Tuesday 29 November 2016

Four Drugstore Sheet Masks Put to the Test...

Drugstore Sheet Masks
Sheet masks have become big news over the past few years, thanks to them being quick, convenient and easy to travel with. First originating from Korea, the sheet mask has finally transferred into the mass market and now there is handful of brands creating there own versions for a fraction of the price. I have four that I tracked down to share with you, so here's my thoughts.
Primark PS Moisture 3D Mask
PRIMARK PS... MOISTURE 3D MASK 80p
Coming in at the cheapest this Primark '3D' mask claims to brighten and moisturise the skin. At first when I opened this up I was actually a bit miffed as to how it went on as it seemed rather large for a sheet mask! I then discovered this actually had a genius added neck part to it too, which I've never seen before. This also smelt really lovely too.

I had this on for 15 minutes, but it does say you can leave the mask on for 15-20 minutes depending on how much time you have.

Because the mask was heavily saturated I did find that it kept slipping down my face a bit. It was also quite delicate and did have a tendency to rip in places when I was moving it back up onto my face.

As with all sheet masks it is recommended after you remove the mask to massage in the excess serum into your face and neck after.

The next morning my skin felt soft and smooth, although it didn't look visibly brighter.

I award the PS Moisture 3D Mask a 3.8 out of 5.
Garnier Skinactive Moisture Bomb Tissue Mask
GARNIER MOISTURE BOMB TISSUE MASK £1.49
I'm already a big fan of the Moisture Bomb Day Cream and so I was interested to discover there was also a mask within the Moisture Bomb range. This mask is supposed to intensely re-hydrate the skin and revive radiance. It also contains Hyaluronic Acid to help reduce the look of fine lines.

Again this was very saturated and smelt fresh, but personally I wasn't keen on the smell,

Upon application this mask is made up of two pieces, the main part of the mask and a blue film on top of the mask. The blue film is there I guess to keep the mask together while you are applying it, as this is a lot thinner compared to some of the other masks. Once you have this on properly you can gently peel away the protective layer and leave the mask on for 15 minutes as recommended.

While I had this on it did feel really hydrating and although this was a little big, it did actually mold to my face easily without the worry of it slipping down. After I peeled this off I did notice that my skin looked a tad red and blotchy, I think because of the Hyaluronic Acid. I also felt a tightening sensation afterwards too.

The next day my skin actually felt a little dry and almost the opposite of what it was supposed to do, which is a shame as I do find the Moisture Bomb Day Cream super hydrating.

I award the Garnier Moisture Bomb Tissue Mask a 3 out of 5.
Boots Ingredients Sheet Face Mask
BOOTS INGREDIENTS SHEET FACE MASK CHARCOAL & WILLOW BARK £2.50
The Boots own sheet masks come in five different types that cater for a number of various concerns. I picked up the Charcoal & Willow Bark Sheet Face Mask that claims to cleanse and purify the skin.

Upon application this was well saturated and felt super fresh on the skin. Again it is recommended you leave this on for 15 minutes.

I loved this mask as it felt really refreshing and cooling on the face and the next day my skin felt so soft and clean. I also found it interesting that these masks are made in Korea which I think is why this probably was my favourite, as it gave me the best results compared to the others.

I award the Boots Ingredients Sheet Face Mask 4.8 out of 5
FACEINC Flower Power Hydrating Sheet Mask
FACEINC FLOWER POWER HYDRATING SHEET MASK £5
Lastly is the most expensive of the bunch from Nails Inc's sister brand Face Inc. This just like the Boots mask comes in four different versions to target a number of concerns. I also love the fact that each of the four masks has a fun printed design on it too, just like some of the Korean versions.

I have the Flower Power mask which is supposed to help hydrate, nourish and smooth the face.

Upon application the mask smelt of refreshing cucumbers and it was again drenched in a gel like serum that felt the most luxurious of the four masks. This did fit nicely onto the face although it would of been great if there was a couple of slits around the jaw part, so you could mold it under the jaw line a bit better, as it did have a tendency to come away around this area.

Overall I really enjoyed this mask as my skin felt hydrated afterwards. I also loved the fact this came in four fun designs to cater for different skin concerns.

I award the FACEINC Flower Power Hydrating Sheet Mask a 4.5 out of 5.
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Friday 25 November 2016

The Cult Beauty Product that Removes Makeup in Seconds..

Bioderma H20 Micellar Water
I've tried a fair few Micellar Waters from the Drugstore, but I've never actually tested out the iconic Bioderma, which I consider to be 'the crème de la crème of micellar waters'. Nowadays Micellar Waters have become a bit of a cult favourite within the beauty world thanks to the one and only Bioderma Créaline H20 and I was keen to finally see what all the fuss was really about...
When I first heard about Bioderma, at the time it was only available on Amazon or via a quick trip to France to a French pharmacy. But now we are lucky enough to have access to this product right on our doorstep.

I actually did pick mine up while I was in France as it is a little cheaper, but if you can't quite make the trip then Bioderma as a whole is now available from Boots, Boots.com, Amazon* and Feel Unique. Prices do vary, but for the 500ml bottle of Créaline H20 that I have, then this is around £19.
The solution can be used to cleanse the face or to remove make-up, either way this is a great quick and effective process if you're short for time.

Overall comparing this to drugstore formulas, I can now see why this has a huge following. Bioderma just has that edge over other formulas because it enables you to remove your makeup litrally in seconds, plus it's also fragrance free, demagogically tested and super for sensitive skin.

*Some links are affiliated but as always all opinions are my own.
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Thursday 24 November 2016

Going BACK TO MAC - The Autumn Quad

MAC Eyeshadow Palette
It's safe to say I've generated quite a collection of eyeshadow palettes over the past couple of years and so it's understandable that some get lost in a somewhat makeup black hole. Thankfully re-discovering an old make-up favourite from the same black hole can be pretty satisfying, especially when it's a MAC quad full of old eyeshadow favourites...
CRANBERRY (Top Left) - This shade optimises everything holiday and I absolutely adore the richness of this frosty red/pink shadow.

RICE PAPER (Top Right) - Another frost and the neutral of the bunch, Rice Paper is a beautiful subtle yellow gold that can be worn alone or as an inner corner highlighter.

COPPERING (Bottom Right) - I can't get enough of this orangey/copper shade as it's intensely vibrant and looks stunning all over the eyes.

WOODWINKED (Bottom Left) - One of my all time favourites, this golden brown veluxe pearl is magical over the top of a gold cream eyeshadow base.
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Wednesday 23 November 2016

Marks and Spencer Advent Calendar 2016 Review and Photo's

M&S Beauty Advent Calendar
Over the past month there's been a lot of hype surrounding not only beauty advent calendars in general, but in particular the M&S 2016 'Ultimate' Beauty Advent Calendar. Now at first glance I did think this would be full of own brand bath and body products, which is what I always thought of when I visited their beauty department. However I was surprised to hear this was full of 25 branded beauty products including everything from nail polish to hair products! So if you haven't got yours already there's still time before they all disappear for another year.
Price
The Beauty Advent Calendar does retail for £35, BUT there is a catch, you do need to spend £35 to be eligible to buy the calendar for £35. However I think this can be quite easily done if you're buying Christmas presents, food, wrapping paper or even more beauty products and if you weigh up what your getting for £35, then this is an absolute steal in general compared to some of the other beauty calendars out there.
Packaging
Again this is another beautifully packaged advent calendar and if you thought the Makeup Revolution Advent Calendar was big, then just wait till you see this one! It also is not like your conventional calendar either as each day is a box rather than a window that you open.
What's Inside?
This had an amazing selection of 25 branded deluxe sized products including,
Day 1 - Neal's Yard Remedies Bee Lovely Hand Cream
Day 2 - Rodial Super Acids X-Treme Acid Rush Peel
Day 3 - Filorga Time-Filler
Day 4 - Pixi by Petra Brow Tamer
Day 5 - Josh Wood Radiant Shine Hair Treatment Oil
Day 6 - Eyeko Skinny Liquid Eyeliner
Day 7 - Ultrasun Face SPF 30
Day 8 - Alpha H Liquid Gold
Day 9 - Autograph Nail Polish in Cranberry
Day 10 - Nails Inc. Gel One Coat
Day 11 - Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm
Day 12 - Look Good Feel Better Mini Powder Brush
Day 13 - Skyn Icelandic Relief Eye Cream
Day 14 - Nuxe Dry Oil
Day 15 - Rosie Huntington-Whitley Lip Stick
Day 16 - Philip Kingsley Elasticizer
Day 17 - Ren Global Protection Day Cream
Day 18 - Rituals Magic Touch Body Cream
Day 19 - Percy & Reed Wonder Balm
Day 20 - Formula Ultimate Sleep Cream
Day 21 - PUR Correcting Primer
Day 22 - Leighton Denny Mini Crystal Nail File
Day 23 - Studio 10 Miracle Effect Priming Serum
Day 24 - Burt's Bee Lip Balm
Day 25 - Shay & Blue NAtural Spray Fragrance
Overall Thoughts
Overall this was a fantastic Beauty Calendar and Marks & Spencer's really did pull out all the stops!
You did need to spend over £35 to be able to purchase this calendar for £35, but really this wasn't much in the grand scheme of things considering this included so many well known, premium branded beauty products. I thoroughly enjoyed opening this every day in December and for me this really was one of the best Beauty Advent Calendars on the market.

I award the Marks and Spencer Beauty Advent Calendar 4.9 out of 5
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