Spring Clean Make Up BLOG SALE! MAC, Benefit, Urban Decay, Sleek, Smashbox, OPI + More

Updated May 2012: I've removed items as they've sold as this post was very pic heavy, but there are still a few left so if you fancy anything below give me a shout in the comments or email me at clickandmakeup@gmail.com.  I will be adding more items very soon so check back in a few weeks!

These bits for sale are from my personal make up collection. They are all perfectly good products but I either have dupes of these or they don't suit me (in my old age I am moving away from bright colours towards a more sedate pallete...)

THINGS TO NOTE

1. I will post to UK and Northern Ireland addresses only
2. Items will be sent by Royal Mail Recorded Delivery 
3. Postage and packaging is £2.75 plus £0.65p per additional item (updated on 30th April 2012 to reflect Royal Mail postage cost increases)
4. Prices are in Great British Pounds
5. All sales are first come first served basis, no reservations
6. List the item(s) you want in a comment below this post and leave your PayPal email address so I can invoice you
7. Please let me know in advance if your postal address is different to the one associated with your Paypal postal address
8. All payments must be made by PayPal. It is the safest method for both buyer and seller. Items will be marked as Pending until payment is received. Payment must be made within 24 hours of me sending you a PayPal invoice
9. No returns - all sales are final. Please ask any questions or check swatches online before purchasing
10. I will package the items as securely as possible (I've been stockpiling bubble wrap!) however I cannot be held responsible if anything happens to it in transit. 
11. Sanitising will be left up to you.  Check out this video from MissChevious for some handy tips:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8re-3ShqYa4

Any questions, just ask!

Eye Make Up Removers Overview - Bourjois, Botanics, No7 + Lancome

I shudder to think of all the years I spent scrubbing heavy eye make up off with sub-standard eye make up removers - that poor delicate eye skin!  I'm pretty sure that's why I have a few more lines around my eyes than I should ¬_¬

Two-phase cleansers which need to be shaken to blend the parts are a revelation and the only formulation which effectively removes even waterproof mascara without too much scrubbing.

The latest one I've tried is Bourjois Express Eye Make Up Remover for £4.99 at Boots.

You get a massive 200mls which will last you at least 2-3 months of everyday use.  While I do like it, and have seen others compare it to Chanel's offering (made by the same company after all), I do feel it's not as effective as my beloved No7.  You really need to drench the cotton wool pad to avoid having to rub the eye area a lot.  However it is described as 'non oily' which the No7 definitely is.  I don't mind a bit of oiliness if I'm only going to bed right after, but if you need to remove make up with the intention of reapplying right away, you may prefer this Bourjois one.

Although you get a lot for your money with this one, as long as the No7 £5-off vouchers keep coming, I'll be sticking with old faithful.

I've lost count of the number of bottles of this No7 Cleanse & Care Eye Make Up Remover I've gone through, but it's definitely double figures.

Although you only get 100mls for £7.75, you need less of the product that the Bourjois one, so it lasts about 1 - 2 months, and if you have the aforementioned quids off voucher you get it for only £2.75.  I always stock up and have never paid full price for it.

I can't say enough good things about this product - it is firmly one of my holy grails.  

It demolishes waterproof mascara and Illamasqua's stubborn Precision Ink no problem.  If my make up is very heavy I soak a cotton pad and hold it over my eyes, gently pressing for about 5-10 seconds, then wiggly a bit and repeat until my eyes are clean.

I always find a small residue beneath my eyes in the morning so I just take another cotton pad, dot a little bit of remover onto it and wipe off.

I buy Botanics Soothing Eye Make Up Remover whenever I'm out of No7 and I'm waiting for the next voucher round and it does a pretty decent job, but it's not as oily or nourishing.

It's £3.05 for 150mls from Boots, which is fabulous value, but I think the packaging really lets it down.  It's so fiddly to remove the cap (remembering of course to shake it first) and I always spill out more than I need, leading to wastage.  For this reason I always hang onto an empty No7 container and dispense the Botanics one into it for ease of use.

Last but not least is the mother of all two-phase eye make up removers...Lancome's Bi-Facil (125mls for £20 at Boots)  

While I've never bought a full size of this one, I've had many a travel-size sample which convinced me about the fabulousness of the two-phasers.  For £20 it of course works fantastically, tackling waterproof mascara without a blink (see what I did there?!) but I honestly can't detect much of a difference between this and the No7 one - they're the exact same shade of blue even!  The only reason you'd pay almost 10 times more is to have a nice bottle and brand name in your bathroom, and of course, this is a good enough reason for many!

All in all, I urge you to try the No7 eye make up remover if you haven't already!

What's your favourite eye make up remover? Have I missed any vital ones?

***Enter my Calvin Klein & Stila eyeshadow palettes giveaway HERE***

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To Buy or Not To Buy (Again!) #1

Is it just me or does your life seem an unending struggle to cull clutter? This beauty blogging lark has only worsened conditions but I must say I've found some pretty darn amazing products which do make up for living in what feels like a mini Boots outlet.

I have 7 products here which have all finished up around the same time.  Oh that sweet satisfaction of chucking an empty container of something you loved (or hated!) in the bin knowing that it can only mean one thing - shopping for a replacement!

So here's my list:

To Buy

1. Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer in 1 Fair - oh yes, I've already bought the replacement in fact.  My all time favourite, holy grail concealer.  Even if this was big bucks I'd buy it, but for around £4 you can't go wrong.  Extended love letter to this product coming soon!
2. Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation in 51 Vanilla - this is nice skin in bottle.  I've raved about this enough on here so it's no surprise it's replacement in waiting in the wings already!
3. Batiste Dry Shampoo in Fresh - LOVE this version of Batiste as I find it doesn't make my nose as itchy as some of the other scents.  It really soaks up the oil better than the Tropical and Blush versions too.  I couldn't live without it.
4. Mitchum Deodorant in Powder Fresh - would you call this a beauty item? hmm, anyway I whacked it in there as I've used this product without diversion for the past four years.  The Powder Fresh scent is gorgeous.  Give it a try.

Not to Buy

1. YES YES YES/ OUI OUI OUI Lip Butter - NO NO NO.  Bought this after it was raved about by various YouTubers.  Hate it. Glad it's discontinued.  Horrid consistency, not moisturising, and only good thing I can say about it was it had a decent taste, a bit like passionfruit.
2. i.d BareVitamins Skin Rev-er-Upper - I got this with a starter set of Bare Minerals foundations and brushes which is a fantastic set, but from day one this moisturiser/primer smelled rank.  It smelled off. I thought it was mine so I went back to the shop and sniffed the tester and it also had the off whiff so I guess that's just how it is.  For this reason alone I wouldn't repurchase, but other than that it is a nice light moisturiser for oily skin so I used it in the mornings.  Doesn't contain SPF though which is a drawback.
3. John Freida Sheer Blonde 3 Minute Tone Booster - I bought this when I got a lot of blonde highlights the summer before last.  It has a purple tinge to it and is supposed to brighten blonde tresses. I can't say that I noticed any real difference in the vibrancy of the blonde but what I hated was that my hands would seriously tingle and itch after use and the product had a very chemical - almost ammonia smell - so I don't think it was great to have it all over my hands!  However John Freida used to make a Radiant Red tone booster which was amazing and really did boost colour.  However it's sadly been discontinued but if any of you want to join a petition with me, let me know!

Enter my Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser giveaway here.

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February Favourites

I haven't posted a set of monthly favourites since November as nothing had really inspired me so December and January would likely have been a rehash of the same old stuff.  Okay Bourjois Healthy Mix is still in there, but I don't think I'll ever stop loving this foundation!

Last month I was loving:

Bourjous Healthy Mix Foundation - Vanille 51 - I've almost finished this and have the back up ready and waiting!

MAC Wonder Woman Lipstick in Marquise D' - see a more detailed post on it here

No7 High Lights Illuminating Powder in Dandy Pink - I've really got into using this as a finishing powder like I do with Benefit Dandelion, but sadly it's been discontinued so I must start saving it!

e.l.f Blush in Gotta Glow - definitely NOT a blush, but a fabulous pale golden highlight powder akin to NARS Albratross at a fraction of the cost.

MaxFactor Miracle Touch Liquid Illusion Foundation in Creamy Ivory 40 - have had this for ages but only unleashed it's full potential with my GOSH foundation brush.  It's like a different product! Full review coming soon.

Maybelline Dream Mousse Blush in Dolly Pink - I can't get enough of cream blushes at the moment, and while this is my favourite for the time being, the search continues as I'm not completely enamored with the small glitter particles in the formulation.  Click here for swatches.

EOS lipbalm in Lemon Drop - I use this every morning to soften my lips while I do my make up and they're in perfect condition by the time I apply my lippy.  The taste is really growing on me too.

Benefit Eye Bright - I already loved this pale pink pencil for my browbone and nose-to-mouth lines, but now I use it to line my lower waterline and it's so much more natural than white.  Love it.

Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow in Birthday Suit - I love all my pots of this but this colour is beautifully neutral and looks great on it's own with some mascara and eyeliner or used as a eyelid primer. Click here for swatches of all my CCSs.

Sweet Disposition by The Temper Trap has been topping my iTunes Most Played list for the past month.  This song give me tingles.  I couldn't embed the video in this post but you can check it out here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxKjOOR9sPU

My Favourite Rose Gold Blushes

Is there anything prettier than a rose gold blush?

Getting MAC's Dainty with a holiday set last Christmas kick-started my passion and my little collection has grown a bit.

One thing I've found is that price doesn't really matter when it comes to colour or quality, from the cheapest - Sleek's £3.99 - to the dearest - NARS' £20.50 there are beautiful rosey gold blushes out there to suit every budget.

And so, below you see:

Top row: Milanli Luminous, MAC Dainty, Bourjois Rose D'Or
Bottom row: NARS Orgasm, Make Up Store Lust, Sleek MakeUP Rose Gold

And swatched, in the same order as above:




At the moment I'm going through a NARS Orgasm phase as I only got it a couple of months ago, but I do find it could be more pigmented.  

From the swatches you can see Sleek's the the most pigmented, and also, I find, the creamiest to blend, but you can overdo it sometimes!

Bourjois' Rose D'Or is actually more of a fuchsia pink under flash, but very flattering on my pale skin.

I've loved Dainty for a long time now, but swatched alongside all the others it looks too orange for my liking, and the same could be said to a lesser extent, for Make Up Store's Lust.

This week I'm planning on getting better acquainted with Milani Luminous.  It's mainly available in the US but you can get it online too for around $5.99.

                                                                                                                                                               
The newest addition to the collection is Rose D'Or from Bourjois. For years I was addicted to Lune D'Or. This one is very shimmery, but more pigmented than I remember Lune being. Unlike most I actually like the little brush which comes with it as its stiffness helps to scoop up a good amount of powder, I then blend it out with a fluffier brush, like the MAC 168.

One blush I forgot to take a snap of before starting this post is e.l.f's Studio blush in Candid Coral. It's very similar to NARS Deep Throat, and also resembles Orgasm. If you're looking for a great budget blush that's flattering on a wide range of skin shades, then I suggest you check it out!

Are there any other rose gold blushes I MUST have in my collection?!

July Favourites

Quite a random mix of favourite products in July - a few of them have featured in previous faves lists, but a favourite is called such for a reason!

These products are making repeat appearances.  St. Moriz self tanning mousse has revolutionised my summers and no matter how fat I'm feeling (or actually, am) a bit of tan makes all the difference.  The first time I applied it with my hands - a disaster - but the Boots tanning mitt protects your hands from looking freakish and helps avoid streaking.  I ordered my St. Moriz from Amazon Marketplace but you can also pick it up from Savers.

Given that I can't tan naturally my other summer beauty must have is a high SPF face sun block.  I've tried about 6 and the No7 one is my favourite for acting as a moisturiser and sinking in fast so I can get my slap on over it in a rush!

To make my pale face match my St. Moriz'd body I use MAC's Minieralized Skin Finish in Light Flush to give me a light bronzed glow.  Recently I've started using it to lightly contour too.

You can read more in depth thoughts on these products in my May and June Favourites posts.

My hair always get greasier faster in the hot weather, so Batiste dry shampoo freshens it up and I find it also adds volume.   Batiste is quite a 'vintage' brand which was relaunched a couple of years ago.  I've tried the 'Blush' and 'Tropical' versions and while both smell lovely, I have to work the white powder into my hair so much that the action only stimulates more grease production!  I have red hair and the Brunette version blends in perfectly.  I would say if you have dark brown hair however that it would be noticeable.  I'm on my 4th can of the stuff and I love the scent.  The only drawbacks are that it's almost always sold out in Boots and I get through a can very quickly.  However it saves me from washing and blow drying my hair every morning (I only have to do every other) which in turn limits the damage to my locks.

I'm also on about the 3rd  (unheard of) bottle of this L'Oreal Elvive Nourishing Fluid for hair.  It's like a white, watery hair serum with the most divine scent on earth.  There's also a shampoo, conditioner and hair mask of the 'Royal Jelly' scent.  Now I've had 'Royal Jelly' products from Marks and Spencers and they don't smell anywhere near as good as this fluid!  The best bit is that it doesn't weigh my hair down or make it lank like even the light version of Frizz-Eaze for thin hair does.  One pump smooths out any frizziness at the ends of my hair and I actually think its helped prevent further damage.  I have the leave-in 'day' version, so I assume there is also a 'night' version which will be a bit heavier.

I reviewed this a few weeks ago and although I normally flit between about six different cleansers I used this one consistently during July.  I wouldn't say the face wash itself is revolutionary, but I sure do like the little scrublet! I've tried it with other foaming face washes, such as Biore's and it works just as well.   You really get a more thorough clean than you would from just using your hands, and the scrublet is more hygienic than a face cloth.  However, I'd say its not a patch on the Clarisonic, which I hope will one day grace my favourites lists.  I'm just waiting for Space NK to have a very generous sale! I won't hold my breath.

And now for the fun part: make up favourites!

Since I grabbed MAC's Hang Loose Mineralize Blush from the In The Groove collection in mid July I have used it every single time I've applied make up - for any occasion - work, play, more play...The colour is unlike any blush I own and I love the fact that I'm applying a crazy lavender powder to my face yet it shows up as an iridescent baby pink.  Click here for my post about it and close up snaps.

My new favourite foundation is Bourjois Healthy Mix in their lightest shade - 51.  I had my eye on this baby for ages and it's everything I hoped it would be.  For more of a review and to see how it looks on me click here.

I always wear coral nail polish in the summer and for the past two years my toenails have been adorned with Rimmel PRO's Coral Romance.  It looks even better when I have my St. Moriz on.  Click here to see what it looks like on my nails.

I take my Sleek Pout Polishes in Pink Cadillac (left) and Electro Peach (right) everywhere with me and have been wearing them constantly.  I was never a 'lip' person until I discovered (well, won) these babies and I've never had more compliments on my lip colour.  They are moisturising, nicely pigmented and long lasting.  I'm even warming to the flavour.  My boyfriend says they taste of coconut but I find them slightly bitter.   To see what they look like on my lips click here.

Now, the Sleek Storm eye shadow palette.  I think almost everyone has this and agrees on its fabulousness.  I've  used this palette for a little over a year now and it's my all time favourite - even beating my UD Book of Shadows I & II.  It is unbelievably versatile and so I've taken it on every holiday I've been on - a major test of how much you love something!  I've hit pan on my favourite shadow - the pale creamy gold (top row, second from left) and my new love is the pale pink (top row, second from right).  There isn't one shadow I don't like or don't use.  I hope Sleek never discontinue this palette, but safe to say, I have a few back ups.  Let me know if you would like me to do an over-re-view of my Sleek palettes - I also have Original, Graphite, Bohemian, Sunset and Circus.  I'm mighty sad I missed out on the Safari one a couple of years back.

My non-make up favourite of July is Florence + The Machine's Cosmic Love.  I've had Lungs for yonks and even heard it live at Lovebox last year, but it only struck a chord with me in early July (see what I did there?!).   I've had the song on repeat - no seriously - it's the only thing I've been listening to! The vid is also, in the words of Perez Hilton, amazeballs.

Saturday Morning Market Dash 2 - Bourjois, Elizabeth Arden, MAC Bargains!

I hit up Portobello Market again the Saturday before last and hauled another batch of bargains.  I've had a good opportunity to try out most the products and honourable mention must be given to the Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation in shade 51.  This foundation has been on my wishlist for a few months now after I tested it in Superdrug and knew the colour would suit me perfectly.  Some of the delicious-sounding ingredients include Apricot (for radiance), Melon (for hydration), Apple (anti-oxidant) and Ginger (for energy).

Wearing Bourjois Healthy Mix in 51

It only cost £5 - half the shop price.  The coverage is not very heavy, but it gives your face a natural looking glow so it just looks like you have good skin, not that you are caked in slap.  However if you are determined to cover up freckles or looking for blemish coverage, you may prefer something heavier.  I hardly ever wear the same foundation two days in a row, but I've been wearing Bourjois everyday since I got it, even for going out at night.  It's my perfect summer foundation and I find it applies best with clean fingers.

I am also delighted with the shade (51 - the lightest in the range) which blends in well to my pale skin and doesn't leave a tide mark around the jaw or hairline.  I haven't tried any other Bourjois liquid foundations but now I'm tempted to.  Healthy Mix feels heavenly on your skin but its claim to give your a 'perfectly glowing complexion & toned skin' for 16 hours is a bit overstated - at best it last on my oily skin during this humid weather for about 4-5 hours, probably longer in winter.  It also has that lovely 'Bourjois' scent - although not everyone is keen on scented cosmetics.

I picked up this finishing powder as I hoped it will work out something like Benefit's Georgia box powder.  I have to admit I haven't had much of a chance to use it yet, but it comes out very dark on the sponge, so I will only use it to set liquid foundation with a large, fluffy face brush.  I'll let you know how I get on.  It cost £3.

I've owned a tube of Eight Hour Cream for about three years now and it's not even half finished.  I was saving it for a while as it's quite pricey, but now I use it on my lips before bed and also on any seriously dry patches of skin (my calves) and it's great.  It really isn't a cream but more of a gel/thick serum and has a very medicinal smell.  It's also great to use on dehydrating long-haul flights as it's such an all-rounder - it can be used to keep eyebrows in place, soften cuticles, heal minor burns.  Funny story actually - I had a disastrous spray tan a couple of years back and my face reacted badly to the moisturiser I used (can't remember which one now) but the only thing that calmed down my inflamed face was the Eight Hour Cream -  it was very greasy though!

I paid £8 for this cute retro jar - I know it's not as sanitary as a tube, but it's a lot more convenient in a jar.  It costs about £16 in the shops, but I found the 1980s jar edition for £4.99 at this website.  Can't vouch for it's reputability though!

My last find was a MAC eyeshadow in 'Woodwinked' - another wishlist item ticked off! Again I haven't had used it enough to give a proper review on it, but I can tell it's a great all over lid colour or will work nicely to darken the crease if I use a pale shade on my lids.

MAC Woodwinked

I only need one more eyeshadow to complete my MAC pro palette - YAY!  I got these little white labels in a £1 shop as I'm a saddo and like to know the name of the shadow I'm using :)  If I was really sad though I would have printed the labels out - I thought about it!  I love my neutrals! I do like bright eyeshadows but prefer to get these from Urban Decay and Ingot as they do them best, while MAC excel at pretty, multifaceted neutrals.  My current favourite is Shale, in the crease.

I also picked up another Saffron 48 eyeshadow palette to give away as part of a give-away coming very soon!
Click here to see my first haul from Portobello.

Have you tried any Bourjois foundations? Would you recommend any others than the Healthy Mix?  Which MAC eyeshadow should complete my first palette?