Liz Earle, Daily Eye Repair - Product Review

I want to apologize in advance for such a long post but this product deserved it. If you are short on time, as always: skip to the end of the post and see my answers to the two questions in orange (Will I repurchase it? Do I recommend it?). I hope you can fall in love with is product as I have. :)

An eye cream that really works? That’s right!

I have lots of problems with my under-eye area: from super dry skin and fine lines (and I’m just 22!) to puffiness and the dreadful dark circles – I’ve got it all. Until I came across this little guy I had given up on brightening eye creams. I’d tried both drugstore and high-end super-raved ones, but nothing worked – worst even, they would leave my under-eye area feeling super dry and hence made my concealer look cakey. So I resorted to a really hydrating eye cream (my favorite so far was the Estée Lauder Hydra Complete Multi-Level Moisture Eye Gel Crème) and a brightening concealer – that’s it. I wasn’t really satisfied but there wasn’t much I could do about it.

The packaging seems carefully thought about, with these lovely drawings on the sides.

And then, the Liz Earle Daily Eye Repair came into my life. I didn’t have high hopes for it, I’ll admit. I got it, as my free full-size product, a while ago when I purchased the Liz Earle Monthly Essentials. But then I tried this preciousness and got hooked from day one.

Ingredients

This is an amazing product. I don’t know how it works to achieve that but it does, it ticks all my boxes (yes, all of them and some extra ones, I didn’t know I had).

But first things first - what the brand has to say about this product:

“Use this triple-action cream every morning after moisturising to help reduce the appearance of fine lines. Light-reflective particles brighten dark under-eye shadows, while SPF10 mineral sunscreen helps protect this delicate area from UV light.”

After testing this product for a while I can assure you of something: this ISN’T a triple-action cream. It’s an at-least-FIVE-that-I-remember-action cream.

This eye care product meant for the mornings, has a thick creamy consistence and a slightly herbal scent – so far I bet you’re not so impressed, right? Let me just tell you this – forget the scent for a while (it doesn’t last, anyway, and it’s not strong at all) and apply this white cream under your eyes. I bet you’re thinking “How the hell will I be able to apply my makeup afterwards?” Yes, I know it looks a bit too dense for a morning cream but if you’ll just pat it under your eyes – yes, you’ll notice, it isn’t at all. “Maybe this isn’t moisturizing enough for me…” - it might occur to you. That’s because in less than a minute it looks like the product was completely absorbed and you no longer have that sensation of just having applied moisturizer to your skin. So why was I raving about this product after all?

This product is definitely the underdog that ends up coming out on top. It doesn’t seem anything special right after you’ve applied it but then:

• You’ll notice that you under-eye area is brighter and you look more awake. How? Do you know those light-reflecting concealer/highlight products (like the YSL Touche Eclat), that are so super flattering? Imagine those in a translucent/no-color-to-them version. This is what this product looks like. You can’t see the light-reflecting particles (not even on a magnifying mirror – don’t worry) you just look more awake and really well-slept. It’s really beautiful. And after, perhaps, two weeks of using this non-stop I started to notice that my dark circles were getting less and less prominent, even before applying this product in the morning. Since day one you’ll notice that your need for concealer will decrease (because of the light-reflecting particles your eyes will immediately look brighter) and given time the appearance of your dark circles will get better and better- they’ll be less and less noticeable.
• Hydration-wise you’ll have to wait up until the end of the day to see for yourself how this product works. Right after applying this eye cream, you may have your doubts about is replenishing powers, but the reality is that more than 12hours later if you touch your skin it still feels as nourished as if you had just applied your cream. I’ll be honest I had never, never tried an eye cream that kept my skin as hydrated for such a long time (usually after 6-8 hours I need to reapply them because otherwise my under-eyes get really itchy and I feel uncomfortable).
• You might also notice that you don’t have as many fine lines after a couple of weeks of using this (at least I did!).
• Another achievement for this product was reducing puffiness. It doesn’t promise to do so but the thing is, after a week I realized that my lids didn’t feel so heavy anymore (but dismissed it). However, after 3 weeks I couldn’t deny it anymore – the difference was visible (to me, obviously – this probably won’t have your friends asking you if have just done some plastic surgery to that area – but it was enough of a difference to make me feel more confident about a part of my body I used to hate).
• Last but not least, two important extras: it contains SPF10 – which is not the highest but since I always wear sunglasses - and would never apply sunscreen around my eyes anyway (except on the beach/pool) because they’d be to drying – this is just a nice bit of extra protection (and ageing prevention too!); besides, this cream results from lots of nice ingredients instead of a bunch of chemicals put together on a tube.

Will I repurchase it?

YES! YES! YES! It’s just a wonderful product that works like no other I’ve known. Already a holy grail in my collection!

This product makes me look fresher and feel prettier every single morning. And at night, after taking all of my makeup off, my under-eye area still feels and looks properly taken care of and ready to enjoy the full benefits of whichever night cream I choose to apply.

Moreover, it’s much cheaper than many, not so effective, eye creams I’ve tried (it retails for 17,75euros (10ml tube) on the Liz Earle Website - but a little goes a long way!)

Do I recommend it?

In all honesty, I couldn’t recommend it more: no matter how old you are, whether you have a problematic under-eye area or a flawless one – just give it a go (they have it in a travel version too).

This product just works: it brightens the under-eye area; diminishes dark circles, wrinkles and puffiness; it’s very hydrating, but not too much, so it just works brilliantly under makeup; has SPF on it which also helps preventing ageing and wrinkles; it’s made out of very nice ingredients; it isn’t ludicrously expensive and finally it’s suitable for all skin types.

Please, let me know if you have already tried this eye cream. Do you share my thoughts on it?

Any suggestions for future posts are very welcome! :) Thank you for your time!

Yours,

M.

Biotherm, Aquasource Deep Serum - Sample Sized

Hello everyone!

I'm back with a mini review from another Biotherm product, this time the Aquasource Deep Serum.

It reads:
- Deep hydration and luminosity
- Try it out!

 If you’ve read my last Sample Sized post, then this name will feel extremely familiar. That’s because this Serum is also from Biotherm’s Aquasource collection and I got this sample when I purchased a couple of things at Sephora (see my Sephora Haul).

It reads:
- 3 times more concentrated
- A new source of light is born...
- *concentration in Thermal Plankton water and Mannose in comparison to Aquasource Gel

So, what does the brand have to say about this product?

“3X more concentrated (than the Aquasource gel) and 24hr hydration”

“For the first time, Biotherm has managed to concentrate Thermal Plankton water 3X more and associate it with mannose in a formula, to create Deep Serum. This elixir helps to improve the appearance of skin quality and leave skin looking more radiant.”

“Visible skin results: skin feels intensely hydrated and looks healthier; skin looks more luminous and complexion looks more even; skin looks more hydrated”

It reads:
- Discovered in the French Pyrenees
- Skin regeneration properties as no other
- Protected by 12 patents

And what are my thoughts on this?

Well, I really liked it. It was a white gel type of product. It felt even lighter on the skin than the High Density Hydrating Jelly and it also got absorbed faster. The smell was pretty similar to that of the Hydrating Jelly deliciously sweet and citrusy – loved it. I used it for about 4 nights (how long the sample lasted) and noticed my skin looking more luminous and hydrated in the morning. I didn’t notice my complexion being evener – but I just used it for such a short amount of time that it’s difficult to tell if it works or not.

Ingredients

Will I purchase it?

Even though I liked this product, I’m not sure I’ll be buying it at least on the near future. I am almost done with my last bottle of my Holy Grail, the Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex (which featured in my August Favorites and a proper review will be coming soon). I used this product as my nighttime serum for more than a year non-stop – that’s how much I adore this product. However, I wanted to try something new in order to share more opinions on products with you and I ended up picking one serum/oil in my last Feelunique shopping spree (as soon as I get the products I’ll post a haul with pictures). Besides that, the new Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II (ANR II) has arrived to Portugal about two weeks ago and as soon as I finish testing the new serum I ordered at Feelunique.com I’ll run to Sephora to buy the new ANR II.

So, all this blabber just to tell you that: I don’t know if I will buy this product because I can’t think that far ahead.

Do I recommend it?

From what I could test I would say yes. It didn’t cause any allergic reaction nor did I notice it clogging my pores. It’s very light but very hydrating at the same time. You can use it mornings and/or nights before your moisturizer (or on its own if you prefer keeping things lighter) and it’s recommended for all skin types so it’s great if you want to share it with a sister, your mum, your friend, basically anyone you might live with (that’s a really great idea if you can’t spend that much money on one product on your own). If you want to buy this product online, you can find it at Feelunique.com for 46,25euros (50ml).

Please let me know your thoughts in case you have tried this product. I’d also love suggestions on how to improve the quality of the blog and products you’d like me to review.

Yours,

M.

Disclaimer – I know that I’m always talking about Feelunique.com but I’m in no way affiliated to them. The reasons behind my mentions of Feelunique are, its offering: free shipping worldwide, a large variety of products at very competitive prices, great service.

Biotherm, Aquasource Nuit High Density Hydrating Jelly - Sample Sized

Hello everyone!

As you may have already noticed, I decided to create a new rubric called “Sample Sized”.

In this new rubric I’ll talk about samples of products that I received: either with a purchase, for example, or through those monthly boxes.

I didn’t want to call them product reviews because the amount of product is not enough for me to understand how a product will work in the long run. Will it actually do something? (most products, particularly skincare ones, need to be used for at least 6 weeks before you see any results on your skin) Will it clog my pores? Will it alter the appearance or texture of my skin? Is it worthed the money? And I want my reviews to always be thorough, never rushed opinions.

So, I felt tempted to just use my samples, throw them away and don’t say a thing about them. However, there might be reasons behind me not buying a certain product after having tried the sample that could be useful to you. On the other hand, I may not need a certain product at the moment but might have been very impressed with its sample and so could perhaps advise you to ask for a sample yourself if you are on the hunt for that type of product.

Now you know: those were the reasons behind this new rubric. The first one of the type will be about the Aquasource Nuit High Density Hydrating Jelly.

To be honest I had never tried any of the Biotherm products before and therefore was pleased to find this little one at the bottom of my Sephora bag when I got home (I posted about, if your curious about it: Click here!).

According to the brand:

•    Your skin loses more water at night than during the day. Biotherm Aquasource Nuit High Density Hydrating Jelly helps to replenish skin with moisture and hydration all night long. Wake up to fresh looking, luminous skin which feels more elastic and radiant, as if reawakened.
•    Biotherm introduces P.Antarctica, a microorganism able to survive the extreme conditions of the Antarctic due to its incredible capacity to retain water. Enriched with P.Antarctica, Biotherm Aquasource Nuit High Density Hydrating Jelly helps the skin maintain its natural water reserves all night long.

Ingredients

Pretty impressive, right?

I can’t know for sure if it ticks every box from that description but after using it for a week these are my thoughts:

•           The product itself is a light and refreshing blue gel that smells deliciously like a citrusy dessert.
•           It provokes a very nice cooling effect when applied to the skin, which is particularly nice in the summer time.
•           It doesn’t feel heavy at all when you first apply it. (I don’t think this will be moisturizing enough, were my first thoughts – I was mistaken, though). However, even after the product sinks it leaves you skin glowing (a tiny bit greasy looking even – but nothing that isn’t worth suffering through) and if you touch your face, your skin still feels like you’ve just applied moisturizer. 
•     In the mornings after having used this gel, right from the first one, I could notice a visible difference on my skin. It looked and felt as moisturized as when I first applied the gel. Nothing like other night creams I’d tried (high-end, drugstore, good or bad…), usually by the time I got to the bathroom in the mornings my skin wouldn’t look or feel as plump, as smooth or as radiant as right after having applying my night cream. Much less would it look plumper, smoother and more radiant – yes, that was what this product did.
•         I believe it doesn’t clog your pores either – but keep in mind I have only used this for a week (the amount of time it took me to get to the end of the sample).

Will I purchase it?

I strongly believe, I will!

I have 4 night creams to finish before I can even think to buy a new one, but certainly this will be one of my first choices when I allow myself to get another moisturizer.

Do I recommend it?

Very much, I loved it from day one! Moreover, this product suits every skin type!

However, and since this is a quite pricey product (35euros for the 50ml bottle at Feelunique.com – 29,75euros now, on sale!) I’d advise you to ask for a sample first and see if your first impressions match mine. I think it might also be helpful to see reviews from people that have actually used the full size product. I know that the famous Brazilian youtuber Camila Coelho does use this product, at least in this video, she does – Removendo a Maquiagem!

Please leave a comment down below with your thoughts on this new rubric. Also, since it’s the beginning of September and both Catrice and Essence are coming up with new stuff, let me know which products you would like me to purchase to review here on the blog!

Yours,

M.

Essence, My Skin Moisturizing Cream-Gel - Product Review

Hey, you!

Today I have another review for you. It's from a very affordable and very much loved (at least by me) brand. I’m talking about Essence and this review will focus one of the products in their My Skin skincare line, the Moisturizing Cream-Gel.

The My Skin is a line especially designed to satisfy young skin’s needs. The range of products in the line consists of: a gel cleanser; a face wash/scrub/mask, the all-in-one type of cleanser; a refreshing toner; two varieties of face wipes; a paper face mask; an eye roll-on; a tinted moisturizer and three different moisturizers, one for normal to combination skin, another for normal to dry skin and finally one suitable to all skin types. I’m going to review to the latter.

But firstly I’d like to share my opinion on Essence’s products since I have already tried several of the products from this My Skin line (both cleansers, the toner, the eye roll-on and the tinted moisturizer; I’ve also bought the mask but haven’t tried it yet) as well as a bunch of their makeup products and some skincare from the Pure Skin line.

The main thing I want to share is: they are super safe – so don’t be afraid to try them! I tend to stick to high-end skincare products just to be safe but I can honestly say that I have never been afraid to try a new/different Essence product. Even though their products are really cheap their philosophy is really to save on advertising to invest on better quality products. They also don’t test on animals!

Obviously their products won’t have state-of-the-art technology involved or the best anti-ageing ingredients on the market but that isn’t the brand's purpose either. Their products have in mind young girls, in their teens, with not a lot of money that want to have a nice basic skincare routine and that want to wear makeup that won’t make them break up, won’t cause any allergic reaction and (most important, perhaps) won’t lead them to bankruptcy. So if you haven’t reached your twenties but want to start taking care of your skin from an early age and don’t have a lot to spend this is the brand for you.

And before I get down to the moisturizing cream-gel itself, I just want to apologize for the detour but I really wanted to share the information because I know a lot of you might be reticent to try such cheap skincare products. And so was I before I started using their products. That’s why I decided to do a little reading, back then, and after using their skincare products for almost 2 years now (and makeup products for 7 years) I can really vouch for them.

Now, about the My Skin moisturizing cream-gel: as all products from the line it is dermatologically approved so not likely to cause any nasty skin reaction (unless you have super sensitive and reactive skin and if so I’d look for professional advice before trying any new skincare product), oil-free (so it won’t clog your pores) and has uva/uvb filters (I do still super recommend using an spf separately - this filters are not enough to stop sun damage!).

According to the description in their website this “cream-gel is absorbed quickly and offers your skin 24h of intensive moisture while protecting it from damaging environmental influences with uva and uvb filters” (once again you need extra SPF!- just saying!). “Enriched with lime and cucumber ingredients ensures a radiant complexion, it also contains light-reflecting pigments for a subtle glow”. It is recommend for all skin types.

In my perspective, I do agree with most of it.

It reads:
This energizing cream-gel is intensively moisturizing
and the light-reflecting pigments inside let the skin glow

This is a very fresh and cooling light textured moisturizer. It’s even lighter and fresher than the Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel. The texture actually reminds me of the Garnier Skin Naturals Fresh Essentials 24Hr Hydrating Day Cream for Normal/Combination Skin but a tiny bit more liquidy.

It’s so light that you won’t feel like you’re pilling up too much product on your skin - if you’re like me and follow your moisturizer with sunscreen (as you should) and then a full face of makeup. At the same time it keeps my skin moisturized for a good 8 hours I’d say – keep in mind I have combination skin.

I particularly love this cream to use in the morning, because it really gives a more awake and radiant appearance to my skin but in a very subtle, non-oily way. It’s almost imperceptible – it gives me glowing but not shiny-looking skin.

Don’t get scared though: in the packaging the product glows in the dark. It won’t happen on your skin though, if you massage it in (which is super easy due to the almost liquid consistency) – so don’t worry.

The scent really helps to wake me up as well. It has a very citrusy fragrance but toned down by the clean scent of cucumber.

I really enjoyed using it during my beach vacation. I would slather this on my face throughout the day, every time before I’d reapply my spf. This kept my skin from getting dry due to the sea salt and also was a great way to refresh my skin. And since the prince range is bellow the 3euro mark I didn’t feel guilty to go through this cream in such a short amount of time (a little over a month – liberally applying it on my skin up to 5 times a day!).

It also works perfectly before my gym classes. I go to the gym right before dinner. And since I hate exercising wearing makeup – if you do, you’re much more likely to get clogged pores – I usually wipe off my makeup right before leaving to the gym. I don’t like to have my face without any moisturizer on it but I hate to use my more expensive moisturizers when in an hour time I’ll be washing them off during shower. This, I found, was the perfect solution. It leaves my skin feeling: fresh again after taking my makeup off; moisturized but not with that heavy feeling that would bother me during exercise. And, once again, it's super affordable so after my practice I wouldn’t mind having to shower it off.

Those are some of the reasons I so adore this product.

 

Unfortunately, I would say it is not moisturizing enough for very dry skin and I probably wouldn’t advise you to use it as a night cream either no matter what your skin type is, because you might need a bit more moisture.

However, if you are the type of person that hates the feeling of moisturizer before going to bed (and it is better something than nothing – am I not right? ;)) or live in a hot humid place and just want something refreshing on your face to help you get to sleep - this might be the perfect nighttime product for you.

For people with really oily skin during the hot summer months: I’d recommend using the mattifying version of this product on your T-zone or using a serum with mattifying properties also on your T-zone (I really like the Bioderma Sébium Pore Refiner Serum) to prevent your skin from every looking greasy but keeping the glowing and fresh looking skin.

Do I recommend it?

Absolutely:

•   To normal and combination skin: to apply all mornings all year long.

•   To oily skin: to apply all mornings except in the summer months (unless you apply just to your cheek area or with a mattifying serum underneath it in your t-zone).

•   To dry skin: to apply in the mornings during hot weather.

•   If don’t have super sensitive or super dry skin.

•   If you haven't reached your thirties yet. (If you have: it's time to start spoiling you skin with some better quality products ;) : I'd sugest looking into French Pharmacy brands because they have products that are as effective as the ones from high-end brands but much cheaper)

- If you have acne-prone skin Essence has this Pure Skin line that has products specifically designed to prevent and/or disguise acne spots, in case you’re interested - however, if you have serious acne issues you’d better seek a Dermatologist’s advice.  

 Will I repurchase this product?

- Yes, I probably will. But, for now, I’m very curious to try the mattifying version.

Sorry for all the rambling but I really wanted to be thorough. 

Please leave a comment down bellow telling me if this post helped you! I'd also love suggestions of products to review.

Yours,

M.

Garnier Skin Naturals, Ultra Lift Eye Firming Anti-Wrinkle Eye Care - Product Review

Hi!

Today I am going to talk about the Garnier UltraLift Anti-Wrinkle Eye Cream. This is a drugstore cream with Pro-Retinol that promises to visibly decrease wrinkles and improve the appearance of the under eye area, making it look younger.

I’ve been using this product every single night for a couple of months and here is what I think:

• Even though it didn’t cause any allergic reaction and had a very subtle scent, which is good, this cream did not only cause puffiness but it also didn’t decrease any of the annoying wrinkles under my eyes – reason why I bought it (I usually say that I have young skin – I'm 22 - but an old lady’s under eye area).

The puffiness might be due to some plumping properties the product might have to temporarily disguise wrinkles (this is just a wild guess!). That caused me two problems: 

• First, the mornings after applying this eye cream I’d find my eyes particularly puffy which doesn’t look nice at all; 
• Secondly, by the end of the day the products effects would have worn off and by the time the puffiness had decreased I had been left with more wrinkles.

Besides that, this cream wasn’t particularly moisturizing either.

But let me know, if you have a different opinion about this product!

Would I recommend this product?

Not, at all. It might be that the reason I have an issue with this cream is my young age, maybe if you are older and have sagging skin that needs plumping it will work for you. But anyway I don’t believe too much in that – I can’t see how constantly plumping and de-puffing the skin might be beneficial - in my (non-scientific) perspective, it could even be the cause of more wrinkles.

But if you want to try this product anyhow, you can find it at local drugstores or supermarkets or you can buy it at the feelunique website for 13.39euros (at the moment it is at a discount price of 11,38euros – 15% off).

Will I buy it again?

This is a reverberating no! Even though I like some of the Garnier products I don’t think this particular one is worthed and there are better drugstore eye creams out there.

Yours,

M.

Nivea, Refreshing Cleansing Mousse - Product Review

Hi! 

I'm sorry for not having posted in a while but things have been kind of hectic around here. I promise from now on to do my best to post as often as I can. Hopefully, I'll manage to do it at least twice a week. 

But let's get down to business. Today I am going to talk about another drugstore/highstreet product, this time a cleansing type of product: the Nivea Daily Essencials/Aqua Effect (the name of the collection varies from country to country) Refreshing Cleansing Mousse.

To be honest, I tend to invest more money in skincare rather than makeup. However no matter how much I enjoy my high-end skincare goodies I have to admit that I would love to find cheaper surrogates. So when I saw this product in the supermarket shelves I felt compelled to give it a try. 

It reads: Refreshing Cleansing Mousse

It reads:
Normal to Combination Skin
Deeply cleanses and hydrates
Vitamin E and Hydra IQ

It is a very interesting product. It comes in a plastic bottle wherein it has a very liquid consistency but when you press the pump the product transforms into a white foam. I have to admit it took me a while getting used to. 

This is a very gentle cleansing product which doesn't strip the skin nor does it leave the skin feeling tight afterwards, meanwhile it does do its job. It works well both if you apply it to dry skin (and take it off with a cloth as advised by Caroline Hirons) or to wet skin during your shower (as I usually do). I didn't enjoy using it so much in the beginnig because I was used to cleansers that left my skin feeling squeaky clean, which this doesn´t. However after a couple of weeks of using this mousse I noticed that my skin was as clean as before and with less dry patches. 

It reads:
- Nivea Aqua Effect Refreshing Cleansing Mousse
Enriched with Vitamin E & Hydra IQ
Deeply cleanses and hydrates the skin
Provides a unique cleansing experience thanks to its extra gentle formula and its pleasant fragrancy
- Application:
Its formula becomes a soft foam during usage. Apply the cleansing mousse, gently massaging the face, neck and décolleté. Avoid contact with the eyes. Remove with water. Discover the new, practical and easy to use, cleansing experience
- Dermatologically tested

Ingredients list

The smell is ok. It is clean, fresh and bit soap like. I always have to use two pumps to wash my face cause one is definitely not enough. That means that it lasts less than the normal Nivea gel cleanser which costs aproximately the same (in Portugal both products cost around 5euros) - if I use them once a day, the mousse lasts about 2-3 months versus the gel that lasts 4-5 months. Despite that, since this is not a very expensive product you might think the formulation is worth the extra money, I know I do.

Do I recommend this product? 

Yes, if:

- You have normal to combination skin (might not be enough for oily skin and there is a specific version of this mousse for dry and sensitive skin)

- You are on the lookout for a cleanser that does its job without stripping your skin of its moisture, leaving it soft and supple afterwards.

- You don't want to spend too much money on a cleanser

- You want a cleanser that doesn't irritate the skin (if you have very sensitive skin you might want to try the mousse in the pink bottle instead).

Pay attention, though:

- Keep in mind that I only use this product in the morning because even though it does its job as cleanser it does not provide such a deep cleaning as I prefer at night. So if you have combination skin or normal skin that gets easily congested you may have to alternate this cleanser with an unclogging one or besides cleansing you have to exfoliate or use a purifying mask a couple of times a week to keep your skin in check.

Will I repurchase it?

- Even though I liked this product it didn't impress me enought to make it onto my "Can't live without them" list. It is a good product and a decently priced  one. It worked really well for me as morning cleanser, especially because I don't think I need such purifying cleansers (as the ones I used to use) in the morning. So I might repurchase this in due time but for now I am really curious to try other cleansers and also it gives me the oportunity to share a larger number of produts with you.

I hope you find this review helpful. And please let me know if there are any products you would be interested in a review.

Yours,

M.