L'Oreal Paris Pure Clay Detox Face Mask

I thought I would do a quick  review of the L'Oreal Pure Clay Detox Mask as this range has featured quite heavily in my social media feed over the last few months. I actually received this as part of a Christmas skincare hamper but because I travel so much and haven't really been home, I only got around to trying it out last week.

There are three masks available in the Pure Clay range and each of them contain 3 pure clays + 1 specialised ingredient (red algae, eucalyptus or charcoal).

What masks are available in this range?

Glow mask: brightens + exfoliates.

Purity mask: purifies + mattifies.

Detox mask: detoxifies + clarfies,

What are the benefits of using a clay mask on your skin?

Kaolin + Charcoal (2 of the ingredients in the Detox Mask) are mineral rich and work together to gently absorb impurities to balance and purify your skin.

The clay gently exfoliates and your skin should feel purer and clearer and more luminous after use.

How do you apply it and does it work?

The product comes in a glass jar with a screw top and plastic seal over the clay itself. I would suggest keeping it and not discarding it, otherwise the clay might leak from the jar. It's quite messy and I would recommend applying a thin layer with a flat foundation brush to minimise mess. I left this on for 10-15 mins and washed the product off with warm water.

Would you recommend this product?

If you're looking for a nice budget friendly mask to add to your weekly skincare routine I think this would make a good addition. It didn't have any groundbreaking results for me but my skin did feel nice, refreshed and more luminous after using this.
3.5/5

The L'Oreal Clay Mask range retails at £7.99 and is currently on offer for £5.29 in Superdrug.

 Have you tired any of the masks from this range?

Rachael O ♥

New in Beauty Review: Urban Decay, Mac, Benefit, The Body Shop

I LOVE trying out new products and I always look to other bloggers for their honest reviews and opinions before I go and buy them myself. I bought a few makeup and skincare items recently and have been putting them to the test over the last few weeks. I feel that I  have given them a proper test run and can give a more honest review of them now.

This haul is a mish mash of new products and repurchases such as Benefit's Hoola, POREfessional and the Eyelure Lashes. 

I have definitely found some new favourites within this bunch and was  most impressed with the Camomile Cleansing Butter from The Body Shop and the Dragon's Blood Fix Daily Cleansing Pads by Nip+Fab. .

Camomile Cleansing Butter, The Body Shop, £13

Camomile is known for it's soothing and purifying properties and this cleanser is suitable for all skin types. It takes off eye makeup without the stinging or dragging effect and leaves skin feeling hydrated instead of dry and tight. I will definitely repurchase this again.

Exaggerate Eyelashes in no.140 & 141, Eyelure London, £5.45 ea

If you have hooded eyes like me and want a full, dramatic lash for evening time, both of these lashes are perfect! The 140s are fuller and give a graduated effect whereas the 141s are more of a wispy style with the inner, middle, end lashes all being the same length. I always cut off a small section of the inner corner of the lashes as I find that they are too wide and end up dragging my eye down at the outer corners if I don't. Both styles are longtime favourites of mines and I always find myself gravitating back towards them. 

Hoola Mini 4g, Benefit, £9.95

I haven't used this bronzer in years but I know that it is a cult favourite. I recently ran out of my Smashbox contour and wanted to try something different. After hearing so many great reviews about Hoola I decided to try it again. I didn't want to commit to buying the full size in case I didn't like it so the mini travel size was perfect and because I travel alot it made sense to get a smaller size anyway. It's very pigmented, easy to blend and is a lovely ashy, cool tone that gives a very natural contour.

The POREfessional Mini 8ml, £9.95
This is definitely my holy grail primer and know it is a favourite for many others too. It just does exactly what it is supposed to do - minimise pores and create an even base for foundation. If I have any dry patches it glides over them and doesn't flake anywhere which gets a huge thumbs up from me. I've tired other primers both high end and cheaper alternatives but I always gravitate back to this product. 

Mac Cosmetics Matte Lipstick in Stone, £15.50
This is one that I have always admired on others but never thought I'd be brave enough to try this myself. It is a very grey toned brown but it is surprisingly wearable and does not leave teeth looking yellow. It is a matte texture so it stays well but can get very drying after a while.

Urban Decay B6 Vitamin-Infused Complexion Prep Spray 30ml, £10
This is a very refreshing spray that can be in the same way as Mac Fix+ - before you apply your base or if your makeup is starting to appear cakey after a few hours wear. This is a nice product to have but it's not a holy grail for me and I have found other products to have the same effect on my skin such as a thermal water spray that is a third of the price. (You can get the Avéne Eau Thermale spray in Boots for £3).

So that concludes my mini beauty haul! Have you tried anything recently that is a new favourite? Please let me know!

Rachael O ♥

COLAB Vs Batiste

I have been a fan of Dry Shampoo since Batiste was first launched in Ireland and the UK (in 2009?) and I've used it religiously ever since. It has been a life saver especially on those mornings when I've slept in and didn't have time to wash my mane. It has become a necessary product in my daily hair routine and I am honestly never without it. I use it not only on greasy hair but on freshly washed hair too to give it that extra oomph and volume. In the last few years, I haven't been too fussed by any other dry shampoo brand launches as the ones I've tried have been a huge let down.

However, when Youtuber and Model, Ruth Crilly (AModelRecommends), launched her own range of dry shampoo named COLAB, there was a lot of buzz surrounding it in the beauty world. When I finally saw it in my local Superdrug, a few months after it had been launched, I had to have it! (even though I had just bought a new can of Batiste a few days previous...) Many bloggers have said it gives volume and texture to their hair without the powdery finish that so many hate. When I used it however, I didn't get any of those results, in fact it didn't seem to do anything for me at all. I first used COLAB on my just washed hair and it didn't give any oomph whatsoever. Therefore, I think it's safe to say that if I slept in and reached for my can of COLAB in a panic it wouldn't save the day.

I know COLAB is clearly marketed as a "sheer invisible formula" but I still expected it to have the same benefits as Batiste minus the fall out. I know many people hate the powdery finish of Batiste but that's what makes it a better product in my opinion; you can feel it working and absorbing the oil to give life back to your hair. The powdery finish is especially good for blondes who are due a root touch up as it makes darker roots a tad lighter. For those with dark hair who want to combat the chalky finish, all you need to do is brush or work the product into your hair or buy the Batiste range for Brunettes. 

COLAB (Rio) is on offer for £2.32 per 200ml, usually £3.49 & Batiste (Tropical) retails at £2.99 per 200ml bottle.

I think it's clear to see which one is my winner but I will give COLAB another chance to see I can be converted...

Rachael O ♥