May Favourites

Where did May go?! I'm just not mentally prepared for Summer!

I feel like my May favourites are a bit boring this month, but I just haven't been feeling particularly experimental with my makeup and have just been reaching for the same things. Having said that, I have got some new exciting products to share and use, so hopefully that will get my creativity kick started!

Nivea In-Shower Body Moisturiser Skin Conditioner for Dry Skin

My lazy body moisturising routine continues with this ingenious in-shower moisturiser by Nivea. You cleanse your skin with your usual shower gel, then apply this and rinse off. This isn't the most hydrating of moisturisers and if you suffer from particularly dry skin you might not be able to use this alone. For me at the moment its enough and I love that I can skip the whole sticky moisturising situation altogether. Winner.

Shiseido Sun Protection Liquid Foundation SPF30 in Shade SP50

Each year when summer rolls round I always reach for this foundation, not only because of the high SPF but also because its waterproof. A sweaty summer saviour!

MAC Tan Pigment

Now I'm not normally a fan of loose pigments. They are just a bit too much of a faff to be messing around with, but Tan is such a pretty colour that I'm prepared to put up with a bit of faffing. This is a light pinky bronze colour, which I just wash all over my lid with lashings of mascara. This is pretty much the only eyeshadow I have worn this month.

MAC Extra Dimension Bronzer in Aphrodite's Shell

MAC's Alluring Aquatic collection was their best collection in a while and I really hope they re-release these bronzers at some point because the formula is lovely. These have got no shimmer in them but they aren't entirely matte either, they just have this beautiful sheen to them which gives you a lovely healthy glow.

Hourglass Hidden Corrective Concealer in Fair

This is all I've got left of this concealer and I will definitely miss it when its gone. This is an ultra creamy concealer which really brightens and highlights your under eye area. Because it is so creamy I don't use it on any blemishes, as I find it gets too shiny throughout the day but as an under eye concealer I love it.  I will definitely purchase this again at some point.

Burberry Lip Cover in English Rose

My favourite lipstick of all time and this is all I have left :'( Why is it that all of your favourite products seem to finish at once! This is my perfect everyday lipstick, I have featured it in on my blog countless times and while I would love to use up some of my other lipsticks first before repurchasing this, I just don't think I will be able to be without it! (Bit dramatic)

Kevyn Aucoin Celestial Powder in Candlelight

Alongside English Rose, this is one of my all time, could not live without, favourite makeup products. I could put this in every single monthly favourites post because I use it and love it every single day. Its now my favourite part of my makeup and I always put it on my bag on night outs. Believe the hype!

Sons of Anarchy

I like including one non beauty favourite each month and this month without a doubt its Sons of Anarchy. I am obsessed with this programme and more than a little bit obsessed with Jax and Opie! To give you a brief summary, its about a motorcycle club in California. Granted its no Sopranos and the Irish accents are pretty shocking but I really like the characters and it keeps you gripped. 

Bi-Phase Eye Makeup Removers

I have been on a mission to find a cheaper alternative to the Clarins Instant Eye Makeup Remover. 

I love this eye makeup remover as it removes all my eye makeup in a flash, even waterproof mascara. I don't have to scrub at my eyes and it doesn't sting or leave my skin feeling sensitive. The only thing I don't like about it is the price, there are a lot of other things I would rather spend £17.99 on, hence the search for an alternative.

The Clarins Instant Eye Makeup Remover is a bi-phase solution. Bi-Phase is where you have the 2 parts, which when you shake combine. Rather than look for any old eye makeup removers, I wanted to specifically find a cheaper bi-phase alternative, as these seem to be the most effective at removing makeup.

L'oreal Absolute Makeup Remover Eye & Lip

I have used L'oreal's Gentle Eye Makeup Remover before and this version kind of confused me because they both come in exactly the same bottle but just have a slightly different name. Anyway, the Eye & Lip version is a bi-phase formula and claims to remove all makeup, even waterproof. 

My thoughts on this are, its really good at removing non waterproof mascara but not so good with waterproof mascara. It does get it off eventually but its definitely not as good as the Clarins. I will say though, it does live up to its claim of being non greasy.

So, would I buy this as a replacement? No, seeing as this does pretty much the same job as the Gentle Eye Makeup Remover and the Gentle version is cheaper, I would buy that one again to use on days when I'm not wearing waterproof mascara but it still wouldn't replace my Clarins.

L'oreal Gentle Eye Makeup Remover is available from Superdrug £3.49

L'oreal Absolute Makeup Remover Eye & Lip is also available from Superdrug for £5.49

Nivea Daily Essentials Double Effect Eye Makeup Remover

This is my least favourite of the three. I have noticed that it separates really quickly, even after you have shaken it up. I will give it a proper good shake then as soon as I pour it on my cotton pad I can tell its separated again because at first it comes out blue then straight away goes back to clear.

Like the L'oreal this is not great at removing waterproof mascara but it also isn't that great at removing normal mascara either. I find I have to rub my eyes a lot more and sometimes my eyes feel quite sore and sting afterwards. I would definitely not recommend this and may just end up pouring it down the sink!

Nivea Daily Essentials Double Effect Eye Makeup Remover is available from Superdrug £3.29

So sadly I still haven't found a replacement for my Clarins and will have to continue paying £17.99 but I can use the L'oreal Gentle Eye Makeup Remover on the days I'm not wearing waterproof mascara and that way it should last me a lot longer!