Yay & Nay: Simple Illuminating Radiance Cream & Perfecting Beauty Balm

When I think of Simple, I instantly think 'face wipes' In my early teens my cleansing routine was a Simple face wipe morning and night. The thought makes me shudder now but they served me well. I've always had sensitive skin but the wipes never caused me any irritation and I was lucky enough to escape the spotty teen phase, so, for me they worked perfectly well. Simple have expanded their range since then though and as we all know, when a beauty blogger goes food shopping at Tesco, a few beauty bits always end up in the trolley.

Let's get the nay out of the way first

Simple Perfecting Beauty Balm: The universal shade of this is extremely orange but fear not as it does blend out, to nothing. Seriously, there's no coverage whatsoever. After testing it out I was met with ''do you know you have glitter all over your face?'' I have no problem with bases containing shimmer but this was something else. Not only does it offer zero coverage but if your skin is even the slightest bit dry, avoid like the plague. So as you can guess, the finish is matte which teens with oily skin will appreciate BUT, the shimmer overload and lack of coverage is going to highlight any spots you might have. It's not all bad news though as it does contain SPF15 and evens skin tone to a certain extent but unless you have oily skin with no imperfections, I can't imagine you'll be pleased with the result.

Simple Illuminating Radiance Cream: This moisturiser is lightweight which again makes it a great product for oily skin or Summer when moisturisers tend to feel a bit too heavy and slip around under foundation. For me it isn't moisturising enough on it's own so what I do is apply a small amount on top of whatever moisturiser I'm using. It contains the same shimmer as the Beauty Balm but because I use it under foundation I don't end up with disco face. In my opinion it's way too shimmery to be used alone but makes a great illuminating primer. I also dab a small amount on my cheekbones after foundation, it creates a gorgeous subtle sheen that catches the light but never looks OTT. If my skin starts looking a bit tired and dull as the day goes on, I just pat on some more. It never feels heavy and hydrates any dehydration lines that can creep up on us around the eye/cheekbone area.

Have you tried either of these products?

Simple Illuminating Radiance Cream, 7.99 & Perfecting Beauty Balm, 8.99 both available from www.tesco.com

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August: Used, Abused And Reviewed.



Yankee Candle Vanilla Cupcake Room Spray: I've had this for absolutely ages, almost a year. The scent is so strong and lasts in a room for the whole day. The reason its lasted me so long is because sometimes I just cant handle how strong it is but once its had time to settle down it smells lovely and sweet.

Repurchase? Yes but maybe in a different scent.

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish x2: I will NEVER be without this cleanser. Do I need to say anymore?

Repurchase? Always.

Davines Authentic Moisturising Balm For Face, Hair & Body: One of the best conditioners I've ever used! I didnt use it on my face or body so cant comment on how well it worked on those places but for the hair its amazing. I've been trying to make this tube last as long as possible but last week I reached the end. It was a sad, sad day.

Repurchase? Yes!

Vichy Micellar Solution: I'm sure you all know my thoughts on Micellar Water by now. I'm definitely not a fan. Every single one I've tried leaves my skin feeling tacky and doesnt remove mascara anywhere near as quick as a cleanser plus i cant be arsed with the amount of cotton pads it takes to smear make up all over my face instead of just removing it.

Repurchase? No

The Body Shop Earth Lovers Watermelon & Eucalyptus Shower Gel: This was ok, nothing special and a bit too runny for my liking.

Repurchase? Not unless it was on offer.

Stella By Stella McCartney: I've worn this scent for years but completely forgot about it untill I was looking through some old handbags and found it. Its not the type of scent I usually go for but its a firm favourite and has been for years.

Repurchase? Yes

Rimmel Sun Shimmer Bronzing Compact in Light Shimmer: I honestly cannot remember how old this is but its ancient! Came across it in an old make up and decided to use it up. Its an ok bronzer but left me looking a bit muddy and I wasnt a fan of the shimmer.

Repurchase? No

Montagne Jeunesse Deep Cleansing Nose Pore Strips: You can read my review here.

Repurchase? Yes

Montagne Jeunesse Iced Crystal Exfoliating & Cleansing Facial: Smells exactly like toothpaste which I found a bit off putting but it exfoliates really, really well. After exfoliating you leave it on your skin like a mask for 10-15 minutes and once removed your skin feels silky smooth. If you have sensitive skin do a patch test first to make sure the dead sea crystals arent too harsh on your skin.

Repurchase? Maybe

Montagne Jeunesse Strawberry Souffle Moisturising & Purifying Masque: This mask smells amazing, like strawberries and whipped cream. After removing I could see my face twinkling then noticed theres shimmer through the mask. Its nothing over the top but I dont want shimmer in my skin care. I didnt find it to be moisturisng at all, if anything it left my skin feeling a bit dry.

Repurchase? No

Montagne Jeuness Hot Chocolate Pore Cleansing Sauna Mask: I love masks that heat up or tingle my skin and this didnt disappoint. Its thick and gloopy, smells like chocolate and orange, leaves the skin feeling smooth and soft BUT it stained my muslin cloths.

Repurchase? Yes

All of the Montagne Jeunesse Masks I've tried so far contain enough product for two uses so they're definitely good value.

Samples:

Sanctuary Active Reverse Facial. 30 Day Thermal Transformation Two-Step Mask: This came with a Debenhams order. You apply the Peptide Transforming Serum first then the Thermal Rose Clay Mask on top. I love masks that heat up but this was just crazy, the heat was similar to leaning over a boiling kettle and felt far too harsh on my sensitive skin. My skin was left feeling smooth but I would be too scared to use this on a regular basis.

Repurchase? No

John Masters Blood Orange & Vanilla Body Wash: I seriously wanted to drink this, it smells soooooo good and the scent lasts on the skin for a decent amount of time. I wish it wasnt so pricey but its something I'll definitely pick up at some point.

Repurchase? Yes

John Masters Lavender & Avocado Intensive Conditioner | Honey & Hibiscus Hair Reconstructing Shampoo | Honey & Hibiscus Hair Reconstructor x2: I've loved every single John Masters hair product I've ever tried. The Honey & Hibiscus Hair Reconstructor has been on my need list for what seems like forever.

Repurchase? Yes!

Caudalie Vinosource SOS Thirst Quenching Serum: I only got two nights use from this sample but it worked so well on my dehydrated skin. The results were instant!

Repurchase? Definitely!

May: Used, Abused And Reviewed.

I've been putting my travel pots to good use this month and used up loads of sachet samples! Also got through a few full sizes so here we go..

SBC Body Firming Gel £7.25: Theres not much to say about this. I didnt like the texture, it didnt moisturise my skin or make it any firmer and I wasnt a fan of the scent.

Would I Repurchase? No

Green People Itch Away Shampoo* £10.50: I only realised after a few uses that this is actually for men! lol Its really clarifying and soothes the scalp but isnt the best for dry hair. Its great to use once or twice a month to really get rid of any build up.

Would I Repurchase? Yes

Philip Kingsley Elasticizer £14.40 for 75ml: You can read my review here.

Would I Repurchase? No, atleast not at full price

A'kin Lavender & Anthyllis 24 Hour Intensive Moisture Leave-In Conditioner x2: I got 2 uses from each sachet. It left My hair silky soft but without that heavy feeling that so many leave-in conditioners have. Really loved it.

Would I Repurchase? Definitely, its on my 'list'

John Masters Organics Citrus & Neroli Detangler / Honey & Hibiscus Hair Reconstructor: Both of these are sooooo good! I plan to buy full sizes of both so will do a proper review then. I got 2 uses from each sachet and still have a sachet of the Hair Reconstructor left.

Would I Repurchase? Yes!

Lavera My Age Concentrated Lifted Serum x5: I got around a months use from 5 scahets but unfortunately I didnt notice any difference in my skin.

Would I Repurchase? No

EsteeLauder DayWear B.B Creme x5: I'm seriously in love with this B.B Creme, everytime I pass a counter I ask for samples. By far the best B.B I've ever tried but the lack of shades lets it down. You can read more about what I think here.

Would I repurchase? Yes

Perricone High Potency Eye Lift £75: Look how grotty under the lid is! It didnt fit properly and the pump didnt work so I had to open it everytime I used it. I got my dad hooked on this eye cream. He swears by it but it does nothing for me apart from moisturise the eye area but thats more to do with it being the wrong type of eye cream for my needs. I'm in my 20s and dont really need an 'eye lift'.
Would I Repurchase? No but definitely when I'm older

Did you manage to use anything up this month? Link me to your empties posts, I love reading them. :)

*PR sample

Review: Simply Soaps.

I was sent 3 products to try from Simply Soaps from their 3 brands, I've been using them for a few weeks now so thought I'd review them for you. First up is Neroli Handmade Soap.

I dont think I've held a bar of soap in about 20yrs, which might sound crazy but my mum always told me how soap was bad for your skin etc and she was right, my only experience with soap was a bad one! The great thing about Simply Soaps is that they're natural and organic, theres no synthetic ingredients, and most importantly for me, no parabens or SLS. I should also mention the products are suitable for vegans :] The scent is described as 'A walk through an orange grove' and I'd have to agree.. Tiz lovely.

I've been really into handcreams lately but noticed that hand-wash was completely drying out my hands so decided to trade it in for this chunk of lovelyness and it has made such a huge difference, I dont even get itchy hands anymore! The price is reasonable - £2.85 for 100g so I have a feeling these soaps will be replacing hand-wash in my house, permanently.

The next product is Geranium Moisture Cream from SimplySkinFood.

The texture is like a mousse/balm/cream, sounds weird but its a white balm that feels kinda like mousse to me. Again, its paraben free and the price? £9.95 for 50ml, how good is that! 'Geranium Moisture Cream - uplifing and balancing for the skin. Good for combination skin and can help psoriasis. Geranium oil is gentle and healing, will not dry the skin, it will harmonise the body's natural oils' The site also states that it can be soothing for Psoriasis sufferers.

I have combination skin, it changes from day to day so I find that this cream works best for me as a night cream but anyone with really dry skin could easily use this during the day. My skin is also sensitive but I havent had any problems. Geranium Moisture Cream will last such a long time, a little goes a long way and I've barely made a dent.

Queen Of Sheba Spa Salt & Bath Milk £4.95 from Hedgerow herbals. I love bath bombs, bubble bars and everything else but bath salts have never appealed to me, I dont think I've ever bought myself salts and I have no idea why.

'Nefertiti, the Queen of Sheba and Cleopatra allegedly contributed to their beauty by bathing in camels or asses milk and rose petals. They were also recorded as visiting the Dead Sea for mineral baths. We have created this skin softening luxury with goat's milk and Dead Sea salts, delicately scented with rose geranium essential oil. Well, if they shone like the stars of today without chemicals…so can you!'

You only need a spoonful of salt for each bath, the bag contains 100g so imagine how many baths that is. My bath water felt like silk and my skin was lovely and smooth after.

I cant get over the prices, the value is brilliant but so is the quality. I NEVER thought I'd be using soap but my hands love it and I plan to try some more. Heres the link for anyone who wants to have a nosey through the products http://www.simplysoaps.com/default.aspx

Products sent for review.

December: Used, Abused And Reviewed.

I know it's not the end of December yet but I cant see myself fully using up any more products between now and then so I'm just going to go ahead and post this. The whole point of doing the 'Used, Abused And Reviewed' posts was that hopefully I'd concentrate more on what I already have instead of letting it go to waste and buying more products that I want rather than need. If you want to read last months post then here it is.

Ok so enough rambling

Liz Earle Botanical Shine Shampoo & Conditioner. 200ml, £8 Each: I've already reviewed both of these here.

Would I Repurchase? Shampoo - yes. Conditioner - probably not.

Max Factor False Lash Effect Mascara (Black) £10.99: 'Finding a high impact volumising mascara that doesn't leave your lashes looking clumpy and clogged can be a challenge. Masterpiece Max Mascara is the next generation of mascara. It delivers bold, thick lashes with up to 400% volume but defines and smoothes at the same time for a surprisingly, sleek effect. One swipe of its high tech IFX brush gives a chic, catwalk finish in seconds - no wonder it was the official mascara of Milan Fashion Week!' A decent mascara with a big plastic brush. I prefer big brushes but would rather have bristles than plastic/rubber. I wouldnt describe the results as the same or even similar to false lashes but still, it does a good job and wont break the bank. I did find though that after a few hours it tends to flake a bit but I can deal with that.

Would I Repurchase? Yes, if there was a 3 for 2 offer on but it wouldnt be my first choice.

Philosophy Eternal Grace Shampoo, Bath & Shower Gel. 480ml, £19: A luxurious shower gel that can be used as shampoo or even a bubble bath. Infused with crisp citrus notes, and delicate floral scents of eternal grace. Like most things I own from Philosophy, this came in a set from QVC. I'm a huge fan of all the 'Graces' they smell so clean and fresh and the scent tends to stay on your skin for hours after plus it fills your bathroom aswell. I used this on my hair once, I didnt find it the best for my hair type (Coloured/Dry) but it did give an amazing shine and everytime I swished my hair I'd be able to smell it, even after the first day.

Would I Repurchase? In a set, yes.

Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic. 200ml Bottle, £12.25: 'Moisten a cotton wool pad and sweep over face and neck every morning and night after cleansing with Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser or using one of our special treatment masks. Whether your skin is dehydrated, oily, dull or congested, the nourishing and brightening botanicals will help to leave your skin feeling soft and looking fresh for longer. It also primes your skin perfectly for your choice of Liz Earle Moisturiser.' I've lost count of how many bottles I've gone through now, maybe 6? Skin Tonic (toner) comes in different sizes and also as a spritzer. It has such a calming effect on the skin and after using, the skin is left feeling really moisturised. Brilliant product and the price isnt too bad either. Anyone on the look out for a new toner or even if you've never used a toner before but want to introduce one into your skincare routine then definately give this a try. Theres no sting like you get from most drugstore toners. I know a lot of people dont bother using a toner but its essential, cleansing removes the skins acid mantle, to restore this you need to use a good toner to reset the skins natural PH balance, it also helps remove any dirt you missed while cleansing.

Would I Repurchase? Definately.

November: Used, Abused And Reviewed.

It's rare that I'll ever fully use up anything unless I love it but I have too many half used products hanging around so I've decided to use up what I have before buying any more, It'll help me de-clutter my never ending 'pile of crap' as my mum calls it, and maybe save me some pennies too. This wont be a monthly post, I dont go through stuff that quick but whenever I've gathered a few empties I'll post them here.

So heres a list of what I've managed to use up this month..

Crabtree & Evelyn India Hicks Island Living Spider Lily Ultra-Moisturising Hand Therapy. 50g £8, 100g £14: This came in the September FeelUnique Beauty Box, it has a lovely citrus scent, moisturises well and has a nice thick but lightweight texture and isnt greasy. I've been using it during the day, everyday since I got it. I love that it's free from parabens, lauryl sulfates, mineral oil, and propylene glycol.

Would I Buy It Again? Yes, or atleast try some other handcreams from Crabtree & Evelyn.

O.P.I Nail Envy Original & Matte: 15ml £18.65 Each: As everyone knows, the price of Nail Envy is beyond a joke, but, I do like it. Nail Envy claims to strengthen nails and prevent breakage, it's a treatment that can be used every other day even on top of nail polish then at the end of the week you just remove all the layers and start again. My nails are strong enough at the mo so I only use it as a base-coat (matte) and top-coat (original) everytime I paint my nails. I havent been using them as much lately though since I tried and fell in love with Nails Inc Kensington Caviar Top-Coat. QVC stock these in a duo for £16.75.. Cheaper than just 1 of them retail for!! I've just checked the QVC web site and they still do the duo's but I can only find them in the matte option, maybe they're just out of stock.

Would I Buy It Again? Yes, as a duo.

Philosophy Amazing Grace Hand Cream: I'm not sure of the exact price as it came in a set but I'd say it's somewhere around £12. Now, I've had this hand-cream for about 2 years, used it non stop at first because I was really trying to look after my hands but after a while, the notion wore off and it ended up in the drawer of neglect. Recently Though I've got back into using hand-cream so have been using this every night before bed. Amazing Grace is one of my fav smells.. ever! It's just so clean, fresh and powdery. The texture is great, my hands are left feeling really soft and protected.

Would I Buy It Again? Yes.

xo