Rimmel Gentle Eye Make Up Remover

A while ago (as in many years) I was looking around for an eye make up remover.  I'd had a sample of Chanel biphase one which had been awesome but was also (I suspected) out of my price range for every day use.

I did a bit of research and this Rimmel product got some very promising reviews.  I've been using it ever since and have recommended it to other people who have been just as happy.  This includes people who wear contacts and have had issues with other products irritating their eyes.

In Australia this retails around $10 but last time I bought it I found it a bit tricky to find (in the end, I snared the last bottle in David Jones).  Maybe availability has improved since.

As an eye make up remover, all it has to do is remove eye make up.  It does the job well and unless you cake eye make up on or use some kind of industrial mascara you should be happy.  I find that generally only one or two wipes of the eyelid are required, with a bit more attention to eye lashes.  And while I recently raved about Lancôme's Hypnôse mascara, that too came off nicely with this product.

I should caveat this by noting that I do generally give the cotton pad a good soaking with the eye make up remover. My logic is that I don't want to be dragging anything across the delicate skin around the eyes, so the more the better. A big tick from me - definitely a go to product.

In theory, available where Rimmel is sold. RRP ~ $10.

Rimmel.

Source: purchase.

Carmex Lip Balm

My first encounter with Carmex was quite a few years ago when I won a package of beauty goodies.  The tiny little put of Carmex was lucky it didn't get given away because lip glosses/balms are those things that I tend to have a ton of.

Anyway, I didn't give it away and I'm glad I didn't because Carmex absolutely rocks.   Texture wise it is almost like lanolin and it contains salicylic acid which helps smooth your lips (but also makes it feel really tingly when it goes on).  There's nothing fancy about Carmex:  it's unscented and I suspect it's also not coloured.

Earlier this year I was on a trial where I received a Carmex stick.  A lot of the time I have very long fingernails, so lotions and potions in pots can prove a little tricky (even though I have perfected the art of scooping stuff out with the back of my nail!).  The Carmex stick removes that hassle, and even if you have short nails - no sticky fingers.

Excellent stuff!

Widely available, price varies on format, but you're looking at about $6.50 for a tub.

Carmex.

Source:  trial sample.

Clarins HydraQuench Cream

I think we've probably established that I like Clarins products.  This moisturiser isn't my first choice but it's very good and, as I have quite a few of these in 'gift with purchase' size, I've been using it.

It comes in two flavours:  "normal to dry" and "very dry".  I've been using the "normal to dry" which is perhaps not the most accurate description of my skin type (combination is much better!) but, as my skin is usually pretty dehydrated, I can cope with richer creams.

As is usual with Clarins products, a lovely light scent:  fresh and plant like.  The cream is quite rich but I found my skin soaked it up quickly.  I actually started using it while I was on holiday - after a few flights my skin was very dehydrated and a bit flaky on the cheeks and this did a fantastic job of sorting that out.

On the down side, there's no SPF (internationally, an SPF version is available but it doesn't seem to be in Australia ... this may be to do with our labelling laws rather than different formulations), so you will need to add sunblock.

On the up side, Clarins actually recommends this for use both morning and night - so you remove the need for a night cream!  That's excellent!  And actually, now I've read that I'm going to stop using the Griffin + Row moisturiser at night and use this instead.

Definitely one to consider if you have dry or dehydrated skin.

Available at Clarins counters, RRP $70.

Clarins.

Source:  gift with purchase.

Lancome Hypnose Mascara

Mascara - one of those things that I hardly ever buy because I am always getting a sample of it in a gift with purchase or from the counter.

Also one of those things that I hardly ever buy because I hardly ever wear it.  One of the reasons I hardly ever wear it is because I invariably end up with panda eyes before the night is over.  It really does my head in - I head to the loo midway through the evening and discover I've started growing dark rings around my lashes ...

So I was really surprised when I tried Hypnôse because that didn't happen.  And that included a walk to the train station in some wind (which always makes my eyes water).

Good coverage, a nice natural look (I only ever use mascara on my upper lashes anyway) and no panda eyes mid way through the evening.

I also found it pretty easy to take off (though that's all about the eye make up remover, really).

Very impressed.  So much so I've already recommended this product on twitter.

Available at Lancôme counters, RRP $52.

Lancôme

Source:  gift with purchase.

Griffin + Row Nourish Moisturiser

Griffin + Row is an Australian company, making botanical based skin care products.  The Griffin + Row skin care routine is five steps which sounds excessive, but one of those steps is actually a night cream. 

The products are all based around the centess+ complex, which seeks to addresss the four causes of ageing (lack of hydration, free radicals, lack of oxygen and diminished collagen).

First up, this cream (which is step 4) is quite thick and smells very strongly of lavender.  I'm not a huge fan of strongly scented creams and this did have a bit too much of an 'old lady' smell about it.  It immediately made me think of the type of product one of my grandmas would use.

I felt the cream was too thick for me to use as a day cream, so I've been using it as a night cream.  While it is emollient I don't really find it hydrating at all.

Not for me at all, I'm afraid.

Available online and at selected retailers.  RRP $32.99.

Griffin + Row.

Source:  trial sample.

Clarins Pure Melt Cleansing Gel

Up front I have to confess to being a huge Clarins fan and have been for a very long time.  If you ever get the chance to have a Clarins in store facial (particularly in one of the larger stores where Clarins has its own dedicated beauty room) I recommended you give it a go.

I first used this gel when I got a sample in a gift with purchase.  I loved it from the outset.  It's a gel which melts into a cleansing oil.  Squeeze a little out of the tube, rub your hands together and apply it to DRY skin.  Rinse off and you have clean, soft skin.  None of the squeakiness or dryness that you can experience with something soap based.

This is easily my favourite cleanser (at the moment ...).  It just does a great job.  There's no overpowering smell and it's easy to use and rinse off.

NOTE that you do apply this to DRY skin.  Don't wet your face or hands first or you will be disappointed.

This doesn't foam up and, obviously, it is basically a cleansing oil - so if you want foaminess or you really dislike using oils it's probably not for you.

Everyone else should give it a go!

Available at Clarins counters.  RRP $48.

Clarins.

Source:  purchase.

Puretopia Glowingly Smooth Body Polish

With an insanely long name (Glowingly Smooth Exfoliating and Renewing Body Polish) this might be a tricky one to remember.  With Amazonian Acai and Guarana it's "for everyone".

But is it?

The good points about this body scrub are many:  it's a good mix of both coarse and smooth beads (which I love), it rinses off really easily and I found myself with lovely soft skin afterwards.

So far, so good.

However - the smell.  My goodness - it smells like Midori.  Strongly.  Which, in my books, means it smells horrible.  I also can't imagine too many chaps being thrilled to use a product that smells like this!!!

At least the smell doesn't hang around (you don't leave the shower smelling like a cocktail) but for me, that's enough to put me off.

Also paraben and sulfate free, and both Australian owned and made.

Widely available for around the $15 mark.

Puretopia.

Source:  prize