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

A Review Of L'Oreal Matte Morphose Foundation

I purchased this product a few months ago as part of a rather large Superdrug haul as per usual I was a sucker for a good offer, and snapped it up at an introductory price I've had a good chance to use it for a month or so, so I thought I'd let you know what I think. One of the biggest problems I have with my skin is oil/shine and open pores - this product sounded as though it was was the answer to my prayers - a 12 hour luminous matter finish - pres and wrinkles looking smoother bring it on!

The texture of this product intrigued me L'Oreal describe as a souffle foundation - I have tried mousse and cream foundations before but I've always been less than impressed, they are either to greasy or too dry and cakey on my skin, this though was something different.


It has a lovely light whipped texture which blends easily on the skin, without any caking or streaking, either over moisturiser or over primer. The best way I found of applying it was to apply a blob to the back of my hand and then apply it with a duo fibre type brush - this one is by Ruby + Millie it's a decent brush but it it terrible for shedding - a MAC or Sigma 187 or 131 would also work really well, I then went over it with a foundation sponge for a flawless finish. As you can seen in these pics the coverage really is good

Before

A very scary pic lots of redness, spots and shine

After

A pretty even complexion which is definitely less shiny, even without concealer and powder

I have to admit I tended to powder down my t-zone with this after a few hours so I am not convinced about the 12 hour claim but I still removed make up from my skin about about 12 hours both with and without primer so that has to be a good thing. I only have two main gripes about the foundation, first of all you seem to use a lot of it and you only get 20ml in the jar which means it probably isn't going to last long, and also the colour choice. There is only 6 colours to choose from which isn't the greatest shade range - I got 110 Rose Ivory but to be fair I probably could have got another couple of shades - they seemed to be pretty similar. Having said that I actually really liked this foundation I am not convinced this shade would work for me in the depths of winter but it's a nice foundation and I have already repurchased. L'Oreal Matte Morphose Souffle Foundation is around £11.99 from all L'Oreal stockists. Any questions please let me know x

Face Of Yesterday

I had to pop to the Post Office yesterday so I decided to take my foundation test pics before I went, so I decided to show you the rest of the make up that I wore in a delayed FOTD :) Again no neutral eyes, I went for a shimmery silver / lilac look, pretty pink cheeks, and glossy pink lips - enjoy xx





Yesterday I Wore

L'Oreal Matte Morphose Foundation - 110 Rosy Ivory
Boots No 7 Concealer Trio (all colours blended)
The Balm Time Balm Concealer - Light*
Boots No 7 Translucent Loose Powder
MAC Blush Ombre - Azalea Blossom
Benefit High Beam
Scarlett & Crimson Creme Eyeshadow - Silver Spoon (from The Smokey Trio)
MAC - Idol Eyes
Max Factor False Lash Effect Waterproof Mascara - Black
Avon Daring Definition Cream Eyeliner - Black
Revlon Colorburst - 020 Baby Pink
Random Pale Pink Lancome Juicy Tube

(*provided for review purposes)

Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation Review and A Face of Yesterday

A few months I picked up Rimmels new Match Perfection Foundation during a Tesco shop.I chose the shade 100 Ivory. This foundation contains Rimmels exclusive "Smart-Tone" technology containing Blue Sapphire which allows it to adapt to an individuals skin tone and texture. It also contains an "Oxygen complex" which allows the skin to breathe.

The foundation comes in a glass pump action dispenser - which immediately gets a thumbs up from me - pump action dispensers are much easier to use and are a lot more hygienic. It has a thick lotion type texture

but it blends easily onto the skin both on top of bare skin, moisturiser and primer, I tried a few different methods of application and I have to say I found a sponge the easiest way to work with it. I found it gave a good medium coverage as you can see here - in my before picture you can see blemishes and redness


and afterwards even with no concealer the skin looks much clearer


I have to say I really like this foundation, it feels light on the skin and the coverage is good. It also seems to last quite well - I've removed it after at least 8hours and there has still been foundation on my skin. I also love the smell of this foundation it has a lovely fruity, fresh scent that I really enjoyed, and it had the added bonus of containing an SPF 15 - great for all year round protection. Would I buy this again - yes thankfully I don't need to because I won another bottle in an online competition ;) but I definitely would it has gone into my top 5 foundations list easily - it suits my skin well, and I love the natural polished look it leaves.
I purchased this foundation myself and this is just my opinion but if you want to try it you can get it from all Rimmel outlets for around £8.99 which certainly doesn't break the bank.

Since I took my foundation pics for you yesterday I thought I may as well show you the FOTD from my shopping / cinema trip with my bestie last night




Lazy Day on it own


with Easy Lounger over the top



Yesterday I Wore

Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation - 100 Ivory
MAC Prep + Prime Eye - Light
Smashbox Photo Op Under Eye Brightener
Lancome Palette Mix Complexion Kit - 1 (Lightest Shade Only)
Boots No7 Translucent Loose Powder
ELF Studio Blush Tickled Pink
MAC MSF Porcelain Pink
GOSH Show Me Volume Mascara - Black*
Two Colours From The Deborah Black Dalia Trio

This Grey From the beauty UK eye shadow collection 5

Avon Daring Definition Cream Eyeliner - Black
MAC Lipstick - Lazy Day
MAC Lipglass - Easy Lounger

(*Mascara Provided by PR)

A Quick FOTD x

I made a few You Tube videos today so I thought I'd show you a quick FOTD I did - a light silvery grey smokey eye with a bit of glittery fallout :(




Today I Wore

Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation 100 Ivory
MAC Prep + Prime Eye - Light
Smashbox Photo Op Under Eye Brightener
Lancome Palette Mix Complexion Kit - 1 (Lightest Shade Only)
Boots No7 Translucent Loose Powder
MAC Cremeblend Blush - So Sweet, SO Easy
Benefit Sugarbomb
GOSH Show Me Volume Mascara - Black*
YSL Long Lasting Eye Pencil - 01 Black
Top Shop Eye Trio - Moon Dust (greys only, silver over base, dark grey in crease)

Scarlett and Crimson Creme Eyeshadow - Thunder Road

MAC Lipstick - Fabby

(*Provided by PR)

GOSH Show Me Volume Mascara Review and a FOTD (Pic Heavy)

I don't know if you remember but just before Christmas I was sent some GOSH goodies by the lovely people at Superdrug - I actually already owned most of the things they sent so I just kept the mascara and gave the rest away in a giveaway :) Anyways the mascara I kept for this review was the GOSH Show Me Volume Mascara in Black.
Like a lot of mascaras this GOSH mascara comes is quite a chunky tube which is black with silver writing and a silver lid - tres chic


Unsurprisingly enough the spool is also quite chunky in a fat Christmas tree bristle style. Whilst this is good in the sense that it cover the lashes quite easily it's size makes it harder to get too close to the inner corner and quite difficult to do the lower lashes without dabbing it on your skin

I personally found this quite a dry mascara - it was OK at first but as I've used I've found that it tended to dry out and that as a result made it a little flaky on the lashes after a while. Despite the inclusion of E, B, and C vitamins I even found the mascara a bit drying on my lashes - the colour itself is good though as you can see here.

Described as a mascara which will give you "exaggerated visual volume" I thought I'd show you some pics
My Bare Lashes

One Coat

Two Coats

Three Coats

As I am sure you can see you certainly need more than one coat, the more you apply the more you see a volumising and even an slight lengthening effect. There is a little bit of clumping as you can see but other than the issues I've already mentioned the application is OK.
So what do I think? well I think this mascara is OK certainly no more than that - the finish is OK, but the formula seemed a bit too dry for me, and of course there is my usual issue with some mascaras with big wands lol. I personally think there are better mascaras on the market for the price - If you want to try this it is exclusive to Superdrug in the UK and retails for £7.50, and if your interested GOSH is currently on 3 for 2 :)

FOTD

Since I was taking some pics of my mascara for my review I thought I'd show you some pics of the make up look I wore. The lighting was awful today and as per usual my camera washed the colour out but I decided to have a play with some colour today lots of purples and lilac, pale pink cheeks and glossy baby lips :)
My eyes the colours aren't coming out very well apart from the liner which looks blue here grr













Today I Wore

id Bare Mineral Foundation - Medium Beige (my summer shade but for how long it's freezing today hmm)
ELF Sheer Mineral Booster
MAC Prep + Prime Eye - Light
Lancome Palette Mix Complexion Kit - 1 (Medium Shade Only)
ELF Studio Blush Tickled Pink
MAC MSF Porcelain Pink
George Eyeshadow - No.22 Jellybean (all over lid)

Indulge In Beauty - Urban Eyes - Modern Eye Palette (*light shade to highlight, dark shade on outer corner)

Opia Kohl Pencil - no name but the bright purple one - an absolute bargain from Primark

GOSH Show Me Volume Mascara - Black
ELF Luscious Liquid Lipstick - Baby Lips

(The GOSH Show Me Volume Mascara was provided by Superdrug for review purposes - this has in no way influenced my review which as per usual as my opinion and mine alone, your may vary)