Wednesday 29 August 2012

August Favourites

If you're interested in hearing which products I've been loving this month then please click here to watch my latest video. As always, I'd love to hear your opinions so don't forget to comment, thanks!
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Saturday 25 August 2012

Speed Review: Payot Softening Eye Makeup Remover with Rose Water

Payot is a luxury, natural beauty brand which hails from Paris and as a fan of French skincare products, I was excited to try their Softening Eye Makeup Remover.


The bottle is sleek and I like that it is transparent, making it easy to see how much product is remaining. My only complaint (and it's a minor one) is that I'd have prefered the convenience of a flip top instead of a screw on cap. I liked the opening of the bottle which is the perfect size to allow just the right amount of the fluid formula to be dispensed without wastage.

Payot Softening Eye Makeup Remover feels cooling upon application and I was impressed that it contains rosewater, making it a gentle option for those with sensitive eyes. Whilst it did the job, it isn't the most effective eye makeup remover I've used and I found that I really needed to "scrub" at my skin to remove the final traces of mascara. I don't tend to wear waterproof mascara so I can't comment on its effectiveness at removing this. There was no Eye Makeup Remover residue left on my eyes after use.

Whilst Payot is a luxury brand, I find £16.50 for 125ml eye makeup remover expensive and I'd personally struggle to justify the price when I've previously tried perfectly acceptable, cheaper alternatives.
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Friday 24 August 2012

Monthly Miniatures: August Review

I've just posted a new video! To find out what I thought of the Monthly Miniatures products which I tried this month, click here.
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Thursday 23 August 2012

Speed Review: Mandara Spa Amber Heaven Conditioning Bath & Shower Cream

If you follow my blog or vlog channel regularly then you'll know that I recently introduced a new monthly series called "Monthly Miniatures" (click here for further details). One of the products which I trialled during July as part of the new series was the Mandara Spa Amber Heaven Conditioning Bath & Shower Cream and I thought that for today's review, I'd share my thoughts on the product.

Although described as a cream, I'd say that the formula is more of a pearlescent gel. I was pleased to note that Amber Heaven Conditioning Bath & Shower Cream is free from "nasties" such as mineral oil, parabens and SLS, especially because it's reasonably priced at £6.50 for 200ml. Considering that the formula is free from SLS, it gives an impressive lather and as a result of this, a little goes a long way.
In fact, the only thing that I didn't like about Amber Heaven Conditioning Bath & Shower Cream was the scent and that's purely down to personal preference. I was put-off by the overpowering scent of patchouli, which lingered on my skin long after my shower. There's a sweet undertone which I found more enjoyable but the predominant scent is undoubtedly patchouli so if you like that, you should definitely check this out. The Amber Heaven scent is just one of five ranges from the brand, with other fragrances such as Tropical Blooms, Honeymilk Dream, Island Paradise and Citrus Spice also available so I hope to try one of these in future.



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Tuesday 21 August 2012

Speed Review: Lush Whoosh Shower Jelly


Made of vegetarian jelly, Whoosh is one of three scents in Lush's line of Shower Jellies. I had Whoosh in my "to try" box for a while before braving it as I honestly didn't know what to expect. I remembered that Lush used to sell their Shower Jellies as individual portions in ice cube bags so I had the impression that they were intended to be used as frozen cubes. Whilst the Shower Jelly can be frozen or chilled, it's also possible to use it at room temperature (as I did) and it will retain its wobbly consistency.
Whoosh is presented in a screw top plastic tub from which you scoop out the bright blue jelly. The second that I opened the tub, I was hit with an amazing, awakening and uplifting citrus scent which comes from the inclusion of  fresh organic lemon & lime juices along with grapefruit juice, grapefruit oil, rosemary oil and geranium oil. Whilst I was a little disappointed to note the inclusion of some "nasties" such as parabens and SLS (which tends to dry out my skin), this was offset to an extent by hydrating glycerin and honey water. There is a very slight lather when used in the shower, although I imagine it would produce more bubbles if used in a bath.


I really enjoyed using Whoosh and it's definitely the most fun product that I've come across in a while. It's ideal for kids and adults alike. What's more, it lived up to its claims of being awakening- Lush even recommend it when jet-lagged or hungover. My main complaint is that there was quite a lot of wastage as the slippery jelly is so easy to drop in the shower and for this reason, I'd struggle to pay £3.50 for 100g. I'm really pleased that I tried this but it's undoubtedly a gimmick so I'd be unlikely to repurchase it.
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Sunday 19 August 2012

New video

I've posted a new video over on my YouTube channel, Skin Deep Beauty Vlog. It's a collective haul showing some pieces from the likes of MAC and Lush which I picked up recently. Click here to view.
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Saturday 18 August 2012

Monthly Miniatures: You Decide

One of my YouTube subscribers suggested that I make my Monthly Miniatures series a little more interactive by asking readers to vote from a selection of miniatures with the most popular 5 then being included in the next month's box for review. I thought it was a fantastic idea!
Please comment below to vote for up to 5 products which you'd like to see in the September Monthly Miniatures box.

Choose from:
Elizabeth's Daughter The Daily Moisturiser SPF15
L'Occitane 20% Shea Butter Dry Skin Hand Cream
Fendi Fan di Fendi Eau de Parfum
Oskia Renaissance Mask: Nutri-Active Brightening & Resurfacing Mask
Trevor Sorbie Beautifully Moisturised Frizz-Free Conditioner
Occo London Mirnavina No 4 Grape, Blackberry & Fig Body Hydrator
Occo London Sipon No 2 Bay, Rosemary & Fennel Bath & Body Wash
Moroccanoil Oil Treatment

Be sure to check back at the start of September to see which products you've chosen for my Monthly Miniatures box!


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Monday 13 August 2012

Speed Review: NIP + FAB Clean Fix Wipes

It's no secret that I'm not a fan of facial cleansing wipes and whilst I appreciate that they offer a quick and easy skincare solution, so do cleansing waters which are more beneficial for the skin. Having said this, there are rare occasions when I reach for cleansing wipes and I've recently been impressed with the NIP + FAB Clean Fix Wipes from the wallet friendly brand created by the founder of Rodial.

The packaging is sleek and appealing, however, I'd have prefered a secure plastic clip fastening as opposed to the sticker to avoid the wipes drying out. For me, this is something which is particularly desirable given how rarely I use wipes.

The wipes themselves have a fresh scent and are satisfyingly saturated with cleanser, making them more effective than most at removing makeup. The fabric feels soft and strong- I even tried to rip these and they didn't tear.
I liked that they are free from drying alcohol but instead feature soothing aloe vera and hydrating glycerin in the ingredients list. Having said that, I did experience a slight stinging sensation when using these on the more sensitive areas of my face. Also, I found that my skin felt slightly dry after use so I couldn't forgo moisturiser. However, overall, I was pleasantly surprised by Clean Fix Wipes and as a result, am keen to discover more from the NIP + FAB brand.
At £4.95 for 25 wipes, I feel that these are fairly priced. I'm never going to recommend wipes as an everyday skincare option but if you're looking for some wipes to use occasionally, these are worth checking out.
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Tuesday 7 August 2012

Project 10 Pan

I've just uploaded a new video on Skin Deep Beauty Vlog showing you the 10 beauty products which I've used up recently. I hope you'll find it interesting- click here to view.
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Sunday 5 August 2012

Speed Review: Clinique Turnaround Overnight Radiance Moisturizer

I was recently sent Clinique Turnaround Overnight Radiance Moisturizer for review and as I prefer Clinique makeup to their skincare (which can be too harsh for my sensitive skin), I passed the sample onto a friend to try. Here are her thoughts:
As with all Clinique products, the packaging of Turnaround Overnight Radiance Moisturizer is classic and sleek. I liked that it was suitable for all skin types, from very dry to combination oily.
The scent of the product was quite off-putting. I've tried quite a few Clinique products previously and like that they tend to be fragrance-free or at least, not offensive but I struggled with this one, which smelt very synthetic.
Clinique Turnaround Overnight Radiance Moisturizer has a thick texture which lent itself well to a massage application. I found that it took a while to be absorbed but once it was, there was no greasiness. When I woke up, my skin still felt nourished and the texture improved as a result of the hydrating benefits, however, I struggled to notice any dramatic difference to the overall appearance of my skin.
I might be tempted to repurchase this if Clinque were running one of their "Bonus Time" offers and I certainly used up the product, however, I probably wouldn't pay more than £20 for it so I was surprised to hear that it's £34 for 50ml.
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Thursday 2 August 2012

July Favourites

If you'd like to know which products made it to my July Favourites, click here to watch the video on Skindeepbeautyvlog.
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Wednesday 1 August 2012

August Monthly Miniatures

Following the launch of Monthly Miniatures in July, my "If Skin Deep Did Beauty Boxes" products for August are:



Liz Earle Botanical Shine Conditioner
Dermalogica Ultra Calming Relief Masque
Issey Miyake A Scent By Issey Miyake EDP Florale
shu uemura Art of Hair Cleansing Oil Shampoo
Yes to Carrots Nourishing Shower Gel

Don't forget to look out for my vlog review at the end of the month to see what I thought!
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