Fenty Beauty PRO FILT'R Hydrating Foundation Review

I'm a big Fenty Beauty fan - I amassed quite a collection of products from the range fairly soon after the brand came out. I managed to time a trip to London for just after the launch so made a special trip to Harvey Nichols to get shade matched. I've got pretty good at guessing my shade online over the years (see my blog post HERE for my tips) but with Fenty bringing out 50 shades, I didn't want to risk it! I got shade matched as 110 (cool / pink undertones) and bought the original PRO FILT'R matte foundation. Theoretically, it should have been a perfect foundation for me as I'm oily skinned. However the more I used it, the more I realised it didn't work for me. It was too matte for me! I never thought that was possible but it was. So when I saw that they were bringing out a hydrating version, I knew I had to try it! It just so happened that I had enough Boots Advantage Points so I was able to get the foundation without spending a thing.

So onto the foundation - what are it's features?

• Medium to full coverage,
• Longwear,
• Hydrating thanks to Sodium Hyaluronate and Grape Seed Oil,
• Natural like-skin finish,
• Feels light and looks undetectable,
• 50 shades to suit all skin tones,
• Evens out skin tone without settling in lines or clogging pores. 
• Cruelty free.

It comes in a squeezy plastic tube with a pump. I found that I needed a couple of pumps to cover my face and neck. I find that my face is naturally darker than my neck and chest. I have some foundations that match my face, some that match my neck and some in between! I find that I have to be more careful with the ones that match my face as they're darker. I need to really make sure they're blended down onto my neck properly so I don't have a line! Shade 110 is definitely on the paler side of what suits my skin tone, so matches my neck. This does mean that it's easier to apply as I'm not worrying about lines but it can make me look a bit too ghostly so I have too make sure I warm myself up with the rest of my makeup. It's rarely simple! 

Swatch of shade 110

I wouldn't class the foundation as medium-full coverage. I'd say it's more like light-medium. It definitely didn't cover my red acne and pigmentation at all. Normally medium-full coverage would cover them better. It definitely gives a natural skin like finish which I loved. It wasn't too dewy. 

Foundation freshly applied (also wearing concealer covering blemishes)

With me having oily skin, foundations do break up fairly quickly on me. I usually find after about 6 hours of wear, I'd have signs of it breaking up in places but nothing too bad unless you look closely. I usually touch up my makeup then when I re-apply my SPF. I use a SPF mist over makeup then a powder SPF to finish. I can usually gently re-blend everything then which keeps me looking ok until the end of the day. Sadly this foundation was a mess after 2-3 hours! It separated all over my face, not just my oily t-zone. The strange thing I found was that it seemed to cling to any dry patches that I had. It actually accentuated them! To say it's meant to be a hydrating foundation, I found this pretty disappointing. When I tried to touch it up in my usual way - it just didn't work. I really didn't feel like it was hydrating at all.

I tried it with a number of different primers too - none changed the way it performed. I did find it very comfortable to wear - it's definitely light. It didn't cause any issues with my acne either which is always good. 

So sadly this wasn't a hit for me. As always with foundations - what works for one, won't work for another. I've seen plenty of positive reviews for it. Plus it all depends on what you are expecting from it. I would say, if you're oily skinned like me, try and get a sample first. 

Fenty Beauty PRO FILT'R Hydrating Foundation is available HERE for £27. 

This post contains affiliate links. 

NYK1 Lash Force Eyelash Growth Serum Review

*This post contains a PR product & affiliate links. 

If you've been following me for a while, you'll have seen me talk about this lash serum but I thought it was time to review it on my blog as well! I'd seen others using this serum on Instagram and seen the amazing results they'd had but I reserved judgement until I tried it myself. I'd tried other lash serums in the past and not had any luck with them. I'm pleased to say this one is different!

So let's start with what's in it. The main active ingredients are:

• Biotin - this promotes lashes / hair to grow.
• Riboflavin - this increases circulation and oxygenation to ensure healthy lashes.
• Swertia Japonica Extract - This stimulates hair follicles and increases micro-circulation of blood which promotes growth.
• Panax Ginseng Extract - Improves blood flow and stimulates weak hair follicles. 

The serum is meant to be applied morning and night on your lash line. It's super easy to apply as it has a thin brush applicator, like a liquid eyeliner. It doesn't sting your eyes or feel oily or greasy - in fact it doesn't leave a trace! It seems to soak up within seconds. Previous serums that I've tried have been oily and have got into my eyes which was really annoying! There's none of that with this one. You get a generous 8ml which will last you for 2-3 months - making it amazing value! Most other brands only give you 2-4ml. It's also Dermatologically and Ophthalmologist tested, so is perfectly safe. 

I saw results after about 4 weeks. It was subtle at first. I kept thinking that I'd not fully removed my mascara properly, when in fact it was my lashes becoming thicker and darker! At the 5 week mark I had visible results that I was pleased with. But then they just kept on growing! After 7 weeks my lashes were super long, so much longer than I expected! Not only were they longer but thicker and darker too. My lashes were previously so pale - you couldn't see them unless I had mascara on. Now they're becoming visible! Even my bottom lashes too. 

So onto the before and after photos. I've worn mascara in all the photos just so you can really see the lashes properly. I only wear one mascara anyway and that isTouch in Sol Stretchex. 

Before, after 5 weeks of use and after 7 weeks of use.

Before and after 7 weeks of use. 

Amazing results, right?! I still can't get over it. Needless to say, I'll be continuing to use it. I've started using this on my brows too - fingers crossed for amazing results there too!

NYK1 Lash Force is available HERE for £34.95 however you can save 10% if you use my affiliate code TORIA10. Enjoy!

It Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Concealer Review

IT Cosmetics are a brand that I've been meaning to try for ages but just never quite got round to it! So I was super pleased when they reached out to me and asked if I wanted to try some of their products. One of the products that I was sent was their best selling Bye Bye Under Eye concealer. They're currently re-promoting the concealer as they've added more shades (there's now 24) and updated the packaging. You now get more product too - a very generous 12ml. I'd heard mixed reviews about it so wasn't sure what to expect.

So lets start with the claims -

• It's full coverage and claims to be beauty sleep in a tube!
• It's water resistant.
• It's very pigmented, promising to hide all imperfections including dark circles and pigmentation.
• It's crease proof, no cracking or flaking.
• It's good for your skin, even making it look younger, as it contains peptides, antioxidants, hydrolysed collagen and hyaluronic acid.

Sounds amazing right?! IT Cosmetics advise that you only need to use a pin-head sized amount of product, which you warm up between your fingers first. You then tap it onto skin to apply and blend using their purpose build brush.

So how does it perform? Does it live up to it's claims?

I picked the palest shade which is Light Fair. This has cool / pink undertones. Luckily for me, it's a perfect match. For shade reference I'm Mac NW10 / Bobbi Brown Alabaster / Beauty Pie 100. When IT Cosmetics say that it's full coverage - they mean it! It's incredibly thick and you really do only need a very small amount. I've been squeezing it straight onto the flat side of the dual ended brush (pictured) and applying it from there. I've found that the heat of my face warms it up well enough. I then blend with the fluffy end of the brush or using a blending sponge. Both work equally as well. To say how thick it is, it blends beautifully and easily. One thing that I really love about it, is that it dries down. I've been using Trinny London Just A Touch concealer (which is a cream in a pot and doesn't dry down) for so long that I'd forgotten how much I like a concealer to set itself. Because it dries down, it's really long wearing. It doesn't smudge or wipe off easily. It's doesn't crease either which is brilliant!

Swatches of CC Cream in shade Light (Left) and Bye Bye Under Eye in shade Light Fair (Right)

I've tested it under my eyes and covering my acne too. It works brilliantly for both. It hides dark circles well, without settling in my fine lines. It's great to cover spots - it covers any redness easily. The only small negative is that it can accentuate any dryness but most concealers / base products do that, especially if they're full coverage!

This concealer has quickly become a new favourite for me but only for spot concealing. I still prefer Trinny London BFF Eye for my under eyes - purely because it's so light and hydrating. Bye Bye Under Eye has definitely replaced Just A Touch for my spot concealing though, which is saying something as I love JAT. Bye Bye Under Eye - welcome to holy grail status!

Bye Bye Under Eye costs £25 and is available from numerous retailers including IT Cosmetics HERE and Boots HERE.  

Filorga Time-Filler Cream Review

*This post contains PR items and affiliate links.

 

I've been using Filorga Time-Filler moisturiser for a while now, so thought it was time for review. Filorga are a cosmeceutical French pharmacy brand that have quickly caught my attention (see my review of Filorga's NCEF-Reverse Eyes cream HERE.)

So onto the cream....It's designed to visibly reduce lines and signs of aging leaving skin looking more youthful and revitalised. It contains concentrated Tripeptides which help relax the skin making it look smoother. The cream also contains another form of peptides which prompts the skin to produce more collagen, which in turn leaves it firmer and more taught. Encapsulated Hyaluronic acid also helps to plump out the skin and leave it hydrated. In other words, it's a good all round cream to help slow the signs of aging.

The moisturiser itself is very similar in consistency to the eye cream - it's a thick gel / cream with a smooth, silicone feel to it. This makes it very pleasant to apply to skin - it gives that lovely soft focus finish. You can see straight away that it plumps and hydrates skin, which is always a good sign! It also has the same chic fragrance as the eye cream - I'm guessing this is Filorga's signature scent. I personally like the scent but I know that it would be a no no for some people, as would the silicones. I love the feel of silicones in skincare but do find they can cause issues with pilling, which annoys me. I've been mainly using this moisturiser at night because of this, so I'm not adding SPF and makeup on top. The following morning after using this moisturiser, my skin was always well hydrated and looked fresh and plump. It definitely gives skin a boost! I've always loved Peptides in skincare for this reason - they're such an effective ingredient. I've found this moisturiser to be great for keeping skin looking firm and youthful. If you're look for a good all round cream to keep those wrinkles at bay, this could be it!

Filorga Time-Filler Cream is available HERE for £60 for 50ml.

July Empties 2019

*This post contains gifted items and affiliate links.

It's time for my July empties! 

A.Florence Skin Rehab Light (Gifted, available HERE for £27 for 50ml) - You all know how much I love A.Florence's products and this cream is no exception. This cream is designed for sensitised or comprised skin. It's packed full of amazing ingredients like Squalane, Ceramides, Centella, Beta Glucan - all designed to soothe, strengthen and heal skin. The cream is available in two versions Light and Rich. This is the light version. It's a gorgeous light cream that sinks into skin beautifully. It's completely non-greasy. It instantly soothes and hydrates. Although it's light, it's still incredibly nourishing. It's a perfect cream if you're using retinol or acids. It leaves skin plumped and soothed - it's fantastic.

Marks out of 10: 10/10

Do I recommend it? Yes, to everyone!

Will I buy it? Most definitely! I've got another bottle in my skincare stash to open soon. 

Arbonne RE9 Advanced Prepwork Soft Focus Veil SPF 30 (Gifted, available from Arbonne reps only) - This is a nice light base. I'd say it's medium coverage. It blurs imperfections well. It was a tiny bit dark for my skin tone though.

Marks out of 10: 6/10

Do I recommend it? Not really. It was ok but there's better out there.

Will I purchase? No as it's not the best shade match.

Arbonne Intelligence CC Cream (Gifted, available from an Arbonne rep only) - Again this was a tad too dark for me. It's medium coverage and helps colour correct and cover imperfections. 

Marks out of 10: 7/10

Do I recommend it? Yes

Will I purchase? No 

Touch In Sol Flawless Skin Top Coat (Gifted, available from MMCL for £22.50 or £15.75 using my affiliate code TTBSOL25) - This is a super light coverage serum style foundation. It's a typical K-Beauty "real skin" finish. I loved the finish of this but as I'm super oily, it wasn't long lasting enough with it being light coverage. Such a shame as it looked gorgeous on!

Marks out of 10: 7/10

Do I recommend it? Yes unless you have oily skin like me. It'll be especially good for dry skin types.

Will I purchase? No

Medik8 Advanced Day Total Protect moisturiser with SPF 30 (Gifted, available from numerous retailers including Medik8 for £55 or £47 from Skin City) - This moisturiser does it all. It hydrates, tackles signs of aging all whilst protecting from UVA/UVB rays. It's a nice light cream. It does smell of SPF a little bit but it doesn't feel like SPF (if that makes sense). I do find that it can sting my eyes a little bit when first applied but nothing too bad. 

Marks out of 10: 8/10

Do I recommend it? Yes

Will I purchase it? Probably not as I prefer to use a separate moisturiser and SPF.

Jordan Samuel Hydrate The Mist (bought myself, available HERE for $29) - Love, love, love this mist! It's packed with loads of humectants, like hyaluronic acid and glycerine and has calming ingredients too like cucumber extract. Super hydrating.

Marks out of 10: 9/10

Do I recommend it? Yes

Will I repurchase? Definitely! But I'm going to wait until later in the year when shipping from within the UK becomes available so I don't have to pay customs fees again!

Briogeo Scalp Revival Charcoal + Peppermint Oil Cooling Jelly Conditioner (bought as part of a set for £21, available HERE) - Now I adore the exfoliating shampoo that goes with this but sadly the conditioner fell a bit flat for me. It smelt gorgeous (mint choc chip) and was lovely and cooling on my scalp but it just didn't leave my hair very soft. I want to be able to easily run my fingers through my wet hair after conditioning without hitting tangles - I couldn't with this.

Marks out of 10: 5/10

Do I recommend it? No

Will I repurchase? No.

Paula's Choice Clear Daily Skin Clearing Treatment aka 10% Azelaic Acid Booster (bought myself, costs £37 & is available from a number of retailers including Paula's Choice, Skin City, Look Fantastic UK & USA, shop around - one of them usually has an offer on!) - This is a fantastic serum to target a number of concerns, including acne, pigmentation and texture. It's a cream consistency - although quite dry / matte if that makes sense. It layers well with all products I've used alongside it (unlike The Ordinary Azelaic Acid that pills).

Marks out of 10: 9/10

Do I recommend it? Yes

Will I repurchase? Definitely in the future.

Dr Jart Soothing Hydra Solution Sheet Mask (gifted from Askmspark.com - prices vary) - This sheet mask is designed to deeply soothe and calm skin. It did just that! My skin was left super plump after.

Marks out of 10: 8/10

Do I recommend it? Yes

Will I purchase? Yes I'd purchase this, which is a strong statement seeing as though I'm not always fussed about sheet masks.

Medik8 Crystal Retinal 6 (gifted, available from Medik8 & Skin City & other retailers for approx. £59) - You can read my full review of this serum HERE - but to re-cap...It contains a high strength form of Vitamin A that's less irritating to skin. It's very effective and works well with other products. I didn't have any irritation from this at all.

Marks out of 10: 9/10

Do I recommend it? Yes

Will I repurchase? Not this specific one as I want to try Crystal Retinal 10 next time, which is the stronger version.

Wow You Babe Butter Coconut body cream (bought myself, available HERE for £18) - This is a fantastic body cream. It's rich without being heavy or greasy. It absorbs quickly and easily and leaves skin feeling super soft and smelling amazing. The scent is a gorgeous mix of coffee and coconut - heavenly!

Marks out of 10: 9/10

Do I recommend it? Yes

Will I repurchase? Yes at some point.

Leegeehaam Tea Tree 70 BHA Toner (Gifted, available from HERE for £24.90 - now called Dr.Ceuracle Tea Tree Purifine 70 Toner) - You can read my full review of this toner HERE - but to re-cap; it's a great toner for acne prone skin like mine. It contains tea tree, BHA and Niacinamide. It's very gentle though so it perfect to use daily.

Marks out of 10: 7/10

Do I recommend it? Yes

Will I repurchase? Probably not because I prefer a hydrating toner.

Clinique Moisture Surge (bought myself available from loads of retailers including Boots, Look Fantastic for £25 for 30ml) - Wow do I love this moisturiser! It's a wonderful gel / cream consistency that hydrates skin so well. It does have that slight silicone feel to it but in a good way! It visibly plumps skin and is so cooling to apply. It's like a glass of water for your face! It's one of the only products that makes a difference to my oiliness - I'm guessing because it keeps my skin so hydrated. It's great value too!

Marks out of 10: 10

Do I recommend it? Yes! I think this cream would work for all skin types.

Will I repurchase? Most definitely! I've had to stop myself from buying it again straight away as I've got a load of creams to use up in my stash first!

Jordan Samuel Hydrate The Serum (bought myself, available HERE for $29) - This is such a gorgeous hyaluronic serum. It's not sticky, it plumps skin and keeps it super hydrated.

Marks out of 10: 9/10

Do I recommend it? Yes

Will I repurchase? Yes once it's available in the UK (some time later this year apparently).

Beauty Pie Flawless Foundation Blending Sponge (bought myself, available HERE for £4.80 for 2, if you're a member) - If you've not heard about Beauty Pie before - check out my blog post HERE. You can get your first months membership free using my referral link HERE. These are fab - very similar in texture to the original Beauty Blender. Great value too.

Marks out of 10: 8/10

Do I recommend it? Yes

Will I repurchase? Yes

Avarelle Spot Patch PM (gifted, available HERE for $7.50) - These are hydrocolloid patches that you apply to a spot overnight. They help draw out the impurities and flatten the spot. They're great if you're not wanting a harsh spot treatment.

Marks out of 10: 8/10

Do I recommend them? Yes

Will I repurchase? No because I've found another brand that I prefer as they're thinner (Dots for Spots).

Dr Jart Ceramidin liquid (bought myself from TK Maxx for about £10. Available from numerous retailers) - Sadly I didn't get on with this. I couldn't get passed the strong fragrance. Purely personal preference. Plus it smelt strongly of alcohol too. Aside from that, it was a lovely product! It was what I'd describe as an essence as it was thick. It left skin hydrated and plump, the couple of times I used it. This has been passed on now.

Marks out of 10: 4

Do I recommend it? Yes as my dislike of it is personal preference.

Would I repurchace? No.

Tata Harper Regenerating Cleanser (bought myself, available from Space NK for £37) - Wow do I adore this cleanser! You know a product is great when you cut the tube to get every last bit out! It's a slightly gritty consistency but it also contains acids so you get both lots of exfoliation. It smells amazing too - really fruity. I loved it for a morning cleanse. It left my skin super bright and smooth. The only downside is the price. It's expensive! But totally worth it in my opinion.

Marks out of 10: 10

Do I recommend it? Yes

Will I repurchace? Most definitely!

Sanctuary Spa Wet Skin Moisture Miracle (bought myself as part of a Latest in Beauty box, available from Boots for £8) - This is a lovely, light lotion that you apply to damp skin straight from the shower. I love that, it appeals to my lazy side! It's a gorgeous citrus scent too - really uplifting.

Marks out of 10: 7

Do I recommend it? Yes

Will I repurchace? Probably not. I prefer a body oil.

Derma V10 Exfoliating Foot Peel (won in a giveaway) - This felt a lot stronger that the previous foot peel I used. It said to leave it on for 90 mins - I took it off after 30. My feet started peeling after a few days and still are now.

Marks out of 10: 7

Do I recommend: Yes

Would I repurchace? No - I felt it was a bit too harsh for me.

Briskin AC-Control sheet mask (gifted - available HERE from Ask.Ms.Parks) - This mask was amazing! It's bio-cellulose rather than traditional paper. If you've not tried bio-cellulose before it's basically a gel / rubber consistency. It sticks to skin better, fits better & feels better! This was super hydrating with lots of serum left over. I kept this to use with my LAB LED device.

Marks out of 10: 9

Do I recommend it? Yes

Will I repurchace? Yes! And that's saying something as I'm not a huge sheet mask fan.

Lore Originals Legend Hair Mask (bought myself as part of a beauty box - can't remember which one! Available HERE for £38 for 6) - I've used one of these masks before and loved it. You apply it to dry hair, which appeals to my lazy side. My hair must be much longer than when I last used it as sadly one sachet wasn't enough to cover my hair fully. It did leave my hair softer though.

Marks out of 10: 8/10

Do I recommend it? Yes but be mindful that you'll need 2 sachets per use, if you have long / thick hair.

Will I repurchase? No, I've had similar results with much cheaper products.

Dr Jart Ceramidin Gel Cream (bought myself for about £12 - now discontinued but you can still find them in some TK Maxx stores which is where I bought this from) - This was a gorgeous textured cream but sadly it has the same scent as the liquid so I didn't like it. It's now been passed on.

Marks out of 10: 5 purely marked down for the scent!

Do I recommend it? Yes it's a lovely cream.

Would I repurchase? No

Touch In Sol Non-Stop Swift Black Liner (Gifted, available from Boots for £9.50 or MMCL.com for £6.95 if you use my affiliate code TTBSOL25 to save 25%) - I adore this liner - it's one of the best I've tried! It's super black, with a really fine brush tip so you can be extra precise with your wings. It lasts all day and doesn't smudge or flake either. 

Marks out of 10: 10

Do I recommend it? Yes

Will I repurchase? Yes but I'm using up the Too Faced Better Than Sex Easy Glide (HERE) one first. I received it from Boots review panel. I have to say it's on par with the Touch In Sol one but it's double the price, so it's no contest. 

Pixi Beauty Glow Glycolic Boost sheet mask (PR, available from Pixi for £10) - This was a lovely sheet mask. It was a good fit, with plenty of serum. There was even some left over! It left my skin hydrated and bright.

Marks out of 10: 8/10

Do I recommend it? Yes

Will I repurchase? Yes

Sol de Janeiro Brazilian 4 Play Moisturising Shower Cream-Gel (bought myself, available from Space NK & Cult Beauty for £10) - This is a lovely body wash. It has the same heavenly scent as the bum bum cream. It lathers well and leave skin feeling super soft and nourished. The scent lingers nicely too.

Marks out of 10: 9

Do I recommend it? Yes

Will I repurchase? Already have.

And that's it for this month! Thanks for reading.