ESPA Haul and Mini Reviews

ESPA Balancing Herbal Spafresh Spritzer £18.50 // ESPA Essential Cleansing Mask £27.50

Way back in July 2013, I attended the FABB event in Manchester. Tickets for the event were £10 but we received a £30 gift card for ESPA so it was totally worth it! I completely forget I hadn't reviewed these products until I was transferring all my pictures over to my external hard drive. Oops! The total cost of my order was £46 and delivery was free if you spent over £40. As I had my gift card, I only paid £16 for these two great products. I have been using them for quite a few months now so I thought I would share what I thought as well. 

ESPA Balancing Herbal Spafresh Spritzer £18.50

The first product I chose was the Balancing Herbal Spafresh Spritzer. I chose it as I really like the Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic Spritzer, it's really refreshing. The ESPA spritzer promised to clarify, balance and revive. I suffer from oily skin and it's suitable for all skin tones especially oily and combination skin. It helps to refresh, decongest and protect the skin. Active ingredients include peppermint which revives and refines pores, while witch Hazel and elderflower help guard against congestion, outbreaks and blemishes for beautifully clear, revitalised skin. 

This is a luxurious product and I save it for times when I want a pamper or I'm feeling a little bit down and I need a bit of cheering up. It smells gorgeous. I'm awful at describing scents so I couldn't tell you what it smells of but I'm guessing peppermint, witch hazel and elderflower! I haven't used it enough to experience 'beautifully clear, revitalised skin' but I may just have to add it to my daily skincare routine. 

ESPA Essential Cleansing Mask £27.50

As soon as I looked at ESPA products online, I knew I would love this face mask. It's a deep cleansing mask which aims to calm, ease congestion and balance. ESPA say it's "an intensely nourishing, cleansing clay mask, formulated to calm and clarify skin. Mineral-rich kaolin clay and antiseptic rose geranium help clear excess oils, impurities and congestion. Benzoin nourishes, while soothing rose damascena and marshmallow soften and calm." It's suitable for all skin types especially sensitive, oily, combination and congestion skin. Congested is a great word to describe my skin, especially around my mouth. My hormonal acne has really gone crazy at the moment.

My favourite thing about this mask is that it tells me to relax for 20 minutes. In this busy world that we all live in, a chance to take 20 minutes to relax and unwind is a welcome distraction. This is a deep cleansing clay mask. I have used many in my time and this is definitely my favourite. It also smells delicious and is a beautiful mix of rose and marshmallow. I apply a layer all over my face, avoiding the eye area, and sit back and relax for 20 minutes. Once the time is up, I use a clean muslin cloth to gentle remove before splashing my face with cool water to close my pores. I use this mask about once a week but I do like to use a face mask twice a week. Usually on Wednesday and Sunday while participating in #bbloggers chat. 

As well as free delivery, I was able to select four samples to arrive with my order. I opted for 24 Hour Replenishing Eye Moisturiser, Skin Radiance Mask, Refining Skin Polish and Smooth & Firm Body Butter. So far I have only used the eye cream and I really liked it. It felt really nourishing and moisturising on my delicate eye area. Unfortunately, I cannot justify £35 for an eye cream. 

Have you tried any products from ESPA? What is your favourite skincare brand?

Rachel x 
Lost In Lipstick

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My 13 Favourite Products Of 2013

Last year, I posted My 12 Favourite Products of 2012 so in keeping with the tradition, here are My 13 Favourite Products of 2013. Four products have made it into my favourites for the second year running but they are products that I reach for everyday. They deserve their award of favourite product!

Haircare

Liz Earle Botanical Shine Shampoo and Liz Earle Botanical Shine Conditioner - I have been using this shampoo and conditioner for about six months now and I have gone through two bottles of each. This was my first experience of haircare products that contain no parabens or sulphates. Banning nasty ingredients from my haircare routine has improved the quality of my hair so much. Both products smell natural and clean as they are made from all natural ingredients. You can read what I think about this shampoo and conditioner in more detail here.

Moroccanoil Treatment - Back in August, I attended an event with Look Fantastic and we were extremely lucky to receive a goody bag with a small bottle of Moroccanoil in. Ever since I started using Moroccanoil, my hair has made a dramatic improvement in texture as well as shine and manageability. Moroccanoil also helps to lessen the drying time, which is a godsend when you have long, thick hair. I actually love it so much that I asked my mum and dad Santa to get me a full sized one. I can't wait to start using that one as it has a pump and the little bottle doesn't so I have to pour an amount into the palm of my hand and sometimes I'm a little generous!

Skincare

Clarins Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner - It took me ages and ages to make my mind up whether to get this exfoliator or not. I had read so many reviews where bloggers raved about chemical exfoliators over manual ones but to be honest the word chemical scared me. In the end, I decided to use some of my much loved Boots points to buy the item, that way if I didn't like the product, I hadn't used up my own money. However, I love this product and I'm so happy it's in my life. You do have to be careful when you go outside but if you already use SPF, this isn't a problem. If you don't, make sure you apply SPF for a couple of days after using it just to protect your skin. I use it twice a week, in the evening, in the place of my regular toner and it is so gentle and actually rather soothing on my face. 

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo - Effaclar Duo is a highly raved about skincare product in the beauty blogger world. I can completely understand why. This is my second or third tube (which is empty) and I need to repurchase it ASAP. It has made such a difference to my skin. I still suffer from spots but I have PCOS however it has changed my complexion so much. It helps to clear up spots quicker and it also takes the redness out of my spots.

ESPA Essential Cleansing Mask - I was extremely lucky to be given an ESPA gift card. One of the purchases I made was the Essential Cleansing Mask. My favourite thing about the mask is that it tells me to relax for 20 minutes! Seriously, if you ever needed an excuse to relax, this is it! I use this mask once or twice a week, in the evening, usually after a bath or shower so my pores are open. This is a luxurious mask and a little bit actually goes a long way. I have used the mask quite a few times and it doesn't look like I have used it at all. In the morning, I can definitely notice a difference in my skin. It feels and looks a lot smoother and clearer. Winner!

Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch Primer - I purchased this last year in the Christmas sales after trying a sample. Ever since my first try I have been hooked on this luxurious primer. I only use it when I need my make up to last all day or if I am looking for a flawless base before applying my foundation. A little really goes a long way and I still have about half the tub left. This is the best primer I have ever tried as it leaves my skin feeling silky and smooth and it evens my skin tone while providing a smooth base for my foundation. You can read what I think about this primer in more detail here.

Make Up

No7 Stay Perfect Foundation - I have been using this foundation for over a year now and I have repurchased it twice already. It's the first foundation I've had that has actually been matched to my skin tone.  I was fed up of guessing my shade and getting home to find it too light or too dark and I haven't got time in the mornings to be mixing foundations! The Match Made Service is a fantastic service and it's definitely worth a try to find your perfect foundation shade. The foundation is the perfect formula for me too. As I suffer with spots, I don't want a dewy foundation as this can highlight imperfections. This foundation is matte without being chalky or cakey. It provides a medium to high coverage and lasts all day. You can read all about my experience of the Foundation Match Made Service as well as what I think of the foundation in more detail here.

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer -This is another well loved product that I have been using for well over a year and it featured in last years favourite. I have lost count of the amount of times that I have repurchased but it is a LOT! As I've said before, I don't use this under my eyes because I find it too thick to blend there but it's perfect for concealing spots and other imperfections. I use shade 1 and shade 2 in the winter and summer respectively. You can read what I think about this concealer in more detail here.

Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder in Transparent - Another recurring product from last year. I have actually been using this powder for a few years now and it's fantastic for setting foundation and concealer as well as taking away any shine on your face. I have slightly oily skin and I don't need to reapply but if your skin is more oily than mine you may need to carry this in your handbag. The packaging isn't great and it doesn't look too pleasing of the eye but it's a great product and for less than £5, I'm not complaining! You can read what I think about this powder in more detail here.

Topshop Lipstick in Innocent - This was first featured in my favourites in May 2013, however I bought it a couple of months before that and I was lusting after it for even longer. Altogether, I have three Topshop lipsticks and this is the latest one that I have purchased (I think it's time I purchased a new one!) The formula of these lipsticks are so creamy and moisturising and they dry matte on the lips but they're not drying at all. This shade is perfect for during the day or it can be layered up for a more intense shade in the evening.

Nails

Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine Nail Paint in Blueberry - I chose this nail polish to feature in my favourites as it was undoubtably the most used nail polish in 2013. I actually removed the chipped remains off my nails and repainted with the same shade several times, this is something I have never done before! Obviously, I haven't used it as much in winter but it has been a perfect spring, summer and early autumn shade. I think it really compliments my skin tone and as it's quite an uncommon colour, I get lots of compliments on it from friends and family. As the name suggests, it leaves a hi-shine finish on the nails therefore you don't need a topcoat but I do recommend one if you want to prolong the wear time.

Make Up Brushes

Real Techniques Brushes - I honestly do not know how I coped before Real Techniques came into my life. I think I used to apply foundation with my fingers which is messy and meant I had to wash my hands afterwards. I have had some of my brushes for nearly 18 months and they still look brand new. They are super easy to wash; I use Johnson Baby Shampoo once a week (well I aim for once a week!) and once they are dry, they return to their original shape. I haven't experienced any fallout so in my opinion they are a great investment as I can see them lasting years. 

From left to right - Real Techniques Powder Brush, Real Techniques Blush Brush, Real Techniques Expert Face Brush, Real Techniques Foundation Brush, Real Techniques Setting Brush, Real Techniques Lash-Brow Groomer, Real Techniques Starter Set

You can read what I think about these brushes in more detail using the following links; Real Techniques Powder Brush, Real Techniques Blush Brush, Real Techniques Expert Face Brush, Real Techniques Foundation Brush, Real Techniques Setting Brush, Real Techniques Lash-Brow Groomer, Real Techniques Starter Set. 

What are your favourite products of 2013? Have any of my favourites made your list?

Rachel x 
Lost In Lipstick

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