A Guide to Buying Beauty Products on eBay

Now before I start, I want to say that you purchase products from eBay at your own risk and that if it sounds too good to be true it probably is. That Mac blush you are getting for half price brand new many not be authentic....

 

But how do you make the most of eBay when purchasing beauty products? Well, I primarily use it for purchasing products that are not available  in the UK or are much cheaper in other countries.  

 

Nail products are the obvious hot purchases with brands such as OPI and China Glaze less than half the UK retail price on US eBay, and they are still a very good deal even when postage is factored in. Two sellers I have has particularly good service from are beautyzone2007 and enchantedbeautyspot who, between then, sell all the major US polish brands. Delivery usually takes just over a week.

 

In addition to nail polish, I've also bought some products that are not available at all in the UK, such as two versions of the Carmex Moisture Plus Sheer Lip Tints in Berry and Plum. I adore the peach and pink ones we have here in the UK, but after contacting Carmex and discovering they currently have no plans to sell the Berry and Plum ones here, I knew I had to track them down, and eBay was my friend!

 

Other useful sellers are French Pharmacy UK - for difficult to find French pharmacy skincare and the Liz Earle Factory Outlet store, which has Liz Earle products cheaper than retail - just be aware that the packaging may be damaged or printed incorrectly.

 

I have occasionally bought high-end cosmetics from eBay and you can find some good deals if you check carefully. Make sure the seller isn't selling hundreds of the same eyeshadow and check they are using their own photos not stock photos.  

I've managed to find US exclusives and limited edition products that have been out of stock everywhere, but you do have to be careful.  Go with your gut instinct.  These kinds of products are usually available for retail price, so you don't tend to  find many bargains, but you may be able to track down difficult to source items.  I know some people sometimes also manage to uncover new testers of lipsticks such as Guerlain's Rouge Gs for sale.  These are obviously cheaper than the ones you find on counters but they are without the gorgeous heavy packaging, which I know I personally couldn't do without!

I hope this has gone some way to giving you a few pointers for purchasing beauty products on eBay.  

Have you ever got a great deal on beauty products on eBay?

Can you recommend any good sellers?

  

Sunday Samples - Liz Earle, Jane Iredale and Vaseline Body Lotion

Its been a while since I've explored some of my samples stash, so I thought it was about time I had a quick delve into it. 

Jane Iredale Lip and Cheek Stain in Forever Pink

This came with a recent Jolie Box and having never heard of Jane Iredale before, I was excited to try it out.  Jane Iredale products are all mineral products and aside form the odd Bare Minerals flirtation, I haven't tried many mineral cosmetics products previously.  

I tried this on both the lips and cheeks and far preferred it on my lips.  On my cheeks, it looked a little greasy and disappeared within a few hours.  It was also very lightly pigmented and I prefer my cream blushes to be more pigmented.  On the lips, it gave a slight sheen, and lasted around an hour and a half before I needed to reapply.  It felt more like a balm though and was perhaps too subtle for my pigmented lips.  For those who like natural makeup, with a  barely-there lip, this may be a good buy, but I have lots of lippies already like this and I didn't feel it added anything to my collection.

Vaseline Essential Moisture Clean Feeling Lotion

I usually prefer body butters to body lotions as they tend to feel richer and more luxurious.  This body lotion from Vaseline was pretty much as expected - fairly lightweight and non-greasy, although it did take some time to sink in.  I tend to moisturise my body in the evening though so it didn't affect my morning routine. 

Scent wise, it was fairly innocuous and from the swatch above, you can see it was slightly runny  and a little difficult to control consistency-wise.  All in all, a decent budget body lotion but nothing earth-shattering, and I think I prefer Nivea's version.

 

Liz Earle Superskin Concentrate

I kind of blow hot and cold with Liz Earle - some of her products I love but some I feel rather lukewarm about as they aren't the miracle products I was expecting.  The Superskin Concentrate was on of these products but in fairness, I'm not sure if I am the target audience for this with my oily skin. 

Ths Superskin Concentrate is an oil that you warm in your hands and apply after cleansing in the evening.  The scent is a delightful mixture of lavender and chamomile which aids relaxation before bed, and the oil absorbs quickly without leaving an oily or greasy feeling.  My skin did feel a little softer but that was about it.  I didn't feel more radiant or feel that my skin was in a particularly better condition than previously.  

As this was only a 2ml sample, I am curious to see if I would experience any significant benefits in the long term with regular use.  Skincare is such an individual thing and I usually prefer to test something for at least a month before judging its performance.

Have you tried any of these products?  

 

My Summer Footcare Prep!

This seems like a strange time to write a post about prepping your feet for strappy Summer sandals when there is sleet falling past my window (!), but despite this recent cold snap we are experiencing, Spring is firmly on its way and it won’t be long before the flip flops are out and it is time to expose your toes to the world!

I do a lot of running, and am fond of wearing very high heels, and as a result, my feet often look less than attractive come Spring.  This means it is time to bring out the big guns when it comes to footcare.  Here are the main products I use to keep my feet in check!

Liz Earle Foot Scrub

I use this a few times a week during the Summer months as part of my morning shower routine.  I’ve tried a lot of different foot scrubs and have been disappointed that many were not sufficiently ‘scrubby.  Liz Earle is one of my favourite brands and, with regular use, this really does make your feet smoother and less scaly.  I love the peppermint scent too!

Microfile XL

Not the most attractive of products but I have found this is certainly the most efficient method of removing stubborn hard skin.  Far better than a Ped Egg, I think I heard about this from a US blog.   I bought it from Ebay about a year ago as it wasn’t available in the UK.  It is pretty hardcore!

The Body Shop Peppermint Intensive Foot Rescue

The Body Shop’s foot products are great value and really deliver when it comes to pampering your feet.  This intensive foot lotion is great for cracked heels and I just slather it on and pop a pair of socks on overnight for softer, smoother feet the next morning.  I tend to keep this lotion to areas of my feet that are really in need of a moisture injection as otherwise it is a little rich, but it really does the job.

  

The Body Shop Peppermint Cooling Foot Spray

I’ve been purchasing this spray for a few years now and it is invaluable for providing a cooling, refreshing sensation when you have been walking around all day in sandals and your feet are in need of some serious soothing.    It is great to use on your feet after exercise too.

Do you use any particular products to get your feet ‘sandal-ready’?

March Empties

I’ve had a great March using up lots of products, including quite a few full-sized ones too.

The Body Shop Earth Lovers Shower Gel in Pear and Lemongrass (review here) – I liked the idea of this shower gel but the fragrance didn’t wow me and it was far too watery and liquid – the consistency was almost like water!  I wouldn’t rush to repurchase another from this range, purely due to the watery consistency and the fact it was very easy for more to end up down the plughole than on my body!

TiGi Dumb Blonde Shampoo – this is one of my holy grail products and although I like to try other shampoos, this is by far the one I come back to the most.  I finished this bottle and promptly restocked!  I love it as it leaves my hair soft and manageable and prolongs the life of my colour.

Trevor Sorbie Colour Protect Shampoo – this has been lounging in my draw for ages and it was time to use it up!  I think it has now been repackaged, and potentially reformulated, however I wasn’t overly impressed with this mini bottle and I don’t think this would replace my Dumb Blonde!

Lush Three Gold Rings Bubble Bar – this was left over from Christmas but I think they are released every year.  I loved the scent of vanilla / orange oil and it produced monstrous amounts of bubbles (I always just crumble the whole bar in but you could easily get several baths from it).  It did leave a gold stain around the bottom of the bathtub that was horrendous to shift though!  I would possibly repurchase this next year although Lush always brings out new products that I am tempted by!

Neal’s Yard Remedies Seaweed Salt Scrub (review here) – this scrub was sufficiently ‘scrubby’ for me but the scent really put me off and for that reason I wouldn’t repurchase.

Vaseline Intensive Rescue Moisture Locking Body Lotion  - a product that does exactly what it says on the tin, providing instant relief to dry, scaly areas.  At the moment I wouldn’t repurchase as I still have a heap of body lotions to work my way through!

Johnsons 24hr Extra Rich Bodywash – I found there was nothing overly remarkable about this product, probably as I prefer scented shower gels and creams.  It did leave my skin nicely hydrated though and those who prefer unscented body washes would probably like this.  However I will not be repurchasing, mainly as there are hundreds of shower gels and creams I have yet to try!

Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Concentrated Cream – this is another of my staples.  I love the scent of cocoa butter and this never fails to provide my hands with instant moisturisation.  I already have a back up!

Sure Deodorant – not much to say about this, it does the job!

Clinique Mild Liquid Facial Soap  - received probably as part of a Bonus Time promotion, I wasn’t overwhelmed by this as I found it quite drying for everyday use.  It was handy to use after a run as it made my face feel very clean, although you do need to use a good moisturiser afterwards and I wouldn’t recommend it for dry skins.  I wouldn’t repurchase but I’m sure a couple more of these will turn up in future Bonus Time free gifts!

Liz Earle Smoothing Eye Serum (review here) – I used this in conjunction with the Liz Earle eye cream and much preferred this serum to the cream.  I used it in the evenings and although I’m not sure it made a visible difference, it did hydrate my eye area overnight.  I would consider repurchasing but I currently have another couple of eye creams to test out.

Simple Kind To Skin Cleansing Facial Wipes – I always have a couple of packs of wipes on the go for a quick refresh or often just to remove swatches!  These are a great price and, like other Simple products, do not irritate my skin.  I would repurchase.

What have you managed to use up this month?

Review: Liz Earle Daily Eye Repair & Smoothing Line Serum

Liz Earle is well known for her approach to clean, unfussy skincare so when I was on the hunt for a new eye cream, I decided to give them a whirl.

As I am nearing the end of my 20s, I am becoming much more aware of some small fine lines that are starting to appear and ideally, I would prefer that these didn’t get any bigger, although to halt my impending forehead wrinkle I will need to stop frowning as much!  After a browse on the website, I decided to try out the Round the Clock Eyecare Kit which consists of a Daily Eye Repair and a Smoothing Line Serum.  They are designed to be used in conjunction with one another and to help keep the fragile skin around the eyes smooth, supple and bright and are suitable for all skin types.

If you are familiar with Liz Earle skincare, you will know that the essence of the brand is to use naturally active botanical ingredients which are kind to your skin.  As a result, many of her products have a distinctly ‘herbal’ scent, which although not overly unpleasant, can be something of an acquired taste!
 

To start with, I will talk about the Daily Eye Repair.  I have been using this only in the morning as I prefer to use the serum in the evening and I don’t like to overload my eye area with products as I find it can end up quite dark and congested if I overdo it with rich creams.

The eye repair comes in a small tube with a very small pipette for targeted dispensing of the cream.  It is very easy to control the amount dispensed, although I do prefer jars of eye cream.  I realise that tubes are more sanitary, it is just a personal preference.  The exterior packaging is in line with other products from the Liz Earle Brand and is very simplistic but functional.  The cream itself is of medium consistency, perhaps leaning a little to the runny side and you only need a couple of small squeezes to dispense enough product for both eyes.  There is no discernable scent to the product which is good, as I prefer not to use highly scented products close to my eyes.
 

The cream is said to contain light-reflective particles to brighten dark under-eye shadows, and also includes SPF10 mineral sunscreen to help protect from UV light.  The main benefit of this product is to reduce the appearance of fine lines, and nowhere in the product description does it mention that it moisturises the eye area.  Usually with an eye cream, I tend to look for moistursing formulas as using eye make up remover frequently can dry some of the delicate skin around your eye area.

In terms of brightening under–eye shadows, I cannot really say that this has made a difference, mainly as I usually use YSL’s Touche Eclat each day to brighten my under eye area and I find it does an excellent job.  After applying this cream, even without makeup, I confess I haven’t really seen a discernable difference.  The addition of SPF10 is a nice touch for everyday wear, but not really enough for summer when you wuold need a separate SPF.  I would say my one disappointment with this product is that it wasn’t overly moisturising.  Whether that was because I needed to use more or apply it more than once a day I am not sure, but it really didn’t seem to do much to the skin around my eye at all and often just seemed to sit on the surface of my skin, taking quite some time to sink in.

I used the Smoothing Line Serum in conjunction with the Daily Eye Repair and used it only in the evening, after cleansing and moisturising, just before bed.  It comes in a small container with a pump dispenser, which again made it very easy to control the amount of product required and again, there was no scent.  The serum was a clear, gel-like substance which I have to confess I wasn’t expecting.  For some reason I thought it would be more like a cream, but not being a big user of serums, perhaps all serums are like this? I found one and a half pumps sufficient for moisturing both eye areas.
 

The serum is said to help plump and firm skin around the eyes, lips, forehead and décolletage.  I tended to use it only around the eye area, although if I had any product remaining, I used a little on my forehead.  The full-sized product is very small at only 10ml so I couldn’t imagine it would last very long if you used it on all the specified areas!  I patted and smoothed it around my eyes and it did feel quite refreshing and much more moisturising than the Daily Eye Repair.  The serum conatins antioxidant grapeseed extract and soothing echinacea  both of which are said to help aid smoother and softer skin.

Verdict
After using these products for a month, I feel that both of them are in the ok, but not a must buy category for me.  They didn’t do anything bad, but I don’t feel that they made a significant difference to my eye area, and I much prefer Bobbi Brown’s Eye Cream for its moisturising properties.  I think if you are looking for a first eye cream and are perhaps in you are in your early 20s,  the Daily Eye Repair may be of use, although you can probably find similar products in other brands.  I did like the serum, as I feel it was more moisturising and helped to ‘plump’ my skin, but the fact that it comes in such a small container and you are expected to use it over a wide area such as your neck, decolliage and forehead would stop me from repurchasing as I think I would get through it very fast.  You also have no way of telling how much product is remaining as the container is not transparent.
3.5/5

Price - £26 for the Round the Clock Eyecare Kit, £13.75 for 10ml of the Daily Eye Repair or the Smoothing Line Serum (both products can be bought as a 5ml tube for £7.25.
Where to buy – Liz Earle, John Lewis (if you buy directly from the Liz Earle Website you can request some samples of other products you would like to try free of charge when you make your order which is a good way of trying other products that you may be interested in).

November Favourites

This month’s favourites is a bit of a mish-mash due to being on holiday for a large proportion of November. I realise that sun cream won’t be in many other’s November favourites!

Armani Eyes to Kill, 15 - I’ve only had this just over a week but I have worn it most days. I reviewed it recently here (Review - Armani Eyes to Kill, 15) and it is just so easy to use and lasts all day. I’m definitely going to buy more of these.

Peppermint Foot Spray, The Body Shop - A necessity in hot weather, this leaves my feet feeling cooled, refreshed and smelling much better! I used this constantly on holiday, and it was really refreshing after jungle treks in hot, stifling shoes, and also on my flip-flop-wearing toes by the pool. I get through several bottles of this every summer.

Carmex Moisture Plus Ultra Hydrating Balm in Peach - As I didn’t tend to wear much makeup on holiday, it was easy to just slick on some of the Carmex lip balm to give my lips a little colour, and to protect them as it contains SPF15. I reviewed both this and the pink tint here (Review – Carmex Moisture Plus Balm) and although these are sheer, they are not just for summer. I have been wearing them in the wind and rain recently as they keep my lips super moisturised.

No 7, 3-in-1 Wipes - I’m sure you have tried these when thinking of things to spend your No7 vouchers on! I always have a surplus of them as I think you cannot have too many and they were a godsend when the outside shower at the Elephant Sanctuary we stayed at in Thailand proved to be too ‘character building’, even for me! Some dry shampoo and copious wipes managed to save the day until I could get access to a hot shower!

They are also fab for long flights and leave you feeling a little more refreshed after attempting to sleep upright for several hours. I would never travel without them and they are a bargain when the No 7 vouchers are around, at only £2 for a pack of 30.

Liz Earle Shampoo - A great cleansing shampoo that I have been using several times a week. I have coloured hair and this has kept it in good condition, despite subjecting it to chlorine on many occasions over the past couple of weeks. It is also SLS-free.

Riemann P20 suncream -A friend suggested this suncream to me earlier in the year after I complained that I always burn in the sun easily and that I forget to re-apply protection every couple of hours. It is not cheap (although I managed to find mine in the end of summer sale at CheapSmells for £10 off!) but it really does last the entire day, assuming you apply it liberally in the morning about 20 minutes before you get dressed. I didn’t get burnt once when using this and we were in direct sunlight at 32 degrees on many occasions whilst out and about. Highly recommended, I just wish I had known about this earlier!

Review: Liz Earle Deep Cleansing Mask

As a newcomer to masks, previously being one of those people who just didn’t have the patience to sit around and wait whilst they worked their magic, I thought if there was anywhere good to start it would be with Liz Earle. I am a fan of many of her other products and I find them very reasonably priced with no false promises or hopes, just very good skincare, so I purchased this a few months ago in the hope that it would go someway to taming my often hormonal, troublesome skin.

Liz Earle says that this mask is targeted at those with oily, combination or problem-prone skin which pretty much describes me.  I get a very oily t-zone with dry cheeks, and by lunchtime I usually have to blot or apply some powder on my nose and forehead to keep the oilies at bay!

I bought the 75ml starter kit which comes in a cute bag like many other Liz Earle products and with 2 small sponges. One thing I love with Liz Earle is that they allow you to buy small travel-sized or sample sets of their products to see if they work for you rather than shell out on the larger product.This is also available in a 15ml tube which is great if you are anything like me and have tonnes of unused products that you have bought only to be quickly disappointed by when you find they do not provide a miracle cure for your skin issues. 

The directions for use say to cleanse first and then apply a generous layer of the product over your face and neck for 5-10 minutes.  I usually applied this just before I stepped into the bath, leaving it on for 15 minutes in some cases.  It did dry but not in a hardening way that so many face masks do where if you smile when it is dry, the mask cracks!  Whilst waiting for the mask to dry, I fill the sink with hot water and leave the 2 sponges provided in the water to warm up.  You then use the sponges to gently swipe away all the product and although the sponges look rough, they feel just right, providing a gentle exfoliation at the same time as effectively removing the mask. 

After using this, my skin feels clear, refreshed and much softer, although I do occasionally have the odd spot pop up after using this but it tends to be just if my skin has been congested and I have been neglecting it.  I feel that this is just the clay doing its work and removing all the impurities as it cleanses the skin and draws out all the oiliness. 

I have to mention the smell of this product, as some people may find it rather off-putting – I can detect honey and geranium but it does still have a significant ‘Liz Earle’ smell which is on the more botanical end of the spectrum.  I do like this though and find it soothing but I thought I should mention it for those of you with more sensitive noses.

Verdict

Although I haven’t had much experience with masks, I do like this as it does seem to control some of my t-zone oiliness for a day or so after use and it definitely leaves my skin feeling softer.  There is no tingling when using it which is good, as some previous masks I have used have left my occasionally sensitive skin feeling rather sore when using them, but this is very comfortable to use.  I’ve had this since July and have been using it once or twice a week fairly liberally and I am only just getting to the end of the tube.  If you are a Liz Earle fan with problematic skin and haven’t yet tried this it is certainly worth a shot, especially if you try the sample pack for £5.

4/5

Price – £13.25 for the starter kit or £5 for the 15ml tube, both which include 2 sponges.

Where to buy – Liz Earle, John Lewis  (if you buy directly from the Liz Earle Website you can request some samples of other products you would like to try free of charge when you make your order which is a good way of trying other products that you may be interested in).