Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser

Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser - 200ml for £24.75 via John Lewis 

99% of you will know what this is, or have used it yourself, but I'm going to share my experience and thoughts anyway. Skincare is different for everybody and various things work for different people. The Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser is supposedly suited to 'all' skin types, but I can't vouch for that. I have sensitive combination/oily skin and this hasn't caused any issues for me. 

I only gave into buying this due to all the hype around it, I wanted in on the action. I started out with a 50ml pump of the stuff, used that up, and purchased the biggest size tube (200ml). I obviously wouldn't have spent £24 on something that I didn't like, or didn't work for me.

The Liz Earle C&P is a plant-based cleanser that contains lots of lovely plant extracts and smells almost mentholy. I though this was a little strange at first, but it's not a bad smell, just a bit odd from what I'm used to with more clay-based cleansers. The formula is thick, as with most creamy hot cloth cleansers  and a little can go a long way.

I don't actually use a muslin cloth with this, I used a flannel which I find works better for me, and I don't need to go over twice to make sure ever scrap of cleanser has been wiped away like I do with muslin. I use the Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish both morning and evening and have loved the results it's given me.

My skin is oily, but dehydrated and prone to spots, so I'm careful about what I put on it skincare wise. This cleanser is gentle enough for me and doesn't dry out my skin at all. It's wonderful (and well known) for it's makeup removing abilities, and it usually gets everything off in one go. I was really impressed the first time I used this, because it made me face feel so damn clean, for the first time in ages.

I was even more impressed after a few weeks because my skin had never been clearer. I'd had a mis-hap with a cleansing water, the B. Micellar Water (review here) and this has helped clear up 80% of the mess! I've now been using this for, well ages, I can't remember exactly, but I've not really been using anything else. Sticking to just one cleanser, a few toners, and a trusty moisturiser has made a big difference to my skin. 

This cleanser, coupled with a robust skincare routine in general is just brilliant. I still want to try out other cleansers, like the Emma Hardie Cleansing Balm, but this will more than do for now.

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Benefit They're Real Mascara

Benefit They're Real Mascara - £19.50 for full size via Boots.com

I'm sure most of you know that in this months Elle Magazine, there was a 'free' deluxe mini of the Benefit They're Real Mascara. It's pretty much a massive cult product, so I was excited to get my hands on it without forking out over £9 for the same size 'mini' bottle in Boots.

My first impression was a bit 'blah'. I hadn't curled my lashes (girl in a hurry!) and it just made them look weird, flat and horrible. It's the weirdest thing a mascara has ever done, I wasn't expecting it to be  how it was. My lashes just looked like I'd used Sharpie to colour them in with no lift or curl at all. Safe to say I was disappointed, not a good start for the UK's 'No1 Bestselling Mascara'!

However, I've used this on curled lashes and it's been fine. But this raises the question of how much the mascara is doing and how much my eyelash curler is doing. I do like how my lashes look when I've applied this after curling them, they're separated and long without too much clumpy volume.

I've been using this almost everyday, as part of my makeup routine and I do like it. It lasts well, mostly I think because it is a complete and utter bugger to get off! Even my Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish wouldn't cut through it.

Overall I think it's a decent mascara, but only for when my lashes are curled. Of course everybody has difference eyelashes so it might be different on you. I wouldn't purchase this in full size, I have mascaras from Rimmel and Revlon that I like more. 

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Good Things Five Minute Facial Mask

Good Things Five Minute Facial Mask - Normaly £5.99 from Boots.com and Sainsburys 

I saw this mask floating around in the blog-a-sphere and on a random trip to Sainsburys I decided to get in on the action. I pick up this mask for a mere £3.99, a third off its usual price, bargain! I'd seriously keep an eye out for brands that are stocked in supermarkets, there are always good deals to be had.

Anyway, on to the mask itself. The Good Things Five Minute Facial Mask is my fourth(?) Good Things product and it doesn't disappoint. As with all Good Things products it's free from parabens, mineral oil, SLS and other nasties. It still has a load of stuff in it that I can't say, but you can't expect for than that for the price.

First off, it smells fab, like some fruity/floral wonderful ness. It's quick thick in formulation and I don't have to use that much to cover my face. I love this mostly because you put it on, wait five minutes (of course!), and wash it off - very quick and easy! It's very much an instant gratification mask for me, I can see my spots are less angry and gross (yay) and my skin generally feels lovely.

I wouldn't say that it's the most deep cleaning of masks, nor that it's my favourite, but even for the full retail price of £5.99 it's pretty darn good. 

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