Sad Buys.

Also to be referred to as products I regret buying. I've seen most of these work for a lot of people so it's probably something I'm doing wrong, or just my skin, but don't let my misery deter you if you want them...
On with the show.


Up first, skincare:

Boots Traditional Glycerin and Rosewater Toner

What boots say:

"A cooling, refreshing beautifier that softens and moisturises the skin. This toner and moisturiser is lanolin-free and works well as a toner before using a skin cream."

What I say:

I was using this as a standard toner. I tried using it in the morning and it was far too rich (an odd way to describe a toner, no?) to wear under my day cream so I started using it at night, underneath my night cream. I applied with a cotton pad and waited for it to sink in... And waited. And waited. And waited. and eventually ended up rubbing it in myself. It just sat there on top of the skin, being damp. I found that I woke up with my skin feeling really oily in the morning too but that could be because of my night cream (I'm using steam cream at the moment).

I may persevere and try using it without a cream over the top as a light summer moisturiser... But I am concerned that it's making me break out so we'll have to see!

Soap And Glory - Wish Upon A Jar

What Soap and Glory say:

"Our unique formula contains a potent mix of shea butter, tetrapeptides, antioxidants and oxygen boosters to help boost moisture levels, smooth fine lines and wrinkles, brighten tired skin and hide flaws."

What I say:

I'm just going to leave a link here of my Wish Upon A Breakout Review which pretty much says it all.

What I will add is that I emailed Soap And Glory to let them know about what was happening with my skin and they emailed me back saying it takes 6 weeks for your skin to get used to a product.... Which seems pretty irrelevant to a product marketed as a "21 day collagen overhaul cream". It even makes a point of saying not to use it for any longer than that time. What's a girl to do?

Next we have make up:

MAC Matte Lipstick in Ruby Woo

What MAC Say:

 There isn't a specific description for this lipstick but the description of their lipsticks on the whole is: "Colour plus texture for the lips. Stands out on the runway. Simmers on the street! What made M·A·C famous."

What I say:

First: application. As you can see from the second texture, the bullet has already been defaced, after only one application! I applied it directly, without using a brush and it dragged across my lips, and when I tried to fill in caps it stuck to itself. My lips were in top condition, no dry patches anywhere, and well moisturised. But... it was like using a crayon! I'll try it will a brush and hope for better results. It looked pretty good when it was on though (rubbish phone picture alert).

Secondly: Staying power. It was fine and stayed on all day... Until I ate something. My lunch got stuck to the lipstick, and when I wiped it off, the lipstick came with it, how confusing. 

Thirdly: Removal. When I took it off, three sections of my lips came with it and left my lips exceedingly dry which I'm now trying to rectify. I actually started bleeding!

Benefit They're Real Mascara

What Benefit Say:

"They're real! is the UK's No.1 best-selling mascara!*They're real! lengthens, curls, volumizes, lifts & separates. Our jet black, long-wearing formula won’t smudge or dry out. A specially designed brush reveals lashes you never knew you had."

What I say:

It's mascara. That's really all I found it to be. It just coats my eyelashes but doesn't really do anything else to them. I'm big into volume and separation but unfortunately this just doesn't match up to my darling Maxfactor False Lash Effect mascara. It could be lengthening but for me that's not enough to justify paying nearly 20,000 pennies for. Now obligitory pictures:

If anyone has any recommendations that would make me love these products, please let me know! I still have them all in my collection, just in case!

Soap and Glory Thick and Fast Mascara - first impressions.

This is a post that has been lurking about, waiting to be posted since snow day (in the third week of January). So, first impressions will be coupled with current opinion.

I got this mascara in the S&G massive christmas gift thing they did at christmas. Someone must have told santa I like them because I got three. THREE. I'm good for bath stuff until christmas 2013.

This is what the mascara looks like.

I prefer a plastic bristled brush (my ultimate favourite mascara currently stands as Maxfactor False Lash Effect, and has done for the past 6 years or so), or at least a small brush. I didn't have very high hopes when I saw it wasn't plastic, and the brush was giant. Like a hairbrush. For your eyes. Oh my word, remember hair mascara? Such dark days.

I digress.

This is how my stubby little eyelashes look post (some jolly terrible) make-up, pre-mascara application.

And this is after:

 

I've noticed recently that it needs a good couple of coats to look like this, but there's very little clumping so it's not too bothersome, unless your time is limited. I'm a fan of anything that makes me look like I have eyelashes so I can honestly say I was impressed by this, especially as I'm not ordinarily a fan of the type of brush.

Finally here's a full face before and after:

It's a good job I like it seeing as I have another two to get through!

All Gone!

Incredibly shoddy picture quality, I know. I'm sorry. It was an amalgamation of using my iPhone, the snow day lighting, and my boyfriends bed being the easiest place to actually take the picture.

These are the products I've used up this month, and my this month I mean today. I finished them all this morning, post shower.

Alison Clarke Remarkable Mango Body Butter - from a GlossyBox. I moaned that it didn't smell like mango. My chap then came to the rescue of what the scent *actually* was by squealing "OHMYGODYOUSMELLLIKEMAPLESYRUPMMM!!" which posed a problem, as I hate maple syrup. It was only a tester though, so I only got 3.5 full body uses out of it and it was gone. The product itself was lovely, easily absorbed, and left skin feeling soft!

Planet Spa Japanese Sake and Rice Luminous Face Treatment - Serum. Illuminating, easily absorbed, will definitely think about repurchasing in the future when I use up the backlog of serum I have floating about in drawers.

Maxfactor Masterpiece Mascara - my second favourite mascara ever. It's a nice back up to have in my make-up bag in case anything goes awry with any new mascaras... I love having something I know works to fall back on!

The Body Shop Vitamin E Day Cream - Another from a GlossyBox. I used to use this along with the night cream at uni, then I forgot about it so I had a little wave of nostalgia every time I used it! Unfortunately it didn't treat me as wonderfully as it has previously. I think my skin must have changed because I noticed halfway through the day that my skin started to look slightly shiny... I have got an oily t-zone though so that's no big surprise. The product itself applies like a dream, with a faint refreshing/almost comforting scent. I might invest in the night cream to see if I still get the same joy from that.