Beauty samples: haul & review

I haven't done one of these in a long time and I thought it would be a really fun idea to do it again. I have so many samples of things lying around from lots of different places; some are from Glossybox's, some came as a free gift with magazines and others I have ordered to try before buying. I am a firm believer that first impressions always count so samples are a really convenient way to try out a product and see what I think of it instantly, before buying.

 

Elizabeth Arden - 'Visible Difference' Skin Balancing Exfoliationg Cleanser

 

Elizabeth Arden is one of my favourite skincare brands but I was pretty disappointed with this cleanser. It irritated my skin and made me break out in spots, but maybe this was more of a personal thing which won't affect everyone. It is easy to apply and leaves skin feeling soft, but it didn't exactly do me any favours.

 

Would I purchase this based on the sample? Sad to say this - but no.

 

 

Elemis - 'Loving Lips' Quenching Lip Balm

 

I had high hopes for this but it was a case of me comparing it to my favourite lip product, so not liking this one as much as that. The Elemis lip balm had a peppermint taste, which was really nice but I felt like it didn't give my lips enough moisture and softness and I had to reapply quite frequently.

 

Would I purchase this based on my sample? No.

 

 

Yves Rocher - Nutritive Vegel 24H Comfort Nourishing Cream

 

I received this moisturiser in a Glossybox and remember being really excited to try it out. It is a fantastic product; it sank into my skin really quickly and felt soft and nourished for 24 hours - as promised. My face was glowing healthily after use - would definitely recommend this.

 

Would I purchase this based on the sampe? Without a doubt!

 

 

L'oreal Paris - Anti-fatique Nude Magique BB Cream

 

This was the first ever BB Cream I had used but personally, it wasn't for me. I prefer wearing a proper foundation instead. I just didn't feel like I had enough coverage - maybe if I had flawless skin, I'd love this.

 

Would I purchase this based on the sample? No.

 

 

Balance Me - Moisture-rich Face Cream

 

I like face creams with a thin and creamy consistency but this one was incredibly thick and took much longer than other moisturisers to sink into the skin. Not a bad product as such, but it felt so so heavy on my face!

 

Would I purchase this based on the sample? No.

 

Balance Me - Radiance Face Mask

 

Another Balance Me product, but such a different opinion. I have used this face mask twice and both times, I hae been really impressed with the finished result. Skin felt soft and even after use with a much brighter, radiant complexion.

 

Would I purchase this based on the sample? Yes.

UPDATED: Summer Holiday Clothes Haul

Good morning girlies! :) So today I am going to show you an updated version of my summer holiday buys, which I'm super excited to share with you. I've been doing lots of shopping as usual. Would you believe that Im only going away for one week?

 

 

Brown sandals - New Look

Navy chino shorts - Next

Stripe vest - Peacocks

Orange dipped hem dress - New Look

Bag - New Look

Khaki floral patchwork jacket - New Look

Anchor bikini set - Peacocks

Red dress - Topshop

Floral dress - [A local boutique]



Summer Holiday Clothes Haul

So I've been doing lots of clothes shopping for my holiday during the summer :) here's what I've been buying!

 

H&M

 

I picked up a lovely royal blue slouch vest from H&M for £3.99, which is a lovely holiday essential as it's cool, casual and can be teamed with so many different outfits. They sell these in various colours so I am debating whether to go back and buy more. £3.99 is such a bargain! I also purchased a stunning pair of mono animal print shorts which I just couldn't leave behind (the vest goes really well with these too). I also bought a plain teal coloured loose dress, which has a pocket on the front and ties around the waist.

 

Topshop

 

I fell in love with these pastel blue polka dot shorts - they are so, so cute and Topshop also stock shirts and trousers with this design on them too. I also purchased two tops which I believe go really well with them; one is a white vest top with a textured white floral and tribal design with a sheer under vest. The other top is white with a subtle floral design and a high neck collar and I am really going through a collar phase at the moment so couldn't leave this behind! They stocked the collar top in a few colours but I purchased white because it's easier to put with outfits.

 

Next

 

Oh look - I've managed to combine my collar obsession with my polka dot obsession with this cute, bright blue, vest-style shirt. I think that this shirt will look great with a pair of denim shorts - maybe even undoing the top few buttons and wearing a white vest top underneath? I also bought this navy, polka dot skirt which is sooo pretty. The skirt comes with a simple, thin brown belt which looks great.

 

Forever 21

 

So much holiday shopping yet I've only bought one bikini - it's crazy right? Forever 21 have a fabulous collection of bikinis like this in pretty much every colour and I managed to purchase both parts for under £10, which is incredible. I love yellow and wanted something really bright and different for those beach days and to be honest, I think i may go back to purchase this bikini in a few other colours too.



Collection 2000: Make-up Haul

(Hey everyone! I apologise for being distant this past week - I've been pretty busy and haven't been dedicating as much time as I should be to this blog. But I'm back now and I have plenty of great posts planned for you! Follow for follow?)

So today I am doing a haul and review of my Collection 2000 make-up; I have very mixed opinions on their products. I love most of their products but there is a few I really don't like. It isn't exactly 'high-end' or 'luxury' but if your bank account is already suffering and you need a cheap make-up alternative - this is where you go to!

Boots are still offering their '3 for 2, mix & match' promotion and it does include a wide range of make-up products, including Collection 2000 - so now is a great time to take advantage. I am a self-confessed Boots addict!
 

 

Lasting Perfection Ultimate Wear Foundation (Shade = 3 Biscuit)

 

This is one of my all time favourite foundations, which is also affordable. The shade I use is 3 Biscuit which is a pale beige shade. This foundation gives you an amazing flawless coverage, with a 'photoshopped' effect. It blends in really well and lasts for hours; I rarely feel the need to reapply this throughout the day.

 

 

Lasting Perfection Ultimate Wear Powder

 

This powder isn't my favourite and I think it retails at around £2.99 - so I guess you get what you pay for. It is a cheap alternative which I usually apply throughout the day to keep my make-up looking good. However, I believe that this is only available in one shade - which is quite dark actually - so I usually only apply a small amount.

 

 

Extreme Coloured Length Mascara (Colour = Black)

 

I've tried lots of mascaras in the past but I have always found myself going back to this one! Not only is it an absolute bargain but it is an incredible product. This mascara defines lashes really well - making them thick but not clumpy. It lasts all day long yet is so easy to take off at night. It is great for an everyday, natural look and also for a more dramatic effect. I have stood by this mascara for years.

 

 

Lasting Perfection Concealer (Shade = Fair)

 

This concealer is often praised in the beauty community and I can see why. I use this concealer every single day. It is quick and easy to apply but has lasting effects. It covers up dark circles under the eyes as well as hiding any spots or other unwanted visitors on your face. It doesn't just 'conceal' them though - it blends into your face to create an unbelievable natural look.

 

 

Fast Stroke Eyeliner (Colour = Black)

 

I have only recently started to use this liquid eye liner. I don't have a steady hand so most days it gets very messy and I end up with it in my eyes and all over my face *sigh* but messiness aside, it's a good product. It looks amazing when applied and the applicator is thin enough to create a slik line. However, I've found that it can fade or rub off in some places - mainly tearducts - so it does need reapplying throughout the day.



Elizabeth Arden 'Beauty Gift' Haul/Review

On last weeks 'beauty deal of the week' I wrote about the Elizabeth Arden beauty gift worth £77, which you could get for free if you ordered two Elizabeth Arden products - at least one being skincare - from the Boots website. (Click HERE to read this post.) I just couldn't turn down this offer! After being converted to the brand through their amazing Eight Hour Lip Protectant, I had to give this a try. I believe that the offer has now ended - so it looks like I got in there at the right time.

 

I'll be honest; my first impression wasn't as amazing as I'd hoped but this was due to me being confused about some of the products! I'll go through them individually and give you my opinions - though after trying them all, I like every single one.

Oh and I think that the bag which the products came in will be very useful as a travel bag, filled with all my make-up and beauty bits. It's the perfect size and looks very cool and stylish too.

 

 



Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant - £25/50ml

 

This product is a massive essential in the world of beauty! Like I have said previously on my blog, I am not a huge fan of this product on my skin because it is basically a vey thick gel with an oily consistency so it is literally only best for particular dry or damaged parts of the skin, as opposed to using in various places. However, I have recently discovered this product as a lip balm and yes, I have been absolutely raving about this ever since this find. It is literally the best lip product I have ever come across. I have never been able to find a lip balm which comes anywhere close to this product; I've always had to put up with 'average' alternatives. I can't go anywhere without it now! One downside is that it is advertised as a fragrance-free product, but it definitely has some sort of scent, though I can't quite figure out what it is...

 

http://www.boots.com/en/Elizabeth-Arden-Eight-Hour-Cream-Skin-Protectant-50ml_9783/?cm_re=ElizabethArden_Home-_-P2B-_-C9083_Link1&cm_sp=ElizabethArden-_-8_Hour_Cream-_-ElizabethArdenC9083_Link1

 

 

Visible Difference Skin-Balancing Exfoliating Cleanser - £17/125ml

 

I was really excited to try this product out - my favourite cleansers are those that you can use in the shower as it is much more convenient and less time consuming, especially if you have quite a busy lifestyle. It couldn't be any more easier to use: you put a pea-sized amount on to your finger tips, rub your fingers together and apply to a wet face, which creates a foaming substance and then you wash it off with warm water. I love how it feels on my skin and it contains microbeads - which is something I look for in face products! It is slightly cheaper than most of their other products but it is still great to use. My skin feels soft and squeeky clean! It makes my skin look much more bright and awake - so would be a perfect match for women with tired or dull skin.

 

http://www.boots.com/en/Elizabeth-Arden-Visible-Difference-Skin-Balancing-Exfoliating-Cleanser-125ml_1268917/

 

 

Ceramide Capsules Daily Youth Restoring Serum - £80/90 Capsules

 

My first thoughts on this product was something like "what is this? How do I use this? They look so weird!" I did receive the sample version of this product, which contains 14 capsules, though I still think that this is a generous-sized sample. It must be the strangest, most confusing beauty product I have ever come across. To use, I  ripped open the end of the capsule - which did get a little messy so have some tissues ready if you are going to use. I then applied the product to my face and was very surprised at how quickly it sank into my skin. It's a very weird serum; it is like a clear oil, which doesn't sound convincing but I saw instant results. It moisturised my skin naturally, without the feeling of having products on my face. It removed any dry areas instantly and left me with a noticeably softer complexion. However, the full sized version of this product is very, very expensive and I don't think that I would be prepared to spend £80 on this!

 

http://www.boots.com/en/Elizabeth-Arden-Ceramide-Capsules-Daily-Youth-Restoring-Serum-90-Capsules_1291197/

 

2.2g Quad Beautiful Color Eyeshadows in Sterling, Sugar Cube and Black Tie-Contour - £20

I love the shades of all of these eye shadows and to be honest, this was the product I was most looking forward to trying. These four shades are perfect for either smokey-eye looks or even to just complete a different look. I have only tried the shade on the far right, which is a smooth mid-grey colour - which I applied from the outer corners of my eyes and into my crease and blended. I wore this with a thin line of black liquid eyeliner and black mascara for a classic, simple smokey eyes look. The quality of this product is flawless and I now definitely want to check out more make-up from Elizabeth Arden.

 

http://www.boots.com/en/Elizabeth-Arden-Beautiful-Colour-Eyeshadow-Duo_1276312/

 

 

PREVAGE Anti-Aging Moisture Cream - £105/50ml

 

Wow, this is a really expensive product! This cream works as a great moisturiser, though I believe that it would be more beneficial to 'older' people, as it is an anti-aging cream. I am unable to comment on the anti-aging side of this product - though I have read excellent reviews on this. But yes, it is a very extensive moisturiser which leaves skin feeling softer to the touch and lasts all day. You do only have to use a very small amount of this product for it to work, which I guess makes the hefty price tag seem a little less worrying as it will most likely last longer than most other moisturisers. It is also recommended to use on sun damaged skin as not only does it revive moisture but it also has a Broad spectrum UVA/UVB sunscreens to help shield from the sun. I can see this being an essential during the summer months!

 

http://www.boots.com/en/Elizabeth-Arden-PREVAGE-Day-Intensive-Anti-aging-Moisture-Cream-SPF-30-50ml_1238614/