Whilst out in America, one thing that I stocked up on apart from eos lip balms are mascaras as they work out far more cheaper out there than what we pay here in the UK. With that being said, sometimes the US version has different packaging/different name altogether which is definitely the case with this as whilst it may be called the L'Oreal Lash Out Butterfly Mascara in the US, in the UK it's known as the L'Oreal False Lash Flutter Mascara.
The L'Oreal Lash Out Butterfly Mascara ($7.97/£10.99) is one of those mascaras that everybody was talking about when it was released back in the summer due to its unique double winged butterfly brush that gave the false lash effect without clumping your eyelashes.
I'm almost coming up to the six month mark with this mascara which means that I will need to throw it out very soon although I'm not sure if I can as I am literally in love with this mascara. Due to its unique design of the brush, you can really extend your lashes and give it plenty of volume without any clumps. I like to use the different angles of the brush to get the full effect - using the longer butterfly edge to give length whilst using the sides to add definition which altogether gives a great impact. I have the normal formula which although its great, I have noticed that it can smudge slightly and wear off after a few hours wear so I think I will repurchase it in the waterproof formula once I've gone through a few more mascaras. If you're looking for a mascara that packs a punch then I urge you to try the L'Oreal Lash Out Butterfly Mascara as you won't regret it!
Toners are one of those products that many people say are an unneccesary step as they do absolutely nothing. I on the other hand believe that they do a lot for your skin and really hold your skincare routine in check especially when you're using exfoliating toners. As I use a extremely mild exfoliating toner on a daily basis, I needed something refreshing for my skin in the mornings to help wake me up so I decided to pick up Lush's Breath Of Fresh Air Toner Water.
The Lush Breath Of Fresh Air Toner Water (£4.25 for 100g/£7.95 for 250g) is one of Lush's more refreshing toner waters as it contains mineral-rich carrageenan seaweed extracts and rose absolute which helps to tone and balance the skin. The rose absolute will help reduce any redness whilst the added patchouli acts as a astringent on the skin and helps cool everything down.
I've been using this toner every morning for the past part of eight months which is a incredibly long time (and extremely good value for morning). I find that this really does help wake me up in the mornings especially when I'm feeling rather sluggish. I simply spritz it a few times across my face and go in with a cotton wool pad afterwards to remove any excess. I haven't noticed any long term benefits from using this apart from the fact that it does help slightly with any troublesome blemishes and reduces redness as well as feeling extremely refreshing on the skin. If I'm ever in the market for a new toner, I will definitely be picking this up as I will miss it's sea breeze scent in the mornings.
As I have far too many body products than I care to admit, I've been trying to make my way through my stash before I purchase anymore so that they don't go to waste. After finishing my previous body lotion, I decided to dig out the Nivea Soft Moisturising Cream which I purchased almost a year ago as it's in the limited edition Giles Deacon for LFW 2013 packaging which just goes to show how long I've had it for.
The Nivea Soft Moisturising Cream (£4.28) is one of those multi-use products that everybody should have in their stash as it can be used on the face, body and hands although I used it primarily on my body as I have a seperate face and hand cream.The improved formula contains jojoba oil and vitamin E which helps keep the skin moisturised for longer whilst leaving it incredibly soft.
I've been using this for the past few weeks and I must admit that this beats my beloved Soap & Glory The Righteous Butter hands down! It's a very light, creamy texture that once rubbed in, it's absorbed almost instantly so there isn't any of that awkward waiting for my body moisturiser to sink in dance that we all experience far too often that we'd care to admit. Once absorbed, the skin feels instantly softer and more hydrated than before which lasts for the rest of the day. A little goes a long way with this so I can easily see one tub lasting for just over a month depending on how often/much you use it. Overall, this is a moisturiser and one that I will definitely be repurchasing as soon as I've used up my stash.
As the nights are getting darker and a lot more cold, I've found myself suffering with extremely dry lips so I've been reaching for the EOS Medicated Tangerine Lip Balm on an almost hourly basis. As this is medicated, it feels slightly dried out when you're applying it but I assure you that it does do the trick. I've noticed that since using this, my dry lips have almost vanished completely and I don't suffer that dreaded burning sensation with it like you do with Carmex.
Seeing as my role at work is changing and I'm now starting earlier, I've found myself needing more coverage especially on my dark circles and blemishes so I've been using the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Concealer and the Seventeen Stay Time Concealer whenever I apply my makeup. The Maybelline offering instantly highlights and conceals my dark circles whilst the Seventeen offering conceals all my scarring and blemishes. These two are fast becoming my favourite concealers of all time.
In order to inject some glow back into my stress ridden/lack of sleep face, I've been mixing the Revlon Photoready Skinlights Face Illuminator in Pink Light in with my foundation to create a dewy glow to my base. I much prefer mixing this in with my foundation rather than using it as a highlighter as the effect it gives is a lot more natural whilst creating the appearance of perfect skin. I know that I shouldn't be using Sudocrem on blemishes but I just can't help myself especially when any blemishes that I do pop this onto are reduced with size and redness come morning.
