It's been a while since I've done a skincare empties, but I have been collecting a wide variety of skincare products that I've finished up to share with you guys, some I would re-purchase and some I wouldn't, so here's the low down on what's hot and what is so not...
This year there has been an explosion of Drugstore Sheet Masks coming to the market from Poundland to Primark, Simple to Aldi. So today in the 3rd post from my #drugstoreskincareweek series I'm sharing with you 7 New Drugstore Sheet Masks that are all under £5!
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Sheet Mask Review
1. Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrogel Recovery Mask £3.50
The Hydrogel Recovery Mask is a two-piece gel mask which you leave on for 15-30 minutes. It claims to be an intensely hydrating and cooling mask that is infused with Hyaluronic Acid.
This was actually really easy to apply because it came in two parts and while on the face it felt comfortable, cooling and hydrating. Afterwards, my skin felt smooth and refreshed, however, I didn't feel this was an overly hydrating mask as per the claims. I left this on for 15 minutes but I think I would probably try this one again and leave it on for the maximum 30 minute time limit to see if it was any more hydrating. Nevertheless, this is an affordable and convenient pick me up mask.
Garnier SkinActive Charcoal Sheet Mask Review
2. Garnier SkinActive Pure Charcoal Black Tissue Mask£2.99*
This Black Charcoal mask is well saturated and infused with ingredients such as Hyaluronic Acid, Black Algae Extract and LHA. The SkinActive Mask is supposed to be pore-tightening, purifying and hydrating and to me, it certainly felt hydrating and refreshing while it was working its magic. I left this on for the required 15 minutes and afterwards my skin felt slightly taught, glowy and hydrated. I much preferred this to the Blue Garnier Moisture Bomb version I reviewed last year and I have to say this was one out of three favourites.
Primark Holler and Glow Sheet Mask Review
3. Primark Holler and Glow Holler Back £3
If you've seen this fun brand at Primark then you'll know there are endless interesting looking sheet masks to choose from to target different concerns. This gold holographic mask is aimed to hydrate the skin and I have to say this was my favourite visually, however, I did feel this felt the most papery compared to the others I tested. Nevertheless, this was still very saturated and it smelt pleasant too. On the skin I found this to be hydrating and refreshing and although I did have a bit of trouble with it sticking to my lip and chin area, overall this definitely made my skin feel and look hydrated.
Aldi Sheet Mask Review
4. Aldi Lacura Moisture Complex Sheet Mask with Green Tea Extract £1.99 for 2
The new Lacura Moisture Complex Masks come in 3 different scents including Green Tea Extract, Chamomile and Pomegranate and the best part is you get two for £1.99! The Green Tea Mask includes Hyaluronic Acid and Moisturising Serum and aims to intensely moisturise and refresh the skin as well as help it feel balanced and pure.
Again this is a well-saturated sheet mask that you leave on for 15 minutes. Initially I found this a little harder to apply as there were no slits to help it fit your face snugly and I have to say this did smell a bit odd too, but afterwards, my skin felt balanced, hydrated and moisturised which is always a bonus.
Poundland Sheet Mask Review
5. Poundland Derma V10 Hydrating Vitamin E Woven Face Mask £1
Poundland do sheet masks I hear you say! Oh yes and spoiler alert this was one of my favourites! The Derma V10 Mask is a hydrating Vitamin E Mask infused with Aloe Vera that claims to hydrate, moisturise and improves the skin's texture.
Upon application the mask is well saturated and super soft to the touch, it's also lightly scented. I left this on for 15 minutes but you can leave it on for up to 20 minutes. On the skin, it felt beautifully refreshing and hydrating and after I had removed the mask my skin felt so smooth and moisturised.
Simple Rich Moistue Sheet Mask
6. Simple Rich Moisture Sheet Mask £2.99
This kind to skin mask has no harsh chemicals, artificial perfumes or colour and helps condition dry and dehydrated skin. When applying the mask I do advise taking extra care as it is very delicate to the touch and can stretch a little because it is so thin. However, this mask is divinely soft to the touch, refreshing and felt just like a second skin! I left this on for the required time of 15 minutes and afterwards my skin felt nourished, soft and smooth and this was definitely another one of my firm favourites!
Masque Bar Rose Gold Sheet Mask Review
7. Masque Bar Rose Gold Foil Sheet Mask £4.98*
The most expensive of the bunch this foil sheet mask claims to nourish and hydrate the skin and contains Witch Hazel Water, Soy Bean Extract and Mushroom Extract.
I did love the fact this was Rose Gold, however, this was quite a rigid mask to apply and consequently, I found it hard to shape around the face. The mask was drenched in a very watery liquid and smelt a bit chemically which I think was due to the Witch Hazel, but while on the face it did feel hydrating despite it not sticking to my chin! I left this on for the maximum time of 20 minutes and I have to say my skin did feel and look smooth refined and glowy afterwards.
Over the past couple of months, I've been collecting a varied array of skincare empties. You guys know how fond I am of skincare lately and so I thought I'd share with you a bunch of skincare products that I would re-purchase again and a few I wouldn't...
PRODUCTS MENTIONED: MAKEUP REMOVERS - (Watch at 1.29)
- Garnier Micellar Water*
- Aldi Lacura Caviar Facial Cleansing Wipes
CLEANSERS - (Watch at 3.23)
- Una Brennan Vitamin C Brighten Cleansing Oil: Boots
- L'Oreal Pure Clay Detox Wash
- Neutrogena Hydro Boost Cleanser*
- Nip + Fab Glycolic Cleansing Fix*
- Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish*
- Superdrug Naturally Radiant Brightening Hot Cloth Cleanser
TONERS - (Watch at 7.39)
- L'Oreal FIne Flowers Toner
- Superdrug Vitamin E Skincare Hydrating Mist
- Caudalie Beauty Elixir*
Today I wanted to share with you a whole load of new product empties, including a few products that I finally got around to using up from the M&S Beauty Advent Calendar, so here's my final thoughts on what was hot and what was not...
PRODUCTS MENTIONED:
1. Dove Pure Care Dry Oil Shampoo - HOT
2. Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Colour - NOT
3. Soap & Glory Smoothie Star Body Milk - HOT HOT!
4. MAC Brush Cleaner - HOT
5. Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray - HOT
Urban Decay Dupes: Barry M Setting Spray Rimmel #Insta Fix & Go
6. Bare Minerals Bare Skin Pure Brightening Serum Foundation - NOT
7. Seventeen Skin WOW Concealer in Medium - HOT
8. Maybelline Brow Precise Micro Pencil - HOT HOT!
9. Pixi Glow Tonic Exfoliating Toner - HOT but NOT
10. Soap & Glory Make Yourself Youthful Sunsheild - HOT
11. Ultra Sun Face SPF 30 - HOT
12. M&S Formula Ultimate Sleep Cream - HOT HOT!
13. Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm - HOT M&S Beauty Advent Calendar
14. La Roche Pose Effaclar Duo - HOT
15. Garnier SkinActive Moisture Bomb - HOT
Incase you missed any of the others then I'll link them here.
Happy Saturday guys, I hope you're all having a good one! Today I wanted to continue my Drugstore Skincare Series with a look at Five Skincare Dupes. Some of these are identical looking but others don't necessarily look the same, however they do perform in the same way, so here's my favourite five!
Now I'm already a big fan of the Liz Earle Hot Cloth Cleanser, as it's such an iconic product that's been around for years and although this isn't too expensive, there is also plenty of drugstore dupes/versions now available. One of my favourite dupes for this, is the Soap & Glory The Ultimelt. This fundamentally does the same thing as it's a 'hot cloth cleanser', that cleanses and takes off make-up, it also comes with a muslin cloth too.
You may have already heard of numerous dupes for the cult Bioderma Micellar Water, however I wanted to share with you my personal drugstore favourite from Garnier. Essentially the Garnier Micellar Water performs in exactly the same way, except this is a much more affordable version that also comes in various sizes to suit your needs.
The Nip + Fab Glycolic FIX Pads are such wonderful dupes for the popular Alpha H Liquid Gold. The only difference is the Nip + Fab ones already come saturated on a pad and the Alpha H version requires a cotton pad to be saturated. Having used both, I actually prefer the Nip + Fab ones because they are so easy and convenient to use, plus they are half the price too!
Sunday Riley is a brand that I have heard so much hype about lately, especially when it comes to their facial oil collection. The only thing is most of these oils start from £70 upwards, which is a tiny bit pricey! Thankfully I've found a lovely dupe for the Flora oil in the form of the L'Oreal Extraordinary Facial Oil. This helps hydrate and brighten the skin just like SR Flora does, except it's a fraction of the price. If you want to know why I adore the L'Oreal oil so much, then be sure to check out the post here where I explain in more detail.
Ok so you may be sick of me going on about how fantastic the L'Oreal Pure Clay masks are, but I just wanted to give them one more mention as they really are such wonderful dupes for the Glamglow versions! All three of the clays perform in the same way and each targets a specific concern. Again I explain in more detail about each L'Oreal Mask here, regarding which dupe is which for the Glamglow ones and if you haven't already tried these then I definitely recommend you give them a go.
This week over on my channel I have been celebrating all things skincare with a weeks worth of content dedicated to specifically Drugstore Skincare.
Now don't get me wrong I adore premium branded skincare, however I'm also a big fan of affordable skincare too. For me Drugstore skincare has become so much more advanced with brands targeting not only specific skin types but concerns, wants, needs and so much more.
In this series I wanted to share with you some of my tips, favourites and new discoveries. So to kick things off I did a little drugstore hauling of some old favourites and new finds...
PRODUCTS MENTIONED:
1.L'Oreal Pure Clay Detox Wash£5.99 (on offer for £3.99) - Following on from the Pure Clay phenomena, L'Oreal have also released three cleansing washes under the same name. I'm already a huge fan of the masks(as you will discover over this series!) and so I wanted to give one of the washes ago to see if this lived up to their mask counterpart.
2.L'Oreal Fine Flowers Toner £5.99 (on offer for £3.99) - I also picked up this Rose and Jasmine toner from the new L'Oreal Fine Flowers Collection as it's targeted towards Combination, Dry and Sensitive skin, which is totally my skin type these days.
3. Garnier Ambre Solaire Sensitive Advanced SPF 50+ £4.50 - I recently ran out of the Soap & Glory Make Yourself Youthful Sunsheild which I adore, but I do love trying out new face SPF's as well. I spotted this travel size in Superdrug from Ambre Solaire and thought it would be great to try as an alternative to the dedicated face SPF's.
4. Superdrug Optimum Glycolic Overnight Peel £12.99 (on offer for £6.45) - One thing I have become obsessed with is Glycolic products over the last year and this overnight peel version caught my eye right away!
5. Garnier Micellar Water£4.99 (on offer for £3.33) - Having tried many of the drugstore Micellar Waters, this is the only one I go back to time and time again. You can hear why here.
6.Superdrug Naturally Radiant Brightening Hot Cloth Cleanser£5.99 (on offer for for £2.95) - I've wanted to pick this up for so long as it looks like another wonderful dupe for the Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish, so watch this space to see if it has potential...
7. Montagne Jeaunesse Face Masks 90p-£1 - Available from Primark, Superdrug, Boots & Wilko - I've used these masks for years as I love how they come in so many different scents to target different concerns. They're also travel friendly too.
Yes, it's that time again when I delve into my bag of empties to discover everything that was hot and everything that was really not...
This month body products, skin and hair care dominated my empties bag and Soap & Glory became a big part of my life too. But as always I hope this does help you out when purchasing products in the future.
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.
Now don't get me wrong I love high end skincare, but sometimes it can get expensive especially if your routine consists of a lot of different products for both morning and evening. So I wanted to hunt down some more affordable alternatives that work just as well too and which altogether make up my personal skincare routine.
MORNING ROUTINE Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser* - This cleanser is fantastic value for money for how much you get, plus it's gentle, frangrance free and perfect as a morning cleanser.
Boots Botonics Rosewater Tonic - Not only does this smell divine, it also does a great job of refreshing and waking up my face in the mornings.
Avene Soothing Eye Contour Cream* - This is amazing at hydrating the under eyes and is particularly good as an under eye primer if you're apply make-up on a daily basis.
La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo - This cult product is a godsend for minor imperfections and it's something I use when I'm having a bad skin breakout day.
Garnier Skin Active Moisture Bomb - If I'm not having a bad skin day then I opt for this Garnier moisturiser as it hydrates my skin wonderfully, especially in the Winter months when our skin is drier due to the central heating and Wintery weather.
Soap & Glory Make Yourself Youthful Sunshield Superfluid SPF50 - I cannot step out the door without applying an SPF and at the moment I'm really enjoying the Make Yourself Youthful fluid in SPF 50 as it sinks into the skin quickly and most importantly it doesn't leave a white cast on the skin.
EOS Lip Balm in Lemon Drop* - I also love to apply a moisturising lip balm to finish off my morning routine.
EVENING ROUTINE Garnier Skin Active Micellar Oil-Infused Cleansing Water* - For my evening routine I start off by removing my make-up with a micellar water and just recently I've been using the Oil-Infused Garnier Cleansing Water which is amazing at melting away my makeup easily and quickly.
Super Facialist by Una Brennon Vitamin C+ Cleansing Oil - The evening is also where I pay special attention to my skin starting off with a double cleanse firstly using this Una Brennon Cleansing Oil. This is one of my absolute favourite drugstore cleansers as it smells and feels divine on the skin.
Nip + Fab Glycolic Cleanser - A few times a week I use this Glycolic Cleanser from Nip and Fab if my skins looking dull and it needs a pick me up. I love this as it helps give my skin that glow from within.
Soap & Glory The Ultimelt Hot Cloth Cleanser - When I'm not using the Glycolic Cleanser then I go in with this Soap & Glory Cream cleanser as it's great for removing any last traces of make-up.
Super Facialist Una Brennon Salicylic Acid Purifying Clay Mask - Sometimes I like to add a mask to my night time routine if I feel like my skin is in need of a pamper pick me up. At the moment I do love alternating between this Una Brennon Salicylic Acid Clay Mask which is great again if you're having a bad skin day and the L'Oreal Clay Masks. L'Oreal Pure Clay Masks - If you've read my review on these then you'll know how much I love these as they cater for different skin concerns and plus they are great dupes for the Glamglow masks.
Nip + Fab Glycolic Fix Night Pads* - As well as the Glycolic Cleanser I also swear by the Nip and Fab Glycolic Pads as they give me the most wonderful refined natural glow.
L'Oreal Revitalift Eye Cream - To keep my wrinkly eyes in check at night I use this Revitalift Eye Cream to work it's magic while I'm sleeping. L'Oreal Extraordinary Facial Oil - To finish my night time routine I apply this amazing facial oil at least an hour before I go to bed, just so that it can sink in properly. I'm obsessed with this oil as it smells divine and it's the perfect multi-tasking facial oil.
1. Establish your Skin Type - This can help massively when purchasing skincare as not every product works for every person and it can save you some money in the long run too.
2. Read the Reviews - I always read reviews before I go out and purchase new products as they can be so helpful to hear an honest opinion.
3. Look out for the Offers - I cannot recommend this enough, sometimes it can be time consuming searching for the best price, but it's totally worth it if you really want to save some money.
4. Save up those Points - Both Boots and Superdrug offer a points loyalty card which again I can't recommend enough as if you shop in these places regularly you can build up points to spend on your favourite products for free!
At the start of the year, I radically shook up my skincare routine by re-introducing some old favourites and new products to my everyday sequence, so I wanted to share with you my updated routine right from when I get up to what I use before bed.
AM - Cleanse, Tone & Moisturise
I tend to keep my morning routine simple, quick and efficient, as for me the most important thing in the daytime is protection. So for cleanser I use a basic cleanser to wake up my face and at the moment I'm using the Biore Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser. For toner I spritz my face with one of my all time favourite tonics, the Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic Spritzer. Then finally I finish with my most important step, an SPF. I'm particularly fond of the La Roche Posay Anthelios XL SOF 50+ as it sinks in really well and doesn't leave that horrible white cast, that some SPF's tend to do.
PM - Cleanse, Treat & Moisturise
In the evening I focus more on cleansing, treating and moisturising, starting with removing my make-up using my favourite Make Up Eraser to get rid of all my make-up and daily grind. I then go in with my holy grail Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water and a large cotton pad, just to make sure my face is super clean before I cleanse.
Next onto the cleansing portion of my routine. I usually double cleanse of an evening if I have been wearing a full face of make-up that day, so without fail I always start with one of my newest finds, from Una Brennon, the Vitamin C+ Skin Renew Cleansing Oil. This is a pleasure to use, smells divine and a little goes a long way. For my 2nd cleanse, I go in with an old favourite, the Cleanse and Polish from Liz Earle. This has a beautiful buttery texture which helps make my skin feel pampered and refreshed. I also wipe away each cleanser with a damp muslin cloth too.
Just lately I've really been into Glycolic products, so once or twice a week I alternate between the Nip + Fab Glycolic Cleanser and Pads and the Pixi Glow Tonic. If I'm using the Nip + Fab Duo, I will swap out my cleanse and polish and replace it with the glycolic cleanser or if I do my normal cleansing routine I will follow with the Pixi Glow Tonic, swiped over the face with a cotton pad. And when I'm not using my Glycolic products, I exfoliate once a week with the Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel.
I've also been obsessed with Charcoal Nose Pore Strips from T-Zone, which I have been using once every two weeks. These really do the trick at removing any blackheads I may have, but be warned these are a little painful to remove!
It's that time again, where I share with you a whole new round of product empties. Just lately I've been on a mission to finish up products that are half empty or I'm just not feeling anymore, so here's the lowdown on some loves and some regrets!
I love a good pamper and Sunday nights is when I have some me time, especially when it's cold and dark outside and all you want to do is cosy up inside anyway! If I am in the mood to indulge, I usually go all out with a full on beauty session, which involves using some of my more special and premium products I tend to keep for special occasions. So here's my relaxing Winter Pamper Routine.
What's your favourite way to relax or pamper on a Winter's evening? Leave me a comment down below or tweet me.
