Boots Botanics Soothing Eye Make Up Remover - A Product Rave

If you've read my blog for some time you'll know that I love trying new products, foundations, mascaras, skincare, you name it I love trying it. Sometimes it doesn't matter which new brand you try though, you always keep returning back to "the one". I have to say I'm still looking for my holy grail in a lot of things but I've certainly found my holy grail eye make up remover.

For years and years I just used a normal facial cleanser or just bought the first thing I saw on the shelf, more often than not though it was an abject fail, it didn't take everything off or I was left with sore, stinging and streaming eyes. I found a couple of eye make up removers that worked for me the very spendy Gatineau Floracil and the nearly as spendy Lancome Bi-Facil. I really rate both of these eye make up removers but the only problem was that I went through them at the rate of knots, making them an expensive inclusion in my daily routine. I decided to see if I could find anything cheaper, and many lovely ladies on a forum I used to post on recommended Boots Botanics Soothing Eye Make Up Remover.

I have to say I was a bit iffy as to whether it would work considering the price but I gave it ago and I have to say I have never looked back or bought another eye make up remover since - I am well into double figure purchases and this has to be probably my most repurchased beauty product ever.

It comes in 150ml plastic bottle with a metal cap (no it doesn't rust liloo ;) and is a dual phase remover so you need to give it a good shake. It contains Iceland Moss Extract to moisturise and soothe the eye area. I have to say I have never once had any reaction or any stinging with this product obviously you may be different but I really love this product. I also leaves you eyes feeling super refreshed and not too oily which is essential for any specs or contacts wearer.

It looks a very pale almost translucent green when you put it on a cotton pad but the colour does sometimes alter due to the natural extract.

The best way to really show you how effective this is, is to do some before and afters :)

Before 
Foundation, eye base, a few colours from the Naked Palette, Urban Decay liner, and No7 mascara - just an average amount of eye make up really ;)

After
One very dirty cotton pad - I tend to use about 2 pads per eye, sometimes more sometimes less depending on what I'm wearing :)

Voila - these pics was taken straight after removal no redness or watering :)

Impressive eh! What's even more impressive about this product is the the price just £3.05 for 150ml, not only that but the Botanics products are often on 3 for 2, which I think they are at the moment, so I tend to stock up and save at the same time:) As I say everyone is different and what suits me might not suit you and vice versa but this is definitely a holy grail product for me. Any questions please ask x

Naughty LouLou - More Haulage and Some Gifts

Well after doing so well on my spending diet for the first two months of this year - this month has been a disaster, that's life though I've needed to by a few things and I've generally felt a bit blargh so shopping has been a bit of a pacifier. Anyhow onto the goodies - first up ASOS - I used my groupon voucher to buy my mum some jewellery bits for Mothers Day but thankfully Diet Coke has an offer on special where you can either win vouchers or get £5 off a £20 spend being a bit of a caffeine junkie I already have a whole load of vouchers - I believe the vouchers are on special packs till the end of April and are valid till the end of June, so it's well worth picking some up x I bought my mum something else and got a couple of bits for me including this beauty - Illamasqua nail polish in Bacterium
                                           

I really can't wait to try this out, the colour is like nothing I've seen before - I promise to do a NOTD with it soon - I also got this ring - alas even in the largest size it's a bit small but I can't wait to wear it as a pinkie ring until I can hopefully lose a bit of weight on my fingers

                                   

   pic borrowed from ASOS

It's a little cream mouse - it's has crystal eyes and the tail moves, so cute it comes in black too but I think that one is still full price x
 

I also popped to Boots this week and stocked up on Botanics eye make up remover - all the Botanics products are currently on 3 for 2 :) and some Veet wax strips which were 1/3 off - no pics I am sure you all know what they look like ;) I actually went to Boots to use my No7 £5 off voucher but they didn't have the product I wanted - thankfully my mum popped to the Metro Centre on Saturday morning and picked me up a bottle of this - the Boots Radiance Boosting Hot Cloth Cleanser
 

I have a review on this coming up but since if I've got another one that probably tells you what I think of it.... ;) My mum was an angel and paid for it for me, she also got me this on Friday from the Factory Bargain Shop - I love this shop it's has all sorts of bits in and from Thursday to Sunday they had  25% off everything in store - so she got me this New York themed t-shirt 

 

They sell a lot of high street end of lines and seconds and this top came from Dorothy Perkins, and originally retailed at £16, Factory Bargains had it on sale for £6 and with the discount me mum got the t-shirt and a bag of M&M mini eggs (not for me;) for just £5.25 :)
 

As well as the t-shirt she also got me some other bits from the Metro Centre on Saturday including a few Body Shop Cocoa Butter things the creamy body wash and some more body butter -( there was an offer where you got a body butter and a shower gel for £12)

and she also got me the Cocoa Butter Moisturizing Stick that I wanted

I had heard a little bit about this and I really wanted to give it a go - It's basically a twist up stick of solid cocoa butter that melts on contact with the skin, I am intending to use it directly onto my ankle scar to help with healing

She also got my some of the new Earth Lovers Shower Gels with were on buy one get one half price - she got me the Lemon and Thyme version, and the Apricot and Basil fragrance, they smell amazing and I can't wait to try them out x

and because she had spent more than £25 after the in store and Love Your Body discounts she also got a freebie a full sized Vitamin E Body Butter - I've used the Vitamin E skincare before so I am interested to see how I get on with this - Vitamin E is supposed to be good for scarring too :)

All in all a lovely little bag from MummyLouLou - I am so grateful to her - she always tried to find ways to cheer me up when I am feeling down and she normally hits the spot perfectly. If you have any questions or if you would like and reviews please let me know xx

A Little Haul

I popped to my nearest small town with my mum today so she could get her passport photos taken - £5 it costs now eek. I had a few parcels to post today so I went with her and managed to pick up a few goodies whilst I was there. I've done a video for You Tube but I thought I'd show you here as well :) As well as a few bits for gift and swaps I got some bits from Boots, and Superdrug. First of all I got some Veet In Shower Hair Remover Cream - I really like this for when I can't be bothered to wax, it's so simple and takes less than 5 minutes. I also picked some more Botanics eye make up remover, and some of the orginal formula Damask Rose Skin Tonic, some Flight Ear Plugs, and some Gold Shimmer Batiste :)

I also got a Hello Kitty Superstar pack from my local newsagents - yes I know a bit juvenile but so cute you get a little trinket box keyring / phone charm, a little paperclip, some mini stickers, and some large stickers :)
I also went to the Factory Bargain Shop - I love this shop it has bits of everything it - they actually had some nice summery clothes :) I got this skirt from a brand called Kushi - it a lovely pale blue crinkled cotton, with pale blue sequins on the pleats. I think it would be good for day or evening so it definitely going in my suitcase


I also picked up another pair of jersey harems this time in Navy, I already have a couple of black pairs and some charcoal ones coming from New Look I love these for this times of year they are soooo comfy

So that's more spends down the drain, whoops a diddle never mind it's nearly August I can start again lol

Boots Hauling

Well I'm nearly at my spending limit for June but I am pleased with how strong I am being this month :)
I popped to Boots yesterday for some essentials i.e Botanics eye make up remover :) and I also picked up a few bits from No17. If you read just about any other blog you will probably have seen these before but I have to say they are nice - I got two Mirror Shine Lipsticks -Left - Nudist Peach, Right - you've guessed it Bee Hive :)


They really are nice not the most pigmented but they add a lovely sheen to your lips - I saw another couple of colours I might like too ;)
Because I spent more than £6 on No17 (the lipsticks are £4.49 each) I got a free gift the Wish You Were Here Travel Make Up Kit

In the box you get a 17 Waterproof Mascara, a 17 Ultimate Volume Lipstick in Pink Ice and a 17 Lasting Fix Nail Polish in Pink Grapefruit

Any questions on anything please let me know xx

Lacura 3 in 1 Cleansing Wipes For Normal Skin Review

As you know I picked up these wipes in Aldi last Monday - I've had a chance to use them a few times so I thought I'd do a quick review :)

These are 3 in 1 wipes for normal skin and they claim to cleanse, tone and moisturise.The wipes come in a pack of 25 in the same resealable plastic style packaging as the majority of others on the market.
The first thing I noticed about these wipes is how wet they are -I hate a dry face wipe and these certainly aren't they are nice and damp right the way through the packet and have a nice fresh smell - I also noticed the texture of these wipes - I normally use the Boots Botanics Quick Fix Cleansing Wipes which have quite a smooth texture but as you can see these are quite different

The have a knobbly / raised dot texture presumably for exfoliating purposes but they still feel nice and smooth on the skin.
I first used these wipes for a general morning cleanse - they felt really cooling and fresh on the skin, and left it feeling clean without feeling tight, dry or stripped - So far so good time for a bigger test - I used them to remove my full make up from Wednesday's face of the day (click here to see it)and I have to say I was quite impressed. Admittedly I did remove my make up after about 8 hours of wear but thanks to the GOSH primer (review to come) there was still lot of make up on my face, especially on my eyes. I used about 3 wipes for my full face of make up as you can see here but it did remove it quite easily without rubbing, and shock of horrors without stinging my eyes - thumbs up.

I didn't use waterproof mascara for that FOTD so I also tried them on Friday with Max Factor False Lash Effect Waterproof and I have to say I wasn't as impressed it barely seemed to budge my mascara but hey ho you can't have everything :)
I don't use wipes all the time as I don't think you can beat a proper cleanser or face wash but for an emergency or as a quick freshen up I think they are invaluable. I think these Lacura ones are well worth a try - for me they did what they said and they didn't dry or irritate my eyes or skin, they didn't remove waterproof mascara but so what I'll use an eye make up remover :) These wipes are I believe Aldi's own brand (read more here) and retail for 77p - which really can't be sniffed at - great value . Any questions please ask xx

TAG - I Hit Pan

I was tagged to do this absolutely yonks ago unfortunately I can't remember who tagged me - whoops - huge apologies that I haven't go round to it till now :) but here we go better late than never

The rules to this tag:

1. List 6 items that you have either "hit pan" or finished the tube/bottle of etc. and have or plan to repurchase for ever and ever! This can be makeup, skincare, haircare, body care or scent.
2. Tag 6 people that you want to know their repurchases.
3. Let those 6 people know by leaving a comment on their blog with a link so they know what to do

Eeek Only 6??

Boots Botanics Soothing Eye Make Up Remover

What can I say about this that hasn't already been said I have used at least 8 bottles up to now and I will continue to repurchase - a great non-stinging eye make up remover at a great price :)(mini pic stolen from Boots but I think we all know what it looks like by now x)


Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish


I have used this for over 3 years solidly a fabulous product that does exactly what it says it does

Liz Earle Instant Boots Skin Tonic

Another Liz Earle product - love, love, love a fabulous toner skin freshener, you can even use it after waxing to soothe due to the high aloe vera content -on and its great for flying decanted into a mini spray - - again I have used this for over 3 years and I won't be without it

id Bare Minerals (Bare Escentuals) Foundation SP15


Another mainstay for me I am on my 3rd pot of this - It's perfect for just throwing on when you cant be bothered or are in a rush - my shade is medium but I can also wear light and medium beige it is so forgiving

ELF Sheer Mineral Booster

Quite a newbie but I am on my second pot and I will continue to purchase - A perfect finishing powder for mineral or liquid foundations - poreless flawless :)

MAC Eyeshadow Sumptuous Olive


This is my second one and if you look behind it my back up is firmly in place - a lovely green gold which looks gorgeous considering it is so close to the colour of my own eyes

I am going to cheat slightly here and tag all my followers to do this - it's really interesting to see what your must haves are xx
Any questions give me a yell xx

(Just to add I purchased all of these items myself and have done since their first use - and I repurchase them because I love them not because someone told me too :))

Christmas Pressies Part 2 - Make Up and Skincare

OK more exciting goodies :) Make Up!

Boots

No7 Opulence Eye Palette - I love the No7 limited editions this has some lovely eye colours especially the gold
No7 Colour Calming Make Up Base - a green face primer and another one I haven't tried
No7 Make Up Bag with makeup and skin care - some nice stuff in here including a lovely eyeshadow in Antique Rose
Boots Botanics Quick Fix Make Up Wipes and Eye Make Up Remover - Holy Grail Skincare!

FrontCover Eye Spy Kit - OMG these shadows are fabulous a lovely kit for experimenting with bright colours and they are so pigmented

ELF

A whole batch of studio bits - brush cleaner, blush in Tickled Pink <3, eyeshadow in Mystic Moss, and the Eye Transformer

YBF by Stacey - Make Up Box - SO much stuff in here and it's surprisingly good quality -the box on the other hand isn't - I'll do a proper review on some of these items I think

MAC


Yeah Christmas kits - Smoke and Mirrors Eyeshadow Palette, Hocus Focus Face Kit, with Sunsparked Pearl and Pretty Baby Beauty Powders and Peachykeen Blush - loving the packaging on these so substantial

Baroque Boudoir - I was soooooo pleased to get these items - the packaging is amazing

Lipstick in Prive

Lipgloss in The Lap Of Luxury
If you would like any swatches of any of these items please let me know - fashion next x

Bits My Mummy Bought Me

Got dragged to my nearest small town by my mummy today when I would much rather have stayed in bed :( So to compensate for that she bought me a few bits whilst we were out. As well as some bits like Botanics eye make up remover (buy on get one half price), cotton wool, Red magazine, and some hair removal cream she also bought me a few more interesting bits.

She got me a velvotan - self tan applicator mitt from Superdrug, I have read loads about these lately and about how its so much better than plastic gloves for applying you tan -well I am getting back into my faux glowing ahead of my hols so I'll let you know

She also got me 3 NYC nail polishes from my local Lloyds Pharmacy. From left-right - Uptown, SoHo, Central Park.
She also picked me up another bargain from Lloyds - the Gwen Stefani Harajuku Love EDT from less than £10 - I love the bottle so so, cute, and I also love the smell its a bit headier and stronger than my usual fragrances but it is a really nice evening fragrance