L'Oreal Telescopic Carbon Black Mascara Review

When I first started my blog back in May, I think one of the first posts I wrote about was my favourite mascara. 

Until discovering what I now consider to be the holy grail of mascaras, I regularly used the L'oreal Telescopic Carbon Black mascara as well as a couple of others. I remember I really liked it, but couldn't for the life of me remember why I stopped, it might have been the price when I moved to Berlin, though I'm not sure. 

I repurchased it recently, after seeing Anna from Vivianna does Makeup using it, and it was a little bizarre using it again, as it has more of a comb than a brush. I really like the definition this product gives to my eyelashes, and the fact that the formula is fairly simple to remove of a night, but I don't think I'll be buying it again. I think I'll be going back to my good old Clinique.

I travelled up to Manchester on Friday for a wedding (on Saturday) and during the journey we broke down, after a few hours waiting on a layby on the A1 and then being driven the rest of the way to Manchester by a breakdown truck with our car on the flatbed, I finally got a chance to look in the mirror when I was out in the city centre for dinner (at around 7pm). My boyfriend had repeatedly told me he thought I looked nice, but when I finally got into the loos of Pizza Express, and saw I resembled a panda I can't say I was too impressed. Cue me frantically rubbing under my eyes to make me look more human again. The boyfriend also got a little bit of a scolding for telling me I looked nice but neglecting to tell me I was resembling an animal. 

I would say this mascara is okay if you have time to look in a mirror and touch up your makeup, but not when you are busy. Given that it was a wedding the next day, I was very unenthusiastic about wearing this mascara, and fortunately I brought my Clinique along with me (which is on it's last legs). 

I would hazard a guess at running being the reason I stopped using this mascara in the first place. It doesn't flake in the slightest, but I cannot stand to have to look in the mirror only to see I have black under my eyes. Unfortunately, I have to wait for the weekend until I can go and rebuy Clinique, so until then I have had to resign myself to wearing this and resembling a panda by the end of the day.  

Sorry Telescopic mascara, but I won't be buying you again.

Kate x

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A first for me...

Last week one of my colleagues came into work and suggested we all go Go Karting, since our Easter Bowling trip was a success (despite me being the worst one there) and it was met with a mostly positive response. I'd never been, so I was quite nervous at the prospect, but I agreed to go anyway.

Tuesday night was when we'd booked for, and we all went straight from work. Throughout the day I'd got increasingly nervous as I remember when I was younger I never liked the quad bikes or anything motorised, so by the time we got there, I was anticipating thoroughly disliking it.

I can't say I was too impressed having to wear a hairnet, but since I was wearing a crash helmet it was the last thing I was worried about. Trying to find an actual jumpsuit to fit was a nightmare, I think I was the last one to find something that fit.

The girls were up first to do the practice laps and I was petrified. I couldn't quite get to grips with the accelerator and by the time the five practice laps were over I was ready to throw the towel in. I stuck with it and did all of my heats, fully knowing I wouldn't make the final, and I didn't even come last in all of them which I was quite impressed with. During my last heat I had a head on collision with one of the girls who had spun, which has left me a little sore since.

I did get the hang of the karts towards the end and going round the tight corners, which I was quite pleased about. During one of my heats our boss' wheel came flying off and I think that was the only time I overtook him as he was sat crashed into the tyre wall. During another heat, another guy's wheel came flying off too, at first I thought it was somebody's helmet, but no it was a tyre. Very reassuring for me!

It was nice to be out with work, but I don't think Go Karting is for me. If given the opportunity again, I'd rather sit on the sidelines I think. I am glad I went though, as it's something to say that I've experienced at least!

The drive home was a bit difficult though. Going from a kart with incredibly stiff steering, to my cars super light steering was a little baffling. Luckily the industrial estate the track is based on was deserted, so I had a little time to readjust before having to deal with oncoming traffic!

Go Karting Track

The winners of the final!

Kate x

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Caudalie Beauty Elixir Review

Caudalie Beauty Elixir is quite possibly the must have product for 2012. I have read endless reviews on it, as well as seen it featured in peoples Wishlist posts (including my own June Wishlist post) so when FeelUnique were running one of their discount promotions, I leapt at the chance of buying the 30ml bottle.

I was really excited when it arrived and couldn't wait to try it out. I definitely think I ordered it at the right time - in time for the very brief summer that we have had here in Britain.

I have typically been using this in the morning before applying my moisturiser, and using another toner in the evening. I ordered this on the 13th July, and this bottle is nearly used up so it has lasted me near enough two months, which is better than I expected if I'm honest. 

I may have expected a little bit too much from this product, I've had awful skin for the last couple of months, and I thought the ingredients in this spray might calm it down a bit, especially because of how cool and refreshing it has felt on my skin. I don't think it has really made a difference, but I think that was a case of high expectations. 

Overall, I really like the scent of this product, it took a little getting used to, but I do really like it. It was especially nice during the heat, I typically apply my make up at around 6:30am and some days it was already boiling as the sun shines into my room of a morning. 

As for the claims of this product, I don't think I've really noticed any difference to my complexion or tighter feeling pores, so although I have enjoyed the refreshing feeling of a morning, I don't think I can really see any difference to my skin with regards to the claims. I don't think I'll be repurchasing this product as it is a little pricey, however perhaps next summer when it's warm, I may consider it again given how refreshing it feels in the summer.

Caudalie Beauty Elixir is £9.90 for 30ml and £28.80 for 100ml on FeelUnique.

Have you tried this? What were your thoughts?

Kate x

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September Wish List

Hi!

I've not done a wish list post for a while, since I've been a bit low on money and have therefore avoiding online shopping. So, I thought now would be a good time to reveal what I'm currently wanting in my possession:

One of the reasons I've not posted so much recently is because there haven't been many products that caught my eye, or that I could justify buying - I'm trying to get through everything I have first before buying certain products, especially on things like skincare. 

1. Real Techniques Stippling Brush - I've been admiring the Real Techniques brush range for a little while now, and when I first saw this brush I was a little confused, as 'stippling' to me implies something to be uneven and patchy, I wasn't even sure how it was supposed to be used. After watching a video online, everything fell into place and I like the sound of it. I have a foundation brush at home, but that really feels like I'm painting my face. I've also bought a full size YSL Touche Éclat foundation, so on special occasions I'd quite like to have a 'flawless' finish.

2. Avengers Assemble - Now I know this isn't a beauty product, but I've been looking forward to this coming out ever since I went to the cinema with my boyfriend to see it. I've been trying to make him promise to buy it for me when it comes out which is next Monday, so I'll find out soon if he has or intends to!

3. Berber Oil - I received a small sample of this in the May Glossybox and I really got on well with it. It smelt gorgeous, made my hair soft and I swear it lives up to the claim of a quicker drying time (because I hate drying my hair, it is one of the dullest things in my opinion) so once all my current hair care products are used up, I have every intention of buying this!

4. BareMinerals Original SPF 15 Foundation - I've heard a lot of good things about the Bare Minerals foundation and about mineral make up in general. I really want to give this a go at some point, a friend bought the Get Started kit and could only say good things about the foundation. 

5. Yes! Nurse Protect Your Lovely Hands Cream - I also received this product in my first ever Glossybox and loved it. My hands felt soft, and rarely dry and it lived up to the claim of not being a greasy hand cream. I've been trying to use up all other hand creams in my possession before buying this, and I'm close to finishing them all!

6. Pandora Charm - I love this Pandora charm, I got a Pandora bracelet for Christmas last year and I absolutely love it, I'm hoping this will be my next charm. My boyfriend bought me a heart shaped one for my birthday in June.

What's currently on your wishlist?

Kate x

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