Review: Liz Earle Naturally Active Skin Care

Introduction

Hey! Today I'm going to be writing a review on the Liz Earle Naturally Active Skin Care products that I own. A lot of people have asked me to do a review so here it is! If you have any questions that I didn't answer in this post, feel free to comment below and I'll reply as soon as possible.

At around the beginning of January, I purchased the trial sized kit for dry/sensitive skin which you can find here. It comes with 30ml of Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser, 50ml of Instant Boost Skin Tonic, 15ml of Skin Repair Moisturiser, 15ml of Intensive Nourishing Treatment Mask, 2 pure muslin cloths and a lovely little bag to keep it in. I decided to purchase the trial sized kit because my skin is very sensitive and pretty much every skin care product I've ever used has irritated my skin. I really recommend getting the trial sized kit if you're interested in using Liz Earle as you do get quite a lot of product so it lasts for quite a while (mine lasted me for a month) and you can see how they really work for you.

I'm going to be writing seperate reviews for all of the different products I own but in this paragraph I'm just going to talk about what's similar in all of the products to avoid repeating myself all the time! One thing is that they all smell so good. It's a really unique smell, kind of minty and like a spa! Please don't be worried about the smell like I was. I was wary of using them because my extremely sensitive skin and fragrances really don't get on. Luckily, these didn't irritate my skin! While we're on that note, I'd just like to mention that none of these products dried out or irritated my skin whereas almost everything I've used in the past has. All of these products are packed full of naturally active ingredients which are extremely beneficial for your skin. I'd also just like to mention that the packaging of all of the products is so nice. They're a gorgeous light mint color and they just look so pretty! Okay then, let's get onto the seperate product reviews!

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser


What Liz Earle says:
'Cleanses and gently exfoliates for smoother, clearer skin' 

What I say:
You've probably already heard so much about this cleanser already, it's one of the most famous cleansers out there, it's won so many awards and I can see why. Liz Earle only offers one cleanser because it's designed to work for all ages and all skin types and from the reviews I've read on it, that's pretty much true. I can obviously only say how it's worked for me personally but I've read plently of reviews from people with different skin types and it's worked for almost every single one of them.

The cleanser comes in a long cylinder tube with a pump dispenser. The actual product is a thick, white cream.

I love applying this. It feels like you're giving yourself a facial everyday! The cleanser has two steps: cleansing and polishing. First, you cleanse. You take about a pump or more depending on how much makeup you're wearing. Anyway, you take about a pump and massage it all over your face in circular motions. It feels so nice and moisturising! Then, you polish. You take your muslin cloth, soak it in hot water and gently polish your face with it in circular motions. Not only does this remove the cleanser, you're also gently exfoliating your face! You finish by splashing your face with cold water. This may sound like a long process but it's really not, it only takes me about five minutes, which is really good considering you're cleansing and exfoliating. It's designed to take makeup off as well but I can't really comment on that considering I only wear mascara. I did use it to take off mascara and although it did work well, I prefer using an eye makeup remover before using this to avoid smearing mascara all over my face and the muslin cloth.

I really like this cleanser. It makes my skin so smooth, soft and clean after using it. It's the only cleanser that hasn't made my face feel tight, dry or stripped of its natural oils after use! I also love how the muslin cloth is gentle enough to use everyday. With my sensitive skin, I've found it impossible to find an exfoliator that isn't too harsh for my skin. However, with the muslin cloth, it's not going to irritate my skin and I can decide how much pressure I apply on my skin. It's perfect!


Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic


What Liz Earle says:
'Revitalises, soothes and tones for instant radiance'

What I say:
I've always wanted to use a toner in my skin care routine. Some people think it's just an unnecessary step but I think it's quite important. It removes any traces of dirt, makeup and cleanser, and in this case with the Skin Tonic, refrishes, soothes and brightens your skin. However, I've never been able to use a toner as most of them contain alcohol and dry out my skin like crazy. Luckily, this one is alcohol free and actually hydrates and adds moisture to your skin, so that's a huge thumbs up!

To apply this, you simply pour a generous amount onto a cotton pad and sweep over your face and neck after cleansing. I love using this! It makes my skin feels hydrated, refreshed and squeaky clean! What's not to love? Also, it smells absolutely amazing - it's a really strong floral scent - but doesn't sting or irritate my skin! Huge bonus!

I think it's safe to say I'm in love with a toner.


Liz Earle Skin Repair Moisturiser - Dry/Sensitive



What Liz Earle says:
'Intensely moisturises, smooths and protects'

What I say:
Having dry skin, moisturisers are the biggest, most important part of my skin care routine. I'm very picky with moisturisers - they have to be light weight, absorb easily and not leave my skin feeling greasy or oily but they also have to really moisturise my skin. No moisturiser has ever lived up to my extremely high expectations except for this one.

As I have naturally really dry skin, I usually end up using a whole tub of regular moisturiser in literally a week. However, with this one, I use a pea sized amount for my whole face. Yes, a pea sized amount. I never thought I would say that, but this one is just so moisturising that you don't need a lot at all. It absorbs so easily and quickly and my face doesn't feel sticky, oily or greasy after using it but my skin still feels moisturised, hydrated and soft.

I also love that they make different moisturisers for different skin types - dry/sensitive, normal/combination and combination/oily - so you're sure to find a moisturiser that fits your skins needs.


Liz Earle Intensive Nourishing Treatment Mask


What Liz Earle says:
'Soothes and deeply rehydrates'

What I say:
I agree completely with what Liz Earle says. This thick, creamy mask really does soothe and deeply hydrate my skin - as simple as that. It's actually amazing how well it hydrates and moisturises your skin. Before I switched to Liz Earle, I was using Burt's Bees - big mistake. It broke me out and dried out my skin like crazy. But after using this, my skin was so smooth and soft!

To use this, you just smooth a thick layer of the cream to your face and neck after cleansing and relax for 10-15 minutes. I recommend doing this at night. Then, soak the muslin cloth and polish it off - just like you would with the Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser. Splash your face with cold water, follow with Instant Boost Skin Tonic, a small amount of Skin Repair Moisturiser and your skin will feel amazing!


Overall

Overall, I love every single one of these products and I honestly have nothing bad to say about them. I actually purchased the full sizes of all of them! They came beautifully packaged and with a book full of detailed information on all of their products.
I would really recommend these no matter what skin type you have or what age you are. If you do try these, I'd love know how they work for you!

Review: Rimmel London Lasting Finish Lipstick

Hello! I have a massive review for you guys today. I felt bad for not posting for ages so I decided to do a review on my favorite lipsticks. Oops, I kind of gave away that I like them... Oh well. Hope you enjoy it! 

As you can see, I have 9 of these so obviously I must really like them! I don't know where to start with this review since there's so much to say so I guess I'll categorize everything.

Packaging: The packaging is cute. It's a really dark, glossy purple color - so dark it almost looks black. I've not had any issues with the packaging or the lipsticks breaking in the tube. 

Smell: Okay, so this is a little bit of a weird category, but I had to mention it: they do smell. It's not bad, I don't mind it, but it is a strong smell. I could even smell them when I swatched them! It smells kind of like sweets/candy.

Staying Power: These stay on forever. Literally, they do not budge. After a whole day of eating and drinking, the color was still as vibrant as it was when I put it on. No bleeding either! It's quite hard to wash off too, even with makeup remover! I had a hard time getting the swatches off - I had to scrub and scrub with soap and although they eventually faded, they were still there! If you want a lipstick that will last you all day, these are definitely for you.

Finishes: These all give you a really glossy, satin finish. The majority of them are very moisturizing and don't make your lips look chapped, even when applied without a lip balm!

Pigmentation: The pigmentation of these is amazing, especially for the red shades. You get great color pay off in just one swipe and can also build it up easily for a more vibrant color. I'll let the swatches do the talking, although my camera really doesn't do them any justice.

I took some pictures of them individually and I'm going to do my best to describe them!

026 - Vintage

I absolutely love this color. It's a nude pink and is very close to my natural lip color. However, it's my least favorite because it applies a bit gritty - like it's got grains of sugar in it or something! It's a shame because it's such a lovely color.

077 - Asia

This one applies so smoothly! It's so creamy. In the tube, it looks like a pink/mauve color, but it applies brown. I don't feel comfortable wearing brown lipstick but hey, it's always nice to have a wide color selection.

086 - Sugar Plum

This is a gorgeous fuchsia color. Not something I would wear every day but it does actually look really nice on! 

123 - True Vintage

This is a beautiful dark plum color. It's a little too dark if you swipe it all over your lips but looks amazing if you pat it on lightly with your finger tip.

124 - Bordeaux

This is quite similar to True Vintage but quite a bit darker. It's too dark, in my opinion to wear everyday though. I wouldn't feel comfortable wearing it because it is really dark.

170 - Alarm

This is your classic bright red lipstick with blue undertones. It can be applied very thickly for a very dramatic red color or you can dab it on lightly with your fingertips for a subtle red tint, which is what I like to do.

175 - Signature Red

This is so similar to Alarm, they're practically the same. I can't see a difference.

210 - Coral In Gold

This lipstick is, quite simply, orange and is very similar to Vintage, as it applies really gritty and highlights every line or dry patch on your lips. I don't like this one and wouldn't recommend it.

220 - Retro

A beautifully pigmented bright red lipstick with orange undertones. A little bit too much for everyday use but I'm sure I'll wear it one day!

For drugstore lipsticks, they're pretty amazing! I really recommend these (apart from Vintage and Coral In Gold, I'd pass on those if I were you) and I am definitely going to buy more.

5/5 ♥

Review: MAC Zoom Lash Mascara

Wow, this mascara really didn’t do it for me. The packaging is pretty simple and it looks quite professional and sleek so I like the packaging. The color is really nice - I have it in Plush Black and it’s a really dramatic dark black. 

But, I was very disappointed with the actual product. It’s wet and ‘gloopy’. You can see in my picture how wet and gloopy it actually is! When you take the wand out of the mascara tube, you're left with this horrible mess on the end of the brush. I applied the first coat of mascara and it definitely did thicken and lengthen my lashes. It was clumpy though, and I was already disappointed. Then I applied a second coat and… Wow. It was really clumpy! After brushing through it a million times with a disposable mascara wand, my lashes looked okay but still quite spidery!

I applied it in the morning and wore it all day. I was tired when I got in at night and washed my face but didn’t bother taking off my mascara (I know, I know, but I was really tired. We're all guilty of not taking our mascara off every once in a while!). When I woke up the next morning, I looked in the mirror and was amazed. It looked exactly as it did when I put it on - long, thick and super black! And no flakes, surprisingly. 

This mascara isn’t in my favorites but I’m not going to throw it out. It looks quite nice if you apply two coats of a different mascara and then apply one coat of this MAC mascara! It really just adds a bit more drama. I would definitely not buy this again. Not worth the money at all! Sorry MAC.

1/5 ♥

Review: ELF Studio Cream Eye Liners

The colors I have are in black, gunmetal, coffee and white. I am in love with these cream eye liners! I'm not experienced with cream eye liners - in fact, I'll be honest, these are only the second cream eye liners I've owned. But, these are everything you could want in a cream eye liner! They're pigmented, easy to apply, long lasting and creamy. What more could I ask for?

The packaging of this product is gorgeous and they look very nice and professional. A little bit bulky but I'm not bothered by that at all. It comes with a twist off lid that you have to make sure you close properly or your cream eye liner will dry out. Overall, very attractive packaging! It also comes with a little brush which is very similar to the ELF Small Angled Brush, just with a shorter handle. I do prefer to use the ELF Small Angled Brush to apply this rather than the brush it comes with, but you can definitely work with the brush provided if you have to.

The colors are so pigmented! They're absolutely gorgeous. You don't need to keep going over and over to get a good, strong color. The staying power of these is pretty good, although after around five hours I noticed a little bit of smudging at the outer corners of my eyes. These are so creamy and easy to apply, too. I could never get my eye liner just right, yet with this I can achieve the perfect (well, almost!) line.

Swatches above! From left to right: coffee, gunmetal, black. I accidentally smudged the gunmetal liner at the bottom, sorry!

I really recommend these and I am definitely going to repurchase more.

5/5 ♥

Review: Clean & Clear Dual Action Oil-Free Moisturizer

I have mixed opinions on this moisturizer. It's a love/hate thing!


I was looking for a good moisturizer to use under my makeup. This is definitely not what I was looking for! It doesn't feel oil free, it feels so oily and greasy on my skin! Even if I use a little bit. And it takes ages to soak in!

It claims to 'prevent spots and blemishes' which, for me, it really doesn/t Also, whenever I put this on, it makes my skin tingle and go quite red, though I do have sensitive skin so that could be why.

This moisturizer has really helped my dry skin though. It's not magic, it's not going to work miracles and I still have a few dry patches but my skin is a lot smoother than it used to be. 

I've repurchased this twice but I don't think I'm going to repurchase it again. 

2/5 ♥

Review: ELF Studio Blush Brush

I adore this brush! It's so soft and feels really nice on your skin. Also, you can use it for so many different things! I mainly use it for applying blush, bronzer, highlighter. Since it's slightly tapered, it works really well for contouring, too. I've heard quite a few people say that they use this for liquid foundation but I don't know how that would work, I've never tried it. Another good thing about it is that it fits perfect onto the apples of my cheeks! 

If you've read my other reviews on the ELF Studio brushes you'll probably be so bored of hearing this but honestly, it looks and feels so professional. I've not had any fall out and I've washed it over ten times. It's such high quality and for only £3.50, it's pretty good! 

I really recommend this. I used to struggle with applying blush as most brushes were far too big and made me look like a clown but with this I get the most perfect application.

5/5 ♥

Review: ELF Studio Stipple Brush

This brush is probably my least favorite out of all of the ELF brushes I own. It's just too flimsy! It picks up product well and works perfectly for putting the product on but for blending? It just doesn't do it for me. The bristles are far too flimsy. I think it'd be a really good brush if only it was more densely packed.

I've seen a lot of people buy this for applying liquid foundation and they've been disappointed because it's not the best for blending. If you are going to buy this to blend in a foundation, I really wouldn't bother. 

On the bright side, I love the appearance of this brush. As I've said with all of the other ELF brushes, it feels sturdy and looks professional. I've had absolutely no fall out, either!

It's only £3.50, even less if you catch it on sale like I did, and I think it's a good brush to have, but I've yet to find a use for it.

Update: I've found a use for it! It's really nice to lightly dust on setting powder. 

3/5 ♥

Review: ELF Studio Complexion Brush

The first thing that comes to mind when I think about this brush is that it's so soft! The bristles aren't scratchy at all. It's perfect for dusting powder products over the entire face. I personally like to swirl this in my ELF Complexion Perfection and apply it over my face, it works really well for that. It could also work for applying bronzer to achieve a healthy, sun kissed glow.

Another thing is the overall appearance of it. It looks and feels so professional, sturdy and expensive, when really it's far from expensive at just £3.50. I've never had any fall out from this brush either.

Definitely think everybody should have one of these brushes in their collection.

5/5 ♥

Review: ELF Studio Powder Brush

Yes, it's the ever so famous powder brush from ELF! You've probably already heard so many things about this brush as it's honestly so good, one of my favorite brushes!

I won't lie, when I received it I was very disappointed as a few of the hairs on the brush were sticking out at an odd angle because of the way it had been packaged. I contacted ELF about this and they were very quick to reply, and told me to wash it and it'd be fine. I washed it and let it dry. A few of the hairs were still bent. So I washed it again and this time I put a hair band around the hairs to keep them in place whilst drying. It still didn't work! In the end, I actually had to cut - yes, cut - the hairs that were sticking out off with scissors! It was only a few hairs and the brush works perfectly now, but I thought I'd mention it as I believe in completely honest reviews.

That is the only bad thing I have to say about this brush and to be honest, it wasn't the brush, it was the way it had been packaged. Other than that, I am in love with this brush! I completely understand why there's so much hype about it. It's so soft and densely packed, perfect for buffing in products! The handle feels very professional and sturdy too. I've had a little bit of fall out from it, but nothing major. Only one or two hairs whilst I was washing it.

This brush can be used for so many things! Buffing in liquid foundation, applying powder/blush/bronzer, blending out products/harsh lines, and so much more. I like to spray my ELF Makeup Mist & Set onto this brush and stipple it onto my face. This really is worth every penny. Talking of money, I got it for £2.10 or something around that as they had a sale on. It's originally £3.50 which I think is ridiculous (in a good way!) for a brush of such good quality. 

Overall, I absolutely love this brush and will be purchasing another soon. I really recommend this!

Edit: I actually now use this for applying my cream foundation and it works like a dream! I cannot recommend this brush enough.

5/5 ♥

Review: Maybelline The Colossal Volum’ Express Mascara

I absolutely love this mascara! It works so well for me However, everybody has different eyelashes and it will work differently on everybody, so bare that in mind.

The packaging is gorgeous! It’s a nice shape, very unique. And the bright color makes it easy to find in my makeup collection. Now onto the ever so important brush... It is huge! They call it the ‘mega brush’ and I can see why. The only bad thing about the brush size is that it's so hard to get to my inner corner lashes without getting mascara all over my eyelid.

Finally, the actual product! I got it in black and it’s a really gorgeous, dramatic black. I applied one coat first and my naturally short, blonde eyelashes looked amazing! I then applied another coat and the volume and length I got was so good, I was impressed. It clumped a little bit but it was nothing that I couldn't brush out with a clean disposable mascara wand. It stayed on all day for me although towards the end of the day, I noticed some black bits under my lower lashes but it was about 9 hours after I had put it on. The next day, I decided to go for three coats. It really clumped and I had to take it off. So in future, I’ll stick to just two coats.

I got it for £7.19 at Boots, although the price may vary depending on where you live and where you buy it. I think £7.19 is pretty good and I wouldn’t mind paying that again. I will continue using this mascara often but I’m a girl obsessed with makeup - I’ll always be on the lookout for a new, better mascara!  

4/5 ♥

Review: Benefit Boi-ing Concealer

After reading a lot of positive reviews, I decided to try this concealer. I'm really glad I did! It's become my favorite concealer and I use it everyday. 

The packaging is okay, nothing special really. There’s not too much to say about the packaging other than the simplicity of it. You don't get a lot of product considering the price of it, but you only need a little bit of product as the coverage is really good! I use it to cover up my under eye circles and it works really well for that. I like to warm the product up before using it so that it’s creamy and blends effortlessly. On the back of the product it calls itself an ‘industrial-strength concealer’ and that’s definitely the case with this. Honestly, less is more! You do not need a lot. Take a little on a concealer brush or your finger, apply it to whatever you want to cover and gently pat to blend it out. It works okay for blemishes but I prefer using it for my under eyes. My favorite beauty guru on Youtube didn’t like this on her under eyes and preferred it on her spots and scars, so I guess you’ll just have to see what works for you.

I only have a few problems with this. One is that it’s £16.50 at my local Boots which is a bit pricey. The other is that it really doesn't work with dry skin. I have quite dry skin under my eyes and it settles into that dry skin, making it look horrible. But this problem is easily solved as I apply moisturizer and allow it to sink in before I apply my makeup. 

I'd also like to point out that there are only three shades: light, medium and dark. This can be a problem for some people, although luckily it isn't a problem for me as light matches me perfectly.

I’d definitely recommend this and will be repurchasing soon as I've hit pan. I've never hit pan on a concealer before so that's really saying something!

5/5 ♥

Review: Avon SuperExtend Mascara

I have mixed opinions on this mascara. One thing that stands out to me is that it barely clumps! Out of all of my mascaras (trust me, I have a lot) I’d definitely say this one is the least clumpy. It has one of those plastic brushes like Lash Blast which I personally like, I think it separates my lashes really well. The brush is also quite small, so it's perfect for your lower lashes. It lengthened my lashes a little bit. Nothing too special though; I think 'SuperExtend' is a bit misleading. 

Also, it gives a very natural look. I use this for school if I’m in a rush as it’s not over the top and I don’t have to spend ages brushing out clumps  However, if I want thick, dramatic lashes, I definitely don’t reach for this one. It doesn’t thicken your lashes, so if you’re looking for a mascara that will thicken your lashes and give them amazing volume, don’t bother with this one.

Honestly, all it actually does to my lashes my lashes is separate them, add a bit of length and make them black. Overall, I think this is an okay, pretty average mascara. I've actually been wearing it a lot lately for days where I'm not really doing anything special. I'd probably buy it again if it was on sale.

3/5 ♥

Review: ELF Studio Makeup Mist & Set

I was a bit wary about buying this as it's not really talked about a lot so I thought maybe it's not that good. I decided to get it anyway, as I needed something that was going to make my makeup last longer and it was only £3.50 so it wasn't going to break the bank if it didn't work for me.

I'm so glad I got it! I used to use a powder to set my makeup but I have dry skin, so the powder looked flaky and horrible. This spray is so perfect! I spray it twice onto my ELF Studio Powder Brush and stipple the product all over my face after applying my foundation and concealer. It feels so refreshing when you put it on your face! Also, it drys within a minute if anyone's wondering.

When I first tried this product, I didn't really expect it to work (no offense ELF - you know I love you!). I was amazed when I came home from school seven hours later and saw that my makeup still looked the same as when I had put it on in the morning.

I really would recommend this! Especially for people with dry skin, as using a setting powder can highlight dry patches. I will definitely repurchase!

5/5 ♥

Review: Avon SuperShock Gel Eye Liner Pencil In Black

I really do like this. It is so soft and glides on effortlessly without any pulling or tugging. Perfect for those who haven’t quite got the hang of putting on gel liner with a brush! I got it in black and it’s a gorgeous, dramatic jet black. It also doesn’t budge! I applied it in the morning and when I went to take my makeup off at night, it looked just as good as when I had applied it ten hours ago! It lasts really well on the waterline, too. A lot of people have compared this to Urban Decay 24/7 liner!

It’s really soft and creamy, which is a good thing but also a bad thing because it crumbles really easily when applying or sharpening. You have to sharpen it before every use which can be a bit of a pain but I don’t mind too much. Another thing is that it’s quite difficult to get a really thin line.

Because of those reasons, I probably wouldn't repurchase it.


3/5 ♥

Review: ELF Studio Blush In Tickled Pink

It’s official: I have found my favorite blush! This is the only blush I will use at the moment, unless I find a better one. It’s amazing, I can’t explain how in love I am with it. Let's get started!

So, the packaging. The packaging to these are always being compared to NARS packaging. I don’t own any NARS blushes but I’ve seen pictures of them and the packaging is very alike. I find that the ELF packaging is better though, as you have a little mirror on the front which allows you to see the color of the product inside. I love this packaging, it’s probably my favorite packaging to a product. It’s so sleek and professional looking. It also has a nice little mirror on the inside which isn’t too bad for touch ups during the day.

Now, the actual blush! I think you’ve probably already gathered that I love it. I never used to wear blush because I’m fairly pale and most blushes make me look like a clown. I decided to try this out as I wanted a natural flush of color on my cheeks to give my face a bit more color and wow - a natural flush of color is definitely what I got with this blush! It’s such a beautiful, matte baby pink.

The only thing with this blush is that it’s not very pigmented. In fact, it’s quite hard to overdo it. For me, this is good as it doesn’t look harsh against my pale skin and shows up as a soft, rosy pink color. But if you have medium skin or darker, you will have trouble trying to get this to show up on your face. As I said, for some people it’s a good thing, for others it’s not so good.

I have no other complaints about this product at all! It’s my favorite blush so far. I apply it with my ELF blush brush and it looks gorgeous. I definitely recommend it and I have already purchased all of the blushes in stock! I also forgot to mention the best part: it was only £3.50!

5/5 ♥