Beauty Favourites. 2017.

Hello! Apologies for being MIA, again, but November and December have been crazy busy, all I could do was to post sporadically on instagram (@beautycnr).

So this blog post is a review of my personal beauty favourites. They're not necessarily the ones I discovered in 2017, but the ones I enjoyed in 2017 the most.

Let's get started with skincare!

First cleanse: Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm, hands down. This a very old favourite and so far nothing has come close. It easily melts the makeup off, the smell is ah-mazing, you can use it as second cleanse. I love using it as a mask in winter when my skin feels dry and irritated.

Second cleanse: For a second cleanse I seem to be enjoying non drying clay cleansers the most. Such as Pixi Glow Mud Cleanser (with glycolic acid) and Omorovicza's Moor Cream Cleanser which is a recent discovery and I am curious to try more from the brand (my poor poor wallet!)

Mask/Treatment: Alpha H Gentle Daily Exfoliant. It's a gentle enzyme powder that you mix with water to make a paste and apply on the face for 1 minute. Lovely.

Acid: This year I've been mostly into serum acids but I'm starting to get a feeling that acid toners are easier to use. Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peels are fab ( I wouldn't dare use them every day though). The Ordinary's Lactic 5% + HA 2% is lovely and I've also enjoyed The Ordinary's Salicylic Acid 2% as a targeted area or spot treatment. Next year I want to try mandelic acid (A particular one from Wishtrend which is a nightmare to get in the UK).

Toner: Indie Lee CoQ 10 Toner. Soothing, plumping, hydrating toner that smells sooo good. It was perfect for summer. I miss it. I would use it as an essence, patted straight onto the skin, no cotton pad.

Serum: Hiauronic: good ol' Indeed Labs Hydraluron. vit C: The Ordinary Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12% - I'm enjoying the texture of this. Not too runny, skin doesn't feel tight. And it really brightens dull skin.

Oil: Now this is more a serum and oil hybrid but Zelens Power D treatment drops are amazing and I will definitely repurchase it. It's just soo good. Fortifying, soothing. As soon as you apply it, the skin sighs and says thank you by glowing. This is so lightweight, sinks in super quickly, can be mixed in with your moisturiser. I can use it in the morning and makeup sits well on top. The only negatives are: high price and it expires after 6 months. But the quality, the effect... Show me anything cheaper that does the same, I challenge you. I think I will strategically purchase this next autumn so I can use it during colder months when my skin is not happy.

Eye cream: I hate that it's so expensive but nothing was remotely close to Tata Harper Restorative Eye Creme. Beautiful balanced texture, sunk in well, not sticky, eye area felt moisturised. I have a few on my wish list to try and if they don't work out, I will return to this.

Moisturiser: I don't have a strong favourite in this section. I liked: The Ordinary's NMF, January Labs Moisture Balancing Lotion, most Ren moisturisers, Dr Jart Ceramidin, Elemis Maximum Moisture Day Cream and most recently Avene Tolerance Extreme Cream. I wouldn't spend more than £30 on a moisturiser, this year I got a feeling that it's just not worth it. Keep your pennies for a good serum!
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Sunscreen: Clinique Super City Block SPF40 or It Cosmetics CC cream with SPF50.

Shampoo: Kiehls Amino Acid Shampoo.

Styling product: Kiehls Silk Groom

Foundation: It Cosmetics CC Cream. It took me a few tries to figure out how to get the best results with it, I like applying it with my fingers or with makeup sponge. The coverage is very good, you can make it quite sheer or add and extra layer on problem areas. It feels moisturising. This is best for normal to dry skins that want the glow.

Mascara: It may still be Benefit Roller Lash.

Brows: I don't do much with my brows but it's Glossier Boy Brow in Blond.

Eye Shadows: Charlotte Tilbury Palette in Sophisticate. I'm boring like that. But the quality is truly excellent.

Eye Liner: Stila Stay All Day Eyeliner.

Blush: Pixi Multibalm in Wild Rose (apply with fingers) and a a mini Nars in Orgasm.

Lip balm: good old Burt's Bees. And La Roche Posay Cicaplast

Lipstick: ooh difficult. Probably Glossier Generation G in Zip because it's so easy to use. I miss Revlon's Lip Butters :(

Perfume: Frederic Malle Portrait of a Lady.



Aand that's all folks! Have a lovely festive season :)

September and October empties!

September empties:

Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm - Nice, smooth, does the job. Good value for money. But offers no thrills or joy in using it. This will most likely be repurchased, but I much prefer Emma Hardie cleansing balm. That one smells like heaven.

Studio 10 Primer - not an empty, I just didn't use this up within a year so it's time for it to go. This is very silicone heavy.

Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum foundation in 52 Vanilla - my favourite high street foundation for dry to normal skin. Moisturising, light, leaves the skin glowy. Light coverage and natural looking. Doesn't stay on for the whole day but that's fine with me.

Kiehl's Amino Acid Shampoo - SLS free, smells lightly of coconuts, my hair seems to love it. Repurchased already.

Tata Harper Restorative Eye Creme - lovely. Light, creamy texture, botanical/ herbal smell reminds me of Dr Hauschka skincare. Lasted me for about 4 months, used twice a day. Expensive, but repurchase worthy.

Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Univeral Daily Peel - This is the strongest acid treatment I have used so far. It's actually a blend of five AHA and BHA acids.You will definitely feel a strong tingling which subsides once you apply the second pad. Ah-mazing. Again, expensive, but was using this as a treat once in a blue moon and not daily. Repurchase worthy, but not yet because I have a gazillion of other acids to go through.

Hydraluron - oldie but goodie. Hydrating serum with hialuronic acid. I like that's in the tube, I like that it's more goopy than other almost liquidy serums.

October empties:

Korres Basil and Lemon shower gel - didn't like the smell. Others smell soo much nicer, especiall Japanese Rose one.

Tresseme heat protection styling spray - great value for money. Repurchased already.

Vichy water-proof makeup remover - didn't like it very much. Too oily and stung my eyes.

Ren Evercalm Global Protection Day Cream - like most of Ren moisturisers, I really liked it.

Emma Hardie vit C intense daily serum - this only has got 2% of vit C in it so it's hardly intense. Second ingredient on it's list is niacinamide so together with vit C it has a brightening effect. This has a tendency to ball up so one has to wait until it's fully sunk in (which it does quite quickly) and then apply a moisturiser. I quite liked it, but I don't think it's worth it's full price (£49) I myself got it last boxing day in M&S. I believe it was less than £20 for a gift set which also had a full size of vit C cream, mini moringa and mini facial oil. So watch out for those deals.

Emma Hardie Moringa cleansing balm - I like the small 50ml pots, so I always repurchase the trio of these. This is my holy grail, favourite balm cleanser EVER. I will always come back to it as long as they make it. Takes the makeup off well. I can also do a second cleanse with it. I leave it on my skin for longer as a softening nourishing mask. Smells great. Yeah. Love it. My husband loves using it too!

Nip + Fab glycolic fix pads - These were sent to me by Glamour Beauty Club. I've tried the extreme night time ones before. They're both okay. Nice convenient packaging.

aaand I tried some eye cream samples. Samples are great for eye creams, you only need a tiny bit, so they last for a good week. Both Kiehl's Midnight Recovery and Dr Barbara Sturm were nice and creamy but not too heavy. I don't think I will purchase the full sizes. I'm on the lookout for something really great. Zelens perhaps?

Glossier. Review. Part 1.

Glossier finally started shipping to the UK. They're actually shipping not from the US, but from a UK warehouse so we don't have to pay loads for shipping or taxes. Great!

For a long time I wasn't particularly wowed by the brand. I liked the packaging and the reviews from bloggers who tried it but I didn't see anything that really interested me. So when I made a purchase on the very first day Glossier launched in the UK I even suprised myself. I think it had to do with a great website, an avalanche of reviews from the British bloggers and an affordable pricing. I was especially tempted by Glossier Phase 2 set where you can save some money by purchasing three items (Boy Brow, Stretch Concealer and G Generation lipstick) and you can also choose the colours you want.
I also got the Milky Jelly Cleanser. Probably because it was mentioned by everyone and their aunt. Seriously. I mostly blame Anna, Lily and Caroline.

Now that I have used these items for a few weeks I feel like I can give an honest review and not just first impressions.

Milky Jelly Cleanser

This is a very basic simple cleanser. It has a gel like consistency and a very light floral/botanical scent. No fragrance added. It does not foam, feels quite hydrating but it will not take your makeup off. Second cleanse only.
It kind of does what it says on the tin. Cleanser 'conditions' the skin as in after washing it off the skin feels more soft and plump. For super dry skins however I would stick with an oil cleanser. While this is kind of hydrating, it's not nourishing enough.
It's good. I'm not sure if I would repurchase it again but I will definitely use it up.

Ingredients:
Water/Aqua/Eau, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Propanediol, Isohexadecane, Poloxamer 184, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Xylitylglucoside, Betaine, Allantoin, Glycerin, Panthenol, Symphytum Officinale Root Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Anhydroxylitol, Polysorbate 80, Xylitol, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Isopropyl Myristate, Benzoic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide

Boy Brow 

I had my doubts about this because I'm not really into brows. Or not into daily brow care/make up. They were never overplucked and I like their natural shape. They're just a tad light. So i got the colour blond. It is slightly darker than my natural colour and I like it. The formula feels a bit waxy but doesn't harden too much. Looks very natural. I kind of wish the brush was finer but that's just me being picky. I enjoy using it and have been using it almost every day since I bought it.

Stretch Concealer

I was curious to try this because I'm very much into concealer that can be used for under eye area and do not crease. I got it in colour medium since I've been on holidays and tanned a bit and it is a good match. If you're a match to Bourjois foundation in 52 vanilla or IT cosmetics CC cream in light, get the medium. If you're fairer, get light. The concealer has an interesting consistency of a balm and it leaves the skin quite dewy. It offers light coverage that is not the most long wearing, but it looks natural and you can always top it up. It will not cover spots or dark pigmentation. For that I would go for Nars concealers. But those can end up looking cakey, especially if the skin underneath is dry and cracked (as it often is with spots)
So yes, I like it. But I do like the Maybelline Age Rewind one for under eyes too. The Glossier one probably has more skin care benefits. Probably.

Generation G lipstick in Zip

I wanted an easy to wear red lipstick. I lost my Revlon lip butter, gave away Charlotte Tilbury's mini in So Marilyn and was left with limited edition MAC in Leading Lady Red. That one is a mother to put on and keep on the lips. It looks great and I love the colour but it's high maintenance. 
Generation G in Zip is again exactly what it says on the tin. It is sheer but easily buildable, matte but rather comfortable on the lips. The narrow bullet makes the application super easy. Perfect.

All in all, I am very happy with my purchases and I will be making more. Probably not the skincare, but the effortless makeup is very much my cup of tea. 

Oh, and the perfume is lovely too! Very fresh, light and... effortless.

IT Cosmetics CC Cream. Review.

What it is: medium to full coverage CC cream/ foundation. With great physical (!) UVA/UVB broad spectrum SPF50 sunscreen. Anti-ageing (hydrolized collagen, peptides, niacin, hyaluronic acid and vitamins A, B, C and E). Looks natural. 7 colours. If you're Bourjois Vanilla 52 or Chanel B20 girl, go for the shade Light.

What it does: I found it easiest to apply this CC cream with my fingers (yet to try it with a beauty blender). It offers a dewy medium to full coverage, protects from the sun and is feels rich and hydrating.  I find that I need to powder and/or use blotting sheets after a few hours. It would probably last longer with a primer but that's just too much faff for me. It is not really long wearing but easy to reapply and blend and that's okay with me. It is not for oily skin or those who enjoy a matte finish. Feels hydrating. Upon application the cream may seem ashy but it quickly adjusts to the skin colour. This is probably due to the physical sunscreen.

Is it worth it: For me, yes. I enjoy a dewy finish, the skin benefits. The sunscreen is great too. I apply it right under my eyes and most days I don't need a concealer. It doesn't crease (if applied lightly). This would be perfect for mature and dry skins.

It Cosmetics CC cream is £30.00 for 32ml and is available at selfridges.com

Zelens Power D. Review

I've been meaning to write a review on this for ages (or a few months at least).

What it is: Zelens Power D is a super lightweight oil or oil based serum that sinks into the skin very quickly. It is full of goodness: peptides, lipids, hialuronic acid, omega 3 and 6.To read more about the ingredients, the science behind them and what they do for the skin visit zelens.com

What it does: For me personally, it sinks in either instantly or very quickly (I have dry to normal, dehydrated skin). It gives a nice healthy glow, instantly plumps up the skin. Power D is meant to fortify and thicken the skin making it less susceptable to outside aggressors. For day time you can mix it in with your moisturiser, for night time I found that I preferred to put this oil straight on my cleansed skin and then add a moisturiser on the top if needed. It is also lovely on top of The Ordinary's Advanced Retinoid 2% or after a stronger acid peel. I found this to be great for spots, it would make them less irritated and red and I found them to heal faster too.

Is it worth it: Zelens is a holy grail brand among skincare addicts and it is so for a reason. The product is very expensive, but the quality is there, it delivers results. This oil will last me about 6 months because I don't use it every day.
If you have skin that is or gets in any way compromised, for example, is irritable, dry, red, flaking, itchy, tight and/or ageing... this would be an amazing product to try. If you have the cash.

Zelens Power D is £110 for 30ml and is available on zelens.com , cultbeauty.co.uk , beautybay.com , selfridges.com (pumpkin not included).

Summer Fashion Purchases and Fave Top 5 Beauty Picks

Summer always seems to be a quiet time for beauty industry and my wallet certainly was grateful for it since I spent the big £££ on CH +CultBeauty box in May and then I would just pick up a few pieces throughout the summer where and when needed. I was also a bit more into clothing, especially shoe shopping :)

From top to bottom, left to right: 1. Red Funday Print Long Sleeve Jumper, New Look (totally youtube inspired purchase) 2. Denim Shrunken Jacket, Asos. 3. Adina Casual Pocket Skirt, Whistles. 4. Chuck Taylor Leather Polka Dot Shoes, Converse 5. Clarks Colindale Silver Boots (sold out, sorry). 

And my top 5 beauty pick this summer were:

1. Zelens Power D. Review coming this month, this will be perfect for upcoming colder months because it's a nourishing protecting strengthening lightweight facial oil/

2. Indie Lee Co Q 10 Lotion. Review here 

3. Clinique Super City Block SPF40

4. Mac lipstick in Vegas Volt (discontinued, sorry!)

5. Pur Volume Vixen Mascara (love the travel mini sized one)

August Empties

Long time no see! I've been busy enjoying the last bits of summer while they lasted and then was slammed with work right after. Not complaining, but I have missed blogging!

Anyways, let's get to it.

L'Oreal Elive Colour Protect Low Shampoo - this love affair has ended badly. While gentle and nourishing this shampoo does not wash out dry shampoo properly and my hair gets greasy faster. I will not repurchase these. I am currently using Khiel's Amino Acid Shampoo which is great.

So I recently experienced a massive (hormonal?) breakout. Actually, it's only massive for me, my skin is typically well behaved. And even a few weeks later it feels congested with bumps along the jaw line. I am slowly and gently bringing it back to normal. If it wasn't hormonal, it could have been either Clinique's Dramatically Different Moisturising Lotion or Ren's Evercalm Gentle Cleansing Milk. Clinique's DDML I have only used a couple of times on my skin. I was aware of the not-so-great ingredients list and the smell was funny (plastic? petrol?) but the texture seemed very pleasant. Soon I realised I didn't want to risk using it and used it on my legs instead which was fine. Could two applications have clogged my skin and caused the breakout? Not sure. Especially since my skin didn't seem to react badly to it straightaway. 

Could it have been Ren's Cleansing Milk? I am a big fan of Ren skincare, especially moisturisers. This cleansing cream didn't sit very well with me. It smelled great and felt very nourishing but even after using a face cloth my skin felt... not particularly clean. By no means am I a fan of squeaky clean skin, but it just felt like there was some residue left. Perhaps it was shea butter that's quite high on their ingredients list. Needless to say, I will not repurchase.

Ren's Anti-Redness serum didn't do anything except offer slight hydration. But I am not really suffering from a lot of redness. I could smell alcohol in it. 

Nails Inc cuticle oil stick was lovely and I would repurchase.

Balance Me Radiance Facial Oil - full review here. I would use it happily but probably will never repurchase because there are better oils. And so many new ones to try. 

Clinique Moisture Surge - such a great and pleasant texture. Hydrating. I may purchase a full jar...

Emma Hardie Moisture Boost Vit C Cream - this is a very thick cream, probably due to niacinamide. Pleasant, nourishing, brightening and didn't oxidize. It wasn't a great pick on my part for summer ut it would be great as a night cream during winter. Again, I would happily use it but wouldn't necessarily repurchase.

And finally, my favourite empty of this month was Nude Progenius Omega Treatment Milk - alas only a sample, but I am planning on purchasing this. I looved the light and milky texture yet it was super hydrating and nourishing. Just perfect. My skin looked amazing as soon as it was applied. I want to try more products from this brand. 

That's it folks, thank you for reading, I will be back with summer faves next and then a few good ol' product reviews. 

July Empties!

So. Much. Stuff. In the beginning of the month I thought I wasn't going to finish anything. Surprised myself quite a bit.

Let's jump right in...

CoLab Dry Shampoo Active - probably my favourite spray dry shampoo. Invisible, smells fresh and not overpowering. I go through a can very quickly, that's probably the only negative.

Toni&Guy Intense Softness Shampoo for normal hair - I should have known better. This was a random purchase. I just grabbed this in a supermarket without thinking, and really, I should have. Contains SLS and something else that has made my hair dry and coarse. My scalp became irritated. Yikes. Never again.

Korres Japanese Rose Shower Gel - if you like rose smell, you will love this. Beautiful fragrance. Otherwise, nothing special.

TRESemme Extra Hold Hairspray - I had this small can for years and finally finished it. It's good. I've been curling my hair more often so it was useful.

Philip Kingsley Daily Damage Defense - favourite, will be repurchased. Makes my hair soft, doesn't weigh it down, smells nice, protects from the heat.

January Labs Balancing Moisture Lotion - it was lovely during the heatwave and if I felt like I needed something a bit more nourishing, I would just add a couple of drops of oil (Zelens Power D, I love thee). Husband liked this too.

Ren Flash Hydra-Boost Emulsion - this has lasted me for a really long time! I think I got bored of it for a while, forgot about it and then rediscovered it. Lovely when used in the morning as it hydrates and plumps up the skin but also feels light. This would feel lovely on mature skin.

Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel - still got 3 packs left. This is a nice treat. The skin feels smoother and brighter straight away.

Alpha H Absolute Eye Complex - I like the ingredients in this a lot (niacinamide, sodium hialuronate, matryxil 6) and it works at hydrating but I don't really like the texture, it's a tad sticky (possibly because of the niacinamide). A little goes a long way.

Clinique Pep-Start Exfoliating Cleanser - I got a sample of this with purchase. I assumed it was an acid or enzyme cleanser and was disappointed to find that it had bits in it. I still have no idea whats in it because ingredients are not listed on my sample and I can't find them on clinique website. It says that it's gentle enough to use twice a day. Uhm, no. It's got bits in and it lathers. Worked a treat on my legs though.

And finally, makeup that got old: Nars creamy concealer (good), Bourjois blush (it's alright) and MUA cream bronzer (too orange, too dark, can't remember where I got this from, I certainly did not purchase this?).

In the search of the perfect eye shadow palette

I've had this feeling for a while that it might be time for me to purchase a new eye shadow palette.
It probably has to do with the fact that the beauty market has been exploding with various palettes this year.
I've been oohing and aahing but could not make up my mind for the longest time.

When it comes to make-up and especially eye shadows, I am quite minimalistic, I don't feel the need to use eye shadows everyday. For the past two years the only eyeshadows I have used was Charlotte Tilbury's eye shadow quad in Sophisticate. It had a nice brightening your-skin-but-better shade, a slightly darker beige one for the crease, warmer dark brown for smoky eye and a matte grey brown which was the perfect colour for my eyebrows!


Nearly two years later, I have used up the lightest colour and I still haven't reached the pan on all the other ones. Now that I'm writing this, I'm wondering why have I even decided that I need a new palette... I could have just purchased a singular pale cream colour and been done with it... Oh, but the heart wants what it wants. *shrugs*

I have decided to go for a high end brand rather than high street. I am sure that high street offers some amazing quality eye shadows but call me what you want, I enjoy a pretty design and packaging.

I've looked at most of the brands...

Charlotte Tibury: The Dolce Vita and The Golden Goddess looked nice and so did the face palettes, but I felt like it was time for a larger palette. And non Charlotte Tilbury for once.

Same goes to Chanel/ Dior/ Tom Ford. That said, I was lusting big time after Tom Ford's Honeymoon and Nude Dip palettes... But £64 for four colours. Yowza!

Violet Voss/ Morphe Brushes: The palettes are too big. I don't need that many colours.

Anastasia Beverly Hills: Modern Renaissance. This is probably great since everyone and their mother has one, but I wasn't attracted to the colours, especially the hot pink and red one.

Zoeva: Some great colour combinations and great value for money. Not surprisingly however the packaging is cheap and since I'm intending to use my palette for a couple of years, I doubt it would last or stay looking presentable for a long time.

Urban Decay: the heat palette seems a tad too warm for my liking and I'm kind of over the Naked palettes.

MAC: I heard the palettes are not of the best quality... They might have suited me OK since I am not a professional, but the packaging didn't look great either.

Stilla/Smashbox and Tarte came close to being picked but then I stumbled across the new-ish Nars Loaded Palette in Strike it Rich and I knew I've found THE ONE. It has both mattes and shimmers, plenty of light colours, warm browns, interesting gold, reddish bronze... For me, it seems to have it all and more. Quite an upgrade from the quad of mattes I've been using even though I still think CT quad in The Sophisticate is a great basic.
Nars palette is not cheap, it's £55 but it offers 12 colours and a nice sturdy packaging with huge mirror. I took my time to check all the retailers and decided to purchase from Space NK because they had free shipping, best samples and let me use two voucher codes to add two additional luxury sized samples (Lancer and Vita Liberata), score!

I've had this palette for a few days now and I'm really happy with it. There's so many looks to try! 

What's your favourite palette?

Retinoiding. The Ordinary Advanced Retinoid 2%. Review.

I think when most people hear the word retinol or retinoid, they either don't know what that is or they immediately think "major extreme harsh anti-ageing skin treatment". It's true with the prescription creams. However, there seems to be trend happening at the moment where major skincare brands are looking into making the vitamin A products as mild and non-irritating as possible while still delivering the results.

Human psychology is a funny thing though. I had a friend saying that she didn't like the Ordinary because she felt that it didn't do anything. I kind of felt the same thing about The Ordinary's The Buffet serum because there was no immediate effect. So how do we know that it works? With harsh retinoid products we see peeling and irritation and then the skin seems really great which is exciting and obviously we see the reaction which means it's working. With gentle retinoids there is no reaction, the skin looks alright all the time.

That's how I felt when I started using The Ordinary retinoid serum. I would use it every other night, avoiding using acids at the same time and would apply calming face oil afterwards. And it was alright, the serum was of pleasant milky consistency and my skin felt comfortable and slightly glowy right after the application. No irritation, redness or peeling at all.

I decided to use this serum every night for a week just to see if I notice any difference. And actually, I did. My skin is dryish-dehydrated but also prone to congestion, so I tend to use acids a lot to help with it. In the week of my retinoid use, I avoided using acids which usually help me with congestion. Still, I would always wake up with a smooth skin and by the end of the week I that my skin texture changed slightly and got smoother. I had zero spots the whole week. This is not atypical but I do get a spot from time to time.

Anti-ageing properties? Probably there are some. Try it for yourself with no fear and see. It's only £8.00. No cream will help deep wrinkles but continuous use may help to prevent some. Make sure to wear sunscreen!

All in all, I enjoyed using The Ordinary's Advanced 2% Retinoid and will continue using it. Seeing as this is the first retinoid product I have used, I will be interested to try some others and compare. But I will be sticking to the gentle ones.

June empties

Quite a lot of beauty empties this month and a little bit of everything.

BODY
The Body Shop Body Butter in Jolly Orange - like all of the Body Shop butters it has a nice texture, sinks in quickly, is nourishing and moisturising. Took me AGES to finish it and in that time I went through a love/hate relationship with the smell. It's citrusy and spicy but in a rather artificial way. I will repurchase but not in this smell. It was limited edition anyway.
Chanel Coco Mademoiselle Eau de Parfum - my signature scent. Will definitely repurchase, probably the 100ml because I just have to have it in my collection. I don't care how uncool it is to love something that everyone likes. Everyone likes it for a reason.

HAIR
Co Lab Dry Shampoo in Fresh - good basic dry shampoo. I prefer the smell of Active.
Josh Wood Radiant Shine Hair Treatment Oil - I liked using this as a pre-shampoo treatment. Gorgeous smell. Amazing.

FACE. SKINCARE
Pixi + Caroline Hirons Double Cleanse - nice as always. Full review here.
Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel - this is one of the stronger acids I have tried. Proper tingling action. Visible results after one application, the skin felt much smoother but I broke out a bit too. I'm going to stick to gentler acids during summer, I think. Smells lovely.
Indie Lee CoQ 10 Toner - I miss it. Definitely worth repurchasing if one can afford it. I can't at the moment. I did some damage in the clothing sales. Full review here.
Clinique Moisture Surge Hydrating Supercharged Concentrate sample - Nice. Hydrating. Not sticky. Wouldn't mind a full size.
UltraSun Face SPF30 - oh it's alright. I don't miss it. Comparison with other sunscreens here.

FACE. MAKEUP
Charlotte Tilbury Full Fat Lashes - I grew to really like this but it's not repurchase worthy. Do get the sample size if you're ordering from CT website!


No favourites this month. I will probably do summer favourites in a month or so.
Next post if all goes well should be all about The Ordinary advanced 2% retinoid! This week I will be using it EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. Wish me luck. I will report back.

Indie Lee CoQ 10 Toner. Review.

Image from indielee.com

I don't know about you guys, but I haven't used a proper toner toner in years. Except for a little sample sized Dr Hauschka toner that I was sent this year. For ages it's been all about acid toners and not much else. And it still is, however I think that there's definitely a place in the market (and in my routine) for this toner as you can easily layer it over an acid.

In fact, using this over an acid is perfect, because most acids do irritate and leave the skin reddish and tingling and this toner not only soothes and calms but also hydrates and works against ageing. It's kind of a simpler version of Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel (review of that one coming soon).

Indie Lee CoQ 10 is full of goodness: CoQ10 (antioxidant which protects the skin from environmental damage and helps with collagen and elastin production), aloe vera, chamomile and cucumber sooth, calm and stabilise skin's ph levels and hyaluronic acid hydrates and plumps the skin. And it smells sooo good!

Negatives? I don't like using a cotton pad with it, I feel like a lot of the product gets wasted. In fact, when we were having a heatwave here in the UK I started just pouring some of the toner into my palm and patting it on my face like you would with an essence. Imagine this toner with a really fine spray? *daydreams*

Will I repurchase? Yes. Eventually. Next, I want to try Darphan Intral Toner and compare it to Indie Lee. I also have Indie Lee's Brightening and Rosehip cleansers on my (ever expanding) wish list...

Charlotte Tilbury Penelope Pink vs Bitch Perfect

Am I the only one who can wear nude-y lipsticks only when I have a bit of tan on? It may have a lot to do with my colouring. I am light skinned, but not the fairest of them all. And I tan really easily.
Anyways, with the summer truly here I've found myself reaching for these two lippies most days. They're creamy, moisturising and pigmented.

'Bitch Perfect' (God, this has GOT to be the best lippie name ever!) is described as peach-toned nude creamy lipstick and 'Penelope Pink' is nude lipstick with pink undertones, according to charlottetilbury.com.

Let's take a look at the swatch:

Can you guess which one is which? 

Actually, the left one is Bitch Perfect and the right one is Penelope Pink. I see no peachiness in Bitch Perfect and no pink undertones in Penelope Pink... Is it just me? I wondered whether the little labels on my mini lipstick got mixed up, but I don't think so because I checked at the CT counter and the colours were the same. 

What's up with that CT?

In any case, I love them both. If you're in any doubt which lipstick to choose, go to the counter and check them out because the look really depends on your natural lip colour. If you can't get to the counter you could get the mini lipstick charms (set of 3) online for just £29.00.

Thoughts on SPFs. Part 1.

I am on a constant search for the perfect sunscreen and I keep trying new ones. Here's what I've found so far:

Ultrasun SPF30 Face Anti-Ageing Sun Protection for Very Sensitive Skin (18.99 for 50ml)

Description: Advanced all-in-one skin care and sun protection. A product that is raved about by make up artists the world over. Providing sun protection and moisturisation in one mattifying product. So versatile that you can use it as a primer base to your make up. Airless pump dispenser to prevent product deterioration and contamination. Incorporating the very latest skin care research and advances, Face 30 delivers very high, all day protection (UVA 98% Australian Standard and UVB SPF 30) with just one application. It is free from oils, emulsifiers and perfume reducing the risk of allergy and making it especially suitable for sensitive skins. Like all Ultrasun products, it is non-greasy, water-resistant and easy to use. (superdrug.com)

My description: A white cream that smells strongly of alcohol when applied but the smell doesn't linger. The alcohol is second in the ingredients list. I was worried about the alcohol level in this, but it this didn't seem to have any negative effect on my skin. It sinks in quickly into the skin (probably due to the alcohol), doesn't leave a white cast. While it doesn't feel greasy on application, my skin quickly becomes shiny when I use this. I very doubt it is moisturising enough to use as a moisturiser and it does nothing as a primer, even though it claims to be "A beautiful product that is a sun screen, moisturiser and primer rolled into one". Sure you can use it under make-up, but how is it a primer? All day protection? I very much doubt it.

Pixi Sun Mist SPF30 (£18 for 80ml)

Description: An innovative way to wear sunscreen, {Pixi}’s Sun Mist is the ultimate finishing touch to your morning-time beauty routine. A sheer, featherweight spritz, this can be sprayed under or over make up (it won't disturb your handiwork) to provide sustained, broad-spectrum protection from the damaging effects of UV rays. 

My description: While I love some of Pixi products, this is not one of them. First of all, the spray is not fine enough, I ended up with some droplets on my clothes. When spraying, keep this away from anything leather! Second, this made my skin SO shiny. I like dewy. I'm not a matte skin fan. But this made me look AND feel so greasy. It is better under the makeup, but then, why would I use a spray spf under make-up? The whole point is to easily top up your SPF during the day with a spritz. This doesn't work. It's great for my body, leaves a nice sheen. 

Clinique Sheer City Block SPF25 and Clinique Super City Block SPF40.

These two are my favourites so far. They're both slightly tinted, not enough to cover the blemishes, but enough to even out and colour correct the skin tone. This plus a concealer is enough coverage for me, especially during summer. I find that if I use the Clinique Super City Block SPF40 without a moisturiser underneath, the tint turns darker and orange on my skin, but it is perfect with a light moisturiser like January Labs' Moisture Balancing Lotion. It also doesn't get greasy. It is oil free and although it feels rather rich upon application, it sinks in fast leaving the skin looking dewy, definitely not matte. 

Alpha H Protection Plus Daily SPF50+

This is also tinted, but much darker than the Clinique ones and I am not even sure if I ever will get so tan for this to suit my skintone. Feels really hydrating but my skin gets shiny very quickly with this. Too dark and greasy? Not an attractive look. This may look great on someone with olive skintone and REALLY dry and parched skin that never gets shiny or sweaty in hot weather? 

Alpha H vs Clinique

May Empties

It's that time of the month again!

L'Oreal Elvive Extraordinary Oil Low Shampoo - good, I have mentioned this in favourites a while ago. While it is really gentle, it struggled to wash dry shampoo out of my hair. I ended up with a build up near my scalp... I purchased the white and red version of this for coloured hair but I will be using a clearing shampoo once a week or so. The L'Oreal shampoo also gets used up rather quickly. It's a whopping 400ml but you need 10 to 15 pumps per wash!

 Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm - old favourite and holy grail. I will repurchase it when there's a discount somewhere. Am I the only one who wishes they still had the 3x 50ml pots for sale? And what's with the music on their official website? It's 2017 for Christ's sake...

Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse - this took me ages to finish. Didn't want to use it on my face or my hair. It was fine on my body after shower. The smell lingered for quite a while. I wish it smelled less perfumey.

Real Techniques Expert Face Brush - I repurchased this already. You can't see it in the picture but part of the bristles are about to fall out. My fault, I didn't look after it properly and it still lasted for 4 years or so. This is still my favourite to apply foundation. I will try beauty blender sometime. I swear.

Pixi Glow Mud Cleanser - also a favourite. Gentle, clearing cleanser with a bit of clay and glycolic action. Non foaming. Perfect as a second cleanse in the evening when you want something with a bit more oomph than your typical cream cleanser.

The Ordinary NMF + HA - basic good moisturizer. I will repurchase this later in the year.

The Ordinary Buffet - I grew to like this, especially for warmer weather. Nice and gentle, slightly hydrating. I still don't know if it's doing anything anti-ageing but I would use it again.

Cult Beauty + CH Box. First Impressions

Overall, I am very happy with this box. I knew I wanted to get it because I was particularly interested in Zelens Power D oil and Tata Harper Regenerating eye cream and I would have probably bought them at some point this year. Just these two items cost £195. The box also includes Indie Lee toner, Dr Dennis Gross peel pads (both brands I have heard of a lot and haven't tried). And Pixi + CH double cleanse, of course,  which is a favourite of mine.

The only product that I had my doubts about was the January Labs lotion, purely because they call it a lotion. I, as an owner of a dry-ish and dehydrated skin, don't typically go for lotions. However, I LOVE the consistency and feel of January Labs Moisture Balancing Lotion. It is light, yet really hydrating and will be perfect for warmer summer days.

Another product I know I will love until the end is Tata Harper Regenerating Eye Cream. It's not only a texture that I like (creamy but not too heavy. sinks in fast and moisturises well) or the smell (reminds me of Dr Hauschka eye cream) but also the effect on my skin. I don't know how to describe it, but it just looks and feels better. Instantly. The pump is a bit annoying because it deposits way too much product, I only need like a third of a pump because a little goes a long way (thank God, because this is one pricey eye cream!).

Zelens Power D is a lightweight oil which sinks in fast and leaves the skin comfortable and nourished. Indie Lee CoQ10 Toner also has some calming and soothing properties. Can't say much about anti-ageing but my skin liked it. And it smells good!

The only thing I haven't tried is the Dr Dennis Gross acid pads because I currently have three different forms of acids on rotation (liquid, serum and mask. and not all at the same time!) and I need to finish some of them up.

I wish the box had included some kind of fancy SPF but that's just me being super picky. All in all, money well spent. I am probably sorted for most things skincare until autumn. Except SPF.

April Favourites!

How is it the 8th of May already and it's STILL dark and cold outside. So NOT impressed with this spring. Apologies for a grainy picture yet again, I blame the weather, clearly.

I haven't bought anything much this month and that's because I forked out the big bucks for a 100ml of Frederic Malle Portrait of a Lady. It is a gorgeous rose scent, quite dark and intoxicating and the staying power is superb. Try it if you get a chance!

Next, it is The Ordinary again with two overnight treatments: Advanced Retinoid 2% (full review is coming soon) and Lactic Acid 5% + HA 2%. Both are super gentle but effective.

Pixi by Petra Multi Balm in Wild Rose is so easy to use and has been my blusher of choice for months. I just apply it straight from the stick and blend it out with a brush.

Philip Kingsley Daily Damage Defense spray is an old favourite. Offers heat protection, doesn't weigh my hair down and smells GOOD.

And finally, style favourites: my 22k yellow gold earrings I bought in India and my monochrome leopard blouse from Primark. A true high and low mix here.


Anyone else excited about CH + Cult Beauty box? Fingers crossed I will manage to snap it up!

                             

April Empties

 Bliss Multi-face-eted clay mask - it took me AGES to finish this one. Clay + 10% glycolic mask sounds great. But this thing does NOT wash off easily and stains my wash cloths. To wash it off my face I had to use an oil cleanser! I finally gave up and started using this on my legs as an ingrown hair treatment.

Pixi + CH double cleanse - great. Full review here.

Philip Kingsley Elizastisizer - this is another #carolinehironsmademedoit product. Nice mask/pre-wash treatment for dry coloured hair. I will repurchase.

Philip Kingsley Perfecting Spray - meh. I used this before blow drying my hair and it was alright. But I much prefer the daily defense spray from PK which I am using at the moment.

Ren Flash Rinse 1 minute vit C facial - good. full review here. It oxidised slightly in the end. Will not repurchase. I think when it comes to vit C, serums are the way to go.

Clinique City Block Sheer SPF25 - my favourite. I want to get the SPF40 from the same line but it is sold out everywhere! Argh.

More empties and stuff that just went bad:

Dr Hauschka cleansing cream and toner - both products I like and have used previously. Love the smell and how gentle they are.

MAC Prep+Prime eyelid primer - had this for too long. And there are better primers on the market.

By Terry lip gloss in cupcake glaze (?) - Nice lip gloss. Not worth the price. I did not purchase this. The smell went bad so to the bin it goes.

NYX lip liner - It was okay, I prefer a liner that stays put better. This one was... too creamy.

Eyeko eyeliner - If you're considering buying this, don't. It dried up within weeks and was difficult to use. Get the Stila stay all day eye liner instead ;)

Real Techniques brow brush - this is quite old and the bristles caved in to the brush handle, if that makes any sense.

Makeup of the day. Flatlay

AM Routine

Wednesdays morning routine. Hydration + Protection.

Emma Hardie Moringa cleansing balm, The Ordinary "Buffet", Hydraluron, Alpha H Absolute Eye Complex, The Prdinary NMF and Ultrasun face spf30.

Is it too weird that I am really enjoying the accents of pink in this photo? To see more photos of my skincare routines and more, follow me on Instagram (@beautycomparisonsite)

The Ordinary "Buffet" serum review

Apologies for a grainy image!
Sigh, after a month of use, I don't know what to say about this serum!

The Ordinary's "Buffet" is a multi-technology peptide serum that targets multiple signs of ageing at once.

The technologies are Matrixyl 3,000 peptide complex (with palmitoyl-pentapeptide 35), Matrixyl Synthe'6 peptide complex (with palmitoyl tripeptide-38), Syn-Ake peptide complex (with dipeptide diaminobutyroyl benzylamide diacetate), Relistase peptide complex (with acetylarginyltryptophyl diphenylglycine), Argirelox peptide complex (with acetyl hexapeptide-8, pentapeptide-18), Probiotic complex (with lactococcus lactis lysate), in a base of 11 skin-friendly amino acids and multiple hyaluronic acid complexes. The total concentration of these technologies in the formula by weight is 25.1%.

It is a gloopy liquid that is slightly milky in colour. 3 drops are typically enough for my entire face and it sinks in fairly quickly but the skin is left slightly sticky. I don't mind it much. It layers well with other serums and doesn't affect makeup. No smell. I haven't noticed any irritation or negative effects on my skin. However. It's not hydrating, even though it has got HA in its' ingredients list. I still have to use a hyaluronic serum on top of it. To be honest, I haven't noticed any effect on my skin at all. Now, I am only (ha!) 30 years old so you might say I don't have a mature skin. But I am a mother to a toddler and haven't slept properly for the past 3 years, I enjoy my chocolate and coffee and an occasional cocktail so the tone and condition of my skin is not the same as it was in my early twenties. I just wish I saw any kind of improvement. But alas, nothing.

I will continue using this serum as prevention is good enough for me and I will post an update if/when I see any results.

This is the most expensive serum (except for one vit C) in The Ordinary range and it's £12.70 for 30ml.

March Favourites

L'Oreal Elvive Extraordinary Oil Low Shampoo: just got it last week, but I love it. Gentle, non foaming, hair feels super soft. I think I'm done with SLS for good.

Next sunglasses: self explanatory. Dior inspired.

Pixi Glow Mud Cleanser: This is an oldie but goodie. Gentle but effective, I like using this as a morning cleanse, the skin feels instantly brighter and soft, but not tight or dry.

Hydraluron: A staple in my routine. The best hyaluronic acid serum I've tried so far.

The Ordinary NMF. Good basic moisturizer. See review below.

Charlotte Tilbury eyeshadow quad in The Sophisticate. I don't like palettes in general because I never use them up but this one has a nice selection of basic colours that are nearly matte. Great quality.

The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA. A rave.

I, like many of us, typically assume that a really cheap product will not be great. The Ordinary moisturizer has proven me wrong. I actually really like it!

It comes out of a tube as a thick white cream but becomes runnier on the skin and sinks in quite quickly. Instantly, the skin is left feeling hydrated and comfortable. There's no leftover residue and my skin didn't look shiny, but it wasn't matte either, it looked plump and hydrated. Some moisturizers feel great but leave a residue on top of the skin that never quite sinks in.
If memory serves me right, this moisturizer is very similar to Ren Ultra Moisture Day Cream. Actually the sodium hyaluronate (hyaluronic acid) sits much higher on the ingredients list in the Ordinary NMF which means there is more of it than in the Ren Unltra Moisture.

No natural or added fragrance. Doesn't smell of anything. The packaging is simple but effective.

I found that I reached for this cream in the morning as it was perfect under makeup and I left richer face creams for the night time. I have read some reviews that the moisturizer made the spf and makeup roll off the skin during day time but I never found it to be the case.

I would like to hear about it more from people with combination or oily skins and see what they think, but if you believe that moisturizers should be quite simple and that most of active ingredients to treat skin concerns should come from serums, emulsions, essences and masks, this might be a moisturizer for you. And after all, the Ordinary NMF is not so simple:  It contains 11 amino acids, phospholipids, alpha/beta/gamma fatty acids, triglycerides, sterols and sterol esters, glycerin, ceramide precursors, urea, saccharides, sodium PCA and hyaluronic acid.

The best bit? It costs £4.90. Not even a full fiver! You can put the money you save towards a fancier serum!

I have been using the Ordinary NMF + HA for a month now and I will update you on whether I will repurchase when it goes into my empties pile.

March Empties

Not that many empties this month, this is due to my trip to India where I binned or gave away stuff so I wouldn't need to travel with it back home. But...

Emma Hardie Moringa cleansing balm 50ml. My favourite cleansing balm, nothing comes close, especially smell wise. Already repurchased.

Alpha H Essential Hydration Cream, 30ml. Nice and light, really hydrating, might repurchase for summer.

Garnier Skinactive Micellar Oil Infused Wipes. Again, these were useful in India. Took off makeup and dirt with ease, a bit too rough for my eye area. Very fragrant. I have another pack of these in storage so will not repurchase any time soon.

Ren Evercalm Global Protection Day Cream. Creamy and soothing but not too heavy.

Charlotte Tilbury Legendary Lashes. I can't deal with this. Plenty left in the tube but I hate the smudging with passion. To the bin it goes!

Ren Flash Rinse One Minute Facial Vit C

I do enjoy a bit of Ren. They have way too many products (imo) but everything I've tried I liked! This little Vit C mask is no exception. I got this sample of 20ml in their radiance set (John Lewis was selling those half price a while ago, it was a no brainer impulse buy) and it has lasted me a good few months, however I have been using this only once, not three times a week as suggested. Imagine how long the full 75ml will last!  

Ingredients:

Coconut alkanes, ascorbic acid, coco-caprylate/ caprate, silica, sodium cocoyl glutamate, mannitol, citrus aurantium dulcis (orange) flower oil, yeast extract, helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil, boswellia carterii oil, boswellia serrata extract, azulene, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, glycogen, daucus carota sativa (carrot) root extract, daucus carota sativa (carrot) seed oil, beta-carotene, ascorbyl palmitate, limonene

Okay, so this is a 1 minute mask. After cleansing you apply it all over the face, dampen your fingers and massage for one minute. The water on your fingertips activates the vit C and after one minute you rinse your face clean. 

The actual mask is bluish green and grainy. The grainy texture disappears in contact with water. It smells what I imagine vit C to smell, a bit lemony and a bit like iron...

The skin tingles and gets pink but calms down  as soon as you rinse the face. My skin is a bit dry and it feels a bit tight so I usually rush to apply something hydrating straight afterwards.

This is great if you're looking for something instant for a dull and lacklustre skin, unless your skin is super dry and sensitive. I haven't noticed the mask having any longer term effect on the skin, but every little bit helps, eh? 

Vit C is very much THE ingredient in skincare these days, the market is exploding! I am currently using Emma Hardie's Vit C moisturiser and would love to try Clinique's powder cleanser with pure vit C... 

What do you think of this Vit C trend? Have you tried any products that you loved?

Pixi + Caroline Hirons Double Cleanse Review

Okay, as soon as I read that rockstar of skincare Caroline Hirons was collaborating with Pixi to release a cleanser two things were absolutely clear to me: 1. I need it. 2. It will be awesome. And I was right. After all, I love Pixi skincare and I love Caroline.

Pixi + Caroline Hirons Double Cleanse is two cleansers in one round pot separated like Yin and Yang. The solid oil cleanser (with vitamin E, camelia and evening primrose oils) removes all the makeup, spf, dirt, grease, what have you, and the creamy cleanser (with vitamin C, peptide complex and Arginnie) gently cleanses the skin. The skin feels soft and nourished afterwards. I especially like using this cleanser whilst taking a bath. I slowly massage the oil cleanser over my face, emulsify with a bit of water and remove it with moist flannel, then I apply the creamy cleanser and leave it on my skin as a mask. Gorgeous.

I kind of wish this cleanser had a smell but I must be a minority and I do realise that they wanted to create a cleanser that even the most sensitive of skins could use.

The cost is pretty great too, £24 for a tub that lasts a long time. It's only 2x 50ml but you don't need much at all.  Emma Hardie Moringa Balm (another of my favourites) costs £38 for the same 100ml.

Will I repurchase? Absolutely. It's out of stock in my local M&S. And M&S online too. How rude. I need to stash some away, in case it gets discontinued.

Balance Me Radiance Face Oil Review

photo from balanceme.co.uk

This is the one and only Balance Me product that I have tried. I can't remember when I received a sample 10ml roller ball of Balance Me Radiance Face Oil... was it in M&S advent calendar?

Anyways, I've used this on and off all winter, however I was also using the previously reviewed EH and Clarins oils at the same time and I noticed I was reaching for them more than for this little roller ball bottle. It's probably because of the smell. It's similar to the Clarins Blue Orchid but more intense. It's that botanical/medicinal/herbal smell that is okay with me in general. However, if you've got a nicer smelling oil, you'd probably reach for that one. Also, I could've sworn one of the ingredients was sea buckthorn oil because it smells like it, but nope. Too bad. I love sea buckthorn.

Smell aside, it's a nice oil, especially if you're looking for something natural and budget friendly (£30 for 30ml). It would be a great for someone who's just entering the world of facial oils and has dull, dehydrated or mature skin. It sinks in easily (only 2 drops needed!) and has not irritated my skin.

By the way, Caroline Hirons advises to use this oil as a sort of topical spot treatment. Interesting.

P.S. I just noticed CH blog post was written in 2013. I am SO late to the party! Oops.

AM routine

This is not a constant routine because I do change things up quite a bit, but I have been using the Balance Me Radiance Face Oil every day. Review coming soon.
Also pictured: Pixi + CH Double Cleanse, Ren Flash Hydro-boost emulsion, Emma Hardie Moisture Boost vit+C cream and Skyn Icelandic relief eye cream.
TGIF!

M&S Rosie for Autograph Lip Glossy in Supermodel Smile Review

Rosie for Autograph Lip Glossy is Marks and Spencers take on the crayon style lip product, a trend that seems to have avalanched. Clinique Chubby Sticks, Nars Velvet Gloss Lip Pencils, Chanel Le Rouge Crayons, Hourglass Lip Stylos, Revlon Colorburst Balms... And those are just the ones I could remember.

 M&S have in this case decided to opt for a very sheer lip gloss type product: 'A jelly soft lip gloss with a cushiony feel, gives lips brilliant colour with a smooth, water shine finish.' 

So it's a lip product that looks like a lip gloss when applied, has texture of a lipstick and is presented as a lip crayon, whatever that is. 

I got the colour Supermodel Smile and I like it. It's a pinky mauvey nude with some silver sparkle. I don't want to use term glitter because I always imagine large pieces of glitter and it's not the case here.

It feels like a lip balm, perhaps slightly stickier however still comfortable and hydrating. Lips look glossy. The staying power is also of a lip balm so one needs to reapply quite often but since it's such a sheer colour the mirror is not really neccesary.

All in all, it is a nice product even if slightly overpriced (£12.50). It is trying and I guess succeeding to look luxe in rose gold and large packaging, but do keep in mind that there's only 2,5g of product, so it's the size of a smallish lipstick. Will I repurchase? Probably not.

Charlotte Tilbury Legendary Lashes Mascara vs Charlotte Tilbury Full Fat Lashes Mascara

I love Charlotte Tilbury. Every beauty blogger/makeup enthusiast loves Charlotte Tilbury. Her lipsticks, eyeshadow quads, powders, even skincare is great. However. The mascaras are... meh.
I think when it comes to mascara this applies to a lot of luxury makeup brands because high street mascaras are pretty much equal in quality if not better and at a fraction of cost.

Now mascaras just like anything else depends on personal preferences and the type of lashes they have. I have straight, thin and blond lashes and there's a lot of them. They are soft and they easily hold their shape if curled. I like lengthening, separating and buildable mascaras. If they manage to lift and slightly curl my lashes, that's a big bonus.

stock photos from charlottetilbury.com

Charlotte Tilbury offers two mascaras in her range. Full Fat Lashes (£23) and Legendary Lashes (£25). After reading the descriptions and reviews on her website I opted to purchase the Full Fat Lashes and selected to receive a sample of the Legendary Lashes.

I hate having several mascaras on rotation so I only opened Legendary Lashes first. I hate this mascara. It's soo not for me. The mascara was too wet, I had to be super careful when applying because the brush is rather large and if I tried to get close to the roots of the lashes I would typically get stuff on my lids. And guess what. As soon as you try to wipe it off, you make it much much worse *facepalm* Application aside the Legendary Lashes didn't seem to dry down and God forbid you accidentally touch them or get teary or greasy or sweaty eyelids... You end up with raccoon eyes. Imagine if you got caught in the rain! *shudders*. Taking this mascara off was an experience in itself. It comes off easily but if you're using micellar water with cotton pad it stains, spreads and dyes the water and pads so much that I had to use 4 pads just get the stuff of my eyes (I typically use 1-2 pads in total to take eye and face makeup).

One good thing about the Legendary Lashes is that it builds up like crazy and your lashes can indeed look fake. But keeping in mind that this mascara smudges so much I would rather invest in actual fake lashes.

Brushes compared

I was slightly apprehensive to try the Full Fat Lashes. It couldn't be much worse than the Legendary ones though. Again at first I didn't like the wetness of the mascara and the brush seemed quite similar to the Legendary Lashes. However if the mascara went on my lids it was easy to wipe and it didn't smudge THAT much. It still smudged a bit. I blame my oily eyelids or the fact that I almost never use powder. I do like waterproof formulas.

Full Fat Lashes coats lashes while separating and lengthening them. Mascara is buildable and it never clumps lashes. They indeed look full and fat but naturally so, not fake or spidery.

If Charlotte Tilbury made waterproof version of Full Fat Lashes I would happily repurchase. For now though, I will finish the tube I own, bin the Legendary Lashes and probably go back to trying new high street mascaras. There's so many to choose from!