ESPA Essential Cleansing Mask

ESPA Essential Cleansing Mask 

So, a new brand I have discovered lately is 'ESPA'. This is definitely a high end brand and their skincare range is very pricey, but also extremely brilliant! This brand is stocked at Harvey Nichols, John Lewis, Liberty's and also online at http://www.espaskincare.com.

The Essential Cleansing Mask is a deep cleansing clay mask to calm, ease congestion and balance the skin. This mask is suitable for all skin types, especially sensitive, oily, combination and congested skin. I purchased this mask as I suffer from combination/oily skin that is prone to breakouts and I have noticed a great difference in my skins clarity since using this product.

The packaging of this product, and all Espa products in general is very luxurious. It comes in a glass jar with a marble effect lid and looks wonderful sat on my counter top or dressing table. This face mask is definitely in my top 5 face masks of all time and is priced at £27.50 for 55ml.

This face mask is a thick, clay consistency and I like to apply this to my freshly cleansed face and leave on for a good 20 minutes, before rinsing away with warm water. This mask is fairly easy to remove and leaves the skin feel smooth and soft and not at all drying.

Overall, a fantastic face mask for anyone with congested or combination/oily skin. A little bit pricey, but in my opinion, worth the splurge.

XOXO

CHANEL GEL PURETÉ FOAMING GEL CLEANSER

Chanel Gel Purete Foaming Gel Cleanser

I purchased this cleanser from Selfridges, as kind of an 'impulse buy', around 3-4 months ago. It is not the cheapest of cleansers and cost £30.00 for 150ml. Packaging wise, it is very 'Chanel' in that it is simple, chic and minimalistic. The cleanser comes with a pump, which also makes it very practical.

This cleanser is perhaps suited more towards those with oily/combination skin as it helps eliminate excess sebum and leaves your skin visibly mattified.

This cleanser is a gel but once worked into your skin with water, turns into a foam. I do think this cleanser does an amazing job at removing all the makeup and grime from my skin, but it does leave my skin feeling tight and sometimes a little dry in areas. I find this cleanser to be a little drying on my combination skin so wouldn't recommend for anybody with slightly drier skin.

In terms of breakouts, this cleanser did a good job at keeping any blemishes at bay, and did 'calm' my skin down alot. I know alot of people love the scent of this cleanser, but I really dislike it. It doesn't smell unpleasant at all, but has a string smell of 'soap', and do not get in your eyes as it will sting like mad!!!

Overall, not a bad cleanser, just not a great cleanser either! Definitely not a cleanser I could use every day as I think it would be slightly drying on my skin, but great for those days my skin is feeling really oily and acting up. Not one I would purchase again as unfortunately it wasn't for me.

XOXO

Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara

Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara

So, I was undecided for a long time about purchasing this mascara. This mascara just seemed a little gimicky to me and I felt like I was just buying this mascara for a slightly 'smaller' wand, when I could just use my regular mascara on my bottom lashes!? Surely enough curiosity got the better of me and I decided to give this mascara a try!

This mascara is priced at £12.00 for 2ml, and if you already didn't know is a mascara specifically designed to be used on the bottom lashes. Since the very first time I used this mascara I LOVED it!! I always thought I was fine enough using my regular mascara on my bottom lashes, but I get much better result using this mascara on bottom lashes.

Besides the very small, easy to use wand, the formulation itself is amazing. This mascara doesn't run at all and it leaves the lashes looking much more longer, separated and overall more noticeable and groomed. I experience no flaking and the mascara doesn't irritate my sometimes sensitive eyes!

The tiny wand on this mascara allows you to really get close to the roots of your lashes and separates each lash with ease. I also like to use this product on my top lashes on the inner and outer corners to really get in there and separate the lashes!

Amazing product and I would highly recommend!

XOXO

Garnier 5 Second Perfect Blur Primer

Garnier 5 Second Perfect Blur Primer

I purchased this primer from Garnier around 2-3 months ago whilst wondering around my local Boots store. This primer claimed to do ALOT and seemed similar to my all time favourite primer 'The POREfessional by Benefit', so I could not resist in giving it a go!

This product retails at £12.99 for 30ml, which is great and claims to take just 5 seconds to apply and improves the look of your skin immediately. This primer works by diffusing light in all direction to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, open pores and uneven skin tone.

This primer has a velvety texture than immediately leaves the skin feeling incredibly smooth, soft and matte and makes a superb base for your makeup.

Once applying, I did notice a 'small' improvement in the appearance of my fine lines and pores, but nothing really impressive. Although I did not see the 'wanderous' effect this primer claims to provide I did love that it made my skin feel incredibly smooth and appear shine free.

As a face primer, this one is great. It made my makeup apply beautifully and it definitely did make it last longer. The formula did not break me out and it was easy and effortless to apply. Although this product is great I will not be repurchasing. In comparison with my Benefit Primer, this one just isn't as good I'm afraid. If you are looking for an affordable primer however, do give this one try. It is almost £10.00 cheaper than the Benefit one and still is pretty good!

XOXO

Maybelline Color Sensational Vivids Lipstick

Maybelline Color Sensational Vivids Lipsticks

I picked up a couple of the Color Sensational Vivids Lipsticks from Maybelline a few months ago, but only recently have I really started to use them and appreciate how amazing they actually are!

I chose two shades from this collection; Hot Plum and Shocking Coral. These lipsticks retail at just £7.19 each and are available from http://www.boots.com. These lipsticks are very creamy and comfortable on the lips and the color payoff is amazing. These lip colors wear nicely on the lips for a good length of time and do not dry the lips out at all.

HOT PLUM (906)

This color is my favourite of the two and I have been wearing this shade of an evening with a neutral smokey eye. I would describe this shade a a bright magenta pink with a creamy satin finish. Although it looks very bright, it looks amazing and is very wearable as can be sheered out if desired. 

SHOCKING CORAL (910)

This lip color is amazing and is definitely going to be one I am reaching for this Spring/Summer. I would describe this shade as a wearable coral/pink. I often find some corals too orange for me but this shade is definitely more pink, which is what I like. A lovely shade that can be worn day or night.

Overall, I am impressed with these lipsticks. The color range is so lovely and I am defiantly interested in trying out the red shade from this collection. Would definitely recommend!

XOXO

Clinique Superbalm Moisturizing Gloss

Clinique Superbalm Moisturizing Gloss

I purchased the Superbalm Moisturizing Gloss from Clinique a few months ago at an airport, whilst on vacation.  This lip balm/gloss instantly soothes the lips and provides an amazing glossy shine. I found this product amazing whilst on holiday as it does a really good job at the lips moisturised, but gives a lovely bit of colour and shine at the same time.

This superbalm is available in 7 shades and provides very sheer colour for a natural look. I opted for the shade Apricot , which is a pink/apricot shade, but too be honest with one layer, looks almost clear. The formula feels soft and smooth on the lips with no stickiness what so ever.

As you can see from the image above, this balm/gloss looks pretty clear, unless you layer it on, then you get a subtle hint of pink/apricot to the lips. I personally like to layer this product over a nude/pink lipstick for a little extra moisture and shine.

The Clinique Superbalm Moisturizing Gloss retails at £16.00 for 15ml and is available to purchase online at http://www.clinique.co.uk

XOXO

Benefit They're Real Mascara

Benefit They're Real Mascara

I know this mascara as been about for a while but believe it or not I only tried this a couple of weeks ago! I purchased this mascara from http://www.boots.com and it was £19.50.

This mascara is AMAZING!! This mascara gives you everything that you want; volume, lift and length, and as the name suggests, 'a false lash effect look'. This mascara does not clump and gives the lashes a groomed effect separating the lashes effortlessly.

The brush on this mascara, I really like! I am a huge fan of large brushes anyway as I believe they provide more volume and the staggered bristles on this brush grab close to the root, providing length and volume beyond belief. The formula itself is very long wearing, glossy and does not smudge, clump or dry out.

Overall, this mascara is definitely one of my favourites and I would absolutely repurchase again.

XOXO