I know I know, it is almost the end of December, and here I am posting my November First Impressions! Bear with me this last month, and hopefully starting next year I will be right on time! I have quite a few awesome products to share with you this month, so let’s get started, shall we?
I have been trying some really beautiful makeup products recently. I will have a full review with swatches of the above products up early in January, but for now here are my thoughts. I love the Avon liner in True Red, especially underneath a nude gloss! The Estee Lauder Lip Potion in Cold Fire is a gorgeous vibrant orange that is long lasting and comfortable on the lips. The Sorme Tasty Tubes Lip Gloss is a clear gloss that isn’t too sticky. The Bobbi Brown Intensive Skin Serum Concealer in Dark Peach Bisque is lovely, and I have been using it almost daily. The Bourjois eyeliner in Smoked Brown is okay, but not as pigmented as I would like. The MAC Mineralize Blush in New Romance is really pretty as a highlighting blush, but it doesn’t work too well as a pigmented blush on my skintone. The Algenist Reveal Concentrated Luminizing Drops in Champagne and Rose are liquid highlighters with some skincare properties too. I am loving mixing this into my foundation, or using it as a highlighter, the champagne shade is my favourite! Lastly I have the NYX Total Control Drop Foundation, one that I had high hopes for, and although it isn’t bad, it just isn’t for me, well at least not on its own. When I use it on its own it emphasises my dehydrated skin, and makes my skin look older than it is. When I mix it with the Algenist drops, it becomes a lovely dewy foundation with a more forgiving finish.
I tried a few new products from NARS, and the Velvet Matte Lip Pencils are lovely! They are smooth and pigmented and comfortable on the lips. I have Let’s Go Crazy, a bright pink and Cruella, a deep red. I also tried the Laguna Bronzer, and it is nice, but I wouldn’t say it is a must-have.
I have started trying a few products for my next Skincare on Trial post, which I will have out in January, but for now here are my First Impressions. I am loving the Bioderma Hydrabio Mask and Lotion, they are both soothing and hydrating! The Simple Facial Wipes were quite disappointing, they were quite dry, and didn’t do a great job at removing my makeup. Snoxin, an anti-aging serum from Indeed Labs has quite a silicone like feel, and feels silky on the skin. It is meant to be a highly effective peptide serum, and only time will tell. The Just Me makeup remover is a Makeup Eraser dupe I found at Dischem, and it works pretty well at removing makeup. It is also gentle and soft on the skin. The Human + Kind Wash Off Facial Cleanser is a gentle cleansing cream that removes makeup and dirt well, it has a bit of a herbal/minty scent and feel that adds a refreshing/tingling sensation. The *Garnier Pure Active 3 in 1 really impressed me. I expected it to be quite scrubby and drying, but it isn’t very scrubby at all. I have been using this every day for the past week and my skin is looking clean and refined and clog free. Lastly, the Smiths Rosebud Salve which I have been using as a lip balm. It has a very thin consistency, similiar to Vaseline, but way more hydrating. I am not a fan of the scent though, but luckily it isn’t too strong.
I have had two fragrance posts planned for the longest time, and I hope I will get them done soon. But for now, let me just say that TOCCA Stella, Florence and Simone are amazing! They are all fresh and floral in their own way. Unfortunately the Cleaopatra scent is a bit too strong and intense for me. I also love the DKNY Be Delicious Fresh Blossom, which was a gift from my boyfriend, it is very light and fresh. I am hoping to try the DKNY Nectar Love soon too! Lastly, I have the TOCCA Giulietta Set, which includes a fragrance, hand cream and scrub. I like the scent, it is okay, but I find it a bit bland on me.
There are some awesome new treats for feet out from *Sorbet. I have been using the Intensive Foot Serum daily, and I can definitely notice a difference in the softness of my heels. There is also a refreshing Cooling Foot Spray that is great in this hot weather! I love the little set of four which includes a Soak, Mask, Scrub and Moisturising Souffle, and is the perfect spa like treat at home. I was really looking forward to trying the peel, which unfortunately I have not had a chance to yet, but I will definitely update this post when I have. I am quite fond of foot peels, and usually use the bootie ones, which work quite well. This one requires a bit more effort, and includes using cotton wool and glad wrap, which adds to the spa feeling!
I reviewed some gorgeous new body treats from The Body Shop’s Christmas Collection over here.
I tried a few other new body products too, and you can check them out here.
I also reviewed the new ORLY Coastal Crush Collection, and have one set to give away to one lucky reader!
Thanks for reading Ladies! I am going to try and get my NARS Review and Giveaway up by Christmas, but if not, Merry Christmas and have a lovely New Year!
*Press Sample
So many lovely products! I must get my hands on one of the NARS matte lip pencils, they’re gorgeous. I don’t really like the NYX foundation on it’s own either but it is a brilliant mixer! xx
The pencils are lovely! Oh I am so glad I am not alone on that. I have heard people rave about it, and I was left disappointed!
Your beauty picks are always so on point! Can’t wait to see what 2018 brings you and your blog!
Thank you so much Rosie!
Ah I really don’t like the vanilla chai body shop scent but the frosted berries is my faveeee!
Aaaaahhhh I love Vanilla Chai!
Looking forward to your nars review!
Thanks for reading Thuraya!
I’m a huge fan of the Nars pencils – the colours are lovely x
They are really lovely! I want to try a few more shades!
I love the NARS velvet matte lip pencils, some of my faves! x
They are lovely! I am so happy to have them
Gorgeous post and gorgeous flat lays! I adore your photos and I trust your buys so much!
Thank you so much Rosie! Thank you for being so supportive!
I love everything you’ve included. The NARS and body shop bits sound lovely.
http://littlemissmelanie.com
Yip the NARS pencils are amazing!
Merry Christmas lovely! And such a beautiful post I love it! 🙂
Erin || MakeErinOver
Thank you, and you too! Ah thanks for reading!
Really love these flatlays!
Thank you Shelley
I really need to check out the NARS lip products – they sound so good! I can never go back to facial wipes now since usin miscellar Water! They are so dry and abrasive in comparison I find! x
Yes, they are lovely! I agree, I much prefer micellar water. Or else double cleansing with a balm/oil first does the trick too
I have been wanting to try a foot peel for so long but i have never been able to find a genuine review on any! I think this may be on January shopping list!!
Have a Brilliant Christmas!! xxx
I find the bootie ones quite effective, but the asian brands are better and more intense than ones such as Skin Republic.
I love how much effort you put in all your photos! The MAC blush looks right up my street x
Thank you Adrienne. It is so lovely!
I’ve never tried Nars before but have always wanted too so it’s good to hear your impressions. I love Simple skincare, shame you weren’t that keen! x
The pencils are amazing! I think it may just be these wipes, I have heard such great things about the other products.
I LOVE the Cars velvet matte lip pencils x
http://www.ofbeautyandnothingness.co.uk
*Nars
Me too Heather, they are really lovely!
Wow, you have so many great products in the first impressions post. I’m completely obsessed with those body shop products!
Hehe yip, I like to do a wrap up of everything I tried. 🙂
The Bodyshop Christmas collections are always amazing, I’m hoping to stock up in the sales x
That’s the best time to stock up!
I also have the ‘makeup eraser’ from dischem works likes a charm. I haven’t tried the NYX foundation yet but I did buy the new body shop foundation that has tea tree in it and I am loving it. Nice coverage , I have been using it for the past week. I wouldn’t say full coverage as it claims but still good coverage for R150 x
Yip it works really well! Oh yes, I heard that foundation is quite good. Ill try it when I am in store next.
I had a sniff of those body shop christmas products and i wasnt keen, I loved their october ones.
I cannot get enough of Vanilla Chai!
Ooohhhh – there’s lots of things in here I haven’t tried. I do love the DKNY though – it’s quite summery which is fab in this weather!
Em x
It is lovely and fresh and light!
What a fabulous array of products! The blush caught my eye immediately and then I realised that I already own it! lol! Cruella is perfect for this time of year too! xx
Beautylymin
Yes the blush is so pretty! Haha, good taste!