Hi everyone!
Happy Friday!
Today I have a slightly different post for you all. It's not really a review, but a run down of my recent purchase from QVC. Not long ago they had a 'Todays Special Value' from Liz Earle.
Now, not all QVC's TSV's are especially 'special'. Sometimes they've only knocked a fiver or so off, and sometimes you can still buy the product somewhere else cheaper, although of course you probably won't get the 30 no quibble money back guarantee like you do from QVC. Plus I find their P&P quite expensive. So as you can imagine, I'm not snapping up TSV's all the time.
But this one caught my eye. It came at exactly the right time, as my Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish has just about run out and I was considering getting some more.
I like Cleanse & Polish. I don't use cleanser much, and actually I usually just use a Liz Earle muslin cloth and warm water, no cleaning products at all on my face. However I don't usually wear mascara as my lashes are dark anyway, and thanks to Revitalash they're pretty long too, so I don't feel the need.
So, if I'm going out (which is when I do use mascara, and a waterproof one at that), when I get back I want to get all the make up off my face. That's when I get my C&P out. I can rub it right over my closed eyes and rub at my mascara-y eyelashes, and give then them a rub over with the cloth and warm water, and voila! Nice and clean. No stingy eyes, and no dry skin after.
It came in a plain white box, which was a little bit bashed, but makes it easy to wrap if you're thinking of buying it for someone as a gift. It would make a great valentines gift actually!
There was quite alot in the kit, and it was reasonably priced for this brand (although still pretty expensive really). This is what I got:
Here's a closer view of the big items:
And here's what it says on the blurb -
Step 1 Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser.
Has won over 80 awards, including the QVC Customer Beauty Award for Best Cleanser. Its gentle cleansing power is suitable for all skin types and delivers instantly visible results.
Step 2 Gentle Face Exfoliator.
Our smoothing trouble-shooter for congested skin gently buffs away dead skin cells with fine jojoba beads to reveal skin that looks fresh, smooth and radiant.
Step 3. Choose your treatment mask.
Intensive Nourishing Treatment Mask. If your skin is dry or sensitive, our creamy intensive nourishing treatment mask is perfect for soothing parched, stressed and sensitive skin, when it's most needed.
Deep Cleansing Mask. If you have oily or combination skin, our deep cleansing mask can help draw out impurities and leave skin balanced and calm.
Brightening Treatment Mask. Our brightening treatment mask is a fast-acting pick me up which revitalises dull skin.
Here's a pic of the small stuff:
And a bit more blurb:
Step 4. Instant Boost Skin Tonic Spritzer.
Our instant boost skin tonic spritzer refreshes, revitalises and brightens while adding a fine layer of moisture to your skin. Gentle and alchohol free, it contains hydrating aloe vera, soothing calendula, conditioning natural source vitamin E and the heavenly fragrance of rose scented geranium.
Step 5. Superskin Concentrate.
Winner of the QVC Customer Beauty Award for Best Anti-aging Product, Superskin Concentrate is a rich blend of pureplant oils including argan and rosehip, plus aromatic neroli, lavender and chamomile, to soften and rebalance all skin types.
Step 6. Skin repair moisturiser.
Packed with naturally active skin-conditioning ingredients including borage seeds and avocado oils, toning echinacea and hops, plus antioxidants beta-carotene and natural source vitamin E, our three skin repair moisturisers help prevent moisture loss and leave skin feeling soft and smooth.
The booklet also gives you instructions on how to use each product. There are also some accessories. Two muslin cloths, a sponge for removing the face masks, and a hairband, which is supersoft and closed with a velcro fastener:
So for all this, and including the P&P I paid £50.95, which is alot, but I do feel like I got enough products to justify that price.
It is still available on the QVC website at the regular QVC price of £55.00 plus £5.95 P&P HERES the link theres more photos and reviews there too. The item number is 200281 if that link doesn't work for you. As you see, as a TSV I only got £4 off, but hey, that's better than nothing!
So what do you think? Too expensive? Or OK for what I got? Is there anything you'd like to see me review?
I normally wouldn't put up a post like this, because I always think to myself that I'll review all the individual products like some kind of super-blogger, but of course that ends up never happening, and things get ruined or thrown out (for a typical example of this, theres an up and coming Ojon review that perfectly illustrates my point haha), but for sure I will end up reviewing some of them.
As another positive, Liz Earle state on their website that they NEVER test on animals, and that they are completely cruelty free. Also their products are all vegetarian, although some formulas do contain animal-friendly products such as beeswax or manuka honey. Another reason to feel good while you're having a pamper :-)
Anyway, I'd better go, this post has ended up waaay longer than I intended!
Until next time...
MASPOOASE x x x
~Wendy~
Hits, Misses & Maybes
So, for this weeks blog, which has turned out MUCH longer than I thought it was going to, I thought I would share with you some of the items in my beauty arsenal that you might be interested in seeing. As we're going from spring to summer, some of my heavier duty products are starting to take a back seat, and the lighter more summery stuff is coming back into use. Also am starting to think about legs and feet coming out to play, so they're getting a bit of TLC now too, after a winter of neglect (sorry feet!).
So, the first section is Desert Island Heroes. Obviously my first choice would have to be Ray Mears, for so many, many, reasons...... BUT! He doesn't really fit in with the theme of this weeks blog, so on to the first lot of goodies...
From left to right:
Estee Lauder perfume Youth Dew - I love this! I wear it pretty much every day, its spicy and sexy, a bit floral, and it's easy to put a bit on for daytime without overpowering a room. In my opinion, day time perfume should just be the right amount of smell so that if someone stands close to you they say 'you smell nice', but otherwise not really noticeable. I can't stand it when someone walks past me and nearly knocks me out with their perfume! As you see I have the body lotion there too. I'm a sucker for buying lots of stuff in the same range if I find something I like.
Decleor Experience De L'Age rich face cream - another must have, and another product I use every day, but this is one I hate buying as it's so expensive! Am not surprised it has 'rich' in it's name, because you'd have to be to buy the big pot! I got this little selection from Ebay for about £15, which is a bargain. Not hugely blown away by Aromessence Iris, but will still use it until its gone as I did with the Tonilastil Oil from the same range.
Zovirax Cold Sore Cream - speaks for itself really, does the job if you catch the tingle fast enough. If you catch it a bit late you can still avert the worst of the attack. Have tried all kinds of chemist own brands, and for me, this really does work better than the rest.
Liz Earle Eyebright Lotion - fabulous for dry or tired eyes. You pop it on a couple of cotton pads, and put those on your eyes. Lie back for 10 mins and daydream (about Ray Mears, but maybe thats just me haha), and when you take the cotton pads off you'll have bright sparkling eyes! I keep this on my bedside table so its always to hand. It's supposed to reduce puffiness too, but so far have been lucky and don't have a problem with that, so can't tell you if it works. Also in a Liz Earle vein, her muslin cloths are brill.
Boots Sparkling Eyes eye drops - I bought these because I've been using Bare Minerals powder foundation, and despite the fact that I love the coverage and ease of use, I found it was getting in my eyes and irritating them. No point having lovely skin if your eyes look like you've been up drinking all night! So I apply the powder, and my eyeliner, then I pop the eyedrops in to wash out any powder that might have got in there, and this seems to be working for me. No more red eyes! There were two in Boots side by side and I bought this one as it has a blue colour in to make your eyes look whiter.
Dove Beauty Finish Deodorant - smells nice and seems to reduce shaving dryness
Burts Bees Lemon Cuticle Balm - loving the smell of this, and love anything to do with Bees so a double winner! Have only had it a week or so, so can't give proper verdict on results, but have used it alot without hardly anything missing from the pot, and have noticed a possible positive change in cuticles. My cuticles are super-stubborn and am having a problem with dermatitis on my hands (which I always get when the sun comes out), so its not fair to give it judgement right now. Will save judging for another day, but it made it into this pic so must have something going for it!
Next section - thumbs up - ther things I like, but could leave at home if I only had a tiny baggage allowance.... will try not to rattle on too long about these ones
Decleor Prolagene Gel - I use this as a barrier between my moisturiser and my powder foundation. I do have the Bare Minerals primer, but it makes my hands too slippy to open the pots. Can't do with faffing about when I'm getting ready for work so this works for me.
Jessica Phenomen Oil - working well on my dermatitis, supposed to be good for nails but not seen a big difference
Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish - good for getting off make up with the minimum of fuss after a night out, love how it takes off even waterproof mascara
Vanderbilt eau de toilette - lovely for when the day is too sunny for Youth Dew and I want to smell summery, somehow smells cheerful - once again note how I can't just buy ONE thing out of the range, tut at myself
Gliss Corimist spray - makes your hair smell nice & makes it shiny - have been using it for years and never found a shine spray that I like better
Flexitol Cuticle Cream - once again, the big cuticle problem - this one actually definitely made my cuticles better, but I don't like how sticky it feels - I may buy more though when this tube runs out
Boots Softening Foot Balm - it does work to soften feet but I didn't get the drastic results I wanted when I slathered it on & went to bed in cotton socks
Ojon hair treatment - got this from QVC when they had it on special offer P&P free, it did make my permed hair less frizzy but wasn't as amazing as they claimed - I will use it all but probably not repurchase
Next up - things I'm not that keen on - thumbs down products!
John Frieda Frizz Ease - I so want to like this, I do have frizzy hair and would love to tame it... being a naturally optimistic person I keep buying different Frizz Ease products, and have never yet found one that makes me completely frizz free
Tigi Rockaholic Born to Rock detangler & defrizzer - this one actually did detangle & defrizz a bit, but I HATE the smell! Kind of like apples or grapes that are going bad
Batiste dry shampoo - really wanted to like this too, used it a couple of times when my fringe was greasy but the rest of my hair was ok.... my hair felt dirty afterwards, and by lunchtime my fringe was just as bad (if not worse) than it had been in the morning when I applied it
How funny that 3 of my 4 thumbs down products are hair ones!
Last but not least in the disappointment stakes is Elemis Pro-Collagen Radiantly Smooth Body Cream. This was a Christmas present and I was chuffed to bits when I got it, but its got so many shimmery gold bits in it, it almost makes it unusable! Lets say you put some of this cream on your arms, ta-daa! they're all nice n shimmery, then you have to immediately go and wash your hands or you will get shimmery gold glitter EVERYWHERE!!! And even then, it doesn't all come off your hands, and it will eventually make its way to your nose where it will distract you all day.... sigh.... rant over...
One bonus thumbs down not pictured, because I threw it away, is Benefits Dr Feelgood Balm - it didn't do anything, it was expensive, and any bit of fluff in the atmosphere would stick to the sponge - yuk!
Soooooooo there we have it, my favourite and not-so-favourite lotions & potions, what do you think? What's your number one must have, and number one thumbs down?
On closing, I will wish you all a happy Diamond Jubilee Bank Holiday (if you get it), and show you the nail art I did to celebrate it! The base colour is Orly Lollipop, then a coat of Nails Inc Electric Lane holographic glitter, then I drew the bunting with Color Club nail art polish, and a top coat of Seche Vite, all done! I tried a few different colour combo's but this was my favourite:
Until next week, take care and whatever you do, have fun!
- MASPOOASE x x x
