Lancôme Monsieur Big Mascara

I am an absolute mascara fiend and it is one of the items in my makeup bag I wear every day. The Lancôme Monsieur Big Mascara is new to my stash and is the very first mascara from Lancôme that I have tried. As much as I love my mascaras, I am quite picky. I like a mascara that if it claims to be volumising then that is what I expect. I don't like overly wet formulas and I don't like spider lashes, I like the natural look and don't want to spend hours scrubbing my eyes to remove all trace of mascara.

So Monsieur Big claims to give the look of up to 12x more volume than bare lashes and also claims that there will be:

 --> No flakes, no smudges: smudge-resistant mascara with up to 24-hour wear
--> Intense colour: ultra black
--> Easy, soft application
--> Tested under ophthalmological control
--> Suitable for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers

The first thing to note about the Monsieur Big Mascara is the brush. The bristles are made up of soft fibres which claim to not only "hug your lashes" but to also separate and coat every single lash to give that lifted look of your lashes. The ultra-creamy formula has supple waxes and polymers to adhere immediately to your lashes to give you that big, buildable volume and length. Then there is the wand, it is huge and the name Monsieur Big Mascara most definitely lives up to its name right there. I like a big wand and brush, I like to feel the bristles work through my lashes as I zigzag it through from root to tip and I absolutely love this mascara - there I've said it.

The bristles on the brush are incredibly flexible and they bend and move accordingly through your lashes and they coat every single one, even the teeny tiny ones right in the corner and i've also not poked myself in the eye as yet! I like how volumising this mascara is and thankfully it isn't clumpy, one thing that I really dislike in a mascara is clumping after one or two coats, with this mascara my lashes are defined and fluttery as well as not being over the top spidery looking, instead they are more natural. I have worn this mascara every day and even in the heat of what is now the UK's version of Summer, the mascara hasn't smudged or flaked and I definitely haven't had crispy looking lashes.

The tube contains a generous 10ml of product whereas other mascaras that I use contain anything from 6.5ml 50 8.5ml and are within a similar price bracket. A full sized Monsieur Big retails for £21 and there is also a mini version of this Mascara available from Boots for £12 HERE.

I would love to know if you’ve tried the new Monsieur Big Mascara? 

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

Mbotanicals Mini (M) Box

When this cute little mini box of skincare products arrived I was taken aback as to how cute it was. Coming from a brand known as (M) Botanicals this selection of products is a great idea to give you a welcome introduction to a brand, an opportunity to try some of their natural skin care plus it would make a lovely gift too.

Within the box you get five products and those products are sized so that they last between 2 and 4 weeks. I am a huge fan of sample products and I always take them with me on holiday, nights away or long weekend breaks and to get something that lasts this amount of time is fantastic. The box was simple and understated which I really liked and think it fits in well with the company ethos. The logo which is emblazed across the top of the box again, understated. Inside there is everything you need including all of the products which were individually wrapped in tissue paper and an information card with details about all of the products. The powdered cleansers and oils come stored in good quality glass jars, while the creams were sealed in small metal pots to keep them as fresh as possible.

Inside the Mini Box you will get;

10g Exfoliating Bamboo Cleanser - This for me is best described as being a very gentle yet effective facial cleansing powder and it is designed to revive tired skin. Using a combination of Copaiba balsam, Acai and Andiroba the cleanser will protect the skin from break outs and add much-needed emollients. 

It also has the addition of both Bamboo and Kaolin Clay which gently but mechanically exfoliate the skin to not only leave it soft and smooth but also give that clean feeling. Andiroba is an ingredient I haven't come across before but the notes tell me that it has been proven to decrease acne and combined with the anti inflammatory properties of Copaiba and Acai this kaolin rich clay cleanser will brighten and detoxify acne prone skin.

10g Hydrating Beauty Balm - Hydrating beauty balm is a water and preservative free balm and it uses high levels of Rosehip oil – a potent anti-oxidant that repairs, firms and hydrates the skin along with Borage is high in essential fatty acids which support the skins natural healing process and Sea Buckthorn Fruit CO2 extract which is an amazing wound healer, wonderful as an after sun treatment and  it also helps restore prematurely aging skin. 

It also smells just incredible and is the kind of product I would love to have a room spray for when I need a bit of a lift.  On the skin, it is luxurious and rich and incredibly delightful to catch the scent of.

10g Daily Rejuvenator - This is described as being a potent targeted moisturiser and it is the perfect natural solution for protecting and keeping mature skin looking great. Using ingredients to plump the skin, revive and rejuvenate you can expect to find:

• Palmitoyl tripeptide-5 prevents collagen breakdown.
• Vitamin B3 otherwise known as Niacinamide, a multi-functional superstar,  is proven to help fade hyper-pigmentation and discolouration, improve skin barrier function and gently exfoliate.
• Hyaluronic acid is a powerful humectant that draws in moisture, keeping skin plump and youthful.
• Amino rich emollients of Prickly pear, Rosehip extract and Pumpkin seed oil help improve skin texture, revive and rejuvenate.
• CoQ10 and Vitamin E acetate are anti-oxidant powerhouses to help defend against free radical damage

Having used the Rejuvenator, what I liked about it was the natural spa like scent and how easily it absorbed into the skin.  

I am not too sure that I fit into the 'mature skin' age range just yet, but it definitely did moisturise and hydrate my skin.

5mL Rejuvenating Facial Elixir - Prickly Pear Elixir is described as being a light weight oil that absorbs easily into the skin and in doing it not only nourishes but also tightens pores. Add to that, the use of Squalane helps to create a protective film on the skin as blackseed oil adds amino acids and other vital nutrients. 

This lovely Elixir is said to be an oil which is good for mature, oily and combination skin types.

The Final product is a 10g bar of Pink Clay Soap for face and body - This soap is based on red kaolin clay which imparts a rich brick red colour.  

What I love about it is the scent as it is scented with Rose Geranium, Lavender, Orange and Patchouli essential oils which give it the most amazing sweet but floral citrus scent which has a hint of earthiness to it as well.

This Mini Box of products is priced at just £15 which you can find here and I would love to hear your thoughts.

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

Erborian Cleansing Water with 7 Herbs

If you didn't know by now, then Erborian has become one of my favourite brands and has featured on my blog quite a few times now and I am yet to find a product that I am disappointed in or dislike. Its name derived from 'Herbs of the Orient', was born back in 2007 when two women, both experts in the demanding world of cosmetics happened to meet. Blending the power of Korean textures and ingredients with French sensoriality and know-how and they are really worth checking out.

To date, there are just two cleansing waters that I have found and liked. La Mer which I just cannot afford to keep repurchasing and this from Erborian which I just absolutely adore.

Using a combination of 7 Herbs used for this Cleansing water are:

• Tiger grass: anti-inflammatory, helps to heal
• Rosemary: anti-stress and antioxidant
• Small Chamomile/: restorative effect on dry, sensitive and Irritated
• Japanese knotweed: Relieves pain and treat scrapes
• Licorice: Reduces melanin generation at the origin of pigmentation
• Skullcap: Promotes skin lightening and mitigation tasks
• Green Tea: Prevents damage Caused by UVB rays

The ingredients come together, those ingredients manage to gently cleanse the skin and remove every trace of makeup along with dirt, grime and lord knows what from my skin after a day travelling around London (grim). When I come home from work or wherever I might have been, as soon as my shoes (Fitflops) are off then the first thing I do is clean my face and this is what I use, it is then just before bed that I will double cleanse.

The micelles contained in the formula help to trap impurities and a single step, the face looks clean, moisturised and it does it all without leaving my skin feeling dry and in need of moisture. The scent that accompanies this micellar water is one that is best described as fresh, in fact it is quite pleasant and once used it makes your skin feel incredibly clean. 

Priced at just £19 you can find it right HERE at House of Fraser.

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

Love Me Beauty - July Edition

This month's Love Me Beauty has arrived packed full of some pretty amazing brands and from them, some incredible products and not forgetting the rather beautiful little bag which accompanies all of the products. This month sees some changes at LMB HQ. Whilst you will still get 60 credits for your £10, there will no longer be any limited edition edits, which means products will remain available to purchase for as long as they are in stock. I personally think this is a really clever move as it means there will be more choice on products and you can continue to keep buying that one product you really like, without paying the full whack!

This month the bag has five products in it, some I have seen before, some I have used and some I haven't.

Eco Tools Sponges | 20 credits

I absolutely love these sponges and have said my sister needs to switch from using a brush to a sponge and these come as a pack of two. I use mine all of the time and featured them here. I like that these sponges come in two different sizes and colours are said to help create that airbrushed camera-ready look. The dark green blender is soft and flexible which makes the application of foundation and the lighter green sponge which is much more firm is the one you would use for the precision application of products such as your concealer.

Ecotools Buffing Brush | 20 credits

This second offering from Eco Tools is a Complexion Buffing Brush which has densely packed bristles and a flat top. I really like using this for my liquid foundation, it is really soft and buffs effortlessly. I like the chunky handle which makes holding it much easier to apply your foundation.

Nails Inc | 25 credits

I was really happy to see Nails Inc with this months selection and this particular polish is called Bayswater Avenue and it is described as being your on-trend nude-pink which it absolutely is. Perfect for everyday wear, you only need to apply two coats of this polish for a beautiful finish. I find it is similar to Fiji from Essie shade wise, though the formula for Nails Inc is slightly thicker.

Nip+Fab Gycolic Pads | 5 credits

These pads are ones I have used before and I do like them. They are soaked in exfoliating glycolic acid which helps to retexture and resurfaces your skin, then witch hazel which helps to tone. Then we have both hyaluronic acid and soothing blue daisy which helps to reveal brigand smoother looking skin.

Rodial Dragons Blood eye Mask | 15 credits

I am a huge fan of eye masks and this is one product I haven't tried from Rodial. Dragon’s Blood does sound like an odd ingredient, but no Dragon's were harmed to make this product, Instead, it is created from the resin from the Croton Lechleri Tree which is also known as the ‘Dragon Tree’ and the sap has been used for centuries for medicinal and healing purposes. Putting that together with Rodials expertise in bio-cellulose technology, these eye masks work to intensely hydrate and moisturise the delicate eye area. When used, the skin is said to be comforted and refreshed and the added use of arnica extract helps reduce the look of under-eye puffiness for an instant, brighter-eyed appearance.

So there you have the July Edition of Love Me Beauty and if this is something you need in your life (you do) then here is an offer for you:

Love Me Beauty Offer:

Sign up today and use my exclusive code beautyqueenuk17 to get a FREE GIFT.

www.lovemebeauty.com

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise