Late to the Party

Several new bits to play with this week, so I've added some of them into this week's bag! I also took some time to actually write out a makeup inventory (as I did with my skincare stash earlier in the year) and the results were a bit shocking seeing the numbers written down (example - I currently own 22 highlighters!!).   So, I'm going to be adding some pieces that I don't usually reach for, or aren't too bothered by, to see if I want to keep or de-clutter them. * Primer - Becca First Light Priming Filter - I just got this last week in my Tili Mini bag and I absolutely LOVE it! It's a lightweight liquid primer with a faint lilac tint and it does such a great job of illuminating your face and evening-out skin texture. I usually don't have too much luck with primers but this one is hugely impressive so far.   * Foundation - Lumene Invisible Illuminator - After trying out the Bare Minerals Bare Pro foundation (my thoughts on that HERE ) - I rea...

  Bare Minerals - Bare Pro Performance Wear Foundation (SPF 20) £29.00 for 30ml      I had pretty much decided that both Estee Lauder Double Wear or Clinique's Even Better Foundation were the two that were in the front-running for foundation of choice (but then I went and bought Nars!) and I'd stopped actually seeking out foundation samples to try. However, I noticed that Debenhams were offering samples of the Bare Minerals Bare Pro foundation to try and the offer was too tempting!          The Bare Minerals counter didn't actually do a shade match on my skin, but took one look at me and picked out the shade 'Natural'.   My skin is combination/oily - sometimes prone to a couple of dry patches.   This foundation is suitable for all skin types. It's a creamy liquid, full-coverage foundation and the full size comes with a pump dispenser. The finished look is described as a 'natural matte'. It is apparently...

  I received some products from Ioma to test, including the Ioma Lip Lift and the Expert Rituel, which is a handy box of mini samples (enough for a weekend away) of several Ioma products.       Ioma Lip Lift - £44 for 15ml BUY HERE   What is it?   Lip Lift is a product designed to plump and contour the lips and can be used as a standalone lip treatment or as a base pre-lipstick. According to Ioma it provides 4D effectiveness: * helps 4 key zones: the lips, the contour, the lip shape, the corners of the mouth.  * 4 actions: plumps, smoothes, restructures, moisturises.  * 4 dimensions: immediately, long term, on the surface, deep within.   Key ingredients: *  Volulip: Mimics the effect of hyaluronic acid injections doubling the synthesis rate for this molecule, which is naturally present in the skin. Recreates lip volume and redraws the contour.  * Seacode: Reduces appearance of lines. Also improves the...

    I'm not entirely convinced that there is actually such a thing as a miracle eye cream! I seem to have been searching for it forever (and I don't think I'm alone in what I read) and I've yet to find 'The One' or anything even closely resembling a Holy Grail eye cream. I thought I had found it some months back with the Filorga Time Filler for Eyes - but after a few weeks I just stopped noticing anything special happening with that product. The same goes for many other samples and deluxe minis that I have tried. If they feel good, hydrate and moisturise my eye area without leaving a sticky residue or causing Milia, then I think that's possibly the best I can hope for.       I feel much more positive towards eye serums though - and have come to my own conclusion that the best thing for my eyes is to keep the area hydrated - which keeps your skin plump (and possibly reduces the appearance of fine lines) and soothes any bagginess and puffiness...

Currently, both Superdrug and Boots have 3 for 2 offers on make up (although Boots aren't including all ranges and I think Superdrug are - or it appears so). There are two major branches of Boots and Superdrug in my nearest city (Norwich) and both vary from shop to shop. So I do have a lot to choose from, but often the make up sections in both stores can be a bit chaotic (Superdrug is worse for this!) with samples missing or wrecked and often the item I'm specifically looking for not in stock.   So I had a bit of a browse in the stores and then decided to make an online order with Superdrug (as they had other deals too) to ensure that I could make the most of the current deals.   Garnier Ultimate Blends Shampoo/Conditioner - These were two for £5.00. I always like to pick up shampoo when it's on offer, and luckily, it's quite often on offer, as I think if they weren't, these two would usually cost about £7.98. Superdrug currently have an offer wh...

Ohhh my face was SO mashed up last week after my full-face threading/waxing experience. I didn't/couldn't wear any make up for three days and even after that, my skin was just a horrible blotchy, lumpy mess. Even now, a week later, it's still not returned to how it was pre-threading and I can't get a good read on how anything (skincare or make up) is working for me. But I look forward to choosing my weekly make up bag and feel that after 13 weeks into this project, I'm getting to know the entirety of my collection again (although there are still a few months left of getting through eye shadow palettes!!).     A bit of a peach/orange/copper/apricot kind of week!     * Foundations I picked up a couple of foundation samples in the last couple of weeks - Bare Minerals Pro and another shade in the Clinique 'Even Better' foundation - and I wanted to give them a proper testing, but I just don't feel that my face is going to be an acc...

Another good month for getting through some products - I took minis and samples with me on our trip to Seville, so got through a few there. My skincare inventory is still huge and it doesn't help that I seem to be adding more than I use up!   Skincare Empties   *Boots No7 Hot Cloth Cleanser - This took ages to get through and made me realise that cream cleansers are my least favourite cleansers! This did the job okay (although it didn't remove eye make up fully) but it just was a bit too boring to use! * Eau Thermale Avene - Thermal Spring Water Mist - I initially only started using facial mists in hot weather but grew to understand the multi-uses for a good facial mist. This mini can lasted a while and I would definitely repurchase when I've gotten through some other facial mists. * The Ordinary Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2% - This has been my least favourite product from The Ordinary! The greasiness and gritty texture made this virtually unbear...