Supermarket Sweep

Bonjou Friends

Some times an idea for a post literately smacks you in the face when your thinking about something else, anything else other then bloggin. This is one of those times I woke up this morning and simply knew what I wanted to do and what I wanted to include.

Here's the concept then, the big shop. I am literally the one who does all the big shops as the boy works Monday - Friday and I don't. You know what, the big shop always seems like a good idea until I get there and have to put up with screaming kids and old people who just stop dead in the middle of the isle no matter what they want. Hence almost every time I go I erm treat myself for the pain of having to go with a little something from the 'cosmetic' section.

You can find some amazing products in the supermarket you wouldn't normally think twice about and usually at the cheapest price to. I am not a Boots shopper yes shock horror if I do need anything nine times out of ten I literately go in grab what I want, pay obviously and leave, not much browsing no impulse buys I'm in and out. So most of the time I get the 'boring' products when I do the big shop i.e. dry shampoo, body wash maybe a cream.

This is what I have been buying recently and loving these are starting to become my staple items.

The Next Time Your At The Checkout & You Hear The Beep.....

This is my newest little treat lets say. Its my birthday in about a month and I've almost ran out of my Clinque dramatically different moisturiser but didn't want to buy a new one as I'll probably get one so I thought I would pick up the plain old Nivea. Now looking at the prices a small pot of the original was £2.50 and then I spotted this Rich Regenerating Night Cream and to my surprise it was only £2.

A few nights in and I'm loving it! its really nice and rich and smells lovely even in the morning I could feel it on my skin. With the cold weather now in full flow its such a nice cream to use nightly after my Estee Lauder Night Repair.

Yep I'm jumping on the band wagon, my EOS has almost ran out and my new one wont be here for a few weeks and I spotted this new little lovely. It smells amazing to me it smells like sorbe and is very moisturising without being greasy like Vaseline can be.  

The first of these is a Waitrose own Baby Bottom Butter that has come some sort of yummy mummy saviour and I love the products description and for £2.98 why not.

This rich moisturising cream has been made using only the purest ingredients, to sooth and protect your baby's skin. However, as many women have found, it can also be used on the face for a fresh, pampered complexion. The cream is enhanced with olive oil and chamomile, chosen for their nourishing properties, and also has a gentle vanilla fragrance to calm your baby.

I found this to be quite greasy but felt amazing, I put in on before bed and woke up with baby soft skin. The only down fall is I was worried it might bring me out in spots with it being so greasy so I only use it now and again when I'm in need of some serious moisture. 

Second is a new hair product from Loreal, the Matt & Messy spray. This is another replacement for a product I ran out of and decided to try something new without spending loads. I have to say this actually works better for me as a fixing spray then to spray into damp hair and towel dry. I use my wand to create some soft waves and spray this over to create a little bit of a matt look and hold.

The first product I simply love because its on offer at the moment for £1 in Asda and I've been stocking up on them. Any Original Source shower gel smells amazing and that's the main reason why I buy it, then hide it so the boy cant use it.

Second is a Dove body cream that had a very slight hint of glitter in it. Its called Dove Silky Nourishment with a shimmering glow. I actually love this for holidays when your tanned and just want a little bit extra. It is a nice moisturiser not to thick that absorbs quite quickly.  

Last but not least is the original miracle cream Sudocrem, I bought this a while ago in a sun burn emergency and found it helped clear my skin much quicker then some of the spot creams I've tried. It is an antiseptic healing cream that can look after Eczema, Minor Burns and Acne,

I usually use this a few times a month as an over night face mask but be warned it isn't pretty with a full white face and it can be quite messy.

What are your little supermarket treats? Do you use any of these products what do you think?

Thanks for reading 

 

Liz Earl vs REN

Hi guys

I while a go I did a review for a REN facial exfoliator check it out here. Now when it ran out a few weeks a go I was going to repurchase but decided very unlike me to try something new, I really don't do this very often as when I love something I usually stick to it.

The reason I decided to go for the Liz Earl Gentle Face Exfoliator is simply because I love my cleanse and polish. When I first tried the cleanse and polish I wasn't bowled over but after sticking with it for a while I really started to see the benefits. The Facial Exfoliator does exactly what is says on the tin and as long as I keep up with it using it twice a week I see great benefits.

The consistency compared to the REN is slightly creamier but the particles are pretty much the same. As for effectiveness I think they are both as good as each other really I wouldn't either of them was marginality better then the other. Yes I know this isn't much of an answer but its true the main difference is the size and cost.

REN retails at £18 for 150ml and the Liz Earl £13.50 for a meanly 70ml, yep problem solved get the REN. I think for the next facial exfoliator I may try Origins Never A Dull Moment Skin Brightening Face Polisher With Fruit Enzymes. 

Whats your favourite facial exfoliator? let me know if you have tried the Origins one or know of a good review.

Thanks for reading

The Pore Fessional

Hi guys

As you have seen from my other post I recently purchased the Benefit Eyebrow Kit and the nice lady gave me a sample of The Pore Fessional. I have heard some mixed reviews on this product some people seem to not be able to live without this, others are not such big fans.

The sample size I thought was quite good and I got quite excited about this product as I am a little paranoid about the pores on the side of my nose onto my cheeks. The packet says that it quickly minimizes the appearance of pores! Apply this silky, lightweight balm for translucent pore coverage and smoother-than-smooth skin. Pores....... Now you see'em, now you don't!

The Pore Fessional Sample

The Pore Fessional Sample

Now I did take some before and after pictures of my pores with this product but when I came to upload them I couldn't tell the difference. Not a good sign right? well to tell you the truth that's the least of the problems with this products.

I am a Benefit fan but not a fan of this product at all, the texture of it put me off as soon as I tired it. Its quite greasy and my skin didn't like it at all, it seemed to make it dry and gave it a strange texture. After I applied my foundation it didn't 'set' right and left it looking a little off to me. 

It retails at £23.50 and its one of Benefits best sellers but I really don't understand why. Please let me know if you have tried this and what you thought of it or if you have tried other pore minimising products. 

Thanks for readying I hope this post has helped.

Liz xxx

Dry Skin Saver

Hello Everyone

Anyone that has read my skin care related blog posts will know that I suffer from eczema and very dry. I have tried so many different treatments from prescriptions to over the counter and none of them have had great results.

So over the past few months I've started to add to my skin care routine, firstly with the Liz Earl Cleanse and Polish, secondly with REN Facial Polish and finally with the Clinque Dramatically Different Moisturiser.
I have seen a difference in my skin its less dry and is a little brighter but by the end of the day it didn't last and it returned to its dry dull self.

I was informed that another way to get moisture into my skin was by using a serum. I pondered buying the Clinque one or another reasonably priced serum but in the end I decided to jump right off the deep end and purchased the one and only Estee Lauder Advanced night repair serum.

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair

At the hefty price of £54 for 50ml I was very sceptical but after speaking to the Estee Lauder lady who informed me of their policy to be able to return any Estee Lauder product if you are unhappy with it, I decided to spend my hard earned money.

The result are defiantly worth the price! My skin has never been so under control, moisturised and clear. I am literally kicking myself for not buying this sooner! I have been pondering buying a Clarisonic but now I don't need to.

You only need about five drops of this after you cleansed and before you apply your moisturiser every night.

As this is my first Estee Lauder skin care purchase I couldn't be happier and defiantly will be looking at their other products . 

Thanks for reading I hope this has been helpful :)

Liz xx

Believe the Hype?

We are all guilty of it, we want it everyone else has it so I'm going to get it too. Over the past few weeks I've been buying products that have been raved about by other bloggers and I thought I would add my two pence to the pot.

Here's the products I have been buying.

The Real Techniques Stippling Brush which you can pick up in Boots for £11.99 is one of the best brushes I've used for foundation and I love the way it gives me a flawless finish. I have used this brush two different ways with two different foundations, first I used my Bobbi Brown cream foundation by buffing the brush directly into the foundation and then onto my face. The second is with a Lancome foundation I'm trying which is a liquid I dotted on my face and buffed it in, out of the two I think its better with the liquid but had a great affect on both.

BELIEVE IT

Real Techniques Stippling Brush 

Another product from Boots is the Original Tangle Teezer! This is a completely new product to me and after the reviews I decided to buy one since my hair has quite a lot of fly a ways from hair breakages and split ends. I think that the cost is to high for this product and even though it works and did leave my hair soft £10.99 is way to much for a plastic brush when a wide toothed comb will do that same job.

DON'T BELIEVE 

Tangle Teezer Pink

Tangle Teezer

Next Boujois Magic Nail Polish Remover yet another one that you can pick up in boots (think I may have a boots addiction) at the price of £4.99 which is more then I would usually spend on nail polish remover, I normally get the cheapest I can find. However I'm so glad that I bought this as it does what it says on the tin! OK maybe not 1 second maybe more like 5 but still impressive. It makes life so much easier then using cotton wool or tissue, its great if you make a mistake on one nail and need to take it off without touching others. I would recommend this to anyone and even though it says it smells like Passion Fruits and Vanilla it still has a strong nail polish remover smell.


BELIEVE 

Boujois Magic Nail Polish Remover

Last but not least something you can't buy in boots and not even in the UK. The Bioderma Sensbio H20 Make up remover. If we are being honest here and we are being honest I never use make up remover. I simply use my cleanser or soap which doesn't always work well. So I invested in Bioderma after seeing how gentle it was but still being able to remove waterproof mascara. It doesn't actually smell of anything other then clean if that makes sense and I managed to pick mine up off EBay for £9.30 delivered.

BELIEVE 

Bioderma Sensbio H20

Hope this has helped you decide if to purchase any of the items and please leave any comments or questions you may have.

Thanks for reading 

Liz xxx

To REN Or Not To REN

Hi guys as I've said before I'm only just on my way down the beauty path and I'm adding new products to my regime all the time. You may have noticed that I have really dry skin so after looking at other Bloggers regimes I decided to add a facial exfoliator. This product was recommended by a lady I work with and she had tried quite a few.

REN Jojoba Microbead Purifying Facial Scrub

I am already using my Liz Earl Cleanse and Polish and look at my review of it here, but I felt like my skin still looked dry and a little flakey. So hence the need for the REN Jojoba Microbead Purifying Facia Scrub which at £18 I thought was quite reasonable.
The packaging says its a deep cleansing facial scrub formulated with micro-beads of jojoba oil that exfoliate and eliminate surface dead cells and impurities, without scratching or irritating the skin. Also contains oils of juniper and peppermint to detoxify, stimulate and refresh the complexion.

REN Facial Scrub

First lets start with the smell, its amazing! its very fresh and minty all at the same time. The texture is gritty but in a good way the exfoliating bits are very small and the picture doesn't really do it justice. It recommends that you use it 2-3 times a week, ill probably use it every other day for a few days to give my skin a good scrub and then cut back before it dries out. 


The first time I used this I used my Liz Earl cleanse and polish first and then this making sure that I worked it into the skin in circular motions. My initial reactions to this product are very positive it left my skin nice and smooth without drying it out but ill give it a good few weeks and give you a better update. 


Thanks for reading 


Liz xxx

You have to get an EOS

I'm a massive fan of lip balms and I think you can literary never get enough so as soon as I saw this one being raved about on other blogs I just had to get it. It wasn't just its great reviews that made me buy it, it was mostly the design of it. I hate it when my lip balm starts to run low and I end up with it under my nails!. This is designed in a ball so its simple and easy to glide over your lips.

EOS Lip Balm

EOS Lip Balm

There are five flavours in all, Honeysuckle Dew, Summer Fruit, Sweet Mint, Lemon Drop and Strawberry Sorbet. I personally went with the Summer Fruit which smells really good and the texture is smoothing without being greasy. I've had this for a few days now and have become obsessed with it, EOS leaves my lips softer for longer then other lip balms I have tried.

I would recommend this to anyone and I bought mine of Ebay for £4.50 including delivery!

Thanks for reading I hope this was useful

Liz xxx

Liz Earl Cleanse & Polish

I am a Liz Earl virgin up until today anyway and after reading so many great reviews and loads of bloggers that love it i decided to take the plunge!

For my first purchase I choose to get the Liz Earl Cleanse and Polish starter kit that contains 100ml of the cleanse and polish and two muslin cloths to. Its RRP about £14.25 which I thought was very good value for what you get and how good it was meant to be.

Liz Earl Cleanse & Polish

So I have only used this product once but I'm a little disappointed if we are being honest. It smells great all natural and just like you would expect and the texture is creamy I was expecting it to be bitty but its not at all. I followed the instructions and put two pumps onto my hand and rubbed in circular motions into dry skin, I put the muslin cloth in hot water and rung it out so it was just damp and cleaned the rest of the cleaner off.

Liz Earl Cleanse & Polish Starter Kit

My skin did look bright but I'm not sure if that was any brighten then when I use my Clinque three step. I did finish off my mini facial with the Clinque toning lotion and the Clinque dramatically different moisturiser. My skin felt OK after this but didn't feel the best its ever felt, it looked a bit brighter but was still dry. As I have such problem dry skin I'm going to give this a good go for a few weeks and see how I get on but I'm not holding my breath.

Hope this has been useful please let me know your experience with Liz Earl or other similar products you have used.

Liz xx

April Glossy Box Preview

Hi guys so its that time of the month, Yep April Glossy Box is here!!! I thought I would do a quick post about what's in this months and an overview. The theme this month is all about being green (not literately) but all the products this month are ethical goodies that have come in a 100% biodegradable box which I quite like.

Glossy Box April

Figs and Rouge Peppermint & Tea Tree for lips face & body balm smells fab! and makes my lips instantly soft, but I wouldn't put it on my skin unless its an emergency as it does feel quite greasy. 

Figs & Rouge

Inika Organic Eye-liner in Sapphire, this has to be one of the softest eye-liners I've used it literately glides on. I'm not a fan of the colour as I don't tend to use blue due to the Pat Butcher look but I've got a feeling I may grow to love it.

Inika Sapphire Eye-Liner 

Inika Sapphire Eye-Liner

Philip B Drop Dead Straightening Balm is according to the package a non-greasy silicon-free water-soluble styling aid that give curly or wavy hair a straight, tangle-free, and sleep finish. However I do have quite straight hair to start with so I'm not sure how useful this will be for me but ill keep you updated as it has to be used before you dry your hair. It doesn't smell of anything really which is a little disappointing but we shall see.

Philip B Drop Dead Staightening Balm

Monu Professional Skincare Enriched Body Cream is a very thick cream with a smell that I cant really describe but its fresh and I feel slightly lemony. It soaked in very well but it did however leave my skin a little greasy but that didn't last long. As I have very dry skin and this did nourish it for a little while but didn't last very long, if you have normal skin then this could be fine but I'm not convinced for very dry skin.

Monu Professional Skincare Enriched Body Cream

And last but not least the Caudalie Vinosource SOS Thirst-Quenching Serum which by the title I was quite excited about. Smell wise it isn't anything special but did leave my skin very smooth and very touchable but I will have to give it a few days to see it it lives up to its description so ill keep you posted. 

Caudalie Vinosource SOS Thirst-Quenching Serum

If your lucky enough to have the April Glossy Box please share your thoughts on the products and the theme for month, hope this was useful thanks for ready :)

Liz xx