Yves Saint Laurent False Lash Effect Mascara

So let's face it, finding a mascara that works for you is a bloody nightmare.  I feel I've tried pretty much every mascara under the sun at some point, I am addicted to buying it.  I will happily admit that I am desperately in search of the holy grail of mascaras.  One that lengthens, gives volume, lifts, but doesn't clump.  So, imagine my ever-hopeful internal voice bursting out in a resounding cheer when I heard about YSL Effet Faux Cils.


This £22 mascara is apparently award winning, and claims to have a dramatic effect in just one coat.  It apparently gives you intensity, curl, length and volume, as well as a long lasting effect. Basically, it claims to make your lashes look false.  Hurrah, right?


Wrong.  


Shelling out £22 on mascara doesn't necessarily make me shudder, but it does leave me with certain expectations.  Specifically, I expect that it achieves at least some of its claims. Unfortunately for me, instead of giving me fabulously false lashes, it left me with thickly clumped spiders legs protruding from my eye lids, and made me look like a 14 year old who has stolen her mum's mascara and made a proverbial pigs ear (or eye) of applying it. I could not wear this mascara in public, ever.


Not only that, it took ages to remove it, and I tried everything from baby wipes to Clinique take the day off. I was about 20 seconds away from attacking my eyes with Cillit Bang.  


I had a fairly good opinion of YSL, due to the life necessity that is Touche Eclait, so I definitely thought their mascara would rival most others.  Sadly, I used it once and then stuck it in my "second drawer down", otherwise known as the make up graveyard, safe in the knowledge that next time my sister was over, it would magically find itself a new home in her make up bag, and I'd be none the wiser.  It's not like I was ever going to attempt to use it again!


Of course, I am aware that this mascara might work brilliantly for other people, but for me?  No thanks.

http://www.johnlewis.com/37512/Product.aspx

The Body Shop Vitamin C Skin Reviver

So, there is a story behind how I discovered The Body Shop Vitamin C Skin Reviver.  Fairly recently, I was mooching around Freeport in Braintree with some friends and we nipped into The Body Shop, much to my delight as I needed an emergency lip balm!  I was looking around and saw a woman scoop up every bottle of this skin reviver from the shelf into her basket.  Now, this immediately caught my attention as I thought... Ooh maybe this is a cult product or a secret I've not heard about?!


Feeling as if I had no choice, I bustled my way towards this woman and tried to appear casual when I asked her why she was buying so many.  She informed me that she's never found a skin product like it, and her husband piped in saying "I'll give you a tenner if you find something that makes your skin feel nicer!"  She explained she was buying it as a Christmas present for all of her friends, and that it is wonderful under make up.  Of course, I was concerned that this woman was buying every bottle, but luckily one of the lovely shop assistants managed to find another box of the product in the store room, so I was able to buy one!


The product claims to give your skin a healthy glow, by enhancing radiance and boosting your skin's natural glow.  It also claims to be a good base for foundation.  You apply it in an upward circular motion after moisturiser and before foundation.


I've been using it for the past few days, and have to say, I really like it!  Although I fear my healthy glow is covered up by bronzer and pressed powder, I have found that this product is a fantastic base/primer to use before liquid foundation.  I've been able to blend my foundation more easily, and my skin feels and looks smoother and more silky.  It also smells lovely!  I'd suggest that using it as a primer is the best course of action, if you have an uneven skin tone and want a good base before applying foundation.  One tip I would say is that you need to apply your foundation before the skin reviver dries, so be quick!


The product is fairly cheap compared to a lot of primers out there, and I am planning on continuing to use it as an every day product, I use something else that I'll talk about later for special occasions.  


The other bonus is you could easily wear this on holiday without foundation over the top, as it does make your skin look more radiant and less tired.  It certainly isn't a miracle product, but it has definitely become part of my daily skin care routine, and even now 12 hours after I applied it, my skin still feels smooth!


So overall, I would recommend it if you are looking for a cheap-ish primer to help even out your skin tone and make it easier to blend your liquid foundation that you can use every day with no hassle.


Vic x

http://www.thebodyshop.co.uk/_en/_gb/catalog/product.aspx?ParentCatCode=C_SkinCare&CatCode=C_SkinCare_Moisturisers&prdcode=83285m&cm_mmc=FusePump-_-GoogleShopping-_-TagMan-_-Link

The start of something beautiful?

Hi lovely potential readers!  My name is Vic, I'm a soon to be 30 something Brit and self-confessed beauty product addict.  I'm not particularly vain, but I do care about my hair, skin etc and as a result, end up purchasing a lot of products. 


I used to read an awful lot of beauty product reviews, and most of them were obviously sponsored by cosmetic/beauty product companies, so never really gave honest opinions about how a product works.  I find this terribly annoying, as I really value objective opinions on the numerous expensive products the media shoves in our faces daily.


I think there a few worthwhile things you should note if you intend to keep reading, or have just started reading my blog.  Firstly, keep in mind that all of my reviews are products I have actually tried myself, more than once.  I have a specific skin/hair type, so if I talk about a product I haven't found great, it doesn't mean it won't work for you.  This is just MY opinion on how the product worked for ME. I have fair skin that is a little dry. I don't have spotty/oily skin so never by products with those issues in mind.  I have naturally ginger, somewhat frizzy hair (well, not now thanks to the wonder of some products!) so if you have poker straight super shiny hair, I'm sure nothing I use is going to improve on your already awesome locks!  


I am really happy if anyone wants to leave me recommendations of products to try, or personal opinions on products.  I think we all find things work differently for us, and all I'm ever trying to do is be honest and objective. 


So, without further ado, I shall get on with my first review!


Vic x