New Beauty Purchases: Maybelline Colour Tattoo 24HR and Collection Pump up the Volume Mascara

So today I went to Superdrug, my local high street make-up supplier and I made a few new additions to my collection. I was going to call this post a haul, however I decided that I would have to have invested in rather a few more items in order for it to constitute as a haul. Anyway, Superdrug had a 3 for 2 offer on all their make-up and eyelashes, so instead of only buying the mascara I ended up getting the two cream eye shadows that I have had my eye on for a while now.

So I bought the Collection 2000 'Pump up the volume' Mascara. I think that I may have mentioned my love for this mascara in a few other posts, however this is the first time that I have bought the non-waterproof, after finding that the waterproof one took far too much effort to remove on a daily basis.So I went for the normal one.

I have been interested in the Maybelline 'Colour Tattoo 24HR', which the little pots say are a Gel-Cream Eyeshadow. I was intrigued by the texture of these little pots as they look as if they should be really wet, however I found that they go on and blend like a powder. The tattoo and 24 hr suggests that they should last a while, which is good for me because I find that my eyeshadows don't usually stay that well. So I bought two, one in the colour 05 - Eternal Gold and another in 35 - On and On Bronze.

I plan to do reviews of both these products if anyone is interested, so just let me know in the comments!

Samples: Nivea Express Hydration Primer

This week I have tried out - once again - another free sample. This time it was the new Nivea Express Hydration Primer, which by its title I think that you can probably guess that it is a primer by with moisturising qualities. I was sent the one for normal and combination skin, however there is also one available for dry and sensitive. The packaging it arrived in says that it is marketed particularly towards those who don't have that much time in the mornings to apply both a primer and a moisturiser, or I suppose those who can't be bothered (in my case).

What the actual description of this product is: 'Nivea Express Hydration Primer moisurises your skin and absorbs instantly. So you can apply make-up over it straight away. Try the dry and sensitive formula, with natural almond oil and calendula extract. Or the normal and combination skin formula, with lotus extract.
For smooth, healthy-looking skin that's perfectly primed for putting on make-up.'

I've looked at the Nivea website and apparently their Skin therapist Julia Hart 'thinks primer makes a real difference to how your skin looks' and that 'A primer provides a smooth canvas, making your skin more radiant. Use it alone for a smooth, glowy base. Or dab a tiny amount around the eye to minimise the appearance of dehydration lines in this area.' So now I feel far more informed on this product.

I just used the sachet all over my face and then continued with my usual make-up routine. I don't usually use a primer, so I think I'm particularly a good person to be reviewing it, but in my ignorant  opinion this product was really good.

I must say that on the absorbing instantly front this moisturiser/primer lived up to what it says on the tin, as well as feeling really light on the skin, which should be good for those with more oily skin types. I really like the texture of this stuff because it has gel-like properties and as usual this Nivea product smells really good.

So overall I think that this is a really good product, however, since I am not really a primer sort of girl, I don't plan to purchase this anytime soon.

Samples: Origins Plantscription SPF 25 anti-aging cream

So I applied for this Origins anti-aging cream online (you probably already know that I have become obsessed with samples) and it arrived a few weeks ago. I have been meaning to review it since it arrived, but   to be honest, I just could not be bothered. As you may already know, I don't particularly need the anti-aging effects of this cream, a I am only eighteen, however I thought that I would still be able to comment on the texture, smell and other things that you look for in a product.

So it arrived inside a card thing like this, with the sachet stuck with that weird glue-stuff underneath the flap. The card informs me that it has 'Raspberry plant stem cell technology', not really sure what that means or what raspberry plant cells are meant to do, but anyway, it must be a good thing. It also has a list of the benefits of using this cream, which is always good.

It says that it:

• Helps improve the appearance of lines, wrinkles and skin's firmness
• Boosts moisture levels
• Helps safeguard skin from ageing UV damage for a younger-looking you

The card suggests that you use this cream in the morning and at night after applying your serum. However I only used it in the morning and I didn't use a serum, because I never use a serum.

Anyway, I will get on with the review. You get quite a big sachet, which I suppose is so you can test it in the morning and in the evening as it suggests. However I found that it had dried out when I left it in the open air, so maybe put it in an airtight container throughout the day.

So as far as I can remember the cream smelled quite nice, maybe a little strong, but not dis-likable I don't think. The texture of this stuff is really thick, its almost like a clay mask texture, so I guess you only need a little at a time and it is probably good for dry skin. As I say, I can't report much on the anti-aging properties of this cream, but overall I found it to be a nice moisturiser.