Haul / Cult Beauty

I placed a cheeky order on Cultbeauty.co.uk a couple of weeks ago - I had a few items on my wishlist that I wanted to try but not easily available on the high street and also took advantage of a £5 off voucher.

Cor The Silver Soap: I got the smaller size because this is pretty pricey and I have no idea if I'll like it since I have never used it before. Sorry it's still wrapped but I'm gonna keep it sealed until I'm ready to use it - I'm currently testing out the Konjac Sponge first, see below. Review to follow, as always.

The Konjac Sponge with French Pink Clay: I've been interested in this sponge for a while but since I got the Clarisonic last Christmas, I really didn't see the point of mixing too many new things at once. I finally decided to give it a go and got the pink clay version which is targeted for sensitive skin.

So basically with this sponge, you don't need to use any cleanser or detergent but just water; they are made from a special natural fibre, similar to potato, that is ph balanced and should naturally deep cleanse and gently exfoliate the skin (we'll see). 

I've been using it for 3 days now both morning and evening - as directed, au naturel; so far I'm liking the low maintenance and simplicity but it's too early to tell if this new routine, it's gonna upset my skin.

For what I've heard, the most important thing is to rinse it really, really well after each use and it should last 3 months. Anybody used this sponge before? Any tips? 

dry

wet

Ginvera Green Tea Whitening Marvel Gel: I tried this more than a year ago but I couldn't really tell the different because the sample was too small (link). Then, I read about people raving about it and I've been intrigued to try it out properly. I'm curious about the 'mechanics' of how it works (if it does work), I haven't see anything else similar on the market. You're supposed to use it every day: apply to dry skin and massage the gel until it dries out and starts to form wee balls/flakes (a bit like an eraser on paper) and finally rinse with water. I don't know, sounds a bit rubbish and I've already regretted buying it... all I can add is: I-really-hope-it-works! 

Finally, the website also lets you choose your samples which is nice: I got a couple of cleansers 'cause I'm always on the hunt for a good one and some Rahua that are the best shampoo and conditioner that I have ever used.

Have you used of these products before? Yay or Nay?
xxx

FOTN - Dinner Date

Face: Ginvera BB Cream, Garnier Roll-on concealer, Giorgio Armani Master Corrector in pink, Nars Foreplay Palette;

Eyes: Urban Decay Eyeshadow in X and Breathless, Soap & Glory Thick & Fast mascara, Max Factor Liquid Effect Pencil in Black Fire;

Lips: Lancome L'Absolu Nu in 101 Corail Evanescent

FOTD

Face: Ginvera BB Cream (not pictured), Ysl Touche Eclat in no.1, Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection concealer in medium, Neal's Yard Remedies blush in Peony, Bobbi Brown Brightening Finishing Powder in Brightening Nudes

Eyes: Clinique Brandied Bronze palette (brown shades), Clinique High Impact mascara, Ellis Faas mascara, Clinique Bottom Lashes mascara, Revlon GrowLuscious Lashliner in 002 Espresso;

Lips: Lancome L'Absolu Nu lipstick in 101 (not pictured).

Don't forget to enter the giveaway :)
xxx

FOTN & OOTN - Teppanyaki Night

Face: Ginvera BB Cream, Giorgio Armani Master Corrector in pink, Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection in medium, Daniel Sandler Watercolour Blush in Pop, Bobbi Brown Brightening Finishing Powder in Brightening Nudes, Cover FX Bronzed FX in Golden Peach;

Eyes: Mac Paint Pot in Rubenesque, Mac Pigment in Paradisco, Clinique High Impact mascara, Max Factor Liquid Effect Pencil in Black Fire;

Lips: Clinique VItamin C Lip Smoothie in Strawberry Bliss, Neal's Yard Remedies Lip Gloss in 64 Plum.

Outfit:

Vest: All Saints

Bag: Zara

Necklace: Red Herring

***

First time in a Teppanyaki restaurant, we went to Sapporo.. I loved it (even being slapped in the face with food - hehe); pretty expensive but loads of food and the entertainment alone was worth it. :)

Starter: Spider Roll

Salmon Teriyaki

FOTD - Afternoon Tea

Face: Ginvera BB Cream, Giorgio Armani Master Corrector in pink, Estee Lauder Double Wear Concealer in 07 Warm Light, Mac Creamblend Blush in Something Special, Mac Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium, Murad Skin Perfecting Primer Dewy Finish;

Eyes: Guerlain Ecrin 4 Couleurs in 04 Les Bois De Rose, Benefit Eye Bright, L'Oreal Volume Million Lashes mascara in extra-black, Soap & Glory Thick & Fast mascara;

Lips: Collection 2000 Cream Puff in 3 Fairy Cake.

FOTD & OOTD - Housewarming Lunch

tied my hair up before leaving

Some friends, recently, moved in a new house together and invited us over for lunch at the weekend

Face: Ginvera BB Cream (Btw, I'm not crazy about this BB Cream... I know many people like it and I like that is very liquid but I find it quite greyish; Garnier BB cream remains the best I have tried so far), Giorgio Armani Master Corrector in pink, Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection concealer in medium, Nars Cream Blush in Cactus Flower, Guerlain Meteorites Perles in 01 Teint Rose';

Eyes: Maybelline Color Tattoo 24hr in Permanent Taupe, Paul & Joe Face and Eye Color in Empire State 074, Max Factor Liquid Effect Liner in Black Fire, Soap & Glory Thick & Fast mascara, Eyeko Skinny Eyeliner in green;

Lips: Paul & Joe Lipstick in Uptown Girl 073, Chanel Rouge Allure Laque in 76.

Outfit:

Blouse: New Look

Shoes: Zara

Necklace: Fossil

FOTD - @ IMAX for The Dark Knight Rises

 

Face: Ginvera BB Cream, Ysl Touche Eclat in no.1, Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection concealer in medium, Mac Blush Ombre in Azalea Blossom;

Eyes: bareMinerals READY Eyeshadow 2.0 in The Vision, Revlon GrowLuscious mascara, Benefit Eyes Bright;

Lips: Ysl Glossy Lip Stain in no.17. 

... btw, about the film, I thought it was amazing - loved it and I would, happily, go to see it again tomorrow! Also, it was my first experience with the imax and it's great: it really sucks you in - no comparison with the sh**y 3D - it's so much better!

More Samples

I popped in L'Occitane over the weekend to collect my 30ml hand cream. Basically, you had to apply on their Facebook' page and then at the end, they sent out a voucher to bring in store and get your free tube.

Another mascara to try - I have got like 5 on the go at the moment... yay!!
This is the Dior Diorshow New Look - just been released this month and I found an invite inside Elle Magazine to go and collect a sample at your nearest counter; wow, it was impossible to find but at the end they still had few left in Boots Buchanan Gallery.
Apparently, it has a serum which helps strengthen and repair; the brush is quite weird (and mine is also bent!)... tried a couple of days but not impressed! It really dries out my lashes super-fast and it's impossible to even do two coatings. :(

You can order your free sample of the following products on www.janiro.co.uk
They got sent really fast, I received them in 3 days with a nice wee handwritten note.
The Ginvera Green Tea Whitening Marvel Gel is supposed to be great for removing blackheads.
Unfortunately, my sample dried out after 1 application and I didn't see any improvement. Did you manage to use it for longer? Does it work?
The second is the Ginvera Green Tea Nude Cover BB Cream. Still to test.

You could request a sample of the Big Skincare Mystery on their Facebook page.
It can be used both as a face wash and mask cleanser... I have no idea of what product this is...
do you?
They will reveal it on the 1st of March... I'm quite curious but I wasn't wowed by it so I can positively say it's a no buy from me. I liked it more like a mask than a face wash, lovely smell and I didn't experience any tingling.

 

Finally, I got this in a magazine a couple of months ago; I didn't think much of it (ergo, the messy sample below because I didn't bother take a pic beforehand)... and then  few days ago i found it at the bottom of my makeup bag so decided to try it.

I'm so impressed! It gives a really nice healthy, natural look to the skin. Plus, it has serum in it so it's also a treatment - in fact it reminds me of a BB cream. It doesn't feel like a foundation but colour-wise, I could go a bit lighter, I reckon.

I don't think it has been realised long ago... and it's in 3for2 offer in Boots so I might pick a bottle up.

Have you tried Max Factor Ageless Elixir yet?