Liz Earle Eyebright Soothing Eye Lotion

My eyes are one area of my face that I don't normally pay much attention to. They're not particularly sensitive, or easily irritated and I don't really have any major problems with dark circles. They do occasionally look a little bit puffy though and feel a little bit heavy and tired, which is where Eyebright comes in handy. I was sent a bottle of Liz Earle's Soothing Eye Lotion around a month ago and it's become a firm favourite and a part of my routine that I really look forward to each evening.

Here's what Liz Earle have to say about Eyebright: 

Wake up and revitalise eyes with cotton wool pads soaked in this gentle, soothing herbal lotion before using Cleanse & Polish. Naturally active ingredients include the grassland herb – eyebright, witch hazel, organic aloe vera and cornflower to help tone, cool and refresh tired, puffy or sore eyes.

Liz Earle Eyebright

The lotion can actually be used in two ways. You can either sweep it over lids and lashes to quickly cool and sooth, or you can soak two cotton pads, place them over your eyes and let them sit for 5-10 minutes. I've been using the lotion as a compress soak after I've removed my make up and the delicately scented lotion does a fantastic job at cooling and soothing. The scent is much more subtle than most of the other products I've tried from the Liz Earle range (I mainly smell witch hazel) and it feels light, non greasy and refreshing. It really does help to reduce any puffiness and my eyes look much brighter and fresher after using it.

Eyebright also does a brilliant job at removing any last traces of stubborn eye make up and I've even been using it to tidy up any mascara or eye liner mistakes. A cotton bud dipped in the solution works really well at cleaning up any small smudges or smears and doesn't leave any sort of greasy residue behind after. It really does do an excellent job at removing eye make up without being harsh or irritating.

Overall, it's a great little product that I really enjoy using. It's a nice pick me up for tired eyes and I'd definitely recommend checking it out if you suffer with irritation or puffiness, or if you're looking for a really gentle cleanser to remove light eye make up. It's available from the Liz Earle site where it costs £10.00 for a 150ml bottle, or you can purchase a smaller 50ml trial bottle for £5.00.

Eyebright Ingredients

Have you tried Eyebright? 

Do you have any tips or tricks for reducing puffiness or dark circles?

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Giveaway!

Liz Earle have very kindly offered to give you lovely readers the chance to win a Cleanse & Polish Starter Kit, which contains a 100ml bottle of their award winning Hot Cloth Cleanser and two muslin cloths!

If you'd like to enter, please make sure you're following via Google Friend Connect and please leave a comment below with your e-mail address, so I can contact you if you win. You can gain an extra entry by either posting about the giveaway on your blog, or tweeting about it. (Please let me know if do either),

The giveaway is international so everyone's welcome to enter and the winner will be chosen using random.org on the 30th of September.

Good luck!

Liz Earle Sheer Skin Tint Review & Swatches

I was incredibly excited last month when I received an e-mail from the Liz Earle PR team, telling me that the brand were taking their first step in to colour and had formulated a tinted moisturiser. I'm a big fan of quite a few of the skincare products from the range, so I was delighted to hear the brand had taken the leap in to colour cosmetics.

What Liz Earle say about their new product: Our new Skin Tint is the natural bridge from skincare through to colour. It's rich and creamy like a foundation, yet lightweight and glides effortlessly onto the skin, blending easily to enhance natural skin tones. Just like our award winning Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser, Sheer Skin Tint delivers dependable, visible results for all skin types. Designed for use all year round, our unique, high performance formulation leaves skin looking dewy, even and radiant, with the perfect level of coverage for every woman to achieve natural beautiful skin.

With mineral UV protection SPF 15, Sheer Skin Tint is also enriched with our own carefully selected blend of botanicals: natural source vitamin E avocado and borage, to work in harmony with our Liz Earle skincare range.

Liz Earle Sheer Skin Tint

My Thoughts

Well I'll be honest, I generally stay away from tinted moisturisers because they don't offer enough coverage for me. My skin is acne prone and I have areas of scarring and redness which take quite a bit of covering, so I normally opt for medium to full coverage foundations. Like other tinted moisturisers I've tried in the past, Skin Tint offers sheer coverage, but can be built up for a slighter fuller coverage base.Texture wise, it's quite thick, creamy and rich and a little bit of product seems to go a long way. A pea sized amount is enough to cover my face in a thin layer of product, but I've been adding a tiny bit more to problem areas which need concealing. 

Liz Earle Sheer Skin Tint

 The fairly thick cream applies beautifully. It feels quite rich, but non greasy and blends in with very little effort. It glides over pores, fine lines and minor blemishes and creates the illusion of smooth, even and natural skin. The finish is quite shiny when it's first applied but as the base settles in to skin, it becomes more of a dewy finish. I have oily skin, so I choose to set it with a little bit of loose powder, those with normal or drier skin types probably wouldn't need to. With a light dusting of powder on top of the tinted base, I find lasting power to be pretty good and I'd say I get a good four hours wear before I need to blot my problem areas (T-zone). 

I was sent the lightest (Bare) of the three available shades to try and it's not a bad match on my NC20 ish skin tone. I would say it's a touch too light for me at the moment, but because the product is sheer and blends in well, I can get away with the slight colour difference. Those of you who order a tube of Sheer Skin Tint via the Liz Earle website will receive a sample of each of the three shades with your first order, so you can find a shade match before opening the full size tube. If you've ordered the wrong colour, you will be able to exchange your tube for the correct shade. There will be three colours on offer: Bare (for fair skintones), Beige (for medium skintones) and Beach (for darker skintones). Below are some swatches of the lightest colour.

Liz Earle Skin Tint: Bare

Liz Earle Skin Tint: Bare. Bottom: Blended swatch

All in all, Sheer Skin Tint is a lovely product and I imagine it would look great on those who can get away with a sheer coverage base. Unfortunately, my skin just isn't in good enough shape at the moment and I need something which covers more. The actual feel, finish and lasting power with Skin Tint is excellent and I will definitely be holding on to my tube and using it when my skin's in better condition, or on days when I want something light and natural looking. If you're a tinted moisturiser or Liz Earle skin care fan, I highly recommend checking out the base. It's available from September the 15th and will cost £21.00 for a 40ml tube. 

Liz Earle Skin Tint Ingredients

 Is Sheer Skin Tint something that appeals to you? 

What other products would you like to see in the Liz Earle colour range in the future?

Liz Earle Botanical Essence Eau De Parfum

I've had the pleasure of sampling quite a few different products from the Liz Earle range over the last few months and have thoroughly enjoyed all of them. The fuss-free skincare line is an absolute pleasure to use and the products I've tried from the range have delivered on their promises and really helped to calm my skin, particularly the Instant Boost Skin Tonic which has become one of my summer essentials. I've heard lots of great things about Liz Earle's debut fragrance recently, so I was delighted when I was sent a bottle of their Botanical Essence to try.

Liz Earle Botanical Essence EDP

Here's what Liz Earle say about their first scent:

For our first ever fragrance we’ve used the finest natural botanical ingredients from around the world and the expert skills of a distinguished perfumer from Grasse, France. We gave him the time to indulge in the age-old art of perfumery, skilfully hand-crafting this complex scent with true passion to create this vibrant, sparkling fragrance translating into warmth and sensuality.

Over 98% directly derived from natural ingredients.

And the notes:

Top notes:  Bergamot, Mandarin, Orange Bigarade, Lemon Cardamom

Heart notes:  Rose absolute, Lavender, Geranium, Coriander, Nutmeg

Base Notes:  Cedarwood, Vetiver, Tonka Bean, Patchouli Oil.

Botanical Essence

Before I go on to tell you my thoughts on the actual scent, I just want to mention how in love I am with the beautifully simple and elegant glass bottle and clean, white box the fragrance is housed in. The bottle looks lovely sitting on my dressing table and the slide out, drawer-like box is a really nice touch. Now on to the important bit, the scent...

The first thing I smell when I spray Botanical Essence is fairly strong citrus notes which I was a bit unsure of when I first tried it. I'm not really sure what I was expecting to smell, but the citrussy burst came as a bit of surprise. There's also quite a strong herbal edge to it which is quite unusual and I have to say, I've not really smelt anything like it before. After the initial strong citrus opening, the scent seems to soften quite quickly and really starts to warm up. It's still got the citrussy/lemony tang to it, but it's a lot more subtle and mellow. I can kind of detect some floral notes, but really can't pick out anything individually. To me it smells quite 'green', fresh but also calming. The dry down is quite similar and also has a slight earthy, muskiness to it which is really pleasant and quite soothing.  

Botanical Essence is described as a complex scent which I'd say is a pretty accurate description. There does seem to be a lot going on, but everything also seems to be balanced and the individual botanical ingredients work together really well to create a scent which is fresh, but also somehow warm and calming.

The simple, elegant box the scent came in

I've mentioned before that I tend to stick with scents which I already know and feel comfortable wearing (mainly light, fruity or floral fragrances). Botanical Essence is way out of my comfort zone, so I'm really quite surprised at how much I like it and enjoy wearing it. For me it's a nice change to what I normally go for and I think it makes a lovely, slightly unusual, summery, daytime scent.

Liz Earle's Botanical Essence is available here and costs £40.35 for a 50ml bottle

Have you tried Botanical Essence? What do you think of it?

Liz Earle Foot Spritzer

I've mentioned in a previous post in which I wrote about Liz Earle's Foot Scrub that I'm not particularly fond of feet (my own or anyone else's), so I try to keep mine in pretty good shape which makes me feel better about them. I make sure I use a foot file often, exfoliate a few times a week and moisturise everyday to keep them looking presentable. I've tried quite a few different foot potions and lotions, but I'd not actually tried a spray or spritzer before. Liz Earle sent me their Spritzer to try last month, but I'd been waiting for the weather to warm up before giving it a go as it's described as being cooling and refreshing.

Here's what Liz Earle say about the product: 

Spritz your feet, legs and ankles with a cooling and invigorating burst of nine essential oils. This fast drying spray fights odour-causing bacteria to help keep feet fresh. It’s the perfect wake-up for weary feet, leaving them revived and revitalised. Spray whenever you need cooling, instant relief.

Naturally active ingredients include cooling menthol and hydrating aloe vera. Peppermint and rosemary essential oils leave feet smelling sweet.

Liz Earle Foot Spritzer

My Thoughts

I first tried the product a couple of weeks ago after I'd been trudging around town all day. My feet were hot, tired and definitely in need of something cooling and reviving, so I reached for the handy bottle of foot spritzer. The pump dispenser sprays a fine, even mist of really refreshingly scented liquid on to skin and provides an instant cooling effect. The product is packed full of essential oils including, Peppermint and Rosemary which are the main scents my nose detects. It smells fresh and herbal and lingers for quite a while after it's been applied. The cooling sensation also seems to last for a while too and really does feel amazing on feet which are in need of a pick me up.

Liz Earle foot Spritzer

I've been using the Spritzer a lot over the last couple of weeks when my feet have needed reviving and really have been enjoying it. My boyfriend also seems to like the cooling effect and the fresh, herbal scent too. It's easy to use, dries quickly after it's been applied and reinvigorates tired, achy feet and legs immediately. It's definitely a product that's worth having around during the hot, summer months and would be a fantastic product to take with you on your holiday's too!

All in all, another lovely product from Liz Earle which complements the other products in their foot range perfectly.

Foot Spritzer & Scrub

Liz Earle Foot Spritzer is available here and costs £7.15 for a 75ml bottle

Do you have any favourite foot sprays/spritzers or any must have foot products?

Liz Earle Sheer Skin Tint!

Exciting news for all you Liz Earle fans. The brand are taking their first step into colour this September and will be launching a Sheer Skin Tint! 

What Liz Earle say about their Sheer Skin Tint

This September, discover the next step for natural-looking, beautiful skin as we launch our Liz Earle Sheer Skin Tint – the exciting first step into Liz Earle Colour! For many years our customers have been requesting this product and for the past three years we've been perfecting it. Our exciting new launch will be everything you would expect from us!

Over the last few months I've had the chance to sample a few products from the Liz Earle range and have been extremely happy with everything I've tried. The products are simple, a pleasure to use and do what they promise, so I've got high hopes for Sheer Skin Tint. 

Are you a fan of the Liz Earle range? Will you be trying Sheer Skin Tint?

Liz Earle Festival Kit

To Celebrate the start of the festival season, Liz Earle are Launching a gorgeous Festival Kit which is packed with a lovely selection of fuss-free products.

 

 The Kit contains a 30ml Instant Boost Skin Tonic (the spritzer type), a 50ml tube of normal/combination Skin Repair, a 50ml Eye Bright, a 30ml Orange Flower Hand Wash, a 30ml sun cream and Botanical Aftersun Gel and a 5g Superbalm. It costs £25.55 (£12.00 less than the products would cost if you bought them separately!) and comes in a lovely blue, zip up bag.

I already use (and love) a couple of products from the kit but I'm still really tempted to buy it for the other goodies it contains. I've been wanting to try the Superbalm and Eye Bright and the hand wash and aftersun gel both sound like great products too!

Liz Earle Foot Scrub

I normally try to take pretty good care of my feet. I use a foot file often, exfoliate a few times a week and make sure I moisturise them everyday to keep them looking presentable. I'm not particularly fond of my feet (or feet in general) but keeping them in nice condition makes me feel a lot better about them. A few weeks ago I was sent a new foot product to try (Liz Earle Foot scrub) which I've been using in place of a similar product from Sanctuary so here are my thoughts on it.

Liz Earle Foot Scrub is described as a hard-working scrub which gently exfoliates hard, rough skin on heels and soles. It contains an array of naturally active ingredients including, natural pumice to remove dead skin cells, softening avocado and wheatgerm oils rich in vitamin E. It also contains peppermint and rosemary essential oils which give it an invigorating scent.

How to use

Massage daily onto damp skin, concentrating on dry areas such as heels, toes and balls of your feet. Rinse well with warm water and pat dry. Follow with Liz Earle Foot Repair Moisturiser.

(For best results, use a large foot file beforehand to buff any stubborn areas).

Liz Earle Foot Scrub

Results 

I've been using the foot scrub 3-4 times a week on nights when I don't use a foot file and I'm really pleased with the results. The product is really thick in consistency and is jam packed with lovely, grainy scrubby particles which do a fantastic job at exfoliating. The scrub feels wonderful when it's applied and massaged in and the scent is lovely. Like the Brightening Treatment mask I've been using from the range, the product smells quite herbal. I can mainly smell the rosemary and peppermint essential oils which it contains, but I'd say it also smells quite strongly of eucalyptus. The aroma is quite intense but lovely and fresh, clean and pleasant.

The scrubby particles which I mentioned sit in a a soft cream type base which also feels really nice when it's rubbed in and stops the pumice from feeling too harsh on more sensitive/delicate areas. The oils in the base seem to stay on my feet even after I've washed the product off and leaves them feeling soft and smooth. The scent also lingers for a long while after I've used it too. 

A close up of the grainy bits

I've been using the scrub for the last few weeks now and I've definitely noticed an improvement in the condition of my feet. The scrub I was using beforehand was nice and was doing a good job at exfoliating but didn't leave my skin feeling as soft as the Liz Earle product does. It also doesn't smell as nice or feel as refreshing. With regular use of a good foot file (sanctuary's is nice), the Liz Earle foot scrub and a hydrating foot lotion or cream I'm managing to keep my feet in pretty good shape at the moment,  which is great considering sandal season is almost upon us!

Recommended?

If you're a foot scrub fan, Liz Earle's is definitely worth checking out. It exfoliates brilliantly, smells gorgeous and leaves feet feeling soft and smelling beautifully sweet!

(Liz Earle foot scrub is available from the Liz Earle site and costs £10.45 for a 100ml tube)

What products do you use to keep your feet in shape?

Liz Earle Brightening Treatment Mask

Over the past month or so I've been sent a few different products from the Liz Earle daily essentials range to try. Everything I've used from the brand has so far been lovely. I love Cleanse & Polish and my skin still seems to be getting on well with the the Instant Boost skin tonic and Skin repair moisturiser I received and wrote about last month. Recently, I was sent another product from the range: Liz Earle Brightening Treatment Mask which I've been testing out over the last couple of weeks.

Liz Earle Brightening Treatment Mask is described as a fast-acting ‘minute’ mask which is designed to revitalise and stimulate dull skin. It contains aloe vera to help cool and sooth, toning witch hazel, purifying white clay and camphor oil to stimulate. The mask is suitable for all skin types, except for sensitive.

How to use 

Use whenever your skin needs a quick fix to leave it radiant and revitalised. Apply to clean, dry skin. Leave for between 30 seconds and 2 minutes. Soak the pure muslin cloth in hand-hot water and gently wipe away residue.

(You will experience a slight tingling sensation. This is normal. However, as a common sense precaution, do not use on sensitive skin and avoid the lip and eye area)

Results 

Liz Earle's brightening treatment mask is the first brightening mask I think I've ever used. I normally tend to stick with clay based face masks which deep clean because blocked pores are normally one of my main skin concerns. I've really been battling with my skin recently (break outs) and have only just managed to get it under control again. Most of the blemishes I had are healed, or healing but my skins generally looking a bit drab and worse for wear so I was looking forward to giving the product a go.  

Liz Earle Brightening Treatment Mask

One pump of the mask is enough to cover my face in a fairly thick layer of product. The consistency is similar to clay masks but isn't as dense and has more of a creamy feel to it which makes it easy to spread. The scent is quite strong and herbal, but I personally like it and find it quite refreshing. The tingling sensation that you're told you'll feel is nothing major and actually feels quite nice and cooling, not uncomfortable in any way. After I've let it sit on my skin for a couple of minutes I rinse off with the cleansing cloth which came with it and what I'm left with is skin which feels and looks really clean and fresh. My skin also feels lovely and soft and seems to look more even toned and less red. 

The mask doesn't promise to help with blemishes but I feel as though it's definitely helping to dry any spots I have left from the recent break out and I also feel it's helping a little bit with scarring which is probably due to the lactic acid the mask contains.

Liz Earle Brightening Mask

Recommended?

Yes! The mask is probably something I wouldn't have chosen for myself but I'm really pleased with what it's done for my skin since I started using it. As with the other products I've tried from the Liz Earle range, Brightening Treatment Mask is easy to use, smells lovely and actually does what it promises to do. I love the fact that it works so quickly too and I don't have to sit around waiting for it to work it's magic. I've even managed to find time to apply it in the morning which is great because the refreshing scent and cooling sensation does an excellent job at waking me up!

(The brightening treatment mask is available from the Liz Earle website. The 50ml starter kit which contains a zip up bag and cleansing cloth costs £13.00)

What are your favourite brightening masks?

Liz Earle Instant Boost Tonic & Skin Repair Moisturiser

I recently wrote a post about Liz Earle's Cleanse & Polish which I was sent a sample of to try (Post here). I was really pleased with the way it effortlessly removed my make up without drying my face and also with the positive improvement it had on my acne prone skin, which I'm really battling with at the moment. Last week the lovely Liz Earle PR team kindly sent me the next two steps from the Daily Essentials range, so I ditched my normal skin care products and have been using these in place of them.  

Liz Earle Instant Boost skin tonic is the second step from the daily essentials range and it's described as a heavenly scented, non drying floral tonic which revitalizes, soothes and brightens. It contains a mix of vitamin E, organic Aloe vera and rose scented geranium and is alcohol free.


How to use

  

Moisten a cotton wool pad and sweep over face and neck every morning and night after cleansing with Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser or using one of our special treatment masks. Whether your skin is dehydrated, oily, dull or congested, the nourishing and brightening botanicals will help to leave your skin feeling soft and looking fresh for longer. It also primes your skin perfectly for your choice of Liz Earle Moisturiser.

 Results

A toner is actually something that's been missing from my skin care routine for years. Whenever I see or hear it mentioned, it immediately brings back memories of the horrible burning sensation I've had from using products which are full of alcohol in the past. Instant Boost Skin Tonic is nothing like those products. Instead of burning or stinging, the floral scented liquid cools and soothes and feels lovely and refreshing. As I mentioned at the beginning, my skin is a real nightmare at the moment and some of the blemishes I have are quite sore so the soothing sensation I get from the tonic is really helping to relieve that. I also feel that it's helping to take some of the redness out of them too and is generally helping to calm my skin. 

Liz Earle Skin Repair Light Moisturiser

Liz Earle Skin Repair Moisturiser is the third step from the daily essentials range. There are three different varieties available which are aimed at different skin types, I was sent the light version which is suitable for combination and oily skins. It's described as light, gentle and easily absorbed and contains a finely balanced blend of naturally active ingredients including, borage oil (a rich source of the essential fatty acid GLA), echinacea, hops, avocado oil, panthenol (pro-vitamin B5) and natural antioxidants beta-carotene and vitamin E to replace lost moisture and help protect your skin.

How to use 

Massage into face and neck, morning and night, after Instant Boost Skin Tonic

Results

Having oily skin has made finding a suitable moisturiser quite challenging for me. I've found it really difficult to find something that adds enough moisture without making my oily skin even more oily. Most products I've tried have either added far too much moisture or not enough which leaves my face feeling dry and uncomfortable. I've used an oil free moisturiser from Peter Thomas Roth for years and have been pretty happy with the results but I sometimes feel as though my skin could do with something a tiny bit more hydrating. 

Liz Earle Skin repair moisturiser

Liz Earle's Skin repair seems to give me that extra bit of hydration I need without making my skin feel greasy or making it look shiny. When I initially tried it, I was slightly worried that it might be too rich for my skin because the product is fairly thick in consistency and feels quite creamy when it's applied. Within a minute or so though, the product seems to disappear completely without leaving any sort of residue and my skin is left feeling hydrated and soft. I'd say it controls oil well throughout the day too and creates an excellent base for make up. Overall I'm really enjoying using this product at the moment. I really like the way it makes my skin feel and I'm completely in love with the scent which is amazing.

Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic & Skin Repair

I mentioned at the start that I've only been using these products for the past week and I obviously realise that I haven't been using either long enough to see any major results yet. I'm going to continue using both for the next few weeks in place of my usual products and update with results. So far I'm really impressed with the products I've been sent from Liz Earle though. I've really fallen in love with the Cleanse & Polish and I'm thoroughly enjoying using the tonic and skin repair from the range too.

Both products are available from the Liz Earle site. Instant Boost Skin Tonic costs £11.75 for a 200ml bottle and Skin Repair costs £17.60 for a 50ml pump or tube

Has anyone else tried either of these? What are your thoughts on them?