Monthly Favourites - July 2010

Does anyone else feel like this year is going by unusually fast?

I certainly do.

Anyways, here are my favourites from the month of July:

1. The Body Shop Cucumber Cleansing Milk

I purchased this product during The Body Shop's 2 for $10 promotion. However, I wasn't sure if I was going to like it so I foolishly only bought one. Regardless, I would gladly repurchase this at full price ($8.99 CAD for 250 mL = awesome deal!). It's so refreshing, especially on warmer days and cleans skin gently but effectively.

2. The Body Shop New Facial Buffer

Such a wonderful little product! It's gentle enough for daily exfoliation (I use it every morning), yet effective enough to keep my skin looking radiant and supple. Take note: the dye from the label does seep into the buffer so you will have to repurchase every so often. I've been using this for a little over a month and it's already looking a little dirty. Although I think the way it's stored while drying makes a big difference, i.e. don't hang it vertically so the dye won't seep downwards. Click here to read a more in-depth review.

3. Boots Original Beauty Formula Cleansing Milk

A simple cleanser that removes face (not eye) makeup effectively without causing a reaction to my sensitive skin. Click here to read a more in-depth review.

4. Korres Wild Rose 24-Hour Moisturizer

My skin-saver! It cleared up my dry patches in around 3 days and relieved the sensitivity in about a week. It smells wonderful and has given me my old skin back. Click here to read a more in-depth review.

1. Sleek MakeUP I-Divine Eyeshadow Palettes

Wonderfully pigmented, great texture, awesome selection of colours, easily blendable; and all in a small, lightweight case. After having experienced the Sleek Palettes, I honestly can't see myself splurging on eyeshadows anymore. Click here to read a more in-depth review.

2. MAC In The Groove Mineralize Skinfinishes

I purchased By Candlelight and Petticoat (and missed out on Stereo Rose, dagnabbit!) when MAC released the In The Groove collection and I can finally see what the big deal is with these MSF's (<-- that's me dropping abbreviations, yo!). They are so ridiculously gorgeous and gives you a wonderful healthy glow. I foresee another obsession joining the blush & lip product club! Click here to see more product photos.

3. MAC Vegas Volt Lipstick

Gorgeous texture, gorgeous shade, perfect for summer! I love using this lipstick when I've gone neutral everywhere else. It adds just enough oomph to a look without looking like costume makeup. It is absolutely my favourite lipstick at the moment!

4. Viktor & Rolph Flowerbomb Eau de Parfum

Oh my goodness, do I ever love this scent! It's feminine but musky, a winning combination for me as I find the more feminine scents to be too cloying. I like my scents strong; scents that are more woman, less girl. It's such a sexy scent and the bottle is divine! I'm in love!

5. Laura Mercier Mineral Powder SPF 15

I purchased this product after giving up on Bare Minerals foundation. I was dealing with The Meltdown at the time and had a ridiculous amount of dry patches all over my face. But, I didn't want to wear liquid foundation all the time as I was dealing with major sensitivity as well (my face was very itchy and stung whenever any moisture touched it). So I purchased this and what a Godsend! It didn't attach itself to my dry flaked (as powder products are wont to do) and has the most amazing creamy texture when applied. I'm serious, it feels gorgeous on the skin! Also, it has fantastic coverage, I barely even needed to conceal my blemishes (and I had many). Dare I say, this possibly HG material for me? Yes, I do dare!

Those are my July Favourites, what are yours?

READ MORE - Monthly Favourites - July 2010

Boots Original Beauty Formula Cleansing Milk - Review

Ahh, Boots Cleansing Milk, how I've heard such wonderful things about you.

Gentle and effective? Hello, I'm Dani, please sign me up!

You see, my skin has been suffering (not to mention misbehaving) for the last seven months; thanks to what I now dub, The Meltdown. I needed a makeup remover that was gentle but didn't require me to use it more than once per cleanse. So when I read the great reviews about this product, I knew I had to try it. Thankfully, my parents were in London at the time so I was able to ask them to bring me back a bottle (dear Boots website, please ship to Canada. Thanks).

I think there's this stigma that products that are "gentle" are somehow less effective than its harsher counterparts. I confess, I bought into that, too. But I'm happy to say that the Boots Original Beauty Formula Cleansing Milk does its job and does it well. 

The above photo shows the cotton pad I used to remove my makeup (left) and the cotton pad I used to tone (right). As you can see, there are no traces of makeup left on the round cotton pad. I only used the cleansing milk once, then I cleansed again with a regular cleanser. The result? Perfectly clean skin. I love it!

HITS

-Packaging: gorgeous glass bottle with a vintage label. Looks fantastic on your shelf/counter

-Efficacy: One dollop + One cotton Pad + One re-cleanse = CLEAN SKIN

-Price: Retails for £3.89 (approx. $6.00 CAD) for a 150mL bottle.

-Texture: Easier to work with than cold cream, smoothes over skin wonderfully.

MISSES

-Reaction: very slight stinging in the eye

-Efficacy: doesn't remove all waterproof mascara

Notice the left over mascara and the slightly red eyes? Yeah... So I do need to use a separate eye makeup remover (which loads of people do anyway), and it did make my eyes sting a bit. I say "did" because I found in the last couple of days that my eyes haven't stung at all. Maybe it's the product or maybe it's because I haven't been using it for lashes. Either way, no red eyes for me! Be warned, there is some slight clouding over if the product gets in your eyes, so if you absolutely hate that, you probably shouldn't use this on your eyes. However, as I said, it's only very slight. I had more intense clouding with the Almay moisturizing eye makeup remover pads.

FINAL VERDICT

The Boots Cleansing Milk is fantastic! It works beautifully and is very gentle on the skin. I haven't had any reactions whatsoever to this product (skin-wise). It's very cheap, a little bit goes a long way, and the packaging is just divine! I hope Boots decides to ship Internationally or I find a way to get someone to send me some... Or maybe I'll just go to London myself, I've always wanted to go anyway! Because this product is so worth it, and I'll be sure to repurchase again in the future.

Have you tried this product before? What are your thoughts on it?

READ MORE - Boots Original Beauty Formula Cleansing Milk - Review