The Lo Down - Garnier Moisture Bomb Super Hydrating ReBalancing Mask

Hey Guys and Dolls,

Having loved the Garnier Moisture Bomb  Super Hydrating Rebalancing Tissue Masks I decided to pick up the Super Hydrating Rebalancing Masks when I was in Boots recently. This one is for rebalancing your skin and it is said to give a matte finish. I have combination skin so I was looking forward to seeing what this mask was like as I was a big fan of the original one.

I love nothing more than to chill out in the evening with a relaxing face mask, it seriously is bliss. They leave my skin looking so good and feeling fresh which is exactly what I need lately when my skin is looking so dull and dry. I do tend to get problematic skin during this time of year so they work wonders in combating that.

I did enjoy using this mask but the original is still my favourite. The Super Hydrating Rebalancing Mask is also that little bit pricier aswell which is worth taking note of. I guess it just depends on personal preference when it comes to picking up one of these masks.

Laura<3

The Lo Down - Garnier SkinActive Moisture Bomb Tissue Mask

Hey Guys and Dolls,

My face has been unbelievably dry lately, I think the change in the weather is partially to blame to be honest. This has resulted in me trying to find a cheap and affordable face mask. Of course I headed to Boots and after looking through all the skincare that was on offer I found exactly what I was looking for. I picked up the relatively new Garnier Moisture Bomb Tissue Mask. I have to put it out there I'm absolutely in love. This mask is the exact same as the ever popular sheet masks and I can't get enough of it.

It is such good value at under €3 for one so of course I had to buy two. Sure I had to treat myself after all. I've been using these on my face alot I definitely will be repurchasing a couple on my payday this week. One sheet mask contains a weeks worth of hydrating serum so if you have dry skin like me at the moment this is definitely something to check out next time your in Boots. It's just amazing and gives a nice shot of moisture to the skin.

My skin has never looked so good since I started using these mask, I seen alone that they have brought out another version of these too so I definitely want to pick them up aswell the next time I'm in Boots.

Laura<3

The Lo Down - Garnier Micellar Gel Wash

Hey Guys and Dolls,

As you all know I love Micellar Waters so when Garnier brought out their new Micellar Gel Wash I was intrigued and couldn't wait to see what it was like. I bought this one in Boots and it's the original but it does come in a oily skin version aswell, I decided to go with the original though.

This is such a nice product and I'm pretty sure I got it on special aswell but I can't remember the price off hand. It wasn't too pricey thought from what I can remember. One to two pumps of this product is all you need to clean all the makeup off your face. After adding a bit of luke warm water it turns into a rich lather and when washed off it leaves your skin looking fresh. I really like this product and I can't wait to try more Garnier skincare in the future.

Laura<3

The Lo Down - Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water

Hey Guys and Dolls,

As you all know already I love cleansing waters, they just remove my makeup effortlessly. When I'm not forking out on the old faithful Bioderma I use Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water. which is so good.

I bought the 750ml bottle for €6.50 and it's huge considering this cost the same price as a regular size bottle so this amazing value. I use a tiny bit of this on a cotton pad and remove all my makeup including stubborn eye makeup and it doesn't sting my eyes one little bit. Out of this bottle you get 350 uses which means this bottle is sure going to last me ages.

If you can get this size product on offer I'd certainly recommend it, it's amazing value.

Laura<3

The Lo Down - Boots Skincare and Makeup Haul

Hey Guys and Dolls,

This is my second Boots Haul in a short while I have a serious shopping addiction you guys. Some of the deals are just too good to pass up though sometimes I guess and Boots have some great ones at the moment.

First off I bought some skincare. I'm a fan of Garnier's original micellar water so when I saw there 700ml bottle was only €6.50 the same price as their average size I had to snap it up. This bottle is huge and it's definitely going to last me ages. I also picked up two packets of their wipes as they were on special for €5.00 again great value as one packet is €4.50. I already did a review of these wipes on my blog which you can check out here. I already put up a review of these on my blog. Lastly with the skincare I bought the Loreal Pure Clay Glow Wash as it was on special for €3.99. I've already tried the mask from this range and it's amazing.

I then bought some makeup. I've tried alot of Loreal foundations in the past and I've found them really good. I've heard alot about their True Match range so I was expecting good things. I picked up their foundation and concealer so I'm excited to try them both. I picked up the shade Vanilla which I usually go for so I was hoping it was a good match for my skin tone and it was. I've been using this alot lately and it was my base in both my Valentine's Day Look and 27th Birthday look.

Laura<3

The Lo Down - Garnier Micellar Infused Cleansing Wipes

Hey Guys and Dolls,

I'm not one to usually use wipes to take off my makeup, I'm more into using micellar waters. I only ever put them near my face if I don't have micellar water around. If that's ever the case I steer towards Garnier Wipes as I find that they are the best and are kind to my skin aswell.

Both of the these wipes are infused with micellar water. So rest assured I have a bottle of the corresponding micellar water aswell. These wipes remove my makeup really well and don't leave my skin ridiculously dry and sensitive like some wipes tend to do. In each packet you receive 25 wipes which is pretty good too. I got these two packets of wipes on offer for €5 in Boots. One packet is usually €4.50 so this was such a great deal in my opinion. That means I got one packet for 50 cent  which is a total steal.

Even though I don't tend to use wipes too much, I'd definitely recommend these wipes they are very gentle on the skin and if you can get them on offer that's even better.

Laura<3

Garnier BB Cream Miracle Skin Perfector for Combination to Oily Skin

I''ve never got sucked into the hype surrounding BB cream. Since they first came on the scene I wasn't one of the people who rushed out to the shops to buy one. I like wearing foundation that has a medium to full coverage so I just thought they weren't going to be for me. Don't get me wrong I've seen so many great reviews on them, but one thing always stood out for me there didn't seem to be one catering for girls like myself that have combination/oily skin. I was contacted a while ago and asked did I want to try out a new product from Garnier, I wasn't told at first what it was going to be so I thought why not. At my door arrived their new BB cream that's especially for people with combination/oily skin. I decided one evening after work to give it a go, I wasn't expecting too much but I was so surprised at how great this left my skin looking. I got the lighter shade of the two available and   it's the perfect match for my skin tone. I do have visible pores on my nose, this does diminish the appearance of them slightly so I'm not wary about them as much. Coverage is a big deal for me, it was one of the issues that stopped me from trying BB creams at the start when everyone first went mad for them. Garnier BB cream has fairly decent coverage and is quite buildable also. When applying the product I put two 5 cent coin size amounts on the back of my hand, using my Real Techniques buffing brush I lightly buff this into my skin which gives a gorgeous natural finish. If I have any blemishes I apply a few dots of concealer where needed. I don't usually use powders over the top, only when I want it to last that little bit longer like when I'm going to work for a full day or when it's sweltering out. When I do want it to be long wearing, I use either Laura Mercier's Mineral Powder or Rimmel's Stay Matte, both work amazingly well with it. Of course I use the latter more as it's much more affordable. My favourite blush to use with this is MAC's Pink Tea, it gives a hint of pink to the cheeks perfect for this look. I can see myself rocking this combination all through the Summer, it's so easy to achieve.

Now for the damage the price, €14.99 isn't too bad at all considering I've been using mine so much and it still feels full. I'll be buying this again once I run out simply because I've never used something that feels so light and looks so nice on my skin. I also like how the new packaging as it's makeup bag friendly. The original Garnier BB cream came in a big tube which I guess would be more difficult to carry around and must of taken up so much space.

Do you like BB creams? Will you be trying Garnier's new offering?

Laura<3

September Empties

All the items I finished this month were skincare products. Which isn't a big surprise to me as I always try to look after my skin as it's such a big importance.

Let's have a look at the empties shall we??

Soap & Glory Scrub 'Em and Leave 'Em Body Buff

Wow I'm such a big fan of this brand. This was the first time I purchased Scrub 'Em or Leave 'Em. I love Soap & Glory scrubs as their not only effective with getting rid of dry skin but they also smell yummy!!!  I'd definitely recommend this body buff in particular. It's one of my new Soap & Glory favourites.

Garnier Simply Essentials Gentle Eye Makeup Remover

This is my favourite eye makeup remover. It's very gentle on my eyes which is excellent as my eyes are quite sensitive. I'm going through bottles of this fast. Thankfully it's only €3.99...bargain.

Liz Earle Instant Skin Tonic Spritzer

I got this product at a Liz Earle event in June. I know you girls must be thinking how did a small bottle like this last so long but suprisingly it did. I love this tonic it's so refeshing. I also prefer the spray bottle to the other one as it's great if your in a rush. I'm hoping to pick this up soon.

Liz Earle Skin Repair Light Moisturiser
I finished not just one but two Liz Earle products this month. I'm such a big fan of their products. I especially love this moisturiser. I have oily skin so this really suits me as it's not heavy like my previous moisturisers. I highly recommend this moisturiser if you have oily skin.

I'm hoping to do a 'Empties' post every month depending on how many products I finish. It takes me forever to finish products. Hopefully doing one of these posts every month will encourage me to use up makeup items that I haven't used in a while.

Laura<3

August Favourites

Wow Summer is finally over. Surprised how fast this one went, pity I was working for most of it. I have quite a few favourites from August so let's get started!!

Hollister Laguna Beach Body Spray
This product has a gorgeous peach scent which smells amazing. I love it. This will be a definite repurchase when I'm done. There is a deal on in Hollister were you can get two of their products from this range for €18. It beats paying €12 for one.

Garnier 2-in-1 Tinted Eye Roll-On 
I find this very refreshing on my eyes and It also doubles up as a undereye concealer. The shade I chose is the one for fair skin tones. The size of this product is good as you can chuck it in your bag for touch ups throughout the day.

EOS Lip Balm in Honeysuckle Honeydew
I got two of these lipbalms in a beauty swap with Chie (MakeupLand2011).  EOS Lip Balms aren't available in Ireland at present so I was happy to get the chance to try them out. They are very moisturising, Honeysuckle Honeydew is my favourite one. I've been using mine daily and they seem to be lasting forever. I also think the packaging is unusual which makes me love it even more.

Smashbox Blush Rush in Everlasting

I've been using this peachy pink blush quite a lot over the Summer months. It gives you a really nice soft matte finish. I got this blush in the Smashbox Limitless Collection. This was one of my favourite products from the set along with the eyeshadow palette. It's a Limited Edition collection so get it while you still can.

MAC Paint Pot in Painterly
I use this as an eyeshadow base everyday before I put my eye makeup on. As you can see I'm almost out of it. I got this for my 21st birthday back in February so it's lasted a very long time. What paint pot should I get next?

The Body Shop Honey Bronze Bronzer in Medium Matte

I bought this product three weeks ago, it's a part of The Body Shop's Honey Bronze range. It has become a firm favourite of mine and is always in my makeup bag. This matte bronzer is not only great for contouring but it also gives you a natural glow. You can also see my mini pink camera in this photo!

MAC Fix+

This is a part of the MAC Sized To Go Collection. I made two purchases from it, the other product being the Cleanse Off Oil. To be honest, I wasn't too impressed by the Cleanse Oil but I love Fix+. Not only does it set my makeup but it is also very refreshing. At 30ml in size it's also perfect for travelling.

Korres Shea Butter & Vitamins Hair Mask

I straighten my hair daily for work so I like nothing more than to give my hair some R&R. I've been using this product for about two months now and I love it. It leaves my hair moisturised and also looking great. A little goes a long way with this product. I like the way the packaging is simple, so it lets the product do the talking.

Radox Shower Smoothies in Island Indulgence

I love Radox Shower Smoothies. Island Indulgence is the newest product in their range. It has a nice fruity scent that anyone would like. It's amazing.

Hope you enjoyed this post. If there are any products you'd like to see a reviewed, please leave a comment below.

What have been your favourite products throughout August??

Laura<3

A Shopaholic's Journey #5- Collective Haul

As you all know I'm going to Barcelona in a little bit over a month. I have to say I'm very excited about going. After hearing loads of your tales about Barcelona, from shopping to must see places, I can't wait til September finally arrives. Going on holidays always means that I have to commence a shopping ban almost immediately. Which means I won't have a 'A Shopaholic's Journey' post until the middle of September. I'm sure I'll buy lots in Barcelona so there will be a post as soon as I come back. I've heard Sephora is in Barcelona so I'm super excited about going there as it seems like makeup heaven!! If there is any Sephora brand products you recommend...leave a comment below. I would love know your fave products from Sephora.

So this post as you probably guessed from the title is going to be a collective haul. It's going to feature some bits and bobs I picked up in the last few weeks. Before I realised I was going on holidays.

Let's get started!!

The Body Shop celebrated it's 30th Anniversary and for 2 days they had 30% off all products. I went in to have a mooch around and I came out with two products.

Honey Bronze Bronzing Powder

This product has become quite a cult product for The Body Shop. It has such a big fan base among beauty bloggers. Of course I had to see what all the fuss was about. I bought my bronzing powder in shade 03 which is medium matte. I really like this product so far for contouring and to add a nice subtle glow. I would love to get more stuff from this collection. What products have you used from Honey Bronze?

Illuminating Face Base 

I had my eye on this product for a while. The packaging was designed by students at the University of Arts London and London College of Fashion. I have to say I really like the design they came up with. It's something different than what The Body Shop has come out with before. I sadly haven't used this product yet. The sales assistant told me it's good to use as a highlighter and leaves the skin looking radiant. I'm really looking forward to putting this product to the test.

I love getting bargains as much as the next person. When I see special offers I usually take advantage of them as sometimes they can be too good to be missed. I love finding affordable brands. Sometimes I feel people look over these as they don't think there as good as top end brands. This is usually not the case, I sometimes find certain products to be better. 

Catrice Crystal Clear Gloss Stick in Tigerlily and Bird Of Paradise

The two products above cost €8.50. I know amazing,eh?? They are so lovely and not drying in the slightest.  They leave your lips with a lovely sheer colour as they are tinted gloss sticks. These two products are a part of Catrice's latest collect, Papagena and are limited edition. Get them while you can.

Neutrogena Multi-Defence Gentle Purifying Wipes.

This is my second pack of these wipes. They are from Neutrogena's Multi-Defence range which was made to protect your skin against different environmental elements. They remove my makeup without leaving my face dry like some wipes have been known to do. Multi-Defence Gentle Purifying wipes are for all skin types and include 25 wipes.

Garnier 2-in-1 Tinted Eye Roll-On 

This product has been mentioned alot around the blogosphere and I've heard good things. I bought mine in the shade for fair skin tones. There are 2 shades to choose from. As well as reducing the look of fatigue this roll-on can also be used as an under eye concealer. This product was on a special offer so instead of paying €14.99, I only had to fork out €7.50. Bargain!

Gosh Velvet Touch Line Perfector Primer
I recently ran out of my much love Lancome La Base Pro. I bought this as it was a fairly reasonable price at €10.99. I always have to use a primer. I have oily skin so my makeup would slide off without it. I will let you know my thoughts when I've used it for a while.

Rimmel Vinyl Max  Lipgloss in Excess
This was such good value at €3.75. I've never used Rimmel lipgloss. The wand is huge, they are the same size as the MAC Wonder Woman lipglosses. Definitely worth trying out!

Essence Gel Liner in Midnight in Paris
Again a product I've hard such good things about. I've been using this gel liner alot. It is as good as any higher end liner in my opinion. It's also as cheap as chips.

As I'm going away in a little less the month. I have started to pick up some travel size products. I don't like leaving things til the last minute so I've started to get some bits now just to be prepared. I bought the following products in Boots as they have such a good range of travel sizes.

• Toni & Guy Straight & Protect Shampoo
• Toni & Guy Straight & Protect Conditioner
• Toni & Guy Iron-It Heat Defence Spray

 

• Soap & Glory Scrub 'Em And Leave 'Em Body Buff
• Soap & Glory The Daily Smooth Body Butter

I haven't tried any of the mini products above as I'm keeping them up for my holidays. I will let you know how I get on with them when I get back. That brings me to the end of my haul post. I hope you girls enjoyed it.

Have you used any the products mentioned?? How did you find them??

Laura<3