Current Boots deals

Just a quick heads up on current offers from Boots as they seem to have LOADS on at the moment..

First up, 3 for 2 on face and body skincare (until 22nd March) which is perfect if you're looking for a new skincare routine!

3 for 2 on selected indulgent bathing.. which for me means Soap and Glory!

Buy one get one half price on selected Naked haircare and styling

3 for 2 on selected make-up items, including Model's Own and L'Oreal!

Advantage card kiosk offer- valid until 22nd (I think!) of March- 200 points when you spend £15 on facial skincare.

Free Max Factor Minis when you spend £15 on Max Factor

3 for 2 on selected professional haircare

...

And not to forget the infamous £5 off No7 vouchers that are around once again!

The list just goes on and on. Definitely a good time to be stocking up and trying new products!

Anything you've got your eye on to try out? Let me know!

x

Review: Good Things Fresh Start Creamy Cleanser...

... Superfruit extracts Grape and Pomegranate.

Good Things is a brand designed specifically for young skin, free from parabens, mineral oils, SLS and animal ingredients. The pricing's really reasonable and the packaging's attractive without looking like it's been designed for an 8 year old as some younger skin brands have a tendency to be.

I had high hopes for this cleanser having read wonderful things about the face mask and night cream but it's been a minor disappointment really. Having said that, one of the main things I dislike is the sickly sweet smell that for me really doesn't conjure up fresh-face thoughts, more mega amounts of sweets and sticky small people, but of course scent is definitely one of those things in which people's taste can vary hugely!

Good Things say:

"Regular Cleansing is the first step towards fabulous skin. This gentle creamy cleanser is enriched with moisturising mango-seed oil to clean and comfort your skin without drying it out, while skin calming cactus extract and skin boosting anti-oxidants from grapes and pomegranates give your face a fresh start."

Directions for use are similar to hot cloth cleansers in that you apply and rub in for a minute before removing with a flannel (I use a muslin cloth) dipped in hot water. I love cream cleansers, the texture, the softness of my skin after and the way you can dual cleanse and gently exfoliate...But whilst this doesn't claim to be a cream cleanser the way they suggest you use it, and the expectations I had of it's results having read the back of the packaging could easily lead to confusion....

After use I personally find that my face can feel quite dry and tight and there are still visible amounts of eye make up left on my face so this is definitely something you'd need to use an additional eye make up remover with.

I think that this would probably be more suited to an oilier skin type than my generally dry/normal combination skin and to someone who's not put off by sweet smelling skincare. I'm definitely still intending to try out the 5 minute face mask and dream cream but will be just be keeping this as a back up rather than everyday use. Have you tried any of the products from Good Things? What did you think?

Good Things is available from Boots and the cleanser is priced at £5.10.

x

Witch Hazel Wonders!

As previously mentioned in my favourites post I've been using distilled witch hazel on my face for the last month or so. Normally I apply some to a cotton pad (or re-usable cloth face pad) and swipe it across my face after cleansing and before moisturising morning and evening. I sometimes use it in the mornings alone, and shock horror, instead of cleansing a make up free face too.

The first thing that surprised me was the smell. Although I'd seen it mentioned before I didn't expect this... It doesn't smell like a witch hazel stick at all, and I can't describe it because I've never smelt anything like it! The only thing that comes to mind is burning, which isn't really what it smells like at all(!) Anyway, it's not horrible and you do get used to it, so for me it's a pretty minor point.

One slightly more major point is that the first time I used this I thought I was having an allergic reaction to it, my face went very red and felt hot. It was also the first time I'd used my favourite Simple moisturiser so I was very confused! It turns out that it was the two combined that was the problem, and I've since found the same problem with other things including my Good Things creamy cleanser. As long as I leave around 10 minutes between applying the witch hazel and the things I've identified as something that reacts with it, it's all fine. If I'm in a rush in the morning then I apply one or the other and save the witch hazel for bedtime (incidentally, I've had no problems with either of my Liz Earle moisturisers).

Onto the effects! I really didn't have much idea of what to expect. My skin is mid-crisis and being rebellious and at the moment I've just about always got a few unwanted spot friends on my face who refuse to leave, I didn't really expect the witch hazel to totally solve that and it hasn't but it has:

• evened out my skin tone quite a bit, lessened the general redness in my cheeks
• helped aforementioned unwanted friends leave a little faster
• done WONDERS for my pores, particularly the ones around my nose, they're practically invisible and are much less congested. Same goes for my nose and chin too! 
• Less blackheads on (or should that be in?!) my T-zone. 
• Helped regulate moisture levels in my skin, keeps oil at bay whilst going quite a way to moisturising other areas of dry skin. Even if I forget (oops!) to moisturise in the evenings my skin feels far softer in the mornings than it would do without the witch hazel. I also wake up to a much, much less oily face which is nice! I've even used it on my arms- dry skin- and it's definitely made a reasonable difference to the softness there too!
• made a very good toner, removing last traces of make up and making my skin feel refreshed and clean but soft.

This is now an essential item for me and I'll definitely be repurchasing, it's something like £2.19 in Boots and that will last me at least 2 months. The bottle does say that it's not suitable for sensitive skin so do bear that in mind :)

Have you tried witch hazel before? Tempted?

x

Super-duper multitasking moisturiser!

I know, I know, I'm a moisturising bore...!

I've been using Simple's Clear Skin Oil balancing moisturiser for a couple of weeks now and I love it. As my skin's decided it's moving over to the oily side this is ideal as it's perfect for keeping my face shine free all day. It makes a perfect primer, keeping my (mineral) make-up looking flawless, whilst ensuring my skin stays moisturised throughout the day, and whether it's a co-incidence or not (or the witch hazel I've been using..) my skin is definitely becoming clearer.

My skin's not hugely oily, it's undecided and rebelling as the weather changes and goes from being dry to oily over very short periods of time, but it's enough to make my T-zone and the area around my nose a little shiny if left to it's own devices throughout the day.

The moistuiser has an almost gel-like consistency and includes 3 "skin loving" ingredients: Natural zinc PCA to "gently absorb excess oil", Phytosphingosine to help reduce blemishes and corn starch to mattify "all day long"

It also contains vitamin E to moisturise and Pro-Vitamin B5 to "restore, soften and smooth".

A huge bargain I paid around £2 for this 75ml tube from Home Bargains, but is available from Boots for £3.99. A perfect day time moisturiser for those with oily/undecided skin, and perfect as a base for make up.

Are you a Simple fan? Tried this?

x

An overlooked colour in eyeliner world...

... Grey. 

I'd never really thought about grey eyeliner before. I've stuck with brown eyeliner pretty much everyday for the last few years (with the exception of the odd blue or green day) and decided recently that I needed an alternative. With black being (in my opinion, although maybe more experimentation is needed) slightly too harsh for my skintone grey was the next colour I came across. 

With trusty £5 off No7 voucher in hand I discovered this... A blue grey eyeliner which on first impressions looks slightly old fashioned, almost a lavender shade to the grey but ends up looking wonderfully smokey, subtle yet quite impressive... An unexpected result!

 It's wonderfully smooth yet not too smudgey that you create one giant mess if you so much as touch your eye and it stays put all day.

Layered this is a great alternative to black and perfect for daytime, plus at just £2.50 with the current voucher (valid till the19th of September, and given out with purchases of £5 or more till the 12th) it's a bargain! 

Amazingly smudge proof with impressive pigmentation I'd recommend you try it! 

A third off...

...Soap and Glory at Boots!

A good value brand gets even better value with this pretty wonderful offer!

I'd really recommend The Greatest Scrub Of All, it's fab!

What are your favourite Soap and Glory products?

Rachel xx

NOTD- Rose Libertine and Konad!

I went into Boots yesterday and took advantage of their 3 for 2 offer. I took a risk and picked up a Rimmel 60 seconds polish (after my last one that took half the day to dry!) in Rose Libertine, which I really love, it's a gorgeous colour and it's perfect for summer. 

The Xpress brush makes it really easy to apply and the formula was much better than my last Rimmel polish which was wayyy too thick and gloopy! 

I decided to do some Konad..ing? with plate M38 and a design I've not used before. I wasn't really in the mood to spend ages getting it perfect and I'm quite happy with the vaguely abstract result that this has produced! I personally think it adds a little character to my nails if they're not all uniform and perfect! However, even with that attitude my little finger nail is awful, please ignore it's existence ;)

Anyone else been buying up all Boots' nail polish while they have 3 for 2 on so many make up items?

Rach xx

Sally Hansen Hard as Nails

For weeks I've been thinking I should get some of this and putting it off, but after the horrible sight that I was met with with I removed my last nail polish this became essential....

My nails are chipped/flaking to halfway down the nail on some fingers, and on others the layers are separating at the tops, they bend really easily and break and are really flexible and thin, it's not good! 

Sally Hansen say that this "protects your nails against housework, water, detergents and everyday hazards. Hard as Nails with Nylon forms a super strong, super smooth coating that reinforces the nail surface, edge and tip to help prevent chipping, splitting and breaking...." I'm feeling hopeful!

Today's the first time I've applied this, I'm going for 2 layers (allowing them to dry well in between) and will see how that goes, just hope it works and it doesn't make my polish peel off! 

I'm hoping to give you an update some time in the next month or so, depending on how fast I see results (if at all!)

Boots currently have buy one get one half price on a lot of their Sally Hansen things, so now's the time to have a look! I think I paid just over £4 for this today, which seems pretty reasonable! 

Have you tried Sally Hansen products? How did the work for you?!

Rachel xx

The moisturiser search continues... Boots Original Formula Vanishing Day Cream

What Boots say....

"A soothing, moisturising cream infused with calming rose oil and enriched with nourishing olive oil."

Due to the name I kind of got the impression this would FINALLY be a moisturiser I could use in the morning before make up but no such luck.

The moisturiser itself is ok, it does sink in pretty fast, but not too fast that you can't remember if you've actually put it on.

The smell is good, if just a little strong for a face cream for my liking, but not a huge issue. It doesn't do all that good of a job of moisturising my skin, though as it's designed as a day cream I wasn't expecting wondrous skin calmed and moisturised glory! For someone with skin that's more on the normal than dry/combination side, I imagine it would be just fine though :)

Unfortunately this is yet another moisturiser that rolls off! It irritates me beyond belief! Even if I leave half an hour between putting this on and putting primer on it still rolls off meaning it all has to come off and start again, not to mention the fact that having to wait half an hour before I felt it would be ok to put make up on over it is a little slow for a "vanishing" day cream. 

The other issue I have with this is that it tells you to avoid the eye area (and I'm not ignoring that advice after having my eyes cry for an hour after applying the Botanics one to my "eye area" despite being warned against it by them...) which is somewhere that, for me, needs moisturising because of eyeshadows and primers and eye make up remover that can make it a little dry if I'm not careful. 

Overall, not something that I'd repurchase, though it's something that will probably get used up eventually! It normally retails for £7.79 at Boots though I'm pleased to say that I bought it when it was half price! Boots Original Formula currently have a buy one get one free offer on selected products too.

Have you tried this, or any of the other Boots Original Formula range? What did you think? Bowled over by it, or just average?

Rach xx

L'Oreal Telescopic Mascara Review!

As anyone who's taken any notice of the items used in my EOTD posts will know, L'Oreal's Telescopic mascara is my all time favourite. I love love love it! It's not anything new, but I think it's one that's easily overlooked.

Up until using this mascara I'd only ever spent £6/7 on a mascara and it was only after complimenting one of my mum's friends on her mascara (who then bought it for me for my birthday!) that I'd considered there might be anything better. I already have quite long, dark eyelashes, so mascara has always been about definition and volume for me. 

What L'Oreal say:

In a flash of a stroke... Up to 60% longer looking lashes and intensity lash by lash... The high-precision flexible multi-comb is made of supple elastomer bristles that help give a precise application. The flat surfaces of the multi-comb stretch the formula from the roots of your lashes right through to the tips, making them look up to 60% longer.

It definitely does make my lashes look longer and defined, I also think that it adds volume and curl for me. 

Before and after pictures...

I always think that I don't look awake until I've got my mascara on ;)

L'Oreal Telescopic mascara is available from Boots for £9.99

Rach xx

Boots 3 for 2 on thousands of make up products!

Boots are currently running a 3 for 2 offer on loooads of their make up lines including: 

No 7

Max Factor

Revlon

My Face

Too Faced

Barry M

Pixi

No 17

Maybelline

Bourjois

Ruby & Millie

Cargo

Prestige

Natural Collection

L'Oreal

Rimmel

Urban Decay

Collection 2000

Model's Own

It's running till the 15.6.10, so get running to your nearest Boots store!

Boots Original Beauty Formula- Cleansing Milk

I got this little lot as they're currently half price at Boots, I ordered them online last week as one of the things I wanted had already sold out and I didn't want to risk it! I chose the collect in store option so it didn't cost me any more :)

What Boots say: 

"Our Original Beauty Formula Cleansing Milk is a light and easy to use lotion, which sweeps away make up and impurities while it gently clarifies and refines, leaving you skin feeling pure, clean and pleasantly supple."

I thought the cleansing milk would be good for those nights where I really can't be bothered (I know!) to wash my face properly, just to get the makeup off (and to take my make up off before cleansing) and it feels better and more comfortable than face wipes. I really don't know where they got "milk" from... It's not milk, you have to shake the bottle to get anything out of it and though this isn't a problem while it's still full as I get further down the bottle I can see this becoming irritating! It feels really nice on my skin though and does a good job of getting foundation etc. off your face. I personally wouldn't recommend it for removing eye makeup, when I woke up this morning my eyes both had puffy eyelids and I imagine it was this that did that, plus it doesn't get it off that easily.

It smells lovely, not overpoweringly, (can't imagine it being irritating) of Geranium apparently..! Delicate, fresh, thumbs up!

I'd almost certainly repurchase this, the packaging is gorgeous, it's cheap, normally retailing at £3.89 and on offer at just £1.94 for 150ml!