bloomzy /

Review: Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser

Just before New Year a friend recommended a brand to me that I hadn’t tried before.
That brand was Liz Earle, and her argument was pretty solid, as she has perfect skin.
She’s been using the brand for years and swore by their products, especially their cleanser.
I’ve never really been a fan of hot cloth cleansers but I decided to give this a go, considering the evidence.
I had also actually just run out of my micellar water so I went to my local Boots to check it out.
The woman on the counter had perfect skin and also told me she used the product.
I really didn’t need anymore persuading than that and I picked up this special gift version.
It comes with 2 x muslin cloths and a small travel bag, to keep everything together.
It’s the Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser, and here is my review:
Pros:
+ Love the set
+ Cloths can be machine washed
+ Packaging is simple but cute
+ Lovely smell
+ Removes make-up well
+ Good for sensitive skin
+ Leaves my skin smooth & supple
 
Cons:
– Cloths need to dry naturally after (and before) each use
– Price point is slightly high
– 100ml lasted only a few weeks
 
Notes:
I have no massive complaints about this product, more like a few niggles. Maybe I was looking for something to complain about because the whole cloth drying thing sounds silly now I’ve written it down. Of course they need to dry Emma! The set does come with 2 cloths though so if the one you’re currently using hasn’t dried in time you can always alternate, which is also a plus. I won’t repeat the majority of what I wrote above, but I really like this product. It smells good and leaves my skin feeling good – that’s all you can ask for really. I’m hoping that after a month (I’ve been using it for almost 2 weeks) I’ll start to see some results on my long-term skin pangs. At £15 this isn’t a product you would pick up without considering. I do think it’s worth the money, but I’d like to maybe see some offers or different sets to add more value.
You can buy Liz Earle’s Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser at John Lewis and in Boots stores.
bloomzy /

Sale Finds Series: Nuxe

I’ve decided to do a small series on some of my online sale finds this month.
That means I’ll be posting mini-wishlists or recommendations from various online stores.
It’s quite simple really, if I find an amazing sale I want to be able to share it with everyone!
This seems like the easiest and also best (I enjoy making wishlists too much) way to do it.
You can find the series here.

Who? Nuxe
What? French Beauty/Skincare products
How much off? Up to 50% off
Running until? Whilst stocks last
Nuxe are one of the few beauty brands I have an email subscription to.
That might seem like an odd thing to say, but I hate newsletters, so maybe that helps explain?
So when I received an email mentioning they had an ‘up to 50% off sale’, I was pretty excited.
They’ve recently worked their way into my heart and bathroom cabinet, to become one of my favourite brands.
The sale is pretty varied and offers products from most of their ranges, as well as including gift sets.
The deals are pretty good, especially if you would usually be put off by Nuxe products due to the price.
So it’s a great opportunity to pick up some old favourites, or to try something new from the brand.
You can view the full Nuxe sale here.

Source: 1
bloomzy /

Review: Chapstick Lipsations Shimmer Berry & Tropical

Chapstick Lipsations Shimmer Berry & Tropical*

When Chapstick sent me a special Christmas beauty box I was over the moon.
Lip balms are the one thing I always stock up on and go mad with at this time of year.
I like to have a good variety of them at hand to keep my lips soft, moisturised and of course kissable.
That’s where Chapstick’s Lipsations Shimmer lip balms came in handy.
Pros:
+Moisturises
+ Adds a touch of shimmer
+ Smells delicious!
Cons:
– Slightly sticky
– Packaging was lacking

Notes:
I don’t have much to complain about here really. These are moisturising and have really helped add a little touch of glamour to my lips with the subtle shimmer they offer. They smell absolutely delicious too! I was tempted to lick my lips more than a few times whilst wearing these. Thankfully I managed to resist and stopped myself from creeping out everyone in the close vicinity. On the down side these were ever so slightly sticky, but not as bad as a lip gloss. I would have liked the packaging to be a bit more original but I think it stays true to the Chapstick brand, so that’s not a massive con. I would have loved the berry one to be tinted, but then I suppose it would have got lost in the tons of other tinted lip balms currently making the rounds. Also, I don’t think anyone would want to know what the tropical one would look like as a tinted balm. Rambling aside, these are great for Winter, especially if you prefer staying au naturale at Christmas parties but still want to add a bit of sparkle to your look. At £1.99 you really can’t go wrong.
You can buy Chapstick’s Lipsations Shimmer Berry & Tropical at Superdrug.
bloomzy /

Beauty Wishlist: Holiday Glam

Beauty Wishlist

One brilliant thing about Christmas coming to the shops are the ‘holiday specials’.
Beauty products aren’t left out either, with gift sets and new products galore.
I know some people dislike the hundreds of travel size make-up and skincare sets.
I love them though as it means I can try out new items at a usually bargain price.
Of course I also love being able to indulge in full size products too, especially palettes.
I made a very glamorous wish list of some of the items I hope to pick up this Christmas.
I suppose if I’m lucky enough I may even get some in my stocking – if I’m a good girl that is.
What do I really really want?
The other products in my list are just bonuses compared to the two above.
I need a new pair of GHDs and the jewel collection is gorgeous (and useful)!
Earl Grey & Cucumber are two amazing scents and these are lovely together.
I also love Jo Malone fragrances and I actually wear them most days.
Any of the products in my list would be lovely to add to my ever growing beauty collection.
I longingly browsed the Selfridges beauty department to find these for myself.

Source: 1
bloomzy /

Review: Avène Extremely Gentle Cleanser

Eau Thermale Avène Extremely Gentle Cleanser*

Remember my personalised skincare routine from Avène?
Well I wanted to review one of my favourite products from it.
Avène’s Extremely Gentle Cleanser is for sensitive and irritated skin.
I think that pretty much sums up my awkward skin – so how did it work out?
Pros:
+ Non-greasy
+ Very gentle & light
+ A little goes a long way
+ Clears my skin up amazingly
+ Easily wiped away with a cotton pad
Cons:
– Quite runny

Notes:
This has been working wonders on my skin.
As soon as I started using it I noticed that it was clearing my skin up.
I always like to give products a few weeks to prove their worth, but this worked in a few days.
That might not be the same for everyone who uses it but my skin adores it. That said, my skin likes to get in a mood and break out if I happen to forget to use it (which doesn’t happen very often). Still that’s my own fault and I am happy with the results that I’m seeing from this so I will definitely be purchasing it after I run out. It’s extremely gentle and kind to skin, although the formula is slightly runny so be careful you don’t drip it everywhere when using it! It wipes off easily with a cotton pad and doesn’t leave a greasy feeling, or any product behind. I would definitely recommend this to people who have sensitive skin or react badly to some cleansers, because this is amazing and the price point isn’t bad either.
You can purchase Avène at Boots and in Boots stores nationwide.
bloomzy /

Introducing: Belif Beauty

A selection of Belif beauty products for face, body and lips*

Recently I was sent some samples by a brand I hadn’t heard of before, named Belif.
I like the look of the packaging, simple yet memorable, and the products sounded good too.
I decided to do a little investigating to find out more about the brand and the products they create.
“The beauty brand belif combines our founder, Duncan Napier’s original skin care expertise and the best of modern natural cosmetic science. Eleven skin formulas – each for a different skin type – using herbs packed full of active ingredients form the base of each product.”

It turns out the brand itself is a branch off of the brand Napiers.
Now I had heard of them before but I wasn’t quite sure in what context.
It started as a natural healthcare and herbal medicine company founded in 1860.
The brand is British and everything is still made in Britain – now that’s quite impressive.
Napiers uses natural products although the ingredients in some of Belif’s products scare me a little.
I only say that because I don’t like seeing tons of abnormally long named ingredients in my beauty products.
Still, the basis of the Belif products are herbs, as you might have seen them mention in the blurb above.
I haven’t yet had the chance to try the products out as life has been quite hectic for the past few months.
The ‘Essence Water’ and ‘Anti-Hangover Mask’ are the most intriguing to me though, I have to admit.
You can visit Napiers Belif to browse the selection of products available.