sensitive skin or eyes. It doesn't leave skin greasy but does require slightly more work to get rid of every trace, I'd advise that you soak the cotton pad more than rub harshly at your eyes. If you're someone who likes to know what's in your skincare products than this is more than likely going to be better for you than the Nivea one.

Nivea Extra Gentle Eye Make Up Remover 
Even though it's not something I should care about, this product has the best scent out of the three of them. It smells just like the rest of the Nivea range which makes it quite refreshing on the skin. Just like the Simple one, this is a non duo phase formula designed to be extra gentle on eyes. It doesn't leave a greasy residue on the skin and leaves skin feeling refreshed and free from irritation. As with the Simple one it does take a bit more work to make sure everything's gone but I'd advise even with the L’Oréal one that you use more product on the cotton pad than rub at your eyes. I always used to wonder why I went through eye make-up remover so quickly and then it hit me one night that I was using more than was probably necessary just so I didn't irritate my eyes. Suitable for people with sensitive skin and eyes this is an alternative to the Simple one if you just want a good eye make-up remover and aren't worried about what goes into it. 

So that was my Top 3 Eye Make Up Removers. Have you tried any of these? Did you have any recommendations? If you please let me know, I'm always looking for new products to try.

Review: Rimmel Wonder'Full Wake Me Up Mascara

I will admit that when I first saw the Wake Me Up Mascara I didn't really pay attention to anything but the packaging. I'm a typical makeup magpie and have to any new product that launches, especially if it has shiny packaging. However once I got past the shininess of it and read what it was supposed to do I was intrigued. I already liked the original Wonder'Full Mascara and was intrigued to see if this version lived up to my expectations.

It claims to contain vitamins and cucumber extract to help soothe eyes and nourish lashes. The brush which is shaped like an hourglass and coats every lash while giving eyes a refreshed and wide eyed look. The first thing you notice when you open the packaging is the distinct smell of cucumber, it's not unpleasent and doesn't irritate eyes. Once applied you can't smell anything but eyes do feel soothed and more awake. 

The formula of itself seems quite wet which for me makes it easier to apply to the eyes. It doesnt transfer from the eyes and there is no fallout or flakiness after a few hours wear. The shape of the brush sits nicely along the contour of the eye and when small zig zag movements from the root to the tip are applied they give a really nice natural wide eyed look. It also makes eyes look more awake and refreshed, which makes it perfect for wear on long days. 

Unlike some mascaras on the market the bristles on this brush are evenly spaced apart meaning no matter how many coats you apply it won't clumpy. I personally like to apply two coats of this mascara, one to give volume to my lashes and hold the curl and an extra coat to give a bit more wow to my natural looking yet wide eyed look. I have slightly hooded eyes and usually mascaras that have amazing volume don't look that good on me but this one distracts from the hoodiness of my eyes as my lashes do all the talking. 

If you're wondering does the formula make it harder to remove then the answer is no. This mascara removes the same or if not better than many of the others I own. Any eye make up remover can be used it doesn't have to be a special duo phase product or anything stronger than your normal eye make up remover. This product may not be suitable for sensitive eyes as the scent may irritate eyes but if you don't have problems buying mascara then I highly recommend you try it out. 

If you're a fan of the orignial Wonder'Full mascara or are just looking for a one that gives eyes a bit more definition then this product is for you. Easy to apply, brilliant results and a not so hefty price tag the Rimmel Wonder'Full Wake Me Up Mascara is perfect for ladies who are looking for a new mascara but find choosing from all the brands daunting.

Available now from Boots and Superdrug

Product Empties #1

As someone who is always trying new products out I rarely ever finish anything. If I do though it's a testament to how much I really like it. So today I'd thought I'd show you some of my recently finished products. 

Superdrug Purifying Facial Sheet Mask
This was an okay product. When I opened the packet I hope that the product would lay on my skin as shown on the front. I was disappointed when I applied this to my face though, the holes cut for the eyes and nose were mishapen and did not in the right place on my face. As a purifying mask it contained tea tree and witch hazel but I found the tea tree to be very overpowering, making my eyes sting. It wasn't of the best masks that I've tried from Superdrug's own range purely because it made my eyes sore afterwards and didn't sit properly on the skin. However it did leave my skin feeling soft and refreshed afterwards. 

Nivea Double Effect Eye Make Up Remover
This for a long time has been my favourite eye make up remover. I've replaced it now though with one from Loreal as it's much kinder on my eyes.I found I went through this quicker than I probably should have but did find that I needed to use slightly more than necessary to remove everything. This duo phrase eye make up remover is effective and always removed my eye make up but after most uses it left my eyes feeling greasy and I had to use another cotton pad to wipe away the residue.

 Johnson's Make Up Be Gone Extra Sensitive Wipes
I didn't actually use these to remove my make up. I used them to remove any excess foundation and concealer from the back of my hand when I did my make up in the morning, I think I may have used a couple to quickly freshen up my face though. I brought the extra sensitive because I have sensitive skin but as I rarely used these on my face I can't really tell if they worked or not. These were wetter than some face wipes on the market and always managed to remove an trace of make up that needed to be gone. I wouldn't say that you needed to go and buy them straight away as a simple wet one will do the exact same job.

Superdrug Vitamin E Dual Phase Cleansing Oil
This is probably one of my favourite skin products on the market at the moment. If you're a lazy beauty girl like me then you're going to love this. This cleansing oil is a brilliant make up remover that doesn't leave a greasy residue over the skin. With Horse Chestnut and a Mutlivitamin Complex this boots skins moisture while removing make up. It's brilliant for removing any long wearing foundations, lipsticks and even mascara. And that's not even the best bit. Unlike most cleansing oils there is no need for water. All you need to do is shake the product together and then pour it onto a cotton pad. No need for a sink, no need for water, you can use whenever or wherever you need to. If I had to change one thing about this then it would be the packaging. Where excess product slides down the bottle it makes the label peel and the rest of the bottle is left greasy. 

Colab Dry Shampoo in London
I've lost count of the amount of bottles of Colab I've gone through since it's been out. I brought this minature one to test a new scent (my favourite is New York) and I really like it. I liked it that much in fact I've brought a large can of it's since. I sometimes forget that this doesn't leave a white cast in my hair so I tend to use more than is actually necessary. It's perfect for those days when I don't have enough time to wash my hair (trust me it takes a while). If you're a fan of Batiste but hate the white cast it can leave I recommend you try these. 

Herbal Essences Bee Strong Strengthening Cream
I've lost count of how many bottles of this I've gone through since I dip dyed my hair last year. I try not to overload my hair with products but when it comes to this I go a little wild. Designed to aid dry or damaged hair this spray leaves hair feeling silky and smooth after every use. It smells like a mixture of honey and apricot that lingers in the air after it's been used. I spray this mainly through the ends of my hair where it's dyed and it never fails to leave it smooth and tangle free. 

Lush Dragon's Egg Bath Ballistic
I can't actually remember how long this has been sat in my empties box. What I do remember about this product is that it smelt heavenly and made me feel refreshed when I got out of the bath. It smells like lemon sherbet with a mix of jasmine and makes your bath a bright shade of orange. If you're not a fan of sweet scents but want to add a pop to your bath then this is probably the one for you. It's definitely one I'm going to be repurchasing. 

B Quick 4-in-1 Cleansing Wipes
These aren't my favourite face wipes out there, I've tried better ones. These are wetter than some brands out there but I found they dragged across the skin. It wouldn't be so bad if they weren't textured and scratched slightly at my skin. They were effcient at removing any make up left on my face after cleansing but weren't something I found myself reaching for all the time. They had a distinct smell to them that I worried would transfer over to my skin so only used these at night. The one thing that did appeal to me was the packaging, instead of just being a peel back opening they had this heavier opening which made sure they didn't dry out. 

 Sancutary Spa Salt Scrub
This last empty is probably one of my favourites. I think this is the third packet I've gone through and am even half way through the large jar of this. I could never stick to a body scrub until I used this one. It's an oil and salt scrub which makes it slightly harsher than some of the scrubs on the market. However it doesn't irritate the skin, the oil smoothing skin and leaving a lush smelling residue on the skin. The residue it leaves is ultra moisturising meaning I don't have to mositurise until the next morning. If you're not a fan of the residue it leaves it does come off with body wash which is brilliant if you're getting ready to go somewhere afterwards. It smells like heaven in a packet and fills the whole bathroom with the scent when I use it. If you're not sure if it's for you then try a travel packet like this, it's a great to try a product without breaking the bank. 

What products have you guys used lately? Have you tried any of these? Have you any recommendations for similar products?

Make Up Haul

Over the last couple of weeks I've picked up a few make up bits, some I've had my eye on for a while and some new releases that caught my eye. So I thought I'd share them with you as quick post between my normal weekly scheldule.

I picked up these two new colour releases from the Barry M Quick Dry Polish collection. There new releases are very summer based, all very bright and some even sparkly. There was only two colours that stood out to me, Need For Speed and Get Set Go. Need For Speed is a bright lavender toned purple and Get Set Go is a bright corally pink shade. Both polishes are opaque in one coat and leave a glossy shine to the nails. These will look amazing with a tan in the summer but for now I'm wearing Get Set Go on my tootsies to brighten them up a bit.

The next product I picked up was another Barry M polish and another new release. From their Gelly Hi Shine range I picked up Sugar Plum this beautiful pink almost raspberry shade. When it comes to these polishes I always make sure I pick up the latest shades when they come out. Thick formula, opaque in one coat and a high gloss finish, these are a must have in my collection. This shade will be beautiful in the summer but can also be used as a transition shade as we come into autumn.

I will admit I picked this up purely for the packaging. However after some reading up on it, I am excited to try this out. With a formula containing vitamins and cucumber, this product is supposed to wake eyes up and nourish lashes. I'm intrigued by this and from the look of the brush it's going to be right up my street. Also it smells of cucumber which is supposed to soothe tired eyes and help them look more awake and refreshed. I will be doing a review on this soon when I've given it a go.

This purchase has been months in the coming. After seeing everyone talking about this I thought it was about time I tried out the Rimmel Exaggerate Lip Liner in EastEnd Snob. And I can see why everyone raves about it. I've worn this a couple of times and while I love the colour and the finish, I find the application can be tricky. I've only had it a couple of weeks and have already snapped some of it off. That aside I really like this lip liner and if you're looking for a pinky nude lip then this is definitely what to go for.

This is a new release from Loreal and to begin with I wasn't very interested. I thought that these new Infallible Glosses were exactly that, glosses. However I was pleasently surprised to find that they did matter shades as well. So obviously I had to pick one up. I got the shade Smoke Me Up which a brilliant raspberry pink shade, perfect all year round in my opinion. The applicator reminds of one I've seen from YSL recently and I'm intrigued to see how it applies. As with the mascara I will be doing a full review once I've worn it.

I'm not exactly thrilled by this product but I'm working on ways to make it work. This is the Kate Moss for Rimmel in 101. I've been on a nudey pink lip binge lately and when I swatched this I thought it would be perfect but it doesn't come across like that on the lips. It still looks quite shiny for a matte finish and the shade is one that doesn't quite suit my skintone. However I'm going to try and pair it over EastEnd Snob to see if it neutralises any of the baby pink tones in it.

The last product I picked up is probably a boring purchase to some but I think no one can ever have to many grey/grey toned nail polishes. I love the Colour Show nail polishes from Maybelline and this one is no different. Called Sidewalk Strut this is a part of a new range of nail varnishes releases to celebrate 100 years of Maybelline. Opaque in one coat but absolutley stunning with two coats, this is a beautiful colour that I'm going to wear all year round.

Have any of you tried any of these? Do you have any recommendations?

Spring Nail Edit

 
I showed you my Spring Lip Edit last week so I thought it only fair to show you my Spring Nail Edit this week. I found picking out the chosen producs hard not only because I have a ton of nail polishes but mainly because I just wanted to pick all Barry M. However I reigned myself and picked 5 different colours from various brands and I hope if you're looking for a new spring nail colour you find inspiration.

 

Barry M Quick Dry in Eat My Dust
This first colour is one of my most recently purchased colours but I absolutely love it and find myself reaching for it constantly. This grey toned cornflower blue is perfect for someone who wants to rock pastel nails but doesn't want it to look to girly. It is also a perfect rework of a neutral nail, the grey tones eliminating any brightness that is associated with blue shades. It takes two coats to give this polish an opaque finish or looks nice as a sheer wash of colour over the nail. However given that these have a brilliant drying time, two coats won't take half as long as some polishes do.

Barry M Gelly Hi Shine in Prickly Pear 
I have tried tons of lavender toned purple polishes in my time but this is the one and only for me. Not to bright but not too pale this gives a stunning pop to nails but keeps it girly and spring like at the same time. One coat is opaque but if you're really looking for that pop then two coats is the way to go. It dries quicker than some formulas I've tried and leaves a brilliant shine that can last for a good two to three days.

Nails Inc in George Street 
I'm not a massive fan of pink nails but this colour is just the right shade of pink for me. With beige undertones this looks like a baby pink in the bottle but actually comes out more of a browny pink. It makes a brilliant neutral nail and two coats give it a beautiful opaque finish. However if Nails Inc isn't in your budget Barry M have a purse friendly dupe. Their classic nail paint in Ballerina is slightly more pinky toned than George Street but still has a neutral tone to it making it an easy way to do pink nails without looking like a barbie doll.

 

Nails Inc in Porchester Square
This is one of my alltime favourite nail polishes but working where I do I just can't fathom wasting such a beautiful colour. This it the ultimate greige toned nail varnish and really is the Hero Shade of Nails Inc. As with other colours from Nails Inc, Porchester Square is opaque in one coat but looks that little bit better with two coats. However if you're looking for a brilliant dupe Barry Gelly Hi Shine in Almond is nearly an extact match at only half the price. With the same greige tone and glossy finish Almond is brilliant for anyone like me who have a very hands on job.

 Maybelline Colour Show in Green With Envy 
I was going to show you a beautiful mint green from Barry M for my last product but I decided to shake it a bit. This polish from Maybelline still has a spring tone to it but is more along the lines of an apple green to a mint green. As with the others it's opaque in two coats and leaves a stunning glossy finish but that's not what makes this an amazing nail polish. Once applied and sealed in with a top coat this polish can go a good 7 days without chipping no matter what your hands are doing. These are lesser known polishes from Maybelline but I highly recommend you check them out.

Have any of you tried this? if so then what did you think? Do you have any other recommendations?

Spring Lip Edit

When it comes to lipsticks I'm the kinda girl that sticks to the shades she knows. However reds and dark berry tones aren't suitable all year round. So a few weeks ago I started to buy and test some new pinky/peachy toned lipsticks for spring. And now the weather is becoming more spring like I thought it was time to share my Top 5 Spring Lipsticks with you.

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Honey 
This is probably my favourite of all 5. It's easy to wear and suits a multitude of skin tones. It's a beautiful easy to wear pink that is ultra-moisturising on the lips. It looks darker in the tube but when applied to the lips is actually a brighter rosy toned pink. It leaves a nice gloss like sheen to the lips but after a few hours of wear the gloss wears away leaving a stain making this a brilliant product to wear on days you know you won't be able to touch it up. This balm stain can be worn over the top of lip balm so lips don't dry out or look flaky but can also be used over the top of another colour that may be too bright for spring.

Kate Moss For Rimmel In Shade 33
This is one lipstick that may require slight work on certain skin types. More of a peachy/coral toned pink this lipstick can be tricky for extremely fair skin tones to wear. However there is a way around this. It can be worn several ways, either a sheer layer applied, patted into the lips to leave a stain or the full opaque finish most people want.  This is another product that can be worn over lip balm but if you don't like the feeling then it has a non drying formula which will leave lips looking good all day. It's a sheen finish which means it a bit more work than other types but because it can be worn several ways it's a easy product to use to change a look.

Bourjois Rogue Edition Velvet in So Hap'pink 
This is the first of only two matte products in this edit, I couldn't even fathom writing this post without giving them a mention. It's non transferable formula is one of the best I've ever tried and you can eat and drink without worrying about having to touch up. At first glance this looks like a slightly darker pink but actually goes onto the lips as a peachy pink and on some skin tones will look even like a coral colour. With a doe foot applicator this is one liquid lipstick that applies opaque in one coat. It can be quite tacky when first applied but once it's dried it's not going to budge until you remove it.

Collection Cream Puff Lip Cream in Cotton Candy 
This is the other matte product in my edit. Along the same lines as the Bourjois one this is a slightly darker toned pink which looks stunning on fairer toned skins. Less of a liquid lipstick this product is good to go and opaque in one swipe but can built upon to give more of a pop of colour. This product can be quite tricky to wear, if it doesn't dry properly then it can transfer even though it's a matte formula. However if it does dry properly this product won't transfer but can be quite drying on the lips and I highly recommend that you keep a lip scrub handy for either before or after you wear it.

Revlon Ultra HD Lipstick in Peony 
This lipstick is probably the most wearable out of the five. A new release down the beauty aisles, this lipstick is one I find myself grabbing for more often than not when the balm stain is not within reach. Another coral toned pink this lipstick is ultra moisturising on the lips and looks gorgeous on just about everyone. With a sheen finish, this can be thrown over a lip balm for a sheer finish or can be built up to a bright opaque pop of colour. It has a slightly different shape to most lipsticks which makes it easy to apply as it distributes colour evenly on the lips. And if this colour isn't working with  particular look you're going for then it can be mixed with the other pinky toned shades from the range. I actually reviewed the range last week on my blog which you can find here if you want to know more.

So that was my Sping Lip Edit. Did any of them catch your eye? Or did you have your only spring lip recommendations?