Eye creams for Winter!

Tired eyes are not the best look when you have that presentation of your career to give, that appraisal at work where you are hoping for a pay rise or promotion or even for date night with the hubby/boyfriend and so on.  There are times when no matte how much concealer you slap on, those suitcases under your eyes just will not go into hiding. It might not even be a lack of sleep that could be the issue, indeed for me, it is often dry eyes or even dehydrated skin under my eyes that is an issue.  In the winter, I always ensure I up my skincare regime and that includes more moisture, more protection, I continue to use an SPF, I exfoliate more and I also power through facial mists in an bid to ensure my skin remains moisturised as I go from a heated home or office out into the cold.

Eye-creams are for me, a big part of my skincare routine and whilst I am currently obsessed with eye masks (that is another post) I do use an eye cream and the two that I am currently using are:

Kiehls Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado £20.  Now I love Avocados and I love Kiehls, so a combination of the two is quite possibly dreamy. The texture of the cream is really lovely. It is rich, thick, luxurious and incredibly hydrating and soothing. You only need a really small amount for the under eye area. 

I use my index finger to gently apply and pat the cream in. Having said it is rich and thick textured, if you find it is quite solidified, then run your finger across the top of the pot, it melts with the heat from your fingers to allow you to apply it.  Once applied to the skin, it feels incredibly smooth and it is hydrating and I have really enjoyed trying it and wouldn't rule out a repurchase.

Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Sync Complex II £40 (I have the mini version) - I absolutely love that this sample is an exact replica of the full sized version making it uber cute. The gel creme has a formula which is rich, luxurious and just disappears into the skin. Said to maximize the power of night to re-ignite the vital, youthful-looking light that can fade due to fatigue, pollution and age. Using the advanced formula with the exclusive ChronoluxCB technology, it helps significantly inhibit the appearance of visible damage: fine lines, crow's feet, dark circles, puffiness, dryness and uneven texture. 

What I love about this eye cream is how luxurious it feels on the skin and it is one of those products that just absorbs on contact so there is no need to really pat the under eye area too much.

Alongside Kiehls and Estee Lauder, I have my eye (no pun intended) on other creams that have had really good reviews.

Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue £40 - I have read so many reviews and comments on Charlotte Tilbury skincare that I am itching to give it a try.  One item that has caught my attention is the Magic Eye rescue. Said to be a new formula which will help to reduce the appearance of eye bags and dark circles, smooth crow`s feet, minimise fine lines and re-energise the delicate under eye area where the first signs of ageing often occur. This miracle Magic Eye Rescue is described as being 'a revitalising and reinvigorating, anti-ageing rescue remedy that gets to work to slow down the ticking time bomb of ageing'. Which sounds too good to be true but one I feel I have to try.

La Prairie Essence Of Skin Caviar Eye Complex 15ml (£107) - I have always been intrigued by La Prairie because firstly the price is usually a wow factor and secondly do you really get value for money?  The La Prairie Essence of Skin Caviar eye complex caviar extract is described as being the perfect pick-me-up for the sensitive skin surrounding your eyes, this lightweight, rapidly penetrating gel acts like a mini eyelift. Add to that it is said to be instantly firming, nourishing and re-energizing the eye zone, it also improves its tone and texture, minimizing fine lines and wrinkles while brightening and hydrating the delicate tissue and soothing away signs of stress and fatigue. One thing that did grab my attention is that is also claims to help increase the staying power of eye makeup.

Lancôme Advanced Génifique Eye Serum Light-Pearl 20ml (£46) - Lancome is a brand that is everywhere right now, whether it is with its skincare products or cushion makeup products and as a brand, it is one which has caught my attention.  This Eye serum is said to be a new and improved formula for our best-selling eye serum. Reduces the appearance of eye bags, whilst targeting the look of wrinkles and lines around the skin of your eye contour to look fresher and younger. This cooling serum massages the eye area to revive your eyes` youthful and radiant appearance.

Benefit Firm It Up Eye Serum (£28.50). Firm it up! eye serum helps to visibly tighten & brighten the delicate skin around your eyes. The lightweight texture absorbs in seconds, leaving skin feeling refreshed, smooth and silky-soft. Feel the firmness, see the brightness. Having seen a preview of this at a Benefit Press Day I cannot wait to give it a try. One thing people tend not to think about when it comes to Benefit is their skincare which happens to be pretty darn good!

Do you find that you up your skincare routine in the winter?

*this post contains PR samples/affiliate links unless indicated otherwise

Makeup for Halloween with Superdrug

Halloween is a time of year that I wish we celebrated like they do in America. A friend of mine is heading to Salem for the event and I am inanely jealous.  That said, here in the UK some of us do make more of an effort than we used too and if you look hard enough there are events happening where you live.

Once you have chosen your outfit, next comes the makeup and Superdrug also have an amazing range from across the brands sold in store and one stand out brand right now is Freedom, the sister brand of Make Up Revolution.

Freedom Pro Black Swan Makeup kit is an absolute bargain at £8 and it is also on a 3 for 2 offer. Comprising of a White Foundation, a Black Gel Eyeliner, a White Liquid Eyeliner, a Quad Eyeshadow and a Black Liquid Lipstick. 

Designed to allow you to create the perfect Black Swan look, you have everything you need in one kit and you can find it here.

This is such a fantastic kit and the black liquid lipstick is just stunning. Of course you might feel the need to add to your make up and items such as these, which are all again on a 3 for 2 offer might just capture your attention.

Freedom Pro SFX Fake Blood again is on a 3 for 2 offer and is just £2. A Halloween must, this tube of liquid fake blood is designed to give a realistic splash or smear of blood to add some horror to any outfit. Available right here.

Freedom Pro SFX Ghost Whitener and as before, it is on a 3 for 2 offer and is priced at £3. An easy to use pure white liquid foundation that blends well to ensure a high coverage pure white finish ideal for the perfect base to the rest of your makeup. Available right here.

Aside from Freedom, Superdrug have their own brands and I have three other products right here to complete your Halloween look

Superdrug Colour Hairspray Black: Designed to be a spray in and wash out product, this black hairspray gives an instant hit of colour. Available in a wide array of colours such as blue and red, it adds that finishing touch to your look and a bit of fun.  Priced at £2.99 it is also on a 3 for 2 deal and available right here.

Lash Halloween are a limited edition pair of Halloween eyelashes which add dramatic length and volume.  Suitable for those who wear contact lenses, they are also cruelty free and are exclusive to Superdrug.

Gosh Giant Pro Eyeliner: From the AW16 Copenhagen range (see my post here) this Giant Pro Eyeliner is an intense black colour and pointed nib make it incredibly easy to apply either a thin or stronger line with accuracy, it is water based so incredibly easy to remove and is easy to hold. Priced at just £6.99 it is brilliant value for money.

So now you have found everything you need for Halloween to create that scary look! 

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

Gatineau Discovery Collection

Gatineau is a skincare brand that I know very little about, other than it is French of course and to date I have never used it, until the chance to try it came my way. The Discovery Collection is currently on offer at Marks and Spencers for just £20 and for that money you get a 6 piece collection, worth £107. Not only is this the perfect way for someone new to Gatineau to experience the benefits of premium Parisian skincare but if you happen to be a Gatineau fan, then this is one to snap up.

The products in the box are perfect travel size items, perfectly designed for long weekends away, a holiday or just because you want to try them. I am going off to Paris next months to Disneyland and what better a brand to take with me and try. 

Within this collection you will find a handpicked selection of Gatineau's best-loved products wit everything you need to restore a smooth, radiant and youthful complexion and they come packaged so beautifully within this box that it would make an amazing Christmas gift too, so grab it quick - HERE.

Within the box you will find the following:

• Gentle eye make-up remover 50ml: Using extracts of cucumber, green tea & aloe vera, this eye makeup remover is not only lightweight, it is described as being wonderfully cooling and refreshing as it gently removes the remnants of the day and all traces of water-proof eye make-up. 
• Melatogenine cleanser 50ml: This is a triple-action formula refreshing cleansing cream which is an anti-ageing cleanser, toner and micro-exfoliator in one. This soap-free solution removes all traces of make-up. The youth activating molecule, Mélatogénine, encourages cellular renewal. With a rich and velvety texture, this cleanser nourishes the skin with added anti-oxidants and sweet almond oil to leave your skin feeling clean and refreshed and with fine lines and wrinkles are visibly reduced.
• Radiance enhancing gommage 15ml: Said to be perfect for sensitive skin, this mild enzymatic exfoliant is packed with fruit enzymes which remove dead cells for a radiant and energised complexion. Free from grains and beads, this gel formula is so gentle it can even be used around the eyes. It is enriched with vitamin C and helps to boost skin's natural defence. Radiance and luminosity are immediately increased and the complexion is brightened and toned.
• Melatogenine futur plus anti-wrinkle radiance mask 15ml:  Described as being a powerful anti-ageing mask designed to smooth fine lines and wrinkles, reduce the signs of fatigue and leave skin youthfully radiant. It is luxuriously rich and creamy packed with Marine Collagen and Hyaluronic Acid to instantly transform the skin.
• Melatogenine AOX Advanced Rejuvenating Cream 15ml: Gatineau state that this is their most powerful anti-wrinkle formula within a luxurious rich cream and it is designed to smooth fine lines and wrinkles brighten the complexion and eliminate signs of fatigue.
• Age Benefit Integral Regenerating Cream 30ml: this cream fights all signs of advanced ageing whilst providing skin with essential moisture. Using Artichoke leaf and hibiscus extracts smooth lines and wrinkles whilst calcium extracts strengthen thinning skin. Restorative and nourishing, this rich and creamy moisturiser tackles fine lines and wrinkles, skin slackening, pigmentation and brown spots. Complete anti-ageing, in one simple step.

This is one amazing kit with great sized products and again it is just £20 for £107 worth of products and basically you just need one!

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

Sainsbury's Boutique Make Up Collection

I love discovering new make up brands and I love that you can walk in Boots, Superdrug and even your local supermarket and leave with a basketful of makeup products you might not have ever used before.

Sainsbury’s Boutique collection has everything you could ever want. Sainsbury's themselves state that "Boutique is set to transform the way women shop for their make-up bag essentials" and within the range you will find everything you need from nail polishes, lipsticks, lip gloss, eyeshadows to accessories, all of which Boutique has been created, trialled and had rigorously tested by a collective of professional make-up artists.

Each products comes packaged in sleek black matte packaging, finished with the Sainsbury’s Boutique wording which is also the logo. I have very kindly been sent a few products from the range to try out and I have been left feeling really impressed with what I have.

The way to my heart right now is lipsticks (and cake, do not forget the cake) I am obsessed with them and have an ever growing collection.  The Boutique range is a delight to use and In The Buff is a beautiful nude shade which gives amazing colour pay off and wouldn't usually be a shade I would go for, but I actually really like it and it works well alongside the lip pencil Chinese Whispers which is a creamy nude and perfect for outlining the lips. The second lipstick is called Lip In the Bud and it a pink which is really pretty and not too pink that I find it hard to wear.  Both lipsticks are priced at £7 and the lop pencil is £2

One item I tend to wear much less than anything else is lipgloss, I really don't anything that is sticky or tacky but I was surprised to find that the two offerings from Boutique are neither of those.  Lip Lip Hooray is a soft peach shade which give exceptional coverage, good enough to be worn alone or on top of Lip In The Bud. Dusk Till Dawn is my favourite of the two and the one I have worn a lot of recently. Again it is perfect to be worn on its own and is creamy and not at all drying and as a shade it is a deep plum rose and I adore it.  Both lipglosses are priced at £6.

The final item is a cream blush in shade C'est La Vie (£6) which is a beautiful shade of pink, possibly too pink for my complexion but it is stunning and very pigmented.  As it is a cream blush it blends really easily and is perfect to give a pop of colour on the apples of your cheeks.

I am really impressed with Boutique and it is definitely a brand to be on the look out for in your local store, the pricing is pretty impressive and the colour pay off on each item is superb.

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise