Weekend Haul: Philosophy & Boots

Hello!

I've finally done a little bit of beauty shopping! This haul is probably going to seem tiny compared to the monthly hauls I used to post but I'm sort of pleased about that. I generally try to be cleverer about the purchases I'm making now so will usually only buy one or two products over a period of a few weeks. This week I allowed myself to go a tiny bit crazy at the Philosophy counter and in Boots. I say 'crazy' because I don't actually need any of these things but that's not to say I won't enjoy trying them out; there could be some new favourites in here!

Philosophy as a brand is still fairly new to me. I've tried a lot of samples (and received even more after making this purchase - check out the cute little 'mini miracles' bag they came in!) and generally liked everything so I've been keen to pick up more of their line for a while. The 3-in-1 shampoo, shower gel and bubble bath is one of the brand's staple offerings; I went for the delicious citrus scented Señorita Margarita. At £14 it's pretty pricey for a basic shower gel but I've been trying this out and a little definitely goes a long way. I tried it in my hair too and liked it as a shampoo but my hair is ridiculously low maintenance so I wouldn't recommend this as a shampoo for all hair types. 

The second product I picked up is their primer: The Present. I've heard mixed reviews on this one and haven't tried it out myself yet but plan to this week so expect to see a review soon if I have especially strong feelings either way. This was £22 but you do get 60ml of product which is around twice the size of most standard primers from other brands. 

Then I had one of those trips 'I-want-everything' trips to Boots but I somehow managed to compose myself and not spend too much. Looking at it now it does seem like a random selection of products! 

I made a couple of repurchases from Rimmel; the Wake Me Up concealer has been a favourite of mine for a long time and another lipstick from Kate Moss's Lasting Finish range. I got the shade 05 which is a warm, slightly bright pink because I've misplaced my beloved shade 19 and I'm hoping to find it again soon! I got a free Scandal Eyes mascara in black which I'm not sure I'll be a fan of as the brush looks absolutely huge.

The next three products which swiftly made it into my basket are all things I was really excited to see because until now I've not spotted them in British drugstores. The Maybelline Mega Plush mascara came out in the States forever ago and I've been dying to try it. This is another product which appears to split the opinion of beauty addicts so I'm interested to see which camp I end up in. I imagine there'll be a review of this up fairly soon. Next up is a Sally Hansen Salon Manicure polish in the infamous shade: Commander in Chic. It's one of those griege-nudes that's been doing the rounds for the past two or three years but I'm still looking forward to trying it out. I also came across a Sinful Colors display with a wide array of shades which are a snip at £1.99. I've been hankering after green nail polishes recently so this one in Exotic Green is a good way to try it out on the cheap.

Finally, I need new skincare. My current skincare system is driving me crazy; largely because it's not really a system. I'm starting my mini-revolution with this Vichy Normaderm moisturiser because it claims to target the issues I've been having with my skin. I also need a new cleanser, toner, serum, exfoliator and mask...suggestions on a postcard (or in the comments, probably quicker), please!

Have you been buying anything lately? If you've posted a haul, leave me a link!

Stace xx

Worth The Hype? BeneFit They're Real Mascara

I reviewed BeneFit's They're Real many moons ago when I tried it out for the first time but the photos are hideous and given that I'm about to purchase my fourth tube of this mascara, I figured it was worth revisiting.

 They're Real received a huge amount of attention when it launched and that always makes me incredibly skeptical; surely it couldn't be as good as everyone was claiming, right? Any concerns I had regarding this product vanished after the first few times I used it and for the last year every other mascara I've tried has failed to live up to the standard set by They're Real. 

So why is it so good?

Have you ever tried a mascara and loved the brush only to find the formula was a bit rubbish or vice versa? I find that quite often; They're Real is one of the few exceptions for me. The brush has lots of plastic bristles which coat individual lashes with just the right amount of product. It also has a little spiked ball on the end of the wand which is great for reaching smaller lashes or adding extra product to the outer lashes. The formula is great; it doesn't run or smudge on me at all which is almost a miracle! It also holds a curl amazingly well.

Before

The main gripes people seem to have with They're Real is that it looks too full on or a bit clumpy and that it can be difficult to remove. To prevent spider-lashes I avoid applying more than two coats and when the mascara is brand new I might use a spoolie to eradicate any clumps. As for removing this mascara I find that Philosophy's Purity Made Simple cleanser works best.

After one coat

Is BeneFit They're Real worth the hype?

Undeniably, YES! If you want a mascara to give you longer, thicker lashes I implore you to give They're Real a go if you haven't already. 

Debenhams are currently selling They're Real for £16.65. It's normally £18.50 from any BeneFit stockist.

Stace xx

YSL Shocking Mascara & Cream Eyeliner

Over the past few weeks I've been trying out a couple of YSL products; Shocking mascara* and a cream liner. Despite being a huge fan of other YSL products, I'd never tried any eye make up from the brand. 

The mascara is something that's been on my wish list for a long time so I was thrilled to be given the opportunity to use it. At £23 it's one of the most expensive mascaras I've tried. The price tag is definitely reflected in the luxurious, heavy golden packaging. The product itself is very heavily scented, so much so that I can smell it throughout the day when I'm wearing the mascara. I have quite sensitive eyes so the scent concerned me at first but after using it I suffered no adverse effects. Shocking is marketed as a volumising mascara which gives lashes a 'false lash effect'. If you're like me and normally apply a couple of coats of mascara there's no need to with Shocking because one coat gives a crazy amount of volume. I found that when I added a second coat my lashes started to clump together and look a little spidery; probably because the formula is quite wet. Despite the fact this mascara leaves a lot of product on the lashes I didn't experience a lot of smudging which is unusual for me. 

The brush is on the larger side but it's not as difficult to use as something like Dior's Diorshow or BeneFit's Bad Gal. It is a traditional brush with bristles and its strange shape supposedly helps distribute the product more effectively. I did find it a tiny bit cumbersome to use the first couple of times, though. If you're a fan of voluminous lashes and don't want to spend a long time applying several coats of mascara, Shocking is definitely worth a look. 

The Cream Liner* comes in a dinky glass jar with a golden lid. It's priced at £22.00 and I have the shade 01 Pure Black. I've been comparing this with my long-standing favourite black gel liner from Bobbi Brown and I have to say, I like them both equally. The YSL black is slightly less intense but texture-wise it's creamier and I find that makes it easier to apply. I've tried the cream liner on my waterline and it holds up well; I get around four hours of wear before it starts to fade. On my upper lashline I find it wears well too. I get a tiny bit of transfer or smudging but I think that has more to do with my watery eyes than the product itself. I don't have anything negative to say about this liner; it does exactly what it claims to. Admittedly there are probably cheaper alternatives on the market but I don't think £22 is too unreasonable given that only a very small amount is needed for each application. The cream liner shade range looks really nice and I've got my eye on a few more of these!

The mascara and cream liner can be purchased from Harrods online or in store and from other stockists.

Have you tried either of these products? What did you think of them?

Stace xx

*PR Samples

LUSH Cosmetics: A Review

As most of you will know, LUSH recently launched a cosmetics range which includes a wide array of eye and lip colours, a mascara, a face powder and skin tints. I was kindly given the opportunity to try a few of the products and I'm keen to share my thoughts. I apologise in advance if this post is a little long but I thought it would be better to review the products together.

First up is the Eyes Right Mascara*. It is priced at £12 and comes in a cute little glass bottle. Unfortunately, the cute bottle is a bit of an issue because it means that the wand is tiny and very, very difficult to use. When I try to use it I end up with lots of mascara on my outer lashes and quite a bit around my eye area. 

LUSH did provide a little disposable wand with the mascara but it needs to be washed after every use which is quite inconvenient. I really wish the packaging of this product had been more carefully thought out because I actually quite like the mascara.

Eyes Right is marketed as a mascara that will provide natural looking lashes without irritating sensitive eyes and I think it delivers on those claims. In the picture above I'm wearing two coats of the mascara and as you can see, my lashes don't look very dramatic; just a bit more defined. I have quite sensitive eyes and I can't say I noticed any irritation from this product. When it's on my lashes they feel quite flexible; not dry and brittle. I often struggle with mascaras smudging but didn't experience a lot of that with Eyes Right (although there was an onion chopping incident which definitely wasn't pretty). Overall, I like the product but the packaging really lets it down.

Sophisticated* is one of the cream eyeshadows from the Emotional Brilliance collection. The eyeshadow colours come in the same packaging as the mascara but have a doe foot applicator in place of a wand. I don't find the packaging to be a problem with this product. 

Texture-wise Sophisticated is very lightweight which makes it easy to apply. When blended the product is on the sheer side but it is buildable; I like to apply a couple of layers. I've tried this both over an eyeshadow base and on it's own and experienced no creasing whatsoever; which is a bit unusual because cream shadows usually crease on me at some point. I can get about 6-8 hours of wear from this shade. LUSH describe it as a 'shimmering taupe' which is reasonably accurate; I think it's a tiny bit too pink to be a taupe, really. It's not glittery at all and the shimmer is pretty subtle. I think it's a great everyday shade.

The eye and lip colours are all priced at £14.50. I had initially thought that this was on the expensive side but I if you can find one nice neutral shade you like and will wear all the time, they're worth it. 

The third product I tested was the Feeling Younger Skin Tint*. It comes packaged in a small glass pot which admittedly isn't the most hygiene friendly option. LUSH are hailing this as a radiance boosting lotion which can be used on the face and décolletage. I would compare it to products like MAC's strobe cream. It is priced at £12. 

I tried using it all over my face before applying foundation, mixing it with my foundation and applying it on the high points of my face as a highlight. I didn't care for it as a highlighting product I did like the effect when I mixed it with my foundation. I was pleased that it didn't decrease the wear time of my foundation. It's a nice product but not one I'd rush out and replace if I lost it. 

The Emotional Brilliance Translucent Face Powder* is the final product that I've been using and it's actually probably my favourite. I don't like loose powders because they're typically really messy so this isn't something I'd have purchased myself. Again, the packaging could be better. I've been putting a little powder in the cap and swirling a big fluffy brush in it but it's a bit fiddly because the cap is so small. I feel as though I've wasted quite a lot of product, too. I wish it had some sort of sifter. 

Packaging aside, I really like this powder. It's so finely milled that it doesn't look powdery or cakey on my skin but still manages to eradicate any shine. The finish it gives isn't totally flat and I feel as though it makes my skin look really smooth. I'm impressed. It is also priced at £12. 

Overall, I've been pleasantly surprised by LUSH's latest venture. The biggest issue I've had is with the packaging but if you can deal with that the products themselves are nice. I'll definitely be replacing the translucent powder with it runs out and if they repackaged the mascara, I'd buy that too. Whilst I appreciate the variety of eye and lip colours on offer, I don't feel the need to collect several shades. You can have a look at the collection in stores and online.

Have you tried any of the new cosmetics from LUSH? What did you think?

Stace xx

L'Oreal Volume Million Lashes Waterproof Mascara

I'd been meaning to pick up a waterproof mascara for a while and decided on a whim to go for the waterproof L'Oreal Volume Million Lashes. I'd heard some good things about the standard version of this mascara and just the idea that this mascara could make my lashes look voluminous was enough for me. My previous experience with waterproof mascaras has not been particularly positive; I've always found that they come up short when compared with the non-waterproof mascaras I've tried. I think this product has changed my opinion, however.

I really like the wand. It grabs even the smallest of lashes and coats them well with the mascara. I was expecting more clumping so was pleasantly surprised when that didn't occur, even after two coats. In terms of this mascara being waterproof, I had no problems with smudging so it gets full marks from me on that front. It also holds a curl brilliantly compared with most other mascaras I've tried. It's not a pain to remove either, I've used both the Botanics Soothing eye make up remover and the Philosophy Purity Made Simple cleanser to remove this mascara and had no problems. It's easier to remove compared with my beloved They're Real by BeneFit. My only gripe with this mascara is that it doesn't perform as well when it comes to lengthening. You can see in the photo of it on my lashes that they look a bit bent and brittle at the ends.

(two coats)

On the whole I think this is a great mascara and something that's worth trying if you're a fan of volumising mascaras but find that many regular versions smudge on you because they deposit so much product on the lashes. It is priced at £10.99 and is available from anywhere L'Oreal is sold in stores and online (here). 

Have you tried this mascara? If you have any mascara recommendations please leave them in the comments; I love trying out new ones!

Stace xx

Maybelline One by One Volum'Express Mascara

I've been trying out Maybelline's One by One Volum'Express mascara alongside BeneFit's They Real (yes, I know, I will never shut up about this mascara...) and it's quickly become my favourite every day mascara. I bought it on a whim because it was on 3 for 2 and there were only two other products from Maybelline I wanted at the time.

Maybelline say:

"Up to 4x bigger looking, flirtier lashes.

You’ll discover lashes you didn’t know you had, for clean, clump-free volume, instantly!"

I'd say they're half right. I don't think it makes my lashes look four times 'bigger looking' but the brush does catch lashes that other mascaras don't so I do look like I have more lashes when I use this. I wouldn't say it's clump free; in the photos I've used two coats and you can see that it does clump a little.  I put this on one eye and They're Real on the other to do the Boyfriend Test. He preferred the eye with They're Real on it because the lashes looked a bit more defined, longer and thicker.

I do find that I get a teeny bit of smudging after several hours with the One by One but it is so much easier to remove than They're Real which is a plus! All in all, it's a nice product and as I said, a great every day mascara.

This is the first Maybelline mascara I've tried in a long time and I have to say I'm impressed. I'm thinking of trying another mascara either from Maybelline or another drugstore brand so if you have any recommendations please leave them in the comments!

Stace xx

PS - You can pick this up for £8.49 at Boots (here) or anywhere else Maybelline is sold!

Clinique High Impact Mascara

I remember when I started uni (almost four years ago now...time has flown!) and this was my favourite mascara. I used to buy at it the airport every time I flew home. For the past three years I've been trying other mascaras but I recently got this in a gift with purchase and decided to see how it compared with everything else I've been trying since I last owned it. 

The wand is fairly standard and easy to use. I don't struggle with clumps and find the wand picks up the right amount of product. This is definitely a defining and lengthening mascara for me. It doesn't give the same amount of volume as BeneFit They're Real despite being marketed as a thickening mascara. That doesn't mean that I don't like it though! It's a great every day mascara for me. I don't experience any flaking or smudging with this mascara which is probably why I stuck with it for so long.

I'd recommend Clinique's High Impact for anyone with reasonably thick lashes who just wants some length and definition. It is priced at £16 and is available in Black and Black/Brown (link)

Stace xx

Revlon Grow Luscious Mascara

Since my Revlon Grow Luscious mascara is about to die a death, I thought it was about time I reviewed it.

I actually got this in a gift with purchase set around Christmastime but if you want to buy it, it's available from any Revlon stockist and is priced at £9.99 (link)

The first thing I noticed about this mascara was that the brush is huge! If you've tried Diorshow or BeneFit Bad Gal, it's similar in size to those. I don't like big brushes as I tend to end up with mascara all over my eyelids after using them but I didn't find that to be a huge problem with Grow Luscious. 

The main selling point of this mascara is that it's supposed to promote lash growth. I can't say I noticed much lash growth when using this but I didn't use it consistently so that's probably why. I think the results of lash growth products vary considerably from person to person so I wouldn't advise buying this on the premise that it will make your lashes grow. 

After a couple of coats, this mascara leaves my lashes looking nice and full, which is great...for a while.

I find that I end up with too much mascara on my lashes which weighs them down meaning that any curl they had doesn't last very long. I also find that the mascara never completely dries so my lashes often felt sticky. Grow Luscious is another mascara which runs on me but most mascaras do and this one wasn't as bad others I've tried so if you don't typically struggle with mascara running, you shouldn't have a problem with this one. 

All in all, it's an okay mascara. I won't be rushing out to buy it again but it's not terrible either.

Have you tried Revlon's Grow Luscious? Did you like it?

Stace xx

Lancome Hypnose Drama Mascara

This little sample was my favourite product in the distinctly mediocre Harrod's Glossybox last month. I've been using it quite a bit since then and it seems my initial excitement was fell founded as I've grown to really like this mascara.

The brush is...weird. It's kind of S-shaped and I'm not sure how it improves the application process but I do find that this mascara gets to most of my lashes and gives them more length and definition in just one coat. I don't get a great deal of volume from it so if that's what you're looking for you might be a little disappointed. I find that a little strange as this mascara is marketed as 'a must have mascara for a sensual (!), incredible and extreme volume look' (Debenhams)

The formula dries quite quickly and it holds a curl pretty well. One major downside to this product is that it's heavily scented. It's not a deal-breaker for me but if you've got particularly sensitive eyes, it may irritate them. 

(one coat)

I'm definitely contemplating purchasing the full size of this mascara at some point. It is priced at £21 so I probably wouldn't have considered it without trying it out first.

Did you get this in your Glossybox? Have you tried it out yet?

Stace xx

L'Oreal Telescopic Mascara

The original L'Oreal Telescopic mascara retails for £10.99 from Boots and other L'Oreal stockists. L'Oreal say:

"In a flash of a stroke... lashes look up to 60% longer, defined lash by lash.

Do you want longer-looking, more defined lashes in just one step?

It's possible with the fantastic new Telescopic mascara from L'Oréal Paris!

Telescopic length: 

The high-precision flexible brush stretches the formula towards infinity for lashes that look up to 60% longer.

Definition lash by lash:

The brush edges separate the lashes with precision for intensity lash by lash. 

Quick and easy to apply in just one step, with virtually no clumping."

I got this as an extra in a swap recently. I'd been wanting to try it for a while but was so in love with BeneFit's They're Real to consider trying something else. I think I compare every mascara I try to They're Real - it's really set a benchmark for all other mascaras in my eyes (no pun intended!)

The packaging is a little 'different'; it's basically shaped like a telescope. I don't have an issue with it, it doesn't affect how I use the mascara (unlike the wand on Bourjois Elastic which made it so difficult to use!)

The brush is small but not fiddly. It does get to a lot of my shorter lashes, which I like! It's not messy to use and the wand is super flexible.

Here's a quick photo of how this mascara looks on my lashes. Please ignore the fact my foundation looks like it's melting off...more on that in a future blog post! As you can see, my lashes are a little clumpy but other than that they're definitely longer and have a lot more volume than they would without this mascara. I should have taken a naked lash photo for comparison, shouldn't I?

Formula-wise, I think this mascara is a winner for me. It's a lot easier to remove than They're Real and yet it doesn't smudge or flake on me throughout the day. I normally find with new mascaras that they're a bit too wet but I liked this one from day one. It's been open for a month now and it hasn't dried out or changed in any way so that's a plus.

All in all, I am pleased with this mascara and I expect I will repurchase this at some point. That's a pretty bold statement from me; I rarely repurchase mascaras! Is it as good as They're Real? No, it doesn't give me the same 'wow' effect but out of the five or six mascaras I've tried since buying They're Real, this is the one which has by far been the most impressive.

Stace xx

Bobbi Brown Everything Mascara

I picked this up on Buyapowa for around £12 recently. I don't know why because I enjoy using BeneFit's They're Real so much. I've been using this for a few weeks now and I actually really like it. This retails for £18 from Bobbi Brown.

The wands are very different from They're Real - this mascara has a traditional bristle brush. The effect of this mascara is much less dramatic but I like that for daytime sometimes. 

This mascara adds a lot more thickness than length. I wouldn't say it works in every situation. I'd definitely want more length and drama for night time. 

Amazingly, I don't get any smudging with this product and unlike They're Real, it's super easy to remove.

All in all, I really like this as an every day mascara. I'm not sure I'd repurchase because I'm constantly trying new things!

Stace xx