Clarins Paris - Instant Eye Make-Up Remover

Ok so I have another make-up remover review. I have never bought anything from Clarins before because I have seen it as a brand more targeted at mature skin. I was buying a present and was pulled into buying this. It cost £16.50 which for its size is quite expensive but not the most expensive removers I've seen out there.

At least now I have a positive review to tell you about!

This make-up remover is an oily consistency and needs to be shaken to mix the two layers together. I then pour the product onto a cotton pad and hold it over my eyes for about 10 seconds for the product to start breaking down my makeup -especially my mascara. Then I gently pull away the pad repeatedly to remove the product, sometimes softly rubbing my eye to remove the stubborn liquid liner and mascara. I find that one pad is enough for each eye (if you wear little make-up, one would be enough for both).

This makeup remover really breaks down my makeup so well! I really feel an oily liquid is the best method to remove make up and I have decided that cream make-up remover like the Yes to Carrots one I previously reviewed see here are just not for me. It does not at all sting my eyes or my skin when use it, and really doesn't make removing make-up such a chore. Being an oil means that it doesn't dry out my skin and leaves it feeling really silky and soft.

When shaken, it turns this colour ^. As you can see in this photo only a fraction has been used, probably a weeks worth of product. Now however I'm nearly finished and really don't want the bottle to end :(.

• £16.50 for 125ml
• Clarins website
• Clarins website on this eye make-up remover

Origins - Mega-Mushroom Skin Relief Soothing Face Cream

Ok so you guys must think I'm crazy for spending SO much money on a face cream. I did resist slightly when it was time to hand over the money. My skins been really dry from the wintery weather recently and really needed some intense TLC!!

This well known face cream promises to calm and soothe the skin as well as reduce redness and sensitivity. It contains Narcissus Lily Bulb which reduces ageing.

I apply it morning and night and it looks like it will last me a long time. The cream is thick and luxurious and not much is needed to cover the whole face. It provides a great base for my make-up in the mornings as well as fully hydrating my skin in the evenings. It gives the same results as face masks in my opinion, really freshening up my face.

The cream comes in a lovely dark green tub and is just very simple and old school which I like. It also has a very unusual smell that I can't quite describe which personally I am not keen on but it does not bother me enough to not use it.

Due to it's expensive price tag, I can't say that when I eventually run out I will be rushing out for a refill, although it really is a fantastic cream if you have dry skin. 

If you can afford it, then I would definitely recommend it (see price below) however for me, if I had some extra money lying around then maybe I would be tempted to repurchase. Shame :(

• Cost £46.00
• Origins website

Topshop - sale jewellery

I just wanted to do a little post on some really lovely pieces I picked up from Topshop. The jewellery at Topshop is lovely but sometimes quite expensive so I have now gotten into the habit of only buying sales pieces. It's such a good feeling when you see something you really want but resisted to buy it because of the price, that then goes into the sale.

I think Topshop have a high turn around of jewellery as there's always a sales section in most Topshop shops and things I see turn up in the sale a few weeks later.

The stuff I bought would have cost me about £26.00 but instead I bought them for £13.00 + 10% student discount!

From left to right

Necklace - I really love that the chain is chunky and heavy because it makes the necklace feel more expensive. I think the contrast between the chain and the slightly more delicate crystal is really cool, especially with the different metals. It sits high on my neck and goes with a lot of things. I normally pair this with a plain top to make it seem more interesting.

Earings - I thought these studs were really smart and would be perfect for the days when I don't feel like wearing big dangly earrings, but want some kind of pop of jewellery.

Rings - I wish I got these in a size S because they are slightly too big for me. Nevertheless I love wearing them. As with the necklace, there is a contrast of metals which I really like. The crosses are small and really make the rings seem unique.

Earings - I've gotten quite a few complements from these unique dangly earrings. I'm not one to love heavy earrings as I find them uncomfortable but these are just about alright. These are quite long, reaching my shoulders so personally I think they looks best when my hair is up.

• Link to Topshop Jewellery

GLOSSYBOX (November)

This months Glossybox is filled with stocking fillers that Glossybox felt would make great Christmas presents. It contains three well known brands, as well as two new ones. When I felt the weight of this box, I knew it would be filled with some great stuff :). I was so shocked at the fantastic things I had received and I think Glossybox have done really well with this box, it might even be my favourite one.

Items in the box;

1) Ayuuri face cream

2) Burberry perfume

3) Alison Claire Natural Beauty body butter

4) Nails Inc nail varnish

5) Dermalogica exfoliator

1) AYUURI - INDIAN ROSE FACE CREAM

   - 'These Ayurvedic face creams moisturise your skin without leaving it feeling greasy. The beautiful fragrant Indian Rose cream contains Jasmine and Aloe Vera to keep the skin moist and protect it from ageing elements.'

   - This was the biggest size shocker of the whole box!! A lovely full size product. Glossybox gave out two differently scented face creams and I received the Indian Rose one. The other one being Sandalwood oil. It is highly scented of rose and I could smell it as soon as I opened my box. Its a beautiful moisturising cream that does its job and can be used on all skin types. To be used every morning this thick white cream makes me feel I'm applying good ingredient to my face. (£4.95 - 200ml)

2) BURBERRY - BURBERRY BODY EAU DE PARFUM

   - 'An effortlessly sensual, feminine fragrance with an eclectic combination of green absinthe, rose and cashmeran.'

   - I've wanted to try out this perfume and was really happy to see that its a really good size for a sample product. In the past I've received those tiny tiny ones that only have a couples of sprays in it but this is huge and has the same design as the bigger full size bottles. (£75.00 - 85ml)

3)ALISON CLAIRE NATURAL BEAUTY -  MANGO BODY BUTTER

   - 'A delicious blend of organic mango and cocoa butters will leave your skin feeling wonderful.'

   -  Doesn't smell of mango! It reminds me of biscuits and the smell ligers on the skin for a long time. I like creams that have a pump and you can see how much you have left as the bottom rises. (£15.00 - 200ml)

4) NAILS INC - PORCHESTER SQUARE

   - 'Nails Inc best sellers.'

   - I have a couple of Nails Inc nail varnishes and really love them. I received a fantastic neutral grey-purple which I am very pleased about. Other colours that could be received are a hot pink and a clear top coat. (£11.50 - 10ml)

5) DERMALOGICA - DAILY MICROFOLIANT

   - 'A unique rice-based powder that gently exfoliates skin, leaving it noticeably smoother & brighter.'

   - I think Glossybox really love Dermalogica products because they seem to appear in a lot of boxes! This is a really unusual product that I cannot wait to try. Its a powder that you make into a paste with water and use as a exfoliate. It's also again, another really generously sized product. (£38.50 - 75g)

I am really pleased with this box and cannot wait for my Christmas one in December

• You can subscribe for a Glossybox at http://www.glossybox.co.uk (£10.00 + p&p)

Yes To Carrots Make-up Remover Review

I have seen these 'Yes to Carrots/Cucumbers/Tomatos/Blueberries' a lot recently and I thought I would try out this Makeup remover. The one I picked up says its suitable for all skin types but normally I'm more reluctant to buy products suitable for a range of skin types because then they aren't targeted for my skin (dry & sensitive), so could be drying or irritate my skin. As Yes to Carrots is targeted for dry skin I thought I would be alright.

To be honest I had higher hopes for this product ☹. When I put some of it on a cotton pad it was difficult to dispense resulting in me either getting nothing out, or an excessive amount. It stung my eyes quite a bit and made them water for ages after. It did not even completely remove all my makeup without me using tonnes of product. After using this makeup remover it made my skin feel dry and un-moisturised. I feel other makeup remover I have used in the past, such as Bioderma is much more affective as well as gentle to my eyes.

I think that it was reasonable priced for the amount of product you get (although a fair bit is needed each time) and I like the packaging. It doesn't have much of a fragrance and is simply a thick white creamy consistency. There aren't many positives apart from this. I do however still want to try out other products from the range. Possibly "Yes to Carrots" isn't for me? I think next time I will try out the Cucumber range.

A little bit of background on the whole range..

There are four different brands within this collection.

1) Yes to Carrots (nourishing)

2) Yes to Cucumbers (soothing)

3) Yes to Tomatos (clear skin)

4) Yes to Blueberries (age refresh)

The whole collection are free from parabens, SLS and petroleum

more information about each brand Yes Brands

• 250ml - £8.99
• http://www.yestocarrots.com/index.html
• Where to buy (UK) Asos , Beautybay , Victoria Health , Bath & Unwind

Recent Purchases

ZARA

Combined Fur Clutch Bag £49.99

Not sure why they refer to it as a clutch bag when it has a strap. I loved the edgy unusual design and thought it would be perfect for an evening bag. Ive used it a couple of times and have fallen in love with it :) also unlike a lot of Zara bags, it has a zip.

Bucket Bag With Buckles £19.99

I have currently been using this as my everyday bag. Its such good quality for only being £19.00. For me, its the perfect size to put in my uni books and folders.

 Vamp Shoe With Heel Back And High Heel £39.99

I had seen these shoes in all the magazines and I couldn't hold back anymore! They are just such beautiful shoes. They are quite high but are just to die for! I think these would look fantastic with a simple pencil skirt and bare legs.

Military Shirt With Studded Shoulders £29.99
This shirt hits two big trends this season; studs and military. I wasn't too keen on the military trend because it has been over done and so many people are now wearing camouflage leggings and coats. I saw this and thought its subtly displaying the trend and I just have a weakness for studs.

Cablestitch Trenchcoat £45.99

Unbelievably soft and cosy, I have been wearing this a lot especially with this temperamental weather. Also I wouldn't describe it as a trench coat, It's more of a big cardi/jumper.

NEW LOOK
I think the two pumps above are really a staple pieces because they go with everything and are really comfortable. I re-purchase the same ones from Newlook because I think their reasonably priced and good quality.

Black Simple Ballet Pumps £7.99

Light Brown Simple Ballet Pumps £7.99

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion £14.05

My all time favourite primer. This was a repurchase. Pricey.. but lasts a long time.

I went to Brighton with some of my friends recently and we decided to go shopping (big mistake) I bought a couple of things from a few small shops there. I thought I'd show you these really cool tins. Something interesting besides fashion and beauty!

First Aid Tin

Family Drugs Tin

GLOSSYBOX (october)

 

The items in the box;

1) Anatomicals body scrub

2) Dermalogica night kit

3) Skinetica anti-blemish solution

4) Yves Rocher France lipstick

1) ANATOMICALS - DON'T JUST CLEAN IT WOMAN, SCRUB IT BODY SCRUB
   - A pink grapefruit body scrub that buffs with a bravura sense of charm and wit.
   - Smells yummy, I wouldn't necessarily say it smells of grapefruit though. It has large bits of grain that would be great as a scrub. I think I would also love to try out other Anatomicals products and receiving this has definitely spurred me on to doing so. (£3.49-200ml)

2) DERMALOGICA - 3 STEP DAY AND NIGHT KIT
   - Cleanse, tone and moisturise with the Day/Night 3-step mini kit.
   - Not really sure why I've received this product in this months Glossybox, when in June's box there was also a 3 Step Day and Night kit. Very disappointed with Glossybox for doing this and I know other people are too. (£12-kit)  (Review of Junes Glossybox)

3 SKINETICA - ANTI-BLEMISH
   - A unique solution for clearing skin blemishes, showing results in 2-3 days. Kind to skin with no side effects.
   - It has that strong alcohol smell that I think could disturb some peoples skin causing dryness and redness. I would use this by targeting problematic areas as opposed to generally applying the solution all over my face like the bottle says to. (£6.99-100ml)

4) YVES ROCHER FRANCE - MOISTURISING CREAM LIPSTICK - FRAMBOISE
   - Perfect coverage from the first application: a smooth, supple luminous film covering the lips.
   - Love the packaging of this lipstick, and the smell reminds me of the old Lancôme lipsticks. The shade I received is 'Framboise' a raspberry colour. It glide on really well and doesn't try out my lips. (£14.50-3.7g)

NO 5TH SAMPLE PRODUCT?!?!?

This box for me was a real disappointment. Receiving ANOTHER Dermalogica 3 Step Day And Night Kit was just unfair and outrageous. I decided to contact Glossybox and they said that the kit was actually meant for people who hadn't yet received it previously in the June Glossybox. They apologised and kindly offered to send me two replacement products which were a StriVectin face and neck cream (which is actually for older skin, so not appropriate for me) and an Eyeko eyeliner and I received both the next day.

Also, some people received 5 products in their box when I only received 4. I saw a tweet from Glossybox claiming that the Dermalogica Kit was worth 2 products when firstly in Junes box had 5 products and secondly why have they given out the kit within 5 months of each other. I've read some other blog reviews and the ones that received 5 products seem to really like them and I wish I had received those products. Beauty Swot's Blog review

When receiving a Glossybox, just remember it can be temperamental. Some boxes are great, some are alright and some are terrible.

• The website http://www.glossybox.co.uk
• £10.00 (+p&p)