Sarah Chapman Instant Miracle Mask Review

When it comes to skincare, Sarah Chapman knows her stuff, but even so nothing will prepare you for her Instant Miracle Mask. With brown sea algae, vitamin C and hyaluronic acid, the rubbery face mask literally feeds your skin with all of the essential goodness it needs.

Admittedly it can be messy to mix the powder and you need to be quick on your feet with applying as the face mask sets within minutes. Try to get an even coverage all over your face and neck as much as possible, which will make it easier to peel off.

Skin underneath feels smooth and soft with a radiant, healthy glow, and pores are much smaller and less visible.

Sarah Chapman’s Instant Miracle Mask is £38 for 4 sachets from Sarahchapman.net.

Rating: 9/10 – it can be messy, but your skin will look and feel amazing for days after. In essence this is real skin food.

Bobbi Brown Lash Glamour Extreme Lengthening Mascara Review

It's one of the best selling beauty brands - if not the top performer for John Lewis judging by the size of the new counter in the Oxford Street flagship store - and Bobbi Brown has countless award-winning products including the beauty editors favourite, the long wear gel liner and gorgeous the shimmer bricks. Surprisingly though none of Bobbi Brown's mascaras have taken home any prizes.

The Lash Glamour Extreme Lengthening Mascara launched last year and does exactly what it promises: longer, glamorous lashes in seconds. With widely spaced bristles, the wand combs through lashes, separating and coating each lash without even a hint of clumping. The deep black colour rules out the need for a second coat and the formula stays put all day, so much so you will need a good eye make-up remover to take it off.

Creating a mascara that creates impressively long lashes with no clumps for less than £20 is no mean feat - Bobbi Brown we salute you. 

Bobbi Brown's Lash Glamour Extreme Lengthening Mascara is £18,  available from Bobbibrown.co.uk.

Rating: 8/10 - Great mascara for adding definition and length, but those who prefer volume might not be 100% content.

Bourjois Liner Feutre Review

With a felt tip end, Bourjois’ Liner Feutre offers optimum precision for those who like a flicked corner.

The black colour does need layering to achieve a jet black finish, but the formula dries within seconds so it is quick and easy to apply. The winning feature of this eyeliner though is its staying power. If you’re someone who likes a bold block of eyeliner on your top lid, but are fed up with the smudging and printing onto your browline, then this is a liquid liner for you. Come rain or shine this eyeliner stays in place all day long.

Bourjois Liner Feutre is £6.99 and is available from Boots.com.

Rating: 8/10 – While it takes a couple of attempts to achieve a rich black shade, the longevity makes this liquid eyeliner one of the best available. Plus you get change from a tenner!

Nude Cleansing Facial Oil Review

With a nourishing formula, Nude’s Cleansing Facial Oil is perfect for dry to combination skin. Together omega 3, which gives skin a moisture boost and improves texture, and vitamin E condition and protect skin.

Warm the oil up in your hands and then massage it into dry skin, including around your eyes, then add some warm water but continue to massage the cleanser into your skin. The formula should foam ever so slightly and change to more of an off-white colour.

The key part of this beauty product is that it encourages you to really massage the oil into your skin giving you a much deeper cleanse. Once you’ve rinsed your face and towel dried it, you’ll notice instantly that while it feels fresh and lean, it also feels soft and smooth. Plus you’re make-up has been removed too.

Jasmine and gardenia extracts give the cleanser a soothing fragrance making it a great pre-bedtime beauty ritual.

While the price does feel expensive for an everyday skincare product, you’ll be surprised at how little you actually need to use for your face and neck.

Nude Cleansing Facial Oil is £24 and available from Nudeskincare.com.

Rating: 8/10 – This is a great cleanser, especially if your skin is really dry and sore. Although I’m not sure it’s the perfect cleanser for all skin types as they suggest.

Topshop Sisters Of The New Moon Crystal Lipstick Review

Topshop has definitely put the fun back into make-up with the SS12 Sisters of the New Moon collection, most namely the lipstick in Crystal shade. To look at, the lipstick looks like it might belong to Barbie with the bubblegum pink flecked with glitter. However once it’s on lips the finish is wearable with a gorgeous shimmer and hint of pink.

As ever with lipsticks you will need to reapply this one throughout the day and evening, but it’s a fun colour with quirky packaging, making Topshop’s lipstick perfect for the summer and setting off your sun kissed glow. It’s selling out, so you’ll need to be fast though!

Topshop’s Sisters of the New Moon Lipstick in Crystal is £9 and available from Topshop.com.

Rating: 8/10 – Yes you’ll need to give lips a swipe of lip balms after wearing this lipstick and it doesn’t last all day, but it’s a fun lipstick in a shimmery shade! If you can get your hands on it’s definitely worth buying!

Olay Essentials Complete Care Day Lotion Review

Its light, moisturising and subtly scented, Olay’s new Essentials Complete Care Day Lotion is a great budget moisturiser. With an SPF30 it also offers higher sun protection than most of the premium beauty brands too.

The lotion soaks in quickly without leaving a sticky or greasy feeling behind and skin feels soft and moisturised throughout the day. Vitamin B3, B5 and E make sure skin gets the necessary nutrients and protection.

While you will need to use at least two pumps to cover your face and neck area fully, the lower price and overall quality make this a good value for money moisturiser.

Olay’s Essentials Complete Care Day Lotion is £10.29 available from Boots.com.

Rating: 10/10 – The perfect day cream for summer with the protection and price tag to keep your skin and purse happy.

Dolce and Gabbana Perfect Finish Concealer Pen Review

Dolce & Gabbana’s Perfect Finish Concealer Pen is as luxurious as a concealer can get packaging wise and the formula isn’t far off.

The soft brush tip makes it easy to apply and the consistency is silky allowing you to use your finger to blend. The formula dries within seconds and has a discreet, matte finish to disguise dark circles.

Concentrate on the area below the inner corner of your eye and try adding a touch of concealer to the sides of your nose where it meets your eye socket at the narrowest part – you’ll be surprised at how much brighter and wider your eyes look!

Make sure you use your eye cream before the Dolce & Gabbana concealer though otherwise the finish can look a little chalky. 

Dolce and Gabbana’s Perfect Finish Concealer Pen is £24 and available exclusively from Harrods.com.

Rating: 5/10 – It’s tough to give this beauty product too high a rating as it is competing with the original, YSL’s Touche Eclat, which is only £2 more and comes in seven more shades. 

Pixi Endless Silky Eye Pen Review

Soft gel liners are rarely smudge-proof and Pixi’s Endless Silky Eye Pen is no exception. While the smudging is disappointing, the softness of the eyeliner does come in handy and makes it easy to apply – it literally glides on to your eyelids.

If you’re a smoky eye fan the softer texture is without a doubt a bonus as you can use your finger or a brush to blend, however the eyeliner doesn’t smudge too much, so you can still frame and define your eyes.

While it might smudge, the formula is relatively waterproof and will make your eye make-up remover prove its worth.

For less than a tenner, Pixi’s Endless Silky Eye Pens are definitely worth trying out as they have impressively intense shades. In fact, they’re definitely one of the better gel eyeliners in this price bracket, especially if you enjoy experimenting with different shades.

Pixi’s Endless Silky Eye Pens are £9.50 each and available from Boots.com.

Rating: 5/10 – Good value for money considering the rich colours, but not necessarily a must-have eyeliner for all ages.

Sanctuary Skin Perfecting BB Cream Review

Yet another BB cream to hit the beauty shelves, but is it as good as the popular Garnier BB cream? The Sanctuary’s Skin Perfecting BB Cream is slightly more expensive and promises to hydrate, illuminate and protect skin.

The ingredients list looks promising with hydrating hyaluronic acid and nourishing grape seed oil on top of several silcas to soak up excess oil and disguise fine lines.

When put to the test, the Sanctuary's BB cream isn’t bad. Although the shade comes out scarily dark, the tone lightens as you apply and does even out skin tone well. The lotion is light and soaks in quickly, and it does contain SPF 15 protection so it's ideal for everyday use.

While it doesn’t provide the same amount of coverage as your foundation and concealer might, the Sanctuary’s BB cream certainly gives your complexion a boost and makes your skin look brighter and healthier.

As with all BB creams though it won’t do the job of your moisturiser, so apply your day cream underneath.

Sanctuary’s Skin Perfecting BB Cream is £14.99 and available from Thesanctuary.co.uk.

Rating: 6.5/10 – There’s definitely enough to like about this beauty product, especially as it’s so light in texture, but it is not revolutionary in its results.

Gazelli Triple Youth Skin Balancing Cleanser Review

Mixing anti-ageing ingredients with a cleanser is a tricky business, but Gazelli, a father and daughter skincare brand from Azerbaijan, has nailed it with their Triple Youth Skin Balancing Cleanser. The secret to their success is the White Healing Oil, which is found in the Naftalan region in Azerbaijan. The oil helps to boost skin cell renewal and nourish skin with its abundance of vitamins and nutrients.

With a creamy, loose consistency, this cleanser is easy to massage into your skin and does lather up slightly once mixed with water. The scent is similar to that of ginger, but is soft enough to make the cleanser smell and feel refreshing.

While your skin doesn’t feel tight after using Gazelli’s cleanser like it might with other anti-ageing products, it does feel as revitalised and most importantly, clean. It is worth noting that lack of tightness after cleansing is a good thing as if your skin does feel tight it can mean that too much natural oil and moisture has been stripped away.

The formula is packed full of essential oils, but it is still safe to use around your eyes without leaving them feeling sore and stinging, and it can be used on any skin type. After rinsing, your face and neck feels fresh, fully cleansed and soft courtesy of the vitamin B and C, which hydrates and nourishes.

Look out for the thoughtful poetry and sayings in scripted on the packaging too.

Gazelli’s Triple Youth Skin Balancing Cleanser is £18 and available exclusively from Urbanretreat.co.uk.

Rating: 10/10 – Perfect for adding a touch of luxury to what can be a very mundane part of your skincare regime!

Caudalie Crushed Cabernet Scrub Review

 

Together the thick consistency and coarse granules provide skin with a thorough exfoliation, even on tough dry patches. With nourishing ingredients like grape-seed oil and juniper oil, Caudalie’s Crushed Cabernet Body Scrub won’t strip your skin of its moisture as it takes away the dead skin.

The essential oils also give the body scrub a refreshing scent, making it feel like a luxury beauty product to use.

Caudalie’s body scrub is more than just an exfoliator though and it targets women concerned with dieting and cellulite with its ‘6 draining and cellulite fighting essential oils’, but does it work?

The thicker consistency encourages you to massage the product into your skin, which in turn will increase your circulation and reduce cellulite, making it an ideal body care product to compliment a detox or diet. On it's own though, it won't tackle cellulite or take inches from your thighs.

Overall this body scrub is high performing and definitely worth splashing out on if you’re looking for an exfoliator that feels like a seriously pampering product with the extra benefit of helping to reduce cellulite slightly.

Caudalie’s Crushed Cabernet Scrub is £21.50 and available from Caudalie.com.

Rating: 6/10 – A little goes a long way due to the coarse texture, so Caudalie's exfoliator will last and does leave skin feeling soft and smooth. 

Weleda Birch Cellulite Oil Review

With a citrusy scent, Weleda’s Birch Cellulite Oil is a breathe of fresh air as far as face oils go. While most natural-based face oils have more of a herby aroma, Weleda’s offers a refreshing and revitalising smell perfect for morning use or if you’re jetting away, it’s ideal for giving skin a moisture boost on the plane.

While the scent is definitely the first thing that strikes you when you use this beauty product, there are many more benefits. Together the jojoba seed oil, wheat extract and kernel oil give skin some serious moisture.

You only need a very small amount to massage into skin and it will soak in quickly without leaving a greasy finish. Within minutes skin feels refreshed and nourished, and even more impressively, it looks brighter and healthier.

Weleda’s Birch Cellulite Oil is £19.95 for 100ml and available from Weleda.co.uk.

Rating: 10/10 – this is a great oil and you’ll feel and see the results after just one use! Look out for the travel size bottle – it’s great for the plane.

Mii Cosmetics Defining Eye Pencil Review

If you want to master a Bridget Bardot style flick and rock SS12’s feline eye make-up Mii’s Defining Eye Pencil is a must-have beauty product.

The firm pencil eyeliner makes sculpting the perfect flick easy and allows you to draw fine lines as well as thick blocks as your reach the outer corner of your upper eyelid.

As with most eyeliners, Mii’s is prone to smudging slightly once it’s on but you won’t end up with it half way down your cheeks and it doesn’t crumb as you’re applying it.

Overall this is a great beauty product to have in your make-up bag, especially if you want to create a wide-eyed make-up look and should be on your shopping list.

Mii Cosmetic’s Defining Eye Pencil is £8.95 from Miicosmetics.com.

Rating: 7/10 – While it does still smudge slight, for change from a tenner this is still a great value beauty buy.

Aveda Stress Fix Body Lotion Review

Feeling stressed? Aveda’s Stress-Fix Body Lotion might be just the thing to help you relax and unwind. Using eco-cert certified organic ingredients including organic aloe to soothe, organic sunflower oil to soften, and nourish and organic shea butter to moisturise, the body lotion is light in texture, easy to massage into skin and super conditioning.

Alongside the moisturising qualities, Aveda’s Stress-Fix Body Lotion also comes complete with a relaxing aroma and it will come as no surprise that organic lavender is a key ingredient in the scent.

The conditioning formula and soft, unwinding aroma work in perfect harmony and help you de-stress and relax – it’s the perfect product for after a long, hot soak in the bath.

Aveda’s Stress Fix Body Lotion is £27 and available from Aveda.co.uk.

Rating: 7/10 – The use of high quality organic ingredients is reflected in the price. Overall this body lotion is really lovely to use and soaks in quickly, leaving skin feel moisturised but not greasy.  

Rituals Nail Polish Review

It's a fact: Rituals should be renowned for its good quality, high performance nail polishes. The SS12 collection is comprised of pretty shades of pink, from deep Late Night Ruby to bright pops of Rebel Rose. Every colour in the collection is perfect for both fingers and toes, and has a glossy, high-shine finish.

Shades aside, the actual formula is what is most impressive about these nail varnishes. Just one coat will last you for at least three days without chipping and the shade comes out bold enough to pretend that you have painted on two coats. With this in mind, make sure you use a base polish before coating on the colour to make removing the nail polish easier and avoid staining your nails.

Rituals Nail Polishes are £8.90 and available from Rituals.com.

Rating: 9/10 - For less than £10, this is a great nail polish that lasts. Lets hope Rituals brings out more colours! 

Nanoblur Optical Skin Cream Review

Anti-ageing products are big business and often our hopes are raised by a couple of catchy promises on the front of a box together with a wrinkle-free, ageless model, however the actual formula rarely lives up to expectations. It comes as no surprise then that Nanoblur, with the phrase 'immediate correction of the appearance of skin ageing', sent the anti-ageing sceptics into overdrive before the launch last year. Not to mention the idea of visibly reducing the appearance of crows feet within just 40 seconds!

The thick serum-like texture has no scent at all and feels sticky on application. It takes a while to dry but the tightening feel it almost instantaneous. While the instructions suggest using it all over your face on top of foundation, for the best results and without smudging your foundation stick to using it on problem areas - unless you like the frozen-feel all over. Impressively and proving the sceptics wrong, your wrinkles will be dramatically reduced in appearance.

There is one downfall though, you need to rub in the formula straight away, otherwise it can leave a very slight snot-like stain on your face. Although with such incredible results and change from £20, making sure you work quickly is a small price to pay for a younger looking skin in less than 60 seconds.

Nanoblur's Optical Skin Cream is £19.99 and available from Boots.com.

Rating: 7/10 - Great price and the formula is good for problem spots, but it falls short if you want an all-over anti-ageing serum.

John Frieda Full Repair Deep Conditioner Review

At last a haircare range aimed specifically at heated appliance lovers that actually works. John Frieda’s Full Repair range consists of a shampoo, conditioner, hair mask, heat protective spray and a serum. Using Inca Inchi oil, the haircare range targets dry, heat-damaged tresses and helps to not only repair hair, but to protect it too.

Packed full of omega 3 and 6 and vitamin A and E, Inca Inchi oil is found in the Peruvian amazon and known for being one of the most beneficial and nutrient-rich oils around. The oil works on repairing hair both internally and externally to leave it feeling softer and smoother.

While all of the Full Repair range haircare products contain Inca Inchi oil and work wonders on tresses, it's the Full Repair Deep Conditioner that really stands out. With a lighter, looser consistency, the hair mask is easy to spread and comb through hair. Although the instructions recommend leaving the mask on for just 2-5 minutes, if your hair is feeling really dry and damaged leave it on for a least 10 minutes. Comb the mask through you tresses from root to tip and massage it into your scalp to get the most out of the formula.

After rinsing hair thoroughly and drying it, you'll feel a difference instantly. Hair feels softer, smoother and sleeker after just one use.

John Frieda’s Full Repair Deep Conditioner is £5.99 from Boots.com.

Rating: 10/10 - Whether you've got fine or thick tresses you'll feel the difference after just one wash with John Frieda's hair mask. It's one of the best affordable haircare products available at the moment and you get a lot of bang for your buck. 

Espa Pink Hair And Scalp Mud Review

If you’re looking for luxury then you’ll find it with Espa’s Pink Hair and Scalp Mud Mask. If keeping with the name it will come as no surprise that the mask is pink, but what is very pleasantly unexpected is the light fruit scent that comes with this haircare product courtesy of the apricot kernel oil.

As well as the scent, apricot kernel oil also works as a moisturising and softening ingredient and helps improve your scalps elasticity and resistance. Watercress extract is another key component in the formula and gives yours a deep cleanse without taking away the moisture.

The rich creamy texture makes Espa’s hair mask feel like an at-home spa treatment.

For the best results if you’re suffering with a dry scalp or want to give your tresses a moisture boost, spend at least three-minutes really massaging the mask into your scalp. Comb the product through the rest of your hair using your fingers to ensure an even coverage and leave on for 10 to 20 minutes.

Espa’s hair mask might be too rich for finer hair, so use sparingly and leave it on for a shorter amount of time otherwise hair can be left feeling flat.

Espa’s Pink Hair And Scalp Mud is £18 and available from Espaonline.com.

Rating: 6/10 – It’s a luxury hair mask, but it does come with a matching price tag.  

Max Factor Fantasy Fire Nail Polish Review

If you haven't already heard Max Factor's 'Fantasy Fire' nail polish has become one of the most coveted shades of 2012 so far. So much so it's been reported that six months worth of this specific shade sold out within three weeks and one customer even purchased fifty at one time to ship off to friends and family around the globe.

Why the sudden craze? 'Fantasy Fire' is almost identical to a discontinued Clarins' nail lacquer and beauty bloggers have been going crazy for it.

From the bottle it looks like any glitter-flecked, metallic burgundy nail polish, but when you apply it comes out like a bluey purpley with glitter. With more of a watery consistency you will need to use at least two coats of polish to build up a solid shade. Some bloggers have experimented and this shade can also work as a top coat over different colours.

While the colour is definitely interesting, unfortunately the formula itself doesn't live up to its description on the bottle and even with two coats, it does chip easily.

Max Factor's 'Fantasy Fire' Nail Polish is £3.99 from Boots.com.

Rating: 5/10 - If you love the colour you probably won't feel too let down by the formula, however if you're someone who only likes to paint your nails once or twice a week this isn't the nail polish for you.

YSL Rouge Pur Couture Vernis A Levres Glossy Stain Review

Finding the balance between a gloss, a stain and a lipstick is no mean feat, but Yves Saint Laurent might have just nailed it with the new Rouge Pur Couture Vernis A Levres Glossy Stain.

With the colour effect of a lipstick, the finish of a lip gloss and the longevity of a lipstain, this is beauty product is revolutionary and definitely one for your make-up bag, especially if you want to tap into the bright lips beauty trend for summer.

The consistency is like a gloss, but smooth and stick-free. While the glossy finish doesn't last much longer than your standard lip gloss, the colour does and lips are stained for the majority of the day. The formula isn't packed full of nourishing ingredients, but lips don't feel or look dry and cracked at the end of the day. Interestingly, unlike some lipstains YSL's has a fruity, almost raspberry flavour, which definitely adds a little more luxury to this beauty product.

On first glance the beauty product could be mistaken for a nail polish with the boxy packaging, however the wand gives it away. The flat, slightly slanted brush with a pointed tip makes application quick, precise and easy to do while you're on the go.

At the moment there are 18 different shades ranging from statement plums and classic reds to soft, feminine pinks. Compared to standard lipstains, the price is relatively reasonable for what you get, but the key is choosing a shade that you will definitely wear.

Yves Saint Laurent's Rouge Pur Couture Vernis A Levres Glossy Stain is £22.50 and available from Yslbeauty.co.uk.

Rating: 9/10 - As lip products go this is definitely one to invest in if you like having colour on your lips without having to constantly reapply.