Recent Skincare Empties

Currently I've been more focused at getting my skin in order so while I've not completely done a no-buy on makeup, I've have cut down considerably. I think I'm getting through quite a few bits of skincare so here are some of my recent empties:

No7 Beautiful Skin Eye Make-Up Remover
This is something I usually only get with the Boots £5 off vouchers, but I don't know if it's just me but this doesn't seem as good as I once remembered. Sure, it removes makeup well enough (an oil is still my preferred choice), but I find the bi-phase formula separates a bit too quickly, especially as you get halfway through the bottle and you get left with uneven amounts. I do prefer the newly revamped packaging as it's no longer a pump and just a screw-lid so if you need to dip in cotton-buds it's easier than before.

Pai Camellia & Rose Gentle Hydrating Cleanser
This is a lovely thick and creamy cleanser that is dense enough to massage over the skin for a few minutes before washing away with a flannel/cloth. If feels very gentle on the skin and leaves it soft, clean and comfortable. It has a pleasant light floral scent that is lovely to wake-up to in the morning. 
I do have acne-prone skin so I usually look for a little more in helping to control this issue so while this is a very good cleanser, I don't think I would repurchase.

Pai Geranium & Thistle Combination Skin Cream
I don't think I've ever used a moisturiser up as quickly as this one as it's been so lovely to use. It has a wonderful creamy, nourishing feel to it yet it is not in any way heavy or greasy and leaves the skin feeling naturally matte and surprisingly helps to control oil and I don't find myself getting as shiny. Some moisturisers for combination skin feel very light or have more gel type textures where as this feels like a proper cream which I prefer. This is definitely up there as one of my favourites.

Ren Max Moisture Concentrate
I was recommended this ages ago while having a facial to help address dehydration so when I had a discount code from Beauty Expert, I thought I'd give it a whirl. The texture of this is a light lotion/serum feel that sinks into the skin quickly without any residue or tackiness and then I use my regular moisturiser on top. While it seems to suit my skin fine, I was rather underwhelmed as I haven't noticed a great deal from using this. I am a fan of Ren and I absolutely adore many of their other products but sadly this is not one of them.

Naturally, I have got a few new skincare items to use (the current Boots 3 for 2 coming in very handy:) so will report on those in due course.

No7 Sunset Metallic Eye Palette FOTD

When it came to spending my No7 £5 off voucher there was one product that I already had my eye on from testing instore beforehand, so that is what I ended up getting:

The Sunset Metallic Eye Palette is part of No7's summer collection and consists of 4 metallic/shimmer type shades.

No7 Sunset Metallic Eye Palette - Flash

No7 Sunset Metallic Eye Palette - no flash

No7 Sunset Metallic Eye Palette Swatches

L-R: Dark, blackened green shade with hints of golden shimmer, the next is a golden tan shade, then a pale gold shade with frosty shimmer and lastly a golden olive green with a golden sheen finish.

The dark black/green and the olive green shades are more smoother and better pigmented with a slightly more pearl sheen shimmer then the two golden shades which have less refined shimmer particles and need to be built up a bit more to get a good payoff. I think these work better when layered over the darker shades.

The two green shades are more unique then the golds and are what drew me to this palette, overall I really like the colours and they are quite easy to blend and work with.

I have used the light gold in the inner corner and inner half of lower lash line, then the golden olive shade all over the lid, the darker black/green on the outer corner and lining lower lash line and then the tan golden shade blended on top in the centre and crease. When blended together the colours sort of remind me of Rouge Bunny Rouge Abyssinian Catbird eyeshadow although that is much more metallic looking.

I have lined the upper lash line with Rouge Bunny Rouge Anthracite Essence liner and the mascara is Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill Excess (this is a sample I got with a purchase).

Rest of products used:
MAC Studio Sculpt Concealer NW35 - undereyes
Urban Decay 24/7 Concealer pencil in NSA - on blemishes
Lily Lolo Mineral foundation in Warm Honey
Beauty UK Baked Blush in Baked Peach
Rouge Bunny Rouge Gleaming Temptations Lipgloss - No Strings Attached

NARS Downtown Lipgloss Look

I am slowly getting more and more into NARS, and with their new collection I bought my first lipgloss from them In Downtown.
I was immediately drawn to this when I tested in out on counter - it's quite an unusual soft purple shade with lilacy pink fine shimmer, unlike anything I have at present.

The light picks up the pink tones in the gloss

This lipgloss is slightly sticky which I don't mind so much (I just slap on some Lanolips 101 underneath - love:) but it does hold well on lips and lasts quite well.

For me this shade sits well in my 'comfort zone' as it's not so bright and only a little bolder then my natural lip colour.

I've done a look which uses the lilac tones as inspiration for the eyes:

Products used:
MAC Studio Sculpt concealer NW35 slightly as base and a little under eyes
NARS Nepal eyeshadow all over lid
NARS Mekong eyeshadow as the thicker line along lid
NARS Pearl Beach cream eyeshadow pressed ontop of the Mekong and Nepal to give a lilac tone to the eye
Rouge Bunny Rouge Devotion Ink Quartz Eyeliner in Anthracite Essence to finely line lash line
No7 Exceptional Definition Mascara (used more on outer corner to give a more winged look) and only on upper lashes.

The complete look ( with the NARS Downtown lipgloss on lips)

 

What I've used on face:

NARS Sheer Glow foundation - Barcelona
MUFE HD powder
NARS Douceur Blush

Overall I am pleased with this purchase as it is a shade I would wear day-to-day as well as with more dramatic looks. It sort of reminds a little of a MAC 3D Glass I once had called Algorithm (although I think that was sheerer and didn't have shimmer).

No7 Exceptional Definition Mascara Review

After having several mascaras knocking about in my stash I have slowly got through them and this is the last one left - No7's Exceptional Definition Mascara.

It's a plastic brush affair with 3 different type of bristles - one side for volume, one for more definition/length, and a spiky end to get at the more harder to reach lashes. 

I think it does a good job of getting to each lash, I particularly like the shorter, finer side for lower lashes as it doesn't add too much mascara.
The formula is very black and quite a lush texture which isn't too wet. If I use a bit more then it does clump ever so slightly. As I have long lashes already, I like mascaras that give a more defined and even lash look, I don't like it when some lashes stick together and even though this does a reasonable job, sometimes I can't easily get the separation I would like.

Some other plus points are that it doesn't smudge or flake at all and lasts the whole day without lashes feeling crispy.

Before pic with lashes curled:

After 1 coat of mascara:

Overall it's a good mascara but not great, and for me not worth £12 (although I used a £5 off No7 voucher so it was £7) as there are other drugstore mascaras for less that do a better job.


Disclaimer: Purchased by me

Quick Pretty Eyes: Sue Devitt Eye Intensifier - Laos

Sue Devitt Eye Intensifier - Laos

This is a beautiful deep bronzey brown with a slight metallic finish and very fine shimmer. My pics don't really do the colour justice as it looks so much more gorgeous in real life.

I use this all over the lid and to line the eyes and I absolutely love it. It is so quick to apply in the morning and gives a lovely intense finish to the eyes. It goes on very smoothly, is very well pigmented and surprisingly it lasted incredibly well on my oily lids - I applied it about 7.30am and it was still there when I got home about 7pm, it had slightly faded but overall I was hugely impressed as I had not used any base at all under this.

Here I have used it all over the lid and lower lash line then lined the upper lash line with MAC's Kohl Power pencil in Feline. The mascara is the new No7 Exceptional Definition.

this one shows the tone of the brown better as the colour is a bit deeper then above pic

There are quite a lot of shades in the Eye Intensifier especially more browny/bronzey shades which look as though they might be the same but swatch differently.
At £17.50, it is slightly more then what I am used to paying for a similar item, but in comparison to something like a MAC Shadestick or Illamasqua's Fat Pencils, the finish with Sue Devitt is better.

Disclaimer: Purchased by me