They're Real vs Roller Lash

Like most of the UK I sat waiting for Elle to hit the shelves....headed to Tesco only to find there was only one left on the shelf and some delightful person had torn the outer wrapping and nicked the Free Benefit Roller Lash mascara - I mean really......Anyway after some searching I managed to find a copy and finally get my hands on the mascara everyone was raving about.

I decided I wanted to give a totally honest review of the Roller Lash Mascara and compare it with the Benefit They're Real Mascara so after a month of testing here's my verdict.......

So first up is the benefit Roller Lash mascara - In all honesty I'm not sure I get it? Over the month I've been using it I didn't find that it curled my lashes at all and I was still having to use my curlers. The formula was nice though and it wasn't too thick and clumpy - also compared to the They're Real mascara it was a dream to remove!

 Benefit They're Real Mascara! - Now this one I LOVE - maybe that's why the Roller Lash didn't do it for me? Yes I have to use my curlers but when I'm done my eye lashes look long and thick and as someone who has spent a fortune getting eyelash extensions this is a god send!

The formula is a bit thick and I've found that it takes me literally forever to remove it. I don't wear make up everyday but despite my best scrubbing efforts you can still see there is some left on the following day.
Despite this though I love it and will not be in any hurry to go back to my old mascara........

What do you think? Roller or Real?

Chapped Lips - Not Cute!

I have been suffering lately with really bad chapped lips.
I'm not sure if it's because of the weather, lack of hydration or just because I have generally been feeling run down - Knowing my luck it is probably a combination of all 3!

So I've been researching ways to heal them quickly......this is what has been working for me!

1) Give them a good old Scrub - But not too hard! I've been lightly brushing away the dead skin with an old toothbrush feels a bit weird and leaves them a bit tingly but generally gets rid of the dead dried flaky skin.

2) Carmex - Yes it's cheap and cheerful and was found at the til in Primark, but honestly it's the best lip balm I've used in ages. After scrubbing I apply a thin (very thin) coat of lip balm and wait for it to soak in.......I then apply a second layer just before i fall asleep.

3) WATER - Water, water, water - Yes it's the answer to all of life's' little problems. In all seriousness though I've found that by increasing my water intake just a bit and following all the steps above I've been able to pretty much eliminate my chapped lips!

What are your favourite lip treatments??

P.S Please don't forget to follow my on Instagram @claire22sawyer

My Hair Care Routine

I've always had really quite long hair. Every now and again I'll get it cut into a shoulder length style but for much of my life my hair has been long. I totally love long hair but keeping it looking nice i bloomin' hard work! My hair is naturally very thin and tends to look lank really quickly so getting some volume in it is a must for me!
I am forever changing my hair routine but for now I've found one that works and I'll be sticking with it....at least until my supersize bottle of conditioner runs out!

Loreal Elvive FIBROLOGY Thickening Shampoo - Currently on offer in Tesco £1.99

Hair Culture Deep Cleaning Conditioner - £1.99 ALDI

I tend to wash my hair every two days as I find if I wash it anymore it becomes very dry very quickly. Two days is about the most I can go without my head resembling a deep fat fryer! 

I've only recently discovered this shampoo when they were giving out free samples at my gym! I am now a convert. I love it. It's the only shampoo I've tried in recent times that actually gives me any volume to my hair. It costs around £4.00 at full price. For me it is totally worth the money but when the rest of my little family are using it, it can work out a bit pricey. FYI this shampoo is on offer in Tesco at the min for £1.99 - the conditioner too I think!!!!

This conditioner seems to have given me my shine back! I have tried thousands of conditioners over the years and they all seem to leave my hair looking heavy and greasy. That was until I read a blog review (I can't remember where) on this conditioner. It is an absolute billy BARGAIN at £1.99 for a 1 liter tub from Aldi!

My hair is shiny and it certainly gets rid of any product build up! Needless to say I'm hooked and will be for a while I think?

What are your hair care favourites?

False Lash Effect Mascara

Recently I've found myself finally becoming interested in my skin, hair, nails and the way I look again. I don't know if it's down to the fact I've lost weight, or because i look healthier or simply just because I have an element of self esteem again but either way I'm interested.

So I've decided to start doing product reviews and some beauty posts. 

Now i really don't profess to be a professional but I know what works for me and what products I like. I'm really not into spending big bucks on products so I like to make the best of what I can afford and I thought it would be a good thing to share with the world !!

So here is my first (well technically second) beauty post!!!

Collection 2000 Volumising Waterproof Mascara!

Unfortunately for me I was not blessed with lush long eyelashes. In fact some days I'm lucky if I look like I have any eye lashes at all! I've spent a small fortune on mascara, and false lash products but few if any of them have given me a natural looking lash effect. I'm not big on clumpy looking mascara and super long eye lashes just make me laugh......Peacock style ones are great for a night out but not everyday wear !

I've tried expensive brands and I've tried the cheapest of the cheap but the one I've found that gives me the most natural look is this Collection 2000 Volumising Waterproof mascara. It gives my lashes a long but natural look, is easy to apply and even though it is super waterproof it's easy to remove the odd smudge when applying. 

There aren't many mascaras out there that are truly waterproof but this one stood up to my floods of tears at my sons end of school service so that makes it Fab in my book!

Do you prefer natural or false lashes?

Looking after the Burn!

Ok so that title may be slightly misleading. Whilst we all know I LOVE the feeling of muscle burn when training, this post is in fact about sunburn and looking after your skin!

This past weekend we took the kids Fishing. Whilst I actually hate fishing with a passion I'm not going to lie it was quite nice to just lie there in the sun while the kids were entertained.
Now I am fairly anal about applying sun cream. My grandmother died from a form of skin cancer and since then it has shaken me up a fair bit.

On a daily basis I wear an SPF moisturiser, however on Sunday after lying in the sun for what seemed like forever my face was fairly burnt and tight when I got home!

Not too long ago I had a massive panic about turning 30 and invested in some Nivea Q10 anti ageing night cream. To be honest I found it too thick for my skin and it brought me out in spots. Everyone told me my skin wasn't ready for it so I put it in a drawer and forgot about it.....Until SUNDAY!

When I went to bed Sunday night I absolutely lathered it on! It made the most PERFECT aftersun for my face. I woke up the next morning and my skin was fully soothed and hydrated and all the redness had gone down!
I certainly wont be investing in expensive after sun treatments when this works so well!

Currently On offer in Boots for £4.99