Liz Earle Vs. No7: Hot Cloth Cleansers...

Hi everyone!

Some of my favourite posts on my blog are brand vs brand comparison reviews, I think this gives better insight into the pros and cons of a product as it directly compares it to its competitors. So today's post is Liz Earle vs No7 with their Hot Cloth Cleansers.

 Packaging

The Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish comes in a light green pump bottle which is very thin and has a matte effect on it. I think the bottle looks very sleek and the packaging follows the organic theme of the brand. You cannot see into the bottle which I think is a huge downfall and is definitely where No7 comes out on top. You can't see how much product you have left so you have to try and guess when you need to buy some more. You can kind of tell when you are reaching the end as the pump finds it hard to get product out but even so it doesn't make it easy for the customer.

The No7 cleanser on the other hand, comes in a clear bottle making it extremely obvious how much product you have left. Every time you use the cleanser, the pump moves up the bottle showing you exactly how much product you have left, this also collects all the product so that you use every last drop. This means you are actually getting your moneys worth! 

I think Liz Earle have prettier packaging in comparison, as the No7 one does look a bit boring but in terms of practicality, No7 definitely wins this round!

Price

Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish is £14 for a 100ml bottle, this is quite expensive in comparison to other cleansers but I do think the product is worth the price. It works wonders so I personally don't mind paying a bit more for a really great product. Liz Earle also do a few gift sets, especially around Christmas, which usually include the Cleanse and Polish so you can actually get this product for a great deal. 

No7 Beautiful Skin Hot Cloth Cleanser retails at £9.95 for a 200ml so already you are getting more product for a cheaper price! I was actually surprised at the price of this product as I assumed it would be just as expensive as Liz Earle as the product itself is just as good. No7 is a Boots brand so you can only get it at Boots, which in return means you get a lot of other benefits! No7 regularly give out vouchers for £5 off skincare which would reduce the price down to £4.95 which is a huge saving - one I personally benefited from! You can also collect Boots points meaning you could actually get the product for free if you chose to pay with your points! For such a decent price, I really am astonished that this product isn't as popular as the Cleanse and Polish!

The Product

Now down to the important bit, the product itself! To use the product, you need to have a muslin cloth. When you buy the No7 cleanser, the cloth is included in the pack which saves you money as for Liz Earle you have to buy the cloths separately. However, I would just buy the Liz Earle muslin cloths any way as the No7 cloth is not up to par! It is very thin making it fray easily and it is not quite as soft on the skin. For the price you pay for the product, you would expect to get something a bit better. It is not dreadful but if you want to actually get a decent use out of your cleanser, then 100% I would recommend paying £4.50 for a pack of two Liz Earle muslin cloths. The cloths are reusable as you can wash them so it is up to you whether you want to pay an extra £4.50 on top of the price of the cleanser (my answer would always be yes!) The cloth is quite a bit thicker meaning it removes a lot more of your makeup in comparison to the No7 cloth.

The actual cleansers themselves lack in differences, they both do a great job with removing makeup and making your skin feel super clean and fresh. The Cleanse and Polish is thicker in consistency making it slightly harder to spread evenly across the face, making you use more product than you probably need. However, I do find that it removes any excess makeup slightly better than No7.

The No7 cleanser feels more like a face cream when applying and is very gentle on the skin, it also makes your skin feel clean without making it feel dry afterwards. I also prefer the smell of this product as it smells clean and has a slight scent of baby talcum powder. The Cleanse and Polish has a bit of an odd scent which is quite hard to describe, it smells a bit like herbs which is odd I know, but if you use the product you will probably know what I mean. It isn't an unpleasant smell but I think it could be improved. Another great thing about No7, is that it is hypoallergenic, so if you have sensitive skin then the product will be perfect for you!

Overall, I think the products are pretty equal to eachother as they both work so well in clearing up your skin and removing makeup. It is very hard to choose between the products as I love both brands a lot, but I think in the future, I will be repurchasing the No7 Beautiful Skin cleanser as the price is a lot more reasonable and you get more product. However, I still use my other Liz Earle skincare products as part of my skincare routine as I think the brand is great and the Cleanse and Polish is definitely worth all the hype!

The No7 cleanser is actually included in my August favourites video over on my YouTube channel, if you want to see what other products I have been loving this month, then click here to head over to my channel. The video will be out on Sunday 4th September! 

Ellie xxx

Instagram: cottoncxndyheart
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/HeartbeatEllie

Travel/Holiday Essentials...

Hi everyone!

While you are reading this, I would have just got home from my holiday in Spain. We flew with hand luggage only as we were only going for a week, so I thought I would show you some of my travel essentials. 

Cosmetics

As I was only taking hand luggage, my liquid cosmetic allowance was minimal. I picked up some miniatures from Boots before I went so I had a mini deodrant and a mini shower gel. I also picked up some small empty bottles so that I could decant my other liquids. I would really recommend doing this as it made it a lot easier to take some of my favourite products with me. I put my face cream in a small pot and my Victoria Secret spray in a small bottle.

My top 3 cosmetics items for travelling would be a lip balm, a face cream and micellar cleansing water. It is always important to keep your skin healthy and moisturised so that is why lip balms and face creams are important. I added micellar cleansing water into this list too as not only is it used to remove your makeup, it is also perfect to deeply clean your face. I always find travelling or staying in a different place makes my skin feel a bit gross, this just helps remove excess oil and cleans your pores.

Now I'm going to move onto to other non cosmetic travel essentials.

First thing to not forget when travelling is earphones! I usually bring earphones and headphones in case one of them breaks, I at least have a spare. This is also useful if you are going on a long haul flight or a really long car journey as sometimes earphones or headphones can get uncomfortable so you are able to swap them over. Along with earphones comes music, make sure you have a good playlist sorted before you travel somewhere. Listening to music helps pass the time so well!

Second is a book. Books are great too pass the time when travelling and are also perfect for when you get on holiday. There is nothing I love more than reading a good book while sunbathing beside a swimming pool!

My third essential is a camera. I am a huge photography geek and I love taking a million pictures and videos so I can remember memories forever. However, I think taking a camera is important to help document fun things you get up too. Just remember too live in the moment and not through a camera lens!

My fourth item is not really essential unless you are going on a really long journey and it is a colouring book. I took a colouring book with me when I travelled to New York back in April. I really enjoyed doing some colouring while watching a movie on the plane. However, I didn't take it with me too Spain as it is a much shorter flight and I did not have much room in my bag.

What are you holiday essentials?

Ellie xxx

Liz Earle Skincare Review...

Hi everyone!

Just before Christmas, I treated myself to a Liz Earle skincare set. This specific set is no longer available but you can still buy all the individual products. The set included; Cleanse and Polish (£14), Gentle Face Exfoliator (£15.75), Eyebright Soothing Eye Lotion (£13.25) and two Muslin Cloths (£4.50). The set was originally £22 but when I ordered it, it was on offer at £14.75 which I thought was a really good deal! I also bought the Instant Boost Skin Tonic (£6) as it was not included in the set and I really wanted to try it out. As I have had these products for a little while now, they are starting to run out. So I thought I would review them and let you know whether I will be re-purchasing or not.

Cleanse and Polish

I am completely obsessed with this and it is by far the best skincare product I have ever bought. After a couple of days of using this product, my skin completely cleared up and felt super soft and clean. You can use this product to remove your makeup, but personally I remove my makeup with the Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water first then I use the Cleanse and Polish. You think you have removed all your makeup until you use this product after - it is incredible! It is not harsh on your skin and requires minimal effort, perfect if you are in a rush or you are just really lazy. I 100% am going to be re-purchasing this product as it has truly worked wonders on my skin. There are other hot cloth cleaners out there that are a lot cheaper, but if you don't mind paying a little extra, you are getting an incredible product.

Gentle Face Exfoliator

This product is great if you have more time for a proper skincare routine. The exfoliator has tiny little beads that aren't too harsh on your skin and doesn't leave it feeling sore. If you have sensitive skin like me, this point is very important. The exfoliator cleanses your pores and removes any excess oil on your skin, leaving it very soft and smooth. I really like this product, but unlike the Cleanse and Polish, I don't think I will be repurchasing it. You can get other great facials scrubs for a much cheaper price that will do near enough the exact same thing. You might as well save yourself some pennies and go for a different brand.

Eyebright Soothing Eye Lotion

First of all, I think this product is slightly misleading with its title. Personally when I hear the word 'lotion' I think of a creamy product, but this 'lotion' is a liquid, almost like a micellar cleansing water. I would class it as a skin tonic/toner and not a lotion. I haven't really noticed a difference in the skin around my eyes since using this product and I am not too sure what it is supposed to do. It also left my eyes feeling very dry and a little bit sore, for someone who already has dry skin, this was not a great feeling! I won't be repurchasing this product as it is not too great. It wasn't the reason behind the purchase of the gift set anyway so I don't feel let down or disappointed.

Instant Boost Skin Tonic

I love this product! It instantly refreshes my skin giving it a boost of life even on my most tired of days! I tend to use this after my Cleanse and Polish and moisturiser, to finish off my skincare routine. It leaves your skin feel so fresh and clean. The product does claim to be good for setting your makeup too. I personally have not tried this out, but I don't think it will work as it leaves your face quite wet after use. I feel that this would make your makeup slide off rather than stay put! However, I love and adore this skin tonic and 100% will repurchase. It is not a product that I use everyday but it is something that I really appreciate after use.

Check out more Liz Earle products by clicking here.

Ellie xxx

AEOS

Recently, I was sent some samples from a company called AEOS to try out and review. They are a skincare company who take pride in using organic and environmentally friendly ingredients. AEOS stands for Active Energised Organic Skincare. 

The products come in a polystyrene box which protects each bottle and stores them very nicely. The box is covered halfway with a cardboard sleeve, this also includes the instruction manual. The set consists of 10 products, all used for different things. The instruction manual tells you whether you are supposed to use the products in the evening or first thing in the morning, using their 3 phases; renewal, rebalance and replenish. 

Cleansing Oil De-Maq - To be used in the evening

This cleansing oil is supposed to be used to remove any make-up or excess dirt on your face, you pump some of the product onto a cotton pad and wipe all over your face. I personally don't like this product as it was far too oily for my skin, it didn't remove much of my make-up and made my skin feel very slimy. I had to use my micellar cleansing water to remove my make-up and then wash my face afterwards. Although, my skin felt oily when I applied the product, it did make it very smooth and soft afterwards.

Dew Facial Wash - To be used in the evening

To use this product, you need to wet your face, pump some product onto your hands and spread all over your face, making sure to get it foaming. It is just like a normal face wash but it does smell like lemons and Mr Kipling Cakes! It cleans your face very nicely but does come out of the bottle slightly watery.

Refreshing Hydrating Mist - To be used in the morning and evening

I love this product! You can spray this onto your face to instantly refresh and awaken you, it smells very clean and makes you feel clean too! The mist is very similar to the Liz Earle Skin Tonic which is one of my favourite products, so I am in love!

Realive Serum - To be used in the morning and evening

This product is applied near the end of your skincare routine and aims to replenish your face. The product is very moisturising and doesn't leave your skin with any dry patches which is always a good thing! I have found that if you put too much on, it can make your skin very oily. Overall, a very nice product!

Enriching Moisturiser - To be used in the morning and evening

The moisturiser is the last product you apply in your skincare routine, it finishes everything off and leaves your skin very soft. I am quite particular with the type of moisturiser I use on my face as my skin can feel quite sore when it is dry, however, this product did not let me down! I used the moisturiser before bed, like I always do, and my skin still felt very soft and moisturised when I woke up the following day - very happy!

Gentle Cleansing Lotion - To be used in the morning

This cleansing lotion is very similar to the enriching moisturiser, it is too be used first thing in the morning to instantly refresh your skin and wake you up. If feels very soft on the skin and smells a bit herbal - in a good way!

Beauty Body Shower 

This is a normal shower gel, so you can use it whenever you wish too. I like that you are able to use the same healthy skin care products you use on your face, on the rest of your body too.

Gentle Exfoliant - To be used in the morning

The exfoliant is to be used after the Gentle Cleansing Lotion. This product has got tiny little exfoliant beads in it to lightly scrub your face and cleanse your pores. I like that the exfoliant is not too harsh on your skin and leaves your skin incredibly smooth and reduces the appearance of pores.

Energizing Conditioner - To be used in the morning and evening

I have never used a conditioner on my face before, so I was uncertain about what to expect. The product itself is quite runny but does soak into the skin well, making it look slightly shinier and feel so much softer.

Beauty Body Lotion 

This is another normal body lotion but similarly to the other products, it is very nice!

Overall, I really like AEOS skincare! I think the packaging of the products are also very nice, they look smart and professional. 

If you would like to check out AEOS for yourself, then head over to their website http://www.aeos.net/ 

Ellie x

Introducing...No7 Primer!

Over the recent weeks, No7 have released lots of new products including the Velvet Lash Mascara and the Face, Beard and Stubble Moisturiser for men. However, what I am really interested in are the brand new face Primers!

No7 have released 3 new Primers, all aimed for different things. All Primers go on before your foundation to help set your makeup and stop it from sliding off your face throughout the day, these new Primers also have other capabilities too. 

The red coloured packet is the Airbrush Away Radiance Boosting Primer, this is aimed to add a little shimmer to your skin. You can use this product to set your makeup like a normal primer but you also don't have to wear foundation with it if you don't want too. This one is aimed more at people who don't wear a lot of makeup or people who don't need a lot of coverage. I really like this primer as you can also use it as a highlighter for your cheek bones, and you can even apply it too your collar bones to add a bit of sparkle on a night out.

The blue coloured packet is the Airbrush Away Pore Minimising Primer, this reduces the appearance of pores and makes your skin looking and feeling healthier. It helps prevent your pores seeping through your foundation giving you a more airbrushed look. It leaves your skin nice and smooth all day while helping to keep the rest of your make up on. If you have acne prone skin, then this is the primer for you!

The green coloured packet is the Airbrush Away Colour Balancing Primer, this helps to reduce the redness of your skin underneath your foundation to create a more even skin tone. This is useful for someone who has slightly fairer skin or wants to reduce the appearance of spots or red patches.

All these primers retail at £16.50, this is quite expensive, but I think that if you want to get a primer that works and will do what it says on the packet, then it is worth spending a bit more money. No7 is a Boots own brand, so you will have to pop into the store or look on the Boots website http://www.boots.com/en/No-7/Make-up/Face/Primer/ to purchase them. I really like No7 as a brand as I think they create some really nice high quality products, all their products are hypo-allergenic too which makes them even better!

Red, blue or green - whose team are you on? I am Team Red!

Ellie x

Lush Favourites - January 2016

I love Lush! I love their ethical promise, I love their ideas and I genuinely love their products! Nothing beats a good hot bath in winter, so here are my January 2015 lush favourites to perfectly set the mood and relax your body. 

1. The Comforter Bubble Bar    £4.95  

I don't think I will ever write a Lush favourites post without including the Comforter! It is my all time favourite Lush product that I consistently re-purchase, in fact, I currently have three! It smells like sweet blackcurrants aka heaven! Simply crumble the bubble bar under running water and watch your plain bath transform into pink water and a blanket of bubbles. What I really love about bubble bars, is that you get more for your money as you can get 5 or more baths out of one bar.

2. Frozen Bath Bomb    £3.95

A light blue bath bomb from which you are instructed to 'let it go'. This has such a refreshing scent to it that immediately uplifts your mood and awakens your senses. It turns your bath into a shimmering sea of blue while releasing white 'snowdrifts' which adds a very unique twist. I really like this bath bomb as it smells completely different to the usual lush products with a scent that I have never smelt before, definitely one to try! The only downside is that it is quite expensive to only use once.

3. The Big Bang Bubble Bar    £3.75

This smells incredible! A very sweet scent that instantly relaxes you. The blue bubble bar creates a deep blue bubbly bath. The product is enriched with Avocado butter which is very good for you skin, leaving it healthy and soft. I love this bubble bar so much, I know I will definitely be re-purchasing it.

4. Father Christmas Bath Bomb

This is a Christmas bath bomb so you can't get it any longer, however, I still wanted to include it as it was such a lovely bath bomb. It surprised me as although being red on the outer shell, inside it was green and turned my bath a deep green colour. This made me feel super christmassy!

Those were a few of my personal recommendations, however, make sure to check out the Lush website for full product range. 

Ellie xx

MaxFactor Counter Relaunch...

On Saturday 31^st October, I was invited to my local Boots store to write a blog about the brand new Maxfactor counter and some of their upcoming products.

When I arrived, the counter was set up with black balloons, roses, chocolate and bucks fizz – it looked very pretty! Across the front of the counter, there was a red ribbon tied in a bow, this was later going to be cut to re-open the counter. The counter followed the MaxFactor colours of black and gold, but was interlinked with the bright colours from the makeup itself.

MaxFactor are bringing in lots of new products, one of which is the Velvet Volume False Lash Effect Mascara. I really love the packaging for this, as it is very simple but eye-catching and appealing. It continues with the MaxFactor colours making it link with the rest of the company. The applicator is quite small, with short strands, I find this applies the product really well. It leaves you with a nice set of lashes without clumping them together. It definitely achieves the false lash effect!

MaxFactor are more of a high end company meaning their products are little bit more expensive in comparison to other drugstore makeup brands. However, I do believe that you are getting a high quality product for this price. If you are willing to pay a little bit extra for a product, you will get a lot more in return.

Another product MaxFactor are launching, are Marilyn Monroe lipsticks. There are going to be 4 different lipsticks in this collection, one of which is a copy of an exact lipstick found in Marilyn Monroe’s makeup bag. I think this is a really nice concept and I feel that they are going to be very popular. Red lipstick goes well with a nude eyeshadow and winged eyeliner, it is also perfect for the winter season. Make sure you get your hands on one of these lipsticks – coming soon!

I would definitely recommend checking out a MaxFactor counter near you as they have a wide range of amazing products, with lots of new products coming in soon! If you would like to see some of there other products, head over to my youtube channel where I talk about some of my favourites.

I would like to say a massive thank you to Boots for having me, and to Jade, the MaxFactor Counter Manager, for inviting me. I think the counter is incredible and you have done a great job! :)

Here are some extra photos from the counter:

 

Ellie xxx

July Favourites

I wanted to share with you a couple of things that I have been loving in the month of July.

1. Paris - Yves Saint Laurent

This is one of my all time favourite perfumes! It lasts on the skin all day without the need to top up, this is perfect for those long summer days! It smells quite sweet with a hint of musk. I also really love the packaging as it is quite simple but looks good. However, the packaging can cause a bit of a problem when transporting.

2. Watch - Aeropostale

I love wearing watches as I feel like they can add a lot too your outfit and are perfect for all occasions. I got this watch in Aeropostale in America, I love it because it is light blue with a floral design making it super pretty for summer. This has made my July favourites due to the simplicity of the design, the watch is elasticated making it really easy to take on and off without the hassle of doing up the buckle.

3. Pocket Bac - Bath and Body Works

I love using these hand sanitizers from Bath and Body works as they make your hands smell amazing while keeping them clean! The scent also lasts a long time for a cleaner and fresher feel. The packaging is really simple and small making them easy to carry around in your handbag for daily use. I would definitely recommend!

4. Paper Towns - John Green

I read this book while I was holiday as I had some spare time to relax - I couldn't put it down! The storyline is so gripping and interesting making you uncertain about what will happen next. I love the mix of humour and adventure in the book, with a little sprinkle of romance on the side. John Green is an amazing author and if you haven't read any of his books, you really need too!

5. She's Kinda Hot - 5 Seconds of Summer

5 Seconds of Summer released a new song in July called She's Kinda Hot, and it has become my new obsession! It is typical 5sos material, lots of guitars and drums, but the lyrics and beat are super catchy! I am in love.

Ellie xxx

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water Review

I've seen so many people rave about the Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water, and I can honestly say that I love it! 

I'm one of those people that has to buy make up remover wipes every couple of weeks as I am constantly running out, so this is a lifesaver. Although the bottle was expensive, it worked out cheaper in the long run.

What I really love about this product is that it does the job well. I find that sometimes when I remove my makeup with normal make up remover wipes, I still feel like I have product on. My face still feels clogged up and dirty. With this, my face feels clean and fresh. It easily removes makeup without you having to scrub your face.

 The product itself is scent free and very kind to skin. If, like me, you have sensitive skin and are worried about the water irritating your face - don't be! The product is very soothing and does not leave your face red or blotchy. 

Ellie xxx

Simple Skincare Review...

I have heard so many good things about Simple Skincare so I thought I would try out some of their products. Simple are very good for your skin as they don’t use any nasty harsh chemicals, instead it is all natural, leaving your skin very refreshed.

You can pick these products up from most drugstores and some supermarkets too, I got mine from Superdrug. They are not too expensive, so won't break the bank!

The first product I tried was the simple make up remover wipes. The first thing I noticed was how wet the wipes were, yes that does sound odd as they are supposed to be wet. However, some make up wipes can be very dry which makes it very difficult to remove all of your makeup, but with these ones it’s easy. After you have removed the makeup, your skin feels moisturised and clean. It definitely does the job well!

The next product I tried was the Simple kind to skin vital Vitamin Foaming cleanser, this is good to use after you have removed your makeup with the wipes. The first time I used it, I wasn't too sure whether I would like it or not as it doesn't have much too it. It just creates white foam and has a very faint scent. However, I did notice how soft my skin felt after I had used it. To use the product, you simply wet your face with water, then massage in the foaming cleanser and wash off after. It cleans your face and makes sure you have no makeup left on. It is also really good with reducing pores and stopping your skin from getting too oily. After you have used it, your skin feels deeply cleaned and very soft.

The big change I noticed after using these products, was how nice my skin looked and felt. After just a few days, I noticed my skin not having as many breakouts compared to before and looking more radiant. I am definitely going to be trying out some more Simple Skincare products after loving these so much. If you have used any of their products or have tried similar products please leave them in the comments, I would love to try them too!

Ellie x

3 lip balms I have been loving...

3 lip balms I have been loving…

During the winter months, your lips are more likely to get dry and chapped. Using lip balms on a regular basis can help prevent this, here are a few of my favourites.

Eos

I really like these lips balms due to how soft they are and how soft they make your lips feel. They are really smooth, easy to apply and work well for a long time without the need for constant reapplication. The shape of them makes them really unique. They come in a variety of flavours, I have; mint, summer fruit and clementine. They all smell so nice! I got mine in America but you can buy them in certain Topshop stores or you can order them online from eBay or amazon.

Baby Lips

These are the first lip balms I fully fell in love with, I have got almost all of them. What I like most about baby lips is the huge variety they come in, they have different collections which do different things. I really like Baby Lips Dr Rescue as they are really good for chapped lips in the winter and some of them also leave some colour on your lips too. These lips balms are not too expensive so are worth buying.

Vaseline

I have never been too keen on Vaseline lips balms because you have to put the Vaseline on your finger to be able to apply it, leaving you with a slightly greasy finger. However, I had never fully tried them until this Christmas. I have the original Vaseline, the Rosy Lips and aloe vera. They all have different scents and the rosy lip one also leaves you lips slightly pink. They are super moisturising and can also be used on dry skin too.

Thanks for reading!

Ellie x