Time is flying by… It feels like just yesterday it was December, but nope, it is April! Unfortunately April brings Autumn with it, which I don’t mind too much, but Winter is not for me at all! Today I am sharing my March First Impressions with you all, initial thoughts on the products I have been trying out.
First up I have the pretty *Jessica Cosmetics Sugar Town Collection which I have already reviewed here.
I was also sent the new *Mavala Heritage Collection and the creme finish shades, Bergen, Walnut Grove and Windsor are absolutely beautiful! I will have a full review and swatches up soon.
It is time for the *Elizabeth Arden X Sparrow Society Gift With Purchase, and you can get this bag, filled with all of these samples when you buy two products, one being a foundation, serum or moisturiser. I love the Visible Difference Replenishing HydraGel Complex so if you are looking for a new moisturiser, check it out.
There are quite a few decent-sized samples included in the bag, and I am so happy to have a travel sized 8 Hour Cream! The Standing Ovation Mascara does a good job of separating and curling my lashes without being too dramatic, but can be layered without flaking or clumping. I have tried the Superstart Probiotic Cleanser a few times, and it leaves my skin feeling clean but not stripped, which is all I want in a cleanser. The Ceramide Capsules and Day Cream are quite rich, and best suited for aging or dry skin types. The Superstart Skin Renewal Booster works as a pre-serum product to increase the efficacy of your serum and has a lightweight liquid texture. The My Fifth Avenue Fragrance is a beauty!
Next up I have an exciting launch from Lush, the new *Naked Skincare! I received four cleansing balms, two facial oils and the innovative 7 to 3 Facial Wipe! My favourite way to use the balms and oils are to warm them in my hands for a bit, and then massage onto my face. These would be great for travel!
I love cleansing balms, and use them daily as my first cleanse, so I was really happy to give these a go. I did find that all of these are best removed with a warm cloth. I love Tea Totaler, it is clarifying, but hydrating with tea tree oil and witch hazel, I also love Like A Virgin, a Cold Cream Cleanser, simple, gentle, and pretty much Ultrabland in a solid balm. Jade Roller is soothing and cooling and Gritti Politti is quite scrubby although nourishing, but I am not sure how often I would use it on my face.
I found the 7 to 3 Cleansing Wipe so gentle but effective, pretty much a cream cleanser in a wipe. The scent is heavenly, with a hint of jasmine, but nothing too overpowering. I do find it a bit slippery to use, as it doesn’t have too much grip, so it takes a bit of getting used to. I like to fold it in half, and rub it across my lashes to remove mascara, and it works like a dream!
The Amazon Primer is a facial oil and primer in one, it moisturises well without being greasy and has an unnoticeable green tinge that minimises redness on the skin. Light Touch is a dry touch oil and best suited to combination to oily skin, it balances sebum and acts as an anti-inflammatory and anti-septic.
Burt’s Bees has landed in South Africa, and is available from Takealot. I attended the launch a while ago and was given a few *products. Starting with my favourite, the Vanilla Bean Moisturizing Lip Balm, it smells amazing, is moisturising and has been my go-to since I got it! The Coconut & Pear Moisturizing Lip Balm is just as moisturising, but I am not a fan of the scent. The Lip Shimmers are nice, but not something I would buy myself, they have a minty scent and cooling feel, and I prefer the Caramel shade to the Grapefruit. The Beeswax Lip Balm also has a minty scent and a cool almost tingly feeling, it is moisturising, but I don’t find it as as good as the Vanilla Bean Moisturising Lip Balm. Lastly, the Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream is great, it does a great job at caring for cuticles, and is going to be a treat this winter! I really want to try a few of the Tinted Lip Balms, and I hope we get the makeup range soon!
I bought two new lippies from Focallure, and the Matte Lip Crayon is lovely, but the Matte Liquid Lipstick is way too drying for me.
Lastly I have a few Armani products. The Luminous Silk Foundation is one of my absolute favourites, and I wish it was available here! Acqua di Gioia is nice, fresh and floral, I expected to love it, but I didn’t find the scent amazing. Armani Code is a bit sweet for me. I love the intensity of Si Passione. I am enjoying the Ecstasy Shine Lipstick in 400, it is pretty much a glossy, highly-pigmented tinted lip balm. Next up I have Eyes to Kill and Black Ecstasy, both great mascaras, with great spoolies and formulas. Eyes to Kill has a two-sided spoolie, one thinner, to curl lashes. Black Ecstasy has a pretty normal spoolie shape, but the bristles coat and separate the lashes so well.
See anything that interests you?
*Press Sample
Ah I love luminous silk, that’s such a shame you’re not able to get a hold of it!!
Chantelle x
The Girl In The Tartan Scarf
Oh my goodness those Mavala shades are flipping stunning!! x
I love the nail colours! The autumn appropriate
https://littlemissmelanie.com/
I looooove Burts Bees products x
You’ve tried lots of new and lovely products, they all sound awesome. x
http://www.themakeupaficionado.com
I really want to try some bits from Elizabeth Arden! I’ve heard so many good things! xx
Maiya | http://www.maiyabellexo.co.uk
You can’t go wrong with Burts Bees products in my opinion!
Em x
Great picks! Thanks for sharing them 🙂
I use Mavala for my nails allllllll the time xx
The Mavala shades are gorgeous! So autumnal 🙂
Jasmine xx
Jasmine Talks Beauty
So many lovely products, you have so many!
Danielle xx
https://www.fashionbeautyblog.co.uk/
All of those Mavala shades are gorgeous x
http://www.ofbeautyandnothingness.co.uk
I love Burt’s Bee lip products! I really we hope we get more of the makeup too. We only got the lipsticks but they are really pretty and the formula is very hydrating.
I need to try some Burts Bees stuff, my lips are so dry atm
The Jessica Polishes are so beautiful, and I adore Burts Bees x
I am so excited to try the burts bees lipbalms!
Candice x
natalyaamour.com
Love the shades of the Jessica polishes! Armani Luminous Silk is my forever repurchased foundation xx
Beautylymin
Those Mavela shades are SO me! I love love love autumn shades. They are SO beautiful!
Erin || MakeErinOver