Lush Cleansers - Review

My skin has changed a lot in the last few months. I used to have combination/oily skin with hormonal breakouts but thanks to a rather massive meltdown, my skin is now dry/combination with some pretty persistent breakouts. 

Back when my skin had horrible dry, itchy patches, I used nothing but soothing products. The Aveeno Moisturizing Bar and Korres' Wild Rose Moisturizer really helped to soothe my sensitive skin and get it back to normal. Yes, my skin type has changed, but no more itchy, burning skin!

So, now that my skin isn't so sensitive, I was looking to change my cleansers. However, I was still a bit paranoid about triggering another meltdown so I went with products that were more natural. Enter, Lush's Angels On Bare Skin and Coalface cleansers.

I know Coalface is for oily skin, but I wasn't really too concerned about it drying my skin out because I was going to moisturize anyway. I knew I wasn't going to be able to use it every day since it has gritty particles that can be quite abrasive, and depending on whether or not my skin was feeling particularly robust or sensitive, I would either apply the product directly to my face or rub one side on my hand to create a lather.

If you look closely, you'll see scratch marks and raised bumps on the surface. This is due to the ground charcoal that's in the bar (Coalface is basically Dark Angels in solid form). Like I mentioned before, I wasn't going to be using this cleanser every single day. But it's great for deep cleansing and the gritty particles exfoliate the skin pretty well. 

Since using Coalface (I've been using it for a little over a month), I've noticed less blackheads and some of my blemishes go away quicker. For the stubborn ones that don't go away as quickly as I would like, I've noticed that they don't get as big as my other blemishes have before. I also remember one particular pimple that stuck around for nearly a month and after a few days of using Coalface, the size reduced considerably.

One thing to keep in mind though, is that it does leave a residue after use so make sure to use toner afterwards.

I've used Angels On Bare Skin before and I liked it even then. Since I only use Coalface around 4-5 nights a week, I needed another cleanser to use in the morning. Actually, I lie... I didn't need another cleanser since I still have half a bottle of Cucumber Cleansing Milk from The Body Shop (which I still love), I just wanted another one :p.

Semantics aside, I think Angels On Bare Skin is a really simple but effective cleanser. It has ground almonds in it which are great for gentle exfoliation and whenever I use it, my skin feels very fresh, clean, smooth, and not at all dry or tight. I quite like the scent, too; it smells like lavender and something else I can't place, though it smells very earthy and is definitely not for everyone. However, it isn't strong or overwhelming at all.

One thing that can turn people off from this cleanser (and Lush's other fresh cleansers) is the fact that you need to mix it up in your hand prior to use. Personally, it's not a problem, but it can get messy. I find that the easiest way to use Angels On Bare Skin is by placing approximately a dime sized amount on the palm of your hand and adding a few drops of water. Once you mix it up, it's quite easy to use.

The Final Verdict

I'm definitely happy with these cleansers; Coalface gives me better exfoliation and a deeper cleanse and Angels On Bare Skin exfoliates in a gentler way and keeps my skin clean, but balanced. Another great thing about Lush cleansers is that you can spend only what you want to spend. Each cleanser you see in the photos above cost me $5.00 CAD apiece. So you can either buy a pre-packaged cleanser (usually priced around $10.00 CAD) or you can ask for a specific price and the Sales Associate will measure out a piece for you. But keep in mind that Lush fresh cleansers (these are the ones that come in a roll and aren't solid) expire after 3 months so only purchase what you can use. 

So will I repurchase these? Well, I'll probably try something else because let's face it, us junkies need to keep trying out other products :p. That said, I can easily see myself re-visiting both these cleansers in the future. In fact, this is the second time I've repurchased Angels on Bare Skin.

Have you tried any Lush cleansers?

What's your favourite?

READ MORE - Lush Cleansers - Review

L'oréal Telescopic Eyeliner - Review

I'm surprised to say I went a few months without liquid liner...

Then again, I did have my Blacktrack, but I find it's not as long lasting as liquid eyeliner (even when using a primer). So finally, I actually remembered that I needed to get one and decided to try something different (I was using Revlon's Colorstay Liquid Eyeliner for many years).

Enter, the L'oréal Telescopic Eyeliner. It's a waterproof formula, it has an intense colour, has a bit of a wet finish (similar to MAC's Superslick Liquid Eyeliners), and the felt tip is quite soft (unlike the Revlon Colorstay) and very easy to work with; all for under $12.00 CAD. Sounds like a deal, right?

Well, yes and no. It definitely has a lot going for it (see previous paragraph), but there are too many minuses for me to recommend this product. Firstly: unlike the Superslick liners, these do rub off. Quite easily, in fact.

(drying time: 2-3 minutes)

Two words: HOT MESS. 

So I thought, "hmm, maybe if I wait 5 whole minutes!"

Better, but still bad. 

I think L'oréal needs to tweak the formula a bit more because the consistency itself can be a bit thick when applied, which has the tendency to make it look clumpy on the eyelid. For example, my left and right eye are completely different shapes. So in order to make my eyes to look more similar in shape, I sometimes need to layer the product more in order to get the shape I want. L'oréal Telescopic is absolutely not the right product for this. 

I was about to give up on it, but I decided to give it another go and found that when applied on top of other products (eyeshadow, primer, etc.), it applies much smoother and doesn't clump at all (even with a bit of layering).

Oh, and another thing: removing this is a bit of a chore. Despite using a makeup remover that's specifically for waterproof products, I find that I need to rub more than I'm comfortable with in order to get the liner off my eyes. And it doesn't remove normally, Oh no! It becomes this rubbery, tacky, gooey mess...

...That will get all up on your face, mark my words!

So if you read through all that babble, congratulations! Reward yourself by not getting this eyeliner!

What are you recommendations for good drugstore 

liquid eyeliners?

READ MORE - L'oréal Telescopic Eyeliner - Review

Revlon Colorburst Lipstick - True Red

So I was looking through my lipsticks a few weeks ago, I realized that I was missing a red lipstick. 

No, I lie. I own Media by MAC (an "intense reddish-purple"), but as the description suggests, it's much too strong for regular use. Well, at least for me, it is.

I decided on getting a drugstore lipstick because I know I won't be rocking a red lip all the time and it didn't make sense for me to spend up to $20 on a product I will hardly use. So I had a few products in mind aside from True Red: Revlon Super Lustrous in Ravish Me Red and Love That Red, Revlon Colorburst in Ruby, Maybelline Color Sensational in Red Revival... But they were either too orange, too deep, or too stinky (Red Revival, if you're wondering :p).

I wanted Dita Von Teese red lips, and the closest I got was True Red.

It's bright, it's amazingly pigmented, it's beautiful, it's everything I wanted in my first red lipstick. I remember reading a review that said this isn't a great red to go for if you're going red for the first time. I have to say, I kind of agree. This lipstick is bright and it certainly makes a statement. If you've never gone red before, you may want to ease yourself into it before picking up this shade.

However, if you don't mind people spotting your lips before the rest of you, go pick this up!

If you take a look at the right side of my lip, right at the top, there's a bit of feathering. As with all bold lipsticks, it's important to apply lip liner first to prevent bleeding. That being said, I love that the top of the Colorburst lipsticks are wide and flat because it allows for precise application; again, a very important aspect of wearing a red lip.

I previously thought the Colorbursts weren't that moisturizing (my lips felt pretty dry an hour after first applying Lilac). Maybe it was that particular batch or maybe my lips were just extra dry that day, but True Red doesn't feel drying at all. I'll have to whip out Lilac again to be sure.

Anyway, I personally can't wait to wear this lipstick out! I may have to pluck up a bit of courage, but I'm sure I can muster up enough :p. I may even wear it during the day and rock a "casual red lip" as Joy from Makeup Junkie likes to call it. I know, I'm a rebel...

What's your fave red lipstick?

READ MORE - Revlon Colorburst Lipstick - True Red

Annabelle Cosmetics - Mono Eyeshadows Review

Annabelle was one of those brands that I always overlooked, but it wasn't until I saw Rae's review & EOTD that I took notice. So I popped into my local Shoppers Drug Mart to check these out for myself and I was pleasantly surprised by the texture and colours available. 

top: Rainforest & Revolver

bottom: Fantasy & Jazzberry

Annabelle has a collection out right now called Hype National and Rainforest & Fantasy were released as part of that collection. Meanwhile, Revolver & Jazzberry are also Limited Edition, and will be available until February of next year (thanks to Halifax for pointing this out). 

Anyway, these eyeshadows are so easy to apply and blend. The best part is, they were on sale for $3.49 each. I also purchased the custom quad compact for $6.99, a pretty good deal all in all!

The compact itself is pretty great quality. Compared to a MAC palette, I found that the magnets are stronger and yet I have an easier time removing the eyeshadows. Also, the paper behind the cover is removable so you can add your own design. So don't let the $6.99 price fool you, this is a sturdy compact!

As you can see from the swatches, the colours appear vibrant enough. However, and this is my only gripe about the products, you really do need to foil this in order to actually have vibrancy. These eyeshadows, applied with a dry brush, are underwhelming. However, applied damp brush:

I was going to post photos of these looks applied with a dry brush, but it was so underwhelming, I didn't bother. But as you can see above, foiling makes all the difference! I couldn't believe how vibrant the colours were! Now, this is not normally how I would wear these colours; I just wanted to show you guys how amazing they look when applied with a wet brush. 

My favourite colours are Jazzberry and Revolver. Not only are they unique to my collection, but I find that they're unique in general. Jazzberry is a beautiful, dirty plum colour; perfect for a smoky eye. And if you're a bit hesitant to try out non-neutral colours, this is a great way for you to step out of the box. As for Revolver, it's a silvery/lavender shade and absolutely gorgeous. It's great for a highlight or for a soft sweep of colour all over the lid. 

So that said, I have to say I'm impressed with these eyeshadows; good quality and an even better price. Plus, the colours I purchased are unique to my collection so I love that I came across them.

Speaking of Annabelle Cosmetics, if you haven't seen my last post, please do. You can check out the look I created for their Ultimate Makeup Junkie contest.

~ This is the part where I shamelessly beg ask for your votes ~

If you haven't already, please vote for my look here. You can vote once every day until the 20th at 8:59 am. The 20 contestants with the most votes qualifies for the semi-final round and Annabelle judges will then judge the looks and vote for their 5 favourites. So pleasepleaseplease vote for me! Again, here's the link.

Have you used Annabelle Cosmetics before?

What are your thoughts?

READ MORE - Annabelle Cosmetics - Mono Eyeshadows Review

Revlon Colorburst Lipstick - Review

Was anybody else super excited when info about Revlon Colorburst Lipstick came out? 

I was at first, but it was a while before they were actually released in Canada and I must admit, I forgot about it for a while. So imagine my surprise when I saw them displayed in London Drugs about a month ago! I may or may not have squealed out loud and since no one can verify this as fact...

Truthfully, I was a bit disappointed with the shade selection. There were far too many colours that are similar to each other and some shades, well... I just wasn't excited about them. However, I did pick up two colours that I was very happy with: Fuschia and Lilac (which is a tad dark to be truly called "lilac," I think).

The packaging is pretty cute. It doesn't feel very sturdy because it feels very much like plastic, but the quilting design is quite chic. Also, as you can see from the photo above, the shade of the lipstick is shown on the top of the tube and believe it or not, it's very accurate. You know how you see swatches on a website or on the display and make your purchase based off of that only to find the shade of the product itself is way, way off? Yeah, you're not getting that with this lipstick. Call me lame, but I think that's exciting!

The pigmentation is pretty amazing. I remember doing an 80s competitive piece a year ago and was looking around for a bright pink lipstick (a cheap one, since I wasn't going to wear it often) and couldn't find any. You came a year too late, Colorburst. But it's ok, I still like you.

One thing to note though is that although this lipstick feels creamy when applied, it can actually be a bit drying. So applying lip balm first or layering lip gloss after would be a good idea. Staying power is pretty good. I was able to wear it for at least 4 hours without much fading, but that's without eating or drinking. I don't know if that will be an issue for others; it isn't for me, since re-applying lipstick is easy enough to do.

All in all, a pretty great product and I recommend it if you want an inexpensive lipstick that is wonderfully pigmented and wears well. I still have my eye on a few shades, namely: carnation, soft nude, peach, ruby, and true red. I'll be sure to swatch those for you when I have them.

Have you tried Colorburst Lipsticks?

Like it? Love it?

READ MORE - Revlon Colorburst Lipstick - Review

Neutrogena UltraSheer Water-Light Daily Face Sunscreen - Review

As much as I like to think about fall and cooler weather, summer is still upon us. Which means sun protection is still foremost in my mind. Admittedly, I tend to slack a bit with applying sunscreen during the winter months (kind of hard to think about sun protection when you barely see the sun), but I am making an effort to change that. 

I was previously using Clinique's Super City Block, which was fine when my skin wasn't so sensitive, but now it just feels like too much. So I was looking for something that felt lighter on the skin. Enter, Neutrogena's new UltraSheer Water-Light Sunscreen.

The biggest draw for me when I first read about this product online was that it was a nice, weightless formula. My skin is dry so I need moisturizer and I'm not leaving home without base on, add to that primer & sunscreen and that's 4 layers of slap! Four! I was so not having it.

But when I saw the actual product and read that it "works beautifully under make-up," I got really excited. Does this mean I can skip primer? Well, in a word: YES. 

This sunscreen goes on so smoothly and if you've got oily skin, I think you might not even need moisturizer under this (or at least just a teeny tiny bit). It applies fairly matte (unlike Clinique's Super City Block) and leaves skin feeling so smooth.

But the best part is: not only are you getting sun protection, but you're also priming your skin for makeup. My foundation applies just as well as I do when using L'oréal's Magic Base; my foundation is more even and I get better coverage when using this product than when I use moisturizer and foundation alone. 

I am so glad I heard about this product! It does double duty as a sunscreen and primer; plus with a price of $14.99, you really can't go wrong with it. I'm still using my L'oréal Magic Base, but only when I'm re-doing my makeup for nighttime or for performances. That being said, both products are definitely recommended!

What's your favourite sun care product?

READ MORE - Neutrogena UltraSheer Water-Light Daily Face Sunscreen - Review

Rimmel Gentle Eye Makeup Remover - Review

So if you don't know, I am seriously loving Boots Cleansing Milk for removing my makeup. But since it's not available in Canada and I can't purchase it online (Boots & Target don't ship to Canada), I've been trying to use it as sparingly as I can. So I figured if I use it only on my face (as opposed to the face and the eyes), I'll be cutting down quite a bit; and in fact, I do. 

So I decided to purchase a separate eye makeup remover and ended up with Rimmel's Gentle Eye Makeup Remover. It's oil free, gentle, and removes waterproof mascara? Yes, please!

As you can see, it does its job well enough. It removes makeup but I find that one pad isn't enough, particularly because product that is really close to the lash line can get left behind. And I'm not even talking about mascara, waterproof or otherwise. If you want to remove waterproof mascara with this, good luck. 

I think that in order to remove all traces of mascara on my eyes, It would take a lot product and time. And frankly, that's too much work for me. I want an eye makeup remover that will remove all traces of makeup with just a few swipes and this just doesn't cut it.

But the worst part is the state it left my eye in after use. You know that really dry feeling in your eyes if you've been wearing your contacts for too long? That's what my eyes feel like after using this product. It quite uncomfortable to say the least. Add to that the fact that it's not very effective... Well, let's just say I only use this now to clean up swatches on my hand.

READ MORE - Rimmel Gentle Eye Makeup Remover - Review

Sleek MakeUP Palettes - Review

Ahh, the beauty of the Internet! 

Were it not for the web, I don't think I would have ever found out about Sleek MakeUP and their wonderful products; Namely, the i-Divine Eyeshadow Palettes. I have read reviews, seen swatches of and even watched great makeup tutorials on YouTube using these palettes so I was already pretty impressed before even seeing them up close. So when my parents were in London more than a month ago, I specifically asked them to pick up these two for me. 

For those who aren't familiar, Sleek MakeUP is a brand from the UK with a "particular focus on on women who are under-represented by major brands in the cosmetics market." I.e. women who aren't white. That alone earns Sleek MakeUP my praise! They boast in being "the only high street brand with 17 shades of foundation." Now, for those of us in North America, "high street" pretty much means drugstore. So I challenge you to find a drugstore brand that has 17 shades of foundation. I doubt you'll find any.

Sleek, I'm very impressed with you. 

The first thing I noticed about the palettes is how vivid the eyeshadows are. Especially because they're so cheap! Each palette holds 12 eyeshadows and it retails for £5.99 or approximately $10.00 CAD. To get that many good quality eyeshadows for that price is flipping outstanding! 

The colour payoff is amazing and the texture is not bad either. Some shades, specifically the shimmery ones, are a bit gritty but do blend in well. They also feel really creamy on the skin and last a good amount of time on the eyelids, especially if you use a primer/paint pot beforehand. 

The packaging is quite good for such an inexpensive product. No, it's not luxe, but it's sturdy. It's made of black plastic and as you can see in the photo above, has a ginormous miroir. I mean, who does that?! The cover snaps up in place very snugly and won't be in danger of opening. I should know since I shook it around to make sure! The palettes are quite thin and very light so it will fit easily into a standard, medium sized makeup bag:

I was able to fit the Sleek Palette into my makeup bag with room to spare for my lip products, pill box and other miscellaneous items. 

       

Another proof of the eyeshadows' colour payoff is when I took the photos above. My camera is old and is only 7.2 megapixels so I have issues with colour not appearing on camera as they do on my face. In fact, I typically need to pile the product on in order for it to be visible on camera. But I never had any issues when photographing my eyes for this review and I only needed to apply product as I normally would. 

Despite the grittier texture of certain shades, I had very little fallout. These products really do blend so easily onto the lid! And the best part? Barely any creasing! Granted, I do use Soft Ochre Paint Pot to prime my lids, but that doesn't always guarantee anything. I am typing this post 4 hours after taking the photos above and I have zero creasing! That in itself is a feat!

FINAL VERDICT

You must purchase one of these palettes! Go now! I honestly think this should be a staple for everybody's collection, especially if you're starting out with makeup. You get a good variety of colours (brights and neutrals alike) for an amazing price. Because if you're anything like me, you don't like to shell out on bright eyeshadows that you will barely use. These palettes give you the opportunity to get more for your money and the fact that they're such amazing quality is just icing on the proverbial cake. 

Now my dilemma is: which palette to get next?

                                                                               

READ MORE - Sleek MakeUP Palettes - Review

The Bases - Review

So last Friday, the fam drove down to Vancouver, WA to see my brother for his birthday. Which meant approximately 6 hours in a car. What better way to test out my bases?

L'oréal Studio Secrets Professional Magic Perfecting Base

I first read about this product from Beauty Crazed, which was given a great review by Lisamarie. 

L'oréal's blurb: Discover the secret to perfect skin texture. Introducing Studio Secrets Professional Magic Perfecting Base for instant smoothing results. Get the perfect skin texture, instantly and all day. The silky, lightweight formula glides onto skin and minimizes the look of pores and fine lines. Skin looks and feels smoothed and resurfaced. The result - a unified matte finish that's flawless.

I have to say the texture is amazing. It feels super silky and glides onto the skin well despite its thick consistency. I don't have much in the way of wrinkles and my pores aren't large to begin with (thankfully), so I can't comment on the Magic Perfecting Base's efficacy in that regard, but I did notice that my skin felt much smoother after application. 

But the best part is, my foundation applied much better with this base: it looked smoother, more even, and I ended up using less product to achieve the coverage I wanted than when applied foundation without the Magic Perfecting Base.

The only gripe I have with this product is that it does nothing for the under eye area. It doesn't make my concealer stay put longer or apply better. Looks like I will forever be cursed with dark circles.

Urban Decay Primer Potion

Urban Decay's blurb says: This miracle eyeshadow primer is unmatched by any other in the beauty industry! The genie in this bottle fulfills three wishes: eyeshadow that lasts, more vibrant and lasting color, and absolutely NO creasing. 

Four words for this product: I.DON'T.GET.IT. I mean, seriously, what's with the hype? Well, yes, the eyeshadow colours did look a bit better, but not that much. It doesn't make my eyeshadow/eyeliner last that long and it looks chalky in my eyelids. It also causes difficulties when I apply my eyeshadow because my brush catches on my lids which causes more shadow deposit in some areas. I wouldn't mind so much if it were easy to blend out, but it isn't. 

I used to be in love with this product, back in the throes of love at first buy. But the more I used it, the less impressed I was. I don't know if it's a faulty batch or my faulty application skillz, but I just can't get into this product. Although, A Beauty Junkie In London says that the Sin version of UDPP (look at me, throwing down some abbreviations!) is much easier to blend than the original UDPP. So Sin is on my radar of products to try because I would really love to have a good eyeshadow primer. 

Before/After

As you can see, my foundation and blush are still in good foundation (no touch-ups, I swear!), but my eyes were a hot mess. I applied UDPP, a light eyeshadow from the Sleek Storm Palette, and Revlon Colorstay Liquid Liner. If you notice, my liner has migrated south and it doesn't look good!

FINAL VERDICT

L'oréal Studio Secrets Professional Magic Perfecting Base: worth it. It makes my foundation look smoother and more even, has an amazing texture, and for $11.99 CAD, a definite bargain!

Urban Decay Primer Potion: not worth it. Yes, it makes my eyeshadow colours a bit bolder; but it doesn't make it last longer and it's difficult to work with.

READ MORE - The Bases - Review

Link Love - 7/16/10

Marie at All Things Marie reviews Eat, Pray, Love. Now I want to not only read the book, but go on a self exploration journey the character takes in the book and meet a handsome man.

Sandra at 15 steps, then a beauty blog talks about giving products second chances. Unfortunately, I have never been glad to give a product a second chance, but she has! Check out which product she's talking about.

Muhsine at BUBBLEGARM wrote an in-depth post about Skin and Skincare. It's really informative, so definitely check it out!

Beauty and the Blog turns 1 year old this week! Happy birthday, bloggy! And who knew dry body brushing would have such awesome benefits? (NTS: pick up a body brush!)

Lisamarie at Beauty Crazed loves the L'oréal Studio Secrets Professional Magic Perfecting Base! (NTS: pick up one of these too!)

Sasha at Everything Fabulous continues to make me want things I can't have (not yet, anyway :p) with this post about an absolutely beautiful dressing room.

Charlotte at Lipglossiping shares swatches of The Body Shop's Bakes To Last Blushers. Which is great because I really need more blushers. *note sarcasm*

Christine at Temptalia gives an Eyeshadow Brush 101 lesson and makes brand recommendations for each brush. 

Karen at Makeup and Beauty Blog is giving away one Bobbi Brown Sparkle Eye Shadow in Denim. Open to US and International readers. 

Fee at Makeup Savvy shows off her Artistic Skillz with fashion inspired nail designs! I'd try them out, but then I'd use up my patience ration for the week.

The Shades Of U is giving away some products from MAC's In The Groove collection. Check it out for your chance to win!

Ashlina at The Decorista kills me once again with posts about gorgeous pink furniture and stunning dining rooms.


Today I'm off to Vancouver, Washington with my family to spend the day celebrating my brother's birthday! So happy birthday to him! Then tomorrow it's back up to Vancouver, BC so I can sing at my church on Sunday. Fun times.

What are you doing this weekend?

READ MORE - Link Love - 7/16/10

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

Link Love - 7/9/10

Karen at Makeup and Beauty Blog appealed to my anti-lemming nature with her MAC In The Groove FOTD, featuring the much talked about Stereo Rose. So pretty!

Christine at temptalia.com has created a Foundation Matrix: a foundation comparison chart that is up to date and comprehensive. Very handy for someone like me who tends to just stare at the shades looking harassed.

Sasha at Everything Fabulous makes me yearn for a vacation even more by sharing photos from The Oyster Box Hotel in South Africa. I can already hear my bank account weeping.

Cassandra at coco+kelley has a fab giveaway from The Loaded Trunk. Click here to check out the giveaway and the lovely, exotic accessories.

Ashlina at The Decorista shared the bathroom looks she loves. Next time I take a bath, I will close my eyes and picture one of these lovely tubs instead of the too shallow/too long beast that is mine.

Fee at Makeup Savvy is giving away three products from Benefit: Eye Bright, Bad Gal, and It Stick. It's open to International followers as well, so check it out!

Rebecca at Rebecca June Interior Design shares before and after photos of model Jessica Stam's New York City apartment. Beautiful, successful, and living in my favourite city in the world? I should hate you, Jessica Stam. Really, I should.

Mari at Sephora's Beauty & The Blog gives makeup tips for the visually impaired. Now, are there products that can locate your misplaced glasses for you? Because I really need one of those.

Laura at Lollipop26 is popping pills. And by pills, I mean hair growth supplements. Check out her post to see which products she tried and whether or not they're working.

Muhsine at Bubblegarm shared her thoughts on Sigma brushes. What does she think? Yay? Nay? Check out her blog post to find out.

HAPPY WEEKEND, EVERYONE!

READ MORE - Link Love - 7/9/10