little white truths

Lancome Advanced Genifique Youth Activating Serum

I love this stuff. It made my skin look so much better that other people even noticed the difference. That's saying something! I've reviewed it here.

It's a fluid serum that comes in a beautiful, weighty bottle: the product just feels special, but better still, the results it offers are special too. Not only does it spread and absorb well, but it also has a brightening effect so it boosts radiance. On top of that, it plumps fine lines and wrinkles so it makes my skin look smoother, and it has an effect on how firm and toned my face feels too. 

This is one of the few serums I've given an HG tag. I'll have to buy another one! Repurchase? Yes.

La Roche-Posay LIPIKAR Cleansing Oil 

This came from Maslow & Co and I really enjoyed it. I still need to review it and I'll do that this week because I do actually have some product left - I just dropped this tube twice so I had to dispense it into another container because I broke the lid.

I haven't used many shower oils but I can say that this is the nicest one I've used to date. It feels beautifully hydrating on the skin and it also lathers quite well so it offers a good clean (other shower oils haven't felt like they've cleaned as well as this one did). It's been a great product for winter because it's left my dry skin feeling soft and nourished. Purchase? Yes.

Simple Kind to Skin Exfoliating Face Wipes and Cleansing Face Wipes

I don't buy or use face wipes these days and both of these packs were given to me. I've reviewed the cleansing versions here and the exfoliating ones here.

I didn't like the exfoliating ones at all. The felt super abrasive (like sandpaper) on the skin and they were quite stiff so they didn't feel like traditional, soft facial wipes. They also weren't the most effective makeup removers and they didn't contain enough moisture for my personal tastes so I had to wet them whenever I used them. Purchase? No.

The cleansing ones I liked better. They were much softer than the exfoliating versions and they contained enough moisture, plus they didn't sting or irritate my dry skin. While they weren't good enough to come close to my favourite facial wipes (Essenzzas, reviewed here), they weren't bad and they felt nice enough to use. Purchase? No.

Maybelline Baby Lips Balm & Blush in Shimmering Bronze

First impressions and swatch post here. This product came in a Priceline goodies bag and it was one of the rare things I've tried from Maybelline that I didn't like.

It had a weird, greasy texture and not much pigment, so I think it was much better as a gloss than it was as a blush - although it was quite slippery as a balm and I didn't love the texture, plus it emphasised lip lines so it's not one I would recommend. Purchase? No.

Carmex Moisture Plus Ultra Hydrating Lip Balm

This came in a Beautyheaven Beautorium haul and while I quite liked it, you only get a tiny 2g of product for almost ten bucks so I don't think it's worth the outlay. If you're anything like me, you'll be buying one every month or so. I've reviewed it here.

Still, it's a good balm and I did enjoy using it while I had it, plus I liked the different take on the standard lip balm tube and even though it felt cheap to hold, it looked better than your standard balm. It contains sunscreen too so that's a plus. Purchase? No.

Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer

Full review here. I didn't think much of this primer at all. I know some people swear by it, but it didn't work for me and I know I'm not the only one.

It's a standard, silicone-based primer that's clear and while it did have a smoothing effect on application, I found that it 'lifted' and mixed with any base I placed over it - so in practice it did nothing for me. I had to put it on my Project Pan list, just to get through it. Purchase? No.

Gilded Cage Unleashed Lipstick in 117 True Orange

I didn't mind this product but it also ended up on my Project Pan list because it's a super bright colour and I wasn't using it enough so I wanted to move it out of my collection. I've reviewed it here.

The formula was nice and it glided onto the lips beautifully without tugging, plus it didn't emphasise texture and it also felt creamy and nourishing when applied. Mind you, in practice it wasn't hydrating enough for me so it did dry my lips out with frequent use. I liked the formula and I do recommend these, but I wouldn't necessarily go out and buy one. Purchase? No.

Urban Decay Perversion Mascara

Full review here. This came in one of Mecca's Beauty Loop boxes and I really liked it. It was one of those formulas that was too wet to start with so I needed to let it dry out for a week or so, but after that it was fantastic.

It gave me good length and volume, and it's overtaken Too Faced's Better Than Sex as my favourite high-end mascara because the brush is thinner so it's easier to use. Plus it lasted well and it didn't smudge or flake throughout the day. Purchase? Maybe.

Alpha-H 24 Hour Moisture Repair Cream

I received two of these 15ml samples (both of which I've now finished) and also an additional 30ml one - all as GWPs - and I haven't reviewed the product yet because I need a rest from it before opening the 30ml and firming up my thoughts.

Normally I love Alpha-H but I'm not sure about this product. It's thicker than most moisturisers I've used so I went through these tubes far too quickly (meaning the full size wouldn't be good value), plus it didn't do anything for me and I felt it coated my skin, rather than sinking in and delivering nourishment. The jury's still out, however, so I'll let you know how I go when I open the larger tube. Purchase? No.

Elizabeth Arden Advanced Ceramide Daily Youth Restoring Serum

This product claims to deliver triple the anti-ageing power to enhance skin's barrier repair function, replenish essential lipids and support skin's natural renewal process.

It was one of those products that didn't swing me either way - so it wasn't amazing or very bad, just somewhere in the middle. I liked that it was very thin in texture (that's normally how I prefer my serums to be) and it also had a brightening effect, although it wasn't super hydrating and my dry skin's feeling more comfortable now that I've switched to using something else. So yes, this wasn't awful but it also wasn't for me. Purchase? No.

Clarins Instant Light Lip Balm Perfector in 01 Rose

As you may know, I'm part of the secret community of people who don't love the Clarins Instant Light Lip Perfectors (I've reviewed one here), but I'm too afraid to talk about that much because everyone else is obsessed with them! ; )

This balm, however, has blown my socks off. It looks like a gloss but feels like a balm, and it leaves your lips feeling soft and hydrated. Plus it has a plumping effect and feels super nourishing. I'm so obsessed with it that I want to go out and buy the whole range, but I have too many lip products as it is so I'll have to wait until I finish some before buying more. Purchase? Yes.

Ole Henriksen Sheer Transformation Perfecting Moisturiser

I was expecting to enjoy this because I've heard good things about this brand and the product description makes it sound pretty amazing (see here), but unfortunately it did nothing for me. Sure it was oil-free and weightless, but it didn't have enough punch to do anything for my dry skin so I needed to put something more nourishing over the top, just to target any winter dryness. 

Perhaps this would be better for normal to oily skin, but it didn't work for me and the sample did contain a decent 7ml of product so I was able to give it a good test run. Purchase? No.

Elizabeth Arden Advanced Ceramide Capsules Daily Youth Restoring Serum

I expected to love these because I've seen them advertised and they look all fancy and special sitting there in their single dose capsules, plus when I used the first one I discovered that it contains an oil that feels rich and hydrating (so I'd call it more of an oil than a serum). 

But unfortunately the product does nothing for me when applied, except add a layer of grease to my face. So it looks and feels like it would be hydrating, but it's definitely not - or at least not for me. I feel so dry after I use one of these that I've needed to put them on over a hydrating serum, rather than using them as my first layer. Erk. What a letdown. Purchase? No.

In sum

Yay for more empties! The best items in this lot were the Clarins balm, the Urban Decay mascara, the Lancome serum and the shower oil from La Roche-Posay.

Do let me know in the comments if you've finished anything amazing recently: I'd love to hear.

Hope all's well with you, and speak soon x