NARS

June & July 2015 Product Empties

- Vicki 7 Comments

June & July Empties 2015

Garnier Micellar Water Combination & Sensitive Skin – As far as I could tell this wasn’t much different to the one in the pink packaging. I still liked it & it was as good at removing my mascara and bulk of my makeup. I love to stock up on this from my local Savers as they always have it for less than £3. I even have the cutest mini bottle to take with me on my holidays. I will forever repurchase this (or the pink one) – it’s best high street Micellar Water that I’ve found.

The Body Shop Satsuma Beautifying Oil – This was from one of the amazing British Beauty Blogger boxes & I really liked using it. It seemed to last me ages considering its quite a small bottle. I only used it on my thighs, I liked to massage it in to get the blood flowing and it left my skin feeling so smooth and not at all greasy. It also smells like Summer – orange is such a lovely scent and although it didn’t linger too long it was a nice uplifting scent for the morning. I would repurchase this again.

Chapstick Mixstix – This is a double ended lip balm so you get two flavours. I bought this a while ago from America and have its taken me ages to use it up. I did like it & thought having two flavours in one was a great idea. I used the cherry side quicker than the lemon but both smelt sweet and fruity and although not the most hydrating of lip products its still nice to have in your handbag and very inexpensive. Wouldn’t rush out to repurchase.

Elizabeth Grant Collagen Re-Inforce Platinum 24hr Firming Eye Cream* – This 30ml tube lasted me almost a whole year. I thought it was hydrating and very nourishing, my under eyes looked very smooth when I used this. It sits well under makeup and doesn’t look greasy but keeps my concealer looking fresh all day. I would repurchase this.

Origins Plantscription™ Anti-aging Power Serum* This is a nice serum, I used it as my overnight serum and I’d wake up to smooth, fresh glowing skin. It smells quite botanical so if you’re not a fan of fragranced skincare this isn’t for you. This serum leaves your skin feeling so silky smooth but after a few months use I didn’t see any significant changes in my fine lines. Its quite a thin water based serum so its easy to massage in to the skin and a little goes a long way, this tube lasted me about 4 months and I did love using it. Despite not seeing massive results in terms of anti ageing this was a really nice hydrating serum that helped my skin look radiant and fresh. Let me know if you have tried anything from the Plantscription range.

NARS Brightening Serum –  I wouldn’t say it was an amazing purchase and I was unsure how to use it at first. In the end I started to mix a little either with my moisturiser or my foundation but I wouldn’t say it was fantastic at making my skin look bright and glowing it was quite greasy and didn’t sink in to my skin very well. I much prefer Brightening Primers like the B one or the Revlon ones. Much cheaper and I think better quality.

Crazy Rumors Black Cherry Lipbalm – This smells so good & its extremely hydrating on the lips. It does a great job at keeping my lips moisturised. I don’t have to reapply it that much throughout but I like having it to hand & I just love the scent of it . Crazy Rumor offer a wide selection of flavours and they all sound lovely so I would repurchase a new flavour as they have so many to try!

The Body Shop Vitamin E Toner – This is such a gentle toner, I used it mostly as part of my morning skincare regime, it left my skin feeling clean and refreshed. It didn’t make my skin dry or tight and a bottle lasted me 6 months of almost daily use. I love the Vitamin E range and always have a couple of products on the go & always repurchase.

Batiste Dry Shampoo – Now I have shorter hair (jaw length) I don’t have to wash it as often which makes me very happy. I do like to use a dry shampoo on the 3rd & 4th day, this helps absorb the oils and gives it a bit of volume. Yes this one can leave a white cast but I just rub that away & all is good. Batiste is just such a good price that I always go back to it even after trying other brands.

Bath & Body Works Hand Sanitiser – These are so fun and smell incredible. If I’m not going to America any time soon I tend to stock up on these via eBay, there are quite a few sellers and although you can’t get 5 for $5 you can get them for a half decent price. This Noel one was hanging around from my Christmas stash and I was excited to finally use it up so I could open a new more Summer appropriate scent. Let me know what your favourite scents are – they do SO many!

Ted Baker Sweet Sugar Body Wash* – Love the pink and rose gold packaging of this collection – it was so pretty. It left my skin soft and smelling of jasmine & patchouli which is quite floral and summery. I think Ted Baker have been releasing some fantastic body products, great quality and so affordable. The Body Spray in this Sweet Sugar range is amazing, you have to give it a test next time you’re in Boots!

Products that are marked with an * have either been sent to me for my consideration or I’ve received at events. I’m under no obligation to review them on my blog. However if I do, the reviews are 100% my own.

 

Delving In To My Sample Stash #3

- Vicki 8 Comments

Makeup Samples

ESPA ProSerum – I have been spending quite a few weeks in Scotland since Summer & I always like to have my favourite serum with me, this ESPA one ticks all the boxes. Its hydrating, calming and helps even skin tone. I love the scent too, it smells like a high end spa. This is ideal for this time of year when my skin gets dry & looks a little dull. Its a staple in my travel makeup bag.

Ginvera Green Tea Nude Cover BB Cream* This is a popular Asian skincare brand & I’ve read so many great reviews of this BB Cream. I’ve always wanted to try it. I’ve been using this over the past couple of weeks & really like it. I like my base to give a light coverage and provide a touch of colour so my complexion looks bright & even. This BB Cream gives me exactly that, its a lovely creamy consistency which I found very easy to blend, I did lightly powder it but I don’t think thats 100% necessary. This BB Cream covers all bases it provides a SPF30, protects against free radicals, conceals imperfections & contains hyluronic acid for all day hydration. So you’re getting a lovely BB Cream with the added skincare benefits which Asian brands are renowned for.

Benefit Stay Don’t Stray – This is a dual action eye primer so not only will it keep your eyeshadow in place but you can use it under the eye to keep your concealer put all day long and it works a treat! I love it that much I will be purchasing the full size & can’t believe I have never heard of this until now. It gives my eyelids an even colour & is the perfect base on which to apply eyeshadow. Its love.

Burt’s Bees Hand Salve – Not a massive fan of this I have to say, I did initially like it but the more I use it the less I like it & that pains me to write because Burt’s Bees is normally very reliable. I much prefer a hand cream & find the easier to use when I’m on the go. I will use it up & have been using it on my cuticles at night to stop them drying out in the cold weather. Let me know if you like this hand salve & how you make it work for you.

Makeup & Skincare Samples

Stay Flawless 15 Hour Primer – I’ve not used this an awful lot & struggle to find a primer which doesn’t make my skin greasy after a couple hours of use. I like the cute spotty packaging, I will use this a few more times & then let you know if it worked well for me. 15 hours is a bold claim & I doubt very much that my makeup would stay looking flawless for 15 hours. Have you tried this? let me know if your makeup looked fresh & flawless for 15 hours.

REN BB Cream – This featured in my last Sample Stash post, I’m still using it & loving it. It gives me a healthy dewy finish and it wears well without oxidising. Its not my favourite BB Cream but I do like the finish and although I wouldn’t purchase the full size I have enjoyed trying it out.

Origins Super Spot Remover – This isn’t a sample size but it fits so well on my dish & its so dinky. I really rate this as a spot treatment, it starts working right away. Its so quick and easy to apply to your blemishes. It’s instantly cooling, and can sting a little but that only lasts a few seconds, this is a targeted treatment so you only need to put it on the area where you feel a blemish coming or if you have a blemish thats already erupted. It stops blemishes from becoming too sore & angry and helps them clear up much faster too. Its a wonder gel in a tiny bottle. If you haven’t already you need to add this to your skincare arsenal.

Kiehl’s Actively Correcting & Beautifying BB Cream – OMG this is the BB Cream of my dreams, It gives my skin an even coverage and It gives you Broad Spectrum SPF50 protection which makes me very happy. If you like a light to medium coverage that looks natural and radiant with excellent sun protection then you will love this BB Cream. Its simple but its all I need in a base and I am a massive fan.

Lancome Rouge In Love Lipstick – This is a gorgeous mini lipstick, I haven’t tried many Lancome products but this lipstick feels comfortable and hydrating on the lips & its the softest peachy pink. Not the most Autumnal colour but I have been enjoying wearing it.

NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser – This is another product that was in a previous Sample Stash post, I’ve used it a couple of times & I’m not 100% in love, I’m not exactly sure what I don’t like about it. It might be that its quite thick compared to other tinted moisturisers & BB Creams. It looks really nice just after I apply it but I don’t think it wears well on my oily skin. I much prefer the Ginvera & the Kiehl’s BB Creams.

Sample Stash

Products that are marked with an * have either been sent to me for my consideration or I’ve received at events. I’m under no obligation to review them on my blog. However if I do, the reviews are 100% my own.

Three Products I’m Loving #2

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I did a similar post a few weeks ago. I always forget to do a monthly favourites so I thought picking three products every so often that I’d been using a lot would be easier. So here are the three products I have been loving and using a fair bit lately.

Sally Hansen Mega ShineTopcoat

Sally Hansen Mega Shine Topcoat – I always buy this from TK Maxx for £3.99 and it is the best topcoat I’ve used. It prolongs the wear of my nail polish and makes my nail polish colour POP. It’s so glossy and as the name suggests gives your nails a Mega Shine. Its 100% fab (technical term). I can’t wear nail polish without a topcoat as it chips too fast and I really like the look of glossy nails.

NARS Foreplay Palette

NARS Foreplay Cheek Palette – This cheek quad is so pretty I could look at it all day long. This has a Peach Matte Blush, Gold Highlighting Blush, Pink Matte Blush, Orgasm Blush I don’t wear the gold too much but the other 3 shades I love.

It’s great for travel and I tend to use it mostly for that, but as a new years resolution I wanted to use my favourite products more. So I leave this out on my dresser and I have been reaching for it so much more and I’ve been getting more wear out of it. Its far too pretty to be in a drawer. The Matt Pink is my all time favourite shade and with a light hand it looks pretty on the cheek. I did a review of this last year if you’d like to read it here. This was a limited edition palette, but as far as I am aware it’s still available at SpaceNK

Avon Golden Glamour Duo

Avon Golden Glamour Blush Duo – this is another really pretty product. I bought it last Spring and have used it at some point every week. It really is one of my top blush / highlighters its stunning. Avon did well with this. I really like duo products this is another product that I take with me when I travel. The blush is a soft dusky pink and the highlighter has a really pretty shimmer without being too discoball its very pretty and applies really nicely to your cheeks / cheekbones and adds a flush of colour and brightness to your face. It sits nicely on the skin and doesn’t look dusty or powdery on top of your foundation. It’s very light and pretty.

So they’re the three products I have been loving – who knew I was in love with two cheek products. What have you been using a lot lately?

NARS Foreplay Blush

- Vicki 5 Comments

The lovely Grace from all that slap kindly picked this beautiful NARS Foreplay Blush Palette up for me & I thought i’d take some quick photos of it before I head to Amsterdam (I will be there from Tues-Sat).

I’ve heard mixed thoughts on this blush but from what I’ve seen so far I’m love with it. I haven’t had any real chance to use it so I won’t talk too much about the ins and outs of it. I just wanted to show you how lovely it was. I will do a proper review when I return from Amsterdam on Saturday.

The palette has 4 shades in and they are -Peach Matte Blush, Gold Highlighting Blush, Pink Matte Blush, Orgasm Blush. I do have Orgasm already and use that colour a lot. I’m most excited for the matt pink shade and the gold shade. I’m always on the look out for a good highlighter to add a glow to my cheekbones. The other colours are pigmented and are a great quality. As you would expect with NARS products.

Ooooo look at it in all its pretty glory. This will be so handy for travelling, I really like the size its quite compact but still giving you a good amount of each blush. You won’t need to bring any other blushes/highlighters. Perfect.

You can buy this from SpaceNK for £39.50 and you get 10g of product. Let me know if you have tried it or are thinking about purchasing it. I will be taking it with me to Amsterdam and I’m looking forward to using it.