Review: Eve Lom Rescue Mask

You may have read some of my other posts and noticed I've got a self-confessed love of face/body scrubs and masks. 

 

 

Having had a recent clear out of my beauty stash I realised I had four of the sample sized Eve Lom Rescue Masks! I'd forgotten about ordering two via Latest in Beauty (A site where you can choose a small sample selection each month, or a larger limited edition collection of products with no ongoing commitment) and had also bought two from the lovely Louise (one of the girls over on facebook group 'Beauty Box Swappers').

 

With the weather being a bit lousy and feeling like I needed some tlc, I decided now would be a great time to start using them.

 

First up, the info off the website (linked above):

 

'......Featuring Camphor, Almond and Honey-infused Kaolin Clay, it is the perfect weekly deep clean to keep your complexion in radiant condition. Rescue Mask is also on hand when skin becomes stressed and in need of extra help. Whether it’s blotchy, irritable break-outs, jet-lag, or morning-after puffiness, this hard-working and versatile mask will get your skin back on track.'

Benefits:

'Deep cleanses without drying, gently decongests pores and absorbs excess oil

Smoothes and conditions skin surface, leaving it supple and soft

Helps calms redness and irritation

Instantly soothes puffy tired eyes and skin'

 



 The full sized, 50ml tube retails for a fairly pricey £35 so these smaller sizes are the perfect opportunity to try it out before splashing out on more. Having said this, it's marketed as a 'weekly complexion booster' and should therefore last ages, making the hit on the pocket a lot more palatable.


The info on the tube recommends shaking well before use. Make sure you do this or you'll notice a splurt of liquid before the product dispenses... waste not want not!

 

It's a soft clay mask - ideal for my oily skin. It also features  crushed almonds which give an added exfoliating property.

 

One of the first things I noticed was the smell of Camphor (also an ingredient in Vics Vapour Rub) which has that soothing quality.

 

You can leave this mask on for up to 20mins - perfect for the long soaks I love! When applied to the skin, it results in a pleasantly cooling, refreshing sensation. While it dried I could feel a tightening and lifting in my face.

 

The mask can be removed by gently rubbing upwards (maximising the exfoliating aspect) and then wiping clear with a damp muslin cloth. I didn't notice any dryness afterwards and my pores were visibly clearer - not a bad result for just one use!

 

This being the first time I've used any of the Eve Lom products I'm really impressed!

 

Update 12/02:

I've now  been using the mask for a few weeks and have to say it's amazing! My menstrual stage has been and gone and usually I have a horrid outbreak on my chin which takes over a week to calm. This time around I've had just a few small spots which dried and dissapeared within days and the oiliness of my skin has noticeably improved. My pores appear far less congested and noticeable too. Pretty impressive huh?

I've also swapped for another tube with a lovely lady (Alison) from the facebook group beauty box swappers and am keeping an avid eye on ebay ready to snap up a bargain buy!

Have any of you tried this product or others within the range? How did you find it?

 

 

 

 

Review - Lush Cosmetic Warrior Fresh Face Mask

I love nothing more than spending time soaking in the tub with a good book, a cuppa (or two depending on whether I can persuade the other half to make it while I'm in there!) and a whole array of pamper products. My favourite of which are face scrubs and masks.

 

I'd never really thought of trying the fresh face masks in Lush previously. I don't really know why this was as I love the smell of the store and am always drawn to the shop whenever I'm near one (it's something I liken to to the appeal of the music to the children in the 'Pied Piper of Hamelin'!)

 

Anyhow, I popped in there between christmas and new year and grabbed a few bargains in the sale. The store was quiet and while I was in there, I mentioned the face masks to the assistant.

 

I had wanted to try 'the sacred truth' as I'm nearing middle aged now and was slightly dissapointed it wasn't available. The assistant recommended trying 'cosmetic warrior' though, as I'd mentioned oil control, breakouts and open pores as a concern. I was a little worried when he mentioned garlic as one of the ingredients, but a sniff of the mask put my mind at ease. It didn't reek as you'd imagine it to and although you can detect the garlic and tea tree oil, it just smelt, well, fresh and natural.

 

The life span of the product is short, being a fresh mask but this does actually work in it's favour in a few ways - a) you don't get that feeling when you slather on a thick layer and think 'it won't last if I use too much so I'd better be conservative', and b) repeat business - you need to revisit the store again sooner rather than later to stock up again.

 

It retails at £5.95 for 75g and needs to be kept in the fridge to preserve it. It does look a little strange stored next to my lettuce and potatoes but unlike the choccy desserts I've also got in there, a visit to the fridge for this treat has no guilt attached!

 

As a bonus if you save 5 clean pots or tubes, you can get a free fresh mask in future - worth keeping in mind, especially if you want to try one you've not had before.

 

The mask is easy to smooth and spread over the skin without any dragging or catching. Leaving it in place for 5-10 mins you feel it dry slightly but without any adverse reactions ie stinging/burning.

 

It's easy to rinse off without the need for scrubbing or peeling and leaves my skin feeling taught, refreshed and refined.

I've loved using it and will definitely purchase it again in the future. I'll probably still try 'the sacred truth' too and compare the two.

Have you tried any of the Fresh Masks? What do you think of them?

 

 

Review: My Favourite Clinique Chubby Sticks

You may have read a few of my posts and noticed I'm a fan of glosses over lipsticks. One of my favourite ranges is the Clinique Chubby Stick which I've used for the past few years now.

 

You can view info on the standard range here, and the Intense range here. The RRP is £16. (But keep an eye out - they now retail on a number of sites/outlets and you can often get the mini version as part of a GWP)

 

Here's the blurb from the Clinique site:

 

'Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm is a lip treatment with sheer colour that relieves dry, cracked lips and provides immediate moisturisation. The unique pencil-style applicator provides easy to apply sheer soft lip colour and rolls up for ease of use.'

 

I thought I'd share a quick post on the four I have in my collection: Mighty Mimosa, Super Strawberry, Chunky Cherry and Mega Melon.

 

These are some of the lighter shades available - mainly as I tend to wear heavy eye makeup and therefore look for a subtler lip shade.

 

I love the fact that they are designed to mimic a crayon!

 

They are easy to twist up and down and the shaping on the product is great for precision application - no need to get your fingers stuck into a pot and end up with wasted product stuck under your nails!

They also leave no nasty staining on your lips when you decide to remove it.

 

Here are a few pics of the product on my lips to give you an idea of the shade variation:

 

Mighty Mimosa

 

Super Strawberry

 

 

 

Chunky Cherry

 

 

and Mega Melon

 

I love the fact I can pop one into my bag and apply it quickly and easily, confident that the colour won't bleed outside my natural lip line and that it'll keep my lips moisturised too. I can't wait to try another of them, and with the additional shades available, I'm spoilt for choice!

 

Update

 

I've now become the proud owner of another shade - 'curvy candy':

 

 

A lovely girly shade of pink - perfect for a summer pout!

 

What do you think ladies?

 

Are you a fan of the chubby sticks too?

 

 

Review: Clarins Gloss Prodige Lip Gloss

I recently checked my online account with Clarins and realised I'd amassed enough loyalty points to give me a £15 credit code. I've been using the Wonderperfect Mascara for quite some time now and love the effect it gives so couldn't wait to choose another item from the range.

Now, I'm a huge fan of lip glosses/butters and can never have too many of these on hand. I do, however, tend to stick with a nude colour. Seeing as this would be near enough a freebie, I decided to opt for a gloss, but this time, to try a different shade.

The Clarins website states that Gloss Prodige Lip Gloss is:

"A new generation gloss combining incredible shine, intense colour and lasting hold.
Its highly smoothing, gel-like texture which is non-sticky and shapes lips, coats them in a veil of softness and comfort......enjoy their delicious flavour with notes of blackcurrant and liquorice."

 

Currently retailing at £15.50, you can view product details (here). It's available in 7 shades: Chocolate, Nude, Raspberry, Grenadine, Candy, Blackberry and Papaya. Having popped the Nude in and out of the basket (Yep, I'm one of those indecisive types when it comes to making my mind up!)  I finally chose Candy.

The clear glass tube means you get to see the pigmentation of the product straight away - light reflecting specks within the gloss give that added shine. As soon as I opened the lid I could smell the delicious flavour....oooops, I mean fragrance ..... Mmmmmmmm!

 

Here's a pic of the gloss working it's magic ...

 

The colour is lovely - not too bright, and as you can see it has a great shine without looking too wet or sticky. Even though I'm a lip-licker when it comes to gloss, this product stayed put for a long time before needing a touch-up. It didn't feel too heavy either.

 

The shaping on the lid means you get a good grip on the brush when applying, this, coupled with the flexibility on the wand really make for a precision application every time.

 

I had a quick look on the website again just prior to christmas to find Clarins were offering free postage and three samples with any order placed. Enough to tempt me into bagging another shade - this time 'grenadine' (pictured below on the right hand side).

 

It really is worth having a nose at the websites from time to time and signing up to emails too. Grabbing a bargain buy, especially one including additional product samples is not only a good way at keeping costs down, but it gives you a chance to try out other products you may not have had an opportunity for otherwise.

I ordered another - this time in Grenadine (pictured below on the right).

 

 

This shade is a lot brighter and more daring when applied. It'll look great for a night out and really accentuate my mouth. No pic yet but will see what I can do asap.

 

So, overall, this gloss is one I'd certainly recommend trying. Have you tried this gloss? If so, what do you think?

Much love,

Gem

Review: Santhilea Magnetic Lash Mascara

I was lucky enough to win one of the Santhilea 1-2-1 Lash Extension System sets through a FeelUnique.com competition a few months ago, and although I've tried it a few times since, I've never gotten around to blogging about it. A few of the reviews I've read have not been too positive which has prompted me to finally share my results. (Better late than never eh?!)

So, what are you getting for your money?

You get two tubes in the system. 1 containing the magnetic lash builder mascara and 1 containing the brush on velvet fibres.

How does it work?

Apply a light coat of the buildable mascara and allow to dry for a few seconds. Next, brush on the velvet fibres (I find doing it slowly and in a continuous stroke avoids any clumping.). Allow a few seconds drying time and follow with a second coat of the mascara.

Less is more so keep the coats light and even - it's a buildable product so no need to lay it on thick and fast.

Here are a few quick demo pics I did last night:

 1. Before application - My lashes aren't short or thin but being naturally blonde, they are quite pale and therefore lack definition.

Normally I'd use a lash curler first, my preferred look being a heavy, smokey eye.

These pics are going straight onto my bare skin fairly late at night so excuse the lack of base makeup!

 2. Coat 1 of the magnetic mascara.

Remeber to allow a few seconds drying time before moving on - if you want to speed things up a little, try gently fanning your lashes with your hand.

NB. The product is not oil based - an added bonus which helps it stay put and not bleed down onto my cheeks like some products do. 

 3 - Add fibres.

Brush gently and evenly. Try to avoid going over your lashes - remember, it's buildable. you can always repeat this step again if desired and it'll help reduce the chance of clumping.

You can already see how much volume and definition it's added - Imagine how good it looks with a liner and shadow!

4. Second coat of mascara.

Ok, so now you can really see how much longer and thicker my lashes are looking and altough there's a little clumping, as I said earlier, remember this was done very quickly just to give you an idea of the look you can achieve.

I've never repeated the fibre/mascara step again as find that the two coats mascara/one coat fibres is enough to give me the look I want.

 I love this mascara as it's so lightweight and long-lasting. It's also very quick and easy to remove. For someone like me who doesn't use falsh lashes but wants the volumised look, I'd recommend giving it a try.

For further information or to purchase the product, here's a link to the website: http://www.santhilea.com/ where the product retails for £24.99. There's also a competition running at present on the home page where you could get lucky enough to win one of 50 of the lash building systems, and it's free to enter.

Feel free to add a comment and let me know if you've tried this or similar products and what you thought.

x

Gem

Haul: Christmas sale bargain buys

I'm determined to try to stop my excessive spending on beauty and skincare items in 2013 and as a result, I've tried to stay away from the sales following the mantra 'I don't really need stuff, I just want stuff'.

Well, I managed until today, but with some vouchers burning a hole in my pocket, I just had to go shopping! Armed with a £50 Debenhams card, £15 on my Beauty Club Card, 2 x £3 vouchers for The Body Shop (thanks to Company magazine), a £15 Monsoon reward voucher and a few ££££s in my purse, my aim was to spend as little cash as possible and try to get items I'd actually use and not hoard away.

So, here's my rather conservative haul.....

First stop - The Body Shop:

As the vouchers could only be used against full priced items only, I opted for a Coconut Shower Cream (£4) which smells yummy, and the Big Nail Filer and Nail Buffer (£2 each).  I had to make seperate purchases and noticed on my receipts there are coupons for £10 off a £30 spend between 8th-31st Jan - worth keeping hold of - just in case (I tell myself this as a means to justify a potential spend again in a few weeks time!)

So, £2 well spent so far.

Next, I decided to pop into Lush to see if anything remained of the christmas range as I've heard so many people rave about the Snow Fairy and Ponche Shower Gels. There was little in the window display and no sale signage up around the store - bad sign. Thank goodness I walked in though as they had just put out the last of the two products and I was able to snap up two of each:

Cost - £10.48 for the four. They smell lovely so I can't wait to start using these. They also had a few of the seasonal bath bombs but my new found conservative head took over and I decided to leave it at just the gels.

Ok, so next stop - Debenhams. It's always worth a nose around the store during sale periods as I managed to get some great bargains here which were either out of stock online or not advertised. I picked up a Lancome Ombre Absolue Eyeshadow in G60 - Strass Black for £8.50 and an Elizabeth Arden Pure Finish Highlighter for £11.50 (both half price):

A Moisture Must-Haves Trio of Clarins Hydraquench Intensive Serum Bi-Phase (15ml each) for £20 (RRP £60 based on price per ml), and Eyebrow Pencil for £16. This meant I could take advantage of an in-store promotion where you could select 3 products with any two purchases. My choices - Extra Firming Night Cream 30ml, Multi-Active Day Cream 30ml and Gentle Foaming Cleanser 75ml.

I also managed to snag a bargain on the Yankee Candle section. The whole christmas range was selling at 50% off! I got the last of the jars and a selection of the wax melts in Sparkling Cinnamon, Happy Christmas, Christmas Cookie, Christmas Cupcake and Sparkling Snow. (I wish I'd bought more now I'm home but again, that conservative head said - stop there!!) Cost = £13.54

At Monsoon the majority of stock on display was 'sale' merchandise, so seeing as my £15 voucher was due to expire on 31.12, I picked up this cute little bird trinket holder for free:

It'll look great on my shelf and help me to keep track of my studs which are forever going missing!

Last stop - Boots. I had a good look around at the sale stock and whilst I was tempted with a few items, I walked away with just wrapping paper for next year costing me £6.75 and giving me a voucher for money off No.7 skincare and make-up.

So, overall, a conservative haul. Having used my vouchers and loyalty card I've spent just over £20 and am happy that I'll use all of these items without that dreaded guilty feeling I normally have after a shopping trip!

Success!!

------------------------------

02.01.13

Confession time! I popped back on New Year's Eve to see what else I could grab (and to pick up some more Yankee Candles for a fellow Beauty Box Swapper who just loves them and needs to replenish her supplies, so really I had to go, right?!)

I popped back to Lush but the sale stock was practically non existant - I ended up with another Ponche, a Bubblebeard Bubble Bar and a fresh face mask in Cosmetic Warrior.

I popped into Boots as Debenhams no longer had any of the Lancome bargains. I really  wasn't expecting to see anything along the same lines there but managed to find these two varnishes at half price.

Le Vernis Matt 012 Pure Gold and the one I'm most excited about - Flirty Red from the 2012 holiday collection. (I already own the Ginger Swing and love that but the Red had been out of stock when I tried to order pre-christmas.)

Of course, I went in to Debenhams again and came out with over £24 worth of Yankee Tarts, the bulk of these are being sent on tho as I got enough to last me a while on my first trip.

I also popped to TKMaxx which usually has some great skincare/cosmetic items to be had. This time however, I left with empty hands.... probably a good thing really as in hindsight, and with me now purging my stash of products, I'd never have gotten around to using anything this side of 2014! 

More from Marshmallow Blends

I recently did a post about my first order from the wonderful Nicoletta at Marshmallow Blends. I fell in love with these home made products, and, as a result, have placed a further two orders since. (Yep, they are that good!)

Here's an overview of some of the items....

The first one I want to show is a limited item available in just a small quantity via the facebook page, from time to time Nicoletta offers 'mystery boxes' or deals in very limited numbers (it's worth popping onto the page from time to time in case you get lucky enough to bag one):

 

This gorgeous little red box with ribbon was being offered at £5.99. It contains 3 miniture fragranced soaps wrapped in red tissue paper with a little description card.

The fragrances are: Merry Berry Xmas, Gingerbread and Santas Cookies. Sounds scrummy eh?

These mini soaps are going to make a fantastic present, although having opened the box to take the pics, it'll be hard to part with them!

I've tried a sample of the soaps which I received with one of the orders and wanted to add a picture to show you how creamy they are when lathered (see below).

It doesn't leave your skin feeling tight or dry like some soaps can and is great to use as an alternative to shaving foam! This little sample has lasted a good few uses, and now that I've tried it, I'm confident that whoever I gift the mini soaps to will love them.

 

Next up, bath bombs! I love using them and the selection available on the site sound so tasty! You can find them in the 'Tub Treats' section of the website here:  I opted for the Baileys Milk Bomber (£2.75 each) and the Love Bomb Suprise (£2.75 each).

I've already used the Baileys Milk Bomber which smelt quite subtle. True to its description, it leaves the bath water looking milky and your skin feeling soft with no powdery residue. The product disintegrated slowly and there were no chalky bits left at the base of the tub at the end. 

Here are a few pics of the product before use and whilst fizzing away in the water.....

I'm really looking forward to trying the Love Bomb Suprise - the description sounds just too good!

I also wanted to try the Honey, Vanilla & Cinnamon Truffles. Priced at £4.99 for four:  I've tried one already and what these lack in size they make up for in fragrance. The predominant scent is Cinnamon but it's perfect for a long hot soak on a cold wintery evening. Leaving the door closed means the room is filled with the warming scent.  

 

Next up, are some of the body butters. I've never really been a fan of body lotions or butters. But, having had a small sample of the cupcake butter in my previous order, I was hooked.

 

The scent on these items just linger for hours and make your skin feel sooo good! They soak in gradually and make your skin feel soft and supple. It turns from cream to an oily consistency quickly on impact with the heat of your skin and is easy to work in - a little definitely goes a long way!

 

I've opted for the Creme Brulee and the Cupcake fragrances and these are priced at £5.99 each.
 

Believe me, once you've opened the tub you just can't stop wanting to sniff them again they really do smell that good!

 

The Cupcake one is going in my little sister's christmas gift box along with a Creme Brulee body scrub (£4.99). 

She's also asked to try the Mocha Shower Fluff (£5.99) which has a sweet coffee-like fragrance - great for a morning wake up!

I also received a sample of this (Nicoletta adds a few samples to her orders and if there's something you really want to try, she'll do her best to include a small amount if she's got it available).  

If you love the look of these products and want to find out more, pop over to the facebook page and let Nicoletta know you've read my post.

Have you tried any of the products? What are your favourites?