Review || Boots Essentials Refreshing Cucumber Range

I have always been a very big fan of Boots own brand called 'Essentials'. I have been using their moisturiser and cleansing lotion since I was 16 and they're my holy grail products. Recently I decided to buy the whole collection excluding the face wash and eye makeup remover pads as I don't think they're worth trying due to having something similar in the past (not saying that those ones aren't good). I went for the cucumber collection as have combination skin which can be sensitive, as I know for a fact that cucumber extract helps calm redness. I love the scent of all the products as it is fresh and makes my skin feel energised and clean. Right, let's get onto reviewing the products!

Boots Essentials Refreshing Cucumber Cleansing Wipes £1.00

I don't really like using wipes, I prefer to cleanse my skin with lotion and makeup remover and then wash it off rather than rubbing my makeup into my skin by using wipes. However, these wipes are different from the ones I've tried before as they don't rub my makeup in, but get rid of it instantly. I would say I only need two wipes to take my whole makeup off which is pretty impressive as with other cheap wipes I will probably use up around 5 to just try and take my mascara off! They are very soft and lightly fragranced but the scent doesn't irritate me at all as it is mild and makes me feel like I've been to the spa after as it leaves my skin feeling very soft! These wipes have since been reformulated and are now biodegradable.

Boots Essentials Refreshing Cucumber Eye Makeup Gel Remover £1.50

I don't use this product too often as I find it too watery and slightly sticky to take my mascara off but I don't mind it for taking my foundation off as it does the same job as micellar water. I must say that I am really disappointed with this product and I don't think it's good at all. It's merely okay, but it won't take any eye makeup off - especially not waterproof or high-end mascara. I much prefer the Nivea Double Effect Eye Makeup Remover, which is a decent dupe for Clinique's Take The Day Off Liquid Remover.

Boots Essentials Refreshing Cucumber Cleansing Lotion £1.50

I love love love this product. It takes all my makeup off within seconds and lasts for ages. It is a good dupe for Liz Earle's Cleanse & Polish makeup remover as it melts the makeup off while moisturising and cleansing the face. I do usually tend to wash this off with warm water and I don't use a flannel - I prefer to use cotton pads as I find them more convenient. I do think that a warm flannel might work better with this product as it'll help to slightly exfoliate your skin after a long day of wearing makeup.

Boots Essentials Refreshing Cucumber Facial Toner £1.50

This is a really good toner, especially for the price. I have repurchased this product many times as it is so affordable and always leaves my skin feeling fresh, soft and well cleansed. It's suitable for all skin types and doesn't irritate the skin. I find that it helps to reduce the redness on my skin and keep my blemishes down. This would make a great first toner for anyone with acne-prone skin, and I wish I used it when I was younger.

Boots Essentials Refreshing Cucumber Eye Gel £1.50

I was a bit hesitant when it came to purchasing this product as I've read mixed reviews of it and never really liked any eye gels, but I have actually really enjoyed using this product. I find it refreshing on my skin and it does make my under-eyes feel refreshed as well as reduce any swelling I might get from not getting enough sleep. I tend to use this product mostly in my morning routine, as I find it helps to wake me up.

Boots Essentials Refreshing Cucumber Moisturising Cream £1.50

This is one of the best moisturisers I have ever used. At such an affordable price it not only hydrates and softens the skin but also helps to reduce redness and blemishes (in my case anyway). I really do recommend this product to anyone who's trying to save some money and still expect great results. I always repurchase it and I'm never disappointed with the results! At only £1.50 for 100ml, this should last you at least 6 months!

Boots Essentials Refreshing Cucumber Facial Scrub £1.50

I am really fussy when it comes to facial cleansing products such as scrubs. I usually tend to go for Clearasil or Neutrogena, so when I picked this up I was hoping it would be as good as the other products from the collection! I really want to say that I love this because of the texture and scent, but it doesn't do anything for my skin at all :(

It's good for cleansing but I expect more from a scrub - I want it to exfoliate my whole face leaving it feeling right and fresh but it just makes me want to wash it again with a different product. Update - I have since worked in skincare for 3 years and can say that this product is actually pretty good, especially for those who have dry or acne-prone skin. It isn't a rough scrub, but that doesn't mean that it's not doing its job! (I do not use abrasive scrubs anymore and would happily try this one again).

Boots Essentials Refreshing Cucumber Clay Face Mask £1.50

I love this face mask! It does wonders for my skin, moisturises it while getting rid of all the toxins and dead skin cells. I find that it cleanses my skin well leaving it feeling fresh and soft. Using this mask twice a week will give you the best results, but don't overuse it or keep it on your skin for longer than the required 3 minutes as it might dry you out.

For 50ml per tube, this is a very affordable product that lasts around 3 months with regular use, so I'd definitely recommend this product! 

Boots Essentials Facial Exfoliating Sponge £1.75

I needed an exfoliating sponge and because Boots had an offer on all the essential products 3 for 2 then I decided to get one to try it out. I am really happy with this as it really gets rid of all excess oils and dirt from my face leaving it feeling baby smooth. The only thing which you might not like about this is that both sides are quite rough and it does hurt a bit if you have sensitive skin, but in that case, you could use it as a body exfoliator instead.

On top of the products already mentioned in this post, I would also recommend the face wash from this range but you should avoid the micellar water as it is absolutely rubbish.

Have you tried any of these products? If so, what did you think of them? 

*This post contains some affiliate links.

Lots of love,

Maya xo

REVIEW || ESTEÉ LAUDER DOUBLE WEAR MAXIMUM COVER FOUNDATION IN CREAMY VANILLA

Who's still struggling with finding the perfect foundation? Me Me Me!! But not any more. Now that I've found my long lost best friend I am forever happy. This miracle foundation is what everyone with any skin concerns needs. It does its job better than any other foundation I have ever tried - and trust me, there have been many.

I have heard so many good things about Estee Lauder's Double Wear foundations and have decided to try out both of them. I went to my local Estee Lauder counter at Boots and asked for a sample of the normal Double Wear and one of the Maximum Cover. I got given the shades 'Cool Bone' for Double Wear and  'Creamy Vanilla' for Maximum Cover. What I can tell you is that the colours did NOT match my skin tone at all. I am usually NW10 or NC15 in MAC foundations, depending on the type and consistency so I would expect to be similar colours in Estee Lauder but I guess it's just the personal opinion of the staff that work there, as well as the store's lighting.

After long consideration, I decided to purchase the Maximum Cover foundation in the shade 'Creamy Vanilla' as it is the lightest shade in the collection - not very impressed with the shade range, I'm hoping that the brand will consider expanding their shade range for lighter and darker skin tones in the future. And I am very impressed with the coverage it offers. It makes my skin look flawless, slightly orange (yikes) but flawless. Okay, I am exaggerating a little bit, it doesn't make me look orange but it is a lot darker than my natural skin tone so I have to blend it very well which can be time-consuming, or I would apply some fake tan to match this shade. However, you do not need a lot of product for full coverage which I like about this foundation as it is expensive and will probably last me for a year. A little goes a long way!

You can see here how dark it actually is and I only put the smallest amount on the back of my hand! I would say a pea-sized amount would be enough to conceal acne and scarring on my face (not saying that you need to do this). The consistency is very different from all the foundations I have ever tried. It is very velvety and smooth and almost like a cloud?? I cannot explain the texture of this foundation but it doesn't feel like you have any on your face after application so it's very good for people who wear heavy make-up and dislike the feel of it. I forget I'm wearing a full face of make-up when I use this foundation! 

Overall, I am very pleased with this product as it truly is a lightweight and very full coverage. A little goes a long way, meaning that one tube should last around 6-12 months even with daily use. Sadly, the shade range isn't great but hopefully, you'll be able to find the closest match to your skin tone. Sometimes I mix it with my NW10 studio fix foundation as it's too light for me at the moment. A girl can never win... but it's a definite 9/10!! YAY! - Estee Lauder has since updated their colour range and has added a few new undertones too.

If you are looking for a foundation that's similar to this one without breaking the bank, then have a look at the comparison between these two foundations.

Have you tried any of the Estee Lauder foundations? What did you think?

*This post contains affiliate links.

Lots of love,

Maya xo

REVIEW || BATTLE OF THE PRIMERS - MAC SKIN BASE VISAGE VS BENEFIT POREFESSIONAL VS THE BODY SHOP INSTABLUR

One of the most frequently asked questions is 'how to get flawless skin?'. Well, ladies and gentlemen, I have the answer to your question - PRIMER. Even the best foundation won't give you the same effect as it would with the use of a good primer. In this post, I will talk about three top-rated primers and what I really think about them.

Benefit Porefessional Primer Review:

First, we've got Benefit's POREfessional which was my very first primer ever. It is rated No. 1 best selling primer in the UK! So I bet all of you are thinking - is it really that good? I must have it! Let's take a look at the packaging of the product. It is in a form of a long slim tube which is easy to squeeze out. It feels like silicone when you touch it (the packaging) and is also soft when you bend it to get the product out. 

On the front of the product, it tells you what it is and what it's used for. Best way to apply this product is to use it on top of your moisturiser but only on the t-zone unless you are going for the more-than-flawless look. It definitely can dry the skin out so I'd say avoid putting too much on as a little goes a long way.

Few of the advantages of this product are that it is very silky and lightweight when you put it on. Your skin will feel very smooth and velvety in touch. This is literally the best feeling in the world, it's like stroking a puppy for the first time! It is also oil-free which means that it will reduce the appearance of oily skin and give you a smooth effect without the shine.

The instructions that come with this product are written in a few languages, which will make this a great gift for someone that lives overseas or doesn't understand English. The product itself is very soft and silky in touch and easy to apply. Just make sure that you moisturise your face and let it dry before you apply any sort of primer on your face.

As you can see it is a beige colour, however, it applies without colour on your face and doesn't seem to leave a white cast on darker skin tones either. It smoothes out pores, fine lines and wrinkles and leaves a protective, soft in touch layer on top of your skin so the foundation stays on for longer and doesn't clog up your pores. I do find that this primer works best with a satin-finish foundation.

This is by far my favourite primer and sadly I have run out of the big tube and will definitely repurchase it around Christmas time or maybe for my birthday as a little treat!

Overall rating: 9/10

You can buy this product for £29 here or the bigger size for £47 here.

MAC Skin Base Visage Review:

Next, we have MAC's Prep+Prime Skin Base Visage. I have heard many good things about this primer and have always wanted to try it out for myself and see if it's worth the hype or not. The packaging of this primer is very elegant and looks rather luxurious. The bottle is shiny and silky in touch which gives it the proper catwalk-product effect. Very simplistic design, yet super effecting. I think that it appeals to make-up geeks such as myself as it just looks so sophisticated.

Little info on what the product is and how to use it, just like the Benefit primer, it's also written in other languages. It is advised to use this product up within 6 months of the day you opened it, however, the Benefit primer lasts for up to 12 months which might be the better option if you don't wear makeup every day and are looking for products with a longer shelf life.

This primer is very luminous, it shines from left to right as if to wake your face up and give it a natural glow. The consistency is very similar to a face cream which makes it a lot easier to apply the product and spread it out evenly. You can also use this product without a moisturiser as it calms and soothes the skin while blotting out redness and oil leaving the skin shine-free but with a natural radiance. So this is a multi-tasking skincare primer that'll make a good primer for normal skin types that are lacking a bit of glow. I would highly recommend to never replace a moisturiser with a 2 in 1 product though!

Overall rating: 8/10

You can buy this product for £24 here.

The Body Shop InstaBlur Primer Review:

As you can already probably see, this is an obvious dupe of Benefit's POREfessional. The packaging looks similar and even the shape of the packaging is the same. The packaging feels really soft to the touch but matte at the same time, it almost feels like the anti-slip grip on slipper socks! It is called the 5-action perfector, we shall see if it's really that good...

The all-in-one slogan states that the product controls shine, reduces the appearance of pores, conceals blemishes, unifies complexions and extends make-up wear. Sounds pretty perfect for anyone who gets super shiny and has blemishes, right?

This is an actual translucent primer, so it should suit all skin tones and types unless you are allergic to any of the ingredients then obviously stay away or try a sample of it first. Unlike Benefit and MAC, this primer's shelf life is 24 months from the day you open it, so even if you don't use it every day you don't have to worry about it expiring after a few months which is a win-win situation yay!

As you can see the primer' consistency looks a bit curdled. It comes out in chunks and won't come out of the tube easily so you have to squeeze it out quite hard but carefully so just enough product comes out but not too much. This primer feels like pure velvet in touch, it is very similar to the POREfessional in the way it feels on the skin and smells divine! I think this might not be the best choice for you if you have sensitive skin as it might be perfumed.

Once you start applying the product you will notice that it creates a thick-ish layer over your skin which might feel slightly cakey on the skin. I would suggest spreading the product out thinly so it doesn't give you the cakey feeling.

After applying the primer in circular motions I noticed that it smoothed out my pores very well, but left my skin feeling a bit heavy. I am not the biggest fan of this product as it does rub off quite easily, but who knows it might be just because my skin type is so awkward that it only agrees with certain products?

Overall rating: 6/10

You can buy this product for £15 here.

Have you tried any of these primers in the past? If so, what was your opinion?

*This post contains affiliate links.

Lots of love,

Maya xo