I Need It! | Repurchases

A few weeks ago I entered Boots for a reason. That reason was a couple of items which had recently been discarded into the bin and there has been a void in my bathroom waiting to be filled with their replacements. Because the void was so big I felt that I could only replace the items with themselves. 

I love trying out new things but with skin care I am a little careful with how often I switch it up because my skin, although fairly low maintenance, knows what it likes. These are often the things I repurchase, but it is for a very good reason - it's simple.

I was using the dregs of my Garnier Miscellar water, which I don't use every day but it's great for a lazy removal. I have tried others but I really do think this is the best value for money because of the size and it's pretty good. It is a little drying on my eyes sometimes but once I've finished my skincare 'routine' (I use that word pretty lightly) it's no longer a problem. It's pretty quick and easy - something I really appreciate in a skincare product!

My friend has been really loving Barry M's Hi-Shine in Lychee and I really love this formula. I had this colour a while back but it's mysteriously disappeared. I really wanted it for a wedding I have coming up. It's a beautiful creamy-nude which isn't too manakin-like on me, nor too pastel. A winner that I could no longer live without.

Moisturizer is something I find quite tricky. I like to have one with SPF and one without and my one without had come to an end. It was included in my gift bag at the release of La Roche Posay's Serozinc back in December and although I did find it a little greasy at first, I quickly fell head over heals for it. It is quite thick but my skin loves the moisture it gives and it is really soothing. I can  imagine this to be great on sunburn but I haven't yet tested this out. It quenches dry patches and doesn't break me out. It will definitely have a place in my skincare collection for a while to come and now it's easily available in the UK.

Finally is the Visibly Clear Pink Grapefruit Daily Scrub from Neutrogena. I do love my cleanser from Kiehl's and Liz Earle and using my Micellar water but sometimes I need something to gently buff off the layer of dirt which sometimes a cleanser doesn't quite do. It may be residue from products, but I find this leaves my skin so smooth and gently removes anything that's on the surface, whether that be dry skin or dirt. It isn't harsh, lasts for ages because you only need a tiny bit and it smells so good in the mornings!

Is there anything that you have to repurchase as soon as you run out?

Chisel Cheeks

My make up drawer is lacking in coutour kits. I really love the contoured look and wanted something a little more browny rather than golden to help me create faux cheekbones. I spotted this in Boots and for £6.49 I couldn't leave it on the shelf. 

This pallette has 3 shades, all of which are powders. There is a light powder, a warm, light brown and a darker brown which is a little more ashy and brown. The inside of the palette suggests how to use each shade, showing where to apply with a diagram. The palette is made of a waxy cardboard but shuts firmly with it's magnetised lid. I probably would rather have something a little more sturdy like the Sleek packaging, but for the price I really can't complain. All three powders are really fine and blend amazingly so there are no harsh lines anywhere.

The first time I used this I applied it only to one side of the face to see what difference it made. I started with the darker end of the palette, taking the darkest shade in the hollows of my cheeks, by my temples and around my hairline. Already my face had more depth and shape after blending it in. With the middle shade I took it where the sun would hit; my cheeks, my forehead and my chin, as well as a light dusting on my nose. I used the lightest shade last, taking it under my eyes to set my concealer, along my cheekbones, down my nose and just above my eyebrows. This was the only shade I really had a problem with since it isn't really light enough for my skin. I would rather apply a separate highlighter but it was good for setting my concealer as it is a light powder.

I think this is excellent value for a contour palette and all of the shades have their uses. The browns definitely forfil the job they're meant to do, my favourite being the darkest brown. The lightest is great for setting but doesn't highlight or brighten a great deal. I think this is partly because it's matte and I do prefer a slightly shimmery highlight. It may be better when I'm a little more tanned but for now it isn't quite doing what I wanted from it. I still think the palette is worth it just for the darker shades as they give me depth and shape in my face. I don't mind using a separate highlighter at the price of the palette. If it had been more expensive I would probably feel differently but for now I can't wait to continue using this.

Do you have any highlighter recommendations?

Love at First Swipe | Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet

I often put off buying things and this has been one of them. The Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvets have had nothing but praise (except their perhaps dogily formulated 'Gran Cru' shade) and I have been dying to try them for ages. The shade I hear about the most is 'Hot Pepper' so when browsing in Boots the other day - a dangerous sport - I couldn't help but pick it up. I have heard the nude shades aren't as great, but what do you guys think?

I applied this at 12:30pm the day after I got it. It was something I found a little strange at first because I struggle with the texture and finish of lipglosses but after applying it (does anyone else struggle with applying bold lips...) I left it to dry and just hoped for the best. I couldn't really work out when it had completely set, but it took about 5 minutes for it to set, and after 10 minutes it was definitely there to stay. I'm now writing this at 9pm having had lunch, drinking, and having dinner it is basically perfect with no touch ups. It is a little worn in the middle and more towards my mouth but it definitely doesn't look like I applied this nearly 9 hours ago. 

The colour of this is a fantastic vibrant red and especially great for a night out since it doesn't budge after a drink or four. The doe-foot applicator definitely makes the application easier and I love the finish of this - a velvety looking matte, as the name would suggest. I will definitely be picking more of these up in the future and I can't wait to sport it in the coming months. Why didn't I pick this up sooner?!

Do you recommend any shades from this range?

Time for Change | Maybelline The Falsies Volum' Express

You know when you need a little change of scenery? I was having this with my Maybelline 'The Rocket' mascara. I've been repurchasing it for about 2 years (with the exception of a 'They're Real!' month which I wasn't satisfied with) and must be on my 5th tube of it by now. The only problem I have with this mascara is that it is such a pain to get off and I often wake up with it under my eyes even though I took it off the night before. I decided maybe I'd give something else a try but I really do love Maybelline's mascara's so I stuck with them and grabbed 'The Falsies Volum' Express'. 

I must say I hate the lace printed onto the lid, but I am loving this and have only used it a couple of times. It has a curved wand which has bristles rather than plastic, which I actually really like and I had forgotten how great non-plastic brushes are. It also bends a little more as there is a point in the brush which bends. I think this is a better way to really get into all the lashes without losing too much size from the wand. The want is slightly thinner than I'm used to, but I think it really reaches all the lashes as 'The Rocket' is a little fat at the ends making it tricky when getting right into the corners. At the moment it's a little wet to use on my bottom lashes as I prefer using dries mascaras for the bottom but I can see this being great.

Left - The Falsies / Right - The Rocket

I do still love 'The Rocket' and it gives me great volume on my long but thin lashes. However, the fact that I could never ever get it off was really beginning to become a problem for me. I also found it was drying my eyes out a little. Switching it up is sometimes good, even if you're comfortable with what you're using. The Falsies gives length and volume and I think it holds the curl that it already in my lashes better than The Rocket does. Perhaps it's got a heavier formula. Best of all, The Rocket it much easier to remove and really comes off without leaving residue under my eyes. I don't even really wear mascara on my bottom lashes so I'm not sure why this was happening but for now, I think I'll stick to The Falsies.

Do you have any mascaras that you just can't stop repurchasing or that you really trust?