So this post is going to be based around products I have tried and tested, but which unfortunately are just not working for me. I am sure many people have tried and loved these products (I mean Hourglass Brow Arch...Can you believe it?!) but sadly, they have gone in to my least favourites pile!
The Body Shop - Seaweed Clarifying Toner and Purifying Facial Cleanser
I have found over the last five or so months, my skin has really started to become noticeably oilier. I have never had particularly greasy skin, nor has it ever been dry, I have just been happily in the middle...until now.
Although I have found some excellent products in the Seaweed range that have seriously helped my skin, these two just seem to do literally nothing for me. The cleanser feels as though I am sweeping a watered down moisturiser across my face and has a really strong smell of chemicals or alcohol, it can also sting my face. The toner again is like a watered down product. Now I know the toner is obviously a liquid, but, I don't know there just seems as though these products are simply watered down - if that makes sense! The toner says it is alcohol free - but I think this smells even stronger than the cleanser. Now I know I haven't used a lot of these but any skincare product which smells strongly of alcohol... it immediately puts me off. I just feel uncomfortable putting these on my face.
As I said earlier, I have found some fantastic products in this range. Unfortunately these were not two of them.
The Body Shop - Rainforest Balance Shampoo and Conditioner
Okay I promise this is not a Body Shop bashing blog! I love The Body Shop!
I have always suffered with greasy hair. I have always had to wash it everyday, it's something I have just accepted. If I don't wash it in the morning, by 10 am its oily and just making me feel unclean. However, I have been trying to change my ways, I know washing your hair everyday does nothing for this problem. I was so excited when I came across this duo, I took no convincing and snapped them up immediately!
Now, when I do use these I find the non - greasy state definitely lasts longer then usual - yey! But, oh my daiz (!), the tangled mess my hair is when I come out of the shower is utterly hideous! Not to mention the conditioner is near impossible to get out of the container - I really don't need to be working hard to get access to my products at 6 am people! But its the tangling of the hair, the drying of the hair. It feels horrible, horrible, horrible. I have simply stopped using this because I am scared that I am going to lose my hair! So sorry Body Shop, I can't hold back with this one - very very disappointed *sad face*
Lets get the shockers out of the way!
Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge
What can I say, I love Real Techniques, their face brushes are incredible. This sponge however, is something I wish I had never spent my pennies on. I've used it dry, I've used it damp, I've used it with foundation, with concealer etc. This just seems to soak up all of my product. I am easily using two or three times the amount of foundation I would need if I were applying it with a brush. I know the world went up in a storm about these blenders and maybe it's just me and I can't get the hang of it, but nope - I will stick to my brushes please!
MAC Smolder Eye Kohl
I don't have too much to say about this actually, it's just one of those items that was quite pricey and which I never use. It is very black and applies easily enough - but it prints all over my eye lid throughout the day :( I find by lunch time I have two half moons of black in the creases of my eye lid - not a good look I tell you! I do tend to use this if I am going on a night-out on my top waterline, but again it has the tendency to print to the bottom lash area. I am sure I have used pencils in the past which haven't printed and it just wasn't what I was expecting from MAC.
Hourglass Arch Brow Sculpting Pencil
So sad.
So sad.
I was after this for ages. I wanted it sooo bad, I knew I would love this and that my life would be complete... Okay, maybe a slight exaggeration but I am sure anyone reading this knows the hype.
This is.. too dark, too thick and my foundation sticks to the pencil like nobodies business which means I have to press harder and end up with a darker finish. I think you really have to work with this, it doesn't glide on easily. I am still using this pencil because I am that stubborn, I am determined to change my own mind about it! I use this when I have the time. As I am usually up early and out for work I don't really have the time to be perfecting the brows but, when I do, I combine this with a powder and my much thinner MAC brow pencil.
That being said, the little brow brush that comes with this is ace!
So there we have it - a few things that just haven't worked for me, my skin or my hair. Have you had similar experiences with any products? I am particulaly interested in products for oily skin and hair - any insight is welcome!
As always, please leave me a comment / subscribe so that I can check out your blogs too!
A x
