Mini Origins Mini Series: Origins Drink Up Intensive Face Mask / Origins Make A Difference Rejuvenating Hand Treatment Review

Back in December I bought a gift set of crackers from the Origins counter, and in each of the crackers there were two deluxe sample sized little tubes of their best sellers. I've never tried anything from Origins before and I had heard that their face masks were the best, and after having a browse of the rest of the counter, I ended up liking the look of some of their other stuff too.

Upon seeing this little set, I thought it would be a brilliant way for me to trial almost everything I wanted without ending up with massive bottles of stuff that didn't agree with me! Yay! (^-^)

I will be doing the reviews in twos as that's how I photographed them :o)

Origins Drink Up Intensive Face Mask

Goodness me. When you hear everyone go on about something, sometimes they are not bloody joking! ALL the hype about this is 1000000% true, I could tell from the first time I used it *rejoices*

The way to use this mask is to apply a thin layer all over your face (bar your eyes) like you would use a moisturiser, wake up in the morning and wash it off and feel your gorgeously soft and hydrated skin, just like they do in those ridiculous commercials.

Except you won't be acting. You really WILL be that happy about your beautifully plump and gorgeous skin!

It's expensive, but boy is it worth it! I am definitely going to buy this in full size when I run out, this is absolutely worth every penny, no word of a lie. I've used my little tube so many times now and I'm surprised it hasn't finished yet. A little of this goes a long way so I am more than willing to pay £22 for the full sized 100ml tube!

Origins Make A Difference Rejuvenating Hand Treatment

This stuff does what it says on the tin (tube..). It really does make a difference! Its a little thick but not greasy, and sinks in quite well, and it keeps my hands hydrated for a long time. It comes out a tad goopy but not runny. I find the texture a little weird to be honest but I can overlook little things like that because it does the job.

The smell might not be for everyone; I personally love it! Its quite strong and smells of ginger. I can't get enough of it, but that's just my own personal taste.

I do however feel it is quite overpriced for a hand cream.. £19 for 75ml of hand cream? If you have the money to splash out on it, then I wholeheartedly recommend it. If you don't, trust me you can find ones of the same quality with a lower price, I assure you!

The cracker also had a joke in it.. it wasn't that funny but good on them for trying hahaha xD

Have you tried either of these before? What's your favourite overnight face mask? Leave a comment below telling me, I'd love to read about them ☺

Disclaimer: I bought this with my own money, and all views stated at my own.

Face Mask Friday: Montagne Jeunesse White Chocolate Ultra Deep Cleansing Masque

Have you ever bought something thinking it's going to be divine, just by reading it's name? Well I did that with this. The Montagne Jeunesse White Chocolate Ultra Deep Cleansing Masque caught my eye because pampering + chocolate should definitely = HEAVEN.

But alas, it was not to be. 

For me, if the packaging doesn't suck me in, then the next thing that does is the smell. I adore products that make me want to drool as soon as I open the packet/container. This one.. if I had known how horrible the smell was before hand I would not have wasted my money on it, even if it was for a pound!

The smell was incredibly synthetic and overpowering and it actually made me want to gag. I was expecting something that smelt like MilkyBar but in reality it was nowhere close to that.

But in the end I had to put my disgust for the scent aside and put it on my face - two or three times actually, you get a lot of product in the sachet - and try to be unbiased and see if it would do anything for my face.

So I smoothed it all over my face and tried to relax (which didn't work because I couldn't NOT smell it xD) for about fifteen minutes. I could only make it to ten minutes though, and it didn't dry anywhere on my face at all, while some other masks I've used did after ten minutes or so at least.

After washing it off, my skin didn't feel much different if I'm honest. It didn't feel particularly moisturised nor any smoother as it claims to say on the packet; in fact my face always felt greasy and a little congested after I used this mask! I used this when my skin was going through a bit of a dry patch, and I had high hopes for it because it has Jojoba oil in it which is meant to be good at moisturising the skin.

I do however think that this would have been better for someone with extremely dry skin rather than someone who has combination skin like me though. For some reason I just couldn't get a long with it - the smell was just too overpowering!

You can purchase Montagne Jeunesse face masks in Boots, Superdrug, Asda, Tescos, New Look, Home Bargains, everywhere! They're usually for a quid but Home Bargains tend to do a 4 for the price of 3 a lot so you should check them out if you ever pass by one (^__^)

Disclaimer: I bought this with my own money, and all views stated at my own.

Related Posts: Montagne Jeunesse Pressed Blueberries Very Berry Ultra Moisturising and Cleansing Masque, Natural Collection Rosemary & Witch Hazel Mask, Superdrug Hydrating Self Heating Mask

Face Mask Fridays: Montagne Jeunesse Pressed Blueberries Very Berry Ultra Moisturising and Cleansing Masque

It's that time of the week again: it's Face Mask Friday! Todays review is on the Montagne Jeunesse Pressed Blueberries Very Berry Ultra Moisturising and Cleansing Masque *gasps for air* I swear, MJ's face masks have the longest of names..

Don't you hate it when there's a sticker on the product you're going to review and when you try to take it off you know it's going to ruin the packaging even more so you leave it and the perfectionist in you wants you to just GO OUT and BUY ANOTHER ONE because GAH ITS NOT PERFECT LOOKING and ASDFGHJKL;'?? *flips table*

Can I get a #bbloggerproblems up in here? xD

Ahem. Anyhoo. Onto the review..

The last MJ mask I reviewed was a bit of a disaster to be quite frank, and I was a little hesitant in trying out another one.. my poor eyes didn't want another round of that again. But I had some other masks in my stash from MJ, and having seen how everyone loves their masks so much, I thought I might as well give the brand a second chance seeing as I have some to try!

So I picked this one out of the bunch, mainly because I'm a fruit lover and have been on a bit of a blueberry and cranberry jam kick these past couple of weeks. Oh, and it said 'ultra moisturising' on the packet, and I was getting sick of the random dry patches around my nose and thought I'd remedy them at the same time (^__^)

'Bursting with the juice of pressed Blueberries and crushed Cranberries, our fruity beauty is packed with antioxidants. Nourishing Peach Kernel Oil and soothing Aloe Vera will leave your skin refreshed and cleansed.'
[source]

Let's break down the main ingredients:
♦     Blueberries - reduce redness (e.g. in rosacea), good for acne prone skin, antioxidant, anti-ageing.
♦     Cranberries - antioxidants, anti-ageing, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and also has brightening properties.
♦     Peach Kernel Oil - anti-ageing, antioxidant, contains Vitamin E, perfect for dry and/or sensitive skin.
♦     Aloe Vera - soothes skin, has antibacterial properties that can help reduce the appearance of acne.

All good ingredients to have in a face mask if you ask me! (^__^)

Now.. when I opened this up, I was REALLY surprised at the look of it. It looked so.. metallic?! I'd never seen anything like it. It confused me a bit O.o It smelled really nice and fruity though, just like it's description - good enough to eat!

Consistency wise, it was a lovely, soft cream that spread quite well over the face - not too thick, nor too runny. It didn't really dry fully, but I didn't really mind to be honest - I think it was because I might have put too much of it on.

After using this, my skin did feel a little softer and cleaner, but not to the extent where I was oohing and ahhing over it. I expected I would because of the whole 'ultra moisturising' part in the title. It was a little bit of a let down when I patted my skin dry and it didn't feel much different than before. *sad face*

 Aaaaand that's all I have to say about it really. Should I do a conclusion? Okay I'll do a conclusion. T__T

*clears throat*

SO IN CONCLUSION.. I'd say it was a bit of a meh product. Apart from it's fruity smell. I got about 2/3 uses out of it, which is pretty good value in my opinion, but I wouldn't buy it again because it didn't do wonders for my skin. I prefer to use things that make me go 'WOAH I am SO glad I used that!' and this I'm afraid, didn't.

You can buy these practically anywhere for a quid: Boots, Amazon, even New Look. 
Have you tried this mask? What do you think of it? 

Disclaimer: All products were bought with my own money unless stated otherwise. All opinions are my own. I promise ^^

Related Posts: Montagne Jeunesse Passion Peel Off Facemask, DIY Fruity Face Mask: Oily/Combination Skin, Natural Collection Rosemary & Witch Hazel Mask

Skin Wisdom Youth Protect Eye Treatment Review

If you've been reading my blog for a long time, you'd know that I don't really use eye creams much. 

I've used the Simple one (review here) before but that's about it. I've never really seen the point in it, but now that I'm not as young as I used to be, I figured I should really start looking after my face better, especially my eyes. I've always tended to neglect my eyes and looked after the rest of my face because well, for the longest time, acne prone skin had always been a higher priority for me than getting wrinkles. 

So I've begun the hunt for the perfect eye cream for me. And so far, despite this being only my second eye cream, I really, really like it! So I thought I'd share my thoughts on it (^__^)

The Skin Wisdom Youth Protect Eye Treatment is actually a Tesco own brand product. In fact, they have a whole line of skincare that is directed at three age groups - 'Youth Protect' aimed at 20-35 years, 'Ultimate Lift' for someone 35-50 years of age, and for the ones from 50-65+ years there's 'Age Delay'. I think it's really good that they've done it like that, it really helps newbies (like me) when it comes to anti-ageing skincare.

Also, you wouldn't think that it was an own brand just by looking at it would you? Supermarket own branded products always put me off a bit. Yes, I am a bit of a makeup/skincare snob.. but I'm a little less so after this find though. :D

Onto the actual product itself; I think it did a fantastic job! It comes out a little runny but I like that as it's not too thick and absorbs into the skin straight away. It kept the skin around my eyes hydrated all day, I never once felt any tightness or dryness after using this.

Also, it has a very slight scent but it's not unpleasant, and it fades away almost immediately, so nothing to worry about there! As for the brightening part, I don't really have dark circles so I can't comment on that I'm afraid.

Packaging wise, I really like the fact that it comes in a tube, because I hate dipping my fingers into pots - it always feels so unhygienic and makes me cringe no end. *shudders*

So in conclusion, when this finishes.. I will definitely be popping back into Tescos to repurchase! I highly recommend it if you're looking into a budget friendly eye cream and if you're in the 20-35 age range. It's only a fiver, and Tesco's always has some kind of offer on their skincare - I mean, I got mine for half the price :D 

Have you tried any of Tesco's skincare products? 

Disclaimer: All products were bought with my own money unless stated otherwise. All opinions are my own. ^^

Face Mask Friday: Superdrug Apricot Exfoliating Face Mask

Well hello there everyone! Hope you've had a lovely week. Today I am back with another Face Mask Friday review on the Superdrug Apricot Exfoliating Face Mask (^____^) 

My skin has been going from one extreme to the other lately, and these past two weeks it has been really dry and *shudders* flakey in patches too. I didn't know what was up with it, so I decided to pick this out from my little stash of face masks and give it a whirl to see if it would do anything for me.

I've never actually come across a face mask that is an exfoliator aswell, which is one of the reasons I picked it up in the first place. Another reason was that I'm a sucker for apricot anything lol.. (>.<)

'With Superdrug's Apricot Exfoliating Mask that's a wonderful mix of crushed walnut shell and apricot seeds that gently removes dead skin cells to reveal a smoother brighter complexion.'

[source]

It's texture is light and fluffy (almost foamy) and the crushed walnut shell and apricot seeds are the perfect size and have the right amount of.. not sure what the term is.. sharpness(?) to it. The mask wasn't gritty, but it wasn't too soft either, in fact it was the perfect consistency!

'Delicately blended with nourishing Apricot Kernel Oil and moisturising Aloe Vera, this leaves skin feeling luxuriously soft and silky.'

[source]

I have to say that I am really impressed with this. the mask part was very moisturising, and the crushed walnut cells and apricot seeds provided literally the most perfect exfoliation! I'm not going to lie I absolutely LOVED IT! It seriously wasn't harsh at all, I could actually feel my skin getting softer and the dead skin cells being sloughed off as I rubbed it gently across my dry patches.

And to top it all off it smelt divine. Even better than the St Ives Apricot Scrubs, and that is saying something because I am obsessed with that smell (*_____*)  From the 15ml you get in this packet, you can actually get a good two uses out of this, which is pretty good!

Bottom line is, I'd recommend this wholeheartedly. It's definitely something I'm going to repurchase next time,  but probably after I finish my St Ives scrubs (I have two bottles left) - after that I don't think I will even get another St Ive's scrub.. *shock, horror* I know right? A shops own brand over a well known one?! I must be going doolally. :P 

You can get this for just 99p over at Superdrug, and they tend to do a lot of 4 for the price of 3 deals on their masks too, so it's definitely worth checking out next time you're in Superdrug ^^ Have you tried this before? Or any of Superdrugs own range masks? 

Disclaimer: All products were bought with my own money unless stated otherwise. All opinions are my own. I promise ^^

Related Posts: Superdrug Hydrating Self Heating Mask, Sanctuary 5 Minute Thermal Detox Mask, Montagne Jeunesse Passion Peel Off Facemask

Bioré Deep Cleansing Pore Strips (Original) Review

I'm one of those people who doesn't give into the hype. But I am also the type that is willing to give a go on things that tend to have mixed reviews - sometimes. Today's review is one that falls in line with the latter.. And that is the Bioré Deep Cleansing Pore Strips.

Now I really do not like to give negative reviews, but this *is* my blog and if I want to talk about it I have every right to. Aaaaand to put it simply - these were a total disappointment.

Basically, I have been stuck in a bit of a skincare rut lately. I've been trying to get rid of these blackheads on my nose for AGES and nothing has worked. So after seeing these on a couple of blogs and seeing that it worked for some people, I decided to give it a try.

You get six strips in a pack, which if you ask me is too little for the amount you pay - £7.99! But because I was getting a little desperate in trying to get rid of the pesky buggers, I decided to buy them anyway.

Plus I liked the fact that they were hypo-allergenic - my skin has been a bit on the sensitive side lately, and I didn't want anything aggravating it any further.

I decided that the best time to use these would be when my pores would be the most open - after a hot shower/bath. I checked on other blogs that had reviewed these and they said they used it then too.

I tried one, aaaaaaand.. well.. it did nothing. It actually stuck to my nose and it irritated my skin. It didn't clear out any of my blackheads at all. My tip of my nose felt a little softer but that's about it.

Then I gave it another chance a few days later, thinking maybe it was because my nose hadn't been wet enough. Nope. It did the same thing, but there was a little less residue left on my nose than before. Still, my blackheads remained.

A few days later, I tried it again. Guess what? NOTHING HAPPENED. Same again the next time I tried it. Maybe I'm doing it wrong, or maybe I'm imagining my blackheads? LOL no, they're definitely there alright, I see them every day (>.>)

Three days after that, I tried it again. This time I took out one black head. ONE. Out of the.. okay I won't tell you how many I have but STILL. ONE?! REALLY?!

(-__________-)

So I got to my fifth one, and.. gosh do I even need to say it. I do? Okay. NOWT HAPPENED. I haven't even bothered trying the last one. I refuse to.

I've never bought something that does absolutely nothing to my skin. I've bought stuff that has made it worse yes, and definitely things that have made it better, but nothing like this. I'm really confused. All it did was hurt when I peeled it off (slowly or otherwise).

Sigh~ I really wanted to like this. I wanted it to work. Clearly this just wasn't for me, because it has worked for a couple of people (although clearly not all!).

You can get these from Boots for £7.99. Although I don't see why you would want to. I would definitely NOT recommend this.

Disclaimer: I bought this with my own money. Unfortunately. (>.>)

Face Mask Fridays: Montagne Jeunesse Passion Peel Off Facemask

Aloha my lovelies! Hope you've all had a fabulous week (^__^) Today I have a face mask from a brand I'm sure everyone has heard of, and that is Montagne Jeunesse. Am I the only one who can't say the name properly? Anyone? Okay just me then.. xD

As you can tell from the title, I shall be reviewing the Passion Peel Off Facemask.

Everyone loves their masks, so I thought why not? I'll give them a whirl too! They're only a quid or so, so I picked a few up to try. Claiming to be gluten free, nut derivative free and having no added parabens, it seems to be that they're trying to make it suitable for just about everyone on the planet.

'Gently peel away dead skin with our amazing Passion Peel Off deep cleansing masque. Our Pomegranate and Passion Flower formula cleans, purifies and protects leaving your skin feeling fresh and radiant.'

[source]

This masks ingredients include passion flower - rich in Potassium, and the vitamins C & A, is antibacterial, and has healing properties; and pomegranate - which has anti-aging benefits, antioxidants, vitamins A, C & E which protect  skin from free-radicals.

It also contains raspberry, grape and cranberry, all of which are also packed to the brim with antioxidants! The website says its suitable for normal to oily skin, and seeing as I have a combination of both, I decided to pick this one up out of the others ^^

When I opened this, the first thing that hit me was the smell.. oh it made me DROOL. I mean, you all know that I love fruity scents. I could definitely smell the pomegranate and cranberry.

Texture-wise, it had a gloopy-gel-like feel to it but it wasn't too hard to apply. When I saw it I was confused as to why it wasn't purple like the girls on the packagings mask. Why would you not show the real thing?! I found that really weird. I know it says on the packet that it'll vary due to it being natural ingredients and blah blah blah but the actual thing is quite different from the picture!

Anyway, I'd say the amount given was just enough for a full face, but that's about it.




Sigh. Here comes my least favourite part. When I put it on all over my face, my eyes started stinging like mad. Even though I had not put it anywhere near my eyes. It was so heavily scented that it stung my eyes. *flips table* I remember so looking forward to using it, and here it goes stinging my eyes.

The stinging diminished after a few minutes however, after it had started to dry. It made my face feel tight (which is what is supposed to happen) and I waited about 7/8 minutes before peeling it off.

Despite it only being a short time, it felt like ages, because well.. I wasn't really relaxing, what with my eyes stinging from the fumes and all that. Then I realised my face was stuck in this bored expression. LOL xD So I started to open my mouth and it started peeling off around the mouth. It felt so weird.I felt like a snake shedding its skin O.o Lmao I apologise for the terrible similes.

Aaaaaaanyhoo. When I peeled it off, it hurt :/ even though I was doing it slowly and trying to be gentle. My skin didn't feel too much different after using it either. I really will not be repurchasing this. I'm actually a little scared of using my other peel off masks of theirs now.. I don't want my eyes to sting again!! *sobs* (;_____;)

Yeah.. so that was a bit of a fail. Have you tried these masks? Did your eyes sting too?

Disclaimer: All products were bought with my own money unless stated otherwise. All opinions are my own. I promise ^^

Related Posts: Superdrug Hydrating Self Heating Mask, DIY Fruity Face Mask: Oily/Combination Skin, Sanctuary's 5 Minute Thermal Detox Mask

Purity Organic Skincare Facial Exfoliator Deep Pore Cleanser Review

Hello there my dearies! Hope all is well with you (^__^) Today I have a review for you from a brand I have previously featured on my blog - Purity Organic Skincare. I've already reviewed their facial wash and their (AMAZING) makeup remover, but today's post is about their facial exfoliator/deep pore cleanser* :o)

I'm going to make this post short and snappy and to the point.

Ingredient-wise, this contains the same kind of natural ingredients as the rest of them do: coconut oil, sweet almond oil, glycerine and aloe vera. It also contains ground coconut shell to exfoliate.

Texture wise, it's basically a lotion with really small ground up pieces of coconut shell. You can barely feel the shell pieces imo, and it does not lather up.

Now I know this is called an exfoliator, but this barely did any exfoliating at all. It wasn't rough enough, most likely because as I mentioned earlier, it didn't have enough ground coconut shell. However, it is also called a deep pore cleanser.. and boy did it live up to that part of its name!

In fact so much so that I think it did it's job too well on my skin. Now my skin is combination, with an oily T-zone. This was so strong that it dried out my t zone to the point of it being painful! I know that's hard to believe but it practically sucked out all the moisture/oils on my nose and upper lip (that was the painful part :/).

Now I'm sure that if you have oilier skin than mine, and that if you used it for under a minute or so once a week, this will be all right for your skin. But if you have combination or dry skin - I'd advise you to stay WELL away from this xD

That's all I really have to say on this; I don't really like to write bad reviews unless I feel it would be beneficial - I mean I would like to know if it suited my skin type first if I was using something new for the first time/thinking of buying something new!

You can purchase this from Holland & Barretts or their own website for £5.99. Has anyone else tried this? What are your thoughts on this exfoliator/deep pore cleanser?


*PR sample, sent to me for consideration. All views are my own, I promise. (^__^)

September Favourites ♥

Is it just me, or did September go by really fast? No? Just me? Okay then >.< I'll just shut up and get on with my September favourites then shall I? Yes? Okay cool stuff..

♦     Garnier Dark Spot Corrector - Haven't been using this long enough for me to notice that any of my marks fading, but it's a brilliant moisturiser and smells very citrusy, which is always a winner for me because I'm obsessed with fruity smells. :P It leaves my skin feeling very hydrated and it really is 'illuminating' just like it says on the bottle!

♦     EcoTools Mineral Powder Brush - Aaaahh I love anything travel sized and brushes are no exception. I bought this off ebay in a diddy little set that cost a fraction of the price compared to if I bought it from Boots! It distribute the powder evenly and isn't scratchy in the least. I've washed it a few times now and it hasn't shed even a single hair!

♦     Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Honey - I know I know, I broke my makeup ban. Again. For the third time I believe? I don't buy makeup much anyway, and most of the stuff on my Project Pan list is either body care, skincare, or face powders! And besides, this was on offer for £5.99, and I got to use a £2 off any Revlon product Boots voucher that I had on top of it so it cost me £3.99! I couldn't resist it okay. I was WEAK. Not my fault it was such a bargain and looks and feels so good on my lips. Hmph.

♦     Avon Super Extend Extreme Mascara in Black - Looooooooving this. got this with the July Edition of Marie Claire and have finally started using it after my other two (which shall be in my next empties post In Shaa Allah) finished/dried up. The wand is plastic and it separates and lengthens my lashes so beautifully that it's almost rivalling my favourite L'oreal Telescopic mascara! The formula is just right too, and it holds the curl for aaaages. I don't usually wear mascara much, but this has been making me reach for it every day!

♦     Natural Collection Loose Powder in Warm Translucent - I went through a phase of loving powders (one of which I'm selling in my blog sale if anyone's interested) and in it I bought this. I forgot all about it once I found Rimmel's Clear Complexion Clarifying Powder, and it sat at the back of my draw for ages. I thought I'd pull it out and give it a go with the mineral powder brush I got in the EcoTools set that I  mentioned before, and it works really well with it and it reminded me of how much I love this powder! It reduces shine and sets makeup really well, all for just £1.99!

♦     Purity Organic Skincare Conditioning Cleansing Lotion Makeup Remover* - special mention for this guy. I ran out of my Simple wipes and had finished my usual makeup remover (again, shall be in my next empties post, In Shaa Allah) and I started using this a lot more, and it really has helped condition my skin. Sometimes when I use my Simple wipes to take off my mascara (which I've been wearing more often lately) on days when I'm far too tired to do anything for longer than five minutes, it really makes my eyelids sore. This is where this makeup remover comes in. I mean, I have a full review on it here but seriously, this even takes off my mascara without irritating my eyelids, and I don't even have to wash my face after wiping it off. Something we all need at the end of a long day I reckon!

Woo! That was a bit of a rambly post. I apologise. I am typing this up in the dead of the night sooo. :P What products have you been loving this month? ☺

*PR sample, sent to me for consideration. All views are my own, I promise. :o)

Face Mask Fridays: Superdrug Hydrating Self Heating Mask

Hello there me dears! Hope you're all keeping well In Shaa Allah :o) I'm back with another Face Mask Friday review for you all :]

Today I shall be reviewing Superdrug's Hydrating Self Heating Mask - I have reviewed two others similar to this before, which are the Garnier Skin Naturals Pure Self Heating Sauna Mask and Sanctuary's 5 Minute Thermal Detox Mask. Click the names to check them out if you're feeling curious :D

My skin has been feeling a bit dry lately, so I thought I'd try this mask instead of something I'd use for my usual oily combo skin. And it would go with my little theme of self heating masks that I've been reviewing so far. Score! 

Haha anyhoo. This mask - just like the Sanctuary mask - contains kaolin clay, which has be known to help get rid of excess oiliness by absorbing the oil on your face.

'Quench that thirst! Enriched with Jasmine and Evening Primrose Flower extracts Superdrug's Hydrating Self-Heating Mask helps to nourish and moisturise skin.'

[source]

When I read this, I was amazed that someone had made something that would get rid of excess oil and moisturise the skin. Usually it's quite hard to find something that does both.

And both things it actually does! Quite well too I might add. After using this, I didn't feel the need to moisturise at all. In fact if I did, I'd wake up with my t zone feeling oilier than usual.

Now that we've talked about the hydrating part of the mask, let's move onto the self heating part..

'The gentle warming sensation draws out impurities for ultra soft smooth skin.'

[source]

Now that I think about it, they actually put an accurate description of the self heating part of the mask. Because I had tried the Sanctuary mask, I was expecting a blazing fire from the depths of Hell the moment it touched my face (I'm only joking.. well, half joking. :P) and so was quite underwhelmed by how, well, gentle it was. It was enough to notice though, definitely more so than the Garnier mask's!

In terms of consistency, it was quite runny compared to the Garnier and the Sanctuary ones. As you can see in the picture, it started running down my fingers before I could even steady my phone to take a picture of it. 

When I put it on my face it would slowly slide down my face so that after a few minutes I'd look like I have a big pink bum-chin and then drop off when I wasn't looking. O.o

Also.. I know this is going to sound silly, but even though there's a woman on the packaging with a pink face mask on, for some reason I was expecting it to be grey just like the other two. I know, I know, it seems obvious now that I look at it, but I genuinely was like huh?! This is bright.. *looks at packet again* Oh.. heh.  xD I know. My brain works in unfathomable ways. I can't help it haha.

Another thing I notice about this was that it didn't dry up, but around the edges of where the mask was applied it would turn white and harden a little after a while. It would also.. curdle.. on my face, especially my cheeks, which aren't even oil at all, a little dry in fact. I don't know. Curdle? Is that the right word? I hope you guys know what I'm talking about, I can't think of a better way to describe it >.<

One thing that I liked when I read the back of the sachet was finding out that it was suitable for vegetarians and vegans, that they do not test on animals so are cruelty free, and is also paraben free too! Awesome stuff. Now they just have to change the packaging to something recyclable and voila, it helps the world a tad more on it's way out hehe.

The only thing I didn't like about this mask apart from the odd curdling bit, was the smell. I mean it was nice and fruity/floral, and some people might like that, but the smell kind of got to my head a bit and made me a bit.. woozy. But other than that it lived up to what it said and it's always lovely to find something that does what it says on the tin, isn't it? (^__^)

For something that has 15ml in (just like the Sanctuary one - which I got four uses out of) I only got two uses out of this, but that may be because it was quite runny and you needed a lot of it to cover your face with.

But I must say that at just under half the price of the Sanctuary one (99p!) and with the same amount of product, and the fact that it lives up to what it says it does, I can safely say that this is one that you should definitely check out if you're ever in Superdrug in the skincare aisle. 

They're even doing a 4 for the price of 3 offer at the moment - they even do men's masks too, so there's something for everyone. Have you tried any of their masks? Tried anything similar? Let me know in the comments below! ☺

Disclaimer: All products were bought with my own money unless stated otherwise. All opinions are my own.

Related Posts: Sanctuary 5 Minute Thermal Detox Mask, Garnier Skin Naturals Pure Self Heating Sauna Mask, DIY Fruity Face Mask: Oily/Combination Skin

Simple Kind to Eyes Soothing Eye Balm Review

Eye creams. Something almost everyone in the beauty blogging world owns.

I never did see the point of them, so I never bothered to get one. But when Tesco were doing an offer for three Simple skincare items for £5 and I couldn't pick a third item that I wanted, I picked up their Kind to Eyes Soothing Eye Balm.

'Our Kind To Eyes Soothing Eye Balm is a perfect blend of ingredients to help reduce puffiness and relax tired eyes. Perfect for even sensitive skin.'

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According to Simple, it contains Pro Vitamin B5, Vitamin E, jojoba oil, shea butter, and bisabolol, which are all good for the skin and all do similar jobs - soothing, moisturising, and protecting.

When I read this, I thought wow - this sounds so moisturising! I couldn't wait to try it.

And when I did, I was sort of disappointed. I mean don't get me wrong, it was as moisturising and as soothing as it claimed to be - but I couldn't tell the difference between this and their Hydrating Light moisturiser which I use as my daily moisturiser.

They look the same, and even feel the same - not much difference at all! I actually had to check the ingredients to make sure they were different (they are different, if anyone is wondering..)! The eye cream is just a tad thinner in consistency though.

The instructions say to apply a thin layer onto the delicate eye area morning and night, and to pat it gently till it absorbs and not to massage it in. I found that patting it in took forever and left my eyelid sticky no matter how long I waited. A little annoying when you just want to put your eye liner on or get to bed already!

Because I didn't see much difference in puffiness or anything like that after using it for a couple of weeks, in the end I decided to only use it if I was taking off my eye makeup with makeup wipes, because my eyes get sore when I used them to remove my makeup and well, it was soothing and I had to use it since I bought it! 

At £3.99 for 15ml I think it's a bit dear for something that does the same thing as a normal moisturiser. I suppose it would make a difference if you had quite dry eyes/eyelids, but for me, it didn't. It's on offer in Superdrug for £3 but the Tesco 3 for £5 offer is still on if you want to check it out ☺

Disclaimer: All products were bought with my own money unless stated otherwise. All opinions are my own.

Purity Organic Skincare Facial Wash Review

Hello there my lovelies! Hope you've all had a fabulous start to the week :o) Today I have a facial wash review for you - but you probably already know that by the title.. *adjusts her Captain Obvious cape a little* heh. >.<

I've reviewed a Purity skincare product on my blog before, and I have loved it since the moment it touched my skin (if you would like to read my review on that little gem, go ahead and clickety clack over here). Along with that, I was sent a facial wash to review too - and having tried it out for a couple of weeks now, I thought it was high time I put up a review on it and share my thoughts on the products.

Purity Organic Skincare is a British brand that is EcoCert certified, whose ingredients are 8% of natural origin and an average of 82% of their ingredients are processed from organic farming. Their skincare range is priced between £4.99 and £8.99, which is very affordable in my opinion. And to top it all off the brand is cruelty free! So hard to find skincare brands on the high street sometimes that are cruelty free that don't cost an arm and a leg!

'Purity Organic Skincare is efficacious, using hard-working, sustainably-grown ingredients, few in number and cleverly combined to encourage skin to work as it should. Where possible the same core ingredients run throughout the range to give your skin the simplicity of regime it needs and to ensure affordability.'

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This I can confirm - a lot of the same ingredients run in all of the products, and there really aren't a lot in the first place. Most of the ingredients are simple but effective ingredients, too, which work together to clean your skin without irritating it, or being too harsh. Their skincare is designed for sensitive skin, and the ingredients involved are perfect for its use. And to be honest sometimes a few simple ingredients are all that sensitive skin needs. After all, the more simple things are, the better it is for our skin - usually!

The Purity Facial Wash* contains sweet almond oil and beeswax, and you can sort of feel it a little on application. So as you can imagine, I was pleasantly surprised when it actually foamed up a little on my face! Usually cleansers that are organic or are designed for sensitive skin don't do that, so it was a nice surprise when it lathered up a bit - not a lot but enough for me to notice the difference.

As for the cleansing part, it didn't blow me out of the water, but it did it's job well, I'd say. My t zone didn't feel as cleansed as I wanted it to be, but at least it didn't make my whole face feel tight or make my skin feel dry or flaky afterwards - something I absolutely hate the feeling of! 

The cap opened up just like the Conditioning Cleansing Lotion Makeup Remover* - as illustrated below :o) You squeeze the bottle after pushing the oval part down to make the crescent shaped part go up. I think a pump would have been a better choice - at least that way we'd be able to control how much product we want to take out! I always find I take out too much when I use this.

One thing I have to mention about this though is the smell. It smells a bit odd. I can't explain it. It doesn't linger on the skin after you wash it though, so that's fine.

The cleanser itself is amber in colour and it's texture is in between a gel and a lotion. Sort of like a jelly like consistency I'd say - I'm assuming it's because it contains aloe vera. 

 I feel it would be better suited to dry and sensitive skin because it contains moisturising ingredients such as sweet almond oil, coconut oil, soothing & protecting ingredients such as aloe vera, and rose, oats, beeswax & avocado which soothe and condition the skin.

Hmm. The amber colour isn't showing up much on my finger is it? I apologise. The British weather doesn't like to be normal and consistent - the moody git! Am I the only one who's been having lighting problems lately because the clouds can't make up their mind if they want to be here or there? >.>

*sighs* Anyhoo. If you have dry, sensitive skin (or combination skin even!) and need a nice, good quality, organic, vegetarian cleanser, I say check this out. If anyone asked me to sum it up in a few words, I'd say that this was a very gentle but quite effective cleanser overall. 

If anyone is interested, you can purchase the 150ml bottle for £4.99 on their website or buy 2 For £7.93 mix & match across the range over at Holland & Barretts!

*PR samples, sent to me for consideration. All views are my own, I promise. :o)

Sample Sundays: Botanicals Orange Blossom Body Balm

Raise your hand if you have a poop load of samples in a drawer/box somewhere that you never use. *raises her hand guiltily*

I've decided to put them ALL to use and review them all before going out and buying anything new. That is what samples are for after all, right? Trying something out before buying it? 

I thought I'd start with something that's relatively easy to use up. I got sent this a while ago with a couple of other things from Botanicals, but they weren't for my skin type so I've not really tried them yet.

The Botanicals Orange Blossom Body Balm* is made from organic, natural ingredients, full of active botanicals and vitamins, used to deeply nourish and revitalise the skin. 

It contains glycerine and shea butter, both good to have in a moisturiser, for they have long been used for this purpose. When I apply this to any rough patches, it melts into my skin and leaves it feeling soft and nourished through out the day. Doesn't feel sticky and doesn't leave any residue at all.

' Enhanced with the exotic fragrance of pure organic neroli, patchouli, sweet orange and ylang ylang - pure decadence!'

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Once you've rubbed it in (which you don't need to do much of, frankly) the beautiful smell lingers for a while, but not in an in-your-face kind of way. It's quite a soothing smell in my opinion. I can't explain why it soothes me but it just does haha!

I like it's texture. It reminds me of coconut oil in a way, because it is solid in the tub but when it comes into contact with your skin it becomes slightly runny. This results in it absorbing into the skin really easily, which means less time faffing about trying to rub it in and more time getting on with getting ready!

This costs £16.95 for 50g, which may seem like a lot but you really do get what you paid for, IMHO. What with it being 100% natural and 87% of its ingredients being organic, it's bound to cost a bit more than your usual skincare stuff. But if you have commitment issues (:P) then you can always try their 'Try Me Sets' which include 4 skincare items for £9.50.

Have you tried anything from this brand? And please, someone tell me I'm not the only one who has a bunch of samples left unloved in a drawer somewhere, haha! I can't be the only one, right? xD

*PR Sample sent to me for consideration. All views are my own, I promise. :o)