My Favourite Lush Products

Lush is one of my favourite things in the world! I recently got into it last year, I always refused to go into any of the stores because the smell was too strong, I was totally missing out. I finally gave in and went into my local Lush store and I have never looked back. Firstly they have such a huge range of amazing, natural products at reasonable prices but more importantly some of their products have totally transformed my skin and I' tempted to also say my life. Since getting into Lush products my skin has NEVER looked or felt better which has given me so much confidence and I have got so many compliments since changing to Lush products. My skin has never been that bad, I suffered from occasional bad breakouts and have always had more oily skin with black heads on my nose. I still get the occasional spot here and there but nothing like I used to get, even at certain times of the month which was almost guaranteed for me every month

The first product and also my favourite and Holy Grail product is none other than the amazing Angels on Bare Skin.

Angels on Bare Skin is without a doubt my favourite Lush product! It is so gentle on my skin and it evens out my skin tone while gently buffing and calming any redness with its lavender. I will never use another cleanser again, I use this every morning and my skin has never looked to radiant, healthy and glowing, I am so pleased with it and will continue to use this for the rest of my life. I really like using natural products on my skin and since switching to Lush my skin has felt amazing, I really think natural products DO work and I think it is so much better for you. Click on the picture of Angels on Bare Skin to go to the Lush Website and buy some of this amazing stuff for yourself.



The second product I love goes hand in hand with Angels, it is Eau Roma Toner Water, I never used toner before but after it was suggested to me in the store by the lovely sales assistant I decided to give it a go and I am so glad that I did! It has some of the same ingredients in it as Angels on Bare Skin so they are fantastic at calming the skin and evening out skin tone. I would never switch from this fantastic duo. Since using these products together my skin has been clearer, softer, glowing and all together more radiant.

 
One of the other products I love is the Cupcake Face Mask, not only does it smell AMAZING, it works wonders for my skin. I know it says its for teenage/oily skin, my skin is combination but I find this face mask to be so gentle and great at removing any excess oil, if any, from my skin. I don't know why but it is also fantastic at removing blackheads, I really don't know how this works but after using the mask for a couple of weeks I see a huge reduction in the blackheads on my nose, the only area I really get any. They aren't that bad in the first place, but it is definitely worth noting.


 Another of my favourite Lush products is the Rub Rub Rub Shower scrub, this is the best product for exfoliating ever, it leaves my skin so soft without any greasy build-up or slipping about in the shower, I hate that about other body scrubs. It is such a fresh scent and it really leaves me feeling clean.



If I don't buy Rub Rub Rub Shower Scrub I go for the classic Sugar Scrub, it's a great price and gives you a fantastic exfoliation. I tend to break smaller pieces off and grind it up then use that on my skin, I find if you go in with the whole big bit it can be too harsh and scratch your skin. 
 
 I also love Honey I Washed The Kids Soap, it is so moisturizing and it smells divine. I don't have to use any body lotion after my shower with this soap and after a week or so of using it I notice my skin is softer and starts to look more healthy, glowing and more flawless. This soap is a miracle, I much prefer it to any shower gel or other soap because it is so kind to my skin.  Click on the picture of Honey I Washed the Kids to buy some from the Lush website, you can also read more reviews.

I am so glad I have started using Lush products, since doing so I have thought more about my life style and how I want to try to live a more healthy and natural life. I have changed my diet and am eating cleaner and more organic foods which has helped my energy levels and might also have something to do with the improvement in my skin, and when I'm buying new products natural ingredients are really important to me now, I know they work and see no need for using unnecessary chemicals, overall I'm happier, healthier and feel more beautiful.

Maybelline: The Volum' Express Falsies Flared Mascara Review

Maybelline Volum' Express Falsies Flared Mascara

Today I have a review on Maybelline's Volum' Express Falsies Flared Mascara in Black. "False lash glam with a flare, instantly! Patented Spoon Curler Brush fans out lashes from corner-to-corner, while our Pro-Keratin formula instantly builds volume without clumping. Unique flexible wand lifts and separates lashes to provide the look of 300% more visible, lashes."

I bought mine in a 2 for £10 deal at Tesco, but it is usually £7.99 you can purchase it here.

My bare lashes brushed with my trusty MAC lash comb

With two coats of Falsies Flares

My finished eye look of the day

Overall I think this mascara is pretty good, I liked the brush and how you could use both sides for different effects. It did add some extra volume to my lashes without clumping too much during application.

Falsies Flared bottle, just the classic Maybelline shape.

Here is the brush, you can use both the curved and flat side, its a proper bristle mascara brush rather than plastic

Length: 3/5 This mascara did add some length to my lashes which are already naturally long, I don't think it added any great length to my lashes therefore I don't recommend this to people with shorter lashes looking for a lengthening effect. I added two coats which delivered the length you can see in the shots above.

Overall Performance: 4/5 I liked the brush of this mascara, it is full of longer bristles and is curved so you can use both the curved side and the flat side, I alternated between the two, the flat side it better for separation while the curved side helps with the flared out look. The formula is almost perfect but can be slightly too wet which gets on to your upper eyelid during application, it also made some of my lashes stick together when using the curved side but as I said before the flat side it better for separation. The formula held my lashes in the same place all day and I could remove it easily with my usual makeup wipes.

This mascara was fine for separation but only when the flat side of the brush was used. It defined my lashes well and did fan them out to an extent but nothing amazing. I did feel during the application process my lashes were combing outward to the corner of my eye which was quite a nice look.

Volume: 3/5 This mascara did add some decent volume to my really fine lashes, it also didn't weigh the down which tends to happen with mascaras. I used two coats to achieve the look above. I don't think it added a false lash effect to my eyes so it loses marks as this is what it claims.

Expense: 3/5 I think this mascara is a really good price at £7.99 plus Maybelline have offers on regularly. I liked the results I got and because this mascara lasted so long I would give it 3/5. However, I don't think I will buy this mascara again because I already have mascaras that I prefer.

L.O.V.E RESULT:

      13/20

Collection 2000: Volumising Mascara Review

Collection 2000 Volumising Mascara

A couple of days ago I saw this new Collection Volumising Mascara on offer in my local Boots store, it is a new mascara launched from Collection claiming "This high impact mascara comes with an extra large wand to thicken and separate lashes ensuring every lash is coated evenly for up to ten times more volume."

I thought for the introductory price of £2.99 it was worth trying, I saw the brush and it reminded me of Max Factors False Lash Effect mascara which I like but found it flaked during the day.  

My bare lashes just combed with my MAC lash comb

With two coats of Collection Volumising Mascara

My finished eye look, sorry it's a bit out of focus.

I wasn't that impressed with this mascara, I found that it didn't add the amount of volume to my lashes that it claimed, even after two coats. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't bad but I just think if its a volumising mascara then it should deliver more volume.

The packaging it a really pretty colour and its a chunkier bottle.

The brush is really big and had loads of tiny bristles on it.

Length: 2/5 I don't think this mascara added much length to my lashes but it does claim to be a more volumising mascara so this didn't bother me too much. However I usually find after a second coat of mascara some length is added to my lashes, having long lashes naturally makes it difficult to see drastic results but I just didn't see any with this. Unfortunately this mascara did not hold the length and curl of my lashes it provided when first applied, they deflated half way through the day.

Overall Performance: 3/5 I found the consistency of this mascara to be too wet, this made it difficult to build any volume without my lashes all sticking together. It didn't clump while applying but it did bunch lashes together which is just as annoying. I thought the brush looked amazing but I found it was rather painful when it came into contact with my lash line, the bristles are just slightly too sharp for me. It didn't really hold all day either with my lashes deflating slightly after a few hours of wearing this, it didn't flak or transfer during the day though and it comes off easily with my usual makeup removing wipes. 

I found this mascara to be average for separation, during application my lashes kept sticking together because the formula was too wet, it did define my lashes well though and the colour "Ultra Black" helps with this. I think it's good at defining my natural lashes but the thick, wet formula made the application process so much longer than usual, it also got all over my eye lids when applying so I had to take extra time to remove it.

Volume: 2/5 I think because this mascara claims it is a volumising mascara I have to mark it lower because I just didn't feel I got much volume at all from it. I did apply two coats of this mascara but I didn't see much difference than when I just had on one coat, the formula is just too wet to build on the lashes, unfortunately this "volumising" mascara didn't give me as much volume as it claimed. It did define my lashes though and gave them a natural look.

Expense: 3/5 This mascara is a good price, but I don't think it is volumising enough to be worth the money I paid. I did like the definition it gave my lashes but I wont be purchasing this one again.

Overall, I really liked the idea of the brush but just found it uncomfortable at times during application as the bristles were too sharp. The formula was just too wet which made it difficult to get my lashes separated and fanned out as I like and took longer than usual to apply. I think the fact that my lashes also deflated easily would stop me buying this mascara again, I have used numerous mascaras that can hold all day. I'm glad I tried this mascara but it really didn't give me enough volume.

L.O.V.E RESULT:

     10/20

Miss Sporty: Studio Lash Incrediball Mascara Review

Miss Sporty Studio Lash Incrediball

Today's review if of the Miss Sporty Studio Lash Incrediball Mascara in Extra Black. Please excuse the rubbish lighting, today is a really horrible dull, rainy, cold, windy day and I usually just use natural lighting so I have had to make do.

"Exclusive 360° Brush catches EVERY LASH …Now with extravagant volume, fanned-out lashes and no clumps." I bought this mascara for £2.99 from my local Boots store, you can purchase it here. I bought this mascara when I saw the brush, I thought it looked really cool and was eager to try it out.

Bare lashes brushed with my MAC lash comb

With two coats of Miss Sport Incrediball Mascara

My finished look.

Overall I'm not too fussed about this mascara, I found it just defined my eye lashes more than anything else. I do like the idea of the brush but I found that it did clump on my lashes as the formula was quite thick.

Packaging, just standard and bright orange!

Here is a close up of the Incrediball mascara, you can see the little ball on the end.

Length: 2/5 This mascara didn't really add much length to my lashes, as my lashes are already quite long it just defined them so it is difficult for a mascara to add a substantial amount of length to my lashes, some I have tried in the past have done this but this mascara didn't seem to add any length, just more of a natural defined look.

Overall Performance: 3/5 I really do like the idea of this brush, but unfortunately I didn't get the results from it I expected. The consistency of the mascara is slightly too thick, this meant that it clumped on my eye lashes a little which made application time longer. The formula didn't flake or smudge throughout the day and I could easily remove it with a make up wipe. By the end of the day my lashes had deflated a little bit, but I had been out in the strong winds and heavy rain so I think it held pretty well considering.

This mascara was great from defining my lashes and did a decent job of separating them, however because the formula was rather thick it made some of my lashes stick together and clump up which made the application process harder. It did give a fanned out look to an extent, but some eyelashes were stuck with tiny clumps, I like both my eyes to be perfect and symmetrical! I really liked the brush on this mascara, It has the ball shape on the top which can be used for all different angles, it is a rubber/plastic brush with lots of small bristles on it. Having the brush on the end also helped to separate my lashes and remove some of the clumps when I used it up and down rather than the regular way using the length of the whole brush.

Volume: 3/5 This mascara did add some volume to my lashes, although I still think it looks quite natural and defined I did get some added volume to my otherwise fine eye lashes. This did however result in some clumping which can be seen in the shots above, I think you would only notice this if you were looking close up, but the mascara does claim that it doesn't clump.

Expense: 3/5 This mascara is a great price at only £2.99, but I don't think the results I got were what I expected. This mascara is fine for defining your natural lashes and I really do like the brush, maybe if the formula wasn't so thick it would be less prone to clumping. I think it would be good for those with already longer lashes, but if you are looking for more length then maybe this mascara isn't the one for you.

L.O.V.E RESULT:

      11/20

17: Peep Show Mascara Review

17 Peep Show Mascara

Today I have a review on 17's Peep Show Mascara in Black. I used this mascara a couple of years ago but I have forgotten what it was like so I decided to repurchase it and try it again.

"Where’d ya get those peepers? Flash your lashes with our fibre-rich lengthening SEVENTEEN Peep Show Mascara.. The closest thing to false lashes in a bottle!"I bought my mascara for £4.99 as it was on offer, but it usually sells for £6.29 which is still a decent price, you can buy it here.

Bare lashes, just combed with my MAC lash comb.

With two coats of 17's Peep Show Mascara

With my everyday eye look, liquid eyeliner and pencil liner.

I think I love this mascara, the packaging is so cute and I love the name of the mascara as well, but mostly I love the effect it gives to my lashes. Nice and fanned out, adds some length, separation and volume without clumping.

I love the packaging, its so pretty and pink!

Close up of the brush, its not a plastic one for a change!

Length: 4/5 This mascara did add some extra length to my lashes, I think this is the fiber enriched formula that does this, it sort of builds up on the lashes with an extra coat or two. The length lasted all day and the mascara sculpted my lashes in just the right way with little effort, I only needed two coats of this mascara. It only loses a mark as it claims it is "false lashes in a bottle" which I feel isn't really accurate but I love the effect regardless.

Overall Performance: 5/5 I actually think this mascara performs really well, the consistency is perfect, it doesn't weigh my lashes down and they feel really light and 'fluttery' all day. When I applied a second coat it didn't clump at all, instead it intensified the look it gave my lashes, making them look thicker and longer, usually this takes me so much longer when mascaras clump. Surprisingly the formula didn't flake or transfer during the day, I have found with previous fiber mascaras that they fall off onto your cheeks during the day, this mascara stayed in place the whole day. It also comes off easily with my normal makeup remover wipes.

The brush is actually really good, I wasn't expecting this as I usually prefer the rubber/plastic brushes as they are perfect for separation, but this brush was great at separating the lashes so it gets a 5/5 from me. It also defined the lashes really well without clumping, this held the whole day. Despite putting two coats on and because this is a fiber enriched mascara, I was expecting it to feel heavier on my lashes, but it doesn't, it feels so light and my eye lashes feel so soft and natural.

Volume: 4/5 This mascara was really good for adding volume, the fiber formula is perhaps why it is so good at this. It is also really build-able so you could add coats until you get the look you want, I don't know how much this mascara would clump though with any more than three coats. The volume holds all day but still feels light on my lashes, it doesn't weigh them down at all. One point is lost just because it's not really "false lashes in a bottle" but I think I prefer this, its so much more natural.

Expense: 5/5 This mascara is a FANTASTIC price at only £6.29, for the results I got I am so pleased with this mascara and I would definitely buy it again without hesitation, this one is going straight into my makeup bag as my new everyday mascara!  

Overall I LOVE this mascara because the effect it gives my lashes it beautiful and you can add coats without it feeling heavy, I literally feel like I'm wearing no mascara and it really does give you that flirty lash look. For those with shorter lashes I would recommend applying more than one coat, this will build up your lashes more making them look longer and thicker. My lashes just feel so soft and natural I can't believe a mascara this price would give me such great results with no clumping, flaking or transferring.

L.O.V.E RESULT:

       18/20

Clinique: Bottom Lash Mascara Review

Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara

So my lovely fiancé bought me the Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara in Black. It retails for £12.00, he bought it in our local Debenhams store.

http://www.clinique.co.uk/product/1606/15586/Makeup/Mascara/Bottom-Lash-Mascara/index.tmpl

So for starters its probably the cutest mascara I have ever seen!

Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara

Close up of the cute little brush.

For this review I don't think my usual L.O.V.E method is appropriate, seeing as it is just for bottom lashes the review will just be a general review of the product.

I actually think this product is just so cute that I have to like it! The packaging it gorgeous, silver with a floral print all over it. The brush is just so tiny so it's perfect for getting all of those bottom lashes, and it did this really well. I sometimes find with putting normal mascara on your bottom lashes it can clump easily and get kinda messy, but with this little one there's no problems at all. My lashes didn't clump, stick together and it gave an even coating to all of my lashes giving them a natural look, this is the kind of look I personally want for my bottom lashes because I don't suit darker, thicker ones. This product really is idea if you just want natural looking bottom lashes, I think if you added another coat or two you could get a darker, thicker effect if that's what you were after. At the same time, I don't know if it is really necessary, I can achieve a similar effect with certain other mascaras I can use for both my top and bottom lashes, is having a separate product for top and bottom lashes really needed. In my case, it's not, but I will use this product up while I have it, I will actually use it every day, who knows maybe I will fall in love with it but for now it's not something I would spend my money on again because it kinda over complicates things, but it's just so cute!

Body Shop Haul

Look what came in the post today!

My Body Shop Package!

I thought I would do a wee haul of everything I got in my Body Shop order, I will hopefully review some of these products once I have used them. I already love the smells of them, so so good!

Papaya Body Butter 200ml, I got this for £3.00! Total bargain as it is usually £13.00! Is smells, so good I can't wait to use it.

Almond Body Butter 200ml, I also got this for £3.00, its usually £13.00, AMAZING! It smells like marzipan.

Passion Fruit Body Butter 200ml, £3.00 usually £13.00. Again, it smells delicious!

Strawberry Body Butter, £13.00. One of my favourites.

Mango, Chocolate, Coconut and Shea Butter Lip Butters. £4.00 each.

Vitamin E Moisture Cream £12.00, Face Oil £11.00, Vitamin E Eye Cream £10.00

I already use the Vitamin E Intense Moisture Cream, I LOVE it, it has totally transformed my skin. I can't wait to try the eye cream and the face oil which I will use at night. I have tried a couple of the lip butters, for starters they smell better than they taste but they make my lips feel great and that's what I'm looking for. I already use the Strawberry and Chocomania body butter (forgot a picture of that) so I can't wait to try the other ones.

The Body Shop Body Butters are amazing and they make my skin so incredibly soft!! I have been using them mostly every night, I hate wearing body lotions in the day, I hate being soggy. But even having them on over night and washing them off in the morning has made such a difference to my skin, I don't think I could go without them now, definitely the best body moisturizes I have ever used.

Collection 2000: No Clumps Mascara Review

Collection, No Clumps Mascara.

My new review is of the Collection No Clumps Mascara in Black. 

"Collection No Clumps Mascara gives clump free beautifully defined lashes. Easy to use with innovative comb brush. Apply to lashes to create a beautiful defined look."

This mascara I bought for £2.49, it is usually £2.99 but I bought it on offer. I have used Collection mascaras before but that was years ago and I really can't remember anything about them. I liked the look of the brush, it looked great for separation and I thought since it was on offer I should give it a go. Also I was hoping that its claim of "No Clumps" would prove to be true!

http://www.superdrug.com/eye-make-up/collection-no-clumps-mascara-black/invt/713759

My bare lashes brushed through with my MAC lash comb.

With two coats of Collection No Clumps Mascara.

My completed look with my usual eyeliners.

Overall I quite liked this mascara but it did clump a bit on the second coat which made last application longer. This is a super mascara for defining the lashes more than anything else it gives excellent separation. 

Collection No Clumps Mascara, packaging is fine, quite a slim tube.

Close up of the brush.

Length: 3/5 This mascara didn't add a huge amount of length to my lashes but it did comb them through really well and exaggerated the length of my natural lashes. The length held throughout the day and the overall structure of my lashes didn't change. This mascara would probably be better for those with longer lashes naturally.

Overall Performance: 3/5 The mascara was pretty good, the formula was a good consistency however on the second coat it did clump a little. It didn't flake, smudge or transfer during the day and was really easy to remove with my normal make up wipes. The brush is AMAZING, my ideal brush, it reminded me of the YSL Babydoll mascara, the closest I have come to my holy grail mascara. Its a plastic/rubber brush with lots of tiny bristles so its fantastic for separation and definition. 

The mascara gets full marks on separation and definition, but loses marks on the fact that it clumped a lot on the second coat, the mascara is called "No Clumps", but after a careful comb through these clumps disappeared.

Volume: 2/5 This mascara really didn't add that much volume to my lashes, it only defined my natural lashes, which I do love the look but when I'm wearing mascara I do want some extra volume. The definition of my lashes lasted the whole day and any extra volume also lasted well. This mascara would be more suited for those with naturally thicker lashes or naturally longer lashes.

Expense: 3/5 I bought this mascara for £2.49, it is usually £2.99 so for the price I paid and the results I got I was actually quite pleased with it. Although I wouldn't buy this mascara again, I will use up the bottle and bare it in mind for a really natural looking effect.

L.O.V.E RESULT:

      11/20

Dior: Diorshow Iconic Mascara Review

Dior, Diorshow Iconic Mascara

Today I have another mascara review, this time I review the Dior, Diorshow Iconic Mascara in Black.

"A Dior exclusive innovation for a revolutionary oblique brush. The incredibly soft elastomer brush features slanted bristles to capture each lash one by one. In one quick stroke, with no special application method necessary, the brush acts like a brushing on lashes. Enriched with a unique lifting formula, Diorshow Iconic sculpts, stretches and curves the lashes with extreme hold and high definition."

I bought this mascara for £23.00 in Debenhams, I also had £5 to use on my Debenhams Beauty Card so I put that towards the cost so I only paid £18.00 for it. This was my first Dior mascara, I bought it because my mum loves it and has used it for years, she also said it lasted ages and doesn't dry out, so I thought I would give it a go.

http://www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prod_10701_10001_123172963799_-1

My bare lashes, I have only combed them with my MAC lash comb.

This is my lashes after two coats of Diorshow Iconic Mascara, and one coat on the lower lashes.

This is my complete eye makeup look with my usual eye liner.

Overall I found this mascara was slightly too wet, almost tacky for me. It made it more difficult to apply and took longer because my lashes kept sticking together. It also created some little clumps which you can see in the shots above. I do love the packaging of this mascara though, it looks great in your makeup bag! Just a classic silver tube with Dior printed all over it, the actual size of the product seems bigger than most mascaras which is surprising for a premium make up brand. The brush is a rubber/plastic one with lots of soft tiny bristles.

 

Loving the packaging!

You can see the structure of the brush and all of the tiny bristles.

Length: 3/5 This mascara did add some extra length to my lashes, but only after a second coat, which unfortunately caused some slight clumping. Adding a second coat took a lot longer as well because the formula was slightly tacky. Because my eye lashes are naturally longer, its difficult to add a huge amount of extra length to them, so it defined my natural length, sculpted them into place while adding a slight curl, this in turn added extra length to my lashes.  I give Diorshow Iconic 3/5 for length, it did add some extra length and help sculpt and curl my lashes, but the formula did clump making it harder to add further coats.

Overall Performance: 3/5 The overall performance of this mascara is decent. The formula I found to be too wet which made it really difficult to apply the mascara whilst separating my lashes as they all stuck together. The formula did clump during the application even on the first coat, but I think this is because the formula is really thick. I like the idea of the brush, it would make a fantastic lash comb! I think, however, due to the formula being so wet and thick it stuck between bristles preventing them from separating my lashes evenly. The mascara didn't flake, transfer or smudge throughout the day and it held my lashes in the same place all day as they were that morning. The also mascara comes off with no difficulty, I used my normal makeup wipes.

The mascara defined my lashes well but didn't give them enough separation as I would have liked. I did like the completed look with my eyeliner as I felt it was a darker more glamorous look, maybe more suitable for special occasions or for going out. I prefer the fanned out look to my eye lashes, this gave some of them a more spiky look.

Volume: 3/5 So the Diorshow Iconic did add voulme to my eyelashes, I think the thicker formula did this, at the same time it did clump slightly which was annoying and took longer to apply. The first coat did add some extra volume but when I applied a second coat, which I usually do with mascara, it started clumping and stuck some of my eye lashes together.

Expense: 2/5 I don't feel the Diorshow Iconic was worth the price I paid for it, I was glad I got my extra £5 off! I love having premium makeup brands and Dior is such a good brand with a great range of beautiful products, but the Iconic didn't live up to my expectations and I think its all down to the formula, it's just too thick for my lashes, maybe because my lashes are so fine it weighs them down and they stick together. I really do love the brush though and if the formula was maybe more whipped it would provide excellent separation with that amazing brush. However, my mum loves this mascara and it looks great on her, she has shorter lashes than me so maybe that's why.

L.O.V.E RESULT:

      11/20

Overall I wouldn't buy the Diorshow Iconic mascara again, (unless it was a present for my mum) and I won't be adding it to my makeup bag. I think this mascara would be better suited for shorter lashes and I am looking forward to trying another Dior mascara in the future, I have my eye on the New Look, watch this space!