Boots Botanics Soothing Eye Makeup Remover v Boots Botanics Organic Face Nourishing Eye Makeup Remover

I bought both Boots Botanics eye makeup removers recently as a weak justification for spending £30 on a night cream.  A night cream which is now currently retailing for £20.

I wore a full eye of makeup a few Sundays ago when I first tried both of these out.  A full eye of makeup for me is primer, shadow one, shadow two, shadow three, mascara (two coats), clear mascara, liquid/gel liner and pencil liner.  I fully utilise the lower lashline when it comes to application so there was makeup wherever my eye could take it.

My eyes are notoriously sensitive to any liquid that isn't water.  I get along with cream cleansers just fine but I'm yet to find a liquid remover that doesn't sting me.  I wear contact lens to work most of the time so I don't want something that will aggravate my eyes moreso when I get home.

I've tested both Boots Botanics removers solidly for three weeks, varying my eye makeup from full on to bare minimum (mascara) and this is my verdict.

Review: Urban Decay Meltdown Makeup Remover

I've found my Holy Grail facial makeup remover/cleanser (The Sanctuary's Polishing Hot Cloth Cleanser) but I'm always on the lookout for a product that I can use solely on my eyes as there are times when my eyes are the only part of my face (bar lips) that I make up.

I was sent the Meltdown Makeup Remover by Urban Decay and here's what I think of it..

One thing I find quite odd is that it doesn't state anywhere on the bottle (in English atleast) that this is a makeup remover just for the eyes but my GCSE French (A* I'll have you know) taught me enough to know that "démaquillant yeux" means makeup remover eyes.  Seems odd that it's not in English.

What do Urban Decay have to say? (There's those rhyming skills again)
"You love our longest-lasting products, but how do you take them off?!  This nourishing formula will ensure that makeup removal doesn't throw you into fits.

Sometimes you need a makeup remover that's as might as the most powerful products in your beauty arsenal, which is why we've created Meltdown!  This stuff can take down our longest-lasting products, and it's also good for your skin, too.  Sea Fan Extract combats inflammation, while Beta Carotene (a source of Vitamin A) and Gatuline In-Tense (harvest from the South African Rain Forest Peekabo Plant) revitalise collagen production.  Cranberry and Raspberry Seed Oils, along with Kukui Nut and Oat Oil, moisturise and replenish.  The 2.5oz squeeze tube is easy to use, as well as small enough to take on an aeroplane)."

What do I have to say?
This smells like nappy rash cream and that's all I can think of when applying it and this is not a good thing!  Consistency wise, it is lot thinner than both Liz Earle's Cleanse and Polish and The Sanctuary's Polishing Hot Cloth Cleanser.  Those two feel more creamy whereas this feels more watery.

The packaging causes me no ill at all, I prefer this type as you can squeeze every last bit out.  I managed to get every last drop of my Sanctuary cleanser and that comes in similar packaging and it's a fair bit thicker.

It spreads really easily on the eyes but doesn't slide off your face (brilliant!)  You can see your makeup "melting" so I see where the inspiration of the name comes from.  It doesn't sting your eyes and you don't have to work it in to see your makeup coming off so there's no worry that you're giving yourself premature wrinkles. 

It feels quite softening on the eye area and I quite like that.  If there's one criticism I can make of my other two makeup removers, it's that they could be a bit more softening around the eyes.

I also like the fact that they've taken into account the fact that you can take it on the plane with you in your hand luggage without depotting it.  If you buy it for that purpose alone (quickly removing most of your makeup whilst on board during a long flight then it works well enough for that purpose).   

However, there are no instructions for removal and if I didn't have my hot cloth cleansers, I would have just washed it off but I find using a muslin cloth soaked in hot water is the easiest way to remove makeup when you use this.

I've split the actual "how does it work" bit into two sections for reasons that will soon become obvious.

Eye makeup on the eyelids
This has absolutely no problem removing all makeup from the eyelids and the upper lashes.  Be it long lasting makeup (such as Urban Decay's pencils or Bobbi Brown's gel liner), the Meltdown Makeup Remover makes easy work of removing it.  Wow, that sounded like I was on a cheesy info-mercial.

It's biggest plus point for me in this respect is that it literally makes your mascara glide off.  Sometimes when I use my other removers, it comes off in clumps but no such issue here, it just swipes off all in one go.

It manages to remove the glitteriest of my eyeshadows (Urban Decay's Chopper and ELF's Caffinated Mineral Eyeshadow) with ease.

Eye makeup on the waterline/lower lashline
I had high hopes for this as I thought removing Urban Decay's 24-7 liners from the waterline/lower lashline would be a doddle.  Sadly, this wasn't the case.  I tried it on many occassions and it always left some pigment behind. 

You can see that I've removed makeup but it doesn't remove it ALL.  You can still bits of the makeup between my lashes.  I had the same results when I used products that made no claims to be long lasting.

Seeing as it claims to be a remover of heavy duty products and it doesn't manage to live up to this claim (whereas others don't boast being able to do the same but can do with ease), you can see why I'm disappointed.

The one negative I can't get over is that it gives me blurred vision for about 10 minutes after using it.  I'm blind enough as it is, thank you.  When I put my glasses back on after using this, I always feel that my glasses are dirty but they're not, it's the remover that clouds my vision.  


It's a shame this didn't work for me because I can't fault the makeup that Urban Decay make.


Would I purchase this? 
No.  It doesn't remove everything as thoroughly as it claims and the fuzzy vision is a serious.  Even still, I've never had fuzzy vision from a makeup remover before and I don't like it.  If you want to try it for yourself, it'll set you back £18.00 and can be bought from House of Fraser.  Personally, I'd suggest going for either The Sanctuary's Polishing Hot Cloth Cleanser or Liz Earle's Cleanse and Polish because they're cheaper, they don't give you blurry vision and they remove all your makeup.  I've reviewed both here before (for The Sanctuary's click here and for Liz Earle's, click here).

The perfect eye makeup remover for sensitive eyes

It's well known around these parts that I am against liquid eye makeup removers.  This is from bitter past experience where liquid ones have stung me silly or given me fuzzy vision.

Such was my dislike of them that I wouldn't even buy the infamous Botanics remover.

Then along came Purity Organic Skincare with the Conditioning Cleansing Lotion.  Their whole premis is clear in their name, they do pure, organic skincare.  This is something I never really paid much attention to in the past, if something worked, it worked..regardless of the chemicals it had it now but now, I'm rethinking this as it may have advserse effects that only materialise in the future.

I was planning on giving it to a cousin when I discovered that my beloved eye makeup remover pads contained the evil that is mineral oil.  You can see the bind I was in..I'd be damned if I'd use a liquidy remover and I'd be damned if I used mineral oils.  I bit the bullet and chucked the pads away.

The instructions advise being liberal with it but me having been scarred before started small and got bigger and bolder.  I was very apprehensive about using this so initially I put it around the outer edges of the eyes (the lids and the brow) and then I moved in nearer to the actual eye.

Did it sting? No.  Did I feel uncomfortable? No.  I added enough to take my makeup off and then some, just to make sure it wasn't a fluke.  I kept it on for ages.  I removed my makeup in the shower (I wanted to give it a thorough testing as I do with all things I call HG).  No adverse reaction at all.  AT ALL. 

I can't stress how brilliant this is for sensitive eyes, I've used it time and time again in the same way and each time it's been as gentle as a gentle thing.  I am so glad that this is another HG item I can tick off the list.  I used to think that if the area near my eyes was oily, it would help moisturise them, this however, manages to moisturise my eyes more, has no nasties in it and doesn't leave them feeling greasy.

It's budget friendly too, retailing at £4.99, you can buy it from Superdrug.

Product I buy again and again: Boots Essential Eye Make-up Remover Pads

I LOVE these.

They're a bit oily but I think that's better than them being too dry and you can always take the oil off with a tissue or cleansing wipe.

They cost about £1.50 and you get 40 pads in one container.

They last me about a month or so and considering the price, I would say they're more than worth it.

I don't get on with liquid removers and these pads remove everything, from pencil on my waterline to stubborn waterproof mascara.

They have never irritated me or given me any sort of adverse reaction.

I have been using them for a good few years now and although I may go to other products from time to time, I always come back to these.

In other news, you may have heard me going a bit mad on Twitter because I was unable to find the Boots No7 matte topcoat ANYWHERE. I looked in Boots of varying sizes and found it nowhere.  Then I turned to the refuge that is ebay and found that someone was selling it on there, I picked up a brand new bottle for the princely sum of £2.49.

I can't wait to try this over some glitter.  Do you think it will work over glitter? I have the sneaking suspicion that it might just go murky in the gaps between the glitter.  BUT!! I have a plan for that, I'm going to try it over Disco Mix by Models Own because that deepens as the days go on.  So, the plan is, whack on Disco Mix, wait a while and then add this topcoat and see what it does.

Review: Boots Essentials Cucumber Eye Makeup Remover Gel

You may or may not know that I recently (accidentally) blinded myself in the pursuit of blending heaven.

 As a direct result of this, I decided to see if I could get on with a gel remover.  You all know I am pants with my liquid removers and pads seem such a waste.

The logic in my mind was thus: "The pads from this range worked well on me so I hope the gel does, too".

My eye managed to mend itself in record time according to the doctor and so I was allowed to wear makeup from Tuesday onwards.

 What do Boots say?
"Boots Essentials Cucumber Eye Make Up Remover Gel comtains extract of cucumber to help gently soften and soothe your skin."

What do I say?
In short, I love it.

It does everything it says it would.

It doesn't smell "sharp" and is nice and gentle on your eyes. It doesn't really have a strong smell, the moisturiser from the same range really stinks of cucumber but this is quite pleasant.

Some pads sting me slightly but neither the pads by this range nor this gel have done this.  It moisturises the eye area nicely and you don't have to pull at your eyes to get the makeup off, all you need to do is swipe and you're good to go.

I have been wearing a primer, two eyeshadows, mascara and eyeliner pencil.

I use this to remove the product at the end of the day.

I also have a habit of putting my foundation on the back of my hand and then dabbing my brush in it and applying it.  I'm often left with the option of wiping it off with a tissue, which never gets the job done properly.  I've been applying this to the back of my hand and taking it off with a tissue and it removes foundation adequately.

It is also very soothing, more soothing than any other eye makeup remover I have ever used.

I pour a little bit of the gel onto a cotton wool pad and smear it around with my finger.  Apply that to your eye and the makeup melts underneath it.

You only need to use a tiny tiny bit and it gets all the product off.

The best part is, it only costs £1.39!!

Repurchase? Er..yes!

Review: Tesco Vitamin E range

Remember this post?

I think I've been using the range long enough to give a decent review, so here we go.

Just a heads up, this review is LONG. You know how long a review for one product usually is so this is about six products in one.

The one point I can make about all the products is the smell.  There is a tangy (yeah, tangy) smell from all the products, it's not offensive and smells quite light.

The cleanser.

I haven't used a cleanser for quite some time and I can't think why.  Actually, I can.  I don't subscribe to the whole "cleanse, tone, moisturise" malarky.  If your skin is behaving itself and you haven't cleansed and toned, then leave it be.  My skin was behaving so I didn't cleanse..despite having about 5 cleansers that I could have used.

The directions for use are standard, put the cleanser on with your fingers, wait a few mins and take it off with a cotton wool pad.

I can tell if a cleanser has worked if my skin feels softer and looks cleaner.  Did my skin look cleaner? Yes.  Did it feel softer? Yes.

I didn't have to use much either.

Purchase?
I'm personally on a no-buy but I would buy this when I've used up all my cleansers.  It cleanses and doesn't leave me really tight skin afterwards. 

The toner.

I've always had problems with toner.  If you get a gentle one, it might not clean the skin and the harsher ones strip your skin of all oil and make you even greasier so it's a hard balance to strike.

I liked the toner, it cleaned, didn't sting or have a horrible smell (you know that smell that some toners have).  However, I had a patch of dry skin show up on the right hand side of my mouth/right cheek but I think that's to be expected with a toner.  Plus, I moisturised afterwards and all was good.

I've used this when my skin was really greasy and when it was behaving and it worked well both times.  It makes your skin feel really nice and soft.

I do have one semi negative point to report, it's a very gentle toner.  I don't know how best to elucidate this point but I will try.  It's very gentle so if you have really oily skin then you may have to use a fair bit.  I've been using this since Maskgate and it's brought my skin back up to its normal type.  Can you believe I still felt the after effects of that incident more than a week after it happened?

Purchase?
I'm quite impressed with how well it worked and for the price, I'd deffo buy it.

The liquid eye makeup remover.

I don't like liquid eye makeup removers because they tend to sting me so I stay clear.  I decided to bite the bullet and get on with it...all in the name of science and all that!

If you use just mascara and a neutral shadow, it works well.  However, if you wear a heavier eye then you need to use a fair amount of the product to get it all off.  I wore two shadows from my Sleek palette and the remover struggled.

Purchase?
I wouldn't buy this because I really don't like liquid removers.  It's great if you don't wear a heavy eye, if you do however, I'd give this a miss.

The face wash.

I call this "Sir Grease-Away".  I used it in the aftermath of Maskgate and it really cleared the grease away but left me moisturised.

I just dashed it on my face, massaged it in a bit and washed it off.

Purchase?
Yes. I'm going to replace my Clinique liquid soap with this.  I've fallen out with the Clinique because used everyday, it strips my skin so I use it when my skin is in need of a degreasing and it works pretty well but I think it's a bit pricey considering how often I use it.  I'd rather pay for this, use it daily than pay £12 for Clinique and use it sporadically.

The exfoliator.

Very tiny beads.  I like to use an exfoliator that I can feel actually scrubbing my skin.  This didn't really make a difference on my skin.  The only thing it did was remove the flakes of skin but I used just water and that did the same.

Usually when I use a scrub, it makes my skin feel smoother but this didn't do anything.

The consistency of the product was also a problem, it's very runny, even moreso than the face wash.  You know how exfoliators are usually pretty thick when you squeeze them out of the tube? This was the exact opposite.  I had to rub it in a fair bit to feel as if it was exfoliating my skin.

Purchase?
No.  I think the main downfall of this product is the size of the exfoliating particles, they're very gentle..almost too gentle.  If they were a bit bigger, I think the product would work better.

The night cream.

Ingredients:
Aqua, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Cetyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii, Glycerin, Cylopentasiloxane, Paraffinium Liquidum, Glyceryl Stearate, Cyclohexasiloxane, PEG-100 Stearate, Polysorbate 60, Parfum, Tocopheryl Acetate, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin.

I tested this last because I don't really use a night cream because I've never seen any differences when using one.  However, I also decided to use it because my skin was going through a period of unrest after the MG debacle.  It went from super greasy and spotty to super dry..and I mean REALLY dry.  My skin has never ever been that dry before, I'd moisturise in the morning and have massive flakes coming off during the day (sexy!)

The first thing I noticed about this cream was that it was really light for a night cream, most night creams I have used are thick affairs which claim to provide intense moisture during the night.

I've been using this a fair bit and it has helped get my skin back to its normal standard, I don't wake up with flakes of skin on my face anymore and my skin does feel softer in the mornings.

Purchase?
Yes, it's a no fuss night cream, just slap it on and go to bed.  I like the fact that it doesn't break me out in whiteheads overnight as most night creams do.  I'd recommend it for girls with combo/oily skin as it's kept my skin on an even keel once it went back to normal, it's also good for girls with dry skin as it eliminates the flakes.

The cleansing wipes.

I've used these before and I love them. I know on here I say "would repurchase" a lot but the products which I feature in my "products I would elope with" are my key loves, they're the ones I pick when I'm packing a bag.  These made the cut.

They have a really light smell and I feel they're just wet enough to take off any grime (and makeup) and leave your skin feeling soft.  Plus, considering that their counterparts are sold at £3 something, these are a bargain!

Purchase?
Before I had these sent to me, I already had three as backups so the educated guess would be yes.

You can buy the whole range in Tescos (surprising!) here is the price list:
Vitamin E cleanser: 72p
Vitamin E night cream: 72p
Vitamin E toner: 72p
Vitamin E eye makeup remover: 72p
Vitamin E face scrub: 72p
Vitamin E face wash: 72p
Vitamin E cleansing wipes: 72p
Vitamin E hand and nail cream: 72p
Vitamin E moisturiser: 72p

My wonder product

Everyone has that one product in their makeup bags that they couldn't live without and I'm no exception.  However, the product is not so much something I need to make me look half human, it's a product which amends my mistakes.

Ladies and non lady folk, I present to you the Revlon Makeup Corrector Pen.

I've been trying to scope this out ever since I saw it advertised on some makeup site and I have never ever found it in the UK.  You will surely remember that I reviewed the DoubleTwist mascara by Revlon.  I was also sent the makeup corrector pen.

My first thoughts on it are that it's a lot slimmer than I thought it would be but it looks like something I have used (on paper) before but I can't put my finger on it..The tip of the pen is black and not white as I had originally thought.

I can't apply mascara without having some of it transfer to my upper lid so I thought the pen would be perfect for that.  I applied my mascara and some Bobbi Brown gel liner and then decided to test the pen out.

It took the lid residue mascara off so easily and left behind no oily residue at all. Revlon suggest cleaning the tip with some tissue after using it so I did this and the mascara came off the pen and onto the tissue.

I decided to put it through its paces and make the eyeliner thinner and it worked a total charm! I've used it to tidy up eye shadow mistakes too and it leaves you with natural skin (not with the film you sometimes get when you use a conventional remover) so you can reapply your shadow a nano second after amending your mistake.

The only thing which holds this product back is the fact that you can't find it anywhere.  I've checked a million and one Boots and practically every Superdrug, Tescos and Sainsburys around where I live and have never ever seen it.  I saw it online once but when I went to put it in my basket, it was (surprise surprise) out of stock.

I used it before Xmas when I was going down to Essex, I fell asleep in the car and had no time to reapply my makeup before we went out and this worked great tidying up smudges and neatening up my cat flicked eyeliner.  Which reminds me, when it's snowing heavily, never ever hold your Bobbi Brown gel liner in your hand because the second you get out of the car, you will open your hands and the gel liner will roll away into traffic.  This will result in a mad panic and you sliding across said snow in the dark to pick it up.

I also realise that it would have made sense to take a pic of how well it erased makeup mistakes but I am scatty of brain and kinda forgot in all my excitement.  However, I did take pics of the instructions/promises and the ingredients for you guys.

 

If you CAN get this product anywhere, PICK IT UP...and then go pay for it.  I don't want to encourage shoplifting ;)

Review: Skin Therapy Eye Makeup Remover

This post is a mixture of a review and a rant about this product and my plans for the week.

My plans for the week were to do a new FOTD/EOTD every single day but this product has put paid to that.

Skin Therapy is available in Wilkinsons and they do a whole range of products for your face, I used to use the face wipes as they were nice and wet, then, as is often the story of my life, Wilko's decided to change the formula and these wipes no longer work on me as they're too dry.

I'm also currently on my "use everything up before buying new" kick and after my last batch of Boots eye makeup remover pads finished I decided to use the dregs of Vaseline which I had left from my days at college. That finished and so I bought this from Wilko's. It was not my first choice, the only reason I chose it was because I forgot to buy some in the 'Drug.

It retails for 97p but that's 98p too much. I have never had much success with liquid/cream eye makeup removers, I once bought a Neutrogena one which I'm sure gave me blurry vision and made me a bit blind (er). I thought this would be different but how wrong was I.

I did a semi EOTD on Monday (basic eyeshadow and mascara) and this JUST about took the eyeshadow and mascara off, I had no UDPP on.

Yesterday I went all out and decided to wear UDPP, a highlight colour, a main brow colour, a crease colour and an under brow highlighter. Come the end of the day I went to take it off with the remover.

WHAT.A.NIGHTMARE. The remover took everything off in layers, I could see the top colours coming off, then the base colour and then the UDPP. To make matters worse, it smudged my eyeshadow and mascara around my eyes and left some of the shimmery particles on my eyebrow. Also, when I followed the instructions and some got in my eye, it stung like hell! In the end I had to put it on my finger and rub my lid to get stuff off. Luckily, I had my HG Botanics cleansing wipes on hand and they got rid of everything the "remover" had left behind.

Repurchase?
I think it's quite obvious that I won't be buying this again, here I was hoping it would be a cheapo fix and that it would actually work but I'm sad to report that this wasn't the case and that I shall be going back to my Boots remover pads. I don't know if I will try the Botanics remover which everyone loves as maybe I just can't get on with liquid removers?